Femme

Fireworks should be banned.

Why?

They are noisy, dangerous and they disrupt my sleep.

And disrupting Semper's sleep should be forbidden!

I agree, I only like fireworks in the air.

Shopboy, good you're enjoying your stay here. Have you been to Doi Suthep in the evening yet, to overlook the sea of lights of CM? It always make me feel silent inside. To me that is Loy Krathong all year round, without the crowd & noise.

A Thai would probably get it cheaper, but if it's 'perfect' for you...

Had a partially furnished place (year old) in L&H for 7k a few years ago, though that was a steal and farang priced was 12k.

7.5k for an older (?), unfurnished place near the city is probably a bit much. If you really like it, I wouldn't take the p*ss and offer too small amount, but use the unfurnished (does it have air-con?) as a bargaining tool. Perhaps try 5.5k, but don't seem overly keen. Leave your number and give it a few days if he doesn't take. Also, go at the hottest time of day and see how it is inside. I'd also mooch around at night to check for inevitable dogs barking next door/nearby karaoke bar etc. You could wear a balaclava and hide in the bushes.

Hehe...

I agree Jackr, it looks new from the outside, but the pictures show it's an old house. No AC, no fan, no-thing, as empty as it can be.

The size and location is perfect, but the house is so-so. I offer 5k because of the location, the house itself is worth less. But I'm ready to make some compromises.

To others:

So, house owners and real estate agencies exaggerate (lying?) that they are 'sooo busy' with BKK-people...?

Mmmm -frown-. Good to know though.

If you want to change a reasonable amount of money, usually over 1,000 USD or the equivalent in other currencies. Its always worth asking the girl at SK to ask the manager for a rate even better than the one advertised - they'll often give you 50 satangs extra - which is 500 baht on a 1,000 transaction.

You must be a VIP...

I asked for the manager, but the girl didn't even let me speak to the manager. No special rate for 1000 Euro.

Maybe too many people asked for a better rate after you posted this.

Please correct spelling in title? (negoTiate)

I am in the process of finding a house and after days of driving around I finally found a house I really like. I haven't seen the house from the inside yet, but will this weekend. But when I saw it I could visualise myself living there.

It was freshly painted, with a small but nice garden. I really want to live there, it's perfect for me.

I spoke to the owner, who spoke English fluently (darn... harder to negotiate) and he's asking 7,500 baht per month

for this 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house -unfurnished-, located in Chang Phueak area (around Lanna Hospital)

It's almost 3 k baht more than I had in mind for an unfurnished house and I have to buy literally everything.

I reread the topics about how- to-negotiate (offer paying 3 months in advance, a 2 year contract, auto pay by bank etc) But I wonder if all these tips will work with so many people from Bangkok looking for a house as well.

Without this flood situation I would have been confident to offer 5k baht, but now I am not sure. The owner is of course also aware of his convenient position.

What is your thought on this?

Hypertension...euh..dimension... Buses in BKK are indeed cheaper than songtheaws. From Central Plaza to roughly Mahidol road (Airport Plaza) or to Ping river (Warorot) and everything in between is roughly 20 baht.

From Central Plaza to Arcade bus station 30-40 baht.

If you only want a short ride (e.g. til the end of the street you can pay 10-15 baht)

Public transport in BKK is one of the things I love about BKK, it's comfortable, you're traveling like locals and it's very economical.

Spot on. I have far more sympathy for the tuk tuk driver who has a tough life than a whinging foreigner who isn't being forced to do anything he doesn't want to do.

You really think the Tuk Tuk drivers have a tougher life than foreigners...? The foreigner escapes from his/her life and goes to Thailand... So far I met more unhappy foreigners than unhappy Thais.

I hate Tuk Tuk + drivers, the way they drive and how they approach you. Tuk Tuks are also more polluting than songtheaws.

Why are metered taxis not like taxis in BKK?

Ludditeman, the thing was that she needed the house asap, with their animal farm (+husband not to forget) staying in a guesthouse for a month was not an option...(would have been hilarious though )

I believe they are very happy with their new home.

In case you know a house for around 6-7,000 baht per month, furnished, drop me a line!

I would think that your friend is more a transsexual person - a person who was born in the wrong body. And after the gender adjusting surgery, she probably would not any more see herself as transsexual / transgender, but as woman, right? Transgender is by definition somebody who switches the social gender (i.e. man lives as woman), but does not really seek gender adjustment. Crossdresser finally are people who like to wear the other genders clothes, but mostly for fun / sexual excitement.

Personally, for transsexual / transgender people, I do not at all mind them using the bathrooms of the chosen gender and i would assume that now Mr. Bono will use the men's bathroom... On the other side, Î always see ladyboys in Thailand using the women's bathrooms...

The more the merrier!

Also very curious about your choice, Alexpoker. Update us about your find in Chiang Mai, OK?

Jingjoke, thank you for sharing your experience. I never had problems with the heat, but always with the cold in the cold season.

But I have to remember about the roof heat shield and don't feel pushed to pay 2-3 months deposit.

So, I'll be aware

Thanks again for your informative post.

You'll get hooked on CM... happy new life here, girl! (and husband, dogs, cat, bird etc etc ...)

In general I consider transexuals as a third sexe.

If the transsexual (or even travesty) feel more comfortable in a ladies' bathroom, I don't mind sharing.

I had a friend who was born an Italian, but left Italy because he felt more a she and the Italian culture is not very open to this. She was really a girl in her moves, thoughts and feelings. Even with her Adam's apple and large hands I considered her a girl.

Transsexuals and travesties as friends OK, but I couldn't be romantically involved with them. I like to keep things simple

Try Edward, he teaches Tango. I'm not sure if he still has classes at the Cat house.

If you're interested I can track down his phone number.

I never had the pleasure, but some women prefer men with moustaches and beards, because... well... you know...

Sean Connery is not in my age category, but I think he's handsome, a well groomed gent.

Like Softgeorge, if I were a man I would shave 1-2 a week too, the blade is just killing for the facial skin.

Thanks for posting pics, great photo report.

It's worryful...

My friend told me she 's been watching the water coming nearer and nearer, she's well prepared but ...wow... still stressful.

Guys, hard to please...? Do you think so ... ?

You know, I am looking for a house to make a home, so yes, I do care about where I live. CM is not a temporary adventure for me.

@PlanetX:

Thanks for your support, I really needed this pep talk, it made me jump on my bike again!

The good thing about driving around is that you ask yourself if this is the area you want to live. I was driving in Wat Ket towards Sarapee and I thought:" Too far from Warorot, Arcade bus station, this and that, where are the ricefields...?" So I turned and drove back to the city.

Tomorrow I'll contact an agency.

-To be continued-

I was driving around in San Sai Noi, Fa Ham (Laguna 2 and a neighbourhood near Meechok Plaza) looking for rentals. Huge houses were empty, but I couldn't find a small house that would suit me.

All those little sois in Laguna 2 and in San Sai Noi, I just didn't know where to look.

I got sunburned and desorientated...

Driving around aimlessly does not work for me.

So if anyone could point out a rental, it would be highly, highly appreciated.

Around Superhighway or 5 km from city would be great.

@ Thaifan2: I hope it worked out for you with the Bangkokian. The distance with no car is a bit difficult for me. Thanks anyway!

Try Kasem store' s yoghurt, nice firm.

Tops still has plenty of Yolida yoghurt.

I didn't read this

I didn't read this

I didn't read this

...

Today was my final day at FT and I wrote a note to the manager lady thanks for the 2 months and explained a week ago I buy a 3 month membership at Cali Wow that starts Nov. 1

I also suggested gym E. and even pointed ot a website.... and I told them the motorcycle parking is very bad on the 2nd fl. and the wather that gathers smells like the toilet and they could service the equipment a tad bit better but overall I thanked her and the satff their is really nice.

I'm out....oh I not wear shirt outside sometimes because I like to tan and run/walk...is that really that bad or rude? I do take shirt in hand to wear imside if I get some water or something or have soup or eat.

Writing a thank you & suggestion note is cool...

It is really better to wear your shirt, also outside. It is offending, intimidating...just too much skin. Only foreigners run/walk half naked.

"please use hair dryer only for the hair on your head"

No kidding!

Ranting and venting is OK, but not solving anything. Why not suggest the management/ owner to print some house rules and put it somewhere where it is visible? If we care enough, we'd put some effort in it.

I think not wearing a shirt in public is very rude and disgusting. What's next? Not wearing pants?

http://www.chiangmai...76-floral-condo

Floral Condo, Chiang Moi, is a 10+ floor building. Can you stretch your budget a little bit?

(why 10+ floor? Flood nightmares? )

Thank you all so very much for your help. I was initially overwhelmed when I got here but I have now secured a place near the old City by the Stardome driving range, gotten a phone and met some great people. I even went to the Yee Peng lantern release last night and that in itself gave me a huge uplift. Again I want to thank you for this site and all of the info that it provides.