JB300

yes it would but it is also beneficial to importers to have a stronger Baht. in the first 10 months of 2014 the trade balance was negative ($1.855 billion) which is peanuts compared to the total trade but evidence that more was imported than exported.

bottom line: the present Baht "strength" is quite acceptable for the BoT.

I doubt that. Thailand is an exporting nation and a strong Baht is no good for exports.

But wait until tomorrow when EU president Mario Draghi makes his plans for QE known. That (I hope) will strengthen the Euro which has been dropping like a stone just lately which will be good for exporting nations like Thailand.

QE will do just the opposite....weaken the Euro further. Add massive amounts to the supply of Euros available? Price goes down.

That's my belief also, focus is on stimulating inflation (or at least avoiding deflation), they don't seem to care about exchange rates.

However, as the intention to start QE is well known, a lot of the impact will baked into the exchange rate already so if the amount of QE is below what's been predicted/expected (I see Germany is opposed to it) then the Euro could go up.

I use the Minix X7 (X8 is out now), very pleased with it though it was a bit tricky to set-up so would agree with buying one already set-up with the best repositories.

One small point, XBMC is now called Kodi, if you're looking for additional/new channels etc...

Good thread on watching Global TV here... http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?/topic/725898-Watch-Global-TV-%28Android-Box%29

Meanwhile regional business, media, shipping, arts, investment, finance, employment, planning,logistics keeps its feet firmly in Singapore.

Where, you can own your own business, set up a business in minutes, trust the legal system, and get access to everything you need in the language of international business instantly, without the need for a useless sleeping partner.

However, a b**w job is a bit more expensive.

I'm not so sure about the "Keeps it feet firmly in Singapore" part, a fair number of the Global banks seem to be moving a lot of their operations out of here (though none I'm aware of are moving to Thailand).

Back to the topic at hand, if the rumored 6/12 month, 2/3000 visas does happen then Thailand is perfectly placed to position itself as the "Hub" for people wanting to explore the region.

So with this in mind I believe that it could very well happen soon, otherwise it would not have been on the news.

Original article mentioned something happening before the Chinese New Year (is that an indicator they're targeting it at the Chinese, Singaporeans?), so what will be should become clearer over the next month & a bit

I did a little research and found that the visa on arrival now costs $35 and it appears that it is still a full page sticker.

Other than Malaysia all the neighboring countries require a full page visa for entry. Cambodia has the e-visa option that does not use a full page.

You could go to Bali and then get a visa exempt entry on return and extend it for 30 days at immigration. But those all require stamps. Do have room for them?

Indonesia visa is now 1/2 page (attached a photo of mine from November) but I don't know if they'll insist on putting it onto a blank page (Philippine stamps on the photo were from a trip after Bali).

I did hear that in preparation for closer ties across ASEAN, Indonesia were planning to do away with the VOA and move to Visa Exempt like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore but I don't know how true this is or when it would happen.

Update:Seems the proposed scraping of the us35$ fee is to increase tourism from Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia, nothing to do with closer ASEAN ties... http://www.smh.com.au/world/indonesia-proposes-scrapping-visa-fee-for-tourists-20141105-11hj0y.html

Just finished "Crisis", a light but enjoyable series worth watching...

Have been to CIMB as my term was up and they are offering 3.35% fixed 12 Months TAX PAID or 2.8% for fixed 8 Months term Tax NOT paid.

The only thing is you have to be over 55 years young.

The latter account pays interest up front and is not suitable for Immigration purposes.

Why not?

My retirement deposit is in a similar account which is acceptable (to Jomtien).

accs.that pay interest up front are not excepted for immigration purposes as you are not allowed to withdraw instantly.

all fixed accs.that pay interest on maturity are excepted.

Sorry, I'm not picking on your English but I think you meant "Accepted" by saying "Excepted" you're sort of saying the opposite to what I think you were trying to say.

I'm not trying to be the grammar/spelling police here (Couldn't if I wanted to, I'm just as bad) but wanted to point it out as people could read/understand the point you made the wrong way.

Cheers

JB

2. singapore ??? what a joke, sharia laws and torture, allah hu akhbar... not goood....

You must be talking about a different Singapore than the one I live in...

Gold Rush Alaska is back [emoji106][emoji4]

I'd be interested in anybody's experience of learning a different language than Thai (in particular Mandarin) at the Walen school.

People that post how great their expat lives are tend to be the ones who are homesick most. I feel sorry for them.

Why does he bother you so much? You should feel happy enouh with your Aussie steaks and all those girls you couldn't afford back home. I guess with all that bragging you have been doing in your posts you are really home sick but can't go home because you'd never get laid. I'm surprised you Thai Baht millionaires have time between all your jet setting to keep putting this guy down. What's gonna happen when you can't afford Thai women any more (it will happen)?. It will be a sad day for sure. Well, I already know the answer to that question, both you and Canary will end up in the Philppines when you can't afford Thailand any more both for different reasons.

Apart from its just as (if not more) expensive to live in the Philippines & costs are rising just as fast [emoji17]

Back to the OT, would be great to get an update on the OPs thoughts & plans...

Thank you for the "Forever" tip, watched the 1st 2 episodes & loved it... I'm hooked [emoji106]

I use BUPA International, it provides insurance everywhere apart from the USA so you only need additional insurance if you go to the US.

As this is a health insurance policy instead of a travel related policy the visa type and duration of trip doesn't matter.

It's not the cheapest but I believe it's one of the better options. Like all insurance the younger you are when you 'get recruited' the cheaper it is...

"As this is a health insurance policy instead ..."

In most cases it would be solely a hospital insurance, not comprehensive "health" insurance. If you opt to add on out-patient coverage, the additional premium will be virtually the same as the maximum coverage you would get if you used the policy to its full out=patient allowance during the year.

To continue BUPA as you enter the golden years, the premium will escalate and, if you don't maintain uninterrupted coverage after a certain age, you would not be eligible to restart it.

Any recommendations for an alternative policy?

Had the minix X7 for a while now & high key recommend it, one tip is to buy a better remote control, I bought the A2 & am pleased with it (except it chews through batteries) though there's quite a few negative reviews.

Does anybody have any experience of learning Mandarin at the Walen school or could recommend another?

Also, the Walen website is very comprehensive but I'm finding the pricing a bit confusing...

If 200 group lessons are $933 ($840 promotional price) & "The ED visa paperwork and the visa extension paperwork are complimentary" then why is a package with 200 group lessons & "Preparing documents required for obtaining a 6 month student visa (ED)" combined $1497? Same with 400 lessons $1685 vs $2694 & the 1 year student visa.

What's the approx $250 charge per 90 days for?

Following this thread closely as I'm leaving Singapore after 6 years on 30th November & trying to decide between staying in Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia in that order, though my Filipina thinks otherwise) or making the move back to Europe (France, Spain, Portugal in that order).

Agree with the Poster(s) who recommend spending some time in each place so plan is to spend the 1st 3 months (Gardening Leave) split between Thailand, Bali & Penang with 2 weeks over Xmas/New Year visiting Filippina's family in Davao (which is where I'd recommend living if you did decide on Philippines, Visas are a doodle... 30 days on arrival, extend it to 59 days then extend every 2 months to 16 months, do a Visa run & start again).

There was talk of reintroducing the Departure Fee of 500THB (which is already included in your ticket) at Swampy but I don't remember paying anything last time I was there (March) & certainly didn't last Sunday when coming back from Phuket.

Philippines & Indonesia do collect a Departure Fee at the Airport but I don't recall paying it when leaving Indonesia by boat.

OP, Apologies if this is a little too "Nightlife" focused, but there's some good info on where to stay in CM on this site... http://www.livingthai.org/where-to-live-in-chiang-mai-map-included.html

I'm assuming you have some criteria, without knowing which it's hard to make a recommendation but this is probably the most famous hotel in Penang http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Hotel_Review-g298303-d307724-Reviews-Eastern_Oriental_Hotel-Georgetown_Penang_Island_Penang.html

Has a sister hotel (Lone Pine hotel ) at the beach (Batu Ferringhi) that's nice.

I'm looking for recommendations for a budget hotel/apartment that does monthly rates if anybody can help.

Just copy Malaysia's rules, 3 months stay for free.

just wish they would do the same as Malaysia and give a 5yr residence permit for roughly the same amount in the bank account as for retirement visa and my Malaysian friends tell me I could apply for a passport after that as well. why don't they follow the normal international route of offering citizenship for contributing to the country?.

But Malaysia doesn't allow dual citizenship so you would need to renounce your current citizenship to get the passport.

Just finished episode 1 of HBO's Getting On.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2342652/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl

From IMDB: Set in a geriatric extended care wing of a down-at-the-heels hospital, Getting

On follows put-upon nurses, anxious doctors and administrators as they struggle with the darkly

comic, brutally honest and quietly compassionate realities of caring for the elderly.

Based on the English version of the same name.

Was disappointed to be honest. I admit to being a bit tired while watching, but not too many

laughs for me.

Derek starring Ricky Gervais, which is set at an old peoples home was far superior.

sorry but whenever the Americans try to copy a British show they always ruin it

I didn't like British version of Getting On either. I tried to watch that first.

I loved All In The Family, but never saw the British version.

I didn't like either version of The Office. I don't enjoy "cringing", because the main character is such a twit.

I like the American version of Shameless better - probably because of William Macy, but they are both good.

Being from the part of the UK where the original is set and recognizing people I grew up with in the characters of the show, I expected to hate Shameless US, but William Macy is brilliant in it & the episodes (that I've seen) have had plots almost identical to the UK series & just as funny [emoji106]

Sounds like Thailand is looking to move to a similar licensing hours model to the one we used to have in the UK which just encourages more people to be in the bar at the same time, drink faster & empty out onto the streets at the same time.

30,000 sounds a lot in rent for the equivalent of a 5Million condo, book in a hotel/guest house for a couple of weeks & tour the area you're interested in, am sure you'll find something much cheaper/nicer.