chonabot

IMHO just come over , you can do any of your previous options. It's a lot easier once you are here, just suss out the good and bad employers/schools, meet a few teachers in Bkk...you'll be well away

Good lUck

Phil

ps prob easier to come in on a tourist visa, and let your next employers sort out the permit, leave, return in ImmB..etc

Many on this board have negative thought towards many aspect of Thailand. Especially compared to there birth 'homeland'. So just why do some of you live here? This is not a trick question, i would like some honest answers (I seriously doubt this will happen!)

Pinkster ( fellow Stephen Leather fan! )

I agree that a lot of the posters here seem less than happy with Thailand, yet still live or at least visit the place.

My feelings, honestly,ladies apart, I love the culture, most aspects off it, and the slow pace of life, Living a day at a time is so refreshing after the rat race in Uk,Usa or wherever.

The food is great, I love hot weather,Muay Thai is my fave  sport, its still very inexoensive ( unless your in-laws have other ideas!) and theres the women............lol

Phil

I read so many stories of Farang getting ripped off by Thai girls etc etc but you all seem to think its the only outcome. Well I know an english guy who is living very happily in the Uk with his Thai wife. So don't all dispair it can be a dream that turns into reality if you find the right woman.

Very true mate. I have been married for 7 years to my wife, she may or may not have had a dodgy past, but marriage is about a fresh start, the woman is either right for you or not, regardless of her background.regarding families ripping us off, it hasn't happened to me, but some people haven't been as lucky or maybe they should have asked questions first before throwing hundreds of thousands at their in-laws.

Phil

I used to box Muay Thai ( for 15 years ) I found the best Gym

to be just outside Pattaya.

Its called Sityodtong , they have a scheme where farang can stay there, train ,eat etc for quiet a low fee. A lot of world champs have used the gym( Rob Kaman, Ramon Dekkers, Ronnie Green to mention a few) The only problem i found was the amount of running they did, 2 x 5 miles every day!

The chief instructor , Mr Sityodtong also trained Samart Payakarun, who was also a WBC lightweight champ for 3 years.

Hope this helps, its as good or better than any gym I tried in Bkk.I found the problem with Bangkok gyms was the air condition is so polluted that it starts to affect your respiratory system when exercising heavily.

Even if you are a novice standard ( ie no fights) most gyms will accept you, but you will receive more attention if you are more accomplished. They can even set up fights for you in the local stadium if you show promise, I had a few fights in the Best friend bar , but would not recommend this route.

You see the guys fighting night after night, usually hopeless, then when you tell them you want a fight in a few days they

line you up against the best they can find, sometimes too good...lol Fortunately we farangs usually have a decent weight advantage ( not many 12 stone Thai boxers ) but I received a battering nonetheless.....

ps the link inthe above post is very good

Good luck mate!

Phil ???

Sityodtong Boxing Camp

90 moo 6, Nongprue

Pattaya City

Chonburi

Tel: +66 38 730039

Mr Sevinnow, may I suggest that the closest that fellow has come to Asia is at the chinese take out?

Mr Vietnam  

 Well said that man!

Got it? Simple huh?

thought, so let me ask you a question: "Does my name come up when you're intimate with your wife/lover etc?

Gee , all i asked was what did he mean?

. Apart from that if he is so taken by Vietnam why is he on a Thai forum, why has he not started his own thread or forum for expat’s there.

:laugh:

My thoughts exactly , the guy doesn't have many decent things to say about Thais or Thailand , Koh Samui may have pissed him off , but that place is as much about Thailand as Robin Williams Movie was about Vietnam...

You're not American so you wouldn't understand. Never mind.

Mr Vietnam

Hmmmm?

Were any of these guys Americans?

Mr Vietnam  

Mr Vietnam, did you ever explain what you meant by this question?

Try Onetel. My wife has used it for 6 years to phone home, its about 1/4 of BT's rate. www.Onetel.co.uk

Cheers

I'm interested in opening a business at some point in the near future in Issan. A few people have told me of the perils of local Police demanding a slice of the action. I know this goes on, my Wife's brother - in - law is a local copper ( in Somdet)

Has anyone heard any interesting stories about the enterprising critters doing similar activities?

Chonabot

Hi all ,

I will be moving to Thailand in about 3 months, with Thai wife and son. I'm 37 and from the USA, Live UK I have worked mainly in IT but have had some teaching experience ( TEFL , mainly private tuition) We will be living in the isaan area , between Kalasin and Kohn Kaen. I know the area pretty well , having spent time there over the last 10 years etc.

Anyway I would like advice on opening a business in one of these towns. I would like to offer a one-one English tuition service,  as opposed to teaching in a school.

Am I correct in thinking that this would be the correct way of setting up/getting started?

a)Find premises

b)register business/buy business name (in wifes name)

c)ensure sufficient funds in company account

d)obtain letterheaded offer of employment from company

e)leave country/ apply for non-imm B visa

f)if successful apply for work permit

g)if successful start advertising etc

h)go bust...............j/k

Many thanks on any input , this board is a godsend!

Chonabot

 :laugh:

Pinkster , I think Stephen's publishers weren't keen on him writing more than 1 book including Thailands notorious nightlife ( snobs!) , they were worried that most of his most of his fanbase wouldn't like the change in direction.

My favourite book ( on Thailand ) would be either "The big Mango" - Jake Needham or "Twilight Zone" - Christopher G Moore .

CHeers

Chonabot

Pinkster , unfortunately that book has never been released.

Stephen is happy for fans to download the script, encourages anyone who likes it to email his publishers, and tell them to release it!

It's a shame because I think its amongst the best of his works , but he has written about ten other books including "the Chinaman" " The Bombmaker" that are  available in most book shops.

Happy Reading :laugh:

(hmmm maybe I should work Pr for Mr Leather :laugh: )

Yes that was a great book, the Author Stephen Leather has written a lot of good books.

There is one that can be downloaded  ,free, from his website, it's called "Private Dancer" , definitely worth a read.

Christpher G Moore has written some excellent books on Thailand as well.

Web address is  StephenLeather.com

I'm moving to Thailand next month with my Thai wife of 6 Years ( Marriage not her age )

and son of 5, leaving a life of stress and grief, mainly from the IT sector, and Uk in general.

Looking forward to doing very little for 6 months, and when the dust has settled, hope to help the wife run the family business and whatever else happens.

We'll be living near Kalasin, my son already has Certificate of Identity etc for schools. I'm 37 and hope to have a few answers to your question myself in a few years

btw this website is great!