domprz

I'm a Farang - an alien. Compared to most Thais I'm huge, hairy, and ugly. I think my appearance perfectly suits the role of villain.

Are you suffering from low self esteem?

Did you ever meet a villain with low self-esteem?

I'm a Farang - an alien. Compared to most Thais I'm huge, hairy, and ugly. I think my appearance perfectly suits the role of villain.

All of these things however tenuous made me who I am and convinced me about the realities of SEA. It gave me a style of relationships that preserves my sanity.

It is easy to go crazy here. Reality is sometimes hard to find. Easier to dwell in fantasy. Easier to speak English. Do most men who teach their women English speak Thai? I would think not. It seems so obvious to me that communication between people should be in the language of the country lived they live in.

In America I would speak English. In Thailand I would speak Thai. I mention the other things simply to give you an idea of who I am and why I have come to my conclusions. I am like America except I didn't come here to change anything. I came here to experience things as they are.

It occured to me that speaking the language alone is by far not enough, to get into to the mind set behind a conversation, that is the real trick, then one get's closer to understand what these people are all about, very, very few can be straightforward an honest, everything seems always to be shrouded in mystery or ignorance?

Many just do not care themselves, about reality, truth ... onething is for sure, no one could care less..... then why care, to be laughed at like the lone fool on the hill?

From something I was writing before I stumbled upon this topic (something of a coincidence):

Words, whether Thai or English, have many a purpose. When used subjectively the aim is seldom to reveal truth. They are a uniquely human creation; often so well woven, that to introduce truth is a distortion of form, of content, even of intent. It's only with no words that there are no lies, no promises and no excuses. Truth, the raw ingredient of existence, has no need of words.

...

You could pay the VC not to shoot you. I know because I paid them.

You could buy a helicopter, or tank or drug processing lab. Anything.

You could buy your way out of trouble. I did that too...

I would very much like to read about the specific incidents - if we are allowed to remain off-topic

Jazzbo implied I and my Huey buddies liked napalm.... Jazzbo only was implying that FFCoppola might have been cribbing your lines.

... and as per DT above, my Father was a WWII Navy fighter pilot ... he said that they lost more pilots in training (carrier landings, dives, etc.) than in combat and other than that would never talk about it ... he had no problem flying as airline passenger but never flew as pilot again after 1946.

... and I am also familiar with Frustrated-Writer-Syndrome ... a close acquaintance -- who has been a professional writer / magazine editor most of his adult career -- has written two novels but although they have been accepted by agents, etc. has had no bites from publishers and -- as a professional -- he will not go the publish-it-yourself route ...

In war combatants hardly ever use their own discretion. They operate under orders. Those deployed in the hot-spots are the fittest and the youngest, least likely to challenge those orders. A school-leaver does not look at a woman and child (through the sights of a rifle) in the same way that a man with his own wife and child does. Most of the real stories of war, are those of shame for the pawns, and are therefore never told.

Fascinating topic - the content - the participants - their content - their nature - both content and nature appear to be liberally garnished with fiction and fabrication. There have been a few revealing slips. I have enjoyed this - so thanks to all of you.

It's a small world! Here's the first couple of sentences from a short story with the title of "Nu (Mouse) Whanphut, Soi Eight Bar-Girl". It's from a collection of short stories in an e-book called "From Beggar to Butterfly" by Peter Jaggs. It's available as paperback and e-book from Amazon. I'm thoroughly enjoying it:

"The big green cricket finally came to rest on a thorny bush growing in the hard mud near a dried-up rice-field in a small rural village near Buriram. The three small children, shouting and laughing, had chased the insect for a hundred yards..."

I am trying to become a writer (very early days). The only thing I've published is a few entries on a blog, not enough for any comment. What I was hoping for was some criticism. You've made a greater effort than I did, and some feedback is deserved. This may sound harsh to those who are not writers, but is the kind of response I hope for when finally making as much of an effort as you have:

From the first paragraph the flow is bad. I found it difficult and tedious to read. By the third page I gave up - not because it was that bad, but because I didn't want to continue reading something which with more editing may be a good read, and which was not a good example for me to follow. I did have the urge to try rewriting the first paragraph or two as an exercise for myself. I'm sure there are others who could do a lot better. For what it's worth:

From early childhood, Sukanya had adored her elder brother Buwannee. She always stayed close. If he climbed a tree so would she, following fearlessly behind. A mango tree dominated the Apram's house of reclaimed wood; a single room on stilts. It stood beside a dirt track leading to the highway which crossed the Isarn plain of Buriram in the north-east of Thailand. From its branches they could better see the sparsely populated district, flat for miles on end, the paddy fields bordered by embankments and the fitful jungle beyond. When food was scarce Buwannee and Sukanya climbed the mango tree to bring down the unripe fruit, eating the hard sour slices sprinkled with sugar.

it seems to be an illusion to you and business as usual to her

I think so.

My reluctance to expose events between each of my posts may explain why no-one else has told their story.

Apologies - bad topic

To me, the Thai Wai is a sign of submission - to me submission is bad, wether genuine or faked.

But do reply to my observation please: The hiso prick waied ME, but not his thai customer. Or do i read too much into this (but so did my thai wife)?

And hey, i am not being agressive, i realy want to know your opinion, i realy want to learn.

Honest!

I'm no expert, but my guess is that he reckoned you were the one with the money, that he showed more respect for money than for his patient. He will probably prescribe something that she doesn't need, but that will make himself some more money. I would get another doctor.

So you agree with my opinion, that waiing is a sign of submission - to money, authority - genuine or faked.

And yes you are right about the subscription.......he subscribed calcium - AND SOLD IT - even Boot's are cheaper!!!!!!!!

Doctors selling medicin they prescribe - yes, this IS the far west.

And yes you are right again about getting another doctor - we will - in 6 months, when we go to Europe, and see a REAL doctor. Not a red or yellow hiso.

But i will miss the cheap lobsters..........

I don't agree. Respect and submission are entirely different. Think of self-respect. Where does submission come into it?

To me, the Thai Wai is a sign of submission - to me submission is bad, wether genuine or faked.

But do reply to my observation please: The hiso prick waied ME, but not his thai customer. Or do i read too much into this (but so did my thai wife)?

And hey, i am not being agressive, i realy want to know your opinion, i realy want to learn.

Honest!

I'm no expert, but my guess is that he reckoned you were the one with the money, that he showed more respect for money than for his patient. He will probably prescribe something that she doesn't need, but that will make himself some more money. I would get another doctor.

Recently i went with my thai wife to a doctor.

The doctor waied ME, but he did not wai my wife - she being the patient that pays him...... - that supports his hiso lifestyle.

My wife was very upset.

Any comments?

Before in this tread i said: i am farang, i hug, i shake hands, i kiss - why would i wai anyone?

The answer came swiftly....."because you are in thailand".......

OK - so we expect thai people to hug and kiss when they are in europe?

They hug and kiss here too.

You are in a bar ?

555 - you asked for that answer!!!!

To me the Thai Wai is a more civilised social greeting. Why should we grope at each other when greeting. Hugging and kissing is for lovers, wives and children... or for men who want a trial grope of their friend's wife. Perhaps that's why so many of us falangs seem to have grown up with warped social/sexual attitudes. I think the Thais have much to teach us.

Recently i went with my thai wife to a doctor.

The doctor waied ME, but he did not wai my wife - she being the patient that pays him...... - that supports his hiso lifestyle.

My wife was very upset.

Any comments?

Before in this tread i said: i am farang, i hug, i shake hands, i kiss - why would i wai anyone?

The answer came swiftly....."because you are in thailand".......

OK - so we expect thai people to hug and kiss when they are in europe?

They hug and kiss here too.

it seems to be an illusion to you and business as usual to her

I thought so too, at first.

A long time ago I asked my Tai Chi master what is meant by the posture of the wai. They don't call it a wai but the gesture, and I believe, the message is the same.

His answer: "I respect myself [only] as much as I respect you."

It can be used in any circumstance where you feel that to be true.

The response is a reciprocation [of the sincerity] of the gesture.

He considered it an exercise in humility - to look for enlightenment in circumstances, and from people, where it is unexpected.

I find a wai particularly well received in response to any enlightenment/explanation, regardless of whether it is from a bar-girl or an elder.

Only an hour! The little bitch! It would've been the last hour, I fumed, the final one - if it hadn't been such a good one. A smile tugged at my scowl. She must have been dreaming, twitching slightly in response to what? Terror or pleasure? I'd rubbed her back with the sheet between her skin and my hand, willing it as a message of reassurance from the land of smiles to the land of dreams. She leapt out of bed on awakening- Now I am abandoned, f*&king prematurely.

I will never know what she dreamed, nor whether, or how my gentle massage/message was received. Neither of us understands more than a few isolated words of the other's language. Our communication is 99% sensual, a sensuality enhanced in the same way that the other senses; smell, touch and hearing improve to compensate for loss of sight when blind.

I've chosen it to be that way, chosen it to be wordless. With no words there's no bullshit. That's what I'm thinking. Truth needs no words, is its own evidence. Words are fashioned as cloaks until we can look upon them with pleasure, or at least without discomfort. We drape those words over truth to hide it, seldom to reveal it. Between the sexes; words are often so well woven as to stand without the support of any truth at all. I'm admiring my own thoughts - so much so that I write them down.

Now I'm reading them and I'm wondering what others have experienced from a wordless relationship, and how it ended? Probably in tears... Must be many here who've been there. If you have - please share your story.

My limited experience, even with Thai 'friends' is that Thai-Farang relationships are primarily for the financial benefit of the Thais and the sentimental/sexual benefit of the Farang. To break through would need some genuine communication and chemistry - i.e. love. In that case it would be unlikely that either of you want it to be casual. The chemistry cannot be planned but the communication can be helped by learning the language. This is not advice. It's a theory.

I just bought some in Warorot - delicious buttery taste. It's expensive - 300 Baht for a bag. It's made from DURIAN (also called stinky fruit), a delicacy - hence the high price tag.

After seeing the photo I am inclined to say they are yuca chips.They look exactly the same.We like them with salt and garlic on them.The wife says that they could be some type of squash ,since you say they are buttery tasting.

Interesting; what is yuca?

Anyway, they tase great; it doesn't seem like anything is added so perhaps completely natural (and healthy).

I'm surprised they are not more popular, they are excellent.

My wife gets them at warorot market CM.

Thanks I'll head off to Warorot this afternoon to see what I can find out. Competition for KrispyKreme donuts?

The junta will say "Look. We've had elections. We've freed Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. So lift the sanctions now."

They live on another planet. Let's hope they allow people not to vote. Each non-vote will be one for NLD and The Lady.

What is a KrispyKreme doughnut? Are there any in Chiang Mai?

Sounds good. Whereabouts in Chiang Mai does she buy them? Are they pre-packaged or cooked on the street?

The Thai government has more tolerance within emergency law than most Western governments have without a state of emergency - I respect that.

And look how Thailand has suffered as a result! Billions of baht in lost revenue from airport closures, lives lost in two violent-ridden Bangkok protests within the year, tourist visits plunging and Thai tour operators/resorts going out of business, etc.

I'm glad you respect that. I don't. I think it's shooting oneself in the foot.

To suppress dissent drives it underground and makes it more violent. The Thai economy has grown by 12% over the last year.

So the alternative: let the protesters openly run amok: burning, looting, etc. is your preferable choice? And you give credit to that for the 12% growth? Your logic dumbfounds me...

I prefer to allow protest unless it becomes violent. The 12% growth was merely to put the financial effect of the previous (regrettably violent) protests into a broader perspective. If peaceful protest is made illegal then an important barrier between passive and violent protest is removed.

The Thai government has more tolerance within emergency law than most Western governments have without a state of emergency - I respect that.

And look how Thailand has suffered as a result! Billions of baht in lost revenue from airport closures, lives lost in two violent-ridden Bangkok protests within the year, tourist visits plunging and Thai tour operators/resorts going out of business, etc.

I'm glad you respect that. I don't. I think it's shooting oneself in the foot.

To suppress dissent drives it underground and makes it more violent. The Thai economy has grown by 12% over the last year.

[These people are like some monster in a horror movie. They get beaten and killed many times only to rise up again from the deep. The leaders are evil nasty people who’s only thought is how they can get more for themselves and it is sad how so many poor are brainwashed into thinking they care one bit for the plight of the poor. They have proved themselves to be extremely violent and willing to destroy anything if they can in their way. And please don’t say yellows are as bad. During yellows protests I don’t think their was one serious injury let alone deaths. No serious harm was done to property and their was no great intimidation of people. Ok the airport was shut for 2 weeks, so what airports have been shut for long periods in lots of places. I can only hope for sake of Thai people and my Thia family that this monster is finally defeated and then maybe just maybe some party who really care about poor will rise up and peacefully effect change without being in it solely for good of one person and his minions. I doubt it, so the best of bunch at moment sadly is current government and I wish them well in dealing with this menace. Thai people have lived with corruption as a system for centuries which does not make it right but if the likes of Mr T ever get their way the real danger is a repeat of what has happened in Zimbabwie, Iraq and many other places. Of course by the time it is obvious that has happened it will take decades if ever for Thai society to ever recover. I am thankful that the army can and will and has acted to prevent total dictatorship even if this is at cost of a high degree of corruption. I wish forangs would stop trying to compare Thailand with their idea of how perfect west is.

The Thai government has more tolerance within emergency law than most Western governments have without a state of emergency - I respect that. As for corruption - I measure it by the amount a government costs me. Compare the tax burdens here against those imposed in the West where tax prosecutions outnumber all others combined. Thinly veiled protection money, whether legalised or not is still corruption in my view.