bamboozled

This will be my first step, indeed! I do have the 20 baht cheaters everywhere. I just can't get used to, or haven't yet got used to, having to need something that is not part of my body to get through daily life.

Looks like I'll be making an appointment with the ophthalmologist. Thank you!

I second that!

Awesome, thank you!

Incredible amount of good information here, Pib. Thank you very much for taking the time to explain in such detail and break down the various possibilities. As of now, my far away vision doesn't seem to be affected. But I'm glad I can look forward to that deteriorating, too! What you describe, the IOL, seems pretty amazing. And not super, super expensive. I will do some more research about that and for the meantime, try the one contact lens approach and see how that works. It's reassuring to know that this procedure exists. I will copy and save all the info in my computer for when/if I want to move forward with an operation.I guess I have been caught off guard that my eyes have become such an issue. I always had good vision and for some reason didn't expect this to happen until later in life. Thanks again!

I will give his a shot, Sheryl. Who do I need to see for this, an ophthalmologist or simply an optometrist? Why will I eventually need cataract surgery? I did not realize such a thing was a given as we age.

This is all good advice, people, thank you. I'm not in a rush. Perhaps, yes, I can get used to them. I don't WANT to get used to them...is part of the problem. I did read about contact lenses for this issue. I guess they are cheaters in the bottom half and normal in the top half, something like that? It might be worth trying.

But of course! Now I HAVE found reference to the surgery the doctor talked about where one eye is laser corrected for near and the other for far, just after posting my question. Sometimes just asking kicks things into gear. My apologies, doctor!

Great info; thank you again... I paid for a multi re-entry permit at the time of the retirement visa for the peace of mind of not having to worry about it. Money well spent, IMO.

You're right, thank you. I did actually see an ophthalmologist and have my eyes checked. She said I had dry eyes and the above condition, presbyopia, but no other issue. I asked what could be done and she mentioned surgery where one eye would be corrected for near vision and the other eye for distant vision. And the brain would compensate for the difference when necessary. I did not feel 100% confident with this doctor's answer. I don't think she is a specialist in correcting eyes but in diagnosing the condition. I have not found such a procedure that she suggested online, either. So, yes, I will ultimately search out a specialist but I'm doing my online sleuthing first, as much as possible. Cheers!

Thank you, Red. That's very helpful. I may be confusing visas/rules but can I exit and re-enter Thailand before my retirement visa expires and get an extra 90 days? That was the case with the Non-O based on marriage that I used to have.

There are a few eye surgery posts on here but I didn't quite see one about the above condition. To the point: my close-up vision has gotten worse fairly dramatically (in my view) in the last 2 or 3 years. Typical as we age. I need to wear cheater glasses to view anything close-up but distance is no problem. I am finding it hard to accept this. Is there any operation to correct this particular condition? I have searched the internet but feel a bit confused. Perhaps because I don't want to admit that there is no easy solution or no solution at all. Anyone have experience with this? Thank you.

Perfect!

Yes, I do have the multi-entry. Paid for that when I got the visa. Not worth the risk of forgetting to save a few bucks. Thank you.

Thanks CP, you're correct. I have done a few of the 90 reports already, actually. I think this may be the first time that I don't have the TM6, perhaps that is the why I don't have the stamp indicating 90 days from my entry date. Or perhaps I'm just losing my mind and forgetting details. Anyway, the important thing is that now I know to count the days out on my own. Many thanks again, cheers!

Thanks friends. Dr. Jack, you even counted me out a date...much obliged! I assumed that was the case but I'm not used to this method. Why is it that I previously would have the 90 day date stamped in my passport..."permission to stay until"....something like that. Is that due to me previously having a multi-entry visa based on marriage (a new visa every year in Savannakhet) and having to LEAVE the country every 90 days, as opposed to just doing the report on retirement visa? Or have they changed the way they stamp passports/entries? Thank you kindly!

Hi folks, I just went through immigration on the 25th of this month. I showed the officer my visa and he nodded and stamped me in. In the box on the stamp, he wrote Oct. 11, which is the date my visa expires. I'm now confused about the 90 day report. Is it up to me to figure the 90 days and do the report? Or does this mean I don't need to do it? In the past, I believe the stamp always showed me by which day I had to report. Hmm, well, I'm somewhat new to retirement visa...previously on marriage visa where I had to leave the country every 90 days. The stamp would always show by which day I needed to leave. Can anyone clarify if I need to count the 90 days myself and do the report or....I don't need to do a report at all? Thank you all!

I think you're much better off buying new pillows. They aren't that expensive, in the end. IKEA for one will have them. Might have to ship from BKK. Index might have them, etc... If you get from a farm, they're neither going to be sterile nor the soft feathers separated from the usable feathers. There are different grade feathers used for different price ranges. Feathers, not done right, can be very prickly and uncomfortable. They will poke through your pillow and be unpleasant.

Hi all...sorry for my delay in responding. I did not get notifications and I got busy with some other stuff and the post had slipped my mind. As far as the grey water under the house...and the black water which is also under there, I believe, in underground tanks,etc..., I live in a rented house with a very reasonable rent. I have been here many years now and we never see the landlords and they never contact us, either. Any repairs and whatnot needed I do myself or hire someone. I am happy with this arrangement and they seem so, too. I don't want to rock the boat by pointing out shortcomings or asking for repairs, etc... And I am not going to undertake repairing the grey/black water system. So I choose to deal with the mosquitos. The mosquitos have always been here but it suddenly got to the top of my list when I noticed this swarm at the screen. I'm telling you, it was sort of terrifying. Amazingly, since writing the post, or even starting the day before I wrote, the swarm is greatly diminished. Almost like clockwork. It may indeed have been a boost from the recent rains but the uptick in mozzies started about 2 or 3 weeks ago, before much rain of any substance fell. Nevertheless, it has always been a high mozzie place and the swarms in the boxes under the carport are always an issue as is staying outside at dusk. Of course, the grey water is always replenishing with or without rain, so this makes sense. Also have an up tick in the last 3 weeks of big cockroaches coming into the bathrooms at night. They especially love to climb up the shower/sink drain pipe to the upstairs bathroom. Of course, this pipe just is a straight pipe that dumps into the mystery space under the house. Tiger balm on the ankles, I'll have to try that. I don't like putting on too much bug spray if I'm indoors. That just seems sad, right? I would love to get some zappers that work, as well as the fogger. I'll do more research on that. Looks like the diesel/poison fogger might be worth a try, as smelly as it is. Interestingly, the government fogger guy came down the street today. But did a poor job squirting into my yard. Just the way it is... Thanks all for the input.

I have used one of those pump sprayers. So mixing with diesel is not that much different? It certainly makes a big plume of rolling smoke unlike the pump sprayers. Does that plume only contain smoke and not the insecticide to kill them?

I bought this same trap a few years ago but it turned out to be a fake and I sent it back. Since then, I've read mosquitos are not at all attracted to UV lights and that most traps are useless as is citronella. Perhaps the ones that puff out CO2 can work. I had a different UV light trap set up right next to the swarms and did not get even one mosquito. Maybe BKK mosquitos like those traps but mine don't. Well, I'm off to buy some spray cans of bug killer for the time being. It's really out of hand here.

I didn't find much using search, nothing current at least, thus my post. I have a lot of mosquitos. I think they breed underneath the house where the grey waste waters disappear. They swarm at the screens at night. Disturbing any storage boxes or bins in the carport produces swarms of them...100s fly up. Staying outside at dusk or later is impossible without bug spray. Of course, plenty get in the house, too. Anyhow, make fun of me, call me a sissy, tell me to move home...I don't care. Has anyone purchased recently a small-scale mosquito fogger that I could use to go around once a week and take care of this situation? It's very un-fun. I've tried emptying cans of spray but that gets expensive quickly. I prefer to do this procedure quickly myself, when needed, over trying to arrange with a service or the government. I'm a DIY type of guy. I've seen a variety of machines on Lazada but it's difficult to judge the effectiveness. One of the more pro looking guns mentioned having to mix diesel 3:1 with the killing liquid. Is that the best type to buy? Seems to me, the government guy that comes around sometimes does produce a slightly diesel smelling smoke so that might be a good sign. The one I looked at was about 2400 baht. Anyone with hands-on experience here? Thanks all!

If you buy from a local shop, you can develop a relationship with them. This will be a nice bonus for when the bike needs a tune-up or repairs or exchange or upgrade or what have you. Also, supporting local businesses is a very nice thing to do. I bought my bike at Chaitawat. It is an extra large frame..Marlin 7. Actually, too big for me...go figure. They don't speak any English, however. A friend of mine who is quite the pro on bikes was impressed with Velocity on Huay Kaew road. I've never been but he said one person spoke great English and knew his stuff. Good luck.

Thanks for putting up with my, guys! cheers!

Well, I just found this on the immigration website so I do believe Foreverlomsak is correct and I am set until 90 days from March 24th. Wishing you all a fine day.