booma

Booma,

I lost 3 friends here in kamala so please don't tell me how I feel.  I have many friends that lost their homes and business.

1 was a baby only 3 months old whose mother could not hold on.  Then her husband died 2 days later from infected wounds

BUT I have many more that survived that need to know how will they provide for their families if the tourist do not come.

I am helpiong those that survived,  I am not a cold hearted person but people die. 

My feelings and prayers are for the living that need help, food and a place to sleep and a way to provide for their families.

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I have edited my message before reading this.

I have stories similar to this.

The British have been amazing in their support, but you still get a cold feeling down the pub!!

Regards

Guys, why so harsh?  Less than 15% was affected by the destruction.

Thats the truth.

Whose interest are served by a NOT thriving Phuket?  Surely not the thais.

The beaches are cleaner than they have ever been in my 16 years of living here, not chiars/umbrellas, jet skis, hawkers or tourists on the beach to clutter the view.

Ok the trees were hit bad and the sidewalk in patong.  The trees will surely die but Patong's famous nightlife is still alive and kicking at night.

The beach road needs LOTS of work.

BUT  Karon beach and the laguna area if you visited you'd be hard pressed to see anythng had happened, Also Surin.

True John has magazines about Phuket but this will not affect the property market.  Bill Pinset's home in kalim was trashed and he owns Phuket land.  Talking with him he knows the market, ( has been involved in home /land sales of over 18 years) He says this wont change a thing,.  It was mother nature.  None of the million dollar homes are now $500,000. None of the many expensive developments are on hold.

On another point if you stay away they thai's will be hit the hardest, Not the rich farangs builind homes. many lost their homes/business's and also future income for this high season.

You think Junk ceylon wont open on time?  The new marine is building 100% and on time.

Who will you trust to report to you what it is like here?

I have been travelling twice this week to Khao Lak with supplies, ( back up tomorrow) and the devistation is unreal and I am really pissed at the reporting of the area.  Also not real pleased with the thai goverments use of man power but the are under enormous pressure from the world to find all foreign nationals ASAP so much of the work is on Search and rescue operations.

BUT the thai people need help.  I go to the same 3 camps full of people living in tents trying to get by each day.  they have no homes or jobs.  This is what the world needs to know, not just how many farnags are missing.

Sorry for rambling a bit but I am doing what I can to help

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You seem so oblivious to the people that lost there lives.

I would like to now your story, I am sure it is bleak!

P.S. Maybe this aint right, I apologize if not.

Booma;

it wasn't old footage.  I went down to kata beach on the 28th and across from the thai miltary eating lunch on the street across from the beach where many farang families sunning and SWIMING even.

Although I will not go intot he water for another week, the beach is beautifull and karon beach is stuning now.

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Swimming, surely, should be the last thing your thinking off!!!!!!!!!

You need exercise? Try moving something or building something and maybe you'll exercise your brain!!

That in turn will benefit your whole existence!

Statement from Phuket.com:

Phuket Island and the surrounding coastal areas, including Krabi, Phi Phi and Khao Lak were exposed to the Tsunami which hit on the morning of December 26th. There was extensive damage to beachfront hotels and sadly many casualties. Our heartfelt condolences go out to those who have been affected.

While urgent and immediate relief efforts go on, in severely affected areas like Khao Lak and Phi Phi Island, it is important to note there are areas of the coastline in Phuket and Krabi provinces that remain almost untouched; with many resorts operating at, or near, normal levels. In some areas, tourists who were unaffected and whose accommodation remains intact have decided to stay on. As each day passes, more and more people are out swimming, sunbathing and making the most of their remaining holiday. At Patong Beach in Phuket, where the beachfront was badly hit, much of the entertainment area was operating in time for the New Year's Eve celebrations.

Now, as the extensive clean up operation progresses and everyone works together to help with disaster relief and re-construction, many travel associations and industry experts are turning their attention to the longer term economic problems that will arise and encouraging visitors not to cancel reservations. Most hotels and resorts are operating normally, beaches look better than ever, and many restaurants are open for business as usual.

So, please read the up to date status reports we have gathered, look at the photos and make your own decision. Thousands of Thai nationals earn their living from tourism and once the immediate impact is over, survivors face not only the grief of their losses, but also unemployment with no income to sustain their families.

By coming and contributing to the local economy you will be doing something useful and constructive and still be having a wonderful holiday in one of Thailand's most scenic destinations.

Please Note: Koh Samui and Pattaya are NOT affected, as they are in the Gulf of Thailand on the east coast of southern Thailand. On the west coast, Krabi has been almost untouched.

--Phuket.com 2005-01-05

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I witnessed, a couple of days after the disaster, footage of people enjoying the usual delights of thailands (burning themselves) on Phucket beach. At the time this seemed surreal (and obviously sick, this was on national television!) now i'm thinking it was bogus (old footage)!

My reasoning being:- More damage could be done to tourism if things are hurried or lies are told

The last things' that are needed are false stories.

George, you are obviously a great man, but your avator is blinking far too much for me....it detracts from your wisdom....You now have too much a high profile for that kind of distraction...Please just keep your eyes open! I will provide a matchstick for you if you send me your original avator files!

Highest regards

B

I am currnetly in England after just getting back from a 6 month visit to Thialand.

I am now gutted to be back, I would like to be in Thailand so I could help in any way possible.

I cannot offer a cash donation right now as I am waiting for some money, but I am willing to help in any other way! I can speak a little Thai.

Any suggestions?

I have little money to donate, but would be more than happy to offer help in any other form. I'm in the UK at the moment. Anyone know who to contact, or suggestions to what I could do?

I can only speak a little Thai, but am good at what I know.

Regards

B

Sorry 'bout the bad English in the title. should read 'offer'

I hear long beach on Koh Lanta was not badly hit, maybe a couple of fatalities at most, all divers were safe.

I hope this is of use to anyone.

b

Can anyone tell me any news on any yachts moored off phuket, I have a friend staying on an 80ft one!

My deepest feelings to all those who have been affected by this huge catastrophy.

My fears are now that he death toll will rise dramatically, I am praying that it won't!

Where doe Phra Pee Ganet(Ganeshji) come into things from a Buddhist point of view?

Ganesh is a Hindu deity, son of Shiva, believed to be a remover of obstacles for those who worship him. Because Brahmanism was in Thailand before and/or simultaneously with the early Buddhist epoch here, many Hindu traditions have crept into spiritual practices here, for better or worse.

Isn't Ganesh supposed to be good for prosperity, they have is image outside the world trade centre after all?

Just be very, very careful.

I know many, many horror stories!

I am very curious as to what this says.

I came across it when I was having a drink with a friend and this thai girl he had met somewhere along the way, she knew the barman and were chatting away until they thought we could understand what they were saying so they started writting things, obviously, about us. anyhow one of the pieces of paper became my property and I have tried to get it translated, but no one will tell me what it says?

The only way I could work out to put in the forum was via my avator.

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lukamar Posted Yesterday, 2004-12-22 11:34:14

  My wife ran your post into my language lesson tonight and explained to me that it was a rude comment by the way it was used in this context. It actually said "it speak thai" "It" is not a proper form to use when you are talking about a person and thus rude.

sabaijai Posted Yesterday, 2004-12-22 15:57:20

  มันพูดไทย at the top. มัน is a pronoun normally reserved for animals and inanimate objects. When used to refer to people it shows a lack of respect. It does get used a lot though, in the third person.

I couldn't read the line crossed out in red but the second word could by 'big' in Thai.

gburns57au Posted Yesterday, 2004-12-22 18:59:56

  I think it is he speak thai that body large......definately not said with affection.

I am very curious as to what this says

Everybody seems to be a bit paranoid and then he projects that paranoia onto our Thai speaking friends...

I think the note might actually say the following...

มันพูดไทยว่า ควยใหญ่ "mun poot Thai wah_koo-ai yai"=In the Thai language, it is said like this,"Koo-Ai Yai"/In Thai,it is called "Big Dick"!

Here,the pronoun มัน ( "mun"=it) doesn't refer to the person himself but rather his "member" in Thai.

Maybe the note wasn't meant as an insult at all but rather a compliment for being "well-hung"!

Hope this helps and makes some sense!

Now let us all get into the spirit of Xmas and New Year's with some assistance from our good-natured and fun-loving Buddhists friends!

Happy Holidays Folks!

Cheers,

Snowleopard

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Sorry Snow Leopard, but there was no paranoa from my point.

I am just having some sanook, and the thai's are the reason I go to thailand to have 'sanook', after all sanook is their thing!

I am also sorry if any Thai's are getting paranoid, but I never try to talk about any one behind there backs. I DON'T talk about people behind there backs, that sort of behaviour creates paranoid attitudes.

Seasonal greetings

Jing Jing merrily on high

Chock dee took took wahn

Pop gam reu reu nee.

B

Translated to English as best we can see it.....

First part.... Speak Thai...

The other part with the red line... we can't read, looks like "----" Big or???

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Well at least I'm sure they were talkig about us! surprise surprise!

Thanks

I do have a clearer image but don't know how to post it on this forum!

I am very curious as to what this says.

I came across it when I was having a drink with a friend and this thai girl he had met somewhere along the way, she knew the barman and were chatting away until they thought we could understand what they were saying so they started writting things, obviously, about us. anyhow one of the pieces of paper became my property and I have tried to get it translated, but no one will tell me what it says?

The only way I could work out to put in the forum was via my avator.

What does it really mean? is it a statement or a question?

What are those orange, white, green, blue, red, lights above the drivers head? There's usually four or five.

This has always bugged me, they seem to be so random, but I saw one driver checking them for some kind of reassurance!

Where the ell can I get decent sausage and bacon here in Bangkok?

that CP stuff is RUBBISH!!!!!!!!

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Try the breakfast in Gulivers (khoa san), I know it's a tacky place by night but if you want the closest to an English/American breakfast/brunch then this is the best I found by a mile (they even have brown sauce, essential), you can also catch up on recent sport all in aircon luxery. Also free internet. It became a regualr morning (opens about 11am) haunt of mine on my visits to bkk

I often hear that Thai is one of the top ten "difficult to learn" languages of the world.  I really don't think so... in fact, I think that it's easier to learn than English.  Let's compare some aspects of the Thai and English language:

Spelling: Thai is a lot more strict about the pronunciation of a certain word.  Once you know the rules, you can usually read any written Thai word without any problem.  English on the other hand is a mishmash of different languages and English words can be spelled any which way.  Take "two" for instance... if it were to follow the usual rule, you would be saying "ta-woe", but instead you're supposed to say "too".  Or was it "to"?  Then there's tough, which is spelled similarly to dough, but pronounced waaay differently, not to mention "doe".

Tones: This is the "killer" that most foreigners stumble on.  However, English also has tones very similar to Thai.  The big difference is that in English you can vary the tones depending on what you want to say, while in Thai it's set in stone.  Take for example the word "computer".  In a typical sentence, the tones would be "neutral-rising-low", but when it ends a question, it would be "neutral-rising-high".  Using different tones would make it sound strange, just like in Thai.  That's the reason why so many foreigners don't like the Thai pronunciation of English words, because Thais have set the tone to their own arbitrary way.

Adjectives and adverbs: In English, the adjectives are usually in the front and adverbs are usually in the back.  In Thai, both adverbs and adjectives are in the back.  I think that's even simpler than before.

Amount, degree, tense: In English, you have plurals to represent "more than one".  You also have tenses of words, many of which require memorization.  Then there's the "quick, quicker, quickest" fiasco.  Thais learning English always have trouble with these permutations.  Why?  Because Thai doesn't have these things.  There are no plurals, degrees, or tenses of words.  In Thai, you add the appropriate description: cows->many cow, quicker->more quick, worked->had work.  I think this is much easier than memorizing arbitrary permutations.

Can't think of any more right now.  Any comments on my theories?

In my case, I was able to speak Thai fairly well within a few months, fluently within a year, and was able to read/write fluently within 2 years.

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Cactus = Cacti

Octopus = Octopi

Walrus = Walrusses

Y?

I think this was it .

Taken from a ntoilet door in BKK.

I found a lot of success with robertson's pratical English- Thai dictionary.

The phonetics are really good when you get the hang of them, Thais usually know what you are trying to say and will usually fine tune for you.

for more accurate pronounciation learn the alphabet!

Be very careful using this one:

(h)chahk (f)wow

It basically means 'to fly a kite' the equivalent in England would be 'spanking the monkey' or 'playing the banjo' or even the cockney 'having a sherman tank'.

There is even a hand signal for this phrase!

I got this nickname on my last visit to Thailand, so it seems apt.

I kept leaving this beach on KPG, saying all my goodbyes, then returning weeks later, it is short for boomarang!?!? ( I am English by the way, not Aussie)

Then people I didn't even know stated calling me it in Bangkok, so it has stuck!!

I am currently trying to get to Thailand!

At the moment flights are pretty full and very expensive, I was contemplating buying a one way ticket, and sorting my return out when I wished to come home (UK?) as this would be much cheaper (my last flight from BKK cost 11000B, very cheap).

Would I get into the country? My return ticket seems to've never been checked before!?!??!

Is there demand for teachers of Adobe Graphics Software (including AfterEffects) or any broadcast equipment in Thialand!??!!?

(UK)

I am planning to travel to Thailand, initially I will be taking a padi divemaster course (whilst also learning to speak more Thai), I will

then return to Bangkok, in the hope of working as a graphic designer (preferable in TV). My last job in the UK was Head of Graphics for

a small (award winning) TV station, so I have a broad TV skill base.

I am aware that to get a work permit I would need a non-immigrant visa. If I were to obtain one of these, which category would I have to

apply for and which relevent forms would I need to supply for such an application?

Also it mentions that I would have to leave the country every three months. Would I also, as with a tourist visa, have gain an extension via an imigration office after every two months within a three month block? The embassies never mention this and I nearly got caught out earlier

this year and would've had to a pay a large overstay fine or face prison if I hadn't realised (I still had to pay 1900B to 'boost' my tourist visa

up to it's full three months)?