RamTodatry

Pattaravadee Chinkulkitniwat, the money dealer of Kasikornbank Plc, said the baht had continued to strengthened in the same direction with the Japanese yen, which appreciated to 118 from 117.55 to the US dollar since the economy expanded more than expected.

The strengthening of the Thai currency also stemmed from capital inflow into the bond market in large amounts.

The next scheduled support levels of the baht is 36.30, 36.20, and 36 to the US dollar.

The first part of her comments do not make sense, if that is what she said wrt the Japanese Yen. (Or maybe it is typo by George). Whereas the comment "next scheduled support levels of the baht is 36.30, 36.20, and 36 to the US dollar" is indeed correct wrt the the That Baht appreciating - as one would need to spend fewer dollars to get That Baht. Anyway this bad news for Thai exporters unless they "count on financial tools such as forward or spot contracts to hedge against the currency exchange rate volatility", which does make sense if they happen to guess the direction of the Thai Baht correctly.

Pattaravadee Chinkulkitniwat, the money dealer of Kasikornbank Plc, said the baht had continued to strengthened in the same direction with the Japanese yen, which appreciated to 118 from 117.55 to the US dollar since the economy expanded more than expected.

The strengthening of the Thai currency also stemmed from capital inflow into the bond market in large amounts.

The next scheduled support levels of the baht is 36.30, 36.20, and 36 to the US dollar.

1. The pages posted should have been full blown pdf files - not thumb nails. Sorry George.

2. So, it is impossible for me or my girl-friend to read the real language.

3. So what is the hoopla about? So ###### confusing !!!

Sorry, give me something that can be read !!!

I was in Ubon Ratchathani about a year ago for a friend's wedding. Since my 30 days was coming up, I decided to get a Laos visa here in BKK, before leaving.

My friends just dropped me off at the border, and went to have a late lunch, while I crossed the border and back. I did not even have a single piece of luggage/baggage on me as I crossed the border, unlike some of the back-packers! I just walked through both the Thai Immigration and Laos Immigration - on the way in and on the way out. No problem.

The only thing I cursed myself for was that the VOA was cheaper than gettting a visa in BKK.

Good luck people.

This is a prudent cautionary notice from the US Embassy. Although meant to notify Americans, it does matter who your are. It would be safe to avoid these weekly meetings of Khun Sonthi. They have been getting progressively larger and rowdier with anti-Sonthi groups confronting the constitutional rights of Khun Sonthi and his supporters and their freedom of expression.

I would like to be the guy that hires those Tiger Beer gals.

Here is something that I ran into from the BBC. I have just repoduced a small section of the news item that I read, and not the entire article.

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Sweden is due to launch an advertising campaign to try to convince the EU that Scandinavia's restrictive alcohol policies produce health benefits.

Sweden's state-controlled alcohol retail system is at odds with EU free trade rules.

Sales are restricted by its alcohol retail monopoly - a system of shops with shorter opening hours and higher prices than in most other EU countries.

As a result, alcohol consumption in Sweden is relatively low.

Anyone buying alcohol in Sweden must be prepared to plan ahead and spend a lot of money.

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If you are interested in the entire article, go to the link below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4458622.stm

Unseen in Thailand...Amazing in Thailand, you should expect the unexpected.

The officails in charge really should explain their rationale behind this obscenity...

How many fingers do Australians have in Australia?

How many fingers do Thai have in Australia?

How many fingers do reporters have who are reporting on thi story from Australia?

Wake up people - the weather conditions were completely different between this incident and the one in Toronto, both the same model of the Airbus. No need to slam France. Let's be objective.

Mainly this points to a maintenance problem, although UN-authorized overloading of the aircraft (**** figure it out), would be a factor as the tire(or tires) seems to have been over-inlated, or (OK, let's blamw the pilot) maybe the pilot dropped it on the tarmac too hard.

Glad everyone is safe.

Bali is mostly Hindu, although the workers in restaurants, hotels, and resorts and other services could be of any religion.

What is worrisome is that if you travel around Bangkok, there are so many spots that are not "tourist" oriented that are low-hanging fruit for terrorist targets. I think it is important for all of us to be aware of our surroundings at all times. This is not a call to hit the panic button, but a call to be more aware.

I do not trust the Thai authorities to do much except wag some tongue for a couple of days/weeks. Look at the situation in the South: head-in-the-sand!!!

How naive can someone be

How naive can someone be

It is sad (the young girls) and disgusting(the bast***) at the same time.

1. Who will witness and certify the destruction of these passports? Should the Thai Royal Police hand these over to the respective Embassies and let them deal with taking care of the problem.

2. Make the PM take care of the total number of passports. What the ######, he is in charge of everything e;se.

3. Given the current circumstances, who would want a UK passport !@#$%^&*()

In the US every bank transaction over 10K USD is recorded.

Why 'suspicious" transactions only - who decides and how?

Why not report every transaction over 400,000 Baht. This would force everyone to rethink what they do with their ill gotten gains. Maybe stuff it under a mattress.

Thanks for the tip on purchasing BTS cards from the Post Office or MBE.

Fantastic. What are the qualifications? Seems like you are taking on a lot even before you are out of the gate. May want to start with a smaller wish list and add services as membership grows. The bank is important. Please keep the details coming.

You did not mention your nationality. If you hold a US passport, the procedure is very simple. Just go to the Consular Services section at the US embassy in BKK, and they can add additional pages at no extra cost. Wait time is about 15 minutes.

If you do end up getting a new passport (UK for example) you can retain the old passport but it will be cancelled. If you have any valid multiple entry visas from other countries you will have to go to that embassy and have the visa transferred from the cancelled passport to the new one.

Hope this helps.

Why are they pussyfooting around this issue and screwing up tourist traffic which generates revenue.

They can implement some very simple measures:

1. Increase the tax on petrol/gasoline/benzene so that the price per litre is gradually increased by 25%, 50%, 75% and then 100% - which would effectively double the price of today. Will definitely help the coffers, and make many people think before they start their car. Don't forget what it might do to traffic.

2. This would foil the plans of all those stupid people who rush out and buy a car as soon as they get a 10,000 Baht/Month job.

3. This will also force others to use the Skytrain and the Underground more - improving traffic on those lines, as well as profitability. Although I think it is time (may be long overdue) that Skytrain(BTS) added another carriage to all their trains, as it is not practical to only add carriages during peak time.

4. Increase the Sales Tax(VAT) on new cars only. This would piss off Toxins's cronies. Hey but we are trying to save the country.

5. Drivers turning off their engines at intersections like Asoke/Sukhumvit or Rama IV/Tarua Road as the wait is more than 5 minutes during peak hours (sorry do not know the name of the road, the one going to the port). Appreciate the new displays that gives me wait times which are supposed to encourage drivers to turn off their engines, but they do not work most of the time. These have already been identified as 2 of the 6 worst intersections in BKK.

Your source was wrong.

The immigration dolts in many countries just stamp wherever they please - usually the first blank page they open the passport to - except in some countries like Singapore, Malaysia. or Cambodia.

My current US passport (barely two years old) already filled up and I had to add more pages. I usually use a couple of paper clips - one to clip the used pages in front and guide the immigration official to the next page with space for stamps or the next blank page, and the second one to clip all the unused blank pages at the back.

This usually works well, although some immigration officials remove the clips to browse through the stamped pages and the unstamped pages. I just keep mum and reclip the pages again when I get to the passport back.

Also whenever I visit Singapore I specifically ask them to stamp on a previous page with some space for stamps and they gladly oblige.

This keeps my stamps mostly in order.

Can we discuss issues without disparaging other people of other nationalities. Just because we are more vocal than others does not give us that right.

LIVE AND LET LIVE.....PLEASE....

Why do we have to rant and rave. Can we be more decent. Or maybe I am missing the point of a DORUM.....

Would it not have made sense to increase the price of premium gasoline at the same time to offset the remaining diesel subsidy. Would have eliminated the balance of 150+ million baht of state funded subsidy, and made some motorists think twice about not using the subway/skytrain or the buses.

It would also make sense to keep the increases on premium gasoline until previous subsidies were recaptured. This would not have ANY effect on the GDP.

It is ridiculous what people here pay for gasoline, and then complain about traffic congestion and pollution.

Another epidemic to worry about !!!

I am sorry, but I did not see these 3 paragraphs in any of the above posts. This is from the storyline today in The Nation Newspaper....

......Police detectives said Walker was found on top of her boyfriend in the bathroom of her hotel room. Both were naked. Her wrist was slashed and her main vein was torn. Her boyfriend also had a slight wound on the wrist and was sent to hospital. A cutter knife was found at the scene.

Walker had stayed in the hotel about four days to attend a World Bank meeting.

Witnesses said her boyfriend came to see her in her room a few hours before the meeting. When the meeting started and she did not turn up, World Bank officials were sent to fetch her but found her dead.

Police suspected that her boyfriend was involved in her death and detained him for investigation.......

When I in a public park (if I venture into one) am I not breathing/inhaling the foul and polluted BKK air. You think cutting out cigarette smoking is going to make much of an impact?

What a silly proposal and a crazy notion to boot !!!

I thought that the new governor was smarter than yet. I guess I thought wrong !!!

I think its too early to tell who is right, and what will pan out.

1. The powers-in-place are making the wrong decision - I still cannot understand their motivation.

2. Assuming the bars, joints, etc close early, it will not not affect the guys who want to pick up girls, or vice-versa. They probably would enjoy the "lost hour" more back in their rooms, rather than drinking, etc (which would lower their efficacy....right?)

3. The residents nearby would not notice much difference, as the action moves into the Sois and roads nearby. Been on Sukhumvit lately, after the bars close?

4. People who ultimately loose would be the establishments and the vendors/hawkers on the Sois. Does anyone remember Adams and/or Keynes?

5. That would ultimately affect Prathet Thai, but who are we farangs. If we do not like it here - Just leave.

6. I would DEFINITELY NOT go to Singapore, etc just to enjoy my beer - as someone else mentioned. I can enjoy my beer anywhere, anytime.

My two-cents worth - keep them open 24/7.