Horatio Poke

There are plenty of dismissive expressions that you could use.  They vary from polite and friendly to vulgar and confrontational.  If you don't speak any Thai I'd advise avoiding them all because you'd be inviting a discussion in Thai that you'd be unable to participate in. 

If you speak a little Thai I'd advise to sticking with something simple within your present range  i.e. "I think that it's a waste of time/money/effort/etc" and be prepared to defend your opinion from there.

I'm with Briggsy 100% on this one.

No, but since yesterday I'm having problems with gmail.  It will only load the first page of my messages with no links to further pages in basic html mode.  If I go to standard mode it loads all messages, but slowly.

1 hour ago, khwaibah said:

 

BAAC or Bank for Agriculture and Agriculture Cooperative is for Thais only not for a foreigner. 

You are wrong.

I, a foreigner, have two accounts with our local BAAC branch, which is why I asked KCI if they would accept a BAAC account and covering letter for extension of stay purposes in the first place.

I opened my two BAAC accounts quite separately several months apart.  The first account that I opened was an instant access account with passbook and ATM card exactly the same as my Bangkok Bank accounts.  I opened it with 500 Baht and my passport.  I was welcomed with open arms.  I have since found that BAAC offers excellent service.

I was told last year by Kap Choeng Immigration that any deposit in BAAC bank would not be accepted.  I used by Bangkok Bank instant access savings account for the proof without problem.

"tdua ngern tdua tong" is correct.

"hia" and "dtua hia" are vulgar but arguably still correct as an everyday term for the animal.  They are commonly used.

"hia" is used in other expressions too. I've never used it and never will.  I strongly recommend that you avoid using it and understand how vulgar and inappropriate it is when you hear others using it.

I think that you've rather answered your own question in that if you can't see the point of learning Thai then for you it is a pointless endeavour.

Re your question,

"If I am obviously unable to reproduce the correct sounds so that a Thai person can understand/interpret it correctly... ...then should I just be honest to myself and say that I obviously haven´t got what it takes to speak Thai in a way that locals understand?"

If that's the case then Yes.

Bluetooth Tethering is relatively slow. http://www.imore.com/usb-vs-bluetooth-vs-wi-fi-whats-best-way-tether-your-mac-your-iphone-or-ipad

Super link!!! Very useful and informative article. Thanks.

The advantage that the MiFi have over USB 'aircards' is that you don't need Drivers in order to get them to work with your computer. So you aren't limited in that way.

The downside is that they are more expensive, especially in Thailand. Expect to pay at least 1500 baht and then perhaps a bit more to get it unlocked for use with every network, if it is a model from TRUE.....

USB modems (dongles) are a bit of a waste of money these days. They will all work with AIS as long as they are not branded TRUE or DTAC.

You might also be able to tether using your Smartphone if you have one......

OP! do not look for dongle!Listen to Jiu-Jitsu!Do you have smart phone or tablet?most of them

offer tethering:smartphone/tablet connected to mobile internet can deliver it to your laptop in

3 ways:by USB wire or by Wi-Fi hotspot or by BlueTooth - you will shoot 2 birds with 1 stone.

For me having an OPPO R7plusf:

1) press settings

2) under general (which starts with 'wifi setting') press 'more'

3) next screen: switch on the option 'Bluetooth tehtering'

4) now this device is your 'hotspot'

Take other device (telephone etc), switch on wifi and select the wifi address from your 'hotspot device' and enter the password, which was somewhere during this process provided - but I cannot remember where, and there you are. In my case the password was '12345678' (not too difficult).

The above three posts give excellent advice. Thanks guys!!!

I have just followed Halfaboy's step by step instructions and my smartphone works fine as a wifi hotspot. This will save me and my wife recharging three SIMs with 3g service. We should save about 150 baht per week. And of course I should never need to buy an aircard or mini/pocket wifi again.

It remains to be seen just how fast, reliable and convenient this smartphone wifi hotspot arrangement turns out to be but for my modest requirements I'm quietly confident that it should be adequate.

Re Halfaboy's step by step instructions:

My own phone is slightly different but essentially the same as described. The key points are....

press settings>under general (which starts with 'wifi setting') press 'more'>next screen: switch on the option 'Bluetooth tehtering'

The "press 'more' " to get to tethering is the important part, and the part which I would never have found without help. Once you've done that the rest is easy-peasy.

A couple of quick points:-

1) I was quoted 1,690 baht at our local shop for a mini/pocket wifi that would service up to 10 devices at any one time and would accept any SIM card. I think that the price was negotiable, probably down to 1,650 or 1,600 baht. My smartphone seems to have a limit of 5 devices at any one time which is more than enough for me and definitely more than enough for a 3g connection.

2) I've used all the major providers' services but found that I get on best with AIS. It seems to me that the best AIS packages can always be found on the company's Thai language webpages.

Great thread. I have an OPPO R7plusf and by pushing only one button I can make this telephone the wifi hotspot for other devices. Never thought that I could manage things like this.

Have fun....

This sounds excellent, and is something that had never occurred to me.... unsurprisingly enough.

I have a couple of smartphones that run Andriod. What controls/settings do I need to operate to make one of them my wifi hotspot?

I use an aircard and it works well, but nowadays I note that they are not available locally. People around here have started to use "mini wifi" which is a tiny battery and/or mains operated wifi unit that you put a SIM in and then can then send 3G service to all your devices. I've never tried one, but I've a feeling that I will have no choice in the future.

These mini wifi units are available in our local mobile phone shop, which is where I bought my current aircard many years ago. Whatever you end up buying make sure that it will work with your SIM card of choice. Many aircards and mini wifis are restricted to a one particular service provider.

Good luck.

I assume that the sample surveyed was made up entirely of Thaivisa readers, no outsiders. Unfortunately there is nothing in the report that indicates how this sample was chosen. I'm not convinced that it's representative.

The statement, "It’s official: Expats in Thailand are deliriously happy!" looks to me to be anything but official.

Have you tried either of the shutting down and restarting it or the more advanced unplug it and plug it in again remedies? (or maybe a combination of the two?)

The above usually fixes anything.

I largely agree with villagefarang but would add "riap roiy laew" (which colloquially translates as "done and dusted" "spic and span") as an alternative polite response. "riap roiy laew" is usually the response that I receive from Thais when I ask the question.

And yes, the question is a completely trivial piece of small talk. Usually nobody is particularly interested in whether you've actually eaten or not.

.......but I would typically say Than (ทาน) Laew......

To the best of my knowledge "forng" is correct but "bai" and "look" are often used instead.

Whether or not "bai" or more specifically "look" are grammatically incorrect is rather academic in everyday conversation. Both seem to be acceptable and used more often than "forng".

As a fluent Thai speaker who's lived here for more years than I care to remember I regret to tell you that you're seeking the impossible. You cannot respond in a way that will stop those questions. The best that you can do is avoid answering them.

I usually attempt to be evasive in such situations - "I don't remember precisely how much", "My wife paid", or better still "I'm not the one who paid", or "That wasn't something that I took a great deal of notice of", or even in a gently confrontational vein "Why do you want to know?" "Why does that interest you?" "Why does that matter to you?".

If the enquirer's line of questioning continues I respond by displaying bemusement, without actually replying verbally.

Good luck!

You might want to peddle your clobber at one of the regular one-day markets - "talaad nat" - but you'll need a Thai to do your bidding for you, and don't expect to come home with much money from it. But it can be fun and an OK way to dispose of unwanted household items.

If you're stuff is more valuable or specialised you might want to hawk it around the local shops and traders, or even your friends and neighbours, or anywhere you think someone might want it.

If it's just a case of getting rid of stuff then giving it to people that you like is the most rewarding thing to do - or bin it.

I have one because immigration asked for it when I moved home. I had not needed one previously during many years of residing in a different province.

If it's easy to obtain or immigration ask for it then you might want to get one. Otherwise I wouldn't bother.

PS: I note that other posters to this thread list many advantages of having a yellow housebook. I have yet to experience any use for it other than at immigration but nonetheless do feel that you might wish to consider their very positive comments when considering whether to go for one or not.

We've used these traps extensively and very successfully too - for rats, mice, and squirrels.

A smallish piece of bread seems to work pretty well and attracts them even when it's past its best i.e. going hard and dry. A small chunk of sweetcorn is often recommended and OK too, but bread remains our preferred bait.

Happy catching!

I've no idea what official policy is. But I do know that I feel far less welcome here than I did when I first arrived as a tourist a lifetime ago, and less welcome as an expat retiree than I did when I first arrived here many years ago. Nowadays my future here feels to be less secure than it once did.

However, I have put down roots, I'm a reasonably well integrated member of the local community, and I'm happy here. Moving on would be unbelievably difficult for me now. So I'm in for the long haul, whatever that may mean. I just hope that future official policy will not thwart me in that ambition.

@Kenny202 and @SantiSuk,

You make some interesting observations.

@Kenny202

I think that what you're talking about is pretty much human nature. Maybe you're more aware of it than in your home country due to feeling to be an outsider looking in, or maybe because you're hearing a lot about it and only a little about other matters (as you say, "We have a lot of genuine friends here too but the few negative types dominate my wifes thoughts").

In your situation (as I sometimes am) I'd rise above it. If you know that you are decent genuine people then you don't need to pay much attention to the minority of idiots that you encounter.

I wish you good luck in Isaan.

HP

.......Mary Haas's dictionary deserves an honourable mention, though it's a little dated now and very expensive.......

For English-Thai, to be honest, I don't like any of them. For beginners the Thai-English English Thai dictionary of Benjawan Poomsan Becker, published by Paiboon is adequate. 425 baht paperback when I bought it.

I agree absolutely with AyG's comments.

I'm a big fan of the Mary Haas dictionary but I don't have one. It's far too expensive, and so for the relatively small number of times I'd use it would be poor value for me.

I don't like any of the currently available English-Thai dictionaries. I have the Thai-English English-Thai dictionary of Benjawan Poomsan Becker as mentioned. I see it as the best of what's available, but have it only on a better-than-nothing basis.

My all time favourite is The Conversation Dictionary of The Thai Language by Dr Wit Thiengburanathum. It is both English-Thai and Thai-English, contains huge vocabulary, and OK transliterations. Some of the translations do seem to lack precision but by and large it gives pretty much what you want, and definitely as much as you need so long as you're not using it for composing sophisticated documents. I used to have two of these dictionaries, lost one, and the remaining one is falling to bits. I bought it about fifteen years ago for 240 Baht. I never see it on sale nowadays, and haven't done so for about ten years. If anyone sees one anywhere, or has a spare one I'd be interested.

I find online dictionaries to be very variable, and largely unreliable. Google translate and the likes are maybe OK for single words, but nothing more..... maybe not even that much.

I had a spray sometime ago. I only used it once to ward off three dogs. It was useless. The problem is that the spray disperses to next to nothing in much less than a meter and if there's any breeze at all it gets carried away by it. By the time an aggressive dog gets close enough for you to use the spray effectively you're already in far too much trouble. The best defense seems to be a long lightweight stick (a meter or so - bamboo is good and readily available) with a slightly sharpened end, for jabbing - can be used for clubbing too but jabbing is far more effective.

Most soi dogs will back off at the mere sight of a stick.

Update:

I decided to move home sooner rather than later.

The day after my move I went to KCI and took a completed TM28 form, my wife complete with her blue house-book and ID card, my passport of course, copies of all the preceding, and originals and copies of all documents that I suspected might be requested (90-day notification receipt, marriage certificate, and more). My passport, arrival card and 90-day receipt status were examined. All my documents are in order. I've never broken any immigration rules. I've followed all required procedures punctually and to the letter. The TM28 and my notification were refused.

I was told that my notification of change of address and subsequent ability to adopt KCI as my regular office for immigration affairs could not be accepted unless and until I produce a yellow house-book held in my own name. This is something that I probably can do but it will take some time. I was advised to continue using CW in the meantime.

This looks to me like the old sit-close, irritate, ask-the-time, baht-bus pickpocket manoeuvre. It is best thwarted by the quick application of a step-over-leg-lock..... which in Pattaya is not a wise thing to do.