TheGhostWithin

All you people who are cheering this are absolute scum, you know that? At least people who use ED visa's are trying to do something to stay here legitimately.

Some of you lot forget that we are essentially all here for similar reasons, it's just that not all of us are lucky enough to have a job or be over a certain age so that we can get the visa we need...

You might laugh now while you have your comfortable retirement visa or whatever it is, but one day they'll clamp down on those as well - then perhaps you'll wish you weren't quite so gleeful about the struggles of the rest of us to stay here. Morons. Shameful

Fully agree with you here - the fact that people are doing this, is only a symptom of a problem.

There are people, wealthy enough to fund a lifestyle WITHOUT working, or at least work over the phone/internet or run their own business and can do so from Thailand (servicing customers in their home countries), whom are under 45, or whatever the Non B retirement visa requirement for age is. Thailand does not understand, that in many western countries having a degree is not automatic - it is actually a huge challenge both financially and academically to graduate. In my country (New Zealand), only 25% of the population have a bachelors degree, 10% have a masters degree, and 4% have a PHd. We cannot buy degrees, or fake test scores unlike certain universities in Thailand have been caught doing, and some of my friends have taken advantage of to come here to NZ on.

I have worked since I was 15 years old, and am in the top 10% of earners in my country - I have no degree. Why? My parents abandoned me at a young age, and it would cost me more to stop working and graduate, than to continue what I am doing until I am 45 and quality for the retirement visa. If it is not 45, I know it is in the Phils.

Just like Thai doctors (another issue), stop attacking the symptoms, understand the cause and fix it. The cause is, you do not offer a long term opportunity for financially well off earners under 45 to remain in Thailand 100% legally more than the tourist visa will allow them to. Fix it?

In most countries, a fugitive who has pending sentences awaiting his return would not be considered part of the political system in any way - it is strange that he is in Thailand.

A shrewd businessman, but shocked me to see someone that encouraged his people to rise against the government and protest violently using arms and other weapons now calling for others to respect the decision. One should lead by example, if they wish to be heard clearly.

I sincerely hope that all parties can get down to talking - perhaps a coalition between both the democrats, and the PTP would be beneficial. Perhaps, the formation of a single party whereby decisions are democratically decided by internal votes and a dual leadership of a PTP and Democrat leader (at least at first) to avoid any party bias would help things out.

Both parties have to understand, that until Thailand begins producing higher grade products, it cannot give what it promises (higher wages) and have the country grow at the same time. Im sure the PM of Vietnam, and China can vouch for this. Perhaps making it easier for foreigners to play a part in their own businesses in a less restrictive environment and feeling welcome in the environment they provide to would be a good start.. rather than threatening to confiscate their land and black list them. Perhaps, and only perhaps, then you will see foreigners (not only Farang) bringing their high-end product and know how to the Thai market.

As the old saying goes, the bully can only ever rule the playground, the gangster can only ever rule the streets. Knowledge rules nations.

I stopped flying with Thai (as others mentioned they have) because of their off-the rack pricing. When they do have discounted flights, they are not well advertised (to the point travel agents often do not even know about them).

In flight service is very good, but absolutely not worth what you pay for off the rack pricing. And, I gather the NZ - BKK route is cheaper than those in Europe.

I can also confirm, they pay their staff low wages - my partner works in the airlines and told me so. To even get a job with them, its who you know, not what you know.

TG lose money, and they raise prices - go figure. Hopefully they will go bankrupt and someone else will take over their routes and provide the same service at a decent price.

I don't know how cash rich they are - most Asian countries have a few holding the majority of the money. China has an average income of $5000USd per capita per annum. Not exactly cash rich. More likely, a few wealthy groups lending money on very long loans (you know, the less you pay on a deposit means a higher accumulation of interest of the period of the loan, which was also part of the reason of the collapse in the US housing market. The Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong markets are now on the same way, with most fo the original owners now sold out (I have friends that sold all their property in China) and the new government rules in China to haltprice inflation on housing sales is something that Thailand should consider, but won't because it is a source of positive income flow into the Kingdom - they will then complain in 5 years when even their top tier managers cannot afford to get even a mortgage on any of these apartments on Sukhumvit.. or they will just have a crack down on Foreigners owning and renting properties in Thailand, putting pressure towards a bear market in the condo sector.

Most Thai people driving their brand new Sizuki Swifts etc, did not pay cash for them - they have them on 20-30 year loans. Just creative accounting, in a society which is from what I have seen just as over-leveraged as Hong Kong or Shanghai.

Don't quite agree as Asia is not only China. Countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and to a lesser extent, Indonesia have a large middle class (but please, let's not get into having to quote figures and all. We can just easily see that all around us). In Malaysia for eg, the maximum margin of financing is 90% but in most cases, the banks will only loan 70-80%. Bear in mind also that in many instances, the parents help out with the deposits. Thus, leverage is no where near as high as in the UK or US.

I guess that your friends that sold all their properties in China are basically taking profit while they can, in case the market crashes. There was a podcast on Money Talk with David Kuo not so long ago where the guest speaker made a very compelling case as to why boom and bust is unlikely in Asia including China, for pretty much the same reasons that I have mentioned above.

The main reason for the collapse of the US housing market is because the (criminal) banks lent money to people WHO COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPAY. In Asia, I don't believe that any house buyer would take a loan from a loan shark (I presume this is whom you mean by "a few wealthy groups lending money on very long loans") except maybe some poor rural folk (but that won't have any impact on property prices). Thus all mortgage loans will be through banks and licensed finance companies which vets the applicants thoroughly - which is why there was no housing collapse in Asia.

Interesting point you made about Thais taking out 20-30 year loans on cars - can you point me in the direction of some of these lenders? Considering that a car is normally expected to last 10-15 years, I reckon I can make a good living doing consultancy work for them on the Finance 101.

Thanks for the response - I did not realise that banks in TH only loan up to 80-90% of the value of the property. This of course is a good thing.

In regards to the companies doing long term loans on vehicles, I will need to check with my partner once she is home, as it is her friends that dabble in this type of thing. For me, in a country whereby I feel I am walking on a carpet which could be pulled from under me at any time depending on who decides to target you today, I deal mostly in cash - or with banks at home in New Zealand (I travel between the two countries at various times of the year).

You are correct that they could not afford to pay, which lead to sub-prime defaults. The reason they could not afford to repay, was the rise of unemployment, which lead to an increase of defaults. The saturation of foreclosed properties has lead to a 40+% drop in prices in many areas, with inventories which will take years to clear. In this case, it is vacancies which may well take years to fill, unless you are willing to compremise and rent at a lower than market value price (assuming the comments on empty condos are true).This in itself, where market supply substantially outstrips demand, is an indicator of a bubble - no matter what the real estate body says. I am addicted to Bloomberg, so unfortunately only have access to what Americans see as important - USA, China, and Europe. I do wish there was more data on Thailand than constant reporting of Red shirt protests and the US$205,000,000 net outflow last week alone.

Googling "Thailand SET election" reveals a large number of websites explainign a decline in properties, and stocks, for a number of reasons - mostly due to political instability. Bubbles are not always formed as a direct result of market saturation. Watch would would happen if gpvernments started charging people tax on gold purchases

I really would love an apartment in Sukhumvit.. but apartments there cost the same price as here in NZ - and do not meet the same building standards, though have to admit they are nicer in terms of faciltiies.

I don't know how cash rich they are - most Asian countries have a few holding the majority of the money. China has an average income of $5000USd per capita per annum. Not exactly cash rich. More likely, a few wealthy groups lending money on very long loans (you know, the less you pay on a deposit means a higher accumulation of interest of the period of the loan), which was also part of the reason of the collapse in the US housing market. The Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong markets are now on the same way, with most of the original owners now sold out (I have friends that sold all their property in China).

The new government rules in China to halt price inflation on housing sales is something that Thailand should consider, but won't because it is a source of positive income flow into the Kingdom - they will then complain in 5 years when even their top tier managers cannot afford to get even a mortgage on any of these apartments on Sukhumvit.. or they will just have a crack down on Foreigners owning and renting properties in Thailand, putting pressure towards a bear market in the condo sector.

Most Thai people driving their brand new Suzuki Swifts etc, did not pay cash for them - they have them on 20-30 year loans. Just creative accounting, in a society which is from what I have seen just as over-leveraged as Hong Kong or Shanghai.

And in other breaking news, a recent survey in Thailand concluded that Abhisit was more popular than Jesus.

That is because, much to the delight of a certain member of the current ruling party, there is a crack down on those of western decent (western, meaning anyone western or of western thinking). Jesus, being the basis of western morals (at leasxt traditionally), would therefore be very unpopular - now, compare Buddha to Abhisit, you may see Abhisit come off second best! Oh my Buddha! Crack down on those Farang, they only come here to share in the happiness, they dont spend enough, so they are not useful... not popular...

...

What are these restrictive anti-western policies that the Democrats have brought in?

As I said, I have not been around long enough to know what rule under PTP means for Thailand, but I know what it has meant under the Democrats - I have seen very little changes made, which make Thailand a more free environment to do business (having to have a local business partner own 51% of your business, and get approval for businesses over a certain size is not free), and situations where obtaining a work permit is not always easy either, as you cannot take a job which a Thai person could normally do either. Thai people take advantage in various western countries of loose working regulations, whereby it is the work visa which regulates your ability to work, and that you can work in ANY industry.. whereas in Thailand it is the industry which regulates if you recieve a work visa or not.

Perhaps if the western countries, which a certain member of the current parliament has openly stated he dislikes and dustrusts, should begin to impose identical laws and policies in their home countries, and see how the current government view it - protectionist perhaps? Imagine if, to do business in USA, Australia etc, every Thai restaurant had to have a local national owner, with at least a 51% stake in the business - and for a Thai to obtain local citizenship, it was almost an impossibility. Protectionist? Absolutely.

Protectionism stints development. Growth, is not development. Having too many hotels is not development. Restricting rice production to increase value is not development. Relying on a few industries to run an entire, heavily populated nation is not development. Fighting for control of the government when you lose an election by protesting, then cracking down on supporters of the ousted regime when they do almost exactly what you did to get into power is not development. This is why the SET has not been increasing at the same rate as other asian markets, and why Western nations have let Cambodia do what it is doing in Si Saket and Surin without offering assistance - lack of action is also a form of acceptance in politics.

This is Thailand (TIT)!

Internationally, the margin of error for Polls can cause a slight variation in the final results - in Thailand, another factor to contend with is Vote buying (in its various forms, which are becoming more creative). Lets just say, the vote "investing" has not yet begun!

I was a supporter of the democrats, and have not really been around long enough to have been affected by PTP policies (I am 26), but can say that the restrictive anti western policies of the Democrats have made life much harder than they have to be for my partner and I (I cant do the job I do in my country already, even at a trainee or intern level, because I dont have a degree of any discipline, as one example). The policies which are being developed in the house are becoming more anti-western over time too, which sad to say are one of the main reasons that the Thai stock market is one of the most under-invested markets in Asia (yes, its been rising, but not at the same level as China, India, or Cambodia).

This brings to mind the recent election here in NZ - the opposition was not considered great, but people voted for them just to remove the party in power, because they had lost touch with the people. I believe the same is true in Thailand. Even many Bangkokians will feel the same, once inflation begins to kick in and rents, food and electricity prices rise (The Dems cant keep subsidising gas prices forever).

Let the Vote buying begin! Oh.. I mean.. the Election!

Very sad, hopefully the animal that did it (the daughter in laws boyfriend, it sounds like) gets what is coming to him for this - a Thai National was also killed, so the law may prevail.

Of note, I noticed on my last trip that I was treated with a little more hesitancy and skepticism as a Farang than I have been previously. I started my trips through Thailand by visiting Udon Thani before any of the big bar complexes existed, and the City was very much off the radar in a Foreigner sense of a place to visit. Unfortunately certain types of businesses and activities will attract certain types of Foreigners, some of which have ruined the reputation for those of us looking for a getaway from the throngs of agressive wester culture.

Again, RIP.

Hi there, what are your fees for monthly and annual memberships? How about your fees for personal trainers? Many thanks

As a side note, what is the expected monthly/annual price range for fitness gyms/centres? How about personal training fees? I am looking more at general fitness than Muay Thai. I will reside in Bangkok, most likely in Lat Krabang where my partner resides.

Thanks people.

Hello,

Good questions - as someone who has a LOT of shopping experience, I will try to shed my views.

MBK: Predominantly for clothes, cosmetics and jewellery. A very good range of things, catering to western sizes (not always guaranteed in Thailand as Thais are much smaller people generally).

Pantip: For anything electronic, and a few other things. Understand that most sellers here buy items from a single wholesaler - if you have time, find the wholesaler who will typically have the cheapest price, and youw ill have a lower price to begin haggling. Yes, haggling is typical at Pantip, but be polite or the price may go up or your custom may be refused (as I have seen some from India, who are famously impolite when bargaining, experience). You can haggle on price, if you are smart - the traditional haggling price will not work, but if you have sales experience, reverse the table and think in respect that the owner would rather sell to you at a reduced price, than not get any asle at all. I bargain on most single and multiple items at MBK, with the exception of food items. Avoid western electronics brands (Apple, Blackberry), as they are actually cheaper in western countries in most cases.

Patpong: Go there for the experience, I would not shop there unless you are on a last minute shopping run and have no choice. Prices are EXTREMELY high (higher than shops here in NZ), and some sellers refuse to bargain, or may only reduce their hugely over inflated prices by 10-20%. The same goes for the markets along Sukhumvit. Another place worth considering, is Khao San Road area during the day, which is also a great experience in terms of the chaos of Bangkok tourism.

If you are looking for clothes, a place that many Thais know (but not many farangs) is directly accross the road from Platinum shopping mall in Pratunam, through the small alleyways accross the road. HUGE shopping areas for clothes and clothing accessories, at Thai prices. Be aware, most shop owners here dont speak English - this is a Thai area. You may need to get a motorbike taxi out, as it is very easy to get lost here.

Chinatown/Yaowarat: Prices are also very high here, but you can get a lot of decen stuff here if you shop around, at reasonable (not cheap, not expensive) prices. Worth a look, because you can eat some of the best food in Bangkok here at the same time.

The tour guide has tats too. He is a gangster too, for sure.

WOW , what can one say about this.

In Thai culture, unless it is a religious tattoo (like the Muay Thai boxers, and the monks have) - traditionally that person is a "black" person and involved in crime or is chained to the wheels of crime. you will notice a lot of girls in Sukhumvit have tattoos too, there is a reason for it. it is an indication of their social status and their occupation. Not always correct, but a good guideline.

These two fit the description of the "quality", high spending tourists that the government wants, Yakuza or not. Yakuza are not street punk gangsters, but business people who do nto see the law as a boundary to making money, They have their own laws which are above those of the land. They, themselves, are as old as the land (nearly).

Yakuza or not ,people with money will be put off by this - and it is one of the main reasons people come to Thailand. There may be hundreds of guides, but they all seem to visit the same villages, and offer the same or very similar packages. High spenders are also highly sensitive to violent crimes against them - with good reason. If this guy is Yakuza, he would have had bodyguards and safe houses back home - this will remind them to take similar steps IF they decide to visit Thailand. It will remind those without that luxury, that Thailand is not always safe as the government might want you to think it is.

American banks are the last people to they would want to copy!

Thai banks have much higher reserves to lending ratio than most of their western counter parts and it is the west who are now bringing in regulations to emulate this. Less risk and more stability.

Chinese have become overly keen lenders aswell on the property front which regulation there is attempting to temper.

The thai condo Market is far off bible status, nothing like what it is in china. Here the developers have been dropping prices and changing focus to more affordable units as the Market demands. Total different to say the spiralling upwards pre 08 crash seen in the west. If u think for example a 1.2-1.4 mil bht condo in change Mai could be rent at 8-10 k pm that'd b around a 6-10% return annually; not a bad return at all. Bangkok I've seen reasonably priced units which would produce a similar return, but like in Uk it's some what of a split Market where some people believe their property is worth far more than it really is; however the true value and what is actualy moving should b easy to see.

A bank is for sure the worst place to leave any decent amount of money for an extended period of time.

MCCW - fully agreed, the banks are the worst place to leave your money - unless there is a long term bear market in place, but I would be more likely to invest in term deposits than an on call account.

The American system, if they can stop the "big bonus" system is already improving on the Asian model. The past models were overscaled to risk but it is now the consumer rather than banks taking the risk. We do have to remember that what comes in fast can just as likely go out fast - hence the term "hot money". Hot money is Wen Jiabao's greatest worry right now, according to an article I read a week or so ago on Bloomberg.

Just because rental returns are high, does not make pricing levels correct - the market returns are dictated by demand, and when inflation rises, the cost of petrol goes up because the Thai Government can no longer afford to subsidise the cost of petrol andt the cost of everyday expenses continues up, you will see demand fall off.

It is just my opinion, I am waiting to see how things play out.

This is the closest statement I have ever seen as to the BOT admitting that they have a near-fixed/pegged exchange rate. On the grand scale of things, the Baht has a 10-20% maximum give on either side to all currencies that I have seen - bar all universal trends, such as the dollar weakening, the GBP weakening.

Interest rates rising in Thailand will not cause investment to flow in - interest rates of 2% are miniscule to the 4.75% in Australia, or 11.75% if you want to take a bit of a risk in Brazil. Thailand is not economically sound as either of these countries. People invest in Thailand either with a dam_n good assurance that they will get decent capital return, or they invest a small percentage of their funds as "danger money". There will be net outflows from Thailand if interest rates rise, and it fails to curb inflation as is the case in China.

The best case scenario for Thailand, is a situation like Japan with near-zero rates - however, this would require substantial surpluses for a number of years, as well as high rates of personal savings to sustain an environment such as this. In saying that, I think the days of having "the highest growth rate" are fast becoming unfashionable.

I find that Thai financial institutions have a lot to learn from the Americans and particularly the Chinese. Inflation is already hitting from what I hear from my partner (she said the price of food is going up) - expect price rises on other things such as that BTS fare to go up. The last thing to go up will be salaries.

China is rapidly increasing its' interest rates to curb inflation, and Thailand is gradually increasing. This is not to help the consumers out, but rather to stop inflation - the side effect will be profit downgrades on businesses nationwide - meaning foreigners will withdraw investments in Thailand, which have higher risk and lower risk return.

This may have some effect on the Thai condominium market, which is a bubble waiting to burst from my studies.- price affordability and rental returns vs. purchase price ratios are way off in this market.

You can often find them hiding out behind the bushes outside Fuzzy Kens/Momo Sushi, waiting for farangs to come out of Nutty park for the old No Helmet ticket. Had quite an amusing video of one hiding behind the bush, then trying to tackle someone that was driving past without a helmet - he inevitably missed, but a halarious video all the same.

In my first trip to Udon, I did a runner from a BiB for not wearing a helmet - my friend (Thai) was also not wearing a helmet. She went ne way on the bike, I went down an alley on foot. He did not manage to catch me, the power of Chang! Not something I would do now, but an amusing memory.

The only other place you can find Udon Police, is inside the Thai Karaoke Bars late at night having a drink. Had a drink with the Boss of Udon Police in November, a very nice (if not highly intoxicated) man. Was most amused to meet a young Farang who he could speak to in Thai, and interested in my job working with CCTV with the NZ Police and Transport Authority. Perhaps it was the idea of better positioning of his staff that CCTV could bring to Udon, to catch all those Farangs without helmets!

Must say though, some of the "tourists" in Udon now are not the nicest, probably not well suited to the really nice permanent resident Farangs of Udon and the Thai Bar owners, who are the nicest I have seen around Thailand.

Chiang rai looks like a lot of fun, really nice photos. Makes me miss Songkran. Next year wull be my year, Thanks for the memory.

When it comes to cheating tourists, Cambodia, Lao and Malaysia are a lot worse.

MALAYSIA?

Have you actually been there? Not once have I ever been a victim, so to speak. Sure some have 'tried it on' but it is nowhere near as endemic as it is in THailand.

5 years ago, I was kidnapped in Malaysia. Scamming is rife there, and it is not always as safe as you may think for a solo, first time traveller. Although, it is foreigners (Filipinos, Thais) committing the crimes I have seen in Malaysia, rather than Malaysians.

Oh.. except for the Muslim that pulled a knife to my throat and told me to go back to church in the USA - too bad I am an Athiest from New Zealand. Sure shocked my Muslim Malaysian friends that I was with at the time...

Business people minim ise risk, and maximise income potential. The sword is not entirely for Thailand Local Mafia to negiate between each other here. It is also the choice of the cruise ship, where and when they visit - meaning they do not have to stop again in Phuket.

This kind of publicioty (it happened before with a US Navy Vessel also), will discourage new business to Phuket.

Instead of treating the cuise-goers as cattle (half access to tourists) Thais must realise that tourists are a personal commodity, rather than an impersonal commodity, unlike a bag of rice they are used to generating income from.

These Tuk Tuk drivers should be arrested for restricting the freedom of choice and movement of the cruise-goers, as any person in Thailand is entitled to provided they have not broken the law and have no intention to break the law. This is where countries which do not negotiate with organised crime are ahead of the rest - enjoy your time in Penang guys, it is a lovely and relativly crime-free part of Malaysia

Very amusing, for the Thai government (yes, he is a minster, so a representitive of the government) referring to foreigners with less than 400,000 baht as a "burden" on Thai society. Tell me the ratio of Thais vs. Farang over the age of 50 with less than 400,000 in the bank?

This, if passed will be a huge economic blow for Thailand - a large percentage of Farang business owners in Thailand are 45+, and many buy those businesses and run it with their partner. Many own land with their partners. Most of these girls are not rich when they meet the "old burden" Farang. Infact, sadly most of these girls meet their Farang in the go go bars. Who was it that was the burden again?

I have never said this before, but this move really does look discriminatory against non-Thai nationals, and will be a huge blow both to the future development, educational and economic growth to Thailand if passed. Maybe Thailands politicians needs to learn when passing law, that you have the power to make the decisions but with that power you must execute vision, or your power is worthless and often destructive rather than constructive.

My Filipino friends in Bangkok earn 16000 baht while the Americans and Briitish earn around 30-40k at the same school.

I dont believe for a second they will give the same salary to Filipinos, yes I know its discrimination, TIT.

Balo,

I hate to say it, but it is discriminatory due to the nature of the subject. English is not subjective, it is a focal subject used as a tool both for living abroad and doing business. By learning English from Americans, Brits, New Zealanders (thats me!), Filipinos and (god help us all) Indians, the Thais are looking to establish business and social relationships directly with these cultures. They are major importers/exporters of Thai products and potentially the Thai work force - this is more a case of building relationships than having an indiscriminate approach to teaching English as a subject.

I agree, Filipinos speak English very clearly, as do some Indians (particularly from the old colonies). The issue with their English is not necessarily the pronunciation, but the manner in which vocabulary is often over-zealously used and misused due to lack of understanding of the particular words, and the need to try to prove themselves intellectually superior to a native speaker. It is important to note that in most cases (except for wealthier families, of whom their children would not be in Thailand teaching English as a subject) English is taught in India and the Philippines in the classroom, hence they are not native speakers and do not understand the culture behind the language. That being said, being from any of the said countries should not qualify you as a teacher - though with shortages that have been ongoing since they tightened requirements years ago, it will remain that way for some time.

I do agree native speakers should be paid more and considered before those countries whose population do not speak fluent English above the 90% mark, but consideration needs to be made and exceptions should be considered.

p.s. I'm not an English teacher, I am a Train Controller living in New Zealand. I don't qualify to be an English teacher in Thailand (no degree), so I remain in NZ on the upper income bracket without my degree. Maybe someday...

Didnt he kill someone in a hotel in Udon Thani as well? I do recall that - perhaps it was the Karaoke singer.

They may refer to all as sex workers, because the masseuse was from a "soapy" massage, and because you can often "bar fine" girls from the Thai Karaoke places, or make arrangements with them after work for services in exchange for money. Not all Thai Karaoke places are like this, but many are. You dont think those pretty girls worked for the 2-300b per night they get paid alone, did you?

Prostitution is not isolated to Farang, infact the Thai side is much more rampant, just less obvious because of many people partaking in the activity (which is legal in my country). Most Farang just dont see it, because they think Thai men actually pay money JUST to have the girl sit and drink with them - in most cases its much more than that.. theres a reason the girl walks the guy out of the bar when he stumbles out drunk.

Guys, guys.. we are visitors, or at best long-term residents who call Thailand Home (not me personally, but many of you are). When you lived in your home countries, did it not irritate you when foreigners came to your countries, bringing in their customs, their attitudes to your way of life? it is an ongoing issue where I live.

Would stopping the village speaker, which is something ingrained in these outer villages, not be interferring with their culture? Being the only Farang there, you have adopted the Thai way of life at least to some degree. I

Cutting the wires, considering your wife is from the village and you live there, may have implications for the family, and be seen as a rejection of the authority of the Phuu Yai - I would strongly advise avoiding this course of action if at all possible. To a degree, it may even be seen by some as the village Farang rejecting the village way of life, and a loss of face for the family to allow this behaviour. If you HAVE to go down this route, have your wife pay someone else, who pays someone else to do the job. Make sure it does not lead back to you, or to the family. Money can make you anonymous in Thailand, like a big invisible cloak or a shining red shirt.

n Thai Culture, giving money to the Phuu Yai is considered a "donation", in exchange for him moving the speaker, or at least turning that particular speaker down to a level you agree is acceptable. At hope, this would border on bribery but this is Thailand - when in Thailand, do as the Thais do.

I actually found it very interesting, the whole speaker thing in my Girlfriends Village, but can see the annoying side to it.