Middle Aged Grouch

Just don't stay to long as the Thai tax chaps will start to racket. Make the stay less then 180 days and mainly never buy, only rent. Thus if things get worse, you can pack and leave.

Those with money to spend are already going to other Asian countries, Thailand needs to start making visa issues, stop all the absurd forms to fill that often are not even properly translated or available online, make immigration rules more simple for those who own say property in Thailand. This segment and mainly the retiree property owners are those who spend far more then any of the social media posers who will spend far less and it's all about posing. Last but not least, those with big cash to spend will chose many other sunny nations in Europe or the Caribbean islands to spend their luxury time or perhaps private islands and resorts in other areas in the Asian-Pacific regions. Who will for instance want to swim in the beaches around Hua Hin that are filthy and with smell of burning garbage all over Hua Hin areas like Hin Lek Fai ?

Despite fully qualifying with all the financial requirements, great health insurance that covered expenses in Thailand, during the process they did not stop asking each time for more documents and more detailed statements for the health insurance, despite a letter saying it covered expenses. You sent them what they asked and few days later they came back asking for something else. I just gave up finally as it was wasting my time. Not to worry, those in my situation, will just spend our money elsewhere during the long winter breaks.

I would definately not trust any Lazada seller for something like a computer. Lazada can be fine for basic items or stuff you can afford to break or loose. Definately not a computer. There are sufficient IT stores all over to check the laptop you want, and test try on the counter if the speed is ok for your or not.

Not speaking Thai helps the Thais and motivates them to learn english. This will help them much more in life then any pot bellied bald falang negotiating the Quickie in Thai. 🤣 Besides with the current Ai developpments, in a few years (and even now), it will be possible to have a totally fluid conversation in any foreign language with the appropriate tools in ear and at hand.

What's the big deal ? If the Saudis, Qataris, Israelis etc etc. remouve all their money invested in America,. the entire country could fall into pieces. USA was long sold out and much before Trump. Trump now is plainly using foreign money to build structures that will not require US tax payers to pay for. Quite smart in fact as obviously the Qataris will not really get anything back in exchange. They are plainly bootlicking America as they are trying to buy a place in the global geopolitical gameboard. And it seems to be working.

Ai was though, conceived, developped, implemented and will be in demand for what reason in the first place ? A bit like UBER. Why did it become so popular almost overnight ? Think about it and you'll understand. Hint - people all over were fed up in being cheated by the regular taxis. As for Ai, the economy could also be fed up with all the hassles on work related issues. Society is fed up with the lawyers or accountants overcharging. Now with Ai, it will be a piece of cake back on the couch. And so on....

A few points to ponder. Up to you to abide or not. If you are drunk, kindly read when sober. Thanks. 😂🙏 Quite a few people flaunting their cash in Thailand not because they are rich, but mainly due to the difference in the exchange rate. Thats quite obvious. Next is trying to pose as a big shot in a restaurant that to in Thailand. This is subconsciously just to get validity and approuval from the waiter and people around. Observe in those swanky restaurants that overcharge, how sometimes the staff can be snooty and pull a long face, if you do not order something expensive. Happens a lot in Europe and in Thailand in the foreign run establishments. (top ranking restaurants in Hotels or brands). They are just trying to make the customer uncomfortable. An unconfortable customer who has a weak character will usually then try to "upgrade" in ordering an expensive bottle or leaving a huge tip. It's pure psychology and they are usually briefed maybe. Don't consider yourself worthless. If you do not want to spend an arm and a leg on some absurd dishes or wine, do not. No need to pose and act richer then you are be it in Thailand or elsewhere. If you don't like a dish in a post restaurant, complain. Don't say yes-yes just because of the snobby surroundings. You are the client and you are worth much more then what the snooty broke waiter(ess) or staff thinks of you or others around. If you just want to order a piece of bread, a soup and water, that is fine - it could even be more healthy at your age then some fat, oily, staturated grease food or overcharged cholesterol bearing meats. Don't be like those say in the UK coal mining cities who remove their overalls on Sunday and dress up (just a cliché here and metaphore). As it is the total opposite of what the real rich do on Sunday and choose rather to wear more simple clothes and not get noticed. Those who are familiar with St Tropez / France (where the yachts docked in the port are no less then say 5 or 10 million for the smallest upto around 100 or 200 million for the others). Watch how the super rich dress, spend and how they walk around in flip flips, shorts and a used polo shirt. And then around them, like flies, you have the others in their tight shirts and orange pants and white brand new nikies, trying to pose but who are only the wanna-bees and definately not owners of a yacht or a house. Society has divided people and the social gap increases. The UK like some ares in the USA, seem very social status conscious. Fine. I respect that. But usually it is always those who have less that try to appear the opposite. Keep in mind dear fellow foreigners in Thailand, that flaunting wealth no longer yields respect in today's context. It yields, anger and worse, can put you in danger and get hurt to be robbed in fact. The notion Cheap Charlie does not seem valid anymore. It's more to be a smart and wise foreigner, who does not want to get cheated in some absurd restaurant that is overcharging for re heated western food maybe.

Spend those winter months in Vietnam and for those who can, move out...no point waiting for the <deleted> to hit the fan and then struggle when everybody will be looking to leave Thailand.

Cannot say for those comming to Thailand, but when I went to New Delhi and Bombay last year (Mumbai), I definately saw much more wealth on the roads and glitter and glass all over, compared to Brimingham or Liverpool or even some areas of NYC and Paris.

not really but when you see the many ukrainians, sometimes in swanky SUV's or cars, in many popular hype swanky beach towns all over the world and in Europe, one can but feel sorry for the others in Ukraine, the weak, the poor, who cannot flee the corrupt regime in Ukraine and are used as war material to keep the oligarchy in power. No better then the Ruskies, I agree...

So it's the rival of Maduro who got the Nobel. Fine. But why is Venezuela suffering ? Not only due to Maduro but due to the unacceptable sanctions imposed by the USA...and surprise...long before Trump came to power. All the fuss mainly to cut out Venezuela's chep oil from the markets obviously. As when America puts sanctions on a country, no matter what people say, very strangely it's usually against nations who sell cheap energy and oil to the benefit of the rest of the world. I may push the idea to even thing that if Maduro is Trump's ennemy, obviouslly the political bodies in Venezuela against Maduro, have US support. Geopolitics is a hypocritical game where nobody is any better or worse then Trump and al.

And with all the Ukrainians that still are getting in, and enjoying the social welfare all over Europe and the UK, more and more churches also maybe...

Quality in Big C seems to dwindle...in Hua Hin anyhow the last time. They replaced that overpriced Gourmet Market in Bluport - fine. But the new Big C seemed unable to maintain the standard with the most basic requirement - half the shelves were rempty. Hope it has changed since... The Big C's in Bangkok, even in the most remote Soi's seemed better equiped and their prices were far cheaper compared to the overcharging all over Hua Hin.

Sorry to spoil the anti-Vietnam propaganda, but in Portugal, they do eat cats in many remote areas.

Because the UK is spending fortunes in supporting all the illegals getting in, giving them housing in hotels, free medical and so on.

First thing to be aware, is that foreigners with much money to spend will not come to Thailand. They will go to other places in the word so Thailand may need to avoid trying to attract this specific market. Focus on the foreigners, the retirees those who have property in Thailand. The winter birds and so on, Make visa issues more simple and less a hassle. All those the European retirees who have good budgets, should be given a hassle free visa for at least 5 months in the e-visa websites of the government. There is currently far to much restrictions. For instance once you get the visa online you must use in 3 months. People change plans so such e-visas for instance need to be valid for at least no less then a year to be used to go. And all the other bureaucratic hassles for driving licence renewal or bank account and all the absurd documents asked. Why not just show blue book or lease agreement and that shoud be enough to get the driver licence renewal or bank account ? Last but not least the prices. For a few years, prices in malls all over is same or higher then the prices in Europe. That's totally useless and nobody will buy in Thailand if this goes on. Quality is declining and prices are going up. Before for exemple, it was great ot have suits or <deleted>s made in Bangkok, Now they use crappy cloth, overcharge and the workmanship quality is horrible. They are using unqualified people to stich the clothes. These may seem small details, but at the end of the day they will harm spending in Thailand and it is already happening for few years now. People come to Thailand to get good quality at prices that are lower then Europe or in the West. Keep that in mind. 🙏 Thank you.

Drugs and booze are destroying society all over. No exception for Thailand. Yes, we all love a glass of wine, two maybe. Perhaps a light nightcap after a good dinner. A good Cognac. Amaretto or whatever... But on seeing the abuse of booze and the drunks all over and when they mix with drugs and the devastating consequences ... at one point on going to some extreme I agree, I would understand a total ban of alcohol and drugs globally with harsh sentences to those who don't stay on the line.

Best and safest way to bring ca$h in ? Carry in cash within the legal limits of course between your home land, and country of transit and Thailand. Change the cash in THB once here. Problem solved.

Even before Trump, much before, much of the enforcement in the USA has been and can get trigger happy, with a tendency to do their target practice on african americans or other foreigners. Nothing new here. It's unacceptable for a civlised country. But what is more unacceptable, is the way the anti Trump wokes are using a situation that long exists in the USA, as means to put the fault on Trump.

When i cum...🤣...back to my local soapy.

Now she would have some juicy names of previously powerful people in politics or current business tycoons to mention out...but as she does not want to end up like the other pig Jeffrey Epstein..she's keeping a low profile.

Numbers grow or decrease, but that's not the issue. The point is that since 3 years at least, tourist spending is dropping. Even the other foreigners and retirees who live in Thailand now spend less. No doubt that those who live here full time or half time just for winter, are fed up with all the cheating aimed against foreigners who are overcharged. Not to mention all the hassles by immigration rules and red tape that are destroying the economy. Vietnam, here we come....

Always surprising when you see the young or middle aged bar girl playing on her phone in the food court and the poor chap who has paid her fine for the week, sitting next to her and being totally ignored by the girl who now and then looks around to find her next sponsor maybe. A bit of self respect now guys.

Since I quit smoking, I can smell pussy a mile away.