nycjoe

Yes, We retired expats are indeed a dying breed, Part of Mother Natures recycling program. We all had pensions, but things have changed since our time, Many don't have enough to raise kids and have a 401K program. 

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The way the world is going it is hard to foresee what is around the corner. Things are dismal for the ordinary Thai. Shuttered businesses. Empty hotels. A weaker baht will bring tourism back a bit but those who come will see that It is not the Thailand they remember. It will be years until there is a semblance of a new normal. Inflation is pummeling the poor. Buckle up it is going to be a rocky ride. 

I am all in

In Chiang Mai I like expatauto.com very transparent and they really check out the vehicles, also you can negotiate with them.

If that many people don’t like you it goes beyond bad breathe. And body odor. 

I am building a pig farm for my wife. She has illusions of grandeur, although I have been through this before a few of the schemes seem to be working. Palm is good and we are planting more. At 76 I see skid marks just before the cliff. The light at the end of the tunnel is a locomotive and it’s speeding my way. 
Her brother and sister in law and niece and her husband are up from Bangkok and the house is more a commune. So labor costs are non existent. Just food. As an old hippie from the east village, I have a socialist bent. My wife’s family are good people. No drama except for a six year old. 
I know they will make some profit and I have no pension for her. They are in co-op, so it is fairly equitable. 
I will cut the amount of money coming from my pension to pay for the enterprise. But we will have a freezer full of pork and we grow our own veggies and I have planted lots of fruit trees. We have a large pond behind the sty’s for catfish and they will have to find ways to economize. 
all is paid for. The land house cars and tractor. So food and fuel are my only expenses besides utilities. 
 No labor costs or overhead. 
luckily I have a good pension and will not be dependent on it. 
Basically a happy camper as the pigs are way downwind. Keeps the wife busy. We plan to have and sell around 20 a month and have our own breeding pens. 
so I will sit in my rocking chair with my tilly hat and watch the ongoing saga as I slowly slide into my dotage. If it keeps the wife happy and busy it can’t be all bad. 

Any projections in these unstable times are pure speculation. Rosy projections only reinforce incredulity of the official rhetoric and do not add to the search for a solution to the crisis. Only through an honest assessment and constructive policy will Thailand move forward. Kudos to the banks for their honesty, it is a fresh breeze in a world of bull…..

Farm land is still pretty inexpensive but the price goes up when you factor in access to electric, water, roads and how close you are to town. As of now only Thais can own land. Generally if they know that a faring is involved the price doubles as they are aware of the disparity in revenue. You may be able to go to the land office and find out what land has been sold that is comparable to what is offered. If you find a friendly person there that is helpful. 400000 baht is  about $12000 and there are about 2.5 rai per acre. 

There are also 4 types of chanote, I would familiarize my self with the ramifications that are inherent in each and the color of the emblem. Many of the titles are rights to work the land. I believe only one is outright ownership. 

The titles we have are restricted to the families of the original people that worked the land and can only be sold to relatives, but things may have changed. Have an attorney check the chanote before money exchanges hands or a cousin may come and claim title or a bank may have a lien on it.

I feel sorry for this already inundated with rain, hope that Bangkok is OK. I remember 2011.

Bali Indonesia

Phnom Phen Cambodia

Costa Rica

They should limit the amount of land and only let individuals own to build a house. Otherwise there will be a land grab. After 2009 Wall Street bought a lot of real estate and controlled the market

I walked into my local hospital here in Kham ta kla and got a shot of Astra Zeneca on June 6th. I am an american aged 76. 

Went to my local government hospital and got an AZ jab on Monday. VIP treatment. Walk in. No appointment. 76 years old with copd. 

My daughter had to pay 12000 baht for talking on her phone at a traffic light in Hilo Hawaii. Glad I am here. 

There is a chip in your passport and I would hope that it would have flagged him. 

Holed up in the bunker until any vaccine is as available as viagra on sukhumvit. I think Thais are more afraid of the vaccine than the virus. Hopeful that better vaccines are in the pipeline. 

What do you get the if you die? Just asking. 

The wife shears me every month right down to the nib. I save the 60 baht. 

3 hours ago, Thailand said:

I hope I am not around to see that.

Thinks? I wouldn't be if everybody was wiped out.

Mother Nature is a bit peeved. She thinks this clever monkey experiment has gone awry.