connda

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.

Haven't a child together shows commitment. Having a g/f for 15 years and never marrying does not show commitment. So that statement is neither "random" nor "strange." It's perfectly logical. I hate to be Captain Obvious, but there you have it. You're not going to get a marriage extension until they are convinced you are committed to the marriage and it's not a marriage of convenience (is it?). It's all about perceptions my friend. I've been married for 18 years to my Thai wife so I'm not necessarily sympathetic, and your situation raises a whole lot of questions about your actual commitment to marriage. Well - best of luck.

I was married for three years while on a B-Visa and working. Changing over was a piece of cake other than the female IO was just a hostile charmer. If she was your g/f for that long, you had all the chances in the world to marry - and yet you didn't. I think immigration looks at that and thinks the same thing as the three week marriage comes off as a possible scam. "Live together for 15 years" but don't marry??? Then suddenly marry and apply for an extension based on marriage three weeks later??? 🤔 That's a poor look with "We married so I could get an extension based on marriage. I take it you're not working any longer. If you are, just stay on a work visa until you have a year of marriage under your belt. I don't see this as Thai Immigration being irrational. That's just poor planning on your part. Why did you wait 15 years to get married. Is your marriage "real" or did you marry her just to obtain a visa. I'd even ask that question. Personally I don't understand long-term relationships with no marriage - it shows a lack of commitment. Ah? So I can see the IO's point. Even in my book, if you stay together for 15 years but decide to get married and then immediately apply for a marriage extension - well - it looks fishy OP. I even think it looks fishy. My guess is you're rightfully going to be under a microscope for awhile. Don't blame Immigration. Put yourself in Thai Immigration's shoes. My guess is you're going to be border hopping for awhile to come back and "visit" your wife until Immigration are convicted that you actually are committed to the marriage. Or if still working (you're middle aged), so continue working stay. You're going to have to prove the financial ability to stay here.

No <shock>. Ya don't say?

I don't hate Donald Trump. When I think of Donald Trump I don't break out in fits of anxiety and irrationality. I agree with many of the positions and priorities which Trump campaigned on such as getting men with the mental health issue of "gender dysphoria" out of women's sports and out of the military. As an anti-war US veteran, I supported his positions regarding ending conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and elsewhere. There are many things I disagree with: tariffs, sanctions, the near promise of war with China, as well as kicking legal visa holders out of the country for exercising their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech which applies to all US citizens and those in the country legally. Both the Democrat and Republican proclivity to ignore the US Constitution I personally find problematic. However. Trump is a meglomanic and narcissist. He's a power-freak who needs to be the center of attention and who seems to believe that the world revolves around him and him alone. Those who don't fawn and defer to this megalomania and narcissism then become targets of his wrath. That in itself is not his primary problem though. Add to that that he is mercurial, unpredictable, and unable to maintain his focus on positions which he said he supported, then the next day he doesn't support, and a few hours later maybe he supports again, then he wake up in the morning and post something on Truth Social which is a mish-mash of his already confusing positions. We saw him whip-sawed in his foreign policy positions in his first term. Many of us who thought that after being heavily influenced by neo-cons in his first administration, we actually thought that he had learned from that and would establish and implement well-thought out strategies to solve many of the problems both overseas, as in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as domestically. That hasn't happened. Instead he is again whip-sawed in his positions on foreign and domestic policy on almost a daily basis. You don't know which Donald Trump you're going to wake up to in the morning: Donald Trump the Peace-Maker of the World and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, or The Donald Trump Pouring Gasoline On Regional Conflicts Because The Leaders of The World Refuse To Do As The Donald - Ruler Of The World, Tells Them To Do. My informed guess is like those of Col Douglas McGregor and Col Lawrence Wilkerson (chief of staff to Colin Powell in the early 2000s) and other military officers who are not neo-con war-mongers, and that is that Trump seems to be influenced by the last person who fawned at his feet and whispered in his ear. The bottom line is stability. There is no stability in this administration. From one day to the next, or even one hour to the next - you don't know what his positions on crucial and dangerous Geopolitical conflicts is going to be: Flip-flop. Flip-flop. Flip-flop. Unlike Biden, Trump IS in the wheel-house steering the ship. In Biden's case, Biden was tucked in the bilge of the ship while others in his administration steered the ship. In Trump's case, Trump is at the wheel steering the ship, but he steers it in the direction of whomever comes into the wheel-house, kisses his ass, and flattered him the most. "You are a God Mr President, steer this way." "You are the most powerful man in history Mr President, steer that way." "You are the pope incarnate Mr President, let's turn the ship around." "You are Jesus Mr President, let's sink the ship and you can make us all walk on water." This instability is a recipe for disaster. I'm seriously concerned with what I'm seeing. By the way, I probably triggered most of the Progressive Left members here with this post: https://aseannow.com/topic/1359718-what-is-it-about-trump-that-triggers-you-and-causes-you-so-much-angst-and-unease/ Now I'm going to trigger the MAGA and neo-con members with this post. Let the chips fall where they may. I call it like I see it.

Pai should be claimed as part of Greater Israel and all of the Thais removed and moved to Bangkok. Then Pai could be reverted back to a literal Garden of Eden by ecology conscious Israelis and the problem would be solved.

Dentist office: please take your shoes off. Veterinarian: please take your shoes off. Doctor's office: please take your shoes off. Some cafes and restaurants: please take your shoes off. TIT. This is NOT a uncommon request by proprietors of businesses in Thailand. Your business, your rules. If you don't like the rules, don't patronize the business.

They are all Antisemitic and should be thrown into dungeons. She is one of God's chosen people and should be treated with reverence and respect.