MarcIssan

"Seems crazy for me that someone can take pills without even knowing what it is ?"

I will guarantee that 99.99% of people take pills without knowing what it is. They trust the seller (in western world that is the doctor and or pharmacist) is providing something to help them achieve a desired result. And please don't come back arguing that doctors are qualified. How many times have you heard/read reports of people getting sick or dying or with serious side-effects from the medications prescribed to them??

Yes I agree. My wife came back with skin care and other cosmetics reported to make you look younger...yeah right! She bought a bunch of stuff from relatives (who sell it for a profit) who testify to the benefits. She probably spent 6,000-8,000 baht in total. While on layover between flights I looked up the ingredients like 'snail slime' or googled the concept like 'oral collagen pills' and showed her reports that say there has been no measurable benefits to these ingredients. I am a skeptic when it comes to skin care and anti aging potions. All she said was "Oh well".

Thanks to all who have posted. I did some research yesterday on Euca tree mass calculations and there are some reports I can buy that tell how to calculate it. I'm looking for the free Excel template or something like it. Anyway I did learn that partly seasoned Eucaluptus has a mass of 600-700 kg per cubic meter so that is a start.

I think there is a geometric formumla to calculate the volume of an irregular cylendar (cone) so all I need are some average circumference measurements at 1 meter intervals along the full height of a sampling of trees with various circumferences at the cut line. Or maybe I can measure the circumference at each end of a 1 meter cut and take an average then do a volume calculaton on the cylendar.

If I keep the land and continue the Euca farming, I can then do random sample measurements at the base calculatting (estimating) the mass by volume then apply that to the stand to estimate market value. Therefore I can wait longer if necessary to maximize market value then cut when the numbers work.

As far as the last time, my wife was there and closed the deal on the sale so I know all of the money was banked. We had 2-3 offers and took the highest one of course. They put a big chunk down on the spot and paid the rest before they cut. It all went well with no glitches.

I am a do-it-yourself kind of guy and got into this business thinking I could cover the process from growing to marketing. I have 137 rai total but we planted sugar cane and cassava to increase cash flow between Euca cuts but the cost of production killed and appreciable profits. It was later all the Euca road blocks became known and I don't like road blocks. First is was the lack of labor so I designed an automated process for felling, dragging, cutting, and loading that reduces the workforce in half using portable sawmills and conveyers (that I can have manufactured locally or weld up myself) and should speed the process considerably. My family kept telling me the broker has the tools and trucks and workers that we don't. I'll invest in all this if the numbers work.

Now its the broker issue...we need 'quota' and we are not big enough to have it. So I asked how can I haul my own loads and get paid by the distribution yard directly and by pass the broker. They do not have an answer. With some investment and ingenuity I can cut and load my own goods. So there is where I am stumped..by passing the broker. If I cannot over come this then the investment it will take in machinery won't mnake sense.

Thanks again for your posts.

I have first hand experience in teak and have second hand knowledge of Euca in Petchabun so things may be different where your are at. Disclaimer: What I am about to tell you is probably not what you want to hear. You asked so I am doing what I can to answer. You will get a full refund of what you paid if you are not happy . Also, there will probably be lots of conflicting opinions so you can pick the one you like the most.

I have 85 rai in Euca trees and because I don't have all the machinery to harvest and market the trees, I sold the crop standing last year for 1.2 million Baht. I think I gave away a bunch of profit but I am in America and the trees are in Udon so I made a quick deal and forgot about it.

85 rai is a lot of euca. It sound like you made money if not the return you wanted. A lot of people have done worse, but I understand your goal.

This next time I want to cut, haul, and sell the trees myself and my wife and Thai family always come up with reasons why it will not work or why we cannot do it instead of what we can do to accomplish the goal.

There is an established procedure using brokers and it would be difficult and costly going around them. You will need saws, trucks and some lifting equipment and it will be difficult to recoup the cost. Unless you want to become a broker, it will be costly.

They tell me we need 'quota' or we wait hours in line at the distribution yard. Can someone explain what they are talking about?

The distribution yard will set quotas of how many and what size of trees they want and will assign these to various brokers. As long as these brokers have trees ready to deliver, you will never get in. you will not wait hours, you will wait months or longer. A broker will always have his next stand of timber locked up and ready to cut.

They tell me no one will want to work for us since we cannot provide steady jobs that once our crop is sold, we will not need them any longer. Why not raise the pay a bit so they make more money?

The broker will have a crew that will have work lined up a month in advance. If they help you cut a broker out of a job, they are done working for any broker ever. You will really have to make it worth their while.

They say there are 3 prices for Eucca. One for small poles, one for straight, tall trees, and one for mid-sized trees that may be slightly bent. Is this true?

It is actually more complicated, but you really do not have to consider this. The broker evaluates your patch of trees and will give you a single price. They do not buy individual trees, they buy stands of trees. They may use the grading criteria to explain their bid. Get 3 brokers and do a little haggling.

They say the large straight trees fetch more money since they can make furniture with it but we need to know who the buyers are and take the trees to them? True and who buys trees like this in Udon?

This sounds reasonable, but I imagine it is the same brokers. Contact your provincial forestry office to get contact numbers for brokers.

They say on the second cut it will take on average 15 trees per ton and if that is true I'll make less money than I did on the first cut. What do you know of this..on average.

15 trees per ton is really big for 3-5 years. That is nearly 70 kg per tree. It would take really good conditions for euca to grow that much in 3-5 years so you must be looking at waiting a while. Also the trees on the second cut tend to be smaller. The way it works is the original tree is cut down and several shoots come up from each stump. They tend to smaller but straight, but I could see you betting more tons per rai. I suppose you could thin to get larger trees.

So it seems I need a mentor and guidance because 1 million baht every 3-5 years is not enough to keep me interested.

If you can't find some one local PM me.

Any other cash crops to consider?

Anything but pineapple. Also, euca tends to really mess up the ph of the soil and you will have to really clear the stumps and roots or you will have euca shooting up everywhere. With 85 rai and you not being around much you might look into cassava, sugar or some other long term crop. Find what is working in your area that can handle the PH.

Marc

Good luck.

As you can tell I am no farmer. I thought I could make some decent money and help my family better provide for their needs but that has not been the case so far. With land values going up, I am better off selling it all and investing the cash. I am currently getting 12%-14% on other investments and I don't have to do anything! But I don't want to give up too soon.

Comments?

Marc

I have 85 rai in Euca trees and because I don't have all the machinery to harvest and market the trees, I sold the crop standing last year for 1.2 million Baht. I think I gave away a bunch of profit but I am in America and the trees are in Udon so I made a quick deal and forgot about it.

This next time I want to cut, haul, and sell the trees myself and my wife and Thai family always come up with reasons why it will not work or why we cannot do it instead of what we can do to accomplish the goal.

They tell me we need 'quota' or we wait hours in line at the distribution yard. Can someone explain what they are talking about?

They tell me no one will want to work for us since we cannot provide steady jobs that once our crop is sold, we will not need them any longer. Why not raise the pay a bit so they make more money?

They say there are 3 prices for Eucca. One for small poles, one for straight, tall trees, and one for mid-sized trees that may be slightly bent. Is this true?

They say the large straight trees fetch more money since they can make furniture with it but we need to know who the buyers are and take the trees to them? True and who buys trees like this in Udon?

They say on the second cut it will take on average 15 trees per ton and if that is true I'll make less money than I did on the first cut. What do you know of this..on average?

So it seems I need a mentor and guidance because 1 million baht every 3-5 years is not enough to keep me interested.

Any other cash crops to consider?

Marc

Marry any Thai woman and you learn first hand how poorly they manage money. And family, who make less than 10,000 baht a month cannot figure out why you won't lend them 200,000 baht when they just promised to pay it back in 3 months. They were stupid with their own money so how can I believe they won't be more stupid with mine? The entire family has bad credit with me for not paying loans back and are upset when I say no to further requests. <deleted>?

complitly wrong. i now a lot thai women with a income from only about 10000 bath per month or even less managing the money very good. i´m sure your wife comes from the red light business if she is a you said. than you have to blame yourself :-D

Actually she did not come from the red light district but from a beauty shop owned by her mother..but thanks for the comment anyway. I knew the risks and compared to my excessive income, the loans were quite small in actuality. Regardless of the amount I think a time comes when each person needs to figure their own stuff out and not rely on the farang to cover their mistakes. My loans were to family and I knew the chances were almost 100% I would never see any of it again but doing so helped each family member out do a tough spot like losing a home or paying for school for their children and put me in a place to say I did not refuse to help even if it was just once. Regardless of the reason, when they plea for money and I see new motorbikes and big screen tv's it is hard for me to generate sympathy. When they ask for money to pay back loans they took from others in the village when they lacked the income to pay those loans when they took them out in the first place, I think this shows stupidity with money and such stupidity will continue endlessly. This I do not support.

I wonder why you were quick to cast my wife as a bar girl! There are many good people that lack the education and the experience to stay fiscally responsible that come from all walks of life everywhere including Thailand that have jobs outside of the sex industry. Such narrow mindedness...really!

What would be wrong with the red light district? reminds me of my childhood.

Actually many of my American friends with Thai wives met them in some of the usual ways and they are deer friends and caring wives. How they meet doesn't define them, it is how they treat and respect each other and others that defines them as human beings. I don't care what they did before it doesn't matter. I would have married a bar girl if the love connection was there..that is all that matters. Heck , I am not a virgin either and have had way more partners than my wife has. Fair is fair. I was just wondering about the comment and although this too doesn't really matter, it seems narrow and down- looking to me. There is a wider meaning to life, love, and happiness than how many men a girl slept with before she got married. Just saying.

okay...I am usually very fair in my responses and I argue on behalf of the Thais as much as against them. Facts are facts and this is one of them. the only think i would change is remove the word "financial" and you have it pegged. I am a PMP ( certified project manager) and have a lot of success and experience in management. I can tell you I have never encountered such a frustrating place to work in these regards.

I am also a project manager and will be PMP certified by the end of the year. I have farms in Issan and plan to live in Udon but would love to get a PM job here too. Any suggestions?

It's the same moral question anywhere you go in the world and not unique to Thailand. Some English won't give to beggars in England because they think it keeps them on the streets, they will buy drink with it, it's a scam etc and others will give. Nothing unique about Thailand as far as the moral dilemma goes. I give when I'm in a good mood which is most of the time, what's 20 baht to a farang unless you are keeneow?

Yes I agree. Give what you can when you can and trust that most of the time it really helps in a positive way.

I have often though of selling my UK property, but have always come to the conclusion that it's a great investment for the future. I get around 5% rental income plus capital growth, which has been around 10-20% over last few years. If I sold, like you, I'd lose the rental income and have to start spending the money I got for it. I don't know anything that would do as well over the next 10-20 years as property. I'd say a UK property would be a great investment for your daughter. I don't see that cash is a good investment at all. A safe deposit account would pay less than inflation, so the money will become more and more worthless over time. Property generally grows in value over time, although there's always a risk of a property crash. But I've lived through a few of those and am still massively ahead.

So my short answer would be to buy a property. But I doubt that is what you want to hear. I'd be interested to know why you sold it.

In 20 years it could be worth £500K+, and you'd have been getting rental income of maybe 5%. Your £235K on deposit will be worth £235K, and you'll have been getting 1-2% interest. Barring a huge property crash, I can't see how cash is better. Which is why I haven't sold.

I am selling my company in the USA and have a similar issue. I like the idea of ETF's..

Exchange Traded Funds. My broker in the US has performed at 14% over the mix of exchanges for 3 years running and some in emerging markets are close to 100%. Bio-tech and energy are my favorites. Using a broker I tell him my income needs and he moves between exchanges quarterly to achieve this while reducing risk.

There is a lot written about them. Decide for yourself.

How would you know "The typical scam is the sick mom or dad"? Looks like you think more about life than living it ... and don't think what you read on a few tv.com posts makes you an expert on anything Thai. Just come here and actually "experience" Thailand. If you're half-way intelligent you should be able to figure it out ... although many never do.

This is one I love..it has to be a classic. During one of my visits here a cousin to my wife come over and said he borrowed a large sum of money from some gangster types..mafia is the term he used. If he did not pay it back, they were going to kill him and he needed me to lend him the money for just a week or two.

I said that he seemed like a nice guy and I would miss him sorely but his problems were not going to become mine and I would not loan him the money. Only stupid people would do such a thing and giving him 1,000,000 baht would not cure his stupidity. I suggestEd he ask his mom or sister since they might miss hi more than I would. Funny, here we are 5 years later and he is not dead. I have heard that between his mom, sister, friends, my mother in law, and his x-wife's family he owes well over 6,000,000 baht. I'm glad I am not on the list!

Sorry to sound so negative here.

You haven't even moved here yet, and you're already caught up in it. steer clear is my advice...

Yes I agree. I have encouraged friends to visit Thailand after their current marriage failed and many of them ask me if this story or that story is for real or not? How am I to tell? But to ask for any money at such an early stage of the relationship is a clear indication you will have similar problems again and again but for different reasons. You may always be the 'only one' to help and once you run out of money..bye bye.

Keep looking..there are many choices and I suggest you break it off with all who ask for money so soon.

Marry any Thai woman and you learn first hand how poorly they manage money. And family, who make less than 10,000 baht a month cannot figure out why you won't lend them 200,000 baht when they just promised to pay it back in 3 months. They were stupid with their own money so how can I believe they won't be more stupid with mine? The entire family has bad credit with me for not paying loans back and are upset when I say no to further requests. <deleted>?

complitly wrong. i now a lot thai women with a income from only about 10000 bath per month or even less managing the money very good. i´m sure your wife comes from the red light business if she is a you said. than you have to blame yourself :-D

Actually she did not come from the red light district but from a beauty shop owned by her mother..but thanks for the comment anyway. I knew the risks and compared to my excessive income, the loans were quite small in actuality. Regardless of the amount I think a time comes when each person needs to figure their own stuff out and not rely on the farang to cover their mistakes. My loans were to family and I knew the chances were almost 100% I would never see any of it again but doing so helped each family member out do a tough spot like losing a home or paying for school for their children and put me in a place to say I did not refuse to help even if it was just once. Regardless of the reason, when they plea for money and I see new motorbikes and big screen tv's it is hard for me to generate sympathy. When they ask for money to pay back loans they took from others in the village when they lacked the income to pay those loans when they took them out in the first place, I think this shows stupidity with money and such stupidity will continue endlessly. This I do not support.

I wonder why you were quick to cast my wife as a bar girl! There are many good people that lack the education and the experience to stay fiscally responsible that come from all walks of life everywhere including Thailand that have jobs outside of the sex industry. Such narrow mindedness...really!

I am American and see a business opportunity and wish to start a company with my Thai wife as co-owner. What percent can I own and what is the legal requirements to report income, sales, etc to the Thai government?

Also I am not familiar with the Thai accounting rules. I own companies in America and know the write-offs allowed but not those in Thailand. Where can I get this info?

Marc

Marry any Thai woman and you learn first hand how poorly they manage money. And family, who make less than 10,000 baht a month cannot figure out why you won't lend them 200,000 baht when they just promised to pay it back in 3 months. They were stupid with their own money so how can I believe they won't be more stupid with mine? The entire family has bad credit with me for not paying loans back and are upset when I say no to further requests. &lt;deleted&gt;?

My research tells me they are amphetamines and likely also have the same stuff phen-phen had a few years ago. Dangerous fo some and lethal for some too. You cannot tell what reaction you will have until you are in the thick of it. In America, they are a class 2 drug and possession is a felony. My wife wanted to try them but I said absolutely no and showed her the research. China and Russia are the only ones not to restrict manufacturing. Go figure.