Embassy Income statements under scrutiny due to misuse

It's always been suspected and hushed subject, many retirees who get the yearly certified letter, do not have the required amount available.
Until a few years ago I've always had to have the letter from the bank verifying my accounts, copies of my bankbooks and the embassy letter when applying for the yearly retirement visa. Only in the recent three years I did not have to show bank statements.
I'd always wondered why the immigration department required the certified letter from the embassy. Why didn't the immigration department provide that service and collect the fees?
Personally I prefer a monthly income verification method and monthly money transfers instead of transferring a yearly amount into a Thai bank. In the US my money is insured.

Thai Jumbo skids off runway / no overnighters at Similan Island

Blooming Hibiscus

Overjoyed to see these blooms popping up.  Each bud produces more than a dozen seeds.  I'm already getting rid of other bushes to make room for more hibiscus.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Carry your passport or a copy of all pertinent pages

Thai Immigration has a new boss.
In the fifteen years I have lived in Sakon City I have never been asked to show a passport, other than at the immigration office yearly visa application and 90 day reporting.  Drivers license seemed to suffice even when boarding a domestic flight. That might all change even here, especially with the high season underway.

In many instances a copy of the passport is sufficient. Keep in mind it has to be legible. Copy the page of the current visa besides the picture page.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

"Some fruit and vegetables in Thailand contain high levels of pesticide ..."

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Brits to stop issuing Income certification letters at the end of the year

More changes most likely in the pipeline to impress the new immigration boss

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Getting rid of black algae

It's a topic with expats cause it just looks ugly.  
It's easiest dealt with during the rainy season.  Any other time of the year, wet the black algae or green moss.  Soak it for a few hours, best yet over night. When it's damp it can easily be removed with a brush or power sprayer.

My pool supplier recently added a free bottle of 'black algaetrine' to my order to fill a void in the shipping box. The stuff is not cheap from listings on the net, but you can throw away the brushes.

These two photos were taken four minutes apart, poured some on the ground and hosed it off

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Tea Time homegrown hibiscus

I'm not much of a tea drinker, but that is changing with the promise of a reduced waistline.


Prefer the flowers and seed pods, but this time of the year I have to satisfy myself with dried leaf. 

Brew them with anise, cinnamon and honey.  The combination is quite tasty.  

Never been a tea enthusiast, 
do like  this.

From the looks of things some flowers and seed pods may be on their ways soon

I'm also drinking Bael Fruit juice. Not noticing a reduction in my waistline yet. I suppose I have to stop eating caviar. 

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Ax Robber arrested

exterior cameras revealed the escape vehicle, apparently without license plate. An arrest was made a day after the robbery. 

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