bangmai

She would claim to be a champion of social causes, but what about the example she is setting for impressionable young people? Million, billion, trillion....not worth two cents if you are dead from a heroin overdose.

In all my travels in & out of the US I've never even seen a US Customs agent while departing the country. There is no "immigration" upon leaving the country. You just go to the airport and through TSA security and fly yer ass outta there. I would not know whom to report an amount over 10K even if I had it. To TSA? Maybe I guess. To the lovely Korean Air gate agent? Probably not. Not to mention that my first and only pass through of TSA is somewhere in Confederate America for a flight that takes me to an international airport that takes me out of the country.

I guess it happens but I've never seen it.

The Feds give the local agencies grants to local enforcement to search for illegal money. If you are exporting something that requires permission; it is up to you to go to the Customs office and report it.

good luck with grounding it, if your electrical system is ungrounded.

I'm sure it's not the first time she's had needles stuck in her.

you can get a wi-fi usb adapter for about 150 thb (or less). Your TV will likely read thumb drives, and play many movie formats or just connect it to a Tablet or Laptop with HDMI.

They use money sniffing dogs in the south bound lane at the Arizona-Mexico Border. They stopped a lady, who was not wearing her seatbelt, and noticed she was acting nervous. They then confiscated 170,000 USD from her. It's a new money maker, for law enforcement agencies. They use the money for new SUVs, etc..I've been stopped on the walk through gate...same line of questioning...anything more than 200 USD is answered with "why are you carrying so much cash?" I just remind them of how much their job costs the taxpayers on a daily basis. http://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/npd-taps-illicit-cash-to-pay-for-a-new-station/article_52d06bf8-519e-11e1-acc4-0019bb2963f4.html

I just tried again, and it is 02:30 (off hours) in DC. I got the page saying the system was down during 1-5 am, etc..., however, that page came up in a flash. I'm wondering if this is just an advert for a certain VPN (very sleazy business), or if this is simply more songs from the CM We Do things The Hard Way Chorus.

A friend is teaching in Colombia and told me the one thing you do not give a Colombian is an ink-pad and a stamp. They will build their whole careers around issuing their stamp. He then asked me what was the one thing you wouldn't want a Thai to have. I told him that it was pretty close, but you would regret any Thai having a whistle, bullhorn, or PA System. That still does not recognize dogs or motorcycles with special exhausts...so perhaps it is anything that makes noise.

note, the 399 is by far the cheapest option..."The Low Cost English." However, three weeks is 479, but...three weeks at the Orphanage is 1229 usd. By most standards, the "blanket WP," represents more of a quid pro quo system, than being 100% legal. As far as the banker...yes, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the potential profits in getting people to pay to work; it's been the fuel for the TEFL training business for years. Like adoption agencies, as long as their is a paid demand; there will be orphans or in this case students.

German beers are often better than Tiger, but no way in Hell worth 500% more....not even double. Most of the premium price is going to the Excise Department. Are Ales really suitable for the upcoming 37C days? By the time the Czech draft beers arrive to CM, they taste metallic, with a nice splash of Benzene. Glad to see the Brits are such sophisticated drinkers...http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2955934/Inside-fake-alcohol-distillery-Plant-bottling-counterfeit-vodka-raided-police-seized-2-500-litres-fake-wine-spirits.html....but seriously, if you all would stop accepting warm ones, and putting ice in it, like you were in an African refugee camp; a nice cold Tiger would really hit the spot....and it's 5.0 here, not the 4.8 they try to tame you with in England.

I've walked by there more than 100 times, in the evenings....business is spotty at best. Never seen anything worth stopping for. A friend was here last week, with deep pockets, and he told me he went to BR last April with his GF, and thought it was an overpriced joke/tourist trap. He did want to return to Dayli for Heinekens.

Well, I've actually been in there more than 30 times and it's always packed. So, whether it appeals to you or not is moot. It does a roaring trade and the Thais I've been there with, like it and go back again too. It's not about deep pockets, it's about paying for quality of experience - yes, you can always buy a Chang for 50/60 Baht somewhere but so what? I quite like a bit of street food and a cheap beer on the side of Nimman too - but I also quite like going somewhere with a live band, great food served on actual plates and beer that isn't a chemical factory on steroids. There's room for both.

Building a business is all about catering to a need or creating a perceived need - I can't afford a Ferrari (and wouldn't even if I could) but that doesn't make a cent's worth of difference to Ferrari which keeps selling cars to people who can and will. Walk down Nimman of a night and look at all the Ducati bikes parked up (almost all Thai owned too) etc. there's no shortage of cash in Chiang Mai even if it's somewhat unfairly distributed. Some places sell to the Ducati owner and some to the guy who can't even afford a cheap moto... as long as there are enough customers, both make a profit.

Heineken/Tiger is a far cry from Chang, which is just about undrinkable. 50 THB large Tigers in Santitham....What happened to HOBs?

I've walked by there more than 100 times, in the evenings....business is spotty at best. Never seen anything worth stopping for. A friend was here last week, with deep pockets, and he told me he went to BR last April with his GF, and thought it was an overpriced joke/tourist trap. He did want to return to Dayli for Heinekens.

They were playing rap music at 'Republic the other night. At 7pm, them and the place next door will have about 10 customers. Read the reviews....I personally have no beefs with the manager, but many do. 20 USD for a Vodka Coke and a G & T....wouldn't thrill me at Reagan National Airport lounge with an average income 10x that of CM.

There are a few Thais doing the 300 THB beers in the Nimman area...I think I know which place you are talking about. They were playing rap music the other night. There are generally 20 time more Thais down the street drinking 60 THB large, on any given night,,,,maybe 30-40 times more for a big EPL match-up. The myth is that there are lots of middle class Thais with money to burn...the reality is that median household income in Northern Thailand is barely 25000 THB per month. We'll see if the 300 THB beer place lasts the rest of the year...the reviews indicate as many difficulties as one would find in a place selling four large for 200, like the Dayli, just started with the Singha Light...the big promos seem to be starting pretty early this year. Bring on the smoke, bye-bye people pushing baby strollers down Nimman, and other sidewalk blockers.

After reading this, I got motivated to visit my local coffee shop. Prices start at 25 thb per cup, cream is 5 thb. I could barely find a seat. 3+ employees, and about 50 customers....about 80% CMU students. Coffee is made to order, in a machine, and is very good, imo. They are on a main road, with heavy foot traffic, and it appears that their biggest concern would be the great condo building reaper, as that land is worth 200K per wah, but it is another example of a Thai business having a sweetheart deal with rent, that won't last forever. I think the concept of catering to the "Digital Nomads" is mostly based on urban myth, as most of them have visa trouble, and will be a lot more short lived than even the students. The older ones will sit there for hours and you are likely losing money off them. Providing a work-space to these people? You would make more picking up aluminum cans, and have fewer toilets to clean. Those are the places that are failing. Some of these places are charging airport prices, and I wouldn't pay 80 thb at the airport, either. Krispy Kream Doughnut Shops resorted to 25 cents, 8thb, 16 oz. cups of their famous coffee in its Phoenix stores a few years ago, during their hot/low season. Anything to get people in. Even if they had free labor and electric, they were still losing money on that.....eventually, many of the franchises shut down. A world away, but a metro area 4 times bigger than CM. In another month, tourist numbers will be cut in half, high temps will be up 10c...and you're going to attempt to sell high end coffee to the stragglers? People, who only drink coffee aren't even really welcome at Diners and bars, even though the free refills ended long ago....and you are trying to build a business around them?

I know nothing about this group in particular, but the concept of paying your own expenses while doing volunteer work is pretty universally accepted.

$400 for 2 weeks in a dorm and (possibly) sharing accommodations and getting to know other volunteers seems like a pretty reasonable price.

I'd call and ask them about legalities/ work permits before I'd make a blanket statement that what they're doing is illegal. I'd also consider asking for references from their alums.

Believe it or not, there are people who want to do good in the world, and are willing to use their resources in the endeavor.

Once again, not an endorsement of these folks since I know nothing about them. But the concept is certainly appealing.

Yes, many willing to try and do good, others looking for a way/excuse to come party in Thailand, and some laughing all the way to the bank. 400 for 2 weeks isn't a lot by western standards...but you could actually get a private hotel room with a/c and eat the two meals a day in one of 1000 restaurants for somewhat less than that. Spending your time with other clueless foreigners, doesn't seem to be the best way to get acclimated. Do you think they ever considered volunteering at some of the hideous institutions in their hometowns/countries? Oh, and there is a promotion...800 usd for one week at the elephant camp... I think I would still feel more sorry for the elephants.

just one small detail....that's what you have to pay to work. But, you get a bunkbed, and they will at least assure you, that you don't need a WP. http://www.volunteerthailand.org/fees/ More subtle hints that this may not be the best way to earn a living.

Soi 4....a good start on places to avoid for the rest of your life. Get one of those free maps of BKK, or heck any map, and walk around Victory Monument acting a little lost about 16:00....the girls will come out of the woodwork.

Really? What kind of girls are they?

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Not the kind you would see on Soi 4, and sure as heck not the creatures, you would find inside current NEP. In other words, it is much more unlikely that they have male parts or that they work in the sex industry...

One night at BWT, when I was at my wits end with the dog breeder across the street (actually it was early morning)...I decided to answer with a concert featuring The Who at full volume....just to show that if it was acceptable for a dog to bark from a concrete carport all night, surely there would be no objections to some classic rock at 4 am. I even grabbed a cooler of beer ( to you locals, that means a container with ice, with bottles or cans of beer chilling in the ice), a chair, and a cigar and parked myself in the front yard. Strange thing was, no one ever complained.

I think you could go to a lab, and get all but the physical exam and EKG for about 1000 THB.....EKG probably about 500 THB (if anyone knows cost of just EKG, please post)...I paid 55 USD to get my physical filled out for my visa in Washington DC....

damn near 1 thb per gram...

A true confession, and helpful post. The fact that you make an electric bill in the vicinity of 100 USD per month, sound like it could be breaking you, speaks volumes. You said you bought it? But does your company own the land, or your wife? I think Overstand is hanging in there, with excellent reviews, but his rent has to be high, and he spends a lot on ingredients....time will tell. You may want to check out his business, and maybe share ideas....it may come down to the foot traffic, which comes with high rent. Good luck. You would be making 500-700 thb per hour in the US, with a decent delivery job...seems like it would frequently be better to bust your arse for 4 months in the US, then come here and not even think about working for 8 months.

So he is open 77 hours per week....ad two hours per day for prep...91 hours.....and the four Thai employees needed for his WP?....

My neighborhood specializes in farang boyfriends putting their GFs in busines, coffee shops, dress shops, crepes...all seem to go downhill from opening. They last about four months. The most recent was charging about 45 for coffee....had about 8 customers per day...40 meters away, longtime established coffee shop with cheap rent...25 thb for coffee....300 customers per day...high volume, low cost seems to be the best model...

great chefs fail all the time.

It was stated elsewhere, that if you show them a plane ticket that you will be away during the 45 day renewal window; they will let you renew early. Can vary by the office/officer and, of course, the wind direction. You will still need a re-entry permit. Why not do things the easy way, and change your plans a little? A funeral? They won'y miss you. A wedding? might as well be a funeral. Graduation? maybe they will be able to get a job in the Peace Corps and then they can come see you. Next.

It's a pity, but I'm afraid I agree with the comments about Amorn...no conduit of any type, and pretty limited electrical supplies overall. China/Thai mom/pop/daughter almost always has what I need, and there is an extensive electrical supply at Baan & Beyond, too. Can't help you withthat specific item, as I don't know exactly what you are trying to do. www.banggood.com has been good, lately.