poloshirt

21 minutes ago, ICELANDMAN said:

If you are a Chinese good return

What do you mean? Is this a chinese puzzle?

Thank you everyone for the response to my questions on travel to China.

From the informations I come to the conclusion that it is too much trouble for me to visit China.

I am 70 but I am not on medication, get tired sometimes still can walk if weather is not humid or hot to walk around.

I have cancer of the colon but I refused to get treatment in hospital now just waiting to exit (know what I mean?).

The idea was to do a last trip to China, come back home and get admitted to the hospital. Now I think I wouldn't be able to do that due to many factors. So now I am just waiting at home for the grim reaper to come and say "Hello there".

However I think in the end I still have to get admitted to the hospital because the pain can be excruciating and hospital have strong pain killer compare to what I have that I bought at the pharmacy.

Cheers

2 hours ago, Ireland32 said:

Boycott Everything Chinese...

It's foolish and childish to do so.

Simply because there are many, many nice, naive young ladies waiting for you in China, you take your pick.

If you look like Brat pitt you get laid for free of course.

58 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

You sure did not write your OP as if it had been two weeks ????

 

 

My memory take leave without telling me.

I am sure i am having the symptoms of Alzheimer.  Short term memory very bad now.

Have a nice day (or evening where you live on this globe)

1 hour ago, DFPhuket said:

You will increase your chances of getting your money back if you contact the bank that issued your card immediately. Some banks allow you to report problems through their mobile apps. Don't wait another day. 

Too late now, it's been 2 weeks. I am going home 2moro so will see the bank in couple of days from know. Thanks for your reply.

Karma

How's the situation in China? Is it ok to visit China now? I mean about a month's time.

Is China closed to tourist going there? I will be travelling alone.

China specialist please comment.

Some questions as well:  How much do you pay generally for street foods(in US Dollars).?

Can I easily find guesthouse in Canton. Or low budget accommodation.,

One fine day I will find a real Buddhist country where the people are not so stupid as to go to the temple to pray to Buddha, because they know very well Buddha is not God.

Meanwhile I am pursing my endless search for this real Buddhist country my friend said, "Isn't Shangrila a real Buddhist country ?".  And where is that I asked. He said somewhere in the Himalayas- hidden among some big mountains, there is an obscure village where the people don't pray to Buddha because they are intelligent enough to understand Buddha's teaching. "Really", I said. Then I must go there.

Wish me luck, folks.

7 minutes ago, poloshirt said:

I find it difficult to speak English with Thai people even in banks or government office(immigration) so I rather wait to go home (very soon 1 more day)and see what my bank says.

I don't think I will ever come back to Thailand again but it's not because of this problem. It's because I find nothing in this country interest me and lots of things not in line with my thinking. I was in Japan where I find most of things are line with my thinking and I was happy there. If only Japan is not that expensive I would have gone there many times. (so far only two trips ).

I mean Thailand is good as it is- don't get me wrong. It's me. I don't fit in this society- if I go into details it would seem I am criticizing Thailand and that's no good. I will just leave, that's it.

I am still in good humor after loosing some money. My friend said, "given half the chance they will steal your grandmother's wheel chair you know".

A friend of mine got his luggage stolen at the railway station. He wrote, "some tealeaves stole my bag at the station". It took me a while to figure that out. He meant "some thieves stole my bag at the station". He has problem with spelling, learning difficulties too.

Good day.

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Overseas card or local card?

Chip & Pin ??

 

As scuba3scuba3 wrote - its possible your card was skimmed. You may be able to secure a refund from your bank by claiming fraud, especially if the bank is foreign (from your home country).

 

It's sometimes more difficult to claim money back for fraudulent loss with a Thai bank. My mother in-law was successful claiming money back from fraudulent use of her CitiBank card a number of years back. 

 

 

 

I find it difficult to speak English with Thai people even in banks or government office(immigration) so I rather wait to go home (very soon 1 more day)and see what my bank says.

I don't think I will ever come back to Thailand again but it's not because of this problem. It's because I find nothing in this country interest me and lots of things not in line with my thinking. I was in Japan where I find most of things are line with my thinking and I was happy there. If only Japan is not that expensive I would have gone there many times. (so far only two trips ).

I mean Thailand is good as it is- don't get me wrong. It's me. I don't fit in this society- if I go into details it would seem I am criticizing Thailand and that's no good. I will just leave, that's it.

3 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Have you tried again today at another ATM?  Is your debit card a chip type card with a six digit PIN number (much safer).  What bank clearance system were you using?  If from Malaysia was the ATM you used marked to accept that system?  I take it you have not actually called your bank to check account balance and do not have online access to do so?  Or did you?

There is nothing much you can do you know once there is no money on the card. I will get to the bank once I get home- that's after tomorrow. So not that long to wait. Now I can only wonder if the bank can find out if someone has hack into my account.  Anyone knows?

I guess if the bank can find out if the account is hacked then they will believe what I said. Otherwise they may doubt and say no reimbursment on the loss.

2 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

Technically Debit cards offer the same protections as credit cards but in practice the banks make debit card claims more difficult.  If it was cash that was withdrawn from your account someone had to have the pin duplicate your card and then went to an ATM.  Those ATM's have cameras and you should be able to prove that you did not withdraw the money.  If they used your card online for a purchase, the merchant would have the address of the person who the merchandise was sent to. Again, if it was not you, you should be able to recover.  Far easier if the bank is a USA bank not a Thai bank 

I doubt my bank (Malaysian Local Bank)will refund or re-imburse what I lost. What bother me now is I am trying to figure out how I can travel with my money in China where I intend to go in couple of months, if the Covid problem is not in the way.

I guess I will ask my brother to send my money via Western Union . I wonder if there are many Western Union in big cities like Canton? I will have half the money kept with my brother to send to me when I e-mail him. Of course I still keep 2 debit cards with money on them only use them in emergency.

That is the safest way I supposed.

3 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

A Thai ATM card or a foreign card?

Did ATM process but fail to provide the cash?

Or are you saying card was not accepted?  Normally due to communication lines down and seems to be happening often this week.

A Malaysian ATM card not Thai. Few times the ATM provide cash when I withdraw using the card then today- the remaining money all gone.

2 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Maybe your ATM card is in Bangkok, but a copy of it could be anywhere in the World. Ask the bank where withdrawals were made, make sure to be able to prove you weren't anywhere near there, and dispute it. Personally I'd never use a debit card for payment or withdrawals of cash abroad. If anything goes wrong, banks have no incentive to fix it in your favour. At least if it is a credit card and someone used it, you haven't paid the bill yet so there's incentive for them to get it investigated. But with debit card - money's already gone. All they get is a loss. Why would they do it?

I don't have credit card or unable to get one issue to me. I thought Debit card is safe, apparently it is not, not at all. I guess my next trip to China I will use 3 debit cards- limited amount in each and also carry substantial amount of cash on me (using money belt round my belly).

2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

The card hasn't been stolen. The OP still has it.

Yes, I still have the card. Nothing I can do because when I talked to the bank people they speak bad English. I find it difficult to communicate. I rather go home and talk to my bank about it. Going home day after tomorrow so no long to wait.

Hello there,

All my money on my Debit card was stolen in Bangkok. When I went to use the card at the ATM there was no money on it.  I lost about 350 US dollars.

Anyone knows about money being stolen from ATM debit cards in Thailand?

I am travelling alone and nobody use my ATM debit card.

Lucky I have some spare cash- to survive 3 days before I leave Thailand to go home.

Bad experience for me. Anger arises in me and when the anger subsided I felt really disgusted- that this should happened.

7 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

Get that baby back to it's mother...humans smell bad...????

I quite agree with you Puchaiyank. And do it quick. My heart goes all out for that cute little elephant.

After reading all these problems I wonder if governments everywhere (not only in Thailand) exist to make life more difficult and miserable for the people.

It just seem to be so. When I went to buy my air ticket to go home I was told by the travel agent I need to get a letter from my embassy to permit me to buy the ticket. At my embassy I was told to download a form fill it up then I can get the letter.

So what do you think? Is this the idea of some big Ar..hole in the embassy of my country(not Thailand) ? Being a visitor do I carry a printer with me ? I had to look for an internet cafe to down load the form and pay to get it print. So the government of my country with its representative at the embassy never use its brain at all. And who is going to read the form that I filled up? The lady took the form I filled up and just drop it in a tray and I am sure it serves no purpose whatsoever other than making me lost money for the MRT journey and payment for printing the form.

There are ways to make things simple and easy for everybody.

If a group of stupid people form a government they will make life more troublesome, difficult and miserable for you.

When I was in my puberty my dad asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. I said I wanted to be in the police force and he said, "I didn't know I have a stupid son".  The worse part was when he walked away without saying anything further.  I had this sunken feeling.

10 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

Used to be 500 baht... which many tourists didn't keep and it was always drama at checkin counters. Then they raised to 700 baht and included it in ticket price. Now I don't know how high it's got, but it will be covered by your ticket under Taxes and surcharges.

 

Have a safe and pleasant flight!

Thank you tomazbodner, you got all the details . It's good they included in the ticket otherwise people always forget and when they don't have enough money to pay the airport tax all  hell broke loose right?

Just now, Don Mega said:

There is but it is included in the ticket price.

Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.

When I bought the ticket the agent said, "all included", but I don't

remember he said anything about airport tax. So I was worried because

I got limited amount of money with me.

Don, very kind of you to give me a quick reply.

Hello,

It is there a airport tax when I leave Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok?

If there is how much is the airport tax for International flight to Malaysia.?

Thanks for any information.

7 hours ago, Davo369 said:

Use Tiger balm

It's placebo. It doesn't stop the itch immediately.  Because of the length of time it takes to stop the itch it is not considered effective.

What you want is an almost instant cessation of itch. That's where the heat from the warm towel does the job. Using cooking oil is the same as using Tiger Balm. Both are good oil base products.

1 hour ago, Hi Tea said:

"Since when was working a crime" [sic]

It has been a crime ever since working illegally was criminalised in every country, regardless of the countries' associations.

From my experience Britain during the early 70s was really very very kind to illegal immigrants or students with expired student visa.

They really observed all the protocols and international laws regarding immigrants.(legal or illegal that is).

I was working illegally in London after my student's visa expired. One (good)Institution after collecting my tuition fees reported me to the immigration, that I was not attending classes and working. I was notified to go to see the immigration office. I went to see them.

A nice looking lady immigration officer at the counter check my passport and said in a nonchalant manner that my student visa had expired and I should leave as soon as possible. Failure to do so I would be arrested and put in prison. That's all she said. Because I was not arrested at the work place so she couldn't comment on that.

No harsh word was spoken, she didn't display any uncalled for show of power or authority. I was really surprised that her manner was so what you called "amicable". That really impressed me.

Of course I went home but not immediately because  knowing that the British would be kind and sensible if they arrested me for overstaying. I took my sweet time.

30 odd years now, I still have the good memory ., oh, yes at the airport the immigration officer said, "you have overstayed your visa"- I replied, "The lady at the immigration office told me to just leave, so here I am , all packed ready to leave", he looked at me for a second, then he stamped the exit on the passport and I got on the plane home.

Mosquito bite causes itch that is really irritating right? No amount of medicated oils or creams will stop the itch fast.

An almost instant way to stop the itch is to place a warm towel(almost hot in term of intensity of heat) over the spot of the itch it will stop the itch almost instantly.

It always work and foolproof.

The reason being the warm heat from the towel dissipate the chemical the mosquito inject into your blood to dilute your blood.

Once the warm heat from the towel dissipated the chemical it no longer has the strength to cause itch.

I hope I can speak my mind on this forum without being label as Thai Bashing.

I have been to Thailand many times but this trip is the longest 6 months because I am being kept here against my will(lock down). Lol (going home next week- to eat some decent foods, 555 ).

I discovered that very few Thais can speak proper English. I have a strong feeling that Thais don't want to speak English if they can help it.

Why? I don't know. I can only guess. Perhaps they find English a difficult foreign language to speak or learn. Perhaps they don't enjoy the company of foreigners.

From my own experience of learning 2 foreign languages (Japanese and French) I know how difficult it is to learn foreign languages. I had no choice but to learn Japanese and French to be a foreign language tour guide to earn good money. There are not many foreign language tour guides so they had to pay you well otherwise nobody will do the job.  My incentive was there. It took me many years to be good at those 2 languages- a lot of dedication and hard work. I even search the internet on the best ways to learn foreign languages. I tried to find short cuts but there is no short cut sad to say.

I have this strong feeling that the Thais don't see why they should speak good English. So a minimum effort was made to master the language hoping to be able to achieve something without really trying.

When the mental frame of mind is not conducive to learning it will not be good for achieving anything let alone learning a foreign language.

In such situation and mental frame of mind I believe it is very difficult to them to learn English. (which is an easy language compare to other european languages.)

So, no matter what methods of teaching you use or how enthusiastic the teacher is, the result is usually very minimal.

How often do Thais have opportunities of listening to spoken English in their day to day life?

Listening is the most important aspect of learning foreign languages.