beachyman

That is a very sad story. Hopefully in time in New generations things will change. Keep on trying.

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Nokia just released Here Maps for iOS, and wow, how good is it?

I did a quick test and was floored that Here maps not only has a detailed map of our moo baan, but also the sois in this moo baan, with correct names. It's amazing because these soi names make no sense, none of the other maps have them, and delivery services don't even try finding them.

Amazing.

It also has free navigation, traffic info etc. Google Maps supremacy is officially over, at least as far as Thailand is concerned. These Nokia / NAVTEQ maps look like the real deal.

Only thing that sucks is the 10mb cap on saving map cashe

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Bangkok bank is best for biz and personal inet banking. And service in my opinion. Biz is a pain that you need Internet Explorer before but now Firefox is ok.

SCB is horrible but I still use it as all my auto pays are set up there. Also bkk bank has always had best exchange rates for my home currency. K bank was pretty good Online but I prefer bkk bank don't like the branches I used.

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Hi

I will soon be looking to rent an apartment in Bangkok, but I am unclear on the best way to work with real estate agents.

I have lived in Singapore for many years, and real estate agents there have access to a huge database of properties available to rent. So, you find one real estate agent you trust, and he/she can access almost all available rental properties.

I don't think it works that way in Bangkok, does it?

I don't have the time to discuss my needs with a dozen different agents, but on the other hand, I do want to review a range of apartments. I am also an agent in my own business, and I know there is nothing worse that putting in a lot of effort, then lose the deal to someone else.

So, how does the "system" work in Bangkok?

Can I work with only one agent and still be able to review most available properties?

Thanks for any help

Depends on your price range. If you are looking high end like 50-200k a month I would recommend a high quality agency with English speaking thai staff. The commission will be paid by landlord and reflected in price. I then assume company pays and you don't want to waste time.

If you are on your own budget you will likely find better options looking on Mr room finder prakard Craigslist once you have narrowed down the areas you want to live or just drive bike around and ask the jurisdiction persons office staff for lets. It will be easier to negotiate the rent at the lower end say 10-30k excluding apartments if you deal with jurisdiction office or owner. It will be harder outside bts mrt accessible areas without thai language.

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Hello Everyone,

Sorry to bother you all with a simple question such as this but please can you recommend good mens hairsalons in Bangkok where the stylists understands basic english.

Thanks in advance for any options + any further tips / inputs.

Cheers

Forget the name but third floor esplanade shopping center at thai culture center mrt stop only a few meters walk same exit as Chinese embassy. A bit expensive by local standards but very good stylists. Junior stylists charge 4-500 i believe including wash and after style. I have never been disappointed there. I use a bit stocky guy who is great.

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No that is not correct. You can use the original fet form to register your name as the foreign owner at the land office. Provided the sum is more than the new property or you would have to supplement the funds with a new transfer and get a credit advice or new fet form depending on amount. I've done this three times.

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Anybody who thinks they are a player in thailand is a huge chump.

My grandfather could pull girls here, it is not skill.

Enjoy the fun if that`s what you like but don`t mistake it for skill.

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Hi

I`ve noticed for sale some mini ovens, anywhere from sub 1000 Baht upwards.

Are they any good?

A little tired of fried food.

Would they effectively bake/roast a piece or 2 of raw chicken to make a healthier change from frying?

Could they also be used for heating food up?

If so, any specific recommendations or things to look for?

Thanks

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Get a george forman grill and pam spray. Healthy. Sorted.

probably cause they don't like sitting in traffic?

Or walking for half an hour in the heat/humidity.

what are you talking about??

They were referring to my comment. Apparently if you live north of asoke you must be constantly stuck in traffic or sweatting to death walking everywhere. Knowing to avoid driving in rush hour, using the mrt which is worlds better than the bts, taking a bicycle or motor bike instead of walking if one is so heavy a few meters of walking are too much... these things are simple matters but may not have occurred to them.

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Nothing wrong w driving alone. I always drive w farang friends, my farang wife who is obviously no help or alone for a few years now. Police stopped at a checkpoint once small payment and go. Personally i would be uncomfortable where my wife is not comfortable with me going out in the big bad world alone. Your abig boy, be a man and do it. If you have to ask your wife for permission to do something thats a bit strange.

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That's the best part about it.. It keeps all the chav's away. Actually compared to buying an 8 million baht house that you can't actually own. The piffling 180,000USD you need to qualify for the Malaysian scheme is a bargain.. Unless of course you don't have 180K..

Keeping the chavs away may indeed be desirable, but paying 180KUSD or whatever to live in Malaysia is only a bargain if you actually like it there and cant think of anywhere better to go.

Seriously... you would have to pay me that amount for me to consider living there. Now singapore is a different story.

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One tip i have is to look at the airport link stops and mrt w the proposed new line areas. Sqm price will be much more reasonable. If you or a friend/family can drive around thereare quite a few signs up advertising. Then see the developer or resales people on your next trip in.

Personally my bet on appreciation is in the new perchaburi/rama 9 towards lad phrao area bc rama9 is looking to become a cbd w all the new mixed use office and residential in the area and good communications w mass transit, ap link and highways. I wouldnt want to live right in it but nearby developments can be founf off plan in the 50-85,000 sqm range. I can get to asoke in 15 min by mrt but live in quiet area. Very thai and much less strange farangs but rather some quality ones and younger like me.

Biggest expense tip: make sure you dont get a glamourous bld that has lots of lobbies big aircon bills and maintenence, wasted staff id included in monthly. I rent mine out to friends or airbnb a few months a year and it pays for it.

You should def live for a bit and spend rent one year will def let u know if the area is right. Every block is different. I would never live on sulhumvit but some ppl love it. I like ratchada, lad phrao, sutthisan, saphan kwai, ari, ramkahaeng, bang kapi, and sometimes go to ekkamai, thokg lor via mass communication. Ease of getting to both airports essential.

Put the condo in your name easy and will it to your wife. Security for all.

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We were close to buying a place at Centric (Tiwanon Station) but decided against it at the last minute. It really is quite a long way from the centre of town and will require 2 changes of train. And there is still some doubt I think about how all the relevant lines are going to connect........

I think somewhere on the Sukhumwit Line (Mo Chit end or On Nut end) or the Blue line up toward Lad Phrao would suit us best. We are both gettijg quite lazy in our old age, and to be able to wander down to the BTS/MRT and be in Siam area quite quickly would be nice for shopping, eating etc.

There is a centric at sutthisan mrt a few stops up from asoke station. I decided on another bld in the area but it looked good in offnplan status and is now almost done. Prob resales available.

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One of my apartments is 27sqm, setup is well planned and i liie it as a short term place. It is all about setup, wasted walls, storsge and mirrors. Im a thin guy and my wife is skinny too and we do it fine for 1-3 month stretch no problem. For a first apt abroad or overnighter its very good. It can be done.

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Would it be possible for you to teach her yourself? (I presume this is your gf.)

That would require me to learn more Thai first.

I think your best bet would be to locate and purchase your learning materials, proceed mostly in self-study mode, then attempt to locate a native Norwegian speaker to help with pronunciation feedback. Unfortunately most Norwegians that would be willing to do so at a reasonable hourly rate would live in Pattaya, less so in Phuket, maybe Hua Hin? But hardly anywhere else.

I am a native Norwegian speaker. The "maybe Hua Hin" part is something I would like to find out more about.

There are most scandinavians in hua hin, koh lanta, krabi and phuket. Most do english language schools that i know. Some swedish schools might have a good start for her like kamala or lanta for spoken... im swedish not insulting you brother but perhaps a start... but ive never heard of norwegian schools here yet.

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Ive had but never shown a wp to anyone signing up for true internet 3 times. They photocopied the picture pages and departure card - which i suppose has my visa number if i remebered to write it in. Im pretty sure you can get one w any non immigrant visa and possibly a tourist visa.

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When he finds somwhere you can tip him off on the nearest noodel joint

I suspect that these sorts of places don't allow noodle vendors within about 2km, and probably have an armed militia to keep them away.

Personally I don't see much point living in Thailand if you cant get some spicy fast food within 5 minutes' walk of your front door.

I remember visiting the Wong Amat area last year with a real estate agent. Looking at the streets I was put off by the absence of street food vendors, in fact the general absence of any sort of food place that I would be likely to use. We drove past one lone noodle vendor and I thought "better than nothing". The agent said "it would be nicer round here if they got rid of that crap". Ho hum.

Darrel, I have to say, you are by far the most intelligent/sarcastic fellow giving sound advice with quips to follow. I salute your wisdom along with using some of your bank term tips. Great thanks.

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It still blows my mind that so many expats only consider sukhumvit, silom, sathorn and bts extentions as possible places to live. North of asoke, perhaps?

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When I sold my apt in the past furnished means all appliances, decoration and "things" in the apartment unless I exclude a certain item and excluding all private items (computer, clothes, pictures, etc.)

Should be specified in the contract but if not maybe specify with purchaser before the cashiers check is shown and make sure it's what you both want.

Stii no takers for a steak or sashami? I'm going out to catch Avengers...hopefully, I'll have one by the time the world is saved...

Hey Aurellian, sorry can’t do brunch today. Working from home this week hardcore then getting ready for Cambodia later this week. Gotta get my stuff taken care of before moving back to Euroland for the summer. Where do you workout? I’m usually at Fitness First PR9 or Lumpini.

Shoot me a PM with your Facebook contact, mine is on private, and we can get together before I escape the summer. It would be good to meet some normal couples.

A hot (what I'd rate starting from 9) woman in the west will face stiff competition in places like BKK due to common preferences of the men there and if their only asset are the looks, it's understandable to feel threatened.

Easily corrected, just frequent bars that have patrons appreciating rubber tittied amazons, such as japanese clubs or clubs featuring Hi-So Thai-Chinese bigwigs looking for a western gik. You might find the competition there unpleasant, though.

Hi....we are still not on the same frequency. I have seen very few beautiful Western Women here long term...sans a few passing through on the way to Samui and some poor Easter Euro models or Central Asian Slav ic hookers passing themselves off as real Russians...real models don't come to BKK and real Russian gold diggers ply their trade in Moscow, Dubai, or Manhattan. ..the second tier ones may go to Beijing or Singapore though.

I'm up late and bored..but the post is legit gents.

If you think that i am either bsing or exaggerating, I would be happy to establish bonafides before Wed--we leave for Vegas that night--by allowing you or your proxy to have some sushi with me and my girl around Thong Lo or a steak at Tenderloins. I will pay.

All that I ask is that you dress respectively, be a longstanding, active, and respected poster on the board, and report back honestly. This means if I show up with Angelie Jo Lee you cant out of spite say she is ugly.

What say you?

Not really sure what the negativity is for, some guys myself, included arent into asian girls. Not a judgement just a fact...

I'll give you some feedback since I was in the similar boat as you a bit back. Moved out here after grad school and bartended before I ended up making money in other ventures.. Anyways since I'm only into skinny white girls my move here was hard... love Thailand but lack of good looking girls made me always the girl i dated at the time from home out here for a bit. I am from Europe and I wouldn't say my gfs are top end models but very hot 7-9 by my and most of my friends scale. End result was always they didn't like it, wanted to go home.

Problem is always that the more attractive foreign girls get no love where they need it the most, their friends. They can't make friends here. Thai girls might be sweet to them but that's it. Thai guys might fawn but not even gay guys would want to chat in the salon. And other foreign girls generally, no disrespect ment, don't take care of them selves so they automatically write her off. Lonliness is harder if your used to attentivness I guess. Since I was working a bunch I would only notice after a few weeks.

Might offer to bring her friend along if they stay longer periods. Also consider outside of bangkok, samui is better if you can commute. I did the Phuket Bangkok commute for two years its doable. Samui has better quality tourists so it is less nasty for the girls who aren't used to that.

Alternatively one of my friends was plastered at the pattaya white girl go go places until he convinced one to move in with him after her contract was up. Might be a cheaper option. I'm married now so sadly I never got to try :-)

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Looks.great. I've done some full renovations on my rental houses and you def. Need to be around at all time or the tiles will be sideways.

Good luck I look forward to seeing the pictures and progress.

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Not flying soon but prefer not to be bogged down while traveling. I guess as a last resort but I would still prefer to ship reliably.

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Anybody had a successful experience with a shipping company? I need to ship some things back to europe, specifically to Stockholm, around 50-75kg. Golf clubs, clothes and such.

I searched the forum but the companies listed were not interested to the destination and size.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.