wensiensheng

6 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

400 baht large rooms? No

I did say great value for HIGH quality. 400 baht rooms in Thailand aren’t up to much.

But now I agree with you. Thailand is much better for 400 baht rooms. 

1 minute ago, Cameroni said:

 

Singapore has some passable malls and the food is very good, like in Chiang Mai. However in Chiang Mai there is a more  cosmopolitan offering due to the breadth of foreigners who've chosen Chiang Mai as a second home. You certainly won't get baguette as good as in Chiang Mai in Singapore.

 

Then of course you can't drive in Singapore, you're forced to use taxis or public transport. It's far hotter than Thailand.. 

 

There are no mountains close to Singapore. No wealth of themed cafes. No elephant sanctuaries. No charming festivals.

 

Singapore is okay for a short visit. But to live, Chiang Mai wins hands down. Not just because of the exorbitant prices in Singapore.

Guess we’ll have to agree to disagree in respect of Singapore. 
 

one thing I do agree with you is that Singapore doesn’t have mountains. 
 

It does have an excellent zoo and night safari to rival tired and smelly elephant sanctuaries, excellent baguettes if you go to the right place although bread isn’t a cultural thing. Themed cafes? That’s a thing in Chang Mai? Don’t think you can get more cosmopolitan than Singapore, granted most of the foreigners are working rather than retired. Maybe you do have to take public transport or taxis in Singapore, on the other hand, silver lining, the chance of being mown down on a zebra crossing is far less. And if Singapore is a second home, of course you can drive.

TBH comparing Singapore to Chiang Mai is comparing apples and oranges. Two very different places to live.

3 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

My opinion. 

Sure. Whether Singapore is boring or not. The Tokyo thing is a mathematical comparison though. I think you’d be surprised just how much value is provided by Japan in general. It’s taken a bit of a hit just recently for Americans because of the USD to JPY fx rate, but overall I find it great value for high quality 

22 minutes ago, HK MacPhooey said:

LA County is being destroyed by the extreme leftist policies of Governor Newson and the woke DEI Mayor. This goes for all the ‘sanctuary’ cities across the USA.

 

Fortunately they have a President who against all odds is implementing the necessary policies to help correct that decline, the policies he promised the electorate and is delivering on. 

Maybe, but do you have anything to say about Chang Mai’s ranking in a survey? Just because, you know, that’s what this thread is about

6 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Singapore is boring. Tokyo expensive.

Cant see how Singapore is boring. And Tokyo offers great value these days after decades of low inflation compared to other countries.

I think you need to get out more and move away from out dated stereotypes.

Now if you had said Singapore is expensive…..

5 hours ago, Formaleins said:

Do I detect sarcasm? The Indians appear to all pitch in a few Baht and then about 20 of them bang the girls like a barn door in the wind. Horses for courses I guess. The Chinese tourists band together and pitch in their cash and about 20 of them share a plate of fried rice or similar, either way, a lot of people are getting "sloppy seconds"

I don’t think Chinese share plates of rice. Too much stereotype from centuries ago in that. In fact, a frequent display of wealth for Chinese is to order too much food and leave most of it uneaten.

They DO travel in large groups on tour buses and do group tour activities. Quite a few like to rent villas and buy a ton of stuff in 7-11 while shouting to their friends on the other side of the store.

I know we all laugh about zero baht tours and the like, but we scoff at the wealth of Chinese in general, at our peril. There are a lot of very rich Chinese and they all like their food.

I bet every quality high end tourist is breathing a sigh of relief that they can now come to Thailand and stay in a 5 star resort and not have to fork out 300 baht arrival tax.

Even for a well to do or comfortably off family of four, it’s only 1,200 baht. Is it really something that will change their decision to visit?

Back packers might feel it financially I suppose.

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I think for those of us of a certain age this whole social media and "going viral" nonsense is quite tiresome.

 

I guess when it works when it works, but once that virus dissipates what remains? 

The next viral video. There’s a never ending stream of them and you never have to leave your lounge.

its the new generation, where likes and follows have deep meaning.

Strange they didn’t lease a new location before the lease on the old one expired.

I mean, if they were doing so well, you’d think they would want to have a seamless transition

15 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

Stupid and insensitive comment.

 

You think they said, "Hey, baby.  How about we head back to your hotel room and then rob you of all your cash while you sit helpless and defenceless in a wheelchair?  Does that sound like fun to you?"

Nope, I don’t think that.

i do thank that they were all returning to his hotel room for paid sex. As agreed by all of them. So no deception there.

If he did that of his own free will with strangers, then he exposed himself to a big risk. I don’t have much sympathy for him.

Call it “insensitive “ but when I see stupidity, I call it that.

2 hours ago, Xonax said:

Not much info in the article. Maybe the stolen items was items he had gifted to his bargirl girlfriend, who did not love him long time anymore?

Maybe, but it says that the victim’s nationality are undisclosed, so I assume she isn’t Thai.

Sounds like a domestic argument that got out of hand.

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

This happened nowhere near Kata, 

Actually, not THAT far. Rawai is about 11km away over the cliff road.

The surprising thing would be if there WASNT a bunch of schemes in play to disguise this or that malfeasance.

Its par for the course by politicians worldwide and is something that Thailand is truly the hub of.

10 hours ago, garygooner said:

Hope his dream of visiting Fratton Park comes true one day ... if he can afford it. 

If he hadn’t spent so much money on shirts, maybe he could have afforded it!

Well, I suppose he doesn’t really fit the profile of quality tourist that TAY is supppsedly targeting.

He presumably has at least some money, because he has to do visa runs every two months or so. Not sure the actual requirements for Iranian nationals.

I suppose immigration should be ready to pounce if he overstays. Meantime, in most countries I think it’s illegal to sleep overnight on a beach.

17 hours ago, bannork said:

Could we have some details please rather than just ' without structure or purpose you'll be lost' and 'success requires community, clarity and planning '. 

Sounds like the author is just stating the obvious, still, I like his former job description-  ' a former cider mogul'.

Wonder if he ever dealt in the Somerset Scrumpy direct from the barrel. 

Almost transparent with a mild, deceptive taste, just a couple  of glasses of that stuff would send you reeling. 

Drinking that certainly requires structure, clarity and planning.

 

 

Think you have to buy the book and read it for more details. This is a teaser

20 hours ago, Magictoad said:

Mansfield is dread. I would not live there if you paid me. She and he can get TEFL jobs. Teaching adults English as a foreign language.  Though one or two I'll informed people on this forum criticise the profession that is always ignorant people who don't know what they are talking about. The beauty of teaching English as a Foreign Language is that you can progress up to PhD Level but start with a certificate from International House or the British Council. It is also a good way to meet people. I WISH THEM LUCK.

If Mansfield is so bad (I don’t know I haven’t been there) why doesn’t he relocate to Cornwall, or Devon, or somewhere else nice in the UK?

I’m all for following dreams by moving to another country, I’ve done it myself 3 times, to Jersey as a teenager, to Singapore in my 30’s and Thailand in my 50’s, but this guy has no plans in place and is dragging his kids along for an adventure that he should have done when he was a teenager. All for a bit of sun that he will soon get sick of.

24 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Great..will order a Mustang on day 1. More winning, thanks to Trump

You can get a mustang now…for 5mil baht. So day 1 it’s 2.5 min baht, you still going to buy one? There’s a lot of plastic and huge depreciation to enjoy with a mustang.

4 hours ago, ezflip said:

The thai roads aren't safe enough with right-hand drive vehicles and you want to introduce left-hand vehicles in the mix???

Yes. That bit, if true, is from another planet.

On 7/14/2025 at 10:58 PM, Airalee said:

I didn’t realize that ME conglomerates were buying up agricultural land (or trying to….did they succeed?).  Thailand (or any other country) would be foolish to sell off assets like that.   Should just stick with condos for retirees.

I think it’s something that was a big thing a few years back, then got profiled and so caused a big fuss.

purchasing Thai rice exports and exploring future joint investments in rice manufacturing and agriculture, with some concerns about illegal foreign land ownership through nominees. o

Key points:

Demand for Thai Rice:

Countries in the Middle East, due to high purchasing power and limited agricultural output, are significant importers of Thai rice. In 2022, the UAE expressed interest in purchasing Thai rice and potentially becoming a gateway for Thai agricultural exports to the region. Recent reports also indicate higher Middle East demano boosting Thai rice exports, according to trends mena. ®

Investment in Rice Manufacturing:

Beyond direct land acquisition, there's potential for private sector collaboration in rice manufacturing and other agricultural ventures in Thailand, such as the UAE's interest in jointly investing in rice manufacturing. &

Restrictions on Land Ownership:

Thai law generally prohibits foreigners from owning agricultural land, including rice fields, under the Foreign Business Act. However, there are concerns and reports of foreign land ownership, including by Middle Eastern businessmen, through Thai nominees, which is illegal. &

Q middle east company buying thai rice fields

Mods edit - font size corrected.

5 minutes ago, Airalee said:

From what I understand, Vietnam recently (in the last couple years) won the “worlds best rice” medal knocking the Thai Hom Mali rice off it’s pedestal.

 

And the people who import the rice…..do they need more?   One can only eat so much.

 

And like I have asked before…..which countries would fill the supposed void?

From what I understand, a lot of Thai rice is shipped to the Middle East. In fact I THINK I am right in saying that there was a big curfuffle a few years ago because a certain middle eastern conglomerate was buying up big rice fields north of Bangkok.

But you are right of course, other countries produce rice and the US tariffs wouldn’t effect rice sales to ME

4 hours ago, Airalee said:

I have.  And I haven’t found a country yet that needs anything Thailand is selling that they can’t buy elsewhere….for less.

Rice? Just speculating, I don’t know for sure