akspace

Thanks for the warning, I'm arriving at swampy on the morning of the third. I guess this means I should buy a bottle of whiskey (or two) at the duty free shop in-case I feel the need to have a drink!

I currently live in one of the more expensive areas in the US and I've ran the numbers more then a few times. Living in Thailand would cost about 1/3 - 1/2 of what it costs in the US, the problem is my salary would be about 1/10th of what I make in the US.

To get an idea, I was paying $2000/mo (~60,000 baht) for a 1bd apartment, I moved to a bad area last month and I've lowered my rent to $1200/mo, you get used to the gunshots and so far everyone seems to be good about leaving personal property alone. Buying a house is out of the question because a SFH starts at around $500,000 (15m baht). I could probably get into a small condo for around $300,000.

I pay another $450/mo for my car, add in maybe $400/mo for utilities and $500/mo for food.

All in all if I could get an expat package that pays even 80% of my current salary it wouldn't be a question, I would be on the next flight. However, given my current job options in Thailand are limited to teaching english, math or physics I don't think it's a good career move

for me less than 1 week for average low scum sex tourist they can make 4k last 4 months or lots more

Sorry, but the absence of punctuation in your post made it a little unclear. Who is the 'average low scum sex tourist' you are referring to, yourself or the OP?

If you are asserting that you spend over 200,000 baht/week the I doubt anyone on this forum will believe you.

Unless you have 'complications' you need to assuage of course...

I don't know why you. I spend between 10,000 - 15,000 baht a day in Thailand. I spend about 1,000 - 2,000 baht a day on a place to stay and you can spend more at the high end places. Another 3,000 - 4,000 baht a day on food and booze, I'm a heavy drinker on vacation. A day mountain biking in Chiang Mai runs about 2,000 baht. A few taxi rides, maybe spend a little shopping. Next thing you know 10,000 is gone. If you have your girlfriend with you (or you find one) and it's gone really quick.

Of course staying in cheaper places, not going on tours every day, not buying a bottle every night at the club and you can cut expenses (for me that comes closer to 3000 a day).

Based on my normal expenses in Thailand, 15-20 days, sometimes when I'm on vacation I can let the spending get out of hand.

However, I know I can get by on around 3000 baht a day and still enjoy myself. Yes that means more time just walking around or lounging by the pool. It means buying beer at 7-11 instead of going out. It means no real adventures.

I suppose if I was living in Thailand I could make it go a lot further, normally when I'm working I spend almost no money beyond housing and utilities every day. But without a job I don't think I could make it last more then two months.

Why anyone wants to put their personal details on a site is beyond me, I live a normal life wihout Arsebook and am amazed at how much that American kid has made, all these folks are falling for it and as with all these tech fads, its day will come when it colapses. I stay well away from it.

You are what we call a luddite, you see new technology, you don't understand it so then you decry it as useless. Then you go an use an unrelated topic to get up on your soapbox! The fact that some people are using it for nefarious purposes has no bearing on it's usefulness.

The benefit of facebook is the ability to quickly keep up with your friends. No need to spend hours on the phone every day to keep up with what everyone is doing. Of course other people tried it, so it's not new, but the whole right place and right time worked out for them (among other things). Now the value of Facebook, that is questionable, many of us working in the industry see it as a sign we are heading for another bust. Too much fake (okay not really fake, leveraged without collateral) money coming in, not enough real value being produced.

As for Thai women attempting extracting money, it's never happened to me. Maybe I'm the exception that proves the rule, but I've never had a bad relationship with a Thai women (good girls or not so good girls). Of course I've never exclusively met one online, a few I've known over the years have kept in touch via facebook and email. In generally I don't think it's so bad as long as no one is telling lies. Once the lies start then it borders on fraud in my book.

Are the victims of this fraud at fault? Maybe a little bit, but it's never right to blame the victim.

If you are referring to most of the mass produced Americam stuff then I violently agree! However the US also has some smaller micro breweries that produce some interesting beers.

Lets see, this week I've had a nice 9.4% IPA, brewed in San Francisco. I had an amazing stout brewed in Portland. I had a good lager brewed in Alaska. The list goes on...

Really no country in the world can compete on variaty and quality...

But this is a topic about Thai beer, so I'm going to stop de-railing the thread. When do you think we will see a good stout being brewed in Thailand?

I generally disagree. Most people I see are riding bikes too small for them. Mostly do to fashion and bad shop advice. In order to get a decent pedal stroke you have to have a whole lot of seat post extension, then you are in a hunched over and uncomfortable because handle bars are generally so low. I am 170cm and I ride a 17.5 inch in a Trek and 19 inch in a Giant. Frame sizing varies, but the day you Really need top tube clearance you will get smacked anyway! Wear bike shorts. The Rincon has great top tube clearance anyway due to the funky frame design.

It really depends on the type of riding you do, if you are doing lots of the downhill rides it would be better to go smaller. If you are cruising around on the street it's probably better to go larger. It also depends on how you mountain bike, a lot of body english or do you just power through....

As for standover, don't worry about it, once you are comfortable on your bike you won't be smacking the top tube...honestly these days I'm more likely to be catching my tender bits on the rear tire when I get too far back.

I shouldn't be recommending bikes to anyone, so I'll skip that part...

I put my walet in my front pocket, if I'm in crowded areas I put my hands in my front pockets....pickpocket problem solved! I thought that was common knowledge, I picked it up when I first moved to the big city when I was a wee lad.

I do keep a couple credit cards at the home or in the hotel safe when I'm traveling. That way if I do lose my walet I have a backup.

I'll drink a Heinkien from time to time...not my first choice but it's not a bad beer. When it comes to Thai beer about the only one I can really drink is Singha, the rest just don't work for me. When I am feeling cheap I'll drink Chang, but I can only drink two or three.

Of course nothing compares to drinking beer in America, no matter what I'm in the mood for I can find something amazing to drink

So your US bank would grant you a mortgage on a property in Thailand unseen, even with the fact as a foreigner you can never own the land ?...interesting kinda defies good business practice to me, giving someone to buy something they can never fully legally own in their own name..

My bank? They would give me an unsecured loan for $350k, that is beside the point. The point is the mortgage of a 10m baht property is plenty affordable on a salary of 120k baht.

As an aside, can you possible be more literal? A house is easily interchangable with a condo in the context above.

Jurgen i make around 120-140k after taxes. I know i could not afford a 10m house and a small german car. That would be about 12m, a mortgage of about 120k baht per month. So could you please explain your calculations. To have that you must have considerably more money or spend it all on housing and car for outward show and dont have a penny for other things.

A 25 year mortgage on a 10m house should run about 60k a month. Interest rates in Thailand are high right now, I could secure that loan with my US bank for under 45k a month (30 years). A german car should run about 20-30k a month more. So on 120k you could afford both and still have money for food.

The first time I visited Bangkok I hated it, I had planed on staying a week to get a feel for the city, I left after one day. It was a culture shock to me. It was hot, it smelled, and it was crowded.

I ended up visiting two more times on that trip and each time it grew on me. Now I love visting Bangkok, just like every world city there are endless opportunities to explore. Sometimes I just wander down random sois to see what I can find. Or I'll just hop on the first bus that comes by and take a ride. I've always managed to find something worth seeing.

Now it holds a place in my heart next to NYC, Hong Kong and London.

Maybe it's the cultural difference, but when I'm at home here is the wardrobe:

Colder then -10C: Jeans, Long Sleve Shirt, Wool Socks, Boots, Parka, Hat, Gloves

Colder then 10C: Jeans, T-Shirt, Socks, Shoes, Jacket (generally a hoody)

Colder then 15C: Jeans, T-Shirt, Socks, Shoes

Colder then 20C: Jeans, T-Shirt, Flip-flops

Anything warmer: Shorts, T-Shirt, Flip-flops

That general outfit works for the office or a night out on the town, I'll even wear it to board meetings! I've worn that basic outfit since I was a teenager and I've managed to do well enough. There are a few exceptions; early dates (first 3-4), funerals, weddings, clubs with dress codes, and theme night out with friends.

But when I'm in Thailand I'm supposed to wear slacks and a button down every day? Don't get me wrong, I have noticed people tend to see me in a more positive light in Thailand when I'm dressed nicely. But it does seem strange to judge people based on their clothes.

It's just that when I'm home I can walk into even the most expensive place and be fawned over wearing a torn up T-shirt and flip flops. I guess it's just the where I live, around here you can't tell how educated or rich someone is just by looking at their clothes. The multi-millionares show up to work in a Ferrari and cargo shorts (or maybe on a bicycle wearing lycra).