indieke

The Baan Balina houses projects are searched after, even in this crisis.  This is one of the nicest places, of Big Pattaya.  Over 800 m 2  of land, 3 bedroom. Fifteen minutes from city, but in an oasis of tranquility. Very safe place, guarded, and went down in price. This was sold for 11 million before Covid. Seperated, double garage.

Baan Balina 3, is In Hua Yai, 5 minutes from Sukumvit road in secluded area.  

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 200 M2 meter space. Has been repainted, inside, sold with furniture.  Wonderful view from Master bedroom, kitchen, living and dining room. to pool and garden, makes inside living like being outside. Airconditioning in every room  The owner prefers to sell. Asking price is 8.5 million Baht. Smaller places are sold around 9 million .If reasonable offer, can accept. This are quality homes with good isolation.

Hua Yai is the road to Buddha mountain. Pharmacy, Market , all close by. Living not far from city, but in green area.  Beach is 5 minutes away, town, 15 minutes, Makro 10.

Rental is 40.000. Baht. This includes, gardener  pool man, and common costs. Only electricity and water consumption are added at cost price. 

Come have a look and do not miss to live in Paradise. And space enough, no cramped feeling, like so many other offerings. PM me for appointment and details.

On 2/13/2021 at 6:04 PM, xylophone said:

No doubt about it, the Tournon is a well crafted wine and I'm going to go out on the limb a little here when describing it.

 

It has none of the heavy upfront fruit driven characteristics of many Australian wines, and that is not a problem, because it is more restrained, and certainly the ageing in concrete tanks would have a lot to do with that, because no wood characteristics are imparted to the wine.

 

In fact I would say it is almost a cross between an Australian wine and one from the Northern Rhône, and it will open up given a little more time.

 

Now here's where I may be wrong, but I'm giving it a shot – – I wonder if the Syrah/Shiraz grapes used were actually from the imported Rhône clones?? I do know that quite a few cuttings were brought into Western Australia back in the 1800s, and since then have been cloned and re-cloned, but perhaps there is a strain which has still survived/available. Or of course it could be wishful thinking on my part! Or of course it could be that the French influence has come to bear on the winemaking process, thereby affecting the finished product?

 

Whatever the case may be, this certainly was not a typical Australian wine.

 

In addition I ordered a dozen mixed bottles from the wine list I sent you and I have discovered a little gem, which I will order again, this time the full 12 bottles of that particular wine.

 

And I ordered some more Appassimento as it has become a favourite of mine. So when I order again, I will add some of the Tournon.....

 

 

Only saw your message now. As the roots of the owner, is in Northern Rhône, maybe it is just the "imported" wine making.  Like harvest, like a certain style, craftsmanship, that is just why it is close to its style. The fact that it indeed aged in tanks and not got heavy wood treatment, will add to this impression. You could write to the estate to be sure. But I have noticed that foreign wine-crafters  managed to keep their style, even in very different countries, which proves that the process ofe wine-making became more and more important over the last 30 years.

In New Zealand, I like Henri Bourgeois, a wine maker of the Loire, his Clos Henri. He keeps the Pinot Noir style of the  New World, but it is so profound (here more wood though), that it is very different still from other offering. Not know if imported in Thailand....  

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I have not had to do this in the past. 

 

You can continue to stay there on a month by month basis. But, as neither the owner or you are tied to a contract the owner could ask you to leave at any time, i.e. if someone else were to want to rent the property. 

 

This is unlikely (during a very low Covid period) - thus: you can simply say no and if they want you to move out, so be it. 

 

What is happening here is obvious to anyone reading this thread: 

The Agent is attempting to ‘spin more money’ by getting you to sign a new contract (and taking a months rent as payment, or even more with some agents).

The owner probably doesn’t even know about this. IF you can contact the owner directly, do so.

 

  I am in contact with owner, he prefers me to stay, but he is scared of real estate agent, and is in China.  As in original contract the real estate agent, put clearly, that the owner has to pay him another month if the renter stays.   I could draw another contract, but then it not protect us from real estate agent, if he want his part still. 

9 minutes ago, recom273 said:

My landlord wanted a year and then we had no contract for many years, it wasn’t even month to month, it was a verbal arrangement that suited us both. I guess you could move and take another year contract in another property.

 

I think your issue is also with the estate agents commission, when after the first year he has done nothing, the property / tenant has already been found.

Exactly.  Like I said the owner not mind to change the contract, it is he is committed to pay again the real estate company, if I stay there. That is all the point, nothing else.

1 minute ago, timendres said:

In my case, renew 12 months, or move out.

Landlord is only interested in 12 month contracts.

I cannot afford to loose 2 months of bound. I asked some people around and most get from second year one or two months notice.  I live her for a year, so I can stay maybe even 3 years. But not want to loose the bound, if I not check out after another year. 

This is more legal advice.  I rented a house in Pattaya region, fairly good price for the offering, on condition have one year lease.  Now this year is almost over.  It is ok for me to stay, but not with the OBLIGATION of a full new year. As for many, Covid times are unsure, what will happen for me and the place I need to go.

If the owner, Chinese, would not object to that, he says another year must be taken, as the real estate agent, put in the contract, if the tenant stays after that year, it is re-conducted for 12 months and he AGAIN GETS HIS COMMISION!   I was informed this is illegal. First, Thai law seems to stipulate that the owner /real estate has the right to ask this for the first year, but then it is on months basis, and the tenant, cant make an end to the contract with one or two months notice.  Further, beside it is illegal after that year to demand a new year contract, it seems that if the contract is   only in English and not in Thai, it has no value at all, and it then probably is not even registered.

I have really the impression, that the owner, would not mind me staying on month basis, but that he is afraid of trouble with the real estate company, who will force him to pay another commission. On my side, I have given the owner peace of mind of a year, but now every month is bonus. I had to pay 2 months bound, that if I agree on another year, will force me to either pay that  year and stay, or not seeing my bound back, if ever I would leave in 6 or 18 months.

I know some are going to say, I loose that bound anyway, I not had that experience in the past.  I just not agree, I cannot get it back, if I leave not exactly after a year rent every time. Also In previous rental deals, it never was mentioned, that the real estate company had commission after this first year.

Thank you for feedback on this.

The Tournon has different qualities.  If my memory serves  me well, the Mathilda is only been in tanks, and not aged in wooden casks.  The other one's did, but need more time to spend in the bottle to fully enjoy them.  There is also the Victoria wine, made with Terlato. More expensive, but also much more complex. Strange enough, not so much more, then I bought them in France, considering the taxes. 

https://www.chapoutier.com/en/partnerships/terlato-and-chapoutier/

On 1/31/2021 at 2:27 PM, xylophone said:

Thanks for the link to the Royal Cliff, and the dinner and wine tastings certainly look very good indeed, and for the record, the Rhône is one of my favourite regions, with  Cote Rotie being a particular favourite, and I also long for the Chateauneuf du Papes made in the old style using more than the usual GSM grape mix, so have gone off them a little these days.

 

I searched high and low for the Montclair thread, which as I said was many hundreds of posts (plus) long, and I think that's why they closed it, so perhaps it's unavailable now, or only available through one of the moderators?

 

I did however find the thread which was entitled "Red Wine bargains in Phuket" whereupon I have put several wines which I believe represent good value, and bear in mind that this was aimed at "everyday" expats here.

 

You mentioned California, and going to a different part of the country, may I recommend a Syrah from Washington State, called Ch Ste Michelle,  as I think it is a hidden gem, and is available at Villa Market.
 

Thank you. Had this wine some years ago. I will try it again. Northern Rhône, of course Côte - Rôtie is surely fabulous, and among the best wines in the world.  But prices for this nectar are high. I turn to St Joseph, Crozes Hermitage, smaller villages, but with a good producer, better price quality. I have here   Chapoutier wines at reasonable prices. You probably know, the Maison, has bought estates in Australia too, where they make wines, close in style to the French one's. These I can find here in Pattaya, but with wholesaler, at more then reasonable prices, like the "Mathilda"  Tournon from Victoria. These wines are very pure, but maybe need some more aging. But I buy this less then 600 Baht.  Here in Pattaya, bigger companies are presented, with wines you not find in the supermarket.  Pages and pages of wine.  

Would be interesting to get a link to your comments, of wine here.  Or start a new "what you drank last night, to know what to avoid too.

Probably I again not learn you anything but the wineclub in Royal Cliff in Pattaya has interesting evenings. Some nice wines I tasted there, from Rhône (favorite region) to California.  Silverado, Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, if I remember well elaborated with Chateau Margaux, was impressive, but at 2500 Baht, not a bargain, but at least at market price.  Of course being in Phuket, it is a bit far to attend, although it is every 3 months.

https://www.royalcliff.com/devine-wine-club/

1 hour ago, xylophone said:

I do enjoy my wine, and I think you'll find it was you who detailed your experiences with Petrus and Yquem 1904, especially when you wrote, "I am sure, you were also thrilled by an Yquem 1904, as I was. Much more value then a Petrus 82."

 

And if that's not being a complete and utter snob, then I don't know what is. Then suggesting that if I ever went to Australia I could discover some things.......pfff.

 

And this after you picked up on something that another poster has said (not me) and later on you managed to get the percentage of fruit juice needed to be added to a wine to label it "fruit wine", completely wrong.

 

I have never considered myself a wine snob, in fact I have drunk some of the most disgusting wines on the planet (think Libyan wine in the 60s) and made some of my own, something that a supposed wine snob would never do – – so I would suggest that you look in the mirror if you wanted to see a wine snob, this especially after your comments in two posts.

 

But, moving along, I have posted on a couple of threads regarding what I consider to be "good value" wines here in Phuket, one was originally the "Montclair wine thread" (not about good Montclair wine I may add) and another has been recently "Phuket wine bargains" and on that thread several wine drinkers have been in touch and we tip each other off where we find a good wine/one on special/one mispriced so we can snap the bargains up.

 

I'm always keen to learn, but when you said in one of your posts, "at least you got some valuable information I hope.....". It's not a good starting point when you pointed out some Australian wine information which most everybody would know, but then again was never asked for, as if you were a teacher, teaching a class – – a little condescending if anything.

 

Let's hope that we can get back on a level footing, as the saying goes.
 

Most people even not know where Mudgee is.......And  that there is wine in Canberra. Good if you know then. About "fruit wine", that you keep putting under my nose, I know nothing about, good for you that you are an expert in these, I am hanging on your lips.  I just inform, what I heard what happens, by a producer, I never participate in the process. And  it is not that a drop of juice, is not legal to call it that way, that it is not done so by producer. Again, I leave you as an expert in that matter. I only mentioned Yquem and Petrus, not to be treated as the village idiot, and to just show that I am not a fruit wine drinker.

But as you said, I hope we can have some good experiences to share on other posts....   

16 minutes ago, xylophone said:

I'm sure that you mean well dear chap, but I don't need to know about the wines you have drunk in the past, because I could probably match most of them, and then some.

 

However I don't think I have a need to listen to you because you are wrong on a couple of counts; firstly the law here states that fruit wine to be classed as so has to be a minimum of 15% fruit juice, not the "one drop" that you mention.

 

And secondly, yes I know all about the sulphites, and have been on many vineyards in France and New Zealand when the grapes are being picked and have seen the treatment they get prior to that and afterwards, and I have no problem with the sulphites which are added. Have also tasted a biodynamique Burgundy from Mme Leroy, and several other of that ilk, and appreciate the difference.

 

And for the record, "so if you ever go to Australia you could still discover......", was a bit precious as I have been to Australia many times, visited  a few vineyards (as I have in New Zealand) and even lived there for a while, and have many relatives in that part of the world.

 

And I have personally discussed wine with Jean Michel Cazes on his Lynch Bages estate in France, when I was a guest of his at a private wine tasting, and of course lunch at his Michelin starred restaurant; also discussed wine with M Ogier in the northern Rhône, as well as picking and eating few berries from the vines at Château Petrus, discussing the last harvest with Ferraud Laurence at Dom de Pegau and staying at Château la Bastide and enjoying a fabulous dinner with the owner and sampling some of his wines, as well as sampling a bottle of Penfold's Grange, and getting his feedback on that, which was surprising.

 

I could go on, but it's not really worth it because it becomes what we call in NZ (and OZ), a "p1ssing contest", and now I know that you in your absolute wisdom do not know what constitutes a "fruit wine", no need to take it any further!

 

Perhaps you should have listened more closely to your father!

 

You may wish to peruse this link at your leisure: –

https://www.matthewclark.co.uk/about-us/history/ 
 

Oh ok, you are a real wine snob then. Because real wine lovers, will ALWAYS enjoy a new discovery and never think they seen it all.  And the names of people you met, not impress me either. On the contrary, I will never forget the encounter with the old doctor, a real wine enthousiast, at Canberra Lake. Simple and humble.

I listen very well to my father, thank you. And we did well together, he more on Classic French wine and me introducing in the company New World  Wines. I not even mention the people we met, as my father knew owners in France even before World war 2, and imported directly, even when after that it was common after to buy from the brokers at the place de Bordeaux.

But you not understand my statement. In real life, I had colleagues I learned from and they did from my experiences. My experience, probably yours, is nothing compared to some great sommeliers, as my friend William Wouters. Not because he is world champion, but his passion about the product.  Because they really are solicitated by owners , wine-merchants as my self and they have even more opportunity then you and me to have encounter reference bottles. 

So I am not going to discuss, if you <deleted> higher then me. Thing is I love to encounter new people, still learn from their experiences, as sometimes I can surprise them with some of mine.  I be even interested, to know what you found on the Thai market, which is a cry for wine lovers. I do have some connections with importers,  who did made me discover fine things, but not for every day use.  I am sure I could learn a lot from you too, even as you in all your greatness, not seem to be able to learn anything from another wine-lover as yourself.    

Enjoy!

20 hours ago, xylophone said:

No not really as have been collecting fine wines for 50 yrs and my concern was with the adding of fruit juice to the fermentation process in some wines and how it can deceive some people. 

Sorry to hear, I can do nothing for you. You broke my heart now. Know that some of the regions I mentioned, like the vineyards by Canberra lake, Mudgee, are not that known by the public. So if ever you go to Australia, you could still discover some things, you in your absolute wisdom, never tasted.  I am sure, you were also thrilled by an Yquem 1904, as I was. Much more value then a Petrus 82.

For your fruitwine, I can confirm this. One drop of fruit juice , and it can be labeled as so. Problem is that there is not only fruit that is your concern, but other substances to make it drinkable.  You should also wonder about sulfites in normal wine.  

But sure I must have nothing interesting to say, when I probably learned nothing from my father, who started his wine business in 1946.

3 minutes ago, xylophone said:

I wasn't referring to a post of yours, but from another poster!

At least you got some valuable information I hope......????

On 1/28/2021 at 11:42 AM, xylophone said:

Kulu is a cheap wine because it has fruit juice (other than grapes) mixed in it, much the same as Montclair did, which was why Montclair was so cheap, and it's not something that I would buy, but then everyone to their own.

 

I think one poster also said, "the best Aussie wines come from Margaret River", which is of course a nonsense because Australia makes a huge range of good wines and although there are a few in Margaret River, Vasse Felix, being perhaps the best, there are loads elsewhere in Oz.

 

Saddened to hear that your off-licence wines only start at around 800 baht, as that really will make a dent in one's budget (well mine anyway).
 

I not said Western Australia is the best of that continent. The wines of the brand I mentioned, are still  good value at WIne Connection, compared to the 1000 up one's. Mostly they are less heavy, compared to the one's in Barossa Valley.  In Western Australia more use of Cabernet Sauvignon as opposite from the Shiraz in Barossa. And yes, there are excellent wines (and also a lot of less Gods) all over Australia, even in less know regions. I tasted lovely Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from a tiny producer around Canberra lake. Or great classic  blends in Mudgee, in the New South Wales mountains, not to forget other regions like Victoria. But that stuff, forget to find that here...

In my cellar, in Southern France,  I have great Bordeaux, Burgundy, Northern Rhône wines, that I can just not buy here.... 

 I try to find some "drinkable wines". Bought in villa Marktet Redwood California Merlot 2015 for 5 00 bht. For 390,   Chardonnay from Chili, Vina Porta white in Friendship. These are not great wines, but better then the Mont Clair. In Wine connection, decent stuff around 800 Baht like the Western Australian Chardonnay, and Cabernet  Shiraz from Deepwoods. Also the " Natural " winery has good wine, but is almost 1000. Occasionally you find an ok Bordeaux below 1000 somewhere.  

Wine lovers of good decent products, are not like heavy beerdrinkers.  So the tax makes us buy unhealthy cheap stuff, that we would not even think about drinking at home.  Honestly, it is part of a lifestyle. I would go back to my home country  only for that.

But then they tax more on my income, my house and everything else......

The restrictions a

13 minutes ago, GeorgeCross said:

 

i think "going home" would come under essential travel, you should be all good

 

my mate came out today and had no problems getting to hua hin

 

 

 The new restrictions are not yet in place, we will have to see.  Yes she has her name on a contract, but she only has a tourist visa... 

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

Strange that the article does not mention that there is now a relatively easy solution for all 3 cases.  All of them can now apply for a 1-year Non Imm O-A Visa which would allow them to get the COE to return to Thailand.

Yes, I read that too. But if you have a year contract rent, you keep on paying, while not be able to go back to your place. Like said very well above, buying has more risks, then renting here. It not means if you rent, it is not your home. 

If you see what big manufacturers, want to make us buy and at what prices, the earbuds I bought at 7/11 sound  unexpectedly great at 140 bht.  I got much more expensive one's, they not sound an awful lot better.  I bought these in fact to use on the bike, if I need directions, but am enjoying music on them a lot too now.... 

On 10/28/2013 at 5:46 AM, MK1 said:

While domesticated coffee drinkers might think that capsule coffee makes the perfect convenient cup, for those people on the run, they’re also the biggest coffee consumer ploy/ rip off in history, designed by coffee manufacturers to maintain control over the instant domestic/office coffee market.

A normal espresso coffee via barista machine contains at least 7 grams of freshly grounded coffee per cup. In stark comparison, try squeezing 7 grams of grounded coffee into a recycled capsule canister and see the results. You will be lucky to get 2.5 grams per capsule, if that, and what you will further discover is that these capsules contain instant coffee mostly mixed with the cheap strong robusta coffee bean.

This is because coffee cartels like ‘Nescafe’, have conned consumers into drinking the robusta bean for so long, and are worried about their future market share, since consumers are becoming more aware and more educated about drinking coffee. As a result, home consumers are now investing in their own domestic type espresso barista machine and coffee grinding machine.

Capsule coffee machines are a one hit wonder; destined to become a useless home appliance junk piece, soon to be a fad and coming to a museum near you.

A rip  off, I not know, but for sure expensive coffee.  But I am not burning my hands and go thru much trouble, that is the reason for success.  What you say about "instant coffee", you have proof to back this up?  In general the critics are not so bad at all for the quality of the cup. Sure, there is the enivrement question, tha tis not great, but is another story.

Sorry to get this old post, back out of the cellar, but always interesting, to use an existing post about the subject then to get a new one again

METV is NOT possible for her. She needs for 6 months 300.000 P on her account that is too late. So I hope a regular visa will work, but every time she can be refused in the country.  She had one time trouble at Thai immigration, when she left, being accused of illegal work... 

So I hope I find a solution for this.