Sir Dude

Yet another oxygen thief... toss his backside in a Thai jail for a few months and let him stew.

Oh dear, oh dear. Herman the German being messy and quite the facepalm rampage here... just glad it wasn't a Brit or this thread would be 20 pages long by now.

This rise in VAT won't affect many normal Thais too much as they all mostly buy stuff from the Blue Flag stores which are way cheaper than pretty much all other places... not sure exactly how these stores work, either they are VAT exempt, government subsidized in some other way, or the store owners buy everything from some specific depot that buys stuff in crazy amounts. However, anyone can buy from these Blue Flag stores, not just Thais.

When I first read the title I thought it was a thread about best places to hide from the law.

Sad story, but one that continues to repeat itself again and again. Riding motorbikes here is a fool's errand for pretty much all but the most experienced bike riders that also regularly ride back in their own countries, have a proper licence, and have plenty of experience. There is also a case for a much stricter criteria, by law here in Thailand, from rental places for those wanting to rent out bikes too with real consequences for those who don't follow it. No suprise about the insurance company declining to pay out, always the case with such activities as they are never included unless you specifically ask for a policy that covers it (and then you are going to need all the licences, paperwork, wear a helmet, and everything) or they will just use any tiny excuse to not pay. Thailand's roads are a joke really and most, if not all tourists, would be better off sticking to four-wheeled or more transport. Riding motorbikes in country like this is basically reckless beyond belief generally for most.

Bit rich coming from Beijing. What would such a totalitarian dictatorship like China know about elections (that's like asking a sumo champion about how to apply Revlon foundation to catch the light well), let alone "smooth" elections. Stick to what you know about Beijing, which is oppression and poisoning/twisting everything you can to your benefit regardless of the misery or damage it causes. However, Beijing might just admire how well the Thai dinosaur establishment was able to so smoothly fix it to the outcome they wanted without anyone really noticing.

Haha, falling behind Laos in the corruption index... that's laughably bad. Way-to-go Thailand.

Stay away from western women, they all have mind rot and have forgotten what being a woman means. Talk to a few expat dudes/friends you know, but also hang out as much as possible with slim hot Thai women and drink beer etc... much more fun and will straighten you out fine. Don't beat yourself up about nonsense like "Am I rascist or "sexist" etc. (that's just the modern western social conditioning group think trying to catch you), as that sort of line of thinking is for the brainwashed... get on, be yourself, and enjoy yourself without analyzing everything on a minute scale... to hell with what some judgemental and self-righteous cretins think. Can't get along with everyone and many you meet are complete morons anyhow, so what would they know about anything better than you. Be stoic and concentrate on yourself, recognise toxic people and situations and be able to just walk away... have presence, cultivate self-mastery and calmness. Don't engage with morons as they will just bring you down to their level and beat you with experience. Free your mind and your ass will follow. Walk the path of Stoicism.

So, they finally grew a spine and released the deluded psycho tranny's indentity. Notice how lots of MSM outlets are posting pictures of him as a 12 year-old instead of the sorry-ass drag-queen he really looks like... pure manipulation.

Some MSM outlets are leading with "Mass shooter in a dress..." as Canadian police are staying quiet on the name and gender of the perp, which says it all really. This is going to be awkward for a certain narrative.

Well, suprise suprise. Looks like the conservative elites, military, and nationalists have got their way yet again through a collection of underhand moves from using their stooges in the Supreme Court to making it as confusing as possible at polling stations to blatant vote buying to BJT jingoistic chest-beating BS and the brainwashed muppet slaves follow. The result was never in doubt, and even if PP had done better and got the most seats, they would be decimated by the serial petitioner and the bias of the Supreme Court afterwards with bans being handed out like candy.... which may well still happen just for good measure. This attitude of keeping everything the same so the 5% keep power and prosper is why Thailand has fallen behind and will continue to do so... not that the rich care as long as they are okay and have power.

This whole faux superficial election is nothing other than a smelly steaming pile of freshly laid manure. Nothing will change, a new raft of PP politicians will be banned over frivolous and weak claims, and it will be the same old tune being played by conservative nationalist stooges of the rich elites and dinosaurs who fear change so much they will go to any lengths to keep the status quo. Pfft!

He won't go to jail but his historical fate will ultimately be worse, at least for him. A M-W is destined for obsurity, a villianous legacy, social exclusion, negative historical judgement, a cautionary tale, arrogance, a symbol of folly and entitlement etc. that will reverberate through time/history, to the point that he may well probably go mad. This indeed will be a tough fate for someone who has been so entitled all his life that he has a hissy-fit if his bedroom teddies are not arranged properly every day. History is usually pretty harsh on such figures.

PP will get the most votes but will not be able to form a government again, as the skullduggery of the BJT and others will deny them (PP) on orders from above, and they will close ranks under orders and be coerced with ministry positions, despite them not liking each other. Influencial PP MPs or figures will be banned by the biased commission in due time, as is par for the course, and we will be back to square one of military backed conservatives holding power as usual... rinse and repeat until the dinosaurs pass on into the ether. So predictable.

I don't think those in government or making decisions care, as long as the status quo continues with them (conservatives/military) in power and the rich/elites keep their wealth and positions of power. Anyhow, only one person decudes where the ship is generally headed. This is probably why they are so scared of The PP Party and the progressives and do everything to stop them from getting power for as long as possible... however, it's inevitable that change will come and Thailand just has to wait for a class of dinosaurs to disappear into the ether, then it'll happen.

The trick to drinking, if you want to, is to have elongated breaks of abstinance to allow your liver to regenerate. The liver is really good at healing itself back to normal, as long as you don't let it go too far to the point of no return. You can drink in a regular fashion or just party at the weekends but you need periods of a few months or more tee-total on a regular basis, then not so bad... stay hydrated too which many forget to do. Also, as you age, you probably want to be staying away from the top shelf as that stuff gives your organs a hard time. Each to his own though... however, I'm not a monk.

There is an underlying truth that needs a decision heading for most Asian countries, and this that with terrible demographics, aging societies, and falling birth rates, they are going to have to good look at immigration rather like Europe and the US etc. has done to try to fix this. Traditionally, most Asian countries have been very hardline on immigration, from Japan to China to South Korea to Thailand and on and on... it's not going to keep and something will have to give if they want their economies to get going again or even survive. It'll be a bitter pill to swallow, especially for all the crazy nationalists... but they can learn from the mistakes of the West and let in people who are benefitial in many ways, not lazy spongers or criminals and they will be fine.

Looks like Epstein was what's known as an "access agent" for one or more intelligence agencies, so as to influence/coerce powerful elites and gather a lot of compromising information, which was clearly gleaned during that time. The potential for blackmail is staggering, not to also mention how breathtakingly careless so many were with Epstein. This theory would explain his unusual and unexplained wealth, his ability to dodge charges like a slippery eel in the past, and also his suspicious and untimely death in jail, under dubious circumstances with lame explanations, after he became a liability instead of an asset... usually works like that.

Looks like Mandleson is guilty of treason... toss his pathetic limp backside in the Tower along with all those that conspired with him.

Like with a lot of things, the eco-recycle-renewable "Going Green" thing is a scam that has created a multibillion dollar industry and thousands of jobs out of nothing, and is all on a lie with the public footing the bill. Have a watch of the darling of the left Micheal Moore's "Planet of the Humans"... slightly awkward.

Well, that's the problem with the current situation, most people here are too poor, or too rich, to pay tax. If you deduct people that work for the government/army/police/civil service, who probably account for over a million of that 4 million figure, then it doesn't leave many apart from a bunch of companies paying corporation tax and their owners/employees paying income tax. Even then, many will being economical with the truth on their tax returns because the government simply can't check it all and either believes it or it doesn't. Trouble is, that it'll be almost impossible to collect from the informal economy, as good luck taxing the cash-in-hand gardener, Somchai and his wife selling stuff in the local market or the guy refurbishing someone's house etc. IMO, they will end up having to raise VAT, as that's probably the only way to get more money from everyone although it's a politically sensitive move and won't be talked about just before an election... that sort of stuff comes just after power is acquired for the political term.

Teaching in high school or below is a fool's errand these days as too much BS with the regulations. If you really want to teach now, then tertiary education is what you should be doing now and that's where it's at, as you only have to deal with the institution, the work permit office, and not the nonsense that goes with high school as you are dealing with minors and Khurusapha's BS.

Sorry, forgot something.... 15. Get used to being lied to by almost everyone as it's something that you will never really square away. Even the Malaysians have a saying "Don't Thai to me".

She should have known better... same rules at the Grand Palace in Bangkok with their guards. As usual, numpty tourists.

The Thai dream for foreigners does actually exist, and is doable plus also finding longevity, but there are certain caveats, and expectations need to be realistic and managed properly, along with the many pitfalls identified and avoided. Far too many paradise seekers arrive with a lofty vision of retirement and life in the sun based on their holidaying experience and researching some youtube videos, only to completely mess it up through not having their wits about them and acting like they are in their home country and falling into the school-boy error traps. Don't get me wrong, it can be done and many do, but also more totally mess it up badly and end up back on a plane with nothing after a few or more years. 1. The most important thing to plan and square away is what your visa status will be for the long term. 2. You need a purpose, hoobies/interests, or online work, as lounging around as if you are holiday evenually will get old and doing this in the holiday places gets expensive. Living here full time and coming for a month or two holiday are very different things. 3. Learning the language is a good idea, but plenty get along without learning too much. 4. Do not show off your wealth or tell anyone anything about money as it make you a target... appear average and get left alone by all. Scammers and dishonest types are everywhere. 5. Set achievable goals, not lofty fantasies. Decide what living the dream really means to you, or what is acceptable. Many people these days have such unrealistic expectations on so many topics that they always end up disappointed and unfulfilled. 6. Don't burn your bridges with your home country, keep an official address and bank account and have some investments, if possible, back home as an escape plan if it goes south... cover different eventualities, especially when newly arrived. Okay, once you are more established, then you can call the shots as you see fit... but caution is still advisable as the ground can move here quickly, as many have seen. Don't put all your financial eggs in one basket or just bring it all over here... bad idea. 7. Women. It is inevitable that you will bump into some girl that ticks all your boxes (even if you aren't looking for one), she will be sweet and nice, speak English and be free and younger than you... but this is where so much can go wrong and many guys screw it up over this one. The woman you decide to spend your time with over the long term, or get married to etc., is probably one of the most important decisions you make here. Give your spidey sense a complete MoT and install an upgrade to the caution/suspicion software you have. 8. Choose somewhere sensible to live. If you like the touristy places, then good to rent just outside where all the action is, not in the middle of it... then you can take it or leave it when you like, as being constanly in the craziness will send you nuts eventually. 9. Make friends slowly as there are many around who are not as they seem, both Foreigners and Thais. 10. Try not to become a raging alcoholic as no good will come of it. 11. Make yourself as legit as possible so that things are less likely to come crashing down at a moment's notice... don't drive without a licence, act in any way or work that's illegal, overstay a visa or do anything that attracts attention to yourself. Stay under the radar. 12. Make sure you are properly squared away with property laws, including those on condos and the problems with buying and selling them... plenty of silliness can be encountered on this one, and locations can morph as time goes by, plus slipshod construction, and all sorts of stuff. 13. Take the attitude that pretty much anything you spend here you should be able to afford to lose, as it's perfectly possible that you might. Yes, if you end up in a very stable marriage and buy a bungalow on an estate for you and the wife, then fine, but YOU still don't own it... building a temple to your vanity in the village on her land is of questionable rationale, unless of course you can just walk away from it. 14. Plan for different eventualities, nothing here stays the same and you should protect your situation and future over all else... critically think about your situation, as you are on your lonesome. There are obviously more points, and feel free to add, but that lists gives potential long stayers some food for thought. Regards all.