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Baht will continue to slide
Editor;
Re: Thai baht firms up after dissolution announcement (PM Tuesday, 10
December 2013) - My observations over the last 34 yrs., the baht will
continue to slide against the USD until the current situation is resolved.
The longer this situation last, the more the baht will slide. Hi-season 2005
had the baht trading at 41 THB to 1 USD during the turmoil then. A
significant raise with the airport shut down of 2008, which was short lived
after things went back to normal.
I make about four ACH transfers a yr. I was hoping to hold off on the next
until after New Yrs., but the minute I see a slide in the USD I will go
ahead with it. According to the Forex Exchange Rate 1 USD is trading at
32.61, Dec.22, 2013, MSN is saying 32.64, BKK Bank has it at 32.88 sell
rate.
In August 2102 a transfer netted me 7,800 THB above loses I had experienced
with a transfer earlier in the yr. I would expect a transfer now would net
some profits that will be taken back later in the yr. mostly likely when I
need to do another transfer.
Unless things really go south before the scheduled election Feb 2, 2014, I
would expect foreign currencies to keep raising but slowly. But if there is
a resolution which satisfies all sides, the baht will readjust to values of
30.00 to 31.00 to the USD.
Dill Pickles
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Eat your sprouts
Editor;
Letters to the editor reminds me of people in a Dr’s waiting room.
Everyone wants to know what your ailment is. Over the last few weeks we have
read “Vegan diet is the greatest thing since sliced bread; Don’t eat meat
you will have a heart attack; That sugar you are eating will kill you,” etc.
Today I read in the Bangkok Post that good cholesterol is ok but beware of
bad cholesterol as it will clog my arteries. I am into my twilight years and
I still like my cha with milk and 2 sugars. My ma always served up meat and
3 veggies when she could afford it.
What seems to trouble a lot of readers is that they have reached middle age
and need to slow down the aging process. Let’s be realistic; from the day
you were born you began to die. Give up smoking and you may live a few weeks
longer, take on a vegan diet and make the sheep happy. I once read where
carrots scream when they are pulled from the earth (truly). Let’s hope if we
made it into 2014 we can find a better topic than how to painlessly remove
blackheads.
Happy New Year,
Sean
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No country for old men?
Editor,
Here in the UK last night on Channel 4 TV News, there was a feature on the
growing number of UK and European old men moving to Pattaya as retirees;
nothing wrong with that as long as they can afford to live there, and the
Thai authorities don’t mind having them there.
The problem is that a lot of them can’t afford to live there properly. These
old people have already run up unpaid medical bills of around 16 million
baht, and some are actually homeless.
I understand that the only legal way to get a retirement visa in Thailand is
to be able to show Thai immigration that you’ve had 800,000 THB in a Thai
bank account for at least 3 months prior to applying for one. This so you
won’t become a burden on the country. It should also be mandatory that you
can show that you have adequate medical insurance as well.
The British Consul and Pattaya City Hall need to get to grips with this
problem and nip it in the bud. UK expats can claim their state retirement
pension out there, which is quite a generous one when converted to THB
equivalent, so they’ve no need to cry poverty. Those that are found to be
there illegally should be deported back to the UK to get their legal affairs
sorted out. I wouldn’t dream of dumping myself in someone else’s country and
expect them to take care of me because of my own stupidity. Kick them out!
Philip Fletcher
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Tired of over
regulation
Editor:
Re: Enforce no smoking laws (PM Friday, 27 December 2013) - You know... a
lot of us are here because we are tired of the over regulation that is found
in the USA and Europe. I do not like you to come here and try to impose your
morality or laws or anything on me. Please go away and take your political
correctness and holier than thou attitudes with you
Arturo
This has gone
on too long
Editor;
Re: Chiang Rai-Khon Kaen bus plunges off Phetchabun bridge; 32 dead (PM
Monday, 30 December 2013) - It’s about time they fitted tachometers or
police caught them, to stop speeding. This has gone on too long, especially
with the dangerous non-maintained road with big holes and unfinished tarmac,
rough surfaces! I myself damaged the underside of our truck from this! I
hope the Thai Government sorts this out and please put more English road
signs out too!
Michael
Re not giving anything away
Sir,
Sean Murphy (PB 27/12) has corrected some of George Best’s mistakes but both
seem to be oblivious to the fact that there is no passport control between
the UK and the Republic. This means that a Thai under the Irish visa waiver
could probably travel to the UK via Ireland without a visa. However, with
heightened security, airlines would certainly want an ID and they might
refuse to carry a Thai without a British visa. Shop around! Any Thai citizen
following this route is strongly advised to get British consular advice.
It seems to me that saying Ireland is not giving anything away is irrelevant
and unhelpful.
Michael Nightingale
Farang conceit
Editor:
Re: Turmoil in Thailand (PM Mailbag 27 December) – It’s disappointing that
Pattaya Mail’s only comment on the current political impasse was a pompous
letter from an anonymous source known as Concerned Farang. He (or she)
admits being confused, a sentiment we can all share of course, and then
criticizes the Bangkok anti-government protestors as interested only in
making a loud noise in the streets. He also extends his feelings of sorrow
for naive Thais who don’t understand the first thing about democracy. It is
this kind of patronizing nonsense which makes Thais reluctant to listen to
foreigners when it comes to domestic policies. Doubtless Concerned Farang
would assume that people are dying just to allow their brethren to blow
whistles and cause traffic jams. Abandon hope all ye who enter here …
Barry Kenyon
Pheu Thai not
that democratic
Editor;
Re: Officials demand changes to Beach Road construction after motorbike
accidents (PM Friday, 27 December 2013) - Yet another case of the motorist
winning over the pedestrian. They should just be well marked and if idiots
drive too fast they should pay the price.
Geordie
Hole on Jomtien Second Road
Editor;
Your readers will be surprised to know that the hole dug in April last year
is still there despite the promises of the city engineer to fill it in
before the end of the year. Oh, silly me - it’s only the 3rd January so
plenty of time yet. Don’t hold your breath!
Roy Porter
Motorists win over pedestrians again
Editor;
Re: Officials demand changes to Beach Road construction after motorbike
accidents (PM Friday, 27 December 2013) - Yet another case of the motorist
winning over the pedestrian. They should just be well marked and if idiots
drive too fast they should pay the price.
Geordie
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