Burma Bill

4 minutes ago, markaoffy said:

Atm kept my Bangkok bank visa debit card and guess what .. they don’t open the machine to recover and replaced with Unionpay. So now can’t buy online PayPal etc ! Cannot use in many shops to pay ... this is Bangkok!! The bank that’s named after after city, cannot use the card ! Eg true shops don’t accept and many others ! Like me I hope many Non Chinese customers close their accounts, because clearly they’re not interested


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Very sorry to read about your problems. I believe Bangkok Bank have realized their error (and loss of face) with the Chinese UnionPay through loss of customer support and that is why they are introducing a Mastercard Debit card next year.

Very unfortunate situation since Battambang itself is, I believe, Cambodia's second city after Phnom Penh. I have visited on several occasions and it is very pleasant, specially along the river banks, however getting there is time consuming by road, river and recently rail. There is a large airport but this closed many years ago and is only used by the military I believe. Investment in this airport could boost tourism and provide the much needed jobs for local people like the lady and her family above.

I bet not one Cambodian worker will be employed. There are already fights between the Chinese and the Cambodians as I have seen in video clips on social media. I note "casinos" - Chinese mafia again?? 

Great fun and enjoyment - thank you Hill Tribe People from a northern "farang".

23 hours ago, XJ650 said:

I cannot understand why they choose the road over Phrae - Phitsanulok when they can go HW 1 with 4 lane all the way to Bangkok.

 

OK, it is 38 km longer, according to Google Maps it takes 14 minutes longer but I think the passengers would be much more happy with HW 1.  

 

 

Most of the long distance buses heading south from Chiang Rai, Mae Sai, Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong etc. use this route as it saves on fuel. They travel on route 1 to Ngao and then turn left onto this narrow road through the hills to Den Chai, Uttaradit and Phitsanulok. I have traveled this route many times.

Cause of accident - speeding and/or faulty brakes??

I ditched DTAC (Chiang Mai) many years ago over their business practices but I will say no more in case I am prosecuted under the Computer Crimes Act.

I lived in the area for many years and Mae Sai was the easiest. Drive on route 118 via Mae Khachan (hot springs) and Wiang Pa Pao to join route 1 near the White Temple south of Chiang Rai. Continue on route 1 to Mae Sai. The main Immigration Office is on the left about 1 km before the border where there is a second Immigration Office at the bridge across into Tachilek. Plenty to see and do in Burma - shopping in the large market, a flutter at one of the casinos or just sightseeing. You can still see a few buildings in side streets going back to British Colonial days under Queen Victoria. I happened to pass a post box with "VR" on it. I used to buy my shirts and trousers in the "Duty Free" shop at the border (Burmese side) because sizes were based on UK measurements, not the smaller Thai sizes - an "L" meant large and not medium. Enjoy your trip. If you do not want to linger over in Tachilek, on your return a detour up to DOI TUNG and the Royal Villa and Gardens is worth a visit.

I bet they will be built and owned by the Chinese.

Yippee!!! Thumbs up to Mercedes.

10 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Become a vegetarian, then it won't bother you at all.

I think it will. I have seen people in Thai supermarkets "feeling" fruit and vegetables before placing them in a bag. That is those selected. 

From my experience money exchanges at Don Meaung (DMK) will not take low denomination notes from Laos (Kip), Vietnam (Dong) and Cambodia (Riel). On return from Burma I was left in possession of many "Chats" which I could not exchange in Thailand. Before leaving Burma, change your "Chats" at many of the street money exchanges into the currency of your destination country. 

Send MUSK into space - FOREVER

5 hours ago, Aquaman2016 said:

Bangkok Bank recently revamped its website. If you do a bit of searching you will find that it still advertises Be1st Smart, Smart Rabbit and Smart Rabbit Siriraj VISA cards. However each comes with a Joining Fee and Annual Fee. There is also a statement that you can only use these cards until 2019 (no exact date given). These are the only Bangkok Bank options that work on-line. So in answer to your question, I cannot see a workaround that will last further than some time in 2019.


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Worrying news about 2019. My BB Rabbit VISA Debit Card clearly states "Good thru 01/22". If it is not, can I sue BB for breach of contract? Because of other problems with my BB card I now have an additional VISA Debit Card with Krungsri Bank (new account). 

Stalling tactics?? Maybe they do not want it raised in case damaging forensic evidence is discovered.

FLY, FLY, FLY from either of the Bangkok airports. Air Asia from DMK or Thai Smile, Bangkok Airways, Cambodian Angkor Air from BKK. You can get a visa on arrival in Siem Reap airport. Like other members travelling into Cambodia via Poipet, it was a nightmarish experience for me. What made it worse were the thousands of people going back home for Songkran - horrendously long queues. I had no option but to use the "fixers" to get me the documentation and "fast track" me into Cambodia. What would have cost $30 for my visa ended up costing 3,000 baht ($90 approx). The price did include a "private" bus ticket to Battambang - another horrendous story. Unfortunately Battambang airport is currently closed to civilian airlines. 

20 hours ago, Democracy74 said:

The bank gave me a credit card once I offered to lock in 100,000 Thb for a 90,000 Thb credit limit (if I cancel my cc card my 100,000 Thb becomes unlocked again). All they worry about is you leaving Thailand with an unpaid cc bill.

 

 

 

 

This happened to me when I inquired about a Bangkok Bank credit card in my name. It defeats the object and you might just as well have a debit card. No problem for a credit card in your Thai partner's name. 

Check your local MAKRO - the store in Khon Kaen usually stocks Beer Lao.

Interesting comments about the legality of burning waste. Here in rural Issan garden bonfires are a regular occurrence along with the burning of sugar cane fields, especially at the night, during harvesting. Waste from the harvesting of rice is also burnt. The smell of smoke can be quite nauseating and the law is disregarded.  

More Chinese hotels?

Simple answer - think twice before buying a Tesla car.

I used to stay with friends who had a lovely villa on a smart estate in Hang Dong BUT it was directly under the flight path into CNX and it was very noisy as the planes were descending.

From the photos, in the dry season with forest fires and a strong breeze - problem solved