Ahh....the honey moon....... alt=biggrin.png pagespeed_url_hash=14303579 width=20 height=20> update please in 6months alt=wai.gif pagespeed_url_hash=3808308681 width=20 height=20>

I'm sure if he reports back in 6 months with the same experience that people will find something else to have a go at him about. This is not about you Haley, just the overwhelming negativity of some posters on here.

"what salesman/saleswoman would do all this in another country at no extra cost and with the kindness of their heart, which is Thailands way!"

I'm thinking "the kindness of their heart" involved a "big commission" that they forgot to mention.

After a while you come to recognise the scamming, but I agree the honeymoon period (where you pay double for everything without knowing) is great.

So you think someone getting a commission because they sold you something is a scam. Wow. I guess you must see scams everywhere you look.

I did enjoy reading about your experiences as you ease into your new life here.

It's usually good to get a fresh perspective, reminds me of why I originally choose this destination.

Just something though, sex and drugs occur everywhere so let's not get caught up in labelling areas were not accustomed to.

All in all a great wee introduction. Thanks.

And let's not assume that I don't know other parts of Thailand.

"what salesman/saleswoman would do all this in another country at no extra cost and with the kindness of their heart, which is Thailands way!"

I'm thinking "the kindness of their heart" involved a "big commission" that they forgot to mention.

After a while you come to recognise the scamming, but I agree the honeymoon period (where you pay double for everything without knowing) is great.

So you think someone getting a commission because they sold you something is a scam. Wow. I guess you must see scams everywhere you look.

In Thailand, true, land of scams.

"what salesman/saleswoman would do all this in another country at no extra cost and with the kindness of their heart, which is Thailands way!"

I'm thinking "the kindness of their heart" involved a "big commission" that they forgot to mention.

After a while you come to recognise the scamming, but I agree the honeymoon period (where you pay double for everything without knowing) is great.

No! This was a department store where there is no bartering, so I paid the going price and was not scammed.

Why do you, like many others on this forum, not read my message and only read your mind. The facts are in plain site in my message so please, everybody, stop assuming all the time.

Everybody - go and put your negativity in the trash and stop whining about YOUR experiences!

He hasn't been stalked, by the wooden-frog ladies, yet ! alt=rolleyes.gif pagespeed_url_hash=2070704717 width=20 height=20>

But being serious, yes Chiang Mai is a super place, I still love it after nine years, and hope to for the rest of my life.

So to another new-arrival ! alt=wai2.gif pagespeed_url_hash=1722055545 width=20 height=20>

No, I wouldn't be stalked by "wooden-frog ladies" because I am not a man. Another one who assumes he knows everything!

But thank you for the welcome anyway.

"what salesman/saleswoman would do all this in another country at no extra cost and with the kindness of their heart, which is Thailands way!"

I'm thinking "the kindness of their heart" involved a "big commission" that they forgot to mention.

After a while you come to recognise the scamming, but I agree the honeymoon period (where you pay double for everything without knowing) is great.

No! This was a department store where there is no bartering, so I paid the going price and was not scammed.

Perfect Homes is a department store??

Are you sure?

Ahh....the honey moon....... alt=biggrin.png pagespeed_url_hash=14303579 width=20 height=20> update please in 6months alt=wai.gif pagespeed_url_hash=3808308681 width=20 height=20>

Been here 10 years and still loving it and I agree with most of what the OP says. Maybe I'm just not a negative person. i think it's because I'm not a miserable old so and so who look for the negative in any situation and decide to focus on that. That sure seems to be how a lot of people on this forum look at things.

Aaaaah! Finally! Someone who still has grey cells in his head. Thank you for not being a miserable old so and so. I'm glad some of us still exist.

"what salesman/saleswoman would do all this in another country at no extra cost and with the kindness of their heart, which is Thailands way!"

I'm thinking "the kindness of their heart" involved a "big commission" that they forgot to mention.

After a while you come to recognise the scamming, but I agree the honeymoon period (where you pay double for everything without knowing) is great.

No! This was a department store where there is no bartering, so I paid the going price and was not scammed.

Perfect Homes is a department store??

Are you sure?

No, it is an estate agent. What estate agent would help me connect a phone, connect internet, fetch me miles away from town when a taxi driver got lost AFTER having had their commission for the condo? They even put themselves out to help me find the equipment I needed for the condo AFTER having had their commission for the condo.

This is proof enough that they are selfless and only thought of my welfare. I am a total stranger to them - even my family never did such things for me.

"what salesman/saleswoman would do all this in another country at no extra cost and with the kindness of their heart, which is Thailands way!"

I'm thinking "the kindness of their heart" involved a "big commission" that they forgot to mention.

After a while you come to recognise the scamming, but I agree the honeymoon period (where you pay double for everything without knowing) is great.

So you think someone getting a commission because they sold you something is a scam. Wow. I guess you must see scams everywhere you look.

In Thailand, true, land of scams.

Yes there are a lot of scams here. But your post implied that you thought that a salesperson getting a commission was a scam.

"what salesman/saleswoman would do all this in another country at no extra cost and with the kindness of their heart, which is Thailands way!"

I'm thinking "the kindness of their heart" involved a "big commission" that they forgot to mention.

After a while you come to recognise the scamming, but I agree the honeymoon period (where you pay double for everything without knowing) is great.

No! This was a department store where there is no bartering, so I paid the going price and was not scammed.

Perfect Homes is a department store??

Are you sure?

No, it is an estate agent. What estate agent would help me connect a phone, connect internet, fetch me miles away from town when a taxi driver got lost AFTER having had their commission for the condo? They even put themselves out to help me find the equipment I needed for the condo AFTER having had their commission for the condo.

This is proof enough that they are selfless and only thought of my welfare. I am a total stranger to them - even my family never did such things for me.

I too have had nothing but positive experiences from dealing with perfect homes.

I'm thinking you paid "foreigner price" for the property.

30% extra profit makes for a lot of "good will".

Selfless ...... not in Thailand, Thai or foreigner.

Can we please remember that many people don't listen to understand. They listen to reply.

I'm thinking you paid "foreigner price" for the property.

30% extra profit makes for a lot of "good will".

Selfless ...... not in Thailand, Thai or foreigner.

Keep “thinking” – it activates the brain cells!

So what if I paid 30% extra? If I am willing to pay extra to get exactly what I want, then it is my business. If you are not willing to pay extra for what you want, then don’t! Having said this, I don’t think I paid extra at all.

I saw other condos from another estate agent and they only showed me the dirtiest and most depressing condos I have ever seen. They were obviously trying to get rid of what they could not sell onto me. Having experienced this, it does not make me negative, I just go on elsewhere. If something negative happens to me, I learn from it and move on.

If no-one in Thailand is selfless and you live here, I wonder why you stay in this country. Anyone who stays in a country they find negative must be crazy?

I'm thinking you paid "foreigner price" for the property.

30% extra profit makes for a lot of "good will".

Selfless ...... not in Thailand, Thai or foreigner.

Keep “thinking” – it activates the brain cells!

So what if I paid 30% extra? If I am willing to pay extra to get exactly what I want, then it is my business. If you are not willing to pay extra for what you want, then don’t! Having said this, I don’t think I paid extra at all.

I saw other condos from another estate agent and they only showed me the dirtiest and most depressing condos I have ever seen. They were obviously trying to get rid of what they could not sell onto me. Having experienced this, it does not make me negative, I just go on elsewhere. If something negative happens to me, I learn from it and move on.

If no-one in Thailand is selfless and you live here, I wonder why you stay in this country. Anyone who stays in a country they find negative must be crazy?

Maybe you timed the very top of the bubble? Great cocktail party story.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jessecolombo/2013/11/04/thailands-bubble-economy-is-heading-for-a-1997-style-crash/

He hasn't been stalked, by the wooden-frog ladies, yet !

But being serious, yes Chiang Mai is a super place, I still love it after nine years, and hope to for the rest of my life.

So to another new-arrival !

At the end of the day wherever you relocate to you always take yourself with you. So if you had problems in Paris, or Ottawa, or Santiago then you'd probably have problems here too.

There are many good aspects to life here but after 5 years I find certain attitudes get me down. But there again, I'd find those same attitudes a downer in any other location.

So enjoy it while you are here ......

He hasn't been stalked, by the wooden-frog ladies, yet ! alt=rolleyes.gif pagespeed_url_hash=2070704717 width=20 height=20>

But being serious, yes Chiang Mai is a super place, I still love it after nine years, and hope to for the rest of my life.

So to another new-arrival ! alt=wai2.gif pagespeed_url_hash=1722055545 width=20 height=20>

No, I wouldn't be stalked by "wooden-frog ladies" because I am not a man. Another one who assumes he knows everything!

But thank you for the welcome anyway.

I'll try this time to help you out...your attitude seems to be getting you in a bit of bother here...

This is one of the 'wooden-frog ladies Amazed that after 6 weeks here you haven't had this encounter yet..

And this is the wooden frog that she will try to sell to you

The fact that you are not a man is , i believe quite irrelevant......

"what salesman/saleswoman would do all this in another country at no extra cost and with the kindness of their heart, which is Thailands way!"

I'm thinking "the kindness of their heart" involved a "big commission" that they forgot to mention.

After a while you come to recognise the scamming, but I agree the honeymoon period (where you pay double for everything without knowing) is great.

No! This was a department store where there is no bartering, so I paid the going price and was not scammed.

Perfect Homes is a department store??

Are you sure?

No, it is an estate agent. What estate agent would help me connect a phone, connect internet, fetch me miles away from town when a taxi driver got lost AFTER having had their commission for the condo? They even put themselves out to help me find the equipment I needed for the condo AFTER having had their commission for the condo.

This is proof enough that they are selfless and only thought of my welfare. I am a total stranger to them - even my family never did such things for me.

I too have had nothing but positive experiences from dealing with perfect homes.

I was going to say exactly the same, everything extra that was stated was done after they would have got their commission from the owner, they didn't have to that 'extra mile'. Estate agents get some stick, so nice to see Perfect Homes getting some nice recognition, incidentally think they have had good feedback in a few other threads so they must be doing something right!

"what salesman/saleswoman would do all this in another country at no extra cost and with the kindness of their heart, which is Thailands way!"

I'm thinking "the kindness of their heart" involved a "big commission" that they forgot to mention.

After a while you come to recognise the scamming, but I agree the honeymoon period (where you pay double for everything without knowing) is great.

So you think someone getting a commission because they sold you something is a scam. Wow. I guess you must see scams everywhere you look.

In Thailand, true, land of scams.

So what scams have you personally suffered here that you have not suffered in any other country??

Sometimes paying a little higher can be a good thing.

Sellers or service providers will come running to you when you call. Just because you are a little less of a miser.

I'm thinking you paid "foreigner price" for the property.

30% extra profit makes for a lot of "good will".

Selfless ...... not in Thailand, Thai or foreigner.

Keep “thinking” – it activates the brain cells!

So what if I paid 30% extra? If I am willing to pay extra to get exactly what I want, then it is my business. If you are not willing to pay extra for what you want, then don’t! Having said this, I don’t think I paid extra at all.

I saw other condos from another estate agent and they only showed me the dirtiest and most depressing condos I have ever seen. They were obviously trying to get rid of what they could not sell onto me. Having experienced this, it does not make me negative, I just go on elsewhere. If something negative happens to me, I learn from it and move on.

If no-one in Thailand is selfless and you live here, I wonder why you stay in this country. Anyone who stays in a country they find negative must be crazy?

Maybe you timed the very top of the bubble? Great cocktail party story.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jessecolombo/2013/11/04/thailands-bubble-economy-is-heading-for-a-1997-style-crash/

Written by a tenant who missed out on the rise in prices?? Chinese buying property and bangkokians, and property cheaper now for those with foreign currency. Maybe a bubble one day but not just yet. Forbes writers are not always right...

Well, for your information, the service here in Japan is pretty darned good too. The Japanese are very efficient and hardworking; the Thais smile more and are more chatty. You are in your honeymoon phase. Give it time. You will have a variety of experiences and your perceptions may change over time. Remember that Thai Visa serves as a forum where members can vent their frustrations. They are not therefore necessarily less pleasant or humane than posters who rave about the kindness and graciousness of the Thais.

People who can't live with their own race have a problem and it always manifests itself over here eventually..going thousands of miles away doesn't change much in the long term.

My race is the human race!

Here, your race is FARANG.

I'm thinking you paid "foreigner price" for the property.

30% extra profit makes for a lot of "good will".

Selfless ...... not in Thailand, Thai or foreigner.

Keep thinking it activates the brain cells![/size]

So what if I paid 30% extra? If I am willing to pay extra to get exactly what I want, then it is my business. If you are not willing to pay extra for what you want, then dont! Having said this, I dont think I paid extra at all.

I saw other condos from another estate agent and they only showed me the dirtiest and most depressing condos I have ever seen. They were obviously trying to get rid of what they could not sell onto me. Having experienced this, it does not make me negative, I just go on elsewhere. If something negative happens to me, I learn from it and move on.

If no-one in Thailand is selfless and you live here, I wonder why you stay in this country. Anyone who stays in a country they find negative must be crazy?

Cleaning materials and paint are cheap in Thailand.

Why do I live here ....... cheap girls ........ it's why (nearly) every foreign guy lives here.

I'm thinking you paid "foreigner price" for the property.

30% extra profit makes for a lot of "good will".

Selfless ...... not in Thailand, Thai or foreigner.

Keep thinking it activates the brain cells![/size]

So what if I paid 30% extra? If I am willing to pay extra to get exactly what I want, then it is my business. If you are not willing to pay extra for what you want, then dont! Having said this, I dont think I paid extra at all.

I saw other condos from another estate agent and they only showed me the dirtiest and most depressing condos I have ever seen. They were obviously trying to get rid of what they could not sell onto me. Having experienced this, it does not make me negative, I just go on elsewhere. If something negative happens to me, I learn from it and move on.

If no-one in Thailand is selfless and you live here, I wonder why you stay in this country. Anyone who stays in a country they find negative must be crazy?

Cleaning materials and paint are cheap in Thailand.

Why do I live here ....... cheap girls ........ it's why (nearly) every foreign guy lives here.

Good paint and good girls aren't cheap..

Why do I live here ....... cheap girls ........ it's why (nearly) every foreign guy lives here.

Cheap girls or cheap boys or cheap ladyboys. Have to be inclusive in (almost) 2014.

"what salesman/saleswoman would do all this in another country at no extra cost and with the kindness of their heart, which is Thailands way!"

I'm thinking "the kindness of their heart" involved a "big commission" that they forgot to mention.

After a while you come to recognise the scamming, but I agree the honeymoon period (where you pay double for everything without knowing) is great.

Aren't salespeople supposed to be working for commission in any country? Anyway a smart shopper takes their time hunting for bargains to be had at stores other than Central or Robinson's.

I'm thinking you paid "foreigner price" for the property.

30% extra profit makes for a lot of "good will".

Selfless ...... not in Thailand, Thai or foreigner.

Keep thinking it activates the brain cells![/size]

So what if I paid 30% extra? If I am willing to pay extra to get exactly what I want, then it is my business. If you are not willing to pay extra for what you want, then dont! Having said this, I dont think I paid extra at all.

I saw other condos from another estate agent and they only showed me the dirtiest and most depressing condos I have ever seen. They were obviously trying to get rid of what they could not sell onto me. Having experienced this, it does not make me negative, I just go on elsewhere. If something negative happens to me, I learn from it and move on.

If no-one in Thailand is selfless and you live here, I wonder why you stay in this country. Anyone who stays in a country they find negative must be crazy?

Cleaning materials and paint are cheap in Thailand.

Why do I live here ....... cheap girls ........ it's why (nearly) every foreign guy lives here.

Good paint and good girls aren't cheap..

This is true, paint that actually stays on the walls for a few years is pretty darn expensive here, and bad girls aren't cheap either, in fact way more expensive than good girls.

Ahh....the honey moon....... update please in 6months

Maybe I can give you an update now. I have been in Pattaya for 18 months now, and express the same feelings as the OP. If you can not enjoy the people, and the day to day living here, you won't be happy anywhere. Thailand is a great country that offers so much for so little. Thai people are great.

A honeymoon can last as long as you want it to. Want to be miserable, go for it! You can do that on day one, but what a way to live. Such a shame to waste a good life.

It is great when everything goes smoothly and all you see is smiles. However, for your own welfare, be aware that the smile is typically by default and can sometimes betray true intentions. It likely won't always run smooth--bureaucracy can be a killer and boiling hot, smokey days in March are no fun either.

Also be careful of your perception of the Thai south, you are way off tangent. Had some of my best experiences there and met some of the warmest people.