ChanJoonYee

Her parents are getting attacked from people in Thailand, due to her actions. basically the parents are protecting themselves. we dont know what threats they have had against them but im pretty sure its ugly. some of these people can get fanatical. sad all round

I believe that's what's happening on the ground. I don't think most parents would do what they've done otherwise. They know she'll be safe in the UK, but they are not safe in Thailand.

It's just small talk. Don't expect any truth, sincerity or honesty either way. Sadly, this depth of friendship remains even after knowing them for many years. Superficially is best.

we all know why they are getting refused, too many go there for immoral purposes and it ruins it for the rest

Immoral in your eyes, a living to millions worldwide !!

I am not in charge of SIN immigration, they are and in their eyes prostitution is immoral, hence the problem.

No, it's illegal. Not immoral

Surprise. Surprise. Prostitution is legal in Singapore, but they deal very severely with those who engage girls <18.

Thai nationals can enter Singapore without a visa. Why was the lady refused entry?

All countries have the right to refuse entry. Singapore authorities are well aware that a lot of Thai ladies going there for 14 day trips are working in various establishments. They are probably basing it on the amount of trip, and how frequent. It's unfortunate, that genuine tourists may get tarred with the same brush as the hookers that are in and out of Singapore frequently.

They make mistakes from time to time, but Thais are among the biggest spenders in Singapore after the Chinese and Indonesians. This shows that Singapore immigration is quite efficient in letting only the right people through.

I hope you are able to pursue the matter and find an exact reason for their refusal and that you can post the information here. During her previous visits did she ever stay beyond the period of her Visa or did she ever have any problems with the authorities? I just find it incredible that someone has adhered to the laws and rules during previous visits but that they suddenly now react in this way?

Yes she has visited often before, no she has never overstayed though of course being Thai she doesn't need a visa, she has never worked there and never come to the attention of the authorities, she just visits her boyfriend.

Yes I will follow it up, subject to her ok, as I say at the moment she just shrugs her shoulders, but whether they will communicate with me as a third party I have no idea.

They are not obliged to explain. It is unlikely she'll ever be allowed in as an independent traveller from now on. Ask her to join a shopping tour the next time.

I hope you are able to pursue the matter and find an exact reason for their refusal and that you can post the information here. During her previous visits did she ever stay beyond the period of her Visa or did she ever have any problems with the authorities? I just find it incredible that someone has adhered to the laws and rules during previous visits but that they suddenly now react in this way?

Someone who visits often as an independent tourist is automatically a suspect. Thais who join shopping tours are never refused even if they visit Singapore once a month.

Thai nationals can enter Singapore without a visa. Why was the lady refused entry?

Yes they can, but as I said "she claims the IO gave her no reason other than you're not coming in this time, but certainly she was given no paperwork and there was no entry in her passport", as you know being eligible and even having a visa doesn't guarantee entry.

She did add that there were other Thais in the "refusal lounge" waiting to be returned home.

My wife (Thai) was refused entry into Singapore on her second visit within the same year. She was refused entry on her first visit at almost every port in Indonesia and Malaysia until we showed our marriage certificate.

Anybody knows any reliable book distributors for English books in Bangkok? I've contacted Asia Books, but even they are not keen on dealing directly with small publishers.

How do you abduct someone on a motor bike? And what were papa and mama doing to stop the abduction?

Good point. Something doesn't sound right here.

"Education Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana said during the opening of the science scholarship program that Thailand has taken out very few patents when compared to other countries."

One of the main reasons that so few apply for scholarships is that the Ministry of Education has an abysmalrecord of educating Thai children. If the way to becoming a scientist was learning by rote and not by asking questions of the teachers or original thinking then Thailand would be a world leader.

Firstly get rid of ALL the education ministers and ALL the civil servants over 25 years old and replace them wioth farangs on the condition that the farang teachers train the Thais into their job. When that happens and a child asks a Thai teacher a question that the teacher does not know the answer too the teachers response must be, I'm sorry that I don't know the answer. However I WILL find out and get back to you as soon as I know.

That is when Thai education is working.

Unless you are prepared to pay the specialist farangs a high Pay rate $100 to 200 grand year , no one would be interested in coming , like it is now, also don't forget the trainee's need to have a very good understanding of English, something that you wont see either.

I disagree. Many talented foreigners are spellbound and will gladly waste a few years of their lives or even their entire fortunes here.

Do yourself a huge favor. Stay in Singapore. You have a good job there. Unless you are very creative and can think of ways to make money on your own, it will be very hard to make it here. You can fly from Singapore to BKK in a couple of hours. Make your home there and visit here when you can. You can live here when you have a lot more money saved. Good luck.

Long distance relationships with Thais are seldom successful. I vote for taking your wife to Singapore.

I can't imagine what could happened to me if I had moved to Thailand instead of staying in Singapore.

fearing condo bubble...this is the mother of all bubblicious bubbles.

"I'll buy in five years," I told a young female agent showing me a Phra Khanong two-bedroom unit for 15,000,000 baht.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because it'll be less than half price then," I responded knowing that my free lunch invite had just been canceled. (True. I was not given the buffet and drinks in the lobby but was ushered off the elevator on the ground floor and presented a saccharine smile.)

"How do you know that?" she asked. [We were boarding the elevator when she asked.]

"How long have you been in this business?" I asked.

"Three years," she said proudly.

"So you have seen prices escalate. [quizzical look] Go up every day," I said. [Elevator doors opening on the ground floor.]

"Yes, why?"

"Because you can't imagine prices falling, and because it seems crazy, it will happen." [Agent boards elevator, nonplussed.]

I had the same discussion with colleagues in the US who were doubling down on real estate before the crash, internet stocks before the 2001 tumble, and, most recently, when wandering through Chinatown, Bangkok and the Chinese gold shops were packed after gold fell about $50 to around $1,700 USD.

That's one nice thing about getting old. The eyes may not work as well, but they see a lot more.

In summary, Real Estate anywhere in the world => not good , share anywhere in the world => not good , gold => not good.

Before , it was nice to get some interest on your K . Now it's already nice to just keep your K as it is.

What can we do with our money , please ?

Tell that to the people queuing up overnight in Singapore to buy condo units even before they are built.

Not sure this program is going well. Thailand seems to be flooded

with Chinese and Russians on budget tour packages, and then throw in

the Indians on top of that. Definitely would not make me want to

open a five star restaurant here.. :-)

Got any problems with Chinese, Russians and Indians?

ZhouZhou, I think that his point was the fact that Chinese and Indians, as well as many (but not all) Russians tend to on average spend a lot less than Americans, Brits, Aussies, Swiss and Kiwis. He doesn't have a problem, he is communicating fact. Quality is not quality in Thailand, it is generally about getting people to spend more. quality actually means higher spending in Thailand. Quality Tourist means Higher Spending tourist.

Chinese spend less? I'll have to disagree on that. It's quite the norm for Chinese tourists from Beijing and Shanghai shop till they drop. The average Singaporean, Taiwanese or Hongkonger spends more in a day what the average Western backpacker spends in a month.

Through the medium of English this nation would benifit considerably in both knowledge and understanding and that is exactly what this and successive Governments before ,do not want. They shake in their designer shoes at the thought of and educated and adequately informed public. Raise the IQ of this nation by 10 % and the current forms of administaration and Governance are doomed.

It is not just arrogance or zenophobia that restrict and impairs the proliferation of English , it is fear in the lack of control of the population whom they currently feed a banquet of absolute bullshit on a daily basis and get away with it.

i worked and lived inSingapore for over 25 years and guarentee that the standard by any evaluation regarding proficency in English is light years ahead of Thailand at any and all levels. Most Singaporeans use English as the language of business and administration and are to a high degree tri lingual with the combination addition of Bahassa, Indian and Chinese.

Also I would strongly disagree that there is any form of agglomeration between Malaysia and Singapore in this mater.

I don't think the survey distinguishes between people like me (who were born and educated in Singapore) and the Chinese table tennis players. These days, there are numerous undergraduates in our universities who speak horrible English. Our government has been bending over backwards to accommodate these foreign "scholars" and very soon, they're going to be as Singaporean as I am - at least on paper.

Sorry but I just don't believe the numbers quoted:

- Thai students - 450 - believable.

- Singapore students - 550 - not believable because teachers actually teach 99%

of all classes in English in singapore, students totally immersed in English from

day 1 at Kindergarten. The averageTOEFL score for Singapore students must be

a lot higher than 550 / the gap cannot be just 100, impossible.

Yes, it's possible. We've been getting a lot of "new citizens" in recent years. It just takes a few million bucks and a Chinese passport to become a Singaporean. The ultimate destinations for these "instant Singaporeans" are Canada, USA, UK, Australia. Hence, they're the ones most likely to take TOEFL tests.

I'll see you xxxx time. That means a Thai will commence thinking about leaving their house at xxxx time.

They may leave the house way before xxxx time, but they may get distracted on the way and follow a friend to go somewhere else, telling you way after xxxx.

I am sure they wash them....just sure they also do not get out the nail brush and disinfectant gel.

Actually they have a different hand for the two functions.

Thai grandma (wealthy by Thai standards) travels to a foreign country to visit her newborn grandson. Air ticket paid for by foreigner son-in-law. She looks after the baby for a week and throws a tantrum when she finds out that the son-in-law's token of appreciation for her visit is less than the babysitter's salary.

Chinese man's business in Thailand faces a downturn. He continues to pay his loyal workers, tightening his own belt and cutting his Thai wife's allowance. University-educated Thai wife throws a tantrum, demanding divorce, claiming that he loves his workers more than he loves her.

Thai factory worker marries son of her employer - a Chinese family. She is appalled that she still needs to clock in and clock out at work. She is dissatisfied that her family is not given an on-demand tap to her husband's family's wealth. She describes them as jai rai.

They were drinking together, OUTSIDE the house in FULL VIEW of the public. That doesn't sound like cheating to me at all!!!

Are you kidding? Cheating is about losing face, not sex. Out there in plain view....very bad judgment.

In other words, having nothing to hide will anger rather than placate a Thai soul.

Abhisit seems to be missing the point here, whether he knew the documents were fake or not it would still mean his position should not have been held and quite rightly his rank should be removed.

Either way, with his knowledge or without his knowledge he used documents to obtain a position that should not have been used and therefore negates the rank given.

he also goes on about people being convicted do not lose their rank, well again there is no relevance to this as they were convicted, abhisit has not been, and they also got their rank through the proper channels.

And as for his comment that it is politically motivated, I nearly choked on my cornflakes with this comment, pot kettle etc

Absolutely. These people have been convicted of offences which have nothing to do with obtaining their ranks illegally.

that he had had autistic syndrome and been cured.

there is no cure for autism.

Precisely.

20,000 girls to chose from and they are fighting over one. The guys involved are clearly a bunch of lab rats.

It's not about the numbers. It's a question of face.

Many Thais are ashamed of this woman and the child's grandmother's actions, because they also are talking about this news story.

Through the 'Thai Network', news of this story has been received in Australia and the two Thai ladies I know here are ashamed.

They worry that Western men will think that the action of these two women (they blame the Grandmother as much as the child's mother) will reflect badly on them also.

The good news stories, of which there are thousands never get the limelight, because they are commonplace.

Sadly, we only get read the bad stories about the trash of Thailand.

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I assure you they'd be a lot more forgiving if they had kept the child (+the house) and just kicked the Farang out.

He'd be better employed asking them to not drive if they've been drinking

Can't do that when your car is submerged.

Most countries have a different system for those that pay taxes and those that don't.

True for countries like India, Nepal, Myanmar etc. One Thai argued that it's because Farangs are richer. Sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy to me. China abolished official double pricing in 1997 and the gap between their people and the foreigners' incomes have narrowed a lot since then.