American woman’s life-changing adventure in Thailand

[snoop1130]

 

An American woman @ExperiencingKiaa with a mere US$7 (approximately 250 baht) in her bank account captivated TikTok followers with her tale of survival in Thailand.

 

The American woman, Kiaa, chronicled her journey on social media, which began with a spontaneous decision to embark on a one-way flight to Japan. However, within a day of arriving, she realised Japan wasn’t her destination of choice and promptly boarded another one-way flight, this time bound for Thailand.

 

Armed with little more than her adventurous spirit, she arrived in the Southeast Asian nation with no concrete plans and scant knowledge of her new surroundings.

 

Despite the allure of a carefree lifestyle, Kiaa’s path was fraught with challenges. Struggling to secure income, she found herself homeless after five months of nomadic living. Yet, amidst adversity, she discovered solace in the camaraderie of locals, eventually finding refuge in what she fondly refers to as the Treehouse in Pai, Thailand.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Caption: Photo courtesy of @ExperiencingKiaa TikTok via Atlanta Black Star

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-15

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[WhatMeWorry]

I wonder if she has been to Liberia?

[billd766]

How did she even get into Thailand without a minimum of 20,000 baht, no return air ticket or any sort of visa?

 

There was no mention in the Thaiger about that. They did mention that she had a partner and also that "she received an outpouring of support from her online community".

 

She also spent 4 months in Laos.

 

All this on USD$7?

[bbko]

She needs to stay home, some kind of low IQ homeless vlogger.

 

Edited February 15 by bbko

[greg71]

Thought it was a slimmed down young mike tyson for a brief minute 

[jaywalker2]

What was the point of this article exactly?

[lordgrinz]

Well, she is definitely going to be on the Immigrations list of undesirables now. How did she get in with just $7 and more than likely no hotel room booking, and has stayed here for 5 months? 

[Ben Zioner]

Why are these people coming to Thailand? Need plenty of dough to have a life here.

[roo860]

2 hours ago, bbko said:

She needs to stay home, some kind of low IQ homeless vlogger.

 

'What am I gonna do bro'

🤣🤣🤣 brilliant,  could join those Nigerian scammers on Sukomvit Rd.

[JoseThailand]

8 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Why are these people coming to Thailand? Need plenty of dough to have a life here.

 

Not so much. Basic rooms start from 2000-3000 baht per month. Street food is cheap, 50 baht for a decent meal with chicken and rice. A set of clothes (shorts, tee and flipflops) is 300 baht. Thailand is one the cheapest places in the world to be honest.

[NanLaew]

9 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Why are these people coming to Thailand? Need plenty of dough to have a life here.

 

Just listen to yourself.

 

About 23 years ago, I flew to the US on a one-way ticket, without a visa, with about a hundred (borrowed) bucks in my pocket and owing various people several hundred more, a five-baht gold chain and about 40 kg of excess baggage.

 

The rest, as they say, is history.

[Liverpool Lou]

"Within seven days, she managed to secure US$650 and embarked on a career as a hairstylist, finding success and acceptance within her newfound community".

 

Hairdressing must have been removed from the list of protected occupations just for her.

[billd766]

37 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

 

Not so much. Basic rooms start from 2000-3000 baht per month. Street food is cheap, 50 baht for a decent meal with chicken and rice. A set of clothes (shorts, tee and flipflops) is 300 baht. Thailand is one the cheapest places in the world to be honest.

It may well be cheap, IF you are legally a tourist in Thailand.

 

It might be, IF  you have a visa for ,ore than 30 days,  

IF you have a return air ticket,

IF you have a confirmed hotel booking,

IF you have travel insurance,

IF you have 20,000 thb that you can show Immigration,

IF you are not homeless or begging on the street.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, billd766 said:

How did she even get into Thailand without a minimum of 20,000 baht, no return air ticket or any sort of visa?

Easy...Visa Exempt if she didn't have a tourist visa.  Cash and return tickets are very rarely checked by Immigration.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 minutes ago, billd766 said:

It might be, IF  you have a visa for ,ore than 30 days,  

IF you have a return air ticket,

IF you have a confirmed hotel booking,

IF you have travel insurance,

IF you have 20,000 thb that you can show Immigration

Never had to prove any of those "requirements" in 30 years of coming here.   By the way, travel insurance is not mandatory, no idea why you sneaked it into your list!

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, jaywalker2 said:

What was the point of this article exactly?

It would have been interesting to some.

[lordgrinz]

Are there bets on how fast she gets picked up and deported?

[proton]

1 hour ago, Ben Zioner said:

Why are these people coming to Thailand? Need plenty of dough to have a life here.

Social media- I quit my job got a one way flight to the land of smiles and lived happily ever after, balls.

Edited February 15 by proton

[billd766]

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Never had to prove any of those "requirements" in 30 years of coming here.   By the way, travel insurance is not mandatory, no idea why you sneaked it into your list!

How long is a visa exempt entry for?

 

30, 60, 90 days or unlimited?

 

According to the article, she was in Thailand for 5 months so unless visa exempt is for 6 months, she would be on overstay.

 

Also, according to the article, she had a job as a hairdresser which IIRC is a job for Thais, and she would also need a work permit plus the correct entry visa, so a visa on arrival would not be valid.

[uttradit]

3 hours ago, billd766 said:

How did she even get into Thailand without a minimum of 20,000 baht, no return air ticket or any sort of visa?

 

There was no mention in the Thaiger about that. They did mention that she had a partner and also that "she received an outpouring of support from her online community".

 

She also spent 4 months in Laos.

 

All this on USD$7?

They rarely check it. 

[proton]

2 minutes ago, billd766 said:

How long is a visa exempt entry for?

 

30, 60, 90 days or unlimited?

 

According to the article, she was in Thailand for 5 months so unless visa exempt is for 6 months, she would be on overstay.

 

Also, according to the article, she had a job as a hairdresser which IIRC is a job for Thais, and she would also need a work permit plus the correct entry visa, so a visa on arrival would not be valid.

 

People seem to be working now and nothing happens, captain hamburger is another one, blatantly cooking and selling street food in Bkk and streaming it on tik tok.

[uttradit]

13 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Never had to prove any of those "requirements" in 30 years of coming here.   By the way, travel insurance is not mandatory, no idea why you sneaked it into your list!

Return ticket is sometimes asked by airlines

[uttradit]

"Despite starting with a meagre US$7 in her bank account, Kiaa’s fortunes began to change. Within seven days, she managed to secure US$650 and embarked on a career as a hairstylist, finding success and acceptance within her newfound community."

 

She stole $650 or became a hooker? Now working illegally as a hair stylist

[NanLaew]

3 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

Thailand is one the cheapest places in the world to be honest.

 

And how is it if you want to be dishonest here?

[proton]

22 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

Are there bets on how fast she gets picked up and deported?

 

She's already been reported, give it two weeks

[proton]

2 hours ago, jaywalker2 said:

What was the point of this article exactly?

 Maybe so she could make a vlog from inside the detention centre? at least she will not be homeless

[NanLaew]

Hmmm, hat'rs gotta hate.

[Lucky Bones]

Please explain "secured".

US$650 in 7 days?

Tricks on Beach Road?

Work Permit?

90 day reported?

Deportation......Tick.🙃🙃

[KhunLA]

How to stay in TH illegally ... more quality tourist.

 

Inspiration for others to arrive and stay illegally.  Travel insurance ?

[AndyAndyAndy]

What an inspiring story! Can't wait I will have to show 50,000 Baht cash, 500,000Baht in bank, 30,000 Baht go home ticket, 100,000 Baht insurance on arrival because of this inspiring <deleted>.