KIWIBATCH

I have had a Thai GF or two.....LHD's I call them (long haired dictionarys).... any advice given by the GF (or wife in your case) is 100% sound....99% sound..... 1% advice....so "you no play water me" is a as I see it a call from her to you advising you that this songkran "you play water with me" or else.

Funnily and coincidentally I used to absolutely enjoy the days of silence imposed on me by the GF's...I never minded in the slightest

There are (quoted in a seperate news article) 164000 workers without jobs due to the recent floods......while I accept that not all of these workers are necessarily "construction workers"...there must surely be amongst the 164000 some folk capable of construction type employment.

I have a large amount of I-PADS for immediate sale.....very cheap - can't tell you where I got them - but they come with a 1 month warranty.

First 100 customers buy 1 get 1 free.....offers...?

I know it's easier said than done -- but always try and use proper bank ATM's. As long as you pitch up with your passport they'll give you the card back.

I've done it half a dozen times over a few years at various bank ATM's and always been given card back. I think the reason (other than careless stupidity) is we are programmed from decades of non Thai ATM use that once you have your money you've already got your card -- easy to do if your head is somewhere else, as Thai ATM's work back to front, money first and then card and therefore isn't too difficult to walk away and have the machine swallow the card.

Exactly correct.......good post

*Unnecessarily long quote*

What's a suspicious vehicle?

A black Humvee, a red Ferrari or a 20 year old Toyota Corolla?

Just curious.

Moving abnormally slowly, kerb crawling, parking illegally, blacked out windows, pickups with canvas covered objects in the back, things like this is what I would suggest.

just adding to your comments......

blacked out windows applies to almost every vehicle on Bangkok roads....!!! ...impossible to see inside 99% of vehicles...therefore aren't they in fact "all suspicious"...perfect cover to move from A to B unnoticed

...he said forests and dams would absorb most......and leave about 15 million cubic metres to be handled by flood retention areas prepared by the Government......

....prepared when exactly...? after the last flood occurred?.........before the last flood ?....still being prepared?.......about to be prepared?

Chains? What century is this? Surely any Thai national deseres better.

Is the western version of being kept in strait-jacket in a padded cell any better?

Read the article again dont just twist it into a racial issue, if you have racial issue's perhaps you need to talk to someone about them.

and yes the stuctured use of a straight jacket, and a padded cell would be far preferably to chains

and can i add that straight jackets, these days, in the UK, i wouldn't say never used, but are v v seldom used.

Straight jackets are worse, you cant scratch your ass and go even crazier.

Yes but you can still lick the windows

Thai women and a falang relationship.

Thai womens order of importance in the relationship.

1. Money

2. Money

3. Money

4. Monthly salary minimum 10000b

5. regular gifts - gold etc

6. Money to give to her family - sick buffalo - brother in jail - etc etc

7. affection

8 love

get it....!!!!

The Tour/Bus companies or any company that hires people that transport other people (including the songtaew drivers for schools) need to take new measures into their own hands or face MAXIMUM penalties as in loss of business, jail, hefty fines etc. etc. etc.

Any operator caught speeding should have to pay 20,000 baht to the policeman that caught them on radar and then face a further 25 years in jail plus pay each passenger on the bus at that time 10,000 baht. STARTING NOW.

It sounds stupid but should be real and doesn't sound near as stupid as the reasons why these fatalities happen each week all over thailand.

Ok my options might be a little harsh but you get the point. How else will this STOP !!!!!

RIP and condolences to the families.

Bus/Tour companies should enforce strict rules in their drivers such as:

• Random drug tests including alcohol and yaba. (very frequently)
  
• Training, training and MORE training.
  
• Decent salaries to bring drivers that are willing to go through the harsh training, penalties etc.
  
• Doctors certificates (eyes, ears and mentally fit etc.)
  
• Enforce the "stop for 15 minutes every 2 hours" rule.
  
• Companies should be held responsible for compensation to the victims and their families including funeral, hospital fees AND MONEY.
  
• Hire representatives to be randomly places throughout all of the routes and to pull over, test and give a "go" or a "no go" to the driver and should have a replacement driver with them.
  

PS: I my self am going to edit my rules and regulations I have made and have them translated into Thai and send to every Tour/Bus company I can think of. I suggest everyone else does the same in respect for the innocent victims over the years. I will report in a month or so any replies I get and yes I will be diplomatic and write down any other suggestion you people post.

Great idea translating into thai and sending to Thai bus companies....

Please PM me a copy of the thai translation when done and I will onforward to the Thai bus companies I know of..cheers

Help needed please.

I start up my laptop...its running original off the shelf in New Zealand Windows operating software.

Everything has been working fine for the past two years until yesterday.

Now when I surf the net.....any website whatsoever I get the following window open up on the screen (about an eighth the size of the LP screen.

As follows........(quote - an example of the last one)

Internet Explorer Script Error

Line 1286 (This number varies depends on the website I am attempting to log onto)

Char 1 (This number can vary as well)

Error 'google' is undefined

Code 0 (likewise this number varies)

URL (it then describes the URL that I have tabbed onto)

Do you want to continue running scipts on this page (I always push YES)

The website I have tabbed onto is always displayed....but this window with the above info keeps appearing.

Is there something wrong with the computer....can I fix this myself.........how do I make this "go away"

Any advice appreciated...thankyou

Perhaps 1 or 2 TV english language channels would go a long way and assist the "learning english" process.

Pre 8am in the morning...english targeted at the younger groups.....3 year old to Secondary.

Post 8am until 4pm....adults targeted..

Post 4pm until 9pm ...younger groups again....9pm until close....adults.

Just an idea......

Slightly off topic but I believe relevant....

Facebook or Facebore.......???

A site where most of the following occurs.....

1. a FB member posts their own photo onto their page....and then comments on it.

2. 50 other FB members push the "like" tab on the photo.

3. 10 of those folk might already be "friends" of 1. above....so 1. spends the next 2 hours replying to the 10 folk with comments like.....thanks you are cool.....thanks for being my friend......you are awesome.

4. The remaining 40 folk (2 above)...are not 1.'s friends yet......so 1. then spends the next 3 evenings "checking out their profiles" to establish whether to "invite" them to be friends.

5. 1. completes the task of checking the 40 profiles and invites them all to be "friends"

6. This new lot of "friends" then post "like" on 1's photo (see 1. above)

7. 1 then spends the next 3 evenings telling this new bunch of 40 friends....that they are "awesome"..."cool"...."thanks for being my friend"......

8. Then 1 notices that with several of the 40 new "friends"....that some of them have the same "mutual friends" as her/him.

....the excitement grows with 1......wow....!!!

9 1. then spends the next 2 evenings posting comments onto each of the "mutual friends" pages......"wow I thinks its awesome you and me are both friends of......."........"hey I didnt realise you were a friend of........ guess what so am I"

....and on it goes........

Yes I was a FB member....as a result of my Thai school manager asking that I please "sign up" as the thai students "spend alot of time on FB" and it would be "nice to see me on it"

In one week I received no less than 223 "friend requests" from the total 800 thai students at my school.

I then received a further 83 "friend requests" from "mutual friends" of the 223 thai students

(all written in thai...which unfortunately I cannot read....yet)

I received 56 "invitations" to participate in one of those games on FB...where you build a virtual supermarket

and then started receiving "friend requests"......from folk spread all over the world.

Not lets make it very clear...I am a friendly kiwi bloke and a gregarious person, happy to become friends with almost anyone......

I closed my account on FB yesterday without answering anyone....simply I really dont have the time nor the notion to sit in front of my computer and decided it is just not for me....and yes I acknowledge...it may have disappointed the 223 students.....but......I really wonder at times just exactly what is the purpose of FB....perhaps there does not need to be a purpose. It is simply just the world we live in....Twitter, FB, and no doubt many others. Long may they continue....but as I say....not for me.

For those of you interested.....A new movie (I believe it has only just been released in the USA) called "The Social Network" is becoming available.

I have been told it is a "must watch" and it shows the impact now and in the future of the social networking sites such as FB and Twitter etc.

I have been told its a real eye-opener in respect of the use of the social networking sites, and what effect they are having on normal face to face communication and conversation world-wide.

AA have an excellent website....just beware the add ons...whereby AA have ticked all the boxes for you in advance...you need to untick as you see fit.

I cant be sure this price would apply these days...but three months ago I flew from "Suwarnupoom" to Coolangatta via Malayasia on AirAsia for 24500baht return.

Stopover in Malyasia was 4 hours each and pleasant enough..airport food at Penang inexpensive......plenty of places to sit and stretch out.

You dont say where you are destined for in Australia. AA appear to be the best priced...although I have been told that deals can be obtained with other large international air carriers that fly ex the Northern hemisphere through BKK.....and offer great deals topping up with passengers in BKK for all destinations in Australia.

If BS was dynamite this place would blow itself to bits everyday.

A laymans update on the Pin Klao area.<BR> Have watched the floodwater subside steadily over the past few days...clearing itself from Soi's in the Tesco Lotus/Central/Major areas and little hints of normality appearing - buses running - motorcycles, taxis, folk going about there business etc - only to find this morning the waters rising rapidly - almost a swift current (I am talking the PK area only Janit Sanitwong Road down to Pata and back up past Tesco Lotus to Central PK.<BR><BR>It was quick enough to catch buses out stopping them dead in the water full of passengers (I assume the petrol powered models) <BR><BR>Result is the area is flooded again well and truly.<BR><BR>The new bout of flood water did not come from the Chao Pyra river - I checked this morning and although still flowing high it is a least a metre down from the top of the stop banks and the overnight high tide definitely did not cause this.<BR><BR>This "fresh" flood in PK would seem possibly to have been created by a "redirection" of water from "somewhere" - the bulk of the water pouring into PK is coming from (down) the Janit Sanitwong Road.<BR><BR>Can I add that a tremendous amount of praise is due to the Thai Police, Thai Army, and private trucking contractors, along with aid organisations, and private Thai individuals who are keeping the ebb and flo of people moving in and out of PK.<BR><BR>There is a tent erected where we congregate and are sorted into groups positioned on the Phra Pin Klao Bridge for the journey to PK<BR><BR> Everyone is given bottled water, and a small packet of food.<BR><BR>The police have a loudspeaker system and once they have everyone sorted into groups there are sufficient chairs for upto 400 people to sit on while waiting for the transport to arrive.<BR><BR>On several nights we have been entertained by a robust police sergeant singing his heart out via the hardwired PA system with a voice as close to the late famous Mario Alanza as one could imagine.<BR><BR>All in all a very well oiled, efficient transportation system - well done indeed.

I have the same problem finding "big boy" farang sized protection. 711's in some areas stock the well known brand starting with D....and there is a black/dark blue coloured outer pack the size "56" is stamped on the pack.....one side of the pack is in Thai numerals...the other clearly shows "56"

The 56 size seems to be the biggest that D put into the market here.

Failing that there is a Japanese brand which quite to my surprise has sizes larger than the 56 in the D brand. These are marked up with a large "XL"...I found these comfortable, and performance wise were tops.

The XL size is coloured pitch black.

The XL is not stocked in 711's....you will only find these in Family Marts.

If all that fails I suggest you refrain from the activity that these items relate too...!!!

With the Re-entry Permit you can leave at anytime

Its Expiry will be the same as your Current Permission to stay Extension for Retirement - in February 2012

or it expires as soon as you re-enter the country (Thailand) if a single re-entry is used.

All you need is:

- copy of your passport (all pages)

- 2 pass photo's

- a completed TM 8 form (available at immigration or online http://www.immigrati...ownload/tm8.doc

- THB 1000 for a single re-entry

- THB 3,800 for a multiple-re-entry

Thanks a million for the good advice...got it today

I was standing at the top of a BTS staircase one evening and witnessed a street beggar "mother" beat a small child so as to cause her to cry (and gain sympathy from anyone passing) and then she thrust the child the money cup and plonked her on the staircase leading down from the platform.

Of course the mothers timing was impeccable...moments before the train disgorged its 1000 odd passengers.....how many beatings did that child get that evening I wonder.

The beggars are most definitely not of thai nationality...the many I have seen anyway.

It is an absolute bloody disgrace that this happens in this city of Bangkok...and elsewhere.

I give them food....I never give them money......by giving them food you will most definitely help save their lives...more so than by giving them money as Chris Lawrence has rightfully pointed out already.

Very lucky children to be rescued. My wife tells me that in cases like this it is not unusual for the children to even go through amputation in order to get greater sympathy when begging.

that means DO NOT GIVE these beggars anything and hopefully they this will not be a profitable business for their 'bosses' soon, and this can even save lives in the future

As for me, I give beggars only food, nothing else, and definitely not money

Firstly thanks to all contributors to the Visa etc forum...there is such a wealth of information there...but too much in fact for a layman such as myself to sift through...apart from the information possibly being out of date in some cases with due respect to the contributors.

I am resident in Bangkok and I hold a retirement visa valid until February 2012. I hold a New Zealand passport and am a native of NZ.

I want to take a holiday in Australia to attend a family wedding for two weeks end September/early October 2011.

I understand I need to obtain from Thai immigration an "exit visa". This allows me to travel to and return from Australia without affecting my retiirement visa....am I right...?

Further to that can any member answer the following questions please.

1. Do I need to purchase the airtickets to/from OZ and then present these with my Exit Visa application to Thai Im ?...or do I just apply for the exit visa..providing the approximate dates of departure/return?

2. When the exit visa is issued is it "date sensitive...ie I must travel on the specific dates and return on the specified dates I indicate?

3. Is their an online exit visa application form I can download from Thai Im.

4. Chaeng Wattana Im is my closest IM office......I assume the EV's are issued at all of the IM offices.

On a seperate but related matter...when surfing the AirAsia website for possible flights/costs etc.....a window opens on their website stating that all visitors to Australia are now required to have (in my case) a tourist visa...and to apply to Immigration Australia via their website and it shows a link....the link however goes to a private Australian company and the fee is AUD150.00.

News to me that a tourist visa is required to enter Australia...!!! especially on a NZ passport...the two countries have had reciprocal arrangements re the exchange of Aust's and Kiwi's travellling between the two countries for since time started.

Unusually when surfing other airlines websites and keying in possible flights to Australia...no mention is made of this requirement.

Surely I can step off the international flight in Australia...and complete the normal formalities re tourist visa's (if in fact they exist) on the spot on arrival.

Any help/advice on the above greatly appreciated from members...thankyou

Many many thanks to "senior member" and "newbie" for your forthright, no holds barred comments I appreciate them very much. Fortunately I am not a person who considers myself a superior being either as a result of the colour of my skin or in my capacity as a english teacher. I have learnt to be humble, learnt to go the extra mile in making the different makeup of thai society feel comfortable in my presence, this has paid huge dividends...... I have in fact been criticised by other foreign teachers, for the simple act of standing at the school gate at my present school and welcoming the thai Mum and Dads as they arrive with their children for the days schooling activities, and involving myself in the different thai celebrations that take place at the school.

Yes Yala is poverty stricken, but considering the issues in the town, the peoples spirit is wonderful, they are kind, and welcoming (a little stand off-ish at the start which is to be expected).

In my visits on holiday to Yala over the years I have learnt (in fact it comes naturally) to maintain a low key, friendly outlook and persona to everyone I come in contact with.

Thankyou again for your comments......I will reply to the PM

I need some good advice please.........I currently teach english to K1 thru P3 in Bangkok andf have done so for four years.

My thai wife has had a changed family situation in Yala (her home town) in southern Thailand requiring her to return to Yala permanently to live, she leavbes in three weeks....so far so good. Very obviously I want to be with my wife and our two children in Yala when the move comes....but here lies the problem.

Either I have been reading too much into news reports on the "unrest" that permeates these southern towns, shootings, bombings etc but I am extremely nervous about the move south for me specifically. Obviously I want to resume teaching in Yala. Teachers are "targeted" and murdered in sometimes cold blood...this send shivers down my spine thinking about it.

I have visited Yala on many previous occasions...in holiday mode....its a liveable town....but is it a town that any member has any experience of working in...specifically teaching????.

Any advice appreciated....dont hold back...if you think I am nuts even contemplating it....say so I won't be offended...on the other hand if you have a different view/outlook please say so.

Any advice welcomed

This mornings BKK Post quotes Suthep as warning about the possibility of car bombs in Central Bangkok "in early August".....in another article a dozen or so beaches have been downgraded because of "waste water" contamination (meaning household rubbish - industrial waste - and sewerage) I have 6 family members arriving tomorrow from New Zealand..spending 3 days in "Central Bangkok" at a prebooked hotel...then flying to the "waste water" capital of Thailand namely Phuket for 8 days....where they will now, apart from avoiding the scams and ripoffs, may have to also avoid rubbish and turds when swimming....

If it wasnt for the fact that they are almost on their way here......I definitely would have stopped them coming and sent them elsewhere.

So here we have 6 tourists arriving tomorrow already "at personal risk" on their very first visit to the LOB (land of bullshit)

This one of my pet hates about Thailand the lack of just about any response to any email. I have a company back in NZ that required huge quantities of plastic product that required both a blow/injection plastic moulding process to manufacture. In fact my company has world wide patents pending on the product so the work provided to the moulding company would have been ongoing under contract. The short story is I was sent 5 cartons of the plastic "kit" from NZ in anticipation that I would front up at the Thai companies once I received a reply to my emails sent to them..... I emailed no less than 15 specialist companies in Thailand and never got one reply, not one. The company websites indicated that they had "engrish" speaking sales managers and by all accounts the websites were upto date.

Scenario 2....I wanted to purchase six 4 wheel "quad" motorcycles for a rubber plantation "modernisation" in southern Thailand. I approached a household named company in Thailand that sells these machines via email asking for current prices and spec sheets and availability (they had pictures listed of the motorcycles on their website)......I received no reply to 3 emails sent.....but was pestered repeatedly by a young lady from the company via numerous telephone calls wanting to relay extensive specs/prices by telephone. I could hardly understand her english. I managed to politely tell her that I required the specs sent by email so that I could peruse them in my own time.

Result....The plastic moulding contract was signed in China last month...and the motorcyles were purchased in Singaporefrom a Singaporean company and trucked through to Southern Thailand direct to the plantation.

My son is an english teacher. Wanting to spend sometime in Thailand and earn a living at the same time, he fired off numerous emails to Schools/Colleges that were advertising on the Net....in alot of cases only providing an email address in their advert.....same result...out of 9 emails sent he only ever received 1 reply....yet the teaching positions were marked "urgently required"...."start next week"

Thats my rant for the day.......I have no idea how this situation will ever resolve itself......it is totally unbelievable and quite astonishing and is very very common.