mhortig

Thanks. As I suspected from other comments. Any idea how to get the additional coverage that is prudent ? I will have my Thai wife check with our insurance co.

We're thinking of taking out car to Laos (Friendship Bridge-Nong Kai). We've researched what is needed, but a couple of things are still unclear. My Thai wife will drive. Does she need an international drivers license, or just her Thai license?  If our Thai insurance will not cover Laos, and I suspect it will not, what insurance do we need and where to get it?  Apparently there are some insurance shops just after the Thai check point, but some comments have been made that while OK for Laos immigration, it will not be of much use in the event of an accident. Any thoughts or suggestions on this. I would appreciate hearing from folks who have actually done this, please. Thanks in advance.

I want to lay my hybrid mattress on a new solid platform frame. Because of our high humidity I am concerned about mold. A number of sites on the internet point to  this as a potential problem, and that's in the US. The suggested best fix is to put a coconut coir pad under the mattress for circulation. Has anyone one had a mold problem with a solid platform bed? I would prefer not to use the coir pad. One suggested method was to drill numerous holes in the platform but many negate that as not effective, Because of the heaviness of this mattress slats are not good as we had them before and there was sag. I would appreciate helpful feedback.

Hi, I hope I'm in the right forum.  We live in Phitsanulok. Can anyone tell me of a lumber yard around here that sells plywood and will cut it to the size required. Its a small job but I don't have a saw and don't need one. If you can give name of place, location and telephone I would be most appreciative. Google in English was not helpful. Thanks in advance.

Thanks everybody for comments. Incidentally we do have the highest coverage insurance with Viriyah and I am surprised that the claim adjuster did not take care of it.

Thanks, perhaps this is legit, even though it is unfair. I suspect this was deemed to be a 50/50 situation, but nobody was forthcoming to my wife. In my view it was clearly the fault of the motorcycle. She was driving in the dirt next to road, it was not even a real shoulder, She  hit us when we turned into a restaurant, we did signal,  but she was in a blind spot and going very fast.

I would like to thank you both for your offers of assistance. As it turned out, unknown to me, she was also surfing the net. She found a very helpful Belgian in Pattaya and they went and got it done. I really appreciate falangs willing to assist their countrymen.

I am asking on behalf of friends. The wife is Thai and the husband is from Belguim, but she has to take care of all his business. She is trying to complete some tax forms and does not speak Dutch, and apparently the husband cannot help. Does anybody know of someone who can translate Dutch and might be able help her figure out the forms.  This is a bit of an unusual request but I would appreciate any suggestions.

I'm looking for genuine Chinese food. Not the Thai Chinese fusion. I'm not looking for fine dinning, just simple well prepared Cantonese food. I can not eat any shellfish or seafood and I have found that most of the so called Chinese restaurants are actually Thai style, and they seem to slip crab or shrimp into everything even though its a chicken or pork dish, or dim sum. Any suggestions

Just want to "second" on all the recommendations above. Baan Tawai has it all.  English is not a problem their. There  is an incredible selection available and anything can be custom made. Bargain hard. We designed our own furniture and had it custom made-very fair price. They arranged a truck to carry exerything to Phitsonulok where we live. Good luck-take time to check out everything.

UPDATE on HEARING AIDS IN PHITSANULOK. I was looking into a hearing aid for the first time. Ended up at the Government hospital, audiology clinic. Long story short, they tested me and let me try their BEST hearing aid. The cost was 17,000 baht. Very inexpensive but very poor sound, much too noisy. Passed on that and tried this shop. https://www.facebook.com/ศูนย์การได้ยิน-และ-เครื่องช่วยฟัง-พิษณุโลก-785724724925424/. I don't know the English name, it's near the government hospital. It's the only hearing aid shop in town. They seem to specialize in low cost range but good quality aids. They really only offered me a choice of two. I got the Unitron T-max up 600 (BTE). The clarity of the sound actually surprised me, and the background noise was like normal sound, not annoying. Very good value at under 30,000 baht.  The test was free, and cleaning and minor adjustments are free for a year.  It seems to be very important to have access to "after service". They seem to offer a very limited range of aids, and their English is virtualy nil. Take a Thai friend. They are friendly and want to help.

One contributor suggested Phitsonuvej hospital, but I avoid them whenever possible as their "mark ups" are outrageous.

Hi Kokesat. Thank you for your useful information.

Hi. Does anyone know of shops for hearing aids in Phitsanulok? Location and contact information would be useful, also any comments about service, costs etc. Thanks

What banks will set up an account and allow the US Social security benefits Direct Deposit.  If you have set up direct deposit with a Thai Bank, please let me know which bank it was. The bank websites do not provide that information. I will talk to the individual banks, but sometimes, especially in my small city, the staff do not really know what their bank allows. If necessary I can encourage them to check with their head office. Thanks.

Thank you very much for your information and assistance. This is exactly what I need.

22 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

I shifted the direct deposit from a restricted BBL account to a normal BBL savings account that has an ATM and internet banking enabled. I downloaded the form for Thailand from the SS website linked below, completed it and had my BBL branch sign and stamp it. I then emailed a scan to the SS office in Manila. When the switch takes place depends on whether the request gets into the system before the next month's cutoff date for payment.

 

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1199.html

Currently I am receiving my US social security benefits by direct deposit  into my Bangkok Bank account. This is the old style direct deposit, whereby all transactions must be made ONLY by myself in person, I cannot have an ATM card or automatic transfers to other accounts. This was set up a few years ago. Since then the US has announced that regular direct deposits can made to Thai banks. I assume this would be like my US direct deposits allowing me to have an ATM card.  Has anyone set up a direct deposit under this new scheme? Can you have ATM card? Has anyone changed from the old Direct deposit to the New one?. I'd like to get as much understanding as possible before I go talk to the bank. In my city their English is very limited. The Banglok Bank web site seems only to make mention of the old restricted plan. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who is actually using the new plan. Thanks.

HI UBONJOE. Thanks for reply.  I currently have an O-A visa for marriage. I have a Thai wife. Because of my age and health I probably can not get health insurance, so I'm looking at options.

I live in Thailand with an O-A marriage visa. Where can I go to a Royal Thai consulate that is outside Thailand. Of course border must be open. What documents are requred to enter country, and what is required to come back to Thailand.  Also shat documents do I need for the actual visa application.  Has anyone done this recently?

Is the Thai consulate in Savanakhet open for O visa applications? What hours.

With covid restrictions is it possible to travel to Savanakhet by land or air?

What documents are required to enter Laos?

Is there a quarantin

What documents are required for O marriage application.

What is required for return to Thailand

I would appreciate any information as to whether this is still possible and how to do it?  Thank you.

Is the TM 30 reporting still required?

Has anyone had the Neobladder reconstruction procedure done in Thailand. I would prefer to go to Chiangmai if possible. Please give name of hospital, doctor and cost. Contact info for the doctor would be useful.  Anybody know if Chiangmai University hospital can provide this procedure?

thanks

thanks, as I suspected.

Is the land border crossing in Mukdahand to Laos OPEN? Can you also re enter Thailand via this crossing at this time?