Felt 35

As of October the 1st, foreigners re-entering Thailand at Mae Sai will need to produce 10,000 baht cash for 30-day visas, or 20,000 baht cash for those on 90 day visas.

"Looks like it was something in the news about Mr T., and waisting founds"

Well if they not shot to many of the visitors it should at least help them get the budget for 2005 straight.

Suze

Have to be a lot of different info going around.

I called that same Embassy 26. August and they told me that they do issue Non O

multiple visas. But that they would need two full working days to get it ready.

This thread seems to have wandered off the point somewhat

May I remind you of the original posting

Sure it have.

I keep to my first reply if single and living alone. Then you can do it for 30K Baht.

But not much left over for night entertaiment and no imported food.

Girlfriend/wife/boyfriend,whatever, own car and motorbike,house and more entertainment included, then I will guess you need at least 65-80K.

Sounds like they were being disrespectfull/drunk/she was wearing next to nothing and her nobhead boyfriend picked an argument with the wrong person.

Do the Buddistic religion learn people here that if tourists wear next to nothing on a holiday destination and they also dare to open their mouth, they deserve to be shot?

lopburi3

I have just had a look at http://www.albertsons.com/store/?market=11

and you are absolutely right. Which not surprise me.

I cannot find anything cheaper in USA than in Thailand.

However you will still get better out of it, than in some European countries. I have visit family in Seattle and also had a couple of holidays to Florida, Los Angeles and New York and the things which have been considerably more reasonable in USA compare to home is cars, sports equipment, brand clothes, meat, beef, beer, liquer and cigarettes.

Other products have been almost the same.

Sendbath.

Sorry, correct price here is 603K Baht.

However the point was the price difference.

In short, cheapness is no reason to live here, at least not on said items. There are a multitude of reasons to be here that not being one of them

Agree with you that its not a reason alone, but it absolutely help.

But of course as earlier mention. We all have different reasons to be here and most of us not one reason alone.

My own personal experience is that if I lived here permanently and only took a few holidays in the region a year. Well then my living costs would be cheap.

I`m home at least two times a year, plus at least 1-2 trips in this region a year so totally I end up with a budget which is very near the living cost in a high cost country in the west.

Each year many Farangs are murdered in Thailand, but these are mainly persons that are somehow involved with undesirable people and undesirable professions, such as drug dealing, girl trafficking, smuggling and other illegal activities, plus of course pure stupidity.

Sure when this story have been through Mr. T`s office (editor) a few times the story is twisted around and all who happen is because of the foreigners stupidity.

My advice to those residing here in Thailand or just visiting, is to keep your head down

Why not set up a warning sign at the airport:

Welcome to Thailand. Please keep your head down because the Police is trained for shooting but not trained to control their temper.

Perhaps one of the problems is that every Thai man, woman (and maybe child), seems to have access to a gun.

Well that they carry guns tops it up. But the problem, I see every day and sometimes it expand into something tragic as this and unfortunately it hit peaceful visitors.

Careless all the way.

Lopburi3

Well back from the Swim Club and today I stopped at Lotus for some small shopping and a " Burger instead of noodles"

The burger set was 80Baht. Home it is around 400 baht and up.

I also bought:

Bread 25 baht. Home it is from 70Baht up.

Milk 30 baht. Home 60 baht.

Yoghurt 10 Baht. Home 50 baht

Jam 30 baht. Home 80 baht.

Cornflakes 46 baht. Home 125 baht.

6pack Coke Light boxes 67 Baht.Home 400 Baht.

6pack Singha boxes 147 baht. Home 540 Baht.

Elle (magazin for Mrs.) 80 baht. Home 360 baht.

Potatochips 17 Baht. Home 120 Baht.

Well I shall admit that 10 times was overdue, but I feel safe if I keep it to around 5times.

For me in the USA, every item you mentioned is as cheap or cheaper. Gas, food, drink, movies and pool. It may not be done in the same way but it is cheaper

Some things are cheaper and some more expensive. Beer and Liquor are far more expensive here than in the USA

This things Is so cheap here compare to home that if it was like this home I think every citizen had been an alcoholic.

Also cars,motorbikes,electronics and sports equipment are near 50% of the price home.

Eks. The Honda Jazz top model. Is it around 660K here. Home it is 1.1 million and its similar with every other car brand, exept Benz and BMW.

Lopburi3

It will take some time, but I can start now before I’m away to the swim club here in Phuket for a couple of hours.

The lunch today include ice tea, and yes she is cheap the local lady, have known here for years, clean and always fresh food. 25 baht. Home you get a coke and hot dog for. Maybe 240 Baht. That`s not food in the long run if you ask me!

Entrance swim club that’s 40Baht if you not are a member. Home the same entrance cost minimum 200 Baht, but usually more near 300...

I take with me a bottle with Gatorade (sports drink) to 20, - Baht. Home it was this summer 150 baht.

I use the car to the swim club. It’s less than 10Km t/r but let say I use one litre with gasoline, I filled up yesterday, but really forget, is it 21Baht now? Well home it was 66 Baht this summer, but they said it should increase!

I guess and usually when back from the swim club I stop at a well-known noodle restaurant and the plate I usually eat with something to drink is 50 Baht. I am full after that simple but good meal. Home it will at least cost 300-400Baht if they had it on the menu.

In the evening my better half is home from work and Thursdays we often goes to the cinema. Two people 240 Baht. Home 900-1200 for two. (Depends on location)

Last Saturday we shared a dinner with 8 friends on "Lemon Grass" restaurant in Phuket.

The bill was on me this time and the total was 2200, - Baht. A Few beers, sodawater were the drinks.

Home this summer we celebrated the anniversary to a family member out on medium good outdoor restaurant and we was total 10 people. After the party I calculated the price pr. person and it was 1800Baht. The drinks was soft drinks, a few beers and soda water

Okay off for a swim. Coming with more later.

QUOTE]Thinking you are going to live here at the same standard for 1/5 or 1/10th what it costs in a developed country is not true and very dangerous thinking IMHO.

I did not say that, but I said this:

The expenses are also 5-10 times higher than in Thailand.

BTW, I guess the prices is in great variation where in the west we come from, and because of that it is difficult to make a general comparison about expected living costs based on prices here and there.

I would think the way you live is what decide each ones budget.

But however it should be possible to make it on less than in the west.

[/b]phormio

You are probably correct about that.

However if I look at my own country in this fact book it fit quit well.

Exactly where, and on what planet, do you live?

“You can so say!”

However I shall admit that to say everything is 5-10 times less expensive in Thailand than in the west not always will hold stand, because its also a great price range in many western countries.

But my personal experience from Thailand for near eight years is that I up to this day not have found one simple thing which is near the cost of what the same thing cost in my home country and most thing I use daily,monthly is around five times less expensive here than home, and sometimes up to ten times

That includes food, drinks, water, electricity, apartment, transport, and gasoline and many more things++

BTW. I did not post because I live from 30000, - Baht a month. No unfortunately not. But I know people who do and they are not local Thais.

Average income in Thailand 2003 was US 7400, -

Which is approximately 307,000, - Baht. Divide that with twelve months and you get around 25500, - Baht.

If your budget is 30,000, - Baht you are almost 20% over the average income so

You should manage it.

In comparison the average income in many western countries is around US 30-38000, -

The expenses are also 5-10 times higher than in Thailand. Can people live from

US 30-38000, - in a western country annually + 20%? Sure they can.

But if the bills go up here I guess the difference is the way we live and spend money here and how we spend it home. It’s costly both here and in the west if on a long, long holiday.

Sure better roads will help. But every time I head out to the main road I feel it’s a lot of people who could learn a lot with the logic of this old English saying:

Don't go near the water until you learn how to swim.

If you only present 800K every year for extension, which was parked in a bank account immigration might wish to know what you have been living from.

Axel. Its Off topic but I only had to.

Sure, and if you come and show them the same amount in income ++(Statement from Embassy) they will ask for the same amount in your bankbook.

Anf if you have both, but no whisky under the table, you are a drug dealer.

Christian Marriage

Ephesians 1-33.

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, F13 that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit* is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God. [/b]22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing,but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

It`s some tennis lanes near the "Court" in Phuket Town, also open in the evening.

Don`t know if its open for "foreigners"

Le Meridien also have tennis facilities!

Phuket "was" nice. I remember the weeks up to "high season" in the good old days, the time when the sunny weather begin to dominate.

It was great. Take your car/motorbike or better bicycle in the morning, just when the sun rise, traffic was nothing to worry about, driving out to Kamala. Coffee break at a local coffee shop in Kathu. Early swim in the ocean and still able to be back in Phuket town before 0900.

Now it is construction,dust,traffic jam and Phuket reminds more about a big parking lot than a paradise.

Next destination. "TRANG"

13 dead and 1000 injured in one month!

The traffic deaths have actually decreased the last 3-4 years. Usually it was more than 200 people who died on the roads annually in Phuket.

Them roads are a death trap

Nothing to do with the roads, but absolutely with the brain behind the steeringwheel!

"Thai women should preserve old culture about sexual behaviour."

[/b]preserve old culture

Preserve old culture

preserve old culture

The Governor, who recently returned from a trip to the US, said Immigration, the Labor Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would all need to upgrade their procedures and services to international standard in order to enable Phuket to do the same.

[/b]THAT IS OUR MAN