wallyc

I have a recliner I want to sell and have attached 3 pictures taken this morning. RECLINER FOR SALE Excellent mechanical condition, all metal frame. Kept covered so fabric upholstery is also in excellent condition. My American butt is now larger and I have purchased another recliner that fits me better. Seat measures 23 1/2" front to back and is 18" side to side. JM Sofa recliner, purchased 18 months ago at Carrefour. Paid $ 9,900 baht. Same recliner on display now at $ 10,900 at Carrefour. Asking $ 3,000 Don Carlson 086-081-3717 chair will be available after Jan 23, but you can see at anytime ..... Soi Photisarn in Naklua

New Balance running shoes model MR1224ST size: US - 13, EU - 47.5, UK - 12.5 -- 2E width I wear size 10.5 US, but these were the only shoes wide enough for me. The overall size I can not deal with, stumbling and mis-steps. Wore to an Aerobics session once - did not wear again, so they are virtually new. Paid 4,990 b at Super Sports, Big-C on 2nd Rd. Now sell for $ 1750 baht ... old -->Sell for 2,500 B wallyc[attach ment=19887:attachment]

On-line banking with B of A works very well. B of A charges $ 3 ( that is three dollars - not an error) and Bangkok Bank charges 500 baht ( at least that is what they are charging me on the last 3 transfers ). Approp $ 18 total and the currency conversion is done in Thailand for the On-Shore rate. Takes about 3 days for the transfer to complete. wallyc

Forgot a very important part. I did not want to do ATM withdrawls because they do not show up on my bank account as funds transfered from outside of Thailand. If I need to show Immigration my bank funds transfers into Thailand, ATM withdrawls will not show. If for some reason I can not show enough income I will need to show a bank balance and activity in that bank account. Hope this helps, wallyc

OK ... here is the deal with the bank transfers. This is the only method I know and have done it 4 or 5 times .. it is also the only method I have tried. And, my bank is Bank of America. BofA has a relationship with Bangkok Bank, NYC. That bank seems to be the holding bank for the other Bangkok Bank branches in the USA. I don't think it is a bank you can do business in ... With BofA online banking, there is a "Transfer Funds" selection. In that section is a "Outside the Bank" selection. In that section is a drop down window where you select where the transfer is to go .. If Bangkok Bank is not listed for you, you should be able to specify where you want the transfer to go. I think it was already listed when I first did it. Using the ABA Routing number of "02600891" .. that is the number for the Bangkok Bank of NYC. Then you use YOUR account number of YOUR Bangkok Bank account. So, now you have given BofA a routing # and your account #. For the first transfer, BofA will send 2 small amounts ( between 1 cent and 99 cents) to the numbers you have given - your account in Bangkok Bank. This procedure is done only ONCE and is to prove you are the owner of the account you have referenced. You will need to wait for about 5 business days and then call your Bangkok Bank branch and get the amount of the 2 transfers. You must have the exact amount. Back to the BofA 'Outside the Bank" transfer section where you will be asked to verify the transfer amounts. If you answer with the correct amounts, BofA will acknowledge the fact you are indeed the owner of the account and you have established the link between BofA and your Bangkok Bank account. It seems much more difficult than it is .... The really hard part was listening to the Bangkok Bank voice telling you the amount of the deposits ( the small transfers ). Hard to understand what was said ... Called 2 or 3 times to make sure I had the correct amounts. I am still in the USA and could only call the branch. If I was in Pattaya I could have gone to the branch and have the amount written in my passbook. Now that the account is established .. I go to the "Outside the Bank" section. Select Bangkok Bank ( it is the only selection I have ) as the receiver of the funds transfer. Select what account the amount is to be deducted from and then select the amount to send. BofA will charge you $3 US for the transfer. Bangkok Bank has been charging me 500 Baht. When I check the amount of the deposit, it is in Baht and seems to be close to the ON-Shore exchange rate. The amount is higher than the OFF-Shore rate even when the 500 Baht has been deducted. The $3 will be added to the amount transfered ... transfer $200 and BofA will show $203 deducted from your account. I found this method listed on ThaiVisa ( over a year ago ) in the banking section. The thread heading gave no clue this info would be in there. I stumbled upon it ... Was looking for a way, anyway to avoid another fee for transferring money to Thailand. This seemed the best of all that I read and I had a BofA account. I do not know if BofA is the only bank with a link to Bangkok Bank of NYC. At least half of the SWIFT code fees, sure would be worth the effort to find if your bank has a similar link with a Thai bank Read somewhere that the same scenario above using a wire transfer, Bangkok Bank was waiving their 500 baht fee. Have not tried that, yet .. Hope this helps, wallyc .............. ( Wally is not me, I'm wallyc from California USA, but not for long ... 8 more weeks )

I now have my Thai Non-Immigrant O-A Visa for the purpose of Retirement. I followed the instructions I found on ThaiVisa and here on PattayaPages. Many thanks to Lopburi3 (ThaiVisa) and JoeKicker (PattayaPages) who insists that you enter Thailand with a Visa obtained from a Thai Consulate. I have been planning the move for almost 2 years and have been reading everything I could find relating to Visas. ThaiVisa and PattayaPages were the best sources of information for me. Many thanks to all that posted their experiences and opinions. Should also thank Owen for pointers on financial matters. And the 2 Expatriate Clubs in Pattaya. So here is the story: I am single, 66 and retiring this year (Dec 28, 2007). Applied for US Social Security at the end of September. Needed to be 65 and 8 months to qualify for full benefits ( quailified in July and still working. The last 6 months of 2007 earned extra credits for me and I am still paying into the system until Dec 28th). Actual interview was scheduled for early October. That meeting set the amount I would receive and when the payments would start. Selected direct deposit in my USA bank account. The first scheduled check would not be enough for me to apply on a income only basis for my Visa. The future checks would be adjusted higher in consideration of my payments in 2007, the extra months of working and cost of living increase due for 2007. Final adjustments to be completed the middle of 2008 and the final amount will be much more than needed to qualify for my Visa with income only. Had been reading the Thai Consulate instructions every month or so for over a year. Started to understand what was needed ( and not needed ) with the help of reading the various forums - ThaiVisa and PattayaPages ... Retirement Visa ?? .. Non-Immigrant Visa ?? ... Type O ?? .. Type O-A ??.... Convert Tourist Visa to Non-Immigrant O... then apply for Retirement Visa ?? When it came time for me to assemble all of the forms I was still confused about 'income + bank statements'. Called my savings bank and asked for a letter of balance verification and was told they did not do that except in response to a request by the entity making the request. WTF ... So I asked for an official bank statement on their letterhead. That was OK with them - turned to be a just bank statement on their letterhead - I thought I would get something a little more 'official' than that - but I got what I asked for .. didn't know what to do after that *WTF* response. I needed the statement because I was going to use the 'income + bank balance' method for the Visa application. My Social Security 'Award Letter' arrived showing the amount of the check I would receive and all future payments (did not mention any future adjustments, I was told they would send "Award Letters" when the adjustments were made). I would use this letter and my bank statement for my Visa application. Had no clue how to find my police records. Don't remember ever being arrested. Local police department told me to go to the California Justice Department. Found their web site, found the section about obtaining a police report. Found the section about fingerprinting. There are 5 or 6 choices. Local governemt agencies and secuirty companies. Called a School Police Dept. office and they told me to go away, we are employment only - another WTF - so I called the private security company. "Sure come on over and bring $52 US". So I did. I thought I would have ink stained fingers, had no clue it was all done electronically. They said it would 2 to 6 weeks for a result to be mailed to me - depending on how much of a record I had. Got the result in 3 days -- "No record" Called my physician for an appointment. Need a blood test for all the stuff I don't have, well don't think I have. Gave him the Thai Consulate form, half written in Thai. Had the blood test a few days later, he had the form filled in and ready for me to pick-up the next week. Lucky for me my insurance company paid for all of it less my co-pay -- looked to be around $400 for the lab not counting his office visit fee. And I passed all the tests ... Filled in the Visa application form, using the 'income + bank statement' method. Hoping the "Bank Statement" letter would be accepted. Had all the necessary forms notarized. Had all the copies made and assembled with the cooresponding forms, photos included. Ready to go. Went to the bank the next day for the cashier-check/money order. Thought the total was $25 for the forms processing and $60 for the Visa, so made the check for $85. Stopped by my mail box and here was another letter from Soc. Security. It was a new Award Letter. This was showing an up-dated amount, showing consideration for 2007 employment and the new amount was more than enough to qualify on income alone. I re-did the Visa applictation form and had that one notarized. I included a note attached to the bank statement that I was including this information if they need it .. I already had an express mail envelope. Included all the forms and my Passport + copies. Had the Post Office issue a $16.25 stamp ( requested by the Thai Consulate ) and attached a return express mail envelope. This was on Dec 3, 2007. Ten days later I have my Passport with a new Thai Visa. Non-Immigant O-A , Retirement. And they returned $25 for overpayment. Total is $ 60 for everything .. Was in Chiang Mai, 11/2006 and tried to open a Bangkok Bank savings account. Failed at two branches. No Visa, only 30 days using my Passport. When I was in Pattaya 5/2007 I tried again and this time it worked !! Bangkok Bank, 2nd Rd - they needed - I think it was called - Certificate of Residence. Had to go to Immigration and argue for the form .. they did not want to issue the form, told the lady I needed it to establish an account so I could apply for a Visa. I used the '3 month bank balance' requirement as why I needed the account. She finally said OK. Now I can transfer funds to that account from my BofA account and avoid the excessive Swift code fees ... wallyc

Exciting time for me ... 63 days till retirement and applying for Non Imm O-A (Retirement) Visa and moving to Thailand in 114 days ..... wallyc

My Slingbox is a 'Slingbox Pro'. This model has a TV tuner in the box. I only need the cable wire - split, one wire to my slingbox the other wire to my daughters cable box. I change channels independently.. no need to interfere with the cable box selections. There is a virtual remote control on my monitor (minimize for full screen). All my viewing will be 'live', no DVR at this time ... and I am still in the USA. Moving to Pattaya Feb of next year. If all works OK in Pattaya, then will consider additions to the system. My laptop will have the proper TV outlets ( HDMI and maybe S-Video ). wallyc

124Peter For Visa/Retirement purposes - to show money transfer into a Thai bank - I opened a Bangkok Bank account in Pattaya last Nov. 2006. Bangkok Bank has a branch in New York City. My USA bank has a relationship of some sort with that bank - it is a listed choice in the 'transfer funds outside of BoA'. To avoid the excessive ( to me ) SWIFT code charges, I can now transfer funds to the NYC Bangkok Bank branch using their routing number and then list my Bangkok Bank (Pattaya) account number to have funds transfered to my account in Thailand and have it recorded so I can show Immigation my bank book at the time I apply for 'extension of stay' of my Retirement Visa. I will be using a combo of pension and bank deposits to satisfy immigration requirements. There is no SWIFT code charge to transfer to the NYC branch of the BKK bank, only a $3 charge for a 'outside' of BofA transfer as with any other USA bank BofA would transfer to ... and then a 500 baht charge that BKK bank charges to handle the transaction. Otherwise, why go thru all this stuff, why not - as the fellow above says - get a bank card that does not charge a fee to use at any ATM. There is no charge to me to use my Bangkok Bank ATM card in Thailand. I assume you can do the same thing in your country. Ask your bank about this type of transfer. SWIFT code or wire transfers are the other ways of getting money into your Thai bank account. Oh yeah, my total costs will be about half the SWIFT code charges ... my bank - $3, Bangkok Bank - 500 baht .... to transfer funds from USA to Thailand at the On-Shore rate. Hope this helps .. wallyc

When I used my BofA check card ( ATM ) the Thai bank did not charge me a fee - but BofA charged $5.45 US each and every time I used the ATM. wallyc

I use Bank of America to transfer funds to the New York branch of Bangkok Branch - using their routing number and the account number of my account at Bangkok Bank in Pattaya. Transfers take three days. Cost $3 US for the transfer ... $35 to $50 US for SWIFT code transfers, can do this on-line and save over $30 US .... but, there is a Bangkok Bank charge of 500 baht ... so the total cost is about 1/2 of the SWIFT code charges. There is a way to do the transfers for around $2 US total charges, have not done that yet so can not speak with experience. Either way, larger funds transfers cost less .... and then use the Thai banks ATM card to avoid ATM charges .... seems the way to go ..... and all of the transfer are at the ON-Shore rate. wallyc

Called Mr. Toom last March for pick-up on May 4th and return to airport on May 17. Sent confirming e-mail 10 days before arrival. Mr. Pond was there with my name sign on time again. This the third time using his service - only problem I ever had was when Mr. Pond forgot where he parked the car ... All tolls paid, clean newer car and the air conditioning works. 1200b to Pattaya and now 1000b back to Bangkok. wallyc

Can't tell you which one is more effective, but I can give you a pointer. Look at the color of your front teeth. The upper and lower front eight. If they have a yellowish color - you are a prime candidate for bleaching. If they are gray - you will have nothing but frustration and pain. Frustration because of poor results and pain because of many attempts and longer exposures and stronger solutions. The 18k price for Brite-Smile is about the same price as in the USA - no bargain at that price ( around $600 here ). . If you are 'yellow', save yourself some money and try the Crest White Strips. Since yellow is easy to bleach the strips might work for you - and they do not use the trays that cause you to gag. wallyc

I bought an adapter that takes a US 3-prong or several other configurations. On the wall side it has retractable flat 2 blades, round 2 pins or a large set of 3 blades. Since it had the flat blades and the round pins I knew it would work in Thailand and I could use my USA stuff in either case. But, the hotel rooms have a lack of outlets and I need to plug-in more than one item. I'm in Chiang Mai now and following my friend Samsonite's suggestion I went a local mall and found a 3-outlet power strip (w/surge protection) that takes many prong/blade configurations. It has a 3-prong plug (the ground wire US type - don't know what else to call it). Plugged it into my other adapter and turned the 1 wall outlet into a 3 plug outlet that I can use damn near anything made on earth ..... by the way, the wall outlet in my hotel room takes either a 2-prong flat blade plug or a 2-prong round plug. The flat blade type does not work ( no power ) and the round blade type does .... The cost was 265 baht - I figured $8 .... for the power strip and I think was $19 for the wall plug and it may be from Belkin - I forgot. The power strip came with a 2-prong flat blade and ready for a 3-prong US plug adapter. Hope this helps, wallyc

This thread seems to be a good place to ask my question. Arriving on EVA at BKK, I need to go to Thai Airways for my flight to Chiang Mai. I have about 5 hrs between flights and I have the tickets ( meeting a 'friend' ). After clearing customs - shoud I go upstairs and walk to the domestic terminal ? assumming the old airport will be in use at the end of Oct. Don't remember, when taking a taxi, if the International Terminal was before or after the other Terminal (departures). Any (reasonable) suggestions ? wallyc

Midlifecrisis: Look into Eva Air's Evergreen Deluxe Class ( evaair.com ). Seats are alittle wider and more leg room. Some seating is 2-4-2, but up in front it is 2 on one side and 2 on the other. Approx $300 more than Econo for the RT from SFO to BKK. My flight in late Oct is $1053 - all in, bought the tickets last Feb - on-line. Last I checked, same dates the cost is now $ 1111 - all in. Third trip, all on Eva and see no reason to change airlines. No problems. Flight leaves at 1:30 am and arrives in BKK at 11:05 am the next day. Stop in Tapei for about 2 1/2 hours. Leaves BKK at 16:55 arriving in SFO around 7pm, missing the rush hour traffic for my 2 hr drive to Stockton. wallyc

For me to use in Chiang Mai & Pattaya, I bought a Motorola V188 Quad Band phone on Ebay. Cost about $60. Payed $10 to have it un-locked. Now I have phone I can use anywhere in the world - change the Sim chip as needed. wallyc

My two trips to LOS were both in Eva Evergreen Deluxe seats. Really appreciated the extra seat width and leg room. I also departed from SFO. My flights departed around 1am and my arrival time in BBk was around 11:30am the next day. My next flight in Oct leaves around 1am Oct 26 and arrives around 11:30am Oct 27. Should be in Pattaya before 3pm .... Don't know of any other airline with Evergreen type seats/service leaving from SFO. wallyc

M room - 503 I think - was wired Hi-Speed. About 150b per day. Never had any problems over the 6 days I was there. Pinewood Residences. 2nd Rd and approx Soi 5. wallyc

For the FLB discont - ask for it. Tell them you want the FLB discount. I was told the normal price was 2800b per night. FLB discount and the price was 2000b per night. As for the in-room electrnic safe, I told them it was a requirement for me - they supplied 1 for me and charged a very low extra charge. I could have found somewhere else for less, I'm sure. But, I got what I wanted and baht taxi right in front of the hotel, its on 2nd Rd, Soi 6 about 100 yards to the left, Big C shopping center about 200 yards to the right as well as Sabai Dee and Sabailand and Sabai Room soapies. Maybe 20 Beer Bars 200 yards to the right across 2nd Rd over by Soi2 & Soi 3. More bars and Classroom2 Go-Go on Soi2. All this and a quite hotel room. Also, most meals at the resuarant in the hotel. Hope this helps, wallyc

Anonsalor; I stayed there on my last trip, first part of Nov. Chose Pinewood because of the location and the FLB discount did not hurt. . Have to thank Martin for the info on the discount. Room 503 ( or 501 ), anyway 60sqm room. They put in an electronic safe for me - said I was the only one in the hotel with a in-room safe. Broadband internet in the room. They found an electical adaptor so all my American stuff would not be fried. Staff very friendly and helpful. My room was quite. Medium size refrigerator instead of the mini bar type. Everything worked and lots of hot water in the shower. Hard to see from the street - 2nd Rd. There is a drive way back to the hotel. Here comes the warning - the drive way has beer bars on both sides. 2 on the left and one on the right - but there are 3 or 4 more on the other side of the one on the right - along 2nd Rd. The warning is if you take any of the girls from any of those bars - very hard to avoid them, if you want to avoid them afterwards. I knew all the wrnings and did it anyways and it turned out that OK for me - I did not want to avoid her, in fact spent most of my time wiht her. So, I highly recommend the Pinewood Residences. My first trip was at the Residence Garden and that was fine also, this time I wanted to be at the north end of Pattaya and that is why chose Pinewoods - when I found I could have the safe and broadband. I did pay for it, with discount it was 2000b per night and I got what I wanted .. . wallyc

misterc, I stayed at the Residence Garden last April and thought it was great. On my next trip in Nov, I will be staying at the Pinewood Residence Serviced Apts - at the suggestion of Martin at the FLB Bar. They also accept the FLB discount. Its on Soi 5, on the other side of 2nd rd. Close to everythng - or not far from everything. I selected the deluxe room 60sqm with kitchenette, breakfast included, ethernet connection in room etc.. Check it out ..... wallyc

I chose Eva Evergreen Deluxe because of the larger seat width and more leg room. Having read everything I could here and on other forums, I took the advice offered and was very happy I did. For me, the wine or cocktail issue is a non-issue and have no comment either way. I was not happy with the in-flight entertainment, but as I fell asleep it didn't matter anyway. From SFO, I appreciated the arrival time of around 11:30am and arrival back at SFO around 2:30pm just in time for the commute home to Stockton. The BART option is one I am thinking about. I saw the BART train almost in-side the teminal, actually it was inside.... The fare in April was 1150 including all taxes. My next trip next Nov is 1050 with taxes and just checked the new quote and it is 1070 with taxes for the Nov flight.. If you need the extra room, I highly recommend Evergreen Deluxe - can't find a similar service anywhere and the next class up is double the price ... wallyc

I agree with SoCalGuy .. It is so overwhelming it is impossible for me to describe. I stayed at the Residence Garden and glad I did - it is away from the center action and somewhere I could go to calm down a bit before I caught a baht bus back and find the places I had planned to see. That was 2 weeks ago and I am planning to go back - hopfully in Nov. And I am looking to stay a little closer in - maybe the Dynasty Inn, I think I am better prepared now that I have been there once ... wallyc

Howdy. Arriving April 7th .... 11:40am on Eva Anyone around to share a taxi or mini-van to Pattaya ? wallyc