KhunLA

I don't OP understands the meaning of the word ... 'tanking'

OP's weakening scare mongering seems to be incorrect ... ... as usual My Soc Sec DD since Jan 21st, exchange rate up, up, & up Latest forecast, due to President Trump's tariff policy ... Try to get some sleep ... while I think of ways to spend a couple extra 1000 baht when it hits 34.5 & beyond every month. Thank You President Trump

President Trump ... winning again 👍

Why I never traded currencies, as doesn't even keep up with inflation. 5-6% ROI ... why bother Might as well spend and enjoy living, instead of losing money. That shouldn't even be called 'investing' or 'ROI'.

Ignorance is Bilss, so it wasn't too bad. It was early October, so surf was safe, and still off season, so not crowded at all. A timeshare trade, and stayed at large 1 bdrm condo, in the tall white tower building. Actually very nice, huge, full kitchen, living room. If not for the 'trade' I wouldn't have went to Phuket, or TH, or if 1st class wasn't open on the flights round trip. Then I returned in 2000, to Patong, for 2 nights I think, popped over to PP for a week. Both were scuba diving holidays also. Last time I stayed at Patong, and moved south to Karen, then settled on Kata on most return visits. Self drove, so always cruised around the whole island. Kata was a good base, for about 10 years. Use to stop in Khao Lak all the time on way to/from Phuket. Was only there, Phuket, Xmas, once during high season. Yikes, as thought low season was a bit busy. High season nut, along with pricing. Although really nice after the tsunami for a couple years. And would pop down for a couple days when in the area. After 10 years of visiting it was too much, just too busy, plus by then, seen every little nook & cranny, to & from Phuket from Udon Thani. Almost 3 months a year on the road, during school breaks. Avoided Phuket for about 10 years, until the 'pandemic', plus visiting during high season. Pure Bliss. empty, no tourist, pristine beach, low 'keep the lights on' rates. That only lasted till high season 2023. I avoid where most foreign tourist go, and prefer to be the farang around, when O&A. You have to self drive and self entertain, (no P4P) where I go, so that eliminates most foreigners. BLISS

If I lived in USA and wanted a BEV, then it would probably have to be a Tesla, since they have a cross country charging network. Probably the best BEV available in USA anyway. TBH, not familiar, just know, not many, if any, brands from CN there. Any other brand will probably need an adaptor to charge. Really don't know what Trump would have to do with someone's purchase of any product. Here, TH, no, as a premium price, for features I don't want or would use. Along with plenty of competition. Hope that smart health watch is less than 10k baht when available 😎

Yes they do, quite a few shops, along with more than a few hotels to chose from, at different price poins. If in the hood ... https://www.google.com/maps/place/Black+Ground+Cafe+%26+Dining/@16.4480949,100.3362029,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x30dfe76d0610bee7:0xd33b1ec59c913fb5!8m2!3d16.4480949!4d100.3362029!16s%2Fg%2F11p66786sk?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Apparently President Trump is ... MEHA ... Making Expats Happy Again Don't y'all just hate the guy. Damn fascist Nazi

... "Thailand faces global scrutiny after the new State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok collapsed, setting grim world records: it's the tallest building to fall in an earthquake and the furthest from an epicenter to suffer such a fate. " ... Tells you everything you need to know. Should be something like a '70 body count negligent manslaughter charge'. Obviously should have never happened. Company, site manager, material supplier should all be held accountable. R I P

Feeling lazy, Crispy Pork & Mama noodles

OP's mistake was actually being there. Hopefully alone. Married so don't go anywhere without the wife, who I would never even think about going to vendors around Nana with, not that she would accompany into any of them. Enter the tourist ghettos, and it is what it is ... a haven for the lowest of the low. My tolerance level is non-existent of late, so best to avoid completely.

I burn my trash, what very little we have, mostly plastic bags, so not dumped in sea. Save a turtle thingy. Don't pick up other people's trash, as I wouldn't have any time to myself if I did. Don't litter, and recycle what they pay us for, and hopefully that goes to the landfill and not the sea, as doubtful if much, or any is actually recycled. BEVs and Solar are financial reasons only, though it is nice driving a better performing car, and not contributing to the low level air pollution. Not a believer in MMCC/GW BS. On topic ... maybe the trade war, if happens, will cut down on shipping, and they'll all stop dumping & polluting with less cargo ships about

Guess you haven't notice the drop in JP badged cars here, at least the 'made in TH' entry levels, being advertised, about 100k less than last year. Price war is definitely affecting ICEV also, if wanting to compete with a better performing, less cost to operate & maintain BEV. Only thing keeping people from peeking at and test driving BEVs is a bit of ignorance. If we didn't have solar, I probably wouldn't have peeked, and now hindsight, would have regretted not getting a BEV. Our 2020 MG ZS ICE dropped 100k, same with our previous Mazda 2, having a considerable price drop. Two that I noticed.

On laptop ... saved, opened with 'window photo viewer', click on 90° arrow 2X, then copied & pasted. Deleted photo afterwards.

Here's an example of a typical news thread (of all things) for me. One I actually thought worth a read. Of the 54 replies, 23 were or are now on my 'list'. That's just sad. Not counting the silly comments, or counter replies to the trolls 🙄

Left thinking deranged imagination and expectations ... ... expats & tourist now being asked for passport when entering any vendors, hotels, restaurants & bars. ... if USA passport, 36% surcharge will be added to their bill

Few countries don't have a trade deficit with China. Do they all need to pick sides

Do believe that's the purpose of the new reciprocal tariff on offer ... 'let's talk' a fair trade agreement, or not ... UP2U

And how many cars made with all parts from CN have you owned ? Not just the cars, almost all, that have components from CN, or even made in CN for UK, EU or USA headquartered auto makers. Myself, 2 made in China, and 2 of the best cars I've ever owned. Can't see myself ever buying another non Chinese badged car or truck in the future.

Myself, all for debate with open minded folks, and have been swayed occasionally. But when conversation starts with nothing but hate, prejudice and misinformation, then really is hard to not just ignore the poster.

Think my new 'go to' brekkie, as quest to get my ruffage into the diet. Couple sunny side up w/Maggi atop a bed of fried veggies; tomato, r/g/y peppers, onion and emphasis on some cabbage. Change the 'theme' up now & then, hot sauce or grated parmesan, etc 😎

Or make the 'political soapbox' thread an option you have to choose to view, instead of opening as default when coming in on the 'new content' page. As it's filled with nothing by hate. That would eliminate a good part of the drivel. At least with the news forum, if title interest you, (and not too far left) you can read the OP, before the hate is brought into the thread.

I remember those days, of owning Toyota & Mazda ICEV at Udon Thani ... and I'd follow the wife to the dealer on the MB, just drop off, and pick up later at the end of the day. When moved to PKK, had to take the Mazda to Hua Hin since no local dealer. The MG ZS ICE, was also a trip 100 kms away, to HH, and spent the wait time at Bluport mall, and walking distance from dealer at Hua Hin. Thankfully the built a dealer close to the house just before buying the BEV version.

Ours at the old house (Udon Thani) was 2+ meters, purposely build so I could tread water, as the perfect no impact aerobic work out, when having a not so good back. Easy on the ol' hips, knees and ankles. Much smaller pool though, and only 3m X 5m, split half 2+m, and <2m. Cost was silly inexpensive, 75k baht, and done by our waterfall guy. His first ever pool install. Did need 2 tweaks, as he underestimated the weight of that much water. Less than 5k baht for the tweak. Just a therapy pool, and built in bench seating, for chilling out. Did not have a built in pump/filter system, and basic stand along, above ground pool filter was more than sufficient, bought separately. If you live northerly, then it will be too cool to swim in, due to overnight temps, during a good part of the year. Obviously too small a pool if planning on doing laps or larger family. Just the 2 of us, self & wife, as daughter never planned on using. Wife rarely did, and why no pool at present house.