macleod101

There are two articles I would recommend: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5a5419aa-bd47-11...?nclick_check=1 and http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...&refer=bond

To be honest, I'm bearish on Thailand and the world economy. You might have noticed yesterday's (today's) bloodshet in the financial sector? CFC, WM look at those American banks! IMHO, the crisis is blown way beyond the subprime sector and one enormnous problem will be credit card and other private debt this year.

Good luck to you all and remember to preserve your capital! Those who want to hold stocks should consider writing call options. Often, they can earn high fees like double digit % doing that. Those who trade futures should consider buying T-Bills as those are margineable 90-100%, the latter only for a few days.

I would be very bearish on Thailand, in the current state of the world. seeing as the US is nearly in a bear market, the UK is almost definatly heading the same way.. and many other markets are also heading that way.. stockbrokers across the world will be getting into work and doing nothing all day long, widespread job cuts and to say the least we are heading into 'global depression', although Thailand's already fairly depressed..

'I own TFUND, FUTUREPF, SIRIPF and SPF. They are listed on the SET so you need to have a Thai stockbroker to deal. They have dividend yields in the range of 7.25% to 9.9% (although FUTUREPF and SPT own leasehold not freehold property so the yields effectively include a return of capital as well as '

my portfolio offers dividend rewards of 7.75% to 10.25%

don't worry I won't!!

on a more serious note! how much money would I need to set-up a thai ltd company whereby i could employ and sponsor 'expats'

the business itself needs very little investment, I'M sure I could find the employees and I know I can find the phone work for them, its one of those ideas I look into, and when I do I get struct with problems and give up, but in principle the idea works well...

I'm not seriously thinking about it, although it is food for thought.

The reason I say 'to work at home' is because I can find a larger employee target market. I reckon I could afford to pay staff a basic of about 20kbht and an OTE of 50K bht

would that make an ex-pat pick up the telephone for me? or do you think the job market will soon start to get bored of 'sales'?

I live in the UK, if I wanted to work from home I could, in fact I could live anywhere in the world and still earn 400bht per hour just by doing 'tele marketing'

why don't more ex-pats in Thailand do the same? You've kind of got a 'niche' if you speak 'English' as a first language considering the fact that a lot of companys that have to use telemarketing are looking for a cheaper solution.

On a larger scale would it be possible to employ 'westeners' to work from home? (other than the obvious 'waste' caused)

I've got thaksin, his wife and his two children on my facebook account... im a stock broker by trade and still havn't wasted my golden 'client ball on it yet, but pls god let him be my client!!

purchase some vending machines (mechanical) and operate them...

sorry for not answering your question directly, I guess the answer is, its fairly safe to live on the island, crime rate out of hatrin is very low with comparsion to most of Thailand. There is a big drug problem on the island. Higher prices attract intl smugglers. However these people are harmless to the joe public. The west side of the island has excelent facitlity's and good roads (making it safe to ride a bike), THE SOUTH East rd's are fairly dangerous, however have improved a lot, if your safety cautious then use a car or jeep. The vast majority of crimes on the island are drug crimes though, and drug related...

(I was sworn at by the taxi driver after taking the ride, and then I swore back and got beaten up)

partly my fault I admit, but it was very quickly sorted out in their own way (head buts & body punche's)

sounds like he does it a lot

Would you consider the island safe for solo(pretty reclusive) female?

- as everywhere in Thailand, mostly depending on your own awareness or consciousness. I guess it is no problem here right now.

I once rfused to pay 100 baht for a taxi fare back too thong sala (from had rin) and got beaten up

My freindwas travelling alone to afull moon party and got mugged in his bungalow room by thai's

but we are male.. and probably look agressive

what i have learnt from my thai partner?

how to argue

how to wash-up

how to listen to what she says subconciously.

i've tought her

how to speak english

how to swear

there is a big dam about 10 kilometres out of town. It is not easy to find the entrance, I always end up at the dam's administration complex, but finally I make it to the shore.

It has several simple restaurants built up in a way that you can't see much of the reservoir. Out of one restaurant steps a sexy Thai lady and smiles "Hello mister, you come alone khaa?" Who'd expect bargirl talk in the boondocks west of Phetchabun? She seems fun and anglophone, so I opt for a lemon juice there. When I sit down with her, a bearded Italian joins us and explains all of Thailand to me. He seems to be her boyfriend, as he explains all of his Thai girl to me too. Funny, she talks some Italian: she is able to finish a Thai or English sermon with an Italian "Capito?" I always felt that Italians and Thais have quite something in common: in terms of temperament, care for style and good food as well as in their nationalism and unsavoury corporate governments. This delightful Thai lady would fit perfectly into a piazza in Milano or Urbino, checking tomatoes on the market or chatting away with the neighbours.

While Miss Thai-Italian is obviously not available for me, they have a fat shy Lao girl on the premises and I am told that she would definitely like a western boyfriend. There is one more young Thai man; he is completely built up like a lady with a lot of make-up and jewellery. The italophone Thai girl explains to me: "She has hot dog, but she wants to be lady. She wants to take you to Oasis disco tonight." Uiuiui, well sorry, I already have an appointment, khaw thot khrap, ciao amici. Darkness has set in by now, and I bounce back to town.

after reading a lot of negative posts, i would like to say hear hear

I have found my wife to be very loyal, loving and fit.. now i find her very loyal, fit and annoying (but only because she gets extra angry sometimes), but i love her to pieces

That might be why the island was full of rumours of terrorists...

he stayed at the milky bay mar 05, anybody?

thailand isn't a prime 'family holiday' destination, more of a grown-up destination... hope this builds a picture as to why nobody has built one yet..

more recently i met thaksin's son, i was a bit shakkey about him buying me champagne as i couldn't afford to buy him any..

I used to live next door to ken dodd, in the same village parish we had keith from 'the who' and danny devito (his was just a holiday house)

I remember going to Keith's house as a child to find his bentley in the swimming pool (don't ask! i don't know)

ALso in thailand i saw 'jimmy white', a bit random

my great uncle was former 'chancellor of the exchequor' and lived in no.11 (uk)

The World's End Restaurant in Chaloklum has recently re-opened after the untimely death of co-owner Mark Smith. Mark was also co-owner of The Dive Inn Diving School in Chaloklum and is survived by his wife Fern Smith. Fern will be operating The Dive Inn as well as remaining co-owner of The World's End Restaurant, Cafe & Bar along with myself, chef Spike Waltzer. I will be returning to Koh Phangan at Christmas and will be cooking along with our daytime cook and server, Tio. We thank you and appreciate your continued support.

The World's End

i used to eat at the world end for breskfaast, as the brekky was good.. however they need to learn from a coffee barista on how to make coffee

its all about expresso shots, mixed with hot water... not a bloody cafeteri...

i would like to find out more about 'y thai's leave their childrenb with grandparents & extended family...

my wife was brought up by her grandparents, her mum visited once a year, yet she still swears blinde her mum's got her best interests at heart...

i come from a western culuture and i still can't make anysence of it...

Sooner than later you are bound to hear, "It's up to you!"

LOL, i got through this stage 2 years ago thank buddha!!!

As long as you are prepared to have too support her family for the duration of your marriage, then you'll be ok..

im young, i got married stupidly after a drunken night out... 3 yrs on we are still together and very happy...

good luck with the 'upto you?' thing

you better getting moving on that 150k baht investment plan dude esepcially with 3 more mouths to feed

i'm leaning towards buying some ducks for that!!

i have read this book, and although it makes for an interesting read, the man is speaking a lot of cow dung..

he deserved what he got and at best I would call the guy a 'buffalo'

im sure he's a nice enough guy, but it really was his own fault..

i think because a lot of girls get pregnant by accident and can't afford to get it aborted...

i was there in 2005, there were rumours going around about a bloke being followed by anti terrosim police (i.e. mi6,ciaetc)

anyonehave any memory's of this? he would walk into a club and the place would empty..

their real daddy is in prison for life (as i understand) for money laundering (selling yabba, but the police only found his nice posessions)

so although i can locate him, financially he's useless

i can't get his name, the family have given me her maiden name.

i guess i will start my looking in thailand, as i can't get anywhere using UK authorities or brit emb Bangkok...

(says the man from fantasy world Macleod)

i know this is off-topic

in my scenario, my wife pays for 6 children, her parents and her grandfather

1 child is blood related

5 children have literally been dumped there..

i would say its very common, but its not the sort of thing you easily admit too..