AlfonsV

According to the situation, the destination and the time I use both. I always ask the red car driver politely in only 3 northern language words if he drive to my destination. If some times red car drivers say no I wait the next one. Usually no discussion about the price, I just 30 Thb when arrived. 1 in 20  or 30 may ask for more than 30 Thb and then I deny with rolling eyes and let him go. Some are very friendly and helpful. I never had any problem with Songtaews. However, several times I really prefer former uber or grab now, for instance heading to the airport with luggage early morning or together with 2 guests to a restaurant at night.

And remove the useless blue buses with 0 up to 4 passengers which only contribute to traffic jam

As far as I understand I will not be allowed anymore to bring cash from my homecountry, convert it at a local money changer and deposit it on my thai bank account. Right?

NO, of course, I do not regret. Because b4 moving here I visited the country for many years and was familiar with.

I have it daily with me with very rare exceptions, i.e. every time and every where I go in my belt bag together with cash, ATMcards, insurance card, some member cards, hospital registration card, doctor's and own name cards, a small magnifying glass, and a pen.

Thus I never have a problem to have forgotten this or that, no need any excuses or Alzheimer jokes (555), and can spontaneously decide to do this or that when I am on the way.

In 3 decades (but last time long time ago) I was controlled at fake or true check points or in a bus some 3-4-5 times.

23 hours ago, eyecatcher said:

Anyone else with me here that #2 is the best IO, the 90day lady

Yes, yes, yes ! and this since years, also in Prom

They open already at 06:00 am (?). You can sit inside. They start to prepare them selves at 6:30. First "customer" is called before 7:00. No lunch brake. Directly opposite the entrance is the first counter you get the right queue number. More space, more staff. Less "customers" because the 90 days report works online very well.

2 minutes ago, Isaan Alan said:

Two years ago, a good friend of mine in Ko Samui had his 800k in a BKK bank rejected because it was a fixed deposit. The IO said that it had to be readily available in case of an emergency such as a health problem. it cost him a lot of money to fix that mess including having to leave the country. BKK bank accepted no responsibility for bad advice, 

However reading the posts here, many advise that a fixed deposit is the way to go to at least earn some interest. 

Perhaps misinformed IOs or ones looking for tea money or ....

I can imagine such an answer/issue if you do not show another savings account with a "certain amount" of money in addition

3 minutes ago, Scottie12 said:

Arithai 12 suggests keeping 800,000 Baht in a fixed deposit account but I tried this in Chaeng Wattana and was told it has to be in a savings account.

I always keep it in a fixed deposit and it is not only accepted but liked or welcome or even recommended by the immigration

5 hours ago, balo said:

Does this new app actually works ? Any farangs tried it ? 

 

Yes, via grab app

9 hours ago, cmsally said:

I think you will find it is also GRAB , there is now GRAB rot daeng which apparently is cheaper than the car.

And sometimes more expensive according to my own experience

22 hours ago, namatjira said:

Excellent analogy .... Tuk Tuks shot an own goal by gouging their customers .... only good for the tourism experience...

and to sniff the pollution in an open air vehicle - perhaps better than in China 555

13 hours ago, Thian said:

glad i'm not a vegetarian and avoid those places.

You eat meet and how do you disinguish cow, buffalo, dog, human in a perhaps spicy sauce?

IMHO, I think it's time to close this thread...

Congratulations! For this we wait since 15+ years - with or without the Chinese tourists.

2 hours ago, aussie11950 said:

they should look at how Singapore runs an awareness campaign to reducing mosquito numbers. 

They are very effective campaigns

 

Thainess is the best, do not need advice from abroad...

Why hassle with those cards? Where ever I go I only tell them my phone number. I do not carry cards with me anymore, one is lost, others may be expired. 1 phone number replaces my former 6 cards. I do so since years without any problem.

And yes, when I purchased a washing machine at HomePro I got some discount due to the collected points in their system.

16 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

A good example, but dont Thais tend to use lots of generic terms, rather than names, when referring to people. Mother can be anyone loosely associated with raising you, Aunty refers to any lady older that you know, teacher rather than the teachers name etc, even pee or nong.

I agree.

Also, it is a lack of differentiation in Thai mentality in general. When you ask "where are you coming from", the answer is the name of the province, even you know that already, and then you have to ask another 2 times to get a more detailed answer. In Europe, for instance, people name at least the next bigger city. Often you have the impression Thai people are bored about the effort to describe the location. It is easier to think and to speak less...

Derogatory or not depends on the situation, the person, the sound and the adjective possibly used. Also it depends on your perception, your mood, your sensitivity, and your coolness. Sometimes I use it myself more or less in a joking way what eases the communication. Sometimes I listened chatting about me using "falang" to describe me, mainly when not familiar yet, not knowing my first name or nickname. I did not feel it derogatory.

Farang (falang) does not mean "foreigner" in general but Caucasian (foreigner). Thai people usually distinguish lager groups: Caucasians,  Africans and "Kaek" which includes people from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Middle East and Arabian countries. Because they cannot distinguish Indians from Nepalese, Egyptians from Algerians, Germans from Swiss or Austrian or Dutch. Are you able to distinguish them clearly before they open their mouth?

Are you always able to see the difference between Chinese, Korean and Japanese guys at a first glance, between Thais, Indonesians and Filipinos? Or distinguish Spaniards from Portuguese or Italians, Argentinians from Chileans?

In contrast, Thais make a difference among Asians, not calling them just Asians. They call them Chinese, Koreans, Japanese, Vietnamese, Burmese, Cambodians, Malaysians, Indonesians, Filipinos. They can better distinguish them as we do because they are neighbours or farer "neighbours". I think that's normal.

Racism is a narrow minded attitude and exists everywhere, for instance in the USA, in France, in Germany, in Poland and other European countries, in Africa, in India, and in Japan. Some societies became more sensitive about discrimination _ however, since how many years?

Best experiences since years with Mr Suchart (Computer service) : 053-48 2020 or 089-556 3931

During last 10+ years I had accounts including 1 FCD at 5 different banks. Cancelled all except Bkk bank and Kasi. Here the staff at Ayutthaya was specially slow and ignorant and much less ATMs and offices here. Also exchange rate worse than at others. To get money from FCD always with paperwork and staff needed to call headquarter. In my case not worth anyway as, after observing the exchange rate EUR - THB, I decide which day I want transfer and order it online early morning when Europe is still sleeping. In the last 2 - 3 years money from European bank arrived after 10!! upto 36 hours at Kasikorn.

5 minutes ago, Sparkles said:

Immigration while its pain sometimes you dont have too many hurdles to get a year stay.Try geting a visa to Australia,if you are not a citizen , you won't complain again

Completely agree. Or as a Thai in Schengen states !