skilebow99

That weed would probably fetch close to $10,000 USD per kilo in NYC.

Add 50% to that to get the UK price

Don't be stupid. Please only comment when you know what you are talking about a kilo has never, ever cost $15000 in the UK.

Utter rubbish

Is there something wrong with him mentally? He looks like an imbecile.

I have heard a rumour from people who would know, that he is on the autistic spectrum. Would never be admitted here of course

Oh yeah and 5 star hotels charging for internet is utterly outrageous

I think you have hit the nail on the head here. The tourist board are always going on about how they don't want backpackers only luxury tourists. However, Thailand simply doesn't have the infrastructure.

As someone who travelled all around Thailand as a teenager in 2000 and have now lived here for years I would say that Thailand is great fun to travel round but only at that age. I had so much fun living one day to the next. However, I take your point about not wanting to do it that way, I wouldn't either at my age (don't know how old you are but guessing you are not under 23).

Personally if I want to travel in thailand now I go to one place and stay in a nice resort but then I guess living here I can do that.

For me I wouldn't have planned so much of the trip and just played it by ear but then this is with the benefit of hindsight and experience of Thailand. I think sometimes the best holidays you have here are when you just go with the flow. If you like a place you stay there longer and if you don't you move on.

Anyway these are just some of my thoughts. I hope you enjoy Chiang Mai (my favourite place to visit in Thailand) and if you like culture, history and temples (as I do) I am sure you will.

what's interesting and uncomfortable about this post, for readers like me who have visited Thailand several times (saving up and denying myself pleasures here in the UK in the meantime) and may have had dreams of eventually retiring over here, is that it will always remain a dream.

its obvious from the posts of experienced expats that it costs much more than the average schmuk like me will ever be able to afford.

Regardless of the pleasant Thai weather, beaches, etc it would be hell to be in Thailand and be skint. and living 'the life' i.e girls, golf, massages, fine food etc etc on a daily basis (is there anyone who really lives that way?) is only for the very rich.

also i dont know if its been mentioned in other posts but there is no divine right that will keep exchange rate at 48-50 =£1, when i first visited it was 73, high old times, ok it could actually go up steeply if the baht collapses !!! but the trend now is down, just imagine it being below 40, the average punter with a smallish pension would be a tad troubled i fancy?

Good luck

Thailand is cheaper than the UK, so if you can afford to live in the UK then you should be able to afford to live in Thailand. The exchange rate can be a problem in any country abroad, but it can get better and isn't destined to always get worse. But you have to think ahead and plan what you will do if it drops to say 40 baht to 1GBP. Most people who come unstuck just don't plan ahead at al and just live on hope. There are plenty of ways to earn a part-time income in Thailand, so living here should be possible for everyone. But if you want to spend money on girls, booze, etc then it will go quickly.

I think it is very possible to live the `high life` in Thailand on not very much money or certainly much less money than in the west BUT it is much easier to do if you work here

One of the reason why expats come here is they can have a much better life in their chosen career. I`m a teacher at an international school in BKK and whilst I`m sure i would have done alright in the UK I have a much higher standard of living here than i ever could have at home

This also means the exchange rate means nothing as well

I think when people come here to retire their money goes very quickly as nothing is coming in

If i were the original poster i would look into part time english teaching (as you don`t need many qualifications for the language schools) as this would up the income, give you something to do (Thailand can get a bit boring with little money) and there is always a demand for native speakers

It can be done but not really if you want to live in the tourist areas. 30,000 Baht was what i lived on for my first year here. Although I was just out if uni, a single guy and it was almost a decade ago now! I found you could do it but didn`t live in the center of BKK and ate a lot of street food! If i were you I would use the 3 million to buy a place on the outskirts of BKK. You can get very nice houses with a bit of a garden for 2 and a bit million in places like samut prahkan. Or living in Chiang Mai is much cheaper

Oh goody goody, another scumbag for the British taxpayer to support for around 14 years in the slammer. Not only that but when he gets back he will start claiming benefits for all the rest of his family that are back there as well, and when he is released he will be given a free council house and 300 quid a week to live on. Be better if they put a bounty on these peoples heads to be claimed when returning a corpse.

Never really bothered me as I don`t live in the country and personally think we should let people live where they want...i do!

Didn`t know starbucks sold coffee...thought it was hot mud...