OldGringo

Thanks for quoting my Sage Advice about listening to farang who have been here awhile.

I think we should listen to people that have been here for a long time, but how would anyone know how long you've been here?

Get a shave first. Then I'll tell you.

Don't shave or shower....so pray tell.

Then don't start now...it's too late! But you seem like an OK guy anyway, so I'll tell . 1978. Before that, overland across Asia on the Hippie Trail with a friend riding a BMW 650. Before that, Europe. Before that, the West Indies. This is probably more than you wanted to know but you were persistent. Choke dee.

Thanks for quoting my Sage Advice about listening to farang who have been here awhile.

I think we should listen to people that have been here for a long time, but how would anyone know how long you've been here?

Get a shave first. Then I'll tell you.

The OP actually has am issue 'he' (I assume a guy) raises. And then he asks if there is someone to speak to about this issue. One person has suggested Monk Chat. That's a great idea. Wat Suan Dok on Suthep road and just up the street from the hospital of the same name/ Maharat Hospital if you prefer. Another temple that has it is one of my favorites, and it's called Wat U-Mong and is also up Th. Suthep, across the canal, and left on Wat U-Mong Soi 1. Not sure of the times, but if you search it within the CM subforum I'm sure you'll find it.

So, K. Brebs, thank you for helping me sort out my own thoughts on this issue so well. And CZ should thank you for taking up his case so passionately too. What I see is that there is a western impulse.... 'What is the reason, why why why ?' But in fact there is often not one answer. The cause of cancer is a great example of this. We constantly search and search and now point to nearly everything as a cause for cancer. What is the true Buddhism ? Probably living by the precepts of Lord Buddha and studying his teachings. But since his enlightenment it has fractured many times and has evolved rituals and incorporated teachings and beliefs from the cultures it has blended with. In Thailand it's Therevada Buddhism, mostly elsewhere it's alot of Mahayana school. Which of those is the true one ?

Anyway, the key word above about the religion's changes would be, 'BLENDED.'

My 'sermons' are my answers. Perhaps every question does not need an answer. Sometimes a question can be an answer. In fact often it is all you get.

As someone else pointed out, it might not hurt to try listening to Farang who've been here awhile. We've been exactly where you're at. Trust me. You are a mirror on myself and all of us. In that, there is more than a bit of humor. Like big time !

Do I love it here ? Sort of. Most days. Do I ever lose my cool or get really frustrated with the locals or their policies ? You bet. But best is to be able to step back out of ourselves if we can. At least that's what works for me. And most of the people I know. Bending with the winds, you are less likely to snap.

There you go: You now have a two-temples-to-go-visit answer, and a sermon answer.

Thanks for quoting my Sage Advice about listening to farang who have been here awhile. You sound like someone who has learned something from your time here. Most of the others remind me of the reasons I prefer to live among Thais.

What you need to do is return to whatever country you came from and work to ameliorate animal cruelity there. As a foreigner, whatever you say or do here will be counterproductive. Believe me, I've been here a long time.

Right.......we believe you.

Ohh great, just what this forum needs, another one of those long term, trust what I say types

If you don't listen to farangs who have been here for a while, then you will get lessons from Thais that you won't forget anytime soon.

Every night I pick up these poor creatures I find in bars on Loy Kroh Road. I release them later but find them back in the same bar the following night. What should I do?

They're obviously following some primal instinct.

What you need to do is return to whatever country you came from and work to ameliorate animal cruelity there. As a foreigner, whatever you say or do here will be counterproductive. Believe me, I've been here a long time.

I've often parked there for short periods of time and never had any problems. A week I would consider risky.

Beware the Greeks bearing gifts.

The OldGringo has been hard at work lately and his handsaws are all dull. There's a very good place on Tung Hotel Road that sharpens circular saw blades but they don't do handsaws. Does anybody know where I can get them done? Any information would be appreciated.