xthAi76s

Wow, good luck to the Aussies having important infrastructure built by Thais. There are few things scarier. Saw another article recently about Aussies needing men and women in the armed forces, so they are actually trying to entice Americans and Europeans to come to OZ. Looks like they are really struggling.

British service personnel have been recruited to join Australian services for years. Nothing new in that!

I didn't know that. First time, though, for me to hear that Americans were being actively recruited.

Lucky it wasn't worse. These unregulated uses of gas tanks in Thailand in commercial and residential locations is a ticking bomb. Most people would be like Tony the cook from Cambodia, and they would just run or be totally ignorant that a gas leak is a hazard. There is no regulated guidance on this at all.

Even in the heavily regulated west, gas explosions in homes and commercial spaces are not that uncommon from a variety of causes. The canisters used here do have inherent risks but so do the underground gas lines found in many western cities. Every year, there are blasts when gas lines are ruptured by construction equipment like backhoes digging up streets. Many deaths from CO1 also result from improperly vented gas household and water heaters.

There is one of the "yeah, well it happens in the west, too" posts in almost every topic.

I fail to see how 1) it is relevant to what happens in Thailand and 2) why anyone would suggest (blindly) that the safety standards in, say, the US are equivalent to those in Thailand.

It's utterly ridiculous.

Wow, good luck to the Aussies having important infrastructure built by Thais. There are few things scarier. Saw another article recently about Aussies needing men and women in the armed forces, so they are actually trying to entice Americans and Europeans to come to OZ. Looks like they are really struggling.

What's with all the "R.I.P."s?

It is just as irresponsible and even disrespectful to say "rest in peace" as it is to say "maybe the world is a better place with them no longer here".

It depends on who you care about more? You care about the selfish guys who endangered themselves and people below and around them, OR do you care about the people who care about these selfish guys and the people who, thankfully, were not injured or killed?

I care more about the latter. So, I will add my sentiments.

Perhaps Bangkok is now a safer place without these guys.

I find it very funny that Farangs keep moaning about the long queues at Suvarnabhumi while there is a much worse problem at Heathrow. How deliciously ironic! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17896216

What about how busy each airport is? Heathrow consistently ranks in the top 5 year to year by passenger volume doing about 30% more traffic by volume.

Swampy is down around 15.. However, interesting to note that Swampy surges at points in the year (likely tourist season) -- take a look at numbers for 2012 thus far. Swampy is at number 4, Heathrow at 3.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_busiest_airports_by_passenger_traffic#2011_statistics

And farang still say Thai education is bad, and most Thai students are not very intelligent due to it.

This prove farang wrong. Well done Thai student.

Hardly, Thai education is desperately poor in turning out people who can think and reason. You have to be able to question things to be intelligent, Thai education does not encourage questioning. Well done this group who succeeded in spite of, rather than because of the Thai education system. I thought it was an official opinion that the Thai system is poor and in need of much improvement?

If the Thai system turned out anything other than box ticking sheep then why do rich Thai's send their kids to international Schools and then Universities abroad?

Agree! And, judging from the way the young lady in their group speak English (natively?), she is likely one of those typically well-to-do Thais who was born or spent significant time in an English speaking country. Quite frankly, she sounds American. I would put down money that she moved here more recently and that she speaks Thai with an accent.

Anyway, these students are obviously exceptional. They are likely the type who would tell you how poor they think they Thai education system is overall. Having said that, Thammasat is a pretty decent school (undergrad and grad). Probably better than Chula (which is supposed to be the best). It's certainly the most progressive university in Thailand.

"Great job!" to these Chinese students.

Native Thai culture is lazy. The Chinese had the Great Leap Forward and look at them today.

Most of your drivel is amusing but this piece really takes the cake.

http://en.wikipedia....at_Leap_Forward

The Great Leap ended in catastrophe, resulting in tens of millions of excess deaths.^[2] Estimates of the death toll range from 18 million^[3] to at least 45 million

Historian Frank Dikötter asserts that "coercion, terror, and systematic violence were the very foundation of the Great Leap Forward" and it "motivated one of the most deadly mass killings of human history."

OK, this bit you took was not directly on topic but part of my overall point that there is no improvement over time here with respect to law enforcement or education. That's all.

As for your assertion that my comment was drivel, consider that the there were all kinds of deaths during the French Revolution as well. Also true of the American Civil War. Just two examples. Who said progress was smooth and easy and without sacrifice? Is that what you are implying? Feel free to message me privately as I don't want to encourage off-topic replies.

There are two kinds of racists in the world:

(1) “I am not a racist, I just think people of other colors and cultures are inferior and should be treated like animals.”

(2) “I am a racist, and make no apologies for it. I hate these people.”

If I had to choose, I would actually prefer the company of “Group 2.” At least they are honest.

Is Thai Visa really just a chat room for racists?

Yesterday, the Expat community lost a dear friend, a truly unique individual and he will be missed by those who knew him. I was impressed by the genuine and thoughtful postings. Not corny, or “hippie philosophy” or “all about me” Real genuine sorrow and support for those who were saddened by his passing.

Well, you see…Thai people, and let me underscore that…they are people, just like you…with friends; families and feelings…also suffer when people die. It is not funny, it is not a time to judge, second guess and paint with a broad brush of insensitive hate.

Many postings seem to create a “mirror world” reality. When Western Politicians engage in every conceivable crime, up to and including murder…it is “Business as usual, nothing to see here..move on.”

Same behavior from a Thai? The Devil Walks the Earth! Beware! Hide the women and children!

When hundreds of Thai people die in holiday accidents…Thai Visa sees it as fodder for joke after joke. When there is a tragic accident, it is “Good riddance, one less monkey to feed.” When an expat dies…the correct, respectful and sincere postings come to the surface.

Why is it funny when Thai people die? Why is it funny when Thais lose their homes in floods? Why is it only Thai politicians who tell convenient lies and break rules?

Why do you live here?

Firstly I'd like to state that I'm Thai.

I see nothing wrong with making fun of those that died while driving at excessive speeds, breaking the law, or driving irresponsibly. It's also a way of laughing at the irresponsible authorities that don't put enough measures to limit such behavior.

As for the sincere condolences for the farang who passed away, maybe it's because he wasn't doing something questionable when he died? Had he been found in a closet naked and hung by underwear with used condoms and porn strewn around the motel room, don't you think the comments would be different?

If you are Thai, I can almost guarantee you are Thai-Chinese. With your apparent near-native ability in English, your family is probably elite and sent you off to school outside of the country. I like you guys (the Thai-Chinese). Most of the time, the corrupt and idiotic things that happen in Thailand are really the result of the somewhat less developed native Thai culture. The Thai-Chinese are what have made/built most of the good things in Thailand. So, whenever I encounter a Thai-Chinese, I always show them respect and thank them for trying to move Thailand in the right direction.

Thanks!

Talk about a racist post. Unbelievable.

Interesting. I don't see how it it racist at all, and it certainly wasn't intended to be that way. Not sure why you would read it as racist. It's a wholly positive post. Sorry if you are offended.

Yes, and I've lived there for 3 years... Fujian area. Your rebuttal is not really valid here as I am not talking about China. The Chinese in Thailand -- generally relatively far wealthier than your typical mainland Chinese -- are quite a world different. They are Thailand's elite. If you want a better comparison, you'd compare to Hong Kong Chinese or Singapore Chinese. All elite. No culture is perfect, but the Chinese are a great civilization of people known all over the world for their work ethic and ambition. They've shaped Thailand into a 'somewhat' modern (although still rather superficially so) modern country and continue to take it in a good direction.

More to the topic, for example, in China, let's say a similar accident happened. Let's say the a guy in a Porsche ran down another car by carelessly doing almost double the speed limit.. And, let's say that the guy in the Porsche happened to live. In China, no matter how wealthy the guy in the Porsche is, he'd be arrested and some punishment would be handed out. I'm not saying that this would occur 100% of the time. Again, no place is perfect. But, in Thailand, you NEVER hear about anyone with wealth or power EVER being given serious punishment for their crimes.

Native Thai culture is lazy. The Chinese had the Great Leap Forward and look at them today. In just a couple decades they are moving forward at incredible speed. Shanghai is as modern a city as most any in Europe or the US. The growth in wealth is extraordinary. They actually apply rule of law -- quite seriously in fact. People are sacked for crimes -- even powerful people. Hell, people are even executed for heinous crimes. Thailand? No way. 'mai pen rai'. There's no 'mai pen rai' in China.

The accident is another clear example of the cultural failure of the Thais to be responsible.

^ Not sucking up. Just telling it like it is. The more Chinese influence on Thai culture, the better it will be for all of us who reside here. Nothing wrong with acknowledging their success and hard work over many generations.

There are two kinds of racists in the world:

(1) “I am not a racist, I just think people of other colors and cultures are inferior and should be treated like animals.”

(2) “I am a racist, and make no apologies for it. I hate these people.”

If I had to choose, I would actually prefer the company of “Group 2.” At least they are honest.

Is Thai Visa really just a chat room for racists?

Yesterday, the Expat community lost a dear friend, a truly unique individual and he will be missed by those who knew him. I was impressed by the genuine and thoughtful postings. Not corny, or “hippie philosophy” or “all about me” Real genuine sorrow and support for those who were saddened by his passing.

Well, you see…Thai people, and let me underscore that…they are people, just like you…with friends; families and feelings…also suffer when people die. It is not funny, it is not a time to judge, second guess and paint with a broad brush of insensitive hate.

Many postings seem to create a “mirror world” reality. When Western Politicians engage in every conceivable crime, up to and including murder…it is “Business as usual, nothing to see here..move on.”

Same behavior from a Thai? The Devil Walks the Earth! Beware! Hide the women and children!

When hundreds of Thai people die in holiday accidents…Thai Visa sees it as fodder for joke after joke. When there is a tragic accident, it is “Good riddance, one less monkey to feed.” When an expat dies…the correct, respectful and sincere postings come to the surface.

Why is it funny when Thai people die? Why is it funny when Thais lose their homes in floods? Why is it only Thai politicians who tell convenient lies and break rules?

Why do you live here?

Firstly I'd like to state that I'm Thai.

I see nothing wrong with making fun of those that died while driving at excessive speeds, breaking the law, or driving irresponsibly. It's also a way of laughing at the irresponsible authorities that don't put enough measures to limit such behavior.

As for the sincere condolences for the farang who passed away, maybe it's because he wasn't doing something questionable when he died? Had he been found in a closet naked and hung by underwear with used condoms and porn strewn around the motel room, don't you think the comments would be different?

If you are Thai, I can almost guarantee you are Thai-Chinese. With your apparent near-native ability in English, your family is probably elite and sent you off to school outside of the country. I like you guys (the Thai-Chinese). Most of the time, the corrupt and idiotic things that happen in Thailand are really the result of the somewhat less developed native Thai culture. The Thai-Chinese are what have made/built most of the good things in Thailand. So, whenever I encounter a Thai-Chinese, I always show them respect and thank them for trying to move Thailand in the right direction.

Thanks!

I just wish they'd spell the bloody place like it's pronounced.

Yes, that would be nice, too. Or spell anything like it's pronounced.

Suvarnabhumi = SUE-WA-NA-BOOM

Go figure.

The actual top ten.

Suvarnabhumi is actually at number 25, down from 13 in 2011

World's Best Airports in 2012

1

Incheon International Airport

2

Singapore Changi Airport

3

Hong Kong International Airport

4

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

5

Beijing Capital International Airport

6

Munich Airport

7

Zurich Airport

8

Kuala Lumpur International Airport

9

Vancouver International Airport

10

Central Japan International Airport\

Those results from the website in the OP.

You know I thought there was something fishy about the headline....how could this crummy airport with its enormous queues for immigration and too few toilets rank higher than say, Lagos Airport

As one poster pointed out, this particular rating is from passenger surveys, so, in one sense meaningful, but in another sense destined to be rather imprecise. Also, it is influenced by how aggressively the airport pushes the survey... Thailand NEEDS these kinds of tourism ratings, so the AOT pushes the survey quite seriously. Also, it helps that many of the kinds of tourists who come here for the first or perhaps second time are men who are just dazzled with the fact that after two weeks around Thailand they've had sex with 4x as many beautiful women as they'd ever even spoken to in their home countries. I bet they get caught in a rather decent mood. Sex sells, man.

^^ This is why I just sit back and smile when posters quote statistics from any body concerned with stats gathering in Thailand. These stats can't be trusted. No stats are perfect but which would you tend to trust more?

Stats from an agency which is somehow regulated, perhaps in a modern, open country with freedom of speech, the rule of law and checks and balances to power...

OR

Stats from a third world, utterly corrupt-to-the-bone, totally unmodern, or at best superficially modern, country with superficial, grossly irregularly applied law, and one which has at it's core in society a deep need to save face and a very heavy interest in international tourism from which at least a quarter of its GDP derives?

To me, it's quite obvious that stats furnished by any Thai body or stats which were gathered even by international agencies but necessarily performed in Thailand hold very little weight.

Suvarnabhumi is a dump. It is actually unfinished. Read about it. The scandals surrounding the money and contracting are legendary. The airport staff are quite nice, however. True Thai style. A smile and willingness to help are very important.

To rebut a few points made in earlier posts --

1. When comparing airports you should take into consideration the age of the airport. Suvarnabhumi is not so old, but nonetheless is it terribly built. It feels like a dimly lit bunker of sorts. Certainly it feels nothing like a modern, relatively new flagship airport.

2. Someone said you have to take into consideration whether a country is poor or not. Well, in the case of Thailand, surely we all know most PEOPLE are poor here. However, the COUNTRY/GOVERNMENT is far from poor, so I don't see that a valid excuse. Look at China's airport in Beijing. It's massive, beautiful, efficient and quite a pleasure to go through. Countries show off to an extent in building their flagship international airports. You'd expect so much more from a country like Thailand who has spent the better part of a century working the international tourism market.

3. Someone tried to compare the Suvarnabhumi to some of the US airports... OK, sure, there are crap airports in the US. BUT, please remember the following:

1. The US has the oldest and most airports of any country on Earth.

2. The US is beyond the point where it needs to rely on nice airports to gain FACE in the international community. It's a rich country, beyond these silly things.

3. The US has two of the busiest airports in the world (Atlanta and Chicago) which are in fact decent airports.

4. Generally British/US/Scandinavian culture places more emphasis on function rather than form. Asia is exactly the opposite, so you'd expect not to find very pretty or 'nice' airports in these countries. I mean, to put it plainly, people in the US would rather invent the planes (which they did) and the airports (which they did) and the computer systems (which they did) and let the FACE savers reach into their corrupt mafia-style governments budgets to 'pretty up' their airports in countries trying to make statements that 'they've arrived'.

5. When was the last time you flew into an international airport in the US and had to deboard the plane onto a bunch of hot, packed busses to get to your gate? I am shocked that this seems to be the standard here in Thailand. They can't get the numbers or logistics right so that the planes can be taken right up to the gates. It's rather pathetic. Did not happen to me at Beijing, just as an example.

So, in summary, the staff in Suvarnabhumi are largely great. Typical of well-trained Thai staff. Very polite, helpful and it certainly doesn't hurt that the women tend to be easy on the eyes. The facilities, however, are 'bottom of the barrel'. Cheap looking and feeling. Dreary is a good word to describe the place. With poor lighting and often inadequate air conditioning. The duty free gives new comers an immediate taste for the scams and ripoffs they can expect as they embark on their journeys into Thailand. It's just an awful airport. As bad structurally and in feel as JFK (although JFK is much, much older).

Given the exorbitant rents the company must have been paying for many of their locations, the notorious Thai business practice of employing 5 people for the job 1 person should be able to do, and not least the lack of enthusiasm and/or education about fitness, it was rather obviously a failed venture from the very beginning. Sometimes you wonder if these guys ever did any kind of feasibility studies or if they just sorta threw things together hoping for the best.

Would it surprise you that the "notorious Thai business practice" and "these guys" you refer to really can be traced back to one American founder of California Wow. He did not look very Thai to me.

Would it surprise you to know that ANY company doing business in Thailand MUST as a matter of course employ Thais (generally, mostly Thais), and would it surprise you that a company doing business in Thailand is subject to the laws and many of the business practices of the country?

Next

There are two kinds of racists in the world:

(1) “I am not a racist, I just think people of other colors and cultures are inferior and should be treated like animals.”

(2) “I am a racist, and make no apologies for it. I hate these people.”

If I had to choose, I would actually prefer the company of “Group 2.” At least they are honest.

Is Thai Visa really just a chat room for racists?

Yesterday, the Expat community lost a dear friend, a truly unique individual and he will be missed by those who knew him. I was impressed by the genuine and thoughtful postings. Not corny, or “hippie philosophy” or “all about me” Real genuine sorrow and support for those who were saddened by his passing.

Well, you see…Thai people, and let me underscore that…they are people, just like you…with friends; families and feelings…also suffer when people die. It is not funny, it is not a time to judge, second guess and paint with a broad brush of insensitive hate.

Many postings seem to create a “mirror world” reality. When Western Politicians engage in every conceivable crime, up to and including murder…it is “Business as usual, nothing to see here..move on.”

Same behavior from a Thai? The Devil Walks the Earth! Beware! Hide the women and children!

When hundreds of Thai people die in holiday accidents…Thai Visa sees it as fodder for joke after joke. When there is a tragic accident, it is “Good riddance, one less monkey to feed.” When an expat dies…the correct, respectful and sincere postings come to the surface.

Why is it funny when Thai people die? Why is it funny when Thais lose their homes in floods? Why is it only Thai politicians who tell convenient lies and break rules?

Why do you live here?

Come on Richard in BKK, slow down. I cannot see the racist outlook in these postings as you see. I rather believe that this kind of regretful accidents is for a great deal their (and I mean of course "The Thais") fault. They really have no feeling of danger and they simply don't see it. How many fathers you have already seen with their baby in front of them steering the car... how many ladies you see driving their bike with the helmet in the basket... how many pick ups you see driving in the opposite direction along a highway... how many motorbikes sneek through the red traffic lights... and tell me honestly: you see the same amount of these stupidities in Europe? Of course not. Happily, this has in my opinion NOTHING to do with racism and indeed, you're right: they are people like you and me, with families, loved ones, friends and deserve a same respect in forums like this. In this way your contribution is correct!

Agreed. They (The Thais) surely don't seem to care enough to effect any perceptible change. Not only that, they are endangering more than just themselves. They are endangering ME, too. So, I think this is where the lack of sympathy comes from for some of us. If they don't care, why should I? If a man doesn't seem to value his life OR that of others (including mine), why should I keep a place in my heart for him or anyone like him?

Also, I think you're being disingenuous when you claim Westerners wouldn't complain just as much if the same or similar lack of safety precaution and ubiquitous carelessness and indifference toward others safety happened anywhere in the West. I just don't see it that way. We Westerners complain about EVERYTHING anyplace we see injustice or stupidity.

I think what you see as racism against the Thais, I often see as 'stupid-ism'. We see stupid things, nobody caring to correct the mistakes, and the result is endless criticism.

Given the exorbitant rents the company must have been paying for many of their locations, the notorious Thai business practice of employing 5 people for the job 1 person should be able to do, and not least the lack of enthusiasm and/or education about fitness, it was rather obviously a failed venture from the very beginning. Sometimes you wonder if these guys ever did any kind of feasibility studies or if they just sorta threw things together hoping for the best.

I notice the "accident" occurred in the Right hand lane , Thai's are notorious "road hogs" and so how wide the road is ,many insist on driving in the outside lane and no matter how much you flash your headlight or sound your horn they just WILL NOT move to the left so the car at the rear can safely and legally overtake , I have truly lost count of observing them driving in the outside lane then swing to their left to make a left hand turn without even indicating their intentions !!. the "rule of the road" is quite simple ,keep to the left unless overtaking or turning right , this bit of common sense it Totally unknown to the vast majority of Thai drivers.

Sounds like the states except there it is the left lane for fast driving but the idiots still believe it is for them and them alone.

I agree with the above statement. I have driven over 9,000 miles accross 18 states in the USA and lane etiquette is unheard of. Even with my American friends in the car they say "its ok to stay in this lane".

Similair mentality here in Thailand, I stick to a speed that suits the road and traffic situation, much to the annoyance of the locals. Many times I have seen high powered sports cars speeding excessively. It is only a matter of time before some innocents are killed. My condolences to the families.

Really? Do people not use their turning signals in the states that you drove through? Do people as the rule (and not exception) tailgate at high speeds in the states? Do people generally make sweeping lane changes from left to right across 3 other lanes of traffic without any warning in the states? Are there never any speed detection devices to catch people speeding? Are there never any highway police posted every few miles to try to catch people speeding (even people in expensive cars)? Common man! You're not convincing anyone that driving practices in the US are generally on par with those of the Thais. How silly.

Anyone can compare anecdotes, but the problem in Thailand is that Thais are generally very poor drivers. America certainly has many, but very poor and very dangerous drivers are the exceptions.

I notice the "accident" occurred in the Right hand lane , Thai's are notorious "road hogs" and so how wide the road is ,many insist on driving in the outside lane and no matter how much you flash your headlight or sound your horn they just WILL NOT move to the left so the car at the rear can safely and legally overtake , I have truly lost count of observing them driving in the outside lane then swing to their left to make a left hand turn without even indicating their intentions !!. the "rule of the road" is quite simple ,keep to the left unless overtaking or turning right , this bit of common sense it Totally unknown to the vast majority of Thai drivers.

Sounds like the states except there it is the left lane for fast driving but the idiots still believe it is for them and them alone.

Sounds nothing like the states. Since we actually have a rule for passing that people LARGELY obey. Of course, you have the teenagers who are just learning to drive and are more aggressive than more mature drivers, but generally speaking it's NOTHING like Thailand.

search in Google for: "California WOW faces bankruptcy suit"

IMO, much of Thai food is among the best in the world, but MK is a middle of the road, bland, family joint targeting aspiring or newly middle class Thais. The food at MK really doesn't compete with much of Thai food that you can find on the street or in other more mom-and-pop type places. And, why wouldn't it be case? The same happened in the US. The burgeoning middle class in the US saw the beginning of the demise of good food from smaller operations that focused on quality and not quantity and large scale sales. Think US diners being replaced by McDonalds. Think Starbucks replacing many of the wonderful coffee shops in various markets around the globe. MK aims at appealing to as wide an audience as possible within the "suki" style, and part of that strategy seems to be bland'ing the food. I can't enjoy it, but many Thais absolutely love it, so surely the company is doing something right for a certain target market. Just not for me. Perhaps one argument that can be made for it is that with so much stronger-flavored food here, it's nice to occasionally eat something more bland.

Mk is a family favorite for us. It took a few visits to figure out what we liked, but once we did we were hooked on the sauce, veggies, green noodles, and crispy pork. Last year we returned to America for an extended visit and we dreamed about MK for 6 months.

If you dreamed about MK while in the US, you must have been in a pretty middle-of-nowhere place in the US.

The sauce is sweetened with far too much sugar, the meats are overpriced and sub-par and the food handling and storage is abysmal. No thanks.

When I go to NYC or LA or Chicago, I certainly do not dream about MK. Perhaps other Thai food, but certainly MK.

lol

Not sure anyone has covered the hygiene issue.

I think many of us Farang who understand the terrible food quality standards in Thailand shy away from dealing with cooking raw food when we can. To me, the concept doesn't match Thailand. It's perfect for Japan (and Korea) where food quality/handling standards are very, very high, but not in a country where people know largely nothing about food safety. I'd rather eat something deep fried...

http://www.suntory.c...rize/index.html

It has been known for some time now by those truly knowledgeable in the area that the best whiskeys are now made in Japan. This is especially true if you want value. Scottish whiskeys are grossly overvalued like many things in the 'old countries'.

Get him a good Japanese whiskey, and there's nothing wrong with a couple words of education when handing over the gift.

"This is for you. It's a Japanese brand of whiskey which is regarded by whiskey experts around the world to be among the best there is. Don't worry, it was not too expensive. Enjoy."

Case closed.

I 'm sure Japanese wiskey is OK, unfortunately we who have lived in the land know it's called 'whisky' not 'whiskey'. That's from other parts- Ireland, America and Japan. So real whisky, the best, comes from bonnie Scotland

Hmmm... I thought whisky/whiskey was invented in America by Scottish immigrants. Anyways, I'm sure either would do.