CM Dad

One more reason that I started using an agent several years ago after doing everything myself for over twenty-five years.  The less time I have to spend at Immigration, the better.  Now I go once a year and I am usually only there for less than fifteen minutes.  As I have grown older, I don't like dealing with bureaucrats from any country.  My US passport will expire at the beginning of next year.  I have renewed it three times at the US Consulate here in Chiang Mai, but now the only "citizen services" they handle are emergency ones like deaths or arrests, so my agent will handle the renewal for me.  I prefer not to even speak to any government employees from and countries if at all possible.  By the way, I speak Thai quite well, so language is not the issue.

I don't find it all offensive, but when I am in a rural area of the country and children point at me and call out Farang, Farang, I oint back at them and reply Thai, Thai then everyone just laughs.  Jai yen people, life is too short to be bothered by things like this.

13 hours ago, bluecolour said:

Thank you all for your answers. I'm currently on Thai spouse extension with eligibility of 400K in bank. If I go for retired Visa, won't I need 800K instead? Going back to my original question, so I could renew/reapply for Marriage Extension every year without limit (as long as our marriage still valid)?

Yes

Your place of employment/employer should be handling all of the paperwork for your work permit.  Let them deal with it.  All you have to do is show up at the WP office and someone from your workplace would generally accompany you.

The vast majority of patrons would be Thais or, perhaps, other Asians.  I don't know any westerners who who would be enticed by the availability of casinos.  Thailand is much too far to travel if gambling is the objective.

2 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

It's certainly likely that they aren't Norwegian. Possible one of them isnt her parent.

 Father is Norwegian.  He married a Thai.  His Thai wife has both Thai and Norwegian nationality.

This is yet another reason why I changed to using an agent after doing everything myself for more than 25 years.  Now I only go to Immigration once each year for my extension at my appointed time.  I smile, have my photo taken for their computer, sign my name a few more times then leave.  The entire process lasts about 10 to 15 minutes.  I just got tired of dealing with the whole hassle of numerous visits, so turning everything over to an agent for slightly less than 10,000 baht a year is a pleasure.

4 hours ago, eggzthaioz said:

Thai government officials and decision makers just don't get it.

While all the stupid restrictions are in place tourists aren't going to come.

As a long term visitor over 45 years I'm off to Cambodia to spend my tourist $$$. Then off to Vietnam for awhile.

Thailand won't be getting any of my doe ever again.

Bunch of idiots running the country. 

I hope you have made arrangements for the care of your deer while you are away.

This is beginning to sound like a hoax, and "Retiredjohn" is actually named Jack - surname might begin with the letter "A".

18 hours ago, Lite Beer said:

Go to the police and report the theft.

You will need a police report to get another passport.

 

A bit late now but stay away from agents and do it yourself.

It is pretty simple to do.

Most agents are very competent and reliable.  After doing everything myself for twenty-five years, I switched to using an agent more that five years ago and have been more than happy with the convenient, reasonable and professional service.  Definitely go to the police and file a report - I would suggest using the Tourist Police.  These incompetent crooks pretending to be agents need to be jailed.

1 hour ago, 2long said:

Growing up in the UK this was normal, but about 30 years ago the UK dropped the law, quite rightly. I have heard (I'm not saying it's a fact) that the law in the UK was implemented to prevent bomb makers in WWII from taking their eye off the job at hand that might result in horrific results. And that Thailand just copied the UK... but of course the UK saw sense after a while, which Thailand hasn't yet.

 

The OP says it's 50 years old here, but I remember the Interior Minister under Thaksin bringing it (back) in, or at least enforcing it. Because for sure 18-23 years ago it was never an issue in any shops.

You are correct.  It was one of the more ridiculous things done during Thaksin's time in office.  It needs to be abolished along with some of the other stupid things done during his tenure like the 90-day check-in for non-Thais.

The owner should have been charged, arrested and prosecuted.  Any assets he has should be seized to pay all medical costs for the boy along with a very large compensation.  The paltry sum of 1.3 million baht is not even close to what the poor young boy needs to receive.

8 hours ago, Neeranam said:

If you were a billionaire, what car would you drive?

 

I would not drive at all.  I would have a driver and my vehicle of choice would be large and comfortable for me as a passenger.

I just returned home from getting my third dose of Pfizer - my booster- at the closest government hospital to my house.  I simply walked in at 8 AM, showed them my passport and a photo of my vaccination certificate for my first two doses, the second of which was exactly six months ago to the day.  All three doses were free and I was treated politely and professionally each time.

I have had both eyes done here in Chiang Mai at the main government hospital in the city.  The doctor that many of my Thai friends consider to be the best in Chiang Mai did both surgeries a few years apart.  Both were out-patient procedures.  I went to the hospital in the morning and was back home by noon.  Total cost for each surgery was less than 50,000 baht.  Although I did have to get new glasses after each operation, my vision is now improved to the point that I could read without glasses if I wanted.  However, I rarely do that simply to avoid straining my eyes.  I have worn glasses most of my life, so it feels natural to wear them.  I had absolutely no complications with either of the surgeries.  Many of my Thai friends are doctors and all of them tell me to avoid the over-priced private hospitals,

7 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Yes, I imagine having to potentially slap out in court a small willy as evidence may put some people off legal action

Why are you assuming that it is small?

2 hours ago, MrNatural said:

It is not just a question of import/not import. My experience is that prices vary for everything in thailand. You can find a decent iced americano for 40-45B but most fancy shop will sell around 100 or more the same thai coffee. Also went to Esso to fill the car. They dont sell the basic B7 diesel they have at Ptt but some premium diesel 3B more expensive. So yes it takes time to look at all these things. But it is worth it. Even the happy hours and the promotions on foodpanda.

We talk about big differences in prices here

Specifically for the vegetables, even in the street there are some differences. One day Mrs Natural comes back from a day at the temple with loads of superfresh vegetables producers came to sell as there was a big party. Prices were down 30 to 50% compared to local market.

For the more rare items, I had noticed that I started to find more exotic veggies in my Makro in Bangkok. Fennel, zucchini, eggplants, jerusalem artichokes, romanesco, all at thai prices. But since the pandemic, it is not so frequent.

They still have avocados at 45B and cherries 3 times cheaper than villa market or gourmet mmall

 

  I buy all of the fuel for my truck at Esso and I only buy diesel B7.  I am in Chiang Mai and all of the Esso stations have it.

If you have 32 million baht, why would you want to work?  Give it to do good, not help the wasteful government, and get a hobby instead.

4 hours ago, chrisandsu said:

Most are as dumb as rocks which is why a lot of western men prefer them . I was married to a thai for 15 years ,lovely girl but the miss understandings and still not being able to properly have a conversation (shes fluent in english) got me in the end . I have gone back to western and love having a proper conversation and there being no cultural miss understandings . 

Regardless of whether they are a miss, a mrs, or a ms, stay away from the understandings as they are a very bad lot.