KhunLA

That was me in USA, even though having most things you need. Just couldn't be bothered, as too much food available. Just the thought of doing dishes was enough to go out & munch. Plus you could get a nice ale, or wine with dinner. Here's it's crap beer or silly priced wine. I'm not the biggest fan of Thai food, and the expats that think they know how to cook food, fail miserably. Yet to have an expat, serve up western food, better than a local can. That's damn embarrassing. I'm simply not going to spend, what some places charge for a tasty plate of food, that I can do as good, or better at home, for much less. Might be different if restaurants here had some ambiance. Really have to go high end for any 'fine dining' experience, which is fine. Just hate the idea of spending that much money, then leaving hungry

Cooking is a stretch ... just roasting some peanuts, for snacking & P. Butter (250g)

"The cause has not been confirmed" and probably never will be

Definitely not us. Didn't touch last year's, and haven't needed to touch this year's ... yet. BUT ... only have ฿55k COH, ฿32k from ATM (company pension), since Jan. & ฿20k, of SSA, I kept, from 320k from my (SSA) bank account, ฿300k went to wife's bank last month. So still have ~3k 🙄 from last year's excess (165k) pittance of a company pension, all of $357 a month Probably need to use SSA funds around Oct, if not sooner, since planning a few O&A before that. We live on ฿20k a month, and so far, our O&A hotels have been <฿1000 a night. Don't think those prices will hold too much longer, as hotels have gone up. Plus thinking about some pool time in the future stays, since not much new to see or do anywhere, as too much of, 'been there, done that', so need to self entertain at hotel. The journey is usually better than the destination of late. More new & interesting along the way, than the destination.

😎

"Do you believe the stories you read?" Emphasis on 'stories', and no. Not that I read any stories on the internet. Way better things to do. Don't even read 99% of the crap on AN. The silliest story tellers on AN, I don't even see. Took a while, but I ignore so much now, that AN is a really quick read now.

Not sure any of it is Trump's fault, with exception of him & Musk exposing the corruption of the Biden administration. Surely that, covid silliness, RU sanctions forced on other countries to observe, blowing up the UR pipeline (IMHO), all have affected USA allies' economies, to the point, they are not opening their eyes. Don't buy RU's fossil fuel, buy the USA's ... All happened during Biden administration. "Why are we trusting anything from the USA ???" Yep, that will definitely drive down the value of the USD. You idiots finally waking up, and stop being the USA's lapdog. USA, like all countries, only care about themselves. Why you ever listened to and followed the USA is mind boggling.

Today's deposit, @ 32.34 Thank You President Trump Past deposits + today's, since inauguration ...

10:32 today, and usually arrives between 0930-1130 hrs

#15 is about right. Except a major flaw in their thinking. They're harming and killing ... IMHO ... the ones that obviously will cower & comply. Though developing a massive customer base for big pharma to treat all the adverse reactions...$$$$$$$$$ Leaving the intelligent, free thinkers, that are their real threat to domination Although, they do now have a database in most countries of those that didn't get vaccinated. A new target on our backs

Before the proliferation of expat managed restaurants / bars, they use to have decent breakfast & lunch buffets. Only other option was Centara, this back in 2001 ish, and onward for a while. Use to go there for the buffet then a swim in the pool 😎 Since eating there, why not, and they never tried to charge me the pool day rate for non guests. Wouldn't be my choice to stay at, but big plus is walking distance to the huge markets; UD Town, Center Point & Preecha markets. If not having transport, walking distance to/from bus & train stations. With baht bus passing in front of hotel for access to the city if too lazy or hot to walk.

Location dependent. Choose to live where the foreigners live or visit, expats or tourist, and yes, you have to deal with some of their silliness. Something I rarely see, a foreigner, unless O&A, and maybe in passing at PTT / 7-11 when charging car. Live with your choices.

Enjoying life, as it should be .... Rock On ... ❤️

😎

Never a pro chef, just been cooking for myself, for as long as I can remember. Though have to admit, YT really help me fine tune techniques and doing it proper. I dined out a lot, in the USA. Probably 50% if not 75% of meals. Here it's 90% in home. The right tools help doing anything. Really like cast iron. Use 1 stainless steel for boiling water, and another small teflon sauce pan, for sauces. That's about it, have a bunch of other pots & pans I don't use.

Agree, as TH is just a location. Like everywhere, it is what you bring with you. A Yank, and could also be just as happy in the USA. Only difference, I'd probably generate some real income, to enjoy the same lifestyle I have here, and to take advantage of the options available in USA. Easy enough to do.

Too many people concentrate on treating the symptoms, instead of eliminating the causes. Most non bacterial or viral ailments, comes down to eating & exercise 'lifestyle'. Actually that will also affect and boost your immune system, when doing correctly, to help when you do get a bacterial or viral infection. Get you BP, Glucose level down in the normal range. Lipid panel & Apob to healthy levels, through diet & exercise. If that fails after 6-12 months of 'honest' effort, then consider meds to assist. All meds will take their toll on your kidneys and or liver. So the less, for shortest time, the better. Just pure common sense, not really rocket science. Whole foods .... if it has an ingredient label, leave it on the shelf. Or at least read & understand the damn thing.

Trump wants a weaker USD, good for exports, USA manufacturing, jobs market. Doesn't effect Yanks, $1 is still $1 in USA. Buy USA, support your fellow workers and local economy. Doesn't help me much, and as long as it stays about ฿30 / $1 then it doesn't affect me at all. Actually never will, as that exchange rate doesn't affect the money we have here. ฿1 is still ฿1 here He's only president for 4 years, and don't expect the ฿ to $ rate to change much, as within ฿30-35 / $1 most of the last 19 years. Let me know went it dips below ฿30, for more than a week or month, as that will actually be something different, since I've been here for 25 years.

'tanking' ... we obviously have different opinions of that definition. My last 3, soon to be 4 deposits @ noted exchange rate, since Trump's inauguration. Tanking, < 4% if today's is 32 And since being elected, Dec & Jan exchange rates were nice also ... once everyone realized Harris didn't have a snowball's chance of winning, up up & up.

Oh well ... Live with Your Choices ... boo hoo Force them on other, reap what you sow 😎

Yep, EU gave you a right good spanking. How dare people start to think for themselves ...

No, Musk did, and that is one person I do trust

Pet friendly decides where we stay, so very limited choices.

I don't think I've stayed anywhere for even 1 week, the past decade or more. Get bored quick, as been most places, too many times. Really is a small country. Having a pool with a view definitely helps. Thinking of popping back to Phuket next week, and Ao Nang area (on topic 🙄), since yakkin' about it. If can find quiet place with view to stay. Ibis as last resort, though prefer someplace new. Our go to at Phuket, if not staying at North shores ... Secret Cliff @ hilltop between Patong & Karon beaches. Quiet and away from tourist. Was ~4k a night when real high season kicked back in, after scamdemic. Off season prices again, not like we'd swim in the surf this time of year anyway. Think we stayed there 4 times during scamdemic. Last time was May 2023, and beaches were packed. Surprisingly for off season. Traffic and lack of parking was annoying. Hopefully calmed down now.