Etaoin Shrdlu

I have seen goong chae nam pla described in English as "fresh prawn salad" when in fact it is raw prawn salad. Perhaps when the diner says "too fresh" it means undercooked.

I think it is because of aspirin's link to Reye's Syndrome.

I think that even the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act differentiates between an informal "expediting fee" for quicker service and a bribe for obtaining something that one is not entitled to. The former is ok, the latter not. So, for me, a "tip" to get things done quicker is fine.

Well, at least you managed to put this off until she was 17! I wasn't so lucky with my children.

Two things to be grateful for: Only one child wanting an iPhone and she managed to get to 17 before asking for one. One thing to rue: iPhones are expensive. Will you be able to give one to your daughter without giving one to your wife, too?

Thai Life can only provide medical coverage by issuing an extension to a life insurance policy. If your wife wants life insurance along with medical cover, that's ok. Thai Life will likely only offer whole life cover, meaning one with a cash value. Some of the annual premium will go towards the life insurance portion of the policy, some towards the cash savings portion and some towards the medical cover. But if she wants all of her premium going towards medical insurance, she may wish to look at medical insurance policies from non-life insurance companies.

Thailand requires that any insurance company that sells insurance to the Thai public be licensed and regulated by the Office of The Insurance commissioner. The "Thai public" is anyone physically in Thailand. When it comes to foreigners, the OIC is not terribly concerned and some offshore insurers will take the risk and sell insurance to foreigners residing in Thailand. When it comes to Thai citizens, the OIC may take a different view and offshore insurers are more cautious. Companies such as Cigna, which have operations in Thailand, could be particularly vulnerable if the OIC were to come to the conclusion that Cigna's offshore offices were actively selling insurance to Thai citizens. This isn't something specific to Thailand. Almost all countries have similar restrictions on cross-border insurance transactions.

Insurance for classic cars has long been a problem in Thailand. Third party liability isn't an issue, but cover for loss or damage to the vehicle itself is. Insurers are reluctant to insure do to lack of spare parts in case of an accident and no formal way of determining the value of a classic car. ThaiSri Insurance touted an insurance product for classic premium cars (Porsche, Benz, etc.) some years ago. I think they targeted those with a collection of several cars that weren't daily drivers. Best to contact a broker and ask if ThaiSri is still offering this product, but I think that a jeep would be outside of their risk appetite.

I think Chuwit is acting on the direction of someone higher up the political food chain and this is part of the jockeying for position in advance of the upcoming elections. I can see how it would be advantageous to have your man at the top of the RTP and its money volcano when elections are at hand. I can't see Chuwit doing this without cover from those well above his station.

Jackfruit tree.

Perhaps you have drain flies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychodidae They don't come from outside. They reproduce in the muck in the traps in the drains.

Insurers in Thailand issue separate policies for each line of coverage. You won't find medical insurance bundled in one policy along with motor or homeowner's cover. Usually premiums are payable annually at policy inception. I don't think Thai insurers have started offering monthly or quarterly premium payment options, especially for personal lines insurance. Find a good insurance broker and ask, however.

Back in the 1960s and 1970s it was common for many motorcycle enthusiasts in my area to refer to all motorcycles as scooters. I always thought it was kind of a local thing, but perhaps not.

There are a few states in the US that only recognize a non-US license if it is accompanied by an IDL, even if the license is in English. Some rental car companies require an IDL because they are concerned that the renter could drive in one of those states which might then affect insurance coverage.

The portion of Thailand's GDP attributed to exports pre-pandemic was about 65%: https://tradingeconomics.com/thailand/exports-of-goods-and-services-percent-of-gdp-wb-data.html#:~:text=Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) in Thailand,compiled from officially recognized sources. International tourism is considered an export and it comprised about 18% of Thailand's GDP pre-pandemic: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1143467/thailand-share-of-tourism-to-gdp/ If the above is roughly correct, in pre-pandemic years Thailand's total exports, less tourism, would be almost half of total GDP. Non-tourism exports would therefore be more than twice the value of tourism.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/world/asia/thailand-dissidents-disappeared-military.html

I suspect that from time to time Pacific Cross will also increase the base premium level of each 5-year band to reflect increased costs for medical care. I do not know how often this is done, but if PC did not do that, they would eventually be collecting inadequate premium for each band.

Several insurers in Thailand offer outbound travel insurance, both for single trip and annual cover. Be mindful of restrictions on trip duration if you look into annual cover. Some do offer 180 days maximum per trip under annual policies. Also be aware the limits are fairly low for personal accident and medical expenses. I think the highest limit I've see is five million baht. I think offshore insurers may offer higher limits if that is a concern. Find a good insurance broker and discuss your specific needs.

Most insurance policies issued in Thailand are for one year, so at renewal you're looking at a new policy and an insurer can charge whatever they wish for a new policy. The terms and conditions of your existing policy, and its pricing, are only good for the term stated on the policy. Pricing and terms can change at renewal. The OIC does impose some restrictions on premium increases, however.

Blue is also for PR holders. Mine is.

I've found living in a gated community to be quite pleasant. Security is very good. The common area includes a pool, gym, meeting rooms, basketball court, playground equipment and some green space. This was important when raising our children. We can walk our dog around the community without worrying about soi dogs. If we have a delivery and we're not home, it can be left with the security office at the entrance to the compound. The community employs a handyman who can fix minor household issues on short notice. We don't have a huge lot, but Mrs. Shrdlu keeps backyard chickens for eggs. We also have several banana trees, a jackfruit tree, four papaya trees, and a mango tree on the property. It isn't a substitute for Mrs. Shrdlu's farm upcountry, but it is sufficient. The community rules aren't oppressive and the only issue we've run up against is the prohibition on having workmen undertake renovations/construction on Sunday.

My thoughts exactly. Someone at the top is giving him cover. But what's the angle? Discredit Prayuth ahead of the election? Something else?

This isn't it. OP will need to have his name entered into the blue house registration book where he lives after he is granted PR. This is done at his local amphur after he is granted PR and has been given the necessary documents from Immigration to do so. It looks like Immigration want to know where he plans to register once he does get PR. It is somewhat unreasonable for a landlord to refuse to do this, but there is really nothing the OP can do. My advice would be to find a friend or co-worker who would be amenable.

Is the SD card you are using one of the cards listed on this page as being compatible with your camera? https://fujifilm-x.com/th-th/support/compatibility/cameras/x-t4/

I second OneMoreFarang's suggestion that you transfer funds into your own account and not the developer's. I'm not sure how you would get the Thor Tor 3 (FET) document from the developer's bank. This is the form you will need in order to prove you brought the funds into Thailand and also to get them out if/when you want to repatriate the funds. Much easier to get this from your own bank. Transfer the funds USD, Euro or other non-Thai currency and let your bank convert to baht.