Lacessit

Getting a non-O visa is a different process. As I understand it, 25 - 35K baht for an extension obtained by bribery is the going rate. For 15K, what you are supposed to get is rapid service at Immigration, and all your paperwork ducks in a row, assembled for you by the agent. Including a legit 800 K baht in the bank.

I look forward to visiting Bangkok like I look forward to a dental appointment for root canal therapy.

Off topic,speaking Thai can be very useful. I was recently at a food court when a young Thai pushed in front of me. Gave him my best death stare, and said "mai supap" ( disrespectful ). He backed off, sheepishly. On topic, I agree word of mouth from foreigners who are using the illegal agent route sounds best.

I must admit it does grate somewhat keeping 800K baht in a savings account when it could be out there working for me. Having said that, I have a few concerns about the route you describe. The first is whether the other shoe drops, and thousands of extensions suddenly become illegal as a new broom sweeps through. The second is I don't know if my local office is corrupt or straight arrow. The third is picking an effective and honest agent, which is an oxymoron, given what they are doing. There are stories of agents losing or stealing passports, none of us need that hassle. Perhaps an agent just to negotiate the tax component with Immigration?

Again, I would not know. I'm usually tucked up in bed by 10.30 pm, and I haven't touched alcohol for a year. Even when I was imbibing, I didn't need to be out at 1 am for it.

I could equally replace "will" and "could" with "might". It's very early days yet, IMO it will probably take one or two years for everything to shake out. The most critical aspect appears to be whether Thai Immigration will be demanding a tax number, or evidence of a tax return, when any foreigner fronts up for a retirement extension.

There's a small bar presence in Jetyod Road. The massage shops in the sois radiating off Jetyod usually have extras, quite frequently offered before asking. Some nice looking women there. I wouldn't know about cannabis, it does nothing for me. Mom and Pop shops everywhere, although my definition of them may vary from yours.

IMO Chiang Rai probably has one of the lowest costs of living in Thailand. Property prices and rents simply don't seem to move. Chiang Rai has three private hospitals, an army hospital, and two government hospitals. It's not as if it is short on infrastructure.

If you have never been there, you won't know what attractions it has. If you have, given your attitude, you would probably miss most of them. Having been in Pattaya a few times, I would sooner chew razor blades than be a resident there. Phuket sounds like Pattaya squared.

There is nothing wrong with kratom if it is used sensibly. That might not apply among younger people. It is addictive. However, AFAIK it does not cause psychosis as marijuana can, or remove inhibitions, as alcohol does. Its main function seems to be as a painkiller. Personally, I find it to be far more effective than tramadol for pain relief. Tramadol seems to be the strongest medication legally available in Thailand for that purpose.

It would take a hell of a lot to pry me loose from Chiang Rai, although I suppose Chiang Rai is not high on the riff-raff bucket list of places they can spoil for others.

IMO if you are in Thailand more than 180 days ( FY? Calendar? ) you will be taxed by the Thai authorities on income. Someone solely on the OAP in Australia has the pension to report as assessable. However, after thresholds and offsets are taken into account, no tax is payable anyway. It's a moot point whether submitting a tax return in Australia means one has been taxed, even though they actually paid no tax. I tend to agree the accent is on the word WEALTHY, although as yet that has not been defined by the Thai authorities. It should be common sense government pensions are not taxable anywhere on the planet, but that would mean thousands if not hundreds of thousands of bureaucrats would be out of a job.

He's probably in a barbed wire canoe as well.

Hiccups sometimes are caused by eating or drinking too much, or too fast. If they last for more than 48 hours, time to see a doctor. They can usually be fixed by drinking water from the other side of a glass, so that the glass rim where you would normally drink from is under the chin.

You think my scenario is fanciful? He's already been indicted for illegally keeping top secret documents at Mar-a-Largo, and showing them off to visitors. What do you think Trump would do with blanket immunity?

You can enjoy more chocolate if you buy the 80-90% cacao content.

Engines wear out faster without maintenance, so do our bodies. There's plenty of proof regular exercise defends against problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Citing Trump on that topic is a bit like citing Hitler or Stalin for humanitarianism.

Everyone is different, some are blessed with good genes. Others have to work at it. AFAIK obesity has never resulted from eating dead animals. It comes from eating too much carbohydrates and sugars.

IMO it would be more productive to concern yourself with multiple posts claiming the same thing, but that's just me. Unfortunately, ASEAN cannot test poster sanity. Your check may find I had another account quite a few years ago under a different nom-de-plume. However, my two identities have not been used contemporaneously, different service provider.

I have been calling out said troll for many months. And in turn called a troll for my efforts. At least you have had the good manners to apologize.

If the OP is lacking in birdsong, try the siffleur substitute:

Here's a nightmare for anyone who works undercover for US intelligence services. Trump has his claim of presidential immunity affirmed by the Supreme Court, which is stacked with his stooges. Trump is re-elected in 2024. Immunity gives him freedom to sell national secrets to the highest bidder. He does need the money to pay his legal bills. Who would want the job of National Security Adviser?

There's a bird in Thailand that calls out "por lao" (English: Enough already). I sometimes wonder if it is a female bird who has had enough of male importunings. Mynas are very ordinary, can they dance like this?

I don't block him. I enjoy watching his pathetic attempts at gaslighting.

I was working 2 days a week with full flexibility on my hours, and being well paid to be a consultant. The GFC ended that, but it was a great time.