Tropicalevo

Not a good starting point. I never bothered with a bus pass as I retired long after I left the UK. I told the pension people that I lived overseas and I also gave them a UK address for banking etc. I receive only the basic OAP. My government and private pensions are the only monies being paid into my bank account and the revenue people know about all of them.

Not true in UK Banking. I had an account with Nat West in Jersey (Tax free. I have lived overseas for years). I was connected to a friend (business connection) who was murdered by a wanted scammer in the USA. Because the scammer was wanted for money laundering, my bank account was frozen until I could prove that all monies were obtained legally. That took nine months to prove as it covered multiple countries. I had to live on loans and a credit card during that time. Once I proved my innocence, the money was released and the account was closed.

I do not know your nationality, but my Thai id is no good for domestic flights either. The name on the document that you use, has to exactly match the name on the boarding pass. My passport is UK with the English spelling of my name, but the name on my pink is is a phonetic version.

And this is what is sad about the whole mess. Many young, underage girls are sold off for money. Usually by a close family member. (My good friend's daughter was offered for sale by her grandmother.)

Any photo id is valid for an internal flight in Thailand. I mistakenly once used my Taronga Zoo (Sydney) membership card.

Very well done that lad.

Maybe this excerpt from a report in The Thaiger will help to explain it.

Maybe care is needed on what we write here. Section 112 applies to all Kings. Present and past. From wiki

Thailand has banned the video, but with a VPN........

And the anti Thaksin hate campaign continues. I do not remember reading any complaints when Prayut's brother was promoted in the police force during Prayut's reign. Again, this type of thing happens all of the time - since Noah was a lad. But it is only news when 'Thaksin' is in the headline. Strange eh? BJ was another popular press headline grabber. All quiet now since he became a monk for a year. Also Chuwit was 100% certain to grab headlines. Sadly he is about to 'shed his mortal coil'. https://bnn.network/breaking-news/health/chuwit-kamolvisit-an-unyielding-spirit-in-the-face-of-terminal-illness/

The 'poor' Thai people do care a lot about Thaksin. As explained to me by some Thais when he was in power 'Yes, he may be corrupt. ALL, in every government are corrupt, but Thaksin is the first person to help the poor. For the first time, people in the villages are receiving some benefits from a politician'. It is the rich and the military that are after Thaksin's blood.

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/thailand/ Not a 'no alcohol' day. Those are only on the major Buddhist holidays and during elections.

Yes - yesterday. The message was on a WhatsApp number that only 3 people know so I knew that it was a scam. I blocked it straight away so I cannot find the number now but it wasn't the USA.

The alcohol laws re hours, were in place well before Thaksin's time.

Not sure how to tell the doom and gloom folk here, but tourists (that I interact with) LOVE Songkhran and the water fights.

I bought mine 20 years ago and run them 24/7. They are pretty good. Old style. Fast, slow, whatever. https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i2550379925-s9071895835.html?urlFlag=true&mp=1&laz_trackid=2:mm_150551077_51752951_2010952694:clkgk23fb1hgkgduchn6sa&mkttid=clkgk23fb1hgkgduchn6sa

If you are heading for BKK then maybe check out Chatuchak market there. I have not been for a while, but before Covid there used to be quite a few places selling 'antiques' and older style stuff.

I was in CM for a week mid November. Flights to/from Samui were full. Hotel so so. Walking around the Old City there were lots of tourists. Restaurants and bars were also busy. Nimman are was very lively.

Everything is usually more expensive in the shops, restaurants and bars on the islands. Distribution costs. Both ferry and local costs. (We pay more for gasoline here on Samui.)

I am with Moonlover on this one. I watched my son die slowly over two years. He had brain tumours. The last nine months were awful. He was a cabbage but his wife wanted him kept alive as long as possible. I am not happy dying, but I am not afraid of it. It is how you live that is important to me. If there is no quality in life then - goodbye. I discussed this with the doc when he asked if I was worried about prostate cancer. I said 'not worried'. We all die eventually. Until then, live life to the max.

I have one of those as well. Registered is with BHS before my op. When I check in, I asked if they knew about it. 'Yes' When I saw the doc in the operating room, I asked if he knew about it. 'Yes' Same with the anaesthetist. 'Yes' Three outa three aint bad.

I totally agree but after 7 years of 'issues', drugs, examinations etc etc I risked the side effects. Surgery was only one month ago but so far, the side affect are annoying but liveable.

I pay for my own treatment. No insurance company. My last premium was over $12,000 USD and I had only claimed 3 times in 12 years.

One of our security guards had a hoohah with a 'don't you know who I am' local Thai and punched him. The local called the police. 500 baht fine for the guard (which I paid).

BNH Hospital in Bangkok is a very good hospital and they gave me a good price for a prostate biopsy (I self insure). I was seeing Dr Suntchai Wirotsaengthong back then. I have just had my prostate removed here at BHS Samui (Bangkok Hospital Samui). Good surgeon/staff. Tired and old building. Expensive. They eventually gave me a discount. Bangkok Hospital Phuket might have been a better option for me. Cheaper than BHS and a much better hospital/facilities.