farangme

Beef curry last night. Wife made it.

33 minutes ago, fygjam said:

 

For 1200 baht per day?

Did you get paid on time?

 

If you think all they earn is 1200 Baht a day, think again.

These girls don't actually work they trap senders. Use the bars as their sales office.

There's people working here for their £56 a week dole money. 40+ hours a week in freezing conditions.

No point we will be keeping the nazi state EU ones.

That will be a collector's item.

Ok, last one. Sweet & sour chicken Hong Kong style. Yes I dumped it on top of a plate of chips. Yum yum.

Ok, something different. Tum yum chicken. Why's that different you all ask? Well, as you might know or not, my Wife is Thai but a Chinese food chef and this is her fusion tum yum.

Tum yum paste mixed with Szechuan paste, sauce thickened how the Chinese do and slightly sweetened. Amazing flavour.

On 10/11/2019 at 3:58 PM, john luke said:

A lot of stern looks in these photos. Again, pictures say a thousand words.

21 minutes ago, Stillearly said:

Can't believe anyone was stupid enough to buy it as a "going concern" after seeing the kitchen 

Totally agree. Madness.

That soi's very hard work. We were there for a while and decided to call it a day. Not because lack of custom, our customers called in for deliveries. Couldn't get reliable Thai staff and after my bike was smashed up and three of them left, it was time to say OK.

Used to buy a beer in Tequila quite regularly but after His cashier warned us about the kitchen, it was only a beer.

In the great exchange rate times somewhere like this could do very well. But not anymore. just throwing your money away these days. 

Remember my post about Tequila Sunrise in Jomtein?

It never re-opened He sold it and new owner looking to sell.

I warned people what the kitchen was like. The cheap Charlie brigade loved it and He managed to pump and dump it by selling give away food.

I hope the people who ate there every day are not feeling queasy!  

And this wasn't Thais that did this. The English owner did all the cooking.

13 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

Good for you mate but would that work for everyone ?

Well, I believe as we get older we should try and keep fit. Do something at least. It's definitely reduced my bp. Pills couldn't. I was 160 100 95 on pills it's come right down. Last night after exercise.

Nice to see the helmet laws being adhered to😅

Good photos, captures the mood and the moment.

On 10/7/2019 at 3:09 PM, Britboy said:

Just to add one more thing to the main update, which I meant to include, but forgot.

I’m beginning to think the mantra that Thailand is the Land of Smiles is disappearing fast.

In the last 3 days I’ve been served by Thai ladies who have not uttered a single word through the whole transaction.

WTF? Even in miserable England, if I’m a customer and I buy something, the minimum I’ll get is a “thank you” at the conclusion of the transaction. Worst case, a grunt.

On Saturday bank girl and I went to Central (needed some toiletry stuff from Boots). The taxi dropped us off at Cigarista, so I could buy cigars. It’s msybe half a kilometre walk to Central and I fancied a beer. We stopped off at some random bar, it had 3 moose serving. Nobody else in the bar,  none of them came to our table 

So I asked bank girl what she’d like, walked up to the bar and ordered a Singha and a water. Not a word. I went to sit down, the fattest moose brought the drinks over. Not a word.

Some pleasant conversation with bank girl, finished drinks, after a few minutes caught one of the moose’s eye, and gestures for the check bin.

Check bin plonked on the table, not a word. Moose waited while I got money out of my pocket.

I paid exact money, but moose couldn’t see that. Not a word.

We got up and left, not a word.

On the walk to Central I asked bank girl WTF has happened to Thailand?

2nd occasion was in the 7/11 in Jomtien, on the corner of beach road and the police “station”. Bunch of stuff to pack and charge up, she was talking at high volume to another check out lady. Didn’t look at me, said nothing through the whole process, didn’t hand the bag to me, plonked the change in my hand, again without even looking at me, continuing her loud Thai conversation with the teller at the other end of the checkout.

Utterly pathetic in both cases. Don’t they train staff here in customer service?

 

 

 

You have so much to learn and so little time!!

Customer service??? Of course not, you're a farang. You are lower than a flea infested street dog. The Thai smile is based on money, nothing else nothing more.

Oh... I could go on but can't be arsed. 

Enjoy it, but remember this if it seems too good to be true!

It isn't true. Just you're money they are after.

16 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

But what choice has tko got ?

Exercise, reduce His blood pressure. I had high blood pressure for about a year there. Threw away the pills, cycle 25k a day on an indoor bike and lift weights. It's been back to normal for a while now.

21 hours ago, Rompho Ray said:

Disagree.  Health care is so cheap there that comprehensive insurance is a waste of money.  Also, many come from countries where they have a national insurance plan and can simply go home and get care, no need to pay for insurance twice. 

I can see limited emergency care insurance for example, and possibly cover for major medical issues like cancer.  Comprehensive health coverage in Thailand?  Naah.

I lived in Thailand for 10+ years.  Never had health insurance.  Took care of everything from the flu to major orthopedic surgery out of pocket, never remotely a problem.

Ray, you took a massive gamble my friend. You did daily jaunts from Jomtein to Pattaya on the back of a small motorbike, your lady driving. If you'd been in an accident you'd have been at the mercy of potentially Millions of Baht medical fees. You definitely need insurance.

36 minutes ago, Thai Spice said:

You're even better than Trump, mate !

 

Nobody is better than Trump, he's Godlike.

20 minutes ago, Horizondave said:

Yes there are plenty out there taking a chance on their health and they are probably also living on a meager pension which prevents them from doing so many more things which some here take for granted. Dental hygiene is also probably not on their list of priorities.

Having a stash for a rainy day is a good thing but that stash could easily be eroded if a medical emergency occurs.

Of course if those members here are happy with their ability to pay in case of the unexpected then good for them but many others are not thinking the same and they have no chance to pay even a small amount towards hospital costs should the worst happen.

Great post Dave. 

For me it was a worrying time, taking 40k Baht a day from my friends ATM cards to keep him alive. I was panicking but managed to contact his brother who's a rich fellow. He flew out and took over financially. 

You need about 20 million BAHT tucked away to cover all eventualities.

5 hours ago, Thai Spice said:

Not only pensioners in LOS are suffering....

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/07/like-death-sentence-retired-britons-eu-face-loss-healthcare

 

They will be welcomed back and our NHS will be £Billions better off.

Oh...wait, the Guardian...LOL LOL LOL an EU funded rag.

4 hours ago, tko said:

I'm another who decided to self insure.  High blood pressure controlled by medication for nearly 30 years and the insurers won't cover heart/circulatory but won't reduce the premiums for the reduced coverage.  Plus at my age premiums are getting ridiculous. 

So I just keep a very healthy balance in a Thai bank account.  As an added bonus retirement extensions are a breeze as my balance is well over what is required.  I do send my foreign transfers to that account and make a monthly transfer from it to another account that has an ATM card for monthly expenses, because they want to see activity on the account you present for the extension.

Thing is, any serious condition could cost you Millions of Thai Baht. I hope your bank book's healthy, very healthy.

Been through this with a friend who had no insurance. Took money out of His ATM every day for His ICU after a heart attack. Cost fortunes and luckily His Family bailed Him out to cover a triple bypass. Around 2 Million Baht for that alone.

On 10/1/2019 at 3:13 PM, Stillearly said:

Haddock and chips

 

That's not Thailand, these potatoes don't exist there. Looks nice.

18 hours ago, Bazle said:

Assuming you mean "insure", I disagree with you. 

I looked into medical insurance and, at my age, it simply wasn't good value. The max payouts were too low, and the premiums too high. 

I decided to go down the "self insure" route (aka chancing it!) in the full knowledge I might have to come up with a sizeable sum one day. However, given the low max payouts, I might have to do that to some extent in any event. 

Yeah I did mean insure.

Well, if you have a lot of money in the bank, that's also your insurance. But many don't and have no insurance. They should be put on a flight back Home and deported. Just causes agony for friends and Family and Thai hospitals don't get their treatment fees. 

1 hour ago, Thai Spice said:

Mamamaa....dont be so sensitive....

Try to understand that all my life, being an expat (i mean employed by a company in France, with French contract etc) I never even had to think about this.  Mondial Assistance, Europe Assistance or similar is included in the package. 

It is just since I am retired that I had to look in the matter at a personal level.

 

 

Sensitive? You post something, ask a question then twist the answer. Usually you say I'm drunk, now sensitive! Both wrong.

Simples if you cannot unsure yourself to the hilt, you shouldn't be there. And that's meaning everyone, regardless of age.

Too many medical, can't pay horror stories out there.

Just now, Thai Spice said:

The problem is not for visitors, but for guys on long term stay. Retired, married, running a business....  For those on WP the employer should provide that I guess.

BTW, did you had one when you lived in LOS as self employed ?

 

Me, self employed, when?

I had health cover every day I've ever been in Thailand and via a Thai Company. We had a very good Family package. Cheers.

On 10/2/2019 at 7:54 AM, misteregg said:

Don’t really see the problem. All people should have health insurance in this country.

Agreed. I've never been in Thailand without it. Anywhere that doesn't have a free service for holidaymakers or ex-pats then they MUST buy the appropriate insurance or not be let into the Country. Simple as that. 

On 10/2/2019 at 8:55 AM, Thai Spice said:

Easier said than done....

Proof of health and 3rd party insurance are mandatory for my retirement visa here.

Try to get a good one when you're 65 + ....🤔🤔

 

That being the case the over 65s shouldn't be allowed to travel without. It can cause a lot of hassle for local hospitals, families etc if they need a go fund me page and, or financial assistance.

Well, the shit scared UK Government let it go so the Chinese are bringing it into line. A few bullets and executions and that's that. No more spoiled chinks, sorted and Bossed. 

This is a favourite in some places in the UK, on Chinese European menus but with a twist. Chicken with chips in gravy.very nice, lot of ingredients go into the gravy.

With mushroom and tomato. 

Sauce, everything made from scratch tonight.