mstevens

Could it be that some of the terrible smoke / pollution that has hit Malaysia may have drifted up to Bangkok and is a partial caused of the recent elevated pollution levels?

I have taken Symbicort for some years and it works really well for me. If it's causing you thrush problems, try drinking a glass of water shortly after inhaling. I imagine that will help. Try not to give up on Symbicort too easily because the few others I know who use it also swear by it, it really is very effective!

21 minutes ago, Momofarang said:

Did I get this right? They seem to say that any stay beyond the TE expiry date would be illegal. So if you enter on the last day of membership and immigration give you a one year stamp your stay beyond the existing membership is illegal.

Yep, that's how I read  / interpret it....

12 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Some of us have to experience it every day and it's often a lot more than a 3 train wait!

What is your average wait....how many trains and how long?

I believe that Thais and Farangs don't always share the same values. What is important to so many Thais is not what's important to me. I do like some Thai individuals but generally, but I find I much prefer to socialise with, do business with and have small interactions with those from developed countries. I never had any Thai male friends and the only Western friend of mine who had a genuine Thai make friend met his pal at university in Australia.

The UK want to get this FTA done with New Zealand as it is a small country with which the UK is super friendly and it will effectively be a practice run for the bigger FTAs that follow with much bigger countries / trading partners.

Anchor butter is really good and doesn't have the mild taste of impurities as some butter does.

On 8/31/2019 at 9:17 AM, keith101 said:

Why would people pay so much for a phone that's designed to last less than 2 years before breaking down which is why you see so many second hand ones for sale as well as those who just have to have the latest to show their friends .

Damn, I must have received faulty phones from Apple! My first iPhone lasted 6 years before I gave it away and the second is going along nicely and will soon pass the 2-year mark. Damn you, Apple, they're supposed to break down after 2 years according to Keith101 so you must have supplied me with a dud!

The consulates in Brisbane, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand are both soft touches. Brisbane is a better bet as tourist visas are often issued in an hour and it's a shorter and cheaper flight to Australia than it is to New Zealand.

Very serious allegations made by the OP. I'd REALLY like to know if this is for real, or not. If it is, wow!

I was in this very same situation once. I enclosed a brief covering letter when I submitted the application explaining that I was not employed at the time, but I was able to show a bank account balance that would easily cover the duration of my travels. The visa was issued without a problem.

13 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

There are obnoxious people in all walks of life, although Immigration Officers tend to have more than most.  Quite why people appear so shocked and then decide to base their opinion about the whole country, and their future there, on just one or two unpleasant people, I have no idea.  Seems totally irrational.

While it might seem irrational to you, I think it is quite reasonable given the regularity one comes across obnoxious Thais in uniform who thrive on lauding it over visitors and "showing off" their power. It makes many of us sick and is a dreadful welcome to the country if the Immigration Officer is rude and obnoxious for no good reason....which increasingly seems to be the case if reports here are anything to go by!

12 hours ago, Pilotman said:

What a tall story, good laugh though. People don't get stopped on an air bridge by Police for any reason, never mind no reason.   Try again.  

I have flown in to Bangkok and witnessed Immigration officers stopping people on the air bridge on more than one occasion. As I recall, at least one time they seemed to be stopping all of the young (20 something) Indian / Indian-looking males. So it's not a tall story at all!

11 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

"...to try again in a few months." - meaning?? Stay out of Thailand for 3(??) months, or just don't apply there for the next couple months?

What they mean is, "We're not giving you a visa now and we'll say something to get rid of you and put you off returning any time soon".

Zero guarantee that returning in a few months will be any better...

If you're willing to travel, the consulates in Brisbane Australia and Auckland New Zealand are both very easy and from recent reports, each will issue a multiple-entry tourist visa to non-Australians and New Zealanders. Brisbane probably better as it's a shorter flight and they usually issue the visa while you wait / within an hour.

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Socks? Do I strike you as German?

Ah, no....not a chance.....you could never be anything but an American.

15 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Most America women are completely lost, when it comes to romance, and men. He had a great life here, prior to going broke. Spoke good Thai, and was constantly meeting and going out with lovely, young women. In the US, as a man of nearly 60, a man is as invisible as Casper the ghost, to women under 60! Unless you are wealthy, young, or very good looking, the prospects of dating an attractive woman who is not within your own age range, are very low.

 

He was a smart, charming, articulate, funny, lovely man. I guess he felt such a sense of desperation, he ended up taking his own life, a few years ago. Such a sad story. Miss him to this day. 

This guy is nearly 60, broke and earning $10 / hour. You infer he is not good-looking either. Hardly sounds like a prize catch so I don't think the American women can be blamed for not showing him any attention!

5 minutes ago, bowerboy said:

In my view (moving back to Australia) I would need $75k to allow for car, furniture and probably 6 months rent in advance to ensure you get the place you want. $125k if you don’t have a job to go back to.

Yep, I agree with these numbers. I always said to myself if I was out of work, spending more than was coming in and got down to my last $100K, it was time to go home. That would be the parachute point.

I used to drink twice a week or so, a few drinks each time. Have since given it up and feel better for it and don't miss it. It was not so much a conscious decision, simply something that happened over time.