fiddlehead

Am I the only one here who thinks the nose in the OP looks fine?

Try PS2. (northern part of Rat-t-thit road, east side of road)
Nice courtyard, old pool, but still a pool.

Not bad location (2 blocks to the beach, 6 to Bangla).
Great prices.
Not sure of air-con room prices, I used to stay in the fan rooms for less than 1,000 baht.

Many things cheaper in Thailand.
Depends what you spend your money on.
(If you want imported, quality clothing, you're going to pay.) (same with imported beef, beer, Pepperidge Farm cookies, etc etc etc.)

Internet and phone in Thailand are about 15% of what I pay in the US.

Electric bill: (about half the price here in Thailand)

TV cable bill: $10 a month in Thailand

Rent: At least half price in Thailand.

Traffic tickets: almost non-existent here.

Food: If it comes from Thailand, it's generally cheap. Depends where you buy though.

Paint, (and brushes) tools, screws, plumbing fittings and parts, tile, almost anything at the hardware store for that matter: Much cheaper here in Thailand.

Had a new roof on my kitchen, complete with raingutter, and new kitchen ceiling put in my house last month: Cost? 18,000 baht!

(that would have been more than 10 times more in the US)

New front end put on my old pickup truck: 8,000 baht here, over $1,000 for the same work in the states

Like I said: it depends what you spend your money on.

I used to be in the business of selling at festivals and markets similar to the Thai markets.
A few observations:

1/ Selling is only half the game. If you want to make money, you have to buy at a great price also.

I have a Thai friend who sells baby clothes and small toys here in Phuket
She told me she gets things from her mom who works in a factory in Bangkok.
I assume she has great prices.
She lives in a nice house and is a single Mom making it on her own.

2/ Location at the venue: Being in the same place every week (or day, if that is the case).
Some people will come looking for you.
Others would rather buy from someone they've seen before than a newbie.

Being in the middle, or near the entrance is best.

Being at the end of the last row will lose you perhaps 50% of the traffic.

3/ Lighting
Often these things go till after sundown.

I would be prepared for the late customer.
But put a shade on it so it's not in their eyes. (just on your product)

In Thailand, sunshade is another factor

Some thoughts: (pretty obvious really)
If you are selling where farangs are part of your customer base, get larger sized clothing if possible.

If you put your goods in front of enough people, you can sell (almost) anything.

A good looking girl as your helper, or seller, will help sales a lot, if you can train her properly. (smiles, no phone use, caring about the customer's needs, etc)

Some people like when things look messy, but have a lot of stock ("pile em high, watch them fly" is a one of our mottos I remember) (it's not easy to sell the last one of anything)

A crowd draws a crowd: Think of ways to get people to stop at your spot, it will draw others. People are afraid they're missing a bargain

You are always open. (if you have the truck packed up to go home and someone comes along and wants something, unload it again. Get the sale. You'll be glad for the money and you will have earned a customer who most likely will remember you and come back for more.)

Smile! A lot.

Here's a book (free version even): http://site.iugaza.edu.ps/wdaya/files/2013/03/A-Random-Walk-Down-Wall-Street.pdf

That my brother follows to this day.
He is much more successful at buying (selling???) stocks than I am.

I now buy index funds and buy to hold, till I need the money.
It's not nearly as much fun as buying things I think will do good.
But much more profitable, LOL!

Again, this is based on US stocks and bonds and NOT the Thai SET.

But, it's good to know the basics and some of the emotional things that WILL go through your mind once you start.

I bought some K-bank stock about 8 years ago and sold it this year.

All through Kim Eng, which is now Maybank.

Had a bit of a problem getting the money, but eventually they gave it up.

The trick is timing.
Watch the market, pick some stocks, buy on the dips, sell on the peaks.
Or, hold it long term like I did if you believe in a company.

If you want to trade daily or weekly, chances are you'll lose as many say it's a fixed market.
How knows.

Anyway, in the US, I use Charles Schwab and their website has tips that I read.
But that's for the US stock market.

For Thailand? I like banks, maybe the cement company, maybe something in construction.
I'd stay away from airlines here.

But you asked for a website.

Here's one that appears to show some chart reading. (which I always try to figure out, but often guess wrong):

https://www.facebook.com/SETResearch/

Here's another one for Thailand; https://thaistocks.com/

Years ago, I was in an investment club which was fun.
But we lost a lot.
We were not all that bad at picking winners, but the timing killed us and we didn't know when to sell.
(basically we sold our winners and held on to our losers)
We disbanded after losing too much.
Half were conservative and half were gamblers.
We had fun anyway.

Remember, it's legalized gambling so, don't bet more than you can lose.

(by the way, my Kbank more than doubled in those 8 years, but that's because I basically stopped watching it, and didn't get emotional on the ups and downs) (or I probably would have sold it a few times)

Have fun.
Don't lose too much.

Hopefully.

Let me guess.
More recess, less homework, longer summer vacation, no more hitting students, more ice cream.
Just kiddin.

The majority of Thais believe in ghosts.
Hard to argue with them, when you see it for yourself.
I witnessed something 1st hand that left me wondering how the hell they did that. (man was drunk as a skunk, then possessed, and turned completely sober in seconds and talked in another voice, went on and on, I'd rather not go into more detail as he was related)

Not saying I believe in ghosts, but saw something that was not easily explainable.

Seems to me, many expats move here because it is different from their home country.
Then they end up complaining about those differences after a while.
Go figure.

I'd keep the labor down by planting fruit trees.
Plant what you like to eat.
You'll be happier that way.
Mango, mangosteen, lime, rambutan, would be my choices.
Maybe try a little avocado as I love them, but, hear they are hard to grow in Thailand.
Good luck.

Never really understood the condo mentality and why anyone would want to live in a big building, with a small apt, surrounded by hundreds of other people.
I see them going up all the time and figured maybe it's the Russians or Chinese, as that's how it's done a lot in their countries.

Now, here here I read about condo owners complaining about noise, loud pool parties, rap music, etc.

Someone tell me why they didn't buy something more secluded if it's peace and quiet you want.

I think there will be a lot of empty condo apartments for sale, or rent in the future. (not that there's a shortage of them now)

Thai post.
Always been reliable for me.
I've sent dozens of packages through them.

I really don't see why this should be news.
Most Texans, and Donald Trump all want open carry laws and no restrictions. (all Texans? most Republicans?)
I'm sure THEY were not worried.

http://www.thephuketnews.com/parents-allege-son-injured-by-teacher-at-phuket-school-57903.php#OccRqzuzJe1QRKi6.97

The number of parents on this forum praising that school makes me sick

Well, the number of parents praising it appears to be zero on this thread.

(maybe you should vent about it somewhere else)

I go to a kiosk near Mimi corner in Nai Harn.
Been going to the same one for a few years now and she always gives me an even better rate than her posted rate (which is usually the best one around anyway)
It's the little one near the Tesco Express on Sai Yuan.

Way better than the banks, and sometimes equal to the Forex rate!

But yeah, I had friends ask her already about changing baht back to dollars and she said if it's a big amount, give her a day to get it together.

I give (as directly as possible) directly to the people.

AFter the tsunami, I had many friends from back home wanting to donate.
They gave me the money, I added some of my own, then I went around to some of the areas that were destroyed.
Handed 1,000 baht notes to women who were sitting around their ruined homes.
Never gave it to the men, as I heard they would just go drinking.

How can you ever be sure your money goes to the best place to help?

I know some people (farangs) who were renting longtails and going to islands with water bottles to help out those on the nearby island.
I gave the remainder to them.

I don't trust ANY of the so called "relief agencies"

What if they had a son together?
And he was a US citizen, but living in Thailand?

The 4 main points of the compass are not something that Thai people seem to be good at figuring out.
So, a map with S @ the top is just as confusing to them as N on top I imagine.
I've been trying to teach my (Thai) wife to figure out which direction Bangkok, Laem Prom Thep, Phi Phi, and India are from different places on the island.
I swear she gets it wrong about 90% of the time!

Guys: If it was the same as where you come from, you probably would have never come here.

It's different.
Get used to it.
It's not so bad.

I believe of the 3 you mention, QSI is considered the best.
It supposedly is American curriculum.

My son goes to Darasamuth and it is OK.
A bit too big for my liking, but good price, pretty good teachers (I think) and he seems to be learning something.

I agree the 3 you mention are very expensive but I thought QSI was close in price to those 3 also.

Your location should probably have something to do with your decision.
The shorter the bus ride, the easier for all.

There is also Dowroong school on the south east side of Phuket town.
It is a Catholic school. (as is Darasamuth)

I have to give the guy credit for getting the media to publish this story.
That in itself is as amazing as the price he's asking.

nothing to see here

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I've riden Harleys and sportbikes. I've had LOUD pipes on both. I would be dead if I didn't. Countless times I've had cars start to change into my lane without looking and I goose the throttle a bit and they jump from the loud noise and stay in their lane until I've passed by or slowed down for them to change over.

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Good luck!

Try the horn next time.

I applaud any policeman who gives a fine for loud motorcycles.

It's a "Look at Me" thing

Everyone knows that.

Imagine a world where everyone was that loud.

Good night for frogs then.

I guess if you don't like it, you can go to one of those gas vending machines and pay 40 baht/litre and do what you want.

But if they're pumping, they can make you shut it off.

I was there last week.

It used to be a thriving upmarket cool place to hang out.

Now it looks like a tsunami went through there, buildings removed, but the messy foundations still visible, and almost deserted with a only a handful of tourists there sunbaking amongst piles of rubbish. The businesses used to pick up the rubbish, but now they are gone.

I understand they built illegally but I can't see the point of it all. Something better should have been worked out.

"Something better should have been worked out." - something better was worked out. It's called, "obeying the law."

Yes, I know, a crazy concept for Phuket, but that's what got Phuket here in the first place.

Maybe you haven't seen it.

I imagine not.

If you had, I can't imagine thinking it's "better" than it was.

Garbage, tires, debris from demolition, etc.

The only thing better I can say is the quiet.