DLock

Gonzo has many valid concerns but never heard what he wants to do to make his business better. He is worried about things he has no control over, why not focus on what you can control not what you cannot.

Feel free to offer some suggestions.

Humbugged, where do you stay in Thailand?

That's pretty crazy.

...nice post count in less than a month btw...

Bottom line is that this 300baht increase mandated by the Government was ill conceived and poorly thought through. But it worked.

Yes, it worked. It got them elected.

That was my point.

In what may be seen by the People as a massive quality of living increase, in reality, the salary increase will do little to raise the standard of living at the bottom end.

As Gonzo alludes, the costs to provide salary increases mandated by the Government will undoubtedly be passed along the supply chain so that whatever could be bought for 200 baht on a 6,000baht per month salary, will now be 300 baht on a 9,000baht salary.

It may not affect the lower end as much as the middle/upper end, but not only will business owners be forced to pay more for zero productivity gains in their staff, they will be forced to pay more where they shop, eat and drink to cover the rises in other businesses staff costs.

I don't know the qualifications of those that made these random decisions, but economics is not one of them.

Gonzo has valid concerns.

Simply raising prices to cover the increase in salary as a percentage of overall costs is limited thinking.

Your suppliers will increase their costs. Your delivery fees will go up because someone has to pay their drivers more and cover their costs. etc etc.

So, in reality, you may have significant increases across your P&L that will force you to either absorb them in your bottom line or increase your prices to cover the upstream increases that have been passed on to you.

Bottom line is that this 300baht increase mandated by the Government was ill conceived and poorly thought through. But it worked. It rallied the masses around a massive pay increase that the Government did not have to fund.

Brilliant.

If you were back in your country and the same thing happened to you, would you be confiding and expecting help from a Thai person who doesn't speak English and has no clue about what to do?

Leave it alone. There is much, much more to this story and she could in fact be in the wrong, so let the Thai's sort it out their way.

Much like you would do at home.

Do you guys want me to stop this or do you think more pics and experiences from me at the farm could spark more thoughts from you?

I am curious...

Thanks everyone for contributing to this thread and i like it that everyone has added their personal touch.

Dancealot, I really appreciate the pictures and captions, so yes, keep them coming.

You have an enviable life.

...so was it Ling you clubbed from the tree into the Tom Yum?

This post started in 2008. I did not notice.

I "Liked" someones post from 2008.

Now I feel really stupid.

Arrival does not mean that they will stay in Thailand

A friend of mine landed in Bangkok and will stay here only one night just for us to have a dinner, a couple of beers and talk about the good old time. Then, he and his family are on their way to Cambodia where they will stay almost 2 weeks, just to come back in BKK and catch a plane back home.

So, yes, they will be accounted as "arrival" and Thai authorities will be so happy. But what kind of money are they going to spend here? Nothing. The whole amount is going to Cambodia.

Plan for next year? A similar one, with just a different destination to be decided (Malaysia maybe)

So much for the high numbers

And when they pass through BKK on their way home, wouldn't they actually be counted as "arrivals" AGAIN? What a joke.

I was thinking the same thing.

If there was money in solving this problem, you can be assured it would have been solved years ago.

Fact is, the Government(s) prefer this to fester rather than make the tough decisions to solve it.

They just don't have the skills or motivations to solve it.

Who cares about the description.

I just want to know what happened to Ms. C and following that link up the chain.

...assuming it happened the way the way Ms. B said it did.

...but I don't have a jet ski.

This will be a hard concept for Thaksin and his PTP lackeys to understand - that someone would take a stance on a moral position where there is no benefit to themselves.

Examples Please. Suthep the campion of morality.

I have to say that I would love to see that toad Suthep do a long stretch in jail. Abhisit, doesn't really matter, he is inconsequential.

Unfortunately for you, that won't happen.

The stance that Abhisit and Suthep have taken will see them elevated as martyrs and hero's.

All the while Thaksin will dwell in neverland limbo and die a convicted fugitive far from his beloved homeland.

...and that brings me much joy.

Reading the OP is like reading the back page of a book and you know exactly how the story is going to end.

OP, why not tell us how Chapter One of your story went in Pattaya.

I have also driven to, or worked in, every province in Thailand except Narathiwat, so feel my qualifications to express an opinion on the comparative virtues of life in Lampang may exceed those of Elektrified.

Rubbish. I too have been to most Provinces with the exception of Narathiwat and some in Isaan. But that has nothing to do with the city of Lampang. I've been a number of times, for a number of reasons. You don't have to be an old hand to know that the place is boring.

What does a town need to be non-boring?

I realize this could get very subjective based on what people like to do, but I am interested in what make a town boring or non-boring for people.

OK sound like i have to rethink about my words

So why you guys worry so much? They only gonna grab your shoulders..you guys talk like they gonna give you happy ending pee pee

I often go to one suburban Thai place that do this..if you let them massage once and dont tip they get the message not to do again.

I went back to that place after some time and did notice they put up a english sign "mini massage and relax-20baht"..cheeky bugger

Many falang here to miserable to even tip 20 baht to the real thai masseuse who labour over their fat smelly butt for 2 hours, so these guys soon know not to expect much

I say Relax maybe even then you will find you wanna pee longer so to get a longer massage

some of us here dont like to be groped by a man, and more so ripped off, if you dont mind it go right ahead with your man massages, maybe you will get extra.

I am bisexual and I don't want to be groped by a man or a woman or a transgendered person while taking a piss at a bar

if it was a woman i would not mind, she could even hold it for me and i will massage her for free.

...then you may have to resort to the "superman" pee position...

Chalk and Cheese.

In the UK and USA you have to be certified to be a real estate professional. There are standards, consumer protection and associations. There is "real" Escrow and mortgages and the legalities of ownership is clear and defined and the Land Office can be trusted. And Real Estate agencies do advertising, brochures, photo shoots, listings, auctions...etc etc.

In Thailand any chump can make a website, rent a shophouse, hire a pretty, print a business card on his laser printer and suddenly he's a Realtor.

Try asking about laws, leasing, company structures, title searches, zoning, regulations, transfer fees, taxes, access laws, setbacks, etc etc...

The road to property ownership in Thailand is already lined with landmines and you want a blind man to lead you through it...and pay them 5% for the priveledge?

Funny.

A name change and new passport is doubtful. If you really want to come back, then hire a good legal firm that has previous experience (and success) in this type of case, and be prepared to wait and spend considerable fees. Otherwise, pack and ship what you want and donate the rest to your girlfriend and wish her well.

Clearly the Judge was in a bad mood that day, or wanted to make an example of you, or your choice is Lawyer was not good.

The fine indicates you were done for possession only.

The biggest factor was likely your choice of Lawyer. A decent Lawyer and you would have walked with a fine.

Given you have asked for advice, why not return the favor and give some insight into how you were caught, where, process, your lawyer and the day in court.

Not true, the judge has nothing to do with blacklisting, immigration does which is where he was sent after court

If your visa is still valid at that point u have a chance of remaining in the country, if not, bye bye

Sent from my GT-S5660 using Thaivisa Connect App

Fair point, although the courts and immigration are closely aligned.

But immigration did have the option of deporting, in which case he could have returned immediately.

Or Blacklisting. They chose the later, despite such an insignificant fine, which is unusual.

There is probably a little more to this case that the OP has divulged.

A name change and new passport is doubtful. If you really want to come back, then hire a good legal firm that has previous experience (and success) in this type of case, and be prepared to wait and spend considerable fees. Otherwise, pack and ship what you want and donate the rest to your girlfriend and wish her well.

Clearly the Judge was in a bad mood that day, or wanted to make an example of you, or your choice is Lawyer was not good.

The fine indicates you were done for possession only.

The biggest factor was likely your choice of Lawyer. A decent Lawyer and you would have walked with a fine.

Given you have asked for advice, why not return the favor and give some insight into how you were caught, where, process, your lawyer and the day in court.

TheBlether wins my vote.

He seems like a good guy.

He actually looks a little simple.

Probably just the fall guy for someone a little brighter than himself.

But hey, he made a little coin and spent it on 3's and 4's from Coconut Bar.

Playboy? No. Lucky simpleton? Probably.

I agree.

All Pit-bull Owners should be held 100% responsible and liable for their dogs, much like they would be in owning a gun.

...and I own both.

But you're hard though.

Why would you make an ignorant comment like that and make yourself look foolish?

This might be interesting!

Indeed. The red underpants brigade will have to lie low

Name calling is really very childish grow up!

So is not punctuating posts correctly.

Which "legal high" products do you refer to?

Bath Salts are available in Thailand and whilst they are labelled "Not for human consumption" and are legal, you may wake up naked, behind a dumpster eating the face of some poor, homeless man.

Stick to beer and tequila kid. That way you will probably make your return flight.

I think it quite important to point out that 98% of the general Thai population would probably not be able to spend frivolously even on a decent knock-off.

Your average Thai will not make enough money in their whole lifetime to be able to buy one collector's Breitling, Tag, Rolex, whatever.

So when you say "Thai(s) and their watches". You're talking about a percentile of Thais so small and insignificant that it's not in any way a reflection of how the Thai population actually regard watches.

"Rich Asians and their watches" would have been infinitely more accurate in this case.

If its so small and insignificant then why do I see (different) Ferrarris, Lamborghinis, Porches, Bentleys, and countless, countless Benz's every, every day? Truth is, there are many, many rich Thais. And also beyond the hiso.

How do you explain public servants on 30k a year driving Benz's? Army general's kids in brand new Fortuners? etc.etc.

Personally it disgusts me, people who need to show off their wealth that way don't deserve it.

So I don't deserve my Porsche because I drive it?

Why do you feel that way?