Equatorial

When I add money to my WISE USD balance, from my USD denominate US-based bank, WISE charges a small fee. I just checked, it was 0.17% on my last transaction. Is adding funds to WISE free for you?

Hi @RSD1 - which digital wallet do you use on your phone? It's my understanding that Apple Pay is not accepted in Thailand, and Google Pay is only accepted at select large stores... For that reason I've been considering getting TrueMoney, but I am not comfortable with what they are requesting (pix with passport).

Flying via the USA is both safe and easy. Unless, of course, one has MS-13 tats...

Which route? I must have flown the BKK-SFO route at least a dozen times over the past 10-15 years, changing planes in TPE. Never more than a few minutes late.

What @HuaHinNew is saying is that although <form TM47> and the <online reporting system> serve the same purpose (to satisfy the Thai Immigration requirement for 90-day reporting), they are implemented as two different data processing systems that are not interconnected and do not talk to each other.

I've heard that people do that, but I still have not figured out why. The only difference is that in the refrigerator it cools faster (it does not really make a difference but, if anything, it's better).

I have heard (from Thais) that the most common source of parasites are the fermented crab some of them eat in their som-tam (green papaya salad). I think if you're eating properly heat prepared foods there is no reason to assume you need to take worm meds, but this is just my thinking, I don't have all the facts. I'd be curious to know if anyone has any info...

Very true - as is the rest of the post! I'll add that many Thais have health issues because of the spicy hot food that they consume. When my wife was having stomach problems I took her to the Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok, and the doc explained to me that her symptoms are very common in the Thai population and are caused by the spicy foods.

Two screenfuls of apps (~40-50). Yes, the screen and icon layout was fully preserved.

There are mostly two factors at work here. 1/ Most importantly, the level of harmful bacteria depends on a number of factors. Most importantly, does the food get contaminated at all? Secondly, how large is the bacteria colony? Just a million or two, or billions? Also, when, i.e. right after it's placed outside? Worst case scenario, a few dozen flies contaminate the food with a huge colony of bacteria, right after the food is placed outside. In that case, the levels of bacteria after 8 or 16 hours may pose significant risk. I've seen a cooked piece of chicken left outside crawling with larvae after mere 8 hours. OTOH, it is indeed common to leave cooked food outside, and 99% of the time people eating it are just fine. 2/ Immunity. A person who often ingests bacteria with improperly stored food may develop a level of immunity, and a moderate amount of bacteria may not cause any symptoms, or very light ones. But Thais do get sick from the food, they just don't make the connection. Thai street food is rarely undercooked, mostly overcooked, and all of the bacteria is dead. As long as it served while fresh, that is not the issue. It is "unhealthy" mostly because of the burned oil that's been reused for a week. And of course a possibility of contamination by the vendor who may not have access to clean water to wash their hands properly.

I am curious, does maintaining a Thai balance in WISE lower the cost of transferring money from US-based bank to a Thai bank? In other words, are the following two scenarios same in terms of cost (assuming the same interbank exchange rate in both scenarios)? 1/ Transfer let's say $2,000 from a US-based bank to Bangkok Bank, using the basic WISE transfer functionality. 2/ Transfer the same amount, $2,000, to WISE a USD denominated balance, convert it to a balance denominated in Thai Baht, and then deposit the entire amount into an account in Bangkok Bank. If different, can someone provide detail? I am new to using WISE and all of the rules and costs and conditions are a bit overwhelming...

I switched from iPhone 6s to iPhone 16e recently. No cables just the two phones sitting next to each other. I don't recall how long it took, but it definitely wasn't excessive. It was seamless.

Not particularly. I have iPhone 16e, not for the high-end features but because I needed a new phone so I decided to get a late model that will hopefully last a few years before it's obsolete. I got an iPhone (vs Android) because I like the Apple ecosystem, having an iPad and a Mac as well. But I don't really use the high-end features. I also have a Samsung A25, which at under $200 I would not consider a high-end phone. It does everything I need, but I do miss the Apple ecosystem.

@KannikaP - From the context it's clear that "Monthly" is your Bangkok Bank account which you use for documenting monthly transfers for the IO. What's the "Bkk Current"? A different bank account that you use for expenses? If so, why not use the Bangkok Bank account for monthly transfers AND for expenses?

Interesting points, @RSD1 ! -- I have a couple of questions: 1/ You say you convert the foreign currency in your WISE balance to Thai baht. Then you say that the card transactions are made from your Thai Baht balance, avoiding conversion fees on individual transactions. I understand the reasoning for making the conversion to THB when the exchange rate is favorable. However, are you saving anything on conversion fees by converting a large balance vs converting small sums as you go, for each individual transaction? 2/ It implies that if you have a WISE balance in THB, and you make any card charges and/or withdrawals in THB, they will be automatically covered from your THB balance. Is that a correct assumption? Thanks!

The part that worries me is "most." How do you deal with those that do not work?

I am surprised. I looked into a similar service with a different provider, https://www.texashomebase.io/ . Their FAQ states (https://www.texashomebase.io/faqs) : You cannot use a CMRA (Commercial Mail Receiving Agent) as a "physical address" for bank accounts because of the Patriot Act. You can use our address as the "mailing address" but would need to use a friend or family member's address for the "physical" requirement.

I have a question for Brits who grew up drinking Tetley and/or Typhoo. I strongly prefer Twinnings over Tetley or Typhoo. To me it just tastes much better. What is your personal preference? And, equally interesting to me, what is the general perception of these three brands (in terms of quality) in Britain?

I see many multiple offerings of Twinnings English Breakfast on Shoppee, both loose and tea bags...

I am trying to get my Kor Ror 22 for my marriage-based Non O. I have the original marriage certificate (from California) from 2010. The local Ampur insists that my wife submit a certified certificate along with the translation. I check the US Embassy web site, and it states that they don't certify state documents, and they don't certify affidavits any longer. What is it exactly that I need, and what is the procedure to get it. (If this has been answered, please point me to the right post; I searched but didn't find the answer...)

That was not my experience. Granted, I only worked at one school, an elite high school in Bangkok. There was not a single teacher there that would fit the description in the above post. Of the total of ~25 teachers in my department, the average teacher was solid, and there were a number of truly outstanding educators.

Hi @DaveJZ, I've had the same problem recently. I shopped around and found out that Eva Air (a Taiwanese-based airline) allows 5 additional suitcases per traveller, at ~$200 per suitcase. You have an allowance of 2 free suitcases per person, plus additional 5 at cost. For two travellers it gives you a total of 14 suitcases, for additional $2,000. I used extra strong boxes from Home Depot, with dimensions within the limits set by the airline. At BKK customs they just asked what's in the suitcases; we told them we're moving the household from the U.S. to Thailand, and they just waved us through. We went to the Post Office at the airport, on the Arrivals level, and shipped them overnight to our final destination in Isaan for ~THB4,000, i.e. ~$130. Advantages: your stuff arrives with you; no customs or duty fees; the transport cost ~$2,150 grand total, as opposed to ~$5,000 for the least expensive option I found with a shipping company.

Non-fiction: Harry Frankfurt - On Bull<deleted> - A contemporary philosopher analyzes the difference between bull<deleted> and lie. Bull<deleted> is definitely more insidious. Fiction: Joseph Heller - God Knows - a novel about a bitter old men reflecting on his life.

Agreed. I just reread his novel Kafka on the Shore which remains my favorite of his books.

Oh, that's simple! Some people want to exercise without damaging their health with harmful levels of pollution. Same reason some of us don't smoke. Shouldn't be that hard to comprehend!