KhunLA

Yea ... there's filtered black coffee, then there's dessert coffees. Although, the purest, would consider 'black' coffee, blasphemy also. Nothing but watered down Espresso. O' yea who cast the first stone ... Born a Cis Espresso but out of the machine now baby, bi, trans, give me all the cream or water, even sugar when feeling the sweet tooth coming on.

North side definitely a better choice than NE / Isan, IMHO, and that's 17 yrs experience, and yea, I explored every nook & cranny of the area. ALTHOUGH ... I wouldn't live above Hua Hin, do to the AQI / PM2.5 levels. Below Hua Hin would be my preference, and if not where we are, probably Surat Thani (not Samui), Phang Nga (not Khao Lak), or Krabi (not Ao Nang) provinces. Maybe Chumphon province. Landscape, limestone karsts are stunning, w/ beaches. Better air, less congestion. To answer the OP, lived in Udon Thani, because my village orphan lived there, and if I could have left earlier than 17 yrs, I would have left after 2 yrs there. Very tolerable, but that's about it. If stuck in the NE, not a bad place to be stuck, as had almost everything, Including bad air and congestion in downtown. Everything except beaches. Without a 'school or work' schedule ... not a place I'd want to be based ... as every available moment, 3 months of school breaks, we were out of there.

As stated below, you don't need to head over anywhere, as it can all be done online, and mailed in & back to you. All info on link ... https://th.usembassy.gov/instructions-for-ds-82-processing-by-mail-and-online-fee-payment/

No

Been there 3X, in 25 yrs, once for a few months, while my mother passed to the next dimension. Didn't want to be there, but nice to be able to say 'bye'. Couldn't wait to leave. Other 2X, necessity, and only a long weekend, for the cheap air fare, and really couldn't wait to leave. 45 yrs was more than enough, though I could think of better places to those 3X, since lived in them (Philly & Memphis areas), and if elsewhere, might have enjoyed myself more. I could actually imagine myself back there for a long 1+ yr nomadic holiday as I've mentioned too many times, but would be extremely expensive, and not value for $$$, even on the cheap, it would be sticker shock. Just the cost of petrol to drive a loop around the country, something I'm not used to, the past 3 yrs. Hotels are silly priced, so buy a 2nd hand truck or van, and sell when leaving. Play camping holiday for a year or so, and would actually be fun. More so to show the wife the USA, than for me. A few national parks would interest me, and the food, but not much else. Photography & droning would be nice, and keep me quite happy. This could actually turn into an interesting thread, if not for the trolls.

When O&A, we have the car on w/AC going pretty much the whole time the car is charging. Almost a necessity with the dog. If we're not eating in the food court, vendor or rare occasion, KFC, then we're also in the car munching those fine delights from 7-11 After 3 yrs, we're averaging about 1% a year, degradation. First year, almost half our kms (9350 of 20k kms) were O&A, with about 25 DC top ups. Few less O&A the past 2 yrs, and only about 14k & 17k kms added last couple year.

If I lived in states, I'd buy a gas Ooni pizza oven. They're silly priced here, and beside, Pizza Co makes a tasty NY pepperoni pizza, and w/ 2 for 1 offer all the time, it isn't worth me making my own. Memphis area did great bbq, and I use to get rack of ribs a couple times a month, when living there, my last 5 yrs before TH. On topic as always ... Does Allah approve of pepperoni pizza I want to wake up in a city under Sharia Law ...

Texas is safe, so looks like your stuck with ... ... Chuck E Cheese ... CiCi's ... Little Caesar's ... Papa Murphy's ... Dominoe's https://knue.com/worst-pizza-texas/

Population of NYC and state of NY is decreasing, and should tell most intelligent people, all they need to know. Doesn't surprise anyone, does it ?

Agree, as great entertainment. As the Dems win, the state loses ... Google AI ...

First act will be to suspend the Constitution, and institute 'Sharia Law'

Nothing to see here people, as anyone could predict the results, and expect the same at midterms. Happens consistently. Just more distractions for the brain dead, as they still don't understand who controls things ... IMHO Google AI ....

What are you going on about ? Massachusetts is already Dem controlled, has been since 1948, and that's not going to change. https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/research-and-statistics/registered-voter-enrollment.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Democratic_Party

Nothing to see here, as CA will always be Dem controlled state, locally & DC. The exodus of money will continue, as will the arrival of those looking to suckle the teat of socialism. Google AI ... ... "California's population has been slowly declining, a trend that began around 2019-2020, primarily due to factors like high housing costs, a decline in birth rates, and a significant drop in international immigration. The state has experienced negative population growth for the last few years" ... When O&A, just keep your 'poop app' handy, taking the socialist Sh!tHole to a whole new level ... nuff said

... 2028 MAMDANI / AOC 2028 ...

Of course he did, as it was another Vietnam in the making Just another proxy war, CN backing KH, USA backing TH. Why we moved from Udon Thani, living too close to RTAF Wing 23, and easy target to get nuked. Now living even closer the RTAF Wing 5, but only a training facility, short runway, and can't handle B52s Explains the move toward being a 'prepper', solar, EV, independence from the grid, even PWA, as we store rain water. Now just need to buy some camouflage netting to cover the house, except solar panels. Wats & 7-11s being the next national resources the world will be fighting over. Thank you President Trump for stopping WW III, in so many conflict. We get live a little longer 😎

You must live on a different Phuket than the one we've visited the past 20+ years. Around 2010, Phuket simply got too congested, and unless using a MC, parking was a joke, and that was usually off season; Mar, Apr, May, Sept Oct, during school breaks. 10+ years running. Stopped visiting till the scamdemic, which was excellent of course, though last time there, at beaches, it was the worst, again, off season, June 2023. Popped down for just 2 nights, recently, August (Mon/Tues), to visit niece, not at beaches, and getting around & parking was brutal. Won't be returning, till next scamdemic, if ever. You obviously own a business, as gridlock at the malls, and parking at Patong, you are joking

We prefer the South; Surat Thani, Phang Nga, Krabi

We rarely spend time in metros, and usually just as a pit stop, arrive late afternoon, get a munch, and plan next day, after check out, if at a metro. Visited most metros decades ago, when not so congested, thankfully.

My only change has been, less physical & reckless adventurism, if that fall under extravert, realizing, I don't bounce nearly as good as I use to.

Unless you drink it black (like I do 99% of the time), then there's plenty of milk, cream, creamer in most non black coffee.

She's not woke, DEI enough, though in 3 yrs, that might be a good thing, as Dems realize, their silliness has been exposed, and why they got spanked last US House, Senate and Presidential election. She did good though, probably a better job, overlooking the state, instead of fighting of pennies for her district, along with just being out of a job. At least the pay is the same, actually a wee wee bit better.

She barely won her US House of Rep seat in 2020, with only 1.8% of win over Rep candidate. Though to her credit, she lost favor with the Dems, stating they need to stop with the extreme woke BS ... oops. Knowing she probably wouldn't get the same support if running for US House again, wise choice stepping down to the Gov's chair 👍