Stevemercer

That's a shame, RIP (career-wise).

I think Big Joke rapidly rose through the ranks largely based on merit (although he did have patronage) rather than through the more usual pathway of contacts.

The problem with those who get promoted on merit is that they might end up biting the hand that feeds them if they start to believe their own publicity.

Last time I did my marriage extension I was also told I had to fill in the TM 7 form by hand in blue ink. I gave them this, plus a copy. But the copy was not acceptable and I had to do the duplicate by hand also in blue ink!

On the plus side, they didn't require the home visit although my wife had to sit at the IOs computer and fill out the form (which I assume the visiting officers normally complete).

It is rare for a fine to be more than bail. Your fine will almost certainly be less than 15,000 Baht, maybe up to 10,000 Baht. You will not face imprisonment for this charge.

Deportation (and 4 or 5 nights in a hot and crowded immigration cell while fights are arranged) is a possibility following your court hearing. If you do not have funds for a direct flight it could take longer.

However, as others have suggested, the risk of deportation is low especially if you have been well behaved and appear sincerely repentant.

13 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You would be wrong.

Imm officers 100% prefer retirement extensions over those based on marriage. Why? Far more easy for them. In same way some (very few) push even the retirement based extensions to "money in bank method" over income method. Same reason. 

BTW if insurance was extended to retirement non o extensions....what on Earth would give you confidence it would not follow on to marriage etc

 

But I might be right.

While the provincial immigration offices prefer retirement over marriage extensions, because they are easier for them, they will do whatever the boss in Bangkok tells them. There are many examples of central policy directions being difficult to implement at the provincial level (e.g TM 30, monthly income transfers).

I think immigration policy will continue to accept marriage extensions and not make life difficult for such farang because it is recognised that hardship will occur to Thai families if such people are forced out by ever changing and more difficult immigration requirements.

On the other hand, as Thailand moves towards developed nation status (at least in the minds of those in charge) there may be less and less tolerance (in a policy sense) for pensioned retirees. After all, no developed countries allow foreigners on a modest income to retire to those countries. Why should Thailand?

While there are many similarities between retirement/marriage extensions, I suspect that in the Thai mindset it will become increasingly black and white. You are either married, and supporting a Thai family, or a single retiree etching out a modest living. Who is more desirable?

2 hours ago, StevieAus said:

I have some difficulty reconciling the logic you express here as there are many married men and I know several including myself who choose to use Retirement Extensions rather than Marriage Extensions.

Surely if the situation you describe in paragraph three occurred, it would have the same effect on those retirees using Retirement Extensions and face the authorities with the same dilemma. 

I just suspect that Thai Immigration will keep fiddling with the requirement for retirement extensions. They might even introduce compulsory health insurance at some stage.

It might eventually get to the stage where a marriage extension offers more certainty.

As a policy position, if this ever comes about, I suspect the big bosses at immigration would not be sympathetic and say that, well, if you are married to a Thai then you should be on a marriage extension. If you in a de facto relationship, well, get married.

I guess that BJ will travel to Australia, or some other western country, when the current crisis blows over and claim asylum on the grounds that he is likely to be killed if he returns to Thailand.

Remember that copper who exposed corruption high up in the system while investigating the people smuggling deaths in southern Thailand. He ended up seeking asylum in Australia. I wonder if he is still alive?

As I'm sure everyone has noticed, 'winter' ended last Tuesday when the wind shifted around to the south. The offshore wind must have blown a lot of the smoke away from Bangkok.

The heat and humidity is rapidly building here in Isan. Of course, the monsoon is still weak, so early in the year and the winds are bound to be variable for the next month or so.

I would go for the marriage extension if you are eligible. I think Thailand will continue to make changes to the retirement extensions.

It may be that Thai authorities will become increasingly ambivalent about single older men/pensioners living in Thailand, particularly given that Thai society is ageing. 

On the other hand, I think Thai authorities recognise that making life difficult for foreigners on marriage extensions could backfire by causing hardship to Thai partners and their dependents.

I'm not saying that single retirees do not support Thais equally, there is just a perception that maybe many are just here for the women (as unfair as that perception may be).

Handsome man. Mai noi problems may be the motive.

I agree with other posters that a positive incentive that can be made right now is to stop the price differentiation for national parks and other nature attractions.

Sure, tourists may be able to afford the price. But if they notice they are paying up to 10 times what the locals pay, then it leaves a sour taste in the mouth and is a definite negative for Thai tourism.

A farmer near us found a new way to make money from his land. He made nearly 100,000 Baht by selling the topsoil from his farm (or at least the top 25 cm or so). Tractors, scrapers and trucks had it all off in only a few days too!

Talk about sustainable farming.

Yes, any Thai girlfriends will be expecting a gift.

Also, many younger Thais think that it is romantic to have sex on Valentines Day. So you might get lucky.

There is nothing wrong with voicing a complaint, expressing discontent or suggesting there may be better ways of doing things. If enough people say the same thing then changes will probably happen. Ultimately that is how democracy works.

If people just accept everything, take the view that complaining won't make any difference, they will be persecuted if they complain, or can't be bothered, then nothing will change. I guess that is the basis of authoritarian rule.

Sure, we are guests in Thailand, but it is reasonable to moan about things that directly affect us and our lives. Thai authorities may not be responsive, but they are susceptible to social pressure and can see reason if enough people say the same thing.

AS Marge Simpson once said 'One person can make a difference, but most times they probably shouldn't'.

I remember the first time I visited Cairns (Australia) many years ago and sitting under a tree along the esplanade in the evening. I could hear a lot of activity in the tree and wondered what manner of beautiful wildlife was afoot. I soon got my answer. The tree was full of rats getting ready to descend for a good night of foraging.

I live in rural Thailand and the locals remain as friendly as ever. In fact, too friendly a lot of the time if you want to keep a harmonious marriage. Sometimes it seems like every lady is flirting with you.

A trip to the local supermarket, 7-11 or restaurant will garnish plenty of smiles and often someone will want to talk to you. Sometimes the 7-11 girls are too harrassed to talk much, but other times they smile, practice their English and flirt a little bit.

There is a cleaner at the local Tesco-Lotus who seems to have taken a shine to me and follows behind me wherever I go in that supermarket (or maybe I am exceptionally dirty).

I find what does change is my attitude. Sometimes I'm feeling down and out for a few days and everything seems just too hard in Thailand. But then I'll take the scooter to 7-11 and some pretty girls on another scooter will smile and yell happily at me and everything will seem ok.

All countries 'manipulate' their currencies to meet economic objectives. The US defines 'currency manipulation' in a sense that other trading countries are acting against US interests. So it is self-serving definition (for the US).

Other countries may have their own definitions of 'currency manipulation'. I would have thought that all countries, including Thailand, manage their currencies to benefit their own economies.

Whether or not they might be listed by the US as currency manipulators should not be relevant in managing Thailand's economy (although it might be a consequence and can then be dealt with as a bilateral trade issue).

"No touching people on the head' seems to be an enduring myth. I'm not sure that western culture requires frequent head handling of strangers. There is no real cultural prohibition on this (except with monks of course).

Maybe holding hands is safer for most people. Thais, even those you have just met, seem to have no aversion to this. In fact, most kinds of mild flirting, including gentle touching, seem to be socially acceptable.

My wife brings bin liners back from her visits in Australia. They come in a roll so are very compact, easy to tear off, and not messy in storage. There is about 100 on the roll, enough for a year. They are super tough and come with tie corners. They are also lightly scented with eucalyptus. Cost is about 150 Baht, available in Coles or Woolworths, Australia.

I wear long pants primarily to keep the sun of my skin. If your trousers fit properly, why would anyone want to wear a belt?

Good luck mate! Hope to see you back in Isaan one day.

An interesting thread.

I've always tended to follow 3 principles in my fitness regimes:

• Work with what genetics has gifted you and concentrate on this.
• Be prepared to change goals and adapt as you age, suffer injuries or your circumstances change.
• Core strength and balance should always be number 1.

As we get older, I reckon core strength increases in importance. My goals have shifted away from muscle mass to endurance and flexibility. When I was younger I was ore of a sprinter and worked on 'fast twitch' muscle accordingly. I've long since lost that edge and now concentrate on building endurance.

Also, as we get older, we hopefully gain wisdom and a physchological edge in endurance that allows us to stay competitive.

We have 2 wells on our property near Mahasarakham in Isan. One is at 10 m and the other at 40 m. The deep well seems similar to the OP with a similar yield. The most expensive item for that one was the below ground pump. On the driller's recommendation we got the more expensive American brand because he said they last longer.

The water table has been fine the 5 years we have been here. But I think the annual rainfall is trending downwards and more and more wells will be sunk by neighbours over the years. I suspect most of Isan will be the same.

Take them on one of the evening/night cruises along the river in Bangkok. The sights are quite beautiful. Pay a bit more to ensure a good meal and avoid the party crowd.

While they say they do not want beaches, they might enjoy an overnighter in Pattaya. Stay in Jomtien and catch the Baht bus to Walking street in the evening and to look at the city lights from the beach. Take them to one of the ladyboy cabaret shows (Alcazar or Tiffaney).

Take them to the nearby Nang Nooch Tropical Gardens and see the historic pageant and elephant shows.