Credit Card Fraud

This morning after I sat in my office, I noticed an SMS from my credit card asking for my authorization of the online transaction done at 03:10 am early this morning. 

What???? I was still asleep that time, how could that happen? Although, it was a small amount, but still, someone is trying to use my credit card! I use my credit card almost everyday, whether online or offline, so if there was no sms, I wouldn't have noticed that somebody is hacking and abusing my credit card.

 

I immediately called Standard Chartered Bank's call center and learned that the merchant is an online store for ladies' apparel. I am guessing the thief is a lady or a man who would like to purchase something for his lady interest.

So now, ,my credit card is blocked until a new one is sent to me and activated. Thanks to my bank and the call center staff for the very prompt service. (Did I mention that I love the banking services here in Thailand? So easy-peasy!)

Damn you, THIEVES! Go find work and earn honest money! Stop using other people's resources.

Raw Shea Butter Soap from Iherb

Eureka!!! I found it.. I found a sweet-smelling soap that lasts. 

Okay, I am too O.A. (over-acting) but seriously I really love this soap since the 1st time I used it. Even after washing you can still smell the wonderful scent. 

Yeah, that baby in the picture is Nubian Heritage Raw Shea Butter and now I know why it smells so good it is because of the added frankincense and myrrh (just like the gift of the 3 kings, eh?!)

I have been buying from Iherb since like forever, but most of the time I buy the African Black Soap for Sean's eczema but this Shea butter is my first and I so love it. 

If you want to try, definitely buy it from Iherb as the online store sells it way cheaper and ships everywhere at a minimal cost. They also have a variety of food and dietary supplements. Here is a code for a 10% discount on your first purchase just type JIT649 on the payment page to avail the discount.

 Happy Shopping!

The Body Shop Ginger Shampoo -- The Best Anti-Eczema/ Anti-Dandruff Ever!!

My search for anti-eczema is so over! Thanks to my friend, Izza who introduced this wonderful product. I am not endorsing nor is an affiliate of this shampoo and this is the first time that I and my family use this brand for our body care. Introducing...

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's The Body Shop Ginger Shampoo. My son and husband have been suffering from flakes in their scalp, for Sean due to eczema and for Joevy due to dandruff. Luckily we found this treasure that put a stop to my son's frequent head and body scratches! Sean uses it not only as a shampoo but also as a body soap because he has eczema in his skin also. We have been using it for only a week and we definitely see the results. For the past few nights, Sean didn't bother us to help him scratch his body because of the itchiness. What a relief, indeed. I know how hard it is to sleep at night with scratching and itching all over your body.

A 400 ml bottle of costs 590 Baht with a 10% discount if you have a member card. A little pricey for us but then it is so worth it because now my son can sleep tight during the night and no itchy flakes in his head. Plus, it is all natural and not steroidal like his medicines last time.



Thank you God for this wonder!

A Mother's Dilemma

My son, Sean who is turning 4 next month does not eat right. He does not want to eat any good food, not even rice, veggies or fruits. He only puts biscuits and snack foods in his mouth. As a mom, it hurts me to see that he is getting thinner each day because of lack of good nutrition. Another sad thing, after drinking soy milk for more than 2 years now, he is getting fed up with its taste. He wants cow's milk like Bear brand (in can) and fresh milk.

Sean's fave milk at the moment

He had a fever the other night so he was not able to go to school. I don't know what to do, what should a mom do to encourage him to eat? I tried not giving him anything so that he will eat rice once he is so hungry but to no avail, he dares to suffer of hunger just not to eat.

What should I do?

Sean on trying to eat Khao Mun Gai (Chicken with rice). He only ate half a spoonful. (Sigh)

Perfecting Puto Cheese

Puto Cheese is a rice cake popular in the Philippines as a 'merienda' or snack as well as with breakfast. I love eating Puto with coffee.

I made Puto cheese like 10 times already using different recipes from different web blogs. 

Well, this evening, I found the perfect texture and taste although I think it needs a teaspoonful more of baking powder but for me, this is the closest taste of Puto that I used to eat back in my home country.

So here are the ingredients:

1 cup All Purpose Flour

1/2 cup Sugar

1 tsp Baking Powder

1 cup Fresh Milk

3 tbsps Melted Butter

a pinch of salt

1 large egg

I combined all the dry ingredients and mixed them. Then on a separate bowl, I beat the egg with a half cup of milk. I then added the other half cup of milk to the dry ingredients mixture. Add the butter next, then mix thoroughly. 

Afterwards, I placed the mixture in molds, topped with cheese slices and then steam for 20-30 minutes until the texture is fluffy. You can insert a toothpick to make sure that the middle is already cooked.

There you go...the almost perfect Puto Cheese!

Tour Tickets in Thailand

I sell cheaper tickets (cheaper than walk-in price) for entry at some sightseeing tours here in Thailand like in

1. Noong nooch Garden
2. Art in Paradise
3. Siam Park
4. Dreamworld
5. Siam Ocean world 
6. and many others...

I do this as a sideline, as my other ticket clients are also asking for tour groups.

If you plan on coming to Thailand and is in a tight budget, you can check the website below

for cheaper tickets, although you need to book at least 2 days in advance and you need to pay through credit card.

Guaranteed for the best price in town! 

Please click the banner below to check out the prices...

Buying a Condo in Thailand for Foreigners

Here I am at the Head Office of Bangkok Bank in Sala Daeng trying and hoping to get the Bank letter confirming that I opened a bank account for Non-resident and has the capacity to pay for the said condo unit. 

Yes, Joevy and I are buying a small room to minimize our monthly expenses. The room price is only 180,000 Baht (16 sq.m) and it is an old unit. However the transfer process is a real headache.. been going to several bank branches already and still not done. The bank needs confirmation letter of my salary from our company showing that my salary is enough to buy the room, company registration, work permit, passport and purchase agreement for the room. 

As of now I am on my way back to the office as my salary confirmation does not show my middle name as seen in the passport, I have to edit the said document. Luckily, I can use the BTS skytrain to get to the office and back otherwise I will be stuck in the traffic. I just hope this will be finished by today. (not done for that day)

I am back home now after a long day at the bank. The savings account is now done unfortunately it was finished at the last minute so the Cashier's Cheque needed for the issuance of the bank confirmation letter was not issued therefore I have to go back on another day. How sad is that?!?!

I am dead tired, physically and emotionally. 

Anyways, for those who are foreigners who want to buy a condo room in Thailand here are the documents required:

1. Passport

2. Work Permit

3. Bank confirmation letter stating that the fund for purchase is transferred from abroad, or if you are a foreigner working in Thailand you need to open a Non-Resident Savings Account (salary confirmation from company and company registration required by the bank) then withdraw the money by issuing a Cashier's cheque to the seller (his passport/ID required) and then ask the bank to issue a bank confirmation.

(Note also that the Non-resident savings account can only be opened at the bank's head office which in my case is in Bangkok Bank in Silom.)

Another thing, the condominium should not exceed 49% of foreigners as residents otherwise the land transfer office will decline the application for deed transfer.

I hope this post will help someone in need of information regarding purchase of a condo unit for foreigner. I had no idea of this process so time and money were wasted. I just hope that the transfer will be done by next week. fingers crossed!

Desk number 5 at the Bangkok bank's office.

It's Monday, the 9th of June 2014 and I can officially say that the room is ours, finally! Yey to us!

I went back to Bangkok Bank head office this morning and was accommodated by the usual smiles of their staff, after perusing my documents, the cheque was issued followed by the confirmation letter. Then, Mr. Sunthorn, the seller proceeded to the land transfer office and after 3 hours called and inform me that the transfer is successfully done.

So happy to finally finish this and thanking and praising God who is the Giver of strength and wealth!

On Thai Coup

Hey did you know it's martial law in Thailand? Oh yeah.. it's a coup! You knew already?! LOL! My blog is so recent that all the late news are read :)

It has been going for 3 weeks now but at least Thailand is more peaceful and quiet than with the color rallies the previous months. So yeah, I am more at ease now, I just make sure I am home before the curfew at 12 midnight. I am not a night lady anyway, so I don't mind really.

Direct effect on us? Well my husband can't come home from the province if its already too late..and sometime we see the Thai army in the malls but that's about it. 

Thailand is still a safe and fun destination!