Bday Prang

As I remember they talked about this a bout 4 or 5 years ago just before the mass exodus home for songkran, It literally just faded away, Perhaps they realised last minute how many policemen and other "officials" drive these vehicles. There are 6 policemen in the wifes immediate family and several uniformed women who hang out a the Ampur ( who seem to be incapable of explaining what they actually do ) It may be a coincidence and I've not got round to asking , yet but every one of them has recently upgraded to a new 4 door pick up from a 2 door "cab" Needless to say my missis wants me to follow suit needless to say she is going to be disappointed , in fact doubly so, because if this law is enforced enthusiastically , the price of 2nd hand 2 door "cab" pick ups will drop like a stone and I might just buy one. 2nd hand oh the shame lol

you missed out the words "i my opinion"

the regulations do not say wear a mask

Was your daughters friend wearing a mask?

we are all ambassadors from countries that stopped wearing masks a long time ago.

Biased for sure ! So you smoked a joint in 2004 and 1 year later you felt depressed as a result ? have you any idea how ridiculous that statement is, I have never laughed so much in my life, one could not make this up. Do you spend a lot time asking people who appear depressed if they smoke marijuana? that's a strange pastime by any standards in my opinion And finally your "friend" ate a couple of brownies and became "depressed" so you decided to take her to a "health farm" whatever that is, LOL I'm sure they will be glad of your custom. How much does it cost these days to have a magnet rubbed against ones forehead? lol and by the way , saying you drove her there yourself does not convey any credibility to your fairy tale Your posts are exactly what we would expect from somebody who was once a magistrate, a position occupied by arrogant people who consider themselves fit to judge others . and your admission of previous cannabis use clearly indicates a level of hypocrisy which is not uncommon either

You cannot link to anything connected to the Daily Mail and expect it to be considered "credible" by anybody

Selling equipment to smoke cannabis will also be illegal. I hope that doesn't include papers !

Its no different to anywhere else, If I remember correctly there was a bit of outrage in the UK when it was revealed that Mp's received an allowance (from public funds) enabling them to employ PR consultants. ! I don't think things here are any worse for the population than anywhere else. its just that the government here don't hide it so well, so its more overt . Incompetence and greed seem to be a common theme with all governments and don't forget in the west many have to suffer not only their own governments' failings but also the incompetence and greed of the European Union

Before the outrage starts , has anybody got any figures for other countries governments to give us a little bit of perspective I doubt that its unique to Thailand, If its spent in Thailand its doing some good for the economy, That should also be taken into consideration. I bet it pales into insignificance compared to the UK's overseas aid bill which generally means giving money to people and governments that hate us

disgraceful,, will we ever know the true total ? I doubt it ?

That's probably very true, but who would replace them ? I don't think there would be many volunteers who could do any better, Its a bit of an unenviable job in the face of Raging inflation , shrinking economies , possible WW3 , Recent Pandemic , and whatever else they dream up to throw at us. Holidays may still be possible at present but I fear there is going to be bit of "belt tightening" required soon enough and holidays along with other luxuries will become a distant memory for some.

but you keep returning, why ?

So now there is no incentive "for me anyway" implying you speak only for yourself but an hour ago.... "Nobody with the funds to have a second home is going to come to Thailand from the western world plain and simple. " You were speaking on behalf of everybody with the necessary funds Has there been a very recent change in immigration policy ( like within the last hour) or have you realised that what you wrote before was just plain wrong I'll let you answer that

strange why somebody with no intention of staying here would apply for a driving license and a bank account and then even stranger.. having opened a bank account deciding not to deposit money in the bank . not because you don't want to stay here, but because you feel you would be supporting the government. lol I'm sure they will miss your support I can do more than give you a break . I can offer you an alternative, Just leave and don't come back Problem solved

Bearing in mind my assumed difficulty in understanding the English language as highlighted in another of your posts, I may be forgiven for thinking that you stayed in Mexico and South America for free! "0 costs to me" were you actual words If that is the case I would stay there I may not know what I am talking about. but I do know that $150k equates to over 5 million Baht which is far in excess of the money required for a retirement extension. I don't normally play the part of a grammar policeman but if you are going to question my English language abilities perhaps you should read what you wrote in a previous post... "Thailand got arragant before covid and no matter what they did mattered for tourism. China? the saving grace was Thailand's savior. What a joke. If Thailand would of had a brain they would of know China is in decline and Covid only speeded things up." No way that was written by a native speaker sorry

well good for you, but i don't care whether you like it or not, why would I? But if you are so comfortable in a conservative muslim society then there are other places you may feel even more at home

No incentive for you to consider as a place to visit ?? So I assume you are not actually here. So why on earth are you posting on this site.. Or if I am wrong and you are here, then why ? why did you come here ? presumably just to moan ? Or have you recently suffered some sort of "rejection" by the immigration authorities here. yours is a classic response to that possibility

Clearly you do not travel "all over the world" if that was the case you would be more informed as to other countries more onerous visa requirements. Fortunately (for the rest of us ) you are under no obligation to return here so why not just save your breath (and your money) and go to a place that you prefer, Common sense really, why stay where you are not wanted ? when other places are so much more inviting. Or would you be bored from not having enough to whinge about ?

Not a cheap charlie but you won't pay 1900 baht for a visa extension! ? 90 day reports are not an insurmountable problem for the many people who, contrary to your thinking ,do indeed continue to come to their second home from the western world.for extended stays and enjoy a stress free existence (90 day reports can even be done online now! are you aware of that ?) what recent changes have now caused you to consider that Thailand is now to be avoided at all "costs" the use of the word "costs" being further evidence of "cheap charlie" status can you not afford to put a bit of money in the bank over here and enjoy the freedoms offered by a retirement extension which is easily obtained at ones local immigration office with out needing to "jump through hoops" "Nobody with the funds to have a second home is going to come to Thailand from the western world plain and simple. " without doubt one of the most ridiculous statements I have read on here today , plain and simple

Extremists who will be happy when they are living in their "free state " under their merciful sharia law soon enough it will be akin to Afghanistan. I doubt the general population are really looking forward to that

History lesson part 2 60 years ago in Ireland both sides were killing each other it was never just protestants killing catholics, as for the rest of your examples of conflict the "religion of peace" seems to be disproportionally represented (as usual.) I see little to be gained by talking to or attempting to negotiate with extremists. The fact that some of these extremist groups don't talk to each other is a positive thing divide and rule being a common military / political tactic. If they all joined forces it would be a lot worse. To suggest that the Thai military purposely encourage terrorist activity as a form of job creation is beyond incredible

You obviously have not researched things very well , with a multiple entry tourist visa there would be no need to pay anything to Thai immigration, and to suggest that the 2 visa runs required would involve "taking up all ones time is clearly either an exaggeration or an example of very bad planning bordering on incompetence haha

I'm curious as to the average spend per head of the 218,000 Laotian "tourists"

There is nothing whatsoever in immigration policy that is "set up for 2 week tourists" unless you know something that I don't ? The most basic form of entry (visa exempt) provides for an initial stay of 30 days and is extendable by a further 30 days It is far from impossible to stay here from 3 -6 months a multiple entry tourist visa would enable nearly a 9 month stay A single entry tourist visa enables a 3 month stay and when coupled with a quick in out border bounce a 5 month stay is easily achievable . Then repeat to achieve 7 months. Non of which is particularly onerous for the average traveller