And no Russians or indians .

On 2/18/2025 at 9:39 PM, swissie said:

Recent Visitors/long term Expats may not know this. There was a time in Thailand where a "long-term" visa consisted of a monthly "border-run" to Cambodia. To be repeated endlessly, having fun on the monthly run, a change of pace. That was the "long-term-visa" for everybody.

 

The only persons that asked you "where you come from and how long you stay" where the bar-ladies. Immigration was not interested in such trivial things. One could have rented a car with a drivers licence of eastern Timbuktu. The word "feminism" was known, but interpreted as "a female must look as female as possible". Hotel clerks mostly unfamiliar with the western ABC.  Everyone welcome with some kind of stamp on some strange paper. That was a long time ago.

And today? A strict visa concept. Farangs having to pay taxes. Tel-Phone SIM Cards readable by "authorities". Hurdles to even open a bank account? While at the same time "property -rights" for Farangs have not been "liberalised". For example.

Boy, those were the days, when the only worrie a Farang had, was to miss the monthly mini-bus to the Cambodian border. Days gone by.

 

When I first came here about 20 years ago, it was a 90 day border run (In my case your nearest border) to get your passport stamped. Cost 500Bt. Not every month.

 

No border runs to Cambodia in the old days. In 1993 on a visit to Trat took a long tail to Koh Kong. ฿100  for a slip of paper to enter.  Not much there. Mostly brothels on stilts over the water Spent the day eating grapes and drinking U N beer until we were advised by the U N best to return before dark

Welcome Thailand to the 20th  century (one more to go)  

Rented a motorcycle in Chiang Mai. Paid one month in advance and not one question asked.  Rode up to Pai, Chiang Rai all over. No problems. Vietnam was the same. Rented a motorcycle there and rode to the Chinese border just having fun. 20 years ago.

the girls where a lot slimmer and smiled more.  Western food chains put an end to that

9 minutes ago, malibukid said:

the girls where a lot slimmer and smiled more.  Western food chains put an end to that

Constant eating and no exercise is a better reason as many dont eat western food. 

Should have been here in 1725

 

Trees as far as the eye.

 

Good old days

Only experienced the olden days of Korea. Missed the boat on Thailand.

On 2/20/2025 at 4:05 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

 

I don't have the numbers, but I remember reading articles that end the end of the day many immigrants in Europe do actually work and pay taxes. And because many of them are young they help to keep the pensions going.

 

I think many European politicians have basically two choices: Let the foreigners in or reduce the pensions, increase the retirement age, etc.

The voters don't want A and they don't want B. But in reality, they have to accept that having everything just doesn't work.

 

I think it is obvious that many foreigners in Thailand work without work permit or have not really enough money to retire here and pay hospital bills, etc. In other words, they are illegal in Thailand - but obviously they want to stay here. But back home, ... 

 

I was in Austria last year and migrants (non-white) were doing much of the work. And lots of them had their own shops, as well as selling on the streets - goods, vegetables. Handymen. Housekeepers. Cleaning people. Moving guys. Checkout stand workers. On and on.

28 minutes ago, Bohemianfish said:

I was in Austria last year and migrants (non-white) were doing much of the work. And lots of them had their own shops, as well as selling on the streets - goods, vegetables. Handymen. Housekeepers. Cleaning people. Moving guys. Checkout stand workers. On and on.

And many are peaceful and friendly. 

Thailand was once not the easiest place to travel to and perhaps a little risky.   cheap fares and ATM's put an end to that and of course the internet.  you really had to have a little character to get here.  now anyone can fly