bangmai

I agree with terminator...Saturday is a horrible day to shop or do a lot of stuff. The weekend traffic has been pretty horrible for two months. But, in general....it's great to avoid the weekend warriors, when you have all week to enjoy the bars/restaurants, and take care of your business. I'm convinced that living in the middle of the traffic jam is a lot better than living on the edge of it. Walking is faster than driving right now, around CMU, and apparently the moat, too....A car is often about the fourth or fifth best way to get around BKK.

I've also noticed that you can divide the retirees (or those on retirement extensions) into two groups: Those who actively manage and invest their assets and those, who simply wait until thei direct deposit from their pension shows up every month (regardless of how much it is). The latter know and care only about one thing, and that is that check. Sure, most of them worked hard for it, and earned every penny of it....although they are likely getting half of what they would have gotten through simple index investing. As an American, I would rather do a beer or three with the former from any nation on Earth, as opposed to having to endure the blob mentality from a fellow American, who only knows his monthly deposit. And those are the same people, who will waste your time to no end on the simplest of tasks. Tried to help a guy with FBAR the other day...showed him every detail, and he even is a decent computer user. He then approaches me to tell me that none of the five copy shops within 100 meters of here will print PDFs...but his Thai language ability is good enough to constantly correct others in meaningless ways. I'm willing to help people, but there comes a time, when the blobs have to pay their retainer.

As far as your other sensationalized remark...no he doesn't travel the World buying women...he has two nice houses at a well known Thai beach resort, one rented for 20,000 thb per week, he still doesn't waste money. The recent reports are that the Russians are better tenants than the Euro-Trash, even though he said they left it smelling like crap.

sounds believable, but quite a few go to uni in BKK. 120K? still puts you 500K or so ahead of HiSo Academy.....how much does it cost, after the donation? One would think that a "Demonstration" school at a major uni, would actually utilize student teachers. In fact, every top rated university I've ever seen, uses graduate students to teach the undergraduates.

East side of the moat, Moon Mueang Rd., about 150 meters from the NE corner, next to the Kasikorn Bank ATM. That is branch #1,,,,053-212656 is the # I have for them.

Many people are here as an escape from where they came from. Many don't want to talk to others just because they are also from a western country. They might even be French! What a disaster that would be.

You are quite right, especially don't try to discuss with French's because they absolutely don't want listen you.

but, with an open mind, you will soon learn that there are pretty big differences between the Parisians and the rest of the bunch. Or if you go to America, with a land size 65 times larger than England, a mere 10 Km can mean similar differences in attitudes and friendliness, even accents and language usage can differ in short distances.

Something that is kind of strange is the number of foreigners that won't make eye contact with other foreigners. This has been fairly well documented. I've been told that this exists in the farang ghettos of Huay Kaew, too, which is ironic because you would think if they didn't like farang they could go live in Lampang or Phitsanalouk and see very few of them. It's not really country specific, I've had French neighbors, who were a lot more friendly and better neighbors than some of my fellow Americans are. They generally seem to have very few Thai friends, as well. The US State with the largest Thai influence was also the first to give able bodied men SSI checks for conditions like drug addiction, even if they were homeless. Guess where a lot of these people wound up?

Many people are here as an escape from where they came from. Many don't want to talk to others just because they are also from a western country. They might even be French! What a disaster that would be.

Acknowledgment of another human being is perfectly natural, be they friend or stranger. When passing a stranger, a polite smile acknowledging the fact that they exist within the same ecosystem is simply that; an awareness. Polite awareness. Making eye contact doesn't require conversation, nor does it imply friendship.

To pretend that they don't exist by forced avoidance of eye contact is usually done out of fear, just as it is in the animal kingdom... Do look at the other creature so they won't feel like you are threatening them, thus keeping you safe. People may try to convince themselves that they avoid it because they have no 'desire' to make contact. That 'may' be just a cover-up for real feelings.

I'd like to think we are better than animals.

Well stated....it's not that I want or need to be best buddies with anyone, or even remotely expect everyone to like me, but OTOH, there are way too many sights you might miss if you walk looking at your feet shuffle across the ground. "Billy" on One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest comes to mind.

There are two Funsabai Clinics...I've been going to the one on MM for 10 years. I paid 500 a few days ago. Cleaning is always done by the DDS there, and I believe that is the common practice in Thailand. I like Dr. Sriratannaphong, but there is another lady, Dr. Somrudee, who is also very good. Hours are skewed towards the afternoon evenings. Paid with credit card, in THB, no extra fee. Walk in, tell them what you need...they may see you immediately, ask you to wait (never long), or make an appointment, that they stick pretty close to....

Oh these lustful vagabonds, urbane and sophisticated "men of the world".

Travelling the world, buying women.

Why don't you ask your friend why he does not take a prostitute in his own country?

I didn't have to ask; he told me. 7100 THB for a short time with a Korean girl. They meet at the local Panda Express.

I have a question for the people who are experiencing problems in their homes. Are they new homes?

Our big Thai teak bar developed the crack during its first Michigan winter. After that it was OK -- no more cracks. It was as if that first crack worked out all the stress in the wood. Unfortunately, it was a very noticeable crack.

There has been a wave of floor replacements in our 28 yo building. However, the common area tile is still original, with no pops. A warning to the fainthearted. It is a dusty, loud mess, and you will need to stay off it. You will not be able to find stuff, and you won't be able to access stuff....find a hotel room close by...The local Thai man charged me 135 thb psm for labor. I rode with him to Hang Dong and bought the materials on my CC. I had new a/c put in last week, and this was about 10 times more involved.

Something that is kind of strange is the number of foreigners that won't make eye contact with other foreigners. This has been fairly well documented. I've been told that this exists in the farang ghettos of Huay Kaew, too, which is ironic because you would think if they didn't like farang they could go live in Lampang or Phitsanalouk and see very few of them. It's not really country specific, I've had French neighbors, who were a lot more friendly and better neighbors than some of my fellow Americans are. They generally seem to have very few Thai friends, as well. The US State with the largest Thai influence was also the first to give able bodied men SSI checks for conditions like drug addiction, even if they were homeless. Guess where a lot of these people wound up?

It was so cold this week. Were the fat chicks on Loi Kroh getting premium rates?

Will we ever get a serious reply to the OP? Not from me - I'm too deep into the wine bottle(s).

I heard August was a good month for boxed fruit juices...but as far as accommodations...in a town where having A/C can be the equivalent to having a bag of Peruvian, as a lady magnet, I think a person could have gotten a nice return on a space heater this week. Le Meridien is out, because if he sees how old a certain expat group is; he may never return to the North.

If it's 'ladyfriendly' under 700 Baht, I wouldn't want to be with the lady he's taking back!

If they won't go with you based on your 700 tbh hotel, perhaps you should try an 8 thb bar of soap. If anything, the bargirls would prefer NOT to go get possibly extorted at a high end hotel. 271, 2 or 3 star hotels available in CM for the three days in question, all under 29 USD.....my experience says most would be OK for the purpose intended.

clarification....his date will be a bargirl. Budget under 700.....

I haven't looked in a while, but I think you can watch sports with 800 Kbps. Considering I just tested Sinet at 17 Mbps on their lowest cost plan, it should be fine, I think setting up a Ramboost usb will cut down on buffering issues, if you don't have more than 2 GB of ram. Nothing illegal about Ilikehd...however, showing any of that stuff in a public place can put you in a grey area, and possibly ripe for extortion.

Walen has moved out of its Times Square location on Sukhumvit. Seems like it was fairly recent that he was peddling franchises on TVF. Easy Thai had built its reputation by catering to those turned off by the visa mills (those already in possession of a visa). You know what they say about getting too close to the sewer.....

A friend inquired about this, and I just haven't had to hotel it in a long time, since I have a condo. Specifically, something close to the LK bars or MM, that isn't a backpacker dump. Under 700 would probably be fine with him. Too cold for the pool, so no worries about that...just safe and clean, with a good bed. Hotel style would be preferred over guesthouse style. If you don't believe it's for a friend; I couldn't care less, and could very well be a future customer.

Thanks for the replies.

We paid a visit to Montfort, yesterday. We were informed classes are up to 55! Walking around the campus, we could look in to the ground floor classes & I just couldn't believe the sight of so many students in there!

It's a shame, as the school seems to have a good reputation, the campus & location are great, but that classroom size was a big turn off. His current class size is 28.

Looks like he'll be staying where he is for the time being.

We did enter him for the entrance exam & he passed. My wife spoke to other mothers whose kids entered & some failed, despite making "contributions" to the school in advance of the tests.

Any other options for Thai curriculum with lower class sizes?

I would recommend the Demonstration School at CMU, or "Satit." Their O-Net scores are posted on a big sign in front of the school. I walk through the campus a few times per week, and it really strikes me as a well run show. There are even a few, who live in out condo..perhaps they are M6 or something. Very polite teenagers. I don't know anything about the politics of getting in. It's in a great location, on the campus of one of the top universities in Thailand; it must involve more than just registering. I also have a favorable impression of Yupparaj, and have been by it countless times. It, too, seems to be well run, with respectful students. It is much more bustling, and it is amazing how much activity there still is at 5 or 6 in the evening. Something tells me it is less prestigious than Satit, but might be a good alternative. I don't have the nitty gritty on either school, but they both would be far less than Mae Rim HiSo Academy, and could very well produce more productive citizens. I have a lot of respect for Lanna, too.

That's if you are a Preferred Customer (more than 1 million THB). Otherwise 1.8%...and their regular savings pays 1.5% if over 100K, and 1.8 if over 1 million. 12 month is 1.9% for everyone, and they also have a 2.15% for persons over 55, which the lady at AP Plaza said foreigner could do....I have a few doubts, and I'm not 55, so perhaps someone should check into that further. This is CIMB, and it is right next door to Krungsri, which is paying 1.7%, without with-holdings, but you still need the 100K minimum, and it might even be less over 1 million. CIMB only charge 100 thb for a letter to Immigration.......still Krungsri offers the simplest and most straightforward way to take care of your 800K, or whatever, but if you want to do a little more legwork; you can maximize your gains at CIMB. Both have very competent and courteous staffs/managers. I regularly use them both, and as I get towards the seasoning period, choose one or the other for the 800K. And as for the looks.....neither place appears to hire fat girls, but I will give a slight edge to Krungsri, but mostly because there are more of them.

Mine tented two weeks ago, after 28 years. I wondered if electrical current from ungrounded appliances (desktop PC) had anything to do with it.

Wouldn't it be great if there were maps of Chiang Mai available at a reasonable cost, or if there was some type of website, where you could find a map of the city. I know CNX is quite new, and WW II seems like it was yesterday, but if you could only see it on a map......but then again, what are the chances that there would be jet noise, 2 km in a straight line from the end of an 1800 meter runway in the middle of high season in a large resort city?

I did the two months for 700 thb inc. install about 18 months ago with WeTV. After the install they told me I needed a box with a deposit and monthly fee to get a proper signal. They were terminated as soon as the two months was up. Glad I went with my beer-gut feeling, because the masses of dissatisfied customers are apparently of epic proportions. Not a big soccer fan, but the EPL is about the best thing going at a lot of the Thai bars...are they having problems too?

It seems like if one doesn't do the Khmer Shuffle, when they walk, a missing 4 mm thick piece of tile wouldn't create too much of a problem. Mine started coming up two weeks ago. The tile man finished today on complete new tile. The old was 28 yo, so while certainly not what the Sgermans could do for 12 times more money; that is really pretty good. I actually thought that electrical current pooling on the floor had something to do with it.

Thanks, I'll be checking out the GLMs (good looking moms).

you could probably add a group, who were teaching elsewhere in SEA, and came here for a better life (compared to China or Korea). Also a lot of very young females, just out of college, who meet the white face and easy to take advantage of requirements. I saw several inline at CM Immigration a few weeks ago, getting 30 day extensions, in their school uniforms..unless long purple skirts and white blouses are what "tourists" wear to Immigration at 6am.

Female teachers wearing student school uniforms ? really ?

You must be fresh of the boat...happens at many schools...certain days of the week, certain holidays...purple polyester is the rule of the day.