General Reports

[QUOTE=Nyezhov;2272637]I don't see an obvious Arab guy near Soi Isis as being some poor schnook who deserves respect. He is just a lowlife rip off artist.

I feel bad that you are an ATM. Perhaps you will get to know the right people in the future.[/QUOTE]You're right. I need to know the right people. Not people who go around threatening people who are poorer and are just trying to make a living to make themselves feel better. I guess Thailand attracts all sorts of personalities. I will find out how to work the ignore function to limit my exposure to these people.

[QUOTE=EihTooms;2272161]-snip-

There is a Viagra-category product on the vendor tables now claiming to have 5000 MG of the active ingredient in it! LOL. I have not tried it but I might some day.[/QUOTE]Correction to my earlier post about that. I checked last night and the claim is 3,000 MG per tablet, not 5,000 MG. It is a product called Gold Vigra. The misspelling is apparently intended, although the word Viagra spelled correctly is also on the package. It comes in a pouch of ten tablets, each supposedly containing 3,000 MG of Sildenafil Citrate. Quoted price for the pouch of ten tablets was 300 baht. So, 30 baht for each tablet.

Here is what the U.S. FDA had to say about the product of that name in 2014:

Public Notification: Gold Vigra Contains Hidden Drug Ingredient.
[URL]https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/medicationhealthfraud/ucm401540.htm[/URL]
[QUOTE]FDA laboratory analysis confirmed that Gold Vigra contains sildenafil, the active ingredient in the FDA approved prescription drug Viagra, used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). This undeclared ingredient may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs such as nitroglycerin and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Men with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates. [/QUOTE]Sildenafil Citrate, the active ingredient in Viagra, seems to be the only "hidden" drug ingredient they are referencing and found in it. But the package on the vendor tables in Bangkok clearly states that it contains Sildenafil Citrate and that it is the active ingredient in Viagra. There is nothing "hidden" about it on these packages.

I am not recommending anyone take it or any other boner drug found in or out of a pharmacy. But I might give this one a try just to see if it offers something of a faster or longer lasting nature than what I have been taking lately. I will report on the results if I ever do give it a try. Assuming I survive long enough to reply, that is. LOL.

I am not taking any of the nitrates or high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. drugs mentioned above nor do I need to take them according to my most recent thorough medical check up just a few months ago. Well, I have seen this product on the tables for years now and have not heard or read of a bad reaction to it. Has anyone else?

Perhaps my dream of living in Thailand was just that, a dream. Taking a look at the chart makes sobering reading as the Baht continues to strengthen against the UK Pound. The graph does not lie, since 2005 the Baht has been on a relentless climb against the UK Pound. Many of you British expats will be very concerned as am I. There is no indication according to this graph of the £ gaining back any lost ground at all in the future. Oh dear.

[QUOTE=Slaol;2273630]Perhaps my dream of living in Thailand was just that, a dream. Taking a look at the chart makes sobering reading as the Baht continues to strengthen against the UK Pound.[/QUOTE]It depends on how you want to live. If you need all the bells and whistles then you may be screwed.

If not, then you may be okay. For example I rent a room on a monthly basis in Pattaya which costs on average 200 baht per day. So that is 5 Pounds daily rent in 2019. Back in 2006 it would have cost 3 Pounds. Can you afford 5 Pounds per day rent? If not then you may have to stay in London where rents are much cheaper, right?

Today I had a fuck in Pattaya for 1000 baht. Back in 2006 that would have cost 13 Pounds. Now in 2019 it costs 25 Pounds. It must be a lot cheaper for a fuck in London then if you think thai prices are too high?

Brits complaining about the weakness in the Pound are probably a contrarian indicator and the Pound may strengthen from hereon in. Or not!

I recently tried to explain to a gogo girl that one of the reasons guys aren't spending as much is because the Thai baht is going up against other foreign currencies. Never seen anyone more confused than she was. She told me 100 Thai baht is still worth 100 Thai baht in Thailand, Europe, and Korea. "It no go up".

[QUOTE=Franga;2273745]
Today I had a fuck in Pattaya for 1000 baht. Back in 2006 that would have cost 13 Pounds. Now in 2019 it costs 25 Pounds. It must be a lot cheaper for a fuck in London then if you think thai prices are too high?[/QUOTE]That settles it. I'm off to Leicester Square for that sub-25-pound shag.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2273761]I recently tried to explain to a gogo girl that one of the reasons guys aren't spending as much is because the Thai baht is going up against other foreign currencies. Never seen anyone more confused than she was. She told me 100 Thai baht is still worth 100 Thai baht in Thailand, Europe, and Korea. "It no go up".[/QUOTE]Exactly the reason you don't drive prices up when your home currency is doing well, because when that shit falls back down the girls don't know the difference. They are going to still want the 5000 baht. And that could be double what it was when your currency was doing well.

[QUOTE=Franga;2273745]For example I rent a room on a monthly basis in Pattaya which costs on average 200 baht per day. So that is 5 Pounds daily rent in 2019. Back in 2006 it would have cost 3 Pounds. Can you afford 5 Pounds per day rent? If not then you may have to stay in London where rents are much cheaper, right?[/QUOTE]And the longer you rent it for the cheaper it is. I think the rooms at my place rent for 500 baht per day. Cheaper than that if you rent for 1 month. Even cheaper if you rent 6 months. I always do a 1 year contract so it is even cheaper. Mine averages out to 150 baht per day.

As of January 1, 2019, the U.K., USA and perhaps a couple of other Embassies will no longer issue Notarized Income Verification forms to be given to Thai Immigration when we are renewing our annual NON-IMM/Retirement visas. According to the latest I have heard or read (Stickman Weekly's January 6, 2019 column, last third of the article), those of us who rely on a monthly income stream to qualify for that visa rather than an extended 800,000 baht deposit in a Thai bank will be asked at the time of the visa renewal to produce written evidence from our Thai bank account showing a minimum of 65,000 baht per month from a Foreign Transfer (the deposits MUST come from outside of Thailand) for the previous 12 months. No clarification yet what will actually happen this time around when many people will be hit with this news for the first time when they show up to renew or have not even established a Thai bank account.

But I wanted to pass along that, on an unrelated matter about a month ago, I happened to need Bangkok Bank to provide me with a print out of all transfers to and from my account over the past 6 years. So I went to the branch nearest to my apartment (not my original account branch), filled out a form to make the request starting on such and such date and ending on such and such date, paid 500 baht and the full printout was there for me to pick up in about 3 business days. Maybe the cost for just 12 months prior rather than 6 years prior would have been less than 500 baht, no idea. Could be more or less, even free with Thai banks other than Bangkok Bank.

Anyway, you can request the printout to be in English or in Thai. The "Foreign Transfers" are clearly marked as such. I have not heard but I imagine if one month shows less than 65,000 baht in a Foreign Transfer but the next one shows a larger than 65,000 baht transfer, the immigration officer will average it out and let it pass. However, I don't imagine one could get away with dumping 780,000 baht (12 X 65,000) into an account just one month before requesting a renewal in hopes that the immigration officer will average that out for you and let it pass. Just guessing, though.

[QUOTE=Slaol;2273630] There is no indication according to this graph of the gaining back any lost ground at all in the future. Oh dear.[/QUOTE]And the brexit will make it even worse. I hate to say it but I think the GBP is doomed mate.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;2273963]And the brexit will make it even worse. I hate to say it but I think the GBP is doomed mate.[/QUOTE]Euro not faring much better, if it is any consolation.

Asian currencies outperform.

[QUOTE=EihTooms;2273915]As of January 1, 2019, the U.K., USA and perhaps a couple of other Embassies will no longer issue Notarized Income Verification forms to be given to Thai Immigration when we are renewing our annual NON-IMM/Retirement visas. According to the latest I have heard or read (Stickman Weekly's January 6, 2019 column, last third of the article), those of us who rely on a monthly income stream to qualify for that visa rather than an extended 800,000 baht deposit in a Thai bank will be asked at the time of the visa renewal to produce written evidence from our Thai bank account showing a minimum of 65,000 baht per month from a Foreign Transfer (the deposits MUST come from outside of Thailand) for the previous 12 months. No clarification yet what will actually happen this time around when many people will be hit with this news for the first time when they show up to renew or have not even established a Thai bank account.

But I wanted to pass along that, on an unrelated matter about a month ago, I happened to need Bangkok Bank to provide me with a print out of all transfers to and from my account over the past 6 years. So I went to the branch nearest to my apartment (not my original account branch), filled out a form to make the request starting on such and such date and ending on such and such date, paid 500 baht and the full printout was there for me to pick up in about 3 business days. Maybe the cost for just 12 months prior rather than 6 years prior would have been less than 500 baht, no idea. Could be more or less, even free with Thai banks other than Bangkok Bank..[/QUOTE]Some of the changes need clarification.

Does it have to be regular monthly transfers or would one or two lump sums totaling 780000 starting on the first month of the year in question be OK?

Additionally there seems to be a change in the 8000000 balance in your account for a period of three months prior to application or renewal qualification. It looks like you now have to have that amount transferred each year rather than heretofore when it was sufficient to just to show you had it in your account for the prior 3 months.

What happens if all of your funds are already in Thailand?

Living here is getting more and more complicated.

[QUOTE=EihTooms;2273915]As of January 1, 2019, the U.K., USA and perhaps a couple of other Embassies will no longer issue Notarized Income Verification forms to be given to Thai Immigration when we are renewing our annual NON-IMM/Retirement visas. According to the latest I have heard or read (Stickman Weekly's January 6, 2019 column, last third of the article), those of us who rely on a monthly income stream to qualify for that visa rather than an extended 800,000 baht deposit in a Thai bank will be asked at the time of the visa renewal to produce written evidence from our Thai bank account showing a minimum of 65,000 baht per month from a Foreign Transfer (the deposits MUST come from outside of Thailand) for the previous 12 months. No clarification yet what will actually happen this time around when many people will be hit with this news for the first time when they show up to renew or have not even established a Thai bank account.

But I wanted to pass along that, on an unrelated matter about a month ago, I happened to need Bangkok Bank to provide me with a print out of all transfers to and from my account over the past 6 years. So I went to the branch nearest to my apartment (not my original account branch), filled out a form to make the request starting on such and such date and ending on such and such date, paid 500 baht and the full printout was there for me to pick up in about 3 business days. Maybe the cost for just 12 months prior rather than 6 years prior would have been less than 500 baht, no idea. Could be more or less, even free with Thai banks other than Bangkok Bank.

Anyway, you can request the printout to be in English or in Thai. The "Foreign Transfers" are clearly marked as such. I have not heard but I imagine if one month shows less than 65,000 baht in a Foreign Transfer but the next one shows a larger than 65,000 baht transfer, the immigration officer will average it out and let it pass. However, I don't imagine one could get away with dumping 780,000 baht (12 X 65,000) into an account just one month before requesting a renewal in hopes that the immigration officer will average that out for you and let it pass. Just guessing, though.[/QUOTE]That is the big question. Will quarterly deposits be ok, bi-monthly, every 4 months? Hopefully we will be provided with some clarification on this.

[QUOTE=Goatscrot;2274001]That is the big question. Will quarterly deposits be ok, bi-monthly, every 4 months? Hopefully we will be provided with some clarification on this.[/QUOTE]There was a directive issue Jan 7th, on T-a-V-sa, you should look on their forum under retirement etc. This directive was issued by the Thai immigration and translated as to exactly what is needed if you are using the " income method " for retirement and marriage it is pretty clear and self-explanatory. Basically it must be deposited into a Thai bank for USA Citizen I hadn't had time yet to check with Social Security but the US. Embassy was working with S. S. To get them authorization for IDD transfers which will allow you to have S. S. Monthly funds deposited straight into Bangkok Bank without going through the Bangkok Bank HQ in New York, Not sure if you are using one of the other Thai banks. You can't deposit quarterly.

Most S. S. Won't cover the entire 65,000 a month but from what I understand you still can still use the combination method, accounts must be solely in your name so you will need to find a way to protect the funds balance if you die?

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2274046]There was a directive issue Jan 7th, on T-a-V-sa, you should look on their forum under retirement etc. This directive was issued by the Thai immigration and translated as to exactly what is needed if you are using the " income method " for retirement and marriage it is pretty clear and self-explanatory. Basically it must be deposited into a Thai bank for USA Citizen I hadn't had time yet to check with Social Security but the US. Embassy was working with S. S. To get them authorization for IDD transfers which will allow you to have S. S. Monthly funds deposited straight into Bangkok Bank without going through the Bangkok Bank HQ in New York, Not sure if you are using one of the other Thai banks. You can't deposit quarterly.

Most S. S. Won't cover the entire 65,000 a month but from what I understand you still can still use the combination method, accounts must be solely in your name so you will need to find a way to protect the funds balance if you die?[/QUOTE]Yes, but the translation said "average monthly deposit of 65,000 Baht. " So again, what about guys that get their pensions quarterly? Will quarterly deposits be ok? This needs to be clarified. It is not clear. I imagine that we will see some more on this in the fullness of time. The 800 k is much easier really.