bamboozled

Come on, man! The Thai economy has no bearing on the Thai baht. Everyone knows that! Nor do political events or sea changes in deeply embedded cultural touchstones. I am being somewhat facetious, I think. Having been here awhile and having tried to gauge the direction of the baht, based on the various factors mentioned above, I have come to see that it's very difficult. You get black swan events in Thailand and the baht appreciates. Well, that's my experience. I'm no financial wizard by any means. Not for nothing is it called Teflon Thailand. Also known as TITs. Together: Teflon Tits. Who knew?

I don't quite understand the "Beer Laos is great" gang. It isn't, in my opinion. It's just something other than the ubiquitous 3 Thai beers so perhaps it SEEMS better? Surely, I'm inviting a boatload of flack and I'll probably get death threats but...it just isn't that good. The gold foil is a nice marketing touch, to be sure. Also, the dark is a nice change of pace when icy cold and the black label tickles my graphic sensibilities. But like McDonald's french fries, once it loses the optimal temp, the enjoyment decline is precipitous. Again, IMHO. Cue the brigade. There are a few Thai-born IPAs now that are quite tasty, IMHO. Not sure what brewing musical chairs they have to do to brew it but a tall-boy IPA for 119...def worth it now and again. Lastly, when and why did Chang drop down to 5% alcohol from 6.4%? I miss my Changover!

Liquorice, you just woke me up from my slumber and saved my butt and I thank you. As most of you know, I think, with a Multi-entry Visa, and not extension, one must exit the country every 90 days. I totally spaced a few months ago and overstayed by 4 days. ...Tried to check into a hotel and they asked me where my current and valid visa/stamp was to be found. Whoa...heart drop! Realized I had overstayed in that moment, completely unaware and unusual for me. Luckily, I was close to a border and did my run with no ill-consequence (I hope!...time will tell) other than paying 2000 baht extra. Because of these 4 days, however, my visa expiration date and permission to stay date diverge by 4 days with visa expiring 4 days earlier. I'm now leaning toward doing a border bounce right before the visa expiration date to extend the permission to stay to 15 months (instead of going to Savannakhet for new visa....that will be later) and had the date of the permission to stay lodged in my head and not the 4-day prior visa expiration date. Yikes! Would not have been a fun border bounce. Kudos to you all, thank you! Bam

Thanks for your reply, Liquorice. I'm aware of those options and appreciate the reminder. Going to weigh them all and make a decision. Cheers!

That makes sense. That's what I had figured. Cheers!

Hi JonnyF, I've heard that story about cutting the lawn, painting a wall, etc...as well. And that some guys have been nicked for it. Still, I've never known anyone directly to which it has happened and kinda, sorta, don't want to believe it. It would mean that we also can't wash our clothes, cook our food, clean the house, etc... I'm not sure it's not "technically" allowed but if you are a crank and an arrogant SOB and like to mouth off at authority figures, you can get nabbed for anything. I'm, of course, talking about doing these things at your own residences. I would surmise that a farm is more of a grey area as anything done there could be misconstrued.

Not fraught....expensive. Can work on marriage visa with work permit. Can not work with retirement visa, ever.

In my understanding, you can chat up guests until you're blue in the face. There are many restaurants/bars/guesthouses that run this way. The foreign husband/financier mucks about and chats the patrons. But no, you cannot check anyone in, touch money, move anything, etc.... As CharlieH said, I suppose immi can mess with you with any excuse they want. I would go talk to them directly, perhaps, and explain the situation asking what you can/can't do. This could also be bad advice if it alerts them to keep eyes on the place.

I posted this in another thread but I think it's rather buried so thought I'd re-post here, hope that's ok. I have a Multi-entry Non-O based on marriage to a Thai from Savannakhet that is due to expire toward the end of July. I'm thinking to go this week or next to get a new one (in Savannakhet) as I might be away when the visa expires and would prefer to return to Thailand with a valid visa. I thought I read somewhere that one can apply for a new visa up to one month in advance of the expiration date. Can anyone confirm that or am I batty? Also, and this is a lesser issue but since I'm on the topic, will the new visa be dated from the expiration date of the old visa or will it be dated from the day on which the new one was applied for? ...The concern being that I might be short-changing myself a little bit. Many thanks! Bam.

Hard to believe this post is real.

Thanks BritTim, yes, I'm aware of those options and indeed might border bounce and kick the can down the road. No interest in the 1-year extension but thanks for mentioning it.

Pardon the interruption folks... How many days in advance of visa expiration can we apply for a new visa? I have the aforementioned Multi-entry Non-O based on marriage to a Thai from Savannakhet that is due to expire toward the end of July. I'm thinking to go this week or next to get a new one as I might be away when the visa expires and would prefer to return to Thailand with a valid visa. I thought I read somewhere that one can apply for a new visa up to one month in advance of the expiration date. Can anyone confirm that or am I batty? Also, and this is a lesser issue but since I'm on the topic, will the new visa be dated from the expiration date of the old visa or will it be dated from the day on which the new one was applied for? ...The concern being that I might be short-changing myself a little bit. Many thanks! Bam.

Isn't CoR needed for reasons other than just buying a car? I don't recall being asked why I needed a CoR when I got them in the past. True, my memory is not the greatest. For a TM30, for example. The IO officer might also not have his info correct and putting the cart before the horse.

Thanks! Yes, I just logged onto the website and saw the announcement. I find it a bit baffling, frankly. Hopefully, I just need to get used to doing it on the phone and no big deal. I'm more comfortable on the laptop doing all this stuff, however. I'm sure it's about saving money and not security.

This means that no more access via laptop and only mobile phone? I have an SCB account but never received this info, to my knowledge. Also very possible they sent it to me but I didn't read it. I'm very surprised at this move by banks as navigating important stuff from a phone is just plain silly. We do it out of necessity when out and about but it's hardly a replacement for a home computer/laptop. Yet another reason to dislike banks.

Yeah, could be a numbers game. In that case, a bit of a misnomer.

You're right, that IS. a pretty long string. It doesn't really matter so much. Just want my AARP discount.

Just curious. ThaiVisa, oops, I mean Asean Now labels me as "Newbie" above my (blank) profile icon. Fair enough, they make the rules and who doesn't want to be forever young(ish). I've been a member since 2007. Will I ever get out of kindergarten?

Do you mean an effects pedal?

What's a Looper?

Thanks for the new vocab word, Regyai: "Harridan"...a strict, bossy, or belligerent old woman. "a bullying old harridan"

Late to the party and off topic a bit but man I remember some beautiful moments lost in song late night at the old Brasserie. It was like being in a dream. Couldn't believe they were playing this. "I'm your captain, I'm your captain Though I'm feeling mighty sick Everybody, listen to me And return me my ship"

Toast1, good luck to you, brother. I can't imagine what's going through your head in these moments. I'm sure everything and perhaps nothing, at the same time. We all will tread this terminal path, come one day. Our communal, very democratic, end. That gives me some solace, to think about my own death and know that it is not just me, it is nothing personal, it is the natural cycle of being. You are not alone and we will all be there alongside you. Ah <deleted>, now I'm crying. Hugs, my fellow traveler.

Frickin' banks. And to think, you are putting your own money in there and they will be using it to make money, presumably, as that's what banks do. It's not like you are asking for a loan. I wonder if going to immigration and asking them how you can deposit the money for eventual retirement visa might give some ideas. It's rather a catch-22, isn't it? Need the visa to be able to open an account in order to deposit the money to obtain said visa.

They're aware of the situation. They already have FAQs about getting the credit advice/FET from the other bank. I assume they see it as more trouble than it's worth.