RhinoTusk

No, If your bank balance falls below the threshold they won't give you the extension.

I extended my visa last week at Bangkok (Chiang Wattana), a month before expiration. Arrived at 8:30 am when the Bangkok Bank branch downstairs opens. After making a small withdrawal to date my passbook, I obtained the bank letter and statement of past 6 months transactions showing where I had transferred a million baht 3 months ago. No embassy letter. Had photos taken downstairs, 100 baht. Received queue number and spoke with officer at 11:45, no personal information sheet, just signed the two papers regarding overstay consequences. They make everyone exit the office between noon and 1 pm. Received my passport at 2:15 pm. It was my third extension in Bangkok, prior three were in Jomtien.

The last time I had breakfast at the Lek Hotel it cost 70 baht, that was quite a while ago. Same same as the Apex, bad at any price. Imho

Bangkok Bank offers direct deposit of social security checks but the account has the restriction that you have to collect the money in person (i.e. so the SSA knows you're alive). This is a special account you can set up with Bangkok Bank but you're paying monthly transfer fees so it's better use a US bank for direct deposit and transfer funds to Thailand annually IMHO.

These were from a different show I went to today called the Fast Auto Show at BITEC in Bang Na. This show was disappointing in that there were only a few girls so I went to the hall next door for the Safety Show. This show lasts through Sunday, but I don't recommend it unless you're looking to buy a car. From the Safety Show

Here are a few more photos. Last day is tomorrow, admission 100 baht.

Here's my Car Wash Video along with a few stills of the A-Class Girls and some of the FHM Girls 'Next Door'. I only saw 3 or 4 farangs at the show.

I think just the A-Class Image Girls are Japanese. ■ 2016 Auto Salon A-class Image Girls Profile ERENA ISHIGURO Birth date: August 5, 1985 Height / Bust, weight, hip measurements: 166cm;B:85, W:61. H: 89 Zodiac Sign: Leo Hobbies: Sports, cafe hopping Special skills: Dancing, impersonating Favorite sport/s: Basketball, soccer, golf, baseball Qualifications/ License: Consumer certificate Level 2, driver's license Charm point: Mole on my right shoulder Personality: Naive Place you often hang out in: Omotesando What you're recently up to: Organic food, Sports gym Favorite food: Meat, green tea, salad Food you dislike: Coriander Magazine/s you often read: Glitter, Tarzan, Golf Today Favorite type of guy: A very knowledgeable person Favorite music: J-POP, K-POP Favorite celebrity: Angelica Michibata Future dream (goals from now): To become a celebrity who can also be active outside Japan A gift you'd like to receive: I'd be glad about anything I'd receive (especially organic food) REIKA HINO Birth date: February 19, 1987 Height / Bust, weight, hip measurements: 161cm;B:85, W:57. H: 87 Zodiac Sign: Pisces Hobbies: Anime, cosplaying, karaoke Special skills: Anything I can enjoy Favorite sport/s: Survival games Qualifications/ License: None Charm point: Hime cut (princess cut) Personality: An optimistic, enthusiastic fan Place you often hang out in: Akihabara What you're recently up to: Love Live! Favorite food: Pizza, potato chips, strawberry Food you dislike: Liver, Hikarimono (silver-skinned fish), raw meat Magazine/s you often read: Larme Magazine Favorite type of guy: A person like Professor Snape (of Harry Potter) Favorite music: Anime songs Favorite celebrity: Aya Uchida, Yurika Kubo Future dream (goals from now): I want to engage in any work related to Anime A gift you'd like to receive: Cosplay and Anime items AYAKA ARIMA Birth date: June 23, 1988 Height / Bust, weight, hip measurements: 161cm;B:88, W:59. H: 86 Zodiac Sign: Cancer Hobbies: Going to hot springs Special skill: Dancing Favorite sport/s: Dancing, table tennis Qualifications/ License: Hot spring sommelier, announcer license Level 2 Charm point: Small nails Personality: Straightforward, frank Place you often hang out in: Izakaya, beach What you're recently up to: Collecting bathing accessories Favorite food: Pizza, potato chips, strawberry Food you dislike: Yakiniku, Sashimi Magazine/s you often read: Sweet, ViVi, community journals Favorite type of guy: A person who often eats and often laughs Favorite music: Daichi Miura, Ringo Sheena Favorite celebrity: Daichi Miura, Ringo Sheena Future dream (goals from now): To work in a musical, to be a celebrity A gift you'd like to receive: Sake (Japanese rice wine), accessories JUNKO WATANABE Birth date: January 17, 1987 Height / Bust, weight, hip measurements: 166cm; B: 83; W:59, H:89 Zodiac Sign: Capricorn Hobbies: Visiting Shinto shrines, golf, dancing Special skill: Foot sole massage Favorite sport/s: Tennis, golf, motorsport Qualifications/ License: Color ability license level 3; secretarial qualification level 3 Charm point: Mole on my chin, wink Personality: Careless, persevering Place you often hang out in: Shibuya What you're recently up to: Eating delicious food from local regions Favorite food: Chocolate, meat Food you dislike: Fresh vegetables, fruits Magazine/s you often read: Golf Today Favorite type of guy: Gentle, someone who has ambitions Favorite music: Songs that would easily suit my mood Favorite celebrity: Yui Aragaki, Big Bang Future dream (goals from now): Reporter, host A gift you'd like to receive: Chocolates, beauty products

This years show was scaled down but still a good one When you're pulled over for speeding and the cop asks, "What's that smell?", you can tell him it's your Hemp Air Freshener from Japan They had a cute girl group from Tokyo called the A-Class Image Girls, and they could spell their name. Highlight of the show, as always, was the Sexy Car Wash. I'll post when it finishes uploading to YouTube.

I'm considering this service. Supposedly, you can get a driver's license and residency by staying one night every five years. Sales tax is 4%, but I have never been to South Dakota. http://www.americas-mailbox.com

Looks good but how much is beef and how much is filler?

Thanks Butch, here's another for you.

There's a big bike show at Terminal 21 this week. Not many bikes. Even worse, not many girls. But I live in the neighborhood.

Here's another set from my archives. The first pic is the train station, most others were taken in the small streets around the hotel.

Thanks for your report. I never stayed there but here's a shot of the rooftop pool I took a few years ago.

Sure they're overpriced, maybe not so much when you consider the resale value. BMW and Kawasaki make great bikes, it isn't rocket science and Harley-Davidson quality took a big hit when owned by AMF in the 1970's. But like Apple, it's an iconic brand with a loyal and dedicated following. Just marketing of course, and not even by the company, mostly because of a low budget, wildly successful Hollywood movie made in 1969. But hey, they've been around for over a century and are the survivors in the USA. I'm biased because we have the same hometown. Harley-Davidson refused to provide free bikes for the movie "Easy Rider", thinking the movie would be bad for their image. The 1962 1200cc Electra Glide, ridden by Peter Fonda, was previously used by the LAPD and purchased at auction and customized. Dennis Hopper was a less accomplished rider than Fonda and rode a less custom 1950-era bike which was also purchased at auction.

Here are a few more pics And my favorite Harley-Davidson model, not the Electra Glide but the Yaowaret Fah

FYI, there's a new beachfront mall opening in Hua Hin this week http://bk.asia-city.com/travel/news/hua-hin-new-beachfront-mall?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BK%20Daily&utm_content=BK+Daily+April+11%2C+2016

I don't know if there's a joiner at the Hilton. I wasn't particularly impressed with the quality of the girls in town but I live in Bangkok, was only in Hua Hin for a few days before high season, so maybe I didn't see a representative sample. I've heard you can find freelancers in the hotel's disco but I didn't go there.

In 1972, George Carlin was arrested for obscenity for saying 7 words on stage. In 1981, Wendy O Williams of the punk rock band Plasmatics was arrested for obscenity for simulating a sex act with a sledge hammer on stage. Both of these incidents occurred in my hometown. Here's another set from Tuesday.

Unfortunately, I missed that performance, but there seemed as many motorcycles as cars at this event. We may not be seeing any more of the sexy car washes. That would be a bummer.

A few from today

Schweinshaxe with sauerkraut and potato pancakes, my Mom used to make this from a recipe passed down for generations.

Off-Road Adventure For my last day, I booked a full-day adventure in the Phaya Mengrai district, about 70 km east of Chiang Rai. A minibus picked me up at my hotel and after an hours drive I was there. I rented one of these all-terrain vehicles, the only way to navigate the rough roads. After an hour's ride and about a 40 minute walk through the jungle, I spent the remainder of the morning at Nam Tog Tad Kwan. Then back to my host's place for some lunch. The roads were so dusty I had to take my camera and lens in for cleaning at the Nikon service center on Sathorn Road when I got back to Bangkok. I did 20 laps in their Edge Pool, it was very refreshing! In the afternoon, more cruising around the area. It was like the end of the earth, another planet, remote and desolate. The last stop was the Hilltribe Village, a timeless place, like from another century. Handsome Man! SUMMARY Chiang Rai was certainly a unique experience. I would recommend it to anyone wishing to enjoy some authentic regional Thailand without the hordes of tourists. BTW, I skipped the Golden Triangle.

ATTRACTIONS Wat Rong Kuhn (AKA The White Temple) is a privately owned art exhibit in the style of a Buddhist temple. It was designed and constructed by a local artist named Chalermchai Kositpipat and opened to visitors in 1997. Admission is 50 baht. The main building is reached by crossing The Bridge of "the cycle of rebirth" over a small lake. In front of the bridge are outreaching hands that represent unrestrained desire. After the bridge is the Gate of Heaven, guarded by Death and Rahu, who determine the fate of the dead. The Ubosot is the main all-white building embedded with mirrored glass Some other miscellaneous shots Public Restrooms are in the Golden Building Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Rong_Khun Wat Phra Kaeo (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha) The Clock Tower Conceived by the same artist that did Wat Rong Kuhn in the same distinctive style, it lights up at night alternating between gold, pink, and green from 7 PM to 9 PM. The King Mengrai Monument Next: Off-Road Adventure