Wrong Turn

OP,

I do check prices. Not rigid about it, but not casual. It's my (our?) nature, and worth doing.

Especially in these times of inflation and coming inflation.

I thought samonella was possible from raw egg yokes, but if you folks that eat them daily say you have no problems, I'll definitely consider eating them again.

World must react 'firmly' to Iran navy move: Israel

' Israel on Tuesday urged world powers to respond "firmly" after two Iran warships began sailing through the Suez Canal en route to the Mediterranean, in what the Jewish state says is a provocation.

Ahh....Israel urging *others* to act on its behalf, once again.

I don't think a Thai (or any foreign wife) should get her dead American husband's social security, unless she lived and worked in the US and yes, paid into SS enough to get vested.

Why should I pay for a foreign Thai wife? Especially when SS is literally paying out more than it receives, starting last year, 27 years ahead of schedule.

I must be in the mood for shoveling sand into the wind today, so let me attempt to correct your confusion. SS has never run at a deficit. Last year payouts exceeded collections of the payroll tax, it is true, but in addition to the payroll tax, SS can and will draw down the SS Trust Fund, which at the end of 2009 was valued at $2.336 trillion dollars. But even that option is not necessary yet, since SS also earns interest on the US Treasury Bonds that the Trust Fund holds. Payroll tax collections together interest from the Trust Fund were more than sufficient to meet the required payouts for 2010. As the US recovery picks up and employment grows, payroll tax collections will grow also extending the life of the Trust Fund, which is planned to be exhausted eventually.

The spousal or survivor's benefit is distinct from a worker's Principal Insurance Amount or benefit. Spouses and widows have never had to work or contribute to receive the benefit. If they did work, they would have earned their own PIA and been entitled to collect the larger of the PIA or widow's benefit.

Has it ever occurred to you to check one the half-baked rumors before you repeat them?

Here's the latest SS Trustee's Summary Report, in case you are interested:

http://www.ssa.gov/oact/trsum/index.html

Capt. Haddock thanks for your info. I am interested in re-freshing myself on the working of the SS system.

77+ baby boomers were born from 1946 to 1964, and I pay 6.4% and my employer pays 6.4% for a total of 13.1%.

No, a foreign wife should not get a dime of SS, because her American husband dies, IMO. I'm 41 and I am eligible at 67, and I do not expect to see it, even though by LAW, I have to pay into it.

Thanks for the info.

^ Flying,

Like you, I never believe the gov's statistic on inflation. The use "geometric adjustment" and change the basket of goods to keep the rate lower.

There is no denying inflation now, as the the wheat crops in the Northern China plain will be critical this year to what will happen with the availability of wheat, and the price of it.

Agreed...... I am still in the US & can say prices on common goods/staples has been on a steady rise this last year.

Most can see it with their own eyes so the govt line does little to convince most folks on the street.

I'm from the US, and I see the youtube braodcasts on inflation. But I'm interested in what you're seeing go up.

Food? Which foods?

What else?

Thanks, flying.

^ Flying,

Like you, I never believe the gov's statistic on inflation. The use "geometric adjustment" and change the basket of goods to keep the rate lower.

There is no denying inflation now, as the the wheat crops in the Northern China plain will be critical this year to what will happen with the availability of wheat, and the price of it.

For what it is worth if entering Thailand by land you get 15 days. By air you get 30 days.

The problem is, the VN authorities have devised a scheme to make it a cost and a burden.

For me the get this visa, (with a letter from immigration that I present at the VN airport) I have to enter into the airport.

If I just went overland to LOS or anywhere, I would only get a 30 day VNese visa.

Cheers.

Yes, the U6 rate is more of a true rate. Underemployed people: working part time but want full-time work. Skilled and/or educated, but mopping floors or stocking shelves at Wal-Mart.

Brent crude is up to $104/105 per barrell, Gadhafi is allegedly out of Libya on his way to Venezuala, and more rumbling in the Middle East may take place, pushing Brent crude up more.

Higher oil, higher gasoline, higher prices on goods, and food is already high, and cotton at a 150 year high.

Inflation is here. The question is, for how long, and how high will it go.

Simple question, even silly.

I asked because I have to make a visa run, and I'm comparing costs.

Zero $, will do for me.

Thank you.

just curious, to me it sounds like you're doing a visa run TO Thailand. Is that the case? Where are you coming from?

Are you comparing the costs of airfares and visas to different countries? Like I said, and I know none of my business... Just curious

Feel free to ask me any question you want.

Yes, I'm doing a visa run TO Thailand. Sound odd? It is.

I am teaching in Vietnam and there have been visa "changes" that started in September 2009. I have to do a visa run every 6 months to get a six month visa.

But hey, "I'm taking a holiday from a holiday." But seriously, this will be a one day trip, this time. The RT flight will cost me about $200 USD. I have no choice, but to do this.

A U.S passport holder is not entitled to apply for a Visa on Arrival.

They usually cost 1,000 Baht but are currently free.

A U.S passport holder is entitled to a 30 day Visa Exempt entry stamp at no cost. Providing they have a ticket leaving Thailand within those 30 days.

Thanks, Lite Beer, and you others for replying.

Simple question, even silly.

I asked because I have to make a visa run, and I'm comparing costs.

Zero $, will do for me.

Thank you.

I hate to ask a simple question, but I need to know:

what is the cost of the visa on arrival of a US citizen at Suvi airport. International flight.

Thanks.

I also got the same information. If your wife is or has not resided in USA for 5 years, forget it. She is likely not going to be happy hearing such news. Unfortunately, Thai women ASSUME a lot of things, when getting involved with a foreigner. Most of them have no awareness of all the various financial pitfalls involved and each country of origin (of the man) is different. The women generally have no concept of this.

And....

He died two years later and the girlfriend was adamant that everything was hers...

I don't think a Thai (or any foreign wife) should get her dead American husband's social security, unless she lived and worked in the US and yes, paid into SS enough to get vested.

Why should I pay for a foreign Thai wife? Especially when SS is literally paying out more than it receives, starting last year, 27 years ahead of schedule.

Anyone who has been on a typical tour boat in that area is not surprised.

Collisions? Bad Maintenance?

Seriously, I was thinking of having my family take a Halong Bay boat tour when they visit this year, but if you have stories of being lax (in addition to this accident), then I am definitely going to reconsider.

Anyone have any personal experiences or know anyone with reports on poor safety?

Thanks for the replies folks, and I respect your opinions. The RMB would be a hedge.

I am also thinking of buying USD.

Any idea what company?

I was planning to take one of those trips in July.

Hopefully, we'll find out what company. There seem to be a few, and I've met some of these company reps/sales people in Hanoi.

If the boat "broke up" I presume it hit something or it was not being maintained.

The local press may let this story die (as they usually do) but the foreign media will hopefully provide more info.

Near dawn the boat apparently "broke up." I assume there were enough life rafts on board. Were there?

--

17 February 2011 Last

Halong Bay tourists dead as Vietnam boat sinks

Ha Long bay in northern Quang Ninh province Halong Bay is a popular tourist area and a World Heritage Site

Continue reading the main story

Related Stories

At least 11 tourists and a guide have drowned after a tour boat sank in Halong Bay in northeastern Vietnam.

The boat was touring in the picturesque Unesco World Heritage Site in Quang Ninh province when it went down.

At least 21 foreign tourists were on the live-aboard boat when it sank before dawn near Titov island.

Vietnamese media quoted a provincial vice-governor as saying the tourists on board were from the US, the UK, France, Russia, Denmark and Sweden.

"So far the rescue team has rescued 15 people, including nine foreign tourists and six crew, and pulled out 12 bodies," Ngo Van Hung, director of the Halong Bay Management Department, told Reuters by telephone.

All of the bodies have been sent to Bai Chay Hospital for identification.

A hospital manager said the survivors were "in panic" but had now returned to their hotels.

Vu Van Thin, a senior official with the Quang Ninh province People's Committee, the local government told reporters that bad weather did not cause the sinking.

"According to our initial information part of the boat suddenly broke," he said.

Source: BBC.com

^ Pattaya Parent, here is the article.

--

Money for nothing

Thursday, 27 January 2011

James O’Toole and May Kunmakara

A money changer holds up US dollars and Vietnamese dong at Central Market in Phnom Penh yesterday.

Several weeks ago, staff at ANZ Royal Bank noticed a peculiar customer at one of their ATMs in Phnom Penh.

With a male companion looking on behind her, the woman inserted a card issued by Vietnam’s Techcombank and withdrew the maximum allowable amount of cash, US$2,000.

Then, taking out a new Techcombank card for each transaction, she repeated the task 11 times in succession.

The woman is one of a growing number of Vietnamese nationals who bankers say have been cleaning out the Kingdom’s ATMs, taking advantage of the unusually large gap between Vietnam’s official and unofficial exchange rates to earn thousands of dollars in profits.

ANZ CEO Stephen Higgins said yesterday that Techcombank cardholders had withdrawn roughly $12 million in cash from his bank’s ATMs since mid-December, with the bulk coming in the past two weeks.

They took roughly $5 million from ACLEDA Bank machines from the beginning of the month until yesterday, ACLEDA Executive Vice President So Phonnary said.

All told, Techcombank users have withdrawn “at least $20 million” in cash from Cambodian ATMs in the past few weeks in a scheme that has also stretched to Singapore and China, Higgins said.

“It’s very smart what they’re doing,” he said.

“It’s one of those things where one person figures out this is an easy way to make money, tells a few people who tell a few more people, and suddenly you get busloads of people coming across the border to try and do it.”

The Vietnamese government has pegged the country’s official exchange rate at roughly 19,500 dong to the dollar, though the black market rate – also used legally by money changers in Cambodia – is closer to 21,000 dong to the dollar, a difference of about 8 percent.

The Vietnamese who have been travelling to the Kingdom have taken advantage of this.

At Cambodian ATMs, they receive US dollars that have been converted from the dong in their home accounts at the official exchange rate.

They can then trade these dollars for dong from Cambodian money changers or money changers in Vietnam who use the black market rate, earning the difference with the official rate.

ATM transaction fees eat into these profits, but even accounting for such costs, Higgins said the Techcombank users were likely earning about $20,000 for every $1 million in cash withdrawn.

Techcombank, he added, is uniquely exposed to the scheme.

While most Vietnamese banks charge international transaction fees to make up for the difference between the dong’s official and unofficial rates, Techombank’s fees are unusually low.

Link: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011012746406/National-news/money-for-nothing.html

^ Naam, this may sound odd, but I was thinking of just keeping the cash RMB at home.

I have Baht and USD, but some have recommended buying Chinese RMB, thinking this currency will appreciate.

Do you think this is a good idea, as a way to diversify?

Any responses are appreciated.

I have heard that there may be another associated problem in all this.

The Vietnamese are crossing into Cambodia where they can get a better exchange rate using VISA cards.

VISA has retaliated by restricting the number of VISA withdrawals per person per week.

This can affect foreign tourists in Cambodia.

This occurred only with the use of 1 banck. Techcom bank.

For some reason this bank had low fees at the ATM machine. VNese would withdraw money out of the ATM in USD, then go to the black market in Phnom Penh and buy Dong.

They cleaned out millions, yes millions from the Techcom banks in PP.

I just returned from one of the more known and popular Gold Shops (translation: money exchange center/black market):

I was quoted 1 USD = 21,470

that's less than 4%. back in the 90s it used to be 10-12%.

Now the spread is less than 4% (you note)

Before this recent devaluation (of the bank rate) the spread was averaging 8-10%.

I just returned from one of the more known and popular Gold Shops (translation: money exchange center/black market):

I was quoted 1 USD = 21,470

Thank you for the responses, I'll consult a cardio specialist and get comprehensive testing, first (as I'm due for it).

minus 7% is substantial, apparently in the black market even more.

I'll go to the black market today and post what price I get quoted.

How black is that market, what are the risks for a farang?

How to make use of it?

The "black market" operates in the gold shops, mainly. Most of these shops are very organized, and efficient. I've used them when I travel outside of Vietnam and need US dollars. There has been a spread between the "black market" and the official bank rate for about 3 months now. Last year there was a spread also that lasted for a couple of months.

You cannot, under any circumstances, buy US Dollars from any bank right now. I tried to buy USD from my ANZ bank where I had an account and the answer was "no," even with a plane ticket stating I was leaving the country.

This spread is causing many local to buy US Dollars from the black market and hoard them, think the value will appreciate by keeping them hidden under the mattress (locked into a safe) at home.

This is also the 4th devaluation of the VND currency in the last 1 1/2 or so.

Time to vacation ?? Or opportunity for which bigger ideas?

I'm not sure. Yes, you're getting more Dong for the currency you have.

These medications are all sold over the counter without prescription in Thailand. However, prescription is required if bringing them back to a country where they are prescription only druggs

I have never taken high blood pressure medication before.

I have consistently high BP. 150/100 *everytime* I have it checked (although I only check it twice per year. I am over weight.)

Should I just by a common brand OTC and take the average daily dose?

Or, should I consult a doctor first?

Thank you.