sonnyJ

As for WWII - nazi style helmets are very popular among chopper bikers here, and please don't tell me that their swastikas in black, white and red actually refer to the ancient buddhist symbol. These bikers aren't neonazis either - they are simply ignorant people who think that it looks cool.

Very true Plus.

Just like kids in the West using Eastern symbols that they know f.. all about ubt look cool ie Jap symbols, Om signs etc

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Very true Neeranam. A great comparison.

I haven't seen many swastikas on bikers in Thailand, maybe few, but in Burma there's plenty of this. Helmets, caps, shirts, tunikas (with the swastika)... all old third reich garp. I do hope we are not judging a different culture by the norms that are familiar to us.

I'm not a nazi, neo-nazi nor pro-nazi. And, I hold very few facist to be cognised views on life in general, what comes to governments etc. Defenately I'm anti-nazi (doesn't involve any violence by the way). The third reich helmets were/are in fashion with some bikers in USA, and other places too I understand.. This dosn't necessarily make them nazis does it. But thats a different thing anyways.

Swastika is/was propably an ancient hindu symbol in the first place (for thousands of years ago),

http://history1900s.about.com/cs/swastika/...tikahistory.htm

Adolf just adopted it, as many things from the old Aryan philosophy as he saw it. It was a good luck symbol originaly (for thousands of years ago), . Now the meaning has been compromised, (for me too, being european).

I'm sure we all can see the cultural influence from India moving east-wards (buddhism, ramayana, etc.).

Still, for me the burmese bikers on Third Reich helmet and tunic looking very cool. Nazi uniforms were desingned and produced by Boss after all.

Do you seriously suggest that it's possible to breathe in new life in nazi swastika? More civilised, perhaps. That is called neonazism and it's illegal in many coounties that had the experience with the real thing.

Plus with all respect, I know of neo-nazism being illegal in Germany, still it happens. Where else too? (I think in many countries)? Also, Mein Kampf, don't know the english transliteration, is a best-seller through internet in Germany, since it's illegal to be sold there.

I'm Finnish by the way. (Way to go Amazon.. ).

To be stated, I don't support fasism in any sense.

What comes to Albert, he did get USA passport, didn't he?

People do think he was intelligent, right?

Hello all you people.

Dog meat is delicious.

In some countries very valued too.

Bet these countries don't have much stray dogs.

All of the soi dogs should be put to some use, meat.

I don't understand how can some one want to live close to these untrained/out of control dogs.

What comes to cats, they are noble creatures. What wrong have they done to anybody?

Come on guys.

It's Christmas.

Merry Christmas Khun Thaksin.

I had to say that.

Seonai is clearly out of line here. He should find an another thread.

"Don't overeact to the Kenyan court decision," Mr. Thaksin advised. "The Night Safari has many animals to attract tourists, and over 90,000 visitors a day visit there," he said.

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Don't overreact?

That's exatly whats he's doing in the most grandeaur way, by this kinds of statements!

So oviously the investor(s) money are at stake, who ever they are, I don't know.

So typical Thai reply.

-sorry but we can't do this for these, these, these reasons..

-We have done nothing wrong!

Still unbelievable if true.

I would keep these kind of comments strictly out of public.

There seems to be something improper with these deals since a few countries have postponed the deals because of some wildlife conservation activism. I would say something enormous.

Maybe it is that Thailand is simply not ready to handle this project, yet.

I'm sure that every side of the deal wants it to be completely closed as soon as possible.

These kind of comments make it "a serious matter".

Just wonder,,,

How can this guy be in control???

Sounds good though, "He is on the way to visit south flood areas". Should get him few points more, if not too late. Other thing is did he get over there really.

I was told at the Bangkok Transport office (not sure the correct name, the one near Chatuchak) that I can take my girlfriend to translate the writing test for me. Well she got it through at the third time, so she's very experienced.

I don't hold any driving license.

I have understood license in Thailand is available for everybody, not depending on visa status. I'm non-imm type ed.

Is this still correct?

The price was 105 baht, International after some time 505 baht.

Angle

  • noun a member of an ancient Germanic people who came to England in the 5th century ad and founded kingdoms in Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia.

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Things have moved on in the past 1600 years. Englishmen/women are people who have been born in England, Welsh in Wales, Scots in Scotland. 'British' is a blanket term used to describe them all.

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• Being born in a stable does not make one a horse.

  On being described as Irish. Mind you, he was descended from the Kings of Thomond!
  
• The Saxons have been described as English since the English language was written. Mind you, the Welsh and Scots called both Angles and Saxons Saxon.
  

On terminology, am I the only one who thinks that luuk farang and luuk thai should have different meanings in Farangland to what they have in Thailand? I.e. that children of local origin should be luuk farang and the luuk thai should mean luuk kreung?

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We are talking about lukkrueng here, aren't we?

As the topic states hybrids or people of mixed race, about half of it being Thai race.

???

Sure sounds good. So whats the investment?

My friend was exchanging emails with this Nigerian guy for weeks. It turned out to be some fun too.

Topic remindes me that I was approached by this Nigerian or Kenian guy live in Bangkok about a year ago at a pool place on Sukhumvit. He was some old generals son and so on, had got a nice pile of his dad's money in Africa, he was ready to do whatever to get it out.. He also told me that his dad's men were after him.. Was too much for me to get involved for sure.

Well I was drunk and propably looked the same.

Way to go China and Kenya. 101 bulding a Zoo.

Hope the message gets through.

Anyway, I thought a Safarai is a thing you go to and shoot animals.

Wild meat was unfortunately mostly consumed by the past generations. Now we just gotta keep on shopping at the super markets, mostly.

If you got the real money, try this.

www.ausafari.com/auhome.swf

Kengtung is pronounced in burmese raffly as Jindong or Jengtung I guess.

Why doesn't someone hire a detective to go see if he is still in jail?

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Do we know which jail he was send to?

Right.

Mae Sot to Myawaddy.

Sorry for mistake.

I don't think you will need a car over there since all travel out of town is forbidden for visitors, if there hasn't been any revolutionary developement in that part like peace with the Government and christian KNLA faction. The road to Hpa-An is not long but in a very bad condition. There are local busses and other traffic going but it's considered not safe. Last time I heard there was a war going on (well this was few years ago, but it's been on since 1949).

Things should be changing as this is the start of the Burmese government planned road to India. The one Thaksin was promoting so laudly too. I'm still pessimistic on the subject... Would be very interested to know of anykind of developements though.

Mae Sot.

I have no recent info, but few years ago it was only possible to visit around there as a day trip. Personal car was possible to take with but expensive for permit, also it is not alloved for foreigners to drive cars in Burma. I understood some people managed to get in on 1 month tourist visas there though, car would make that even more difficult. Also travel in the Southern Shan State is very restricted for all foreigners. Not many places beyond Tachilek - Kentung road.. By the way, where is your car registered in?

Please let us know how things develope.

Have a nice trip.

Hello, I will to go travel by car in Burma if someone has already go to Burma wich are the formalites and securite ?

Thank you.

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Could you tell us a bit more about your travel plans?

Where do you plan to enter Burma, to travel to, for how long time..

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRT PARTY SAYS SOCIETY AND MEDIA SHOULD NOT GIVE IMPORTANCE TO POLITICIAN PERSONAL AFFAIRS MATTER

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 December 2005

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Why not?

Andaman, that would be still like 30 minutes away, depending of the magnitude ofcourse.

All this is very worrying concearning my fellow students/ and other young & poor people back in Finland. Yamyam noodles are even cheaper than macaroni and ketchup. And taste better too.. Now I study in Thailand so I can eat steaks and stuff.... Still a fan of tomyam Yam Yams.

It's better to have four or five false alarms that people react to than no alarm at all. Or even an alarm that people do not react to. You are right of course about the Peter and the Wolf syndrome. Some are going to get complaceent and maybe start ignoring it, but I think on the whole people will still react after the disaster of last year.

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Lambard, I agree with you. Peter & the Wolf factor though worries me.

What about the alarm system? How is it promised to work?

How long time on average, before the wave hits the coast? Surely depends on the place of the underwater eruption. So, how are the possible places estimated in the disaster scenarios? On my understanding big eruptions are very unlikely near the coast of Thailand. Usually them happen around Sumatra. (please correct me if I'm wrong).

I understand that the sea will withdraw far from the normal beach line long time before the wave hits the beach. And this being a physical fact, in order to create a big wave.

You can call me old fashioned or stupid or whatever. But what I'm saying is that I will depend on my knowledge and observations lot more that some alarm system, which also goes off every other month. At the night time I would be in trouble though and would have to follow the alarm 100%.

What this "mistake" brought up in my mind is that there should be more education for all of us living or visiting Thailand (other countries as well) of the signs of A Tidal Wave In Progress.

Maybe TAT should take up with this.

First thoughts, sounds like an invitation to join the corruption. If I would hear any of the investments would be directed towards educational system I would be truly pleased. If I would see a plan for sustained educational developement, I would propably suffer overly happy syndrome.

There is at lest one 7/11 retail at the international airport. T2 near the parking areas if I remember correct.. I'm sure they have some sim cards there. Theres another one across the Vipavadhii on the railroad station, easily reached by the bridge from the int. airport.

I've never been scammed here. Been them lawyers or the rest law abiding citizens.

I think mentioning "dowry" and "bribery" in the same breath displays a fundamental lack of understanding and/or appreciation of a culture that one is purporting to marry into... certainly doesn't bode well for

long-term matrimonial harmony.

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... well, mr. sriracha, I think the lack of understanding is on your side.

I'm talking about an actual village-wedding, arranged and carried out in traditional Lanna-style conducted by some old guys and women, skilled into the ancient traditions.

The Thais had great fun of the bribery edge. I (the groom) were handed a stack of envelopes. These envelopes I had to depart with, first at the entrance to the street, next at the parents frontgate, next at the parents door, before finally being atmitted to the the room where the bride and her parents were sitting.

First the parents wouldn't let me have their daughter, but after I had offered the dowry and gold, I got their consent.

Nothing serious about all this - just plain fun - we already were a certified, married couple.

The Thais themselves, seldom are too serious about old traditions, but I'd say - that wedding actually did reflect the cultural background of those village-people.

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I've witnessed this same tradition in Chonburi, let's say this family was quite well doing in their business. Had the understanding, it's the regular thing at wedding seremonies. I was considering all this evelopes stuff as part of the seremony/fun, and it was indeed, groom being farang..

I would think that a seremony like wedding is important in peoples lifes, and it will reflect the most ancient traditions. Where else to do this?

Basicly the Thai way of many things seems as bribery, but there are other things/reasons as mentioned before in quantity behind this.

Its a different culture!

Right, there's a will, there's a way.

Cheers

Never thought of it - perhaps one can demand a sinsot for the groom? (or use it as a leverage tool????)

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In India and China that has been the norm for many years. Now selective birthing practices have caused a shortage of women, in China especially and have suddenly put the woman's family in the position of being able to demand doweries.

Anyone know if this change over has happened at any time in Thai history?

cv

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This is a very good point to bring up, sinsot for the groom, as it is the tradition in Europe and also in most countries around the world, I would guess. Intercultural marriage should happen in both ways, to be fair, or at least to make it work..

This might be the result of patrilineal/matrilineal heritage system. Most cultures favor the patrilineal. Thailand is traditionally matrilineal, even the chinese immigrants couldn't change that. In ancient times, houshold was built around women because of nesseccities, men had to do lots of military service and other free labour for their leaders, go to wars, and simply find work. In other words travel a lot, never knowing when or if they would return home.

Actually I could see some logical reasons for a change to a patrilineal system in Thailand these days..

Anyway, it's not really my business and will not affect my life much in the way or the other.

Grapetable, you must understand that this dowry is a basic norm in Thai culture. She will feel very obligest to pay back her parents her uppringing, school fees etc. (and it will not stop there). Add 2 to 10 times more so she can show face. It's a marriage after all. Meant to last a life time. One time chance. In many ways you will be also married to the family, (very different way from the western sence).