[Why do you continue to live in Thailand]

10 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

There is one more consideration. No matter where we go, we still have to contend with ourselves, our attitude, our issues and our minds. So, some will always be seeking greener pastures. Nothing wrong with that. But, it does not insure fulfillment.

Yes, there is one thing you need to deal with is your mind. I find a mai bpen rai attitude has cured most my feelings on things I do not care about in Thailand and that comes solely from your mindset. A year ago I went home to Oz and I had a wonderful time and I came back seriously disenfranchised with my life. I hated everything here for about a period of three months until I realized it was my mindset that was holding me back from having a good life. At that point I just let it all go, swept it under the carpet and moved forward. The only thing is I miss my family (Mum and Dad) in Australia a great deal and that is really about the only thing that makes me sad.

 

The other thing here is boredom. Many of my friends (and myself) left busy work environments that had a lot of stress. Just being stressed out every day from working but thinking that was the sole purpose to life was a hard habit to kick. I found it so hard to settle down and stay still. I think that boredom plays a large part in how people live anywhere in the world. You need to stay busy and stay positive for you to be happy anywhere. There is plenty to keep one busy here if you look for something to do. I have a garden and that keeps me busy in the morning. I have two Shih Tzu's that are only 8 months old and they give me much pleasure as I am able to spend time with them at home every day with out being rushed off my feet. Small simple pleasures in life now mean a great deal to me.

 

Living in Thailand is not easy. Neither is living in Australia. Living almost anywhere is not easy at times. Depends solely on what you see as a better option. We all have our reasons on where we live and what we do.

 

 

[Why do you continue to live in Thailand]

I was back in Australia last year after being here for ten years. I loved every minute I was back home mainly due to being back close to my elderly family. I am the provisional black sheep due to sickness and my younger upbringing of being so sick broke a lot of bonds. Everything was so structured in Australia and it was lovely to go for a walk along the pristine beaches every morning with my wife.

 

These days I stay in Thailand for my wife and her elderly family. My life is good here. Immigration is not a problem. Twenty minutes a year using a agent. The rest of the negative stuff, I do not let affect me anymore as I can do nothing about it so I just Mai Bpen Rai it all like a Thai does and it eases many problems. 

 

I am 10 years away from being 60 and I am retired forcibly now. I will always have and leave a bolt hole (A Condo near the beach and enough money to relocate) to go home to in Australia. You never know what tomorrow and this Government can bring. I just take it a day at a time now. I am sad that my parents are very elderly now and I may not see them again if I cannot get home for some time with Covid. 

 

Still, I do most of this because I love my wife and that is the main reason why I stay in Thailand. If my wife died, I most likely would go home. 

[Best Coffee in Thailand?]

18 hours ago, Logosone said:

I've just been to Ristretto in Chiang Mai. They served the worst espresso I've had in a long time. Sour and undrinkable. 

 

I have no idea how Ristretto is ranked so highly on tripadvisor. The coffee is terrible.

I have been two or three times and the coffee is not good and expensive for what you get. I love my coffee and will pay extra for something good but it is not worth it. I use to go to a Mom and Pop store in Santiham that had a coffee shop tacked on the end to it. The coffee brewed from that shop kicked ass as was only 40 baht a cup. It has since closed down. Another shop that I liked but have not been for a long time was Phuphiang Coffee. It use to have a basic breakfast and the coffee was okay. I used to go a lot to Ma-Chill Coffee but the prices are expensive now. In my village we have a coffee shop called Grow Coffee and it is as good as anything in the city for 40 baht.

[Social Distancing- NON Existent]

3 minutes ago, JESSVANPELT said:

Never said I felt at risk, just surprised so many not following simple government guidelines

You come to my village and see all the masks yet they cram together at the market like sardines. Go to Central Festival, people everywhere, no such thing. Hasn't been since the start of all this rigmarole. This is in Chiang Mai.

[Ten Little Indians: How Many of Us are Still left Standing in Thailand?]

I would have not minded too much if my wife and I got stuck in Australia. The Australian Government has done a fine job with everything. Still, I knew once the airports closed down, there would be no way back to my home in Thailand for a long period of time so the wife and I made the choice to stay here. Nothing for me has changed apart form temperature checks and signing in at shops and wearing a mask. Life just goes on and I spend time reading this forum most days to catch up on news and gossip. I still read most days, watch a little TV, paint, listen to audiobooks and online shop. Most of my friends chose to stay here and only a few went home and now they are worried about jumping through hoops to get back. Sure the world has changed and things are a mess it seems but for many of us life just goes on and that is the way it is meant to be. Just move with the times or winds of change.

[Depression advice]

Major depression is something you will not mistake. If it is serious, you can be hospitalized. Sounds like to me he is suffering from his location and drinking too much in the evenings. This can make anyone depressed and he will need to do something to fix this. Either move from his location or find a way to fit in and be active.

 

I live in a very boring village with my wife but I have made a life here by being active even though a lot of the time I spend is in bed sick. My life is not good but I make the most of it. Reading books, doing paint by numbers, doing webpage code, just about anything I can lay my hands on, I will try. If you are not happy with your location that can be fixed. Sounds like you have some decisions to make about what you really want. Good Luck.

[Depression advice]

9 hours ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

The OP just needs to get himself a life, failing that a DOG.

I have four dogs. They are good for me for support as I have bipolar.  Medication has saved my life from almost utter ruin. You need to exercise and get out. Being stuck at home all the time is not good for anyone. Even just a walk around the house outside in the sun, is better then doing nothing. I spend a lot of time in a chair in my room but I have very large open windows that give me a view of the garden. That helps me a lot.

 

I live in a small village and found staying in one place hard. It has taken me some time to get use to this as before, my life was very busy; mostly a manic mess. Boredom is something that can make anyone sick if you spend too much time doing nothing. I cook, play games with my dogs, paint by numbers, almost do anything to stop keeping myself getting bored. That is the issue with many people- boredom. Try to keep busy of you can. That's all I can suggest at this time.

[Thailand warned to brace for the second wave of COVID-19 infections]

You would not know if there was a 10% bump. I know of three burning areas in just around my village alone and our Main Wat that also does cremations. We hear the Monks chanting almost every third night for the three days all year round. People are dying all the time. Times this all by every village in Thailand and a lot of people can go up in smoke and you would not notice much of a bump at all if like many Thais, die at home; and yes, many village Thais do die at home.

[Best Coffee in Thailand?]

Been using a Moka Pot for the last three weeks with a good selection of different beans. It has been a life changing experience for me personally for drinking coffee. I was going to buy a proper machine but decided to dip my curiosity first with a Moka Pot. Makes a big difference to the daily cuppa. If you use poor beans, the taste is terrible. Just accentuates the fact they are bad beans. Using good beans with a grinder brings out the best.

 

Very happy with the Moka Pot. Something everyone should try. I have been using Espressomans beans as well as Siam Roastery espresso beans. Tried some Doi Chaang as well. All very nice. Tried some Hillkoff French beans and did not enjoy.

[Put safety before money - academic warns about opening country too quickly to "infected" foreigners]

After reading that letter, it seems not many are going to be able to be let in.

 

Going to be a while before we see Retirement, Marriage extension holders in if these are the requirements.

 

As for tourist, have not got a clue what they are going to have concocted. It looks like 'go slow'. 

[Has Lazada changed it's shipping procedure ?]

I have done over 100 orders with them and never any problems till this month. The delivery times have gone up and I seem to be getting different delivery guys. I have items from Bangkok taking longer from LEX to get to Chiang Mai then what it has been for items from China!

 

I have been using Shopee more now and using Kerry as the delivery partner and things have in most cases only been two days at most if it came from anywhere in Thailand. I have been waiting for three shirts from Bangkok since the 12th of May. They say today LEX is delivering in the next few days.

[Put safety before money - academic warns about opening country too quickly to "infected" foreigners]

1 minute ago, Chivas said:

I cant praise Thailand enough personally for the superb job they have done in controlling Covid overall

Yet the million dollar question is why Thailand did not suffer like others. We had the Chinese in here by the bucket load, yet it seems it did take off. What stopped it? That's my question.

[Put safety before money - academic warns about opening country too quickly to "infected" foreigners]

I see now they have released figures on how many returnees are coming back sick. Seems it is .47% yet every day they yammer on how many are coming back with the virus. Seems at this rate, it could be controlled, yet then, it may not. Hard decision. Crash the economy more or open up on small numbers that could possibly start infection if left unchecked.

[Put safety before money - academic warns about opening country too quickly to "infected" foreigners]

If they are getting a few cases each plane load they are bringing returning Thai Nationals back in, I would hate to see if they opened up borders to the US, UK etc, etc as the virus certainly is not under control in many places yet. Cases will slip through the cracks for certain and we will be back at step one all over again. I agree, slowly you need to do it.

[Do you have a gik?]

When I first married, my wife expected I would also have a gik as all her other boyfriends (Thai men) had them. I would go for a massage and she would put a condom in my pocket and tell me to have a good time. Now this is coming from a University educated girl. Her previous life with men was terrible and they treated her like shat but this was what she expected. Her brother had giks, her father before he got to old had giks. It was just the way it was.

 

This is the first Thai woman (my wife) that I have remained faithful with as I am now happy with what I have. I have not been for a massage now for a long, long time and when I do go, my wife is with me. In my younger days with other girlfriends I had many sideliners. It's different when you meet someone you are finally happy with. 

 

You will pay a price with this massage girl. Dump her now and find another one. It is like not hard to find one. Just about every time I would go with a massage girl, I got the 'I want to be your gik' routine or can we head off to a short time room after a massage. In the end, I would go to a proper spa, pay more for better service and not get hassled from the girls working.

 

It's up to you. 

[Thailand reports nine new coronavirus cases, no new deaths]

Think about it if they open borders to tourist then. If we get a few Covid-19 cases with each plane load of returning Thais, think about how many imported cases that their will be once they do open borders up. People will slip between the cracks for certain and away we will be back at the start of lockdown again.

[Tears and heartbreak as flight ban keeps farang-Thai families apart]

4 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Once understood you immediately stop the silly 'I am better expat than thou' competition nonsense and realise that a pink book, green book, ownership of any property, marriage, kids etc doesn't mean squat.

Well said!

 

I have been here for ten years and I am no further ahead then the day I came here for any rights. I am just a farang in Thailand and that is as far as it goes. The Thai Nationals have a massive wait list for those that want to come home and it is going to take ages just to do that. The 'Little Ghosts' destroyed any hope for a rational Quarantine operation.

 

I cannot see for any farang a way out but just having to sit back and wait and that is going to take time. I have the feeling Thailand is not rushing into this as other powers are at play in the political arena. I have one friend in the Mines and he has taken on as many extra shifts he can do racking in extra cash for when he comes home. Yet I have had another friend being foolish and heading back to Australia for a 40th Birthday party and he got caught out. Harsh lesson learnt. 

 

Just stay strong. I feel sorry for you all. 

[Android TV Smart Box]

11 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

What model smart TV do you have? I would be very interested to know.

I have a TCL LCD that runs Android 9 on it.  It lets me run Netflix and VPN's and the such but trying to sideload App's on it is pretty useless. The restrictions on the system make it hopeless.

 

I have a TX6 and Shield that I use and that is okay but in reality, all my work is done from a high end PC running Windows 10.

 

I was disappointed in the TCL's Android set up but for most watching Netflix or playing Spotify and Joox, it works great. I have never used the VPN. I prefer to download the movies that I watch in 4K on my PC then use my Android box's I have found. For watching general TV back in my home country or around the world I use the Android box and that is its main purpose. 

[Thailand’s extended flight ban draws mixed trade reactions]

21 minutes ago, drbeach said:

How is it "better" for the economy? No one in their right mind would want to spend 2 weeks in quarantine to start a business trip or holiday. A desperate local or expat returning who vows not to travel again for a long, long time, maybe.

That is it in a nutshell. Who wants to spend two weeks quarantined on holidays. That all needs to be sorted out first and the Government is going to have to work out a way round all of this. I must think they are tabling different ideas at this time and need to come up with something. At this stage, local expats that want to come back would more then likely be those that will come to Thailand first. The rest of the world as we know it is suffering from Covid-19 shock and is going to take some time for the economy to kick back in. All my friends back in Australia are not working now and they have no funds for travel.

[The wrong reasons to retire to Thailand?]

22 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

this is key to many having the cash flow and safely net if they have to return.  

No where is fun without cash flow. Having that safety net is a good idea if you can do it. Like I said, I am 50 now. I live on a basic Australian Pension every month. I have a Thai wife, we have a house that was hers before we met that was paid off. So, I really live on not much money but my life is content here. You need to be content with yourself before you can do really anything. Life can get boring here like anywhere else if you let it. Women are a dime a dozen and without serious looking, most are just good for a short time. Finding someone long term took me seven years to do and I did lots and lots of trying before I found someone I wanted to spend time with - i.e. - someone for more then a weekend fling.

 

Also if he has to sell property, that can take time. We just sold off a property and it took two years to do before we got the price we wanted.

 

I come from a family with money, so in reality, I do not worry about tomorrow but if I did have to worry about tomorrow and I was only 50 with the problems that he currently has, I would be looking at getting myself on track first with my priorities and plans with my life. 500K would most likely last him 10-12 years if he does not go buy a buffalo. He will have to return to Australia for two years to get the Old Age Pension. Just in numbers, he does not have the cash flow to go and he is going to be short for several years. He needs some form of additional income.

 

I would sort my head out first and then sit down, do a spread sheet and see what life costs he has. Personally, I would not go yet. Maybe when I was 55. Hard decisions for your friend. 

[Then how much Lump sum is enough to retire and what age?]

Need to remember, he will have to return to Australia for two years before getting the OAP to qualify. 

[The wrong reasons to retire to Thailand?]

I am only 50 but have a pension coming in and can do it. He has not enough money and selling up to risk it all is something I would not like to do. Better off doing two week holidays somewhere a few times a year till he can afford to retire. 500K is not enough if things go sideways and here in the LOS, things tend to go sideways due to the fairer sex. 

[Lazada delivery problems]

Just now, rasmus5150 said:

That's the drawback. No English. But you can use the search function in English, and it normally finds the products  and I find the prices are always cheaper than Lazada.

I just search in English and most the time get a quote for what I need. If anything more specific, I get my wife to search. I just use Google Translate to read the reviews. I order a lot of little things on Shopee.

 

This week I ordered two 4K HDMI 2 144kzh cables. Ordered Monday, here Wednesday using a free shipping voucher I was given. I use the Desktop mode the most for Shopee. Remember but, if you need to return a item, it is not as easy as Lazada.

 

Lazada you only have to go to 7-11. With Shopee, you are dealing direct with the seller. I will not buy anything big on Shopee. I have bought 3 TV's on Lazada now and one did not work. They came and got it two days later and money was refunded back into my account three days after that.

 

Cannot complain.

[Android TV Smart Box]

48 minutes ago, AJBangkok said:

Go for a windows box. Intel NUC or anything running Windows 10

I used Android boxes for years and ended up in the end building my own PC to cover everything I can do. A Android box cannot do what a PC can do. Sure you got Apps but nothing beats a full Operating system. You could us Linux (Ubuntu or elementaryos) for the Operating system.

[Lazada delivery problems]

I have been using them for many years and never a problem till this week. I had two orders not right. One order for 25mm cable wrap (they sent me 2.5mm cable wrap) and I only got five tins of a soft drink I ordered instead of six. Also on both occasions, they said the order was to be delivered today but they did not show up for an additional two days. Our normal delivery driver is saying he is being slaughtered with orders.

 

I mainly use Shoppee now for most my orders as they are cheaper and the delivery times for me are much faster. Problem is with Shoppee if you have a trouble with an order, you need to deal with the seller, so I never buy expensive items by them (I just buy things like roasted coffee beans). Still, I bought a 55'' LCD TV from Lazada this month on a flash sale and it was delivered in two days.

 

It can be hit and miss.