Robin

Another Clampdown? Looking forward to a clean air Bangkok, resulting from this.

Unless you are going o be moving your freezer around the house, why not do the job properly and get a permanent connection like a fused spur with warning neon, so no way that your freezer can be accidentally disconnected. With 1.8A consumption here should not be any problem overloading any existing junction box in you house. Get a proper electrician to do this for you, not the local Sombat who owns a neon tester and insulated cutters.

Can be done, but remember that you will not have had a common upbringing with your partner. probably applies to most Thai/Farang marriages. So no common experiences from before you met. But... it can work with good-will from both sides, and a desire o make it work. Married 35+ years to Thai lady, and intending to carry on for another35

I have been living in Thailand for some years with UK credit cards and keeping UK bank and address. No problems with using CC for air ticket or general use in Thailand, but i also have a K-bank card for Thailand. One problem I have found is that in UK Mastercard, and probably Visa will not send a new Card to Thailand, not even by DHL, so you will have to return to your home country to get a new card. Best to have two different cards with expiry dates well spaced, so you are never caught in Thailand with card expired. My experience is that Card issuers are good at spotting 'unusual activity' on your account, and can also adjust to your normal way of life. Consider also getting local Card, but beware that some do not automatically allow on-line purchase or have low transaction limits. Check with you bank in Thailand. I seem to remember that once Mastercard blocked the purchase of an air ticket to UK, but easily cured by one phone call to MC.

My observation of wife's family growing rice is that they do not even know their costs or last year's profit (loss) Nor do they seem top care, just follow what their father did and hope. Only innovation might be if some glib salesman come through selling some 'wonder fertilizer' Knowledge of soil fertilizer requirements or types of fertilizer non existent. it appears to me a wonder that any Thai farmer makes any living. If government was serious about improving the lot of farmer they would offer some assistance or training for rural communities, but it is not in their interests to do so, so Thai agriculture stagnates in the 19th C and farmers stay poor.

I will agree with O/P that no tourist is going to come to Thailand with the restrictions in place. They will not come until they can do as before Covid:- book a flight and hotel on the Net, and travel with no restrictions and enter visa exempt or 28 day visa on arrival, enjoy holiday on beach or bar, fly home with no restrictions, no quarantine.. Until Thailand wakes up to these realities, I cannot believe that it wants tourism bac as it was. NB travelled back to UK last month. No restrictions, just fill in form on line, book ticket and fly. O/P might consider checking on Seat Guru to see what his seat might be like. You normally get what you pay for on any flight.

Last year I entered Thailand on the CoE scheme. I booked the hotel using my credit card, and it was all confirmed as normal. Two months later my credit card contacted me to question 'unusual transactions' on my card. Sure enough, someone had used my card (Mastercard). Mastercard accepted that transactions were fraudulent and cancelled them and my Card. Major inconvenience being in Thailand with no credit card to use to book a flight back to UK. I am not saying that the Hotel I stayed at was guilty of cloning my card or using the details, but this has never happened to me before. So I would beware of using a credit card or giving bank details when booking a Thailand entry scheme.

All far too complicated. What is AQ, SHA SHA+ ...? It could hardly have been made more complicated. Looked at Thailand pass, but gave up as it was far too complicated. No idea which hotel package I needed to book, nor how much it would cost, nor what extras I might need. And this was before I could get to the insurance requirements/costs My only conclusion is that Thailand does not want visitors

I have talked to friend in UK, pre-Covid tourists to Thailand, and none would consider coming to Thailand while these restrictions apply. When they visited Thailand it was simple:- book flight, book hotel, fly, get visa on arrival, enjoy holiday. Now there are holiday places in Europe that offer this, they are not considering Thailand. Nor will they until all restrictions are lifted for all vaccinated travellers. When is Thailand going to wake up and realise that it is not the only holiday destination in a competitive world?

This topic is brought up regularly and always the same response. Self Righteous Farang or Bangkok Post moan about "Driving standards" Farangs tell thaialnd what to do. Face the fact that nobody who matters in Thailand cares one iota about accident stats. or death rates, so nothing will ever be done. (Except pointless nonsense like a helmet "Crackdown") If you live in Thailand you have to accept the high accident rate and the quality of local drivers. It might be Darwin's law, killing off the most incompetent, but there is a inexhaustible supply of new drivers to replace the casualties.

Using Phayao Immigration, I always make an appointment and when doing so, get a list of required documents for my Retirement extension. As I remember, the appointment is only for a day with no time specified. i go to my bank, Kasikorn, first thing in the morning of the appointed date, and the take all documents to Immigration, usually getting there before their lunch break. Extension done in less than 30 mins. This year, I also asked Kasikorn for an appointment, so everything went smoothly. Note that Phayao I/O is not busy and I am often th only Farang there.

You have to report to Immigration that you have lost your Departure Card, when they look on their computer system and issue you with a new one. You have to report to Police or Tourist Police that you have lost your card, when thy will give you a document saying that they agree that you have lost your card, which you take to Immigration and get a new card. Do this as soon as you can as it take half a day to go through all the depts. to get your Departure card, and you cannot leave Thailand without one. Nor can you extend your visa. Tourist police might be easier that Police to deal with as they will speak English.

Tyres in good condition and properly inflated do not spontaneously burst. Maybe if the tyre had a new tread cut into a previously bald carcase. (not unknown in Thailand?) Many countries have a special, more rigorous, driving test for drivers of public service vehicles. presumably not in Thailand where you can get you driving licence without changing out of first gear.

Have you tried the Government Pharmaceutical Office, near MBK (siam Sq) I have bought Aspirin 81Mg there, and they seem to have most stuff. Correctly, they will question you as to why you want such a drug. Boots used to sell Soluble Aspirin, but can't remember the dose. many hospitals have a dispensing dept. that might help you, but Aspirin is regarded as 'dangerous' in Thailand and you might have to see a Dr. before getting your stuff.

Use a battery conditioner. Available in UK or he price of a battery. YOur biggest problem could be modern petrol ( gasoline) This is notorious for degrading when left standing. I am told that you can buy 'fuel conditioners' which prevent modern E brands from degrading in your tank. My own car was left in UK for a year because of covid travel restrictions. Would hardly run until the tank was filled with fresh petrol, and still not running right as not all the old petrol has been flushed through. Possibly consider leaving the tank empty or nearly so and fill with fresh fuel when you return. The internet, or web-sites of classic car magazines might have more advice on this.

No options, you have to open a savings account, chequing accounts are non-existent in Thailand. Expect minimal interest rates for your account, and appalling service from the bank tellers. Bank will charge you for everything it can, customer relations is not concept they know

He will become a monk for a few weeks, that will reduce his sentence to five years max. Even less if he pays the funeral expenses.. Typical Thai behaviour, and a good reason not to mess with married Thai ladies.

You need an update dated for the day you do the extension. This means you have to deposit or withdraw some money, min. 100B, from the account on that day. other than that, you only need to keep a minimum of 800,000 in the account for at least the last 3 months. I/O will most probably want to see a copy of your bank passbook with an update on the day of your extension, hence the need for a transaction on that day. I suggest you make an appointment with your bank for them to give you all the info you need on the morning of your extension, and then go straight to I/O with all the stuff. If possible, leave time for another visit to your bank if the I/O is being picky and wants to make your life difficult. Also easiest if you visit I/O before and get an appointment to do this extension and get the I/O to give you a list of required documents to show the bank.

Won't change, as thi is doing what the Thai Elite have wanted to do for years:- Stop all the 'undesirables' ( i.e. Backers, sex tourists, budget travellers, etc...) coming to Thailand, and only admit the "Quality Tourists" they want. Close all bars and 'entertainment' venues, mainly owned by Farangs Covid has given them the excuse they have been looking for. All they need now is for the World's millionaires to get into their private jets and head for Thailand. it will suit the Elite for Thailand to have millions of poor people, desperate for any income, so there will be no shortage of servants and other minions to do their dirty work

I might have misunderstood this, but I believe that to return to Thailand, enterinf on Non O Retirement visa, among other things, I will need to load a "Mor Channa app onto my phone. But... I Only have a basic phone that make phone calls with AIS and not aa new-fangled smart phone, so I don't think I can load an app on that. What will happen to me when I arrive in BKK on the Test and Go, or what ever is in force then, and cannot load he App? Do I have to buy a smart phone before leaving UK, or on arrival in Thailand? On previous entry I was asked o scan a QR code at the airport and just showed my 'old fashioned' phone, and was waved away. Will it be the same this time? Will owning a smart phone be a new entry requirement? Another expense I do not need to get back into Thailand? I was hoping to return to Thailand in May, June, this year Anyone with expeience of waht actualy happens when you arrive on Test and Go?

Put them in the dark and leave them to ripen. Wife cuts the hands of bananas from the tree and cuts that up into bunches she can sell, then puts them in a klong jar with a sack covering the mouth and leaves them to ripen. Most commercial bananas are cut down green and left to ripen in the dark in transit. Leave bananas on the tree to ripen and the birds will get at them

Remember the old rule: "Everything takes longer and costs more than you expect" Paricularly applies o Thai building work. Good Luck

Brazil used to require 'no criminal record' to issue a visa or work permit. When I went to Brazil. I had to get a 'No criminal record' statement from the UK police. I do not think that Thai authorities can get this without your permission. It sounds more as if they check with immigration that you have not been barred from entry to Thailand, data which they should be able o access. I believe that a criminal record frog an offence such as cannabis possession is cleared after 7 years. You can easily check this fact.

Just flown to UK with Qatar airlines. No requirement for any Covid test at Swampy, but airline checked Passenger locator form at check-in. I had printed copy to show them. On arrival at LHR, no checks on anything, just through passport control as normal. Long lines as normal. When filling in Pax. locator, you only have to tick boxes to say you are vaxed. Nobody asked to see my Thai vax certs. even thought I had copies with me, and the yellow Thai vax passport. My impression was that UK, (LHR) were not very interested, just overwhelmed with early morning arrivals, as always. This was T5, so other terminals might be different. Qatar airlines were very organised; sent me detailed info on UK entry requirements and what I would be allowed to do in UK. last trip to UK, nearly 2 yrs ago, far stricter on seeing pax. locator at LHR. Incidentally, Thai Smile from CEI to BKK did not ask for any proof of vax. or test at check-in.

Reading this, it is very difficult not to see it as a Government approved scam to get money from anyone who is visiting Thailand. Could it possibly be that some n the Gov. do not want any tourists or visitors to Thailand? Could it also be that Covid is being used as an excuse to shut down the Tourist industry that has been orientated towards the lower end and the sex-for-sale/ bar scene.? Will this latest vague nonsense encourage the millions of "High Quality" tourists that Thailand dreams of? Seems that every tourist now has to be prepared to spend at least $1000 a day Does the term "Cloud Cuckoo Land" come to mind?