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  1. #151
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    LooseBowels's Avatar
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    Nice reading chopper

    Not long now.

    Could be me that

  2. #152
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    Quote Originally Posted by Carrabow View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by rickschoppers View Post
    I just got back last night from Phoenix where I visited my oldest son, his wife and their son. It was nice to see them, but I pretty much paid for all the meals for him and her family that tagged along. Reminded me a little of Thailand except the bill for 6 adults and 2 babies at Red Robin was $125 (mostly hamburgers). I have paid a lot less than that for dinner with 15 of my lady's family along. The restaurant prices in the States will kill any budget if you eat out a lot. Not the same in Thailand. The food prices are so different that one could eat out all the time and not break the bank.
    Welcome back RC, was Phoenix affected by any of those fires?
    Not too much. The weather was great, about 85 and very clear. Only about 56 hours before taking off to Thailand and I have finished all my personal business. It has taken me longer to wrap things up and I am glad I left myself a couple of weeks before flying out. I do not know how anyone could do it quicker unless they had a lot less "stuff." Over the past 5 years, I have tried to downsize and get rid of things and it is unbelievable the amount of things one accumulates.

  3. #153
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    I have been following the news about the flooding in Bangkok with great interest. On Friday, I will be landing at Swampy at 6am and will then catch a 10am flight to Udon. Thank goodness I am flying Thai Airways and will not have to make the commute between airports like I used to do when I flew China Airways.

    Does anyone know the real threat of flooding at Swampy in the next few days? I know the government has stated it will be safe, but that is what I would expect them to say.

  4. #154
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    No worries!

  5. #155
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    RC,
    I just landed last night. No issues at all. Business as usual.

    Have a safe trip

  6. #156
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    Sorry everyone for the long lag time between posts. I landed in Thailand over two weeks ago and am still getting things arranged to start the house. I flew in on an "O" visa with a one-way ticket and had no problems or questions from immigration. I know this was a question that came up awhile ago and it seems to be a non-issue.

    Yesterday we spoke to man about bringing more fill dirt to the plot and he is in the process of digging out some ponds and will be selling me the excess dirt for 550 baht per large truckload. The search for a builder went OK and I now have one lined up who will be able to start the build in January once he finishes a couple of current jobs. He has not given me a price for the labor yet, but he just finished another house and charged 200,000 baht. Seems a little high to me, and I will wait to see what figure he comes back with before I negotiate with him. Once work starts on the house, I will post the progress on my building thread.

    I still am working on getting an internet hookup and am currently using an internet cafe close to home, so my posts may not be as quick as before. Work on the garage/sala should start shortly after receiving a little fill dirt and I will post more pictures once things get started.

  7. #157
    Excitable Boy
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    550bt per large truck-load is an OK price, but, if possible, keep your own count- they WILL pad the number, and it adds up fast at that rate (sadly, I know this from experience... almost came to blows over that one.)

  8. #158
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    Glad to see you're here safe & sound Rick.

  9. #159
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    Good luck with it all mate I,m a bit jealous as it,s a while yet before I get there , we,re over in March and should hopefully be getting some more land sorted out.

    I expect you know what your doing , but is it a little too soon to be looking to build that close to filling the land ?
    I'm proud of my 38" waist , also proud I have never done drugs

  10. #160
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    Actually, the fill dirt for the house has sat for a year and is rock solid. The fill dirt needed is for a detached garage and work shop. Also, the corners need filling in. I will post some pictures on the building thread once I have a decent internet connection. Right now I am working off an AIS 3G stick that is slow, slow, slow.

  11. #161
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    OK, been in Thailand full-time a little over 5 months now and have learned a few things.

    First, is how to do a border run to Nong Khai. Since I am only about 50km from there, it was the easiest and least expensive for me to go out and come back in with another 3 month stamp. I will soon be leaving for my second trip. Since I only have an "O" and not an "AO" visa, I have been told by the Udon immigration office that I need to leave the country every 3 months. On this trip, I hope to speak with the Thai Embassy to make sure I have everything for my next "O" visa.

    Second, village life is not enough to keep me mentally stimulated. Don't get me wrong, I like the quiet and slower pace, but I have found a need to take some small trips to keep my sanity, even if it is to the Compaq in Udon. I have gone to the mall in KK with a good British mate and we meet on every Thursday at the Book House restaurant in Udon without our ladies to carry on a fluent english conversation.

    Third, I will need a hobby after completing the house build. That may include anything from golf to taking my Honda Steed 400 on some day to two day trips around the area. As long as I have the house build, I am OK. I am not sure if living in the city would be much different for me since going to bars and the same restaurants would become repetative. Being a life long fisherman, I may fly down to the coast for some fishing as well. After all, I am retired and do not want to spend all my days in the village.

    Fourth, I did not bring enough patience with me for all the frustrations that are faced since I do not speak the language. I should have made a bigger effort to learn how to speak Thai all the past 20 years that I have been coming to this country.

    Fifth, you need to make some sort of connection with a national to do day to day affairs. It would have been very difficult for me to visit the TOT office and set up internet service if my lady had not been along with me.

    Sixth, unless you want to spend a lot of money on building a house, you need to find someone you can trust to help with checking all the building materials and their cost. Even though I have my lady, I have taught her to shop around for the best price and not just go to the nearest shop because they are a "friend."

    Seventh, I will need a good 10K generator to prevent the numerous power outages that currently occur in the country. I am currently looking at a diesel powered unit at Tool Pro.

    Eighth, do not expect to see western standard anything in Thailand.

    Ninth, do not trust what anyone tells you (this may also go for the rest of the world).

    There are many others that I am sure the members of this site could agree to.

  12. #162
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    Quote Originally Posted by rickschoppers View Post
    OK, been in Thailand full-time a little over 5 months now and have learned a few things.

    First, is how to do a border run to Nong Khai. Since I am only about 50km from there, it was the easiest and least expensive for me to go out and come back in with another 3 month stamp. I will soon be leaving for my second trip. Since I only have an "O" and not an "AO" visa, I have been told by the Udon immigration office that I need to leave the country every 3 months. On this trip, I hope to speak with the Thai Embassy to make sure I have everything for my next "O" visa.

    Second, village life is not enough to keep me mentally stimulated. Don't get me wrong, I like the quiet and slower pace, but I have found a need to take some small trips to keep my sanity, even if it is to the Compaq in Udon. I have gone to the mall in KK with a good British mate and we meet on every Thursday at the Book House restaurant in Udon without our ladies to carry on a fluent english conversation.

    Third, I will need a hobby after completing the house build. That may include anything from golf to taking my Honda Steed 400 on some day to two day trips around the area. As long as I have the house build, I am OK. I am not sure if living in the city would be much different for me since going to bars and the same restaurants would become repetative. Being a life long fisherman, I may fly down to the coast for some fishing as well. After all, I am retired and do not want to spend all my days in the village.

    Fourth, I did not bring enough patience with me for all the frustrations that are faced since I do not speak the language. I should have made a bigger effort to learn how to speak Thai all the past 20 years that I have been coming to this country.

    Fifth, you need to make some sort of connection with a national to do day to day affairs. It would have been very difficult for me to visit the TOT office and set up internet service if my lady had not been along with me.

    Sixth, unless you want to spend a lot of money on building a house, you need to find someone you can trust to help with checking all the building materials and their cost. Even though I have my lady, I have taught her to shop around for the best price and not just go to the nearest shop because they are a "friend."

    Seventh, I will need a good 10K generator to prevent the numerous power outages that currently occur in the country. I am currently looking at a diesel powered unit at Tool Pro.

    Eighth, do not expect to see western standard anything in Thailand.

    Ninth, do not trust what anyone tells you (this may also go for the rest of the world).

    There are many others that I am sure the members of this site could agree to.
    A good summary of life out in the sticks. I get the Midget to sort everything out as she knows how to deal with all the bullshit better than I do. It's still frustrating for her, but she is more patient than me.

  13. #163
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    Rick you have most of right, its easy enough to convert a O visa to AO if you are married and then you can stay without those wretched runs to the border
    Boredom is the most difficult thing to deal with, you do need something to pass with the time. Cycling does to for me, about 45 Km each day, I am 64 and as fit as fvck . There are lots of fishing aficionados around here, incl my ol lady, it gets her out the house and outta my hair.
    Fifth, you need to make some sort of connection with a national to do day to day affairs. It would have been very difficult for me to visit the TOT office and set up internet service if my lady had not been along with me.
    Don't necessarily agree with this, if you do it all your self you will learn more quickly

    do not trust what anyone tells you
    Goes doubly if its Thai male, met a couple of reliable ones over the last 20 yrs, but you only need one hand to count them on.
    There can’t be good living where there is not good drinking

  14. #164
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    ^^
    Marmite, it sounds like you have a good lady. That is invaluable if one decides to make Thailand a permanant home. Worth their weight in gold which is probably what I will spend on mine when all is said and done.

  15. #165
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    ^
    Peter, since I do not speak Thai, having someone to help with this has paid dividends over the last 20 years when I have visited Thailand. It is also helpful when visiting other countries when one does not know the language or customs.

    Case in point would be when I first visited Thailand in 1985. I was told by another pharmacist that was working in Saudi Arabia to stay at the Nana Hotel (not a bad place back then) and hire one of the drivers parked out in front for as long as you stay in Bangkok. This is what I did and he took be everywhere I asked and showed me a lot of Bangkok that I would not have seen or known about on my own. This was such a good experience, I did the same every time I visited. It may have been one of the friendly bar girls or another driver, but having them as an interpreter/guide was invaluable. Once you start trying to build a house in this country, I do not see how it could be done on your own without help from a national.

    Yes, you would learn quicker, but I prefer an easier solution.

  16. #166
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    Fair enough Rick , but some of the geriatric farts around here need their tilac to take them to get haircut FFS.
    No one can learn in a month or even a year, but give it a try, to my shame I haven't learned to Read or write Thai, i still have to get my daughters to read labels to me when out shopping and I have been in Thai twice as long as they have.

  17. #167
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    Quote Originally Posted by peterpan
    but some of the geriatric farts around here need their tilac to take them to get haircut FFS.
    that is the last place I would take my wife! my hairdresser is very cute

  18. #168
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    Most of them are Dr A, maybe that's why they have to be accompanied, they aren't allowed to go alone.
    It goes without saying, my wife trusts me implicitly , so its not a issue for either of us.

  19. #169
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    Peter, you are still further along than I am if you speak Thai. Don't need a hairdresser since I cut my own, but maybe I should reconsider if all are that pleasing to the eye.

    Something else one should bring with them when they retire is a good pair of hair clippers and scissors, unless you are like Peter and have their hair done by a Thai cutie.

  20. #170
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    My wife does my hair. Welcome to da jungle rick.

  21. #171
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    Quote Originally Posted by peterpan
    Don't necessarily agree with this, if you do it all your self you will learn more quickly
    Am I allowed to tell them about your success today with 3BB?

    Quote Originally Posted by rickschoppers
    Don't need a hairdresser since I cut my own, but maybe I should reconsider if all are that pleasing to the eye. Something else one should bring with them when they retire is a good pair of hair clippers and scissors, unless you are like Peter and have their hair done by a Thai cutie.
    My hairdresser thinks she's cute, but she probably thinks women having cocks is normal too. As long as Peter is happy, that's all that matters.

  22. #172
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    ^

    Out of curiosity, what does a haircut cost here if that is the only service you will be receiving?

  23. #173
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    Depends Rick, you can get a old man in open front tin shack by the Bus station for 20 bt or a well turned out shemale complete with a discrete swinger in an upmarket salon in the shopping center for 300 bt.

    I get mine done for 100 bt from a girl (without cock).

    As for extras I don't have any idea, but Marmite is more of a "Man about town" than I, so he may be in a better position to share his experience(s).

  24. #174
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    Get mine done in ban dung for 40bht Inc ears nose and wet cut throat shave on neck,, but then I don't have much to cut

  25. #175
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    ^
    Neither do I, but the extra service by a genuine female would be interesting reading.

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