GypsyT

Money to grow in the US; Discover regular savings account pays now 4,3%. New rate offers (you get them automatically) coming almost bi monthly as soon as you open an account. That's for a regular saving account. CDs pay better but I want to be flexible. I've been happy with them. As far as taking money out from Thailand best is to get CASH at Super Rich and carry out. Many seem to like WISE but their rates are lousy... and they won't transfer funds in the same currency (can't pick your pocket...). Based on my experience the best rates are at MoneyGram, from EU to TH & VN. Same currency to send & receive possible.

" that where her Thai boyfriend lives?" No, she's married. I am her boy friend ????

Maybe he should be the next Prez? No more needless and expensive stupid wars.... he could not give an order!

"natural light and airflow" Those two are the biggest problems... Studios seem to be long room with one window at the end. No natural air flow. Some VT7 owners had installed smart 2nd outside door with louvers. That way they got natural cross flow and big saving on AC bill.

"Wow sounds like she’s good at her business…you’re already roped in" It's not what you think but I won't spoil your pleasure by the facts to enjoy the the most honest feeling there is; Jealousy... Enjoy!

"Shipyard owner" is a fancy name for a guy who tows boats 500m to an empty lot for storage.... I've watched these guys many times during my morning walk and notices how young some are. 10-15yr olds driving tractors and pulling boats. Tractors are without Safety Cabin, no roll bars. Looks like blue tractor's front part gave up (pic) and opened up. Driver fell out. Very sad. Also, I have watch, in some horror, how dangerous winching motors are at fish harbor on Jomtien. They arrive very early starting 4am. Tired and in darkness, they use them to pull up fishing boats. Open winch cable goes through pack of people doing business all to way to the sea. The motors are anchored at the curb on the street. Heavy spinning flywheel is open and operator flips belt on and off by bare fingers! Some younger ones use tool, old times not. It's quite a show. Go and see it. Starts 4am to 7am. And get some real fresh fish etc although they seem to have very little to sell. "Over fishing" was an answer I got.. Pulling "Mad Max Motor" Others are much wilder...

"Is your name 'Mark', 'cos there's one born every minute.' If you had used "sucker" that'd be more correct except in my case it will be her.... ????

"........... and is already thinking of buying her a 3.5Mbht house." You think that's being too cheap?

"yep studio for me with balcony but only 2nd floor in case i get pushed off... ???? " Are you Russian? Seems it's their national illness... ????

While touring w gf we got robbed twice by the police at 304 & 3052 Hi Ways, near Kaho Yai National Park entry. They were clearly targeting Farangs... They demanded and got 500B first time and then, 5km later only 300B. My gf had time to hide the money. Before stopping my gf said "Don't say anything, don't even have eye contact!" Just earlier we had stopped at dead looking fake "Italian Village" on the road and when I asked why it's dead the only business owner said "Cops have scared away customers!". A months later coming back to Pattaya ( we took # 2) I saw many check points along the road. It looked like military operation. There were 30km stretch with maybe 100 cops w walkie-talkies sitting next to the road. Again, seemed like they were stopping only farangs or farang in the car. I taught her how to avoid cops; I asked her to drive on the right lane behind a big speeding semi truck all the way to Bangkok and that worked! I think it's disgusting what they are doing... Giving Thailand very bad image.

Thank you for great post! I have carried large amounts, and still do, and I always have proof of bank receipts where the cash came from. I also have receipt showing sales of properties or cars etc how I made the money and receipt of deposits to my accounts. A few times they checked receipts after declaring over $ 10k in the US and Europe. No problem at all. Better give too much proof than little or non. US and EU has become paranoid thanks to Russian money laundry business.

My new gf, who I haven't met in person yet, suggested I'd buy a business condo close to Nong Prue Lake. First it didn't sound attractive but now I plan to go to see it. It's 4 stories, 1st and 2nd are 50m2 and have AC. 3rd and 4th are 40m2. Every floor has WC & shower. Two top ones have balcony. Price is 3,5 mil. Only 1st floor has been used for business. Other floors are "as new" and it's fairly new building. I think that's cheap! I want to rent first to see if it's too noisy location etc. I was looking similar "business condos" at VT7 and they were very expensive. Is anyone living like that? Is it fully legal?

Advice that may help you too by CanadaSam; If you stay at the Queen Victoria on Soi 6, you will probably never leave that Soi for the entirety of your trip!!! -Move there, looks perfect ????

Aussies can "just walk" in ???? and stay 30 days. No paperwork. - 30 day extension can be trip to Hell if at Jomtien. Quick visit to neighboring country and return visa free for 30 days is option many use, like me.

I didn't like the prez who liked to kill thousands of his own people. Now it's time go and see beautiful islands and friendly people.

Phayao and Phrao. Both hotter than Hell... Chiang Rai's OK. Good market. Daily morning walk on old airport runway great place to meet local women...

At European airports they use readers. Gate person can't over ride it. Only supervisor can. If reader doesn't accept passport you won't get in. That passport is so bad no wonder...

" try the outside perimeter of Lumpini Park after dark" Too much competition there. Near all embassies there with horny "Hugo Boss" dudes with "Open end accounts"... I hear Soi Cowboy's the place. "Soi Cowboy is one of the red light streets of Bangkok. The city offers a lot of go-go bars and pubs where you can buy a drink and enjoy some adult shows." To me Bangkok is too noisy, crowded and far away. Jomtien area has everything I need. Plus; Nice regular Thai ladies a plenty.

Phu Quoc is a sad example "Development gone wild!" Still worth to go and very inexpensive. 2 yrs ago I stayed at "Nhat Lan resort", $22/nite, close to air port. They got own small beach. Very nice for daily morning swim w fresh water shower. Food was boring and bad (well, near all places are not good coming from Thailand and I am nor a foodie..). Very hard to find even simple chicken! They eat fattening pork.. Many Russian tourists but no problem. Menus often only in Vietnamese and Russian ???? Dalat has very nice lake 5km away - Tuyen Lam Lake. Very nice area with nice villas. Not cheap but reasonable. The lake in town's dirty... but good to walk around. Again, can't find good food to buy like in Thailand. Locals cook and eat well but restaurants are lousy and not clean. Lots of dogs too. The best is cheap rice cakes on the street corners! Vietnam is a great place to live "like a millionaire"; My 2 week trip was 12 000 000 VND = about $ 500 that time. Last time I saw those numbers was in Peru... where I had many 500 000 Inti bills worth maybe $ 20 ????

"The Mediterranean diet works miracles. We are already the second country with the highest life expectancy after Japan." I see that in Canary Islands! 60-70 even 80 yrs old are still cheerfully willingly working. How they live so long is a mystery to me 'cause more than half (?) are chain smokers!

I stayed at Doha 2 hotel in Saigon airport. Walk in price (cash) about $ 25/nite 2 yrs ago. Clean, modern hotel hidden in dark alley. Lousy breakfast... https://dohahotel.com.vn/doha-2-hotel.htm You can walk there from the terminal, just across the inter section. Warning; Watch out for very aggressive bike-taxi teen age boys! They try to grab your luggage to get your business. "Sorry boys, no need for taxi. I live just across the street!" was my white lie which worked. They just try to make their lives better...

I retired at 53 ???? Thank you America! But never stopped making deals, sales and ideas are still coming and going and some are bringing little extra. But no stress.

How old I could adopt legally? Is 18 or 19 or 20 Ok?

"A380 to Doha at the front of the aircraft, I am in economy but with legroom seat and then in business class to Manchester from Doha." I usually don't like the biggest, like 747, but after I flew Qatar's A380 I was impressed by leg room and everything else. Very nice and quiet plane! I used cheapest seat on AA miles. The fact they needed 50min to load us up didn't bother me neither. I asked "How many are we?" He said "500. Full load is 550 for us but some can take up to 850!" Wow...

People should cut off all credit cards and start to use CASH. When you see CASH you tend to think and not spend freely. Cash also gets best deals - still do ???? I use cards (to collect Airline miles etc benefits) but I'm smart and always pay in full = Never a penny of interest.