BradinAsia

What is a "jap driver?" Do you think this is 1946? Your mind is still corrupted by WWII propaganda?

Also, your story is highly improbable. After living 16 years in Japan I can tell you the chances of any

Japanese driver spontaneously yelling such words at you is less than 1:100,000,000.

And for several reasons. First, very few Japanese speak fluent English. Secondly, the scenario you

describe does not fit Japanese culture -- it's much more like American culture.

In short, I seriously doubt the veracity of your story.

Jap driver, Brit driver scotch driver.... Really do try to get over yourself.

Get over what?

The fact that for 50-60 years I've met countless folks who expect me to accept racism as normal?

Nothing is more pathetic than folks who mouth racist slurs and try to pretend they are normal.

I don't accept that. Maybe you need to reexamine and "get over" your narrow mindset.

Note: Scotch and Japanese are equivalents -- scotch and jap are not even close.

Do you know where I come from the work Paki is racist. Yet those self same people have shops that they call Paki supermarket.

They really don't need nor want you defending them.

You seem to have a very odd perception of the real world.

For hundreds of years, racists have been inventing odd-ball

justifications for their biases. Yours is not new at all.

This is not in any way racist.......

Last time I was driving in Japan, a jap driver leaned out of his car and shouted ,,, LOOK WHERE YOU ARE GOING, YOU ROUND EYED EGG AND BACON EATER

Now would you call that a recist remark ?

What is a "jap driver?" Do you think this is 1946? Your mind is still corrupted by WWII propaganda?

Also, your story is highly improbable. After living 16 years in Japan I can tell you the chances of any

Japanese driver spontaneously yelling such words at you is less than 1:100,000,000.

And for several reasons. First, very few Japanese speak fluent English. Secondly, the scenario you

describe does not fit Japanese culture -- it's much more like American culture.

In short, I seriously doubt the veracity of your story.

Jap driver, Brit driver scotch driver.... Really do try to get over yourself.

Get over what?

The fact that for 50-60 years I've met countless folks who expect me to accept racism as normal?

Nothing is more pathetic than folks who mouth racist slurs and try to pretend they are normal.

I don't accept that. Maybe you need to reexamine and "get over" your narrow mindset.

Note: Scotch and Japanese are equivalents -- scotch and jap are not even close.

This is not in any way racist.......

Last time I was driving in Japan, a jap driver leaned out of his car and shouted ,,, LOOK WHERE YOU ARE GOING, YOU ROUND EYED EGG AND BACON EATER

Now would you call that a recist remark ?

What is a "jap driver?" Do you think this is 1946? Your mind is still corrupted by WWII propaganda?

Also, your story is highly improbable. After living 16 years in Japan I can tell you the chances of any

Japanese driver spontaneously yelling such words at you is less than 1:100,000,000.

And for several reasons. First, very few Japanese speak fluent English. Secondly, the scenario you

describe does not fit Japanese culture -- it's much more like American culture.

In short, I seriously doubt the veracity of your story, mainly due to your overtly racist "jap" remark.

Well, as an American, I am not sorry to see her leave. I am sure there are many things that go on behind the scenes that we do not see or hear about, BUT....... from what I have gathered, she is more of a socialite than an embassador. Her photo ops, are what we see in the newspapers and on TV. Nothing substantial has ever been reported about her. Maybe she is being moved, because she is ineffective, to a highly paid desk job in DC where there is more opportunities for social endeavors.

Kristie Kenney began her duties as the United States Ambassador to the Royal Kingdom of Thailand on January 8, 2011. A career senior Foreign Service officer, she served as the first female United States Ambassador to the Philippines from 2006-2010. She began her diplomatic career in 1981 and her overseas assignments have included serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador and in positions at U.S. Embassies in Jamaica, Switzerland, and Argentina. For the last twenty-eight years, she has been married to Bill Brownfield, who is currently the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics, Law Enforcement and Crime. (http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/ambassador.html).

Looks to me she has been moved around a lot!

Foreign service officers normally move around a lot. That's what they are hired and trained to do.

What else would you expect?

A person pretending to be an American who writes "I meet thai girl..." is obviously a troll.

I can't understand why people would use an agency for so valuable and important a matter.....

I can't understand why you can't understand. There are reputable agencies.

I use one such agency. They always give me the receipt from immigration.

The agency is known and trusted by hundreds of expats over the years.

The reason I use the agency is -- it costs me 1,000 baht for them to make

4 trips a year to immigration on my behalf. For me, that is real value.

Others would prefer to do it themselves and save the money. Life is full

of choices. Everyone will not make the same choices you make.

You neglected to mention all the trips to your agents office you must make.

Yes, you are quite right.

Once every three months, my agency calls to remind me to drop off my passport.

Within the next few days, on my way to the market, I drop it off.

A week or so later, they call and I stop by at my convenience (going to the market)

and pick up my passport.

To make it any easier than that -- I'd have to become a Thai citizen.

After 27 yrs in Asia, I'm comfortable rubbing elbows with Asians, but don't fancy

spending my retirement standing in line with a bunch of unwashed farangs...

Excuse my naivety, but where in h*ll did this term "push bike" come from?

The whole world understands what a bicycle is. When you say "push bike"

it sounds like it has no pedals -- only frame, wheels and seat.

Is this a push bike? (Click to enlarge)

Pushee, pushee.....

You push a bike by using your legs to push the pedels.... The picture of the bike with no pedals is similar, but that one you push your legs against the ground to make it move.

To make something move by pushing it means using your legs more than your arms, if you just pushed it and stood still it would fall over soon enough.

Sounds like maybe 17th or 18th century explanation.

For at least the last 100 years it's been called a bicycle -- and we pedal it.

I'm not in Hua Hin and my 3BB connection is only 10 Mbps, but it's the best internet service I've

had since I left japan where I had 30 Mbps connection.

By the way, the 30 Mbps in Japan cost me more than 6,000 yen/month (about 1,900 baht).

My 3BB here costs me 631 baht/month and I like it very much.

I know this doesn't answer your questions, but since no one else has responded...

Excuse my naivety, but where in h*ll did this term "push bike" come from?

The whole world understands what a bicycle is. When you say "push bike"

it sounds like it has no pedals -- only frame, wheels and seat.

Is this a push bike? (Click to enlarge)

Actually "Thailand" is still a 3rd World Country, and there is still a lot of Thais. Love in Mud Huts...

If I was you I would go back Home, 45 years old is not that old, who knows what opportunities await you there, here there is very little, like fellow posters quote, Thailand is great of you have an income from back home, but to,try and make a decent living here, for now and the future, is not so easy..

Go home I say.....

Just my two cents worth.....

I agree with the OP that Thailand is not really a third world country. A lot of folks on TV who like

to view Thailand as negatively as possible often refer to Thailand as a third world country.

I lived and worked 16 years in Japan. It is definitely not a third world country. Today, Thailand

is much more similar to Japan than to Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam or the Philippines.

I lived 6 yrs in the Philippines, where in the provinces only national highways are paved and most

provincial capitals have bamboo hut squatter areas on the main street downtown. Also, most third

world countries have lots beggars bcoz they have nothing else to do. Thailand has fewer beggars

and most are destitute single mothers or the physically handicapped.

In 1960, Thailand was third world. Today, it's much closer to Japan than to Philippines, for example.

The OP has a tough decision to make. His desire to stay here is surely understandable. Thailand is

a fabulous place to live, has a rapidly developing infrastructure and a growing economy, but I think

it's very difficult to envision any future here with no hope of a pension at some point down the road.

Thailand closer to Japan than Philippines. No, it's not.

I respect the fact that you have lived in both countries, however, comparing a village of Japan to some village in Isaan. It's not even close.

Maybe your talking about miles/km distance... LOL

If you have lived in as many different provinces in the Philippines as I have

you'd never suggest that Philippines is closer to Japan than Thailand.

Even if you talk about Isaan -- I've been in every province in Isaan and there

are beautiful roads in every province. In the Philippines, outside of Manila are

very few nice roads. Also, the standard of living in Isaan has improved a lot in

the last 10-15 years.

Philippines today has changed little since I first went there in 1962.

"Tokyo vs Bangkok is perhaps getting slightly closer, but please. It's not even close."

I'd be willing to bet that I've seen a lot more of Tokyo than you have, during 16 years.

Excuse my naivety, but where in h*ll did this term "push bike" come from?

The whole world understands what a bicycle is. When you say "push bike"

it sounds like it has no pedals -- only frame, wheels and seat.

If you have to ask on an internet forum for the answer to such a life-changing decision............why don't you just flip a coin?

True.

I just don't have a lot of support here in Thailand. My family and friends can't relate. Most still think Thailand is a 3rd world country, and most people live in mud huts. I kid you not.

Actually "Thailand" is still a 3rd World Country, and there is still a lot of Thais. Love in Mud Huts...

If I was you I would go back Home, 45 years old is not that old, who knows what opportunities await you there, here there is very little, like fellow posters quote, Thailand is great of you have an income from back home, but to,try and make a decent living here, for now and the future, is not so easy..

Go home I say.....

Just my two cents worth.....

I agree with the OP that Thailand is not really a third world country. A lot of folks on TV who like

to view Thailand as negatively as possible often refer to Thailand as a third world country.

I lived and worked 16 years in Japan. It is definitely not a third world country. Today, Thailand

is much more similar to Japan than to Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam or the Philippines.

I lived 6 yrs in the Philippines, where in the provinces only national highways are paved and most

provincial capitals have bamboo hut squatter areas on the main street downtown. Also, most third

world countries have lots beggars bcoz they have nothing else to do. Thailand has fewer beggars

and most are destitute single mothers or the physically handicapped.

In 1960, Thailand was third world. Today, it's much closer to Japan than to Philippines, for example.

The OP has a tough decision to make. His desire to stay here is surely understandable. Thailand is

a fabulous place to live, has a rapidly developing infrastructure and a growing economy, but I think

it's very difficult to envision any future here with no hope of a pension at some point down the road.

Maybe this guy has attention deficit disorder.

He chooses one of the nicest hotels in Pattaya and then chooses

the oldest and ugliest woman he could find.

I'd rather get a modest room and a varoom-varoom companion.

To each his own -- but, I will never understand how some farangs

have such bad taste.

Yes we messed up sorry about have a nice flight.................. see you and your wallet next year.

"...sorry about have a nice flight."

And you are English?

Why, are you a grammar Nazi ?

Not at all. Just a lost hill-billy wondering what you meant.

This guy is the epitome of double standards. Had this been an older person or an Asian who had this condition, and went for a beer with the tokens donated to him, would he still get flamed by everybody for taking money? Probably not.

What a stinking world we live in, where folks show no compassion for people less privileged than themselves. OK the guy could have been a bit more discreet if it was just beer and a shag he wanted, but my god what a right bunch of self-righteous nobs commenting. "Never donate to charity, Never give to beggars blah blah blah" honestly I'm embarrassed to be associated with the same species as you - never happy unless a beggar has absolutely nothing - "Oh he's smoking or oh he's drinking, how dare he have any happiness" Carry on living in your cozy little carefree world, when the other 95% struggle.

Hope this young lad can at least find a little bit of happiness in what must be a very difficult life.

Baxida, This has got to be one of the very best posts I've ever read on TV.

Thanks for being an astute observer and for your candid assessment.

"Oh he's smoking or oh he's drinking, how dare he have any happiness"

if he likes self destruction so much - nobody can forbid him, but FOR HIS OWN MONEY do you understand the difference?

this 50.000 baht can make a bunch of Thais a little bit happier - those who take care of there bodies and need just one thing - to survive from disease, even without cigarettes and liquor.

so trying to save this scumbag is like trying to feed a dead cat. Don't you think it would be more fair to spend money on people who really WANT TO LIVE and take care of there relatives, even if they are not Germans?

but you, as I see, have a bit twisted moral - for you it's normal that he spent charity money donated to him on booze, you just wish him to hide better. May be because you see yourself on his place? And you want to believe you can continue your antisocial way of life on somebody's else money?

I would take him to Germany, send him to rehab and throw away the key - for his own safety. This is the only humane way for a society to neutralize destructive elements. But I bet German leftists better give him more money to buy booze, and would be happy to give him methadone - if this guy will just declare himself a heroin user.

And in these conditions you are surprised why there are so many junkies, drunkards, and other parasites in Germany?

lol

Maybe you would suggest the unfortunate young man just spend his time every day in prayer and meditation.

Mine got, can't you just accept that he is human and imperfect. His "crime" in no threat to society in general.

I hope you run your own life by such strict standards of appropriate behavior.

Phuket is a great holiday for clueless tourists who either don't know any better

than spending 500-1,000 baht for a 100-baht meal or who're willing to put up

with all the scamming and bad surroundings just for the night life.

If you're looking for night life there are many places far superior to Phuket.

I really wonder if you've ever actually been to Phuket, and if you have it appears that you fell into the category of 'clueless tourists' that you deride. The attraction of Phuket to many is it's diversity and range of options for both holidaying and as a resident expat. Nowhere, and I'm including Chiang Mai, has the choice of lifestyles, shopping, recreational activities (including restaurants), medical care, clean air (Chiang Mai definitely doesn't tick that box) that Phuket has. Bangkok will have some things in more abundance, but who seriously would want to live in Bangkok given they have a choice.

I'm just back from having lunch with my wife at a restaurant near to our home. It's also adjacent to Wat Chalong, one of the foremost tourist attractions in Phuket. Lunch was a couple of vegetarian dishes for my wife (it's the Phuket Vegetarian Festival at the moment, and she likes to adhere to the tradition for the 10 days that it's on), an excellent Cesaer Salad with some deep fried chicken pieces on the side for me. Washed down with a couple of small Singha's for me, and a fresh pineapple juice for my wife. Total 620 baht, in what is a good quality establishment in a pleasant environment. If that's being ripped off/scammed, I guess I really need to broaden my experience. Some photos:

Pagallim, the food and the place looks great.

If you're very happy with your life there and I'm very happy with my life here, we need not have

any argument. I'll have to take back my rash remarks. Maybe I was a bit too harsh based on some

bad experiences I had in Phuket (like in Pattaya) that left me with less than pleasant memories.

Enjoy.

"Thais are angry because it seems he preyed on their generosity." this is the best !!!!

Are you implying that Thais in general have less generosity? In my experience --

outside of the main tourist areas -- Thais are more generous than Westerners.

And are also more honest, smell a lot better... etc, etc.

I took it that this post was alluding to the ironic twist taking place here. Often the Thai will see the farang in an opportunistic way. Preying on our naivete and/or our sometimes generous natures to alleviate us from the burden of some of our supposed wealth. I am of course referring to non TV farang. Something like this could never happen to such an enlightened and savvy group.

I agree with you about what the post was alluding to, and thus my objection.

Your reference to "the Thai will see the farang in an opportunistic way. Preying on our naiveté..." relates only to Thailand's tourist

areas, which comprise maybe 1-2% of the total population. In tourist areas in many countries, the locals are "opportunistic" as you

have described. However, such description does not fit the great majority of Thais, any more than it fits most folks in other countries.

Unless sex tourism is your goal, I'd suggest going the opposite direction.

Phuket has a horrid reputation on many counts. About the only redeeming quality

is the beaches -- but access to these comes at a high price in terms of high prices,

scams, rip-offs, poor service, and many other issues.

If you can forego the beaches, head to Chiang Mai. Compared to Phuket it feels a

lot like going to heaven without dying.

One example -- yesterday we had pasta at Success restaurant on the river near

Narawat bridge. It's some of the best pasta I've ever had. The restaurant is nice,

friendly and good service. The pasta ranges in price from 80-150 baht. They also

have a wide selection of great thin crust pizza at very reasonable prices.

This place is rather typical of the friendly service and good prices in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai is the nicest place all-round I've ever been in my many years in Asia.

If you want a pasta holiday move in to your local Italian restaurant, if you want to sit on the banks of a muddy river go to Melbourne, if you want a real holiday with all the adventures outlined in post #5 (and more!) come to Phuket!

There are a lot of myths and misinformation in your response.

Italian restaurants often have very lousy pasta (and pizza).

Chiang Mai's muddy river is as pleasant as muddy rivers anywhere.

Phuket is a great holiday for clueless tourists who either don't know any better

than spending 500-1,000 baht for a 100-baht meal or who're willing to put up

with all the scamming and bad surroundings just for the night life.

If you're looking for night life there are many places far superior to Phuket.

This guy is the epitome of double standards. Had this been an older person or an Asian who had this condition, and went for a beer with the tokens donated to him, would he still get flamed by everybody for taking money? Probably not.

What a stinking world we live in, where folks show no compassion for people less privileged than themselves. OK the guy could have been a bit more discreet if it was just beer and a shag he wanted, but my god what a right bunch of self-righteous nobs commenting. "Never donate to charity, Never give to beggars blah blah blah" honestly I'm embarrassed to be associated with the same species as you - never happy unless a beggar has absolutely nothing - "Oh he's smoking or oh he's drinking, how dare he have any happiness" Carry on living in your cozy little carefree world, when the other 95% struggle.

Hope this young lad can at least find a little bit of happiness in what must be a very difficult life.

Baxida, This has got to be one of the very best posts I've ever read on TV.

Thanks for being an astute observer and for your candid assessment.

"Thais are angry because it seems he preyed on their generosity." this is the best !!!!

Are you implying that Thais in general have less generosity? In my experience --

outside of the main tourist areas -- Thais are more generous than Westerners.

And are also more honest, smell a lot better... etc, etc.

Have they commented on your smell then?

Hehehe... great comeback.

Well, after 27 years in Asia I've lost most of my unseemly Western habits, such as reluctance

to taking a shower every day.

In many parts of the world (such as Europe, the Middle East and India), there is an old tradition

of not bathing for long periods due to superstitions involving health.

Most of East and Southeast Asia have no such tradition. Even in very poor countries, such as

Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and even in the mountains of the Philippines, they have a

tradition of bathing every day.

Unless sex tourism is your goal, I'd suggest going the opposite direction.

Phuket has a horrid reputation on many counts. About the only redeeming quality

is the beaches -- but access to these comes at a high price in terms of high prices,

scams, rip-offs, poor service, and many other issues.

If you can forego the beaches, head to Chiang Mai. Compared to Phuket it feels a

lot like going to heaven without dying.

One example -- yesterday we had pasta at Success restaurant on the river near

Narawat bridge. It's some of the best pasta I've ever had. The restaurant is nice,

friendly and good service. The pasta ranges in price from 80-150 baht. They also

have a wide selection of great thin crust pizza at very reasonable prices.

This place is rather typical of the friendly service and good prices in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai is the nicest place all-round I've ever been in my many years in Asia.

"Thais are angry because it seems he preyed on their generosity." this is the best !!!!

Are you implying that Thais in general have less generosity? In my experience --

outside of the main tourist areas -- Thais are more generous than Westerners.

And are also more honest, smell a lot better... etc, etc.

Based on my experience, if you use Fedex for shipping anything to or from Thailand you stand a

99.9% chance of having big problems with customs.

On my last attempt earlier this year, I had to abandon my shipment at customs bcoz the customs

tax was more than the value.

Have not had this problem with Express Mail or with any other shipper, only Fedex.

Yes we messed up sorry about have a nice flight.................. see you and your wallet next year.

"...sorry about have a nice flight."

And you are English?