jdlancaster

The coup did have a negative relation and the us and thailand still have a strong relationship. ... these aren't mutually exclusive. .. this is shown by still having cobra gold but scaling back its scope and size. Every country has relationships with less than stellar countries.(including those in Europe)... political realities demand it.... china isn't a major factor in the us stance on thailand.(this isn't the south china sea) ... not much has changed... many us soldiers are still here all year round... not just cobra gold... most of this is just talk... to satisfy the talking heads

Congratulations on forming your post. If I'm ever in the area I'll stop by. Now I just wish they could get a reserve unit out here... Korea and Japan are a bit of a hike.

Ready for a new world order.... which of the past world orders worked... the cold war.... world wars.... europe constantly at war.... slavery.... how far should we go back.... opium wars? New.... annexing all of the south china sea.... because appeasing aggressors worked well last century. ... appeasing couldn't possibly lead to a multiple country major war? New world order with Russia in eastern Europe too.... american hegemony isnt the best.... but its been better for most of the world than anything else that has come.... or will.in the near future. ... america or china and russia.... hmmm.... you pick... im sure china won't mess with a 1/3 of the worlds marine traffic that runs through the south china sea...

Call in us debt? I don't believe bonds work that way and most us debt is owned by the us government... then again.... trying to destroy one of your best customers on an economy driven on manufacturing? Smart? Idk.... the decadent and opulent west going down in the near term.....idk either... chinas economy is manufacturing and agriculturaly based.... they have a high population to arable land ratio leaving little room for growth and manufacturing becomes less competitive as salaries go up.... and they don't have alot of room(arable/habitable)to increase their population. .... they have to fight hard for those resources in the gulf for a reason.... china will become more powerful.... but it isn't gonna be that straightforward or easy as others say..... the usa on the other hand.... has a low population to arable land ratio, alot of resources, and their economy is more diversified.... they just tend to blow money on random wars that don't benefit (debateable but I don't want to)...

There are too many farmers. Take out the slave labor in many industries that make a few rich and pay a decent salary. Then consolidate and modernise these tiny farms in my village. .. and include some education for villages like mine.... its hard for these kids to escape a vicious cycle.... modernise the economy. .. don't have draconian laws limiting foreign investment. ... gotta stop protecting the elite

I wish they had an eccentric billionaire on this.... bill gates does some great work in Africa. .. I think this could be stopped with a well funded 12 man team and some well connected thai friends and tea money..... idk... normal routes don't work

I don't think hiding your assets, tax evasion, and fraud are tax loopholes. A loophole isn't breaking the law.... like us companies leave money offshore because they don't pay taxes until that money is repatriated. ... that is a loophole and legal. A loophole requires new laws to close them... the laws already cover what she did. HSBC knowingly aided someone commit a crime... im sure they have some sort of law covering that. An employee giving authorities evidence of a crime... is not criminal.... if she posted it for everyone to read online (maybe they did) id say thatd be criminal.

Smotherb... I don't drink every night... it was just to stress that things are cheaper here... and we drink chaang leo singh or asahi beer or buy a bottle of liquor. .. changes depending on who I am drinking with. Regency is popular. Corkage fees are minimal here if at all and a large chaang will set you back 70-80thb. I've lived in phuket before... nice to vacation. .. but I like it here... a real sense of community. .. random parties it seems every week. ... just nobody speaks English. .. I prefer it that way... but not.for everybody

For my friend living a comfortable life.... I have a pretty quiet life except for temple stuff.. I don't need internet except for my phone. ... if I need fast internet my school handles that... I have my motorbike. .. and my army reserve time give me extra money

In the usa most states have a program for those without a teachers license in math and science. And I find that most education majors in math and science are great for the younger students. ... but not so good for the advanced high school students.... they simply lacked the subject knowledge. ... especially if they were older... but they excelled at things like classroom management. .. a give and take

The poster saying he gets by on 20k... is honest. ... I live in phrae... and 20k is getting hammered almost every night.... unless you try to blow money....

I liked my stay there last time. .. I think inwill try the continent hotel and their sky rooms first and have the holiday inn as a fall back

Ihg so i was able to get an upgrade at the holiday inn sukhumvit 22 last time.

I'll look at the oriental. .. maybe they have something similar.

Well there are definitely options with happy hour and such. 6 months ago I had a executive room at the holiday inn sukhumvit 22 was upgraded to a suite and came with free breakfast and soft drinks and free alcohol from 6-8 with snacks and salad. Right now I'm considering going there again or maybe the continent hotel. The continent has something similar for their sky rooms but I have never stayed there. I've only gone to the axis and spin bar there. I am sure some other hotels have something similar in my budget but I don't know where.

Poseidon is an interesting idea.... though Im not sure what kind of receipt id get... and what the itemized list might say haha...

I am looking for the best deal given my per diem for 12 days in bkk. It's set at $146 which I believe must include the VAT tax. Anything I don't spend I lose. I'm looking for a place that'll give lots of extras such as a long executive club happy hour free food etc... im trying not to spend alot of money elsewhere so i can pocket my food perdiem....anyone have any good experiences?

Soil spoil .... 30 baht a dish often feeds me quite well.... maybe some gaprao moo and soup.... 20 thb is gwai dtiaow with pork or mama with pork... fine for me and I weigh 85 kg... 5 thb for a stick of sausage or chicken ..depends where you live I suppose

It is funny though. .. I make almost as much from a few weeks of army reserve work as I do teaching all year haha

Csabo... I wondered the same but there seems to be an exception for teachers. If inwas making 50k in the village id consider staying longterm.

Rjib... the issue of a work permit isn't the cost.... it's the paperwork... and its only good for one place.... and your extension of stay will be set for the length of your contract... can't jump from place to place with a single wp.... atleast legally. .. I think...

I will give you a slightly more positive answer. I have a salary of 15000 thb teaching English in a small village in Jangwat Phrae. I consider it like a volunteer gig while I write my masters thesis. You can comfortably live in a village but almost no one will speak English. Without alcohol or trips it's about 9000 thb for me to live since i already have a motorbike tv computer etc.... that said.... my social life is highly subsidized by the local pooyai ban and teachers as far as drinking and trips goes lol..... and the farmers take every chance to give me a shot of lao khao and laab deep ... this leaves me with enough for a once a month trip to a place like kwan phayao or lampang. On the plus side, if you are commited you will learn thai quickly. .. you have no choice. And if you speak thai theres no reason to be spending alot of money on some girls.... take turns paying and thai food is cheap.... 20 thb for noodles.... 30-40 for most rice dishes. This lifestyle isn't for everyone but if it's for you there are organizations that will set you (no salary) or you can find a job. Your english is worth far more than your manual labor.... few are willing to teach out in the sticks..... If you stay in a city... it is way too expensive for $400 .. I can easily spend 6000 thb in a weekend in chiang mai if I go out.... it can be done.... but don't expect any sorta western lifestyle or ... scuba diving haha

Oh.... I forgot about the vonburi house and they have a little night market there on saturdays. The vongburi house is the house of the old rulers of phrae I think. They also serve some decent khao soi. Theres also some other nice restaurants around but theyre scattered.

I live nearby. Alot has been built recently and alot of nice places to eat. I'd recommend staying at markfour place next to markfour. Markfour has some ok restaurants and an outside place to drinkand listen to bands at night. Also serves some western beers. I know of hoegarden and a few others. Also there is now a tawan daeng on the southern edge of town. If you go to wat pra cho hae and follow the road to the left up the mmountain there are alot of nice restaurants on the river with a great view and a place to dip your feet while drinking a beer. Some even setup tables in the river.