29 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

If you don't see the difference then there are two possible reasons for that.

a) you don't have enough experience with above business in Thailand and other countries

b) you like to be ignorant.

 

I don't blame you if it is a. But if you like to ignore reality that is a bigger issue. 

I am thankful that I do not have enough experience in the whore world. You however, wear it as a mark of pride.  Reality - Having an intimate knowledge of nana plaza and its environs us a bizarre thing to take pride in. 

Hope they made him pay an extortionate amount for a checked bag

Another high class tourist. Takes a simple mind to be so impressed with this behavior that it rates a forum post

3 hours ago, it is what it is said:

long haul flights from reputable international airlines land in thailand, are you saying thailand does not conform to international airline/aviation safety standards?

Key word being “international”.   Thai standards on domestic safety matters are very poor or nonexistent

If one of the drivers has an

accident, will he run away?

9 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

thought Thailand would rank No 1. 

What happened? 

They did not have cheap prostitutes as a topic in the ratings

Life is cheap in Thailand

4 hours ago, Gobbler said:

I hope you deboned the chicken. 

Yes

Used to buy chicken from a street seller. Always declined the sauce she offered because I bought it for my dog. 

5 minutes ago, Fortunateson said:

 

My Thai wife ate street food until she took a food hygiene course.  She immediately stopped

eating it.

1 hour ago, connda said:

Is street food good for you? Old rancid oil. Cheap oil. Food dripping with oil.

 

What I see here is Westerner cultural superiority.  Westerners are freaking clean freaks.  In 17 years here I have seen all the tropes, exaggerations, and outright falsehoods about "Thai street food."  This is reflective of Westerners who come here already prejudging something that isn't part and parcel of their own culture - well, outside of perhaps food stalls you can find a fairs.
Ultra-clean Farang Fred:  "Unlike Thailand we have whole branches of our excessively large, nanny-state government dedicated to inspecting food establishments, especially "ify" food stalls at fairs."
Exactly!  One of the things I like about Thailand is that it doesn't have a nanny-state government monstrosity getting into everyone's business.  Kids can't even open a freaking lemonade stand in the West.

I've lived in Bangkok, Korat, and Chiang Mai and have often eaten Thai street food as well as getting to know the vendors who prepare the food.  Yeah - that does require you to have immersed into both the culture and the language of Thailand 👈 something most Westerners who lock themselves in gated communities and who associate primarily with their fellow farangs can never grasp.  I personally have lived IN Thai communities since I got here in 2007 and made an effort to learn the language and to assimilate the best I can into the culture. 

So I find that the topic of "Thai street food" just brings out the worst of Western Cultural Chauvinism. 
"It's dirty!
"It's greasy, cockroach laden trash!!"
"You'll get food poisoning!!!"

Hate to burst ya'll's ethnocentric bubbles, but the street food I've eaten is fresh, delicious, and generally prepared one order at a time right in front of you if you take the time to watch the process and interact with the staff.  Like any brick&mortar establishment (where you can't see the staff prepare the food), on occasion you'll find a place where the food sucks.  But those are the exceptions and not the rule.  And, oh!  I have had food poisoning in Thailand twice!!!  👉 Both times after eating at international fast food restaurants (I avoid those place like the plague now - can't name them due to Thai defamation laws). 

Denigrating "Thai street food" is just more Thai-bashing by Westerners who come to Thailand with bad case of Ethnic Egotism:  Western food clean; Thai street food dirty.  Most probably don't eat Thai street food because they already harbor the preconceived notion that it's unfit for human consumption.  That's ok, go back to your clean gated communities and eat clean food from Michelin 5 star restaurants and wallow in your Western ethnic snobbery.  Eating "Thai street food" is obviously beneath your social status.
"Dirty food for dirty people!  Grrrrr!"

On 9/19/2024 at 9:25 AM, Walker88 said:

Just as women like the one noted here have opinions, so do the men who respond. There's a good deal of truth on both sides, as well as hypocritical blindness.

 

In such threads, posters are quick to claim all Western women fall into the same category (just as YouTube 'stars' say all Western men who choose Thailand are of the same ilk, that being a 'loser').

 

Well, not all Western women are chubby, money-grubbing nags. Maybe that's all the guys who choose Thailand could land back home, but it hardly represents all Western women. Many are in shape, have lovely personalities, and make enough money so that in a divorce they don't ask for anything. In my old industry, women earned at the same rate as men, which is to say 7+ figures, and in dollars. They also hit the gym. They were enjoyable dates, even life partners.

 

For the ones here bemoaning the physical state of Western women, please strip down to your tighty-whities (but close the drapes first!). Go stand in front of the mirror? Could you be confused with a guy on the starting line of the Olympic 100-meter Final? Maybe an NBA point guard or NFL wide out? I think not.

 

Walking around Bangkok, the typical Western expat I see---if he's actually walking, not waddling, and if mobile, and not perched on a barstool---has spare tires that Airbus could use on an A380, or looks as if his twins are due next month. He's also likely full of recent 'warrior-style' tatts, which is the manifestation of Midlife Crisis in guys who can't afford a Porsche or Ferrari. Nor does he have an 8-figure (dollars) next egg. A 'catch' he is not, but for some local women, he's good enough. Lucky for him some women are forced to be less discerning.

 

Bottom line there is some truth in what the woman in the vid says, even if she says it badly and has her own issues. Also, there is likely some truth in the comments about some Western women, but hardly all of them. There are Margot Robbies and Zendayas in the West. No doubt there are some stud muffins who choose Thailand and Thai women, too, though both sides of this issue can find some justification for falling back on stereotypes.

Really good post. So many expats in Thailand who are barely surviving financially, but feel they are superior to western women.  Posting and commenting about whether a bargirl (aka prostitute) will make a good wife or girlfriend, discussing which street food is best, complaining about the price of a beer, panicking when the baht gets slightly stronger, etc, etc.  Plenty of losers claiming that western women are only after their money when they have no money to begin with.  

Try ANA

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

Koh Chang still has no signs on their crossings, not one sign on the whole island, worn out paint barley visible especially in the rain.    

No common sense and absolutely no regard for people’s safety in so many areas.  Pedestrians, driving, air quality, cancer causing foods (pesticides, overused cooking oils, sugar, salts, etc).

On 9/13/2024 at 5:49 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

Au contraire...  

 

I've stayed there and it was fantastic - I've eaten there at both the Authors lounge and Lord Jims, both excellent. 

I've been to weddings there, the events and catering were excellent and right up there with the other top hotels in Thailand (such as Kempinski & St Regis)

 

I've stayed a lots of excellent hotels:  the Oriental is in the top three that I've stayed at. 

I've also stayed at the Ritz Carlton, which was outstanding. 

Best hotel I've stayed at is the Dharmawangsa in Jarkarta (upgraded and had two private butlers !!)

 

 

If you don't know about hotels and just wanted to blabber on some some reverse snobbery because you don't like the price, then you've already done that......  

 

 

Only had one butler, but agree with your opinion of the Dharmawangsa

On 9/15/2024 at 9:02 AM, CharlesHolzhauer said:

"What is your reasoning behind this?"
Fairness - across all aged expats with a valid and suitable visa extension is certainly an important consideration. Equality - ensuring that all retirees or married couples aren't unfairly disadvantaged based on arbitrary distinctions like type of visa.

 

"If you have an LTR, should not be a concern for you."
You are completely out of context, and who are you to judge what I should or shouldn't do?

 

"If you do not have an LTR, then apply for one, if you qualify."
Whether or not I have a LTR or qualify for one is not the issue.

 

"Otherwise, remember that “you get what you pay for"."
Your condescending remark is entirely out of line and inappropriate.

Fairness and equality - good luck in finding your socialist utopia.  Why are you unfairly disadvantaged?  You have the same opportunity to apply for an LTR as anyone else.  Apparently, you chose a different visa. Only yourself to blame

On 9/10/2024 at 11:17 AM, CharlesHolzhauer said:

. I personally believe that all retirees over 65 on the visa extension, as well as married couples, should also be included in the current LTR tax scheme.

What is your reasoning behind this?  If you have an LTR, should not be a concern for you. If you do

not have an LTR, then apply for one, if you qualify. Otherwise, remember that “you get what you pay for”.

18 hours ago, pablo el sueco said:

I believe I may be negatively impacted by such a scenario.  Dividends earned by investing in municipal bonds are not subject to US taxation, but I believe they are not protected by the DTA; if this is true, such dividends may be subject to the proposed new taxation law in Thailand.  However, when it comes to filing a claim for foreign taxes paid, I believe there is a prohibition against claiming tax paid on income that is not subject to US taxation.  I truly hope I am mistaken.

Very clear explanation and, unfortunately, I do not think you are mistaken

4 hours ago, tomacht8 said:

will 100% not stay in Thailand for 180 days+. I have too much to lose financially. I'd rather spend my hard-earned money in other countries. Southern Europe in summer and some months in wintertime like Philippines, Vietnam, etc until the fog of tax uncertainty clears.

I have a similar plan, but 

See it quite a bit in Bangkok, when they are leading the man to the ATM.  Makes as much sense as posters on various forums who refer to prostitutes as “ladies”