thailand49

Thaiwatsado!

What a surprise???? Just all hot air consistent from the swamp. The guy hasn't ever had to squat jail ????.

Here is my experience and views. I'm in no way religious so my view of religion in Thailand considered the most religious in the world or Asia in an article I saw years back is pretty much all negative. But regardless of my views I'm not going to rain on anyone parade. The ops posted his views but there is more not reported and that is how close is he to this so call friend their relationship particularly with the son. Since none is available I'm going to take a wild guess because I think it makes a huge difference whether you should help or not. First, how old is the son? if in the 20's and it hasn't been done there is a reason usually money but all of a sudden " friend " is in the picture the mother wants it done if not why wasn't it done earlier? I've in over 15 years here in Pattaya not seen one of these events normally if done they go back to the mother or father home and have it done. Here in my Thai village in Pattaya many of the kids my son grew up with parents don't have the funds to have one. I would say in the Thai culture it is very important but not essential a do or die situation if it doesn't happen I've not heard any stories of shame or complete lost of face. In my own situation my son cousins parents teamed up and share in the event to cut cost. In 2021, as my son was completing his education and got lucky not required to serve military the wife broke the news as to the event that it was going to happen later in the year in Sept into October, I of course knew of the event in the conversation she never mentioned money to pay I asked her out of curiosity and she just said don't worry she had save and has the money. Not exactly surprised or disappointed although I've been the only father he has ever known 6 month old, when he turn 7, I adopted him through the Thai government process officially. Through the years I always got the sense from Thais as to what I've done and what I've been through raising him are shocked and surprise that someone who isn't blood can love another person child this at time kind of puts me on a pedestal? So the fact that even my wife has save for this event not directly asking me to share didn't surprise me. As noted I knew of the event seen it upfront the last few days but I didn't have a clue the amount of preparation months before we even left for the farm. As many posted it is right up there with a Thai marriage wife has a huge family the women knew in detail what to do and what to buy they did all the cooking and cleaning the amount of food and beverages several trips to Makro. The men also had their jobs the rental of tents, water tanks, tables, chairs, dishes the list goes on and on along with the responsibility of preparing him and the family interviews and his 14 day stay with the Monks. I remember the last few days as it got closer monks in and out, the final day of shaving his head and paying his respect to me and his mother they even had clothes picked out for me to wear. Then the march down to the temple included music and throwing of wrap coins. Once there he meets the monks to chant and pay his respect. After he stays at the temple where he works fixing and caring for the animals, his man job was to take care of this huge black pig, guess once the head monk saw his big fat ass lazy wife knew exactly what training he needed? Sorry had to throw that in! To me this is somewhat like the event the Jewish does for the male? During the 14 days each morning he wake up at 4 am and the monks break up in groups walk bare feet throughout and gather donation. Each morning the wife got up and cook food we gather at the Temple entrance to wake for him and his group to donate the food. The last day it was custom also for the family to feed the monks a meal of their choosing after finding out I was a farang although Asian American they requested if it was possible to have a meal from Pizza Hut which none has ever had. There was also a small donation to the Temple. So? back to the beginning when I was told by the wife she had saved! I told her just give me a round figure although I didn't believe he was my son raising him has been tough but a joy and paying for something he and the family believe in was just part of the course. The near two months at their rice farm not rich people pull together helping through all the steps I being able to bond for the first time with many of the elders. One of her older brother an government official in the village rarely ever came or acknowledge me since the beginning disapprove of his sister marrying a foreigner but during this event came regularly to sit and eat with me. In the end, drum rolls.................................. 140,000 baht.... that included all the white envelops of appreciation to each family member who helped out when it was over within hours tents, tanks, dishes all cleaned and returned to the company. The wife counted up all the white envelop donations I expected nothing from her family since they are poor rich on paper with land and always been respectful to me never asking for anything especially her mother but the total came to 45,000 baht she handed it to me I said politely keep it I'm sure something will arise before we leave. The look on her face hinted we would make passionate love that night LOL. most of it went to the mother who has never ask anything of me except to take care of the two of them. As for the ops, I have no clue what your situation regardless of the negatives showing off, etc etc.. but if she mentioned it there might be more to the relationship that you are indicating. If it truly is a friendship and she is just crying on your shoulder and you aren't invited to attend then all you got to do is stuff a 1000 baht or more in one of those white envelops and call it a day. If it is something more you met the son and family then I would be more generous and if you are coming across as exclusive not saying you should pay for the whole thing but as far as I'm concern you can't dip your stick to check the oil and think things are free!????

I do have an Thai account I use Wise now found the high rate given is the best option.

Early August of last year and just the other day 5th of April, flight came in at midnight, instead of coming to Pattaya got a cheap place off Nana for the night. Both time after going downstairs getting Q number for myself hand carry and a check in luggage told the guy where I wanted to go both times quoted 500 baht, I told the guy a meter would be in the range of 280-320 baht. Both times now they pointed they needed to charge me for the bags, August it was 40 bahts this time it was 20-30 baht the guy couldn't decide. That time of night one doesn't have to take the Toll, I looked at him told him nicely in Thai give a number that is reasonable he quoted me 350 and off we went.

Correct! Years ago I use mainly ATM to get my money from home with plenty of time on hand did a research and used every ATM on the market All of the Thai Banks, UOB, end result was all were very close then they charged 150, then to 220, the only one that kept it at 150 was Aeon but in Pattaya there were only three location today there is only one. Overall their rate was better than the others plus not charging 220Baht. If the Bloomberg rate was 33.00 the ATM here would be 32.55 plus the 220, when a few you put them in and they will give you a breakdown the rate was near 31.90 plus the 220, I noticed my Credit Union Visa would do this at the Thai banks except Aeon. If I absolutely had to use the Thai ones when you see the breakdown push NO, you wont get the 31.90 but closer to the 32.55. I also use Charles Schwab, Wells Fargo and that doesn't happen. When it comes to exchange booth in Pattaya I ran around looking at rates by far the most consistent was T.T. many of them are located on Soi Bauhkao, displaying basically the same rate so don't run around the heat looking for lower. The T.T. at Big C extra in the beginning was a bit lower than the ones on Baukhao, post covid I noticed pretty close example if it is 34.00 rate Bloomberg it's like 33.75 while the ones on Baukhao will be 33.80. Just my two cents experience.

For a long time I thought the same whenever the bank ATM show you a breakdown as to what they are offering when showing the rate is much lower and I mean much lower but one think what choice I have so they push continue. But that isn't the case, when you see the breakdown all you got to do is push " NO " then it will revert back to what the market is giving instead of what the bank wants you to pay. When I was told this I logged into my account and saw that was the case and not I would have gotten if I push Yes! A few months back not sure of the bank I think it was Siam, I don't use the ATM any longer with foreign card. I normally don't get a breakdown when using a Charles Schwab card but this time I got the breakdown this was a new scam a new format so I read from top to bottom. That day for example the Bloomberg market was showing 35 baht to the USD, it indicated I was getting 35 but fine print in getting the 35 baht there was now a surcharge of 2% - 5% can remember exact % I did that would have given me like 33 to 1. if I had push yes! I aborted because I didn't even want to take a chance. Banks like this I wouldn't give them a time of day!

Tough to ask airlines outside of Thailand control. You got gas prices up then you might want to look at the adjustment of what Thailand is charging Airlines for Gates, landing fees, since post covid.

Two guys about retired looking for a happy ending (private business) we all the same LOS! ????

This is great knowledge to know Fraud and illegal would surely fit in Thailand.

You did the right thing when ever you get such a response it is they don't know that equals $$$$$$ to them test and more test $$$$$

This isn't about the weed? Gray businesses aren't just contained to Chinese. There is certainly a link.

Yea, always a happy ending when I banish my gun on Soi 22????

" Criminal organization " would that include the police and the government themselves? why should anyone be concerned when the Thai supreme court rule it is OK to charge All Foreigners more because we are better off it type of thinking only breeds the thinking by its people. It comes down to practice what you preach!

Years even today I've nevered had a problem with the M/C I don't use Bolt. I come out 10-20 baht difference I'm off I tell them politely need to go ? 60 baht never had a problem. Any attitude or stupid amount I act as if I never heard them. Baht bus I just walk across the road to Makro.

License to operate is in order but are routine expectIon done by experts who know what to look and test inspection records kept? RTP are now experts? Suggest replacement if old? that's the standard? Up to you we know the honor system doesn't work here. He was given 12,500, which 10,000 for medical checkup, left with 2,500 barely covers a ST at Soi 6?????????

Darkside is pretty large need to ask yourself how far out you want to be first from Sukhumvit for starts you want to be out near the Lake?

Should have used the plastic bag method no wonder they want quality tourist here? ????

Oh no brown envelope that doesn't happen. The proper procedure is go online and apply then wait for approval you got to show up show your face that is the only way for immigration must be something wrong with the website reason they overstayed ????????

I'm off Tuesday BKK Hanada SFO Two OK, bring papers to be safe. you will find your answer by logging on the airline site as soon as you indicate the routing it should show up what any requirement.

Whatever new will come from within the old good example is new Mayor in Pattaya and Governor in Bangkok. Lots of hot air reason for all the pollution.

Pattaya Klang?

Maybe you heard Her wrong? Maybe she meant " where you go " I get this a lot after a good massage maybe she moonlighting? ????

While that is suggested start at the application process but we know that isn't going to happen it is all nepotism and the sliding if the brown envelope.

Confirm all come from the same system of driving same swamp as they say. Ever follow or watch them drive especially motorbike. One big reason they can't or won't enforce they are big part of problem.