CheGuava

I like hitting on Thai chicks abroad. Remarkably easy to at least make contact and a nice conversation. I think the case described in the OP was just some old boozer hitting on young women and they didn't respond the way young women might respond in Pattaya. Shock horror.

Either way it does not sync with my own experiences. But I'm young, handsome, smart and fluent in Thai. (And modest. )

I think a big point of debate in such cases is that the remarks are not overly malicious and no different from what people might say at a bar when having a Friday afternoon beer after work. Then some companies overreact and make trouble for an employee who was venting a bit on a site that is (mostly) *NOT* public but only shared among friends.

It's the blurry line between public and private that makes Facebook such an odd fish, both to users and to companies.

Think about it, there are very few cases where someone is deliberately slandering (or outing legitimate issues) on Facebook; after all it's much better to do that anonymously and then truly out on the entire internet.

So.. Sometimes the employee is being silly in using Facebook but just as often the company is being more silly in stifling common human emotions. Ultimately that may very well backfire to the company, too.

Is Loy Krathong celebrated in Pattaya as well? And on which days?

Where do people float? It seems tough to get a krathong to float out to sea and I don't know of any rivers or streams near Pattaya.

Cobra shoes also have a shop in Chiang Mai Land Road off Mahidon road.

Didn't that one close a couple years ago?

Another option is Pattaya. Bought some size 13 (Euro 47) shoes at Mike's. Another reason to visit Pattaya.

Goodbye then. Don't let the door hit you on the way back to the tundra.

It's not racism because it applies to anyone insisting of using a credit card.

Credit card companies screw the vendor, and in some countries vendors either swallow it or add enough margin for everyone else who's not paying with a credit card to cover for it.

Thailand is often different when it comes to mom and pop shops.

You are experiencing communication issues, not racism.

but if so why was there no charge for Thai people? the shop clearly said if i was Thai no charge for using the credit card but as a farrang there was a 2% charge, is it that the credit card companies will charge farrangs but not Thais?

I am not convinced that you can converse fluently enough in Thai, (or the vendor fluently enough English) to make that assessment.

This horse is indeed dead. Probably dead on arrival.

Are all the references to there being "NO ONE there" intended to create the impression that you're thinking that Thailand would want higher numbers no matter what, and/or owes you something? Your handle captures it nicely: As a Vacationman you are entitled to a vacation, not de-facto indefinite Thailand-squatting using visas for purposes for which they are not intended.

I'll be making a very short appearance in Pattaya shortly and would prefer not to drag all my luggage out to the beach.

Does anyone know if the Roong Ruang bus company (North Pattaya station), or Bell Travel, offer a left luggage facility at reasonable cost?

I'm interested in Similan. Nice stuff.

Also Blue Label ("Premium") seems to be around, at least on ThaiBev's website. And then there's Sang Som Superior.

http://www.thaibev.com/en08/product.aspx?sublv1gID=12

When opening a bank account, you want it to be:

* At a bank with plenty ATMs

* At a branch office convenient to where you live / work. (Because an awful lot of stuff requires being done at your own #$*)(&^@^ branch office for some retarded reason)

Bangkok Bank typically works. K Bank and Krung Thai are also okay.

This hotel is ancient, did not refurbish, and is most certainly not worth $35.

You can do so much better. Imm Thapae hotel perhaps, or many others in that price range or slightly below.

Opportunity to cuddle. I haven't cuddled in 8 months.

CMF, I don't know if this will help but we have one that's over 30 years old and has been sitting in the same general area outside it's whole life. It's in the same soil too. The location is on the s/e side of the house in an area that's shaded by a mango tree but still gets sun for an hour or two in the morning. Rain reaches it as well. No additional food or furtilizers are added. We water it during the dry months. The orchid on a piece of wood in the pic was added a couple of years ago. Cool trees these are.

That looks terrible!

To the OP: Be careful not to over-water. Many plants are more easily killed with too much water than too little. With any plant that's moved from anywhere to anywhere else they'll go through some initial shock where you should take it very easy. Less is more, give the plant some time to sort itself out, without too much of anything. (sun, heat, water, fertilizer (don't use any) etc.) With potted plants (incl. Bonsai) you can then start experimenting where the plant feels happiest.

What kind of plant is it actually?

thanks - maybe over watering - I was told to 'water everyday' but I think I'l leave it awhile now as I'm getting yellow leaf drop-off daily - which is quite disturbing.

PS no idea what type of tree - was told 'LM' whatever that means!!! can't find it on Google.

Chinese Elm tree. Very common bonsai, and there's a ton of information on it on the internet. Google for Chinese elm bonsai.

How anyone can spend 100k+ a month is totally beyond me

It's not THAT hard to imagine though right, seriously? For example:

* Look around on the roads. Those big metal 4 wheeled machines are cars. Many people want/need to drive one. Or Two. They cost quite a bit of money, but provide comfort and better safety.

* When you run into a more serious medical situation, 30 baht won't cut it. This is why many people get insurance.

* Local schooling vs bi-lingual vs international will be a big debate. In summary many people prefer their kids to go to a bilingual or international school.

* You budget 5000 baht for a fridge or a washing machine. 5000 baht fridges frost over real easy. 5000 baht washing machines just wobble some cold water around. Many people prefer appliances similar to what they would have back home. Then you're looking at 20K minimum.

our standard of living here on 40k, is way higher than in was back in the UK.

Agreed; in the end what matters is where you feel happy. It's probably more the 'standard of happiness' that is higher here than truly the standard of living. Living is not a spending competition.

Just about any restaurant will allow you to reserve a table for 20. If you bring your own booze then there'd just be a corkage charge.

That said, 4000 baht is not a very big budget.. A birthday cake alone for 20 people will run up to 600-1000 baht, and if people drink beer or wine (or cocktaisl especially) then you will have already blown your budget.

What about Pattaya and Bangkok?

Pattaya may actually make such a list list within 5 years or so. I see the beginnings of trendiness.

Bangkok I think is a lost cause.

Yes.. it adds up to.. <grabs calculator> a carbon footprint the size of Belgium.

I think with just a little extra effort, EGAT will issue you your own substation.

Excellent; A new home AND a party!

Unfortunately for us ,the Baht is too high !

Who is us?

Indeed. I think it's too low. Still quite a while to go to get back to the actual rate before the currency crisis in the late '90s.

As for the tourist season being of influence: Tourism is about 6% of the GDP (give or take some depending on how/what you count) so it's a more minor factor.). Of course, tourist season more or less coincice with the Christmas peak in the Western world, when lots of exports pick up.

CMF, I don't know if this will help but we have one that's over 30 years old and has been sitting in the same general area outside it's whole life. It's in the same soil too. The location is on the s/e side of the house in an area that's shaded by a mango tree but still gets sun for an hour or two in the morning. Rain reaches it as well. No additional food or furtilizers are added. We water it during the dry months. The orchid on a piece of wood in the pic was added a couple of years ago. Cool trees these are.

That looks terrible!

To the OP: Be careful not to over-water. Many plants are more easily killed with too much water than too little. With any plant that's moved from anywhere to anywhere else they'll go through some initial shock where you should take it very easy. Less is more, give the plant some time to sort itself out, without too much of anything. (sun, heat, water, fertilizer (don't use any) etc.) With potted plants (incl. Bonsai) you can then start experimenting where the plant feels happiest.

What kind of plant is it actually?

A lot of expats play golf. Cheapest would be around 600 Baht for 18 holes (inc. caddie fee and tip). This can easily raise up to 2000 Baht per 18 holes depending on the course you decide to play. Obviously memberships can reduce the marginal cost, but can be a heavy initial outlay. Golf tends to be a social event, so you can generally add on for lunch / beers afterwards anywhere between 300 and 1500 Baht. So a range of 900 Baht to 3500 a day.

Excellent point.

I also made a mental note on Golf: With those amounts it makes for an excellent budget post to hide other leisure expenses in. I suddenly see the attraction.

It's hard to imagine how anyone could rack up a 5K per month electric bill. The highest bill I have ever had was about 2200 Baht in one month and that was with 3 aircons, 2 computers, 2 refrigerators and several fans going 24 hours + lights at night, 2 televisions on several hours per day, etc.

Could live in a serviced apartment with a "special" electricity fee per unit?

Can we all join you to try, this Saturday?

We are a family of three, me British, wife Thai, Iysha 9.

We all eat Thai food,

We do things as a family, I do not really enjoy the bar scene

I love fishing, daughter dancing swimming and singing, wife likes hair being done and eating Somtam

Would like 3 bed house either rent or purchase - with pool own or communal ( probably rent )

Will buy a vehicle of some type, probably new with warranty ect

Food & Groceries - 20K

House - 14K (incl. fees for garbage collection, pool use, maintenance fees for typical out of town 2 floor 3 bedroom house)

School - 12K (assumes bi-lingual school, but not a super fancy international school, then you will spend a lot more)

Singing, dancing, etc classes - 2K

Electricity - 2K

Car payments - 12 K

Car insurance - 2K (assumes 24K annual)

Car fuel - 2K (varies of course)

Car maintenance - 1K (Or a bit less; new car, just change the oil & stuff)

Health insurance - 60 K / 12 months = 5K (for 2 adults, one child)

Visiting home with the family once a year: 90K / 12 = 7K5

Other travel in Thailand / region: 5K ?

Maid - 6K

Clothing - 3 K

Hair dresser, beauty shop etc - 3 K

Other shopping - 6 K

Going out for dinner, etc. - 6 K (varies of course)

Hobbies & things - 6 K

Truevisions TV - 1K5

Other small expenses - 4K

Total: 120K baht.

Note to all: I'm not answering any "&lt;deleted&gt;, I can do this for far less!" type remarks or "You stingy bastard, I'm paying at least X!". If / when you feel you won't spend as much, or will spend more, then feel free to adjust as needed.

This sounds about right to me for a very good life in CM, though you could probably cut it by 20,000 or so if you forgot the maid and the trips abroad. Glad I don't own/run a car it takes a big chunk out of the budget as well.

I'd say: "reasonable life'. Some posters seem to think this is way overboard but it really isn't with a familiy. Sure when you're on your own a bike is fine. But with a 9 year old you seriously don't want her on a motorbike. And note that I kept to fairly modest assumptions: School won't be Prem or Grace, there will be only one modest car, say a Honda Jazz or a pick-up, there's one trip home and it's in Economy class and doesn't include actually doing stuff once there, the insurance is also all very middle of the road and is only health insurance, not life insurance, and so on.

I included plenty for the little stuff, those are things you can cut on.. You don't really need to spend 3K at the hairdresser every month.. Maybe you don't really need a maid. Maybe you can do more of your shopping at Tesco instead of Rim Ping.. all valid choices.

If Che had lived to get married, have children, get a dog, a car and a house in the burbs, and got into a career where getting insurance was feasible: hel_l Yes.