Oceanbat

Marc Farber lives in Linda's bar...it's on Loy Kroh.

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A number of years ago I heard that he lived on a soi off the CM-Lamphun Rd. near the the Gymkhana Club.

Ah, good choice. Very close to the city center, but still a very local 'Chiang Mai' area without the worst of the tourist stuff.

Only issue is that it floods every 5 years or so. But who knows, that may be getting less, too.

I heard he has one of the best collection of Mao era art and collectibles on earth. His newsletter costs a fairly punchy US$500 a year and I imagine he has a decent following so I think he would have a decent pad. Like I said, I like him and like his perspectives. He doesn't sit on the fence and I admire that.

OB

To me, he's like a preacher who vehemently preaches that Jesus is coming soon and gets to condemn all sorts of nonbelievers. But when you ask that preacher when is "soon? he becomes strangely reticent. So, basically, he's there to provide entertainment and uplift for believers. But when it comes to putting his predictions on the line, there's nothing there.

That's life thought right? Entertainment? I get his newsletter. I like ie reading it while drinking coffee. He has some interesting ideas. I'm a mass consumer of media so I love it along with bits and pieces from clsa. I read as many viewpoints as I can and if I can get it 60% right I think I'm doing ok. I like how enlightened he is and I like his view (whether I think it is right or wrong?)

OB

Not sure if this helps, but the last time I was at the labor office was in 2007 when my current WP was initiated. All the extensions since then have been done by the company. All that was required from me was the signatures on the application (not sure what the form number is) and on the relevant copies of the passport pages. Company provides the rest of the documentation.

Should be able to get your HR to send you what needs to be signed and scan them back?

Spot,on I think they already have all the photo copies etc. It didn't see like a big deal. They just said they would sort it when I get back to work. If I have to work out of the Hk office I do not really care it it sounded like it all was ok

OB

"I am fairly sure Immigration tries to illicit bad behavior … but don’t let them win."

That's a ridiculous statement. What possible reason would an immigration officer have for eliciting bad behaviour?

Because they enjoy it

OB

Seems to be what happened. They just said to lodge the docs when I get back

OB

Marc Farber lives in Linda's bar...it's on Loy Kroh.

.

A number of years ago I heard that he lived on a soi off the CM-Lamphun Rd. near the the Gymkhana Club.

Ah, good choice. Very close to the city center, but still a very local 'Chiang Mai' area without the worst of the tourist stuff.

Only issue is that it floods every 5 years or so. But who knows, that may be getting less, too.

I heard he has one of the best collection of Mao era art and collectibles on earth. His newsletter costs a fairly punchy US$500 a year and I imagine he has a decent following so I think he would have a decent pad. Like I said, I like him and like his perspectives. He doesn't sit on the fence and I admire that.

OB

Remember that all the forms are checked by a supervisor after the Immigration officer interviews you. There could be a power struggle going on between the I/O and his/her superior, thus the apparent change in what's acceptable from one year to the next -- maybe a change in who is checking the person's work.

I agree though, there is an sometimes an element of the I/O just making up silly "rules" just so you have to trot off to the copy shop so they can make a personal phone call or so they can have a little power rush. I don't think they do it, though, to "try to illicit bad behavior". Do they really want to see us have a major farang fit in front of them?

Agree. I also think they try and illicit it out of Thais as well. I often think public servants in Thailand are selected on their ability to take one look at you and figure out what document you don't have with you and they will ask for it. Even if you have called ahead the day before to confirm exactly what is required. They seem to forget they are public servants. If you have had any experience dealing with similar government departments in Singapore/HK or even Japan it's a dream by comparison.

OB

I can't, for the life of me, understand why they aren't working furiously to amend or alter the constitution with regard to the most negative things objected to by many people including the NRC. Sending the constitutional draft to a vote in its current form guarantees a rejection and huge amounts of lost time. And if it is going to be sent to a referendum in its current form then why will it take until January for that referendum?

It is not difficult to think they are doing this on purpose to stay in power.

Why do you think it will be rejected?

No one will read the constitution and the vote will only depend on which camp hands out more money.

Drafting a complete new constitution is anyway pure nonsense. Take a good constitution, Swiss or USA, adjust it for Thailand and use it.

God I hope you aren't serious. You'd have to be daft to think this constitution in it's current, unaltered form would pass any referendum. There is too much in it even the most illiterate people could easily vote against, like an unelected PM. Even many of the people hand picked by the NCPO or Mr. P are against portions of this draft.

The common people don't have to read the constitution. All they have to do is listen to the commentaries from those people who are reading the constitution and there are many leaders, politicians and ex-politicians reading it and handing out their comments.

And I said nothing about drafting a new constitution. You keep the parts everyone is OK with and take the worst parts and have the NRC and CDC get together and hammer out something everyone is OK with and then you send it to a referendum.

I'm all for taking the US constitution and working from that, but Thais are too proud and stubborn to work from the US constitution, though they might consider a Swiss constitution, which I'm unfamiliar with, though I'm sure it's pretty good. They bent over backwards enough just trying to emulate as close as they were willing to, the German government goad map.

You are bang on. The constitution is designed to fail which means the whole process resets. It's a delaying tactic. They will stay in power for as long as the elephant in the room is still present in the room.

OB

No, meaning he has been completely bearish since dow 8000; and now it's close to 18,000. But, yes, people who continuously predict doom and gloom are eventually right. He also called for gold to be up 30% this year....

Yes. He and Jim Rogers are birds of a feather but somewhat entertaining at least and provide some balance to the cnbc cheerleaders. Rogers has been a massive China bull for 10 years and been dead wrong until this year. Still a billionaire though....Fabers gold call was horrific but it think it was more personal between himself and Bernanke

OB

I like Marc. Get his newsletter and it's always an interesting read and thought provoking. I subscribed after seeing him at the clsa forum around 10 years ago. If you get a chance he did a pretty interesting interview on cnbc i think it was on Asian women, it was highly entertaining. Some part of me also has a bit of respect for a man rocking a pony tail whilst being completely bald on top.

OB

Evening, have a bit of an interesting one. Just got an email from my HR that my work permit is due for renewal next week. I am, however, currently on 2 weeks holiday ( I was under the impression it expired at the same time as my EOS which is August). Anyway, has this happened to anyone before? HR have said they will contact the department of labour to see what they say. Anyone had a small extension given before? I am loathe to ruin my holiday by having to fly back to Bangkok to sort it but I guess I may have to.

OB

Apologies for dropping in the thread. Staying in Phuket (Laguna) for a couple of weeks. I'm looking for a nice breakfast place. Something along the lines of roast in Bangkok. Good coffee etc

Many thanks in advance.

OB

Wow so many suggestions thank you guys. At present I am not after an entire suit, although may be for a friends wedding soon. However trousers for work and some well fitted shirts are high on my list of to do's so will be heading to some listed soon.

I am out Bangna way so may try the ones near On Nut or opposite Seacon just for a nosey and go there. Are most tailors clearly priced or is it a haggle job?

If you'd like to avoid the Indian tailors https://www.twilles.com

Thai guy. Does mostly shirts and pants. Very good quality and not from the same factory most of the Indian guys get them done.

OB

If you are staying in Bangkok the new Virgin active at emquartier has an ice room. You can also join by the fortnight.

OB

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Came here a long way short of the traditional retirement age. I'm able to remain in the country on extension of stay due to marriage. Support myself with money I earned back home, topped up with the occasional brief trip back there when there's a lucrative freelance job to be had.

Hang on . . . how's that, then? You stay here on a marriage extension but I'm sure I've heard you say your wife isn't Thai.

Can you elaborate?

Yes, both those things are correct.

So how can you remain on a marriage extension if she's not Thai or a Thai citizen?

Because I can.

It appears some members forget some people have wives who have good jobs.

OB

But a lot of people never do venture further. You can see it in the favourite bars thread- it's all Soi 4 this and Soi 4 that. Which is fine I guess, I'd want to stick a nail through my skull if that was me but it's horses for courses and whatever makes you happy, some people just want to be eternal tourists and have no real interest in the city beyond it's red lights. It's kind of like how I knew a guy who'd been to Bangkok four times and he'd never left Khao San Road (genuinely). Which to me is nuts. To him it was Thailand.

Let's be thankful Soi 4 exists.

Can you imagine those degenerates dropping by for a day's drinking on Thonglor or a leisurely cocktail or twenty at RCA?

I'm stealing the quote but it totally reminds me of that that bar scene in star wars.

OB

Indeed. 'Farang' is not an offensive word - but some people can be quite offensive in the way that they talk about farangs.

I don't see why that means the rest of us should stop using it, though.

Agree. In that context I don't understand the issue tbh.

OB

because it is used in the Thai media to devalue the life of westerners, so when a Thai truck driver runs over and kills two British people riding bicycles around the world,

He is only fined $300 baht, because it was only a falang

Show me an example of the word "farang" being used in the Thai press in this manner.

In most instances I can recall both newspapers and TV news use the term "kohn tang chaat" when referring to foreigners.

I happen to have been reading Thai newspapers and watching Thai news with particular attention to the crime and accident reporting for the past couple of months on a pretty regular basis and cannot recall a single instance of the term "farang" being used.

Here are some on-line examples I was able to find of the word "farang" being used in the Thai language press:

From the financial press: "Farangs still selling Thai stock." Clearly "farang" is being used as neutral short hand for "foreigners," (as in overseas/outside of Thailand, not a racial group)

"Farang Denmark found dead, apparent suicide." The word farang appears to have been used in the article header mainly to save space. Throughout the rest of the article the term "kohn tang chaat" is repeatedly used to describe the deceased.

An article talking about a non-Thai speaking female tourist who sat on bus seats reserved for monks and refused to relinquish her seat to the monk when asked to. Again, the article headline uses the term "farang" apparently to conserve headline space, but throughout the article, the term "kohn tang chaat" is used. This is a really good example of how if the press were using the word "farang" to disparage/dehumanize foreigners they could have done this by going on and on about the "farang" tourist throughout the article.

Foreign movies are commonly described as "farang" movies. Again, neutral use of the word.

Actually, there weren't that many on-line examples of "farang" being used to describe foreigners. There seemed to be more examples of "farang" being used in reference to the fruit.

Doesnt matter, its still a term used to catorgorise people by the color of their skin and thats basically wrong.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

By that logic, 'white' is a racist term.

It clearly isn't though - because the idea is nonsense. It's not racist to merely describe someone by their skin colour.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/racism

You guys are arguing definitions when in my view context is the issue. Black also isn't racist but if you kept referring to some who was black as "the black" in their presence I doubt it would be appreciated.

OB

The topic here is actually about self description.

It isn't about the question of derogatory or not.

So, by self describing. Are they claiming back the word. Nigger, slut etc?

OB

no catergorising by region isnt offensive. catorgorising by skin colour is.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Categorising by skin colour is not offensive.

Treating one category differently or regarding them as inferior is, though. An important definition that many here seem to struggle with.

I don't think it's the word itself, but the use of the word.

OB

Quite.

"Those drinks are for the Farangs at that table over there" - ok.

"All Farangs are fat and stupid" - not ok.

I sometimes wonder if it's the tone. I worked a long time in HK and gwailo never bothered me even though it's essentially the same meaning (if not worse). If one of the guys on my desk called me falang in my presence I'd probably inflict some pain at the end of the year.

OB

no catergorising by region isnt offensive. catorgorising by skin colour is.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Categorising by skin colour is not offensive.

Treating one category differently or regarding them as inferior is, though. An important definition that many here seem to struggle with.

I don't think it's the word itself, but the use of the word.

OB

Awesome. Thanks a lot.

OB

Hi All,
I live in downtown Bangkok (Asoke) and i'm looking for somewhere to just get a regular service done for a Q5. The mechanic i'd been recommended before is giving me a bit of a runaround.

Thanks in advance,

OB

Inflation...

This is what I have been told by respective maids, nannies, caretakers,... or whatever you can call them, for the last 50 years.

But should I care as soon my fridges have been always full since I was born?!?

Yeah and its a lot of bullshit too. Inflation is how banks make money it simply takes more money to pay back what is borrowed. A result of allowing the Federal Reseve, a private bank, the right to the money that they lend to the govt. A huge scam.

Anyone who thinks that the current ridiculous inflation is the result of pent up demand is wrong. Its the result of all the money printing to pay off the govt debts.

I don't know how Thai families can afford it. There could be civil unrest in many countries when they can't feed their families.

Eh? That's not how it works. Higher inflation means in the future it takes less money to pay off debt (the future value is worth less than today) which is why interest rates are higher in times of high inflation. Banks make more money when interest rates are higher (called NIM). Interest rates aren't higher though are they? Central banks are cutting them. This printed money that you say is causing inflation isn't. Rates are negative in a lot of Europe now as they are buying govt bonds with the cash driving down rates. In trying to create inflation they are creating deflation and blowing asset bubbles. They are robbing savers and forcing people into riskier asset classes.

OB

Ah but but but we have MacWallen to teach us how to invest.

I don't follow?

OB

Inflation...

This is what I have been told by respective maids, nannies, caretakers,... or whatever you can call them, for the last 50 years.

But should I care as soon my fridges have been always full since I was born?!?

Yeah and its a lot of bullshit too. Inflation is how banks make money it simply takes more money to pay back what is borrowed. A result of allowing the Federal Reseve, a private bank, the right to the money that they lend to the govt. A huge scam.

Anyone who thinks that the current ridiculous inflation is the result of pent up demand is wrong. Its the result of all the money printing to pay off the govt debts.

I don't know how Thai families can afford it. There could be civil unrest in many countries when they can't feed their families.

Eh? That's not how it works. Higher inflation means in the future it takes less money to pay off debt (the future value is worth less than today) which is why interest rates are higher in times of high inflation. Banks make more money when interest rates are higher (called NIM). Interest rates aren't higher though are they? Central banks are cutting them. This printed money that you say is causing inflation isn't. Rates are negative in a lot of Europe now as they are buying govt bonds with the cash driving down rates. In trying to create inflation they are creating deflation and blowing asset bubbles. They are robbing savers and forcing people into riskier asset classes.

OB

No.

OB