AlfonsV

Often Thai men let their small children recklessly behind without any empathy and responsibility. Sad but nothing really new.

20 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

After years I did another attempt to find unsweetened condensed milk. Gave up.

Sweetened, sweetened AND mixed with palm oil (another "healthy" highlight) or completely from palm oil (faking).

So I remain tied to coffee mate. Made of:

palm oil ☹️

coffee mate is so artificial and not tasty, I don't take it anymore since years. I changed to Americano black

After having read the comparison TH vs PI in detail I am happy to live in TH even I needed to accustom to some unpleasant issues - but which country in the world is free from even in the Western world?

I did understand but wrote about food

Quote

Agree about the food. The Western food is good, but expensive. The local food is mostly horrendous. 

For me food is important, however I always wonder why people emigrate to a country where they do not like the local cuisine and keep eating their western food, in American chains such as Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut or Sizzler for instance. As in an expensive "food ghetto" of expats.

On 7/26/2023 at 10:12 AM, JimHuaHin said:

I arrived in Thailand 10 years ago tomorrow on an Non Immi O-A "Retirement" visa.

 

I am in Hua Hin, and every year that the compulsory Thai health insurance policy have been required, an immigration officer checks that I have a valid policy letter in Thai before I am permitted to enter the office to apply for an extension.   When I see the Immigration Officer inside and present all the required documentation and photocopies, he/she gets up, goes to another computer at the back of the office, and checks that my policy is valid.

 

suggestion : change to simple O-visa and you can choose the insurance and the coverage you want, if any. As far as I know they will give you the simple O-visa anyway as the O-A is the one you need if you enter from your homeland.

On 7/26/2023 at 10:12 AM, JimHuaHin said:

I arrived in Thailand 10 years ago tomorrow on an Non Immi O-A "Retirement" visa.

 

I am in Hua Hin, and every year that the compulsory Thai health insurance policy have been required, an immigration officer checks that I have a valid policy letter in Thai before I am permitted to enter the office to apply for an extension.   When I see the Immigration Officer inside and present all the required documentation and photocopies, he/she gets up, goes to another computer at the back of the office, and checks that my policy is valid.

 

Compulsory insurance is only needed if you continue the Non Immi O-A Retirement visa. At least in Chiang Mai. Ask and confirm at your immi.

On 7/26/2023 at 9:48 AM, KhunBENQ said:

Quite likely you will be forced into a health insurance following their guidelines.

On one hand there still seem to be "pro-forma" insurances with extreme excess (self payment). 

Price for such waste paper seems to go down to the four digit range.

 

On the other consider to cancel your Non O-A with a border run and visa exempt entry.

That's what I and others did.

This route is only recommended if you do your extension on the base of 800k in the bank.

Multiple threads in the forum if you are interested.

If you enter with a tourist visa and apply later for a retired visa based on 800k you will get automatically a NON-O which not needs any insurance (at least in CNX). Thus you are free to choose an insurance or not and if you like to have any you are free to choose a domestic or an international insurance. There is no need to have a O-A which is only required if you apply a visa from abroad, i. e. your home. I did so spending a few days in Luang Prabang (even 1-2 night would be enough). Inexpensive Laos Air starts from BKK or CNX, is easy to book online and reliable.

Some years ago I went to Mr Krit. Formerly he was in the city, then moved in direction to Hang Dong or to Hang Dong. I kept 2 phone numbers not knowing if they are still working. 081 49 69 143 and 091 851 21 85. Possibly his wife takes the phone.

From my experiences in governmental or private hospitals, at least in the bigger cities, the doctors and nurses do their very best. The health system is much better than in the real third world. However, in very special issues, treatments and surgeries, knowledge, equipment and medicine yet didn't reach the level of more specialized hospitals/clinics in more advanced countries (Japan or Switzerland for instance). Some people travel to Thailand to get a better treatment but some Thai people travel to Japan for difficult surgeries if they may afford.

5 hours ago, captpkapoor said:

While this may be true of a lot of (even educated) Thais, in my almost 50 years of work in various countries as well as working alongside various nationalities, I can honestly say that I've come across many Western (even educated !) people with very poor knowledge of international geography, history, cultures, languages and origins. The average newspaper is full of extremely local news, with barely a page devoted to international news - and that's for those who even bother to read a paper. 

Nowadays you do not need newspapers any more to be informed.

1 hour ago, KhaoYai said:

I don't doubt that at all but in relation to Thailand, the lack of education, or interest in it appears to be endemic, almost cultural.  Over the years I've seen a few programmes on TV relating to education in Africa and what was portrayed was kids desperate to learn but in many cases being constrained by a lack of funds, infrastructure and teachers.  An apparent contrast compared to what we see in so many Thai kids.  Could there be a societal reason for that?

 

As I mentioned earlier, my English teacher mate was told by the head of his school that he could not fail pupils - everyone had to pass.  To me, that illustrates an attitude of eductation not being taken seriously - providing kids appear to have been educated, all is well.

 

We are all born with empty heads and learn from our family, friends and academically, at school as we grow.  If that learning includes the attitude that having educational certificates rather than the actual knowledge is the most important thing, it is maybe, not so difficult to understand the lack of interest by pupils. 

 

The influence of the Thai phenomenon of 'Face' in Thai society may have a large bearing on this matter.  I don't think that many Westerners appreciate just how much 'Face' affects many aspects of life in Thailand.  I have come across many Thai people who have more understanding of English for example, than they appear to have.  Many won't even attempt to speak English for fear of getting it wrong and appearing stupid.  When I've tried to explain that foreigners will not make fun of them for trying it soon becomes apparent that it is not foreigners that create that fear - its looking stupid in front of other Thais.

 

Explained using that perspective, it is possibly not so difficult to understand the apparent lack of interest in education amongst many Thai kids.  Whether that apparent lack of interest is real or just a fear of losing 'Face', could possibly be the question. When kids can obtain a 'pass' when they have not actually ingested the knowledge necessary to achieve it, its not surprising that they appear uninterested in learning. I suspect that stripped bare, Thai kids are no different to any others, it may well be societal influences that make them the way they are.

From my experience I completely agree. The fears about loosing face (teachers, children, parents, friends, neighbours) is a very big obstacle in this society. These fears are culturally and mentally so deep rooted that I am afraid they will "never" overcome.

Remark: in some schools you can pay for a certificate even you was absent half of the time.

5 hours ago, captpkapoor said:

While this may be true of a lot of (even educated) Thais, in my almost 50 years of work in various countries as well as working alongside various nationalities, I can honestly say that I've come across many Western (even educated !) people with very poor knowledge of international geography, history, cultures, languages and origins. The average newspaper is full of extremely local news, with barely a page devoted to international news - and that's for those who even bother to read a paper. 

Nowadays you do not need newspapers any more to be informed.

12 hours ago, petermik said:

Exactly...treat them as mushrooms kept in the dark and fed on rubbish....they don,t want the masses learning and asking awkward questions ????

In an upcountry school a 15/16 y/o boy didn't dare to ask his teacher about an issue he didn't understand when he was sitting in the classroom. Because the question "WHY" would be taken as an offence and undermine the teacher's authority. This is respect for elders ad absurdum based on hundreds of years of strict social hierarchy.

On 3/4/2023 at 2:08 PM, Tayida said:

Ordered five shirts, same size L: delivered as follow 

Size: S, M, M, S, XL. 

Still wait the right size or the money.

 

 

 

my experience with underwear is similar. 2 of 5 times the size was not correct, 1 time the color

@JanPederIn CM the office for TM 30 is no longer in the 2nd floor but behind the main building next the copy shop.

Even the online report generally works it's never 100% reliable. It's easy to get the stamp at the drive-in counter outside of the immi, in short time, also a pedestrian.

I have no experience with canvas paintings. However, before I had left Thailand after my second visit to Thailand as a tourist, almost 40 years ago, I got an export permit for a very small wooden Buddha image in rural style, at that time worth THB 40(?). At the office I presented 4 pictures, seen from each side. I learned how much the bureaucracy is overdoing and the effort to do was unnecessary. Thus, during some 30 years I carried in my suitcase a lot of Buddha images from tiny size to 30 cm hight out of the country. Even it was x-rayed it was never a problem. When I immigrated to Thailand some years ago, I brought all of them back, again in my suitcase and step by step. Although always x-rayed there was never a critical question or a request to open the luggage. Only once an officer recognized one of the Buddha statues and smiled when I said "Buddha is come home". However, I always avoided to carry a Buddha image in my hand luggage.

3 hours ago, swissie said:

Switzerland had a very liberal "Immigration-Policy" for decades. With the result that almost 25% of the population has a "Migrant-Background" by now.

If Thailand does not want such a scenario, can't blame them. More power to them. Long live strict immigration rules.

The difference is that the migrants in Switzerland usually are relatively quick integrated and are allowed to work after a while - as far as I know. In Thailand, the elder expats who are not integrated in a working process which would increase the GDP. And if they are working than it is for a international company and the net product doesn't remain in Thailand.
I am not an economist, perhaps I am wrong.

10 hours ago, placnx said:

Another question: Is the Sriphat equipment for procedures as up-to-date as private hospitals?

 

For example, I got a colonoscopy at Bumrungrad 4 years ago, and they had a scope with several wave lengths of light to detect abnormal growth. Afterwards I got a report in color with numerous photos of possible pre-cancerous polyps, etc. These were numbered with a map of the large intestine showing locations of the detail photos. Does Sriphat or any private hospital in CM have the same capability? The doc in Bumrungrad had previously been my GI doc in Sriphat.

RAM do the same

The PCR test abroad before travel to LOSO is the minor issue. However, the awfully programmed Thai Pass procedure and the following impacts at arrival is the real obstacle - not only for tourists but for expats as well. Better 1 PCR test in old Europe and then let us in without any restriction.

My plane arrived together with 2 or 3 others more or less at the same time, hundreds of people in front of me. We have to wait 1,5 hours to finally reach the immigration counter. I have to wait another 20-30 minutes while other guests to the same hotel were collected. The hotel was called ".... Airport Hotel" but the van needed some 20 minutes to get there, without traffic jam and mainly on the highway. I arrived the hotel some 3 hours after the plane was landed.

Immediately I was tested at a desk in front of the hotel and got the result after 13 hours. Surprisingly the quarantine allowed freely moving in the building, the court and the restaurant. Staff and room were very nice, however as the T&G package was cheap the buffet was not pleasant, probably better I would have ordered from the menu. When I checked out they gave me a ATK test set which I used some days later recognizing that it was officially useless.

I installed the Mor Chana app on 2 phones, one with a European sim, the other with a Thai sim. One does not work, the other shows always the same, never ever got a message, never ever someone was asking me if I installed it on my phone. It's useless.

I live in 5 minutes walking distance from a well-known private hospital and 10 minutes to drive to the university hospital, however they are not allowed to do the second PCR test but only 3 recommended ones on the list. I called all 3. The nearest No 1 was fully booked on that day and it was already my 7th day. No 2 send me directly to No 3 where I arrived after a 20 minutes ride by Grab. As there was not the smallest hint in English where the test station is located I have to ask 5 people and going around to find it temporarily installed in the parking space in the basements of building no 3. Exactly on the "plastic wall" in front of registration desk there was the first paper pinned with some short information in English. The test itself was done in a nearby "tent". I got the result by e-mail on the same day.

What else to say than "amazing Thailand".....

First you need the most clear QR code possible. Often paper prints are not clear enough. Then you have to create a picture by cutting it out very precisely, i. e. only 1 mm margin around.