PDA

View Full Version : Living in Thailand



Pages : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [9] 10 11

Seydlitz
10-17-08, 22:19
Over here, in beautiful (but crumbling) France, I get excellent medical care pretty much for free, so I have not much need to use the remarkable healthcare facilities available in BKK. I did once though, to get anti-snoring implants in my palate. That treatment was not available outside of the US and a few other countries, but at Burumgrad all that was required was booking for a procedure and paying for it with my Amex. I even got air miles with it!

I have been ill a number of times while vacationing in LOS, and the quality of service and healthcare was impressive. I made sure I went home with carefully itemised bills and I got fully refunded by the French social security system and my private insurance.

Lord Farquard
10-17-08, 23:10
$5,000 is one crown in the US.

I have had 8 implants done over there, that would be over $40000 in the US.
Only $1500/ tooth in LOS, and you actually get treated like a person, not just the doctors next boat payment ;)

Terry Terrier
10-18-08, 00:37
I did once though, to get anti-snoring implants in my palate.
If you don't mind my asking, did they work?

Terry Snorer

Seydlitz
10-18-08, 18:24
If you don't mind my asking, did they work? Terry Snorer

Regrettably, not totally.

I underwent the Pillar Procedure http://www.restoremedical.com/. This is really light and non-invasive. The doctor inserts 4 plastic implant strips into your palate. It hurts a bit for a few days and that’s it. Overall, I’d say that it is worth doing it. Possibly there might be an opportunity to renew the procedure in the future and get four more inserts, that should stiffen my palate even more.

Snoring is mostly the consequence of a soft palate. This is made worse by being a male, by advancing age, by being overweight, by alcohol intake, etc. Many things I must have in common with most of the other guys here …

I still snore, but less. How much less it difficult to say, as it depends from a variety of situations. I think I had a mild form of sleep apnoea, and I believe this treated it. I used to wake up at night in the middle of a nightmare that was apparently caused by my losing my breath. I was often very tired in the morning. This is over now.

Amer Tun
11-17-08, 23:59
I take my discussion here.

Sorry guys, when posting in the other thread I had a bottle of champagne and two Duluc Ducru (St. Julien french red wine for those who don't know) in the sack.

So what makes me ask questions about buying something in Thailand?

A good friend of mine (he works in private banking) told me that one of his clients has some villas in Thailand he sells for around 150. 000 euro per unit. I don't know how this guy buys or sells them, but he does.compared to the prices in my country (over 75. 000 euro for 10x10 meters of only the land) these villa prices are ridiculous.

Me, I would prefere having something in Bangkok.

This made me think why not buy something now, have all my hollidays in BKK and settle down there for my retirement. As I'm in education I have a lot of hollydays (every 7 weeks 1 or 2 weeks off plus 2 months in summer). For the rest I could rent it to some tourists.

Is such an idea viable or not?

Thanks for advice.

Retired Army
11-18-08, 07:11
I take my discussion here.

Sorry guys, when posting in the other thread I had a bottle of champagne and two Duluc Ducru (St. Julien french red wine for those who don't know) in the sack.

So what makes me ask questions about buying something in Thailand?

A good friend of mine (he works in private banking) told me that one of his clients has some villas in Thailand he sells for around 150. 000 euro per unit. I don't know how this guy buys or sells them, but he does.compared to the prices in my country (over 75. 000 euro for 10x10 meters of only the land) these villa prices are ridiculous.

Me, I would prefere having something in Bangkok.

This made me think why not buy something now, have all my hollidays in BKK and settle down there for my retirement. As I'm in education I have a lot of hollydays (every 7 weeks 1 or 2 weeks off plus 2 months in summer). For the rest I could rent it to some tourists.

Is such an idea viable or not?

Thanks for advice.

I would be extremely careful about buying in Thailand. Too many risks. Thailand isn't Europe, it's a developing third world country. Rents don't match housing prices, so that's a losing proposition.

Why don't you just rent when you are in Thailand? That's what most of the people I know do.

Opebo
11-18-08, 08:32
It is also worth noting that 1) the detested foreigner is not allowed, legally, to own 'villas' or any other property in Thailand, with the partial exception of condominiums (and who wants those?), 2) prices, though low, may always go lower (see America), and 3) 150,000 Euros is an enormously high price already for a middle income partially developed country. One should never think that something is a good deal because it is cheap relative to back home, as the context is entirely different; yes, this is a reminder to those who overpay for sex as well.

Lastly might I add on a personal note that Bangkok is a miserable place for a holiday; it is a large, dirty, hectic, work-a-day city. If you want to holiday go to Pattaya - that is what it is for.

Tiger 888
11-18-08, 10:40
$5,000 is one crown in the US.
A crown in Pattaya, at German dental (perfect work, finished in 3 days) is around 8500 Baht, less than 250 $. So that pays the flight, the unpaid leave plus as many girls as you ca do. Even from Bangkok saving over 10000 Baht pays for way more than the bus.

But then 5000 $ for one crown sounds a bit crazy to me. It would be 500-700 Euros in Germany

Seydlitz
11-18-08, 13:04
I would agree that one needs to be extra cautious when buying real estate in Thailand (even more so than everywhere in the world). I own a villa in Koh Samui (3 bedrooms, private pool) in a residential unit that operates like a hotel. The management is top notch and takes care of everything. The villa is more or less fully booked most of the time no. The net rent more or less pays for the house, and the value of property has increased at least 40% since I built the house.

There are two issues, though. First it took a while for the entire residence to start getting customers (it is a bit out of the way, which is a good thing but requires some marketing). Second the house tends to be booked by paying guests at the times that I would want to stay there myself, and it makes more economic sense for me to stay elsewhere.

The bottom line is that in my case at least it is a good, rather inexpensive investment with a relatively safe setup, but it is not really a home away from home in an enchanted south seas location.

Daddy San
11-20-08, 15:06
In the Chiang Mai section, member Gangles writes:

I stayed ay the Bau Tong lodge, a small, almost new guest house in Soi 3, Loi Kroh road. 700 per night for the largest room. It is large, very clean, everything works, and the downstairs area is set out like a large lounge room. Very comfortable. Has wifi in the lobby, and also worked in the room. Soi 3 is quiet, and almost in the middle of everything. And it has a small, pleasant bar attached.

I stay at the Raming Lodge, whenever in CM and never ever have stayed in a guest house. But from Gangles description, this place sounds quite adequate, at 1/3 of the hotel price.
Can someone please comment on hotels vs. guest houses in general (aside from the price difference)?
What are the down sides?
How about guest-friendliness?

Duniawala
11-20-08, 17:14
In the Chiang Mai section, member Gangles writes:

I stayed ay the Bau Tong lodge, a small, almost new guest house in Soi 3, Loi Kroh road. 700 per night for the largest room. It is large, very clean, everything works, and the downstairs area is set out like a large lounge room. Very comfortable. Has wifi in the lobby, and also worked in the room. Soi 3 is quiet, and almost in the middle of everything. And it has a small, pleasant bar attached.

I stay at the Raming Lodge, whenever in CM and never ever have stayed in a guest house. But from Gangles description, this place sounds quite adequate, at 1/3 of the hotel price.
Can someone please comment on hotels vs. guest houses in general (aside from the price difference)?
What are the down sides?
How about guest-friendliness?
Daddy San, you should move this to the Hotels section, where it really belongs.

Daddy San
11-20-08, 18:09
I'd be glad to oblige, if you'd tell me how to move a post...

PinkPearl
11-21-08, 09:54
I have had 8 implants done over there, that would be over $40000 in the US.

Only $1500/ tooth in LOS, and you actually get treated like a person, not just the doctors next boat payment ;)I've been quoted $1000 in Canada, and seen far less in BKK, for a crown.

Duniawala
11-21-08, 17:43
I'd be glad to oblige, if you'd tell me how to move a post...
Go back in your post, copy it, go to Hotel section, new report, paste it, and hit ADD REPORT.

Go back to your original post and delete if you wish, or just leave it there.

Anything else?:)

Fifty Fifty
11-26-08, 03:13
Bumingrad Hospital off Sukhumvit, near Nana. My crown popped out on flight from HK to Bkk, went over to outpatient dental clinic and they did a great job cleaning, sealing it back on - under B1000.

Just a bit more info.

Girlfriend had problems with crap dentists in Kazakhstan, so we decided to wait until BKK.

Walked into Bumrungrad Hospital Dentist Department at 10 am Monday as an outpatient, never been there before.
She was seen within 20 minutes and the need for 2 fillings and a Root-Canal job were diagnosed.
Appointments were fitted around our schedule and we returned for her to have the work done.

Went back in the afternoon for them to start the work, and returned again the following morning. By 11.30 next day it was all completed and the total cost, including cleaning and polishing too, was 14,200 THB

$400 for excellent work and service - Recommended.

Cheers, Fifty Fifty

M P Lurker
11-26-08, 05:04
Just a bit more info.

Girlfriend had problems with crap dentists in Kazakhstan, so we decided to wait until BKK.

Walked into Bumrungrad Hospital Dentist Department at 10 am Monday as an outpatient, never been there before.
She was seen within 20 minutes and the need for 2 fillings and a Root-Canal job were diagnosed.
Appointments were fitted around our schedule and we returned for her to have the work done.

Went back in the afternoon for them to start the work, and returned again the following morning. By 11.30 next day it was all completed and the total cost, including cleaning and polishing too, was 14,200 THB

$400 for excellent work and service - Recommended.

Cheers, Fifty Fifty
Sounds a bit high.
Some other good dental clinics may be quite a bit cheaper.
I used "Thanakit" (in Pratu Nam - most dentists here have studied in major US universities) for 2 hour root canal (4 long narrow roots) and price was very reasonable as labour in Thailand is way cheaper than back home. Unfortunately I don't remember exact price, but very worhwhile. Thanakit has an experienced root-canal specialist too.

I wouln't even consider expensive dental work back home any longer. I have had root canals and more than one crown done in Thailand with no problems. The savings pays for the airfare.

When you get a broken tooth in your home country, consider just getting a quick cheap plastic cap put on it, and wait till your upcoming trip to BKK, to get a crown done properly.

NicFrenchy
11-28-08, 05:09
Living (and working) in Thailand suck right about now... and this will get worse in 2009

Danton
12-28-08, 08:44
Living (and working) in Thailand suck right about now... and this will get worse in 2009Guys,

Just want to say, I am a middle aged European professional considering re-locating to Thailand in the coming months (subject to finalising the offer).

First off, I've spent a good few days going over this forum and I have to say the information contained here (sometimes reading between the lines) is immeasurably more useful than the shit that is posted on most forums supposedly devoted to living in Thailand. This is positively the 'font of all knowledge' and should I re-locate I do hope I will be able to contribute myself to this thread and others on this forum.

That being said, Nic, would you be prepared to elaborate?

One other thing I would like to ask, and I realise discretion is the better part...etc, how is mongering view here in Western professional circles? Some places I have lived in Asia it seems to be a given that out of office social activities and mongering are one and the same. Is this the case in TL?

Thanks guys.

D

Daddy07
12-29-08, 02:10
Guys,

Just want to say, I am a middle aged European professional considering re-locating to Thailand in the coming months (subject to finalising the offer).

First off, I've spent a good few days going over this forum and I have to say the information contained here (sometimes reading between the lines) is immeasurably more useful than the shit that is posted on most forums supposedly devoted to living in Thailand. This is positively the 'font of all knowledge' and should I re-locate I do hope I will be able to contribute myself to this thread and others on this forum.

That being said, Nic, would you be prepared to elaborate?

One other thing I would like to ask, and I realise discretion is the better part...etc, how is mongering view here in Western professional circles? Some places I have lived in Asia it seems to be a given that out of office social activities and mongering are one and the same. Is this the case in TL?

Thanks guys.

D
Like you, I’m a middle aged American professional enjoying the time of my life living in Thailand. I honestly don’t know what Nic is talking about when he says life “sucks” in Thailand now, although he’s been here much longer than me and must have his reasons.

I moved here for three things: the pussy, low cost of living, and tropical weather, in that order, and have yet to be disappointed. Other than the fact that I must visit my daughter and her family every so often, I wouldn’t give a damn if I never set foot in the USA and its anal retentive culture again.

I can’t really answer your question about the opinions of mongering among the western professional circles in Thailand as I’m largely anti-social; like to mostly keep mongering activities to myself and travel alone. I imagine though, that the western expats who don’t monger probably have disdainful opinions about the hobby, while those who do don’t advertise their proclivities for fear of offending the former. That’s why this forum is a great place to share our experiences in complete anonymity.

Old Thai Hand
12-29-08, 02:41
Like you, I’m a middle aged American professional enjoying the time of my life living in Thailand. I honestly don’t know what Nic is talking about when he says life “sucks” in Thailand now, although he’s been here much longer than me and must have his reasons.

You don't live here. You're retired here. You're on a perpetual holiday, and more power to you. I envy you that. But, you don't have any real dealings with Thais, other than in a very superficial way. Essentially you live in a bubble in LaLaLand, and are therefore impervious to what's happening here and the changes in Thai society. Therefore, you can't honestly comment on Nic's opinion.

The mood in this country has turned increasingly ugly. There is a growing desperation as the political crisis continues, as the succession issue remains unresolved and the economy heads south. There is an extremely strong, anti-Farang backlash in the workplace, as always happens in such situations. I haven't experienced such anti-Farang (it's your fault) sentiment since the economic melt-down of 1997, during which they blamed everything on the West, especially George Soros, without taking any responsibility for their own overbearing greed, corruption and malfeasance. As usual, because the Thais are spineless, morally-bankrupt scum (and scum rises to the top), who won't take responsibilty for anything, they are blaming the economic crisis in the West and therefore the hated Farang for all their current and future ills.

Overall, the Thais are becoming increasingly reactionary, regardless of which political camp you look at: the Thai Nazis, aka the PAD are merely more reactionary than the UDD. But, both are basically the same, in that they are xenophobic, protectionist and firmly believe in the philosophy, "Thailand for Thai people", in its most insidious interpretation. Even at the best of times, Thais are suspicious of or downright hate Farang: A favorite expression, uttered by the ardent, anti-Farang nationalist, Ad Carabao; "Khon Thai reu plao" (Are you Thai or not?) speaks volumes about how most Thais feel about us, even during good times.

Therefore, there are only 2 reasons to stay in this country, if you're a Farang.

1/ You have a high-paying job with a multi-national company, live in the Sukhumvit Farang ghetto around Enporium, have a driver who takes you to and from work, and are therefore, basically immune to it all.

2/ You have pots of money, can live the life of Riley in a 'bubble' of your choosing, while the country collapses around you.

Otherwise, get out, if you're here or don't come, if you're considering it.


PS:
If all goes according to plan, I'll be out of here in 6 months, and will be extremely glad of it. Then, I'll only ever come here on holiday, or perhaps, like you, to retire.

NicFrenchy
12-29-08, 03:27
1/ You have a high-paying job with a multi-national company, live in the Sukhumvit Farang ghetto around Enporium, have a driver who takes you to and from work, and are therefore, basically immune to it all.

OTH,

Glad to have you back :) I really do miss your Posts.

What you describe above (well, for the exception of the driver) is about what my life looks like. I can't really complain but when I see what this country is going to be (even short term) I am not very positive.

For the records, that quote you guys talk about was written in the middle of the Airport occupation (back in November).

As for 2009, well, on top of what OTH said, I think the economy Crisis might hit Thailand hard, very hard and people will have to try and find a scapegoat: The Farang.

Daddy07
12-29-08, 03:53
You don't live here. You're retired here. You're on a perpetual holiday, and more power to you. I envy you that. But, you don't have any real dealings with Thais, other than in a very superficial way. Essentially you live in a bubble in LaLaLand, and are therefore impervious to what's happening here and the changes in Thai society. Therefore, you can't honestly comment on Nic's opinion.

The mood in this country has turned increasingly ugly. There is a growing desperation as the political crisis continues, as the succession issue remains unresolved and the economy heads south. There is an extremely strong, anti-Farang backlash in the workplace, as always happens in such situations. I haven't experienced such anti-Farang (it's your fault) sentiment since the economic melt-down of 1997, during which they blamed everything on the West, especially George Soros, without taking any responsibility for their own overbearing greed, corruption and malfeasance. As usual, because the Thais are spineless, morally-bankrupt scum (and scum rises to the top), who won't take responsibilty for anything, they are blaming the economic crisis in the West and therefore the hated Farang for all their current and future ills.

Overall, the Thais are becoming increasingly reactionary, regardless of which political camp you look at: the Thai Nazis, aka the PAD are merely more reactionary than the UDD. But, both are basically the same, in that they are xenophobic, protectionist and firmly believe in the philosophy, "Thailand for Thai people", in its most insidious interpretation. Even at the best of times, Thais are suspicious of or downright hate Farang: A favorite expression, uttered by the ardent, anti-Farang nationalist, Ad Carabao; "Khon Thai reu plao" (Are you Thai or not?) speaks volumes about how most Thais feel about us, even during good times.

Therefore, there are only 2 reasons to stay in this country, if you're a Farang.

1/ You have a high-paying job with a multi-national company, live in the Sukhumvit Farang ghetto around Enporium, have a driver who takes you to and from work, and are therefore, basically immune to it all.

2/ You have pots of money, can live the life of Riley in a 'bubble' of your choosing, while the country collapses around you.

Otherwise, get out, if you're here or don't come, if you're considering it.


PS:
If all goes according to plan, I'll be out of here in 6 months, and will be extremely glad of it. Then, I'll only ever come here on holiday, or perhaps, like you, to retire.
You’re quite right, OTH. I have no ‘real’ dealings with Thais. Furthermore, I don’t want any ‘real dealings’ with Thais. And that goes equally as well for Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, South Americans, Europeans, Australians, Arabs, Indians, Chinese, Japanese, and every other national or ethnic group on the planet, without exception. I’m sick to the core of the hypocrisy, corruption, and bullshit involved with ‘real’ dealings.

In short, I’m perfectly content to stay on perpetual holiday alone with my dog and my own thoughts in my Pattaya ‘bubble,’ doing exactly as I please when I please, answering to no one, and responsible only to myself. Thailand is paradise on earth for guys like me who want only to be left alone while keeping always a low profile.

Which of the above groups of human parasites do you wish to conduct your ‘real dealings’ with? – those Arabs in Dubai, who just absolutely love us westerners, and will subject you and your Thai lady to Sharia law? Or maybe your Canadian socialist comrades who regard you as not much more than a perennial human resource for tax revenue? Take your pick. Do you really think you’ll be happy elsewhere? What a pity that all your years in Thailand, your knowledge of the language and the culture, will go to waste.

Perhaps when you are ready to retire and finally start enjoying yourself, you’ll return. In any event, I wish you all the best wherever you go.

Opebo
12-29-08, 04:05
Everything OTH says is true, but I would note that paid employment anywhere is an humiliation. And certainly in Asia, farangs are hated in each and every nation. Teachers (which is what nearly all working farangs are in Thailand) are treated even worse in other Asian countries.

As bad as it is here, there are two factors which make it worth staying - 1) the worldwide depression means that finding a job elsewhere will be very difficult for the vast majority, and 2) Thais who employ farang teachers are mostly schools which provide an 'English Program' or other nonsense for the upper-middle classes to waste their money upon. There are few groups in the world who are so well supplied with money relative to the cost of living as the Thai petite bourgeoisie, so I think there will still be plenty of this sort of miserable employment available.

NicFrenchy
12-29-08, 04:30
In short, I’m perfectly content to stay on perpetual holiday alone with my dog and my own thoughts in my Pattaya ‘bubble,’ doing exactly as I please when I please, answering to no one, and responsible only to myself. Thailand is paradise on earth for guys like me who want only to be left alone while keeping always a low profile.

You know what Daddy07? I only hope that when I reach retirement time, I can do exactly as you said above. You are living the life millions of men would dream of living.

However, you forgot the most important part... the neverending availability of Pussy :D

Danton
12-29-08, 04:36
Sounds like the foreigner as scape goat/hate object is becoming endemic in many parts of Asia these days.

I went through similar (although I'm sure not as extreme) in Beijing in the run up to the Olympics. The Sechuan Earthquake, Tibet and the foreign power's, media's and public's reactions and the growing sense of paranoia meant that we were all potential threats to the state, security and the smooth running of The Games. In a matter of months China seemed to change from a place where you could get on with your work and generally be appreciated to being a place where:

You could no longer get a visa.

If you had a visa or managed to get one you had the police at your apartment at least twice a week checking it.

If you travelled outside the country you had 48 hours on return to re-register your residence permit at the local police station — once completed you were guaranteed more visits at home from the police, just to make sure you'd really done this or just to let you know the were checking just about everything you did.

Random attacks on foreigners rose dramatically.

You started to notice that local 'friends' suddenly started using msn and Facebook status remarks that were increasingly anti foreign and nationalistic. In one instance a friend of over 4 years casually and earnestly informed me that 'I and all other foreigners were just blood suckers feeding on the riches of The Motherland whilst we had the chance' (this was someone I had helped a number of times in the past at some personal expense).

There were government authorised (of course) demonstrations in predominantly foreign community entertainment areas where people where allowed to chant 'foreigners fuck off, China for Chinese' etc

Mass rallies for the flag raising in Tiannenmen every morning one of which was observed by a Swedish guy who I once over heard saying to a friend 'I went to Tiannenmen this morning to watch the flag raising and it was Nuremberg all over again'.

Everywhere there was suddenly a quite palpable feeling of mistrust, resentment, hostility and increasingly misplaced arrogance. In some ways it really started to put the events that started to unfold in 1930's Germany into some sort of human perspective for me.

I would certainly be hesitant to to return to living in an atmosphere like that again, so OTH I will consider what you said carefully and see how I can gauge the feelings in Thailand on my next visit.

Old Thai Hand
12-29-08, 05:35
Everything OTH says is true, but I would note that paid employment anywhere is an humiliation. And certainly in Asia, farangs are hated in each and every nation. Teachers (which is what nearly all working farangs are in Thailand) are treated even worse in other Asian countries.

As bad as it is here, there are two factors which make it worth staying - 1) the worldwide depression means that finding a job elsewhere will be very difficult for the vast majority, and 2) Thais who employ farang teachers are mostly schools which provide an 'English Program' or other nonsense for the upper-middle classes to waste their money upon. There are few groups in the world who are so well supplied with money relative to the cost of living as the Thai petite bourgeoisie, so I think there will still be plenty of this sort of miserable employment available.

First of all, I'm not finding it particularly hard to find a job elsewhere, including Canada and the States. I'm already short-listed at 3 unis, with more to come: 2 of these positions are as Department Chair.

Why would one stay here for a miserable 35,000/month to teach ESL at some crappy Thai school? Why would you teach English, at all to these peons?...a mind-numbing experience, if ever there was one. I'd rather have a root canal without anesthesia, than teach English to Thais.

I'm leaving because, now that I along with the other Farang have got things up and running and generating serious revenue (40 million baht in the last 6 months), the Thais want to force us out, by illegally cutting our salaries by 40%, preventing us from earning money elsewhere, eliminating our health insurance, housing, repatriation allowance and pension, while dramatically increasing their own salaries, taking the credit for it all, and siphoning off the profits for themselves - and this at what was, until recently a government university, at the top of the heap in the country, under personal patronage of the King. It's one of the most corrupt, not to mention unprofessional institutions for which I've ever worked.

I have had a job offer from another uni here that is international and at least 50% Farang-run with a raise in salary to somewhere between 150,000-200,000/month. But, I simply have reached a point that I hate Thais so much, that it's a liability for me to stay here, under any circumstances. Besides, in my experience over the last 12 years, you just never know when you'll have the rug pulled out from under you, without anything to protect you against the aftermath.

So, why would I want to go elsewhere, especially home to Canada?

1/ Social Safety net, however limited
a/ universal healthcare
b/ guaranteed pension
c/ government welfare
2/ A job that's at a world-class, respected institution, rather than at an unknown, 3rd world bastion of mediocrity and incompetence
d/ a better chance of working where my extensive qualifications and experience are respected rather than envied and belittled. The Thais are simply jealous and resentful of Farang, because their lack of skill, knowledge, ability and their overall incompetence is glaringly apparent when compared to us. For example, my new boss, a great man of the 1950s, an ardent pro-Thai, anti-Farang reactionary has become the dean of our faculty, but wouldn't stand a chance of even being hired at a community college, as a lowly instructor in the West - a classic case of a big fish in a little, insignificant pond.

Daddy07's comment about the US being "anal-retentive" made me laugh. I agree with him. But, one hasn't seen anal-retentiveness until they've dealt in depth with Thai bureaucracy, real Thai culture and real Thai society.

As for the economy, the Thais are unaware of what's coming in the next few months, because they never think about the future and never prepare (well, they actually never think...period). I fully expect more demonstrations, violence in the streets, increases in crime and overall, a very unsavory atmosphere. There's simply no mechanisms in place to protect the average Thai, or anyone else living here, who is living paycheck to paycheck like you, Opebo. The Thai social security system is largely a joke and anyway, inaccessible to the vast majority of Thais. Gut-wrenching poverty is going to take hold with nothing from the government to eleviate the problem with the result that you're going to have a lot of angry, resentful people looking for someone to blame, and/or just rob.

There are other potests going on, on a daily basis, which never make the media. For example, I live quite close to the long-established and very old Klong Toey market, where angry and sometimes violent protests are a daily occurence, because the government wants to take back the land. There have been bombs going off, injuring people - 3 just this week. There was another large explosion last night. There have been fires intentionally set. With the PAD and the UDD, Thais have suddenly woken up to the power of protest. Large numbers of protests have been happening in recent weeks at various locations in the provinces because of factories failure to pay proper bonuses and a general violation of worker's rights, not to mention large scale layoffs, without severance pay. So, expect to see any number of angry mobs suddenly appearing in the streets with the requisite looting and mayhem. There's a sense of entitlement among the masses, which isn't a bad thing, but which will not be fullfilled by the ruling classes, resulting in violence.

Overall, this country is already on the edge of the abyss, if not already spiralling down into it. Who, in his right mind would want to be here, unless sufficiently insulated?



OTH,

Glad to have you back :) I really do miss your Posts.


Thanks. But, I'm not really back. I just wanted to comment on this. Cheers.

Piper1
12-29-08, 14:35
those Arabs in Dubai, who just absolutely love us westerners ...Actually, they do love us westerners (well, me at least. ;))
...and will subject you and your Thai lady to Sharia law? Nonsense. Just don't bang a British bovine on a busy beach (do you like my illiteration?), and things will be fine. Dubai isn't Saudi - in fact it's more liberal than many western towns.

PS - I'm also envious of your lifestyle!

Retired Army
12-29-08, 15:15
Guys,

Just want to say, I am a middle aged European professional considering re-locating to Thailand in the coming months (subject to finalising the offer).



Think long and hard before commiting yourself to Thailand permanently. You might regret your decision quicker than you think.

Whatever you do, don't burn any bridges back to your home country.

Opebo
12-29-08, 20:53
OTH, that's all very well and good for your illustrious self, but my point was a general one, and most of us teaching in Thailand don't really have any other options.

PinkPearl
12-31-08, 13:19
OTH,

Glad to have you back I really do miss your Posts. It is always a pleasure to read OTHs posts. Whether one liners or sleepy tombs. For newbies to ISG let me save you a lot of time by summing up all 1500 of them in two words, Thailand sucks. Or the extended four worded version, Thai people are idiots. OTH, BTW, after 20 years in LOS, will soon return to Canada with his TGF.

Fifty Fifty
01-02-09, 07:14
Sounds a bit high.
Some other good dental clinics may be quite a bit cheaper.
I used "Thanakit" (in Pratu Nam - most dentists here have studied in major US universities) for 2 hour root canal (4 long narrow roots) and price was very reasonable as labour in Thailand is way cheaper than back home. Unfortunately I don't remember exact price, but very worhwhile. Thanakit has an experienced root-canal specialist too.

I wouln't even consider expensive dental work back home any longer. I have had root canals and more than one crown done in Thailand with no problems. The savings pays for the airfare.

When you get a broken tooth in your home country, consider just getting a quick cheap plastic cap put on it, and wait till your upcoming trip to BKK, to get a crown done properly.

Agreed Mick, having chatted to a few others who have had Dental work done here, the price may have been a bit high at Bumrungrad compared with elsewhere. I was even told that the Dental Hospital on Soi 49 would have been much better and cheaper.

However, given the proximity of Bumrungrad to our hotel in Soi 11, which incidentally offered a free Tuk Tuk service to and from the hospital, we chose to go there.

The fact that all the work was done in just over a day or so and the appointments were made to fit into our schedule etc, I reckon it was damn good value overall.

My girlfriend says that the service 'in the chair' was excellent, however her only previous experiences have been in Kazakhstan, and almost anywhere would probably be better than there.

All I can say is that 5 weeks on, we are now back in KZ and the BKK Dental work has proved to be the 'lifesaver' of our excellent vacation. I would definitely agree as you recommend, get a cheap fix at home and wait until BKK to get good value permanent work done.

Cheers, FF

LittleBigMan
01-21-09, 22:38
Well, finally getting a chance to write my annual feelings of living in Thailand since I'm here just watching the contractors working on my cousins home. Got to remember to erase everything before leaving. Don't want her to end up seeing ISG. Now before I start I just want everyone to know anything I say isn't to flame anymore in particular or directly but I'm just expressing my feelings and sharing my experiences.

As many of you know I live in Pattaya and I don't live in the heart of the action. As you approach Pattaya coming from Sukhumvit, I live on the right hand size of Sukhumvit towards the One million year old park. The hardest 3 things living here I find now is culture, language and the weather. I'll address the weather first and next the language. Coming from California, I live the cold and the snow but find myself unable to ski now because I can't afford to get hurt since I have no medical insurance. I'm adjusting to heat and getting use to it but I dread the months of March and April especially Songkon. Not only hot and humid but the number of bugs is a ass kicker. Regarding the language I have been spoiled because I have been able to get by without going to school but when you need to carry a reasonable conversation you really need to learn a lot more than the basics. Plus being Asian, American and being able to speak alittle bit more the girls really like it. Language and culture pretty much goes hand in hand.

The culture has been the hardest. I have a type A personalility and I have concluded that this isn't well suited for the Thai culture. I'm very outspoken and when I get upset or you cross me look out. I have a sharp tongue and a vindictive personalility. This seem to go against everything the Thai's believe in. I know myself pretty well and know this is something that needs to be toned down for my own good health wise. My wife luckily knows me well but have said to me many times you aren't in the U.S. any longer nor are you working so why get yourself all worked up and what's the hurry. In the end she right. My many friends who visit Pattaya for long stays who are all retired have a type B personlility and seem to take things in stride and have a great time. So this is something I'm going to work on as one of my New year resolutions.

The culture sometimes just doesn't make a lot of sense. While I seem to be going clockwise the Thai's thinking is going counterclockwise and this drives me crazy. Their thinking seems to be laced with hypocrits, double standards, for them it's normal and if you point it out they are offended. Lecture them too much and they loose face. Although there are lots of pluses being Asian, looking like them it can also be a disadvantage since I am discriminated against because they expect more from me like asking me to be 100% Thai. I have asked many Thai men and women what the hell is 100% Thai? give me a list so I can follow. I have joked like, they can butterfly, have 2 wife, gamble, don't listen and get drunk. I ask them is this what it means.. they just laugh. I have wonder would they ask this of me if my skin color was white?

Nearly all my Thai friends are my wife friends. I have known many of her friends for years but one moment they seem like family the next no one is speaking. Friendship seem to come and go like fashion. You don't know who to trust and who is really loyal to you and when it comes to money the Thai's would burn you for a few hundred baht and look you straight in the eye and think nothing of it. Never a sorry or a explaination. Which gets me to my brothers family.

My brother who also lives in Pattaya and is married to a Thai. We were once as tight as 2 brothers can be now we are hardly speaking. I feel bad for him for all the women in Thailand he is married to a greedy dishonest ***** and I pretty much have come to hate her and her entired family who are Muslim. I have nothing against religion but I have pretty much told their whole family believe in what you want but don't use religion as a excuse for being greedy and evil. I told his in-laws to go fuck themselves because they stole from me and my brother. I would have let it go with a simple sorry! but instead her and her family has treated me and my wife like we are the crooks.

I have used the legal system in Thailand and in a Civil complaint have found it to be pretty useless and in regards to the many Attorneys I have interviewed and the one's I have used found them also to be useless or corrupt. I have tried to do the right things in life but now living in Thailand I have found myself doing it the old fashion way and have met some people in Pattaya and Chon Buri, through my family in HK that has influrence to help me get some payback. Thai's don't seem to be much afraid of the Civil legal system but are really afraid in strong arm tactics. It seems everyone is corrupt and it's like China, it's who you know. In the end, payback is going to be a ***** for them including the Attorneys. My wife doesn't like the method nor the people but she understand now if she wants the money back it's going to have to me the hard way for these people. Hopefull I can get everything behind me this year and move on. So, if you come to Thailand, if you don't need to don't buy land, don't buy a car, don't create a headache for yourself, just have fun. This is the best advice I give my friends! Those who don't listen and complain to me later I just " look in the mirror ".

Aside from the bad taste my brothers family have left on me which has jaded me somewhat of Thai people associated with this whole mess but I don't want everyone to think it's all bad. I still going to have faith in people and judge Thai's openly but I will be guarded. For me Pattaya has everything... life is pretty good..being a soccer mom. I have everything I need and it's much cheaper, medical, dental and eye care.. there is western food and products. I live modestly but have everything if that makes sense to any of you. Two hour massages and foot massages each week and being able to sneak off for my regular visits. In the end it beats working for a company that screwed me over taking my pension and medical away. So as my 2nd year is over I enter my 3rd year with many New years's resolutions.

LBM

El Greco
01-22-09, 00:10
So as my 2nd year is over I enter my 3rd year with many New years's resolutions.

LBM

From the bottom of my heart I would like to wish you all the best sir.

1Ball
01-22-09, 00:24
LBM, nice report, well written, interesting.

A question, and if too personal, no problem.

What would you say is your monthly cost for everything?

Keep up the good reports.

LittleBigMan
01-22-09, 02:01
1Ball,

No problem. Depending on the value of the baht vs. the dollars. My original goal was 1,000 USD a month but that was based on a 40/1 ratio. So now it's around 1200.00 per month supporting myself, wife, son and live in maid which is her cousin. Take note that the land/house/car has been paid in full. House contains 4 A/C, 3 Bath with Water Heaters, Washer and Electric Dryer ( used sparely ). Car 2006 Toyota Yaris 4Dr. 1.5 liter engine

Annual: 50,000 Baht for Health Insurance for 3
21,000 Baht for Private School 1 year
17,000 Baht for Car Insurance 1 year
20,000 Baht for Goodwill money to mother and family each year
we visit.

Monthly:

Electric Bill: 1,800 Baht
Water: 600 Baht
Garbage: 40 Baht
Gas: 2,000 Baht
Bottle water: 320 Baht
Education tutoring: 2,000 Baht
Massages/Foot/Tip 1,200 Baht
Groceries 3,000 Baht
Housekeeper: 2,000 Baht Total 12,960 = 13,000 Baht

My goal is 35,000 Baht per month:

Better Half: 11,000 Baht
Bad Half: 11,000 Baht Sub: 22,000 Total 35,000

The better half springs for the small meals and I spring for the large meals when we go out once or twice a week for dinner.


Now 1Ball does that answer your question.

My buddies all stay at a resort just opposite Pattaya Klang on the otherside of Sukhumvit. They are also retired and on a budget pension and stay 2 to 3 month at a time. The place has a swimming pool and the monthly rent is 6800 baht a month with utilities of around 1200 baht depending how much A/C you use. Maybe total 8,000 Baht. They are all single and have a great time getting by on $1000.00 USD a month

1Ball, is that too much infomation for you? does that answer your question?

My life is a open book...LBM

1Ball
01-22-09, 02:26
thanks LBM, that was interesting. Though I didn't see any cost for extra curricular activities.......

Member #3428
01-22-09, 02:28
thanks LBM, that was interesting. Though I didn't see any cost for extra curricular activities.......

I thought that was what the BAD half was all about :)

LittleBigMan
01-22-09, 05:01
Tansak KTV,

You're are sharp Tansak, it's not much to monger on but I'm no Daddy07, but it's enough to keep me sane.

LBM

NicFrenchy
01-22-09, 08:03
LBM,

Excellent report, Thumbs up

Opebo
01-22-09, 12:00
LBM your budget is interesting. I think only in Pattaya can one have both a reasonably low budget and still have a bit of fun.

I live far upcountry, where alas girls are much more expensive than in Pattaya and without much variety. Rooms and so forth are slightly cheaper though. I'll contribute a single-man-in-the-sticks budget:
Per Month:
Rent - 2,800
Electric - 800
Water - 40
Food, beverages - 9,000
Girls upcountry - 10,000
1 long weekend in Pattaya - 10,000 including girls
Bike payment - 1,600
Gas, misc. - 2,000
Total - 36,240

In practice of course, one always spends much more than this. Figure another 5,000 or so for unexpected. I always figure any planned budget will be 10-20% low. But the above budget is I guess about $1,200/month, which is only a little over what one can earn in Thailand as a teacher. Alas the one difficulty is that at the above budget one will always feel in a financial straight-jacket, so it is fairly miserable.

If you have absolutely no money from home and have to actually live on the 30,000-35,000/month teachers make, it isn't really worth being here as you only get laid a little bit, particularly when you consider an annual cost of visa troubles of say one months salary, and perhaps another half a month's salary going to the income tax. If you stay upcountry with an insufficient budget to visit Pattaya once a month, one can quickly become almost suicidally bored.

LittleBigMan
01-22-09, 18:31
Opebo,

Your post reminds that it does cost every year for that retirement visa, which is....

US Embassy documentation of Retirement income: 1100 Baht
Bank verification of funds: 105 Baht
Thai Retirement Visa Application 1900 Baht
Thai Multi Entry stamp 3800 Baht
These are ballpark numbers!

The money my better half gets she pretty much saves most of it which I'm always surprise how good she is at this.. the bad half I do what I can depending how much of a itch I get each day, each week, each month. But as you said you do have to put something aside each month for the unexpected. Being in Thailand and on a budget one still has to save for a rainey day.

LBM

Sanook D
01-23-09, 08:28
Think long and hard before commiting yourself to Thailand permanently. You might regret your decision quicker than you think.

Whatever you do, don't burn any bridges back to your home country.

It's also probably a good idea to figure out where you'll want to go on future vacations, because after living here for a few years you'll look forward to vacations in a country other than the one where you used to enjoy them. "Thailand Boom-Boom or Bust" is bad plan- maintain an exit strategy.

Sanook D
01-23-09, 09:12
Why would one stay here for a miserable 35,000/month to teach ESL at some crappy Thai school? Why would you teach English, at all to these peons?...a mind-numbing experience, if ever there was one. I'd rather have a root canal without anesthesia, than teach English to Thais.

Masochism might explain it; otherwise, naivete or a lack of any other option. Personally I think I'd opt for a life of crime in that case.


I simply have reached a point that I hate Thais so much, that it's a liability for me to stay here, under any circumstances.

I may get the "hate" stage myself once I figure out who the "Thais" actually are. The definition seems kind of, well, plastic. Right now I am kind of stuck at "despise," with "hate" limited to a few select species of "Thai", and I must admit, every now and then I still meet a genuinely interesting and attention-worthy Thai citizen.

Come to think of it, the ratio of slimy degenerates amongst the foreign population, covering every income bracket, here is kind of astonishing, too; it might even exceed a similar ratio amongst the Thais. There must be some reason for that.


So, why would I want to go elsewhere, especially home to Canada?
a/ universal healthcare

Healthcare is the one non-sex or food item that is still good here, although as the air quality continues to deteriorate I am probably more and more likely to need it.


my new boss, a great man of the 1950s, an ardent pro-Thai, anti-Farang reactionary has become the dean of our faculty
Chinese-Thai, perchance? I've noticed there seem to be a lot of colonists here who I'm guessing don't like the idea of competition from farangs or Indians.


Daddy07's comment about the US being "anal-retentive" made me laugh. I agree with him.
I don't. Puritanical and hypocritical (the two go together), definitely, but America is too sloppy to be anal-retentive. The Japanese virtually define that category in my opinion.


they never think about the future and never prepare (well, they actually never think...period).
Funny, I used to like that about the "Thais," before I moved here at least.


With the PAD and the UDD, Thais have suddenly woken up to the power of protest. . .So, expect to see any number of angry mobs suddenly appearing in the streets with the requisite looting and mayhem.
Promises, promises- maybe I will stay, sounds exciting. Seriously, I'm afraid it is also likely that we will have brief period of mayhem followed by martial law and a kinder, gentler version of what we have next door in Burnmar.


Overall, this country is already on the edge of the abyss, if not already spiralling down into it. Who, in his right mind would want to be here, unless sufficiently insulated?
Kind of ironic- I was talking with an old friend the other day, a European long-time resident of Indonesia. "Thailand was supposed to be the big success story just a few years ago, but now even the Indonesians presume to give Thailand advice." As Not the Nation puts it, this place has lost the plot, and sadly for the millions of hardworking people here (you know they exist) who thought the future held something more than service to the poo-yai, the country couldn't have chosen a worse time to go off the rails. All of this shit would smell a lot less if the rest of the world weren't also in the process of going off the rails. Canada probably is a good place to return to, and maybe Australia; small, educated population and heaps of resources will help them weather the storm. But the US or the UK? Maybe not so much. See the Guardian yesterday? "The banks are fucked, we're fucked, the country's fucked."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jan/19/economy-banking Thailand does have something of a safety net, although it may not do the urban midden class Chinese much good- the land has great carrying capacity, and a lot people can go back to the farms and, well, subsist. And of their newly found sense of justice causes a few Chinese middleman buyers and rice hullers to find themselves at the end of a rope. . .you won't see me crying.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. But, I'm not really back. I just wanted to comment on this. Cheers.

Whereas that's a shame.

Opebo
01-23-09, 09:55
Masochism might explain it; otherwise, naivete or a lack of any other option. Personally I think I'd opt for a life of crime in that case.

Obviously we teach in Thailand because we have no other option, Sanook - for example most of us could not make more than $1,200/month even back home, working in a convenience store, restaurant, retail shop, or whatever. The similar amount we make here for 'teaching' goes much further. And as bad as teaching is, and I agree it is a kind of torture, it is not nearly as bad as the sort of jobs available in the US.

Also, a life of crime is not a realistic option because most of us do not know how to commit crime or have connections to that industry. Crime is typically just something people do out of desperation and then they are immediately caught and jailed - it isn't a realistic long term option.

You make an interesting point about masochism - most people are certainly masochists, but in fairness they have no choice at all about what they do. The fact that they accept their subjugation as a given and do not at least vote to oppose it (as some do in Europe) does show that they are well indoctrinated, however.

Sanook D
01-23-09, 10:40
Obviously we teach in Thailand because we have no other option, Sanook - for example most of us could not make more than $1,200/month even back home, working in a convenience store, restaurant, retail shop, or whatever.

I was just being a smartass about the masochism, sorry. The thing I don't get is, if teaching English is your bag (and teaching is, or at least can be, among the most honorable of professions), why not do it somewhere that pays? It pays better almost anywhere else in Asia, and in some places English teachers are actually appreciated. That someone would suffer that just for the dubious privilege of staying in Thailand is really hard for me to understand, but love is like that, I suppose.

Opebo
01-23-09, 10:44
...The thing I don't get is, if teaching English is your bag... why not do it somewhere that pays?

The obvious one word answer, Sanook - prostitutes.

Even if you made double in some other place (where I'm not sure, do you mean Korea or?), the cost of living is higher, plus the cost of flights to get to Pattaya, your net mongering will be less than making 35,000 baht a month in Thailand, a cheap bus-ride away from nirvana.

1Ball
01-23-09, 14:03
Opebo, why not teach in Pattaya?

Cunning Stunt
01-23-09, 17:48
Opebo, why not teach in Pattaya?

I imagine that would be like the Chinese water torture for the likes of Opebo. My personal idea of hell is to be close to pussy heaven and not having the financial resources to 'fill my boots'.

At least in the hinterland he does not have the constant temptation and the depressing sight of wealthier mongers enjoying the pleasures denied, on a daily basis, to him.

I for one really enjoy the refreshing honesty of Opebo. Makes a change from the usual BSD bullshit artists that infest these forums.

Opebo
01-23-09, 19:12
Opebo, why not teach in Pattaya?

I'm sure you can imagine the level of competition for what few jobs do exist in Pattaya, 1ball, what with a hundred thousand foreigners desirous of living in that idyllic locale. No, the entire key for the white-faced unemployable to get employed is, simply, to go where there are no white faces and where said honkeys don't like to go.

1Ball
01-23-09, 20:15
Maybe i should take this to PM Opebo, but I am really curious. You mention one of the joys of living / working in LOS is the availability of inexpensive sex, but there are other surrounding countries which also probably require english teachers, and where sex is relatively inexpensive. Cambodia comes to mind. is that not an option?

not trying to pry, just curious.

Thanks

NicFrenchy
01-24-09, 02:38
Kind of ironic- I was talking with an old friend the other day, a European long-time resident of Indonesia. "Thailand was supposed to be the big success story just a few years ago, but now even the Indonesians presume to give Thailand advice."

Excellent! I copied it and showed it to my Thai mate... he was not pleased one bit... but eventually had to agree.

Opebo
01-24-09, 14:26
...there are other surrounding countries which also probably require english teachers, and where sex is relatively inexpensive. Cambodia comes to mind. is that not an option?

I doubt that pay is very different in Cambodia, and if you have perused the board there lately, you'll see that the sex scene there has declined precipitously under NGO and US government pressure. I used to go to there years ago, and even when K11 was open Cambodia wasn't really anywhere near as good as Thailand. Nowadays its even worse. For example I've hardly ever been able to find anal sex in Cambodia.

No, alas, in this sad world all our eggs, such as they are, are in the one basket - Pattaya. Yes, it is a shadow of its former glory, and it will no doubt be 'cleaned up' soon as well, but it is still better than the rest of the globe put together.

Giotto
01-24-09, 15:18
I used to go to there years ago, and even when K11 was open Cambodia wasn't really anywhere near as good as Thailand.
...


K11 = Svay Pak: Nowadays a kind of synonym for child prostitution.

http://www.nypress.com/article-8393-inside-k11-phnom-penhs-notorious-child-brothel.html

Somehow disturbing that it is mentioned here.


Giotto

Fon Tok
01-24-09, 17:57
K11 = Svay Pak: Nowadays a kind of synonym for child prostitution...Somehow disturbing that it is mentioned here...And it resonates strong even now. I was just in Phnom Penh traveling with my Bangkok GF and I occasionally sensed a negative vibe from uptight Western tourists.

Possibly the shape of things to come? The picture is of the plaque on the door of my hotel.

Lexb
01-25-09, 19:39
I am exploring other visa options to reduce my inconvenience but, worst case scenario, I will be arriving on a 30 day tourist visa granted and stamped into my passport when I arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport.

I know these change all to frequently, but could someone advise me of the current status of land entry (I. E. Walk out of Thailand and make a quick u-turn and walk back into Thailand to get your passport stamped and extend your visa, fees (if any), time extended and "times" allowed to do this).

I have heard (possible hearsay) that different border run locations apply the rule differently (I. E. Busier ones, I. E. The one used by tourists in Bangkok. Restrict repeats and allow less time while less busier ones are more liberal).

I am particularly interested in Mae Sai, Thailand (Myanmar border) as I will be staying in Chiang Mai.

Thank you!

Opebo
01-26-09, 09:44
And it resonates strong even now. I was just in Phnom Penh traveling with my Bangkok GF and I occasionally sensed a negative vibe from uptight Western tourists.

Chaps, K11 most certainly did contain a plentiful supply of girls over 18 years of age.

In any case, please be aware that the Forces of Social Control want to shut mongering down even if (as is mostly the case these days) we're just f-ing blown out 30 year olds. You must remember that they are opposed to easy access to sex, and the 'child prostitution' thing is just a propaganda technique.

There's nothing more pathetic or hypocritical than one social outcast disapproving of another.

Giotto
01-26-09, 10:05
...There's nothing more pathetic or hypocritical than one social outcast disapproving of another.Actually, while I would agree on this statement ...

... and the 'child prostitution' thing is just a propaganda technique.
...
... I can certainly not agree on this one. This kind of argumentation is quite 'pathetic' AND 'hypocritical', in my POV.



Giotto

PinkPearl
01-26-09, 11:09
I doubt that pay is very different in Cambodia, and if you have perused the board there lately, you'll see that the sex scene there has declined precipitously under NGO and US government pressure. I used to go to there years ago, and even when K11 was open Cambodia wasn't really anywhere near as good as Thailand. Nowadays its even worse. For example I've hardly ever been able to find anal sex in Cambodia.

No, alas, in this sad world all our eggs, such as they are, are in the one basket. Pattaya. Yes, it is a shadow of its former glory, and it will no doubt be 'cleaned up' soon as well, but it is still better than the rest of the globe put together.But you have stated that the sex industry has also waned in Thailand.

From my reading of the Cambodia forum sex in PP seems widely available for five dollars, which must be substantially cheaper than Pattaya, not to mention Bangkok.

Personally, however, Cambodia concerns me on a number of levels. First, the police corruption seems much more dangerous than BKK, which I consider to be safe in that regard.

Secondly, it is problematic to have a functional cell phone there, which is my prefered way of contacting ladies I have met.

Third, I doubt that the conveniences of the area around NEP could be found, even in PP. For example seven elevens and food markets.

Fourth, I would also be more concerned about general security, medical services, other services such as food & hot water, and cleanliness as it relates to bugs & rodents.

In light of this I think maybe Cambodia is out of the equation as an alternate location should LOS ever become unsuitable. I'd probably be thinking of South America instead, especially Brazil.

Crazy4Thai
01-27-09, 05:23
I logged into ISG to get info on the process (or lack of consistent process) to obtain a retirement visa.

Reading LBM's report inspired me to contribute my own experiences for the benefit of those considering Living in Thailand.

I have lived here, mostly here, for the past 30 months.
I retired here to continue my relationship with my Thai gf and to build a boat big enough to liveaboard and cruise both east and west coasts of Thailand.
I have succeeded at that but certainly not to "western standards". My satisfaction level with the boat is ok most days and nearly zero other days.
I would probably not attempt the undertaking again because the process and communication was so difficult. What I consider to be a lack of honesty and integrity, most Thai people that I worked with consider the screwing they gave me as just good business.

It seems to make little difference if you are dealing with private business or the gov't. The marine agency where I registered the boat required a "fee" (bribe) of 30,000 bt. What is this for I asked? Because you have a bus engine in it, they said. "Will I get a reciept?" No.

As for visa issues, that makes me crazy in a variety of ways.
The immigration office requires a "letter of guarantee" that my Thai bank account is real and the money is actually in there. A recent bank statement and an updated passbook is not sufficient. I opened my bank account in Ranong where I built the boat. When it was time to renew my retirement visa, my boat, gf and I were in Krabi. The Krabi branch of this major Thai bank would not issue that letter of guarantee. NO - you have to get that from Ranong.

Western logic does not apply. even though I could close the account and take all 800,000 +++ baht out from that same branch, they would not agree in writing that the money was actually there. I made a tactical error by refusing to go to Ranong to get this letter and my retirement visa has expired.
BTW - if you think you are going to get paid interest on that money, even 1%, think again. Or am I simply banking with the wrong company?

The "no response" technique.
If Thai people are not interested in doing business or resolving an issue over existing business, many simply do not reply. My friend with 20 years experience in Thailand recommended his lawyer for something I wanted to resolve about renewing the boat registration (Like avoiding another big effen bribe) I called the lawyer and he advised me to send my inquiry by email. He never responded. He never said I do not do this kind of work. OK, one example is not too meaningful. I decided to ask the headquarters of my bank about this letter problem. I did so by email. Their acknowledgement was so well crafted I thought I was back in the US. They even assigned an inquiry log number to it and assured me I'd be hearing from them. That was 2 weeks ago. I have more but this might not be all that interesting as I whine about how frustrating the simplest things can be.

In my opinion, you have no idea how difficult it can be here until you try it.
Here's a more humorous example. I go into a mini-mart near the beach at the bay I am currently anchored in. They have internet service and I ask "Can I print from my email here?" YES. How much? 20 BAHT. It's too much of course but I only need one page and I'm done. OK. I sit down, log in, open the email and hit the print command. The small window says the printer is not ready. I ask the lady can you turn the printer on?
We don't have a printer.

I'm just scratching the surface and could bore you endlessly with stories. Currently, life on the sea, currently around Phuket, is absolutely amazing in the good season. If I can get visa issues sorted out, I'll put my boat in a marina here for the rainy season. If not, I can "winter" in Malaysia again but they give my gf their own giant helping of grief over visa issues.

As a post script to that visa topic, I recently went to the embassy in KL armed with the same financial proof, etc etc that got me my non-immigrant visa (which leads to the retirement visa). This time the clerk pushed the entire list of requirements for retirement visa across the counter to me and said she needed all of those. She said she would issue another 60 day tourist visa.

In my earlier aquisiition of r.visa, I had to show the "long list" to immigration, not to the embassy. Your comments, encouragement, solutions encouraged.
I was also surprised that I could get 2 back to back 60 day tourist visas when I thought the law says 90 days in country on a tourist visa then you must stay out for 90 days.


C4T

NicFrenchy
01-27-09, 05:37
In my opinion, you have no idea how difficult it can be here until you try it.

I would even say that you have no idea how difficult it can be until you have lived and worked here.

Jo the tourist who has been coming to Thailand for 20 years in bursts of 2/3 weeks, claiming to be an expert and even blabbering a little Thai, patting himself on the back because he is an expert of Thailand's E-sarn region... all this is completely wrong.

Even for someone who has lived and worked here it is very difficult to understand. You are adn always will be "the Farang", therefore, you are a bank and less important than the average Somchai who knows it all.

Taumaoe
01-27-09, 09:12
I logged into ISG to get info on the process (or lack of consistent process) to obtain a retirement visa.

As for visa issues, that makes me crazy in a variety of ways.

The immigration office requires a "letter of guarantee" that my Thai bank account is real and the money is actually in there. A recent bank statement and an updated passbook is not sufficient. I opened my bank account in Ranong where I built the boat. When it was time to renew my retirement visa, my boat, gf and I were in Krabi. The Krabi branch of this major Thai bank would not issue that letter of guarantee. NO - you have to get that from Ranong.

Western logic does not apply. even though I could close the account and take all 800,000 +++ baht out from that same branch, they would not agree in writing that the money was actually there. I made a tactical error by refusing to go to Ranong to get this letter and my retirement visa has expired.

BTW - if you think you are going to get paid interest on that money, even 1%, think again. Or am I simply banking with the wrong company?


C4TI have a savings account with Bangkok Bank, the largest bank in the country, and regularly earn interest, just as any Thai citizen would.

1Ball
01-27-09, 09:34
C4T, very interesting, and oft amusing tale. Though I broke out in a cold sweat. I am about to build a house in Indonesia, and have been told of some of the pitfalls. I do plan on staying in the background however, and have my indonesia GF deal with the problems. however. If not, I could be in jail for murder :(

Opebo
01-27-09, 11:22
But you have stated that the sex industry has also waned in Thailand.

From my reading of the Cambodia forum sex in PP seems widely available for five dollars, which must be substantially cheaper than Pattaya, not to mention Bangkok.

The sex industry in Thailand has always been far better than Cambodia, and though it has waned, it has waned less than in that NGO-controlled country. In practice $5 sex is difficult to find now in Cambodia - $10 is more the normal minimum, so about 350 baht. The normal short time in Pattaya is 500 baht, so not much more, and obviously Pattaya is enormously more pleasant to live in than any part of Cambodia or Bangkok. Thais tend to provide much better service than Kmer Cambodians, and even somewhat better than the now somewhat less available Vietnamese girls.

El Greco
01-27-09, 23:17
I'd probably be thinking of South America instead, especially Brazil.

As long as Brasilian Reais (R$) stays in between 2,5-3 to the US$ and 3-3,5 to the Euro it's ok. Especially in smaller places other than Rio.

Sex scene not as big as in Thailand but the girls IMO are much hotter and can find all the Iris colours and shades.

Cheers from Fortaleza/Brasil

Crazy4Thai
01-28-09, 03:04
Taumaoe - thanks for that banking comment. Just what I was hoping to hear.

1ball - As I wrote about my boat building, I thought of all the guys who have built houses and the stories they must have. Good luck staying in the background. Like LBM, I'm Type A and it's a real challenge for me to keep my mouth shut.

C4T

Member #3428
01-28-09, 03:09
1ball - As I wrote about my boat building, I thought of all the guys who have built houses and the stories they must have. Good luck staying in the background. Like LBM, I'm Type A and it's a real challenge for me to keep my mouth shut.

;) ;) You never met my brother 1ball have you....

His picture is in the dictionary under Type A Personality Disorders... :D

I don't think he has kept his mouth shut since the day the doctor hit his bottom :)

I can't wait to hear his horror stories this should be interesting...

LittleBigMan
01-28-09, 04:06
Crazy4Thais,

The banking system just isn't the same as like the U.S., you can take money ATM out of any bank but if you need major transactions you need to go to the bank that you open the account. In Pattaya now the bank letter can't be older than 3 days... and you must now show proof of residence. Every place seem to have different rules. You might want to open 2 bank books one in Rayong and one in Krabi. Remember you don't have to have 800,000 if you are also getting a pension. The rule is 800,000baht or 65,000 baht per month which comes out to 800,000. You can have a combination that comes out to 800,00 for a retirement visa. You can get a letter of pension income notarized by the US Embassy for 1,020 Baht. Just did it this morning.

It just a game... LBM

Fifty Fifty
01-28-09, 09:33
Hi Folks,

Having read, with some amusement, the latest stuff here on Retirement Visas etc (Thanks C4T), I am in a position to consider this.
Basically I met the age criteria 3 weeks ago, also have the Financial Aspect covered by several thousand quid, currently in a UK bank.

Problem One - I am a blind man when it comes to all this paperwork, and other requirements necessary to get the process rolling. Despite trolling the Forum and the Internet, I still remain confused - Aware that nothing in Thailand is simple, not even P4P.

I actually tried to open a bank account last time in Thailand, just to deposit some cash, but was totally thwarted by the different institutional requirements and apparently 'moving goalposts' too!

Question is - Starting from scratch, does anyone have the 'Idiots Guide' to achieving my final aim = A Retirement Visa so that I can settle down and enjoy life in my Condo, from where I can pursue my passion of being a mongering "loser" (see BKK Thread) ?

By "Starting from Scratch" I mean exactly that. I am an employed Brit, with cash, my intention is to work 6 months a year and spend the rest in LOS if I can. Call me crazy, but its my current plan - however, plans can change !!

If there is anyone who knows of a reliable Agency able to undertake all this, at reasonable cost, but without relieving me of vast sums of Baht, I would be very interested to know.

Meanwhile I hope to be back for some more fun and frolics Feb 9th onwards - maybe !!!

Cheers, FF

LittleBigMan
01-28-09, 10:15
Fifty Fifty,
Where do you plan to reside? In Pattaya, there is a Expat Club and a Immigration Lawyer, his company is called Key Visa, a Brit, I think. The club does alot of charity work. Even if they don't do BKK, maybe they can help.
PattayaExpatclub.com give that a try.

Good luck..

Crazy4Thai
01-28-09, 15:14
Crazy4Thais,

Every place seem to have different rules. You might want to open 2 bank books one in Rayong and one in Krabi. Remember you don't have to have 800,000 if you are also getting a pension. The rule is 800,000baht or 65,000 baht per month which comes out to 800,000. You can have a combination that comes out to 800,00 for a retirement visa. You can get a letter of pension income notarized by the US Embassy for 1,020 Baht. Just did it this morning.

It just a game... LBM


LittleBigMan - you are so right about the rules being different based on the place. I do have that letter from the US Embassy. And when I did have a retirement visa, the immigration in Ranong wanted BOTH 800,000 AND the pension. even though the Thai web site for Office Of Foriegn Affairs clearly spells it out as you describe it - a combination of the 2.

btw - how many people here get interest on their bank acc't?

Thanks for your encouragement.

C4T

Daddy07
01-28-09, 15:32
...btw - how many people here get interest on their bank acc't?...
Bangkok Bank Pattaya branch pays a small amount of interest on passbook accounts.

Lexb
01-28-09, 21:06
(the country in the following example is purely fictitious and any similarity between it and countries, past or present, living or dead is purely coincidental! )

Some historical facts about fictitious country (fc)

- fc owes much of its relative (compared to its neighboring countries) economic success and improved infrastructure to foreign money.

- foreign money is the result of investment by foreign companies/governments as well as money brought in by foreign tourists and foreigners who are permanent residents (savings and pensions).

The story

Global economic times have become worse and the inhabitants of fc bemoan the fact that there will be fewer tourists and less money and they, as a result, will suffer!

Foreign companies/governments are having their own domestic nightmares so the "charity begins (and ends) at home" culture becomes operable. No money to invest in fc!

The totally sympathetic and ultra-responsive government of fc "feels the pain" of the "downtrodden masses" and brings in a foreign consulting firm to do a "top down" evaluation of how to bring ughhhh, foreigners into the country to have them spend their money!

First, based on recommendations of that report, the government "springs into action" by eliminating the "roadblocks" to foreigners who wish to visit and/or live in fc, I. E. The pre-historic "dowry" requirement, unique to any other country on planet earth and visa requirements taken directly from "the kgb field manual"!

In addition, the report recommends the government put their deeply illogical/irrational hatred of foreigners (based on jealousy) aside.

But it is not easy for the government as, after all, who would want to welcome and treat with respect people that look different, larger and lighter-skinned, who bring their arogant attitudes and illegally obtained money into the country just to have paid sex with the women. Even worse, to think fc owes them for past investments and loans that made it what it is today, a diamond surrounded by coal dust, off with their heads!

Happily, and because of the report, the new enlightened spirit fosters a foreigner visiting/living "welcome mat" with lack of regulations (the unthinkable "dowry" and that leftover nemisis from the "cold war", the visa, are nothing but a embarrassing memories of failed efforts to generate income, classic "short-sighted, false economics"), more foreigners came into the country to visit for longer periods of time and more chose to live in fc.

The elimination of the "baht dowry' did not, as the government feared would happen, cause more foreigners to go begging on the streets and further tax the limits of fc's ultra-comprehensive, womb-to-tomb social welfare programs specifically designed for the benefit of foreigners!

This new money of the, formerly, "overtly, but now, secretly, hated" foreigners brought in to spend more than offset the past "screwing out of" money the government "raked in" on visa fees and allowed the reassignment of goverment workers, formerly employed to process visas, to more critical domestic human services needs.

Everyone benefited (the government, fc's citizens and the still hated foreigners) and the worldwide financial crisis was hardly felt!

And everyone lived happily ever after!

The beginning of the end

Ham Yai
01-28-09, 21:57
Don't waste your money on agencies.

You will need UK Police report that you have no criminal record.

800000bht for 3 months in a Thai bank or British Embassy confirmed letter about your pension 65k bht per month. (You must get it renewed each year now). It may be 400k if you are married to a Thai.

House rental documents with map showing where you live

I use my Thai Driving Licence too which helps identity enormously

1900bht if you don't want to leave LOS or +3800 for multiple entry visa

Photos

Passport and copies

Application form

If you don't like Pattaya Immigration, try Korat Immigration on Mittraphap going to BKK where they are so helpful.

Good hotel in Korat at 399bht per night. Stay 6 get one free. Its on Jomsurat Road behind the Texas Beef Steak Restaurant. I'm always forgetting something but they are very patient.

Fifty Fifty
01-29-09, 06:20
Don't waste your money on agencies..
Ok, but as I cannot be in Thailand full time to sort this out, it could be an option.


You will need UK Police report that you have no criminal record..
Ok, thats the easy part - I have been a good boy - so far.


800000bht for 3 months in a Thai bank or British Embassy confirmed letter about your pension 65k bht per month. (You must get it renewed each year now). It may be 400k if you are married to a Thai..
And having already tried to deposit said amount into a Thai Bank, but to no avail - cannot open account on Tourist Visa and have no Work permit etc etc How exactly does one achieve this?
I have no pension - but large outside Thailand Income instead.
I am not married to a Thai - that would make life easier (NOT)


House rental documents with map showing where you live.
I havent rented anywhere yet as recent visits have been max 2 weeks, albeit often.


I use my Thai Driving Licence too which helps identity enormously.
And how do I get one of those ??


1900bht if you don't want to leave LOS or +3800 for multiple entry visa.

Photos

Passport and copies

Application form.
Ok, no problem


If you don't like Pattaya Immigration, try Korat Immigration on Mittraphap going to BKK where they are so helpful.

Good hotel in Korat at 399bht per night. Stay 6 get one free. Its on Jomsurat Road behind the Texas Beef Steak Restaurant. I'm always forgetting something but they are very patient.

Thanks for the info, however I am not short of cash, only time and the ability to get the paperwork done.
I will continue searching, learning, finding out what is required, then give it a go.

Cheers, FF

Bumholes1
01-29-09, 07:29
Ha sip/Ha sip

Would I not be correct in thinking that it is first necessary to enter Thailand on a non-immigrant visa - these being valid for 3 months. During this time you could sort out accommodation, and probably open a bank account (a tourist visa is generally only good for fucking and not much else!)

You will also need a non-immigrant visa to obtain a Thai driving licence

El Greco
01-29-09, 12:41
Why don't you visit/call your nearest Thai consulate to investigate your options?

IMHO the easiest and safest way to find out about the correct procedure.

Member #3428
01-29-09, 12:47
Why don't you visit/call your nearest Thai consulate to investigate your options?

IMHO the easiest and safest way to find out about the correct procedure.

Really? I wish you folks good luck if you take that approach. Part of my work is dealing with the Thai Govt in BKK on a regular basis and I deal with two of their consulate offices / personal as well even more often (Philippines and in Canberra). Every time I talk to them on the same subjects I get different answers.

And just because they have a law that says one thing does not really mean the local authorities where you are at follow those rules or reg's.

El Greco
01-29-09, 16:10
Really? I wish you folks good luck if you take that approach. Part of my work is dealing with the Thai Govt in BKK on a regular basis and I deal with two of their consulate offices / personal as well even more often (Philippines and in Canberra). Every time I talk to them on the same subjects I get different answers.

And just because they have a law that says one thing does not really mean the local authorities where you are at follow those rules or reg's.

With all due respect I don't know what your business problems might be.

IMO such generic aphorisms are of no help to this forum.

With a simple google search I found out that either for a 90 day Non immigrant “O” Visa (that can be later converted in a Thai retirement visa inside Thailand) and/or a Thai retirement visa ( Thai “A-O” Visa) the individual has to start from the Thai embassy (consulate) in his country.

"If you plan to retire in Thailand, you may use your Thai “O” Visa to apply for a one year extension inside of Thailand for the purposes of retirement. This visa would then be classed as a Thai “A-O” Visa or Thai retirement visa. The other option available to you is to apply to the Thai embassy for a Thai “A-O” visa. There are certain requirements which need to be met when doing this application."

http://www.thailand-visa.org/visa/thailand-retirment-visa-requirements.html

http://www.thailand-visa.org/visa/thai-retirement-visa.html

http://www.thaiembassy.com/retire/retire.php

My two baht

Ham Yai
01-30-09, 00:45
All good advice Fifty Fifty but its up to you.

If you are serious apply for the Police document at your local. It takes up to 2 months to get the document or it did in my case.

Go to the Thai Consulate in the UK and ask for a multiple entry one year O non immigrant visa.( 90 pounds?)After one year renew it. After two years apply for a Retirement visa in Thailand. ( Assuming you ARE retired)

Go to Thailand and get accommodation ONLY with a landlords rental form (obtainable from any stationers). He completes it and must give signed copies of the house/flat ownership and his ID.

Then go to Tisco Bank or UOB and open a bank account

Armed with these you can apply for a Thai driving licence. ( Passport with visa,Residence Cert you get from Immigration here,2 x 1"photos, Valid UK licence or International Licence requst form and fee.

You can get this with a Thai girlfriend's help. You get a one year Licence then a five year one, then a ten year one.

The trick here is that this Driving Licence becomes your ID card. Its friendly with everyone including the Police.

There two other VERY important points.

1. Keep your powder dry ( don't get a bun in the oven with one)

2 Keep your money in YOUR pocket

There is one other VITAL area

Don't marry a Thai. There are so many fish in the sea you really won't need to.
If you must get hitched try a Phili for size. Doesn't stop you living in LOS either.Shes abroad and away from her family which she will prefer and you have the added security of being able to stay in "control".

One other small suggestion. Live away from Bangkok or Pattaya. They are always there for a fling but can get on top of you if you stay too long.

Thats why I suggested Korat. You try the Sima THani or Dusit Princess Hotels for 2000bht+ but you would be showing off and wasting your money on a honey.

Plenty of students to try at the Virginity Colleges in most big cities and they all have massage (with take away) and boom boom parlours.

Hope that helps but you can always send a private message

Old Thai Hand
01-30-09, 02:44
You seem to have crowned yourself King of the Sex Crawl. All knowing, eminently far superior in your understanding and appreciation of all things Thai. Bull crap! You, by your own admission, come off sounding soured by your life's failures and thereby finding solice in self-image admiration. Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most knowledgeable of us all? Of course, it is Old Thai Hand, who sees his own life's accomplishments only in terms of how many Thai holes he fills. Come down from your lofty heights OTH and smell the roses and stop with the pompous B.S. You have no idea what my knowledge level of, or time in country I have. So bugger off.


Hardly King of the Sex Crawl. I'd give that crown to the likes of people such as Mick Licker, NicFrenchy etc. They're the true champions and knowledgeable experts on sex in LOS. Comparatively speaking, I'm a novice especially when it comes to P4P.

I was speaking more of Thailand, in general. I don't care if you've been here a thousand times, do business here, have spent time in an Isaan village, eaten somtam with the natives on the floor of some village shack, and toiled for fun, for an hour or two in some rice paddy, just so you could say you understand these people's plight. You don't know the true nature and measure of a place until you've lived there for an appreciable length of time, have become a part of its social fabric and its ongoing, day to day activities and especially worked with and particularly for the locals. If you ever had to work with or for Thais, and suffer their continual abuse, and disregard for basic human rights and principles, your gooey opinion, filled as it is with love and affection for the place would go down the drain pretty damn fast.

I haven't had any life failings here. I have been and continue to be successful in my own activities. What has failed me are the people here. While I have been and continue to be ethical, professional and moral in my behavior, I have come face to face with some of the worst lapses of proper human behavior I've ever experienced. I'm not saying that all Thais are bad. I actually think that a lot of them - the average Joes, slaving away for meagre earnings - are quite nice people. But, through extensive and intimate experience of living and working among them, especially the upper echelons of Thai society, I've come to the conclusion that as a culture and as a people, they are collectively about the most morally reprehensible lot I've ever had the misfortune to know.

So, as far as I'm concerned, any knob who goes ga-ga about Thailand, doesn't have any real clue about the place.



addendum...having unleashed my vitriole in the above, I'll still admit that I will likely retire here, at some point. But, I think retirement is the only logical circumstance under which any Farang should live in Thailand. People like LBM and Daddy07 have it sorted. But, working here under any circumstance (including owning a business) is a fools game destined to leave you completely undone and your soul destroyed.

Rather than this merely being a bit of personal navel-gazing and therefore of little interest to readers on this board, I think it's important to make comments on what happens, if one makes the mistake of wanting to come here to work, in order to stay in the country. I certainly have had a fair number of PMs from guys wanting to know how they can accomplish this. I've been fortunate in the sense that I've been able to earn an atypically high salary here. But, that has come at an extremely high price. The bottom line here is that there is no security. You're always walking the tight-rope without a net. Ultimately, the Thais don't want you here, will only put up with as long as they have to and will screw you in the end, with no regard for personal, let alone legal rights.

I have to admit that because I am currently in the middle of quite an awful mess, am incredibly disheartened and feel betrayed beyond belief, that I have a particularly strong "hate-on" for Thais and all things Thais. But, it is worthwhile to talk about it, as an object-lesson for those who have blinders on about the place, because sadly, my situation is not especially unique.

Waste Mgmt
01-30-09, 06:43
I have to admit that because I am currently in the middle of quite an awful mess, am incredibly disheartened and feel betrayed beyond belief, that I have a particularly strong "hate-on" for Thais and all things Thais. But, it is worthwhile to talk about it, as an object-lesson for those who have blinders on about the place, because sadly, my situation is not especially unique.As someone who is considering living 3-5 months/year in Thailand, the negative side is very useful for me: so I very much appreciate your insight. It's a big decision as to where to go (Thailand, Philippines, Brazil.)- big investment in time and resources (esp. To learn enough of the language to make it manageable).

I had the blinders on my first visit (despite reading this forum before going). Now, I have a better idea of where I really stand in the eyes of the average Thai- certainly not where we'd like to believe from the abundant smiles we see on holiday. In many countries, the natives don't do much to conceal their, let's say, lack of admiration of westerners. Thai's, as part of their culture, just put on the happy face regardless of what they think (well, unless you do something they find particularly objectionable, then watch out! ).

My dilemma (and statement) though is that, with blinders off, I'm pretty hard pressed to find ANY non-western country where I'll be on any measure of equal footing. If it's a country where my dollars allow me to live a nice life and have plentiful low cost pussy, and warm weather (my criteria). I'm going to encounter jealousy, disdain, disingenuous "friends", 2 tier pricing, etc etc- kinda par for the course. I'll never really fit in, regardless of my efforts. Is Thailand really that much worse than other choices? I know friends in China where I'll feelings towards westerners (esp. Now with things turning down) are encountered often (anti-western get-togethers with a few hundred people chanting "China for Chinese" isn't exactly the welcome wagon). Brazil seems to be a better alternative for attitude, though the crime and truly watching your back is more of an issue.

I can go to Canada or Western Europe and feel like I fit in- but the whole cost of living/cheap pussy thing is not to be. So, given my criteria (shared by many of us here), Thailand is high on the list. If South Americans had the same body type as Thai's, it would be no contest. But, alas, I prefer Asian women.

I am planning to give it a go for a few months. Posts like yours have helped keep me realistic and deter me from doing anything so stupid as to consider starting a business, buying property or anything that makes it difficult to move on. Even if I found the seemingly "right girl", I'm leaving a clear exit strategy.

BTW, this site has got much better non-sex related information than sites like TV. I just never post because I don't have much to add (as evidenced by this post!).

Slylock
01-30-09, 08:56
Gentleman,

Firstly, there are only a few countries in the world that will make a foreigner tourist or expat feel truly welcomed! Mostly America and Canada. That is due to our respective countries being built and maintained by people from all around the world, that is one thing about our countries that make us unique. Most countries in the world are ethnic to themselves, those that are not have civil wars, redraw the borders towards ethnic lines! for a list see major wars over the last 20 years! This is even true in Europe. Yes it is much easier if you look the same as the ethnic people of said countries, but it is NOT the same and you will always be foreign. As I have said in other posts here I love Thailand for the simple reason that I know for a fact where I sand! there is no confusion, I am the white devil with a fat wallet.( I am speaking as a society in whole, not person to person. as all people are different and have different views towards different things, if not how would a Thai person ever marry a western person.)

I for one live and work in Malaysia, and I feel for OTH point of view on how expats are treated in the work place and how upper class people treat the 'drones'. But allow me to expand a bit. Myself being American I am not used to the socialists belief of full time permanent employment. The most we can hope for in the USA is a contract for 2 to 5 years with some sort of severance package if there is a lose of job. But mostly it is a 'at will' service, only requiring 24 hour notice by the company or staff to terminate employment. Of course this is mute point concerning SOME unions. I myself have been droped as the VP of operations for North America by a Fortune 500 company, only because they found someone who would do it cheaper. Needles to say I had been at this company from nearly its beginning, and was the driving force to it's 500 status. they let me cash in my stocks and held the door so it wouldn't hit me on the ass! So in Malaysia I am always looking for a different job, always! So OTH, are you telling me that the Elite in Canada or other western countries do not walk on the middle class and below? I believe that is what is going on in Canada and the US as we speak. In Canada you are a indentured servant for your whole life owing to the socialist programs in place for the 'welfare' of the people. In the USofA the rich republicans only want to spend money on their friends, god forbid we should give money back to the people who originally 'gave' it to the government, 'give' is a lose term for taxes. I am not trying to knock ANY country as each has it's own faults. I am just trying to put a different spin on what you are saying. Maybe you are burnt out and need a break, like a lot of the guys heading to Thailand want. It's just that your break after all of these years happens to be going back home?

I wish you all the best!

Slylock

PS see news article about the 93 year old man who died from being frozen to death in his own home because the electric company turned of his power! there is a human rights violation for you, but since the media is controlled by the west this incident is a 'outrage' or 'unfortunate incident' that needs to be investigated. If this happened in the so called third world, what would it have been? Hell if Bush was still president he might have wanted to invade, lol.

Opebo
01-30-09, 09:45
...Thais ... I've come to the conclusion that as a culture and as a people, they are collectively about the most morally reprehensible lot I've ever had the misfortune to know.

So, as far as I'm concerned, any knob who goes ga-ga about Thailand, doesn't have any real clue about the place.

Well, OTH, we all know why we go ga-ga about Thailand - prostitution. (and to a lesser extent easily available semi-prostitutes, giks, etc.)

But I can say that as a 'morally reprehensible' person who can in some ways out-Thai the Thais, I feel very comfortable here. The key is to be lazier than them. Sure, you'll end up getting screwed over, kicked out, whatever, but if you never invested any real effort into your position, its no great loss. Usually they'll simply not renew your contract at the end of the year, as outright firing you requires a bit of a reason ('he's incompetent, no good, lazy, doesn't teach, etc.') and can be a loss of face for the dude that hired you.

And speaking of high salaries, making $1,100/month in a country where apartments are $100/month, meals are a dollar or two, and sex is $15-30, is a pretty good deal in the meantime. (I couldn't make any more than that back home). So it all depends on your point of view. I think you have, perhaps, come to expect too much from your adopted homeland. I for one, have found my much more limited and sex-focused expectations have been filled to sufficiency.

Old Thai Hand
01-30-09, 14:08
All good points of view, gentlemen.

Perhaps when it's all over, I'll elaborate on what has transpired in my case. What I will say is that, my contract was not renewed after 3 years of working in my current job, with no reason given. It's not that I resent not having my contract renewed. It's happened before and it simply goes with the territory here. It has everything to do with envy and greed. The Thais are jealous and feel threatened, because I'm simply better than they are at the job. There are also issues of loss of face for them etc. etc. The way they do things is unethical, unprofessional, devious and callous. And, I'm certainly not one to roll over and take it quietly.

But, all I really care about is that, there has been fraud committed against me and there's been a violation of my rights under Thai labor law, which I will now have to fight. This will be the 3rd time in 12 years that I've had to do this. I will win again, just as I did the other 2 times. But, it's tiresome and draining having to go through it.

Of course this happens in the US and Canada. The difference, though is that at least one is protected by some measure of the law, not to mention unemployment insurance, etc. Employers are less inclined to violate employee rights because of the penalties. In contrast, Thai employers violate labor law all the time largely because Thais rarely fight back, and they assume that Farang are not protected. Fortunately, we are.

Of course there is no perfect place in the world. While I have mentioned that I considered returning home, that is probably not going to happen because of a lot of the reasons mentioned here. The thought of returning to Canada really bores me. There's nothing really there for me. I've lived lots of places. So, l'll probably end up somewhere else in the world, where at least I'll make a lot more money. Personally, I'm not prepared to just get by, like Opebo on $1,100/month. I do have a good job offer here, with a Farang-run educational institution and might consider staying, if they meet my price.

As I said, I think this is a great place to live, if you are not dependent on the Thais for a living. Fortunately, I'm not encumbered by any financial ties here. But, I have personal entanglements, which I plan to maintain.

I'll just likely become a tourist for awhile and then move back when the time is right.

Sanook D
01-31-09, 09:24
As I said, I think this is a great place to live, if you are not dependent on the Thais for a living. Fortunately, I'm not encumbered by any financial ties here. But, I have personal entanglements, which I plan to maintain.

I'll just likely become a tourist for awhile and then move back when the time is right.

In my case, new arrivals or people I talk to back home tend to get the impression that my feelings about Thailand are unrelentingly negative, but I agree with OTH that Thailand is good place to which to retire, especially if you know your way around a bit, and still a good place to be tourist. I just don't think it is wise to depend on or get involved with Thais any more than one absolutely must.

I may have written this here before, but I don't think this is really so much a "Thais hate farangs" issue. I have no doubt that many Thais really do hate farangs, in the sense that because one of the prime motivating forces in this society is envy, Thais deeply resent people whom they perceive as having something they don't. To get a sense of how the Thais operate you have to observe how they treat each other, and frankly I don't think the way they treat each other is much better than how they treat farangs- in many cases it is worse, depending on what they think they might get from the farang or their perception of the farang's wealth or connections. Thai society is deeply hierarchichal; in a sense one is either a bully or a victim here. A person has almost nothing in terms of human rights other than his or her ability to wield power. Justice really is the will of the stronger in Thailand, and you generally don't want to find yourself at the mercy of a Thai, whether or not you are a farang. I've known some Thais in positions of power in companies or law firms, for example, who do have an enlightened sense of fairness, but I tend to see them as exceptions who prove the rule.

PinkPearl
01-31-09, 10:55
And having already tried to deposit said amount into a Thai Bank, but to no avail. Cannot open account on Tourist Visa and have no Work permit etc etc How exactly does one achieve this? This may be of no help to you personally, but in BKK I was able to open an account with 2 banks so far, Kasikorn and Krung Thai. The Tourist Visa I showed them was I triple, but I cannot say whether or not they would have accepted me with a single or even a regular 30 day visit.

Some other banks rejected my application in the absence of a work permit, or required I go to my embassy to obtain a letter of some sort. But the two above are sufficient for my needs. No interest BTW.

PinkPearl
01-31-09, 11:02
In my earlier aquisiition of r.visa, I had to show the "long list" to immigration, not to the embassy. Your comments, encouragement, solutions encouraged.
I was also surprised that I could get 2 back to back 60 day tourist visas when I thought the law says 90 days in country on a tourist visa then you must stay out for 90 days.

C4TI can't say whether that applies to Tourist Visas, but I understand it
does with those who are making border runs every 30 days. So they would be limited to 3 of those in a 6 month period.

PinkPearl
01-31-09, 11:12
I have a savings account with Bangkok Bank, the largest bank in the country, and regularly earn interest, just as any Thai citizen would.Are you here working? Or retired?

Seeko
01-31-09, 16:32
And having already tried to deposit said amount into a Thai Bank, but to no avail - cannot open account on Tourist Visa and have no Work permit etc etc How exactly does one achieve this?
Kasikorn Bank (Green plant over water). Make sure it's a full-service branch. Try the one at the corner of Sukhumvit and Soi 33.

I have obtained Savings Deposit Account with ATM card and Time Deposit Account with 3/6/12-month periods (CD's in USA), using only my tourist passport. [For local address, make one up or use your hotel's; but, tell them _not_ to send anything, i.e. no monthly statements or newsletters.]

And, set up Online/Internet Banking, so you can check your account(s) from abroad. You'll need a valid Thai mobile number and email address.

Good luck,
Seeko

PinkPearl
02-04-09, 13:30
The sex industry in Thailand has always been far better than Cambodia, and though it has waned, it has waned less than in that NGO-controlled country. In practice $5 sex is difficult to find now in Cambodia. $10 is more the normal minimum, so about 350 baht. The normal short time in Pattaya is 500 baht, so not much more, and obviously Pattaya is enormously more pleasant to live in than any part of Cambodia or Bangkok. Thais tend to provide much better service than Kmer Cambodians, and even somewhat better than the now somewhat less available Vietnamese girls.I wonder what your source is. Although I haven't followed the Cambodia threads at ISG for about 6 months, prior to that it seemed that 5 dollar sex was easy to get in PP. Maybe things have changed of late.

I recall a comment in the PP section that Khmer ladies were of a kinder disposition than TGs. Even should that be so, it is concievable that TGs have the overall better service, as you claim.

As for Pattaya, I wonder what one can get for only 500 baht. If it is the type of TG we see in the photos here at ISG, I can only say that prior to seeing them I did not believe in extra terrestrials.

What is it that makes you feel Pattaya is more pleasant than Bangkok. Isn't it the former that has a reputation for criminal elements?

Wushu
02-04-09, 15:04
Anyone know how to become a foreign gigilo in Thailand?

Thanks in advance,

Wushu

NicFrenchy
02-04-09, 17:47
Anyone know how to become a foreign gigilo in Thailand?

Thanks in advance,

Wushu

Yes, however very small market for the ladies. You'd make more money selling your ass to the Faggots.

Seriously, apart from a Perfect Body (means less than 19% Body fat), a very handsome face and a dick that can go on a very long time? your biggest hurdle will be to get a work permit.

Opebo
02-04-09, 18:19
I wonder what your source is. Although I haven't followed the Cambodia threads at ISG for about 6 months, prior to that it seemed that 5 dollar sex was easy to get in PP. Maybe things have changed of late.

Personal experience, PP.


I recall a comment in the PP section that Khmer ladies were of a kinder disposition than TGs. Even should that be so, it is concievable that TGs have the overall better service, as you claim.

I don't know about 'kinder', but I've always had far more fun with Thai girls than Kmer. The only good prostitutes in Cambodia are the Vietnamese - in my opinion sexier than the Kmer and very good but rather mercenary service. Alas it always seems like there are fewer and fewer Viets around and more and more Kmer in the business on each successive visit.


As for Pattaya, I wonder what one can get for only 500 baht. If it is the type of TG we see in the photos here at ISG, I can only say that prior to seeing them I did not believe in extra terrestrials.
What is it that makes you feel Pattaya is more pleasant than Bangkok. Isn't it the former that has a reputation for criminal elements?

500 baht is the going rate for short time in Pattaya, PP. This includes freelancers and beer bar girls. I like Pattaya better than Bangkok for the obvious reason that it is a pleasant beach resort - fresh air, not too much traffic, and not as hectic as Bangkok. Cooler too. Bangkok is a hot, dirty, polluted, workaday city full of ordinary people. Pattaya is a town made up mostly of prostitutes and johns - a paradise.

Giotto
02-04-09, 19:20
...
Seriously, apart from a Perfect Body (means less than 19% Body fat), a very handsome face and a dick that can go on a very long time? your biggest hurdle will be to get a work permit.NicFrenchy,

LOL!


Giotto

Amjeck
02-04-09, 19:24
500 baht is the going rate for short time in Pattaya,
Although a good amount of girls will go for 500 ST, I don't think it's fair to say it is the going rate. One should always aim for this price, but be prepared to fork out up to 1000 ST. Super sexy girls won't go for 500 ST as they don't need to.

I made this post only to prevent possible frustration when negotiating for fellow mongers when visiting pattaya.

Italy 1974
02-04-09, 19:35
500 baht is absolutely not the going rate for short time in Pattaya.

It may be that some street walkers on the beach road would oblige for that amount (I don't know as it is not my cup of tea) but, for example, in soi 6 bars and at Welkom Inn the going rate is currently 700 baht plus the short-time room fee (300 baht).

Similar prices are requested by girls in beer bars.

At Dao Cafe, Kinnaree Club, Jade House, Far East a gogo and TQ (I have been recently in all those places) the going rate for short time is 1000 baht.

Italy 1974

Wushu
02-05-09, 06:03
Yes, however very small market for the ladies. You'd make more money selling your ass to the Faggots.

Seriously, apart from a Perfect Body (means less than 19% Body fat), a very handsome face and a dick that can go on a very long time? Your biggest hurdle will be to get a work permit.Ah. Well, I'm pretty damn straight and will never be that flexible.

Is it really that difficult to get a work permit in Thailand?

Thanks in advance,

Wushu

Opebo
02-05-09, 10:21
The price they request does not have to be the price they receive, Italy1974. I always pay 500 baht plus barfine on Soi Six, and while I don't often go to regular beer bars to barfine girls, when I do I always pay 500. Sure, once in a while one will ask for 700 but I just say 'no thanks'. Nearly always they come down to 500 quite readily. In the few cases when they haven't I consider myself lucky, as girls who try to overcharge generally offer very poor service.

Keep in mind the economy, Italy1974. We are in a terrible worldwide deflation and depression. Fewer and fewer people can afford to travel to Pattaya, and more and more Thai women are being squeezed out of work. It is in fact something of a buyers market right now. If a girl asks for 700, and you say 'no thanks I'll only give 500', she knows there are dozens of other girls right outside ready to go, while the chance of another walking wallet coming in and picking her out is really not all that great. In any case if she goes with you for 500, it will all be over soon and she'll be on display again for the next customer, so she looses very little by accepting the market price.

Italy 1974
02-05-09, 13:41
The price they request does not have to be the price they receive, Italy1974. I always pay 500 baht plus barfine on Soi Six, and while I don't often go to regular beer bars to barfine girls, when I do I always pay 500. Sure, once in a while one will ask for 700 but I just say 'no thanks'. Nearly always they come down to 500 quite readily. In the few cases when they haven't I consider myself lucky, as girls who try to overcharge generally offer very poor service.

Keep in mind the economy, Italy1974. We are in a terrible worldwide deflation and depression. Fewer and fewer people can afford to travel to Pattaya, and more and more Thai women are being squeezed out of work. It is in fact something of a buyers market right now. If a girl asks for 700, and you say 'no thanks I'll only give 500', she knows there are dozens of other girls right outside ready to go, while the chance of another walking wallet coming in and picking her out is really not all that great. In any case if she goes with you for 500, it will all be over soon and she'll be on display again for the next customer, so she looses very little by accepting the market price.Opebo,

I am not questioning what you wrote but I can tell you that the vast majority of farangs pays 700 baht for short time in soi 6.

Therefore, as we are talking about going prices for short time in Pattaya I think I am not wrong writing that 700 baht is the ongoing price.

Regarding what you wrote about the "terrible worldwide deflation and depression" that in some ways "squeezed more and more Thai women out of work" and made the pay-for-pussy scene "something of a buyers market", I think that taking advantage of this is something closer to exploitation than to free market.

I don't think my life would be any better if I save 200 baht for each short time in soi 6 so I will keep paying 700 hundreds and giving the girls (if they deserved) a tip.

Regards,

Italy 1974

Gwailo
02-05-09, 16:13
Seriously, apart from a Perfect Body (means less than 19% Body fat), a very handsome face and a dick that can go on a very long time? your biggest hurdle will be to get a work permit.

Well, the bargirls already tell me I'm very handsome, so I'll just need some liposuction, viagra, and a work permit?

Opebo
02-06-09, 11:19
I am not questioning what you wrote but I can tell you that the vast majority of farangs pays 700 baht for short time in soi 6.

It would be interesting to take a poll here about this issue, but I do think that far more sex-sessions are charged at 500 baht plus barfine than 700 baht plus barfine in Soi Six or at beer bars.

I wonder if any mongers would care to comment. I don't think we have the ability to create a poll on this forum.

Amjeck
02-06-09, 12:27
Regarding what you wrote about the "terrible worldwide deflation and depression" that in some ways "squeezed more and more Thai women out of work" and made the pay-for-pussy scene "something of a buyers market", I think that taking advantage of this is something closer to exploitation than to free market.


Not yet a buyers market. Wait another 2-3 months for that.

On soi 6, it's fair to say that most gals will prob go for 500. Pattaya is a big place with lot's of venues including all of walking street, but to say that 500 is the going rate for ST in Pattaya is a bit misleading. Getting a hot freelancer on walking for 500 during this time of year would be pretty difficult for the average monger. Or a gogo girl from walking for 500? I doubt it

Soi 6, small beer bars away from the main action, and beach girls - 500 ST all day.

Oh, and you think it's exploitation! What about all the times Thais have tried to exploit you? Nothing wrong with being shrewd in LOS!

Bowerboy
02-07-09, 15:09
In Pattaya you can get an undesirable girl for 500 baht.

If you want a desirable girl then you will pay more than that.

End of story.

Italy 1974
02-07-09, 15:41
Not yet a buyers market. Wait another 2-3 months for that.

On soi 6, it's fair to say that most gals will prob go for 500. Pattaya is a big place with lot's of venues including all of walking street, but to say that 500 is the going rate for ST in Pattaya is a bit misleading. Getting a hot freelancer on walking for 500 during this time of year would be pretty difficult for the average monger. Or a gogo girl from walking for 500? I doubt it

Soi 6, small beer bars away from the main action, and beach girls - 500 ST all day.

Oh, and you think it's exploitation! What about all the times Thais have tried to exploit you? Nothing wrong with being shrewd in LOS!I just said that taking advantage of a situation that "squeezed bargirls out of work" is closer to exploitation than to buyer market.

Nothing more and nothing less than this.

Regarding being exploited by Thais: I have a company that deals with 7 countries (Italy, Germany, Brazil, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia) and Thais didn't exploit me more than people of any of the 6 nations I mentioned above.

Nevertheless even if I would have been exploited by a thai businessman (or taxi driver or whatever you want) this does not entitle myself to exploit someone else just because she/he shares the same passport.

Regards,

Italy 1974

Opebo
02-07-09, 17:25
In Pattaya you can get an undesirable girl for 500 baht.

If you want a desirable girl then you will pay more than that.

End of story.

No, I do often get desirable girls for 500 baht - to specify by 'desirable' I mean cute and under 25 (trying to use a more universal definition here - I certainly find many 30-40 year olds doable, but I wouldn't really call them 'desirable').

NicFrenchy
02-08-09, 07:55
Ah. Well, I'm pretty damn straight and will never be that flexible.

Is it really that difficult to get a work permit in Thailand?

Thanks in advance,

Wushu

Look, there's always a first for everything! why not try your luck? you might be the first Farang to get a GIGOLO work permit... but wait... you need a Capital of about 2 million baht before they even look at your request (As far as I am aware, it's 2 million Capital per foreigner.)

Crazy4Thai
02-10-09, 07:14
Is it a sign of the economic times?
Is it new policy by a new administration?

I don't know - but I tell you I went from 60 day tourist visa to non immigrant "o" to retirement visa in a span of 2 hours and the ONLY document they wanted outside of my passport was proof of money in the Thai bank for 90 days or more.

Those in the know realize there is a l o n g list of other docs they did not even mention.

This happened 1 week ago in Phuket without the aid of an agency or a lawyer.

Thanks for everyone's input on this. On a related topic, I just shopped banks and interest rates. 3 for 3 had a fixed deposit rate ranging from 1.5% to 2% for 1 year. Lesser rates for 6 months.

CHEERS!

C4T

Member #3173
02-10-09, 14:22
Is a retirement visa permanent? If not how long is the duration?
It should be permanent going by the word retirement

Crazy4Thai
02-10-09, 17:03
Is a retirement visa permanent? If not how long is the duration?



A retirement visa is good for 1 year.
It also has a condition that you must report to immigration every 90 days during that time.

My friend is in Thailand on a marriage visa, also good for 1 year.
Strangely, imo, he has to exit Thailand every 90 days. As in make a visa run.

Sanook D
02-11-09, 02:24
My friend is in Thailand on a marriage visa, also good for 1 year.
Strangely, imo, he has to exit Thailand every 90 days. As in make a visa run.

That would be the "O" visa. I have heard that it is possible to get that stamped at immigration instead of leaving every 90 days, but for some of us the 90-day renewal requirement is an excuse to get out of here and away from the "trouble and strife" for a few days.

Andy Abs
02-11-09, 06:10
I have been here for over 5 years now. Never left the country for any reason other than visits.

I have been on a Thai wife Visa for the 5 years. My wife just shows 2 months tax payments from her business and I get my Visa from her. A Thai wife has to show a lot less money than a foreign husband.

I also Have a work permit. But do not use this to get my Visa. I keep this separate. If I need to ditch the work permit then I still have my Visa to stay. All of this is possible to anyone who is willing to grease the wheels. And of course know the right people at Immigration.

Thulolado
02-11-09, 07:14
i need some insight from some of the old los hands - and i tried to rtff but came up empty on this.

i am considering shipping a bunch of stuff (winter clothing, mostly) from thailand back to the us and am wondering about costs to do this. the background is that i'm currently living in kathmandu and am about to make my annual pilgrimage to los and as the weather is changing here in nepal, i am wanting to unload a good portion of my bulky items for when i head back to the us next fall and travel lightly so that i can arrange a good, long, layover in los on the way home.

speedy delivery is not as important as cheapness, so ups, fedex, etc. are not options. so, how safe and cheap is the regular post from thailand for overseas delivery? any other options i am overlooking? any insight would be appreciated.

Vinny_Viagra
02-11-09, 17:03
pack all you stuff into a wooden box 1meter cubic and sea freight it. call someone in the bkk phone box for a quote.

i need some insight from some of the old los hands - and i tried to rtff but came up empty on this.

i am considering shipping a bunch of stuff (winter clothing, mostly) from thailand back to the us and am wondering about costs to do this. the background is that i'm currently living in kathmandu and am about to make my annual pilgrimage to los and as the weather is changing here in nepal, i am wanting to unload a good portion of my bulky items for when i head back to the us next fall and travel lightly so that i can arrange a good, long, layover in los on the way home.

speedy delivery is not as important as cheapness, so ups, fedex, etc. are not options. so, how safe and cheap is the regular post from thailand for overseas delivery? any other options i am overlooking? any insight would be appreciated.

1Ball
02-11-09, 18:40
Thulolado, you should also be able to ocean freight it from KTM. Why drag a huge box to BKK.
any freight forwarder in KTM should be able to help you.

Retired Army
02-12-09, 03:27
i need some insight from some of the old los hands - and i tried to rtff but came up empty on this.

i am considering shipping a bunch of stuff (winter clothing, mostly) from thailand back to the us and am wondering about costs to do this. the background is that i'm currently living in kathmandu and am about to make my annual pilgrimage to los and as the weather is changing here in nepal, i am wanting to unload a good portion of my bulky items for when i head back to the us next fall and travel lightly so that i can arrange a good, long, layover in los on the way home.

speedy delivery is not as important as cheapness, so ups, fedex, etc. are not options. so, how safe and cheap is the regular post from thailand for overseas delivery? any other options i am overlooking? any insight would be appreciated.

why bother. wouldn't it just be cheaper and less trouble to buy new winter clothing when you get back to the u.s.

don't use dhl, fedex or ups. they are premium shippers and you are going to pay a lot. go with a freight forwarder who is also a consolidator. meaning they will have a sea container that will ship only when it's full and your small shipment will be included with many other like shipments. it's the cheapest, but also the slowest. anything going by air is going to cost $$$.

i also don't recommend thai post. they don't have a good overseas reputation and once your shipment hits the states it's going to get tied up in custom's.

it makes sense to go with 1ball's suggestion and just ship from ktm. you would have to pay twice if you ship to bkk and then on to the u.s.

Crazy4Thai
02-12-09, 16:10
[QUOTE=Retired Army]Why bother. Wouldn't it just be cheaper and less trouble to buy new winter clothing when you get back to the U.S.QUOTE]

I second that emotion.
It would seem that the clothing must be expensive and you are quite sure you will have a use for it in the future if you are willing to ship it, store it, manage it.

speaking from experience with my own "stuff"

Tiger 888
02-12-09, 21:10
i need some insight from some of the old los hands - and i tried to rtff but came up empty on this.

i am considering shipping a bunch of stuff (winter clothing, mostly) from thailand back to the us and am wondering about costs to do this. the background is that i'm currently living in kathmandu and am about to make my annual pilgrimage to los and as the weather is changing here in nepal, i am wanting to unload a good portion of my bulky items for when i head back to the us next fall and travel lightly so that i can arrange a good, long, layover in los on the way home.

speedy delivery is not as important as cheapness, so ups, fedex, etc. are not options. so, how safe and cheap is the regular post from thailand for overseas delivery? any other options i am overlooking? any insight would be appreciated.i believe that all answers so far have their point. but for everyone who want to ship something:

if you google for the three words: "thai" "postage" "rate" you come up with this link: http://www.thailandpost.com/search_ems_en.asp

Thulolado
02-13-09, 05:38
I believe that all answers so far have their point. But for everyone who want to ship something:

If you google for the three words: "Thai" "postage" "rate" you come up with this link: http://www.thailandpost.com/search_ems_en.asp

All,
Thanks for the tips. My original thought was to head to BKK with two bags and return the Kathmandu with one lighter one. When I googled thai post, I at first came up with a dead links - thanks Tiger, it looks like I can much more cheaply send things back via post in a couple of big-ish boxes.

Crazy4Thai is right on the mark - I'm both too cheap and too broke to just replace things, especially as I'll be heading to Minnesota in the Fall and I'll be needing my winter gear. Because I'm broke, though, I'm no considering stocking up on more than I planed to in BKK and sea freighting it all - that thought hasn't crossed my mind before.

Promise that in return for your all your help I'll post on anything memorable. It's been a few years since I've been back to LOS, so I'll have to update my old posts on S. Botan MP, one of my old favs. You'll notice that I haven't posted about Nepal despite my old posts and despite checking out the new scenes - that's because I stand by my old maxim - if you're traveling to Nepal, the best bet for mongering is to fly through LOS and arrange a long layover.

Cheers

Daddy07
02-13-09, 05:55
...I'll be heading to Minnesota in the Fall and I'll be needing my winter gear...
Be sure to give us a full report on the mongering scene there. I need to be reminded sometimes about why I don't miss Michigan. :)

M P Lurker
02-13-09, 09:42
Be sure to give us a full report on the mongering scene there. I need to be reminded sometimes about why I don't miss Michigan. :)
How about a field report from time to time instead of one or two liners.
Surely you can't be just a smart arse all of the time. ;)

Daddy07
02-13-09, 10:34
How about a field report from time to time instead of one or two liners.
Surely you can't be just a smart arse all of the time. ;)
OK, fair enough, Soap Fan, here is the latest field report from the perspective of a retired expat in Pattaya LOS:

I have reached a saturation point. I think that is not a bad thing, but a good thing. I love it here. The cost of living is low, the climate is perfect, and the pretty young pussy is as available as pizza.

All of this, which is now taken for granted, is no longer taken in such large quantity or haste. GFE is a lot of fun but, like a good movie, always an illusion, so I keep my sex encounters short and enjoy my solitude. I like visiting the bars for happy hour just to enjoy the sight of pretty young naked girls preening and dancing around. I love to observe how they interact with each other and with their customers -- bar girl politics fascinates me.

I still have the beautiful little sweetheart who has 'fallen in love' with me, and who I treat like a daughter, never laying my hands on her. She's 22 now, a delightful lady, but I've never regretted my decision not to seduce her. The thought of living with a Thai girl and being around one all the time is not appealing to me.

From time to time I'll make field reports about various bars and things, as I have before, and I'll probably also continue being a smart ass (arse). :)

Thulolado
02-13-09, 17:32
Be sure to give us a full report on the mongering scene there. I need to be reminded sometimes about why I don't miss Michigan. :)

You won't be getting any reports on the MN scene for the same reason that I've given up on my former habit of reporting from Nepal - the scenes just plain suck! Here in the Himalayan Kingdom, there's plenty of mongering available if you don't mind mangky, stinking rooms and twats - and that's saying a lot from someone who's spent almost 5 years here. I just can't stand the scene here anymore, so I'm busting my budget for a trip to LOS.

As far as MN goes, I lived quite near some of the walks and the goods are so lousy that I've never even considered playing there! It'll be good to be back in LOS after nearly three years - even if the prices are up and the service is down! Now I've just got to rustle up some warm weather duds!

M P Lurker
02-13-09, 20:40
GFE is a lot of fun but, like a good movie, always an illusion, so I keep my sex encounters short and enjoy my solitude.

I don't have the luxury of keeping encounters short. If they were short, that means I didn't make it.



I still have the beautiful little sweetheart who has 'fallen in love' with me, and who I treat like a daughter, never laying my hands on her. She's 22 now, a delightful lady, but I've never regretted my decision not to seduce her. The thought of living with a Thai girl and being around one all the time is not appealing to me.
I must be weird. its very rare that I have regretted fucking some girl, its only making her a GF that I have to regret.

There are a couple of girls that I have have close platonic relationships with now but have had sex with them many years ago. So sex doesn't have to destroy everything even if the sex wasn't good. Its usually more the other way around. The long relationship spoils the sex.

On the other hand, meeting girls only occasionally with sex included can still be good even after many many years.

Boinky Boinky
02-13-09, 23:55
i need some insight from some of the old los hands - and i tried to rtff but came up empty on this.

i am considering shipping a bunch of stuff (winter clothing, mostly) from thailand back to the us and am wondering about costs to do this. the background is that i'm currently living in kathmandu and am about to make my annual pilgrimage to los and as the weather is changing here in nepal, i am wanting to unload a good portion of my bulky items for when i head back to the us next fall and travel lightly so that i can arrange a good, long, layover in los on the way home.

speedy delivery is not as important as cheapness, so ups, fedex, etc. are not options. so, how safe and cheap is the regular post from thailand for overseas delivery? any other options i am overlooking? any insight would be appreciated.look in the bangkok yellow pages for an 'international freight forwarder' or 'international freight company'. phone them up and tell them which port you want the goods sent to. when you find one that's going your way, bring your package to their offices, they'll weigh it and help fill out the forms.

make sure that you get a 'bill of lading' from them (they'll know) otherwise you won't be able to pick your goods up at the other end. be prepared to pay duty on whatever you bring in. in europe, they typically add on enough duty so that the price of each item is comparable to the same wholesale price that you'd pay from a european source. i'm not sure how the us authorities gauge duty, but there will be a lump sum to be paid. can take about 4 to 6 weeks, but if it's a bulky/heavy item, it's the cheapest way of doing it.

Mr_Hoffy
02-16-09, 12:44
So, how safe and cheap is the regular post from Thailand for overseas delivery? Any other options I am overlooking? Any insight would be appreciated.

The US post office stopped offering Ground or Sea shipments about 18 months ago.

I shipped a lot of cloths back to a girl from the US to France and it wasn't too expensive but those days are gone. So I don't know if Thailand will be able to ship to the US via Ground/Sea. When I did ship it took 2 months or more. I think the problem arises because some shipments are damaged by damp conditions and there is no tracking and it can take up to 3 months.

I think the sea shipment will make sense if you have lots of stuff that weigh a lot. Also Thailand may try to make you pay a lot of duty on items. If you ever move to Thailand they give you one time event that you can ship personal items without duty. You will need to have employment papers. Otherwise they may try to tax you up to 40 percent. Ever notice why foreign goods like cell phones, camera, cars, cost so much. It's because there is a large tax.

Tiger 888
02-16-09, 13:44
...So I don't know if Thailand will be able to ship to the US via Ground/Sea...If you had checked the link I posted you would know.

Daddy07
02-18-09, 10:57
I asked a building technician to fix the toilet in my condo today A part needed to be replaced. I gave him 200b to go buy it and told him I’d give him more if that didn’t cover it. The part was 260b and it took him several minutes to get and install it for me. I gave him the extra 60b plus another 100b for his trouble and he was more than happy.

So for just over $10 US, I got what would have probably cost me over $100 US at home, without having to schedule an appointment or wait for the services.

Flamboyant Bob
02-26-09, 12:31
Does anyone know a good place for camera repairs in Bangkok?

The camera the need some touching up is a KonicaMinolta 7D.

All the best and thanks in advanced.

F Bob

NicFrenchy
03-02-09, 05:17
wrong thread but unless you see these girl on cam or meet them in person, you will never know who is on the other end of these profiles. many of these dating sites have long been infiltrated with scam artists looking for suckers. some girls use the bait and switch technique by posting pics of other (more attractive) girls in an effort to get you to meet them. there were some questions in that report about whether some of those girls were actually school girls or just girls dressed in school uniforms. a real uni girl would probably not be so willing to expose herself (face) to the general public although it is likely that actual uni students were involved. however, why shouldn't these girls use technology to their advantage? everyone else is.

i am continuing this conversation here instead of the massage thread.

hi5 is very very popular among thais and i have heard there were a few cases of [CodeWord123] (http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord123) due to some guys reeling in young innocent girls for secret meets.

having said that, scams are also a big part and just the fact that the girl is contacting you where you have no picture is very uncommon.

i use camfrog and no girl will accept to talk with me private until they saw that my picture was the "real" me. they will ask you to open your cam and verify that you are who you say you are.

even sometimes i have my cam open, many girls refuse to talk with me because i am a foreigner. but some contact you in private.
many of these girls are well known in these programs, their friends, boyfriends, giks are there so they must be careful. if they are caught talking to you in the open rooms, people might start to gossip and their friends will know.

i remember one girl who i tried to talk with in the room told me i was "stupid farang" but then sent me a personal message right away to apologise but say her boyfriend in the room so she cannot speak. we still chat in private but never actually did anything naughty or went as far as wanting to meet.

tll is a good thing but fast becoming obsolete because of the popularity rise of the camfrog, hi5 and even facebook.

msn and skype are another... how many times have you received requests from thai ladies with beautiful picture? and then when you chat they tell you that they have no cam and you cannot see them "live"? these can be either guys or katoeys.

do i think these avenues deserve to be explored? hell yes, there are a lot of women out there in need of a good rooting ;)

Asian Rain
03-05-09, 13:27
Would anyone know of a good real estate agent in Bangkok with good expertise on condos? I am watching the Thai bhat slide and thinking, hmmm, a nice crib in BKK has already gotten 20% cheaper than it was last year. PM me with any contacts.

Thanks,

AsianRain

Opebo
03-06-09, 21:46
... I am watching the Thai bhat slide and thinking, hmmm, a nice crib in BKK has already gotten 20% cheaper than it was last year.

AsianRain

And you want to lose 20% per year too?

NicFrenchy
03-07-09, 02:27
And you want to lose 20% per year too?

LOL, I thought the same too :D

NicFrenchy
05-05-09, 04:49
After a night out yesterday with 2 colleagues (NEP, SC) we ended up in a massage Parlor (but that's another report altogether).

I just promised a gal I would relay the info for her: Business is slow and the ladies need money. They need horny (but not tight) men.

They complain that a lot of the tourists who do come to their bar just look, talk & grope but don't barfine.

In the punter's defense, the ladies were surprised at our question of lowering their price. Most said that since they can't get 3 or 4 guys per night, they will charge the only one they get a little more so they don't lose any money.
When we asked them if they were not affraid to lose the customer to another girl that would charge less they said that they don't think so. Good luck.

Mamasans also complained that drinking is down in general. Granted there are less customers but the average drink/client has also gone downhill. The idea of reducing the Barfine if customers drink for more than 1k or 2k was not an option.
When we told the mamasan that since the economy is down, people prefer to barfine the lady after 1 drink and continue to party in their own room, she simply said: Farangs rich, have lot money.

Right... well if you were thinking of coming to Thailand, now is a good time because you won't get a lot of competition! Mind you, prices might not be on the down side :(

Fon Tok
05-05-09, 07:16
....I like visiting the bars for happy hour just to enjoy the sight of pretty young naked girls preening and dancing around. I love to observe how they interact with each other and with their customers -- bar girl politics fascinates me.Thanks Daddy07. :) Good to know that I'm not the only one who enjoys observing bar girls interacting as they warm up for the long night ahead. I especially like the outdoor bars by the ocean with good views of the "scene" and the darkening sky. Hard to beat with a cold drink, a pretty girl stroking my tanned leg, and an "I'm lucky to be in Thailand" frame of mind.

NicFrenchy
05-05-09, 07:25
So for just over $10 US, I got what would have probably cost me over $100 US at home, without having to schedule an appointment or wait for the services.

And deal with the "whining" mood of the repair guy

Member #3428
05-05-09, 07:33
And deal with the "whining" mood of the repair guy

:D You're such a hard ass...

I can picture you falling head over heels in love with a thai girl and living in Pattaya as your punishment for life...

NicFrenchy
05-05-09, 07:42
:D You're such a hard ass...

I can picture you falling head over heels in love with a thai girl and living in Pattaya as your punishment for life...

I think's it is unfortunately the inevitable future of any ISG member going to Thailand is it not?
They must be puting something funny in my water as I resisted the urge for over 4 years.

The only thing I can say is that if wedding there is for me, it'll be a couple years after yours ;) :D :D

PS: Actually, I take that back... I don't know which girl in her right mind would want to marry a guy that will fuck her 14 times a day for the first 5 years... then be tired and drop to 7 times a day

Daddy07
05-05-09, 07:46
:D You're such a hard ass...

I can picture you falling head over heels in love with a thai girl and living in Pattaya as your punishment for life...
Nah ... Pattaya is far too good for the likes of him.

He might better be confined with his frisky Thai sweetheart to a tiny villiage in the heart of Isaan where the living is hard and the sex mundane.

NicFrenchy
05-05-09, 08:06
Nah ... Pattaya is far too good for the likes of him.

He might better be confined with his frisky Thai sweetheart to a tiny villiage in the heart of Isaan where the living is hard and the sex mundane.

:(

No Thanks, I'm not one of them hard ass Farangs that will go live in a farm to prove my teerak how much I love her.
I need Air-con, TV, A king size bed, Spacious Shower with hot water and most of all: Many many ladies so I can be a big butterfly :D

Member #3428
05-05-09, 09:01
PS: Actually, I take that back... I don't know which girl in her right mind would want to marry a guy that will fuck her 14 times a day for the first 5 years... then be tired and drop to 7 times a day

You know her :D And we can meet up next Friday. And I will never drop to 7, only drop dead.

I don't care what you say, "me think thou protest too much" :D ... I told you before and will repeat myself... I think you will fall, and fall hard, and fall fast at some point.

But you are right I do not see you ever in Isaan. Where would you and auntie shop for clothes ;)

Vinny_Viagra
05-05-09, 16:54
Thanks Daddy07. :) Good to know that I'm not the only one who enjoys observing bar girls interacting as they warm up for the long night ahead. I especially like the outdoor bars by the ocean with good views of the "scene" and the darkening sky. Hard to beat with a cold drink, a pretty girl stroking my tanned leg, and an "I'm lucky to be in Thailand" frame of mind.

I'd be interested to know the name of a great place to sit and drink with an ocean view..and check out the female as well as geographical scenery??

NicFrenchy
05-06-09, 01:03
I'd be interested to know the name of a great place to sit and drink with an ocean view..and check out the female as well as geographical scenery??

In Thailand? that's virtually everywhere the case.

Fon Tok
05-06-09, 04:19
I'd be interested to know the name of a great place to sit and drink with an ocean view..and check out the female as well as geographical scenery??Maybe it was just a dream I had while my lovely Thai GF was lovingly lapping my unit the other day?
... ;)

Old Thai Hand
05-11-09, 04:36
Last night, I was kidnapped by a Bangkok cabbie.

Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't have happened, as I am quite familiar with most parts of central Bangkok from the river all the way out to Bangna and north to Nontabhuri. But, I just moved into an area of town, On Nut, with which I am not that familiar. So, when he turned off Suk down Thong lor, and said he was taking a short-cut because of traffic, I at first believed him because he was still going in the right direction up Phetchaburi and Rama IX. The problem is that I don't know the backroads into my soi, yet, which is also one of those soi, which is quite long, that curves off at a slant in the direction of Suvarnabhummi. So, when he suddenly went up a ramp to the expressway out of town, I knew something wasn't right.

I won't go into the harrowing journey and heated and threatening exchanges that occured ever increasingly, the further out we went. Suffice it to say, we ended up somewhere in Samut Prakan, east of the airport, but still in a relatively populated area, when I finally managed to escape from the taxi.

I kept yelling at him to stop, and each time he sped up. But, at one point he briefly was blocked by another car and it was then that I tried to open the door. After a couple of failed attempts during which he kept re-locking the door every time I unlocked it, I got it open and got outside. As this was happening, he was screaming at me, "Give me your money! I want your money!"

As I ran from the taxi to try to get another taxi, that happened to be there, he jumped out, in the middle of traffic, and started following me with his fists raised and shouting about the money, calling me "Hi -a". I should point out that I could have, in normal circumstances dropped this guy with one punch. He was a typical wispy, frail Thai punk (and they're not all trained in Muay Thai). But, I was so un-nerved that, other than turning and moving slightly towards him, to try to get him to back off, I ran. Also, who knew if he had a gun?

The first taxi I got to locked his doors and shouted, "No!!!" Maybe he thought it was me, who was dangerous.

Just then, a second taxi appeared, and the driver leaned over opened the door and shouted for me to get in, apparently sizing up the situation and knowing I was in trouble. I was shaking like a leaf. He sped off, with the first taxi in hot pursuit. The crazy guy pulled up beside us and started shouted at the second guy to stop because I was a thief and I had all his money. This old guy, essentially told him to "Fuck off" and sped off, trying to shake him. The crazy guy then tried to cut off our taxi and then tried to side-swipe it. But, the old guy ,driving deftly out-manouevered him and finally got away.

He remained pretty cool throughout all of this and kept saying to me, "calm down, calm down". When he asked me precisely where I wanted to go, he was shocked: "That guy wasn't taking you home, but away from home. We're way outside the city. He was obviously up to no good."

After more than an hour of back-tracking, he got me home and I thanked him profusely and gave him a big tip. What should have been a 20 minute taxi ride turned into a 2 hour nightmare.

At one point he suggested, that because times are tough for taxis - too many taxis, no tourists and thus severely falling revenue - that the guy was likely trying something foolish and desparate to get some much-needed cash.

Tension is certainly in the air in Bangkok, like I've never felt it before.

So, this is just a warning to both newbie and veteran to be extra-careful and watchful. Thailand isn't the carefree, easy-going place it used to be.

NicFrenchy
05-11-09, 04:55
Last night, I was kidnapped by a Bangkok cabbie..

Very interesting Story. I am not sure what I would have done if I were at your place... I think I most probably would have ended up hitting the guy in the head while he was driving Slowly.

Wrong approach, I know... but in these situations what else can you do? my temper would certainly guide me to hit the motherfucker.

Now having said that, if one were in this situation, what can be done?

- call the police and give the taxi name and number?
- What was the Taxi color? (was it company or independant)
- Call a friend adn tell them the situation (for what, I don't know) LOL
- Puch the cabbie's head till he's groggy

What can actually be done?

Run Mann
05-11-09, 05:13
Last night, I was kidnapped by a Bangkok cabbie.




Did you get the cab number or license plate number? IF you had a cam on your cell phone you could have recorded some of it.

Old Thai Hand
05-11-09, 05:32
did you get the cab number or license plate number? if you had a cam on your cell phone you could have recorded some of it.

no. stupid me. i was so rattled, that i just wanted to get away from the guy and only thought of the licence plate #, afterwards.


nic

i thought of hitting him, while he was driving. but, he was driving most of the time like a complete maniac and at such a speed that if i had hit him, we would most certainly have crashed.


hindsight is 20/20. but, i think everyone is capable of irrational and unpredictable behaviour, and not thinking clearly or logically, when under threat.

i've been in war and under fire and handled it far more rationally, than i handled the situation last night. i feel quite stupid, now. but, i'll admit that last night, i was in shock, quite scared, and lost it a bit.

Daddy07
05-11-09, 05:42
...What should have been a 20 minute taxi ride turned into a 2 hour nightmare...
See ... you should have moved to Pattaya, that shining city on a hill, where the folks are far more friendly and civilized to Thai and Farang alike.

There are no crazed taxi drivers here. :D

The Pro
05-11-09, 06:06
All taxi's have their number on the inside on the rear doors, the yellow plate thats rivetted on.

Simply call the police and tell them you are being kidnapped in taxi number xxxx.

If you are in a panic and things not going well wait until you are in traffic and preferably going slow then pull on the hand brake and hold it pulled up, or pull the gearstick into neutral and hold it there.

You only have to get the car to a stop and you can get out. If he is trying to release the handbrake or put the car into gear and you are stopping him then he will all the while be slowing down.

If the car is going slow then reach over and pull the ignition keys out. This will put on the steering lock and also stop the engine.

If he is wizzing along very fast then one thing to try is to open the door when passing another car (using your legs to push it open) and hit the other car with the door. This will attract attention, other people and phone calls to the police.

The main thing is you need to attract attention and stay in places where lots of other cars or people are.

There used to be a driver who worked Don Muang Intl who always robbed tourists, taking them off to the middle of nowhere and taking their money.

Simple thing to do nowadays is if travelling at night, never travel alone.

If you must travel alone then phone book a taxi. It costs a few baht more for phone booking but the taxi is recorded as on call to you, so they will not try anything on.


Very interesting Story. I am not sure what I would have done if I were at your place... I think I most probably would have ended up hitting the guy in the head while he was driving Slowly.

Wrong approach, I know... but in these situations what else can you do? my temper would certainly guide me to hit the motherfucker.

Now having said that, if one were in this situation, what can be done?

- call the police and give the taxi name and number?
- What was the Taxi color? (was it company or independant)
- Call a friend adn tell them the situation (for what, I don't know) LOL
- Puch the cabbie's head till he's groggy

What can actually be done?

LittleBigMan
05-11-09, 07:42
The Pro,

Sorry! good suggestion but you got to remember most of us are too old to do the things you suggest!

1. can do
2. What is the number for the police in Bangkok? will they speak English etc?
3. As noted, he was driving too fast, even so if he had stop why pull the hand
brake. Just quickly open the door and get out.
4. Ignition is all the way to the right, you got to reach over him and since he's
going so fast it might have resulted in a accident.
5. Driver kept relocking the door and most likely not enough leg strength.
6. can do
7. Not traveling along, can do
8. Coming from the airport I believe you won't have a problem if you are
getting a taxi in a control situation.

OTH, situation could happen to anyone of us when you are inside Bangkok trying to use a taxi. Just going from point A to B, some of these guys take the long route just to make 10 extra baht. Not taking into consideration that they have to pay for the gas! backward thinking! That's why I gladly give a guy any guy a good tip just to get me there quick with no B.S.

I like coming into Bangkok, late at night from the Airport. I have never had a problem. I tell them where I want to go then I turn on my phone and pretend to speak to a friend that I in taxi number so and so and should be there in 30 minutes at the same time I watch them to see if I get a reaction that they understand want was said. They might not understand English but most know 1,2,3 numbers.

LBM

Member #3428
05-11-09, 10:17
Here's a question, how many times have you gotten in a taxi and the driver is not the one on the license? I'd have to estimate 30% of the time it's a different person.

Luckily I've had few problems with taxi drivers in BKK, a few short cuts that were wrong and them saying they know fastest route when I actually know the better routes etc... but for the most part knock on wood I've yet to come across a major scam like OTH and it reminds me that BKK is getting more and more dangerous as it progresses.

BUT... I do talk on my cell phone or text when in a taxi, try to pronounce the area correctly in thai language or as close as I can, engage in a little chit chat in limited thai with the driver, etc... Atleast he knows I'm not a friggin newbie in BKK.

Warbucks
05-11-09, 10:46
last night, i was kidnapped by a bangkok cabbie.

at one point he suggested, that because times are tough for taxis - too many taxis, no tourists and thus severely falling revenue - that the guy was likely trying something foolish and desparate to get some much-needed cash.

tension is certainly in the air in bangkok, like i've never felt it before.

so, this is just a warning to both newbie and veteran to be extra-careful and watchful. thailand isn't the carefree, easy-going place it used to be.

…..ask buddha

got damn oth are you having a string of bad fucking luck or what? on a serious note glad you made out of that unrep001hed. anyway you handled the situation correctly. if you can flee flee, if cornered fight….even wild animals know this.

Old Thai Hand
05-11-09, 12:08
All taxi's have their number on the inside on the rear doors, the yellow plate thats rivetted on.

Simply call the police and tell them you are being kidnapped in taxi number xxxx.

If you are in a panic and things not going well wait until you are in traffic and preferably going slow then pull on the hand brake and hold it pulled up, or pull the gearstick into neutral and hold it there.

You only have to get the car to a stop and you can get out. If he is trying to release the handbrake or put the car into gear and you are stopping him then he will all the while be slowing down.

If the car is going slow then reach over and pull the ignition keys out. This will put on the steering lock and also stop the engine.

If he is wizzing along very fast then one thing to try is to open the door when passing another car (using your legs to push it open) and hit the other car with the door. This will attract attention, other people and phone calls to the police.

The main thing is you need to attract attention and stay in places where lots of other cars or people are.

There used to be a driver who worked Don Muang Intl who always robbed tourists, taking them off to the middle of nowhere and taking their money.

Simple thing to do nowadays is if travelling at night, never travel alone.

If you must travel alone then phone book a taxi. It costs a few baht more for phone booking but the taxi is recorded as on call to you, so they will not try anything on.


All good, except that perhaps because I have lived here so long and NEVER had any sort of problem like this, I'm a bit complacent and didn't think to get his number, (nor did the 2nd taxi driver, who was too busy trying to dodge the guy, as he tried to ram us).

I did phone my GF, whose brother is a cop, while this was happening. But, she didn't pick up and only called back when I was in the 2nd taxi.

Her brother offered to get me a gun to carry with me from now on. I'm tempted. But, I'll probably opt for a tazer, instead. The prospect of shooting a taxi driver (or whoever) would probably not bode well for a Farang, even if totally justified.

Daddy07
05-11-09, 12:32
...Her brother offered to get me a gun to carry with me from now on. I'm tempted...
I think the chances of something like this happening again are quite slim so I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

The thing that puzzles me most about the incident is that it happened even though you speak Thai quite well so he must have known you weren't a rube.

The Pro
05-11-09, 14:12
I think the chances of something like this happening again are quite slim so I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

The thing that puzzles me most about the incident is that it happened even though you speak Thai quite well so he must have known you weren't a rube.Depends what the driver was looking for. If he is looking for kidnapping and ransom then picking up a well dressed farang who can speak Thai means that there is likely a local link willing to pay a ransom.

Again if you are looking to rob someone you do not try the tourist type, as they are likely not carrying too much money or credit cards, whereas someone well dressed and not looking touristy is a better bet. He could have worked out OTH can speak Thai, likely has an ATM card, and potentially he could threaten him and get a few hundred K out of the ATM card.

Again, the best thing if travelling alone at night is phone book a taxi, its all recorded then and you do not get a freelancer driver borrowing someone elses car, or a maniac.

If you are coming from the airport then yes, provided you take a taxi from the queue system and get the piece of paper you are pretty safe.

The infamous Don Muang Intl thief was one of those who waited upstairs at the drop off area looking to pick up farangs without the queue system. Easy to rip them off then as no record of who picked them up.

Tourist Police Number is 1155 (will speak English)

Police Number is 191

Phone booking of Taxi numbers are: (Phone booking is +20 baht on the fare)
1661
1681
02 880 0888;
02 911 5772;
02 878 9000

They are all different companies.

Old Thai Hand
05-11-09, 15:56
I think the chances of something like this happening again are quite slim so I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

The thing that puzzles me most about the incident is that it happened even though you speak Thai quite well so he must have known you weren't a rube.

He was clearly desparate and angry, about something right from the moment I got in the taxi. It only got worse after that. My Thai actually exacerbated the problem because at the end, I lost my temper and started swearing at him. When I called him a "Hee-aa", he really went off the deep end.

I've travelled in some pretty rough places in my life. So, I'm usually pretty careful and always on guard. But, as I said, I'm complacent because of being in BKK so long. I got sloppy. I should've sensed something wasn't right after I got in the taxi.

Anyway, it's been a good learning experience. I guess I need a trip to Patts, then, right? :)

Vinny_Viagra
05-11-09, 16:22
Maybe it was just a dream I had while my lovely Thai GF was lovingly lapping my unit the other day?
... ;)

I live in Boston after having lived many years in Thailand. I read ISG daily though. There is a small massage place here that has a few thai women. Although the range of services is somewhat limited at this place, I have made friends with all of them and do quite well. One cute little gal gets a big charge out of it when I put my nose in her clevage and inhale filling my lungs then release uttering the word "Thailand". It's not quite like being there, but I it brings back great memories..

Davidboy
05-11-09, 16:27
He was clearly desparate and angry, about something right from the moment I got in the taxi. It only got worse after that. My Thai actually exacerbated the problem because at the end, I lost my temper and started swearing at him. When I called him a "Hee-aa", he really went off the deep end.

I've travelled in some pretty rough places in my life. So, I'm usually pretty careful and always on guard. But, as I said, I'm complacent because of being in BKK so long. I got sloppy. I should've sensed something wasn't right after I got in the taxi.

Anyway, it's been a good learning experience. I guess I need a trip to Patts, then, right? :)I am sorry but this is my first reply in my many years of 'monitoring' ISG. I am a former US Marine who has lived in BKK for seven years. In this situation; and I have had a few similar instances to the one described by OIH; I believe it is best to convince the Taxi Driver that I am crazier than he is. Which happens to be a true-fact. And if that does not convince him I am willing and able to prove it by inflicting bodily harm to his person and all those who are his friends. My concern is never for my own personal safety; it is to do damage to those who are bullies that have a notion they, 'can because they can'

Daddy San
05-11-09, 16:41
In NYC on the East Side, a punk once tried to mug me with a knife.
Luckily for me, he was so stoned, that he did not notice, untill I had kicked his balls and he was screaming with pain on the sidewalk.
But that was some 25 years ago and I would not want to go through that experience again.
So now I always carry pepper spray. Maybe not the best solution if your taxi is driving fast.

PS.
Pack your pepper spray in you checked luggage. Hand luggage is a no-no!

Cunning Stunt
05-11-09, 17:00
i would think that the background checks done, in bangkok, on prospective taxi drivers are fairly perfunctory at best, so it would not surprise me in the least if many of them have criminal records.

bangkok taxi drivers have always been a dodgy bunch of miscreants. the meter taxis are a comparatively recent introduction. not so many years ago, all bangkok taxis were unmetered and you had to negotiate a fare before you climbed in otherwise you were bound to be scalped. the most rapacious of the lot were the thieving taxi mafia that had don muang by the balls. just getting into bangkok, at a reasonable fare, once used to be an achievement in itself. there were some real nasty characters operating out of the airport at that time and it took several murders, unexplained disappearances and many robberies of arriving tourists before they were eventually ousted. incidentally, it really is astonishing to see how quickly bangkok has modernized in just a comparatively short space of time. 20 years ago the place was on par with jakarta and manila. now it has pretensions to be in the same league as hong kong or kl.

i think that oth was definitely been set up for a robbery at best and that he was lucky to escape unrep001hed. best policy in future is to hand pick your taxi drivers and only go with those who look the same age or older than yourself. no young ‘uns. in other words the inverse of how you would go about picking a bf in a bar:).

take care out there, particularly in these interesting times. the city only appears tamed on the surface which once scratched soon reverts to the feral creature it really is.

GoodEnough
05-11-09, 17:43
oth, thanks for sharing what must have been an extremely harrowing experience. i'll be back in bangkok later this week, and, given your words of caution, and those of the other members of this board, i'll remember to select my driver with utmost care and get the oldest, frailest driver i can find. without your report, it never would have occurred to me to worry about taxis in bangkok since i've never had issues there.

glad that you escaped relatively unrep001hed.

ge

NicFrenchy
05-12-09, 01:33
The most rapacious of the lot were the thieving taxi mafia that had Don Muang by the balls. Just getting into Bangkok, at a reasonable fare, once used to be an achievement in itself. There were some real nasty characters operating out of the airport at that time and it took several murders, unexplained disappearances and many robberies of arriving tourists before they were eventually ousted.

Yeah well they're gonna cry their eyes out soon as the BTS is coming next year. People will take the skytrain until their hotel's nearest station then jump in a cab for a final 35thb Ride.


Best policy in future is to hand pick your taxi drivers and only go with those who look the same age or older than yourself. No young ‘uns.

So in other words, I'm fucked, right? :D

Cunning Stunt
05-12-09, 03:55
Yeah well they're gonna cry their eyes out soon as the BTS is coming next year. People will take the skytrain until their hotel's nearest station then jump in a cab for a final 35thb Ride.

Will be a great day for all Bangkok travelers.



So in other words, I'm fucked, right? :D

Sacrebleu – exactly how old are you?!! Does your mom know that you have hacked her net nanny password:D.

Another good reason for selecting older drivers is that they tend to have outgrown any Lewis Hamilton wannabe pretensions and will get you to your hotel with body and nerves intact.

NicFrenchy
05-12-09, 05:07
Sacrebleu – exactly how old are you?!!

I am only 30 :(

Daddy07
05-12-09, 06:20
...Anyway, it's been a good learning experience. I guess I need a trip to Patts, then, right? :)
Oh, absolutely!

This place is FULL of great learning experiences. :D

Old Thai Hand
05-12-09, 11:27
Oh, absolutely!

This place is FULL of great learning experiences. :D


mmmmmmm. Well, I just got a new job, and a new, cheaper apartment and won't have a GF soon (all meaning more money for me)....it might just be what the doctor ordered.

Hey, I could be one of those guys who comes to Patts, falls hopelessly in love with the first BG he meets and loses all sense and logic. Sounds like fun! ;)


...I'll just make sure I find an old grand-daddy taxi driver to bring me there.

Piper1
05-12-09, 13:10
Well, I just got a new job...Karate instructor? ;) Kidding - by the sounds of it, a good job - congrats! But you will too busy for girls now.

Tiger 888
05-12-09, 18:49
mmmmmmm. Well, I just got a new job, and a new, cheaper apartment and won't have a GF soon (all meaning more money for me)....it might just be what the doctor ordered.

Hey, I could be one of those guys who comes to Patts, falls hopelessly in love with the first BG he meets and loses all sense and logic. Sounds like fun! ;)


...I'll just make sure I find an old grand-daddy taxi driver to bring me there.That sounds to me like PeteMcc. Don't make the same mistakes. At least you don't have a wife to lose.

Old Thai Hand
05-13-09, 03:43
Karate instructor? ;) Kidding - by the sounds of it, a good job - congrats! But you will too busy for girls now.

I'll find the time. I'm a bachelor again, afterall and look where I am? :D

However, I'm too old now to score students, which is probably just as well. I don't want to screw up the new job. I can still look and enjoy the eye candy, though. I have a polyglot of nationalities in my new job, including a rather hot pair of Russian sisters, some very voluptuous Indian girls, Vietnamese, Chinese, French and the usual assortment of hot Thai girls.

Ah, to be NicFrency's age so I could get myself in heeps of trouble...

Sanook D
05-13-09, 07:53
last night, i was kidnapped by a bangkok cabbie.
holy crap, oth! glad you made it through ok. too bad you couldn't stop the bastard on thonglor, in front of the cop shop, say. what time of day was this? fortunately, it doesn't seem like your would-be kidnapper had things too well planned out. i'm kind of amazed you waited until near the end to come out with the "ai hee-ya", btw.

the story is so much at variance with my, and i gather oth's, experiences with cabbies up to now that it is easy to see how one could be caught unawares. in 18 years of travel/living here i can think of two bad experiences, both resolved easily and in my favor (but never an attempted kidnapping, sheesh). i think the (or one) moral of the story is don't let the cabbie get on the expressway ramp. otherwise, he's alone, you're sitting behind him, there are all kinds of really nasty things one can do, beginning with a choke, and if he is at normal surface street speed he is going to get the worst of a crash. a ******* pulling that kind of stunt probably will have a history, so the cops aren't liable to come down on you. also, as others are suggested, have a mobile and emergency numbers plugged in.

i'd forgo the gun were i you. more trouble than it's worth, and causes a conspicuous bulge. all things considered the best kind of concealed weapon might be a blackjack, or better yet a slapper that slides easily into pocket (not the kind we usually write about on isg!). i wouldn't want to deal with the cops here if i had to shoot or stab someone, no matter what the justification.

NicFrenchy
05-13-09, 08:03
new job, including a rather hot pair of Russian sisters, some very voluptuous Indian girls, Vietnamese, Chinese, French and the usual assortment of hot Thai girls.

Ah, to be NicFrency's age so I could get myself in heeps of trouble...

Yes, being young has its perks :D but Working with so many nationalitles would drive me crazy LOL i'd be spermed-out in no time :)

Amjeck
05-13-09, 13:56
Last night, I was kidnapped by a Bangkok cabbie.


Why do you think he tried to pull a fast one on you? Did you act in a way that you appeared weak, ignorant, stupid or something like that? (I'm not trying to criticize.)

I'm just curious to know, because Thais won't tend to pull things like this unless they know they've got the upper hand.

It would be nice to know so that we can all take precautions when in LOS.

Old Thai Hand
05-13-09, 14:44
Why do you think he tried to pull a fast one on you? Did you act in a way that you appeared weak, ignorant, stupid or something like that? (I'm not trying to criticize.)

I'm just curious to know, because Thais won't tend to pull things like this unless they know they've got the upper hand.

It would be nice to know so that we can all take precautions when in LOS.

I think it was a spur of the moment thing for him. I spoke Thai. So, he knew I wasn't a newbie. But, as I explained, I just moved to an unfamiliar part of town. So, I wasn't immediately suspicious of his not going down Sukhumvit to On Nut, despite the fact that I live fairly close to the BTS On Nut, because I didn't know the back way into my soi (I do now). When he turned down Thong lor, he said he was taking a short cut and I had no reason at that point to question him.

He was driving faster than normal throughout. So, it would have been crazy to strangle him, or something.

He was agitated throughout the whole trip, not just at the end. But, it's not unusual to get taxi drivers that are crabby. I get them quite frequently.

I don't know any more than what I've posted. It was a weird experience, which I can't totally explain.

Piper1
05-13-09, 14:52
From photo gallery
She's the girl with strange tattoo that Aenigma posted...She is an ice junkie ...Ice and Yaba are basically the same drug (Ice is crystal meth, and Yaba is crystal meth with caffeine mixed in. (That would kill me - I'm hyper and insomniac enough without drugs).

Stalker Girl in Pattaya last week was pretty zapped and horny when she turned up at my hotel by surprise at 8am for more sex. I should've known at the time that she was on Ice or yaba. She wanted sex several times more and wouldn't sleep. If I'd known she was on Ice I wouldn't have let her back in. I avoided her calls the next few days, but she found me on my final night in Walking street and ran after me - I firmly told her to get away as she was too much trouble. She backed off fast.

Too bad that many Thai BGs are on Ice/Yaba. Is this a recent thing?

______

http://www.november.org/stayinfo/breaking07/Yaba.html

Ice/Meth - before and after:

Washburn
05-14-09, 19:21
I'd forgo the gun were I you. More trouble than it's worth, and causes a conspicuous bulge. All things considered the best kind of concealed weapon might be a blackjack, or better yet a slapper that slides easily into pocket (not the kind we usually write about on ISG!). I wouldn't want to deal with the cops here if I had to shoot or stab someone, no matter what the justification.

It's easy to carry a gun that doesn't imprint and isn't visible. The only downside is the metal detectors you encounter, at Siam Paragon, for example.

And I'd far, far rather deal with the police for shooting someone in LOS, than anywhere in Farangdom. If it's a burglar or robber, the Thai police won't have any sympathy for them at all. In Farangdom if you shoot someone - even in self-defence - you'll find yourself the star of an inquest, face criminal charges, and likely a lawsuit (that's why, if you shoot someone in Farangdom you should make sure you kill them; that way there's only one side to the story - yours - and you're also less likely to be sued). In LOS they still have this funny idea that crooks deserve punishment.

Washburn
05-14-09, 19:29
Last night, I was kidnapped by a Bangkok cabbie.

Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't have happened, as I am quite familiar with most parts of central Bangkok from the river all the way out to Bangna and north to Nontabhuri. But, I just moved into an area of town, On Nut, with which I am not that familiar. So, when he turned off Suk down Thong lor, and said he was taking a short-cut because of traffic, I at first believed him because he was still going in the right direction up Phetchaburi and Rama IX. The problem is that I don't know the backroads into my soi, yet, which is also one of those soi, which is quite long, that curves off at a slant in the direction of Suvarnabhummi. So, when he suddenly went up a ramp to the expressway out of town, I knew something wasn't right.

I won't go into the harrowing journey and heated and threatening exchanges that occured ever increasingly, the further out we went. Suffice it to say, we ended up somewhere in Samut Prakan, east of the airport, but still in a relatively populated area, when I finally managed to escape from the taxi.

I kept yelling at him to stop, and each time he sped up. But, at one point he briefly was blocked by another car and it was then that I tried to open the door. After a couple of failed attempts during which he kept re-locking the door every time I unlocked it, I got it open and got outside. As this was happening, he was screaming at me, "Give me your money! I want your money!"

As I ran from the taxi to try to get another taxi, that happened to be there, he jumped out, in the middle of traffic, and started following me with his fists raised and shouting about the money, calling me "Hi -a". I should point out that I could have, in normal circumstances dropped this guy with one punch. He was a typical wispy, frail Thai punk (and they're not all trained in Muay Thai). But, I was so un-nerved that, other than turning and moving slightly towards him, to try to get him to back off, I ran. Also, who knew if he had a gun?

The first taxi I got to locked his doors and shouted, "No!!!" Maybe he thought it was me, who was dangerous.

Just then, a second taxi appeared, and the driver leaned over opened the door and shouted for me to get in, apparently sizing up the situation and knowing I was in trouble. I was shaking like a leaf. He sped off, with the first taxi in hot pursuit. The crazy guy pulled up beside us and started shouted at the second guy to stop because I was a thief and I had all his money. This old guy, essentially told him to "Fuck off" and sped off, trying to shake him. The crazy guy then tried to cut off our taxi and then tried to side-swipe it. But, the old guy ,driving deftly out-manouevered him and finally got away.

He remained pretty cool throughout all of this and kept saying to me, "calm down, calm down". When he asked me precisely where I wanted to go, he was shocked: "That guy wasn't taking you home, but away from home. We're way outside the city. He was obviously up to no good."

After more than an hour of back-tracking, he got me home and I thanked him profusely and gave him a big tip. What should have been a 20 minute taxi ride turned into a 2 hour nightmare.

At one point he suggested, that because times are tough for taxis - too many taxis, no tourists and thus severely falling revenue - that the guy was likely trying something foolish and desparate to get some much-needed cash.

Tension is certainly in the air in Bangkok, like I've never felt it before.

So, this is just a warning to both newbie and veteran to be extra-careful and watchful. Thailand isn't the carefree, easy-going place it used to be.

I've gotten some bad vibes from taxi drivers but so far no kidnap attempts. You're right that many taxi drivers are in rough shape financially, and many of them are deep in debt with payments that have to be made to people who may be less than patient.

Amjeck
05-14-09, 20:04
And I'd far, far rather deal with the police for shooting someone in LOS, than anywhere in Farangdom.
Agree, as long as you have cash and a few connections you should be fine. Just make sure the guy to take out isn't important(taxi drivers are low totem pole).

Bonker04
05-18-09, 05:45
On the subject of personal security, the usual advice of never carrying too much cash around with you is obviously very sensible. It always amazes me how many guys, usually much the worse for drink, pull out a huge roll of cash to settle their bar bills. They are just asking for trouble!

Xerman
05-19-09, 04:59
Oth,

First, let me say that I am happy you escape this bad situation. Mostly you did the correct things, I believe this because you are ok.

Second, thank you so very much for sharing this incident. For a traveler like me, this is pricelees because it reminds me that I am merely a visitor and need to be careful.

Thank you for the informative postings.

Be well.

Xerman


Last night, I was kidnapped by a Bangkok cabbie...

.....

Tension is certainly in the air in Bangkok, like I've never felt it before.

So, this is just a warning to both newbie and veteran to be extra-careful and watchful. Thailand isn't the carefree, easy-going place it used to be.

Bonker04
05-19-09, 17:55
On a slightly different aspect of security. Like many of us, I am sure, I have also been the victim of credit card fraud, about a year or so ago, in Banjul, Gambia. Had my company credit card 'cloned' and several internet purchases made. I only used it once there, in the hotel. Eventually resolved the problem but what a huge amount of grief! Since then I have always used cash. I know that some hotels require a swipe of a credit card on check-in. I now have what I believe the perfect answer, which has worked every time since. I have a 'pre-paid' credit card with a small amount of credit on it, and use that every time I am asked for one at check-in. If they clone that, no big deal! Never had a problem since!

Opebo
05-19-09, 19:21
Too bad that many Thai BGs are on Ice/Yaba. Is this a recent thing?

Um.. seriously? No. Its been going on for many years. Lets thank our lucky stars - drugs are the monger's friend.

NoCBJ4Me
05-20-09, 04:23
Old Asia Hand, I think Opebo is refering to vitamin V as the drug of choice for mongers.

I've noticed more and more, girls sitting idley with one of those "clear your sinuses, when you have a cold" tubes up their noses. These girls don't seem to have colds. Does anyone know if this is related to drug use?

Old Thai Hand
05-20-09, 07:20
Old Asia Hand, I think Opebo is refering to vitamin V as the drug of choice for mongers.

I've noticed more and more, girls sitting idley with one of those "clear your sinuses, when you have a cold" tubes up their noses. These girls don't seem to have colds. Does anyone know if this is related to drug use?

no. That's "Yaa Dohm" (mentholated inhaler). All Thais use these to excess, (actually bad for the nasal passages) and it's an indication of the Thai preoccupation with smell.

Yaa = drug or medicine
dohm = sniff, inhale

Redfield10
05-20-09, 07:32
Which is the "before" and which is the "after? "

Ok, just joking with ya.

Sad for those people involved. Very sad, really.


From photo galleryIce and Yaba are basically the same drug (Ice is crystal meth, and Yaba is crystal meth with caffeine mixed in. (That would kill me - I'm hyper and insomniac enough without drugs).

Stalker Girl in Pattaya last week was pretty zapped and horny when she turned up at my hotel by surprise at 8am for more sex. I should've known at the time that she was on Ice or yaba. She wanted sex several times more and wouldn't sleep. If I'd known she was on Ice I wouldn't have let her back in. I avoided her calls the next few days, but she found me on my final night in Walking street and ran after me - I firmly told her to get away as she was too much trouble. She backed off fast.

Too bad that many Thai BGs are on Ice/Yaba. Is this a recent thing?

______

http://www.november.org/stayinfo/breaking07/Yaba.html

Ice/Meth - before and after:

Opebo
05-21-09, 12:19
I only meant to say that we owe the need for funds to buy and enjoy drugs for the presence of many of our service providers in the industry.

AndyBKK
05-27-09, 12:15
Oth,

First, let me say that I am happy you escape this bad situation. Mostly you did the correct things, I believe this because you are ok.

Second, thank you so very much for sharing this incident. For a traveler like me, this is pricelees because it reminds me that I am merely a visitor and need to be careful.

Thank you for the informative postings.

Be well.

XermanBefore you get info any taxi make sure to get a look at the taxi number this will help you to file a report later with the tourist police.

AndyBKK
05-27-09, 12:56
The girls start using drugs after they work in the bars for a while ( 4+ months). Here's a summary of what happens

1. a young Thai girl from a poor uneducated family either dumps her loser Thai BF or gets dumped.

2. She talks to her family about what she could do next to get over her ex and make some money. Parents/relatives/neighbors recommend going to Bangkok to find a job in a company/factory/shop.

3. She comes to Bangkok and does work in one of the above-mentioned for a week or so and decides that it's too much work / the boss is too mean / she has no friends to talk to.

4. She will phone back to the person that initial told her to come. And that person will recommend she either go work in a massage palor / Nana / Soi cowboy / Pat Pong / Pattaya. (This depends solely on the person who is "in the know" previous experience or work history)

5. She will far in love with a foriegn customer within 2-4 months. This customer will take her away to spend time with him at high end resorts, islands, go swimming in crystal clear beachs, etc. (stuff that she's never done before). Ideas of this contining forever fills her mind. Her "lover" returns home to go back to work, but makes promises to send money to her / marry her / bring her to his country / etc. In many cases, she will receive payments for a few months and not work because her "sponsor / lover" checks on her at odd hours, video chat with her during her working hours, has his buddies look after her, etc.

6. She will get bored of this easy arrangment after about 2 months and will go to discos, pub, and go-go bars for girls (Handsome looking Thai guys dancing on poles, who can be bar fined, just like Nana) with some of her girl-buddies from the bar after they get off from work. She will start to drink and "try" some drugs to be "cool" and not lose face.

7. She will get addicited and her allowance from the sponsor will not be enough to cover her drug use, partying, and paying for handsome Thai guys to stuff her.

8. Meanwhile her sponsor will catch wind of this and stop sending payments.

9. She is back in the bar full time and now is heavy into drug to cover her depression of having to sleep with many guys, who are old enough to be her grandpa. Not to mention the drugs help her stay awake until 2-4am.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here (http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/announcement-reportsofdistinction.php?) for more information.

NicFrenchy
05-28-09, 02:01
Before you get info any taxi make sure to get a look at the taxi number this will help you to file a report later with the tourist police.

Yes, and the Tourist police is so helpful they will help you "file" your Claim in the garbage bin.

NicFrenchy
05-28-09, 02:06
The girls start using drugs after they work in the bars for a while ( 4+ months). Here's a summary of what happens

1. a young Thai girl from a poor uneducated family either dumps her loser Thai BF or gets dumped.

2. She talks to her family about what she could do next to get over her ex and make some money. Parents/relatives/neighbors recommend going to Bangkok to find a job in a company/factory/shop.

3. She comes to Bangkok and does work in one of the above-mentioned for a week or so and decides that it's too much work / the boss is too mean / she has no friends to talk to.

4. She will phone back to the person that initial told her to come. And that person will recommend she either go work in a massage palor / Nana / Soi cowboy / Pat Pong / Pattaya. (This depends solely on the person who is "in the know" previous experience or work history)

5. She will far in love with a foriegn customer within 2-4 months. This customer will take her away to spend time with him at high end resorts, islands, go swimming in crystal clear beachs, etc. (stuff that she's never done before). Ideas of this contining forever fills her mind. Her "lover" returns home to go back to work, but makes promises to send money to her / marry her / bring her to his country / etc. In many cases, she will receive payments for a few months and not work because her "sponsor / lover" checks on her at odd hours, video chat with her during her working hours, has his buddies look after her, etc.

6. She will get bored of this easy arrangment after about 2 months and will go to discos, pub, and go-go bars for girls (Handsome looking Thai guys dancing on poles, who can be bar fined, just like Nana) with some of her girl-buddies from the bar after they get off from work. She will start to drink and "try" some drugs to be "cool" and not lose face.

7. She will get addicited and her allowance from the sponsor will not be enough to cover her drug use, partying, and paying for handsome Thai guys to stuff her.

8. Meanwhile her sponsor will catch wind of this and stop sending payments.

9. She is back in the bar full time and now is heavy into drug to cover her depression of having to sleep with many guys, who are old enough to be her grandpa. Not to mention the drugs help her stay awake until 2-4am.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here (http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/announcement-reportsofdistinction.php?) for more information.

Very well written. Thanks for the report.

LittleBigMan
05-28-09, 04:34
AndyBkk,

This could be the case anywhere in the world not only Thailand. Personally only the weak minded and a weak welled individual that allows others to advise them and lead them, do drugs come into play to escape reality. This is a very narrow generalization!

Personally growing up I had school friends that die in their late teens early 20's from drugs. Some were surprisingly smart and some were just plain stupid but in the end all had to be in gangs, clubs, or whatever you like to call them and were lead around and told what to do like dogs. Whatever their problems in life, home life, school life, or having to sell themselves to others if you aren't strong mentially it wouldn't be surprising that sooner or later drugs will end up controlling their lives this was no different with those in the big house too.

LBM

AndyBKK
06-01-09, 22:03
The Natives: The term facade comes to mind. Everyone is looking at the outward facade of other people. And more often than not the Natives will give you a fake facade. Advice: Trust no one , and don't loan out your money for any reason.

The food: If you don't like it spicy make sure to stand by the cook because if you tell them "mai pei" ( not spicy) 10 times, instead of the normal 7 peppers they will put in 2 peppers, which is enough to burn a hole in your stomach sometimes. Advice: work your way in the kitchen and stand by the cook while pretending to either take picture for a travel site to promote their restaurant or chit chat. Make sure to stop the cook from adding the peppers.

No toilet paper: The Thais do not use toilet papers, instead they stray their shit strained butt holes with water. Advice: look for a water hose near the toilet. At first I thought that it would not clean the region, but it does a better job then toliet paper and greener.

Other non-Thais: There are many shady characters here. I have on many occasions run into white dirty bags who bragged about conning other non-Thais. they come in all shaping and sizes, and they promote all type of BS and BS products . Advice: Avoid listening to their sales pitch and move on, treat them no differently than a tuk tuk driver. Note:No offense to anyone on this forum, mostly referring to the farangs that live in Thailand.

Mosquitoes: I have seen people come down with malaria in Bangkok and have heard of people dying from it. Advice: Go to a travel clinic and get the anti-malaria meds. Also buy a repellent at 7-eleven and use it every time you go outside.

Bad service or girls lying- Since go go bars only give 2 days holidays per month, a lot of girls are working while on their period. Advice:If you paid the bar fine and upon further inspection you find out that your new "friend" is on the rag. Take her back and demand a refund. All of the bars in Nana will refund your bar fine money. 600B is close to $20usd, so no joke.

lady drinks- A lady drink can cost 160B ( $4usd) and can add up if you hang out for a long time. If you like a girl and know that you will bar fine her, then do so rather than lounge around in her bar. You can party with her at a different location if you like. Advice:Whisper in her ear that you will give her "big tip" but no lady drink. A former go go bar girl told me this trick.

No ping pong balls- it cost 20B for 1 ball and the girl only get 10B. I was told it is better to break a 100B bill into small 20B bills and toss that! this way the girls will get the whole amount.

Go go bars and all night time establishments will cheat you- they have tried this on me, but I am a sober drunk. :) . Advice: Make sure to pay your drinks as you order them. this way they can not cheat you, at least by a lot.


Bargirls love- Often the girls will not warm up to you on the first encounter, and thus not getting off during sex with you. If you are here for a while try bar fining her a second or third time, this will lead to a sense of familiarity which can lead to a rather eventful sexual encounter. I have a so so finish encounter, but after the 2nd and 3rd time. They sleep with me for free now and swallow my cum. :)

"Farang"- is not a bad word or a derogatory word in the Thai language. they use this word for many fruits and objects that were brought over from overseas. I hear it almost everyday. It basically mean foreign. The Thai have a very tough time saying "tourist" for some reason. One girl I try to teach her is word and she kept saying toilet. So farang to the Thai is like saying tourist. Also during recent discussion with a young (19) and hot Issan girl, she told me a fortune teller told her to come to Bangkok where she will meet a "farang" who will marry her. With a smile she told me that her mom told the fortune teller if that turn out to be turn than she ( the mom) will give the fortune teller a car ( purchased using the farang's money). As you can see in this context the word farang has a very positive connotation.

Other advices

Don't wai the staff and/or the girls at the bars-Wai is only for service people to customer. not the other way around. And definitely not the girls. Everyone will think you're a complete moron.

Don't dance on stage- You might get a good laugh from the customers, but the girls, who are working or dancing will not like it very much. You're stealing the customers' attention!

Don't take of your shirt, pants, and underwear- That is plain gross. There's a few gay bars in Patpong you can go to!

I live here for a while and have "researched" many aspects of Thai life, so trust me with the above-mentioned.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here (http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/announcement-reportsofdistinction.php?) for more information.

Nocal
06-02-09, 11:23
The Natives: The term facade comes to mind. Everyone is looking at the outward facade of other people. And more often than not the Natives will give you a fake facade. Advice: Trust no one , and don't loan out your money for any reason.

The food: If you don't like it spicy make sure to stand by the cook because if you tell them "mai pei" ( not spicy) 10 times, instead of the normal 7 peppers they will put in 2 peppers, which is enough to burn a hole in your stomach sometimes. Advice: work your way in the kitchen and stand by the cook while pretending to either take picture for a travel site to promote their restaurant or chit chat. Make sure to stop the cook from adding the peppers.

No toilet paper: The Thais do not use toilet papers, instead they stray their shit strained butt holes with water. Advice: look for a water hose near the toilet. At first I thought that it would not clean the region, but it does a better job then toliet paper and greener.

Other non-Thais: There are many shady characters here. I have on many occasions run into white dirty bags who bragged about conning other non-Thais. they come in all shaping and sizes, and they promote all type of BS and BS products . Advice: Avoid listening to their sales pitch and move on, treat them no differently than a tuk tuk driver. Note:No offense to anyone on this forum, mostly referring to the farangs that live in Thailand.

Mosquitoes: I have seen people come down with malaria in Bangkok and have heard of people dying from it. Advice: Go to a travel clinic and get the anti-malaria meds. Also buy a repellent at 7-eleven and use it every time you go outside.

Bad service or girls lying- Since go go bars only give 2 days holidays per month, a lot of girls are working while on their period. Advice:If you paid the bar fine and upon further inspection you find out that your new "friend" is on the rag. Take her back and demand a refund. All of the bars in Nana will refund your bar fine money. 600B is close to $20usd, so no joke.

lady drinks- A lady drink can cost 160B ( $4usd) and can add up if you hang out for a long time. If you like a girl and know that you will bar fine her, then do so rather than lounge around in her bar. You can party with her at a different location if you like. Advice:Whisper in her ear that you will give her "big tip" but no lady drink. A former go go bar girl told me this trick.

No ping pong balls- it cost 20B for 1 ball and the girl only get 10B. I was told it is better to break a 100B bill into small 20B bills and toss that! this way the girls will get the whole amount.

Go go bars and all night time establishments will cheat you- they have tried this on me, but I am a sober drunk. :) . Advice: Make sure to pay your drinks as you order them. this way they can not cheat you, at least by a lot.


Bargirls love- Often the girls will not warm up to you on the first encounter, and thus not getting off during sex with you. If you are here for a while try bar fining her a second or third time, this will lead to a sense of familiarity which can lead to a rather eventful sexual encounter. I have a so so finish encounter, but after the 2nd and 3rd time. They sleep with me for free now and swallow my cum. :)

"Farang"- is not a bad word or a derogatory word in the Thai language. they use this word for many fruits and objects that were brought over from overseas. I hear it almost everyday. It basically mean foreign. The Thai have a very tough time saying "tourist" for some reason. One girl I try to teach her is word and she kept saying toilet. So farang to the Thai is like saying tourist. Also during recent discussion with a young (19) and hot Issan girl, she told me a fortune teller told her to come to Bangkok where she will meet a "farang" who will marry her. With a smile she told me that her mom told the fortune teller if that turn out to be turn than she ( the mom) will give the fortune teller a car ( purchased using the farang's money). As you can see in this context the word farang has a very positive connotation.

Other advices

Don't wai the staff and/or the girls at the bars-Wai is only for service people to customer. not the other way around. And definitely not the girls. Everyone will think you're a complete moron.

Don't dance on stage- You might get a good laugh from the customers, but the girls, who are working or dancing will not like it very much. You're stealing the customers' attention!

Don't take of your shirt, pants, and underwear- That is plain gross. There's a few gay bars in Patpong you can go to!

I live here for a while and have "researched" many aspects of Thai life, so trust me with the above-mentioned.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here (http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/announcement-reportsofdistinction.php?) for more information.Nice job Andy. Accurate and well written.

Old Thai Hand
06-03-09, 01:34
nice job andy. accurate and well written.

more or less, although quite simplistic and very narrow in its focus. good enough advice, i guess for the two-week sex tourist, though.

except, the term farang in most cases does have a negative connotation, sometimes severe and is a way for thais to keep us separate and put us down. in particular, you have to listen to how the thais say it and in what context. bargirls will use the isaan "muk sida" or "bug sida" (guava in 2 isaan dialects) either alone or with farang as in 'bug sida farang'.

"farang ta nam khao" (literally, rice-milk-colored iris) is an insult. "farang khee nok" (literally farang bird shit) is an insult meaning you're dirty, dress badly, act badly, are cheap and poor - usually used when referring to back-packers and just about any farang around nana and in pattaya.

if you challenge thais on it, because one of the several correct terms for foreigner (which none of them use) is actually 'khon dtaang chad", they will likely back down and appologize. "farang" is slang. its origins are debated. but two of the most widely accepted ones are that it either comes from ancient greek and parsi (faranghii) and literally means 'barbarian', or it comes from the thai corruption of "francais", "farangset" meaning french. in either case, it's very negative because, in the case of the latter, the french were seen as evil because they attempted to conquer siam in the 16th century and raped and pillaged in various places.

morons who attempt to ingratiate themselves to the thais by referring to themselves as "farang" are merely perpetuating the sterotype. you might as well call yourself an asshole or dirtbag. it's the same difference.

i hate being called "farang" and will make it clear to thais, when they use it in particularly nasty ways, that i understand the underlying meaning and ask if they'd like me to call them a "kwai" (buffalo, but meaning stupid), or "bugsider" (meaning innocent in isaan, but simpleton or idiot in thai) or the worst "hee-aa" (monitor lizard. but one of the worst insults you can hurl at a thai).

1Ball
06-03-09, 02:55
This is very interesting reading. Though I have to say if I had never been to Thaialnd, I might run for the hills. All in all, a fascinating introspective from some of our long term residents.

Thanks. Keep it coming.

AndyBKK
06-03-09, 04:01
Thanks. Keep it coming.Thanks, Old Thai Hand, for the language lesson. I have been trying to get my Thai girl to teach some of the bad words, but she refuse to because she will be afraid that I will use it when I am out.

In reply to your post, I would agreed with you based because the same goes with the word " black" when referring to our African- American brothers. I have many friends who are black and have no problem calling them black. But my experience is that they do get upset with people use that term negative or in a stereotypical way.

When referring to white people the Thai say "farang" in the same manner that white people call black people black and not use the term African American. So all I am stating is not to make a big deal out it. The word "farang" when referring to white people is not the same as calling a black person the "N" word.

If you do live here for a while. The Thais will start to address by your name and not as a white person. If you teach here your students will call you "ajarn" so and so.

And yes, if you actions make you out to me a dirty bag then the Thai will refer about you by your name and still talk shit about you.

Old Thai Hand
06-03-09, 08:28
If you do live here for a while. The Thais will start to address by your name and not as a white person. If you teach here your students will call you "ajarn" so and so.

And yes, if you actions make you out to me a dirty bag then the Thai will refer about you by your name and still talk shit about you.

Well, I've had official memos from the university addressed to: "All Ajarn Farang" and a group of us were actually introduced this way at an open house for new students and parents. It was clearly designed to separate us out from the "real", and more important Thai faculty. Can you imagine at an American university some dean saying, "We'd like to introduce first, the Caucasian faculty and then, all the African-American faculty"? Can anybody say, ACLU and NAACP?

On the first day of my last job, I was waiting at the photocopy office and a Thai faculty member walked by and said in Thai to the copy girl, "Be careful. We have Farang here, now." I realize that this may sound innocuous. But, the underlying implication is that we are somehow less-than-human. I turned to the Thai faculty member and snapped back in Thai, "Don't worry. I'm not dangerous". Needless-to-say, she was embarrassed, realizing that I had understood her.

One other thing that I find disingenuous are those "I (heart) Farang" signs on taxis. It's patronizing and condescending. What are we, puppies? Not to mention that, in fact most taxi drivers don't (heart) Farang", at all.

Opebo
06-03-09, 10:16
I couldn't agree more with OTH about the term farang. Obviously I defer to his language ability, but in my own experience the term has usually had a negative connotation.

I wonder if it would be acceptable to refer in Thai to 'farang' and to oneself as 'khun cee caiow', which I believe means 'Mr. White' or 'White person'?

I suppose this line of disscussion does belong in the 'racism against foreigners' thread, but let me just add that even though I do get a few negative comments, by far and away I benefit from Thai racism and classism. For example I make double what Thais make for similar work. And here in the upcountry I'm generally undercharged or not charged at all for things, and I think only once or twice has anyone tried to overcharge me.

One funny story - I like to take my mending to an adorable 50ish lady down the soi. You know the sort of lady who sets up under an awning with her 30 year old sewing machine. Well, this lady sometimes refuses payment for very small jobs! She charges around 30 baht to hem pantaloons, but she sews buttons on for free if you have a button (not that I keep buttons around, but you know how some shirts have extra buttons provided at the bottom of the placket).

Charming lady? I think so.

Thaifun
06-03-09, 11:04
if you challenge thais on it, because one of the several correct terms for foreigner (which none of them use) is actually 'khon dtaang chad", they will likely back down and appologize. "farang" is slang. its origins are debated. but two of the most widely accepted ones are that it either comes from ancient greek and parsi (faranghii) and literally means 'barbarian', or it comes from the thai corruption of "francais", "farangset" meaning french. in either case, it's very negative because, in the case of the latter, the french were seen as evil because they attempted to conquer siam in the 16th century and raped and pillaged in various places.

the word farang comes from the middle east. in the middle ages all westerners (crusaders) were franks. farang or fereng (arab alphabet gives only consonants). for example: syphilis was known as ferengi sickness as being imported by them.
the indian ocean trading network linked thailand with the me and thus they took over the term from the lingua franca of this network.

so farang means actually frank = french.

Bumholes1
06-03-09, 11:36
When I hear someone referring to me as "farang". I usually stop them in their tracks and remind them that as they are "Khon Thai" then I am "Khon Farang"

Introduces a semblance of politeness

But if they refuse, and bearing in mind that I live in lower Isaan, near the Cambodian border, I normally respond with "Kmer pood mai dee!" That invariably shuts them up.

AndyBKK
06-03-09, 19:21
No the farang know how the blacks feel when you call them black, right? You have to realized that it took the blacks how long to get equality in America and that was with them being born there with parents and grand parents being born there. On top of that they speak perfect English and are not there to fuck all of the white girls.

You can not go to a foreign country some thousands of miles away on the other side of the planet and not expect to be treat like an alien from another planet. On top of this most, not all, but most farangs come to Thai to do what. Fuck Thai girls first and teach English second. How would like like it if the Thai made 10 times more money than you (Americans and Brits) and go to your country and fuck and marry all of the hot white girls, leaving you to be so depress that you have to drink cheap whiskey to get over it.

Hello! Thailand is two faced. One face is the "we welcome tourists" face and the other one is "we only want your money you can leave your stupid ass at home" face. Too bad there is no way to have the Thai girls beam to your bedroom after payment that way you will never have to hear the super derogatory word " farang" spoken.

So what I am trying to get at is that the Thai society as a whole think lowly of white male tourist and expats. This might be the results of decades of "farang" invasion of Thai pussy. So they will use the term "white foreigner" which when spoken in their native comes out as "farang" and talk shit about you.

And sorry there's nothing you can do about it because the Thais love to talk shit about other people. They call each other "gay buffalo" and "fucking ducks" all the time.

So the nice time you hear the word "farang" spoken by a Thai regardless of the context, think about the number of little Thai pussies (and asses) that have been stuffed and is being stuff at this every moment by "farang" dicks and smile and brush it off.

M P Lurker
06-03-09, 19:33
When I hear someone referring to me as "farang". I usually stop them in their tracks and remind them that as they are "Khon Thai" then I am "Khon Farang"

Introduces a semblance of politeness

But if they refuse, and bearing in mind that I live in lower Isaan, near the Cambodian border, I normally respond with "Kmer pood mai dee!" That invariably shuts them up.It turns you on telling Thai people what to do and being a smart bumhole?

"Farang" is sort of slang (more formal would be Khon Taang Chaat)

As you are clearly not a Guava (also called Farang) then "Farang" only is O.K. Khon Farang is not really used.

Khon Thai (Thai person) is used instead of just Thai since Thai is an adjective. Could be a country a food or anything Thai.

Also Khon Farangseyt (a French person)

As a Farang, I have no problem being known as a Farang by people who won't know (or care) the country I'm from.

Member #3428
06-03-09, 22:41
It turns you on telling Thai people what to do and being a smart bumhole?......... As a Farang, I have no problem being known as a Farang by people who won't know (or care) the country I'm from.

I totally agree with you. Personally I don't see why folks get their panties all bunched up about because someone calls them a Farang. We are visitors in another country and we are their guests.

And these anal retentive people who object so much are usually the ones that look down upon and talk trash about the country folks anyways and want to stick to their high society types or pretend that they are superior. But it's funny because it seems like everyone of us gets screwed over by either a low end girl, a mid society girl or a high society girl, we all get screwed over at some point. So does it really matter so much what people who do not know you call you? Why would people even spend one second on worrying what others who you don't know call you.

In my country, I'm a half breed and our word for foreigner literally means "Piece of Shit" but it has been used for a long time and has been adapted into everyday culture and usage. And quite frankly Foreigners to our country are usually pieces of shit, from the ones that "Know it All" to the ones that assume they have some rights or title to be in the country and work and live.

I still work in four Asian Countries and I realize that this is the same attitude that a lot of these countries have. To many folks, from the poor to the folks with higher jobs who are afraid of losing them to outsiders, Foreigners are pieces of shit, to be tolerated for their economic benefit and skills only.

So why does it matter what others who don't know you call you? Are some folks so insecure and sensitive that folks need to spend long time correcting people instead of just smiling and moving on in life without caring what others think or say?

NicFrenchy
06-04-09, 02:01
It's funny, I was watching my Thai female staff yesterday and you can totally tell which ones have been porked and which ones have not.

One of the ladies came to the office with such a huge smile on her face that all her co-workers came around adn a chit-chat session ensued.
There, the Thais got to exerce their 2 favourite hobbies: Eating and yakking.

When I joined the party, one of the girls was quick to translate that the said girl finally have sex with her BF (whom she met a few days ago)...

Old Thai Hand
06-04-09, 04:55
So the nice time you hear the word "farang" spoken by a Thai regardless of the context, think about the number of little Thai pussies (and asses) that have been stuffed and is being stuff at this every moment by "farang" dicks and smile and brush it off.

Except that 99% of the "Thai" (more often than not, Isaan) pussies being stuffed by Farang are those that no self-respecting Thai would go near. So, it's not exactly a badge of honour to wear with pride. It actually adds to the lowly status of the majority of foreigners.

Old Thai Hand
06-04-09, 05:02
So why does it matter what others who don't know you call you? Are some folks so insecure and sensitive that folks need to spend long time correcting people instead of just smiling and moving on in life without caring what others think or say?Maybe it doesn't matter to the vast majority on here because they just come and go, and that's it.

But, how would you feel if you knew the person calling you a Farang, in an office meeting for example, speaking in Thai to other Thais about you, as if you weren't there?

If there are any African-Americans reading this discussion, how would you feel if you came here and Thais called you the "N" word?

same difference.

Old Thai Hand
06-04-09, 05:09
The word farang comes from the middle east. In the middle ages all westerners (crusaders) were franks. farang or fereng (arab alphabet gives only consonants). for example: Syphilis was known as ferengi sickness as being imported by them.
The Indian Ocean trading network linked thailand with the ME and thus they took over the term from the lingua franca of this network.

So farang means actually Frank = French.

You're sort of correct, if one believes this version. But, the arab source is actually far too late as an origin of the word. I subscribe to the Greeks being the earliest source (i.e. barbarian), which then was taken by Alexander to Persia, and adapted into Parsi (modern Farsi), then into arabic, across to Northern India and finally at some point into Siam. Remember that the Siamese likely never saw a European before the 15th century and prior to that would have only known of the "white man" from Muslim traders using a variation of Farenghii, Faranghii, Ferenghi, Parengi, Pereng etc.

Member #3428
06-04-09, 05:15
Maybe it doesn't matter to the vast majority on here because they just come and go, and that's it.

But, how would you feel if you knew the person calling you a Farang, in an office meeting for example, speaking in Thai to other Thais about you, as if you weren't there?

If there are any African-Americans reading this discussion, how would you feel if you came here and Thais called you the "N" word?

same difference.

I live it daily in my own country and when traveling for work so I am never far from it. You would think by now you would make light of it and go with it instead of battling something that is ingrained into the local culture. As you said they advertise it on their taxis and publish it promotional web sites and paperwork. Objecting to it and making a case out of it only increases the locals comments about you in a negative way. Your co-workers who you belittle by your reactions are sure to back stab you from now on. Instead of making a joke about it and laughing about their comments you confronted it only to make matters worse in the future. It is best to make light of it so they see you understand the language and meanings behind such terms and then it will lose the appeal and novelty for them to do this and it will stop over time.

Respect is earned not given away freely especially to foreigners. If my friends called me a derogatory name then I would be offended but then they would not be friends would they so why would it matter? When work mates refer to me in derogatory words it does not bother me as I know they are jealous and envious and I have thick skin and could care less about childish petty items like this.

When others who have nothing to do in my life call me by terms and sayings that are less then complimentary why would I care what they say? I have more important things to worry about then what strangers call me.

Diagonal
06-12-09, 04:40
I left South Europe, bored of listening people talking shit about others. I will left North Europe, soon, tired of people watching other as a shit. (or sexy., if you lucky)

In one mounth I will be in BKK to start a new work. And Thanks to you. I know I will find all together. At the end of the day maybe there are right. But the most extrenge is why thais, and us, don't think the same about ownself?

I will head of the kitchen, with about 8 thai staff. I had observe the thais catering workes, during my last holidays, humbles, conformists, happies, unlukies, resignes and sensibles.

However, since I read a bit of this threat I start to think I my be wrong. Anyone have an idea about what I will find in this laboral relaption?

PD. I will tell you where I will work. In case anyone want to try this new Restaurant.

Macheath
06-13-09, 11:30
One funny story - I like to take my mending to an adorable 50ish lady down the soi. You know the sort of lady who sets up under an awning with her 30 year old sewing machine. Well, this lady sometimes refuses payment for very small jobs! She charges around 30 baht to hem pantaloons, but she sews buttons on for free if you have a button (not that I keep buttons around, but you know how some shirts have extra buttons provided at the bottom of the placket).

Charming lady? I think so.I think I mostly read this stuff because of serious dearth of male company around here - especially if you don't guzzle beer and smoke. And then amidst the dross you occasionally find a gem and have to laugh out loud:

Opebo - You mostly have me convinced that you're an unreconstructed arsehole, and then come out with something like this. It's obvious you're a smart and funny guy, but pantaloons and plackets! Well fuck me sideways I am impressed!

Thanks for that, also an explanation of the origin of Opebo please if not too bleeding obvious?

Opebo
06-13-09, 15:13
Upon visiting Pattaya I have found that a favorite porn site of mine - porn hub dot com - has been blocked. It worked recently upcountry, but has not worked at any internet shop I've tried here. Other sites like redtube and youporn are still working.

Is this a nationwide censorship or just an action implemented through some local IP? Anyone else finding their sites blocked?

Barrella
06-17-09, 23:32
It's actually a word commonly used among many Thais I know. And they use it for blacks just like they use farang for whites. Same context, same inflection.The N word is not the super polite word used by Thai's all the time for people of African or Caribbean dissent. A more polite word or joking word is Sam lee สำลี cotton wool. I think it is a tong and cheek expression and not meant as a negative.

Street Fisher
06-18-09, 16:47
Mia (wife) Thai I met here in the USA. She's an old world Thai girl who treats me like a king. I love her dearly. She was married to the cousin of her sisters husband (farang). The man died of cancer a few years later. I met her after she greived for 4 yrs and 2 yrs later we married.

I was wondering what my travel restrictions in Thailand are, visa wise?

My wife is not a USA citizen (yet) and she still is a Thai citizen.

Can I own property? How long can I stay in Thailand without visa, or if I get a visa how long?

Run Mann
06-18-09, 21:16
Mia (wife) Thai I met here in the USA. She's an old world Thai girl who treats me like a king. I love her dearly. She was married to the cousin of her sisters husband (farang). The man died of cancer a few years later. I met her after she greived for 4 yrs and 2 yrs later we married.

I was wondering what my travel restrictions in Thailand are, visa wise?

My wife is not a USA citizen (yet) and she still is a Thai citizen.

Can I own property? How long can I stay in Thailand without visa, or if I get a visa how long?Did you ask your wife these questions? As an "old world Thai girl" she is bound to know the answers or where to find them.

PinkPearl
06-18-09, 21:41
Upon visiting Pattaya I have found that a favorite porn site of mine. Porn hub dot com. Has been blocked. It worked recently upcountry, but has not worked at any internet shop I've tried here. Other sites like redtube and youporn are still working.

Is this a nationwide censorship or just an action implemented through some local IP? Anyone else finding their sites blocked? If I were in Thailand now I could check to see the status of porn hub, but I am not.

I found some sports gambling and escort forums blocked. At times a site was accessible through one internet shop while it was not available at another shop down the street.

Do you have no concern that the cops might track you and take action against you for doing something illegal in LOS?

Bumholes1
06-18-09, 22:09
Mia (wife) Thai I met here in the USA. She's an old world Thai girl who treats me like a king. I love her dearly. She was married to the cousin of her sisters husband (farang). The man died of cancer a few years later. I met her after she greived for 4 yrs and 2 yrs later we married.

I was wondering what my travel restrictions in Thailand are, visa wise?

My wife is not a USA citizen (yet) and she still is a Thai citizen.

Can I own property? How long can I stay in Thailand without visa, or if I get a visa how long?

Same as everybody else mate. Why should you have special priveliges because you met your wife in the US of A? Your wife is still Thai, she can buy property, and do what all Thais can do. Like the rest of us you have little or no rights and can do bugger all!

Street Fisher
06-19-09, 18:48
Same as everybody else mate. Why should you have special priveliges because you met your wife in the US of A? Your wife is still Thai, she can buy property, and do what all Thais can do. Like the rest of us you have little or no rights and can do bugger all!The reason I ask is she has not lived in Thailand for 10yrs now. Alot of what she is told by her friends is BS or just plain wrong.

Why cant I live in Thailand full time if my wife is a citizen?

I know I cant buy property but she tells me it can be willed to me (she a healthy thing theres now way Ill outlive her). Im not worried about those things just curious.

I do want to live there when we can finally afford to do so.

We will also have an official wedding in Thailand for her family to celebrate.

Street Fisher
06-19-09, 18:59
Why should you have special priveliges because you met your wife in the US of A? Because irregardless of where I'm from (which you seem to have a problem with) I'm married to a Thai woman. Most places on this earth when you marry someone from another country you via marriage have most or all of the rights in that country.

Opebo
06-19-09, 22:04
Do you have no concern that the cops might track you and take action against you for doing something illegal in LOS?Um.. are you referring to looking at porn sites or something else? Because both renting prostitutes and looking at porn are illegal in Thailand, but not really heavily enforced as yet.

Member #3428
06-20-09, 05:13
Because irregardless of where I'm from (which you seem to have a problem with) I'm married to a Thai woman. Most places on this earth when you marry someone from another country you via marriage have most or all of the rights in that country.

Um... I'm not sure what MOST PLACES ON THIS EARTH qualify as however in most places that I know about if you marry someone of a different nationality you do not get hardly any rights except entry into the country on a type of Spousal Visa (and sometimes only after extensive medical and criminal background checks). Not talking thai specific.

In most places on the earth that I know (and I work and travel and deal with economic development so I deal with foreigners all over the Pacific and Asia) the foreigner has to put their property and such into the name of the local citizen and such the reason many Foreigners marry a local, so they can put businesses into their names and land in their name. Unfortunately... she / he can take everything and boot you out easily. Same in my country and every country in this region.

There are special rules for corporations / businesses and if you want to make yourself a corporation and do business and get permits to enter and live and such in countries that is a whole other story. And if you become a citizen of a country then you can have those rights but good luck with that issue in most countries. Good luck with any of these issues in Thailand.

Hope this helps ;)

Bumholes1
06-20-09, 05:37
Because irregardless of where I'm from (which you seem to have a problem with) I'm married to a Thai woman. Most places on this earth when you marry someone from another country you via marriage have most or all of the rights in that country.

My comment was not intended to be personal. However, my long experience here in Thailand has led me to see that some Americans here seem to think they should enjoy priveliges over and above other foreigners.

Tanzak has I think confirmed what I originally said. You can stay here if you can show sufficient funds, but don't expect much else

Opebo
06-21-09, 19:25
Why does almost every discussion here eventually end up in anti-American bashing? Really tiresome, but I suppose Americans are a traditional target of the kind of lame-brain Brits and embittered Europeans that Thailand attracts like flies. Heck, at least we know how to spell "privileges."

Just saying, out of "my long experience in Thailand."

I think that your reaction is perfect evidence of why it is so.

That said, there are very few of us here, compared to those from fully first-world countries. Very few from the Bad Place can actually afford to come to Thailand, and almost none recieve enough vacation time in any case.

The Pro
06-22-09, 04:34
Probably because most of you have no idea about history, and no respect for it.

Had it not been for the French and Spanish ships blockading the British the USA would never have become independant and would still be a British colony.

Do not forget the 4th of July is independance day, before that you were owned.

So, had it not been for the Europeans you would never have existed, had it not been for European intervention you would still be a British (European) colony.

And today, Britain and the EU are the largest investors in the USA. So without them you would have no economy or jobs or wealth today. In fact you are today still owned by a few very wealthy European families who control the USA.

So, perhaps these are some of the reasons that while you may think you are number one, the rest of the world simply lets you think that, while it treats you with contempt that the arrogance of that incorrect thinking deserves.

But hey, this is a mongering site, so should we not leave the politics behind and talk about mongering ?


Why does almost every discussion here eventually end up in anti-American bashing? Really tiresome, but I suppose Americans are a traditional target of the kind of lame-brain Brits and embittered Europeans that Thailand attracts like flies. Heck, at least we know how to spell "privileges."

Just saying, out of "my long experience in Thailand."

Nocal
06-23-09, 06:53
Probably because most of you have no idea about history, and no respect for it.

Had it not been for the French and Spanish ships blockading the British the USA would never have become independant and would still be a British colony.

Do not forget the 4th of July is independance day, before that you were owned.

So, had it not been for the Europeans you would never have existed, had it not been for European intervention you would still be a British (European) colony.

And today, Britain and the EU are the largest investors in the USA. So without them you would have no economy or jobs or wealth today. In fact you are today still owned by a few very wealthy European families who control the USA.

So, perhaps these are some of the reasons that while you may think you are number one, the rest of the world simply lets you think that, while it treats you with contempt that the arrogance of that incorrect thinking deserves.

But hey, this is a mongering site, so should we not leave the politics behind and talk about mongering ?Two way street w/US and EU. US is responsible for almost 2/3rds of Foreign investment in EU, so jobs and the economy there would not exist without that investment according to your thinking ?

And where would Europe be without American intervention say 60 or so years ago? These arguements are pointless.

EVERY country has their belmishes, and thus could be bashed at will.

LittleBigMan
07-16-09, 08:56
Just kicking back today with a Bangkok post in hand and there was a piece about education which is pretty much what other members teaching in Thailand through the years expressed.

"The Thai educational system, which has failed and deterriorated over the years, hasn't been real education at all. It's been an attempt at remembering textbooks, and competition for grades and diplomas " by Arthit Ourairat, President of Rangsit University.

LBM

DirkDingy
07-18-09, 09:21
Hi,

My Russian girl is starting to get bored in BKK so I wanted to put her into an MBA program. I found Wagner and Assumption. Are these the two best programs for international students to attend? She wants to increase her English language ability.

Also, are there any MA programs in interior design in BKK that a foreign student could attend that would not be a total waste of time?

Thanks. I want her to go full time and not just on the weekends.

Lover Boy #2
07-20-09, 07:42
Same as everybody else mate. Why should you have special priveliges because you met your wife in the US of A? Your wife is still Thai, she can buy property, and do what all Thais can do. Like the rest of us you have little or no rights and can do bugger all!I don't think you are right on this. It seems Americans have special privileges with Thailand due to the Treaty of Amity between the USA and Thailand. I am not affected by this.....but Americans do have some special privileges in Thailand. One privilege is the ownership of a corp. without Thai intervention in the company. You have to look this up to get all the details.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.-Thai_Treaty_of_Amity

SE Asia Joe
07-22-09, 13:51
A friend of mine just sent me this to read.

I hope that the link inbedded in the article does not violate any forum rules -
SEAJ


By Jonathan Head
BBC News, Bangkok

Bangkok's showcase new international airport is no stranger to controversy.

Built between 2002 and 2006, under the governments of then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the opening date was repeatedly delayed.

It has been dogged by allegations of corruption, as well as criticism of the design and poor quality of construction.

Then, at the end of last year, the airport was shut down for a week after being occupied by anti-government protesters.

Now new allegations have been made that a number of passengers are being detained every month in the duty free area on suspicion of shoplifting, and then held by the police until they pay large sums of money to buy their freedom.

That is what happened to Stephen Ingram and Xi Lin, two IT experts from Cambridge, as they were about to board their flight to London on the night of 25 April this year.

They had been browsing in the duty free shop at the airport, and were later approached by security guards, who twice asked to search their bags.

They were told a wallet had gone missing, and that Ms Lin had been seen on a security camera taking it out of the shop.

The company that owns the duty free shop, King Power, has since put the CCTV video on its website, which does appear to show her putting something in her bag. However the security guards found no wallet on either of them.

Despite that, they were both taken from the departure gate, back through immigration, and held in an airport police office. That is when their ordeal started to become frightening.

Interpreter

"We were questioned in separate rooms," Mr Ingram said. "We felt really intimidated. They went through our bags and demanded that we tell them where the wallet was."

The two were then put in what Mr Ingram describes as a "hot, humid, smelly cell with graffiti and blood on the walls".

Mr Ingram managed to phone a Foreign Office helpline he found in a travel guide, and was told someone in the Bangkok embassy would try to help them.

The next morning the two were given an interpreter, a Sri Lankan national called Tony, who works part-time for the police.

They were taken by Tony to meet the local police commander - but, says Mr Ingram, for three hours all they discussed was how much money they would have to pay to get out.

They were told the charge was very serious. If they did not pay, they would be transferred to the infamous Bangkok Hilton prison, and would have to wait two months for their case to be processed.

Mr Ingram says they wanted £7,500 ($12,250) - for that the police would try to get him back to the UK in time for his mother's funeral on 28 April.

But he could not arrange to get that much money transferred in time.

'Zig-zag' scheme

Tony then took them to an ATM machine at the police station, and told Ms Lin to withdraw as much as she could from her own account - £600 - and Mr Ingram then withdrew the equivalent of £3,400 from his account.

This was apparently handed over to the police as "bail", and they were both made to sign a number of papers.

Later they were allowed to move to a squalid hotel within the airport perimeter, but their passports were held and they were warned not to leave or try to contact a lawyer or their embassy.

"I will be watching you," Tony told them, adding that they would have to stay there until the £7,500 was transferred into Tony's account.

On the Monday they managed to sneak out and get a taxi to Bangkok, and met an official at the British Embassy.

She gave the name of a Thai lawyer, and, says Mr Ingram, told them they were being subjected to a classic Thai scam called the "zig-zag".

Their lawyer urged them to expose Tony - but also warned them that if they fought the case it could take months, and they risked a long prison sentence.

After five days the money was transferred to Tony's account, and they were allowed to leave.

Mr Ingram had missed his mother's funeral, but at least they were given a court document stating that there was insufficient evidence against them, and no charge.

"It was a harrowing, stressful experience," he said.

The couple say they now want to take legal action to recover their money.

'Typical' scam

The BBC has spoken to Tony and the regional police commander, Colonel Teeradej Phanuphan.

They both say Tony was merely helping the couple with translation, and raising bail to keep them out of prison.

Tony says about half the £7,500 was for bail, while the rest were "fees" for the bail, for his work, and for a lawyer he says he consulted on their behalf.

In theory, he says, they could try to get the bail portion refunded.

Colonel Teeradej says he will investigate any possible irregularities in their treatment. But he said any arrangement between the couple and Tony was a private affair, which did not involve the police.

Letters of complaint to the papers here in Thailand make it clear that passengers are regularly detained at the airport for alleged shoplifting, and then made to pay middlemen to win their freedom.

The Danish Embassy says one of its nationals was recently subjected to a very similar scam, and earlier this month an Irish scientist managed to flee Thailand with her husband and one year-old son after being arrested at the airport and accused of stealing an eyeliner worth around £17.

Tony told the BBC that so far this year he has "helped" about 150 foreigners in trouble with the police. He says sometimes he does it for no charge.

The British Embassy has also warned passengers at Bangkok Airport to take care not to move items around in the duty free shopping area before paying for them, as this could result in arrest and imprisonment.

Have you used Bangkok's main airport recently? Do you have any stories to tell about how you were treated there? Send us your comments:

A similar system operates in Cambodia. Police arrest foreigners in the street and you are contacted by someone who claims to have influence with the police and judges and who asks for large sums for your immediate release, which doesn't happen. I was even told at my friend's trial that the police would provide witnesses of my friend's offence if more money was not immediately provided. Even though there was no evidence against him and he was acquitted, a large sum had to be paid to the prison authorities for his release. John Smith, Doncaster, England

Two friends and I travelled to Bangkok 29 December 2008. We were really worried about the situation there, as the airport had just been closed for some time several weeks before. Aside being quite harassed by taxi drivers who wanted to take us to hotels they no doubt received commission from, the experience wasn't very trying at all. Connor, Chicago, IL, USA

Another scam at Bangkok Airport is when the Thai customs meet passengers off airplanes from Dubai/Qatar where there is cheap duty free. The customs tell passengers to put duty free items inside their check-in luggage when they take it off the carousel - or they will be prosecuted for smuggling. They then tell people that it will be OK not to show or declare any duty free items. When the passengers reach the arrivals area, the customs pounce and you are arrested and taken to customs head office at BANG NA and told to pay four times the duty or go straight to jail. There is an ATM machine next door to the customs office. Your goods are kept by the officers and they then pocket the money you have paid them and you are free to go without any criminal record. Paul Grant, London, UK

Same happened to me in April this year. The police arrested me and charged me approx £400. There were 5 of us in our group, we purchased 1000 cigarettes at Heathrow, but on leaving the plane at Bangkok the police approached me and told me to keep them in one bag. I did as I was told, and that was the set up, so when I got through customs with the other four people they arrested me and would not accept what we told them. They took copies of my passport and made me sign at least six documents, all in Thai. They would not give me copies so at this moment I don't know what I signed. They escorted me to an ATM. I have been in touch with the British consulate who asked me if I want to make a complaint but I don't want to go to another country and find they have done something to my passport. I will never return to Thailand again, it was the scariest time of my life. Lynn Ward, UK

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/8154497.stm

Published: 2009/07/20 00:01:41 GMT

© BBC MMIX

Redfield10
07-23-09, 07:14
"And today, Britain and the EU are the largest investors in the USA. So without them you would have no economy or jobs or wealth today."

No economy or jobs or wealth? I guess you would have rather have had Hitler's grandkids ruling Europe today? There's a lot of dead Americans who died in Europe defending freedom. Don't forget that.

Here's a great one I read this morning in response to another American basher.

"JFK'S Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France in the early 60's when DeGaule decided to pull out of NATO. DeGaule said he wanted all US military out of France as soon as possible.

Rusk responded "does that include those who are buried here?

DeGuale did not respond."

Lifeingr
07-27-09, 19:19
We are out of topic but I have to reply on this:


"No economy or jobs or wealth? I guess you would have rather have had Hitler's grandkids ruling Europe today? There's a lot of dead Americans who died in Europe defending freedom. Don't forget that."I am not sure at all. The USA entered the WWII not to save Europe but to mainstream it's "Imperium". We never now what would have happened if the USA didn't enter the WWI. What we know is that they enter the WWII and they shaped the world the way they wanted it.

1Ball
07-27-09, 22:39
The USA entered the WWII not to save Europe but to mainstream it's "Imperium". We never now what would have happened if the USA didn't enter the WWI. What we know is that they enter the WWII and they shaped the world the way they wanted it.
ROFLMAO.

My father was a teenager in occupied France. My mother was a teenager during the Blitz in England.

I have walked the beaches in Normandy, walked through the cemeteries dedicated to the fallen US soldiers. The only reason these cemeteries are so beautifully kept, is as a result of the US taxpayer. the French govt wants nothing to do with them.

I grew up in France, went to school there, speak French fluently, and was never taught anything about the British and US involvement. I was tought the French Resistance liberated France. Pretty funny huh.

I can speak from both sides of the fence on this one, and let me assure you, The only reason Western Europe speaks anything other than German today, is a direct result of Churchill, and FDR. De Gaulle? oh yes, he ran away to England.

I carry a British passport and I could have a French one. it expired several years ago, and did not renew it. The arrogance of the French public when it comes to the war is laughable at best. Pathetic is a better description. They deserve each other. Communist bastards.

Terry Terrier
07-27-09, 23:10
To quote Black Francis, singer/guitarist of seminal US guitar band Pixies: "Yellow headlights. That's the French for you!"

Gangles
08-01-09, 04:46
Apropos some of the comments here, this has been doing the rounds for a while now.

maybe it is appropriate.

G

Subject: Be Proud

At a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?'

A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck.

We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?'

You could have heard a pin drop.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies.. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries.

Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.

He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies , Kiwis and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'

You could have heard a pin drop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE...

Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane.
At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.
'You have been to France before, monsieur?' the customs officer asked sarcastically.
Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.

'Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.'
The American said, 'The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it.

'Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France!'

The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, 'Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find a single Frenchman to show a passport to.'

You could have heard a pin drop.


If you are proud to be American, British. Canadian, New Zealander or Australian pass this on!

If not, Delete it!

Gangles
08-01-09, 04:49
I have taken up teaching English for something interesting to do.

Recently, I have been offfered a job teaching English in a smallish city in north west Thailand, 20 hours per week, for 30,000 TBH per month.

Could I live on 30,000 per mo in rural Thailand?

What sort of lifestyle would it support?

Thanks in anticipation,

G

Dickhead
08-01-09, 05:05
Why would anyone be proud or ashamed to be of any certain nationality? It's an accident of birth and was beyond your control. Completely absurd. It's like being proud or ashamed of being left-handed, or gay, or straight, or white or black. Never has made any sense to me. Be proud of what you've accomplished, not what you inherited.

LittleBigMan
08-01-09, 06:19
Gangles,

I think you could do it... but others will mostly disagree with their own opinion. It depends where up North, in general, you might find a place to live with hot water and Aircon, for no more than 4000 baht per month. Depending how much pussy you need each day each week each month will determine how hard it is on 30,000 baht. In the end you have to think is it enough for the quality of life that you want and to keep busy so that you don't get bored. As with Thai and teaching in general 20 hours could turn into 40 hours and still only get paid same.

Dickhead,

yes you are corrent, its a accident of birth, but once we are born society teaching takes over our innocents and many loose sight of what they have learned and become narrow minded and forget to view the world and others opinions with a wider view or getting the big picture as I call it. As Gangles stories indicates.

LBM

Jeff46
08-01-09, 09:46
I have taken up teaching English for something interesting to do.

Recently, I have been offfered a job teaching English in a smallish city in north west Thailand, 20 hours per week, for 30,000 TBH per month.

Could I live on 30,000 per mo in rural Thailand?

What sort of lifestyle would it support?

Thanks in anticipation,

GSome input think like this. You have 500 baht per day. What you get for it. Leaving thai style. One noudle soupe morning or rice with something on Baht 3O meal noon Baht 50 diner 50 or 100 all thai style the cheapest. So one month Baht 6000.

Drink only water cost you Baht 500 one month.

A room no air condition Baht a small one 2500.

So you spend without moving 9000 a month

Now you ad all extra. A cool girl entertainment cloths. do not forget to save some money for urgent matters.

Ps you eat 10 time western food and beer cost you already 5000 a month.

My opinion yes 30,000 can do but only on 100% thai style living. Hard to stay on 100% thai style for us.

And then by the way here we find out Thailand isn't cheap anymore.

Amjeck
08-01-09, 19:16
My opinion yes 30,000 can do but only on 100% thai style living. Hard to stay on 100% thai style for us.


Yes, can be done living outside of bkk. If in bkk triple that number to live a decent life.

Lifeingr
08-02-09, 19:05
ROFLMAO.

The arrogance of the French public when it comes to the war is laughable at best. Pathetic is a better description. They deserve each other. Communist bastards.Yes it is, but I was not talking about France I was talking about USA. I do agree that France had no contribution to the WWII but this doesn't mean that USA entered the world in order to liberate Europe. It entered the word for its own interest (to dominate the World). And yes the French are arrogant on WWII issue and many others but it is the same with USA citizens in other matters.

A part of the WWII history that all Americans ignore is that Hitler lost mostly because of the debacle at the East Front. If the USA claims that saved Europe from Hitler then Russia (old CCCP) may claim the same. Hitler lost the WWII because as an insane dictator he wanted to rule the world. If he was "conservative" enough to stop his expansion by 1941 (before the invasion to the Soviet Union) things could have been totally different!

USA just entered the WWI when it was pretty sure that the Axis will be defeated.

Lifeingr
08-02-09, 19:12
Yes, can be done living outside of bkk. If in bkk triple that number to live a decent life.I do agree that it can be done. I know even people living in BKK with 50K a months but of course they do not rely on P4P they mostly try for free. If you talk about a small village then 30K could be enough for a moderate life but if you talk about a medium town then things could become more difficult if you want also P4P.

Westsider
08-04-09, 05:22
Besides the fear of false charges and extorsion, I found the pricing for both whiskey and perfume to be outrageiously high in BKK. In both cases, upon return to the USA, the price of each was lower than the BKK Duty.

Horatio
08-05-09, 20:53
Can I buy Tamiflu or Relenza from a pharmacy without any kind of prescription in Bangkol?

Thanks

Lexb
08-06-09, 05:56
Hate to sound cynical, but these murders happen all to frequently in the LOS.

calgaryherald.com/news/Slain+Cochrane+brother+seeking+justice+Thailand/1842923/story.html

This "equation" is getting really "old" in Thailand and is frought with stereotypes(unfortunately, IMO, many of these are accurate!) and "I told you sos"!

Just posting this in the hopes it will do some good!

Gangles
08-06-09, 15:56
Gentlemen,

Thank you for your information and advice.

I asked the question to get a true taste of cost of living.

In fact, I also have a fixed income of about 60,000, so I can live pretty well while still putting some away for emergencies.

Thanks again, invaluable.

G

Opebo
08-06-09, 18:56
Could I live on 30,000 per mo in rural Thailand?

What sort of lifestyle would it support?


Well in a small to medium size city the costs are like this:

Room(air/hotwater) - 2,800
food/drink - 9,000
Transport - 3,000
utilities - 1,200
misc. - 2,000
Total basics - 18,000

Add to that another say 4,000/month for taxes, visa expenses, etc., so you come to 22,000 without even any sex. I find that I spend about the same on prostitutes as I do on all other expenses - say a total monthly budget of 44,000. Obviously without the girls it would be a terribly boring life, but then so is life back in the Bad Place.

Member #1160
08-10-09, 12:24
Apropos some of the comments here, this has been doing the rounds for a while now.I heard a very similar version of the aircraft carrier story. I have seen a few up close and they are awesome.

A Canadian WW2 vet went to Holland as part of group honoring the anniversary of the liberation of Holland. As they were going through customs the old guy was fumbling for his passport. The customs official said "sir, you did not need your passport the first time you came to Holland and you don't need it now" I am not sure how true this is, since they should have had to stamp it etc, but these people were all in a group and probably most in uniform and I am sure expected and escorted, so I am inclined to believe it. I am pretty sure it was a news article where I read it, I tried to search but couldn't find it.

Either way I like the Dutch and love going to The Netherlands. I love seeing photos of the Canadian Parliament buildings surrounded by tulips. To this day the Dutch still send Tulips every year to the Canadian Government as a thank you for their part in the liberation of Holland. I've never been to France.

Sorry to go OT, but enjoyed those other posts.

As for budgets, I agree with what has been written, I spend about 40,000 a month when I am here in Chiang Mai.

Tauto08
08-25-09, 07:31
"My opinion yes 30,000 can do but only on 100% thai style living. Hard to stay on 100% thai style for us."

Thanks for that itemised account. I've thought of retiring in Thailand.

This gives me an idea of the money required for a decent life.

AndyBKK
08-26-09, 05:08
Food:Although food is very cheap here, most of the restaurants are below the average health standards of back home. So I like to cook my food at home.

You can get a kg of chicken breast at the neighborhood market for 70B. And the average entree contains 50Grams, so you can get 20 servings out of this.
Also vegs are super cheap here as compare to back home, so you can get creative.

If you're living on a budget learn to cook at home and learn to stop at the local markets verus the SuperMarkets. You will end up saving enough money for a little fun at least once a week.

Transportation: Mini vans are the best way to travel for going to save BKK to Pattaya. For example, you can catch the BTS to Victory Momument and from there catch a Mini to Pattaya for 150B per person. It's a lot quicker and less expense than going to either of the two bus station.

Drinking: You can do the old fashion college thing and just start drinking before you go out for the night. :)

I hope this helps. Fortunately, I am not on a budget, but starting to be starter where money is spent.

Opebo
08-27-09, 20:56
...here, most of the restaurants are below the average health standards of back home. So I like to cook my food at home...

I find the food 'cleaner' here than back home, in the sense that I'm never sick here, whereas I would occasionally get sick back in the US. The typical person working in a restaurant in the US is more oppressed and disaffected, and less motivated to make good food, than those in restaurants here.

But no doubt its more due to the processing and additives than anything about germs.


a Mini to Pattaya for 150B per person. It's a lot quicker and less expense than going to either of the two bus station.

Actually the big bus is about 113 to 121 baht per person, so its cheaper. And a heck of a lot more comfortable too - I hate those Toyota minivans.

LittleBigMan
08-30-09, 10:21
Opebo,

Prior to my retirement here I didn't really venture too much with my wife to the local market. But since that time I have... the hardest part is getting over what you actually see for the first time. Especially when you get there and it so hot and humid and after a good rain storm. The place is muddy and dirty! You see the food layed out on old wooden tables, some ventors sell food cooked and some uncooked, depending on the product you might see flies and bees all over what they are selling. Fish, vegetable and fruits are in abundance. Having many friends working for the Dept of Health, I have more than heard of food is suppose to be prepare and so forth.

Although there are fruits and vegetables very cheap compare to the big markets like Foodland, Carrefour, Big C, Lotus, I have read that countries like Thailand still uses many pesticiles that aren't allow by other western countries like the U.S. but you have to get over it! You can worry yourself and starve yourself to death. Believe or not many Thai's understand this so after all these years, we buy items from vendors we trust and have information about. In all the years like you I have never gotten sick and stop thinking about the food is going to kill me and just enjoy myself. Now like you it's not only cheap but delicious! Not much of a seafood person but when we buy we buy at the Naklua market in Pattaya, I use to buy scallops (8) in Tesco with 170 baht up, I can get 1K for the same price!

Once you get over the shock...its Aroy!

LBM

AndyBKK
08-31-09, 05:17
LBM,

I agree with you. It is amazing what the seafood prices run at the pier market as compare to the superstores. I was able to get 1kg of live crabs for 200B at the seafood market at the end of walking st. . I smiled as I walked pass the seafood restaurants that was charging 200B for 100Grams of the same ( 2000B for 1kg) . That is a 20 times mark up.

Opebo,

As for the mini vans. You have to figured in the taxi( 80B) of getting to the bus station versus taking the BTS to Victory Monument(40B) and the expense of getting to Walking St or your hotel once you get to pattaya bus station ( 20B). Whereas, the mini bus will take you straight to walking st. ( free)

I do agree that the mini bus would not be the best option for someone with a bigger build. Fortunately, I am of smaller build.