NanLaew

That 'open market' style shopping center that preceded Terminal 21 was both ugly and a disaster. I did the Google thing and "Again Pattaya" came up with some links to this company that among other interests, appears to have a condo nearby called Once Pattaya.

My map on Google shows the Jomtien beach road direction arrows. Try and zoom in.

"If you build it, they will cum."

But that's retail churn you are commenting on. Businesses closing to be replaced by new ones doesn't mean the new ones are going to be any more successful than the "old lousy businesses run by idiots". I believe that the "place is near the Dolphin circle across from Terminal 21" is going to be another hotel rather than a bar, club and restaurant enclave.

All good news, thanks. My mate's dad has taken ill and is in hospital, so this info will be taking away some of the worry he had about getting his visa for his next trip

There's the 'Project 2025' stuff going around. Even got themselves a recruiting website. https://www.project2025.org/

What's a 500 baht note?

Yet more rightwing accusation confession. Yet more leftwing accusation denial. 15-All

When I was checking the Thai Embassy in HCMC earlier this year, their appointment waiting list was easily over 3 weeks. Don't quote me on this, but I recall reading late last year that despite their website showing only single-entry Non-O's for spouse, the 1-year multi Non-O was available for the higher fee if you asked. Then I recall a subsequent post or thread with someone anecdotally saying that a friend only got a single-entry with the risky assumption that the multi-entry wasn't available. The only sure thing is this a 'bad' month for dealing with the government, with national public holidays on 22nd and 29th.

I assisted my mate with his online tourist eVisa application late last year in the UK and recall that although he wanted a single-entry, 60-day visa, the process was a bit of a nightmare when it tried to be one thing for every type of visa and a lot of extra documentary requests didn't apply to the "simpler" visas. Have they sorted that out? I recall they asked him for a "Document indicating current location" document, so we scanned and uploaded the front page of his council tax bill. Is there anything else that they would accept for that? A rental agreement, or hotel booking maybe? I will be helping him with his eVisa application again in a few months time, so just checking to see if it is same-same but different from last year.

That's GLOBAL economics right now bob. Go ahead, try and find affordable housing in Dulwich or a cheap paella in Calella de Palafrugell or a decent priced public city car park in Buenos Aires.

Correct. The property owners may also be struggling with their financial commitments as well. Everyone wants things to be as cheap as possible, but nobody wants to subsidize anything in order for it to be so. It's pretty much global these days.

Because the "into town where the tourists are" rents are higher than the "Chiang Mai average" rent. Hope this helps.

An English friend of mine is in the imported food and beverage business, with about 80% Thai clientele and totally exclusive of the foreign tourist locales. He's been in business here in Thailand for almost 18 years. He says in the past couple of months, his business, and the business of his Thai businessmen customers, has dropped off a cliff. Now, who's being a nana?

A foreigner is not the same as a tourist. I am married with a Thai, have 2 kids, work here, speak the language and have quite a few Thai friends who don't see me as a tourist. I came here first over 40 years ago, looks like more of a problem for you and others who keep themselves isolated. It's good to have Thai friends that can enforce one's illusion of being accepted.

Longforgan (but NOT Dundee)

In Isaan it's different. It's "...(her) family first, kids if there are any, herself, the dog(s) and only then you. " That's a bit of a myth about the partnered-up Japanese ladies pretending it's not happening and looking the other way. A guy I worked with once had a Japanese wife who was bat<deleted> crazy. Or maybe it's just another sweeping generalization, like [insert southeast Asian nationality] women being more feminine, acquiescent and subservient.

There's only 5 paragraphs in @BigStar's post. <giggle>

Hoo'ers need loving too.

Good point, well-made. I will drop by this week and suss them out.

Many thanks for the replies. The tourist extension makes sense since it's a short extension and I will have a matching travel itinerary, just in case they ask. Is there any preferred date to apply, since my current permission to stay expires on 22 July? That probably clashes with Asahna Bucha holiday so maybe best I hit them up on 19 July.

My current 30-day visa-exempt entry I got at Suvarnabhumi expires on 22 July. Due to a change in overseas work scheduling, I won't depart until nearer the end of this month, so I will need an extension to cover the approximate 10 extra days here. Is there any classification or type of extension I need to ask for at my local immigration office? I am married and living in Udon Thani and my marriage extension expired while I was on my last overseas job. Since the gap in between work gigs was short, I used a visa-exempt entry this time with a plan to get the new Non-O, etc., in Savanakhet after the last overseas job later this year. But for this current visit on a visa-exempt entry, I am 'technically' a tourist, so is that what I should ask for? Looking at https://www.immigration.go.th/?p=14714 it says that for an extension for the purpose of tourism, the applicant needs to have a TR visa (no mention of a visa-exempt entry). Scroll down, and there's a qualification for the 'married with family' foreigner (like me) that has no mention of visa (or non-exempt entry, so maybe that's the application I should seek? All the documentation they seek is in place, so no issues expected with either in that regard. I'm asking in case the gradual squeeze on being on the correct visa has made any difference to getting what should be a routine extension. Thanks in advance.

...fervently looking for "how to sew gold into your jacket and insert it in your anus" on YouTube.

I used to pack pretty much the same, but now I hang out with Bear Grylls so it's all good.