riverhigh

I like the marketing strategy promoted by the Minister in that all sex toys will be made from "natural rubber" grown and made in Thailand. None of that foreign synthetic sh$t. Only healthy insertions. Right, Minister? Thailand to the rescue in producing healthy sex toys. Got the members of the world-wide gay / fetish community who can't find a partner covered. 

10 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

Best take so far....

 

New 767 Restaurant to open in Phuket

 

 

Curious how the 309 pax are handled? Stamped back in at Immigration? Then accommodated on other flights?

 

Azur has two scheduled arrivals (from VKO, both 763) today. ZF2907/RA73078    ZF3703/RA73080

 

Both are delayed.

 

Maybe one of those will be used to fly the stranded pax back home? And deliver spares and techs?

 

 

New 767 Restaurant to open in Phuket ..

You beat me to the punch ... lol. Although one should not laugh at the situation, it was just too good to pass up (smile).

6 hours ago, BritScot said:

Really? We must have very different circles of friends. Having lived/worked in Thailand on and off since 2002 having met many expats as friends from different parts of the world the majority have left Thailand  mostly because the Rose Coloured glasses clear and Thailand starts to grate on them so they leave (me included). I've known only two guys who came to thailand one arrived as a uk millionaire and lost it all (yep bought a bar) he got a job back in the uk and is happy enough another guy lost everything through a woman and stupidity because he purchased quality apartments and built a house (all in the new wives name). The second the house was completed she got the police and kicked him out. I would say anyone who is clever enough to retire early (myself included) is well capable of turning a buck when needed. Very smug and very derogatory to others. 

You were doing okay until the last 2 sentences when you associated yourself with the clever and capable people who retired early. Much smarter than the avearage Joe, right? Congratulatios you have just joined me in the "smug" club. (smile).

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Just try saving up! 

Some people can handle their money, some come here and spend like drunken sailors. We are talking here of someone who came to Thailand for  a few months in winter... a different thing altogether. 

 

I do not depend on the State for a cheque and am nearly 70... who on earth wants to work until their seventies? Time to enjoy life when there is opportunity to... I tell you now, it gets less fun as you get older,,,,,

"Just try saving up! Time to enjoy life when there is opportunity to... I tell you now, it gets less fun as you get older".

People who are partially retired with significant funds don't save, they invest. You have to think about that one (smile). As I am slightly older than you I can agree that my fitness level is not getting better. Still in good shape for my age group, do not take medication, and can travel anywhere in the world without medical  worries. The problem I see with people who are fully retired at an early age is that they get disconnected from the real world. and find it difficult in adjusting  to the digital world and the ever changing regulations facing the expat. Their mental capacity to deal with current day problems, which younger generations can handle with ease, goes down hill.  I am amazed at times how many of my friends, who are younger than me, come to me to fix their technical  problems. So reliant on other people to fix their problems (smile). 

22 minutes ago, gomangosteen said:

 "Anyways one should be asking how did Grandpa manage to get 3 months holiday every year since the age of 51. Hmmm, grandpaa may be on to something"

 

Should 'one' ?

 

As stated in the article, he arrived December due to depart 24 January, this could simply be the current 45 day visa exemption stay.

 

Three months - that is a standard 60 day tourist visa plus 30 day extension.

 

It's no mystery, so why try to fabricate some nasty suspicion? 

Please read the article first, the above statement is based on facts provided by the familey:

"The 61-year-old had spent the last ten years travelling out to Thailand during the winter months, and last year was no different."

"Tony said: ‘He goes over there in the winter for three months usually because he can’t stand the cold 

3 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Many many folks are in construction and work long hours during the summer, and hance have the opportunity for a break from a UK winter. I also retired at 50. Your post is speculative abd full of envy. 

Not envious in the least. Many UK expats I have known in the past have retired  too early and had to return to the UK broke and destitute. As for myself I have never really retired because of my technical skills. Can always find employment well into my seventies. Great feeling that I will never have to depend on the state for a cheque. 

Not another list of best destination! Here is my top ten list:

1. Sudbury, Canada (in the winter)

2. Buffalo, USA

3. Calcutta, India

4,  Cuidad Juarez, Mexico

5, Ciudad Guayana – Venezuela

6, Pietermaritzburg – South Africa

7. Stok-on-Trent, UK

8. Luton, UK 

9. Kingston, Jamaica

10. Baltimore, USA

After visiting my recommended cities, you will be really glad when you get home. 

The typical moron response: "I'm not paying my bill becuse she didn't treat me right or "I puched him in the face because I didn't like the way he looked at me".  Unfortuantely Pattaya is littered with these middle-aged arrogant, self-entitled morons. Most probably the bar shouldn't have served him a drink in his state. All the same, no sympathy for this moron. He will enter the police station as a moron and come out as moron. No learning experience, you can't teach old dogs new tricks.

So I guess it will be similar to Cambodia where you pay at passport control. As it may be difficult to get Thai baht in many countries then I guess they will have a 300 Thai Baht equivalent in USD.  As to the money going to  maintain tourist destinations and to foreign tourists who are involved in accidents, I think there will be heavy commission charge paid to the government and their masters for their onerous task of collecting the entrance fees.  Wink, Wink, Nudge, Nudge.         

Google search: Professor Dr. Yong Poovorawan, head of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty Medicine of Chulalongkorn University

Hope he is right but then again when I read the words like "Centre of Excellence" I get nervous (smile). Next time I talk to friends I will refer to Pattaya as the "Centre of Excellence" for attracting high quality tourists such as myself.

Interesting times ahead. With recents reports of as much as 30% of aircraft passengers having Covid and originating from China, it will be interesting to see if this will increase the covid cases in Thailand. Currently, there are travel restrictions on travellers coming China, Hong Kong and Macoau imposed by numerous countries. Intesting to see if Thailand will get lumped in with China, Hon Kong and Macaou and thus making it difficult for us expats to travel to our home countries if required. Que, Sera, Sera.

"It is worth to invest and benefits a lot of users with cheap passenger fees, although a specific fee and pricing structure were not yet presented. "

Surprise, surprise they don't want to discuss pricing ... lol. I doubt Thais will pay Swiss "cheap" prices. This "Pie in the Sky" project has as much chance of being implemented as Thai immigration being considerate of the foreigner's needs. 

18 minutes ago, bradiston said:

I still can't figure out how they located him. The police head honcho stresses how important it is to file a TM30, but the implication is that it wasn't done in this case. Any clues?

Form original article:

"By emphasizing the place of residence where the alien resides, the owner or occupant must notify to the immigration office within 24 hours under section 38 of the Immigration Act 1979, which is considered an important tool in control Prevent and suppress criminal groups that lurk in various forms. "

My interpretation is that immigration was not advised within 24 hours. Although not specifically stated I am specualting that immigration was eventually notified. Unfortunately, this does not bode well for us law abiding expats. All we need now is immigration to demand that we report within  24 hours to our local imnigration office if we travel outside our Thai province. No silver lining here :(. 

From the original article it appears that the Swede had set up a fake bank account to withdrawl funds to escape Thailand. Also, interesting was that he was arrested for coming to Thailand to commit crimes against foreigners and Thais. Unforunately, this provides ammunition for Thai immigration to continue the 90 day-report, TM 30's,  etc and encourage strict adherence to carrying your original passport to prevent foreigners from creating fake mobile PP photos and visa stamps. Potentially more regulation to monitor and control the falang in the name of safety of the Thai citizen. This is not good news for us law abiding expats. 

2 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

In all my years here, and traveling around and being stopped at checkpoints it has never been an issue. Pink ID card shown or DL to check in for domestic flights or check into hotels.. non issue.

I do not doubt what you are saying. But you are talking about domestic flights and hotels. What we are discussing here is raids conducted by immigration officers with far reaching powers.