RedNIvar

Mandarin, Malay etc would be more useful than English I would think.

What are you on? "Malay"!!! Even in Malaysia they are trying to make it compulsory to teach Maths ans Science in English! Most companies in Malaysia operate in English. Even China is trying to promote English among their graduates.

Drop English and dig that hole deeper, Thailand used to have a stronger draw. That has slowly been reducing due to the political situation ( from the airport closure to the red riots), the increase of violence and crime against foreigners, neighboring countries opening their doors and starting to be more attractive and cheaper.

All I can say is keep living in that cocoon and keep believing that you do not need English. Let's see how far that takes you.

Considering the free flow of labour in 2015, if Thais wish to work in any of these countries, the native language would put them in better steed than English. Yes in some industries English would be an advantage but the local language would be better, or are you assuming that everyone within ASEAN speaks English...I really cant connect airport closures and political riots with learning English, its irrelevant to these situations.

2015, you speak of AFTA. Mandarin is not a first language in any of the ASEAN countries. AFTA is only for ASEAN countries not ASIA. Private sectors in Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and Phillipines use English as their primary language. If you wish to work here you need English, period. I have worked in Malaysia, Singapore, Phillipines, Thailand and have been to Brunei. So my statement is based on first hand experience.

The political scenario has slowed down foreign investment and a large number of high spending tourist. To drop English in Thailand will only compound the issue. Geez, I did not think I had to spell it out.

Try another soi.

it's 100 meters from my house, I have been also thrown out of a shop on my own soi because it was muslim

It may be just the way you dress and nothing to do with the dog. what were you wearing?

Villa, Tops, Gourmet Market.

If you go to the Mall Bangkapi, there is a market right beside it called Tawana Market. There is a stretch of about 15 tattoo shops on the outside that showcase their work. The price is very reasonable and they also will go to your hotel/home if you want the tattoo done there. Check it out, and check out the work of the tattoo artist before deciding on who to go with. I like this place because there are many options to choose from.

If you work here and have a work permit, bring it along as it will get you a discounted rate. It is a fairly decent place to spend a Saturday at. As someone had mentioned earlier, a large number of locals to foreigners.

1 restaurant, Doug's moved to 63 now. Nice place, but the food was decidedly below par the last few times I was there, which is fairly recent.

Service too, the waitress forgot to order our main dishes so a looong wait.

The new restaurant is hit and miss. They somehow left their consistency behind in Soi 22. Been going to Bourbon St restaurant for the last 15 years, but they need to fix their service and food consistency at the new place. Been getting the same comments from others as well. Hopefully Doug fixes this quick.

Firstly this comes as no shock, isn't one of GMM TV partners on this rights deal a senior Pheu Thai official with football connections. In essence, the reply from UEFA makes sense if they don't have the facts. The broadcast of the programmes on free TV is what UEFA would be looking for. What GMM did not tell UEFA is that anyone who is anyone in Thailand does not access free TV via an antenna. They access through True. So GMM has scammed UEFA into believing that they have a good deal when this is not the case.

Free TV are also now in trouble because they have sold their TV packages to sponsors based on a ROI -this ROI is now completely screwed by not having the True customer base.

GMM have just shafted themselves big time. True can now go to the NBTC with the letter from UEFA and say -look not our problem.

True also have a legit response to their customers.

NBTC the morons that they are now cannot now force True into some ridiculous compensation package for a situation they are clearly not responsible for.

TIT

I would think UEFA would like football to reach the ~20 million households across Thailand, rather than the ~2 million True subcribers who in your own words describe as "anyone who is anyone". I do not think UEFA are that shallow. I also do not believe that it would have made a difference in UEFA decision.

This whole issue is about purchasing the rights to air the matches. True decided not to fork out any money and hoped to get the broadcast for free. It backfired and shame on them. Whoever GMM partners are is irrelevant.

Feel no sorrow for True. When you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. They have always been ripping people off especially foreigners. They messed the last world cup up by going cheap and not purchasing English commentary. They knew this but told everyone that if they upgrade to HD, they will get it in English. They are they most expensive in SEA when comparing the platinum package.

I'm glad that Grammy is setting them straight. It's all about karma.

Notice they said Indian's, Russians, and Chinese are coming in record numbers. Where most of the scam artist and mafia and yaba problems are on the rise. Thailand must be proud to have them coming...takes the focus off the Red shirts and TS. The indians are bringing more yaba and ice, the russians are extorting more "protection" money from business owners and the chinese are setting up more "boiler room scam" operations. Welcome to Thailand No offense to decent and law abiding Indian's Russians, and Chinese

Funny, I had always thought the Africans, and Middle Easterns were mostly responsible for smuggling drugs into the country. Thai's, American, Brits and Scandinavian long term expats mostly distribute them in Pattaya. Just today I read that a couple of Americans got caught with Ice and weed in Pattaya.

I also thought Taiwanese nationals were mostly responsible for most scam operations.

Just because they look like Indian and Oriental, do not make them Indians and Chinese. Racial profiling are we.

The Russian part, I'm not too sure about. I am aware there are various Mafia's around. So you might be right, but I highly doubt that they extort money from local Thai business owners. The Thai's I know do not mind losing money to other Thais, but will never stand for losing money to foreigners.

I know Bourbon Street does an awesome breakfast. It's not really lower Sukhumvit but on Ekkamai. You can take the BTS to Emporium or thereabout for shopping and then take the BTS to lower Sukhumvit to meet up with your friend. Might be an option.

Not worried if the pubs will be showing the late matches. I'm more concerned about the matches being shown in English. The last WC was almost ruined with the Thai commentary, dam_n near ruined everything.

You'll be in Bangkok, I'm very sure there will be more than a couple places showing the late matches. Walk into a couple of sports bars and ask.

Try the UK. I'm pretty sure the commentaries will be in English.

Nah, that might work for you but I find that if you have to leave the Kingdom for English commentary Malaysia or Singapore will be a way lot cheaper.

Not worried if the pubs will be showing the late matches. I'm more concerned about the matches being shown in English. The last WC was almost ruined with the Thai commentary, dam_n near ruined everything.

You'll be in Bangkok, I'm very sure there will be more than a couple places showing the late matches. Walk into a couple of sports bars and ask.

First you say '1 foreigner' and then you say '1 falang (foreigner)'. You also mentioned 2 Malay women,

Since when are only farang foreigners? The headline is completely correct.

Hello Mr nitpick ; And usually the concensus in Thailand is, that you got to have white skin, before labelled falang.

Didn't you read that sentence ?

How about cctv footage revealing 3 foreign men ( read article from yesterday ), that now really is 1 foreign male and 1 Thai man and 2 Asian women ?

I have asked around the office, 4 Thais all agreeing that a falang ( foreigner ) must have white skin, and is not Asian.

Weird. 14 years in Thailand and I'd been called farang way too many times. What is even more shocking is that I'm Asian and do not have white skin. I will correct the next Thai person who refers to me as farang. Weird how Thai's get confused with their own language. Thank you for the education peterdk. I assume you're a foreigner in Thailand (cannot call you farang as not sure of your skin tone). Amazing what you learn from TV.

Alternate theory. He is a German studying to be a Buddhist monk. Shaved his locks, Swastika earring is a tantric symbol. Stabbing is to cut himself off from his previous life.

Naaah, just another messed up human being that screwed up both his and other peoples lives.

Never knew Jeans has ethnicity as well. Always thought it was fashion centric, but then again that's me. Using your logic, wouldn't most jeans around the world would be classified as Asian Jeans and they are mostly manufactured in Asia.

You should be able to find what you're looking for at any Levis, Wrangler, Gap or a similar type store. Emporium, Central and Paragon should definitely have them.

If all else fails, stock up on your next trip back to America or Europe.

I believe there a couple of Taxi hubs around that area. Since it was close to midnight, there is a high probability that they were on their way to return the taxi. I believe their 12 hour rental expires around midnight. During this time the taxi might only pick you up if your destination in on the same direction as where they are heading to or if they are late, they might not stop as all. Most of these taxi's are out on 12 hour rental cycles, a very few of them are actually owned by the driver.

So I guess, you were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. My guess is that half an hour earlier or later would probably have worked out for you.

This should be in the classified section.

If you like Indian food, try Indus on Sukhumvit Soi 26. They have drink buffet with their lunch buffet. I think for 399++ drink all the beer or wince you can between noon and 3 I think.

Think of it this way, the Thai driver is the "Singha" (lion) and Zebra crossings is where the prey cross. So it is only normal for the lion to pounce on the prey.

Sorry, typo here. I was wanna say"Seriously, you would know they are different groups of people".

Different, maybe. Loud, hell yeah. They give the Singaporeans a run for their money.

Walk into any seafood restaurant and look for the loudest table with Chinese looking people. High probability that they are either Honkies or Singaporeans. Good luck.