StayinThailand2much

Considering how 'experts' (incl. Goldman Sachs) seem to issue hit-and-miss prognoses that, also, vary widely, I am wondering what the prognoses of AseanNow members are, as they, possibly, may be as right/as wrong as some of the experts... 1. Where is the S&P500 on June 30/Dec. 31? 2. Where is the NASDAQ on June 30/Dec. 31? 3. Chance of a U.S. recession before the end of the year? To answer the OP, I recently sold some U.S. equities in order to, partially, reinvest the proceeds into other assets. (No other equities currently, with equities making up only a fraction of my portfolio.)

Even Western countries have alcohol restrictions. In Oz or NZ many restaurants don't have a licence to serve alcohol. And try to buy it to take away; you have to find a liquor store, as other shops are prohibited to sell alcohol. In Australia's NT you even have to show ID at the liquor store to buy a beer! And at the liquor store, try to buy 1 single bottle or can. Often cannot as they only sell the beer in six-packs... How weird is that?

Depends on the location. Some states you cannot. Others, like Penang, probably, but not on certain days.

As I mentioned, 'Party Central' Malaysia is not...

1. Use ant chalk. 2. Use cockroach&ant spray. 3. Spray them with alcohol used in those spray bottles during Covid. 4. Give them an alternative (e.g. sugar) in another place. 5. Pour water in a ring around the table while using the laptop.

Yes, but the Mom&Pop shops don't sell the beer I like to drink. But yes, school kids buy there, while grown-ups cannot buy their favourite brand at a normal store.

Even in strictly Muslim Kelantan (E of peninsula) you can buy beer. Similar to Thailand, sales hours are restricted, but you can.

I went with a Thai girl to Kota Bharu (Kelantan/Malaysia). They are the strictest Muslims there. None of us got strange looks.

Went to Thailand. Wanted to have a beer with my late lunch at 2 p.m. Told "Cannot, as kids' school day was over." Asked to come back 5 p.m. ... LOL

Songkhla has a mix of Thais, Chinese, and Muslims (Malays). No strange looks in Malaysia. Few in Yala or Narathiwat. Even in Bangkok I rarely get strange looks from Thai Muslims. Much more from 'Buddhists'.

Not about Buddhism. Muslims in Malaysia (also in Thailand) are the nicest people. Just to mention one example, went eating out in KL, no chairs available, stood at a table, then a young Muslima told me that a chair was just free behind me... Never happened to me in Thailand. Just one example... Of course, Malaysia doesn't have something like Pattaya or Patong, so yes, if you're single, it can be a bit boring.

Usually asked for by your airline. Rarely by Immigration.

Fair enough. But I guess these countries are not as much after mass tourism as Thailand is. Never heard that Laos wants to attract 40 million tourists per year...

I tried to add: "And Thailand only 30 days?", but somehow couldn't add it. With ticket prices currently that high, why would tourists from Europe or North America travel here for only 3 or 4 weeks? Perhaps coming from Oz it makes more sense. (More flights, incl. budget airlines.)

There was mention of two Laotian women... Unless it is the same one; both 38, one of them is mentioned only with her nickname, the other with her first name. Hmmm...

Some of these offices are in Dubai, Czechia, Singapore, and Hong Kong... Dubai, for example, has a population of 3.33 million. And their target is 1 million visitors... ???????????? TAT: "If a third of your population doesn't go for a holiday to Thailand, we will stop buying your oil!" Dubai: "Okay... All will come."

Raises the question 'Why?' - Buddhist monks? Doesn't make sense, unless Thailand was at war, or the 'monks' are 3-month novices.

Several years ago also semi-retired guys, or financially independent blokes, often 6 months in Thailand, then 6 months in the old world...

Or longer... I stayed 3 months in NZ and almost 3 months in Oz recently. But tell that the TAT. They now seem to prefer tourists from Asia. The visa policy over the past 15 years got stricter and stricter. And I don't see a return to 45 days visa-exempt, unless tourist numbers drop dramatically...

What a crap, this ChatGPT! I asked a normal question: “How to find a girlfriend in Pattaya?” - Answer: ‘As an AI agent I cannot promote prostitution and exploitation bla-bla-bla...’ - So this “AI” not only presumes that all females in Pattaya are prostitutes, but also that I am looking for one, which has absolutely nothing to do with my question or intention. Wonder, if I wrote: ‘Looking for a gf in New York...’ the answer would be the same. Not impressed, and don’t see a need to try this **** for another five years, at least. Maybe in 2028 it will be useful... (Way to go, Microsoft!)

With record numbers of tourist arrivals reported and projected every other day, and emphasis on Chinese and Indians that usually stay way less than 30 days, unlikely...

Usually the taxi thugs ask for 2-3x the meter price. 10x is outrageous.

90 days as soon as pigs can be seen flying...

Why?

Okay, then. Enjoy your clean air.