Gaybutton

First, I am beginning to resent the insulting nature of your posts. I don't do that to you and I would appreciate it if you would stop doing that to me. Show me where I ever expressed such a theory. You should be able to do that since you have a knack for dredging up old posts. Second, I remember quite well the post to which you refer. What point are you trying to make? Everybody knows that inflation has hit Thailand. I have repeatedly said, in this thread, that the inflation has little or no significant effect on me or my lifestyle and so far it doesn't. I doubt it has much effect on the lifestyle of most farang in Thailand. Believe it or not, I can actually afford the additional five baht I have to pay if I want fried rice from that mom-and-pop shop down the street. Yes, prices in the grocery stores have definitely increased. I don't dispute that. However, the amount of the increase is virtually insignificant to me. Again, the only price increase that has caused problems for me are the fuel prices. The inflation is hitting the Thais very hard, but the average Thai neither lives the lifestyle of the typical farang nor has the income and financial resources of the typical farang. What are you trying to prove? That inflation exists? That I'm blind to it or can't see that it is indeed affecting my life after all? I don't know what you are getting at.

That's the easiest part of the entire process. The only documentation you need is your passport. You need absolutely nothing else and you will not be asked to provide any documentation of any kind at all. When you go to the American Citizens Services window, tell them you need a proof-of-income statement. They will hand you a form to fill out, on which you state your monthly income. It's a very short form. Then you go to the cashier's window and pay the 1020 baht fee. You take the receipt, the form, and your passport back to the services window and hand them over. About ten or fifteen minutes later they will call your name. A notary will ask you if the information you provided is true and correct. Assuming you say yes, they will now give you back your passport, a receipt, and the proof-of-income statement with the notary seal embossed. At that point you say thank you and leave. That's all there is to it.

Actually, I eat at home much more often than I eat out. Sure, I notice an increase in the amount I spend, but not a significant amount. I can't speak for others, but for me, the inflation in Thailand has had very little effect other than the price of fuel.

I think Buaseng's advice is best. If you are in Pattaya you might also be able to get it set up at Tuk Com. In Bangkok, the only place I know to go, besides the airport, where you can be sure to get it done right would be Pantip Plaza. Maybe someone more familiar with Bangkok can recommend other places.

It makes plenty of sense to me. What you say is probably correct in theory. I don't dispute a word of what you said. However, on a practical level it has nothing to do with the lifestyle I lead. On what do I spend my money in Thailand? Prices in the grocery store have gone up, but not by a significant amount. Restaurant prices are essentially the same. Prices that affect my daily life have not risen, with the exception of fuel prices. Entertainment prices have risen, but again nothing significant. Prices at the beach are the same. Local public transportation prices have not changed. Bar prices, off fees, and the amounts expected by the boys have not significantly changed. Hotel prices have not changed. Utility, telephone, and Internet prices have not changed. Medical, dental, prescription, and insurance prices have not changed. The daily cost of living, at least for me, has hardly changed at all, certainly not enough for me to benefit by what you are saying. I would agree with what you say if the prices on which inflation has an effect also had an effect on me and my lifestyle. So far, it hasn't had a significant effect at all, again with the exception of fuel prices. I will admit those fuel prices have definitely caused problems for me. A year ago I could fill my car's tank for 800 baht. Now it costs more than 1600 baht and I go through four to six tanks of fuel per month. You've got me on that one. However, once they are present in Thailand, I would imagine most farang are spending their money in much the same way as I spend mine. Meanwhile, if I am receiving a significantly greater amount of baht each month if the baht continues depreciating, that does have an effect on me, quite a positive one at that, especially if the amount I receive outruns the inflation rate. I think I'll continue my 'obsession' until the actual circumstances surrounding my life work out in the manner you describe.

Excellent! Ok, I'm pinning this topic. I think everyone who does not yet have a Thai bank account, but may eventually have a need for one, needs to see this. I urge everyone who this may help to act as quickly as you can. Thai banks tend to change their regulations quite often. Get your Thai bank account before it is too late.

I'm not sure I'm following that part. Did you open an individual account in your own name or did you open a joint account with the boyfriend? Just to be absolutely clear, are you saying that Kasikorn Bank is allowing farang to open an account, even if they entered Thailand only on the 30 days? If that is true, then I urge anyone who is even contemplating retirement in Thailand or any other banking need to open an account while you still can. If they change the regulations, that might close out the last bank that still accepts new farang accounts with nothing but a passport and 30 days. I hope those of you who can take advantage of the opportunity will do so. Kasikorn's web site is: http://www.kasikornbank.com/portal/site/KBank/? I did not see a way to open an account online, if you are not present in Thailand, but I did not spend time searching through the site to see if there is a way to do that. Most Thai banks will permit an account to be opened with a minimum 500 baht deposit. It's worth doing. You never know.

Lately I have been helping people obtain their retirement visa and set up Thai bank accounts. Don't forget, without a Thai bank account you're not going to get the retirement visa. It is now quite difficult to open a Thai bank account if you arrive on the 30-day privilege. We did manage to open a bank account for a friend of mine at Siam Commercial Bank this week, and he was here on the 30-day privilege. We were together at the bank and we had to speak with the branch manager. We had to explain why he wanted the account (to get the retirement visa), but they would only open the account for him because I was with him, was able to show that I hold a retirement visa, was able to show that I have property in Thailand, and was willing to guarantee his address. Once the manager was satisfied, he instructed a staff member to go ahead and let him open an account. We had also stopped at a Thai Military Bank branch and was told he needs a "letter from Immigration." I have no idea what that entails or what one would need to do to get such a letter. Maybe someone else knows the answer to that one. If you enter Thailand with at least a Type "O" visa, then you shouldn't have any problem opening a Thai bank account. If one branch rejects you, don't give up. Try other branches of the same bank. Quite often you'll get a completely different answer at another branch. If you run into problems, talk to the branch manager before you give up. After you manage to open an account somewhere and hold at least a Type "O" visa (a retirement visa is better still), now you can arrange online banking. If you have money coming to you from either the UK or USA, you can have money deposited to a Bangkok Bank account by direct deposit. Bangkok Bank has a branch in New York and another branch in London. These are not commercial branches, so you can't just walk in, but they can and will make arrangements to have money direct deposited into your account if you wish. The contact information for the London Branch is: Mr. Peeriyathep Homhuan, Branch Manager Bangkok Bank PCL London Branch 61 St. Mary Axe, London EC3A 8 BY, United Kingdom Tel: (44-207) 929-4422 Fax: (44-207) 283-3988 Swift: BKKB GB 2L Telex: (051) 8812448 BKBANK G E-mail: peeriyathep.hom@bbl.co.th The contact information for the New York Branch is: Dr. Thaweelap Rittapirom, SVP, Branch Manager Bangkok Bank PCL New York Branch 29 Broadway, 20th Floor, New York NY 10006 Tel: (1-212) 422-8200 Fax: (1-212) 422-0728 Swift: BKKB US 33 Telex:(023) 175459 BKBK UT E-mail: helpdesk.nyb@bbl.co.th FED Routing No: 026008691 CHIPS ABA: 0869 If you need to contact either of these branches, I suggest contacting them by telephone rather than by Email. They don't seem to ever respond to Email. As far as I know, Bangkok Bank is the only Thai bank with foreign branches. If anyone knows of other Thai banks that have foreign branches, please let us know. As far as arranging Online Banking with these banks, I know that Bank of Ayudhya and Siam Commercial are quite simple. Bank of Ayudhya is the simplest of all. Once you have an account, you simply go to their web site and you'll be able to get online banking within just a few minutes. Bangkok Bank is a little more complex, and Thai Military Bank is the most complex of all. I don't know about other Thai banks. Maybe someone else can provide more information. Obviously there are plenty of advantages to online banking. Not only can you keep close track of your funds, but you can pay bills online, transfer money to other accounts (now even accounts at different banks), and even add to your One-Two-Call time, among other things. Most things that you can do at an ATM, other than withdraw money, can be done via online banking.

No. The reason is the only immigration office requiring proof is the Pattaya immigration office. If what others are posting on other boards is correct, then even Pattaya doesn't ask everyone every time. Also, once again, you can submit your address report at any immigration office in Thailand, no matter where your residence is. The whole thing is on my "I Don't Get It" list.

Here's one exchange rate prediction I hope comes true. Even if it does, it still is lousy in comparison to the 45 per dollar that held for many years, but it would certainly be much better than it's been in a long time. The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Baht Likely to Weaken to 35 per Dollar this Year By Jiwamol Kanoksilp The Nation, Bloomberg Published on July 30, 2008 While the US dollar is bottoming out, experts predict the baht will grow weaker, ending up about 35 to the greenback by the end of the year. "The US dollar has bottomed out," Tim Condon from ING Wholesale Banking/Financial Markets in Singapore said yesterday. He predicts the dollar will appreciate against the euro and the yen, while the baht could fall further, depending on confidence. ING said the baht was expected to fall to 34.15 to the dollar in the third quarter before appreciating to 33.85 in the fourth quarter. ING predicts the baht will rise to 33 to the dollar next year, but Satian Tantanasarit, executive vice president of TMB Bank, predicts the baht will appreciate to 35 to the dollar this year. "I agree the dollar has been weakening and is bottoming out," he said. However, Condon believes the US Federal Reserve will likely cut its policy rate 50 basis points during next year's first quarter after the worst of the inflation shock passes, while the European Central Bank in the same quarter will reverse its recent rate increase policy. Condon believes the fading of the oil price shock will shift the European Central Bank's focus from inflation to growth. The US Fed funds rate is now at 2 per cent. However, Satian believes the US central bank will maintain its rate and predicts the Bank of Thailand BOT will increase rates at least once more this year. The BOT's Monetary Policy Committee will meet again on August 27 for a rate movement decision. The baht fell for a second day yesฌterday on speculation that slowing economic growth and a deepening US housing slump would deter investments in emerging market assets. The currency extended this month's losses after the BOT yesterday cut its economic growth forecast for this year to as little as 4.8 per cent, saying highฌer prices were squeezing consumption. The Morgan Stanley Capital International Asia Pacific Index dropped as much as 2.3 per cent folฌlowing a slump on Wall Street amid concerns about widening credit market losses. "The Thai stock market is down a lot, with foreign investors continuing to sell and thus damping demand for baht," said Chutima Nuphan, a currency trader at TMB Bank in Bangkok. "Last night, we saw steep drops on Wall Street. The baht is going to be on the weak side." The baht declined 0.1 percent to 33.49 to the dollar late yesterday morning. It has been the second worst performer in the past three months among the 10 most active Asian currencies outside of Japan. The BOT raised its inflation forecast for this year to 7.58.8 per cent, Assistant Governor Duangmanee Vongpradhip said yesterday. In April, it forecast an inflation rate of 45 per cent. The US$206billion (Bt6.91 trillion) economy was previously forecast to expand as much as 6 percent this year. Global funds sold about $1 billion worth of Thai stocks more than they bought from July 125. The Stock Exchange of Thailand Index fell as much as 1.7 percent yesterday.

Today I helped another friend obtain his retirement visa. He too had entered on only the 30 day privilege and also had no Thai bank account. Siam Commercial Bank let him open a bank account, but since I already hold a retirement visa and have a permanent address in Pattaya, they only would open the account if I was willing to guarantee his address. Of course I was readily able to make that guarantee, so now he has a bank account. Today we went to the USA Embassy, got his proof-of-income statement, and got back to Immigration. He still has two days left on his 30 days. We discovered something new. Immigration is still perfectly willing to convert the 30 days to a Type "O" visa, and then to the retirement visa, for 1900 baht each. However they told him he also has to pay for a 7 day extension on his 30 days. We pointed out that he still has two days left. They said sorry, but you have to have at least 5 days left or you have to get the extension. The extension was another 1900 baht and more copies of the paperwork. If you wish to enter Thailand on the 30 days, then make sure you act quickly to convert to the retirement visa in order to avoid being forced to purchase an extension.

Sammy's does, in Sunee Plaza, although I don't know what time he opens. There are probably more, but I've never checked. Have you asked any of the Howard's staff where you can get a local breakfast?

Finally! A story about a police raid at a non-gay bar. The following appears in the PATTAYA DAILY NEWS: See http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000006732 for photos. _____ Pattaya Cocktail Bar Raid Nabs Thirty Teens Under 20 Nang Len Cocktail Bar in Pattaya was raided by police on July 28th,2008, because it was a favourite haunt of teens, who police suspected of illegal drug use. 30 teens were detained for under-age drinking, and although there was no drug use, the proprietor was charged with operating without a business license. At 2.20 AM on July 28, Pol.Col.Nopadol Wongnom, Pattaya Superintendent, and two senior police officers, led a 10-strong team on a raid on a Nang Len Cocktail Bar, 3rd Pattaya Road, after police detected that it was a gathering place for teen night owls under 20 years of age. Police found the bar packed with more than a hundred boys and girls who were drinking in the bar. They were also smoking hookahs which are popular among customers, though not illegal. Police found more than 30 teens, both boys and girls under 20, many of whom were not carrying I.D. cards. Police detained all of them for the record and also urine-tested for drugs, but when none registered positive, police released them. However, police did arrest Mr. Wathana Kittipatarasri (24), from Samutprakarn province, charged with operating a bar without a business license, merely having a licence to sell alcohol. Mr. Wathana said that he had opened the bar to sell alcohol and cocktails 5 months ago. In that time, it had become well known among the teens, and they would have a full house at weekends and holidays. As an additional attraction, they also provided hookahs. He maintained he did not know that there were customers who were under 20 years old frequenting his bar. Police later charged Mr. Wathana with selling alcohol out of hours, operating a bar without a licence and being negligent in allowing customers under 20 use the bar.

There is another aspect to this. I believe Lvdkeyes can answer this one better than most people if he reads this message. Are there any common prescription drugs that can yield results that would cause someone to fail a pee test? If the answer is yes, then I suppose you have to start carrying the prescription with you in case of getting caught up in a raid in which the police can subject you to a pee test.

Ok, I'm sorry if I misunderstood you. Of course Sunee Plaza's main attraction is young boys. Isn't that the main attraction in all the gay bar areas? Under-age boys is a different story. I believe if the bars will legitimize themselves, then they will become an attraction for everyone except the pedophiles. Personally, I couldn't care less where the pedophiles go as long as they keep away from the places the rest of us wish to frequent. By now I would think most people are apprehensive that simply going to a Sunee Plaza bar means a good chance of being caught up in a raid. I don't know too many people who want to be caught up in a raid. Now, along with it, people have to make a decision as to whether they ought to carry their passport with them when visiting those areas. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. If you carry your passport, now there's the risk of losing it, someone stealing it, getting caught in the rain with it, etc. On the other hand, if you don't carry your passport and get caught up in a raid, the police have every right to cart you off and at best force you to pay a fine. In other words, this whole thing stinks! The revolving door of boys being arrested, released, arrested, released accomplishes nothing. For the life of me, I can't understand why the police don't just assign two or three uniformed police officers to patrol Sunee Plaza during bar hours. It would seem to me that would be the quickest way to solve the whole problem. As far as I know, that's never even been tried. Obviously the raids aren't working. I'm adding this to my "I Don't Get It" list.

I don't agree with that. I think that's just what repels a hell of a lot of people. Where are you getting the idea that only pedos go to Sunee Plaza? That's not true at all.

http://phuketwan.com/article/tourism/nok-a...ghts-sack-staff _____ Nok Air Drops Phuket-Bangkok Flights, Sacks Staff By Chutima Sidasathian Friday July 25, 2008 NOK AIR is cutting its daily flights between Bangkok and Phuket from the end of July, along with services to three other destinations. About 20 Nok Air staff at the airport on Phuket are also going to lose their jobs as the aviation industry crisis, fueled by rising oil costs, impacts on Thai travel nationwide. Inevitably, the cutbacks will affect tourism on Phuket and before long, investment on the island in property and resort construction. Nok Air, the budget arm of Thai Airways, is also cutting flights from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchatanee and Krabi. It will retain services from Bangkok to Udon Thani, Chiang Mai and Had Yai. A Nok Air spokeswoman blamed the cuts on oil prices and the general economic downturn. Nok Air has been flying the route since February 10, 2006. The disappearance of the Nok Air flights leaves only Air Asia and Thai Airways operating on the Bangkok-Phuket route. Thai Airways maintains about 10 flights on the route a day, with Air Asia having six flights. Another budget airline that serviced Bangkok-Phuket, One-Two-Go, has just been suspended from flying by the Department of Civil Aviaition for 30 days, perhaps longer. The dramatic reduction in cheap air flights is likely to put many local travellers back on buses, force some international visitors to stay in Bangkok, and drive many to seek alternative holiday destinations to Phuket. The Nok Air cancellations add to the tale of woe for tourism as the airline industry worldwide undergoes a shattering transformation. While travelers with bookings will not be dissuaded from coming over the next few months, numbers are likely to fall away soon as the international downturn spreads. Australians, for example, are largely unaffected and still able to travel, although rising costs will affect them, too. In Europe, though, the knock-on effects of the banking and lending crisis in the US are already rumbling through the economies of many countries. Holidays, especially on long-haul flights with the cost of seats rising, are something fewer people can afford. The only real positive from the crisis is that it may reduce airline flights sufficiently to relieve the pressure on Phuket airport as it undergoes a major expansion to cope with increasing numbers of tourists. If and when those increasing numbers of tourists will begin arriving is now the question that nobody can answer.

Last night (Saturday, July 26) Oogleman, of the Ting & Tong's Gay Thailand forum ( http://www.gaytingtong.com/index.php ) hosted a wonderful get-together at the Two Guys Guesthouse. It was a terrific evening! Along with the camaraderie between old friends and new, everyone had an opportunity to enjoy Monty's show. Monty brought his whole show up to Two Guys and it was a hit! There was plenty of liquor, food, boys, and fun for all who dropped by. There was even a raffle. Also, the two 'El Duo' boys, who will open their show on Saturday, August 2 at Le Café Royale were there, introducing themselves to all of us and passing out free drink coupons for their opening night. You'll find photos of the event at: http://www.gaytingtong.com/topic3101.html Thank you, Oogleman! It couldn't possibly have been better.

The following appears in PATTAYA ONE: see http://www.pattayaone.net/news_26_07_51.html for photos Underage Bar Workers as Young as 8 Years Old Found in Sunee Plaza Police Operation In the early hours of Saturday Morning, Police Colonel Nopadon, the Chief of Pattaya Police, who was joined by Khun Itipon, the Mayor of Pattaya, conducted a raid of a number of bars located in the Sunee Plaza area in South Pattaya which is well known for its gay bars and for the availability of underage boys, who, for a fee, will engage in sexual activities with foreign tourists. It is for this reason that regular raids by Police take place in the area and on Saturday Morning, a total of 80 underage bar workers were found, many were performing on stages wearing only underwear. It is also well known that drug taking and dealing is prevalent in the area. During the operation, a total of 80 underage workers, 3 of the young boys were aged only 15 and one was aged only 8 years which shocked the Mayor who joined the Police to see for himself, the problem of underage bar workers in the area. Urine tests were performed on a random selection of the detainees and 32 of the young men failed the test, confirming the presence of meth-amphetamine in their systems. The bars involved in employing underage boys will now face legal action and the possibility their licenses will be revoked. __________ And this, from PATTAYA DAILY NEWS: see http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000006717 for photos. Pattaya Mayor Cracks Down on Illegal Gay Bars and Teen Druggies The Mayor of Pattaya, Mr.Itthipol Khun-pluem, intent on cracking down on illegal operations and under-age sex in one of Pattaya‘s most popular gay venues, Sunee Plaza, South Pattaya, on July 26, 2008, co-operated with police to mobilize in strength and thoroughly search the area. They were especially concerned to eradicate the prolific gangs of teenagers who sell sexual services, amongst whom there is a high illegal drug usage. At 00.30 AM, on July 26, Pol.Col.Nopadol Wongnom, Pattaya Superintendent, organized a 70-man squad of regular and volunteer police to raid Sunee Plaza, where many foreigners go to find willing young boys. The squad checked 50 gay beer bars, pubs and go-go bars on the lookout for business licence lawbreakers, overly-explicit sex shows and staff under 20 years old. However, no premises were found to be breaking the law on any of these three counts. Police volunteers, nevertheless, did manage to detain over 100 rent-boys who were soliciting in the plaza. Of these, six were under 15, 40 were using Yah Bah (amphetamines) and four were illegal Burmese immigrants. All the offenders were detained at Pattaya police station. Pol.Col.Nopadol Wongnom, Pattaya Superintendent, stated that because Pattaya is a prominent international tourist city, with millions of Thai and foreign visitors annually, it has long been a favourite venue of criminals, sex tourists and paedophiles. As a result, Pattaya's new mayor, Mr. Itthipol Khun-pluem and Pattaya Police have decided it is high time that illicit activities were eradicated and a good reputation be created for the city. Consequently, police have started a surveillance campaign and crack-down on non-compliant entertainment owners and sexual abusers. The authorities are particularly concerned about the large number of young boys, mainly from up-country and largely uneducated; many of whom have no legal guardians, forcing social services to send them to rehabilitation centres. However, because of the demand for their sexual service and the easy money available, the teenagers escape from the rehabilitation centres to return to Sunee Plaza to ply their trade. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that many teenagers use their immoral earnings to buy drugs to share among their friends. Mr. Itthipol Khun-pluem stated that he was relatively satisfied with the level of arrests and optimistic about the ongoing combined attempts to eradicate crime and give Pattaya a good name.

Many would certainly agree with you, but Thai law actually requires all foreigners to have their passport on their person at all times, just as they require all Thai citizens to have their national ID card on their person at all times. Most of the time, the police are perfectly willing to accept a photocopy of your passport, provided it shows the face page, your visa, and your current 90-day address report if you are staying long-term in Thailand. But right now a major crackdown is obviously occurring and I wouldn't want to rely on a photocopy just now, in case you get caught up in it. Most likely a photocopy will serve just fine and it probably will, but remember that the police are not required to accept a photocopy and you can be penalized for failure to have your passport. During this crackdown, I wouldn't want to be caught without my actual passport with me and I do feel capable of carrying it a manner by which it won't be lost or stolen or ruined if I'm caught in a rain storm. It's your choice and your risk.

Since the police are obviously putting on a major show of force lately and have also taken farang into custody for not having their passport on their person, then I suggest, until this blows over, you carry your passport with you when visiting bars instead of relying on a copy of your passport. Make sure you carry it in such a way that it can't end up lost or stolen, but I'd have it with you, if I were you.

The following was posted by 'Mr. Pink' on the Ting & Tong's Gay Thailand forum: ( http://www.gaytingtong.com/topic3008-45.html )

PATTAYA ONE also has this story and photos. Click the following link: http://www.pattayaone.net/news_25_07_51_4.html

Our dear friends & guests, On Friday, August 1, 2008 Casa Pascal Restaurant hosts a very special Swiss Farmer’s Buffet Dinner to celebrate Swiss National Day. The event is under the patronage of Rotary Club Pattaya Marina . The cost for the buffet is at 750 Baht, which includes a 230 Baht donation to the various charity projects of Rotary Club. We would be very happy to see you at Casa Pascal for this special Swiss night ! With culinary regards, Pascal Schnyder Date : Friday, August 01, 2008 18:00 p.m. onward Venue : Restaurant Casa Pascal For your reservation, please call ; 038-723-660 (Casa Pascal) 085-992-0482 (Pascal) 081-983-4182 (Kim) Cold Dishes Potato Salad Cabbage Salad Cucumber Salad Turnip Salad Caesar Salad Green Bean Salad Butter Head Lettuce Red Rollo Lettuce Green Lettuce Smoked Tessiner Coppa Ham Smoked Sausage (Rauchwürste) Assorted Bread From the Kettle & Casserole Minestrone Soup Fischfillets in Dezaley Wine Sauce Berner Roeschti with Bacon, Onion,Egg Mountainman’s Pasta (Aelpler Makkernen) From the Grill Pork Sausage (Schweinswürstli) Veal Sausage Cervelats Sausage Pork Steak marinated with Rosemary Schicken Legs Sweets Puff Pastry & Cream Bars (Crèmeschnitten) Caramel Custard Chocolate Mousse Marinated Fruits Salad

I wonder if this thread makes some sort of history. It appears that we're all agreed.