Teak

On 1/20/2020 at 6:05 PM, EricTh said:

Wow! Why did you change wife as often as you change clothes?

 

 

On 1/20/2020 at 6:05 PM, EricTh said:

Wow! Why did you change wife as often as you change clothes?

 

 

You are still that simple ? ...Almost, every man I know in Thailand pays his 'wife' an allowance. No money, no honey....;-)

My ex Thai wife of 17 years were business partners......the 'one pocket' is what we had. This gives a Thai woman power and chooses to be loyal, because we are in it together. That fat f%%k on the golph course simply pays his Pattaya whore to smile on command. Yes, 3 ex wives.....but 2 of the three call me every month to just keep connected. 

The point was, where to go, when Thailand is no longer sustainable for us White guys?  This has nothing to do with women.

Excuse me , when you have learned enough you will finally realize that White women, Asian women, Black women, Hispanic women ......they ain't different.

I suspect the quarantining will not be by the Thai Government, but our own home countries, against their own citizens (and tourists) who have travelled from Virus 'flagged'  countries in recent weeks. Russia has banned Chinese people (I read ?). Cruise ships are having problems being accepted at port, regardless of their nationality. I agree with my detractor that the actual deaths are low and the inconvenience of catching the flue is unpleasant, however, the world political reaction is a reality that already restricts our movements. Refusing to discuss it is simply foolish. Very few have confidence in this government to act until the last moment. They cannot control winter burning, do you think they can control a health crisis? I agree those in gated communities and standing apart at the gof course stand a better chance. It is in the upland villages who may die in high numbers as many have compromised health to begin with. 

In America Trump implies ' Don't worry....it can't happen here on election year.'  In Canada, our Health Minister suggests every household have two weeks of food supplies, medications etc.. Just in case....better now than later.  

As we all watch this virus spread around the world, there are countries in Africa and Myanmar for example, that have no or few reports. We know that many Chinese labourers were sent to African nations to work. In Northern Myanmar, the Mongla Group, the Kachin, the Wa, the Palaung etc., speak Mandarin as the 'lingua franca'. If I was in Mainland China I would slip across that porous border to a common language group that I can assimilate with and eventually migrate south where it is more civilized. Villages west of Mong Ngai. Nong Oak are historic KMT refugee villages where modern Mandarin speakers can easily interract with. Many from Taiwan go there because of the common language. There are numerous Chinese villages on the Thai /Myanmar border zone, not to mentions numerous hilltribe people, Hmong, Lisu, Lahu etc. who cross the border to deal with the ethnic Chinese for trade. We know there are no health/virus checks in these regions. I suspect that there is a possibility that there will soon be a 14 to 30 day quarantine for every tourist leaving Thailand.  Obviously, this just a possibility. 

Check out 'Teak house' , Hang Dong area, and ask for Bob, a single Dad, Canadian and ask him for monthly rates. His place is covered with trees he planted 20 years ago. Many antiques that he has collected to furnish the rooms. Birds a plenty and pleasant dogs.

42 minutes ago, Teak said:

I have a fondness for a village on the Mae Mekong , just a wee north of UT. This was the first year I did not go back to Chieng Dao or to that pleasant place on the Mae Nam Mekong. I believe you are suggesting a serious possibility, regarding the potential of a quarantine on Chiengmai. I just read that the Thai Government is considering visa free travel for Chinese, to not lose future business. I certainly would not like to be healthy and locked in with the sick on one side and the army on the other side. This might be the first time that Farrang and Thai are equal.

43 minutes ago, Teak said:

I am always surprised of the naivety of the retirees in Thailand who do not bother to know, or have experienced, Thailand's history. My personal pivotal point was in 1992 'Black May'. Prior to that date, there was the other situation in 1976. (before my time). These things happen in all countries. However,......sitting in a gated community and playing golf and getting fatter....just might not protect you from the politics of this new Chinese virus. Naming it Corvid-19 is important because W.H.O needs to segregate adaptions of the virus to know which strain they are dealing with, at the moment. Yes....No more Chinese virus, it will 'possibly' mutate to survive. That is what we and the virus do...we adapt, and we survive, if we can. It is interesting that humans and viruses are quite similar. However, it seems, in Thailand politics and the the lack of Chinese tourism appears to be of a greater threat. Singapore has placed a ban on Chinese tourists. I have been in Singapore dozens of times, They do make a marked difference between Singaporean Chinese, Taiwan Chinese, Hong Kong Chinese, Expat Chinese and "Main Landers". Inviting people from any geographical location that is known to potentially be infectious  is simply ....stupid.  I know there must be a better word.

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

The way it looks to me is that Chang Mai will be the first of the big towns to get locked down.

 

As long as it stays dry and hot in Isaan we should be OK.

 

This virus could be the end of us humans in many areas so I think the governments should be working overtime on this.

I have a fondness for a village on the Mae Mekong , just a wee north of UT. This was the first year I did not go back to Chieng Dao or to that pleasant place on the Mae Nam Mekong. I believe you are suggesting a serious possibility, regarding the potential of a quarantine on Chiengmai. I just read that the Thai Government is considering visa free travel for Chinese, to not lose future business. I certainly would not like to be healthy and locked in with the sick on one side and the army on the other side. This might be the first time that Farrang and Thai are equal.

Depending on what you believe from what you read...China has now restricted the freedom of travel of 56 million people. The French are evacuating their Nationals to Changsha , about 500 km. away from Wuhan. Previously Central Government intended to encircle and close Changsha. My ex wife was in Changsha visiting her parents at that time and evacuated them to Dali (West of Kunming). Bangkok is reported to be the next major city (outside China) to be hit as there seems to be few restrictions on Chinese travel, except by the Chinese government. Speaking with my friend in Bangkok she says all Thai social media is ' abuzz' over this virus and concerned if the Thai Government officials quickly leave and close Bangkok residents from travel....if the virus progresses in Bangkok. She was also saying that there are so many Thailand born Chinese that no one can really tell who to worry about. All expats in Thailand should at least consider the possibilities of Thailand being added to the countries that airlines will stop landing at. At this moment this is an extreme consideration, but a consideration worth considering. I looked into getting my estranged Chinese wife out of China and back to Canada, but as she only holds a Canadian permanent resident card....she is no longer welcome.

Being somewhat of a drinker, I have used milk thistle for years and seen my liver enzymes drop below the max. normal level. One brand I would suggest is "Nature's Bounty" if ordering out of country. They are capsules and each contains 1,000 mg and the dosage is 3 per day....with a shot of whisky.

What is the colour of belief ? There are caves within 150 Km of CM where you can tie a string to your head and 'transfer energy'. Look for the white robed male monks.  It is all marketing. Of course effective marketing requires 'belief'. You should know that 'the bad monks' have been exiled from Chieng Mai for centuries towards Muang Ngnai . There are villages within 120 km that are historically known as where the 'bad monks' were sent and where EU/Canadian/ US Thai women send money to regularly for 'magic' so their husbands will continue to love them. This is splendid Animism with a Buddhist hint. It takes awhile , but Thais are not Buddhists.....as Westerners believe. Doesn't matter.....still damned interesting. Just as foolish as the jeeebus thing.

22 hours ago, Kurtf said:

Based on his post I would make an educated guess that the problem lies with him.

Could be a valid point, but 13 yrs with the first one, 17 years the the next, and 7 with the last. They tend to stay awhile....but, change is good. Based on your response, I would suppose you have been shackled to the same one for a very long time and now live as brother and sister. Not uncommon.

On 1/20/2020 at 6:00 PM, BritManToo said:

I've met plenty of Thai males, they were all wearing dresses at the time.

Are you sure they weren't just a few Burma boys visiting for work.....Ok....there is a startling cuteness factor in considering the difference

  ????

I have replied to this topic previously. If you don't know squat.....I have a great deal for you.  ????

I bought several Indochina coins in Luang Prabang  30 years ago for X dollars, and 1923 Indochina coins. Wow.....this was a dirt floor, back of the woods shop. I offered them for sale to a Canadian coin dealer shop...and he said, WOW.....and looked up the value. My return was 12%. The guy in Lao knew the world price and sold it at the world price....30 years ago!  We always hope for some 3rd worlder to be dumber than us, however..they know their trade intimately. You may not. I have been in the teak trade or 30 years....and still getting fooled.  Less often, but, it is always a challenge. Back to gold... know the weight of 100% gold.  If your are serious buy a 'Swiss credit' ounce and weigh it and compare what you are buying in Asia.  My advice is to buy a Swiss 1 ounce wafer. No one outside Thailand buys Thai gold. But, Thais will by Swiss gold wafer at market price.

Alan Batey of the Love Birds bar and later the Over lander  ...dead. Max from the original Black Cat, presumably dead. Papa Dick from Dick's bar (Santi tham) dead. Bar owners don't live long, But, the last time I suffered a few nights in Chiengmai, there were two folks alive and well; of course the lady who has aged so gracefully and the owner of the Bier Stubbe. Also the Chinese guy two shops North with the 5 old motorbikes he has rented since I first met him in 1988. He simply survives.

Outside of Chiengmai in Mae Rim was my good friend Mad Mike Mc Loughlin  who ran the Mae Rim swim pool...dead. I wonder how many bar owners successfully....moved on ? If I add up the dead and reflect on time....Chiengmai is where most bar owners go to die.

A long time ago when I was far more foolish....I gave a woman X $  with a gold chain guarantee, which I wore around my neck like a peacock. My Thai male friends said "let's check it."  They threw it across a concrete floor and it bounced. Gold does not bounce. Plated gold metal bounces. I would do the concrete floor test first.....then an accurate gravity test, prior to selling. If we have not made mistakes....we haven't lived  ????

If you are married in Thailand and then proceed on to a divorce,,,,,say in Canada. The Thai authorities have no knowledge of that divorce,  unless you submit a divorce decree in Thai to to the Ampur where you were married. Then you are divorced in Thailand and can remarry. As we were registering our daughter for ID at 23 yrs....we had to provide all the house papers, marriage documents etc. to prove her citizenship. My ex stated 'divorced' and was told she did not file her international divorce with Thailand so 'in Thailand ' she is still considered married. The foreign divorce was 12 years ago........we just did not consider registering our divorce in Thailand. I later remarried in China using my Canadian divorce status. Some provinces in China require me to go to China for a divorce and take a finger print, which is why you must be present. Divorce is the last thing we think about when considering marriage, but probably the first think to consider.

Yes, you must be both legally free to marry, however, if you are divorced in another country you are still married in Thailand, unles you you file and translate your foreign divorce documents. Consequently, I have one wife in Thailand and one wife in China. Hopefully, one will get rich !

Ya gotta be a Brit to appreciate it. However, there is history for Chiengmai expats.

When using any chainsaw.....make sure your left hand thumb is securely wrapped around the handle bar and always keep your face to the left of the bar and chain as saws do have a tendency to 'kick back'. Yes, there is a chain brake, if this happens damage is done if you lose your grip on the handle bar, hence the thumb grip and your head to the left of the bar, so the saw flies over your shoulder. Also you can sharpen the dickens out of the cutters but they won't cut if you don't file down the rakers. The rakers regulate the depth of cut the cutters can take. When sharpened right your saw should 'self feed' through a log with no exertion. Check your sawdust to see if your rakers are high. If your sawdust is fine they need filing. They should have a nice curl to them. If your saw 'grabs' into the log, then your rakers are too low.  If you hand sharpen and your saw won't cut straight you have probably filed one side of your cutters more than the other side, being right or left handed one side is easier to file. Make sure opposing cutters are the same length.

         ....an old log house builder, logger. 

I mentioned this case awhile ago where a young Canadian boy was murdered by a Thai policeman, who then shot a young Canadian girl in Pai. She survived and sued the Royal Thai Police. She could only afford a young Thai female lawyer and it took ten years, but she was successful in court; was awarded a considerable settlement and after another year of waiting, the money was transferred to her.

This young lady was brave and tenacious. I would have walked away as my opinions are somewhat similar to other posters regarding  these situations. However, "might is right" did not seem to apply in this particular situation. However, being a young, female, attractive tourist can't hurt.

From what I understand, the BIB are being told to close down shops and it is up to their discretion which ones. Up North of CM you now really have to ask around to find them. Availability of inexpensive prostitution lessens the number of rapes.30 years ago in Chieng Dao it was 100B for a woman, not to pretty (farmer value) 200B for a pretty enough lass (successful farmer) . For 300 B you went to Rim Doi Resort (Muang Ngai). Ran by the army and where Thai/ Burmese and associated militias would meet to negotiate. As a White guy...only in the daytime. Someone mentioned 30 years ago and the Karen Hut. A few sois away from the Las Vegas was a hole in the wall that had a girl (probably Thai Yai) with a chain on her foot and a number of Thais waiting. The old Jungle Food restaurant in CM had a live bear in a cage and on the menu. Some things have changed for the better. However, there are still some very odd things occurring now in the mountains not too far from CM.

Old story, true story. I was drinking in a bamboo hut with a Thai, a Hmong and two Lisu. The Thai said that White women were most beautiful. I said I thought Lisu women were more beautiful. The Hmong said no it was Thai women.....

I am now closing in on 65 yrs and have more young women approach me than ever in my life. Caucasians and Asians, 20 odd year olds. It was a sad realization...but, soon realized they simply thought me 'safe' like an old uncle. Certainly a blow to my ego :-(