MarcHolt

I am not sure if you have been following my thoughts over the past 2 years on where to live and send my daughters to school. But I finally decided to move back home to Australia and it was the best possible decision for us.

It sounds like you have a good life in the UK. My advice would be to stay there and give your daughter a good education. The Thai schools are not very good. Even though my daughter went to one of the top 5 private schools in the kingdom I wasn't impressed. Since coming home she has excelled and is one of the top students in her class. Her teachers give her glowing recommendations.

If you are thinking of giving your daughter a grounding in her Thai culture and language I would say forget it. She will get a far better education and end up a more rounded person if she stays in the UK.

I know it's easy to fall in love with Thailand and all things Thai, but at the end of the day it is a foreign culture that has very little to offer the world. If you send your daughter to school there she will end up with a lot of ideas that will not help her live in the world when she becomes an adult.

And as you are making a good living in the UK and you are reasonably happy there you would find uprooting your family to Thailand stressful and perhaps even bad for your financial stability. Believe me, the grass is not always green on the other side, no matter how you romanticize it.

Why not get the best of both worlds and continue taking your family to Thailand for visits? They will both get what you want for them, without uprooting their lives. It would be difficult for you to fit into Thai culture. You will never be Thai. But I imagine your wife has settled quite well into the UK lifestye...and your daughter is already British. Why try to change all that and upset the balance?

Since moving to Australia 9 months ago my family has settled very well into the lifestyle here. My wife has no desire to return to live in Thailand. She loves the cleanliness, the well organized culture, and the many activities we take part in here. When we lived in Bangkok we were confined to going to the airconditioned shopping centers, or one of the few parks. We had to drive miles to Pattaya to see the ocean, and it was always crowded, noisy, and dirty.

Here the beaches are clean without any bothersome vendors every 20 seconds, the sea is crystal clear, and there are plenty of other attractions to see as well. I know you don't have that in the UK, but why not take your family to some of the wonderful towns and sites of historical significance? Or take them traveling around the Continent? You are so close to so many attractions there. Whereas in Thailand you would be severely limited in the places you could visit.

I love Thailand but it doesn't compare to living in your own culture where you can make a decent living and enjoy a high standard lifestyle.

This is clearly evidence that people ARE getting stupider!

Fancy being more concerned about protecting the power of a business elite than in the good of your country. I mean, this place already has pretty much the lowest growth rate in Asia, and they want to discourage foreign investors? How stupid is that.

Bring on the elections ASAP. Meanwhile, the govt. should do nothing on this issue.

Actually, the government should remember that it is a "Caretaker" government and stop trying to do things it is not qualified for. All we have seen since they came to power is one stupid blunder after the other. It would be funny if it weren't so pathetic.

When will these army people realize they are only qualified for guard duty...not for running a country? Sheesh!

This issue is far from settled, but while it is now in limbo we have some breathing space. But if the new government (if we ever get one!) revives this crazy legislation Thailand will continue to slide to the bottom of the heap. What a shame. Before the coup the economy was in good shape. It didn't take the men in green long to destroy that, did it?

1 year ago, new regs came out cracking down on 30 day visa runners. At that time, many people in this very forum who had their visas sorted scoffed and laughed at the visa hardships being suffered by those affected. They screamed and yelled at the runners to "get legal" "get a proper visa" etc etc. They offered no solutions, just looked down on all of them. They rejoiced at the crackdown, saying it was a wonderful thing and hoped for more.

i never read a posting of that kind.

I certainly did. There were many. And many people must still feel that way, you would have to assume. The officials are always right according to them. If you can't adjust or get caught on some insane Kafkaesque technicality, good riddance! Glorious Thailand doesn't need scum like you!

After 26 years here I've had enough. I'm leaving as soon as I can. And lots of my mates are too. There are greener pastures, and these old bulls don't need the hassle.

Ta-ra!

what a classic tale.... "farang robs thai bank" has such a nice ring to it too ! Only 420,000 baht. The guy had his day and maybe the cops won't be able to catch him who knows. Not saying this guy did anything brave or cool, but the banks rob us all blind on a daily basis. Thai banks more so with some truly queer rules regarding opening accounts, limitations on money transfers, non existent interest rate, etc. As if this bank's going to miss the 420,000 baht. Let's see if and when this guy gets caught and if he's really 'farang'. Can't wait to find out !

The banks sure do rob us blind. Just to give you an example. Yesterday I sent my assistant to the bank to send some money to one of my business partners in India. I checked the rate on the bank's website and on xe.com. Both rates were within a couple of points of each other. However, when she went to send the money the rate was 1.5 Baht higher, PLUS the 550 Baht 'transfer fee' they charged. When I questioned them about it, they did the usual Thai rip-off song and dance, gave me a dumb smile and dismissed me.

Western Union is worse, of course. Their transfer fee is three times the bank fee. You just can't win!

---SNIP---

Many Thai history boffins probably aren't aware that before the advent of trading routes through the Malacaa Straits and around Singapore - Mergui was a major East-West staging post for sea trade on to India and Europe. Goods were sent up the Tennaserim River to the village of Tennaserim, and on to the top of the dividing range where they were transfered to a combination of elephants and porters, and sent over to the gulf of Thailand (and then on up to Ayudhya and vice-versa, and on to China, Japan).

This was all happening in the 17th century! Mergui, at that time, was part of Siam, NOT Burma.

Dr PP - if you can get a hold of the book Siamese White, by Maurice Collis. It tells of Mergui in the period I mentioned above, and the story of an English trader-turned-rogue who began plundering British ships to make a modest extra income, while reporting to the King that all was well in Mergui.

---SNIP---

There will soon be another book about that period. Mine is also based on Samuel White's adventures, but it it almost entirely fictional with some semblance to real events. You will be able to read a preview of it online soon here:

http://holtblog.holtww.com/, although that URL may change soon as I plan to move it to www.aardvarkzone.com. Check them both out in case I have managed to make the move.

Sam and his friend Constantine Phaulkon were amazing blokes. They lived in Siam in the mid to late 1600's in King Narai's time. Constantine managed to become the only non-Thai 'Prime Minister' (I use the term PM, even though that is not exactly what he was). He was called Phraya Vichien. His house was up in Lop Buri and you can still visit it today.

Sorry that this is not on topic, but I thought you might be interested to read a little more about these two men.

The Nation's Web Blog Thus Far:

6.30 pm: This is supposed to be the second big blow to Thaksin Shinawatra after the dissolution of the Thai Rak Thai Party. Again the political scene of Thailand has come to a standstill and dramatic suspense following an announcement that the Assets Examination Committee was about to declare freezing parts of his assets.

The order requires the banks to freeze all the 21 bank accounts of Thaksin and Pojaman in which the Bt52.8 billion was deposited.

The second order will freeze remaining bank accounts of the Shinawatra couple.

7 pm: The second order of the Asset Examination Committee also offers for anybody who really owns any of the bank accounts believed to belong to Thaksin and Pojaman to come forward within 60 days and prove ownership.

If he or she can prove real ownership, then the Asset Examination Committee will order the banks to release the freezing of the bank accounts.

I haven't seen a trial to justify this action. Has anyone else?

This just means that no foreigner, or Thai, can have any trust in the banks now. Take your money out and get it out of the country. Who will they go after next?

All internet use was stopped, television programmes were monitored and an awful lot of people were killed.

15 years ago. Hmmm. I don't even remember I ever heard the word, internet, in Thailand 15 years ago. No disrespect, but your hushand must have quite a memory.

As early as 1990 there were about 50 BBS's in Bangkok. Communication was easy, by 1992, the time span referred too here, BBS communication, especially in journalistic world was widespread. I personally do not recall any of the systems being shut down during May 92 coup, but is possible that many did not work due to the military martial law that prevented people from going to work. Early in 1993 I registered with ksc, one of the first subscribers using Pine to communicate via email to friends around the world through Washington University. So no disrespect, but do not challenge my memory.

You connect to BBS's [directly] via a normal telephone-line, not via Internet.

So no disrespect to your memory, only your technical know-how.

Yep, this is true. i ran Imagen BBS in those days. No government interference, ever. Not even during the coup, so I don't know where you got the impression that the BBS's were shut down. Never happened.

Oh yes, Oldhand, you are missing much more than you think.

A friend rang me this morning talking about the situation. He said he was confused. How could a military government that overthrew a democratically elected government have the gall to throw out that legally constituted political party while claiming to be 'protecting' democracy?

Let's examine the facts here:

1. Thai Rak Thai, led by Thaksin, was democratically elected by an overwhelming majority of Thais
   
2. Yes, Thaksin was corrupt....but no more than the other politicians in Thailand. His big mistake was being so obvious about it...but he wasn't ever one to hide his actions was he? If the Thai people had a problem with that, they should have been given the opportunity to impeach him and try him under the rule of law.
   
3. The country prospered mightily under Thaksin. Thailand repaid the IMF loan ahead of time. Salaries and incomes rose as the economy boomed. The property market boomed and Thais in all economic strata were making money as a result.
   
4. The military currently destroying this country and making it almost impossible for foreigners to stay here have no legal standing, as most Western countries have made clear.
   
5. Investors have voted with their feet....perhaps something the Thais should do by sitting down in front of parliament, or wherever the thieves who stole the country from the Thai people operate from, and raise their feet in the ultimate insult. Perhaps this action might actually get under the thick hides of the boys in green and they will leave. But I wouldn't bet on it.
   
6. Once again we have no Constitution. The rich elite top families pulling the puppet strings are destroying the very country that has given them so many riches. Greed obviously overcomes common sense every time, doesn't it?
   

In fact, there was absolutely no need for this pitiful charade the judges just went through. It was all orchestrated so that the military boys could emasculate TRT and thereby keep themselves in power. Does anyone want to take any bets on when we will actually have elections?

Sorry Marc, obviously I was not making sense.

Although I do not condone the method by which Taksin prospered, he brought a political stability to Thailand that was previously unreachable. Consequently the country prospered. This was only undermined by his own greed and self belief and by ignoring his previous mentors he left them no choice but to remove him by force.

What I meant to say is that I don't think that the removal of 111 names from a party list or the loss of the TRT name will change anything drastically once the country returns to Democracy. I do believe that the Military will hand over power either this year or early next but once again they have dramatically stated that they are not to be ignored in the political process.

Agreed. This whole exercise has been totally unnecessary and futile. If anything, it has destabilized the country even more.

Don't forget that the PM has publicly stated a few times that he wants to appoint provincial governors from the military, as well as appoint the PM while allowing the Thais to vote for the rest. Isn't that gracious of him?

From my conversations with many foreigners in Bangkok and around the country, there is no confidence in this government. Many are leaving, and a lot more are waiting to see what happens next. If things continue to slide, we will see a lot more of us leaving. Foreign investors are hanging back, taking their money to other countries.

This is a shameful day for the country, and one that will set us back even further than we already were.

Now, which way is Mecca?

Oh yes, Oldhand, you are missing much more than you think.

A friend rang me this morning talking about the situation. He said he was confused. How could a military government that overthrew a democratically elected government have the gall to throw out that legally constituted political party while claiming to be 'protecting' democracy?

Let's examine the facts here:

1. Thai Rak Thai, led by Thaksin, was democratically elected by an overwhelming majority of Thais
   
2. Yes, Thaksin was corrupt....but no more than the other politicians in Thailand. His big mistake was being so obvious about it...but he wasn't ever one to hide his actions was he? If the Thai people had a problem with that, they should have been given the opportunity to impeach him and try him under the rule of law.
   
3. The country prospered mightily under Thaksin. Thailand repaid the IMF loan ahead of time. Salaries and incomes rose as the economy boomed. The property market boomed and Thais in all economic strata were making money as a result.
   
4. The military currently destroying this country and making it almost impossible for foreigners to stay here have no legal standing, as most Western countries have made clear.
   
5. Investors have voted with their feet....perhaps something the Thais should do by sitting down in front of parliament, or wherever the thieves who stole the country from the Thai people operate from, and raise their feet in the ultimate insult. Perhaps this action might actually get under the thick hides of the boys in green and they will leave. But I wouldn't bet on it.
   
6. Once again we have no Constitution. The rich elite top families pulling the puppet strings are destroying the very country that has given them so many riches. Greed obviously overcomes common sense every time, doesn't it?
   

In fact, there was absolutely no need for this pitiful charade the judges just went through. It was all orchestrated so that the military boys could emasculate TRT and thereby keep themselves in power. Does anyone want to take any bets on when we will actually have elections?

No jobs... no money... no healthcare.. no nothing.. .which according to people looks like it might be the case.

now thai economy looks like its heading south...

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/31May2007_biz34.php

ECONOMY MONTHLY PERFORMANCE

Key indicators picked up in April

PARISTA YUTHAMANOP

Household consumption and private investment strengthened in April, thanks to economic stimulus measures, said the Bank of Thailand. The private consumption index shrank by 0.4% year-on-year in April, an improvement from a 1.4% contraction in March.

Capital goods imports grew 17% year-on-year in April, compared with a 6.2% contraction in March. Commercial vehicle sales strengthened, but cement sales fell in April.

Government stimulus measures including faster budget disbursements and lower interest rates, improved business confidence. However, political stability would be key to improving investor confidence, Mrs Amara said.

''Domestic demand looked better [in April], judging from indicators. It is only a one-month [indicator] but still a good sign. The stimulus measures may have played a role,'' she said.

Exports totalled $10.62 billion, 16.5% year-on-year growth in April. April's export performance was satisfactory, despite the baht's appreciation.

Imports totalled $10.72 billion, representing 11.2% year-on-year growth in the month.

Imports of raw materials, consumer goods, vehicles and parts all expanded from the previous month.

The manufacturing sector accelerated in April in line with the petrochemical and electronic sector. But capacity utilisation declined due to the number of holidays in April.

Tourist arrivals totalled 1.1 million in April, a 4.1% increase year-on-year. Farm income rose 29% in April, compared with 26% year-on-year growth in March, due mainly to favourable prices.

Financial institution credit rose 2.9% year-on-year in April, due mainly to household lending, with deposits growing 6%.

When was the last time Parista stuck his/her head out the window to see some reality? I guess the sun shines 24 hours a day in his/her world. What a load of bulldust!

Then again, what can we expect from the Bangkok Post government lap dogs?

(again)

Chaturon Chaisang, leader of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai, told party supporters at the party head office that the rulings against the party were unfair.

He said the rulings indicated that the people, who had seized power, could set what was right or wrong.

He said the people nationwide would find the rulings unacceptable.

The crowd cheered to his speech.

Speaking at a rally in front of the party at about 15 minutes after midnight, he said Thailand was now ruled by dictators.

From The Nation see my post above

So, not only do the military victors get to rewrite history to suit them, but they also make whatever laws they feel like....except most of the laws they have passed so far have been a complete disaster. What a farce! No wonder investors are not interested in Thailand any more.

The sooner this bunch of incompetents are kicked out the better. They are dragging Thailand down so far it will take a long time to recover. Worse than 1997. This is the worst 'caretaker' government ever!!!

As we all know many Thais are 100% convinced in the existence of ghosts. I learned the hard way the dangers of questioning these beliefs. One of the few arguments I had with my wife occured a few years ago and was due to my questioning of the existence of ghosts.

Have you found that you are now more willing to believe in ghosts than you were prior to coming to Thailand?

Better still, do you have any true ghost stories?

I am not 100% convinced of the existence of ghosts but if I had to choose would say they exist. I have no real proof though.

The jury is still out on whether they really exist, but I can tell you that strange things do happen here that can't be explained. Take a look at this story about a ghost at a tennis club I lived at years ago. I didn't believe in ghosts, but after this I'm not so sure?

http://holtww.com/holtblog/?p=137

Thailand gets new cyber crime law

The chief immediate effect of the new bill will be to outlaw any attempt to get around government censors to access any of the tens of thousands of sites censored for moral or political purposes, or "to damage the country".

The government pushed the new law by saying it hopes the bill will provide an effective legal tool to fight cyber crime, including theft of data and chatroom contacts that lead to rape.

-Bangkok Post

What a joke. Just how do they propose to find the owner of any computer using a Proxy?

5-5-5-5-5-5!!!

It would be nice if the government expended this much effort on resolving the REAL problems that face Thailand. The property market is in a shambles. The SET is bleeding to death. Investors are fleeing in droves. Thais are losing their jobs by the thousands because of the stupid policies they have brought in. But all they are interested in is trying to control what we think.

Sorry folks. It won't work. The internet is way too big for you. But have fun trying anyway. It will be fun to see how you go about it.

They seem to forget they are an INTERIM government. They should be concentrating on keeping the ship of state on an even keel. Instead, they keep rocking the boat and we are all seasick!

Ah yes, the hire out concept.

Sounds great, until you get an STD (HIV), pass that on to your wife, ultimatley killing her and yourself, leaving your child behind etc etc.

Or if you get lucky, no diseases, just the wife finding out that you have been cheating on her... then she files for divorce and takes you for everything you have, have had, and ever will have.

a quandry

This is Thailand, not the man-hating West where women get everything in a divorce. Here, the law stipulates we share 50%.

And haven't you ever heard of condoms? Most men here have. You won't find many disease ridden prostitutes in Patpong, Cowboy or Nana. You will find them in the many Thai brothels peppered around the country, particularly where truck drivers and fishermen go.

You haven't lived here long have you? Still sticking your nose in the air because men prefer to pay for some fun, instead of going out with you?

You are showing your Western prejudices. But men who come here have had enough of that lousy attitude. They stay here because the Thais don't have your Protestant/Catholic hangups. Sex is a beautiful thing, and it is also a lot of fun. Perhaps you have forgotten that?

Besides, isn't it better for a man to pay for sex than to rape his wife? Married women are often too busy, too tired, or too anything to indulge in sex as often as husbands need. Going out and paying for it makes much better sense doesn't it?

Saw this on tv, it was actually quite amusing. Him walking around withe the elephant having a smoke and the meat cleaver in one hand.

question. ..How can you hold an elephant thats 5x your size hostage with a meat cleaver? Cops were probably more worried that the elephant would stomp him.

Well, he was an Israeli. Maybe the cops had a hard time telling which one was the elephant.

(Big nose? nudge, nudge, wink, wink?)

I am getting the notion here that the wife is legally obligated to have sex with the husband.

If this is the case, I guess I need to call the police and file a report!

No seriously folks, some wife's out there just shut down. As someone said before it would be funny if were not so sad.

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_an...icle1543822.ece

I am not saying rape is the sollution. The sad thing is a lot of times there is not sollution.

Marriage.... UHHH

Come on. If the wife is not meeting her husband's needs there is no need for rape. There are so many women available for a small fee it's hard to understand why rape is even an issue in Thailand. Beats the hel_l out of me!

Oy! What sort of idiot censored me?

Sheesh! Can't you stand the thought of a little strong language?

As global warming progresses across the world, there will be horrific

consequences for all populations in every country of biblical proportions.

Floods, famine, drought, pestilence, disease and mass extinctions of species possibly including our own.

So called experts tell us to use cleaner fuels, not to use spray cans etc, etc to help save the environment.

The truth is that only the governments and big companies have any real power to halt global warming that is of course if it isn't already too late.

What utter bullshit! What are you? Some sort of doomsday prophet working for Ted Haggart?

Everyone can help keep the planet cleaner. If we all do our bit we can all make a HUGE difference. Why don't you go back to reading your bible? That's about the only thing you seem to be good for!!!

Since I had my contacts with Thailand I see often: floods here, floods there.

We in the Netherlands started to build dikes for that, from about 11th century. Not against rivers , but also as protection against the sea.

When I see around in Thailand, I donot see anything of these.

Why ?

Without proper water defense, you will have wet feet always. Ask New Orleans.

Take a gander at a map. For starters, the Netherlands is 41,526 SQ KM vs. Thailand's 514,000 SQ KM (more than 12 x smaller than Thailand]. Thailand has much, much more coastline than the Netherlands and many more rivers. Sure more could be done here, but there is no way they are going to entirely protect against flooding everywhere here as the job would be 1000s of times greater than that required in your country. Thailand also has elevated areas (hills, mountains) that are factors in flooding too, features that are sorely lacking in your vertically-challenged country. How about building some mountains now that you have conquered the sea?

Lucky so many Dutch are tall. They don't need mountains in their vertically challenged country to they?

Frankly, I thought his question showed a distinct lack of imagination and knowledge of Thailand. Putting up dykes around the beaches in Thailand would be almost as stupid as erecting a fence to keep out the Mexicans from the USA.

Can you imagine the TAT posters if they built dykes?

Visit beautiful Thailand. We will issue you with scuba equipment so that you can dive and see what Thailand used to look like. We have the most beautiful dykes in the world too...we saved them from drowning when we built the walls around the coast.

.

I am trying to logically understand these same paragraphs but cannot. When I think I understand what is being written the next sentence goes another way. Can you rewrite the same thing in a different order?

Thanks.

As I understand it:

They are no longer enforcing the 180 day rule.

They are no longer counting the days that you are not in the country.

The number of days you may receive on entry is entirely at the discretion of the Immigration officer, with an upper limit of 30 days each entry.

If you want to stay longer, you should apply for a visa at a Thai embassy or consulate.

Hope that clarifies things.

DPM raids Pantip Plaza and seizes 1 pornographic VCD

The Deputy Prime Minister led a raid on Pantip Plaza to suppress vice and intellectual property crimes.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Development and Human Security Paiboon Wattanasiritham (ไพบูลย์ วัฒนศิริธรรม), conducted an inspection of pornographic vendors at Pantip Plaza and instructed officers to conduct a sting operation resulting in the apprehension of 1 VCD vendor, along with the seizure of 1 pornographic VCD, 30 MP3 discs, and 2 bags of marijuana.

The Deputy Prime Minister then visited entertainment venues along Patpong district on Silom Road and reports finding no illegal activities. Mr. Paiboon reported that youths under the age of 20 years were not found inside local entertainment venues and bar proprietors and their staff were cooperative.

The Deputy Prime Minister added that he would conduct discussions with Bangkok Governor Apirak Gosayothin and representatives of VCD dealers to arrive at a proper solution to violation of intellectual property rights.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 April 2007

The amount of times I have visited the DVD shops of the Capital to get the latest films (not pixelated nudity I have to say!) only to find the shops closed and be informed by the vendors that thay are expecting a raid - "come back tomorrow" leaves me convinced that the channels of communication from the police to the vendors are wide open. If the minister seriously thinks that Panthip is free of porn, illegal copies of films and software rather than saturated with it he is seriously mistaken. If he also thinks that Patpong wasn't fully prepped and awaiting his arrival then he really needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

Sssssssshhhhhh! Don't tell him. He might have to go back. No telling what he might find next time. Perhaps some naked cockroaches? A dirty floor?

Golly gee. Thanks for the great laugh today TV.

.

Most of my net worth is in commercial real estate in the different areas of the US, mostly partnerships in tall office buildings. I agree with some who are down on Thailand in that I am not pulling vast amounts of my net worth and plugging it into Thai assets at this time. However, the money I have brought over in the last six years and invested in condos, land, aircraft, and stocks has done quite well. Will it continue to do so, who knows? If nothing else these Thai investments have been a wonderful hedge against the crashing dollar. Also, I am generally optimistic on condo investing (not speculating) in Hua Hin and Bangkok, markets where I live. This is based on the feeling I get that Thailand is becoming a more attractive location to live for foreigners and looks like it will continue to progress. This has nothing to do with the daily drama of Thai politics or the housing loan situation in Lampang.

There is just a critical mass of foreigners that has arrived in the last 3 years and the ever increasing numbers make it easier to live here as the comforts of home appear here in Thailand for the masses of Scandis, Brits, and others arriving. That said, the condo market in Bangkok particularly, as well as Hua Hin, will be dominated by other Asians seeking inexpensive second homes close to their native land.

As a real estate agent I am inclined to agree. The Thai property market doesn't follow the Western model. The property owning Thais tend to hunker down and hold onto their assets whenever there is a financial crisis. Now that a large number of foreigners are in the property market this may change, but so far I haven't seen any evidence of it. A few clients have reduced their asking price, but overall prices have flattened out over the last 12 months. I don't see a downward trend. When the market picks up again prices will start rising again.

Once again the doomsayers are predicting a property 'meltdown'. Once again they are wrong. Demand is high, and at the moment there are plenty of condos for sale. But no one is rushing in to grab them while the current political instability persists.

When things do start moving again you can expect plenty of these condos to be in high demand again. In other words, this is a good time to invest if you can wait it out.

As to the rumors that I am selling out: As usual, the rumor mongers have it only partly right.

I have the Holt WorldWide up for sale, which is the umbrella company for my IT and real estate businesses. But I am not selling out because of the property market. In fact, my property business is doing very well thank you. Instead of small home and condo buyers, however, my main clients now are big buyers; hotels, golf courses, large land plots, buildings, etc.

The main reason I am planning to move back to Australia is purely personal. My mother is 83 years old and she wants my kids around during her last years. I will continue to maintain a business here, whether I sell the company or not. I think Thailand has a great future. It has a solid manufacturing and agricultural base. Not even the men in green can destroy that without going all out.

Cooler heads are starting to make their voices heard to the government and I believe once the green morons...sorry, government is voted out of office, it will be business as usual and many of the rules they are bringing in now will be overturned for the stupid ideas that they are.

Don't give up on Thailand folks. But do keep your heads down right now. Wait and see. If you want to keep up with the latest news subscribe to my newsletter. You will get an honest and realistic assessment of the property market each month. Opt in at holt-realty.com. Hope you join!

You can get halogen spotlights from relatively cheap to expensive at Home Pro. Just 1 can light up an avg. yard, 3-4 for larger than avg. Wire them up so that your family can turn these on at once from each floor of your house,

To add to that, I would attach them to motion detectors also (inexpensive), possibly combined with an audible alarm.

One of my friends was burgled regularly over at Thongburi. He figured it was the same guys each time, so he plugged electric wires onto the steel window bars and went to bed. Sure enough, about 2 am there was a horrendous howl downstairs. They never came back again.

Continued from here.

British diplomat's blog withdrawn after claims of Thai red light visits

"These were personal comments made by a member of the British Embassy in Bangkok," a Foreign Office spokesman said.

"He is a member of the diplomatic service and as such we do not comment ... I believe the blog has been withdrawn."

Proud, 38, has admitted to visiting Cowboy Street in the Thai capital, part of the city's red light district, but has been quoted as saying that "the suggestion that I'm some sort of upholder of the sex trade in Bangkok ... It's pathetic, frankly."

Well, big deal. Visiting a redlight district isn't a sin. Now, if he had an liason with a pro that's another issue. Since this was reported by fellow members of Bangkok's British Embassy could it b professional spite. Whatever!

When are we going to stop making such a big deal about a person's sexual adventures? Who cares if he visited hookers or not? Does it make him any different from the rest of us...even the 'holier than thous' who shout loudly that they 'would never go with a prostitute.' Yeah, right. So what are you sanctimonious bastards doing in Bangkok then?

The fact is, our sex lives are private. When/If we go to a red light district we assume (obviously mistakenly) that other mongers we see there will remain as anonymous as we wish to be. Attacking this man for walking down Soi Cowboy was a small minded, stupid, malicious act, worthy only of the likes of Keith Summers and his ilk.

Sheesh!

Wouldn't it be better to attack people like Bush and Cheyney to stop the killings (murders authorized by them, really)?

Read what two of America's great men say about Bushco. They actually make good sense! Read these:

Ron Paul speaks out

and

Lee Iacocca tells it like it is

I see nothing wrong with making love. I see everything wrong with making war. Don't you?

Authorities report that up to 755 people are reportedly missing. The majority of missing people are children aged less than 18 years. Officials believe cases of missing persons may be linked to human trafficking.

755 people missing? Are these all children? Over a period of how long?

Even without the answers I am quite astounded at the number of people missing. Maybe some are people who just want to disappear.

You can bet that 755 is just the tip of the iceberg. Read this: She Got Away

I live in a small mooban off Phaholyothin Road. We know all our neighbors and they all love my two daughters. Even so, we are dead scared someone will come and snatch them away some time when we have taken our eye off them for a moment or two.

And people ask why I am preparing to leave Thailand? Rack kidnapping kids as just another reason to go.

WB warns Thailand of falling private investments

The World Bank (WB) on Thursday revised down its forecast for Thailand's economic growth in 2007 from 4.6 percent to 4.3 percent.

Kazi Matin, the WB's lead economist on Thailand said that confidence Thailand's investment climate has hit a new low.

Following the coup last year, the military-appointed government has imposed measures that have shaken the foreign business community, such as the capital controls in December and proposed amendments to the Foreign Business Act in January that block loopholes which allowed foreigners to control local investments without holding majority equity stake.

- The Nation

I have been re-assigned on a part-time basis to Ho Chi Minh City due to a lack of work in Thailand, and having been here for several days, all i can say to the Thai government is Wake Up!, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam here is deregulating industry and opening almost all doors to foreign investment, all this while the Thais are wringing their hands over over their stupid existential needs. the new Law on Enterprises released by the National Assembly does not descriminate anymore between local busineses and foreign joint ventures. the people here are young, polite, eager to learn, and very energetic. the world is not standing still while Thailand moves backwards, its forging ahead, so if and when Thailand finally wakes up, they have to run double fast to catch up. seeing the industrious and motivated people here in Vietnam, i have serious concerns if that will ever happen. i wished i could bring some of my thai staff here to see the incredible work rate at my vietnam office, even the secretary is a dynamo, she literally runs from task to task in the office, always on top of matters, i feel tired just looking at her work. it seems the world has already forgotten about thailand as they all descend on this city, its all buzzing with action here. hotels are 100% occupied and turning away people, offices are crammed with no space left for expansion. i have business deals coming out of my ears. the Thai government has no idea what is happening at their doorstep.

Good post Dude.

The other day I made a comment that Thailand is still a Third world country and is going backwoods at a fast rate, all I got was FLAME from the ones that refuse to take off their rose coloured glasses.

In a couple of years the powers to be in Thailand will be sitting around scratching their heads saying none of this would have happened if the foreigners had not come here. Then say where have all of the Farlangs gone?

I have made some comments about this in different topics on TV and all I get is FLAMED by idiots that would not have a clue. I get my information from Thai business people here and they are saying now where are all of the Farlangs gone. Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Malaysia, etc etc.

Thailand has changed and still changing not for the better though. I would like to take a look at this situation in about a year and see how Thailand is coping IMO it wont be good.

There are plenty of options around this SEA area and the Foreigners are voting with their feet.

Before the members start FLAMING me again I am NOT a sex tourist, I dont have any Visa Problems and I couldnt care less about the price of Chang. (Do you get all of that Bendix?) There are also people on TV that know me and met me and can verify my statements.

"WAKE UP THAILAND THE WORLD IS PASSING YOU BY"

Have a nice day Gentlemen.

Yep! I agree 100%. I've lived here 25 years, and I am getting ready to leave. Not sure where just yet, but you can be sure I'll be taking my business, my money, and my family with me when I go. Thailand is going to hel_l in a basket.

And guess what? None of these current political shenanigans affect my ability to stay here because I run a BOI company. So, when I leave, all that lovely foreign money we generate will dry up too. Jeez! So sorry Thailand. You screwed up badly.