phetphet

Do you have internet banking with them? Checked your emails in your online account to see if they have emailed you? They recently contacted me via email in my online account to ask me to confirm I still lived in the UK and my domicile. I think they try by that method for three times, then will try calling. It might be something like that, but it might be to do with covering their backsides for money laundering regs

The education system here being what it is, many don't get the opportunity to learn English, and even if they do, the level of teaching is not always that great. I think there was an article here on AN a couple of months ago about a Thai English language teacher, and how she was teaching the students incorrect English.

Tell her to wrap up warm. UK at this time of year can feel very cold for a Thai. Depending on her interests, maybe the Natural History museum (especially the dinosaur skeleton and the Blue Whale), Science Museums, or V and A Museum (fashion history).. Perhaps Kew Gardens. Maybe check out any Farmer's Markets. In fact any markets or shopping malls. Thais, especially the women really seem to miss their home food. I doubt she will have room for presents. Her suitcase will probably be filled with Thai herb, spices and vegetables to cook her own food. So you might want to warn her about what is, and what is not allowed to be brought into the UK. Not a good start if everything confiscated on arrival. Try and find a good authentic Thai restaurant for a night out. HTH.

Netizens go ballistic? Calm down. Maybe go and visit one of the many cannabis joints that are opening. Pun intended.

I have a friend (71 y.o.UK citizen) who is wishing to come and stay in Thailand for three months to give it a try as a longer term option with a future Non O application He is currently here in Thailand, but will return to the UK next week. Plan is to rent a house or apartment, open a bank account etc. I presume he will need to rent the house first in order to have an address to open the bank account. I am not sure which visa would be best for him. Please can anyone advise? Should he just arrive and get VOA and extend? Or better to apply for a single or multiple entry from the embassy in London. Would it be possible to open a bank account with any of these visas nowadays? Many years ago I opened one with a hotel address, but things are much tighter now. TIA

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I can't find it. When bringing in THB800,000 for Non O visa based on retirement, is there anything one needs to do to ensure ease of future repatriation? I know there is an FET certificate, but am I right in thinking that is just for purchasing property? TIA

Both Bumrungrad Hospital and Dr. Donna (Can't remember her clinic,, but you can google "Dr. Donna Bangkok") were both advertising Moderna vaccines a couple of weeks ago. Obviously not free. You could call them, or maybe other hospitals in BKK to see if any still available. Also. I don't know if this is any good, but I saw it on Lazada. https://www.lazada.co.th/products/e-voucher-moderna-i2811791349-s10481541050.html?spm=a2o4m.tm80167383.6075338590.1.3ff1iOgXiOgXRk.3ff1iOgXiOgXRk&priceCompare=skuId%3A10481541050%3Bsource%3Alazada-om%3Bsn%3A259992e2-a3c3-4519-b9b2-32773c7e7c93%3BoriginPrice%3A165000%3BvoucherPrice%3A165000%3Btimestamp%3A1669338080646 I recall, people were selling their Moderna Vouchers on Lazada a while ago, so maybe legit.

I hope she kept her mask on.

Not until next year. When next year? is the question you should be asking. We will just have to wait and see.

As I have said in other posts about this. The government want it for the control it gives them. The banks want it because it saves them a fortune in staff, paying rent for branches etc. Businesses want it because it reduces theft, counting money and other costs. I like the option of having the two systems working alongside each other. I too have been refused a sale due to certain shops being cashless. Both here and in London. I have also managed to negotiate discounts on purchases for cash. To be honest. I don't feel comfortable if I haven't got a bit of spare cash around me for the unexpected. Even landing back in London last week. I wouldn't like to have arrived with just cards and no readies. For those that would like a cashless society, I suppose there is one thing. if it does become reality, they will never see a run on the banks in a crisis.

Until you can't access your money because of a "glitch" in the system. Or the bank or government have locked your account because they think there is something suspicious.. I, and several friends have had bank accounts closed in the last few years by the banks. Never given a reason. Just a message that the bank has decided to close the account. Without cash. How to survive that?

It's taking so long, that submarine hull will have rusted through by the time it is delivered.

Not sure for exit. There are self service channels where one scans their boarding pass. I presume that works for anyone flying out, To be honest, I can't even remember going through a Passport Control when exiting UK last week. only a cursory check of my passport and boarding card. But not at an actual booth. Self service entry is definitely only for UK Nationals. The biggest speed improvement to entering the UK for UK Nationals though seems to be that since Brexit, EU Nationals now have to go through the "Foreigner" channels. I actually found entering Thailand through immigration on Sunday afternoon pretty quick. Collecting baggage was another matter. It took over an hour for my suitcase to come through, so I missed my connecting flight..

When I passed through Suvarnabhumi last week, I noticed self service exit points already installed, but not yet active. They were all marked up "For Thai Nationals Only"

I can't answer your ferry questions, but Chaweng beach is very quiet at the moment due to the bad weather we are having. It is the wet season, but hopefully the weather will improve for Christmas. Chaweng itself seems pretty busy. Many Russian, Indian and Israeli tourists about. Surprising really, as November is normally the quietest month. December will probably be another matter. The two weeks leading up to Christmas are the start of the high season.

Their choice of holiday destinations has been reduced. That's probably why large numbers are coming here now. Most of he draft dodgers likely escaped earlier.

This is what I did. Get it laminated or within a week it will have started to deteriorate.

Wait until the AMLO get in on the act. Intensive ID verification and THB4000 limit to prevent money laundering.

I think the numbers will soon overtake 7-11. Over 15 weed shops on Chaweng beach road alone here in Samui. Some even offering home delivery. Seems like every vacant shop post Covid is opening as a cannabis outlet. I think the government will have a job the the cork back in that bottle. Or bong in this case. Already had our ten year old asking questions about all these weed shops. Daddy. What is it? What is it for?

Surprising there are such large numbers of arrivals. November is normally the quiet month. Being between October half term school holidays and the Christmas holidays. There must be a lot of pent up demand for travel. Or perhaps a lot more Russians escaping Putin.

I wonder who will end up owning the mansion. I can't wait for the train auction. See how much that goes for. ????

I managed to register a couple of years ago on my local immigration website, and did do several TM.30 reports for myself. It was all in Thai, so unless you read Thai, you might need someone to help you. Unless it has changed. I recall it was very clunky. My local main office is: http://suratimmigration.go.th/extranet/ My local immigration office eventually stapled a pice of paper into my passport saying something like 'Mr. X has notified us of his address.' Now I no longer have to do the reports each time I return to Thailand. The only other thing I can suggest is to try another browser.

Seems like one hand doesn't know what the other is doing. Took a screenshot AseanNow:

Bats? Was it ever proved they were the source of Covid transmission at that Chinese market? Or still not found yet?

Yes. I always take a sweatshirt if I go to the cinema here.