@Ben **********

It's easy for me, but most Americans can't wrap their heads around the metric system and vice versa for non-Americans (except the British, who still partly use the old system).

@Ben **********

I think it's fine to leave aviation alone as changing feet to meters and knots to km/h might get complicated.

However, on a day to day level, I think it might be time to use the metric system on a more extensive basis as was the original plan in the 1970s.

@Andrew **********

Yet they now have 2L bottles of water and the medical/scientific industries use the metric system exclusively.

@Ben **********

Nonsense. There is no particular way of using the word "proper" that differs between different English speakers. You're making things up.

Innit is a well known Britishism though, everyone knows that.

@Katy ******

Not anymore and this is changing globally. Western embassies in Thailand and surrounding countries often only accept payment by debit or credit card for their services but it depends on the country.

Vietnamese visas now have to be applied for online. At least short term tourist and business visas anyway.

@Ben **********

Proper is used in American English too. Innit of course is a Britishism.

@Katy ******

Huh? Many embassies worldwide are only accepting credit cards and not taking cash anymore.

Oh and also, this border will be the closest to Greater Bangkok and Hua Hin/Cha-am, for those wishing to do a border run while on the DTV. No need to go to Cambodia anymore or travel for hours down to Ranong, with it's not so friendly immigration staff and touts.

@David *******

That's what people do, but it won't help if an employee just knows "work permit" and that's it. Many banks have policies where they won't open accounts for foreigners without work permits and the only thing you can do is try another bank or branch of the same bank.

Of course, one should always walk in with a certificate of residence, as that's a firm requirement, but one would think bank staff would tell an applicant "here's what we require" rather than shooing them away (which so often occurs).

@Nigel *****

The ones that aren't open to foreigners? Well, they would be Mae Sai, Mae Sot and Phu Nam Ron (Kanchanaburi).

The latter could reopen soon (as in the New Year) but I suspect it will be for Thais and Burmese only, not foreigners (though we'll have to wait and see).

Another possibility is they might open it up for border runs again, but not for travel down to Dawei.