Ajarn

Shit Happens Dude

...and when shit shows a discernible, predictable pattern, some have the god-given brains not to voluntarily step in it.

I think you can hope for that here, but nothing is ever guaranteed here, either..

Letter in Today's (May 9) Bangkok Post. One of the hundreds of stories I've read or heard about since living in Thailand. Is THIS the organization our farang volunteers are proud to be working with??

There is a plague in Thai society and it is called corruption. Now I know this is no big surprise, but it is becoming more and more bold. Yesterday my friend was stopped by a policeman while just coming onto the expressway at Sukhumvit Soi 1. Having done nothing wrong (also not surprising) my friend knew it would probably cost him a bribe of about 100-200 baht.

When the policeman walked up to the window, my friend realised this was the same policeman that had pulled him over previously (also for no reason). The first time the policeman said he merged onto the expressway too quickly. This time he merged too slowly. The policeman said he wanted 1,600 baht because he wanted to go buy a bottle of Johnny Walker whiskey.

My friend refused. He then searched the car, taking his time looking through my friend's possessions. He saw a bottle of Rainex from America, started asking if it was a good product, and wanted that. He wanted my friend to give him a carton of cigarettes. In the end, and 500 baht poorer, my friend was able to drive away.

I understand that corruption is a deep-rooted problem in this country, but tell me, does it have to be so bold?

TIRED OF CORRUPTION

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Shit Happens Dude

Does anyone really believe that the Thai police would recruit these guys to help them and to help Thailand and then put them in jail for not having a work permit? The whole idea of work permits is to prevent foreigners from taking jobs from natives. These people are recruited BECAUSE THEY ARE FOREIGNERS,doing something of no real benefit to themselves but for the benefit of Thailand. Thailand has some great laws, but due to many reasons, are rarley if ever enforced. Everything is allegedly responsive to the need, either internal within the PD. or external to the PD

As far as corruption goes there is corruption everywhere and I have never personally had a problem with any Thai police or witnessed any of this corruption.I think also the tourist police,which deals with tourists,may not suffer the same stigma as attached to regular police. I think the Tourist Police just has better P.R.. They are always checked when farangs are in Local Police custody, and when they are interested, act as 'middle men' in any financial negotiations

And finally,for those people who think there is no benefit to this volunteer job,I can imagine numerous scenarios where having a good working relationship and some official identification from the Royal Thai police might be a very valuable thing.

In your dream world, anything is possible.

The only disrespect we receive is from people like you and those who have posted derogatory comments on this thread , you are very wrong about the local thai community I was very surprised when I first joined at how much respect we get from the local thai community.

In Thailand, as in Mexico, the police ARE the criminals--more akin to the Mafia. As you get closer to Thai people and as they start confiding in you, you'll discover the deep-seated fear and mistrust of the national police force because of the law-be-damned attitudes they carry. I wouldn't want to be associated with the organization for these reasons. I speak for myself and every farang/Thai person I know.

If Chiang Mai is an exception, you're d_mned lucky.

HUNT:

Speak for yourself. I've been here an appreciable lenghth of time and I certainly wouldn't dis-respect them. Good luck and a polite thank-you would be more my feelings. As for the Thais, let them speak for themselves too. I'd be very surprised if they would dis-respect them. They're too polite for that, I imagine.

I dare say you haven't gotten close enough to many Thais to hear what they really think about this issue. I speak for many Thais who've confided in me, but yes, would be too polite or publicly patriotic to post such a criticism on this public board.

I heard from my Thai neighbor this stuff is illegal, is he right?

Illegal to sell, not to use.

As a current Tourist Police Volunter I am a little surprised at the nastiness of my fellow boarders toward those TPV that give back to the community they live in by voluntering there time. We receive no payment for our time nor do we receeive any perks such as work permits etc (we do not require a work permit by the way)

Why do you not require work permits?

Every foreigner working in Thailand, paid or volunteer, requires a work permit or a work permit exemption letter granted by the Labour Ministry. There are no exceptions.

Another example of a Thai 'Law' that doesn't always get enforced...

Even the regular Thai police buy own uniforms even their own guns,

You mean with money stolen from regular people.Lets tell the truth here.

I'd say no, that they used their own money, because an officer needs a gun and a uniform to be able to work

I had a new 10 x 5m pool built at my house in Rayong by a company in Pattaya and i have had nothing but problems since it was finished. it has been out of action more then in since it was finished and now it had developed a leak and i cannot get the company to come and fix it. it has been out of action for 5 weeks and i was promised they would be here the week before last. When they didn't turn up we contacted the owner and he made some story about the guy who was responsible having to return to his village for a sick relative but promised without fail they would start today (7th). They didn't arrive and there phones are switched off. I know what i would like to do but i don't won't to be deported as i love Thailand but as i have a twelve month GUARENTEE is there anything legal i can do and is there anyone out there who can help me???

Kiss the old guys goodbye, and try to find a new repair company...

Yeah that's the thing

I didn't wanna go somewhere too populated with heaps of tourists...but didn't wanna go somewhere with NOTHING. Maybe living 20 minutes drive out of Chiang Mai would be perfect?

I keep having dreams about drinking leo beer near some river...on my porch of a wooden house..and this place has a tree swing and a bit of forrest. LOL! Hope I can find this place or something like it, it looks great!

If you got enough money, anything is possible here. I like Chiang Mai for the food. I like Chiang Rai for everything else. Great places to see, Great People... And it's got internet and satelite, too

I just read on another forum about a new filter media to replace sand....it's crushed recycled glass and it's supposed to be many times more efficient, removing much smaller partacles and longer lasting.....but they quoted me 10kbaht to replace my cheap sand.

And I do fault the sand available here and suspect that it is just river sand, which is not the best as it has smoother sides and less angles. Should be quarried sand. that's why the glass is supposed to be superior as it has many angles to trap debris.

Have any other's out there tried the glass media???

I've been using crushed glass for 6 years, with no problem

So? Why did you write the letter? bored??

My Fiance is asking me how much I'm going to pay her mom pursuant to the dowry system they have in Thailand. Okay, I need help!!!! What is a reasonable amount to pay?

Nothing.

You should pay around 100 USd for a good pair of running shoes and run the phuk outta there...

I would agree, no dowry if

She has been married

or if she has had kids

I have been with my wife now for 6 years. One year ago we were legally married. On the 1st of May this year, our one year anniversary, we did the village wedding ceremony. We just got back to BKK yesterday. My wife hails from Surin and her family is on the poor end of the already poor Isaan region.

In total, including the wedding clothes for both of us, gas, rentals, hotel, and other expenses the wedding ran about 120,000 bt and lasted two and a half days, with the official ceremony being on the last one. Two pigs, 30 cases of beer, 5 cases of white whiskey, 50 kg or rice, a truckload of vegetables, sauces, oil, gifts for my brother and my two friends who came up, and various other items.

As far as sin sod is concerned we put 40,000 bt on the plate, of which 35,000 was returned to us. My wife's mother is not alive so the sin sod went to the grandmother. We topped up her 5,000 bt with most of the money given by the guests. The grandmother netted around 15,000 bt, more or less. We also put on the plate the various gold jewelry we have purchased over the years - 3 baht. My mother left me two diamond rings set in white gold when she passed on, total value of around 600k bt, so we put those on the plate as well.

Everyone gained big face. Everyone enjoyed the wedding. My wife was/is very pleased. I wanted this to be a memorable day for her especially, and that was a resounding success.

As far as financial assistance goes, we help out what we can when we can, but don't send a fixed amount up every month. My wife has a brother and sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc, and from time to time they need help when the inevitable emergency arises. 1000 here, 1000 there, whatever. It seldom ends up being more than 2,500 per month and some months it is nothing. Sometimes we make small loans to family members - sometimes it is even paid back! Other times not. I canceled about 10,000 bt in loans outstanding from various family members during the wedding. Once a year or so, we pitch in maybe 5,000 or 10,000 for big ticket items, family funeral. roof caved in, wall in the house sank in the mud and cracked, new water pump, etc. I would estimate that my annual contribution to her family is around 50,000 bt, more or less. This is about two thirds of one month of my teacher salary. Her family are working poor. They work 6-day weeks and earn only 6,000 bt per month which is just barely enough to live on. They are all itinerant construction workers. Sometimes there are gaps between when one job finishes and the next begins. Sometimes the bosses don't pay properly. Of course they all drink, but that is the culture. I have visited, stayed, and slept in the construction camps many times, and I can definitely say that they aren't living with any kind of extravagance - quite the opposite. They eke out their simple and harsh existence one day at a time.

I am happy with the arrangement. My wife is good at keeping the assistance at a moderate level. Over the years we have learned to tell the real emergencies from the fake ones. My wife has learned to distinguish between appropriate assistance and when people are trying to take the piss. She is the filter, and the request only comes to me if it is legitimate. Sometimes it isn't convenient financially and we have to say no. It has taken years to find this balance, but this is where we are, and it works.

Good post. It is great that you have a trustable 'filter' in your wife. The problem is most marriages don't have such a good safety system that they can use at first, and this is where many problems occur.

My Fiance is asking me how much I'm going to pay her mom pursuant to the dowry system they have in Thailand. Okay, I need help!!!! What is a reasonable amount to pay?

What's going to happen to the money?

Mama doesn't always pocket it. Often it is returned to the daughter so that she can build a house etc. Not so bad!

It seems much better to promise to look after Mama rather than dump a lump of dosh into her own pocket which she will probably never be able to manage properly. What she needs is security.

Read Stickmanbangkok on sinsot.

Andrew, your dream is a good one, but the truth is your 'mother gives money back' is a pure dream. The likely hood of something like that happening here in Thailand, with its customs and such, is about the same as at your home country, would be my guess.

And to suggest Stickman as a good source for anything, tells a lot about you.

Cameras, dog, housekeeper. ALWAYS somebody at home.

The last part, somebody ALWAYS at home, sounds way too difficult.

For me, the dog is the most difficult..

Yes, but seriously, most households do not have a built-in housekeeper, 24/7. I had to live like that in a language school in rural/touristy Nicaragua, and was once stranded inside for 15 hours because everybody left without telling me.

Most do have an in-house dog, 24/7, right?

I haven't had a problem with theft in many, many years. Don't expect any either. I have good home security. Should live 'smart' here vs Paranoid.

Would you mind going over what you consider to be a good home security system? Planning on having a house in the mountains in the feature, and safety is a concern of mine. I take it you mean more than just high walls and a dog?

Thanks

Cameras, dog, housekeeper. ALWAYS somebody at home.

The last part, somebody ALWAYS at home, sounds way too difficult.

For me, the dog is the most difficult..

I haven't had a problem with theft in many, many years. Don't expect any either. I have good home security. Should live 'smart' here vs Paranoid.

Would you mind going over what you consider to be a good home security system? Planning on having a house in the mountains in the feature, and safety is a concern of mine. I take it you mean more than just high walls and a dog?

Thanks

Cameras, dog, housekeeper. ALWAYS somebody at home.

Personaly, I'm with Isuzu on prices and service for anyone in Thailand. I don't think that the biggest car company in Thailand can be beat by the one family controlling Toyota in Chiang Mai

How is Pai doing with the new "changes"? It was once a backpacker hub and that is who the people relied upon for their income.

Tourists are probably staying clear of Pai in fear of being shot LOL....

I remember Pai from 20 years ago. The biggest noticeable change is to the farangs, who are ALL over the place, with all the associated support systems. Very little is differemt in 'Thai' Pai in my view. Typical farang rest area, but many Thais are benifitting from it all, yet they are still able to maintain their 'old' ways it seems. To me, it seems like a good setup, without destroying the major Thai lifestyle (much) . For me, as long as I'm not visiting Farang Towne, I'm quite happy with the area.

I haven't had a problem with theft in many, many years. Don't expect any either. I have good home security. Should live 'smart' here vs Paranoid.

This 3m x 10m x 150cm pool cost me 200,000 baht, including the paved walkways...Has all the plumbing

it sure looks like 200,000 Baht

It looks about right for THB200K to me. My wife was told that price for a similar size tiled pool for our house in the Chaiyaphum area.

i was referring to the beautiful colours of the tiles and the design at the bottom as i can't judge "all the plumbing".

The "high quality" of the tiling round the edge speaks volumes..........

All this from a bunch of idiots... It's a #1 job on everything. Doubt very much that you can match the price

My main concern would be forecasted winds that could include gusts of 100-kph sidewinds in the mountain passes. Also, some folks do not enjoy being soaked to the bone when they ride long distances. I have done it with rainsuits, but it is no fun even in 22-degree C weather.

When the weather folks issue small craft warnings, that includes small motorcycles.

But you are just an old fart

And 100kph sidewinds in the mountain passes ? What country?

Better to wait a few days until these predicted rains pass....or wear a wet suit [full body condom]

Don't wait, go! And without rain gear would be my advice. Over the many years of biking here, I was in a lot of rain, but it never bothered me. Unlike home, the rain here is warm, not cold, and it rarely last more than a few minutes. And during the rain, you can stop in one of the sala's set up along the road, where you can meet some nice people!

And don't forget Charin Resort at Km.141 marker. Some GREAT Farang desserts

The Ploughing Cermony isn't popular because I rarely see anything about it, but on Thai TV, I have enjoyed watching it for many years. I think it is very interesting.

I can understand that. I spent some time in the Philippines and I found it easy to have casual friends there, but i guess its a completely diffrent culture.

cheers

Yes, Thais get divorced, but rarely without kids, so remarriage is important to them, as well as most any Thai women I have ever met...

I think that if Thai women could communicate In English as readily as a Filipino, casual relationships would be more common here