EirikJohannesen

I have iPad 2, latest iOS.

No problem with Safari or Opera.

Thanks Opera solved the problem. Do you know how to how to set Opera as defult browser so email links open in opera?

ipad keypad pops and closes right away. just like a bug. if I press the replay, will not keypad up at all.

I am still having a problem posting to TV, with Ipad 2.

I downloaded the app, from the App store, have latest updates on Ipad etc... blah blah.....but still cannot post....????

Can sign in etc but that is about as far as it goes....

I did get the keyboard popping up for about a second, once, never to be seen since, when trying to post on TV....

Any ideas anyone??? :jap:

Which App?

I post from Safari, no problems.

Have you ipad 2 or ipad1. I use ipad2 and the keyboarddisappears when I click to write. Iso 4.3.5

The last 10 years, candy and sweets be ruined Isaan. Herewhere I live, children have almost no teeth left and ice creamtrucks are queuing. They use 10% of their money on food and the rest on candy and alcohol.

still works fine on my iPad... hmmm... both reading and posting is just fine?!

wonder, what IOS are you running? I am using 4.3.3

I use cut and paste. when is this appready?

Farang Living In Thailand - Do you really feel part of it?

why should i? is there any law that requires that i feel like part of it?

I have read many of your posts. You try to be a bully, but you do not succeed, To discuss with you,we have to lower us down many levels. And down at the bottom you are a winner, up here you are a Troll.

I speak 7 languages ​​and I must say it is terribly difficult to learn Thai, compared to other languages​​. I spent 6-7 years before I managed to master the Thai language 100%. Many say it is easier to learn new languages ​​when you can speak other languages​​, but it is not true in my opinion.

As I said itis not often we who speak Thai visiting entertainment places so itis not as easy to meet us.

today dear children we meet peope who make us smile because they are telling us good jokes

I saw your name, and I thought, "Now it's something completely idiotic Coming!" And it did.

I go in entertainment places and farang bars often and have only met a very few Westerners who speak Thai fluently. Joe Cummings who used to write the Thailand Lonely Planet is one and Raymond the German who speaks five languages is two and there is probablty someone else that I am forgetting.

I speak 7 languages ​​and I must say it is terribly difficult to learn Thai, compared to other languages​​. I spent 6-7 years before I managed to master the Thai language 100%. Many say it is easier to learn new languages ​​when you can speak other languages​​, but it is not true in my opinion.

As I said itis not often we who speak Thai visiting entertainment places so itis not as easy to meet us.

Over the many years I've been here, I have come across hundreds of people on TV who can speak Thai.

Unfortunately, they can't seem to be able to speak it anywhere else, other than on TV.

Fluent BS in very common though.

I agree! My speaking certainly suffers in comparison to my comprehension! I do, however, also know many people that are approaching true fluency in Thai (or are fluent) ... you won't find most on Loi Khroh

I know of none farang who can speak Fluent Thai, but I have met maybe 3-4 people over 22 years who can speak good Thai. The reason is that I rarely go in entertainment places and farang bars.

When my wife and I decided to explore a permanent relationship we had long conversations about what my expectations would be and what hers were. We made agreements based upon those conversations. We were together for a year before we were married and so I was able to establish her character to determine that she was in fact capable of keeping the agreements that she made.

What is surprising to me is how little effort that most men put into determining what the woman that they are going to marry expect from them. What little effort goes into determining what her character is, weather she is a honorable person who values her integrity. Later in the relationship when she is demanding money and investment in houses and sick buffalo's they seem to be completely blindsided. Then they only want to blame all the Thai people for their own incompetence.

We do what we do because it is the right thing to do. I like to think that if I were ever in need that my wifes family would welcome assisting me, but my decision to help them is not based on expecting anything in return. The assets that we are fortunate to have are our assets and if we do not manage them well than she will not have them after I'm gone. Any intelligent person can see that.

Yes it is amazing to see how many is uncritical in the choice of. life partner. first and best girl in the bar and then they go to get married. But it gives us an indication of the intelligence level of many farang here.

It seems that many here on TV have not received the upbringing in how to treat family members. I was raised to take care of my family, the core family is the most important thing you can have in your life. When I read all the posts about the farang who refuse to take care of the in-laws, so I wonder what kind of family relationship they come from. Have you never experienced a family relationship where you come from, you do not help each other in your family back home.

If my Mom had problems at home and my wife had refused to help, so I had separated myself from her.

So what is your philosophy of life when it`s not taking care of the family you marry into? And I 'feel that many saves money to a divorce, your just sitting and waiting for the big bang.

Keep your in-laws happy, so you get much better life with your wife.

As many have already pointed out (so I hope!), your opinion is as good as anyone else's. It should be pointed out that a multicultural marriage is exactly that - multicultural - and that many westerners oppose expectations that one party alone shall adjust to whatever the culture is, or at least reserve the right not to fulfill every wish the other can come up with – whatever they may be.

In a majority of third world countries it is customary to breed as many children as you can and use that offspring as a source of income. To make things worse, a lot of the revenue generated by named offspring is habitually wasted on cigarettes, whisky and gambling - you don't have to travel far in LOS before you'll realise the amount of money spent on useless crap like this far exceeds the amount spent on education for the children. To be honest, I have travelled extensively in LOS and in a scary number of cases the idea of school is non-existent. Most families can't wait to send their children away to work somewhere so they can start send money back home.

This is the culture to which many farangs marries a young girl, many times they originate from remote villages in Isaan, and your concern is that these farangs hasn't "received the upbringing in how to treat family members"?

Personally, I can't decide who to feel most sorry for – the poor family in Isaan or the stupid farang who doesn't realize that HE is partly responsible for many of the Isaan children who will never get an education, who's only hope is that they one day can breed a couple of children and send them away to work in a factory or why not in a massage parlor somewhere in the big city. If they're real lucky they'll score the big prize, the daughter marries a stupid farang who will pretty much guarantee they will not be short of whisky- and cigarettes the upcoming years. And if they are REAL lucky, they can start thinking about that new pickup-truck, and why not a new motosai? Good thing they didn't wasted this opportunity by sending their daughter to school, that would have been a stupid investment!

Good Luck to ya, Eirik!!

There is nothing called the third world, it's called developing countries and Thailand is not a developing countries. the rest of what you write is also partly just nonsense.

My insurance runs out next week. I will not choose this insurance company.

I've also heard all these incredible story of farlang being cheated and mistreated by his wife and family, but I'm pretty sure 99% of them are prostitute women. Half of all farang do not even know that his wife is a former prostitute.

Those I know who have married a real Thai girl does not have the same problems.

Come on then,spill the beans, what should we be looking for in finding the 'real Thai girl', so I or others do not make the same error that 50% of farangs do!.

Oh and please no 'incredible stories' that you have heard, we have possibly heard them all too.

For someone clearly enamoured with Thailand and its culture you have a dim view of its financial systems, no Thai bankers amongst your wide circle of friends?

Edit - got the pecentages wrong!

"Edit - got the pecentages wrong!" Yes it is probably higher

I know all too well the financial banks in Thailand, that's why I do not trust them. If I should go into that, then I have to start a new thread about it, but I do not care as it does not interest me very much. Incorrect currency rates, wrong interest rate, they are sitting on a large transfer longer than they are permitted to, etc.

Maybe Thailand is fed up by Frang that will not integrate into society, farang who insist on living western lifestyles, refuses to learn the language, refuses to comply with visa regulations, etc.

Most Thais I know don't really care about Falangs.

Falangs like to think they matter, actually they don't.

I just come back from Paris / France. I learned that around 60 millions foreigners visit Paris every years, that's about the total population of France.

Ask a French what does he think about foreigners. He has no opinion, actually he doesn't give a sh_t.

It's the same with Thais

Maybe it will be easier for us farang living here when we begin to correct us by the host's rules and culture.

Thailand has always had big problems with immigrants that cause the country great economic losses and crime.

If you want to make money here so you should have a work permit.

That part I definitively agree with

I thought, probably most of the people who work with farang, or meet many farang.

Typical Thai cares nothing about farang, it is true

Maybe Thailand is fed up by Frang that will not integrate into society, farang who insist on living western lifestyles, refuses to learn the language, refuses to comply with visa regulations, etc.

Maybe it will be easier for us farang living here when we begin to correct us by the host's rules and culture.

Thailand has always had big problems with immigrants that cause the country great economic losses and crime.

If you want to make money here so you should have a work permit.

Quite often Thais don't like it if a farang can speak Thai. They have a real yokel mentality

The only place I've heard about this is Pattaya.

Every Thai I have met over 20 years, is impressed that I speak Tha i

If "my family" are bone idle lying thieving lazy gits they get nothing from me as often as I can be bothered to give it.

If on the other hand they are helpful willing hard working I will support them 100%................ not difficult to work out is it?

The first one you mention is probably a valid reason to find the second you mention

Since you brought it up I will reply. Different families different values. Everyone deals with the same family problem different and every family develops different ways of dealing with problems and helping.

I am a loner and proud of it. My family values were such that a man must first and formost be able to take care of himself and not be a burden to others. First you take care of yourself. Second you take care of those close to you( immediate family) Third you take care of extented family. Fourth you assist the community. It is like oxygen masks in an airplane put yours on first before assisting others.

If a person cannot take care of themselves how the heck can they assist others. They themselves are in need if unable to care for themselves. The theory is simple. If everyone worked at taking care of themselves,few people would need help.

People donot like loners like myself because I say what I think is right and live by it. I am in my 60's. I make no demands on others for help but give assistance to a degree to others. I am a strong believer in many cases that the best thing you can do for a person is nothing. Too much help defeats the purpose. People need to work their own way out of their own problems that builds character and selfworth.Take a look at socialist countries and tell me what good it has done them. Conquering adversity gives a person strengh. Helping them too much makes them dependent.

Look at Thaialnd, family is everything. Do you see behaved youth, low crime,a strong middle class,good community values,low domestic violence and I could go on but will stop there. You donot see any of this. Do you ask why? Well because the family assists no matter how terrible the person is or what they have done. No accountability.The family protects and nurtures to a point of complete failure.

All that said I should mention helping someone who is already helping them selves and speeding up the process is a very good investment of time and energy.Giving support to an person making the effort is the way to go. You will see reward for your effort in the way of helping a person willing to do their part in bettering themselves and others they are close to.

I too am a loner, but what does that have to do with helping others. IT is because I'm a loner and didn't throw money away that I am fortunate enough to have some to help. You use the example of the oxygen masks where you put yours on and THEN ASSIST OTHERS. Which is it assist if you can afford it or not assist under any circumstances?

It is true that people have to learn to live on their own two feet. My wife's grandparents took her in when she was 4 months old. Poor rice farmers they did not hesitate to care for her and raise her to be a Honorable woman. They were poor, but they shared what they had. When we met she was supporting them from her earnings and I agreed that WE should continue to support them. They are in their 80's, are you suggesting that they should continue to farm rice? We discussed all of these support issues and agreed to our present arrangement upfront. She is my wife not an employee, she is entitled to share the lifestyle that WE are capable of sustaining. I see some guys looking to have a Thai wife on the cheap and refuse to recognize that even the law says that she has a right to share in the benefits of the relationship.

I don't know where you grew up but your so called socialist countries are home to the happiest most productive people in the world. I'm talking functional countries like Finland, Sweden, Norway and some other European countries that actuall seem to care about their citizens. Please explain to me how the current adversity of unemployment and war and unequal opportunity builds character? More US veterans in have committed suicide than have died in the wars they fought since Vietnam. There are many young ambitious people graduating from universities who will not have a job because the rich have wrecked the US economy. I suppose that will just make them stronger. To starve and live on the street with little opportunity.

I've made interest free loans to my wifes family and been repaid in every case. I did the same for my own kids. I'm not suggesting that anyone throw away money on people who are not willing to work hard for themselves. That is the point. When I get to know these people and their character I am comfortable helping and my wife who is half of this relationship and has her own priorities. I have several friends who buy a new car when they want or new TV's etc but refuse to give their wives anything beyond a meager allowance. They are more slave than wife.

As for your assessment of Thailand being riddled with crime I suggest you visit the average US city these days or read about the crime. This is a country that has the highest number of police per capita in the world. I'll take Thai community any day. Maybe you should jump down off your bar stool and meet some hardworking Thais and get a more accurate picture. If all you know is bar girls it's no wonder you think the way that you do.

I'm so agree.

Good post Lovelmosac. I am also a loner which is probably why i like LOS so much.

At least when you are alone in LOS there are no :jerk: 's to look down on you for being a loner, treating everyone that chooses to be alone a second class society dropout. Usually these :jerk: are the people who (deep down) are not really content in the constraints of their own lives but put labels on others to make their own existance seem better.

Essentially i would think there are quite a few of us in LOS, It seems a good place to live and be left alone, far away from the gaze of those who think their way of life is "IT" and everyone else should follow.

But actually i think the OP's point was leaning towards the question of why us westerners have so much trouble with giving away money wholesale to the Thai Inlaws.

It sounds to me like Erik is one of those people who has spent a fortune on his Thai family. Its nice that he talks about commitment to a family but he should realise that no matter what the farang does (in some cases) he will never truelly be accepted into the family that he calls family. Although I hope his situation is one of the (probably) many exceptions.

After all, when members of the (real) Thai family become broke they will remain family, and as such, be sheltered and cared for.

If the Farang falls on hard times and cannot be the financier to all and sundry will the "family" understand and apply the same rules?

I have lived half my life here and do not think I have spent more money on my family here than I would use at home. I feel also accepted in the village I live, but true enough, I will always be a farang.

Yes I have a little trouble understanding why it is so difficult to give some money to the family, and I mean NOT hundreds of thousands, but a few thousand in a while.

Let me say..you have done extremely well to have spent half of your life here and still live to tell the tale

From what you have told us in this thread you have been married ( at least) twice, so i guess its fair to say that those two marriages would have taken some amount of financing on your part..depending on where you live and the conditions of course.

I guess for you to have lived here all that time and knowing thats its quite hard for a farang to earn a baht here, you must have been very well cashed up before you came.

In your case its not so bad if you know you can give a little here and there and still know your future is secure, but my question to you comes from points that other posters have made on this thread....being...

How long can one keep this sort of thing up before you worry about whether your finaces will see you out?

How do you go about manging the rest of your life funds (if they are limited) while keeping the good family happy?

But more importantly...Do you ever have any concern about the future if something unforseen (stock market chrash or disaster) should happen and you are near skint?

I know if you live in a village and already have your house you can live on the smell of an oily rag BUT will they allow you to? this is the big question.

I met an old guy in BK who had built a house for his wife and family in Surin. He says he adapted to village life OK and all was rosy for about 5-6 years until his investments back home were frozen by his fund.

Because he only had access to a limited amount every three months he really pulled his belt in and, well lo and behold a year later his wife apparently only just started seeing all his bad habits ( the ones he had never done anything to disguise anyway) and pretty much made his life hell until he had to walk away for the sake of his own sanity.

Apparently one night the good missus even had a knife to his throat

Of course these cases are probably not the norm, and all situations are different so you can't judge all by the actions of one, but it does make you think about it

Don't mean to be negative and no disrespect to the OP.. It would be great to live in LOS fulltime and have a wife and family you could trust (as erik seems to have) for your future.

I guess its these things that play in the back of my mind when i think about taking such a big leap as marrying into a Thai family, especially when you cannot understand all that gets said and what goes on.

Its hard enough to keep a relationship together when you do speak the same language

I came to Thailand when I was 23 years with a Thai girl I met in Norway, I had barely heard of Thailand. I rented out my apartment and lived for 6,000 baht here. I had good education and got a computer that I could do magical things with, computer ages started and I did it very well so I'm financially secured the rest of my life. I also pay taxes to Norway so I get my state pension.

My first wife, who I came with died in an accident after 12 years. And I met a girl in Hua Hin, which I managed to put up with for 3 years. She was a useless Hi So girl that made my life miserable. I went back to Isann there, I'm well known, married a wonderful girl. I was dating her long before we got married, and I spent much time with her ​​parents so I knew what I went to.

Yes I am worried about the future of Thailand, but not my economy. I do not see a nice development, political and crime.

I have all my money in Norway, everything goes there, I use Norwegian bank card (Visa) to transfer the spending to account here. I do not trust Thai banks when it comes to large amounts.

I know several farang who have lost everything and lives here with his wife and her family, they take good care of them and there would be 90% of all other Thai done​​, too (not Pattaya girls.) Genuine Thai has something called "geng chei "You've done something good for them so they are indebted to you, and do what they can to help you.

I've also heard all these incredible story of farlang being cheated and mistreated by his wife and family, but I'm pretty sure 99% of them are prostitute women. Half of all farang do not even know that his wife is a former prostitute.

Those I know who have married a real Thai girl does not have the same problems.

My life has been wonderful here in LOS, but the lows are also here as everywhere else.

I have lived half my life here and do not think I have spent more money on my family here than I would use at home. I feel also accepted in the village I live, but true enough, I will always be a farang.

Agree. My ex was a hi-so, never again. There were no problems with monetary nonsense, but the lifestyle and behavior sucks,

Ah – you married a Hi-so village maiden?

Not many around.

:whistling:

Patrick

From Hua Hin,

Tyj...... its a lot of rich hi so girl in Isaan

Since you brought it up I will reply. Different families different values. Everyone deals with the same family problem different and every family develops different ways of dealing with problems and helping.

I am a loner and proud of it. My family values were such that a man must first and formost be able to take care of himself and not be a burden to others. First you take care of yourself. Second you take care of those close to you( immediate family) Third you take care of extented family. Fourth you assist the community. It is like oxygen masks in an airplane put yours on first before assisting others.

If a person cannot take care of themselves how the heck can they assist others. They themselves are in need if unable to care for themselves. The theory is simple. If everyone worked at taking care of themselves,few people would need help.

People donot like loners like myself because I say what I think is right and live by it. I am in my 60's. I make no demands on others for help but give assistance to a degree to others. I am a strong believer in many cases that the best thing you can do for a person is nothing. Too much help defeats the purpose. People need to work their own way out of their own problems that builds character and selfworth.Take a look at socialist countries and tell me what good it has done them. Conquering adversity gives a person strengh. Helping them too much makes them dependent.

Look at Thaialnd, family is everything. Do you see behaved youth, low crime,a strong middle class,good community values,low domestic violence and I could go on but will stop there. You donot see any of this. Do you ask why? Well because the family assists no matter how terrible the person is or what they have done. No accountability.The family protects and nurtures to a point of complete failure.

All that said I should mention helping someone who is already helping them selves and speeding up the process is a very good investment of time and energy.Giving support to an person making the effort is the way to go. You will see reward for your effort in the way of helping a person willing to do their part in bettering themselves and others they are close to.

Now this my friends is a good post!

I think the OP should stop trying to justify why he is paying for his wife and face up to reality.

Or maybe that would just too dam_n painfull.

Why should I justify that I pay for my wife! You're totally off the wall.

You probably share restaurants bill with your wife.

If you're at all taking her out terrified to pay the bill

That younger girls can not love an older man is crazy, Either you have very little life experience or just experience with bar girls. Nonsense, lies and nonsense.

That was nice picture. Ian Kho Thao is also a nice place for diving.

I worry a little that there appear to be so many people amongst us who might believe that others would take any notice of advice on a personal topic such as this from anonymous strangers on the internet. Luckily, its so often couched in terms that make it clear it is not intended to be helpful, constructive or friendly

SC

It's probably mostly to see if others are in the same situation and get sympathy or carpet bombing.