PingRoundTheWorld

For all the people saying cheap charlie - if the condo is next to the shop (no significant transportation time or cost), there really is no need to charge 1000 baht instead of the regular 600. That's a huge markup for no real reason. If there are tranportation costs sure charge 100-200 more but not 400. But yes- the obvious solution would be to find someone private willing to do massage at home for that rate. I wouldn't bother with the shop employees as they cannot leave the shop during business hours - you want a freelancer massage girl (that isn't looking for extras).

You can find anything you want in Pattaya if you have money. Sounds like he doesn't really offer much to a potential mate here. No money, no youth, no looks - it's a pretty tough sell. You're right- he might fare better in Philippines as age disparity is less of an issue there, and the economic disparity is greater which makes him more of a "prize". He could probably find an older lady here (think somtum seller types), but unlikely what he's seeking. Good luck.

Corruption? possibly. Scam? no. Sounds like an excellent price for the "service" actually.

Ahhh here we go again. Give it to Democrats to attempt to pervert election results by allowing noncitizens to vote. That shouldn't even be a question! Prove you're a citizen, or don't vote, period.

Again- EVs are not green unless they replace fossil fuel burning electric plants with renewable or nuclear. Are there feasible plans to do so? (genuinely asking - are there?)

That's great for the UK (really!), but now how about Thailand?

But not the environment. But if your personal goal is saving money then sure. (to clarify: I see nothing wrong with it, just call a spade a spade - it's not green unless you make effort making it green i.e. solar etc)

The only way they survive is if they actually do this. I'm covered by a DTA, but just to avoid ambiguity and potential problems down the road I'll extend my current elite visa further if they offer this. If not it's a really hard choice as DTV offers a very similar visa at a fraction of the cost. Funny enough salary-wise I would be eligible for LTR easily, but the red tape is making it impossible - I work for a US-traded company worth tens of billions $, but because I'm employed via a local-country subsidiary which is a non-traded company I am not eligible. How stupid is that?

I understand, but disagree. I mean- I agree exports is bigger than tourism, but when you combine tourism+expat inflows+European simps sending money to isaan 🤣+grey purchases not on the books (prostitution, nightlife, tuk/taxis, street vendors, anyone that doesn't declare) then it's still a huge chunk of the pie.

It makes perfect sense that the baht would appreciate vs the Dollar when the Fed cut rate and BOT did not. However what doesn't make sense is why the BOT did not cut rates - Thai inflation is well below the target inflation (%1-3). They should've cut rates even before the Fed did, and now even more so than before. If they don't they'll be essentially sending Thailand into deflation.

Probably true. Also Japan workforce is still more expensive than others. Higher tech maybe, but not low tech.

True, but once the equilibrium is out of balance and there's much more demand for one currency than transactions from that country, they do have to buy, in extreme situations, which is what we're considering here.

Agreed and understandable, but processing fees for domestic debit cards is minimal at %0.55, domestic credit cards %2-2.5, and internation credit cards %2.8-3. Why they insist on charging a whopping %5 extra which is above and beyond their fees is a mystery. (well not really - it's just greed). I just use cash or QR payment with such merchants because there's no way I'm padding their bottom line beyond their fee cost. Really annoying practice that DOES break their merchant agreement (they do say they are not allowed to charge extra to use cards - they just ignore it). https://www.kasikornbank.com/en/business/sme/financial-services/collection-solutions/pages/edc.aspx

And that's before you account for the fact that most electricity that charges EV comes from fossil fuels, so you're not really significantly helping pollution either. The only way it might be greener is if you have a solar/wind/etc charger and used it instead of the grid - which owners don't do.

Even if this were true (which I'm not sure) - how do you think Visa/MasterCard would get the baht needed to settle the accounts? they'd have to exchange foreign currency to buy the baht. There isn't some magic where foreign currency is magically turned into baht by the CC companies - they'd have to buy (exchange) currency to have local funds to settle.

And the Yen circling the toilet down 40%... Might actually bring some production back home there, maybe.

Again with this lie. These are "on the books" numbers, but the reality is that the majority of tourism spending isn't on the books. Anything from street vendors to tuk tuk drivers to hookers - these constitute a massive chunk of the economy that isn't "on the books" because nobody reports it. What tourists spend in hotels and reputable establishments isn't the majority of spending - nightlife and other unreported income is. In reality Thailand's GDP is probably more like 30% tourism, if not more. If you have any doubts - just look what happened during Covid when there was no tourism - millions unemployed back to their villages, richest province in the country (because tourism!) - Phuket - on it's knees, basically a ghost town. Manufacturing is nice, but there are cheaper options for that (Vietnam, even if we ignore China) so it's not the future of Thailand - nor should it be. Thailand should aspire for tourism and higher tech as a future, not manufacturing. Of course they won't, but that's another story.

What is there to commend? the guy broke several laws and karma hit back: 1. Working illegally (streaming is work). 2. Not paying tax on revenue that was sourced in Thailand 3. Driving a vehicle without a driver's license. 4. Driving without insurance. 5. Driving a vehicle he does not and have never had a license or experience with (just like a regular car license doesn't qualify you to drive a truck). Arrest and deport. Thailand does not need the kind of "advertisement" these YouTubers provide. I could be wrong and he has a work license, drivers license, and insurance - but somehow I highly doubt it.

Why are you assuming the current administration is concerned about sequential visa runs? the military government and immigration officials they appointed had a stick up their *** about it, but historically there was no problem doing sequential border runs indefinitely before the coup, and Thaksin always wanted foreigners (money) coming in AFAIK.

That's actually a good change from the current system where an IO can deny you based on how they feel today. I suspect the people checking these applications will be a bit more liberal in approving them, unless an actual official quota is declared. It's really the IOs that made up all the unwritten rules "come too much" - it's defined anywhere in law or rule.

I literally said nothing about taxes. But yes- I'm pro lower taxes for everybody. Taxation is theft.

Why do you need an explanation? Benevolent men supporting the local economy in Isaan, countless herds of water buffalo, single mothers and their children and their mothers, and sometimes even gambling-addicted drunk husbands needs no explanation - it's good to give back to the world! Two crisp notes at a time! To be fair though, I don't do short time. It's extra long or it wasn't meant to be.

If you're doing it to "show off" then yes - it's ridiculous. Personally I don't date/pay anyone that I don't geuninely like and feel like they like me beyond just money, and if I like them then sure I will hold hands and hug them - because I like them, not to show off.

Yeah. Very unlikely they will alter it drastically. Maybe small changes like a shorter duration or more scrutiny, but unlikely to be scrapped altogether.

None. She's absolutely NOT qualified and she will be a terrible president if elected - which is unlikely. I'd take madman Trump over her in a heartbeat. The whole Democratic party is being eaten alive by the progressives driving it down the drain. I'm generally liberal: pro-abortion, believe everyone should be able to do whatever they want, etc - but this isn't what the Democrapic party represents anymore. Republicans at least make sense, Democrats do not these days.