SEAtramp

The Indian community in Thailand has a bigger foothold than any of the white farang population residing in Thailand.

But then again they have been there a lot longer

1 Rai = 4 Ngan (or 1600 sq. m.)

How is it that US citizens can own land in Thailand?

They cannot. What they can do is own a MAJORITY stake in the shareholding company (the property) .........

Treaty Of Amity: The U.S.-Thai Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations (AER) was originally signed in 1833. The 1966 iteration of the Treaty allows U.S. citizens and businesses incorporated in the U.S., or in Thailand that are majority-owned by U.S. citizens, to engage in business on the same basis as Thais, exempting them from most of the restrictions on foreign investment imposed by the Alien Business Act of 1999. Under the Treaty, Thailand restricts American investment only in the fields of communications, transport, fiduciary functions, banking involving depository functions, the exploitation of land or other natural resources, and domestic trade in agricultural products. Notwithstanding their treaty rights, many Americans choose to form joint ventures with Thai partners, allowing them to hold the majority stake because of their familiarity with the Thai economy and local regulations.

You can always invest 40,000,000 baht (yes thats 40 million) which will enable you to buy 1 Rai of land.

That i'm afraid will be the answer to your request when you go cap in hand to Thai politicians.

In this instance I would have to say take a taxi. You should be able (by the time you have checked in hotel) still time to unwind in with a beer in your local )

One trip to Thailand and you have learnt very little.

If Mr Thaksin had to choose between the Thai Rak Thai party or the Tourism Authority of Thailand, which would it be?

Correction, you learnt nothing.

Whilst I shall agree with something should be done regarding land ownership in Thailand. I cannot help but feel this will almost be a futile attempt to sway anything that farangs request in Thailand.

Given that the present goverment is headed by Thaskin, a man who named his party Thai Rak Thai. You are certainly taking the mountain to Mohammed.

A poll on eating raw meat in Thailand ! I have to wonder how some people survive in Thailand

I can only reply with your motorbike question. I have never been asked for a driving licence, passport was all they ever required.

There is a road that takes you Hin wong bay. From Aow Mae Haad its a 100 baht taxi ride. The road is the only one there, that takes you to the north eastern side of the island.

You can also hire a longtail boat to get you to Ho wing pinnacle (not a necessity)

As for the G/house not sure if its online or not !

It's a very, very long journey.

I'd go for 1st class.

First class will not shorten the journey !

In fact in a second class sleeper, after a good nights sleep you have more people to chat to, to pass the time in the morning.

The only benefits of traveling first class is you get a seperate cabin (sleeps two) wash basin & small table.

First class trains are only available on certain selected routes, and they fill up fast.

Sad post. Sad poster.

Lucky u are farang - seems one getting shot are Thai(s). Prob some face or territorial issue.

This is not an incident that regular occurs in Thai areas on third Rd or in some Thai bar. This was Soi 7. Almost the heart of Pattayas farang watering holes. And the only thing lucky about the incident is the bullet that passed through the guy never hit a farang.

Over 100 bargirls, Thais and foreign tourists fled for cover. (territorial maybe, farang territory. )

This would not suprise me. Thailand is on the verge of legalising casinos in Thailand. This time last year the House of Representatives voted overwhelming in favor of legalizing casinos.

Thaskin is not slow when it comes to capitalising on get quick rich ventures.

Pattaya International. But they all specialise in bullet wounds.

This one is to close for home (Soi 7 been drinking here since the first bar opened)Enoughs enough for me. Its simply not worth the risk. I stated in a post a while back how dissapointed i was with my last visit to Pattaya re- the violence, and how I thought it would get worse. Fluck Pattaya.

Two motorcycle taxi drivers were gravely injured when a gangster shot them with a .38 calibre weapon at the beer bars on Soi 7, at 1:20 a.m. on April 26.

Police rushed to the scene, which is only 100 metres away from the police station, where they found two men lying in pools of blood. Suthorn Saosiri, 26, had been shot under the region of his left ribs. A-thorn Khulee, 27, had been shot in the left wrist, the bullet having passed through his left shoulder and out of his back. The injured men were taken to Pattaya Memorial Hospital.

At the scene police found one .38 calibre cartridge and kept it as evidence. A bar employee who witnesses the attack told police she recognised the gangster as Pitak Silakhan, 47, who had been residing at Village No 13 in Nongprue sub-district. She said he has been watching over all of the beer bars on Soi 7.

She went on to say that before the event Pitak was drunk. He arrived at Soi 7 with a four-door pickup, and stopped his vehicle to have an argument with the motorcycle taxi group in the soi. He then took out a gun from his waistband and shot twice into the group.

Over 100 bargirls, Thais and foreign tourists fled for cover. After the shooting Pitak waved the gun from side to side before getting into the Toyota and driving away in the Sukhumvit Road direction.

A-thorn told police that Pitak was the beer bar mafioso who watched over everything, and said that he was an unintended victim. Pitak intended to shoot Suthorn because he wouldn’t pay him the motorcycle taxi queue dues. Pitak had also been using threatening behaviour in Soi 7, scraping his car against the food vendors when he came to inspect the bars there. Nobody had the courage to file a report with the police because Pitak is said to have influence with them. On occasions Pitak had fired his gun into the air, but the police never arrested him. This time he shot people.

Police obtained an arrest warrant from the Pattaya Provincial Court and are now seeking Pitak Silakhan.

Anyone tried this place yet ? New to me !

Whats the food like in The Black Swan, DJ ?

Sonie's. Sukhumvit 31. This place does Italian aswell as Japanese.

Black rain> Outlaws

When the rain comes > Queensryche

Take the reins> Mike & the Mechanics

Pulling back the reins > KD Lang

God save our Queen.....

God save our gracious Queen,

Long live our noble Queen,

God save the Queen;

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us,

God save the Queen.

Oh Lord our God arise,

Scatter our enemies,

And make them fall

Confound their politics

Frustrate their knavish tricks,

On Thee our hopes we fix

Oh save us all.