DFPhuket

I've also been having Vanguard login problems. I've tried logging in with a VPN, different browsers, etc. but nothing worked. I decided to clear all Vanguard cookies in Chrome (go to settings > privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > see all site data and permissions) and enter Vanguard in the search box. It showed 29 cookies and I deleted them all. After that, when going to the Vanguard login page and entering my credentials, it worked as usual (I was using a VPN). Perhaps this will help others.

I'm a retired mental health professional. My suggestion is to try to find a psychologist or therapist as the first step. The issues seem more situational and helping her identify the problems and her thinking around them would be a good place to start. Psychologists also charge less than psychiatrists. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who, at least in Thailand, tend to use a medical model and seem to very quickly offer medications as a way of mitigating the symptoms. Medications are certainly appropropriate for some mental health issues and some people, but I wouldn't start there. A psychologist or counselor would begin by talking about what's going on in her world and seek better understanding about coping strategies she might use. In my experience, there will be a better outcome if the counseling is done in the client's native language. Unfortunately I don't have any specific recommendations for a Thai psychologist.

I also recently renewed by mail. You are provided clear instructions and if you follow them to the letter it works fine. You're told to use registered mail and when I dropped my passport off at the Phuket post office I was given the tracking code and could follow the progress. It arrived at the embassy the next day. When the passport was back, the embassy provided a tracking code so I could watch as it made it back to me. All very easy.

I have found Food Panda to be a lot easier to use and prefer it for food delivery. All of the information on it is in English, while lots of information on Grab is in Thai. I have my credit card in my Food Panda account and automatically pay when ordering. Then I follow the progress on the app and walk out to meet the driver when it shows he is a minute or two away.

Google maps “knows” Patong hill is closed and will suggest going via the Kamala or Karon routes. Obviously there will be a significant increase in traffic so I’d suggest looking at Google maps before you go. Enough people use the app that it is usually accurate with live data on jams and travel estimates

Tim Newton has a new video (posted around noon Sunday) showing several of the flooded areas. The heavy rain last night in Patong is as bad as I remember during my 7 years here.

InDriver works fine for me. The design looks a bit different (not sure when that happened) so you might want to check to see if you have the latest version of the app.

While he did the actual stabbing, the Royal Thai Police is a co-conspirator for allowing a guy with a history of drug and other problems to join the force. They then did nothing to remove him when other issues were reported.