CaptainNemo

16 hours ago, peterb17 said:

As long as you do not require some medical help- things such as blood tests are sent to Bangkok.

Sure, it's obvious to me that that's what Cambodians prefer to do. Being on the border with Thailand or near an airport with regular flights to Thailand is a consideration for location: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Poipet.

16 hours ago, peterb17 said:

The political situation there is worse than Thailand 

I think that's par for the course in all these countries, and part of why they are affordable. Many people go to tropical places for affordable beaches, villas, culture, and yes, access to younger, slimmer, more compliant women, and iffy politics is part of what keeps them affordable, otherwise they'd be like luxury .cations in Caribbean, Mediterranean, or South Pacific. Pretty much every country in Asia has politics we wouldn't tolerate in the west, especially SEAsia, but I guess if you're wise, you design your life there such that you can get out quickly. I like being near a land border or the sea, so that I wouldn't have to rely on airports. You could argue the case for Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, and have concerns about future events between those countries and their neighbours. I hear Taiwan and Japan are very appealing places though.

16 hours ago, peterb17 said:

Back to the OP - I think as others have said - it’s peace of mind- sticking to the rules . Yes 800000 is a reasonable amount of money , but it just sits and does not go away. 

It is less than other comparable places, like Malaysia, require, and I can see the appeal if there's any uncertainty about the rates and the source of income for the income method. Hopefully policy won't change the required deposit amount in future if the country becomes more developed.

16 hours ago, peterb17 said:

As a retiree- I have all the time in the world - in a year I spend at most 2 hours a year at immigration- not exactly a huge burden .  

I don't think the admin itself is the issue. I think it's just the arbitrary nature of the policy (e.g.: 90-day exit and reentry) and the lack of reciprocity with Visa rules (like not being able to work on a spouse visa).

3 hours ago, TSF said:

I'm in a long-term relationship with a Thai woman, so remain for that reason alone. However, if I was unattached I'd depart ASAP. Cambo would be a first choice, I've been there many times for holidays, as you say it's a similar lifestyle. Many things are cheaper than Thailand, and many things are similar prices. I'm not sure about medical/doctors though...Thailand is a much better place to be if you get ill. 

I've been married to one for ages, but we never lived in Thailand, so I'm looking at it from a different perspective. Latin America is not really viable, because it's more expensive to get there from UK than Asia, and she doesn't speak Spanish. Malaysia want even more deposits than Thailand. Italy, France, Spain, Holland is a possibilty for her work, but it's EU. I hear (from Italians that) Italy is a bureaucratic ballache, France would have to be specific parts of the south of it, and it's not entirely easy or affordable. Spain doesn't appeal to me as much as Portugal, but it's got some appeal. Holland is small, dull and too similar to the UK for me. I think as long as you can get to Bangkok for medical stuff, Cambodia has some appeal.

3 hours ago, MRToMRT said:

Its one of the few things of officialdom that has gotten easier over my time here ;+) I am in the process of "repatriating" my finances held over many years here. Not as easy as in the "real" world as they won't allow me to do it online here still. I figure better to get it out before they have another great idea and end up making it harder again. 

BTW the 800k falls within the daily transfer limit (50k$) and the charges are not more than my overseas bank charges.

Well that's good to hear.

3 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Similar life?

If a person has little respect for themselves and is so desperate to relegate their life to a 3rd world environment, then good luck.

 

I do the 800k easy peasy.

This isn't about willy waving; your non-specific laying into Cambodia doesn't really add much to the thread.

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

i thought you said your agent quoted 25k, get your story straight

 

hmm..

7 minutes ago, natway09 said:

Some of you guys really annoy me.

You want to make Thailand your home away from home & bi,,,, & grizzle about having to have a measly 800,000 Bht in YOUR bank account at a bank of  YOUR choice which cannot be accessed by anyone but YOU.

Get a life preferably in another country

Again... This isn't about willy waving; your non-specific laying into Cambodia doesn't really add much to the thread.

19 hours ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

Well you do meet in person! Anyway most people are not as scared as you....Not Thai girls anway! Dangerous people! 555

I'm sure you're right, I'm just saying, if I wanted to write a plot for a serial killer story, a fictionalised equivalent of Tinder would be like a serial killer's supermarket.

Like shooting fish in a barrel.

9 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Had I just read the topic headline 'Why Bother With The 800k Baht Method?' and plowed straight in with my answer, it would go like this:

 

Yes indeed why bother with this method thus allowing the Imm Pol to dictate to me what I can and cannot do with my own money?

 

I appreciate that some folks may not have a choice in this, due lack of sufficient monthly income. For my own part though, I am now in a position to make that choice. And, although the 800K is the easiest option, I will continue with the marriage method.

 

Thus I can decide what to do with my money. 

 

 

I'm beginning to feel that Cambodia is a lot more appealing (cheaper and easier, and offering a similar life) than doing all this. Presumably transferring arbitrary lumps x00,000 baht back out of Thailand is not as easy as transferring it in, and subject to all kinds of deductions. 

Latin Americans defintely have an appeal

I know that some people have reported being able to cross at numerous border crossings along the Thai-Cambodian border, but I would like to draw attention to the Cambodian government eVisa website:

My first thought was that I couldn't enter Cambodia at Ban Laem, Pailin, in Jantaburyshire, or at Surinshire, etc.. but it does say "does not support e-Visa", so I presume it's VoA. Do they accept Thai Baht as well as USD, or do they only accept 35 USD? Can you get a 30-day Cambodian E visa there or does it have to be a Cambodian T visa?

https://www.evisa.gov.kh/information/port_entry/3

26 minutes ago, falang1969 said:

 

I used to get a Non Imm "O" Multi entry from London for the past 6 years based on marriage/kid. I missed the June deadline this year while in the UK, you have to do everything online now AND they don't issue said "O" visa anymore, in London. 

On Ubonjoe's advice, I went to Ho Chi Min, Vietnam to get one, with no problems.

 

"Re-entry"?, the Non Imm "O" Multi entry is exactly that....come and go as many times as you like as long as the Visa is still valid. London will not extend the visa. You would need to apply again at Savannakhet, Laos and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as it currently stands.

 

Remember, just before the visa expires you can get an extra 90 days, effectively making it a 15 month multi entry visa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder if this policy change is some kind of retaliation for something?

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

Spout off? Lol. cranky we are

Well, I could call it a premature ejaculation, but that might be misinterpreted.

1 hour ago, Saltire said:

So far after a compartively short time living here (2 to 3 years) I do like the Thai paople. Mainly because no Thai person has ever said or done anything to make me 'hate' them.

...

 

I would admit to having no real Thai friends due only to not being very proficient in Thai. I feel I will never really get to know anyone untill that improves, which it will albeit slowly, and anyway, I read with interest a few posters saying fluency in Thai changed their perception for the worse. I am happy here, I have no enemies I know of, but still exercise an element of caution when dealing with some Thai. Even in my small village there are 2 convicted murderers (one double) and one pedophile walking around.

eh?! nice village.

In general I find most Thais are friendly and playful, in stark contrast to most Vietnamese and Chinese I've met. I've had bad experiences with Sino-Thais (and it's a Chinese subculture thing across SEAsia I think), and sometimes you rub up against prickly people in Thailand who deal with foreigners a lot, in transport-related things. Being able to speak Thai/Isan helps a lot though.

Not sure I could really be bothered to talk to many Thai or Lao geezers beyond some transaction, I just don't find many have much interesting to say after the smalltalk, even in their own language.

I've also had bad experiences with Japanese, which isn't helped by speaking their language, and I generally quite like Japan. Koreans I had a lot of exposure to as well, and socialised with them a lot, but in the bigger picture I find them pretty inaccessible. Indonesians I have encountered a lot, and the mostly the men I find to be generally alright, but only the men. To generalise further, I find Cambodians and Burmese I find easygoing and interesting to talk to. British people, I generally can't stand ????

11 minutes ago, Solinvictus said:

Being here for 7 years and able to speak & understand Thai quite well..unfortunately I have to say, I too really don't like your average Thai person. Why? It's like they have been programmed to think and have the same views. On top of that, the extent to which they enjoy not only talking about others but being very nosy (suak-555) is to me of lowbrow character. Such characteristics are intensified if you are a foreigner also.

 

This doesn't mean I am not happy here but at times, I feel like, dam..I really don't mix well with Thai folks on an intellectual level and in general likes/dislikes. A fake smile. Thats mostly all they deserve. IMO.  I do realize not all people are the same but here, dam near.

 

Here is a link to a Thai tune I enjoy. Here it is.

 

I don't think you are likely to have the same sorts of friendships in Asia as in the West. The basis upon which you meet people is often different, and the nature of how and why you're there won't be the same either. In the west I think most relationships are more centred around shared "projects" (activities); and in the east, things seem to be more transactional, and not always in a seedy or hostile way. It's just the nature of culture to be that you're in a group-centred society where networking matters. In the west you can by OK without ever bothering to network. In asia you're less likely to have shared projects/activities.

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

Wow and here I am asking the Thai ladies "which one number 1 for Thai" when in the detergent or sauce aisles of a supermarket.

1 hour ago, CaptainNemo said:

I was in the supermarket with the kids battling over large water bottles, and some bird came up to me ...

Nope, they came up to me... why don't you read more carefully before spouting off?

1 hour ago, 4675636b596f75 said:

From my experience, Thai people lie more often than not.  I'm told it is a way of saving face.  Most decent people cannot stand liars.  I have been lied to by Thais so often, that I just assume if they are talking, they are lying. 

 

That is from experience.  The wife lies and then lies about lying, she says, it is the Thai way.

 

Why should I argue this fact?

From my experience, I've met as many farang who lie more often than not, in farang countries themselves.

I can't really say with any certainty that lying is more prevalent in SEAsia. Perhaps "face saving" is more ingrained here, but forms of it exist in the west... "being cool", and smearing/self-aggrandising at work.

1 minute ago, dimitriv said:

 

My girlfriend was very surprised that I do not like beer, and that I am used to work all day. She thought that most foreigners spend all day in a bar drinking beer and never work. Her female friends had the same prejudice.

 

My opinion about Thai people...  Usually they are ok.  The ones I know are a bit lazy. Things never get finished. I notice that they do not care about the environment. And are often not very capable to do their job right. They usually don't take responsibility if things go wrong. I am not sure, but I think this has to do with culture and a work environment where own initiative and taking responsibility are not appreciated.  

 

As a result, things like customer service aren't great either. I really hate that if I have a problem, someone is laughing without doing anything.

 

Oh, and where I come from we say:  "Only stupid people laugh without reason."  

 

 

Spend a bit of time in Jakarta, and you'll think customer service and attitudes to pollution in Bangkok are fantastic.

I still don't understand any of this tagging malarky.

1 minute ago, robblok said:

Those are just people with nationalistic feelings, its is more prevalent in some countries then others. Its like they get pride from belonging to a country. I see it a lot on Thaivisa too, bashing other countries thinking theirs is perfect. Nationalists are usually not fun people.

I'm an ironic Nationalist - I hate my country, but I don't want anyone foreign living in it either ????

1 hour ago, robblok said:

I can't say that there are nationalities i like more then others, for me its more about finding common ground and communicating. Thais have some bad habits like how some of them drive and litter. Then again if there were not many checks in my country people would drive bad too.

 

I must say I have some really nice Thai people near me and some bad ones. Kinda like how it would be back where I am from.

I tend not to like the sort of Thai people who say "Thai people" all the time when they talk.

I was in the supermarket with the kids battling over large water bottles, and some bird came up to me and said "Thai people like Singha water, is cleaner", and I said, "They're all the same to me".

It's like when they ask you "Chorp Muang Thai mai?" when they run out things to say, and I find myself saying things like "It's alright, but it's not as good as Cambodia" lol.

What we're really talking about is not "Thai people" but subcultures... and Thailand has many who don't have much in common with each other within Thailand itself. There are lots of subdivisions within Thailand, and they often don't mix or don't mix well. As "farang" we are also a minority subculture, and are more likely to identify with similarly peripheralised subcultures than others, but the moment you start saying I don't like X-people, you'll meet one, who is irritatingly nice and ruins your whole stereotype.

We all build up rules-of-thumb about various ethnic groups or nationalities based on experiences so far, and they will always be limited by us ourselves and the situations we put ourselves in.

31 minutes ago, CGW said:

A 45 year old man "boasting" he doesn't have to pay for sex thread! no wonder your marriage failed!

Well, you've got to keep your fridge full somehow. Things like Tinder make me gag, but they must be a boon for various kinds of dangerous people. People tend to be either better or worse in person than they seem on the internet; same goes for personalities, I guess.

There are countless articles about different aspects to this issue, and it's impact on Thailand would be noticed if or when a correction happens.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/China-faces-1-growth-in-2030s-if-reform-lags-World-Bank

https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/China-s-mountain-of-bad-debt-climbs-10-in-6-months

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-companies-unseen-foreign-debt-210000578.html

Forget the Trade War. China Is Already in Crisis - Bloomberg How Close Is China To A Financial Crisis?

Is China About to Cause the Next Asian Economic Crisis? | RealClearPolitics

https://www.globalresearch.ca/chinas-debt-load-locus-next-crisis/5682953

http://www.ejinsight.com/20190719-chinas-debt-tops-300-of-gdp-now-15-of-global-total-iif-says/

China's debt to GDP ratio has reportedly hit 300%, which sounds like the largest in the world, and puts a new slant on what it's doing in Hong Kong.

Chinese local government debt remains hidden but could be as high as USD 6Tn; China holds around $3Tn in US debt; and hidden corporate foreign debt is resulting in higher debt maintenance costs. China has already had to bail out banks, and there are moral hazard concerns with the state behind everything. Foreign companies are leaving, Chinese personal capital is leaving and being invested in property overseas.

President Xi is very nationalistic and there is a government drive to lift everyone out of poverty over the next 20 years.

The whole Belt-and-Road thing seems to be about getting unproductive workers out of the way as China has to keep people employed building things that nobody will buy to maintain internal stability.

15% of global debt, over USD 40 trillion. Maybe 329% of GDP.

How long can China hide this problem before something breaks, and China's miracle is over? I'm wondering whether 2020 will see the first cracks, and a change in direction for the Baht.

I haven't met and Cambodians who are happy with the situation, and I was talking to some last night, I think they'll be relieved if it's true, they seem to much prefer westerners for all kinds of reasons.

I was on a WesternGeco boat just before they shut up shop. Huge, luxurious, and empty, the writing was on the wall. I've heard about wind farm projects planned near Taiwan and Sulawesi, and there are projects off the Atlantic coast of the USA, and still work in the North Sea, who knows what the recent oil price news will bring.

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

I'm not convinced many men in their late 60's or over could still get a job in the west.

Maybe I could get a night shift stacking shelves in Tesco/ASDA.

 

Teaching or programming are options... the former because the profession is decimated and people assume the older you are the more you know to teach etc...; and programming because it's the great equaliser... massive demand and you can either do it or you can't, you can't fake it really; and you can do it facelessly online at any age. Starting salaries for juniors/fresh graduates are £40k+ in England for things like C/C++.

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

someone will take a photo of the nice Farang sitting next to his girlfriend and put it on Facebook.

the next thing you know immigration is searching their database with facial recognition and moving Heaven and Earth to find you.  

It's amazing that some people will go out of their way to do it. In the west, we see people all the time who we might reasonably have doubts about, but woe betide you make any comments about it, you may well find yourself the subject of an investigation. It's a pretty sad situation. There should be visa reciprocity.

20 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

The multi entry Non Imm O Visa is no longer available from the UK.

I know that.
The "postal option to renew the Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa in the UK" that Stocky mentioned is what I'm asking about... I'm presuming that renewing is extending rather than getting a new one.

15 minutes ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

Europe crushes entrepreneurship  not the UK. The latter is the least regulated country in Europe regarding setting up a business, especially for foreigners. In Thailand its very difficult.

I think it's mainly the cost of ...everything... in the UK for me... I feel like there is way too much unnecessary dead money costs, and parasites operating off various species of rent (I include interest, and "fees" and taxes and things... there's way too much of it... like <deleted> is "stamp duty" for, for example?). I mean finally the whole letting agent scam has been overturned, with all those hollow fees for nothing. That's my problem with the UK, it's indicative of low productivity... just charging layers upon layers of compulsory or semi-compulsory fees/taxes/interest/rent/insurance/etc... for nothing, it's parasitic, and inefficient, and places barriers and burdens on businesses. I'm sure the EU's worse. By being out of it, it's possible to legally avoid quite a lot, and finally keep a reasonable amount of the fruit of your own labour, and recover from ripoff Britain.

Why is this even a thing? What is the concern about?