dlclark97

I was once scratched by a large playful St Bernard here in Thailand. Your hospital did not err on the side of caution. Rabies in animals is quite common here. As explained to me, any scratch or bite from any animal demands that the rabies series be administered. The option to not take them is up to you but this is one issue where you are rolling the dice if you don't take the shots. As for some comments about overcharging hospitals, think about what these treatments would cost in your home country. I am 84 and can only rave about the care I have had in 3 hospitals and in a BDMS Wellness facility in Bangkok.

Should have faked accepting the bribe and had his friend bring the 1 million. Could have put the cuffs on both of them.

For a little respite from the constant noise, heavy traffic in Pattaya, try Jomtien Beach area. Touristy but without the constant noise/traffic issues as Pattaya. For an even more casual time go to Bang Saray, a little further down the coast but far less traffic/noise. If you want relaxing definitely avoid Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. In the north, Mae Hong Son, Phai (Pai maybe), add a few touristy sightseeing places and you have Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. As said earlier, Thailand is not as cheap as it once was especially if your food choices are primarily western style. Thai foods are less expensive and tasty although some may be a little spicy for your taste. Koh Chang was mentioned, a pretty popular place with the Russians at this time. Koh Larn off of Pattaya area busy, nice beaches. Kao Lak might also be a good choice. And, to give a little leeway to get more familiar with Thailand and what it has to offer (there's a lot), 30 days and possibly a 30 day extension could make a nice trip funds permitting. If you go to Jomtien, check out the restaurant on beach road next to the 7/11 at the corner of Soi 9 on beach road. Everyone goes there as a customer and leaves as a friend.

Nothing personal with you but I and many others I associate with hate those that walk around sticking the phones or camera in people's faces. You may not believe it but many if not most find this very rude and offensive. Plus, you may be violating the law depending on what you do with your pictures and videos such as posting them on what I call the anti-social sites without the permission of those in your images.

What is best said is 'be cautious'. Bar girls, and there are many good ones but others care more about your wallet and generosity than you as a person/love interest. Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket may be some of the worst places to find the next love of your life. Most of the men they meet in those places know most foreigners have come there for a 2- or 3- week holiday and they know how to get what they want and need most from the men they meet. It seems to be a 'get what you can while you can' attitude. Try some less touristy places such as Ban Chang in Rayong. Possibly more choices in the Jomtien Beach area although their attitudes may be similar to those in Pattaya. Don't be concerned about the age difference even with the girls not working in the bars. Try chatting with the girls working in the 7/11's, TESCO, Big C, banks and even the hospital if you have a need to go there. That said, I am 84 and the lady I have been with about 2 years is 40 and beautiful. She has a university degree, previously married to a Norwegian man who travelled internationally for work, she had the opportunity to go with him on many trips to many countries including the USA and the Uk and several others. She also has good English and we can even discuss the stock market in the USA. Because of the very different cultures, one thing to look for in a lady is whether the two of you are able to sit down and have an intelligent and interesting conversation about things that interest both of you. Be careful and good luck!

Contrary to many of the comments above I have enjoyed the company of some Russian people. Granted my encounter with them was before the current war broke out. And we were living together with others on a boat for six days of SCUBA diving. We were in Indonesian waters at the time. There were 5 Russians aboard, one was an interpreter. They were all businessmen in their 40's and early 50's with some English, but the interpreter was there when needed. After a day of diving, it is common to sit at the bow of the boat conversing about the day's activities and having something to drink. Much of my communications with them were about the 'old' vs the 'new' Russia. There were many interesting and enlightening discussions every night we were together. And I was never able to get my glass more than half empty without being offered a refill. Obviously, these Russians were of the more affluent and well-educated class, probably somewhat different from the groups now arriving at places such as Pattaya and the Jomtien Beach area. Even there though I have the occasional opportunity for short and pleasant conversations with some Russians usually when we are in a restaurant at adjacent tables where it is easy to start a conversation while you await your order or in a few relaxing minutes after eating. It does not seem hard to get a conversation going. Try just saying hello, and how are you enjoying Thailand?

One thing that I/we have become aware or recently is that your heirs may be asked for the original passport and original bank passbook when the account was opened. Very important to maintain these where they can be easily found when/if needed. A friend of mine here died in hospital several months ago. The weird thing his wife had to provide was the death certificates for her now deceased husbands parents. This went on for so long she eventually had to make a trip to the USA to get help on this. Probably close to a year before she was able to get any funds released that were not in her name. He also had no Thai Will.

Thai banks are not allowed to list a beneficiary. I just went through this exercise with 2 new bank accounts, I already have an account at BBL. A beneficiary can only be designated on insurance policies here in Thailand.

Hard to disagree with your chart. I was looking at my banks chart July 1 - 13 for the $50-$100 rates. Just a slow but steady downward trend the last few days that may/may not continue. Personally, I hope it goes in the other direction.

Is it going to change the USD to THB exchange rates. Check out some bank graphics for the last few days since this started to become headlines. Slowly dropping, fewer baht to the USD. Potential to be some peoples continued existence here over what could be a short time. This would be especially true for the UK folks and possibly others living on pensions that have been held at their original rate for years since their retirement. Several are barely coping now.

When written with the assistance of a lawyer, the signing is done and witnessed on every page. Pictures are also made at this time and become part of the Will. The lawyer also keeps one original.

Whatever the outcome, one problem I foresee is that many Americans have not been able to complete their USA Income Tax Returns due often to late arrival to complete their tax returns. The tax due date in the USA traditionally is April 15th but persons living overseas have an automatic 60-day extension (if requested). Tax preparers in Thailand go by these dates so no one will know by March 15th what tax has already been paid in their home country.

Sorry for the multiple copies above. I kept getting a red text saying to wait 1 second to submit my comments.

It's hard to disagree with much said above. When my stepdaughter was 8 or 9 in public school she had an English class. On one occasion I had not seen her homework before she submitted it to her teacher. When the paper was returned it had 9 check marks and one 'X'. She had been given 10 sentences with 10 jumbled up words for her to put in the proper English order. As I reviewed her results, at best I would have graded her with 8 'X's and 2 check marks. Teacher just justifying her position? Luckily, she has done better in subsequent years thanks in part to a more advanced school in Pattaya. An aptitude test for her entry in that school resulted in one of her classes being the use of AutoCad (3D version) for computer aided design. She completed the design drawings of various example projects that once completed, she actually went on to make the product in the school's machine shops. Today she is in a Bachelor's program for Business Management/Administration at a university in Bangkok. She is a young lady now, well-disciplined, polite and with basically good English skills. She should/could become a valued employee in anything she does. However, the family is in the fruit business growing durian, rambutan and other fruits and seem to be pushing her in that direction having just purchased 20 Rai of farmland near Chantaburi for her. The family has done extremely well with their farming business, but farming is a hard way of life with long days, hard physical work and the results can be severely impacted by weather, climate change and even political issues. My thoughts as a foreigner are that she should be the one deciding on and planning for her future. Although the family has done very well, there are no guarantees she would achieve the same success in today's world.

It's hard to disagree with much said above. When my stepdaughter was 8 or 9 in public school she had an English class. On one occasion I had not seen her homework before she submitted it to her teacher. When the paper was returned it had 9 check marks and one 'X'. She had been given 10 sentences with 10 jumbled up words for her to put in the proper English order. As I reviewed her results, at best I would have graded her with 8 'X's and 2 check marks. Teacher just justifying her position? Luckily, she has done better in subsequent years thanks in part to a more advanced school in Pattaya. An aptitude test for her entry in that school resulted in one of her classes being the use of AutoCad (3D version) for computer aided design. She completed the design drawings of various example projects that once completed, she actually went on to make the product in the school's machine shops. Today she is in a Bachelor's program for Business Management/Administration at a university in Bangkok. She is a young lady now, well-disciplined, polite and with basically good English skills. She should/could become a valued employee in anything she does. However, the family is in the fruit business growing durian, rambutan and other fruits and seem to be pushing her in that direction having just purchased 20 Rai of farmland near Chantaburi for her. The family has done extremely well with their farming business, but farming is a hard way of life with long days, hard physical work and the results can be severely impacted by weather, climate change and even political issues. My thoughts as a foreigner are that she should be the one deciding on and planning for her future. Although the family has done very well, there are no guarantees she would achieve the same success in today's world.

It's hard to disagree with much said above. When my stepdaughter was 8 or 9 in public school she had an English class. On one occasion I had not seen her homework before she submitted it to her teacher. When the paper was returned it had 9 check marks and one 'X'. She had been given 10 sentences with 10 jumbled up words for her to put in the proper English order. As I reviewed her results, at best I would have graded her with 8 'X's and 2 check marks. Teacher just justifying her position? Luckily, she has done better in subsequent years thanks in part to a more advanced school in Pattaya. An aptitude test for her entry in that school resulted in one of her classes being the use of AutoCad (3D version) for computer aided design. She completed the design drawings of various example projects that once completed, she actually went on to make the product in the school's machine shops. Today she is in a Bachelor's program for Business Management/Administration at a university in Bangkok. She is a young lady now, well-disciplined, polite and with basically good English skills. She should/could become a valued employee in anything she does. However, the family is in the fruit business growing durian, rambutan and other fruits and seem to be pushing her in that direction having just purchased 20 Rai of farmland near Chantaburi for her. The family has done extremely well with their farming business, but farming is a hard way of life with long days, hard physical work and the results can be severely impacted by weather, climate change and even political issues. My thoughts as a foreigner are that she should be the one deciding on and planning for her future. Although the family has done very well, there are no guarantees she would achieve the same success in today's world.

I am from the US and I have made both a Thai and USA Will. There are very specific ways a Thai Will is written. This almost requires that the Will be written, and signatures witnessed by a Thai lawyer. Each paragraph of my Thai Will is first in Thai followed by the English version. The Thai Will must include specific details such as images of bank account passbook ownership pages. Any vehicles to be left to an individual must be specifically identified. For my Thai Will (not expensive) photographs were taken of me will the Will and parts of me signing the Will. These pictures are included in the final copy for signatures. I signed plus the lawyer and one witness signed each page of the Will. My initial Will cost was 10K baht and later modifications or additions are 5K baht. The USA Will is much easier. It should have similar detail as in a Thai Will but only has to be completed in English. I used three witnesses, 2 Thais and a retired US Army Colonel to witness my signing of the Will. Whatever you do, don't delay making your Wills. It will save your family and friends untold headaches trying to get things sorted if you die without proper Wills.

Try this one, HP Thailand. https://www.hpe.com/asia_pac/en/contact-hpe-thailand.html

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TAX ADVISORS - BANGKOK

Try BNH (Bangkok Nursing Hospital, Convent Road), Dr Nopparat. Chief of Cardio Metabolic Dept. Been my Dr several years. I have had good doctors in the USA, but he outshines them all.

Ford has a 10 year contract to support Chevrolets. Parts are readily available, see https://www.gpautoparts.co.th/en/products-service-2/after-market-2/ac-delco-products-2/. After reading other comments I have to add a little. Toyota is the top selling brand with good record of their maintenance services. Honda a close second. In my time here I have purchased four 4 door Colorado pick ups. Very happy with all of them.

Could it be a CATON (not sure of spelling) tree? Had a very large one in my yard some years back. When ready, 100's of CATON would fall every night. They often broke open from the fall and by early morning would be covered by red ants. Very messy and a daily chore to clean them up and dispose of the fruit.

I have an Android box that has worked perfectly for months. No buffering. Service is NT (old TOT). But, I was getting an upgrade to the box yesterday (I had not watched TV in several days) and was told to expect possible major buffering because a major communications cable had been severed and will be sometime before repairs are completed. For the first time last night I did have severe buffering. Maybe every 30 seconds it would be buffering 10-15 seconds. Hope whatever the problem is that it will be fixed soon.

Not sure how this short write up succeeded in any of the following. "This article delves into the intricacies of this new tax tango, offering a roadmap for expats to navigate the complexities and unlock potential strategies to secure their financial future in the Land of Smiles."