fotog

I used it four hours ago and it was fine.

Anyone remember this story?

http://www.thephuketnews.com/bangkok-taxi-drivers-lend-a-beating-hand-31274.php

"failure to do so is a reportable offense."

Reportable to whom? Drivers going through red lights, failing to stop at cross-walks, failing to yield the right of way, motorcycles using side walks / foot paths to circumvent 15 second cross-walks, and so forth. Who do you think really cares? The police?

"Has anyone found a diplomatic way of bridging this gap between driver & the Thai wife/gf?"

Yes, just let the driver not use the meter; they like that.

Unfortunately when it comes to romance; most folks don't see the 'real person' they are in love with; they only see the dream they have 'invented' about that person. Sooner or later they realize that 'the dream' was just a 'dream'. Perhaps that is why so many marriages end in divorce.

Lucky for her she is not playing her games with Thai boys, because they can't take a joke about these sorts of things and it would not end well for her.

Some Thai asset management companies will still take US customers. Some will not, due to FATCA. Others haven't yet decided.

Misty, What is the easiest way for someone (from USA) to determine which funds they may or may not invest in ... esp. bearing in mind the frequent disconnect between what head office says and what counter staff say?

Hi, whether a Thai Asset Management company (TAM) will decide to continue to accept US citizens who are Thai residents as customers should become clearer as this year wears on. This is a company level decision - either all of a TAM's funds will be open to Americans, or none of them will. It's difficult to get a straight answer on this right now even from head offices - some TAMs haven't yet decided or at least announced how they plan to handle FATCA. (Although from what we understand, at least they're all now aware of the new regulations - at last it's being discussed at the industry level.) Should see more decisions on a firm-by-firm basis as the end of the year approaches, which is when FATCA reporting requirements are forced on foreign financial institutions.

Well this has been an interesting read, as I was digging around trying to find a Thai Brokerage to possibly open an account for trading stocks. However with Misty's explanation about FATCA, I guess I will not pursue it any further.

I have two U.S. brokerages that I use regularly but what is on offer from Thai stocks is limited. THD has been a good ETF that has a selection of Thai companies and TTF is a closed end fund that also trades on the NYSE. I wanted to open an account here locally so I could buy Thai stocks individually. I have absolutely no interest in dealing with a Thai bank or purchasing any of their products.

To the poster who has the Schwab account: As long as you have a U.S. address I believe that is what they were referring to.

I was told the same thing some years ago by another brokerage; but they have no clue where I am trading from as long as they have a U.S. address on file. I even get duplicate statements sent to my address here in Thailand.

I've been using Bangkok Bank for a few years now. I transfer via bill pay from my bank in the USA using Bangkok Bank NY. Using their routing number in NY and my account number in Thailand it works, without any fees. Now Bangkok bank may not give you the same rate as For-ex but if you check their exchange rate it is spot on to what they are giving you. The transfer usually takes about 5 days. My bill pay service is free, the transfer is free as well. Just plan a week out and avoid unwanted fees.

That is an interesting way to do your transfers with BBK Bank. So you just setup BKK Bank NY as the payee and put your BKK Bank account number on the transaction? That is the best and easiest way I have heard of so far.

When I started with them 10 years ago I was told to setup a 'recurring transfer service' from my USA bank to BBK Bank and that is what I did. The fee is $12.00 per transfer and no issues with that part.

However I agree with every negative comment posted here about BKK Bank, and if at all possible I bring cash from the U.S and convert it at a much better rate than BKK Bank will give on a wire transfer. If I started to tell all of the things I don't like about dealing with BKK Bank; I would be here for a very long time. If I ever had a good experience dealing with them; then I sure can't remember it. I can just imagine the greif I will get when I sell my condo and want to transfer the money back to the U.S.

How about making them wear a 'Hello Kitty' armband as the police did to their officers who were not doing their jobs properly a few years back (2008?). Now that's what I call a proper punishment / deterrent for drunk drivers.

The only effective way I have ever found to get rid of ants (temporarily) is to get a granulated ant powder as was mentioned in the last post and then try to follow the trail to the nest. If you can find the nest it will have a mound around it. Then sprinkle the poison granules around the mound so that when the ants go into the nest they will drag particles of the granules with them down to where the Queen is. About one day and they should be gone.

If you can't find the nest then good luck because they will just keep coming. But try not to leave anything out that will attract them if possible.

I believe some folks are missing the point here and it is really quite simple:

The OP asked a question because he does not want any vendor / restaurant to put MSG in his food.

The last I heard the customer who is paying for the food should have the right to ask that MSG not be added to their meal.

This has nothing to do with people arguing about if MSG will kill you, give you a headache or make your erection last longer.

The vendor / restaurant should not care one iota and it is none of their business either.

If the customer says don't put it in the food; then don't put it in the food.

Mai sai, pong shoe rod (crap).

Mai ... tone ending up

sai ... tone ending up

pong ... tone neutral (even)

shoe ... tone neutral (even)

rod ... tone ending up

As for me ... I just get 'wacky dreams' if they pile it in, or I eat it late at night.

Hope that helps.

.

Thanks! yes that does help, I only hope now that the restaurants I go to will comply

Therein lies the problem; getting them to "comply". I order food with no salt or sugar which the Thai's seem to love to pile on. One problem is habit and that means that even though you just requested that they do not to put MSG, Salt, or Sugar in your food; the cook instinctively reaches for what you just asked not to be added to your meal and they put it in anyway. If you happen to see them like I do at a food court or vendor where you can see what they are doing; their usual reaction is to get pissed off at me and complain that I am a trouble maker. It is never their fault!

I found a new noodle shop being built with a huge sign that read; "No MSG". Great; I thought I would be a regular because it was so close to where I live. Went in on opening day and ordered a bowl of noodles that had so much salt in it I never got past the first bite. The owner watched me leave the full bowl of noodles on the table as I left. 'Mai pen rai" she thought as she already had my money and after all; that is really what it is all about most of the time whether you are ordering food or something else. They have since gone out of business.

I go to a small Thai restaurant frequently because the old lady who runs the joint has diabetes and she herself avoids the same stuff that I don't want in my food either. The stuff she makes for me always tastes great without the salt, sugar and MSG.

I have also found a few street vendors who are clean and don't put those ingredients into the food either.

I love the fish soup in the food court at Terminal 21 but the ladyboy who serves it always reaches for the sugar even though I always remind him not to put any of it in; which always causes her/him to have a dramatic episode.

For me I just prefer to cook my own meals because then I know exactly how it was prepared.

As far as I an concerned we get too much salt and sugar even trying to avoid it so I certainly don't want the cook adding more of it.

If you are working in various parts of the city then just spend the time finding the vendors / restaurants that will agree to not use the MSG; and then stick with those few places for your meals.

Phuketrichard: Good report and nice pictures!

Two years ago my son and I went to Siem Reap and my son insisted on flying from BKK as he had a limited amount of time and did not want to use it riding in a bus. He is an experienced traveler and arranged everything except the guide who was recommended to me. Yes it is more expensive to fly, however my friend went later in the year by himself, by getting information and bookings online. He took the bus from BKK and according to him everything went smoothly. He is a 'value oriented' traveler so saving money was a top priority for him. His guide did not sound as good as the one we had and of course his was less expensive too.

The airport link train is for anyone who wants to use it; even it they are not going to / from the airport.

Does KBANK require a Work Permit to open an account? I have a Non-Immigrant O with retirement extension. Both Tanachart and SCB turned me away with no WP.

Just tell them you don't need a WP and to open the account! That is what I did at BKK Bank. Don't ask them, just tell them!

I have a DTAC sim and enabled True internet by applying for their B150 per month fee. It works in most places where there is a TRUE WiFi Hotspot. DTAC has a service center at Chamchuri Square just take Sam Yan MRT exit. They should be able to answer your questions about your phone.

True move internet: call their support service, ask for English: 029009898

Thailand has just been upgraded by Fitch to BBB+ and their economy is red hot; but the fact remains that there is much corruption here, so what are some good Thai mutual funds run by good managers that can be purchased locally by Thais?

Being a farang I invest through the U.S, but I was asked to get information for a Thai friend.

Check-In - Is it smoking or non-smoking?

Checkinn 99: Smoking or Non Smoking?

United Air Lines Return Ticket Incident:

I was unable to check-in online for my departing flight on United Flight PHX - SFO - NRT -BKK

However I was given a WEB CHECK-IN CONFIRMATION
and instructions to see a UAL representative in person at the airport to complete the check-in procedure with No other explanation or reasons. I arrived at Terminal 2 in PHX and showed the UAL representative my check-in confirmation where upon he scanned my passport and then asked to see my 'RETURN' ticket'. I tell the representative I do not have a return ticket and he says then I cannot be issued a boarding pass without one. I am shocked as this is a first for me. Then I explain that I am a retired expat living in Thailand for eleven years and I have a retirement visa from Thailand (issued by thai Immigration) and show it to him (It is stamped into my passport) and I also tell him I don't know when I will be returning to the U.S. He says what I have is only a 'RE-ENTRY PERMIT' and I must have a return ticket or I will not be issued a boarding pass. I very politely explain that I do have a retirement visa from Thailand and show it to him again and I also have lived there for 11 years and own a condo in Thailand. He looks at the Thai visa and then tells me I still need a return ticket because the Thai Visa expires in August 2013 and now he wants to see the deed to my condo! With my second request to see a supervisor he finally begrudgingly walks me over to a supervisor and explains to her that I do not have a return ticket, PERIOD (he does not tell her I have a RETIREMENT VISA issued by the THAI IMMIGRATION). I explain to the supervisor that I have the retirement visa and own a condo in Thailand and go through that same dance all over again with her. Finally she issues the boarding pass and tells me to go ahead and check our bags. In SFO I was asked by the Japanese rep for ANA about the return ticket and just showing her my Thai retirement visa was all that was necessary to satisfy her and it was a short and pleasant episode.

In all of my annual trips to the U.S from Thailand, this was a first for me.