General Reports

[BeachDrone]

My first experience with Thai Friendly. Your mileage may vary.

I'm in Chiang Mai and just for something different, decided to try Thai Friendly. Created account, uploaded a couple pictures, clearly stated in my profile that I'm only looking for short-term dating, not a long-term relationship, and only in Chiang Mai. Being in my late 60's and not relating as well with ladies in their 20's, I specified that I'm looking for ladies 36-59. Within a few minutes I was getting "likes" and messages, some from younger ladies. Almost all ask for a Line ID so they can discuss anything outside the Thai Friendly rules.

I have been to Chiang Mai every winter for 12 years (except one due to the pandemic) and stay at a guest house run by a family I have come to know well. I cannot bring ladies to my room.

Within 30 minutes of opening my account, I had about 6 or 7 suggesting they come to my room for massage. Clearly suggesting more. An hour after opening the account, I was fucking a very sexy 45-year-old lady at her massage shop where she works by herself. A very hot time, massage, BBBJ, DATY, BBFSCIP, all for 1500 baht! Walking back to my guest house, I got a video Line call from another lady 44-year-old, and went to her room for another fun session. She pretty clearly only does this occasionally for fun, and only asked 1000 baht. And it was BBBJ, DATY, BBFSCIP, everything. Two very fun sessions in two hours. Took a break for dinner. Will go back to Thai Friendly tomorrow.

[ThaiGoodTimes]

Again this is for people with no experience doing visa extension. Everything is much the same. It took a little over 2 hours from start to finish to get a 1 month visa extensions in Phuket. The cost for the extension was the same 1900 thai baht. I did not need a departure ticket. I did not need the note from my hotel that I thought I would, though I needed the address. I needed a passport photo and a copy of the front page of my passport and a copy of the page stamped with my last entry. And of course my passport. You can get the passport photo and copies made at the immigration office.

I asked the guy that does the information desk about doing a visa run when this extension runs s out. He said it depends on the particular immigration officer I get when I return. He said it better to stay out of country a week then just a day. He was just giving advice not definitive facts.

All in all getting a visa extension is easy. Hope this helps anyone who might want to know how it works.

A 30 day extension is quite easy, so long as where you are staying has registered you.

If you are staying in a cheap hotel / accommodation that might have been lazy registering you, or staying with friends, it can be way more problematic.

[Horatio]

Again this is for people with no experience doing visa extension. Everything is much the same. It took a little over 2 hours from start to finish to get a 1 month visa extensions in Phuket. The cost for the extension was the same 1900 thai baht. I did not need a departure ticket. I did not need the note from my hotel that I thought I would, though I needed the address. I needed a passport photo and a copy of the front page of my passport and a copy of the page stamped with my last entry. And of course my passport. You can get the passport photo and copies made at the immigration office.

I asked the guy that does the information desk about doing a visa run when this extension runs s out. He said it depends on the particular immigration officer I get when I return. He said it better to stay out of country a week then just a day. He was just giving advice not definitive facts.

All in all getting a visa extension is easy. Hope this helps anyone who might want to know how it works.

This is for those with no experiece. I needed to extend my visa. I have been here almost 1 month and did not get the visa extension at the airport. I am an American. I went to the immigration office at Phuket Town. It was the closest to me. All I had to do was fill out form, show passport, make a couple of copies of different pages of passport, get a passport photo and pay. The people at the immigration office were friendly and helpful. The process was quick.

Some things you will need are a pen, address of where you are staying, departure ticket and I think that was it. I didn't have departure ticket and it was not a problem at all. It cost me 1900 baht, plus 126 baht for photo and copies.

I hope this helps anyone with worries. It was all in all quick and easy.

[Horatio]

Renting a motorbike costs 3000 thb a month. I paid a 3000 thb deposit but could have left my passport with them instead. Never give up your passport. I rented a cheaper bike for 2500 thb but returned it after a few days because it had no place to hold stuff except under the seat. No cup holder or hook or basket. This mattered because I needed a place for my phone (to use map).

I went to AAA in USA before I left and got an international driver's license for I think $20. Thailand has periodic road blocks where they checkk for drivers license. I think the penalty is 1000 thb if you don't have. (I don't know this, check elsewhere for facts). I was stopped at one today and the AAA license was accepted and no fine. Though I've heard that is not always the case.

I would not recommend anyone rent a motorbike in thailand if they do not have experience with one. They are very easy to drive but traffic is often terrible. I would not rent one in Bangkok or Pattaya. Other better transportation is there. I rent one in phuket because I am well away from touristy stuff and haven't seen a motorbike taxi since I've been here.

Motorbikes split lanes here and always go to the front of the line at traffic lights. You will most likely be doing some riding on the shoulder. Traffic drives on the other side of the street from usa. This was easier to get used to then I anticipated. That said you will encounter lots of bikes going the wrong direction on a road. This kind of throws me off. Motor bikes are a lot of fun to drive. Do not get a large motorcycle just for town. They are ridiculous for in town and probably way less enjoyable to boot.

I have a fat head and I've never been able to get a helmet that fits me. Take lots of video of your motor bike when you first rent it. A video once helped me when they wanted to charge me for a big scratch. The video showed it was there when I rented. 100 thb in gas filled my tank.

[Newton York]

For those of you that keep saying Asia is so perfect or paradise or whatever, watch these videos, and you'll see how that's just not true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE5EvC4aVeE

The only paradise in Asia is Thailand for any number of reasons, but even so called 'perfect' South Korea is not. As a matter of*fact, if you don't believe, me when I go to my usual haunt for handjobs here in the sexual wasteland that's the tri-state area, this chick from China told me that it's actually more expensive for her to live in China. Edu-meh-cation, housing, etc. But what about the racism over here I asked her and she said she can deal with that, but you still got to eat. That really makes you think. I've met so many Singaporeans who do nothing but bemoan their lot in life of being born a Singaporean citizen, one of, if not the greatest country in the world. Some people just don't know how to appreciate what they have. When you're born into such a great country as Singapore, how could you even begin to fathom how bad other people's situation actually*is? Singaporeans are a spoiled bunch no doubt. So, you know despite all the k-pop and other k stuff happening, it's not as perfect as many of you might think. Look, my situation ain't great, but I can still travel around the world when I want, you can't say that for the average south east Asian person. Hell, many metro hospitals in Manila, don't even have AC. No AC in the maternity wards of major hospitals in metro Manila. Think I'm joking? Just ask around, google it. If South Korea is so perfect, why do you have so many of them in north america? Or retiring in the Philippines and Thailand? Same reason as so many westerners retiring in Pattaya and Bali. Cause where we're from and where we're at now sucks. Like the tri-state area here. It fucking sucks. I'm just saying, think about it. Why don't Thai's travel all over the world and retire elsewhere? Cause Thailand is awesome, who'd want to leave? I bemoan my lot in life. I essentially dared the manager to fire me last week, they won't yet for reasons, but it'll happen soon enough, and I can finally get my ass back to paradise. I have just enough for a few months in Bangkok and then I'll have my own Leaving Las Vegas. I can't think of a better way to go than that.

[Forty Drinks]

According to this article, customers will need to get mobile app "ThaiD" and bars need to install facial recognition security cameras to record all patrons.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...-opening-rules

I know of many bars that the police closed down at midnight. Live streaming videos showed them empty by 00:45 this morning.

Only Thai s will stay out to 4 am. How does this get Thailand Foreign Exchange?

[HorseTrader]

According to this article, customers will need to get mobile app "ThaiD" and bars need to install facial recognition security cameras to record all patrons.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...-opening-rules

I know of many bars that the police closed down at midnight. Live streaming videos showed them empty by 00:45 this morning.

[SubCmdr]

The post you originally quoted was actually related to buying gold. My original point was I was simply explaining that I was going to follow the ways of as some people put it "Poor Thais" store their value. I thought is was a sound method of doing things. Their financial strategy saved many of them when individuals on high decided to reset the financial system and wipe people out. Then sucker them back in with the worthless fiat currency by making the money printer go: burr! My stock portfolio went down 40%. But I had cash flow, cash reserves and did not have to sell off.

My point, in the original post that you quoted, was that hard assets (Au) are important part of financial planning (for me and many Thai people poor or otherwise) when hard times comes to the paper asset world. Or if your cash flow gets disrupted. As it did when the economy of Thailand was shut down for nearly three years. Now those with private bankers and large stock portfolios know privilege that you cannot even recognize because it is like asking a fish what it water. You swim in money. But for the rest of us in low places, planning for the worst makes a difference between if we can pay our rent and eat.

What happens if I get cut off from my internet banking (for let's say reasons)? What now? I sell of my gold so I can pay my rent and eat. I spend my professional career as a wage slave looking a worst case scenarios. It is all fun and games and sitting around the conference table talking about handling it until it is not longer theory and you dealing SHTF situation live, up close, in person and in real life.

So, tell me, since your are so full of knowledge from Financial Advisors, why did not not even address one of my questions actually related to finance? Easy to tell people from the USA. They do what their politicians do. Ignore the issues and spin like a NFL running back that has made it into the secondary.

A tempting option LOL.

Put me on ignore and skip them all! ROTFLMAO.

Thirty years ago it was advice. Yes it was useful. Today I'm retired (early! Still about 10 years away from SS) and the conversations are mostly about tax strategies. Pretty boring stuff really. But it's one of the few things you can control so; important to get right. Yawn!

Solid tax advice is important. I have kept myself educated about tax law from the first moment I had to file a tax return.

No, not clowning. Just calling you out for acting like you know what financial advisors will say when clearly you have no idea what financial advisors will say.

What exactly did you prove? That I do not know what I am talking about when it comes to traditional financial advisors. If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing it would be, do not follow traditional financial advice. They are sales people and do not have your financial interests as their main objectives. I have advised my friends. I have advised my parents. Not a single one of them have had a problem with the advice I gave them. I have not held a job for 20+. I did it without ever speaking to financial advisor..

I may not know much about money. But I can find sub 1000 THB pussy and 150 THB / hour foot massages in Pattaya. People clown me about that. Some people may seek out and learn from the posts I put up in the Pattaya Reports In IRL people do not look down on others for saving money. They are not proud to brag they paid 50%, 100%, 200% more for the same service unless they are Billionaires. I doubt there are many posting here.

I hope you are enjoying Thailand as much as I am. The men of Pattaya are having fun. The boys of Bangkok are simply too serious for me. Which one are you? Represent!.

[SubCmdr]

I have two accounts with Vanguard and one with Fidelity. Currently talking with Mason but probably not going to do anything with them. Mostly just humoring a *really* rich old friend who put me in contact with them. Anyway, they all work pretty much as you describe Schwab. That is; actual financial advice and planning rather than a hack sales pitch as some seem to think. It's nice dealing with professionals.

I have accounts at Vanguard, Fidelity and Schwab. I have had my account with Schwab the longest, but I have been pleased with all of them. I made an error, after I made a big deal and some large deposits I got calls from individuals and both Vanguard and Fidelity advising me that I was eligible for a consultation with a Financial Adviser. I remember a 30 minute conversation with both. I ignored their advice and kept on keeping on doing what I got me where I was in the first place. Don't change horses in the middle of the river.

Now that you are Mr. Independently Wealthy, you going to live in Thailand? If not I look forward to you continued trip reports either in Pattaya Reports or Bangkok Reports.

[Chop]

I've been dealing with Schwab. Their focus with me has been on diversifying my portfolio with my acceptable level of risk and future needs.

I have two accounts with Vanguard and one with Fidelity. Currently talking with Mason but probably not going to do anything with them. Mostly just humoring a *really* rich old friend who put me in contact with them. Anyway, they all work pretty much as you describe Schwab. That is; actual financial advice and planning rather than a hack sales pitch as some seem to think. It's nice dealing with professionals.

[Chop]

If anyone is already financially independent and does not have to work please skip this post.

A tempting option LOL.

Have you found the advice useful?

Thirty years ago it was advice. Yes it was useful. Today I'm retired (early! Still about 10 years away from SS) and the conversations are mostly about tax strategies. Pretty boring stuff really. But it's one of the few things you can control so; important to get right. Yawn!

I trust that you actually were not trying to clown me

No, not clowning. Just calling you out for acting like you know what financial advisors will say when clearly you have no idea what financial advisors will say.

[Davey1965]

Well, none of them except Vanguard, Schwab, Fidelity, Mason, etc. (Honesty, I've never spoken with Schwab. Betcha they'd say the same as the others though.) I'm going to guess you've never spoken with an actual financial advisor.

Since I pulled my funds out of a company 401 K I've been dealing with Schwab. Their focus with me has been on diversifying my portfolio with my acceptable level of risk and future needs. I've had an account with them prior but just to access funds while traveling via ATM's. This has been a huge difference from the account managers / hacks that my last company employed. Prior to choosing Schwab I also contacted a credit union I belong to and while better than my company program not up to the level of options Schwab has offered. Even in another market crash my losses will not be debilitating to my financial future

[SubCmdr]

Something to think about. If anyone is already financially independent and does not have to work please skip this post.

I'm going to guess you've never spoken with an actual financial advisor.

Your guess is right. No, I have not. I have never felt I needed to. I developed all of my financial knowledge on my own. I've managed my money on my own since the first day I earned money at 13 years old.

In my youth, I held a Series 6 and Series 7. You are familiar with them? Studied for the CFP but never took it because I changed careers.

Well, none of them except Vanguard, Schwab, Fidelity, Mason, etc. (Honesty, I've never spoken with Schwab. Betcha they'd say the same as the others though.)

Have you found the advice useful? I think for myself. How do all of us live? On income. It is because we need that income that most become wage slaves. If you want to be a free man (and I did) I knew I needed a way to generate income without being a wage slave. If you need 100,000 USD (insert your number here) to live on each year, how are you going to generate that income without going to work?

We all live on income, not assets. We need assets to generate income. Where do you get the assets that do that for you? That is the question you need to ask your financial planners (sales people) the next time you sit down for a counseling session. Or you can be determined to be a free man and figure it out for yourself.

Now, I trust that you actually were not trying to clown me and that is why I responded here instead of in my favorite thread. LOL!

[Chop]

There is not a single financial advisor that will tell you that you should put your savings into in the stock market.

Well, none of them except Vanguard, Schwab, Fidelity, Mason, etc. (Honesty, I've never spoken with Schwab. Betcha they'd say the same as the others though.) I'm going to guess you've never spoken with an actual financial advisor.

[SubCmdr]

"Thailand has received almost 24.5 million international tourists in the first 11 months of the year, in line with the goal established by the government for 2023 but still well below the record of 40 million visitors in 2019.

Between Jan. 1 and Nov. 26 this year, Thailand, one of the world's tourism powers and whose industry was strongly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, received 24.48 million international travelers, generating income of 1. 03 trillion baht (about $29.6 million) to the country.

The figure is within the goal stipulated by the Thai government, which hopes to attract between 25 and 30 million tourists this year, although it represents only two thirds of the total of 39.87 travelers who visited the country in 2019, before the pandemic.

The data, provided by the Ministry of Tourism, indicates a slower recovery of Thailand's tourism sector compared to its regional neighbors, which is why the administration of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has implemented various measures with the aim of stimulating the industry.

Thailand has recently extended temporary visa-free entry for citizens of China, Taiwan, India and Kazakhstan, and relaxed entry conditions for Russian travelers in an attempt to stimulate tourism.

According to ministry figures, a total of 3. 05 million Chinese tourists have entered the country so far this year, far off the government goal of 3. 5-4 million travelers from the Asian giant.

Despite the slowdown, China is still among the main tourist groups registered this year in Thailand, only behind Malaysia, whose international arrivals totaled almost 4 million people since Jan. 1.

Completing the list of countries with the most citizens traveling to Thailand so far are South Korea, with 1. 44 million, India with 1. 43 million, and Russia with 1. 2 million.

By 2024, the Ministry of Tourism hopes to reactivate the sector robustly with the arrival of some 35 million international tourists, 8. 2 million of them from China.

Likewise, it foresees that the total income generated by the industry will jump from the 2. 38 trillion baht expected for this year to 3 trillion baht in 2024, a figure similar to that from the almost 40 million tourists who visited the country in 2019.

International tourism to Thailand, which accounted for 12-20 percent of Thai gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019, fell to 6. 7 million visits in 2020 and 420,000 in 2021, sending the economy into a tailspin. ".

https://efe.com/en/latest-news/2023-...covid-figures/

My Opinion

Thailand is a big place with many tourist attractions. Pattaya is but one of them. The numbers are not broken down by the locations visited in the country. I see a lot of speculation about how High Season is unfolding in the Pattaya Reports thread.