jackers

<br />Would like to second Veerachai Court. Spent many an enjoyable month there. Back again for 2 weeks in August.<br />

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I agree re Veerachai Court. Many 'long term stay' westerners have used this for years and I have never heard a single complaint.

However, the OP complaint is so badly written I can barely understand his criticisms of the other place. I'm surprised the mods allowed this vague (named!) criticism.

Come on, OP, have another go and tell us exactly what was wrong, unusual, unexpected, and why?

Why carn't all of us us re-read our posts befoee hiting 'Ad Replie' and corect all our eras?

I understood what he said just fine, this isn't an English school exam. If everyone on the forum bitched about grammatical errors every time someone posted, nothing useful would be posted at all.

Air Asia didn't ask me for anything, but it's worth having a onward ticket or visa in case they do.

Hi all, where can I find these water machines where I can refill a bottle for a few cents? I have walked around a hell of a lot and I don't remember seeing any.

I think I would put Thailand in the modestly priced bracket, the cost of rental apartments seems to be more expensive than Malaysia.

Perhaps, but let's get down to the brass tacks of visa requirements.

For Malaysia (over 50's, a direct compare to Thailand)

Banked in Malaysia

115,000 USD

PLUS (not or, PLUS)

Required offshore income

40,000 USD

Total buy in first year --- 155,000 USD

If you are under 50, add 50,000 USD to the banked requirement (IN Malaysia) so that totals first year buy in of 205,000 USD

For Thailand? (over 50 only)

26,000 USD in Thai bank

(OR)

26,000 income

(OR)

a combination of same.

Based on over 50 people, that's 26,000 USD vs. 155,000 USD, entry into the Malaysia program being about SIX TIMES more dear than for Thailand.

Next ...

Ok but if you didn't want to go down the retirement visa route then at least retiring on a tourist visa might be a viable option. 90 days then go out and come back in again. Or extend your 90 day visa for another 2 months and then go out and come back. Also in Philippines there are many people who have retired on a tourist visa.

@Jackers - oh yeah? I could have sworn they needed one, but I was sleep-deprived when I took the application in. I didn't have a photocopy in Penang and I ended up having to pay for a guy to do it out the back of his car. Quite a niche he had for himself.

I got my visa in KL so perhaps things work differently there, where did you hear that a photocopy would be required?

Unfortunately a motorbike or car are not viable options right now, due to budget constraints and not being able to drive. Even riding slow on a motorbike, I'm just not very confident about trying that right now. So my other options are just to explore everything I can on foot and/or cycle and take buses to other areas in the province.

The fixed route buses out of town are worth using this is copied from another TV posters post

ChiangMai gate to San Patong (20km) is 20 bht (price is less if you get off earlier)

White songtaw wororat market to Doi Saket via Bo Sang is 15 bht (no matter where you get off)

Yellow songtaw from wororat market to Doi Saket via 118 is 17 bht (less if you get off sooner)

Thanks, that's useful info.

well that is true - hence I am here! anyway not sure the value of posting 'first impressions' on here - populated as it is by those that are committed to the city. I came here at least six times before deciding to settle here - my first impressions (for what it's worth - which is not a lot) was great when comparing other Thai and, indeed, Asian cities.

I am a bit more than a tourist, I am looking for a base where I can spend several months of the year. I would agree with much of what you said about your three year impression of CM. I can definitely see that it has potential as a base, So before I go to chiang rai and other places in the north, I want to spend a good amount of time exploring and getting to know the city and definitely learning more thai and learning the script will definitely enhance my experience.

I think there are some posters here who have forgotten that they were new and outsiders once and they are coming across to me as rather elites and pompous. If I posted a very positive rirst impression I am guessing that very few would have questioned its value.

Hmm well from what I've learned in being less well off countries, is that a number of the natives see foreigners as rich, no matter what that person earns in their home country. So I would say that's something to bear in mind before hand.

Hey one other thing that people forget a lot from what I've seen, including myself, is to bring two recent passport photos for the application as well as a photocopy of your passport - the page with your pic on it.

It would really be a pain to forget that stuff and have to queue up all over again.

I brought the two recent passport photographs with me and my passport, thats all. At no stage was I asked for a photocopy of my passport.

Unfortunately a motorbike or car are not viable options right now, due to budget constraints and not being able to drive. Even riding slow on a motorbike, I'm just not very confident about trying that right now. So my other options are just to explore everything I can on foot and/or cycle and take buses to other areas in the province.

I did say 'maybe Mumbai' but that is hardly the same as Mumbai is a sh*thole

'Maybe' only one place that you ever have had a first thought, impression, opinion, good or bad? I find that extraordinary. And I haven't said that Chiang mai is a shithole or anything like that. I would still much prefer to be here than London.

I wasn't particularly criticizing just saying give it more time as somewhere like Mumbai is so obviously a bad place full of people sh*tting in the street etc. that one can instantly say 'wow this is not good' (and I lived in Mumbai a year for work!).

But to even think Chiang Mai as a 'poor first impression' when it so obviously it is a vibrant interesting place (but you don't know that I grant you) is premature.

London is not so bad in places too (I lived in Greenwich for six years and loved it) - the theaters, concerts, parks... anyway I digress - you seem very quick to evaluate when others might be a little more 'reserved' in their judgement that's all.

Where London is concerned I've lived there for most of my life, there are things to do but the cost of living and value for money is not good, amongst other things. There are good and bad points for me personally I want out.

Sawasdee Khrup, Khun Jackers,

The "main problem" is that you are spending your time thinking about, and writing e-mails about, how you're not experiencing what you wanted, rather than actually "having" any experiences.

You could have easily come on this forum, and (as invited), told us a little about yourself, and the things you liked to do, and what the first things you did were, and gotten myriad specific responses and suggestions of places to go and things to see.

Instead, you engage in constant multi-message negation, debate, and whinging hair-splitting.

That so many people are actually taking the time to cater here to an obvious case of "Princess and the Pea" syndrome (a form of Trolling), is actually fascinating. Another term that comes to mind, from our old "psychology" daze, is: "help rejecting complainer."

We can say clearly that our first impression of you is now of a kind of vacuum that's really getting-off on sucking up attention.

If Chiang Mai is "dead" for you: please step aside, so we necrophiliacs can party-on, dude

Last call for this thread, for this twosome: now.

best, ~o:37;

Just speak for yourself and let other people speak for themselves.

I have a very nice 2 bedroom house on a Thai mooban 10km out of CM

No air con but 2 shower rooms, 1 en suite

15 min to town centre, 5000bht a month.

Many around, but you need to speak Thai to find them.

Just like philippines.

You can get a 2 bedroom house here for 5000B/month.

Where? I certainly have seen that available in the classified section or else where on the internet.

Proof that one exists

Then learn Thai and start looking at Thai language sites. Start here.

Excellent and thanks. Google translate will have to do for now. I've just seen a house on the thai site for 1000b a month in Chiang mai. Surely some mistake?? http://www.ddproperty.com/property/show/81962

You can get a 2 bedroom house here for 5000B/month.

Where? I certainly have seen that available in the classified section or else where on the internet.

I did say 'maybe Mumbai' but that is hardly the same as Mumbai is a sh*thole

'Maybe' only one place that you ever have had a first thought, impression, opinion, good or bad? I find that extraordinary. And I haven't said that Chiang mai is a shithole or anything like that. I would still much prefer to be here than London.

[

Actually ... it is showing a commitment to live somewhere

that by the mere presence of this thread shows you didn't research. Oh well ... live and learn!

The presence of the thread doesn't show that at all, the main problem that people seem to have is that my first impression is not a favourable one. Like I said I have done research people can choose to believe it or not. There is a limit to how much research I do about a place, I prefer to actually see the place in person than research until the cows come home.

Ah ... but here's the rub ... you were talking on another thread about MONTHLY accommodation. When you start with a plan to spend 30 days + in a location it does really fall on you to do the research first.

My first impression of CNX was in 1997. I loved it. then several times in the intervening years. I loved it. My first trip up here after moving to Thailand and ...... I loved it. It is worth noting that only on one of those trips (2004) did I stay anywhere near the tourist section.

But me asking about monthly accommodation in a thread IS doing research.

Everyone basically has said he right thing, and put very well. What did you expect with a comment like that with no explanation.

They are not jumping on your back about your comment. We are justifying that you made a very vague comment, although we respect your opinion on your first day.

We are just very protective of our Chiang Mai and we all have our own reasons for loving it.

You should have elaborated in the first post your expectations and as you have later.

I just wanted to post what my first impressions were and the post clearly states it's my first impression. Looking at this thread you'd think that some people never had a first impression about something in their life.

I will be very surprised if you would like Bangkok. (Unless Nana Plaza is your forte)

There are many tut tuts here that you can take instead worrying about a motor bike, haggle the price for where you want to go, some drivers take advantage with Farang's

It may be cheaper to consider getting an air con cab with a meter or as suggested do a tour.

Pai is supposed to be very nice and as yet I have never got to go there as I am still discovering Chiang Mai (ive been here 4 years)

So please post your comments about Pai when you get to go..

Different strokes for different folks as someone said I read about, heard a lot about it but it's different to actually go to a place in person. For instance the heat and the pollution (which I don't think there is much of) doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Op, you're very green, my friend. If you were expecting a picturesque village-like experience nestled amid the hills, then I'm very sorry to disappoint but you haven't done your homework. It is one of the country's busiest cities, this is no secret; so yes it will have lots of traffic, big roads, many buildings, etc. If you'd have done your research and prepared yourself rather than come in blindly, you wouldn't be making yourself look silly. There really is no excuse today - go to google and type in Chiang Mai, hit images. Also, had you checked out the likes of Wikitravel you could have learned of Pai (a major attraction in this region) as opposed to finding out about it from some random dude.

You are of course entitled to your views on the place, but at least arm yourself first with some sort of knowledge.

I checked wiki before I came here and saw plenty of images of the place, like I said research only takes you so far. I'm not going to research every single place on wikitravel and then make a decision about whether I should travel to place purely on what wikitravel says.

No but I didn't tell those that have chosen to make a life here that

My post wasn't specifically aimed at those who have chosen to make a life here and I definitely not going to be scared to tell whomever what my first impressions are.

here's my nearly three year impression:

• a balance of old and new
• typically friendlier Thais than those down 'South'
• gorgeous scenery
• great restaurants
• normally tolerant surroundings
• reasonably priced
• not much PC rubbish going on
• beautiful temples
• reasonable nightlife
• great 'jump off' point for the rest of Asia

I could go on... and on... and on... (beut I shall resist - for once!). I have traveled extensively but never once when I was in Moscow, Lithuania, New York nor indeed Bali or Mumbai (well maybe Mumbai was THE exception!) was I tempted after one day to make a rather silly judgement on such a beautiful place. Come back and tell us after a year.

Once again, I posted a first impression not any final judgement or final conclusion. Are you seriously saying that you've been to all those places and never had any kind of instant impression, thought, opinion on the first day you got there?

Chiang Mai is not the place to see good Muay Thai Boxing, looks like you havn't really done your homework

Not about muay thai boxing, there is only so much research that can be done and research can't predict the outcome of everything, I'm not going to lose anything by going except 400b and a little time, I'll survive.

Apartments with a Western kitchens are very expensive here, but if you adapt to local conditions it is much cheaper than London.

What do you eat in London that costs $2 per day? I would guess that dog food costs more than that.

I do my shopping mostly in markets, a big shop once a week usually I eat rice, pasta, bread, lentils and a lot of veggies, some fruit with some meat thrown in and I always look for interesting recipes from other countries which I can use.

what you get for 3500 is just a room though, to rent an apartment with a kitchen you would have to pay a lot more. 15 dollars a day on food is a lot to me. In London I spend 15 to 20 dollars a week on food. So

Wow 500B a day on food! That's like 70 pounds a week. You might as well get an apartment with a kitchen and cook the food yourself and eat out occasionally. What about eating more fruit? I've seen some good deals in the markets. I would agree that the rent is expensive here/

I met someone today who told me about a town called Pai, he recommended it highly, so that could be a place I could go and have a look at somewhere down the line.

Your'e too late - by about 10 years or so...

I was in Pai 10 years ago. What they told me back then is this: Pai used to be a lot better 10 years ago, it's now overrun with tourists, and over. ROFL.

Things change. Places change. People change. Don't let that deter you. You might very well discover your own Pai that nobody's seen. In any case the crazy Thai tourist season in Pai was shorter this year, only during the peak December/January dates, so it's perfectly fine to go there now. You might even enjoy it!

About your first impressions of CM - it's gotten a lot busier in the last years, in terms of traffic. It's still tranquil when you consider it's the second largest city in Thailand with 1M people living in the greater CM area.

When I go to Bangkok it will be interesting to see how different it is to CM. I'm definitely going to spend a few days in Pai, I heard that the weather is a lot cooler there.