siam-i-am

Anyone built a house in Chiang Mai recently?

Got the land. Got a nice plan. Covered floor space: 244 sqm indoor (2 storeys) + 136 sqm outdoor (garage, veranda) = 380 sqm total. What is the building cost per sqm in 2008?

Any input (also from past projects) would be appreciated.

Cheers, CMX

Present rate for thai build is 10,000 using decent but not A grade, tiles etc, find yourself a farang led crew and pay 12,000 plus worth the extra. good luck.

Someone had mentioned in a post that people in from the UK were a small minority on TV. It seems like there are quite a few to me from the UK, so I thought a poll was in order.

I voted UK it refused to accept so I voted 'other' it was accepted. One thing I've realised in taking part in this poll is, I have to get a life. If nothing else the poll will show how many sad people there are out there.

Hey Chiang Mai people - please, let's not leave narcissus fearing for her life. We know that CM Ram and Maharaj each have some great surgeons, but where does the better surgeon practice?

Can't speak for Chiang mai but I had the op done (keyhole surgery) at the Christian hospital in Silom rd BKK they were brilliant out in 4 days I'm sure ram or indeed most of the hospitals here could do the job its no big deal these days.

One of the "notorious" treatments at Bang Kwang...

I'm sorry, but no human being could do this to another human being for any reason at all - especially in the heat of Thailand. What difference is there between the authorities and the "criminals"?

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

Police are diverting traffic from thai pae into changclan road. Reports of bomb near Chiang Mai plastics, allegedly. Anyone have news?

Just had some quotes from TV insurance good, but office is in Pattaya if the sh*t hits the fan do they have anyone in Chiang Mai? Has anyone used these guys? If so happy?

Who needs toilet paper with all them Banana leaves about.

In days of old, when knights were bold, paper hadn't been invented.

They wiped there @ss on blades of grass, and walked away contented.

That was then this is now, and in the land of smiles we douche ourselves

From water wells.....It's easier on the piles.

Judging by the procession of ambulances going past Maejo Manor today, I would say that the madness is in full swing!! heaps heading along the Canal Road to Suthep Road and Suan Dok, and others along the Super Highway to Lanna Hospital.

I spoke with an intern at Suan Dok the other day, and she was dreading the next five days. All leave cancelled, and full shifts every day.

Sad that so many families will be mourning loved ones this week

It's a money maker alright ear and eye infections go through the roof not to mention nose and throat.

Apparently the small Siam Commercial branch at Tah Pae on Rachadamnern was robbed yesterday. Anyone have any info?

Allegedly, a Thai guy went in and asked to make a withdraw, he used a pistol instead of a pen the teller handed over some cash and he ran off, last seen entering a small soi off Thae pae road.

This guy is full of __it.

I visited Luang Prabang at this time of year a few years ago and the whole town was a big, grey cloud of smoke 24 hours a day. My eyes watered all of the time and I was coughing constantly.

If Chiang Mai was anything like that, I would understand all the whinging.

Why defend the undefendable, I can't speak for other countries bordering LOS, but a blind man on a galloping horse couldn't fail to see the fires all over CM. A while back a guy called Hans Christian Aderson wrote a story called 'The Emporer's new clothes' maybe you should read it.

a. A Thai person who makes 8000 baht a month attempts to over charge a farang who makes 80000 baht a month 20 baht.

or

b. A farang goes out and buys a suit case full of conterfeited softwaare and dvds, thus saving himself tens of thousands of baht.

I ask because, I have never met a farang who was not upset over being overcharged, but I have met many who have no problem with piracy. Are they simply hypocrites? Or is it OK to steal from companies but not individuals?

Yes and ...Yes

I'm only repeating what has already been said but one of the best things that happened to Chiang Mai was having Andy McGill deported. I and most others believe he was innocent (incapable) of the crime he was accused of but guilty of many other petty offenses which pissed so many people off. Many people, myself included liked Andy but after some years the novelty wore off.

I hear from reliable sources that he continued his ways back in the UK.

Back to the subject, many of us know who the real perpetrator was in the case. I wonder if he has returned to duty?

Interesting, I assume the name of the "real perpetrator" has been passed on to the british police along with copies of his DNA so that he could be eliminated from police inquiries?

I have heard it whispered in certain circles that the first, and I say first to emphasise it, casino will go slap bang in the middle of an already fully ladscaped area known as Ratchapruek

"certain circles" is that a new Gay boy bar in CM?

Hi.

Although I have been declared "Non resident for tax purposes" in the UK, The tax office explained that "any" income I received that originated from the UK would be taxable at the current UK tax rates.

Nibor.

True after overheads i.e. agents fees,maintenance etc, the rate is 22% on all unearned income i.e. rental of properties.

A friend has dealt with a couple of rude and not particularly helpful doctors regarding eczema, and I was wondering if anyone knows (or has a thai friend/partner that knows) of a good skin specialist

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

There's a clinic in Soi opposite Chaung puk gate About 4 yards pass Queen Vic Tel 053-214318 Can't remember his name but he lectures in uni during day. Recomended by Ram hospital as best in Thailand.

There is no evidence yet presented that indicates usurfucts don't work. Same with 30 year lease. Company route is problematic as various governments attempt to close the loophole regarding companies dominated by falang. Clearly, some will be grandfathered in, so make your choice.

What is the evidence that USUFRUCTS DO work?

What about buying in my Childrens name/s

What is a 'Usufruct'?

My friend always have problem to find nice farang man in Chiang Mai.. Please suggest her how can she find nice farang man here who doesn't have wife or girlfriend yet ? thanks a lot.

....ahh yes, but is your friend "nice" too? Maybe that's the problem? I'm nice and I am single!

OK fellas I'm waiting for the flame

But you're old.........................And not really nice!!

Be fair He's naughty but nice and as for being old..........Ok one out of two aint bad.

Pease don't be convinced by the Thai rescue services effiency, Im glad to see there have been some positive experiences on this thread mine however wasnt so good. I was in a hotel in pattaya a few xmas's ago that caught ablaze.

1. There were no fire alarms.

2. No fire extinguishers in the hotel.

3. The fire Brigade showed up 30 minutes after fire started.

4. The fire brigade entered the building 1 hour after fire started.

5. The fire brigade were badly equipped.

Upon looking out of my balcony it dawned on me that if i were in England the recue services would no doubt save me however i knew that being in Thailand i would have to save myself. I was a serving Royal Marine at the time so scaling down 4 floors wasnt a problem, there was however plenty of guests less fortunate than me who were hospitalized and possibly died.

Im not bashing the Thai rescue services here, i know they do the best they can with the limited equipment and training they have. My only advice to people living or visiting here is take all the safety measures you can, when staying in a hotel are there sufficient fire exits and maps?, extinguishers?, Try to stay as near to the ground floor as possible. In the home use fire alarms, turn off all electrical equipment when leaving the house etc. Without going into past experiences too much i've been in a few life threatening incidents in my life and without doubt being in a fire in Thailand was one of the times i was most scared. Take as much safety precaution as possible and never expect the best response from the Thai rescue services.

Two years ago two fire engines raced to our condo to a bad fire on the seventh floor and not one ladder between them, I kid you not.

The title "blood on the dance floor" wrongly gives the impression that someone was seriously injured.

I was trying to work out how the title 'Trouble on the dance floor' could turn into 'Blood on the dance floor' Then noticed you are a SUPER moderator. Says it all.

i think main reason they keep your glass topped up is so that they can sell more drinks...therefore make more money....and thais are used to this and we are not.

i also agree that adding the soda or water to whiskey makes it very tasteless but seems to be the norm out here....might as well stick to the strong cheap whiskey if doing this.

i like my beer cold ..ice cold....i have no need to add ice as beer is finished before ice melts and i prefer a bottle anyway

I was told by a Thai friend who owned a bar along the river that the staff are trained to put as much Ice, soda and water to as little spirit as possible, because a party will only leave when they have finished the bottle of spirit, so the more water, ice, soda they sell the more they make. Who says Thais aren't business savvy?

I am looking to buy a new digital camera at present:

Olympus SP560 or

Sony DSC H7 or

Panasonic DMC FZ18.

However, when I find these cameras in different stores etc , they all appear to be selling at the same prices???

Are there any real 'price competitive' stores in this city??

Or, can I get them cheaper via mail order from Bangkok etc.

All help appreciated.

Tony

Just got back from Malaysia all cameras are tax FREE if you know someone going on a visa run you can save thousands of bhat I bought an olympus with stand etc saved 4k bhat on chiang mai prices.

I applauded.

You applauded!

Yes, evidently he did . . . all of one and a half years ago.

So that's what 2006-06-02 means, you've obviously got a Thai PHD in calendar reading, or it's equivalent, give the guy a coconut.

I don’t know for sure if it is legal but I imagine it would be legal to post a sign that stated 15% added automatically to the bill of missionaries. At any rate if I open up a restaurant in Chiang Mai I would post such a sign. If nothing else it would get me some good publicity.

now that would work.

Would get my custom anyway! I should imagine the KKKryschunz would avoid you like the plague, but others flock to show their support. (You would have to serve good food though )

I don't know about missionaries but the concept you suggest here is pure idiocy. There is basically no tipping in Thailand, leaving a few baht or loose change is not really the same as tipping 15 - 20%

I take issue with this. Historically it is true, however in the last fifteen to twenty years or so tipping has become the expected norm in most restaurants above roadside noodle vendor class.

As an aside, I have seen staff in one restaurant follow a customer to hand back a small tip with the comment that if the customer can't afford more, they need the money more than the staff member does! This would certainly never have happened if tipping was not expected.

I applauded.

You applauded! Did it occur to you that the person may have had a meal or service below par, or was maybe short of funds? Of course you did how silly of me to think otherwise. If the member of staff was savvy enough to return the tip, why haven't they found a job that pays what they thing their worth and not the charity of others. Don't blame mean customers when the biggest scrouge is the employer for not paying them a decent wage in the first place, and that goes for restaurants world wide. I don't tip my dentist receptionist or car mechanic. I'm actually a generous tipper when the service or food is better than expected, but will not be brow beaten in to tipping everytime I have a cup of coffee. By the way ask any restaurant owner if they only want customers who tip judging by the empty tables they would be glad of anyone Christian, Jews, Buddhist, ...well ok Christian, Buddhists.

No.

They have more money than sense and moved right beside us with the intention of putting us out of business after we had been open for about 3 years. They had previously done this to another bookstore with a Thai owner - Chiang Mai's first used bookshop - and as soon as she closed down, they moved next to me.

However, it didn't work this time. In fact, it back-fired and they have ended up with few customers most of the time and are mostly just a minor annoyance. We are often full to the brim with people looking around while they remain absolutely empty or with one or two customers and it's been that way since they moved in.

Truthfully, I don't think that they've ever sold enough books to even pay their rent, but, instead of going to another location and trying to build their own business, they just sit there dreaming about ruining ours.

Parasites are a big problem in this part of the world.

So that's why you opened a shop in same soi as lost book shop?

I expect the poll to start with 0 % meaning not xenophobic then 10% to 100% in 10% increments.

Please vote your opinion not just on gov't policy but everyday interactions in both the gov't and private sectors.

Mods if I'm successful posting this poll, my first time messing with polls,please close the other one i started about xenophobia in TH.

With nearly 1900 visits and only 123 votes, the chestnut being put to bed is polls on TV