I would agree that Thai fried rice is better. The buffet at the LK Empress in Pattaya serves Thai fried rice every morning, 7-11 am. among other great dishes.

Chiang Mai used to be good for visas. Most guys I know just go to Vietnam or Cambodia. If you are married to a Thai girl no need for visa runs.

I will be renting, I have been warned by many ex-pats not to buy, a glut/oversupply of apartments being one reason.

My apartment in Brisbane was vacant for ten weeks. Very hard to rent. Finally found a tenant, but renting at 40 dollars a week less than before.

In Australia, especially Brisbane and Melbourne, too many apartments have been built. Thailand and China similar. Low rental yields.

I've done a border run to Cambodia when I wanted to stay in Thailand for 40 days, Don't have to leave the border do you, just do a U-Turn. However, I worked it out that it would have been cheaper to pay the overstay fine.