Thai Ron

16 minutes ago, amvet said:

I imagine you haven't been here 20 years or more as the same was said 20 years ago but things are fine.  More people are educated every year more tourists every year and export growth every year.  In 97 the country was going to fail.  Did it?  Or did it rebound?  How is the baht doing?  The sky is not falling as the old timers will attest.  

Just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't.

Absolutely everything is built on debt.

Debt secured against assets - real estate mostly - with values literally marked to make believe.

All those toxic assets CDOs, synthetic CDOs from the run up to 2007/08 and Lehman Brothers haven't been expunged from the system. 

No, they're just tucked away somewhere nice and quiet off balance sheet in so-called "bad banks".

The assets they're secured against - real estate in US - are still way down from their peaks.

The next crisis is a currency crisis - when everyone loses faith in the value of money (paper backed by nothing more than the promises of a government).

You can't get more "fail" than that.

Hang on to your Swiss Francs and gold 

Just now, amvet said:

Oh sorry.  I thought you wanted me to post about my area and not about the economy in general.  I guess you meant you wanted me to post about my area only if the information was negative to Thailand.  I'll try to think of some negative stuff to say in the future so I won't be such an embarrassment to the average TV poster. 

That is what the topic calls for - posts about your area but although you started off fine, you then went on to doubt the existence of poverty in Thailand citing the absence of Iran-style demonstrations and civil unrest as some kind of proof.

It sounded like you were saying that, because everything is A-OK in your neck of the woods, it's fine everywhere.

19 minutes ago, amvet said:

I understand.  I live in a very prosperous area of Thailand as does everyone I know and my whole Thai family.  I don't know where you find all these poor people.  If Thailand was wracked with poverty it would be ready for street demonstrations like they are having in Iran now but they don't.  Top concerns are white willies and new cell phones. 

LOL!

You really can't see beyond your own nose, can you?

My neck of the woods is full of well-to-do suited and booted Thais.

New condos going for 250,000 a square meter and new Bimmers, Mercs and Porsche Cayennes as far as the eye can see.

That doesn't mean I'm oblivious to the plight of ordinary Thais just scraping by if I go outside the confines of the low-to-mid Sukhumvit  corridor.

They're not protesting because the army has banned political gatherings etc but you'd know that if you weren't so out of touch

Your assertions that top priorities are white penises and new cellphones seem incongruous  with the ostensibly hi-so pretensions of your Thai "family" in that "very prosperous" area of Thailand.

2 minutes ago, amvet said:

Many experts? No they don't.  My cardiologist and his associates are in agreement that Viagra is not harmful if taken as prescribed to me.  I think given my age and condition and general level of education and motivation I know 100% more about my condition than you do.  Why would you presume to debate with an expert?  Since it's my body and I have the time and inclination I am thoroughly educated on the subject (my condition)  I have forgotten more about what condition my condition is in than you will ever know.  Hef went deaf from too much Viagra, my Momma who you probably knew told me I was going to go blind from doing something I liked when I was much younger.   Ever since I reached puberty people have been telling me in one way or another to keep it in my pants. One of the big reasons me and my other old fart friends stay in Thailand is we don't have to. 

 

Mate, your life, your choice. No need to get upset

I just provided a link to one highly-esteemed source on this subject

You provided a link to a bloody Kenny Rogers song.

Says it all, I think

1 hour ago, amvet said:

Hef was 91 and probably forgot to take his Viagra.  Although I'll go like Hugh any day at 91.  My point was Viagra and sex don't harm your heart and sex is good exercise regardless of what age you are although you seem to want to deny it to us older folks.  Why? 

I don't want to deny it to anyone.

Why on earth would I want to do that?

I only suggested that a man with your medical challenges should be less cavalier about using drugs that many experts warn you to steer clear of.

Quote

These drugs are safe for healthy hearts, but all men with cardiovascular disease should take special precautions, and some cannot use them under any circumstances. The problem is their effect on arteries. All arteries, not just those in the penis, generate nitric oxide, so any artery can widen in response to Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis, causing blood pressure to drop temporarily by 5-8 mmHg, even in healthy men.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/are-erectile-dysfunction-pills-safe-for-men-with-heart-disease

But, hey, if you wanna hasten your departure from this plane of existence, go right ahead

Why would you say that?  Older men like Playboy's Hugh Hefner and actor Michael Douglas have sung the praises of Viagra, but now scientists say the erectile dysfunction pill is not only good for your sex life — it's good for your heart.  Viagra allows greater blood flow. British Pfizer scientists Peter Dunn and Albert Wood create a drug called sildenafil citrate that they believe will be useful in treating high blood pressure and angina, a chest pain associated with coronary heart disease.Mar 27, 2013

Cardiologist said I needed exercise.  Sweat he said and that's a quote.  30 minutes of strenuous exercise every day.  He is a Western educated doctor.  Ever take a stress test?  The doctor prescribed exercise and Viagra.  No cheap imitation stuff.  Straight from the hospital pharmacy.
When I gained a kilo last year he told me to start dating younger women.  He does have a sense of humor (A Thai sense of humor).  

Ya, I know.  Getting old isin't easy.  When I was young (in my 60's) I'd go to the go go's and party all night.  Now I hit the places that can get me to the hospital quickest in case of a heart attack.  And I only go with the athletic ladies when I know my cardiologist is on duty.   These are the things that keep the older expats in Thailand as the health care is excellent and the ladies are helpful in getting you to the emergency room and taking care of personal hygiene.  Singapore may be cleaner and have less crime but do the ladies of the night take the time to help you up put your socks on and tie your shoes.

2 minutes ago, amvet said:

........the Lotus where I shop has three discount brothels attached that sponsor local farm girls who can attend college and only have to work on weekends and holidays after their homework is done.  

 

I'd go somewhere else if the infrastructure was equivalent and the women readily available for old fellas like myself.

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

Today is the last day you can do the report without being fined. The 7 days includes the report date when they count them.

Oops

Better get on the bike, sharpish.

Cheers Ubonjoe.

What do I need to bring? 

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

That is not true.

If they don't see a report receipt in your passport and check their records to confirm you had not done them you would be fined 2000 baht or up to the max fine of 5000 baht.

Ah ok, mate.

I was supposed to go on 8th Dec but time has really flown this year (in a good way) and I completely forgot.

Am I correct in my understanding that I pretty much have until tomorrow (15th Dec) to do it without being fined?

Quick and painless, this one.

Is it true that if you never start doing 90 day reports, you're never in the system?

In turn, does this mean that when you next extend your stay, there won't be any aggro about the fact that you've never reported?

22 hours ago, trianglechoke said:

 

Typical farang woman, classless piece of shit

 

And what does that comment say about you?

23 minutes ago, rufanuf said:

Firstly. So this is your review of the review industry right? And it's different to mine. So who is right? I am saying it's a shit service, based on my research  your saying its useful. It's all still just opinion. So we could argue then that its the "majority opinion" that becomes useful to gain a picture of a service or product, but if it then comes to light that this mass opinion is subject to mass manipulation are you still so sure that its useful?

 

As I have stated already in this thread, our business keeps getting "certificates of excellence" and we have multiple 5 star overall reviews. Did I buy them or did I earn them? Whats the difference? You don't know, so how can this information be useful to you?

OK well put it this way; I've yet to be let down by the reviewers I trust - I can't speak for others.

4 minutes ago, rufanuf said:

Your first post on this thread seemed to be focused on obtaining personal gain in return for reviews, not on doing a public service.

Sorry mate, I missed that; only your bias was making such a racket

I've left plenty of less than stellar reviews for services and products I've used and bought in Thailand.

Everything from visa/border run services to restaurants.

No comeback but a few apologies and some compensatory offers.

3 hours ago, dotpoom said:

I listen to my local "phone in" programme from back home daily (Western Europe). As you might imagine, a lot of the callers are complaining about something or other.

  The most frequently used remark by the show's host is..."please don't mention any names".

   So I guess it's not just Thailand.

That's because they don't want to be sued for giving the grievance a platform; not because the complaint is defamatory.

4 hours ago, MaeJoMTB said:

Not me, my wife is with me for the money.

What money?

2 hours ago, InMyShadow said:

No it's my loathing of people like you who think it's OK to over stay and not pay hospital bills.

 

Get a life! And go back to government hand outs in your nanny state. Thailand doesn't need or want you

 

Have you got a little badge with "I'm officially needed by the Thais" lying around somewhere?

Maybe get some anger management therapy, mate.

5 minutes ago, MaeJoMTB said:

I've had a few medical emergencies in my 10 years here.

Emergency stay in hospital (2 nights, 3 days) 5K deposit, 1k5 handed back on exit.

Broken face and jaw (out-patient) stitching and cleaning no cash required up front, 5 dental treatments splint and rebuild teeth a round 3k5bht in all.

Stitching leg after a fall running, 8 stiches, 250bht inc meds.

3 cancerous spots on forehead, 1k5bht

Cosmetic removal of lumps at CMRAM, 3kbht.

 

Never seen the need for medical insurance, cheap as chips. 

Nothing in that list strikes me as life threatening.

Turn up with a brain tumour, a heart attack or a stroke and see how much change you get back.

5 minutes ago, Dipterocarp said:

In the U.S.A. now many people are on the street even though they might have  a couple thousand bucks per month coming in with SS and small pensions. Living in absolute filth. Exposed to the elements and crime. Hard for many to keep a roof over head unless they get into a spot at a group home. Just too expensive these days.

 

I'd rather survive on small money in Thailand, a decent room with fan, toilet, shower.

Perhaps but if you get injured or or fall sick here without insurance, you'll find yourself being ferried around to hospital after hospital in the back of a pick up truck until one of them agrees to treat you.

At least in most parts of the West, you'll get treated at the first hospital you arrive at.

2 minutes ago, shanesox said:

Who says it’s “old” folk being frugal? A lot of under 30 losers in Thailand living on a few thousand baht a month because they don’t want to work hard in their own country


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Who are the biggest losers?

Younger people who live frugally in Thailand at 20-30 or old people who live frugally in Thailand after an entire lifetime of work?

14 hours ago, InMyShadow said:

It's loathing because you western pathetic bums slumming it in a devolping country make us normal people look bad as well

Go home before your 2 year overstay kicks in.

we all know it's going to happen

Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk
 

Look bad?? To whom? Western pensioners?

Who gives a shit what they think? I certainly don't

To the locals?? I doubt it

What really makes us look bad to them is when they see farangs - young or old - dragging a bar girl in hotpants, platform shoes and last night's warpaint around a shopping mall.

Personally, I couldn't live ultra-frugally because I need my creature comforts (living space, boys' toys, Western diet etc) but I won't ridicule someone who chooses to pare spending to the minimum.

I find it hilarious when people who are mostly here to get more mileage out of their income than they could at home go around telling those who watch their spending that they're living too cheaply.

The poor make the worst snobs