searcher22

Yup, it's not surprising that Thailand is ranked as the third-worst country in the world for accidents. The peak danger period is 7 to 8 p.m., according to an emergency-room nurse, who says alcohol is a major factor.

More carnage coming up on the roads in two weeks with Songkran.

If anyone is wondering about the Internet speed and connection options in Cuenca and Ecuador in general, I've found this interesting link:

http://www.gringosabroad.com/ecuador-internet-2013/

Very interesting Topic as my wife and I are moving to Ecuador in about a year or so.

Any other recommendation of interesting cities to live in?

Good luck and keep us posted! Looks like Ecuador is making waves.

Bill Black, former US bank regulator and anti-corruption crusader, has recently praised Ecuador for significantly reducing poverty in the country and boosting the economy.

I graduated from college in Ecuador and lived there for about a year (this was about 10 years ago). I can tell you Ecuador is so much better than Thailand in terms of people and culture. They are genuine and welcoming there and I made good friends with the locals. After living in Thailand for around three years I have almost an opposite feeling about the locals here.

Thailand is better on a superficial level in the sense that it has more conveniences, restaurant variety, etc. But people in Ecuador are so much better, it's just a better climate overall.

I speak Spanish fluently. While I wouldn't call my Thai fluent, I can have a conversation and read and write.

Interesting comment, thanks for sharing. Your willingness to learn the local language in both destinations speaks highly of you.

Just one question if it's not too personal.... what made you come to Thailand, and are you planning to go back to Ecuador at some point?

Resident expats up to ages 60 or 65 can apparently sign up for Ecuador's excellent healthcare system for only $70/month. No need to be employed, no pre-existing condition clauses, no deductibles, transfer to private hospital if necessary (at no extra charge), lifetime coverage. There is even talk of removing the upper age limit. But like Chiang Mai's failed attempt at expat coverage, details are sketchy and may vary depending on who you ask.

Other advantages of Ecuador: moderate climate, cleaner air, easier language, official currency = USD. But I'm sure there are disadvantages as well.

It would be nice to get a report from someone who's lived in both Chiang Mai and Ecuador for at least a year. IMHO, Chiang Mai will still come up on top (unless the political situation explodes here). But it's good to have a plan "B." as things can change very quickly.

I'd stay away from bats if I were you. They bite too. They also have viruses that can be harmful or even deadly to humans, including rabies. And the Pizza Hut delivery guy may not be too thrilled about coming back.

There are ways to lessen their impact, but it will always be an annoyance. The best solution is to stay indoors or move to a less infested area. If you HAVE to stay outside, wear protective clothing from head to toe and use liberal amounts of DEET, but I'd be worried about prolonged use.

Ignore the sarcasm. Stale products should never knowingly be sold, promo or no promo. It can also lead to health issues. Speak to the manager about it. I was at Rimping last week and saw someone bring back a bag of cookies at the counter.

I love Rimping, but I am wary about these 2-for-1 specials, as often times it's close to the sell-by date. However, sometimes the date is not legible or there's a sticker on it, in which case you should just leave it there. It might not be Rimping's fault as the manufacturer may have stretched the date a bit too much or the product may not have been stored or transported properly before arriving at the store.

It's where I go for my pastries. Good value for the money. The shop is often full of people. My only little disappointment is their whole wheat bread....great texture and good price but a tad too sweet for my palate.

be careful with insurance brokers. I know a guy that made his annual medical premium payment to a broker and discovered a month later when he was in the hospital that the broker had kept the money and not paid the insurance company. Company refused to cover him for the stay. I think it is best to deal with the insurance companies directly when in Thailand. Like many things here, there is no regulation and you can find out the hard way.

Yes, be careful, but a broker can also be a valuable ally if there is a disputed claim. Choose an insurance company that offers you internet access to your insurance file, independent of the broker. You can then check if your policy is in force.

@ dave2, @searcher22

But it is impossible sleep or concentrate?

Thank you.

concentrate...no, unless you do your concentrating in the late night hours.

sleep... depends how sensitive you are to noise, and which side of the building you're in.

Come here first, check out the area for yourself, and decide after.

A good place is the Loft Residence. You walk out the back door and there is Tops Supermarket. Laundry, 7-11 close, good fruit stand Tanin market close by has everything good salad bar. If you sign a 3 month lease I believe that gives you 50 sq. metres for 7500 bahts 4500 for 28 square metres. In house internet 300 bahts water 200 bahts but electric is higher at 8 bahts a unit maybe 9. They have card security. Free cable. You can Google the name

The Loft Residence is a nice place, but as I recall, there's a noisy night venue next door.

In any event, you can definitely get a decent serviced-apartment for 6000 baht, especially during low season (from May onwards). However, most only offer lousy wifi, but check around as there are surely some with a LAN connection.

Last year (2013) the EU film fest in Chiang Mai was held on June 13-23 at the Promenada shopping mall, which had just opened then. Not sure if the venue and dates have been announced for 2014. It would be nice if they could hold it at the new Maya mall this year. If not, then at the KSK mall, for old times' sake.

I assume you mean 3BB Internet. I live a 10-minute ride south of Mae Rim. 3BB has been working flawlessly for me for the past three weeks, including video streams. Something's wrong.

Parade and opening ceremony starts at 4pm today (Saturday) from Nawarat Bridge to Tha Pae Gate. It's a slow parade, so you can show up later.

Even with Thai DPA protection, a worst-case scenario would see the depositor getting back a baht that's been devalued 30-40%. So you get all your money back, but it's worth much less.

If only they'd just kept quiet . . . now that run is starting . . .

Exactly. When a bank says don't panic, it's time to get your money out. I took all my savings out of the Krung Thai bank yesterday and many other people were doing the same.

I was at a branch of that bank yesterday on an errand and the bank was packed with Thais. Waited 20 minutes to get served, but I was told by someone that it was because it was the beginning of the month. Now I'm not so sure. Maybe I'm developing paranoia!

none of those bakeries are any good. don't get hit by a car crossing the street. even Rimping baked goods are better.

I like 2 out of the 3 but I guess it depends what you are looking for, and I agree, it is better to take your bike/car than walk/run across!

Don't own either one and have no trouble crossing the street. Besides if I want a good bakery I will go to butter is better.

There is how ever I believe several bakeries in Maya.

Bake your own, much better, less additives and cheaper.

Costs me about 22bht to make a loaf of bread.

It's a nice hobby but I think most people would see it as a low ROI (time and money). Better to buy your favourite loaf and store it in the freezer. The freezer can also be used to cut down on other food expenses and trips to the mall/grocery store.

Nice thread with profound insights and tons of great advice!

Best advice: help others

Worst advice: try stamp collecting

your best legal and long-term option is as mentioned above...get an education here that will allow you to get a work permit later on (i.e. part-time English-teaching job). If you're planning to stay in Thailand a long, long time, then your stay here will be a lot more pleasant if you learn Thai, whether or not you get a visa out of it.

And rest assured....after a few years on the islands, you'll get bored and be seeking new horizons. So no use planning more than five years ahead.

Yet another thread about Thai driving, with a slight variation. People convincing themselves that they don't need a car. Good for you. Will absolutely save you money. You can also save money by not having A/C, eating plain rice every meal, no TV, no internet, no cable, etc., etc.

I could not live without a car. My quality of life, freedom, etc, would go straight down the toilet. I drive every single day. Every single day. Rarely a problem getting to and from. Zero stress most of the time. What are you people on about?

It's not so much about saving money. It's about reallocating resources. When you consider the huge costs of car ownership over a span of years, that money could have been used for other things:

* taking many small trips to other countries or visiting your home country every year or two

* buying top-notch medical insurance and medical care, and having a solid "emergency fund" available

* living in a roomier, more beautiful condo (maybe even with a jacuzzi and part-time cook)

* eating at finer restaurants

* early retirement or not having to work as much

These things will enhance your quality of life, not diminish it. But I agree, for some people, it's not an option.

If you have all of those things and still own a car - and you're happy - then you're living the dream. Enjoy!

Same thing happened to me last week. I bought a reel of computer cable at Computer City near KSK. It was a bit heavy, but I could have easily managed to bring it back to the car and told them so, but a store clerk insisted on carrying it for me to the car.

Thailand wouldn't be Thailand without Thai people. Or something like that.

I have a car but avoid driving during peak hours. Or I just park in a secure location and take the red bus from there. Saves time and reduces stress, and you get to mingle with other people.

I used to get around in a scooter but I sold it for two main reasons: 1) not practical during the wet season and 2) the risk of an accident and the prospect of long-term disability or worse. I began to realize how fragile life is when you're on a motorcycle. I feel I was "pushing the envelope" unnecessarily, that if some insurance companies won't even cover you or have limits to what they'll pay if you have an accident... there must be a reason for that.

If you can't have a car, the only time I would opt for a motorcycle is if 1) you need it to make a living 2) it allows you to live in a quiet and less expensive area of town not easily accessible by bus, or 3) if you have wanderlust and love to live for the moment.

It's sad to say, but having a car in Chiang Mai is an advantage for most people most of the time. Not only does it provide transportation, for some it also provides a sense of security (you're "locked up", your shopping bags are safely tucked in the trunk, and you don't have to deal with them dogs. Those who come from one of the many beautiful walkable cities of Europe and America are in a for a shock here in Chiang Mai. Hopefully there's a skytrain somewhere in the city's future, but it's gonna get a whole lot worse before it gets better, so hold on tight...

Shell gas station, Huay Kaew road just past KSK.

Coffee shop / mini mart on site.

Car exterior 120 Baht

Do my HD too.[/quote

Exterior 120 b. Ext & Int 150 b. Discounts for repeat customers

HD = Harley Davidson?

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Supply and demand

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

If you could afford to live in a similar lifestyle (excluding sex and booze) within a part of your or another western country that speaks your tongue, has warm pleasant weather, good healthcare, easy and enjoyable lifestyle, less corruption, would you leave Thailand?

Ultimately though you can't get around the inconvenient truth that Thailand is just so much better than anywhere else. And this is disregarding money. If you also factor in money then Thailand is in a league of its own.

A recent HSBC bank survey supports this. They polled 7000 expats living in 100 countries and Thailand earned the top spot for "best overall expat experience."

There's a lot of talk about Ecuador and other Central/South American spots on the web, but I have a hard time finding expats and digital nomads who actually LIVE there. They must be the "silent type". Whereas it seems that every other digital nomad and world traveler I come across on the web is based in Thailand.

The problems expressed by some TV members are real (pollution, overdevelopment, noise, dogs, etc.) But there are ways to minimize these problems and stay in Thailand. Noise and dogs used to be a problem for me. Now hardly anymore. My biggest problem now is the heat and I'm working on it (but this one may take a bit longer to resolve).