Stocky

No, it was last year, I was in the bank waiting for the wife to sort out an account issue. Whilst there they scanned her face, when I asked what that was about they said new security measures but not for foreigners yet. Unless you consider the UK dodgy then no it's not that. But there's seldom consistency with the banks, I've yet to receive the email about tax numbers, though many people did - TiT

That used to be the case when the exchange rate was 10 to 1, now you'll only get 7, sometimes 8, Baht to the Ringgit. Thailand was certainly cheaper, and Malaysia more modern, when I worked in Malaysia in the early 90s. But the distinction, as you say, is much less clear thirty years on, Thailand has advanced and Malaysia has stayed much the same. Now my Malaysian friends tend to complain Thailand isn't so cheap when they visit, and I say how inexpensive Malaysia is when I see them.

It was 'just for me' as well this morning, will pop into the bank this week. Previously they told me the system couldn't handle foreigners, clearly now it can. And before you ask I have a fairly new mobile running Android 15 and have been a customer with Kasikorn for nearly 20 years.

Camera shy

The buses are a nightmare blocking roads while they load and unload at hotels, parking all over the place. They've banned them from street parking in town, and opened specific bus parking lots. Most weekends are busy in Hat Yai, it's a popular family city break, with the rising cost of living, for Malaysians its a foreign holiday close to home and not too expensive. Central Festival is another crazy spot for buses, every day lots of day trip shoppers from every kampong in Perlis and Kedah.

The south is happy for ignorant bigots to stay away.

Plenty of pork available in Hat Yai and alcohol too, though don't expect to find in a halal restaurant. Hat Yai has a significant Muslim population but it's not the majority, we have mosques, but not everywhere. It's a multicultural city that gets along together just fine. You really should educate yourself rather than simply demonstrate your ignorance.

Calling in for my extension stamp and multi re-entry permit today, I notice they have more staff now, and nearly all women, I only counted two men, all done in twenty minutes, everyone very cheerful. It's almost a pleasure visiting immigration now!

No

Yes

No No No No No

It's the tropics what did you expect, skiing?

Neither, I live in a city that isn't a tourist ghetto (not an option on your poll)

Spotify still works with Alexa

I have a beard but I still shave daily, just to keep everything neat and tidy, my Braun electric shaver does a good job.

Islam became established in southern Thailand during the 15-16th century, some 35% of Krabi province's population, and 80% of Koh Phi Phi's resident population are Muslim, the first settlers to the island were Thai-Malay; it has always been majority Muslim. The mosque has been there for many years and was rebuilt after the tsunami with the help of money from Saudi Arabia.

WTF - that fell apart years ago, even Britain is falling apart - talk about deranged. And this is the sort of tosh people tout as better than the MSM?!

It can join Betong, Naratthiwat, Pattani, Trang, Chumpon, NST, and Hua Hin on the list of barely used / never used airports in Southern Thailand.

As is abundantly clear by the number of bonkers posts and conspiracy fruitcake blather evident daily.

Well duh! What might you expect if you accept a strange drink. I only drink what I can pour out of a bottle I've opened or seen opened and know the contents of.

I can fully understand why.

Personally I don't like the smell. But even if I did, from experience in Swaziland many many years ago, the effects are not always the same. Looking at a bottle of beer or wine I can see the alcohol content, I know what I'm drinking and the likely consequences, with ganja there's no such information or certainty. No thank you.

Little in life is black and white, rather shades of grey; your analysis is facile.

Correct

+1 for Basmati, the Basmati rice I buy on Lazada is from Pakistan - excellent rice