NoshowJones

Hi Stevenl, I live in Central Thailand and come from Scotland.

In my opinion, deportation is enough punishment. Jail time for overstaying is OVER the top.

Maybe Jingthing, but I wish the UK would follow most of Thailands immigration rules.

You realise there would be many more immigrants than there are now?

How do you make that out? the UK is overflowing with emigrants because of the last Labour governmnent and their hand outs. There is no way that would happen in Thailand.

In my opinion, deportation is enough punishment. Jail time for overstaying is OVER the top.

Maybe Jingthing, but I wish the UK would follow most of Thailands immigration rules.

I guess it is to avoid misunderstandings

I learned the Thai numbers to avoid bothering about calculators, then I found out that I could not understand what the person trying to sell me something was saying, so I have to ask them now to use the calculator.

Every foreigner i know, who lives in the provinces drinks alot. I think it is about boredom. There is nothing to do. Especially in the villages. No stimulation. They all get drunk or drink alot. How very boring in itself, if you ask me.

I say your 'boredom' hypothesis may have some weight, but that is a symptom and not a root cause, IMHO.

I cite the environment and that particular Thai culture (indigenous native) as the two primary root causes.

Did the American colonists, when faced with a similar isolation in the newly-colonized North America resort to alcohol as an escape mechanism from what could have been a similar boredom?

NOTE: I offer the above as a rudimentary hypothesis, as opposed to any kind of formal theory. I have purposely limited my time in remote Issan settings for fear of ... boredom due to the huge cultural gap between me and the indigenous (native) population, not to mention a host of other issues.

I have personally observed a similar cultural gap between indigenous people/culture (Piute indian) and caucasian (farang) farmers and settlers in northern Nevada. I'll spare everyone the details, but drinking among the Piute community was definitely a factor.

Can I just point out that the 'American colonists' were actually British.

Hang on a minute. Don't just blame us Brits there were French and Spanish as well as others.

But the British have a far worse history than any other country, don't forget that we ruled two thirds of the world only a century ago.

it always gives me a bit of a chuckle when NON drinkers have a pop at people who drink... drinking is fun.. you cant beat a beer on a hot sunny day...

missing the point, are we?

consumption of a beer (or two) is NOT the same as drunk.

drunk = vomiting, fighting, crying, falling, pissing your pants, talking loud/nonsense, thinking u're 20 and athletic when u're actually 65 and hugely overweight, etc.

drunk = believing that a 22 year old cute bargirl actually fancies you (a 65 hugely overweight farang).

btw. me thinks you can't beat a glass of cold soda water on the rocks with a slice of lime on a hot sunny day. De gustibus...

Have you not read the latest health warnings about soda?

If you believe in all those health warnings over the years, you may as well just stick to drinking water.

Every foreigner i know, who lives in the provinces drinks alot. I think it is about boredom. There is nothing to do. Especially in the villages. No stimulation. They all get drunk or drink alot. How very boring in itself, if you ask me.

I get plenty stimulation in the village I live in and I only drink at the weekends

That might change if Hearts end up like Rangers.

As for the Thai and their heavy drinking? Hate to sound cynical, but not my problem.

true, until they run over you with their pick up or u get hit by a lost bullet...

(the last happened behind my corner 2 weeks ago after some "local" dispute. 1 girl who had nothing to do with it got hit and died).

You are dead right, I take back the "like" I gave to Just1voice.

it always gives me a bit of a chuckle when NON drinkers have a pop at people who drink... drinking is fun.. you cant beat a beer on a hot sunny day...

so what if folk die from it... its like.. if you dont drink you are going to live forever!!??!!!..

sorry NON drinkers... I`ve got news for you.....

We all die from something, even if it's just lack of breath, I don't believe that because I do not drink or smoke, that guarantees I will live to a very old age, but it will give me a better chance, and I won't suffer regular hangovers, or go about coughing and spluttering all the time.

Every foreigner i know, who lives in the provinces drinks alot. I think it is about boredom. There is nothing to do. Especially in the villages. No stimulation. They all get drunk or drink alot. How very boring in itself, if you ask me.

Apart from myself, I don't know personally any Farang who does not drink alcohol.

50% of all thai males I know are alcohoholic. first glass of liquor in the morning, even at work with colleages, whiskey concealed in a bottle of oishi tea, etc.

Land of smiles, true, but only when there is boose around. Once a year (for some buddhist thing) they don't drink a couple of days. no smiling then, only whining. Alcohol intoxication is a substantial part of this thing some people call "thai-ness". It's more easy to mai bpen rai when drunk or feel "happy" (and repeat it non-stop, mee kwamsuk, mee kwamsuk). A blurred mind keeps people passive and smoothes their daily frustrations. Take away the boose and the country gets set to fire.

I refuse to believe that going by percentages, Thai men are worse than expats.

If you were witness to the number of 4oyo men - drinkers of rice whiskey - who die of liver failure in our (far Northern) village you wouldn't find this article such a laughing matter.

It's not a laughing matter but heavy drinkers who drink all day and every day who die of liver failure have only themselves to blame, but my sympathies go out to their families.

You say she is working to support you!

Why aren't you helping? Get a job!

Sent from my GT-P1010 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I may be wrong, but I think there are very few worthwhile jobs a Farang can get in Thailand without a Bachelors Degree, maybe the OP does not have that.

^^ who fancies these "freaks" I always wonder...

Other "freaks".

Well, judging by the numbers, quite a few as you call them "freaks". The top earning bars at Nana Plaza in BKK are the ladyboy bars. They are obviously not just making money from taking pics with tourists. I would dare you to call them freaks to their face. Really, I double dare you. I just saw a dude nearly get his face clawed off for making a similar comment.

Oh yeah, btw...they are "people" (aka "human beings"). Maybe you shouldn't be such a "tool".

Hmmm perhaps if they stopped pick pocketing tourists, and drugging customers, they would be looked upon in a more friendly light. The police are rounding them up for a reason ,which is the massive amount of crime they are associated with. They in fact are their own worst enemy.

you have got it right there.

GPS in and of itself does not use mobile data. Many applications - navigation, localized weather - which may use GPS functionality may also require a data connection. GPS settings are found in Settings, Personal/Location access...then switch Access to my location to "OFF", or un-check both GPS satellites and Wi-Fi & mobile network location.

Un-checking "Data enabled" will prevent a loss of money. However, if you re-start your phone it may default back to enabling mobile data.This varies by model. There should be some indication in the top-most status bar of your phone re: mobile data...you may see a "G", or an "E", which indicates GPRS or EDGE, which are types of lower-speed GSM (2G) mobile data.

Your best option may be simply a time-based 2G from One-2-Call (EDGE+)? You can get 20 hours for 100 baht over one month. The code *138*33#. Make sure you monitor your time used.

I'd recommend learning your way around the menus before relying on third-party apps. to control the features and functions of your phone.

You may also wish to disable automatic updating of applications, or at least limit any automatic updating to "WiFi-only". In the Play Store, choose settings, Auto-update apps and choose "Do not auto-update apps", or "Auto-update apps over WiFi only".

Referring to your last paragraph, you will confuse poor possum, you have told him to turn Wi-Fi OFF. Leave Wi-Fi on so you can connect to local modems, eg, you home internet Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi is NOT the same as wireless broadband that you subscribe to via an ISP.

Thanks Rorri, I get that

So Quietman, no English teacher should ever make a mistake? Did you never make a mistake in your job whatever that was or is? I could pick out two mistakes you have made in your short sentence, so maybe you should live up to your name and just keep quiet.

Yes, but I wonder why he asked me if I had a work permit, it sounds a bit sinister to me. I was going to take a job at a different school last year, and was granted my fourth work permit, the third at that office. Ths schools Head of the English Dept told me to give the lady at the Labour Dept 3000 Baht for my work permit, I said no, the school should pay for it, so that was that. I have not taught since.

Hmm makes me think of the saying " Cut off your nose to spite your face" Why not just pay keep the income and work on having the school pay for it next year by showing them the way it could be handled? serious $100 is nothing to keep work.

If he needed the money yes.. but if he just taught for the fun of it and had some principles.

I can't say I needed the money though I did enjoy teaching, also. I do not have a Batchelors degree, only a college certificate from Scotland and a TEFL here in Thailand.

I don't wish to take advantage of all the helpful posters who have come on to this thread, but can I ask, how do I make sure when I go for a top up, that my internet is topped up and not my phone, or vice versa?

It is deducted from the same account....if there isn't enough funds for internet you will receive an sms, actually you will receive many sms's, last time I received 87 in 2 hours, pissed me right off.

It would piss me off as well.

Yes, but I wonder why he asked me if I had a work permit, it sounds a bit sinister to me. I was going to take a job at a different school last year, and was granted my fourth work permit, the third at that office. Ths schools Head of the English Dept told me to give the lady at the Labour Dept 3000 Baht for my work permit, I said no, the school should pay for it, so that was that. I have not taught since.

Hmm makes me think of the saying " Cut off your nose to spite your face" Why not just pay keep the income and work on having the school pay for it next year by showing them the way it could be handled? serious $100 is nothing to keep work.

Your right Scotty, but if I'm honest, I was not to sure about the job, and it was only at half the pay for my last job. But again, I am a man of principles

Android phones (smart phones in general) are by default set to be constantly online. They constantly check your e-mails etc. Indicated by a G, E, 3G or H symbol next to the signal strength indicator on top of the screen.

Two choices:

1) shut data off to stop getting charged for internet. Go to settings, wireless and networks, mobile networks and then uncheck "use packet data".

A quicker way which works on most Samsung phones is to long press the power button, and then tap on "data network mode". This should toggle data on and off.

Kind of defeats the purpose of a smartphone for me, but you can obviously still use wifi wherever available.

2) get a data package. All providers have 24/7 packages where the internet can be connected 24/7 and you are allowed to use a certain amount of data. 100 MB/month just for checking emails and 1 GB/month if occasionally browsing websites. Cost only a few hundred/month depending on provider...

Thanks, can you recommend a provider, apart from AIS whom I don't trust?

AIS has one of the best coverage's, my ONLY gripe is that to get a data plan, I live in Mukdahan, I have to pay for 3g, the problem is, there is NO 3G available (pls people, I'm talking about AIS), so the fallback is Edge, so pay for 3G but get Edge, oh, there is NO Edge plan. Bastards.

TiT

I'm embarrassed to say I had the same problem when I bought my first so called smartphone.

I must have wasted about 2000 baht before I plugged the drain.

It's not like you're born knowing this stuff!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/508904-net-access-with-samsung-galaxy-mini-android-smartphone/?p=5102371

How right you are Jingthing, I just don't understand why Samsung don't warn you or tell you how to avoid these thing in their instruction manuel.

It's not ONLY Samsung, many "smart phones" do the same, but for those who don't know, it becomes a right expensive pain in the arse.

How right you are Rorri.

Select SETTINGS, then MORE, then MOBILE NETWORKS then untick Use Packet Data and .Mobile Roaming. If this doesn't work, take the phone back because it's faulty

Thanks, I have done that.

I used these guys to check my house before i signed contract: http://www.checkcon.com/

The OP mentions "build permits" what, in Thailand. I had an extension built on to my big house, only really a room for myself with my computer etc cost 55000 Baht but no "build permits"

Yep, I never heard of building permits and I have built 2 houses, renovated another house, added 160 sq ft storage room, and build on an extra room. Never had a permit for anything. I wish there was a permit system when I look at the mess eh I mean the building that is across the street from one of my houses.

There is a new house not long built across the road from mine, it has some corrugated iron at the front of it. It does not really bother me, people should be able to do what they like within there own property, as long as they do not interfere with anyone else.

No, I have nothing against guys like that, my best friend out here is like that, fat, facial hair, tattoos etc, I also sit in the company of these guys from time to time, I just think they are ugly. Maybe I'm jealous because these guys are rich, and that is the only way they can attract women, going by your user name, I assume you are a Scot like me.