heiri007

The 7-11 mindset, cheap (yet overpriced) highly processed "food" without nutritional value, and getting it mostly delivered, not to mention common Thai laziness, all adds up

How Thais already love those bumpui kids!

13 hours ago, qualtrough said:

Thai-Chinese citizens have been and are prominent in politics here. Does that not count?

 

I don't think a farang running for office here would be progress. If I wanted that, I would have stayed back home.  Thailand is wise to be choosey about the number of people it allows to be naturalized. I am very glad that Thailand hasn't opted for the mass-immigration policies of the US and  many countries in Europe.  We are already seeing a backlash against some of the foreigners is allowing in at the moment, and in most cases it is justified. YMMV.

You could go as far and say that ethnic Chinese heritage is in control of Thailand.

Well, there is a middle way between uncontrolled inflows of foreigners and a controlled one.  A certain paranoia politicizes fear and holds the country back in many ways. We've seen that with the many nullified elections. No need to feel as a second-class citizen, your voice matters.

He had a history of violence in Hua Hin, ask around.

On 5/21/2025 at 12:58 PM, sas_cars said:

I can see a pattern, all Thaksin governments have had worst IM for citizenship and PR applicants. Maybe it shows a dislike from the top more

There is a dislike of everything non-Thai among the higher ups. Thais integrate so well in other countries. Here? Am still waiting for the first mixed or naturalized Thai to have a say in government or politics. Show biz of course, but politics. A farang face in local elections, that would mark real progress.

On 5/4/2025 at 12:53 AM, moochai87 said:

Hey all. I haven't posted here in a while but I just want to provide you all with an update. 

 

I had my MOI interview in Nonthaburi in August last year (2024). I was expecting a similar experience to my other interviews but it was actually pretty rough. The SB officer handling my case told me I wouldn't need to sing the national or royal anthem (as I'm married to a Thai with kids) so stupidly I didn't practice for that - because I was asked to sing. Luckily I know the national anthem anyway but I wasn't able to complete the royal anthem. The official in charge was pretty strict and criticized me for not standing up straight enough when singing and how I should have worn yellow... etc. There was something about me he didn't like. I left that day feeling pretty disappointed.

 

Anyway, I left it a few weeks then I asked the SB officer if there was any update. He informed me that the application was sent to Bangkok MOI for signing, much to my suprise. It's been there for at least 6 months.

 

Just so the rest of the process goes as smoothly as possible, can you let me know what to expect if I get to the oath ceremony. What should I learn for this?

 

Congratulations to all those who have obtained citizenship already!

Was your wife with you at the interview?

On 1/30/2023 at 1:19 PM, Bert got kinky said:

 

Have you tried Tam Jai?

I know it's only 65mg but they are available everywhere, including mom & pop shops.

I believe (but cannot confirm)  that they are also available at 7-11.

Tam Jai is 650mg per sachet, not 65.

Good day, diving newbie here, aiming for the Basic Open Water license.

What about diving on Koh Tao this season? Are the waters less muddy now than elsewhere?

Is the island a bit of a tourist ghetto? I remember Koh Phi Phi a few years ago, wanted to leave again immediately...

Inputs appreciated where you'd go now for the first diving experience 🙏

Again? Heard of such a plan a felt hundred times already. It's an insult to any average brain capacity. But with short-term memories prevailing around there, they keep on dreaming of becoming something they can never be. BTW I never stay in Pattaya, nearby Jomtien and better even Sattahip offer everything I need. There is no market for a TAT Pattaya. Anyway, they all know, they just pretend.

On 7/25/2024 at 8:11 AM, digbeth said:

 

Imagine the furor if immigrants in say, the UK or Australia are allowed citizenship without being able to speak English

At least the Thai citizenship don't test you on history or cultural bits

However, citizenship application in the west is much quicker, more transparent, much less bureaucratic process. And yes, I met farang folks here with a Thai ID who cannot speak a sentence of Thai. They hired agents to get things done.

In my MOI interview batch most candidates were Chinese. I wonder whether some Chinese applications continued to be processed while the official process came to a halt? I mean the officials' uproar regarding this passport "scam" is kind of telling. Closing the case was surprisingly quick and efficient.

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/chinese-couple-deported-over-passport-sale-billboard-in-bangkok

A friend just smilingly showed me his spanky new TH passport. RG announcement was on April 6, MOI interview two years before. Process somewhat still moving it seems, but not sure what it takes so still make it.

20 hours ago, bluejets said:

Go back to where ever you came from then if it is now unacceptable to you.

I like to take a bet that, wherever it was, it has followed much the same or doesn't have half the things going for it that it used to.

The usual jerk reaction. Trying to do my part by cleaning up the beaches myself, engaging with local authorities about solutions... there can only be betterment by realizing what's wrong, what could be done better and then act. But just accepting anything as is, well, your choice, not mine.

Can't he just wear civilian clothes? Doesn't foster confidence, all these uniforms everywhere here.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

And how long did they live at PKK municipality, if at all ?  So he or she is 85 ish years old, or did they retire very early also.  Or did someone tell them that ?

 

Again, I deal in real life experiences ... mine.

 

Of course it's changed, but nothing like Hua Hin, Patts, Phuket, most surfside towns with access to good public trans.   Changed much less to where we used to live Udon Thani.  Influx of expats & Thais there have caused congestion 10 fold from when I first got there.

 

PKK ... Still changing now, as housing in the west side of hwy 4 has increased.  But between the surf and RR/hwy 4, not much has really changed.   And I've been coming here for 20 year.

 

Only 2 larger hotels,  an Amazon Cafe (new past year), and North side of bay, quite a few more restaurants for the weekenders to hang out at.  As they tire of the congestion of Hua Hin, and go the extra hour south.

 

When weekenders are gone, it's back to real quiet, and when you drive by shops, they're open, but look closed.

 

Bur really noting compared to the changes & growth of the rest of the popular areas.   West of hwy 4 is still mainly farming.   Closer to Myanmar border, and all farming, as most don't have Chanote, so couldn't sell if they wanted to.

 

It's only 15 ish kilometers wide, and hwy 4 to to the surf is less than 1 kms, and most was occupied already, and not much to be sold and developed.  No real public transport in town, so if not in town, or surfside, the land isn't worth much, and people don't want to live that rural.

 

Besids North of, is hills, and not allowed to build on.  South is Khlong Won, some land there available, but then it's farming and National park.   Nothing really till you get to Thap Sakae.

 

Population may have doubled in 20 yrs, municipality/amphur, then, 15/45k, now 27/90k.  Surprisingly more than Amphur Hua Hin (65k(HH town 46k).  Most of those being in town, explains the congestion, along with the HH weekenders from Bangkok , and gridlock. 

 

Don't know where they are all hiding at PKK, (amphur), and a lot more out here in the sticks than I thought.  Our district doesn't even have a wiki page link, so couldn't tell you the population. 

 

Been to Bang Saphans, and they changed quite a bit, in 20 years, but since not much there at all back then, surfside, it's pretty noticeable, if you were then 20 years ago, as I visited back then.

 

Prachuap Khiri Khan, municipality is fairly all bought up, and has been for long time, so I know there won't be many changes in the future, in my life time.   Some more housing out here, west side, but that's about it.  No industry, commerce, or jobs to attract more people.   No Uni, schools are a joke.

 

Surf is not swimmable (Ao Prachuap), and many don't know about Ao Manao, since on the RTAF base.  Unless you self drive, you're not really going over there.  We see some cycling tourist, but that's it, since no public transport.

PKK has the perfect location, yet bewildering "city planning." The whole beach front is wasted, looks abandoned, not a single restaurant for instance along that long beach road... could easily be the perfect town.

1 hour ago, Des1 said:

Thialand wants to be the "hub" of pretty much anything you can imagine.

Thailand 5.0, anyone?

They dare yet again once more? I bet not.

On 3/31/2023 at 3:00 PM, UKJASE said:

pak nam pran has plenty of empty land adjacent to the beach

 

theres a couple of beach bars down there too to check out

Yeah but also very quiet, definitely an oversupply of watering holes along Pak Nam Pran beach stretch ????

Homebrewing law got loosened last year, or is it still not possible for small places to sell their own brewed beer?

Anyone in the know?

15 hours ago, rsskga said:

Went to the US Embassy today with 2 versions of an affidavit related to hypothetically renouncing my American citizenship upon receipt of Thai. They wouldn't sign either one. The consular official made it clear that it is an intentional diplomacy-driven decision to not engage with these requests on any level any longer and that all consular officials are on the same page in this regard. I wish I knew all of the related details, as I find a policy change like this quite interesting.

 

For clarity, here are both versions, appropriately redacted.

 

Happily, I had other docs to get notarized, so it wasn't a waste of my time.

Heard this from a European embassy, the ambassador told me they'd be supporting a lie in signing such a paper. Obviously there are workarounds. An applicant told me he submitted an own written statement and it was accepted.