Ajarn

I have to admit that I'm getting tired of International companies like Starbucks, 7-11 and Boots coming in and destroying Thai owned businesses that are already doing a good job. The International Pigs pay absurd amounts of rent to get into the best areas, and eventually, no small business people can afford good locations anymore; the rent goes up so high that they have to move elsewhere.

Boots Pharmacy just moved into Thapae Gate and they have nothing to offer that the stores that are there already are not providing. There is a wonderful woman with a pharmacy just inside the gate who provides much better service and at lower prices than Boots ever will and a bunch of other decent pharmacies as well.

Unfortunately, these International companies seem to be able to lose money for years until they can drive out all their competition, so in the long run consumers don't have a choice.

Starbucks at Thapae Gate is paying an amazingly high rent with almost no customers, yet there they sit, waiting for the rents in the area to get so high that no competitors can afford to be near them. Then they can raise their silly prices even higher.

out of interest, what would the rent be ?

75,000 baht per month, but Starbucks also pretty much tore the old building down and then rebuilt it from the ground up as part of the rental agreement. That cost a pretty sum for a business that seems to average about 10 customers a day in the middle of high season, but the landlords are sitting pretty!

How do you know? I suspect the figure as being primarily gossip, with nothing and nobody to back the story... True, or not?

probably but Ive heard McDonalds on Changklan pays 200,000+ plus per month- rumour of course- now thats alot of hamburgers!!

so 75k per month for a Starbucks would sound right.

Yes, but that kind of thinking puts everything in 'my fantasy' Mode, it would seem to me. Not bad, but not usefull to others.

(I'm not in a bad mood )

I have to admit that I'm getting tired of International companies like Starbucks, 7-11 and Boots coming in and destroying Thai owned businesses that are already doing a good job. The International Pigs pay absurd amounts of rent to get into the best areas, and eventually, no small business people can afford good locations anymore; the rent goes up so high that they have to move elsewhere.

Boots Pharmacy just moved into Thapae Gate and they have nothing to offer that the stores that are there already are not providing. There is a wonderful woman with a pharmacy just inside the gate who provides much better service and at lower prices than Boots ever will and a bunch of other decent pharmacies as well.

Unfortunately, these International companies seem to be able to lose money for years until they can drive out all their competition, so in the long run consumers don't have a choice.

Starbucks at Thapae Gate is paying an amazingly high rent with almost no customers, yet there they sit, waiting for the rents in the area to get so high that no competitors can afford to be near them. Then they can raise their silly prices even higher.

out of interest, what would the rent be ?

75,000 baht per month, but Starbucks also pretty much tore the old building down and then rebuilt it from the ground up as part of the rental agreement. That cost a pretty sum for a business that seems to average about 10 customers a day in the middle of high season, but the landlords are sitting pretty!

How do you know? I suspect the figure as being primarily gossip, with nothing and nobody to back the story... True, or not?

Basically, the same story happens each year...

Anybody at mae rim feel the ground shaking an hour ago, look like another earthquake.

I'm kinda between Mae Rim and San Sai...

Nothing shaking here today

I would wager that if you had a bunch of plain bottles without labels and filled them with a variety of Scottish beverages they wouldn't know one from the other

I wouldn't either, and neither would anyone else I know...

Limbo, I have 800x600 pixels, and your row of 4 pictures stretches the frame ALOT for me, making reading this section very difficult.. I tried twice, and gave up after reading a couple of postings...

Can you change the way your records are formatted on the page? Like maybe 2 across and two down?

I'd like food to be either an art, or a love, but never engineering.

Hmmm....Chachao wake up! wake up!

Or

(Save a joint for me, okay?)

But I laid around a bit

Then I had another hit.

Then I rolled myself a bauma.

Then I thought about my mama.

Then I fooled around, played around

jacked around a while and then

I got stoned and I missed it.

If I were you, I would dress warmly for the next month, but then don't worry, it never goes below about 5-10 celcius, imo.

I'd like food to be either an art, or a love, but never engineering.

Hmmm....Chachao wake up! wake up!

Or

(Save a joint for me, okay?)

OK granted it is a tad chilly, particurly for Thais (I'm even feeling it a bit), but winter comes once a year and I doubt that it is the coldest on record.

Sure, distribute blankets and the like, but to declare it as "a disaster area" is surely going a bit over the top isn't it.

To me it is a bit like the boy why cried wolf.

I figure, since MHS is so isolated, they have to declare it an emergency to get noticed..

The earthquake at San Sai is harmless

The Director of the National Disaster Warning Center, Dr. Smith Thamasaros (สมิทธ ธรรมสโรช), indicated that earthquake at San Sai (สันทราย) District in Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่) Province was the aftershock of the earthquake in Sumatra Island.

At 7.30 hours, earthquake measured on 3.7 Ritchter scale took place at San Sai District in Chiang Mai Province. Dr. Smith insisted that the earthquake at Chiang Mai was just the aftershock of the earthquake in Sumatra Island in Indoniesia.

The severe effect caused by the earthquake has caused no harm. Dr. Smith also confirmed that the earthquake is harmless.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 December 2006

Sounds to me like the Doc was drinking...

Didnt notice here in town, but apparently out in Sansai.

Nothing here in San Sai, either...

If service/food is good I tip 15 percent. If both are bad I leave a little message, 25 Satang.

The service/food would need to be very good to warrant a 15% gratuity.

OK if you're have a 30 baht bowl of noodles it would be OK (or a waste of time to give less) but if the bill comes to 2-3 K and you give 15% that would be close to 500 baht and I have never found service or food that remotely warrants that as a tip.

I agree, and that's why I never think in terms of percentages. For a waiter, I normally leave a 20 baht tip for a meal of whatever I eat. If they expect me to give 15%, I would expect at least a show.

I guess you still haven't found a comfortable mattress and the stress level is building.

I don't think he is the only one with rising stress levels - I get then reading these posts

Please read my posts and you can see that my stress levels are not rising one bit.

Ajarn - I'm really interested to know which firm did the setting (" ïmplanting") of your 4 matched pearls that were switched on you.

Was it the same firm that supplied them ? Did they send them out for setting ?

The implanting was done by Nassar's shop...

I guess you still haven't found a comfortable mattress and the stress level is building.

I don't think he is the only one with rising stress levels - I get then reading these posts

Please read my posts and you can see that my stress levels are not rising one bit.

Why judge a book by it's cover? Wouldn't it make more sense to go in and actually meet the man, then make your decision rather than looking at an advert in a magazine? Ever see the photo of Einstein sticking his tongue out? Would you trust the guy in that photo to work with sub atomic particles?

Meet Nassar and make your decisions based on personal interaction. Believe me, it's more accurate than photos in a magazine!

The Fly Fisherman

>>>My intuition and Ajarns personal experience is good enough for me.

>>>Personal interaction has got nothing to do with it.

In Thailand? Personal interaction has got nothing to do with it? Am I reading this correctly?

Last I knew, personal interaction was about the most important aspect of business deals here.

>>>Having said that I'm not gonna get into another "hillside 4" type debate on it

Nothing here to debate. Your intuition? My experience? These are both subjective.

I'll continue to shop at Nassar's store, as I have for years. You and Ajarn won't. That's OK.

Ajarn says he trusts no one. That's OK too.

Me..... I trust lots of folks. That's probably OK as well.

>>>AND some of the worlds most notorious of crooks have been "religious"

..... as were some of the most philanthropic and charitable people the world has ever known. I guess for some, the glass is always half empty. For others, it's half full. And that's OK too.

The Fly Fisherman

Listen fly, if you want to whine, then please leave me out of it.

"Listen fly?" Shades of Edward G. Robinson!!!

Please tell me you're joking!!!!

Next we know you'll be reaching for your tommygun!

'Whine' is defined as a complaint, a distressed cry.

I was praising Nassar. Expressing a favorable judgment of the man and his ethics.

If you'll notice, it was you who was complaining. Wouldn't that make you the one who was whining?

Let's keep our facts straight.

Larry, if you wanted to be left out of it, you shouldn't have posted. It was your choice.

The Fly Fisherman

How old are you? You sound like an angry child.

Was it me who said 'Listen, fly?' (I find it hard to say that with a straight face.)

Now THAT sounds angry! Oopps! Nope, not me. Who then?

If you follow your usual pattern, next you'll call me a troll. You've done that to everyone who disagrees with you, on all the boards you've posted to. Let's just end this right now, Larry, so we can avoid your pouting. I guess you still haven't found a comfortable mattress and the stress level is building. Please don't take it out on us. You said you wanted to left out. Start by leaving yourself out. It's a great beginning, and the rest of us can discuss buying gem stones.

The Fly Fisherman

A very angry child

No, you don't need to learn Thai to survive here, but if you learn a bit of Thai, you will be more understanding of Thai people and Thai life. I know some foreigners who never learn Thai and they seem to do okay with most things... But, learning Thai will definately help you in life here.

Why judge a book by it's cover? Wouldn't it make more sense to go in and actually meet the man, then make your decision rather than looking at an advert in a magazine? Ever see the photo of Einstein sticking his tongue out? Would you trust the guy in that photo to work with sub atomic particles?

Meet Nassar and make your decisions based on personal interaction. Believe me, it's more accurate than photos in a magazine!

The Fly Fisherman

>>>My intuition and Ajarns personal experience is good enough for me.

>>>Personal interaction has got nothing to do with it.

In Thailand? Personal interaction has got nothing to do with it? Am I reading this correctly?

Last I knew, personal interaction was about the most important aspect of business deals here.

>>>Having said that I'm not gonna get into another "hillside 4" type debate on it

Nothing here to debate. Your intuition? My experience? These are both subjective.

I'll continue to shop at Nassar's store, as I have for years. You and Ajarn won't. That's OK.

Ajarn says he trusts no one. That's OK too.

Me..... I trust lots of folks. That's probably OK as well.

>>>AND some of the worlds most notorious of crooks have been "religious"

..... as were some of the most philanthropic and charitable people the world has ever known. I guess for some, the glass is always half empty. For others, it's half full. And that's OK too.

The Fly Fisherman

Listen fly, if you want to whine, then please leave me out of it.

"Listen fly?" Shades of Edward G. Robinson!!!

Please tell me you're joking!!!!

Next we know you'll be reaching for your tommygun!

'Whine' is defined as a complaint, a distressed cry.

I was praising Nassar. Expressing a favorable judgment of the man and his ethics.

If you'll notice, it was you who was complaining. Wouldn't that make you the one who was whining?

Let's keep our facts straight.

Larry, if you wanted to be left out of it, you shouldn't have posted. It was your choice.

The Fly Fisherman

How old are you? You sound like an angry child.

Why judge a book by it's cover? Wouldn't it make more sense to go in and actually meet the man, then make your decision rather than looking at an advert in a magazine? Ever see the photo of Einstein sticking his tongue out? Would you trust the guy in that photo to work with sub atomic particles?

Meet Nassar and make your decisions based on personal interaction. Believe me, it's more accurate than photos in a magazine!

The Fly Fisherman

>>>My intuition and Ajarns personal experience is good enough for me.

>>>Personal interaction has got nothing to do with it.

In Thailand? Personal interaction has got nothing to do with it? Am I reading this correctly?

Last I knew, personal interaction was about the most important aspect of business deals here.

>>>Having said that I'm not gonna get into another "hillside 4" type debate on it

Nothing here to debate. Your intuition? My experience? These are both subjective.

I'll continue to shop at Nassar's store, as I have for years. You and Ajarn won't. That's OK.

Ajarn says he trusts no one. That's OK too.

Me..... I trust lots of folks. That's probably OK as well.

>>>AND some of the worlds most notorious of crooks have been "religious"

..... as were some of the most philanthropic and charitable people the world has ever known. I guess for some, the glass is always half empty. For others, it's half full. And that's OK too.

The Fly Fisherman

Listen fly, if you want to whine, then please leave me out of it.

Just what we need. More western tipping culture imported to Thailand. American?

And yourself? An Aussie?

Overstay may be cheaper, but it is dangerous because if anyone from the 'official police' has eyed that you are overstaying, they are required to arrest you for being illegaly in Thailand. Something I would never risk.

sis is down and wants to get some good gems, stones. seen a lot around, night bazaar and everywhere in chiang mai. problem is that, i don;t know of any places i can trust. cheap and most importantly genuine. any suggestions please? names of places and contacts would be very much appreciated.

I've found Nassar of 'Sharez Jewelers' on Thapae Road to be one of the most honest gem dealers I've ever encountered. His stones are good quality, and his prices hard to beat unless you're a gem dealer yourself. I've bought a lot of loose stones from him over the past few years, as well as having stones set. All have been at a fraction of their appraised value in the US.

The Fly Fisherman

Well, I've had different experiences with Mr. Nassar.. About 8 years ago, I sat with him and picked out 4 beautifully matched pearls. When I finally got the already-paid for merchandise implanted into jewlry, the pearls that I had chosen were switched, and now none of the pearls matched. I came back a week later with them, and he denied they came from his shop, accusing me of being the person that switched them. As far as I am concerned, he is a thief and a liar, but tried to stay clean by accusing someone else (Me) of being the bad guy... DO NOT TRUST HIM OR HIS SHOP

ajarn, thanks for the words of advise. that would certainly be taken into consideration. leaves me no choice but to stay away from that shop then. would you have any suggestion of places to buy from?

i do realise though that no one can really be sure of any place at any one time. 1 person might get cheated and another person given a good deal. but should any place have a good reputation, id certainly like to know. in this case, looks like fisherman was the lucky one and ajarn not!

I don't know of any place I would trust. I thought I had made a good choice since I was aquainted with Nassar and his wife, who were members of the same church as my wife, but it didn't work out for me.

sis is down and wants to get some good gems, stones. seen a lot around, night bazaar and everywhere in chiang mai. problem is that, i don;t know of any places i can trust. cheap and most importantly genuine. any suggestions please? names of places and contacts would be very much appreciated.

I've found Nassar of 'Sharez Jewelers' on Thapae Road to be one of the most honest gem dealers I've ever encountered. His stones are good quality, and his prices hard to beat unless you're a gem dealer yourself. I've bought a lot of loose stones from him over the past few years, as well as having stones set. All have been at a fraction of their appraised value in the US.

The Fly Fisherman

Well, I've had different experiences with Mr. Nassar.. About 8 years ago, I sat with him and picked out 4 beautifully matched pearls. When I finally got the already-paid for merchandise implanted into jewlry, the pearls that I had chosen were switched, and now none of the pearls matched. I came back a week later with them, and he denied they came from his shop, accusing me of being the person that switched them. As far as I am concerned, he is a thief and a liar, but tried to stay clean by accusing someone else (Me) of being the bad guy... DO NOT TRUST HIM OR HIS SHOP

I live on Mae Jo Road, and I felt three big movements.

That could have been some dodgy moo yang though!

If it was muu yang, then it was strong!...

I live on Mae Jo Road, and I felt three big movements.