JemJem

Yeah, fairly recently, a friend has told me that he personally witnessed someone being sent back from the Immigration place in Lak Si, Bangkok, because of the reason you wrote above. He was apparently told to go back to his hotel and come back with the TM 30 form for his extension. The thing is, as far as I know (folks, please correct me if I am wrong), the requirements listed online as necessary to get the 30-day extension to visa exempt are three forms, a photo, a copy of the all-important passport page and 1,900 baht. TM 30 form is not even listed. Well, if the visa exempt period is reduced to 30 days (and, sadly, it looks like it will be), I wonder what will happen to the extension period on it. I hope a 30-day extension will still be available. I am guessing it will be. Anyway, if I have to go for an extension, I will make sure to have the TM 30 form too with me. I guess everyone should do so, in case.

Yep, the coughing and sneezing really are very annoying and worrying indeed. Sadly, more often than not, on flights, there seems to be at least 1 person near me who is coughing or sneezing often. That is actually my biggest pet hate, along with bad odor. Fortunately, I have been lucky with the latter, except on 1 occasion. Having an annoying, troublemaker kind of person sitting next to me is another one, but I have been totally lucky with that. In fact, in the so many long flights I have had, I haven't witnessed even a single fight or even a serious, long argument around me fortunately.

The thing is the bar is a lot lower for the Iranian regime, regarding 'declaring victory' or even actually 'achieving victory'. I think most people realise that the regime, militarily, has been taking a big pounding via the aerial bombing, but the thing is there has been no sign of the security forces there turning against the regime or of anti-regime people revolting in the streets in numbers. These might yet happen of course, but now I am getting the feeling that the chances are higher than 50 percent (maybe around 70-80 percent) that the regime will survive this, and then possibly continue to rule, at least in the foreseeable future. Most probably due to economic fallout, US and Israel will soon call it quits after declaring victory and saying stuff like 'Now, it is up to the Iranian people to finish the job'.

Contrary to seemingly most of the posts in this thread, I have generally had positive experiences with the Israelis in Thailand. Having said that, all my experience has been in Bangkok, mainly in the Khao San area. Anyway, I guess it is best not to overgeneralise any group of people, positively or negatively.

I highly doubt that they have had that high no of customers , and have received about that amount of money. But, then, there is the question : Why were those figures made up ?

Holy gee. I vaguely remember that case you mentioned above. Did that American really pay his way out, without the case ever getting to trial stage ? Gees.

Wow, that was fast. Assuming they got the right guy (most probably yes, as there is CCTV footage), congratulations to the Thai police. One interesting thing : The suspect's face has been blurred in the photo, but his full name is written in the article.

I think, as of now, we can only guess if/when they will change the 60 day exempt to 30 day exempt. My guess is, since it has been increasingly written about in recent weeks, there is 70-80 percent chance it will happen in the near future. As for when it would happen, my wild guess would be in April. Possibly shortly after Songkran. As I said, just a wild guess. And finally, as to how long of an advance notice they will give for that, I have no idea at all. Sadly, it is just guesses and guesses for now.

Tony Bla Even seeing the name 'Tony Blair' is so annoying. Not sure if I think he is the worst PM ever, but he has surely gotten away with war crimes. Just like Bush. Very sad and upsetting that he is still being held in high regard in some international circles. As for the Royal Family, yeah, I think they will surely survive all this. As for Andrew, well, he will remain disgraced, but I kind of doubt that he will do any jail time.

Well, I have seen many prettier ladyboys. But of course, all this is quite subjective. It is no secret that many foreign tourists sleep with ladyboys. It is often said that many guys mistake them for women, and some don't realise the truth even after the sex (of course, I am talking about post-op ladyboys, hehe). I am actually kind of guessing that the heavy majority of guys are well aware that they are actually with ladyboys, at least after going to the hotel room, and that they just don't mind that fact. Of course, there are also those who are actually especially seeking ladyboys :)

Imagine the likely presence of various other nasty stuff that we are not aware of (some of which we will never be aware of) in various parts of the globe. Some at war zones, some at 'peaceful' locations. It can be a nasty world out there, man.

There are also people like me, who stay for only a few months per year every winter, who have not necessarily bought property in Thailand, and who don't work or ever think about working in Thailand. You know, just a simple, longish touristic visit. I wish there was a long-term tourist visa category for such visits. For instance, they could offer a 4-month stay visa (maybe extendable inside Thailand by another month). And, to prevent the abuse of it (for instance by people who might work illegally under such stay), they can say that once the visa expires (or once you exit the country), you must wait for at least 6 months before you can enter Thailand again. Sadly, this will probably not happen, so such people will have to continue relying on the 60-day visa exempt (plus its extension) or the e-visa.

Wow. A Westerner guy (I am assuming), living in Thailand with a Cambodian girlfriend, during the reign of Khun Anutin ! That sadly sounds like a problem, mate. Kidding :) You two should be fine, as you have guessed. As for how Thailand overall will fare under the (most probably) coming new reign of Khun Anutin, I guess we will just have to wait and see.

And, there is the third biggest demographical group in Malaysia, Indian-origin Malaysians. I have no idea about their pork-eating habits, but I am assuming most of them mainly prefer chicken, lamb and fish. So, pork in Malaysia is mostly for the Chinese-origin folks there.

My wild guess is that he will most probably get away with a quite light sentence, if any sentence at all. As I said, just a wild guess.