Momofarang

I am "connected" most of the time  while at home, but I use my Macbook air. I find these puny smart phone screens ridiculous. I use my Iphone for navigation, emergency, Garmin data transfer, receiving banking messages, a few calls, altogether maybe15 minutes a day.

1 hour ago, LOS1 said:

Side story:

Oh, and at the end the IO says: 2500 baht. I say: No, it's 1900 baht. He says: 500 baht charge from retirement to marriage. I say: It is not in any immigration rules/charges that I have read. So, caught with my gonies between my legs I put down the extra 500 baht while glaring at the IO. He takes it, and then surprisingly throws the 500 baht back on the table. Better watch my back when I come back there on the 14th Feb.???? 

 

Like it, there will be many IOs depressed at the idea that the new rules will trigger quite a lot of "Retirement" to "Thai Wife" migrations. This one begged for some help to overcome his spleen; you are so "Keeneeow"!

I can confirm that when I applied for for my next extension in Buriram, the IO refused our Kor Ror 2 (marriage certificate) that was about one week old. It had to show the date of application. Which implies that now one has to got to the bank, then some amphur and last to the IO, all in one day.

Who says we aren't unwanted?

Just more "Hate foreign devils" stuff.

Who says we are not unwanted here?

5 hours ago, Roy Baht said:

He gave her a massive T-boning ????

Nope, I am straight and not especially massive. Sorry if I mislead you.

54 minutes ago, metempsychotic said:

You mean the ines that ste actually digital nomads?

Yeah, some people like to give a strict definition to metaphors, guess they like it because it makes then "one of them".

On 1/15/2020 at 1:48 AM, balo said:

 

Yes and my personal opinion is that immigration officials would not care about those sitting inside Starbucks even if they are told about nomads sitting there.   The same goes with all the co-working spaces in Bangkok and Chiang Mai,  where you bring your laptop for a few hours, have a coffee and "work" with something online that got nothing to do with Thailand.

Of course someone can take that phone call to immigration and test the theory. I can promise you it would turn into a complete chaos and a crazy media circus if they decide to raid Starbucks.    




 

You are probably right in that TI is unlikely to raid Starbucks. However there seems to be some (weak) will to enforce something like a "genuine tourist" status. From a few reports here it seems that this enforcement takes place at the border where a few people got questioned about their repeated and lengthy stays in the kingdom. I just wonder how were let in after they'd explained that they were "legitimate digital nomads"?

They'll have to close the place I guess. Don't see how water restrictions could be imposed on Tourists. I wish luck to those who will request refunds.

On 1/15/2020 at 10:21 AM, impulse said:

Here's one where I think I can safely invoke Darwin, even though the guy survived.

 

What's depressing is that with modern medicine he can still have children.

Things must be good for him as he looks so very gay. Must be all true then.

17 hours ago, Liverpoolfan said:

was the driver playing candycrush on his phone? 

Not Candycrush, probably himself, even motorbike taxis do it.

2 hours ago, Sticky Wicket said:

That's just taking more freedom and choice away.

How will public transport cope??

The answer is in the tram: progressively reallocate space from private cars to the above ground Tram network. Within a given time frame restrict the inner city space only to electric cars.

And, then one mustn't forget that any related increase of the electrical demand must be fulfilled solely by renewal energy.

18 hours ago, billsmart said:

I have proposed the "self insure" option to over 40 insurance companies in the form of a method that is used in the USA. It's called a "surety bond in lieu of insurance." Without going into all the details, it would amount to your having to deposit THB440K in a year-long bond, like with an insurance company or a government agency, and then use that money to pay any health bills during the year. If it was with an insurance company, you could file claims and they would just pay them out of your money, not theirs. At the end of the year and to renew your bond, you'd have to replenish it back up to the THB440K. If you were to die, or at the end of the year not renew, the remainder in the account would be refunded to you or your beneficiary. Of course the insurance company or other agency would charge you a fees for all of this, but it should come out much less than paying an insurance policy if you are 70 or more. Also, this could be used by people of any age and with any kind of medical history.

So far, out of about 40 inquiries, I've only received two replies saying they'll look into it. I don't know if that's a real promise or they're just being polite.

So, if anyone else knows any agency that offers, or would consider offering, this kind of service, please let me know. I can send them an email explaining how it works and why its good for everyone concerned: Thailand (medical bills will be paid), the insurance company (they earn fees without any risk), and of course the Falang (can meet the Thai THB440K insurance requirements no matter what age or what their medical condition is as long as they have the money to post the bond).

Your idea is smart, Bill. But, are you sure that the 40/400 limit is yearly or yearly per Illness?

3 minutes ago, riverhigh said:

 Just a reminder there are cameras that are legally installed in public areas to record instances of this unacceptable behaviour and used by police. 

 

That's my  point, leave it to the security cameras, and ban any private filming and subsequent posting on the Web. And as the sequence of pictures shown in this case starts before the actual fight there must be some weird reason for someone filming this group.

12 minutes ago, Yinn said:

So people can not film Brit punch Thai kid in the head?

Hhmmmhhh, take a deep breath, I'll explain: Smartphone use in public is an antisocial behavior that leads to conflict. And would you flash a wad of 30 or 40 1000 Bahts notes on the BTS?

And yes, filming strangers in public places is a total lack of respect of other people's privacy. Just wonder why someone was filming this group of farangs; I can see all sort of nasty possibilities there too.

Guess they should ban the use of smartphones in crowded places. Or at least post reminders any damage or theft will remain the sole responsibility of the owner of the device. Otherwise this idiot must get arrested and charged for unprovoked assault.

On 1/14/2020 at 3:55 AM, webfact said:

Motorists who use the right lane of a highway, with more than four traffic lanes

Why are they restricting it to 5 or 6 lane roads, have you seen many of those here?

Bum guns are my favorite culprits.

1 hour ago, Yinn said:

she saw in the early morning foreign tourists were sitting there and drinking heavily

Guess she got 500 Bahts to say so..

For what it is worth, I have made the attached simulation to compare the cost of a Pacific Cross plan with 300000 deductible with TE. At 20 years Health insurance would still be cheaper than TE. That's only pertinent for people like me who would never make any claim, because the have a better cover elsewhere.

I didn't go ahead with this because I haven't managed yet the toxic interaction between the two plans that may arise.

HIvsThaiElite.xlsx

On 1/11/2020 at 10:15 PM, swissie said:

You can pay them now or later.

Yeah, pay and skim off the "Sin sot".

And bear in mind that, in French, "sot" means fool.

It certainly isn't allowed. I'd say it is overlooked or at best tolerated by the authorities. If they had any pragmatism, they'd mandate a review on the economic impact of the population concerned and then on a cost/risk/benefit ratio decide to create a specific visa/wp, or simply firmly apply existing rules for working in the country. Unfortunately while doing so many people involved would see a new reservoir for graft, and it would end up in a mess similar to Health Insurance saga.