connda

But but but - alcohol is available in Vietnam this weekend. "You! Farang tourist. You no Buddhist! Too bad. Visakha Bucha Day so no alcohol of you." "You! Farang tourist. You no Thai. No can vote. Too bad. We have elections so no alcohol of you." "You! Farang tourist. You no Thai? Just here for vacation? Too bad. No alcohol for you from 2pm to 5pm. Shut up and drink water." "You! Farang tourist. You national security risk as soon as you get off plane. You fill out TM-6 and now Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) or no entry for you. Bad Farangs. We keep track of you in database. We watch you! We know you all criminal so we watch you close close." Dear foreign tourists. Neither local elections and Buddhist holiday stop tourist from enjoying their vacation or having a drink on the beach. We don't force you to comply to our personal religious preference as we understand you have your own both religious and secular preferences. So consider a lovely vacation in beautiful and tourism friendly Vietnam. And no TDAC/TM-6 required. Your hotel and accommodations will take care of any paperwork. We just want you to enjoy your vacation! ❤️ --Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!!!

"Experts!" "Experts" were saying that. If an "Expert" says something, you're to turn you brain and analytical capacities off and bow at their feet. And if they lie to you, well, "mistakes were made."

One of the notable trends in this recent surge is the age distribution of those affected. The highest infection rates are among individuals aged 30 to 39 years, accounting for 1,794 cases. Close behind are those aged 20 to 29, with 1,540 cases. Crucially, older adults over 60 also figure prominently, recording 1,536 infections. However, it is the spike in cases among very young children, aged 0 to 4, that is raising special concern, with 682 cases identified. Out of a population of over 70 million people. Put it into perspective. And right now, Thai Health is pushing those safe and effective flu and Covid shots though the government hospital systems. Coincidence?

You forgot "None Of The Above"

"Trump is weak. We'll just keep screwing the US on tariffs and they won't do anything in return. Ha ha ha"

Exactly. Carney is a pussy.

Yes yes yes. Good point. The ice will kill you for sure.

No no no no no. "It's the Russians!" It's always the Russians. Well, unless it's the Israelis, but that's normally in Pai. "It's the Russians!"

"It's the Russians." Of course it is.

I sure the government would love to cancel that forever in the name of "Protecting Thai Cultural Events." There is nothing new here. The government and the airports know exactly what to expect and where. Thai aviation publishes NOTAM about the event and the areas to avoid.

All my stews and soups have tomatoes in them. If it begins to percolate, then I probably won't eat it. Otherwise I've never had a problem.

73. It's a given. Something will eventually kill you. Why worry. Deal with it when it happens.

Hepatitis is contracted from poop, blood, and semen. Not cooked food that was left out.

I've been here 18 years and have had a cold twice. Flu - zero. Covid - once (mild). I just don't get respiratory infections at all like I did annually (or more often) back in the temperate latitudes of the US. Don't mask up, don't take shot. Everyone has an immune system - let it do its job.

Ditto. Undercooked or raw beef is tapeworm territory. I give it a pass. If you like your beef rare to raw, then best to be taking a anthelmintic proprolaxis. Raw seafood. God I Love It - sushi. One of my fondest time of my life was visits to Japan and trips to Kaiten Zushis (Sushi on converter belt restaurant.) or going to sushi bars when I was on travel and could expense it - Great stuff but I will only eat it at know japanese restaurants with sushi bars. I'm pretty picky about the Thai versions. There's probably one of my few food phobias. Regarding worms? I do anthelmintics proprolaxis, ie, I take worm meds along with my dogs and cats. I've got a lot of animals and worms happen. So I'm not worried about worms from raw seafood.

Read the sections of Jame Harriot novels where he talks about "The Knacker's Kids."

It's compassionate Buddhism to share your food with other less fortunate critters. Btw, we're not in the dark ages here. The food may be left out but at least in our home it's covered.

Exactly. I had gastrointestinal issues for the first year I was here. Never got sick, but dealt with the trots a lot. Cleared up after a year. 17 years later - no problems. But I do find it amusing when Western expats in Thailand bring the subject up. I really don't doubt that those who are still "clean freaks" will come down with food borne illnesses often enough because they have little immunity to the local bacteria.

"YOU'LL DIE FOR SURE. MUHHHAAAHHHAAA!!!" Westerners have some of the most finicky food fetishes of any people on this planet. They all had mum like mine! "KEEP TEMPTING FATE AND YOU'LL DIE FOR SURE!!! EHHHHHEEEEEHHEEEHAAA!!!" Then most people in third-world and developing countries should be dead. Instead? They reproduce unlike Westerners. "YOU'LL GET WORMS!!! EKKKKKKKKKKK!!!"

And I've never been sick after eating Thai street food or Thai restaurant food.

My mom drove it into our heads that anything left out longer than a couple of hours would develop botulism and kill you for sure. it was pretty late in life when I dispelled that particular phobia. I often make soups and stews which I'll leave out overnight and often into the day and then pack it up in tupperware and put the rest in the refrigerator. Sometimes I'll just reheat it to boiling and let it sit another day. That's generally in the cool season where I may not put stuff away until day two. Heck, soups and stews always taste better after they sit. With that said, I've had "food poisoning" twice in Thailand. Both times after eating at one of the internationally known fast food restaurants whom I will not mention due to Thailand Draconian defamation laws. A lot of our food gets left out. We never get sick from Mom's Dreaded Botulism From Food That Has Been Out Of Refrigeration Overnight <screams, moans>.

I find Obama to be smart and articulate. I don't agree with a lot of what he promotes, but i can respect his intelligence. Michaelle Obama? You gotta be kidding me. There's not much there other than the pablum those who watch The View enjoy.

Or Rahm Emanuel (allegedly).

It's completely on-topic. The OP asked "Why." I provided reasons why. Yes, it is my opinion. Most posts are opinions back with facts. The OP asked this questions as well: "Also, just wondering if anyone has been denied a visa (marriage or otherwise) and made a new appointment to get a new IO? Was it successful? Many thanks." I answered it with my own experience.

I guess we look at marriage in a totally different light. Would you like to elaborate? You find my posts ridiculous and yet provide no reason. I provided a very rational reasons for my views. I see marriage as a commitment. And, I believe that Thai Immigration also sees marriage as a commitment. That is the purpose of the marriage extensions: To stay with and provide finance and emotional support for your Thai wife to whom you are committed. Marriage scams are a real thing, so Thai Immigration choose to use length of marriage as a measure to ascertain if the marriage is real or a scam. Staying with a women for 15 years doesn't show the same commitment as a legally binding union of marriage. We'll need to agree to disagree on this.