TroubleandGrumpy

Yeh I knew a bloke like that too - and there are other blokes who just love to make an arse of themselves - but I guess that is better than going tits up in the water.

The problem for most of Thailand is mainly from the burning in neighbouring countries - as clearly shown on this NASA satellite fire website. But the Thai Provinces near Chiang Mai also has its own fires that match those in other countries.

Having said that Bob - if you start being less 'abrasive and aggressive' then it will do you and us the world of good. You are what you eat, and you will become what you think you are.

That is a much better arrangement - everyone pays the same and therefore going to the top deck is available for everyone if they want to do that. The boat we had was 3 levels - each level was a different price. And I must say that until the freeloaders started coming upstairs it was very nice - good food and great views. Yes mate - it took over a hour to get there and we were only a few Ks away - total chaos.

I hear you BUT they paid much less than we did. Bit like aying for a box at the footy ans a bunch of randoms walking in and eating the food and blocking the view of the match.

Huge rip-off - we did it once many years ago and we never will again. Besides the tourist trap thing, they allowed passengers from the cheaper lower decks to come up on the top deck. I had to shoo away people who came up and starting sitting on the boat rail blocking our paid-for views to the river. Plus there was an Elvis show at the front and our view was totally blocked. When I asked the Thai 'guard' why she was not stopping people coming up on to the top deck, she just smiled.

I completely understand and agree with that as a valid strategy - I do not see things getting any better for Expats in the future. In fact it will probably get harder for Expats as things fall apart more, due to the true state of the Thai economy being revealed (like China's currently is). And if/when MFP get elected in the future, things will get even worse - they would be a social progressive Govt and they always tax people more to pay for all their social progressive Govt programs. PT promised 10K per Thai and they are struggling to do that - MFP have promised social welfare payments, and things like free housing for the poor, and all sorts of other 'progressive' programs. We have the plan of moving back in the future (Plan B) - plus we also have a Plan C. Plan C is to move to a nearby country (Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia) and from there travel regularly to Thailand as you plan to do - VOA being one option and also Visa for 'Visiitng Family' - making sure we never stay more than 179 days total in Thailand. I am currently evaluating all the retirement options available for those other countries - and I note that both Philippines and Malaysia are also taxing foreign income, but they have both stated that they will not tax the foreign remittances of retired Expats. In a variation of Plan C , we might end up staying 3-6 months in a few countries - so that we never become a tax resident of any of them.

Same boat but different country. Self and Thai Wife both Citizens and we can go back anytime we want. Plan is to stay here a long time, and return when/if one of us starts getting very old/sick. Too expensive to stay here when those serious old age medical problems kick-in - which is usually in mid-late 70s, or if you are lucky not until 80s, or if you are unlucky in the 50s/60s. When that happens and we cant really travel anymore, or play golf and enjoy Thailand and other SEAsian countries, we will be returning - or sooner if things go bad and I struggle to do annual renewals and 90 days reporting etc etc - and/or am forced to pay income taxes.

Bad News re income taxes. I have just been advised that although the final transfer to the Krungsri bank is a 'local transfer' - the original transfer is international into a 'banking transfer pool' and is full recorded - both origin and destination - and that is available to the Thai Govt/TRD. That is why Wise 'recommends' those 3 banks - they can transfer direct to them and not incur the fees from the 'transfer pool' organisation/system. I believe that BoT uses the 'BAHTNET' system for their transfers - not sure whether the other banks all use something similar, or if they have a few organisations they can use for receiving international banking transfers. I would think this is one of the reasons why sometimes banking transfers take minutes and other times hours/days.

You might think that is the case - but I guarantee you that it will not be so when it is you. Or are you saying that you will say :- OK - no problems - just my bad luck - I am that 1 in a 1000 - fair enough - I accept it.

I understand - Wise does have 3 'preferred' banks for transfers to Thailand - Bangkok, Siam Commercial and Kasikorn. I am going to get an account from another bank and give it a try. Probably best to keep quiet about this - TRD might be listening.

You clearly fail to see that there is not balance - 999 or 9999999 - 1 wrong death is not worth it.

Then you will gladly be put to sleep - no problem. However - and maybe you dont know this (yet) - the real world is very different to what you think. When faced with that choice it is amazing how lifelong views suddenly change. And in fact it is often the one who for decades said 'put me down' (acting tough etc) who screams and fights to stay another day.

One wrong death by the State is not 'balanced' by 999 correct ones. That one person could be you or your son or your brother etc etc etc.

Please show me - you are the 3rd person to make that claim. International transfers show in all Thai bank books/accounts - the reason does not necessarily do so - but the source of the money does. Prove that wrong - please. There are lots of worried people about incxome taxes who would love to know this - me too - please show us. If Expats can transfer money into Thailand and it does not show in the Thai bank records as an international transfer, then most income tax issues are 'gone with the wind'.

Google - 'Trump claims auto industry faces a bloodbath' . Any fool can do that - maybe not one with TDS.

Not how it works as far as I know and I have used Wise for years. Perhaps it works that way for Wise transfers from certain countries?? Please show me - prove it to us all. International transfers show in Thai bank books/accounts - the reason does not necessarily do so - but the source of the money does. Prove that wrong - please. There are lots of worried people about income taxes who would love to know this - me too - please go right ahead and show us.

Show me - prove it to us all. International transfers show in Thai bank books/accounts - the reason does not necessarily do so - but the source of the money does. Prove that wrong - please. There are lots of worried people about incxome taxes who would love to know this - me too - please go right ahead and show us.

I believe that all overseas transfers from Wise are shown as international transfers in the Thai bank book. Maybe try a small amount for each one and see what happens?

We drive a lot around Thailand and it is without a doubt more dangerous here than back home in Aust. However, back home in Aust you are executed for failing to use a blinker (joke) - it has gone way too far in Aust and I am sure when they enforce a 10km speed limit they will say they have saved lives. The reality is that driving a vehicle at 80+ kph is inherently dangerous - giving people $500 fines for going 10kms over that arbitrary speed limit on a 4 lane divided highway is effin total BS. IMO Thailand needs to do a few things - buit never do what it is like back in the west where there are speed cameras in every parked vehicle and driving a car is a nightmare of worry and constant watching of the speedo. Thailand should implement Red light cameras, Random booze buses, and 'active' speeding patrols with vehicles out on the roads looking for those going 20-30+ over the speed limit (not those doing 5-10kms over). My last fine in Aust was on a road on the way back from the golf course in Qld. I was going 8kms over the limit - which was 80 kms on very safe and straight divided highway with no other cars around. Those buggers were on that road for a week - after that we saw them each time we went to/from golf that week. The very next week a stolen car speeding lost control and killed 3 people in another car on that exact same road. Speeding cameras are revenue raisers - I know far more then most aboput that fact because I was involved in them starting way back. What was initiaily all about running red lights and speeding through intersections, quickly became an integral part of revenue raising and putting them out on the roads makes SFA difference but mnakes a lot of money.

This is why I will never agree to the death penalty. Just one false convinction and someone loses their life - which is all we ever have or will have. However if someone convicted of a very serious crime would rather take the needle than spend 30-50 years in jail, then OK let them go out (and save the money).

I said something similar and probably worse about Cinton and then Biden - punted out both times. The point being we all went too far - egged on by click bait posts that TV deliberately posted for the advertising revenue. In the end it was like allowing Russians and Ukrainians in for 90 days with a Visa - short term gains for long term pains. Changing from TV to AN failed to save it - and now it is back on track so to speak, I just hope the new management (old George) does not go down the same path.

Sounds interesting - thanks.

Interesting - may I ask what work - designing parts for manufacturing? I have looked at 3d printers and they amaze me - a brilliant innovation - never used one though. I worked in IT&T and Computers from 1970s to 2010s - saw a lot of innovations.