ChiangMaiFun

Thanks for contributions... was hoping to find a nice little therapist (at reasonable cost) who specialized in it but not within some Spa or Hospital setting - you know a Chinese practitioner off Warrarot type of thing

We on this forum love CM, but there's a million other options for people out there and the reality is that this country isn't overly appealing for most people.

That's true only for those in the high-income bracket. For the rest of us, Thailand is, dare I say, most welcoming (albeit with some irritants!) for those who just want a nice quiet retirement and are not seeking to operate a business or own property.

'most welcoming' might be stretching it a tad? with 90 day reporting, limits on strumming guitars in public and double pricing'?

90-day reporting: A minor inconvenience. Besides, I think we'll all be able to mail in our 90-day report or do it online in the very near future.

Strumming guitars in public: Don't do it in a way that may antagonize local businesses or put Thais at a disadvantage and you'll be okay.

Double-pricing. I've solved that problem...I don't go to these places. Even if they made Thais pay 200 B just like farangs, I'd still feel ripped off, as I don't think it's worth that much anyway. You can probably find equivalent sites that are accessible at no charge, and probably better, since it wouldn't be as touristy.

Jeeze.., another Pseudo Thai - can't you just see it for what it is? yes the outputs outweigh the inputs (or we would not be here) but...

Not as much as you seem to think. Thais see differences that perhaps you do not.

Perhaps. Wiki says there are about 2 million foreigners here.

Hi <Jackers>

Can I just ask how long you have been living in Thailand, or anywhere else in Asia for that matter, and your home country? This would assist me in seeing where you are coming from.

If you have already informed of this, then I apologise.

Many thanks

This is around my 3rd week in Thailand, I spent 10 months in Philippines, 2 months in Nepal, 5 months in India and a couple of days in Malaysia.

it shows... boy does it show...

well... I recently sold a property and have approx. 5m or so in cash - I was looking at Bangkok Banks Mutual 'Infrastructure' Fund as I can't see Utilities etc. failing over the Medium Term - I guess I'm a Medium to High Risk investor - splitting my funds 50/50. Aiming for as close to 10% as I can get.

Why on earth would anyone want to monitor our Thai elections?

It is not as if we ever have coups or rig elections here is it?

Thailand is to free and fair elections and democracy as is cow dung to high quiescence food.

Is it 14 coups or is it more?

No matter because the elected Parliament and PM does not run the nation anyway.

If a coup is an over throw of the people in control of a government, then Thailand has not had a coup for a long long time now.

of course if this is true, and it is, then Thailand is not really a democracy, and it is not.

The heat is on all over the world these days for non-democratic regimes.

Funny that North African and Arab nation could become democracies before Siam.

One last comment--how many posters here are Thai government workers posting Propaganda?

Just curious.

DO Not CARE what you do in Siam really though.

The place is laughable. Lots of nice people but would never raise my children there.

no oil here...

We on this forum love CM, but there's a million other options for people out there and the reality is that this country isn't overly appealing for most people.

That's true only for those in the high-income bracket. For the rest of us, Thailand is, dare I say, most welcoming (albeit with some irritants!) for those who just want a nice quiet retirement and are not seeking to operate a business or own property.

'most welcoming' might be stretching it a tad? with 90 day reporting, limits on strumming guitars in public and double pricing'?

The situation is that our building use to house many Japanese executives who last year got

Their marching order to pack up and head back home

That is something of a niche market. Japan has some of the world's most expensive "ordinary" property so everything outside Japan looks absurdly cheap, and Japanese companies probably pay incredibly high wages and expenses also. No real surprise that if that dries up there is no one around to replace them at the same prices.

I just got a Japanese executive - so they are still around!

Think it's time to move on. Got the house up for sale and two good offers to teach, where I don't have to give a pass marks to kids who fail. Sad as I do love this country, but having to report like a criminal to immigration every three months, and being charged 400% more than my Thai wife and kids when we visit a park, is starting to where thin. Eu should apply the same laws to visiting Thai's, then when Mr Abscise next visits, he can have a taste of the discrimination we expats endure every day.

In the UK kids who fail exams, automatically go up to the next year. It's no different in Thailand.

They don't go into University without grades nor proceed very far - Thai education cannot be compared it's like comparing the Thai national Football Team with Manchester United

Reporting to Immigration every 3 months is not really a big deal. 20 minutes and you in then out. I certainly don't feel like a criminal.

It's a waste of staffing time, our time and serves NO purpose

The last time I visited a national park that has 2-tier pricing was around 6 years ago. I showed my drivers licence and got in for the same price as my wife.

This is true - but can you imagine the Tate in London charging TWO levels? it's a relic and nationalistic

Abscise (Abhisit?) has a British passport, British birth certificate and is British.

He has dual-Nationality - luckily his Deputy has pointed out that he 'doesn't respect Farangs' so that must include his Boss right?

If these are your reasons for leaving Thailand, good luck and good bye.

bit harsh as he has spoken what most of us feel here - but we stay because the good points outweigh the bad (for us) if he's decided the outputs don't exceed the inputs then that's fair enough?

Excuse me for coming very late into this discussion.

I am not about to plough through 17 pages to see if my point has already been made, so I will just make it and retreat to the hills…

Suthep Thaugsuban almost single handily brought down the Democrat-led government of the mid 90's by a corrupt act.

Suthep was Agricultutre Minister and gave title deeds to 592 plots of land in Phuket province to 489 farmers. It was later found that members of 11 wealthy families in Phuket were among the recipients. The scandal led Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai of the Democrat Party to dissolve the House of Representatives in July 1995 in order to avoid the no-confidence debate.

Then, more recently, in 2009, Suthep was accused of violating the Constitution by holding equity in a media firm that had received concessions from the government. Under the 1997 Constitution of Thailand, which Suthep had supported, Members of Parliament are banned from holding stakes in companies which have received government concessions. In July 2009, the Election Commission announced that it would seek a ruling by the Constitutional Court to disqualify Suthep from having allegedly violated the charter. Suthep then resigned from Parliament. If his case had been submitted to the Constitution Court, he would have been suspended from duty as Deputy Prime Minister.

The mind boggles as to why a person with such an unsavoury background would be appointed and retained as Deputy PM by the so-called 'Mr Clean', PM Abhisit.

The assumption is that Suthep still wields enormous influence and power.

The above is a mere snippet of how these politicians, (of all parties), operate and how so many of them are known to be corrupt and have disreputable past histories that would disqualify them from public office in any properly functioning democracy.

It is hardly surprising that a corrupt, self-seeking creep like Suthep would make such 'throw away' remarks as 'I don't respect farangs'…. Of course he doesn't respect farangs – the only things he respects are money, power and corruption. Much the same as his erstwhile foe, the estimable Mr. Thaksin.

excellent post!

Abhisit will never,ever win over people up here whilst he retains Suthep - he is widely hated

every second person is an 'agent' here! there are some decent agents but trawl their web sites and find something you like - go VISIT the condo or moo baan and look on the notice board. If you save the commission for the seller negotiate a discount. You can put in on VIBES new site too - it's free.

Thanks - and of course when you said 'no need to read the post' I HAD to read the post!

Hi

It seems that this topic has generated a lively discussion from all point of views

with valid comments and questions,

The situation is that our building use to house many Japanese executives who last year got

Their marching order to pack up and head back home, those people had kids born in Thailand

and i watched them grow up, alas, when the financial melt down has hit the world many expats

and senior management people were sent back home, replacement are at the trickle now and and

RE agents come with potential tenants and with a long list of other properties to show,

It has become so bad that we don't even get a fee offer, let alone negotiate, we use to get

3-4 rental enquiries a day, and hardly one,

Top View Tower is a well maintained, modern building with all the amenities you'd expect to find

in any up to date condominium complex, the unit size are around 116 SQM each tastefully decorated

and each come with personal and assigned parking space,

Top View Tower is situated in a quiet dead end St. hence to thru traffic, with 10 Min walk to Either

thonglor or Ekamai BTS,

The area of soi 57 up to 61 has become very popular with several new mega properties have been

completed and couple more are being built and the competition is stiff,

Since i have posted at a low rent and free 2 month rent, not one enquiry, nil, Nada, ziltz,

and i was always told that investing in bricks and mortar is the safest investment there is,

sell it? I'm looking for a cheap room in BKK

isn't the OP the owner of Dukes?

No.

similar name - apologies

Twas only a Sunday morning jest

ah ok... 2,500 massacred. Hilarious stuff to jest about.

I wasn't joking about the drugs war - please don't be so dumb? I was joking about the UN meaning Uncle not United Nations - get a humour!

wrong info - ignore post pls

Fire cupping or simply cupping is a form of traditional medicine found in many cultures worldwide. It involves placing cups containing reduced air pressure (suction) on the skin. It is known in local languages as baguan/baguar, badkesh, banki, bahnkes, bekam, buhang, bentusa, kyukaku, gak hoi, hijama, and many other names.

Before I say what I am about to say, please understand that I am not asking for myself, in fact, I feel quite uncomfortable accepting help from anyone ...but this volunteer program/problem re work permits, seems easy to avoid.

Things don't need to be set up formally as some volunteer program. Is AA set up like that? NO. Can they meet together and help each other? YES.

We could very easily have some program, where people could visit shut-ins, reclusive people, if we wanted to do that. In other countries, there are groups and people who go visit old people in homes, to give them some social life, or they bring pets to give them access to that, etc.

I know, that when I randomly meet some farang, I feel sort of crazy, because the topic is always Thai life, something, and I just cannot control my need to chatter on and on, about things I don't like here ...really no matter how hard I try ...there is a lot of pent up frustration. If I actually had a regular social life, this wouldn't be a problem, I think, because I could get out little bits here and there, and not go off on a tangent.

I mean really, I have liked Orang37 for a long time, I would love to meet you! I think we might have a lot in common. However, how do you start that without looking like a freak?

Western cultures aren't really good for asking for help ....while on the other hand, Thai people are very good at expressing their needs for help, not ashamed at all to ask for anything really ...it is a shockingly different culture, which I am sure many people here have become aware of.

I am sure many of you are aware of how, as an example, Thai people in foreign countries, treat each other. They gang up, they share info they learn how to survive, etc. I seriously doubt they are ripping each other to pieces on an internet forum. And actually I think those of use who do that, are really expressing how pissed off they are at Thai people, Thai spouses, Thai whatever, because this is a very frustrating place to live, unless you happen to be a person who doesn't like the truth, doesn't like specific answers to questions, likes vague plans, and like people to be unable to pin you down.

I feel like I could be happy here, if I had at least a few good freinds. Not Thai freinds, they don't count as far as what I have experienced. Some of us, have no Thai "family" even if they are good or bad. How to do this? I have no idea, as for myself, I exposed some of my personal details on TV, that I have never once told to anyone in Thailand. And actually I felt quite ashamed to have done that. I was expecting flames from hell. Luckily for me, for once, I didn't get that.

Every single time I go to Rimping for example, I see many farangs, but it is just weird to start up a conversation and then also ask for their phone number. I don't know what is the answer.

you have echoed many feelings here that many share - it's not my cup of tea but there is the ex-pats club

what would be considered 'livable' here? I know some people (farang) on 25,000 - Thais of course can survive on 5,000+

So do a few Farangs!

is that really true? some farangs live on 100 quid a month?

<br />Stop shouting I'm not deaf!<br />

<br /><br /><br />

He means: please don't use capital letters like that. It's known in this 'ere electronic world as "shouting" and deemed to be rather rude.

Your budget would give you quite a lot of choice around here. A 1 year period even better.

I don't know about vacancies but it's worth researching Rimping Condo, Royal Lanna (condotel), Floral Condo and Galae Tong Tower (my personal favourite - as a casual visitor to residents in these various places, I hastily add).

Hillside 4 is older and maybe cheaper, but the lifts are small and slow, the atmosphere is rather dismal and in the rainy season water blows in through the window frames. South facing.

Galae Thong tower is AWFUL no pool, little parking, poor management - have to drive past karaokes at night to get to it. There are far better. I would suggest H4 or Supanich depending where you want to be but avoid Nimman as it's too noisy.

Can you imagine?

David Cameron Deputy saying: 'I don't respect Africans'

Binden saying: 'I don't respect Arabs'

and why the 'oh so quiet' Abhisit? he should be publically disassociating himself from HIS DPM

Thaksin used to say: "UN is not my father".

yea but he meant 'Uncle' (Un is Thai shortening) so 'Uncle is not my Father' pretty reasonable actually

Quite the dishonest apologist that attempts to hide the reality of a Drug War gaff :

"UN is not my father" -- in a reply to a reporter when asked to comment on the Human Rights Office of the UN going to send officers to observe the implementation of the Thai Anti-drug scheme. [March 2003]

Thaksin Shinawatra wikiquotes

Twas only a Sunday morning jest

Thaksin used to say: "UN is not my father".

yea but he meant 'Uncle' (Un is Thai shortening) so 'Uncle is not my Father' pretty reasonable actually

kick around seems a great idea - prefer that to 'organised' matches - any age group? or free for all? if you want a kick around and a few get together let me know

what would be considered 'livable' here? I know some people (farang) on 25,000 - Thais of course can survive on 5,000+

SET mutual funds? if so which ones? any other places? not too high risk?

MUST be in Thailand and not include property - so talking about the financial sector