expat_4_life

On 4/23/2024 at 1:44 PM, Sametboy2019 said:

Thinking of sending my daughter to school in Ban Chang and wondered if anyone knows any condos for rent in the area? Or possibly some reasonable houses or town houses? 

In addition to the couple of recommendations offered, try renthub.
Fair number of properties listed there
https://www.renthub.in.th/en/apartment/ban-chang
 

Between the Middle East, Ukraine and the rise of BRICS, uncertainty abounds.

Good move by the Thais, keep relations with the Russians on friendly terms. 

1 hour ago, smedly said:

there are many that leave or avoid pattaya during the songkran week of madness

We are also into the start of the low-season, which the article makes no mention of.
 

45 minutes ago, bradiston said:

I'm experiencing really bad buffering on almost every channel on my IPtv box. 3bb say an undersea cable has been severely damaged between Asia and Europe. Could be as a result of the crap going down in the middle east I guess. They say it could take weeks to fix.

 

Anyone else experiencing this?

Possibly related to this incident ... SG to Europe cable cut
https://status.digitalocean.com/incidents/21gg18q1ddmv

16 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Here is the video that matches the pic in the article

6 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo for reference only

 

BANGKOK – Thailand, a country that has long held a special place in the hearts of British travelers and expats, is witnessing a significant drop in the number of visitors from the United Kingdom.

 

Bad analysis IMHO. Joni Mitchell had it right decades ago in her song "Big Yellow Taxi"

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

I'm thinking about the thread title
Iran potentially triggers World War 3

Who exactly is going to enlist to fight in it? You, your sons or daughters?
Draft? I won’t even say what that would lead to. Nothing to stress about. This is all theatrics.

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

How bloody stupid. You can get 'Retirement' extension at age 50, but earliest you can draw on a Private pension is 55, or State one 66.

This is simply not true (in the US anyway), some selected professions can retire at 50, Law enforcement officers and fire fighters for example.

LEOs and firefighters may retire voluntarily at an earlier age with a special annuity computation if they meet the age and service requirements: at least age 50 at the time of retirement and have 20 years of law enforcement and/or firefighter service.

Some US military are also able to retire after 20 years of service.

You'll receive a pension after 20 years of service. Active-duty Soldiers can start pension payments, at any age they choose.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Tens of thousands of tourists flocked to engage in the water-splashing merriments, marking the start of the country’s traditional New Year.

 

What's not to enjoy if one does not object to getting wet?

Climbing into the pickup bed well stocked with water and a few friends, equipped with water guns, ice cold water, beer, and powder. Booming music a plus!

16 hours ago, Maybole said:

At the end of May my grand daughter is going to Bangkok to do a three month internship in Yanhee Hospital,  near Bang O station on the Blue Line Bang Phlat district. She will need a room near the hospital without food which she can get at the hospital.  She originally intended to share with a friend but that has fallen through, so we are looking for a cheap room for a single woman in her early twenties.

Are there any members living near there who can offer advice?

Failing any specific advice of a particular condo/apartment, I would suggest using Renthub website. They have search by BTS/MRT stations and list daily/monthly rates. Many filters to aid in search of suitable accommodations.

Here are search results for the MRT station you mentioned.
https://www.renthub.in.th/en/apartment/mrt-bang-aor

Consider a few nights at one of the daily rentals for your grand daughter, then let her pick what she likes.  Plenty of rooms available.  Going to be an adventure for her.

Good luck
 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The customer recounted their surprise upon receiving the order, which contained no filling, just crispy fried wonton wrappers.

My wife got a similar surprise when ordering grab about a year ago.
She was browsing promotions and spotted spaghetti, 90 baht - yum yum.

However when it arrived it was exactly that, boiled spaghetti noodles with no sauce. Still get a laugh out that of "oopsie" every time I remind her of it. 😂
 

40 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

I understand a lot and could read. But I could never-ever make myself understood other than simple words and greetings.

There are likely 100 variations of why this is the case ... Thai folks can't tell the difference between rice, white, enter, news or knee (in Thai) when I speak for example.

On the flip side, many Thais that can read and write (even type) English are not so difficult to find especially among the University graduates ... but are often difficult to understand and/or cannot carry on a basic English conversation.

You are not alone out there.


 

On 4/4/2024 at 4:10 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3455199/leaders-agree-to-expedite-ukraines-nato-membership/

NATO leaders agreed to a package that will ultimately make Ukraine a member of the alliance, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a news conference today.

 

Does that make it more or less likely that Russia will continue the war in Ukraine?

It makes it more likely, obviously.  NATO and western governments knew NATO enlargement was provocative and would likely lead to war, but kept pushing anyway.  Even the Ukrainians knew.  Current CIA direct knew too and warned the US back in 2008.
https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/02/27/us-nato-expansion-ukraine-russia-intervene/
 

On 4/4/2024 at 4:10 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Given that Russia probably invaded Ukraine to stop it joining NATO, one has to wonder if the leaders of NATO are morons or just stupid?

Not sure either of these terms, "morons or stupid" is scathing enough to be honest.
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/nato-chief-admits-expansion-behind-russian-invasion

Western/NATO leaders knew exactly what was likely coming and didn't care.  They probably believed they would win out through sanctions rather than provoking a protracted war with a nuclear superpower.  They even sabotaged the negotiations in Istanbul persuading Ukraine to abandon signing a draft agreement to end the conflict with Russia.

Unfortunately things have not turned out their way, now they are trapped.  No off-ramp without a serious loss on their hands.  As it's now election season in the US, I expect the current administration will do whatever they can to prolong the conflict until November, send more money, damn the consequences, destruction and body count.

Some additional historical details in this opinion piece by Jeffrey Sachs.
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/nato-chief-admits-expansion-behind-russian-invasion

38 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

Ever heard of the 7 P's?
 

Nope, but based on the way this topic is drifting, I would guess I can name 4 of them

1) periodontal, 2) plaque, 3) philosophy and 4) pedantry
 

Poor @Dp1231just wants to be reassured that he can make his appointment from BKK to Pattaya in 3.5 hours.

I would suggest he will, 45 mins out of the airport and into a taxi, then 2 hours to Pattaya.

Might be tight, but will most likely be on-time.

47 minutes ago, transam said:

"Pleasant experience", wait till you have to do it again in 5 years time.........🤔

What constitutes "unpleasant" anyway?  I would say it's typically a passive-aggressive way to express angst/dissatisfaction regards typical bureaucracy anywhere, not exclusive to Thailand 😃 Me, I just shrug it off

42 minutes ago, skorts said:

Well it certainly wasn’t unpleasant!
 

I had what I would describe as a pleasant experience at immigration yesterday, "did I enjoy spending several hours of my day there" no I did not.  But is was necessary.  I made the most of it though, grabbed a coffee, snack, soon it was all over - definitely not unpleasant.

20 hours ago, Dolf said:

Why does he talk funny?

Because RFK Jr suffers from some variation of Spasmodic Dysphonia

20 hours ago, NVass said:

Sounds great for the Government in priciple. But how many more customs officers will then need to calculate all these few baht duty for each shipment and are they suddenly expecting all the carriers to collect the duty for them! I expect chaos to ensue before the policy is reversed.

Governments are well versed in collecting Sales Tax/VAT, it is called regulation. Companies that sell their goods to the Thai market will be required to add the relevant tax to their sales, then remit the collected amount to the Thai Revenue Department. 🤓

I would not expect them to have to hire, as you seem to infer "a new army of customs officials".
 

Bob, IMHO, would a worthy addition make to "The Mod Squad"