CalEden

Drivers Education the scare films, I think it was called "Highway of Death". There was this head on crash where they picked up a victim and her brains fell out of her head. 

This didn't faze my friend Craig, there was this accident he went around the accident at high speed on his motorcycle, the tow truck cable decapitated him.

Arrived from Manila Monday 4:20PM all Immigration Booths queued up with one person waiting, and it took 5 minutes to get through immigration.  

Peninsula Hotel Manila

7 hours ago, Glasseye said:

Compound interest.... it adds up big over 30-40 years.

 

A $4,000/month check becomes a $9,827/month check after 30 

years of 3% annual increases.

 

40 years = $13,260/month

 

If you factor the increases along with living below your affordable "standard of living" plus relocate to a place with much lower average housing costs,, and ditch the car..... you can live a pretty decent life.

Trying to compete with the Jones' back in the U.S. with swimming pool$, three cars, kids braces and college tuition.... you are doomed for the trash heap.

Back in the day when my parents did it (I'm still not sure how they pieced it all together) it was possible. Now.... ? You can forget about it.

 

 

 

I understand compounding and appreciate your point. But we were talking the 3.2 percent SS cola raise, so anybody getting that raise is at least 62 years old now and most will be long gone in 30 years and the ones around won't be able to spend it. I make well over 100k a year in retirement income and make nowhere near 4k a month in SS. As FBY said, the SS COLA is just beer money.

1 minute ago, Yessongs said:

Current.....

Thanks! Just came back from Manila, now in Pattaya.

26 minutes ago, Yessongs said:

I liked the 8.7% we got last year....but any increase certainly helps right? 

Second that one!

When calculating the 3.2% Dollar amount, do you revert to your first SS Gross total or your current gross SS payment? For me about a $25 difference.

1 hour ago, Yessongs said:

Just got a confirmation from Wells Fargo back home that the "order" I put in several months ago is on it's way to Bangkok Bank here for me. I got $36.10...velly, velly happy LOL! 

Not bad, about the same time on Soi Post Office I got 36.09 Baht.

7 hours ago, Siam Addict said:

I seem to recall that their rates would change late at night when the other exchanges closed and it wasn't a better rate you would get.

But saying that it was still a better rate than other late night opening exchanges!

Dynamic pricing a shrewd business owner.  Fortunately, I usually exchange during the day. I did do one exchange there last year at 10 PM.

42 minutes ago, Bazle said:

The problem is that they have just the one office. 

For me that's not a problem, when in BKK I go to Vasu (which has better rates than the SupeRich Nana). Additionally, Damini is open 24 hours 7 days.

Sunday TT posting US 35.40 went to Damini Exchange on Soi Post Office got 35.48. I found Damini consistently higher than anyone else last year and this year in Pattaya. 

17 hours ago, Bazle said:

A Beach Road freelancer? 

No, Beach Road Noodle stand plate Lick Washer!

Additional note: I also had Apple AirTags in my two carryon bags and their locations were always reported as correct. I suspect I was self-reporting via my iPhone. The AirTag reporting network is dependent on random contact with an Apple product "ping range" to tap into network location reporting feature. 

13 minutes ago, forcebwithu said:

How did they both end up aboard your flight when the location app reported one on another plane?

Location reporting inaccuracies?? Or one piece was routed to wrong plane, discovered, and rectified without coming in contact/updated within Apple Product ping range to update location. Because after 10-hour flight location status was the same as take-off status location displaying one piece on wrong plane. 

2 hours ago, forcebwithu said:

AirTag saved the day for this guy. Article also highlights how bad United's customer service is.

The airline lost his bike. He tracked it across the Atlantic

 

Because testimonials like this and Singapore airlines lost one of my suitcases for 5 days. I picked up Apple airtags for $22 each for this trip. I watched my luggage flow through the airport and onto my plane except for one piece. The app located it on another plane across the tarmac from my plane. So, I inquired at the transit airport about the location of my luggage, the airline assured me both pieces were aboard my flight (they were aboard). I had a late flight and paid for FastTrack service to expedite the airport exit and did not want to be delayed for hours.  

9 hours ago, boydeste said:

That sounds great. How much did that cost please?

Rate specification:

9 hours ago, Stillearly said:

I am booking the similar for my next trip , but without the porter and limo 

I did not book porter service. Although the baggage service staff/limo escort staff handled my very heavy luggage (which included 4 bottles Tsarine Champagne and 6 pounds of ground coffee). 

When the service first meets you, they take your photograph and forward it to the other agents for seamless pass offs between agents. I rented the Camry limo late model new. 

The perfect cross-over hit, music for the masses. A dagger to the emotions!

Rest in Peace Jimmy you will be missed.

I arrived about 3 weeks ago on a Wednesday night at 23:10 BKK. Airport surprisingly busy. Because late arrival (Biz Class) paid for the thread's airport service   Bangkok Airport Fast track Immigration service with VIP Meet & Greet service. (limousine.in.th)      golfcart pick up service at gate, priority immigration, limo service to hotel. GF meeting me at Airport. 

The service agent with a placard with my name on it, met with golfcart at plane offramp gate. Whisked me within minutes to priority immigration. A short queue at immigration, but service agent escorted me to a closed desk staffed with immigration officer. Never been so eagerly/rapidly processed took about forty-five second process to stamped passport. 

Another service agent met me at baggage pickup. I had time to get some money. My luggage was amongst the first to arrive at conveyer. Met GF at Limo and on way to hotel within 20 minutes from debarking plane. Very pleased with Airport service.    

Shocking and heartbreaking news. May Striderman have strength, peace and comfort in meeting the challenges that lie ahead.

On 7/23/2023 at 9:31 PM, lazarus said:

My (just turned) 11yo daughter is in Bangkok visiting family with her mama...
Says she's having "a lot of fun"... and everyone thinks she's "just another Thai person" 🙂

My just turned 11-year-old is back home (Thailand) with her Mum too. I will be joining them in a few weeks. Her mother pushing her on the Thia speaking, she pretty fluent. One of the teachers in her school is Thai.

Just ethereal!

19 hours ago, forcebwithu said:

No, gas propellent. Link in my post had this...

And a few more pics of pressure containment vessels making it back to earth. Their shape helps them survive reentry somewhat intact.

Thank you, I stand corrected. The case looks very similar to the propellent case used in the Minuteman III, which is a solid propellant missile, and also has to withstand tremendous amounts of pressure.   

On 7/17/2023 at 7:48 PM, forcebwithu said:

The Indian Ocean gets hit with a fair amount of space debris, so my guess would be a satellite pressure vessel for propellant.

Found this site that has something similar in shape to the debris that washed ashore in Australia.
https://www.eaton.com/us/en-us/catalog/aerial-refueling/composite-space-pressure-vessels.html

And you would be right, for solid propellent.

I've flown EVA for 20 years and was completely happy with EVA price and experience wise. Since Covid have been flying Biz with whomever has the best price and route, will do so until EVA returns to their pre-covid business model.