Colonel_Mustard

Property that is reasonably priced will sell without too much of a problem. The problem is too many owners overvalue their property.

Everyone that I personally know that has put their property on the market at a sensible price in the last 12 months sold it fairly quickly (myself included). In each case to buyers from Hong Kong.

I can't see prices going up much in the short to mid-term but I also don't see them going down either (barring increased civil unrest). I'd buy a property here to live in but not as an investment.

" I'd buy a property here to live in but not as an investment." - so, in other words, you would make a donation to a property developer.

As I said I'd only buy a property to live in with the expectation of not losing money on it but also not making much, if any profit. I'd also save on paying rent in the meantime.

I had a house built here about 10 years ago and sold it this year. I made quite a lot of profit on the original build cost but by the time I factor in maintenance costs over that period, then I guess I have done slightly better than breaking even and have, in effect, lived there rent free for a very enjoyable 10 years.

I would never buy property in Thailand as an investment vehicle but purely as a way to live in the property that I want, for as long as I want and get my money back when I want to move on. That's ok by me. For investments there are better opportunities than property in Thailand or elsewhere.

I agree with what you are saying, but with a higher sale price for property here now, that money can be put to better use than simply buying a property to avoid paying rent, which is so cheap here.

Without a gain on your outlay, not to mention the maintenance costs and fees over the years, I consider renting to be the better option, rather than breaking even, or having a loss, on property here.

The money one would use to buy a property here, that will not appreciate in the future, and in fact, will probably depreciate, plus maintenance etc - can be used to cover rental costs, plus some.

As I said, there are better investments than property. However, I'm glad I bought. I got to design the exact house that I wanted, where I wanted and got to decide when I wanted to leave. I couldn't guarantee that in a rented place. I had a wonderful 10 years there and it was a perfect place to bring my children up, so no regrets at all.

I'm keeping a property in the North of Thailand in case I decide to return to Thailand at any time in the future. If I wanted to return to Phuket for a couple of years or so at any time, then in the future I would probably rent as the kids would most likely be grown up by then and i wouldn't feel the need to be quite so choosy about where I lived.

Property that is reasonably priced will sell without too much of a problem. The problem is too many owners overvalue their property.

Everyone that I personally know that has put their property on the market at a sensible price in the last 12 months sold it fairly quickly (myself included). In each case to buyers from Hong Kong.

I can't see prices going up much in the short to mid-term but I also don't see them going down either (barring increased civil unrest). I'd buy a property here to live in but not as an investment.

" I'd buy a property here to live in but not as an investment." - so, in other words, you would make a donation to a property developer.

As I said I'd only buy a property to live in with the expectation of not losing money on it but also not making much, if any profit. I'd also save on paying rent in the meantime.

I had a house built here about 10 years ago and sold it this year. I made quite a lot of profit on the original build cost but by the time I factor in maintenance costs over that period, then I guess I have done slightly better than breaking even and have, in effect, lived there rent free for a very enjoyable 10 years.

I would never buy property in Thailand as an investment vehicle but purely as a way to live in the property that I want, for as long as I want and get my money back when I want to move on. That's ok by me. For investments there are better opportunities than property in Thailand or elsewhere.

to anuthureuser,i tried to quote your last lame reply,about you wandering around in a sarong,and i note you said 'if i was in the middle east i would have sex with women or men",well a friend of mine spent a long time in the middle east,and his advice was;1= a woman for duty; 2 a boy for pleasure.and 3= a goat for sheer delight, as i think categorys 1&2 would probably not want to have much to do with a shirtless waster like you,i suggest you would be a classic number 3,and probably the goat would not even feel it if your D#*k is as lame as your posts.

As this thread is about being appropriate, your middle name seems rather appropriate for you

Thailand like Singapore? I enjoy both countries and their differences but cannot ever see them being remotely similar except geographically and climatically.

Singapore, 1945:

The current city is a fairly new development. Thailand could be completely transformed in a couple of decades, just as it was under Phibuns dictatorship. Most of what people now call "Thai culture" seems to stem from his cultural mandates, even the name and anthem of the country. Just about the same time as the photo above.

Just after being occupied by Japan during WW2. Look at the direction the 2 countries have taken since then. The size of Singapore also makes it a special case and I doubt Thailand could follow that model.

While it's not impossible Thailand could take a major leap forward, I'm not convinced there is the will or the work ethic here to make it happen.

Anyway, we're getting a bit off topic here so I'll bow out.

On my travels around Thailand, it's not been uncommon to see Thai men wandering around shirtless. I'm not sure it's as taboo as some are trying to make out.

Dear Colonel, They are called peasants and most of them are landless peasants or serfs if you would prefer the correct term.

They are indeed and they make up the majority of the population (Thai and Western). So again, it's not as taboo as some would make out (though obviously inappropriate in certain places).

Everyone who is claiming moral superiority in the name of a culture that isn't even their own is trending out on the thin ice of the absurdly ignorant.

Not everyone is claiming moral superiority. Last time a was at Harbin Hot Springs in California I was naked for three days. I love to be naked. I'm f ing naked right now (in my home) That's not the point though. If you have a house rule that its not appropriate for anyone to come in and shit on your rug, would you be claiming moral superiority by saying its just not appropriate behavior. I'm not a Buddhist but I know a lot of Thai Buddhists who are very serious about their religious and cultural rules, disciplines and behavior. (I'm not talking about Pattaya or Patong or Kho Samui beaches) - I'm talking about the heart of Chiang Mai. Have you even been to Chiang Mai? - there's over 300 Buddhist temples here. I don't make it up that the locals don't like it when farangs (including the Chinese who come and pee in the streets because they saw in in some dumb movie) act like pigs in their city - they have told me, because I learned to speak some Thai and they trust me with telling their truth. In my country/restaurant I would say "put on your damn shirt" but most Thais are be extremely tolerant and no-confrontational with visitors and farang. Trust me, they don't like it and are talking to each other about it.

they put up with silly behaviour for the money ,not any other reason

if these people were not spending the "tolerance " would dry up very fast indeed .........

That's quite universal. Rich folks can basically do whatever they want.

The problem farangs face in Thailand these days is that the Thai middle class is growing and hence, the tolerance disappearing. Middle class is the cancer of all things fun, so .. unless the current conflict manages to throw the country back into peasantry, it'll be another Singapore in a few decades. Then every one will be wearing a shirt, yeah. Fun ? Go try Singapore now and check it out.

Thailand like Singapore? I enjoy both countries and their differences but cannot ever see them being remotely similar except geographically and climatically.

On my travels around Thailand, it's not been uncommon to see Thai men wandering around shirtless. I'm not sure it's as taboo as some are trying to make out.

per capita consumption (15+ years; in litres of pure alcohol), 2010

9. Tjsekkia og Slovakia

the country called Czechoslovakia hasnt existed for at least ten years.

Over 20 years now. How time flies. Maybe a dubious honour but The Czech Republic usually comes out top of the beer drinking league but as they come out so low on this table, it appears that they're not huge drinkers of spirits.

We need another mall like we need another bullet in the head.

Why not build up in Chern Talay and keep the ruskies up there. Call it Paragonski.

I believe Central will open in Cherng Talay in the not too distant future, not too far from where Villa is.

Usually once or twice a month.

After 13 years here, it's time for me to move on. I've enjoyed it tremendously but for family reasons, the timing is right to sell up and head off.

I'll sell the large furniture items with the house but over the years we have accumulated a lot more personal things than would fit into suitcases. Everything from cds and books to golf clubs and surf boards etc. Looking at leaving June next year after the kids have finished their school year but as shipping would take some time, I thought it best to start gathering information now.

Any advice on getting stuff shipped abroad? Any recommended international removals agents? Do they calculate pricing based on weight or size?

Thanks in advance.

North / North-east.

Agreed.

It is a single page which has a Garuda on top of course, is the width of an A4 page but is about 20% longer than an A4.

Thanks. I don't suppose you have an image than you can scan and PM me do you?

Does anyone have an example of what a Thai building permit looks like that they could post? I'm going through all my old papers looking for ours but not really sure what it looks like.

Just been back to Phuket for the first time in a while.Took two mates and their wives over as they had never been before.Tried to talk them out of it but they insisted. on going.

First day rained so much that the truck go stuck in half a meter of of mud and crap on the back road by Patong hospital.Never seen such a mess in all my life.

Finally got to the hotel after about 3 hours of traffic chaos, sitting having a well deserved beer we witnessed the farang hotel owned having to pay off the tourist police for their services ??.

Headed off to Phuket town the next day via Patong to be greeted with a 2 1/2 hour sit in traffic because of an another accident on the hill then an hour at central.

The place is a complete joke.I pity these people who spend their hard earned money on a holiday to end up spending half their time sitting in traffic jams.

By this time we had all had enough so sat in traffic for another 2 hours to get out of the hell hole.

The positive news is that.

That is six people who have vowed never to return.

I don't doubt your story and, like everywhere, I am sure Phuket has dissatisfied customers but I must say that I am very rarely stuck in traffic in Phuket and most people I know that visit (be it Patong or elsewhere) say that they have had a great time.

Each to their own I guess.

I pay 12000 a month but that's for a full-time driver/handyman.

Is that using your car, or his?

Also, if his car, and I know it's a minor issue, but does this make him an illegal taxi?

My car.

You have me thinking, Colonel.

When friends/family visit me, or for tourists as well, I wonder if hiring a car, but having a Thai drive it (nominated driver on the hiring contract) could be a possible way to get the transport issue here.

It could also be employment for more Thai's.

So, your driver meet you at the airport, you hire your car, then he, and the car, is yours, 24/7, for the duration of your holiday. The car stays at your hotel, and the driver rides his motorbike home, and meets you again the next day.

I wonder if these guys would be pulled out of the car and assaulted by the tuk-tuk guys?

It's something family members have done before without any problems but if it became more widespread, who knows what the reaction would be?

Having said that we do know the likely reaction.

I pay 12000 a month but that's for a full-time driver/handyman.

Is that using your car, or his?

Also, if his car, and I know it's a minor issue, but does this make him an illegal taxi?

My car.

I pay 12000 a month but that's for a full-time driver/handyman.

The best part of the island IMO.

There is plenty to do. Nice and quiet beaches, a good range of golf courses, lots of sporting options at Thanyapura sport centre, cable skiing, go karts, ATVs, jungle canopy walks, zip wire, canoeing etc. Splash Jungle is also in the area.

Plenty of Thai and Western restaurants, especially on the Western side near Laguna.

There's also a good international school and the airport.

Having your own transport is essential though as it's quite a big area and not many taxis or tuk tuks around (except at the airport).

Paklok area could be suitable. Easy commute to work and PIA intemational school. Fairly cheap part of the island too.

I had CTH satellite installed on Monday. Quick, efficient and relatively cheap. Not the best range of channels but I really only got it for watching the football. I have kept a Truevisions dish for the other viewing needs of my family.

Any chance of telling us by who and how much is relatively cheap, good picture/reception? Your location?

Got the number from the CTH website. I called the number for their representative in Thalang (as that is the district where I live). Installation around 2000 baht and monthly was around 800 (though cheaper was offered if you wanted to commit for a longer period).

Very good picture/reception.

I had CTH satellite installed on Monday. Quick, efficient and relatively cheap. Not the best range of channels but I really only got it for watching the football. I have kept a Truevisions dish for the other viewing needs of my family.

Either the Islander bar in Rawai or the Cheers bar in Rawai. I can't remember which was first but I used to frequent both quite regularly but I believe both are long gone now.

Cheers long gone? I remember seeing the farang owner last low season handing out fliers around Nai Harn. Its funny the guy never wanted to talk to me when I was a customer there, but was very chatty with me when he had a flier in his hand and I was trying to eat my breakfast. I sensed desperation then and Im not surprised its closed now

I was told by a friend it had closed but as the same friend told me that the Islander had closed, it could still be there for all I know. I haven't been down to Rawai for nearly 10 years. I'll have to make the effort one day to have a drive down one day and see how it has changed, though from what I have heard I would hardly recognise it.

Either the Islander bar in Rawai or the Cheers bar in Rawai. I can't remember which was first but I used to frequent both quite regularly but I believe both are long gone now.

Actually Islander Bar in Rawai now under new management will re-open soon Paul & Leslie had to go back to UK because of health reasons. For years the best Sunday Lunch in the area always a great welcome and will be sorely missed. Actually have the pool table in my house now so not all left the island.

Good to hear it's still going. There used to be 3 partners/owners at one time I think. An elderly Brummie called Dave that headed up to Udon I think, an Aussie called Neil and another British guy but I can't remember his name. This would be going back 12 years or so. It was always a nice place to hang out.