DirtyDan

One of the reasons you stop paying taxes "back home" is that it saves you money. When doing that cost-benefit analysis, your health costs need to be compared to your tax costs. If you can't afford health insurance, you can't afford to stop paying your taxes!

One in three people will suffer from one of the big three illnesses by 65: Cancer, Stroke, Heart Condition. Simpler terms: 1 in 3 suffer 1 of 3... (edit: this is post #34 - that means 10-12 people that replied here will have a critical illness by the age of 65. Think about that!)

Critical illness insurance is not something that should be overlooked when thinking about your future. Sure you can pay up to 2000 USD for a claim, but can you also absorb the lost wages from not being able to work at the same time? The earlier you get locked into a plan, age-wise, the better.

Anyone know the brand of safe this is? I know safe's are only designed to slow someone that really wants to get into it, but simply prying open the door like this? Looks like a poor quality bolting mechanism!

For well made leather shoes: http://www.angelishoe.com/index.php?r=site/index

They custom make their shoes so I imagine they can be made to your wife's foot.

Two locations: Wireless Road next to the Conrad, and Silom in the U Chi Liang building (HSBC)

Tell them K. Mali sent you.

Another option: are you renting by credit card? Does your card have a policy which covers damages to rental vehicles? You'll need the police report, etc....

For your investments, I agree with diversification: various investment accounts through various banks, preferably in various countries. I would look at market linked funds - but the amount invested is really dependent upon your investment timeline.

It's also prudent, due to the cash nature of Thailand's economy, of keeping a couple month's worth of funds immediately in your possession. Invest in a Chubb safe.

Also, gold is a depreciating asset; just another form of money sitting idle. It can be used sparingly as a hedge against market volatility but it's a poor investment - let me know the next time gold pays you a dividend.

I won't comment on her lifestyle choices, or yours for being more "bothered" about not being invited.

Let's look at the root cause here... she lied to you. If she's willing to lie to you about this, what else is she lying about?

Sounds to me like you've lost the trust - how can you love someone you can't trust?

I'll add a little to the previous posters comments, without being quite as negative. The infrastructure around the various farang-frequented red-light districts are pretty rough (sidewalks, etc.) and I wonder if some of these doom-and-gloom types have ever wandered more than 3 blocks away?

Yes, living downtown will be work. You've got to be vigilant to ensure you keep your kids from touching low-hanging live-wires, running into traffic (or having a motorcycle run over them while you're on the sidewalk), or falling into an open drain/canal... But many families do it here just fine. Coming to Bangkok as an ex-pat with greater income than the locals, will put you in the advantageous position of being able to hire someone to help you watch them (and a decent nanny is cheap-as-chips compared to hiring help in North America).

Don't let some people's scare mongering worry you - nothing is easy, but it certainly can be done.

Could you just learn to write your name phonetically in Thai and call it good?

ดิรที แดน

(I'm guessing.)

ICE, not heat. and rest, stay off it for a while.

A little over-the-counter ibuprofen to help with any swelling.

I certainly don't condone injury towards children. But perhaps if these parents had been doing their job in the first place, which includes a good back hand when needed, these delinquents wouldn't be considered "at risk" and in the program in the first place!

I don't fly Korean and it has nothing to do with the service or hard product (both of which have received decent reviews in "official" forums).

Ever read the book "Outliers" by Malcom Gladwell. It's about the Korean Air culture of the boss is always right and how this cultural inability to question the obvious lead to Korean Air's piss-poor safety record in the 80s and 90s.

Many think this similar culture is what lead to Asiana's crash in SFO a couple years ago: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/07/130709-asiana-flight-214-crash-korean-airlines-culture-outliers/

Sorry you had to suffer that nitwit's {non)response...

My favorite Mexican Restaurant, Que Pasa, is out that way,

Have you tried Senor Pico's in the Rembrandt hotel (Sukumvit Soi 18)? A Mexican I know says it's much better and I, as a non-Mexican, have to agree. There's also Mejico in Central Mall Chitlom (Phleonchit?) which is outstanding.

These are both places that could be a 2 hour round trip commute from Nichida.

A couple other questions to ask yourselves: How long are you here for? Will your kids need an international school in a few years? Do you need the same American social networks to survive or are you comfortable experiencing a new culture? Do you really want to live in a Florida retirement community where you can drive your golf cart around inside the gated compound? Also, depending on where and when the husband works, the commute could be just as bad.

I know families that live in both places - and both are happy with their choices as it comes down to personal preference. From what I've been told, there's no nightlife and severely limited dining options in Nichida - the coworkers come down to my place for dinner.

I assume you're on a lucrative ex-pat assignment to be able to afford Nichida pricing... but remember for roughly one half of Nichida prices you can get a really sweet condo downtown. Let me sum up Nichida to you with the one statement my co-worker said, "My son's don't even know we've left America." I'm thinking - why did you even leave then?

Personally, Mrs. Dirty and I would never be happy living on a compound and schooling options downtown are just as decent as the ISB. We love "downtown", this is an amazing city - there's a Bangkok for everyone and you'll never experience it living in Nichida. There are many different areas fine for family living - Silom/Saladeang, along Sukumvit from Thonglor (55) to Ekkamai (63?) and up to On Nut(103?) (I would avoid lower Sukumvit for traffic and lifestyle issues). Honestly, anywhere on the BTS is fine to live as we often take the train simply because it's more efficient than waiting in traffic. A colleague lives in Ari and loves it.

Honestly, you'll have to explore both options when you arrive (are you coming on a pre-visit?).

Best of luck.

Thanks guys. Going to put these to them and let them decide. The kempinski looks really good as they are big sashimi fans and I know the pool is nice too. Lord Jims, that is wonderful but more for the wife and I at another time I think. Brunch in Bangkok is one of life's great experiences and I'm sure they will enjoy their pick.

Thanks again.

"Brunch in Bangkok is one of life's great experiences... "

I might put that on a t-shirt.

Thanks to those who have suggested new ideas too!

The Four Seasons was rebranded to an Anatara... so doubt the FS quality will still be there ( Note that I'm not cutting down Anatara on the river as I really enjoyed the buffet there 3 years ago, don't remember if it was in the Trader Vic's restaurant or just their regular one)? I've heard good recommendations about the Sukothai as well. (will have to try that one out eventually).

Most of the hotels here put on a really nice spread (western, Thai, Chinese) for Sunday - this includes all the big chains. For a real treat there's only one answer to you "best Brunch" question: the Kempinski.

Siam Kempinski:http://www.kempinski.com/en/bangkok/siam-hotel/dining/culinary-highlights/brasserie-europa-sunday-family-lunch/ If I had to choose a last meal, it would be here. Hands down. Put's the Bellagio in Vegas to shame - not with quantity, but with quality. Amazing sashimi, al-la-carte menu and a dessert room... thinking about it is making me drool.

Another really good one is Plaza Athenee: http://www.plazaatheneebangkok.com/forms/buffetofferseng

Not sure how "romantic" breakfast will be whilst dining on a Sunday morning with 100 of your closest friends.

To railroad this topic a little... why have you decided on rental property? There are many more options than "high interest" savings accounts vs. real estate, especially if you have $200K to play with!

Have you ever spoken with the wealth management folks at your Canadian bank (not the tellers up front, but the private banking folks that deal solely with $200K+ clients)? When you have $50K+ to invest, the high yielding mutual funds will allow you the opportunity to buy in and most return 15%+ pa - a much better "investment" than worrying about dishonest tenants skipping rent on a depreciating asset. If you would like I can PM the name of a really good Canadian CFP to you.

I rented a Toyota Yaris for a week one time. If I ever had to buy another car, it would be the Yaris - roomy for its size.

Part of me says it's a contract that should be honoured, another part feels for the woman that essentially grew the baby, and yet the cynical side wants to pick details out of the story "proving" it's all about the money.... like has to be able to visit the child. Hmm.

I believe under Thai law (as was published by the Japanese papers a while back after billionaire boy spawned a rugby team's worth of little people) that the baby belongs to the "mother" until she signs the papers. I guess the question here is what defines "mother" - is it a genetic relation or is the act of turning food into a human for 9 months adequate support for the term "mother"? Maybe take this to "ask a lawyer"?

This is such an emotionally charged situation that's it would be hard for anyone involved to make an objective decision... better leave to the internet forums.

The issue when you start moving into commercial roles is that you really need to have your finger on the pulse of the culture, and that includes language abilities. I recall a project in Hong Kong where the contractors went in thinking they're all hot sh*t and encountered roadblock after roadblock regarding contracts and permitting. The engineering was sound, but they couldn't get anybody to do anything due to cultural differences or not signing the 7th copy of the contract with a red pen, as per custom (it was something that ridiculous).

These are the same issues you'd run into trying to do business in other countries. ie.: Australia - "What do you mean you need equipment today? It's Friday, mate. We'll show up Monday morning." - a non-local engineer wouldn't know about these potential issues and wouldn't plan for them in cost budgeting...

^{Did the surrogate know at the outset that she was doing this on behalf of a gay couple?}

^{If not, perhaps the part of the couple who she met did not inform her of this, and even misled her into thinking the baby would be taken by a normal family?}

^{​If that is the case, perhaps they also have to accept some of the blame, and perhaps the young lady's position is a little bit more understandable.}

What constitutes a "normal" family? How about specifically in the US, where two loving adults want this baby to be raised, where less than half of children are raised in a house by their biologic heterosexual parents still in their first marriage? (only 46% by 2014 Decennial Census data)

It takes a village to raise a child, as long as the sex of the villagers is equally 50% male and 50% female .

He better hurry up and use those flight vouchers within the next 65 days before all Thai registered airlines loose their ability to fly internationally.

May be her plan to marry both of them! So that she can get better income.

Another issue is why gays want baby, i am not sure the mentality of baby of raised by two men.

If had access to academic journals here, I could cite the actual science which supports children raised in families, regardless of the sex of the parents, turn out to be just a "normal" as "normal" people . Unfortunately, all I have is a quick google search:

"The new research, which looked at 19,000 studies and articles.." http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/23/us-usa-gaymarriage-study-idUSKBN0P32AM20150623

"researchers from the Columbia Law School examined 76 studies published after 1985 and found that only four of them concluded that children raised by gay couples faced additional adversity as a result of having same-sex parents." http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/06/29/science-clear-children-raised-same-sex-parents-are-no-disadvantage-0

"In a historic study of children raised by homosexual parents, sociologist Mark Regnerus of the University of Texas at Austin has overturned the conventional academic wisdom that such children suffer no disadvantages when compared to children raised by their married mother and father." http://www.frc.org/issuebrief/new-study-on-homosexual-parents-tops-all-previous-research (I include this one for the sake of fair representation. However, I would really like to see the actual paper and not this analysis of it as it appears he's not comparing apples to apples...).

I too was raised in a sheltered-bigoted manner, but was able to do the reading necessary to evolve beyond the ignorance that was forced upon me.

I thought the government was going to clean up the surrogate situation after that Japanese guy had 16 babies made last year?

I have a quote from Wridgways (Santa Fe) for $7,400 (Aus) for 10'x10' worth of household belonging SYD-BKK (door to door service) - told me they would have to use a 20' container, too. This amount does not include insurance.

I moved into BKK using AsianTigers - excellent service but I imagine the company paid a pretty penny for them!

And thanks everyone for your suggestions, I too will look at a couple of the others mentioned here.

Living in Thailand sure opens one's eyes to local prejudices... this isn't about sexual orientation, it's about discriminating against rich farangs! Have they even tried offering more baht? Buyer beware when in a "business" environment without any regulations.

But on the flip side, why are these characters buying designer pets when the shelters are putting down soi dogs? The orphanages here are overflowing and it would be so easy to go and pick up one of the million babies that are just looking for someone to love them!

Be careful "Dirty" your sexism is showing!

Why do you not suggest that straight couples also adopt soi dogs instead of producing designer babies as well.

My comment was about this story involving this particular couple. But let me clear the air and state that ALL couples need to really look inside themselves when deciding on the use of a surrogate - with all the children out there needing love, forcing another into existence is, IMHO, selfish.

I also thought about commenting on the other post, but decided best not to feed the bridge dwellers. Seriously, all the scientific proof is out there in psychology and sociology journals, guess it's easier to listen to someone's interpretation of a 4000 year old book (that's been edited more times than anyone can remember)? In today's age of free and easily accessible information, it's mind boggling the number of people that choose to be ignorant.