jayboy

Not a question, just an observation that the watch will be paired with my Iphone to share a number.

Thinking of buying new Apple watch.Should one buy from Apple store online (as I have done before) or via a local provider (AIS,DTAC etc) which will pair watch with Iphone?

There are no new tax rules, just broad policy directives which will eventually result in specific changes. In any case they are not "aimed on foreigners." Although one would not realize from the multiple and often hysterical posts on this thread, they are aimed at Thais with foreign assets/investments.Foreigners who are 180+ residents may obviously be obliged to pay whatever additional tax is required but they are not the main target.

I have had my eyesight checked at a top Bangkok hospital, and am therefore with records of the "medical'"side of my eyes.However as the next step I am now seeking a good optician who is familiar with contact lenses, spectacles and all related issues.Any recommendations?

I wonder who is going to police this.Consider the example of a resident 180 day+ foreign pensioner has never submitted a Thai tax return but in future intends to use a foreign credit card to cover as many Thai expenses as he can, eg hotels, big ticket purchases, ATM cash etc. His objective is to reduce remittances from overseas through the banking system to a minimum just in case he is required to pay Thai income tax. But how exactly will he be compelled to submit a Thai tax return and join the Thai income tax net? Is it voluntary - if so not many takers. I don't see how this will work.

Nonsense.The addition of Saudi Arabia gives BRICS a boost of sorts but is accompanied by much dirty baggage.China is facing a financial crash and Russia is a stumbling mess.South Africa is. ...well, no need to elaborate.Brazil is globally relatively unimportant and the rest of the new recruits don't amount to much even though Indonesia has long term potential. The U.S Dollar is not even threatened, let alone replaced .Still the currency to hold when times are hard. It's true that Western influence is declining but it is a remarkable exercise of moral inertia to suggest this is for the betterment of the real world.

I think this was the point being made.It's a very common error though it's not one made in the courts by judges. A 23 year old (or any age for that matter) having a sexual liaison with a 16 year old is committing an illegal act in most jurisdictions but it is not pedophilia.It doesn't matter what it is popularly referred to.

It's not quite akin.Kenyans are comprised of many tribes but all - stretching a point - have an origin within the country.Despite the propaganda Thailand is by no means ethnically homogeneous and is made up of different "tribes" many with origins elsewhere, some having more influence than others.One tribe dominating many sectors of national and commercial life by and large pitched up in Thailand as relatively recent immigrants.Of course the authorities here over the last century have successfully built up the image of one big Thai family (I'm not knocking this - it's an important achievement) I've known several farang who have obtained Thai citizenship.None found it particularly difficult, just a bit of a slog.As to whether they are regarded as fully Thai, my hunch is that they are.They wouldn't have made it to citizenship if they weren't fully integrated. America is different because the US is a nation of immigrants.

My Apple watch is paired to my Iphone with a local provider (AIS). If I purchase AIS roaming for my forthcoming trip to Europe, will my watch still be paired when I am there?

It's called local knowledge, long experience, a diverse Thai network, wide reading and respect for expert opinion (and a willingness to challenge one's own prejudice) You should try it sometime though I appreciate the lazy, half thought out approach is easier when confirmation bias is in play.

This was not the motive for the coup.The motive was to preserve the rights and privileges of the elites (military, corporate, feudal) which dominate one of the most socially unequal countries on Earth.It was exactly the same motive which has seen the winner of the last General Election cast into opposition.Furthermore all independent opinion recognizes that Prayuth's tenure has been disastrous for Thailand - incompetent and corrupt - and has seen the country slip back economically compared to its Asian neighbours.

If only he had legislated long ago for a retrospective pardon for all his crimes, like another person I can think of who should probably be in the slammer.

It would take some courage to admit the Asean rebranding was a foolish mistake (just look at the tragically thin amount of Asean related material). It never makes sense to trash a brand, and Thai Visa had a definite place in the market.I suppose like many acts of folly, it seemed a good idea at the time.

Actually gentlemen can be - and often are - as sexually licentious as any tattooed navvie.The upper classes and the working classes have that in common.It's the middle class that tends to be priggish.It's definitely not a matter of morality.But a gentleman can usually be distinguished by manner and background - and you definitely won't find any in the Pattaya clubs.

I wonder how many gentlemen are actually owners or members of these clubs.I would wager a fair amount of money (using the standard English definition of gentleman) that the answer is Nil.

Not true.I have one.

I think you make a key point.Nobody believes a word of this.Those who propagate the lie know that nobody believes a word of it.Yet they don't particularly care.This is a situation built on lies.But I believe there is a fear lurking - which relates to what the Thai people might have to say at the next General Election and the sham democratic Constitution may not save the day.

A wonderful example for the class and sophistication this forum is famous for.

That's true but, to be fair, it was an exceptionally boring story.

I'm not suggesting that he doesn't fulfill his niche position well - servicing the needs of a certain expat demographic. But he is not a Thailand expert. With all due respect it's not even up for debate.

I'm sorry but he is very far from being a long term Thailand expert.

It is not actually necessary to go to CW if you are a PR with a new passport (unless you need to go anyway for new endorsement and multiple re-entry.) You can travel with the old (with the stamp) and new passport.Immigration are quite happy with this.Then go to CW when you need to.

The situation has changed over the last fifty years with the advent of mass tourism.Before then, farang were generally much respected by Thais but they were mainly senior business managers, academics or independently wealthy - and almost all resident in Bangkok.Critically, they were better educated and a higher social class than most farang today.They took full advantage of all the usual Thai delights but were much more discrete. The English for example had the reputation of being gentlemanly, partly because many residents were from this background but also because many Thai royals/aristocrats were educated in England.To apply this gentlemanly description to most English expats today would of course be laughable. Many of the comments on this thread are skewed because they reflect only one part of Thai society - the money grubbing peasant class whether encountered in the bars of Pattaya and maybe later in some rural village .They don't reflect the charm and good manners of Thais as a whole (and I'm not of course referring in my money grubbing comment to the vast majority of Thai villagers who have no connection with foreigners) One characteristic is that normal Thais like to be able to "place" a foreigner. Who is he? Why is he here? Where was he educated? Do we have acquaintances in common? Does he look the part? What job does he do? The peasant class is less demanding in its curiosity.

Unwittingly you make my point for me.

Many retired foreigners (mostly oldsters with limited finances) take this view - essentially that they are nobly bolstering the rural economy with purchase of pick up trucks, motor cycles, houses for their partners, and of course the endless flow of their pensions and savings. They believe this is somehow a significant contribution to the Thai economy.It really isn't and certainly the Thai authorities do not regard it as such.