orchidfan

How many times does it need to be stated that under the "Westminster" system, prime ministers /premiers are not "elected" by the thai people but appointed by their party. This is a (supposedly ) Democracy not a Republic . Give it a break

A decade ago now, I flew home (~5000nm) to a year 7, 50th year class reunion...ie 2013 (no wives or gfs allowed ). It was a long haul from Hong Kong back then but was forceably talked into it. So we were all, that night 63 years old. Thank goodness for name tags, but as other have commented, apart from being a bit grayer,balding and/or slightly overweight (me only graying ) I could recognize most of the (remaining....a few MIA) guys, but the "girls" were a bit more challenging ! One or two of those, we, as 12yo boys, had lusted over back then had degraded to the 3/10 category, and one or two who had been quiet and sheepishly, reserved were now raging. Quite a shock and an eye opener But overall a great experience and well worth the journey. It'll probably never happen again as we are all now in our seventies, but glad it did for we baby boomers back in 2013

It's also an Accepted trend amongst the rich !

Examples...

Thanks for that, and here some exsamples of Licences (booklets, not plastic cards)

I am aware that in the USA both License and Licence are interchangeable in usage...as a noun. However you were bluntly (and incorrectly) trying to correct another poster's reference to his pilot's LICENCE /LICENSE. I think you need to take off the US blinkers ! BTW, I'm curious,... to drive your car there do you have a Driver's license or Driver's Certificate ? Similarly, does one have a License or Certificate to own and carry a gun ? Just curious !

We English speakers use the noun "Licence", meaning... "permission, a permit, a document that states you are qualified or allowed to do something" That Licence is then endorsed with the various ratings which you have passed.. Aircraft types/categories, ratings (IFR, Multiengine Land /sea etc). So don't bluntly correct someone's writings based only on what you know /do in the USA!

NOT in Australia. Mine is clearly labeled a "Commercial Pilot's LICENCE" Maybe where you come from it's different !

I agree Will, but they were attempting a hopeless (though noble) cause. And yes, there were mainland "law enforcement officers " involved in those skirmishes. I've not bothered with local politics (although I'm entitled to register and vote)......again, a predetermined and hopeless cause. Compared to Thailand, the cops here are efficient, virtually incorruptible, and provide a truly safe feeling day and night. You could have a 15yo daughter go out alone or with friends and have NO fear for their safety and wellbeing. Cheers

HK cops are some of the best I've ever seen (over 25yrs here...HK...working and now 40/60 with living in TH). They are polite, respectful, helpful,non~intrusive and multi lingual. Originally trained by the British, and still maintain those standards. Majority are born raised and educated in HK......NOT sent down from the mainland by the CCP!! There are no "bath busses" in HK (only excellent bus,train ferry and taxi services.) So, it no doubt was this policeman's own fault, but he had probably never experienced anything like it before. RIP.

At Pathum Thani Imm...ALL Imm officers refer to the (marriage) extension as "the or your VISA". After over a dozen of them, I've never heard them call or refer to it as an "extension " When I call up near the 30 day "under consideration " period, they (she) always says "yes Sir your VISA is approved " ! So it is confusing !

Agreed. I live in HK about half of the year and previously worked here over 20 years. A real,functioning Financial center ! After cut and pasting your above playbooks, they could try copying the HK assistance/stimulation programs instigated during (and after) Covid. HKD10,000 handed out to HK residents followed by further cash handout, then (what they called) "Consumer Vouchers"#....worth thousands. #These were the ONLY handouts with spending requirements. All Conducted seamlessly, quickly and efficiently.....not like the convoluted B10,000, vote buying fiasco. (IF it ever actually happens !)in Thailand. But then HK has the brains, education and the money to execute these.

Yes. Agree, Hong Kong, where I am at the moment, it's 7 years, 5 minute "interview ", sign 1 piece of paper and then Permanent Resident forever (providing 1 'touch and go' at least every 3 years.) And, being over 70, $2 fares (9THB) virtually anywhere on buses,trains and ferries etc. No concerns regarding money in the bank, property ownership or being able to speak and read Cantonese !

Yes. Agree, Hong Kong, where I am at the moment, it's 7 years, 5 minute "interview ", sign 1 piece of paper and then Permanent Resident forever (providing 1 'touch and go' at least every 3 years.) And, being over 70, $2 fares (9THB) virtually anywhere on buses,trains and ferries etc. No concerns regarding money in the bank, property ownership or being able to speak and read Cantonese !

When I'm out driving, I KNOW that people will cut in front of me....and I don't give a damn. I'm not in a rush but (most local ) others are. Will it matter in 10 years if you did or didn't ??? PS. Same at 7~11 or Lotus queues who cares? What does it really matter???

BB advised me that my thai wife can be a co~signatory, but still keep the account in my name only for Imm purposes. So she signs in the back of the passbook, in a specific place which is invisible except when placed under a special light (infared?). So if (when) I kick the bucket, she can access the funds. Have a Thai will too leaving everything to her in any event.

Good luck to those here who have stated that they (presumably wife,kids etc) "will simply up and move 'elsewhere ". My Thai wife of 20+ years will most CERTAINLY NOT "up and move" to Burma, Cambodia or Vietnam as she cannot communicate in their language(s). So that leaves very few options....back to Countries where English is spoken. In our case (birth country ) Oz or Hong Kong*, *where we have permanent Residence status. But both can be very expensive to live in, and accommodation is tiny (compared to our current 4br,3bath ,house on a large plot of land) and/ or extremely difficult to get. So will tackle this "possible " tax change, IF it even applies to me (70yrs young), by possibly making my Wise transfers (modest pre-taxed pension) to one of my wife's Thai banks (a couple of which I have the atm cards for) so it wont show as me earning overseas "income" and see how that works out. But "up and moving elsewhere" is NOT really an option. Same applies to many other AN forum members here I am sure.

"Yes Minister" (Sir Humphrey Appleby)😄

My last Wise transfer in AUD to my BBL account, done on Wed 29th May has only arrived late this evening, May 31st. Many identical transfers done fortnightly through Wise have taken 2~3 minutes max from "sending " to received. So this is a first! Wonder what BBL are doing? Wise can offer no reason (and I have their transfer receipt ) other than checking the account details and stating that it can take "up to 4 days" for the transfer to be processed by the receiving bank. But at least it finally arrived !

I fly BKK ~ HKG and AA are ALWAYS more expensive (or equal to) Emirates, who I fly with 99% of the time. And EK provide 30kg baggage (although cheaper options are available ), nice roomy A380 aircraft, inflight entertainment, food, wine and beer.......ON TIME ! Why would I choose Air Asia over Emirates ???

Some years ago I used my (Hong Kong) Dah Sing bank Platinum credit card to BUY a new Isuzu MU7 at an Isuzu dealer's display at the local Future Park shopping mall. It took them a little while to sort it out ( ~THB 1 mill), but they finally did the deal. Good bonus for the salesman, AND many,many Asia Miles bonus for me (I flew Cathay a lot back then). At that time I had no easy alternative way to pay, so it was either the foreign Dah Sing CC or no sale!

Dr Jack54, just as an aside, I recently made one of my trips to HKG, and decided, again, to do the re~entry permit at the airport (BKK) prior to departure. After passing security check, I went down to Immigration, only to see near empty lines there. But I was, by then, in the "re~entry permit line". Lo and behold there were 13+people in line (including kids and babies) in front of me being slowly processed by one lone lady filling out their forms and taking photos, changing money etc. I thought "this is going to take forever" when unexpectedly the lady IO actually issueing the permits, walks out of her "office", visually reviews the situation, and walks up to me (grey haired old farang). She asked...."you have your form already filled out with photo? Have passport and cash fee ready? "Ok, wait over there". She took my things and came back in 5 minutes with everything processed.and stamped !! I was most appreciative (and unexpected ) and told her so. Nice gesture on her part.

What is this word "yest"? I don't know it, but you use it a lot !!

As I have previously mentioned, I often travel to and from Hong Kong where my Thai wife and I have permanent residency (no local language skills etc as required here). I mainly go for a change of scene and weather, but also for the excellent (almost free) medical care. Every appointment slip or registration clearly states that these services are primarily provided for HK residents and that other foreign walk ins may be treated in an emergency, BUT AT THE FULL COST of the procedure plus medicines. This is NOT "robbing" the foreigners, and is clearly stated, so no misunderstandings. Last year I was in the waiting room for a regular check up when a nonresident man (foreigner tourist?) started getting agitated and rowdy about the time it was taking to be seen. The staff tried their best to appease him, but with no success after 10 minutes, 2 armed policemen (not security guards) arrived and hauled him away. They don't mess around there!

One annoying thing are the 7's that do not sell alcohol due to "apparently " being "close to a school or Wat" I have 3, 7's nearby me but 2 can't sell alcohol (one used to but was stopped) Crazy! I don't know of any schools (including primary schools or Wats) anywhere near these shops! And I ride around the general area a lot. It's no big deal (two mom and pop shops in same locations do!) But must be a real Revenue loser for those 7's who can't