swissie

Just curious: When did you open this Bank Account? Recently or years ago? This is of importance, considering recent requirements for Farangs.

Never liked to give my original passport to any stranger. Besides, I liked the monthly "change of pace". Of course, today I would have other options.

Plus "extensions", I know. Still liked the monthly visa runs to Cambobia better. Immigraton guys at the border diden't speak any English, so they were not able to ask any questions. Days gone by. As I said, this was the equivalent of a "long term visa".

Recent Visitors/long term Expats may not know this. There was a time in Thailand where a "long-term" visa consisted of a monthly "border-run" to Cambodia. To be repeated endlessly, having fun on the monthly run, a change of pace. That was the "long-term-visa" for everybody. The only persons that asked you "where you come from and how long you stay" where the bar-ladies. Immigration was not interested in such trivial things. One could have rented a car with a drivers licence of eastern Timbuktu. The word "feminism" was known, but interpreted as "a female must look as female as possible". Hotel clerks mostly unfamiliar with the western ABC. Everyone welcome with some kind of stamp on some strange paper. That was a long time ago. And today? A strict visa concept. Farangs having to pay taxes. Tel-Phone SIM Cards readable by "authorities". Hurdles to even open a bank account? While at the same time "property -rights" for Farangs have not been "liberalised". For example. Boy, those were the days, when the only worrie a Farang had, was to miss the monthly mini-bus to the Cambodian border. Days gone by.

"Bob" is flaunting his Wealth in Thailand. Reducing his life expectancy greatly. Finally, he will make the headline of some Thai newspapers: "Farang robbed and killed on Beach Road last night. Witnesses claimed to have seen him before, wearing 7 heavy Gold chains around his neck". Thai police is investigating, having formed a Special Task Force. Thai Police claims the the true identity of this particular high-roller can not easily be found out, as there are only dubious posts on social media available. "Bob" and his future.

For me too, it became a "home away from home". I think I will be staying on soi post office again. In a new corner, it would probably take up half of my holiday time, just to find out "what is what".

I still had some e-mail adresses from ladies I used to know. So, I wrote them. Most of them replied. Agewise they are now "mama-san's". But they assured me, that they know "many young ladies" that would very much like to meet me. (within or below my financial parameters). It was mentioned, that they remember me as a very friendly "no problem" Farang. According to them, an increasing number of "problem Farangs" are making the industry more unstable and more problematic for free lancers. In short: A "friendly Farang, vouched for by a Thai mama-san, can expect a "discount". So, me the "friendly no problem Farang" is pleased. It just goes to prove, that keeping in contact with old aquaintances can come in very handy.

Must confess, due to health reasons, I wasen't able to travel much, so the last time I was in Pattaya was 7 years ago. Now Doctor says "you are healed and you can go everywhere you want to". How nice. Used to stay on Soi Post Office/Soi Yamato for years on holiday.It always felt like a home away from home. Following posts here, I realise that things have changed in Pattaya in many ways. So I wonder where I should stay, enjoying harmless babblings with bar ladies resulting in "close contact" later on. Limiting financial female favours to 1000 Bht per encounter or less, depending on time involved. Friend of mine, still living on Soi Post Office for many years claims that females on Beach Road are mostly "overweight and plain ugly", as is the rest of the female bar employees nearby. Same same. Cheaper on Beach Road. Use condoms in every situation his advice. Overall, he insists, that the quality of female services is not inceasing by the amount of financial compensastion. Therefore I venture to say, that I am likely to stay in my "guesthouse" on Soi Post Office again, as it is close to Beach Road. Unless some of you have better suggestions.

The PPP of Russia is not known to us. The "shadow-fleet" of Russian ships exporting their oil, and thus replenishing their "war chest" has only be discovered recently, (3 years going into the war). One must conclude, that all the western intelligence agencies were asleep during the last 3 years. If the EU increases the defense budget from 2% to 3%, according to your pocket calculator, how much more in monetary terms would that be? You will be amazed. Not to speak of Donalds request of 5%? We simply dont't have the money for this and the European "borrowing-power" has reached it's limits.

Remember the start of "Globalisation"? Worldwide price competition will benefit everyone. So the gospel. Ignoring the fact that "estabished economies" could never compete with southern "low cost" producers. With the result of job-losses north of the Equator with little gain for workers south of the Equator. Eventual gains found their way into the pockets of the 5% elite of those countries. A devastating example is Africa. Internationally operating large corporations as the sole "winners". Result: Realising that many segments of the US/European economy can simply not compete with "low cost producers". The imposition of import Tariffs is nothing else than an effort to gradually reverse "globalisation". Europe to follow, for sure. Globalisation was sold as "increased prosperity" for everyone. A party that would never end for everybody. North of the Equator the party has ended. North of the Equator, we are left with a post-globalised hangover. It will take more than 2 Alka-Seltzer tabletts to cure this sort of hangover.

Agree. I support a welfare state, giving shelter, food and heating. Very basic stuff. Dozends of welfare programs in Germany. Welfare overkill. AMAZINGLY: Still, most beneficiaries are hovering near the "financial existential minimum". I suppose a good part of the money finds it's way into the administrative djungle. Good salaried "social workers" and so many more that would be out of their jobs if it wasent for the growing army of "unemployable people".

European countries are "out of money". So again, who is going to be the "financier" of future European military capabilities? To look at the "balance-sheet" of most European countries will confirm that we simply don't have the money for something like that.

To secure peace, a strong deterrent is a good way to go. Even the old Romans knew this. "Si vis pacem, parabellum". For 30 years, Europe has abandoned this principle. To bring up our military capabilities up to par will cost astronomical amounts of money and can easily take up to 10 years. Problem: Some legislative "dept ceilings" are in place. Other European countries have "maxed-out" their credit cards already. Tax increases? No way! So, I would just like to know how the future peace in Europe can be financed. Of course, if the US should pull out of NATO (even a limited pull-out), we would not have to bother with our European military build up anymore. Rather should we start teaching our kids Russian as a second language, replacing English.

No, I am not happy at all the way things turned out. BUT: After the end of the Cold War, the Russians have never understood why NATO has expanded to the east. Who else is in the East exept Russia? Of course they started wondering why NATO started to get closer to their territory, in a time when officially the Cold War had ended. IMHO, the eastward expansion of NATO was the dumbest thing the "west" has fabricated since the end of WW2. Completely uncalled for. Imagine this: If the newborn Pancho Villa would gather Mexican military forces to re-conquer California, Arizona and New Mexico? As they have been there before? Even Donald and his Muskrat would claim to be "encirceled". Nobody likes to be "ganged-up". Not in your neighborhood and not if States (NATO) do the same thing. I remain, uncalled for eastward expansion of NATO will go down in history as one of the greates "blunders" that the West ever produced. NATO must close the door for potential "Newcomers". Georgia next? Unlike the Ukraine, Georgia could be occupied by Russian forces within 3 weeks.

I know. Few others seem to know. Whatever "more" the Russians will get, it will be a "windfall-profit" thanks to their military effort.

What is so hard to understand? If you are "outgunned" 3:1 (personell and hardware) from the very beginning, how can one expect to win a war? The Ukraine was only able to resist this long with the help of the US. European help was never enough, as they never had enough hardware to be given away without deploring their own modest hardware stocks. From now on: The Ukraine will give the Crimea and the Donbass to Russia (mostly Russian speaking anyway) with the guarantee that the Ukraine will never join NATO (same goes for Georgia). That would be the best of cases for the Ukraine. With the Exit of the US, the Ukraine has definitely lost the war, having practially no more "negociation power" left.

Another issue might be (on both sides of the Atlantic): Voters getting the impression the western Parlaments have detoriated into mere "debating clubs". Much talk without adressing the problems that concern the electorate. The "Ruling class" mainly occupied with defending their privileges. We had the same situation during the "Weimar Republic" in Germany with the result that on January 30 1933 the Germans voted for a guy that promessed "to make Germany great again". The similarities are freightening.

I was hoping for many replies. I got them! Above summary I find the most significant one by far. Remarkable. It shows the many reasons why Americans are unhappy with "the way the world turns" plus an entrenched Political/Economical system that condems the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer. Problems arise on many fronts simultainly. But then: Every empire must fall. Folks are starting to realise that the US will not evade this faith. No surprise, that someone entered the stage wanting to "make America great again". If necessary with a crowbar. (Surely, in the final years of the Roman Empire, folks called out: "Romulus make Rome great again"). TARIFFS? Every country that imposes such import tariffs is signaling to the world that "we can not compete successfully in a globalised market".

What would improve the faith of "the working class" under those circumstances`?

For heavens sake not. It would mean the end of the "American Dream". Much of it was financed by "foreighners", buying US Treasury Bills/Bonds. If China alone would withdraw it's US treasury holdings, Wall Street would take the dive of the cenury.

No Internet sources. From state owned Radio/ TV sources with no commercial interests. Woldwide there are some unbiased newsourses left. Believe it or not.

Currently, the "approval rate" of European voters supporting "Donalds Universe" is about 15%. According to polls.

It is the "economical alliance" I mainly refer to. Economical alliances go hand in hand with military alliances.

Still looking for comments like: " What is so terribly wrong with the political/economical system in the US, that has elevated Donald into the highest office that this nation has to offer?

Currently, Donalds approval rating is around 53 % in the US, while the rest of the "western world" wonders how something like this could have happened. Wondering how a guy can put "the western alliance" in jeopardy that has benefitted all the members of this alliance since WW2. In Europe, the Person that is named Donald J.Trump is being considered as a pompous, erratic, overbearing character. If not for his money and fame, he would be spending his time in a psychiatric institution for his own good. General consensus. Europeans are still puzzeled: What is so terribly wrong with the political/economical system in the US, that has elevated Donald into the highest office that this nation has to offer? Me, and the overwhelming majority of Europeans would just like to know why the American electorate came to the conclusion, that the time is ripe for a person like Donald. Or, in other words: What is so terribly wrong in the US that made them vote for Donald? I look foreward to many contributions from US posters. The more, the better. It might help Europeans to better understand what is happening in the US. Europeans (and the rest of the "free world) hunger for an explanation, boiling down to 1 word = WHY?