Ajarn

The trails and tribulations of doing business in Thailand. Why not have a walk thru with the lady prior to moving out? If you put down 90,000 as a deposit on a 30,000/ month rental you were ill informed of Thai law concerning rental property, deposits etc. Someone mentioned the lady (landlord) must be wealthy to own a property renting for 30,000/mo. I am more inclined to view her as a astute business lady who will charge and handle baht as the market will bear, in your case its a heavy load. depending on your pocket book etc. I think you have probably learned a few things from this experience. Sorry for the lack of sympathy, but did you read the contract and or ask for advice before moving in? If you gave notice of moving out the first and last months rent would have been used and only deposit would have been in question.

So what does Thai law state in this case then?

The Thai law does not state anything regarding the size of deposits, or the price of rent...

A tough lesson... It seems to me that you were foolish for a couple of things. The rent and the deposit. The only thing you could have done to protect yourself was not pay the rent at least a couple of months before then end. I'd be pissed, too, but I doubt you will see the money again...

But can't they evict you if you stop paying the rent for the last 2 months? Surely, they could get a court order or something after even a few days - and if successful, could mean you are breaking the law and could get deported? isn't this a risk?

In the worst case scenario in a thai civil case, pay up, you are forgiven. Though I have never even heard of something like this happening in two months (more like two years), "Farangs should always follow ever law here very carefully. And cower in fear, because anything bad you do will get you permanetly kicked out"

I've missed real, home made American cupcakes with with thick, creamy icing for years. They are impossible to get in Thailand.

I did find some at a big expat Christmas bakesale in Hanoi many years ago and I savored every bite.

Bake and Bite now has them in the main branch every day, but they seem to sell out immediately in the smaller branches unless you order them to be kept for you instead of being displayed.

Also, don't forget the hot, buttermilk biscuits with butter and honey or strawberry jam.

How's your weight loss doing ?

A tough lesson... It seems to me that you were foolish for a couple of things. The rent and the deposit. The only thing you could have done to protect yourself was not pay the rent at least a couple of months before then end. I'd be pissed, too, but I doubt you will see the money again...

I'm in Tachilek at least once a month on personal business. On the way over the bridge into burma, I don't even need to get out of my truck to do the process, and on the way back through, it's like I'm invsible. Nobody gives me a second look, even though nothing can be seen inside my truck because of my very dark window filters. I just figure I'm lucky. No other reason for any of it...

In my opinion, the article is mostly BS..

At some point it can be a better investment to buy a house, thats if you are in a position to do that.

Though I have known farangs who successfuly sold their condo, I have NEVER even heard of a farang who sold their house. I think buying a house is not a good investmant if you can't sell it..

We were going to get the 5 year driver's license and needed the "Certificate of Residence". Were told that the USA

Consulate wouldn't do it and that we should go to Chiang Mai Immigration office. We went to Immigration and they told us that we should

go to the Consulate. My powers of persuasion however resulted in my getting from the Chiang Mai Immigration a signed Certificate of

Residence. We told this to motor vehicle office and were told there that they didn't accept them and that we needed to get it from

the Consulate. No matter how you do things it always works out wrong.

In my experience, the USA consulate will sign anything you say for a fee. I'm fairly sure a Certificate of Residence is no problem.

Sorry about your dog problem. Have you tried talking with the lady?? I live in the same place and I have dogs that like to bark surrounding me. After a few years, I'm used to it now. There is an owner, but no idea where. Their representative comes around once a month for the guard fee... Maybe you can ask her.

I think the positive comments, and the negative, should be pinned together at the top, imo.

Water level in the Ping can affect people who have shallow wells nearby. Several years ago they dredged a section North of CM and that resulted in a lower level for water in the river which resulted in many wells having no water.

Ping River flow is largely controlled by the amount of water released from the Mae Ngat reservoir.

I disagree with you saying it comes largely from Mae Ngat. It doesn't come from Mae Ngat, but mostly upstream from Chiang Dao area

Lending a hand is a noble thing to do and good for the karma. Been doing it for ten years in the Kingdom!

I think helping others is great, too, but a buddhist monk might tell you something for you to think about.

However, if you kill a Thai then you will be in a world of sh1t without a Thai license. Fortunately I've never done that, but I have a couple of acquaintances who have - 1 with a Thai license, and 1 without. The 1 without is still in the monkeyhouse trying to raise the capital to buy himself out.

I'd say that the one friend in jail is there because the police believe he was at fault. Nothing to do with his license. I have lived here 23 years without a Thai license, and have never had a problem, including the National Parks, where my business card has always gotten the local price..

I guess I must have been subconsciously fooled by Mike's slogan "Converting vegetarians since 1979". Were they in a different location before the present one outside the moat and, in that case, where

/ Priceless

Mike is from New Jersey... He hasn't been here much longer than 4or 5 years, I think. In 1984, I don't recall any hamburgers in Chiang Mai except made from Ham or hand-chopped steak..

over the last decade, I've had good and bad experiences with Ram 1 [like most hospitals] and have seen their prices go up and their maintenance go down, so that it is becomming quite run down. In their favor, they are the falang friendliest hospital around town, but you pay 2x the price of other hospitals, especially when they 'over prescribe meds'. For most routine complaints, I patronize Ram2, where the prices are half of ram1 and fewer specialists, but quick cheap service.

And I take all doctors [both here and in the west] with a huge grain of salt and always confirm diagnosis and drugs with 'DR. GOOGLE'.

Sorry. but Ram 2 has been closed for at least a couple of years. It is now a private hospital reputedly own by Mrs. Shinawat. I have spent two occasions, (by ambulance, I couldn't really say much ) there since they have changed. My impression is that it is completely overpriced and under staffed

If I'm not mistaken the car did it's laps in late '07. Anyone know different?

It had to be before then. I arrived here in CM for the first time in my life mid Nov '07... I stayed at the Amora hotel which is about one block away from what is currenty Mike's Burger's there at the canal near the Taipae Gate... If you look at the Mapjack, the burger joint was not named Mike's Burgers, so it can't be that recent..

Are you looking at a different Mapjack than I am? When I look at the corner of Chaiyaphum and Chang Moi Mike's is certainly there If I recall correctly, it was actually there already when I first visited Chiang Mai back in '84.

/ Priceless

It definately wasn't here in 1984. It has been here for 4 or 5 years only..

ate at Miguels last week and found it a disappointment. Food was served tepid and was pretty tasteless to me. Waiting staff were also quite unfriendly

Unfriendly or not friendly? They might not be friendly because you speak a different language than they do, and they feel some pressure to get things 'right' for you...

Ajarn, maybe we have something in common in not seeing problem drivers, I can not see much at night (blurred vision) and during the daytime, there has been times I was so scared that I just shut my eyes and give it hel_l.

Maybe I just shut my eyes without realizing it!

Maybe I've been driving here too long, but in the daytime, anywhere I go, most everyone drives nice, and most know how to communicate with each other quite well, in my estimation. I can't remember having/seeing a problem driver for many years

Nightime is a different story. I drive at night rarely, because it seems that everytime I go out at night, I witness crazy driving...

Everyone seems to be convinced that the fog in front of Doi Suthep is all air pollution, but I remember it being much thicker when I first visited in 1989 when Chiang Mai didn't have a big pollution problem.

It seems to me, that if it were all pollution, most people would be coughing and uncomfortable all the time, but most people aren't. I think that quite a bit of it must be natural fog from some source.

I think a lot of it is simply visible humidity. Commonly thought of as pollution, but it is not.

Tanawan village is located on Mae Jo road, and the Middle Ring road, near the Kwan Im Statue, just up from Rimping store. The San Pee Sua part is this part, entrance next to the Kwan Im Statue...

Does anyone know how much the American Consulate charge for this?

I've been tempted to just blow off getting the license ( my neighbor, from NC said he has never got one and he's been here 9 years, "too much of a hassle" he says..)

Do you always advocate breaking the law? You would never think of doing this in your own country, so why do it here? You only have to have one accident without being in posession of a Thai licence; and the associated vehicle insurance becomes null and void. Consequently you could be up for tens of thousands of baht....Grow up and respect the law of the land

Not true. I had an accident lat May, with no driving license except a 30 year expired Oregon license... They (the insurance company) paid for hauling, my hospital, and the cost to fiz my truck. I'm fairly sure all insurance companies are not so kind, but this one is... The Viriyah Insurance Co., LTD

it was a drunken purchase impulse buy type of thing,

Thanks, just curious why someone would want to sell something they just purchased...

Joe also rents big bikes out

He's located in soi 2, Chiang Moi road, turn at the Thai Military bank down 1/2 block on your right.

Phone 053-251-186

Khun Joe (German) has been here working on bikes for 20 years

He's located in soi 2, Chiang Moi road, turn at the Thai Military bank down 1/2 block on your right.

Phone 053-251-186

I have a 40GB Apple iTV for sale, brand spanking only opened the box once new. Retail out at 13000 THB

open to offers, can deliver within Chiang Mai

PM me please

Why are you selling it?

I'm guessing that he doesn't need or want it anymore! Just a hunch...

Duh!