newnative

Correct--if 500 billion baht is considered 'very little cash'. That's what Chinese visitors dropped in Thailand in 2019. One site, Statista, pegged it at 543 billion baht.

Sad news. One of my very favorite singers. I still love to watch YouTube videos of her amazing concerts. Simply the best.

Way too long a process to certify the election and get the new government in place. As others have said, what a mess. Election reform, including the reasons and power to disqualify candidates and parties, needs to be on the new government's agenda.

Well, a good many of them have decamped to my house on the Darkside.

Why weren't the overhead wires buried while the road work and sidewalks were being done? Least favorite road for my partner and me.

Agree. My partner and I visited recently.

Let's watch the headline hype. Worth something. . . maybe. 'Priceless'. . . not a chance.

It's interesting that there seems to be an endless fascination--sometimes accompanied by affirmation or disapproval--on what other people spend their money on. I admit I'm guilty, too--I recently clicked on a Yahoo article to see the house that Beyonce and her husband have just spent $200 million on, apparently the most expensive house sale in California history. I wasn't impressed when I looked at the photos but, as dear old Dad used to say, 'if you like it, I'm crazy about it'. If you can afford it, spend on whatever makes you happy, and to heck with what anyone else thinks about it.

This is a good example of why I always say know what you are getting into before you agree to be an Executor (and, your friend should have gotten your agreement). There is often much more work involved than you might think.

My goodness!!! I hope you don't believe everything posted on YouTube and Twitter!!! Just think of the thousands and thousands of lies Trump posted!!! That's just one person posting!!!

Not up to me but I would start with those not currently paying their fair share--for example, those with valuable empty land in urban areas that plant some pretend 'crops' to avoid paying higher real estate taxes on non-farm land.

Where did I say 'less taxes'? I said a better tax system--which certainly could include no taxes on food and drawing more revenue from other sources.

All easily funded with a better tax system.

There's no MLS (Multiple Listing Service) in Thailand so we always list our properties with as many agencies as possible, starting with those closest to the property. One easy way to find agencies that have listings with your condo project is to search your project on Hipflat.

Maybe just shave your head. Oh, wait, that would require a bit of effort, too. Pathetic. If you ever do muster the effort to go out, take note of the old guy pushing a hand cart of baskets for sale, trying to make enough money to eat that day.

Been twice and loved both visits. Angkor Wat is awesome and Siem Reap is a fun town. Definitely worth a visit!

Condo maintenance fees can vary widely--and higher fees don't always translate to higher service, we have found. With larger projects you should get some economies of scale. 1000 owners paying for the front gate guard at, say, Riviera Jomtien, vs. 200 owners paying for the guard at Northshore. The View Talays have both large numbers of units and also few amenities--with a very low condo maintenance fee as a result. As a buyer, the monthly maintenance fee can be factored into the buying decision but it's never been a big factor for us as even the highest fees we have had have been less than what we were paying in the US. A high fee never swayed us to eliminate a project from consideration--even when one of the projects had a monthly fee of 7,700 baht, which included weekly maid service.

I think no matter where you look in Pattaya you will find that older projects generally have bigger condo unit types with fewer project amenities and newer projects will have a larger number of smaller units but more project amenities. Older projects will also likely have a fewer number of total units. Always exceptions, of course. For example, the smallest condo type available at Northshore Condo is 64sqm. Total number of units less than 200. Nice pool, nice gym, nice ping pong and snooker areas, small library, nice lobby, lots of garage parking, good front desk. Built before things like sky pools, sky gardens, sky lounges, jogging trails, lagoon pools, co-living spaces, theatres, etc., have come into vogue. The Riviera Jomtien and Riviera Wong Amat projects, in contrast, have around 1000 units, with many of the units less than half the size of the smallest Northshore condo. But, you get a ton of project amenities. And, most of the new projects do offer some larger 2-bedroom units if you need more space. My partner and I had 2-bedroom units at Unixx, Axis, Lumpini Park Beach, and Centric Sea. As always, it's important to first select the general location you want to be at and then find the project that best suits your lifestyle and your budget. If you never swim but an on-site gym is very important, the View Talays probably wouldn't suit. If you don't drive, you might want a project close to the baht bus line. Unixx, I believe, is still running its own shuttle bus. Some of the newer 1000-unit projects can be very busy, with more of a hotel atmosphere than that of a residence. Some love that, some don't. No project is perfect but the goal is to come closest to your wants, needs, and budget.

Sad and disgusting both. I'm super-impressed with Pita.

Absolutely. Instead of a deadly high speed car chase it becomes a parade.

Good move. I don't have anything against prostitution but not on Beach Road. Establish a less visible area for them. With more mainstream tourist tourist developments such as T21, Centre Point Space, and the proposed Aquatique, I think there will be continued pressure to have the prostitution elsewhere.

Disgusting.

'...crushing defeat...'. Delicious.

Yes, leave already. Buh bye bye.

He lost by over 7 million votes last time around--and as the sitting president with all the powers of incumbency. Since then its been a torrent of damaging lawsuits with more to come, a conviction for a sex offense, and Roe v Wade overturned by his handpicked, nitwit, lying SCOTUS justices. I'm not seeing it.