[How do you deal with soi dogs ?]

21 hours ago, TheFatOne said:

 

That's actually an extremely good idea.

I'm gonna have a look on Lazada.

Thanks

I carry a bamboo stick that I robbed from an old locally made broom. Just saw off the broom straws and you've got a good defensive tool for both 4 and 2 legged aggressive creatives. 

[Change from 400k to monthly depost]

I have an additional question to add to the OP's initial question. It's important to know exactly when to start those 40K Baht deposits for the 12 consecutive months. My Extension of Stay based on Marriage ends on May 17th, 2025, and I usually make application for the extension 1 month in advance, so April 17th. So, if I started my 40K international transfers in early May of this year and conclude them in early April next year just before I go for my Annual Extension of Stay, I will have made exactly 12 transfers to show at my Extension appointment. WOULD THAT BE CORRECT? If I get it wrong, then I'm screwed!

[Helping scammers]

3 hours ago, Stevemercer said:

My wife fell for (another) scam a few weeks ago.

 

She had booked and paid for a flight for me from Khon Kaen to Bangkok on Thai Smile. This was a connection for a Thai Airway flight I had booked myself.

 

My wife got a call inviting her to join Royal Orchid (Thai Airway frequent flyer) and they said she had to pay a small fee. They appeared to already have her essential details. She gave them her credit/debit card details and emptied her bank account (6,000 Baht).

 

I had to tell her it is free to join the frequent flyer program. She thought membership would allow entry into Thai's airport lounges, but, of course, it does not unless you reach a certain level.

Rule number one: Never allow your wife to have that kind of authority over money in the family. My wife has her own Thai Baht savings account, and she may add money to it out of the personal "salary" that I give her each month, but she would never spend 1 Baht from that account without telling me first. It's called "checks and balances, and there must be some ground rules regarding the spending of money. Most Thai women are just not mentally equipped to deal with these scammers, and they fall for anything. Never give them that much rope or they will certainly hang themselves!

[Creating a Last Will and Testament at an Amphur office]

12 years ago I went to our local Amphur and spoke with the Director about preparing a Will. He said it wasn't necessary and to simply prepare one on my own and have my signature witnessed by two people. I found a template for a Last Will and Testament on one of the local lawyer websites and drew my Will with my specifics, then I had it translated. Sure beats being ripped off by a lawyer, and I never liked the idea of having my Will on file with the Amphur. It's none of their business and leaves the door wide open to fraud. In any other country it may be safe, but in Thailand anything is possible. I've drawn up Wills for many of my friends with that same template, and two have already been probated in court successfully. 

[Speaking Thai - is it necessary these days for an expat ?]

Frankly, I just don't care! My Thai wife has been by my side 24/7 for the past 14 years, so I don't feel the need to bother with learning Thai. If anything ever happened to my wife, I'd be out of this God forsaken place so fast, it would make your head spin. I have lived full time in three countries and could never pick up the languages. Let's face it, some people just don't have a knack for learning other languages, and I'm one of them. I once tried to learn Thai when I first arrived, and it was more trouble than it was worth. After a few months of tutoring, I went for breakfast and ordered hot water "in Thai", and the waitress brought me a dinner salad. I knew right then I was wasting my time. The stress and frustration of it all far outweighs any possible benefits to learning the language.

[Songkran festival in Chiang Mai to draw in millions of tourists]

That's a bit of a stretch if you ask me. Maybe a few hundred thousand, but certainly not millions! If even one million came by aircraft at 200 people per plane load over 10 days would be 500 plane loads per day. And where are they all staying? Rubish!

[Nasal polyp treatment]

I have the same problem, and I used the Nasonex for nearly a year with zero results. You'll see videos on YouTube explaining how to administer the spray so that it reaches the polyp, but it just doesn't work. The polyp is way up in the cavity toward the ear, and regardless of where you aim the spray, it cannot turn that corner to reach the polyp, and it simply hits a wall and stops there. I stopped using it, and now it has been over a year and hasn't grown since it was first discovered two years ago. It never bothers me! I have a scope done annually to check on its growth.

[Familiarity breeds contempt?]

I think the answer is simple. The green newbie is an easy target for their scams and tricks. They are all looking to gain something from you. If they know you've been here awhile, then they know you're not an easy target and probably a waste of their energy. Don't ever think it's more complicated than that! Always expect to be "had" and you'll be okay!

[Why are Asian Women obsessed with little boys?]

Perhaps the OP is talking about Thai women's obsession with raising their little boys to be spoiled brats. Most are allowed full run of the house, and even the sisters of these entitled little twerks are made to cater to them. Spoiled little brats grow up to be adult spoiled brats, and that's why we have so many Thai men who are entitled and obsessed with saving their "face" when they have no "face" to start with!

 

[FCD Bangkok Bank Ubon]

This is incorrect! You have been given erroneous information which it typical for bank employees. Yes, you can SWIFT transfer your EUR funds directly into your FCD EUR account without having to do the exchange. They will charge you a maximum fee of 500 Baht to deposit it for you, which will show as a EUR debit on your account. To avoid having to pay that deposit fee as well as perhaps a hefty SWIFT fee from your SIN bank, you can do a SWIFT transfer of your EUR on Wise.com and only pay them a small fee. Again, no deposit fee at Bangkok Bank when using Wise.com.

By suggesting that you convert your EUR to Thai Baht and then back to EUR, they are trying to hook you for a fee to repurchase your EUR. Read the terms of your FCD account and you will see the fee which is charged. I think it's .25 of 1%.

Bangkok Bank has so few FCD customers that the clerks are vastly undereducated on the workings of those types of accounts. Maybe you can talk to a manager, but there's a good chance they won't be up to speed either. Get their brochure on the FCD's, and the terms will all be spelled out for you there. 

[Colonoscopy]

I actually had a private hospital in Udon Thani quote me a price by way of email of 100K Baht for the Colonoscopy, and if for some reason I needed to stay extra nights if they ran into problems, the per night price would be 20K Baht. That was a red flag if I have ever seen or heard one! I guarantee you they will be ready to make an excuse to keep the patient for extra nights in a private room, and if they do find a polyp, they will remove it even if it is not necessary, then charge you for an extra surgery. All the while the patient is knocked out and will never know if he has been scammed or not. This kind of diagnostic procedure is a slippery slope at best, and I would avoid it at all costs unless there is some other indication that there is a problem "down there". 

After I turned 50 back in the USA in 1998, my company healthcare program offered a free annual maintenance Colonoscopy. Nobody bothered to tell me that I would have to pay if they found something that had to be snipped. After the test I was told that they found one polyp and removed it, and the insurance company billed me $750 for the surgery. There are many doctors that have made this a racket and are scamming patients right and left. It's a big money maker for them. 

[How do you resist temptation?]

Here are a few Bible verses for your consideration:

Proverbs 27:12....A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself from it; but the simple pass on and are punished.

 

1 Corinthians 10:13... No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

 

James 4:7...Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

 

The simple answer is to flee from the temptation as fast as you can, and if necessary, remove yourself from the environment if you can't resist the pull. If you can't do that in your own strength, then call on Jesus and ask Him to give you the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome the addiction to sin. All things are possible through Christ Jesus our Lord!

 

 

[Who wears the pants in your family?]

From a Biblical perspective, I submit the following for your consideration:

 

1 Corinthians 11:3...But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

 

God has designed a chain of authority within the family, and the man is called to be the spiritual head of his household. That doesn't mean that he lords his authority over his wife, but that all decisions should be a joint effort, but when there is an impasse, the man makes the final call. If the wife is more competent at certain tasks, like bookkeeping for example, then the man can delegate that authority to her, but he should be the overseer of that task.

 

Just remember that it was Eve who was approached by the Serpent in the Garden of Eden, and he convinced her to disobey God, and she in turn convinced Adam to disobey Him as well. The devil will most always attack the weaker vessel when he comes after your family, so do you really want to give all control to your wife?

I personally take my cue from King Solomon in the Old Testament. He was the richest and wisest man who ever lived, and he made the statement that he had met very few wise men in his life, but he had never met a wise woman. Therefore, when a man gives up his authority, he risks it all. What else would explain why so many farangs lose their fortunes when they turn things over to their Thai wives. So, get a backbone men, and start living your calling in life.   

 

[Restaurant Meals Versus Photos in Menu or Advertisements]

From my observation, most restaurants in Thailand generally use stock photos that they get off the internet instead of taking photos of actual items which they serve. There seems to be no "truth in advertising" here like in the US. What else would we expect in a country where it is totally acceptable to tell lies. In your case I would have refused to accept that dish unless they threw in the third rib. I recently ordered tacos off a picture menu showing 3, but I was only served 2. When I confronted the owner, his answer was "oh, we just made a change in the menu and haven't had a chance to update our photo". If he was honest, he would have made a note on the menu and alerted me before I ordered. I gave him a tongue lashing and never came back. He never offered to serve me the third taco. Obviously, his conscience wasn't working properly. 

[Finally some good news about tinnitus]

My tinnitus worsens with the continuous use of Ibuprofen after only a few days. When I cease using it, the tinnitus disappears for the most part.

[US Passport Renewal Pay.Gov URL Not Listing Thailand as Country Option? Try this Link]

Just 3 days ago I went through this process and had no problems paying for my US Passport renewal using a credit card. However, after I signed up for the Thai Post Office Mart to pay the 100Baht for the return envelope, there was a glitch in the website. After putting in all my credit card details, I pressed the link to order and I got a small window saying there was an error, so I reentered my data and clicked the order link again and got the same message. I went to my email inbox and TWO receipts for payment had bypassed my inbox and showed up in my junk file. It had actually processed my order twice after showing that both orders had failed, and there was no way to cancel one of the orders. Now, I can only imagine the confusion when two return envelopes show up at the US Embassy. On a separate piece of paper, I attempted to write an explanation to the embassy staff, but God only knows if it will be understood by the worker at the embassy. It seems that every time I try to do business on a Thai website, there is always a problem with the site not working properly.

[Safety Concerns Surge in Pattaya as Low-Hanging Signs Pose Threat to Tourists]

Typical conversation between the worker and his supervisor......"go install the sign, do as you're told, don't ask any questions, and above all, DO NOT THINK FOR YOURSELF!!!!!!

[How would you describe heaven?]

Why ask AI instead of going directly to the Word of God to read EXACTLY what Heaven will be like. Just goes to show the extent to which "lost" men will go to avoid picking up the Word of God. 

John 3:20-21.....For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

[The Reality of Existence vs the Hope of Eternity]

Dear OP,

Sadly, you are among the ranks of a worldwide multitude of vulnerable men/women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions, ideologies and psychologies, who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the TRUTH. You go through life, and along the way you pick up little tidbits of untruths that form the basis of your entire belief system, and it is all vanity and meaningless. If you truly want to be set free, then sit down with The Word of God and simply begin to read starting with the Book of Matthew in the New Testament, and your eyes will finally be opened. If you approach the Bible with an open mind and heart, diligently searching the Scriptures with a heart that is prepared to accept the TRUTH, then it will be revealed to you. If you approach it with an attitude of unbelief, then the revelation of God's Word will be shut down, and you will eventually die in your sin, and you will never know the true meaning and purpose of your life. Seek the Lord Jesus while He may be found. Your eternal destiny is at stake my friend. Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, and no man comes to the Father except through ME".

[PART 2 Thai Wife Being Bullied By Family]

It's time to walk away from a few people, and if you have to, take your wife and move away from them! It's just not worth all the grief and stress.

 

[USA Bank Transfer]

I recently discovered that I could use Wise.com to transfer USD's to my Foreign Currency Deposit Savings account at Bangkok Bank. Just choose "same currency" USD's to USD's and choose the SWIFT option for the transfer. I sent a low 5 figure transfer for only a $52 fee, and my credit union in the US would have charged me $80 for the same transfer. Had it done within 5 minutes with no hassle at all. 

[What would you do?]

You can never go wrong by doing the right thing. Always be honest in all of your dealings with people. Damaging your conscience for the sake of saving a few hundred Baht is just not worth it. I can't count the number of times in the past 14 years in Thailand that I have done exactly as the OP did. Most of the clerks are bewildered by the honesty, some may feel a loss of "face" due to their mistake, and some just don't want to be bothered with having to correct their error; however, none of that is more important than saving your own conscience from the feeling of guilt. I get it, some of you guys/ladies have a conscience that has been seared for so long by your wrongdoing that you no longer feel guilt over what you may perceive as nothing so earthshaking as cheating a vendor out of a few hundred Baht, but it's still dishonesty even if it's only one Baht. I have a feeling that Thais expect us "dirty farangs" to be cheaters, so why not set a good example and show them otherwise. It's not that difficult to be honest.

On the other hand, recognizing that many Thais pay little to no attention to how they perform their duties at work, you can bet that 20% of the time they will make a mistake when calculating your bill, and most of the time it will not be in your favor. So, for that reason I always double check my bills no matter where I shop or eat out.  

 

[Another Disappointing Encounter with the Thai Medical Establishment]

1 hour ago, jaideedave said:

Same here, when I visited PIH in Pattaya they made me pay get the bp test right after checking in. Of course it always reads high.I just got off my motorbike after running the gauntlet of 2nd Rd.

There's a nurses fee involved.It's only 300 baht but I feel it's a wee bit of a rip off.

None of the government hospitals charge a nurse's fee to take weight, height and blood pressure, but all of the private hospitals do. It's their "cash cow" and a total rip off. Most everyone who goes to the hospital will already be stressed out, so they will have "white coat syndrome" which is an elevated blood pressure and pulse due to stress or just having run up steps or walked a great distance down hallways. Most doctors are aware of this, so I think they pay little attention to these number anyway. Again, the entire procedure is nothing by a sure-fire way to extract money from the patient. There have been times when I have even insisted that I will NOT take their tests, but they charged me anyway. Just imagine if they see a mere 100 patients a day at 300 Baht a pop, that's an extra 30,000 Baht per day or 10,950,000 Baht per year in the hospital's coffers. That certainly makes the shareholders happy!

[Has Your Arrival in Thailand Caused You to Change Your Religion?]

It's easy to change religions if all if have is "religion" and not a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe, the one and only true God. When one accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and experiences a spiritual rebirth from above, that person is "sealed" by the Holy Spirit and guaranteed eternal life in Heaven with The Father, Son, Holy Spirit and all those who are part of the family of God. Once one receives the Holy Spirit, you don't just "change your mind" and become the whore chasing other religions. It is impossible for anything to take you from the Hand of God once you belong to HIm, and you will never have a desire to seek another path. It was said of Abraham..... Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised. The true follower of Christ will have the same faith as Abraham, if not greater. Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no man comes to the Father except by ME! That alone should be enough reason to never seek another God!

[Your Mic is Open and Google is Listening]

On 11/12/2023 at 12:14 PM, sirineou said:

Well they would have to. otherwise how would they know if you are talking to them. 

But the google thing is disturbing. 

I'm not convinced that Alexa is always listening. Until one uses the word "Alexa" its microphone is not activated.