orchidfan

On 11/13/2023 at 9:42 AM, Bobthegimp said:

 

When the trucker protest in Ottawa was broken up it was done by mercenaries who were flown in for the task.  

 

Here the Thai rak Thai thing is real, but the locals are just vermin to the Chinese.  Farangs are even less than that, Gweilo filth.  There could be club weilding commies on Walking Street. 

Gweilo is our nickname only in Honkers, to the Mainlanders we are Laowai (sic) filth.

At least the Chinese coppers can probably speak English, which seems to be a problem for many (most) of the RTP !

On 11/13/2023 at 9:03 AM, jacko45k said:

I suspect a few with truncheons will be stationed next to the shrimp at the buffets!

In the bar areas that I've been to on the Mainland (as opposed to HK), the police patrol with 1metre long wooden sticks to keep everything in order.

Seems to work.....there 😫

2 hours ago, Venom said:

 

Maybe they got off to a slow start but the latest booster shots are now available in Thailand. So there's no excuse now. Everybody needs to be responsible and keep up to date with their booster shots. Better safe than sorry. 

Where??? Medpark don't seem to be offering any!?!

8 hours ago, movsrus said:

China is a cancer on the world and the sooner it gets cut out and eviscerated the better. if you disagree just ask residents of Hong Kong if they are better off under the boot of the CCP.

 

I'm in HK at present (permanent resident for 20yrs ) and the locals had no choice....the lease was up and off went the Brits.

After over 2 decades working here (although my Thai wife and I mostly live in our house in outer Bangkok ) I haven't noticed any "under the boot of the CCP".

But I'm a Guilo, and not into local politics , but I think the British police did a better 'policing' job, day to day, than the present "force".

Otherwise everything is about normal.

31 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

 

There is some truth to what you say, but it is limited to guys that are decent looking, in pretty good shape and have really good game. You absolutely need to have good game to be able to get with any civilians. In addition it helps to have some bling if you're on a tight budget there's no way that's going to happen. 

 

The other aspect of it is the age gap, if you're a 65-year-old guy looking to get with a 25-year-old gal it's likely not going to happen if she's a pure civilian, and you are not paying for it. 

I'm 70ish now and had a very attractive 24yo tha lady come on to me very strongly....unfortunately she was my wife's younger sister 🤣🤣🤣

3 hours ago, Mingomania said:

Thailand has never been handicap friendly...

My 40yo daughter, wheelchair  bound since 12 after an accident, visited me once in Thailand (near Bangkok ) but never again.

No problems visiting me in Hong Kong or Singapore, but never Thailand again.

Btw, she flies all over Australia and the world with her job, so she's no slacker!

16 minutes ago, off road pat said:

Only Americans call it soccer,...For the rest of the world it's "FOOTBALL" !!!

No, Australians call it soccer too.

There is soccer,

Rugby (league and union )

And then there's REAL Australian Football !

7 hours ago, Bobydog said:

So nice to see a productive report for a change, Philippines are way ahead of Thailand in this area so why focus on Britain when the Philippines are an ASEAN member.

I am currently in Hong Kong (have permanent HKID, but reside 90% in TH) and what a pleasure it is to be able to use English,  and be understood!

Shop/ bar staff, bank staff ,taxi drivers, police, train and ferry staff/crews etc,etc.

Even though the colonial Brits are long gone m, English AND Mandarin are taught as  mandatory subjects.

(Speak, read and write both)

And if you don't Pass, you stay down a year until you get it right .

Of course Cantonese is their native everyday language,  yet they remain proficient in English.

I think Singapore is similar, and look at the multicultural mix that place is.

Thailand has a long way to go!

22 minutes ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Good for you and as you mention, it was 20 years ago. Times have changed and very often one has to argue with the taxi fellow on arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport to use the meter. Not to mention the other hidden *extras* they try to charge like toll or special airport tax. It is true that there are these extras to some extent but there are always dishonest ones...quite a few, who inflate the ride. I prefer to hire a private chauffeur driven car. A bit more of course in cost, but it avoids having to hand out me cash to a taxi cheat. Even better is the railway link that leaves from Suvarnabhumi basement and drops you directly in the heart of BKK at Paya Thai stop.

I think you might have misunderstood.

This over the PAST 20 years u.til this day.

Not 20yrs ago.

If you're going to hire a driver and Limo why even post / comment about taxis at BKK?

Like I said.....never had a problem in the past 20 years !

On 10/14/2023 at 5:16 PM, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Not to forget those taxi cheats who start right on arrival at Suvarnabhum airport in Bangkok.

 

Taxi drivers refusing the meter, pretending not to understand english when it suits them or inventing absurd extra charges.

 

This gives a bad image of Thailand and often gets reported in the western press in Europe to warn tourists before high season. Many countries issue warnings to their citizens on such scams in Thailand to warn tourists before the high season.

 

This criminal incident in Patts with the taxi driver is however a league above. But nobody seems to care in Thailand as usual and you will always have the gullible claiming all is fine.

 

I never argue at the taxi stand in arrivals of Bangkok airport.

 

Before loading my luggage I use the mantra  "Chai meter mai ? ". If the driver refuses. I just say thank you and take another number at the ticket machine and try with another taxi and so on. They end up in understanding that the game is up.

I must be just lucky.

Never had one taxi driver who didn't use the meter at Arrivals, BKK.

That's over 20 years.

And I usually give them a good tip when I arrive safely at my house....although they don't know that and  seem not to expect it, when we start the journey.

11 minutes ago, Thailand said:

I guess the tiny flat in Wanchai is worth as much if not more than the large house in outer Bangkok?

I remember a parking space in Causeway Bay, I think, that sold for $100,000 30+ years ago.

I see some are over 1 million US nowadays! 

Yes, correct ! The 4br, 3 bathroom,  2 storey, big garden house in Pathum Thani cost (20yrs ago ) about 1 mill $HKD.

This tiny flat (2 br, 1 bathroom etc) now would sell for about 4~6 mill HKD !!! Crazy.

But good location, next to an MTR exit. Tram,  5 mins walk away,etc.

And as a Senior (or Elder person ) I go almost anywhere for $HK 2.

Although airport bus is only 50% discount,  but at 21 Hkd, not too bad.

As you probably know, everything works here....power, internet etc, typhoon or not.

But Thailand (thai wife) is a third of the cost, or less (especially medical...virtually free ) to live long term.

13 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

You seem to be such an apt student of history... 

 

Congrats! 

 

But, were you there? 

 

 

Well. He is 100%  correct. I'm presently in HK (permanent HKID),and ,yes, I for one was here when the  Brits left in 1997.

And Kowloon was (still is) crap.

Wanchai and LKF were where the action was. But Covid killed a lot of it, sadly.

I have a large house in outer Bangkok and a tiny flat in Wanchai.

So I know about "Tale of 2  cities".

2 hours ago, moe666 said:

That decision was a lot higher than Big Joke.

The thing I've always found strange about this Embassy /Consulate "income thing"  is that if you go in to make a stat dec, then my understanding was that you, and only you, are making a declaration, and the Embassy were simply confirming your signature and Identity  .........

NOT SAYING  that your declaration is true or false!!!

Does.this mean then, that these Embassies not longer witness ANY stat. Decs???

9 hours ago, simple1 said:

OP: Some years ago I moved from Caboolture to Pattaya. Cannot remember the Oz removalist, but the Thai end was handled by Asian Tigers so give them a call / email to see who they now use in Brisbane; URL below. The service was door to door, no problems whatsoever.

 

https://asiantigersgroup.com/thailand/

I used Asian Tigers as well when we moved from Hong Kong to here (2016)

They were excellent door to door.

My employer (HK Govt) paid for everything so I had to submit 3 quotes for approval.

Asian Tigers were the winners and I would thoroughly recommend.

I am Aussie but not sure the AT operate OZ to TH.

Have a search and find out.

PS., I didn't pay ANY  local customs fees or "agents".....they might have but the whole deal was one fee, 20ft FCL, packing and unpacking. Nothing lost or broken..

Good luck!

5 hours ago, Grumpy one said:

How can Bangkok flood ?

After a certain prisoners daughter claimed there would be NO MORE floods in the city.

Was this a politician telling lies ?   ????

She is his SISTER  not his daughter !

8 hours ago, liddelljohn said:

sadly Emirates and Qatar air  have lowered the quality of their offering  as well poor food ,, less alcoholic drinks served  higher prices, poorer entertainment selections  ,, less cleaning too.  staff are still good

As previously noted, I fly Emirates often BKK~HKG  (only 2 hrs roughly) and their price (incl 35kgs baggage ) is cheaper than AirAsia !

Yes the meal served is "no choice " but it's ok. Wine and beer aplenty.

(I even knocked over 1 full glass of red wine Into the aisle and cabin staff raced up to give me a new full glass...in Economy ! I apologised for the accident, and he said "no problem Sir" with a smile)

I doubt is I'd get another drop on TH.

They are nearly always exactly on time....TG usually an hour or so late...and this is not a busy route!

8 hours ago, liddelljohn said:

sadly Emirates and Qatar air  have lowered the quality of their offering  as well poor food ,, less alcoholic drinks served  higher prices, poorer entertainment selections  ,, less cleaning too.  staff are still good

As previously noted, I fly Emirates often BKK~HKG  (only 2 hrs roughly) and their price (incl 35kgs baggage ) is cheaper than AirAsia !

Yes the meal served is "no choice " but it's ok. Wine and beer aplenty.

(I even knocked over 1 full glass of red wine Into the aisle and cabin staff raced up to give me a new full glass...in Economy ! I apologised for the accident, and he said "no problem Sir" with a smile)

I doubt is I'd get another drop on TH.

They are nearly always exactly on time....TG usually an hour or so late...and this is not a busy route!

3 hours ago, mark131v said:

Just flown with Thai to Manchester return and will not be doing so again, reason I did this time is because they where cheapest, guess it's true, you get what you pay for!

 

They used to be my go to airline in the early days as they flew direct but I wouldn't use even for a direct flight

 

Why? dirty aircraft seat back and table had old food stains on it, cramped and dated, poor in flight entertainment system, uncomfortable seats with no leg room and crap food and service

 

I may have been spoiled by using Emirates and Qatar lately but won't be using Thai again....

Me too.

Often fly BKK ~ HKG return.

Used to try Thai pre Covid on occasions as Thai wife liked.their food/language etc.

But tried them once earlier this year.

Prices similar to Emirates but EK outshine them (on the A380) in comfort,  food, wine, big touchscreen entertainment and friendly service.

Thai were an hour late on each leg, many days apart.

Emirates pushback and departure /arrivals are spot on schedule.

Flex ticket and 35kgs baggage (TG 30kgs)

EK usually have staff speaking  up to 14 languages on the A380.

Thai ?????

Think I'm sticking with EK.

THAI have "dropped the ball "

On 8/17/2023 at 5:02 PM, samtam said:

I have a HK Permanent ID and Right of Abode. However, because of the pandemic I was unable to get back to HKG within the 36 month period. I am on schedule to return next month, and I may be able to have the Right of Abode status retained, despite failing in the 36 month criteria. It will be reviewed on a case by case basis, when I apply for my new Smart ID. (I lived and worked in Hong Kong for over 20 years, and prior to the pandemic was a frequent traveller; once able to travel during the pandemic, with vaccinations, simply could not stomach the draconian quarantine period, and if I should have been unlucky to catch covid during said quarantine, as some did, a further stint in Penny's Bay, which was unbelievably austere. On top of that my flights were cancelled by Cathay Pacific, and I could not rearrange the quarantine hotel to coincide with a new booking on Emirates.)

I just snuck back in with a mo.th or so to go before the deadline.

Didn't have to go there (luckily) before they dropped the quarantine Nonsense .

Also got the new smart card ID, which was easy enough  

Was given priority for being. an old  bugger. Fill in a paper, new photo, then come back a week later to collect new card.

I did read that missing the 36 month period still allows you right of entry, not sure a out right of abode.

I think if you go and plead your case to Imm, they may be lenient....bu it's all tied into the Basic Law.

Good luck !

For those interested in travel in/out of Thailand, I recently did one of my numerous trips to Hong Kong.

Firstly, Permanent Resident status and ID card is relatively easy there if you have lived and worked there for 7 years.

Unlike here.

No money in the bank or Immigration visits required - just have to do a "touch and go" there every 3 years to maintain to full benefits ( medical, Govt incentive handouts etc). Can work - no work permit required .

My Thai wife also has Permanent Resident status - piggy backed on my PR acceptance. BUT you have to be really legally married with notarized copies of Marriage Cert. etc. Village weddings not accepted.

TRAVEL - Being retired on a pension, I check carefully all the airline fares....regularly.

                Every time Emirates win out by a long way....THB7 - 8000 return, 30 kgs baggage, flexible ticket etc etc (No, I do not work for Emirates)

                Re-entry Permit easy and quick to do at the airport - but better to have the form filled in and passport style photo attached already)

                ------one thing is that you have to go through security screening First, then back downstairs to the Departure Immigration and

               re-entry desk level.

               at security screening I dropped my wallet in my haste to empty pockets. I didn't notice, but a nice staff lady came running after me to return my wallet -very impressed.

               Entry in HK just so easy.....put your ID card on machine, step in, then thumb on reader and you're in. Piece of cake. No talking to IO.

Return to BKK uneventful , but a long walk# to Hall 2 ( hall 1 was full so everyone ushered to Hall 2).

# I guess it's because of the A380 parking bay.

At Hall 2 was immediately directed to the "elderly/special needs" lane which was straight in to the IO. Well, almost, the 1 farang ahead of me didn't present his boarding pass ( now apparently used in lieu of TM6 card) and a dozen other questions from IO.

I walked up prepared and it took about 3 minutes for her to stamp me in. Boarding pass slotted next to the re-entry permit in the passport!

My bag was already on the round-about so grabbed it, walked out, bought a beer and into an honest, pleasant taxi and driver.  He knew where I wanted to go ( 35 mins away) and straight there .... on the meter. Gave him a Bt100 tip which he was delighted with.

Am back to HK again in Oct - basically my Medical insurance at over 70 yrs old.

Hopefully will be a repeat of this last and previous travels there.

I used to like THAI on my frequent fights to Hong Kong, but this year (after many restrictions were lifted) I tried them again BUT both flights in each direction were delayed an hour or more .

Mediocre food and service.

So it's back to Emirates A380........cheaper and far superior food/service and inflight entertainment.

On time departures and arrivals.

Last EK flight that I was on a week ago, HKG to BKK, was full.

Obviously others have noticed too!

13 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

Not really.  I lived in China for a decade, speak more of a southern dialect of Mandaran.  This fellow is from Shaanxi, where the local version of Mandarin is, how you say, unique.

 

I watched the video yesterday.  The audio was rather poor, and I couldn't make out much of what the man said.  I was guessing it was some version of Cantonese.

I'm a Permanent resident of Hong Kong...... over 20yrs living and. working there.

His yelling did not sound like Cantonese.....which, as you would know, is mainly  confined to Southern China, HK, Macao, Zhuhai etc.

This guy flew back to Xian the next day! Hardly in the neighborhood ????

6 hours ago, Andrew65 said:

Here's a recent report from Oz????

7. Gold Coast, QLD - Gronk ordered to pay $10k in compensation for drunkenly bashing men outside kebab shop after State of Origin.

Think it must be a Queensland term.

Never heard it used anywhere else in Oz.

By definition "a complete moron"

Sums up this fella pretty well ????

16 hours ago, beammeup said:

Extension, but don't worry about it I already received correct replies

I have done many, many extensions based on marriage and EVERY year Pathum Thani IOs do a (date pre agreed) home visit.

Coffee and cake, copy 2 neighbors ID cards, photo outside and off they go. 30 minutes tops.

Other provinces differ.

I thino they enjoy taking the BMWr a spin.

2 hours ago, connda said:

What do you mean "I think."  EMS is trackable.  You should know exactly where it went and where it got held up.

https://track.thailandpost.co.th/?lang=en

 

Thanks. Yes I know that. I send and receive letters  and packages  by EMS a few times a year.

This one to the Oz bank I wasn't overly concerned about and it was a while ago.

At 73 I don't recall the exact day/date it arrived there, but recall that it was "about a week or so".

Bottom line is that they got it in good time and f I n a l l y released my account for full use.

PS. I've had this account for over 40 years and suddenly they want me to confirm who I am!!

EMS service to /from Thailand I've found to be excellent.

Thai  EMS Post guy# even calls me to say he's on his way to my house!

Of course, nothing to do with the B100 tip I give him????

#I think a different guy than normal daily postie.