So why

[CorpusChristie]

10 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

My apologies for using an anachronism, I was brought up in more polite times.

I've always been partial to the Scots expression, "hock m'gandy"

Since you are so knowledgeable on the topic, what is the most recent terminology?

 

   Long time or short time 

[amexpat]

On 10/31/2020 at 7:42 PM, Leaver said:

I have already chosen my "Plan B" and it's Vietnam. 

 

If Thailand wants to make my life difficult here, I'm going next door.  Of course, I will come back to visit on tourist visas regularly, but there's certainly no need for me to put up with their rubbish.   

Vietnam borders are closed. As for the tourists who are already here:

 

must now extend visas Every Thirty Days. Cost is supposedly $10 but they won't let you do it yourself - 

must pay an "agent"  $60 - 120 each time. 

 

In the tourist areas up to 80% of shops, etc are closed. Hotels nearly empty due to lack of tourists.

So, applying Thai logic, the govt wants the covid-free tourists to take their money elsewhere.  

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, Titan1962 said:

My TGF is 20 years younger than myself and the relationship is great. But I did say if I could afford to live back home at paradise point I think I would. If I could afford it,the electricity and rates would not be a problem.

As for the nanny state ? What actually are you referring too.

There becomes a time and age where I think that you start thinking with the big head rather than the little head. Especially regarding health and the availability of decent medical requirements. It’s all well and good if you can afford decent health cover  when your say in your late 60s or early 70s but that’s really expensive.And too be honest the public health system here is a bit of a concern to me.Just starting to think a bit more into the future as I get a bit older that’s all. 

When I talk about the nanny state, I am referring to Victoria and more specifically its asinine traffic laws. Maybe it is different in other states. Examples:

 

You cannot turn left on a red light in Victoria without copping a fine. You can do it quite freely in Thailand, and it's quite safe as long as you give way to traffic from the right.

If a police car is parked on the side of the road in Victoria, you must slow down to 40 km/hr.

On a highway, scooters and motorbikes cannot use the side emergency lane. It makes perfect sense to make travel safer by separating two-wheeled transport from cars. However, the Victorian authorities don't see it that way. Thailand, go for it.

As a pedestrian, use a crossing against a red light, when there is no traffic around, and you can be fined for the heinous offence of jaywalking.

Our parking inspectors are known as the Grey Gestapo. Go over more than five minutes on a paid parking spot, it's a fine, and not cheap either. In Thailand, if you are parked in the wrong spot, you just get asked politely to move. I think it happens about once a year on average.

 

I almost forgot bum guns. It is illegal to install a bum gun in Victoria, those agile bacteria may swim all the way past a check valve and against the flow to the mains water supply. Strangely, AFAIK Thailand does not have any water-borne epidemics from its water supply.

 

I use the private health system in Thailand, I can afford it. The best thing one can do for their health here is exercise regularly, eat sensibly, and not hit the booze too hard.

[Berkshire]

On 10/31/2020 at 6:24 PM, ThailandRyan said:

Hawaii, or even Guam

Have you been to either?  I've been to both and Hawaii is crazy expensive.  No nightlife if you're over 40 and even if you're not, severe shortage of attractive/available females.  I will say that Hawaii is among the most beautiful places I've been.  Guam is just a cheap imitation of Hawaii.  

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, Berkshire said:

Have you been to either?  I've been to both and Hawaii is crazy expensive.  No nightlife if you're over 40 and even if you're not, severe shortage of attractive/available females.  I will say that Hawaii is among the most beautiful places I've been.  Guam is just a cheap imitation of Hawaii.  

When one combines the Hawaii gene pool with the typical American diet, it generates big people. Think Jason Mamoa. Can't say I saw any remarkable beauties when I was there.

[RocketDog]

On 10/31/2020 at 3:09 AM, ChakaKhan said:

The out of control dumpster fire caused by the current president and his complete failure and lack of action....

Guess where I am.....

What he said. ????

[kingstonkid]

On 10/31/2020 at 2:27 PM, Meat Pie 47 said:

I have free medical care where I live, no problems with visas, climate is OK

saying that I still come to Thailand for holidays twice a year but at the moment

I can't as you know.

I had "free" health care in Canada.  The quality of health care left a lot to be desired compared to here  in Canada  see the GP  get referred for test ( takes 3 months) get another appointment 6 months and then the GP decides that she needs to send you to a specialist.  (1 year)  He gives meds but says see your GP for refills.

 

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

I had "free" health care in Canada.  The quality of health care left a lot to be desired compared to here  in Canada  see the GP  get referred for test ( takes 3 months) get another appointment 6 months and then the GP decides that she needs to send you to a specialist.  (1 year)  He gives meds but says see your GP for refills.

 

Same in Australia, the free medical care involves waiting lists. A guy that worked for me had to wait 18 months for a hip replacement, was in agony for that whole time.

[Meat Pie 47]

19 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Same in Australia, the free medical care involves waiting lists. A guy that worked for me had to wait 18 months for a hip replacement, was in agony for that whole time.

Hip replacement is selective surgery I had a cardio version done and waited just a few weeks.

[Lacessit]

7 minutes ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

Hip replacement is selective surgery I had a cardio version done and waited just a few weeks.

It depends on whether the surgery is classed as urgent or elective. Presumably the surgeon thought you might have carked it without intervention.

[Meat Pie 47]

2 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

It depends on whether the surgery is classed as urgent or elective. Presumably the surgeon thought you might have carked it without intervention.

that is your opinion but I never had any bad experience with the health care in Australia.

For example if I need to see a doctor I can walk in the surgery of my choice without

the need to go to a hospital and wait all day like in Thailand.

[Lacessit]

2 minutes ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

that is your opinion but I never had any bad experience with the health care in Australia.

For example if I need to see a doctor I can walk in the surgery of my choice without

the need to go to a hospital and wait all day like in Thailand.

We are talking at cross-purposes. Of course you can see a doctor in Australia by appointment. However, if it is elective surgery that is needed, you go on a waiting list in the public health system. Some of those lists are long, some are short, it's the luck of the draw. You should be using the word clinic instead of surgery, it's misleading. GP's don't usually practice surgery, they refer.

When treatment at a public hospital in Thailand only costs Thais 30 baht, it's predictable there will be hordes of people. That's why I go to a private hospital, where they shuffle me through lickety-split. My longest wait is usually at the cashier.

If you can't understand what I am saying, I'm done explaining.

[johnray]

I just really really like stale bland sandwiches made with 3 slices of bread.

[Lacessit]

55 minutes ago, johnray said:

I just really really like stale bland sandwiches made with 3 slices of bread.

There's a small restaurant in Chiang Rai ( Jetyod Road ) called the Hungry Nest. Lunch today was a ham sub, fresh baked whole wheat, and a mango smoothie. Delicious. Where did you say you go shopping for food?

[ChakaKhan]

14 hours ago, RocketDog said:

What he said. ????

Welcome to the Hunger Games--The Purge Edition....only on trump TV

[Will27]

14 hours ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

that is your opinion but I never had any bad experience with the health care in Australia.

For example if I need to see a doctor I can walk in the surgery of my choice without

the need to go to a hospital and wait all day like in Thailand.

There's no comparison mate.

Unless it's life threatening, try getting an appointment with a specialist.

Will be waiting months for an appointment.

 

Try walking into a private hospital without an appointment and see how log you have to wait.

Even waiting times at clinics are horrendous.

 

Don't even talk about waiting times and the cost of dentistry.

I was charged the equivalent of about 3000 Baht just for a check up.

That's before any work was actually done.

 

I had a nasty tooth extraction here (Chiang Rai) that required some stitches and was asked to

go back a week later to get them removed.

 

Rocked up at the appointed time and was in and out in 15 minutes.

The cost.....no cost!

Would never happen in Oz mate.

[BritManToo]

8 minutes ago, Will27 said:

There's no comparison mate.

Unless it's life threatening, try getting an appointment with a specialist.

Will be waiting months for an appointment.

Same in the UK, unless you're bleeding out it takes a week to even see your local GP.

I've always been impressed that I can walk into a Thai government hospital and be seen the same day for 50bht.

[Techno Viking]

22 hours ago, Lacessit said:

 

I almost forgot bum guns. It is illegal to install a bum gun in Victoria, those agile bacteria may swim all the way past a check valve and against the flow to the mains water supply.

 

 

 

Not quiet right there mate. It is illegal to DIY install one however a licensed plumber can install.

 

Victorian Building Authourity - Bum Guns !!

[VocalNeal]

On 10/31/2020 at 4:15 AM, CG1 Blue said:

Yes, it's not the Thailand I knew 20 years ago.

 

I've been here 20 years. It has changed a bit but it is mostly the same. Infrastructure is better, weather still mostly the same. 

 

If one has a legitimate reason to be here and not a perpetual "tourist" then I'd say mostly the same. OK BTS only just started 20 years ago and now is so crowded I don't use it so no change there then.

 

Mongering is mostly done on-line and not in bars, in say, Nana/Walking Street, but that still exists as does it in most large towns.

 

Entitlement I see as the problem? With cheap airfares, which may never completely return? Some seem to think they can live temporarily for as long as they wish. Which is not the case.

 

Thailand is , if anything, a victim of its own lenient visa policies.

[RocketDog]

8 hours ago, Techno Viking said:

 

Not quiet right there mate. It is illegal to DIY install one however a licensed plumber can install.

 

Victorian Building Authourity - Bum Guns !!

But I'm guessing he must also install a Backflow preventer as well, easily tripling the cost . Many American cities require one on sprinkler systems and require that they be tested annually for Approx $50. Just another burgeoning bureaucracy. 

[Techno Viking]

Just now, RocketDog said:

But I'm guessing he must also install a Backflow preventer as well, easily tripling the cost . Many American cities require one on sprinkler systems and require that they be tested annually for Approx $50. Just another burgeoning bureaucracy. 

Don't know about a backflow preventer to be honest, all I was pointing out the claim it is illegal to have one installed is not correct.

[Leaver]

On 11/2/2020 at 7:52 AM, amexpat said:

Vietnam borders are closed. As for the tourists who are already here:

 

must now extend visas Every Thirty Days. Cost is supposedly $10 but they won't let you do it yourself - 

must pay an "agent"  $60 - 120 each time. 

 

In the tourist areas up to 80% of shops, etc are closed. Hotels nearly empty due to lack of tourists.

So, applying Thai logic, the govt wants the covid-free tourists to take their money elsewhere.  

Geez, do you think, maybe, just maybe, I was talking about post covid????

 

As in Thailand, most expats there are married.  A marriage visa in Vietnam is a 5 year multiple entry visa for around $50USD.  That's it.  Not other requirements.  Yes, it is that simple. 

[Leaver]

On 11/3/2020 at 7:48 AM, VocalNeal said:

Thailand is , if anything, a victim of its own lenient visa policies.

I disagree.

 

In my opinion, in the future, you will see Thailand become a victim of its own stringent and outdated visa regulations.  

 

For decades, Thailand has thought of itself as the ONLY destination in South East Asia for farang, and have made farang lay down money and jump through hoops for a lousy Thai visa.  

 

Thailand's competition are offering a better deal.

 

The writing is on the wall for future expats.  

[scubascuba3]

6 hours ago, Leaver said:

I disagree.

 

In my opinion, in the future, you will see Thailand become a victim of its own stringent and outdated visa regulations.  

 

For decades, Thailand has thought of itself as the ONLY destination in South East Asia for farang, and have made farang lay down money and jump through hoops for a lousy Thai visa.  

 

Thailand's competition are offering a better deal.

 

The writing is on the wall for future expats.  

If anything Thailand will relax visa requirements in the future, they've realised how much they need foreigners. Tourists and expats are still desperate to get here even if the requirements aren't easy. The problem with the competition, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines they are just not as likeable as Thailand

[amexpat]

10 hours ago, Leaver said:

Geez, do you think, maybe, just maybe, I was talking about post covid????

 

As in Thailand, most expats there are married.  A marriage visa in Vietnam is a 5 year multiple entry visa for around $50USD.  That's it.  Not other requirements.  Yes, it is that simple. 

OK report back in a year or so.  I've checked out tourist, business, marriage visas.

The $50 marriage visa is probably the most costly. 

[Leaver]

13 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

If anything Thailand will relax visa requirements in the future, they've realised how much they need foreigners.

They failed to realise it before.  Why would they realise it now?

 

13 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

The problem with the competition, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines they are just not as likeable as Thailand

Says who?

 

Vietnam, for example, tourism up 32%, pre covid.

 

http://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/english/index.php/statistic/international?csrf_test_name=0cdf2477f1f5395804765e97cd8e4340&txtkey=&year=2020&period=t1

[Leaver]

10 hours ago, amexpat said:

The $50 marriage visa is probably the most costly. 

5 year multiple entry for about $50USD.  No other requirements.  How is that the most costly, and how does it compare to visas in Thailand?

[amexpat]

Married, costly?  How can that be?  OMG

 

[Leaver]

On 11/8/2020 at 8:03 PM, amexpat said:

Married, costly?  How can that be?  OMG

 

I have no doubt many expats in Vietnam have a sham marriage, or a marriage "on paper."   Similar to many here, 400k v 800k.  

 

$50USD for 5 years multiple entry - no other requirements.   Thailand's marriage visa can not compete.  

[amexpat]

Ah, so in a REAL marriage you don't incur any additional expenses like family support, clothes, etc.

Thanks, I didn't know that.