ThaiSold

The Chaopraya river is the natural way for Bangkok to be flooded by this deluge. The chaopraya river has never been blocked. Bangkok could never escape "sharing the flood misery" with the rest of central Thailand.

But flooding Bangkok's residential and commercial areas by opening the flood gates of those canals (designed with intention to protect these areas) will have little positive effect (on the dispersion of flood waters) in the final analysis ..... but will have huge negative effect on the population

I agree 100%

OMG guys it's a massive flood, there is no quick solution. Ayuttaya has been under water for weeks now and still is, the water can't go away quickly because it keeps coming, the water is going to keep coming into Bangkok for weeks if not a month to come. There is no quick solution, there is no political solution, you can't stop a flood from happening like this one. It's going to happen and the water is going to come. be prepared, stock up on food sandbag what you can or get out of dodge. I honestly wonder how many people here pointing fingers are volunteering themselves to help with the situation.

You're saying that there's a massive flood so we shouldn't be on this forum, right ? well... Seems you are on it too.

I think you should keep your good morale for yourself... It doesn't help either.

Good luck with the floods

Cheers.

mmm I live in Chiang Mai and helped with the floods here, dontated to the red cross, and don't blame the government for acts of god.

OMG guys it's a massive flood, there is no quick solution. Ayuttaya has been under water for weeks now and still is, the water can't go away quickly because it keeps coming, the water is going to keep coming into Bangkok for weeks if not a month to come. There is no quick solution, there is no political solution, you can't stop a flood from happening like this one. It's going to happen and the water is going to come. be prepared, stock up on food sandbag what you can or get out of dodge. I honestly wonder how many people here pointing fingers are volunteering themselves to help with the situation.

Totally agree on all that you said. We are not frustrated about the coming flood. We are frustrated that the truth/the correct information is not given. And that same mistakes are made over and over(about trying to block the water) instead of finding ways to divert flood quickly to the sea.

Evidently, as many comments underline it, important information is not given.

If we have to prepare for One meter to one meter and a half water surge from which "ground" to we have to count this height ? from the klong ? From the road ? from the sea level ? It makes huge differences for me as I am situated one meter more above the klong level but one meter under the road level...

There are a lot of different ground levels in one 'khet' a map of the really "at risk" places could have been done by authorities (even though, I know, they are busy elsewhere... but they could mobilize students in geography, or whoever, to do so...).

Besides these considerations, I am surprised (well, not that much in fact) that Thailand does not have a proper water management system : Monsoon has been going on here for quite a while. Deforestation and urbanization worsened the problem... And nothing serious seemed to have been done by any government might it be democrat or Thaksinian.

I worry much about the crisis aftermath : economic recovery will be extremely hard, will need a lot of money coming form abroad (which, by the way could lessen a bit the pressure on Europe) with certain impact on the baht. There might also be forced unemployment (if japanese industries decide not to take anymore risks for the years to come and relocate elsewhere in Asia for example) and social unrest.

By the way, the political promises made during the campaign will be forgotten : 300 hundred baht a day ? Forget it ! Bad for recovery ! I-pads for students ? Forget it ! Bad for national reconstruction !

And who will be responsible ? Rain ? Water management officials ? Prime Minister ? Dharma ? Spirits ? Each and every Thai ?

Will there be any "sustainable and responsible" water management policy ? Will Bangkok's urban development plans be reviewed ? (Condos of over 50 floors weight a lot... nothing is done to enhance a sensible way of managing the problem).

Well, all in all, it is Thai people's (and not only thai elite) problem and I am quite happy to be out of such political mess. May they make a good choice, they'll be the only responsible for it anyway.

I also hope there will not be any violence towards foreigners living in Thailand... (which could be understandable given the situation and the ideology... but not forgivable).

Why does everyone look to the government to hand out money in both good times and bad. Why can't businesses not affected by the floods start pitching in. Socially responsible companies should be doing there part too. Even Thai Visa could do a lot more. If you don't think the goverment can do it then try the red cross and support http://www.redcross.or.th/old/english/donation/moneydonate_internet.php?sc=0046&insertflag=1 or at global giving http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/support-flood-victims-thailand/

Not the best quality, but it's readable!

http://www.eric.ed.g...FS/ED401729.pdf

This is actually really helpful, though what it needs is real world conversations, I can work on that but it gives me something to work with, I guess what we really need is a learn thai handbook but just change the Thai to Lanna.

It seems that learning the lanna script is otherwise pointless to me, unless there is a reason why you can't use Thai script to actually sound the words out.

I really appreciate everyones repsonse but I really can't understand anything too technical. Obviously you don't need to be a linguist to be able to speak a language and that's all i'm aiming for. eg. a seven year old can speak there own language well yet still be baffled by most the comments here. Let's keep this thread real please.

For proficiency in the language, I can't help you. Whenever I read Northern Thai (or Tai Khuen, for that matter) I do so on the basis of Siamese, though I do have dictionary back-up.

The script is fairly straightforward if you understand the principles of South Indian, Burmese or Khmer scripts. There are the subtle catches that a few consonants have multiple subscript forms, and that conjuncts are also used for CVC syllables.

Most teaching materials for the language and script are in Thai. I suspect the standard textbook is ภาษาเมืองส้านนา by บุญคิด วัชรศาสตร์ ISBN 974-85472-0-5 - 'the big blue book'. The standard dictionary is the Maefahluang dictionary (พจนานุกรมล้านนา-ไทย ฉบับแม่ฝ้าหลวง) ISBN 974-8539-03-4. (Its typesetting is appalling.) There are disagreements on how some vowels are to be written - I found an interesting array of views looking at the smaller textbooks, especially the handwritten ones, which I found a few years ago at DK in Chiangmai. (You may have to get the dictionary from an academic bookshop.)

Typing and displaying the script, which is named as TAI THAM in Unicode, is a bit tricky. I've rolled my own Kesmanee-based keyboards for Windows, using MSKLC, and Linux, using KMFL (with a backup of plain X for when it temperamentally fails to start). Rendering I can only do using a Graphite font. That works in OpenOffice / LibreOffice. Google has someone looking at creating a web font. I took the Lannaworld font from the Lannaworld site and added Graphite instructions so I can render text from the Unicode encoding. There are a few odd interactions I haven't been able to work out yet, and may end up making explicit, but arbitrary decisions on rendering. I'm loath to make the font public because of the copyright limitations.

Hi Richard, sorry if I found most of your reply quite foreign. Though the textbook ภาษาเมืองส้านนา by บุญคิด วัชรศาสตร์ you mentioned sounded interesting, you wouldn't know where i could find it would you? I've seen the teachers website before and you'd think he'd have instructions on how to get it from his site. You think they have it at the library? With your suggestion tommorrow i'll try the library at CM uni and the CM library.

that's funny a started a thread yesterday in the chiang mai forum but the mods must have deleted it! I'm in I can bring 4 or 5 other guys too so we can have a game! PM me or go to my profile page for contact details.

BTW it's 600 baht per hour so preferably we need 10 people it's only 60 baht a piece, i'm only interested in a game that starts later than 6 or 7pm cause it's too hot otherwise.

There has been 4 brand new soccer fields built around town this past year. Cost is 600 baht per hour which isn't too bad if you have at least 10 people. The fields are quite short but ideal for 6 or 7 a side. Is there currently a weekly game that's been setup or anyone want to start one with me if there isn't? Good thing about the fields is they are lit up at night which for me beats playing cricket in the blazing sun.

Well after almost 3 years in Chiang Mai and still can't understand what half the people here are saying (unless of course they speak central Thai) I think it's about time I learned the Northern Dialect. Only problem is I can't find one book on the subject out there. Ok I lied I did find one book http://www.thapra.lib.su.ac.th/e-book/northern_thai/ the site goes up and down a lot so don't count on it always working. But in the end the book isn't very conclusive but does deal with the 6th tone in good detail (central Thai only has 5 tones). I'm interested to learn from anyone who has learned with proficiency the northern dialect even more so if you know who to read and write the lanna script. I'd love to learn how you did it and what recourses you used.

Honestly dude the easiest thing you can do is get a phone with a QWERTY keyboard. theres more than twice as many letters in the Thai alphabet so using 9 keys to punch them in is just a plain old hassle. Wish I could be more help but I had the same experience and in the end I gave up and upgraded my phone to a samsung touchscreen with a querty keyboard only cost 4000. baht. in the end you'll save your time and your mind.

You should send your question to the Science and Technology Minister. I am sure he would give you a valid response.

Way to go helping the guy out with his question and for giving him a valid response, good thing he didn't send it to you!

Every time I go to immigration to renew my visa and they ask me what school I go to and I speak to the officer and he knows I go to Walen this is also adding credibility to Walen whether I actually learned Thai there or not.

----

Credibility is also the reason why Walen is a good choice for those who want to stay here to learn the language wether you rely on the schools teaching methods or not.

Ah, I get it now -- credibility is all to do with renewing visas rather than anything to do with actually learning the Thai language -- that was the piece of the jigsaw I was missing. Not to forget the "real babes", of course.

Hope that makes sense

Perfect sense, thank you.

Well you completely quoted me out of context. Remember I said that I went to all the other schools in the area and Walen had the best program. If i'm going to associate myself with any school it certainly wouldn't be the likes of AUA which you suggested people look at in your interview with women learn Thai. They have probably the worst Thai language program I've ever seen, they should stick to teaching English and even that there not good at. Your condecending reply wins no points with me.

Thanks for the clarification.

I can now better evaluate your statements that "I must admit Mr Walen that your Thai language school is the best school in Thailand" and "If someone wants to learn Thai they are better off going to Walen than anywhere else."

Admittedly I failed English in High School What I should have said is "if someone wants to learn Thai at a Thai language school they are better off going to Walen than any other school". "And if you want to be fluent you will have to study further at home".

If the high speed Thai course is as good as some of the people here are saying then maybe Vincent will send me a copy to review and I'll be happy to post an honest review on my blog and here on Thai Visa. What do you say Vincent?

@Thaisold

I'm not criticising your English.

I'm asking you why, since you admit you rely on home study and are only going to Walen for the ED visa and the "real babes", what credibility (or right) you have to state that "if someone wants to learn Thai at a Thai language school they are better off going to Walen than any other school"?

It is my own opinion noone actually has to listen to me in fact I'm sure many people don't, though I am fluent in the language I checked out every single language school in Chiang Mai and only went with Walen because the language books were better than the other schools I'd seen so it was credibility that I chose Walen. Credibility is also the reason why Walen is a good choice for those who want to stay here to learn the language wether you rely on the schools teaching methods or not. Every time I go to immigration to renew my visa and they ask me what school I go to and I speak to the officer and he knows I go to Walen this is also adding credibility to Walen whether I actually learned Thai there or not. Hope that makes sense.

Thanks for the clarification.

I can now better evaluate your statements that "I must admit Mr Walen that your Thai language school is the best school in Thailand" and "If someone wants to learn Thai they are better off going to Walen than anywhere else."

Admittedly I failed English in High School What I should have said is "if someone wants to learn Thai at a Thai language school they are better off going to Walen than any other school". "And if you want to be fluent you will have to study further at home".

If the high speed Thai course is as good as some of the people here are saying then maybe Vincent will send me a copy to review and I'll be happy to post an honest review on my blog and here on Thai Visa. What do you say Vincent?

^^^Thaisold

Are you saying you did study at Walen?

In that case, can you clarify what you mean in your 'Learn Thai' e-mail when you write:

I didn't want to go to boring classroom courses that had a strict time table and had to learn at the same pace as other students. I wanted to learn to the fastest and the easiest way would be to get a tutor but it was too expensive to do that...

----

I didn't really talk to many Thai people either, I found they were more of a distraction than a help.

----

Now I must have spent probably $500 USD on these books and software, not at the same time mind you, but I know people who come to Thailand and spend thousands of dollars on language courses and they still couldn't speak Thai.

... all of which strongly suggests that you disdain the school-based approach in favour of home study

I currently go to Walen 1 for the ED visa and 2 Mr Walen hires some real babes to work for him and finally just so i can meet people from around town but I didn't learn Thai at Walen I learned it studying thai language books at home. BTW glad you signed up to the blog

กูก็มันใจว่ากูพูดไทยเก่งกว่าคุณวินเซ่นนะคงเก่งกว่าคุณอีกต่างหากแต่ก็ชอบโรงเรียนคุณมากที่สุดนะ

Walen teach you to speak like this?:bah:

Walen like every other school and thai course only teaches you how to speak proper Thai. Nothing wrong with that except there are many things teachers don't teach you. Similar to when we went to school, the teachers didn't teach you how to curse or talk improper but the other students did so in a way Walen could teach you depending on the people in the class

I'll just add my two cents here, I'm fluent in Thai Language I speak much better than Vincent ever will and the owner of Walen for that matter. I don't see how or why anyone would want to learn Thai from anyone or even any program where the maker of that program isn't fluent themselves. I don't care how good you think High Speed Thai is the fact is Vincent (the maker of High speed Thai) is far from profficient enough to teach the Thai language. I see the price has now jumped to $220 and without any credentials as a Teacher or accredited by the Thai language association I can't see why would you purchase this product. In my mind it's only worth $49 at best but because of his advertising costs it's $220. If you want to throw money away then buy this program. @thaisold

Very confident you are.

I must admit Mr Walen that your Thai language school is the best school in Thailand and I encourage everyone who wants to stay in Thailand on an ED visa to go with your school over any other school. Hope my comments didn't offend you even though my Thai is better than yours I think everyone here should know that I study at your school กูก็มันใจว่ากูพูดไทยเก่งกว่าคุณวินเซ่นนะคงเก่งกว่าคุณอีกต่างหากแต่ก็ชอบโรงเรียนคุณมากที่สุดนะ If someone wants to learn Thai they are better off going to Walen than anywhere else and wouldn't encourage anyone to waste a cent on this course and go to Walen. However if this course was more reasonably priced at say $49 then I would say it would be worth it as a complimentary course. I just feel that the cost is way over priced for what you get. If you want a program like this you can go to Pantip plaza and buy rosetta stone for 100 baht and you'll get more out of it. This is not a paid advertisment or anything for Walen or anything either, simply from a guy who already speaks the language with extreme proficiency and has seen enough "learn thai" programs to know when people are being ripped off. Lower the price Vincent don't increase it man or maybe break it up into parts let's say beginners 1-7 and charge 29.95 for each part that makes more sense than the huge $220 price tag. You can go to walen get a visa for an entire year for only a few hundred more think about it dude.

I'll just add my two cents here, I'm fluent in Thai Language I speak much better than Vincent ever will and the owner of Walen for that matter. I don't see how or why anyone would want to learn Thai from anyone or even any program where the maker of that program isn't fluent themselves. I don't care how good you think High Speed Thai is the fact is Vincent (the maker of High speed Thai) is far from profficient enough to teach the Thai language. I see the price has now jumped to $220 and without any credentials as a Teacher or accredited by the Thai language association I can't see why would you purchase this product. In my mind it's only worth $49 at best but because of his advertising costs it's $220. If you want to throw money away then buy this program. @thaisold

Recon the guy should have 24/7 Police protection

555 i'm sure he'll have to fork out even more for that!

You know corruption is on every level of Thai society, even to get into a good school you have to hand a basket over and an envelope full of dosh to the principle. You can't wipe out corruption by cracking down on just police. What a joke ey. All Thai's are on the take there all corrupt it's just who they are.

Why would anyone need an online gambling house when the big international online gambling websites can be accessed in Thailand from the comfort of your own home?

The gambling houses also act as bookies on games which is where most of the funds go, you can make up your own odds against different teams in all different sports though football is most popular but they use the internet to service those. Besides the old lady isn't there to hassle you while you place bets.

There is a gambling den right across the road from me (in chiang mai) police regularily frequent, probably because they got held up last month with some dudes with guns don't know exact amount taken but none the less good to know the police are keeping a good eye on them and making sure there now protected. One night a truckload of army guys called in was all very strange they were up and down the road talking on walkie talkies and such, they soon left though.

Do the right thing and report it.

Perhaps not to the police in your area, but surely there must be some uncorrupted police in Chang Mai?

Firstly I live accross the road from these people, how stupid do you think I am to call the cops on them. Chiang Mai is a very small place mate.

This goes beyond the local cops man it's all the way up the government and the richest people in Thailand. If you think gambling dens in Thailand are people sitting around playing cards then you have no idea.

The fact is there are 10's of thousands of shops in thailand called ร้านการพนันออนไลน์ loosly translated is Online gambling shop. Yes online gambling in Thailand is illegal they make it difficult to watch porn online but you can go to sites like xxx and xxx and transfer funds and gamble online, the shop houses exist to protect the patrons. If the cops come they pull the plug and it's an internet cafe yeah? the shop house handles the transactions with the websites and really don't have to pay much in bribes to the police compared to what they make. The websites are registered offshore and can't be shutdown by the Thai's wouldn't matter anyway they'd just change the domain or ip anyway.

All the banks in Thailand are involved and don't do anything about it.

This whole thing about the gambling den and Chuwit is to make sure the truth about gambling in Thailand is kept out of the press. The biggest gambling in Thailand these days is done online.

There was a bust a few years ago an Indian guy who did 3.2 billion baht through his websites involving thousands of bank accounts and such. I suspect the truth is a rival in the industry probably Thai sought him out to take over and that's why these other sites sprung up in fact 3n2.net was registered just after the bust and closure of those other sites.

That's just how it works here my friend, no local cop can stop it man only the banks working with the government can.

There is a gambling den right across the road from me (in chiang mai) police regularily frequent, probably because they got held up last month with some dudes with guns don't know exact amount taken but none the less good to know the police are keeping a good eye on them and making sure there now protected. One night a truckload of army guys called in was all very strange they were up and down the road talking on walkie talkies and such, they soon left though.

I don't care you know why, because Thai people have no self control if they make gambling legal it will be out of control. The only way to make legal gambling work is if they also get rid of the illegal gambling. They can't even do that with the lottery how could they do it with casinos. More money is spent on the undreground lottery than is spend on the state run lottery and why is that, because Thai's don't look to win the million baht they are trying to win 2000 baht. Imagine they had scratchies here, kids would go hungry.

Thai people have no idea what the holocaust is, and why should they care anyway, it's got nothing to do with them or their history. It's not like western kids are taught about the battle for Bangra Jun either. I don't see what the big deal is anyway it was a fancy dress, i've seen people dress up at hitler on halloween in the US and noone complained.

In fact it's not like Thai students are the only ones who have dressed up as hitler either http://gothamist.com/2006/11/01/no_high_school.php happens everywhere in the world whether they are educated about the holocaust or not.

So why do you guys think they are exploiting Thais running this. the girls were making 1500 baht a day i don't call that exploitation that's a bloody good living in my book for them. Besides they probably were happy to do it and as well. If they were doing this out of a house in the UK you wouldn't say they were exploiting the girls there would you!

Too bad they shut it down one of the girls looks alright i would've taken a peak.