ChasingTheSun

FBI cant even unlock accused  terrorist and murderers phones in murica.

Good-luck getting it unlocked in Phuket.

Best idea is to ask your friend to ask their friend for the passcode.

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

 

If you wish to speak with me or quote me, could you please use English that I can understand.

 

Next, I have been coming and going to Thailand over 30 years. I have lived here for around 25 years now. I have been in business and also lived here on both business visas and now retirement extensions for a considerable time. I have lived in coastal areas, traveled extensively within the country, and now live in Isaarn.

 

Thailand has changed beyond recognition and I would now refer to the late 80s and the 90s as the good old days. It is well known among many people the place has deteriorated in terms of friendliness, cleanliness, value for money and overall enjoyment. 

I and many others have lived through military coups, Tsunamis, blood on the streets of Bangkok, airport shutdowns, increased xenophobia displayed towards us, a tightening of rules and regulations of which many are duplicated and others serve no purpose except to make us feel unwanted.

 

The beaches have become terrible, filthy and polluted, the massive income from tourism has not been reinvested but diverted elsewhere. Prices have rocketed and plenty of it has nothing to do with inflation.

 

Meanwhile, countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bhutan, Malaysia are now providing alternative and better choices for long staying tourists and expats. Whilst offering and opening up their countries we are witnessing easy visa processes and relaxation of rules governing purchase of properties and more access to stay and work in some Asian countries except of course, Thailand.

 

Thailand feels it is ' better ' than its neighbors, doesn't need Western tourists as much as it used to and is focusing on the Asian market, yet dislikes other countries in the region reaching out to those very same markets.

 

Two of my close friends are in Phu Quoc as I speak and on my recommendation. They were big fans of Phuket and this couple do not skimp on good hotels and pampering wherever they go. They said their last trip to Phuket they felt cheated and unwanted, even by vendors they have met from previous years and people they thought were at least, holiday friends.

 

I have seen their posts and photos on Facebook, they also contacted me on messenger saying thank you and stating Vietnam is wonderful, they are having a great time, and it now is their first choice for future holidays. Sure, this may change as Vietnam gets busier and opens up, but you are just in denial regards Thailand.

“Thailand has changed beyond recognition and I would now refer to the late 80s and the 90s as the good old days. It is well known among many people the place has deteriorated in terms of friendliness, cleanliness, value for moneuy and overall enjoyment.“
....The same could be said of almost anywhere on the planet.
 

Tell us about a place that you think is now better than how it was during the 80s or 90s?

No place is perfect. If running away to Issaan makes you feel you are somehow living better, then good luck and buh bye. 

10 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

The poster didn't say that he knew of anywhere that had become, in your argot: "gotten", better. 

 

He said he knew of places that are better.

 

I presume he means places that are not as far down the unregulated, ugly, overcrowded, environment/community destroying, ultra avaricious path of mass tourism as Thailand is.

 

I can think of at least one place, but I'm not going to tell you, or any of the other "mice in their million hordes", about it.

 

"see the mice in their million hordes, from Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads"

                                         Life on Mars, David Bowie.

 

 

 

 

This is a copy of what he said...“YeP, just yet another nail in the coffin for Thailand, no longer the ELysium it was.  Those wood stock easy days are gone forever.  I used to go to Surin because of the beauty, now I do not bother because of the same reasons.   There are fewer places in Thailand to go, and even fewer reasons to come in the first place. “

He clearly said that Thailand has gotten worse, in his opinion. Thats why i am curious to know what places he feels have never gotten worse and are actually getting better, as thailand has gotten worse in his opinion? 

13 hours ago, mike787 said:

Post from jaiyen . "....Japan, China, Malaysia, Vietnam and more. Even going to Europe is only about $500 more than Thailand and much better places to visit in many countries..."  speaks for many of us in the community.  There are way better options, take your rose colored glasses off.

How are those places and countries “much better” to visit?

how many do you speak for in “the community “?

7 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

+1

Buh bye.

20 minutes ago, jaiyen said:

More nails in the Thai tourism coffin !  Not much room for any more nails.  I have finished with Thailand now.  From Australia there are plenty of better options e.g. Japan, China, Malaysia, Vietnam and more. Even going to Europe is only about $500 more than Thailand and much better places to visit in many countries.

Buh bye.

6 hours ago, mike787 said:

YeP, just yet another nail in the coffin for Thailand, no longer the ELysium it was.  Those wood stock easy days are gone forever.  I used to go to Surin because of the beauty, now I do not bother because of the same reasons.   There are fewer places in Thailand to go, and even fewer reasons to come in the first place. 

Curious to know if you can name anywhere that has gotten better with greater reasons to visit now?

Chromecast available at AIS shop anywhere.

Less chinese, more russians and indians , and maybe even more europeans/muricans.

overall a little busier in Kamala this year compared to last year.
 

still the best place(OVERALL) to live in Thailand.

Thanks for the good report Xylophone.  Pleased to hear you caught the newspaper thief red-handed.

perhaps the quick openings/closings are a reflection of the relatively low cost of many small business startups and/or the ease of obtaining short-term lease terms in Patong? 

In my neck of the woods, Kamala seems busier this year compared with the previous couple of years.
 

There are three (bank) money changers directly in front of mcdonalds at jungceylon mall, Banzaan Market side of the mall. 
 

They often offer different rates for the same FX, so you can conveniently chose the one with the best rate among the three.

Somebody else mentioned squid.

Ocean caught, fresh and cheap in Thailand.

I usually buy mackerel, pomphret, or tuna.

mackerel seems to be the best deal at 10 or 15 baht per whole fish.

28 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

I did not state that I only have $26,000. However, my investments are earning about $3,000 USD annually on that $26,000 versus what parked in a Thai bank? Thus, I chose to use the monthly income method for meeting my income requirement (65,000 per month) here in Thailand. 

Wow! An 11.5% yield is incredible! 

Nobody said that proof of sufficient monthly income is better or worse that the 800k lockup. good for you that you can meet the minimum income level!

You are probably taking on huge investment risk to get those types of returns.

What will happen when the market turns against you? Will you need to return home because your income

from your original $26,000 investment is now less than the $3000 USD you needed annually?

8 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

I couldn't really understand his linking of having to keep 800,000 in the bank and wanting free stuff, so ignored it.

Thats good old sport.

We are all better off if you don’t comment on things you don’t understand.

7 hours ago, thesetat2013 said:

Why? Just because you have that money to throw away and never be used, doesn't mean everyone does. Some people still actually work for a living and make decent wages or decent pensions but are not rich enough to leave so much in a bank. Personally, my Thai family bills exceed 60k monthly. Luckily and would be reduced greatly if I didn't have to keep that money in the bank always. 

Your snobbish attitude is the kind of people we need to be saying.. Stay home please!!! 

does a marriage visa also require 800k in the bank?
 

&00k thai baht in the bank for a retirement visa is only USD $26,000

If you are retried and 50+, and haven't even managed to save $26,000, you are not financially fit enough to retire in a foreign country.
 

GO HOME!!!!

2 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

Could I afford? Yes. But my retirement funds are invested and returning dividends I had planned and are now using to supplement my retirement budget. Not a good fiscal decision to park those funds in a Thai bank.

&00k thai baht = Only USD $26,000

please explain how USD$26000 would ever generate enough income to meaningfully supplement a rational retirement budget?

23 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

I know perfectly well what probably means. I've been a journalist for 40 years and choose my words carefully. I think you meant to write 'possibly', not 'probably'. That's okay.

Lol

keep trying Barry, sounds like you are coming around, albeit slowly.

8 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

I understand what probably means. It means highly likely, so my comment stands.

You obviously don’t understand what the word “probably“ means.

“Probably” means >50% probability.

if you are 50+ years old from a western country, and you can’t even save 800k and keep it in a bank account, you are not entitled to retire in Thailand.

You sound like one of those people who PROBABLY feels he is entitled to “free” stuff everywhere he goes. 

38 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Interesting that you judge whether a person is a success or not on how much money they have. Some others have different values in life. Your idea appears to be that who dies with the biggest bank balance wins. There are a hundred reasons that some people might not have money to stagnate in a bank to no purpose whatsoever. A poor marriage, investments that went sour etc. I really have no time for people like you that have no compassion for others.

Learn to read Barry.

I said “probably”.

Please read posts carefully before you rush to respond and judge others. 
 

i really have no time for people that respond to posts without reading them first.

4 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

What a load of codswallop.

?