AjarnMartin

19 hours ago, george said:

 

Not much will change immediately, we are always improving moderation and content. The whole team is staiying, of course, we have been waiting for this for a long time.

 

Forum structure will change a bit, better navigation etc. We need a better home page, better cloud hosting etc etc.

We will share a few positive news in mid May.

“… a FEW positive news…” reflects the poor English displayed in the content of this digital publication but I guess acceptable for most readers…??

Let’s hope for headlines to have some semblance to the ensuing article content in the future… Good luck… 🙏🏻

On 4/14/2024 at 9:42 AM, giddyup said:

I have an Omron HEM 7130, which I've had for a few years, and am beginning to doubt it's accuracy, as I always get a higher reading at the doctors or dentists than at home. I know some increase is due to "white coat syndrome" but I still think it's time for an upgrade.

Any recommendations?

Stick with Omron…🙏🏻

On 4/10/2024 at 11:31 AM, chickenslegs said:

*QI

555 chickenlegs... bluddy spelchequer - Thanks

1 hour ago, Expat Tom said:

Interesting but misleading. First, there are many many crime index reports.

 

https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp

 

Numbeo is considered to have the most extensive data basis. 

They rank Thailand as 100th and ahead of the USA, the UK,

Italy, Belgium and France. Thailand is ranked safer and with less crime

than most European countries. 

So, choose your own index to follow. 

I have visited  more the 75 countries and lived for longer than

one year in Asia, North America, Europe, South America and Micronesia 

and no place is perfect. 

I am an American expat and have lived in Thailand for well over 10 years.

To each his own but, as for me, I am quite happy to be here. 

Hi ET, thanks so much for your introduction to this website. It’s certainly impressive and seems to be far better informed than alternative sites I have seen. 🙏🏻

2 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Ok then Steven Fry on his IQ program was lying. 

STEPHEN Fry hosts IQ - I don’t know who the other guy is…. 😂

17 hours ago, Doctor Tom said:

Maybe they fit into the frames of the movie easier, perhaps, maybe, possibly. 

hahaha - or even a TV screen???

RECIPROCITY is a great word to read when topics of this nature are announced. In other words, if Thai passport holders are able to enter the UK free, then UK passport holders should be able to enter Thailand on the same basis… not likely when Thailand relies on this cash cow for income…

22 hours ago, kwilco said:

Can you find something else to do. You are being annoying and unhelpful. You obviously don't know that many airlines have changed the liquid quantities

So why not check directly with Thai Airways, then you have the answer. You’ve spent enough time composing 3,400 messages of useful information yourself…

On 3/9/2024 at 7:12 PM, retarius said:

Is Samsonite good? as good as, say, Tumi?

Retarius, I used to be an avid collector of Tumi luggage until it was bought by Samsonite. After this, I had great difficulty getting the right parts for replacement such as wheels and other plastic or rubber parts which disintegrate in the Thai climate. Samsonite, their owner, are now the better choice in my opinion, but my next brand, when I can afford it, will be Rimowa, from Germany - stunning!

18 hours ago, ozimoron said:

I have a friend who wants to buy a condo in Pattaya and freight a container of furniture and effects from Australia to Pattaya.

 

Can anyone recommend a reliable agent to do this, including handling the customs requirements? Would there be any taxes payable as the stuff is all used in his current home?

It’s a long time ago, but I used:

UniGroup Worldwide UTS Thailand for the importation of my belongings from UK to Thailand - PM me for details…

As for import tax, depending on your friend’s visa classification, on your FIRST entry into Thailand there is no duty liable for household goods and personal effects but one must be aware of the importation of ‘other’ goods and prohibited stuff - there’s lots of information available on the web.

If you are Thai aware, you will perhaps be aware that if you want services to be expedited ‘efficiently’, there are additional costs…

On 2/21/2024 at 2:57 PM, delgarcon said:

Tinyzonetv.se and movies2watch.tv, 2 very reliable sites

 

Thanks, delgarcon. Will test access at the weekend for tinyzonetv.se but my protection software is indicating movies2watch.tv is a security risk. Have you experienced any difficulty? 🙏

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Perhaps a typo there? Clinging on from just before turning 60, to becoming 60 should not be 2 years time.

Perhaps poetic licence regarding ‘just before’ to mean when he was 58…? 🙏

On 1/12/2024 at 11:19 AM, roquefort said:

I just got my annual statement from Bangkok Bank for renewal of my marriage visa extension. Some of my monthly transfers show the correct description "Foreign T/T" but other don't, even though I use the same method to send money from Wise each month. Wise have an option for "Funds for long term stay on Thailand" which I always use.

Is there any way to get Bangkok Bank to correct this as I suspect its going to cause an issue at immigration.

Roquefort,

I have been a user of Wise, formerly known as TransferWise, for a number of years and whilst previously, I experienced my transfers mostly going directly to my assigned bank (Bangkok Bank), sometimes it arrived having been received as an International Transfer (TFF) via a host bank (in my case, Kasikorn Bank in Chiang Mai) where it was posted as a TFF and then forwarded as a Domestic Transfer to Bangkok Bank.

The reasons were many and various depending on the time of the transfer, the day of the transfer, national or religious bank holidays, etc.

I use the monthly income method of extending my Retirement Extn so it was critical for me to get the requisite copies of the Kasikorn transactions to show the origination of the TFFs, so I visited the local Kasikorn branch in Phetchabun, a month prior  to my Retirement extension, gave them copies of each of the Wise transfer receipts detailing the Kasikorn involvement, and they in turn produced an Annual statement for Immigration, which accompanied the Bangkok Bank annual declaration. There was a small charge for this but Phetchabun Immigration were satisfied with this.

As Wise has become more successful, I had no need to do this in 2023 because there were no instances of transfers going via alternative host banks so one letter from Bangkok Bank sufficed.

Just as a word of warning, there is a limited window to get the information from alternative banks so if you seek documentation for individual transactions within the year, they will become invalid as far as Thai Immigration is concerned - best to wait until a couple of weeks before your Immigration extension and get one letter to cover ALL diverted TFFs in the year.

Good Luck…🙏

On 12/27/2023 at 8:00 PM, AjarnMartin said:

Hi poppysdad, thanks for the info. The dropdown list of KT Optics which another reader kindly posted was so helpful. I’m phoning the branch at BigC, Phetchabun tomorrow. I’ll relay my experience on here, but it sounds like a different mindset to the Top Charoens of this country. 👍

I visited KT Optics before Xmas at BigC, Phetchabun and was met with the same interest and customer care. I was tested whilst they adjusted my ‘old’ glasses and I ordered a new pair which were available for collection this week. I’m most impressed…

2 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Tip of the Iceberg; real figure would be 3 to 4 times greater than that.

 

Shows up the pointlessness of restricted Alcohol sales in Supermarkets etc and the 'fuzzing out' of drinks in Movies and TV programs, ban on public advertising etc etc, all completely useless in a Nation where everyone thinks what 'they' want to do is ok and nobody and nothing else matters !    Government and so called 'Police' completely inept and their own Workforces are just as bad as the average Somchai.   Indeed; often worse, as they think they are 'special' and 'above' the ordinary Folk.

…and with guns… 🤫🙏

So, with all the rhetoric and bluster, how does it compare to last year?

On 12/26/2023 at 5:32 PM, poppysdad said:

Apologies for not saying where but the branch in Robinsons in Kamphaeng Phet. Still find it difficult to believe what he did for free. 

Hi poppysdad, thanks for the info. The dropdown list of KT Optics which another reader kindly posted was so helpful. I’m phoning the branch at BigC, Phetchabun tomorrow. I’ll relay my experience on here, but it sounds like a different mindset to the Top Charoens of this country. 👍

On 12/9/2023 at 11:17 AM, liddelljohn said:

Ajarn Martin

 

a lot of Thai U bends or water traps are not deep enough or evaporate in the heat and so no longer  form a barrier ....

Liddelljohn, thanks for this. I hadn’t even considered this phenomenon as a possible cause, but can see the logic. Now it is the ‘cool’ season here in Phetchabun and it’s a ‘balmy’ 40 degrees C so bring on the rainy season… 

Carlosm, it might help if you share the model of rowing machine? I brought a Concept II rowing machine from the UK and found a sports equipment supplier who has both serviced and repaired the machine for 15 years with branded spare parts. http://www.searasports.com to find out if yours is included in their extensive range. Good luck!

21 hours ago, liddelljohn said:

its the drains and sewer or septic tank    very common problem in Thai systems due to badly designed  plumbing or non existent  U Bends  and water traps

For sure... I'm having to check all the draining pipes and overflow pipes from the sink in my en-suite bathroom of my newly-built house, as I believe there may be no u-bend included and what I can smell is directly from the septic tank. As the smell disappears after running the taps for a while, I also think there may be a damaged u-bend which doesn't effectively block the smell permanently?? TIT

On 12/1/2023 at 8:07 AM, topt said:

I am sure you are aware but for others you cannot use them to transfer out of Thailand.

Actually, topt, I've never had the need to transfer out of Thailand, but thanks for the reminder. 

20 hours ago, Crossy said:

How do you intend taking the $$$ home?

 

There are limits on how much cash you can carry, I'm not sure of the exact numbers I'm afraid.

 

It might be wise the transfer from your bank or use one of the money transfer apps rather than carry cash.

 

Crossy… “It might be Wise…” - very droll and a golden nugget for the company… 555

On 11/25/2023 at 10:33 AM, Georgealbert said:

Older thread, with top advice from the late Udonjoe

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/910961-marriage-visawife-dieswhat-happens/

 

Georgealbert, sorry to break into your message stream, but has Ubonjoe passed? You say the ‘late Udonjoe’ which means he is dead…??? If so, that is extremely sad - he has been such a stalwart source of Thai immigration advice for many years…