eveningson

Hi Garry, there are two moo baans that come to mind, both are near Mee Chok Plaza on the Maejo road. There is a Rimping supermarket, Bangkok bank, pharmacy, wine store, Mcdonalds and several other restaurants and shops as well as a large thai market within easy walking distance. Sorry but i don't recall the names of either moo baan but a friend used to live in the one behind the thai market and another friend lives in the one just a couple of blocks away off the first ring road. the junction of Maejo road and first ring road is at most five kilometres from "downtown Chiang Mai", good luck

I will have to try to discover the names of these places and intend to check them out., thank you so much.

he garry, you did not respond anymore?

well garry, you have found a lot of reactions. many are good and more are bad. that is understandable because many people with a low budget cannot understand people's needs and wishes with a high budget! same ppl with a high budget do not understand other ppl with a high budget. Life is an experience you cannot share!

Chiang Mai is a beautiful place with a lot of action. there is still some culture but the high amount of farang make the place a mixture of asian city with western services. your budget for housing is probably not very business like because a good manager investigates first the business plan by experience and than start filling in the budget for each item. Knowing that the average salary here in the north is about 250 baht per day for 10 hours of work, makes you thinking more in a direction what the money is worth. to built a super luxe house cost about 5 mio baht. land cost about 1 mio for a rai. you cannot spend more than 10 mio on a house (normally). if you go 5 to 10km outside the main city centre, all prices go down about 25 to sometimes 50%.

Probably when i hear you talking, it might be much more convienent for you to live in a little village around CM with the option everyday to visit the city for your needs. when i came here 10 months ago i thought i do not need a car as well but 1 month later i bought one! and i bought a scooter as well. both cost next to nothing and for city visit it is nice to scooter because easy to park and for driving around the area the car is easy to have. i decided to hire a condo for 2 years to investigate what i want. so every now and then we go and look for everything that is available. I saw a house last month with 1.5 rai of land and all comfort i want in a beautiful landscaped park for 3.5mio baht. I would have bought it the same day if it was in CM mai area (it was near Chiang Rai). I am not in a hurry now and you learn about the prices. I have rented a condo on the 10th floor (4 bedroom 4 bathroom and kitchen and living room + 3 balconies all together 360m2). it cost me 20k baht per month and i can overlook the whole city! a honda pcx heavy scooter cost 75k baht and a car 3.0 turbodiesel 4x4 cost 1mio baht. Cost of ownership is very low and service and maintenance is extremely low (because of the low salaries). So with your budget of 50k on housing you could probably learn here in a few months to make your life comfortable. you will change your mind all the time as well you get different outlook to what you want. but before those decisions you need to learn a bit more what sort of services are available and what your interests are. You need to learn what money is offering here in CM by experience and mostly like everywhere in the world the most expensive is never the best! it makes you worry and the it never gives you what you expect from it. if you retire you want a life with as less as possible stress and things to worry about. so you need some life lessons and just jump in the lake without too many preparations. just let it happen! by the time you are coming you can pm me and i show you a bit around in the area....

regards

skippie

Thank you so much for taking all of the time to write a full and informative response. Unfortunately my connection in mexico decided not to work and I apologize most sincerely for being late in replying to your post. I am intrigued by your idea that one could live in a smaller village and visit CM as circumstances require. I will probauy bly have to buy a car as many posters here suggest. I will certainly contact you when I arrive in CM. You seem a decent sort and thank you.

I would think the best thing for you to do is find a rental apartment and take some time to look around before you leap into any long term arrangements. There are plenty of new build Moobaan's to chose from all around Chiang Mai and plenty of houses for rent. The fact that you don't drive does make life more difficult if you are looking around the area but there are many agents who will probably help you, or you could hire a mini-bus for the day and ask them to cruise all the Baan's. For the rent you are willing to pay you could live in a reasonable size mansion in this country! Many houses for rent in the 10-12,000 a month bracket.

I thank you very much. My connection decided not to work. this happens now and again in mexico so i was not able to reply as quickly as I would have liked to your kind recommendations. I am reconsidering the amount I wish to pay and will make my ultimate decision when i am there.

With friends living in all directions in Chiang Mai, the most pleasant country living, close to the nicer golf courses, in my view is east of the city.

That's quite a general statment, but in my option accurate - there are beautiful housing in all directions, but a house near Samoeng, or backing on the Ping, will command high rent for those locations. Though I do know of one Expat living in a beaut of a riverside house for 25,000 B, nicely negotiated with a long lease.

But directly east, 20-30kms from city, I've visited 2 modern well built houses; double pane windows, full featured kitchens, properly insulted, plus both having perfectly functioning pools, that are being rented at 35,000 B a month (year leases) - and these places have mountain views, fully furnished with nice stuff, and are quick drives to the nicer links. Plenty of activities of the physical nature in those areas too, whom wants to job, hike and bicycle in the city center.

Hi and thank you for taking the time to write,

I will take your advice and check this area out. I think the name of the area is samoeng right. i was wondering about flooding that way. my wife insisted that i check this out. i dont mind paying a decent price for a decent place so money is not a big issue since i dont want a huge house but a comfortable one sufficient for two people in the 40 to 50 range. people here seem to think that 50 is quite a bit so i would be happy with anything decent.

i notice that you have a fish name. i like fishing and in my earlier post i asked if anyone knew of any good fishing around chiang mai. i dont mind seeded sites and i tend to catch and release anyway. i just dont know the fish there since i tend to try to catch trout in switzerland and a variety of other fish in canada when i lived there.

garry.

Hello non couch patato,

Wooden houses are pittoresque, but in the tropics I'd go for a comfortable, concrete house. Concrete houses are usually better insulated which is convenient in the cold season (at nights, it can be pretty cold) and also in the hottest months. Plus more bug proof.

I used this 'flood area map" I found on the forum and I'm recycling it. It gives you an idea where it can be watery (see attechment)

There are so many golf courses, find the house and you'll drive to the course within 15 minutes.

Once you're staying at a serviced apartment for the first month(s), maybe it is an idea to go to expat meetings. People are helpful by sharing their experiences.

Reading about areas and actually being in the area is not the same-same.

This is one the clubs: http://www.chiangmaiexpatsclub.com/

CMCCnews (Christian) for events and ads, to subscribe for weekly newsletter:

[email protected]

When you're here and meet people (some may even show you around: retirees have a lot of spare time ... when they are not busy with their hobbies) you will roll like a ball, going from one thing to another.

Fem.

Delighted to hear from you again. Wow. what a bunch of information. something to chew on for awhile. I have decided on chiang mai for sure now and will move sometimes next year depending when i get my visa. some say one month others say three. I might want to spend the holidays and easter at home and then i will head out and clear a trail for the family, i.e. my wife who will come later in the year.

I will take your advice and book an apartment hotel for six weeks or so, and spend the first two weeks not worrying about a house but just use the time to get use to the city. Try out the grub and the coffee places. I dont drink thank god and no longer have any wild oats left. so, i might even do some tourist stuff.

I dread the flight. Mexico City to vancouver then korean air to incheon and then incheon directly into chiang mai. I prefer flying into vancouver since this is my home country so it works out very well for me. this means that i have to find an apartment hotel here on the web so i dont have to run around exhausted trying to find a place etc. or getting a hotel and then changing.

i will check out the water map. some nice fellow here said the east is quite nice, i mean the eastern side of chiang mai, 20 to 30 kms out. i like to be close to a hospital because i dont trust my ticker anymore. so i have to check that out too in that direction. i notice houses in mae rim area. what is that place like.

cheers femme and thanks so much. once my wife shows up, we should have a coffee. with or without genever.

Anything wooden you will need termite protection regularly.When you look at a house look how the midday sun affects the house, the wrong position and your air-con will work flat out, sensible shading and a fan might suffice. A big south-facing window might seem attractive until you actually live with it.Security in Chiang Mai is generally good (beats London by a country mile) but if you make it easy you might attract opportunist thieves.I have a fairly cheap security system.Living on a golf course puts the price up significantly.

yes that is true about the termites. are there dangerous bugs and snakes that one has to take measures against. i dont mean to kill the snakes or animals but i certainly would want to have them away from where i sleep etc.

Hello all

I posted earlier and received quite a bit of advice and now as my visa approval gets done, i am still short of a bit of information. I have decided to go so for those folks that wish to advise me to stay away, i will not listen.

I really appreciate your advice since you are on the ground there and unlike agents, not driven by the same motivation.

i would like a smaller house for two people in a development, spa, golf course in a country setting like mae rim. I will probably end up buying a new truck, since this is what folks recommend. i will need internet absolutely and the broadest band possible. price for this is no object and a housekeeper. live in or not, no difference.

i am willing to pay from 30 to 45 thousand. I am not wealthy but this is what i could afford for housing. something less and good will of course be considered. i dont want to price myself out of a good sweet house that is not too big but perfect. The sorts of neighbours are important i have been told. And to make sure that the house has some sort of foil in the roof and not in an area prone to flooding. I should also wait and see a bit before moving in., i.e. an apartment hotel for the first bit with an aclimatization period of a couple of weeks before househunting. Some note that there are people driven to chiang mai by the flood so the market right now is influenced by that.

i did not ask about security, i.e. thailand has been in the news, but that would be appreciated as well.

i notice some of the houses are wooden. what are these like, i.e. for bugs and stuff.

I might start golf although it has never interested me in the past. but i am 57 and dont want to become a couch potatoe and die.

cheers all and thank all of you who have given me specific advice. i really appreciated that.

garry.

Hi folks, just a newbie intro today.

Here I come, another typical stereotypical retiree to LOS. Well, I am, stereotypical that is. I will heading to LOS around about early to mid September to grab at a slight early retirement. Early meaning pre 65. I've been lurking around here for a while learning the ropes about visas, cost of living and the general attitude of those of you who have moved to Thailand, for better or worse. Luckily most of you are on the "better" side of the ledger. There are a few of you who are really pissed off for some reason but, the world is made up of all kinds.

Me: I'm 62, Canadian, small bank account, small pension and tight budget. I've decided that I can't afford to live in Canada on my income and don't have the time to build a larger bank account. I lost two businesses in the 80s, lost even bigger during the divorce in the 90s, semi-gave up and became the artsy writer guy over the next dozen years. I used to write op-ed columns for the local daily, learned to paint (abstract) and make stain glass panels, none of which comes close to paying the bills, and I quit smoking around that time as well. I like Smithwick's, the occasional Guinness and have found that Black Bush (Bushmills for unenlightened) likes me way too much.

I intend to live frugally in LOS and will need all the help I can get to find the right way to do that. I am leaning heavily toward making Chiang Mai my future. Everything people here say about it is positive and make it sound affordable and liveable. No, I have never been to Thailand before but I have been left with two choices: one is/was Mexico, cheap to live yes but, with the drug wars going on less desirable. I would have preferred scoping out Thailand before now but I hurt myself during my last (and final) contract in a very nasty place (central Asia) so my travel plans (scoping) were curtailed. I will be living on dual entry visas (visa runs built into the budget) since I don't have enough in the bank to qualify for anything else.

Hope that's not too much information but, there you have it. Thanks to all who may offer their help and friendship in the future.

Stereotypical Al.

As a canadian now early retired to mexico, i plan to check out thailand for a year and perhaps settle. Mexico is a very nice place and the drug war has not directly affected me yet. but in the end it is the fundamental reason why i am moving since everything is affected by it. attitudes, what you say in public, how people treat you and a general sense of dread that the stuff might spill over. and i am tired of tacos all of the time. i live in a mexican city with only a few expats and there is a lot of different choices for mexican food and we have a walmart and a costco and really good internet and all of that but it is tough to always have tacos.

so, i am curious about why you chose thailand because i would like to know what it is like to make that decision.

..... after reading your posts...I don't think you will like it here.

+1

perhaps you are both right. i am considering other options as well. the only sure decision i have made is that i am done in Mexico, lauded frequently as a good place to retire.

Avis (airport) will rent you a small automatic for THB 16k per month, plus insurance, it's normally THB 20k but there seems to be an ongoing special! Whether or not they will still rent at that rent given the likely upsurge in demand from newly arrived Bangkok renters is unclear but worth a look. Always a much better idea for new arrivals to rent most large purchases for 6/12 months before buying.

thank you for taking the time to check this out for me. 16k for a few months might be manageable and useful in getting my feet wet, not literally i hope. someone has also recommended a house in san sai noi area. It is about midway between highway 11 and some town, i forget its name so sorry. i think the area code ends with 10. but i suspect that many areas end with the suffix.

I cannot agree that new cars cost about as much as they do in Canada, as Thailand taxes even more heavily. However, it is true that new car depreciation is lower. And yes, even four-door trucks have a tax advantage. Nowadays, vehicles are offered with dual fuel systems if you purchases a petrol type - and the alternative fuels, being cleaner, arrive being far less costly due to government policies.

Advice about not coming here might well relate to the month of March, our worst. Not only is it hot, it is smokey, as farmers in this nation, Burma, Laos and, it is said, China, burn their fields in preparation for new crops just then (the smoke problem extends far south in Thailand into the always hotter/humid regions); November-February are all but idyllic - others above 30 most days). As a rental property at 50,000 baht will require staff, and your transportation needs require sorting, most of us - I believe - would advise you to start out in early February, if at all possible.

You would learn quickly about prices relating to rentals, if you have not yet done so, by going to the Thai Visa Classified segment, specifying Chiang Mai, and looking at prices. 50K must always mean a large establishment.

I cannot know if you are familiar with driving to the left from visiting Britain or elsewhere. In any case, customs of driving here are different in many ways. There are, for example, no stop signs for side streets and motorbikes and sometimes cars appear suddenly from them. There are other things too that make a driving experience a learning one. So in this case, I would suggest that hiring a car at first and then making decisions about purchase after further study might be best.

But a place in the country, with air conditioning where you intend to write, would always provide a pleasant outdoors for stretching one's legs at one hour or another, and almost always outside the window, it will be appealing (No snow). If trees or leaves are nearby, screened windows open can deliver sounds as appealing as music in the rainy season.

[/quote

i HAVE to thank you for your eloquent and well written response and i will certainly take your advice into consideration. i enjoy music produced by nature. I wonder if the bangkok exodus will be a short term thing and perhaps i should wait until the phenomenon wears off. another poster advises that the smoke is particularily bad in the early part of the year and this might be another reason not to focus on march. Thank you once again.

Having been born and raised in So. California, and particularly having traveled many times to Mexico, I can tell you that you are in for quite a culture shock if your plan is to migrate to Thailand. The Thai people and culture are as far different from your background and living experiences as you could possibly imagine. For me it was exactly what I had been looking for, but for others, let's just say there is considerable adjustment. I will PM you with the name of a tourist agent who was born and raised in Chiang Mai, knows everything there is to know about Chiang Mai and provides personalized tours for families considering making Chiang Mai their home.

this is the aspect that i am interested in hearing about. the greatest cuture shock i encountered was entering the white canadian world coming as i do from the bushes of northern canada from an indian background. i have since lived a half alienated life since there are not that mamy of my people left in this world. mexico is a country of indians so i sort of like that aspect but the years of dictatorship, or its equivalent with a one party rule has made mexico a bit of an unstable state and this sort of spoils things. I am a lawyer by background but a simple hack otherwise and it is nice to meet you. i visited california a number of times but never to live.

cheers

garry.

I have to say that it always amazes me when I hear or read about people that have never been to a foreign country but decide they are going to move there. What if you don't like it??? Then what???

I don't know...but after reading your posts...I don't think you will like it here. Mexico is a better option.

i WOULD THEN MOVE AGAIN: this is the good thing when having a good solid grounding. I have been in many places in my life although never south east asia and have worked in some pretty rugged social situations with one of the jobs i had. I am swiss so i know how to manage a budget since failure to do so in switzerland would see you starving pretty darn quick with the prices there. I now live in mexico and know about unstable governments and war footing. I am interested in thailand because of the cultural differnce. i have studied buddhism among other topics, had chinese employees and worked with south east asians in a political contexts in the un and can handle culutral differences pretty well coming as i do from an indigenous culture. so the challenges would be there i am sure. b i want to go somewhere that is diffuterent. if i wanted it all i would just have stayed in switzerland.

thank you for your comment.

garry.

Hondas and Toyotas are the most popular cars here. I purchased a Mitsubishi Lancer with dual fuel--compressed natural gas--and it is a real money saver when driving on the roads.

You can use your Swiss licence (if it is current) to show the motor vehicle department, and they will probably give you a one year licence with a simple oral test. If you want to drive with a licence from North America or Europe, you should get an international drivers license before coming here.

I love dogs, but am not familiar with all the breeds. The rule of thumb is that you can get anything you want here--but it might be at a hefty price. I have two dogs--one is a rescue thai dog, and the other is a shitz-poo.

Your avatar shows a Canadian flag--there are not too many of us residing here!!!!

Happy to know you then. an alberta boy here although i spent most of my working life down east. i will try to get an international licence then. cheers and thanks for the time and the useful tips. garry.

You can own a car in Thailand on a retirement visa. New cars cost about the same amount as they do in Canada. Used cars are expensive here in comparison with the west, but the seem to last forever, as repairs are less costly because labour is quite inexpensive. When you purchase a new car from a dealer they arrange the plates, and many of them come with first years insurance included along with a 1 to 3 year bumper to bumper warranty. Cars that are manufactured in Thailand are quite a bit of a better deal than the imported ones. Renewal first class insurance is just under 20,000 baht a year depending on the model you choose. If you purchase a used car, you really don't know if the owner has done regular servicing and oil changes, and you might be in for some repairs. The most popular cars that retain their value are Toyota and Honda.

Getting a drivers license and renewal plates is quite easy and not expensive. A five year drivers license costs around 600 baht, and plates for a new car are about 3000 baht a year on many new car models.

I appreciate your comment. i will now begin to check around for a thai built new car since this seems the safest route. can i use my swiss drivers licence there or do i have to apply for a thai licence. thank you kind sir. by the way, i love dogs and my old dear has passed on. should i choose chiang mai, i might in the end find a dog. there seems to be a specific breed famous there in thailand, somewhere up in isaan i think that i might look at. have you heard of it and of its character etc. i am sorry for asking this but since your avatar is a dog, i thought you might be a dog fancier.

cheers

garry.

I have posted here today and had good advice passed on to me including do not come to chiang mai. i also noted that one should get some sort of foil for the roof. but i think that the most consistent advice i have received relates to my need for transportation since i wish to live in a development and rent a house in the 50 000 baht range.

does any good person with a bit of time to answer this post, tell me what a car costs there and are plates and insurance complex issues there. can i own a car on a retirement visa for example. I dont mind paying a decent price for a good car but comparatively speaking, is a car a good investment or a money eater or should i simply find a car and driver for say two days per week for my town desires. my key requirement for the house is to have a quiet place where i could comfortably esconse myself and write without a great deal of disturbance and trouble.

I would think the best thing for you to do is find a rental apartment and take some time to look around before you leap into any long term arrangements. There are plenty of new build Moobaan's to chose from all around Chiang Mai and plenty of houses for rent. The fact that you don't drive does make life more difficult if you are looking around the area but there are many agents who will probably help you, or you could hire a mini-bus for the day and ask them to cruise all the Baan's. For the rent you are willing to pay you could live in a reasonable size mansion in this country! Many houses for rent in the 10-12,000 a month bracket.

Agree 100% with Trainman except for his budget.I've lived in Chiangmai on and off for 3 years now but have to return to the UK on a regular basis on business.When I first arrived here people kept telling me that I could find a wonderful property for rent for 10 to 15 k and I now accept that I wasted so much time believing that. I have quite a nice house in the UK and had no intention of lowerng my standards when moving to Chiangmai.Long story short , I have a lovely 3 bed 3 bath 2 storey house in a gated , very quiet mooban about 6/7 k from the city centre.The modest sized garden s my pride and joy.The clubhouse with a lovely, rarely used pool ( other than by myself) is literally a 1 minute wak from my front gate.Opposite the entrance to the mooban is a 7/11 together with newly opened eat in/eat out thai cafe, both of which we use frequently.This costs me 36,000 month and I think its worth every baht. Yes, I expect to be terminally flamed for wasting my money/being ripped off by a Thai llandlord/agent/and personally inflating the entire housing market in Northern Thailand. but I personally could not live in the 12k baht/month homes other expats appear content in. IF you have a budget of 50 k baht then you WILL have a beautiful home in CM. IF you have a budget of 10k then you will of course not have the same standard and/or facilities. I fully accept that I am very fortunate in my lifestyle compared to some on this forum but I do feel that newcomers are sometimes given the wrong impression of the housing market in the area.Up to you !

No flame intended good to see some one spend what it cost and not worry about it.

For myself I am just jealous. (I am afraid when my boat comes in it will be a row boat) LOL

For the original poster. I have no vehicle and no desire to have one.

this limit's me in what I can do.

Living with the things you are seeking would be next to imposable.

There are many places I am sure you would love but a form of transportation would be needed.

As has been posted earlier and often get a condo or apartment for one month and look around. Talk to people get agents to show you around As one person suggested make a note of the place you hear about and hire a mini van for a day to take you to see them.

Do not book on line for some thing you might want to spend the rest of your life doing.

On a earlier post I asked about Furama one of the reply's was two bed room 200 square meters in your price range. Take it for a month and them make your decision on where you want to go.

There is lots to see and do here I am sure you will if not love it you will at least enjoy the experience. There is a expats club with many special interest clubs such as board games, gardening, computer, chess and dining out to name a few oops writers club.

Hi,

you are the third person so far that has noted the transportation issue as a major problem. i have to consider my resistance to driving it seems since what i want and what i will get will be determined by that issue. I read somewhere else about a need for some sort of foil in the roof and this affects whether one should rent or not. would a tin foil hat help chuckle. Another suggested that both my wife and i will face discrimination in thailand, since there seems some antipathy to ferangs i think the word is. I have grown up with discrimination in canada being a north american indian, a group not loved by my dear canadian bretheren and sisteren and am prepared for some of that although i wonder what folks will think of a big brown guy who is not east indian or oriental but a red man. chuckle for this too. i fit right in to mexico here except for my size. Speaking of driving, how is parking in chiang mai and how does one get insurance there. it is nigh unto impossible here in mexico to get secure insurance. thank you for taking the time to write to me hello dolly. cheers, garry.

Good luck. For your gut impression, do not think further about coming to Thailand unless you are looking for a real adventure.

I spent most of my life on one adventure or another but seek a settled life actually. I have also been looking at malaysia as well but my wife fears discrimination because she is a woman and it is a muslim country. honesty here.

So two strikes. Thailand will be an adventure, not a settled life and you will both find discrimination issues here. Don't worry about the post office, stay in Mexico.

MEXICO IS PRETTY NICE actually but the current climate, not weather, always sun and not humid, but the other one, for example i do not even want to discuss it because of fear of retribution and i am not paranoid, so i feel that i have to move. The trouble with mexico is the sheer brutality and the fact that one nevers knows when the issues will move into the neighbourhood since many many are touched by it. So taking a list we looked at many options and always came back to chiang mai for some unknown reason.

I would think the best thing for you to do is find a rental apartment and take some time to look around before you leap into any long term arrangements. There are plenty of new build Moobaan's to chose from all around Chiang Mai and plenty of houses for rent. The fact that you don't drive does make life more difficult if you are looking around the area but there are many agents who will probably help you, or you could hire a mini-bus for the day and ask them to cruise all the Baan's. For the rent you are willing to pay you could live in a reasonable size mansion in this country! Many houses for rent in the 10-12,000 a month bracket.

Thank you for your pleasant reply. I have thought of doing this but my wife likes to jump right in to these things. You seem to think that it would be better to have a car then. I should think carefully of this since my main reason for not driving is a distrust of laws and drivers and all of the headache associated with car ownership, i.e. insurance, plates, accidents, police, and of course cost.

I am not a mansion type of person prefering modesty that disguises comfort on the inside with all of the mod cons, i.e. broadband, a stove with an oven, i like to cook you see, and preferably by what i have been reading about thailand, something not located in a flood plain. I noticuted that houses do not have central air and seem to prefer single units for each room. is this the norm. i imagine that heating bills are not an issue and i might want to get a dog as well. who doesnt mind waiting while i have my coffee and danish. I want to be enriched by the wonderful thai culture but i sort of like to keep my secret life going so to speak. I fortunately dont drink but do like the chat up with expats now and again.

cheers.

garry.

As your indicating, you need to do the 'research' and that's always a good approach.

You mention that you don't want to drive, and overall Chiang Mai is not good for public transport and in retirement I'm guessing you would like transport which is comfortable. Taxis do exist but are far from cheap.

Renting a car / van for a day, or several days is a good suggestion.

Longer-term it may be a good idea to find someone who has a car and is prepared to be your on call 'taxi' as needed, at a negotiated fee cheaper than taxis. Not easy to find in 5 minutes but people like this do exist.

My Thai adult son found a tuk tuk driver who we now always use when we have need for additional transport. He's reliable, safety conscious, polite, he asks for very reasonable money because he knows it's worth his while to do so long-term and he speaks Intermediate plus English, and he's been very helpful and logical when we have been searching for whatever.

If you do not mind, i will keep your post and when i get to thailand write you again and perhaps speak to you of this driver. this would be an ideal situation although i have no idea what a tuk tuk is. i presume it is a motorcycle sort of construction with seets at the back. one could take groceries in such things. and the car with driver perhaps for longer trips to the outskirts for walks and visits. thank you sir.

I would think the best thing for you to do is find a rental apartment and take some time to look around before you leap into any long term arrangements. There are plenty of new build Moobaan's to chose from all around Chiang Mai and plenty of houses for rent. The fact that you don't drive does make life more difficult if you are looking around the area but there are many agents who will probably help you, or you could hire a mini-bus for the day and ask them to cruise all the Baan's. For the rent you are willing to pay you could live in a reasonable size mansion in this country! Many houses for rent in the 10-12,000 a month bracket.

Thank you for your pleasant reply. I have thought of doing this but my wife likes to jump right in to these things. You seem to think that it would be better to have a car then. I should think carefully of this since my main reason for not driving is a distrust of laws and drivers and all of the headache associated with car ownership, i.e. insurance, plates, accidents, police, and of course cost.

I am not a mansion type of person prefering modesty that disguises comfort on the inside with all of the mod cons, i.e. broadband, a stove with an oven, i like to cook you see, and preferably by what i have been reading about thailand, something not located in a flood plain. I noticuted that houses do not have central air and seem to prefer single units for each room. is this the norm. i imagine that heating bills are not an issue and i might want to get a dog as well. who doesnt mind waiting while i have my coffee and danish. I want to be enriched by the wonderful thai culture but i sort of like to keep my secret life going so to speak. I fortunately dont drink but do like the chat up with expats now and again.

cheers.

garry.

oh, two more basic questions, is there any good fishing nearby and does the post office work. I have been in mexico for a couple of years and the postal system here does not really exist. i live in a city of a million people and there are two post offices i think. the main one downtown seems to be run by the same three elderly ladies that still like the stamps and anything i have sent out has never reached its destination. i have to use fedex which is horrendously expensive.

Freshwater (obviously) fishing is very popular here and the native snakehead is a ferocious quarry.Additionally there are lakes all over Thailand full of ostensibly South American species such as Arapaima,Redtail Catfish ,Shovelnose Cats etc Yu should have plenty of choice.

I was watching a program from the bbc or sky, i forget which with robin greene called extreme fishing and there was one episode on thailand. this interested me although i doubt that i will spend a night on the lake, a dam, to catch an early morning fish that ended up not to be particularily good eating. i noticed that the big fish were catch and release in some fish farm place.

Good luck. For your gut impression, do not think further about coming to Thailand unless you are looking for a real adventure.

I spent most of my life on one adventure or another but seek a settled life actually. I have also been looking at malaysia as well but my wife fears discrimination because she is a woman and it is a muslim country. honesty here.

I would think the best thing for you to do is find a rental apartment and take some time to look around before you leap into any long term arrangements. There are plenty of new build Moobaan's to chose from all around Chiang Mai and plenty of houses for rent. The fact that you don't drive does make life more difficult if you are looking around the area but there are many agents who will probably help you, or you could hire a mini-bus for the day and ask them to cruise all the Baan's. For the rent you are willing to pay you could live in a reasonable size mansion in this country! Many houses for rent in the 10-12,000 a month bracket.

Agree 100% with Trainman except for his budget.I've lived in Chiangmai on and off for 3 years now but have to return to the UK on a regular basis on business.When I first arrived here people kept telling me that I could find a wonderful property for rent for 10 to 15 k and I now accept that I wasted so much time believing that. I have quite a nice house in the UK and had no intention of lowerng my standards when moving to Chiangmai.Long story short , I have a lovely 3 bed 3 bath 2 storey house in a gated , very quiet mooban about 6/7 k from the city centre.The modest sized garden s my pride and joy.The clubhouse with a lovely, rarely used pool ( other than by myself) is literally a 1 minute wak from my front gate.Opposite the entrance to the mooban is a 7/11 together with newly opened eat in/eat out thai cafe, both of which we use frequently.This costs me 36,000 month and I think its worth every baht. Yes, I expect to be terminally flamed for wasting my money/being ripped off by a Thai llandlord/agent/and personally inflating the entire housing market in Northern Thailand. but I personally could not live in the 12k baht/month homes other expats appear content in. IF you have a budget of 50 k baht then you WILL have a beautiful home in CM. IF you have a budget of 10k then you will of course not have the same standard and/or facilities. I fully accept that I am very fortunate in my lifestyle compared to some on this forum but I do feel that newcomers are sometimes given the wrong impression of the housing market in the area.Up to you !

I might be very interested because mooban and 7/11 strikes a bell and i may have seen a house there. I like the pool idea and what are the neighbours like, an enquiry that a poster suggested i make here. My wife is swiss and very much into cultural issues while i am simply a homebody prefering to quiet of my study. I write a bit and need some moments of quiet. is there fishing nearby.

Chiang Mai is not for everyone. Perhaps you should stay in a good hotel and ask around where the "good expats are" first.

I wonder what you mean by good expats. presumably one could make a dreadful mistake if one does not check out the neighbours as well. Having lived many years in switzerland i know the significance of the sort of neighbours one has. I have been on many a camp ground in spain as well and have experiences elderly travellers from bavaria as well. i would like to know this sort of information. i thank you most kindly for reminding me.

garry.

I would think the best thing for you to do is find a rental apartment and take some time to look around before you leap into any long term arrangements. There are plenty of new build Moobaan's to chose from all around Chiang Mai and plenty of houses for rent. The fact that you don't drive does make life more difficult if you are looking around the area but there are many agents who will probably help you, or you could hire a mini-bus for the day and ask them to cruise all the Baan's. For the rent you are willing to pay you could live in a reasonable size mansion in this country! Many houses for rent in the 10-12,000 a month bracket.

Thank you for your pleasant reply. I have thought of doing this but my wife likes to jump right in to these things. You seem to think that it would be better to have a car then. I should think carefully of this since my main reason for not driving is a distrust of laws and drivers and all of the headache associated with car ownership, i.e. insurance, plates, accidents, police, and of course cost.

I am not a mansion type of person prefering modesty that disguises comfort on the inside with all of the mod cons, i.e. broadband, a stove with an oven, i like to cook you see, and preferably by what i have been reading about thailand, something not located in a flood plain. I noticuted that houses do not have central air and seem to prefer single units for each room. is this the norm. i imagine that heating bills are not an issue and i might want to get a dog as well. who doesnt mind waiting while i have my coffee and danish. I want to be enriched by the wonderful thai culture but i sort of like to keep my secret life going so to speak. I fortunately dont drink but do like the chat up with expats now and again.

cheers.

garry.

oh, two more basic questions, is there any good fishing nearby and does the post office work. I have been in mexico for a couple of years and the postal system here does not really exist. i live in a city of a million people and there are two post offices i think. the main one downtown seems to be run by the same three elderly ladies that still like the stamps and anything i have sent out has never reached its destination. i have to use fedex which is horrendously expensive.

I would think the best thing for you to do is find a rental apartment and take some time to look around before you leap into any long term arrangements. There are plenty of new build Moobaan's to chose from all around Chiang Mai and plenty of houses for rent. The fact that you don't drive does make life more difficult if you are looking around the area but there are many agents who will probably help you, or you could hire a mini-bus for the day and ask them to cruise all the Baan's. For the rent you are willing to pay you could live in a reasonable size mansion in this country! Many houses for rent in the 10-12,000 a month bracket.

Thank you for your pleasant reply. I have thought of doing this but my wife likes to jump right in to these things. You seem to think that it would be better to have a car then. I should think carefully of this since my main reason for not driving is a distrust of laws and drivers and all of the headache associated with car ownership, i.e. insurance, plates, accidents, police, and of course cost.

I am not a mansion type of person prefering modesty that disguises comfort on the inside with all of the mod cons, i.e. broadband, a stove with an oven, i like to cook you see, and preferably by what i have been reading about thailand, something not located in a flood plain. I noticuted that houses do not have central air and seem to prefer single units for each room. is this the norm. i imagine that heating bills are not an issue and i might want to get a dog as well. who doesnt mind waiting while i have my coffee and danish. I want to be enriched by the wonderful thai culture but i sort of like to keep my secret life going so to speak. I fortunately dont drink but do like the chat up with expats now and again.

cheers.

garry.