nkped

Four years ago in Pattaya, Bangkok Bank wanted proof of a long term visa but wasn't that concerned about address. It seemed you had to go to one office only to open the account, the one almost opposite Soi 6. I think you can change the transfer limit online, at least within certain bounds. I tried the application and, while I forget the exact reason, decided to stick with their web site. Once upon a time Kasikorn Bank, was quite receptive to opening an account on a tourist visa. I have seen reports that may still be true.

If it was as easy for a Thai to get permission to stay for one year in the US, renewable indefinitely, as it is for us to stay in Thailand, I suspect they would gladly do 90 day reports.

Dr. Strange. The premise is absurd but it's an entertaining movie.

With the retirement extension, you will need to be in Thailand sometime close to and before its expiration to apply for and get a new extension.

Did my one year retirement extension (2nd one) last week week and they weren't using the form.

US Department of State has info on citizens dying abroad searchable by time period and country through December 2015. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/statistics/deaths.html If you can avoid offing yourself and don't ride a motorbike, your prospects improve immensely while in Thailand.

Authorities charge suspects routinely. It beats charging someone who isn't a suspect.

Sicario, a well imagined story about the war on drugs in the US Southwest. For a major share of the movie, your evil twin will be sitting on your shoulder munching popcorn, saying "Well, if that's what it takes." Then it goes beyond that.

Fury. A local critic called it a B movie, but a very good B movie. I would agree, definitely worth the price of admission. It's gritty and realistic in some ways. Hunger Games--Mockingjay. It actually has a plot, albeit not a great plot. The last Hunger Games movie, I seem to remember thinking, for much of it, "Well, at least Jennifer Lawrence is nice to look at." Level Five. This is one of those cult classics which the critics love, but is, in fact, unwatchable. It's in French with subtitles, and extremely slow paced. Much of it involves a poorly shot monologue of a woman who is clearly intent on establishing how she is so artistic. I left after 30 very long minutes.

Kite--Stephen L. Jackson does a professional job. Otherwise, it's mindless violence with virtually no plot but watchable for 90 minutes.

I made a short trip to Siem Reap last week and have to say I was impressed. My only other trip there had been 8 years ago when it put me in mind of Nakhon Phanom in 1974. It has come a long way since then. I doubt I would consider it as a retirement location for other reasons, but it has quite a few barang oriented shopping venues and you are starting to see up market housing blocks. Rode past the Royal Angkor Internarional Hospital. It's managed by Bangkok Hospital and has an impressive modern building. The reviews on the care may be something else and the word in the English language tourist pubs is still to head fot Bangkok for anything serious. Felt I was not unreasonably suicidal riding around in a tuk tuk. There were no signs in cyrillic but a good many in Korean.

BRAVE Animated and G rated but quite good. Heroine's parents want to arrange a dynastic marriage with one of the sons of three other chieftans. She takes a look at the selection and decides "Thanks, but no thanks." Suspect TGs would love it. TED Good reviews but the gag, a talking, pot smoking, whore mongering teddy bear, gets old quickly. The human lead is a 35 year old slacker who should be banging the hell out of his not girl friend, prefers to smoke pot with his teddy bear. TO ROME WITH LOVE Another Woody Allen movie with no plot but quite watchable.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Intense, complicated and very good.

The Town. Always interesting to see guys who look like relatives (Irish Americans) portrayed as bandits.