Drumbuie

On 7/9/2025 at 12:23 PM, bkk6060 said:

Seems to be mostly those folks who have the reputation as "a country of complainers".  UK never seem happy about anything. 

Just spent a month in the UK and it's not surprising they complain because there is a LOT to complain about. #ThirdWorldCountry

A  mesh grille over the pipe would have prevented this

#JustSaying

Despite taking precautions I had COVID again last month and for two days it was devastating, much worse than 'flu; no, it didn't kill me BUT it will have left me more likely to suffer from a heart attack or stroke in future as it leaves microclots in the circulatory system.

So I will continue to try to avoid further infections, comforted by the thought that as antivaxxers continue to avoid vaccinations and shrug COVID off as " sniffed"  there will be fewer around every year. 

7 minutes ago, TexasCowboy said:

Maybe 1/2 that.  They do get often free housing or housing allowance and free drinks from Russian and Cuban spys.

They earn their money - can you imagine having to account for the erratic and inexplicable actions of this US Government to serious politicians in foreign countries? 

7 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Does this mean we Farangs won't be required to pay taxes here then? Or is Thai racism still the norm here in Thailand?

Imagine you're still in your home country. How would you feel about immigrants - whose culture of drink, drugs, casual sex with your female relatives and generally arrogant behaviour you find fairly abhorrent -  getting the same benefits as you? 

19 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Why aren't people/children given the preventative vaccine before they are bitten/scratched?

It's an expensive vaccine with the potential for unpleasant side effects and has to be repeated every ten years. Death from rabies is truly dreadful so it is wiser to spend the money on measures to reduce the incidence in animals. 

3 hours ago, 2long said:

I didn't bother reading more than a couple of paragraphs, but scrolling down I saw this 'doctor' wearing his baseball cap backwards and the words 'tikTok video'

For me it was the words "Daily Mail" . 

Currently back in UK for the first time in a couple of years; one thing to note is that using a smartphone Wallet is now the equivalent of paying via QR code scan from your Thai banking app.

I have barely used cash or card since I arrived. Trains, buses, cafes, restaurants, shops, everywhere. If you still have a UK bank account, or a Wise card, add it to Wallet  and it'll make life a lot easier. 

I was told that after the design was approved, the design company was told their role was finished, and contrary to standard practice they were not consulted over changes to the design. Allegedly, the structurally vital, centrally placed lift shaft was instead built in a corner  - without any compensatory strengthening elsewhere - with predictably disastrous results. 

On 6/29/2025 at 4:05 AM, MalcolmB said:

Correct.

Most likely a descendant of the boat people.

You mean the British? They arrived in boats. 

Advice on Wills and Powers of Attorney is available, free, to all Thai residents ( not citizens - residents)  from the Office of the Attorney General. 

Alcohol is addictive, can kill you if you take too much (5 - 8+ gms per kilo body weight), causes cancer, is a depressive and also a neurotoxin. (And, being only one molecule different from sugar) it makes you fat.

18 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

Yes he is and I am sure the UK taxpayer will have to fund his stay at a cost of hundreds of thousands of pounds in a comfortable prison for the next several years rather than spending that money on something useful, but this is not good enough any more.   Too many girls are getting raped by foreign nationals (disproportionately so) and questions have to be asked as to what they are doing in the country and who approved their entry and how someone like a camel herder was able to fund it.    

 

I'd go as far to suggest that no male from any country that requires women to be covered from head to toe should be allowed to enter the UK (or any western country) as the men from those areas/cultures obviously cannot control themselves when confronted with an uncovered western woman's arm or leg.   It's long overdue that we acknowledge that not all cultures are equal and policies/laws are designed around this blatantly obvious fact.   

Wait a minute. You are writing this in *Thailand* where western men arrive in droves for the sole purpose of getting laid by the local women, hence the name " sexpats".

Pot.Kettle.Black. 

Despite taking precautions I went down with COVID last week *- only the second time I've had it and very different from the first. Only wiped out for two days, not a week. 

However I still recommend putting some effort not getting it. Those two days were worse than any cold or ' flu.Plus there is good evidence ( actual scientific studies, not some quack on YouTube or RFK Jr) that repeat infections take a cumulative toll on the body, particularly the heart. 

* Probably caught from a friend just returned from the UK. 

If you are resident in Thailand, Thai citizen or not, you can get free advice on wills from the Office of the Attorney General ( use Google Maps to search for your nearest Office). 

"Fo fum fi fee, I see the trace of ChatGPT" 

Lazy journalism, or what passes for journalism. 

On 6/1/2025 at 12:24 PM, KannikaP said:

Not if you scan a QR code.

I often scan the QR code and have to enter the amount manually - last time being yesterday at an upmarket coffee shop on Sukhumvit, near Emsphere.

(Duc du Praslin, where they give you a free Belgian chocolate with every beverage - vault le detour) 

On 5/29/2025 at 1:29 PM, khunjeff said:

Whenever there's a news story about foreigners behaving badly, we immediately hear that authorities are "enhancing" or "intensifying" immigration inspections, and then we go through the airport and see that absolutely nothing has changed. 

 

 

There is no "pre-entry screening" - the TDAC is not an ETA. As soon as you hit "submit", you instantly get a QR code. No one is reviewing the information - all it does is record your responses and send a confirmation.

 

And no, foreign embassies are not giving Thai immigration access to databases regarding their citizens - this is the same absurd claim they made when they introduced APIS (Advance Passenger Information System) a number of years ago.

As I understand it, the TDAC is applied for before you enter Thailand. That allows plenty of time for a database search before arrival.

Have we not read recently of a few criminals being taken into custody on arrival? Other countries will be happy their criminals are in jail here, it saves them money. 

On 5/29/2025 at 1:01 AM, redwood1 said:

Farang Mule accounts?......A Mules azz......

 

The huge a vast majority of mule accounts involved in scams that make the news, are opened by Thais for Thai scammers or opened by Thais for the Chinese or some other foreigners scammers....

 

I cant recall the last time I heard of a farang opening a mule account in their own name for the purpose of running a scam.....Its so rare it almost does not happen..
 

Even though about 99% of the mule account scams involve Thais.......Lets crack down on the farangs.........lol

 

So in truth the purpose of all this has almost zero to do with finding or stopping the real mule account openers...

On 5/29/2025 at 1:01 AM, redwood1 said:

Farang Mule accounts?......A Mules azz......

 

The huge a vast majority of mule accounts involved in scams that make the news, are opened by Thais for Thai scammers or opened by Thais for the Chinese or some other foreigners scammers....

 

I cant recall the last time I heard of a farang opening a mule account in their own name for the purpose of running a scam.....Its so rare it almost does not happen..
 

Even though about 99% of the mule account scams involve Thais.......Lets crack down on the farangs.........lol

 

So in truth the purpose of all this has almost zero to do with finding or stopping the real mule account openers...

Unless you have access to Thai Police records, or a high-up contact inside the force, " the last time I heard of a farang opening a mule account in their own name .." doesn't carry a huge amount of weight. 

13 hours ago, baansgr said:

Another life ruined through this madness of legalising weed in Thailand..of course all you dumb ass potheads will say there is nothing wrong with it...how many is that just this month ..ban weed, bena sensible caring country again instead of being the Hub for dopeheads...Almost 40 million tourists last year, If this carries on a few years will be down to just a few million of the worlds dopeheads..get a grip Thailand...ban weed!!!

Prohibition never works. Alcohol was prohibited the the USA a hundred years ago and all that happened was the Mob got richer and a few people died from bathtub gin. 

Alcohol kills, so does tobacco, both are addictive - but both are legal in most countries. Cannabis doesn't kill but it's illegal in most countries and as with all illegal drugs, trade in it enriches criminals all over the world. 

Legalise, tax, control. 

PS Heroin/morpine used to be available in the UK on prescription; there were less than 2000 registered addicts who lived normal lives, like the author Enid Bagnold ( National Velvet) . Once it became illegal the number of addicts spiralled, many died from overdoses or infected injection sites and it became a major source of income for criminals. The IRA turned Dublin into the heroin capital of Europe to fund buying guns and explosives. 

Legalise:Tax: Control

26 minutes ago, JJ-Thailand said:

I took this trip 1979, looks like the same train.

Under the photo on the left hand side is the caption " File photo for reference only" 

19 hours ago, Zaphod Priest said:

I presume that Immigration still hasn't fixed their computer systems, so the first 90 day report after reentering the Kingdom can't be done online.  Does anyone have recent experience of making such a report by post to Chaengwattana? And if so, was it successful or unsuccessful? (I really don't want to have to waste several hours making the report in person.)

 

Thanks.

You can make an appointment at CW online to file your 90 day report (or to extend your visa, apply for re entry permit, etc) via the immigration website.  Then it doesn't take hours. 

Or, as Dr Jack says, just send all the documents, including a stamped self addressed envelope, by registered post, before the 15 day deadline.  

I prefer going in person, just to know straight away that it's done and dusted..