Pierrot

The USA is many times larger than Thailand and has a population about 4 or 5 times as large.

The problem is that nowhere in the world is any country gaining more land but they are mostly gaining in population so all land world wide will become more expensive.

You can move land around but you cannot physically grow any more.

The advantage of land is that if you own it, it is an asset which can be used or rented if you have no current use for it. With some good luck and no debts behind you it is also possible to grow food to supplement your income or even be your income.

Land prices in Bangkok for example are absolutely horrendous and mostl all you can do with it is share it with other people in a condo which costs a lot to run.

While most of what you have said is quite correct, you should go and have a look at Singapore and Hong Kong. Both have increased their land masses significantly over the last 20 years. You can actually reclaim land from the sea.

Craig

I don't think HK is a good example. Most of the territory is under developped but they keep on reclaiming land to expand the central/business districts where the developpers can make big money.

I usually joke my bathroom in Bangkok is bigger than my flat in HK, but when you leave there, it's not so funny ...

This argument about Farang prices and Thai prices has been going on for decades.

It's nothing to do with nationalism or racism, just that Thais believe Westerners all come from rich first world countries, so why cant they pay more, as we are poor and providing these services for you.

Where I live the people in my village consider me to be a rich Farang. Nothing that I could say will convince them otherwise. One of our neighbour's wife's said to my daughter, one Dollar is a drop in the ocean for a Farang.

If I require any work done on my house or other services, they are normally queuing up at my gate for the job, because they think I'll pay over the top. I make it clear that I don't pay over the odds, but always pay what I think is a fair rate, which is still normally more than a Thai would pay. So cant win anyway.

On the over hand, I am still financially better off than my local Thai neighbours, because although I'm not filthy rich, I don't have to work and have a good standard of living, probably better than if I lived back in my own country, thanks to the Thai people letting me live here, respected and with not too many restrictions.

For those long term residents who feel the double pricing system is unjust, should have known about it before they came here as double pricing has been going on since the Stone Age.

One option is to weigh up all the things not liked about Thailand prior to settling here, than decide is it worth coming over or not. No point in griping afterwards, the other option is to avoid places where they double charge, no one makes it an obligation to use them as most are not essential services.

Agree with your comments but the main problem is it shouldn't be legal.

When Supachai was named co-head of the WTO, I didn't know if we should cry or laugh. Anyway, lesson learned, we are back to business as usual.

Great thread. I've always felt stupid when reading some post, now I'll have my answers .

This morning I already learned what is an "expat", but still don't undertsand why some people spell it "ex-pat"?

Two words I would like to have explained : "OP" and "troll"

Tks

Alot of people that one might assume are expats are technically not. Anyone that doesn't have the residency visa and is still making those annoying visa runs is technically not an expat. Hang your speedo thong on that.

Expatriate (n.) "One who has taken up residence in a foreign country" (The Free Dictionary)

"Somebody who has moved abroad: a citizen who has left his or her own country to live in another, usually for a prolonged period" (Encarta)

There are other definitions of "expatriate" (e.g. one who has lost or renounced citizenship), but the above, I think, are what we are talking about. So a person who "has taken up residence" in Thailand "for a prolonged period" (2 years? 5 years? more?) would be an expatriate. To restrict the term to those who have residence visas seems a bit strict to me.

I would think one is an expat if one has been here for longer than one year and intends to stay on, working or not, and regardless of visa arrangements.

Thanks for the information. I've always been confused by the meaning of this word, especially in TV. For me it's always been related to the terms of the employment contract : expat or local.

If you don't work, you're a tourist.

I wish I could be a tourist ...

Thank you for your answers. My future as a fertilizer importer doesn't look really bright, I may stick with my current job for the time being ...

Nevertheless, I won't give up so easely. I believe the recent increase are unreasonable, everybody think it's the right time to get back their lost profit and increase their margin. And actually I like the idea of going up against the Thai Chinese middle men, I deal with the real guys in China, I'm not going to be afraid by the soft local version ...

@ SAP : I can buy directly from the producer bagged fertilizer, 25Kg, 50kg, ... But I need to investigate the need of a special licence, does anybody have informtion regarding this point ?

@ Ozzydom : Agree that the fertilizer range is quite large, that why I wanted to focus on a few most used products, like 15-15-15. But as I said I'm not specialized in this field and I expected some advise on what to select to start with. Our advantage is we can buy "local", and arrange everything by ourself, so producers are more flexible regarding the quantity than when they have to export. And of course I won't buy only for myself, if I can find a good deal I'm sure I can find some people in my area so we can group our purchase and bring at least a mix container at a time.

Btw, is that what you're looking for ?:

TSP 46%

P2O5: 46%min

Effective P2O5: 42%min,

Soluble P2O5: 37%min,

Moisture: 4%max,

Free acid(as P2O5): 5%max,

Grain size (1-4mm): 90%min,

Granule hardness: 10%N/grain

Packing: 50kgs plastic woven bags

If I can find my way, I will add a few bags for you ...

I've a small piece of land near Korat that I visit every two, three weeks and everytime I need to buy fertilizer, weed killer .... and everytime everything is more expensive, and not by a small amount, compare to last year some prices have been multiplied by up to 4 times !!!

My fist idea was to buy "large" quantity from Bangkok instead of buying small amount each time from local suppliers. Then I realized most of these products are made in China, where I work, so why not directly importing the stuff ?

But does it make sense ? Buying, checking the quality, shipping from China is not a problem. Importing to Thailand is more a problem. I heard some horror stories with the local custom but I have good relation with international forwarders and I can probably work out a solution.

Then what to import? My expertise is in trade, not agricultural chemical. When I visit my local supplier, I see so many different reference, it doesn't make sense to import a few bags of each. Can we narrow the selection on a few multi purpose products ?

To the professional reading this forum, does my idea make sense or am I just dreaming and wasting my time ?

Thanks in advance

Pierrot

Back to 2008.

Original post : "I'm a beautiful 25 year old girl. I'm articulate and classy. I'm looking to get married to a guy who makes at least half a million a year..."

Answer :

I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your predicament.

Firstly, I'm not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy who fits your bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here's how I see it.

Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple a crappy business deal. Here's why. Cutting through all the B.S., what you suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I bring my money. Fine, simple. But here's the rub, your looks will fade and my money will likely continue into perpetuity…in fact, it is very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won't be getting any more beautiful!

So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation accelerates! Let me explain, you're 25 now and will likely stay pretty hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!

So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a buy and hold…hence the rub…marriage. It doesn't make good business sense to "buy you" (which is what you're asking) so I'd rather lease. In case you think I'm being cruel, I would say the following. If my money were to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need an out. It's as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating, not marriage.

Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets. So, I wonder why a girl as "articulate, classy and spectacularly beautiful" as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it hard to believe that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K hasn't found you, if not only for a tryout.

By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and then we wouldn't need to have this difficult conversation.

With all that said, I must say you're going about it the right way. Classic "pump and dump."

I hope this is helpful, and if you want to enter into some sort of lease, let me know.

Our researcher might have saved himself a lot off effort if he had only watched 'The Treasure of the Sierra Mardre ....... with that great actor... what's his name?!

Walter Huston. The father of the director of that film, John Huston.

Marlon Brando, " QUEIMADA ", an other great actor, an other great movie.

W. W. : "Gentlemen, let me ask you a question. Now, my metaphor may seem a trifle impertinent, but I think it's very much to the point. Which do you prefer - or should I say, which do you find more convenient - a wife, or one of these mulatto girls? ...."

Rules have recently changed, and it's now much more difficult, and longer, to get a visa for China. You should now apply from your country of residence, which means your wife should use her Thai passport if she wants to apply from Thailand. You should also show your flight tickets and hotel booking.

Furthermore, no more multi entry 3 month or 6 month visa but one month, one or two entry, is still ok. But rules are changing so fast lately, better get your visa as soon as possible.

The military government didn't mess with judiciary, otherwise Thaksin would have been sentenced already.

Is it the kind of justice you advocate?

Can you explain the connection between slow moving Thaksin cases and your lynch mob picture? Do you think they are similar? In what way?

If the junta was as evil as you say, it would have been Thaksin hanging there, but the reality is just opposite - he has been released on bail and granted a persmission to leave the country for a month. Could they have been more lenient after he evaded the court for half a year?

You highlight the wrong sentence. The one my picture refers to is : "They can use the media, they can rely on civil society, ultimately they can take to the streets."

They did use the media, they did rely on civil society, then people voted. Democracy is not mob power.

The military government didn't mess with judiciary, otherwise Thaksin would have been sentenced already. Current, democratically elected government made fixing Thaksin's fate its first priority. Citizens have all the right, and, in fact, it's their duty, to try to prevent the government from deviating from its course. They can use the media, they can rely on civil society, ultimately they can take to the streets. It's about making themselves heard.

Is it the kind of justice you advocate?

Because one dares to disagree and suddenly one is naive (?), a troll (still don't undertsand the meaning) or other nice things ...

It's not a personal attack, I ask you because you seem to be the one with the more judgement. Honestly what I read here scares me sometime.

We bought some land nearby too. We don't plan to do anything for the time being because we're not leaving there but I believe there is definitively some potential for business. For the time being I see mostly Thai tourists, not much foreigners but the area is developping very fast. And just as an investment it's a very good operation, we can now sell the land more than 4 times the price we bought it 3 years ago.

I was curious and I did the test this morning in the office, I'm working in China.

Assistant : 480 weeks (same logic 12x4x10)

Average executive, all nationalities : 520 weeks. Some doubts some time about the number of weeks in a year but same logic for foreigners and chinese

Brainy girl, chinese : 521 weeks (365 x 10 / 7), result in less than 10 seconds, without a calculator.

Three anti-coup activists charged with wire-tapping

Public prosecutors yesterday charged three anti-coup activists with conspiracy to wire-tap and illegally releasing the information gathered.

The three defendants are Jakrapob Penkair, Natthawut Saikua and Chatuporn Promphan of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship. Chatuporn is also a People Power party-list member of Parliament.

The trial starts in the Criminal Court on March 10. The three were each released on 300,000 baht bail.

The charges stem from an anti-coup rally at Sanam Luang on June 22. The three circulated a recorded telephone conversation involving Government House official Preeraphan Prempooti and judges Wirat Chinwinijkul and Pairote Navanut.

It is alleged that they intended to besmirch the reputation of Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda. A police report subsequently determined the information had been obtained by wire-tapping.

- The Nation

Jakrapob did enough giving head to the mighty one at the demos to be in line for a minor ministry position from what I hear. Cant see this going far to be honest especially when the PPP will be in power. It really is how they interfere with the court cases that will at least in the short term dictate the stability of the PPP government, and the chances of demos against them. I would think they'll pick off a few minor cases first and then see how far they can push it although another arguement is that they will push right to the hilt to start with and create conflict before calling a snap election in which to grab a full majority. We will see.

UPDATE... now that all 3 are "in the government" let's play the delay game...

3 PTV Protest Leaders Seek Postponement of Court Cases

The three leaders of the PTV protest or the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship resort to their MP status to broker a postponement of the interrogation process in a wire-tapping case.

Three United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leaders Jakrapob Penkair (PM's Office Minister), Jatuporn Prompan (PPP MP), and Natthawut Saikua (Deputy Government Spokesman) came to court to request a postponement of the interrogation process relating to a wire-tapping case.

The three claimed that as they are MPs and therefore need to attend the parliamentary meeting, they are asking for a rescheduling of interrogations accordingly.

The court postponed their interrogation to June 23rd at 1.30p.m. as the plaintiff did not object to the request of the defendants.

In this case, ten advocates, acting as plaintiffs, filed charges against the three for their role in disclosing conversation from phone taps.

The alleged wrongdoing happened at the UDD meeting on June 22nd, 2007 when the three aired a recorded telephone conversation between Government House adviser Peeraphan Premapooti, Wirat Chinwinitchakul and Pairoj Nawanut. The three were granted a 100,000 baht bail in the case.

- Thailand Outlook

Caught when trying to gather evidence of wrongdoing? How stupid of them ! Everybody at BV knows you don't need evidence to declare someone guilty !!

Ooops, sorry, these people are the people who were fighting against the Junta when the PAD were lying low, they are the democrats who don't belong to the "democrats". They may be excused for such a stupid mistake.

Mr Thaksin culpability of any wrong doing is an OPINION and it' not because some people will repeat it at nausea (literally speaking) that it will become a FACT. The junta had 18 month to show evidence of Mr Thaksin culpability, what did they find ? I guess the same people still expect to find WMD in Iraq ...

Of all the naive statements, this is pretty much one of the most naive you can get. But, it is pretty much what you can expect from Thaksin rent-a-crowds.

The task of finding evidence against dear leader is akin to investigating a murder committed by IRA paras in a republican stronghold in Belfast. Everyone clams up. Nothing happened here governor, move along now.

In anycase, evidence does exist, but it is saved for more useful purpose of behind the scene arm twisting and the like. 'Wasting' it in the court of public opinion means that you can't use your 'evidence' when you need it most.

Samran, reading your reply, I feel very confused.

On the one hand, I am sincerely, honestly, deeply sorry for you.

On the other hand I envy you.

In the mean time I got an answer (not yours, don't worry) that will end this very interesting debate.

Wish you all the best.

Pierrot

IMO the problem is the sabai sabai attitude of the underworld in Thailand. In China, local triads don't tolerate foreign competition, that's maybe why we don't have much bad guys here

I don't understand you guys. You supported the previous coup under the pretence that a bloodbath was averted. Now I'm with you and that the way you receive me? Utterly disappointed, that's what I am guys, utterly disappointed. I think I will move back to the other side.

Back to the circus might not be a bad idea.

If reason fails, try derision ....

Reasoning never seemed to exist in your case. You make comments which are completely unsubstantiated. Take our exchange yesterday for example. I asked for some sort of proof, any sort of proof, to the statement that the military had robbed the country. You just completely ignored answering. Maybe now you've had 24 hours you feel ready to respond with some constructive reasoning behind your claim. That's all i'm asking.

Fair request.

I replied on the original thread.

The Military and their cronies robbed the country blind over the last year and a half.

Care to substantiate that claim? Unless i've missed it, there's no evidence to suggest that anyone involved with the coup suddenly became unusually rich after it was staged.

On the other hand, the evidence against Thaksin is as plain as the nose on your face. Not even the Thaksin fanaticals i think would deny that he abused his power for personal gain. Or are there people out there who are really that blind?

To answer my own question, i fear sadly yes.

Care to substantiate that claim? Unless i've missed it, there's no evidence to suggest that Mr Thaksin suddenly became unusually rich after becoming PM. (he was already unusually rich before)

On the other hand, the evidence against the Junta is as plain as the nose on your face. Not even the Junta fanaticals i think would deny that they abused their power for personal gain. Or are there people out there who are really that blind?

To answer my own question, i fear sadly that bad faith is ruling here

Rixalex, I will go back to this quote to answer you.

By copying/pasting your quote and just changing the names, my point was to prove that both were of equal value : none !

I don't believe that both Mr Thaksin and the military seized power for personnal gain but I wouldn't claim that people around them (both side) didn't take advantage of their relation with the person in charge for their personnal profit. This is not only Thailand, more human nature I would say.

Now recent studies seem to show that when someone hear the same opinion more than a couple of time, he may consider it as fact. Mr Thaksin culpability of any wrong doing is an OPINION and it' not because some people will repeat it at nausea (literally speaking) that it will become a FACT. The junta had 18 month to show evidence of Mr Thaksin culpability, what did they find ? I guess the same people still expect to find WMD in Iraq ...

Well written post clausewitz, I wish we could read more like this.

I am 100% with you.

I don't understand you guys. You supported the previous coup under the pretence that a bloodbath was averted. Now I'm with you and that the way you receive me? Utterly disappointed, that's what I am guys, utterly disappointed. I think I will move back to the other side.

Back to the circus might not be a bad idea.

If reason fails, try derision ....

I don't understand you guys. You supported the previous coup under the pretence that a bloodbath was averted. Now I'm with you and that the way you receive me? Utterly disappointed, that's what I am guys, utterly disappointed. I think I will move back to the other side.

I doubt there will be thousands of people at the first rally and it would be relatively easy for the government to nip PAD demonstrations in the bud, they might be tempted to disperse them and that could trigger much larger rallies.

Then the situation will spin out of control.

Samak has done nothing to reign in Noppadon who openly acts on behalf of Thaksin but he also can't afford to take sides in PAD-Thaksin battle - his coalition would collapse in a matter of days.

His opponents within the government would argue that coalition will collapse anyway if PAD is allowed to take over the streets but it would take a lot longer, and if he tosses Thaksin out of the window he could stay on to complete his term.

I bet there will be a lot of behind the door fights over the control of the government's response to PAD, between Samak and Newin (I think Thaksin will try everything to sneak out of the country when shit hits the fan). Samak is already isolated.

At worst it will come to a silent coup with someone like Noppadon or Jakrapob installed as acting PM backed by Thaksin's generals and invocation of emergency situation.

Then they will move on PAD in full force.

At last we agree, it would be the best solution. Declare emergency and throw PAD leaders in jail. Also most probably total censure of the press for 6 to 12 month until people forget about them.

People didn't mind this treatment for the last 18 month, it should be ok. And we will then avoid the bloodbath that everybody seems to be afraid of.

By the by, he wasn't a USD billionaire before becoming PM. His companies had weathered the '97 crash, by, oddly compared to how they were run then, being hedged, but they were still massively in debt.

Regards

But under an anachronistic thing called the Foreign Business Law, he had no one thru which to realise his wealth. But no sweat he was PM so not a big problem.

97 hurt him and many many other simply because his assets were in Baht, and the uselss govts (not democrat) of the previous few years came very close to ruining him and many other heads of industry. This is what drove him to politics.

As I recall, Thaksin was a member of the "useles govts" at the time which oversaw the futile defense of the baht. I think her was officially a deputy Prime Minister at the time, if I'm not too far off.

as for 97 hurting thaksin, that couldn't be further from the truth. Knowing that the BOT was running out of USD to defend the baht, Thaksin was seen in HK with his bankers shifting all his positions to USD and out of baht. He made sure he was in a position to not only protect himself, but prosper as well after the 1997 asian crisis.

Maybe it's after realizing how poorly the country was run that he decided to take over. Then maybe it was his economical policies (and not his private business) that was the reason of all his trouble. Maybe ...

As Bill Clinton famously said "It's the economy, stupid"

If you think that the official explanation never really made sense, dig the subject and it explains a lot about the past 2 years.

Rixalex, you said that without evidence, I was proving nothing, and you are 100% right. But I was just copying/pasting your own arguments. You made my point, thank you.

I want to add there is never anything personnal in my posts. I may some time criticize someone's ideas or the way they are expressed, but never the person.