thaibook

Your characterisation of Thai Hi-So is rubbish. Most real hI-Sos have been educated in the west, often starting with private schools nd then university. They own property in London, New York and the French riviera. They own football clubs and companies in Europe and the USA. As to driver behaviour, I find some Thai drivers crazy but then so are many in Jacksonville, Florida and as for being polite, ask the Italians to give way. My father (English) arriving at the office one day when working in France complained to the secretary "how can you drive in a country where drivers do not stop at red lights?". A few minutes later his Italian colleague entered and complained to the secretary "how can you drive in a country where drivers stop at a red light?". Personally I would prefer more discipline and stiffer penalties - not just for the road but also cheats, murderers, rioters, looters, etc in all countries including the west.

That is irrelevant to where westerners choose to holiday. Actually many Thai people holiday in Vietnam as it is cheaper than Thailand - unless you benefit from the government's 50% discount scheme.

and refreshing yourself with non-alcoholic drinks

Make Thailand unique, stop all digital visits and copies, make people actually come to the country as the only way to indulge in its attractions. Why would I pay to visit a durian farm online? Why would I book a hotel to visit temples online? New TAT brochure: 100 million visitors to online Thailand, unfortunately did not generate any income, no hotels, no taxis, no shopping, no bars (alcohol banned). There seems to be poor coordination, the minister for tourism is promoting use of crypto currencies and the ministry of finance is imposing severe restrictions. My bet is that the latter will win.

It does not mean there is no inflation, simply that printing money itself does not cause it. There are always buyers of US debt. Other factors cause inflation too.

IMO the Euro will be badly affected by EU member states having to pay for gas in Roubles but the USD will rise, not affected by the gas and seen as a safe haven. Only currency which can be printed without inflationary effect.

I came back to Thailand visa exempt with 30 day insurance in November, no problem. Obtained Non-O (will be applying for retirement extension) and re-entry permit and left if February. Came back in March with 7 days' insurance. Thai Pass approved without any questions.

I would be very careful paying for a TG flight with anything. Many have no confidence that should the flight not take off you will receive a refund or even an offer of another flight. BTW Skorts, how was the Finnair flight - they look cheap but are they comfortable?

Thank you

Thank you

Only a Thai Court as we know from teh case of the drug dealer who was not only allowed to remain an MP but also a minister. Some wonder if at month end trays came round for all officials with the usual brown envelopes but also little white packets. I couldn't possibly comment.

Thank you. So just one TM30 and I hand it in to Nonthaburi Immigration office?

I was granted Non_O 90 day visa at Chaeng Wattana based on an address in Bangkok and will be applying for a retirement extension on 31st March - 45 days before the expiry date. In the second week of April I move to a condo I have bought in Nonthaburi - a different province hence with a different Immigration Office. As I am the landlord there will be no TM30. Do I need to file a TM27, and is it with Nonthaburi or with CE? Incidentally, for the cynics, the IOs at CE can be kind and efficient. When I applied for the Non-O visa on 14th February I was given a stamp to return on 1st March. Then on 21st February, my mother died so I went to CE to ask for the Non-O to be issued earlier and for a re-entry permit. I thought that even if they agreed I would have to come back the next day or a few days later but the IO went to talk to her boss and the boss agreed to issue it the same day. This humane behaviour is inherent in Thai behaviour. This would never have happened in France. The French IO would have shouted "The rule is the rule. Go away and come back on 1st March!" (in French of course).

In Thailand that is not true, corruption allows farmers to burn whatever they want when they want. Corruption allows all people with houses/buildings to build into the public domain and ignore regulations such as distance between buildings needed to have a window. Corruption allows everyone to drive cars or motornbikes without a test. Corruption in Thailand is a two way street, or perhaps a motorway. The amounts and benefits vary, depending larely on the investment. The big boys invest many years and billions (Baht) in developing relationships and projects and expect to make this back. The small people pay a few hundred and are able to live life unfettered by big government regulations and bureaucracy. The French would love to be able to pass a 100 euro note across the administrators desk and actually receive a smile instead of a snarl. Being given a building permit or allowed to register for health care without 26 pieces of paper would be well worth paying. The way to get rid of corruption is to reduce the civil service to a minimum, about 3 per province, and remove all regulations.

The people have never been in power. In Thailand people sell their votes and are happy to do so. A few drinks is well worth a piece of paper that will make no difference. The ones who have the best opportunity to rake in money (which they have done and will do whatever party) will change but the people will continue to be beholden to them and will continue to pay bribes and defer to civil servants and police. The only way the system will change is if there is a real coup, led by young field rank offices who wish to make a change (if there are any) rather than wait to beome rich generals.

Beijing and Guangzhou are merely transliterations of the Chinese, they are not new names. Simply many people and almost all the media do not dare to continue a traditional spelling or pronunciation if some non-western, non-white body has said it should change.

So does anyone who speaks English. Just like the Englia=sh say Moscow, not Moscova, or as French speakers say Anvers while Flemish speakers say Antwerpen. Just because the Chinese Communist Party wants something and the BBC is too craven to left wing ideologues to do anything but bow, there is no need to follow.

Quite. Over the years I have had numerous 30 day and 60 day extensions of exempt entries and have never had any difficulties. However recently I tried applying for a change to Non-O (to then apply for retirement extension) and was initially refused despite having had the money in an account for more than three months. On th eother hand the second time round, I had forgotten my map of where I live (a serviced appartment) and the IO gave me a piece of paper, a pen and a ruler and asked me to draw it while at her desk - and th is is th esame woman who had initially rejected me. Perhaps the firs time she was having a particularly bad day.

Super. Thank you

Went again today, with two bank books - a deposit where the money had been over three months and a savings where teh money was recent but also with a letter from the bank saying it was for long term stay in Thailand. Same IO but more relaxed today. She accepted all the documents and I am scheduled to return on 1st March. What is the likelihood of being refused at this stage?

contains the information interspersed wwith sorry, it shows the nformation but interspersed by many digits and is not in any format. I have asked them to send in pdf or Word. I had a letter with the date of the funding. I shall try again tomorrow and as you suggest ask to see the IO's superior if she is as unreasonable as last time.

Thank you. The credit advice format is not one that my computer can open correctly. It simply shows a stream of digits and

One of the headlines in French TV & online news service CNews is bound to be good for tourism: COVID-19 : LA THAÏLANDE DEMANDE AUX COUPLES DE PORTER UN MASQUE PENDANT LEUR NUIT DE SAINT-VALENTIN Par CNEWS avec AFP - Mis à jour le 13/02/2022 à 12:18Publié le 13/02/2022 à 12:18

If you are asking me, the answer is yes. Visited some, stayed in others ranging from 2 weeks to 3 years and most several times. They ranged from the wildly exciting and delightful such as Guinea (Conakry), Liberia, Sierra Leone, all during troubled times, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Kenya. Egypt and Algeria, Oman (when a NOC was needed), UAE, and Iran (a couple of years ago - tough to get in), Afghanistan, India including controlled territories in the north east, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, China (just stepped in illegally through Burma). Taiwan, Japan, Laos (first time was back in 1963), Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Phillippines, Indonesia, Fiji, NZ, Australia, USA (lived in NJ and FL and have visited every state on continental USA), Canada, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, and almost every country in western and cental Europe. Oh of course and I have been to Thailand a few times, perhaps about 40 visits since 1963 mainly of 2-4 weeks with a couple of longer stays. But this is the first time I am trying for a visa or planning a long stay.

I am currently staying in Bangko so went to CW. The 800k has been in the bank since October. The credit advice I have is from Bangkok Bank but the account is from Kasikorn and the IO was not prepared to accept it could be the same funds. I have now brought money in directly to Kasikorn. The bank sent me a credit advice but th efile is garbage and the branch said they could not print it and would not write a letter. On Monday I shall go to a branch with an International Businees Depatemtn and ask them to print it and to write a letter. I have a few more days until my time runs out (15 days before teh end of my exemption extension). It might just work out. At least teh girls at the bank all smiled and excused temselves while the IO woman was dour (du).