KhunLA

Most Welcome Anything else, don't be shy, though haven't been there in almost 2 years, as stated getting very crowded again. Although that was Kata Beach area that we popped down for the day at. Last few times we were there, we stayed at Secret Ciff Resort @ Karon, and sits atop the hill between Patong & Karon Beaches. Not sure if mislabeled on Gmaps, or they also own the property on the other side of road. We stayed on surfside side of the road. Nice place to chill, and good brekkie with view from restaurant. Once again, vis is early Covid (4 yrs ago), though stayed there <2yrs ago, May 2023 (?).

Guess I shouldn't be laughing, as traumatic to those caught up in the covid silliness. Just too funny the stuff people had to endure back then, let alone it still continuing on today. So glad I was and still in Thailand. A sad time for 'individual's rights & freedoms' across the world. Seems only a few countries didn't treat their citizens like livestock

I stated that earlier, as a plus from the USA ...

Whoa ... 48% That would take your incentive away to produce any more money, expand your business, that provides jobs, and more taxable income. I would have stopped producing income there a long time ago. That's only $160k USD. I stopped and left the USA because of 37% tax hit So reality is, USA lost more tax money from me, in 25 yrs, a lot more, than I've collected from them, in 25 yrs. By my quick calculation, I would be paying 2.5X plus, what I'm collecting today, If still paid the same amount, as my last tax year. I get <$2400 a month (<$28.8k yr), and my last tax bill was $74k ... Holy Sh!t ... And I'm only 1 person. How many others with enough, simply said enough is enough already, and stopped producing ? Worse, left and don't even put it back into the economy. Sooner or later, you run out of other people's money

Don't know where I stated 50 countries, and a bit of a lie, stating I did. I stated 'high tax' countries, ~50% or more. I didn't see 50 countries with that tax bracket. Matter of fact, there's only about 35 countries listed below the map. Even all of those aren't in the 50% range. BYE BYE

I don't know, start with the higher income tax countries that rape the earners to give to and support the lazy folks that don't produce. When you start taking near half, half or more than hold of people's income, then the USA's tax rates are looking good https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/eu/top-personal-income-tax-rates-europe/ Countries that control every aspect of your life.

@grain To add to that, my vid was taken during early covid, and Lillo was one of, if not, the only restaurant open. We had the whole beach to ourselves ... Kamala Beach ... now-ish opening and fast forward to end, this just south of where restaurants start. Probably came on the beach at the police station. At very low tide also.

Compare ? what ... apples & orange ? No other country is like the USA. It's a democratic republic, with electoral college, that elects/appoints the administrative branch (pres & vp), no matter what the popular vote is. In the USA ... ... You have freedom of speech / press ... You are innocent till 'proven' guilty ... You can own & use a firearm to protect you & yours I'm far from a representative of that country, as don't consider myself an ignorant idiot. Apparent ~90% of the people are still dependent on 'the system'. Have no clue how to be independent of it. I left 25 yrs ago, and could give 2 sh!ts what happens over there, as it simply has NO EFFECT on me or mine. You were the first 'pleasant dude' to call my opinion (actually all facts) ... ... rubbish. Why I rarely bother to have discussions with ignorant people such as yourself. BYE BYE

Why would I look or care about other socialist sh!thole countries that don't even have 'freedom of speech or expression'. Talk about rubbish ... BYE BYE

Self driving ... perfect. Oct is good, as cusp of high season, surf may be safe, and far less tourist than Nov-Apr. They actually have (had) basic rooms behind the Lillo Is. Rest/bar, with small parking area. Once parked, you really don't need to leave. We stayed there ourselves, as pet friendly. Emphasis on 'basic'. At worse for parking, you can park on last soi, northward, or over by the Po Po station, then when notice an opening, hurry and park next to room.

Since inexperienced, and little funds, along with poor practice experience, and guessing she tried her luck at 'options', I'd suggest staying away from the market. May be bear year or 4 in the future anyway. Practical suggestion ... Can she cook ? What's her favorite, and best meal that 'she' likes ? Make and sell that locally. No investment, from house, and provide local delivery, from local FB website or other. When selling enough, them maybe make a little stand / stall at front of your house. Like so many do, with soup, roti, somtam stand or cart. Or do the stand thing now, if in high traffic area. Keep overhead as low as possible till profit is realized. Maybe even add a side cart 'kitchen' to the MB, and park in a high traffic area. Near a 7-11 is a good location 👍 Wife's sis has a stand at night market at Udon Thani, and bought 3 houses, cars, MBs, and put 2 kids through Uni from the income.

On the subject of comes from animals, here's a twist to that ... ... either from the cow manure or bird droppings, this gem shows up. More 'free food', as wife tells me she didn't plant this, they just come up by themselves in the garden. This one, shy of 5 kgs

I'll let you know Oct 2025, when the magical, imaginary COLA # is released. Hopeful both on the positive side of things, or at least, one offsets the other. Most of it goes into the savings / investing account anyway.

That's funny. Apparently, there was no inflation a few years, since I retired ... ... there's also honest politicians

Don't know, don't care. They'll tell me their BS COLA number pulled out of someone's orifice, at the end of the year, and it will show up in Jan 2026's DD

There's plenty, and just depends on your budget. Hard to wrong with the Kamala Beach area, though there's 3 different sections to it. A lot depends if you self drive, or rely on taxis, or, if you chose a place where a few restaurants are within walking distance, away from the main beaches; Patong, Karon & Kata Beach. I prefer the area around Lillo Island Restaurant & Bar, if picking Kamala Beach, unless you need an hotel with lots a amenities ... Other good area are on southern end, Nai Harn Beach, and hard to go wrong staying at "The Nai Harn, Phuket" https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Nai+Harn,+Phuket/@7.7783488,98.303288,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipNkr5NwJ4MpL2lkFTj4dhxZZycKRKzbh21Gblz8!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNkr5NwJ4MpL2lkFTj4dhxZZycKRKzbh21Gblz8%3Dw133-h86-k-no!7i3960!8i2559!4m10!3m9!1s0x3050261c99a67417:0x3944cd6f74966ce5!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d7.7785281!4d98.3032014!10e5!16s%2Fg%2F11btwpn8_h?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwMi4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D The view from Lido Island rest/bar, mentioned above ..

I used to everything and anything when younger. Actually, thinking back, not really that unhealthy, as food was much healthier back then. Way to much pastries, BUT, also burned off all the excess. Now, not so active, so prioritizing intake is more of a, well, a priority. Needs to be more nutrient rich, and less sugar packed, means less 'added' sugar & starchy carbs for me. Easy enough, and not really missed at all. Get the wife to stop making them damn brownies would help ... ... bi-atch, one might thing she's tryin to bump me off

"Elon Musk's net worth fell by $29 billion on Monday as Tesla's stock price also declined. Tesla's stock was down 15% as of close on Monday, while Musk's net worth was down 6.7%" ...

Definitely possible ... IF ... you had intelligent voters, but now, only sheeple. IF you had intelligent voters, you wouldn't need to fix anything, as you wouldn't have ... ... $36T national debt ... trade deficits ... service oriented workforce ... outsourced manufacturing of most products ... the govt as the largest employer (2+M employees) ... defense budget being more than half of the 'discretionary spending'

Humans have existed before farming. so it's a given, that farmed food isn't needed. I personally wouldn't go on a carnivore diet. Keto-'ish', is a close as I'm going, and that's with supplements I like my greens & fibrous veggies. Had spinach omelet for brekkie yesterday, and will probably repeat today. Damn stuff grows wild here, and free food is hard to pass up, especially when a favorite of mine. Salmon and a big salad with cheddar cheese added to salad for dinner last night. I had brownies last night for last snack. Rare for me, but impossible to pass up when wife makes them. Fruits are usually healthier ones, mostly berries, but can't pass up the figs out of the garden, every day, when producing, like now. Damn tasty. Hand full of roasted cashews for that 'walk in the kitchen' snack. Though I burnt a batch yesterday, just a minute too long. Added to compost bin. Note to self ... set the timer next time, idiot.

Agree with Eggs & Meat as the superfoods. Can live on just those if having to. Everything your body needs can come from animals; eggs, meat, dairy.

I agree 100%. He's a 'lame duck'' already, and the career politicians, such as Cruz, are already distancing themselves from him. Even though he doesn't have to worry about midterm election, 22 other Reps in the Senate do. Reps having the most to lose come 2026. Only 1 retiring vs 4 Dems retiring, so there's a plus for the Reps. Vance & Rubio's seat need to be refiled, Ohio could go either way, more likely go Dem. Florida should be safe for Reps. Fairly certain the Reps will lose the Senate in 2026.

Soc Sec could stop tomorrow, and I wouldn't be affected. I never needed it, as I retired with 'my' money. I've always lived quite easy, without the assistance of gov't or employers, once I realized I'm the only person that will pay me, what I'm worth. That the govt depleted SS isn't my fault, or my problem, o my responsibility to fix, or that I even care. I left that place 25 years ago, and the only thing from their that I have, is the birthrate of a passport. Didn't ask for anything else, don't want anything else. Don't need anything else. Learned 'Life Lesson #1' early on ... "Don't depend on a system, any system, that doesn't care about you"

No understatement there. Title from my favorite news source, RTNews, but just Google the title, and you get plenty of the same reports. Also stated 'hand in there', which is the sad part, as he actually thinks people care, or see the long game. They don't, and don't care. Why it will all fail miserably, very fast. Even worse, nothing will have time change for the good, and people don't want to sacrifice at all, short or long term, for the benefit of future. TBH, I'm the same ... but ... I never had to depend on the system to take care of me. Why it will fail, and if no immediate improvement, come midterms, as Senator Cruz suggests, Reps will face a 'bloodbath' at the polls ... and the deep state will be back in control. All good for me of course, as not there, and whatever is bad for the USA, is usually good for expats. I await inflation and a good COLA. Any luck, and the exchange rate will hold steady for this year, and not drop too much, the next couple years. If so, hopefully offset by inflation, and COLA. He stated the same while campaigning, and first week in office, but people aren't going to 'buy USA', and manufacturing won't come back quick enough. Good plan in theory, but people haven't go the intelligence, or care about the future. Everyone lives in the now, and want 'free sh!t' Oh well, such is life.

No loss there, what a POS auto maker. Brother, a motorhead, had a Jag in days past, and said it was worst car he ever owned. Seems they haven't improved much ...