teelack

There is a dreadful amount of angst in people’s minds regarding the value of the Thai baht and their respective currencies. To be honest I cannot recall rates from years past and its all a bit irrelevant but here is something to chew on. In the sixties many commonwealth countries decided to decimalise and I was a constant visitor to four of them, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK. I am aware of the history of these four places and it might interest you to know how things stand today in relation to Thailand. The UK was the only country to retain the pound sterling as its main unit whilst NZ and AUS and SAR used half that amount, or ten shillings as it was then. Who, after all these years are the winners and losers? The following figures are reasonable averages of today’s exchange rate against the baht. Pound sterling, 38.5 baht NZ Dollar 19.1 x 2= 38.2 baht AUS Dollar 20.5 x 2 = 41.0 baht SAR Rand 2.00 x 2= 4.00 baht So there you have it. The $ AUS is a slight winner while the SAR is a vast loser. There is only one point to add to these numbers and that is that the three commonwealth countries had issues with importations unless you had currency stashed away overseas, mainly in Britain. For this reason people would pay a premium for pounds and dollars, often as high as 25% therefore the UK loss has been even greater.

The word was "Sensible". I get all silly in the bedroom. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

I admit that I have never given up trying to learn. There is however a middle course that I have aimed for. This is the area that I am involved in and constantly try to add words where it is part of my holiday. I added 'Greedy" the other day! In other words I want to broaden it out from the basics but only into areas that I think that I will use. There is another consideration and that is as follows. many of us guys and girls on the forum have some mileage on the clock. It seems to be generally believed that for older people language learning is conducive to good brain health and anything that will slow down dementia can only be a good thing. I have my lists and flash cards out daily and also have Pimsleur cd's but like Jacko, my spoken Thai never seems to be right to the locals but on the occasion that I get a compliment it can bring on a big smile. If you are going to be a constant visitor to Thailand or could possibly decide to live there then every effort that you make will be rewarded. Also something that I have noted. is that the bar girls (When not speaking Issan, Khymer or Lao) have evolved an understanding of Falang Thai. They seem to be able to overlook the tones and poor pronunciation and sounds that are exclusive to Thai. Am I the only one who has sensible conversations with bar girls and are completely not understood by their parents?

I will do my best to help Pattaya City and drink more beer. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

So you did. Depressing! Still, keep them coming. Thanks. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Cummon guys. Let's see a photo of the board for the odd person who is not really interested in sterling! Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Good information. Anyone else been advised of a joiner fee in Pattaya? I have been hit in Phuket but never in Pattaya. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Well worth a read and I hope that they are not copyright as I have already shared them. Thanks

Thanks for the update. Just shows how valuable the site can be. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

You mentioned that anyone would be a schmuck to go to a bank ahead of TT. Completely agreed but I wonder if (A) Anyone knows anywhere better and ( Does anyone use a bank rather than say TT and why? There are 5 TT within about a kilometre of each other in Soi Buakhao of which 2 have off street areas for a bit of privacy. There must be others similar around the place. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Thanks yet again. Good to see that there is still enough news happening in Pattaya to warrant a monthly post. Please keep going as so many on the board seem to have given up! One place I think that I will definitely avoid will be underground toilets in Beach Rd. Sounds like a perfect description of hell to me. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

First day in Thailand I change most of my cash for baht. Trot across the road to Kasikorn and pop it into my account. I then spend day by day whatever overseas or retained cash that I have and leave my bank money until I run out. I can then access 24/7 using my ATM card. I always keep something in the Thai account for emergencies, last day accounts to settle, taxis and so forth. Could not be easier. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

As I wander around Pattaya I often see those barrows with toys piled high. I also note that there some really ugly looking plastic pigs, dogs, cats and what have you. I have never even bothered to look at them until a couple of days ago. The TGF usually calls me when she finishes work and with the time difference this is manageable. The other night she was sitting on her bed bashing hell out of a large plastic pig. When that was finished she started on another one of similar size and after that yet another one. The story is that each day she puts her change and some of her tips into a piggy bank and as she is heading home it was time to smash the shit out of them and see what she has to play with. Its her sons birthday and this is her party/present money. All up about 10,000 baht. I always have believed that Thai girls have zero forward planning skills but I now have to eat my words.

[https://mail] Irish Sawmill Accident. Paddy and Mick are two Irishmen working at the local sawmill. One day, Mick slips and his arm gets caught and severed by the big bench saw. Paddy quickly puts the limb in a plastic bag and rushes it and Mick to the local hospital. Next day, Paddy goes to the hospital and asks after Mick. The nurse says, "Oh he's out in Rehab exercising". Paddy couldn't believe it, but there's Mick out the back exercising his now re-attached arm. The very next day he's back at work in the saw mill. A couple of days go by, and then Mick slips and severs his leg on another bloody big saw. So Paddy puts the limb in a plastic bag and rushes it and Mick off to Hospital.. Next day he calls in to see him and asks the nurse how he is.. The nurse replies, "He's out in the Rehab again exercising". And sure enough, there's Mick out there doing some serious work on the treadmill. And very soon Mick comes back to work. But, as usual, within a couple of days he has another accident and severs his head. Wearily Paddy puts the head in a plastic bag and transports it and Mick to hospital. Next day he goes in and asks the nurse how Mick is. The nurse breaks down and cries and says, "He's dead." Paddy is shocked, but not surprised. "I suppose the saw finally did him in." "No", says the nurse, "Some dopey bastard put his head in a plastic bag and he suffocated. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Adam! Bugger! I was at you last party and it was great. Good turnout, tasty grub and even tastier ladies. Sorry that I won't make this one but I will be hoisting a drink or three. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk