GypsyT

"STOCKHOLM, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Sweden's security service, SAPO, will raise its assessment of the terrorist threat to the nation to the second-highest level, daily Dagens Nyheter (DN) reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources. The threat level will be raised to level 4 from 3 on a scale of 1-5, DN reported." Please, pack Kelvar vests and helmets.....

Great news; " Nationals of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Belarus are now allowed to stay in Vietnam for 45 days upon entry, as opposed to the previous 15-day limit. " Russia shouldn't be on the list but Vietnam remember old help after the war. Too bad my favorite city Dalat isn't on list of approved entry points. It used to be so why not now? Sorry - it's an "Asia" thing... ????

newnative - as somebody already said "You should open an agency" I agree. You thinking is what I like. The Home where you live doesn't need to be "a business deal". I need one base that feels like my home. I value that feeling more than $$$. "In an earlier post, I said that owning in Thailand makes the most sense, to me, on a long-term basis, and as a place of residence." I could be your first customer; Get me a place in VT7 for less than 3,5 mil. condo7.com has one like that; #2606 and for 3.6mil # 1442. Can you do better? Max 10th floor, either side OK but I prefer morning sun balcony. Thanks!

"So I think I'm good. We're planning a week in Iceland in December, then on to Sweden over Christmas. I don't foresee any issues with MrsG getting a visa since she's a US Green card holder, and applying at the Icelandic consulate in the US seems a slam dunk " If I were you I'd fly to Finland or Estonia and then to Sweden by ship. That way no border control 95% of time in Stockholm. Sweden is tough on Thais... tallink.ee Those are NATO countries and like/love Americans. Sweden is a mess right now by allowing Koran and Bible burning. Lot of street violence and right now there's terrorist warning on. Swedish Embassy does not handle visa. They let outside company to do it. Same with Iceland, Finland and Estonia. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, How to apply for a visa to Iceland The Icelandic Embassy in London has authorized VFS Global to run the Icelandic Visa Application Centres in the UK. Applicants should hand in their applications at the VFS visa application centres. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, "The Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok is handling Schengen visa applications from applicants legally residing in Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Singapore. Submission of Schengen visa applications and collection of passports is through VFS Global VFS Global receives the applications and the passports and the Embassy decides in the Schengen visa applications. A decision will normally be made within 15 days." VFS has spotty reputation... Your mileage WILL vary..." A few years ago nobody knew where their head quarters were located! Same with the owners. Now it's Blackstone (what ever that is...) https://www.vfsglobal.com/en/general/about.html?from_section=0 How did they get so many countries to give up passport/visa processing? Well, as usual - "follow the money". It's a shame! Sensitive information to unknown company; Passport numbers, bank accounts & balances, addresses, phone numbers etc My Thai lady had to pay over list price and didn't get 3 months, only 2 months. It was violation of EU rules but what can you do? If you go and file complaint you never get an other visa... Good Luck! Take warm clothes. Plenty of them ????

I don't get these "van" trips... Is it to save few $$ or time? I would suffer it for free. Why not to enjoy few days in Vietnam? Fly in, use 15-day visa free entry and then fly back and get 30-days in Thailand. Tickets are cheap. Same with hotels.

"but other people had pleasant visits so by their rules your torturous visit doesn't count " That's OK. But does your own experiences in April count? You had same opinion; "basically torture" you wrote ???? Posted April 3 by scubascuba3 "What you experienced is standard at Jomtien sadly. You will witness staff being rude to multiple people during the time there, partly caused by stress, but only certain staff are rude" And; "so no queuing outside? which recently took 2+ hours " And; > I've never had any problems with the service level for more than 2 decades. Nor did @champersthe other day. < "If you go on very busy days circ 2+ hours queuing you might see a different side to Immigration staff Edited April 5 by scubascuba3 " And; "Recently when i went for a residents certificate it was 2+ hours snaking around in the heat no chairs, how can the elderly with underlying health conditions handle that, basically torture. A few weeks ago some chairs were put out, finally " And; "They like it too busy so it drives people to using an agent so more money for them " Others; https://aseannow.com/topic/1291088-pattaya-jomtien-immigration-office-is-terrible/

Looks like their torture tactics worked! No more lines.... Last February 30-day extension job took 7h starting 1,5h in hot sun.

I like your style. If you're going die of alcohol do it in style! "I probably spend about 25,000 baht a month on wine and port, although it used to be quite a bit more until I cut back a wee bit." When I was drinking in '80s I drank this. Only $ 30-35/bottle by case. https://www.veuveclicquot.com/en-int Some rich people I knew said "We wash floors with that..." Didn't bother me I had cheap taste ????

I have a feeling BKK is behind DMK and UTP connections are so poorly organized. Don Mueng; "The rail network is operated by three different companies with three different ticketing systems. If your final destination requires three different trains, then you will need to buy a ticket for each train." I did it once, never more. If arriving to DMK and need to go to BKK it's best take a free shuttle bus to Mo Chit (now, that's a great and honest name for service!) and then BTS. There's lot of road work between Pattaya and UTP and maybe they get all done. Then it's quick to get there. I'd use it.

"Funny how the Trump fans who think he has been treated unfairly can't recall how Obama was criticized for the most trivial of things." Exactly! If you Google where Trump was born you get this; "Jamaica Hospital Medical Center" - Based on that, and using republican thinking, I say; "Ship him back Jamaica!"

They should open up Sattahip Navy harbor for cruise ships. Everything's already there. Sattahip is clean, safe and beautiful area. Nobody's going to invade Sattahip & Thailand by military means but cash rich tourists will if they let them in.

I never understood this stupid rule; EU is loosing billions of wealthy tourist money every year! Get a "long stay" visa to certain EU countries, like France, who like you. "For any stay in France exceeding 90 days, you are required to apply in advance for a long-stay visa. In this instance your nationality does not exempt you from requirements. Whatever the duration of your planned stay, the duration of your long-stay visa must be between three months and one year. In order to extend your stay beyond the period of validity of your visa, you must apply for a residence permit at a prefecture. During its period of validity, the long-stay visa is equivalent to a Schengen visa, enabling you to move around and stay in the Schengen Area outside France for periods not exceeding 90 days over any period of 180 consecutive days, under the same conditions as if you held a Schengen visa. https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/long-stay-visa This is a little gray area and you must "shop around". Or, one way is to re-do Brexit... or find a lady and marry her or become her "partner". This is very cheap and easy process in Spain! Good luck!

by Jim Tripper; I guess it depends on what your used to if your coming in from a bad environment it looks great, or some people just see positive in everything, I’m not sure ????????‍♂️. " I didn't understand above so I Googled and got the answer. Makes sense now. "What does tripper mean in slang? (slang) someone who has taken a psychedelic drug and is undergoing hallucinations. type of: drug user, substance abuser, user. a person who takes drugs."

"On the morning of June 24, with 6 out of 470 delegates present agreeing " That's the key to get laws passed quickly ???? No BS, no Talking heads.

It worries me he is telling Pentagon secrets like Trump.... but at least he's well informed ????

During sensitive time Sweden should be smart like Finland; "WARSAW/STOCKHOLM Police in Finland said the public burning of Islam’s holy book the Quran would not be allowed in the country, local media reported Monday. The National Police Board said that burning a copy of the Quran would likely violate religious peace, which is a punishable offence in Finland, said media reports, citing the Finnish News Agency STT. The public burning or other desecration of a book held sacred by a religious community would be met with police intervention, added the police. In response to a question from Anadolu on whether they would adopt a similar approach, the Swedish Foreign Ministry reiterated its position on burning a copy of the Quran in the name of freedom of expression." Above from Turkish news. Finland got in - Sweden not. They prefer "freedom of expression" outside NATO.... Pretty stupid.

I think both are unfit to be in the office. Trump started lying when he said on his book; "Our family came from SWEDEN!" And then it got worse... Biden is too old... and wasn't that smart begin with. The process is so nasty non decent person will go through it.... That's why we get what we have had recent years. It's sad.

This is amusing ???? Maybe he should look at his front lawn and start stopping them fist? Africa: More than 35 Armed Conflicts "Africa comes second in the number of armed conflicts per region with more than 35 non-international armed conflicts (NIACs) taking place in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. Several armed groups – fighting against government forces and/or against each other’s – are involved in these conflicts."

BKK to Pattaya / Jomtien cheap bus is my choice. If arriving time is at night, no bus, I walk to level 4 where they drop off and get a taxi there. They already have had paying customer and what ever they get they are happy. Great deals from 500 to 800 B to Jomtien. I won't take anything smaller than Camry. To BKK I take 1000 B Camry by many companies. Some times somebody working at hotel drives me there for less. "Asking is free".

Can you get Diner's Club card? I had it for 10+ years when I had business and rented cars often. It's the best and covers everything up to $ 75 000. Others offer only secondary damage coverage. Primary Collision Damage Waiver Insurance Receive primary coverage, anywhere in the world (except where prohibited by law), when the entire cost of a car rental is charged to a Diners Club Card. For most cardmembers there's usually no need to file a claim with your own insurance company, so your personal insurance premium won't be affected. The insurance covers physical damage and theft of the vehicle, reasonable loss of use charges, reasonable towing charges, and includes Secondary Personal Effects insurance. Protection applies to rental cars with Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price up to $75,000 for covered damages. For Carte Blanche cardmembers, up to $100,000 for covered damages. To qualify, you must decline the rental agency's collision damage waiver (CDW), saving up to $16 per rental day."

"shutters went down around 3am, & music turned off but the game was still on & you could get a beer." This is what they do in American Bible belt area in South; you pay drinks in advance and get empty shot glasses as markers. Then, after closing time behind locked doors, you start to drink your pre-paid booze. Everybody's happy!

So there are others... I thought I was the only one! maybe we should have a club ???? I got dual citizen ship plus 4 legal residences in other countries but still no place I feel home. I never felt need to belong to anything but now I do. I want safety, security and beautiful surroundings where ever I live. One simple good test is "can you drink tap water?" My next "legal residency" may be Spanish. I plan to check out Tenerife in coming winter. Gran Canaria had wonderful weather but the island is barren and ugly thanks to lack of rain. If that doesn't work out then it's Mexico or other south of the border country, like Costa Rica or Panama. I'll always like Thailand, and may visit too, thanks to women with warm hearts and genuine friendliness.

Before I die I plan to visit two Mexican cities recommended by world traveling friend who now lives in Guanajuato; - Puebla and Guanajuato Both are beautiful, peaceful, full of history and friendly people who actually like Norte Americanos! Drug mafias are in the North, close to cocaine hungry American consumers... I've been to Mexico City (too big/noisy/polluted). And Ensenada and Tecate. Not much beauty, just over the border Americans raising hell... me included that time ???? "The real Mexico" can be very nice and it's an excellent alternative to increasing unfriendly, polluted and noisy Thailand.

Start a new life in VISA Free places for Thai citizens; > Panama, Thai max 180 days. "Bocas del Toro" area like Thailand. USD in use. > Georgia, Thai max 365 days. Not worse than Isaan.... > Taiwan, Thai max 90 days. Close to Thailand. OR get/buy a Latvia citizen ship for both by investing 250 000 Euros/USD. Then you are member of EU/Schengen and get to travel the world, including the US.

Sad news... He was so patient to all new comers Qs (like mine) which had been addressed 1000 times! Thank you! Thankfully there are others to continue his spirit.