@Carlos ********

🤪😂🤣🫠🤭😜😱🫡🤗

@Carlos ********

Yeah, well they kill passengers too. But statistically these events are rare and it doesn't seem to stop people from flying

If it's extremely valuable ($3500+), I would buy a seat for it.

For lessor guitars, best to just check it. Chances are good it'll be fine.

Very important: Loosen the strings until they're slack.

If the guitar sits outside where it is really cold in the winter, avoid the temptation to open and check it out as soon as you claim it. Let it warm gradually to room temperature, or you risk checking the finish.

@Giuseppe *********

Thailand: the land of a constant flow of new bad ideas, masquerading as good ideas and improvements.

@Brandon ***********

Exactly. Power and the retention or acquisition thereof.

And we haven't even discussed yet Anutin and his hunger for the top position in the Thai government. What might he do to ensure success? He's feverishly casting about for some corruption he can stamp out in a showy virtue-signaling manner, and the visa system certainly fits the bill. Especially if doing so does collateral damage to the power base of rivals and adversaries.

Mix in Trump's insane tariffs, his hard on for a Nobel prize, and his desire to checkmate the pesky Chinese, and China's hunger to score some points in the region (have we got a canal deal for you!), and suddenly a lot of things we all took for granted are a little less certain than before, if for no reason other than the much higher stakes games coincidentally currently underway.

@Brandon ***********

Tell that to the businesses suffering on both sides of the Cambodian border.

The losses from that money spigot closure dwarf the profits from the entire farang expat community, never mind the subset profiting from "creative" agents, banking and visas.

The conflict brings the possibility for massive profits to some officials.

The only thing that makes it easy to shut one money spigot is the sudden arrival of a far larger pipeline.

@Brandon ***********

And I certainly acknowledged that in my post, no?

But even in Thailand, sometimes changes happen.

The answers you receive here are worth slightly less than what you paid for them. The only answer that matters is what Bangkok Bank tells you to your face.

You know what you must do, no?

@Simon ******

As a six-year expat in Thailand who pays attention, I thought I'd never say this. But reading the tea leaves, for the first time I think it is possible that the agent/bank/visa system will not be allowed to continue as before for much longer.

There's not any single factor suggesting this, but rather a combination of situations that raises the question for me. And I could be dead wrong and the agent system will continue for many years to come.

But - if I were depending on using an agent to sort the 800K ransom...sorry "deposit," with the usual magic wand, I would definitely want a sound plan B and C in my pocket at this time.

Personally, I'm neutral on the issue. Not up to me, and I'm not rooting for any particular outcome. I bear no grudge or moralistic stance against those who use agents to perform banking magic. Only time will tell.

@Pete ******

Or not.