huli

My Thai wife and I went there yesterday for lunch. She's a skilled cook and we were both impressed with the tastes of my Penang,and her coconut curry. It was only 50 baht, with rice included. One of the owners, Tony, said Hi and said they may be raising the price a little as they were just starting and hadn't quite settled in yet. I would certainly think it was worth more than 50 baht. So far, they are just selling Thai food but many selections are available, and he said the western food in coming in soon.

Saturday is a couple kinds of steaks. Portions are really big at Gecco.

huli plus Thai wife would like to attend, Korp Kun Krap

On referral by a friend, my wife and I had curtains made to spec by "Toe" 09-6349561. He came to our house with all kinds of samples and pictures, was fully informed about the profession, and we are very happy with his work. Just a nice guy to work with as well.

I live in Chiang Mai and had WiTV for a while in order to see some english language tv. The reruns of movies and serials were minimal with poor quality video and audio. The news shows, Fox is so contentious, Al Jazerra is not American tv nor are other english language tv news shows that were there, but interesting at times when channel-surfing.

What has finally satisfied me is the bit-torrent site, Pirate Bay. The shows are posted immediately after they are run in US, and I download for free all the time my computer is on in the background. I currently enjoy Boardwalk Empire, CSI Miami, Hi 5-0, Chase, Mike and Molly, Glee, Undercovers, Modern Family, Nikita, 30 Rock, My Dad Says. Last night I watched the UFC Lesner fight. Also, new US movies get posted before long, first on cam versions, then DVD. After a while here, my yearning for US news shows has faded. I get all I need of that from looking over CNN online.

I have both my pension and Social Security checks direct deposited in a US bank in the states. Why? With the situation here changing day by day, who knows what will happen with the banking sector? Will they freeze all accounts, limit withdrawals, or something else? I receive an email every day with my balance and any other account info free of charge. Will the baht rate remain the same or go down the tubes? Better safe than sorry for me although many in this forum will vehemently disagree with me but at least most of my money is protected by US law under FDIC. Do we have that protection here in Thailand? You tell me.

I am setup the same as you mention, direct deposit to a stateside bank for the same reasons. The only thing is those high transfer costs both from the U,S, bank and here at an ATM machine. Sure it's safer this way but I'm losing so much this way also. When I need to do a transfer of funds from the U.S. to my bank account here I get charged international transfer fees from both ends. I'm thinking seriously of the BKK Bank New York approach, didn't realize that option 'till I read this thread.

I have a US-based Citibank checking account which I access over the internet to transfer funds to BB here in CM for FREE ($2K daily max). It takes 3 business days to come thru via BBNY office. BB here charges me 3-500 baht per deposit. Money is then accessible via ATM like usual. Citibank has my CM address and sends me correspondence here, no problem. Seems like Citibank is a real winner.

That is certainly a different picture than I was imagining. It's a shame such industrial use is allowed by your residence. Creating metal signs for industrial companies on a daily basis? That would be tough to tolerate...there goes the neighborhood....and there you go too it sounds like

Well, at least you are renting.

take care

Thanks for the advice. I moved in 3 years ago before they broke the ground on their building. I lived through the construction of their 3 story shop house which has 5 units - no problem (because I can totally respect construction noise - grin and bear it until it's over)..

This however, is very different...that's why I am asking for the advice. I am a renter and will probably consider moving sooner than later to a different location. It's unfortunate that there are no industrial zoning areas in Chiang Mai. It used to be that businesses like this were found off the super highway...now, they're found in the neighborhood of Nimmanhaemin, in what is/was seemingly an up and coming art community with more to offer than just your run of the mill bars. (music schools/art schools/galleries)... Kind of sad.

Thank you very much for you input. I agree totally about construction noise and being friendly with new neighbors. I don't agree with businesses expanding out of their front door into a neighborhood road, taking over parking of private homes with their staff motorbikes and cars... and making deafening sounds while creating metal signs for industrial companies.....I guess it's that "straw"...

Cheers!

Hi Newbie,

Reading of your predicament, it strikes me that your new neighbor is probably doing some construction on his new digs, getting the place ready to serve as a printing shop. Everything is cement here, and the rebars have to be cut using those circular saws. It's probably just temporary construction and there really is no way to cut those rebars quietly.

My Thai wife points out that noise associated with construction is considered unavoidable, and often 24/7 if the project is a big one. She says the only noise complaints that the police will care about are parties with boom boxes after midnight, or domestic violence.

It would be a shame to have the construction noise stop next week, but bad feelings with your neighbor remain because you called the cops on him. Being the new guy in the neighborhood, he's probably wondering what the neighbors are like, and, of course, first impressions often last.

Just my 2 cents, good luck!

Hi Newbie,

Reading of your predicament, it strikes me that your new neighbor is probably doing some construction on his new digs, getting the place ready to serve as a printing shop. Everything is cement here, and the rebars have to be cut using those circular saws. It's probably just temporary construction and there really is no way to cut those rebars quietly.

My Thai wife points out that noise associated with construction is considered unavoidable, and often 24/7 if the project is a big one. She says the only noise complaints that the police will care about are parties with boom boxes after midnight, or domestic violence.

It would be a shame to have the construction noise stop next week, but bad feelings with your neighbor remain because you called the cops on him. Being the new guy in the neighborhood, he's probably wondering what the neighbors are like, and, of course, first impressions often last.

Just my 2 cents, good luck!

I'd like to add to this topic, as follows: When my dual-passport Thai wife and I relocated to Thailand a couple of months ago, we each got Thai Visas from Los Angeles, I got a year O-A, and she got 3 months on an O. She is due to go to Immigration in about a month. Now, we knew she could just come in on her Thai passport, but we hope to live here forever, and being 20 years my junior, she is expected to outlive me and someday be eligible for SS survivor benefits. Now, if she is living overseas long-term, and not traveling on her American passport, she is not behaving like an American citizen and might not be able to get this SS $ sent to her here. Her American citizenship could be called into question. We were advised in America by a county immigration official that it would be wise to get her US citizenship before leaving the country for good, and I did think that implied traveling to Thailand on her American passport. I have to hope that Thai Immigration will see the picture and just keep renewing her visa when they do mine. I wonder if this would be a consideration to the original post, and I'm wondering myself.

Also, I haven't seen Citibank mentioned as an option to get money sent to Thailand bank, in my case Bangkok Bank. I can bring money here anytime for $30 wire transfer fee, all online. When I was in America, it was the easiest to get set up without needing an american address. For what it's worth.