cdnmatt

They seem to be trying to compete with true but cant ..... 14/1.4mb 699baht

That's what I have.

I'd rather dig my eyes out than renew. regularly getting less than 60b/s. Calling them makes no difference. Year isn't up until August.

Same experience with True here. Decided to upgrade the internet, and went with True's 20mbps package @ 1500/month. When they hooked it up, still had 3BB at the time, so figured I'd wait out the rest of the month with 3BB to ensure everything with True was fine.

Haven't bothered paying True. They promised me 20mbps, and it's more like 0.8. The 6mbps package from 3BB we have is at least five times quicker, so I just stuck with them, and continue throwing the True bills in the garbage.

Either way, Den Chai is tiny; it's on the train line, but that's about it. If you want to cut up the trip, Phitsanulok is the obvious regional hub.

Great, thanks! Phitsanulok looks like it may work, although not quite as far as I was hoping to make it on the first leg of the trip. Looks like I also may have someone in Chiang Mai able to pick me up in Den Chai, which would be perfect.

In your dreams...

Who is going to turn on the utilities (including Internet) without you being present with your original passport? Who will clean the place without you being present to pay them?

Why? You've never seen family houses rented out as vacation rentals before? I can e-mail them copies of my passport, and stick money in their bank account from here in KK. Anyway, I'll see what the real estate agent says. I plan to rent a nice 60 - 80k/month house, so there's a chance they'll help out, knowing a decent sized commission is coming their way. That, and I fully expect to pay an extortionate rate on the temp house. Failing that, maybe I'll post on some Thai forums. I'm sure there's someone willing to live with their relatives for a week in exchange for 15 - 20k.

Thanks for the rest of the comments. Driving myself isn't an option. Been traveling from country-to-country since about 2005, settled on Thailand as a home, and have never drove while overseas, so don't even have a driver's license right now. Maybe I'll get it again when I go back home, but not exactly in a rush for it.

Leaving the dogs here isn't an option, because that means I have to come back, and I don't need to put up with the cries, apologies, and pleas to stay. Don't worry, no kids involved, and only adults. That, and nobody here takes care of the dogs. They'd end up outside running around the streets 18 hours a day, pissing off all the neighbors.

Kennel would be a worst case scenario, and would prefer to do anything I can do avoid that. I wouldn't appreciate it if someone shoved me into a kennel, so I don't want to do it to them. Motel wouldn't work, because then they're on a leash for a week, and I can't run 40km/h, plus they couldn't wrestle with each other. That, and there's no way I could leave them in a small motel room all day while I'm out house hunting. It'd be destroyed after a day, let alone a week. They're both in their prime, so not exactly in shortage of energy, and they like to play fight together.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the comments and advice. Appreciate it!

Bump for some potential help? Didn't think my questions were that out of line.

Hey everyone,

Making the move from Khon Kaen to Chiang Mai shortly. Two things, if anyone is kind enough to help:

1.) Have two dogs on the larger side, so can't do a hotel, and need a temporary house for a week or two while I go house hunting and find a permanent home. Not picky at all on the house as it's only temporary -- safe, clean, utilities turned on including internet, and a decent sized gated yard. Doesn't have to be a huge yard, but enough space so the dogs can run around and wrestle with each other. Any recommendations?

2.) Anyone familiar with Den Chai, about 190kms SE of Chiang Mai? If so, what are my chances of finding a songtaew to take myself and the dogs (in cages) up to Chiang Mai at say 2pm on a weekday for say 8000 baht (plus I pay gas)? I'm not putting the dogs on a bus or train, flying requires a layover in BKK so that's not an option, and I don't know anyone with a pickup who wants to drive me all the way up to Chiang Mai.

So my plan is to have a songtaew pick me up at my house in KK at 6am, take us to Den Chai, drop us wherever songtaews congregate, then I'll solicit another driver to take us to Chiang Mai, where I'll already have a temporary house booked and waiting. I don't expect one driver to do the entire trip in one day, and also this way leaves almost no chance of a certain someone soliciting my new address from the first driver, then popping up in my life crying because they love and miss me oh so much. Is Den Chai a decent (ie. large enough) place to solicit a driver, or am I going to be left stranded, sitting on the street like an idiot with two dog cages? Is maybe Pa Sao or somewhere better?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Tukom is your best bet, 4th floor.

Just walk from the 7/11 a few doors down to a small mom & pop shop. They'll sell to you, no problem.

The one thing that does irritate me though is wine, because nobody except the larger stores carry it. So if you're out grocery shopping at 3pm, and wanted to pickup a bottle for dinner, or if you wanted to make some nice red wine sauce for steak, you're SOL. I don't really get it. Do they think I'm going to rush out of the grocery store, open the bottle of wine, and start chugging or something? If I'm picking up say 2000 baht worth of groceries, I should be able to grab a bottle of wine.

Yeah, 80,000/month should be enough, although probably won't allow for much in the way of savings.

All depends on how you want to live though. Same as in the West. Some people live off $1500/month, while others spend $50,000/month.

Vendors get it alot cheaper than you think -- that's how they afford to live a good life.

Wouldn't worry about them much. Financially, they're not rich, but they're just fine and aren't hurting any.

It's a shame you need to get a new one now, the 10 year passport is scheduled for release in March/April, but you'll need a new passport for your trip to the RP as you require 6 months validity.

Regarding 10 year passport news, it's confirmed......

http://www.passportc...0.aspx?lang=eng

Kick ass! I never knew they were going to offer 10 year passports. Good timing too, as my passport doesn't expire until 2014.

10 years. That'll be nice.

To be honest, if you think what's said on here about Thais is bad, then you should see what we say about our fellow countrymen. "fuc_ken lazy, welfare mooching <deleted>! fuc_k 'em, force them to grow their own wheat and rice, or don't eat at all", and loads worst.

Just remember, Westerners are generally more abrasive than Thais. It's just the way we are. From birth, the majority of us are taught to express ourselves and speak our mind. Whereas in Thailand, it's more of a "keep your opinion to yourself" culture. All in all, wouldn't worry about it as much as you are.

I don't know, I figure at least they're honest and upfront about it here. Better than in the West, where there's all the propaganda, fake smiles, and cloak & dagger bullshit. End of the day, both sides are buying votes. Difference being, Thais don't bother dancing around with their hand on your ass as much. They just get right to the point.

I get the same type of thing up here with my empty bottles. I've always saved them up, and just given them away to homeless people, even back in Canada. And quite often here on our street people will come by with a bicycle, and search for empties within the garbage bins. So once a month or so I'll see someone, go rushing out, and give them all the empties. Or if I have lots, I tell them to come in, and help me pack them out from the upstairs spare bedroom.

I always get in shit when I do this though, as if that 15 baht was really going to affect our lives, or something. I always just give a dumbfounded look, and say, "what?!?! you're the Buddhist, not me, so what are you complaining about?". That usually ends the conversation quickly.

LOL = lots of love

As you'll notice, we're a very loving community around here, LOL

I wont invest in a girlie bar, but defo up to meet a "normal decent lass" one who works in a 7/11 or a bank

Then why would you move to Pattaya? Meeting a "normal decent lass" up in the sticks is difficult enough, let alone in one of the world's largest red light districts.

Vehicle accidents are not coveredd by the 30 baht scheme.,

Thanks. So I'm assuming bar fights aren't covered either? Alright, so that means I wasn't getting lied to.

I'm not even sure what happened, nor do I care. Couple days ago it was "wasp bites" on the head, and last night it changed into something else, but I didn't bother listening enough to find out what. So I'm guessing the dad was sitting around at home in the village, got piss drunk on lao khao, ended up fighting, and got a bottle cracked over his head. I'm assuming that's what the "wasp bites" are, and why it's not covered by the 30 baht scheme.

Bloody hell. Can't wait to get out of here, and onto the next journey in life.

Sorry, should have clarified. I'm talking on behalf of a Thai who is in the province he's registered in. I'm being told there's an outstanding medical bill, and am assuming I'm being bullshitted, so just wanted to confirm.

So for example, Thai gets into a bar fight, ends up in the hospital. Is it 30 baht, or is he paying full price? Are there any exceptions to that 30 baht rule, or do they treat every Thai no matter what (assuming they're registered in that province)?

I'm quite certain I'm being bullshitted, so just to confirm... 30 baht universal healthcare, right? Are there any exceptions? For example, if you get into a fight, or are driving a motorcycle drunk, does that exempt the 30 baht, and you're required to pay full price?

Thanks in advance!

I've just gotten used to it. Every time I come home, if there's anyone around, regardless of who they are, it's "where did you go?", "what did you do?". If I have any bags, they of course need to peek inside to see what I bought, etc.

Your dogs are stealing their chickens. Doesn't matter where you live or what colour your skin is - YOUR dogs are stealing THEIR chickens. The only way it will be 'a phase' is if you take control of the dogs that belong to you. The dogs are under your control (or not apparently). If your dog stole my chickens it would find itself no longer a dog - or anything else for that matter.

Ok, let me ask you a question. If one of us leave the front gate open, and one of the neighbor's dogs comes wandering in and eats all the food it can find, who's fault is that? Ours for leaving the gate open, or the neighbor's for "not having control over" their dogs? Personally, I think it's my fault for leaving the gate open, but apparently you think differently? Should I get all irate, and demand retribution from my neighbors when this happens?

Or say you own a small farm in the West. You make sure your chickens, and other livestock are properly enclosed / gated / penned, right? That's kind of common sense. If you care about your chickens, then spend 500 baht and build a pen for them, or put them under those dome things they use. I don't know, but if you let your chickens just wander around the streets freely, I'd say it's pretty stupid to get dismayed when something happens to one of them.

They're dogs, of course they're going to love to go after a chicken. Same as they go after cats, cockroaches, rats, toads, and basically ever other moving animal that's smaller than them.

It's not your fault because you're a white guy - it's your fault because you have no control over your dogs.

What??? Absolutely everyone around here allows their dogs to run around freely without a leash, so I just followed suit and did the same.

They just recently discovered where the chickens are, so hopefully it's just a phase.

hehe, I actually think it's quite amusing, but I don't think the owners share the same sentiment. My dogs have taken to stealing chickens, and bringing them home. And not dead chickens, but the live squawking ones. They don't ever seem to have any intention of killing the things, and just bring them home to play with, or show off, or who knows why.

Each time we just shove the chicken into the cage we used for the pups, and wait for someone to come by to claim it (and throw a tantrum at us). And of course it's always my fault, because I'm the white guy, and it's easier to blame the foreigner. Definitely not their fault for allowing their chickens to run around the city freely, instead of putting them in a pen.

Ohhh... only in Thailand.

Something doesn't add up here. You come in here accusing your dad's Thai wife of murdering him for money, then a couple pages later basically say, "well, maybe she deserves the money, because she was with him for 8 year".

If she murdered your dad, then........

Yeah, unfortunately electric will cut you off.

Water you can pay every 2 months, but electric has to be every month.

Makes me uncomfortable too. I'm a big boy, and can pour beer into a glass just fine, thank you! Now go away, and quit watching over me while I'm trying to enjoy the conversation and my beer.

Another thing that irks me a little is how no Thais will never say thank you. I know I'm being an out-of-place idiot by saying thanks when I get filled up, but I don't care, I'm white, I'm allowed to be a bit stupid. In Canada, it's just common to say thanks whenever your server brings something for you, or helps you. I find it a little rude to just ignore them, as if they don't exist.

Only financed one thing in Thailand. Got woken up one night at 2am with, "hey honey, come downstairs, I have a surprise for you". I stumble downstairs, and it's a fuc_ken vacuum cleaner. Only 700 down + 700/month for 6 months! Oh good, so a 2000 baht vacuum for 4900. Would even be a better idea if we had any carpet or cloth in the house!

Anyyway, I'm with the guys above. Buy within your means. Struggle by with a 32" (or gasp! 25") TV for a while, save up, and buy your new TV when you have the money. Then you have a spare TV for the bedroom, or whatever. A couple months ago I picked up a new 32" Samsung TV for 9000.