beppi

I have a strange interest in weird and lost souls, which somehow mostly get stranded in Thailand. One of the best examples, and probably the most easily accessible because he posted the story of his continuous decline all over the Internet, was Ian Reed - the self-declared "Legless Fool in Thailand" (among other strange titles).

His online blog stopped being updated last year in September, shortly before the floods.

Does anyone here have an idea what happened to him?

My house is still dry.

Is it too late to convert to Christian? If I believe in Moses, will he protect my house?

If yes, all Thais should convert to Christian to save Thailand.

Moses was Jew (his story is reverred by Jews, Christians and Muslims).

Jesus Christ (who was also Jew, by the way) could walk on water, which is probably more useful right now.

They fail to take into account the damage and loss of property by so many individuals and companies. When water gets into a factory, it causes damage to machines, computers and basically everything.

The same when a house is flooded., and many people are not insured at all.

So probably the real damage is much more than 2% of GDP, although really hard to calculate right now when everything is under water.

While the impact of closed-down factories temporarily lowers GDP, everything spent on recovery INCREASES it later!

That's why a nice catastrophe, just like any accident or other mishap that needs expenditure to recify, is good for the economic statistics.

Perverse, but true! (It's called capitalism ...)

There is a simple answer ,,, the moon causes tides to rise and fall. The moon appears in the Night - not in the day! Look in the sky at night - it is that big round white thing up there in the heavens.

Hahahaha, that's a good one: "If I don't see it (during the day), it isn't there!"

Why were these large industrial estates given permission to develop / start up in their current locations, surely some internal agencies should have said the locations were not suitable (example Thai BOE).

And surely there are locations which would be higher and above flood risks, are accessible by transport and infrastructure needs, close to towns etc.

You expect people sitting in a capital that is (on average) 80cm above sea level and less than 40cm above the nearby river to be able to judge these risks properly?!?

If they could, they would be elsewhere!!!

Thanks for the replies. The cost for some of these companies might be less in those countries if they have existing factories. They don't have to go through all the legal hassles of locating a new business. They can simply expand.

How do wages and labor conditions compare between Malaysia and Thailand, especially with the 300 baht proposal (which will likely be delayed IMO)?

I am an expert on this and have advised one of the biggest companies now submerged on investment decisions in the past year (the relationship ended a few months ago when they decided not to diversify into Malaysia ...).

In Malaysia, cost is slightly (10-30%) higher for unskilled labour. This comes with the caveat that almost all of them need to be "imported" from Indonesia and services like travel, housing must be provided. On the upside, foreign workers are less likely to abscond (manufacturing operators in Thailand have a turnover rate of up to 50% per year!).

Cost of skilled labour (e.g. technicians) is comparable to Thailand. University graduates (fresh) get slightly more in Malaysia, but experienced engineers (5 years) there earn HALF of what you have to pay them in Thailand. (This of course fits the Thai elite, but ensures any operation that requires more brains than hands will go to Malaysia instead.)

Everything else (land, construction, services, locally sourced materials, etc.) costs substantially more in Malayisa, but this is offset by generous government grants and tax breaks, favourable investment climate, better infrastructure and a fast and efficient administration (minimum buerocracy and negligible corruption).

My personal choice (for high-tech manufacturing companies) was clear even before the floods.

The job of the Thai police is to enrich their police generals, colonels and station commanders and to serve the whims of Thailand's moneyed elite.

Why would anyone think their role is to arrest the perpetrators of crimes against ordinary victims (including "no connections" tourists. Where's the benefit in that??

Most sensible post in this thread!

Anyone who doesn't see this is naive and should not come to Thailand.

I need to sell my very reliable, well-kept and serviced Toyota Corolla.

I am at Rangsit, North of Bangkok, but could potentially meet you elsewhere, too.

Please call or email to arrange a viewing!

Model: Toyota Corolla 1.6 GLi 4 Auto, metallic red

Built: 1994

Mileage: 250 000 km

Fuel: Petrol and LPG

Transm.: Automatic

Price: Bt 160 000

I have installed the LPG system a year ago (runs exceptionally well!) and running costs are consistently below 1Bt/km since. I also recently exchanged tires, brake pads front (back is due soon), aircon compressor, starter, battery (you'll also get the old battery, which still works), wheel bearings. It was always serviced regularly and has no major problems, apart from a few scratches and a broken el. window opener (passenger side, easy to exchange). I have all legal papers in my name (ready for transfer) and it is taxed and insured (3rd class) until April 2012.

Budget airlines like AA do not pay any commission to travel agents. Thus the agent goes to the webpage, books, pays the same as you would pay there, and then sell you the ticket with a markup - he/she has to live off something too!

Regular airlines pay a commission out of the booked price, thus (usually) no further markup by the travel agent - and due to speciall arrangements (e.g. due to booking volume) the agent might even get better prices than you on the airline webpage.

In addition, budget airlines removed all non-essential services, change prices with demand and try to fill all seats as far in advance as possible. They mostly succeed, thus there are no last-minute deals and if you book later, you normally pay more.

Regular airlines try to give better service to business travellers and others who need flexibility. They normally charge the same no matter when you book, but keep a few seats purposely empty for unexpected changes and eventualities. Those might then be sold cheaply as last-minute offers.

There are two potential problems with tap water in Thailand (or other places):

1. Microbes causing diarrhoea

2. Heavy metals from bad piping

In Thailand, 1. is rare and 2. common.

Diarrhea is a nuisance, but treatable and usually doesn't leave lasting damage.

Heavy metals don't cause immediate problems, but accumulate in the liver/kidneys and stay there for years, slowly killing those organs - and damage once caused cannot be reversed (means: If you notice it, it's too late!).

Diarrhea can be caused by drinking even a small amount once. Heavy metal damage is proportional to the amount you drink - i.e. drinking a little bit once or twice is no concern, but every day over months or years is.

Microbes are easily killed by boiling, purification tablets, UV irradiation, filters (containing silver ions) available in any home improvement store, etc., but these methods do nothing to heavy metals.

Heavy metals can only be removed by de-ionisation (distillation, reverse osmosis, or similar processes), which are not easily or cheaply implemented in a private home.

Since the amount of tap water you ingest from washed vegetables (or from things cooked in tap water and then drained) is rather small, I use tap for these purposes. But whenever I want to ingest the liquid (soup, tea, sauces, etc.), I use bottled water.

Of course none of the restaurants or roadside eateries do likewise, so if you're paranoid don't visit Thailand (or any other developing country)!

And the bus from SUVARNABHUMI that goes to the north doesn't pass by AYUTHAYA ?

You just resurrected a thread from 2009.

Since you seem to be a cheapo, you can take a mini-van from the airport ground level (next to where the airport bus to Bangkok starts) to Rangsit (near Future Park mall) and another van from there to Ayutthaya. This will cost you Bt100, takes three hours and is much easier if you speak Thai (otherwise you'll have problems finding your onward van at Rangsit).

Or, you could take the (free) airport shuttle to the transportation centre and hope that they have a long-distance bus to Ayutthaya (I don't know). Again, very limited English spoken there.

Another way is to take the BTS to Victory Monument and a mini-van from there. Be prepared to ask numerous people and be directed all around the place before actually finding the van (or being told that the last one for the day has already left, as happened to me ...).

I am staying at Rangsit, too (near Klong 4) and have many colleagues here as well (foreign and Thai).

As far as I hear, there are many student type accommodations (i.e. very basic and very cheap). You'd have to walk through the alleys or ask your Thai friends to find them.

Rangsit Apartment is the obvious other (more upmarket) alternative and many of my foreign colleagues stay there. I looked at two or three similar places a year ago and could dig up the info if you need it (PM me).

In addition, you can find very reasonably priced houses near Rangsit, too. Townhouses are at Bt10k or less. I have a huge bungalow with garden for Bt23k, which I share with two others (and thus get a much better place than an apartment for less money).

Good luck - and if you feel like hanging out for a dinner or beer, send me a message (Country Place next to Future Park is a good venue for this!).

A moment I have been waiting for:

Finally the Thai government enacts a law that protects foreigners more than Thais (well, only old, naive guys who think they're still attractive to younger Asian brides and believe it's not just about the money - they might not be worth protecting, but I still think it's a step in the right direction!) and exactly those who potentially profit most from it (and are predominantly concentrated on this and similar boards) complain like hell!

Don't you guys see the irony of it?!?

immigration out of control

It takes a surprising amount of hypocrisy to cite this as a reason to become an immigrant oneself in another country!

For me, I do NOT prefer Thailand over my home country.

I am here for work and will leave once my projects allow.

I lived (minimum 1.5 years) in 5 Asian countries, worked (a few months) in 5 more and managed to build a comfort zone and a feeling of belonging ("home") in most. Not in Thailand, for a variety of complex reasons that would take too long to explain here (PM me if you're really interested).

If I had to choose an Asian country for the rest of my life, it would be Singapore.

But for quality of life Europe wins hands-down in almost any respect other than costs and maybe the women (which for me isn't an issue - happily married to a non-Thai Asian).

This is my opinion - I respect yours if it is different!

We often keep >$100k in gold and platinum in the company, so I had a safe installed in a similar way (bolted to the concrete floor) by Thai "craftsmen".

When they were finished, I managed to rip the safe out of its anchoring, with a simple push of my hands, found that they had only used ONE screw instead of one in each of the five available holes, and brought it to the security manager's desk with the request to get other workers with better workmanship and attitude to install it again.

The second time I couldn't rip it out bare-handedly any more, but probably a crowbar still does the trick ...

This is Thailand!

(And No, I won't tell you where my company is!)

If you are El Cheapo, follow the signs to the Airport Bus and look for the mini bus/van stop near there. Number 555 goes tp Don Muang in 1 - 1.5 hours and costs Bt50.

The BTS to Victory Monument (change at Paya Thay) and a van from there costs slightly more and is less convenient.

Thanks for all your replies.

In fact, I know the regulations (I fall under"Ttransfer of savings earned in Thailand") and have cleared the paperwork with the bank.

The only issue left is the exchange rate. I read from one of the posters above that there is no more offshore/onshore rate difference, or at least it doesn't apply for transfers OUT? Can anybody confirm this?

What is the rate difference between Superrich (I don't live near and don't want to carry cash, so this is only for reference) and bank transfers?

Young lady, stay at home!

This is a serious advice from somebody who has done international moves many times successfully and has observed others doing the same, some of them failing miserably, so I know what is and what isn't required.

You are simply not prepared for such a move.

First thing, you have no real reason to come to Thailand (pull factor), just the idea that you need to leave England (push factor).

Second, you know next to nothing about life in Thailand (or in a foreign country in general) and worry about it excessively.

Third, you are worrying about the wrong things! Minor details of life, like accomodation, where to buy what and how to open bank accounts, will sort themselves out once you are here. There are people in similar situations who have done this before, and it worked - that's all you need to know for now. What you need to worry about is e.g. how to survive a major depression (read about culture shock for first timers and you'll know that you will almost unavoidably go through one!) without the support network you have back home, what to do if your plans fail, money runs out and you are stranded (this happens to surprisingly many foreigners here), or how to cope with the fact that you dislike other foreigners here (which are a mixed bunch at best) and realize that you cannot relate to locals, even if they speak English (this happens to almost all foreigners here).

These things can throw off more mature people who come here with a network (e.g. through local girlfriend/wife) and an idea what they want in life. Read this forum and you'll find plenty of stories (of course in their eyes it's always somebody else's fault - or at least Thailand is bad - but in reality it's only themselves who is to blame!). Do you really want to go through something like that? Don't fool yourself into thinking it won't happen to you!

being forced to listen to Issan country Music constantly for 72 hours...I have to put up with that shit every day and i haven't braking any laws !!

I never have enough time to do all the things I need or want to do, so I have been trying for a 35-hour-day for years now without success - and now you are saying you managed a 72-hour-one?!? You have to teach me how - please!!!

P.S.: I think you are breaking the laws of physics!

> Self-cancelling indicators on their motorbikes! They are on all bikes in the West and can't be THAT expensive!

> How often do they appear to be turning left, but are not. or are indicating to turn one way but turn the other?

> Or, you decide NOT to overtake them because they're indicating to turn right... for miles!

Even more needed than a device that switches OFF the indicator is one that foresees sudden jerks to the left, right or any other direction and switches it ON to warn other motorists in time!

I searched this forum and found only discussions about how to transfer money INTO Thailand, the exchange rates (onshore/offshore) used and pitfalls therein.

However, I work and earn here and want to transfer my savings OUT.

What is the best way?

How to get the most favourable rate?

I have an SCB account, but the staff there couldn't help me - they specifically had never heard of different rates (onshore/offshore).

Thanks for any hints on this!

I wonder why the police doesn't just sell the confiscated goods (in Chatuchak or elsewhere) to line their own pockets instead of destroying them?

Well, maybe they do that already with the bulk (and destroy only a few every now and then as a show) - they are sure craftier in this respect than me ...

Hi,

I recently visited the Sarika/Nang Rong/Wang Takrai area and found no apparent possibilities for hiking.

Are there any, and how to find the trails?

I am especially interested to know if there is a path from Tha Dan dam to Hew Narok waterfall.

Also, if you know of other possibilities for hikes within a day trip from (Northern) Bangkok, please post it here!

Greetings,

Frank

Yawn - anything new, anywhere?

Those who get enraged about this story are either naive or new to Thailand (and similar countries).

The idea of separate bus lines as a much cheaper but equally efficient alternative to subways or other rail systems originated in Brazil in the 80ies and has been working well in many places for years (e.g. Jakarta).

The surprising thing is not that 60% of the surveyed motorists are against having one of their lanes taken away for another mode of transport, but that 40% of them didn't and thus approve of this attempt to improve the overall situation!

Chaotic traffic is not solved by giving it more area, but by giving it less and at the same time enabling people to use other, more efficient methods!