Cassandra

Cassandra (a cursed name) says:

To elaborate, Thais these days are well aware there is a large element of low rent and sometimes criminal foreigners visiting their country, or even semi resident through visa running.They do not associate these "farang krajork" with the more established farang community, ie those with jobs and work permits.You and others like you completely underestimate Thais' ability to discriminate in these matters.

Well I live in Thailand for almost 4 years on a non immigrant O visa with multiple entries. Jyst got my fourth. I do not need to work anymore and I spend here 2 million baht per year. I do make visa runs avery three months, I do not want nor need a work permit, does that make me a criminal, a semi resident?

How rude!

No of course it doesn't make you a criminal as my earlier post made quite clear.However from the information you have just given you are clearly one of the army of semi resident or floating visa runners.Nothing wrong with that but I don't think Thais would see you as an established expatriate, and neither would I.

Your comments about linkage with pedophilia crimes and forged pasports are plain silly.

Racial majorities often judge racial minorities by the improper actions taken by a small portion of that racial minority.

OR....

Thais often judge foreigners by the improper actions taken by a small portion of foreigners.

Do you understand the concept now?

You are just repeating your original statement and I disagree with it.To elaborate, Thais these days are well aware there is a large element of low rent and sometimes criminal foreigners visiting their country, or even semi resident through visa running.They do not associate these "farang krajork" with the more established farang community, ie those with jobs and work permits.You and others like you completely underestimate Thais' ability to discriminate in these matters.

Expats opinions simply don't matter, and in any case this forum is probably more representative of the "floating" expiate community than the more permanently established expats.

The thing is that the foreign community can have a voice and a say in the way things are done and the decisions that are made regarding foreigners by the government. We have jointly a lot of pull and a lot of capital to use as leverage; but things have to be done slowly by lobbing the Thai Government and it's Ministries to bring the concerns of the foreign community to their attention, in a peaceful and non-confrontational manner. Will things change, of course they will, but it's slow and every time some foreigner gets arrested for some crime like pedophilia or forged passports the foreign cause is setback once again. You have to remember that we ARE the visible minority and our actions are noticed by the Thai population.

There is a Thai proverb

งามแต่รูปจูบไม่หอม

Ngam tae rup, jub mai horm - Great look but bad breath.

Those who have good appearance, but do not behave well.

The foreign community should act so the Thai population does not think we all have bad breath.

I completely disagree .You talk about the foreign community when there is in fact no "community".It ranges in a spectrum from visa runners (very well represented on this forum) to those that have acquired Thai citizenship, and the disparate parts have little to do with each other.The embassies to some extent speak up for foreigners' interests as do the combined Chambers of Commerce.Your comments about linkage with pedophilia crimes and forged pasports are plain silly.

Many other farangs thou hate Mr. Thaksin for other reasons, civil rights, abuse of power, corruption, arrogance ETC.

Most of this is based on a western value system. You have to look at it through Thai eyes and from a Thai perspective, a majority of Thai think he's just fine and dandy. Thai's will vote and decide and we will just have to adjust to the outcome. No amount of complaining or arguing will swing one vote, Thai's will just agree with your point of view and then go off and vote the way they want, it's the Thai Way. No confrontation at any cost and we just have to get used to it.

You're correct of course.Most of us -resident expatriates- have little natural sympathy for Thaksin whether we broadly come from the left or the right.Nevertheless it's fairly clear Thaksin will win the elections albeit with a reduced majority given his support in the countryside.But politics can be uncertain and it would take a brave man to attempt to predict the precise outcome.However returning to this forum surely even the most rabid anti-Thaksin expat must in a moment of clarity realise how irrelevant and useless are the rambling hyms of hate seen over the last few weeks.Expats opinions simply don't matter, and in any case this forum is probably more representative of the "floating" expat community than the more permanently established expats.

It is quite possible that had this <deleted> pointed his camera in a different direction on a different day he could have taken a photo of a middle-aged Farang accompanied by two good-looking young Thai girls; one 15 the other 19.

We can all guess at the comment.

The fact that the Farang (me) was with his daughter and his son's girlfriend would not have occurred to this pea brain.

Why should it have occurred to anybody?What with respect made you look different from countless other farang in that area?

He deserves NO dignity. I've yet to see a bigger eyesore in Bangkok. Plus he's ruining the farang luster even moreso.

A final word from me.My guess is that the fellow is mai tem bart.But the hostile reaction here has been amazing and an eye opener.My further guess is that most Thais would feel pity for the guy's humiliation.As far as "ruining the farang luster" is concerned, the poster cannot be serious, given the disgusting sights available on a daily basis in Lower Sukhumvit.Clearly there are more than a few inadequates who are quietly delighted they have found a farang even more debased than themselves.

Saw him there myself last night... just shook my head in disgust as I passed by.

"Steven"

Oh great there's someone we can all look down on and shake our heads in disgust.How dreadful to think there are reprobates who can stoop so low.I think we should flog this fellow on Sanaam Luang.After all we are a fine virtuous crowd that have never done anything silly, humiliating or just plain wrong.And to think there are some who say we are mostly a bunch of alcoholics, losers,sex tourists,visa runners,tattoo infested yobs,perverted "schoolteachers", and white trash retirees.What pitiful nonsense to portray such a fine bunch as ourselves.

Speaking about telecoms. Foreign investment is one thing, but the current situation is worrysome - AIS is now Singapore owned, Dtac is essentially Norwegian, only Orange left, and it has about 80 bil baht in debts, which is about the same size as Taksin's share in Shin.

What we have is market practically owned by foreigners with no locals left (Orange's share is only about 15%).

Thais usually don't allow foreign domination in essential markets, like banking. Telecoms are slipping through their fingers as we speak.

In what way is foreign investment "worrysome" even if it means domination of a particular sector?

On balance it would be good for the Thai consumer -more efficient,better service,improved technology,better value for money.

On balance it would be bad for the small Sino-Thai business clique hogging the trough at present.Of course they wil bray about "foreign domination" but the truth is they are scared of real competition.

I had to leave Bangkok last week and make a quick trip back to London.

Beggars on the street, and the most appalling crime everywhere. Half-witted young (and not so young) guys and girls spilling out of the pubs at night, shouting and fighting before heading off to clog their arteries with fish and chips and processed kebabs. The most appalling traffic in ugly cities. The signs of wealth being a hocked up ex-council house, bought on 50 year mortgages and now having to be resold, because the price of cigarettes means they can't afford the repayments.

So-called affluent people condemned to tasteless holidays in Benidorm. Most of the Benidorm visitors not knowing or caring in which country they are, so long as they can get their Steak and Kidney Pie and Chips for 'me dinner'.

Such good managerial and organisational skills that all the UK industries have been bought by Americans, Japanese and now the Chinese.

Racial tension everywhere. Fear and hatred in most people's eyes. People shuffling along the streets, moaning about the cold, the costs, avoiding the eyes of everyone else.

I wonder when the UK will catch up with Thailand? Do you think they might like some help from us?

Some interesting observations here a few of which ring true.However the comments mainly seem to refer to the brutalised working class.Although the "love Thailand/hate UK" brigade don't like to hear it, for middle class and professional Brits life is better and more prosperous than it has ever been.

If the communist news network and the bullshit broadcasting company would both disappear it wouldn't bother me any.

Only trust Fox.

I assume you are joking or being ironical about trusting Fox.It would be rather sad if you weren't.

A piece on BBC news last night accusing the Foreign Office of not declaring Thailand a potentially dangerous place to visit.According to a leaked document they did not want to damage the post tsunami tourism trade. Article stated 9 Brits killed in Thailand last year, interviewed travel agent who said he wouldn't want his daughter to go there as dangerous for women, especially those travelling on their own. What do you lot think, is Thailand getting dangerous?

And i wonder how many Foreign nationals were killed in the U.K last year?

I was thinking in a similar way Daleyboy. How dangerous is Great Britain for British women? How many Btitish people are killed in Great Britain? The same line of thinking can be applied anywhere.

WHile it's a tragedy that 9 Brits were killed, it sounds like the BBC was focused on a single issue and added a bit of sensationalism for good measure making Thailand sound worse than it is. Same sort of thing happens when television programs focus on AIDS in Thailand. Viewers are left with the idea that all Thais have AIDS. It's not to slight such problems, but when a single issue is focused on, it can create a misleading impression.

Indeed so, i also wonder what % that is of the total number of British tourists visting Thailand.

It seems a shame that such a great institution as the BBC feels the need to sensationalize(spelling) stories in order to win ratings wars. It appears as though the integrity of the BBC has gone by the way side to keep up with the competion i.e CNN

Reality check please.The BBC did not sensationalise the story to win a ratings war.It's a rather silly tradition to grind out this line when the BBC comes out with a story we disagree with.My take is that Thailand is generally a safe place for foreigners but bear in mind most of us residents are street smart and know how to behave.For tourists it's still safe but obviously single girls should exercise discretion and good judgement.Motor car accidents are easily the biggest danger.The BBC doesn't always get it right but I would say its integrity definitely in place.How would we feel if no BBC?

Of course foreigners can have an opinion but this, whether pro or con,should be exercised with discretion.We are guests in this country.Am I the only one sick and tired of this motley collection of frazzled old coots,visa runners and bar flies ranting and raving on this subject, usually in an uninformed and garbled manner?

Excuse me, but I am not a guest in this country. I do pay my way, and not just in paying more taxes than most Thais.

From what you say, you are certainly a guest in this country.Nobody is suggesting you have no right to express an opinion, merely that it be done with discretion.Ultimately the political direction of this country is a matter for the Thai people, not for you or for me.Nobody is suggesting you "shut up".

I am not sure what to make of your final sentence since it is so sloppily written.However by one interpretation -"some people in real life off the internet might react rather negative" -it seems to be threatening which could have you banned from the forum.I shall give you the benefit of the doubt on this occasion.

I'm glad you are so familar with TV rules, but you forgot two of them when you posted the first message above, so I'll repost them for you:

No flaming of fellow members!

Do not post inflammatory messages on the forum, or any attempt to disrupt discussions to upset its participants. The word, or its derivative, "trolling", is used to describe such messages or the act of posting them.

Thank you for your cooperation.

I will leave it to others to determine who was flaming or trolling.Certainly there was no intent on my part as a careful study of my posts would confirm.You seem to have reacted strongly (let's take a wild guess why!!) to my use of the admittedly colourful expression "visa runners, barflies and frazzled old coots".This is a fairly accurate description of a vocal and I think minority section of this forum but I will be more circumspect next time.

From what you say, you are certainly a guest in this country.Nobody is suggesting you have no right to express an opinion, merely that it be done with discretion.Ultimately the political direction of this country is a matter for the Thai people, not for you or for me.Nobody is suggesting you "shut up".

I am not sure what to make of your final sentence since it is so sloppily written.However by one interpretation -"some people in real life off the internet might react rather negative" -it seems to be threatening which could have you banned from the forum.I shall give you the benefit of the doubt on this occasion.

And as a legal guardian of a Thai national i do have the right to voice my opinion on his behalf until he comes of age. Which also makes me a bit more than a "guest".

You are free to interpret my post in any way you want. Isn't language beautyful? it can be so ambiguous...

Actually, that is one of the particular joys of the Thai language, endless subtleties that can be expressed in one innocent sentence.

Anyhow, back to topic. Whatever you think of foreigners expressing their political opinions, i am terribly worried about present political situation. Both vocal fractions, thaksin and sondhi crowd, are steering the country into a very dangerous situation. I do not have the option to simply leave as some guest (barflys as well as snotty expats) might have, as i have numerous responsibilities here. Many people here do depend on me, and one of my responsibilities is to help educating them on politics, and to guard them against the vested interests trying to exploit them.

No, of course you don't have the right to voice your opinion on his behalf.There are many of us who are heads of household which include Thai nationals so your position is hardly unique.What you do have the right to do,in fact the obligation, is to teach your kids to be honest, decent and kind.I am sure you do this and with this support they will embark well prepared into life.I share some of your concerns but you are with respect working yourself up into a lather on matters which are for the Thais to decide on.By all means let's have your opinion however -I accept that it's sometimes necessary to let off steam.

Of course foreigners can have an opinion but this, whether pro or con,should be exercised with discretion.We are guests in this country.Am I the only one sick and tired of this motley collection of frazzled old coots,visa runners and bar flies ranting and raving on this subject, usually in an uninformed and garbled manner?

Excuse me, but I am not a guest in this country. I do pay my way, and not just in paying more taxes than most Thais. My years as a visa runner have been over for almost a decade. My wife might take the piss out of me that over the many years living together in Thailand i starting aging a bit, but there is not much that i can do about it. She ain't a spring chicken anymore either.

My wife is Thai, my son is Thai as well. Therefore i do reserve the right to voice my political opinion, as the head of my extended Thai family, in order to enable them a better future in their own country.

This place turned home for me a long time ago. I do not care if some snobbish expats, nationalistic citicens or whoever sees me as a "guest" who should shut up. Because my family does not, my friends do not either, and anybody else does not fall into the equasion.

I do not know from which dictatatorial society you are from, but i believe one of the major achievements of human society is the right of free speach. Like it or not, i do exercise it. You may disagree with my or anyone elses opinions. Only one advice though - some people in real life off the internet might react rather negative if you tell them to shut up because they do not fit your definition of one who should be allowed to voice his/her opinion.

From what you say, you are certainly a guest in this country.Nobody is suggesting you have no right to express an opinion, merely that it be done with discretion.Ultimately the political direction of this country is a matter for the Thai people, not for you or for me.Nobody is suggesting you "shut up".

I am not sure what to make of your final sentence since it is so sloppily written.However by one interpretation -"some people in real life off the internet might react rather negative" -it seems to be threatening which could have you banned from the forum.I shall give you the benefit of the doubt on this occasion.

marshbags

"manipulated"?

as I understand it, there are like 500 people involved in the decisions made here in thailand. pm thaksin is just one man. are you suggesting that he paid off all these other people?

I guess it would be possible, but then, that would be one sorry situation.

that is, if all the elected officials were that bad. that would be hard to believe.

as for saying he legally cheated the thai people and their country. remarks like that without proof can be considered slanderous.

how would you like it if someone lied to your boss telling him that you did something you didn't do, and you lost your job because of that person's lies?

one other person mentioned that he is a dictator. my response to that is - if he elected by a majority of people in his country, how can you say he is a dictator?

if you are so against pm thaksin, then, I suggest you work hard to convince other people not to vote for him in the next election. ..or, convince other people to put a limit to the number of times someone can be elected as the PM.

..by the way, just how many times can someone be elected pm here in thailand? in the states they are limited to 2 terms. just curious.

All comments make an interesting debate and provide lots of answers.

If you think the kamoy in chief isn,t running the show along with a handful of his associates

partners in crime that,s your opinion.

I reckon your naive on this and time will tell and if not history.................................and that,s my opinion.

Your also educated unlike many of the less well off Thai,s who cannot judge what,s happening and therefor follow the bribes when voting.

No offence intended but i cannot get my head around your latest comments.

marshbags

You are quick to say that many of the less well off Thais are uneducated, and therefore by implication cannot be trusted to make the "right" political choice, ie one that you approve of.In passing,if you do not mind me mentioning, it your own post with its jumbled syntax and poor spelling does not exactly suggest you passed magnum cum laude from Harvard, but let that pass.

There are very few of us who are fans of Thaksin and most would be glad to see him go, but most equally recognise this should be done in a constitutional manner and is entirely a matter for the Thai people.Of course foreigners can have an opinion but this, whether pro or con,should be exercised with discretion.We are guests in this country.Am I the only one sick and tired of this motley collection of frazzled old coots,visa runners and bar flies ranting and raving on this subject, usually in an uninformed and garbled manner?

Finally,this week's Economist sums up the position well:

"Mr Thaksin plans to let his opponents keep waving their yellow scarves and banners until they get tired and go home.It may indeed be hard to maintain the protestors' momentum until parliament reconvenes next month.In the 1992 uprising and another in 1973,the king intervened to bring down military dictators, amid serious violence.This time is different:the protests have been peaceful and Mr Thaksin enjoys a strong mandate.Things could change if serios misdeeds are proved.But even then he might simply take his opponents at their word and call elections which he could very well win."

All the best Soph! Those student years are not so bad and will pass in no time at all.

What a ridiculous comment as though student years are some sort of penance whereas infact they will be the best years of your life.Good luck to you.

Great Post Mobi,

seems like you have got it well sussed out.

My first 2 years were spent in BK and I had the same problems, out every night till 2am drinking. I just could not hack it at my age.

I moved up to Chailngmai to "get away from it all" and life is a lot smoother now. My Wife has a small restaurant , so I spend some time there, boring the customers and generally pointing at things that need cleaning and arguing with her landlord about this and that.

About 5pm I will start having the first of my 3 Heinies for the day (if I am there).

If I stay home I walk the dog or play games with her. I have a pool but its too cold right now to use (or I am too old to stand the cold, worry I will have a heart attack!!). Spend too much time on the internet when the weather is so glorious outside. Maybee watch some DVD's try and keep out of the Maid's way. potter around the garden. I try and limit what I drink, but sometimes I get carried away and the next day feel like shit and dont want to do anything, but I am better than I used to be.

But the hangovers are a lot worse these days.

I am having a SMALL Condo built in BK so we can go back and see our family and freinds occassionally, stressing occassionally because when I go back, the old routine comes back too! My son lives there so I love to see him obviously.

Sometimes I get bored, but there are always freinds to phone, TV members I have met up here to visit or go out with, Tesco shopping,

Bangkok Post, E-mails to write etc.

Saturdays is "Football Day" or maybee I will go to bed at 8pm and rise at 2am so I can listen to my team playing on the net, then I can go back to bed at 5am and sleep till 10am. I really enjoy that.

I am not complaining, but I think it was the Queen Mother who said "If you are not working, you are dying" and although I feel I have a lot of life left in me (I am only 51) I sometimes miss the cut and thrust of the business world and wonder if I have retired too early?, but there again, I don't enjoy the best of health so I look at it and pretend I am 65 with maybee another 10 years left, so that means I should be taking it easy and enjoying my personal "Golden Years"

Thats what I do, am I as happy as before I retired? I don't know. I cetainly do not miss the British weather and I am applalled by the state the Country is getting itself into these days, but I miss my folks and other Children, luckily enough I can afford to bring them out every year for a holiday, and I go back at least once a year, but I am glad to get back to Thailand .

I never had time to think about retiring before. I came here to see my Son a few times after I got divorced, met my Wife on my third trip and decided to sell up and come here, tried a few business ventures that did not work out and thought, right thats it, stop worrying and enjoy a stress free life.

retirement is like starting a new job, the only differnece is you are the boss and pay your own wages..... It is not always easy and I feel it will constantly need refining.

PS Apologies for the rather long winded BORING post!

I don't think this is a boring post.Many of us more or less are in Thai Pauly's position.He has given an honest and relevant account which I found interesting.There's a lot to be said for knocking off the booze in retirement or quasi retirement if you have been worried about it for health or other reasons.

On health insurance for the category you mention (aged 55 not requiring family cover) it's a dilemma if you live in Thailand.You are quite right that medical treatment is very affordable.The problem is the unexpected, involving expensive treatment and hospitalization for several months.This could be a real financial challenge if no cover.My suggestion for those that wish to minimise insurance costs is to seek cover so that medical bills up to a specified limit are excluded, ie cover only kicks in for the catastrophic.

Cassandra, that's a very interesting point and I have thought about it. So far, my assumption has tended to be that I would get myself back to the UK and be able to use the state NHS (free) healthcare scheme for anything that major (for sure - not that simple in the event of a sudden, urgent emergency). In any case, it's looking more and more like I may be excluded from the NHS system if I am not resident in the UK for x number of years.

I'm definitely interested to explore what health insurance would be available to me in Thailand along the lines you describe - i.e. excluding generally minor stuff that I would "cover" myself and therefore restricted to the major "catastrophic" (hopefully much less likely) stuff. Most of what I've seen when I researched the subject seemed to be structured around limiting the cover to minor treatments rather than excluding them. What you're describing (and interests me) is the opposite of that.

Is it just a matter of reducing the premium by accepting a very large excess - or do you know of specific schemes that can be tailor-made in this way and maybe which would exclude a pre-existing condition but, for example, still provide cover for treating severe injury?

Steve

Try www.axappphealthcare.com

You would need to enter a dialogue to tailor a package for you on the lines discussed.On a separate point I am dubious about many of the locally marketed health insurance schemes geared for expatriates.I prefer to pay rather more to a large well known international company in the knowledge there will be no argument if a claim was made.It gives me peace of mind which is a major factor when considering health insurance options.

1.What makes you think I am a social wannabe? Quit trying to put ME into some category.

2.It's obvious you are lo-so.No need to keep repeating this.

3.Who said farang businessmen are hi-so? Not me.In fact most are rather down market.What I said was that the very few hi so farang- (Harald Link, Bill Heinecke, Raymond Eaton,Ralph von Buren to name some "attractive" ones)-tend be long residence business people.Actually I suspect they care more than a toss about the hi-so stuff.

3.The fact that you sat at a noodle stall next to a prostitute who serviced the Sultan of Brunei who was best friends with a horse who was a cousin of Princess Anne who won the Grand National is a useful piece of information.Many thanks.

4.There is no 4th point.

I am kind of getting tired of your 'biting' at those you consider less-educated and knowledgable than yourself, Cassandra.

This isn't the first thread you take off-topic like this, is it?

BTW, your point 3. = please read the post you responded to again, you have mixed up what was being said. Not the first time this happened, either...

I think she drinks. By herself.

I also think it's our old friend boris. I tried to checkout the website for the Royal Bangkok Sports Club but I don't have a password. Anyone want to loan me theirs. I promise not to charge my drinks to your account.

Haha. Cassandra. The name is fitting. No one believes you. Or are you a contemporary Cassandra? In that case you are full of it lady.

edited: couple of sp errors. you are all free to point out others.

As you say Cassandra was never believed.But the specific curse on Cassandra was that although she was never believed she always spoke the truth.

Health insurance is another thing I would like to know about, Im healthy now with no issues but ....

who knows what the future holds.

Whilst Im here is there much of an expat scene in Chiang Mai?

Your health insurance premium will depend on a] your age and b] the level of cover you choose (including the details that Firefan mentioned - and maybe more). Easy enough to get an online quote from Goodhealth Worldwide. I've seen many people recommend Bupa Thailand - but I'm not sure you can get an online quote from them (though, presumably, an e-mail to them could achieve the same).

When I looked into this (aged 55), I was quite struck by how many people in a comparable situation in terms of age and not requiring "family cover" have decided to self-insure - on the basis that they're able to view all but the most complex medical treatment in Thailand as relatively very cheap/affordable. Plainly, there's got to be a personal cost versus risk assessment in this; some would say it's too much of a gamble - while others wouldn't. "Up to you"............

As to the expat scene - my totally subjective take on it is that there's enough. Sometimes - more than enough......... The question seems to imply that you haven't been to Chiang Mai yet; if so - are you planning to visit before making your move?

On health insurance for the category you mention (aged 55 not requiring family cover) it's a dilemma if you live in Thailand.You are quite right that medical treatment is very affordable.The problem is the unexpected, involving expensive treatment and hospitalization for several months.This could be a real financial challenge if no cover.My suggestion for those that wish to minimise insurance costs is to seek cover so that medical bills up to a specified limit are excluded, ie cover only kicks in for the catastrophic.

I would say Abhisit too.

He may be young but so what? Wouldn't be the first time a young PM took charge and turned things in a government.

And he's an Old Etonian just like "Dave" Cameron,UK prime minister in waiting.I think there should be a constitutional amendment in both Thailand and the UK to the effect that nobody can become PM unless he had been to a decent public school.In the UK from WW2, this would rule in Churchill, Atlee, Macmillan,Eden and Blair and rule out Callaghan,Wilson,Heath, Thatcher and Major.

1.What makes you think I am a social wannabe? Quit trying to put ME into some category.

2.It's obvious you are lo-so.No need to keep repeating this.

3.Who said farang businessmen are hi-so? Not me.In fact most are rather down market.What I said was that the very few hi so farang- (Harald Link, Bill Heinecke, Raymond Eaton,Ralph von Buren to name some "attractive" ones)-tend be long residence business people.Actually I suspect they care more than a toss about the hi-so stuff.

3.The fact that you sat at a noodle stall next to a prostitute who serviced the Sultan of Brunei who was best friends with a horse who was a cousin of Princess Anne who won the Grand National is a useful piece of information.Many thanks.

4.There is no 4th point.

I am kind of getting tired of your 'biting' at those you consider less-educated and knowledgable than yourself, Cassandra.

This isn't the first thread you take off-topic like this, is it?

BTW, your point 3. = please read the post you responded to again, you have mixed up what was being said. Not the first time this happened, either...

Re point 3 I have read your post again carefully and apologise for misresponding.Here is the revised version:

The fact you sat at a noodle stall next to Princess Anne who seviced a horse who was best friends with the Sultan of Brunei who was a cousin of a prostitute who won the Grand National is a useful piece of information.Many thanks

"""""""""""""As Oscar Wilde remarked, only those who can't get into Society make fun of it.There are in fact relatively few farang who are hi-so.All of them have been here a long time and have worked at a senior level as a businessman or entrepreneur, or retired after this.Oddly enough they are a strangely unattractive lot with one or two exceptions.Knowing a few members of RBSC does not make one hi-so but in any case the way you express yourself does not suggest you are very familiar with that world.""""""""""""""""""

Cassandra, without wanting to sound unkind - I never said I was hi-so, I'm very far from being that. Anyone that knows me will tell you this. You seem to be assuming I am a social wannabee like yourself. All I said was that I know hi-so people and used to socialise with them, and still do occasionally in Bangkok. I could tell you about who I know and why but I'm not into name-dropping etc. I am lo-so and proud of it.

As I said I'm happier with lo-so people, like myself.

Answer the bloody question! Quit trying to put ME into some kind of category.

Farang business men are not hi-so, they sometimes mix with them. I had a friend tell me that he had lunch with the Sultan of Brunei(horse sale), the previous week in Bangkok, as we were sitting eating 15 baht noodles next to two prostitutes. I am not talking about having money and trying to think you have a place in the Thai social ladder. If you really knew these 'unattractive" guys, you'd realise that they don't give a toss about hi-so stuff.

I don't think you have the slightest clue what you are talking about. How long have you been in this country?

Are you hi-so BTW? You sound a bit like a "poo dee dtai din" to me.

1.What makes you think I am a social wannabe? Quit trying to put ME into some category.

2.It's obvious you are lo-so.No need to keep repeating this.

3.Who said farang businessmen are hi-so? Not me.In fact most are rather down market.What I said was that the very few hi so farang- (Harald Link, Bill Heinecke, Raymond Eaton,Ralph von Buren to name some "attractive" ones)-tend be long residence business people.Actually I suspect they care more than a toss about the hi-so stuff.

3.The fact that you sat at a noodle stall next to a prostitute who serviced the Sultan of Brunei who was best friends with a horse who was a cousin of Princess Anne who won the Grand National is a useful piece of information.Many thanks.

4.There is no 4th point.

""""""""""""""""Without wishing to be unkind, most farang on this forum don't really have a choice , including you I am afraid notwithstanding your rather unconvincing comments about hanging with "hi-so people down the RBSC and the like"""""""""""""""""""""""

I have some good friends who are expats and members of the RBSC. I know of at least three guys on this forum that are. Some of us do/did have a choice.

My 'unconvincing comments' - please explain what you mean by this!

As Oscar Wilde remarked, only those who can't get into Society make fun of it.There are in fact relatively few farang who are hi-so.All of them have been here a long time and have worked at a senior level as a businessman or entrepreneur, or retired after this.Oddly enough they are a strangely unattractive lot with one or two exceptions.Knowing a few members of RBSC does not make one hi-so but in any case the way you express yourself does not suggest you are very familiar with that world.

I have a friend in CM, who is retired and getting about 50,000 baht a month pension - he lives like a king, much much higher standard of life than he had in Melbourne.

He rents a beatiful house for 8,000 BAHT. Pays about 7,000 baht for a brand new car. Still has 35,000 to play with. That works out at 1,000 baht a day - more than enough to get the bet food and get piseed as a fart if he wants. Of course you don't need this much - you could get an apartment for 3,000 nad eat the food that the locals eat for 100 baht a day. You could live a good life with 30,000 a month, especially if you have local Thai friends/family.

I totally agree.How misleading of some to suggest that monthly income of Bt 150,000 up is needed to sustain a satisfactory and fulfilling lifestyle in Thailand.I have a friend who lives with his "wife" in a Chang carton in a ditch near Buriram.His monthly income is Bt 500 yet he manages to get by very well eating passing insects and the occasional stray dog.He can get high whenever he likes by sniffing glue.For entertainment he can roam adjacent fields and see what the buffalo are up to.He also has a little computer on which he can tap out posts to this forum all day.A blissful rural life that should be the envy of those idiots living in Bangkok with their fancy houses, club memberships, medical insurance cover,foreign travel,book buying etc.Needless extravagance.