dukkha

There is a handcrafted, wooden furniture market in Bangkok Noi. I forget the name of the road but take the #40 a/c bus (bright yellow, the blue #40 is not a/c) off of Sukhumvit or near MBK, first make sure you are going in the direction of Bangkok Noi. The ride will be 30 minutes or more. Get off at the MAKRO STORE and walk one block in the same direction the bus was traveling. About 5 or 6 shops in a row selling very nice wooden furniture.

They can arrange a truck to deliver anything you buy.

If you go on a Saturday or Sunday, the DALAT TALANG CHAN floating market is near-by: great floating seafood restaurants.

Many thanks dddave....dddukha

The 90 day reporting desk at the One Stop Center has accepted reports from any Bangkok located person for many years. You do not have to have work permit or be part of a BOI supported company for this service. Other services are restricted however.

Lopburi you are a legend, many thanks for the clarification...a BTS to Mo Chit is a far more simple journey...but of course understand that retirement visa process will needs be done at RASA tower 2...but what a bummer, have to make the trip tomorrow on my birthday, just thought I would get that one in,..heres a clue...Will ya still need me, will ya still love me, when I'm Sixty..............wait for it...cheers... Dukkha

Looking for furniture outlet, nothing expensivo, a table around 1.5 m lenght, 50 cms width, with bench type seating..any ideas most appreciated, tight budget...Dukkha The furniture is for a balcony which is not enclosed of course.

Try the garden/outdoor section of: Home Pro, Tesco-Lotus, Big C. There's round and white plastic tables and chairs that'd do right fine.

Mac

Many thanks Thanyaburi Mac...most appreciated, will check them out this week...khop khun

Looking for furniture outlet, nothing expensivo, a table around 1.5 m lenght, 50 cms width, with bench type seating..any ideas most appreciated, tight budget...Dukkha The furniture is for a balcony which is not enclosed of course.

I had a red shirt and got caught in the rain. It turned pink. I've been that way ever since.

It must be Thaksin's fault!

Absolutely Scott, no other earthly reason..

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In your opinion, what do you think Thais mean by katoey? Does it only refer to transgendereds or transvestites? The loan-word "gay" is very new in Thailand.

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I may not know much about what they are saying... But I know what I like

Prefer to know people by their name, the rest is not of interest to me, more labels...yes agree, gay is a western import...thai sexuality is far more fluid than the West ....If you dont know what you like I think you have a bit of a problem.. Dukkha.

It always amazes me how much farangs complain about how Thailand is not like "home." They don't speak English here! How can they eat that food? Don't they know how to do things the right way? What's wrong with these people?

Complaining, complaining, complaining! OH MY GOD! If Thailand is so bad....then go back HOME!! Wherever that may be and SHUT UP!

There's nothing wrong here except the farangs who complain about Thailand.

listen up girlfriend- I am a farang and I LOOOOOOOOOVE this place, body and soul ( more body than soul!)

when you put us all in the same boat you take away my abilty to defend you

You will not find a more loyal thailand lover than me.

It is true there is alot about Thailand that sucks. ( opps!)

I tell all the moaners- if you do not like it here- LEAVE!

....listen up girlfriend.......now that is gayspeak if ever I have heard it..........too much yankee TV I reckon....and I cower when I hear gay men refer to their partners as 'husband'....maybe it is generational, I prefer to let heterosexuals speak in terms such as that..as for moi, now there is a little more gayspeak, I too lerve Thighland, after 10 years, am still not bored...and agree, if ya gunna moan about the place then find somewhere else to reside..some people just wont be happy wherever they live....it has nothing to do with the place but within your own pscyche that the problemo lay...and for all you yanks, Have a nice day, whadda a sheit expression that is while I am on about terminology... Dukkha

I have been living in Thailand for a couple years, and have decided I have had enough of it. I am moving back to my farangland and I am looking forward to it. I won't say my complaints here, but lets just say I perfer being a tourist than a residence in Thailand.

I dont think I would like to be a 'residence' in any country but happy to be a resident in Thailand.... Dukkha

it was a typo...my bad...and yes, your typing is better than mine...wow

Sorry Scott, being an old pedant and teacher could not resist a comment, sometimes I type with my elbows.... Dukkha

I have been living in Thailand for a couple years, and have decided I have had enough of it. I am moving back to my farangland and I am looking forward to it. I won't say my complaints here, but lets just say I perfer being a tourist than a residence in Thailand.

I dont think I would like to be a 'residence' in any country but happy to be a resident in Thailand.... Dukkha

Very zen indeed.

It's quite easy to sleep. Just close your eyes, empty your mind and relax. I think we Thais practised this by meditation since we were young. Only difference is that in meditation, you focus on one thing. To sleep, you focus on nothing.

I once asked my b/f why it took him so long to fall asleep (it usually took him half an hour after light-off to sleep), he just said that there were many things in his mind and he needed time to shake them off. I have a complex and demanding work as well, but I don't have much problem to clear my head when needed. I'd credit that to the meditation training.

About the position, I'm not sure if I can do the one with legs on the wall, but I can sleep on a chair with my legs over the armrest, or on my back on the floor with my legs on the bed, or "the thinker" pose (convenient in lecture room or library). Somehow most Thais like to sleep with their arms and legs bent (I just looked at old photos or me and my friends). How the other parts of the body will be is up to the environment and imagination. I'm glad many people here find that cute instead of weird. lol

Just my 2 cents Spend more than 2 cents, refreshing to read the thai take on it...I have never found it weird, just fascinating how asians seem to have a fluidity, physically, that I find absent in the West...its one of the reasons I live here, there is no hard edge to interaction that I find in the West..especially amongst homophobic males of whom the West can boast many....

Glad that some of you have responding positively and humourously to my own madness....let there be more of it!

Dukkha

pdavids...that is just my point, they are at ease and thus the same position for long periods does not disturb them in any way....to be so comfortable in your own skin allows you to sleep as you wish...we just dont have it in the West....sadly..

I've lived here for 12 years and have always been fascinated by the sleep thing. In fact, I joke to friends that it would make an interesting pictorial book - "Thais Asleep." Except, you would need a camera with you 24 hours a day, capturing everything from taxi drivers who nod off at the wheel, to waiters asleep on their feet (not kidding)!

Not only can they sleep in a multitude of positions; they can fall into a sound sleep within a minute or so. Another interesting thing I've noticed, having had a few of them around me over the past decade, is that they can also remain in one position for hours, if not all night. No tossing and turning for this lot.

I like this post. Never thought much about the bf sleeping habits as I thought him to be unique - but apparently he is not! I went through my photos and could only find a few, though not as funny as the OP. Just thought I would share.

You see flight crew....Glad i am not the only one to observe...I think we just dont have it in the Western gene make up..

I think we should start a Sleeping Gallery, I reckon we could put up some great shots, like the ones already posted....The Great Thai Sleep 2009.

Now picture says a thousand words....I think you got the picture Nongkhai...wunnerful snaps......!!

To make it specific I will refer to gay thai men whom i have observed, however, think it is endemic in the entire thai culture....I have observed over the years living here the sleep habits of thai men.

It amazes me. The positions in which they can sleep. Knees up in the air. Sleeping on a chair in front of the computer, easy.

My partner is practically a contortionist when it comes to sleep positions. Is it only me? I dont think we westerners can drop off so easily as the thais, to sleep that it. I have often thought it might be chronic depression behaviour but I think not. Have seen three lads sprawled on a couch, all asleep...is it the weather, something in the genetic make up, laziness, real exhaustion...dunno but fascinates me still...there is a fluidity about the asian body language I like. Not the uptigtness of the west, shirt tucked in with a sensible belt...and of course we have all looked at the face of Angels, in some cases, who just close their lids and lay with uber ease...Dukkha

I found the stationary section of Siam Paragon excellent, paper, pens, paint, etc..in the department store area, cant remember what floor, but I was looking for art supplies and was pleasantly surprised by the extent of the range of stuff available...Dukkha

More like buy sexual in Thailand.

Noted author in his book 'Video Nights In Katmandu' in his section on Thailand states:

Thailand has the nicest people........................money can buy....his words not mine but a thread of truth n'est ca pas?

I am amazed at the number of farang males here who have previously been maried, kids, grandchildren, met very few of them in Australia with same story although one of these men, no kids, and left the wife eons ago, is coming for dinner at our place, my thai partner and myself hosting him a small dinner in repayment for his generosity this trip....a small gesture but a willing one....the thai meal smells delish. bon appetit...!! Dukkha...

I have never flown Thai but wifey has, most recently last month back to BKK from LHR.

Her opinion was that the plane was very old and dirty with no seatback IFE. Cabin crew were 'very old' and disinterested.

It was very poor compared with the outgoing flight with Etihad for which she had nothing but praise.

If Thai are no unable to ungrade their deteriorating long haul fleet I can only see them losing even more of what should be their core customers.

'Wifey'...what century are you living?......dukkha