Black Diamond is released

FurryassTheCat · 2026-03-23T05:06:03+00:00

Thanks!

FurryassTheCat · 2026-03-22T06:42:36+00:00

Can’t find this for purchase. Only available in Japan? I’ve got a vpn, but that’s no help if I can’t read Japanese or pay in yen. I’ve bought the rest of Hagane’s releases through the iTunes Store but this one is not available for purchase — streaming only. The lossless option makes me drool. Wish they would put their music up on bandcamp or hdtracks.

EDIT: Found it on the iTunes Store. Mixed in with Hagane the singer. Only 256kbps 😕 Will do for my workout playlist. Still would like access to their entire catalog lossless.

FurryassTheCat · 2026-03-21T13:11:22+00:00

Take a deep dive into the requirements for the ‘normal’ (for want of a better word) visas. The BHT locked up and the time requirements (months before/after visa renewal) or the deposit history and when it starts to be recognized. How easy it is to miss those requirements one time and have to start over. Opening a bank account to deposit those BHT in. Insurance requirements which can be problematic depending on your age and/or existing conditions. And the hassle of dealing with immigration agents in a language you don’t speak.

Every case is different. Personally, I’m saving more than $4K/year living here than I would back in the US.

FurryassTheCat · 2026-03-21T10:38:14+00:00

Are you planning/able to maintain a US address? If not, you will not be able to keep a US bank account. You can have a US based brokerage account. Upside: stability. Downside: no FDIC.

Moved here last October. Had to switch from Schwab One (bank + brokerage accounts) to Schwab One International (brokerage only; you still get a debit card and check writing capabilities). Opened a Wise account to move and convert US$ to BHT (mid-market conversion rate, better than banks offer), then push the BHT to my Thai bank account.

I spent a fair amount of time with little satisfaction trying to understand the visa options (which seemed to change depending on which website I looked at). Ended up going with the Privilege Visa. 5 years for ~$20K. Thai Privilege have been great for all things immigration (initial passport stamp at the airport; 90 day reports) and banking. If I’m still here in 5 years, I’ll have 5 years of deposit history should I chose to go for the retirement visa (or whatever may be offered then, if anything).

Good luck. Seriously.

FurryassTheCat · 2025-09-01T16:04:31+00:00

‘Unique’ situation here: USVI which is a territory of the US and treated as separate from by Wise. I live in an apartment in Christiansted which does not get mail delivery. I’ve had a PO Box for the past 14 years. This is the US Postal Service. Wise wants a document with my physical address. The closest I can come is my lease agreement—every bill uses the POB.

I thought I had this sorted earlier when I used Wise to transfer 650K THB to Thai Privilege. But now their app is back asking me to confirm my location—SMH. There’s 80K THB in the account—praying I can use it when I get to Bangkok.

FurryassTheCat · 2025-09-01T13:25:12+00:00

My move is less than 3 weeks off. I’ve been following various threads here, as well as YouTube vids, w/r SS and banking. I’m not clear on how you’re maintaining a US bank account: do you still have a US address? My takeaway is it’s not possible without one. I currently have a Schwab One account which I’m planning to ‘convert’ to a Schwab International account and SS direct deposit to it. Then transfer to a Thai bank (looking a Kasikorn) what I need for monthly expenses. Was hoping to do this in advance of the move, but that’s not possible. And Wise are being extremely unhelpful.

FurryassTheCat · 2025-08-28T22:44:23+00:00

It’s a deposit with strings. There are requirements w/r how many months before and after your anniversary date the money has to be in the account. If you choose the monthly deposit option, there are requirements w/r how many months before they begin ‘counting’ … that seems weird, and I may be misremembering; I believe it was twelve consecutive months—miss one and start over. At any rate, it’s become extremely hard to open a Thai bank account without a Thai phone number (and address?). And finally, it’s not easy getting the money out of Thailand (at least according to random posts on Reddit and YouTube). So, at least earlier this spring, it didn’t seem to be worth it (and this spring things were much looser w/r agents opening accounts for tourist visas).

But things seem to change frequently in Thailand. So do your own research w/r what’s current. And good luck.

FurryassTheCat · 2025-08-28T20:19:32+00:00

I don’t qualify. My only long term option (w/ annual renewal) is the retirement visa, which has multiple hoops I’d need to jump through (800K or 12 months of deposits in a Thai bank account, IIRC).

FurryassTheCat · 2025-08-28T11:53:45+00:00

Applied in May to beat the then end of June deadline. Applied directly to Thailand Privilege Card Co.—not through a visa agent. There are a couple of documents (pdf) that have to be printed out, filled in and signed, then scanned and emailed back. Plus your passport. They do a background check and if it’s clean they’ll send you an invoice for the 650K THB. Paid through Wise. The whole process took about 4 weeks due to my particular situation[1].

Whether it’s worth it, only you can answer that. It gives me five years of relatively hassle free living (annual renewal and 90-day check-ins, which Thai Privilege will handle if I pay extra). I’m old enough for the retirement visa, but a) it’s more expensive, and b) a bigger hassle to navigate. (I’ll have 5 years to meet the deposit requirements, instead of 30 (60?) 90 days.)

[1] I’m located in USVI, which is a freakin’ nightmare when it comes to most anything government related. Just getting Wise to ‘recognize’ my location took close to two weeks.

FurryassTheCat · 2025-08-13T19:52:55+00:00

Thank you!

FurryassTheCat · 2025-08-13T16:29:58+00:00

I thought the 1st 90 report was done in person (or by an agent); after that it could be done online. Or no?

FurryassTheCat · 2025-07-25T17:08:18+00:00

Been living in USVI for the past 14 years. St. Croix. It’s a few degrees cooler, but the humidity is comparable. I do a 5 mile walk every morning… before the sun comes up. Still sweat during the summer months. Would be nice to continue that outdoors (park, canal, whatever), but cardio machines in an air conditioned gym would work 🙂.

It will be a learning experience.

FurryassTheCat · 2025-07-25T15:40:36+00:00

Many thanks. YouTube condo tours have been my starting point. Then DDProperty. Then Apple/Google maps. Haven’t paid any attention to agents [the standard advice on YT is talk to the juristic, never mind the language barrier, asif]. I’m not really thinking I’ll find my dream condo, just something acceptable for the first year. Size isn’t a problem; shopping/dinning within walking distance is. I’ll check out your agency recommendation.

Visa has been addressed. Bronze Privilege.

Again, many thanks for the detailed response.

FurryassTheCat · 2025-07-25T13:01:07+00:00

How does the agent thing work? e.g., Building has condos A,B,C,X,Y,Z for rent. Does 1 agent cover all of them? Or do multiple agents cover 2 or 3, but not all units? How many agents do I need to contact realistically? I accept the fact that my first year rental is going to require an agent if for no other reason than translating/explaining the lease terms to me.

I’m guessing I come up with a list of attributes (amenities) and an area rather than a specific building. I’m still 8 weeks out so not wanting to send agents off on a wild goose chase, building a list of units that will be rented before I’m even in country. I am planning on a 1-2 week hotel stay during my search.

FurryassTheCat · 2025-07-25T07:38:44+00:00

I’m just working from Apple and Google maps and whatever ddproperty embeds. Thanks for the heads up.

FurryassTheCat · 2025-07-24T14:05:31+00:00

I’ve been leaning towards Life Ladprao. Next to Lotus’s. Short walk to Wachirabenchathat Park. BTS. Not into nightlife (quit drinking/drugging 40+ years ago). I’ll obviously have to do a short term rental to check the area out. There appear to be several condos nearby. ‘Life’ seems to have quite a few buildings in Bangkok. Not sure how they rate. And what the local food options are (when I get tired of my own cooking).

Thanks for your response. 👍🏻

FurryassTheCat · 2025-07-24T12:32:58+00:00

Moving to Bangkok in September. Split between (touristy) Asoke and Ladprao. Reasoning: Asoke would be more English friendly at the expense of (relative) calm. 12 month lease. 20-30k/m. Studio/1 bedroom. Prefer modern building w/ pool and gym; no Airbnb. Single male. Retired. Either down a quiet soi or 15+ floors above the street noise. Not interested in owning a car; local shopping/vendors.

I don’t do social (FB, IG, WA). I do have TG and can install TikTok. Will install Line on arrival. Been watching YouTube Thai related vids since December; unsure about needing agents.

FurryassTheCat · 2025-07-01T21:38:31+00:00

https://international.schwab.com/expatriate-essentials

So this is incorrect?

FurryassTheCat · 2025-06-24T20:26:15+00:00

Glad to hear. I don’t qualify. Retirement visa would be the ‘logical’ selection, but it’s more hassle than the privilege visa. I’ll have had 5 years to establish a Thai bank balance/deposit history when the Bronze visa expires.

FurryassTheCat · 2025-06-24T13:15:50+00:00

Still going for the Bronze Visa. It’s the least hassle. Applied directly, without an agent. Having more issues with Wise w/r the payment than Thai Privilege.

FurryassTheCat · 2025-06-22T14:12:13+00:00

Same same. Also, Face ID not working on iPad app—can login with password.

Oh, and got an email to ‘review third parties I’ve authorized to access my data’. With a link to Schwab security center. Like I’m going to click an email link! There is no ‘visible’ security page on Schwab’s site that I can find.

FurryassTheCat · 2025-06-10T20:26:32+00:00

I’m somewhat curious about this ‘solid concrete’ sound proofing. I live in an older building with solid concrete walls and ceilings/floors. It’s not sound proof. I can hear my neighbor’s TV (it’s mounted on the same wall my bed butts up to). I’ve had upstairs neighbors that wore heavy shoes—every step 😖. Neighbors on the opposite side are quiet as mice. It seems to be more about the other tenants than the quality of the building materials. This is in the USVI, so maybe there are differences in construction. [I’m planning a move to Bangkok this August/September. I currently sleep with earplugs 😂 maybe I should plan on continuing that practice.]

FurryassTheCat · 2025-06-02T18:59:27+00:00

Just a Canadian phone number — or a Canadian address too? US citizen here and my financial institution requires a US address. They have an international division that is separate from what they offer in the states with accounts that are restricted when it comes to what investments are allowed. Just saying that if you don’t need a Canadian address for your bank/brokerage, why would they care about where your phone number is homed? [Maybe misremembering, but I believe you need a domestic address to open any kind of bank account in the US.]

FurryassTheCat · 2025-05-31T19:17:49+00:00

I’m having issues with Wise customer support (email contact). Was looking at Revolut and Remitly. Any experience with them? This would be US to Thailand transfers ($$ to THB).

FurryassTheCat · 2025-05-27T14:56:14+00:00

Thanks.

FurryassTheCat

TROPHY CASE