Just now, Lacessit said:

I wasn't aware of that, a friend of mine was asked for a copy of his passport at a hotel up here. Or was that just to make sure he did not leave without paying?

There's hardly a hotel in the world that'll let you in without ID.

21 hours ago, tso310 said:

NON-O is issued by the Immigration Department and they have the authority to turn that into an annual immigration visa. //

Uh?

No. Non-O Visa are issued by Thai embassies or consulates worldwide. Same as for most (all?) visas. Visas depends on MFA.

Immigration doesn't issue visa but  can "convert" your current visa (or visa-exemption) into a Non-O in the only case where you are asking for a yearly extension and match requirements for it.

9 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

There's hardly a hotel in the world that'll let you in without ID.

Plenty in Thailand that have let me in without it when my GF proffers her Thai ID, although that may be splitting hairs. For all they know, I could be Jack the Ripper or Ted Bundy.

If the new minister is xenophobic, prepare for a stricter requirement and closing of loopholes.

 

After all, the 800k baht could be raised to 1 million baht to include inflation after all these years.

 

Another would be abolishment of combination method as that is a loophole too.

52 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

And expats should be treated with far greater respect and dignity. They need us more now, than ever. 

Need us, treat us with far greater respect and dignity, um, before they can reach that level, they will first have to look at their own and that ain't going to be happening for a long time, i.e. unless the student protests get greater support from others to join in on changing the shape of Thailand. Unfortunately to change a country such as Thailand, the military needs to get involved and I can't see that happening because the way things are, the boys are getting looked after in just about every sector of Thailand, except for Big Joke that is, who of course went against the grain.

21 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

You can get them for your dog https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/22/neuticles-testicular-implants-for-dogs-have-made-gregg-miller-rich.html

 

 

neuticals, aka "not-the-dog's-***locks'

On 10/22/2020 at 3:23 PM, jacko45k said:

Nobody here has crystal balls......

Oh No ??

Many has the virtual one ,..... but must careful  use this one 

The attitude of many Thais to us, retired, is hat we can be tolerated, so long as we keep quiet and  do not cause trouble.  In official Thai eyes  we do not rate as highly as occasional tourist who come for 2 weeks and spend more money, fall for more scams, etc. thus enriching more Thais.

So we do not rank highly in any schemes to open the country.  

I am stuck in UK, having made the mistake of thinking that Covid was on the decline last July, and the world would soon open up.

I could come back if I was prepared to jump through all the hoops that Thailand has set up.

Now here is an idea for Thailand:-  cash in on all these expats wanting to come back.  set up a straight forward scheme where we pay Thai government a single payment to be allowed back to our homes.  Get a Covid test before leaving home country and have to spend 1 day quarantine i out own home with local medical supervision, and then back to life as it was.  

I am sure if a certain former PM was still in power, he would have set this up long ago

On 10/22/2020 at 5:20 PM, Crossy said:

 

You can get them for your dog https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/22/neuticles-testicular-implants-for-dogs-have-made-gregg-miller-rich.html

 

 

I guess that guy's success story is due to that many customers pretended  they bought those balls for their dogs.

 

Could become an amazing business, here in Thailand, too.

On 10/22/2020 at 3:23 PM, jacko45k said:

Nobody here has crystal balls......

Mine are quite sparkly and kind of round.

They look very clear and can tell me what the future is when a pair of hands starts caresses the roundness of them.

Have a plan B..

 

Mine looking more like plan it will be A by the day.

 

And get ready for mandatory jabs of newly government approved vaccine to prevent novelkoronavirus .

9 hours ago, BritManToo said:

There's hardly a hotel in the world that'll let you in without ID.

but  why , is everyone a terrorist suspect these  days, the worlds  gone mad

On 10/22/2020 at 5:09 PM, edwardandtubs said:

I've never had complaints.

thats funny 

16 hours ago, BritManToo said:

There's hardly a hotel in the world that'll let you in without ID.

I would have thought a "Romance Traveller" would visit many establishments who ask no questions.

On 10/22/2020 at 3:23 PM, jacko45k said:

Nobody here has crystal balls......

However "Future Men" are everywhere.

15 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

I would have thought a "Romance Traveller" would visit many establishments who ask no questions.

I don't stay overnight in those places, an hour or two at the most.

29 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I don't stay overnight in those places, an hour or two at the most.

ten minutes for me

22 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Hopefully this guy is less xenophobic than his predecessors. The money Thailand takes in from expats annually reverberates out in countless ways. Even the rural folks benefit. Alot of the nicer houses in the poorer farming areas were built with money from expats. Alot of trucks, cars and income is from expats. Countless business employing many. To say it is insignificant, is a blatant misunderstanding of Thai economics. Thousands of hotels, restaurants, countless airlines and many tour companies, also benefit. This hapless administration needs to develop some courage and initiative. They can't hide from the world forever. Extreme timidity from supposedly tough men is an amusing thing to witness. However, the pain they are inflicting on millions is not. 

 

And expats should be treated with far greater respect and dignity. They need us more now, than ever. 

They have already told us how much they "need" us.. The ball is in our court.. Those of us who can....will leave.

On 10/22/2020 at 8:12 PM, ThailandRyan said:

I sure hope not, when they bang together when you run they would shatter.  Now Steels balls would be better, but the so is a Magic 8 ball.

You won't think steel balls are so great should you walk to close to one of those junk-yard magnetic cranes.....

On 10/23/2020 at 12:44 PM, Andrew234 said:

People aren't even sure of their own disposition ie how they would react under certain circumstances, let alone somebody else's.

Exactly. I don't understand how the OP would 'prepare '  for an unknown. 

1 hour ago, dddave said:

You won't think steel balls are so great should you walk to close to one of those junk-yard magnetic cranes.....

Lucky for me brass is non-magnetic

1 hour ago, KhunFred said:

They have already told us how much they "need" us.. The ball is in our court.. Those of us who can....will leave.

Pretty broad statement there Fred. 

I could leave but am not even thinking about it. Surely I'm not alone in that. 

23 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

I hope they have there work permits.  Giving advice is a Thai job however.

That's good since there is a cultural phobia against taking advice,especially from farang. 

My wife gets upset when I question the logic or practice of a 20 something who's cleaning my aircon. I guess 6 years of engineering school and 40 years of practice counts for nothing. 

For that and myriad other reasons I do nearly all the maintenance and new build at my house now, including cleaning the aircon. At least I no longer suffer pain from grinding my teeth and clenching my jaws as I watch them blunder their way through a simple job. 

 

Admittedly I cheat by using sophisticated and exotic tools like socket wrenches, slip joint pliers, and adjustable wrenches. Hell, I even bought an O-ring assortment and crimp terminals for wiring jobs although I still keep a roll of black tape for the really tough situations. 

23 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Even the rural folks benefit. Alot of the nicer houses in the poorer farming areas were built with money from expats. Alot of trucks, cars and income is from expats.

 

All true but let me ask you a question. Do you think this phenomenon whereby previously poor uneducated and - crucially -  deferential people get ideas above their station is welcome or repellent to the Bangkok establishment who decide on policy?

12 minutes ago, RocketDog said:

Admittedly I cheat by using sophisticated and exotic tools like socket wrenches, slip joint pliers, and adjustable wrenches. Hell, I even bought an O-ring assortment and crimp terminals for wiring jobs although I still keep a roll of black tape for the really tough situations.

OK that's how you take care of your wife but how do you deal with those pesky DIY jobs?

9 minutes ago, jayboy said:

OK that's how you take care of your wife but how do you deal with those pesky DIY jobs?

Duct tape works for most of those. Not so good for pipe leaks but it works for a few days and I don't need the ball-gag for them. 

27 minutes ago, jayboy said:

OK that's how you take care of your wife but how do you deal with those pesky DIY jobs?

Good catch. You definitely nailed me on that one! ????

1 hour ago, RocketDog said:

Lucky for me brass is non-magnetic

Good, as long as you don't mind them turning green.

1 hour ago, dddave said:

Good, as long as you don't mind them turning green.

Simply a matter of keeping them polished my friend, and I have somebody that is highly skilled at that fortunately.????

Besides that it makes for interesting pillow talk. Some ladies like scars too. Everybody is kinky, some just haven't found their kink yet!

2 hours ago, jayboy said:

 

All true but let me ask you a question. Do you think this phenomenon whereby previously poor uneducated and - crucially -  deferential people get ideas above their station is welcome or repellent to the Bangkok establishment who decide on policy?

 

Utterly repellent, of course. Any disturbance to the status quo, is strictly discouraged, and forbidden. Do not rock the boat, or disturb the gravy train. I think some Thais resent us deeply, for giving our women a widened point of view. An open mind can be a dangerous thing!