for f up the country.

 

I thought it would be impossible, but here we are.

 

 

 

 

Glass BBQ or Bong ?

9 minutes ago, Celsius said:

for f up the country.

You can leave, at it will be less f up.

Can't say I see much difference in the country since I arrived in 2009.

 

Was it not f'd up before?

30 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Can't say I see much difference in the country since I arrived in 2009.

23 years on for me, and most changes have been for the positive.  Especially if O&A quite a bit.   The roads are excellent compared to before.   Though due to the amount of traffic now, you won't be saving any time traveling (location dependent) as I used to make it from Udon Thani to top of Bangkok in about 6+ hours.   Now 8-10 hrs.

 

Aside from inflation for everyday living expenses, many things haven't gone up in price too much, until recently.   Some staying the same but so much better, especially electronics.

 

Remember my 10k baht POS phone w/camera, can't compete with my 7k baht phone now.   Every aspect of it is better.   Along with cost to operate and make phone calls.

 

Udon Thani to Bangkok used to 12 baht a minute (thanks Thaksin), and now less than 1 baht, if needing to pay at all.   Strangely to USA was 18 baht a minute, and UK was 36 

 

If contracting to have house build, not really that much difference in price, maybe 50%, over 20+ years, but quality of materials & build far superior.  Land of course has quadrupled+, at least, again, location dependent.

 

Compared to inflation & housing cost in USA, and other western countries, then we're doing really good.

 

Financials for long term visa (marriage/retirement) hasn't changed, though due to scammers, a bit more enforcement of the rules, which again, basically haven't changed much.

 

And for the Ganga Heads ... pure heaven 

 

The past 2 years, w/EVs (cars & MC), our cost for transport yearly has plummeted, along with solar now affordable and easily installed, basically eliminated monthly electric bills.  Those 2 alone, almost make up for the 'daily living expense' inflation.   All a bit of a wash in that aspect.   Pending ROI, in 5-10 years, and the more you use, the more you save & quicker ROI.

 

NO COMPLAINTS FROM ME 

16 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Remember my 10k baht POS phone w/camera, can't compete with my 7k baht phone now.   Every aspect of it is better. 

 

That's because Thailand makes iPhone and Samsung Note

4 hours ago, Celsius said:

for f up the country.

 

I thought it would be impossible, but here we are.

Yeah no kidding! By coincidence it was awesome until just after your arrival 

My cup is always half full ...

... woke up to lovely sunrise in a tropical country.

 

CONGRATS & THANKS THAILAND

Good Morning ... ☕

... timing is everything. If I had patience, maybe could have gotten a bird flying across. Only about a 3 minute window before sun above the palm.

Sunrise from the veranda, at rear of our house. ESE this time of year.

 

DISCLAIMER: cup is empty, but was a nice cup of coffee.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

My cup is always half full ...

... woke up to lovely sunrise in a tropical country.

 

CONGRATS & THANKS THAILAND

Good Morning ... ☕

... timing is everything. If I had patience, maybe could have gotten a bird flying across. Only about a 3 minute window before sun above the palm.

Sunrise from the veranda, at rear of our house. ESE this time of year.

 

DISCLAIMER: cup is empty, but was a nice cup of coffee.

 

The view from my loom is a bit different....

 

 

 

20 hours ago, Celsius said:

I thought it would be impossible, but here we are.

.....and where's that??? The OP lacks information!

1 hour ago, Celsius said:

 

The view from my loom is a bit different....

 

 

 

This is on the veranda now; AQI 61  PM2.5 46

PM2.5 always sucks (2-10X WHO safety limits)

 

Don't know where the AQI meters are in town, but readings 100+, and probably accurate, as I can't see the headlands at the bay.  Just a gray blur.  I couldn't live any further north than we are, as AQI #s are just too silly high.

 

We're usually less than internet reading, though sadly, agree too many times.   Just started getting bad this week.  Indoors, w/air purifiers & ACs w/air purifiers, numbers are usually single digits, unless cooking.

 

My meter @ veranda:

 

Internet sites:

On 1/8/2024 at 8:41 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

Was it not f'd up before?

Not in the 90s. It was brilliant then.

On 1/9/2024 at 1:19 PM, KhunLA said:

My cup is always half full ...

... woke up to lovely sunrise in a tropical country.

 

CONGRATS & THANKS THAILAND

Good Morning ... ☕

... timing is everything. If I had patience, maybe could have gotten a bird flying across. Only about a 3 minute window before sun above the palm.

Sunrise from the veranda, at rear of our house. ESE this time of year.

 

DISCLAIMER: cup is empty, but was a nice cup of coffee.

and if you woke up with an attractive lady next to you it'd be paradise. Even more so if said lady made the coffee for you.

On 1/8/2024 at 9:03 PM, KhunLA said:

The roads are excellent compared to before. 

That  just makes it possible for more people to die on them. Better if roads not so good- slows the idiots down.

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

and if you woke up with an attractive lady next to you it'd be paradise. Even more so if said lady made the coffee for you.

That's every morning, except I make my own coffee.  Sunrises are quality time with Sniffy (dog) & myself.

 

Mrs doesn't get out of bed for another hour or so, since Sniffy & myself are usually up pre-sunrise.

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

That's every morning, except I make my own coffee.  Sunrises are quality time with Sniffy (dog) & myself.

 

Mrs doesn't get out of bed for another hour or so, since Sniffy & myself are usually up pre-sunrise.

You lucky lucky guy.

I'm so envious.

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

That  just makes it possible for more people to die on them. Better if roads not so good- slows the idiots down.

That's why the death count is always lower on holidays ... too much traffic.

 

Roads better, not just top paving, but more lanes & divided.  Even those major improvement, and it take a while to get anywhere now.   Best to avoid weekends if you can, though that's worldwide.

Just now, KhunLA said:

That's why the death count is always lower on holidays ... too much traffic.

 

Roads better, not just top paving, but more lanes & divided.  Even those major improvement, and it take a while to get anywhere now.   Best to avoid weekends if you can, though that's worldwide.

Not true where I live. Weekdays are diabolical for traffic, and much easier/ safer on weekends. I don't live in a city though. Just have to watch out for the townies that can't drive in the countryside, as zero skills.

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Not true where I live. Weekdays are diabolical for traffic, and much easier/ safer on weekends. I don't live in a city though. Just have to watch out for the townies that can't drive in the countryside, as zero skills.

Yes, locally, no school and work rush hour, and traffic a bit better.   But on the road, when O&A, horrendous to/from tourist destinations, especially those a few hours from Bangkok; Kanchanaburi, Khao Yai, Patts, Hua Hin/Cha Am.

 

Middle class is in 'Escape Mode"  I stay clear of all that, as been caught in it a couple times. 

19 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Yes, locally, no school and work rush hour, and traffic a bit better.   But on the road, when O&A, horrendous to/from tourist destinations, especially those a few hours from Bangkok; Kanchanaburi, Khao Yai, Patts, Hua Hin/Cha Am.

 

Middle class is in 'Escape Mode"  I stay clear of all that, as been caught in it a couple times. 

I think petrol in NZ is so expensive now it puts people off driving unless they have to.

On 1/8/2024 at 12:47 PM, Celsius said:

for f up the country.

 

I thought it would be impossible, but here we are.

 

 

 

 

I don't get it. Then why the blip are you here? 

Or are you?

57 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I think petrol in NZ is so expensive now it puts people off driving unless they have to.

If housing cost, new mortgages/rents are to be believed, then many folks under a certain income level, have surely put driving anywhere as low priority and only necessity runs.  If even owning a car, as most metro dwellers really don't need one.

 

Maybe part of the grand plan to push/force '15 minute cities' on the populous.

 

Owning a car/truck is probably the largest 2nd monthly single item expense (buy in, insurance, petrol), especially if newish, and carrying a bank note.

 

We could easily get by without our car, and the scooter is even a luxury, since most everything needed is within 5 kms.  Actually much less, and 1-3kms if not concerned about selection of vendors.  Anything else can be ordered online.  

 

Unfortunately, we're just a tad too far for restaurant home delivery, and more so because of the U-turns add a km or 2 to the route.  I always state, we live 'rural' but not really.   Rural in the sense of no close neighbors (100+m away), 1 or 2 ma/pa vendors 2-300m away at one stretch of village intersection.

 

But PKK city is only 5 kms away, Makro less.   It's just once you cross Hwy #4/Phetkasem rd, after 2-300 meters, it all pineapples & coconut groves.    One chickie, investor, just built about 20 house, or there would be very few folks around us, and that's just the last year.  

 

These are all hers and built within 2023:

 

You cross hwy 4 westward, and after 500m on most sois, and it's all farmland.