expat_4_life

Reminds me of the song "Winds of Change" ... but this time NOT in Europe with the decline of the old USSR and German reunification but this time rather the decline of US influence and the rise of China and India in Asia.

Some people doing something ... Fake Goods.mp4

"Correlation is not causation" ... it has nothing to do with their nationality or native language - they are doin what women do

@SluglordGood Report, couple of comments/questions if ya don't mind: "Submitting documents have remained essentially the same." Would be curious to know if they requested TM47 and/or TM30? "IO caught me out with old photo." I got caught out by this a few years back, since then have taken to getting a new photo at the same time I make copies downstairs, 100 Baht as I recall. Glad to hear, no drama and that it was essentially a pleasant experience - I always had a fairly courteous and pleasant exchange with the IOs at CW myself.

"32,000 baht (US$ 916) each, had approached her language school" The "tourists" in the article sound like victims of some sort of "long stay" ED Visa scam - feel sorry for the schools owner if she is/was not involved

This is just another "double pricing" thread. Everybody knows how this works but you thought you would try to embarrass or humiliate some poor receptionist who works at the clinic by demanding answers, another disgruntled farang. Pretty pathetic IMHO He's not responsible for the policy, congratulations, well done

At home, it usually western, soups/stews, roast, veg, BBQ when I do the cooking. If wife cooking, it Thai food all the way - she handy in kitchen, favors seafood. She has a few western dishes up her sleeve tho too. When we go out, it an opportunity to have something different - then its (in no particular order) Japanese Korean American BBQ Mexican American style Steaks (or pork chops, she loves her pork chops) Indian Arabic Italian or, sometimes Thai (have a couple of favorite places)

I have doubts on the effectiveness too! The Covid years wreaked a lot of havoc. In the wake of that period, tourism is still down and inflation feels like it has taken hold. Meanwhile debt has risen, interest rates are up, dining out is up substantially and so are food prices - got to be tough for many households

@bob smith I no doctor .... but I been here long enough to know the difference between too much spicy food and the squirts. For anything that lasts more than a couple of days and is just stinky water I take norfloxacin - relief within a day https://www.thailandmedical.news/pages/drugs/genrx-norfloxacin Check with your pharmacist, but ask for dysentary medication - does not sound to me like you're in Imodium territory anymore

RIP tides found along all the beaches ...

Too early to tell how things will emerge.... (yet) Change/crisis are in the air, many examples: 1) Ongoing war in Eastern Europe 2) Middle east is realigning as a bloc instead of at war with each other 3) Israel/Gaza could easily erupt into a regional conflict 4) China in economic difficulty 5) China/West making a lot of noise/threats re Taiwan 6) Emergence of BRICS+ which will soon eclipse the GDP of the G7 7) Surging unsustainable levels of private/government debt 8) Russia/China alignment 9) Middle east turning away from the west to China/Russia I'm sure there are more ...

I gift the wife a seasonal vacation at this time of the year, departing next week. This way I don't have to expect anything from her as I get to go along

I would suggest IKEA is the only reason for people living in central Bangkok to visit EmSphere. If your hunger is only satisfied by Swedish meatballs, or you want to visit a more conveniently located IKEA showroom than BangNa or Nonthaburi. then EmSpehere it is (I suppose). With the Emporium and EmQuartier so close, located directly at the BTS, and Terminal 21 just one BTS stop away I'm finding any reason to visit the new mall except IKEA hard to imagine. More of the same that you find at any of the malls. Won't be visiting until my Swedish buddy comes to visit - for the meatballs of course

I'm not a fan of so many tourists, no matter where they originate ... can I just time travel back to the 80's when the country had a mere 2 million? The dependence on tourism has transformed the economy in ways that are acutely obvious when one looks at the wreckage of the Covid years, shuttered shops, bankruptcies, island/resort ghost towns and at least a temporary migration back to the rural areas. The increasing surge of tourists has also done untold environmental damage and demolished the "Thai" way of life. What were once idyllic islands, fisherman villages and pristine beaches have been transformed into condos, hotels, shopping malls, traffic jams, the list goes on. Saddened to reflect back on the very things that attracted me to Thailand long ago and realize they are gone forever

I think the Maldives is the canary in the coal mine, it's still not underwater and we have at least a few decades after it is to make "holistic development plans".

Exactly how many "local businesses" did they demolish to make way for the EmSphere? All in the name of "progress" of course

I understand you're anxious about a passport renewal, but the process works. You might just be over thinking the whole thing, you have a lot of "ifs". Assuming I have it correct, today is DEC 15 and your extension expires APR 16. That is 4 months from now, a renewal is just 4-8 weeks. If it was me I'd apply for a new passport immediately ... don't see how you won't have your new passport back in time for your renewal. Good Luck whatever you decide

Very popular night market with locals and tourists located conveniently near the MRT/Fortune Town, sounds like they can reopen it in a couple of weeks. Extremely lucky that this occurred at 16:30, rather than say 20:00 when the market is jam packed - only one minor injury Imagine the chaos that would have occurred later in the evening - probably be a death count.

Wonder why the OP got questioned in the manner he did - was it something about their renewal stamp (originating office), something in the computer or? Makes me think the IO's are aware somehow. It is a curious thing (to me) as I've always done my retirement renewals myself. Thailand is my home now 20+ years and my renewals are vitally important to me. I simply want to know from year to year if my compliance is in order. Doing it personally guarantees all is above board. I can understand that some people don't want to deal with it and use an agent. The danger zone is when someone uses an agent to skirt the rules, technically does not qualify financially. I can also see where some people who could otherwise meet the financial requirements begin play a little loose with the rules because the agent sorts it all out anyway. You're right that they are potentially compromising their ability to stay here long term. I have a close friend that is "hooked on agents" - he plays loose with the rules and doesn't have to. He will be outraged and livid if he ever gets refused a renewal or entry. He will likely eventually kick himself for not meeting the financial requirements when he could easily have done so.

Could well be a location "thing", TBH I have only ever used it in Bangkok. You got my curiosity up tho, will check when I'm in Rayong province for the holidays - thanks for the info

OOPS not LINE, my bad, it is LINE MAN ... in addition to metered taxis they also do food delivery and more

If I'm really stuck, usually at night, in Bangkok I use the LINE taxi app. For planned longer trips I use a booking service. LINE drivers show up and they use the meter +20 Baht ... I get my metered taxi and they get a tip, only app I'll use

Not sure how u get around the fact your passport is full, maybe there is some type of temporary passport that can be issued? Suspect someone that has been in this situation will be along with a work-around. As to allowing your permission to lapse while visiting the UK, yes definitely you would have to start the extension process from scratch.

Big fan of Aussies myself, find me another nationality that can misgender me as a kunt with impunity

Poor parents ... lot's of criticism and scrutiny “Looking for a home tutor for English. The child is seven years old and is located in Si Racha. I want someone who didn’t graduate from Rajabhat, everyone else is fine.” Should have simply asked for a native English speaker ... rookie "social media" mistake as that appears to be what they wanted.