Presnock

As much as I am embarrassed ALMOST to admit that you are 100% correct in your analysis of the problems in the US today. I was born 78+ years ago in a lovely country loved by almost all the citizens, many of whom fought in the wars WWII, Korea and then some of us also fought in Vietnam (whether or not a valid war and run totally by the politicians) but that wasn't the cause of the total downfall of my nation. I at times cannot recognize what it has become. There are many states that I wouldn't mind if they just left the union as they are a drag on the country. The political situationis truly screwed up IMHO with most of the elected officials just wanting to suck at the teats of the government while they deal on insider trading to get rich - how can they do so on just a government salary so...whatever they can garner, they do so without caring what the public thinks. And why not, the public is so stupid in this regards as none want to serve the nation any longer anyway as the nation allows the current government to turn against the military anyway, no respect at all. Time for ALL voters to get rid of the current pack, set up a 3rd political party not run by the Super pacs and elect some folks who wish to return the nation to yester years honesty. Get rid of all this dead wood currently in power!

Exactly how I current feel. I have been anti-democrat since I could vote in the '60 and as I mentioned elsewhere, current elected officials make me hate Republicans just as much. All IMHO elected officials in the US for sure are insider-trading criminals, taking advantage of their positions to feed off the public. How else could they on their salaries end up afte a few years being very rich? It is definitely time for a clean sweep and have a 3rd party come into existence that will work for the nation and its citizens without sucking off the teat of government service looking out for ways to augment their re-election campaign chests. what happened to that country in which I grew up and learned to love honesty and integrity? I seem to think the US now is like many of the banana republics though that would give those countries and even worse reputation IMO anyway for what it is worth. I know, not a whole lot and against the feelings of many on this forum but that too is what an opinion forum is about, the sharing of such!

yessir IMHO Trump stepped right into the trap set by BRICS! All those countries can sit back and watch Trump destroy the US economy and the dollar as the most stable currency. What a total idiot for sure. Hope all the Maga folks love what he is doing to them too! I am anti-democrat and have been since the 60's but Trump sure makes me hate the Republicans too! Time for a 3rd party that really wants to help the citizens of the US and the world.

do not have to go to BOI in BKK, all can be done online from whereever, only need to go to BOI when receiving the visa. Any problems, can phone or email BOI crew which is extremely efficient and friendly and the speak ENGLISH well.

LTR is done online - only pick up at BOI in BKK where you must pay for it!

Don't really see any problem with immigration as the visa is really straight forward.

The LTE and LTR are not the same. I have not heard of any real problems with the LTR which for someone with the same simple finances I have, a super easy visa to arrange for and provide documentation without having to go out of my house - all on computer until time to get LTR visa - then yearly addfress check too simple less than 10 minutes. LTR is cheaper too and different benefits especially no taxation on foreign income.

you can contact the BOI by email or phone (just google BOI LTR and you can get the contacts) can do all on line once, register, then when all approved, you will have to come to BKK to the BOI tp pay for an receive LTR and they will arrange for cancellation of whatever visa you were on. Is easy to do and the BOI crew are very helpful and speak English well.

Some people still believe every lie that Trump puts out and immediately acts even though they realize what he is demanding is illegal. eah the SC said he could do no wrong but IMHO the laws will come back to haunt him and his people. If he survives the entire 4 years in this term, I blv that he will be taken care of and will cease to bother Americans and the world. MHO anyway as I do not believe in breaking the laws set forth in our constitution - I took that oath many times during my career both military and civilian.

In both cases, I imagine attorneys are planning lawsuits against the illegal activities of the police officials. Knowing that the officials are aware of the individuals being American citizens then the police MUST according to the Constitutional laws follow such laws. Eventually, this type of person will be able to sue the government officials doing illegal seizures! IMHO anyway. Though Trump cause of this activity will most likely escape any problems!

some restaurants/bakeries even have some toasts done and GRAB to your residence. I personally like Sourdough bread as it is healthier and one restaurant I have ordered from does toast with sliced fresh tomatoes and mozerella cheese melted - healthy and great taste. Now, sourdough bread can be purchase in a lot of different stores and bakeries.

BOI and immigration have moved to a new location - now at 6th and 7th floors, One Bangkok (MRT Lumphini) PARADE Zone, Rama 4 Road, Pathum Wan, Bangkok. I believe the phone nrs are still the same and on their correspondence with you they most likely have this new address versus the old address in ChumChuri Bldg., Good luck

Wou should contact the BOI prior to the date to get your LTR and ask them if they can arrange for your current visa to be cancelled at the same time. I was on a retirement O and they set that up for me when I got my LTR and immigration at BOI cancelled my Retirement O visa. Had no problems...just did my 1st year notice of address at BOI and spent less than 10 minutes total thee as it was a breeze too. Congrats on the LTR, in my mind/case, the perfect fit! My retirement visa was done in Chiang Mai but the Immigration at BOI cancelled it.

amen to that!

The problem is the elected officials, and the rich who only want to get richer, time they were brought back down to earth IMHO. Trump the first of all!

There were over 500 new billionaires created during the pandemic including 40 in the Pharma industry. How come I missed out on this?

Totally agree. I have relatives including a daughter living in the US. And like you say, it is a different country from that in which I grew up MD E. Shore near between large bay and the ocean and do miss the fishing and beach area much different than that here. The weather patterns there are changing too and not in positive manner based on the news clips I see daily and in chats with my daugher there and friends in other states. No one seems happy there anymore and worried about the future. A shame but hopefully things will improve before too long.

At 78 I realized not a long time ago, that I am OLD and while I may have had some options and could affect some changes in situations, those days have passed. Now when I see another sunrise, I am very happy and look forward to some more. I eat healthy IAW Dr. WIlliam Li's books on food researches that enable us to have healthier bodies and agree with his research and glad that in Thailand, almost all the foods he has done research on are available. Lots, of fruits, nuts, seeds, veggies with so many that he advises that one should go throug the list and pick out favorite foods,as any combinations are good for health and fighting diseases that the western diet has fathered. No aches and pains, sleep very well, eat twice a day in a 4-5 hour period and fast thereafter, but never hungry either. Maybe not for all but I swear by them now, without trying, lost those 8 pounds I had wanted gone a long time ago and did so in a short period of time. plenty of energy and if you haven't figured it out yet, I am a big fan of Dr. LI! Have a great day!

we spent 3 months in Kanchanaburi as the flood didn't go away early. Daugher's school was right next o one of the klongs being used to drain the flood waters so that school was closed for many months.

Yeah, I enlisted in the AF in 1964- Gulf of Tonkin occured while I was in basic so instead of studying Chinese I became a Vietnamese liguist. Spent about 18 months flying out of Danang, VN, and many years in Asia, Myanmar when it was still Burma, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan (Fusamachi, Tokyo and Kadena), Philippines Manila, Cebu and familiar with Clark as a typhoon evac of our Kadena based acft and Pinatubo days. But also spent many years in Europe, some time in Africa, and Central America. Then I retired from civil service here in Bangkok as that was my first choice among those other countries that I had lived in. I have been retired here for over 20 years and still consider it Paradise. I spent some time each year doing taxes in the states but finally in 2015 got rid of my last house, several vehicles and split the money from those among my two daughters. Life is still good, Thailand has changed since the early 1970's but so has the rest of the world - some good some bad. Good luck to you!

Yeah I wrote that the weather historians said it did snow in CM province in 1955 once, and assumed it was on the highest mountain here. They also mentioned that even though on the mountains it sometimes gets to zero degrees ( I have been on Doiinthanon when it was at zero degrees at daylight about 10 years ago. watched the dew freeze to white color all over the grass. The weather site mentioned that for snow there has to be a certain amount of moisture in the air which is normally lacking in Thailand during that time of year. Yeah along the Mekhong the land is much lower than in ChiangMai with lots of mountains. I can recall in NKP that some mudpuddles did turn to ice during the winter but not often and that was in the 72-73.

"normal" folk I gues want to control others lives and complain immediately if someone doesn't agree with them.

well the tourists came which was the intention of the government just to get them to come for several days or a week to spend money. I know that and avoided the crowds for sure. I don't drink nor smoke drugs nor participate in those activities' locations. Used to be that Bangkok during SongKran was deserted and one could drive around the city with no traffic.

I googled snow in Thailand ever and it said according to the archives it did snow once in 1955 probably on doi inthanon. and explained why snow is so rare in Thailand. Guess one can neevr be too old to learn something ! Thanks for informing me!

Must have been on top of doi intanon I was in NKP early 70's, winter was pretty cool but never heard of the snow. this year, el nino is gone replaced by la nina, last rainy season Korat nakorn Ratchasima was totally dry with the dam holding less than 30% of water needed so crops were affected early this year but lately they have had more summer storms with hours of heavy downpours, filling the dam back up and watering all the crops. Beautiful corn I saw on the news this past week!. Now the weather folks are saying through the end of this month lots of high temperatures and therefore summer storms in especially North and eastern Pakisaan. the south continues with heavy rains daily.