A 25 year old Canadian was riding a zipline at Flight of the Gibbon in Chiang Mai on Saturday when his safety harness broke and he plummeted 50 meters to the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The weight limit for anyone using the zipline is 125 kilograms. Manager and Thai PBS reported the man weighed between 180 and 200 kilograms, while other outlets said the deceased man weighed 125 kilograms. It was reported the zipline operators have been charged with gross negligence resulting in death. Flight of the Gibbon was investigated in 2017 over claims it had encroached protected forests. In 2015, two Chinese tourists were killed in separate incidents at two other ziplines in the area. In 2016, a Chinese tourists suffered serious injuries while riding the Flying Squirrel zipline and three Israelis were injured in a fall at the Flight of the Gibbon. In 2015, remarkable footage in the Daily Mail went viral after showing an American tourist who was left hanging onto a friend after an employee forget to connect a carabiner on a 400m zipline in Chiang Mai.

I’m often asked about safety and danger in Thailand, so let’s look at a case study with much to teach us:

By the end of the night (around 2 am) as the bar’s customers were leaving. The holidaymakers – believed to be a man in his 40s and his parents, both in their 60s – were attacked by several men earlier this month during Thai new year celebrations in Hua Hin, a coastal town about three hours south of Bangkok, popular with older Europeans. CCTV footage posted online shows a vicious and prolonged assault in a street, which starts when a British man briefly touches shoulders with a Thai man carrying a bottle who appears to push him to the ground. The British woman takes the Thai man to the side and an argument ensues. Several Thai men punch the family until all three are on the ground. When they try to rise, they are kicked in the face and left unconscious before onlookers come to their aid. During the Thai new year’s Songkran festival, also known as the water festival, major streets are taken over by a giant water fight for three days as people party continuously.

If you saw this video of the 2 a.m. bar brawl in Hua Hin you probably wondered about safety in Thailand, particularly after seeing the older farang woman get knocked out. How could that happen in a gentle country supposedly safe for women? Let’s take a look:

1. Per capita, drunk Brits cause 10x more problems here than drunk Thais.
2. Three Brits went to a tough bar area and drank until 2 a.m.
3. One Brit bumped a Thai in the street and the Thai knocked him down.
4. His woman companion long and loudly insulted the Thai.
5. The Thai knocked her and the other Brit down.
6. Friends of the Thai kicked them.
7. the knockdown of the woman caused international outrage.
8. In Thailand a public insult is treated as an attack with a deadly weapon – it is mortal and transcends gender.
9. The public insulter is usually killed on the spot or ambushed the following day by friends of the insultee.
10. The woman is alive because she’s a woman. Had she been a man she’d be dead.
11. By Thai cultural standards the Thai who knocked her down acted in self defense – in the only way possible.
12. His friends were justified in treating the farangs like would-be murderers and kicking them.

The morals of this story are many and one of them is that Thailand has its own culture and sets its own rules of behavior. That’s why, in my books and in the newsletter, I repeatedly warn about arguing with Thais. Don’t do it. Ever. You can almost eliminate danger from your life in Thailand with these simple strategies:

1. Avoid late-night bars in vacation spots that are magnets for young men from around the world looking for trouble.
2. Don’t confront or quarrel with Thais. Ever. Never, ever argue with a Thai. Never.
3. Don’t drive until you understand what you’re getting into. Thai traffic has unique vices and virtues.
4. Be careful in your bathroom. This is the #1 environment where most people are injured. Thai bathrooms can be slippery as hell if you’re showering.

Why ‘Safety First’ in Thailand is… not so much

The notion of safety first in Thailand is novel and exotic. Thais take risks every day that would turn Westerners’ hair white.

What do Thai kindergartners do in school? Coloring, learning words and numbers, of course. And field trips. Like this one where these 3-year-olds each sat on their very own, deadly crocodile while their teachers took this  photograph. Our very own Sathaporn Kindergarten – a private school for children of well-off parents – here in Chiang Mai apologized after the photos went viral. The school was criticized because, among other things, the children attended the show without their parents’  or guardians’ knowledge. The pics were only discovered because the photos were uploaded to the school’s Facebook page titled “Who says crocodiles Aren’t Friendly?” They order things differently in Thailand…

Songkran Festival Safety in Thailand

During the April 11–17 Songkran period last year, 3,690 road accidents killed 390 people and injured 3,808 others.  The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said the death toll was down 11.76 per cent from 2016 (!). This year’s five-day Songkran holiday runs from April 12–16. To accommodate people travelling up-country to visit their hometowns and to stimulate domestic tourism, the Cabinet designated Thursday, April 12 as an additional holiday on top of the usual April 13–16 holiday time. Gen. Prawit has told the agencies to learn from past statistics to identify accident causes and try to minimise them. He said the authorities would also launch awareness campaigns about drunk driving, use of safety belts and wearing helmets. Most Thais celebrate the traditional Thai New Year and enjoy the water-splashing festival. A few tips for first-timers: it will be hot, but wear or bring a light shell if you don’t want to end up shivering from being doused repeatedly with ice water. Don’t drink, keep your wits about you and.. don’t ride in the back of pickup trucks!

Here’s a longer discussion about safety in Thailand:

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Vern Lovic, Thailand’s snake expert, wrote me this explanation of his new book, Keep Snakes Out!: Probably no other animal that is frequently found in a home scares people as much as snakes! Here in Thailand, we have a serious snake problem. Recently my friend confronted a king cobra climbing his front door. It’s really no joke here…

For ten years I have been answering questions by email, phone, and social media about how to keep snakes out of homes, businesses, schools and nurseries, and out of yards and away from other property.

For years I offered this free service – but finally, as the requests have peaked to around 1,000 per year, I just cannot keep up  any longer with this and keep performing snake rescues at people’s homes. So, I’m writing this book to help me reclaim my life back. This book will help me free up a dozen hours a week or more. I’ll answer your questions about the best things you can do to keep snakes in nature – away from you, your yard, and property. I’ll put everything I know here – and you take it from there.

Here in Thailand we have around 220 snake species. That’s a LOT OF SNAKES that can find their way into homes, yards, schools, vehicles, and tree houses. Start with this book to eliminate as much as possible any means for a snake to get close to your home. Head over to ThailandSnakes.com to read more about snakes in Thailand that you need to avoid. We have a couple of other ebooks – one free – you might want to get a copy of. Stay safe! – Vern

Snakes, like most animals, are emotional creatures. The emotion we humans usually see is anger. It’s the most visible of all species’ emotions and we tend to elicit snakes’ anger by doing stupid things. If you want to see an angry snake, check out the video below. If you humiliate a non-venomous snake – by, for example, using it to frighten people and make them scream – then put the snake back down on the ground, it will often stay there for a long time, clearly displaying its resentment.

Thailand has 200 snake species of which 60 are venomous. There are venomous (not poisonous) snakes everywhere here.  Recently I watched a racer swim across the river then haul herself out of the water onto a lily pad to warm up and dry off. She was beautiful. Thai snakes, like most, are terrified of humans. Thai snakes have a protector and friend: expat Vern Lovic who lives in Southern Thailand – is an interpreter between snakes and humans (that’s Vern’s picture of the beautiful red tailed racer, above) and runs a great Thai snakes website.

It’s just as well snakes have a friend: I have snakes in my front yard. My neighbor has twice had cobras in her outdoor kitchen, one expat told me he has a family of kraits living in his storage shed. Vern adds that vipers love bushes and trees near water and walkways. In other words, there are enough snakes in Thailand that it’s worth learning about them. Vern has made this easy by providing a free guide to Thailand’s snakes. Just click here and download it.

If you’re keen to get to know our local snakes, Vern makes that easy. He’s running a Snakes of Thailand field trip mid-year. To join the field trip, click here. Here’s that video of an angry snake:

https://youtu.be/qn5dEtAzb3E

And here’s a video of a remarkable escape:

https://wp.me/p4lpu0-1twDog escapes from python in Thailand

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A dear friend (not a client) who labored long and hard to make his Thai restaurant a success (#1 on TripAdvisor – hard to pull off) was recently approached by his Thai landlord’s  son. He had noticed that the restaurant was constantly sold out. He deduced that my friend had cheated his mother when she signed the 5-year lease – though the restaurant building had been abandoned for years before my friend leased it.

The son demanded that my friend sign a new lease, more than doubling the rent and that, if my friend refused, he would ’cause trouble’ in the restaurant. The son holds the double advantage of sharing his mother’s high social standing and of being known to hang out with thugs.

So my friend decided to move his restaurant elsewhere.

If the son is true to form he will now start a restaurant in the same location and wonder why it fails within 6 months. That is part of Thai commercial landlords’ pattern, too. It’s not just restaurants that are in danger of this. 3 years ago another expat friend started a very hip coffee shop-bookstore and the place was jammed from 10 am to midnight on the first day. The next morning the landlord arrived with a new lease.

And yes, the landlord did start a coffee-shop bookstore after my friend vacated. And it failed in 4 months.

If you intend to enter into an agreement with a commercial Thai landlord, please contact me first. There’s a right way and a wrong way to go into such deals that has nothing to do with what’s written on the lease document. This is the kind of minefield that we routinely navigate for our Concierge clients. That’s the point of having a concierge, after all: to help you through the local scene in comfort and safety.

Update: two years later, my friend’s new restaurant in town is booming. His previous location is still empty. Landlords in Thailand remain as much a mystery as ever!

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A History of Southeast Asia: Critical Crossroads 

Southeast Asia can fall between the two stools of China and India, overlooked or viewed merely as a reflection of either or both of these two major historical, political and commercial entities. It is, says Anthony Reid in A History of Southeast Asia: Critical Crossroads, often seen as the awkward residue after the great civilizations of India and China have been studied, or at best the sphere of interaction between the two.
But it is a region with a population that far exceeds that of either the European Union or North America and – in the South China Sea – is currently the focus of one of the world’s most serious strategic confrontations.
Understanding the region is therefore not just a matter of intellectual curiosity but also of considerable topical importance. Despite its textbook-like appearance, History is eminently readable. It succeeds at both providing a broad-brush overview of this complex region, presenting it from within, identifying and tracing major themes, while at the same time delivering a wealth of fascinating and intriguing detail.
Reid is particularly strong on the less regularly covered pre-modern periods. One interesting takeaway about the early history of Southeast Asia is its relative “statelessness:” the majority of the people in the region lived outside formal state structures until quite recently. This was related to a second interesting fact that pre-modern Southeast Asia seems to have been sparsely populated, with population densities in 1,600 of less than five per square kilometer outside only a few sizable concentrations:
… humans had been continuously present in the Asian tropics longer than in most parts of the planet, surviving the last ice age there, and developing agriculture some 5,000 years ago. Why then did Southeast Asia’s demographic catch-up with the denser populations of Europe, India, China, and Japan occur only in the last two centuries?
“Natural disasters,” concludes Reid.
Southeast Asia, he writes, is both “not-China” and “not-India.” Its distinctiveness found expression not just in politics and demographics but even in such everyday items as clothing:
Southeast Asians were much slower than their neighbors to adopt sewn garments that required the production or acquisition of needles… even with the pressure of Islam and Christianity after 1500, the carefully oiled and perfumed skin of the upper body remained in many areas the ultimate sign of cultivation. Order a copy here..

Sightseeing by Rattawut Lapcharoensap

Rattawut was born in Chicago and grew up in Bangkok. He now lives in New York.

In the poignant title story a son and his mother, who is rapidly going blind, go on a trip to see their country as tourists. In Priscilla the Cambodian, a boy learns of the hostility towards migrants. And in the novella-length Cockfighter, a family is almost torn apart by a father’s obsession with betting, bird-fighting and getting even with the town bully.

“Pussy and elephants. That’s all these people want,” says a hotel owner who caters for farangs (Thai for whites). That sets the tone for an east-west culture clash in the opening tale of this lively debut collection of short stories set in contemporary Thailand. It’s a fresh, provocative take on the country’s beauty and bleakness – without a hint of exoticism.

The first-person narration in each of the seven stories immediately draws the reader in, whether it’s about cultural discord, coming of age and the loss of innocence, small-town corruption or social divisions. The narrators, mostly young Thais, are finding their way in an unequal and irrational adult world.

An acute observer, Rattawut makes a candid and witty tour guide to the darker side of the “land of smiles”. And despite an undercurrent of anger and frustration, he avoids pamphleteering.

A History of Thailand by Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit

This engaging and accessible history focuses on the economic, social and political forces that shaped contemporary Thailand. Baker and Pasuk reveal how ruling nobles, unfree labourers, Chinese migrants and Buddhism become part of the mix as the country is transformed from a culturally and linguistically disparate region into a homogenised nation-state under a strong monarchy.

Although Thailand avoids direct colonial rule, it doesn’t escape foreign machinations. French and British territorial ambitions have to be parlayed, the second world war brings Japanese occupation, and the US underwrites dictatorship and recruits Thailand as an ally during the cold war.

The military and Washington also oversee a revival of the monarchy following its partial eclipse in 1932, when it was forced into a constitutional role (today Thailand has severe lese-majesty laws).

The authors recount how, over the years, nationalists, army generals, communist guerrillas, businessmen and civil society movements have all attempted to capture the state and bend it to their beliefs. The right, seeking to impose its formula of nation, religion and king, comes up against reformers pushing for a more liberal, democratic state. The battle remains unresolved, as the recent military coup attests to.

Baker taught Asian history at Cambridge University and has lived in Thailand for more than 20 years. Pasuk teaches at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

Four Reigns by Kukrit Pramoj

Kukrit’s epic novel follows one woman’s life spanning the reigns of four kings – Rama V to Rama VIII – from the 1890s to the second world war.

At the age of 10, Phloi goes to live in the royal palace in Bangkok with her mother, who serves as a minor courtier. Phloi’s eventful life inside and outside the palace – as daughter, sister, wife and mother – reflects the enormous changes taking place in the country. Traditional Siam is buffeted by historic events at home and abroad – a palace revolution, two world wars, Japanese occupation, allied bombing – as it evolves into modern Thailand.

After the absolute monarchs are forced to become constitutional rulers, “the air is thick with politics”. That, along with increasing western influence and the turbulence of the second world war, causes fissures in society that intrude into Phloi’s family.

This leisurely paced novel is both intriguing and entertaining. And despite being bathed in conservative nostalgia, offers a fascinating insight into the country.

Four Reigns is regarded as a classic in Thailand and has often been staged and serialised on TV.

Kukrit was something of a renaissance man – Thai prime minister, journalist and newspaper proprietor, Hollywood film actor and classical dancer. He died in 1995.

In case you’re inspired, here’s a video about books on learning to speak Thai:

More Best Books About Thailand

How can you do better than to read the classic, Making Money in Thailand?  It describes 22 ways that Westerners who retire in Thailand can (and DO) make extra income. From legal employment to buying a business to starting one. Covers budgets, profit margins, on-line and off-line businesses, visas, legalities, business culture, import and export, and a range of stories and videos by and about Thai expats making extra money,  and more.

• Thailand Novels – Visit Chiang Mai Online – Books about Thailand. English-language writers in thailand. Thriller And Adventure novels From Or Set In Thailand … Thriller and adventure novels from or set in Thailand shopping in Thailand Learn Thai at DCO books.
• Books about Thailand | Richard Barrow in Thailand – Books about Thailand. September 28, 2013. By Richard Barrow. I was in Asia Books this afternoon and I thought you might be interested in these four books. 20130928-064400 pm.jpg. 19th edition of “Bangkok Guide” is now available at Asia …
• Camera’s deployed in Thailand’s Khlong Saeng Wildlife … – His books are available on this web site www.brucekekule.com In addition to publishing gorgeous and informative books about Thailand’s last and best wild places, Bruce is likely the world’s leading photographer of the rare …
• Two books about Thailand | The Lost Boy – In every foreign-language book store in Thailand there is a section devoted to books written by foreigners about their new home. I sometimes pick one up and.
• USDOJ: Alliance One International Inc. and Universal … – The charges relate to bribes paid to Thai government officials to secure contracts with the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly, a Thai government agency, for the sale of tobacco leaf. … of Virginia charging Universal Brazil with conspiring to violate the anti-bribery provisions and books and records provisions of the FCPA, and with violating the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA relating to bribes paid to Thailand Tobacco Monopoly employees for the sale of Brazilian tobacco.

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Dear Francois,

In addition to the pitfalls inherent in all relationships, you are facing two that do not exist where you live: legal and cultural. The legal pitfalls are that you cannot own land in Thailand and, though as it is written Thai Common Law is identical to British Common Law, its administration is nothing like Britain’s. In a case between a Thai and a foreigner, Thai law is almost always interpreted in favor of the Thai party, regardless of evidence. There are exceptions, of course, but that’s the rule of thumb.

So if you want to find a mate in Thailand, I suggest you come here, rent a nice house for 12 months, get to know the family, and look around for a suitable piece of land. There’s no rush. During that time, talk to experienced British lawyers who’ve lived and practiced here for 20 years. Figure out the local customs. Figure out your relationship. Figure out the family (including the yaba-addicted cousin who’s a danger to himself and everyone else and needs a place to sleep). Then, suitably informed – and armed with instruments like usufruct codicils – proceed as you see fit.

During that 12 months, see if you can figure out the culture you’ll be living in because, as soon as your new house is built (possibly long before that) you’ll be living with your wife’s family. That’s how Thais live. Don’t try to prevent it. Let it happen and see how well it suits you. Some guys love it and wouldn’t live any other way. Others find it intolerable.

That 12 months will help you adjust to different cultural attitudes to lying, cheating and stealing. This has nothing to do with your new partner, of course, but rather with relatives who see you as a member of their extended family and treat you accordingly. Again, it’s not a better or worse way of organizing things, but it sure as hell is different, and you want to learn how well you can tolerate the difference – for the rest of your life.
Apart from that, Thailand can be a Paradise and I love it. I’m beginning to understand the culture and its attitude to us farangs and I’m OK with it and I still love it and love the Thais the way they are. But it has taken me some years and misadventures to reach this point. Here’s Aimie explaining how Thai women are taught to think about relationships: don’t say you weren’t warned!

For more about Thai mates, why not read up on the subject. Here are some good books:

The post Find a Mate in Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

A British friend who’s making money in Thailand by managing Chiang Mai’s swankest private hotel told me he’s “a slave to TripAdvisor”: as soon as he wakes he checks TripAdvisor. A bad review can wreck months of hard work. You, too, can be such a slave…

May 10, 2016: Several of you have emailed to say you’re interested in local businesses so we’ve been looking been looking for modestly-priced business opportunities around Chiang Mai. Here’s the first: a guesthouse. I haven’t vetted this place, don’t know the owner and receive no reward for bringing it to your attention (the same goes for real estate listings). For this job you would need some hospitality experience and trustworthy local help to audit the books and instruct you about the unique pitfalls of doing business in Thailand.

The financial requirements of this deal are: Deposit 500,000 baht and 120,000 baht monthly. In US dollars, that’s $14,000 and $3,500 monthly. Doesn’t look so bad when you convert it to familiar currency, does it? Term of the lease? Long-term. Sounds like it’s up to you and the landlord to negotiate the term. Location? Soi Rachamanka 3, right in the beating heart of the Old Town. Could hardly be  better. You can contact the owner at +66-(0)83-515-9988 or (0)87-972-9988. But read the rest of this post before you invest a penny…

Starting a Business in Thailand Can be Tricky

One factor that complicates starting a business in Thailand is that, under current law, foreigners and foreign businesses may only own a 49% stake in local companies. The current law forbids foreign majority ownership in sectors where Thai businesses are deemed not ready to compete with foreign companies. Businesses have circumvented restrictions by issuing preferred and common stock options, with preferred shares enjoying more voting rights. Now a draft law put forward by the Ministry of Commerce would restrict foreign firms from using preferred stock to retain control.
“This proposed change would have far-reaching ramifications that would affect thousands of existing firms here, big and small, and would certainly deter future foreign investment,” said Marcus Burtenshaw, executive director of real estate consultancy Knight Frank Thailand.
“My business is one that you can run from literally anywhere. We registered in Thailand because we like the lifestyle here,” said Chris Roberts, who did not provide his real name out of fear of a possible backlash. Roberts runs a small IT firm that specializes in software engineering. His company employs only four foreigners but has over 20 Thai staff. He says that while he has Thai partners who own the majority of the company, they do not have executive authority on the direction of the company. “If they’re going to make it difficult for me to run my business, then I have no problems about packing up and moving somewhere else.”
Resistance from foreign officials and businesses has prompted internal reviews and assurances from the Ministry of Commerce that any changes to the law would be made after consultations with all parties. A source from the ministry said that any changes are still preliminary and that all changes would have to go through both the legislative assembly and the cabinet – adding that compromises with foreign businesses could be made, as a reworked Foreign Business Act could allow foreigners to own a majority share in certain sectors including accountancy, legal services, architecture, engineering, brokerages, advertising, hotel operations, food and beverages and “other service businesses.” The ministry said some restrictions may be relaxed as a compromise for limiting the use of preferred stock options. Yet foreign companies say that is not enough.
“Imposing tighter restrictions would be seen and felt as a step backwards at a time when foreign direct investment levels are low and Thailand’s neighbours are becoming increasingly open for business,” said Burtenshaw.
The various chambers of commerce agree with such sentiments. When rumours circulated about the proposed changes, the American Chamber of Commerce quickly pointed out that the last time such restrictions were discussed in 2007, the stock market dropped 15 per cent in one day as a result.
Stanley Kang, chairman of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce, said erecting more protectionist barriers would be going against the tide of increasingly freer trade.
“With the ASEAN Economic Community due to be implemented next year, there is going to be more competition in the region, so we want to see more liberalization of the economy.”
Sources within the Ministry of Commerce said the committee overseeing the draft law is resolute in the belief that it is vital to protect Thai interests.
“To them, this is not about chasing away foreign businesses but protecting Thai ones. More transparency and fewer loopholes can only be a good thing,” one official said on condition of anonymity.
For others, however, the proposed changes come at a bad time. As Thailand’s economy slowly recovers from a decade of political instability and the world comes to grips with the country’s new military government, any changes that rock the boat could only worsen the situation.
“Thailand faces a choice,” British Ambassador Mark Kent wrote in a blog post circulated by the British Chamber of Commerce.
“It can choose to seize the initiative again and make itself the most attractive destination for foreign investment … or it can choose a different path.”

A Thai Startup: Richard’s Cosmetic Business

Richard Berry is launching a new cosmetics business in Chiang Rai, Thailand, about 3 hours north of Chiang Mai, near the Myanmar border. I’ll be following the progress of Richard and his partner, Uwie, over the coming months a posting videos of each stage of their adventure. Here’s some of what he had to say, based on his progress to date:

Me: so, if you’re thinking of doing business here, what are some of the things to do before you commit?

Richard: Okay. Buy Thailand Fever, the book. And by the way, it’ll give you a little bit of insight into how the Thais think differently. You have to understand that their thought process is their actual mentation is based on the five precepts, and an animus society is very, very different from the way we think in the west. The language, okay, we think if you speak the same language. It’s very different. So the key factors that have helped me, and while our business isn’t open yet, we’ve got the product produced, is to find a farang who’s successful in business, who doesn’t moan about the Thais, also, somebody who accepts the culture is very important. Someone who’s not got a business who battles with the Thais. So find someone who accepts the Thai way of life, who’s successful, and go and talk to them. And they’ll always be happy to impart their information to you. So that’s the key factor. You will not learn it from books. You will not learn it on YouTube or any videos. You need to talk to somebody who’s set up businesses out here, and that’s what’s helped me. That’s the key factor.

What about language?

I can get by with basic Thai, and every single new word I’ve learned has made it easier, and you’ll get more respect from the Thais you deal with. So I would say, if you’ve got a predisposition towards learning, and I haven’t really, and even if you haven’t learned the language, go to school. Learn from books. The best book ever is by James Higbie, called Essential Thai Grammar, I think, or the Fundamentals of Thai Grammar, big thick book like this. No one’s ever come near learning from a book, but you need to go to learn lessons, to get the pronunciation right. If you can learn the script, it’s a phonetic language, so if you learn the script, you cannot pronounce it incorrectly. So that would help a lot, and of course you won’t have the wool pulled over your eyes. You’ll get to understand a little bit, and you’ll get so much respect from your Thai business partners and the Thais you deal with in the street. They love it.

Further Reading

How can you do better than to read the classic, Making Money in Thailand?  It describes 22 ways that Westerners who retire in Thailand can (and DO) make extra income. From legal employment to buying a business to starting one. Covers budgets, profit margins, on-line and off-line businesses, visas, legalities, business culture, import and export, and a range of stories and videos by and about Thai expats making extra money,  and more.

The post Making Money In Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

Every day, dawn until dusk, Chiang Mai is bustling with a variety of markets squeezed onto sidewalks, set up under rows of tents, or spread out under huge pavilions. Here’s a look at some of the most popular wholesale, fresh food, secondhand, walking street markets in Chiang Mai:

Sompet Market

This market is best known for its abundance and variety of fresh tropical fruit, but vegetables, flowers and you can find some northern-style Thai food as well. Compact but brimming with activity, visitors can grab a fresh tropical smoothie (Sompetch Fresh Fruit Smoothies, Moon Mueang Soi 6, Mueang Chiang Mai, Google Maps: 18.7917514, 98.9931316).
and watch scooters zip down the road with bags full of produce or observe local Thai cooking schools taking their students shopping for fresh ingredients for the day’s class.

When & where: Open every day inside the northeast corner of the Old City on Moon Mueang Soi 6.  Copy and paste this into Google Maps: 18.7917514 98.9931316 

Muang Mai Market

This wholesale food market is the go-to place for restaurant and food stall owners looking to restock their daily inventory of fresh ingredients. Although the variety at Muang Mai Market is impressive, it’s the sheer volume of fruits, vegetables and fresh meat that really distinguishes this market from others. There are baskets of smoked fish and eggs stacked shoulder high barrels of peeled garlic and dried chilies, and tabletops full of leafy green vegetables and brightly colored fruit.

When & where: Open everyday from dawn until dusk, just west of Wang Singkham Road.

Wororot Market

Locally known as Kad Luang, this market in Chiang Mai is buzzing with shoppers at nearly all hours of the day. You can buy almost anything here and it is essentially a modern day department store turned inside out! You will see many Thai locals shopping here since the prices are cheaper and the quality of goods are usually better than the more touristy markets. Vendors here sell everything from clothing, packaged herbs and snacks, fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, household décor and appliances, children’s toys and more.

When & where: Parking is the biggest problem at Wororot Market, and your best bet is in th Wawee Coffee Shop lot, on the river across from the market. Copy and past these coordinates in your map app: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=18.78983,99.00251. Open 24 hours everyday although most vendors come and go in waves from early morning until dusk. You’ll find the majority of places open from early in the morning until late afternoon where new food, clothing and electronic stalls open up for the night crowd. Located at the end of Chiang Moi Road on the west side of the Ping River.

Khamthiang Flower Market

Acres of nurseries, hundreds of garden shops, tons of landscaping supplies, helpful vendors and more. Need anything for your garden? Whether it’s plants (like wonderful live orchids, carefully placed in pots – for 600 Baht– shrubs, trees (I bought 5 beauties for 300 baht each and they’re flourishing), garden supplies, water fountains of all sizes, bonsai, paving…this is the place. Or just wander around. Poke your nose into any flower, pick up any plant, ask anything you want: Thais are mellow people, and Thais who care for plants are especially mellow. There are coffee shops and food outlets so, as anywhere in Thailand, you’re never more than 100 meters from a snack!

When & where: Open 9:00 am – 5:00 pm every day at 100 Talad Kham Thiang Road (behind Lotus Tesco on the Superhighway).

Weekend Flea Market

This secondhand market is unique among the markets in Chiang Mai because its vendors sell both new and used items but from vintage collections. You’ll find old bulky electronics, dated kitchenware and decade-old books. Some items are still in their original, yellowing wrappers while others clearly show some wear and tear. There are some great finds if you look hard enough!

When & where: Open every Saturday and Sunday beginning at 8:00 am until around 1:00 pm. Located at the intersection of Kaew Narawat and Bumruang Roads near Prince Royal’s College.

Saturday and Sunday Night Walking Streets

These two walking streets are among the most well known markets in Chiang Mai and are especially popular with tourists. Both markets are packed with vendors selling artwork, jewelry, hand-woven bags, clothing, lacquerware and other trinkets. There are also plenty of food stalls along the street and several separate dining areas where you can sample tasty sweets, bowls of noodles and grilled meats.

When & where: Open from approximately 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday nights. The Saturday Night Walking Street begins at Chiang Mai Gate (south gate) and stretches southwest along Wulaai Road. The Sunday Night Walking Street begins at Tha Pae Gate (east gate) and heads west along Ratchadamnoen Road inside the Old City.

Farang Farm Saturday Morning Market

One of the newer markets in town, this Saturday morning market features western-style produce like homemade cheeses and jams, freshly baked goods and pressed juices. The highlight of the market is the artisanal breads such as sourdough bread, croissants, brioche and baguettes. Get there early to get the best selection.

When & where: Open every Saturday from around 7:00 am at the Suan Phai Lom Village on Chiang Mai International Convention and Exhibition Centre Road. Closes when the bread is gone!

Chiang Mai Gate Market

Beginning in the wee hours of the morning, rows and rows of vendors set up under a large pavilion on the inside of the moat at Chiang Mai Gate and sell pre-cooked snacks and fresh produce, breakfast foods and coffee, and home goods. Vendors also set up outside near the brick wall and sell secondhand clothing.

In the evening, the Chiang Mai Gate side street areas are flooded with food stalls selling Thai dishes such as noodle soups, stir-fried dishes and curries. Some items are made to order while others are scooped from large brimming pots. You can also find Thai sweets and fresh fruit smoothies here,too.

When & where: Open everyday. The morning market opens around 4:00 am until 10:00 am. The evening food stalls serve food from 5:00 pm to midnight. Map details and directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=18.78137,98.98808 

Night Bazaar

The Night Bazaar is very popular among tourists and full of stalls selling DVDs, watches, electronics, clothing, luggage, sunglasses, shoes, and jewelry, both real and knock-off. Vendors also sell Thai products such as silk goods, dried spices, hand painted home décor and wood carvings. During the evening these stalls back up to many other permanent stores such as tailor shops, Western restaurants, and massage parlors, which provide visitors a place to escape from the crowds gathering along the narrow sidewalks.

When & where: Open every night starting around 6:00 pm and closing near midnight on Chang Klan Road.

Thippanet Market

This market creates and sells countless amulets, a special type of jewelry that come in all different shapes and sizes and is meant to protect the wearer from bad luck. The amulets themselves are works of art and reflect an incredible level of detail in the design. They are typically housed in a decorative case and it’s interesting to watch the craftsmen create these pieces by hand with their simple tools.

When & where: Open everyday from the early morning until the evening. Located at the southern end of Wulai Road near Thippanet Road.

This is just a glimpse into the world of markets in Chiang Mai. The variety is incredible! Some are open every day while others are day-specific. Some focus on produce or clothing while others have a little bit of everything. It’s a great place to shop, sample authentic Thai food, and peek into the lives of Thai locals.

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

These top Thailand blogs are insiders’ look at places you don’t get from news outlets.

These Thailand blogs are mainly written by long-term expats living here in the Land of Smiles and cover just about everything from the world of Thai food to learning how to speak the five Thai tones, getting the most out of your island visits to covering currents events and news in a way us farang can understand. (And keep your eye out for a list of Chiang Mai specific blogs and resources coming soon!)

THAI TRAVEL NEWS

Richard Barrow’s industriousness and journalism skills have created a huge readership (he has nearly 100,000 followers on Twitter) because he does something so well and has been doing it for a long time. He also has useful advance news of interesting events. Thai Travel News has something for  tourists, travelers, expats, and even residents. If you’re on Twitter, make sure to follow him at @RichardBarrow – you’ll be amazed by the amount of information he’s constantly sharing about the Kingdom. 

THAIZER

Written by a long term expat, Roy Cavanaugh, Thaizer is a regularly updated source of Thailand news, current events, tips, advice and reviews that are often just as helpful to first time travelers to the country as they are long time visitors. Roy makes a point of trying to see both the good and the bad in the country and continually offer honest and practical advice.

MIGRATIONOLOGY

If you at all like Thai cuisine then you have to check out Migrationology. Created by Mark Wiens, a longtime American expat in Thailand, the site is chock full of not only food recommendations in Thailand but the stories of the people, places and traditions behind them along with a ton of mouthwatering videos. Together with his Thai wife, Ying, Mark now calls Bangkok home and travels around the world discovering places through their food. While you’ll find other destinations, his emphasis and on Thailand Thai food are still the strongest.  

AUSTIN BUSH PHOTOGRAPHY

That’s Austin’s work, above. But his blog is about food in Thailand. Much more useful than reviewers whose only experience with Thai food is from their local restaurant at home. Well-written and illustrated by a professional photographer. Who could ask for more?

8 MILES FROM HOME

Bored with their life in England, they decided to do something about it and so up rooted and moved to the North of Thailand with their Cocker Spaniel, Eden. Creating a Cinematic Travel Web Series about their adventures called ‘8 Miles from Home’. 

THE THAILAND LIFE

Want to learn Thai phrases that you can start using right now? This is a great place to start – for free! Whether you want to learn a few essential Thai phrases for traveling around the country, or want to be able to talk to your partner in his/her native language, these lessons will put you on the fast track to speaking Thai like a Thai.

BANGKOK NOIR

An American artist in the Bangkok night life. Keen observations plus Chris Koles’ unique rendering of nighttime Bangkok. This blog is not so much a tourist guide as an artistic rendering of an exotic human demographic. The drawings themselves are worth the visit.

VILLAGE FARANG

My Thai Village Life in Chiang Rai by Village Farang. Village Farang is an inspiration to travelers, lovers of country living, and bloggers alike. This blog, by a longtime resident of Thailand, about his beloved village home in Northern Thailand is a fine example of blogging, both intimate and expansive. It balances the beauty of the Thai countryside as viewed through the lens of his camera, with his personal introspection and insights on life in Thailand.

STICKMAN

Thirteen years and millions of faithful readers testify to the worth of this wryly funny, educational, and highly amusing blog about real expat life in exotic Bangkok. Don’t miss it.

STILL LIFE IN MOVING VEHICLES

Bangkok From the Passenger’s Seat. The author is a University Professor and photographer who turned a 9-month contract into an 8-year passion. He’s the author of Thai Taxi Talismans, a book inspired by the blog and available at Asia Books and, of course, through Amazon. He’s created one of the most idiosyncratic blogs in the history of blogdom–and that’s saying something. Funny, mordant, quirky, it’s blogs like this that leaven earnest blogs like mine. Enjoy!

JAMIE’S PHUKET BLOG

The Real Phuket. More timely (today!) and more personal than any tourism guide could hope to be, Jamie’s love of Phuket (a large varied island with a blend of people and religions, lively tourist beach areas and many quiet places) shines through. While highly personal, it is also well-indexed and extremely useful for anyone planning a visit. Once again, excellent photographs not only adorn the site, they reveal a great deal about Phuket and its real-life inhabitants.

ISAAN LIVE

A blog/Internet broadcast about a northeast Thailand (Isaan). It’s featured here because this labor of local love shows how much a determined blogger/broadcaster/narrowcaster can accomplish by getting off his backside, visiting, and accurately documenting the secrets of the region. It has put Isaan on the map and inspired emulation and…a visit to Isaan.

IamKOHCHANG

The independent Traveler’s Guide to Koh Chang. Written from and about one of the world’s most beautiful islands, this is another excellent example of advocacy blogging. Once again, the elements are all here: love for the place, good writing, a keen eye, and excellent photographs. If you read this blog you will be compelled to visit.

LEARN THAI WITH MOD

Though focusing on teaching foreigners Thai, Mod also weaves in a lot of information, lessons and examples on Thai culture, current events and more. Her cute and clever videos also make learning Thai phrases and grammar a little less daunting.

LIVE LESS ORDINARY

Another food centric blog, Live Less Ordinary chronicles the life of Allan and Fanfan; an Irish/Thai couple living in Bangkok and eating through Asia. Extensive travels in Asia and a number of reviews and hotel recommendations.

Have other Thailand blogs I should add to the list? Let me know in the comments!

The post Top 10 Thailand blogs appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.