quiggs

I find this quite an interesting subject. The property bubble in the US is problematic, though not nationwide, but, regional....there will be no "burst" nationwide, because of the regional nature of the bubble. Prices may slow nationwide, but, in some areas not much.

I am curious how the Chinese will lead the free world out of depression when their economy (after Yuan is floated and devalued), could drop as much as 40%....sort of like a baby saving a grown man from a burning building, while the child is growing quickly, not THAT quickly.

Actually, I expect some shaky times ahead for the Chinese economy, also, I question their growth figures, (GDP has accumulated 24.7 in growth between 1997 and 2000) and at same time drop energy consumption (Energy consumption had negative growth of 12.8%). Not realistic, however, they are entitled to produce whatever numbers they like. It is just important to take their numbers for what they are.

Generally, it is in everyones interest for the US economy to do well, this is an increasingly global economy, no one economy can falter without effecting the others, including China, but,expecially not the worlds largest by a very large margin.

Which one of these economies can the world do without?

1 World $ 55,500,000,000,000 2004 est.

2 United States $ 11,750,000,000,000 2004 est.

3 European Union $ 11,650,000,000,000 2004 est.

4 China $ 7,262,000,000,000 2004 est.

5 Japan $ 3,745,000,000,000 2004 est.

6 India $ 3,319,000,000,000 2004 est.

7 Germany $ 2,362,000,000,000 2004 est.

8 United Kingdom $ 1,782,000,000,000

the current deflationary phenomenon is nothing new, in fact its been discussed in business journals as far back as 2002 when observations were made regarding the dominance of China exports and how cheap Chinese production is driving consumer product prices down worldwide.  consumer markets are already flooded with products that are now made in China that are much cheaper than there were a few years back...plasma and LCD screens are good examples.  and as Chinese production capability moves upscale, they will start to actively acquire and develop their own technology as well as buy foreign brands to help leapfrog the global distribution hurdle (Lenovo buys IBM, Haeir is buying Maytag, Oracle is moving to China?!).

what you are witnessing is nothing less than a real shift in economic fortunes, history before your eyes.  by flooding the market with Chinese products, they are in effect sucking up the world's capital and building up its own relative wealth.  the immediate focus to get China to float the Yuan i feel will only allow a temporary reprieve.  the tide is already turning.  the property asset bubble in the US is a bubble waiting to burst.  Once that happens, we will get a pretty big shock, but it may be the Chinese who will lead us out of depression the next time round, not the americans.

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This seems to state the obvious. High oil prices increase the price of almost every product, and drain money which would otherwise be spent in the general economy on good and services. Seems pretty straightforward.

Thai economy likely to slow 

BANGKOK: -- The Thai economy is likely to slow in the next six months as a result of rising global crude oil price and foreign exchange volatility, especially in Chinese yuan, according to the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Thailand (BOT), Tarisa Watanagase.

Businessmen and investors should be more cautious in the next six months because these factors could severely affect the Thai economy, she said.

The BOT’s measures to control personal loans will come into force on 1 July, including charging borrowers an interest fee plus premiums of up to 28%, Mrs. Tarisa said.

These measures were introduced after it was found that non-performing loans (NPLs) in the personal loan business had increased, especially among the low-income group.

Personal loans now account for 3.5% of the financial institutions’ total lending.

--TNA 2005-06-26

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Land in a business name is the only way to go. In the space of two weeks in high season I have watched 3 houses "appropriated" from the husband. I would rather be dipped in flaming dogsh*t than watch everything I have worked for slip away like that.

Hi,

First, sorry for my poor english...

I'have rented a piece of beach land in Ko Samui few years ago and build 5 houses on it, all in my name on the buiding license and the blue house books, the houses are rented on long term lease of one year minimum, and I paid taxes on my personnal income. With a house in your name you can also have a Yellow tabien ban, it's not very usefull except to have a land phone line in your name...

The best way to acquire land is always the company (with preferential shares for you and a mortgage with no limit date), or 2 companies where you have 39% in each and after registration you can make a tranfert share where each company own 59% of the other...and 2% for the others shareolders...

When the company own the land, you can rent the land from the company for 30 years ( have to pay a land office tax of 1.1% on the total rental price ), so by example 20.000 B a year. Your company will never be a sleeping company with the only purpose to own a house where his director lives in... and with the 20.000B you can pay the annual balance sheet.

After the rental registration you can ask a building license in your name...

For those who buy land in the name of a girlfriend/wife (or boyfriend), I wish you a good luck because how many times I have heard : she's not the same !, and when the house is finished, or when she learn about a mia noi, or...

Think about how many people divorce in Europe and the States too.

Everything if fine with my girlfriend and we have 2 kids, and when I buy something in her name I know that maybe it won't be ours for ever.

Enjoy your life here.

Dany

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When I first joined this forum, I was advised against basically everything. You cannot find a job" I found one

"you cannot make money buying rental properties" I have made back my investment in my first rental in less than three years.

I will say this....buying expensive condos with a mortgage seems suicide...Thais cannot afford them, and as stated, foreign investors are up and down.

Why do people not use KL for visa runs?

But you are asking about Kuala Lumpur and most people do not use that facility for visa runs.  The normal at most official consulates is receive applications in morning and return visa in afternoon, usually the next day.  Exact hours will vary.

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All I am wondering is when they hand back the Visas....morning, or afternoon....every expat in this country has been through this in some fashion:-)

I wouldn't recommend staying right near the embassy, but rather in the Golden Triangle area or even Chinatown (more budget). It is an easy cab ride to the embassy from these places and there is more to do.

I did a tourist visa there and they turned it around overnight, but be sure to check the Thai holidays and perhaps Malaysian ones as well, because they close alot.

Sorry, I don't remember the exact pickup time, but the leave off times are pretty early and when I did this there were very long waits.

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I need to got o KL for a Visa run...love the cheap flights , and cheap hotels, a welcome break from Singapore.

My question is...how many days once you submit your info for the immigration B visa to be issued? Specifically, what time can I pick it up, as I am trying to time my flight back home(Phuket). seems a shame to stay three days to do this simple transaction.

Also...any recommendations on hotels , and bars around the embassey?

Thanks!

Brad

Next thing is you gonna call "Pizza" american food 

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A piece of useless trivia:-

Actually, the pizza in its present form IS American. I concede that the original idea was Italian.

After world war II, the GIs returning from the Italian campaign created a demand for pizza. The trouble was, was that an Italian pizza was completely topped with cheese, therefore, every pizza, no matter what kind it was, looked exactly the same and did not look as apetizing.

The genius of the Americans was to put the ingredients on TOP of the cheese so that you could see what type of pizza you were eating. This style has caught on all over the world, until it is now considered the norm.

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Eeeuh the cheese still goes on top over here , and also in italy. the only diffenrence is that the big crust at the bottom is not from italian origin

italian pizza's have a slim hard crust with medium helping of topping. Not the pizza hut style "half of a pie with everything trown on"

The genius of the Americans was to put the ingredients on TOP of the cheese

That's what i mean with american ignorance with food. The italians spent two to three hundred years perfecting their enormous range of pizza toppings.

Along comes ignorant john Doe from Pizzahut inc. and decides this is much more conveniant. let's do it this way...

Talk about raping food recipes

The sandwich - the only British food inven

tion that has caught on around the world.

True , but it's 2/4 loafs of bread with something in between cut in a triangle shape.

The subs talked about here are decendant from a french loaf of bread , cut in half and then put lettuce, tomato and xxx in between.

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This is silly. Most people I know in the US HATE Pizza hut....and usually go to a Pizza shop with a local owner....there are hundreds in every city. There are hundreds of varieties of Pizza in the US, including authentic Italin style. I have travelled extensively, and I must agree, for selection the US has most everywhere beat.

Regarding the export of American food products: I feel America has some of the best food in the world, in America. The food and restaurant culture is amazing in the big cosmopolitan cities. You cannot judge American food culture by the corporate cardboard products produced by McDonalds, Subway, and their ilk. BTW, I believe Au Bon Pain is a chain out of Boston, Mass USA (and better than Subway of course) and McDonalds does have a subchain for burritos called Chipotle which is actually excellent, using premium ingredients. Unfortunately, Chipotle has no current plans to go international, too bad.

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I agree, I absolutely love Chipotle...too bad they are not going abroad. Tough to get good Mexican food here.

"Throw in an uneducated illiterate society with its levels of crime and violence and it will be something to see what happens when its standard of living and materialism and consumerism ends overnight."

This would be funny if you didn't actually believe it. I am under no illusion that the US way of life is the "best" , but, to throw these stereotypes around as fact is nothing but ignorance. Why such hostility?

America feeds the world Big Macs and junk food for its corporate profits.Of the 22 richest countries America is last in percentage of foreign aid to the worlds hungry.America is a stingy bully.

Australia,Canada,Argentina,etc., all produce inexpensive beef for the world.Every country grows wheat and rice and raises chickens and pigs.

America only has high technology Mcdonalds as its only internationally recognized exports.

The DVD recorders,flat screen TVs,camcorders,and other high tech goodies comes from Japan and Korea not the US.China has the factories that produces almost everything else.

The world will really miss Big Macs as nobody but American industry can fry up a burger.

A Big Mac service economy that doesn't produce anything except movies and junk food is a false one.

Its all a scam and its dollar IOU's are all cons.

Throw in an uneducated illiterate society with its levels of crime and violence and it will be something to see what happens when its standard of living and materialism and consumerism ends overnight.

But the world will really feel sorry for the Paris Hiltons and Michael Jacksons being so poor and desperate.heehee!

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China's b*tch? I realize there is an anti American sentiment in this post, but, please really. Chinese GDP is almost at 4 trillion...except, once you adjust their currency due to the fact that it is artificially pegged to the US dollar "their b*tches money":-)they are under 3 trillion.

Exactly what year do you see them overtaking Japan, Germany, and England, let alone the 10-11 trillion US economy that continues to grow? FOrget that, when will this economic superpower float it's own currency on the world market? I am happy for the chinese, and their prosperity, they deserve it. Just trying to keep things in perspective.

supposing Roachie is on the money this time. while Bush and Condi are out playing superheroes and freeing the world from itself, america continues to spend itself into such a level of debt that massive and continued devaluation is unavoidable.  the assumption then is that cheaper american products re-invigorate exports and the balance is regained.  but now that american productivity gains are low and labour is far more competitive from the Asian giants, will this correction actually occur?  america will never be able win a price war, because its workers drive SUVs and live in large houses with mortgages. 

not only that, but on the higher end of the value chain, you find the americans being challenged by a brave new Europe, whose top companies in aviation, energy, telecommunications, transportation, pharmaceuticals etc already give the americans a good run for the money.  front-end commercial application of technology is no longer dominated by american companies.  its no wonder that people see China as the new emerging superpower, not only do the Chinese have massive production capacity and the ability to absorb technologies fast, they have a really massive and comparatively debt free consumer market.  will america stand idly by, waiting to become China's b*tch?

and so the only question left is this - what happens when you leave an angry child with lots and lots of weapons?  at first its wars are fought on 'moral' grounds, but what if it just gives up pretending and turns into a giant bully, extortionist, angry that its losing its right to have the world feed its rampant and insatiable appetite for consumption?  its scary but maybe some of those fundamentalists were right in identifying america as the real terrorists.  okay maybe they have already been bullying the smaller and more helpless fringe nations, but what if they were to turn against the mainstream of the global community?

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Apparently, it is running in the morning live, but, also, again in the evening at 6pm on UBC. I will check it out...Thanks!

Just got an email form Bill at Two Black Sheep informing me that he is working on having the game.  Pop in and he'll give you the info.

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This may be true...but, the most popular sport in America (American Football) has very little resemblance to it's predecessor (Rugby), and hasn't since the invention of the forward pass nearly 100 years ago.

Slightly off topic (very OT actually ) but I do believe that the only sport invented in America was Basket Ball.

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I am sure I will have to. but, was hoping to save myself some shoe leather:-)

I am hoping to watch the SUperbowl in Phuket..maybe Patong if possible. Anyone know where I might accomplish this? I am not above bribery.

I don't want to hear how this is not possible...because I am sure it is.

Thanks in advance

I am looking for a reasonably priced laptop in Phuket...maybe even secondhand...but, preferably not. Any ideas on the best place to shop?

I find this hard to believe. I am dying for some skoal, or Kodiak, or even some copenhagen would do. Is there nowhere? I am in Phuket.

<font color='#000000'>joinme/luma

Yeah...snus = snoose which is what various Pacific NW associates called Copenhagen now with hindsight betraying their Scandinavian origins (mostly Finns, Swedes and Norwegians). I shall get down to the Scandinavian Church to load up right away before the Marlboro Lights give me cancer.

I tried to do a mail order number with Esmokes.com for Copenhagen but they never answered my queries...probably don't like shipping overseas.

All the best</font>

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God, that is funny

for anal sex my girl says "sh*tbox me"

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Nothing on there but my airport stamp...good to know...already booked my flight to singapore

I flew into Thailand with no VIsa,so I have thirty days. Can I run to SIngapore to get a sixty day tourist visa within the thirty days? I will be working on a job and work permit, but, need time to get my ducks in a row. If need be, I can go ahead with the immigrant "B", but, this just seemed easier in the short term...much thanks in advance

This board has been helpful in some respects...but...I mentioned that I was marrying someone in Thailand that made good mony 70000US a year...and they implied she was a BG. I said I was looking for a job and they said it was impossible(it took 4 weeks) Said I could not get a visa(easier than getting a job)...I can go on and on Work Permits, Business ventures....it just seems almost as if they don't want you to be there....This board is invaluable...but, you must take all of it with a grain of salt

Let me get this straight...The USA is third world and Thailand is not.....enlightening. And Bush is responsible for it? This sound like a late night comedy channel in the US.

I appreciate all the input

QUOTE (quiggs @ Fri 2004-08-06, 19:28:01)

"might i add though, there are ALOT of stunning girls in the world but very few fit men"

Where is this exactly? I do not find this to be the case.

In my world

---------------------------------------------

If this is the case....don't you think the speciaes has a problem?

Anyway...about 5% of women are "stunning" if that. About 45% think they are...

I am in the process of moving to LOS, trying to formulate my plan for business, and my future....working on ensuring that I do not end up in the spot Scamp is in. I know I can identify with your situation, and I wish you the best.

Simon,I am not rich, but, I could certainly kick in a few bucks PM me if you will be meeting Scamp, maybe I can work something out. I will be in BKK end of this month. If I am ever in this spot...I would like to think someone would help.....instead of telling me to go back where I came from. It's shameful.

This is what this board should be more about I think....helping people in similar circumstances. Not necessarily with money, but, advice they can use....not all that flaming nonsense.

Good Luck