silsburyhill

Okay. Hezbollah, a very well organised 'terrorist' Group With A Grudge sent just three guys, one of which blew his own legs off, to (no haha, wait) blow up 'foreign nationals' in Thailand. A country with no large immigrant population large enough to be of interest to them. Yeah ...

Could be targeting somebody. They are opportunistic and likely take what they can get as they have all but been shut down in US and in major European cities.

Haha, why does everyone keep focusing on what happened when clearly that was only the result of the premature detonation inside their house. Explosions like that tend to attract a little bit of attention. From there, that one guy was pretty much like a wounded animal striking at anything and everything while trying to get away.

Okay. Hezbollah, a very well organised 'terrorist' Group With A Grudge sent just three guys, one of which blew his own legs off, to (no haha, wait) blow up 'foreign nationals' in Thailand. A country with no large immigrant population large enough to be of interest to them. Yeah ...

Could be targeting somebody. They are opportunistic and likely take what they can get as they have all but been shut down in US and in major European cities.

Haha, why does everyone keep focusing on what happened when clearly that was only the result of the premature detonation inside their house. Explosions like that tend to attract a little bit of attention. From there, that one guy was pretty much like a wounded animal striking at anything and everything while trying to get away.

But. Who, exactly, is this 'they'? A purported (no, stop haha), amount of (worthless outside of Iran) currency and three 'passports' aside? Hell. I know where to 'acquire' a passport of any nationaility ... today

Just some perspective and away from all the 'terrorist' BS. A friend was asking if he could buy saltpeter here. He wanted a go at pickling pork. I found the Thai name and asked our friendly Thai bar hostess. 'Yes, have back of the market. You can make bombs out of it'.

Okay. Hezbollah, a very well organised 'terrorist' Group With A Grudge sent just three guys, one of which blew his own legs off, to (no haha, wait) blow up 'foreign nationals' in Thailand. A country with no large immigrant population large enough to be of interest to them. Yeah ...

I'm in Sai Yuan and agree you must go to your local OrBorJor every year. I pay 360THB and they pick up minimum once a week.

However. Who is responsible for the complete and utter disgrace that is now the entire soi running through sois 14 to 11!? Everything from old cement/bricks to clothing, discarded furniture/clothing and sanitary ware together with the ubiquitous plastic bags and polystyrene?

The OBJ did put up a sign stipulating a 10k fine for dumping, but of course, no on there to enforce it. So said sign and even more rubbish strewn about these once lovely sois.

I did bring this matter up with a neighbour who said the OBJ couldn't afford to place more litter bins. :S This is of course complete crap, one look at the far end of Nai Harn beach during High Season with it's lone bin - on the damned road!? - will show where their priorities lie. And it most certainly is not the cessation of the disgusting despoilation of this once beautiful island.

I believe what is seen as 'bad Thai culture' - greed/arrogance/lying/cheating is because the social mores of this country are such that 'yes they can!', get away with it, that is Partially due to lack of law enforcement and the ubiquitous 'face/non-confrontational' thing. That's not to say I have never heard a Thai complain about this type of behaviour by their fellow Thais, it's simply not 'done' to call anyone out on it. Suffer in silence better.

As to the West being less greedy/arrogant/lying/cheating et al, the majority of the western populace has decades, nay centuries to toe the line and expect a fat lip/spell in jail/being voted out of government and not to be moved to an 'inactive post', but to be banged up, whether wealthy/powerful or not. Witness the World News forum regarding some Swiss billionaire and another wealthy chap getting 18 years for wrongdoing. As has oft been said, 'can you see that happening here?' Well, no, not yet. But Thailand's neighbours are making strides, particularly China. Thailand has a very very long way to go.

All that being said, I have had locals hold doors open for me, thank me (occasionally) when I do the same, and look astonished, smile and wai when I stop at crossings to allow them to pass/let them out of turnings. Small pleasures ...

The only reason there is Prostitution in thailand is because foreigners keep going there, No foreigners NO prostitution......Simple really.

I take it that is meant sarcastically, yes? No one is so stupid to really believe that, yes?

The only reason there is Prostitution in thailand is because foreigners keep going there, No foreigners NO prostitution......Simple really.

I take it that is meant sarcastically, yes? No one is so stupid to really believe that, yes?

"course it's sarcasm. I remember years ago whichsoever cartload of monkeys then calling themselves The Government stating that 'if foreigners did not come to Thailand to buy sex, there wouldn't be any prostitution'.

The worrying thing is, they may actually believe the tripe they spout ...

Ah Nah! Robin Gibb's come back as a Thai 'rapper' who can't sing! An' those bints just grindin' poles (the metal kind) same as everywhere because they CAN"T BLOODY D.A.N.C.E You ever see a Thai chick who can!?

Whatever floats your boat ... 'Preserve beautiful Thai culture' Yeah ...

If you've been here twenty years or more, if you have even a Thai family, job (off the 'reserved for Thais list), you are still a 'tourist' if you're white.

Now many people will not like to hear this, but I am going to say it anyway. For the most part, these girls do have choices. The bottom line is that they can have jobs in restaurants and hotels earning a decent living and enough to get by. The salary for your average unskilled worker is anywhere from $100-300USD per month. Now when you compare that to a western salary it may sound like very little. The reality is that many people in Thailand live happily on these low salaries, and some of them even send half of that salary to help their family. The average bar girl can make more in 1 day than most people do in 1 month, so it is not surprising that some find it tempting. Another thing to consider is that in rural Thai society, this is not looked at in the same way you might view it. A girl going back to her village telling stories of sleeping with middle aged men for large sums of money, does not get ostracized and ridiculed. In contrast she might be treated like a hero, a pioneer.

May all very well be.

But that "have a choice"- picture with the "easy money" gets pretty shattered, when you know, that most of the "girls" are straight on their way into alcoholism (or other, even worse addictions) just to do this job.

I know some bars and some girls: none of them is even halfway sober, even when they start their evening.

I have seen the nice "thai boyfriend" accompanying his "GF" to a "job interview' in a GoGo bar...1 week later he was back with another "GF".

What about the girls from Laos or Cambodia- you know, the ones that always have to hide somewhere, when the police makes one of their announced raids...

Just saying

Now many people will not like to hear this, but I am going to say it anyway. For the most part, these girls do have choices. The bottom line is that they can have jobs in restaurants and hotels earning a decent living and enough to get by. The salary for your average unskilled worker is anywhere from $100-300USD per month. Now when you compare that to a western salary it may sound like very little. The reality is that many people in Thailand live happily on these low salaries, and some of them even send half of that salary to help their family. The average bar girl can make more in 1 day than most people do in 1 month, so it is not surprising that some find it tempting. Another thing to consider is that in rural Thai society, this is not looked at in the same way you might view it. A girl going back to her village telling stories of sleeping with middle aged men for large sums of money, does not get ostracized and ridiculed. In contrast she might be treated like a hero, a pioneer.

May all very well be.

But that "have a choice"- picture with the "easy money" gets pretty shattered, when you know, that most of the "girls" are straight on their way into alcoholism (or other, even worse addictions) just to do this job.

I know some bars and some girls: none of them is even halfway sober, even when they start their evening.

I have seen the nice "thai boyfriend" accompanying his "GF" to a "job interview' in a GoGo bar...1 week later he was back with another "GF".

What about the girls from Laos or Cambodia- you know, the ones that always have to hide somewhere, when the police makes one of their announced raids...

Just saying

And what about the constant whining/complaining 'It's never the Thais' fault'.

Just sayin' ...

I think Chuwit is a subject matter expert and Thailand should consider hiring him as an expert. Also, I think, since this is Thailand, Mr. Chuwit has a pretty good chance of being prime minister. From massage parlor king to prime minister. If Ying Luck can win with promises of raising minimum wage and giving every student in Thailand a tablet computer (Plus being Thaskins younger sister), then Chuwit has a chance too. I wonder what kind of promises he will make.

I think Chuwit is a subject matter expert and Thailand should consider hiring him as an expert. Also, I think, since this is Thailand, Mr. Chuwit has a pretty good chance of being prime minister. From massage parlor king to prime minister. If Ying Luck can win with promises of raising minimum wage and giving every student in Thailand a tablet computer (Plus being Thaskins younger sister), then Chuwit has a chance too. I wonder what kind of promises he will make.

I agree Chuwit should be given a go at PM. Who else this silly little country got? The least that would happen is that he would be a catalyst for change, good or bad. Instead of the moribund system been in place for decades.

This has to be a hoax post. Chuwit is the biggest player or was anyway , in Bangkok's massage business. no prostitution in that ???

End prostitution and the Japs,Koreans and Chinese will take their factories somewhere else....golf isnt enough.

Farangs are nothing here but it would wipe out Pattaya overnight. There goes isan....bang.

This has to be a hoax post. Chuwit is the biggest player or was anyway , in Bangkok's massage business. no prostitution in that ???

End prostitution and the Japs,Koreans and Chinese will take their factories somewhere else....golf isnt enough.

Farangs are nothing here but it would wipe out Pattaya overnight. There goes isan....bang.

Good!

AND THEN SINGLE GUYS OR OLDER GUYS WOULD COME HERE FOR ???????????

Let's see no gambling no sex = no tourists

AND THEN SINGLE GUYS OR OLDER GUYS WOULD COME HERE FOR ???????????

Let's see no gambling no sex = no tourists

To hang out with intellectuals like you.

Isn't this the mother of all ironies! One of the biggest sex peddler calling for a crackdown on prostitution. This is like Bill Gates asking everyone to stop using Microsoft because it is bad for society.

Isn't this the mother of all ironies! One of the biggest sex peddler calling for a crackdown on prostitution. This is like Bill Gates asking everyone to stop using Microsoft because it is bad for society.

Well at least somebody is.

Stamping it out is simply impossible, perhaps better to try to discourage under-age prostitution, and to send a stronger message to the world's pedophiles, to go elsewhere ?

Stamping it out is simply impossible, perhaps better to try to discourage under-age prostitution, and to send a stronger message to the world's pedophiles, to go elsewhere ?

Oh bullshit. Can you seriously tell me you can personally distinguish between a 15/16 year old Thai and one in her 20's?

How is it that Thai Law forbids the selling of alcohol within certain hours (unless sinbon forthcoming)/closure times/overstay, ad infinitum, BUT prostitution, for which this silly little country world renowned legal (and perlease, no one bring up the Thai cop who used a 'used' condom as evidence against a Thai prostitute).

Unless it er, suits you sir LOL.

The police are subordinate to the Head Honcho of every individual station. If such Police Captain decides a particular case too much effort/no money in it for him, such subordinates are told to back off. I have personally witnessed this on several occasions.

Considering that the Captain has paid a not insubstantial sum for his very lucrative position, is he going to put himself and his staff out when there is very little likelihood of his recouping some of his 'investment'?

Yes there are indeed 'monkeys' within the force, but a lot of good cops too. It's simply that their hands are tied. They kow tow to the Big Boss.

The system is rotten to the core.

009 was 12 call 1,5 week ago

005 was DTAC 1,5 week ago

009 was 12 call 1,5 week ago

005 was DTAC 1,5 week ago

Really? Just yesterday I tried several times with the 009 prefix only to get the 'mai mii mai lek ...' followed by 'the number is not complete/assigned. Back to shop to be told 'changed to 005, whereupon 'phone answered, but at 19 baht per minute.

Anyone?

I wasn't there either shopping for or looking to buy furniture...

But we did have a nice lunch and brought home a bag full of various small household stuff... most of which we would have had a hard time finding comparable items at the usual Thai stores...

I think if you actually bothered to read and comprehend my post, you'd see I was pointing out that the IKEA in Bangna is a whole lot more than just a "furniture" store.

PS - You don't have to quote and repost my entire long report just to say...you don't care for IKEA's furniture. And frankly, in my entire post, I made no comment about their furniture, other than to briefly mention the prices didn't seem much different from the usual Thai mass market places.

I wasn't there either shopping for or looking to buy furniture...

But we did have a nice lunch and brought home a bag full of various small household stuff... most of which we would have had a hard time finding comparable items at the usual Thai stores...

I think if you actually bothered to read and comprehend my post, you'd see I was pointing out that the IKEA in Bangna is a whole lot more than just a "furniture" store.

PS - You don't have to quote and repost my entire long report just to say...you don't care for IKEA's furniture. And frankly, in my entire post, I made no comment about their furniture, other than to briefly mention the prices didn't seem much different from the usual Thai mass market places.

For some reason my 'quoted' posts are now consistently reproducing the poster's, er, post.

Not withstanding. Not having a pop at your taste, bearing in mind you had lunch and bought some soft furnishings only.

But you have to admit IKEA on a par with INDEX.

Also., wasn't referring to mass market Thai produced ersatz West, if you take the time, you can find some very nice piesces from individual stores here, or have it made to spec. And NO MDF.

009 was always a TOT prefix wan't it? not a 12call prefix.

Get an international dialling card, it's cheaper.

009 was always a TOT prefix wan't it? not a 12call prefix.

Get an international dialling card, it's cheaper.

Not Fresh Off The Bloody Boat - 'International (haha) Dialliang card C.R.A.P.

Anyone with a more informed/intelligent reply?

No, it's 'normal', (caveat: you're talking about the majority of Thais, right?)

It's just plain I.G.N.O.R.A.N.T.

The Thais that do, of whichever class strata, have learned from we lowly farang.

OhDearGod. So they're having to bus people in to buy their crap 'furniture' etc, and all you farang are over the moon at having the option of furnishing your little palaces witth their shit, same Index with the woefully ignorant Thais (Index cheap crappy imports) before them.

Take the time to find locally produced furniture which will last more than six months AND throw on some soft furnishings/have upholstered.

Memories of 'back home' in short supply here. Together with 'taste'.

Was told by Nice Shop Assistant that calling from Thailand to UK with 12Call has changed from prefix 009 to 005.

Visited website, and indeed. saw 005 mentioned.

However, just called UK to find it still exorbitant (relatively) 19 baht as opposed to aforesaid NYSA's 6/7 baht a minute (she didn't seem sure).

Anyone can confirm What Prefix Number Actually Is Now?

Thanks.

Immediately after the tsunami, Kao Lak was inundated with CEs ALL with American accents, A huge scandal erupted with the local press reporting these religious nuts attempting to bribe the locals to convert. Of course many simply smiled, took the money and went back to their temples.

Meanwhile the rich and powerful of Thai society rushed to the scene of the disaster eager not to miss the land grab.

I don't recall any scandal in the local press over attempts to covert victoms to Christianity (perhaps the localexpat bloggers covered this) but the land grab was reported and was the bigger scandal.

But as they say, God helps he who helps himself. A point seemingly not missed by a few Rich and Powerful Buddhists.

Immediately after the tsunami, Kao Lak was inundated with CEs ALL with American accents, A huge scandal erupted with the local press reporting these religious nuts attempting to bribe the locals to convert. Of course many simply smiled, took the money and went back to their temples.

Meanwhile the rich and powerful of Thai society rushed to the scene of the disaster eager not to miss the land grab.

I don't recall any scandal in the local press over attempts to covert victoms to Christianity (perhaps the localexpat bloggers covered this) but the land grab was reported and was the bigger scandal.

But as they say, God helps he who helps himself. A point seemingly not missed by a few Rich and Powerful Buddhists.

THIS was not only reported in the Phuket Gazette, but also witnessed first hand by myself who happened to be a resident of Kao Lak at that time.

Seriously, what is the matter with you you MUST be right all of the time, veering off on to a completely different topic that was indeed the land grab by rich and powerful Thais. I do not dispute this, but it is utterly irrelevant to this topic and you could set up your own thread, nay, forum on this and every other subject you have an opinion on for your own pleasure/relief.

Jeez.

Imagine there's no Heaven

It's easy if you try

No Hell below us

Above us only sky.

J. Lennon

Imagine there's no Heaven

It's easy if you try

No Hell below us

Above us only sky.

J. Lennon

Yes and I also remember the chorus 'imagine no possessions'. And this from a man who rented an entire air-con apartment to keep his bloody wife's furs at just the right temperature,

I think good works by anybody are good works and are to be admired. However, if these good works are CONDITIONAL on being preached to and/or converted, they are less good works, and greatly cheapened. Man does not need God or an old book to know that stealing and murder is bad, and helping the weak is good.

A significant number of the Thais I know working in the Professions; Engineers, Economists, Medicos have been educated in Thai Christian Schools and Colleges. Out of several dozen, I know of only two who are themselves Christian (all the others are Buddhist) and of the two I know who are Christian, one of those comes from a Christian Family - she was seemingly not converted at school.

There might be something wrong with your assertion that these schools are force feeding their students Christianity - Either that, or they are but they are not very good at it.

Certainly the evidence of the queues outside the gates of Thai Christian Schools suggests that Thais themselves see some value in getting their children into these Christian Schools.

I think good works by anybody are good works and are to be admired. However, if these good works are CONDITIONAL on being preached to and/or converted, they are less good works, and greatly cheapened. Man does not need God or an old book to know that stealing and murder is bad, and helping the weak is good.

A significant number of the Thais I know working in the Professions; Engineers, Economists, Medicos have been educated in Thai Christian Schools and Colleges. Out of several dozen, I know of only two who are themselves Christian (all the others are Buddhist) and of the two I know who are Christian, one of those comes from a Christian Family - she was seemingly not converted at school.

There might be something wrong with your assertion that these schools are force feeding their students Christianity - Either that, or they are but they are not very good at it.

Certainly the evidence of the queues outside the gates of Thai Christian Schools suggests that Thais themselves see some value in getting their children into these Christian Schools.

Yeah, the same as a driver I had in CM years ago, spoke perfect English owing to his Thai Buddhist parents sending him to a Catholic school ... to get the free/cheap English Language skills.