Mousehound

They look and drive a lot better with a BMW badge on the hood.

The Kingdom is going further along a dead end street. Huge corruption, scams, dual pricing , insecurety and overall greed get known more and more. Notorious stories of Koh Tao - murders and the way the police handled things, of the stop & search actions in BKK and of the Red Bull cop killer will not blow over. And then of course there's the horrible traffic situation: the second unsafest country in the world. Oh yes, those that read up a bit before deciding where to go for the holiday may very well stumble upon the remarkably high number of farangs falling from balconies all over the place.

Quite a few richer farangs - the desperately wanted quality tourists - already turned their backs on the country and only visit as tourists for meeting family members. Everpresent dirt and filth, even on the once most beautiful beaches of the world give lasting impressions. Foreign investments are dropping.

The past ten years the number of tourists in Vietnam has risen bigtime, About 4 times to some 6 - 7 million. Part of that group once would have gone Thailand instead.

Nobody will notice the extra 360 baht. The incompetence of running country and society however is impossible not to see. This, independing which government is in charge. Ignorance and incompetence can be put in the nickname LOS => LIIOS. The land of ignorence, incompetence and smiles.

Thailand could learn about a thing or two on how to run a corrupt society from the Vietnamese. Way more corrupt than Thailand and I find it more expensive and I have to say that generally I really like the Thai people. And I do visit Thailand to meet up with old Thai friends. I would be happy if they put the entry fee up to say 2500 Bht. Keep some of the tourists away. Let the hoards from the North go to Vietnam instead. All the expat farangs that complain all the time can bugger off as well. Just sell me your condo really cheap - thank you.

Beeudy cobber. She'll be apples.

Maybe I have blinkers on. "crime is up" if it is, surely it is relative to the increase in population? I would rate CM as a very safe place for its size. The invasion from the North is the only real downer. And this might have an upside - we might start getting more, and better, quality Chinese restaurants.

Can't really hurt to have the tests. One test that is really well worth having is the one that shows up type 2 diabetes. This is going to be up with cancer as the big health issue for most people as they move into middle and old age. Most people don't know they have it. Once you get it you can't really get rid of it but you can reduce it's effects dramatically with proper management. If you are overweight, stressed, have digestive problems, or get dizzy spells then you should be tested. Not difficult to test for. Typical type 2 problems can be loss of eyesight, amputations and generally feeling rough. My best mate died from it and I have it now. He did little about it but I am making a real effort. My blood tests showed my sugar levels as being the same as a normal person. But I have eye problems that can never be put right.

This is an interesting post and the information on where best to get tested valuable. Thanks.

Rule 8. Don't believe every girl who calls you "wery handsome".

But what if its true? And in my case I do believe the really pretty ones - they seem to be the most truthful of all

In fact, they are in big demand in China, and as such, getting shipped from here to there to the extent where there is not so many around anymore in some places.....they are used as an aphrodisiac.....and as such get big money....

A nation of 1.5 billion people is hardly in need of any aphrodisiacs.

Lol so funny... that's the first time today that I've laughed. Good on ya!

Its because of the Tokay aphrodisiac qualities that there are 1.5 billion people in China.

Ah yes, DVT being one. I always perambulate and stretch on long haul, and lots of fluids.

I always drink lots of fluids, but probably the wrong ones, but at least they lead to lots of perambulation....

Yes - drink lots of alcohol as whilst this is against current health advice I find it leads to somnambulation. Which is advantageous in every way.

I have been researching this - as have others for years. I am a frequent visitor (with a farang wife) to CM. Usually twice a year for the last eight years and hope to live there full time ASAP. I found that this has given me a bit of a feel for the cost of living. We stay at a reasonable private guesthouse in the old city which costs 25000 Bht per month. The same sort of accommodation at say Hillside 4 or Riverside would be half that. Eating out three meals a day with a fair amount of western food and a couple of beers as well as travel costs and entertainment worked out at 1000 Bht a day minimum. So 30k a month. We spent another 5000k a month on trips to Doi Inthanon, Chiang Dao etc. We hired a car or a sorngtau for the day. Add another 5000k for insurance and 5000k for reserves as well as 2000k for visas and it comes to about 60k Bht. So add to that say 5000k for electricity and water and condo levy you have 65K. But that is not including car costs etc. I would feel we could live reasonably well on 70K, but that is for two people. When we do move to CM permanently we will follow the excellent advice of those that live there - rent first and be sure of what you want. Rent from owners direct - there are several on TV. As suggested keep your bridges intact if possible. But that can be a two edged sword as well. As an immigrant to Australia I found that those that did not burn their bridges never really settled and most returned home within three years and then spent a fortune trying to get back - the grass is always greener syndrome. Learn the Thai language starting now. At least learn to read Thai. I did and the difference is amazing. Some knowledge of the language will really open up the experience and you will find you rarely get ripped off. There is a really good expat scene with some really good people in CM. There are also the usual doom and gloom merchants (not so many really). But that is life. Some make the best of things and some don't. Finally - you live to the budget that you have. If you have 20k a month you can live OK on that if you have 200k a month you will live well on that but whatever your budget, your determination to enjoy life will be far more important than your budget. Those that say that it is easier to be happy rich than poor are correct but they look at the world as glass half empty. I prefer to look at it as one half full. Life is for adventure - I eat street food and drive motorbikes in Thailand. I may not live long (It has been a pretty wild 67 years so far) but it will be a life I have enjoyed. All the best with your venture.

Ah. The perennial two price whinge! I am back in OZ and I can tell you that we have a many tiered price structure for all amenities. It is called taxation. The better off pay more to keep the infrastructure going. If you pay Thai taxes then you should pay Thai prices - if not then it is not unreasonable for you to pay a little extra. At the weekend I took a couple of visitors to see our local (and pathetic) little Bell Tower. For a fifteen minute visit it cost 1300BHT . HTT is better value.

I bought a junker for 5k a week after I got here. Paid a mechanic 3500 for a re-build. Runs great, it does looks like sh#t though.There's no reason to pay for a new one, you won't get your money back when you sell it and fixing them is inexpensive.

Also if you get one that is reliable but looks rough you are not worried about the sctach and dent and much less likely to get it stolen.

Mopeds are usually 50cc or less. Scooters are usually 90cc or greater. The most common being 110 to 150cc range. If you can find one as good as new for two thirds the price let me know - I will buy it. Try "Baht Sold" or, as suggested TV classifieds. I think your best bet is an expat that has bought a new one and has to leave CM in a hurry. If it looks in good condition, is pretty new, has been serviced properly and drives fine it should be OK. The main makes (Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki) are remarkable reliable and usually pretty cheap to fix. Otherwise you takes your chances like the rest of us.

I don't smoke or drink. I dislike loud bikes. I also hate the smell of cigarettes and spray on deodorants give me severe asthma. But why should everyone follow my lifestyle? There has to be a bit of give and take. Allowing smoking in open space doesn't seem unreasonable. Smokers can enjoy themselves in so few places now that surely they can have just a little latitude in the open spaces available. When I clash with someone that smokes near me - and yes it has happened. The problem is if that person does not acquiesce to my demands. On reflection it is more to do with my being frustrated. My anger is often out of proportion to the actual event. My ego is far more of a problem than the smoking itself.

I know this does not fit all the criteria but:

Thinking slightly outside the square and if you are on a budget "The Pub" might be an option. Very flexible booking - day to long term. Very good position. Self contained units - I am sure you could arrange room cleaning and laundry etc with the owner. I find it a good place to relax and quit quiet. Good greenery and close to the arboretum and Doi Suthep as well as CM Uni grounds. Maya shopping nearby. Parking no problem. It should be possible to pay a day fee for any of the many establishments about for the use of a pool and gym.

http://www.thepubchiangmai.com/rooms-bungalows/

The scooters with two front wheels are a real gas to ride. The Piaggio comes in 250 and 400 versions. I doubt they are available in Thailand yet - ask at the Vespa dealership. But I have seen a couple of three wheelers in the last months advertised on TV or BHT Sold. The front wheeled versions that lean the wheels are very stable. Not really much different in width. They are very stable when cornering and especially on dodgy surfaces. I had a go on a friends 250 when back in OZ and am sold on the concept. They have to be a big plus if you are not steady on a scooter or inexperienced. I could really throw the thing around - much more than I would dare do on my little Honda 110. Also, as mentioned above, fantastic brakes which is a real plus. For around CM I think they would be great. Plenty on the MP3 model on the interweb.

I know that Yamaha are doing a model called the TriCity a 125cc motor.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorcycle_manufacturers/yamaha/11055698/Yamaha-Tricity-review.html

There has been some comment on TV about this before.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719594-yamaha-tricity/

In my opinion rear double wheels that are fixed or basic suspension would be prone to flipping. The whole point of the new front system is that it has special suspension to prevent this from happening as it adjusts to the camber of the leaning in on corners.

I don't understand your question! My figure of 65K per month includes the running costs of two vehicles, petrol/diesel, maintenance etc but not buying cost, does that answer?

Yes. Thank you for ansver.

But in my opinion buying cost or how much lost price per year (month) your vehicles need add to budget.

Ofcouse if vehicles not get for FREE

Cheers

Not too many people want to compile a personal expenses budget that includes full depreciation of capital expenses I certainly don't. But if I were to have done so it would show that the CRV I bought new at a 2005 exchange rate made a profit when sold seven years later, a function of exchange rates and a high value second hand car market at the time. Ditto a condo that was bought and sold under similar circumstances, if those things were fully amortized and included in my personal budget, my living expenses would be less than half of what they actually are, a massive distortion of the facts.

And of course this can work in reverse. Depends if your funds are locally obtained or imported. You are in effect at the whim or at least playing the exchange market.

One thing I've learned from careful study of every "Walking Dead" episode and from living thru the aftermath of the 2011 Thailand floods and the effects on availability of goods necessary for daily life is that stocking piling gold is totally a bad idea. Instead, we have a stockpile of Coke Zero, toilet paper, cat food and kitty litter. Now THAT'S the stuff you'll really need to survive the end of the world.

My shopping list exactly. Sadly, as you watch "Walking Dead" I am having to cross you off the "100 survivors" list - and my Christmas card list also! But I will take Mr Bitey with me to Das Bunker.

If you don't own a car, own your condo/house a couple should be able to live quite comfortably on 40k a month. That is aircon on during hot times and eat out western style once a week. I would hope to save enough for a (budget guest house) holiday down south for Feb and March.

If the world has ended, how do you make visa runs?

Use a visa service!

This is law of Contract . Basic conditions for a contract to be enforceable are:

Consideration ie Quid pro quo

Legality

Intent

Agreement to the same thing

Reality

Capacity

In this case the "legality" is breached. A contract may not stand that contravenes the law or requires a party to breach the law. Such a contract would be void. Neither could the minor enter into an enforceable contract for insurance themselves, as they would not have "Capacity" ie under age.

Where's the burger thread?

Best Fish and Chips does well each year!

Try Lampang markets. They also do a lot with the cockerel theme. These are popular.

If you look at the top menu bar of TV you will see one called "Rent A Car" this will give you all the options you need. About 30$US a day for a small car.

The House (Ginger House) is pretty romantic and at the top Eastern corner of the moat. About 1000Bht each for a three course western menu and wine typically 1500 - 2500 Bht a bottle and up to 4500Bht if you want to lash out. All the other suggestions above are good as well.

http://www.thehousethailand.com/kafe.php

Doi Suthep Monastery steps seemed less busy the last time I was there. The Thais are getting fatter and lazier and more like farangs every day - prefer to take the elevator to the top. I find it more dangerous coming down as the steps are very narrow. Further afield the steps up to the temple at Chiang Dao are pretty heavy going as none of them are evenly spaced or the same height. Nearly killed me - the Chiang Dao nest lady owner takes food up to the temple twice a day at a steady jog! Left me in the dust.