sharksy

I did think of this when I posted. Just wanted to see how widespready the lack of knowledge, but more importantly, lack of interest is. Yesterday, I was in conversation with a different Phillipina, she also didn't know anything outside of Philippines and similarly, it seems little interest, despite living most of her life abroad. As she lamented at the end, "maybe that's why my husband is bored of me". And this is to me is the important thing.

Seems you've got your heart in the right place, not sure if you are going about things the right way though. It does come over as a bit of a rant, especially as others have noted, little punctuation. I'm guessing you a good guy, you unwittingly made a connection with the lad which has had a positive effect on you. But your replies to other posters do show a bit of attitude, I suggest being a bit kinder to the other posters - otherwise you will just get more abuse back, which I doubt was your original intention. Hope you stay safe up there!

Recently talking to a young guy with a nice Harley Davidson in Trat. He had a masters in Chemical Engineering - but ended up working for a big bank, with a good job. Spoke great English.

In the UK, parts availability is generally a nightmare with MG. This might be different in Asia, what with being much closer to China.

Certainly in the UK, an electric car is only a sensible option if you can charge it from home, drive it, charge it at home again. The aggro of finding compatile charging points that are not out of order or have a queue of vehicles in front of you waiting to be charged would be too much for many. I can see in a few years time the above situation would probably change as batteries evolve and accept much faster charging. If you are regulary travelling long distances, maybe a hybrid or diesel car would be more suitable.

I'm an atheist and I still believe in capital punishment. Everyone knows the rules in Singapore. Possibly the only country in the world without a major drug problem.

My experience is that they know Singaporians are really rich, Malaysians are rich, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam are poor lol. I did ask teerak if she knew about the civil war in Myanmar, she only knew about some bombs coming over the border into Thailand.

Right now? Congo, Sudan, Myanmar. Just off the top of my head. I remember Sri Lanka civil war. I can think of many others, but you mention "that don't involve a western country" - I take that to include peace keepers.

I kind of agree. I hated history at school, pretty much concentrated on the 2nd world war, which didn't mean much to me at the time. So, Thais don't study history - but woe behold any Thai person who goes to a party in fancy dress with a swastika. But when going down a Chu Chi tunnel in vietnam, for me, it's hard not to get interested in think about how hard life was for people living in those conditions. Do Thai just see a hole in a ground? Maybe a Thai person is not a good relationship match for me.

Fair enough. I know when I cook these curries at home, I never add sugar. I usually cheat + get Roi Thai curry sauces which are lush. I guess even 4% sugar is too much for a green curry. Coconut Milk 52%, Water 27.95%, Green Curry Paste 10%, Coconut Sugar 4%, Palm Oil 4%, Fish Sauce 2%, Flavour Enhancer (Disodium 5' Ribonucleotides).

I asked a (younger than Thai GF) Philippine friend if she had heard of the above historic events. She said it was taught in School and most Phillipine people would have known about it. I guess its quite important to me to be able to discuss things and get an opinion back when visiting historical places, like a regular western GF would. Have an interest in the place you are visiting - rather than just post up photographs with no knowledge or interest behind them.

Knowing a bit about history isn't really related to knowing where a country is on a map. I remember growing up with all sorts of wars in the news, Cambodia, Yugoslavia, Chechnya, Timor etc. But wouldn't have been able to find them on a map. But for context, isn't it a bit like a genocide happening in Wales, and the English not generally knowing about it?

Love the westernised Chinese food. But the real stuff isn't to our taste at all. I've eaten in Hong Kong, only farang in restuarant. Sweet + Sour pork - meat had the fat and hair still on each piece. Took a Thai GF to Chinese Quarter in Birmingham, UK (fairly authentic food in some places) for a Chechan Hot Pot. It was so damn spicy, even the Thai GF couldn't eat it - and she can eat spicy. Didn't taste nice either.

^^This. Less people on the planet, less pollution. Immigration isn't exactly green, despite the UK green party condoning it. Most people I know who have settled in the UK from abroad take regular flights "back home". But immigration increases GDP, increases consumption. Can't have it both ways

My mums half gypsy, I couldn't stop her asking a fortune teller in Bangkok how long has she got to live. I was a bit miffed at the waste of money. My mum was very ill and I thought she had about 5 years max to live. Fortune teller she would live a long life. She's still alive 15 years on, he was right!

Took my university educated GF on a trip round Vietnam, Cambodia. I was astonished that she had never heard of the Khymer Rouge, or anything about what happened in Cambodia. Similar in Vietnam. Never heard of the Vietnam war. Not really interested either, just so long as the photos come out OK. Is this normal?

Aren't the coconut base curries Keto? Thai Green Curry, Thai Red Curry etc

I think its a mix of the above. My Thai (Isann) GF dislikes, all equally, Chinese, Indian and black people. Don't think she expressed a reason why she disliked black people, but Chinese for spitting and poor matters, rude etc, Indian for being cheapskates and always trying to barter - and dirty! I did take her to her first Indian restaurant, she did quite like the food, but claimed she had an upset tummy next day, so will never eat that food again. Oh - and she was previous a tour guide for chinese people, so she has her reasons for disliking them are from experience.

Koh Rong in Cambodia. Beautiful, just paradise. Or if you like something more "Themed", look up Phu Quoc in Vietnam (Also by Cambodia)

This was the case years ago, the upper age limit has steadily been increasing (probably as pension age rises). I've seen 85 at the upper limit with some lenders. So long as the pension covers the payments, they're happy.

Can't really help much technically, but recently had a holiday in the island of Grenada as a guest in a villa with a couple of old friends from years back. They had about 48 solar panels on the roof plus a swimming pool and were completely self sufficient in terms of water and electric. It was explained to me, but a bit over my head I'm afraid. I'm sure each inverter had a raspberry pi attached to monitor / control things. The electric also ran their Gen1 Nissan Leaf which was perfect for this island which was generally low speed everywhere and lots of steep roads. I was very impressed, especially with the old, high mileage war-horse of a car which had a gruelling life over there - sometimes carrying 8 people(yes, 2 in the boot - it's not illegal there, but just because you can, doesn't mean you should!) I hope OP gets where he wants to be.

Otteri is great if you have a big load to wash, drying can be hit + miss. But no ironing. I use the Suk5 lady for washing/ironing. Love it when they put it together nice and tight in a plastic bag

Quite like Khon Kaen, one of my favourite cities in Thailand. If you want cheaper, go to Loei City.

Just ask anyone who is 79

I thought much of their legal system was written in English because of a lack of Italian words? Someone tell me if there is any truth to this?