Romeland

Youv’ve been coming for 4 years and you know bar owners in Soi Buakhao

we’re not worthy .... we’re not worthy  

How could the wheel be almost level with a passenger window ?  I'm sure you can't see the wheels from your seat in a plane ?

Hi, free VPN's will hardly ever work consistently with bandwidth sapping stuff like Sky Go. I am using iPlayer and the ITV hub with a paid for VPN on my iPad (and allows 4 other devices), which will work as long as your wifi is really strong, but even this isn't always great. Suggest you sign up for one of the paid VPN's on the App Store (most of them offer free trials) and see how you get on. But forget the free ones.

I suppose the easiest attitude is shrug our shoulders and say it will never change as the Thais are amongst the worst and most ignorant drivers on the planet. But a start must be something along the lines of awareness and making these idiots aware of the consequences of their idiotic driving habits. In the same way that the Thai Government managed to "educate" most of it's ladies that condoms must be worn, then perhaps they could scare people into becoming more aware of what happens when you drive like morons or drive 'unroadworthy' vehicles. Series of adverts and film clips during commercials, billboards and newspaper adverts showimg scary aftermath pictures, with guts and claret splattered everywhere .... could be a start. The UK do this to make people think about bike riders ... and it does work. This is something that the Thai Government could do .... if it wanted to, although of course they are often busy using recourses to break up dangerous bridge parties.

'Other valables worth 50,000 baht' .... so if phone and money was stolen, what other 'valuables would be worth 50,000 baht to walk around with ? They took their jewlelary off and put it in the bag ? They had a 50,000 baht camera in the bag ?

A camera can easily be worth 50,000 baht. Mine is worth 20k, and I am a cheapskate, buying an entry level canon dslr. 50,000 is nothing for a quality dslr. Do you have any more questions or insinuations?

Of course they look like the people to walk around with a 50k camera .... absolutely unheard of for people to inflate insurance claims ... what a jolly world we live in.

'Other valables worth 50,000 baht' .... so if phone and money was stolen, what other 'valuables would be worth 50,000 baht to walk around with ? They took their jewlelary off and put it in the bag ? They had a 50,000 baht camera in the bag ?

Your question is very specific, yet the answer is not an exact science. I have worked in this business for 30 years and have spent a lot of time in Thailand also. Thailand is unique in so far as outside influences can effect almost everything. You need to understand the tax situation, realise it's easy to buy, not to sell, everything you do is a million times harder in reality, you are farang, farang and Thai ways of doing things are opposite ends of the spectrum. I have seen things go wrong with property here and you would not believe the legal minefield you can get yourself into. You will meet big talkers, it's easy to talk, not to do etc etc. In short, it all looks great on paper with the BTL yields .... but this is Thailand, not the UK and you are not on paper, you are in a very complicated country.

Headline says SHUDDERS to s halt, when in fact the plane just taxied to the stand to let passengers off and bomb squad on. I was expecting a report of a plane aborting take off just before reaching point of no return and then screeching to a halt etc etc .... talk about misleading. Hope they fine and lock up the idiot woman .... selfish person and stupid with it. Wonder who wears the trousers in hers and Mr. Zurich's household ? His probably still amazed he has got a woman half his age to realise what immature idiots some of them can be.

I haven't stayed at Aloft, but don't most modern hotels have a do not disturb button which displays a light on the panel outside the door ? Also, Aloft is the the hi-tech hotel which gives you a smart phone as the door key, etc etc. The article makes specific reference to a sign outside the door ... maybe they are referring to the light and I am being pedantic 555

But I do know one thing ... all hotels should call the room if the guest has do not disturb for any length of time. as they have a duty of care to their guests, As the body was sadly decomposed looks like hotel failed on that front. And why on earth was the room number reported ?? Have never seen a room number mentioned in a report before.

And at some larger 7-11's you will also be able to do your driving test at facilities to the rear of the premises. At last the Thai authorities are moving in the right way, recognising that foreigners want a one shop facility and are too lazy to move around. If they could perhaps offer massage facilities as well, it would be heaven.

I suppose the vendors add to the history and buzz of the city .... but to those who live there and need to get around, the vendors are a plan in the arse. I particularly go nuts when you get a family of 'people from certain countries' who just stop dead in their tracks, completely oblivious to those walking behind them, and hold up the foot traffic. I also get agitated when the vendors who are setting up, need to walk from one side of the pavement to the other, don't look first and bang into anyone just walking along, who by rights, have right of way. They act if they own the place .... they don't. My solution would be to reduce the numbers to stop the congestion and perhaps introduce a license system to control it (which of course would be manged perfectly by the authorities without incentive payments flying around ?)

As the Insurance Company say ...

When was the fire ?

Answer .... tomorrow

Siliconebreastedshortarsedmoneygrabbingcunt Ex wife.

Ok, for a start the meter said 130 and you gave the driver 150 ... most people know that there is an airport pick up surcharge of 50 baht .... so in fact you underpaid him by 30 baht, and did not give any "extra".

I am also thinking that you may have omitted parts of the story here. I deal with many Indian clients in my work and most of them are very hard to deal with as they constantly try and cut what is required to be paid, over and over again. Even when we explain, they repeat the same rubbish over and over again, trying to pretend that they do not understand. Why did your wife have to speak to the driver ? You are a frequent visitor.

I don't get how you can spend a considerable sum of money to get here, and yet you are making a big thing about the highway. The driver does not make on this. It's early hours of the morning, you are on your own, common sense should tell you to be polite and not argue with any Thai person, let alone taxi driver. You have chosen to use a taxi and so the highway is normally standard.

You should acknowledge the driver with a nod, smile and say meter krup before getting in. Once they start the journey make sure that the meter is on. Do not stupidly wait till the journey is nearly completed. Too late.

I have taken airport taxi over 100 times, and I can swear hand on heart ... I have never had a problem .... they always use the meter. Of course in town I have had the same experiences as everyone has had ... par for the course .... but I deal with it.

Are you sure that you have told the whole story about what was said ? My considerable dealings with Indians have shown them to be economical with the truth. Maybe you upset the driver in some way ? I am not judging you, it could be that the driver has had a problem with Indians in the past ..... but if I were a betting man .... I think this is a case of som nam na as opposed to poor farang.

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Probably not relevant to the whole scale of things, but for my sins I always fly Thai Business Class, to keep up the mileage rewards ..... everytime I make a trip, I tell myself enough is enough, screw the miles and join another airline program. The Thai Business class cabins are full of old stewardesses in their 40's or even 50's, fluffing around with scorns on their faces, clearly not happy in their jobs. There are also too many of them .... I upgraded to First on a flight earlier this year, and there were 4 passengers in the cabin and 4 bloody stewardesses fluffing around. They kept dumping food on my table, which is ok in itself, but by the time you have eaten the nibbles, the fish cake and dip, something else in rich sauce, you are stuffed .... after the main course, I was told the plane was empty and would I like another main course .... she obviously couldn't deduce from the fact that I hadn't eaten the first offering, that I was unlikely to manage another plate of some unedible mush.

My point is that if the over staffing of aircraft with old cronies, in Business Class and First Class, not to mention the upgrades they always give to Thai cronies, is reciprocated in all departments across the company, it is not hard to establish where the problem lies. They need to establish a tough program of voluntary retirements and bring the company out of the Stone Age, whilst at the same time, stop spouting the rubbish how wonderful they are ...... I used to love flying Thai, but now I get agitated by it as it as old dinosaur in the skies.

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Do yourself a favour ..... Don't do it. I did it many years ago for my now ex Thai wife, and now, whilst I am still working like a prick to try and fund my retirement .... she has this F off house in Issan, which looks like the f'ing White house and is even talking her new farang bf to stay there next week ..... if a tg really, really loves you ... they will ask for nothing like this. I can 99% guarantee you .... it will go sour in the end and she will turn into the Gremlin which looks into bright lights !

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I'll be there ...

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A couple of points:

First, the agent's work is completed once the initial contract is signed and the tenant takes possession. He/she has no further duties concerning the unit that year, and certainly none in subsequent years. One does not earn the right to a recurring source of income because of the initial activity which resulted in the lease.

If the owner has asked the agent to continue dealing with issues that arise, such as repairs, etc., then that is a different matter and the agent should be compensated.

Second, it is by no means a small commission. The accepted practice is one month's rent, which is 8.5% of the annual income.

WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. As usual, another person missing the point. The commission for second and subsequent years is payable, because the property owner is getting benefit from the initial introduction of the tenant to the property. Forget management, we are just talking about the introduction commission. It is not a case of 'work', it is a case of the fact that the owner is receiving an income each month/year, solely down to the fact that the tenant has been introduced to the property by the agent. It's exactly the same basis that any financial product you purchase, ie. pension plan or investment plan, then the introducer will receive a small commission throughout the duration of the plan. Put another way, would you think it fair that an agent introduces a client to a property, the owner says they only want to do a 6 month contract (to get out of paying subsequent fees), and then the tenant remains at the property for 10 years ? The owner would have received benefit for 10 years, but agent just paid a small commission based on 6 months ?

My problem is the attitude of some of the property owners. They resent paying a commission for introduction of a decent Tenant, yet they are happy to take the money and receive the benefit. I agree that the commission should be reduced for subsequent years, but certainly not cut, if the owner is still receiving 'value' for the introduction. In other countries there is lots of paper work involved each year when someone rents out their property and the agent certainly helps the owner cope with this. Any decent agent would also be aware of rent price trends and negotiate rent increases each year, if applicable. There is also the fact that in the UK for example, 10% of Tenants are in rent arrears, and if handled incorrectly (ie. the attitude of OP) any problem would escalate into serious rent arrears and the necessity to go to Court to evict Tenants. The agents certainly earn their money when problems arise, because property rental is not an exact science and some situations are delicate. Tenants need handling and talking to in the right way. It's funny, people are happy to hand out bundles of cash to lawyers, because they think they are professional, but in the reality there are more crooked than most professions, yet they command respect from the ignorant public, whilst agents are considered rubbish.

Rant over ......

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Sorry, I didn't mean to say all agents are bad. Just some.

That agent I mentioned wants to sign a one year contract (before she said the client will stay long years, so we offered cheap price ). And she wanted to show her customer to our home to have a look tomorrow. (Did not even ask if we will have time). Of course, I rejected her firmly this time.

Isn't this a waste of time on both sides?

Sorry, but you are not giving the agent a chance and are just being negative towards her. Firstly, you contacted them in the first instance to find a Tenant for your home. Therefore, if she wishes to show a client your home, then that is a good thing isn't it ??!! Furthermore, by finding someone who wishes to view quickly, demonstrates that they are working to find a client ASAP. If they made no appointments, you would be the first to complain, saying they do nothing. You can always say, no sorry, tomorrow is not possible and try and negotiate a convenient day for viewings - hardly the end of the world, and certainly not worth writing about this as a negative issue towards an agent.

Sadly, your attitude is so poor towards the agent, demonstrating the fact that it is always the agents fault for everything, when 99% of the time, any bad issue is down to either the property owner or the Tenant.

It's about time that agent bashes started engaging their brains, look in the mirror and try and scratch below the service.

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With regard to the OP's comment about having to pay a fee each subsequent year a Tenant renews their Tenancy Agreement, this is perfectly standard in my home country. If the owner gets the benefit of a rental income from a good tenant each year, then why shouldn't they pay a small commission for this benefit ? No one ever stops to think that an agent has expenses to pay and needs to make a living like everyone else. Whilst I cannot comment on the unprofessionalism of some agents, please don't bracket all agents under the same umbrella.

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Part of being a good driver, especially in Thailand, is anticipating that others will not respect the laws of the road (if there is even such a thing in LOS), and act accordingly. You have just assumed that as the light is red, you are free to do what you want at the light and junction and have applied a mentality more in tune with an advanced Western country. Sadly my friend, you are the idiot in this video (rightly or wrongly), pulling off at a stupid and dangerous speed, narrowly missing the bus. One of the things that annoys me in Bangkok is farang motorists trying to be 'Billy Big Balls'.

This is a true story .... not one I am especially proud of, as I showed myself to be a bit ignorant, but as I lived to tell the tell, the experience has taught me a valuable lesson.

When the reds had their large demos a few years back, I was getting a little agitated at the disruption they were causing .... but I kept my views to myself. Unfortunately, one night I was trying to negotiate from Siam Square to another location, and I decided to approach a taxi driver, who was parked outside the Novatel. The taxi driver told me he couldn't take me anywhere, because the reds had blocked one of the roads on the route. Being a little bit worse for wear, I muttered something along the lines of f*****g red shirts messing up the city .... I didn't mean anything bad towards the reds or what they stood for, just commenting about how they are making it hard for people to get around. The taxi driver, who I realized afterwards had limited English skills, took it that I was against the red shirts (yes .... I was an idiot). He started shouting at me and I looked at him and noticed he had a red shirt under his armless jacket and a red patterned bandana .... a soldier from the North (I hadn't noticed any detail about him before). I put my arm up and tried to apologize in my limited Thai, that I meant nothing bad to him or the reds ... I just wanted to get to my destination. At that point the passenger door of the taxi opened and another guy walked round the other side of the car and opened the boot. The first guy then pulled away a blanket and under the blanket was a large machete knife. He picked up the knife, smiled at me and started to walk towards me ..... at this point I ran like I have never ran before and literally threw myself into the Novatel hotel nightclub. I had never been so scared in my life .... I thought that the red was going to kill me. A security guard who was standing near to us, just smiled and looked down to the floor as the guy took out the knife and chased after me. I spent the next 3 hours in the club shitting myself, paranoid that the guy would somehow get into the club and find me. I had god knows how many bacardi and cokes, but couldn't lose the fear .... when something like this happens to you, you start to appreciate what you have and what you would miss if you were suddenly removed from the planet. When the club finished, I was agonising which entrance to leave ... would he still be there waiting for me ? Anyway, I got home safely and lived to tell the tale.

Lesson learnt ..... do not talk politics with any Thai person you do not know, especially taxi drivers. I have learnt that some (more than some) carry weapons in the boot. My wife is Thai, she loves the King, but don't wear a yellow shirt on Mondays ... it's just not worth the risk. You don't know who you will bump into, and should you come accros a red shirt who is drunk, they could quite simply slice you open with a knife or shoot you. Let the Thai's deal with their politics themselves .... we know the flaws and the lack of democracy .... but better keep our thoughts to ourselves.

Siam Legal have a London office (EC1 area). Tel no. 020 7101 9301. Not sure how effective they will be with this situation, but maybe a good place to start. A few years ago I purchased a condo, and the developer ran out of money, borrowed money using the land as security, defaulted on a payment, and lost the land, meaning we lost the project. One of the guys from this company helped us get the land back in a very long and complicated process. Good luck with your situation.