Caldera

Wearing just a scout scarf with otherwise regular attire is just sad. Either do it right or don't do it at all.

I stopped using my Bangkok Bank card for online payments many years ago, ever since they changed to TPN it has been unreliable at best. No problems whatsoever with my Kasikorn Bank cards, on the other hand. So that would be my recommendation if you're looking for a reliable alternative.

Like every year at this time. Meh.

Yes.

I had to check my calendar reading this. Surprisingly, we're more than three weeks past April 1st already.

I'd argue that not having access to this "famed" yet shoddy instant coffee isn't a big loss!

Looks like Thailand is yesteryear's destination of choice for Chinese travelers, nowadays they prefer to travel to Japan I don't think there's anything Thailand can do to change that. Those scams, boat accidents and abductions sure didn't help!

Better make sure that your payment terminals work at all times then. I still remember trying to pay cashless at an IKEA restaurant once when the lady couldn't get the terminal to work. Back then I could pay cash, what would I do in the future?

The "promise" of future income doesn't matter. You can qualify with $40k/yr income plus an investment. Which is what you have in mind, just why you mention 10 million baht is a mystery (it's $250k).

For people already in Thailand, going to a hotel elsewhere in Thailand for a few nights to be eligible to apply for the certificate of residence at a more accommodating immigration office would be a lot easier and cheaper than going on a visa run. That's why I threw that in.

It's worth noting that many immigration offices do issue a certificate of residence to someone who entered Thailand visa exempt. Even Bangkok nowadays, where that used to be impossible in the past. Which means that, being a tourist on visa exempt, you can "shop around". If you're in Surin and they refuse to issue you one, book a hotel in another province where they do issue them to tourists. Sorted.

Clearly he wasn't a suitable person for his park ranger job.

Good grief.

And pre-Covid? Everything looks great when compared with times of closed borders.

I think it's just your perception. Thailand has been chasing a higher tourist spend for years, so there's been no shift. It just doesn't materialize, no matter what they try. The result is always the same: they open the flood gates and make do with whoever they can attract. Only to whinge about low quality tourists later.