Tracyb

Wait 'til the smoke moves in during burning season later this month. Best leave now!

I recently paid off my mortgage for a condo in Bangkok. The bank has acknowledged the payoff and has informed me that their law firm will begin work to discharge the mortgage by filing something at the land office.

Does anyone have experience with this? What can I expect from the law office? How long will it take to get this done? What type of paperwork will I receive from the attorney or from the land office?

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

1000 USD in SS payments...what you retire at age 12......not much for the kitty kitty fund...?

For the life of me I cannot understand why you would want to ridicule someone. There many be personal reasons for his SS amount for which I don't see where you have any right to smear him. Don't be such a jerk!

Ditto.

BBL New York charges $5.00 for doing the transfer and then BBL Thailand charges another 200 Baht. I get an sms monthly from BBL when my money arrives and it has always been $5.00 less than what my SSA account says. Been the same for the last 9 years. I have my money direct deposited by SSA to BBL NY for my BBL account here in Thailand a Direct Deposit account.

I know I am not in CM but it has been the case for me in Pattaya and in Isaan where I now reside.

Many here will admire your ambition and your seeming understanding of how difficult it may be to earn a living and get along in a foreign country. Some members will deride you for your dreams. I will not judge but will instead offer the following:

Thailand looks glamorous, inviting, and wonderfully care-free when seen through the lens of tourism. Business promoters spend huge sums to convince people to come here for vacation by showing off this wonderful facade.

Many tanned and rested folks return home after lazing on the beach and partying all night long for a week or so and yearn to return and perhaps live here forever. Most who have enjoyed Thailand for short periods of time never get an in-depth look behind the scenes to experience the squalor and hardships offered up to Thais and ex-pats with few resources in a class conscious society.

My Dad left me with four words of wisdom. You may have heard this before: "Nothing Ventured - Nothing Gained."

Come and spend more time looking around. Identify the pitfalls after closer examination. Don't close doors behind you and have a back up plan to return home should you become disillusioned.

Keep in touch with us through this forum and continue building your network while watching over your shoulder.

Best of luck.

Trump had every right and the protesters were criminal trespassers, beginning the moment they were asked to stop or to leave. They don't have freedom of speech on someone else's property. That hall became Trumps property the moment he rented it, the same as your home is your home if you rent it. No one can come in or stay in without your permission.

There are different types of real estate in the US and one is a rental estate. When you rent a house or a store or a meeting hall you make the rules about what goes on in there. People who won't obey those rules become trespassers and trespassing is a felony.

You have the right to protest or demonstrate peacefully and the right to free speech only on your property or government property or the property of someone else who gave you permission. If you are asked to stop or to leave and you don't you become a felon.

These are typical liberals who believe in free speech and the right to assemble only for people they agree with.

Trespassing is a crime, not necessarily a felony! If you refuse to leave after being directed to do so, in Vermont you will be charged with a misdemeanor and hence become a criminal, not a felon.

Oh, sorry! One more thing. Don't bring all of your money with you to Thailand. You might want to stay invested in US Dollars! ...and the ACH transfers via BKK Bank in New York take only only two to three business days to clear to your account in Thailand.

Congrats, you're ready to embark on another great adventure! Others here have mentioned that it's best to organize your banking before you leave. I agree. This is of utmost importance! ACH transfers through BKK Bank in New York is a snap, but it's best to organize this before you leave home because it's easier to do so in case you need to visit your bank to set this type of internet transfer. You'll need a Bangkok Bank account set up here in Thailand beforehand in order to set up the transfer. ( Visit the BKK Bank New York website for more info on this) Your stateside bank may require you to do this in person. Check beforehand!

Also, regarding your mail. I've found that having a mailing address in the States makes everything easier. Banks and other financial institutions are most comfortable when dealing with you stateside. I use a mail forwarding service based in Seattle. I use it as a permanent stateside address and they forward my mail twice a month. This has proven to be invaluable on those occasions when for one reason or another I needed to have a credit card or debit card forwarded to me from my bank. I also keep a stateside phone number to use for banking, etc. The mail service charges me twice a year on a credit card they keep on file.

Also think about health insurance and be sure you're covered here in Thailand. Your current insurance may not cover you here if you live here full time. Although health care is cheaper here it's not free! If you have an accident you'll want to be covered. If you have any health issues, you'll want to be covered. If you have any prescriptions you need to take regularly, bring along a supply to have on hand until you get settled and find what you need in larger pharmacies, often without a prescription for non-narcotic drugs. Hospitals will usher you in to see a doctor to obtain meds if needed. Again, cheaper and faster service ( in and out in sometimes less than an hour!) than stateside, but not free! There is more info on health and hospital issues here on the forums.

You can get a Thai driver's license once you arrive here. It's a day long process so be prepared for a written test, etc. Info on this topic abounds here in the forums. I renewed and kept my stateside driver's license. It's valid here in Thailand. You can easily obtain an International Drivers Permit from AAA in Hawaii for your use in other countries that may require it when you travel outside of Thailand. I also found to that if my stateside license expires, I may have to be retested in my state to obtain a new one, IF I ever need it there. I have my Thai license now and it serves me well here for driving and also as an I.D. when needed to enter various sites charging lower admission fees to Thai nationals. It usually works to obtain the "local's price".

And don't forget to get your Visa! Do you have a new passport with lots of blank visa pages?? If not, you may want to get a new one before you leave. Effective Jan 1, 2016 you will no longer be able to add pages to your passport. You will be required to obtain a new one!

and remember to follow the rules for extensions and re-entry permits. Lot's of info on those topics here, too!

Best of luck in getting organized. Check back here with more questions if needed.

Chiangmai Mai is a lovely place to be.... However, make plans to,get away for the months of March, April and May when the pollution hits town. There is no escaping it. If you have ANY type of respiratory disorders, heed our advice. If you have NO respiratory disorders, get out of town to remain that way.

Plan ahead in this regard.

If I were you, I would hire an attorney to manage this. Now, many people in here will tell you it's insane to spend money for an attorney when you can do it yourself, but my experience with buying a condo bears out the wisdom of using an attorney. Yes, it will cost you money to do this. And a good attorney firm, such as Baker and MacKenzie in Bangkok will run you a good piece of change, but would you rather have everything in order with all of the agencies involved and protect your future in is investment or are you a fly by the seat of your pants type of guy. "Up to you" but the attorney will save your back side if there is anything shady going on and they will fill you in on any laws and regulations that you may not be aware of. Best of luck to y ou no matter how you decide to go.

The OP doesn't mention where he is located....

Last week, in Bangkok, I got my eyes tested at Rutnin Eye Hospital, including a complete exam by an ophthalmologist, for 2100 Baht. I took my prescription to V. Siam Optical on Suk 23 and bought Nikon progressive lenses for 9450 Baht and frames for 3500 Baht. The lenses were on sale for 50% off until the end of September.....

I had been to other shops but went to V. Siam based on the recommendations of other TV members in forums. Other shops wanted 25,000 Baht for lenses. I laughed at them and walked out. I was happy to meet the patient, non-pressure folks at V. Siam.

The optometrist at V. Siam took care to measure carefully and fit me properly. I chose lenses that are "normal size" not small like many new style frames suggest. The lenses took 4 days to arrive at his shop and I was out the door with my new glasses within 5 days. I can use them for reading, but truly, because I have to tilt my head up to see through the bottom part of the lens, it's easier for me to just take them off and read without them.

I should mention that I was wearing progressive lenses before I got the new prescription so I knew what to expect. The adjustment period for me was 3-4 days. Now, I'm doing just fine with them.

If the OP is in BKK, perhaps he may wish to try V. Siam Optical in the future.

Hmmm, I never get texts or sales calls. I registered my DTAC number quite some time ago...perhaps 6 months ago.

I wonder if this is happening to folks across all phone companies or for numbers registered close to the deadline???

Would be interesting to hear if the OP is with DTAC or True or...????

Thanks.

Thanks for this. Looks like the proof of residence is now required for everyone applying for the retirement extension at Bangkok, which is a change since the beginning of the year.

Very useful to know. I may have problems as I rent and do not own, and not only that but I rent from an agent who acts for the owner whose name I don't even know. I'm hoping my lease and a utility bill will be OK, which is what I always bring in case I am ever asked.

I will attempt my next extension at the earliest possible point (45 days from expiry of current permission to stay) just in case difficulties come up.

Not in all cases it seems to be on a case by case basis, I recently did my extension and wasn't asked. This was as CW.

Very interesting. Can I ask exactly when you did it , and maybe more importantly , was it your first?

I'm beginning to suspect that maybe it's people doing their very first extension, who aren't on record yet, that are being asked for proof of residence. I do all my 90 day address reports at CW, and have done four extensions there, and I haven't been asked for proof of residence at any time, but thinking back, I don't remember whether I was asked at my very first extension.

This was indeed my first extension and my second 90 day report at C.W. I accomplished both yesterday, Sept. 10.

I forgot to mention that today I was 43 days ahead of the expiration of my permission to stay. So it appears that they will honor requests up to 45 days in advance.

Thanks for taking the time and effort Tracyb to give us this report. I will go in two weeks and get retirement extension (Non-Imm O-A) and multiple re-entry stamp at Chaeng Wattana. I rent and I do have a formal looking one year lease supplied by the apartment office, however I do not have a letter from them nor do I know of what exactly needs to be on the letter. I guess just stating that I live here year round and have been renting here for 4 years now, perhaps on their letter head would do. I will also take 3 or 4 bills in my name and address with me and a map of the location of my apartment building. But if I don't need the letter it would be easier because I do not speak fluent Thai to tell them what to say, lol. If anyone has been in my situation and visited Division 1 Immigration and only needed a rental contract and a few bills please let me know. Thanks.

Thanks for your input! Upon reflection I agree that it's best to have everything one might need in one's back pocket to provide if asked for.

I'll subscribe to the Keep It Simple method when I go on Sept. 10. and hand over only the things they asked for. I'll report back on the results, too.

I never had to provide a proof of residence for my 90 day reports. I just use my condo address.

I own a condo in Bangkok along with my Thai partner. The blue housebook does not have my name in it, I suppose because I'm not Thai. The book does not have my partners name in it because her "official residence" is in another blue book for a different address and has never been changed.

I have a copy of the deed that has both of our names on it and I have a brief letter from the juristic person certifying that I live here full time.

The USA affidavit of income also has a paragraph certifying my address.

Will these documents be enough to prove my address when I go for my extension of stay on my non-imm O-A here in Bangkok next week?

Should I bring along some mail sent to me at this address? Water bills from the condo that have my name on them? Do I need to bring a map with me to show where it is?

What do you think? Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I have twice monthly mailings from the USA. They usually take about 8-10 days.

When I renewed my 1 year license last month at the Land Office in Bangkok I had to take the eye test and brake test, too.

The Shangri La has a great facility. Locker rooms, changing rooms, steam, sauna, whirlpool all in the men's locker room, spacious, well maintained, CLEAN, and the gym is well equipped, well lit, and well maintained. There is a small room attached for yoga, stretching, etc. the pool is huge and well attended by staff. Complimentary ice water delivered to your poolside seats. Food service also available. Free parking with lots of space underground. We find the staff to be well trained, courteous, smiling and exceptionally

accommodating. They have a number of options for membership including family rates. it IS a bit more expensive than other locations but after we tried those cheaper places and experienced the frustrations they offered, we are very happy at the Shangri La. Drop by and take a look!

It's been said in this stream before but bears reiteration..... Organize a mail forwarding service in the US, organize banking with an institution that allows ACH transactions performed on-line; and, as it can be critical to your banking and on-line transactions, maintain a stateside phone number. I use a pay as you go phone that costs $10. a month to maintain.

Keep a permanent address in the USA.....

A mail service is better than relying on a friend or relatives who may move, go on vacation, or sometimes be forgetful about getting to the postoffice to forward important info. I use a service that has been in business for over a century. (Send me a message an I'll give you more details about them if you wish.) They aren't going anywhere, they are prompt with mailing, available by phone or e-mail, will look out for "special" arrivals such as tax statements, (1099's- W-2's, etc). They will even open, scan and e-mail contents of mail upon request. The forwarding time from the USA to Thailand for regular mail sent by air is about 12-14 days. Suggest opting for on-line statements for credit cards, bank accounts, etc. to eliminate the bulk of the mail plus to enhance security. No need for those statements to be floating around. Change the address on all of your accounts to reflect the mail service address.

Banking and funds transfers can easily be accomplished if you have a Bangkok Bank account here. You can send an ACH transfer from your bank to Bangkok Bank in New York. The NY branch then transfers the funds into your Bangkok Bank account in Thailand. This process takes about 3 days not counting weekends and holidays. The Bangkok Bank New York web site explains how this is done. You can call them, too.

Find out if your credit cards will allow overseas use with no international surcharges. If not, look for ones that are free to use and don't forget to inform the banks that you'll be traveling overseas. Don't tell them you are moving permanently.... this tends to limit your ability to open lines of credit, etc. Just give them notice on a regular schedule that you are traveling in Thailand ...for the moment...week, month, however long you can give notice for. For example, check out Capital One credit cards if you don't have one already. They are easy to use. Also, consider the benefits of maintaining an adequate cash reserve in the USA held in US dollars.

Good luck! .... and hold onto your hat! Your embarking on a great adventure!

We were in the same boat.... When we talked to TRUE about canceling our contract they offered us a huge discount. You may want to try that as an alternative....

http://www.traditionaloven.com/conversions_of_measures/yeast_converter.html

This link will assist you in converting dry yeast to active yeast ( and vice-versa) weights and measures.

Good luck and happy baking!

I try to stop bananas I purchase from ripening, they degrade too fast anyway and as far a water melons go buy those cut in half then you know how much water you are getting.

"I try to stop bananas I purchase from ripening" - curious how do you do that as I normally end up eating more bananas than I want due to ripening too quickly?

One way to preserve bananas as they ripen is to peel them, slice them into chunks, and freeze them in a ziplock bag. They will keep in the freezer for about a month. They can then be used in smoothies! They get the smoothies cold, and emulsify the ingredients. They will tend to darken as they remain in the freezer, but they are still ok to use.