Mousehound

The problem is we are all looking for Utopia.  And, if it existed at all we would all be there. And then it would no longer be Utopia.

14 hours ago, Oxx said:

Of course, the government leads the way with dual pricing for tourist attractions.  The little people (and some not so little people) are only following their government's glorious example.

Another way to look at it is that attractions are charged at such a low rate in any case that the tourist pays a normal price and the local Thai pays a discounted rate.  For example I pay 400bht to enter a National Park.  I pay the same amount to enter my local National Park.  But I can apply for several discounts for my local NP.  In fact no one in my family pays more than half price.  Tourists always have to pay full price.  Also, other posters whine on about paying too much at market stalls etc.  Well, learn the language and bargain.  And guess what, if in the West a regular comes into my shop, or someone I know well, or a family member they always get a better price than the casual customer.  When I visit the USA and buy a ta store I don't whine that I don't have all the discount cards etc that locals have.  It's called business.  The seller has the right to get as much as he can for a product or service and the buyer has the right to refuse to buy - that is the way trade has always worked. 

On ‎20‎/‎12‎/‎2016 at 9:57 AM, phuketrichard said:

Yes,

took the overnight 21 hour train from Mandalay to Myitkyina, tried for 3 days to get permission  to take the river to Bhamo but no go so had to fly,

than took the boat to Katha and on to Mandalay

PS;  found traveling down the Chindwin much better and more scenic, didn't see another tourist for 7 days

Burma is a photographers disneyland

A really interesting read is John Master's Road To Mandalay" about the 2nd world war in this area.  Many of the great temples were destroyed at this time.

On ‎8‎/‎01‎/‎2017 at 9:53 PM, bermannor said:

I avoid these

Is that you Gonzo?

I think you can get these from most 7/11s in CM now.  So problem solvered.

Google  "Don Muang Boutique House "

Gets good reviews and about ten minutes from the airport.  About 400Bht upwards.  They do a good breakfast.  You will need the address in Thai - or get their phone number and have the taxi driver speak with staff.  They are on the East side of the airport.  I know someone who uses this place regularly and has recommended it to me.  Not perfect but even with the taxi fare it is great value. 

11 minutes ago, Cats4ever said:

New title - TOTUS - Twit of the US.

For the more forensic commentators, I take twit from his chief delivery system.

Brilliant!!

Most countries work on a dual system - that is criminal and civil.  Criminal is where the law of the land is involved, that is The State V XXX,  and Civil is between individuals, that is Mr X V Mr Y. The police should have no interest in a civil matter unless a criminal law has been breached.  If the monies are illegally obtained ie money laundering, then a contract is void, as a basic requirement of a contract is that it be deemed legal.  Also there may be (as mentioned) a legal maximum interest rate that can be applied to a loan. Of course if the borrower were to have known the monies were being laundered he could be a party to an illegal act that breaches the criminal code.  But best speak to a lawyer who is Thai. 

How anyone can seriously respect this man is totally beyond me.  Every school bully had their weak minded followers.  I used to think America was the greatest country on earth.  That such a buffoon can be their elected  President tells me that this is no longer the case.  Really?  The most powerful man on earth denigrates a handicapped person?  He needs to stick to his comedy act on low level TV shows.

It looks like camping out is a very real, and necessary possibility.  Could be a niche market - tents and vans hired out for the two to three weeks required to get visas etc.  In a couple of years I can imagine a whole container city springing up to provide temporary accommodation for the four week wait in line system.  Some might even draw parallels with refugee camps in a year or so.

The size of a vessel has little to do with how seaworthy it is.  Plenty of 10meter vessels have made serious ocean voyages and come through huge seas.  The condition of the vessel, how well it is handled, its design, its construction  and how well it is loaded are the important factors. 

For a single guy on 30K a month it is quite doable if he is not a drinker and lives out of the big expensive cities. Chiang Mai could be OK.  There is a reason the Retirement Visa requires 65K Bht a month - on that a single reasonably  careful person can live pretty well, even in BKK, and very well indeed in smaller towns. I think $3000 US is not much of a backstop.  Also, as mentioned before a visa would be a problem as he doesn't have sufficient funds.  Most likely he should try the place out and get a job teaching English if that is feasible. That would assume he could get a work visa. 

I can live quite well on 30k a month in Chiang Mai with half going on accommodation (I could save quite a lot there as well) but I own my own wheels and have good funds saved as a backstop.  I just don't seem to need to spend the money. 

14 hours ago, poohy said:

Business wise , i would say the only thing straight about them is their hair!

Thais dont even trust Thais.

 

I trust Thai business people just as much as I trust my own countryman in business.  If not family I don't really trust anyone in business anywhere in the world.  But I find Thai people exceptionally friendly.  But then I like them so maybe they pick up on that. Also I speak reasonable central Thai and some Northern Thai which I find helps a lot.

Ihave seen the same condo's (not just inHH) advertised for months - even years.  Mostly they seem horrendously overpriced.  I would estimate that some are priced at double their realistic value.  Guess they are fishing.

Staffed by moonlighting bishops in full regalia - now I would like to see that.

I agree with above posters that say try out both places.  but you should also try out different places within each country.  Hanoi is very different to Saigon or Hue, as BKK is form Chiang Mai or Pattaya.  And there are half a dozen cities in each country you could add to the list.  Vietnam is way easier to stay in regards paperwork.  But it has a lot less infrastructure and medical may not be up to the standard of the better hospitals in Thailand.  It also depends how you want to live if  (at what standard and if you like full on nightlife) at least somewhat like the locals or need a full on western style of living.  My style of living doesn't find there is much between the cost of living in either country and Vietnam is developing very rapidly which usually means increased charges.  I have spent time learning Thai and have just started learning  Vietnamese.  I would seriously recommend you do the same.  It makes a huge difference, not just because you tend to get things a bit cheaper and are less likely to be ripped off but it makes getting about and the whole experience so much richer. 

Also I would recommend you see a city during the hot or rainy season rather than just in the cooler dryer months.  Most cities seem nice when the weather is perfect but when the weather turns is when you really need to experience it if you are thinking of moving there permanently.

They are a pretty timid snake and rarely bite and even then don't give a full dose if they can avoid it.  But they are night time feeders so with children about you do need to get it moved.

I have never had a problem with Songtaus and their charges.  Tuk tuks on the other hand can be a problem.  Wanted 300Bht fro Riverside to Tapae Gate. Uber would be a good option.

8 hours ago, Mousehound said:

Doi Inthanon has a camp at the Karen Village inside the actual park.  Excellent food and fruit and veg available right there.  Pretty good facilities and camping under trees on grass.

https://www.adventureinyou.com/thailand/camping-at-doi-inthanon-national-park/

I should add that opposite the main entrance to the Karen village and a hundred meters further up the hill snd on the left is Deng's.  You can camp there very cheaply.  This is the bird watching centre for Inthanon.  Khun Deng organises trips and guides and also does good food.  It gets cold up the mountain at this time of year - can have frost.  The road up the mountain is well maintained but you gave to pay to get into the park.

Doi Inthanon has a camp at the Karen Village inside the actual park.  Excellent food and fruit and veg available right there.  Pretty good facilities and camping under trees on grass.

https://www.adventureinyou.com/thailand/camping-at-doi-inthanon-national-park/

I had planned to retire in CM but with all the hassles with visas etc - especially, it seems in CM immigration  I am starting to have serious doubts. The whole set up seems to have gotten a good deal more difficult in the last years and if it keeps deteriorating I would ask myself if it was worth the effort.  This is a shame as I really looked forward to living in CM.  I know the city well, speak and read enough Thai to get about with no problems.  I also have quite a lot of friends in CM - not all expats. I am leaving for Vietnam in a few days to start checking out the possibilities of living there, at least for a few years.  So I, at least, am having second thoughts about living in Thailand.  The main reason for moving to CM would be that we really like it  and I have a lot of things to do to fill my day there.  Can Vietnam do the same?  I guess I will have to find out.

Bit the hand that fed it!

On ‎12‎/‎12‎/‎2016 at 8:57 PM, falang07 said:

I can sell you one with seaview in Chonburi for slightly over 500k (of course it is 30 sqm but I suppose you did not expect more)

I am fat old farang.  My coffin (I have one premade) is not much smaller than 30sqm.  But it doesn't have a view.

Seems that those that said there would never be a ferry and it was all a myth are wrong.  Can it be that these are the same people saying that now there is a ferry it will not run?  This is a bigger vessel than my local ferry in OZ and that handles 3meter waves on a 3meter swell - but is also often cancelled.  If this one really does run even half the year I would be on it like a shot.