PaullyW

I sometimes suspect i'm the 2nd coming of Christ, come to this world to carry all the suffering

Who's Chris?

I think irrationally cheerful people are mentally impaired. But that's just me!

I realized long ago my temperament is a horrible fit for Thailand. It's got to be one of the most anti-intellectual countries on earth.

But, what the heck, the visas are easy!

But, what the heck, the visas women are easy!

The food and 'skins' are really all Thailand has going for it. The best of us realize that pretty straight away.

I'm astounded that people actually seem to understand the OP.

Throughout the world there are really only two types of people, those that are good and those that are bad. I don't care where you were born, what job you have, how much money you make, where you live, or what color you skin is. What matters to me is if you are a good person or not. If you are surprised that there are honest people in Thailand I would suggest that you get out of where you are and see more of the country as this has not been my experience.

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There are two kinds of people in this world - those who divide everything into two and those who don't

-- Robert Benchley

Actually there are 10 kinds of people - those who understand binary notation, and those who do not.

The full range of the spectrum can't be expressed in zeros and ones, both in wavelengths of "color" and the world of human ethics.

Actually, there are 3 kind of people in this world.

Those who can count, and those who can't.

In fact, I've experienced more kindness in the US and Canada and Oz than any other places I've ever been. Here's something to mull over.

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Working or donating to "charities" or consciously committing random acts of kindness upon strangers is certainly virtuous, but to my mind has very little to do with the topic at hand, which is refraining from stealing, an instance simply doing the right thing in your day-to-day life.

I doubt very much this could be measured, but if it could I doubt even more that Thailand wouldn't come out well ahead of most of our home countries.

Of course I could be wrong.

I agree. Particularly with the Chinese influence on Thailand and Thai culture.

ASEAN will bring FFC (free flow of cock competitiveness).

More businessmen from surrounding SEA countries who are able to work in Thailand will no doubt exploit the best resource Thailand has to offer the world: easy women. I know plenty of Singaporean men who already have wives/girlfriends in Thailand.

Thai men will increasingly find themselves outdone by Malays, Singaporeans, Indonesians, etc. which will result in some tensions among the SEA Asian male crowds. This, however, will have an easing effect on us Farangs as Thai men will finally have much tougher competition for their top end women.

When I ask a small coke at mcdonalds I always get a medium size.. small is available so maybe I should ask a mini to get the small but for sure it would turn out in "mini mai mee"

They only understand if you gesture and repeat the word.

So it's "small small" (whilst gesturing with face and body).

In fact, I've experienced more kindness in the US and Canada and Oz than any other places I've ever been. Here's something to mull over.

Helping others is reward in itself. Some people forget this. Some live their lives that way. I have an elderly mentor that taught me that and have experienced it first hand. I think many Thais really do follow Buddhist ways. Not all modern Thais have followed western perverted ways.

White Western Apologists are interesting.

Doesn't Christianity have any similar 'good stuff'? In all the countries I've been in, including numerous Western ones, I've encountered plenty of people who did 'good' things and who did not accept reward.

I suspect that for most of us who've travelled extensively, even in and around the region, people outside of Thailand if they know/care about Thailand at all, have already determined what Thailand's image is: cheap women, cheap food, decent vacation spot.

They need not worry about their international image.

Hmmm, I don't grant my respect easily. It must be earned. Again, I stand/stop out of pragmatic reasons.

My only issue with Swampy is being forced to walk through an entire shopping mall to get to one's gate. And I fail to see anything special about CNX, although it is efficient. At CNX, the domestic departure lounge is far too small for current usage while the international departure lounge is much larger and grossly under utilized. The two departure lounges should have been switched years ago and if this person wasn't able to see that fix then I doubt she will be able to do much for Swampy,

The planes and gates at airports are a secondary consideration these days. The airports make money from the shopping. People are going to travel anyway.

Actually, I think more people would complain if there weren't any shops.

Problem is travellers will nearly never find the best or competitive prices on any decent (non-Thai) products at Swampy. Prices are consistently higher for same items in the region (esp SG and HKG) and certainly far higher and miserably less selection than most Westerners are accustomed to in their home countries. Almost no reason to shop at Swampy. Maybe Thais are buying the over-priced, over-taxed goods?

I stand and/or stop for purely practical and safety related reasons. If you don't want to get beat up, end up assaulting or killing someone or be perceived as disrespectful or problematic, you should do it.

Homemade deodorant

Make your own and don't stuff it full of petro chems.

Excellent advice, however a spot of soap and water is all you really need.

Best not to stop those pores from sweating out those nasty carcinogens.

I have read that it's the worst thing to apply before bed, the lymph nodes get bombarded with the toxins and cancer can follow. Give it a Google and make up your own mind.

Rates of related cancers in India should be extraordinarily low then, huh?

 

I havnt actually checked how much they cost, nor have i made any statistic how long they last, but,

assuming a bottle cost 150 baht, and last one month, that is a grand total of 5 baht per day.

Equal to a 3-pack of big leo a month from 7/11.

I guess, but half a days wages for a thai on minimum wage sounds like a big expense to me... if I was on UK minimum wages, 1 can would be £22 at half days pay on minimum pay - but you can actually get 2 cans from poundland for.... well.... £1

 

Ok, so is the thai wage 10 baht per day ?

they use powder btw, such as prickly heat,

i think that prickly heat is best used on my otherwise sticky & itchy balls

"i think that prickly heat is best used on my otherwise sticky & itchy balls"

If you're talking about something like Snake Brand prickly heat powder, you have to be kidding. That would be like applying a healthy dollop of Tiger Balm. You'd definitely be stepping lively for a few minutes. Better to use one of the baby powders unless you need an antifungal.

I use Nivea Men Ocean Extracts deodorant. It's labeled 48h, which I assume is meant to be 48 hours, but that seems overly optimistic, especially since one is likely to have at least 2 to 4 showers in a 48 hour period. Not sure how long a spray can lasts. I think a full month would be a stretch. I avoid antiperspirant because it irritates my skin.

Plus there is some controversy and debate around Talc-containing powders and the incidence of cancers...

Powder only works for a brief time and if you take several showers per day and reapply.

Otherwise, you just end up with clumps of stuff falling out of your pants leg with hairs all wrapped up in them.

Just to be technical here, I find that there is a notable distinction in comparing deodorant vs. antiperspirant.

Antiperspirant is what really works well in super-mega-over-the-top-hot climates like those in and around Thailand/SEA. Deodorant is more suitable for more moderate climates where people perspire less.

Of course, you can get both in one product.

Just make sure you let the antiperspirant dry fully before you rock and roll.

Ahhh, I don't know. Not really sure why people think comparing Thailand's sole international airport to airports in the US -- in this way -- is reasonable.

Here goes -

Thailand has 1 airport, and it's crap. The US has many.

<snip>

Last I checked, Bangkok has TWO airports. Bangkok IS in Thailand, isn't it?

Have you ever compared the size of the US to Thailand? What about the economic level of the people? Do you think the size and the number of people with money might have an effect on the number of airports?

Sorry, yes, 2. My understanding is that DM has been a domestic airport until just recently.

And, yes the US is about 6 - 7 times bigger than Thailand. Singapore is smaller as is Hong Kong...

The economic development of the people? No, I don't weigh that at all here. Why would it make sense to factor this in? Is the Thai government too poor to build an international airport to a competitive international standard? Anyway, China built what I think is a beautiful airport at Beijing (not perfect, but magnitudes better than SVN).

Yes, the number of travellers would effect the number of needed airports. But, not sure what your point is here. They have only 1 airport 2 airports, so shouldn't they be near perfect? They put all their best effort and brightest people into it.

I got back from USA a week or so ago, have been using that airport since it was built. It is not perfect, granted. I don't mind the walk to immigration: after sitting on plane for 12 hours it is a good chance to stretch the legs. And get ahead of the rest of the pack. Immigration is much better than Seattle airport, much quicker. Same for baggage. Maybe this is just one more chance to rant about Thais and Thailand. I like the airport, I have never had any problems there: baggage, finding a seat, getting a transfer. This lady seems to know the problems, has ambition and wants to see improvement. Good for her. I hope she can make a good airport even better.

Ahhh, I don't know. Not really sure why people think comparing Thailand's sole international airport to airports in the US -- in this way -- is reasonable.

START EDIT

A much more appropriate comparison would be Suvarnabhumi to Singapore Changi. 40 years ago, Thailand and Singapore started modern development of their countries. Lee Kwan Yew's result is SG and their airport is on display. Thailand's through-and-through corrupt society leaders built what we know as Thailand and its miserable airport. Singapore and Thailand were mean to compete with each other by now.

END EDIT

Here goes -

Thailand has 1 airport, and it's crap. The US has many. Not sure how many, but I know it's probably more than any other country in the world and probably more as a ratio to people. So, why don't you pick the nicest airport in the US and then compare? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_the_United_States

Similarly, comparing immigration times between the US and Thailand is a bit ridiculous. Does anyone here think the immigration seriousness and/or risks are the same between the US and a completely undeveloped, criminal haven/magnet like Thailand? Get real. Particularly after 9/11. The US is a target of crime unlike any other country on earth. It doesn't mean we should expect immigration to be slow in the US, and they can certainly improve at some airports, but don't disregard the additional scrutiny required.

Last, I've mentioned this before on another thread. Emerging/recently industrialised countries (like Thailand, just for sake of argument), countries whose populaces are largely new to international travel (insular countries in Asia, for example) care more about these airports representing their national face pride. Countries that are a bit more true (like the US, for example), more functional and balanced (like the US, for example), which have much more to offer as national pride than an airport, some old temples and co-opted culture from Cambodia, Laos, China, India, etc. (like the US, for example or perhaps Singapore, just as another example), and whose populaces have been long travelling the world in decent numbers (like any countries in Western Europe, Oz, for examples) care far less about making their airports shining symbols to represent that they have "arrived".

SVB is actually a very true to life representation of Thailand and Thais. It prepares for the rest of the crap-hole country where most things are done cheaply (not inexpensively as corruption costs alot) and without planning.

As long as they keep the bum guns, and at the right pressure, I'm a happy camper.

T

Agree. Keep them at the pressure which is enough to squirt the water deep enough to give oneself a nice enema. Never felt so clean, it's great!

Why doesn't someone do a survey of the foriegn employees of those so called International companies operating in

the folllowing cities:

1. Singapore

2. Kuala Lumpur

3. Hong Kong

4. Jakarta

5. Bangkok

and then publish the results of employee satisfaction with living in those cities.

And while they are at it, also add those employees actual opinion of the effeciency, productivity, and general work ethic of the local employees they work with or supervise in those same cities.

I suspect that Thailand will be low on or at the bottom of the preference list of both those surveys.

Especially on the efficency, productibity, and general work ethic listing.

Oh i think foreign employee would be very satisfied with their life, their work life would be more interesting to learn.

For example, things like

How satisfied are you with performance of your secretary?

I know my answer would be " she comes to work sometimes and if i am lucky, i might even get a message of a call but no details of who called, why and when" I can delegate some work to her, as long as it does not interfere with Facebook activities on that day.

Totally agree. I think that many foreigners (particularly men) working in places like Thailand may find the work ethic and productivity here to be rather low, and many may complain of all manner of issues, but the fact remains that a guy can literally spin around with his finger pointed in any direction and simply go 10 - 30 minutes in the same direction and find the type of intimacy and companionship that he wouldn't be able to easily find (or certainly not for so little money) back home.

I think sometimes people underestimate the power of easy Thai companionship on a man's happiness.

For less than a nice steak dinner in our old countries we can have a night which will force us to forget all the ills of the country, even if temporarily.

And, to be fair, it's not the same in Malaysia, or even Indo where the scene is much more tense and underground (given Islam) and in SG the price goes back up to Western levels (aside from the PRC ladies and small group of imports in Geylang) and the local SG lasses are indeed not very available.

So, Thailand has a huge advantage in this regard -- for the happiness maintenance of western expats.

Soi dogs in Thailand are getting kidnapped and loaded onto truck in horrific conditions (many die suffocated) to be tortured (inflicted pain or skinned alive to supposedly taste better).

Please help to stop this disgrace defacing the human race

http://www.soidog.org/en/dogmeat/

That was very difficult for me to look at that website. But it compelled me enough to make a donation! So damn sad....really :-(

Thank you it's amazing how even little money can save lives, AND you get good karma !

Karma such a saving others' lives, refraining from killing,

relieving others' worries, curing others' illnesses, generously

helping hospitals and medical research, or aiding environmental

improvement may cause one to be reborn as a human being with a

long life and good health, a person to be liked and supported by

many people!

THE TRUTH OF KARMA

http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/tib/drshen2.htm

Ooohhhh, I want some Karma! Do they have it at Emporium or maybe Paragon. Central World is a bit tough to get to because I have to walk from either Chidlom or Siam... Shouldn't be too expensive, right? And, what type of units do they sell it in? By Keed or Kilogram?

So, it's hard for me to find friendships anyway. Not just in Thailand, but everywhere.

No kidding?!

Sent using the iPad App.

Yes, not kidding. I'm serious.

No, I am not consciously searching for them; that was my point. And, I won't as I don't think it worth my time. That's my personal choice, right?

Yes, there is soreness. I am a product of all my experiences to date (which are quite likely different from yours or SteelJoe's). And, of course, I 'project' something of myself onto others. I don't think you will be able to argue that you and everyone else -- who is human -- does not do the same. We are ALL products of our own experience, and none of us is objective. Such a concept cannot be applied to humans and their interactions with each other.

Now, I may be projecting 'negative' stuff, and you be projecting 'positive' stuff. I accept that. However, I am only me, and I can only be concerned with my own desires. When I am interested in human interaction, I am interested in a certain type, and I find that type difficult to find (everywhere in the world I've been/lived) and particularly hard to find in Thailand even disregarding language. What is wrong with that statement of fact? Does it mean something is wrong with me?

I slag off the Thais for many things, but not this. Could it be true that they are largely (never all) quite different from me fundamentally?

For example -

I do not believe people are inherently good.

I do not have a family nor want one.

I am not close to my family nor do I think it is a requirement. I view family as essentially 'just some other people'.

I do not respect or believe in any religion or a "God"/higher power, but I do respect human choice in their decision to participate in religion.

I believe in the task over the person.

I believe in truth over personal relationship/friendship.

I believe that life is arbitrary and that my life has no more 'meaning' than that of our neighbourhood soi dog. As such, I do not believe that life is about being happy, and indeed I do not expect happiness.

I do not believe in an afterlife or the concept of soul. I believe that when I die, that will be it, and I will no longer exist - forever.

That is just a sample.

So, it's hard for me to find friendships anyway. Not just in Thailand, but everywhere.

But, point with respect to this thread was that language serves me (and perhaps others like me) little value in terms of improving relationships with Thais and particularly because of some of the things Thais often (though not always) have in common.

Thais are overwhelmingly at the opposite end of how they view the world and life and how they derive meaning and happiness.

EDIT: I am FAR too serious and studied for most Thais (including those I've met from Harvard, Yale, etc. poets, senior army guys, Chula and other educators, etc.). Thai culture values Sanuk. I think Sanuk is silly and not so valuable.

Lastly, if you see me, feel free to approach me as you will not 'disturb' me. I'm a friendly guy. I don't need to be like the majority to be friendly.

How would you know?

The sample of Thais that you interact with in Thai, and therefore the cross-section, criss-cross and criss-cross-criss-criss-cross section of society that you are likely to must be very small if :

1. You choose not to venture much deeper than the epidermis of Thai culture.

2. You don't speak enough Thai to allow serendipity (in human connection) to surprise you without having to make the deliberate effort to bust open a 'deep conversation'

Brilliant. So insightful and so very true.

Oh, com'mon, Tembly, guys.

Anyone's sample is going to be small, so what do we conclude then? What matters are my experiences and how I interpret them. I am not performing statistical analysis, so I don't care to increase my sample size large enough to 'perhaps' but not likely move the overall experience in a particular direction. Who has time for that?

1. Yes, I CHOOSE not to venture deeper than the superficial layer of Thai culture.

2. Again, how much time of my life should I spend searching and waiting for these experiences? Serendipity? Are you in your twilight years, by any chance?

The way you look at the world with serendipity and all that is very nice. Very positive. More typical of older folks who have become enlightened in their older age. Not meaning to be negative to you here, but it's what I've found often.

Not everyone has the same standard for the types of human connection that they will accept into their lives. Not everyone has the same open standard for the friends that they are willing to accept into their lives or the women they are willing to lay with or date or marry. Or the jobs they will accept, etc. My standard is perhaps a bit higher? I don't know. What I do accept is that the vast majority of Thais, in their very strong collectivist in-group, exclusionary culture, will always see me as an outsider, a non-Thai, and I am smart enough to know that such a notion will severely limit the honestly and types of interactions I will ever be able to have with most Thais irrespective of the fact that I can communicate with them in their language.

I deal in reality, and I'm OK with it. I'm not starved of human connection. Like I said, when I need some of that, I can either buy it or seek it out (more difficultly) through similar intimate interactions where money is not immediately exchanged. Of course, such connections are more transient and superficial, but I accept that as the physical nature of the connections tends to simply distract me well enough from whatever mental connection I thought I wanted.