Khaeng Mak

24 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

6-8% available in Cambodian banks for 1 year fixed term USD (or Thai Baht) deposit accounts (-14% tax if you don't live there).

True that.  A few years ago when I first invested it was circa 11%.

1 hour ago, mike787 said:

Diversification.

 

This info graphic does not work for Australian investors.  The starting point is $155,000 to buy a duplex.  In Australia that amount will not even buy you a demount-able home in a trailer park.

Anyone know whether Kerry has Thai or Farang owners at the helm?

23 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The last time I was in debt was 1974, when I bought a new Honda Civic for travel to work. No public transport. My other assets were not readily cashed out.

Traditionally, cars are a bad investment due to depreciation. After 100,000 km, I sold it for $200 more than I paid for it new. Could not have done that with a larger vehicle.

I agree opportunity for young people has declined quite markedly. However, I ensured my financial security by going to work in a remote area of Australia. If one wants to get ahead, one has to be prepared to sacrifice personal comfort. The place had no TV,  and only one hour of radio in the evening. I made my own entertainment. Fishing, golfing and reading.

Gove?

5 hours ago, mommysboy said:

I got out of teaching because the salary was the same as 20 years ago, and you'll hear much the same refrain from the common Thai. Meanwhile costs have escalated. You read so many comments that blame Thais, but the truth is the modern economy is failing fast- throughout the world. 

 

Businesses aren't making money. My brother in law's for example has failed completely because big firm's didn't pay him.  There is GDP as calculated by the Government, and that which is lived by ordinary people. The latter isn't the 3.8 quoted, unless you prefix that with a minus.

It's brother in law's fault that he failed completely.  I had some of the biggest companies in the world as clients.  I would never proceed with a project unless they provided me with a purchase order.  My proposals always included a sizeable mobilization payment and then scheduled payments throughout the course of the project as each documented deliverable was met.

2 hours ago, Pharoticus said:

As someone else has said, this list looks like a set of random bullet points pulled from the internet. 

 

What was the software you developed? And what were the "successful projects" you completed for the world's largest companies?

 

 

Nope. Can't be bothered to explain myself to you. I have more valuable activities to spend my time on. Like I have already posted. Believe me, or not, choice is up to you.

30 minutes ago, tlandtday said:

I think a lot of expats here take for granted their personal financial situations and have little or no comprehension of how many Thais are being squeezed in their finances some through no fault of their own and others through uncontrolled spending often encouraged by social platforms and mainstream media programming. 

One of my girls sisters rents an apartment not far from where this happened for 1500 baht per month.  I image any financial problems this girl was facing were entirely created by her alone.

On 4/29/2019 at 9:05 AM, KittenKong said:

Only if you are a wimp or a quitter. Real men complain politely but insistently and in the end they get what they want.

<deleted>.  The only hope the OP has is if the bar goes under.  Which, fortunately for him, happens quite frequently here.

12 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

Its really quite easy when you have big eyes and small pockets.

10 Years ago, a large percentage of Thai people hankered after a Refrigerator or a half decent TV set.

Now ! they hanker after Cars, and Smart Phones. Its not good for saving " face " if you buy a second hand Car, or a Phone costing 5,00 Baft. Thais have to have a new Car, and a Phone costing 20,00 baht or more to save face.

Saving face results in many people having huge debts they are unable to service, and the main cause of this is a poor lending strategy from the Financial Sector, who are lending to people with little or no tangible assets to their name.

People live in 2000 Baht / Month rented rooms, and have new cars parked outside,and they probably only earn about 12,000 Baht a Month, not the 15,000 as you state

 

 

It is entirely the government's fault.  How come the average Thai cannot get a mortgage to buy or build a 1 million baht house? But those same people can get a loan to buy a 1 million baht plus car or truck.

2 minutes ago, Spidey said:

Learned that quickly when I moved here. Would always have lunch on the patio shared with my wife and a couple of female neighbours. The conversation was solely in Lao/Issan. Decided to learn it. I have managed to pick up both languages but, even though I have always lived in Pattaya, my Lao has always been better than my Thai.

Replacing any "c" sounds with an "S" sound is a quick workaround.

14 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Sharing food is commonplace in Thailand, everyone does it, including my gf.

You grow or cook more than you can use, share it out amongst the neighbours.

I seem to have the only bicycle tire pump in the road, everyone helps themselves to it.

It all evens out in the long run.

I know son.  I was just having a dig at your post on the other thread. But what I will mention that after many decades here it would seem to me that the instances of sharing fruit or other surplus produce between neighbors has declined markedly. I assume that this is are result of increasing levels of debt.

9 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

My neighbours are all really nice, no noise, I smile and wave as I walk by, they smile and wave back.

Sometimes the little old ladies/men leave gifts of fruit or food at my back door.

The kids all play nicely in the road together, whichever parent is out there sorts out any problems.

It's a proper community like we used to have in the UK prior to the 1960s.

 

The only noise is from birds tweeting loudly in the garden (and my bread machine going).

I'm sitting in front of the TV, doors and windows wide open as usual, gf went to market on her bicycle, son upstairs on Youtube. The lady next door just waved at me outside the window and walked away with my bicycle pump to use on her tires.

 

If it wasn't for all the immigration BS, life here would be perfect.

Nice that they leave you gifts of fruit or food when they are only one paycheck away from house repossession. 

37 minutes ago, Machiavelli said:

I wish I could write like you. I would have a blog or something. It's so refreshing. 

Anyone can write. But editing requires a good deal of talent.

1 hour ago, Orton Rd said:

How anyone can love a drooling dog stinking the home out is beyond me. Also, how can 'animal lovers' justify eating them?

I love my Thai girl.  But, without question, she knows that I love my dog more.

1 hour ago, Kenny202 said:

I find the older I get the less I want a steady relationship with a woman, Thai or otherwise. I can cook and clean and take care of myself just fine. I have a 3yo son also. I actually find it easier just living my son and me. Dinners cooked and cleaned up in about 30 mins. (No oil etc splashed up the walls and all over the floor). Housework to a minimum as I just don't make to much mess. I don't throw clothes on the floor after wearing them for 10 minutes etc. I love the feeling of waking up in the morning and not needing to consider what someone wants to eat or what they want to do today. I just find myself compromising my own happiness to please someone else. I often chuckle to myself when I think of the poor guys who buy into their relationships with dowries and homes for everyone. Huge money. All in many cases to saddle yourself with a woman who is next to useless and needs everything...including transport and entertainment. The women here who say they want farang....most would not have a chance with a Thai bloke unless the woman was supporting them. I've lived here for 5 years and I don't think I know of one case where a Thai bloke has saddled himself with someone else's kid / kids, extended families or issues. Many of us end up with the rejects, why Thai people think farang are stupid. 

 

I have had many relationships here and mostly they fall into two categories. An educated girl who has a career or professional job. Usually works 10 - 12 hours a day and 6 days a week. Meetings on days off etc. Then she needs time with her girlfriends, family etc. Means much of the time you are sitting around twiddling your thumbs, when you can be out chasing new tail. The other type of girl is one who has no work, usually can't drive....sits around all day and you become her sole means of transport, entertainment...everything. People who have nothing need everything. Neither relationship really makes sense to me. It's not like it's hard to find a GF here. Sex is a huge thing for me and lets face it usually after the first 2 weeks to 3 months the thrill is gone. Most of us older blokes have been to the mountain and a girl has to be pretty special to keep my interest for long. 

 

I don't see anything wrong with people who want a relationship and see value in that. It's just not for me. There is just too much choice here to put up with a girl who is anything less than stellar and if it's a relationship where the ledger is not even or anywhere near in your favour, I just don't see the benefits 

 

   

The situations you have described I like to refer to as structural issues.  You can try to render over them to hide them or make them more pleasing to the eye but sooner or later they will cause your house of cards to collapse.

One of my first relationships here in Thailand was with a beautiful and smart young lawyer.  She was from a dirt poor family and had put herself through Chula on a scholarship. There was a huge gap in our ages but we got along just fine and had lots of fun together.  The problem was that three years into the relationship she wanted to have kids.  And the thing is that she deserved to have kids.  She had worked hard to pull herself out of poverty, get educated and secure a good job. Problem was that I didn't want any.

That is what a structural relationship problem looks like.  No amount of talking, listening, or dancing around the issue will resolve it.

We broke up.  It was not easy for either of us.  And the saddest part to this story is that she is now in her mid thirties and still searching for a decent guy with whom she can start a family with.

1 hour ago, Psimbo said:

Middle Khlong was black and stinking on Friday.  Little water bubbler thing is useless.

 

Top one was the same. An old Muslim lady was up there looking at it and just shaking her head with disgust and dismay. 

 

It will be interesting to see if today's rain flushed them out a bit. 

fecal coliforms anyone?

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

I don't believe in these coral restoration projects. Time is all that is needed, but more time than we, humanity, are willing to spend.

Yep.  10,000 years is a long time.