siamcrut

at the local scrap yard - recycling company. You might even get a few satang.

I caused a shop manager to lose face.  I wanted a product replaced and he refused to do it.  He called his boss in Bangkok (big company lots of staff people in attendance) and his boss agreed with him and told him not to replace the product.  We were on a conference call in front of his entire staff. 
 
I told him I would be back in a week and he would replace the product and it would be easier if he just gave it to me then and save us both a lot of headaches. 
 
I could have done it differently.  Quieter and not called his boss on a conference call and I could have not insisted that the company ship it to that branch for me to pick up. 
 
I called the President of the company in Singapore and he sent the product and I picked it up from the manager a week later at the branch store.  He lost face in front of his entire staff as did his boss in Bangkok.
 
If they ever see me at night in a dark alley I'll have a problem. 
 
That is losing face and that is me gaining face. 

In Thailand even a pineapple loses face, if it wasn’t eaten before it was ripe.

I haven’t read the whole lot, but I can say I’m full too of the land with the smile...

Straight forward answer!

Work your ass off while you are between 20 and 40. Save like crazy. Have some holidays to relax.
Resist the urge to buy a new car, large house, to many fancy clothes etc.
Then when you are 40 either have a large sum saved or a huge amount of experience that can be monetized. If you wait to long then your saving and learning/experience building period will be skipped and you end up much much less comfortable. And in your older days, comfort is the greatest good.
 

Rock–paper–scissors

Good try twin. I have the same problem but my twin is my Sister.

I was just yesterday called
"ai hear farung" by a moron driving his motorcycle sidecar on 2 wheels the sidecar raised 45 degrees to the road....no Idea why he called me a monitor lizard farung...but never mind sticks and stones etc

Didn’t buy Ray Bans or copy, just some no brand shades.

Since I left my original Ray Ban on the backseat of a Bangkok taxi years ago, I swore myself never buy expensive shades again!

So I browsed the web and found nice ones on eBay. Bought a dozen for almost nothing with UV glasses.

Did let one pair check at the local Topcharoen shop if they had the UV protecting glasses for sure.

Now if I lose one or they get worn just open the drawer of my desk and take another one out.

If you want to survive Songkran, stay away from me and do not throw water at me.

I do stay every year over Songkran in a nice hotel or resort for 4 days with my wife and son.
We arrive on the 12th and leave on the 16th and let the crazy stuff outside on the road to others. Worth the money spent.
Quality time with family! Worked well for us the last decade.

Over Songkran, I stay with my wife and son in a very nice hotel in Bgkk (every year a different one) and enjoy their premises and having some quality family time. No interests anymore to join the craziness outside...

Car insurance: good to compare

https://misterprakan.com/en/default

Put the car in your name (blue book)
Just need a copy of your yellow house book or if you don’t have one go to your immigration office and ask for a residence paper.(~300thb)

It will take at least another 20 years, to improve road safety here and teach them proper driving habits...

A thai asking in-laws for money, because the annual school fee for his kids is soon to pay and have at the same time the latest pearl white Toyota fortuner
(Ford Everest or whatever) on a 72 month lease....
Won’t happen to me, I don’t even share the same table with a person like that.

It's mostly the media:

"only bad news are good news"

That certain people here are frustrated and angry, that's a fact too!

My exit strategy has begun and I'm looking at returning to the UK after 11 happy years here. My 14-month old son is my primary consideration and many of the points raised in this thread are also factors. I hope to take my wife-to-be with me, so will be starting the Settlement visa process.

What amuses me is the the fact that on the one hand, everyone seems to agree that the Thai education systems is shit but on the other, everyone brags about his wife's bachelor's or master's degree earned within the same system.

Weird

"face"

No way!

ok;

to take ur thai registered car into Laso u need the purple book ( passport) for the car/truck ( obtained at the land transport office) its basically a copy of your cars Blue book) takes a day, here in Phuket, costs 50 baht/year to update. When you exit thailand they will give you a customs form and ALSO stamp the purple book. When you enter Laos they will issue you all your paperwork and stamp the purple book. Make sure they do!

Car MUST be in your name, as soon as you enter Laos buy insurance, for my honda civic it runs about 800 baht for 3 weeks . BUT your car only is allowed in for 14 days, you can extend that, i am told ( never have spent more than 14 days so)..... You get 30 day visa on arrival ( $25-40 depending on nationality).

Roads are ok but places ( like Udomaxi to Luang Prabang and around the plain of Jars ) can be very bad

Cambodia. Only two borders will allow you in with no hassles,

Osmach ( 40 kms or so south of Surin). Drive in . Visa for you on arrival ( $20) You only need your cars blue book for Thai customs. Cambodia does not care, Note you will not get insurance for Cambodia. I have driven 10,000 of kms in Cambodia all over an its no problem, dont drive at night an keep your eyes open as your driving on the "other" side from Thailand.

Dont bother with all those that say its terriable to drive in Cambodia or laos an cant be done, They have not done it., I have been doing it since 2006 an am heading back in June. Roads in Cambodia get worse each year so be prepared

Poi Pet, Pailin will not let your car in.

Koh Kong ( west of Trat) will allow you in but you tell them how long your staying and pay 100 Baht/day an they issue you a red plastic license plate your to put on your dashboard. They also tell you that you can only drive in Koh Kong Province. In reality no one cars once your in Cambodia

Although you cant enter at Poi Pet of Palin you can exit there (have done it)

Vietnam NO WAY

Suugest this route,

Thailand exit at Chiang Khong/ Houay Xai) an head into Laos,( cross the new bridge) up to Luang Namtha- Lunag Prabang- Phonsavan ( plain of Jars) Veng Vieng- Vientainne- Back into Thailand at Nong Khai- Surin- Osmach ( enter Cambodia) -Siem Rep- Phnom Penh- Kep/Kampot- Shv- Phnom Penh- Battambang- Palin ( back to Thailand)

Never owned an international driving permit ( i have a 5 year Thai license and a California license) and both are accepted in Cambodia an laos. If your stopped in Cambodia SHOW them your license but do not give it to them. They will ask for $20 but will quickly drop to $5. Had to pay twice in Cambodia ( $2 & $5) an once in Laos $10

Car repairs and painting are much cheaper in Cambodia than Thailand.

Safe travels

Useful post! Thx.

There is always someone watching and peeping, doesn't matter what time.

Privacy, only inside your house!