Just now, Lacessit said:

There was a time other countries envied America, and wanted to be like America.

 

Now nobody wants to be like America, they think it is a sh!tshow.

 

Have you ever asked yourself how that happened?

How do you know nobody likes America?

 

 

April 2025, the number of tourist arrivals in the United States increased to 5,957,985, up from 5,410,331 in March 2025.

 

Seems more popular than ever

11 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Have you ever asked yourself how that happened?

 

IQ has steadily dropped since PornHub (edit: and heavy metal music) were invented. 

On 7/24/2025 at 2:18 PM, BritManToo said:

The good times are now.

Thailand is not a patch on what it was when I came to stay 20 years ago, 80 odd Baht to the GBP, no enforced 90 day reporting, plenty of farangs where I stay, now they have all died or moved back to their home country.

3 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

Thailand is not a patch on what it was when I came to stay 20 years ago, 80 odd Baht to the GBP, no enforced 90 day reporting, plenty of farangs where I stay, now they have all died or moved back to their home country.

It is better now for tourists. 60 days visa exemption. Currency movements are due to weak western economies.

3 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

It is better now for tourists. 60 days visa exemption. Currency movements are due to weak western economies.

I agree with your first two sentences, but I also believe that the Thai baht is mostly manipulated by the Thai government. Think about 55 baht to the GBP till the soldiers illegally started a coup in 2014, and yes I know about Brexit.

 

Just now, NoshowJones said:

I agree with your first two sentences, but I also believe that the Thai baht is mostly manipulated by the Thai government. Think about 55 baht to the GBP till the soldiers illegally started a coup in 2014, and yes I know about Brexit.

 

I think it is heavily supported yes. Always seems too strong. Western govs like weaker currency as it helps exports.

 

 

30 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

How safe is it really for an 84 year old to walk alone anywhere in the UK? I'm a bit away from 84 but when I'm in the UK I always carry a sturdy folded in half walking stick with me. No need for that in Thailand.

 

No you're right, there isn't any need for it here since it's not appealing to go out and walk and where would be going anyway, up to the 7 eleven or the noodles stool? My mothers never had any problems Mr Cliche. You just carry on chasing the 'girls'.

Near the end of the great journey to oblivion, we all get to the stage where there's not much left but to wait for that end. (I'm not quite there yet)

 

The choice we have is whether to do it in a depressing brick building resembling a council <deleted>house, being treated as an anoyance by the business owners, fed revolting mush as food and getting showered by Somalian refugees. (happened to my mother)

 

Or, enjoy an ambience of a tropical Island, mountains, jungle, rice fields, or one of the world's great, vibrant cities. Cared for by a young lady (or wife) who, while expecting a windfall when you go, will tend to your needs with a far greater level of care than you will get in an institution in home country. Cuisene is exotic or your cultural dishes are readily available. Medical care is cheap and nearby. WiFi is super fast.

All significantly cheaper than back in the nanny state.

3 hours ago, Old Croc said:

Near the end of the great journey to oblivion, we all get to the stage where there's not much left but to wait for that end. (I'm not quite there yet)

 

The choice we have is whether to do it in a depressing brick building resembling a council <deleted>house, being treated as an anoyance by the business owners, fed revolting mush as food and getting showered by Somalian refugees. (happened to my mother)

 

Or, enjoy an ambience of a tropical Island, mountains, jungle, rice fields, or one of the world's great, vibrant cities. Cared for by a young lady (or wife) who, while expecting a windfall when you go, will tend to your needs with a far greater level of care than you will get in an institution in home country. Cuisene is exotic or your cultural dishes are readily available. Medical care is cheap and nearby. WiFi is super fast.

All significantly cheaper than back in the nanny state.

Spot on.

9 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

Thailand is not a patch on what it was when I came to stay 20 years ago, 80 odd Baht to the GBP, no enforced 90 day reporting, plenty of farangs where I stay, now they have all died or moved back to their home country.

Bought my condo 20yrs ago, 75bt-£1.

Was a bargain 👌 

Truly, some of us post a lot here. Why not, keeps them "mentally alert". They have the privilege to be "internet capable".

 

A visit to any "old age home" will show that a majority of old folks are not "internet capable". Sitting in a chair, staring into space.

 

Those places are "understaffed", no time to keep the residents busy in form of games and other distractions.

 

Better to post here much (and stay mentally alert) instead of sitting in a chair in cold Europe staring into space.

 

 

Old age isolation boredom would be my guess+the hot climate keeping one indoors.with the caveat that trump is such a polarizing figure.

45 minutes ago, Tug said:

Old age isolation boredom would be my guess+the hot climate keeping one indoors.with the caveat that trump is such a polarizing figure.

 
I’m in San Diego.  Love to chat about commercial diving.

 

Especially from the expert.

7 minutes ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

 
I’m in San Diego.  Love to chat about commercial diving.

 

Especially from the expert.

Don't forget to get the soft top serviced whilst over there.......👍..........😉

10 minutes ago, transam said:

Don't forget to get the soft top serviced whilst over there.......👍..........😉

 
No soft top but definitely getting serviced this week.  I’m meticulous.

31 minutes ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

 
No soft top but definitely getting serviced this week.  I’m meticulous.

I thought prostitution was illegal in America.

On 7/26/2025 at 8:46 PM, swissie said:

Truly, some of us post a lot here. Why not, keeps them "mentally alert". They have the privilege to be "internet capable".

 

A visit to any "old age home" will show that a majority of old folks are not "internet capable". Sitting in a chair, staring into space.

 

Those places are "understaffed", no time to keep the residents busy in form of games and other distractions.

 

Better to post here much (and stay mentally alert) instead of sitting in a chair in cold Europe staring into space.

 

 

Agree.

 

My former wife never learned even how to send an email. She now has advanced Alzheimers.

 

Use it or lose it.

On 7/26/2025 at 10:21 AM, Harrisfan said:

How do you know nobody likes America?

 

 

April 2025, the number of tourist arrivals in the United States increased to 5,957,985, up from 5,410,331 in March 2025.

 

Seems more popular than ever

 

According to several sources, there was a 14% drop in arrivals in March. 

 

Tourism Economics predicts a 9.4% drop in international arrivals for 2025.

 

Perhaps the figure you cite is for domestic tourism, which remains strong.

On 7/26/2025 at 10:24 AM, NoshowJones said:

Thailand is not a patch on what it was when I came to stay 20 years ago, 80 odd Baht to the GBP, no enforced 90 day reporting, plenty of farangs where I stay, now they have all died or moved back to their home country.

But the 80 odd baht was a temporary thing, prior to the crash it was generally about 40.

On 7/24/2025 at 10:57 AM, Gottfrid said:

Short answer: Maybe you are just not a forum person.

Well SoCal only averages less than 10 posts a week, though he seems to have been a bit busier recently. So perhaps he is not a forum person, nowt wrong with that. Up to him as they say round here.

Hope nobody has upset him he looks to have gone a bit quiet again.

1 hour ago, saintdomingo said:

But the 80 odd baht was a temporary thing, prior to the crash it was generally about 40.

Sorry but you are very wrong.

Possibly, I wasn't here before the crash I only arrived in late 97 but that is what I was told. A mate who I have known since my first day in Pattaya brought all his money over 18 months to 2 years before the crash and was rather sick about it.

 

Insomnia and curiosity are my main motives for posting, got up for a pee about an hour ago and no signs of sleep. Perhaps it'll happen in another hour, I was intending to go for a walk at about 7.30 but I could be unconscious again by then.