Thaiquila

Well, I bought a condo and it has gone up in value, but really as a place to live, and don't want to ever have to sell it. So for me it is more of a consumer item than an investment.

I think if you want an easy way to invest long term in real estate without dealing with the messy stuff, try REITS (real estate investment trusts). I bought some about four years ago and they went up 400 percent.

I think you meant to say 2000.

I love their xenophobia, because without it Thailand wouldn't be so radically different from the west and there would be little point in visiting/living there.

Yes, we are waiting with baited breath.

Inquiring minds want to know.

The show ain't over till the fat lady sings.

A bird flu in hand is better than two bushes.

OK, sorry.

WHAT IS THE NEWS?

Thats an interesting case! Of course, the child cannot be Thai. It sounds like you will have a choice between the child being a gringo or a Mexicano. I think dual citizenship is possible, and of course you should contact both embassies. There is a new site about these issues now: http://mxvisa.com

This is hardly scientific, but I have found that for me this has happened less at Bangkok Bank ATMS.

Oh I see now, net vs. phone. Makes sense.

Does Fidelity require a signed wiring agreement done beforehand, as do banks?

Good information, but if they can only do transfer to accounts with ABA number, how can they transfer to a Thai account (which would not have an ABA routing number)?

Yes, small amounts of liquid medicines are OK.

However, there has been no mention of aerosol based medicines, and it is clear that all aerosols are banned.

I think they will be hearing from asthmatics about this and hopefully will come up with clear rules, but for the time being, I wouldn't be surprised if asthmatics are having their meds tossed in the trash.

Maybe this should be in the health section, but with the new severe restrictions on what you bring on carry ons on flights from the US and UK (and perhaps to the US and UK?), I heard that all aerosols are now banned. Well, asthma inhalers are aerosol based. How are asthmatics supposed to deal with a 25 hour trip without their medication?

Aside from that, the ban on bringing drinking water is really an annoyance. I don't see why they can't just make you sip some at security. You can never get enough from the airlines, well, at least in coach.

Try this:

The Siam Commercial Bank

One Exchange Plaza,

New York, NY 10006

Tel. 212-344-4101

Please let us know whether this works for you. The routing number they want is for a US transfer. Wouldn't there still have to be a SWIFT transfer to get the money from US to Thailand ... and Fidelity won't do a SWIFT.

I assume your account is a taxable brokerage account, not an IRA, correct?

Thats a great question. I did know the Fidelity will transfer to a US bank account only, perhaps you have come across another method (though I doubt it).

Just curious, do you have a US address on record with Fidelity, or do they accept your Thai address?

Some brokerage firms make you close your account when you tell them you are moving abroad.

Not that a poll like this could ever be scientific, but the fact that Israelis are mentioned in the title, adds the element of Israelis, which as we all know is an unpopular country.

Good idea to have a poll.

I wonder if the yes votes would be less if the question asked if it was OK to ban YOUR nationality, race, or creed.

Thaiquila

I sincerely feel sorry for you and all the burning bias and hatred you have inside.

But like an alcoholic, you cannot get help until you are ready for it... For your sake I do hope you get it.

Sincerely

Gonzo

Your comment is absurdly personal. The only bias I have shown here is contempt for racists and people who tolerate racism. I also happen to support Israel and the Israeli people even the rude ones, that isn't hate, that is love.

I rest my case.

Some people cannot even accept others being nice to them

That was your way of being nice?

I guess you can rest your case at any guesthouse you like. Good on you.

Thaiquila

I sincerely feel sorry for you and all the burning bias and hatred you have inside.

But like an alcoholic, you cannot get help until you are ready for it... For your sake I do hope you get it.

Sincerely

Gonzo

Your comment is absurdly personal. The only bias I have shown here is contempt for racists and people who tolerate racism (as well as those who make lame excuses for so called ignorant guest house owners). I also happen to support Israel and the Israeli people even the rude ones, that isn't hate, that is love.

Zesty enough for you?

Its just sad, that we keep getting this eons of persecution thing brought up [as if no other group has been persecuted in all of history] into something that is a word, to the Thai Guest House owner, that best describes what he does not want in his customer base.

Sad? Yes, it is sad. It is sad you don't think it is a valid point. The holocaust occurred about 60 years ago. The last I heard it was the worst genocide in human history. 60 years is not a long time ago in historical perspective. You want to world to forget this history? And you don't think it is valid for Israeli Jews to be offended at racial discrimination in the year 2006? And again, you are full of it, implying that this is about anything except Israeli Jews being denied accommodation based on their race (which in the case of Israelis is the same thing as their nationality).

And if you want to bring up politics, have you considered that young Israelis have no other choice but to be hard boiled when they live in a nation in a constant state of war, where all people have to serve in the military, where all of their neighbors wish to murder them and drive them into the sea? I am not saying the Palestinians don't have a valid cause, of course they do. But young Israelis haven't exactly been dealt the best hand either.

Maybe they do tend to be cliquish, because they know how much their nation is hated. But they aren't the only cliquish nationality traveling in Thailand, now are they?

Phew.. reading the 5 pages of forty posts each page that has rather quickly sprung up here feels like running a marathon.

Maybe one of those signs should be put on the forum portal.

I think we´re missing something here, that reading this thread brings to mind.

Most Owners and what not in LOS are quite happily living a peaceful life, and not out to change the world or whatever...

Point is, they are living peaceful lives and can not be bothered with stressful people.

I´m the same. An annoying or irritating person is in my bar, regardless of nationality, I will do my utmost to get rid of that person. Don´t care if he´s irish, jewish, Negro, or a dog.

Or a woman.

And you know what, some people think I should deal with anybody.

To those people I say, shove your political correctness up your bodily..

Because the fact is, I like my peaceful life, it´s my bar, and I´ll be dam.ned to the wailing wall and back if I´m gonna have some snotty arrogant <deleted> tell me what I should do in my place.

so I repeat:

Point is, they are living peaceful lives and can not be bothered with stressful people.

Cool.

I have a sign for you:

Of course, a business owner has every right to toss out troublemakers.

The problem here are the racist signs implying that ALL Israeli Jews are troublemakers.

I hope it is clear now that Israeli Jews, other Jews, and fair minded others are offended by this kind of racism. And yes, it is racism, targetting Jews from the Jewish state of Israel.

No different than the racism stating no Negroes or Mexicans.

OK, I am back.

I don't accept that banning Swedes is the same thing as banning Israeli Jews. Swedes do not have thousands of years of history of being persecuted in Europe (except by Norwegians?).

To ban Jews is a loaded thing. And don't act like it isn't.

How many Thai guesthouse owners do you think understand, or even know of, the travails of the Jewish people?

Probably not many, but why is this relevant?

The guests of these guesthouses are mostly farang, and they tolerate or "understand" these bans.

These farangs know.

Banning Jewish Israelis from free access to public accomodation is indeed a politically loaded thing, whether the owners know it or not.

OK, I am back.

I don't accept that banning Swedes is the same thing as banning Israeli Jews. Swedes do not have thousands of years of history of being persecuted in Europe (except by Norwegians?).

To ban Jews is a loaded thing. And don't act like it isn't.

Do you think the Malaysia ban on Israelis is not tied to anti-semitism? If you don't, you are wrong. You can find reams of vicious anti- Jewish garbage from Malaysia's leaders.

I believe many of the anti-Israeli attitudes from Thais were indeed picked up from anti-semitic farangs. They can't ban Americans, because most Americans aren't Jewish, but they can Israelis, because almost all Israelis are Jewish and they have painted them with the stereotypes they have learned.

Banning Israeli Jews only a business decision? Yeah, right.

So, I guess this restaurant also made a business decision, and it is A-OK with those "understanding" types here:

And, BTW, I suppose there are some "Negroes", Mexicans, and dogs who would understand this ban, but that doesn't prove anything except that they are self hating. I do understand the dog ban (apologies to the French).

Then you didn't look hard enough.

What are sh84878 people?

A good point that this is a waste of time. I have had my say, the folks who "understand" bigotry have had their say, so I guess if there aren't any more really original ideas about this, I will take my leave. Ciao.

Oh I seem to feel that the pot likes to call the kettle black, but when it comes back , thats not to be???

You see, it is the Jewish Israelis who are the targets of this discrimination. They are not discriminating against the Thai guesthouse owners.

Perhaps you misinterpreted ,,,,,, It was you, to which I was referring..

Perhaps, so who I am racist against according to you?

BTW, I have personally witnessed obnoxious Israelis. And also obnoxious French, Germans, Aussies, Brits, Yanks, Russians, Brazialians, etc. etc,

Again, why pick on the Israelis?

Lets get this clear again. Israelis are mostly Jewish people. Israel is a Jewish state. Jewishness is more than about religion. Most Israelis and most world Jews are NOT religious, but they are still Jewish. If you wish to ban Israelis, you wish to ban Jews.

It's a mainly Jewish country because in 1948 with the support of the USA it round up the majority of the arab population at gun point and dumped them like pieces of junk in the deserts of Gaza and the West Bank. No UN mandate, but luckily God had said it was OK...according to them.

(Might as well blame Hitler. If there was no Hitler, there would be no Israel.)

Interesting, simplistic telling of history, but thank you for expressing your anti-Israel sentiment. I actually think Israel was a mistake, but in our current day, it is a reality, and I don't see the justification of discrimating against Jewish Israeli backpackers. I continue to believe alot of this tolerance for the No Israeli signs is old fashioned stereotyping and anti-semitism.

...so before Hitler there was no zionist movement????

Hitler was also responsible for the deaths of millions of Ukranians, Lithuanians, gypsies, gays, communists... So far none have created their own 'homeland' because of it.

I don't think we really want to go there. Suffice it say, Jews were the primary victims of Hitler along with the Russians. And yes, there was a Zionist movement. But most historians will tell you without Hilter, it wouldn't have ever happened. I already said I personally think it was a mistake. They should have moved to South Florida. But it is really too late for that now.

Oh I seem to feel that the pot likes to call the kettle black, but when it comes back , thats not to be???

You see, it is the Jewish Israelis who are the targets of this discrimination. They are not discriminating against the Thai guesthouse owners.

I continue to believe alot of this tolerance for the No Israeli signs is old fashioned stereotyping and anti-semitism.

I wonder why you continue to believe that, in the face of all the evidence to the contrary that has been presented here. Seems to me like an entrenched bias at work.

Because of repeated expressions of anti-Jewish stereotypes (mostly the money kind of stereotypes).

If a Jew is thrifty, he is a cheap Jew. If a Brit is, he is just a cheap individual. Get it?