KhunLA

It's you ... ... If I had to deal with some the these idiot foreigners all day, I wouldn't be happy either. I receive what I project. Expect others to get the same results, so a bit of .... som nam naa

We have a 'smart' TV, only because hard to find one that wasn't. We have yet to use the direct to TV's wifi or cable, since we don't subscribe to any channels or cable services. Simply use the laptop via hdmi, and the TV is my monitor & vid viewer of torrents. Using the laptops wifi. Since basically no other way to access media, you will need some sort of wifi, or subscription service. I need a keyboard & mouse, hence via the laptop, and not going to try to negotiate the menus on TV with remote. Too frustrating. Same with phone actually, and rarely use for anything other the GPS/mapping while O&A or as knock around camera. Assuming everyone has wifi at the house, or on phone, and can 'hotspot' that if needed, though could get expensive it the phone is all you have. Wifi is a must at the house, and too inexpensive not to have. Fast internet, cable/wifi at house is only 631 baht a month via TOT, unlimited. Possibly other vendors & promotions cheaper, if not needing fast, unlimited.

I apparently drive more average miles / kms than the rest of the world drivers. You want to call that low ... UP2U

Did not agree they are low, simply 'retirement / leisure' kms. You need to work on your reading comprehension. Of course, as suspected, you are wrong, 22.5k kms a year is not low. Comparison to the world's drivers, we seem to drive HIGH mileage/kms, even more than them pesky Yanks ... big surprise Our driving, 20k + 2.5k = 22.5k kms Our miles / kms driving:

As with all travel, road, rail or air, timing is everything. We don't go to Krung Thep on Sunday, or Krung Thep to PKK on Friday night or Saturday. Let the weekenders have that gridlock to themselves. Been stuck in 'weekenders' traffic a couple times, to/from Patts & HH ... lesson learned. Nothing in either location worth that hassle. Sure as hell don't drive or even take public trans during rush hour in the metros, especially Krung Thep. Easy for us, as no work or school schedule that only affords weekends off.

No plans on doing anything. Wait & see if people are actually fined for not filing for taxes they don't have to pay. I suspect we'll be needing a new form, for visa extension in 2025, confirming taxes filed.

It's a Lithium battery .. do you own a phone or laptop ? It's an electric motor .. do you own any fans, convection oven, air fryer, blender ? Thanks for the chuckle

NO. 20k on the car, if you read what I provided 2500 on the MC, not included in the 20k 20k kms is 20k kms, whether I'm using to dive to the park or surf, or to the a job or school run. When I lived in the USA, that was about my average there also. Probably why cars at the time, if lucky, had a 5 yr/ 60k mile warranty. Our MG has more faith in the battery, 8 years / 180k kms, 5 yrs on the rest of the car. PLEASE don't reply to me if not going to read what you are replying to. WE DON'T AGREE ON ANYTHING .... BYE BYE

Some more info if interested: https://arunplus.com/en/News/Detail?id=14 Interior of bus in OP, looking comfy ... whether the actually bus used ? 4 year old vid by bus production company, and slight difference in appearance from 4 yrs ago:

See you still haven't read or understood anything I've provided. As we DO NOT AGREE on anything.

Just think if they invested just a little thought into contraceptives before have sex ... thoughts about killing the baby could be avoided completely.

Yea, the 'file photos' are getting pretty silly. They had a sailed cutter photo, for news-blip about RTN prepping to evacuate Thais from Myanmar if necessary. Maybe if it was the 18th century. Some photos in news about TH, are eve from TH. I usually ignore the news posted here, unless I want a chuckle. Blaming the heat again, for everything, and just silliness, so had to peek.

Chula being in the top 20-25% worldwide isn't actually a bad position to be in. Especially if the student apples themselves. Top Uni is useless if student doesn't really care to apply themselves. A Thai, studying overseas, isn't the easiest thing to do, financially or socially. Limited options for most, that's worldwide.

Daughter went to Thammasat, rated #6 (in Thailand) for business/economics, even though accepted at the other 3. Submitted her application too late for Chula. Except for 'Songkhla, we actually visited the other 3 campuses, along with a few others, talking with students & alumni, before choosing, and money well spent:

Pretty much what I did 23 yrs ago, as I didn't do any real research before coming. Came in 1999, just for the hell of it, as had timeshare weeks to burn, and last minute got a trade approved. Worked for an airlines, so that was easy & cheap. Had a very nice long week, diving from Phuket, and a bit of a recon for retirement location. But no real research, or even visa requirement, Ignorance is Bliss, would be perfect description. Came back a year later, and decided to stay. Think I made all the classic mistakes, within first year, BUT, escaped unscathed financially and no loss there. Really is too much info out there now, for others to repeat the same mistakes myself and so many have made. I had protective paperwork (that false sense of security), but it all worked: lease, usufruct, POA. Even made a profit. Best advise to give, is don't live in Hua Hin or north of. Simply to avoid the half year of air pollution. Relationship advice, married 4 X, w/ 2 live in GFs, so I don't think you want my advice. But I would avoid meeting someone from a bar or internet that is obvious P4P, and moving to their village and setting up residence. Now the long winded, take or leave it thoughts: Be independent of that silliness, rent somewhere and set yourself up to lead a normal lifestyle, THEN meet a partner in normal settings as you would in home country. Many P4P relationships that I know of, have lasted, but more have failed, and guessing higher % than just 'normal' relationships failing. It's simply a bad start for most. One really does need to live here for at least one year, if not 2 or 3, and in different areas, before even thinking about 'buying in'. RENT until you are sure TH is for you. The weather alone is enough of a change. Hot is nice during a holiday, but 24/7 for 9 months can wear on some people. TH is not for everyone. Don't burn you bridges in home country, till 100% sure, you're not returning. Condo in your name is the only safe way to own. Depends a lot on your age & finances if that is the best option. Renting is inexpressive, and leaves all options open. Unless you have extensive RE experience or very deep pockets, I would avoid buying in other than just a condo. RE was my thing back in USA, and I never invested here anything I couldn't walk away from. After I sold the first house here, it pretty much wasn't my money anyway, moving forward with 2nd & 3rd house build. That did take an intelligent and trusted partner, and I couldn't have done it on my own. So there's that, or I would have taken the condo route or probably simply rented, as not really a neighbor friendly person. I've never lived in any house I've owned or rented, in USA for more than 3 years at a time, so buying in a foreign country on my own, just wouldn't have been the smart thing to do, considering I get bored of an area fast, and like being mobile. Look at your past experience, and apply them here. Just common sense. You might think you'll change, but you won't, and don't expect to. ENJOY what's left of your journey. Do what you want, (not revolve around someone else) remember, we're all on borrowed time by this point. Especially if getting here at normal retirement age, 60+ or 66/67 for you Yanks.

Asked & answered: All info provided, if you don't read it, I'm not wasting my time with you. Try clicking on the links above:

I think you're going to need a roof over it, and no sun exposure, if possible.. Ours (Udon Thani) had a roof over it, and didn't get any sun in 'hot' season, and was nice & refreshing most of the year, except couple months in cool season. Way too cold to swim be in. It was also 2+ meters deep when full (one half) and 1M deep, the other half.

Well that's reassuring, as there aren't that many stupid, financially challenged folks here. For the same or spring for a little extra, and you can have the Neta V, and save money every time you drive past the local petrol station. And avoid all those oil changes & tune ups

Just how do you plan on bringing over (assuming) large sum of money, in a few weeks, and showing it is coming from either SS or VA. As they are distributed monthly, from fed reserve. SS anyway, not sure where VA bennies are distributed from, also monthly.

I guess very few, in the grand scheme of things. I think your definition of many and mine, may be different. We have guard rails, because people bid to get contracts to get paid to put them in place, whether needed on not. It's called corruption & politics. You & your friends, family & peers must drive differently than mine, as I don't think I know, or have ever met someone, that needed a guard rail to keep them on the road. YMMV

I'm retired, so yea, pretty much leisure driving. And since everything is within walking/bicycle or ebike distance from the house, my daily ride to the park or surf is even quite unnecessary. We don't even need a car, or mc. Just for convenience and O&A (out & about) 20k kms; 10k O&A - require hotel & CS (charging stations) 10k 'local' of which more than half, were 50-125 kms away from the house E-MC - average about 2500 kms a year. Strange questions, but here you go: Our system, our MG ZS, our MC, My E-bike:

Retirement destination, 23+ years now. First visit Sept 1999, then stayed on 2nd visit / Sept 2000. Don't need blinkers when you carry a firearm.

I have, to more than a few countries. I just stay clear of bad areas, outside the USA. Never an issue inside the USA.

50 years of driving, haven't hit a guard rail yet. Never say never, but worrying about guard rails stopping me, isn't one of them. Drive the speed limit, and you usually stay on the road. That's why they have speed limits. In my youth, can't say I did that, and still never needed a guard rail to keep me on the road. Actually that's kind of amazing, as had a very heavy foot, till I came here / TH.