carib102

TV would be a much better communitity if people would just answer the OP's question and if they don't have an answer, don't bother posting anything.

I live in Pattaya with my wife of 7 years, our 6 year old daughter and 1 year old son.

• Rent - 10,000
• Nanny (Wife's Mother to help with the baby) - 6,000
• Electric bill - 2,300
• Cable TV bill - 300
• Water bill - 550
• Internet bill - 650
• School (70% English program for the 6 year old) - 7,000
• Food and daily spending cash - 30,000 ( I budget 1000 a day)
• Diapers and formula - 4,000

Total: 60,800 per month.

My cars are paid for, I don't have a car payment. Gas is usually covered by my 1000 a day allowance.

Auto insurance and health insurance are paid yearly and not included above.

I keep an account with money for any emergencies not included above,

I do make and spend much more than this, but it is my monthly budget for necessities.

I do not go to the bars, I do not drink heavlily, I do not pay for short time "company". We go out to a nice dinner about 2 times per week but usually eat Thai style.

I don't give my wife 20,000 a month, or any other payment for her happiness. We are both very content with OUR budget that we manage together. Don't listen to everyone's comments about Thai wives. If you're 60 and you're wife is 18, you probably fall in that catagory but there are plenty of people in Pattaya with perfectly normal relationships.

Hope it helps.

We live in Bangkok (me, wife and 3 y/o daughter) and our budget and expenses are virtually identical to this. We do have a car payment, but no nanny employed so that's a wash. My wife works outside the house and attends school at nights so our monthly expenses come to 70-75k. We also eat out about 2x/week, go to the cinema 1-2x a month and travel outside Bangkok for a weekend getaway every couple months.

"causing difficulties for all cab drivers to make both ends meet." Pity really because, as far as I'm concerned, all taxi drivers the world over, can kiss their a33's

What a stupid and irrelevant post. How do you think people would get by without them??

Not so irrelevant...i really cant remember the last time i used either a taxi or motocyc taxi in any country.

So sorry to have to break the news to you but this thread is not about you.

Well really I am not sorry.

555+

Raise the starting fare to 45 baht. There, everyone happy? Even at 45 baht starting your fare will likely be under 100 baht (unless you are doing a 90 day report). Try to get a fare that cheap anywhere in the west. Cheap bastards.

Unemployment is almost nil so if you do not like the job you are doing, go do something else instead that gives you a decent salary, we all need less taxis on the road and more decent other forms of public transportation, like air con buses, most skytrains and underground.

We all know where the heart of Yinyuck support comes from and road transportation, so anything relating to roads network and away from the rail network will keep her support.

As I said if you are not making ends meet then go do another job like construction since this is in dire need of more workers or is it you just want to sit on your a*se and rip off the tourists and smear the good name of Thailand like Phuket is doing now!!!!

The reason unemployment is almost nil is because there are 100 million jobs out there paying squat. If the minimum wage were raised to an actual living wage you would see unemployment far in excess of that in the U.S., U.K and Australia. If Thailand had welfare schemes similar to those countries you would see an even greater rise in unemployment. The unemployment rate in Thailand is most definitely manufactured by government policy.

That should be just enough to push the USD back to 30.50-31.00 range.

I don't have personal experience, but a good friend of mine has just enrolled his daughter there 2 weeks ago and is very happy with the school. His wife has also been posting videos on Facebook of some of the school activities and it looks to be a very good school to me. His daughter is 3 1/2 years old. He has said that she is also very happy with the school and looks forward to going each day.

It amazes me how uneducated long term expats are about the Karaoke scene in Chiang Mai and how it actually works. If you're a long term expat why you getting a tuk tuk driver to take you anywhere anyway? I've been to every single Karaoke there is in Chiang Mai never had a problem and i'm sorry but karaoke is not just for Thai's and japanese.

Here. I'll give you an example of why I occasionally use tuk tuks. I have eye problems. Once a year I need to get them checked out which requires dialation. Once my eye's are dialated, I can't see worth a hill of beans. So generally, I'll have a tuk tuk take me home. I don't want to deal with Songtawn and riding all over town. I just want to get from the hospital back to the front gate of my home as quickly as I can. Like I said before: I speak only Thai, negotiate the price up front, memorize the tuk tuk number, and I've never had a problem. I'll also use tuk tuk when I'm in a hurry to get somewhere and don't want to drive.

I think during the day and at night are quite different beasts. I take the tuk tuk all the time during the day with my daughter (she loves it). In fact, the drivers have actually come to know my routine and the same drivers are often available near her school...though maybe its just their routine. The guys at Tops are also first rate and a huge help with my bags and daughter. Just depends where you are and what time of day/night it is.

If you are out after midnight in Thailand expect to be scammed. Though I have to say that in 15 years of traveling and living here I have never had this type of problem. Most of the tuk tuk's and motocy's I've taken have been quite friendly. Maybe I got lucky and picked the non-mafia ones LOL. Doubtful considering my points of origin at 3am. Just keep in the back of your mind at all times that the possibility exists for extortion and/or violence and always have a plan B.

When in the UK are you allowed to pass on the left on a single lane road? Neither are it supposed to be done here, but many expats start to drive like the Thai's. Pass on the right hand side and if the guy cuts you off he's an ass.... Too many expats forget about normal driving rules when in Thailand and then get killed in stupid accidents. As to allowing a gap infront of the vehicle for a mc to pass, well it have happened many times that when I do that the mc trying to pass infront of my vehicle can't enter the next lane as its already full of other mc's. In the end my lane is blocked by the mc and when the traffic light turns green the vehicles driving within the rules can't go. Courtesy works both ways.

There is also a traffic rule that says all vehicles must use the left lane when it's free.

As you say, I drive local style. I see no reason to take further risks by crossing 2 lanes to overtake the vehicle, as the left lane was free.

Regarding the gap, I have no issue with drivers closing the gap by default.

I am not so arrogant to request car drivers to give MC drivers special privileges. I just request car drivers to not hinder motorcyclists on purpose.

I do have an issue with drivers that are already stopped waiting - with a gap - and who then close the gap when they see a motorcycle approaching.

"lane blocked by the MC" is highly unlikely, because if a MC cannot move, how can a car?

Outed grumpy expat car driver count so far: 4

Not sure about Pattaya, but in Bangkok the left lane is rarely free because of sidewalk vendors/double parked cars

I'm also not sure about the driving laws in Thailand...is it legal for MC's to pass cars whenever and wherever they like? TBH I'm tired of having to remain triply vigilant when driving because of all the MC's who feel they can pass wherever and whenever they like. And I can assure you that when at a red light in Bangkok I ALWAYS block at least one side and the front gap...to many times I have been trapped in a sea of MC's when the light turns green because of those gaps. Despite the preceding (which may sound differently) I have no animosity towards MC's as long as they obey the rules of the road.

rant over and GOECD count now +1 I suppose (though I'm not that old TBH)

I don't focus on old people. The thread's title is "Grumpy Expat Car Drivers from Hell".

I don't mind cars choosing a place to stop and remaining there for the length of the phase, but people going out of their way moving their car again after it had stopped to specially hinder motorcycles are very annoying.

Sorry, I thought there were some references to old people in the thread, I see now that they weren't yours.

LOL...no I don't move the car. I've become quite adept at stopping in such a way as to avoid gaps

C'mon now, New Orleans is below sea level and as we all know there have been no problems...oh shit nevermind. Guess it's time to move upcountry before the prices get too high.

When in the UK are you allowed to pass on the left on a single lane road? Neither are it supposed to be done here, but many expats start to drive like the Thai's. Pass on the right hand side and if the guy cuts you off he's an ass.... Too many expats forget about normal driving rules when in Thailand and then get killed in stupid accidents. As to allowing a gap infront of the vehicle for a mc to pass, well it have happened many times that when I do that the mc trying to pass infront of my vehicle can't enter the next lane as its already full of other mc's. In the end my lane is blocked by the mc and when the traffic light turns green the vehicles driving within the rules can't go. Courtesy works both ways.

There is also a traffic rule that says all vehicles must use the left lane when it's free.

As you say, I drive local style. I see no reason to take further risks by crossing 2 lanes to overtake the vehicle, as the left lane was free.

Regarding the gap, I have no issue with drivers closing the gap by default.

I am not so arrogant to request car drivers to give MC drivers special privileges. I just request car drivers to not hinder motorcyclists on purpose.

I do have an issue with drivers that are already stopped waiting - with a gap - and who then close the gap when they see a motorcycle approaching.

"lane blocked by the MC" is highly unlikely, because if a MC cannot move, how can a car?

Outed grumpy expat car driver count so far: 4

Not sure about Pattaya, but in Bangkok the left lane is rarely free because of sidewalk vendors/double parked cars

I'm also not sure about the driving laws in Thailand...is it legal for MC's to pass cars whenever and wherever they like? TBH I'm tired of having to remain triply vigilant when driving because of all the MC's who feel they can pass wherever and whenever they like. And I can assure you that when at a red light in Bangkok I ALWAYS block at least one side and the front gap...to many times I have been trapped in a sea of MC's when the light turns green because of those gaps. Despite the preceding (which may sound differently) I have no animosity towards MC's as long as they obey the rules of the road.

rant over and GOECD count now +1 I suppose (though I'm not that old TBH)

There's no need to add extra trains. When the crowding gets worse they can simply do like the Japanese.

Back to the U.S. at the end of the month and I'm gonna get me one of those big juicy hunks 'o meat! Really, the steaks here are atrocious unless you have the $$$ to buy USDA, Aus, or Japanese beef.

There is an ASUS service center near the Rama 9 MRT station.

gold price hits lowest level in 30 years

= rubbish!

Just poor journalism. What was meant is that gold suffered its worst single session decline in 30 years on a percentage basis. It is nowhere near its lowest levels of 30 years and anyone who believes that tripe has no business speculating in gold. And anyone who wrote that has no business reporting on the financial sector.

Just renewed a one year, upgraded to 5 years in Bangkok. They actually gave me nearly 6 years as it appears they make the expiration your next birthday after the 5 year anniversary (same scenario for my wife who renewed a week earlier. Requirements were the health certificate (80Bt from clinic), copy of passport signature page and visa stamp/extension, affidavit of residency from embassy (1,550Bt from U.S. embassy), and had to take the physical tests again. All easy and straight forward. In and out within 1 hour.

Just curious how the Chinese and India currencies are doing again'st the Baht? Why the influx of these two countries into Thailand?

Baht strengthening against the CNY since mid-2011. Up from 0.1978 to recent high of 0.2144 (That's CNY per THB)

Also strengthening against the INR since mid-2007 (can't find a chart that goes back any further) Up from 1.2131 to a recent high of 1.8896 (INR per THB)

So, the strength of the baht supports the current call for a 2.2 trillion loan to improve infrastructure. Any more questions regarding why the baht is strengthening? In truth this is not really the reason, the current government is just taking advantage of the situation put in place by Western central banks (and now exacerbated by Japan).

The SET is up 300% since 2009...bubble?

"Finance Minister Kittirat na Ranong, offering assurances that the currency won't hit Bt27 to the US dollar, affirmed that no capital-control measures will be imposed" If there will be no measures imposed then how can he say that the baht won't hit Bt27 to the USD? Does he have a crystal ball? Projecting future currency rates is difficult in the short term and dangerous in the long term.

Thailand is not immune to the effects of all the currency printing going on in the West. In fact, I would say that it is just this printing of money that has caused the appreciation in the equity markets and the vast amounts of foreign investment in Thailand. Interesting that the rise in the baht and SET correspond with the onset of monetary easing in the U.S. and U.K. Coincidence?

Now ask yourself what happens to all the foreign investment in Thailand once the QE presses slow down. Possibly replaced with the Yen QE? If so, it will only serve to further inflate a bubble already caused by Western governments.

Keep in mind too that assets and markets appreciate slowly, but depreciate at a vastly accelerated rate.

Stop renting motocy to tourists. Problem 90% solved.

Oh yeah.

I'm sure the tourists are going to love that.

Any plans to compenate uh, like every-single business on Khao San, since they just robbed them out of one of the biggest sales weeks of the year. nahhh.

There will be a rebate scheme introduced, but it will be underfunded by 500%.

The figure of 9205 for road deaths seems very low to me. But have no definitive figures, I guess the 2012 figures are not available yet as they are still deciding what that figure should be.

Recently The Nation in an article used a figure of 'up to 26000 killed in road accidents per year in Thailand' which I think is closer the the real figure, but again no proof.

Article here http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Road-death-toll-in-Thailand-among-highest-in-the-w-30202066.html

the figures seem real enough:

http://www.thaiwebsites.com/caraccidents.asp

Also, I wonder how many of those deaths are due to emergency medical services not being as performant as in Europe?

In defense of the EMS services, its difficult to get there fast enough when no one will yield to you and you can't use road shoulders because they are already clogged with other cars using them as a lane or with street vendors and double parked cars.

Another pointless App and a hideous idea. Most tourists will travel at the mercy of locals, taxi, bus or tuk tuk. When the tourist get off the plane and a Thai taxi driver accosts him to come to his meterless cab with the seatbelts disconnected (as most are) I'm sure he will be thinking about this App.

Where are all these meterless taxis in Bangkok? I haven't seen a taxi without a meter here in probably 10 years. And I take taxis almost daily. As far as seatbelts go, well when in Rome etc etc. I understand the risks and never wore a seatbelt in the U.S. either. To be honest, unless you're on the expressway the traffic in Thailand rarely moves fast enough for a seatbelt to make much of a difference.

Will the app come with a breathalyzer?

And regarding the flashing of lights...I know in the dark provinces it means give me the right of way, but 90% of the time when I flash my lights in Bangkok the other driver understands that I am yielding the right of way. Driving in Bangkok is like driving in another country compared with anywhere else in Thailand.

As for Thai driving habits, as long as you realize that Thais drive cars pretty much the same way they drive motocy you can be fairly certain to avoid what you believe are crazy moves on the road. Makes sense when you consider that many (most?) Thais have been driving a motocy for 6-10 years before they get behind the wheel of a car.

What a whiney bunch of babies. If you aren't fond of the festivities just stay home, as I'm sure you would for major holidays in your home countries (at which times road deaths from drunk driving also increase).

Granted the plan is not well thought out and it is unlikely to result in any meaningful drop in drunk driving related deaths, but at least they did something to help save face. You gotta give 'em credit for that.

The problem isn't drunk driving per se...it is a lack of education and a lack of serious consequences for breaking the law. But then if they enforced the laws here it would be nothing more than our home nanny states with tropical weather...and I can get that in Florida (or Louisiana and Mississippi if I prefer the Issan experience).

There's no need to complain so much. If you want to drink there will be plenty of places where you can do so and if you want to avoid drunk drivers stay off the roads. As for me, I enjoy Songkran and will be out in the streets with my water gun at hand...so beware! I might even go as far as taking a motocy from place to place (riding, not driving. I don't drunk drive anymore). Shocking I know, but after all, TiT

I've often wondered why people here are so casual when it comes to flouting the law. One in three motor cyclists have no helmet, many are banked up on their bikes, mum, dad, two or three kids, no helmets, vastly under-aged kids riding motorbikes.

Then we get to motor vehicles, and it's so common, in fact usual, to see motorists running red lights, tailgating, overtaking on dangerous corners, pickups crowded with passengers on the back.

As for the poor pedestrian - the lowest form of life - where marked zebra crossings are usually ignored, and crossing a busy road such as Huay Kaew Rd in front of the shopping complex, it taking one big risk. Pity the poor tourist who thinks they have any sort of right of way on such a crossing.

What does all this boil down to? Total lack of respect for the law, OR fines nowhere near enough to worry anyone.

One day last week, at the RAM hospital corner, I saw 12 policemen of varying ranks, stopping motor cyclists and checking licences. I couldn't help wondering if they might not be doing a better job, patrolling zebra crossings, traffic lights, overloaded motor bikes.

If fines for minor infringements were a day's pay, and even more as the violation increases in its seriousness, people might actually stop and think about this. Adding a 'points system' to the fines which means repeat offenders have to walk or catch a bus for a year or two would also lower the accident rate.

The average western country has a number of disincentives for speeding, drunken driving, running red lights, and in the few instances where cameras are installed at lights, they're allowed to break down and left that way.

As it is, the fatalities in Thailand are at near-epidemic proportions, and as one reader has said, if it were SARS or similar, there would be panic.

Give the police the power to fine, and fine heavily. Ensure that all funds are paid direct to Treasury and not tea funds. Computerise the system and keep a track on points lost.

In America (and I think in other Western countries) the fines and court costs for drinking and driving add up to 2-3 months wages. On top of that are community service requirements, loss of drivers PRIVILEGES for 6-24 months, 3 days to several months in jail and the social stigma associated with drunk driving. Until Thailand gets to this level (decades away at a minimum), nothing will change on the drunk driving front.

Now to address all the other issues with Thai drivers, driving in Thailand, and road fatalities in Thailand...oh nevermind, I don't have months to prepare a hundred thousand word treatise...let's just say that the blood will continue to run red on the roads for a very long time here in the LOS.