Banana7

Thai government officials would be lunatics to agree to allow Chinese Police to operate anywhere in Thailand, for any reason.

2 minutes ago, connda said:

You can b*tch and complain about it until the buffalos come home, but the lesson I learned the first week in Chiang Mai after a near miss: As you cross, keep your eyes on all the traffic, especially behind and in-between the cars where motorcycles are most likely to shoot though, at speed, without stopping.

  "But they are breaking the law!!! Arrggghhh."

But when you get hit by a car, truck, bus, or motorcycle - it's your broken body in the hospital and you'll probably be paying all the bill as half or more will hit and run.  The other 40% will plead poverty and no insurance.  So?  You do what you learned in Kindergarten (or at least my Kindergarten):  Look both ways, look again, and keep scanning for anything moving as you cross.  It's your butt on the line.

  "But they are breaking the law!!! Arrggghhh."

Whatever!  

If you get hit by a driver in Thailand with no insurance or a runner, there is a special uninsured drivers fund which can help with hospital bils. You must file a claim within 30 days of the accident. If there is no insurance, the court can order sale of assets, like the motor vehicle, to pay for hospital bills, loss of wages, etc.

4 hours ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

Not the same. Each country fought a prolonged war to establish its independence. It did not come just like that because people fled from England to the USA. 

Go back to the history books, Canada did not fight a war against England. The same can be said for Australia and New Zealand, which also have the same culture  and roots in England. All five are separate sovereign countries, as Taiwan should be from China.

As for Taiwan and China having the same culture, there are major critical differences such as: democracy, freedom of speech, free elections, etc. etc.

Just now, CartagenaWarlock said:

I did not say the only language. They are the same people (same root), have the same culture, and speak the same language. Portugal and Brazil are not the same people, and they don't have the same culture.

Well England, Canada and USA certainly have the same roots and culture and speak the same language. Over time they have developed some minor differences in culture.

30 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

How is Taiwan a different country? The same people, the same culture, the same language, and a one-party fascist dictator until 2000, by which time Taiwan was already a developed country. 

That type of thinking is insane. Just because England, Canada and USA have the same official language, and many cultural similarities that makes them one county? Just because Portugal and Brazil have the same official language that makes them the same country? There are many countries whose official language is Spanish and have very similar cultures, that makes them one country. Absolutely ridiculous!

2 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Many years ago I was part of the UN Police Mission in Haiti.  It was major a "Charlie Foxtrot". We the UN police had no authority to enforce any laws, detain anyone or even make an arrest.  Most of the time the Haitian Police ignored us.  We were supposed to just advise the local police. I do not see an issue if the Chinese Police are in LOS to act as advisors and to deal strictly with Chinese citizens (this might accelerate the move to get "bad guys out").  This has the potential for a major international incident if a Chinese Police officer has a physical confrontation with a foreign visitor.  Of course it is always peaceful in LOS????

You don't understand the Chinese agenda. They will come to control, and spy on anyone they wish, and especially people who are critical of the CCP. They also have pickup squads, where they will detain, with concocted reasons, to deport anyone, especially Chinese citizens, who are critical of CCP. Sometimes they will even get the person back to China illegally.

That is an outrageous statement from the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok. This is merely another step to make Thailand a puppet state of China.

The Thai Prime Minister, needs to send a clear message to not interfere, in anyway, in Thailand's democracy and freedom of speech, control events or other control any values. Thai foreign Affairs minister needs to summon the Ambassador of China and tell them to stop interfering with Thai media and values, else they will become persona non grata in Thailand.

Thailand maybe agreeing to permit Chinese spies/police/intelligence operatives to operate in Thailand. Of course, this means wherever in Thailand there is one Chinese person, Chinese security agencies will be able to operate legally

Start cleaning the water in Pattaya. There's lots of brown sediment in the water supply system. If anyone lives in Pattaya, look in your toilet tank, and see the sludge in the bottom.

Several days ago, a female student was killed by a truck on Sukhumvit Road, while trying to cross the road, in front of Dusit Thani College. Many of the students live in Lumpani condo on the opposite side of the road or need to cross for other reasons. For years, the College has been asking Pattaya City to install crossing lights to allow safe passage from/to the other side the road but still no action has been taken.

When will Pattaya City act to help pedestrians to safely cross roadways?

That is an outrageous statement from the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok. In fact, Thai news media need to increase their reporting of China's relationship with Taiwan, exactly opposite of what China is requesting.

The Thai Prime Minister, needs to send a clear message to not interfere, in anyway, in Thailand's democracy and freedom of speech or other values. Thai foreign Affairs minister needs to summon the the Ambassador of China and tell them to stop interfering with Thai media and values, else they will become persona non grata in Thailand.

Cash is (K)ing! Never use plastic unless you are fully aware of Bankster's (gansters) extortion rates/fees. Maybe the best plastic to use is WISE debit card with a balance in the local currency. Unfortunately, WISE won't touch Cambodian Riel. For Cambo, change Thai baht for USD bills before traveling. In fact, if you accept small USD bills (1$, 5$), you might get a better exchange rate, like at grandsuperrich in Bangkok.

Cambo currency outside Cambodia is toilet paper, same as Lao Kip. Take lots of small USD bills, try to give exact amounts for purchases.

4 hours ago, MrPancake said:

 

Yeah I know.

I book a 11$ room on Agoda.

Looked decent.

In reality even a rat wouldn't accept to live here. I had to fix an air freshener on the fan to hide the disgusting smell... Well it's supposed to be an aircon but it doesn't really work so it's a fan imo.

 

... I'm gonna f$cking die here...

Try Dara Reangsey Hotel in PP. It's half decent, cheap, I stayed there many times. Look at the offered room before check-in and negotiate price at check-in, US$ accepted and preferred. If I remember correctly it's at the corner 13 and 128 st. Maybe $15-20/night with AC depending on length of stay and negotiating skill.

3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Have they?  Where has that been reported?  I've been using the IB services here for donkey's years and have yet to receive a single phone call from any visa service company, dodgy or otherwise.

I received emails from a visa company/organization, from a person posing as a person named Grace, after I applied to enter Thailand during COVID lock-down. I applied at a Royal Thai Embassy and used my most secure email address. I have never used or inquired about any third party visa service. It seems there are non Thai government personnel/third party visa organizations that have access to Thai  government computer systems, or are being provided private confidential information by Thai government personnel.

On 11/1/2023 at 6:45 PM, frankstraube said:

The visa i am looking for is the new LTR visa for "wealthy retirees"

Your concerns are the same as mine and that's why I stick with the retirement visa. It's nobody's business, especially Thai immigration's business, how much money I have and where it is located or where it comes from or where it goes. Also, any and all info given to Thai government isn't protected, confidential or private they can choose to share it with anyone they choose whenever they choose with or without justifiable reasons.

Also be aware that next year you may qualify for Thailand personal income tax, especially if you divulge a high income. Other topics/threads on this forum discuss this issue.

What buildings in Pattaya are popular accommodations for Russians? Where do most Russians live in Pattaya?

19 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Ripped off maybe? Usually the charge is 200 baht for gas, one AC company I use issues bills now, I reckon to stop the boys adding on unnecessary baht for themselves

Could well be a ripe-off, no receipt. I had 2 ACs done. The other one was 300 baht for adding R22. I am going to buy a gauge, 2 hoses and some gas, for the next time things warmup. It wasn't a complicated process to add gas. The guy tried to convince my GF the best course was to buy a new AC (30K+), rather than find the leak in the other AC. After doing some research, to find leaks, use a gas detector as TimeMachine recommended, or look for oil leaks, or add some leak detection fluid into the system that glows in UV light. May take 3-5K baht to repair the leaks by a pro, by evacuating the system, test it, and refill it. Maybe a flaring joint came loose that I can tighten, or maybe it's more complicated. Anyways, I bought a leak detector, waiting for its arrival. One step at a time.

On 10/30/2023 at 10:19 AM, TimeMachine said:

I guess suspicion is that compressor is not pumping to pressure or low on gas. The tech will attach gauges and confirm pressure and probably have an ear for knowing what the sound suggests. If just on startup could even be something to do with a startup capacitor affecting compressor.

It was low on gas, R410A. Added about 1.1 kg gas but charged 1500b. The gas on Lazada is 1690b for 11.3 kg., including the tank, smaller size 2.8kg for 645b. The gas he put in was worth about 250b and I guess 1250b was labour. Sounds like there is a leak somewhere. Maybe I should just buy a gauge/manifold, tank, and a couple of hoses.

1 hour ago, Dan O said:

Yeah I suspected as much. His only visited 1 week excuse is obviously bs. Sad to see people still paying money to a gofund me account for him without checking up on the story 

That was a Fiippino news outlet. There many versions of the matter. Google his name and find an Australian source like:

www.couriermail.com.au or www.9news.com.au These sources are more believable.

There are many versions of Troy's imprisonment. Troy has a family and is a mining executive. Here is another story about him:

https://www.9news.com.au/national/troy-birthisel-australian-languishing-for-years-inside-filipino-prison-swears-he-is-innocent-man/e42cac77-e78e-4284-accf-c019267fa581

Knowing Filippinos this is what probably happened:

Mr Birthisel said one of the officers that arrested him had tried to extort money from him at the airport and that six of the females traveling with him had been intimidated and "coerced" into making damning allegations against him.

He said the six other women were never arrested and had given sworn affidavits that support his innocence.

The charges have been changed to illegal recruitment involving sabotage.

I had a friend in Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) Bangkok. The standard cell has about 400-500 men standing shoulder to shoulder in a room about the size of baseball court. There is a gang of Myanmar enforcers in the cell. Must pay money to use your own cell phone to the guards. A h*ll hole for sure.