SWEDE CHIANG RAI

Was told in a rather rude way that I can't open an account there unless I have a One Year Visa extension ........

Feel for you there. I went into Siam Commercial in Chiang Rai to open an account and was told in a VERY rude way by an office girl that I had to go to Bangkok to open an account.

Managers sitting about all over the place. No attempt to even ask what my business was, or how much money I wanted to transfer to the account. Rather unCommercial behavious.

According to site rules I believe direct information is not possible, but can anyone point in general directions?

What do you do to get interest on your baht, if you don't want to go into shares, funds etc?

Is it possible to get a decent interest on an ordinary savings account with Thai banks? In order not to have to go into funds of various kinds.

Site rules prohibit direct pointers, but please try give some general advice on how to go about it.

Is conjuring a practicable tool for teaching English in Thailand, considering the often blind faith in the existence of the supernatural in everyday life?

Conjuring as a fun thing, not as a major ingredient in teaching, of course.

Is it possible for farang to get an interest on the baht on a bank account that is at least in the vicinity of Thai inflation?

The closest I've come is a Savings Account that pays 0,75%...

Any ideas on where the baht is going in relation to farang money like USD and Euro considering the revaluation of the yuan/renmimbi, climbing inflation in Thailand, a slowing economy here, steep oil prices and the rest of it?

There is supposed to be an IHT supplement every day with Thai news in English. Can't get the paper here in Chiang Rai, can't get any help on-line from IHT.

How can I access this supplement on-line?

Limbo, I use to stop at the funny house is it still there run by Klaus and wife?

I dont go thru anymore as have 1 year visa so havent been by in a year or so

Was there today; mr Klaus and mrs Kitiya still in residence.

Changes? No, same as before. Why change...? Etc.

Chiangrai is a very little town compared to Chiangmai.

Everything moves slowly. Last week I was a couple of days in Chiangmai and I felt like a farmer coming to the big town. Chiangmai is much more fascinating than Chiangrai and more people speak English. Sometimes I wonder what I am doing in Chiangrai.

It's a matter of taste. People get tired of Chiang Mai in the same way that you get tired of Bangkok. Chiang Rai is a rest from the hustle and bustle; fascinating in that way. One major downside of Chiang Rai is certainly lack of farang type infrastructure, like good bookshops with lots of farang language books etc. You can't for example find the IHT in Chiang Rai (with that new Thai news edition).

Do you know of any new condos or condotels?

Limbo,

Thanks for replies, all very interesting. I was in fact in Bo's Place today! Very much OK, both farang and Thai food.

And the clocktower really is a funny story; somebody even stopped drinking out of confusion late one night; all his bearings were suddenly gone.

But THE MAIN THING is that there's no news in English that I know of about Chiang Rai. There was a week-long festival here some time ago - I heard about it only about the last day (I don't have a Thai Partner).

What's lacking is some basic news about What's On in Chiang Rai, like the stuff you just wrote. Not just for us living here, but for all the backpackers that pass through, and the day trippers from Chiang Mai.

Frankly I don't understand what Chiang Mai has got to do with this sweet, pleasant, QUIET, relatively unpolluted, beautiful town?

Again, thanks.

PS Limbo to what? Just curious.

Not much would be written, but it might be fun.

No need to go into town anymore for the latest gossip.

But I think it could be combined with Chiangmai.

Chiangrai expat news:

The old "Bierstube" of Karl-Heinz (since 1986 or so), not far from the buss-station, night-market, Wiang-Inn and the Funny House, got a new life.

It is now named "Bo's Place", but everybody still uses the old name.

It is a bar-restaurant and suddenly everybody is going there. A very pleasant, open and friendly atmosphere, created by Dutch Erwin, who assists his wife in keeping the guests happy.

Good music, not too loud, free snacks (cheese and Chiangmai-Günthers meat) and a Chiang draft for 35 Baht.

And for the people who remember the old situation: A brandnew powderroom and a clean kitchen! Superb Hamburgers.

Local expats but also Chiangmai visa-runners start to show up here.

Chiangrai is a very little town compared to Chiangmai.

Everything moves slowly. Last week I was a couple of days in Chiangmai and I felt like a farmer coming to the big town. Chiangmai is much more fascinating than Chiangrai and more people speak English. Sometimes I wonder what I am doing in Chiangrai.

I think Dutch people are the biggest group among the expats. Swedish people about six I think.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I sympathise with you. Am in similar situation. Love Thai food, but live in apartment house, 2nd floor. Inherited micro oven from former owner; don't use it except warm up whatever has been getting too cold in the fridge, like oil.

I too have an electrical stove; it doesn't take a wok so I just boil things. But that's not the major problem.

The major problem is that even if it did have the means, I just wouldn't dare stir-fry on the balcony. I know Thai people do it all the time, of course, it's only natural. But I'm from Europe, and if you fry or grill something on your apartment house balcony someone will put YOU in a fryting pan. AND report you to the health authorities, and various other authorities, including the police. And the fire department. And you'll end up in jail.

We must boil on, I fear.

Just asking.

Many thanks for this info.

Please email your favorite recipe for meatballs.

Is there an English-Thai dictionary available on-line, preferably with no costs attached?

Hi

There's been a discussion in this forum about the best schools/methods in Bangkok for learning Thai.

Please post similar experiences, if any, from Chiang Rai and/or Chiang Mai.