Living in Thailand

[Anderlu]

I have visited Chiang Mai several times, occasionally for longer spells. For three year I have considered buying a condo to live part of he year here. Whereas I enjoy a certain aspect of life in Thailand greatly, it would be nice to add a new dimension to this. I am trying to identify locations where older western expat men meet for a drink and a chat and possibly exploring the town in more detail. I have come across several places inside and outside the walls but have never ventured into conversation. I am thinking of buying a condo close to the Shangri La hotel.

[Scungo]

I am thinking of living in Thailand, if not permanently then at least 5 months out of the year. I am wondering what is the best place to go for my purposes. My checklist is:

1) Hot, but not too hot.

2) Mountainous, but not so as it is too difficult to walk (hopefully the elevation will make it cooler as well).

3) Quiet, but I can still get laid when the mood takes me.

4) Facilities, food, eating places not too far away.

I might also add:

5) Cheap.

Although if I choose to buy somewhere, I might pay more in order to get more rental income when I am not there.

Tricky, because everything is a trade-off.

I had my honeymoon in Chiang Mai and liked it there, though more in the mountains would be better. There may even be areas around Phuket that are reasonably mountainous.

[Pinaypounder]

Hi all,

I hope that I don't bore you but I am looking for a local business in Software or Software Development to partner with.

I have developed some amazing security safety apps and software that will work well here in BKK.

Please inbox me if you are interested or know of someone.

Thank you.

PP.

[Amavida]

There is too much institutionalized engagement with the USA, and the West in general, for there to be any concerns for expats in the Philippines and I would opine that the situation is MUCH more potentially volatile in Thailand than in the Philippines, with uncertainty and doubts about the royal succession plan and the simmering distaste that the North-east has for Bkk and its "rulers".

It would take a momentous shift in the center of gravity for anything to change for expats in the Philippines, and the current Philippines President, although immensely "popular" with the masses, does not have the eloquence or charisma to move the masses away from the USA.

The reality is that if Du30 were to disappear from view overnight, business here would continue as usual, because people are largely inert and prefer their comfort zones. I am not sure that this underlying stability exists in Thailand.

I am staying put where I am.

RK, the reality is, in fact, Duterte isn't going anywhere save a bullet or stroke.

He rode into power on a wave of nationalistic populism and continues to milk it for all he is worth. He has an arguably competent administration but under his demagogic style no one dares argue with him. His great booster and China envoy, former president Ramos, has quit in disgust and described Duterte's policies as quote: 'shit'. The rule of law remains suspended with state sanctioned murder and death squads still in effect. Duterte is courting his military and police assiduously and that, combined with his massive populism, means RP is very real danger of tipping over into a revolutionary government before the plebs realise what has hit them.

I'll take Thai politics and a higher standard of living over your alternative.

Regards & Best wishes.

AV.

[Red Kilt]

Right now expats are the least of concern and worry for the rulers. . .<SNIP> I have my doubts about things getting too far out of hand in Phils, . .<SNIP>

There is too much institutionalized engagement with the USA, and the West in general, for there to be any concerns for expats in the Philippines and I would opine that the situation is MUCH more potentially volatile in Thailand than in the Philippines, with uncertainty and doubts about the royal succession plan and the simmering distaste that the North-east has for Bkk and its "rulers".

It would take a momentous shift in the center of gravity for anything to change for expats in the Philippines, and the current Philippines President, although immensely "popular" with the masses, does not have the eloquence or charisma to move the masses away from the USA.

The reality is that if Du30 were to disappear from view overnight, business here would continue as usual, because people are largely inert and prefer their comfort zones. I am not sure that this underlying stability exists in Thailand.

I am staying put where I am.

[Amavida]

Hi,

There is so much bullshit frankly written about Thailand in the media, be it Thai or foreign.

The only people that know what's going on are the Privy Council, think of them as Thailand's star chamber, illuminati, or whatever, it's not a conspiracy theory it is a political fact.

They are the true power behind EVERYTHING (read between the lines here guys, certain things cannot be spoken of here).

Even they don't know the future but they are currently jockeying for the ultimate position.

If you want to know more, then forget BBC, CNN, RT, and all the other MSM that kowtow to the junta and go to:

Newmandala dot org www.newmandala.org if you are in Thailand and don't use a VPN (not Hola if you value your freedom!) then you most certainly will be blocked from this site.

This is a think tank run out of the very capable ANU Asian Studies faculty in Canberra, Australia.
It is the closest a monger will ever get to what goes on behind closed doors here,
and it would behoove all of you to at least understand the very hidden truth about this place.

Good luck to us all, we'll likely need it!

Thanks for sharing this. Always good to have different views as counterpoint to MSM.

AV.

[Asian Rain]

I agree with you that all sorts of hell is about to be unleashed economically.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ECi6WJpbzE

[GoodEnough]

Right now expats are the least of concern and worry for the rulers. Stunted royal succession, possible internal political unrest and super fragile economy are the main concerns. I have my doubts about things getting too far out of hand in Phils, but if you need a country to escape to, Thailand is an easy place to set up if you need a quick getaway.

The world is now coming due for the cyclical 10-year economic crisis and shearing of the meek masses, so I would be less concerned about what Hillary, Du30 and other political talking heads are up to. There is a much bigger play happening. Enjoy, AsianRain.

If the Philippines is any metaphor for the rest of the region, I'm not sure I agree. Recent developments here prove, if nothing else, that large segments of the local population are easily pursuaded to believe that, however ridiculous the contention, external threats--the US, Western Imperialism, the EU--are responsible for the country's current problems. Current Philippines politicians are succeeding beyond measure in absurd arguments holding the US (and the EU) culpable for the country's total failure to develop. I'm guessing that the same could happen in the Land of Smiles; external bogeymen are easier to create as a focus for collective frustration than are real solutions. Putin has built an entire career on that premise and enjoys an 86% approval rating from the population of his disastrous country.

I look forward to having some discussions next month in Bangkok with a few expats who have lived there for several years. I'd like to know if, as is the case here among some Westerners, they're growing increasingly uneasy about the longer-term.

GE.

[Oliver Kitsoff]

Right now expats are the least of concern and worry for the rulers. Stunted royal succession, possible internal political unrest and super fragile economy are the main concerns. I have my doubts about things getting too far out of hand in Phils, but if you need a country to escape to, Thailand is an easy place to set up if you need a quick getaway.

The world is now coming due for the cyclical 10-year economic crisis and shearing of the meek masses, so I would be less concerned about what Hillary, Du30 and other political talking heads are up to. There is a much bigger play happening. Enjoy, AsianRain.

I agree with you that all sorts of hell is about to be unleashed economically.

Once scoffed at by the MSM, Messrs. Schiff, Rogers, and 'Dr. Doom' incidentally, also a CM resident, and habitue of Loy Kroh Rd, more and more economists are predicting at the very least a correction, I think we face GFC 2. 0 without the bailouts this time!

As to the second part of your observation, while expats may not be directly in anyone's crosshairs yet, decisions made on high, impact every member of a nations population for better or worse. If you at least understand some of the key personalities, as described by their peers (our foreign Ambassadors) in the wikileaks cables, and not the PR crap they put out for the masses, you MAY be able to perhaps make better expat decisions.

There are NO guarantees!

[Asian Rain]

I've been thinking of a move there, even a temporary move. Evidently life for expats in Thailand is as tentative and uncertain as it is here, or am I reading too much into your post?

Right now expats are the least of concern and worry for the rulers. Stunted royal succession, possible internal political unrest and super fragile economy are the main concerns. I have my doubts about things getting too far out of hand in Phils, but if you need a country to escape to, Thailand is an easy place to set up if you need a quick getaway.

The world is now coming due for the cyclical 10-year economic crisis and shearing of the meek masses, so I would be less concerned about what Hillary, Du30 and other political talking heads are up to. There is a much bigger play happening. Enjoy, AsianRain.

[Oliver Kitsoff]

Thanks very much for the tip. As the possibility of growing anti-Western / anti-US sentiment grows ever stronger here in the Philippines, where I've been for 14 years, I've been thinking of a move there, even a temporary move. Evidently life for expats in Thailand is as tentative and uncertain as it is here, or am I reading too much into your post?

GE.

Frankly GE, I don't know!

I do know that I was never a fan of the PI having tasted it (lovely women, shithole of a place) even before that lunatic got into power.

He changes his story every day, and frankly I think he's mentally unstable.

As I recommended, there are only two sites both current and prospective expats need to make a decision thets RIGHT FOR THEM, not the next guy, and those are:

numbeo.com -for cost of living, crime rates, etc.

And newmandala -for the skinny on what the elite are up to and how that may affect you personally, or not.

Everything else is barstool opinions, usually borrowed from what the television tells mongers to think!

Including what you read here 95% of the time.

Sorry if that offends some, but take it to the pub, I'm not here to debate this stuff, just to try and help in a practical way.

[GoodEnough]

Hi,

There is so much bullshit frankly written about Thailand in the media, be it Thai or foreign.

The only people that know what's going on are the Privy Council, think of them as Thailand's star chamber, illuminati, or whatever, it's not a conspiracy theory it is a political fact.

They are the true power behind EVERYTHING (read between the lines here guys, certain things cannot be spoken of here).

Even they don't know the future but they are currently jockeying for the ultimate position.

If you want to know more, then forget BBC, CNN, RT, and all the other MSM that kowtow to the junta and go to:

Newmandala dot org.

This is the closest a monger will ever get to what goes on behind closed doors here, and it would behoove all of you to at least understand the very hidden truth about this place.

Good luck to us all, we'll likely need it!

Thanks very much for the tip. As the possibility of growing anti-Western / anti-US sentiment grows ever stronger here in the Philippines, where I've been for 14 years, I've been thinking of a move there, even a temporary move. Evidently life for expats in Thailand is as tentative and uncertain as it is here, or am I reading too much into your post?

GE.

[Oliver Kitsoff]

Hi,

There is so much bullshit frankly written about Thailand in the media, be it Thai or foreign.

The only people that know what's going on are the Privy Council, think of them as Thailand's star chamber, illuminati, or whatever, it's not a conspiracy theory it is a political fact.

They are the true power behind EVERYTHING (read between the lines here guys, certain things cannot be spoken of here).

Even they don't know the future but they are currently jockeying for the ultimate position.

If you want to know more, then forget BBC, CNN, RT, and all the other MSM that kowtow to the junta and go to:

Newmandala dot org www.newmandala.org if you are in Thailand and don't use a VPN (not Hola if you value your freedom!) then you most certainly will be blocked from this site.

This is a think tank run out of the very capable ANU Asian Studies faculty in Canberra, Australia.
It is the closest a monger will ever get to what goes on behind closed doors here,
and it would behoove all of you to at least understand the very hidden truth about this place.

Good luck to us all, we'll likely need it!

[Mr Enternational]

Why do you say Phuket is boring and Jomtien is not? Because of proximity to Bangkok? Guess I'm not much for the big city type stuff but I would like to visit Chiang Mai sometime as I've heard good things about it.

Because Jomtien is connected to Pattaya; Phuket ain't connected to shit. I was there 5 years ago for scuba diving and have no intentions on going back. I have been to CM twice for tourist stuff and no plans to go back there either. You can land up in prison for talking about royalty, so it is best not even to discuss it. And leave political discussions to the Thais. Just go lay low and enjoy the place for what it is worth.

[LuvDaPuss]

Saw the news about the trouble there. I still want to go ahead as planned and expect to be there before the end of September. Who knows, maybe the rent will be cheaper. Will find out soon enough. Pity the fools making all the trouble when the cops get a hold of them. When they get done there won't be much left.

Got the go ahead from social security yesterday so that should all go into my account starting the end of November. That scares me a little bit as I hope they don't screw it up and want me to drop on by for a face to face meeting.

And yeah, my take on things is sure to be out to lunch at this time. Yours was too 3 years ago I'm sure. Why do you say Phuket is boring and Jomtien is not? Because of proximity to Bangkok? Guess I'm not much for the big city type stuff but I would like to visit Chiang Mai sometime as I've heard good things about it.