Published by TheSoiLawyer on September 6th, 2008
in Reader Submissions and U of Mango.
editor’s note: This blog has always been about sharing everything we know about Thailand - the bars, the nightlife and making our own way in business here. Well folks - to do just about anything as a foreigner in Thailand you better have a lawyer. Visa, work permits, marriage stuff and of course business endeavors. We have tried to cover business stuff as we go and I even tried to keep a section on it.
Recently we met an American lawyer in the Big Mango and we discussed some sort of regular column for the blog. I think it will be cool. This will be his first post and we are already discussing some ideas for other posts. We may do some sort of ask the lawyer column and highlight some real case work. I would like to welcome Ben to the blog! Thanks.
Ben is the Managing Director of Integrity Legal (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Much confusion surrounds the US-Thai Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations, or simply the Treaty of Amity as most expats refer to it in Thailand. The confusion surrounding the treaty stems from its precarious status with regard to the WTO treaty signed by Thailand nearly fifteen years ago and the, currently mothballed, Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Thailand. Many people wonder if the Treaty is still in force and if it is, then how much protection does it really offer?
Continue reading ‘The Real Deal On The US-THAI Treaty Of Amity’
Published by sideshowBOB on November 15th, 2007
in Main and U of Mango.
This may be well off topic but given that I am living in Bangkok, doing business here and dealing with all the crud that one has to deal with here - I find these topics pretty interesting. Maybe some of you will as well. The umbrella for this discussion is this book I am reading, Asian Godfathers: Money and Power in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Absolutely fascinating and gives a very intriguing window into politics, how big money works and how HK/Sing are every bit as messed up as Thailand but tend not to get the focus since their economies are bigger and supposedly freer. I suggest checking out this book if u at all wonder what makes big money tick in Asia. I have yet to get to the Thaskin chapter but there is a history chapter that mentions Thaskin as not quite the rags to riches story that he claims but is a case in similar asian tycoonery. One who spends there entire life learning how to use family/government/royal relationships to make money and play politics.
Continue reading ‘Asian Tycoons and backstabbing Burmese’
Published by sideshowBOB on September 3rd, 2007
in U of Mango.
If you cruise sites like craig’s list sf from time to time you will invariably see ads like this:
just a no strings attached sex buddy for repeat encounters - w4m - 21
Great stuff. I wonder if it is real but my hats off to the dude that connects with this girl and gets what she is supposedly promising to deliver. Living the dream I say. But hey - this is Thailand right - there must be a similar scene? Some people say it is on the online dating sites but frankly I can’t be bothered to pay the memberships fees knowing I can pay 500 baht to get into places like the Tunnel, get 2 free drinks and actually meet the girls in person. As I have always said if one does not look past the normal p4p scene one cannot find the other hidden gems in Thailand but look I do and sometimes we just luck out.
Before we jump into studying the freebird scene some more I thought I would share an article with you from SF Gate.com in San Francisco, Ca - my old home.
Continue reading ‘Bored, Lonely and Horny - Just call Super “Freebird” Man!’
Published by sideshowBOB on August 27th, 2007
in U of Mango.
From time to time when we have discussions with people about wanting to move to Thailand the conversation inevitably revolves around going into business. Then the big question comes up - does one build a business or buy a business? Having done both we have a few things to say about this that may help people out a bit or at the very least give prospective entrepreneurs something to think about it.
Here goes it…
Continue reading ‘Build or Buy?’
Published by sideshowBOB on August 3rd, 2007
in U of Mango.
From time to time I get email updates from a good friend in California filling me in on how his re-entry to California civilization is going. I must admit that I have been living overseas in Asia for so long now that I am not sure I could go back. It is not for the obvious reasons but it is a much bigger conundrum, I am just used to being an expat in Asia and going home is just too boring. I miss my family tons but not much else. It is interesting to hear how people who have lived or stayed in Asia for a while deal with going home but this is the first time anyone as ever used Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to explain how they were doing.
The basic premise is this:
Maslow’s theory contended that as humans meet ‘basic needs’, they seek to satisfy successively ‘higher needs’ that occupy a set hierarchy.
Continue reading ‘In Thailand - satisfying Maslow’s first level is easy…’
Published by sideshowBOB on July 31st, 2007
in After Hours and U of Mango.
Interesting times in Thailand as usual. Head on over to the latest article at the Asia Times for a view into the politics. First time I have seen so much public talk about the coming era of succession. Was talking recently to a large supplier (Thai company) of kitchen, beer and concession equipment about how bad Thailand is really doing. The media keeps pointing people to the stock market, the baht and public projects as signs of strength but this guy was telling me that his business and that of most of his Thai friend’s businesses have experienced record year over year declines. He was frank in explaining that it is the fault of the current political environment where lackluster tourism, foreign investor rules and so on have spooked people out of growing or starting their businesses in Thailand. I agree.
On to the member clubs!
Continue reading ‘How I am learning to play the member clubs - Part 1′
Published by sideshowBOB on July 7th, 2007
in Main and U of Mango.
Well. Continuing on our economic thread here at the blog I decided to think out loud a little about the current environment in Thailand just to see what everyone else thinks. Seems to me that although the baht is strong, the stock market is up and high-end condos and beach houses are selling in droves - the basic underlying Thai economy that runs on rice and tourists is not fairing all that well. Or maybe I just think too much?
Continue reading ‘How is Thailand really doing?’
Published by sideshowBOB on June 29th, 2007
in Main and U of Mango.
Since I live on Suk Soi 4, I am not always in need of a taxi for most of the things I do. I like to walk and generally when grabbing a bite, heading to Bar 1 or heading for the Skytrain I bypass taxis and use my legs. I don’t mind walking for the most part unless it is really freaking hot but the problem I have is that my apartment building is next to a hotel. Wherever a hotel is located on a main road one will inevitably encounter those parasite taxi drivers that make Tuk Tuk drivers seem cool. I had a run in with one recently and after I was done arguing with him I was picked up by a another, very cool driver, who explained some of the taxi economics to me.
Continue reading ‘The economics of Taxi Hell’
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