Dag Ekeberg

So, is it only in Thailand? And if so, why? There are always plenty of kids in green shirts milling about the counter, no way they’re going to miss a new customer.

I suspect the next post will be a praise of the new bahtbus air horns. The more noise the better.

Dag if all you can find to complain about in Thailand is the 7/11 customer alert dingdong sound, maybe you should

take long break on a quet island somewhere and relax mate.

Thank you, Jock. Now, people, please be forthcoming with information, this is for a project, it’s important.

Okay, how about FamilyMart, then? That’s a Japanese chain. They have the same incessant doorbell here in Thailand. How about in Japan or South Korea? Anyone know?

Ive spent half an hour on Google and cant seem to find the answer: Does the 7-Eleven chain have such horrendous doorbells in other countries? Or no doorbells? Or softer versions?

I cant believe that people in the west will put up with this earsplitting sound when they enter a store.

I guess someone is really bored and needs a hobby

I’m so glad you took time out of your busy day to not answer my question.

Anyone has some real input?

isnt it for the staff to know someone has come in and not you?

That wasn’t really an answer to my question… Anyway, that problem can be solved by putting the ringing sound in the staffers room in the back, right?

I’ve spent half an hour on Google and can’t seem to find the answer: Does the 7-Eleven chain have such horrendous doorbells in other countries? Or no doorbells? Or softer versions?

I can’t believe that people in the west will put up with this earsplitting sound when they enter a store.

great headline

To you journalists in Phuket: Go to the land office and get copies of the title deeds. earn your pay! There's no ambiguity in a title deed.

Can't do. In Thailand, land details aren't "public register". You can get copies from those who have originals etc, but can't just turn up at LO and ask for a copy of such and such land deed.

Can do it. Go to LO. Fill out form. Look at deed.

To you journalists in Phuket: Go to the land office and get copies of the title deeds. earn your pay! There's no ambiguity in a title deed.

This is not really news. The current government wants to borrow big money to build railways. The folks, however, will continue to use busses. Cheaper and more flexible. Look at most other countries in the world and learn. Except politicians (not only here) don’t want to learn, they just want to borrow money and enrich themselves.

Thailand should focus on getting the business side of the economy over on rails, the rubber, rice, cassava, eucalyptus etc. The roads in Isan are clogged with 18 wheelers.

Unless you're buying a sleeper ticket the train will always be cheaper than the busses. Of course busses are more flexible because you can get off wherever you want, but trains are definitely safer, you can walk around, you can eat something in the restaurant carriage and you have generally more space than on a bus. And what countries are they supposed to look at? Thailand has the best public transport system in the world in terms of availability. It might not be the best quality system, but you can virtually get anywhere at anytime, and that's something other countries should take a look at! In Germany there aren't any busses at all in the nighttime, plus you can't just get on and off wherever you want there either and there also won't be any motorcycle taxis waiting for you at your busstop to take you home 24/7.

I agree with you. The availablilty here is great. But these high-speed trains are not the solution. The ticket price will be tenfold what you pay today, and even at that rate, they’ll lose money like crazy. And regarding safety, that's last on the list of Thai passengers...

I guess that depends on the number of people using the train wether or not the trains will lose money. China, Japan and France have had high-speed trains for numerous years and they're still operational. I'm also pretty sure, that these trains in Thailand will be built by oversea companies and they will build them to current safety standards.

Not overseas companies. Chinese companies will build these rails, possibly involving barter with rice and rubber…

A situation ripe for… well, you know what. But hey, it's only 2 trillion baht on the line for the next 7 years (according to the Nation).

Japan and central Europe are densely populated with really wealthy people. What Thailand needs is a rail system that can transport raw material, not people.

This is not really news. The current government wants to borrow big money to build railways. The folks, however, will continue to use busses. Cheaper and more flexible. Look at most other countries in the world and learn. Except politicians (not only here) don’t want to learn, they just want to borrow money and enrich themselves.

Thailand should focus on getting the business side of the economy over on rails, the rubber, rice, cassava, eucalyptus etc. The roads in Isan are clogged with 18 wheelers.

Unless you're buying a sleeper ticket the train will always be cheaper than the busses. Of course busses are more flexible because you can get off wherever you want, but trains are definitely safer, you can walk around, you can eat something in the restaurant carriage and you have generally more space than on a bus. And what countries are they supposed to look at? Thailand has the best public transport system in the world in terms of availability. It might not be the best quality system, but you can virtually get anywhere at anytime, and that's something other countries should take a look at! In Germany there aren't any busses at all in the nighttime, plus you can't just get on and off wherever you want there either and there also won't be any motorcycle taxis waiting for you at your busstop to take you home 24/7.

I agree with you. The availablilty here is great. But these high-speed trains are not the solution. The ticket price will be tenfold what you pay today, and even at that rate, they’ll lose money like crazy. And regarding safety, that's last on the list of Thai passengers...

When speaking Thai I don't use my given name in the third person but I will often refer to myself in the third person as uncle or achaan or phii (elder brother) or, up in the hills, Johpa (John's father). I admit that as a native Engllish speaker I found this quite awkward in the beginning, but it is now second nature.

When I said Third Person, I meant refering to yourself with your own name. "Dave is hungry now". Refering to yourself as Uncle, Achan etc is a given.

หน้าเปื้อนยิ้ม na beuan yim literally (his) face was stained with smiles เปื้อน- beuan is one of the trickiest words to pronounce correctly in my view

ยิ้มแก้มปริ yim kaem bri literally (he) smiled splitting his cheeks

It's only tricky if your native language is a vowel deprived one... A few Germanic languages have similar vowels

For example? While Old English may have had the vowel ('unstable i/y'), I thought the only modern European languages with such sounds were Welsh, Slavonic and languages east of Slavonic, like Turkish.

The U in Swedish and Norwegian is fairly close. Same with the Ü in some German dialects, if I'm not mistaken.

Okay, let’s say you’re a farang guy named Dave and you get a Thai girlfriend called Nok. She refers to herself as Nok, you as Dave:

“Nok could really use an iPhone.”

“Dave is sick of shopping now. Dave wants to go home.”

After a while you realize that only girls here use their name like that, not like in NY, where it’s apparently a common Jewish phenomenon .

So do you keep using Dave in the third person when you’re alone with your GF and switch to Phii when you’re among others?

I hear some guys refer to themselves in the third person when talking to people in general—taxi drivers, bartenders etc. “Dave wants you to keep those tequila shots coming.” That sounds corny. Have any of you heard this?

What about Thai couples? Does the guy keep referring to himself as Phii even when they’re alone? (I’m guessing Yes).

Okay, that was a lot of questions. Perhaps too many.

หน้าเปื้อนยิ้ม na beuan yim literally (his) face was stained with smiles เปื้อน- beuan is one of the trickiest words to pronounce correctly in my view

ยิ้มแก้มปริ yim kaem bri literally (he) smiled splitting his cheeks

It's only tricky if your native language is a vowel deprived one... A few Germanic languages have similar vowels

What a fitting name, BS. Just kidding. You’re right! Arai Wa is slang, means “Really?” I hope you don’t think the Na in Bang Na is the same word though…

Please respond to this post if you’d prefer there was no way to pay yourself out of trouble in Thailand.

Yes, I am in that category, I would prefer due legal process without bribery or corruption on EITHER side, if I am guilty, even if inadvertently, I would be happy if the due legal process was fair and untainted. Talk about dreaming!!!

I second that!

States like to waste time and resources on crimes with no victims (gambling, prostitution, drug use, whatever). Good to have a fail-safe. No?

Please respond to this post if you’d prefer there was no way to pay yourself out of trouble in Thailand.

So you are fine with the level of corruption in Thailand?

Good, nice to know where you stand.

Let’s call it capitalism. Money talks. Was it ever otherwise? You Americans here probably remember who Clinton pardoned on his very last day in office.

I always hear people say ก๊าท and แก๊ท

Appreciate your insights. I hear ก๊าท on TV newscasts but แก๊ท among the general public…

Please respond to this post if you’d prefer there was no way to pay yourself out of trouble in Thailand.

There had to be a holier than thou poster!

Well, your holiness, there's corruption and there's corruption.

Just like there's a clip round the ear and grievous bodily harm.

I’d expected no replies, so thank you Bigbamboo. Perhaps you prefer the Western style corruption, where the currency is not money but political connections?

Please respond to this post if you’d prefer there was no way to pay yourself out of trouble in Thailand.

Sorry to be an idiot but did anyone notice where the Pattaya Court would be located?

So much innuendo so little information… Anyway, when this was first introduced a few months ago, it was reported that they were to use existing court rooms. That would mean the Pattaya court facility on Thappraya Road right south of the intersection with Pratamnak Road. Go there. Report back!

Even Thais themselves have problems with this peculiar concept (of classifiers AND of hobbies). So don’t believe everything you read. I say use อย่าง. To TYPES of free-time activities. Makes sense, too. Finally a classifier that makes sense.