IsaanAlex

I disregarded the 'study' as soon as I read it's heading.

BANGKOK: -- Almost 78 per cent of young mothers in Bangkok became pregnant while they were school students, research has found.

They are saying that almost 78 per cent of young mothers...became pregnant while they were school students.

So I am assuming the whole study already is skewed by concentrating on only a select sample.

Because if they only looked at 'young mothers' between the ages of 14-20, for example..what the hel_l else would they expect that the majority would be schoolgirls.

Only a minority would have graduated or been dropouts...

Another crap study...

Most of the mothers said they did not dare to have an abortion, but 21 per cent admitted they had attempted to abort the babies but failed.

This is the real study here.

When I hung out with bargirls *no shame* I couldn't believe how many times I heard the stories of so-and so who got pregnant, but didn't want the baby,...so trued to self-abort through drink, drugs, beating their stomachs, etc.

Animals.

And how many of these young girls will be working in the bars, soapies or brothels, within 2 years of having their kids, I wonder?

IA

$$$

You've humbled me Sriracha John. My apologies.

[Take a pic of the above line as it doesn't happen often , hehe].

I thought for some reason that this pic of the German was at his arrest-I didn't consider it could have been taken after 10 months in jail.

And jail in Thailand will tend to age one. I had an aquantance in one of Bangkoks main prisons and he loooked like shit after 8 months.

We can agree that the situation reeks. Even moreso with the additional info posted on thsi thread.

All of the above aside, he does now look like a junkie. I've spent plenty of time on Vancouvers Downtoen Eastside with junkies and they have a certain look about them.

And, as I mentioned before, drugs are rife in Chiang Mais prisons. I spoke to an Austalian in a jail in Chiang Mai a few years ago and he said he never saw drugs in Thailand until he got into a Thai prison; that's because the jailers traffick it. And provide it to the prisoners as well...

IA

Congrats Alex! You win!!...

stupid comment of the day...

You fool.

The 'murdered' man, according to a translated article in this very thread,.... was apparently recently out of rehab and this German was 'apparently', at one time, a "civil employee of the thai police, working in fighting drugs."

My point was that he in fact looks like he was taking drugs and in fact the whole situation....has a serious drug angle to it...

And I say 'heroin' because this all happened in Chiang Mai, which is located in a 'region' well-known for opium production and trafficking.

And I stand by it; he does look like a junkie. A junkie who looks to have gotten himslef in a real bind...

And your list is irrelevant unless they are Germans who looks headed to the slammer or worse in Chiang Mai, Thailand due to getting mixed up in (1) drugs, (2) people who take or sell drugs, or (3) people who 'fight' (or sell) drugs....

IA

PS. Who do you think trafficks drugs in Chiang Mai-or Thailand in general? And how many farang civil employees are therein Thailand 'helping' the Thais fight drugs?

This whole story reeks...

Chico wrote:

do you mean by "suncontracted hitmen" military and police in plain clothes?

then I could only agree to it,  you are absolutely wright, although not so much about the numbers, as they have been rather between 7.000 and 8.000

I'm definitely not sure about the numbers and do beleive, like yourself, that they have been 'downplayed' (much like the Tsunami deaths).

For one thing, 2/3rds of the way into the 'campaign' I recall Toxin boasting of 3000+ people killed. Then Amnesty International and other like organisation piped up and he decided to stop announcing figures. Then, amazingly, when the campaign ended a month later the figures were even lower than previously announced--------------> 2500

What a joke.

Does anyone need a better reason for why Toxin hates NGO's?

And by 'subcontracted hitmen' I really do mean subcontracted hitmen. There are those that the police use to do hits and either pay them out or more likely turn a blind eye to their criminal activities as payment.

What really happened in 2003, IMHO, is that people who were on the wrong side of the powerbase or were non-affiliated drug dealers were the ones wiped clean.

And, to thsi case, this German looks like a heroin addict himself.

I wonder whether his 'work' with the 'drug authorities' didn't put him on the wrong side of some people and, if this wasn't an OD death,... he either narrowly averted a hit on himself and then was framed up, or was just framed up.

IA

PS. One of the only reasons a person goes to jail for heroin is if you buy off the wrong team or f.uck with the right one.

PSPS. I think this German will end up dead when this all dies down-probably a heroin overdose in prison (lots of it in ChiangMai prisons). He knows too much.

If guilty, this German is obviously a dumb f.uck.

He's going to jail in a country where people routinely buy themselves out of charges and jail. He also failed to promptly return to Germany where they refuse to extradite their nationals.

The icing is that if he even killed the guy it was probably not premeditated. He probably could have pled if he had no cash to get out of his jam and would have been out of jail within 3-5 years.

And anyone who agrees with the death penalty in Thailand is a real dumbass:)

There is no law here that can't be bought, bent, subverted or broken.

How could you kill someone when those imposing the sentences are often guilty, directly or as an extention of their position as a government 'offical', of mass murder, (of alleged drug dealers, Muslims in the South, etc. etc.)

They are also the ones who traffick in women, drugs, vehicles...great mother of god I'm getting dizzy just thinking about the crooks, hehe.....

IA

PS. Who does everyone think killed 2500+ 'drug dealers' in 2003? In 90 days. Subcontracted hitmen and the police! The same pieces of s.hit that send people away to the death penalty...

He's already ratted people out; now it's time to let him 'walk' and follow him...

Who really believes this jack-off line that it wouldn't be a problem in X or Y country, haha

IA

PS. Time for Portugal to step up and lodge a complaint to keep his ass in jail; judging by the pictures, he's forged a few of their passports. Not as bad as Israel outfitting 2 of their assassins with Canadian passports...but I stll wouldn't be happy.

Heng wrote:

Lolz. Do the dirty work myself? Yeah right.

And I don't know where the 'machismo' is in pulling a weapon on an unarmed man..(while being clearly in the wrong)-and then walking away

I'd feel like more of a schmuck.

My employees would know better as well. It's your business if you want to wear dresses... ehm I mean, "get them as samples."

Grr. but they were very pretty dresses.

And what is this talk about not ever making 'Thais' angry or turning your back on them?

If they (Thais) are human at all it is impossible to not 'make angry' some of them. They are people. Best not to wantonly or intentionally do so...yes.

Best not to turn your back on them too quickly if you have is agreed upon though.

They, as a group, can snap quicker than many westerners; and don't think it's as slimy to attack someone from behind/with a weapon/ in a pack, etc,etc.

IA

PS. It's their country. You won't 'win'. Don't bother trying.

Thais seem a tolerant lot; but not all. It doesn't take much to make some angry.

I had some [undesirable person] pull a razor on me in the Bobay (ph) tower a week ago. Of course after I turned my back.

Scenario

.............

I walk into a shop. I ask to buy a half dozen dresses as a sample. The female employee is dumb as a sack of shit but I'm still very polite to her. After, she *exasperated*, (OMG, "I actually have to do some work")...finishes the oh-so-hard job of finding the package that I want starts speaking in Thai to me "buk" this and "buk" that.

To which I reply, "erm, pardon me" Her: "nothing." Me: "Bullshit. Some farang can actually understand a wee bit of Thai. Don't be so ignorant". Her: I was talking to my friend. Me: Cut the shit. Don't ever talk to me like that again.

Then the owner pipes up: " She was talking to her friend". Me: I don't care what she says. Is that how you want your employees talking around your customers? You want to sell this or not? Him: No. Get out! Me: "It's your shop. Bye!"

Then he tried to attack me as I was leaving his shop. I laughed. His [female employees] had to hold the oh so powerful man back. It was very dramatic of him.

Me: If you want to do something, go outside. I don't give a shit. Bye.

Outside (15 feet outside)

...........

He follows me and stands in front of me. Then he keeps standind. As I am. Then he does jack shit.

Then he walks back in the shop and I start to walk away.

Then he comes out with a blade in his hand.

I turn around and see it, with him about 5-6 feet away.

Me: " Oh. I understand. There a problem and so now you think you're going to come outside with this. *pointing at his blade*

Then he walks back inside after doing jackshit once again.

How many businessmen think it's a good idea to let your staff abuse your customers. Then you try to publicly defend them by saying, "they were trash-talking their friend; not you". Then it's kick the customer out and...I don't want your money time.

Then it's "I'll attack you in my store". No, maybe outside. No, maybe after I find a weapon. Then it's...oh, maybe not-even with a weapon.

In any case, if the guy destroyed merchandise and refused to pay; he had it coming. Not that he deserved it, ...but someone is not destroying my shit, and then probably stepping on my nose on the way out.

The same would probably have happened anywhere.

If he didn't in any way have it coming, ...is anyone still really surprised that it did? This is Thailand.

IA

PS. Heng, you didn't pull a razor on a white guy last week did you?

Excessive profanities removed by Scouse.

Who will they be purging?

Haven't they sorted out the Hmong yet?

IA

<snip>

There is no excuse whatsoever for a policeman to shoot unarmed people who weren't physically threatening him.

Especially because he 'lost face'. Time to ###### grow up!

And for those apologists, (again with the apologists ), we know that isolated cases can happen in the west. There's still no comparison between there (the West) and here. It's a hollow 'argument'; it's just really...grasping.

IA

Admin edit: inappropriate language removed

/Admin

<snip>

Someone extremely close to me...knew 2 (as ones dead)...if killing multiple people for fun or profit qualifies one as a serial killer.

btw. How did 2500-3000 people die during the last drug purge-in 90 days?

Plenty of serial killers around in fact.

More Eastern bullshit in the face of all evidence and common sense....

IA

Edit: Inappropriate wording removed

/Admin

The cost of a vote in rural Issan would go from 200 to 300 baht.

Mai bpen rai.

I knew my wife didn't get ripped off; she got 200 baht.

A friend swears his wife got paid off 500 baht!

CGCory wrote

Well traditionally among Gin drinkers Bombay Saphirre premium gin is usually in 1st place, although it MUST be noted that Tanqueray premium gin is in the same family as Bombay. Now i know that Bombay is TECHNICALLY a better gin, my favorte gin is definetely TANQUERAY Gin. This is like comparing Ferraris and Lamborgini's woRD? One might be faster then the other while the other might be more stylish, although they both blow the other cars out of the water.

Gordins gin is trash, Beefeater is for luddites, and Gilbleys.. jesus christ they sell that ######ing shit at Family mart for ######s sake.

I was surprised at how well Gordons tasted; but my G&T was obviously done by a master mixer; I can't get my Gordons/tonics to taste as good.

While we are on the topic of super premium gins though, IT MUST BE NOTED that Tanqueray has the best gin in the world, one of the only SUPER PREMIUM gins around, the much heralded TANQUERAY No.10 Gin, which is produced in small batches in, thats right, batch number 10 over at old man tanquerays plant in England. And ge this, they use fresh HAND PICKED botanicals for Tanqueray number 10.. theonly way to go.

Also, since gin is very expensive in Thailand...

Don't be a 'gin-snob' ; most gins if mixed well ( 1 1/2 oz. over 2 cubes of ice in a tall glass for me thanks!)...taste pretty dam.n good by me.

Also underrated, IMHO, is seagrams. A little sweet but very nice!

As noted previously, I can literally drink gin off the gun and be happy as a pig in s.hit; but if I go up a grade, can't go back down or I can taste the difference...

And lastly, it is a pleasure talking gin with a felow gin-lover; almost as enjoyable as talking pussy with a true rogue; [Japaneses schoolgirls and generic Thais females for me thanks! ]

IA

PS. Not too young and not too old preferably. Too 'aged' and there can be a less than favorable 'bouquet'.

The following are better nation-wide solutions:

- Alternate day vehicle operation based on even-odd number license plate.

They did this in Mexico City when I was there; my friends family had 2 or 3 cars so they just drove a different car every day.

As usual, it doesn't affect the people with cash.

And practically speaking, it costs alot of cash to buy a vehicle here; especially if you make a 'Thai wage', as I do.

So now, if I can only (theoretically)...drive my car half the time, it really cost me twice as much!

And it's half my time back on a motorcycle, or stuck at home after 6..or 8pm as there's no public transport after.

Why fookin work hard for something and then be 'denied' it's use.. *wank* *wank*

IA

Hi again,

I'm sorry. I have no idea as I'm not in Bangkok.

As a side note, the price for Proscar is the Merck (sp) brand; so it is reputable.

I went into a few pharmacies. None stocked it, but a few were willing to order it. The price varied, again, from a low of 55 baht a tab (30 tabs per box), to a high of approximately 80 baht that a hospital tried to charge me (as I went to see a doctor there before starting on it...)...

FYI, I wonder by your posts if you're not in fact looking to order it from...from Bangkok, from abroad. If so, I'd recommend going the generic route from India as it's cheaper and just as reputable. Or you could consider ordering from 'IsaanAlex Pharmaceuticals'....

IA

did someone change this to a gin thread?

When 'spirits' were listed in the 'beer' poll it was inevitable the thread would move towards gin.

Dude69 sounds like he's in need of therapy!

Hi Grewy,

The active ingredient of Propecia is Finasteride. each Propecia tab has 1 mg of Finasteride in it. Propecia is an expensive way to go.

An alternative that I do is to buy Proscar. The active ingredient is likewise Finasteride. But each tab is 5 mg of Finasteride; at the same price as Propecia.

Now cut each tab into 4 pieces. Take one piece per day.*Do not let any females touch the tabs as it can be harmful for them or any unborn children*

The cost is now 1/4th of propecia for the same effect. Technically one could cut the tabs into 1/5ths. But I'd imagine that'd be a bitch and wouldn't bother.

The absolute cheapest I have been able to price both Proscar and Propecia is 55 baht per tab (in Khon Kaen).

Generic Finasteride can be found even cheaper from some Indian companies; but to have it shipped here, etc...I don't know if it's worth the bother...

Cheers,

IA

PS. Finasteride is not supposed to work in the temple area, but I have noticed fresh young hairs come in; as has my wife. I have used Proscar for about 2 1/2 months now..

kringle wrote:

Gin is my friend and would rather have that than anything else. Hard to find places that have a decent Gin though> I'm a fan of Bombay (the old style with the Queen on the bottle). Price being what it is in Bangkok and I drink Heinekin or Chang.

Gin is a very good friend indeed.

I am partial to, in this order, ...Tanqauray, Bombay, Seagrams, Beefeater or Gordons, etc.

I can even drink floor-dripping and rotgut and enjoy it (alot!); but once I step up to a higher grade, there is no way I can 'lower myself' in the same night.

There are some surprising bargains with gin in Thailand if you are willing to go base-grade. Not much more than 150 baht a bottle at times. About the same price as the Jinro brand that I bought while I was in Korea. A fine ditiller they are too; and that was for a 26 oz'er bottle...

IA

PS. With beer it's Leo or Japanese (preferably Asahi).

PeaceBlondie wrote:

Isaan Alex, I've grown to appreciate your point of view.

wolf5370 wrote:

I think it is a valid subject - somethings do/did seem very strange to us (especially as newbies). There are usually logical reasons for them - cultural or geographical (the weather for example) - but they still seem strange to us at first. 

I agree.

And often it is a matter of perspective, and, just as often,... bias.

I have 3 examples, (2 of which are personal).

EXAMPLE 1

................

When I first started visiting Thailand came across a scene in my wifes village where a very large group of Thai men were sitting around in a circle and doing 'shots'. One to the next, a man would take a large swill of beer and chase it with 'water'.

"What a bunch of fookin pussies", was my first thought. Like many in the west I 'knew' that generic Asian couldn't handle their booze; so I thought it very amusing to see a bunch of men drinking beer and having to chase it with water.

[ ]

In fact I was wrong. It's true that they were chasing one drink with another. But I got both substance and order mixed up.

They weren't chasing beer with water, but in fact were chasing 'lao cow' ('rice whiskey')...with beer.

EXAMPLE 2

................

I've read frequently that The Huns were so savage and uncivilised that they didn't even eat cooked meat. They would simply put raw meat between their thighs or in between themselves and their horse to 'cook' it (through friction) as they rode.

I never gave it much though until I read a scathing retort by a Hungarian fellow, (many of whom rightly or wrongly consider the Huns their forefathers...)

He stated that they (The Huns) were not in fact trying to 'cook' their meat whatsoever. But the placing of raw meat (primarily) in between themselves and their horses was actually a means to prevent/minimise 'saddle sores' to their animals.

Along with a practical means of transport, I can accept this as being reasonable...

Lastly,

EXAMPLE 3

................

While I lived in Korea I got a pretty good taste of why Koreans are frequently despised by many foreigners who live there for any period; in truth, far too many are unethical, liars, etc. And despite a popular perception by many in the west, they are nothing like the Japanese when it comes to cleanliness...

It was for this reason that I wasn't much surprised when I often saw (the very sociable) Koreans sitting around after a meal and dropping their cigarrette ashes into their 'condiments' (Kimchi, etc).

"Just another example of the uncouth Koreans", is what I initially thought.

But then I came to understand that it's not unheard of for restauranteurs to 'recycle' leftover condiments and re-serve them to new guests.

Very unsanitary, and not what you would hope for.

So, to ensure that this didn't happen, after a meal a good many Koreans would drop ashes into their now used condiments...so they couldn't then be 'recycled' onto the next unwitting patron...

A perfect example in my mind of something which at first appears very uncouth and ignorant, but which in fact is an act of regard for others...(and oneself, if all patrons do likewise)...

In short, there are many differences that we just don't understand, and I make it a hobby to try to.

But, on the other hand, what I don't understand is why so many foreigners will, due to positive bias vehemently defend small cultural differences (that really need no defending) but willfully (or 'negligently') overlook real, glaring, important and/or... indefensible differences ; most often with respect to human rights abuses, blatant racism, alcoholism, corruption, sexual abuse, etc, etc.

IA

PS. The cop wanted the young lad dead as he was the only witness to the vehicle that hit him and subsequently fled the scene. No description of the vehicle=no leads=case closed. Worth a life in some parts of the world...

I think the poster got alot of gears for simple questions; but maybe his questions were too simple.

I have some better ones, IMHO.

(1) Why do many think that Thais are so peaceful and mai pen rai when they generally seem to be more internally volatile and jealous than westerners. And they murder and rape each other at such high rates?

(2) How can Thais consider westerners, especially the women, ..decadent and sexually depraved, when such a high proportion of Thai ladies sell themselves for cash and gifts and such a high number of Thai men frequent whores or have a steady piece on the side?

(3) How can Thais insist that Thai culture is 'superior' to the west and so many claim to want to be rid western influence, when that would essentially leave them with no electricity, tall buildings, internet, computers, airplanes, etc?

(4) how can Thais or any other non-white group complain about racism when they are generally far more racist than whites and can take citizenship with all rights in our countries, but rarely ever offer citizenship or amny rights for us in theirs?

And

(5) When the young lad that my wife knows was in a motorcycle accident (hit and run) and nearly killed, why did one of the policeman on the scene grab a large piece of wood and attempt to finish him off?

IA

PS.

Whatever your dealings are with the Thai police it's usually about the money at the end of the day.

Don't fight it; don't get sucked further into the machine. It will just cost you more. The fines get higher as there are more people to pay off at each stage. You risk offending someone along the way, trumped up charges, more grandiose (sp) extortion attempts, etc.

There is no justice here. Don't try to find it. Dion't try to force it. Just pay as little as possible and extricate yourself from the situation.

It doesn't matter if it's a speeding ticket or you've killed someone. Put some money in someone with some pulls hand and walk away.

The above opinion is forged from multiple incidents of dealing with police from issues ranging from driving in the wrong lane too long, to being involved in the tail end ogf a hit-and-run where a Thai lady who was struck died (I was part of the 'run' part, when a Thai mob started to attack my workmate who hit the lady as she stepped in front of him on a semi-highway-as he was going through a green light).

I've also dealt with Thai police in pubs who were;

(a) so shitfaced and belligerant that they were a danger (especially as they were in uniform and still armed.

Or,

( One policeman who befriended me and later repeatedly called my mobile phone inviting me to whorehouses and talking threateningly with my wife that he "had a problem with me"...when he couldn't reach me (as I was out of the country).

I'll keep it short.

Most Thai policeman are pieces of shit and best avoided.

Pay and walk away.

IA

Up for grabs: 1,000 teaching posts in southern border region

PATTANI: -- Teachers in the southern border region have recently been the target of violent attacks, while schools have been razed by separatist insurgents. But the Ministry of Education is hoping that it will be able to attract 1,000 teachers to new posts in the southern border provinces, to make up for the current teacher shortfall.

Mr. Sunant Thepsri, director of the ministry’s education liaison office for the three southern border provinces, revealed today that the application process for the new positions would be launched this month.

The teachers will be asked to work in schools currently facing teacher shortages, often because they are remote or thought to be particularly at risk from insurgent attack.

And then this.

Despite the attacks, the Ministry of Education insists that no more teachers than normal are making requests to be transferred outside the region, and that transfers cannot be blamed for teacher shortages.

According to Mr. Sunant, morale among teachers in the region remains high, although teachers have been urged to always travel in groups, to help prevent militant shootings.

OMFG, you've got to love this Alice in Wonderland stuff.

Sure. No one's asking for a tranfer. Everyone wants to move there. Pass the butter.

Believe it or not Spencer the pay is pretty much the same as your were offered 6 years ago-minus the housing.