qualtrough

From the anger and frustration expressed in your post it doesn't appear that you have what it takes to do business here. Not sure why you chose Thailand, but you might want to look elsewhere. The Thais will live happily without you.

And that is what most westerners would call 'back peddling'

Thaddeus-Would you care to explain further what you mean by 'back peddling.'? I assume you mean that I was being disingenuous when I said that neither the OP nor I wrote or implied that Thais had an inability to plan. The OP was referring to his wife and made no other claims beyond that, and I answered the question posed by his post by letting him know he was not the only one in the same boat. If my assumption of your meaning is incorrect I apologize, and would appreciate your explaining what you mean by 'back peddling'. If my assumption is correct, would you mind carefully re-reading the OP and my post and then point out anything in them that refers to, or implies, that Thais as a whole are unable to plan? Others on this thread have made that claim-I have not. Please don't put words in my mouth.

The OP is not alone. My wife has many virtues, but planning is not among them. One way this manifests itself is at lunchtime. I drink either Coke or iced tea. At least once a week I am informed that we are out of those, despite my having repeatedly told her that when she sees one bottle left in the fridge that means it is time to get more. Very simple, no? See one bottle=time to order more. Getting more is as simple as making a phone call to a motorcycle taxi to wing down to the 7/11 for 10 B roundtrip, but more often than not that happens as I sit waiting for something to drink at lunchtime, not before. I have tried everything-it is hopeless. I suppose as faults go it could be far worse. Not that that is the only one... I would balance this by recounting one of my faults but I can't think of any at the moment.

I can. When your bottle of coke is getting low, why don't you get up off your arse and go and buy a new one, instead of sitting around getting upset with your 'dearest' for not planning like a farang and not running to your beck and call?

As I suspect is the case in most marriages, the tasks involved in the running of the household and undertaking all the various other duties involved in maintaining a life together are divided between the spouses. My wife does not have a job outside the home, so I am the sole financial provider, house and vehicle maintainer, chauffeur, etc. & etc. My wife takes care of many household chores and prepares meals (some, not all) for me. This division of labor is such a natural arrangement that it is not really worthy of comment except to point out that in our marriage, like most others, there are different obligations for each of the parties. I could indeed certainly get up and run down to the store to get a drink when my wife forgets to restock. Using your yardstick I have to assume then that if my wife needs money for something I should tell her to get up off her arse and get a job? You mind your marriage and I will mind mine thank you very much.

Mobi-Reread my post. I neither wrote nor implied anything about 'planning like a farang'. The OP asked if there were others experiencing what he had, and I replied to let him know he was not alone in that regard. I have just re-read the original post and see that the OP also made no claim that his wife's failure to plan was characteristic of Thais. If you want to characterize planning as a farang virtue you are free to do so, but those are your words, not mine.

I plan to spend 4-5 months in Thailand. I bank with Bank of America which I understand has offices in Thailand. I will be in remote villages most of the time, so I will have to use ATMs. Is it expensive, convenient to get cash this way? As a foreign tourist, how difficult is it to open a bank account in Thailand?

kind regards,

Karl

I had the experience that the foreign banks in thailand act the same as the local banks.

UOB Thailand don´t even know that Singapore exist.

Deutsche Bank... complete useless

I travel with: Austrian ATM, works nearly everywhere, VISA card, American Express and if it gets outside money cash in my pocket (Baht or USD).

If it looks dangerous I put a part of the cash in my socks (so foot/socks/show) but still money in my wallet so if a bad guy takes my money he get something (so he don´t think I am hiding money) but not all (but that might be not necessary for Thailand).

If you have a 5000 Baht with you, it is not a hugh amount but enough to do anything somewhere outside.

Not a bad idea, but I wouldn't let any Thais in on that secret as they hold the King in very high regard, and placing banknotes with his image on them in your socks would be considered extremely disrespectful.

I have seen the forklift photo before. I don't understand why they need to do that as the first forklift surely has enough lift to rise to the landing?

The OP is not alone. My wife has many virtues, but planning is not among them. One way this manifests itself is at lunchtime. I drink either Coke or iced tea. At least once a week I am informed that we are out of those, despite my having repeatedly told her that when she sees one bottle left in the fridge that means it is time to get more. Very simple, no? See one bottle=time to order more. Getting more is as simple as making a phone call to a motorcycle taxi to wing down to the 7/11 for 10 B roundtrip, but more often than not that happens as I sit waiting for something to drink at lunchtime, not before. I have tried everything-it is hopeless. I suppose as faults go it could be far worse. Not that that is the only one... I would balance this by recounting one of my faults but I can't think of any at the moment.

I see that the Thai Post Office does, in fact, offer Track & Trace service, for EMS items. On this web page, click on “Track & Trace” on the left of the page.

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Maestro

Think that's just for inside Thailand...

No, it is for external as well. If you look at the small banner it says Track and Trace anywhere in the world. The EMS system is used by a number of different countries. I have tracked packages sent to other countries. You just enter your EMS number from your receipt and/or EMS form in the box and click.

Just in case it isn't clear by now for anyone new to Bangkok. Take a tuk-tuk ride once so you can say you have done it, and then never, ever ride in one again. They are rarely cheaper than a taxi, and your chance of being scammed is about 10 x greater. You will also avoid being coated in grime and pollution. Not to mention the safety aspects, or lack thereof.

Ditto on SCB. Have had no problems over the years, and their Internet Banking site is easy to use.

Following up on my original post, why do they build 27 checkout stations if at the busiest times they might have 10 working? I am sure you want to have a few extra for downtime/maintainance, but 17 extra? Agreed that sales staff are cheaper to employ than cashiers, but why not get rid of two or three sales positions and create more cashiers? I don't know if sales staff and stackers are one and the same, but in a lot of stores I usually see sales staff just idling around chatting with friends, picking at something, or even playing with pets (little dogs, etc.). Despite that, if you ask them where something is they will just point you in the general direction most times rather than walk you there! Even if they are paid minimum wage they are a waste of space. I once counted something like 22 employees in a fairly small electronics area at Big C.

As long as I am on this topic, why do the Automotive Products sections always have aggressive sales people? If you so much as walk through the aisle and pause for a moment they are on you in a second. I have never noticed that with any other product areas. It is so bad at Central, Robinson, etc. that I skip those areas even though I would like to browse around some time.

I had to go to do some shopping today so I visited the local Carrefour. Bad timing on my part as it was a Sunday afternoon. I quickly found the things I wanted and headed for the checkout counters. Twentyseven counters, and only 8 were manned while I waited in line about 15 minutes. Here is the riddle: In Thai department and big box stores there are dozens if not hundreds of sales people who have little to do but stand around and pick their nose. Most can barely tell you what is in their department much less another department in the store. Why not train some of those people to be cashiers, so that the full bank of 27 (or whatever number) checkout counters are fully manned? Much better to have a cashier standing around idle than a useless salesperson. If I had to choose between store A with no wait in the checkout line, or store B where I could anticipate a long wait, it would be store A no question. I suspect many others would feel the same way.

I am probably telling you what you already know, but just in case,--you can log into and use your e-mail account as Web mail by visiting the True site. I was able to use that to send mail while the SMTP server was down for outgoing mail.

I think Tip should get over here asap. It seems that now several of their common acquiantances have got wind that he knows of the infidelity and I am sure this info will get back to his "wife'. People do like to gossip...

My advice is get over here on next flight and secure your possessions.

Agreed. In fact, I think Tip should tell his wife that his friend will be coming over soon, very soon, to 'borrow' the pickup truck so he can move his things, and he will be picking up the computer so that he can install some new software for Tip's return. That way he will have those two important items out of the way in the event things do not go swimmingly when they actually meet up. If handled carefully he may be able to get all the things he wants/needs back before the **** hits the fan (pun not intended).

The outgoing server is working again. I was unable to send mail from mid-evening last night until a few hours ago.

Thanks Crossy and Coder. I have not had ocassion to contact True for some time, but their customer service seems to have deteriorated. I used to be able to speak with people who could ocassionally fix the problem. Hope this clears up soon. I can use Web mail to send, but that is annoying.

Since last night (8/25 from evening onwards) I have been unable to send mail on my Truemail account. I can read incoming, but no outgoing. I didn't change or mess with any of my setttings. I just called True, and whereas formally you could talk to a human, now I get a garbled message instructing me to enter my number for callback. Second time I called I got a busy system, which is a first. I suspect something is up, but would like to hear if anyone else is in the same boat.

Use the Post Office EMS system. Trackable and fast. Somewhat pricier than airmail, but better than courier prices for small envelopes.

More sad than funny... A few years back I was in a taxi on some side soi waiting at a light to get onto Sukhumvit. All of a suddent there was a thump!. We looked back and a motorcycle had run into the back of the taxi at slow speed. The driver was completely drunk, so much so that he could barely keep the bike upright. Some passers by tried to get him to get off the bike but he refused. I have seen few people drunker on foot, much less a MC. Would be a miracle if he made it home that night in one piece.

A long time ago I used to approach tourists when they looked like they were lost or needed help, but stopped that after a number of negative experiences. The final incident was amazing. I lived in Soi Moh Leng, and at the time the soi was flooded to a depth of about half a meter. Flooded right into the ground floor of the the apartment I lived in. Whenever farangs ventured into our Soi needing assistance the apartment staff would summon me, thinking that I could help them. So one day I get a knock on my door, "Mr. Qualtrough, your friend downstairs." I go down and wade through the ground floor area to find a farang couple. They were looking for the Bangkok Doll Factory. So I wade out to the Soi with them and point out the directions. They then ask if I could help them get a Tuk-Tuk. I flag a Tuk-Tuk and I negotiate a price of something like 20 Baht. Next thing I know they have a frown on their face, "too expensive" and push me aside to negotiate with the driver. That is the last I saw of them, no 'thank you' or even a 'good-bye'. That did it for me.

I would use the mail to send those. Do not use a courier service like DHL, Fedex and the like as they are much more likely to attract the attention of customs. There have been threads on this before. If possible send the documents separately as there should absolutely be no duty on those. The post office will deliver to anyone and don't care a whit about your visa status, etc.

Tip-If your suspicions are confirmed then you should under no circumstances, repeat , under no circumstances, consider taking this woman back. This was not a momentary lapse, it was a major long-term deception akin to a scam, as hard as that may be to accept at the moment. Not only did she take advantage of you, but she potentially exposed you to harm because she was sleeping with another man who could well have had an STD or even HIV. Get as many of your assets back as you can and start a new chapter in your life, older but wiser.

Thanks Tip. Whatever you do avoid the temptation to rush things. If she is cheating the damage is done, but if not you could end up creating a problem where none existed before. Having said that, I am sorry to say that I have been in similar situations before and understand the emotional roller coaster you are on. Not getting any sleep can't help matters any either...

He's talking about the emailer. He's already said his wife is not computer literate.

OK, thanks. But when and how was it established that the e-mailer was a woman for sure? If anyone can point me to that post it will be appreciated.

Hi All,

[snip]

I've given her a laundry list of questions and hopefully not overburdened her. I've offered her both the option of emailing me in passa Thai and having me email her likewise. I've also offered her an opportunity to speak to a very close Thai friend of mine. He would provide his number to her. I've tried my best to assure her that our communications will remain strictly between the two of us. So now there's not much else to do but sit and wait. But it is my expectation that she will divulge information which will ultimately prove telling.

[snip]

Are you referring to your wife or the e-mailer? If the latter, when was it established that the e-mailer was a female? Sorry if I missed something, it has been a long thread! Good luck too!

[snip] Personally i cannot imagine she would stray for a low paid policeman, why? It's not likely to be even for sex, from what i can gather sex is not particularly high on a Thai womans list of priority's! [snip]

Good Luck

Thai police salaries are low, but that is probably the smallest portion of their income. They have additional resources both legal and illegal. For example, like many of our neighbors and many businesses, we pay a cop 1000 Baht a month to stop by our house several times a day. I would imagine this cop has quite a few houses and businesses on his route, so 1000x X could add up in one month. There are also the individual bribes, and the cut from larger bribes that come from further up and are divvied up for those further down, as well as tips and payments for good or extra services. A poor cop is an honest cop, and unfortunately they are far outnumbered by the bad ones. I would say that the cop cannot be ruled in or out on the basis of income.