Wasp

Is there such an Immigration Office in Korat ? I just don't know .

Is that Automatic ? I mean is there never any problem ? Just pay the fee and you get the 30 day extension ?

Lovely , cheerful , positive , sunny disposition you have !! Plus you think you are witty and humorous !!!! You're not .

Just as well Thai women don't put Private Investigators onto their loving; and of course faithful, Farang partners.

They do.

It used to be that Farangs on the bones of their azz would become Teachers as a last resort, now it seems they can reinvent themselves as Private Investigators too.

The topic was about a Japanese guy who seemed to have good intentions but looked like he was stepping into a well-trodden minefield . People tried to tell him just to be a bit careful here because so many have been burnt by similar experiences . Unfortunately that effort to caution somebody has led to a diatribe of bile describing every foreign guy over 50 yeras as being a "sad , jealous , old , sick , moaning pervert " . Even when somebody has genuinely tried to help somebody .

I have just read this topic and I am a bit confused.

Are we talking about:-

a) paying for Sex (the Japanese guy certainly seems to be)

paying for a future with someone

c) paying a girl and her family

Not everybody comes from the same financial level so I think it would be unusual for 2 parties to contribute "equally" (in financial terms) to a relationship.

There is usually inequality where age is concerned. Are some people saying that anything over, say 5 years is wrong ? Are some people saying that there is a different view where there is an inter-racial raelationship ?

This is a fine thing to be doing . And it has to be frustrating when you make such an ffort to help one family and they still behave in a way that doesn't even help themselves . Of course if aneliane saw you trying to help you would instantly be dismissed as a leeching pervert .... because that's the only thing they choose to see . I decided to help in a similar way when a friend in England said " You can't help everyone " . He was right . But he meant you can't help everyone so don't bother to help ANYONE . I thought :Yes , I can't help everyone --- but surely I can help ONE family . Genuine help . And when I was simply lied to and I speak about it I get described by aleniane as an old perverted moaning jealous sad fool . I suppose you have to be that way yourself if you can only describe other people in those terms and no others . To you .... good for you with your decision at least to try .

Years ago I used to give to World Vision and other charities. I felt in a tiny way that I was helping, and even today I still think I was. But I had no real way of knowing. Then, when I became single again at age 56 I decided to do some traveling on my own. On the advice of a Canadian friend I started visiting South East Asia on a yearly basis and thoroughly enjoyed myself. However, The abject poverty through all countries was very evident, as was the start contrast between the very poor and the very wealthy. The middle class seemed to be in the minority. I tend to play the white knight in shining armour because it makes ME feel good. I could easily see that a small amount of my charity to go a lot further if I helped people directly. I got to play king on a pensioner's salary. I've got dozen of funny stories about my experiences and a few times some pretty scary ones.

Finally, I decided to sort of adopt one Thai family and try to help them in various ways. It wasn't hard to find a family like that in Thailand. My charity included getting the children a better education and show them something of the outside world beyond just trying to survive. I took the family on small vacations to the mountains and the beaches. I helped out with hospital and dental costs. And I helped the family start a small business selling ice, drinks, mixed gas and purified water. That meant buying large ice chests, 2 refrigerators, a couple of motorbikes and a side car for one of them. I also sent them about 6000 baht a month. I know that isn't enough to totally finance a family of 4, but I figured that they should have to work as well. Pure charity seldom helps anyone. The idea is to help people help themselves. I make it very plain that there will never be any more than that.

I have done this for 8 years and will continue to do so. It's been a rewarding and sometimes frustrating process but I think the good out weighs the bad. I have a close relationship with the two younger children, now 11 and 13, and they make it plain that they love me. My only hope is they will have a better life because of me. I couldn't care less about their mother. She has never told the truth since the day we met. But, despite that I'll continue trying to help. I was very upset when the older girl got pregnant at age 13 and now has year old daughter. Her life is now in tatters. The mother should have explained the facts of life to her daughter. I just hope it doesn't happen to the youngest girl.

So, in reply to the OP's question, it all depends on the situation and what you are willing to accept. Never give more than you can afford or what might be thrown away on frivolous items. Just consider whatever you give as charity and leave it at that.

They are not " tiny little drops in the ocean " . They are a continual torrent of criticism against people who have genuinely tried to help Thais but have been lied to and conned . Try to help somebody and people like you just reach for terms like "perverts" and "fools" because it's so easy to hide in an internet forum and only ever make sarcastic or acid comments . Never any attempt at all to see anything in any other way . So don't start bleating now about " tiny little drops " . Make an effort to see that a lot of people with good intentions get robbed by conniving frauds and then people like you sit on the sidelines and applaud it ! They are not "tiny little drops " . They're bitter negative comments .

My three little comments on me getting tired of the "my half-my-age thai gf doubled me" story, is really a tiny drop in the ocean of these stories here.

Do you ever say anything positive or do you just sit there criticising other people's thoughts ? With your small collection of standard insults and generalisations . You don't even read what people are saying . You just see what you want to see and then criticise it . Quite sad really . ....

The men are not at all stupid . They too are trading .

It's no why they do it (which is obvious), it's the moaning I just can't take

If they know they are just trading, why do they keep coming here and moan about their GF doubling them, or "laughing with her Thai BF when she receives monthly payment"? Or call them names because she does it with others"?

Since when trading does imply exclusivity?

They pay for sex services, which in Thailand and in their country is still regarded as wrong regardless of how easy it is here.

So they should have the decency not to moan about whatever the girl does with her money.

Do crack-heads come to forums to complain he's been ripped off by their dealer ?

They just act as like they are at Big C and their coffee machine does not work and seem surprised that prostitution does not provide customer support nor compensation.

Do you ever say anything positive or do you just sit there criticising other people's thoughts ? With your small collection of standard insults and generalisations . You don't even read what people are saying . You just see what you want to see and then criticise it . Quite sad really . ....

The men are not at all stupid . They too are trading .

It's no why they do it (which is obvious), it's the moaning I just can't take

If they know they are just trading, why do they keep coming here and moan about their GF doubling them, or "laughing with her Thai BF when she receives monthly payment"? Or call them names because she does it with others"?

Since when trading does imply exclusivity?

They pay for sex services, which in Thailand and in their country is still regarded as wrong regardless of how easy it is here.

So they should have the decency not to moan about whatever the girl does with her money.

Do crack-heads come to forums to complain he's been ripped off by their dealer ?

They just act as like they are at Big C and their coffee machine does not work and seem surprised that prostitution does not provide customer support nor compensation.

My feeling is that the whole thing is simply a trade . Men know perfectly well that they are not so very attractive past a certain age . And the young Thai women have one set of priorities - which is their family . So how can you take care of your ageing mum and your child when your Thai partner has walked away ? Trade . Trade your physical self for that desirable thing - security . The men are not at all stupid . They too are trading . And for supplying the security they get a partner who is very often a genuinely kind and caring partner despite the difference in age . It's the same deal my dad and my mum did . My dad went out to work . My mum maintained the home and looked after the children. It's not fashionable now but that was the deal . The definition of a good man then was someone who had a job and put a wage packet on the table on Friday night . The definition of a good trade in the older farang-younger Thai is exactly the same . You supply the financial security and I supply a warm home environment . It's no different . I don't blame any Thai lady for putting her family first and I don't blame any farang for accepting what's a good deal both ways .

I agree . This is a nice piece of writing , RedFXTrade !!!!

Perhaps if there was less corruption people would learn to drive safely

Perhaps if there was less corruption the roads would be built better; safer layouts, less pot-holes, better visibility of signage...

SC

Yes, perhaps.

And perhaps there would be no naughty nightlife, no choice but to surrender your drivers license and take a ticket when committing a violation, no street vendors selling delicious food, and no chance to buy your way out of trouble if you really got into a jam, etc., etc.

I wonder how many expats would honestly make that sacrifice to rid the land of corruption, if it came down to a choice? I would have to give it a long, hard think.

Have read through most of this thread. I m in between the UK and Bangkok often, and have lived in Bangkok for long spells, however, being in the West now shows me that being Thailand is much more desirable, and when I have been in Thailand its always felt more relaxed and less intrusive. I think a lot of the posters should come back to the West to get some perspective. I m kind of on Richards argument here...The UK , and from what I can gather from US friends, and in the EU is becoming an evermore bureaucratic night mare.

The place feels sterile, boring, there are new rules and regulations coming out every day designed to govern and interfere in every little nook and cranny of our lives. What business is it of some politician who I probably never endorsed in any election tells me that I must pay 70% tax on a bottle of wine, that I must not take too much salt, what type of light bulb I need to put in my house. There is this attempt here to micromanage every aspect of an individuals life.

I have listened to the stories of some small business owners who are in agreement. A cafe in a town wants to put a few small tables and chairs out the front of the shop, and the nice man from the council comes a long and says you need to pay a yearly fee for that...or he will be sent to court and to pay a £3000 fine.

A local hairdresser to ease the boredom for waiting customers wants to put a TV on the wall. She has to buy a TV license, which she expected, but now someone calls in to tell her to buy a music license.

And all the stories are coming out from all the corruption in the councils and politicians expenses. Councils have been spending millions of tax payers money on credit card and now refuse to give over details of what it was spent on. For me this is corruption under the guise of socialism. The money might not go to a policeman, but it goes to some bureaucrat to waste and spend on his house, travel, food. Have you seen the food bill for some of these guys for a year?

The bank bailouts also. A complete and utter corruption of the system, with government and corporations and the banks all in bed together. We might paint it in nice language in the West, and under the guise of social good, and necessary for the good of society and the economy.Total rubbish. Politicians have spent so much that the West is now bankrupt. And now want to to tax citizens who are already highly taxed even more. For me, a government that takes 50% of your income tax, add 20% VAT, has a monopoly over alcohol pricing, and charges you 70% tax on petrol through force and coercion is corruption., The government call it TAX. For me that is real corruption, that politicians spend other peoples money, and squandered their savings without the means of production to pay it back...

Nice piece.

I think that's a Bullseye for you DP25 !!!!

Lets face it, if the old mans wife who gets 20,000 Baht per month can get 20,000 Baht per month from a young fit guy who she actually likes and likes to be seen with and actually enjoys his company who do you think she would prefer ?

Neither, that type would prefer to get the 20k from both, while still looking for a 3rd and a 4th and a 5th. Otherwise they'd work a normal job and date someone they liked to begin with.

Can't you stop writing in cliches ? If a French guy rips you off and you are hurt by that does it make you a "French" hater if you warn people ? No ! It make s you a hater of liars --- whoever they are !!! If a Thai family rips you off ... indeed if TWO Thai families rip you off does it make you a Thai woman hater to say so ? Do you have no intelligence at all ? You don't becaome a "Thai woman hater" if you warn somebody how these cons work You don't become a " Thai woman hater" if you say to somebody to be careful . That's all people are saying . But you come in with these ill-thought-out repetitive and unoriginal comments that somebody who treads more warily is automatically a " Thai woman hater " !!! How fatuous a comment is that !!! It's like a school playground where if you try to help someone you just get called names . If you're old then you're automatically a " pervert" . If you warn people then you are a " Thai woman hater " . If you have moved past 50 then you are automatically " jealous" of someone in his twenties . All utter garbage .

.

Yoshi, Don't pay too much attention to the cynics and Thai women haters here. If it is not a burden to you and it makes you happy, go for it. You will likely be well rewarded. The losers here think everyone is as stupid as they were.

Posted 3 minutes ago

When you say " they " .... are you truly saying that every old man is desperate to believe he is attractive to young women ? Is that truly what you are saying and what you believe ? I help care for an old guy who was deceived twice by Thai women and their Thai husbands and families . He never believed he was attractive at all . He just thought that he could help someone and inreturn he would have some companionship instead of living in loneliness . Now he just struggles to get by on much-reduced funds . Reduced by lying con people . So he is an old man getting by . Are you saying that along with all the others he is desperate to believe he is attractive ? Simply because he is an old guy in Thailand ? You seem to think you can just make any hurtful statements you like about people who don't deserve it just because you can hide in an internet world .

Old men aren't miserable - they're just desperate to believe that they are still attractive to young women....

LOL.

And when reality bites and they realize that it is all about money after all,they join ThaiVisa and post venom filled topics slating all Thai women and become .....................Miserable.

When you say " they " .... are you truly saying that every old man is desperate to believe he is attractive to young women ? Is that truly what you are saying and what you believe ? I help care for an old guy who was deceived twice by Thai women and their Thai husbands and families . He never believed he was attractive at all . He just thought that he could help someone and inreturn he would have some companionship instead of living in loneliness . Now he just struggles to get by on much-reduced funds . Reduced by lying con people . So he is an old man getting by . Are you saying that along with all the others he is desperate to believe he is attractive ? Simply because he is an old guy in Thailand ? You seem to think you can just make any hurtful statements you like about people who don't deserve it just because you can hide in an internet world .

It would seem certain that poor old Mrs Mills has been badly bitten by somebody . Can you write the word " old" without automatically adding the word " pervert " ? I think not . If you are sitting in all your sadness and bitterness just looking for something negative to say that's not a difficult task . look at your comments . " Not all Thai women are like that " . Quite right . But apparently ALL old men are nasty creatures ! No generalisations there hey ? When you launch into a diatribe against people who are trying to help someone you make yourself look a bitter and sad soul . Try to smile . You must remember what a smile is ?

I can see you've applied your total intelligence to that answer .

It's amazing and sad how many times people use the word " jealous " instead of apllying any intelligence . Nobody said that EVERY girl behaves that way . So why are you imagining a statement that is not there ? It's because you seek to create an argument where there is no argument . Would you NEVER ever advise anybody to take care in dubious situations ? If we see people being ripped off by say a condo developer is it not caring to say to other people to be careful when dealing with condo developers ? Or are we just being "jealous" in your eyes that people are buying a condo ? It's fatuous and lazy to say that people are " jealous" when they are advising caution .

" Jealous" is such an easy and empty word to use . Who has ever expressed any " jealousy" in this context ? If you see people being lied to and conned time after time after in this situation it's rather wise to say to somebody to step with care . If I see someone about to sit on a newly painted bench I think I would say something . Mrs Mills would probably think I am "jealous" of the paint or the bench !

Why do you have to be such a negative whinger ? Nobody here has been moaning about being taken advantage of . Everybody seems to be trying to help Banzaii to AVOID that situation . People are being helpful . Nobody has whined about anything .

I think there may be two things going on here . I think Banzaii might just be an English guy having a joke . Because this is such a stock standard story of someone heading for huge and expensive disaster . It's the perfect story . So I think it's a wind-up . If I am wrong ..... if you really do exist Banzaii ..... look very carefully at the things people have tried to say to you . Everybody has tried very carefully to say that you are doing totally the wrong thing . Everybody is gently telling you that your lovely Thai lady is almost certainly laughing at you - taking your money - and taking money from other people at the same time . It happens ALL THE TIME and every single day . Girls copy other girls successful emails to extract money from you . And they will never tell you that they are selling sex . They will always tell you they work in a hairdressers or in a hotel . She will kiss you goodbye at the airport Departures and then walk around the corner to the Arrivals lounge to wait for another boyfriend " sponsor" to land. The people here know what they are talking about . You should listen to what they are telling you .

Thanks meatboy . I'm not actually living in Korat yet . We have a house outside Korat - near Nonthai . Is that anywhere near you ? We're still based in UK and spending Winter in Korat but this year I think we're making the big final move . And when I look around the only things I want to move are my books . but they are heavy . My tools would be handy but then again none of them are new so I don't mind buying new stuff in Korat . Everything else is approaching the end ( Old car old sofa etc. ) . But the dam_n books are heavy .

So maybe we'll catch up and have a cold Leo sometime ?

Wasp .

I had a computer "die" on me so I haven't seen these replies . So thank you to ............ skinnymilinky , meatboy , ableguy and Tom Kagai . But no - I don't have anybody visiting . I'm the original Nobby Nomates . If I lived in Pattaya it would be different but nobody wants to visit Korat . Which is a shame . I think it's fine ! I looked at Superoo but they seem to have evaporated . And if I ask you people for help I really should listen to you and I'm starting to accept that there's probably more hassle and expense than it's worth . Thanks again folks . from Wasp .

i live in korat pm.if you want more info.

I had a computer "die" on me so I haven't seen these replies . So thank you to ............ skinnymilinky , meatboy , ableguy and Tom Kagai . But no - I don't have anybody visiting . I'm the original Nobby Nomates . If I lived in Pattaya it would be different but nobody wants to visit Korat . Which is a shame . I think it's fine ! I looked at Superoo but they seem to have evaporated . And if I ask you people for help I really should listen to you and I'm starting to accept that there's probably more hassle and expense than it's worth . Thanks again folks . from Wasp .

I look around and there are many books I simply want to have there but which I would not go looking for in "The Mall" . Books that I would certainly one day read . Big heavy books . And great movies that I want to have on my shelf for whistful evenings . The movies could probably travel with me and I don't even mind replacing my tools . So it's just books . It's difficult and costly to get them through Amazon too ! Well ...... maybe I should search Bangkok for a decent quality second-hand bookshop and give these to a Charity shop . Thank you for the time .

Wasp.

How do you say your name ? Wasp

Is it really that complicated, wasp is complcateing the issue by throwing it all into one pot. He needs to decide what visa works for him and just look at the requirements are for that visa.

You are exactly right moe666. It's not complicated at all, as you say, the OP just needs to focus on a single goal and concentrate on acheiving that goal.

To TREVORG .

Blimey !!! Those costs take it from £1.70 a kilo to £2.60 a kilo !!! Still not too bad I suppose - but when they said BANGKOK I thought it was to an address in Bangkok . Obviously they mean to the port and then there's the hassle that you had to put up with plus those costs . Is it worth it ? I have my doubts now . For high-cost things like your motorbike leathers it must be worth it ..... but for my books and DVDs probably not . Thank you for the information Trev .

Wasp

Folks ...... I really would like to move all my books and other bits out to Thailand but of course excess baggage is a very expensive way to do it . My best efforts have taken me to a company called VOOVIT who are quoting me about £200 to take four suitcases weighing 30 kg each from London to Bangkok . This seems a good deal . £1.70 a kilogramme !

But has anybody dealt with this company ? Can anybody recommend them .... or warn against them ? And has anyone got other suggestions that they know work --- or any warnings ? !!!

Thanks and good wishes . Wasp .

Yoshi ........ 10 000 Baht a month is a very good salary in Thailand. I know many Thais who have work : heavy tiring work : and they get 3 500 Baht a month . So 10 000 is already good money . If you gave her another 10 000 Baht a month she would be a very lucky lady indeed !