Bullie

To me it sounds like she is angry because farang can sometimes have the law on their side, too. It is well possible the man has mental problems, and the consulate is rightly assisting a citizen in need of help.

Apart from anything I have yet to meet the first farang that got his deposit back after termination of a rental agreement, so I am quite enjoying this spat....

That sounds like music to my ears!

We live on a main road in a provincial town, and the noise level of some motocy's -and cars, I might add- is so high I actually have to cover my ears.

I have gotten to the point where I am planning to erect sleeping policemen overnight, they would do a better job than the lazy BIB that passes for "police" in this town.

56 minutes ago, moutamine said:

Khlong Toei's wet market is pretty disgusting. My wife went twice but just can't anymore because of the smell.  From now on, it's Villa Market even though it's 3-5 times more expansive.  Our health is worth it.

Plus you more or less rule out any formaldyhide intake, which is used extensively all over thai markets to keep the produce "fresh".

3 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Where ya goin.. Bullie

Portugal, close to Coimbra. Nice freestanding house, 1500 m2 land with fruit trees, vines, some timber and private spring for a little less than 38,000 Euro's. Landtaxes less than 100 Euro's per year, cost of living 20 % lower than Thailand. Pleasant climate, 1 hours drive to the ocean. Excellent seafood and vegetables I am not scared of eating. (I am very careful in Thailand due to the pesticides and poison).

Thailand can't beat that.

As a European, Thailand has now effectively lost its attractiveness to me, partly because it has become quite expensive (granted, mainly due to the downturn the Euro has taken), but also it has become hotter every year. Add to that the corruption and the difficulties concerning visa, the cost of proper health insurance plus the fact that we are effectively second-rate visitors with little freedom of enterprise.

Me and my family are leaving Thailand behind us and are off to southern Europe next month, with affordable healthcare, less corruption, better food, pleasant temperatures, lower cost of living than Thailand and all the freedom one could wish for as a European citizen.

"Dazzled by winter sunshine", my foot. Advanced old age and poor eyesight are way more likely to be the main causes of this accident.

97 years old - the man should not even be allowed to leave the house unattended!

Sorry you are with the wrong thai lady. My own wife is not super beautiful, but she takes care of me like a king. And I don't do much with her or the kids either. So really, I don't think you have your self to blame, she is just a short-sighted bitch in heat that thinks she his the never-ending jackpot that keeps on giving.

NOW is the time for you to end this. If you had any smarts, the house is in your name, even when the land isn't. Start off with a barnsale tomorrow, give away the rest. Then have a contractor flatten the house, throw the rubble in the pool. Watch it from a safe distance through binoculars, enjoying the sight of her pulling out her hair in despair.

THEN take the next flight out of the hell you got your self into.

" Any words of wisdom from anyone who went through something similar" .

Firstly, it can be corrected easily.

Secondly: ALWAYS check any stamp, change or visa that is put in your passport, and have it immediately corrected if wrong. After all, even Thai immigration officers, in all their infallibility, are merely human....

I thought initially that this was a boring topic, but on seconds thought I changed my mind.

The reason why professionals chop garlic by hand is that there are various ways of utilizing garlic in your dishes. One can either crush the garlic, skin and all, and let it simmer, slice it thinly (spanish kitchen, to flavour the oil, and add an extra crunch), mince it , or turn it into a garlic paste with the help of some salt.

It all results in different flavours.

So , since it basically depends on the dish you are trying to create how to process this wonderful legume, utilizing a garlic press exclusively sounds a rather crude way of going about it, don't you think?

Compared to renting a motocy for 250 baht for the whole day, and take a trip around the island your self these are ridiculous prices....

Bangkok - Trat for instance is a 300 km, 4-5 hour trip and it sets me back 3500 baht - and YES, the taxidriver still has to make it back to Bangkok, included in the price!

Rather then focusing on obligatory medical insurance for visitors to this fine country, the Thai government should instead make motor vehicle insurance mandatory and absence of it punishable, and reserve a reasonable amount each year to pay for damages caused by their own population upon unsuspecting tourists. I have a feeling that this mayhem unleashed on innocent Farang financially far surpasses the amount due by uninsured visitors....