JomtienRay

In the 30+ years I've lived here and ran my own educational business for many years, prior to retirement, nothing much changes..

a lot of rhetoric and ideas get floated around.. but as His Highness the King said in an interview on TV recently, "Thailand is the country of compromise"..

I've enjoyed my life here immensely, and have a large Thai/farang family, and many Thai and expat friends.

I intend to continue to enjoy the Thai ride in my remaining retirement years right here in the wonderful land of smiles.. ????????????????????

Fully vaccinated with 2 shots Pfizer.

Free expat vaccination service provided by the Thai Govt through Bangkok Pattaya Hospital at Central Festival in Pattaya..

Very grateful.. ????????????????

I'm staying..

lived and had my own business in Thailand for many years. 

Thai wife, 5 kids..

I'm retired and divorced now.. family all live in Aus.

I moved us all to Aus about 13 years ago for the kids education, which in hindsight, was the only positive in the move.. 

The 10 years there were for me, the most stressful time of my life.. my wife turned into a narcissistic psychopath, believing and following advice from all the new Thai ladies she formed a group with, who were mostly old jealous bar girls who all wanted to be the "P"..

I'm 74 and underwent 10 years of medical trauma in Aus.. chronic heart failure, 9 operations to remove malignant cancer tumours, Chem X 5 times, radiotherapy X 3 times, chronic kidney failure.. the list goes on..

During this time, my wife firmed an opinion, based on the expert advice of he Thai friends, that she should not assist me in anyway, and wait for my certain death.. inherit everything and have a good time.. I was hospitalised 6 times with serious illnesses, and she chose not to visit me once..

Well.. thru perseverance, excercise, diet and medical assistance, I survived, much to her chagrin..

Retired now in Thailand last 3 years..

Spend about 6 months in Esarn in the farm, and 6 months in my condo on Jomtien beach.

Thru my 30 odd years living in Thailand, I've seen many government's come and go.. many changes in immigration etc, 3 coups.. 

AND.. at the end of the day, nothing much has changed for me here, over that time.

Have a new gf who causes me no stress and takes care of me very well.. a few great expat friends, and many Thai friends and ex colleagues..

And a GREAT life style..

Thank you Thailand..

I believe this govt WILL change within the foreseeable future, and life will continue and improve, after covid..

No greener pastures for me mate.. ????????????????????????????????

Thanks Rooster.. I enjoy your column every Sunday..????????????

Best advice for him is to walk away and let her sort it out.. it's her problem, not his..

Find a new place to live and make a clean break.. any other compromise will only cause him complications, confusion, and never ending stress.. 

It seems to me that the Govt would have been much wiser to have encouraged their expat community to stay here from the begging of COVID, instead of ridiculing us and treating us as unwanted dirty farangs..

Removing the 90 day reporting, and stop changing the immigration rules every day in order to drive us out of the Kingdom and keep us out..

Many farangs left and will never return.

Now they are trying to encourage farang tourism.

I can't imagine foreigners lining up like expectant dogs, knocking down the barriers to get back in..

The saying "Don't Bite the Hand That Feeds You" comes to mind..

Thousands of our compatriots that were forced out will have moved to other countries, or returned home, would have happily stayed and continue spending their safe money here, and supporting local families..

Many will never return, and will advise their families and friends accordingly.. 

FOREIGNERS WHO DON'T PAY HOSPITAL BILLS..

I don't understand who these foreigners are, and how they avoid paying the hospital bill..

I've lived and worked, and now retired, in Thailand for over 30 years, and brought up a large Thai/Farang family. My children all born here at wonderful Thai hospitals, fully paid by yours truly.. I have also been hospitalized for a serious kidney operation, cancer, and heart attack.. again fully paid for by myself.

Anytime I or my family needed to see a doctor, or have some checkups at the hospital, I was asked for my credit card to update details, before seeing the doctor.. 

If you can't pay, they don't treat you.. this is my experience..  pay up front..

how do foreigners escape from hospital and not paying??

The health minister (and deputy prime minister), says nothing to worry about.. it's under control..

This is the same chap who blames the previous infections on the dirty farangs, and wants us all kicked out..

I note every day there are no infections caused by dirty farangs, but rather by Thai nationals sex workers, illegally sneaking across the borders of Myanmar, China, and Laos unashamedly spreading the disease.. ????

What now for Thailand? 

Perhaps the establishment are keeping the borders closed to cleanse the country of the disliked yobbo foreign tourists and backpackers, and to close down the seedy red light areas of Pattaya and Bangkok, and take the opportunity to redevelop these places.

The economy is not suffering as much as people forecast, and Thailand is strong enough economically and structurally to ride this out and push through a serious redevolpement..