connda

24 minutes ago, anotheruser said:

 

Imagine you tried to get into the USA.  When filling out the visa forms you tell them you don't meet the requirements but you love the American people and have many friends. You are kidding yourself if you think it is not all about money and visas. 

But instead of entering legally, you simply need to hire a coyote to transport you from Mexican border into the US and claim asylum.  Seems to be a fast-track to amnesty and citizenship.  So attempt to enter legally and your rejected off-hand.  When the neo-cons/neo-liberals say that the US immigration system is broken they are correct.  The legal avenue to immigration is broken beyond all repair.  But they accept illegal immigrations by the millions.  No forms to fill out, in fact, don't bring identification at all as that will expedite the process.  And once in the US, yell and scream that you are breaking up families and human-rights immigration lawyers associated with pro-illegal-immigration NGOs will take your case pro-bono.
There is no comparison between Thai and US immigration other than both legal venues are broken and only serve a small sub-set of well-to-do applicants. It was not that way when my great-grandparents entered the US.   Illegal entry is a viable option in the US, but not in the Land of Smiles.  So if the Thai government plans to ratchet up the bar so that most retirees and non-o holders can't meet the financial requirements after meeting them for years, it's going to be a human rights catastrophe.

This was mentioned in the light of medical tourism, however, if an expat is tying up 3M THB ($86K US) in a bank, then that individual must truly be in an economic bracket that doesn't need to come to Thailand for medical tourism.  And with 3M THB inaccessible, that pretty well wipes out the disposable income that can be used for medical procedures.  My guess if folks come here for medical tourism that means they need it within 1 year.  The 1 year freeze on assets in the bank runs counter to that.  And as far as making 100K THB in external income/mo, that weeds out a lot of normal retirees and given a slide in exchange rates by an either straightening THB or weakening foreigner currency, that 100K/mo could easily be out of reach in a hurry.  Also interesting is the very low threshold on medical insurance.  10K USD (~35K THB)?  That will cover a few days in ICU, maybe.  Sounds like a typical Thai insurance policy but one that is grossly under-insured.  But than again, they lock 3M THB in a bank account so if an expat on this visa is under-insured that have a way to pay the hospital, after which the expat is kicked out on their ear for being unable to meet financial requirements.  Yep, interesting.
Imho, this is either short-sighted legislation or something else is afoot.  I'm thinking, "Stay tuned...."

They must have boxes on top of boxes of paper on each of us non-o living here.  90 day address check, TM30 address check, yellow book address, pink id card address, driver license address, TM47 address and extension paperwork, TM28 address - and to top it off a home visit to make sure you're not gaming the system.  If any government agency did this in say, the US or UK, the leftwing human rights activists would be screaming foul and demanding legislation to stop the xenophobia.  Here?  Imho it looks like a short-sighted push that may well see the end to the 1 year retirement extension.  If that happens, and those who no longer are able to stay start empting their bank accounts, I wonder how loud the Thai banks will howl let alone the Thais who directly benefit from expats living here with girl-friends and contributing to family and the local community.  I'm thinking this may not end well.  "Hey Honey, we should probably start to learn Spanish!" 

TPP was designed to make sovereign nations subservient to corporations.  Nothing else.

I stay in the sticks because I like it, but then again, I'm in my mid-60s and enjoy life in the slow lane.  When I was younger I liked the city life.  That's probably it in a nutshell. 

It's easy to tell who has the real power in Thailand.

So the way I read this is that the new 'Retirement Visa' will require tying up $86,000 US (at present exchange rates) and the 1 year Retirement Visa requiring $23,000 US (at present exchange rates) will be phased out.  Goodbye farang.  Not rich = 'bad guys'.  Bad guys are out!  See ya!.

Obamacare is about lining the pockets of corporations in the healthcare and insurance businesses and has nothing to do with developing a system of universal healthcare for the benefit of the citizenry.  The citizenry are there to have their wealth harvested.  Incredibly bad system.  Republicans won't want to scrap it because their corporate sponsors want a system in place that benefits corporations and harvests that wealth of a captive audience.  The congressmen and sentors don't care.  They don't have Obamacare.  They have top-notch health care plans that no mere citizen is afforded.  If the legislations is rolled back it will be replaced with legislation that is equally as bad.   As it stands now, unless you are rich or very poor (i.e., if you're middle class) and don't have insurance through an employer, you're one bad illness or accident away from bankruptcy if the premiums don't put you in poverty first. 

Probably just her personal stash.  At 74 she buys some, forgets where she put it, buys some more, forgets where she put it, next thing you know...50 kilos. 

Compared to the US and Japan, with Debt to GDP at 42.73% the Thai government is rock solid.

Rats cause 'shock and disgust.'  
These create happiness and joy and everyone wants to feed them peanuts.

The five year old should be able to select one of Thailand premier Muay Thai super-stars to act as a proxy on his behalf to administer an unrestricted blow to the fathers head followed by an unrestricted stomp to the stomach.  Karma having been met with like, the universe is at peace.  Ok, many that is less Buddhist compassion and more New Testament 'an eye for an eye' but for some reason is simply 'feels right' in this case. 

If any of the cultural Marxists haven't noticed yet, Trump isn't in office and has not issued any orders executive or otherwise.  For those hoping for a revolution, I'm thinking that perhaps it's wise to be careful what you wish for.  Free speech is protected; violence is not.  But however it sorts itself out, I'm quite happy to no longer live there.  Enjoy playtime kids.  Remember Kent State (nevermind, before your time). 

Just charge Cambodia for the wall (where have I heard that before???). 

I was comment to my wife as we drove past a local after classes and mentioned, "Look at all the fat kids."  Yeah, this new generation are going to be a bunch of paper weights.

Been driving here for nine years.  Overall, there are a huge number of Thai drivers who drive aggressively.  I haven't seen any difference.  Bad before, bad now.  Perhaps they are just getting more press with the advent of dashcams in most cars.

You'll want to DL with a MC endorsement and an International Drivers license issued from your home country.  Then all you need to do is view a safety video and take an eye test.  Otherwise you're on the hook to take a written and a practical test. 

The guy has every right to drive in the far right lane.  He was driving with the flow of traffic and over-taking slower traffic on his left.  It's the nut jobs who drive at excessive speeds and weave in and out of traffic who are the danger, exactly like the white car that flipped.  Imho, there are many farang TV members who I'd rather not see on the road either if they drive like the idiot who flipped his car.  Go back and review the video.  If you think otherwise, you're probably a danger to everyone on the road and I suggest ya'll stay out from behind the wheel.  "Daddy" is driving like a safe, sane, responsible driver. 

Next time come to Chiang Mai.  Sorta like Bagio but different.  Have fun. 

Don't see a problem.  They're cops.

Ha ha ha ha ha!  Marc Faber is headed to BKK. 

Fake monks. 

No doubt I'll have a delicious dinner with chicken, fish, vegetables, and dessert.  And then the next day I'll read about the Thanksgiving parades and football games and think to myself, "Missed it again.  Mai bpen rai!" 

I have fond memories of flying in USAF Douglas C-47 Gooney Birds in my youth.  No doubt there may still be one of two in this part of SE Asia. 

10 hours ago, HullyGully said:

There is a company in KSK which sells running machines, I think they are on the 3rd floor?

 

We purchased silicone a while back for our machine

 

You need to ask around, cannot recall the exact location

Thanks.  I know where you are talking about.  I'll check them out my next trip to Chiang Mai.