Beetlejuice

Perhaps the OP has attitude and personality complex issues?

I get on with all my Thai neighbors, the wife`s family and with Thais in general. But on the other hand when I`m in their company I don`t perceive myself as the odd one out farang and just act totally normal as I would in the company of anyone. I have always kept my head down, avoided getting into any disputes, mostly polite and just act myself. When my wife visits her family I usually make my excuses and avoid going with her. Not because I dislike her family or they dislike me, but because the whole affair bores me to tears.

Being 100% of independent means myself, I couldn`t give a rat`s behind whether people like me or not for what I am or who I am. Those who prefer not to have anything to do with me is their problem not mine, because at the end of the day no one puts bread and butter on my table.

I suggest that the OP adopts the same attitude, chills out and stops taking matters too seriously, or in other words, get a life.

What a really great and very useful post. I moved in from Bang Saray to Jomtien because I was bored and felt isolated (about 4 Kilometers from the village itself) in a Thai Moban. I don't drink and am not interested in socialising in bars. Since moving here, myself and "she who must be obeyed" no longer needs to be obeyed as we have split up, so now feel just as isolated in Jomtien. The topic the OP has started would be more than useful if one covered many more areas, particularly where a bunch of foreigners might be lightly to live permanently, or long stayers.

I remember a good while back. before I met my one time beloved, and looking for "my true love" saying to a friend...wouldn't it be nice if there was a good old fashioned "singles club" or "dance" where a person looking to meet a companion might go to meet members of the opposite sex (or same, whatever tickles your fancy) not the short time relationships that can easily be found in Pattaya. I, like the OP, would be interested in any ideas out there. When I was with the "other half" (8 years together) this problem didn't arise, we would travel around Thailand every 5 or six weeks and life was pretty full. We also had a house and that can keep you pretty busy too.

Feel free to PM me if you wish. Not to worry though, I consider these "luxury problems" compared to the problems many others have in today's sad world for those less fortunate than ourselves.

If you were bored in Bang Saray, than I don`t recommend moving to Chiang Mai.

I am fortunate because I’m well established in Chiang Mai, have a home and a family here and not living in isolation. If not for that, I would never contemplate remaining in Chiang Mai.

Solo farangs who decide to plonk themselves in Chiang Mai, having no friends, family or close contacts here have my sympathy, because in Chiang Mai it is extremely difficult gaining social circles as there is no ex-pat scene as such and the one’s you may meet when out and about are hardly approachable and can even be openly obnoxious. As far as I know there are no free non commercial social groups or clubs that have regular meetings purely for the sake of socialising other than what I have already mentioned in my previous post that cater for more specialist themes, which may not be to everyone’s tastes.

I am 60 years old but still active and young at heart; mix well with the younger crowds. So every 6 weeks I nip off and spend a few days in Bangkok for my jollies.

As regards meeting members of the opposite sex in Chiang Mai, for farangs again the venues are extremely limited or non-existent. There are probably hundreds of free on-line dating websites that are very limited where Chiang Mai is concerned. For meeting women in view of forming long term or permanent relationships, you may have better successes where are are.

Wow, NancyL, that's all you've got?

Not Nancy`s fault, because that`s about all there is in Chiang Mai.

If you enjoy dining out, there are numerous nondescript little restaurants scattered across and around the city, or there are various shopping malls for hanging out, where many people go having not much else to do, no real nightlife or adult entertainments worth mentioning, loads of old granny massage parlours and expensive spas if you like that sort of thing, otherwise can`t think of much else.

There is Nancy`s Expats club that is the main and probably the only social club in Chiang Mai, and a few other regular events on the Chiang Mai Meetup and facebook pages that mostly include specialist activities such as Yoga, meditation and strange dance rituals.

Much depends on your age. Many elderly nearing the end of their lives like Chiang Mai for it`s tranquillity and perhaps feel the city is their last grazing ground before fading away peacefully into oblivion.

The point being, it depends on age and what you enjoy doing?

How does a farang manage to own a rubber tree plantation in Phuket?

Being no expert of snakes myself, although I never kill snakes that visit our domain, I always give them a wide berth and treat with respect.

I by no means speak fluent Thai, but do what I consider speak reasonable Thai.

The advantage this gives me is independence. I do not require a Thai person to hold my hand and accompany me while I stand there like a retard, oblivious to what`s going on for the negotiating of my business I can go anywhere solo within the country, converse with people, get the message across what I want, do my own transacting and in full control of my own affairs. So for me speaking reasonable Thai is a necessity and not an option.

Please someone correct me if I`m wrong, but I have always believed that the institution of marriage is all about families. Male and female couple get joined in wedlock and have children together.

I also strongly believe that children need both the maternal and the paternal upbringing at the start of their lives, I do not agree that one parent families and same sex couple guardians are beneficial for the upbringing of children.

If same sex couples wish to tie the knot I have no problems with that, except when children become involved via adoption of hiring surrogate mothers, the children having no choices in the matter. Although children can also not chose their parents and of course not all both sex couples make suitable parents, it`s still natural for all children to have mothers and fathers. Throughout their lives children require the nurturing of a mother and the support of a father, the provider.

To conclude, have nothing against same sex marriages, live and let live, but do not agree these couples should be permitted to adopt children for my reasons mentioned above.

Why would a guy show a girl he has only just met, prostitute or not, his bank books and details of income? Must be desperate.

6 years ago, before it closed down, I became a regular customer at a massage parlour in the town. Each time I would get the same girl. She spoke very good bar girl Yinglish and became very chatty with me. Most of it was a bit irritating, the usual hard luck stories, alcoholic husband who left her destitute, kid in the care of a temple, grandfather needs an eye operation, mother recovering from motorbike accident, uncle dying of cancer, sick buffalo and the usual BS and crap.

After a few weeks, out of the blue she asked me if I loved her? I was taken back and was quite honest and said no. She went on to explain that she already has a 62 year old Dutch husband, but after talking to her more about it, I established that the Dutch guy was already married and paying her 20000 baht a month as a minor wife, meaning, she is available each time the Dutch guy wanted to have boom boom. Then she discretely hinted, would I be interested in the same deal. I made it absolutely clear that I`m not interested in that sort of arrangement, and I did not show her my personal bank statements to prove I don`t have the money. She actually said to me; she knows I have a lot of money and I replied; yes I do and my aim is to keep it.

After that, surprise, surprise, the girl lost her enthusiasm towards me and the following time I visited the massage parlour she was plying her tactics onto some other mug. A few weeks later the parlour shut down. Don`t know what happened to the girl and didn`t care.

It`s all about money and those who are gullible enough to fall for the fake chames and lovey dovey exploits of these women, deserve all what they get coming to them. Guys always get the women they deserve.

If for me it was a situation where I had to rely on having my own business or working to be able to support myself to stay long term in Thailand, than I would never had settled here under those circumstances. I could not live with the thought of being only one pay cheque from disaster if in the event I could no longer work..

I am fully retired, have a reasonable income, my wife and I have our own home, all legal and above board, my children have careers and working. I am both an American and a British citizen, both my parents departed now, heavily invested for my life in Thailand and sold up everything in the States and the UK long ago, so for me retuning back to the US or the UK would mean being either homeless or renting as I could no longer afford to buy back into the property markets and at my age, I doubt any one would want to employ me. Also after many, many years, returning to my home country I am sure would be a great reverse culture shock and probably hate it.

If the worst did happen and for some reasons I was told to pack my bags and clear off out the country, then my first choices would be to move to another south east Asian country or perhaps somewhere on the Indian continent.

I am sure there are many in a similar situation as myself, where there is much more involved than just packing a case, booking a flight and going back to what I describe as no man`s land.

It`s from the 2013 movie, Only God Forgives.

Type; Only God Forgives 2013, into Google search and all will be revealed.

As a symbol of some kind, it means nothing.

Hell, I genuinely hope and doubt I'll ever be in many people's position on here.

I'm only mid 40's and own several properties. I also have many genuine friends in Aus wishing for me to visit and stay regularly.

Perhaps I'm harsh, but many of you old guys here just didn't ever plan well enough.

As the old saying goes; if you don't plan, you plan to fail.

No one wants to be with a mediocre failure. That's why many of you have so few friends.

Yes, harsh, but very much the truth in my opinion.

Reading many of your posts, I wouldn't want your kee nhoc arse hanging around my house either.

You don't have the wealth to spend time in your home country's well....why the <deleted> did you even come here?

Counting your pennies; eating at food courts and chasing happy hours for many I bet.

Don't whine; you've only got yourselves to blame.

.

It is always wonderful to see long lost friends again and having them stay at my home is enjoyable for two or three days, then after that it starts to become inconvenient. It was the same back in my home country, if we had a party or get togethers and a friend or friends stayed overnight, it always felt like a relief when they left the following day.

This is not being selfish or anti social, people have their own lives to lead and things to do. Having friends stay means they have to be entertained and catered for, which places a hold on our normal schedules. The same applies in my home country, family and friends have to work, go shopping, have appointments and all the normal routine stuff

Times have changed since my younger days when I was single and my best friends were single, when we were happy go lucky, these days most of my old friends are married, have families and busy lives, the same as me. I would never expect people to accommodate me for longer than a couple of days.

If the OP would like to travel back to his country, then he should rent a cheap bed and breakfast accommodation and a car or even a motorbike or bicycle so he can go and visit people that I am sure would be thrilled to see him, perhaps even happy for him to stay a night or two, but expecting people to accommodate for several days or more is rather pushing the boundaries of peoples hospitality and not to be expected.

It`s all a matter or being reasonable and using common sense.

Getting cheap accommodations in the US is impossible. Renting a car is out of the question due to high insurance costs the OP would have to pay. A motorcycle is not cheap either, and a bicycle is impractical as his friends are scattered away from Flint.

Have you ever heard the expression; house guests and fish start to smell after 3 days?

It is always wonderful to see long lost friends again and having them stay at my home is enjoyable for two or three days, then after that it starts to become inconvenient. It was the same back in my home country, if we had a party or get togethers and a friend or friends stayed overnight, it always felt like a relief when they left the following day.

This is not being selfish or anti social, people have their own lives to lead and things to do. Having friends stay means they have to be entertained and catered for, which places a hold on our normal schedules. The same applies in my home country, family and friends have to work, go shopping, have appointments and all the normal routine stuff

Times have changed since my younger days when I was single and my best friends were single, when we were happy go lucky, these days most of my old friends are married, have families and busy lives, the same as me. I would never expect people to accommodate me for longer than a couple of days.

If the OP would like to travel back to his country, then he should rent a cheap bed and breakfast accommodation and a car or even a motorbike or bicycle so he can go and visit people that I am sure would be thrilled to see him, perhaps even happy for him to stay a night or two, but expecting people to accommodate for several days or more is rather pushing the boundaries of peoples hospitality and not to be expected.

It`s all a matter or being reasonable and using common sense.

My son is a criminal lawyer working for a law firm in Bangkok, meaning he’s not literally a lawyer who is a criminal, but a lawyer who works on criminal cases, and being still a novice to the game, he works on low profile cases such as petty theft, assaults and so on.

He told me that the hierarchy of male lawyers working in his office including and especially the boss obtain a lot of perks and power associated with the job. There are many doors open to them that would not be accessible to the average Joe Public. The higher ranking police, the more prominent lawyers, the prosecutors and the judges are all one big happy family and good old pals together. If for example in a high profile criminal case, a desperate defendant who is obviously guilty of a serious crime hires the services of a lawyer, that lawyer behind the scenes is really working in collaboration with the police and the prosecutors and will deliberately manipulate the client into cooperating with the police and the prosecutors in order to help the client get off the hook or a lesser punishment, whether it be pleading guilty in the hope of a lesser sentence, suggested payments to certain parties, and would not be surprised if attractive female clients were given an option of payment in kind in certain circumstances. Obviously this is all going on behind the scenes. My point being that in Thailand, if one commits a serious crime and caught, than they’re pwned by the system, it then becomes a case of getting off as lightly as possible with the lawyer guiding the way more as a negotiator than a defender. Even if a defendant is innocent but still charged with a crime, one way or another the person is going the line the pockets of the lawyers that is the same the world over.

I also know that some female insurance agents, especially within the large well known insurance companies working with deals that provide big commissions, such as block policies on behalf of estate management companies, commercial and industrial policies and so on, will offer sexual favours to secure a policy contract, also some female real estate agents, again when big commissions are involved for the purchasing of upmarket land and real estate will oblige male clients with sexual favours to procure a deal. The same applies with bank staff, companies and other services where high commissions are involved.

In answer to the OP`s questions; yes, this is all going on behind the scenes. It`s an unwritten policy that everyone knows is going on, but prefer to keep all this very, hush, hush.

I have learnt something here today.

In all my years in Thailand I`ve always believed these creatures were some kind of worm. If I found one in the house I would brush it into a dustpan and flush it down the toilet. Regret that now.

Does prove that Thai visa can be a wealth of information for us Thailand dwellers, plus that the wonders of nature never cease to amaze us.

Whether there is some sort of consumer protection laws or not, I doubt whether there is any agency that will take legal action on behalf of a customer as is the case in most western countries.

My guess is that the burden lies with the customer to take legal action against a company under this law or that law. Considering the ultra complicated so-called legal processes here, that can involve lawyers and years to obtain a conclusion, many companies have taken an attitude that most dissatisfied customers won`t bother to go the whole hog and take them to court.

So in Thailand the message is; buyer beware.

My advice is; check to see if the address you sent it to is listed in an online directory that may give a name and phone number.

If you discover a phone number, phone the address, explain the situation and ask if the person could kindly forward the package on to the correct address, giving them a forwarding address of course.

^ Short sighted at best. We don't know our neighbors until we live near them. If we don't know them how to we choose them? I lived in up-scale mobans where the folks were just as tacky as the poor souls near the rail road tracks, drunks, wife beaters, screamers and spitters. A guy who f**ks up your family's quality of life is an animal. The guy who does and never has a clue he's done anything wrong is at the bottom of the food chain. I don't care whose country I'm in, I'm going to stand my ground. It's cowardly to eat someone's s**t with a smile.

Better to be a live coward than a dead hero.

I prefer not to live among neighbors wherever I have lived in the world. I think most people feel the same. But unless you have truckloads of cash and can afford to buy a huge plot of land, build a house right in the centre and a 12 ft high wall surrounding the land, then I`m afraid we are stuck with it and have to find ways to get on with people.

Over the years I have witnessed a few of the locals going hammer and tongs at each other, and I can tell you, it`s scary, they go berserk. There have been times when I`ve been expecting to hear gunshots during a dispute, thankfully that hasn`t happened yet. Thai people can have two sides to them, give it the right approach and they`ll move mountains for you, go in like a grizzly with a sore head and you will find they are on a very short fuse. Also considering that the locals are well established in the area, you are not, they could make a difficult situation if they take a dislike to you.

I am by no means suggesting that we should kiss a-se, my point being, think before going in and try to be calm and collective for your own safety, especially when the odds are against you. It`s only common sense.

7 years ago my neighbor decided to go into the charcoal making business. I am all for free enterprise and people trying to make a living for themselves, only problem was that he created his brick wood burning furnace only a few metres away from my home. The wood smouldered for days, all the acrid smoke and fumes coming into my home for days and nights, it became intolerable.

At first I sent my wife in to have a word with the guy to reason with him in a polite and subtle way. He told my wife that he only intended to create the charcoal a few times a month and that we would just have to put up with it. On that note, I made the decision to confront my neighbor with all guns blazing. I went into his house ranting and raving. Then my neighbor`s sister came onto the scene and defended me, as did many of the locals. So my neighbor came up with a cunning plan, he installed large plastic plumbing pipes as chimneys to extract the smoke at a higher level. This worked for about 3 hours then, surprise, surprise, the plastic pipes melted. After that my neighbor moved his furnace to another plot of land he owns in another area. Problem solved.

Firstly, you need to have good attitudes towards your neighbors, always friendly, inviting and tolerant, keeping in mind we are not in the west now, so we have to make alliances. First approach is to have a polite word with the neighbor and calmly with a smile explain the problem, but only if the problem persists. If that does not work, then go for a firmer approach. But and it`s a big BUT, my family and I are well known and respected within our local Thai community, and we regard our direct neighbors as both friends and neighbors, so I was able to get away with my angry rant after suffering 2 weeks of choking fumes and the polite approach failed, because they all know me well. Since that incident, everyone knows that I won`t tolerate burning close to my home and never had any problems since.

My logic is this; the majority of my neighbors have lived in the area for many years, quite a few born here. They are either related or closely connected, but my family and I are stand alone people, we do not have any close associations with the locals except living in the area for several years. So I have made an effort to always keep on friendly terms with the neighbors and to never fall into disputes and tolerant of most of them unless it`s to the extremes like the charcoal incident, when during the time I considered there was nothing to lose.

Once you are on a retirement visa, than this can be extended provided you fulfill all the imposed Immigration requirements to do so. Your past status here in Thailand is irrelevant.

Hi guys,

I think you both have the solution with the letter from the company :-)

I'll ask for that to be typed up and buy the boss a coffee for her troubles

Do you have any official letters from the UK sent to your residential address in Thailand? For example; a bank statement, letter from your tax office, from your pension or insurance company, or a P60. Any one of those will suffice.

Our granddaughter did the same. Father (no legal marriage) not seen for more than 10 years.

Changed to mothers name.

Not much more than a visit at the local amphoe (district office, citizens register).

Small fee (100? or so).

My wife assured me: father did not have to sign (which I would have expected).

Changing to Western step father’s name:

either they accept a self determined transcription to Thai script or they will need an official translation (transcript).

A name in western script will not be registered to the Thai citizen register.

On the other hand:

he will get a Thai ID card with his name in Thai (legally the official name) AND the name in western script.

So make sure that the name in western script is really identical with step fathers name.

In our famliy (granddaugthers) I found three different (!) names in western script for the identical Thai name

(ending with ...jan ...chan ...chans, the latter one being most ridicolous)

What about the name change being reflected in his Australian documents?

If he has 2 passports, both an Australian and a Thai passport, the passports must be in exactly the same names.

For example, it is legal to have duel nationalities. If the guy leaves Thailand on his Thai passport and shows his Australian passport on arrival back in Australia, he will have to explain that he has duel nationality, which requires all passports registered in the same name. My daughter traveled to the States last year. Prior to the journey her American passport had her first, middle and surname, but the Thai passport only had her first and surname. So she went to our local amphur office, placed all her names on her Thai ID card then went and bought a new Thai passport, all done in a day. So both passports were then in exactly the same names.

If the guy travels from Thailand to Australia or vice version and the passports do not match in exactly the same names, then each country will not official recognize that he has duel citizenship, meaning that he would require a visa to travel to Australian using his Thai passport or a visa to remain in Thailand on his Australian passport.

nahhh. I don

t think they are that way even with other farangs

it's probanly you

Was waiting for that one. Knew it wouldn't take long

Don`t know how old you are? But you seem to have much to learn about life experiences.

I have worked in many countries and it`s always been the same, that when you are the new boy, your work colleges will try it on, meaning, because they know you are at a disadvantage being new, unless a person comes in of a high rank. The trick is, to make it apparent from the start that you`re not one who will tolerant BS by displaying your feelings in a clear, firm and precise way without going over the top or being paranoid.

As the wise man says; start as you mean to continue, or just tolerate it and be the long and suffering.

Solar halos are not caused by pollution - they are caused by very thin clouds made of ice crystals in the upper atmosphere

Yes, it`s similar to a lunar corona.

Seeing something like this is extremely rare, I have never been lucky enough to have witness such an event.

Brilliant photos that I think are worth sending to a newspaper or magazine that I am should will be interested.

Congratulations and well done for catching this amazing event on camera.

thailand is the third country visited in the world so they decided (thaksim started this) to look for good $$$$$ customers, they want real tourist with a return ticket since many years allready and only people with money, ..........they are fed up about all these bag packers from before....yesterday a guy call me and say i want a room for the month (could pay only 5000 baths) but for sure he will rent it for more time...then i said to him..sorry not enough and also... it depend more on what kind of visa you have first and after you can see what you want to do.....but here the people put the chariot in front of the bulls.....if i was that guy i would have leaved that ambassy, that nightmare and go to philipines or where ever they do accept my presence and my money.

sometimes it is not worth it to insist , the world is large and big, there is many places , don't wait for the thais to accept you.

scheck the country rules and do it the right way....dont try to do it the way you want only because u have lots of chances to loose

Exactly, spot on.

The main principle being; that tourists are not going to be the forever tourists and will eventually go home.

The authorities are only doing their job, by ending the visa hoppers and those of little wealth abusing the system, hustling around and always looking for loopholes as a means of remaining in Thailand.

Entering and leaving Thailand at will is no longer the pushover it used to be.

This is certainly a happy story, but I can see it being pretty scary for those trying to escape the past. Beware! You can be found!

According to a person who knows him, he does not sound too happy ????

I can understand that.

The guy now lives in Thailand, perhaps has another family here and even other children from previous relationships elsewhere and then suddenly confronted with a past he left behind many years ago.

I think; providing the daughter does not expect her new found dad to be the groveling apologetic father and hold him to account for a difficult childhood and not bringing her mother into the equation, has patience without having high expectations and works on forming a bond with her dad, than this could be the beginning of a fruitful relationship.