cooked

There seems to be a level of paranoia in the fact that people find that the Chinese 'hate Farangs', meaning European in origin. The Chinese are generally xenophobic, even racial groupings living in China are discriminated against, be thankful that you aren't Tibetan.

Windows 8 'should come out in 2012'.

I permitted Windows to install security updates on my son in law's computer and discovered to my horror that he had a pirated version. I got around this using a 3d party software (Windows will not forgive this kind of sin) but I wonder how many computers 'with Windows' are really on Windows? It was bought at a reputable computer store near us, I won't even bother going back to complain.

Have you considered using Linux? I am 64 and I learnt how to use it in a week, I may go back to Linux soon.

If the Windows version you get is in another language you can change the language using Vistalizator.

very nice house though, droool. We may be going off topic slightly here...

...just a naive person, sir, why did you choose the name Hostile? Aren't those the ones that the cowboys used to shoot on sight? You may have a good standard of living here, I wonder if it's the same as you would have back home. Take a deep breath now, when you answer, remember that you are talking to a fellow human being and not necessarily a f***** idiot. And try not to snarl or use words like blab, ignorant or stupid in your answers, that is very rude indeed, goodness me. I can be rude on occasion if needs be but I try to keep the unpleasant side of my character under control, I'm sure you can manage that too.

I'm not sure what your point is here. The links you provided are confirming the fact that Thais aren't great readers. What is the relevance of your comment I don't go sneaking about at night any more, I have many Thai friends and believe it or not I get invited to visit sometimes. Try again: ? Where do I come across as being slightly indignant, I think you are reading more into my comments than are there.

sorry I was referring to a previous poster, a fact that you could readily verify if you go back in the posts a bit. Sorry

I hesitate to suggest this, but there are some excellent caring centers for Alzheimer patients in Thailand and they don't cost a fortune. I saw a documentary recently and I was impressed by the quality of care- for instance they had very few cases of aggression amongst their residents which isn't the case in Europe. Your father will eventually no longer recognise you and at this point you may ask yourself what purpose you are serving. Up to you of course. I think of a saying (sorry bad translation): 'the main point of life is living it yourself. Many think that it is there to serve others'. It all depends on what kind of person you are, you can come to a rational decision and still feel bad about it. My personal experience with Alzheimer leads me to think that very few people are able to stay on the job until the end. Previously loving couples even get divorced. Sorry to be harsh.

If you do decide to come to Thailand you will find that you can get someone capable to help you at an affordable wage especially if you stay away from Bangkok.

And: we expats aren't all drooling girl chasing lechers despite what first impressions you may have had. Stay away from the flesh pots!

I take it that your house is insulated, under the roof, + reflective foil? That you have an overhanging roof ensuring that your insulated wall isn't exposed to the sun? Don't buy an over sized AC unit, it will cool the room down and cut off before the moisture has also been extracted, it's the moisture that causes much of the discomfort. http://<URL Automatically Removed>/view.php?pg=thailand_air_conditioning

You could easily get 300 liters of water into coiled up black garden hose pipe on the roof. + some kind of expansion valve of course.

Cheap skate I know

Correct Berkshire, i agree. You are referring to the farangs that get poorly treated in some way by a Thai and from then on refer to it as a national trait!

These people are called imbeciles.

Good word, "imbeciles." I just spotted one on this thread, the guy who suggested that it's "very rare that Thais read books." How he would know this is baffling. Perhaps he's not an imbecile, but a pervert, going around and peeking into people's houses at night to see if they were reading.

I don't know what the exact reading percentage of the Thai population is, but they certainly don't appear to be avid readers. I did see several Thais reading in the BKK bookshop that instigated this post, but can't say I see them reading on the Skytrain or buses or at lunchtime, places and times you would see most people reading. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there's a lot of availability, or demand for free books for Thais, as in public libraries.

hmm, slightly indignant post there....

if you would take the trouble to read my post with links you would maybe find out that Thais read on the average 5 books a year. Knowing Thai statistical management as I do, I suspect that this means Bangkok Thais and probably includes all the students that are forced to read a few books during their studies. In Vietnam the average is 30 books a year.

I don't go sneaking about at night any more, I have many Thai friends and believe it or not I get invited to visit sometimes. Try again:

http://seanolvany.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/%E2%80%98thai-people-do-not-read%E2%80%99/

http://www.bangkokpost.com/print/219967/ and

http://sclthailand.org/2011/08/why-thais-dont-read-books/

Where are you located????

I will be serving a life sentence in Buriram August onwards.

As to the other comment, I often develope an emotional bond towards some books(some go on the fire), the fact that I can't ship my library over HURTS. I have a few tattered book-wrecks that have been over the world with me for 40 years or more

"Yes, you make some good points. International financial managers are wary of investing in Thailand because TIT. Prostitution only exists because of corruption, applying the law correctly would shut down Nana Plaza and company very quickly. We so often get bogged down in petty arguments about 7/11 not selling beer at certain times etc when the root cause of so many things that annoy us is always the same. Take a step back." (my post)

NO, it exists because of economics, poverty.

oh dear, take a step back. Poverty is caused by rich people that want to get richer. I think your remarks are a little naive in believing that poverty is a god given curse on this country. The constant power struggle that has been going on since 1932 has destabilised the rule of law leading to rich pickings to the people in the right place.

Try http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/22/corruption-poverty-development-biz-corruption09-cx_mj_0122johnston.html

very funny. Also very ignorant as a response - hey i love Thailand too!

You don't see Thais reading in trains and buses as you do in other countries. Sitting alone they don't read like they do in other countries. I haven't seen many Thai houses with many books let alone a library, not even our local school teacher has one. The Thais read much less per capita than other nearby countries. Try using google sometimes: http://seanolvany.wo...do-not-read’/

http://www.bangkokpo...m/print/219967/

and

http://sclthailand.o...ont-read-books/

"I think using the scam excuse is lame as can be.

If someone appears to be hurt you should stop and help, regardless of the danger of maybe your action costing you money."

try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

I know that I am not a bystander as I worked for some years as the guy that had to go and pick up damaged hockey players and on one occasion pull somebody out of the deep end of a pool. I'm also the guy that insults people by saying good morning to them in elevators but I am also the guy that goes to render aid when it's needed. I've helped in 2 accidents where people were driving by and staring without stopping.

The 'scam excuse' sounds ok when used in a derogatory fashion, but you will never know until you've been there, don't judge

thanks, I was wondering why there were books laying around in my local bar.

I just joined the Yahoo group, thanks!

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand. If the Thais want to better their image abroad they should start with the problem of corruption which is at the root of a lot of evil stuff going on here.

My perception is the mainstream international opinion is much more tolerant of generic corruption problems than the sex issue.

And of course the endemic corruption would be a much more difficult if not impossible problem to solve, whereas the tiny foreign-targeted segment of the sex industry here would be very easy to eliminate, and I daresay would be a very popular move with most Thais, as those making their living that way aren't generally respected.

Finally, if Thailand had a sensible legal and regulated sex industry here that wouldn't help their "brothel of the world" image problem even if it were totally free of corruption.

You want to prevent Thai ladies from hooking up with foreigners? OH boy, wait until women's rights get on to that one.

What feminists are you talking about, the Thais?

If you mean internationally, I've found most feminists don't approach human rights issues in an even-handed way. I haven't heard any criticising the fact that a foreigner over 50 isn't allowed to marry a Cambodian (of any age), nor the fact that a Burmese woman isn't allowed to marry a foreigner at all.

I think other than the few sex-positive faminists, their anger is usually directed against men as predators, repressive exploiters etc; they'd probably be quite accepting of anything ostensibly targeted at halting sex tourism and "mail-order" brides.

Yes, you make some good points. International financial managers are wary of investing in Thailand because TIT. Prostitution only exists because of corruption, applying the law correctly would shut down Nana Plaza and company very quickly. We so often get bogged down in petty arguments about 7/11 not selling beer at certain times etc when the root cause of so many things that annoy us is always the same. Take a step back.

As said the combination of bank deposit and income is not available for marriage extension of stay - one or the other. And yes money should be in his name for accounts (although some seem to allow latitude on this for marriage). He would have to obtain letter from Embassy in Thailand for marriage (or you could both get married elsewhere). As I said there does not appear to be any requirement for money to be sourced from outside Thailand anymore (indeed this becomes hard to prove for many after transfers and such). It is always best to have an account longer than the required period as less checks are likely to be made but no such requirement. But suspect they would be upset if they know money is really not his.

This is the first time I hear that for the "Marriage O" the combination of bank-deposit and income is not available. Is this really the case? If yes, is this new?

Cheers.

yes it's true, I didn't know that either.

Dear OP, I sympathise with both you and your boyfriend. I tried for years to stay unmarried (in Europe), going through all sorts of expensive legal hoops when we hired an apartment, had kids, got insurance. I gave in finally when we decided to build a house, and we did manage to stay married for 27 years. Things became much easier in every respect as far as the legal and financial side of life was concerned.

oh God, did someone say mushy peas? droool.

You can get fairly decent fish and chips in Buriram, there seem to be a fair number of takers. I recently in desperation experimented with sweet potatoes to make chips and you know what, they were quite good. We ate it with cat fish I believe.

I can remember even 50 years ago that British fish and chips generally left something to be desired, in the town of Leicester there were only 2 or 3 that still cooked using lard and I didn't bother going to the others when I had a few bob on me. Fresh fish is obviously also important. I wish you the best of luck with your enterprise and hope that it succeeds.

is there any kind of book swapping network in Thailand? I thought that I could use a Kindle but apparently my brain can't handle something to read that doesn't have coffee stains on it.

in Europe many people in trains and buses take the time to read at least a newspaper, maybe we should be content that Thais don't do this as it would give them yet another opportunity to litter their environment.

.. while we're on the subject, there seem to be no public libraries in Thailand? Is there any kind of book swapping club in Thailand? I can't live without my afternoon read and I don't like Kindle.

I think that the fact that you rarely see a Thai reading a book or even a newspaper is sad, apparently the Vietnamese are avid book readers but they don't have to use an alphabet like the Thais use, do they? Reading Thai gives me a headache after 5 minutes.

one of the symptoms of alcoholism is an increasing capacity for alcohol. This is followed by a decreasing capacity for alcohol as your liver starts going to hell. I haven't got there yet- my father was a 8 pint a day man and lived until he was 83. Prost!

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand. If the Thais want to better their image abroad they should start with the problem of corruption which is at the root of a lot of evil stuff going on here.

You want to prevent Thai ladies from hooking up with foreigners? OH boy, wait until women's rights get on to that one.

...arriving by minibus in Bangkok, directly in front of the palace, we also saw a body lying on the road near the central reservation. Our crazy f++++** of a driver just swerved around him, as did all the other cars, nobody stopped. Discussing it with my wife she explained yet another scam:

you go help the guy, a motorcycle messenger that quite by chance is nearby will come to help and before you know it you are shelling out to stop him calling the police (his cousin) to tell them that you just caused an accident, to pay for an ambulance and to pay for hospital treatment.

This evil practice of course results in genuinely injured people being abandoned to their fate. I also am a guy that goes to help when everyone else is just gaping, but I think I might hesitate in the future. I read somewhere that this happens in China also, thus the horrible video above.

You did good, the label Farang baa is to be worn like a medal sometimes.

I will be buying a cheap ticket to Vientiane to resolve this problem. Mainly because I will have two stopovers this time and I can't be sure that the airline employées at each airport will know that I don't need a proof of further travel. Get a visa!

bring me a basin I'm going to puuuuke.