ChiangraiTony

Don't believe everything you read. Things being reported keep changing very quickly. There is a LOT of false information that is being released by the media. Within the next week just look at how much information that gets reported is inaccurate.

When I acted like a spoiled brat and wanted to eat alone and not together with the family my dad use to say if you can't sit down and eat with the family together then you won't eat at all. Of course this was when I was a young lad but this sounds exactly like what your father-in-law is doing.

Personally, I wouldn't spend even 10 baht on someone that doesn't show any respect especially when you're being considerate enough to spend your own hard earned money.

Seems like you're showing the entire family respect by helping them and if the old guy doesn't care how he acts then so you should too. Just give him 100 baht and tell him to go out by himself to get something to eat or drink and that you really are tired of seeing his funny looking self sitting there and eating alone.

As for the rest of the family, I would stand up at the table in front of the whole bunch and tell them what you feel... Example: you will not tolerate anyone that does not appreciate what you do for the family and you think it's a terrible thing that the father of the woman you love doesn't show you any respect. Make it a big point and then say that if something doesn't change soon that the family will no longer get together for meals and that you will not waste your money on those that show no respect.

And then I would tell them that you have tried to be nice and friendly but he doesn't accept it. I would then be prepared to walk away from the table and just leave. Go on your own and eat something without the family at some other place. When you're gone, and if you make it seem serious they will be forced to talk about it.

I think they (the family) will discuss this and talk to the father. If after that he doesn't come around then I would change your family routine to suit your needs and desire. If your wife doesn't get on board then you should see where you really stand. And, by living alone while they are all together is not helping the cause with family bonding. Wish you good luck! (Just so you know, I too have in-laws and they are always trying something new on me to piss me off but I don't let them give me any sh_t. I will not have any of it. If it's my money that I'm spending, I'm the one that makes the rules not anyone else in the family.

It isn't a special account. The terms "direct deposit" was confusing to whoever you spoke to. You open an ordinary savings account at a branch of Bangkok Bank in Thailand. Yes you have an ATM card and yes you can make withdrawals in Thailand once the transfer is completed ... usually in two or three days, allowing also for weekends or holidays.

Domestic transfers can be made from your US bank (or other payer) to Bangkok Bank in New York using exactly the same name and account number that you have on the account in Thailand.

It is a domestic transfer (no need for an International transfer) from an American bank in dollars. The dollars you deposit in NY will appear as a baht bank deposit in your account here in a couple of days and your passbook entry will show it is a foreign exchange deposit, which may be useful in future with Immigrations. The NY branch will charge $10 and your local branch Baht 200 for transfer ... at least that's what I'm charged when transferring monthly amounts in the $2000 to $4000 range. My US bank does not charge for a domestic electronic transfer, so the cost is minimal and the exchange rate is the one posted by Bangkok Bank.

Depending on what your payer or transferring bank require, you can use the ABA number or Fed routing number below. No need for an international transfer and no need for a Swift code.

New York Branch

Mr. Thitipong Prasertsilp, VP & Branch Manager

29 Broadway, 19th Floor, New York

NY 10006

Business Hours: Mon-Fri (9:00 am to 5:00 pm)

Tel: (1-212) 422-8200

Fax: (1-212) 422-0728

SWIFT: BKKB US 33

E-mail: [email protected]

FED Routing No: 026008691

CHIPS ABA: 0869

Keeping your existing Thai account, if you choose, you can also go to Bangkok Bank in Thailand and open a US Dollar account. Having two accounts (one Thai account and one US Dollar account) with Bangkok Bank can be beneficial. Here's how:

Assuming that you already have an account in a US bank, you can do a domestic transfer to Bangkok Bank in New York City, (the domestic transfer fees are low). The funds being transferred from your US bank account go directly into your Bangkok Bank US Dollar account. (Note: You cannot open a US Dollar account in NYC, you can only open this type account in Thailand).

Your US dollars can remain in this account without any time limit.

What does that mean?

It means that you can keep your US dollars in Bangkok Bank without exchanging into Thai Baht, and when the Thai baht gets weaker against the dollar or (the US dollar gets stronger) you can then at that point in time transfer your funds from the US Dollar account at Bangkok Bank into your other Bangkok Bank Thai account.

SCB has a similar program except they only offer 1-year time limit. After such time you are obligated to transfer out of your US Dollar account. In this regard, Bangkok Bank offers a superior program.

Hopefully someone will find this helpful.

It's nice to know that there are wealthy people like Mr. and Mrs. Gates that are kind and caring towards others in a big way.

No sir, incompetent Ministers SHOULD face dismisal, not "could" face dismisal.

In my opinion "should" and "could" are in the same category lacking the appropriate action.

It would have been a more appropriate choice of words to say:

Incompetent Ministers "WILL" or "SHALL" face dismissal.

(There is some speculation on my part based on the comments below)

It's difficult for me to understand why, even if just one of the people that were involved, why they didn't hire an attorney to investigate and request the chemical breakdown. Thailand does have strict documented rules and regulations for chemical hazards and safety. The attorney could have easily obtained Material Safety Data Sheet information to determine the associated risks, I.e., if the chemical is a Carcenigen and known to produce Cancer, etc...

As for me, only hearing a company make an "appoligy" to the affected neighborhood / public is an absolute insult to their intelligence. I say to those of this incident that believe they have been affected by chemical exposure, to hire a competent expert to investigate the associated risk that is posed to these individuals. Clearly some of these people had this chemical injested into their blood stream, possibly through their nasal passage while they kept inhaling.

If it's quite obvious that the people were overly exposed based on standard set-threshold values outlined in the MSDS , they should try and seek some form of compensation if deemed necessary, especially if the people that were exposed start showing unusual and unexpected medical conditions, such as dieing-off early. Just saying...

I heard from a Thai and apparently reading another article written in Thai that this monk didn't die. He was almost dead and apparently grasping for air when a police officer opened his coffin. I cannot confirm it as true but this is what I heard.

See it as it is or ignore and only fool yourself.

The truth of the matter is the profession is spread throughout the world, not only Thailand. And as most everyone is aware, prostitution is one of, or is, the oldest profession. Accepting that as a trueism, I pose this question:

Where have the hundreds of thousands of women through all the generations gone into our society? To break it down even more for you better yet, who were/ are they? Perhaps... They were/ are Aunts, Neices, Cousins and yes, oh yes, even Mothers.

So it should become clear at least to the casual observer, that speaking negative things about what these women do does not help. It creates negativity and negative feelings to others. Consider this novel approach: "Your job is only what you do. It's not who you are".

Be kind to others... You too someday could be in a situation where you need others involvement to help you. Don't be so quick with your tongue to say things that your mind conjures up. Try to work on, to better yourself thinking good thoughts and then when you speak to others you'll have something positive to contribute. Judging others is a very easy thing to do. Helping others is what you could be thinking.

I have my computer set to run various scans very early morning. The only time I turn the router off is to reset it from time to time.

In my home country they would be taken to court for racism , everyone pays the same price regardless , it is not hard to do, why Thailand see's fit to separates Thai's from tourists/ outsiders is a baffling topic , keep in mind that derogatory remarks about Thailand at Swampy is mainly on this subject.

In America if your retirement age you can pay less. Talk about age discrimination.

Thank you all ! My wife has managed to speak to a lady (friend of a friend) who works in a house book office in Nong Khai. She says it takes 2 to 3 days normally but the boss (who needs to sign apparently) will take a fee of 500 baht to get it done same day.

We are going to take the friend's house book to that office with the fee first thing Monday.

Cross fingers!

Two weeks ago I accompanied my girlfriend to the local Amphur in Chiang Mai to add her and my baby daughter to the Blue Book. The cost was 10 baht each. Total of 20 baht to add two persons AND it took 1 hour.

You don't establish any account with the Bangkok Bank "New York" branch...that branch is not for retail customer...it's only for commercial/wholesale account; you only use their "routing number" combined with your Direct Deposit Saving account number you can establish at any "in-Thailand" Bangkok Bank branch. You can use the NY branch routing number without having an account with them.

Go to this Bangkok Bank webpage and readup on transferring funds from the U.S. and setting up a Direct Deposit account for U.S. govt payments (i.e., SS pensions, military retirement pensions, etc).

Not to try to confuse anyone but...

What you say may be true however, if you chose to do it the way I have, you can benefit a great deal when the time comes.

I visited the Bangkok Bank in Thailand and set-up a US dollar account. I received an account number and an account book for Bangkok Bank in NY. Essentially the Bangkok Bank in NY acts like a brokerage where they transfer the funds to Thailand. You cannot actually open a Bangkok Bank in NY but you can do everything here in Thailand, they can set it.

When I want to transfer US dollars from another bank in USA, I have it sent to NY Bangkok Bank. The funds from another USA account go into the Bangkok bank US dollar account.

Now your US dollars can remain in this Thai account (no limit on when you have to withdraw funds). If you watch the strength of the US dollar versus the Thai baht then you can wait for when the US dollar is stronger and the Thai baht is weaker. Then you can take advantage of the better exchange rate. When the US dollar is stronger then just transfer from the US dollar account into your another Thai Bangkok Bank account in Thailand and you will have received a better exchange rate.

SCB offers something similar but imposes a restriction of 1-year. So in other-words, you SCB US dollars can only remain in the US dollar account NOT more than1-year. Bangkok Bank on the other hand has no such restriction for the amount of time you can keep your US dollars in your US dollar account. This is a real plus for US dollar holders.

I had some US dollars in my Bangkok Bank, US dollar account and when the Thai baht went over >32 baht to the US dollar, I made the transfer and ended up with a lot more money if I hadn't waited. This is a really good benefit that Bangkok Bank offers and which should be considered when transferring US dollars to Thailand.

Buddhaland- please explain how Bangkok Bank can arrange for direct deposit of US Social Security payments, and how much of a hit one takes with exchange rate or transfer fees. I'm currently wiring mine from my US bank and it costs me $45 each time. Thanks.

If I understand your question correctly... Assuming you're living in Thailand, you'll have to go to the US embassy, and in Chiang Mai it's easier than BKK.

Anyway, at the embassy they can assist but you will have to contact and communicate with the SS administer located in the Philippines. They administer US Social Security for SE Asia regions.

They can process your SS benefits to come to a Thai bank account.

Before you can do anything you will have to go to Bangkok bank in Thailand and set-up a US dollar account, which will be in New York. Then at the same time you will need to set-up a Thai bank account with Bangkok Bank. ( now you will have two accounts) for processing your SS benefits.

This is a special Thai account only to be used for SS.

So, basically here is how it works... SS in USA sends the SS benefits to your Bangkok Bank in NY and then transfers it to your Thai bank account. The BKK in NY charges about $5.00 and the Thai Bangkok bank charges another fee not to exceed 500 baht (usually it's lower) but definitely less expensive if you do it this method as opposed to just doing a funds transfer and paying $45.00 US dollars.

You must remember however that when you set-up a SS account this way using BKK bank, when the SS benefits are sent to you here in Thailand, you have to physically go to the bank to retrieve your money, you cannot have an ATM card for this type BKK bank used for Social Security.

If you absolutely need an ATM card then... You withdraw you SS funds from your BKK bank and open a regular account with an ATM, and just deposit your SS funds into that ATM account. Then will will be able to use an ATM. In either case, you still must report to the Bangkok Bank in person to get your SS funds each month.

I never had SS benefits received directly from US, I didn't apply for SS that way. When applied for my SS it was beginning at the US embassy in Chiang Mai. From start of application to actually receiving my SS benefits, it took less than 3-months. In the Philippines they do a good job and fairly quick. What seems to take the most time is the handshaking that has to take place between the new Bangkok Bank account set- up and verification through the Philippines and SS in America.

Also, once you have everything working, for 10 baht each month at Bangkok bank you can get SMS messages to let you know when your SS funds are received and available for you.

Hope this helps!

Best of luck.

who cares? i mean really. i live on lower sukhumvit and can not think of one instance where i was genuinely delayed or inconvenienced.

Either you haven't been here long enough or wait until you're older, it can be challenging at times.

Firstly, if I know that I will have work done in my mouth I make sure I don't have an infection. Secondly, I always inform the dentist that I request the injection at least 15 minutes before the procedure. I have been known to get 4-5 injections to reduce any chance of experiencing pain. The other important thing to remember is to first agree that if you experience any amount of pain, you will raise your hand and the dentist will stop. I have also learned long ago that if I care to have a tooth extracted, I go to a doctor that either specializes in these type procedures or question any new dentist on their experience in tooth extraction. Once when I was younger I had a very good dentist but he was a much older gentleman and during the procedure he asked me to help pull my own molar. After that I learned my lesson quickly and never to be repeated. Pulling a tooth should be your last choice. Do a root canal, and have the tooth capped or crowned. Once you remove a tooth, you have a hole in your mouth where you cannot chew properly. Sometimes it's better to spend the extra money and do the right thing and keep your tooth. Good luck and get it fixed quickly. You do not want to get a dry socket where the tooth has been partially removed. Get it corrected today.

Why fit those horribly looking bars, you could fit magnetic catches to the doors and windows, all connected by wi-fi to an audible alarm system, that can relay and be controlled from your own phone anywhere in the world, at a much lower cost.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Can you provide the model/ brand and location of where this wi-fi can be purchased to work with mobile phone? Thank you in advance.

In case anyone was wondering I put in about 1500 camelia sinensis sinensis and about 1800 camelia sinensis assam.

Here is a pic

About 30 % of the field is around the corner and hidden from view, but this is the best angle I can do.

Where are you located? When your tea is ready I would like to try it, if it's tasty and not so expensive.

Reading these posts day after day have made me come to realize that there are so many foreigners here in Thailand that really have no place else to call their home. They just continue to complain. They don't even have the sense enough to leave. We too are tired of your complains. We too would like you to be happy with yourself, your life. So please, take the next few days to figure out where would you best fit in this world. You could pack your things or sell them and then just quietly leave. Believe me you will not be missed. Look at it this way, the new PM is cleaning-up all the problem areas, and you are included as part of the clean-up.

Housing has to be most people's number one and so on...... For example my loan payments in the USA would be 44,888 baht per month in Thailand 16,000 for the same thing. Trash collection 2,211 baht in the West in Thailand 120 per month. So far I have saved about 31,979 per month to buy cheese.

I can buy a nice, well built house near Orlando for $50k.

Or a badly built house on a much smaller plot near CM for $50k.

(Trying to compare like with like)

I can do it much cheaper in Oregon, but that would be a bit too outdoorsy for most.

(food, clothing, electronic, education all cheaper in USA)

Of course everything is personal. I built two houses the same distance from the Gulf of Mexico and Gulf of Thailand so I know for me. I know what $50K buys in Orlando or Detroit and they are about the same. You are being silly to say there is anything livable in the USA under $100,000

How many different insurance policies are required in Florida when you have to insure your house? My understanding is that flood insurance is expensive as is the other house insurance plans. This you cannot compare Apples to Apples with Thailand. And then there is the cost to purchase the land. Oh yea, then you have to put in a septic tank and have good drainage run- off from the heavy rains. You can get all this for $50,000? Very unlikely! Of course there is always those locations on the wrong side of town.

I fell in love on my first trip 30 years ago. We dated on and off for many years and got to know each other quite well. Three years ago we were married and I still feel the love.

We don't know so many details, her age, what kind of job does she has, are you working or do you stay in the house all day, etc...

Depends on so many variables. What are you doing to make her feel like she wants to smile?

From my limited experience it seems to me that unless you and her are old then there has to be a problem if there is no sex.

If there is no sex then what about the kiss?

It's her house, she is being nice. Her not saying anything is another way of communication. She is letting you know something without words. Many Thai people are not going to open their words and communicate in the same way as you may expect.

It may be that she doesn't feel comfortable and not have enough confidence in herself to communicate with you. You could sit with her and talk to her Heart. She will understand... You need to be more understanding of the Thai-way or it's the Hi-way for you...

It's wise to closely follow the immigration rules pertaining to the specific type extension or visa. Most here don't call it nit-picking, they are simply adhering to the rules. If there is movement of funds from one account to another and the movement is carried out sooner than required than it would not be allowed. It does not work if the funds transferred still remain in the same bank but in a different account. Keep the funds in the account for the full duration.

Also if it applies: Bank promotions differ from bank to bank. They offer different interest rates and if you take advantage of those better rates be sure to first work out the dates of maturity. In other words, when the higher interest rate promotion ends on a specific date you will no longer get that promotion rate, instead it automatically reverts to a daily interest rate which is very low. Therefore, the only way to take advantage of the banks new promotion is to open a new account. It's important to be diligently aware in coordinating the dates of your bank account and the dates of immigration where you have to provide them with your bank account information.

I am reading many suggestions for tooth paste or Brasso. My suggestion is to NOT use anything porous otherwise it Matt scratch.

My suggestion would be to use Ammonia. If that doesn't remove it then I would try Vinager or a Citrus such as Orange or Lemmn.

Good luck!