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ccarbaugh

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Posts posted by ccarbaugh

  1. Nope - went to Viet Nam twice last year. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Both were simply places where it's "give me money, GIVE ME MONEY,... " (More so than in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos!) As a farang, I was only seen as an ATM machine and I was entirely unsuccessful at having an exchange other than a "commercial transaction." I left Hanoi thinking I have no desire to return to Viet Nam.

  2. I've taken that bus for years. Yes, it stops for pick-up or drop-off pretty much anywhere, (although bus-stops are preferred.) There's a buzzer next to the door that tells the driver you want off. I walk down Thonglo from the BTS in front of the first 7-ll and there's one usually waiting there.

    (It just recently hiked the price up from 5.5 Baht to 7 Baht! :o )

  3. Since you're 61 years-old, you probably don't have to worry. I had just turned 30, married a Japanese girl from a "upper-middle class" family in Japan. Took her to the states, (CA,) and had 3 adorable, wonderful, great kids. She met an older Japanese lady and after 16 years of marriage she decided she wanted to "sow her wild oats" again. She became American-ized in all the worst ways imaginable! With her lawyer's expertise, she ended-up with everything! - The kids, (they're all over 18 now but won't talk to me,) the house, the car, and all my money for the rest of my life! - Just sayin, would be different if I was starting out at 61 and she was 49. You probably won't have the same situation at all. Best Wishes to both of you :)

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  4. As distasteful and repulsive as it is for most Thai ladies, they know that marrying a farang is being a "Big-winner" in the financial jackpot. There's no such a thing as "friendship" with Thais. Take away the commercial transactions and tere's precious little acknowledgement. They can be patient and stick-it-out for 2 or 3 years and getting access to all financial resources, house, car,... then isolating you so that you drink yourself to death or just outright running away- to their Thai BF. So the question, "Where's your wife?" is done to size-up her possibilities of her hitting the "jackpot" and having a huge windfall over the next couple of years!

  5. Unfortunately, I didn't stay abreast of the the photo-ops, PR appearances or social events attended by the ambassador. I have lived in Bangkok for the entire tenure of her ambassadorship. The only memory I have of her "service" is the promotion of Mitt Romney in the 2012 election and the (misguided) condemnation of the military-coo. (My experience is that Bangkok has been a much more peaceful, sane, convenient... place to live ever since the good-general put a stop to all the red-shirt, Yingluck, Thaksin nonsense!) I am happy that she learned to speak Thai - albeit at the expense of hard-working taxpayers and all the while collecting a most formidable salary! I hope the replacement ambassador is more practical and substantial as opposed to frill, flash and appearance. Her appointment has always appeared to me to be similar to the Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman, "lipstick-on-a-pig" job-performance.

    Misguided condemnation of the coup? Did it ever occur to you the US has better information about the situation.

    Even I know the reason for the coup and it aint what The Nation has been telling you.

    So please- DO bless all of us morons with your privileged knowledge of the "reason for the coup." Maybe some of us that aren't blessed with such privileged knowledge are just enjoying the more peaceful, convenient, quiet city without all the protests, marches, whistle-blowing mobs.

    • Like 1
  6. Did mine in mid-June and no change from other years. Using Embassy letter of several weeks before, signed copies of passport data/transfer information/extensions and departure card, TM.7 filled out with recent photo on back (digital print on home computer/printer) and home phone number. Payment of 1,900 baht and fill out portions of one or two normal papers at desk. Total time at desk about 15 mins (officer made change without leaving) and then 10 minutes at senior officer for final signing.

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