bradiston

That's an interesting comment. There don't seem to be any laws governing what is and isn't "free range", "pasture raised" or even "organic". It varies country to country and even then, there's no real consensus. I won't buy CP is my first rule. They are the kings of factory produced food. Also, they're almost 100% Chinese. Check out the Chearawon (aka Chearavont) family (the final 't' is silent in Thai, and the 'v' is a 'w'.) And they readily admitted to using slave labour in their prawn and seafood supply chain. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charoen_Pokphand&wprov=rarw1

What did "the big guy" just do? You mean Greg Stillson?

The stock reply. Utterly meaningless.

Welcome Greg Stillson.

Who says they don't? Seems most people on this forum don't. Why do they think they know what's best for Thais and Thailand? They draw ridiculous parallels with London, Paris, Berlin, Russian oligarchs, Saudi oil barons and the like. These people are, or were, stratospherically rich. The London property market was a no brainer. There is no comparison with a rai of land in Issan! Or even a beach plot on an island which will set you back a few bob.

Not true at all. I bought my condo from a very sweet Thai lady who is also the concierge, for only 900k THB. With that she was able to build a 2 bed bungalow back home in Buriram for her mum for 700k THB. On a rai plot she already owned. People's perceptions are so distorted. Western values and figures simply don't apply here.

No, you can't. Factory eggs just packed in a fancy looking box with "Organic free range" printed on the outside, and who's to know? I'll stick to buying what it says on the box though.

Big C, Makro, Foodland, Friendship all have organic free range eggs and I'm sure there are other outlets. I buy the Hill Tribes brand. But check the bbe dates. Generally people buy the cheapest, so factory, caged versions sell the most.

Dated 16th April

Easy fix. You limit foreign ownership to just a few or several or even 1 rai.

Not one of your arguments stands up. 1 "The Chinese" can't "buy everything". Even now they have to buy via nominees and the money's laundered. It's completely out of control. It's almost the same prescription as for ganja. Legalise, tax, and let the people decide. 2 If the land's held in your name you have a safeguard. It's yours. No fake company, no nominees, no lease, no gf/wife involved. You can do what you like with it within the framework of Thai property ownership, common to everybody. 3 But what if I don't have a Thai family at the time of looking for a plot of land on which to build? You're 55. You visit Thailand. You find an area you think would make a wonderful spot for later in life. You buy a rai of land there and come back in 10 years. The land price has doubled but that's not why you bought it. You hire surveyors, lawyers, builders, all the people you'll need. It's all money into Thai bank accounts. Or, you sell it on. Or.... Whatever.

Traffic total nightmare today, Saturday, 1400 to 1700, and yesterday pm. 3rd road chockers Thappraya to Klang. Klang stuffed Beach rd to Sukhumvit. Jomtien Beach Rd coach mayhem up the Na end. Standstill. Where's the Park and Ride scheme I proposed last year? Are they reading my posts even? Sheesh!

Plenty of both species lurching about on Beach Rd.

It could cost the government dear. Thailand paid for their appalling human rights abuses on slave labour in the fishing and seafood processing industries with trade restrictions by Europe and the US, and trade agreements abandoned or put on hold until they cleaned up their act. But this back scratching is endemic in ASEAN. Don't criticise me and I won't criticise you. So everybody buttons up. And so it continues.

Perhaps the article should have been titled "Thai property reforms. A boon or burden for Thais"? They really should consult grass roots Thais, not just Bangkok power brokers. Another referendum on the cards?

They can't afford to buy, but it's nothing to do with foreign ownership, because there isn't any! Land is and always has been, a safe investment. It takes no outlay in maintenance, and never depreciates. But a pickup truck is an instant loss maker unless you're making money with it. Nobody has to sell their land. Some Thais have hundreds of rai, 1000s even. Why prevent them from selling one rai, or a quarter, or half to a cash buyer?

Terraced, not terrace. Yes, the land was on a slope. I had to terrace to prevent soil erosion. My Thai builders did a superb job. The terraces are still solid after 15 years. I back filled with elephant poo from a nearby elephant sanctuary which disappeared years ago. Thailand is like a giant greenhouse.

I managed to build a 3 storey house with a small pool and a nice individually maintainable terraced garden, big trees (neem, mango and champa), a well and complete house filtration system (3x2000 litre tanks) on 400 sq m (1 ngan, quarter of a rai). Yes, I would have liked an extra 400 sq m for the garden sure. So 1/2 Rai would have been ideal. House had terraces and balconies, and a lot of space, by my standards. As you say,big garden, big maintenance, and a lot of fencing or walling. A European's money goes 10 times further here than back home. That's the beauty of it. Why not compete with Spain, Turkey, Italy etc etc in the second home, holiday home, retirement home market. It's huge! If I recall, letting out your home does not required a work permit, but sure, over certain amounts of income, and you'll need to declare it. But generous allowances are available.

Thai land doesn't all belong to the Thai people though, does it? No idea what the figures are for land ownership in Thailand. Who owns what? In the big cities, Thai farmers for instance, probably own nothing. Even in the sticks, they'll rent paddy from the local bigwig. Land is used as collateral for borrowing, and subsequently lost to the lender. How much of Thailand is already owned by big corporations and the government? It's a knotty problem.

I was wondering if allowing a maximum ownership of 1 rai (1600 sq m) of land might appeal to overseas investors. Enough to build a decent sized pool villa, for instance. Thailand contains 375,000,000 rai, though of course only a tiny fraction of that would be available. For overseas investors, retirees, or second home seekers, the options aren't currently that appealing. A 30 year lease or a nominee company, which is now under intense scrutiny, or a condo. Or, putting everything in a Thai partner's name, which could then become subject to divorce/separation proceedings. Outright ownership would offer a much more secure way forward. There might be complications. A blue book for instance can't be issued to a foreigner. And no doubt some would try buying multiple plots around the country. But that could all be looked at. Just my ¢2 worth.

Seem to remember his appointement was reported as fact not so long ago. Well in advance of any official announcement. Media too eager for a scoop.

Agree. I left my bike for 2 months recently. Both tyres flat on return. Maybe leaky valve. But I have a small portable tyre inflator (from Lazada. USB chargeable). The battery had just enough left to get it started.

The one way system is creating problems too. It's hard going navigating along Beach Rd without u turns possible. And I'm not sure what the projected completion dates are for the whole project.

Apologies for the insensitive comments in this post. Too late to edit it now. But yes, Dongtan Beach Rd looks a much better choice than Jomtien Beach Rd right now. Sorry for the confusion.

Drew a blank there. Checked out 3 different places. Too far. See earlier post.