BonMot

Locate the manual (online) and see what the lights designate. Maybe it's not connected to AC power and the unit has been drained of power. Maybe the cheap AC adapter is blown. I assume you have seated and reseated the buds many times in the case. A battery in a bud could be dead especially if they are cheap.

In early August I did my renewal. I opted for bank draft. Already the currencies were in flux so I emailed the embassy and got the rate. The app was done online. It was lightning fast. From the time I mailed the passport to it being returned was under 14 days. Some months back my wife also had her B1 processed, returned in something like ten days. We are in central BKK I would recommend paying dollars however you need to deal with that.

@ThoMichaelSounds like your timeline to transfer is short. I think you missed the big bump. If you believe the US Fed will raise rates than schedule the transfer after the next meeting. The volitility in USD I think has subsided until whatever the next meeting brings. BOT has been buying a lot thb so it's weaker than it appears. Hence, my optimism we could see greater favorable cross rates for USD. THB is not widely traded.

Yes, but they may wait on that for some time. The economy is fragile, elections coming and who knows the amount of variable rate loans outstanding especially with consumer debt. I would not be surprised if government forces banksters to absorb rate hikes of 1.5% on consumer debt they are already charging 20% Property loans at 7.5%+ may kill real estate market which is already on life support

I don't disagree. It's all about US rate hikes. Question is does Powell have the balls to break the US economy to rein in inflation. Yet, when inflation if running at 9% Fed funds rate of 4.5% is just pissing in the wind.

IM0 dollar could peak at 41.5 to 43+ depending on whether US Fed does go to 4.6 and if BOT starts raising rates. I'd say there's a fairly decent probability we will see thb upwards of 41. Elections will have next to no impact in US. Perhaps minor in UK but that is ephemeral as well.

I am happy. Decent job, great wife. Awkwardly stated I do not share those costs with wife - I cover those costs (I pay exclusively). On her part, she often brings home some food on the weekend. Issue for him would be will he like Thai food and can truly like off of it. If you require western food even cooking at home you'd need to add perhaps 6k pm. I also get free lunches but even eating in a food court 20x a month on Sukhumvit in T21 or Amarin would only be like 2000k pm extra. Burger fries b350-400 Phad Kapow, Khai dow b45-70

Your not incorrect. In a disaster which you are directly involved. Im 60. Below are # of life threatening disasters I've been directly involved with: 2

Lol Sounds like Prayut in on the Great Reset....you'll have less - and like it. Besides, Thais are absolutely addicted to video. Ridiculous

It takes me 50 minutes door to door to get to work and that includes approximately 1km of walking and presuming a wait on either BTS and/or MRT of five mins each. Without question the easiest commute I've ever had. Cost is 80b total round trip. Wife is in the crush on the way home so it's a wait and three stops. Life is sometimes what you make of it

It's not barely surviving. I spend about 22k pm includes some costs I share with wife such as rent, utilities, household, food, restaurants - holidays, medical excluded. What it doesn't include is p4p sex, overpriced western meals on Sukhumvit, living in a pub. I'd say it's a solid base amount for an expat to live a somewhat local life on. I bank about 50k pm from work. Much of it makes its way into long term savings. If I spent another 20k on bigger condo and restaurants I wouldn't even know what to do with the rest if spent in BKK.

Bottom of top 5 based upon the price of a tiny condo which if purchased by the same expatriate would be a rather poor investment. Moreover, to make that purchase the working expatriate must use his savings from abroad rather than income earned in Bangkok. Grrrrrrreat

The dlt forced the expiration of my license thru a number of bureaucratic moves. No license for me. No related auto revenue for Thai government.

Then it's off to Ratchada ????????

Prolly a backhander to some land office flunkie for signing off on a tiny 150k plot and a shack in Nakon Nowhere. You can only own land / house via a (n expensive, tedious to maintain) corporation that is technically illegal and which the government occasionally threatens to close the loophole and fine foreign land owners. If your wife dies and land in her name you need to dump it fast... In a year and that I presume includes probate.

Indeed. Judging by your posts all the girls giggle your name when you walk by - Romeo

All true but wives, clean girlfriends have health advantage of not killing you. While you get to alacarte the girl take it or leave it ..there are things no sane man should do with a hooker they can indulge with their companions. Only matter of time monkey pox arrives too.

I don't disagree but not everyone uses those places to meet women. Just go out and get hammered with a few mates. Check out T/A instead of football.

Walked cowboy early for a beer 4pm it was dead and I mean not one woman on the soi. Many clubs shuttered. I suspect return as live cover bands club playing 60s music. Cheap but sooo boring. That happened enough to declare it dead and done. Weeks later went into Nana and has a walkabout. Beer was 180b bottle, the bars all seemed uninviting and scammy. The girls more interested in chatting to friends, phones than drawing punters in. That lasted 20mins for all levels. A far cry from the early 90s. Drinking in pubs on soi 4 for non happy hour prices seems really poor value, standards slipping. Little eye candy, high prices. My opinion is that it's all finished. Can it come back? Doubt. The girls are fat and often not especially attractive. Old beyond words.

Not true. In fact, mandates are often suggestions and do not absolutely carry force of law. I don't think this is really promoted/ pushed by the government - you're free!!! Free at last little birds! Also of the opinion and admittedly did not read the decree that it does not necessarily include inside bogeys of BTS MRT. For the meantime, I'm ok with wearing a mask inside the bogeys. I live here and not trying to bring undue stress on Thais - but it must end.

Highly speculative. I'd be shocked to learn BTS, minivans, buses are not considered public transport. Planes certainly are. Genie isn't going back in the bottle. The public knows the ability for masks to stop spread of covid. That is next to nill. It's done and the government will begin to look extremely foolish if not already attempting to keep these draconian mandates in place. You can now enter Thailand WITH covid. It's done, truth is out and we can all breathe easier now

I too cringe at that but you can't change those folks... It's quite natural for even simple people to cover their mouths when sneezing. I cannot recall the last time I was near a stranger that sneezed in public and did not cover up. What else need I do for you Mr Stranger so that you feel more comfortable in public? An idea... Stay home. Problem solved entirely. People die daily on roads and you're worried about total hypotheticals

Yes, they effectively followed the US and regional guidance from my perspective. Certainly, I cannot recall anything where Thailand did not toe the line, follow status quo unlike say ... Sweden. So much so it still is mandating masks in certain situations. Innovation? Absolutely not. Did the Thai nation fare better? I think its difficult to judge. Thailand has far fewer densely populated cities, greater rural population, younger population, healthier population. Without doubt the country has entirely stumbled through it's inconsistent and ridiculous decisions. That I would think crystal clear to even a child. A year on post covid and we are still in masks - that is a poor decision on many levels. So, no not better at all.

People fear their own unsettled minds. If it's not boredom it's perhaps ghosts. People seem to be very uneasy with their own thoughts. Soft Darwin Award here for phone zombies

Most if not all directives came initially via US CDC. But I'm pleased that you believe we should ignore the <deleted> as myself