Gaybutton

I guess I'm behind the times, but unless you are going to do a hell of a lot of downloading I don't see the point. I'm using MaxNet ADSL for 1000 baht per month and the speeds I consistently get are plenty fast. Even what I download comes in quickly. What am I missing? How is that speed going to provide anything significantly faster than what I already have?

There's one slight catch to it: "Stay At any of over 2,800 participating Marriott hotels worldwide between 31 March and 30 June 2008."

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Consumer Goods Go for Full Price Rise; Taxi Fares Up By Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation Published on June 19, 2008 Consumer-goods manufacturers Sahapathanapibul, Unilever, Procter and Gamble, Kao, Lion and Colgate-Palmolive are pushing their prices to the currently permitted ceiling to cope with the rising cost of raw materials, a move which could drive up inflation alongside an increase in taxi fares. The Transport Ministry yesterday approved a 12-per-cent increase in taxi fares, effective this week. Commuters will need to pay Bt35 for the first kilometre, against the first 2km at present. The rate for subsequent kilometres will be raised by 50 satang per km. For example, the fare for 2-12km will be Bt5 per km, from Bt4.50 at present. A consumer group plans to petition against the move, citing that most taxis are powered by cheap natural gas and their drivers therefore have no reason to raise fares. As the Bank of Thailand highlights the possibility that inflation could hit 10 per cent this year, the six major consumer-goods makers, who control 90 per cent of the market, told the Internal Trade Department yesterday they could not maintain their prices. After their prices hit the ceiling, the manufacturers may also have to ask for the department's approval for a further price hike to cover rising costs, said Prapot Nanthawatsiri, president of the Thai Soap, Detergent and Personnel Care Manufacturers' Association. "It is very difficult for us to freeze prices as requested. For now, all we can do is to increase prices within the ceiling, but soon we may have to ask for permission for a further price increase," said Prapot. Despite stating that Saha Group, where he is a senior executive, would be the last to increase retail prices despite losses, he said detergents would be the first items whose prices will be raised - as more than 40 per cent of the products contain petroleum by-products as a raw material. Soap and shampoo prices would be the next to be increased, as 30-40 per cent of their raw materials are affected by the soaring price of oil. Internal Trade Department deputy director-general Vatcharee Vimooktayon is hopeful the producers will not raise their prices sharply, in fear of a smaller market share at a time of lower purchasing power. "The government should seek new measures to bring down the burden on consumers," Prapot said, suggesting that the government focus on food prices and fares.

The following appears in PATTAYA ONE (that's the new name for 'Pattaya City News'): for photos, see: http://www.pattayaone.net/news_18_06_51_2.html _____ English Man Arrested and Accused of Conducting Lewd Acts with a 12 Year Old Boy On Wednesday Afternoon, a team of officers led by Police Colonel Nopadon, the Superintendent of Pattaya Police arrested an English National based on an arrest warrant detailing allegations of conducting lewd acts with a minor dating back to December 2007. Mr. Malcolm Edward Falkirk aged 50 from England was arrested at his house in Soi 10 off the Thappraya Road and taken to Pattaya Police Station. He was joined by his Lawyer who was given details of the case. The warrant stated that the suspect met the boy aged only 12 at a bar in Soi Sunee Plaza, South Pattaya. It is then alleged that he took the boy back to his house and engaged in lewd acts with him. Mr. Falkirk denies all allegations of conducting lewd acts with a minor and will now hope to prove his innocence in Court over the coming months.

On the links you provided, when I click them I get: Forbidden You don't have permission to access https://www.imglobal.com/travelinsurance/in...fm on this server. Also, for those of us who were unable to attend, can you provide us with the details about the living will?

Tuesday, July 1 is a mid-year banking holiday. All main branches will be closed, but mini branches, located in places like Big-C, Lotus, etc, will be open. All ATM services should also be open. International transactions will also be closed July 1. Those of you expecting to receive funds internationally on July 1 will not receive them until Wednesday, July 2.

There is nothing new in this. I recall reading similar articles ten years ago. Assuming these findings are correct, I don't see how they will do us any good. The findings have no practical value to gays unless the rest of the world accepts these findings. I don't foresee that happening in the lifetime of any of us.

Prices have gotten higher in Thailand. Fuel costs are responsible for much of it. Gasoline is now over 40 baht per liter. At today's exchange rate, that's US $4.57 per gallon, folks. When I bought my car two years ago, I could fill it from empty for 800 baht. It now costs me over 1600 baht. I have noticed that prices that had never changed at all since I first started coming to Thailand are now going up. For example, there is a little mom-and-pop shop down the street from me, where the "mom" makes what I think is the best fried rice in Pattaya. It's always been 20 baht. Within the past week she had to raise her price to 25 baht. Now, that in itself won't break the bank, but it does represent the typical percentages by which prices are rising. Pork is an essential ingredient for a great many Thai dishes and the price of pork has always been incredibly inexpensive in Thailand. Now the price of pork has gone up and a great many Thais are up in arms about it. They can't afford it. The government's response: Buy chicken. I've noticed prices have dramatically risen, percentage-wise, for a great many grocery store items. Restaurants are raising their prices. Soon the baht buses and motorcycle taxi prices are probably going up. Truckers are threatening to halt operations as early as next week if something isn't done about diesel prices. The exchange rate has gotten a little better for most western currencies, but the inflation is quickly eating up the gain. The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ BoT Rules Out Urgent Meeting July 16 is next rate date despite inflation by Parista Yuthamanop The Bank of Thailand says there is no need to call for an emergency meeting to review monetary policy, even with inflation at a 10-year high. Tarisa Watanagase, the central bank governor, yesterday brushed aside the need for the Monetary Policy Committee to hold a supplementary meeting ahead of its current schedule. The MPC's next meeting is scheduled for July 16. Analysts expect the committee to push for an interest rate hike due to growing inflationary pressure. The consumer price index rose to a 10-year high of 7.6% year-on-year in May, driven primarily by higher fuel and food prices. ''If the MPC meeting is held out of schedule without a necessary cause, it will lead to market panic. And there will be suspicion that there is some unanticipated information [forcing action],'' said Dr Tarisa, who chairs the MPC. ''We will stick to the rules of the game that the MPC meets every six weeks. Market participants have already anticipated what the MPC's move will be at the next meeting.'' Local banks, including Bangkok Bank and Siam Commercial Bank, have raised loan and fixed-deposit rates earlier this month in anticipation of rising BoT rates. At its last meeting on May 21, the MPC kept the one-day repurchase rate unchanged at 3.25% but clearly adopted a more hawkish bias in light of rising inflation. Policy rates have been maintained at 3.25% since mid-2007. Dr Tarisa, who is facing growing criticism that the central bank has been slow to respond to rising prices and their impact, said inflation could break double digits at some point this year, depending on global oil prices. But average inflation for the whole year was expected to remain under 10%, she said. The consumer price index for the first five months of the year rose 5.8% from the same period last year. ''If oil prices continue to increase, it is possible that inflation could reach double digits at some point. But that depends on the base as well. There is some chance, but I think an insignificant one,'' Dr Tarisa said. She said that a mix of monetary, fiscal and foreign exchange policies was needed to address inflation. Fiscal policy, she said, should focus on improving the country's infrastructure to reduce the country's dependence on imported oil, while monetary policy targeted price stability. Policy interest rates were already the lowest in the region, according to Dr Tarisa, and were actually in negative territory if inflation was included. Public debt, meanwhile, at around 38% of gross domestic product, was relatively low and offered room for increased public investment. Dr Tarisa said fears that rising interest rates would undermine economic growth were exaggerated. ''If the MPC has to raise interest rates, there will not be much impact on spending and economic growth. We are fortunate that there is room in both monetary and fiscal policies. We have no problem with either the level of public debt or monetary sustainability,'' she said. Dr Tarisa noted that logistics and transport expenses consumed around 24% of gross domestic product compared with 10% for other countries, showing the large potential savings for the private sector if transport infrastructure was improved. Interest rates, meanwhile, represented only a small component of overall costs for companies, she said.

Speaking of security, the following appears in PATTAYA ONE (that's the new name for PATTAYA CITY NEWS. They've changed their name, for reasons unknown.) _____ Break-ins Continue here in Pattaya Break-ins are continuing here in Pattaya and both residential and commercial properties are being targeted as the higher cost of living here in Thailand appears to be forcing some to turn to a life of crime. The first case comes from the Soonlodee Garage located at the corner of the Tepprasit Road and Sukumvit Road. Police were called to an office at the rear of the garage early on Monday Morning. The back door to the office had been forced open and the owner claimed that 2,000 Baht in cash and two digital cameras had been stolen. The office was dusted for prints and many were taken from the scene and are now being analyzed by officers who will do their best to locate the thieves regardless of the lack of clues in this case. The second theft we are reporting on comes from the Town and Country Property Office located in South Pattaya. As employees turned up for work on Monday Morning, they noticed that a break-in had occurred and called the Police who soon arrived and checked the point of entry. The thieves had partially knocked down a concrete wall at the side of the office and entered through the hole in the wall. 75,000 Baht in cash and a hard disk containing important company information were stolen. Fingerprints and other forensic evidence was taken from the scene and Police will add this case to the many break-ins waiting to be investigated at Pattaya Police Station.

I have learned that no matter what you are told at any of these banks, if you go to a different branch or even talk with someone else at the same branch, chances are you'll get a totally different answer. That happened to me with Siam Commercial. When I first moved here I tried to open an account at Siam Commercial and was told you can only open an account if you hold a work permit. That made no sense to me, but that was what I was told. For two years I assumed that was the case until a friend told me he has an account with Siam Commercial and has never had a work permit. I went back to the same branch and was still told you mush have a work permit in order to open an account. Then I tried a different branch. 15 minutes later I had an account, online banking, and was told the other branch, where I had originally tried, doesn't know what they're talking about.

Not with Bangkok Bank, in regard to online banking. They're quite strict about it. They used to permit online banking with a tourist visa, but now it has to be a non-immigrant visa. Just why baffles me, especially considering that several other banks permit online banking no matter what kind of visa you have, but there it is.

I don't understand why you are using a real estate agent at all. Why? It's easy to find rental property via classified ads, billboards at grocery stores, etc. To me, using a real estate agent is wasting a lot of money for nothing. My suggestion is to try on your own first and use a real estate agent only as a last resort, if all else fails.

Some banks still permit you to open an account with a tourist visa, but it will be much easier if you have a Type "O" visa. Since you are planning out your retirement, I suggest not trying to cut corners during this stage, but spending a few extra dollars to do things the right way and avoid problems later.

To the best of my knowledge, any bank passbook will do, but it must be from the bank at which the "Letter for Immigration" is generated.

All of my neighbors are Thai.

I would not dispute what the British Consul says, but apparently, based on what you are saying, it applies only in Pattaya. However, if it was me, then despite what the Consul is saying about Pattaya, I still would not want to be the one experimenting to find out if he's right. As far as I know, no matter what the policy is in Pattaya, the rule does state that the money is to be in the account for at least three months. If that is correct, then Pattaya is looking the other way at that rule. If Pattaya is looking the other way, do you really want to risk that they'll be looking the other way the day you apply for your visa renewal? In any case, I would think if a person is wealthy enough to have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account at all, then he probably has a lot more than that in his account for a lot longer than three months anyway. Of course, there is always the proof-of-income statement. Getting the proof-of-income statement is certainly simple enough for Americans. Apparently it is also simple enough to get one no matter which country you come from. I have neither read nor even heard any stories of anybody having any difficulty obtaining a proof-of-income statement from his embassy.

I'm one of the people who lives in a non-gated community. I don't think I'm any less safe than those who do live in gated communities. My home was broken into once. Meanwhile I have a friend who lives in a gated community, with security guards, and his home was also broken into. If a burglar wants to get into your home he'll find a way, no matter how well you have secured your home. You do the best you can. That's all you can do. Isn't that true no matter where in the world you live? Since the break-in at my home, I secured my home as best as I can. I feel perfectly safe. I also am fortunate that my neighbors all know me and we all look out for each other. If any of my neighbors spot anything going on, I know they'll call the police. I think it's a combination of how well the home is secured, the neighbors, and sheer luck. I certainly don't dispute the idea that a gated community with security guards is a deterrent, but just how much of a deterrent is anybody's guess. I think there's a big difference between how safe you feel and how safe you actually are.

Ok, I think I understand now. If you are using the 800,000 baht method: 1. The first time you apply for the retirement visa, then the 800,000 baht must be in a Thai bank account a minimum of three months prior to the fist time the visa is applied for. 2. For retirement visa renewals, then 800,000 baht must be in a Thai bank account, but not necessarily for three months. The minimum time it must be in the account is questionable and there is no set, in-writing, policy about that, making it pretty much up to the immigration officer handling your application. 3. The "not necessarily three months" part applies only in Pattaya. Whether it applies in any other offices is as yet unknown to us. Is that correct?

For those of you who wish to keep up with Kevin Quill's plight, I was informed that he was moved to the Klong Prem Prison, in Bangkok, a day or two ago. I understand he is a bit happier there and will have access to competent medical facilities, which was of great concern. That is all I know at this point.

That is true, but you had to go to Singapore to get the mortgage. From this article, I'm getting the impression that now you can get the mortgage within Thailand. The article doesn't make that clear, at least not to me. Does anyone out there know for sure?

If you want to do a quote, the easiest way is to simply hit the reply button and then delete everything except the part you want to quote, as I did above. Make sure the end quote is there. It goes in brackets, but I'll put the example in parentheses: (/quote). That has to be there with the slash, but in brackets [ ], or the quote won't show. Now, all I'm trying to say is to use common sense precautions. After all, you don't know the boy. Sometimes the cutest cherubs can turn into the worst nightmares. Make sure the boy is who he says he is and has an ID card to prove it. Make sure he is at least 18 years old. Make sure, if you are staying in a hotel or condo, that he leaves his ID card with the front desk or security guard and will not get it back until they get an "all clear" from you. Don't have valuables or other temptations sitting out where he can get at them. The boy will expect you to take those sorts of precautions. In other words, Lead him Not into Temptation, especially if you are going to have him sleep over. I've lost count of how many times I've heard stories and read stories in the English language media about farang who had a boy sleep over, and then woke up to find the boy gone, along with money, telephones, cameras, gold, and other valuables gone. That sort of thing can also happen during a "short time" encounter, usually when the farang is in the shower and the boy has a few minutes alone. There have even been stories about farang who had lived with a boyfriend for months or even years, and then came home one day to find his safe or other hiding place had been opened, and hundreds of thousands of baht and valuables lost to a boy who they had come to fully trust. The boy, of course, disappeared off the face of the earth and the farang was left heartbroken and devastated. I am not trying to say this sort of thing is likely to happen to you, but it makes sense to me to do what you can to make damned sure it doesn't happen to you. It does happen often enough that taking simple, common sense precautions is the thing to do if you want the best assurance that problems will not occur. If you are using online hook-up web sites, most of the boys are probably very nice and they're not out to rob you. They're most likely hoping for money and the possibility of a relationship with someone who will "take care" them (a sugar daddy). But if you don't take simple precautions, then sooner or later you're likely to bring a boy back who turns out to be really bad news, and you'll find that out the hard way.

Do I understand that correctly? Those using the 800,000 baht method only have to do that once and never again? What do they have to show when doing renewals other than the letter from the bank? If that is the case, then I have learned something new. I thought you would have to have the 800,000 baht in the account for three months every year or change over to the proof-of-income statement method. If that what the British Consul is saying, then I assume he is correct. Am I understanding you correctly?

I suppose, to reassure people, within the tenth post on this thread the person who wrote it said that you have to renew your retirement visa at least thirty days in advance of its expiration date. That is not correct. I just renewed my own, a grand total of two days prior to the expiration date, with no problems or questions whatsoever. In other words, there is no such requirement. Either the Immigration officer who told him that is clueless about their own rules or that particular office is making up their own rules. You can renew your retirement visa on the very day it expires. I actually did that a couple years ago, only 40 minutes before the Pattaya Immigration office was to close for the day. Again, I had no problems at all and was asked no questions.

The following appears in the PATTAYA DAILY NEWS: (for photos, see: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000006270 ) _____ ELDERLY BRITISH MAN FALLS TO HIS DEATH FROM PATTAYA HOTEL Pol.Lt.Col. Thawatchai Sudsakorn, Pattaya Investigator, received a report on June 11, 2008, at 7am, that a foreign man had fallen to his death from the 3rd floor of Diana Estate Hotel, in Soi Bua Khao, Central Pattaya. Pol.Col.Nopadol Wongnom, Pattaya Superintendent and Sawang Boriboon rescue accordingly went to investigate. At the scene, police found Mr. Roy Norton (75), a British citizen, lying dead in the rear car park of the hotel. He was wearing a red patterned shirt and brown shorts. There were broken glasses and a hotel room key by the side of his body. On the 3rd floor, there was a pair of shoes, apparently belonged to the deceased, which police kept as evidence. A police investigator examined the body and found the man had sustained head injuries, broken arms and legs and there was blood coming out of his mouth. Initial estimates assessed the time of death as not more than 20 minutes previously and there was no sign of his being attacked. Mrs. Jamnong Ratanajaruen-norakul (40), a hotel maid, told police that Mr. Norton had been a hotel guest for about 7 years and this time he had been staying at a room on the 3rd floor that she regularly cleaned. Normally, he liked to drink and used to tell her about his English ex-wife whom he had divorced long ago. Apparently, he had had two children with his ex-wife who are now grown up. Miss Jamnong said that while she was working in the office on the ground floor with other staff members, she heard the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground and she and her colleagues rushed out to have a look, only to find Mr. Norton lying dead; she then reported the incident to the police. Hotel staff led the police to examine Mr. Norton's room and found no trace of fighting, and all of his property in an orderly condition. Inspecting the air circulation window on the staircase near Mr. Norton's room, police found evidence of footprints and signs of climbing consistent with the apparent trajectory of the deceased's body as it hit the ground. Presumably, Mr. Norton had climbed up to the air circulation window and leapt off to commit suicide, but the motive is still unknown. Police assumed that the man was distressed because of personal problems. However, the British Embassy will be informed and the body will be handed over for an autopsy to ascertain the real cause of death.

The following appears in the PATTAYA DAILY NEWS Bangkok Bank - First Thai Bank to Offer Mortgages to Foreigners In a welcome breakthrough in Thai mortgage policy, foreigners will now be able to apply for mortgage loans thanks to a precedent set by Bangkok Bank (BBL); a move expected to be followed shortly by other Thai banks, keen to tap the foreign property investor market. Previously, Thai banks were extremely reluctant to grant mortgages to foreigners due to their poor credit risk and the current laws governing Thai property ownership. This move by Bangkok Bank will put Thailand, more on a par with its neighbours in Vietnam and Malaysia, who do offer mortgages to foreigners. Chintan Mahida from the overseas property blog stated: "Thailand is now set to move up the ranks in overseas property, thanks to the Thai mortgage change. This is a positive move by the Bangkok Bank, having access to Thai mortgage finance will undoubtedly generate a surge in demand from buyers." Local developers and real estate agents have also welcomed Bangkok Bank's move, seeing it as a means to restore confidence and kick start the Thai property market once more after its recent downturn, due to current political unrest and renewed fears of another coup. The mortgages are available currently up to a limit of Bt25 million, available in US dollars, Singapore dollars or euros (but not Baht!) via Singapore for a wide range of purchasers and Hong Kong for their citizens only. Previously, private off-shore personal loans or lines of credit, especially in the Isle of Man, were available, but at unattractive rates. The Head of the Thai Desk at the Singapore branch of Bangkok Bank, Yaovaluk Suksathit, said that currently the bank has made 20 loans. The Singapore branch has been more assertive in its approach than Hong Kong, which only extends mortgages on freehold condominiums, as their 49% freehold terms and 30 year leases (in some cases, 90 years in perpetuity) carry less risk than houses, whereas in Singapore, loans will be considered for other types of property, including homes on leased land Prospective purchasers can now borrow up to 70% of the property appraisal value or the purchase price, whichever is lower, dependent on the applicant's earning capacity, over a maximum loan period of 10 years. A buyer interested in purchasing a condominium costing Bt20 million, for instance, should ideally be earning around Bt300,000 per month. However, all that glitters is not gold, as they say. Chintan Mahida, for example strongly advises prospective loanees to do their due diligence. If one was a Hong Kong citizen, for instance, one must pay a processing fee of about Bt125,000 baht on acceptance of the bank's letter of offer. Approximately Bt50,000 baht of this is refunded when the loan is drawn down. In addition, initially, 1.5% of the loan amount must be handed over to the bank as a "prepayment fee." In addition market fluctuations, interest rate increases, rising costs of living and other variable factors must be taken into consideration. In borrowing, a safe rule of thumb is to assume, for example on Bt 1 million, double the sum borrowed, which now amounts to Bt2m, and then halve it again ie 50% of the loan. All told one will have to repay Bt 2.5m over the loan period. Ideally, those in the know advise prospective borrowers not to listen to sales hype from real estate agents as they are only interested in their commission, not in one's your ability to repay one's loan. The best criterion is only to buy if you really need to and have sufficient reserves to cover emergencies and other contingencies and also take into consideration the bogey of negative equity. This, as speculators in the US housing market found to their cost, is an ever present threat, where the market value slumps lower than the resale value of the property, leaving you heavily in debt. Take heed; follow your head, not your heart!