mrvietnam2001

Quit the booze and the bikes.

2 outta three gotta help the statistics

Mr Vietnam

You can blow thru 300 grand pretty quick. It's no money in San Diego so I can appreciate your feelings of being burnt.

But you bring that to Thailand or anywhere else in Asia and you'll not only "feel" burnt, you'll stand a likelyhood of being burned. Then tuck butt and go backto the States with zippidee doo dah.

Figure the worst, hope for the best. Unless you've got a stash in addition to what you mentioned, you better be extra careful.

Sure, Asia is mesmerizing. When I cut and ran, I came back and bought a 250K house because I was in no position anymore to be in the 750K house I was in before the adventure. Will take me a couple years to get even and that part sucks. This is SW Florida and where you are is a lot more per sq ft than here.

Back to the scrap again and fortunately the market ( coin market) is the best in a generation. Almost perfect timing. I'm real thankful.

Careful careful! Watch your back. Sides. Front. I don't mean to be a wet blanket. Just watch it real close like.

Mr Vietnam

Badda Boom!

Fogettabout it!

Mr Vietnam

And check it out mate...most of the brats in them high priced schools are thais who got parents that command the same salary as the expat 'suit'. I love to see them in the US with their florid English picked up in that environment not having a clue regarding local colloquialisms.

Badda bing!

Mr Vietnam

Perrier

Vietnamese Coffee

Ginseng ice tea

Cream soda

Fresh squeezed mango juice

" " Avacado "

A coke every now and then

Rgrds

Mr Vietnam

Good friend of Bill's.

Guns kill far more people than any drug. But guns are still legal. The makers can even advertise. And, last but not least, they are even allowed, through the NRA, to pressure the American goverment into adopting friendly laws.

Is anyone shocked ?

Thru the Constitution stupid, not the NRA.

Mr Vietnam

is macdonalds a drug?

It depends on who is in power. And hey, people are so ignorant they might even buy such a thing.

Mr Vietnam

I am 100% in support of PM Taksin in ridding ALL drug dealers, pushers, suppliers, supporters.

Just eliminate them "WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE!"

Maybe we need him to "train our anti-drug" people in the U.S. AS WELL.

I have no use for anyone in the drug business.

(Just one of my many inperfections)

Ken Bower

San Antonio Texas USA

Visiting Thailand since 1971

You're in the wrong country then Kenny boy.

Maybe you can go for the try outs for the secret police.

Get OUT of the USA

Mr Vietnam

I used Khun Ittipong out of BKK.

His email is [email protected]

Good luck

Mr Vietnam

I believe that the useless US report that so irritated Dear Leader

Ahhhh personally I would simply close the door to any products which originate in Thailand and any country who does business with Thailand for awhile if I had executive powers in the USA.

I wouldn't say a word, nor would people like thaksin even get a chance at reaching me on the telephone. Just close the door and make sure that one of my reps made a few phone calls to all other countries who do business with Thailand and simply tell them that Thailand is "quarantined" for awhile.

Oh how the tune would change so quickly. You don't know how good you have it till you lose it. It's coming.

Mr Vietnam

I think its great! Wish we had the selection of Asian goods like that here in SW Florida

Mr Vietnam

What an infantile and whining set of words you actually took the time to type.

nothing better to do with your time bush?

Mr Vietnam

Pizza , before 1pm, try the small place behind World Gym in Chaweng at the ring road ( opposite the soi going to Laem Din market )

They open in mornings, a hard working italian longtime resident, it's ok there.

Yes and you must try the Italian desserts there!!!!!

Splendiferous!

Mr Vietnam

But if you want EXCELLENT pizza in SE Asia, go to Mama's in the Superbowl Mall near the airport in Saigon. See Nunzio the owner ( from Sicily). Hand tossed and incredible.

God gave man a dick and a brain ... but not enough blood to run 'em together

Hahahahaha well as I get older Doc, I do hope it's my dick that gets the majority of the blood flow

They say that Ponce De Leon found that fountain of youth ( that IS what they meant right?) in Florida although not too sure about that!

You get the post of the week award Doc

Rgrds

Mr Vietnam

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Your Majesty, for your warm and gracious welcome......

Thailand is a principled, generous nation, rising to meet the challenges of our time. Thailand's positive influence in the world is inspired by the fine example of service that Your Majesty, and Her Majesty, the Queen, set for your people. It's also vivid in the great, humane traditions of this land. America is honored to have your friendship.

So I offer a toast to Your Majesties, to the Royal Family, and to your great nation. (A toast is offered.)

END"

I was looking for the original source of the publication that causes such consternation for PM Shinawatra, but could not find it.  I ran across this and thought I would add it to the mix.

Just goes to show how little the President of the US know about the political and democatic system in Thailand.

Not amention of the Thai government.

A major gaffe!!!!!!!!!!!!

More like how little he ( or anyone else for that matter) really cares.

It's all about power.

Mr Vietnam

Geeze, you'd think I was some sort of ethically perfidious old fart.

Guilty!

LOL!

Rgrds

Mr Vietnam

. and when it comes down to it, THAILAND AND THE WORLD NEED MEN LIKE BUSH AND THAKSIN, MEN WITH BALLS.

Wide open for this one. Right wing socialism is what the world needs?

Good thinking. Not.

Mr Vietnam

I have to agree with Axel on this one. I'm American and I feel America needs to stop interfering in other countries business, heck it has stop interfering in Americans business. The present administration, if it can be called that, Has botched and just plain f$$$ed over so many countries with its' lust for power and money That it seems like there's no end in sight. The clone from Connecticut (he ain't no Texan friends. He's just another east coast Ivy League shit) Must be taken down in a landslide election to save the world. Save the world vote for somebody

else, anybody except Arnold or Kissinger please!

Waaaaah waaaaaah waaaaahahahahaha

Mr Vietnam

This reflects the real arrogant attitude of an American!

We all are interdependant and that is how the world works.

The whole world spoke UP against the U.S. attack of Iraq.

Did the U.S. care? Did it even care about what the U.N. said?

On a similar token, should Taksin care about the bullshit

that the U.S. government say, not realizing why Taksin had

to do it? I think not.

Moral standards are varied and they work differently in the

different cultures. So, we need respect from the U.S. government,

our friend over half a century.

Having comprehension problems? Breathe deep and re read before you make comments.

We need you a lot less than you need us. Don't like that fact? Too bad. We don't either.

Mr Vietnam

Come on, useless friends! Aren't you practicing double stadards?

Hey, let's not be friends ok?

Mr Vietnam

Over the decades, we worked together to build the foundations of liberty in this region -- rule of law, respect for human rights, free enterprise and peace. Nations are working together in Afghanistan and Iraq. Royal Thai troops have served well in both places, helping Afghans and Iraqis make the transition from tyranny to self-government.

Thailand is contributing to peace and stability in those two countries and increasing the security of all free nations.

Hahahahaha sometimes the B/S gets so deep it becomes funny

Mr Vietnam

I have no problem with them making wholesale executions. (Shot on sight) They are the worst parasites in the world.

If you had a brain you would be substituting the word government before your quote. But alas, your thread of thought speaks volumes for your lack of depth. Don't worry though, you're far from alone.

Far as thaksin, I personally couldn't care less about what he or any other whining dictator has to say. Now if the thai people would like to speak up, and say that my people are useless, then I would be all in favor of terminating all business with Thailand and sourcing everything we as a people do in terms of business elsewhere.

All. No problem.

But I seriously doubt the people would have the chutzpah to say such a thing even if they felt that way.

Mr Vietnam

Any retired folks from the States familar with the tax thing? How about the rest of you, is your money tax free, or you are you simply citing after tax expenses?

Jeepz

Don't ask

Don't tell.

Mr Vietnam

Ken, one of the common fallacies of living in Asia is cost of living. It all depends on "how" you want to live and what you're willing to settle for.

My expenses in Saigon were over 3,000.00 ( no that's not Baht, its dollars a month and that did not include my "adventures" to China, Thailand, HK, etc and certainly if you factor in a couple or more trips to the US per year and ammortize that, that alone comes to almost a grand a month ( 5K each trip)( way more if you're staying in NYC, once I paid $1800/night for the Four Seasons) but even at the basics, 2 trips back and forth to the USA is going to set you back 5K X2=10K or 850/month to set aside for that alone. I went 8 times in 10 months in 2001. Ouch!

Vungtau was more than Saigon as many periodic trips back and forth to Saigon were in order so as to not go crazy. But I had one of the only houses on the ocean too so that's a premium. Inland is much cheaper but would you really want to live there?

Thailand is another story. My place in Koh Samui was about 700/month, car rental about 400/month ( new but crappy suzuki caribean), a couple nights to the restarant ( upstairs is good and plays good jazz, about 35 dinner for two no alcohol,) A/C was expensive and I won't live without it, water became a real issue there, so you can see that it adds up and certainly my wife and I didn't live as well as we do in Florida. ( all things considered, and I mean all)

I only stayed in BKK for a couple months so I can't comment. But I stayed in a full service apartment down the block from the embassies ( presidential something or another) and it wasn't cheap and another time in Siam Square at I guess it's a 4 star dive. Stayed in Kamala part of Phuket and that rent was a grand a month+ but it was really nice.

Meanwhile someone I consider a friend lives in a decent size apartment/townhouse among the palm trees on samui and he told me he pays 50 bucks a month for it and lives ok on his retirement at a little over a grand a monthy ( ish)

So it depends on the individual obviously.

I would seriously look at Vietnam although lots would have to change before I would consider it on a full time basis again and frankly, I don't see the kinds of changes that I would personaly require anywhere in Asia. But I'm married to a Vietnamese and frankly could make the case for Vnam rather than elsewhere regardless of that fact.

My brother who is retired got into this with me a couple weeks ago ( about what it takes to retire gracefully). We agreed that regardless of where you go the number is 50K/year. Now to find the spot where 50K gets the best deal. It's a big world.

And it sure is an adventure

Rgrds

Mr Vietnam

P.S. Anyone hear from resigned member? Is he in LOS now?

I was ( and am when I'm back) as deep in the Viet community as you can go. I have NEVER had a moments worry in Vnam even when I was hussling on the pool tables ( the reverse hussle). NEVER.

The thai's were sometimes extremely " in your face" whereas the Viets were the opposite and certainly we could debate who would come out a winner in a thai-viet confrontation with my bets that the thais would cut tail and run.

You're extremely right! But may be that's the charm of Thais.... I'm absolutely sure - you're really vet in Nam.... Simply - you respect the enemy...

Beer on me...

Cheers

Thank you but make it a Ginseng tonic as I don't drink anymore ( 4 years!)

And no I'm not a veteran, having been smart enough to get out of it after they sent me. And although I "would" respect" my enemy, ( would be dumb not too), The Vietnamese people were never my enemy and so I respect them as a people and how they treat me.

I do not respect their government however. Nor my own. Nor anyone elses.

Rgrds

Mr Vietnam