jshorts

Agree completely.

Thanks for sharing.

It's hard to see why the "foreign 'boyfriend'" bit has any business in an article about the vicious murder of a local seamstress.

Background information provided for the speculation of TV members.

Sorry, but do we know that the lady was killed, I cannot see it in the report.

you are correct it only says she was gunned down not the outcome, I have lived in thailand for only two weeks and am shocked at the number and variety of attacks on people, shootings, stabbings, muggings you name it have read about it.

More to come!

Complete and utter scum, scum, scum. These scumbags are standing in bars throughout Thailand boasting about their antics. I met two in CM recently, and I gave them both barrels, they weren't expecting that.

Ostracise these people, if they walk into your bar then walk out, they spend their days picking the pockets of pensioners and others.

There is no middle ground, don't let this scum think they are welcome anywhere near you. They are a disgrace to the human race.

Well it is bad....but there are a lot much worse things than cheating some money out of pensioners who think to make an unreasonable profit.

And, your point is . . .?

I do not disagree with the above comments as to how low these individuals are on the evolutionary scale, but come on!!! People get into these scams because they want to make easy money NOW. They let their own greed dupe them into believing the scammer. It is a shame that someone had to lose his life as a result of this scam, but sooner or later one has to believe what we have always been told: "If it sounds too good to be true, it is".

Are you blaming the victim?

Is it against the law in Bangkok to refuse a fair? Not sure how this incident makes the taxi an illegal one .. only would seem to indicate a violent taxi driver.

Do you think the fare was fair?

Good to hear that you had no hassles, which was a completely different experience to mine.

The guy wanted to charge me 500 baht because I had 2 passports (1 just expiring) and when I challenged this, he said it was only a joke but proceeded to make life a misery for me. I had the bank letter and copies of the last 3 months of the bank account with the full amount in it and he asked me for more copies going back one year. When I asked why this was necessary, he suggested I didn't ask any questions but just listen to him and do as he said.

That meant I had to go back to Patong from Phuket in order to get the bank book, not bringing it with me because I believed I had everything necessary which was normally the case. I returned in the afternoon with the book and copied every page. Waited in line again and he made me go downstairs and copy other documents, sometimes twice.

In all I went downstairs to the copy shop about 5 times for various things and after he had made me jump through hoops, I was granted the extension.

He is a small runt of a guy, very dark with almost no hair or one could call it a very short crewcut and I will endeavour to steer clear of him next time, however it is not always possible I know. He has given me a hard time in the past and obviously has something against me, possibly because I refused to give him a bribe a few years ago, but then why the hell should I, because he is getting paid to do his job.

The whole situation makes me very angry and I am quite amazed at how I have managed to keep my cool. I dread going there on a yearly basis I can tell you.

You asked "why?"?

Where do you think you live?

Living in Thailand I am sure that you know that Thai people don't like a very direct question like that. It might be better if you phrased it different. Perhaps something like "I would like you to teach me the reason for the extra copies." Or, something similar which elevates his standing and shows that he is respected and is in a position of authority.

On reflection if you had passed him 500B wouldn't you be a much happier (albeit poorer) Fahrang?

Dear Ferangled:- First many Farang teachers are working closely with Thai teachers who know the mechanics of the English language. When I took my TESOL in Thailand, we had people from different countries such as Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The instructors asked us should we have to learn every language before we could teach Thai? I know extremely little Thai, but I teach English. All my lessons are in English. The Thai teachers support me as I support them, and we work together as a team. Some teachers have little knowledge of the mechanics of the English grammar that is true, but mainly they are there to help speaking. It's a hard job, but it's good as well. Some students are very good, and some are not. Yes there are drawbacks within the educational system, but there are in every country. This is not to do a Ph.D. in English but to be able to work functionality in a work setting. Relax it's happening but you don't see it, but it's happening there are some very bright Thai's out there.

I'm sorry, please don't take my rant personally, it wasn't intended that way. I'm quite sure there are some very good teachers out there with the very best motivations but I guess my point is how can we expect the students to achieve what their teachers can't/ haven't, namely proficiency in both languages?

In my own experiences learning languages other than my native tongue, I was fortunate enough to have teachers with proficiency in both English and the language being taught. I guess I'm naive as to how this can be achieved when there is no common language between teacher and student to start with, especially taken on a wider scale throughout schools.

Yes, there are some schools that teach foreign languages without a common teacher-student language.

That's not surprising. These young people have been taught to be "afraid of making mistakes and afraid of the unknown ever since the day they were born... They were propaganda brainwashed that mistakes and "losing face or admitting fault and accountability" is a disgrace to the Nation of Thailand... And if anyone finds a fault, they're being shot dead silenced...

Corruption rules this face-worry-saving society which Attucks fear into the young people in Thailand.

Don't understand what "Attucks" means. Attracts?

>>> My regular hotel in Phnom Penh just told me "No problem for us getting our patrons visas here."

Did they mean that they could get you a Thai visa or did they mean that there's no problem getting a visa for Cambodia?

In general, when Thai embassies tighten up like this there has been a circular to all telling them to do such and such a thing, then one by one they ease off.

I moved to Thailand in the mid eighties and there have been hiccups like this a few times in the past, especially '<deleted> of, you ain't a tourist'.

Maybe this is why so many expats are moving house and home to Cambodia where there are no visa runs (and you can work).

Kenny

Please clarify why an expat with house and home in Thailand would have to do a visa run? There are annual visas available for everyone, aren't there?

BTW, when and where in Cambodia did you move your house and home?

If they will start to check every single banknote at rush hour, it will be very crowdy.

On the other hand I understand.

I like crowdy.

WOW ... a new Phuket is coming out ? could be nice for tourists but a bit too late ....what about all the jet ski scams ? taxi maffia ? and so and so ....

Too late for what?

Thailand and Pattaya? When did Pataya succeed?

secede?

Now don't be a "language fascists", to borrow a phrase from nicknostitz.

"I actually used the term "language fascists" when i had a chat with Pravit over these ridiculous attacks regarding Yingluck's English."

http://www.thaivisa....p/#entry5162713

In this particular case to avoid confusion the assistance should be appreciated.

Thailand and Pattaya? When did Pataya succeed?

secede?

IMHO his original position was the smarter - allowing civil unions with all the rights of marriage, but giving it a different name to appease the bible-bashers.

I agree.

I disagree.

Gender reassignment surgery? He had a sex change, for Christ's sake!

And your point is?

Well his exclamation indicates he is a fahrang of Judao-Christian belief system with all it's assumptions, prejudices and associated hypocrisies. Still we can't all be perfect

Hogwash. A bloke is a bloke is a bloke, whether they've had their equipment removed or not. Got nothing to do with screwed up western values.

Hogwash! A woman born in a man's body is still a woman.

i can see how it's tough for some men to accept that their ex-gfs have gone to the other side.

it doesn't help when one sees their ex-gf with her new tom gf.

it would make me feel less manly, but enough to murder?

probably not, but to fight?

maybe if the tom was bigger than me...what better way to test your manhood and show your undying love for your now lesbian ex-gf, right???

wonder if the same phenomenon occurs to women when their ex-bfs goes on to date a lady boy? sounds like a good storyline for a thai music video.

Why would it make you feel "less manly"?

should people with brain dysfunctions be riding motobikes?

Saves the cost of helmets.

Cruel comment.

One would think that with the prices they charge money would not be a matter of concern,

When and where is money not a matter of concern?

The Kbank branch I use here in CM keeps boxes of money behind the counter in plane view. I have often thought so easy to become a millionaire. But I am already a millionaire I brought 2 million to Thailand now I have 1 left.

He plainly used a plane as his escape vehicle.

The SRTET refused to comply with the request, given no government agencies, including the STRT, have received instructions to do so from the government

ITS THE LAW DUMMIES.

Name-calling is so, uh, gauche!

Scumbags...

Hope they suffer long and hard,

after they drop the soap

"Drop the soap"? I think you have the wrong country.

Either simpletons, or an good offer and greedy people get sucked in.

Really, no sympathy for the victims.

You have no sympathy for simpletons?

Nitrous Oxide is available at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.

A couple of factual points (from my perspective at least).

- In a place like Australia, Brits (I'll lump you all together) essentially have the same rights as Australian citizens if the migrated pre-1983. Voting rights and all. No wonder, according to DIAC, Brits are one of the nationalities least likely to naturalise as Australian citizens.

- As for naturalising at Thai citizens. I believe there are a couple of reasons judging by past comments on this site.

Firstly people believe that it is simply impossible to apply, so don't bother. Then there are others who believe that it is 'all too hard', and simply don't try, and hence we get stupid assumptions like those from the previous poster who compares it to winning the lottery. Then there are those who confuse the 3 to 4 year wait time to get it as some sort of barrier. It isn't. It just requires patience.

Finally, there is are those who simply don't need it. Their retirement visa gives them everything in the way of security they could possibly want. Citizenship is an unnecessary step.

Having seen the rules, if you've got a reasonable track record of a job in Thailand and tax payments, then the door is open. Fair enough too in my book. I don't think citizenship should be given out as a matter of right for 'time served' in a country. You've got to want it, and you've got to have a track record above and beyond passive contribution.

Most of the naturalized Thai's I know are pretty average. They've made a life and career in Thailand, but no more than an average migrant would back in the west.

For me, it isn't a matter of "superiority complex", it is more a bewilderment that people think that it is harder than it actually is!

How much nicer your post would read if the word "stupid" had been omitted.