alex88

Thailand is losing its charm, just like my home country of Australia long ago lost its charm and my old favourite Cambodia is also losing its charm. It's just the way things are going globally.

Maybe it's just you, rather than the world?

I think you will find that it's a common sentiment that the world has become wrapped up in consumerism and has lost some of its soul. I love Thailand and I am happy here. My point was not to say there is anything specifically wrong with Thailand but that everywhere changes. I can see why my post came across as overly negative. I could be more balanced and say the world is changing and some things have been lost and some gained. Nothing is the same as before and sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it's a bad thing.

Thailand is losing its charm, just like my home country of Australia long ago lost its charm and my old favourite Cambodia is also losing its charm. It's just the way things are going globally.

Please see this sub-forum (pinned thread and other threads as well) for detailed information on visas: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/185-cambodia-visas/ Definitely easier than in Thailand.

Prices: some things cost more, somethings cost less, than in Thailand,. Maybe be more specific? Price of what? Depending on a person's life style it might cost more or less than living in Thailand. But in either direction I don't think the difference will be large. Things that are markedly cheaper in Cambodia include used cars and most imported goods. Utilities are markedly more expensive. I don't think there is a clear case to be made solely on basis of cost for one country over the other.

Driving: even more chaotic and dangerous than in Thailand (which is saying a lot).

Medical care is definitely terrible, and that is a major consideration especially for older people and people with chronic health problems.

Actually Thailand has the second highest road fatality rate in the world after Libya so that makes Cambodian roads safer than Thai ones.

Is that a per capita, or per 000's of cars, direct comparison with Cambodia - or a total numeric figure ?

I believe the total number of deaths is more than 10x higher in Thailand, the per capita figure is about double and (the more realistic) per 000's vehicles Cambodia is 30% higher.

That is an interesting point regarding a per 000 vehicles figure. You could be right.

You definitely cannot get anything remotely livable in Phnom Penh for $150 a month, even sharing accomodation. You also won't get anything that cheap (i.e. 5,000 baht) in central Bangkok.

For a decent one bedroom (or private bedroom/bath within a larger villa shared) you are looking at $350 on up. Most people pay more like $500, but $350 - $500 can be had if you look a while and are willing to live in non-expat heavy areas.

A Cambodian friend of mine lives in an apartment in central Phnom Penh and pays $70 a month. it's actually quite a nice livable place. The only problem is a lack of air conditioning. It must be possible to get something similar but with aircon for less than double that price surely.

Please see this sub-forum (pinned thread and other threads as well) for detailed information on visas: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/185-cambodia-visas/ Definitely easier than in Thailand.

Prices: some things cost more, somethings cost less, than in Thailand,. Maybe be more specific? Price of what? Depending on a person's life style it might cost more or less than living in Thailand. But in either direction I don't think the difference will be large. Things that are markedly cheaper in Cambodia include used cars and most imported goods. Utilities are markedly more expensive. I don't think there is a clear case to be made solely on basis of cost for one country over the other.

Driving: even more chaotic and dangerous than in Thailand (which is saying a lot).

Medical care is definitely terrible, and that is a major consideration especially for older people and people with chronic health problems.

Actually Thailand has the second highest road fatality rate in the world after Libya so that makes Cambodian roads safer than Thai ones.

In central Thailand we have seen hardly any rain at all this year. I kept wondering when the rainy season will arrive but it never came.

In central Thailand we have seen hardly any rain at all this year. I kept wondering when the rainy season will arrive but it never came.

Working in IT I suspect that what has happened is that they have analysed entry records and tagged people who look like visa runners.

It would certainly make sense for the computer to be flagging up someone with more than six visa-exempt entries as not a normal tourist. After all, a Thai passport only last 5 years. However, unless refusal of entry would be devastating, I think it makes sense to do nothing until we here of more cases.

I suggest this thread be kept open in case there are more cases. If entries before a certain date are being ignored, it may take time for the six entries to be accumulated. Of course, there may be local instructions on not paying a lot of heed to what the computer says in this matter, and they might not have been promulgated at Don Mueang.

6 entries in 5 years isn't many. Until I moved here I used to visit Thailand on holiday about 3 times per year. I would also often visit Laos and Cambodia meaning in a one month trip I would enter Thailand about 3 times.

I am an Atheist.....I don't care Christmas. But I am not Anti-Christmas (well the jingle bell music is a bit annoying), if the others enjoy it, I am happy to watch.

I don't understand why people are so negative....If they don't like a festival they want the others don't enjoy it as well. I like Christmas and wish everyone merry Christmas even I don't celebrate it.

I am also not a Christian but I love Christmas. It's a cultural celebration and it's a lot of fun.

Christmas day is the best day for: HOUSE CLEANING.

Why on Christmas day? It's a normal working day here.

It is impossible for the farang teaching industry to function without the double entry the way it currently operates

Given that most schools are using agencies and they like to give ridiculous 9-10 month contracts, many teachers are left hanging at the end of the year. They need time to cover until the new term starts, and then more time for the new school to process paperwork for the non B. The double entry tourist visa was essential for many people to cover gaps in work and to wait for paperwork to be processed.

I expect most schools simply won't be able to find anyone next year. There is going to be a serious shortage, since Thailand has the lowest wages in Asia, as well as the most ridiculous paperwork, licensing, and visas. Even Vietnam pays a lot more than Thailand now. Only people already established (girlfriend, wife, kids etc) here will stay.

Will this result in higher salaries for those that are legal? Knowing Thailand, probably not. They will instead funnel more money to agencies who will try to lure backpackers in to working for single term contracts.

The longest gap between contracts would be about two months around March/April, and a single entry allows 2 months extendable by another month. So that 3 months should be plenty of time to organise a Non B.

I guess it's a matter of taste. The white guy doesn't look attractive at all to me. He's a hairy beast, like a werewolf.

I think people running privately held businesses that do not do business with the government ought to be able to refuse service to anyone they please.

Give this man a cigar, thankfully after 18 posts we get to the root of the matter.

I was going to post this before, but declined, waiting to see who would be the first.

Thankfully Thailand being the business friendly country it is, it lets busines owners decide how to run their business.

For the record, if that includes gays barring straights from their premises, i have no problem.

A private individual running a business as they see fit, with no Big Gov't breathing down their neck.

North Korea is nice this time of year for those who want Central Gov't running their lifes.

It's 2015 and discrimination based upon race, gender, sexual orientation or disability is unacceptable and contrary to accepted social behaviour.

You are incorrect when you state that Thailand is a business friendly country that lets business owners decide how to run their business. A proper response would monopolize this thread and would make this a "business" topic discussion as opposed to a human/civil rights discussion. I will make it very simple for you, Under the Gender Equality Act 2558 B.E. it is illegal to discriminate when providing goods and services.

As per the Act;

The reason for promulgating this Act has been the fact that there is no clear measure to prevent unfair gender discrimination at present, resulting in no protection and no appropriate fairness for those who are subject to unfair gender discrimination. It is, therefore, deemed appropriate to enact the law to provide protective measures for those subject to unfair gender discrimination. This shall also further prevent the incursion of unfair gender discrimination, which is in compliance with the international human rights principles according to the international obligations for which Thailand has been a party. This Act is therefore promulgated

More specifically;

Section 3: In this Act: “Unfair gender discrimination” means any act or omission of the act which causes division, discrimination or limitation of any right and benefit either directly or indirectly without justification due to the fact that the person is male or female or of a different appearance from his/her own sex by birth.

Section 34. Any person violating the orders of the WorLorPor Committee as prescribed in Section 20 (1) shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than six months or a fine of not more than twenty thousand baht, or both an imprisonment and a fine.

Section 35. Any person violating Section 22, paragraph two shall be subject to imprisonment of not more than three months or a fine of not more than ten thousand baht, or both an imprisonment and a fine.

Section 36. For all offences according to this Act, if the following competent officers have considered that the alleged persons should not be subject to imprisonment or prosecution, they shall have the power to settle the case as follows:

1. the Director-General or the person authorized by the Director-General, for offences committed in Bangkok Metropolitan areas,
2. the provincial governors or the persons authorized by the provincial governors, for offences committed in other provinces.

If the ladyboys believe they have been discriminated against and wish to address the situation, they should speak up. The good " old days" of putting up signs outside facilities that say No Blacks or Whites Only, or No Jews or No Italians or No Irish or No Chinamen (sic) are over in much of the world.

That Grindr pic you posted is irrelevant. A everybody has sexual preferences and if somebody is not attracted to a particular race it isn't racist to say so. You don't choose what you're attracted to. Why waste everybody's time? I only like Asians, I am usually not attracted to white people. Does that make me racist against white people? No of course not, I like white people, I'm just not attracted to them and not interested in dating them and would say so in a dating profile so as to not waste everybody's time.

This very topic was addressed yesterday an length, it came to the same conclusions

that the Quran and Islam condone and encourages the persecutions of gay people....

As is the bible and Christianity. It's the same book, same text, that condemns homosexuality in both religions. In fact it is American churches that are pushing for the death penalty for gay people in countries such as Uganda.

You wouldn't be able to see much of the world if you only travelled when others are travelling. Travelling alone is the best way to travel and South East Asia is one of the safer regions of the world.

Not all of those who walked out were necessarily migrants. A lot of Australians are offended by the national anthem and what it represents, particularly Aboriginal people. You can't tell Aboriginal Australians to go back where they came from.

All media is biased. in addition to that, the story regarding asylum seekers in detention being treated inhumanely is also believed by a lot of Australians.

This test is insultingly easy. If you can't get 100% on this test then you're probably not bright enough to do much at all.

The tourist visa is irrelevant for teachers as you can't work on a tourist visa. you need a Non B. Every teacher I know here has a Non B, I have never met a teacher on a tourist visa unless they are just beginning a contract and waiting on their Non B.

It's not as simple as just use a condom. Everybody makes mistakes, and condoms can break. Positive people taking medication and getting their viral load to undetectable have been shown so far to have a zero chance of infecting others. There are various aspects in tackling hiv. And also reducing the stigma and treating those who have hiv.

Those who think an Elton John concert would be just full of glbt people are pretty ignorant as elton john is popular in all circles. Despite Putin ignoring Elton John's request for dialogue on gay rights in Russia, Putin is actually a fan of Elton John himself, and Putin is no fan of homosexuality.

How naive for somebody to say asylum seekers can stay in Malaysia or Indonesia without fear of persecution. As I already said all asylum seekers are imprisoned in those countries as soon as they are discovered. Asylum seekers are not allowed to stay in Malaysia or Indonesia. Neither country accepts them.

Most asylum seekers fly into Malaysia and then cross into Indonesia from where they take a boat to Christmas Island in Australian territory. Both Malaysia and Indonesia imprison asylum seekers upon discovery.

For those who say asylum seekers pass many safe countries on the way to Australia, no they don't. Australia is the only accounted that allows refugees between the Middle East and tyere. There are no countries an asylum seeker can stop at on the way.

Is there any country left in the world where you don't need id to buy a SIM card?