On 7/10/2021 at 7:22 PM, Caldera said:

What baffles me is that you realize that your insurance is useless. Well in that case, surely you could find one that is much cheaper and equally useless.

 

Safe travels!

 

Absolutely correct.

LMG (Libety Mutual) offers a cheap and totally useless policy with no exams. Useless except that Immigration accepts it for Non OA visa extension of stay.

 

The OP has reached a threshold. I've been here 5 years now too, but bought a house and have a wonderful lady, but get discouraged by the madness here sometimes too.

I simply could not be as happy in America as I am here despite the issues. In America it would just be different issues.

I hope the OP finds his happy place.

 

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On 7/10/2021 at 8:16 PM, rumak said:

One thing i've noticed is that there are a heck of a lot LESS  farangs on this new named site

that i had grown somewhat fond of  .    Seems like the purge has been successful.

 

Now there's just 2 or 3 that I even recognize.  And I'm one of them !

Could it be that some  were cancelled?

1 hour ago, billsmart said:

 

"At 71 years old,  and good health..."

I'm 75 and in good health. How could you say you're in "good health" if you have pre-existing conditions?

 

 

 

Pre-existing conditions and good health are not mutually exclusive. I have a raft of them I won't bore this thread with. I daresay at age 78 I am fitter than most of the foreigners I see in Thailand, judging by the oversize bellies.

The problem with pre-existing conditions is that insurance companies get the vapors about them. I am uninsurable as a result. I have been told by every specialist doctor who diagnosed my various ailments I will die of something else.

On 7/10/2021 at 8:31 PM, rumak said:

Its like a long television series.   If I could find another one I would surely change channels

A popular news site often quoted on TVF has added a discussion group just recently.

Many people like it because posters are free to express their ideas within very wide boundaries.

It would be unwise of me to say more, but I care less about that every day.

Where to go to? An old Italian fella said to me 'All the world is one big city'.

Somewhat true as I've liked every country I've been to for tons of different

reasons. Back in the UK now, a horrible place, but I like it.

On 7/11/2021 at 1:44 PM, lanng khao said:

I thought you'd look like Leonard rossiter, (rigsby) fair play you look well for your age . 

i always gotta goooogle those english references.    but, seriously,  i can't believe BM actually

posted a photo !        

On 7/10/2021 at 8:16 PM, rumak said:

One thing i've noticed is that there are a heck of a lot LESS  farangs on this new named site

that i had grown somewhat fond of  .    Seems like the purge has been successful.

 

Now there's just 2 or 3 that I even recognize.  And I'm one of them !

I used to personally know several that I enjoyed meeting up with. Not one is still here. If I didn't have roots I'd be on the next plane out. One friend returned to Australia after his house in a gated community was robbed, on the same day the 'security guard' disappeared. While robbing the house they found the keys to his SUV and took that as well. The police, despite having a clue who might have been behind it, refused to investigate unless he paid them 100,000 baht. That was too much even for his Thai wife, so they decided to get out of the ****hol*. Tourists who come for their two weeks of time on the beach have no idea they've come to a third world banana republic.

23 hours ago, The Cipher said:

Went once a 3-4 years ago when I was in my mid 20s. Will probably be a loooong time before I go back.

Me too !    OOPS  ,  sorry.    Just put my glasses on.   I thought that read 30 years ago.

On 7/11/2021 at 2:58 PM, watthong said:

(I'm surprised the above posting wasn't taken down. But since it's still up:) 

- Why "good posters" are not around anymore? It depends what you mean by "good posters." For the current "nobody upstairs" that means if you...

 

[re-edited then self-censored]

 

- In the same token you don't see many "familiar names" either, probably because quite a few of them... 

 

[re-edited then self-censored]

 

Sorry, don't want to risk account suspension during this covid crisis. Hope you catch my drift...

It's apparent over the last few months that quite a few of us, including myself, definitely do get your drift. The fact that this is a taboo topic says it all.

 

There are other games in town that are user friendly if you look. Many organizations become stale and and fall to over-regulation.

23 hours ago, The Cipher said:

+1. Went once a 3-4 years ago when I was in my mid 20s. Will probably be a loooong time before I go back.

 

Visible hardship everywhere and seeing it was unavoidable. To the point where it was actually uncomfortable to be around. Have never been to another country where I experienced that. Another poster remarked on the miserable quality of food, which is a sentiment that I second. Even for those interested only in sex, just by walking around I noticed that the quality of girls was disappointing on average. Way worse than Thailand and the surrounding countries. I just don't see the appeal at all.

My one and only trip to Cambodia left me with exactly the sentiments you state. Never again.

Your gonna miss out on the exchange rate ! The baht is weakening  ! Just sayin !

Edited July 12, 20214 yr by riclag

18 hours ago, connda said:

There were some who were total PITAs but don't seem to be around any longer.  <crosses fingers; makes a wish>.
Of course, then again, I also have a rather large ignore list.  There are just some people and opinions that are better left unread. So, I've made many of those people <poof> disappear.  Presto, Chango, Sha-Zam!  (Gone man!) <laughs>

Some that we think disappeared come back with new "disguises" .     Can't remember who they "were"..............  but i still don't like them     

 

 

10 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

I used to personally know several that I enjoyed meeting up with. Not one is still here. If I didn't have roots I'd be on the next plane out. One friend returned to Australia after his house in a gated community was robbed, on the same day the 'security guard' disappeared. While robbing the house they found the keys to his SUV and took that as well. The police, despite having a clue who might have been behind it, refused to investigate unless he paid them 100,000 baht. That was too much even for his Thai wife, so they decided to get out of the ****hol*. Tourists who come for their two weeks of time on the beach have no idea they've come to a third world banana republic.

are you still in touch with Paul  ( TMFAS )  ............... the man from another site

3 minutes ago, rumak said:

are you still in touch with Paul  ( TMFAS )  ............... the man from another site

I am, although not so often these days.

Your frustrations seem to be that you are not getting value for money - is that really the catalyst for moving out?

 

 

On 7/10/2021 at 9:56 PM, Doctor Tom said:

probably died of starvation ????

That or eating some of the lesser quality street food, perhaps. 

On 7/11/2021 at 5:02 PM, 2 is 1 said:

I’m stunned by this news. I’m so very sorry for your loss.

 

https://www.escapeartist.com/blog/6-reasons-expats-love-philippines/

Why aren't you there? Why hang out if this forum?

 

It's quite literally the third world. I'd far rather be in Cambodia. At least the Khmer have some dignity.

There is no way that I ever wish to  spend another miserable winter in the UK.

It is like being in lockdown for 4 months, heating tremendously expensive in particular now as restrictions coming in on any fossil fuel heating.

Even the locals get surly.(I don't blame them) Food prices high & Brexit forcing them higher.

Obviously you are a fairly wealthy person. If you cannot make a great life in Thailand 

you will find that the grass on the other side of whatever fence will not be greener

I’ve got my ticket out of here end of this month and it didn’t take me 5 years to realize I’d be better off somewhere else than here. Will NEVER go back to that s**t hole that is the US, but hopefully I’ll make my flight out on 7/28 before being locked up in some field hospital or swallowed up by one of those ‘iffy’ manhole covers. 

On 7/10/2021 at 2:06 PM, Makoshark said:

At 71 years old,  and good health, I do not have access to the vaccine.

methinks not having access to a vaccine is good and probs you will live longer ????

this is not a vaccine in the usual sense, mRNA is new voodoo and NOT fully tested yet

Remember Luc Montagnier, who won a Nobel Prize for AIDS stuff, said you just need a good immune system for protection from AIDS

(and maybe a good condom) ????

Update. Managed to get to Bangkok on my third attempt, the only airline to leave Udon today. No flights leaving tomorrow, so guess i am lucky. Tomorrow , I hope, out of Thailand for a while. Will not be back until they clean up this vaccination/lockdown mess.

3 hours ago, RocketDog said:

 Many organizations become stale and and fall to over-regulation.

Spot on.

1 hour ago, DBath said:

I’ve got my ticket out of here end of this month and it didn’t take me 5 years to realize I’d be better off somewhere else than here. Will NEVER go back to that s**t hole that is the US, but hopefully I’ll make my flight out on 7/28 before being locked up in some field hospital or swallowed up by one of those ‘iffy’ manhole covers. 

I agree about the States ............... but many of us have settled in pretty well here.   No place is perfect, as they say,   though 25 years ago it seemed like thailand was . 

I disagree with those that say that if they were rich they surely would not be in Thailand.

I would be thrilled to have ten or more rai with a nice house, swimming pool,  and a big wall all around.   Would make me feel like Tom Cruise or some rock star .   People to help take care,  agents to pass along my greetings to the local officials,  ....

Ok,  so i don't have all that,  but relative peace and living in a very non aggressive culture.  All this is relative of course... and avoiding confrontations in this world is a learning process, and some luck.   Anywhere.

Also many screw up here.   Or get screwed.   Such is life, not all succeed.

Where will you try next ?   an honest question 

10 minutes ago, rumak said:

I agree about the States ............... but many of us have settled in pretty well here.   No place is perfect, as they say,   though 25 years ago it seemed like thailand was . 

I disagree with those that say that if they were rich they surely would not be in Thailand.

I would be thrilled to have ten or more rai with a nice house, swimming pool,  and a big wall all around.   Would make me feel like Tom Cruise or some rock star .   People to help take care,  agents to pass along my greetings to the local officials,  ....

Ok,  so i don't have all that,  but relative peace and living in a very non aggressive culture.  All this is relative of course... and avoiding confrontations in this world is a learning process, and some luck.   Anywhere.

Also many screw up here.   Or get screwed.   Such is life, not all succeed.

Where will you try next ?   an honest question 

All sarcasm aside, I can see why many are drawn to the life here among other things, including all those things you mentioned. My wife and I chose to move up our vacation and stay here when our plans to move to China fell through at the last minute due to covid back in January 2020. I do feel very fortunate to have lived an almost covid-free life since then and am very thankful for that. We spent the first 6 months in Koh Chang and we're coming up on a year here in Hua Hin where we've rented a nice pool villa here in the center of town right off of Soi 88 at a price that is about one-third what we paid for our apartment in Chicago. We've decided to move to Spain and were approved about a month ago for that. It will be easier for us to convert to a work visa after one year and finally get back to the execution of our business plan. Price points there will also make it more feasible for us to compete in our line of business than would be the case here. I could have paid money to an attorney to help with setup, but opted not to go that route. I will miss it here and will miss many of the people we've met and befriended here also.

On 7/10/2021 at 6:09 AM, BritManToo said:

October or November of what year?

I think 12 months from now...but if the Thai Health ministry continues to pin their vaccine reliance on the Chinese Antifreeze vaccine, all bets are off.

35 minutes ago, rumak said:

Also many screw up here.   Or get screwed.

My first Thai live-in gf screwed me more in 9 months than my Brit wife did in 30 years.

 

About the big land ..........

I'm happier without it and all the upkeep and management.

My kids are happier being able to step out the front door and be surrounded by other kids. My misses is happier to be able to be surrounded by all the other Thai women.

 

Big land seems like a good idea (tried it a couple of times in the UK), but it was always a bit lonely, and a drag on my energy and free time.

Edited July 12, 20214 yr by BritManToo

2 hours ago, DBath said:

I’ve got my ticket out of here end of this month and it didn’t take me 5 years to realize I’d be better off somewhere else than here. Will NEVER go back to that s**t hole that is the US, but hopefully I’ll make my flight out on 7/28 before being locked up in some field hospital or swallowed up by one of those ‘iffy’ manhole covers. 

You are of course free to characterize the US as a whole being a s**thole. Although having lived in LOS for 6 years and then back in the US for the last 10 years, there are still some decent places to live here. But if you choose to live in the SF Bay Area, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland OR, Denver, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago and many other large metro areas they are mostly s**tholes that have been under the care of the same political party for decades.

23 hours ago, connda said:

Mexico.  Yeah, the US State Department keeps issuing plague and do not travel warning.  If it's not viruses than it's cartels.  It's all open.  The government understands how to attract tourists and longer stay expats.
You chose to subsist in fear or you chose to live.  Nowadays most are choosing the former.  The latter is the choice of those who don't follow the herd.

Clarify please. Where are you living in herdless, wealthy, fearlessness? Or are you just a stay at home, or fled away to total lockdown down under

6 hours ago, Genix said:

Hmm I'm considering changing my return flight to Thailand from early September to early October.

 

Chances of life returning to normal (can go out to restaurants / bar)  in September are very slim - would that be a fair assumption?

 

In a bit of a dilemma....

 

If you are going to buy a ticket well in advance I would give it a bit longer than October unless the visa runs out before then. Phuket sandbox seems the favourite place to go.

On 7/10/2021 at 7:19 AM, NCC1701A said:

just move to hua hin. 

He probably wants to go somewhere with good looking girls. According to you, Hua Hin doesn't have any. Or are you just trying to keep the competition out?