Koratpat

Put down some rat traps and they will get stuck on them when they crawl on them.

who moans about jin joks... ?

never met a Thai who does...

they're excellent lodgers in and around the home.. give me these useful creatures over a dog or cat that craps all over the place anyday.

Thai wife tells me it's very bad luck to kill them, may be why never seen Thais killing them...

My wife hates and kills everyone she sees. Uhhhh, she is Thai.

A male version of a tramp stamp . . . ?

We were in Krabi last week for five days as my in-laws flew in and asked us to join them. Krabi is usually a pleasant place to relax, very different from shi!holes like Phuket and Pattaya etc . . . 20 and 40 baht tuk tuk rides, no hassling etc . . .

We were in a private van taking us to a boat to head on out to the fur islands tour - the driver was driving like a madman and there was an old man (tourist) sitting in the passenger seat . . . so the driver had to slam on the brakes as he was driving too fast and almost ploughed into another car. The old man nearly cracked his head on the windscreen.

I asked him to please drive more slowly and carefully, a did other passengers . . . his response?

"I the driver, I know what I do. You shut up." . . . as he was playing with his numerous amulets . . .

Well, he really copped it from everyone, the fat git, but kept ragging on until we reached our destination . . . luckily there were two lawyers on the bus - my dear Mrs and another lady from Bangkok . . . company being reported and the driver will get his comeuppance. Both sharks will follow up

Ah yes, Thai friendliness . . . shame this nasty attitude has reached even the more pleasant corners of the Kingdom.

Hmm, should I get a tattoo outlining my feelings?

I would almost believe this story, but I have yet to meet a Thai diver that can utter such profound English! LOL

Update - I had to do my extension at Chaengwattana today and took my friend with me because he was thinking he had 7 days to leave the country. He was told not to worry and to deal with it when he does his next extension. They suggested at that time - flying out and getting a B visa with multiple entries, securing a teacher's position or other employment and a couple of other options. The immi gal suggested he marry her to sort the problem or another Thai. Although she told him she could give him beautiful babies better than another Thai woman.

Just a quick update. I just returned from doing my extension this morning. I presented my passport with my last 90 day report in it. It was 11 months since I did my last report. The girl barely looked at the old 90 day paper stapled in my passport, stamped me my new extension and gave me a new 90 day report. No fine or fuss at all. Just FYI for all.

This was at Chaengwattanna Immigration.

The good American friend did not want to hear "he has to leave" so I am sure he had some knowledge of what his present situation would be, wouldn't most of us if living here, married, he has been dealing with immigration for sometime.

He did not see this coming. Her mom called her and asked her to drop some food off for her because she was very ill. Normally the guy drives her places and really never liked her to ride a motorbike anywhere. It was early and he was still sleeping so she had a neighbor friend take her on a motorbike. The were clipped by a truck. The friend giving her the ride was critically injured, my buddies wife was killed and the truck left the scene.

Somehow, and maybe I am taking this wrong, but I find your post insensitive and condescending "good American friend..blah, blah, blah..."

How soon and how would immigration find out? He just renewed less than two months ago,

A good American friend phoned me and told me his Thai wife passed away. He is stressed about the arrangements for a Christian burial she requested, but then freaked about his Thai wife marriage visa status. Will it automatically cancel? He is not old enough for a retirement visa, has a lot of personal property here and a house and does not want to hear he has to leave.

I would say that if you want to give some feedback, then do so. But leave the boorish comments like "What is a nacho" and "Who invented them" to yourself

I am can only guess what country your hail from.....

I L-O-V-E to go to CM Immigration to do 90 day reports, etc

Congratulations!!

From my experience, most Thai's have no concept of budget or savings. It's all about today..

Agree 1000%

Stereotypes! Many Thais can out save Westerners by miles. Some of the richest people in the world can be found in Thailand. How many Westerners do you personally know with $500,000 in the bank? Or even $50,000. Plenty of Thais have that much and more. My wife saves 50 to 60% of every baht that flows into her company. Sometimes more than that......

You have fallen in one of the biggest test a Thai girl does to know if you know how to spend money wisely or just plain stupid. If you are not man enough to control her all your money will be gone. It is not her fault as you gave it to her but yours.

Here is the Thai way.

Later on in dating you will probably want to purchase a gift for her. This will be a money test. One example: when I was dating my wife before we got married, I noticed she needed a good watch. We went to the mall and a reputable watch dealer. Now, I could have bought a very expensive one, but here is what I did. I ask her which one she liked. Of course she picked out a very expensive one (remember this is just a test). I then asked the clerk to see a much cheaper one, which she showed me. I told my date that the cheap watches were not any good. We then looked at medium-price watches and she found one she liked and made the purchase. Now here is the lesson in all this.

If a Thai girl convinces you to make an expensive purchase when it is not necessary, she thinks you spend way too much money. If you make a cheap purchase, she will think you are stingy. If you make the right purchase, she will know you know how to spend your money wisely. She will never marry a man who throws money away or a man who has no money or is cheap.

Asking for money

Here is one trap most Western men fall into, and again, this is another test. My wife never did this, but I was one step ahead of her, so she didn't have to. At some time in the courtship she will say something like, "My parents need a new roof for their house, as it leaks when it rains," or, "We have no indoor plumbing in our house in the village. Can you help us?" or maybe, "My father's motorbike broke down and he needs a new one." Let's think about this one carefully. Okay, she now knows you might love her or at least like her a lot or you wouldn't be spending this much time with her. Now she is performing the biggest test of all--seeing how stupid you are.

Most of the Western men I know would give her the money because they want to help. This is the biggest mistake you can do. DO NOT give her any money for anything!!! Your reply should be, "Let's go to your parents house and see what they need and maybe I can help." This is not only wise but also what she wants to hear. She will have one of two replies. If her parents really don't need the money, she will just laugh, probably give you a hug, and change the subject, no more said for now. Don't bring up the subject again; remember, this is just a test. If they do need the money for the purposes she mentioned, she will say okay.

Now one of three things will happen.

If she just wanted you for your money, she will see you saw right through her objective and will avoid you. Another is she will take you to her parent's house and you will see her parents don't need anything from you and that this was just a test. Third, you will visit her village and parents and see what they need. Now this is very important and happens mainly with bar girls. If you just give her the money she asks for, she will take it for sure. Not only that, but she will keep asking for more as long as you keep giving it to her. You are now her cash cow, and remember, she didn't take it from you: you were more than willing to give it to her. I hear many stories from Western men who say, "This girl stole my money." No, you were stupid enough to give it to her without checking to see if her stories were true. Remember, these are tests to see if you are wise, thrifty, kind, and considerate, or just plain stupid. A traditional Thai girl would not take the money but just smile or laugh as mentioned previously.

Be wise, informed and smart. Think with the big head not the small one between your legs.

Randy

In all my years, I have never experienced any of the above with any Thai girl I dated. Where do some of you find these gems at? I want to know so I can stay away from the place.

Now that is what I call the sensible thing to do if one does not want to risk the 5,000 baht fine or is so busy in their retirement they can not spare two hours every 90 days. Or the time to mail it.

I was wondering if they could deport a person if they wanted to over the not reporting every 90 days. particular if it was a regular habit.

It is not about sparing 2 hours every 90 days. The report should only be made if you move - in a normal country. The paper usuage for all the reports farangs have made over the years has to have killed an entire forest.

They will not deport you for missing it, not do I know anyone that has ever been fined 5000 baht. They really do not care if you miss it as long as you pay the 2000 baht fine or better for them 1000 baht no receipt.

I have never been asked for my passport on the street in all these years nor do I know anyone that has. I hardly know anyone that carries their passport. I used toi make a color copy of mine and my visa and kept that in the car. I stopped doing that years ago. Besides some Thai road cop does not have a clue what a 90 report is or if a paper shoudl be in your passport. .

I have been here for decades and know how the game is played. I am not living in Thailand so I can scurry around worrying about some 90 report. I am here to live life.

Can't you take out a citizenship papers and live the rest of your life here under the rules or are you here because you can break rules and just pay your way out.

Be interested in your definition of normal country. My money says you are going to name some western country. Probably from North America or Europe. Do they let you break the rules there and just pay a bribe.

I for one am glad it is not a normal country I do enjoy the differences. And never once in the 6 years I have been here have I been hurt making the 90 day report.

My definition of a normal country is the same as my Thai wife's definition. People don't drive the wrong way against traffic. There is some sort of hygiene taught to the people. There SOP's in busienss and government. The people are not kept "dumbed" down to so the elite can continue to oppress and enslave them etc. As for normal immigration policies? 1) Don't call it an immigration office when there is no immigration. 2) Do not humiliate a married couple by making them take a picture together sitting on their bed 3) Get rid of the 90 day report and make it so a report must be made if you move house 4) Stop changing the goal posts every other day. 5) End the racism.

Now that is what I call the sensible thing to do if one does not want to risk the 5,000 baht fine or is so busy in their retirement they can not spare two hours every 90 days. Or the time to mail it.

I was wondering if they could deport a person if they wanted to over the not reporting every 90 days. particular if it was a regular habit.

It is not about sparing 2 hours every 90 days. The report should only be made if you move - in a normal country. The paper usuage for all the reports farangs have made over the years has to have killed an entire forest.

They will not deport you for missing it, not do I know anyone that has ever been fined 5000 baht. They really do not care if you miss it as long as you pay the 2000 baht fine or better for them 1000 baht no receipt.

I have never been asked for my passport on the street in all these years nor do I know anyone that has. I hardly know anyone that carries their passport. I used toi make a color copy of mine and my visa and kept that in the car. I stopped doing that years ago. Besides some Thai road cop does not have a clue what a 90 report is or if a paper shoudl be in your passport. .

I have been here for decades and know how the game is played. I am not living in Thailand so I can scurry around worrying about some 90 report. I am here to live life.

My experinece with the 90 report? None. I forego the irritance of them and pay the 2000 baht fine when I renew my visa once a year. I think it saves me time and money this way.

Not sure if I understand you correctly you have a visa requiring you to report in every 90 days and you ignore them. When comes time after one year to renew it they only charge you 2,000 baht. I was 6 days late renewing mine one year and they charged me 6,000 baht. Could you possibly have meant 20,000 baht as I believe that is the maximum they will charge. Is your's a retirement visa?

If you miss your 90 day report, the most they will charge you is 2000 baht. Usually the girl just charges me 1000 baht no reciept. I have been doing this for years.

My experinece with the 90 report? None. I forego the irritance of them and pay the 2000 baht fine when I renew my visa once a year. I think it saves me time and money this way.

"Painful lessons from 1997 must not be forgotten"

Nothing painful about it for me.

Getting 44 baht to the dollar was actually painless and I would like to see it again!!!

1998 was efven less painful when it was over 50.

No <snip> the article said "33 randomly selected foreigners"

If they had taken a random sampling of Thais and foreigners this would have been more justifiable, but targeting just foreigners is unacceptable

Crobe

Unacceptable in real countries, but not Thailand. They could never see past their noses to see it as unacceptable

Buy Amway deodorant / antiperspirant- you just pay 100 baht to be an Amway member and go to their store to buy it for 160 baht a bottle - lasts 3 to 4 months. You will be dry as a bone.

Do not worry, no Amway sales people will bother you.

To the OP - I have lived and / or spent time in every proivnce of Thailand for several decades. Korat is the hidden jewel of Thailand. It has everything the rest of the country has to offer minus the crap.

Thats one thing i miss with women back at home,you can talk about movies,music,old school friends,worldly experiences,sometimes i find the cultural differences here too much

what I miss most is a proper kiss. a proper snog. western women know how to kiss. thai women don,t.

Really? Where do you guys find these women that can't hold a converstation and can't kiss????

Thats one thing i miss with women back at home,you can talk about movies,music,old school friends,worldly experiences,sometimes i find the cultural differences here too much

Many of us have these and other indepth conversations with are Thai gal every day - nothing to miss really.

In all my years, I have never had an airline booking agent or check in staff tell me I needed on onward or a return ticket - without a visa, with a visa etc.

A farang guy I know wanted to open a business in the village. i suggested a few new ideas that might work but his wife decided to open a noodle shop ! we already had 4. needless to say, its closed now.

What were your 4 suggestions?

I'm on a 6 mb regular connection.

After the fix today I'm downloading with 250 kb/s. Before the fix it was down to 45-50 kb/s for the last couple of weeks.

Maybe you should downgrade your connection to save money, get better download speed and better support

They are promoting a 7 mb for 390 thb.

They want to charge me a fat fee to downgrade.

But let's get real - they need to give me what they promised. Until people stop wai-ing, groveling and kissing their butts when they get cheated, nothing is going to change in Thailand.