CMBob

You didn't even bother to keep the bank passbook? It would appear that a "few thousand baht" didn't really matter to you.

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Where you take appliances for repair there is the smaller building on the right, not in the main building.

A few posters have got it right. The "tax free" status belongs to the donee (person receiving the gift), not the donor. As to the taxability in Thailand of "gift" funds that the donor remits to Thailand, that's a whole other kettle of fish.

If you will simply go read the requirements on the Consulate/Embassy pages about passports, you'll know what's required. A photo shop here (one typically will have a sign in the window mentioning passport photos) will ask you what you want, country involved (e.g., some countries use a different size for passport photos), etc. and they'll know the requirements regarding size, background, glasses on or off, etc. If you simply google "Chiang Mai Passport Photos", you'll see several places in the area.

You have suggested that CNX is unsafe and also are suggesting that CNX does not comply with the ICAO requirement of a daily daylight inspection of runways for foreign objects. Perhaps you could share with us how you know (if you do) that CNX doesn't comply with that standard.

Apparently airport officials don't have you on their list to notify of inspection or maintenance procedures. Pure speculation on your part.. Having flown from a raft of major airports in the US (and other countries), to this day I've never seen one of those airports close a runway during the daytime to remove, as you say, "small amounts of rubber." The last serious accident at CNX was, I believe, in 1967, and the accident occurred here but wasn't related at all to airport safety. I see no reason to have any significant safety concerns regarding CNX.

Don't partake but it's unbelievable how many pot shops are around CM. Rather like some of the names (a relatively new shop on Nimmanhaemin) and some signs seem to be asking for issues (shop on Soi 11, Nimmanhaemin):

Correct. The Thai government has decreed that sim cards will be at least temporarily suspended/inoperative on May 1st, 2025, unless the name associated with the sim card is consistent with the telecom's records. There have been one or more articles in the Bangkok Post lately about this and supposedly the rule is to combat call-center gangs/people with multiple sim cards. I don't recall what entities (telecoms or banks?) that are required to enforce the new rule but, given the general use of mobile banking, it makes sense that the banks would be involved. Edit: Found at least one article about it: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2952406/govt-crackdown-on-mule-accounts-with-new-mobile-banking-rules

The OP's situation is familiar to me although happened long ago. I entered on a Tourist Visa and went to immigration (Hua Hin then) to convert to a Non-O and hopefully obtain an extension based on retirement. I got both within an hour. The Non-O visa (yes, it's a visa) was dated 2/27/09 and was stamped "USED." On the next page of my passport are two stamps: (1) a Stay Permit dated 2/27/09 with an expiration date of 5/27/09, and (2) a stamp also dated 2/27/09 with stay permission until 5/27/10. So, I too walked out that day with 15 months permission to stay. I used no agent, had the 800k in the bank for at least a few months, and proceeded to obtain my own annual extension based on retirement a few weeks prior to May 27, 2010.

Only place I can suggest is Amorn as they repair all kinds of large and small electrical appliances. Located east of Power Buy and next to Computer City (north of the old city and on the north side of the moat).

Relating to CM only: While I've never had to actually file a new TM30 after staying in a hotel elsewhere that filed a TM30 for me, I have twice had an attempted TM47 filing rejected for that reason (the rejections specifically said it was because I had a different address....the hotel address). But other times it doesn't happen. So, as mentioned before, it's hit or miss. Probably depends on whoever is reviewing the online TM47 filing and who is erroneously disregarding the June 2020 police order provisions. But, then again, I had one attempted online TM47 filing rejected for the reason(s) that my entry date and/or extension expiration date were wrong. They weren't.

My comment relates to Chiangmai Immigration only. The rejection of an online TM47 filing because a hotel (or whatever) files the usual TM30 for you is apparently hit-or-miss. I've been rejected here twice for that reason and other similar times my online TM47 filing has sailed through. And on both occasions I was rejected for this reason, I filed the TM47 via the drive-up window using the form they email back to you when attempting the TM47 online filing and nothing was said about the "TM30 change of address." Go figure. (Dr. Jack, not sure why you mentioned using the pink ID card or driver's license when checking into a hotel. I don't know about the pink ID card but the driver's license has one's passport number on it so I'm unclear why using that would hamper the hotel in filing the usual TM30)

Yes, was wondering if/when things changed at the immigration office at Central Festival. The only report I've read of that is where some poster said he/she had an agent who was able to get an appointment at Central Festival and get a retirement extension there. I know none of us plebians can get an appointment there (no online queue for Central Festival) and thought we alone couldn't get an extension there based on retirement or marriage. I haven't been out in that office for just over a year but, at that time, the sign listing services offered there did not include either item. Things have changed?

There just are not enough appointments available and, as stated, they are all taken within hours of the beginning (midnight) of the 90th day before. A friend received an appointment time for December 5th this past year and showed up to find the office was closed due to a schduled holiday (Constitution Day). I mention this only to suggest you should pre-check known immigration office holidays before snagging an available appointment.