nkped

Probably a good idea. Having one of Pastrami on Rye's sandwiches the same day you had the full English breakfast at the Pig 'n Whistle would be taking things a bit far.

Who said anything about logic? But anyway, good pancakes, and many aren't good in the US, are much lower on bulk and obvious fat than almost any pizza. Have not encountered a pancake made with cheese or pepperoni, not that there is anything wrong with either of those. The pancakes at Pastrami on Rye were light, not doughy, and quite tasty.

Their pancakes are quite good. That's rare enough in the U.S.

How do you warantee mileage? Not doubting you, just asking.

As a layman, I've been impressed by the dental clinic at Bangkok Hospital. You can check the CVs of the individual dentists. It would seem to be a better possibility than a store front clinic for sedation dentistry.

Their sandwiches are quite good. They also have a good breakfast menu if you are looking for an American style breakfast. Can't convince myself to eat pizza in Thailand so can't comment on their pizzas.

Well, that cuts out at least two takeoffs and two landings and those are the most dangerous parts of any flight.

It is.

Went online with the US bank Monday evening (morning in US) to enter the Bangkok Bank information for transfers. They acknowledged immediately and said it would take 2 or 3 days to make the test transfers. This morning, had the message saying they had made the test transfers. Signed on to the Bangkok Bank account and the test transfers were there, but in baht of course. That's where things departed from the script. Referring to the web page I listed at the end of the OP, I called 1333. Sorry, you have to call your local branch. BTW, the one on 2d Road opposite Soi 6 is the Muang Pattaya branch, but she gave me a phone number. Got a young lady who was trying mightily to be helpful. She gave me the exchange rate. Might have worked but I didn't want to be guessing. She managed to give me the amount for one clearly .15 and actually gave me the amount for the other one once, .14, but with no amount of certainty. So I say one is .15. What is the other one? Exchange rate again. I'm almost in tears and she is wondering what this crazy farang wants. As I had spent last night praying to the great god Ralph, I really did not want to take a 30 minute baht bus ride today to check in person. Eventually, they get someone who speaks a little more English and I get the amounts confirmed. Enter the amounts with the US bank and they say, yeah, you got it right. Mission accomplished.

Looking at the the thread title I was reminded that in one of my prior lives, a non-electric rice cooker would have had long black hair and would have spoken fluent Korean.

Will do. The website talks about that and gives phone numbers to check the amounts in USD. We'll see.

Paid 300 baht in fees associated with the debit card yesterday. Beyond that, I don't know.

Went to open a Bangkok Bank account yesterday as I want the easier/cheaper option for transferring money from the US. As others have suggested, I went to the branch on second road opposite Soi 6. Not being familiar with that part of town (honest), I got off the baht bus when I saw the sign for Soi 6/1 and wondered a few meters in the wrong direction before turning around and spotting a sign with the bank logo. The banK has blessedly strong AC. I'm surprised the staff weren't wearing sweaters. Bangkok Bank's website has a page on opening accounts. http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/PersonalBanking/SpecialServices/ForeignCustomers/Pages/Openinganaccountnew.aspx. It doesn't exactly reflect ground truth, but it is probably worth reviewing. As anticipated, the customer rep wanted to see my passport and wanted my address. Then she asked me for a residency certificate from immigration. I know what that is, but I certainly didn't have one and squawked a bit about the website not saying anything about that. She said I would need a one year visa to not need the residency certificate. "I have." "Show me." Crisis solved. I did have to complete an IRS Form W-9 for FATCA (she used the acronym) and a few local forms relating to my tax status. Asked for a savings account as it seems to meet my requirements and has a lower minimum balance requirement. Offered a choice of two types of debit cards. One could be used in any bank's machine. The other has a chip and can only be used in Bangkok Bank ATMs. She said the one with the chip was more secure so I took it. Did think to ask about Internet banking. Turns out you ask for that at an ATM which she showed me how to do. The receipt gives you a user ID, which you use with your debit card PIN to sign on initially. As you might anticipate, it then requires you to establish an 8 character online PIN. So far, so good. Next week, I will see if I can set up ACH transfers from my US bank. http://www.bangkokbank.com/bangkokbank/personalbanking/dailybanking/transferingfunds/transferringintothailand/receivingfundsfromusa/pages/receivingfundsfromusa.aspx

But what about the bank which owns the ATM you are using?

Not quite an explanation but, perhaps, an example. When I use my US debit card in a Thai ATM, the machine asks me if I want to do it with conversion or without. At first I thought it was going to give me USD if I said with conversion as I had keyed in an amount in baht. Recently used an SCB machine which set it out in concise detail. With conversion was a rate set by Mastercard,

Never tried to use my K Bank card in another bank's machine for fear it would hit me with a 180 baht charge.

And several things a Jewish deli would probably not do. Quite good, had the cheesy western bacon last night.

Now have the retirement extension. The income letter was not an issue. When I submitted the application yesterday, they did ask for a copy of my lease which I did have. The fact that it only runs for another 2+ weeks was not a problem. Having been to the Bangkok immigration office for the initial conversion and seeing how efficiently organized it was, I have to say the Jomtien operation does not impress.

Seem to remember encountering a Kasikorn ATM which would not dispense more than 10K. No idea whether that was temporary for that particular machine.

You pave more roads and put up more buildings, there is less open ground to absorb the water. Also, many of the structures channel the water. So, yes, the flooding may be worse.

Much the same today but I was given a laminated red card with a number, "PATTAYA IMMIGRATION RETIREMENT" and something in Thai. I'm not about to carry that as I would be well and truly screwed if I lost it.

Turned in the extension application at Jomtien immigration today. They accepted my income affidavit without question. Will see what happens tomorrow when I go back to get my passport.

Original Shenanigans location, but that's probably not helpful to many. Last ate at Dicey Riley's for their Thanksgiving buffet several years ago and it was quite good.

Some info from a clinic back in the U.S. about multi focal lens implants. http://www.pcli.com/understanding_cataracts/multifocal/strengths_limitations1/. I'm probably going to make an appointment with them next month. Definitely some marketing with them as well, but they're a bit more restrained.

"Oh what was your name in the States? Was it Johnson or Jackson or Bates?"Big Delta, is that you?