swissie

So good to hear that you stay close to the fire-exit. Especially since aspestos fire suits and fire extinuishers "made in China" tend to underperform. Same as the Chinese Governement trying to "rejuvenate" the Chinese "Export Miracle" once more.

Hi Mike Lister! A while ago, I suggested to add a sub forum "investements" in ASEAN NOW. You volunteered to moderate. Thanks. But is has become appearant that a seperate "investement-forum" is not justified. I conclude that well funded Farangs have their sources of "investement-interactions/advice" already established somewhere else. In this forum here, the main concern of contributors seem to be "how to import/export money from Thailand at the lowest cost". Perfectly OK.

Eurika and a triple halleluya! The sky is the limit! Because: - Everybody (including his uncle) is now convinced that a global "soft landing" is assured. - The war against inflation is won. Therefore Interest rates "must" come down. - Profits of companies raising. - The Vix (volatility index) near the lows. (Nobody fearing any major setbacks). Simultainly "capital protection derivates" are in low demand. Clearly indicating to everybody (including his uncle) that the sky is the limit and there is little "downward-risk" anymore. -------------------- But, there are a few things that could eventually spoil the party: - The inflationary driven profit margins of companies could come to a halt. As not truly supported by productivity increases. - The "economic growth" has not benefitted the "middle class". Where does the future money come from to support economic growth when the middle class has no more the money to support "economic growth"? Disposonable income for the Middle-Class constantly declining in the "western world". - The US, still the economic powerhouse it seems. It may be subject to re-evaluation, once the world realises that the second largest annual budget outlay is the servicing of the national dept. (servicing dept means only paying for interest). - A bit worriesome that a single company can guide the world into a AI new age, just because their "chips" can do what all other Chip-Manufacurers appearantly can not do. Never mind all this. As long as everybody (including his uncle) is convinced that the sky is the limit, might as well enjoy the ride. Problem is, if somebody cries "fire", the fire-exits will be clogged in no time at all. I myself stay close to the fire exit.

Having made such a statement, clearly you must elaborate on this, especially as you go by "still kicking".

Strictly Human Nature. We love to go around telling everybody about our personal "success-storys". We prefere to brush our "failure-storys" under the carpet. Anything new? As far as this is concerned, the personal/financial "failure-rate" of Farangs in Thailand is unknown, but probably higher than in eastern Timbuktu.

Correction: I meant "due to the lack of females in mainland China". As the result of the 1 child policy of yesteryear.

Brother, you must elaborate on this some more. I found Chinese women, living in Thailand "introverted". As opposed to Thai women. Due to the lack of female shortage in mainland China, I would be surprised that Beijing women are less "introverted".

During the ages, philisophers and todays scientists have tried to find out as to WHY a universe and "living things" emerged. As of today: We don't have a clue. This "void" had to be filled with something. "Religions" had to fill the void. Take your pick: - 30'000 different interpretations of the Christian religion (=sects). - Over 30'000 different "God's" in India. - Outside the 3 major religions, nobody has counted the zillions of sub-religions. Considering how much suffering those Religions have caused humanity, I would rather live in a Religion-free world. Until we find out about the "WHY", religions will be in high demand. Apperantly, one religion humanity can not accept is the religion of "WE DON'T HAVE A CLUE" ! Unfortunately.

Might as well go back a little further. Once upon a time there was a "cell" in the ocean. Needing power from "mitrochondria" bakteria and a "fatty bubble" to isolate the"cell" from the outside world. (where did the mitochondria bacteria come from)? After that, the cell had nothing else to do than divide and multiply billions of billions of times until a human emerged as the "end result". With no plan, just trial and error? ???????????????????????????????? Charles Darwin as well as modern science have no answer as to why "life" emerged. A brainless first cell with the task of eventually producing a "homo sapiens"?????????????? So, never mind the chicken or the egg. The question is: How can a brainless Cell eventually produce a chicken or an egg or a living organism, capable to fly to the moon?

Unless GG has served in Vietnam, he doesn't know how "activated" napalm smells. I was told that neglecting to wash ones underwear for over 3 years will produce exotic smells that even confuses well trained police dogs.

What a big surprise. For years I have posted here that those central/south American countries are (or will) turn into "S*it hole" countries. I was right. Thailand is nice this time of year. If nothing else, forking over 25'000 Bht/year to a visa agency assures eternal residency in Thailand. It doesn't get any better or easier or cheaper anywhere else.

I venture to guess, that you are an inexperianced investor. You need to do some homework before entrusting your money to someone. You must not only do your investment dealings by way of "Bangkok Bank". Bankok Bank is strong concerning Thailand, but has "weak connections" when it comes to "international investing". For every financial transaction, they charge a relatively high commission. - I have 2 stepdaughters, working for "Bangkok Bank". They assure me, that they will recommend investments that give them the highest personal "commission". Under these circumstances, their "advice" is questionable. Better to establish an investment-account with a international broker (Charles Schwab, for example). Low cost and good advice. Above all: As an inexperianced investor, shy away from people that approach you with promesses of 10 to 20% "guaranteed" annual returns. Those are scams, without exeption. Those sceamsters will realise within 5 minutes, that you are an inexperianced investor, having found another "prey".

At some point, you will realise, that you are the trailblazer for posters that have escaped the "animal-farm". Keep it up. Suggestion for your next thread: "Why do Thai Cows eat grass and I don't". Massive response assured, producing 5 pages of responses in no time at all.

There can be no doubt. GG's life takes place on the internet (social media). That's where he extracts his next days ASEAN NOW thread(s). Ranging from the absurd to outlandish and everything in between. Main thing: Gaining attention and generating "klicks". Giving his threads a touch of "intellectualism" can be helpful. GG is the Kim Kardashian of ASEAN NOW. Maintaining attention by all means. Nevermind. GG' s threads have become a "must read". Just awaiting his next thread keeps me on the edge of my seat. Always wondering what absurd theme he has extracted from social media yesterday to be fed to the perfectly innocent readers here. So exiting! But unfortunately delivering proof, that folks that have moved their earthly life to social media run the risk of eventually end up in a psychiatric institution. GG should not stop contributing, but rather step outside into the "analoge world" and take his future inspirations for his threads from the "analog world", enriching his threads greatly.

Seems to me that Bob is caught in a downward spiral. - Maritial problems (his wife not providing any form of "anchor"). - Not knowing where to go and what to do, despite his ripe age. A very volatile frame of mind as the root cause. A ship on the ocean, trying to navigate without compass. - Alcoholism. All that is missing in this desastrus cocktail would be mounting financial problems. Then, the downward spiral would become irreversible. A pattern that I have observed too often among Farangs in Thailand. OR: Bob is a prankster, just loving to throw controversial issues into the ASEAN Arena. He would not be the only one here.

Good to hear that Vientiane has now a private hospital. Private hospital= Expensive. Maybe we should accept that while living in the "sticks" that "death must be accepted." After all, there are x-millions of people on this earth that have no access to 1st world medical treatement. Living under the motto: "When my time comes, my time has come". Not sure, if Farangs can adopt this life-philosopfy. There is always awaiting free medical tratement in the home country. Granted, that the illness creeps up in slow motion. Your HAM Radio operation: Hilarious!

That's a bit remote, especially when living alone. How far away is nearest hospital? Do you have a trusted/reliable person that you could telephone in case of emergency? It's the old story. Even the healthiest Farangs can get sick. Most people die in hospital. Found out, that this is a theme that most Farangs don't like to talk about. - How's your HAM Radio hobby going? Or are you still under the suspicion of being a foreighn spy?

Thailand has gotten better over the years when it comes to "lagalities" concerning a Farang. Also a bit better in Cambodia. But Laos remains in some sort of Stone Age. The personal destiny (Farang and otherwise), still depends of the whim of local power-brokers, as the OP has experienced already. To invest any mayor long term (immovable) funds in current Laos borders on lunacy.

Fine, money and power. But to go down in History is the main driving force for "Dictators" once enough money and power have been accumulated. Our children stlill learn in classrooms about Napoleon , Julius Ceasar and Alexander the Great. Once money and power are achieved, immortality is the last aim. Putin is on that track. Having instructed Kindergarden Teachers in Russia to convey to the toddlers, that Russia will be great again. This "great again" narrative sounds familiar to me, from the other side of the world.

Why is it, that some Western Newssources "know" about Russian losses? But not "knowing" about Ukrainian losses? The Ukrainian losses are a well kept secret.

Most of the above countries will not rush to the defence of Europe. "Putins armaments almost exhausted"? Stay away from Social Media Newssources. If anyone is running out of armaments it's the Ukraine.

For hundreds of years, the Russian Tsars knew that Europe was well equipped to resist Russian expansionist dreams. Same during the rule of the Red-Tsars during the cold war. - Today, Europe is practically defensless, compared to before. Todays Tsar will be tempted to march on, once the Ukraine is "neutralised". Vladimir knowing that European "nuclear defenses" will never be activated. Why not? Because western philosophy has it: Better to learn Russian than turn Europe into a uninhabitable waistland for the next 3000 years. Tsar Vladimir knows it. Over the last 1000 years, never were the chances favoring Russian Expansionism westward better than today.

For a Farang, you are entering the "legal-djungle". REMEMBER how fast the rules can change when it came to your HAM Radio activities? Near the Mekong? Buy or build a "Houseboat". As in Thailand and Laos, this can be registerd in your name. If things get "unpleasant" you can move your home. - Buy 2 larger vessels, link them together (this is called a "catamaran"), build a 1 story small house on top. - Or put a so called "knock down" house on the property. Knock down= a house that can be easily dismanteled and moved by a low bed truck. "Knock-Downs" are available in Thailand. Google is your friend.

Yes, "dull" they are. Being stranded on a remote island, I wish that my stranded fellows would be "Swissies". While a mix of other nationals will soon bang each others heads in, fighting over the dwindling supply of coconuts, the "swissies" will conduct lenghty democratic discussions, in order to distribute the remaining coconuts fairly, while chanting the national anthem frequently. Granted, all very "dull".

The above mentioned criteria are (still) in effect. But lo and behold, to live in Switzerland is expensive. Permanent residency requires a well paying job and/or a "fat wallet". (Tina Turner qualifyed). June, July, August is fine. Otherwise the weather sucks (mostly). "Swissies" are a benighn/friendly people, but it takes time before one is accepted as a friend. Quite the opposite to Americans, where you can gain a "friend" after having bought him 2 beers.