BuddyDean

1 hour ago, rott said:

Strange posts, please explain. Not sure what the three bears have got to do with it. And please "bear" in mind that the OP was related to reasonably priced gear.

 

Has anyone posting on here ever had a serious session i.e. eight pints or more? If you haven't.........

I do about 15 small....so yes, the writing is on the wall that paying 200 per beer is not going to work, especially when 3000 lasts me for a week of schmoozing and boozin.  

I have co e across that one, and it is reputable, not the best choice for many Americans, but could be for others.  Tokio Marine allows you to buy after your trip has started (for US citizens, at least).  

Wouldn't a true five star hotel have an elevator operator?  Perhaps he was busy in pursuit of a guest bringing a guest to his room.

2 hours ago, opticalexplode said:

Wow. I will surely visit your optometrist. I have been to a lot of eye hospitals and I am always not satisfied with the service. 

Big difference in optometrist and opthalmologist.

9 minutes ago, Bill Miller said:

I am in the suburbs, in Bang Saray. 6,000 baht/ month  for a furnished  28 sq.meter room in an older but pretty well maintained condo complex. Three month deposit on a year lease. Water and electric run about 1,100/month, and I run the AC pretty much all the time. 
I pay about 500 baht/month for laundry service, which arrives back folded or on hangers as appropriate, neatly ironed.
I am on the eighth floor with a small balcony, and a nice view of the Gulf, with one of the better beaches about 800 meters away. There is a nice swimming pool as well.
Less than 1/2 klick to Sukhumvit with songthaews and minivan stops. No BTS, and few taxis out here, but I like the baht busses for the most part.

Do you get gov rate on electric?  Sound s pretty good...nice, middle of the road IMO, no reason to pay less or more.

7 minutes ago, garet said:

How will the cost be determined? Will I need a receipt? They will see the cost of insurance on the parcel?

What do you mean you bring shoes and sheets with you? Do you mean when you enter Thailand by airplane?

You only need a receipt if you are trying to argue with them, which will have its own costs.  Best to get it over with as quickly as possible.  Yes, a new pair on my feet and another new pair in my luggage...about once per year.  As long as it doesn't look like you will resell.  They like to find cigs and booze at the airports..and luxury watches from Hong Kong.

4 minutes ago, garet said:

Wow...I thought the import tax was more like 30%. I will have my mother ship the shoes to me in a generic box. Will I need to provide a receipt for proof of cost?

 

Taxes are based on CIF..cost+insurance+freight.....then you pay 7% VAT on all that.  Take all the labels off.  I always bring one or two pairs of good quality shoes with me.....and cotton sheets, too.

They are the one entity that is in the same league for bad hair days as Immigration.  We call her the wicked witch of the east at CM Customs.

Also, if they lack the discipline to invest like that, consider home buying programs for lower income earners at www.ghbank.co.th. might be less than rent.  Pay the house off, then you have a lot more money to invest in stocks and funds.

7 minutes ago, garet said:

If they are stopped, what would be the next step? Would I have to go to customs to pay import tax? Would I get a notice telling me where my package was so I could go pick it up? I would definitely be contacted about where to pick up my package, right?

Yes, you will get a notice...you could be looking at 60-100%.  Especially bad if they come direct from a retailer.

1 minute ago, garet said:

I'm glad to hear that USPS is reliable. Did you ever ship something semi-valuable using this service? I'm having a $150 pair of shoes plus a $100 pair of orthotic inserts that they don't sell in Thailand shipped this week. Would hate for them to get lost or stolen during transit. 

Shoes are frequently stopped and easy for them to spot.  I would separate them.

FYI, 2 of 9 EMS small packages from the Philippines, sent to my condo were nabbed.  Once able to settle at Phra Sing, the other had to go to the airport.  One of the two had Thai GFs name on it.  As far as USPS..was there last month, and the guy indicated if it wasn't rigid, it qualifies for somewhat cheaper postage.  So a mag or docs could be pretty cheap, and take two weeks, instead of one.  Technically, there may be a quarter inch thickness rule, but they may use rigid instead.

I took a bus from Sham Paragon to Huai Kwang MRT ,and for 18 THB it was faster, more comfortable, safer, and more convenient than the BTS to the cluster took at Asshook, and another uncivilized ride up the MRT.

Did you ever have an acquaintance that you could tell them something, that they totally dismiss as false, then come back about a year later and ask if you heard about that exact item?  That seems to be about where we are with the TM 30.  I did mine a year ago, and have updated it since.  The older guys in my neighborhood are clueless.  They were able to get extensions earlier this year, but stories of rejections and fines are starting to come to their stubborn, hard of hearing circles.  I have helped a few before, but really don't appreciate being told I am lying, when having recent and direct first hand knowledge of the topic.  So now, they are starting to come back, with the exact questions I answered for them a year ago.  I just tell them to ask at the expat club.  Anyone having similar experiences?

13 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

The point still stands, TAPB is still a huge conglomerate that chokes out any competition. Cheers is an execrable beer, and the Tiger and Heineken brewed here are no comparison to their namesakes in Singapore and Europe. 

Tiger is only 4.6% in England...still minute differences.  So now the lefties decide, how big a company can be before it is evil?  Do craft companies make cancer medicine or smartphone?  How about the stores you buy the stuff at?  The problem is with import taxes and the duo....but I went out last night and Tiger yai were twenty baht more than Leo...I did a few cold Leos...70, 75, 80,,,,at three different pretty good bars in Chiang Mai.  Nice evening out.  Apparently, a lot of losers get tapped out on Saturday nights. Saw this six foot tall Chinese girl....wow!, and compared to drinking, or should I say nursing 220 THB crafies that often taste like Benzene; with a bunch of dudes on their phones......

A long stay visa, and a lot of money in the bank.

4 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

Aside from the fact that that the above beers are really not very good, to claim to be doing your bit for Thai culture is a bit dubious - these beers are produced by a couple of mega corporations that have the entire market sewn up and have completely disabled competition. There's some very creative and enterprising Thais who make excellent beer, sadly they don't stand a chance.

 

It's worth mentioning that in other countries craft beers are often no more expensive than regular beers, so this is entirely a case of unfair taxation allowing a monopoly to strangle any competition at birth. 

Tiger nor Cheers are part of the duo...so sorry to bring truth to your sensationalism.

12 hours ago, InMyShadow said:

13 hours ago, BuddyDean said:

Looks like 600 a piece for TV and frig..I hadn't looked ast their site in a while....6 is generous for elect...that would be a good place for a newco er on a budget..the real BKK, and not so in your face, and for gods sake not a backpacker dump...minimart and coin laundry..get the frig..skip the TV and BBC...BTW, agora just showed me 410 at privi..+17.7%.  Last month I paid 220 per night..booked in ?may, though.  Walk in rate was 590.  Both places beds are rock hard..sleep on the comforter.  If you are clean cut, they will treat you well, and you will meet some nice locals.  

This is bad advice. OP if it's your first trip the last place you want to be is in the burbs surrounded by thais and you don't speak Thai! your gonna be depressed after a few weeks.

Din Daeng, the suburbs?  Huai Kwang?  You sound knowledgeable, but actually, you couldn't possibly get much closer to the center of BKK, than Din Daeng.  I would rather listen to Thai than Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi spoken near the tourist traps, let alone a few hours of KSR body odor.

1 hour ago, balo said:

No I don't , I only pay 6 baht for 5 litres from the machine downstairs so I don't need to gamble with unfiltered tap water, don't see any point . Even if its probably safe. 

 

 

and of course, they meticulously service the machine and filters regularly.

Your moo baan is billing for water, like the condos do.

2 hours ago, Csaw said:

Thanks Buddy, for the low-down. Appreciably it! 

OK, where to start. I looked up Siam Privi. Booking.com got them listed at about 37,290 baht a month. 37290 baht??? Really?! Or will they offer a discount if i call? But how much of a discount will they offer...%90??

Sea of Love? 3,900-5,300 for a 1bd depending on floor. Perfect!... BUT! 4 months contract (according to their website). I am only staying for 3 months (possibly more) and even if they had 3 months contracts, i still wouldnt want to commit for that long. Shoot for 12,000? Lets say 2000 (at 6 baht/unit) for electricity and 300 for water. Internet at 350 a month. 4000+2000+300+350=6600. What am i missing? I would honestly be in Chiang Mai if i didnt have to be in BKK.

Looks like 600 a piece for TV and frig..I hadn't looked ast their site in a while....6 is generous for elect...that would be a good place for a newco er on a budget..the real BKK, and not so in your face, and for gods sake not a backpacker dump...minimart and coin laundry..get the frig..skip the TV and BBC...BTW, agora just showed me 410 at privi..+17.7%.  Last month I paid 220 per night..booked in ?may, though.  Walk in rate was 590.  Both places beds are rock hard..sleep on the comforter.  If you are clean cut, they will treat you well, and you will meet some nice locals.  

Call Sea of Love, tell them you want three months and can pay upfront.

Look for serviced apartment, otherwise, may not have sheets, linens, etc..  Corner rooms will cost more.  You can walk to Fattys from Love..20 THB moto or walk to MRT.  You can aslso go the other way and get to BTS, around victory monument..a fe stops from it.

BTS is almost unbearable during non rush hour.  Not enough trains.  It sure isn't cheap, either.  Busses are more comfortable, but then there is the gridlock.  Thais and wiring?  Nope.  It was good when it was cheap and new, and the girls didn't have their faces in smartphones.  MRT is almost as bad.

Here is my take.  I drink premium beers, when I am home for 40 THB a bottle.....not paying 200 here nor there.

I despise the duo, and think they suck...at any price.

I think Heineken and Tiger are steps above C and L, and I think most would agree.  No they aren't craft, but then again..so many of the crafts are pretty disgusting and sure as heck wouldn't want to drink a six.   Many have simply tried to recreate an Anchor Steam or Sierra....and have only done a good job of matching the price...not the quality.  

Heineken and Tiger are brewed in BKK area, and are probably more closer in taste to the ones from the other side of the globe than Marlboros.

3 large Heineken's for 201 THB....TIGERS 2 FOIR 116..A HAIR more than the duo, but way better.

I support them, because they are sustainable here and even though the duo leverages bars not to sell them or even at some Tescos....if business picks up just a little, we will force the duo to act a little better.  And what I see the beer snobs do here in CM is after a few craftees, the stock up on L on the way home...so what is the point.  Like going to McDonalds on The way home from a French restaurant so you can finally eat...albeit a hundred bucks less in Your wallet.

And doesn't anyone like to buy a lady a beer?  Geez...so 2 x 200?  Escort service much less, and probably less likely to taste like vinegar.

4 minutes ago, Csaw said:

agoda you mean? The budget ive set is around 4000 baht a month. At that price, i see only one place at 11km from city center. Everything else starts at about double that, and yet looks horrendous compared to the 170s i saw. What am i looking at in utility bills anyway?

I'm not going to be there for leisure, btw. Probably going to spend most of my time on my laptop in my room. 

There is a website with 100s of apartments under 5000.  Google for it Bangkok apartment finder or something...but...you say 4000...OK, you need 12000 to move in.  Add 500 for internet.per month...300 for water flat rate....electric will be at least double, if not triple gov rate.  So I can use my ac whenever ?I want and three computers fridge, hot showers, cooking...1000 per month.....so 2500 for you...but, do you think they have any reason to give you a nice 16 SEER AC?  nope, in fact it will benefit them greatly to give you an old shitty one that leaks as you use it more be cause it doesn't work right...so 4000 if running ac...or you can sit in the dark and take cold showers and pay 500.  Winter will be better.  March and on...ac big time.  So your 4000 month apartment is actually a 10,000 per month deal and you got a deposit, and cleaning fees...and do you know how much a set of pure cotton sheets cost in BKK?  

022742225..Siam Privi...call during business day...ask for a month...these people tend to judge quickly, and discrimination in housing is perfectly legal here..

Other place is SEA OF LOVE...and yes it was an old massage hotel, but plenty of uni girls live there, old and clean....maybe 12,000.....or look at Nonthaburi....or..come to Chiang Nai with the other cheapskates..I know a guy paying 2800...but electric is 12......but 3500 is common and may e pay 8 for electric.  Shoot for all inclusive of about 12,000 in BKK...If that is a crisis, take your camel elsewhere....look at the other thread about condos..you can buy one for 233,000 and walk to BTS...

I wonder what it is known as to the all knowledgeable songtaew drivers.  "Ole man clinic," or such..can't really see them using the word "geriatric."  Maybe if we provide an easy acronym, it will be easier to get there in an emergency.  ForFatFarangsForty+....or simply "4F.". Any others?