Ducati

Whilst there is a limit that the BOT impose on banks to prevent both liquidity and FX risks, that amount is far too high for a consumer related ATM trx!. It is the bank itself that limits the withdrawal amount.

Assuming this is a debit card not credit card trx, this can be either the card issuing bank limiting the trx amount, and/or the bank that the ATM belongs to that you have used who is limiting the trx amount. Banks in Thailand will not impose a 5k ATM limit for both their own and other banks customers, that is too low. Most Banks will have a max limit of 20k per trx, including the bank that I work for here.

In your case your issuing bank is overseas, so it might either be your bank that has imposed a limit, perhaps due to a policy it has on overseas FX withdrawals, or the Bank here whose ATM you are using that might limit the trx amount, again due to a policy regarding overseas trxs.

Easiest way is to ask you issuing bank if there are any policies it has regarding the above, if not then you know it's the Bank here that is doing this.

Or it could be simply that the ATM you used only had 5k.

Merry Xmas...lets hope the ATMs are stashed with enough cash for the festive period...we try to predict peak usage patterns, but a sudden run can clean a machine out in minutes!

Sure its not over. Mr Toxin is just laying up in wait.

And this from the Bangkok Post:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=135127

'PAD spokesmen said the protesters will "allow flights" to and from Suvarnabhumi, but warned they will stay at the factility and could retake control at any time.

"The next government must sincerely agree to introduce new politics and must not be a puppet regime for Thaksin Shinawatra," said a statement by the PAD.

The protest will continue in an area of the airport which will not interfere with passengers for now, said the PAD.'

Love this.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7758349.stm

I was feeling sorry for this guy... apparently on a tour of South East Asia and now bemoaning his forced captivity in Thailand ....."government not doing anything...unpaid holidays...need to pay for my own food..." blah blah....

Until I got to this choice quote ... "There isn't much to do here except go to bars and drink".

And I love this quote from Mr Chamlong, in explaining a reason for moving PAD protestors from Govt House to swampy....

""I already alerted police about the insecurity and dangers on protesters protesting in the Government House, but they have done nothing," he said.

Sooooo....let me just understand that......you overtake goverment house, close down the airports, spark civil unrest...AND you expect police protection?

Anyone know where I can buy some compressed air canisters for blasting dust?

have tried a few chain camera stores but no luck.

i'm guessing perhaps pantip or mbk...but anyone know exactly which shop/floor might stock these?

My best and favourite 10 year old Church shoes (best investment I ever made!) are in need of a heel repair.

In the UK I would send them back to Church to repair, so I guess not an option here.

Any advice on GOOD quality professional shoe repair shops in BKK?....

On sat morning I woke up and discovered I was unable to move the right side of my face...cannot close my eye, difficulty moving my mouth/lips (Mrs Ducati was very pleased about that), and my hearing very impaired.

A great doctor at Bumrungrad was quick to diagnose Bells Palsy and differentiate the condition from a stroke or a brain tumour. Bells Palsy affects a nerve that runs from the brain and controls muscles in the face. There is no definitive cause, but typically thought to be a virus or bacterial infection (including common cold virus') that damages the nerve and/or its surrounding passage as it travels from the brain.

Most sufferers seem to recover fully in a few weeks or months.

Anyway...the interesting thing is that although it appears to be rare, my doctor tells me she has diagnosed 4 other cases herself this week in Bangkok. That seems remarkably high for a rare occurance.

Anyone out there had a similar experience?

Hi i entered DSLR photography this year in Jan with a D40x and loved that camera to learn on....then quickly moved onto the D300 as I wanted more features. The D300 takes great pictures and the multitude of setting on the body (rather than menu software controlled on the D40x), makes it easy to use. The 'live view' active screen on the back is a nice features which only starts on the D300 upwards (if a little tricky to use).

The D700 has a few more features, the main benefit is the FX format (same as the big brother D3), ie not the reduced size DX format on the D300 downwards. Whilst this is undoubtedly great to have (bigger view frame), not sure if I would pay the extra cash for it.

Check out the following link at Ken Rockwell's site...he describes each in detail and compares.... http://www.kenrockwell.com

So where is it? Would love to show my kids the set. while they are on their hols at the moment.

Hi, my daughter went to a party at the Canadian Gym center, unfortunately I have since lost the address and would like to take her there during the hols. Does anyone know the address. It is a very modern building. Thanks for your help.

Hi. Thx for the messages guys....sold last week.

Camera body went for 12k, lens for 8k.

Aww dam_n. I just bought my d40 earlier this month for 15k.

So what are you upgrading to?

Have bought a D300. I still love my D40x though.... so light and quick to grab and snap away. May keep it if no takers.

Have fun with your D40.

I have a Nikon D40X for sale. Purchased this year in Jan so still under warranty. Nikon standard spec 18-55mm AFS lens included as is camera case, strap, battery charger, spare battery and tripod. Excellent condition. Nikon 55-200 AFS VR lens available separately.

Its a great camera, takes excellent pictures and provides an excellent introduction to D-SLR. Selling as I will be upgrading (i've been bitten by the D-SLR bug).

Cost me 22k baht, will accept 12k.

Send me a post if interested. I'm in the Asok Suk Soi 23 area.

Dont be frustrated with the one time password when you perform payment trx from your online service.

This is known as 2FA or two factor authentication and serves to add an xtra layer of security in case someone gets to know your id and password which is your first line of defence (and only line of defence in some internet banking accounts).

Would strongly recommend you ask your bank what level of security exists for their internet banking architecture and only accept this extra layer. Personally I would go thru the hassle of changing banks than to run the security risk.

Embrace the protection!

Scott is correct - Bank Of Thailand regulations prevent non-residents on tourist visa's from opening any form of bank account with both local and foreign banks in Thailand.

However it appears that is still happening in as referenced by the stories above.

Let me clarify...

The rental deal is an option. First stage is I buy the property, and yes i will use my head to determine if the price is right or not.

Independently of that, I can then decide to have a managed service by the developers to rent it out at a guaranteed income of 8% a year (and yes, I get 28 days a year vacation myself). Wether the property is rented or not, whatever the price the developers rent it out (and sure, of course they will try to rent it out at a higher value, they are running a business, right!), I will still get 8%.

I have checked the contract and it seems ok. Charges are ok. I have a friend who has purchased in the same place is is renting, and is happy with the return, of course the main gamble is appreciation in property price...which is were my question remains...

what is the view of property appreciation in in Phuket...will oversupply spoil that?....will Phuket remain as one of the main island destinations etc.

And is the Bangtao area a good place to choose in Phuket?

I am thinking of investing in a townhouse or villa in Phuket - 3 bedrooms ideal. Have considered The Residence at Surin/Bangtao in the 16m to 23m range. Purpose would be to buy either for rental or as a permanent residence should we decide to relocate there from Bangkok - if that is the case then we would need to be in reasonable proximity to BIS school.

Couple of q's:

- Any views on The Residence? They have a 8% guaranteed income deal (commitment for 5 years) if I decide to rent it out, which seems good.

- Should i be concerned it's in a low laying area only 700m from the beach?

- What other alternative developments would people recommend that fits the bill above - both price and proximity to school....based on our kids commute to school currently in BKK, up to 30 mins each way is acceptable.

- For resale eventually, where would you recommend?....

I am going to see my dentist at BNH this week....his name is Dr Root!

Jing jing.

Anyone beat that for a work related name?

Yes, you can borrow from a bank that has a branch in Singapore e.g UOBT, but I would advise you to seek another way to fund your house purchase bcos the interest rates offered will be exceedingly high.

Having just brought a LCD 46 at Carrefour a few weeks back I was very dissapointed with the picture coming down the cable from UBC.....the guys then swapped that for a Plasma 50 which did have some minor improvement but overall the picture from UBC is far better on my CRT 36......so I guess big is not always best.....

Both still excellent with DVD's though.

Anyone know where I can buy both gold leaf and gold paint (the later being fake gold)?....

Ok.....

went back to Carrefour today and the very helpful guys placed my (returned) 46 LCD side by side to a 50 Plasma (the Samsung range does not have a 46 Plasma - but ok bcos same same price as the 46 LCD) with both connected to the same UBC source.

Overall the Plasma looks a little better....and that's with larger screen size as well. So will be content with the Plasma.....installing tonite. Not perfect, far from it, but will live with it. Of course cannot compare the quality of the Carrefour UBC cable link compared to my Condo....but will do later today.

Thanks for the other suggestions....esp trying diff cables. And never considered Satellite......with mycondo providing 50 free channels as part of the rental price I guess I will be content with that.

Now....off to stock up on dvd's tomorrow....

And thx to the Carrefour team.....very good service despite my terrible Thai....!

Moved to a new condo and want to paint a few walls....bright colors such as deep red's/purple/yellows.....

To get those kind of rich colors for our last condo we went to buy dulux....which is made on the premises....but very costly....

When I was living in SG, we had access to Jotun paints, which produced similar vibrant colors but v. low cost.....

.....is there is a similar alternative here in BKK, so that I dont have to take out a bank loan to buy Dulux again....?

Just purchased a 46 LCD Samsung tv today.....

The guys from Carrefour came to install it, and the DVD picture quality looks fantastic......and then he switched over to UBC cable and i was gobsmacked with the quality of the picture quality....quite blurry on most channels. My CRT 32 Sony picture is far better.

Bearing in mind that we watch 80% tv and 20% DVDs.....I am very dissapointed. I realise that UBC does not broadcast HD, but still very surprised about the quality.

So bad in fact that I sent the guys back to the store with the TV!

They claimed that the poor picture is 'normal' with UBC cable....but mentioned that Plasma would be better. So I will go back to the store tomorrow where they will show me both LCD and Plasma connected to UBC.

Any similar experiences? Should I expect and accept poor quality on a new LCD with cable?

Hi, I am in the process of buying a condo at Belle on Narathiwat 24.

I am a UK employee of a multinational company here in Thailand, I was hoping to pay for the purchase from my non-resident baht account with the 5m cash that is sitting here in a local bank account - that amount is earned as a result of my direct employment with my employer here. I have a full work permit and have been working here for 1.5 years.

Now, the sales office at Belle tell me that I only have one option to make payment and that is to transfer money from overseas......which is contradictory to what I hear from other sources. I was told there are in fact two options which can be pursued in my particular circumstances:

1. transfer of FX from outside Thailand to my bank account in Thailand and onward payment.

2. direct cash payment from my non-resident baht account with my Thai bank, providing my company provides a letter confirming that the 5m has been earned from my employment here. This evidence will then be used at the time of registration.

Can anyone confirm that option 2 is a real option?

I am hoping that the Belle sales girls are in fact wrong as I clearly want to use my locally earned Thai baht rather than having to liquidate other funds offshore and bring onshore here (FX risk, transfer fees etc)......

Any advice greatly appreciated!!!