TOT’s mistrust of its subscribers is causing foreigners in Thailand to pay unnecessary costs, receive continued billing long after requesting service termination, and is leading to loss of property rental deposits.

Foreigners renting property in Thailand, a country which prohibits all foreigners from land ownership, are subjected to prejudicial policies and serious levels of punative charges when subscribing to the Telephone Organisation of Thailand’s (TOT’s) ADSL broadband internet service.

For the irregular overseas British traveller, commercial shocks begin at the airport of departure. Long haul flights generally require that you register a few hours before take off and this places you, especially at Heathrow, at the mercy of the ‘duty-free’ vendors and concessions in the departure area.

In this series, originally written nearly a decade ago and now updated, I’m going to present both my experiences, and some thoughts about money saving tips, as well as some sound advice for first time (or even second time) arrivals in Thailand. These are likely to save you money, and overall, facilitate an easier and less stressful holiday, and that I am sure is a priceless bonus …

CHIANGMAI, Thailand – 25 September 2005

Have you ever taken part in a conversation that draws its focus from the truly important minutia of daily living? If not, then some would say you are not yet qualified to enter the ranks of the higher expatriates.

Such actions and decisions become the behavioural guiding light of certain expatriate classes, the ones who having discovered your new desire to reside in The Rose will gravely warn you that, If you have not heard a good rumour by ten in the morning, invent one…

Abridged & Published in Chiang Mai CityLife Magazine – June 2004

CHIANGMAI, Thailand – 14 May 2004

Photographs in travel guides led me to Chiangmai expecting a city filled with monuments to its 700-year history and vistas of uniquely Asian architecture. The reality was somewhat different, and when the initial long-distance travel euphoria wore off, acute disappointment set in for the first two years of my tenure in Thailand’s northern capital city.

It’s the nature of travel industry information that only the good and the beautiful of destinations are portrayed. Tight holiday schedules need filled with pleasure and excitement, while writers and editors often overlook the needs of longer stay visitors.

The Thai government has in the last few years begun initiatives to capture long stay tourists and retiree expatriates, recognising them as significant contributors to foreign currency earnings, but what is on offer to entice them into remaining?

I Remember it Well ….
The Strengths of the Animals

It’s strange the conversations that one gets into when sitting in an expatriate watering hole.

CHIANG MAI, Thailand – 7 May 2002 – Not so long ago a bunch of us were sitting around glugging our favourite nectars (Diet Coke with lots of ice for the teetotal in 2002 me), when the subject turned to the comments that tourists make when visiting our adopted home city.

Lots of anecdotes came forward, many unprintable here, but also some wisdoms of the aged, imparted with the best of intentions, and which remain salutary lessons to us all. Here is one of my favourites….

A long, long time ago, in a restaurant not far, far away (apologies to Star Wars) a small group of British backpackers were in conversation with the owner of the hostelry. This was just before the (first) end of the last Millennium and a new beer had arrived on the market.

Windowsills

CHIANG MAI, Thailand – 1 May 2002 - “Windowsills”, said the bearded one with much emphasis and reminiscent tones into the open top of his Carlsberg bottle, which had paused midway between table and mouth. The action, being an event of much significance amongst our small band of imbibers, riveted our attention. An event of such significance was so rarely seen that we also had to consider the utterance.

“Windowsills” we all mused. “What could he be considering?”

“Windowsills”, he repeated, “are wonderful things and you don’t see them in this country.” Then the green bottle completed it’s journey.

We considered the observation until the almost bald one admitted, “He’s finally flipped, the beer that refreshes parts that others don’t, has done the opposite to him.”