brummiebob

In the past, the roadblock for the marathons went up from around 2-3am, i've been caught out when returning from a night out in town

Nope. Because of money laundering, you must open an account in person at one of the branches, with a valid passport and visa. Some bank have additional requirements such as: type of visa, length of visa, and work permit.

Yes, a foreign currency account uses a seperate passbook from Thai Baht account. Foriegn currency accounts are usually opened in the banks main office in Bangkok.

Yes when you transfer foreign money to a Thai Baht account the money it is automatically converted at the current TD rate for that bank.

USD accounts are opened in the banks main office in BKK? so I have to go to BKK? can't just open the USD account in the branches outside of BKK?

You'll have to check with the bank.

In my experience with Bangkok Bank, my USD account could only be handled by the foriegn accounts section upstairs on the second floor at the main office. (this was several years ago). I ended up closing it and opening an Thai Baht account in Pattaya because it was easier. My pension funds are deposited using the ACH system through the New York branch and funds are converted automatically to Thai Baht. Going to Bangkok all the time was too troublesome for me. I don't use US Dollars anymore.

With a direct deposit account for the US Treasury, it can't be used with an ATM or Internet Banking and Transfers/Withdrawels have to be made in person. With a Thai Baht account, I can make the transfer in any branch. New passbooks (when they get full) can only be issued from the branch in which you opened the account. So for me, the Thai Baht account works out best. Thai Baht 'Direct Deposit' accounts for the US Treasury can be opened in any Bangkok Bank branch.

Here's more information on Direct Deposit accounts: http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/PersonalBanking/DailyBanking/TransferingFunds/TransferringIntoThailand/ReceivingFundsfromUSA/Pages/AdviceDirectDeposit.aspx

Bangkok bank are very specific about what certain branch can and cannot do, for even small things like currency exchange and international transfer, It doesn't need to be the head office but larger branch with foreign section, of the top of my head there's "Bang Kapi" branch on Sukhumvit opposite Suk Soi 11 that can do it,

other banks offers full service at most branches now.

There used to be an old Thai bookshop called DK on soi post office, they have some old stock and some second-hand Thai books, sometimes they even get English books that appears to be from a donation box from 'back home' I'm not sure if it still exist, they used to be a big chain of store, but even their head office and Bangkok is pretty run-down,

Does it have to be local?

The start of lent day has now been passed in parliament as an 'official' holiday and 'dry' as well, not sure if it's just for this year or onwards, 'cause sometime the government will announce a substitute holiday and extend a mid-week holiday into weekends for some years too.

I got a calendar from City Hall with all the special events and festival dates on and there's nothing about the candle festival, only the marathon on the 21st

Are there gulls on the other side of they bay? there are many migrating birds that pass through Prachuab Khiri Khan (Hua-Hin) jut opposite Pattaya, as that's the only land mass connecting the southern hemisphere with Europe and Central Asia, I've seen peregrine falcon in Prachuab Near Chumphorn, but It's never cross my mind to look for gulls

I wouldn't want to moor anything to this marina except maybe for a fancy night out on walking street, doesn't look very secure

Wats do not "charge fees" for any cremation even if it is a human. It is just normal to "Donate" to the Wat. Don't know where in Pattaya you are located but I know the Vet up top of Soi Khaonoi could direct you to one and most likely most Vets will.

But there are usually a sign in the wat's office of the suggested donations for various cost involved, things where they hire outside helps like flowers and catering are obviously not fee optional.

Anyone try the new catapult near bali high pier?

You could not PAY ME enough to try that, YET.

There's been a video clip doing the round of a catapult cable snapping, thankfully while the seats are still on the ground, in an attraction on the other side of the bay just the other week, It's amazing with 'hi-so' connections the amount of things you can keep 'hush-hush' in Thailand

Its about a Balloonride.The Thrill of it.

not too thrilling when the balloon is still anchored to the building/ground on a long rope

Does it go higher than the Hilton's top floor? 'cause for the ticket price you could afford a couple of drinks for you and significant other at the Hilton rooftop bar

Put Chonburi on your profile/CV

There's plenty of legitimate business like factories around

Problems Solved.

Come to think of it, I haven't seen any seals or penguins out in the gulf either

The fact that there can be multiple people entered on the same book is a dead giveaway that the book is tied to the property and not the person

Clean rat sir,

For local, thai made helmet, Real and Bimola are pretty decent, steer way clear of INDEX though

The problem is that although imported helmet will exceed any standard in Thailand, helmet not having Thai Industrial Standard Institute mark is in a legal grey area, in that although the relevant bodies says that's it's okay and they accept marks from other, more stringent institute, the boys in brown see this as a loophole and a possible revenue source when you're pulled over,

Here's the Thai TISI mark

At shops like Panda rider or Dirt shop, on their helmet shelf there are sign in Thai to the effect that these helmets are for off-road, competition use only, lest the shop be raided for selling unroadworthy helmets,

Luckily the TISI mark are on everything from electric kettle or cheap 400 baht helmets you get thrown in with a PCX, so peel one off whatever and stick it inside your good helmet and you're done.

Well, the joys of being your own boss is being to turn up to work whenever you feel like it.

I thought that Thailand took their licencing hours from the UK's old one, the brief period from 11-2pm is to allow drinks to be taken with meals at lunch, and only allow it from dinner hours to when the entertainment venue's supposed to close, with no regard for early licence for shift workers and shut-ins after hours. Well, at least they had the forethought to allow wholesale for restaurants and such at any hours, but only for 10 litre or more, sometimes I'd only need a couple of bottle of spirit to replenish my bar, but technically I can't.

e61 grouphead is usually a good sign that at least the owner/people who sets up the shop knows what he/she is doing

This has got to be Pattaya's equivalent of the New York Soup Nazi guy

Your kitchen, your rules

I've seen Lam Morrison around town in a red lotus esprit with 'modifications', quite unique,

Khun Lek Carabao had a place in my soi so all the entourage on Harleys seems to congregate there and I was treated to a mini bike week on Saturday morning