peppersasen

Because she was talking to the Kiwi man's dog?!

People are crazy.

RIP Jobs: ?

Are these the same type of nekid scanners the TSA uses to see us naked?

What exactly IS the problem with tuk-tuks?

Something isn't adding up. Dude isn't a drug smuggler, or a human trafficker. Why is he being treated like one. Are Thai cops known for doing things like this to foreigners for money? Is this kind of thing common? Want to be on the safe side here, people.

Sounds nasty.... But for some reason, I can't help but think some pieces were left out of this story, perhaps a history of overstays, or something else...

mmmm...Possibly. His last mistake was going to the police instead of immigration. 10 years in Thailand you'd think he'd know that...

But, still a horrible ordeal, just keep him until he paid a "fair" bribe. Miracle Thailand.

Exactly! Why would you ever go to the police if you have an over stay? Another poster had it right, get on an airplane and pay your over stay on the way out. Why was he living in Thailand on a tourist visa in the first place? He was old enough for a retirement visa...

There's such thing as a retirement visa? But anyway, dude's only 52. I don't think he's of retiring age... yet.

Gotta tip my hat to Thai cosmetic surgeons on this one.

Oh, thanks. That makes me feel SO much better about myself when I see lady boys who are prettier than me.

I always imagined that with unlimited free time that I would do more volunteer work, but I have found it difficult to find many opportunities to offer my time.

What kind of volunteer work would you be doing?

If you are intelligent and motivated it is actually not difficult. I know 3 people who had their entire overseas education paid for by the Thai government, and they all came from very humble backgrounds.

These people are required to work for a government institution for several years to pay back the state for their education. Typically this is done by teaching at a state university for a rather meagre salary. But they always do consulting on the side, and they can buy back their contract from the state anytime if they get the money or a commercial company really wants to hire them.

It is a great option for those who are truly gifted but have limited means.

Kind of like how Americans can get the army to pay for college if they serve for a certain amount of years?

Once you have been living here for a few months you will see that there are many and I mean MANY people who exist from one day to the next on almost nothing. My sister-inlaw "works" all day and might on some days only take home 80 Baht but on a good day she can have 300 Baht. I pay my gardener 300 Baht every month to cut my grass he takes about 50 minutes to do this and he looks like he is on the go all the time. Work it out for your self. Government Teachers hear can be on as little as 8000 Baht with a pension and some get a house with that. But the fact is that many people do have very small incomes, and find it very hard. It is a have, and have not society, and some of the haves, have a very good salary. Even by weston standards, and haves are in no rush to see that change.

What's the minimum wage in Bangkok (in August 2011--now)?

I think the answer to OP's question is that shorter ladyboys are not out in the open/visible because they are in relationships.

And why would that be?

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4520201

Wow. Thanks. That's some pretty insightful reading ("you'll have to live like a Thai", "Thailand's no longer cheap for backpackers"). I'll really have to figure something out for my friend if we don't want to have to take part-time jobs at Soi Cowboy.

That doesn't concern me much. I couldn't care less about their height.

The REAL question is: how come they're prettier than most Thai girls? They're even prettier than ME (and it's giving me a complex ).

10,500 baht for a week in Bangkok and further south including accommodation?

No way. They don't come much cheaper than Me and even I would not attempt to do that.

uuuugh. Thank you. I'll just have to find a way to talk to her about it. i don't want her to think i'm being insensitive (or WORST like i'm imposing as if I'M being high-maintenance--i'm just really worried). when i told her i was "sticking to her budget but adding an extra 500 for emergencies", she kind of panicked/freaked out (because it made it look like i was going to do things outside her budget and leave her out of things). i'll just have find out how much everything REALLY costs and present her with the cold hard figures.

Woah. Thanks, Razz. BTH 1500 on food alone is about 50 bucks a day, right? And 400-1200 is about 13-40 bucks?

I have a feeling my more high-maintenance friend will want an air-conditioned trip.

I personally want to go clubbing and lay around at the beach all day (and FLIRT!). And walk around aimlessly and see stuff. Might get an extra bikini/shorts/tank-tops if I can't manage to wash my clothes (buy my mother something small). Other than that, I think my major expenses will be accommodation and food (and I want to eat EVERYTHING because I like trying things out ).

My other friend (who's also got USD850 a week) is also excited about Siam Square and the markets, but she doesn't shop that much. I just can NOT see how my more fashion-conscious friend (the one with a USD350 budget) can survive with all the shopping she's planning on (not to mention the extra baggage she'll be paying for).

Middle class office jobs:

- Tier 1:Lower middle class: relatively unskilled and fairly easy to replace, maybe has a degree from within thailand but no chance of ever scaling the career ladder. worker will be from humble background and have little/none english skills. does a process-driven job. = THB 12,000 - 25,000

- Tier 2: Iinternational university graduate - entry level or non-climber. often studied in US/AUS/UK. Good english skills, fairly rich parents. Depending on whether company is lower grade or international brand = THB 20,000 - 45,000

- Tier 3: Middle management: few years experience, studied abroad and is talented individual = THB 45,000 - 80,000

- Tier 4: Senior level: Talented, rich background, well connected, international education. THB 80,000 - 150,000

- Tier 5: Company leaders: heads of department and GM's in international companies = THB 150,000 - 500,000

- Tier 6: Elite: born into family empires. = sky is the limit.- IF they can be bothered to earn

Why am I getting an impression that it's hard to better the quality of your life if you don't come from a wealthy background from this thread? Is it uncommon for Thais (who come from lower-class backgrounds) to get scholarships abroad and become upper-middle class?

Hi, I'm a girl who's planning a trip to Bangkok and South Thailand next year. I'm going with a couple of friends. One of them has never been abroad before (although she understands that Thailand is on the cheaper side).

She wants to keep things within her budget (while the rest of us have decided to save up on same "emergency funds") but at the same time, I don't think we'll manage on her budget as she's accustomed to more comfortable living (she DOESN'T demand luxury, but let's just say she's a LITTLE high maintenance).

Suppose she's willing to spend around USD300-350 (excluding our flight tickets) for 3 days in Bangkok and it's surroundings + 4 days in South Thailand, would she be comfortable enough? And can she afford the night train to Southern Thailand?

Also, she wants to do a lot of shopping in Bangkok (clothes, bags, shoes, accessories--she's a fashionista). I'm really concerned about her being upset during the trip. I've backpacked to some European countries before (I know what budget traveling entails) while she's never been abroad. I worry about her: I mean she barely DRIVES back home: either she takes a cab, one of her friends is driving (me), or a family member is driving her. I think she's okay with a 3-4 Star hotel (but I don't know if she'll be able to handle a backpacker's hostel).

I've budgeted for an extra USD 500 (USD 800-850 total) for that week and I feel like I'm already really pushing to the minimum (and I don't intend on shopping much because I want to minimize baggage size/weight). Do you think we'll be fine? Or do you think she won't be able to survive with that amount (considering how she's accustomed to being comfortable and she wants to shop in Bangkok)?

Sawasdee... I actually joined this forum after finding this thread. I had no idea that being an expat could lead to reclusion. I hope it's not against the rules to post on old threads in this forum (because sometimes it is on other forums). But isn't being a recluse supposed to be voluntary? Your involuntary reclusion just seems like an unfortunate side-effect of being a farang, not because you're actually trying to avoid something. I read through the thread and it sounds like some of you would actually like to have a wider social circle (just that your spouse doesn't get along with someone you get along, and so on).

I am a voluntary recluse avoiding a society I dislike. I only leave the house to meet friends I trust (I have also become very picky with who I hang out nowadays--last year I hung out with a shallow bunch, this year I sail with a more mature crowd). I haven't been one for long, but I am enjoying my first day of hermithood today.