isaanistical

But most of us couldn't give a 4X.

like throwing sausages up the Dartford Tunnel.....

Hardly any of the 'alternatives' to Skype enable Skype's basic advantage: calls to landlines worldwide. Like many here, I have a sub and rarely use it, but I also have several Skype numbers - with annual sub - that enable me to be "based" in other cities so someone calling me from (eg) Melbourne thinks it's just a local call. Does anyone have any serious ideas for an alternative to these numbers? Would appreciate constructive suggestions.

I have had good results a cople of times when having to use a Samsung service centre (in Indonesia and in Malaysia). Now my S21 fe has succumbed to the dreaded thin vertical lines on the screen, so I thought I would check with local "customer service" (in Paknam) before the next step of a factory reset - or taking a hammer to it. Place is empty save for 3 staff, who make me take a queue ticket before they will talk to me. Not a good look........ I show the phone screen, they immediately go "oh, that. B7,000, you have to go to a mall (?no idea what that meant), and parts take a long time to come." Clearly could not give a ****. A Thai shrug that meant "just go away and leave us alone". This is an issue affecting many thousands of customers globally, who appear to have a problem with Amoled screens around the 2-year mark. Samsung can't be a#sedto find a fix and their local "service " "personnel" are a disgrace. I've been on Samsung for decades but tomorrow, I'm off to find any sub-B7,000 phone (even a Chinese one) that might work. Samsung can stick it in the appropriate orifice.

But this time it's PAO elections at the weekend. As it happens, the air-quality indices are showing greater BKK as worse affected than the rest of the country by the filthy air, so there is some sense in it. What the ###, it's a free week's transport. I'm going to explore all the new lines I've never been on. Khlong Bang Phai here we come!

OFF. Bright orange spray can, get it in Big C, Tops etc, plenty of deet, works for me.

Earlier than that, too. A race had been planned for December 1939, but other things interrupted it. See: https://jaapgrolleman.com/driver-spotlight-the-prince-in-blue/ "Bira also planned to organise a race in his homeland, Thailand, and the inaugural Bangkok Grand Prix was set to be held on the 10th of December 1939, but the war equally destroyed those plans."

Advisor seeks advice.... I sympathise. Given you have plenty of time to arrange something, how about 1. take said partner to IO (although I don't know where your IO is) and go through the problem with the officers. We all know they tend to be strict, but at this early stage of your year, it's go to be worth a try. 2. what about marryng the partner? You may recoil, but it would certainly get you off the hook (400k for marriage jobbie) - and it does seem she owes you big-time right now.

Indeed. Long time since I saw wooden clothes-pegs.......

First time I went was a week after the tsunami - just wonderful, idyllic, except, of course, for a few terrible parts of the west. Nowadays, I wouldn't cross the street to go there.

No, give him credit: he wants all visa-holders to enter via Phuket, so we avoid the B300 and Phuket gets more - er - tourists........

as I said, no alternative was offered

I have a yahoo.com email address which I rarely use. Yesterday, on starting the PC (I get email via Thunderbird, but it appears to be the same if I go direct to yahoo's site), I got a new message from Yahoo demanding I sign in again, and wanting to send a verification code – to a phone number that finished years ago. No alternative is offered. This email is important only because it's the one I use for Immigration TM47s, etc, (and previously also Lazada, but I have the same view of Lazada as of Immigration, so…). Otherwise I could dispense with it and yahoo. Is there something up with yahoo? Is there a known way round not having the requisite phone number? And why are they so d@mn obstructive for no apparent reason?

sorry but I flat-out don't believe this. I have just staggered back from a round-trip requiring 3 of the routes, each way, buying tickets, and NOWHERE is there any hint of a joint card. Details, perhaps? Or is it only availabe in Pattaya......

Well I bought beer in BigC on Monday and we ate and drank at a restaurant (though not in anyone's 'honour'). Monday was not a booze-ban day at all. As for tomorrow, I was grateful for the warning because these things catch me out. If I know in advance, I don't have to get annoyed. Or impugn someone else's culture. "Exclude farangs"? Seriously? You just arrived or something?

with more of a head on it, although that's just from the pollution.

yeah. Apart from the US, it's the only place people need to be told the difference between beer and rainwater…..

Thanks. So I would use my phone with NFC and it magically connects, even though the card details are international. I'll try it, or it's going to be a dry weekend...........

I'm a beginner with contactless payments, but because an international transfer has been delayed I need to try either cardless cash from a local ATM or instore payment using a virtual card (Visa) with details in Google Pay. Is that possible here in BKK? Or does Google Pay work here now? (I think only with Thai-bank Visa cards?)

Of course - September 3, The Day War Broke Out

or the whole thing on a QR code to store in your phone?

It's what used to be called a "passport". But I don't hear any country saying you'll no longer need an expensive and increasingly useless lump of paper - or deal with the odious VFS mob.........

yeah, and I am over 70 too but I don't tell anyone.

No it isn't, or at least it won't be: "ETIAS will only cost €7 for each application. The fees are applicable to adults between the ages of 18 and 70. Minors and elder travellers (aged 70+) will not have to pay any fees." I like "only". I used to BE European......

No. Malaysia for one has a similar system in place, in which you have to e-tell them where you will stay as well as when you enter and leave (https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main). Each time you visit, which is particularly stupid/annoying as the Thai one probably will be. EU's ETIAS is another similar money-maker (sorry, security check). Many here are confusing "authorisation" with "visa". I'm still visa-exempt in (eg) EU, Oz or Malaysia, but I sure can't get in without doing the e-cr5p and paying the fee. Thailand is limping onto that bandwagon. Having said that, we presume it will be as efficient, transparent and safe (data-wise) as all the other Thai e-nonsense. Much of what Thai Immigration issues cannot be accessed unless you are already in Thailand,much more is gibberish in English translation - but then, surely none of us expects this to work soon or out of the box? Remember when we thought TM30 was baffling? Happy days..................