DonniePeverley

China isn't imploding. I've been reading nonsense about this for nearly a decade, that China is going to fall any minute now. It's just utter nonsense.

Do you want airport type security to get into a mall? Don't be silly.

MORE likely no one wants to go there. But Russia does have it's own migrant problems too - as citizens from neighbouring states do venture there. Any major metropolis will have a migrants. It's been the same since the industrial revolution. In part some countries face more migration due to their links to colonialism when they invaded those countries.

Hang on ... if you go through passport control at DMK, aren't you then screwed if something goes wrong at the permit desk ? I WILL NOT GET STAMPED OUT, then go for the reentry permit. At least at BKK, (and i assuming here) that you don't have to go through passport control if you fail to get your waiver. btw - can you only apply for a reentry permit once - so you either pick the single or multiple one time decision.

Not saying all Chinese don't spend. But the vast majority don't. So what happens is you need to go through 30 million non spending / cheap tourists, to get the 1 million who spend big. So you essentially push 29 million non spending tourists onto Thailand cities, heap pressure on local services, but the big issue is you turn of other nationalities who will see crowded places and be put off. The no dollar tours are still in my opinion going on. I was in Terminal 21 today, and you had the coach pull up and everyone just following the leader around the mall, then back on the coach. Nothing spent. It was the same in Pattaya too. They are back staying in Chinese owned hotels, chinese restaurants, and don't spend elsewhere. Thailand has done virtually nothing to push for European / American tourists - no incentives, nothing. It's just put all it's eggs into Chinese tourism.

Do you never go to a mall, or use public transport like the train? Never go to a restaurant ?

They aren't going to role back the visa waiver. Once you set up a policy like this, and with the Chinese saying they welcome it. To then put visas back on would be a loss of face, shame. It's permemant.

Thai women don't want a bigger nose. From experience they look for an implant to make the bridge bigger (the top boney part of your nose), and then reduce the size of the tip to make it smaller.

THIS. THIS. THIS. Driver of TukTuk pulled up behind the dreaded exhaust releasing bus. He behaved like he was nirvana rose pelt scents - we suffered the dreaded exhaust fumes. Partner had a cough for months after. Utterly horrific.

Was around lower Sukhumvit these past few days (strong tourist area) - i have never seen so many Chinese tourists in my life. This has to go back to pre covid levels (and then some more). Astonishing numbers that basically outnumbered local Thai's. Getting on the BTS and MRT has been a miserable experience these past few days, a huge massive increase of tourists have put enormous pressures on the local services. No seats, and squashed so tight. Literally a week ago it was a pleasure to ride the BTS and MRT with relative stable crowds. Then as we had lunch in icon Siam today, the whole bottom (street food type fascade built on the basement) was full of Chinese. I couldn't even move, so i just had to leave. The actual shopping centre shops, and the fine dining restaurants had no chinese in at all. Most the of the fine dining restaurants were still mainly occupied by Thais, some arabs, and a few westerners - but no Chinese. Really do question the wisdom of just opening the borders to them. Yes a few may spend, but literally the cost of 99% of the 30 million coming and not spending is a big burden on the local cities and infrustructure - never mind then turning off other tourists from other nationalities to go elsewhere. I have noticed (in Bangkok especially) how so few European tourists are coming here anymore. But it is done now, and can't be undone. At the time i was surprised at how quick they came up with the decision, when it was going to impact so much of the local populations. We've been spoilt by the past few years living here - no longer the case now.

Most airports i know have security first. From memory are you saying DMK does passport control before security ? That just seems very wrong. What happens if you are checked out of Thailand at passport control, but the face issues at security - where do you go then ?

Hang on - so you go through passport control (ie no going back), and you find out the paper work is wrong, or the workers at the desk have gone for a break - you have literally lost your visa then haven't you ? Basically i'd be screwed. Why would they not put it airside ?

The guy who faced racism was because he was black NOT because he was british. That whole 'that's not a race so it isn't racist' plays straight from the racist handbook. They love to trot it out.

Racism should be highlighted, and kicked out. Not brushed under the carpet and told to move on.

That is something to think about. Because when we go to extend our O visa for a year, we will only have 8 months left on our passport. So shall i commence proceedings for a new passport now ?

Ah blady hell man this sounds tough. Cheers for the help .

Do you get a number and wait ? Or do you get called back for a certain time? I ask because maybe our last experience had the agent doing the 'waiting' whilst my partner went shopping, lol

When we went for the O visa - my partner said there was shopping downstairs and food places - and she had a good time. Although she did have an agent with her.

I have travelled the world, and even stayed in India with visas. I have never seen anything as complicated as the system Thailand has for anyone staying long term - so you are correct, i am completely out of my depth here. Despite looking like the appointments are far away, is it still possible to go on the day ?

Definatley more chinese tourists here now. Icon Siam, the bottom where they serve cheap 'street food' meals was packed with Chinese tourists. The big major restaurants, and the actual point of the mall - THE SHOPS they did not venture too. It was straight back into the coach and off they go.

Guys i have tried to navigate the official site where i make an appointment for a reentry permit, but i can't seem to find it. Any ideas? Or do you just turn up? Furthermore, we would be needing a child to get the reentry permit too - will the child have to attend the immigration place also ? If you really want to be kind, can i request to ask what documents i should bring with me - other than the form, and our passports and money !

It's called gentrification. Land is being bought up.

Guys can you recommend anywhere in Bangkok that does a top Sunday roast dinner? I have tried a couple of places - one that was outrageously expensive to the point i nearly thew up when i saw the bill (and i'm not cheap eater) but the meal itself was rather average, with yorkshire puddings that looked and tasted like Bricks. On the other hand, i then went to another place that basically just threw veg into a heated buffet containers and you were left to just pick up some dry veg, and a thin strips of Chicken, which was ghastly. Any recomendations? I don't suppose they do Turkey in these parts?

Tried Smoothbeam last month. Didn't see any difference. Anyone else had any luck with oily skin ?

You are a top bloke. So to clarify (Cos of my thickness) - if i stay in Thailand and holiday, i don't need to do anything. Secondly, if i go abroad - as long as i have a reentry permit i still don't have to redo the tm30?