Enzian

Does anyone have a link or just information regarding this academic's assertion that Greek artists created the first known images purporting to represent the Buddha? I know there was Greek contact with India, in the times of Alexander and other, but this is something I've never come across.

When I first came to LOS and needed something I went to Bumrungrad because I assumed it was the best and English there was good; I assumed the government hospitals didn't treat foreigners. Now that I am in a relationship with a Thai, she and I go to both Bumrungrad and a couple of government hospitals (we both have health issues), but gradually are shifting to the government because we are able to evaluate which ones are best, language is not an issues, and if you pick and choose the government are as good as Bumrungrad, much more reasonable in price and less chance of ordering unnecessary procedures.

All men are pervs, they just want to...  I'll leave it at that.

Krungsri is not difficult.

I just moved to a Thai bank an amount more than sufficient to meet the 800,000 baht requirement when I extend my long stay visa in three months. But I created a Foreign Currency Deposit account, denominated in US dollars, to receive it. At some point next year it might be worth it to change a little into baht, but certainly not now.

If it was grown outside the law it almost surely will have a lot of pesticides and chemical fertilizers on and in it. Will they test it?

1 hour ago, Tayaout said:

Some users reported using a pound denominated deposit account in a Thai bank and it was accpeted by immigration. So basically you don't ever need to exchange to THB. 

A friend has used a FCD (Foreign Currency Deposit) account at Bangkok Bank, denominated in GBP, for over three years and accepted by Immigration. I just opened a FCD account at Krungsri Bank in USD to use for my next extension, planning on leaving in 30K or so to be on the safe side. Talked first to K Bank and Bangkok Bank. K Bank wants an opening deposit of 10,000 USD, in cash, banknotes! Bangkok Bank, if you don't have a work permit, wants a letter from Embassy, a pain in the ass, or a voucher from your US bank, another pain in the ass. Krungsri was satisfied with my passport, Yellow Book, and pink card (and my Thai girlfriend sitting there translating): opening deposit 500 USD in banknotes.

Where can we go (on the internet I mean) to review the lists of meds and prices of the ones that DID report according to law?

So which is it? Will the baht follow the yuan, or is the relationship inverse? Or does it depend on the dynamics of the moment?

People complained that the military government was bad for the economy, but the baht has just been getting stronger for the past few years; how does that work?

What relevant Thai banks offer FCD accounts? I'm trying to decide which to use.

I have a baht acct at K-Bank, but they want US10K cash to open a FCD account, wire transfer not ok. I'm trying to do Bangkok Bank, but Chase in CA is being difficult about providing the required recommendation letter. Looks like someone above mentioned Siam Commercial Bank; do they offer FCD? Can anyone suggest any others to check out? Thanks in advance.

I'm not defending Suthep but this case goes WAY back in the past and the article doesn't mention any timeline. Why in this country do they so often wait so many years before deciding to bring action on some cases?

5 hours ago, Snow Leopard said:

did you certify yours at the Thai Embassy in your country?

No, that didn't come up because I got my long stay visa here in Thailand by the method of converting a 3 month tourist visa. Also want to say that tho the office woman did not ask to see my birth certificate (which is in the US anyway), she had us fill out a complex form with information including both my parents full names and then worked with my girlfriend to to translate them into Thai script and put them on the form. We did it right there at her desk, and she just took my word for what the names were. So I can see why they might want to see an actual birth certificate; as I say, we were lucky. I can also see why some offices might want the passport certified, tho any Thai government officer ought to be able to tell if a particular person's US passport is real or fake. Our officer just accepted it.

6 minutes ago, Snow Leopard said:

Wow my amphur wants certified copies of my passport and birth certificate.

We were lucky, because we went in knowing that that those might be required, but the girl was nice and went with what I said. That's the problem, every office and officer can be different. 

6 minutes ago, Snow Leopard said:

Yes i am just in Samut Prakan and they want a shed load of documents. What did you hand over in the way of documentation? 

Just my passport, two photos, copy of passport data page and copy of recent visa page, her ID and blue book.

16 minutes ago, Snow Leopard said:

Which amphur is that please? I am having issues. 

Din Daeng Bangkok in my case, but I would think you have to go to the one that covers your address.

I'm in same situation, live in my girlfriend's condo, on a "retirement visa", and she nor I have ever filed a TM30 that I know of. But we recently went to the amphur, got me put in her blue book, got a yellow book for me, and to boot, without us asking, they fixed me up with a Thai ID "pink card". I've read reports that all this makes me exempt from filling the TM30, and my attitude is that they can bite me; a 2000 baht fine is next to nothing, but if and when that happens then I'll go ahead and file one of the damn things. Of course I might have to when we go to Chang Wattana to apply for my next extension later this year.

When a major Cambodian politician admitted he consulted an outside country (the USA) for suggestions on how to improve democracy in that country, he was forced into exile. Not that it could happen here, but anyone should think carefully about "interference" from outside.

I have an appointment at a private hospital (Mission) but I assume they will be open or they would not have scheduled me.

Is it true that those zebra ex-voto offerings at sidewalk shrines are every one a remembrance of someone hit and killed in a "zebra crossing"?

As we all know, in CA hitting a pedestrian in a crosswalk or even jaywalking can result in financial ruin, or at least great financial distress. That's what it takes, but by keeping half the population in total poverty, there are all these people who are effectively judgement-proof.

19 minutes ago, arithai12 said:

If you read the article, it says "the culprit would pretend to be a customer wanting to buy goods and ask for the seller’s Thai ID card number ". Ergo, the scammed persons are Thai.

Minor correction (I think): I'm American and I just got a Thai ID card, the pink card. I got it included when I went to be put in my girlfriend's Blue Book as a regular resident in her condo. I also was given a Yellow Book and my motive was that all this may exempt me from having to file the dreaded TM 30.