Outcome certain, why bother with public opinion

". . . fines of up to 60,000 baht ($1,700) for recreational use ..."

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

If you don't speak the language use translater in your browser for better answers

As an example I have listed two web pages:

The english version of wikipedia 'Sakon Nakhon Province' 

The Thai version of wikipedia 'Sakon Nakhon Province' (จังหวัดสกลนคร)

Very obvious is the fact that the Thai version contains a hell of a lot more information.

Same applies for anything else you want to know or are looking for from specialty shops to contractors. Translate your question into Thai, then use the translation to search for your answers

It's like asking locals for information, rather than foreigeners.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Xi Jinping's 3rd Term | China in Focus

We don't need war!

Where's the cameras

Thailand slipped in the standings of best places to retire, used to be in the top ten, now it's eleven. 

Also slipped a bit in the corruption index. I'm not a big believer in these reports. I always look at accompanying advertisement.

Thailand may slip a bit more statistically in the near future. There's a discussion of raising minimum wage. It would be a huge increase, somewhere around 40 to 50%. Every time that happens prices go up. 

 

Changes to traffic laws are expected around midyear. Big push is on after a recent accident in a crosswalk where a doctor was killed by a speeding motorcycle.  Pictures on social media seem show a nationwide push to repaint crosswalks.

A few places around town are posting speed limits with pictures of speed cameras. I slowed to the posted speed limit and vehicles passed me estimated 20 to 30 km over the posted speed limit.

On the net I get the occasional 'forbidden' because of my Thai IP address.  A VPN solves that. Find that with news outlets in the US and Europe.  Thailand still seems to have a 'reputation.'  I even have to use a VPN when I want to visit German orphanage  where I spent a few years in.

If you have a corruption complaint, think twice. Even if true and documented you can still be sued for defamation.  They can drag on for years.+

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

International tourism for this year is stymied

Too much of a hassle to cross country borders going and returning. For the immediate future domestic tourism is predominant.

Various attempts are being made to rekindle tourism.

It will be slow going till some of the border crossing requirements are eased world wide.

Agricultural tourism will have 'limited appeal' to international tourists. 

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Prohibition started here

Some seem to think that Thailand Tourism will be up and running later this year.  I have serious doubts.  

Just because (eventually) borders are reopened, tourism is not going to rebound quickly. There will remain a fear to travel to distant lands. Thailand's neighbors seem to be having more serious problems with the virus than Thailand.

For the near future travel plans will involve close to home (domestic) travel. This requires domestics  with jobs and a little extra cash.

Health checks may be required for future international travel.  It would seem sensible to test a bit more than just the body temperature.

Sakon Nakhon has been surprisingly lucky with very little known virus. There were unconfirmed rumors early of just a few suspicions and only one confirmed case.

Sakon Nakhon was the first province to introduce alcohol prohibition.  Made international headlines within hours. It was also a very busy evening on my blog. It will be interesting to see if prohibition ends as scheduled or will be extended


สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

200119 The great plastic bag hoax

It's nothing more than big business cutting down on customer service.

Remember when gas station attendants cleaned your windows and offered to check your oil or tire pressure.  

These days you do it yourself.

Remember when groceries had a checkout clerk and a bag boy or girl.

Used to shop weekly at Big C. Generally six to seven bags per week. 

Never could figure out why they did not use larger bags. 

I put them into two larger bags to hang them on my handlebars.

Also never could figure out why they did not offer to return those bags for reuse.

Most store items are packed in plastic.  Even a six pack of cans comes wrapped in plastic.

I save my large bags and reuse them. All those food wrappings aren't reusable and fill a large trash bag per week

I'm guessing my weekly plastic waste could be compressed into a small brick. 

Separating other waste from plastic I use a small basket each week for trash

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

The 32 exchange rate (to the US $) had the economy a bit sluggish, but moving

there's a whole different perspective if you add the beginning of the year 2019
The 32 exchange rate (to the US $) had the economy a bit sluggish, but moving 
สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

190801 Keeping track of honest people will do nothing to reduce crime, it may reduce tourism

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

A shift in manufacturing for better profits, less tariffs

I vaguely remember over a decade ago: manufacturing related to sewing closed shop in Thailand and moved to Vietnam.  Less than a decade ago Korean manufacturing looking for less cost also moved operations to Vietnam.

A few years ago and now there are news stories of Thai businessmen investing heavy in Vietnam.

Now with the trade war on, more Chinese businessmen are moving their operations to Vietnam.
It means job losses in China and subsequently less Chinese overseas travel.

Published on Jun 19, 2019👇

Published on May 29, 2019 👇


Published on Nov 21, 2018 👇


สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

190521 Thai sticks were world renown

Amnesty program ended today to report your possession of marijuana. Not quite sure if they allowed persons reporting the possession to keep it , doubt that.

Been staying clean in that respect and should be able to pass a piss test if one was unexpectedly offered. 

As for legalization it's still years away.  Think government and big corporations will milk the medical purposes as long as they can.

Prefer a joint over alcohol any time. I'm a lightweight when it comes to that stuff a couple of tokes and I'm good for half a day.

It's illegal in Thailand, became so in 1979, pretty sure it was due to pressure from the US Government. Before that Thais were using it in their soups.  Back in the 60's up to the 70's Thai sticks were world renown.

'One of the reasons' I'm contemplating of uprooting very soon is at my age I want to enjoy a toke now and then without having to worry about an offer for accomodations at the local government hospitality facility. One to five year accomodations for minor possession and a fine.

Crazy thing is it's relatively easy and inexpensive to come by, even if you know a few government types. 

There's a couple local expats who are dreaming of becoming local legal distributors. Keep dreaming.


What is a Thai Stick

Big Business ... If it's true

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Don't delete, be aware of the consequences. :::: Adjust your settings, limit online time

This presentation is facebook specific. The points made here can be applied to all social media

Rather than deleting all social media, tailor it for best personal interests.


Published on Dec 25, 2018 by Alltime10s ส


also by Alltime10s 



กลนคร Sakon Nakhon

It's like a cat and mouse game

The Thai Immigration bosses had asked all embassies to verify individual income of all foreigners wishing a retirement visa.  The certifications they had been issuing for years were obviously misused and in many cases as outright lie.

Embassies balked at this and decided to cease issuing certifications for income statements. 

The word is out, get your embassy letter before the termination date, in most cases Dec 31, 2018. They can be used to apply for a visa through June 30.

Or you can stick the required amount into a Thai bank account.  Keep in mind You can't touch it for three months and must have additional funds to live on during these three months.

In my discussion on the matter it appeared as if there is a cat and mouse game in progress. I asked how monthly money transfers will be handled in the future, I was told "that is up to the foreign embassies."

If I am not mistaken this means they plan to hold out in hopes that embassies will change their tunes and provide the information.

If the standoff is not resolved within a year, most likely there will be an exodus, once that ball gets rolling it's going to be hard to slow down or reverse.

Some foreign embassies probably would not have great difficulty to accommodate such income inquiries with  the systems in place.  IRS computers come to mind.

Personally I'm not transferring my savings to a Thai bank because my U.S. last will and testament would become worthless.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Just dump it anywhere, but don't block my way

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

The world ruled by China Phase ONE: debt-trap diplomacy

Election season begins soonget ready for the rhetoric

The Great Expat Exodus

Thaiger link

Nothing yet from US embassy, but bets are on that it will happen soon.

Personally I'd always considered the letter a bit of a ripoff, when a bank book with a year's worth of deposits should suffice. 

The certified letter was a good cover for people who did not have the required money and lied under oath. 

Thai immigration will have to come up with alternate procedures to prove income.  Many expats, including myself, have the monthly income above the requirement, but are unable or unwilling to deposit yearly amounts into a Thai bank.

From my own experience of transferring yearly amounts, too many people want to borrow, not always return the loan.

The lesson here: In any disaster, you're on your own for 'at least' the first week

Survival struggle

Survivors in remote areas of Indonesia’s Sulawesi island are still waiting for aid five days after disaster struck and are now facing shortages of fuel, water and power.