The look on the face of a Thai returning your apartment security deposit, or when you ask a shop assistant for a refund for a faulty product, says it all.

Nearly all of the banks pay no interest to foreigners with savings, and the country has laws to stop foreigners wholly or majority owning longterm assets that might gain in value, such as houses and businesses. And if a condo gains, they'll make it as hard as possible for the profits to leave the country.


On a related theme, I went to a restaurant near Kasetsart uni earlier with a Thai friend. We finished eating and then jumped in a taxi. She jumped out as the taxi conveniently stopped in traffic near her home at Rachada, and the taxi continued to Sukhumvit. I then looked at the meter, which said 35 Baht, and 0.1 kms. I asked the driver if it was broken, to which he replied that he had reset it when my friend got out, as it was a new journey now. I told him that I wasn't paying two fares for a one direction trip. He immediately slammed on the brakes, popped the boot, got out of the car, went to the back, came to my door, and opened it armed with a steel hammer. I got out of the opposite door. Another taxi screeched to a halt next to me. The driver jumped out and shouted "What is the farang doing? Can I help you?"

I threw 100 Baht on the floor and walked away. I could have disarmed the ****, but what is the point for chicken feed money.

My point is that money is a religion in Thailand. Its eery. Thus I made a vow just now; to ensure then when I leave Thailand, I have sent more money back to the UK than I ever imported during my first time here from 2002-3. I'm half way there already, even before I made this decision.

It might be a petty token gesture, but I decided that I want to be one of the few Westerners, if any, that leaves Thailand with more money than when I arrived.