neilrob

The full article is an excellent summary of the main points in the meeting. 90 day reporting and the new, intrusive forms were discussed, but were not central issues. The article mentions again the valuable contributions from Nancy. I just hope the government has the will to take sensible steps, but unfortunately I am not optimistic.

I attended. Nancy made a good speech. The seminar was interesting , but depressing.

The Thai speakers repeatedly said how they welcomed long term stayers. There was also reference to Malaysia being number one for retirees and how they would like to make northern Thailand number one instead. The Minister was gracious and said she was not interested in beautiful plans, but action. She also said she wanted to hear input from us and there was indeed substantial opportunity for us to ask questions and make comments at various points during the afternoon. All this sounds good. However, I detected no willingness to address even the most obvious and easy solutions, such as a long term visa with less repetitive reporting (if you want long term stayers, it seems a no brainer to offer a long term visa!) The minister said she would consider this (although I suspect she does not actually have the power to do anything about visas) but said there may be "security considerations", which sounds like a killer.

The head of CM Immigration was slated to appear, but was "too busy", which gives an idea of the value Immigration attaches to this process. He sent two junior officers instead. Interestingly, one of these officers came up to me after I had asked a question about a long term visa and said that is what Immigration would like to see also. This was before the Minister had appeared. He asked me to make sure the minister heard this also. I did so, but with the above depressing result.

This is a very interesting development---I hope something good comes of it. I suspect it is a reaction to the excellent and hard hitting article on the topic of immigration problems in City Life.

People sometimes misunderstand the legal situation in Thailand about cards. I have even heard people say they are illegal, which could not be farther from the truth. Cards are a government monopoly in Thailand, because they are subject to a small excise tax. If you buy cards in Thailand from, say, 7/11, they will be legal cards. Each should have a small red stamp. You can legally possess as many such Excise Dept. printed cards as you like. You do not need to be registered with the Excise Dept, because the red stamp is proof you paid tax.

The prohibition is about having more than 120 cards (not decks) which were not printed by the Excise Dept. printing house. So the problem arises if you bring in cards from outside. This is what happened to the bridge club in Jomtien. They had been bringing in cards and therefore possessed many more than 120 cards. At that time the government printing house was only producing poker size cards, which are unsuitable for playing bridge, so the club had little choice. Thanks to the Contract Bridge League of Thailand, the Excise Dept. is now printing bridge size cards. I am currently expecting my latest order of 280 such decks for the Bridge Club of Chiang Mai.

It is you who should read your own posts and pay attention, EL159. You stated "but you cant track things supposed to be arriving from overseas". You said nothing thing about them not having tracking numbers. Surely it is completely obvious that items without tracking numbers, sent from overseas or from within Thailand, cannot be tracked---it is not worth making such a statement.

I agree with Nancy. My experience with the Thai postal service has been positive. The tracking system is excellent---I wish the USPS tracking system were as good.

I agree with Nancy. My experience with the Thai postal service has been positive. The tracking system is excellent---I wish the USPS tracking system were as good.

I suggest contacting Khun Saaranyaa (Aoy) at 081 883 7972. She is an accountant who has done my Thai tax returns for several years now. Her office is on the road between the Superhighway and Meechoke Plaza. The company is called Pac Glory Business Services, 053 245 473.

Rimping at Meechoke Plaza (and presumably elsewhere) is currently selling Santa Helena Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 at 399B. This wine is from Chile and genuine (not a fruit-added wine). It is sold around the world. The rating on Vivino is 3.1---not great but decent and it is enjoyable to drink, particularly if you allow it to breathe for a while before drinking. In terms of wine in Thailand it is a bargain.

I am following up on this topic because we just got back from a very good trip to Myanmar. I never did find the tour agent in CM whom I was looking for, but I did find an excellent one in Yangon called One Stop Travel & Tour---thoroughly recommended. They arranged the trip to our specifications and really great value. I am sure I never could have made the same arrangements for anything like the price. Good hotels (the high point being the wonderful Myanmar Treasure right in Inle Lake) and fine guides/drivers/boatmen.

I have my electricity bill paid each month automatically by charge to my credit card. This is very convenient. I do not have to remember to pay it or go to 7-11 and the fee is only 5B. It was also very easy to set up. I just called the electric company and emailed a scan of the card. I am using a Bangkok Bank credit card. I don't know whether your card is Thai or foreign. If it is foreign it might not be so easy, but call the company and ask.

Welcome to Thaivisa, Donmarcop. I doubt that it will work in Thailand as it did in the PI for the difference between the official and the street rate of exchange. In Thailand there is very little such difference. Super Rich offers a closer spread, but similar basic rate. According to their web site today, Super Rich buy $100 bills for 34.57B. However, you would get a better rate of exchange simply by sending the money via Bangkok Bank's NY branch, as Nancy has described above. That rate today is 34.74B.

32 minutes ago, KhonKaenKowboy said:

and what is the annual fee? and what are the foreign transaction fees?  Before we even start talking about mileage bonuses with airlines.  I've flown over here 11 times...only paid three times....mostly at the expense of Chase.

What is the annual fee? The answer is zero. What are the foreign transaction fees? The answer is zero. Furthermore, BBL offers better foreign exchange rates than Chase. And, of course, if I use it in Thailand, there are no exchange rate issues. BBL also has a good rewards program, which I have used many times. As I commented above, I also have a Chase credit card. I have used airline miles from them over the last 35 years I've had the card more times than I can count. Having both cards adds flexibility to use whichever is most convenient and appropriate to wherever you are. And my point was that, contrary to Rotwielor's statement, a BBL card is as accepted as a Chase card throughout the world.

1 hour ago, NancyL said:

 

And what retiree is going to be using a locally issued credit card, anyway?  It makes the most sense to continue to keep your U.S. bank account and U.S.-issued credit card and all its protections.

I agree with Nancy that Bangkok Bank is an excellent choice. However, I disagree with the above statement. I am a retiree and I do use a Bangkok Bank credit card (I also have a US one from Chase Bank). If you live here, as I do, and want to use a credit card sometimes, then why not have one in the currency you are using? Some may be surprised to know that BBL's system of protections against fraud is at least as good as that for my Chase card. Rotweilor's comment above that you cannot use their credit card in other countries is wrong. Of course you can use a Bangkok Bank Visa credit card anywhere in the world that you can use any other Visa card. I have personally used it in countries as far apart as New Zealand, Vietnam, Croatia, the UK, Cambodia, and Spain.

Yes, I agree with Nancy. I have done this many times. It works well.

The one in the photo is not actually a wrought iron bench. The end pieces are cast, not wrought, and the slats look like painted wood, or maybe rectangular steel tubing. A real wrought iron bench would probably be very difficult to find---I have never seen one here. However, if you are looking for something like the photo, I recently bought a nice, all steel, black one from Global House, so I can recommend this place. Homepro also had them the last time I looked.

Nakornping Condo (the tall pinkish building almost opposite Kad Suan Kaew) is not inside the moat of course, but is only a short walk away. It is well managed and is worth a look.

Thanks, Puwa, for your recommendation. I went there yesterday and can recommend the shop. The name is Chang Phuak Header and the phone number is 081 034 0426. If you are going there, best not to take Chang Phuak Soi 3---it is so narrow a car will barely fit. If you are coming from Chang Phuak Rd., best to take Sanaam Gila Rd. The shop is on the RHS at the junction with Soi 3.

He will be missed. My condolences to his family.

I just received the same form, my local Pharmacist signed it for me

Yes, Pharmacists are on the list among many other acceptable signees but I was asking if anyone else is getting refusals from Bangkok Bank.

Just today I did this at my home branch of Bangkok Bank. The witness is a VP of the bank and I was charged 100B (with official receipt), so I do not believe there is any bank policy against this, as others have suggested. What happened when you went to your home branch, Thailand? Were you successful?

It would be SG at the end, not TH, surely. But I agree with previous posters that the Thai postal tracking system is very good, whether the item is incoming or outgoing.

I enjoy your contributions. Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery!

Thanks for the replies. I know that we can of course travel independently but I am interested in a private tour because of getting around in Burma. I want to specify where we go and when, similar to what Northern John describes, but fly in rather than drive across the border. I don't fancy driving from Thailand because of all I hear about the poor state of the roads. For the same reason, I do not fancy driving once I am there. I would like to fly in and then tour from there. That is why I am looking for an agent who is knowledgeable and able to set up all the arrangements in Myanmar.

I would like to arrange a private tour in Myanmar, so we can choose where to go rather than going with some fixed tour. Does anyone have experience of a good tour agent in CM who is knowledgeable about Myanmar and can arrange such? The last time this topic was posted, a couple of years ago, there was little response. I'm hoping that someone has done such a trip since then and can recommend a good agent. Thanks for your help.

Whatever, Backstreet/Lost book stores are still great. Difficult to imagine anything that cannot be found somewhere in their stacks, they have so very many books.