My three-bedroom Chiang Mai requires maintenance, just like houses everywhere. This is my home maintenance diary, with costs and mistakes that come with caring for houses regardless of where you live.

Electrical Work

Last week my bathroom light went out and, since replacing it required going to the electrical supply shop for a replacement, balancing on top of a stepladder, unwiring the LED ring and ballast, and rewiring the new one, I took the coward’s way out and called the electrician. He came, took a look, vanished, returned with the new unit and installed it–all within 40 minutes. The bill? 250 baht ($8.80). I gave him 500.

Painting

I got tired of looking at my fence and decided to repaint it. Two guys and a lady showed up and started by pruning my giant hedge back so the sliding gate can roll easily. Then they welded four decorative metal arrows (along the top of the gate in picture) back on. Then they painted the metal parts of the fence and gate white and gold, and painted the concrete fence–both front and side–gray, to match the house. Then, for good measure, they re-plumbed my kitchen sink so it doesn’t leak any more. Total: 7,500 Bt. (US $227.00).

Moving into my house in Chiang Mai was a little tricky. Here’s a list of what our Concierge service provides. Before you part company with your realtor and the owner–who should both be present with you at the signing–here’s the minimum:

• Cash–to pay your first and last month’s rent.
• Your new address in both English and Thai–typed into your smartphone and checked by both of them. You will need both for different audiences.
• Mail delivery arrangements–especially if you are in a condo with a front desk. You’ll be receiving all kinds of important mail in the first week or two and you don’t want it piling up under the desk because the clerk was too shy to tell you that they don’t deliver it.
• TV/Internet subscription–get the agent to set up the appointment (if any) for the installers because it’s a pain in the ass doing it yourself.
• Ditto water and electricity–get them to handle it while they’re still your friends, preferably before you even hand over the money.
• Your TM-30 Form, the Proof of Legal Residence that must accompany your permanent visa application and must be filled out and signed by your landlord.
• Your new address, in English and Thai. She also emails this to them
• The names and addresses of your new electricity and water suppliers and how to pay their bills.
• Your cable company. (She helps them subscribe).
• Your trash collector and how to pay them.

The Cost of Living in My House in Chiang Mai? When clients ask about houses and the cost of living in Chiang Mai the first place we visit is my house In the picture): It’s a useful place to start, for several reasons. It’s a real, typical house and we can walk around inside and discuss how much everything costs. It’s very significant to new arrivals that they can repaint an entire house for 15,000 Baht ($500) because now they;’re not afraid to take on a place that needs some renovation or whose color scheme doesn’t suit them. And to know how much each piece of custom-made furniture cost, because now they can think realistically about renting an unfurnished place (most Thai houses are furnished). Ditto appliance costs, my custom electrical work, fiberoptic internet and bottled water delivery. That’s why I call it ‘useful’: in a matter of minutes they have a down to earth, dollars and cents budget in mind, they understand the tradeoffs between location (mine is so-so), size, quality and monthly rent. If you’re planning to move to Thailand I recommend getting inside a real house and asking the owner every question imaginable before you start looking for your own place.

Back Story: My Thai house is on a quiet (no through traffic) street in a mixed neighborhood with expensive houses, a small bus depot and an ice factory. All neighborhoods are ‘mixed’ here: there’s no zoning. Three bedrooms, 2 tiled bathrooms, small Western kitchen, solid concrete that’s cool in summer and warm in winter for 10,000 Baht (US$300)/month. Ten minutes from Chiang Mai Old Town. I’m slowly getting it livable. Before I  moved in 12 months ago I had the interior repainted for 14,000 baht; installed new, custom-made drapes to match the color scheme (8,000 Baht) and a new garden and lawn (2,500 baht).

At dinner last month Christophe admired my windows, “Wow! You’re lucky that your house is sealable. You could run an air purifier!” I grunted and forgot about it until the local Hill People started burning the underbrush two weeks ago. The hills that protect Chiang Mai from violent weather also prevent smoke from blowing away so I followed Christophe’s advice. Siam TV, an electronics chain, has the deepest range of purifiers and I bought the cheapest. My 3,000 Baht (US$100)

Hatari has now been running 24×7 for three weeks and I’m delighted. Its 3-stage filter – mechanical + plasma + ionization – has relaxed my nasal passages and I breathe easier day and night. Highly recommended! I also spent 60,000 Baht on line for a new 27″ iMac from Apple Thailand. It arrived three days later, freight and duty free, by UPS from China! Very cool to see that the ASEAN duty-free market is starting to deliver – literally.

Knowing I was planning to spend Christmas-New Year in Australia a Thai friend suggested that, for 10,000 baht, he’d handle some tasks I’d put off: touch up the 1-year-old interior paint; get some scrapes on the car resprayed; remove the failed outside garden and its brick wall; replace the door tracks….
I returned this week to find that – if the jobs had been done at all – they’d been done half-assedly. The garden was gone but the bricks remained; the door tracks were removed but not replaced; my friend had discovered the car’s insurance policy in the glove compartment, located a body shop accredited by my insurer and charged God knows how much to the policy as an ‘accident’ (the difference will, no doubt, end up in my friend’s pocket) and, though the work was minor, the car won’t be ready for another week. My request that we cancel the job and pick up my car was met with changing excuses, so I’ve rented a car. You get the picture…

An expat friend called and I mentioned my to-do list. “None of it was done, right?” he asked. We both laughed uproariously. I would have been pleasantly surprised if the work had been completed, of course, but I wasn’t surprised at the outcome. There’s a good reason mai pen rai is the national mantra: Thais’ handling of responsibilities is unlike ours. My friend is still my friend. I still love Thailand.  I tell you this story now so that, by the time it’s your turn you’ll be relaxed and humorous about such matters. Now, here are some prices for

Services

• Water delivery costs 30 Baht/case of 24 one-liter bottles.
• Garbage collection (almost unlimited quantity) 30 Baht/week
• Electricity 900 baht/month
• Internet: 30 Gb download fiberoptic: 1200 baht/month.
• iPhone: unlimited service 960 baht/month.

Furniture

I ordered the furniture from a furniture cooperative in the countryside south of Chiang Mai. A very cool place and their solid teak stuff was amazing to look at and amazingly affordable. More on that in my next post. Meanwhile, here‘s a video of the arrival of the plants and the first of the furniture:

Reading

• 3 Phase Power – TeakDoor.com – The Thailand Forum – If you want to build a luxury house in Thailand then this is the forum for you.

January 2015: I Just Found My House in Chiang Mai. I’ll move in next week. Here’s the story:

My house in Chiang Mai was an accident. I’d saved $70,000 from the business over the past 2 years and resolved to buy an ordinary, 2 bedroom condo in a nondescript part of the inner city. But tying up my meagre capital in a piece of (very ordinary) real estate raised some problems:

1. I’d be back to square one – zero capital – while still needing to grow the business (I’ve had two requests to franchise it).
2. ‘Used’ real estate is much harder to sell in Thailand. People don’t like moving in with the former occupants’ vibes (phi) – especially foreigner vibes!
3. There’s a building boom going on with no end in sight. The economy is running very nicely (unemployment is under 1%/ Yes, that’s a’1′.) and Chinese cash is seeping in under the doors and over the transom. Everyone here is suddenly rediscovering old Chinese cousins….
4. I’d be in the middle of a grimy (Asian air quality is OK, but grimy), noisy city.
5. To go for a walk I’d have to walk to somewhere via narrow streets in the pre-dawn light.

So when a client recently told me he was moving out of his 10,000 Bt/mo., 3 bedroom, 2 ba, Western kitchen house with a lawn and off-street parking in a very quiet neighborhood 10 minutes from the city, you can guess my response. And since he was moving out 12 months into a 24 month lease, he offered to pay my first month’s rent so I could make a smooth transition.

Which is what I’m now doing. I’ve had it repainted – interior and some outside changes. The whole job cost me 15,000 Bt ($500) and took 3 days.

I hired three Thai ladies to spend a day cleaning it. They did a great job. The entire bill for that was 900 Bt ($30). I bought lunch, so that added 100 Bt to the total.

Then Aimie took me down to the curtain and drapes shop where I ordered a custom made set of handsome drapes for every window in the house, and the sliding doors. 14 separate pieces. Installed. 15,000 Bt.

Next, it was off to the furniture factory for some custom built teak furniture. And that’ll be the subject of the next episode of this piece about my house in Chiang Mai.

I also get food delivered to my house in Chiang Mai. Here’s how..

The post My House in Chiang Mai appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

Here’s an example of a most recent handyman bill and the story behind it:

The mounting of my sliding carport gate came adrift and needed three welds and my guest bedroom sink was leaking water because its drain and stopper had never been correctly installed and needed replacing.

Our Concierge tech team, two guys, showed up unannounced (everyone in Thailand shows up unannounced) welded the gate and took the sink away. They returned it with a handsome new chrome drain and stopper correctly installed and hooked it up to the plumbing and the problems were solved. Then they handed me the bill, which I read as 7,365 baht (US$225) fair, thought, for such repairs, especially since it included better quality plumbing hardware than the original. I handed the guys 8,000 baht and was about to tell them to keep the change when they burst out laughing and pointed to the numeral I had read was ‘7’. It’s the locals’ way of writing ‘1’.

Typical Expat Monthly Budgets. Our most recent survey shows that twenty-three percent of expats in Thailand have monthly budgets of 25K-45K baht a month. Forty-eight percent have budgets over 65k baht and ten percent with over 145K baht to spend.

When I wanted to create a Budget for Living in Thailand in 2018 I turned to an expert on Thai budgeting, Nancy Lindley. With years of bookkeeping experience, she makes personal budgets and also keeps to them. Better still, she keeps careful note of unexpected expenses and keeps her finger on the pulse of Thailand’s cost of living. Happily, a cost of living budget in Thailand is pretty easy to figure out. It’s been predictable since the Asian Financial Crisis (you’ve probably forgotten; Thais haven’t).

Significantly, Nancy has a second calling: she cares for expatriates who fall on hard times. She visits them in hospital, contacts their relatives, talks to the consulate and spends countless hours repatriating very sick people who cannot afford long-term or major medical care in Thailand and must go home for treatment. She has seen a side of expatriate life that few of us even think about, so my Thai budgeting conversations with her are always sobering.

I asked Nancy to draw up two budgets for living in Thailand , one for the average Thai and one for five times the average Thai’s cost of living budget, and to comment on each. I’ve added my own comments after hers. Both budgets are for living in Chiang Mai (learn more). For Bangkok add 15%; for the countryside subtract 15%. These figures are current as of 2014. E-mail me, godfree@trh.superfasttests.com if you have questions. I lived on this budget for 12 months:

Budget for Average Thai Salary of $500/mo

Nancy’s Comments on the $600 Budget for living in Thailand: “I’ve seen single people lead nice, pleasant lives on this budget. Here’s how they do it”:

• They have a fan (no a/c) room on the lower, east side (cooler) floor in the old city,
• They walk or bicycle just about everywhere,
• They use the AUA library for books,
• They breakfast at the Pub where they watch American, Australian and British sports.
• They take Thai lessons at a wat (temple), etc.
• There’s no room for a steady girlfriend or regular beer-drinking habit.
• You must have savings/insurance for medical costs which are not reflected in this budget.
• I’ve known several guys who have a pension of 30,000 – 40,000 baht/month who live on a 15,000 baht budget and save the rest for medical emergencies and to build a bank account to justify a retirement visa. This takes discipline, which disappears if they acquire a Thai girlfriend who learns about the existence of a savings account!”

Cost of Living in Thailand Examples:

Medical: Two farang friends have just delivered babies – girls – in Chiang Mai hospitals. Each had a private room, one for four days. Their total was pre-agreed: 60,000 Bt (US$1700) each. Both were delighted by the care they received which, in one case, included an autographed photo of the entire delivery team gathered around the bed of the exhausted mother holding her baby for the first time. Another friend got bad food poisoning and went to the hospital. She needed intensive care but every bed in the hospital was full, so the doctor, not wanting to put her back in an ambulance, had his desk removed from his office and a bed installed for her. The bill next day was 1400 Bt (US$40). When she protested that this was too low, staff told her it was because she did  not have a ‘proper room’. A nurse called her at home that night to check her progress.
Automotive: I’ve been doing a lot of fast driving through mountainous roads lately and can assure you that even remote roads are well maintained in the Kingdom. But taking thousands of curves stresses wheel bearings, apparently, because one of mine went out. I discovered this when I went to have the Toyota’s front alignment checked after I hit a pothole (in the middle of town!) and the steering went weird. The shop fixed the affected wheel and moved it to the rear, then balanced and aligned the front wheels. They refused payment because I’d bought the Michelins (3000 Bt each) from them and the work was covered by their lifetime warranty – a pleasant  surprise. There was no denying the wheel bearing problem (the grinding noise was obvious once they pointe it out) so the next day they came and picked up the car. It was back a few hours later along with a bill for 2,000 Bt. and the old bearing in the factory box that held the new bearing. Don’t worry too much about the cost of owning a car in Chiang Mai: it’s far less than you’re accustomed to at home.

Rick, Who Lives on $600 Budget in Thailand

Budget for Living in Thailand on Five Times the Average Thai Salary

 Nancy’s Comments on the $2,400 Budget for Thailand

There is much more room to play with this budget. In it I assume:

• The couple is renting a condo in town.
• Housing is cheaper further out but transportation costs are higher–making a car a necessity.
• No sane retiree is going to rely solely on a motor scooter [see the note below].
• The couple is fairly healthy,
• They eat local cuisine. They don’t have to eat expensive imported food for every meal.
• Drinks wine/beer very moderately [wine here is imported and expensive]

My Observations and Nancy’s Responses

• I lived on $1240/mo. during my first year in Thailand. I made lots of mistakes and wasted lots of money but, after 6 months, found I could live quite comfortably on $600. For example,
• I rented a long-term studio in town for $80/mo. [see photo below] Utilities added $10.
• My long-term scooter rental, $100/mo. includes registration and insurance, servicing, new tires as needed, and a new scooter every 12 months. I’ve had no scooter problems. But see Nancy’s observations about scooter danger, below.
• I stay within the $200 food budget and have never eaten a better diet in my life.
• All my regular medical and dental expenses are out-of-pocket because I’m over 70. Thai health care is excellent and cheap. I just paid $600 for a root canal and crown.
• Toiletries are cheap. An organic skin cream costs $4 a good haircut $7.
• ‘Entertainment’ is up to you. I like wandering around observing Thai culture.
• The Internet provides plenty of information and entertainment, and I went to the pub to watch major sporting events since I don’t like having TV at home.
• Cel phones are cheap; overseas calls are not. Skype or use Google Hangouts to call home.
• Nancy is not kidding about Thai girls and savings accounts. They’re not mercenary, it’s just part of Thai culture. You are a rich farang whether you think so or not.
• There are decent restaurants where you can have three bottles of ice-cold beer served at your table for a total of $5.33, and good meals for $3
• You’ll notice the absence of a clothing budget. Clothes are so cheap here and you wear so few of them – shorts, tee-shirt, flip flops – that it’s not an issue.
• So budget! Thailand’s cost of living is still a steal! Work out how you want to live, then just do it!

Budget for Living in Thailand Costs vs. Scooter Danger

When I shared my observations about scooters with Nancy her response was, as usual, grounded in a reality that I’ve never experienced. Here’s what she said: “I stand by my original observation the elderly shouldn’t use motor scooters. It isn’t a matter of “if” they’ll have an accident, but rather “when” and “how bad”. Just come with me to the orthopedic wards at Suan Dok hospital to see what a motor scooter accident can do. These aren’t the guys with the head injuries – they’re in another part of the hospital”. See my web page on scooter dangers in Thailand.

Video: Budget for Living in Thailand

More about Thai Budgets and Cost of Living

• Cost of Living in Chiang Mai, Thailand – A Little Adrift – A full break down of the cost of living in Thailand, specifically as an expat living in Chiang Mai–includes specific food, rents, internet costs and what those expenses buy you on the road. … **Alternatively, before you get too far into what this buys, consider that my friends also living here shared their Chiang Mai cost of living for two people living a bit more luxuriously than my budget. They spent under $1500 per month (jointly) and had a beautiful apartment and full kitchen, and also …
• How To Live Like a VIP in Bangkok for $285.06 Per Month – This budget cost of living in Bangkok, Thailand, is just a taste of living possibilities. I understand that we all have differing priorities, lifestyle comforts, wants and needs – but if you really want to make something happen, …
• Cost of living Thailand: Living in Chiang Mai for $505 a month – Cost of living in Thailand: Living in Chiang Mai for $505 a month. A break down of expenses … I have become accustomed to not eating large amounts of meat, which keeps my food budget low. Still, the steak is cheap if you …
• Thailand Cost of Living | Expats in Thailand | Expats in … – The most wonderful spot on the planet can only be the place to live if you can afford it. The most essential part of a family’s budget is food. We cannot live without it and, in the Western world, the cost of food has skyrocketed …
• If beachside living is your thing, read The Best places in Koh Samui.

So there’s food for thought for your budget for living in Thailand. Do you think you can make it?

Chiang Mai Cost of Living

The post Budget for Living in Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

I know about twenty Soi dogs in Thailand (so named because they hang out in alleys, or sois). They’re not well cared for  and, if this story moves you, sign the petition to improve their lives. If you’re in Chiang Mai you can volunteer or adopt a dog from Care for Dogs. They do heroic work caring for lost dogs who need homes.

I walk two miles around my neighborhood at dawn each morning. The streets are quiet and empty except for dogs. Soi dogs in Thailand are an independent lot. As far as they are concerned they have as much right as any Thai to walk or lie on the road and they expect humans – especially drivers – to respect that. Thais generally do, though there are enough limping, three-legged, and even two-legged dogs around to suggest that their rights are not always respected. though they do a fine job of barking at strangers, they have limits. If it is too early in the morning–before 5 am–or late in the evening– after 11 pm–they prefer to sleep. (Thai cats are well aware of this, as are the pigeons who know the cats will vanish when the dogs appear). Thai dogs will not bother you if it is raining, or chase you if the grass might wet their paws, or if it is too hot, or too cold, or if you are accompanied by a dog bigger than them.

Many people are on a budget, and are looking for a cheap dog fence. That is certainly understandable. However when it comes to the well-being of your pets, why take a chance on a cheaply-made product? Most dog owners see their dog as a member of their family. Doesn’t your family member deserves the best dog fence? Why take a risk when it comes to your dog’s health? While considering a fence in general consider the potential negative consequences of using an electric stimulation device on your pet.

People who’ve never gotten to know dogs find Soi dogs in Thailand frightening and I suspect that they’re responsible for most of the negative stories about them. If you like dogs you won’t have a problem with them. They’re more assertive than house dogs, since dogs are territorial animals and the soi is their territory and they have to hustle for scraps every day. Happily, Thais love dogs – though they rarely pet them, which Thai dogs are OK with – and I’ve never seen an emaciated one.

They’re numerous because Thais don’t commonly spay or neuter dogs. One reason that there aren’t too many dogs is a big market for dog meat in northern Vietnam. Dog-catching has been privatized by dog catchers who smuggle thousands of them across the border every month.

Like everything in Thailand, there’s a dog hierarchy, too. At the top are companion dogs: well-groomed, well-fed, often purebreds that are allowed to socialize with street dogs for a few minutes each morning under their owners’ watchful eyes. These are the friendliest dogs I meet each morning. They approach me fearlessly and enjoy being petted and talked to.

Below the companion dogs are guard dogs: serious looking and larger than the companions. They run loose in the yard and, in return for a protected space and regular meals, bark at passersby and, presumably, bite intruders. Below them are ‘gate dogs’ who  have adopted a house, live in the street by the gate as auxiliary guards. They stick so closely to ‘their’ gate that I assume that house owners feed them on a ‘no obligations’ basis. Both householder and dog retain their independence while deriving benefit from the relationship.

Next down are real soi dogs who live entirely in the street. They live in strictly hierarchical packs for mutual protection are most vulnerable to dog catchers since they’ve nowhere to hide. It is these guys who accompany me on my morning walks and whose social arrangements keep me entertained. When I arrive in their alley they congregate around me, apparently simply happy to be acknowledged by a human. At first they all wanted to be petted but, over the months, the novelty of petting has worn off. Now our greetings are largely verbal: warm words from me; yipping and tailwagging from them. Then we set off for a block or two so they can show off their human friend to the guard- and house-dogs. Then, with their status raised, they peel off and start exploring the exciting new smells that the morning brings. They’re as individual as any human and I find their interactions a constant source of interest and amusement.

Below soi dogs are the wretched of the earth: the strays. These poor creatures have neither turf nor a pack to protect them. Something has displaced them and they literally have nowhere to call their own. They slink around, ears pinned back, with anxiously wrinkled brows desperately looking for food and temporary shelter. Packs of soi dogs pursue them and, if they catch them, attack them viciously. Here’s a video I made of my local dog pack. Sometimes they accompany me for a few blocks; sometimes they ignore me:

The Vinegar Cure

The worst dogs I’ve encountered are the racists (surprised?). They ignore Thais but hate foreigners and feel it their patriotic duty to attack them. There’s one guard dog on my morning route and I would walk quietly past his house, enduring his bloodcurdling snarls and barks. One day his gate was left open and he came after me. I escaped unharmed but my morning was ruined. Happily, Thailand is the home of the water pistol. Thais consume more water pistols per capita than any nation on earth because, in Thailand’s climate, they’re fun, s’nuk. After choosing a compact, high capacity weapon (60¢ at the supermarket – always on sale) I loaded it with diluted vinegar. The next morning I heard the same racist threats but I had my equalizer ready. A few squirts (avoiding his eyes) followed by the sound of baffled, indignant whimpering. He seemed as much upset by our switch in status as anything! He was no longer the aggressor and he obviously hated smelling of vinegar which, to his doggy nose, must have been intense.

I repeated the treatment on Soi dogs in Thailand the next morning and that was the end of it. He still barks at me, of course, but his bark lacks conviction. The racist insults and threats of dismemberment have ceased. We encountered each other out in the street last week and, after a few halfhearted barks he backed defiantly into his open gate.

Prevention

1. Let sleeping and eating dogs alone.
2. Don’t approach dogs you don’t know. You’re probably entering their territory and dogs are territorial.
3. Don’t go near dog hangouts at night, like temple grounds, abandoned buildings, building sites, car parks and empty spaces.  Darkness is their friend, not yours.
4. Carry an equalizer. A rape alarm works fine. Umbrellas and pieces of bamboo are fine. Often picking up a rock is enough to discourage them.
5. Don’t run. It excites their hunting instinct. Walk purposefully as you draw yourself up to your full height
6. Fold your arms or raise them slowly above your head. This keeps vulnerable hands away from sharp teeth.
7. Don’t smile or squeal. Your smile resembles aggressive teeth-baring and squealing sounds like a wounded animal. Command them in low, strong tones.
8. Be wary of turning your back on them. Don’t hang about.  Commotions attracts other dogs. Walk on, possibly backwards.

There are tons of Soi dogs in Thailand, but Deputy Dog is a favorite. This golden labrador is a well-known character around Chiang Rai, the beautiful town 5 hours drive north of Chiang Mai. Richard Berry, who combines an idyllic Chiang Rai life with manufacturing the ultra-natural English Organics cosmetics (you can eat them – literally) snapped a few shots with his cellphone.

On a Lighter Note

There are tons of dogs in Thailand, but Deputy Dog is a favorite. This golden labrador is a well-known character around Chiang Rai, the beautiful town 5 hours drive north of Chiang Mai. Richard Berry, who combines an idyllic Chiang Rai life with manufacturing the ultra-natural English Organics cosmetics (you can eat them – literally) snapped a few shots with his cellphone. There’s no story behind this as far as Richard has been able to discover. This is simply how the dog likes to sit while waiting for his master to finish shopping. Here’s how deputy dog looks when he sees his master approaching:

Monks Kindness to Dogs

Thai temples are a traditional refuge for stray and hungry dogs and the monks beg for food for them every morning as they walk the streets, barefoot. Here’s what happens at feeding time:

The post Soi Dogs in Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

An Aussie, Michelle Hammond, writes that living in Chiang Mai saves her $23,994 a year:

Medical: Dermatologist visit without an appointment: vital signs, 10-minute wait, evaluation, CO2 removal of two pre-cancerous lesions: 996 Baht. (You didn’t think Chiang Mai’s cost of living was so low, did you?)

Two farang friends have just delivered baby girls in Chiang Mai hospitals. Each had a private room, one for four days. Their total was pre-agreed: 60,000 Bt (US$1700) each. Both were delighted by the care they received which, in one case, included an autographed photo of the entire delivery team gathered around the bed of the exhausted mother holding her baby for the first time. Another friend got bad food poisoning and went to the hospital in early July. She needed intensive care but every bed in the hospital was full so the doctor, not wanting to put her back in an ambulance, had his desk removed from his office and a bed installed for her. The bill next day was 1400 Bt (US$40). When she protested that this was too low, staff told her it was because she did  not have a ‘proper room’. A nurse called her at home that night to check her progress.

Automotive: I’ve been doing a lot of fast driving through mountainous roads lately and can assure you that even remote roads are well maintained in the Kingdom. But taking thousands of curves stresses wheel bearings, apparently, because one of mine went out. I discovered this when I went to have the Toyota’s front alignment checked after I hit a pothole (in the middle of town!) and the steering went weird. The shop fixed the affected wheel and moved it to the rear, then balanced and aligned the front wheels. They refused payment because I’d bought the Michelins (3,000 Bt each) from them and the work was covered by their lifetime warranty – a pleasant  surprise. There was no denying the wheel bearing problem (the grinding noise was obvious once they pointe it out) so the next day they came and picked up the car. It was back a few hours later along with a bill for 2,000 Bt. and the old bearing in the factory box that held the new bearing. Don’t worry too much about the cost of owning a car in Chiang Mai: it’s far less than you’re accustomed to at home.

Bathroom Installer: I consider Thai bathrooms more dangerous than Thai roads so decided to install three grab bars in case I slip. Home Pro, the hardware store that sold the bars quoted me 1,100 baht (Aimie was shocked at the price but this was too important to haggle) and sent around a man with the experience and equipment to drill tiles (a tricky business) and I showed him where and at what height I wanted each bar to go then left him to get on with his work.  Thais don’t give up any freedom just because you’re paying them and one of those freedoms is deciding how things should be done. This means you don’t always get what you expect – or want. He installed the bars neatly and professionally in 30 minutes but so far up the wall that I have little chance of grabbing them if I slip, as you can see from the height the door handle.

The garden installer came to put in some shrubs outside my front fence. All my neighbors have hedges and my fence looked naked without one. I told the crew where to break up the thin concrete outside the fence and left them to it. They had other ideas, as it turns out. Their idea is what you see in the photograph: a raised garden surrounded by bricks. It doesn’t match the rest of the street and, worse still, it gets 12 hours of direct sun in summer and the soil gets so hot that it broils the roots of anything but the hardiest weeds.

My hairdresser is an artist. He finds my ultra-short hair style an affront to his aesthetic sensibility. Every time I go for a cut – 220 Baht – he gives me the style that pleases him. Then follows a ‘yes but’ discussion during which I make excuses for the hairstyle I need (“I go swimming every day and cannot spend time drying it”, etc.). He shakes his head in disbelief and, eventually, complies.

I mention these three people not in any negative way, but to contrast Thai culture with our own: Thais feel freer to be themselves, express their own opinions, and ignore the master-slave relationship that Western employees are encouraged to embrace. And now to a different adventure:

The Plumber: I heard water running outside the house day and night for weeks, then came home to find a a water bill pinned to my gate for 9,761 baht – 30x times normal. A water inspector then showed up and located the leak in a water junction box (no the West does not have such things, and I’m not sure why Thailand does) in the yard behind the house. It was clear that someone in the past had attempted to repair it with what looked like black electrical tape, which had finally given way. The inspector sent a repairman who quickly set things right, but I was now in a tricky position: under Thai law I am responsible for everything in and around the house, but this strange box had water pipes entering it from other properties and the damage was done before I signed the lease. “Did you take a photograph of the old repair?” was Aimie’s first question. Damn! It hadn’t occurred to me that I’d need evidence. However, after some back and forth, the owner offered to split the bill.

Picked up cushions for the two Yang chairs (like the one in the picture). Total for two big cushions, cover and zipped outer covers was 3,180 baht. When I tried to pay, the lady behind the counter became concerned and explained that I had paid when I ordered the cushions. I find this kind of honesty typical in Chiang Mai. Cheating is quite rare.

Internet Bills: I dumped my unreliable Internet carrier, 3BB, and put in a direct fiber connection from AIS, whose equipment is much newer and more reliable. I’m paying 1300 Bhat per month for 30Mb fiber. Twice the speed for little more money and less down time. When you’re figuring your Thailand cost of living, you can usually get Internt free via WiFi in condos and apartments – so that’s a potential savings.

More Chiang Mai Cost of Living

Town gas is unknown in this part of the world, as is cooking with gas indoors. Most domestic kitchens are outdoors, with charcoal braziers. My house has a small Western kitchen with a two-burner stovetop with a small (15 kg) tank underneath. When it ran out last week I took it down to the local gas merchant and swapped it for a full one – enough to last me 6 months using it once a day.

Reading Glasses. After cataract surgery (below) I need reading glasses and, since I only use them at home, did not want fancy (2,000 baht) frames. Bought four pairs of reading glasses for 100 baht each and had the prescription lenses made up and inserted into them for 2,100 baht. Total for four pairs of prescription readers: 2,500 baht ($85).

Furniture: Took delivery of two yang chairs to match the big yang chair/bed/lounge (4,000 Baht each, above) I bought last month (12,000 Baht, below). These are popular locally since the sofa-style yangs double as occasional beds for unexpected guests – and unexpected guests are the most common kind here. They’re (very) solid teak and weigh a ton. I’m planning to upholster them with some fabulous silk from our local silk merchants, Shinawatra, who make beautiful stuff. Very expensive, though.

Refrigerators: This month’s shopping has been educational and fun, as usual. When we’re shopping together sales staff assume Aimie and I are married. She cracks up and tells me, “They call me ‘madam’ instead of ‘sister’ and congratulate me on having such a rich husband”. Their congratulations came when I went to buy a good quality(!) $200 mattress for the guest room (visitors have been lining up since friends learned about the spare bedroom). I was tired of defrosting the Panasonic refrigerator that came with the house and I fell for a tall silver Samsung with a separate freezer on sale at HomePro for 9,999 Baht, $330. Two guys delivered and installed it that afternoon and stayed to explain the controls – which was rather sweet.

Utility Bills: One advantage of condos is that the landlord pays the utility bills. The disadvantage is that she then charges you double what she paid. I was looking forward to saving a few bucks when my first round of bills arrived for the house but I discovered that, like so many aspects of Thai life, bill-paying is more complicated than it appears. For one thing, the bills are in Thai. For another, most companies – including the biggest – have hit-or-miss billing software. Why? I suspect it’s a combination of the facts that

1. Thais hate being told how to do things (especially by farangs)
2. They always assume that the Thai way is best, and
3. They can figure it out themselves.

One result is that my cellular carrier, True, does not bill me at all. Despite my pleas (and complaints, when my service is discontinued for non-payment) they simply tell me that their billing department is ‘having problems” and that I should ‘just remember next time’. The lady says it with the sweetest smile so I apologize and pay meekly. The water bill comes monthly on a cash-register printout slip. It’s about $5 a month and I can pay it – like most bills in Thailand – at any 7-11 store. Reassured by this knowledge, I waited a few weeks before paying the first bill  because there’s no convenient 7-11 near my house. Then I found to my dismay that I was ‘too late’ and would have to visit the Water Department on the other side of town. Bummer. The Water Department building is clearly signed – in Thai – so it took me a while to find it. I finally figured out that the building with the huge, shiny blue pipe and valve in front of it must be the right place. (Pipes and valves are beautiful, from the Water Department’s point of view, of course). Living in Thailand teaches you to look for contextual clues, that’s for sure!

Trash Bills: The trash bill is a bit of a mystery. There’s no regular trash pickup so, if I want it picked up, I must leave the bin outside the gate, in the narrow laneway, permanently. The big yellow truck roars by several times a week, but I’ve taken to carrying my trash to a local drop-off bin (a recycled blue plastic barrel) when I go out for my early morning walk. The standard trash bag in Thailand is a recycled plastic shopping bag, so that’s what I use, too. And since I started hauling  my own garbage, the bills (30 Baht/mo) have stopped. Trash collection is not going to figure heavily in your Thailand cost of living – as you see!

Rent: The least problematic aspect of Thailand’s cost of living is my rent (10,000 Bt/mo): I just transfer it from my online bank account directly to my landlady’s account with a few mouse clicks). On line bank payments are as easy here as they are there, thank God! More here..

So there you have it: bill paying is a curse that we must all endure since Adam and Eve made their rash decision to leave Paradise, and in Thailand it’s a mixed curse. But Chiang Mai’s cost of living is pretty hard to beat!

The post Chiang Mai Cost of Living appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

Chiang Mai Rentals, Sublets

Sublet 3 Bdrm Home World Club – 20,000 Baht/month + damage deposit. Clean, spacious 3 bedroom house in World Club Land available for sublet through June 2018. Serious applicants with references email Paula at paula@moondata.com

A 3 bedroom, newly renovated townhouse for rent for June, July and August 2018.  Rent will be 12,000 THB/month, plus responsible to pay electric, water, and internet bill (total about 1000 thb a month). Apartment is close to super highway and train station. Fully furnished. Send me an email for more info or pictures. | May 17 – Aug 30 2018 –> Email Dave at smallhockey@gmail.com (04/2018)

Grand SiriTara condo – 16,000 Baht one bedroom fully furnished 60 sqm. Pool, Fitness and security guard . Hang Dong. email tpiner4@aol.com

One Bedroom House in Muubaan Sinthana in Sansai available immediately. Partially furnished w/ 2 air cons. Kitchen w/ fridge, electric burner, rice cooker, and some cooking/dining items. Large bedroom w/ double mattress. Bathroom w/ full tub & shower. 6,000 THB per month; 3 month deposit required and 3,600 THB for annual Muubaan fee. Conveniently situated in a small quiet community — you don’t even need a vehicle to reach a wide variety of nearby restaurants and stores (but if you do drive it is only a half km. to reach the middle ring road) or just a short 1.5 km. walk to Central Festival. Also near the Promenada Resort Mall. Close by are Bangkok Hospital, McCormick Hospital, CM Dental Clinic, Fortune Dental, Expat Auto, Oasis Air Travel, Thai post offices (2 branches), the Arcade Bus Terminal, Tops and three of the Rimping grocery stores (all within ~10-12 min.) And, if you enjoy safe urban biking/hiking, it only takes about a 7 min. walk to reach the beautiful Payap University campus. Just beyond is Big C Extra, HomePro, Perfect Dry Cleaning, and Index Furniture. It’s almost like living in a planned community but in a quieter setting, with so many of these local resources conveniently available. See map of surrounding area: http://g.co/maps/8q5j | –> Contact Khruu Gang 0992948654 or Lea by email betafish3006@gmail.com or LINE ID leaburns.

Two Bedroom Townhouse 15,000 Bt/m close to Airport Central Plaza. Located in secure community at Clover Homes. Feb-2 – May 31 2018 – > Call Tony at 0827602233 or 053 430346.

House 4 Rent @ Prom  9,500 baht per month with a minimum of a one year rental. – Lovely 2 storey, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house with covered car park for rent in Mooban Kwan Nakhorn Ping about 5 minutes away from Promenada. The 200 square meter house sits on a land size of 61 square wahs. It is fully furnished with True internet; 2 air condition units; flat screen television; sofa; stove; electric oven; microwave; refrigerator etc. Sorry but damage caused by pets are extensive and costly. http://goo.gl/maps/gOmmJ Call Namatha at 0811116012 or email her at belasians@gmail.com

House for rent near GIS – A new house for rent on the outer ring road. 5-10 mins drive to GIS / Lanna / Satit. Furnished, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with a small yard and parking space in a quiet safe compound with security guards. THB15,000 baht per month negotiable. Available 1 July 2017. See Map: https://goo.gl/maps/iNoz4bQqPRv | Email narada.luckanachai@gmail.com or call 0808070885. (07/2017)

House for Sublet  through October 20 at Laguna Home in Sansai:
Two-story, fully furnished. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 water heaters), 4 a/c. Small garden, easy to care for. Super-quiet neighbourhood, no barking dogs, no crazy parties. Pleasant sounding atmosphere, birds singing in the daytime, frogs singing at night. Nice and safe places for walking / jogging / bicycling. Club house with swimming pool, workout facility, sauna, tennis and basketball courts within three minute walk. It does not have to be the whole six months – though it’d be perfect, and we’d be willing to bring down the price. We would also consider renting out for 3-4 months. 15,000 Baht per month plus utilities – water, electricity, optical fiber internet (750 Baht), maintenance fee (660 Baht). Weekly cleaning by a reliable English-speaking helper is available for 400 Baht per cleaning. Rental of a car with automatic transmission is negotiable. Marina Nekrasova. Photos and more info here.

3 bedrooms, 3 baths in Hangdong through August. $13,000 baht/month. Faith Needham

A cute 3 bedroom, 2 bath house in Koolpunt Ville 9, 88/126 Arcadia 4, Alley 4 next to Kad Farang. Located in a quiet corner with a lot of privacy. AC’s in all rooms, fully furnished with wifi. Rent includes wifi and water. Renter will pay for electricity. Rent is 12,500 THB per month. Please write Christy or call 093-731-5005

3 BDR house in Muubaan Sinthana in Sansai  thru Sept 30. Fully furnished w/ 4 air cons. Kitchen fully outfitted w/ cooking/dining supplies (see pics). Large master BDR w/ king mattress; large upstairs BDR w/ twin mattress; downstairs BDR can be used as office or third BDR w/ 2 sleeping cushions. 3 bathrooms: 1 w/ full tub & shower, and 2 w/ shower. Fast wireless internet. 18,000 THB per month. Click for PHOTOS | Conveniently situated in a small quiet community — you don’t even need a vehicle to reach a wide variety of nearby restaurants and stores (but if you do drive it is only a half km. to reach the middle ring road) or just a short 1.5 km. walk to Central Festival. Also near the Promenada Resort Mall. See map Contact Khruu Gang 0992948654 or Lea by email betafish3006@gmail.com or LINE ID leaburns.

Grand SiriTara condo – 16,000 Baht one bedroom fully furnished 60 sqm. Pool, Fitness and security guard | Location Hang Dong Ph. 095-197-2652 or email tpiner4@aol.com

One BR house in Sansai. Partially furnished w/2 air cons. Kitchen w/ fridge, electric burner, rice cooker, and some cooking/dining items. Large bedroom w/ double mattress. Bathroom w/ full tub & shower. 6,000 THB per month; 3 month deposit required and 3,600 THB for annual Muubaan fee.  See map of surrounding area:    Contact Khruu Gang 0992948654 or Lea by email betafish3006@gmail.com or LINE ID leaburns.

Sublet 3 Br Home World Club  20,000 Baht/month + damage deposit. Through June 2018. Paula at paula@moondata.com

So that’s it for Chiang Mai rentals and sublets for June, 2018. More next month!

Renting Apartments

When clients ask about apartments in Chiang Mai I recommend visiting Hillside 3 as a reference. It’s affordable and in a handy location.

Here’s a Video of new furniture being delivered to my 3-bedroom Chiang Mai house. I pay 10,000 Baht/mo. for it, semi-furnished.

So that’s it for Chiang Mai Rentals, Sublets this time!

If you need help with accommodation why not use our Concierge Service? And for Where to stay in Chiang Mai? Check out these suggestions..

Return to ThailandRetirementHelpers.com

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Chiang Mai’s 800-year-old, moated Old City has begun to consider applying for UNESCO World Heritage listing as a registered UNESCO Site.

Chiang Mai University’s Faculty of Fine Arts will host a seminar “Chiang Mai and the Road to UNESCO World Heritage Listing ” in Bangkok on 13 September to share opinions and develop contingency plans for the city of Chiang Mai if it were on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
The forum, at the Wang Na Theatre in Bangkok, will brainstorm a bid to include the Chiang Mai city area (‘old town’) on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Anek Sihamart, Director-General of the Fine Arts Department, said the the proposal, “Monuments, Sites and Cultural Landscape of Chiang Mai, Capital of Lanna” would be submitted to UNESCO after the department conducted a study on the provincial government’s readiness and the local people’s enthusiasm for the changes that would be required.

Old Chiang Mai eassily meets UNESCO’s four selection criteria

1. town-planning,
2. diversity,
3. important interchange of human values and
4. exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition.

If Chiang Mai is approved by UNESCO as a Heritage site, it will be the fourth UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site in Thailand.

Here’s another Thai UNESCO site you might consider visiting…

Read More about Chiang Mai as a Thailand UNESCO Site

• NCPTT | John Asmus on Laser Cleaning “Have Laser Will … – Her name was Giulia Musumeci and she was employed by UNESCO and the Venice Imperil Fund, and she was trying to do what she could to save these marble statues of Venice. She pointed out to us that cleaning the …
• Ban Chiang: Thailand’s most underrated UNESCO World Heritage … – Tough sell. This might explain why Ban Chiang — despite being a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s considered the most important prehistoric settlement ever discovered in northeast Thailand’s Udon Thani province — isn’t up there with the ancient kingdom of Sukhothai when it comes to hot tourist attractions. … Udon Thani’s airport services domestic flights from several cities including Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Phuket. To book seats, check out Nok Air, Air Asia or …
• mffun Chiang Mai Tourism association supports bid for UNESCO … – mffun my private feeds Chiang Mai Tourism association supports bid for UNESCO World Heritage listing – Thailand National News Bureau.
• UNESCO-UNDP Report Highlights Culture, Creative Sector … – For example, by building on the city’s cultural assets, the Chiang Mai Creative City (CMCC) Initiative in Thailand aims to make Chiang Mai an attractive city in which to invest, live and work. The report also features Argentina’s …
• Chiang Mai – Unesco City of Crafts & Folk Art | 751444 & 751446 … – CHIANG MAI – UNESCO CITY OF CRAFTS & FOLK ART On July 17 there were seminars. Thailand would like to nominate Unesco. Listed as a world cultural heritage can offer two types is offer limited just only Chiang Mai or …
• Squidoo : Welcome to Squidoo – Squidoo. The popular (free) site for creating single webpages on your interests and recommendations. Even earn money for charity or yourself.

The post Chiang Mai UNESCO Site? appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

Creating a form, thousand-armed, each with a weapon,
Mara on the elephant Grimekhala roared frightfully with his soldiers.
The Lord of Munis conquered him by means of Dhamma-giving and so-on:
By the power of this may you be of wholesome victories.

More than Mara making war all night
Was the frighfulness of Alavaka the yakkha, impatient and arrogant.
The Lord of Munis conquered him by means of well-taming with patience:
By the power of this may you be of wholesome victories.

The noble elephant Nalagiri became quite mad,
Very cruel, like a forest fire, wheel-weapon or a thunderbolt.
The Lord of Munis conquered him by means of sprinkling the water of loving-kindness:
By the power of this may you be of wholesome victories.

Very cruel, with a sword upraised in his expert hand,
Running three leagues along the path he was, Garlanded-with-fingers.
The Lord of Munis conquered him with a mind performing marvels:
By the power of this may you be of wholesome victories.

Having made her belly like a pregnant woman (by tying on) a piece of wood
Cinca spoke lewdly in the midst of the people.
The Lord of Munis conquered her by fair and peaceful means:
By the power of this may you be of wholesome victories.

Saccaka, whose speech habitually departed from the truth,
Raised up, like a flag, his theory with a mind become completely blind.
The Lord of Munis conquered him by wisdom’s shing lamp:
By the power of this may you be of wholesome victories.

Nandopananda the serpent of wrong understanding but great power,
The (Buddha’s) son, the Elder (Moggallana) serpent-like set out to tame.
The Lord of Munis conquered him by means of a demonstration of power:
By the power of this may you be of wholesome victories.

Like a serpent well coiled about the arms were the wrongly grasped views
Of the Brahma-god named Baka of pure light and power
The Lord of Munis conquered him by means of the medicine of knowledge
By the power of this may you be of wholesome victories.

These are the eight verses of the Buddha’s wholesome victories.
Which should be chanted and recollected every day without laziness
(So that) being rid of the many kinds of obstacles
The man of wisdom can attain Liberation and happiness.

– Translation by Ven. Khantipalo

And here’s a video of Thai monks chanting The Buddha’s Wholesome Victories:

Some reading about Thai monks chanting The Buddha’s Wholesome Victories

• Learning Pujas from Gen-la | Tsem Rinpoche – And Tibetans, and have you seen the Thai monks chant? Oh, wow, when they start chanting and they pass down that cord to bless you, it’s like wrap me around twice, I love it! Have you seen the Japanese monks chant?
• Wesak a day to reflect on the teachings of Buddha – Health … – Thai Monks Chant New Home Blessing 1 of 2 in USA. Buddhist Theravada Thai monks from Wat Washington Buddhavanaram chant Pali blessings in recently rented house. From left to right they are: Ajahn Padet, Ajahn …
• Theravada Buddhism (TB): Imee Ooi – The Chant of metta ( Lyrics … – May (6). Buddha Puja · Thai Monks Chant 2 · Thai Monks Chant · Is Nibbana Guaranteed? The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta [Part one] · Imee Ooi – The Chant of metta ( Lyrics: Pali & Eng… ▻ 2010 (4). ▻ December (1).
• Could Luis Suarez be Arsene Wenger’s Cantona … – Present a wisp of fairy spirit?The fairy spirit is really extremely precious, common of Ning palace monk, which afraid is a core pupil to want to acquire 1 wisp, all through his entire life don’t necessarily have this opportunity. …… Strong suits are regional Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese, but don’t stop there – Las Vegas is jam-packed with Thai restaurants, many of them better than you might be used to back home, unless home is, say, Thailand. Procedure is …

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Buddhist amulets are part of Thai culture and you see them everywhere. Amulets, on the other hand, ward off evil and repel bad luck. The word itself comes from the Latin amuletum, ‘to protect a person from trouble”. They can be gems, paintings, rings or pendants, animals, and even words. (Talismans, a related form of what we call ‘charms’ bring luck).

In most treasured form, the Buddha amulet, is known as plah keang. During a deadly drought a Thai monk went to the disaster area during a deadly drought to rescue a famous statue of Gautama that was in danger of being abandoned. Upon his arrival the monk found that the statue was too large to move and, that night, dreamed that the large statue instructed him to make a smaller version. He made it out of clay and took it to the temple, the drought broke just before dawn the following morning.

These days Buddha amulets are usually made of precious stones and metal but there are still some created from incense ash mixed with clay. (Thais burn almost 1 million sticks of incense each day so there is no shortage of incense ash!). Herbs, pollen and even the blood of a holy monk are sometimes added to the mix. The amulet can only be given out after being blessed by a monk.

There has recently been a move away from creating Buddha statues, and amulets are now frequently made in various shapes and sizes. A butterfly, for example, is often added to amulets for women who want to attract men. But all of them will have a Buddha on them somewhere. The most enduring form of the amulet is called a Bida – a Buddha whose hands are covering His face – which is for warding off bad luck.

Amulet collecting and amulet trading are vastly more popular in Thailand than, say, stamp collecting in the West. Amulet-trading corners exist in every village and town in the country. In the cities there are entire stores devoted to selling, buying and trading them.

They’ve become fashionable items – some are extremely expensive pieces of jewelry – which means that these days many places produce amulets. Some cheap ones are created by machine instead of being made by hand.

But only those created by a renowned monk are believed to contain the powers necessary to be effective. And, because each blessing-master has his own specialty, the provenance of the piece is vitally important. To really savor this fascinating hobby, read Amulets: Sacred Charms of Power and Protection.

Or sit back and watch this video documentary on Thai Buddhist amulets:

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And here’s a reminder about riding scooters in Thailand:

Riding a motorcycle or scooter in Thailand comes with unique responsibilities and dangers. Scooters are wonderful in traffic but they have 4 drawbacks:

• You’re vulnerable to any mistakes in road design and construction.
• No matter what or who you hit, you lose.
• They’re a bitch in the rain.
• Range.

1. Road design, construction and maintenance create hazards.

• Lethal obstacles are often built into Thai roads. My favorite? Where freeways cross an overpass, they build raised footpaths out into the motorcycle lane – withno warning. These deathtraps freaked me out until I learned to anticipate them.
• Though roads are well maintained, safety is casual. A Thai friend was killed riding her motorcycle home in the rain when she hit an unmarked pothole on a main street.
• I slid off because someone  spilled cooking oil around a curve.

So understand the physical situation and be far more vigilant than at home.

2. No matter what or whom you hit, you lose.

You already know that you’re much more vulnerable on two wheels than on four. But driving anything in Thailand carries an additional responsibility: you pay all costs for an accident. Because you’re a farang you are rich and the rule here is that the party with more money pays the costs. (If you have first-class insurance, even your insurance company will agree to pay, despite your innocence) If you are clearly not at fault and there’s been no injury, either leave the scene asap or offer the other driver a 1,000 Baht note ($33), apologize, and drive off.

When an old Thai on a motorcycle drove along the curb past stopped traffic, straight through a stop light, he hit me hard. Bystanders wanted to call the cops so I would be forced to pay for the accident. To his credit, the gentleman waved them off, but commonly, people you collide with will refuse responsibility. Thais’ main goal is to prove that they were not responsible for the accident (or anything, it seems sometimes). 1,000 baht is usually sufficient to prove that they’re correct.

3. Bikes and scooters are a bitch in the rain.

Thailand’s rainy season makes motorcycling a watersport. You’ll need a poncho, which can be had for as little as $2 in many shops, that has high visibility and you’ll need plenty of tread on your tires. And, of course, you’ll need to drive very cautiously. It’s a white-knuckle experience that’s best avoided. I simply follow elderly Thai drivers. They’ve been doing it all their lives.

4. Mileage Vs. Range

Exhilarated by the fact that your scooter gets 98 miles to the gallon, you set off for a pretty village 40 miles away. After a beautiful day in the mountains you head home and, along the way, discover that you’re running low on fuel. Of course, gas stations have disappeared and there’s no sign of another one. How could this be happening when the scooter gets such great mileage? Simple: its tank holds as little as 1 gallon of gasoline. So…top up your tank whenever it drops below half. A backup plan: most country stores sell gasoline. Yep, in beer bottles, for a couple of bucks. Just ask for N̂ảmạnbensin pord while pointing plaintively to your gas tank and you’ll soon be back in the saddle.

The post Scooters in Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

One of the smartest things you can do is to register online with your embassy in case of emergency or overseas crisis. Click Here for Instructions that are specific to your passport country language.

1. Australian Advice Thailand – High Degree of Caution  (12th August)
2. British Foreign Travel Advice: Thailand (12th August)
3. Embassy of Ireland 12th Floor, 208 Wireless Road Lumpini, Pathumwan Bangkok 10330
   Tel : +66 2 016 1360 Fax : +66 2 675 3933
4. Embassy of Canada: Thailand Security (12th August)
5. Republic of China: 泰國 Thailand (2016/8/12)
6. Embassy of Japan Travel Advice: 大使館からのお知らせ (12th August)
7. Embassade de France en Thaïlande: Série d’explosions (12 août)
8. Germany Federal Foreign Office: Thailand: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (15.08.2016)
9. New Zealand Foreign Affairs – Thailand Security Incidents  (12th August)
10.  Philippines Embassy – Thailand Situation August 2016  (13th August)
11. Singapore Travel Notice – Thailand  (updated 13 August 2016)
12. Swedish Embassy Advice: Reseinformation Thailand  (uppdaterad 12 aug)
13. Swiss Embassy FDFA: Reisehinweise für Thailand (12.08.2016)
14. U.S. Security Messages – one-day outreach, September 22, while consulate is closed September and October (ACS appointment required).

There are 17 Embassies in Chiang Mai: 

 Australia –  The Australian Consulate in Chiang Mai is located at 195/262 Moo Baan Sansaran 2 (Mod Chic), Soi 2/7 T. Banwaen, A. Hangdong, Chiang Mai 50230. Open 9am to midday, Monday to Thursday, by prior appointment only. Mobile: 091-857-6996. Line: aushoncon Email: australianconsulate.chiangmai@gmail.com. Ron Elliott is Honorary Consul resident in Chiang Mai with jurisdiction throughout the provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Uttaradit, Sukhothai and Tak. Website: www.thailand.embassy.gov.au.

 Austria – Consulate of Austria – 15 Moo 1, Huey Kaew Road, Tambon Chang Puak, Amphor Muang, Chiang Mai 50300 Phone: (+66/53) 40 02 31 (+66/53) 22 10 02 (+66/53) 21 34 73 Fax: (+66/53) 40 02 32 Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri: 09.00 to 12.00 website.   

 Bangladesh – Bangladeshi Consulate General – 95 Huay Kaew Road, T. Suthep, A.Muang, Chiang Mai 50200 Phone: (+66) 53 212373 – 4 Fax: (+66) 53 223524 Office Hours: 13.00-16.00 hrs 

 Belgium – Honorary Consulate of Belgium – Chumpol building – Room 1307 – Yonok College, 444 Doi Prabaht, Lampang 52000  Phone: (+66) (54) 26.51.82 Fax: (+66) (54) 26.51.81 Email. Office Hours: 07.00 – 13.00 (Monday – Friday) Website. 

 Canada – Consulate of Canada – c/o Raming Tea Co., Ltd., 151 Moo 3, Super Highway, Tambon Tahsala, Chiang Mai 50000  Phone: (+66) (53) 850 147 / 242 292 Fax: (+66) (53) 850 147 Email.  Office Hours: 09.00 – 12.00 M-F  Street View  website. 

 China – Chinese Consulate General of China – 111 Changlor Road, Haiya District, Chiangmai 50100 Phone: 0066-53-276125, 272197, 200424(Administrative office) Fax: 0066-53-274614 Email. website.  MAP

 Finland – Honorary Consulate of Finland – Ratanapon Stationery Store, 104-112 Tapae Road, Muang District, 50300 Phone: +66-53-234 777, 234 812, 233 532 Fax: +66-53-251 512  

 France – Consulate of France – Alliance Française 138 Charoen Prathet Road, Muang District, Chiang Mai Phone: (+66) (53) 281 466 / 275 277 Fax: (+66) (53) 821 039 Email: tbaude@laposte.net  Office Hours: 10.00 – 12.00 website.   MAP

 Germany – Consulate of Germany – 199/163 Moo 3, Baan Nai Fun 2, Kan Klong Chonpratan Road, Tambon Mae Hia, Amphoe Muan, Chiang Mai 50100  Phone: (+66) (53) 83 87 35 Fax: (+66) (53) 83 87 35 Email. Office Hours: 09.00 – 12.00 Honorarkonsul Hagen E.W. Dirksen website. 

 Greece – Honorary Consulate of Hellenic Republic – Apartment 404 Mooban Nai Fan Condominium, 203/19 M.3 Kunklongchonprathan, Tambon Maehiech, Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai 50100 Phone: (00660) 53839087 Fax: (00660) 53838756 Email: bangkok@embgreece.or.th

 India – Consulate of India – 33/1, Thung Hotel Road, Wate Kate, Muang Phone: 00-66-53-243066 Fax: 00-66-53-247879 Email: cgi.chiangmai@yahoo.com Office. Hours: 0900 hrs to 1200 hrs   MAP

 Italy – Consulate of Italy – Honorary Consul – Dr. Vichit Leelamanit 19 Soi 9 Sirimungkalajarn Road Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai 50200  Phone: (+66) 5321-2925 Fax: (+66) 5322-4832 Cell: +66 (0) 81-8825252  E-mail: doctorvichit@gmail.com. Office. Hours: 09.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 16.00. MAP

 Japan – Consulate General of Japan – 104-107 Airport Business Park, 90 Mahidol Road, Haiya, Muang District, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand Phone: (+66) 5320-3367 Fax: (+66) 5320-3373 Office. Hours: 08.30 – 12.00 and 13.30 – 16.30    MAP

 Korea – Consulate of The Republic of Korea – (ROK : South Korea) 50 V-Group Building Huey Keaw Rd., Chang Puak, Mueang District, Chiang Mai 50300 Tel.: 0 5322 3119-23 ext. 204, Fax.: 0 5322 5661 email: vgroup@cmnet.co.th

 Peru – Consulate of Peru – The Chiang Mai Ballet Academy, 362/30 U-Sa-Fah-Haam Compound, Charoenraj Road, Chiang Mai 50000 Phone: (+66) 5330-6357 Fax: (+66) 5330-6358 Email:  Office Hours: 13.00 – 15.00 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday)

 South Africa – Consulate of South Africa – 32 Hueaykeaw Road, Tambon Changpuek, Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand Phone: (+66) 53 711 800 Fax: (+66) 53 712 972 Email: sawaeng@loxinfo.co.th Office. Hours: 09.00 – 12.00 Details: Honorary Consul – Mr S Crueaviwatanakul  

 Sweden – Consulate of Sweden – 186/48 M.5 Green Valley, Mae Sa, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai 50180 Tel.: 0 5329 8632, Fax.: 0 5329 8634 email: swedconsulcm@yahoo.com. websites. 

 United Kingdom – British Consul – 198 Bumrungraj Rd, Muang, Chiang Mai 50000 Phone: (+66) (53) 263 015 Fax: (+66) (53) 263 016 Email: ukconsul@loxinfo.co.th Office Hours: Mon-Fri: 0900-1130 website.  MAP

 United States – Consulate General of United States – 387 Wichayanon Road, Chiang Mai 50300 Phone: 053-107-700 (from inside Thailand); +66-53-107-700 (from outside Thailand) Fax: 053-252-633 | Non-emergencies: ACS Appointments page | After-hours emergency telephone number is 081-881-1878 (from inside Thailand); outside +66-81-881-1878 | Consular services (includes recommended STEP enrollment)  Email: acschn@state.gov  MAP

Outside Chiang Mai:

(see embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/thailand for more comprehensive list – please send corrections/other suggestions to crfthailand@gmail.com)

 Brazilian Embassy – Embassy of Brazil 34th Floor Lumpini Tower, 1168/101 Rama IV Road, Thungmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Phone: (66 2) 679-8567/8 Fax: (66 2) 679-8569 Website: http://www.brazilembassy.or.th Email: info@brazilembassy.or.th Office Hours: Mondays to Thursdays: 9:30 to 12:30 and 14:30 to 16:30 (from 15:00 to 16:30, document collection only) Fridays: 9:30 to 13:00

 Cambodian Embassy – Embassy of Cambodia 518 / 4 Pracha Uthit Rd., ( Soi Ramkamhaeng 39 ), Wangtonglang Bangkok 10310  Phone: ( 02 ) 957-5851-2 Fax: ( 02 ) 957-5850 Email: camemb.tha@mfa.gov.kh  MAP

 Danish Embassy – Royal Danish Embassy 10 Soi Attakarn Prasit, South Sathorn Road, 10120 Phone: +66 2 213 2021 Fax: +66 (0)2 213 1752 Website: http://www.ambbangkok.um.dk Email: bkkamb@um.dk

 Ghanaian Consulate – Consulate of the Republic of Ghana 976 Promsuan Building, Rimklongsamaem Road, Huay Kwang Bangkapi, Bangkok 10320 Phone: +662-6415214 Fax: +662-6415215 Honorary Consul General: Dr. Sicha Singsomboon  Website: http://www.ghanaconsulate-thailand.com/html/contactus.html  Email: info@ghanaconsulate-thailand.com

 Hungarian Embassy – Embassy of Hungary 20th Floor, Oak Tower, Prakanon, President Park Condominium,, 99 Sukhumvit Soi 24, Prakanong, Bangkok 10110  Phone: (+66) 2661-1150 / 1 / 2 Fax: (+66) 2661-1153 Email: huembbgk@mozart.inet.co.th Office Hours: 08.00 -14.00

 Indonesian Consulate – Consulate of Indonesia in Songkhla 19, Sadao Road, Amphur Muang, Songkhla 90000  City: Songkhla Phone: (66-74) 311-544, 312-219, 441-867 Fax: (66-74) 441-094 Email: song4kom@hadyai.loxinfo.co.th

 Irish Consulate – Honorary Consul of Ireland 28th Floor, Q. House Lumpini Building, 1, South Sathorn Road, Tungmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Phone: [66] 2 677 7500 Fax: [66] 2 677 7501 Website: http://www.irelandinthailand.com/ Email: ireland@loxinfo.co.th Details: Honorary Consul: Peter Gary Biesty  CHIANG MAI – Voluntary Representative Annette Kunigagon Tel: 053-874-126, 053-235-387

 Israeli Embassy – Embassy of Israel 25th Floor, Ocean Tower II, 75 Sukhumvit Soi 19, Bangkok, 10110 Phone: 02-204-9200; 02-204-9237; 02-204-9226-7 Fax: 02-204-9239; 02-204-9221 Website: http://embassies.gov.il/bangkok-en/Pages/default.aspx  Email: info@bangkok.mfa.gov.il  MAP

 Kenyan Embassy – Embassy of the Republic of Kenya – 62 Soi 5 Thonglor, Sukhumvit 55 Road, Klongtan, Wattana, Bangkok 10110  Tel: (+66)(0)2 7125721, (+66)(0)2 1853682, (+66)(0)2 1853683 Fax: Fax: (+66)(0)2 7125720 E-mail: info@kenyaembassy.or.th  Office hours: 09:00 – 13:00, 14:00- 16:30 hours, Monday to Thursday, Friday 09:00 – 12:30  http://www.kenyaembassy.or.th/home.htm  Citizen Registration

 Lao or Laotian Embassy – Embassy of Laos 502,502/1-3 Soi Sahakarnpramoon, Pracha-Uthit Road, Wangthonglang, Bangkok 10310  Phone: (+66) 2539-66679-8 Fax: (+66 2) 539-6678 Website: http://www.bkklaoembassy.com Email: sabaidee@bkklaoembassy.com,embalao@bkklaoembassy.com Office Hours: 08.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 16.00

 Malaysian Embassy – Embassy of Malaysia 33-35 South Sathorn Road, Tungmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Phone: +66-2-6296800 Fax: +66-2-6792208 Website: http://www.kln.gov.my/perwakilan/bangkok Email: malbangkok@kln.gov.my

 Mexican Embassy – Embassy of Mexico 21/60-62 Thai Wah Tower l, 20th. floor South Sathorn Road, Yannawa, 10120 Phone: (662) 285-0995, 285-0815 al 18 Fax: (662) 285-0667 Website: http://www.sre.gob.mx/tailandia Email: mexthai@loxinfo.co.th Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 08:00 – 16:00

 Mongolian Embassy – Embassy of Mongolia 100/3 Soi Ekkamai 22,Sukhumvit 63 Road,Klongtan -Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Phone: 02-381-1400 Fax: 02-392-4199 Email: mongemb@loxinfo.co.th Website: http://www.bangkok.mfa.gov.mn/index.php?lang=en MAP

 Moroccan Embassy – Embassy of Morocco One Pacific Place Bldg., 19th Floor, 140 Sukhumvit Road, (between Soi 4-6) Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Phone: (+66) 2653-2444 – 6 Fax: (+66) 2653-2449 Email: sifambkk@mweb.co.th, sifambkk@samarts.th Office Hours: 09.00 – 16.00 Details: Ambassador: Mr. El Hassane Zahid

 Myanmar Embassy – Embassy of Myanmar 132, Sathorn Nua Road, Bangkok 10500 Phone: (662) 233-2237, 234-4698, 233-7250, 234-0320, 637-9406 Fax: (662) 236-6898 Email: mebkk@asianet.co.th

     Nepalese Embassy – Embassy of Nepal 189 Soi 71, Sukumvit Road Prakanong,, Bangkok 10110 Phone: 00662-391-7240, 390-2280 Fax: 00662-381-2406 Email: nepembbk@asiaaccess.net.th

 Dutch Embassy – Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 15 Soi Tonson, Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, , Phatumwan, Bangkok 1030   | P .O. Box 404, Bangkok 10500  Phone: +66 (0)2 3095200 Fax: +66 (0)2 3095205 Website: http://thailand.nlembassy.org/  Email: ban@minbuza.nl Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 08:00-16:00 Friday 08:00-12:00 Monday-Friday 09:00-12:00 (consular)

 New Zealand Embassy – Kiwi Embassy – M Thai Tower, 14th Floor, All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Road, Pathumwan, Lumpini Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 2 254 2530 Fax: +66 2 253 9045 or 253 0249 E-mail: info@newzealandembassybkk.com Emergency After Hours Duty Officer: +66 81 837 7240 Office hours: 08:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 14:30 hours, Monday to Friday http://www.nzembassy.com/thailand  Consular Assistance  Safe Travel Registration MAP

 Norwegian Embassy – Royal Norwegian Embassy Office Address: UBC II Building, 18th floor, , 591 Sukhumvit Road, Soi 33, 10110, G.P.O. box 81, Bangkok10501 Phone: +66 (0)2 204-6500 Fax: +66 (0)2 262-0218 Website: http://www.emb-norway.or.th Email: emb.bangkok@mfa.no Office Hours: 09:00 to 12:00, and from 13:00 to 16:00 Monday through Friday Details: Ambassador: H.E. Ms Merete Fjeld Brattested

 Filipino Embassy – Embassy of the Philippines 760 Sukhumvit Road, cor. Soi Philippines, (Soi 30/1) Bangkok 10110 Phone: (00662) 259-0139 to 40; 258-5401 Fax: (00662) 259-2809 / 259-7373 Website: http://www.philembassy-bangkok.net Email: bangkokpe@dfa.gov.ph or inquiry@philembassy-bangkok.net Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m

 Portuguese Embassy Embassy of Portugal 26, Bush Lane (Soi New Road 30), Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500 Phone: (+66) 22342123, 22340372, 22347435 Fax: (+66) 26396113 Email: portemb@scban.dgaccp.pt

 Russian Embassy – Embassy of the Russian Federation – 78 Sap Road, Surawong, Bangrak 10500 Telephone: (+66)2-234-9824, (+66)2-268-1169 email: rusembbangkok@rambler.ru www.thailand.mid.ru   http://www.thailand.mid.ru/Win_work/maps_eng.htm  MAP

 Singaporean Embassy – Embassy of Singapore 129 South Sathorn Road, Bangrak

10120 Phone: +286 2111, +286 1434 Fax: +286 6966, +287 2578 Website: http://www.mfa.gov.sg/bangkok/ Email: singemb_bkk@sgmfa.gov.sg Office Hours: Mon – Fri 9.00 am to 12.00 pm 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm Sat & Sun – Closed

 Spanish Embassy – Embassy of Spain 23 Lake Ratchada Office Complex, 193/117 Ratchadaphisek Road, Bangkok 10320 Phone: 02 661 8284 Fax: 0-2661 9220 Email: embespth@mail.mae.es, spaincom@ksc15.th.com Office Hours: 08.30 -15.30 (Monday – Thursday) 08.30 – 13.30 (Friday) Visa Section: 09.00-12.00 (Monday – Friday)

 Sri Lankan Embassy – Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka – 89 Soi 15, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok Phone: (+66-2) 2512788, 2512789 Fax: (+66-2) 2553848 Email: slemb@ksc.net.th Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30:00 AM to 4:15:00 PM

 Swiss Embassy – Embassy of Switzerland – 35 North Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, P.O Box 821, Bangkok 10501  Phone: ++66 2 253 01 56 Fax: ++66 2 255 44 81 Email: ban.vertretung@eda.admin.ch, ban.visa@eda.admin.ch Office Hours: Mo – Fr. 09.00 – 11.30 AM 

 Taiwanese Embassy – Representative Office of Taiwan – 20th Floor, Empire Tower, 195 South Sathorn Road, Yannawa, Bangkok 10120 Phone: (+66) (2) 670-0200 – 9 Fax: (+66) (2) 670-0220 Email: tecoinfo@ji-net.com,tecocomu@ji-net.com

 Ukrainian Embassy – Embassy of Ukraine 87 All Seasons Place, CRC Tower, 33rd Floor, Wireless Road Lumpini, Phatumwan, Bangkok Phone: +66-26853215 Fax: +66-26853217 Website: http://www.ukraineinfo.gov.ua/main

 Emirati Embassy – Embassy of United Arab Emirates – CRC Tower, 29th Floor, All Seasons Place, 87/2 Wireless Road (Thanon Witthayu), Lumpini, Phatumwan, Bangkok 10330 Phone: (+66) 2 402 4000 Fax: (+66) 2 402 4005 Email: info@uaeembassy.or.th

 Vietnamese Embassy – Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 83/1 Wireless Road, Lumpini,, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Tailand Phone: 0-2251-5836 – 8 Fax: 0-2251-7203 Website: http://www.vietnamembassy-thailand.org Email: vnemb.th@mofa.gov.vn Office Hours: Monday – Friday 08.00 – 11.30 and 13.30 – 16.30 Hrs.

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