Gsxrnz

Please lock yourself in a room in your home country and never come out - it's your only hope!

As he lives under a bridge he may find this rather difficult.

The trolls writing style is becoming over familiar in this forum.

General practice at BIB Tea Money Unlimited is to retain 1/3 of the take and feed the upper echelons.

The only reason they got busted was because they weren't passing enough cash up the food chain and have gotten a smack on the hand as a warning to all other BIB to take your fair share and pass it on.

The only reason ANY corruption is busted in Thailand is if somebody tries to retain more than the "agreed" 30%. Their superiors get annoyed and bring out the wooden ruler.

Same applies to government spending/corruption. 30% corruption of government spending is the nationally agreed ratio, exceed it (which means you're taking some other mugs tea money), and suffer the consequences.

Of course you have proof of this?.........if so, post it or hand it in. If it's just hearsay....then your opinion is worth nothing.

Here you go my Dear.

From this article at http://thailawandpolicy.wordpress.com/2011/06/12/thailand%E2%80%99s-30-graft-tax/ that quotes the TFI (Thailand Federation of Industry) in the Bangkok Post.

"The Thai Federation of Industry (TFI) reports in the Bangkok Post that “businesses can be asked to kick back up to 30% of contract values to state officials”. This is based on anecdotal evidence, but you can’t expect precise measurements on this sort of thing. And that number is not particularly surprising."

Or here's two exerts from a paper by Jumpon Phansumri written for The United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) called "Attacking the proceeds of Crime in Thailand". Actually a really interesting document that contains some very good information about the detail and level of corruption in the Kingdom. You will find the original references in the document. It can be read at http://www.unafei.or.jp/english/pdf/RS_No83/No83_12CC_Jumpon.pdf

"Corruption is one of the most serious crimes which can generate huge proceeds. In a 2009 survey by

Transparency International, Thailand ranked 84, with a Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score of 3.4,

much behind some countries in the region. The proceeds of corruption are increasing. Kickback proceedsare currently estimated at around 30% of the government’s project budget."

‘Corruption’ now up to 30% of project costs , Thailand Times, 17 July 2010 (visited 20 July 2010) , explaining that in a seminar on “Thailand’s Investment

Environment Looking Forward” the President of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade, Dusit Nontanakorn,

revealed that corruption practices have increased to intolerable levels. The last decade saw bribes and corruption eat up, on

average, 3% of a project’s total value, however, that figure has since jumped to a whopping 30%. Mr. Dusit said that if no action

is taken, bribery and corruption could well end-up costing up to between 50-80% of a project’s cost.

Do feel free to contest my posts at any time. However, please DO have an ounce of reason before you do so as I find it tedious having to educate the ill-informed.

Talking about educating the ill-informed, not to mention having "an ounce of reason". If you read what you posted this is not proof. It is a report based on anecdotal evidence, quote, "This is based on anecdotal evidence," , which means it is nothing more than unproven hearsay,

Try reading the actual links for additional information. You are quoting one line in a small exert, so I wonder who is trying to skew the content of the multi page documents - you or me?

As for 'anecdotal', yes I'm sure the Thai Revenue Department has a question on the annual Tax Return form that asks all corrupt officialdom to declare their income from corruption.

Really, some people!

World Map of Penis Size by Inches.

NZ 5.5

Aussies 5.2

American protectionism by Apple and courts ,How ironic though that they make their phones in the "wicked ,unchristian China" Hypocrisy stench

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Does anybody else see the irony in which device this post was sent from?

I got the same treatment myself last month and was told next time I just need to bring my passport and the pre-completed form. No need for other photocopies etc and she even gave them back to me.

However I did note that the female Officer on the right of the three places (that served me) was doing this but the other officers were doing it the regular way. TIT.

I'm curious why some people think they're destined to be famous at a young age? (As I did.) Where do they get that from? I would guess this is more common in cultures emphasizing individualism like the USA compared to the nail that sticks out gets hammered type of cultures.

Expectations to be rich don't interest me as much.

Some of the most famous people I've met have been largely unheralded. They've achieved fame amongst their friends, family, and peers.

Where I come from we call them "Good Bastards". To be recognised as a Good Bastard by your peers is the highest possible award. The kind of bloke or woman who never does anything particularly spectacular but in the event of their unfortunate death, three or four thousand people show up at their funeral.

Fame doesn't have to get you in the media or on the stage - I'll never be a Good Bastard by the above definition, but I've given it my best shot.

One of my favourite quotes is 'Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional".

At 54 I haven't yet reached maturity (and probably never will). However, I'm now retired and living the dream with enough cash to last several lifetimes. No work, no money worries, perfectly healthy, lots of good friends, great family.

It's kind of like being 13 again, although in reality my "back in the day" age was 18. 1978 was a great summer.

Did I ever think I'd be famous? No, but I've had a few 15 minutes of fame in my own lunch hour.

Did I think I'd be successful? I never had great aspirations as such, but always had total confidence in my drive and abilities, even at 15 when I was "admonished and discharged" by the Magistrate for breaking into the dormitory of a girls boarding school at midnight. That was one of my 15 minutes of fame.

Here's something that happened to me just 30 minutes ago, which was ironic after reading this thread earlier in the day.

I've just returned from having a meal at Fish & Chips in Jomtien. Had fish and chips with peas, a fried egg on the side, coffee and a coke.

My bin for the meal was 270B and I handed the lady boy waitress 500B. She gave me change of 270B - obviously a brain fade on her part.

I asked her how much the bin was as she walked back past me and she confirmed 270. I showed her the extra 40B change, saw the penny drop, she gives me a big grin, a bow as I stand, three kohb kuhn maak's, two thank you's in English, two sa-wat-dee jaa's, and two jer gan mai's as I struggled to walk out to my bike as I think she was intending to drop my pants and return a favour.

It's been done before by many. Arguably the best is a book called Thailand Fever, also available on line.

Another one is a website and ebook by Bill Williams which deals with the specific sub-species, Thai Bar Girls. Can't quote his site, but google the name and Thai Girls and you'll find it.

Anyway, women are totally unfathomable regardless of race or nationality. I'm happier accepting this, as trying to figure them out will drive anybody to drink and an early grave. If you absolutely MUST have an answer, then assume the answer is 42, and get on with hitchhiking.

JC really is an idiot. He sees nothing harmful in what he does and believes he alone has the right to lecture the world on what is right and wrong. Let's face it, it's the foundation on which he has built his whole journalistic and TV career.

Can't learn, won't learn. So arrogant he thinks he can do no wrong.

what are you on about, are you a christian? jc is an entertainer with a huge following, thats what he gets paid for, it seems many have lost their way as far as humor is concerned, this is the 21st century.

If people get offended with nigger, slope, <deleted>, pom etc etc etc then its tuff titty for them, grow up hypocrits, you cant tell me the same people who get offended never used "racist" terms

Congrats to bangkokheat as being the only poster I could find in this thread to actually use the word nigger. Most others, even those protesting the over political correctness of society have chosen the soft option and described it as the "N" word or similar.

It's a word in a child's nursery rhyme for goodness sake. We all learned it as kids, I even taught it to my kids and at no time did I ever feel that it was a racist or derogatory term.

I taught my kids "baa baa black sheep" as well, which has nothing to do with racism (it was written as a protest regarding wool tax) but the PC brigade have deemed it insensitive.

God forbid if Jeremy Clarkson should ever utter baa baa black sheep for the moronic Press to quote him on. Apparently the new politically correct version of that song being taught in schools is now "baa baa Rainbow sheep" - I shit you not!!

And Bert and Ernie have suffered the same fate as Noddy and Big Ears - banned from publication.

The world has truly gone to hell in a handcart.

If your going the slab way, make it mighty thick...........

That's good advice - and make sure there is more than a "little bit" of aggragate in the pour , as opposed to the usual slurry.

I saw a slab being poured once - at first I thought they were cleaning out the concrete mixer as the liquid emanating from it was as far from concrete as you could get. However, it was self levelling.

ATM's (depending on brand etc) can hold up to 6,000 notes in multiple cassettes. So even allowing for this ATM having smaller denominations such as 20,50,100,500 Baht cassettes, there's plenty available space to rack up more than a few million in bigger denominations. Even if only 3,000 notes were 1,000B denominations, that's 3M straight up.

Nice to see the security camera was tamper proof.

If that's the case, why ATMs occasionally run out of cash? even the ones that are inside shopping malls, ie more secure than the ones in the middle of nowhere?

Second point, everyone here talks about their daily limits blah blah....but, do we know many Thais who withdraw 20K or 50K baht at a time??? ATMs in Thailand are not to serve the foreigners, surprise eh?

Well, I guess they run out of cash because they run out of cash - it ain't rocket science.

This particular machine was in a tourist location, (namely Jomtien), so no doubt geared for the tourist/foreign resident market.

You'll probably note that all ATM menu default buttons for the amount to be withdrawn increase dramatically when you change to ENGLISH. This would suggest the banks are well aware that foreigners withdraw substantially more than your typical Thai.

Anyway, I don't really understand what you are questioning about my post. I have no idea how Thai banks configure their ATM cash, but if an ATM is capable of holding 6,000 notes - then assuming there are 1,000 notes in four trays for the denominations 20,50,100,500, and two trays each of 1,000 x 1,000B denominations, that adds up to 2,670,000B

Surprised eh?

ATM's (depending on brand etc) can hold up to 6,000 notes in multiple cassettes. So even allowing for this ATM having smaller denominations such as 20,50,100,500 Baht cassettes, there's plenty available space to rack up more than a few million in bigger denominations. Even if only 3,000 notes were 1,000B denominations, that's 3M straight up.

Nice to see the security camera was tamper proof.

What return do you want? Based on 3.5M here's the numbers - gross before expenses and assuming 100% occupancy.

Monthly Rent Annual Rent % p.a. Return

10,000 120,000 3.42%

12,000 144,000 4.11%

15,000 180,000 5.14%

20,000 240,000 6.86%

30,000 360,000 10.29%

As you're unlikely to get 30k rent on a 3.5M condo (more like 12-15,000) and it would be unlikely to maintain 100% occupancy, the best return you could probably expect on average after allowing for reduced occupancy and expenses will be circa 4%.

Plus you have the drama of trying to release your capital eventually by selling the condo, and of course it will be a seller's market for years to come (joke).

I know 4 people that have done this and all regretted it with a passion. One chap owns three condos and is virtually cashflow destitute because he can't sell them and can't get regular tenants. Russian tenants trashed one of them last year and he can't afford to get it repaired. Another chap is getting 25,000 baht a month on a shop building he paid 17M for and can't give it away at 12M. His return is a massive 1.76%. p.a.

A return of arguably 4% is hardly worth the risk compared to a bank deposit, unless you want to hang your hat on capital gains and appreciation of the Baht over the next 3 to 5 years. I wouldn't, but then I'm naturally averse to residential property for investment purposes.

Three or four mill is a decent sum - consider the sharemarket balanced with TD's for a better return, not much more risk if done wisely, and certainly much more liquid.

EDIT: I should balance this with another aquaintance who I know very casually, but seems believable. He claims to have 8 condos and works them like a business. He's constantly networking friends overseas to be casual holiday tenants in some of them at inflated rents and also runs a website with online bookings/reservations etc. He essantially runs it like a business and is always on the hunt for tenants - to the point that he can become a nuisance to his resident friends/aquaintances. He claims to make over 1.5M a year, but I have no idea what the overall value of the condos are. If I assumed total value at say 18M, his return would be 8.33% p.a.

Good insight - I was looking at investing in condo in Rayong, but I could not see where the earning were coming from that would justify something significantly higher than a Bank TD - FYI Currently LH Bank is paying 2.7% without the need for TD i.e instant access.

This should also be a safer bet, but nothing is without risk - I was told by a few banks that the Gov guarantee (on Bank failure) of 50mill Baht will be replaced and dropped to 1million Baht - But non of the banks I speak to have any details when this will occur....Any knowledge here?

The guarantee is 50M to Aug 2015, 25M to Aug 2016, and then 1M thereafter.

I always thought one of them dwarfs was gay.

Which one? I always thought they were all keen on getting into Snow White's knickers!

\

But on the other hand, that Prince Charming looked a little dodgy to me.

I feel for this guy, take the ticket and the 20.000 baht overstay, arrive back in the UK there is help for people in his posistion, listen I have been stuck out here for 18months came out here with promises being made by a cousin of mine, promises were not kept, so have been stuck up here in Issan and I am a Women all alone, thank goodness for the amamzing Issan people who have fed me and taken care, I have had the most amamzing experience, more than any Farang Women could imagine, I am nearly 60, at last raised the money for my overstay and a ticket out of here, I have no one or nowhere to go but I am leaving on 6th May, tell him to take this and get back to the UK as for his credit cards etc after 7years it will be wiped off, he is still young enough to return and start again as long as he doesn't hit the bottle.................

Welcome, Oh exhaulted member of 18 minutes ago. Stuck in Isaan for 18 months and it's taken you this long to find TV, and your first post describes yourself as being in the same boat as the fictitious character in the OP.

Shame on you. Talk about the OP and his shadow!!

Back to the bridge!!

The guy was 45 when he came to Thailand.

What's he lived on for 18 years?

Even if he had 10 credit cards (unlikely) and got say 5,000 quid (unlikely) off each one, that's not going to stretch anywhere near 18 years.

He can't have worked here if he's had no visa or work permit. And he sounds like the sort of chap who will have dilligently renewed his passport...not.

I think he should go live under the OP's bridge with him.

Yeap - performed the smell test. Just plain water. And no, 'pretty sure I don't sleepwalk. I'm a fairly light sleeper as a matter of fact. I'm the sort that a faucet dripping somewhere will keep awake. The one shirt was the only one affected (and it wasn't even the one I'd been wearing - 'was fresh out of my suitcase).

It didn't reoccur last night. 'Guess I'll have to chalk it up as an unsolved mystery.. Very strange.

You must have ghosts in your house just like me. My whole street was blacked out two weeks ago. I have a junction box in my bedroom which a fan (to back up the AC) and a lamp is plugged in to, the red light on the junction box stayed on. I switched it off and put it back on again and the light reappeared. The whole house was blacked out, where did the electricity come from to put the light on the JB?

We have power cuts similar to that in Hua Hin also. For some reason it's not quite a full power cut ( my TV stays on but my PC goes off). Once metered the outlet and it was reading 50v. Stangest power cuts i have ever seen.

We have those partial cuts in Jomtien as well. The new eco bulbs seem to handle it as I have a set of 4 lights on the same switch (2 being regular and 2 eco bulbs) and when we have a power cut the eco bulbs keep burning dimly but the old style are dead. Fans go to super slow speed but the A/C and TV won't power up.

Sometimes during a cut it seems that half the house is OK and the other half is dead. Someone told me this was because only one phase of the power was cut - I don't really understand this.