Changes for 2018?

[kkjason]

@KKJason -- Where's the local Irish pub in town? Oh right, there isn't one. The closest we have is that Aussie bar close to Tuckom, and that place sucks and is filled with hookers.

Well...wrong again. You can go to Tap 21 where the old Rad Pub used to be. It has 21 beers on tap, including Guiness, and serves up a range of food including bangers and mash, fish and chips, and more. You really must get out a bit more if you think that old restaurants near the Pulman are all there is the city has to offer...It all depends on what you're after, I suppose, but don't mislead others on the board by saying what a city does not have, when it quite obviously does...

[kkjason]

Because my husband is a Laos citizen, feels out of place in Thailand, and we're both sick of the VISA runs every 30 days.

That, and we're planning to adopt two Laos children. It will be at least one year before we have the necessary paperwork in place to be able to take them out of the country.

Question - If you don't have a Canadian passport - and haven't for some time - how are you married to him?

[cdnmatt]

He proposed, I accepted. Later I proposed, and he accepted. In my mind, we're married.

I guess we'll be doing a Basi Ceremony shortly, but that doesn't contitute marriage.

There's the chance we'll get legally married in Canada in the future, but I don't really see it. I'm totally fine with doing it, but the only reason to do so would be to apply for him to receive permanent residency status to Canada via a spousal sponsorship. However, since we're most likely taking those kids, there's no reason for that, s we'll be residing in Vientiane for a minimum of 10 years, and probably longer, especially if they go to university and decide to continue living with us during their tenure there. PR status to Canada requires us to reside in Canada for 2 out of every 5 years, or else it gets cancelled, so I doubt we'll apply for it, at least not any time soon. For now, visitor VISAs will do.

[cdnmatt]

@KKJason -- Want to go out for a night out at Tap 21 though? We have no idea where it is, and we're just sitting here with our thumbs up our asses, waiting for my passport to come in.

If wanted, figure out how to use PMs, and I'll send you my contact details.

[joe552]

kkjason, you can't expect Matt or Leo to know how to use a taxi in KK.

[cdnmatt]

Leo doesn't drink, and we're not much of the party types, hence we have no idea where Tap 21 is.

[kkjason]

@KKJason -- Want to go out for a night out at Tap 21 though? We have no idea where it is, and we're just sitting here with our thumbs up our asses, waiting for my passport to come in.

If wanted, figure out how to use PMs, and I'll send you my contact details.

Sure - we can probably do that as soon as we get back from Hua Hin - we go there every January to unwind from the craziness of the holidays around here - I am looking forward to a couple days of just sleeping in, and my better half can't wait to not have to cook every meal for a few days - I'll be in touch later next week - cheers -

[kkjason]

kkjason, you can't expect Matt or Leo to know how to use a taxi in KK.

HAHA - no need to even bother with a taxi here - we use Uber or Grab to go anywhere when drinking is going to be involved. Insanely convenient (use the smartphone) and even more insanely inexpensive - It can actually be quite difficult to park in downtown Khon Kaen at certain times of the week, so it is often faster to just do the Uber and Grab thing...I just hope the taxi mafia doesn't intervene one day - but they don't seem to be organized enough here at the moment to do so - yea for that. Safe travels as you come to Thailand -have a blast!

[frequent]

Question - If you don't have a Canadian passport - and haven't for some time - how are you married to him?

Matt is married to Leo only in that addled organ, his mind. Until recently - and for all we know, still - he's been legally married to someone back in Canada. Leo and Matt are - in that fine old term - betrothed. As he admits, even undergoing a Basi Ceremony does not constitute a wedding and does not give rise to a legal marriage. For Matt however these legal niceties - essential to the rest of us - are mere dross. He is and has been for a number of years, living illegally in Thailand. His income is paid in the currency beloved of blackmailers, drug dealers, pornographers and the Russian mafia - the bitcoin. Apart from VAT on whatever he buys from his local 7-11 he pays taxes to no-one. He is the archetypal Trump entrepreneur, in other words

[joe552]

Matt, you said earlier that you consider yourself a functioning alcoholic. I'm an alcoholic, so was my Dad. Without putting all the blame on him, the damage his drinking did to me since I was 11 years old still lives with me. And you honestly think you'd be a fit person to raise two children? You're deluded or in denial.