remiss

In my not so humble opinion there are a lot better places in isaan than khon kaen.

Having said that, everybody likes different things. If you are serious about retiring somewhere in thailand I would recommend visiting different places to see which one you like. Udon thani, nongkhai, nakhon phanom, ubon ratchatani, sisaket, surin, etc, etc are some of the places in isaan or maybe some of the small villages. Or chiang rai, chiang dao, phitsanulook etc etc in the north.. Might also be worth checking out some places in Cambodia if you don't have your heart set on Thailand.

Opinions are subjective so there is no reason to flame me for this, it's simply my opinion: So to answer the question; compared to Chiang mai khon kaen is a sheet hole on a stick.. I'm sure people have found their peace of heaven there, but to me it was a one of the most boring places I've been in thailand.

Having said that, maybe it would work for you so check it out. (And I was there less than 24h)

If I had to choose I would take existing over not.

cheep charlies? Maybe a is more expensive these days..

Once when I asked for some M-150 one of the waiters ran to 7-11 to buy me some, because it was cheaper than buying it at the place apparently. Nice gesture if you ask me, though I always spend and tip enough at that place..

In my limited experience (twice with other people successfully treated) the government hospital in Sisaket is quite competent.

Btw, in my not so humble opinion the minium insurance level for doctors, hospitals, medical care and repatriation is 'unlimited' -- inappropriate and too late, I know, but let it be a warning to others. You don't want to be on your deathbed worrying about or unable to cough up money..

Take your medicine or try another doctor.

Bah, I've started noticing it now.. The curry boxes says the equivalent of one tablespoon pr. person.. Sounds like a lot to me..

Hmm... What happens if you put talcum powder around the colony?

Why are you worrying?

Everyone is allowed to visit this country as long as they can get a visa!

Where are you from btw?

Why would you assume that anyone is worried or bothered?

Good question.

I guess these mind reading keyboard heroes are from Scandinavia or Germany where it has become taboo to even speak about muslims.

I'm from one of the three countries of Scandinavia (in case you thought it was one country) and I dont even know what to say to such a utterly blatant comment. I will have you know there is quite varying opinions between the countries and amazingly enough within each country too.

Some xenophobia is certainly present among some people, but certainly not all and at varying degree in all countries...

This is a silly thread.

But you had to reply.

Wine and tipping is two of my favorite hobbies.. Or at least tipping is important if nothing else, and getting somebody fired is important (or maybe just plain old nice) not to do over 100 baht..

Cool, how is the price level in sin, and how was the night life?

...

Check the reverse where I have to wait 10 mins for another.

...

Absolutely! I don't get annoyed by refilling all the time, but having to sit around waiting like an idiot trying to get somebody's attention is annoying.. Almost feel like snapping my fingers like my mother does when she's out..

Mid thirties aren't half of early forties...

But like some other people have mentioned, it's probably better to get out of central bangkok. Personally I would ask a half decent english speaking taxi driver to take me some place...

lol, yes a decent english speaking taxi driver will surely know all the "right" places like the massage parlors where he gets 500 baht for bringing customer or hostess bars where he gets about as much.

Then one may also be lucky enough to shout the nice man taxi driver a few drinks in one of those "right" places where drinks are only 300-400 baht.

By the way, speaking from experience. My first trip 10 years ago i asked my "decent speaking taxi driver" to take me to good places.

I suppose it depends on how you ask the question and what he may assume. And staying clear of sukhumvit would probably help..

You must be a MAN with a lot of money if you do not mind losing a house.

Why would I want to keep a house in the Jungle?

And yes, I do have money. I'm not the average destitute, happy hour drinking, noodle eating farang, thankfully.

Yes, I can see the correlation

After 10 years, I still sweat like a pig. And I couldn't live without AC. Now I'm trying to loose 15 kg doing a diet (lost already 5!) and I hope the situation will improve. The problem are not the under arms but my entire torso, back and front. After 1 km walk I can squeeze the tshirt and get back an half liter of liquid!

You save a few baht every day just there!

Mid thirties aren't half of early forties...

But like some other people have mentioned, it's probably better to get out of central bangkok. Personally I would ask a half decent english speaking taxi driver to take me some place...

I went to get my teeth whitened at dr sunil dental clinic. Would not recommend it. I have gingivitis (apparently) and found out later, but would have been obvious to anyone looking at my teeth and they didn't say a word.

Also, get fitted trays. If you smoke and/or drink coffee your teeth will become yellow again soon with just laser.

Nuts have a lot of calories...

My 72 year old German neighbor is very proper and law-abiding and driving back to Trat when a lone cop waved him over. In obedience, without a second thought, he jerked the wheel to the left and bashed into the cop's motorbike. It knocked it over and it tumbled down the embankment and disappeared.

This very proper and law-abiding man then felt it was best to put the petal to the metal and haul butt. He was still shaking when he got home two hours later. Got very drunk that night and did not drive anywhere for two months.

great story

Where my better half come from I never get stopped by the police.. They're probably too surprised by seeing farang to react in time.. And I drive motorbike without helmet..

edit: I don't get stopped, my better half gets stopped on his own sometimes

Here's a fun test.

Guess the gay bars.

I got two wrong. Should have know better. Of course some of these places, I've been to, so that's cheating!

http://www.slate.com...your-gaybardar/

Got 'em all except the fireplace.. Only been to G-A-Y but if you're in london there are better choices for those who like asians (kudos)

"ok" - something is going to kill me, but I'm pretty sure it won't be the fruit flavored candy..

This is a silly thread. If you intend something to be tip you have probably left it in a way that looks like it is a tip. Plenty of times I have left coins (which are going to be tip) on the desk, but they have not been taken, probably because I have left it with the rest of my stuff (receipts, papers, etc.)

However, if you leave coins all alone somewhere which would be natural to assume would be a tipping place in a nice stack after you have counted them then I wouldn't be surprised if they were taken for a tip. And I would most certainly not risk getting somebody, with perhaps three kids and really needing a job, fired for the sake of mistaking 100 baht for tip which she (or he) would be getting anyway.. Almost seems like it was a snare to see if the maid would assume the money was a tip or not..

Sometimes it wouldn't hurt if people used their head before causing problems for other people.

A good one was a Doi Suthep - went with about 5 Thai kids and 8 Thai adults and me. Cachier at the desk at first wanted to charge me farang, but Thai adults said "no" (I was not at the counter, but standing amongst the little group not hiding) - this was at the box car entrance (old people with us could not do the stairs). Followed a big queue of Chinese tourists, (and obviously so - very loud spoken Chinese, large cameras and Chinese clothing) - at the lift like door to the box car, the woman allows all the Chinese people in and all my Thai group and bars me - I show my ticket again - she ignores my Thai (pretending she can not understand me at all - takes my ticket and marches off to the cachiers - this holds up the box car - comes back about 2 minutes later (box car still waiting) and demands another 50B - extreamely rude -and I told her so - in Thai - I paid, but only because of the group I was with. The Chinese all had Thai tickets (obvious from their colour and my Thai friends asked to see their tickets they didn't speak Thai at all either). So, certainly about skin colour there and nothing else. At the top of the stairs - if you don't use the box car, they pounce on any white skin and make them pay their 50B - any Asians are ignored - Thais, Japanese, Chinese, Indians, Filipinos, and so on - many obviously tourists too. I personally hate going there - only go as part of groups when obliged - I think its very overrated and many more beautiful temples in CM - let alone Thailand as a whole! ...only one I have ever been to that charges btw.

When I was there I remember having to actually _want_ to pay the farang price (no charge for thai people) at the temple. Was a completely separate charge booth not connected with entrance, nor any ticket checking anywhere .. I didn't see the box car that you are mentioning, but couldn't you have taken the stairs even if some old people were with your group?

I feel like maybe some times people are working really hard on finding things to complain about... Although I will agree with you that the girl your are talking about seems like a b|tch, then again, some people are, regardless of race.

I would like to know too, haven't talked to anyone working at seven for more than "zip baht"... And don't really remember seeing anyone old(er/ish).. Maybe they upgrade to their own food-stalls?

If this is true it's not so weird it's expensive:

"Thailand is one of the world's most expensive countries for wine, with taxes of 200 percent on locally-made wines -- and a staggering 360 percent on imported wine."

- http://www.thingsasi...es-photos/20810

The thai wines I've bought has been ~300 baht pr. bottle.. But you can get it cheaper too if you buy bigger, can get 5 litre bottles I think..

Don't think it's so many wine producers in thailand, and competing with the international supply they can charge nicely.