Stocky

That's even worse! Sure the bank charge drops from $22 to $6 but the exchange rate is pitiful. Today's rate AUD 1 = THB 23.71. So sending AUD50k as THB will give you THB 1,185,357 - compared with WISE THB 1,235,229 a difference of THB 49,872.

I'd beg to differ. A transfer say from Commonwealth Bank to Bangkok Bank with SWIFT for AUD50k. The Commonwealth Bank charges you AUD22 for the SWIFT transfer as you are sending as AUD rather than taking their exchange rate. At today's BB TT rate of AUD1 = THB 24.185 you would receive THB 1,208,718 less the Bht500 charge by Bangkok Bank. Using WISE you would pay a fee of 0.56% of the sum transferred, AUD280, but get an exchange rate of AUD1 = THB 24.8437, provided you transfer bank to bank to the WISE account and not use debit or credit card there's no additional fee, you receive THB 1,235,229. That's THB 27,011 more using WISE.

Incorrect, it depends on currency pair. USD yes SWIFT is better above 10k. But most other currencies the exchange rate margin means Wise wins. Transfer Just the name of the account holder, the name of the bank, and the account number.

Quite probably. I've not had a cold or a cough in over 2 years, so they do help to reduce the spread of not just the Covid virus.

Seems Prayut is of a similar mind, the mid-June relaxation appears to have been torpedoed by the PM. Unlikely to be much push back here as the locals seem to comply near 100% with the mask mandate, and our tourists are predominantly Malaysian or Singaporean who follow similar guidelines in their own countries. Not many westerners visit the south. I don't have a problem with them, but not sure I'd want to be teaching or taught, all day everyday, behind a mask. .

Yes it has a festival air to it, families and friends all come to see the Hajji off and making it a day out with a picnic in the car park. Makes getting through the vehicle checkpoint, then the airport security difficult; lots of people just filling up space. The litter they leave behind on the lawns is awful. When I was working in Indonesia I'd sometimes get a double dose, Hat Yai airport, then again in Jakarta, though Jakarta now has a purpose built Hajj Terminal.

The Hajj is back, flight days as follows: Outbound Hat Yai - Madinah on 12 - 13 June 2022 Hat Yai – Jeddah on 29 Jun – 1 Jul 2022 Return Jeddah – Hat Yai on 20 – 21 Jul 2022 Madinah – Hat Yai on 8 – 10 Aug 2022 Can expect congestion as whole villages turn out to see the Hajji off and welcome them back again. Best to avoid travelling through Hat Yai airport on these days. .

Monzo Set up online, need ID and proof of a UK address. FSCS protected to 85k, can switch any direct debits you have with Halifax to Monzo.

What's the point of any discussion, you've already stated "I will not be convinced to wear one".

Depends on the currency you are transferring. I've run the numbers for both GBP and SGD - and Wise wins regardless the amount being transferred because of the difference in the x-rates offered. But for USD, yes there is a cut-off at 10k, above which SWIFT is cheaper; this time because the margin on USD x-rates gives Wise less advantage over the banks.

Because the ones that don't hit something don't report an accident, just get towed out or drive out

Personally I think tourists should follow the mask recommendation, if they can't do that then holiday somewhere else. HOWEVER! Relief is at hand (pfnarr, pfnarr) a report today in the local Hat Yai news says from mid-June masks are only required in three instances: the venerable, poor ventilation, and crowds. This will apply to blue tourist areas and green coded provinces.

A report in Hat Yai Today says mask wearing will no longer be necessary from mid-June (no more specific than that), except in 3 instances: - When visiting the vulnerable - Indoors in poorly ventilated premises - At activities that involve a large number of people https://www.hatyaitoday.com/mask-can/ This will apply to the 14 green coded provinces and the 17 blue tourist provinces - which includes Songkhla.

But the height's right

But you can diversify stocks by sector and region.

But you don't, so provided your eggs aren't all in one basket but suitably diversified, you have absolutely no need to panic.

I'm still invested, I maintain cash reserves to cover two year's expenditure plus an emergency fund. So no need to sell anything, indeed I've been buying a little on the way down. I started my portfolio 30 years ago, so got jitters out of the system a long time ago. .

Afghanistan? Rubbish. It's just a simple head scarf - a hijab or tudung; it's not a niqab or burqa, a hijab covers the head only. Most Muslim schoolgirls wear them here in the south, it's not a problem. The issue is the school fussing because the school is in the grounds of a Buddhist temple. I thought there had already been a ruling to say the school was wrong.

Indeed, I'm sure he can barely sleep at night for the worry

We live in a shop house on a normal soi in an unfashionable southern city, no car, no flashy clothes, no airs or graces.

Immigration called this afternoon to see if they could call round. Better than the first time when they arrived unannounced. Just one officer in civvies, who was very polite and spoke English, a few photos (not in the bedroom this time), sign the visit document, with witness signatures from a couple of neighbours and job done. They didn't visit last year, is there any protocol as to when you warrant a home visit?

Why isn't this in the Ko Samui or Phuket sections of the forum?

You've obviously not tried the Moscow Metro in summer.

I think you're confused with Marie Antoinette. I have a nut allergy so always proceed with extreme caution, I also always have antihistamine tablets with me. Like everyone else I fail to understand how you can miss seeing a whole prawn in your salad.

Interesting. I think we just have different ideas of what constitutes "nonsensical bureaucracy", and levels of tolerance. I spent an hour or so completing the forms, the wife spent half an hour at the amphur getting the confirmation of marriage certificate, half an hour at the local photo shop, there was half an hour at the bank, and then ninety minutes at immigration. With travel times (nothing is that far in Hat Yai) all told a maximum of 5 hours of my time, and it only happens once a year. Having spent 43 years as an expat, variously in Asia, Africa, Europe (inc. 5 years Russia), and South America, I guess I have developed a tolerance and don't find Thailand's hoops and hurdles to be particularly onerous. Horses for courses indeed.