1FinickyOne

If you have money I am sure you can find someone to do that...

Have you put any thought into making a bit more money?

ask any poor Thai person or Thai worker or motorcycle taxi or bargirl - - they will know plenty of places.

do you have a GF or any friends at all? I am not that much overweight that it bothers me - - why would you care at all about my weight? Or is it financial failures that make you such a bitter person. You know [or probably don't] that Thai very much don't like angry people... they can sense an angry person a mile away... and the ladies would far prefer a person a few pounds overweight to one with a nasty demeanor... why are you so obsessed with other people's weight issue?

should everyone do the same as you... what a boring world that would be... keeping the same weight is not easy or likely for most... why do you care so much about how much someone else weighs... some posters here have a very sick compulsion on this issue... what about how smart or kind they are?

no urbanization, maybe the village is growing a little but no, I would definitely not expect it to keep growing at the multiple we received. And, actually it has surprised me as most of our land has no other usage than agricultural and crop prices have not kept up with the increases.

can't control myself when people make mean comments, if that's what you mean - you like fat shaming people. That's pretty nasty - did you get bullied by a fat guy or do you just enjoy being a bully?

I think writing the news is up to the journalists, not the court.

We bought a lot more land at higher prices through the years, up to about 150k per rai but that was some years ago... and land is always in demand near our village at going rates, if it is desirable land... in case you were implying that is a dream price, it is not... it is going rate and there are always more buyers than sellers... yes, it has proven to be a great investment -- that does happen. And the added bonus is that the family has been making a living farming it in the meantime...

probably better than being mean...

"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken." Oscar Wilde "When I was growing up, I always wanted to be someone. Now I realize that I should have been more specific." Lily Tomlin "I drink to make other people more interesting." Hemingway

I would say that the first step is by car, rental or owning - up to you? But, I would think surely you must know this, right? If you want something easier maybe try the old city of Chiang Mai - quite charming to walk around in...

I think where you settle in Thailand and what you are looking for, what you like to do, will make a difference... The language can be challenging but it is very rewarding to be able to speak and not as difficult for many of us as it might seem. Thai people are quite open and love a foreigner that can engage in friendly conversation, especially so in their language... of ocurse you can learn more, but just one word a day will put you miles ahead of most foreigners by the end of a year.

Don't you hate when that happens...

Oh NO!! Don't slay that potato that's never done nothin' to you... Tom Paxton

Is this why vegans are said to be so bad tempered?

is it really unproductive? the farmland we bought 15 years ago is now selling for 6x the price we paid.. land does go up in value here - - for a normal Thai it is usually the best investment they can make.

my experience is that it is not unusual for a Thai person to cite a different reason than the real reason for doing or not doing something... sometimes being direct is not considered polite...

or a pleasant countryside retreat.. suggesting? just mentioning the possibility.

I always found it interesting in NYC when a shop would close, people would feel sorry for the owners and assume bankruptcy when the truth was sometimes retirement...

Yes, I saw a European guy in a mall one day lecturing a Thai service rep about how to give proper service... all she did was her job of taking his ## and saying she will have someone contact him... doing her job precisely as she was taught - but he wanted a pound of flesh - what does that have to do with a nearby coffee shop? How much was your 'expensive' hotel? I guess they don't check for the milk of human kindness running through your veins at reception...

I tried the Wagyu a couple of times, I was not impressed. I have found a good pork steak to be much better and cheaper...

Woody Allen

There are others who are extremely bright and interesting... and even then some just on certain subjects... sounds like maybe you are expecting too much from too many.

Yeah, this running stuff never sounded like fun...