Thaiberius

Lovely atmospheric pictures, thank you for sharing.

You have three main concerns.

1. You aren't allowed to work in Thailand, even if it's online.

2. You need to arrange the correct visa for your stay.

3. Phuket is a mafia-ridden hole, over-priced with its best days long gone.

If you are serious I recommend a visit first.

I stayed in one in Pattaya a few years ago. About half the rooms had been renovated and the rest were in their original state. The inside resembled prison corridors, there was 24 hour noise punctuated by screams, hilarity, rows, karaoke and music. In the corridors food preparation took place in a communal fashion leaving a pungent smell that never went away. I was terrified a fire would start in there. In fact I was staying there around the time of the Ekamai nightclub fire.

Needless to say I wasn't there very long and I'll never repeat the experience.

If I include Guangzhou, China, the food was dire. There was KFC but on principle I refused to order it. The best I have come across is in Thailand. As I get older though I tend to avoid the street stalls, seen too many rats for my liking.

If he's on the gear, like the OP suggested, find out what he's using and if it's illegal, get him PP tested. You won't have to see him again until after he's released from the cop shop, jail or prison. Who knows, he may even a load of priors which could help see him doing a nice stretch for substance abuse..

It's fairly standard for your first offer to be under the asking price. Then the nitty gritty starts. Even though there may be similar condo's at a similar price there will always be negotiating points. Internal decoration, view, time on the market, are more buyers sniffing around, plans for neighbouring developments, associated noise, service charges, any major building refurbishment planned - top of the list is never become sentimental over one condo, never think you must get it whatever the cost, you can guarantee there's always another just around the corner.

Are we missing a Sister Sledge here?

Thailand never had, does not have and never will have Democracy.

Thais do not know what Democracy means.

Even if Thais had a transparent, not rigged, Internationally supervised elections there will be no Democracy in Thailand.

Thai people are not ready for Democracy. (I am not talking here of individuals)

Democracy means:

- Law and Order Enforcement for everyone;

- Every vote counts;

- People understand their rights and responsibilities;

- Corruption does not exist or is fought against on every level;

- All Administration and Power structures are appointed and operating with transparency strictly on merit basis;

- Every Citizen is getting equal and the best possible Education with similar sets of values.

Thai Society is entrenched in and based on the opposites to above for Millennia.

Changing shirt colour does not change anything.

Paralyzing BKK traffic does not change anything.

Having yet another election does not change anything.

Shooting at each other does not change anything.

Another Military Coup does not change anything.

Sorry to spoil your mood on a beautiful Sunday morning. Have a-cuppa...

Thailand has a better idea of democracy as a concept than any of the countries affected by the "Arab Spring".

I'm not believing people came to Thailand for a wage cut and the "pleasure" of working there that's complete BS.

Many I know came for a double salary. They're Western salary is paid to their Western account, then their expenses are paid - rent and international schooling - and then their Thai salary is paid in baht on top of these.

What's the double salary?

Western salary continued to be paid to their home account.

Thai expenses and salary for living paid to their Thai account while based here.

In this case the expenses paid are 240k baht p/m. Western salary and Thai salary for living also paid.

So really, double salary plus housing and schooling.

Ok I get you but that expat deal is long gone these days in the jobs I looked at they don't give the expenses anymore relocation packages are done with one off payments. Things like schooling are down to the company but what I have looked at has been all in.

It depends upon which industry you work in.

I'm not believing people came to Thailand for a wage cut and the "pleasure" of working there that's complete BS.

Many I know came for a double salary. They're Western salary is paid to their Western account, then their expenses are paid - rent and international schooling - and then their Thai salary is paid in baht on top of these.

What's the double salary?

Obviously "Som Wat" cant answer that, unless he is in HR and see's the "packages" or he is on one of these packages himself

But would suspect dependent on the individual/position, the package spread would be worth to them a spread of between USD 30k to USD 50K/m

all in

Is Escrow an option?

Lib and let lib.

It is worth bearing in mind that once Martial Law is formally declared most insurance policies are invalidated.

Nobody from the military threatened or even mentioned martial law.... They threatened to stop the government killing people with their red shirt militia.

They will attack CAPO and the UDD and crush any response.

How does that amount to martial law?????

I am not concerned with who wins or loses what is coming up in the Kingdom. I am not Thai and I have no say in how the country is run and nor do I wish to have. Please forgive me if you misunderstood my intentions with the post. ( you must be a Thai national afterall if you have such strong views on things happening in your country and I understand your worries)

I am concerned however at the potential losses of some assets, both business and personal that the imposition of martial law within the Kingdom could bring with the voidance of insurance policies and was just sending a reminder to other prople who may be in the same position to take some steps to mitigate any potential losses.

Best of luck with the political issues in your country and heres hoping it all turns out for the best for you and your fellow countrymen.

Whatever ones political affiliation in Thailand, I hope the current conflicts can be resolved in peace but I fear the longer this situation lasts, the more likely there will be more deaths. The military, as they outlined yesterday, will not allow further bloodshed.

It is Lara.

Unless you are married and/or have children and wish to provide security for them I'd steer away from buying any property or land in Thailand. Simply not worth it.

You know what they say about opinions, "they are like ............ everybody has one". You base this enlightening statement on 'what??' I know dozens of expat families that have lived years here and have had a good quality of life, much better that the US or EUR with respect to 'security' - if your post was directed soley toward 'security of the property purchase' then lots of us would be inclined to agree with you.

For the poster advocating some form of key logging in order to monitor internet use, you are playing with fire. Once your child finds out all trust will evaporate.

If your child is being groomed by a paedophile without you knowing it and gets raped, murdered and dumped in a ditch, would you think it's a good idea then?

Twenty years ago I went into rehab twice which is great for easing you off alcohol and filling your head full of nonsense but does not cure the root of the problem. I gave AA a go but found them to be totally useless. I soon came to the conclusion the only person able to help me was me. My drinking habits were out of control, two bottles of vodka a day plus beer and wine. However, I was never a nasty or abusive drunk. It took me a couple of years and even now I work at it but now I can control the drinking. Of course I still binge occasionally but it never goes on for days on end.

The OP should gain some insight into why he drinks and then use this knowledge in order to control it. This can be a long and at times painful process as some unpleasant home truths have to be confronted but it can be done.

My best wishes for confronting the problem and as for the violence, cut that out today. In my eyes a violent drunk is just the same as a pedophile, somebody who bullies the weakest and causes irreparable harm to those close to him.

Of course AA would be useless if you don't want to quit drinking.

Sounds like you want to control your drinking and have managed to do so by yourself, apart from the binges, Well done.

Do you think you are helping the OP by saying he is the same as a pedophile?

Years ago an unwanted visitor decended upon us and royally took the piss for 32 days. I got rid of him once I had established that he had never flown in an airoplane by purchasing a one what ticket to Bkk. By the time he realised what I had done he was 500 miles/12hrs away from my wallet/fridge/motorcy....

That was the best THB 2k I ever spent & there has never been a repeat:)

For the poster advocating some form of key logging in order to monitor internet use, you are playing with fire. Once your child finds out all trust will evaporate.

See, fatboy does have a heart after all.

re CC non payment - visa came right to the work of a friend of my wife's - as she didn't answer any letters sent to negotiate payments that weren't being made - they garnashied her big 8000 bt a month salary for 4000 bt a month...also in all this meantime... if your buddy gets a whiff of being kicked out - you also might come home one day and find all your stuff cleared out if he can hook up a pick up truck...yes evicting him might be painful - but you can't move out and let him stay as then you are liable for any damage and non rent payment...dunno - what will it cost to get out of a lease? myself I might have to say look - here is 2-3-4000 bt for getting your stuff out the door and you are going to have to hire a pick up and move it... but then you better be prepared to stay until he does... like on a weekend - or you might have your stuff gone...

As of this morning I have the card back.

Was there a scene when you got it back?

Many restaurants in Bangkok/Pattaya that are offering western food at western prices with staff paid 3rd world wages are doing quite well. Compare the fixed cost of wages in Thailand against the fixed cost of wages in Manchester, Birmingham or London and they are miniscule. Fuel prices and many foodstuff prices are also lower in Thailand than they are in the west. Certainly many western foods such as olive oil, pulses, condiments etc are more expensive in Thailand but the margins due to lower overheads in some areas make up for this. Of course Thai food is a different kettle of fish (pun intended). Typically Thai food served in a western style restaurant is two to three times the price of what one might expect to pay in a typical family shophouse restaurant.

The market would not be my main concern, it is the increasing political uncertainty and the almost inevitable effect this will have upon farangs. Tying up capital in Thailand just makes no sense to me.

What is inevitable about the impact on farangs of the political mess in Bangkok. do you think a new government would tell all foreigners to leave, goodness me.

At 13% of GDP, tourism represents a necessary component of growth in the Thai economy, that you don't understand that contribution is a shame but it is reality.

Stop scaremongering.

I'm not scaremongering. Have a look at the facts. Hardly a month goes by without a rumour or a statement by an official that visa conditions are going to change or may change. I work in the oil and gas industry and therefore travel 7 or 8 times a year on a tourist visa, there are rumours that regular visitors may have that curtailed at the whim of an immigration officer in the absence of an official directive. I remember just a few years ago the visa run rules changed almost overnight and, if I remember correctly, the number of neighbouring country visa runs was reduced with a non-neighbouring country entry required periodically.

Additionally the Head of State has been ill for some time and the lack of a defined succession is causing concern to some neighbouring countries. Put this alongside the recent statement by the army concerning possible intervention because of the present political unrest. Should the Head of State die with no certain successor in place then there is potential for an extended role of the army. It is generally accepted that some elements of the army are not happy with the number of expats in the Kingdom and would welcome a wholesale review of visa restrictions along with some of the associated businesses.

You mention tourism is 13% of GDP, I would argue that "adult" tourism would amount to a very small proportion of that overall tourism figure. If the army decide to curtail that side of tourism then undoubtedly a number of expats may decide to leave, increasing housing supply and affecting the price in line with that.

The points I have outlined above are, individually, relatively minor but taken as a whole they indicate a possible risk to foreign investment. Put alongside this the current red and yellow shirt conflict and the present impotent government with no agreed election date in sight, I'd be very weary of tying up any capital in property for the foreseeable future. I have spoken to many others with the same thoughts as me which doesn't bode well for market confidence. And isn't market confdence every bit as important as availability of funds and a fluid market?

Those are theories that are based on "rumours, if's" and "possibly" - that's scaremongering.

And I'm unclear what you mean by "adult" tourism, presumably you refer to the sex trade? So you think that if the army curtailed that side of things then expats would leave and that would affect house prices and supply!!! I mean really.

I've got news for you, sex trade tourism is a drop in the Thai GDP ocean, similarly, sexpat housing is a fraction so small as to be totally irrelevant.

Never heard of or had experience of this myself. Sometimes on arrival in Bangkok I can't remember the flight number of my flight out. I often either leave the box blank or make something up if I am tired. About 6 months ago I arrived in BKK on a single ticket from China, no ticket out of the country. I have never once been asked for evidence of my return ticket. There's a first time for everything though.

Both sides appear to be making it up as they go along.