Hardball

The Filipino ladies are just lovely.  My lady is very low maintenance and looks after all my needs.  The Philippines has my recommendation.  Hardball

Rooster raised the question of the cost of living in Thailand and invited those contemplating leaving to think again. 

History  As a Brit who has visited most of the last 25 years just for a couple of weeks or sometimes 3 weeks a year, I can say that prices here have remained largely stable but have risen pretty slowly. taking a downward jump at the time of the Asian banking crisis nearly a decade ago. But now, for Brits, the BREXIT effect has been and is disastrous. The new exchange rate of 41 baht to the pound now makes Thailand look expensive for many expats.  On top of the immediate BREXIT devaluation we have had another taking effect as we head towards the 29 Mar 19, like the man in a barrel heading over Niagara.  The devaluation of the pound affects all exchange rates both for Thailand and the Philippines alike so how do the Philippines look by comparison.  The climate is just a little cooler compared to Bangkok.  It's a lovely country with volcanoes on every part of the archipelago; just wonderful for geologists but a potential downside should another big eruption threaten.  The people are just lovely and the girls draw favorable comparisons with those from other Far Eastern Countries. but have you been to Manila; it's got the highest density of people anywhere on the planet with traffic pollution as dire as anywhere. Instead of the Bangkok taxi the Jeepney reigns supreme, carrying as many passengers as  you find in a crowded Songthai. Great fleets of them occupy the roads leading to the most awful congestion.  Bangkok wins on this basis alone.  However out in the country it is charming as anywhere tropical.  and your pound goes a great deal further at around 68 pesos to the pound. for example a haircut can cost 100 pesos or even less.  I may now move my holiday location to the Philippines.

Well my experience has been with a Phillipino lady. She was most attractive indeed but half my age. Did not get to the stage of living with her. She was only interested in one thing and I fell for it. Presents galore and large infusions of money. The more obvious ploys, my mother is sick and needs expensive treatment, could be turned down. But the duplicity at every stage was quite outside the normal range of experience. I have lost my phone is but one ploy. Even though it rings when dialled, remains charged up, and clearly remains in use. This is used to remain incommunicado when it suits her. I'm cutting my losses before I suffer serious damage. Will pursue other interests. Hardball

Rooster59 is to be congratualted for such a long, and dare I say it, erudite article he has put together.  It must have taken hours and hours to put together.  My norm is 700 words per day. 

Very impressed with the idea that a solution of molasses dropped from a few small drones could help clear the smog from the air. A publicity stunt no less.  But even among the Thais who could believe such outrageous nonsense.  Lots of proposed solutions amongst members but few are practical.  Have a go a old black emitting deisels but leave the modern ones alone as they are particularly fuel efficient. Reduce traffic in the centre by banning single drivers - that may take a few prosecutions to acheive but would force new schemes to be invented.  Bring forward long term plans to improve public transport. That would really cost but would be worth it. If you draw a comparison between London and Bangkok, London wins by about 10 to 1. Banglok lives by the car and is dying by the car.  The situation is urgent and always has been in my 30 years of visiting this country. Time to impose some unpleasant discipline here I fear.

I'm new to this forum but would like to make a contribution. I buy wine in the UK at benchmark prices. For example Californian merlot from lidl is available at 4pounds 65 pence or Australian yellowtail for as cheap as 5 pounds a bottle. Such excellent wines are simply not available unless you are prepared to spend perhaps 3 times the price I have mentioned. Thus for me wine in Thailand is a non starter. On the other hand beer is more reasonably priced bearing something of an equivalence to U.K. Prices. And beer is a good compliment to curry food at least of the Indian kind. My experience in China, Yangshuo, in 2011 was that beer was so cheap then that the local climbing company allowed 2 free beers a day to climbers and staff members alike. However we live in the present and the BREXIT devaluation to around 41 baht to the pound is a severe blow to U.K. Tourists an expats alike.