DrPhibes

I grew up in Ventura county, CA, a very productive agricultural area of CA.  ICE has now raided the fields there.  Strawberries are now rotting in the fields because there are no workers who will come pick them.  What is a farmer to do?  Aside from the fields, the rest of the county is rather affluent.  There are little to no destitute citizens there who will go pick vegetables.

Geeze!  I have falang friends that have both traveled recently out to Issan in the rural areas telling me 14 and 15yr olds are throwing themselves at them and they are both about 50!!  Economy must really be bad!

I'll look it up at Duke’s next session.  Been here years and have not made any effort to make friends as we kept saying maybe next year heading back to US.  Given the circumstances in the US and the world, we have decided to lay down roots about a year ago.  Time to find some buddies.

So BKK to LAX is gonna be Bangkok to KL to Japan to Hawaii to LAX?

On 6/26/2025 at 2:02 PM, wwest5829 said:

I have been a member for 14 years and have noted the club evolution over time. Currently new direction to try and revitalize the Chiang Mai Expats Club. First Saturday of the month buffet at Duke’s, Raumchok location continues and is well attended. I serve with Dr. Ava Walker at the “Newcomers’ table to try and help those new or just visiting Chiang Mai. As all reading might note: banking, immigration, healthcare, driving, insurance, housing, different areas of CM, etc. can be a bit of a challenge when first arriving or wanting to learn more about considering settling here. Hope we are able to help some. As to meeting folks, well that relies, in large measure, in the hands of the individual. There are also related sub groups for various interest focus. COVID hit hard, CM is still recovering.

Is this Dukes meeting at lunch and about what time? I literally live across the street from it and have been curious about the expats club.  How do I make a reservation?  Thanks in advance!

5 hours ago, Nickcage49 said:

This government cracks me up. Want to bet the law doesn't change, and if there are any changes, they will be cosmetic ones?

 

I didn't think there was any way they could justify putting so many businesses out of business.

Ya, just like taxing worldwide income, hahahaha!!

28 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

 

I would certainly NOT eat at a restaurant serving Cannabis in my meal! Perish the thought! I prefer fresh fruit and vegetables, not weed, from local farmers!

Wife is from Issan, cannabis is used in a couple of dishes there as a normal thing.  Helps with digestion and indigestion.  I worked in Shanghai in '87 and came down with serious stomach pains, cannabis dried and rolled up tight into a spherical pill was what was given to me.  Fixed me right up without any real psychotropic side effects.  

18 minutes ago, JAG said:

But he is a 'ginger"!

Making the 11th Dr. still.... very envious.

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Do you really think Islam is a race? 😄

 

So if a black Muslim marries a black Christian then the child is bi-racial? 😆

 

Some strange people on here...

 

 

I would say, more like Bi-Faithful 😉 

On 6/20/2025 at 8:28 AM, spidermike007 said:

Total agreement here. I travel back to the States frequently, a minimum of twice per year and I can tell you for a fact that Americans right now are rather joyless, and lacking in humor, they don't seem to be enjoying their lives very much, they're living, working, eating, and sleeping. Not much of a life, and many of them seem bitter, disenfranchised, disappointed, highly divided, and utterly joyless, no thanks. 

Agree, I just got back 3 weeks ago (go back every year to work for 3 months) and have to say, even those well off financially are somewhat depressed.  Some of that comes as the America they grew up with and loved is being morphed into something where a kid can't just walk alone or bike blocks away to a friends house without someone wanting to call child services on the parents.  The idea a kid should never get hurt physically from playing or having to deal emotionally when your friends don't like you one day (but are back being friends 2 days later) or that a kid should never cry.  Crying as a kid means their upset about something but does not always mean something is wrong.  There is less socializing as people are more and more glued to screens in all forms, creating real emotional isolation and I think people subconsciously are aware of it leading to a mild type of depression.  It is also the 1st time in American history that the generations coming up will generally be worse off than their parents and grandparents unless handed generational wealth.  Lastly, there is also the gut feeling that now we, the US, are the bad guys in the world right now when we used to stand up for what was right.  Pretty much summed up here.

Is there a link in the CM forum for the current paperwork requirements for Non-O Marriage extension renewal.  This will be my 2nd one.  Re-entered on a multiple reentry permit mid-May.  Current extension expires Aug 23rd.  Will have the money in for more than 2 months in a week.  Any guidance would be helpful.  AN word search looking specifically at CM requirements was unsuccessful.  Thanks in advance!

So, as I get older, my nose is going out over my septum causing back pressure that is closing the opening between the nostril and the nasal cavity.  This needs rhinoplasty to fix.  Wife's suggestion is that if your going to do that, might as well do a face lift along with that.  Admit, excess eye skin is becoming an irritant also.  Question from the audience is if there are equitable medical facilities in CM for such or do I need to go to BKK to have this done.  Any direction on this would be appreciated.  As always, thanks in advance!

I know someone who was swindled out of $850,000 USD in exactly this way.  Very embarrassing.

On 6/13/2025 at 3:03 PM, Hardcastle P said:

True but its the dollar weakening not the Thi bht getting stronger 

Agree, brought over our living expenses for the rest of the year a week ago from our account that only accumulates US Social Security so not taxable to Thailand.  Have only seen more degradation of the dollar since.

The way it is bundled and bar coded looks like a transfer from a central bank branch to a consumer branch and was somehow "intercepted".  I'd see what you could find out from the label. 

On 6/7/2025 at 8:16 AM, hotchilli said:

Seems globally things are happening... earth tremors and volcanoes popping off around the world.

On 6/6/2025 at 10:13 AM, StandardIssue said:

 

I thought we were buds Elon!!

What a clown show. First golden boy now arch enemy that Steve Bannon is calling to be deported🤣

Deport and steal SpaceX.  Like everyone else, once Trump sees they have no further value to him, out you go with Trump bad mouthing you as the door hits your ass.  This is starting to feel like an Ayn Rand novel.

On 6/5/2025 at 9:22 AM, JoePai said:

Sensible choice for once 

It is neither US nor Chinese.  Keeping this out of their balance between the two 😉

12 minutes ago, whiteman said:

GOLD

You can buy gold anywhere in the world with less instability in the tax law than here.

2 hours ago, harryviking said:

And I thought these planes were ready for the museums years ago!! Oh dear me....flying disasters....

Last off the Northrop assembly line in 1989, last modified 2017/2018.  Used mostly as a trainer these days by other countries.

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Some immigration offices do a 90 report at same visit for extension. 

Even if report window is not open. 

Meaning they do it early. 

If your report window is open you can do the TM47 report. 

You would do the extension first and then do the 90 report. 

Which immigration office? 

Chiang Mai, thanks for the quick response.

Yup, ran into fake site when I was about to head back to Thailand 5 days ago.  Was a bit confusing at first which site was the real one.