KhunLA

I don't think I've ever gotten a receipt, big surprise. Hua Hin Imm is pretty good, considering the volume of people using. They have 2 officers dedicated to extension, and 1 or 2 do the other stuff. Udon Thani was also quite good. Better than some of the stories we here about on here, CW or Jomtien & Phuket ... yikes.

What state you living in, as that's quite good. No insurance, never had, and really never needed. Have nice oops fund, so yes, it is a roll of the dice now at my age. Fairly healthy, and only thing that runs in family, a generation ago, was cancer, but all heavy drinkers & smokers, (a bit self inflicted), which I'm neither. Our Out & Abouts seem to revolve around coffee shops & charging stations, with lots of lovely landscape in between ???? Then find a hotel with a view, and hang out locally there for a day or so, before moving on. Journey is scenic, and hanging out is scenic, with some different munching. The rest (culture & history) I peeked at long ago, and doesn't interest me or the wife. Give us a surf or a hillside to look at, and we're happy. Luckily we have both where we live, but like to see a different one a few times a year. Only visit Wats occasionally, as they are usually located in primo spots with a view. Strangely the wife could care less, and doesn't believe in any of the merit BS, as the rest of her family does.

Yea, that's what I expect, and I'm using BkkBank, so not a bank policy, but scam. Wife will be asking their 'call center' today. Total BS. They closed the one convenient branch, where I opened the account, now only 1 branch here. When getting the credit advise, first 6 months was a hassle at main branch (only), and had to wait, them stating info wasn't on their local system (BS), then got those (free), and got last 5 months last week (free) at same main (scamming) branch. I should be able to get the credit advice & statement in Hua Hin, (Imm office there/100kms away), same day I extend, I think. Wife will ask about that also. Hopefully the 'call center' will set the local office straight, and simply charge proper fee for paperwork next week. Although, since only 100 baht, will be same fee anyway ???? I think they charged me 300 or 500 for the statement last time, as I was surprised of that amount, as in past it was only 1 or 200 baht. Minor hassle & expense, just F'g annoying the principle of trying to scam, simply because they can.

Didn't realize that was a thing, though guess I'm over that limit, and the Plan B alone is way more than I would spend here/TH. The tax thing I know, as FL, has/had at time of researching 100k homestead act/relief of assessment. Still a few state with no sales or income tax. Was pricing RE in FL the other day, curious, and wow, things sure have gone up since last time, and more than a few years ago. Could get decent house on the intercoastal for <150k, and now, I couldn't find anything, for less than 100k 'at all in FL' that wasn't a trailer, with high rent of land it sat on. Damn silly. I'll by 69 soon, so uprooting isn't really a reality, and except for being a bit bored during smog season, still loving TH. Hindsight (for others to think about), should of either made another mill before retiring, or (easier/less time), bought about 5 more rental houses and not liquidated the three I had. Taxes, definitely depends where you live, since I don't need or want suburbia (good school/employment area), taxes would be lower. In 2000 (PA), one house (unofficial 3 apartments) was $3900 (mostly school tax), and the other 2 houses tax $600 & $700, so far from expensive. All 3 were no place you'd want to send you kids to public school though.

For the USA, spouse tourist visa is a bit expensive in comparison, but it's 1 time fee for 10 yrs. It's just annoying that it's a silly price for something, a few keystrokes & 1 pc of paper, and only because you need it. Pure extortion in that context. That's almost 1/3 days salary for many Thais, for a piece of paper, simply stating where your funds came from. No real work involved. Along with being free, or 200 baht for 12 pages in the past. Bit of price increase, and did time or paper increase 6 fold, since last year. Why I hate banks, they use your money, to make money, but charge you to use an ATM, make a deposit out of province, and give you interest, if any, that isn't 1/10th of inflation. In the beginning, ATM's were pushed to use, and told it saves the bank from brink & mortar w/employees, but now all of the sudden, more expensive because of higher security cost ... such BS they expect you to believe. Equate that to oil, as previously sold 'our oil last a long time' to now, 'your high performance engine needs to change every 10k kms' ... and people believe this BS. Then they void the warranty, if you don't hove oil changed. Oil was clean in the car I have a hard time reading the damn dipstick.

No, you didn't miss a beat, as seems the way to go. 2 is less regen, and 1 is almost non existence. Slows you down not much more than a normal downshift in a manual transmission vehicle. You get used to it very fast, and not much more centrifugal force than coming up to a stop and using brakes. As stated, takes a few times to get used to, as first 10ish times playing 1 foot driving, you stop a bit early to your turn or traffic in front of you.

Watch that 'Jap' stuff, as I had posts deleted and warned not to use offensive slurs ???? Actually didn't know it was considered offensive. Though possibly post reported as I think I might have been winning the discussion. That seems to happen quite a lot, so put those folks on ignore list. At least 3 use the report button to rid posts that point out their silliness. Too funny.

Yes, though I think discontinued, which makes sense, as the Varis is same thing. Saw one today that actually looked nice, vs my usual opinion of them. High gloss white paint job & very nice wheels. Still a Varis though.

Only time I refer to TH as LOS is if Scamming, like possibly today ???? New policy at bank, 'Credit Advise' for Imm visa extension, now 100 baht per page/month. Glad I already have 11 for free. Previous charge was 200 if getting all 12 on same day/or when ready. Then if getting 6 at time...FREE. So got 6, got 5, now need last one. Can't wait to see what the new charge is for 'bank statement' is going to be. Wife is going to ring the call center and see if there is an policy for these. Also informed (possibly that tax thingy), they'll be looking at the accounts more closely come Jan 2024, not saying why ???? and didn't ask. So paperwork from bank may start to cost as much as the visa extension; `1200 + ? = F'me Every country really is a Love/Hate relationship at times.

If referring to the CIGS solar panels, they are on Amazon, and may ship to TH. If putting on house, not sure you'd need them in TH, unless far N and chance of hail, or portion of roof gets shade. Any other application, curved, RV, boat or van, then yea, way too cool to use.

Wonder what ZZ Top's royalty cut is ????

Phuket, been around the whole island, stayed on most of the westward beaches. Been to E side, just never overnighted on that side, or S side, which has nice quiet beaches. Same with N part of W side. Samui, went around the whole island, quite small vs Phuket, stayed overnight at 2 beaches. Surf wasn't cooperating, as the Gulf is iffy all the time. Phuket, usually perfect half the year. And decent on cusp of hi/lo season, just need to be careful due to rips during rainy season.

to the title ... ... been to Samui once ... been to Phuket 25+ times (4 times the last 3 yrs) ... nuff said

Whoa, some of those prices are the cost of a new paint job, and then some.

That depends on the seat. Our's would be much hotter without being covered, along with the dog punching holes in them with her nails.

Not sure, good or bad, but suicides outnumber homicides sourcd

I saw a runaway car and thought, oh crap, I'm selling my EV. Looking closer, realized just another ICEV with stuck throttle, and panicked, brain dead driver, didn't think to just turn it off or put in neutral ????

Started getting the 'ad blocker' warning also on YT, and same as many sites, just refresh the page, and it's gone.

Since the GF is in not hurry to marry, speaks well of her. And if my wife asked me of her visa options to go the USA, I wouldn't have a clue. So that's a bit irrelevant.

What a drama queen ... wasn't even in the mall ????

I have hard time not laughing when reading the news. I can't believe people actually believe half the stuff the push down their throats. The other half seems to be sillier than soap operas.

Couple big ticket items back in USA (RE Taxes & healthcare premiums/Plan B) that would eat up a good part of my pocket money. So not as enjoyable if living there. Plus solar systems & EVs are silly priced compared to here, and would be another drain on my pocket/play money, as I enjoy being out & about. Add that you can't find a hotel for $75 in the USA, it would definitely crimp my lifestyle & smile factor.