samtam

The OP doesn't say whether he drinks alcohol, but that too brings up the triglycerides.

I've noticed a sea change in taxi driver attitude since the gubernatorial election result. I live in Sathorn and asking them to go to Siam Paragon (at 2 pm yesterday) or Cenral Chidlom (at 10.30 am today) and other times and to nearby destinations seems to be met with the usual crap about traffic jams etc., as if Bangkok's traffic was somehow a new issue. Have I had a bad run, or have others noticed similar behaviour in recent days?

Thanks. I'll check them out.

Maid or butler they still need the cleaning goop.

I have no been able to source any silver cleaner such as Goddard's etc and more especially the one that you can use with a sponge and wash with water. Tried Villa, Central Food Hall, Central Department store, Emporium, Siam Paragon.

Anyone have a source?

The new " swipe" card for the BTS produced by Rabbit doesn't seem to work if you leave it in your wallet, unlike its predecessor, produced by BTS. So, with inconvenience in mind, you have to remove it from your wallet, (if you remember exactly into which compartment you placed it), and swipe it that way. I demonstrated this to the BTS ticket office, thinking that perhaps I had a dud card, but no, he said I could only use it this way. I've since noticed that others have to do the same.

Why do things have to be retrograde?

I need a Japanese language version. They're not available here.

Has anyone ever imported a new laptop into Thailand, and if so, can they tell me the customs duty?

All of the points aforementioned are very good suggestions for improving the situation. You have to wonder why it seems impossible for anyone to get to grips with the situation. There are obvious areas to blame - turf, (as in fiefdom), lack of law enforcement and corruption. But maybe that's how to resolve all of Thailand's problems.

As the writer of the article notes, the development of large condominiums/properties on sois is causing huge problems. These were never created to take large volumes of traffic and its a problem that worsens as development grows. Clearly there is no planning law, or at least not one that is enforced. What happened to the case brought by a hiso living in soi Ruam Rudee against the developers of Aetas? This issue, (large developments without adequate access roads) has been repeated up and down the sois of Bangkok. Soi 1 on Sathorn is in permanent gridlock because of all the new condo developments along that, and in the Yennakart area....ad infinitum.

Orchids

Thanks. I suppose it's too complicated.

Why is it so difficult to buy foreign exchange cash? Yesterday I spent about 1 hour visiting a hole in the wall forex shop on Silom, which only had USD100 in a 100 note, visiting my branch of UOB in Silom Complex, which doesn't stock forex, visiting the incongruously named "Exchange" booth of Bangkok Bank on Silom, which doesn't sell any foreign cash, only buys it, and visiting Krungsri on Silom which was shambolic, (very few staff, no manager, telephones ringing off their hooks), which initially claimed no USD cash, but then discovered it had USD3000, (but again in 100 notes only), I was looking for something a bit more user friendly for my taxi driver in Saigon. OK, the banks I understand, but so-called "Exchange" booths/outlets. And US Dollars, not Papua New Guinea Kina.

The Bangkok Bank lady said it was their head office policy not to sell foreign exchange cash. Is there some BOT regulation?

Thanks for the useful information.

As it happens I do have a couple of Thai bank accounts, but I want a GBP currency account located here. Following up on some useful threads on this forum, it looks as if the Krungsri bank has the simplest requirement of merely supplying one's passport to open the currency account.

I didn't realise I could deposit the GBP cheque into my Thai Baht account, but I do now, though do not want the whole sum in Baht.

I'm not sure I understand why you would want at GBP account in Thailand, given the very low interest rate - 0.3% for 1 month or 0.8% for 12 months, but yes Krungsri offer this product.

You become non-resident by completing an Inland Revenue Non-Resident status form at your UK bank, .....

Certainly not. HMRC decide who is and isn't resident (based on their own rules which take into account the number of days spent in the UK, whether any family or property is there, where your job is etc) and it has nothing to do with filling in any form (R105) at your bank. The R105 form allows your bank to pay your interest gross in accordance with your declaration that you are non-resident, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you actually are non-resident.

My word choice was inadequate, but I qualify as non-resident by my tax declaration on R105 and the fact that I spend days under the limit in UK. But I may not be non-domiciled. The two are different and in the case of the latter the HMRC will decide whether I am domiciled or non-domiciled. If I exceeded the permitted number of days in UK then the HMRC may decide that I do not qualify as non-resident, or that I am subject to UK taxation.

HSBC closed last June (2012). There is no Barclays here. Curious why you want to open in Thailand, as you do not appear to live here. Try HSBC Jersey (HSBC International), although if you're a UK resident you are subject to UK tax.

I do live in Thailand, for 6 years now. The UK address is my correspondence address, owned by a close relative. I'm thinking the time is right to become fully "ex-pat" as far as UK authorities are concerned, but have not done this yet. I currently pay a small amount of UK tax on the pension I receive.

You've lived here for 6 years and do not have a bank account in Thailand? You become non-resident by completing an Inland Revenue Non-Resident status form at your UK bank, and you are then not liable for tax in UK on income earned outside of UK, (or within your allowance, I think).

HSBC closed last June (2012). There is no Barclays here. Curious why you want to open in Thailand, as you do not appear to live here. Try HSBC Jersey (HSBC International), although if you're a UK resident you are subject to UK tax.

It seems to be OK now. Just sent a message without any problem.

Actually even more strange is that when I try using my iPad I have no problem.

I have not been able to reply to Yahoo messages today. Normally when I hit the reply arrow it brings up the name of the incoming email sender and their message. Today no name, no message. I try to manually label addressee, but will not write. Checked Mail Options, and ticked the box and saved attachment of new messages with something incoming. But to no avail. Anyone else have this problem with Yahoo.com (as of today for me)?

I go through periods of not drinking, such as now, because I too get fed up with the hangovers. At this stage I think it's time to call it quits on a pretty long term basis, basically because I find it difficult to stop once I've decided to go out "for a blast". If I'm not drinking I don't go out, nor could I stand being with people who were inebriated when I am sober. Sometimes I think I will miss the "fun", and certainly I worry about where I can meet people, if it's not at a bar. Sounds pathetic, I know. But "socialising" revolves around drinking.

Well, I hope this gets well publicised in the UK. I think Thailand as a tourism destination needs some serious re-evaluation.

http://www.dailymail...each-party.html

That 'beach' looks like some 3rd world garbage tip!

It's like most of the so-called "resorts" in Thailand. Filthy, full of rubbish, lacking in proper sewerage etc. Clearly a big draw for those wanting to get high, and where like a shooting gallery, (excuse the pun), the environment you're in doesn't matter. It's dangerous out there, (which may be an attraction), but people should be aware of the dangers. Even innocent bystanders like Stephen Ashton and those that follow in this untimely and unneccesary death, should think long and hard about the perceived joys of visiting such places.

Perhaps bitterbatter could say what the attraction is for him in such places, and whether this sad incident would change his mind.

Can anyone show me a standard British Embassy Proof of Income letter? My income is paid into my joint account with my partner, and I presume the embassy would not have any issue with this, (the fact that it's a joint account). Again, however, anyone with experience of this would be helpful.

Thanks Ubonjoe. If my renewal is in May what dates would IMM require. For example, would they accept income proof from Jan to Dec of the preceding year? Unfortunately my bank (HSBC in Hong Kong) doesn't issue statements now, although I can download them from the internet, but that probably wouldn't be acceptable. For a fee they might issue them certified.

Anyone using this HSBC Hong Kong method?

With the combined option you do not need to season.

Proof of income is what ever your embassy accepts and qualifies as income. If recieved in another country, your embassy still nees to confirm it.

Can anyone tell me what the British Embassy in Bangkok require for proof of income. I have dividends paid through my HSBC Hong Kong account.

What qualifies as yearly income? Would share dividends paid in Hong Kong to a joint account qualify? Can it be verified by (my British) embassy letter? What would the embassy require to verify?

I've obviously been missing a trick here. I have income in Hong Kong from share dividends, but for visa extension for retirement I use the THB800k for three months method.

If I have a dividend income of THB35k per month and use this for the combo method, it means I do not have to season my THB800k each year?