EmptyBasementBin

^^ Sorry, there is no language barrier, and hasn't been for a few years.

Apologies for your confusion.

tbh I think you're the first person who should have a knowledge of Thai culture who doesn't view the culture of friendship as different!

I just pulled down 'Culture Shock Thailand' off the shelf as the book case is within arm's reach, and they even have a capter dedicated to it.

If I may quote the opening paragraph:

Mr. (name not printed by me), a Western social scientist who spent six years in Thailand, spoke and read Thai and was in daily interaction with Thais, concludes his book 'Everyday life in Thailand' with the words 'I shall leave without ever having developed a single, deep friendship'. Most visitors if they are equally honest, would say the same at the end of their stay.

Before they delve into the cultural differences of friendships.

As I said earlier, it seems people need to psychologically sedate their inner being via basic untruths about themselves, their culture and their social being.

I suppose there is always a chance that one could go through one's entire time in Thailand without ever encountering a single example of true friendship between a Thai and farang, but statistically I think that says more about one's circle of association or cultural/linguistic acuity than anything else.

'True friendship' between a Thai and Thai, not a Thai and a farang.

My upbringing was bi (arguably tri)-cultural. I went to Bangkok Pattana and Harrow, watched the Pipes & Drums of the Scots Guards parade up and down the football field every year, drink tea, made model Spitfires and Lysanders and grew up on a diet of Roald Dahl, Rupert Bear & The Frog Song (or whatever it was called), CS Lewis, Harry Enfield, Benny Hill, Biggles and much more. . . But I can also go as native as native gets if I want to. I speak fluent Isan and Kam-Mueang as well as Thai. If you've read Kim by Rudyard Kipling you might have an idea.

Being so mixed (culturally) you seem to see things as gray, where we can see them as black and white. Never mind, but use it as an opportunity to learn.

Great post! You gotta admit, though, that it IS often terrifying to have to work with Thais to solve something. Not many things scarier (excepting for physical assault/injury).

Interesting, as many businesses, foreign and Thai, opt not to deal with locals due to the culture. Too many headaches involved at almost every level.

It's not my fault I'm so much better off than them.

Am I supposed to feel guilty about it and then give them 3 hours of their salary in a tip so I relieve some guilt and they can think of me a fool?

No thanks.

Anything under 500b and they get the coins on the plate. Above that, a 20b note if they've been conscious during their service.

Though if they're cute, conscious, and have been keeping my black label topped up sufficiently there'll probably be a few green ones for them. Though that is rare, and they're probably Laos or Burmese.

Interesting that you're showing the traits I'd expect from a Thai when 'confronted' with a debate or view that they don't like or agree with.

It's a pity really, and really holds the country back.

How 'Thai' was your cultural upbringing?

Take it from a half-Thai who has spent most of his life in Thailand : Thais do have real friends in the fullest sense of the term.

Fair enough if that's your opinion mate. I'm yet to really see it in over half a decade here and is also what I've been told by Thais while studying Thai government authorized language and culture courses, and certainly don't see it as you would in the West. It's just a different culture, I'm not saying one is better than the other.

Perhaps being half Thai you grew up with the cultures mixed, so you cannot really see the differences as well as we can.

Preposterous doesn't even begin to describe this notion that something as natural as platonic friendship doesn't exist among Thais.

I presume you're replying to someone else, and not me.

As a matter of interest, how would you define 'a real friend'?

Just curious

I'm not sure tbh.

I would consider my real friends as the guys I grew up with from say age 8 - 20.

Not all the people I was friends with during that period, but about 8-10 different ones. We know each other inside out and back to front. We grew up together, and will always have that pact, so to speak.

I'm not saying that it's not possible to make a 'real friend' after that period but looking back on my college friends and then those I've made while traveling around the World, and half a decade in Thailand, I wouldn't consider any of my friends from that/this period on that sort of level.

I cannot really see how one can make a 'real friend', as a Western adult, with another adult who has grown up, been educated, and completely 'culturalized' (if such a word exists) in a culture as completely alien as Thai culture.

For one thing Thais don't even seem to have 'real friends' as we would call them, but a large group of people they know and socialize with without ever getting too close or letting themselves go.

TBH I think that anyone who considers themselves as having a 'real Thai friend' (who was born, raised, and educated in Thailand) doesn't really understanding Thais and Thai culture all that well.

Though I'm sure plenty of people disagree and have lots and lots of real Thai friends and I'm obviously just a bitter farang or something.

I did the 36,000km service last week, then celebrated with a 950km dayride to Mae Sot and back.

Added new Pirellis, brake pads, and chain and sprokets.

With almost 40,000km on her she's running as smooth as silk.

Ones financial situation has a lot of bearing on ones attitude to both Thailand and Thai people in general.

That is probably true. I come across a lot of envy and resentment from Thais because of what I have and what I can do. Little-man syndrome seems to be a very common trait here.

My Thai friends (or acquaintances I suppose) are all much better off than me, and they are like a different species compared to the poor, lower, Thai educated classes.

I was here for two years before I got a couple of good Thai friends (one male, one female) who often helped me out if I needed it. And they were not after money either. They did it because they like me.

We'd go out to pubs and bars and restaurants and have some real good fun. One even asked me along to help him out with the local election - he lost anyway, but it was a good insight into how those things work here.

You and me have very different definitions of a 'real friend'.

Sounds like you had a couple of drinking buddies.

Just because a Thai wants to spend time with you while not asking for money doesn't = a real Thai friend imo.

I'm the odd man out it seems.

I don't have any real Thai friends, nor really does my Thai wife.

I don't have any real friends that suffer from little-man syndrome in the West either though. Or ones with built up emotions from a life of emotional regression.

I have higher-middle class Thai friends through work, but wouldn't consider them as good friends as they're too busy working or with their family.

Luckily enough my wife has no inclination to be 'real friends' with those who posses the traits of the average Thai either.

Do I get a forum ban or something? Or just looked down upon by those who drink Leo with and wai the motosai taxi drivers?

This article is just pandering to the fears and prejudices of those who fear the outside world.

And in Asia of all places.

Who'd think it eh.

A friend of friend spent 12 months in America on a student program when she was 18. That was 10 years ago.... She still makes a big show of not being able to pronounce or know the correct Thai word because of her time abroad.

Makes a little bit of pee come out I laugh so much.

Oh you may win the battle.... the war on the other hand....

Ask the owner if he knows how much his electricity bill increases by running a large sound system at full tilt for a few hours every day.

Quite possibly not a lot.

As he's probably plugged into the OP's meter.

OP, earplugs could save your life. For every action, there's a reaction, but not like the West where it's fair ol' fight, it will be sneaky, long drawn, and you will definitle lose.

Myself and my wife average around 60-70k.

That's comfortable, but not hollywood lifestyle by any means.

To be able to do what you want, when you want, I say a minimum of 50k p/m without dependants for a nice, comfortable life. Roadside rat on a stick for 25b gets old quickly, as does cooking at home 7 nights a week forever. At least 4 nice meals out a week be it lunch or dinner where you eat what you want without looking at the price is nice.

^ Nice.

Remember as well there were lots of rumours of a Triumph 350cc single, then nothing. The Duke 350 would be a nice little thing.

btw, I can't imagine many people struggling to see 150kph on the CBR250R if it's broken in.

I blasted off to Tak last week, was there by 10am on the dot and hit 165kph indicated along the way, mostly though it was hovering around the 150-155kph mark. Smooth as silk it was.

Must be something in the water.

Anyway.

136 in 4th? those last 2 gears must be short seeing as a lot of forum members struggle to get to 150 indicated (not GPS).

As I mentioned, I haven't checked, but from my experience of bouncing off the limiter in each gear while having fun it's about 110-120 in 3rd, 130-140 in 4th, 150kph in 5th, and unable to hit the limiter in 6th.

6th gear on the CBR250R really doesn't add much that 5th can't do, and a lot of times (very strong headwind for eg.) it would be easier to hit 150kph by way of a 5th gear roll-on than 6th.

I hope that's cleared up your confused state.

If I think of it tomorrow I'll bounce it off the limiter in 4th for fun and see what number I get.

It must be impressive if that's the only time stat they're giving.

Nice looking little bike, but a horrendous price tag and seemingly weak engine compared to what others offer here for far less money (or even little bit more money and you're talking Er-6n power).

0-60:3.03 seconds

That's fast.

Those Lambos and Ferraris are going to be embarrassed by this lil 200cc-er.

Top Speed: 136 kph

I'm pretty sure the CBR can do that in 4th gear.

^ I just put it through youtube now.

The CBR250R spanks it in the head to head drag video from the very beginning, not bad for a bike that's half the price!

Check out some reviews, they're lucky to see the high 130's kph (indicated) while the rider crawls under the paint.

taking an impressive 9.52secs to pass 100kph after launch.

From 100 to 120 it was pretty effortless, but beyond that the bike took a while to reach 130. And the console got stuck 138 kmph.

1st gear - 40km/h

2nd gear-60km/h

3rd gear-80km/h

4th gear-100km/h

5th gear-116km/h

6th gear-136km/h

All the above figures are at 10000rpm where it hits the red line.

5th gear-116km/h

I'm not sure what the CBR250R is doing at redline in 5th, but I know when it hits the limiter at 1k rpm into it it's doing 150kph.

It's a nice looking bike, but to be honest, if one wanted a hot little streetfighter for the city, I think you'd be best going for a CBR250R and modding it, there's some sweet streefighting versions out there already.