Tejas

Strange how there was no press release highlighting another recent survey that placed Thailand outside the top 100 in a Quality of Life index published by International Living magazine.

http://www1.internationalliving.com/qofl2010/

Of course not. It's not exactly something to boast about or proud of, is it?

..and the "achievement " of coming in at 9th most dangerous country out of 196 - see other thread on the subject.

Here is a running thread:

Foreign Tourists Urged To Stay Away From Bangkok 12 Countries issue travel warning

I guess when people are urged to stay away you go to the top of the list. That actually makes sense in the world we are living in.

Obviously not

If Thailand is the best, the world is really in trouble.

Declining birth rates for 35 years, and now well below replacement rate. Not enough babies, and the seniors are very sick. And I bet too few Thais will do anything healthy about it.

I understand, I think, where you are coming from. But the last thing Thailand and all other countries need is more babies.

In fact, we should implement strong government policies to discourage people from having children at all (or one child max).

In the sort term, there will be a problem with too many "old people." But that problem corrects itself naturally (unfortunate truth for all of us).

In the long term, having fewer babies and reducing the size of the human population will lead to massive economic, social and environmental benefits.

And no way I am going to post them here for the real estate hounds to read.

If I do that those places will get ruined too. Or, some would say, turn into a Paradise in Southeast Asia.

Right on dude ,THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!

Then again maybe not..

Incidentally I've done a LOT of research-for relocation- in the past couple of years ,and I am still lost..

It sucks everywhere ,unless you have lots of dinero.

I think Thailand still offers the best package East of the Suez canal.

Potential 'realistic' alternatives only exist in Latin America.

But nothing to write home about.

So here we are moaning and groaning and playing the blues..

Of course you are joking.....the world is not watching and most of us take this forum way too seriously (nobody cares).

Anyway, while not specifying the exact locations, I was talking about both Central and especially South America as alternatives (realistic ones in terms of quality of life).

But money.....yes, surely the more money you have the more options you have. One thing I have found is that Thailand just keeps getting more expensive.....far more expensive than some other places on my list.

That, of course, depends on what you want....where you want to live........whether your wants far exceed your needs, etc.

I will say this for the real estate hounds to ponder: both Cambodia and Vietnam are growing and will be serious competition for Thailand within 10 years as desired retirement destinations.

Providing they stay on track and keep passing laws that are expat friendly.

I really don't think that is a big secret at this point.

There are still some small islands in the Philippines that beat the hel_l out of anything in Thailand (but I am not saying which ones).

If only Myanmar would reverse its course and open up to the world........so beautiful and so much potential.

Thank you for that fast response. So that is 76 billion in frozen money......real cash.

I feel an earthquake coming.

In the end, they hope the players, red- or yellow-shirted, will respect the judges' verdict so that the country may return to normalcy.

Uhm, not really. I hope (very slight hope) that the verdict itself will be a sane and fair one. If it's not, then there's not much point in hoping for the judges to be respected.

Please answer: Does Mr. T really have 76 billion baht of assets inside Thailand that can be confiscated?

I would think not. Surely his cash has long since gone abroad to some secret place.

Real estate holdings are another matter. They can be liquidated.

Businesses.......same as real estate holdings or transfered to the state?

I have thought for a long time that the bulk of his liquid assets are in some safe place.

And that no matter what the courts do he will not be that impacted economically.

Maybe I am wrong.

Overpopulation plus economic decline = poverty = more touts.

Agreed, but would a more organised less intrusive way of selling actually make more money?

You see this all over now, not just in Thailand.

Yes, it's much more prevent in Vietnam, for one.

How about a crackdown on having more than one baby?

Been tried in China and Vietnam, doesn't work so well.

How about a large tax on families with more than one baby?

It usally works the other way, ie tax breaks for families.

Points 1-4:

1. Probably a good idea to have a more organized less intrusive system. What about organizing the touts, getting them to pool their money and rent a beach space and divide the income. That might help. Something similar was done in India.

The poor basically form their own internal bank......cooperate with each other........and invest their small money which eventually grows with proper management.

2. The worst I have ever seen is on the gorgeous Kuta beach in Bali........too bad because it is really nice. The sunsets are totally spectacular on that beach and that is when the touts like to stand right in front of view blocking the view of the sunset.

3. I disagree, especially on China. It was a huge success for China (but I respect your opinion and do not want to debate it here......just know that I live in China and Thailand and have discussed this issue with many Chinese people.......some don't like it.......most do because they know it was and continues to be good for China).

4. You are correct, especially in the USA.....more children, more welfare money. It is insane to establish a system that encourages having more babies.

Beach nuisances got so bad in the Philippines once that a Scots guy made himself a cardboard cut-out vulture, painted it black, and placed it next to him whenever he wanted to sunbathe in peace. I don't know how well it worked, but it was good a for a laugh.

Overpopulation plus economic decline = poverty = more touts.

You see this all over now, not just in Thailand.

How about a crackdown on having more than one baby?

How about a large tax on families with more than one baby?

How about a large tax break on families that decide not to have children?

Just some thoughts.

It seems psychologically weak to be so critical of others who don't like this place. Some posters can't even contemplate that other people might have a different opinion and think they are Thai bashers or delusional or poor or have a visa problem, whatever.

No, it's rather more the fact, that people, who really can't stand life here, are not strong enough to move, or, if that is not an option, can't manage to arrange their lives here in a way to reduce all the negative aspects to a minimum and enjoy all the positive aspects amap, but only complain about this and that, food, traffic, double pricing, low quality of this and that........

Best example are these frustrated guys, who stay in the middle of nowhere only because her wife was born there. Without the wife they would never ever be there. For sure, if they were at other places in Thailand, they would have a much better life.

You just proved the point I was trying to make.

When some people feel like they have an obligation to do or finish something (because it is the right thing to do), some people do it. That, my friend, takes massive mental strength and a moral base that is firm.

The last thing it is is weakness. Sure, it is easy to walk away from responsibility and many do.

Interesting comment about "frustrated guys who live in the middle of nowhere." Many actually like it there. For them, the positives of living in rural Thailand outweigh the negatives.

Some of that might be related to ones background: rural vs urban. Believe it or not, some people really do hate big cities, traffic, pollution, crime, etc.

And when you start getting bored, you can take a trip to the "big city."

Let me say it one more time for clarity: "It seems psychologically weak to be so critical of others who don't like this place. Some posters can't even contemplate that other people might have a different opinion and think they are Thai bashers or delusional or poor or have a visa problem, whatever."

That does not mean there are not people who love Thailand. It only means the reaction by these people to those who don't love Thailand bears analysis.

A lot of information on their website. www.rebaes.org

I think this man recently joined as a spokesperson singing a new song written for for the group that goes, basically, like this:

Ain't no problem in the real estate sector.........we are sure

Ain't no problem in the real estate sector.........we are sure

Ain't no problem in the real estate sector.........

Ain't no problem in the real estate sector

We are really, really, really......really sure..........

You can all sing along as the ship sinks.

I spent a lot of time in Thailand 35 years ago. Bangkok had no skytrains, no metro and no 7/11 convenience stores. There may have been 2 million people here in the city then. Big corporations have come in, large foreign investment has built skyscrapers and the world has come to Thailand so to speak. Heroin was the drug being sold and you could come and go from Don Muang Airport, although U.S. drug agents worked in the background.

The pace of life was slower. You could meet a young lady at any intersection who would be willing to spend a week or two with you and she would never ask you for a dollar. If you ate she ate. If you decided to buy her something fine, if you left here with some money when you left great. The woman was just happy to be with you although she probably did not speak English and at that time I could not speak any Thai, but it was all good.

If you could not find accomodation in the north you were always welcome in a Buddhist Temple to sleep for the night. I remember waking up one morning with the young monks tickling then my Canadian girlfriends feet, and it was all in fun. I don't think that they had been that close to foreigners at that time. Dual pricing may have existed but it was not visible if it was. Pattaya had the beach with bungalow type accommodation and one street running behind the beach street. There may have been 20 foreigners there at any one time. There was one or two more modern type hotels. There was no scene, such as there is today.

You could travel up and down the Mekong river. The Pathet Lao were fighting in Laos and 14 year old boys stood armed in the street.

Everyone was laid back and relaxed, no one bothered you for anything. 1972-1979 Thailand. You would be the only foreigner on a bus going almost anywhere, Chaing Mai, Chaing Rai, Mai Sai, etc. You stood out then. I liked Thailand a lot more then, but my heart has all ways remained here after all these years, and since my family responsibilities in North America have ended, fortunately I have been able to return to Thailand and I figure to die here and have my ashes scattered in the Chao Phaya River.

I can only go back about 25 years.

BANGKOK: I don't remember a McDonalds, but one might have been in Bangkok then. No skytrain, of course. The traffic was not good but nothing like it is today (actually worse today IMHO). Don't remember all the fancy malls. Don't remember all the huge skyscrapers (there were some). The air pollution I think is much worse today no matter what the official statistics say. Patpong was a male only place......no families and no Western females. In fact, I don't remember seeing Western females in Thailand at all until around the late 90s. Everything seemed less expensive in real terms. Bangkok had an "exotic edge" back then. It seemed a bit mysterious. Westerners were not that common then. Thais and the few Westerners living in Bangkok seemed more relaxed. Don't remember ever being concerned about crime. Life seemed easier for Thais. I think perhaps because they expected less.

PATTAYA: I remember a much smaller city. The water pollution was very bad though (still is but they have tried to work on infrastructure). There were many more people from the USA back then. The place seemed exotic and fun. It was not as "geriatric" as it is today. It was inexpensive. No traffic congestion. The real estate hounds had not invaded the place (that, in my view, has ruined the place). The "bar scene" was fun. People seemed less stressed out than today. I think the level of greed was far less back then. I don't remember all of the big malls selling stuff nobody wants. There were no visa problems at all if you knew what to do (that has been a huge change for expats). You felt wanted (now xenophobia is all over). I think Thais were, in general, doing better back then, but like what I said about Bangkok, I think expectations were lower......they needed less to be happy.

JOMTIEN: Jomtien was really a small town back then. I remember a long beach with virtually nothing on it but old (pine like) trees and a few huts across the street. [unfortunately, some idiot decided to take a chain saw to virtually all of those beautiful shade trees around 2002.] I do remember one or maybe two condos even 25 years ago. Jomtien was certainly not the place to be unless you wanted privacy and some time alone.

Now both Pattaya and Jomtien seem overcrowded and polluted.....just overdeveloped.

I've said it before - Other people's negative views of Thailand have absolutely no impact on my experience of Thailand.

It's on that basis I really cannot understand why so many people get really upset at someone else's negative comments about the place.

Other than of course the truth only really hurts those who are trying to deny it.

This is not directed at you Guesthouse, but to many posters who are in the love Thailand or leave it crowd.

I am not a psychologist....but what you said does makes sense. I think a lot of people are avoiding reality. Some, however, do genuinely like it here.

It seems psychologically weak to be so critical of others who don't like this place. Some posters can't even contemplate that other people might have a different opinion and think they are Thai bashers or delusional or poor or have a visa problem, whatever.

It seems strange to state there is no other place on the planet that can give people the same quality of life...that is simply not true for many people.

That is probably true for the poster that said that. But for many other people a higher quality of life can be found elsewhere.

To say that if you don't like it you should leave ignores the fact that many people have taken on a certain responsibility that keeps them here. Some people are stuck here because of a wife, child, house, job, etc.

Others moved here over a decade ago when it was an inexpensive and fun option and now are stuck here for financial or health reasons (the expat community is getting old and Thailand does offer pretty good medical care).

I have been all over the world (almost every country). I know there are better places than this.

And no way I am going to post them here for the real estate hounds to read.

If I do that those places will get ruined too. Or, some would say, turn into a Paradise in Southeast Asia.

I certainly would not say that. I have been here several decades and all I see is a sinking ship.

Why don't I leave? I do leave.......frequently.

Now, however, I am contemplating leaving for good.

I am sick and tired of the xenophobia, corruption, heat (getting hotter each year), stupid visa rules (even though I don't personally have a visa problem), pollution, rising crime, overdevelopment, and the new farangs moving in that make Rush Limbaugh look like a radical liberal.

No......no need to say "great.....leave."

Just know that when I moved here I loved Thailand and its people.

And I have done everything possible to make it a better place.

But like Dylan said, "Things have changed."

OP good luck to you where ever you end up...

At 15 years here you have right to your opinion about Thailand.

Wouldnt worry too much about the Thai apologists remarks, who i am sure are only 1 retirement cheque from having to get on a plane because they cant afford to live here anymore, at least you have given yourself options and made a decision...

I think a lot of the "love Thailand or leave it crowd" are one retirement check away from having to deal with Thailand reality.

When they start abrogating the income-related retirement rules, you will hear them singing a different tune.

It is too bad so many people got enamored with the "Thai myth" and sort of got stuck here for various reasons.

The xenophobia is really way out of hand now. Thailand is a sinking ship.

As a retirement destination, there are so many other better places to be.

I admire the OP for taking care of his family obligations here and deciding to move when the time was right.

Many of us would like to do just that, but will never admit it.

Come guys, let's not turn this into a Mexican Food Thread - please.

Can't we all just eat our donuts in peace?

MEXICAN FOOD! OK.........I will calm down.......hungry just thinking about it.

For those who can't wait for KK to come there, I am spilling the bean (I take back what I said about them not being that sweet):

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

2 packages yeast

1/4 cup warm water (105-115 degrees F)

1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk (scalded then cooled)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1/3 cup shortening

5 cups all-purpose flour, divided

Vegetable oil

Dissolve yeast in warm water in a 2 1/2-quart bowl.

Add milk, salt, eggs, shortening and 2 cups flour. Beat on low speed scraping bowl constantly, 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed scraping bowl occasionally, 2 minutes.

Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Cover and let rise in warm place, until double, 50 to 60 minutes. (Dough is ready when indentation remains when touched.)

Turn dough onto floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour. Gently roll dough 1/2-inch thick with floured rolling pin. Cut with floured doughnut cutter. Cover and let rise until double, 30 to 40 minutes.

Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer to 350 degrees F.

Slide doughnuts into hot oil with wide spatula. Turn doughnuts as they rise to the surface. Fry until golden brown, about 1 minute on each side. Remove carefully from oil (do not prick surface); drain.

Dip the doughnuts into Creamy Glaze set on rack; when slightly cooled spread Chocolate Glaze on top. Doughnuts may be dipped into sprinkles or other toppings after Chocolate Glaze is applied if desired.

Creamy Glaze

1/3 cup butter

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 to 6 tablespoons hot water

Heat butter until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.

Chocolate Glaze

1/3 cup butter

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 to 6 tablespoons hot water

4 ounces milk chocolate or semi-sweet chips

Heat butter and chocolate over low heat until chocolate is melted; remove from heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until of desired consistency.

Okay, I LOVE KK donuts...and my belly proves it. But I'll not try to say that KK are the best donuts, just my favorites.

But, so far, there is no donut outlet in Bangkok that has donuts that are "almost the same as" KK. Daddy Donut may be better or worse, depending on your personal taste, but it is not comparable. Period. I've lost weight since moving here for a variety of reasons, and one is that I have yet to find a really good Thai donut...based on my personal taste preferences.

If you can explain the difference between KK and Dadddy Dough (DD), please do so.

I think KK's donuts--and there are many varieties just like DD--are bigger, lighter, and maybe not as sweet as DD.

One of the best childhood memories I have is my father driving all of us (the kids) to a place called Lone Star Donuts on Saturday morning at about 5:00 am in the morning.

We hated getting up, be the donuts were fresh then and hot. Just simple glazed donuts.

A dozen donuts and four people in the car......all donuts gone in about 1 minute. Yuuuumm.

I mentioned that because I think both DD and KK make donuts all day.

It is that fresh donut right out of the cooker that taste great to me.

That is why I don't like Mr. Donut and Dunkin' Donuts.

The donuts are always cold and seem to have been sitting out since the last Ice Age.

Most of their donuts also are like bad cake or a very, very bad eclair.

(6) In case of marriage with a Thai lady, the husband who is an alien must have an average annual income of not less than 40,000 baht per month or a money deposit in a local Thai bank of not less than 400,000 baht for the past 2 months for expenses within a year.

I am curious about something.

If you have been staying in Thailand for one or more years on a marriage extension based on 40K/mo. income and tomorrow they up that to 80K/mo. income, are you "grandfathered in" at 40K?

I am asking because I heard that they are going to raise the monthly income bar yet again (not sure about this).

Snooze.

The sexiest thing a Thai woman can do? Walk away and let a Japanese woman take her place.......no, just kidding.

The sexiest thing a Thai woman can do is to say "Honey, keep all of your money......I don't want any of it ever.....my family does not want it......my friends don't want it........in fact, here is ten billion baht for you to spend on whatever you want."

What a turn on!

Thanks for the valued information guys - I think i'll book into the Cliff for a week and get a bike and ride around to find something - Sounds sensible......

Whats a decent deposit, 1 month? And you say I prob wont get that returned is that because they will find every excuse not to give it back - Damage etc?

Really good advice by Tarquin and others.

But do not pay any deposit or sign a lease. Just walk away.

Find a small place to rent (no deposit) and shop around the first month.

Then work out a month-to-month deal at some place.

Forget deposits and leases, that is one major way you get screwed.

The other is to walk down Walking Street (can I say that?)

Tejas, please tell me that you didn't make a special trip to Emporium just to make a photo, seriously you were looking for a Mexican restaurant to photograph?

I don't have much to do, so I decided to travel SIX HOURS to Bangkok to have a donut there. Then I thought, why not take a picture.

OK.......I am not telling the truth. Just found it on Google.

I do like the way the place is set up. And the donuts are good.

But they do need to add nam plaa and lots of red peppers to make them really good.

..and I still havn't come up with a name yet!

..... "Cheesco" the first cheese in the world dedicated to IT professionals! ok i'll get my coat now

The Cheese Factory (if you use this, do I get any free cheese?)

1, 2, 3, Cheese

Tried Krispy Kreme in Australia and cannot understand the fuss. Expensive and in the end, just a donut.

Personally I am waiting for someone to locally to come up with a tom yum kung flavoured donut, followed by a pla raa eclair.

Coming soon to your nearest 7-11

Yeh.....good donuts, especially if they warm them up in the microwave before serving them.

I tried their donuts at their location in the Paragon (right next to it is a good place for eclairs).

I think they had one if Pattaya, but not sure if they still do.

They are similar to Krispe Kream....but I like KK better (think KK are larger).

Unfortunately, like so many other Western foods, Thais seem to like the worst of the worst:

Dunkin' Donuts (horrible......all of them....where is the barf bag) and

Mr. Donut (to their credit they do have at least one donut that is like a donut but they refuse to heat them up).

Please post your current reviews of Mexican restaurants in Thailand with pictures of the foods being served.

The pictures are important because a "taco" in one place if often very different from a "taco" in another place (same for fajitas, tamales, frijoles, etc).

Pictures of the restaurants--outsides and interiors--would also be nice.

Hopefully this thread will allow us to talk about all of the restaurants in Thailand in one place and not have to jump around from one thread to another thread.

This is not about which one is best or worst.

I am starting this thread, but will not make any comments.

This thread is for Mexican food lovers.

Quick question.... anyone know why the food/restaurant threads are getting moved/spilt up? Some are still in the Western Food forum while others are being moved to BKK? Anyway, hope that they all either go one way or another so we can keep track.

I know but if I state the reason here the Mexican restaurant review police will ban me

Many of us would like to talk about all Mexican restaurants in Thailand here:

Western Food in Thailand

That means all of them, not just in Bangkok or Pattaya or Chiang Mai, etc.

We would like to post reviews along with pics of the foods the various places are selling and the places themselves.

Feel free to start such a thread.

That way we don't have to jump all over the place.

That makes sense.

Makes perfect sense. Mexican cuisine discussions are treated like discussions on any other cuisine, filed into the appropriate subforum. Threads about Mexican food in general will go under Western Food in Thailand. Any threads started about specific Mexican restaurants, like this thread, will go under the appropriate city.

The topic of this thread remains Los Cabos California Mexican Grill. BTW I believe the official opening party is this Thurs night.

Following this logic you may have to introduce 100 more city threads if they open Mexican restaurants in cities not on your list.

We tried to open a discussion on Mexican Restaurants in Thailand--not Bangkok, not Pattaya, not Chiang mai--Thailand. It was removed.

Why make this so difficult?

I will try, again, to open a general thread on Mexican restaurants in Thailand.