tonray

Wouldn't the extra cost of the sugar outstrip the extra they got in weight of the melons ?

Expect to be ripped off ,everywere you go.My advice is Go pattaya.The new plaza.If your flight arrival is day time, go down stairs to bottom,get bells travel bus 200 baht to pattaya,Night time arrival.go to kiosk and get taxi,not the cheapest,but first time safest.1.500 baht.dont pay anymore.Book on internet,walk in mansion for 3 days.this is right next to the new plaza.In new plaza.there are many expats,Its also the cheapest beer that you will find.there are about 15 bars there.To much to tell on here.But all the expats,will tell you everything .This is the safest way for someone first time.I do not know what your budget is,and your circumstances.Thailand is expencive now.But some things are still cheap.like public transport.Pattaya has everything for the holiday maker.More than anywere else in thailand.Best of luck on your trip.

That is utter nonsense. If you act like a dirtbag yes you will get ripped off, but if you treat Thais with respect and learn a bit about cultural norms they will treat you with the same respect. I'm sorry but I got ripped off a whole lot more in Malaysia than I ever did in Thailand. If you are talking about trolling for paid sexual adventures then yes that is what you get by acting like a dirtbag.

I recently arrived in Bangkok after a 3 year hiatus in Malaysia. While I enjoyed my time in Malaysia, I was thrilled to be back in Bangkok. There is nothing like it. 2 days here is not enough. But if that is all you have, drop your bags at the hotel (just get one near an MRT or BTS station, download the transit map of Bangkok to your phone and step out. The only real advice will be to take note of what exit (usually 4) of the transit station you enter/leave from, otherwise you will get seriously lost. Transit system is cheap, easy and efficient. If that is not fast enough, grab a motorcycle taxi from just about any corner (guys with orange vests) and just tell them where you want to go. Fast, cheap and thrilling. What you want to see or do (cultural, malls, hot girls is up to you) With transit map, smartphone and a 10K baht you can have a hell of time in 2 days.

The flashlight thing is always amusing to me, but they are always polite and smile so I have no issue. Realistically in any large city mass transit system if they really slowed things down for a real search, the system would grind to a halt. Even in the US immediately after 9-11 in Penn Station NYC they did this same type of thing but there were so many people eventually even this small intrusion was soon stopped especially at rush hour when thousands of people are rushing down staircases when they announce what platform their train is arriving at.

It's just the nature of things in a big city. They hope that the act of setting up the detectors will deter and in the case of political terrorists it just may do that in large part.

It does not bug me in the least and I am more worried about the 2 large drums of fuel on the Khlong boats 5 feet away from a growling engine and my seat !

The flashlight has a dual use, based on its shape, its used for more intimate searches of the back passage....just be thankful you haven't been singled out for one of those yet.

Thankful ? Some of those girls are hot...I'm envious

If you want to know what constitutes as a decent budget in the said country, you have to look at what MNC's and NGO'S + Embassies pay their staff.

Of course you won't starve to death on a 30k month budget, but is it enough for a decent upper middle class lifestyle in Bangkok? US Embassy gives its diplomatic staff 80-100k in housing allowance.

I will get bashed for saying 150-180k is the bare minimum, but apparently MNCS and Embassies agree with me : )

Just because English Teachers etc get paid 30-40k a month, it doesn't mean this is enough to live a comfy lifestyle in Bangkok. I'm not going to talk about Isaan, as I've never been there.

cant remember the last time i met a diplomat, but it seems like the position would command a high salary.

not a position i would be applying for anytime soon. your right though in thailand it appears like foreigners are either quite well off or not. i dont see much of a comfortable middle class.

Us Embassy staff living off taxpayer dollars 'struggling' to make ends meet in Bangkok...give me a break. They are paid that way because they can get away with it and salaries are kept competitive among all Embassy staffers globally at the same government (G rating) job level. That far exceeds what it takes to live in Bangkok.

I hear a lot of guys who have come back to Thailand after being here 10 years ago whine and bitch about how things cost so much now and Vietnam is much better. It's all hogwash. Yes Costs have risen a bit, but the rate of inflation on real living costs has been faster in just about every Western country. Despite what the stats tell you, living in the states has risen dramatically especially due to housing costs. The central bank has made sure that those that own the bulk of real property investments don't lose out so real estate is elevated, especially rentals.

Hell I even spent some long term time in Malaysia just to satisfy my curiosity about life there, while I liked KL and Penang, first their real estate costs (rentals) are about 50% higher than Bangkok on average and as far as society, no comparison. Malaysians litter everywhere they throw whatever is in their hands in the gutter...this is both educated and non educated Malaysians. I don't even start me on the annoying sales pitch by the Indians and Arabs as you walk past every venue, store or restaurant. Thailand ain't perfect but I think I am back for good this time....hell I just had a meal at the Tesco Lotus food court (Chicken curry with rice, veggies and drink) for 50 baht. You all need to stop your whining...most of it is bad lifestyle while here or you are from the Euro zone and your own countries are responsible for your dilemma not Thailand. Go back to the Spain, Italy, France and see how long your resources last...give it a shot and let us know.

I have been here almost 11 years and, though the US/Thai relations were fragile in 2004, they have become much worse the last 5 years. Personally I am, as several other Americans have already done,

investigating other more ex pat friendly countries in which to continue my ex pat existence !

There are no expat friendly countries. There are of course plenty of fat wallet friendly countries. And you are chasing rainbows because as soon as the US starts mucking in the affairs of your 'expat friendly' country then the results may be even more dramatic than here in Thailand. In some places you would need to be sheltered from mobs trying to lynch you. Be careful where you go not everyone is as civilized as you think and the ones that are (Canada/NZ/AUS/EURO) have expat unfriendly cost structures.

i don't need to worry about it. i stopped answering the 'where are you from?' question long ago.

I answer it's just that I say "Lat Phrao" instead of NY

The flashlight thing is always amusing to me, but they are always polite and smile so I have no issue. Realistically in any large city mass transit system if they really slowed things down for a real search, the system would grind to a halt. Even in the US immediately after 9-11 in Penn Station NYC they did this same type of thing but there were so many people eventually even this small intrusion was soon stopped especially at rush hour when thousands of people are rushing down staircases when they announce what platform their train is arriving at.

It's just the nature of things in a big city. They hope that the act of setting up the detectors will deter and in the case of political terrorists it just may do that in large part.

It does not bug me in the least and I am more worried about the 2 large drums of fuel on the Khlong boats 5 feet away from a growling engine and my seat !

You can try http://www.mrroomfinder.com/

I have also stayed longer term at this place.....serviced apts big rooms, clean...good rates: http://www.agoda.com/diamond-residence-ratchada/hotel/bangkok-th.html

You need to join the Thai patronage system. This is not the West. The fundamental structure of Asian societies is the patronage system. If you believe you can come here and set up non-registered businesses or non-profit organisations just because you want to, you can't. But your chance of doing it successfully increases exponentially, if you do it under the patronage of a senior figure such as a politician or senior police officer.

Seems to me that's how it works in the West also. it's just that in the West we have institutionalize the patronage. Do a survey for example of Toll Taker jobs in my home state of NJ. You need to have a relative in government to get considered (not technically but that's the way it works). Or all the firms doing business with the federal infrastructure in and around Washington DC...guess what ? Many of these contracts are awarded to companies owned by family members of Congressmen, yes there is a biddng process but when you know about the contract before it is published you get to favorably structure your bid. Just the way the world works. I hear loads of complaining here about how Thais hate westerners but seriously do you think it's any easier for SouthEast Asians to integrate into America for example ? We are all here because cost of living is less than in the West and other 'amenities' are plentiful and there is no snow. Bottom line, get used to it or go back to the same in the West with higher costs to boot.

My only comment is you paid way too much for a hotel in Penang. You were down in the UNESCO heritage area which is why prices were inflated. You can get a clean mid range hotel along Jalan Burma for about $35 to $40 US approx $1200 THB. But otherwise good news.

The NYC consulate did not ask for any corroborating proof when applying for a double entry a few months ago. They asked for some info on the form but nothing was required other than filling in a few blanks on the form from their website.

If you are American, you will find it more difficult to open an account. Thai banks may have to report details to American agencies if requested. This is onerous for Thai banks so they prefer to avoid U.S. customers.

I'm sure you can reference numerous ThaiVisa posts for folks who have been refused Thai bank accounts because they are American--NOT!! Sure, you can find quite a few posts of farangs who had a hard time finding a branch that would open an account for them, but these farangs were of various nationalities and just ran up against the age old problem that some Thai bank branches are not farang friendly....just don't want their business. Fortunately, most branches are not like that.

Oh, by the way, I'm American and since FATCA has been around I've opened a bank account at Bangkok Bank and Krungsri Bank....just a couple extra easy forms to complete. You can find quite a few of such posts from Americans in the variety of Chicken Little threads regarding FATCA.

Could you offer what banks you found the easiest to work with and what documentation they might require ? Thank you in advance.

I'm a retired teacher from the USA.While glad to see that there is an effort to have some level of accountability for teaching, I also know that for a native speaker to teach English here is not as reliant upon training as it would be for other subjects. Can the person lead a class? Maintain interest? Transfer practical skills of the language? Upgrade the spoken English in the Teacher's lounge? Be supportive of the social fabric?

For an example of global standards, Peace Corps Volunteers are often placed as requested to fill positions being English teachers merely for having a bachelor's degree. It a volunteer had indeed obtained a degree in education, they would generally be placed overseas at a teacher training college - sharing their training techniques with future teachers.

Last year my step-graddaughter had a teacher who had majored in English and German while getting a bachelors at Amherst. He was a huge success and was offered a contract by the director - except he'd been hired via an agency and was prohibited from taking the school's offer. Now he has left Thailand for Jakarta. Thailand's loss, Jakarta's gain. All the benefits of having him get his initial teaching experience now has left Thailand.

Didn't I read somewhere that in Jakarta you need the school's permission to exit the country ? So if you get in a bad situation, they can literally keep you in Indonesia as long as they want and you have little recourse....hardly an ideal switch.

I myself plan on heading to Korea for a few years once the waiver expires...bank a little $$ and then back to Thailand for a retirement visa.

New Flash: Island Village Head Man makes under the table payment to Burmese man's family in exchange for confession. Done deal.