fxm88

Why on earth would you want to drop off clean diapers and pick up dirty diapers? Are you a laundry service?

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I'm afraid you've misunderstood: I'm looking for a service to come to my house and drop off a bundle of clean cloth diapers and pick up a basket of soiled ones. For more info on the concept please see e.g.

http://www.diapernet.org/index.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_8435_find-cloth-diaper.html

http://www.switchboard.com/bin/cgidir.dll?...03203&QR=1&QX=1

http://www.google.co.th/search?q=diaper+service

This country has so many people desparate to make a back that they'll seemingly do just about anything. But I am continually disappointed by the number of services that they fail to offer (or innovate even the least bit on the ones they do).

But I've lived in Thailand long enough to know not to expect too much so it's Mamy Poko for my baby! -- and when the garbage pail is full I'll haull 'em down to beach for a little clandestine dumping at midnight. May I suggest everyone avoid the beach in front of The Hard Rock Hotel on Thursdays? Fridays too if it's been a bad week.

IF.... You are for real??

DO IT YOUR ****ING SELF

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Dave, it is not required that you post your 2 cents in each and every thread. I have read a number of your 4000+ posts and have found all of them to be without merit. This is not a contest to see who can post the most often and/or with the least content. Please consider finding an additional hobby or 2.

The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh is very unfriendly. I went 2 times. The first time they gave a single entry tourist visa but wrote a note on it in Thai which I couldn't read. The second time I went it was a bit of a hassle but they finally gave me the visa but wrote on it -- in English this time -- THIS IS THE LAST TIME YOU CAN APPLY FOR A VISA IN PHNOM PENH. That was more than a year ago (and not too long after the Cambodians burned down their embassy there) but I haven't been back to test whether they were serious.

Hey All. I've got a new baby and would like to know if Pattaya has a diaper service: cloth diapers, drop off the clean ones, pick up the dirty ones. Does Pattaya have anything like that? Thanks!

Hey All. I've got a new baby and would like to know if Pattaya has a diaper service: cloth diapers, drop off the clean ones, pick up the dirty ones. Does Pattaya have anything like that? Thanks!

I'm not a big grits fan but love cornbread!

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I see that I can get Top Posters results from the Forum Portal. Is there any way to query something like "Top Ignored Posters" i.e. which users appear most frequently on other users' ignore lists? (My prediction is that there's quite a bit of overlap between the 2 lists.)

Anyone have any experience, good or bad, with Thanachart Bank?

FYI, this page has current bank interest rate info:

http://www.bot.or.th/bothomepage/databank/.../interest_e.asp

But some banks don't pay any interest on Foreigner bank accounts, yes? Does anyone have a list?

I'm attemping to bring my Thai fiance to the US.......since i have been self employed for years....my income declared for tax purposes doesnt reflect what i actually earned. I have shown a loss for the last 2 yrs. Other than having someone co-sign ...is there any other way to overcome this.....i have property valued at about  $250,00....and about $17,000 cash in the bank....could the property be used in lieu of income

thx for any advice

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If everythings legitimate, or even just grey, it shouldn't be a deal-breaker. However, if you've been "gaming" the system it might be coming back to haunt you. The key will be your ability to justify what you've reported. The consulate folks will of course want documentation on everything and as far as I know there aren't any restrictions on what they are allowed to ask -- and they will ask. You haven't mentioned if you're in the US or in Thailand. I don't know if the State Department co-operates with the IRS but I do believe the IRS has a working relationship with the INS.

[deleted]

A few years ago I managed to transfer some money to my Bangkok Bank account in Thailand from a bank in the US using ACH to Bangkok Bank's New York branch. I believe this is similar to what you are describing.

However, in May of 2003 it started failing. I think the money made it into Thailand but the branch here was "unable to apply funds due to missing beneficiary's name". The Thailand branch asked the NY branch for that info but were told that they couldn't get it with ACH. Anyway, the money got sent back to the original account and I started doing my transfers with SWIFT.

And I just recently tried to do another SWIFT transfer and am being told that they now require a signed form faxed or posted to them each and every time I want to do a transfer. When asked why they waved their hands and made some vague reference to legislation inspired by 'recent world events" (presumably not the Hurricane ;-). I did some searching around there might be some new FinCEN reporting requirements that they're trying to comply with. (They've always had to report transfers above US$10K, an more recently anything they thought was suspicious, e.g. a US$9900 transfer, but now maybe they're just reporting everything. It's hard to find good info -- I keep finding lots of pages from the "tin foil hat" crowd. I did run across FedACH which apparently opens up ACH transfers to Mexico and some European countries, ironically signed in September of 2001.)

So I'll be surprised if what you're doing works. Or, if it does work this time, continues to work. But please keep us updated. Does Bank of America speak about International transfers specifically? Do you have a link or a name for their service?

Here's a similar thread from earlier this year: Bangkok Bank Foreign Exchange Fees Via Ny, Transfer $$ by ACH via BB ABA.

On the other hand, I don't much like the idea that someone like George Bush can spy on my back yard...

At least in this case you can spy right back at him:

latitude 31 deg.34'57" N., longitude 97 deg.32'37" W.

For those of you without Google Earth try this link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=31.582383,-...05239&t=h&hl=en

Hey! Who's that cutting that nasty brush? Nasty Boys! -- Janet Jackson (Ms. Jackson if you're nasty)

I have been living here for quite long time but hard to find good food (tasty) to eat.

Can in this forum someone share his or her tasty exprience, place(map),price,foods to order etc, so that we all can enjoy wonderful foods in this Kingdom.

Here's enough to keep you satisfied for years.:

http://www.mcthai.co.th/branches/index.htm

Try the hamburgers. Enjoy!

Has your friend ever been to Alaska? If so then he'll have a very good idea of what he can expect from New Zealand!

1) financial security(banking,insurance,investments etc...)

2) stable political climate

3) physical safety

4) rugby ..my wife would say Dan Carter

5) outdoor activities,adventure sports

6) south island drives

...

11) a long way from america

...

check out the NZL IMMIGRATION website on how to migrate and get permanent residency.

There's a easily to understand point system but basically: unless your friend's sitting on a mint forget about legal immigration to NZ.

This site is very good

http://www.twaves.com/S_3-01-2004_Perfomra...4-4-25-2004.htm

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Good for what? That website has no information on Thai stocks.

I posted this in the Visa forum but didn't get any response so I thought I'd ask over here.

I am a 30-something American staying a long time in Pattaya on tourist visas and 30 day stamps. I would like to know if I would need a work permit to "day trade". (For more on daytrading please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytrading). I would be trading Thai stocks on the Thai stock market with my own money in my own account with a Thai brokerage in one of their local trading rooms (e.g. Thanachart in North Pattaya Tesco Lotus, ABN AMRO/Asia Plus Securities near Dolphin Circle -- where they desks with computer terminals to place trades on, telephones, maybe some TVs tuned to finance channels, a big board showing stock prices, etc.).

In America, for instance, the Tax agencies make some (fuzzy) distinctions between investors and day traders: they consider day traders to be a business (which for tax purposes that can be a huge benefit, see http://daytrading.about.com/cs/educationtraining/a/tax.htm). Some people even consider it to be gambling. What about Thailand? Where might they draw a line, if any, between an investor and an business? Would the immigration authorities and the tax authorities even agree on that line? In other words: in Thailand, is daytrading "work"? Or, for that matter, is investing also "work"?

Perhaps a relevant analogy might be if an individual was buying and selling heaps of gold as the price moved around -- a poor analogy because the price of gold in the shops doesn't change throughout the day and the high commissions would kill you. Or the real-estate speculators who "flip" (i.e. buy and quickly sell) condos -- another poor analogy because that market's not very liquid. As an aside, if it is in fact considered gambling then if and when Thailand ever opens a casino will they require any foreign gamblers to first get work permits?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I'm curious as to whether anyone has managed to get one of those IT visas the gov't was talking about some time back? Was it a cloud of smoke or do they really exist, was it difficult to get, and what was the application procedure? And, if anyone did manage to get one, were there any advantages between this and the 1 year Non-Imm B?

Rich

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Clearly it's been a hugely successful program: the IT industry is booming, hi-tech startups are everywhere, pushing out all the old lo-tech industries which have been replaced with all kinds of new businesses to support them; salaries are soaring, the gates of immigration have been thrust open to foreign employees (who are greeted warmly), and students are leaving University early to take high paying jobs; tax receipts have never been higher; venture capitalists are in a frenzy and you can hardly go a week without another record setting IPO; real-estate prices have shot further through the roof than the Wonkavator! But strangely, even though every one [that I know] is flush with cash, consumer price inflation seems to be a thing of the past. We truly are in a new, new economy. Geez! What rock have you been living under?... Thailand!?... Nevermind.

This would be trading Thai stocks on the SET with my own money in my own account with a Thai brokerage at their branch office which has been set up like a daytrading office: workstations with computer terminals hooked into your account in the broker's trading system, phones, maybe some TVs tuned to finance channels, a big board showing stock prices, etc.

In America, for instance, the Tax agencies make some (fuzzy) distinctions between investors and day traders: they consider day traders to be a business (which for tax purposes that can be a huge benefit, see http://daytrading.about.com/cs/educationtraining/a/tax.htm).

What about Thailand? Where might they draw a line, if any, between an investor and an business? Would the immigration authorities and the tax authorities even agree on that line? Perhaps a relevant analogy might be if an individual was buying and selling heaps of gold as the price moved around -- a poor analogy because the price of gold in the shops doesn't change throughout the day and the high commissions would kill you. Or the real-estate speculators who "flip" (i.e. buy and quickly sell) condos -- another poor analogy because that market's not very liquid.

In any case, I'd certainly not be taking any jobs away from any Thai investment managers because I'd never let them manage my money -- for fear that they'd have my money fully "invested" in whiskey and massage girls by the end of the week.

Gambling is based on luck, and luck can be influenced by... the Lord Buddha of course! If you don't gamble then you can't win and if you can't win then how can the Buddha show that he favors you? Similar to the old (though new compared to Buddhism) American Puritan/Calvinist beliefs that being successful, acquiring wealth, or whatever is proof of God's favor. In America it helped encourage a virtuous spiral of people working harder and harder, equipping their children with the tools/education they needed to become successful, etc.

Many religions/sects have similar beliefs although some have opposite beliefs e.g. Mother Theresa stating "I think it is very beautiful for the poor to accept their lot, to share it with the passion of Christ. I think the world is being much helped by the suffering of the poor people."

What, if anything, should people in Thailand and other places, where many people live such pitiful existences and mortgage their children's futures, infer about Buddha's/God's/whoever's favor?

Hello! I am a 30-something American staying in Pattaya on tourist visas and 30 day stamps. I would like to know if I need a work permit to "day trade". In your house it's probably not a big deal but I would prefer to go to one of the trading rooms e.g. Thanachart in the North Pattaya Tesco-Lotus or the ABN AMRO near dolphin circle. Will I be paranoid that the boys in brown might show up to raid the place looking for illegal workers? The ABN AMRO is a little secluded but the Thanachart has big plate-glass windows into the mall.

Thanks!

If you are going to use ter to your gf though, it is better to say chan rak ter, rather than pom rak ter, I believe.  Pom with kun and chan with ter, as the first is slightly more formal and second is more intimate. 

However my Thai is far from ideal so I may be wrong.

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Correct! But if you are going to use mung for your gf, it is better the say goo rak mung. I believe. And don't forget to duck.

They  were  operating  the  service  2  nights  ago  i  saw  the  bus  go  down  2nd  Road..............see  how  long  it  lasts! 

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I've seen thegreen line 2 times so far... once going past Tops on 2nd road and one out in Naklua. Both times completely empty. it was going fast like it wasn't interested in getting any passengers. Is it on a schedule or something? Next time they'll put in streetcars. Or maybe a Skytrain.

In 1972 an elite group of commandos was convicted of a crime they didn't

commit. They promptly escaped from a maximum military prison into the

Los Angeles underground. If you have a problem, and you can find them,

you might get help from...

Theเอ Team

[Cue the A-Team Theme http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brien.hannah/ateam.mid]

[Act I]

A smiling Auntie Nid arrives early one morning to open her beach-chair

mini-resort on fabulous Pattaya beach. She discovers a group of surly

men breaking up her chairs and umbrellas. She tries to stop them but

they attack her and push her to the ground. Before leaving one of the

men rips off her 10 baht gold necklace and warns her to pay her "rent"

faster next time.

[Act II]

The next week after being released from the hospital she limps back down

to the beach to survey the damage. She collapses into the sand and begins

to weep. Just then a figure emerges from the water. At first Nid fears

her tormentors have returned, then she decides she is hallucinating,

next she is certain it is a ghost, but wait... it's Godzilla! No, it's

just some crazy farang in a Godzilla suit. Smoking a cigar.

Hannibal: Khun Nid I presume?

[Nid stares at him blankly.]

Hannibal: You called The A-Team?

[Hannibal signals the rest of the team. A man sitting on the a bench

chatting with some girls comes over... it's Face. A jogger runs over

and it's... BA Baracus. And a man who's been digging for clams... is

Murdoch! Everyone comes over.]

Hannibal: I believe you've been informed of our fee?

Nid: Sorreee! I no have money for pay.

Hannibal: It's non-negotiable.

[Nid thinks for a moment.]

Nid: Here, you like my sister? You can have!

[Just then Nid's sister Noy walks in]

Face: Good God! She's blacker than BA!

Hannibal: More gold, too.

BA: No way Hannibal -- you know I like white wimmin!

Hannibal: Later, BA, we've got work to do. [To Nid] Really, it's...

Nid: You like young gurl? Here my daughter...

[On cue Nid's daughter Boo walks in]

Hannibal: Wha...? She can't be more than 13 years old!

Murdoch: Ahhh, me rikey.

Nid: You can do!

Murdoch: Say "yes", Hannibal, please say "yes", please Hannibal, please,

please, please.

Hannibal: OK, OK, we'll figure it out later. Face, you know what to do.

Face: I'm already on it!

Hannibal: BA, Murdoch, we're gonna need some firepower.

BA: I don't know Hannibal... it's not watermelon season... but I'll figure somethin' out. [smiles]

Murdoch: Sir, yes sir!

[Murdoch flags a songthaew and hops on.]

BA [panicking]: No, no, no! I ain't gettin' on no songthaew!

[Murdoch pulls a syringe from his pocket and injects it into BA's neck. BA

immediately passes out and they drag him onto the waiting truck.]

Murdoch [to driver]: Once around the park, Jeeves, then home for tea.

Driver: You pay five hunnert baht?

Murdoch: Money is no object, my good man.

[They speed off.]

Face: I hope you've got a plan.

Hannibal: I've always got a plan. [Lights his cigar.]

[Act III] [The next day]

[Hannibal is on the beach with Nid cleaning up the mess. BA arrives looking

disheveled and lacking his trademark gold necklaces.]

Hannibal: BA! What happened to you? Are you all right?

BA: Last night while I was walking back to my hotel a couple guys on a motorbike swooped down on me and stole my gold!

[Murdoch arrive with a new second-hand van done up A-Team style.]

Hannibal: Hey, nice van! Where'd you find it?

Murdoch: It's second-hand and 15 years old but I got a great deal on it -- only 2 million baht, that's like what? 500 bucks American?

Hannibal: No, that's more like $50,000!

BA: I pity the fool buys a car in Pattaya!

Murdoch: I painted it myself. Do you like it?

[Face arrives with trailed by a large entourage -- it's his new wife, her parents and uncles and aunts and their buffalo.]

Face: Morning everyone! I'd like you to meet my new wife. We met last night. In a bar. But don't worry, it was her first night working. These are her parents, some uncles and aunts and assorted relatives. Apparently the buffalo is a little under the weather.

BA: I pity the fool finds a wife in Pattaya!

Face: I guess I'm gonna need a house.

Hannibal: Hey, I just bought a beautiful 12 bedroom, 2 bathroom Thai-Bali style concrete bunker. It's in a quiet village near the train station and the beach with hi-class furniture and convenient to all amenities. I'd be happy to rent it to you -- what do you say to 65,000 baht per month?

BA: I pity the fool buys a house in Pattaya!

Hannibal: Now, about these hooligans who roughed you up.

Nid: Mai pen rai! My niece get married and I sale one of my houses... now I have money to pay the rent 50 baht, no problem.

Face: Waitamiinut... you mean we went through all this over a matter concerning 50 measly baht?

Murdoch: Why... that's just ting-tong!

Hannibal: I love it when a plan comes together.

BA: F* all y'all -- I'm going to Svay Pak.

[They all laugh. Exit.]

The A-Team airs on Star World every week day at 9am.

Anyone travelled BKK to Phuket/Samui by bus/train?  Or even into Malaysia/Singapore?

I was thinking of visiting a friend in Singapore.  Thought about flying from BKK-SIN on Tiger Airways (very cheap!!).  I would fly back from SIN to Phuket and get a bus over to Koh Samui.  Any ideas of cost from Phuket to Samui (I guess this would actually be to Surat Thani plus ferry), thanks.

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I love the train! First class will get you a cabin. Second class is more "fun" but the top bunks can be a bit cramped. If you've never done it you may find it hard to sleep on the train, but probably easier than sleeping on the bus. If you leave from Bangkok while there's still some daylight you'll see how some people live near the tracks and later some pretty countryside out of town and maybe a sunset.

The Samui trip will be train to Surant Thani then a bus & ferry. You can buy a combined ticket a Hualampong, I forget which window but I think it's immediately to the left of the center train gate under the arrival/departure boards. There's only 1 or 2 trains a day that work well for sleeping so you might want to buy the ticket in advance.

There's 1 train a day to Butterworth but it's a really, really long trip.

A waiter will come around and ask if you want to schedule dinner and/or breakfast. It's decent but a little expensive. Hawkers board the train at every stop to sell drinks and snacks.

Also, you might be amazed that that the toilet empties directly onto the tracks!

http://www.railway.co.th/timetable/E_timetable.html

http://www.railway.co.th/timetable/N_S.html

How do one obtain a credit line at a casino?? Thought it was a cash business....

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This is how it usually works in the US for your average Joe: you apply with the casino and give them you bank details. They do a credit check and if they think you're good for it they'll give you a line of credit. Then when you go to the casino you can ask for a "marker". They'll give you something to sign (that something could look like a check from your bank) and give you some money. If you win you're expected to pay off your marker before you leave. If you lose then they'll hold the "check" for a week or 2 to give you time to pay it off in cash. If they don't hear from you they'll deposit the "check" -- cause it's just like a real check -- and get the money from your bank.

However, that's for average Joe's with small lines of credit. If you were into them for 14 million, and it's really hard for me to understand them letting you borrow that much, I suspect they wouldn't let you leave the casino without first have a "conversation" and making some "arrangements".