hopdafru

12 months is a very long time in a temple. Why not try 1 week? I lasted 10 days in a temple with no speaking, getting up at 4am and sleeping on a concrete bed with a carved log as a pillow. I used it more as a detox. I'd like to try it again 15 years on to get more benefit.

Ahaa... the buddha pillow at suan mokh....

Yeah after surviving that I figured I could survive anything...

Great for detox indeed, a bit harsh though, but practically free

I'm curious too....

can anybody enlighten us?

Thanks!

I'm assuming you're growing fish...

You could add growbeds which will filter the water and give you plenty of good veggies and fruit - ie aquaponics system.

I heard at least a couple people are doing this successfully in thailand. Given the size of your tanks you would need a pretty big growing surface or use less fish / tanks.

You can look up University of Virgin Islands who has a pretty effective system (can be scaled down) and plenty of stuff on youtube for home aquaponics.

sok dee!

Does anybody know where one can open an account in CNY in SEA?

http://thediplomat.com/pacific-money/2013/02/27/chinas-yuan-can-it-challenge-the-dollar/

Hong Kong.

Well known but HK is not in South East Asia (SEA).

A couple of chinese banks have recently opened in Laos, have they done so as well in TH/other SEA countries, and if so is it possible for a foreigner to open an account in CNY?

Is true, but has 'honorary' :-) status a

Does anybody know where one can open an account in CNY in SEA?

http://thediplomat.com/pacific-money/2013/02/27/chinas-yuan-can-it-challenge-the-dollar/

Hong Kong.

Well known but HK is not in South East Asia (SEA).

A couple of chinese banks have recently opened in Laos, have they done so as well in TH/other SEA countries, and if so is it possible for a foreigner to open an account in CNY?

Does anybody know where one can open an account in CNY in SEA?

http://thediplomat.com/pacific-money/2013/02/27/chinas-yuan-can-it-challenge-the-dollar/

I imagine 'poste restante' is extinct these days ?

It's still being used in Vientiane, Laos Just present ID with matching name and pickup the parcel. only PO boxes here.

Truth be told, having grown up in Scandinavia in the 90s and onwards, the relationship you describe seem to be the modern norm there. Except the tyrant is more likely to be a 90kg woman and the man 45 kg.

I suggest a weekly spaking to sort out the differences. Who spanks whom is of course the question.

555 great to have mentioned scandinavia... so true!

Actually, wouldn't it be a lot more productive if we all stop bickering about who has money and deserves to live here and he who is broke doesn't even deserve to have a name. Be they man or woman kind, black or white, Brits, German or USA, ex-military or bar girl bouncer.

We should all come together like one huge 1 million strong farang social club. Where those of us who have spare cash donate a % into a fund for those who are struggling. Open up blocks of subsidized condos in Pattaya, BKK and CM with resource centres for consulate advice and assistance with getting home, or at least to the islands for the full moon party.

Now I would be more than happy to contribute to help my fellow farang in need.

All we need now is someone who has the necessary logistical skills to set it up.

Any takers?

sounds good but I'm afraid the money would disappear faster than in any corrupt organization/country out there, even faster than in places like Laos or Zimbabwe...

re. the OP, a few clues perhaps in this 'homemade' documentary about a young Englishman wanting to make it to LOS.

I'm curious if anybody on TV recognizes himself in the footage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZxsmRupTi0

Could it be that all these trillion US$ sitting in china and elsewhere are being 'dumped' onto various investments in Asia/Africa (including Thailand) as trust in USD is falling?

"dumped" is another wild assumption without any basis. the Chinese are well known for their business acumen and patient long range outlook. what they are doing is nothing else than securing their future supply of essential commodities as much as possible focussing on energy and food stuff.

Agreed... "poured" would've been a better choice of vocabulary. I guess it's the pace at which money is being spent (and some projects being validated, with sometimes very little due process) that influenced me in using the term 'dumped.'

I'm really surprised at how fast some ideas get funded and heavy work starts these days. Has this always been going on at such large scale? (especially in the area - SEA)

Then it means that the next destination for these USD is the US which will be the only place where they will be exchangeable for something, which in turn means massive inflow of cash on the northamerican territory...

no wild assumptions please... no matter how interesting they might sound

Then where do you suggest these dollars go next? (assuming they leave chinese et Al coffers to Asia/SEA/Africa ie they are on the market again vs foreign currency reserve)

of course I'm making assumptions / wondering what the next step is, but one thing I am sure is a lot of dollars are being spent right now (100's of Billions, USD not CNY) on various projects: dams, roads, train/various infrastructure, habitat, businesses et Al in 3rd world countries.

Wild? I'm really not so sure... once back on the market (a few trillion $ over a few years - say 5 and we're already, say, 1/4 the way), what is the effect versus other floating currencies (and local 3rd world inflation) and where does the money flow next? I really doubt it stays stuck there nor it's value (not) deflated...

Good weather + great culture = tourists. Poor people + pretty girls + tourists = prostitution.

Why be embarrassed about prostitution? I'm not embarrassed to be a programmer, it's what I do for a living. I don't like it. It's boring. But it's what I can make the most money doing. So I do something I dont like to make money.

There is very little difference.

Which one is legal?

Both. Nothing illegal in Thailand about working as a bargirl or a gogo dancer and sleeping with customers for money.

Actually if you provide sexual favours for money that is called prostitution and prostitution is illegal in Thailand.

technically, ie legally, it depends what you write on the invoice...

If the line says having sex: 1000 THB then it's illegal

If it says anything else it probably isn't (like paying for leaving, cleaning the bed/room/dishes, buying her underwear etc...

Without a doubt hopdafru.....

Then it means that the next destination for these USD is the US which will be the only place where they will be exchangeable for something, which in turn means massive inflow of cash on the northamerican territory...

I can't imagine the USD not falling steeply in this scenario, in which case, which currencie(s) do you think will serve as backup/replacement? (EUR, CNY, YEN, Bancor, combination, other?)

I'm thinking/hoping the EUR will remain relatively stable, and as stated before I don't buy into the absolute necessity to carry (physical) gold... (btw heard recently they found a huge mine in south africa with enormous gold reserve)

After reading another thread about building projects in Chiang Mai, and seeing billions being poured here in Laos (and elsewhere), I am wondering:

Could it be that all these trillion US$ sitting in china and elsewhere are being 'dumped' onto various investments in Asia/Africa (including Thailand) as trust in USD is falling?

just wondering... thoughts?

didn't read the whole thread.

Could it be that all these trillion US$ sitting in china and elsewhere are being 'dumped' onto various investments in Asia/Africa (including Thailand) as trust in USD is falling?

just wondering... thoughts?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_exchange_rate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollarization <-- lists countries who's currencies are pegged to the USD (and other currencies)

Curiosity is killing me. Why did she choose YOUR door?

Because, -Scully- Post "34"

"more women you can shake a shitty stick at.

Why would you get married when there are hundreds of 20 plus women wanting a western trial "

And, -Scully" seems to "use" his opportunities - (many, according to his testimony), a lot!

That cannot go unnoticed in rural Thailand.

But the "old" lady, missed out on important parts! As I wrote in Post "64"

"Only she, not heard , that you "use" but do not "pay", have a age limitation and prefer shorter relationships of the physical kind. "

http://www.thaivisa....me/page__st__50

I know the average westerner in Thailand is the tattooed beer bellied monger. There are people happy to live here single and if you are youngish and you are better looking than 90% or men from any country you will get companionship. Shorter relationships are usually due to extended family and I don't suffer fools gladly. I am truly happy for the married couples in Thailand and I am sure I will be one, one day.

But in the west if a girl talked to me in a club I would socialise but thats all, here men meet a girl and are married within the month.

I am taking my time having sex with girls, I probably had more sex in the west, but I know thats not the typical visitor to Thailand.

Anyway I don't really understand why little minded idiots choose to shoot the messanger and not the cultural act.

Again I rung a charity and nothing will happen in the way of arrest as it's only words. If all you do gooders are looking down on me for not seeking prosecution then I will find out her name and rough address so you can PM me and you can waist your own time.

Scully,

whatever you do, do so with your heart.

Yes, take your time, and have as much sex as you want, be they prostitutes, sluts, youngsters, westerners, milfs, katoys et al. But please, treat them with some level of respect vs judgement as to leave something positive behind. your previous deleted post (yesterday) showed some anger / negativity as you threatened to go physically after a TV member for what was very likely to be a joke.

If you want to do something re. your OP, do so, do it for the girl, her family or even for you. But don't do it to be a 'do goodder' in the view of TV members or anybody else.

Again, your heart knows, up to you.

Sokh Dee Der.

Prostitution exists in all countries because the amount of clients - and I agree that everyone who takes a prostitute is both condoning and supporting the idea.

I know a bunch of kids who wouldn't be in school were it for their sister(s) working in a beer bar / 'entertainment' venues.

Not condoning but pointing that there are two sides to the coin and there are different levels of prostitution / services + some people with very few options... not black/white.

Different kinds of customers too... some even end up as husbands

Some girls have independently moved their lives around as well.

not perfect, doesn't always work...

Just sayin' (and no, not married to a bg)

SC

EDIT: It seems that the THB and Euro were marching more or less in step this month, and there is no sharp rise in the value of the baht against the Euro at the end of last month. But,like the weather and the identify of the video referee, I don't like to engage in speculation.

That's interesting:

The EURTHB varied little in the past 6 months (1EUR about 38-40THB - ie 5%) relative to EURUSD (1EUR about 1.23-1.36 ie 10%)

Would that mean that the EUR is generally more stable / solid in relation to the THB? - ie better to carry than USD?

Also I heard one can now buy CNY (Chinese Yuan?), would that be 'worth it' for someone carrying cash and not wanting to get into stock/gold? (I understand carrying cash is not necessarily the smartest thing but I do intend to buy assets such as land / business)

Buy land in Thailand? Are you Thai?

In Laos, where it's actually allowed (within certain limits).

SC

EDIT: It seems that the THB and Euro were marching more or less in step this month, and there is no sharp rise in the value of the baht against the Euro at the end of last month. But,like the weather and the identify of the video referee, I don't like to engage in speculation.

That's interesting:

The EURTHB varied little in the past 6 months (1EUR about 38-40THB - ie 5%) relative to EURUSD (1EUR about 1.23-1.36 ie 10%)

Would that mean that the EUR is generally more stable / solid in relation to the THB? - ie better to carry than USD?

Also I heard one can now buy CNY (Chinese Yuan?), would that be 'worth it' for someone carrying cash and not wanting to get into stock/gold? (I understand carrying cash is not necessarily the smartest thing but I do intend to buy assets such as land / business)

trajectories of DA14 and the meteorite:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9873233/Asteroid-2012-DA14-brushes-by-Earth-live.html