Stevemercer

My wife fell for (another) scam a few weeks ago. She had booked and paid for a flight for me from Khon Kaen to Bangkok on Thai Smile. This was a connection for a Thai Airway flight I had booked myself. My wife got a call inviting her to join Royal Orchid (Thai Airway frequent flyer) and they said she had to pay a small fee. They appeared to already have her essential details. She gave them her credit/debit card details and emptied her bank account (6,000 Baht). I had to tell her it is free to join the frequent flyer program. She thought membership would allow entry into Thai's airport lounges, but, of course, it does not unless you reach a certain level.

I reckon Surachate is among the least corrupt in the current Thai police higher echelons. He is the only one who might have a go at much needed reform if he wins the top job. Appointees to the top job are usually just sitting out their time until retirement,and to boost their potential post-retirement income, and will not rock the boat. Surachate has 6 years left and might try to rock the boat.

I'm pretty sure Israel has givem plenty of thought to strategic first strike scenarios as raised in the original post. I'm equally sure they have measures in place to ensure a retailatory nuclear strike. Iran launched drones and missiles against Isreal, but gave 3 days warning and didn't target any cities. It was meant as a show of strength. Hopefully Israel will not get sucked in and will continue their current mission until finished. A full scale war between Iran and Israel would draw America and its allies into the mix. As a consequence, Russia will quickly prevail in Ukraine and force a 'peace'. China is likely to seize the opportunity to blockade Taiwan under the imminent threat of war. North Korea will seriously consider a first strike on South Korea. Thailand will want to stay nuetral, but will probably have to cede to China. Hopefully us expats will have a few years warning to leave the country before being forceably expelled or taken hostage. I guees this will probably be like doomsday for most of us.

I regularly cal Australia using FacebookMessenger, Facetime or other social media. If I can't get through, I might use my normal mobile provider for short calls (it is about 5 Baht per minute). For longer calls to government organisations etc I normally try to find their 'free' overseas line. However, it doesn't always work out 'free'.

Sorry, I was thinking of other countries where appeal of Ministerial decisions is typically allowable. I remember the farce around the deportation of the famous tennis star, Novac Djokovic, from Australia during the Covid years.

I've helped a few Thai widows trying to retrieve money from a deceased farang estate. It can be difficult even with the death certificate, will leaving everything to the widow and proof of death. If there is the slightest irregularity, the banks will jack up and it can take years to finally access the money. One bank insisted that the widow get a death certificate from Australia for their partner who died in Thailand. Another bank defied an order from a Thai court that executed the estate (the husband died without a valid will) and ordered the money released to the widow. I would suggest that the widow has the necessary access and knowledge to transfer enough funds to handle the immediate funeral and 12 months living costs

What's really sad is that Minister Anutin probably doesn't even realise he is subverting the course of justice by advocating an outcome yet to be determined by the Court. Interesting time for farangs (and western countries) if Anutin ever becomes Prime Minister. Expect a sharp swing to China and tougher rules for expats.

That's the price of progress, I guess. On the other hand, Thais are generally richer and better off.

I never even thought about money and living costs until I married a Thai woman. Now it's a bit of a worry.

A 160 cc bike will do 100 km/hr, but is more comfortable at 80 km/hr. Motorway/Tollway traffic tends to be 100 - 120 km/hr and you would be stuck over in the shoulder and left lane along with the trucks and slow traffic. Setting aside the legalities, you'd be better off taking the slower Sukhumvit Road where you can keep pace with the traffic and stop for a break whenever you want.

On a side note, I find that Thai doctors often seem reluctant to do procedures that involve touching or manipulating the body. I recently saw 4 or 5 doctors for a hernia-like pain and only one actually felt around my lower abdomen. The rest just took my word for it (that I had a hernia like pain, but couldn't feel any bulges or protusions) and passed me onto the next doctor in the diagnostic chain.

Did the original poster say they were diabetic? I assume this would be relevant?

I would stick to the married extension if you qualify. The retirement extension is more likely to be subject to future changes and tougher requirements during Thailand's periodic crack downs on foreigners.

The older you get, the harder it is to pick up a new language. Peoples' brains are wired differently - some are good at languages and arts, others are good at mathematics and science. Girls are generally better at languages and boys are better at engineering-type skills. Thai gifted classes for English are nomally about 80% girls and 15% ladyboys reflecting this wiring of the brain. I am good at sciences, but very poor at languages. I can learn through association, but am poor at rote learning. Most elderly farang will be up against it in learning a new language. I would say you do not really need good Thai language skills if you are retired/not working and have a Thai wife/girlfriend. Most things you can manage with a little experience (eg going to the hospital, visa renewals, new driving licence, day-to-day shopping and typical daily interactions). You can manage more unusual purchases through showing a photo or buying on the web. Not speaking Thai is seldom a handicap in dating/entertainment etc. I think a ready smile, polite and calm manner and generous nature will get you through Thailand. By contrast, if you rarely smile, are often rude or disrespectful or are not generous by nature, the best Thai language skills won't get you far. I think you need Thai language skills if you are working here, raising a family, are young and looking for opportunities or want to make a living and want to spend the rest of your life in Thailand.

Bauhaus: The start of Emo music

The start of Emo music

I hope you are not implying that other doctors who take the time to respond are Quacks? I personally find recommendations about good Thai hospitals and specialists for specific ailments to be useful. Sometimes respondents have useful experience or comments that might be relevant. Ofcourse it all has to be taken with a grain of salt. Unfortunately, you too frequently get other respondents who are dismissive, negative, opinionated, tactless, ignorant or otherwise not helpful. Such are public forums.

Last week I got a new chain, front/rearsprockets, new front/rear drum brake pads, oil change, new oil and air filters, new fuel gauge for a Honda Dream scooter all fitted and installed for 1,200 Baht from the bloke just down the Soi (3,000 Baht at the local Honda dealership and closer to 8,000 Baht in any western country). In western countries the big chain stores and supermarkets are often cheapest, but in Thailand it is often the local shop.

I reckon it's time to re-read Orwell's 1984. The parallels with modern China are amazing - it's almost like the CCP is following the secret 'manifesto' revealed in the book. I'm sure the CCP could make the Chinese population really believe 1 + 1 = 3 if it suited their needs. A country on a permanent war footing is easier to control as a one party state.

I doubt if you could buy these in Australia (so they would be prohibited from import). Some toddler might stick his finger in it or maybe the method of death to mossies is considered cruel.

Good on him for giving it a go. He'll learn from his experience and do better next time. I used to bicycle tour a lot in Australia, often riding several thousand kilometres at a time. We rode Melbourne to Brisbane and back again (3,000 km), Brisbane to the top of Cape York (2,000 km) etc. etc. However, we used to travel much lighter using typical road bikes and no more than 5 kg of gear. You don't really need to take much. Typically we would cover 120 - 130 km per day and sleep under bridges or by the side of the road. Sometimes we'd stay at a caravan park for a special treat. Obviously in Thailand it is cheap enough to stay in hotels and not have to cook your own food. Riding with a friend helps because you can compete and motivate each other. You can also slip-stream each other making things a bit easier. You might have different, but complementing, styles. For example, I liked to leave early in the morning and would force my friend to get up early. My friend would force me to ride in the late afternoon when I would get lazy. Of course, after a 10 days or so we couldn't stand each other and might ride the day separately, at our own pace, and meet up at night at an agreed location. Riding in hot and boring conditions is hard and normally we would leave early (5:00 am), rest between 12:00 - 4:00 pm and ride a few hours in the late afternoon. Getting food poisoning, or other illness, makes things even more discouraging, but normally doesn't stop you from riding. If there are two of you, there is less talk about quiting becasue you know it will affect the other person. You also don't want to be the first to admit you're in trouble. It's mainly physcological. Daily motivators include stopping for food/drink, resting near water under shady trees, reaching a decent camping place, stopping at a public swimming pool/river etc. Sometimes, on really hot days, we might spend the afternoon in an air conditioned public library or shopping centre. You really want to avoid riding when it is >35 degrees because it will suck the life out of you. I think route planning would be important in this case, to try and avoid days and days of riding hot, flat and boring highways; and to try and take advantage of any prevailing winds. In Australia, we would normally head for the mountains during summer and head for the tropics in winter. Maybe the rider should try splitting the journey into two separate trips and try to find alternative routes even if they are much longer. The simplest way to lsucceed would be to find someone who is like minded and not cycle alone.

I live in Kosum (near Khon Kaen) where peple have been flooded out over the last two years because the irrigation authority has released too much water, too fast in the last month of the wet season. Both time the weather department predicted late season heavy rain, but it never materialised. The irrigation authority was obviously trying to lower the dams in case of a deluge, but erred in releasing far too much water. They could have released it slower and over a longer period. They normally pay compenation, but it is a pittance. Maybe it is a difficult decision, because if late rain had arrived, and the dams had not been lowered, maybe there was a risk of the dams overtopping.

Isn't Phuket run by the Muslim mafia, or is this just an urban myth? Maybe that has something to do with attitudes towards foreigners, or maybe not.

I'm not sure this is the case, particularly in rural Thailand. Go to a karaoke joint or Mor Lam for a bit of dancing, and Thais will be lining up to buy you a beer. (The women will be lining up for you to buy them a beer) I'm sure they would do the same if you sing, play a musical instrument, have some other talent or make an effort to be inclusive. I find Thai men are not at all uptight about a farang chatting up women (unless it is their wife) because there are plenty to go around. I have a few male friends I cycle with or ride motorbikes with. Having said that, I don't really have any close friends (Thai or western).

I know of a senior Thai lawyer involved in this practice. She also allegedly stole from a French client who pursued the allegation in court, and won.