Hua Hin Forum

I think there has been some wishful thinking rather than actual facts used in some early reports (some of the media never knowingly let the facts interfere with a good story) this extract from a BBC Business News article yesterday gives a reasonable representation of what I have heard and read (no g...

... the only problem with your argument is that U.S. banks lost more "real money" buying "paper" than all the worlds bank put together. if we take your argument as correct the the U.S. dollar should be exceptionally strong. it is not. miked My argument was not that the USD shoul...

Trying to put it simply - going back in time before the meltdown, the initial transaction was: UK banks (the buyer) used real money to purchase (as an investment) US “paper”. US banks (the seller) received real money for their “paper”. Net result: The US banks (the seller) now has real money from it...

I find it easier to understand the movements between the GBP & THB by looking at the separate movements of GBP/USD and USD/THB; which can best be described by this equation: GBP/THB = GBP/USD x USD/THB Much of the “recovery” of the GBP has arisen because of the reduction in the perceived need fo...

Big Boy wrote:I usually take Sterling travellers cheques, which don't cost me a penny to obtain....

Be careful to shop around to get them without charges, some banks now charge fees - e.g. from HSBC website:

Sterling Travellers Cheques incur a 1.5% handling fee

BaaBaa. wrote:

uncle tom wrote: As Sarge says, Nationwide do not charge a penny for withdrawals either.

......... and generally with the further advantage of a more favourable exchange rate.

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/userpix/2105_untitled_1.jpg . The graph in the OP is rather misleading as the early part of it is using the offshore rates. Below is one of my graphs based on the daily closing "onshore" rates in Thailand from 1st Jan this year to close of business on ...

These sites at Niftylist give the rates for a number of operators for either: 1. Directly dialled numbers using an access number, billing is added to your phone bill. 2. Dialling with a prepaid account. 3. Calling through your computer. Costs are from 0.5p per minute but can be plus access charges f...

These figures are largely propaganda and BS, the TAT make them up as they go along and include visa runners and other erroneous stats, speak to anyone with a tourism based business and any hotelier and they'll tell you the truth about this season. :agree: Having spent a fair bit of time in Udon Tha...

"Compressed Air" is being used at many golf clubs around Thailand to clean shoes. I must admit that I am aware of the risks of compressed air but somehow never related them to cleaning my shoes :oops: In mitigation, I have not noticed that the air pressure from these units is all that high...

As Thai has been getting away with decreasing levels of service while continuing to use ever older aircraft EVA may have decided to compete on a head to head basis. However, it makes no long-term commercial sense, you can only stretch loyalty so far before it breaks, and once it is lost it takes a b...

A real giant and star of the entertainment world and (IMHO) the best of "The Three Tenors". From BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6981032.stm Opera legend Pavarotti dies at 71 World renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti has died at his home in the northern Italian city of Mode...

From The Nation: Hotels feeling the squeeze Occupancy rates fall as operators blame politics and currency Published on September 6, 2007 Hotel operators around the country are reporting declining average occupancy rates and blaming the country's political problems and currency fluctuations. Thai Hot...

Came across this link to Phuket Gazette which has pictures of an ATM scanner that has just been found there.

http://phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=5914

Editorial from The Nation: Battling against deadly diseases The government must prioritise resources to deal with preventable, seasonal viruses that kill thousands Published on August 28, 2007 Public health authorities must strike a delicate balance between prevention of an epochal flu pandemic that...