Khon Kaen Jeff

2 minutes ago, bannork said:

I went to school near Malton, North Yorkshire, for 5 years. Desperate weather from November to April apart from the occasional snowdrifts. They were fun. But most of the time the fingers would be numb when playing football for example.

Give me the ever green mango orchards on our Udon farm anytime.

Hear what you're saying. It's always the weather reason isn't it. Must admit I'm not sure if I could get through a UK winter now. I was up in North Yorkshire last year, just stunning. Could see myself seeing my days out strolling around the dales, lovely pubs etc, but yes the weather, it's always the weather!

58 minutes ago, mlkik said:

My step daughter moved go the UK at twelve years old and finshed up going to University and getting a degree.

She is very happy here with a good job,her own home and says she would never want to go back and live and work in Thailand.

That goes without saying. Why on earth would a young, bright woman in the UK wake up one morning and think I'll go and live in Thailand. She would need sectioning.

On 10/26/2019 at 7:10 PM, Andrew Dwyer said:

Yup, I was only joking about the weather.
I left the uk in ‘95 but visited occasionally, recently that has been more frequent as my father is getting on a bit.

I lived in Yorkshire , the Dales and Lake District makes it a very pleasant visit in the summer months. Never tire of the beautiful scenery.
Unfortunately I could only visit Feb and Oct this year so although the weather wasn’t at its worst it did rain an awful lot this last couple of weeks.

I much prefer the quick downfall in LOS to those drizzling grey October days and it’s downhill from here onwards.
Probably book my next visit for May next year.

Why would you leave somewhere as beautiful as that to come here?

46 minutes ago, simon43 said:

".. I will drop you a line before I come and maybe have a beer when I'm there? "  That's a statement with a question mark at the end ????

 

In any case, if you're ever in LP, please drop me a message and I'll certainly meet up for a beer (?)

Mmmm, well you're the teacher, but I do think that can be interpreted as a question as it was clearly directed at you ????

2 minutes ago, geronimo said:

Isn't life what you make it?

Yea, yea, you mean like spending half the day on here?

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

14 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Hardly any of that applies to me,

I have a large house, decent garden, two kids and a much younger (hired) lover, a pickup truck, 2 scooters, 4 bicycles ........

And I'm still discontent.

 

I think it's more about life not being what I was always told it would be ..........

loving wife aging together with you, kids growing up, grand-kids to play with at Xmas, slippers by the fire in winter, etc.

 

All a crock of pooh,

you learn your wife never loved you, your kids want you to die so they can inherit, and your country loves everyone but white men, and you're getting older and sicker all the time. As far as I can see the only people not discontent are fools, I always felt stupid people generally lived happier lives than me.

 

Quite frankly, I wish I'd died 15 years back in my 40s before my parents died, and everyone else I ever really loved betrayed me and my life turned to poop.

Good honest post that Brit. Would much rather read honest, real posts like this than the cringe, smug brigade stating how happy they are just because they can eat a sandwich have a coffee and watch motor racing, all while the sun is shining (again) 

I concluded years ago that daily life is <deleted> and as boring as h*ll..but thankfully there are still things that I look forward to doing which stop me from being the next flyer, plus I wan to see my kids grow up of course.

2 hours ago, simon43 said:

No.  There seem to be a few different types of one-year visa that are issued:

 

- One year business visa for 'retirement', no WP.  (No WP would seem to make opening a local bank account rather difficult).

- One year business visa with WP, but no company/business papers (ideal for teaching online)

- One year business visa with WP for operating a bricks & mortar business, (in this case, one would need to register a Lao company etc, a route that I didn't investigate).

 

Due to my woeful track record of failed marriages, I haven't inquired about Lao marriage visas.....

 

This is just my take on it.... It seems that the issue of business visas for foreigners is still a little 'laid-back', just as I remember things many years ago when I stayed here.  As long as one quietly goes about one's life in the country, there are no problems.  Volunteer work is welcomed, (unlike Thailand). TM30 and regular reporting is not required.

 

Now if you want to come and live in Laos, bang the local women, take drugs, be obnoxious etc, then I suspect that your time in the country will be very limited!  My understanding is that the jail in Vientiane has living conditions that are far worse than the Bangkok 'Hilton' prison - the last Brit who was jailed in Vientiane died of neglect......

 

Anyway, I have only been living in LP for the past 4 months, so very early days.  But so far, everything has been great.  Business visa and WP obtained, bank account opened, including high interest account, house rented, expat medical insurance sorted out (I already had this, but recently changed to a different international company).  Daily food/provisions all OK, fibre-optic internet line working every day with no breaks, electricity supply very stable, (occasional 3 minute outages that my UPS manages all OK).  Ham radio licence obtained from the Lao government, (I'm the only ham in the country).

 

No-one has put any 'obstacles' in my path - either intentionally or unintentionally.  No-one addresses me as 'falang' - I have a name.  No-one has said 'cannot' to me ????

 

It's like a breath of fresh air.....

 

 

Tbh that all sounds good, may well be an option later on and to be honest appeals more than Cambo and Vietnam. Another thing I like about Laos is some great western restaurants, well in Vientiane anyway. May well be up there next year, you didn't answer my second question but understand 2 questions may have been a bit taxing for you ????

Simon - Just out of interest did you have to prove that you teach online?

I went to LP many years ago and fancy another look for a few days next year. I've seen you about on here down the years and you seem like a good affable 'lad' I will drop you a line before I come and maybe have a beer when I'm there? 

Yes they do, it's very convenient, usually just a few people there and has a much more relaxed feel. Hard to say exactly where it is but once of the plane just walk towards normal immigration and you will see it on route, maybe a staff member there with a board..

21 minutes ago, maprao said:

But if she paid the tuk tuk to run you over she knows you won't be able to read the text!  

 

Sorry couldn't resist ????????

I have done the same as you.

Mmmm, a bit cheesey for my taste, up your game a little ????

Just now, ubonjoe said:

I see nothing on their website that mentions mailed in applications.

Add that question to your list.

Yes, which most likely means not accepted. Looks like a another trip to 'Nam beckons.

5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I do not see anything on their website stating you have be resident to apply for a visa. Best to contact them about it.

Non-o visa are only issued as single or multiple entry visas. They stopped issuing 2 entry visas many years ago.

It appears they will issue a multiple entry non-o visa based upon marriage on this page.

http://www.thaiembassy.org/pretoria/en/services/29812-Non-Immigrant-Visa.html

Ah ok never knew that. Yes I am going to call them, do you think they would accept postage applications and return my pp to a hotel as I won't be anywhere near Pretoria when I'm there soon..

JOE - Something different, would a Brit be able to get a non o based on marriage at the Thai embassy in Pretoria, SA? And if so do you know if they have 1 yr multi's available? I looked on their site and think they may only go to doubles only? Cheers

21 minutes ago, fforest1 said:

It really does not matter where he goes...This story is to big....His face is now his arrest warrant..

The point is there is less incentive for foreign police to chase him than the Thai's..also plenty of 'faces' have avoided arrest, that's not to say he won't be caught of course.

Getting over the border is very easy, in Butterworth, or around there, you can simply walk on the railway lines into Malaysia., Sneaking through the Laos border at Nong Khai is easy too, although why would you want to go there..

3 hours ago, alant said:

very good.

Seems like this dude is a bit more than the average Pattaya 'gangster' He'll no doubt end up getting caught though, they practically all do in the end.

And oh, give it a rest with the TM30 jokes, they weren't even funny when they first come out,

35 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Well I may be forced to leave at some point.  Time of life really isn't an issue for me, if I did have to leave, it would be to a new adventure and not too far from here.  One thing is for sure, it would not be to the UK. All that said, I am on a None O so it looks like the uncertainty is over, at least for now. 

I don't think you will be going anywhere anytime soon. My thoughts are similar to yours, still quite like it here but don't see it as the be all and end all, at some point I will be moving on to pastures new, and like yourself somewhere not too far no doubt. I  have a young family here so kind of stuck for the time being.

8 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

I have a good life here, but that doesn't mean that all is roses all the time, or that a compulsory health insurance requirement would not impact me to such an extent that I would have to leave here.  I like my life here very much, but there are other options, as there are for all expats.  The birds still sing , the pool still looks inviting and Lewis will win the US GP, so all is fairly well with the world. 

I was only jesting piotman. Are you really thinking about moving, would be a big upheaval at your time of life? A lot of people talk about it but few do it.

On 10/25/2019 at 9:37 AM, Pilotman said:

I think the OP's attitude  and feelings are not unusual among expats now and are justified. Immigration is inconsistent and the ever changing regulations are annoying at best.  This latest change, to require Health Insurance for an extension to be granted, is the latest and probably the final nail in the coffin for many, including I am very sad to say, my Thai wife and I. At 71 the premium for health insurance for me is over US$20,000 per year, I can pay that, but I refuse to do so, for a near useless policy. As to Thais, I find them friendly and welcoming, part from an isolated  few.  They are not the problem, this xenophobic and economically illiterate government is the problem and nothing expats can do will change that fact.  

Hang on a second, I thought you had an incredibly amazing life here?? What about Lewis on pole, The birds singing, the gym, coffee with Tarquin and the guys? I'm genuinely shocked.