timmyp

When I sit for long periods of time at a coffee shop, I keep ordering. I see it as rental of the seat/table. They are running a business after all.

Such fees are common in Japan. I think the translation is a "seat charge." Usually it's in bars.

It's not a public park, it's a business. I am often bewildered that people think they can use the facilities so freely. It seems ridiculously selfish to me.

It's not easy for management to ask someone to leave. It certainly risks conflict. There is nothing Thai or Asian about the desire to avoid a conflict. Westerns who believe they can so easily confront people either get off from telling others what to do, or really lack social skills.

For management to confront a customer, It makes other customers feel uncomfortable as well, especially if the freeloader customer begins in argument. Posting the rules makes it clear and easy, and would put the burden back on the customer to pay up for the seat they occupying.

I good rule might be "leave 30 minutes after making your purchase", meaning that you can make a new purchase and reset the clock.

Well... Looks like I'm the only one on TVF who daily drinks tap water from my apartment. Been doing so for 3 years. No recognizable link to being sick. I pour it into water bottles and cool them in the fridge.

I drink it, too Stan, and a couple of others mentioned that they also drink it, so you're not alone. I don't cool it in the fridge, though, I can't stand cold water.

I'm not against people choosing not to drink straight tap water, I just think people should re-think what they believe about the water.

I totally love your profile pic. Cracks me up every time I see it.

I know this is the Bangkok forum , but if you are worried about Bangkok water , people living in rural area's should be panicking !

Water is different here every day . Sometimes it reeks of chlorine , other times some other chemical , if we're lucky a neutral smell.

Sometimes it is sandy , other times it has stuff in it that clogg the shower head.

I sure don't drink it, but people here let their dog drink it.

Pretty sure restaurants use it to wash food with it. Cheap restaurants don't have filters , and are not going to use the big 20 ? liter plastic bottles for it.

Bad enough I have to wash myself in it. Sometimes it's so bad , that I wouldn't wash my car with it.

What amphoe/amphur do you live in, BuaBS?

I would gamble the restaurants don't use that water to wash the food with, that they use water from the 20 L bottle.

I live in bangkok five years.

Although I do not drink tap water, I do use it sometimes to make tea, since it is brought to a rolling boil.

I use tap water for all cooking and boiling water for coffee. I have previously asked my girlfriend if anyone drinks tap water and the answer was that there are poor people that do so.

If metals are the concern, as so many people are expressing, then boiling isn't going to make it safer (in fact, it just makes it more concentrated, as the OP pointed out).

The tap water is safe from microbes, so there really isn't any reason to boil it, other than enjoying a hot drink.

I think many Thai folks largely drink bottled water because they want to make it clear that they are not those poor people BKKBobby's girlfriend mentioned.

I agree that buying bottled water is not expensive, but it's apparently just taken from the tap, and in the end, it winds up being more questionable than the tap water (I'm referring the article someone posted above).

Frankly, I don't think there's any way for anyone to know if the tap water in BKK is safe for drinking.

Yes, the MWA tests the water coming out of their plants and certifies that it's safe -- if you believe their public announcements.

But the issue is, what happens to the water AFTER that, as it travels through old and poorly maintained water system pipes throughout the city, and then goes into buildings' water storage tanks, and then further into often old water pipes in buildings. There's the potential, depending on exactly where you are, for a lot of junk to make its ways into the drinking water that comes out of your tap.

And if you need any further convincing, just look back at past news reports where where independent testing of both public water dispensing machines and even bottled water sold in stores has found significant portions of both supplies being unhealthy....

You're making good points TallGuy that others have brought up to me. To challenge the-pipes-could-be-nasty argument, I drink the water all over the city. If I eat at a restaurant, I'll drink water from the tap. If I go to my friend's apartment, I drink tap water there. I don't have a Super Intestine, but I still haven't gotten sick. It suggests to me that everyone's fears are overblown. Of course I can't say for sure, and as wide as my sampling is, it's hardly a real survey of water safety.

I saw that article about the water dispensers before, and had heard prior to reading it that the water dispensers are sketchy because they aren't maintained very well.

The article about bottled water was a surprise to me when it came out, and just reassured to me what a scam the bottled water industry is.

Not to be dramatic but just because you haven't gotten sick doesn't mean the water isn't doing longer term damage to your body. Cancer for example, takes years to show up and often without any symptoms.

TimmyP, do you know you have just given me a 'like', was it a mistake or what?

No mistake, possum. Just trying to show that I respect your point, and to not keep a battle going on like so many do on Thai-Visa.

I don't get why people are so freaked out by motorbikes on the sidewalk. I've never seen anyone being a jerk on on a motorbike while driving on the sidewalk, but I have seen farang dramatically leap out of the way like an accident was imminent, or refuse to step aside when a motorbike approaches. I don't doubt that accidents have occurred, but all the motorbikes I've seen driving on the sidewalk do so carefully enough to not threaten pedestrians (again, I don't doubt that their are aggressive jerks, I'm only saying that it's far from the norm). I live in Bangkok and ride my motorbike everyday (yes, often on the sidewalk if the sidewalk is clear and it seems like the most sense to get through a traffic jam). I find there to be an appropriate amount of accommodation and give-and-take between pedestrians and motorbikes on the sidewalk, both when I am walking on the footpath, and when I am on a motorbike.

Really, I think some people have a rather restrictive sense of the rules, and they have a meltdown when they see something that rattles their paradigm.

You are wrong, imagine the scenario, you ride your bike on the sidewalk because the sidewalk is clear, then someone walks out (maybe even a kid) from a shop entrance

and you hit him/her, or someone is crossing the road and your view is blocked by stationary traffic, and they step on to the sidewalk and you hit them.

I bet you are the type who will keep on riding on the side walk despite what I have told you.

That's why I don't drive close to doorways or, when in the street, alongside buses where passengers get off.

I open my eyes when I drive, and apply other bits of common sense to avoid accidents.

>I bet you are the type who will keep on riding on the side walk despite what I have told you.

I am the type that doesn't find your example very convincing, and am slightly irritated that you think you are in a position to tell me how to drive.

I retort with an "I bet you are the type of person" statement back to you:

I bet your are the type will gets very upset when people aren't doing what you want them to? Sorry to rattle your world.

I agree with all the advice above, but you should really study Thai, too. People will be very receptive to you speaking because 1) it's how they prefer to communicate, 2) you look like you can speak. People will engage with you in Thai, and that is so important when learning a language.

I don't know what your level is, but if you don't have basics of all the sounds down, review that with a teacher or online. Getting the basics is so important. If you've got the basics, then start learning vocabulary and interacting with people.

Learning a language is a bit of a pain in the ass, but there is tremendous reward if you put the time in. It's not rocket science, lots of dumb folks learn to speak quite well. You just gotta put in the time.

Three years.

When my 3 years were up, I looked for a place that would do advanced Thai for a fourth year. Nobody offers it.

If anyone knows of a place, please tell me. I would happily take the class, even without the visa.

After your 3 years studying Thai, you can get a visa to study another language: Chinese, Japanese, or English. I have been told that western Europeans will not be allowed to get a visa to study English. I believe you can only get a total of 10 months to study those languages. I don't know if that 10 month visa can be renewed, I'll let you know when my 10 months have finished!

Added: Mario is correct, you gotta leave the country each year to get a new student visa to study Thai.

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!

I believe there are a limited number of languages you can study, simply because you have to get a school that is certified by the Ministry of Education to teach those languages.

Yes, it is possible for people to get an ED visa for studying English. I know people who are doing this (all East Asians), but I hear that immigration is not allowing western Europeans to do this. I don't know what would happen if an eastern European would try to get an ED visa for studying English.

I know people who have completed the 3 years allowed for studying Thai, and have switched to studying Chinese, Japanese, or English. I don't know of language schools offering other languages that qualify someone for an ED visa.

There is supposed to be a test when extending the visa, which is done at one of the Ministry of Education offices. The test in Thai is a ridiculous joke (just a very simple interview), and for the one in Japanese, if you even get asked anything, it's like, "Tell me the word for 'cat'." There is a written test prior to that interview that the school is supposed to give you, but that is done on the student's own time, so I don't image there are many people who are taking the test honestly.

I really wish it were possible to get an ED visa to study Thai for longer than 3 years, and I wish they would actually test people appropriately. The current system is of course abused (i.e., people getting a visa to study Thai or whatever, but never going to class and never studying), and as a consequence, they have wrecked it for the rest of us who would like to study and follow the rules as they were intended.

The Adhere 13 Blues Bar on Samsen. Often just called "the Blues bar". Definitely the best blues spot. Sometimes it's not so great on the Mon-Wed, but when the house band is there, it's always fantastic. It's where musicians go to listen as well, so it's not just lowest-common-denominator music.

The place is excessively tiny, and I think that just adds to the character.

Oh, and pratically incomprehensible in Thailand: It's not too loud!

(that is, they aren't just pumping up the volume as far as it goes, with the subwoofer 3 times as loud as the other speakers)

He has reacted coolly to comments that, according to local superstitious beliefs, the freezing of a body will only trap a soul inside the body making it impossible for one’s soul to step forward into the next life.

I'm bewildered why an adult would want to get circumcised anyway?

I am not a fan of the street bugs cuz

1. some are really greasy

2. it's street food, and sanitation is a concern (do I sound obssessive about cleasliness?)

But now the market has answered my calls!

I am happy and curious to give these critters a try. I'm not much of a crisps/chips snack guy, but I will have a few in the name of cullinary progress.

There was a story on NPR yesterday about the same thing:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/04/15/394849989/street-food-no-more-bug-snacks-move-to-store-shelves-in-thailand

This guy is making a great move by releasing this line of snacks. It's a totally open market! Gotta love the name of the product line: "Hi-So"

What are these high-pressure water guns they mention? Are they made as toys, or are they for cleaning walls and removing paint?

I just searched out of curiosity... I guess they're talking about this sort of thing?

I could see this getting out of hand, I guess. In the video the Soldier of Water knocks over a bowling pin with a squirt.

What are these high-pressure water guns they mention? Are they made as toys, or are they for cleaning walls and removing paint?

Reminds of me of this creepy story...

This is one of those stories that has no influence on the world and doesn't affect my life in any way whatsover, but yet, I am curious to know more. What a freaky incident.

There's a common joke in Japan about secretaries putting harmful cleaners into the boss' coffee. Actually, the joke is that when he's being a jerk, the secretary washes the cup with really strong chemicals, then only partially rinses it out. It's a joke made by the secretaries on how to get back at the boss.
I've never heard of someone actually carrything this out, but when evil secretaries who hated my guts offered to bring me tea or coffee, I always declined...

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and hand it out for Japanese tourists in Thailand as well....

Why??

In general the Japanese, both expats and tourists, are behaving better than many other nationalities.

Beg to differ on that one. Had three Japanese consultant engineers in my office at one stage, they all spoke advanced English, large multi-national oil company.

The Japanese engineering consultants made no attempt to fit into the existing picture. Demanded the Thai staff behave like Japanese, expected priority treatment for everything never a thank you, and got angry because local Admin Mgr. and maid staff knew nothing about the correct food to buy for them and how to serve it.

Japanese people are an incredibly snotty bunch. That type of elite snobbery is in every country, but I never cease to be awe-struck by how extreme it is in Japan and among Japanese folks outside Japan. Even for Japanese who are supposedly "integrated," it really seems it is more like they are content living with the stupid silly funny natives rather than "integrated."

Japanese people are very picky about how others behave in public, and it is a cultural tradition to complain about it and look for those being what they see as inappropriate.

I think it's a great lesson for many in Thailand to see Japan put out this list of etiquette after the Thai gov put out a list of etiquette to Chinese visitors.

Interesting to know if the male model showing his ars3 was a farang.

Here's the video. He's a farang, and appears to be wearing a clear G-string. Shucks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOeTVJcndQw

Gymware and Ultimate fitness are both good. They aren't as cheap as I was expecting in Thailand, but the equipment is good and it's not overpriced.

Gym and training seems to be a big thing with many Farangs in Thailand....can only be good I suppose. It's just that before I came to Thailand I never knew or met anybody back home (Europe) that went to a Gym or discussed keeping fit.

It really depends on the circles you travel in!

But I certainly notice a trend among people living outside their countries to pursue "self-improvement." Not just farang, but anyone who has changed cultures. I think it probably stems from exposure to another culture driving people to analyze their own culture, and then themselves.