remorhaz

I live in China and we don't have to do any reporting if we travel for a few days *with the exception* of staying at a hotel.  Hotels do report your whereabouts to the police and if you move house you must report this to the police within 30 days.  Only certain hotels can cater to us and this sometimes causes problems but the reason isn't exactly what you think.  The software used for reporting our location is specialized while the standard software used in hotels only accepts Chinese ID cards and not Passport numbers which can differ in length.  Essentially the rule here is if you move permanently report it and if you are traveling make sure there is a friend you can stay with or the town has a bigger hotel.  We never see a form when we travel it is entirely handled by the hotel.

So a technical recruiter I've been working with, a gorgeous young blond, called me up and said "Great news!  I've got 2 openings for you!"  I immediately answered in my most salacious voice "I know... ????  " there was a pause for a minute then she just sighed and said "<deleted>" and I said 'Actually I prefer the other one" 

1 hour ago, reefsurfah said:

Its up to you to decide if its worth it, there will always be hurdles for any country.   Unfortunately, the ones who abused the system are making it tougher for everyone else.  Like everything else in life, all good things come to an end.  Maybe its better you try HCM to see if that changes you.  If it doesn't, Thailand will still be here.

Your statements are correct of course there will be hurdles and I realize that Panama isn't Norway? (I think they are the number one visa free country now it changes a lot).  Still it would be nice and  if they took my past into account.  "Right.  Guy shows up for 10 days, drops a wad of money on tourist stuff and tours then leaves.  Repeat.  Never over stays.  Always stays at really nice hotels.  Not Bill Gates but spends a decent amount of money. No problems with the law."    

I know that its unrealistic and the guys at the consulate are simply looking at a checklist but they really do paint with a wide brush.  I am unaware of legions of my fellow Panamanians over-running the country and overstaying their visas but maybe I am just ill informed.  I will try HCM I've heard good things about it and if you or anyone bumps into a Panamanian at a bar in HCM who is frustrated with Thai visa procedures mention this thread and your first beer is on me.

15 hours ago, Enki said:

No, he is not. There is no country in the world where one partner in a marriage is liable for the other partners debts.

Sadly that's not true.  Ask any American divorced male.  I personally got 100% of my ex-wifes student loan debt upon our divorce - debt that she racked up before we even met.  Here in Thailand the other posters are correct. 

To the original poster your lady doesn't care or understand about life outside of Isaan.  Her family is there and that is all that counts.  Things like schools, and living condition mean nothing - everything is about family and YOU are NOT on that all important list.  She is earning her way to heaven by giving money to her parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and likely a boyfriend.  The bleeding will continue until the cow drops dead.  If you pay off the 3M baht loan she will very grateful and immediately get another loan... rinse wash repeat until the cow is milked to death.  This is the Thai way, you are not the first, you won't sadly be the last and this is what is going to happen 100%.  As you have children that complicates things a lot.  In Thailand it doesn't matter but you better believe she's already gotten plenty of helpful advice about collecting child support from Australia.  Are the Aussies as brutal and cruel as the US when it comes to this absolutely undischargable in bankruptcy you must pay or go to prison type of debt?  I don't know but they are probably similar. 

Understand this - you are now in a position where she can demand money from you to see your children and that is absolutely what is going to happen.  About the only hat trick you could try would be to offer her a stupid amount of money for full custody - i.e. you bribe her with 5 million baht and take the kids back home to Australia and CUT ALL TIES (THAIS).  If she follows you back there at any time in the future you will immediately be dragged into court, she'll promptly take custody from you because feminist courts are the rule, and then they'll slap onerous child support on you, likely retroactively leading to you owing her 100's of thousands of Aussie dollars, and then she'll take them back to Isaan along with her monthly tribute order.  To say you've put yourself in a bad situation would be an understatement, sorry.

13 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I wouldn't call anyone, not my language, not my country, not my business.

Let a local do it & walk on by.

This is a cold but I completely agree. You don't want to get involved.  I have seen a serious accident happen while eating at a roadside restaurant with a bunch of other farangs.  The police arrived and upon seeing us made a beeline to our table.  The cop tried to say that we had "distracted the drivers" or such and we had to pay a fine.  Fortunately one of our Thai ladies immediately got into it with the cop and he decided it wasn't worth the hassle.  

The fact is that you are seen by many as a big large wallet to be milked and by doing the honest thing (in your country) you expose yourself to risks and problems you would never even consider.  Best to just keep walking unless it directly involves you and yours.  

4 hours ago, ThaiBunny said:

I'm paying the same price for hookers as I was paying ten years ago

Yes and I believe you sir but I would say you are likely paying the same price *for the exact same hookers* that you began using 10 years ago (same gals 10 years older).  Now thats some inflation!

If you want to turn your relationship into a sexless relationship it's easy - get married!  Once you are locked down there is no point for her to sleep with you anymore.  She gets lifetime access to your money and you get... to pay her... a lot more than if she was just hired help.  Don't do it men - not worth it.  

What?  No Kiribaiti or Micronesia exemptions?  What about other stalwarts of tourism like Samoa or the Republic of Sea Land.  I'll admit they've covered 1/3 to 1/2 of the worlds population with China and India but nothing from the West other than Andorra?  

On 11/7/2018 at 2:24 PM, mogandave said:

 

Why didn’t you file an assault charge if the bartender threw your change at you?

Oh, that’s right, because you made it up. Or if I’d did happen, perhaps you you were so Eurorude they didn’t want a tip from you...

 

Forgive him Dick - he can't go two posts without labeling someone a liar.  I guess you take the good with the bad with morgandave in that he'll talk smack about you but at least he'll leave a tip.  I've been to the US and have had a waitress get upset over a small tip (<15% but >10%) more than once and yes they do throw things on occasion. And if you file an "assault charge" against a lady server?  Be prepared to be arrested yourself and now that "listen and believe" and "metoo" are the law of the land.  Best just to avoid the US restaurants altogether and stay happy and content in the LOS.  

1 hour ago, mogandave said:

 

Tip when Finnish in mau?

 

Some Idiot Americans believe its their holy mission in life to spread their stupid customs to the rest of the world whether other people want them or not.  While most aren't a pain or too pushy about this there are some arrogant <removed> who simply cannot imagine that other people prefer their own way of doing things and they will not shut up.  They look like inconsiderate ethnocentric morons to the rest of the planet but again lack of self reflection is like an olympic sport for some of them.

On 9/20/2018 at 7:44 AM, mogandave said:

 

What he said was: “I’m a skinflint, and I want others to be skinflints as well so I can feel better about myself being a skinflint.

Not sure if he meant skinflint or chiseler, but the spirit is the same either way.

 

You're a dumbass.  Put the bottle down and take a breath you moron.

On 9/19/2018 at 6:57 PM, mogandave said:

 

No, you implied that the bell-staff in Thailand most always stick their hand out and waited for a tip, and accused anyone that disagreed with you of having either never been to Thailand, a fool or a liar.

 

I didn't imply the bell staff asked for tips - they usually do at the places I have stayed at.  That's my experience and I was called a liar for saying by someone else not you.  I then said that this person (not you) hadn't been Thailand.

Perhaps your were having a bad day when you wrote it, perhaps it was not what you meant, but that’s pretty much what you wrote.

 

It is not and you are incorrect.

I think you owe us an apology.

 

No and i certainly don't owe you an apology since it wasn't you I was talking too.  Life isn't just about you snowflake.  

I don't care what

On 9/19/2018 at 6:57 PM, mogandave said:

To be clear, if you’d have said it happened once or twice, I (and I assume most everyone) would have believed you.

 

I don't care to meet whatever standard of belief you choose to dream up in your head nor will I give any credence to such.

On 9/19/2018 at 6:57 PM, mogandave said:

 

On 9/17/2018 at 10:10 PM, mogandave said:

 

You started it...

 

I disagree.  I gave a story about a tipping in a hotel and was immediately called a liar.  Not by you (fair play) but I was there and it did happen.  I live in China now and there is not a tipping culture here and its indeed welcome.  Your tab is your tab and nobody is spitting in your food or knocking on your door with their hand out.  Most refreshing.

On 9/16/2018 at 7:51 PM, balo said:

Sorry , I think you're just a sad troll.

 

I live in Thailand I have been to 100's of hotels. And most of the posters agree with me , not you. 

 

I wasn't aware the truth was subject to a vote but if that's the case by all means I'll hire out an airplane for you to jump out of sans parachute and pay the majority of the crew to tell you that its fine.  And if you are going to say anyone who doesn't share your personal experience is a liar you should be prepared to be called out on your stupidity because you're stupid for saying such.

On 9/3/2018 at 11:02 PM, balo said:

Don't believe your story . Been to hundreds of hotels in Thailand and never experienced anyone stucking out their hand for tip.   In the US however , yes. 

You are either stupid, a liar, or you've never been to Thailand.  If you stay in a hotel they escort you to your room and stick out their paws for a tip after turning on the A/C.  This happens thousands of times per day.  Whats actually even worse is when I did this I would sometimes get a knock on the door later when I returned and its the hotel staff guy wanting his tip because he didn't get his piece of flesh when I first arrived.  Literally I went to the door, opened it, and there the guy is in his little hotel uniform with his hand out.  In this case he didn't even turn on the A/C just showed up and wanted money.  Yes this common and yes you're belief isn't required for reality to exist.  

There are two categories - if she decides to pawn it - its a shit test and she'll give you ticket to go get it out of hock and she had to do it because of a water buffalo tragedy or such.  OR - she'll sell it outright and either not tell you or pretend it was stolen so she can try to get you to buy her another one for her birthday... all Thai women have at least 5 birthdays per month so the wait will not be long!

Are the police fired or at least disciplined when they accept bribes? No? Do they maybe go out of their way to target certain expat groups rather than Thais for certain crimes to save face? Are they discouraged from doing this? No? Unless and until corruption can be actually fought against rather than strongly encouraged you will have no trust on the part of the people.

Take a group of professional Thais and have them 'commit crime' (staged and not real crimes please) and then let them attempt to bribe the police. If the police accept arrest the police officer and have him lose his job. Doing this just a few times will send an immediate message. Have traffic offenses require the suspect to pay at the station not into the officers pocket directly. Remove the incentives currently in place for bribery and replace them with stiff penalties.

Well now this is a fine fix. They had a falang all ready to play scapegoat and then someone brought up DNA testing. Great. Now they have to actually *verify* evidence instead of just fingering the first non-Thai within 100 miles. Their first concern is putting this to rest to save face. Tough, difficult, find the killer style police work is not something (and lets be fair here this is true) this little island substation has to deal with often. This is like something you would see in Chicago. But now that its here and its front page news everywhere they can't simply spike it and arrest the first foreigner they see. The guilty parties are possibly long gone by now having had plenty of warning by the cops that they must expand their investigation to include <gasp!!!> THAIS!.