Fat is a type of crazy

It's not like you to be skeptical and cynical of fellow Asean now posters

Good point. I lived in an apartment for some time fairly close to the city but now live in a house with a big yard. Though apartment life in Thailand is somewhat appealing I do wonder what it will be like to hear neighbours again, even just footsteps and water on and off could get annoying, after years of hearing only cockatoos and kookaburras.

5 per cent a year. Likely only covers inflation. In Australia they are offering around 12 for 3 years so better here. But we get to work from home more to make up for the poor pay offer so that's a thing.

I agree everything in Thailand is available in the west and often better. But if I think of say living in Pattaya or similar I could see an average day as being able to, with Thai girlfriend if appropraite, live in a nice apartment with a good gym and swimming pool, near a nice beach for walking if not swimming, baht bus or cheap taxis easy, not far from better beaches for swimming and lots of hotel options in say Koh Chang for a third of cost in Australia, near fun casual restaurants of many nationalities at a fair price, near markets with colour and fun, near a high quality shopping centre with food from around the world and hopefully fun things to do, near somewhere I can get a massage, near bars for a beer if I feel like it, probably with like minded expats nearby if I feel like company, thai culture still a bit exotic and new for an Australian. Compare that to home which has many upsides - established family and friends etc, clean, no pollution, a range of weather , good quality food and good wine and beer at a fair price, some fun things to do. But restaurants expensive and not fun and casual in some way, shopping centres tend to be dull with stuff I don't want, 6 months cold and drizzly weather, everything spread out and a bit boring and not that ideal or fun for a guy approaching 60 who can feel invisible. Put it together and both places have stuff to offer but life in Thailand can seem more fun if only for 6 months a year. It can sound like some things are about money but it's more about the value for money that can help make life seem fun.

It's good you like the simple things in life and a few 69 baht curries can hit the spot but after a few days you get sick of them and they normally laden with salt and MSG and and what not so you move to something better quality. Doesn't make you a <deleted> to have cheap medium and expensive from time to time.

That's no good. I found glass in my food twice - once in Australia and once in New Zealand. That sucked. Both times the staff copped it and accepted responsibility. I would ponder it for a moment - if it was super gross I may politely tell the staff that, it is an understandable thing to happen, but would you mind replacing it please, but if it looked innocuous, I might not worry - it's been cooked and can easily be removed. .

I think the beach is a bit different as it is a place you specifically go to relax and not have to think. Also when one is in close quarters with others one should respect others privacy. This guy is saying - please be careful, and take note if my bag is there, so I can frolic and be care free. I admit this is a trivial issue and likely I would say yes if someone asked but I do think it is a strange request given the reality of mainly quiet beaches, from what I see on the youtubes, and why he would trust me I am not sure. In my minds eye they left the bag nearby rather than actually with me which made it worse as I need to regularly look up where the bag is .. spoiling my day horrendously.

To be honest I've been around Thailand a lot but been to Pattaya for a total of 3 days.. hoping what I see on Youtube etc is somewhat correct.. For what it's worth I'll likely book 2 or 3 months in 2024 and go to a few places for a month each and see what works.. if it is a shocker like some say then go somewhere else...

Good point. I live in Australia so I'll likely be spending 6 months in Australia so Thailand is a nice difference.

For people in the latter category what would you suggest as the best places to retire in Thailand.. or would you suggest elsewhere

Be a bit cup half full. He may have been elsewhere, thinking, and by the time he became aware the moment had passed and the two had walked by. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Most people mean well I think. I must admit I often feel like people are tossers when I'm travelling i.e. actually going place to place, especially on planes, as you get in a lot of niggly situations. Meeting new people all the time. Maybe you have been moving around too much.

A Klobuchar Haley race would be nice. I like what I saw of Dean Philipps but he's likely a bit too light weight when it get's serious. Gavin Newsom has a good presidential chin and experience despite Californian baggage. I can't see Biden winning a second term - it feels like it scientifically and statistically doesn't make sense.

Bit different for a few moments while someone goes to the toilet at the airport. I would do that as it makes sense. As long as the bag is at a distance and can't be deemed my possession. . Asking someone to watch your bag while they frolic in the water is a bit indulgent. No I would not like to do that.

Never been into that sort of thing to date. Which may make Pattaya seem a strange potential choice but I can't think of somewhere else in Thailand that has all the stuff you want nearby. But not as hectic or polluted as Bangkok.

I can recall famous skeptic James Randi on the Don Lane show explaining that Doris Stokes may be full of cobblers and Don Lane getting in a tizzy and walking out. Australian thing. Then there was South Park where John Edward was voted the Biggest douche of the Universe. If they could they would do it without the 'I see someone with a name that starts with an A' stuff.

I hope if I go to Pattaya after I stop working I can enjoy the nice accommodation with the pool and gym and nice promenades on the beach and the wide range of foods from around the world and the fun lifestyle and the ability to converse reasonably easily and nice people and not be turned off by the incessant heat and sometimes problematic pollution and traffic and unsavoury characters you hear so much about. Hopefully it will be fun.

I think you were fine. Most beaches in that area tend to be quiet and they can look around from time to time to see it's safe. I wouldn't think of asking someone to watch my bag. Happy to help people in many circumstances but watch your own bag.

True, and if against Trump he'll have a shot, but let's not pretend an 81 year old slurring his words is the same as Obama in 2011 or Clinton in 95. No way. Job well done Mr Biden now please step aside.

Can't go back. Might have fallen out of your pocket.

If I was king of Asean Now I would ban emojis within text. A few use them constantly as though it adds gravitas or humour or substance to their post. Don't like them.

It is a question of degree. If you are horribly bored all the time, and everything you think of doing fills you with disdain and boredom leaving a feeling of melancholy and unhappiness, there is a problem. However, if life is OK and you feel a bit bored sometimes, I think it's natural and you don't have to rush off to find stimulation and new challenges and excitement. Suppose it depends on your personality. I think if you are fit and have a simple life you'll feel boredom sometimes but don't particularly want to fill it with stuff. But as you say if Bignok is really bored with everything, including his pretty totally not imaginary young farm girl and with every new town and experience etc, then good to take action. I think getting fit and keeping life simple is a best first step rather than looking for excitement - that can come later after you have your stuff together to make good decisions.

I look at boredom as a luxury. Many people aren't so lucky. So a bit of boredom travelling around Thailand or in retirement means you have nothing to worry about which is nice.

I can't speak for Thai cards but my Australian cards have excellent travel insurance. For example one card has a policy which is through Covermore - the latter confirmed it is pretty much identical to the policy if I bought it direct. That is one of the biggest travel insurers in Australia. The brochure for the bank clearly spells out what is covered. Thai banks might be different, and it's good to be cautious, but you can save a lot with such cards.

There was a post of Yinn's manifesto for Poster of the Year, a page back, but it was deleted. It showed exactly why she, he, it in my opinion was head and shoulders above most posters in terms of cleverness and getting what this site is all about. But I shan't continue discussing her, him, them or it will upset some on this site. She disappeared as she was banned it seems.

Next you'll be saying it's ok for poor people from the subcontinent to call old people in the states and get them to buy gift cards to pay their fake tax bill. A bit here and there is fine, one could argue that high taxi fares in Phuket are due to a form of unionisation, but out and out scams where tourists find themselves in uncomfortable situations at a dodgy gemstone factory, that they never wanted to go to, should be stopped. Does not do Thailand's reputation any favours. Stand up and be counted.