Chiangmai has developed a lot and very quickly in the last five years. Developers are building new buildings, new landed properties, new condos, new shophouses, new of everything. It used to be that Central Airport was the biggest and only shopping mall (of respectable size) in Chiangmai. But within the span of a few years, three other big shopping malls have been built - Promenada, Central Festival, and Maya (the smallest of the lot).
The boom had drove up construction costs but these costs are still much cheaper as compared to Singapore. An example, someone in my neighbourhood (outer ring area, not in the city) had constructed a two storey shophouse for around 1 million baht (SGD 40000). In Singapore, just renovation costs alone for a 100 square metre apartment would have easily cost you more than half of that.
Another example, just today, I decided that I did not like a fish tank I had as the only view I had of my koi fishes were from the top but the view was obscured by water plants and duckweed on the water surface (these plants were necessary as the neighbour's cats liked to come by to catch my fishes). The tank was built out of cement, about 2 x 2 metres in size.
So I put my fishes into a new tank and called up the contractor to come demolish the old one. They showed up, got their hammers and jackhammers and got to work. They demolished the whole thing in less than an hour, cleaned up the place for me, and carted away the debris to boot. All for 800 baht (SGD 32). They were happy as they got 800 baht for an hour's work (the daily wage is about 300 baht) and I was happy as I felt 800 baht was cheap considering the amount of work they had to do. In Singapore, contractors will bill you SGD 10 to SGD 15 just to drill a hole in the wall and they charge by the hole. So the same job in Singapore will easily run into hundreds of dollars.
At the same time, seeing my unpaved driveway, the guys were keen to tile it for me as well and told me that should I want to do it, the labour cost will be 120 baht (SGD 3) per square metre (raw materials such as tiles, cement, etc to be provided by me). Very attractive price but I told them I will leave it for next time.
Sunday 24 April 2016
Saturday 23 April 2016
Singaporeans have been Brainwashed
I was reading the Forum section of the Straits Times newspaper today, where readers comment on various issues, when I was struck by a realisation that Singaporeans are so brainwashed by government propaganda, and that the propaganda is so deep-rooted, that they do not even realise it.
Thinking back to my initial talks with some friends about my intention to emigrate to Thailand, a few of them had expressed surprise at my decision. Specifically, they were surprised at why I would want to emigrate to a backward Third World country, to a house in the middle of a swamp, when Singapore has all of the best (supposedly) the world has to offer?
I would understand if the question had come from someone who had never been to Thailand but many of the people asking these questions are young, educated individuals who had been to Bangkok, the City of Angels, for holidays and had gone crazy over the nightlife (for the men) and the shopping (for the ladies). They are also IT-savvy and have access to the Internet. So they know exactly what Thailand (or Bangkok) is like, i.e. a modern, bustling city that is not unlike Singapore.
But when something comes along that challenges their pre-conceived notions, i.e. that Singapore is one of the best (if not the best!) and modern countries in the world, their mental faculties and reasoning abilities shut down and suddenly they think of Thailand as a Third World country with villages and kampungs of attap huts located in the middle of in swamps (kinds of remind you of the double-think at work in Aldous Huxley's novel 1984). Questions that I have been asked include, what if you fall sick? Can you get hold of medicine there? Are there hospitals there? Are you sure the houses are safe to stay in? Will it collapse? Is it safe to go out? There are robbers everywhere on the streets, even in broad daylight. Do you have to bribe the policeman to report a crime? For someone to install a water heater?
Perfectly laughable questions, I know, especially coming from people who had travelled here, moved around here, and stayed in the hotels here before. But this is just one example why Singaporeans are so severely brainwashed that they do not even realise it. Many have received tertiary education but desperately lack critical thinking skills. But then again, one shouldn't be surprised by this, as the Singapore education system has always been one that emphasises rote learning and not critical thinking; students are taught to follow and not question, it's focus has always been one that produces workers for the economy's needs and not education for pure education's sake.
As a result, many Singaporeans have the belief and will still believe, to their dying day that, when they have nothing left to their name in their twilight years (all their money and assets have long been sold off to pay for their living expenses), it has all been worth it, all for the privilege of being to stay and die in Singapore Inc.
Thinking back to my initial talks with some friends about my intention to emigrate to Thailand, a few of them had expressed surprise at my decision. Specifically, they were surprised at why I would want to emigrate to a backward Third World country, to a house in the middle of a swamp, when Singapore has all of the best (supposedly) the world has to offer?
I would understand if the question had come from someone who had never been to Thailand but many of the people asking these questions are young, educated individuals who had been to Bangkok, the City of Angels, for holidays and had gone crazy over the nightlife (for the men) and the shopping (for the ladies). They are also IT-savvy and have access to the Internet. So they know exactly what Thailand (or Bangkok) is like, i.e. a modern, bustling city that is not unlike Singapore.
But when something comes along that challenges their pre-conceived notions, i.e. that Singapore is one of the best (if not the best!) and modern countries in the world, their mental faculties and reasoning abilities shut down and suddenly they think of Thailand as a Third World country with villages and kampungs of attap huts located in the middle of in swamps (kinds of remind you of the double-think at work in Aldous Huxley's novel 1984). Questions that I have been asked include, what if you fall sick? Can you get hold of medicine there? Are there hospitals there? Are you sure the houses are safe to stay in? Will it collapse? Is it safe to go out? There are robbers everywhere on the streets, even in broad daylight. Do you have to bribe the policeman to report a crime? For someone to install a water heater?
Perfectly laughable questions, I know, especially coming from people who had travelled here, moved around here, and stayed in the hotels here before. But this is just one example why Singaporeans are so severely brainwashed that they do not even realise it. Many have received tertiary education but desperately lack critical thinking skills. But then again, one shouldn't be surprised by this, as the Singapore education system has always been one that emphasises rote learning and not critical thinking; students are taught to follow and not question, it's focus has always been one that produces workers for the economy's needs and not education for pure education's sake.
As a result, many Singaporeans have the belief and will still believe, to their dying day that, when they have nothing left to their name in their twilight years (all their money and assets have long been sold off to pay for their living expenses), it has all been worth it, all for the privilege of being to stay and die in Singapore Inc.
Friday 22 April 2016
Banking is a Breeze
One of the great things about Thailand is the fact that (depending on the branch you go to) the operating hours for Thai banks are from about 9am to about 8pm, Mondays to Sundays. Many of the banks have branches in the shopping centres and this is really convenient as you can get some banking done while you do the weekend shopping.
Back in the bad old days in Singapore, it used to be that banking hours were from 9am to 3.30pm from Mondays to Fridays, and until 1pm on Saturdays. The situation has improved somewhat with banking hours being extended to 7pm on weekdays and 4pm on Saturdays (the banks are still closed on Sundays) but is still a pain as many people knock off late from work on weekdays and the only way they can get any banking done is to spend a portion of your weekend time at the bank, not exactly fun.
Back in the bad old days in Singapore, it used to be that banking hours were from 9am to 3.30pm from Mondays to Fridays, and until 1pm on Saturdays. The situation has improved somewhat with banking hours being extended to 7pm on weekdays and 4pm on Saturdays (the banks are still closed on Sundays) but is still a pain as many people knock off late from work on weekdays and the only way they can get any banking done is to spend a portion of your weekend time at the bank, not exactly fun.
Monday 4 April 2016
Chiangmai - Coffee Paradise
Chiangmai is a coffee lover's paradise. While the big chain cafes such as Starbucks mostly operate in the high traffic, tourist areas or in the big shopping centres, there is practically an independently owned cafe in every corner of Chiangmai, even in out of the way places and even in the mountains.
Many of these cafes are one to two owner establishments whose owners have spent some time working in a cafe. Low rents and barriers to entry coupled with potential high profit margins make it worthwhile for many of them to strike out on their own.
These cafes often offer:
The low material and labour costs also mean that setup costs for the cafe are low (but this also means that the owners often have no qualms about packing up and go if they think that the business is not making enough for them). This gives owners a lot of freedom to decorate the cafe whichever way they want. Many cafes are lavishly decorated with wooden interiors, furniture, and a lot of greenery. Some are even located beside man-made rivers as well (e.g. Baan Suan Cafe).
But regardless of what kind of cafe you like, Chiangmai will definitely have something for you.
Many of these cafes are one to two owner establishments whose owners have spent some time working in a cafe. Low rents and barriers to entry coupled with potential high profit margins make it worthwhile for many of them to strike out on their own.
These cafes often offer:
- Free Wi-Fi.
- Cakes, bread, and food (some of which are homemade or freshly baked).
- Interesting decor (classy/homely/quirky etc).
- Reading material such as books and newpapers.
- Charging points for your electronic devices.
The low material and labour costs also mean that setup costs for the cafe are low (but this also means that the owners often have no qualms about packing up and go if they think that the business is not making enough for them). This gives owners a lot of freedom to decorate the cafe whichever way they want. Many cafes are lavishly decorated with wooden interiors, furniture, and a lot of greenery. Some are even located beside man-made rivers as well (e.g. Baan Suan Cafe).
But regardless of what kind of cafe you like, Chiangmai will definitely have something for you.
Women in the Men's Room
In Thailand, it is common to encounter toilet cleaners who are female. While there are females toilet cleaners in Singapore as well, what is different in Thailand is that the cleaners here do their cleaning even when there are men around.
In Singapore, the cleaner will usually knock on the toilet door first and ask loudly if there was anyone inside. Only when the toilet was vacant would they enter and start cleaning. And even so, they would display a sign outside the toilet informing everyone that cleaning was in progress. Users who needed to go would have to find another toilet. In Thailand, the cleaner will do their cleaning – wiping the sinks, moping the floor, changing the paper towels etc even as men are walking in and out of the toilet or lining up at the urinals taking their leaks.
I remember the time when I was in the middle of a leak in a toilet in Thailand and the cleaning lady walked in with no prior warning. The other guys around me did not bat an eyelid but I was freaking out as I did not know what I should do then – should I continue or stop and finish the business in one of the stalls? As for her, she basically ignored everyone while she went about her job. She was there to do her job and after being exposed to this sort of scene everyday (I am sure there are pervs around who expose themselves intentionally as well), I suppose she had probably become desensitized to all of it as well.
But today, even after several years in Thailand, I simply cannot take a leak at a urinal when the cleaning lady is around. I can only do so in a stall. If the stalls were full, I would rather hold it in and wait or come back at a later time.
In Singapore, the cleaner will usually knock on the toilet door first and ask loudly if there was anyone inside. Only when the toilet was vacant would they enter and start cleaning. And even so, they would display a sign outside the toilet informing everyone that cleaning was in progress. Users who needed to go would have to find another toilet. In Thailand, the cleaner will do their cleaning – wiping the sinks, moping the floor, changing the paper towels etc even as men are walking in and out of the toilet or lining up at the urinals taking their leaks.
I remember the time when I was in the middle of a leak in a toilet in Thailand and the cleaning lady walked in with no prior warning. The other guys around me did not bat an eyelid but I was freaking out as I did not know what I should do then – should I continue or stop and finish the business in one of the stalls? As for her, she basically ignored everyone while she went about her job. She was there to do her job and after being exposed to this sort of scene everyday (I am sure there are pervs around who expose themselves intentionally as well), I suppose she had probably become desensitized to all of it as well.
But today, even after several years in Thailand, I simply cannot take a leak at a urinal when the cleaning lady is around. I can only do so in a stall. If the stalls were full, I would rather hold it in and wait or come back at a later time.
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