wtf why didn't i get any condoms?

Hate to keep pimping HSBC like this but their internet banking is top notch and they speak perfect english.

I was told this on numerous occasions and am actually quite satisfied with mine. I got the 500 baht package and it works great for everything other than streaming video - and I've had no disconnection problems whatsoever while playing.

This is in Bangkok though, in a semi-empty condo complex, so ymmv

how much was needed to open an hsbc account?

I'm not sure about that, maybe somebody can go and see. I am an HSBC customer in other countries so the minimums did not apply to me. Dire said something like $10-50k though I don't know.

Neat workaround: For HSBC Premier you have to have 3,000,000 baht, but they give you a long time to fund the account, 3-6 months I think. If you think you'll put that much money there, or just want a short term solution, you can go open that account.

What benefits do you get for Premier? And I assume you don't have to have the 3M in your savings account but you can invest it somewhere through them?

Premier is the nuts. Go into the branch and you'll see one huge benefit. You don't have to wait in line like the minions and can go upstairs into a nice private lounge, get served coffee while you wait and sit in nice chairs etc. You get a private Relationship Manager who you can email or call for account issues, which over time as they get to know you is an excellent service. If you meet the Premier requirement in one country you get it in any country as well, no minimums.

I'm not sure about the other investments thing. It does not have to be in Baht, just the baht equivalent. Mine is all USD for example. One catch with Thailand is that they withhold 25% (I think) of your interest income for Thai taxes. Other than that I found no difference between Thailand and other 'offshore' HSBC Premier centers, like Singapore, Hong Kong etc.

Another thing is if you keep a lot of Baht in the account there are restrictions. For over 1,000,000 Baht+ it is def better to keep it in another currency.

man, i'm going back to my K bank and demanding my free condoms. all i got was a lousy coke with some random chemical instead of sugar.

I've been trying to post this for over a month. looks like i can post on 2+2 again, so i'll give it another go.

went to get a motorbike put in my name. here's the specific lowdown (for phuket, anyway)

I was getting it switched at the Honda dealership the bike was bought at. I have no idea how to do this if you need to go to the local vehicle reg office yourself.

At the dealership, I needed:
-My passport
-850 baht
-reciept of notification of alien residence
-the thai owner of the bike, there with I.D.

they wanted to take my passport for a day. I refused, and instead followed the lady from the dealership to the registration office, where she went into a office for a few minutes and said everything was done. I'll get the green book in a month.

I got the recipet of notification of alien residence at Immigration. to get that, I needed

-My Passport
-photocopies of front page of passport, the page with my visa, and departure cards
-copy of my lease
-copy of my landlord's I.D.
-form filled out by my landlord (form available at immigration)
-200 baht

apparantly you used to be able to fill out the form yourself, now it requires your landlord's signature. I don't know if you are leasing in your girl's name if you can use her as a sub-letter or not.

you should add that you are here on a tourist(?) visa and even then it was np to put it in your name

what was the deal when they called you again and took some number out of your bike or something? did you ever find out exactly what happened?

yeah, i'll throw in an edit. I still have no idea wtf that was about.

hm. i can edit this post, but not that one. WTF.

rutang, you can't send (or edit) posts above a certain character limit with some crappy ISPs, I'm guessing that's your problem. The limit was 1160 chars when I had the issue.

I believe you can edit posts for 30 minutes after they are first posted.

So in USD ~10k deposit, 15k minimum balance to avoid fees, 91k for premium.

Anyone know if there are any hardcore gyms (bumper plates, chalk, etc) in Phuket?

I'm very interested in visiting Thailand in May for maybe 2 or so months. If anyone is interested, or has a house (poker house?), or knows how I could go about finding a place/roommates let me know.

There aren't really. I think most gyms don't care if you bring your own chalk (GL finding any in Thailand, get this before you go) , I haven't heard of one with bumper plates.

Unfortunately there isn't any. Chalong gym used to be pretty good but after the American owner ( http://phuketwan.com/tourism/america...-police-11522/ ) sold off all the equipment and took off with memberfees it has turned way worse.
Basically instead of a proper gym and douchebag owner Chalong gym is now a semi-bad gym but more friendly owner.....
It has gone from tons of plates, metal music on the stereo and generally a more hardcore tranining/motivating atmosphere to now horrible dance music, fancy but useless machines, fewer plates and employees basically giving you the evil eye everytime you use a bit of gym chalk and/or do a few deadlifts.

All that being said it's still the better of the gyms around here

any recommendations for a cheap/nice hotel in bangkok (1000-1500baht) ?
maybe one where u r also able to grind??

(no kitchen and stuff needed)

if u wanna catch some sun the next days, whats the best destination? koh samui or phuket? CHEEEERS

catching sun is pretty 50/60 in rainy season.

phuket's been nice for the past week but there are heavy showers sometimes and strong winds especially now that we caught the edge of some tropical storm

and swimming is dangerous atm

btw as Mr. Mainfield pointed out magnesium carbonate is impossible to find in Phuket but a friend of mine brought a massive bag for me from Denmark so I can give you some if you need it

Hi!
I’m going to visit Thailand sometime between 10 October 2009 and 31 October 2009 and looking for some 2+2ers who are already there (or are going to be there at that time) and have a spare room (or can assist with it). As I’m going to travel alone I need some cooperation to make my trip a real fun.
Several words about myself: 24 years old, Russian (vodka, bears and Kalashnikov guns are included).

The Kalishnakov makes it temtping.

Got any Uranium Hexaflouride?

Got any Adenosine Tri-Phosphate Dodecahydrate?