RikDao

Not that it matters too much to Thailand, but India is getting younger, meaning they will be stronger in the future, esp compared to China which is aging rapidly.

Oh, another one of THESE threads.

Hey, I'll meet ya on the West Side of Chicago at 8. If I'm late, just hang in there, don't worry, I'll see ya soon! And if we survive, next week we can meet on the South Side! K?

Now I noticed the Phils didn't score too well, either. Well, they're currently in open warfare, aren't they?

Hey, been up here couple of weeks now. Very pleasant. People in the markets are nice and friendly, workers we've hired have all been cool, neighbors are fine.

All in all, so far, so good!

I will say, it's my style to be as nice and respectful to the locals as possible, without being a disingenuous phony about it. It's their country, and I respect them for what they've built. 

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Traffic is diabolical at school times. I advise not to go there. Plenty of other towns with better roads north of C M.

 

And, of course you should not buy property anywhere, at least till you have lived somewhere for a year.

Thanks for the input. Will avoid the roads at school times.

Wonder if Nicole K ate it. She's the prettiest girl in the world.

11 hours ago, CMKiwi said:

Having lived in Mae Rim for just 4 years, I have no complaints or worries with the area. Its not too far from the city (If I want to go there) and there are enough food places to satisfy my ever changing tastes.  Public service transport can be a bit of a worry after hours but that is no different from a lot of other places.  And as has been said its relatively quiet out this way.

 

In regards to Army owned land and people who are 'squatting' on it, yes they have next to zero rights if the Army decides to take it back.  Thats a very simplistic way of putting it, however I believe there is a lot more to it.  Quite a few well known businesses are on Army 'leased' land, along with a lot of local civilians. About 2 years ago there was a bit of a 'clean up' around the area in which I stay.  Those that had proper land office papers and/or documentation to say the land was leased were ok. Some others that just had word of mouth werent so lucky.  As most people know...if it aint in writing then it doesnt exist.

 

My wifes property is on Army lease land and there has never been a problem.  In fact the land office/Army officials recently had a drive advising leasees that they can apply for loans if they wish to improve their sites with buildings and such.  

 

Is there still a risk that the Army could demand their land back or cancel the lease agreements?  Absolutely.  Nothing is certain in this life apart from death.

 

Each to their own...due dilligence and all, but Id take Mae Rim anyday over Hang Dong.

Hey wow, thanks for the feedback! Just the kind of thing I wanted to hear, but helpful, too, and positive. I'm still a noob when it comes to doing business on this scale with my kind and gracious Thai friends. But business-wise, so far, so good!

(I hope that last remark doesn't elicit an avalanche of "OMG, just you wait! This guy really is a clueless noob!" replies, thank you very much anyway. Lol).

And yeah, Mae Rim over Hang Dong for me, too, just from how it looks and feels, which is all I have to go on really, except others' opinions.

2 minutes ago, Saan said:

Only Spartans and Aussies can eat it. You have to be a he man.

Go To Topic Listing Chiang Mai For

Ahh, that explains my fear!

Hey, I don't drink anymore, but I'll say one thing is for sure, when I did, I thought Australian beer was the best-tasting in the world!  Seems like they combined some of the best aspects of German beer and English lager-style, or something.

Kasem.

Yo, what is that stuff, anyway? I'm afraid to try it.

Joke! Joke! Please don't delete it, oh, Mr Mod, please! Aussies will chuckle!

There are a few farangs wandering around inside the mall, but not many. Place seems just as deserted as ever. I was there yesterday.

4 hours ago, pgrahmm said:

 

Which might also qualify this for the best scam Thailand thread..... 

Sorry for my naivete, but you lost me. Whaddya mean:  "best scam Thailand thread?"

Thanks for replies. While I like CM plenty, I'm looking forward to living out there.

It's just far enough, just close enough, too. Don't go to bars, do eat at restaurants now and then so we'll come in and go to the movies while we're at it, wife likes to cook, so do I, don't have a ton of friends in CM, wife loves the house, so do I, three bedrooms instead of one, means I get my own little study, wife gets a sewing room, etc. Not perfect, maybe, but it's very pleasant.

33 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

You know, Even Stevens could be your neighbour !

regards worgeordie

Oh, OK.

PS - Huh? Is that a good thing?

Well, seems to be not too far for us, and the traffic ain't bad to get there.

And we have gorgeous views of (presently) green rice fields that spread for a few miles, plus mountain views in the other direction, not to mention the beautiful sky.

Way off the highway, you can hear a pin drop out there, and there aren't any of those sad, scared, sickly dogs walking around. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE dogs, but how they're treated here is messed up.

Plus, we got a great deal on a great place, and I'll be able to do some organic veggie gardening, while my wife can grow her flowers and things.

Also, there's a Makro out there, which, if that hadn't been there, I wouldn't have wanted to move. I still like to get western food items now and then.

So, I guess it's full steam ahead! My wife already has the village shaman, a very cool guy, ready to come and anoint the place. 

Thanks for the replies!

With my Thai wife. Want to get out of the City. Have a car now.

Anybody have any good experiences up there?

Thanks.

One of the most clear and blatant rituals used to inculcate Thai males with a sense of entitlement is the penis-kissing of babies.

If you've been involved with a working-class or peasant (farming) Thai family, you either recognize EXACTLY what I'm talking about, or you're deeply in denial.

It goes like this: the mother, grandmother and aunties gather around the male baby, taking turns smooching its stomach, and from time to time, directly kiss the penis. Sometimes, they'll out and out suck it. And sometimes, if the little guy gets a baby stiffy, they'll applaud the event.

My girlfriend even commented on this treatment of her grandson (by herself and various aunts of the baby): "Oh, he just loves having his penis kissed."

Um...yeah. I think that statement applies to males of any age, pretty much worldwide. Duh.

Mind you...I am NOT accusing working class and peasant Thai women of Thai sexual abuse. For them, this activity is not sexual in the least. They're just "tickling" the baby.

But let's get real...in the male baby's unconscious, it is most CERTAINLY sexual. Psychiatrists would have a field day with the implications. Our very early experiences as children--yes, as infants--shape who we become sexually as adults in an undeniable way.

For me, the subconscious message to the Thai male is clear: "if my mother, grandmother and aunts would suck me off, well, any <deleted> bitch I meet as an adult damn well better be willing to...for I am the MALE, and I deserve to have my desires satisfied..." This goes a long way to explaining why a Thai man would, and often does, break the jaw of a woman who would deny him the genital servicing he became used to from a (VERY) early age...

The "baby stiffy" issue is interesting. What about the lil fellas who don't get one of those? Are they future ladyboys? Are they forever uninterested in sex? Are they, ahem, "normal?"

Hey, further research has shown that I need a Thai licence before I can get an international one.

Thanks!

Good morning!

I have a valid US driver's licence, and just took lessons to drive in Thailand. My question is: Can I get an international licence here in Thailand, or do I need the local variety? And if yes, then how would I go about it?

Please forgive, old timers, if this has been covered.

Thanks!

No way is the 27 to 1 accurate, but it is true that the women carry the biggest load in this country.

After I'd spent about three months here, it struck me: women run this show.

Impossible for Westerners to understand, and equally impossible for Thais to explain.

Actually, I could be wrong about that: they might think karma explains it, as well as justifies it.

And this is coming from a country with hundreds of thousand of half naked bar girls and street walkers...

did any one said double standards here?......

Hundreds of thousands? Gimme a break.

Anyway, there would've been quite a storm if something had happened to those girls.

After being here three years and loving Thais, with all their faults, I now realize that plenty of Westerners are trapped here, mainly for financial reasons. Of course, they are the most vocal Thai-bashers, and I used to think, Why don't these geezers just leave? Now I realize they can't.

Well...let's be honest.

mr chow makes some valid points.

And naboo: your rebuttal is mostly baloney.

That said, I totally agree with Denim; it's best to just quietly walk away, and don't look back.

Agreed 100%. I did the same 10 years ago, went back west. Some of his points have truth in them, although they are exposed way too bluntly for my taste, without finesse (to say the least).

My experience of living and working in Thailand was a nice one overall, but the drawbacks have gradually taken over the advantages.

I walked away, quietly.

I still like and enjoy the country as a regular visitor.

I may even consider coming back for my retirement.

I think that he forgot to list a serious issue, though, that may become critical: the worrying future ahead, with a real risk of seeing this country fall into complete chaos due to the deeper and deeper political divide. It still holds together today only because of a reason that will probably vanish in the near future...

Hmmm. Political, as in economic? I've been here three years, and the more I know about this country, the less I understand. And your last sentence, I guess you're referring to Long Live the . . .?

Yeah, really hard to tell what's over the horizon. They've been open, historically, to outside ideas about surviving as a somewhat thriving entity, Who knows if that will keep happening.

Oh yeah, as to OP's list: Whatever! Like a lot of places, they're being dragged, kicking but not exactly screaming, into the so-called modern world.

Fk the "adverse effect on tourism" these pieces of excrement need to be thrown in jail indefinitely. Being "drunk" is no excuse whatsoever for this foul inhuman behaviour. That could easily have been your or my mother getting punched to the ground and kicked in the head. If I got that guy in a locked room he's be f*cking dead now.

Yo Cap'n Crunch! You seem to imply that you'd kill him, is that it?

Of course you're exaggerating, but why say it in the first place?

I bought fresh growing horseradish in Khamtieng Flower market in Chiang Mai 2 months ago. Grow well, just avoid direct sun and limit water. May other fresh herbs - oregano, Italian basil, rosemary etc..

Hey thanks!

I'd given up, and even forgot about this thread...

Boots.

Does a Thai need a passport to go to Laos for two weeks, or will a Thai ID do the trick?

I've heard they can go to Vientiane (only) for two days (only) with just an ID, but ya never know.

Thanks in advance.

You kindle download the Kindle app, right? But maybe you have to do too much rekindling, er, I mean recharging.