Kerryd

Ah - "on the app".

It's a scam that's been going around for awhile now. The bills normally look like a normal bill, but if you scan the barcode or QR code it sends you to a different website where they try to scam you out of an outrageous sum by hoping you just "click" on "pay" without paying attention.

This is becoming a weekly event.

Police crack down on a "certain" demographic that keeps doing the same thing in the same place over and over again. A few scooters get confiscated, a few tickets handed out and everything is fine.

For a day or two until it starts again. And then a week later there's another crackdown, in the same area, involving the same people. Again.

Solution ? Just transplant a couple dozen (80-100) ladyboys from Beach road to that area.

The "scooter gang" could drink all the fruit juices in the world (because they "can't" drink alcohol of course) and still not want to have anything to do with those "ladies" because it would be an affront to their religion (supposedly) so they'd have to move somewhere else to do their "scooter gang" impersonations.

Imagine what fun they could have if they didn't have scooters to race around. They could find nice, quiet places to sit and drink orange or - shocker - mango juice - while discussing the benefits of not going to clubs or drinking alcohol or being "lured" in by scantily clad women.



 

Genital warts are from the HPV virus. They do NOT "blister" or "pop". They are just roundish, hard protrusions that appear in the genital area.

If you have "blisters" in your genital area that "pop" you have a whole different problem and really need to see a doctor.
Soon.
As in - now.

And as long as you are infected with HPV, the warts will come back. Maybe smaller, maybe bigger.

Also note that HPV is linked to some kinds of cancers (cervical, mouth, anal, penile, vulval and vaginal cancers for example).

Reading some stuff on the NHS, Mayo Clinic and other medical sites. They say that "eventually" the body should be able to eliminate the virus. If you already have it, the vaccine may not help get rid of it, but may help prevent catching a different strain of it.

Unfortunately, for men, there is NO test to tell if you have HPV. The only sign is genital warts. (Women can get a cervix test that will show if they have it or not.)

"Human papillomavirus, also called HPV, is spread by sexual activity. Some strains of HPV cause genital warts. Other HPV strains can cause cancers.

Most of the time, the body can find and clear out HPV. But if the virus stays in the body for a long time, it can cause cancer. Getting vaccinated against HPV helps prevent cancer in men and women."

"Who cannot have the HPV vaccine

Most people who are eligible for the HPV vaccine can have it.

You only cannot have the vaccine if you've had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the vaccine, or an ingredient in the vaccine.

<snip - pretty sure most of you aren't pregnant or breastfeeding an infant - even if you yourself are still "breastfeeding".>

Also note, pretty much every medical site I looked at said people up to age 45 should get vaccinated. On one FAQ it asked about people older than that and the answer was that they figure by age 45 you probably already have HPV.

Here is a FAQ from the Bumrungrad Hospital (Thailand).
https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/health-blog/january-2024/q-a-cervical-cancer

They don't mention an upper age limit.
They do mention the number of different strains and which ones may cause cancer (7 strains) and which may cause warts (2 strains).
They also list the different vaccines (3) and which are effective against which strains. 
Go for the "9 Volent" as the 2 and 4 volents only protect against some strains but the "9" is supposed to be effective against all of them.

As for the warts, pretty much any dermatology center at a hospital or clinic should be able to get rid of them one way or another.

Like the Dermatology center at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. They laser off the warts. In and out  procedure (speed things up and shave "down there" before you go).

https://bangkokpattayahospital.com/center_clinics/dermatology-and-plastic-surgery/



 

Remember - when he was first "sent to prison" he complained he was having problems sleeping - despite not even being there an HOUR.
He was then taken to the hospital because apparently thats what they do with all prisoners who have trouble taking a nap.

And THEN they came up with a host of "illnesses" to justify why he was being treated in a VVIP suite instead of where ALL the other prisoners get treated.

And NOW that someone has requested an investigation into his treatment, he suddenly has a number of NEW health issues and wanted to go back to his luxury dwellings in Dubai for medical consultations.

Which is a JOKE when you remember the "medical visa" scam Thailand started years ago which was specifically aimed at attracting wealthy Arabs to come to Thailand for medical treatment.

It sounds like a certain former PM may be worried his freedom could come to an abrupt end soon and is trying his old "just going to watch the opening cermonies of the Olympics and I'll be right back" scam he got away with last time.

Makes you wonder if they've cancelled ANY of his passports ? Or is he using one of those cheapy "third country" passports like those Chinese billboards were advertising ?

Keep in mind that as of 2 July 2024 (a month ago now) Thailand is supposed to be charging VAT on everything shipped from China valued at under 1,500 baht.

(Got to believe that they are already charging VAT on things over 1,500 baht ? Would seem really odd if you ordered something for 1,495 baht and got dinged 7% VAT but if it was 1505 baht there'd be no tax.)

I haven't really been paying attention to the taxes on Lazada or AliExpress. I just set up a couple cheap and a couple expensive items on Lazada and all it tells me is VAT is included "where applicable".

Had a look at TEMU. Looks like a knock-off of AliExpress in many ways. Lacking in product details on many of the items I looked at. You have to scroll through the pictures and hope they have the information you need.

Looks like they have the same lame default search filters as AliExpress and Lazada as well where they give you results for every word you put into the search regardless of category.

For example, I searched for motorcycle helmet. It gave me results for wall mounted helmet holders, "motorcycle running shoes", reflective "hello kitty" decals (that I guess can be used on cars or motorcycles), tube "neck socks" you can wear "under a helmet", safety helmets and so on.
And that was even when you picked the category of "motorcycle helmet" !

(Amazon uses the default "and" function so if you put "modular motorcycle helmet" it will only generate returns on listings that contain all three words. On Lazada and AliExpress and Temu, they use the "or" function so they generate returns on any listing that has one of those words in it. I think the idea is to give you a massively huge number of returns so you see items that are totally unrelated but "hey, that one looks interesting, maybe I should click on it".)

And as far as Lazada is concerned, half (or more) of their vendors are people running shops out of their living rooms/apartments or their stall in whatever market. When you place an order, they go online to AliExpress (or wherever) and order the item and have it shipped to you.

I generally track my orders, especially if they are expensive or fragile. Clothing and books, don't care if they toss them through the gate. But a camera or special "double-wall" drinking glasses - I like to be there to receive them.

And when I track the orders, it's rarely a surprise to see it's being shipped from China. And has to clear China Export Customs. Then arrive and clear Thai Import Customs, then get transferred and delivered.

Probably 90% of the stuff I order from Lazada seems to come from China.

USB powered digital alarm clock ? Shipped from China.
Non-slip floor mat ? Shipped from China.
Aluminum Grease strainer pot - shipped from China.
Leatherette Passport Holder - shipped from China.
Plastic A4 sized document protectors - shipped from China.
Tent poles, canvas bags, clothing, electrical parts - all shipped from China.

I've even selected "local" as the point of origin, which is supposed to limit the vendors to those that have stock and ship from Thailand, only to see the item is still being shipped from China.

I think the only people that are going to have competition from Temu are AliExpress and Alibaba, though Alibaba is more of a "business to business" site than a "single item to a single customer" kind of retailer.

His sister (former PM Yingluck Shinawatra) is still in exile as well. Last heard living in London although she became the chairwoman of a Chinese Container Terminal company located in Guangdong, not far from Hong Kong.

She is still facing a 5 year prison sentence as well. Kind of surprised she didn't get the same deal her big brother did.

I've never had an online site like Lazada, Shopee, Amazon, AliExpress or eBay ship something and then tell me I have to go collect it myself at the port. They ALL arranged for Customs Clearance and delivery, even for larger items. That's why you pay for "shipping".

Unless the order is being held up by Customs for some reason. In which case YOU have to go sort it out yourself.

I've had that happen many times. Item arrives, goes through Customs, Customs decides something isn't quite right and I get a notification (from whichever site I purchased the item from or from Customs themselves).

I've had to deal with Customs in Laem Chabang a few times (I know the route there off by heart now). 

Also had to deal with different Courier companies (like DHL and FedEx) and their "in house" Customs brokers that handle all their import/Customs paperwork at the airport in Bangkok. Those "brokers" usually charge the maximum rates on everything they can to "speed things through Customs" so they can meet their delivery dates.

But every so often something gets flagged and you, the customer, has to sort it out.

Like ordering a $500 (US) item but declaring it to only be worth $45 on the Customs Declaration. The shipper/courier can't sort that out for you (normally) so you have to go yourself.

And (normally) you can't hire someone else to do it for you because Customs needs to make sure the person collecting the item is the one it's actually being shipped to.

You know. Keeps people from claiming/stealing other people's shipments and stuff.

I prefer a drip coffee maker. 
Especially with a programable clock function. Easy to use, easy to clean.

I set my machine to start dripping about 5 minutes before my alarm goes off in the morning.
I get up, pry my eyelids open, stagger to the bathroom, then to the coffee maker and I've got (however many) cups of coffee ready. (Depending on how I set it up the night before.)

Most (North American) machines are set up to keep the coffee hot for 2 hours and if you need it, you just have to click the power button off/on and you're good for another two hours.

Most have a "reusable" filter basket but I still use paper filters. Easier to clean, fewer grounds and less "silt" in the cup and the pot.

Simply open the top, pick up the old filter and drop it in the garbage, insert new filter and however many spoons of whichever blend of coffee, add the appropriate amount of water, close the lid and press "program". (Or "On" if you want it to start dripping right then.)

Old wives tales suggests you should never clean the coffee pot itself. I generally give it a scrub once a month. 

I bought this one from Lazada. Made in China (of course). 1,226 baht with delivery.

Only a 40 minute timer for the heater which isn't normally a problem as I'm not making full pots these days. I generally set it up for 1-2 cups and that's it for the day.


Lots of options for coffee on Lazada as well. Local and imported. Got about 2 more days on the Maxwell House. Just ordered the Folgers Monday morning from Bangkok and it arrived 25 hours later in Pattaya. The bag is from a local supplier (in Chiang Mai I think).

Most grocery stores have a selection of (medium or drip grind) coffees as well. Watch out as the packages are almost identical to "whole beans".
And many are "espresso grind". Basically pure powder for use espresso machines and "presses". You can use it in a drip machine but you usually end up with more "silt" in the cup and pot.

And if you really wanted to, you could simply pop a new filter in, run a pot of water through it and now you've got a pot of almost boiling water for tea (or Ramen noodles or whatever - just don't make them in the coffee pot) !

From DHL:
 

A Shipment is considered as undeliverable if (i) the Recipient's address is incomplete, illegible, incorrect or cannot be located, (ii) the Shipment is unable to clear Customs, (iii) the Shipment has not been released by customs due to non-payment of duty and taxes (iv) the Shipment contains prohibited items (v) shipment is refused by the consignee before opening the package.

All undeliverable Shipments will be returned to the DHL eCommerce facility for customer identification and return service preference.
Shipper may be liable for any and all charges and fees incurred in returning, storing or disposing of an undeliverable shipment unless the undeliverable shipment was due to the fault of DHL eCommerce.

From UPS website:

Special Handling of Undeliverable Packages

Shipments refused by the consignee, or which for any other reason cannot be delivered, will be held, and UPS will attempt to contact the shipper for further instructions. The shipper will be responsible for payment of all charges, including, but not limited to, forwarding, disposal, or return transportation charges, as well as any duty and tax, if applicable

From FedEx website:
 

Can I refuse to accept an international package?
 

As a customer you have the right not to accept an international package if, for example, it was damaged, you cancelled your order or you changed your mind.

If you refuse to accept an international package, the FedEx driver may ask you for a signed confirmation of your refusal. The driver will then take the package back to the delivery depot. We will contact your shipper to inform them of your decision and ask them whether the shipment needs to be returned or destroyed.
 

Keep in mind that you might still need to pay duties and taxes for importing a package. You can try to claim a refund on these duties and taxes directly with customs.

From FedEx website:
7% VAT to be imposed on imported goods with a value lower than THB1,500 | Posted on July 2, 2024

For "non-food" items, it's best to use Amazon. Especially now that they will estimate the Duties and charge you for them at the time of purchase.

I've never had a problem with an Amazon package being delivered (via Amazon) and never been told I had to pay more than their estimate.

In fact, I've often received (small) refunds when it turns out the Duties were less than their estimation.

I stopped ordering from eBay and a couple other places because everything they ship seems to go by FedEx or UPS.

I've had similar issues in the past with DHL shipments and UPS shipments. They all say the same thing - send us your passport and we'll clear the shipment for you in 2-3 days.
But they won't explain how they can clear the shipment without me - if I send them my passport - but can't do it with signed photocopies.

And then tell me I can go to a Customs office and "register" and send them a scan of the little paper card and that's good enough.

I shipped some personal belongs home from Afghanistan when our contract ended. The company was paying for shipping so I decided to use that rather than carry a couple heavy suitcases through a couple airports.

1 large and 1 small box. Small box arrived no problem.
3 days later DHL tells me the big box is stuck in Customs and I have to send my passport and pay 22,000 baht to clear it.

I had a friend drive me to Suvarnabhumi and went to the DHL "Customs Office". I argued that the box was just old clothes, bed linens, some books, work boots, coffee cups and so on. Basically the contents of my room on the camp that I didn't want to throw away.

After a lengthy one-sided conversation, a clerk told me I could use a "private" broker to help me for just 17,000 baht.

So I did that. Went to 3 different offices with different forms (and 100 baht notes) to get stamped and then to the DHL storage place inside the Free Trade Zone where they told me I had to get the other box because the shipment said "2" boxes ! The box they'd already delivered to Pattaya and I had unpacked days earlier !!

The ****ers wanted me to go back, repack the box with the stuff that had been in it, bring it to the Free Zone and somehow get it inside - so we could then go to a Customs agent to verify that yes, I had two boxes.

The DHL manager (British guy) came along and after a brief chat admitted they'd screwed up by delivering the first box before the 2nd had cleared Customs.

They then took a shipping envelope, stuffed some bubble wrap inside, wrote on a label and stuck that on the envelope and Bingo  ! I had my "second" package.

Went to Customs, a clerk came out, lifted the lid of the big box, looked at my declaration, initialed and stamped the form and that was it.

The ACTUAL Customs duties and taxes came out to about 1,100 baht !!!
DHL was going to charge me 22,000 baht !!!

 

Said it (on here) many times.
NEVER have ANYTHING sent by DHL, FedEx or UPS.

They ALL use their own "in-house" Customs Brokers to speed up the process and they ALL automatically charge you the maximum they can so that it will clear Customs faster.

I did a post about this a few weeks ago. I ordered  some Hot Sauce from Amazon. Normally I'd order just 3 small bottles and it's never been a problem except that I have to use a Mail Forwarder to receive the package and then courier it to me because hot sauce is considered a "food item" and Amazon won't (normally) ship "food items" outside the country (various issues with foreign Food and Drug Agencies).

This time though I decided to order 6 bottles, expecting they'd last me a year and save me money on multiple orders. 

However, I was forced to use FedEx because the weight apparently was too much for the "cheaper" courier the Forwarder normally used.

FedEx held onto my parcel for 4 days before telling me - on a Friday afternoon - that I needed to get a Customs Registration number or send my passport to Bangkok with one of their drivers (yeah right) or come to Bangkok myself to clear the package.

Monday was a holiday so I went to the local Customs office (in Laem Chabang) early Tuesday morning. Got my little paper "registration" card (no charge) and sent the info to FedEx before noon.

They waited until Wednesday afternoon to respond and tell me - get this - that I had to pay them an additional 1,428 baht to "amend" my name on the shipping waybill because the Customs Registration card had my full name and the shipping label only had my first and last name !!!!

No ****ing lie ! I have the invoice in front of me right now.

They also charged me 200 baht for "Customs Charge/Overtime", 400 baht "Clearance Fee", 150 baht Storage Charge and a 200 baht Duty Handling Fee.

2,378 baht just for that. 
746 baht for the actual Duties and Taxes (and 52.50 VAT charged on that).

3,176.50 baht total Duties, taxes, fees and surcharges.

Value of my shipment - total ?

3,800 baht (plus shipping).
 

You have to be really careful when ordering from those Facebook "sponsored" ad sites. 

There is literally no control over them and they can rip people off for ages and then literally just close the page and start a new one with a different name.

And Facebook doesn't care in the least, especially if they are still able to generate Ad revenue from it.

At the same time the gov't is pushing to legalize casinos (which are much more efficient at laundering dirty money).

Funny.
Yesterday it was "200,000" condos.

Today it's 1.3 MILLION !

Yesterday:

Quote

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance minister Pichai Chunhavajira confirms the government is moving forward with a project to allow foreigners to lease condominiums for 99 years, aiming to stimulate the real estate sector, which has over 200,000 unsold units.

Today:

Quote

real estate businesses struggling to sell a backlog of approximately 1.3 million unsold condominium units

Do they get their numbers from the same place TAT gets their tourism numbers ? (Which is probably the same place that supplies everyone with their "lucky" lottery numbers.)

7 hours ago, stoner said:

walking st

soi bukhaow

soi diana 

soi paradise

soi chaiyaphum

lk metro

Yet somehow Soi 6 doesn't make the list. Or Beach road !

Hmmmmm - seems strange. Almost as strange as not having "Boyztown" (sois 13/3 - 13/4) on the list.

Sheesh, basically from Soi 1 in North Pattaya to Bali Hai and from the Beach to 2nd Road (in most places).

And we won't mention the area in behind the Esso Station on Sukhumvit in North Pattaya.

But as we know - the police have conducted many inspections of the area and no women (or boyz apparently) approached them and offered to have sex with them for money so that means there is no Prostitution in Pattaya !