kuifje

Top North Guesthouse at moon Muang Soi 2 is in this price range. They have a small pool. I stayed there at my first visits in CM 10 or so years ago and it was okay. Maybe the rooms are a bit tacky already?

Very dated now.

Great news. Finally some actions are taken against serious wrongdoing against the country and its people. I hope Thai's will finally wake up and see what this family did to Thailand for the last decade.

Its just a domestic ticket. They make smart advertising, by saying you are going to Vientianne.

Don't believe a thing from this reporting.

They are trying to discredit the present government.

I only see improvement.

Some 'dark' powers are behind this to get 'negative' attention to Thailand.

Take note of the license plate.

5555, will cost some money

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Facebook is now available/accesseble in China in some area's. Its been opening up since 1-2 years. But not many Chinese you it because they have a very powerfull Chinese version.

It's time to ignore this criminal. He stole from his own people. Instead of following the court system and ruling, he run away from his problems/responsability as a thief in the night. He should be addressed as' fugitive criminal ex-premier' and nothing else.

first you need to go to your local vehicle registration and apply for the "purple" passbook. In order to get it issued, you need to show the car's "blue" book.

The "T" stickers will get issued together with the "purple" passbook.

At the border, you need first to get the purple passboook stamped "out" by a Thai Border officer. On the Lao side, you must pay for your visa and take on a Laos temporary insurance for the car. It must be paid fully for the intended period of stay. You will need to carry a few papers from one counter to the next until they have cleared it among themselves (!)., though.

I do however not know if any permit of stay over the 30 days one gets on a Laos Visa can be had. Should clear this with a search for more information. The permit for using the car in Laos was restricted to 30 days only on my first visit.

And yes, you must be holding the blue passbook as well, when crossing the border, as the Thai border officials want to see it.

Thanks for the clear information.

If I am correct you can only bring cars to Laos that are fully financed and you have the green book.

Maybe. But I can't believe that all the cars crossing the border are fully paid !

Normally cars have bleu books! (motorbikes have green books)

I see many company cars, from sales or service people crossing the border. So the cars are not in the name of the drivers, and probably not fully paid.

I am driving a Thai registered car. Because the car is financed, it is in the name of a family member. I would like to bring this car to Laos because I will be there temperary for some months.

What are the requirements at the border (Nong Khai).

What kind of documents are needed from family member to allow me to drive this car abroad.

Insurance for Laos ? How to arrange this ?

Very sad. The donations could have gone to building a much needed temple. Bigger. Better.

Why give money for more temples. Thailand already has 37,000 official temples and another about 20,000 to 30,000 illegal temples. Its enough.

Most monks use the donations to buy expensive phones, tablets, cars, houses for themselves, not use it for the temple purposes.

Open your eyes.

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how many more don't realize they are slaves ?

That's an easy one... The answer is anyone that is in debt to the western banking system...

Well if you look it this way. then it the whole world are slaves to someone/something.

Slave to debt to loan sharks. Slave to paying extreme taxes in most Western countries. Slave to the other partner. Slave to your work. Slave to food. For wealthy people, slave to how to spend the money and complain about all the people working for them for slave wages.

Come on posters. For sure some people in the world are slaves, but not as it is descripted in this article.

Slave, means no freedom to speak, move, walk away from a situation and have to work for no money. And then the numbers are much smaller.

All other situations can not be descripted as 'slave' situations.

I would say out of that number most are in debt slavery. It is a big problem here

Well, probably most. But really I not see why they should call the slavery !?

I my opinion 'slavery' is when people work for 'no' money or salary, and can not leave to go for a different live.

Debt problems can mostly be solved. Spent less, save more. Pay off drebts. Live within your means. And if you need to borrow, see that you know you can repay your debts within your salary.

So the whole article and excercise of the mentioned organisations are misleading the public.

Definition of Slavery (wikipedia)

Slavery is a legal or economic system under which people are treated as property.^[1] Though laws and systems vary, as property, slaves may be bought and sold. Slaves can be held from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation. Historically, slavery was institutionally recognized by most societies; in more recent times, slavery has been outlawed in all countries, but it continues through the practices of debt bondage, serfdom, domestic servants kept in captivity, certain adoptions in which children are forced to work as slaves, child soldiers, and forced marriage.^[2]Slavery is officially illegal in all countries, but there are still an estimated 20 million to 36 million slaves worldwide.^[3][4][5] Mauritaniawas the last jurisdiction to officially outlaw slavery (in 1981/2007), but about 10% to 20% of its population is estimated to live in slavery.^[6][7]

Many people on TV complain of have many things to say about the taxi drivers and the fees/services.

Not many come out to talk about the toll fees !?? I think the 'tolls' are crazy high ! Soon Bt 100 just to drive on the highway to Bangkok coming from Rangsit?

I not live in Bangkok, but come and visit one or twice a month. In average I pay about Bt 300-400 on the day I am going to downtown and back home same day. Because I not drive daily in Bangkok, I still make sometimes the wrong turn/exit. And boom another toll-booth which we charge me for Bt 40 or Bt 60.

"In the bedroom of Chong’s Rawai villa, police opened a large safe in which they found a box of gold jewellery and gemstones, but no cash."

"Asked about the donation of B34 million to Wat Charoensamanakit in Phuket, where Chong spent some time as a monk, Col Saman said, “We know the amount of the donation exactly. I do not think it will be a problem [to retrieve it]. But the Anti-Money Laundering Office will take care of this."

Haha, not cash in the bedroom! But what about the other 20 rooms ? And maybe the cash already went to the first 'coppers' on the scene!

He draw the attention with this 'small' donation to the temple. Probably the monks knew he had much more money and became greedy/unsatified about the 'small' donation, so they put the attention on the case. His bad.

If he had stayed under the radar, with all his billions, just rented the most expensive/beautifull villa in Phuket, arranged for a proper (fake) passport he could have stayed maybe forever.

Unfortunately, i think the extra revenue earned by the taxi drivers will end up in the owners' pockets by raising the shift fee.

Therefore, no change to either the drivers' standard of living or quality of service; except perhaps for the owner-drivers, who are probably making a decent living already.

So, the only change will be more expensive rides for you and me! And perhaps less income for the drivers as more people seek out public transport instead.

Probably you are right. For those drivers who have to rent per shift, the income wouldn't change much. More income, but also higher fees to rent.

I still think all taxi drivers already has a reasonable income. I don't believe it is just Bt 300/day. I spoke with many over the years, fee for rent half shift (12hours) are usually between 500-800/day depending on operator/quality/age of the car. But I agree the rates should be increased moderate.e

The drivers/owners (mostly yellow-green and yellow-red) have the best quality cars and willing to give good service.

And for all those whiners about to high prices for farang (or farang together with Thai friends), I not agree at all.

I never have a problem, and I take at least 100-200 taxi's/year for the last 10 years. Some drivers know the way well, some you have to help a little by givng directions. If the taxi refuse to use the meter, just go to the next one. Or walk 50 meter away and try again.

Many times I just open the door and get in first, then explain my destination and insist on using the meter (it works).

I had even many, many times taxi's for long distances (200-450 km away from Bangkok). Just bargain with 1-2-3 drivers and you will be on your way.

"Officially, the aim is to help taxi operators earn more than Bt300 per day, the daily minimum wage..."

Most taxi drivers I know, and see, live in pretty well to do upmarket townhouses, at worst.

I don't think many taxi driver have only Bt 300/day. In facto they are self-employed, and depending on if they own the taxi or rent the taxi they havee an income's well above this Bt300 mark. And I most say they earn it. I would not like to sit & drive for 10-12 hours every day in the traffic or waiting for customers.

For sure, a change in the taxi fares is reasonable and I think most customers will not have a problem to pay little higher fares.

Why so many posters always start with negativity on any news. The subsidy from the previous government (output subsidy) was not working and costing Thailand there number one place on the world market. It was also too expensive for the government coffers and prone to alot of corruption. Crop prices should always depends on market price (never on subsidy price). This government is proposing an input subsidy on different levels (which is more sensible). Many countries around the world involve in input subsidy for different branches. It could work for Thailand also. The gap between the stupid/expensive subsidy from the (Thaksin clan) and doing nothing is too big. So present government has to close that gap a little bit.

160000 found now. Probably only the tip of the iceberg. Happens everywhere in the world (in governments).

Quite evident some are not ready to be monks. Majority of monks are sincere, but Thai culture is such that young men become short term monks for 3 months because of family pressure and status, I know sometimes becoming a monk is alternative to going to jail for crimes. I am sure there are more reasons for joining that have nothing to do with actual intention of leading monastic life. Pity.

You are kidding !? Majority of monks are sincere ? In Thailand ? They are all in this 'trade' for money, money and money, nothing else.

 

Some days it seems like just about everyone in Thailand has a new car and new iPhone.  I can't imagine what their debt to income ratio is, but eventually it is going to end in tears.

 

Thai household debts have increased to an average of 219,000 baht per household this year -  the highest level in nine years. Debt-to-GDP rose to 82.3% at end-2013, from 77.3% at end-2012,

a

Bubble bubble, toil and trouble. . . 

 

 

 

Wow, thanks for this information.   This is helpfull.   I most say only 219,000 per household, its even lower than I expected.    That is very low and not to bad.  Household debts include all debts, houses, cars, finance company's. How many income's in one household on average, 2 ? 3? more?   So even if they are in the lower income brackets, they can repay there debts!     This means also, most people have more assets, then debts !!!!!

What you think is the average debt is in some advanced economies ?   Many 100.000's euro's or dollars for house, car &  other debts.   In many cases only one income to pay off those debts,no one will help you if you are in problems.  

Yes many people in Thailand have to many debts, some will not be able to pay them.  And yes it is a bubble, which will burst for some.   They will lose some of there assets along the way.   But most will survive with the help of hard (long) work and help from there family.  In the many years in Asia I see the vitality and survival of people here.   If they have a problem, they adjust and go on.   

 

 

can an average office worker work hard...
...
back in my country, a Corolla would cost about six months salary

Income:
Seven 11 about 9000 Baht/month.
Skilled factory labourer up to 20000.
Avarage office worker might earn up to 30000 (no managment position)
School director/high level government officer might make 60000.
(farang English teacher 25000 to 40000 and more )
 
A corolla type car in basic edition costs about 600000 Baht.
 
600000/9000: 67 months, out of reach
/20000: 30 months, very hard even with going deep into debt.
/30000: 20 months, still hard
/60000: 10 months, doable
 
So even the 30000 Baht middle class income has to struggle hard.
Different perspective if there is a couple with good double income.
 
There were some statistics recently about private debt of Thai families.
Thais are very high in debt.
Some low earners pay 40% of their income just for car dept.
 
Other way round: in Germany an avarage office worker could make 3500 EUR/month, about 150000 Baht/month.
If he would invest 20 months of income for the car, that would make up for 70000 EUR.
That would be much more than a Corolla
An the truth is: some do!

 

Who told you these figures? I think you are off. If you think Toyota is paying their factory workers 20,000B a month you are kidding yourself.
They make minimum wage. I pay my factory workers above minimum wages and they still only average about 8000B a month without overtime.
Office staff makes 10-12K per month. Accountant is getting 20,000B a month and I pay more than my Thai friends that own companies. My friend his wife was the assistant to the CEO of HUTCH, she speaks, Thai, English and French fluently and has a masters and she was only making 35K per month.
7-11 I'm sure is only paying minimum wage so 6 days a week is 7,200B a month. I own a company at this time but have worked in Thailand for 20 years and been in several management positions over the years never seen any office staff getting paid more than 15K per month in a non-management position.

 

First poster salary's apply for Bangkok or Phuket.   The rest of the country mostly has lower salary's.   

Also take in account, that many people own (small) businesses and work (hard) long hours. 

The comparison between more advance economies and Thailand doen't make sence.  In Thailand households will feel a car is more important than the house or the room.  Many will spent much more money on there car, then for there house/room.    Family's will help pay for debts.   Many family's own land/houses, so they have back up in case its needed.   For sure the debt ratio is very high, and a high percentage will fail to repay all there debts, (maybe 10-15%), so that means most people will be ok with there debts.    

Really some comparison are just silly to make, different culture, different climate, different interests.

My other question is this:

 

I have one more year to pay on my car loan. What must I do in order to sell the car? Can I sell it and then pay off the remainder of the loan or do I have to pay off the loan first?

 

Thanks again

You have to pay off you loan first, there will be some penalty because the credit company will lose some of its expected income.

Be advised it will not be easy to sell your car.

I saw many advices on this forum.  The fact is, credit company's who will give loans for second hand car can give you the exact value of your car.

Mostly they do not take in consideration any extra's, optionals on the car for there calculations.

They also take in consideration which car brands are more popular.   Unfortunely Ford is not in high demand at the second hand markets.   And its very hard to sell a car of only 3-4 years old with still a high value.    It is not easy to find customers who will be able to borrow many 100.000 's for a 3-4 year old cars and pass the finance company application.   Many times it is more easy and cheaper to buy a new car with the offerings from the car dealers in combination with the finance company's which work together with the dealers.  

I was in the market for a second hand car (budget 400 K, I wanted to pay 200 K cash and 200 k loan), I was refused.   So we went out to a dealer, gave deposit of 200 K, bought a new car from 800 K,  the loan was approved within a few hours and at very low interest. 

Friends of mine, had to wait over 6 months to sell a European car from 3-4 year old car which costed new 1.8 million finally they sold it for only 650 K. The value of the car was still about 800-850K.

Good luck.