Highlandman

I'm no snowflake and to be honest I shouldn't have singled out doctors as I've never experienced anything but mutual respect from Thai doctors. We would communicate in Thai. Even one time when I was misdiagnosed as having a case of severe constipation as opposed to kidney stones, all was well. I went back minutes later and got the proper diagnosis by a different doctor. I've encountered a very small number of Thais, mostly businessmen and university professors who look down on farang and refuse to speak Thai to them. It's so rare that it's barely worth bringing it up, but these are the people who use language as a weapon. They can't fathom speaking their language to an outsider. Anyway, I don't wish to sidetrack this discussion by going off topic. This incident will sadly create more tensions between Thais and foreigners. Just hope he leaves the country soon, so we can finally move on.

Sure. That's totally different then. Completely acceptable for a doctor or anyone really to switch to English or another language both parties have in common if they can't understand what you're saying in their language. That happens in every country. Different story if you're fluent and know it and yet get spoken to in English by say a doctor, when you are always spoken to in Thai by the rest of society. I see it as a form of arrogance on the part of the higher educated types, seeing this doesn't happen when interacting with most other people. I’m describing a scenario, which happens very rarely even to me, but has happened. Even though I'm not very regular on here, I know what you are referring to, hence why I responded.

I usually make it clear that the conversation will proceed in Thai. I shut down if a Thai doctor attempts to speak English to me, especially if double masked. I just don't answer anymore questions or pretend I can't understand them. Fortunately, I haven't been to a hospital or seen a doctor since 2018 and that wasn't even for me, but my children. It's pretty racist to assume a white foreigner can't speak Thai or definitely can speak English, just based on their skin color. Many Russians can't speak English yet many westerners can speak amazing Thai..look up David Williams on Facebook and watch his videos. Your jaw will drop and he's far from the only one.

I've observed Thai children going through land immigration ports of entry alone or with just one parent without issue. I've even asked immigration officials and they said there is no need for the father's permission if a mother takes her children to a neighboring country alone. For a father, written permission including a copy of the ID card of the mother and tabien Baan is good to have but may not be requested. Airport immigration is more thorough, but experiences vary. Just because you seem to have been targeted and have had frustrating experiences (in your words) doesn't mean this is standard.

Very unlikely Thailand will ever legalize casinos..

Denied entry more like it. Chances are she won't be returning anyway.

They think it's about keeping face, but when they act this way, they actually lose face.

While I have yet to take my son out of Thailand alone, reading and hearing reports from others who have, suggest that at land borders they don't even ask for documents from the mother (better to bring something along though in case you're asked) while at airport immigration they simply ask for said documentation. They don't make a big fuss at all, unlike western countries.

Hasn't he learned his lesson? He's probably blacklisted. Tell him to find work in Thailand.

Meaning that the autogates can still be used but only by those without visas, single entry visas without re entry permit and visas or extensions that already have re-entry permission such as multiple entry visas and LTR/smart visas?

Well, Thailand simply went from granting 90 day visa waivers down to 30 days (for NZ citizens). New Zealand by contrast, introduced a visa requirement for Thais.

So? It's a better place for expats to live because it's easy. Thailand makes it more difficult with each passing year and with Cambodia developing fast, the advantages that Thailand once had are fast disappearing.

Or just spend your winters in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, all of which have better visa options. Thailand is overrated anyway. Siem Reap is amazing, even if you never visit the temples (although all expats who've lived in the country for 2 years are eligible to visit for free). Siem Reap offers way cheaper alcohol than Thailand, no silly time restrictions, a wider variety of imported groceries and especially alcoholic beverages, nice colonial architecture, no traffic jams, plenty of great restaurants, often run by barang (farang) and well trained, English speaking Cambodians staffing them. You won't find anything comparable in Thailand. What's the obsession with Thailand? Is it the bars and the ladyboys? Because unless you need access to good hospitals (and these days there are a few acceptable ones springing up even in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap), then life in neighboring countries is as good and often better than in Thailand. Most expats living in Vientiane, Laos, live in palatial settings compared to the way people, including expats live in Thailand. Way bigger properties (hardly anyone lives in a condo), fancy cars, the works. Even if you think Vientiane is "boring", it's not nearly as boring as Khon Kaen or Udon Thani, which have absolutely nothing to do except shopping at Central Mall.

He's a bit of a cheap Charlie. Decided not to come back more often, due to "high flight prices". Thus he's only been back once since the end of Covid restrictions.

I've never heard of anyone getting this 3 year non-B visa. Do you know how to get one? What documents are needed? Even if each stay is limited to 90 days, the ability to come and go for 3 years + 90 days would be suitable for business travelers who have a Thai family, spend most of their time in Thailand but also need to travel to Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, China, Japan or anywhere else at least once every 3 months. That would apply to my circumstances. I've held multiple consecutive 1 year non-Bs in the past, mostly obtained from honorary consulates in Australia, which, apparently are no longer in existence.

You can do certain types of business in Thailand on tourist visas and now Japanese nationals are officially allowed to do business without a visa as well. Depends on the nature of what you're intending on doing. It was always possible, certainly in practice, to attend a workshop or conference on a visa exempt stamp when coming to Thailand. What you can't do is anything that constitutes "work", but meetings, attending conferences, site visits, signing documents, no problem.

Still the land of masks. They hide the fake smiles behind their masks.

Unless border controls are eliminated, I don't like the sound of this visa at all. Leave sovereign countries alone to do their own thing with respect to visas. Cambodia is great in that it's still easy to stay long term with no money needed in the bank, no complicated visa applications, just $300 + $70 if you want your passport back the same day or next day (express processing). This could be ruined by a single visa system. The last thing the region needs is some sort of 90 day visa that would cover all countries in the region (Thus far too short to see everything), which would force you out of the entire region for 90 days before being allowed to return (90 days out of 180 days rule). Sretta should focus on Thailand, or things like getting the railway link between Thailand and Cambodia up and running, seeing the line was completed 5 years ago but still no cross border services. Implementing one stop border crossings, where you stamp out of one country and into the next in the same building with officials working side by side would be another improvement, but the single visa scheme is NOT something that should be explored.

That was like 30 years ago!! Since been rescinded due to too many Thai hookers posing as tourists then working illegally in New Zealand.

I totally agree. Westerners often lose all their common sense when they travel to countries such as Thailand. Then they end up in trouble and wonder why. I have no sympathy for idiots who put themselves in danger by doing things they wouldn't do back home. I DO have sympathy for innocent victims of crime, who, despite trying their best to take precautions still end up as victims. In this particular case, the German woman should have taken a proper taxi not a motorcycle taxi. My guess is she is a cheap Charlie backpacker who would rather save 100 Baht by taking a motorcycle instead of a proper taxi, but this decision cost her some dignity. Better pay more and be safe than be stingy and regret it.

No, she shouldn't. Why are white people obsessed with walking late at night? Ever heard of a car? I own two and I drive everywhere. It wouldn't occur to me to walk around at night when I can drive. Only losers walk around at night.

Thailand is relatively safe for solo female travelers, but I seriously doubt the number 9 safest country ranking for several reasons. Firstly, we have to distinguish between busy urban areas such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai, which are indeed quite safe for your average female local or traveler as these cities are always so busy, it would be difficult for anyone to get away with committing a crime against a female traveler. Most busy tourist precincts are generally safe as well, such as Bangla road in Phuket. However, murders of tourists and expats are sadly not uncommon on Koh Phangan and Koh Tao and often the murderers are fellow foreigners. Just the other day, a Moroccan killed an Austrian on Koh Phangan while a few weeks back, an Israeli attempted to kill an Englishman by glassing his neck with a broken bottle. The Israeli bribed the police and escaped to Singapore, while the Brit was hassled by the local police just to do their job. During Covid, a Thai man raped and murdered a Swiss woman about 25 years older than him at a Phuket waterfall. There are many more such incidents as well. Overall, single female travelers shouldn't be out alone late at night in Thailand as its not as safe as many make it out to be. The same precautions as you would take back home, should apply to Thailand as well. Walk only in well lit areas with lots of people around and for God's sake, drive, take public transportation or a taxi if your destination is more than 500m away. It's what locals do. We should follow their lead. Walking everywhere is a stupid idea, particularly after dark.

Well thanks to all the unwanted "refugees" and "immigrants" in our countries, rapes and assaults have gone through the roof. While Thailand is better than Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan etc for single women travelers, and Thai men aren't as bad as men from the aforementioned countries, a sub-section of Thai working class males are perverts and can't be trusted to be alone with a woman that isn't a family member.

How can a Buddhist country hope to eclipse fellow Muslim neighbors in terms of Halal food production? Does Thailand intend on converting most of its population to Islam? If yes, this plan might make some sense. If not, then this is another pie in the sky "hub" nonsense. Thailand, stick with being the "hub" of mask wearing, you seem to shine at that but leave halal food production to Malaysia, Indonesia and other Muslim countries.

Yeah I rarely eat from Street vendors except in tourist zones. For example, Ao Nang Krabi, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Luang Prabang, Laos, Pham Ngu Lao lane, Saigon, Vietnam. These sorts of places. I would never sit down to a street vendor meal in Bangkok, as it's too hot, dirty and uncomfortable sitting outside. Better to eat inside an air-conditioned mall or an independent restaurant, which also has AC, comfortable seating and much higher hygiene standards.