KevWaters

Thai kale is among the leaf vegetables most heavily contaminated with fertilisers & pesticides.

HIGHLY recommend you thoroughly wash your kale! Soak with a couple of tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda. A little vinegar can be added, too.

THREE rinses, scrubbing the leaves with your hands each time.

This should be your standard veg protocol in Asia where far too many of the fruit & veg come from China. (Gotta love than humanure!)

Cheers for the heads up.

I buy "kale" and "tipped kale" very often from Tops Daily and have only been rinsing it under the tap so far. I have no first hand experience of seeing Thai people use chemicals for farming. Better take precautions.

Interesting, last Christmas day me and a few friends were having a picnic at the park behind Paradise mall on Sinarkarin Rd when we were approached by a Pakistani man claiming the same thing. Slight difference he was there with his wife and 3 young kids.

To be fair he did not ask for anything but did go on to tell us about having to flee Pakistan due to them facing persecution as they were Christians and had claimed political asylum in Bangkok , i kid you not, i thought that was what the UK was for.

Anyway we ended up giving them a load of food and my rather generous Aussie friend gave each kid some Baht..... Scam or not ???

Interesting indeed.

This happened next door to Paradise Mall at the Tesco in Seacon Square. It may well be the same family. They also did not ask for any money but were quite pushy about us going with them. It sounded like they wanted us to follow them but changed to organising dinner for another time when my wife said we were busy.

The woman was quite chubby. This is the man in the photo, minus the mustache. Same guy?

Hard to tell if it's the same guy but his story matched what realfunster posted. As others have said no harm in giving a little if you want to, but if they were pushy as you suggested I would have left and given nothing.

She was very forward about us going with them, they didn't ask for many. In fact, they only mentioned about being persecuted Christians by LINE later that evening. They haven't messaged since. Maybe it was genuine. It should all felt a bit intense and made me feel uncomfortable. They said that they haven't met many people who can speak English in Bangkok, and don't have many friends. They should go to Nana, it is full of indians there.

I don't think we'll be going to their home for Curry (as she said), but good luck to them if they are indeed genuine asylum seekers.

Interesting, last Christmas day me and a few friends were having a picnic at the park behind Paradise mall on Sinarkarin Rd when we were approached by a Pakistani man claiming the same thing. Slight difference he was there with his wife and 3 young kids.

To be fair he did not ask for anything but did go on to tell us about having to flee Pakistan due to them facing persecution as they were Christians and had claimed political asylum in Bangkok , i kid you not, i thought that was what the UK was for.

Anyway we ended up giving them a load of food and my rather generous Aussie friend gave each kid some Baht..... Scam or not ???

Interesting indeed.

This happened next door to Paradise Mall at the Tesco in Seacon Square. It may well be the same family. They also did not ask for any money but were quite pushy about us going with them. It sounded like they wanted us to follow them but changed to organising dinner for another time when my wife said we were busy.

The woman was quite chubby. This is the man in the photo, minus the mustache. Same guy?

Maybe they found you guys attractive.

Funny you sat that as that was my first thought. His Mrs was giving me some really funny looks. Maybe she wanted me to do a demonstration in front of her fella.

I'm very trusting, thankfully my wife gave me the wake up call and we didn't stick around them for too long.

Come to think of it, I think you might be right. When they were talking to us I didn't see them actually buying anything. Also, she followed us to get our number near to the door but he was still near the tills and she had to call him over to confirm their number as correct. I don't know why they weren't together, maybe he was pulling the trick on other people. They did have a little kid aged 1 with them who was wearing eye liner, which made me feel a little suspicious at first but then dismiss it as me being too judgmental. The fact that they were Pakistani's dressed like westerners (superman shirt etc) who are persecuted by their own people, but still adopt exclusive parts of that culture just didn't seem "real" to me. It didn't add up. I think they were staying illegally, low on cash and probably used the persecution idea to suggest otherwise. I will block them on LINE. Thanks for the heads up as I didn't know it was a "common" scam.

Howdy,

Last night I was approached my a Pakistani couple whilst checking out of Tesco and they were very keen to become friends with me and my wife asking where we lived and what Country we are from. Within seconds they were inviting us to their house for food and asking for our numbers. At first, they could me by surprise and I was caught up in their seemingly friendly nature and agreed to give out my LINE to them. They have messaged me saying how they are Christian Pakistani's forced to leave their own Country due to persecution.

I have started to feel a bit suspicious about their forwardness and openness. Has anyone here heard about any tricks made by such people? I did read up a bit and read that some Pakistani's in Bangkok have been tricking people into letting them see their foreign and local money and then taking it. Does anyone here have any experience/knowledge of this? Maybe I am being overly cynical, who knows, either way I don't think I will be taking up the invitation.

Here they are...

I've just bought a bag of 4 for 99 baht from macro in bangna, Bangkok.They look like Haas but are a little bigger, have smoother greener skin. The last time I got these they were very hard for 3 days, on day four I cut them open and they were black inside. The outside was still hard. Im trying again, I use them in smoothies so I don't mind too much as long as they aren't rotten.

When I lived up north I would pay 50 baht per kilo (usually 3) in mae sai for these huge round ones that were very delicious. I saw them at villa market in Chiang mai for 39 baht each too.

There are plenty of Haas around but I ain't paying 89 baht each in topps or foodland. I use too many for that.

The bottom line is that it is best to avoid it at the moment if applying for a Tourist Visa just go to Vientiane or Penang. At Penang taken me 5 minutes to submit my application and 2 minutes to collect it. Not one question was asked. P.S. Thanks for the insight re. applying at the Embassy Vs. Consulate.

OP, there is a MyRapid bus which runs every few minutes from Ampang LRT station to the embassy along Ampang Road.

Costs 1 Ringgit.

Probably not helpful as you don't look to be ever going back to that embassy again, but might help someone else who doesn't fancy the marathon sprint in flip flops.

Cheers for the tip, but I didn't have time to wait around for that anyway. I never saw that bus on either of my four sprints up the road. A young lad like me doesn't need a bus for such a short distance when time is of the essence. It was a bloody good workout though for sure!

I don't know why Tourists are expected to dress like Businessmen, but for anyone thinking the dress sense (flip flops, jeans and polo shirt) had something to do with the refusal, I did already tell you in the OP that I was not the only one being refused. There were at least 4 others that I saw from the 22 before me (which is a lot considering that not all of the 22 were applying for Tourist Visa. from what I overheard, they didn't get past the Malaysian hotel receipt stage. That request still baffles me, it was never asked of me when I entered Malaysia, so why ask when I am trying to leave. It seems way out of context.

Don't go to KL if you can avoid it. I went three days ago and they were awful. I'm in Penang now and is a complete breeze compared to KL.

Yes, there are no rules against doing that. I am in the same situation and am going back to Penang Consulate to pick up my Single Entry Tourist Visa tomorrow (fingers crossed).

As said above, it depends on who you meet, with some consulates having a history of being much more difficult than others. As it is your first time there shouldn't be any issue if you are lucky to meet reasonable officers (unlike those in KL).

I didn't know that Mario, I thought only VIentiane issued double entry. Good to know!

My 30 day stamp exemption was about to expire so I flew to Kuala Lumpur from Bangkok on a Wednesday night to get a Tourist Visa early the next morning.

The Thai Consulate is easy to find and get to compared to the ones I have been too (VIentiane, and now Penang) but it is a 1.5 km walk from the LRT (similar to the BTS) station. I arrived 15 minutes before opening at 9.15am and there were 21 people in front of me. On entry, I was impressed to see that it was all done in the same air conditioned room and the three staff were moving through the numbers swiftly. It was also FAR less crowded than the consulate in Vientiane. Sadly, this is where all praise ends.

Once I got to the counter I was asked for proof of my transport out of Malaysia. I explained that I was going to visit Penang first and then by the bus ticket from there, but that was not good enough. They insisted that I buy the bus/plane ticket before they will take my application and gave me 30 minutes to do so if I wanted my application to be submitted on that day (printed ticket or receipt only). I taken off my flip flops and ran the 1.5km to the LRT (funny sight for sure, but those broken paths are pretty painful on the feet too). From there I changed once and ended up at the bus station where I could buy a ticket for the following night to Hat Yai. I then raced back bear foot to arrive back bang on the 12pm deadline soaked with sweat and shaking it off like a dog. They told me I was too late, but then agreed to accept my application. 20 minutes later they called me over and told me they would need receipts for where I was staying in KL.They told me to come back tomorrow with the receipts, but I didn't want to miss the bus that I had just booked. I was angered by this but remained calm and told them they should have told me before. They agreed to give me another 30 minutes to go and get hotel receipts for the two nights. Again I sprinted as fast as I could and taken the LRT to Central where the affordable places are and paid for another night at the place I stayed the night prior, before returning to the consulate 40 minutes later to find they had just closed for lunch.

I waited for 1 hour 30 mins until they reopened and I think they could tell how frustrated I was as they just accepted it. I sat down again relieved and when they called me back over I was expecting the problems to be behind us, but no...they were not. They then asked where I would stay in Thailand once I arrived and to provide written proof of address in Thailand. Tourists often don't have a fixed address. I have been staying with a friend for the 4 days I have been living in Bangkok so I could not provide formal proof of a fixed address for them. They could not provide me with an alternate solutions to this problem. They just told me to call the consulate from the phone box down the street and then come back tomorrow. They refused to speak directly to them, and they couldn't tell me how they could know what the consulate told me unless they spoke directly with them. At the same time as this request I was also asked to provide ticket proof of my journey out of Thailand at the end of my stay. I told them that Tourists didn't plan so far ahead and I did not know where I would be doing yet.

I told them that the last two requests were not even on the list of required documents that they were showing me but they pointed to a part that says the consulate have the right to ask for ANY documents that they want. I would understand that, as long as it was foreseeable and made sense. First of all, why would I need to prove I am staying in a hotel in Malaysia, and prove that I will leave. I don't even need a visa to enter Malaysia, and I wouldn't be buying a Visa for another Country if I was going to stay!

I told them I needed the Visa today because I had already acted on their command and bought the bus ticket out of Malaysia at 600 Baht, and another night in a hotel that was no use unless I could get the Visa the next day. No way was I re-submitting my application on Friday in KL and waiting until Monday to be rejected. I did make a joke of it at this point and ask if they needed any food or drink receipts too.

So, as I could only get a Transit Visa from them and not a Tourist Visa, I left and headed for Penang taking the 1,600 Baht loss on the chin. The guard at the entrance joked about it and told me that Penang will be much easier.

The Penang Consulate was much harder to find as the nearest bus stops over 1km away from it. Knowing this, I hired a scooter on arrival at the City centre at 9am and went straight over there. The one way roads made it a much longer journey than it should have been. When I arrived at 9.30 there was no queue and I filled in the form and gave it straight to the desk. Done in around 5 minutes, but being a Friday this means I will go back on Monday to pick it up.

In Summary, DO NOT GO TO KL FOR A TOURIST VISA, GO TO PENANG!!!! But if you do, make sure you wear Trainers and have had your morning coffee because they will do what they can to refuse you. I wasn't the only one on that day.

I'll be living in a Condo near to Bearing BTS and will be looking for somewhere with a heavier range of weights than they have in the gym at the Condo. I wont need to go somewhere to use cardio equipment, so that is not important. I am just looking for somewhere that has a good range of heavy weights, bars and benches. I'm looking for something more a long the lines of an old school bodybuilding gym rather than a corporate one.like Fitness First.

Can anyone suggest a gym with heavy weights in the area? Or near to a stop on the Sukhumvit BTS line?

Update: I did get the email to say that I would need to apply from my home Country, unless I had long term residence certificates for elsewhere. I've emailed them my work permit proofs for the last 2 years. Let's see what good that does.

It is actually Guangdong, Guangzhou to be precise.

The company I will be working for will sort out all the paper work for the visa. They said I need to go to the consulate in the area that is governed by my place of residence. They know I live in Thailand. I have specified Chiang Mai Consulate to them as that would be convenient for me. If you are right, they may well pay for my journey to England and back again. That would be sweet!

I live in the North of Thailand.

Which Chinese Consulate would be the closest to me for getting a visa to work in China? I'm aware that there is a Consulate in Chiang Mai, but do they issue such Visa's or would I need to go to Bangkok?

Do you have a proper 4 year degree and did you receive teacher training ? Too many, and I know one very well, can't even speak correct English let along teach English. They are here to party and screw the students. My gf got a new English teacher, young English guy, and he is hitting on all the girls. She can hardly understand his English as he has a heavy accent. This guy should not be teaching, Period !!!

OP... You have many bad examples of teachers out there so Thais (other teachers and students) now don't trust the farang and will question everything. Blame your fellow farang teachers if you are doing everything correctly they could be the reason.

Just saying

I have a 3 year English related degree. You might not think so from my occasional key slips and heat of the moment rant style of writing

I get along with all of the teachers at my school, just one has has a problem with the farang each year. Her voice reigns supreme. When the Director makes promises to me, this teacher just cancels such promises. Perhaps the reason she has a stick up her ass is because she knows how much power she has. She was joking the staff room earlier today about me getting a 3 sentence letter of recommendation from her with her name and contact info at the bottom so she can speak to any potential new employers. She joked about this to intimidate the other farang at the school, who she regularly tells "don't be like Kevin".

It's a shame that this is Thai culture like some of you say. Part of me doesn't want to discredit Thailand by thinking that this is the way it must be here. If I do loose this battle at least I can take the experience of how messed up the educational system is and tell some stories about it.

I don't feel the same person after this experience so far and have been taking anti-depressants in the last few weeks as the defamation and threats got worse. Maybe it's finally time to use some of those sick days I have avoided using thus far.

Kevin,

after reading a few dozen posts, I think you figured things out. Hang in there and collect a salary while you are busy applying for another job. Be that in LOS or abroad. And when the going gets tough, take time out.

Have a good meal, a massage and try to forget what's bothering you at the school.

...

There are some things which make me wonder.

* your HoD is weak - or wise and she will just shun the crazed hater and ignore her actions?

* would the school support the "reporting spree" against you? The purpose of that eludes me - you aren't teaching any more. So what is it that this woman wants the Police (and the Pope?) to know?!?

Yeah, they are like this. Had a director ask the foreigners to hold some for-profit seminars during their Fall holidays. When that fell through due to no takers among other schools, we had to teach students, while Thai teachers were free to go.

Firings? Hours before the end of the month, some Thai letter gets handed over. Gotta put the foreigner to work till the last minute!

Letting them keep your salary makes no sense to me. Collect your salary, keep your head down. And go get some good reference and have someone else sign it. (Maybe even prepare it yourself).

Good luck!

The HoD is beyond weak, it is actually pathetic to witness. She moans to me about how she does not want the job.

The school wouldn't actively support it, but the Director and HoD will sign anything the teacher puts under their nose. That was already proven with the last letter that they said was unofficial.

The English Camp for 30 March until 4 April has been cancelled but I am expecting them to use is in some other way for as long as possible. I've learned from this experience and will always ask how much holiday I will get next time. I was a little naive and taken it for granted that I would get the same they given when they used an agency, and the same most farangs get, or at the very least one month the same as Thai teachers. I was too trusting about that.

They said they would give me a good reference, but the teacher has talked them out of it. That wont happen now, so I'll have to put something together myself. Most of the jobs I am applying for need a reference letter from the Head of Department, not the teacher with the grudge.

I will take the salary, but I think it may involve a claim at the admin court, at least for the part between 30 April to 5 May, which they wont pay. I don't know why they are so reluctant when they are saving 50% of the money they were paying on foreigner salary by hiring us directly rather than using the agency like they did last year. I worked it out that they are saving more than 3 million baht by doing so. The issue here is they think they can do what they want because we are not a big company, and are probably not used to "small" people taking them to court. Best to continue to keep my head down and just issue the claim in May when they fail to make that payment. Not sure whether I will include anything else onto that claim as of yet. I know how the English legal system works, but no idea about what is recoverable in Thai law.

The level of insight shown by the OP into the system and culture here, plus his lack of sensitivity with regards to the topics he chooses suggest he would do far better seeking employment as a crash test dummy.

So yeah, best to get out of dodge... entirely.

7000 words of complaint... in English... in Thailand... to an employer.

Classic.

It was never intended that the Head of Department read the entirety of the letter, that was her prerogative. The intention was to record a summary of the meeting together with all my grievances and attach them by email so I had recorded proof that I had taken issue with the teachers behaviour. Also, her lack of response (which I had anticipated) could indicate agreement of my version of events and help to show the truth in my claim to third parties should something arise (such as dismissal) where I need something to rely on in the future.

The tactic did help in yesterdays interview. The teacher tried to deny what she had said and encourage the Head of Department to agree with her. The Head of Department just stayed silent on the matter, which caused the teacher to storm out.

The summary of the meeting was that she would give me a copy of the warning letter but only if she could send it Immigration and every school in the area too. I accepted. After she left the office, the Director and Head of Department said that she is blunt and says crazy things sometimes. They will now write me a good recommendation letter and urged me to let it all go. I have no problem with that now.

Who pays the postage?

What does it make it h e r business (that you are someone who does what humans do, making mistakes)?

Is she herself without blame and has the backing of the director??

The teaching has ended? Were any letters sent off? Who paid the postage - was it by registered mail? (Something is decidedly o d d about this, JMHO)

And all parties know that you won't be teaching there next term. <deleted>?!?

Why can't the HoD and the director shut this down?

Maybe she had feelings fro you and is now a woman scorned? Or is she a nutter? Usually, this stops when it's costing money.

There was no postage, not even an envelope. The teacher sat two tables in front of me in the staff office. She turned around and gave it to me on Christmas Day. I calmly said, no problem...I was expecting something like this...but I am glad that you did not ask me to sign it, as I would not since the contents are not true. She taken it back and I never saw it again. I did see that it was signed by the Director and Head of Department. Felt like a right knife in the back having people support her on something they have no idea about, didn't take the time to investigate...and actually really should know is fabricated due to her confessed vendetta. It's even crazier that they now deny it was official and refuse to give me a copy because they can see how sure I am that I can prove it all to be untrue

The Head of Department can't stop the behavour because she is the same age (2 years away from retirement) and they have bad history together. She really needs to keep the peace. The teacher shouted that the HoD will "never be as beautiful, rich or successful" as her when she was chosen above her as HoD at the meeting. The teacher calls the shots, the other teacher unprofessionally complains that she doesn't want the job....actually, I think she does, but says that not to upset the teacher that did not get it.

She didn't know I had a wife and was expecting a son when I came, so who knows. Perhaps. She was very nasty with an older woman before me too...which makes me think that it is just a superiority complex. If she tells me to go get a visa in Laos and I know I can get it done in a day in Bangkok, sorry ma'm...but I am doing the latter. Practicality comes first, even it if means going against Thai culture by not submitting to all demands as some state I need to learn to do.

The Summer camp that has been conveniently planned during my family's visit has now been cancelled. We are teaching one on the 16-18th March. It seems to easy now so I expect there to be much more coming my way, I know it will not be an easy ride through until May 5th. In hindsight I would have gone on October 30th as I had considered doing at the time. Now just got to sail through.

Do you have a proper 4 year degree and did you receive teacher training ? Too many, and I know one very well, can't even speak correct English let along teach English. They are here to party and screw the students. My gf got a new English teacher, young English guy, and he is hitting on all the girls. She can hardly understand his English as he has a heavy accent. This guy should not be teaching, Period !!!

OP... You have many bad examples of teachers out there so Thais (other teachers and students) now don't trust the farang and will question everything. Blame your fellow farang teachers if you are doing everything correctly they could be the reason.

Just saying

I have a 3 year English related degree. You might not think so from my occasional key slips and heat of the moment rant style of writing

I get along with all of the teachers at my school, just one has has a problem with the farang each year. Her voice reigns supreme. When the Director makes promises to me, this teacher just cancels such promises. Perhaps the reason she has a stick up her ass is because she knows how much power she has. She was joking the staff room earlier today about me getting a 3 sentence letter of recommendation from her with her name and contact info at the bottom so she can speak to any potential new employers. She joked about this to intimidate the other farang at the school, who she regularly tells "don't be like Kevin".

It's a shame that this is Thai culture like some of you say. Part of me doesn't want to discredit Thailand by thinking that this is the way it must be here. If I do loose this battle at least I can take the experience of how messed up the educational system is and tell some stories about it.

I don't feel the same person after this experience so far and have been taking anti-depressants in the last few weeks as the defamation and threats got worse. Maybe it's finally time to use some of those sick days I have avoided using thus far.

recom273

Posted Today, 14:29

Is this your first or second gig ?

I just want to say as someone who has been through it before, successful teachers aren't necessarily good teachers, teachers who smile and can play the system are usually successful.

I think you need to find a balance that suits you.

I would say that a successful teacher in Thailand is someone who perseveres every day to actually teach and discipline his students without letting the system discourage or stop him from teaching.

Teachers who give up and only play the system in my mind have completely failed themselves and their students. I don't know how anyone could live with themselves when they have no purpose at work other than self survival in the so-called system, especially when they work in education because it's the students who suffer.

To the OP, you may want to seek professional counseling sooner than later...

What has he done that makes you think he needs to see a shrink? I hear so many pompous posters on here say this many times when they do not know the person or his real situation.

It sucks to be victimised when all your doing is trying to do the best for the students and are the victim of petty jealousy.

yes, a 7000 word letter to a Thai in charge is a bit of a nonsensical strategy, but i guess the guy is still thinking in western mode.

Get a life and stop trying to knock others down. It is painfully obvious you and others like you use the "professional help" cards to try and distract from your own incompetencies and insecurities

The 7,000 word letter was a summary of everything that had happened to date sent by email to the Head of Department. It was not intended to be read by a Thai person but could be relied upon in the future should the matter go to the court. It would be my only real solid peace of evidence as the Thai teachers will no doubt stick together and deny everything.

I agree, it can be frustrating when people talk about shrinks when you are obviously experiencing a crisis at work. I too have seen it many times here so wont take it personally. It is just a way of someone trying to stick the knife in because they are unhappy with the way things are going for themselves. If you see my posts you can see I don't want to be "surviving" at this school forever. I'm battling through until the end of the contract trying to get what is rightfully mine and fully deserve after putting up with so much crap from them over the last year.

I don't feel like I should "be a man" as one poster says and walk away leaving all the two month salary behind. Meanwhile, I would be struggling to bring up my son in a different Country after paying housing deposits and other settling costs. I think to fight for every baht would be more ideal if it will help us.

hey kev u post:

"I booked a flight to see my family at the end of March"

then you admit,

" I am "contracted until 31st April" (it's actually 5th May on the contract but they are trying to dodge a weeks pay). I know I am contracted until then,"

my question is:

?were you required to work until end of april/5th of may? or does your contract say you can take a holiday before your contract terminates?

Well, it is a 12 month contract so it ends on the new term start date. It doesn't specify particular holiday dates but these contracts never do. The teacher must get some before the new term starts. It is usually 1 month for a Thai, 2 month for a Farang. They led me to believe I would get around 6 weeks when I told them about my holiday plans. Like most other Thai schools they can't get anything organised until the last minute so they never know what to tell the teachers. If I were to ask them now when I could take annual leave they wouldn't be able to give me an answer.

That is exactly what they want now all work has been completed. Me to walk so they can keep summer pay for themselves. Schools re-open in May here.

P.S We have never signed in at the school, I don't think we will need to do that. Also, very unlikely that there will be any paperwork to do. The school are FAR too unorganised to orchestrate anything like that.