StevieAus

2 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

I watched a 45 minute video walk filmed last week in Whitstable in Kent, England. Not a single person wore a mask out of the many hundreds, maybe thousands, that appeared. Same with an hour long video of people out for the evening in Soho. Thousands milling around and not a single mask. None. Yet the hospitals are not filled with Covid patients in ICU. Those that the virus was going to kill were killed by it long ago.

But, as I wrote in another thread, we'll now have the situation where most locals will continue to mask up - like my wife "to protect myself" - and most foreigners will not. The wearing of one has long been an Asian thing, and the pandemic has simply encouraged more of them to adopt the habit. Up to them if they want to feel uncomfortable. Now that the government is no longer making it mandatory (although it never was put in law) we foreigners can now 'walk free' with a clear conscience.

Agree !!!

9 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I'd be complaining if I was still in Australia. Don't have any complaints about the COL in Thailand.

Particularly lettuces which I read recently are selling for $12 due to shortages.

I arrived in Bangkok last Wednesday returning from an overseas trip and was required to complete an arrival card distributed by the airline.

I questioned the requirement for it to be completed and was advised by the airline employee and the Immigration officer that the suspension only applies to Thai citizens.

On 6/23/2022 at 12:22 PM, ubonjoe said:

I am aware a few rogue offices are not following the new rules.

Hi Joe I live in Chiang Mai Province and returned from overseas yesterday.

My wife and I called in at our local Immigration Office this morning and they advised that the  notification is still required.

I suspect they are just following orders as  they printed out the form and stapled it in my passport.

Interestingly my normal 90 day reporting would be due next week so they issued the form for that as well giving a new date in late September.

Even although neither was required it only took a couple of minutes and we drive passed the office daily.

17 hours ago, proton said:

 When the rules were changed to 2 months money in the bank from 3 I thought no way I am trusting them on that. There was a report on here from a poster who said he went to do his extension after being here years and had the money in for the changed 2 month period. They would not have it and insisted it was still 3, no extension and he had to leave the country.

I have no problem following the rules, but I expect them to do the same!

Unfortunately if you expect them to follow the rules you are going to be disappointed and not only limited to Immigration.

DLT Head Office in Chiang Mai accept Pink ID card for licence renewal local office doesn’t 

Same with other local government departments, try applying for pink ID card that can be fun depending on where you live.

3 hours ago, fvw53 said:

what if he had no money to pay the medical fees applied to foreigners ?

Over the years I have visited the A/ E of a couple of Thai Government hospitals and the question of payment never raised before being treated.

18 minutes ago, overherebc said:

There is nothing wrong with big bikes. It's all got to do with the FW's on them.

Together with the FW’s driving on four wheels.

5 hours ago, jethro69 said:

Thai insurance is pretty much a scam in itself, long time b4 it got a requirement. Or do you know about an insurance where you can choose your hospital freely?

Myself and my family have had Hospital/ accident insurance for over ten years.

Never had a problem with the Insurance company they have paid the hospital directly on every occasion and we can choose which hospital we use.

About a month ago our 6 year old daughter contracted Covid and was quite ill and admitted to hospital

The Insurer paid without any issues

10 hours ago, PEE TEE said:

Ok that's great I am over 80 and can easily get a years insurance for 4200 b a year thanks can you give me company so I can get it 

According to posts on this site you don’t need to take out insurance for a year they accept a policy that covers for one month.

On 5/28/2022 at 1:54 PM, tomacht8 said:

I'm always for maximum possible individual freedom, but driving a car is where the fun stops. No car and/or motorcycle license without at least 20 hours driving lessons with a driving instructor. Many drivers here do not even know the simplest traffic rules.

Perhaps after completing the lessons as you suggest, a proper driving test should be taken on the open road.

Not the farce that occurs now driving around the DLT compound.

14 hours ago, smutcakes said:

So would i, no doubt. But lets have some continuity with sentancing.

The sentencing is always a difficult issue and often emotions take over as we never get to hear the full circumstances and what might be mitigating factors.

I suppose in Thailand as in other countries you have members of the judiciary who take a hard line on certain crimes and others who give a slap on the wrist.

14 hours ago, TaoNow said:

You are confusing the type of agent.  Apparently, there are 2 types; (1) Agent gets your paperwork together and holds your hand while you appear at immigration to have photo taken and present valid financials.  (2) Agent gets around the financial requirements (for a retirement extension) by bribing an Immo official and bank official somewhere.

 

It's the Type 2 agent (and obliging ex-pat) that most people on the TV Forum scorn for perpetuating the graft system. 

 

Just say no.

I am aware of that situation and know of a couple of people who use the type two because they don’t have the level of funds to live here.

Its a difficult situation as they don’t seem to have anywhere to return to and where they would be worse off.

The two I know scrape by with a very meager standard of living but don’t cause any problems.

Live and let Live ??

2 hours ago, mvdf said:

You better check your account. This is the kind of account loved by insider thieves. No activity for a long period of time, foreigner, hotel address, no debit card to check balance, overseas. All the ingredients are there for the Great Plunder. The usual MO is for someone inside to issue a debit card linked to the account, then withdraw to the last satang.

 

That's just a nightmare scenario. Money might still be on the account untouched and safe. 

How many instances of this happening can you account for, apart from what the bloke in the pub told you?

On 5/25/2022 at 5:07 AM, Andycoops said:

I am sure you did but the cost of obtaining the TP for Cambodian and Lao citizens is very expensive compared to their salaries.

 

My response was in relation to the testing requirement I don’t disagree about the cost of insurance for citizens of  bordering countries.

However if you exempt them everyone else will complain, hopefully it will be dropped.

However pre Covid they could cross for a day without a visa however if I want to cross into Laos, Cambodia or Burma I have to buy a visa.

17 minutes ago, shackleton said:

Wow they don't mess about with minor scams here 

People getting scammed all the time here big time ????

As they are and have been for years all around the world particularly with so called investments.

According to the Thai embassy web site which has a page dealing with all aspects of the Thailand Pass, if transiting and you don’t pass through immigration,

you don’t need to register for the pass but still need a policy showing Covid cover of  $US10,000.00

On 5/22/2022 at 7:00 AM, BritManToo said:

Torrential rain for the past 4 days/nights in CM ....... finally it's stopped raining this morning.

We had no rain yesterday although it was threatened, and again today, my chickens, ducks and guinea fowl are all drying out. !!!!!!!

6 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

Get rid of the Thai pass TIT

Whilst I agree and question why it is really needed, it is not hard to obtain, mine arrived today by email approximately three or four hours after the application was lodged.

Along with the Department that Issues Thai passports that is two efficient Departments I have dealt with, if only they could educate the others, in particular Immigration.

19 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Where is all this rain coming from , seems like it's been raining every

week so far this year , only had to water the garden once, and its

doing a good job of keeping the air clear up here in Chiang Mai,now

its officially the rainy season ,it will stop raining .........

 

Then India and Pakistan have been having 50 c temperatures ,bet they

wish they had some, 

regards Worgeordie

 

I live further North of Chiang Mai and thought I was was the only one who had noticed the regular rain since the cool season finished.

The last few days the rain has been torrential with localized flooding causing a few schools to close.