KhunBENQ

Didn't know they call it ganga in Canada

Initiated EUR transfer (for long term stay) on Dec 15th afternoon. On the Bangkok Bank account Dec 16th, 14:01 as international transfer. As usual.

And after reading try to make sense of the story. I am just confused. One of the more mysterious service stories

Having lived in Berlin for decades I have visited the place only twice or so. Sure it was impressive but you need trust in the quality of the construction. Similar to the spectacular aquariums where you walk in glass tunnels with masses of water and sea life above.

Wow, alcohol in Patong and without a license. Hard to believe such heavy offense is possible in Phuket. Good that it is in the news!

Of course not. Compare the network with real commuter networks like London, Paris, New York etc. Look at these tiny capacity BTS trains. Compared and in relation to the number of travelers just a drop in the ocean. Pattaya has a traffic problem about pedestrians along beach road?? What a brain fart. As long as there are zero restrictions for private traffic, 24/7 on beach, 2nd rd, all side Sois nothing will change. Thailand is in an automobile dependent status like Europe in the 1950s. Free parking on the road, free parking for shoppers!!! In Switzerland you can not find a free (no cost) parking in the most sleepy district towns. The videos from the last firework festival were just unbelievable. Even pedestrians and bicyclist had to give up not to speak of anything motorized. Beware you need an ambulance. When will a stampede happen? Some idiot shouting bomb? Every Somchai tries to drive close to the event. No shuttle from organized parking outside. No road blocks. Every evening traffic chaos becomes part of the folklore (until you get hit by some crazy motorcyclist) Close to zero policing even for the few rules that exist. "Baht bus" as the backbone of public transport? What a joke.

Be prepared. A Russian will win like the last 5 years in Pattaya ("bikini run" in speedos ????).

Old British passport and most EU passports.

Sure. I know. That's why I took the effort of a border run to get rid of my Non O-A. Your agent fee would have been lower ????. It becomes expensive if the financials are not met. 25k typically

Friend in Jomtien got his extension two days ago. He is on Non O-A status and 80 years old. Basically impossible to get/afford the required health insurance (financials are sufficient). His female special agent got his extension for him. Not even seen the office. Super service he writes. 10000 Baht. Last year I had seen his insurance. A cheap accident insurance for the elderly ????

As if it wasn't cold enough yet. Forecast shows min temperatures at about 10 C for us on Monday and Tuesday.

If the Chinese really open the flood gates after Chinese New Year (Jan 20 to 23) then hold on to the rails.

European Central Bank follows with only 0.5 %.

The Bangkok Post (which must not be linked here) has an article about a scam call center in Cambodia near the Thai border. These centers were supplied with internet connection cross border from Thailand. On the Thai side the technical infrastructure has been raided and shut down. But there are no details about the nature/method of the scam gangs.

What for are you digging out age old threads? This one from 2014.

After a border run I applied for Non-O at Khon Kaen immigration on July 19. No insurance required. And the reason for the border run was exactly to get rid of the Non-OA status for which they require insurance.

They are still issued at land borders while they have been abolished for flight arrivals. I have one from Nong Khai. Makes any sense? No.

Good point! Somehow I managed to open the "old" site (as it has been for all the years). The site has been redesigned and the new site shows the same nonsense as the app. (those temperatures are very implausible) What a mess! https://tmd.go.th/en

European forecast centers also show much less dramatic numbers.

Again the website is very different but also raised temperature forecasts. Looks like this app is cr.p. https://www4.tmd.go.th/en/province.php?id=61

Yes it's a GPO product (general pharmaceutical organization) and has a set price. But officially it should be purchased through a doctors consultation. That's what the pharmacies make the extra buck with.

Padded jackets with fur trimmed hoods out!

21/14! Hmm. Strange. The tmd website is a bit more optimistic. European weather computers even more optimistic. I experienced 18 C in Pattaya long ago. No fun scooter riding in a thin shirt.

Run over or crashed in car by brainless idiots on speed.

For Android phones(!) there are apps that give precise numbers for the signal strength. I use "Network Cell Info Lite".