Timebandit

1 hour ago, taiping said:

Gold bullion (bars) can be bought in Thailand from some gold shops (mostly in Bangkok's Chinatown) or from gold dealers like Ausiris or YLG. However, it's important to note that standard Thai gold is 96.5% purity so not recommended to take outside Thailand. In addition, they sell gold in a unit of weight called "Baht weight" (15.244 grams). You can buy 10 Baht weight Thai gold bars which currently cost around 220,000 baht each. The gold shop name is stamped on the gold bars so it's best to sell the gold back to the same gold shop you bought it from, since other gold shops would offer a lower price.

The gold dealers also sell gold bars of 99.99% purity. Ausiris sell 100 gram and 1 kilo bars made by PAMP in Switzerland. They also used to sell (not sure now) 10 baht weight 99.99% PAMP gold bars.

See http://www.ausiris.co.th/content.php?content=15&keyword=Flagship Store.

As far as I'm aware, the banks here do not sell gold bars, but many banks have gold funds, which invest in such ETF's as GLD. 

I have not found gold coins such as Krugerrands in Thailand.

The current price to buy 1 Kilo of 99.99% gold from Ausiris is 1,498,632 baht. At the current exchange mid rate of 34.66 Baht/USD = USD 43,239. One Kilo = 32.1507 Troy Ounces, so the 1 Kilo bar cost USD 1,345. Current price on KITCO is 1,344.60 so the price of gold in Thailand is very similar to the International price.

Do you understand that shitty looking Krugerands, as well as US Eagles, are only 92% purity? They are actually not considered gold in Thailand. A  friend could not sell a double eagle anywhere. You can go to HKG to PBoC, Wingon Branch or to Hang Seng Bank just down the street and buy 9999 Kangaroos, Pandas or Maple Leaf coins. 9999 bars are available in Chinatown but do your homework to find the most reputable dealer. Save all receipts. If you are buying kilobars video the transaction.

Krugerand's red hue is frowned upon in Asia. Best of fortune.

3 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

That condo will probably belong to the gik in a very short amount of time.  Defamation is a huge deal here.

Defamation is the statement of false things about a person. I think the video eliminates that.

Well done! Perfect vertical trajectory with very successful vehicle recovery. Good news in a World of tragic events.

Not good to send tigers to Cambodia because there are too many land mines there. That is why there are so few tigers, elephants and other wildlife in Cambodia. This is a big problem with no easy solution.

Anyone out there still defending the scum who ran this cesspit?

Was there any?

Went there about four years ago. Clearly a commercial enterprise run by and for the monks.

I could not understand why there was a group of western "volunteers" helping to look after the tigers. If they had cared about the animals they should have been campaigning outside the entrance.

Cambodia wants some tigers to release into the wild. Send fifty or so over there.

I NEVER allow anyone to handle my Rimowa. I offer to open it for TSA being made of aluminum but they don't touch.

A checked baggage sized Rimowa is a special kind of stupid at a thousand US $. Been through so much crap with damaged luggage and arguing with knuckleheads I just don't go there. Travelled across most of China and Asia with this very light carry-on. Learn to travel light.

I no longer ride a bike, but during my first two years I rented from a delightfully honest and sincere lady in the back of Jomtien Complex. She wisely urged me to buy insurance with the bike rental and thankfully I did. After a crash due to a puddle with slimy

concrete dust I went to a clinic everyday for thirty days and it was all covered although I paid for the damage to the bike. I am certain

this lady can fix you up with all inclusive insurance. You may be the only rider covered by insurance so ask about every scenario. Go to where Thappraya turns right into Jomtien Beach road and 200 meters to between the new pie restaurant and Shenanigans and turn right for 50 meters on the left. Best of luck to you and I understand wet streets so your gf handled that very well.

Nice people.

Hurrah! Nestor's street hooker brought to justice and with 12 other criminals. Out on bail no doubt. She made millions of people

desperately miserable. I lived there for a time and saw the misery. May she get the maximum number of years with no parole.

I fear you haven't addressed your biggest problem. While you were here womanizing, the World's economy went into the toilet.

You will now have a big blank timeframe on your resume' and most companies in most countries have been downsizing. In finding any job your credentials must stand out among hundreds of others. Best of luck for you.

Throwing water on a biker who has not clearly consented IS violence.

In free fall you reach terminal velocity just after 100 ft. (33 meters). I was a "C" class jumper with 400+ jumps. At terminal velocityyou must remain symmetrical to fail straight down. Any flailing about will cause you to "track" a path off vertical. Blocked photo shows him swinging arms and legs which leads to missing your target. I'd give him only a 2 for style.

Probably the best known, longest established gold trader is Hua Seng Heng on Yaowarat Rd in Bangkok.

If you want to buy gold in any serious quantity in Thailand with the expectation that you'll eventually sell it again in Thailand, then this shop is the gold standard (pun intended), but any of the larger gold shops especially in China Town (or elsewhere in Thailand) are equally reliable and trustworthy. I've bought and sold gold bullion at Thong Dee in Pattaya over the years. Totally reliable, trustworthy, honest, etc.

If you want to buy gold bullion in quantity with the intention of taking it back to your home country. Rather than carting it about with you and facing inevitable import/export issues, why not buy it on your next visit home and store it in a safe place like a bank safe deposit box.

Someone else asked about exporting gold bullion from Thailand and there was no definitive answer, but it obviously sounds like a potential hassle.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647366-flying-with-gold-bars-out-of-the-country/

And once it is in a bank safe deposit box it is owned by the bank when the bank fails. The whole reason for

owning gold is to avoid second party risk which is the financial chaos of collapsed currencies (IOU's) and failed banks. Put some in a reputable private vault and spread your holdings out.

Can any of you guys riding around explain to me why you NEED a loud exhaust pipe?

Does the bike go any faster, is it more efficient, cheaper to run or what?

I think some of the bikes are naturally loud, like a Harley (though, I classify them as two-wheeled agricultural equipment rather than a bike).

The other excuse I've heard is that it makes the bike "safer" as other riders can hear you coming from behind

Can any of you guys riding around explain to me why you NEED a loud exhaust pipe?

Does the bike go any faster, is it more efficient, cheaper to run or what?

I think some of the bikes are naturally loud, like a Harley (though, I classify them as two-wheeled agricultural equipment rather than a bike).

The other excuse I've heard is that it makes the bike "safer" as other riders can hear you coming from behind (Down Jingthing! Down!s).

Loud exhaust of motorcycles or cars is a Neaderthal's way of saying "look at me, I'm hung like a donkey".

Decking. What a great place for snakes to live. Been there, done that. Pour concrete and tile it.

Ah, Songkran with memories of severe injuries when on a moto a farang threw a bucket of crushed ICE in my face, laughed and then ran away as I crashed and bled. All the girls ran back to their bars and I had no help to get to a clinic. This happened on Soi 7 in Jomtien 4 years ago. I left the moto lying and I hobbled up the street to a clinic across Thappraya Rd. I don't mind this tradition on the Thai New Year and the Thai are mostly respectful and fun loving but the introduction of this totally drunken free-for-all for farangs of a certain alleged English speaking heritage is totally disgusting. I now travel over Songkran to other countries. I now drive a car. And still the officials declare SangKran to be a three day event. Pattaya <deleted>?

Utila,Honduras is pretty nice,and please consider Bonaire.

Honduras has the highest murder rate in the World. I believe he wrote "South America".

After the chess game is over the king and the pawn go into the same box.

Currency wars manipulation (bugger thy neighbor). This is the sign of a desparate government (USA).

They give you the old passport back with holes punched in it. IF you have any visas that had a high retroprosity fee, keep the old passport for re-entry. There is an outreach gathering at the Dusit Hotel on February 5th at the North Road roundabout in Pattaya. Register at the Embassy to receive notices of outreach meetings in you area.

Show me the money, and your reply would be Show me the blue book.

President Ford declared in the mid 70's that gold was once again legal for Americans to own. Look it up- don't make it up.

Fortunately there is a lot of gold for sale here in The Land of Smiles. Take advantage of it and save at your own rate. The price is very low right now. Ernest Hemingway was quoted about bankruptcy as " at first it goes very slowly and then very fast ". Be aware of your income and outlay at all times. Don't let a sexy girl fog up your thinking.

My favorite topic. The first 5 words of your post say a lot. But if you do decide to buy, look at American Eagle gold coins. First you have the value of the gold itself, but then there is additional value based on the rarity of the coin, both should increase over time. Very popular option and easy to trade. Your concern about selling half of a 1M baht gold piece is simple, you trade in your piece and get a 500k baht and a 500k baht piece in return. But if gold were such a great investment, why is price of gold falling when Grexit is looming? If the American dollar is on verge of collapse, as so many here are predicting, why is gold falling? Gold is a safe haven right? Maybe not. Gold has few practical uses, certainly not enough to justify it's price imo. The price of gold goes up because of inflation, just like everything else. If you want to own some, fine, just don't call it an investment.

Sorry to tell you this but American Eagles are 92% (22 K) and NOT considered gold in Thailand. You will be hard pressed to sell these to any gold shop. They don't want to start mixing different karats. Thai gold is 96.5% and some shops in Bangkok have 24K. Take your Eagles to a shop tomorrow. As for why gold is in the toilet, can you spell "manipulation" of paper gold? Gold fix has moved into Shanghai/ Singapore exchanges which require physical posted for a short buy. That should change things but it will take time. The billboard coming out of Suvarnhbumi should answer your questions about the future when the Yuan is gold backed.

This free letter that you receive from your Embassy requesting a transfer of visa stamps is addressed to the Thai

immigration service in Bangkok. If you do not live in Bangkok you need to present this letter to the Thai

immigration service in the province where you reside.