samtam

Yes, isn't it strange it has never been discussed, and no plan put forward over the past 9 or so years the AQI has drastically deteriorated. It's not as though the problem just happened this year.

I used my lawyer. Can't remember how much it cost. I was also applying for a Blue book, (I don't know why, as I'm not Thai), and a Yellow book. The whole process took about 2-3hrs, and I had to sign about 20-30 pages of what, I know not. My amphur is Thungmahamek, (Bangkok). I could not have done either on my own, (B&Y books & ID).

Oh well, that was easy. Problem solved then! Just like Thaksin with Bangkok's traffic. And just like that...

"....this fee is designed to offset the processing costs associated with international cards and is not intended for profit..." I'm sure credit card companies like VISA and MasterCard will be delighted to have their business. Presumably there are no processing costs for locally issued credit cards.

Per Grab's response to me today: We would like to inform you of an important update regarding payment policies effective December 7th 2023. Starting from the mentioned date, consumers utilizing an international card for transactions will incur....

When it's good, it's very good. When it's mediocre, it's a rip off. Unfortunately Grab do not seem to take criticism of their less than 5 star ratings with any degree of seriousness, despite their auto-generated blurb. But I agree that it is nicer to avoid some of the truly awful taxis. But in their defence, the low flag fall is only ever going to produce sub par service, or worse. That too is by no means universal. Sometimes I've had better service from a taxi than from a Grab Premium ride, (the difference in car notwithstanding).

Thailand's business model. OK for the very big boys. Suffocate potentially good business.

Yes, agree! No enunciation. As others have said, when regional English accents are used, the audience must be very limited. I'm British, but I have to put on subtitles to understand what is being said. Also dialogue very often includes very local phrases. In an attempt to be authentic, they have lost a large audience. But I dare say the same is true when you are in UK, the variation of accents is difficult to comprehend. American English has similar issues. It's subtitles for everything for me now, which proves some of the jargon, (when you see it written) is very specific to a very limited group of people.

Ever since Grab took over Uber it has dramatically increased its prices and in the case of Grab car, removed the points (unless you pay), added in a new 3% "foreign payment" fee, (a charge when the card you have registered is not issued in Thailand). It seems obvious to me that the Grab car sector of their business is not really of interest to them, having demolished the competition. The usual business model, I suppose. What I find objectionable is that changes only manifest themselves when you spot a change in billing or activity, through a plethora of information. All rather sneeky. Sometimes the quality of the car (in Premium) is so dire, it's just not worth it. They ask you to rate, but "this is certainly not the Grab experience we want you to have!" when you provide the reason for not giving 5 stars, I'm sure it goes straight into the file marked "bin". Such a pity. Businesses thrive on a good reputation, but cynical loyalty programmes are a complete con. Rant of the day.

I have three "Christian" names as they used to be called, "first" names now. Back in the day I used to buy tickets with the name I am called by which is the second of my 3 Christian names + surname (or "family" name in today's parlance). All my airline memberships were also in this one name + surname. But now I have changed everything to my 3 Christian names + surname (as shown in my passport), with some difficulties with airlines making the change. It makes for some silly reproduction of the passenger name on tickets either self-print from online booking or boarding pass, so that the three Christian names are combined into 1, (no capitals), plus the surname. I imagine it must be a similar issue with long names, like Thais have, or Middle Easterners.

Can someone please send this to the outlets that will shame the Thai government into actually doing something effective? Top of this list for Thai government policy is "how will it affect tourism?". Bottom of the list is "how will it impact on the ordinary people who inhabit this once and sometimes beautiful land?".

Yes, too many uncertainties to make applying for LTR wealthy pensioner visa, not given definitive approval by RD to all the BOI / LTR responses. As above. Need RD definitive comment. As above. Need RD definitive comment. As above. Need RD definitive comment. As with others who have inquired directly to BOI about tax, I received this reply, (obviously translated from Classic Greek). Mangling the English so badly made me have to re-read this several times: your overseas income will be subject to Thai personal income tax only when you are a tax resident (staying in Thailand 180 days or more in a tax year) and have brought such overseas income into Thailand in the same tax year that you are a tax resident and have received such overseas income. Is that then contradicted by the following in the next paragraph: If those conditions are all met and you have been granted a Long-Term Resident Visa for Wealthy Global Citizens, Wealthy Pensioners, or Work-from-Thailand Professionals, you will receive personal income tax exemption on your overseas income under such Royal Decree even if you have brought overseas income into Thailand in the same tax year. Or does the second paragraph say that if you have an LTR for Wealthy Pensioner, then the old tax interpretation (pre September's announcement in 2023 from RD) will apply? I'm just struggling with the way it's written in English, and also that BOI/LTR are giving their interpretation. I would rather wait until RD gives a definitive ruling. I have read all the posts from page 75 (RD's announcement of their change in interpretation) to the latest, and was in the process of making an LTR application. But the uncertainties make this move seem premature. I can see the benefits of LTR for Wealthy Pensioners, but without definitive clarity on the RD position, I am reluctant to make the switch, (from Extension of Stay based on Retirement).

Spoiler alert....re Jennifer Coolidge.

Let's hope they can use CGI to pretend the sky is clear.

Yes, stay here and get a hacking cough!

The AQI organisation data is frequently not working properly. Had similar issues with their reportings in November. I reported the inaccuracies (on the website). They shut off the ones that were completely out of whack. Typically, none of these things work properly, unless they are professionally monitored.

Agreed.....Greed. There is no political will to do anything. "Let them eat dust" as Marie Antoinette might have said from her ivory Petit Trianon. The billions of visitors to Thailand that TAT and the Thai government want to attract are simply not coming to be gassed...unless they're having a gas.

Yes, this "impending haze" just now @ 10.27 am AQI 176, down from 186 first thing.

Until they want it officially translated. Tax exempt LTR under Royal Decree, until it's not.

Thank you for this. Whilst I do not doubt your intentions, and you qualify all of what you write under Clause 3: it would be really really really helpful if RD could, after their promised "extensive discussions with stakeholders" issue something like this, and one of the tax companies you quote could refer to that. As far as I am aware none of these entities have done so. I realise you also acknowledge this. I have not yet hired a tax firm, but I am sure they are itching for business, which may be derived from this change in RD interpretation. Until they satisfy the foregoing, (a definitive guide), it would seem pointless, and costly. I also realise that the law has not changed, just the interpretation, but it is unclear whether the changed interpretation can be implemented without a change in the law.

In my case my partner and I have overseas joint accounts for everything. As our partnership is not recognised in Thailand, we will each file tax returns. As we're over 65, we will each have THB500K which is not taxable, (after allowances and zero rated sum). How RD view co-mingled funds, on top of fungible capital accumulated over 40 years of partnership is beyond my ken. If you get a definitive answer on that, I'd welcome knowing it.

Traffic lights are a year round Christmas decoration. Just a set of pretty lights in three colours.

Who did the "staging" for this photo? Lampshades in the wrong direction, (displayed differently in another photo); bed looks as though someone has just sat on it; a "throw" atop aptly named. Seems an unusual choice of room of his official residence to showcase. Also, good choice to "live above the shop" and avoid worsening traffic by having a motorcade. How about improving traffic congestion whilst he at it? Hardly a PR success.

Let me predict, (as it's New Year-ish): they wont have a clue.

And a re-enactment scene, with finger pointing.