General Reports

[QUOTE=Finrod]I find it really hard to believe that E*Trade would rebate this fee too. [/QUOTE]I have been extremely attentive to my statements to a point of recording the x-rates.com published exchange rate each and every day for a month and trying to figure out what is the deal with E*TRADE on their rate. It was almost like glitch that E*TRADE was unaware. An yes their exchange conversion fee is closer to zero than 1 percent. I would estimate that rate was closer to 0. 25 percent not 1 percent. Yes, 0. 25 percent and not 0. 5 percent.

I have probably done almost 1000 foreign exchange ATM transactions on both E*TRADE brokerage and bank ATM cards. In both Thailand, Europe and Brazil dealing with regular banks I have been very please. The only SCAM I've ever seen is run buy Citi bank in Brazil where they add a fee and convert to Dollars based on their rate so E*TRADE has no idea that the ATM withdrawal had anything to do with foreign exchange. I was happy to see that Citi-bank shareholder equity was wiped out even though I once owned a piece of the bank.

TO repeat. I have never been charged a fee in all my foreign exchange conversions with E#TRADE. If I use a BofA debit card I will be charged an ATM fee from both the ATM and BofA if I used in Europe. In domestic transactions with E*TRADE, I have been charged a fee but it get's rebated.

The issue is ATM cards and Debit Cards issued by various banks differ substantially in fee structures especially if you try to use the card in a foreign country. The only similarities is the all have magnetic strips and are made of plastic. From that point on they all are different even if they say both VISA or Mastercard.

My Thai friend in Bangkok told me last week that there has been a large amount of counterfeit Thai baht showing up. He said in the 100 and 500 baht notes. Both in Pattaya and BKK.

Also that some of this phoney paper has been dispensed out of ATM machines. Have any of you guys heard of this problem?

Aside from E*Trade which I have no knowledge of I have heard something similar with Charles Schwab Brokerage with rebates.

I use to get 4 free international withdraws through my credit union then their debit/credit card got a Visa local attached to it.. Right after that the credit union started to charge me a 1% after each withdraw. Athough I have a Visa credit card just for emergency I used it once to purchase a airfare through the Internet on Eva Air. I got charged 3% for using the card oversea and another 1% for the conversion. That was the last time I used the card! I also had a Chase credit with a Master Card logo on it and since Eva Air gives you a 5% discount for using Master Card I decided last year to use this card and when my bill came I notice! no 3% or 1% and I get rewards points. I used it again in December 2008, bill came no 3% or 1%. Card is a fixed rate at 7.9% but I pay off the balance within the 30 days.

LBM

[QUOTE=Thunderdome]My Thai friend in Bangkok told me last week that there has been a large amount of counterfeit Thai baht showing up. He said in the 100 and 500 baht notes. Both in Pattaya and BKK.

Also that some of this phoney paper has been dispensed out of ATM machines. Have any of you guys heard of this problem?[/QUOTE]

A lot more stores are scanning the notes before accepting them and I was told it was because more and more counterfeits were showing up. Take it for what that is worth.

[QUOTE=Tansak KTV]A lot more stores are scanning the notes before accepting them and I was told it was because more and more counterfeits were showing up. Take it for what that is worth.[/QUOTE]What is our best bet for not getting stung this way? Use a debit card within the bank during regular hours to ensure notes are real? Not use the ATM?

I have been inspired by a recent thread on the Pattaya reports section comparing Rio de Janeiro with Pattaya and I decided to compare Bangkok with Sao Paulo.comparing the look and the "appeal":

I am from Rome, Italy so I am not easy to impress. Frankly neither Bangkor nor Sao Paulo are beatiful cities. Both are polluted and full of traffic. None of them has beaches. Still both of them offers a truli cosmopolitan environment that I really like. Winner: TIE

Comparing the safety:

Sao Paulo has a impressive record as one of the most dangerous cities in the world (about 100 murders per week) while I always felt very safe in Bangkok.

Winner: Bangkok

Comparing the "non-mongering" activities:

Bangkok offers less than Sao Paulo in terms of variety of movies, theatres, concerts and live music, not to talk about football.

Bangkok offers much more in terms of shopping.

Winner: it depends on your preferences but for me it's Sao Paulo.

Comparing the food

Both cities offers a very good choice of international and local cuisine.

Winner: again, it depends on your preferences but for me it's Bangkok.

Comparing the "non-professional" nightlife:

Sao Paulo offers a wide variety of clubs pubs and and night-clubs most of which are.of course- "non-pro" oriented.

Bangkok offers a mere average variety of "non-pro" venues.

As a foreigner.I can speak accettable Thai and Portuguese- I feel more at ease in a "normal" club in sao Paulo than in Bangkok.

About the music quality and the night-clubs level Sao Paulo beats Bangkok by 100-1.

Winner: Sao Paulo

Comparing prices:

The vast majority of things (including restaurants) are cheaper in Bangkok.

Winner: Bangkok

Comparing hotel:

Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit is 6000 Baht (130 Euro)per night

Intercontinental Sao Paulo is 700 Reais (220 Euro)per night

Winner: Bangkok

Comparing women:

Brazilian women are more attractive than thai women.

Frankly thai girls are very good as well but the Brazilians are much better.

Winner: Sao Paulo

Comparing sex:

Brazilian girls are oversexed. I must say that thai girls are very hot as well in the bed and I don't find a so big difference beetween the two as someone claims.

Still I prefer Brazilians.

Winner: Sao Paulo Comparing women prices:

In Bangkok long time is average 2000 Baht (45 Euro).

In Sao Paulo long time is average 400 Reais (150 Euro).

Winner: Bangkok.

Will I come back?

I must do it as my business takes me every month in each city!

Italy 1974

[size=-2][b][u]EDITOR'S NOTE[/u]:[/b] [blue]I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please [url=http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/announcement-reportsofdistinction.php?]Click Here[/url] for more information.[/blue][/size]

Thanks for the info and research on E*Trade and fees.

The difference might be this: if you are using your E*Tr card like a credit card to make "purchases, " m/c. Visa percentage charges likely kick in. If you simply withdraw cash at a Thai bank* ATM, the fees are minimal and the best out there. (Again, I don't work for E*Tr, I just like their service.)

One other weird thing happened on my last trip: On their advice, I told E*Tr in advance about my travel plans so the automatic "fraud alerts" wouldn't kick in when their system sees the unusual overseas transaction. When I stopped in LA en route, my card wouldn't work at local vendors. A Mobile station, etc.

It seems they took the dates seriously and cut off use for everything but the country I said I was visiting. I checked and they said, yup, that's what we do.

*Final note: stay away from random ATM kiosks. Here AND abroad. There are scams galore with these units. Grabbing the magnetic info about your account. Next thing you know, some Nigerian or Romanian is tapping your account for all he can. Use a legit bank, despite possible fees.

Jck

If want good blow jobs you dick must be very clean. This obviously means shower beforehand is essential.

Now in the sticky climates of Bangkok, its not incredibly difficult to get a fungal or yeast infection, causing itchiness and bad taste/smell, due to wearing sticky jocks for too long or catching from others.

It turns out that washing with normal cake of soap is not a great idea as fungus/yeast thrives quite well in a slightly alkaline environment. Any alkaline soaps are not good on the genital region.

There are special washes that ladies use on the pussy to keep it perfect and similar ones for guys.

One is Lactacyd which is slightly acidic. I have used this for a few years now. Available in most pharmacies.
Some girls complained that its a little too strong to use many times per day, so there is now Lactacyd Extra Mild.

My favourite Oily girl recommends "Triple Fresh" for genital cleaning as being very mild and herbal. So I got some today in "D-Chain", the green shop just past Sukhumwit Soi 39.

P.S. On a tangent, the best mouthwashes have no alcohol, as alcohol dries up the mouth a bit spoiling natural saliva freshening mechanisms. Alcohol as an antiseptic, is not suited to mucous membrane sites.

[QUOTE=Mick Licker]My favourite Oily girl recommends "Triple Fresh" as being very mild and herbal. So I got some today in "D-Chain", the green shop just past Sukhumwit Soi 39.[/QUOTE]

Wait a second... are you advising us to dip our johnsons in "Triple Fresh" mouthwash? :O

[QUOTE=NicFrenchy]Wait a second... are you advising us to dip our johnsons in "Triple Fresh" mouthwash? :O[/QUOTE]
The "Triple Fresh" I have is not for your mouth. I reckon would taste very strange. :eek: Please read the instructions if you have some. ;)

[QUOTE=Mick Licker]P.S. On a tangent, the best mouthwashes have no alcohol, as alcohol dries up the mouth a bit spoiling natural saliva freshening mechanisms. Alcohol as an antiseptic, is not suited to mucous membrane sites.[/QUOTE]And there is the debate in Oz about whether mouthwashes with alcohol may cause cancer, or not.

[url]http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24895211-421,00.html[/url]

sorry to rain on your parade fellow mongers. about the risks of contracting chlamydia from oral sex or bbbj from your'e lovely lady.

my buddy got this one last time from a girl at [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord901][CodeWord901][/url]'s.

the symtoms are a burning sensation while [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord112][CodeWord112][/url]. possible discharge and inflammation at head of your unit.

lab tests-usually a [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord109][CodeWord109][/url] test will be collected to confirm. a specimen scrape is another method.

chlamydia fortunately is quite easy to treat with anti-biotics in men. it can be more serious in women as it can remain dormant until it does real damage.

usual drugs-in the western world a weeks supply of doxycycline (twice daily)will eliminate this disease in men.

who needs this when we are on holiday and trying to maximize our fun?

my friend had to miss some great encounters waiting for this to disappear. it is quite contageous until completely gone.

i know its not as much fun, but i always use a condom ever since this happened.

just my 2 cents.

[size=-2][b][u]editor's suggestion[/u]:[/b] [blue]this is interesting, but you might consider re-posting it under the [u]safe sex[/u] topic in the special interests section of the forum where it will benefit the forum members who are specifically looking for this type of information. [i]thanks![/i][/blue][/size]

[QUOTE=Thunderdome]What is our best bet for not getting stung this way? Use a debit card within the bank during regular hours to ensure notes are real? Not use the ATM?[/QUOTE]


It is my recommendation that if you are going to use a debit or atm card,
go INSIDE the bank during normal business hours and ask the attendants to process your transaction over the counter.

I did this at the Kasikorn bank and was told there were no transaction fees on their side.

They require your passport for security and they will xerox it.

Too many stories about scammer atm's outside as well as hidden cameras and onlookers.

Good luck!

ATM'S

A few years back there were reports about counterfeiting bills in ATM machines. The story I remember reading was that the cases were mostly related to independent ATM machines. Independent to me would be ATM machines that " are not run " and own by the larger banks like Bangkok Bank, Siam Commercial Bank, etc.. The ATM's I use mostly are inside places like shopping centers like Carrefour, Big C, Tesco and outside any 7/11 stores. In over 10 years I have never had a problem at these locations.

If you are taking out large sums of money from a bank I do suggest you go inside and do the transaction but depending on where you go and which bank it could be time consuming and of course you need to bring along your passport and to me it's not worth the trouble or inconvienance if you are going getting a few dollar baht like 16,000.

Even if they are big and established banks there is not assurance that the individuals working for these banks directly or indirectly ( contracted out ) are not replacing the bills prior to filling up the ATM machines. I believe this is and was the problem a few years ago. From my experience I have purchased land, car, motorcycle, etc... and never have I experience anyone taking the bills I give them and examining them and that would includes noodles stand to P4P. I have given tellers at Bangkok Bank, thousands of baht and never had them examine them in front of me. The banking system is different from a country like U.S. and they have their own internal problems. But in my opinion if you stick with the places I mentioned I don't think you need to worry much. Even so, you pretty much have to be a trained professional to detect a counterfeit unless it comes out like with the kings face on toilet paper.

LBM

Had to leave LOS today.
Sunday is good due to lack of traffic.
Left Livingstone's Lodge at 10:50.
Because no traffic, taxi could get to expressway in 15 mins and then very quick to the airport.
Was checked in and through Immigration by 11:40.
Flight at 13:05.

Late at night is good too, but on a normal day, need to allow a lot more time to get to the expressway, and probably airport will be more busy as well.