Hanuman2547

That's got to be one of the funniest headlines on ThaiVisa!

I would reduce the rent until it is rented out. Better to get something rather than noting. But what would I know, I'm a farang!

Location, age of building, and supply/demand would be very big factors in selling or buying a condo. Sure, a newer condo in lower Sukhumvit, despite a much higher price, might sell quicker than say an older building in Pattaya like View Talay 1 or 2.  This is without taking into consideration the local economic situation or current immigration policies. 

On 11/20/2020 at 7:13 PM, Lacessit said:

Put me in a straitjacket and take me away if I ever think of buying a condo in Bangkok. A city that's 1 metre above sea level?

People have been talking about Bangkok sinking into the sea for over 40 years. Back then they said in 20 years Bangkok would be flooded. Well, it's still here and other than the rainy season it's still holding steady above ground. 

The shift in tourist numbers had already begun a few years ago.  Less farang coming from Europe, North America, and Australia. Increasing numbers from China and India. That dynamic will continue once the current pandemic has been brought under control. 

On 11/19/2020 at 5:59 PM, Lolothai said:

Hi,

 

I need to go to the French embassy with my 2 kids, 4 and 5 years old. Is it dangerous to go now?

You'll be fine. If you're still worried, just pull out your little white flag and wave that.  It's worked well in the past. 

On 11/17/2020 at 11:50 PM, paulwalker30 said:

We have received word from our school office (office of the school franchise highlighted in recent weeks for student abuse) that all foreign teachers need to be tested for contagious diseases: 1.Physical Examination 2. Hypertension 3. Leprosy 4. Advanced Pulmonary Tuberculosis 5. Drug Addiction 6. Chronic Alcoholism 7. Elephantiasis 8. Tertiary Syphilis 9. Virus B 10 Aids. 11. Toxic Thyroid Is this a new requirement from MOE? And how much would these tests cost!

I didn't know that Hypertension, Drug Addiction, & Chronic Alcoholism were contagious diseases.  

I would leave earlier and come back later to try and avoid the traffic.  If staying at a hotel, make sure they really are open during that time.  Lots of problems with hotel booking sites due to Covid-19.  Call the hotel directly to confirm before making a booking.  

Thais roads are bad and even worse during big holidays.  I would stay away from driving at night, although leaving BKK at 5:00am might be a good idea.

I would go with EVA, Singapore or Qatar.  My Thai niece has been a Flight attendant with Qatar for 13 years and other than having to live in Doha, really likes it.

For me personally, I don't plan on returning to Thailand before then.  Not sure when the vaccine will be ready for mass distribution.  I'm not clamoring to be the first to take it either.  I'd rather wait and see what happens first and then I'll take it providing everything has been fine with it and no adverse reactions.  

I also wouldn't be going in July.  It's the middle of the rainy season and it's summer in the US when the weather is great where I live.  For me, November at the earliest.  

Did the teaching game in Bangkok a long time ago.  Was not interested in making a career out of it in Thailand.  In the USA, depending upon where you live, teachers can make pretty good money despite what is often said.  In some school districts near me a teacher with 15 years experience and a Master's degree can make between 115K and 124K a year.  But that's not where the money is at.  The money is in the pension.  After 30 years of service and 55 years of age you can retire.  For every year of service you earn 2%.  Your retirement is calculated by the average of your five highest years.  For example, say you earned the following amounts over your last five years. 118K, 119K, 120K, 121K, and 122K.  Your average is 120K.  If you worked for 30 years you would retire at (30 years X 2%) 60% of 120K or 72K a year or 6K a month.  In addition, there is social security which you qualify for at age 62 although if you can delay it you will earn a higher monthly amount.  This is easy to do if you invested in a 401K or a deferred compensation program that most government jobs have.  The key is also to have your house paid off before you retire.  

Although I still visit Thailand every 1-2 years for a month at a time I don't plan to retire there full time.  Most likely I'll spend 4-5 months a year there and the rest in my home country.  

It sounds like they were not real experienced in kayaking in rough seas.  Lots of info missing about what happened.  One thing for sure, always keep a mobile phone in a zip lock plastic bag and then put it in a waterproof bag.  

As others have stated, living in Issarn is quite different.  I would also advise to not sell your home in the USA and either rent it or just let it sit.  If heat is a problem you will really notice it in April as it gets very hot then.  Farming is hard work and long hours to be successful

I know of no one in Thailand that has tested positive but I do know eight people in farangland that have tested positive.  All got over it although one was pretty sick with it.  

A very long time ago I worked in Bangkok at two universities.  One very well known and another just kind of well known.  The paperwork for the one year visa and WP were started before I even started teaching.  Granted, it took about three months to actually acquire both but during that time my passport was always stamped in red with the infamous words "under review" or something similar to that.  Luckily I never had an issue with my paperwork.  

On another note, I would think right now, due to Covid-19 and the difficulty in teachers being able to enter Thailand, teachers would be in demand and therefore kind of hold the upper hand when it comes to finding employment.

At his age I doubt everything works.

He should do a year in jail and then deported, and blacklisted, back to his country.  Why take the risk at his age of having to pay for his medical expenses.  Let Norway worry about that.  

A 100kg man that is 190cm or taller isn't that unusual.  I'm not sure about foldable bikes but most full sized road bikes like Trek or Specialized usually have a weight limit of 125kg.

On 10/28/2020 at 7:35 PM, worgeordie said:

Bonfire night not till 5Th November ....I remember when that

truck carrying a big gas tank that was tied down with rope,

fell off in Bangkok the whole street was ablaze ,many cars

written off and many dead, hope that's not the case here

regards worgeordie

I remember that one well from 30 years ago.  I had driven through that area about an hour before everything was set on fire.  Terrible accident.

I would go with butter.  If you can get low fat butter, even better.

I can buy Beer Lao for the equivalent of 46 baht a bottle at Asian grocery stores in the US.  About 10 years ago I could get Beer Chang for 28 baht a bottle.  It's now a bit more at about 40 baht a bottle.  

On 10/24/2020 at 12:11 PM, Elkski said:

I can't imagine the input costs being so much greater in Thailand than in the US. 

Labor is surely lower. 

I think energy is similar. 

Hops?  

Barley?

 

I dont drink  Bud light or Cooks light but they are only 24 baht a can  At 31.2 baht/$.  Keystone only 21 baht. 

Decent small brewery beers that are quite tasty  are 9$ for 6 or 51 baht.   Real good microbrews maybe 75 baht per bottle.   Given the wage difference how can yiur average thai afford to drink any beer ????? I am currently enjoying some completion from a local brewery  Epic on the session  IPA.  On sale  Only 13$/12 it's quite hoppy  and  only 5%.  Reg proce was 17$ . This  good session IPA beer from midwest came into the market @ 16$/12.    All day IPA.  It is really good for hop lovers.  Granted some of you gents want high point for the buzz but I prefer having 1-2 without impairment.  I call them lawnmower beers.  Can mow without cutting foot off. 

 

They drink beer in Utah??

20 hours ago, fishtank said:

Why on earth would anyone go somewhere to experience being cold?

Bizzare.

Perhaps some Thais have never experienced being cold when outside.  Their only experience being cold might be in a movie theatre but never outside.