MM

I'll try to add something to this thread...maybe I can bring it back to its serious core. When I decided to move to Thailand, I had decided to retire from the work force...i.e., I didn't want to work for anyone else. I did not, however, want to simply retire. I wanted to try something else. I felt I needed to have an active goal, a challenge, and something I would enjoy. I spent a year researching business opportunities in Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya. Pattaya was not my first choice at all. I looked at hotels, guest houses, restaurants, franchises (e.g. Subway), gogos...businesses in BKK from Washington Square, Nana, Soi 33...I did a lot of work, mixed with my holiday ventures. Every 30 days or so, I'd head back to the USA to stay for a month and spend time with my kids, preparing them for the eventuality of my moving out of the country. Then, when FLB came on the market, it just felt "right". I was in the USA at the time I saw that it was for sale, and I booked a trip immediately, arriving 3 days later. I spent a couple of weeks sitting in Hot Tuna Bar across the street, watching the traffic patterns. I went into FLB as a customer, and had to fight off Mok several times. I had Gate drink all the shooters, letting me sip from each one. I liked the place, though I made a note to fire Mok immediately if I bought the bar. And, so it began. I approached the owner at the time, and we did the deal. It's been a lot of fun, and I haven't a single regret.

Putting it on me is a bit unfair, I think. Let's recap...here is your OP... Gabor came in with his own particular point of view...with a bit of a side swipe at others who think that doing something while in Thailand retired/living is important. BTW, there is a huge number of retirees living in Thailand on the edge of poverty who do exactly nothing as well. After that post (#6) in the thread, personal attacks followed regarding his expression of his choice of lifestyle. Naturally, he responded. If others had left it at that, leaving Gabor to express his opinion without the attacks, the thread would not have been fucked. That's the way I see it, and IMO, there was never really reason for me to intervene until I did try to put a stop to it with a mild rebuke.

mick, enough already.

I know you know what you mean, Idefix, but just to be clear for others: You can increase your daily withdrawal limit, but you can't increase the amount that the ATM is capable of giving you for each transaction. That is limited by the ATM itself. To withdraw 200,000 THB on an ATM that will output a maximum of 20 1000THB notes, you'd have to run your ATM card through the machine 10 times.

I was thinking about buying a bar.

There are no published rules or metrics for advancement. However, continued posting cannot hurt your situation.

The first thing I learn wherever I go, in any language is...Where is the bathroom?

Yeah...it seems you Brits don't get American humor sometimes. It's okay...we'll wait for you to catch up.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

Perish the thought.

Yes.

Whateveh!

Whoosh!

It'd be even better if it had to do with the topic title.

http://youtu.be/GObQ_VCGu6w Yep, it's as easy as jacko said. WOO HOO.

Yeah, me too! I suspect the Invision software might be getting easier to use.

One of the benefits of becoming a member on the board.

Without being oblique or mysterious, to a Thai speaker, 555 sounds like "ha ha ha", indicating laughter.

As one who lives here, the existence of good food from a variety of countries is of great interest.

Barbra Streisand

jacko, really now. You don't have to read minds here. Reading what he wrote without trying to read more into it might be helpful tho. I think you might be getting cabin fever from avoiding the high season crowding. Get out, live a little

Yes, I think that was the gist of what they were saying. I couldn't be bothered going to an AMEX office to save a few baht on the exchange fees/commissions. At some point, the law of diminishing returns kicks in when counting satang.

?? He's saying that for those from the USA, $100 TCs are the highest denomination that is easily obtainable....and he likes those (as I do). I once inquired about higher denominations, and was told they'd have to special order them or something leading to a delay. The thrust of the reply is that one should get the highest denomination available in your country in order to minimize commissions. Nothing daft about that, is there?

Has nothing to do with the poster's age or experience. I think you shouldn't be touting some venue that isn't being discussed. Do you have anything to add about the Penthouse?