Jonathan Swift

Your question should be “is breaking the law in Thailand really worth it”. This could have happened in any country and she would still go to jail. For her, the question might have been “is being involved with a drug dealer really worth it”. Living in Thailand is obviously worth it to many thousands of expats who manage to not break laws

Especially if they are for a drug dealer

I hope someone sets up a go fund me or something similar for the little girl and other victims. I'm in the US right now

With neighbors like Myanmar breathing down your neck it makes sense to be able to show a nominally capable defense force.

Now you've got me curious

There is always an electronic trail which is easily enough traced. She need not provide anything but ID and account number.

I think about 3 weeks

"2 million tourists expected this season in Phuket".

Watch out, right behind you, BOO!

He is a human, not a plant. The disease does not affect plants. But maybe he's a couch potato.

Ummmm he got monkeypox from someone who is also in Thailand. Next question?

"But mommy, Billy did this and Billy did that and why didn't you punish him?" How old are you, sonny? Did you happen to notice that this is not 70 years ago? You are drawing a false equivalency and injecting irrelevant topics to this one. You clearly don't understand what is going on, and what the difference is between Ukraine and other wars, you clearly don't want to actually educate yourself. I think you even might be Russian and a Putin supporter. Russian oligarchs are corruptly intertwined with Russian government officials and policy makers, the ones who wage and support these wars and often profit on them including and especially Putin. They are often as much extensions of the Russian government officials as the officials themselves. It's obvious to everyone but you that taking down these oligarchs is justified to oppose and put pressure on Putin. The sanctions were approved by and implemented by NATO countries, not just the US. Do you know what NATO is? This is today's world. I'm not going to explain it to you. I don't think anyone could, your mind is welded shut. But it would seem that you support Putin's attack and war on the Ukrainian people and its innocent civilians. Do you salute every time you see a picture of Putin?

Drop it into a post mail box. Let the post office worry about it. In the US that is how it has been done forever.

It happens during ALL times, always, it always has, always will, forever, since time began. Such is the very nature of wealth and power.

Most of the people I have talked to who use these services seem to be simply lazy. When I tell them I do all my own work, because it's cheap and because I would never place such an important task in the hands of some one else, they look at me like I'm from another planet. But as in this case, laziness can cost you in the end.

The answer is simple. Get the shots, get your CDC vaccine card, problem solved. You should have been vaxxed as of last year if you had your head screwed on right. You should then have been given a vaccine card or confirmation you can show immigration. If you're not vaxxed you need a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to arrival, or you take one at the airport. All of these answers are readily available at the Thai immigration website and other reliable online sources. If you have a home there I don't understand why you are having trouble getting official info. Most who live in Thailand know how such things work. You should know that consulates in the US are of limited value, they are not the Thai immigration dept. You can just do a broad search on "what is needed to enter Thailand" and then go through the responses, beginning with the Thai immigration website. That's how I did it since the start of Covid. Cheers and good luck.

You don't have to stay here if you don't like it. Oh, wait, it's complaining about everything that you enjoy best. Well, I hope you're happy in your misery.

That's a new one to me, "professionally manipulated" - I didn't know there were professional manipulators. Clearly a made up term by someone who doesn't understand economics and leans toward conspiracy and Q-anon

A culture CLEARLY more advanced than any western one. Like, wow man!

Maybe Thailand should revoke its welcome to those who can't pass an intelligence test. You see, your money is actually worth MORE now: the exchange rate has been 34.4 baht to the US dollar for about the last year, the highest its been in several years. I am saving about $300 a month in monthly income exchange rates for every $2000 US compared to when it was 29 baht / dollar 3 - 4 years ago. Inflation? That's not the sole problem of Thailand and nowhere else. In fact, inflation right now in the US and other countries dwarfs Thailand's problems. Thailand's inflation rate post Covid is 4.65%. The US inflation rate is 8.3%. In the UK it's 9%. And did you think you were going to go through your entire life in some kind of inflation free economic Shangri-La? But then again, math isn't your strongest subject is it? I've been here 9 years and you will NEVER hear me complain. Methinks your unhappiness has nothing to do with Thailand, you are projecting your own dissatisfaction with yourself. There there, if I were you I wouldn't like me either.

I have been doing the non O retirement visa for four years. I go back to the (ugh!) US for four months June-Sept every year. You can get insurance, it just won't be as cheap as a younger person. You can get a 30 day policy, they do not check the expiration. My 6 month policy expired in April, and I'm still here. But even full term, a $10,000 policy is not expensive. You are not a "visitor", you are a non immigrant resident with a permanent address. The rules specify "travelers", not visiors or tourists. The Thailand pass is universal for all who enter Thailand regardless of status. It superseded previous rules, which were in effect when I arrived last October. If you need up to date info on entry rules you can contact any airline, or go to their website, and they will spell out the rules, because they of all people HAVE to be aware of entry rules wherever they do business. They are required to check all of your documents prior to boarding. Good luck, chok dee. I have not yet used Thailand Pass, but my interpretation of it is that it replaces the need for a Certificate of Entry.

And it's always the other guys who are the idiots and fools... Let me guess, you don't believe Covid is real, it was a conspiracy, and was faked, right? All the people who died of it, well that was just nonsense, right? It was a golden ticket Willy Wonka hoax. So last question, why are you even here? So that you can whine and complain about it while reaping all the advantages it gives you?

With all due respect - Unless you have a crystal ball into the future you are simply speculating according to your own preferences and biases. In my 50 years in the bar and entertainment business as a musical entertainer and designer one of the most common fatal mistakes is when someone buys a place and tries to reinvent it in a way that ignores the preexisting patronage and history, and simply goes against the grain of traditional business models. ESPECIALLY if they expect to change something from a regular neighborhood bar or venue into an upscale attraction. Overall economic recovery from Covid will take time. Right now is not a good time for anyone to invest in anything, save new smaller venues taking advantage of lower rents in the abandoned former businesses. In the US I've seen as many as a half dozen "rehabilitated" venues in a given year fail in 1 to six months. It got to where I could predict it. It was a tough and unforgiving economy where I lived. The idea that you can take a place like Walking St., established over decades as a particular kind of attraction with its own identity, raze it, put millions into it, completely change its identity and overcome its past reputation, turn it into something it has never been, and then take an "if you build it they will come" position HOPING the people with money will show up is extremely risky - as there is no track record, business model, or template for the success such a thing in that type of situation (Thailand entertainement districts of that type), except those that ended up in failures. How are you going to lure investors? If I was an investor I wouldn't touch it. Is the government going to be willing to gamble with huge amounts of money? It looks like a big fat no. The sure, practical, and sensible thing which doesn't gamble with existing livelihoods as well a huge amount of capital is to let it come back the way it was. There is ample evidence to think that will work. There are enough places still open there to indicate the small businesses would be happy to come back. It will follow the course of Covid restrictions and tourism. As to the well off potential tourists they will come as well and spend their money. Bangla Rd in Patong for example has come back about 80%, and I had a great time there in April. Soi Buakao is thriving, as far as viable business models go, proving that there is a potential clientele which would likely return to Walking St. So, the difference between me and you is I am speaking from direct experience and my intuitive business sense, as well as reliable examples of business models. You are just guessing with wishful thinking and obviously little or no actual experience in that kind of business, no disrespect intended. Cheers.

So why are you still here? Did you get covid? Sounds like you're still very much alive. Meanwhile 1,000,000 dead in the US. But don't let me spoil your fun, complain away.

"These people". Dog whistle term used by racists, xenophobes, and bigots. This isn't a scam the natives "cooked up". It follows standard successful Western textbook examples of scams, all anyone has to do is read about enough of them in the news and you can put one together. Convince a bunch of investors to cough up money with an effective sales pitch and bait, take the money and run. Ponzi scheme. Bernie Madoff. There are always going to be people tempted by the smell of money, regardless of nationality. Meanwhile as to your accusation about Thai people messing up regular work duties, I have found Thai people to be almost universally conscientious and responsible - don't know where your unfounded prejudices and bigotry toward Thais comes from, but very likely you create your own bad experiences with your own attitude and then scapegoat/gaslight others. If a Thai person doesn't like you for good reason, what should you expect but to have your bad attitude reflected back?