NoshowJones

I think speculation is pointless because every woman is different, Thai or otherwise.

I hav known both skanks and angels and many points in betweeen with or without tattoos. If its not on her forehead, who really cares

Tattoos are ugly and disfiguring on anybody.

Education is not a priority in Thai schools, they are far too militaristic, shaving boys heads and cutting girls hair at the bottom of their ears. In Kindergarten, there are 3 year olds dressed in uniforms similar to older children. if they would pay more attention to teaching than being so obsessed with how the children look and their hairstyles, then maybe they would get somewhere.

A teacher in thailand, especially at a small secondary school, is snowed under with additional work that has nothing to do with teaching, but with the finances and administration of the school.

The government should help schools hire more administrative personell so teacher can focus on teaching, instead of doing it as a side job. And hire teachers that are competent in the subject that they teach.

Why are there so many incompetent Thai employees working in Banks, Offices,etc. Because when Thai students finish 12th grade, they cannot fail their exams. Most students are not interested in learning, especially boys. Many don't bother going to classes and just hang about in groups around the school grounds, passing teachers just walk by and don't bother asking them why they are not in class. I was a teacher here for 3 years.

Interesting question. A BMW 650 would be great .... but so expensive and I'd be worried about security for overnight parking .... you'd need to sleep with it! I like my RKV 200, but I've not seen any in Vietnam or Cambodia so I'd be worried about spares availability. Same with the CRF 250 which is a bit new.

For parts availability and local servicing; a Honda Wave must be unbeatable. But as others have said - unless you are doing some very long tours I don't think you'll need many parts or servicing so just ride something you like.

This may be a little off topic, seven years ago I bought a new Honda wave 125 from my local dealer, I would estimate at least 12 punctures before the bike had done 5000 Kilos. about a year ago I bought a new Yamaha Fino again from my local dealer, it has now done almost 5000 Kilos, and has never had any punctures so far. I e-mailed Honda about this and this being Thailand, it was not answered. may I finally point out that neither of the bikes was ever ridden off road.

Nothing that employers in Thailand (Thai or farang) might do to their employees would surprise me, in the same way that I would not be surprised by what other sorts of trickery any landlord or lawyer or real estate agent or other businessman might try to pull here.

People doing business in Thailand tend to be dishonest, greedy and unpleasant at the best of times.

In my experience, dishonest, greedy definitely, but I would not say unpleasant, after all, they only want your money, and they won't get it by being unpleasant, more the opposite.

I think most people that intensively study can reach the level you described within 2 years, some people even manage to reach that level within a year.

I think for most of us it will take forever to reach the level of a native speaker. The farang I personally know and that are as fluent as a Thai all grew up here.

Interesting. As an adult learner I don't expect to reach the level of a native speaker, especially with respect to pronunciation. It must be far too late to expect to lose an accent.

Are you fluent?

If you can hold a telephone conversation with a Thai who is unknown to you, then you are fluent in the Thai language.

I was born in the UK and raised in Canada, so in a way my parents adventure prompted me to explore a happy life. There are only three country's I would ever live in - Thailand, Canada & the UK in that order so I'm here for selfish reasons I want to be happy. My pathetic attempts at learning the language is only my fault, culture I get and most of all respect.

I also believe in the "old days" travel was a major expense, nowadays the world is smaller and you can fly almost anywhere for $1500 so it's affordable - location doesn't matter happiness does.

I came to Thailand simply because it is cheap to live in, and also although many of the TV posters won't agree, Thailand is still one of the safest countries in the world, I can walk about Bangkok, a city of about 12 million people and feel safe, 99.9% of the time, no one will bother you if you don't bother them, try walking about any city in the UK on your own, where you are lucky to even breath the air without being taxed, it is hard to find a woman who does not drink alcohol, smoke, and is not overweight.Also,the UK is expanding rapidly with emigrants all the time. Despite the third world mentality, Thailand beats the UK hands down, apart from what I said the third world mentality, ie parents letting their ten year old kids ride motorbikes on public roads and the authorities allowing it.

Not being a pathologist if I found someone like that I would pull him out of the water and try and resuscitate him. For all you know it might of just happened. No doubt I will get flamed for my comments.

Why is he still in the pool for the picture opportunity? I hope that when I die I have my clothes on.

I did not know him but RIP.

No flame from me, I agree with you, but it never seems to happen in Thailand, Thais just don't try to help in a situation like this, maybe they don't know what to do.

If your'e average Thai driver won't pull in to let an ambulance pass in an emergency, what chance would there be of any of them trying to resuscitate anyone?

I am really getting fed up with people bringing up the point "yeah! So? It happens in other countries as well!"

a) yes it does! ...and...?

b ) never look at your own failures and try to change them for the better, right! Point at others, who might have it worse, so your own failures don't look that bad!

c) We are in Thailand, right? We discuss things, happening in Thailand, right?! We have a flood here...so let's not loose too many words...they have worse floods in Bangladesh! We have murders here...but they have more in Sudan! What TF does that matter?

Only one word for this DocN Agree!

the compparisons would not be forthcoming if posters did not insist upon using isolated incidents of thai violence to suggest the society as a whole is somehow inferior

Agree. If there is one instance of violence here, then many posters claim that the whole of Thailand is violent. But any violence in their own country is just seen as an isolated instance. I feel far safer here than I would in some areas of UK or USA. Schoolkids in London are always stabbing each other to death. In the US they tend to shoot each other. It's the same in lots of countries. But the majority of people in Thailand, UK and US are decent citizens.

I agree entirely.

I am glad that I am not a teacher in Bangkok.

I was a teacher here in Thailand for three years and never saw any hint of any kind of voilence, although I never taught in Bangkok.

The police here make me sick!! In 3 years I've only ever had one problem when I jumped upon and had the crap kicked out of me (I was neither drunk nor up to no good)... they just dismissed me and told me to let them know if they guy came back.... on that day, not a single s*** was given

What, have I got this wrong? One Thai guy beating up a Farang, where were th other five?

Is this somehow not the problem in Thailand? That many people think respect must be 'earned'? Respect should be given automatically and then given some more if it is reciprocated. If it is not reciprocated, it is no longer necessary to be respectful. Believing respect need be earned is the root of the problem... just ask many teachers about students' attitudes regarding respect. Hint: they are very much in-line with your way of thinking (the bolded part at least).

I prefer just to remain respectful anyway as that is the way to live life in a peaceful and joyful manner. It doesn't matter how others treat me, that is their path. The way I treat them, that is my path.

I came in through Thai Immigration at the airport last week, and the way this one Immigration officer was talking to people was downright rude. He wanted to close his booth and escorted half a dozen tourists through to close his lane. He was barking at them like they were animals. I expect this from Thai immigration officers but I wonder how first timers would feel.

He gets no respect from me. I think he was one of the more senior officers by the way he was talking to some others.

This is a very good post, I always said respect has to be earned, but I know now that this is not the case. If the respect you give is not returned,then you do not give the respect back.

The rudest immigration officer I ever saw was at Heathrow. Embarassingly he was a Scot and they had him in the business class visa lane. He was shouting rudely at an African man, even suggesting he should not be in "the business class lane" and demanding to see his boarding pass before he would look at the passport. My young British daughter commented that this was the rudest person she'd ever heard. It's difficult not to judge all the apples in the barrel by one bad one.

That's very true Baerboxer, I'm a Scot and if I was in the Africans place, I would have reported him, I wonder who the flight company was, probably BA, as the ignoramus was Scottish.

This is why you should always wear clean underwear!

What about not wearing any underwear?

Is this somehow not the problem in Thailand? That many people think respect must be 'earned'? Respect should be given automatically and then given some more if it is reciprocated. If it is not reciprocated, it is no longer necessary to be respectful. Believing respect need be earned is the root of the problem... just ask many teachers about students' attitudes regarding respect. Hint: they are very much in-line with your way of thinking (the bolded part at least).

I prefer just to remain respectful anyway as that is the way to live life in a peaceful and joyful manner. It doesn't matter how others treat me, that is their path. The way I treat them, that is my path.

I came in through Thai Immigration at the airport last week, and the way this one Immigration officer was talking to people was downright rude. He wanted to close his booth and escorted half a dozen tourists through to close his lane. He was barking at them like they were animals. I expect this from Thai immigration officers but I wonder how first timers would feel.

He gets no respect from me. I think he was one of the more senior officers by the way he was talking to some others.

This is a very good post, I always said respect has to be earned, but I know now that this is not the case. If the respect you give is not returned,then you do not give the respect back.

Very good, presently done in the western world, prescreening. Nice that the officers will learn a second and or third language also. Congratulations Thailand, moving to be a first world, first class country.

There are a lot of good things about Thailand, that's why I live here, but moving to be a first world, first class country????? not in any of our lifetimes. Is there anyone who really believes different?Apart from the poster that is.

Which means the doubling of scams and more closing off of entrances, lifts, escalators, passageways, etc, etc because the design doesn't suit the operators/immigration/police/etc so they change things to suit themselves.

And miles more shopping malls along the access routes to the departure gates without any travelators to ease the lengthy journey, meaning every passenger has to walk about a kilometre in between getting out of their car/bus/taxi and sitting down in the plane.

And more poor signage so that at certain points along the way you actually have to ask somebody in a shop which way to go because the signage is unclear or completely absent.

I was foolish enough to think that Swampy would be a modern efficient airport when it opened, replacing all the awkwardness and scams of Don Muang. Oh fool me. TIT means that no public service will ever work logically.

So my mantra is: appreciate the good things, cope with the bad things, Thailand is Thailand, not a developed country and never will be.

This post shows that you know absolutely nothing about the second phase. You are to be transported via an underground train to the new terminal. Why would there be doubling of scams and closing off of entrances when there won't be extra entrances?

I don't see anything intelligent about this post but pure ignorance.

For me, the news is positive. At least they are trying to improve. And the Suvarnabhumi experience is still superior than many airports in the developed world, even in my country of Sweden.

When I was at Swampy not long after it first opened, I was hungry, I saw a sign written in English which said "Restaurants" and an arrow pointing ahead. I walked ahead about 20 Metres and came to a brick wall, I spotted a security man, pointed to the sign and shrugged my shoulders, he just looked at me and did the same. OK I know Swampy was just new then, but someone put up that sign,and must have known it was pointing to a dead end. The restaurants weren't even on that floor.

Which means the doubling of scams and more closing off of entrances, lifts, escalators, passageways, etc, etc because the design doesn't suit the operators/immigration/police/etc so they change things to suit themselves.

And miles more shopping malls along the access routes to the departure gates without any travelators to ease the lengthy journey, meaning every passenger has to walk about a kilometre in between getting out of their car/bus/taxi and sitting down in the plane.

And more poor signage so that at certain points along the way you actually have to ask somebody in a shop which way to go because the signage is unclear or completely absent.

I was foolish enough to think that Swampy would be a modern efficient airport when it opened, replacing all the awkwardness and scams of Don Muang. Oh fool me. TIT means that no public service will ever work logically.

So my mantra is: appreciate the good things, cope with the bad things, Thailand is Thailand, not a developed country and never will be.

How true mate.

Yes, I have heard some stories about ATM malfunctions. Happened to me once and for a machine, over a period of 40 odd years, that's not a bad rate. Easily sorted out too, but that was in US. But, not enough to put me off using them.

Correct on AEON. I would further recommend (if you are from US?) opening an account for overseas travel with a bank offering no % foreign transaction fee ATM/Debit cards - some examples are State Farm, Capitol 1 and Charles Schwab bank. This, plus AEON, is a great combination and what I've organized for myself.

Far as credit cards, also not put off by them and as far as having your account "wiped out", if you've been swindled and it's clear you have been, there are consumer protections for that - pretty standard these days. I would further recommend finding a card for your overseas travel which offers no % foreign transaction fee. I have Capitol 1 MasterCard and it's worked as advertised and has a cash back feature which is even better.

Safe travels and good luck to you.

J

I have a Mastercard, and I have always had to pay a Foreign Transaction Fee while in Thailand, if what you say is true, then I should be getting a big refund.

It is and you won't be getting a refund if you chose the wrong one in the first place.

Thanks to you to 55JAY.

I have a Mastercard, and I have always had to pay a Foreign Transaction Fee while in Thailand, if what you say is true, then I should be getting a big refund.

It is and you won't be getting a refund if you chose the wrong one in the first place.

I report every amount that was charged wrongly to my credit card (doesn't happen often though) and have always received a refund so far (knock on wood).

And yes, you have to check first whether your bank charges a foreign transaction fee, you won't get a refund if they do because it will be in their terms of contract. It really depends on the bank in your home country.

Thanks Tombkk.

I take your point, but when it comes to fighting, most Thais are cowards.

Most falangs are cowards as well. At least the Thais take care of their own which can't be said of the falang who stand by and look when one of them gets beaten to a pulp by a bunch of Thais.

As I said, Thais only take care of their own when they have odds of about 6-1. If a Farang helped another Farang in a fight with Thais, they would have the whole Thai population down on them.

A lot of Thais helped a lot of Americans in a war that lasted 10years. Back off bunny you don't know what you are talking about.

Don't call me Bunny pal, can you not get it through your'e thick head that I'm not talking about wars and soldiers etc, I'm talking about cowardly Thais in the street. If a Thai provokes you in the street, you walk away or better still run away, because if you stand up to him, then you stand up to the whole of Thailand. Do you still not understand when I say that the biggest majority of Thais will not stand up to you unless there are more Thais in the vicinity. Your average Thai cannot fight IN THE STREET, unless the odds are about 6-1 in their favour.

I take your point, but when it comes to fighting, most Thais are cowards.

Most falangs are cowards as well. At least the Thais take care of their own which can't be said of the falang who stand by and look when one of them gets beaten to a pulp by a bunch of Thais.

As I said, Thais only take care of their own when they have odds of about 6-1. If a Farang helped another Farang in a fight with Thais, they would have the whole Thai population down on them.

Yup, the majority of these little pussy-pot-pies are afraid to fight with their fists, they're always armed with something - always - against each other and especially foreigners. Never get into a serious scap with a Thai fella, unless you're prepared to fight to the death eh.

Yes, fight a Thai to the death, with odds of about 6-1 against, that's the only way to fight that Thais know.

I have seen a fair number of Thais get into fights at the bar beer centers. Never saw a knife. They just go at each other with fists and feet until someone pulls them apart. I am not saying that worse does not happen but what you have just posted is your own personal contrivance.

One little-known fact is that Thailand leads the world in muders by gun per capita, and there are more guns per capita here than in the Philippines and Cambodia, among others. Knifes aside, increasingly we need to watch out for guns. Ah the good old days. When I first came here in 1986 crime never crossed my mind, and many others of my generation will tell you the same thing. I think an entire generation of young males have grown up in a "culture of violence" and having nothing to do with their lives except "act like morons." Couple that with a rising tide of xenophobia, and the fact that the worst of the worst have migrated to Pattaya-Jomtien, and the 5-star tourists destination myth starts to really look like a myth.

I take your point, but when it comes to fighting, most Thais are cowards.

well done boys/girls i to have a soft spot for pattaya orphanage.

I would have a soft spot for any well run orphanage.

Another dual pricing dump bites the dust...

Good.

Instead of making photocopies of the passport name page etc, can we not photocopy the bar code sticker supplied by Immigration and send them that, seems much simpler for everyone?

How long haved you lived here? Nothing is ever simple in Thailand, if there is a harder way to do something, that's the way it will be. But in saying that, in seven years, I have never had any problem with Thai immigration either at airports or bordering countries, all I have ever had is good manners.

9 years, why,

I think Possum explained why.Nothing is ever simple in Thailand.

"If it's easy, make it hard, if it's hard make it difficult and if it's really difficult, make it impossible."

That way ensures full employment at immigration offices and as he says generally they are polite and helpful. Providing you have the "right" attitude.

Thank you Ratcatcher.