[British man arrested in Chiang Mai after allegedly threatening monk with a machete]

What an idiot! He obviously is not of English decent & a descendant of immigrants from the yesteryear's commonwealth. I'm really tired of these so called "British people" that reside here giving the peace loving majority of expats a bad impression of us & our behaviour. I just hope they deport him back to wherever he's from, plus deal with any other expats misbehaving in the same manner. We are guests in this country & we should all accept that, be thankful for the hospitality extended to us here & enjoy it! ........... fact.

[Thailand to introduce 300 baht ‘tourist fee’ from January]

............................ & let the gouging commence!! Think the coffers must be getting low & everyone is starting to miss the "brown envelopes". It will not be seen as an added incentive to visit Thailand, especially with all the bad press of the quarantine costs & service ......... sad.

[Thai health ministry denies they are giving free jabs to expats - Thais come first]

9 minutes ago, Caldera said:

I don't mind that they are unwilling to give expats the vaccine for free. I do mind, however, that they prioritize by nationality and that they've actively hindered private hospitals from purchasing vaccines that they could SELL to expats. That's shameful.

Agreed .............. this thinking is really inhuman. The whole world will be reacting to this I'm sure once the media get hold of it ........... blatant racism for all to see ............ very sad. 

[Thai health ministry denies they are giving free jabs to expats - Thais come first]

If this latest information regarding the covid19 vaccination of foreigners here is true it certainly shows everyone in the world the mindset of this country's finest. This is is racism at it's worst & I'm very sad to read about this on TV. They do say that in the Land of Smiles there are many types of smile that exist, but all have different meanings. If this prioritizing due to race is confirmed once the vaccines are available I can only say that the recovery of tourism, a retirement venue & the most popular choice for holiday's will be a thing of the past. Europeans will not take kindly to this, news travels fast, they will show it by voting with their feet & go elsewhere. A great shame as Thailand's a beautiful country run by a bunch of idiots .... fact.    

[Pattaya: Eleven year old shoots five year old dead with rifle he found at house]

Adult responsibility seems not to exist here in Thailand! What's the mindset when adults think it was "naughtiness" ......... typical teflon shoulders & lack of parenting. A tragic occurrence which could have been avoided. A loaded gun left unattended? Why was the gun not secured in a cabinet & why was it loaded? No excuses at all & the owner should be charged accordingly. However, guns are readily available here with very weak background checks & their laws are basically the same as in the USA, hence the tragic loss of life here due to the lack of thought & safety. A sad, sad loss of a child. 

[Foreigners should be FORCED to have a Covid-19 vaccination - and they should pay for it, Thai poll]

You must always expect not to receive anything here for free, especially if you are a foreigner. It's part of the culture here, so get use to it folks if you live here. 

[Thailand’s economy suffers biggest fall since 1998 Asian financial crisis]

42 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Meanwhile, at the TT exchange booths.....

 

 

.....it seems that everywhere else has had a worse fall in its economy than Thailand, at least to judge by their currencies relative to the Baht.

Someone must be financially supporting the economy here ....... it can not go on for much longer. Tourists will not return anytime soon that's a fact. My first suspicion is China as their economy seems buoyant, even though the pandemic was first diagnosed in Whuhan. I suspect  Thailand will be in indebted to them & is guaranteed to end all the smiles in future years ....... hopefully I've read it wrong completely & the Baht will weaken. 

[Thai road carnage: A motorcyclist is killed every 30 minutes in Thailand]

This topic has been discussed at all levels a million times & I refuse to enter into any further discussion on this. It is pointless trying to stop this tragic loss of life unless the government here get tough & seriously tackle the problem. That is not going to happen anytime soon, if ever ........... sad fact.

 

[Neo Pattaya: Project to transform resort into state the art metropolis begins - starting with Walking Street]

All this development, reconstruction, new ideas & billions of Baht will take years to complete, hence giving those that have lost revenue due to COVID19 time. During this period people will generate & develop a new entertainment area to provide an income. It will be the same sort of entertainment we've enjoyed for years only at a different venue within the city.This will take very little time as Thai's are quick to pounce on an opportunity to make money & habits die hard ............. also an investment of billions of Baht won't be needed to provide a "night out to remember".......... fact.

[TAT forced to face reality: more than a third of the Thai tourist industry has gone bust]

Without help from the government this will continue throughout the country in all businesses linked to the tourist industry. Anyone that has not thought of changing their profession, if linked to tourism, is living on borrowed time ............. even with help it'll take years to recover,  if at all ............ a sad fact. The "golden goose" is well & truly cooked, which is now fast becoming cinder.

[Tourism chiefs call for foreigners vaccinated against COVID-19 to be allowed to enter Thailand]

All vaccines so far are not as effective as you would think, some as low as 50%, hence any easing of the restrictions for financial gain is much too early. We could very quickly find ourselves in a deadly situation all because people want to open up businesses. This pandemic is about saving lives, the people of Thailand have been very complacent with the rulings from government over the past year. Any financial crisis should be borne by the government during this period as well as ensuring everyone has an acceptable standard of living. All these "trips to the moon" & Naval submarines etc need to be immediately shelved & the taxpayer's money spent on surviving the pandemic.

[Road accidents claim 186 lives in first 3 days of New Year holidays in Thailand]

The deadly seven days fatalities that occurs every year comes as no surprise to anyone surely? The design & layout of roads, plus road signs. lighting etc have always been a major contribution to this. Also, the standard of driving & attitude comes a close second, hence this cocktail is explosive & shows no sign of improving. Taking a wild guess the final figure will be around 450 deaths & no one will even blink. It's the culture here, which no one is going to change ....... fact. 

[Foreigners online slam "ridiculous" booze ban - no drinking from 6pm Saturday to 6pm Sunday]

Foreigners living here should accept the rules & not be so pathetic. If they cannot abide by the rules of the country that are hosting them then "pack your bags" & leave, go elsewhere, you will not be missed. It's the norm here to ban alcohol for important events such as voting or Budda day's & "farang's" should be use to it by now! You are certainly giving those of us that do abide by the rules a bad name. Remember .......... it only takes a "few bad apples in the barrel" & we all get screwed! This also helps to create the xenophobic attitude that exists in some areas & people who complain about restrictions or misbehave wonder why this "divide" exists ...... go figure it out!??? Being well behaved & polite to others is a necessity in life .......... it's sad that most of today's society are so self centered.   

[Thai food hygiene: Restaurants told to get their act together or face fines of 50K next month]

It's the norm here for untidiness, uncleanliness & rubbish is everywhere. The food prepared is no different as people will never meet european standards here, it is useless to try & enforce it. High end restaurants mainly run by europeans or trained Thai chefs who have worked abroad will probably meet the standards, but it's an uphill struggle to try & enforce cleanliness in most restaurants .......... for instance they sweep the floor whilst you are eating your meal!!???  The mentality & mindset is just not there ....... wearing plastic gloves whilst serving food & fruit in the street may look good, but the gloves are taken off/put back on how many times a day?? Another ruling for the archives which will never be adhered to ...... they'll find a way of circumventing the ruling & carry on as before ...... fact.

[Chinese tourists will be spending up to 400K each in their short time in Thailand, TAT chief]

Nothing changes here, which leaves me gasping of "what will they think of next"? .............. News media quoting that from "top to bottom" in the industry the tourist is gonna be spending huge amounts & squeezed for every baht by coming on holiday here. I just don't fathom the mentality at all ......... "once bitten, twice shy" & many tourists have realized this, turned their backs on this venue for holidays, double standards, double pricing & safety concerns etc etc. The "golden goose" is well & truly cooked ............ Thailand only has themselves to blame as their demise had set in well before the pandemic. Due to covid19 it is the final nail in the coffin. Very, very sad .............. a lost paradise. 

[Scratches to a car: Security guard murders driver in broad daylight while he buys "look chin"]

Sadly, I have witnessed many explosive situations here with Thai men ...... it always seems to end in violence if the police are not "on the spot". It's dangerous for anyone, especially a foreigner to argue, object or say anything as it will quickly turn into an unpleasant situation. I've been here nearly 20yrs & I have no Thai male friends ........ I think that fact speaks for itself. A sad fact of life here, but caution when you are out in town is a must. 

[Anutin: Thailand is ready to open up to foreign tourists]

I thought this guy thought we were "too dirty" to be allowed entry into Thailand?? He must be the most xenophobic individual in the land & has proved that in his media statements. I for one do not forget his rants about us & now he's welcoming us ............. this guy needs telling that only those desperate & have families here will return now. The rest of us will go elsewhere ............... it's a fact that we are not welcome here & the recent events have confirmed this ......... we've got the message now & the "golden goose" is well & truly cooked, if not burnt!

[Hard truths about travelling to Thailand, right now]

I agree with the OP. A really good concise account of the situation here regarding the pandemic. I think the golden goose was well & truly cooked before the pandemic & the arrival of the virus has only brought the inevitable forward. Opening borders & incoming flights is not going to improve the tourist industry in Thailand in my opinion. The first thing they need to do is to stabilize their currency & revalue the baht ........ this is the most damaging factor of Thailand's plight. It's strength has pushed people to other countries that are far cheaper. Yes, it's a brilliant country to visit for holidays, but has become way too expensive for most. This alone will help to rejuvenate the economy & get back on track without putting the lives of the population at risk. They need to get competitive & not sit back thinking tourism will return because it is not going to happen in my opinion any time soon.

At this point in time I think the government should only concentrate on keeping people safe & inform everyone that the economy will continue to shrink until the pandemic worldwide is under control. The risks are far too great to be worrying about tourism & need to diversify by concentrating more on their exports. They should not be testing their ideas to boost tourism this early as no one knows how to control this virus. It's risking the lives of the general public by exposing them to traffic from countries that are still under lockdown ............ I'm stunned that China is being welcomed as the first visitors back! Unreal as it all started somewhere in China ........... I think it was Wuhan??? ........ The logic here escapes me.

Lastly, I think the immigration laws need to change to allow visitors easier access. If you want tourists to come to Thailand on holiday it must be seen as a destination with easy access visas that welcomes everyone. The criminal fraternity can easily be screened/tracked by electronic measures at all borders & airports with the technology we have today. The paperwork required & documents to prove you are a legitimate retiree or long term visitor are punitive & the number of "hoops" you need to jump through is so difficult, especially for those in their twilight years. If people are welcome here ......... it should be easy, but it's far from it. If you are on retirement for instance, each year the stress on individuals increases each year ........ if your income drops below the threshold due to the exchange rate you must leave. There is no other option ......... retirement here has become very risky. There are too many instances where stress is placed on the individual if they require an visa extension ....... another sad fact. 

 

 

[Ex-Marine 'could die alone in Thailand' after massive stroke as borders stay shut]

On 9/5/2020 at 8:51 AM, keith101 said:

Why isn't his Embassy helping him getting a flight back to his country on medical grounds , its one of the things they are here for and should be doing all they can to make it happen .

From everything i have read about the British Embassy here they are an absolutely waste of space and dont seem to want to do their job just get paid for being here .

I'm afraid that this stance by "our" British Embassy in Bangkok should come as no surprise to anyone. The staff there, especially the Brit's seem aloof & do not seem to have an ounce of sympathy for any expat in Thailand requiring assistance. They have been getting away with it for years. I'm ashamed sometimes to be British as these officials are really a bunch of "non-active" individuals on a "jolly" overseas with perks galore. They do not support anyone here & only serve as "paper pushers" without portfolio ........ My years of living in Thailand I've never heard of this embassy going out of their way to help anyone! That's possibly due to the fact that they are too busy attending "garden parties" & "knobbing it" with the elitist crowd ..... they should close the embassy in my opinion as it's certainly not protecting UK citizens & do everything from the UK by email & surface post. 

[RTP announce new road traffic fines: Some are actually REDUCED]

Running a red light fine has been reduced by 50% .......... ?? Now only 500 baht! This stupidity will continue to ensure Thailand's roads are the most dangerous roads in the world. It'll never improve road safety with Thai logic as it stands. It will continue to be passed down from generation to generation ........ a sad fact. 

[Interview with the British Embassy Consular Team in Thailand - August 2020]

I agree with most expats in Thailand. Can't do, won't do or not in our remit etc. The embassy here is as much use as an " Ashtray on a motorcycle" as it does not provide a service that most of us would like. It seems they are not here to help us at all & it's just a "nice old jolly & tea garden parties" for the chosen few. The situation will not improve either as their hands are tied due to the fact they are just puppets & governed by the UK government & we all know what a  bunch of "wets" they are for getting things done. Whatever comes from a liaison with this forum my guess is that all they'll do is pay it "lip service". Once upon a time being "British" was something that was respected by most countries ............... now we seem to have lost all credibility as in this current climate we do not have any "clout" with anyone & this is noticeable by the standards of our embassies worldwide .............. fact.

[Foreign tourist arrivals to Thailand could be as low as 6 million in 2021, warns TAT]

It's gonna be a lot worse than they are forecasting .................. recovery too will take years to return to previous levels. If Thailand survives all this & the tourist industry recovers fully too it'll be the "eighth wonder of the world" ............ just my opinion. It'll be a mediocre recovery, slow & painful  ........ the golden goose has long gone ........ fact.

[would you move to Thailand?]

Life here in Thailand has always been "up to you" & still is. It's more expensive & the exchange rate is dire since you were last here in 2006. Retirement option here is still a great place in a stress free & relaxing environment. You know exactly where you stand in society here, the locals are still a friendly bunch & easy to get along with. However, you must still accept their culture & thinking to be able to integrate here. As you still have two years before retiring I would suggest that learning to speak Thai if you have not already is a huge advantage. English is spoken here, but mainly school children as it's in their curriculum now. Many do not socialize with locals & that's when you get the wrong advice on forums like this one. Advice on bars & the rules of barfines , long times, short times etc however are accurate regarding the mistakes you can make as most posters on this forum have made them!! 

 

My advice would be to open a Thai bank account immediately, deposit 800,000 baht in the account & leave it for two months. As you are a first time applicant you will be able to apply for your Retirement Visa after your money has been your account for two months after your arrival. Get a "OA" visa in the UK for I year from the Thai Embassy there ......... this will give you a full year to decide whether Thailand is for you or not & you can come & go as you please. Once you are here on a 1 year Retirement Visa you can also apply during this period for a multi entry visa which will not conflict with your retirement. This visa allows you to travel without worrying. If you leave Thailand without one your retirement visa will become null & void. You will have to apply all over again for your retirement visa & "jump through all the hoops" deemed necessary by immigration.

 

Lastly, I use bankers cards here to draw cash as & when I need it as it works for me. Mainly because the rate of exchange is so poor. Normally I draw 20,000 baht on each transaction as the amount is the max & the charges are the same for all withdrawals. Problem is replacement cards, but if you have friends in the UK they can either bring them or send them to you by registered post. I'd advise you to have two cards, one debit/visa & one credit card. That also works well, as "one card can support the other" whilst awaiting a replacement. Online banking is available here now with reliable internet connections. The postal system is good here too. I always use main post offices, send everything registered & find them very efficient. Shopping has vastly improved & you'll find that that big shopping malls cater for all tastes, even European foods are available here now, but are expensive. Having said that there are many stores that cater for expats now, stock all the standard goods you'd expect to find back home & lots cheaper!!

 

Best of luck in your pending retirement ........... here is still the best place to be in Asia, even if you just use it as a base. It's safe, you can walk the streets alone without any worries, it's still fun & it's still what you make it. One thing I'd advise is don't walk around early hours alone (when streets are deserted), sober of otherwise, as those risks are high. 

[Pattaya: Rebranded "24 hour Walking Street" opens its arms to Thais - and one way traffic!]

Another nail in the coffin I think .............. I've never witnessed so much self inflicted ruin to their tourist industry. Once the covid19 pandemic is over & a vaccine is found I doubt very much if Thailand will be on many people's list of places to visit. It's had the world at it's feet for years as a tourist destination & ruined it over the past 15yrs. Looking for a quick fix to their woes is not the answer ......... once the pandemic is over all the famous places that brought millions of tourists to Thailand will be lost forever, some no longer exist ............... Khao San Road, Walking Street are classic examples, but there are many more. It may be seen as seedy in Pattaya by the world, but it was wild, fun & friendly ...... now it's boring & the atmosphere that once was has vanished from the streets ......... sad.     

[100 billion baht rescue package for Thai tourism mooted - foreign tourists wanted before year's end]

Where did the covid19 virus originate ........... lest we forget?? Amazing Thailand eh? The first country nominated for preferential treatment is China!! What are these people in govt. smoking I ask myself??? All this chaos & confusion, not to mention the millions of lives around the world that have been affected by this tragedy, plus all the fatalities too! ......... & China is being welcomed back with open arms!! I just don't get it ...... does anyone on this forum, if so please explain??? China needs to answer to the world for this, but it seems as if it will be "swept under the carpet". I for one think they should be tried by an International Court & made to answer for their sins.