geisha

It’s true, I’m a snowbird so see Thailand in the high season. I’m quite surprised that the standard of tourist that Thailand attracts is very bad compared to around 5/10 years ago. I’ve been coming since 1984, have lived the marvelous years of Phuket and the the other islands. The other islands I’d never go back to, stayed 3 months in Phuket last year but that was a failure due to post Covid and empty restaurants, unlit streets, and general abandonment. My mistake, but wanted to see old friends. This year they warned me off, crowds , tons of arrogant longstayers ( won’t say the nationality)., beaches over crowded and restaurants submerged also because of lack of staff. So I stayed in Jomtien. There it was mostly the same, but I have my good addresses. Bangkok was the only place I felt was more upmarket and more to my taste. Definitely there’s a going to the dog’s atmosphere, and I’m thinking I might not be back so soon. I left for Bali, and sadly it’s no better. It hurts me to see Thailand , and Bali , like this, having known these countries and their neighbours for so long. Great memories to look back on .

I must say the small contraptions they have in the UK are ridiculous.. Taking a shower is a major event with water too hot one minute too cold the next and not enough water strength. My elderly family take baths every night.

My question to the OP. How on earth can you live somewhere infested with ants or any other insects ?? Did you not treat your home immediately to get rid of them ? I would not last one day there. First day in any new home, I clean, look and treat everything floors, drains, etc for a few days. Never had a problem in 38 yrs, even living in a Thai house near a forest on Phuket . There, we put cups of oil or water ( can’t remember) under each bed leg because of the forest and no glass windows.

About the deaths which happened in a hotel in Chiang Mai and on Samui I think, one of the islands. That was the fault of the stupid proprietors of those hotels who used dangerous sprays on their mattresses to prevent bed bugs !!! Nothing to do with anti ant / insect products put on the floor.I stayed once in a hotel in Chiang Mai that room and bed stank of disinfectant. I immediately left.

I had an acquaintance, a girl knew a bit. ( I’m a lady). She knew I was in phuket and, invited herself. Well, I thought, a few days is ok. She stayed 2 weeks !! I told her I wasn’t up to discos etc so she went by herself. I did give her a few tips on behavior, Thai men etc. one night 5 am, she wasn’t back. I was freaking out . In she wanders, shoes in hand. The tuc tuc driver lift back from Patong , suggested a beach stroll under the stars in, I think, N’ai Harn. Nowhere near my place and you don’t drive near it from Patong. Well, she must have been lucky, nothing happpened and he deposited her in front of my door !!! Could hardly believe it. I had to tell her to go, you just don’t do things like that, anywhere. We were about 30++.

it was always like that , no change.

Thanks Sheryl , wondering if there’s a similar drug in Thailand that is not dangerous to take.? ( Tanganil is an over the counter medication in France. )

Please listen to the posts. You do not get more in Laos than Cambodia. Same entry rules !! If you get a visa 60 days in Laos or Cambodia , it’s valid 60 days. This you can extend once in Thailand for 30 days only !! Then you must leave the country again . So you do NOT get 6 months. If you do a border hop with NO visa from the Thai embassy in LAos or Cambodia , you get 30 days VISA EXEMPTION zone entry to Thailand . This you can extend 30 days in Thailand. Then you must leave the country. You are allowed to do these border hops with NO visa 2 times in a calendar year.

Yes , I was hoping Sheryl would answer, she’s helped me a few times over the years. Fantastic.

I won’t have time unfortunately ( or fortunately!) . I’m leaving this Wednesday morning BKK France and only have 8 tablets left. Thinking I’ll share them out to 2 a day. It could get better .

Thank you Sheryl, I’m quite surprised it’s not sold in Thailand , it’s over the counter in France which also surprised me. It’s been quite debilitating for 2 days, started the Tanganil last evening at 6 pm,, seems a bit better this morning. ( took 2). Instead of the 2. X morning one evening ( tot1500’mg) daily, do you think I can share out my tablets to only 2 a day to last me ??? And should I then take the 2 in the morning, or 1 morning 1 evening.?? Thought of calling France, but will be difficult to get the doctor concerned on the phone, as it’s a very big busy ORL center. Thanks Sheryl.

What’s the pollution in Bangkok like at the moment .?

Hi all, in Bali at the moment but back to Bangkok Sunday 16 th. I’ve had dizzy spells since yesterday, so going on 48 hrs. Had them before about 6 months back. I take Tanganil prescribed by my doctor in France, so have some luckily, but won’t have enough . Can I buy them in Thailand ?? It’s been stifling hot here, lots of heavy rain , and 90 + humidity, so that might be the cause. I don’t drink alcohol. I’m very used to finding what I need in larger Boots. Any info welcome., thanks.

Anywhere they supply restaurants, woks, fridges ,micro onde etc.

Nowhere in the world can you walk into countries and do as you like ! You do not stay illegally in US, UK or any other countries either without risk of being deported etc. Why should Thailand be different ? Get a visa, do border runs, milk the system if you like but don’t consciously break the rules. There are a lot of people that need to go back to their own countries.

Probably depends on the airline policies. I’ve always been asked by Emirates as I stay usually 3/4 months. This year flew with Swiss and no one asked .

Thé problem is the Thai authorities do not care ! Tourist Phuket last year , Kata beach, not even street lights working, non existent pavements , how on earth do people with kids ( maybe not welcome?) or seniors manage to get back to their hotel/ condo evening ?? In front of the famous Boathouse , not even a pavement, so if you want to go to the beach in the day, a restaurant, or a meal in the evening, cars and hundreds of motorbikes rush past you !!! The drains are wonky , 30 years ago at Christmas, my leg went through the gap, so lucky it didn’t break, just a chipped bone , 8pm no lights , death trap drains. Nothings changed. Thais don’t walk/ stroll as foreigners do, so don’t care. Third world 100%. ok, so the clever ones say, TIT, you take the risk, why be so stupid to go out with a baby stroller or , take a taxi to the 15 min evening restaurant and back, total rubbish. Thailand and its expats, don’t complain about the low class of foreigners that come here, the drunks, the idiots , the barstool politicians, the wife beater clad / bare backed expats , sex tourists, that’s the type you are attracting. Nuff said .

He ( she ) is back with the crazy posts !!

What about crossing the road in Thailand, no crosswalks or ones that do not function. Two very serious accidents on Theppraya Theprassit crossings last month. Hit and run. I often cross there, it’s chancing your life each time , if someone stops for you it’s a foreigner. 2 nd road pattaya crossings ?? What about all the illegal car and bike rentals, no insurance etc, the jet ski accidents which have thank’god fallen due to very good bad publicity ? Private hospitals over charging by huge amounts ? I have personally witnessed the prices charged for innocent people involved in an accident , astronomical , albeit very well treated by said hospital.

It’s the silly season again !!

Now my opinion. 1 it looks staged, 2 he doesn’t look British to me, more lebanese ? 3 probably high on something, he walks straight/ knows what he’s doing.

No it does not. For example I have a British passport and my residency is France. . You can have a UK passport and live elsewhere .

I don’t think so because you enter Thailand on a visa exempt stamp and the evisa is from your home country not a third country.

He had insurance. No helmet.

It would be easier all round for all countries if they made the 60 day tourist visa easy to apply for. As it is, not everyone bothers with it as it’s too complicated , especially the evisa application. They have closed most of the Embassies abroad , and those still open are mostly shamefully unfriendly.