mfd101

Even a windsock can find a spine if it senses a shift in the breeze.

The one thing that follows from Prayut's 'clarification' is that the omission was indeed intended and, from his point of view, with good reason. So, in this country, oaths are important, even to oath breakers.

We await further developments.

39 minutes ago, Awinkl said:

On a recent Cruise I found several BIG Chinese Projects as far away as Mozambique & Cape Verde Islands - places that truly can't afford to pay back the Loans that China gave them to finance such projects - and yet, their younger Generations will be burdened with such debts throughout their Lifetime .... and beyond.

They're a long way away from China. Once the building's complete, just stop paying!

So with TW there are now 3 ways which together or in combination are about as good as it can get: (1) check the box for 'Funds for longterm stay in Thailand' (2) give them a ring (even if they say Don't bother) (3) if your funds allow, have another 65K฿ ready in case you need to do a 2nd transfer by Swift that month.

Given that my next renewal is in mid-October, I intend to do all 3 at least till then.

I also notice that Monito is pushing Skrill as a cheaper alternative to TW (midrate & no fees). Anyone who has used Skrill might let TV readers know of their experience ...

13 hours ago, Mavideol said:

China will keep denying anything and everything

That's why it's so difficult for the Big Fella in Beijing to make up his mind to move on HK. Would have disastrous effects on China's image. Not that he won't do it if pushed and pushed, but the cost would be enormous. As is the cost for him domestically if he doesn't.

5 minutes ago, giddyup said:

You're correct. I gave two members of my partners family nice watches as presents. Both dropped and smashed the watch glass within weeks, and of course it damaged the movements as well and neither had the money to fix.

Yes, I've wasted around AUD2000 on 4 sets of spectacles over the last 3 years. FIL & MIL - broken, uncomfortable, don't wear. B/F - doesn't wear. 10-year-old child with major sight difficulties - glasses bought after careful testing by opthalmologist at private hospital - broken/doesn't wear.

Rule of the House: No more glasses for anyone, no matter the need, other than me.

The wonders of first-past-the-post voting.

I visited Vietnam from Thailand (Oz citizen) for the first time in April.

I don't know what are the rules for the Irish visiting VN, but for me and my friends in Oz it was quite clear on the relevant VN government websites that (1) you have to apply in advance on the websites, with photo & p/p details etc, (2) await clearance email with letter to say you can go (3) submit letter to VN Immigration on arrival to receive visitor visa.

4 minutes ago, TCA said:

Document proof time is over and obviously they were allowed entry without them, so shouldn't be asked for them.

Shouldn't but were.

21 hours ago, Our Man in the Tropics said:

Above preference by Thailand Immigration Department does not necessarily mean that monthly social security, & / or private, payments from foreign countries, issued as cheques / checks to Falang payees will not be recognised for calculation of monthly income ?

They want to see (1) 65K minimum coming into a Thai bank every month, as evidenced by Thai bank docos (2) possibly, but not necessarily, in addition your English (or other)-language docos that show the source or sources of your income MIGHT be helpful. Or not. Given that they most likely can barely if at all read English or any other falang language, they will not want a mountain of different & complicated docos. KISS

But people should always be prepared, carry a bit of backup docos. Better than getting rejected for entry after a long flight!

My partner has 'permanent' residency in Oz and it's in the Oz Immigration computer so no problems coming & going, but I always carry supportive docos with me just in case (grant of residency, ACT partnership certificate ...).

If you look at the world ratings by the credit agencies, the AAA is confined to the usual rich Western countries (though excluding UK &, partially, US) + Singapore.

Thailand well down at BBB+. So why the strong currency? Mmmmm, higher reward for high risk?

1 hour ago, soalbundy said:

Had a nice downpour at 2 in the morning in Prasat/Surin

Yes, so my b/f informed me this morning. I was sound asleep. Place looking green now after the last few days of gentle & medium falls.

As Keynes might have said: When the facts change, I mind my change. What do you do?

As we see in Thailand every day, optimism is very important to maintain morale in the face of preventable but unprevented catastrophes.

35 minutes ago, seajae said:

I live here because I love it, while I disagree with the graft/corruption, really bad attitude of some thais(especially drivers/riders) and the lack of honest police, I would much rather live here than back in Australia. I love my wife and have a  great relationship with her, her family and her friends, the majority of people smile when you are around them and I feel very comfortable in general. The govt doesnt make it easy for us but that does not stop us from doing what we want in general, people have to remember this is not the west and Thailand is closer to third world conditions in many areas so we need to make allowances. I do have the occasional bitch about things here but I did that back in Australia as well, doesnt change how I feel about being here, Thailand is my home as far as I am concerned

Yes, 100% agree. I complain constantly. All sorts of things annoy me. But I wouldn't dream of returning to life in Canberra where most of my friends are - so clean, so well-ordered, so uncorrupt, so ... so boring! My Thai b/f & his (huge) family infuriate me at least 5 times a week, but - somehow, don't know why - I love them. And will do so till the day I die, and will leave everything to them.

55 minutes ago, Ling Kae said:

Do a few test runs before confirmation and then do one with your regular bank and see which one gives you more baht in the end.

I have conducted that test for my purposes over the last 3 weeks, with AUD3500 (1) from Oz Citibank via TW to my BKKBk account here in Prasat (2) as Oz Citibank Swift transfer to my Prasat account. In both cases the transfer was of AUD with conversion by BKKBk.

Results: difficult to compare exactly because of highly variable midrate:  (1) excellent xrate + cAUD28 fee (2) very good xrate, no Citibank fee, BKKBk conversion fee of 220฿. Outcome as baht received: TW roughly 600 or 700฿ ahead, which is not a huge difference if the FTT problem forces me to go the Swift route.

BUT, in any case: For larger amounts (eg AUD10,000), TW would be behind Citibank Swift. I haven't worked it out in detail but TW's fee rises steeply as the amount transferred rises, whereas the BKKBk fee for Swift tops out at only 500฿. CONCLUSION: I will continue to use TW - but only for Immigration renewal purposes, not for the other 65K a month we manage (ie my b/f manages) to get through.

I wonder why the parliamentary officials (do such things exist in this country?) didn't brief him and ALL new members of Parliament on correct procedures & etiquette ...

18 minutes ago, sumrit said:

I might be wrong, but I'm sure I read elsewhere recently that Citibank in Oz didn't have a direct 'partnership' with BKKB and they used an intermediary bank so all transfers arrived SMT.

All Swifties I've ever done from Citibank to BKK Bank - going back 4 years - have shown as FTT. I have them all in my BKKBk book to prove it. Latest one I did was earlier this month (just to prove to myself that it still works) and, as a result, I have no need this month to do a TW transfer.

PS Citibank have a branch in Asoke so not sure what that does to how they get funds to BKKBk. Apart from all that, easily the CHEAPEST way to transfer cash to Thailand is Citibank atm in Asoke; 2nd cheapest use your local bank atm (BKKBk for me here in Surin) & pay 220 baht fee.