Drew345

Is there a really big pharmacy near a skytrain / subway station? Usually I go to Pharmax on Thong Lor, but it involves a motorcycle taxi there and back to the station. It's a great pharmacy though. I am going to get Orlistat (fat-catching drug) and sominar (decongestant / sleeping). If there were a big pharmacy on the skytrain, that would be great. Sukhumvit would be even better.
Thanks,

Anyone ever seen or heard of an oil-free foot massage? I am going back to Thailand soon. I love the foot massage (and Thai massage too). But that oil always hangs around too long and gets into the soles of my shoes and makes them slippery or hard. I have knee trouble and can't wear sandals, or else I would just visit the massage shop in rubber slippers. Sure the oil feels good during the massage, but then no matter how hard I try I can't wash it off, and it ends up harming my shoes (even through the socks).
Is there an oil-free style of foot massage? Anyone ever ask for and get an oil-free version?

Thanks, Robert

Anyone know any podcast for Thai language learners that is in the Thai language?
I studied Thai 15 years ago while living in Thailand and now I go back every year or 2. I want to brush up before going and while I am there. My Thai isn't great, I am sure there are many people much better on the forum. But I am above basic, solid intermediate. I'll review the tone rules again myself, and get a Preply online tutor, but would also like to do more listening with a podcast. Most podcasts are in English, and for beginners. Anyone know a Thai language podcasts for learners in clear, intermediate Thai? 
Thanks, Robert

A 90 minute 0-0 tie game and "this columnist tried to gather his breath!" 

Oh, I wish I could have found the Sukumwit Hospital sooner, it didn't show up when I searched for Hospitals. But I see it now.

Actually I ended up going to a "Public Health Center" at Ekkamai station exit 3, right next to Wat That Thong. It was about a 2 hour wait. 1 hour no aircon, then 1 hour inside aircon. Prie was 200 Bt. It wasn't a bad experience actually. I'm surprised they didn't just tell me to go to Sukumwit Hospital, seems to be right next door.
Anyway, stitches are out, all is good. Thank you all.

Is there a current motorcycle taxi app, or have they all been shut down?  The Soi my hotel is on doesn't get any motorcycles and it's a bit far from the skytrain station. I open Grab app but I don't see a way to specify motorcycle, just taxi. 

I got some stitches on my finger just before coming to Thailand and need to get them removed tomorrow or the next day. When I search "clinics" I get dental clinics, aesthetic clinics, etc., but don't see anything I would consider a health clinic. I'm in On Nut if that matters. Don't want to go to a international hospital, or certainly not to any emergency room. What would I search for for a local small surgery clinic, or something like that to remove stitches?

37 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

That's how Air BnB works! You don't see the place first just  photos  and videos.

The problem is, these agents use exactly the same pictures over several different property locations. 

It seems I'll be in Bangkok for a month to do some knee rehab in Thong Lo.  I'm looking for a one month condo, On Nut would be nice. I see on AirBnB many hosts seem to be agents with many listings. So you pay to AirBnB and then they give you something they have available. I'd rather see the property first actually, especially to see gym and pool. I tried just Google search, but that gives agencies that conver the whole city. Any advice to get a one month rental in On Nut (or near Thong Lo), and seeing it first? 

56 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

What type of visa will you be entering Thailand with?

Good ideas, Thank you. I am American so I was planning on entering visa-free for 30 days, but then I would need the return ticket already booked. I will look into getting a 60 day visa to avoid needing the return ticket.

I am planning to go to Thailand from South Korea for a medical procedure (knee). The time period is a bit open, depending on how many appts needed and recovery time. It's a nerve problem, not ACL or anything too big (I hope). Does anyone have any good suggestions for things to look for, avoid when getting a ticket that probably will have to be changed. I am thinking on booking 3 weeks first, and then extending if I have to. I guess I just need to check every airline from South Korea to Thailand (there are a few good budget ones luckily), but just wanted to check here for tips too.

Thanks,

Up to now I have kept my kasikornbank account active by doing a small transfer to a Thai friend every 6 months or so. There is a bank login password, and then another PIN2 password for doing transfers. I just got an email that the PIN2 password system will be discontinued and I must move to a OTP password received by phone. I don't know if it will be by SMS message or by voice call, maybe someone already using the kasikornbank OTP system can tell me that. Anyway, I don't have a Thai phone, now when I visit I just buy a new SIM card every time. Does anyone know a way to receive a Thai phone call and / or SMS while outside Thailand. I searched for "receive Thai SMS" and yes, there are a lot of websites offering that service, but most of them you just use the number for a day, and share with everybody else online that day. I couldn't tell which ones offered a number just for me. Is there one as "trustable" as google voice for example. Rather than "search this and that", if anyone knows a specific Thai phone number provider, or another way to receive the kasikornbank OTP, or another way to keep the account open, I appreciate it.
Note: I only have one account open, so transferring back and forth between two accounts also not an option.

I guess I'm dreaming of traveling freely again, but does anyone know of gyms in Bangkok that offer short term memberships like 2 or 3 months. Last time I was there a few wanted to sell global lifetime memberships and weren't interested in monthly at all. How would I find monthly gyms like that? Maybe they exist in Thai neighborhoods, just not falang areas? 

Thanks

Thanks everybody. I like the idea about doing a small transfer donation to a charity every so often.  I just made a small transfer to an old friend and didn't bother him with an explanation. I didn't need a cell phone number OTP (one time password) to do the transfer, just did it online with my password. Maybe the phone number OTP requirement is a new thing and my account is 20 years old. 
Anyway, thanks for all the great ideas and can't wait to get back to Thailand. I'll just have to wait until both Thailand and South Korea (where I live) drop the quarantine requirements.

I used to go to Thailand twice a year for long stays. Then once a year. Then COVID hit and I haven't been there for more than 2 years. 

I have a decent amount in my kasikornbank account, so want to make sure it stays active. I log in and check it from time to time. Last year I just transferred 50 Bt to a friend there and he transferred it right back. I hate to bother him again this year.

Any creative ways to keep an account active while gone for a long period of time (years)? I guess I could just transfer the 50 Bt (or just 10 Bt even) and not even mention it to my friend. Anyway, just wondering if others have a creative solution to keeping accounts open. Thanks!

Thank you. I will make a note to do an online transfer within 12 month. Hmmm, I have 70,000 Bt in the account now. I wonder why I got the notice (It's in Thai Language). Anyway, that is great information. Thank you.

I haven’t been to Thailand for 17 months and no plans to go for immediate future obviously. I just got a message from an old friend that they got a paper-mail from Kasikornbank (TFB) that my account was about to go dormant. So they transferred 100 Bt to my account. That was really nice. TFB emails me about other things like planned service outages, strange they wouldn’t email about this issue, but whatever.

Does anyone know:

- What is the period of no-use before a bank (TFB) goes dormant?

- What happens if it does go dormant?

- Do they let you change the address to a foreign address? (I don’t plan on living in Thailand again, but will still visit once a year.)

Thanks, I'll bring the old passport and hope that is the one for the account. I do have the bankbook too. Maybe I can enter the card PIN at the teller too. Old card, bankbook, old ID. Hope I am OK. Thanks

I'll be going back to Thailand this month for the first time in 3 years. I have a TFB (KasikornBank) account; I've had it about 20 years. My ATM/Debit card is expired, so I will need to reissue it, or at the very least I need to go to a bank and withdraw money from a teller. What ID is needed ? My passport number changed last year, so I am not sure if the check passport numbers with the account or not. I could bring my old passport, but I don't think even that number is the same as the one on record (from opening the account 20 years ago). The account is active, I can log on, and I have transferred money in and out periodically. 
Does KasikornBank check the passport number ? Or just the name on the passport ?
Thanks!

I'm in Bangkok a few days and I brought my laptop to work on a project. To my surprise, many of the coffee shops I know have closed down and I saw a couple that simply removed all chairs... I know a bit about the back story here with students and indepentent businessmen (like me?) tieing up tables and cafes unable or unwilling to simply create reasonable minimum purchase requirements. Anyway... anyone know a nice cafe to sit and do some computer work in the Silom area? I don't mind minimum purchases of coffee or cake. I looked in the window of the "Bug and Bee" and it looked like a disaster zone; that place closed down? I haven't been in the redesiged silom complex (been gone a couple of years), any good coffee shops in there?

It seems the coffee shop craze has come full circle with there being two on every corner to now being hard to find.

Thanks,

Drew

I'll be going to Bangkok.

If I test positive in the country where I am now I will not be able to renew my visa.

Of course health is more important that visa, but for Syphilis I read 2 weeks is as soon as possible to check.

I just found out that someone I was in "contact" with has syphilis. It wasn't much contact, I got away as soon as I felt the sore, but there was some contact. I am actually not in Thailand right now, but will be going in 3 weeks which I understand is just the right time to get an accurate test.

Anyone know the best place for a Syphilis test and treatment (if positive?). What's the turn around time for test results and treatment time?

Thanks for any info on my predicament...

I used to always keep a truemove sim card active as I visited Thailand twice a year. But I haven't been for 2 years so my SIM will be dead now.

I will be in Thailand for a month this time, and need a SIM with about 2 GB of data and about 20 hours of wifi would be nice too. I don't need to keep the number, so use and toss will be fine.

Should I just go into a 7/11 and get a SIM? Are SIMs and plans like that available? Thanks for any advice as I would like to land and get this sorted as soon as possible.

Thanks

Drew

I'll bump this again.

There are quite a few places selling the paper, as mentioned above.

It's the copy shop I am at a loss to find. Any idea of a copy shop near Silom, Siam Center or maybe Suk?

Thanks!