1 minute ago, oldhippy said:

Same same but different for me.

After travelling like you for 40 years, I no longer have the urge to travel around much.

But I still enjoy new experiences. So during our half year in  Europe we visit several countries, always rent apartments and stay  2 weeks or more at the same place. Also we regulary go back to the places we went before.

Less adventurous, but more relaxed and a lot cheaper than travelling from hotel to hotel.

And wife brings Thai herbs, so we can cook Thai-ish food anywhere.

While the 6 months in Thailand, we hardly go anywhere at all, we just enjoy the garden.

Does your wife need a visa for Europe or is she travelling on a different passport than Thai?

Just now, giddyup said:

Does your wife need a visa for Europe or is she travelling on a different passport than Thai?

We were lucky with that.

10 years ago Belgium was very easy to get permanent residency, no language or integration courses needed.

My wife uses a Thai passport + Belgian foreigner's ID card, that allows her to travel freely in all of Schengen (not UK). Also same social security & health insurance rights as me.

1 minute ago, oldhippy said:

We were lucky with that.

10 years ago Belgium was very easy to get permanent residency, no language or integration courses needed.

My wife uses a Thai passport + Belgian foreigner's ID card, that allows her to travel freely in all of Schengen (not UK). Also same social security & health insurance rights as me.

I was considering taking my partner of 8 years to Spain for a holiday, but it seemed such a hassle to get a visa for her that I gave up on the idea.

5 hours ago, giddyup said:

I know where you're coming from. I started travelling the world at 19 and did so for the next 40 years, on and off. After I moved to Thailand in my 60's I lost the urge to even visit neighbouring countries, being quite content to be a homebody.

Or a homeboy?

2 minutes ago, giddyup said:

I was considering taking my partner of 8 years to Spain for a holiday, but it seemed such a hassle to get a visa for her that I gave up on the idea.

That's a pitty.

Europe has become strict on the wrong people....

Same like I gave up the idea of travelling to NZ, Polynesia or Australia with my wife. She needs a transit visa for just changing airplanes in Sydney on the way to NZ!!!

 

17 hours ago, oldhippy said:

Thanks everybody for the English lessons - you guys do have a work permit for that, do you?

I hope the many comments have clarified the issue.

Blind moose

1 hour ago, oldhippy said:

That's a pitty.

Europe has become strict on the wrong people....

Same like I gave up the idea of travelling to NZ, Polynesia or Australia with my wife. She needs a transit visa for just changing airplanes in Sydney on the way to NZ!!!

 

Europe's popular destination countries have possibly "become strict on the wrong people" as a consequence of EU freedom of movement. They have zero control over EU citizens coming in, so they have to be stricter on non-EU citizens. That's always struck me as unfair.

Sorry, I didn't want to turn this into yet another Brexit debate!

4 hours ago, Mansinthe said:

 

Yeah we take in millions of refugees without knowing anything about them. 

But someone with money needs to go trough alot of paperwork to get a tourist visa ?.

 

 

 

Oh God, let's not start this please

Have tried to isolate the major points concerning "what's wrong with your home country". Only 6 major issues it seems:

1) - Home country is too expensive. (Only for those, that have to rely on meager state pensions, I venture to say).

2) - Western women are lacking feminity and are too expensive to keep as opposed to Thai-Women (the investement/reward ratio stinks). Cant't argue with that, I suppose.

3) - Too much red tape in the home-country. (Same red tape circus in Thailand when it comes to prolonging drivers license, visa extensions (90 day reporting nonsense) and Condo purchase). When involved in any legal matters in Thailand, the peak of "red-tape" will be reached.

4) - Political correctness in home country. (Better not be politically incorrect in Thailand, otherwise you will end up in jail).

5) - As opposed to home country: Layed back life-style in Thailand = "may pen rai syndrome". (The "may pen rai" syndrome also works, when you bring your car in for repairs and the car is worse off as when you brought it in).

6) - Weather: Most Farangs come from 4-seasons countries. Thailand has only 2. Warm and pleasant during the winter months, hot and humid during the rest of the year (sitting in a 24/7 Finnish Sauna).

I realize, that points 3 to 6 are of minor importance to resident Farangs.

Points 1 and 2 dwarfing all others. And so it is.
Cheers.  

7 minutes ago, swissie said:

Have tried to isolate the major points concerning "what's wrong with your home country". Only 6 major issues it seems:

1) - Home country is too expensive. (Only for those, that have to rely on meager state pensions, I venture to say).

2) - Western women are lacking feminity and are too expensive to keep as opposed to Thai-Women (the investement/reward ratio stinks). Cant't argue with that, I suppose.

3) - Too much red tape in the home-country. (Same red tape circus in Thailand when it comes to prolonging drivers license, visa extensions (90 day reporting nonsense) and Condo purchase). When involved in any legal matters in Thailand, the peak of "red-tape" will be reached.

4) - Political correctness in home country. (Better not be politically incorrect in Thailand, otherwise you will end up in jail).

5) - As opposed to home country: Layed back life-style in Thailand = "may pen rai syndrome". (The "may pen rai" syndrome also works, when you bring your car in for repairs and the car is worse off as when you brought it in).

6) - Weather: Most Farangs come from 4-seasons countries. Thailand has only 2. Warm and pleasant during the winter months, hot and humid during the rest of the year (sitting in a 24/7 Finnish Sauna).

I realize, that points 3 to 6 are of minor importance to resident Farangs.

Points 1 and 2 dwarfing all others. And so it is.
Cheers.  

I agree with everything you say.

BUT.

You forgot: No immigrants here that destroy the local culture - apart from ourselves of course. But we are different. Of course.

 

10 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:

Europe's popular destination countries have possibly "become strict on the wrong people" as a consequence of EU freedom of movement. They have zero control over EU citizens coming in, so they have to be stricter on non-EU citizens. That's always struck me as unfair.

Sorry, I didn't want to turn this into yet another Brexit debate!

QUOTE:

They have zero control over EU citizens coming in, so they have to be stricter on non-EU citizens.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yes that makes sense.

 

To be clear:

They have zero control over EU citizens (Polish plumbers and brick layers) coming in, so they have to be stricter on non-EU citizens (our Thai wives).

Right?

 

 

22 hours ago, talahtnut said:

Take a butchers at the UK: Rolls Royce, Bentley, Land Rover, MG, Etc. Etc. Foreign owned The only British vehicle left is the London Taxi. Electric power, water companies, Muslim Mayor of London, Luton is 80% muslim as several other places like Bradford, Chinese nuclear power station to be built, Gordon Brown flogged the gold abroad, Governor of Bank of England is American, even the bloody queen is foreign.

I just wish we could flog our government.

I enjoyed that thanks.

I know what you mean, but check the details:

Mark Carney is Canadian.

London Taxis are owned by the Chinese too.

Although the owners are foreign, the UK now produces more cars than ever before.

Who do you suggest we sell the government to, never mind the opposition? Corbyn might be a cheap replacement for Kim Jong-un...

All European monarchy has been a mishmash for hundreds of years.

 

 

 

 

Well high taxes, a way to self entitled generation, Cold weather , Unions, Socialist programs that misappropriate my hard earned money to lazy people & most of my work is in SEA now. Though the last item is not something wrong with my country a pain in the ass to fly so far

23 hours ago, oldhippy said:

QUOTE:

They have zero control over EU citizens coming in, so they have to be stricter on non-EU citizens.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yes that makes sense.

 

To be clear:

They have zero control over EU citizens (Polish plumbers and brick layers) coming in, so they have to be stricter on non-EU citizens (our Thai wives).

Right?

 

 

Where is there fairness in so called civilized countries?

23 hours ago, oldhippy said:

QUOTE:

They have zero control over EU citizens coming in, so they have to be stricter on non-EU citizens.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yes that makes sense.

 

To be clear:

They have zero control over EU citizens (Polish plumbers and brick layers) coming in, so they have to be stricter on non-EU citizens (our Thai wives).

Right?

 

 

I can add, No control of criminals.

9 hours ago, oldhippy said:

I agree with everything you say.

BUT.

You forgot: No immigrants here that destroy the local culture - apart from ourselves of course. But we are different. Of course.

 

 

Yeah because the Thai economy would implode without our conspicuous largesse at the 30 baht food court at our local Big Cs and Tescos

22 hours ago, George FmplesdaCosteedback said:

I enjoyed that thanks.

I know what you mean, but check the details:

Mark Carney is Canadian.

London Taxis are owned by the Chinese too.

Although the owners are foreign, the UK now produces more cars than ever before.

Who do you suggest we sell the government to, never mind the opposition? Corbyn might be a cheap replacement for Kim Jong-un...

All European monarchy has been a mishmash for hundreds of years.

 

 

 

 

Damn it,  your right, London taxi, Chinese since 2013, buggers belief.

Yesterday I tried to sell the Government Corporation UK to the Chinese for 1GBp...They wouldn't even negotiate.  Same result with the royal family.

On ‎11‎/‎14‎/‎2017 at 6:14 PM, Gruff said:

 If Christianity has declined, logic tells me that at some stage the Muslim religion will decline as well.

Only 500 years to go.

2 hours ago, talahtnut said:

Where is there fairness in so called civilized countries?

Where is the fairness in life? Mine was interesting but it mostly sucked ( not in a good way ) because of the people that were put in charge of me, over which I had no choice.

Had better people been in charge my life would have near to perfect. Now that's unfair, but the universe doesn't care.

On ‎11‎/‎14‎/‎2017 at 6:32 PM, owl sees all said:

Science should have kicked all religions into touch by now. They should be as much in the past as witches and Greek Gods. It is the indoctrination of children that keeps all these religions active.

Not so. Science will never be able to say what created the building blocks of the universe in the first place. One can either believe in a power that created the building blocks of life and science itself, or that it all just happened somehow ie it came from nothing, which is scientifically impossible.

 

I think you are mistaking not attending organised religious events for an abandonment of faith.

Faith is fundamental to life and is hard wired into our genes whether we follow the men in funny hats or not.

Faith is nothing to do with religion.

Religion was invented by men in funny hats so they could get rich and tell other people what to do.

22 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Not so. Science will never be able to say what created the building blocks of the universe in the first place. One can either believe in a power that created the building blocks of life and science itself, or that it all just happened somehow ie it came from nothing, which is scientifically impossible.

 

I think you are mistaking not attending organised religious events for an abandonment of faith.

Faith is fundamental to life and is hard wired into our genes whether we follow the men in funny hats or not.

Faith is nothing to do with religion.

Religion was invented by men in funny hats so they could get rich and tell other people what to do.

Religion would not exist if the ability to program children was removed. As for faith, I'm with Richard Dawkins. The only attribute hardwired into genes is survival.

15 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Not so. Science will never be able to say what created the building blocks of the universe in the first place. One can either believe in a power that created the building blocks of life and science itself, or that it all just happened somehow ie it came from nothing, which is scientifically impossible.

 

I think you are mistaking not attending organised religious events for an abandonment of faith.

Faith is fundamental to life and is hard wired into our genes whether we follow the men in funny hats or not.

Faith is nothing to do with religion.

Religion was invented by men in funny hats so they could get rich and tell other people what to do.

I can't underestimate science, what it has discovered in the last few years is amazing. Imagine the next 1000 years. I prefer to put my faith in science and the ten commandments..[as far as I can anyway].

1 minute ago, talahtnut said:

I can't underestimate science, what it has discovered in the last few years is amazing. Imagine the next 1000 years. I prefer to put my faith in science and the ten commandments..[as far as I can anyway].

Ten what....? 

15 hours ago, transam said:

Ten what....? 

Oh my Buddha!  As you are in Pattaya..no need to worry about 'em..not really relevant here.

1 minute ago, talahtnut said:

Oh my Buddha!  As you are in Pattaya..no need to worry about 'em..not really relevant here.

Eeeeeeeeer, I ate a Whopper with cheese in Pattaya twice on route to where l was going...

 

Now why would you think I resided in that "place"....?

12 hours ago, oldhippy said:

QUOTE:

They have zero control over EU citizens coming in, so they have to be stricter on non-EU citizens.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yes that makes sense.

 

To be clear:

They have zero control over EU citizens (Polish plumbers and brick layers) coming in, so they have to be stricter on non-EU citizens (our Thai wives).

Right?

 

 

That's what I'm suggesting is the case now, yes.  I'm looking forward to a fairer immigration policy after Brexit.

15 hours ago, transam said:

Eeeeeeeeer, I ate a Whopper with cheese in Pattaya twice on route to where l was going...

 

Now why would you think I resided in that "place"....?

A wild guess.....But we all know now, your very greedy.

1 hour ago, CG1 Blue said:

That's what I'm suggesting is the case now, yes.  I'm looking forward to a fairer immigration policy after Brexit.

And you are counting on the EU to prevent (as they do now - remember Calais) the Afghani, Syrians, Africans,... from easily entering the UK?

How will the UK stop the refugees?

 

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I think you are mistaking not attending organised religious events for an abandonment of faith.

Faith is fundamental to life and is hard wired into our genes whether we follow the men in funny hats or not.

Faith is nothing to do with religion.

Religion was invented by men in funny hats so they could get rich and tell other people what to do.

Aboslute, preposterous, overwhelming nonsense TBL. Dear, dear dear!!!

 

I might have faith (belief) in something if the evidence is there for me to examine and it meets with my scrutiny or/and the scrutiny of others that I respect.

4 hours ago, oldhippy said:

And you are counting on the EU to prevent (as they do now - remember Calais) the Afghani, Syrians, Africans,... from easily entering the UK?

How will the UK stop the refugees?

 

they can't, it's a lost battle, but I get impression you'd rather have it like this anyway..