BaanOz

7 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

That is surprising, were you overweight? that is an indicator, from what you say being pre diabetic would be unlikely but getting overweight can happen over many years. A kit kat and or ice cream once a week is ok, every day will probably lead to being overweight

Not everyday but not overweight at all either.
173cm and 65-67kg forever :)

There's a really good explanation about one type of carb by Dr. Sten Ekberg on Youtube.
"Asians Were Skinny On Rice For 1000s Of Years"

15 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

how did you get pre diabetic? usually junk food for a long time

Not much junk food at all.
Ate rice 2 meals a day for years and would often go get a Kit Kat (or whatever) at work lunchtime. Some ice cream here and there too. Not exercising much didn't help either.

Edit: BTW rice is processed food too and I mostly stopped eating it. Occasional Basmati is it.

On 10/2/2023 at 3:56 PM, TroubleandGrumpy said:

I have stopped work, but I have not converted my Super to Retirement Phase. Therefore all earnings made by my Super Fund are taxed at 15%, before distribution to its members who like me have their money in the Accumulation Phase. I did not convert my Super Funds to the Retirement Phase for two reasons.

 

Number One - both the Government, the Super Funds, and a lot of 'Advisers' were saying that people should convert to Retirement Phase because their money in Super does not then get taxed.   I have been in and around Government and large corporate organisations for a long time, and they never do anything that is not in their own best interests - especially the Government - so I checked out the details and once I had done that the decision I made was not to do it (see 2).

 

Number Two - once you 'convert' your Super to Retirement Phase, it is classified as an income - by Centrelink, ATO and all other Govt Depts.  Additionally, once it is converted, you cannot go back to Accumulation Phase. 

 

I can stay in Accumulation Phase until I am 75 - and that is my plan. And (of course) I have a few plans for what to do after that time - but it is quite a few years away yet - things will change and meanhile I am staying across all the changes in Super rules. 

I always thought it was flexible and you could transfer it back into an Accumulation fund if you like: Converting super into retirement income: What are your options? (superguide.com.au) but as mentioned, while not paying tax in Retirement Phase, this may have some issue with paying Thai tax (to keep on topic!).

On 9/22/2023 at 4:54 PM, TroubleandGrumpy said:

I have calculated that the tax already paid in Australia is higher than the amount that would be taxed in Thailand, and therefore I do not need to lodge a tax return.  If I got that wrong, I am so sorry.

Australian superannuation, if you have stopped work, over 60 and converted your superannuation to Retirement phase (formerly called pension phase) you pay zero tax.

So I'd assume that money brought into Thailand would be taxed but as you mentioned in your post, good luck working that out!

24 minutes ago, LS24 said:

If the deceased was concerned, they would have updated the will, surely, to reflect his most recent wishes. A person wwho has accumulated money and assets throughout their life in business should know better.

Yes crazy and his children are employed in his Australian business and live in property he owns there. I'd say his kids would be somewhat concerned.

1 hour ago, LS24 said:

Actually they don't have a will if the Thai marriage is recognised by Australian law. Wills become void when marriage takes place with a minor exception. See here. . https://mdlaw.com.au/news-insights/effect-marriage-will/

 

Even if the Thai wedding is not officially recognised by Australian authorities, there will probably be grounds for a defacto relationship if the Thai national was living full time with the deceased. Then this may come into play. https://www.primelawyers.com.au/wills-estates/defending-or-contesting-a-will/contesting-a-will-as-de-facto/#:~:text=To successfully contest the will,rules of intestacy) was inadequate.

 

 

 

Thanks, that's what I understood regarding previous wills being void when married. Interesting if Australia recognises them as defacto, she has already scored a few properties and accessories in Thailand.

Probably sorted out in court between his children in Australia and Thai wife with a big legal bill!

Long story short, an elderly gentleman married a Thai lady a few years ago in Thailand under Thai law.
It wasn't registered with the Australian embassy.

He has passed away and has children in Australia, he owns a business plus property worth multiple millions in Australia.

He had a will (providing for his children) in Australia prior to marriage but I think it's void once married. He had no will in Thailand.

I understand the Thai widow has possession of the assets he bought in Thailand (multiple homes/car etc) but she is going for his assets in Australia too.

I didn't know the gentleman, was only told and asked if I know anything about a situation like this (as I'm married to Thai) but have no idea!

Is it possible the Thai widow has claim over his Australian assets? I'm guessing yes and his children will have years in Australian court sorting it out.

On 9/23/2022 at 5:05 AM, DFPhuket said:

I was curious about this since it has not been my experience. I just did a comparison of Agoda, hotels.com and the official hotel websites for an Oct 17-25 stay (7 nights), choosing a king room, with a cancellable rate (varied between 1 and 7 days before arrival) at three major hotels on Patong beach. In each case, the hotel site was cheaper. The cheapest rate was obtained if you signed up for their points program (free). I've attached a summary. 

 

Got a deal this week (thru to Oct 31) on the Holiday Inn Resort site for B2500 a night total, standard room 2 nights min. Must book 3 days in advance.

2 hours ago, London Lowf said:

I have been a little disappointed to note that every bar that I have visited in Kamala and Bangla has increased their beer prices by B10 - not a deal breaker but I thought that I had left 10%-plus inflation back in Blighty ????

Cheapest I found on Bangla was B69 (haha) in a bar a few back from Kangaroo. Other cheapies had it for B79 or 5 for B400.

On 9/22/2022 at 1:34 AM, Deli said:

I'm loving it. Would love it even much more without the masses of Indians. Be prepared, they always stanx where you you don't want them to stand.

Haha interesting you say this.
 

My Thai wife was complaining so many Nepalese and Burmese trying to lure us into Thai restaurants. Found Thais doing the cooking but guess they are better value out the front?

One other comment, we noticed is many old chooks in Bangla now ????
Not too many younger girls.

I'm interested in this too.

Got my dtac sim cancelled while I couldn't top it up being overseas and after 3 years away (covid) coming back very soon!

Looking to see if I can activate a dtac eSim.

Anyone know if it's ok to buy an eSim here https://www.dtac.co.th/en/new-number/esim and preferably activate it before arrival or on arrival?

I see you need to provide a passport or alien ID.

21 hours ago, Nemises said:

Packet of red Marlboros now $A50 (apparently) in Aus. 

Ah yes, the “lucky country” indeed…

At least in the lucky country e-cigarettes aren't illegal.
Good the unlucky country can have it's cake and eat it.
 

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

WRONG!

It's the honorific missing (or not) before the word that makes all the difference.

Reducing your status from a person to an animal in the mind of the speaker.

Never been called Mr falang!

On 7/12/2021 at 4:53 PM, chalawaan said:

Very few ever plan on returning apart from vacay. Many even visit on their new nationality passport, they kind of stick it to the man that way...

True, but the Mrs learned fast not to speak Thai.
It has Place of Birth on her passport and speaking English to immigration stops their third degree quick.
 

The Mrs used to like a drop or two of Mont Clair before the pancreatitis.

Edit: Now the closest to red is those occasional couple drops of bitters in some lemon and lime.

Hi Baz,

Been wondering about this too. First time this month for years I'm getting the same as you on 2 sim accounts.

I'm using the IOS app and in Australia and top up 20 baht each month to keep then active.

I can't ever remember verifying my card and I think dtac are blocking those have not been verified. If you click on your profile top left corner (of IOS app) it shows "Age of use", "dtac Reward" and "My Card".

Click on My Card and you can verify it by sending an OPT code to your mobile number. I don't have the balance to add roaming to the sims so I can receive an SMS so I think I've lost my 2 numbers :(

Have you been able to refill?

Yeah it's a laugh, how does a porn subscription get to siphon off the balance?

Found there is "Help & Feedback" within the IOS app.
Lets see if I get any satisfaction!

Edit: not sure if I can stick the sim in (from Australia & need roaming set) and call 1678 dtac call center but will get the Mrs to try if the above doesn't work.

We are in Australia and keep our Dtac mobile numbers by refilling 20 baht every month on their IOS app.

I noticed one mobile number balance is dropping because of a subscription to "453600100350011 PlayGirl" under the usage history.

No idea how this has been added but is there any way we can cancel this without being in Thailand?

Thanks.

 

On 11/6/2020 at 6:27 AM, Sheryl said:

It is imported so expensive.

 

Last I heard which is many years ago it eas around 5,000 baht a bottle.

Thanks Sheryl, wow yes expensive. For reference same is A$20.50 here.

Hi, would anyone know the cost of Creon in Thailand please?

To be specific the 25000 x 100 capsules but any just to compare price.

(I'm not in Thailand)
Thank you.

1 hour ago, moontang said:

That's my dad's Comcast bill (tv, internet).  Putting wife's name on deed would be a transfer of ownership, and that would be up to the mortgager, not the mortgagee.  Also, she would likely be taking on a liability and not an asset.  There is recourse in LOS for mortgage defaults, meaning simp!y giving up the house usually doesn't end your liability.  Financially irresponsible family would be near term top of the list for reasons to not marry a Thai, but hey, they have nice skin.

Thanks Moontang, yep true except about liability. Land fully owned, house build wasn't overprice and currently about 60-70% equity. Values have dropped but doubt more than the loan is worth.

They had been paying more than the minimum payment so that gives a brownie point.