grain

Very small population (under 600,000) and beautiful natural countryside, but can get freezing cold - after Hobart the next stop is Antarctica.

OK that makes sense then, they had top tier travel insurance.

I'm missing something here: How did they get back into Thailand? If they got sick in Vang Vieng and were taken to Vientiane, presumably to a hospital there, why were they flown into Thailand (Udon Thani)? If they are on life support, why would the Thais allow them into the country in that condition? These girls may die at any moment, surely the Thais don't want foreigners coming in to die a day or two later, then Thailand has to deal with all that legal formality with deceased foreigners. Why weren't they just treated at the hospital in Vientiane. Things don't add up with this story.

I'll never forget the first time that happened to me. I used to walk past bars and gals would call out "velly nie" or "hello sexy man" then one day about 25 years ago I walked past a bar at Ao Nang, Krabi and some bitch called out "hello poppa" and that was the start, a line had been crossed that day, it was like every bargal in Thailand had got together and decided that from that moment on I was now officially "poppa" 😄

I entered visa exempt at Swampy 2 weeks ago, new Aussie PP, first entry to Thailand with that PP, I was asked by IO how long I was staying, I replied 6 weeks, and I was stamped in for 60 days. I'm returning to Australia mid December, and will remain there until mid March 2025. In mid March I want to make another visa exempt entry for about 6-7 weeks. So that would be my 2nd visa exempt in 6 months, and my 1st for 2025. Does that sound like an OK plan or would 2 entries in 6 months raise any issues with immigration?

Exactly same for us, we live 50km out of Korat city, but for us it's no big deal, every 3 months I have to drive into the immigration to do the 90-day report, which take 5 minutes, then we're off to Lotus's, Makro, and the other big stores.

it's 2 blokes having a punchup

They're getting high tech, I flew out of Swampy 5 weeks ago, I was ushered by a very friendly smiling young woman to an e-passport auto gate, no need to line up at an immigration counter and no need to get an exit stamp in my PP.

I arrived from Australia at 9:00pm Sunday night, there seemed the usual hoards of Chinese groups moving around as I walked to immigration but when I got to immigration I was surprised so few people, I went to a counter and had 3 people in front of me, I was through in under 5 minutes. No visa and got 60 days, all very fast and efficient. Good to see.

The 3 big noise things you need to stay well away from when looking for a new place to live in Thailand are: 1. (obviously the first one) and kind of karaoke bar, or pub, beer garden, anywhere there will be Thai bands or music. 2. Temples. They're not always so noisy but you never know what they'll get up to. All Thai religious ceremonies held at temples are noisy (they love mikes and loud speakers) and often temples hold fairs, and these are deafening. 3) empty plots of land. Not a good idea to have empty plots of land too close by, they are often leased out to funfairs, weekend markets, and similar events. Plus you never know when some construction will start and they'll be months of noise.

Her bubble will burst soon, hubby will probably fall for a LBFM and move on.

BTW, I never have naps, it's something I avoid as I've found if I have an afternoon nap it makes it harder for me to get to sleep at night, so no naps, on those rare times when I feel like a nap I resist and go off to do something.

5555 yes, a typo there, of course I meant "tiles"

My alarm goes off at 5:00 am, and at 6:00am I'm out the door for a 6km walk before there's too much sun. It doesn't seem that long ago that I'd come home from a night on the times at 5:00am and go to bed. Anyway, I'm now an oldie and usually go to bed about 8:30pm and listen to the radio, fall asleep about 9:30pm. We live in the boonies, so we are on the same schedule as the locals who are mostly farmers.

11 years now with a wonderful woman. We have a very nice relationship, and take care of each other, and it's the longest lasting relationship I've ever had. But I have to admit that age has a lot to do with it, I have a couple of failed marriages and numerous failed long-term relationships behind me, and the main reason for those failed relationships was I couldn't keep my willie in my pants. But now I'm 77 and don't have much libido left, so staying on the straight and narrow is not difficult.