spencerdharmagrafix

probably too little to late. tourism here will be fuct for a while now. a coup, airport closures and the latest protests broadcast all over cnn and bbc showing buses on fire and the military clashing with the protesters. would you come here for a holiday?

Come on, mate, don't blame Thailand for all this - it's because of the Nicaraguans, it's all their fault, they've been plotting something like this for a long time.

I always wondered who those people with little bells on their hats were in chiang mai! so they are Nicaraguans huh?

The emergency law is the smallest problem...

Tsunami (already forgotten)

Airport closer

crazy visa laws (many problem visit other countries and get the 2 weeks only)

pollution (I know several people who don't come because of it)

canceled ASEAN meeting

burning buses army with guns in Bangkok

shootings on the street (lets see how big the Sondhi shooting gets in the newspapers)

I think all over Thailand could be emergency law forever and it would have less impact than any of the other points.

wow i finally found out how to "quote' on this forum!! press the quote button and then the reply one after! i been pressing the quote button only to no avail since 5 years with nothing happening!

anyway to keep to topic, i think that the crazy visa laws are ridiculous too and also the fact that they change their minds every 3 weeks and make a different law. The main problem with Thai politics and law is that they keep chopping and changing. If they dont know whats best for them then they should do what other less proud countries do and allow for international assistance such as UNO to come in (not that im into the NWO either).. but they think they have to resolve all that things with thai people alone. This is impossible because Thai people are in schism and cant even agree between each other . Where is Rome today?? not in the Roman empire.. its in Italy! so where is Siam and Ayuttaya kingdoms? also gone. this is what is happening to Thailand. In 50 years there will be no Thailand if this continues. When the folk begin to eat each other up and estroy each other then a cultur or country will fall into entropy and disappear from the face of the earth. I hope no though as my mum and brother are coming here to live bringing about 150 million baht here eventually and i dont want to see them lose everything.

I too have lost many clients who have written to say they are afraid to come because of the situation.

Lastly on visas, i went to Laos and got 2 tourist visas for free because of the situaiton (visas are free right now) - i suggsted that instead of giving free visas that they just decide once and for all whether to give 30 days on land entry or 15 or 60 or whatever they decide and then stick to their guns. They never wait long enough when they make a new law to see the results.. they change their minds and the laws every time is doesnt work in 5 minutes. This makes people wary as you might buy a visa and the law changes in mid flight.. Unstable economy?? i would say "Unstable minds" more so.

Unfortunately it is true that wherever a farang attempts to make business enterprise, he will be assailedd by jealous, unfriendly and malevolent wishing people who think they can abuse the fact that the Farang is limited by stringent immigration laws which wil never permit him or her to be able to defend himself to the full extent of the law which a Thai can enjoy the use of. This does not mean to say that all Thais are bad, not at all. It only needs one or two ill wishing parties in each place of residence to spoil the show for everyone. Normally one will find that one has enemies in the local competition, and also with the immigration Police when attempting renewal of work permits and visas, company papers etc. It's all about money and how much they can get from you. This is one reason i decided to be poor and not do any business. I said "ok, you all want and need this BS so much, take it all" "I dont need it all i need is a place to sleep good food in stomach and thats it" so if i have nothing, then they can't take anything from me

i have nothing left to be peeled of haha, so now i live quite a peaceful life as once they all know you are poorer than them they stop bothering you. Thai people are beautiful people when you can get the wall between us away (the fact they think you have lots of money falling out your ears). Unfortunately the only time you will get a real decent honest relationship between yourself and the locals is when you really have nothing they might wish was theirs instead of yours.

The though, is when you find the real Thai people who don't wish to take advantage. Theres an old saying that you never know who your friends are till you have nothing!

well there you go.

Sawadee khap all.

Altough this is another tattoo related topic, it is different then the others.

The end of the year me and my girlfriend are going to Thailand for 2 months, and I would finnaly realize a dream of myself and that is to get some yants tattooed

Now I have ofcourse searched on the net and found some Wat's where they tattoo you,

but I can't seem to find Wat's in or near Ubon Ratchathani, in or near Nong Kai, in or near Chiang Mai, and in or near Chiang Rai

Can anyone of you help me and tell me if and where these Wat's can be found in those areas?

I did find some names of Monks, Brahim Masters and Ruesi, and at which Wat's they can be found, but the excact adresses are difficult to find, so if someone can help me out with this I would be very happy.

• Monks:-
  
  
• Hlwong Phu Man
  
• Hlwong Por Lae - Petchburi
  
• Hlwong Pi Pant - ex Wat bang Pra - now at Wat Kho Poon Temple - Ang Tong Provin
  
• 
  
• Wat Bang Pra:
  
• Hlwong Por Phern - Wat bang Pra temple - Nakorn Phatom
  
• Hlwong Pi Phaew - Wat bang Pra
  
• Hlwong Pi Nan - Wat bang Pra
  
• Hlwong Pi Thig - Wat bang Pra
  
• Hlwong Pi Ya - Wat bang Pra
  
• 
  
• Brahmin Masters :-
  
• Ajarn Gaew - Bang Sue, Bangkok
  
• Ajarn Noo Ganpai - Phatum Thani, Bangkok
  
• Ajarn Thong
  
• 
  
• Ruesi:-
  
• Ajarn Thoy - Wat Tong Nai temple, Awn Nut, Bangkok
  
• Ajarn Anek
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Some in Southern Thailand, but don't know their rank:
  - Ajarn Daeng, Wat Rai Temple - Pattani.
  - Ajarn Dam Wat Hin Korkway - Yan Dta Khaw.
  - Ajarn Iad - Wat Poke Yem - Pattalung.
  - Ajarn Biam - Wat Lam Plork - Trang.

Ajarn Man is deceased since before you were born

HP Phern is also deceased.

If you wish to get a tattoo in Ubon then you could ask on the sak yant website by commenting on the samnak sak section pages and asking, or even on the forums there, where i see you are already a member. You never know you might get an accurate answer.

as to

- Ajarn Dam Wat Hin Korkway - Yan Dta Khaw.

- Ajarn Iad - Wat Poke Yem - Pattalung.

- Ajarn Biam - Wat Lam Plork - Trang.

not all of them make sak yant, some of them just make magic spells and amulets. I am researching which ones make sak yant and which not and shall publish in the post where you got all this info from in the first place on the sak yant site. I shall also be visiting them to make fotos and interview them - the consequent pages on them shall appear under the samnak sak section at some point

At least he was elected twice (or is three times) by the people (legally) and not put up by puppet Generals.

Fobuff

through bribery/vote buying/corruption//media control/cencorship/bullying of opponents/state and police violence etc.

not exactly democratic. just because someone gets the most votes doesnt mean they were elected in a democratic way.

the pre requisites for democracy - rule of law, human rights, freedom of speech, fear from intimidation and political violence, accountability - just dont exist in thailand at present.

i hate the yellowshirts too. thailand needs real change not just one bunch of rich power mad brutes fighting another.

A lot of people liked him. He was elected.

That's the problem. There is nobody.

Sadly, you are right, there really is nobody. The problem is the general acceptance for a corrupt "Nisay" (disposition) does not help to change matters. Corruption is part of the social infrastructure, and that is the problem - a dishonest, money and power hungry disposition is built in since early education with the general mindset.

I found this thread to be very informative. Does anyone know of any temples in the issan area (especially around Buri ram, Surin) that specializes in Yan tattooing? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks for the name cards from Ajarn Anek - ill publish them too for those who wish to visit him.

Strict changes in Immigration office areas/locations from February 15

BANGKOK: -- From February 15, 2009 all Thai Immigration offices has been strictly instructed that foreigners have to use the Immigration office that has administrative jurisdiction over the area where they live.

All visa changes, extensions, re-entry permits and other immigration requests are to be handled by the immigration offices in the districts in which the foreigners reside. Immigration offices at international airports can handle such issues only in emergencies ('illness' is given as an example).

See the attached PDF file (below) for all the 63 Immigration offices in Thailand, and explains which Immigration office you should use from February 15.

For example, Kanchanaburi handle immigration duties for all of the province except for Sangkhlaburi District (which are handled, it says, by a separate Sangkhlaburi immigration office). Kanchanburi also handles immigration duties for Ratchaburi and Suphanburi provinces.

Another example: Nong Khai handles immigration for most of Nong Khai province (except for Lao-bordering districts outside Nong Khai District, to be handled by Beung Kan immigration), plus Udon Thani and Khon Kaen.

The big news is that Korat Immigration will only serve foreigners living in Korat province from Feb 15th. This is an order from the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok.

So, people from Khon Kaen will have to go to Nong Khai. Foreigners from example Lopburi, Nong Khai or Chaiyaphum will not be accepted in Korat, not even for a re-entry permit. More confusing is that the list says that foreigners in Korat shall submit their applications to Kap Choeng Immigration in Surin province from February 15, 2009.

Foreigners living in Phatum Thani Province, Nonthaburi Province, Chainat Province, Lopburi Province, Saraburi province, Singburi province, Ayutthaya Province and Angtong province can visit either Ayutthaya Immigration, Chonburi Immigration or Nakhon Pathom Immigration offices.

It's not clear if this affects the One-Stop Visa & Work Permit Center, as previously those eligible for One-Stop services could use them no matter where in the kingdom they resided. One-Stop isn't mentioned, though presumably it's under jurisidiction 1, Metropolitan Bangkok Immigration Inspection Wing.

The information provided above has been verified with the Immigration Bureau.

-- Thaivisa.com 2009-02-12

PS! Thanks to the following for providing the info and translations:

- Thai Immigration Bureau

- Isaan Lawyers http://www.isaanlawyers.com

- Sabaijai, bazmlb and the mods team at thaivisa.com

Attachment:

not that ittle do any good but at least i find it satisfying to try to let them know what we are all feeling and thinking.Changes wont occur for the better if we dont show our feelings and make a stand, i keep saying this but of course we deserve what we get because we dont defend ourselves here. In UK there are lots of indiand pakistanis and many other races who make demos and get the placards out to fight for their rights. Why we dont do this? beats me, but maybe its because we are too shit scared to go for it in case we get our legs blown off by a chinese smoke bomb?

well cowards will always be tread on - i repeat i think we should make a foundation that is financed by donations and try to get organized to make some changes. If it got in the news a load of expats and husbands of thai wives marching and the cops there firing into us.. wow that would embarass them into making changes or at least let the world see how faschist they are.(the government not the people).

for those who can read thai; enjoy the sarcy letter below

co

หลังจากการลดลงแห่งคนเข้ามาเที่ยวไทยโดยเหตุผลที่ว่านโยบายและกฎหมายเกี่ยวกับการลงดวงตราวีซ่าได้เปลี่ยนต่อเนื่องให้เห็นว่าคนไทยตัดสินใจอะไรไม่ได้ซะอย่าง ทำให้ฝรั่งไม่ไว้ใจไทยแล้ว แป๊บนึงก็ได้30วันอีกวันนึงปั๊บก้เปลี่ยนเป็น15วัน ตอนนี้ก็เปลี่ยนอีกว่าคนอยู่ขอนแกนก็ไปต่อที่ขอนแก่นไม้ได้ก็ต้องไปลงตราที่หนองคาย อยู่ปธุมก็ต้องไปอยุทธยาไปปธุมไมได้

นี้ได้พิสูจความมั่วทีรัฐบาลไทยมีดำรง๕์อยู่ ทำกฎหมายที่ไม่ต้องปรับปรุงแต่ละ2อาทิตย์ไม่ได้หรือครับ

ฌมืองไทยก็ลำบากพอดีอยู่แล้วครับ ทำไมต้องเบียดเบียนฝรั่งที่มาลงทุนแต่ไม้ได้รับสิทธิ์อะไรเลยเท่าที่คนไทยที่ไปอยูเมืองนอก เค้าได้แต่งงานก้ได้อนุยาติทำงานและสิทธิ์ซื้อที่ดินได้ แต่สวนฝรั่งที่ได้เมียไทยก็ยังต้องเป็นผู้ไม่มีสิทธิเลยอยู่นะครับ

กรุณาอ่าน เวบไซท์ thaivisa dot com นะครับ คนไทยจะได้รู้ตัวกันว่าไทยกำลังเสียชื่อเสียหน้าอย่างยิง โดยเฉพาะ ต.ม.ไทยครับ

เดี๋ยวจะไม่มีฝรั่งเข้าแล้ว เสียไปหลายร้อยล้านต่อปี

อย่าทำแบบนี้กันสร้างแต่กฎหมายขี้กลัวใครจะมาเอาของไทย เราไม่อยากเอาอะไรเลยนะครับ แค่อยาก เกศียรโดยไม่ต้องต่อวิซ่าทุกที คนแก่ไม่สบายก็มาอยู่ไทย ทำไม่ต.ม.ต้องบังคับเขาให้ไปชายแดนบ่อยขนาดนี้ ขอวีซ่าก็ยากขึ้นตลอด

แย่มากนะครับ

ไม่นาเที่ยวไม่น่าอยู่แล้วนะคับ ทั่วโลกก็เริ่มพูดกันว่าเมืองไทยเสียสติแล้วหลายเรื่องนะครับ

ส่วนผมๆจะหาที่อยู่ที่ง่ายก่วานี่ไม่ลงทุนแล้วที่นีอีกแล้วคับ

คุณแซม

The apologists would do well to read again what she has written.

The problem here is that the police would not be able to even pay for the most basic necessities, such as crime investigations, if they would not supplement the completely insufficient budget from profits of illegal businesses. Such a system is a breeding ground for corruption and crime.

Political interference and constant problems over jurisdiction with the far more powerful (and at least equally corrupt) military do their part as well.

Yes, there are a lot of completely dirty police officers, but there also many good and honest officers trying to do the best they can. You can't just stereotype every officer as a criminal.

Again - this has to be seen in context with the whole society. Otherwise this just ends up another unintelligent barfly rant.

Look at the army, please, in comparison. Nobody controls the army except the army. The army has much larger funds to syphon off from. The army owns directly two TV stations, and several radio stations. They have massive budgets of arms procurement to syphon off from. The after the 2006 coup revamped ISOC gives them huge powers over all security matters (the PM is only the nominal head, while military runs the day to day procedures).

The army has been accused of systematic torture in the South by several international watchdogs, the Rohinya story is still fresh.

Most here have very little idea about police corruption and budgets. People read one snippet or the other in the paper, and believe they know what it is about. You are mistaken. What you should know you rarely read, unfortunately.

What are the most important crimes police benefits from? It's not drugs and murder, as you imply. The basic moneys come from local protection of motorcycle taxi stands, casinos, underground lottery, and similar. A police station would not function without that. WHy did the army in 2006 (and still ongoing) got major improvements, while police got nothing. It's easy to blame police for everything, but when no government sees the necessity to grant police budgets they can actually work with, police reform will stay empty talk.

Murder and drugs is very much an army business as well. Best gunmen and bodyguards - you hire them from the army. Control of cross border drug trade - army.

Thailand has a policeforce it deserves, nothing more, nothing less - a corrupt police that suits a corrupt system.

Totally! - ap[rat from the corruption though i must say they are also uneducated and stupid. I have worked with Thai cops and once had one as a company partner - and to see how psychologically immature some of them were and think they are given loaded guns to play with. I mean i remember once going to restaurant with a cop and halfway through the meal (and beer) he started showing off his italian gucci shoulder holster with the 38 revolver saying "suay mai?" (is it pretty?) - we have seen several cops lose their tempers and klill farang dead for no reason on several occasions, so it is obvious that half the officers are not apt to be trusted with weapons. (maybe 89%)

I met also an army guy who was with a ministry raising foreign funds (*charity) which was then moved into gold - the fellow was trying to find a buyer for 50 tons of gold that he and his fellow officers were going to sell and steal from the national treasury. as well as raise funds for fake charites and steal all the money from foreign bleeding heart organisations and us foreign aid funds.

shame i lost his contact as i was going to report him - anyway thats what goes on in the army. remember the 20 million bahrt stolen from donations for the HP Tuad statue in hua hin? or the 2 milion baht stiolen from an ampher office from donations to help tsunami victims?

well ... welcome to Amazing Thailand

The apologists would do well to read again what she has written.

The problem here is that the police would not be able to even pay for the most basic necessities, such as crime investigations, if they would not supplement the completely insufficient budget from profits of illegal businesses. Such a system is a breeding ground for corruption and crime.

Political interference and constant problems over jurisdiction with the far more powerful (and at least equally corrupt) military do their part as well.

Yes, there are a lot of completely dirty police officers, but there also many good and honest officers trying to do the best they can. You can't just stereotype every officer as a criminal.

Again - this has to be seen in context with the whole society. Otherwise this just ends up another unintelligent barfly rant.

Look at the army, please, in comparison. Nobody controls the army except the army. The army has much larger funds to syphon off from. The army owns directly two TV stations, and several radio stations. They have massive budgets of arms procurement to syphon off from. The after the 2006 coup revamped ISOC gives them huge powers over all security matters (the PM is only the nominal head, while military runs the day to day procedures).

The army has been accused of systematic torture in the South by several international watchdogs, the Rohinya story is still fresh.

Most here have very little idea about police corruption and budgets. People read one snippet or the other in the paper, and believe they know what it is about. You are mistaken. What you should know you rarely read, unfortunately.

What are the most important crimes police benefits from? It's not drugs and murder, as you imply. The basic moneys come from local protection of motorcycle taxi stands, casinos, underground lottery, and similar. A police station would not function without that. WHy did the army in 2006 (and still ongoing) got major improvements, while police got nothing. It's easy to blame police for everything, but when no government sees the necessity to grant police budgets they can actually work with, police reform will stay empty talk.

Murder and drugs is very much an army business as well. Best gunmen and bodyguards - you hire them from the army. Control of cross border drug trade - army.

Thailand has a policeforce it deserves, nothing more, nothing less - a corrupt police that suits a corrupt system.

Totally! - ap[rat from the corruption though i must say they are also uneducated and stupid. I have worked with Thai cops and once had one as a company partner - and to see how psychologically immature some of them were and think they are given loaded guns to play with. I mean i remember once going to restaurant with a cop and halfway through the meal (and beer) he started showing off his italian gucci shoulder holster with the 38 revolver saying "suay mai?" (is it pretty?) - we have seen several cops lose their tempers and klill farang dead for no reason on several occasions, so it is obvious that half the officers are not apt to be trusted with weapons. (maybe 89%)

Police bust swinging party, arrest 13 foreign men

BANGKOK: -- Police raided a swinging party in a Bangkok hotel late Wednesday night and arrested 13 foreign men, seven Thai women and three foreign women.

The raid took place at 0:15 am Thursday at the Elizabeth Hotel on Praditpat Road in Samsen district.

Police also arrested a couple - Christian Richards and his Thai wife, for allegedly organising the swinging sex tour.

When police raided the room No 1101 on the 11th floor of the hotel, police found several couples were having sex in the same room while others were drinking and dancing.

Police found used condoms, lubricant gel, porno books and CDs and 30 pills of Viagra.

-- The Nation 2009-02-05

is it illegal to have an orgy? or just to organize one?

wierd that the police dont just arrest everyone between the sukhumvit soi 1 and 24, and that they dont close down all the massage salons that they have. Also it would probably be effective in reducing 1. the aids threat, 2. the amount of farang that get peeled of all their posessions and money by Thai women who get them to marry and build a house in Buriram while they sneak round the corner and have it off with their real Thai Boyfriend behind their backs.

Farang should stop taking whores as wives.. if you find your wife is unfaithful then you can only blame yourself for choosing a whore instead of a decent woman for a wife. There are plenty of decent Thai women around if you flirt around the shopping malls etc without having to pay some drug-addicted prostitute

anyway im digressing again - I dont see what was illegal in having a mutual orgy?

This may also have some effect on those of us that were planning to go for residency in the future as you have to show a MINIMUM of 3 years on a Non Imm visa to qualify. Thailand for Thais.....

Anyway Merry Christmas all and a safe and....prosperous.... New Year!

we should make a massive petition calling for the immigration l;aws to stop constantly changing and also from being different in each embassy/consulat

for example, you can get only one tourist visa in penang, but you can get as many multiple entries as you wish in Laos (Vientiane) so try it in Vientiane and youll see a different attitude for sure.

Penang is the worst place to ask for a visa.

Non immigrant visas can be bought easily from Mister Jaime the Thai Consulate in Barcelona - but he will only issue 9 months instead of 12 months and have to leave every 90 days.

This is useless for those wishing to stay 3 years because in order for those 3 years to count your visa must be one year so you can go register after 90 days in the kingdom. 3 years after that you are entitled to apply for residence.

The constant changing of the laws in Thail;and is causing a lowering in the amount of foreigners willing to risk coming here to live, or to invest - i am sure that if everybody got together and make a protest petition form and get thousands of us to sign it electronically and send to the ministry of tourism and also immigration and other related bodies, then they would realize the damage they are doing Thais are after all "Gop Nai Gala" (กบในกะลา) and forget to think that the people who are affected by thewir ever changing of mind and laws might be getting pissed off (we are) - making the bad publicity Thailand is making for itself visible will get the effect we need (more friendliness towards foreign investor or retirees etc). Thai wives get the right to buy land in our countries and work permit automatically - why shouldnt we enjoy the same rights?

what? did i hear someone say then we'd steal all their jobs? - yeah yeah - at 5000 baht a month im sure to go be secretary of a golf club (i was offered that once for 5000 a month by a thai golf driving course owner). - the wages offered to Thais are much lower and we would not be able to take most of the jobs on the market at those wages. So their employee count would not lower. The amount of Thais able to con farang would reduce, more genuine marriages would arise (if we were allowed to buy houses and land in our own names), and also more investors and farang would move here, feeling safe and happy in the fact that they dont have to be so wary of dodgy epeople.

Thai people are a pretty decent bucnh of people but get a bad reputation because farang will always have a load of the bad ones and leeches stuck to them because the laws permit Thais to take advantage of farang . this is due to our lack of rights or citizenship.

This is undemocratic and one day will have to be changed.

We can make a change here there are enough farang in thailand to make a difference on this issue if we apply some friendly pressure.

its just a matter of when we are going to stand up and be counted. Now? or in 20 years, when our children do it for us.???

I prefer right now and would be first in line with a placard to put my money where my mouth is.

the charity issue is pretty interesting in LOS. every week I can see those "trees with money" in offices and streets - what is the purpose of that, I might I ask?

Raw cash goes to nobody knows where? Or to show how faithfull owner is?

in the mean time, some christian charity building schools and camps up North, helping tribals in their everyday life.

btw, how christian can do charity for other religion group? isn't it wierd, and against it? interesting, though...

Well firstly - to put your mind at rest; The money on the trees, or sticks even or donations to temples, goes mostly in the building of schools, hospitals, and bridges as well as other charitable actions and projects. a part of it goes to cover the costs of the temple also of course. Bhikkhus (monks), are not permitted by the Vinaya to make their own food, not even pluck the fruit from a tree, and so rely on the community in the surrounding region for their upkeeping. The Bhikkhu should remain in solitude most of the day, but even when on tudong, and is sleeping and meditating under his grod (parasol and mosquito net), must he be within walking distance of the village, in order to make pintabata (mendigation/begging) for his food. Sometimes a Bhikkhu may go 2 or 3 days without food becaus of this, whilst on tudong.

As to making Bun (Punya)If you consider the Noble Dhammas (truths/natures) of Emptiness and Impermanence in its deepest aspects, then you will see that dhana (giving of alms or metta - the selfless compassion for all other living beings) is a practise of one attempting to attain the realisation of non-self, through practising non-attachment and metta. Giving is one of the ways in which you can apply your inner metamorphosis - but io would like to quote a teaching of the Bhuddha to Venerable Ananda. T

"A friend endowed with these three qualities is worth associating with. Which three? He/she gives what is hard to give, does what is hard to do, endures what is hard to endure. A friend endowed with these three qualities is worth associating with."

What is hard to give.....

Its not always money, think about it; to admit one was wrong to somebody and say sorry for it. To bestow gifts upon those who you often think about, instead of just thinking about it. To help those in need with compassion, and to spend time thinking about people in need in order to develop such compassion.

Unfortunately, not all Thais, nor other nations, due to the level of education as far as Bhuddhist philosophy goes, go much further than making a physical offering of food or money without understanding what transformations should be practised in the process of giving.

A dedicated study and practise of the dhamma along with samatha and 40 Vipassana gamatana methods will lead any person to full understanding of the meaning of Dhana, and all other natures (dhammas). Dhana is not about giving and knowing if the money is going to be used right or wrongly, you just gove indiscriminately just as the sun shines on all beings, good and bad, flowers and weeds alike. That is Metta and Dhana

i spoke with the consul in vientiane about the double or triple tourist visas..

here is now the official answer i got from him;

yes it is valid for 3 months.. meaning if your first of the visas is up on, lets say the 27th of september.. then your should exit about 2 or 3 days before the day and the next visa will be again 2 months with an extendible 28 days available on paying 2000 baht at immigration office.

i also asked him about that alleged possibility of ASKING FOR 3 TOURIST VISAS...

I GOT A GREAT ANSWER!

he said "you can buy 10 if you want"

but the visas have only a 3 month expiry date.. so have to exit a few days before each visa is up, thats all.

so there you go you can buy 3 or 5 or 10 or 1 or 2 up to you

the visa costs 1000 baht each so a triple will be 300 baht and ten will be 10000 baht.

I just got back from Laos, and noticed that my double entry tourist Visa is only valid for 3 months from the date of issue. My double entry tourist visa from Los Angeles was valid for 6 months. Is it normal for Laos only to make visa's valid for 3 months from date of issue?

valid for entry. Get your second entry stamped right before the end of the 3 months and with 2 entries and 2 extensions then its good for just under 6 months of time in Thailand.

exaCTLY

i spoke with the consul in vientiane about the double or triple tourist visas..

here is now the official answer i got from him;

yes it is valid for 3 months.. meaning if your first of the visas id up on, lets say the 27thj of september.. then your should exit about 2 or 3 days before the day and the next visa will be again 2 months with an extendible 28 days available on paying 2000 baht at immigration office.

i also asked him about that alleged possibility of aSKING FOR 3 TOURIST VISAS...

I GOT A GREAT ANSWER!

he said "you can buy 10 if you want"

so there you go you can buy 3 or 5 or 10 or 1 or 2 up to you!

Yesterday, I went to Chesters with my wife, and a young Thai couple came in to the restaraunt carrying their young girl. The girl looked to be about 2 years old. The child had a pair of glasses on that were the thickest I have ever seen in my life. The child had to have been essentially blind.

So the parents of the child see me, and began with the usual chant to their kid.... " Look, Look at the Falang."

I thought to myself.... I wish my son was here with me now, so I could say to him.... "Look, Look at the Blind kid."

I wonder how that would have gone over?

in europe saying to someone "look at my friend! his feet are the wrong way round and his hanbds too! he can walk backwards at a breackneck speed! would be impolite and hurtful.. i use this crazy example because it is exactly what a mate of mine said to me on introducinjg his extremely handicapped friend. his friend smiled and showed me his feet and hands as his frind joked about him and was not in the least offended. In the same way, it is quite normal in thailand to say "why are you so extremely fat?" to someone's face!

There are 2 perspectives to this social phenomenon/difference to our culture;

one; Thais are completely mannerless and ignorant. (true in a way)

two; We westerners are extremely hung up on disabilities and xenophobic.. because we think the blind girl or his her parent/s would be offended means we separate blindness and other disabilities in our minds and class them as inferior ; if not, why would we assume the act of noticing them as offensive?). whereas a Thai does not see an invalid and immediately think "oh dont look at him, he will see we are staring!" this is what i would call "kwam kid tee ubat mak" in thai (real cheap thinking).

Sop if you had pointed at them with your kid, unfortunately it wouldnt have worked.

This said, i must say i do recognize your point, as i myself live in thai area only thais no farang and see maybe one farang face a month.. i feel thai think thai eat speak read and write.. but with my face i still get the odd ignorant "hall farang" (to which i reply "why dont you shout at that thai guy over there and say "hello isan man"??? - yes i know. if you did he would punch you! so why call me? i fell like punching you too because i get it 20 times a day as well as the "pood thai geng yoo mueang thai gee pee kap?" ( oh <deleted> boring boring boring! 30 times a day for 7 years the same question ate every shop restaurant market satall and bust stop.. WHY do they ask always the same question?)

Last week i bought a fried chilli and basil on rice with a fried egg on top in a polystyrtene nbox and plastic spoon (take away) and sat on a step in front of a hairdressers to eat it...

3 meters along on the same steps sat a noodle woman eating a jowl of her noodles ... i looked out of the corner of my eye as she started nudhging her husband to "look at the farang! wow farang eats human food too he knows how to use a plastic spoon!"), by which time i was gazing at her husband who looked embarrased at me necause he knew i was watching what was happening.. his wife turned to see me and i said จะแปลกตรงไหนวะพี่คับ?? มนุษย์มันก็กินข้าวเป็นธรรมดานะ ผมก็มนุษยเหมือนเธอ ไม่เห็นว่าแปลกเลย .. ถ้าผมเป็นลิง หรือ สุนัก ก็จะว่าแปลกใช่คับ แต่เราไม่ใช่ลิงนะคับ ไปไหนก้ต้องโดนคนไทยมานินทาเราแบบนี้ก็รู้สึกเหมือนที่เราอยู่ในสวนสัตวืคับ น้อยใจจัง

for those who can't read thai i said;

I dont see whats so wierd about me eating food.. i am human and eat human food same as you.. if i was a monkey or a dog then yes it would be worth nudging your husband and pointing at for... but im just a man.. everywhere i go i have to experience this ignorance and feel like a monkey in a zoo...

i left her with an embarrassed husband and an open jaw.

summary;

Thais are extremely broad minded when it comes to accepting invalids and disabled people - many disabled and mentally disordered people are even movie stars here.

But oh gosh.. they still cant get over the sight of a farang! even though we are almost as common as newspapers now.

Dont ask me to explain why this is so.. its a mystery and something i would love to change...

i suffer a lot from this separatist racism of theirs.

unconscious racists!

Here here,

Get rid of the scum !!!

how do you define scum old chap?

Are people who sell alcohol to others in the same boat?

Is hilltribe farmer who knows know better way to feed his family, scum?

Are the legal fag dealers, the ones who target kids, scum?

Yours is the typical base reaction,

You simply cannot class everyone the same way. I might call people who makes simple spelling errors moron,s.

Uneducated, low class fools.

But they,ve probably suffered something in life to prevent them from getting it right.

By the way, you should of been ' hear, hear.

See, we all makes mistakes.

i think that should be;

"You should HAVE been", not "you should OF been"!!

of is the wrong word and has no meaning unless you are illiterate and can't spell, in which case you wouldn't know the difference, as in your case.

funny you made a comment about people who can't spell being morons.. seems you are a moron too!

Apart from that id like to add that i constantly m,ake spelling mistakes as a result of using a keyboard that cost 100 baht and has buttons about half the diameter of my fingertip.. causeing me to hit the wrong buttons... after 30 minutes writing i don't feel like editing the mistakes, so post as is. This means that a spelling mistake doesn't necessarily mean the writer is a moron, as it could be a mechanical slip up and not a mental one.

as to the drug crackdowns.. all talk and no action.. even if they catch someone another will fill his place when he is gone.

.....Of course you can also interpret the Vinaya Pitaka to say that all tattooing is forbidden for monks, whether for men or women.

Dear Sabaijai,

from which rule can I interpret this? I looked up and didn't find it by now.

I dont know if i replied to this already.. but in case i did not, i agree totally with sabaijai, the Vinaya (พระธรรมวินัย) does not allow it because of certain rules ;

Letting blood flow from a person is not the duty of a monk, as is not fortune telling,, lottery number giving, Thagrud making and stuff lie\ke working with derachan magic (คุณไสยเดรฉาน) (like the Ruesi with tiger heads or animal heads - or the animal posessions of Khong Khuen).

But then i think to the document i read somewhere on the www (wish i could find it for you all), from a well spoken Thai, highly respected Pandit (บัญฑิตย์).

He said that "if we Thais really admit what we are, we would admit that we are not pure Buddhists at all. We are Animists, who have incorporated and accepted the Buddhist philosophy into our cosmology"

thats what he said more or less.

so i think you all get my point. Thai monks are really half animist and believe in things that a normal Buddhist does not believ in, or at least, not follow or refuge in.

End of story. The Thai Buddhism is breaking the Vinay all the time.

But it's all about trying your best in Buddhism, and so at least to try to be that what you dress up as is better than never trying to change at all.

The great effort and self sacrifice made by any monk is enough to command the highest respect and devotion for his devotion of precious lifetime to abstention.

As to which rule forbids it..

none in particular.. but the behavioural general rules for a member of the Sangha does obviously not permit it if you use some contemplation and analysis.

When you are tattooing you are puncturing the skin and harming the person's body. Blood exudes from the wounds. You cause them to be posesed by animal spirits in other dimensions (uff!) etc etc.. also the practise of a monkshould not be active he should be passive and well contained(สำรวมตัว).

lots of stuff to "not forbid, but not permit"thats the prob with Buddhism.. it doesnt forbid much, nly advises against and explains why.

.....Of course you can also interpret the Vinaya Pitaka to say that all tattooing is forbidden for monks, whether for men or women.

Dear Sabaijai,

from which rule can I interpret this? I looked up and didn't find it by now.

I dont know if i replied to this already.. but in case i did not, i agree totally with sabaijai, the Vinaya (พระธรรมวินัย) does not allow it because of certain rules ;

Letting blood flow from a person is not the duty of a monk, as is not fortune telling,, lottery number giving, Thagrud making and stuff lie\ke working with derachan magic (คุณไสยเดรฉาน) (like the Ruesi with tiger heads or animal heads - or the animal posessions of Khong Khuen).

But then i think to the document i read somewhere on the www (wish i could find it for you all), from a well spoken Thai, highly respected Pandit (บัญฑิตย์).

He said that "if we Thais really admit what we are, we would admit that we are not pure Buddhists at all. We are Animists, who have incorporated and accepted the Buddhist philosophy into our cosmology"

thats what he said more or less.

so i think you all get my point. Thai monks are really half animist and believe in things that a normal Buddhist does not believ in, or at least, not follow or refuge in.

End of story. The Thai Buddhism is breaking the Vinay all the time.

But it's all about trying your best in Buddhism, and so at least to try to be that what you dress up as is better than never trying to change at all.

The great effort and self sacrifice made by any monk is enough to command the highest respect and devotion for his devotion of precious lifetime to abstention.

I just wanted to start a thread to say about nice things Thai people have done for me, I wonder how many post we will get in before someone starts having a go at the locals.....

The hire car I was driving got a problem up in Issan and before I could even get down and have a look, 3 people had stopped and one, a mechanic, fixed it for free, he didn't even want some beer money (but I insisted).

A Thai friend invited my family to eat and he turned up with wrapped presents for them for Thai New Year.

My Sister in law arranges all the stuff I need doing up in Issan, when I was having land prepared for my house I was out of the country and she took care of everything.

When I was in an accident in Nakorn Phanom at least 3 by standers came to the cop shop as witnesses against the A Holes who hit me.

Who'se next? Think nice thoughts

One night my old jeep ground to a halt in the dark on a remote road in Surin province.

A motorbike stopped and we guessed the jeep was out of fuel.

He disappeared and came back with a plastic bag full of diesel. He cleverly poured it into the tank. I paid him for the fuel but he wouldn't take a thank you tip.

Ten minutes later I stopped to call Cat to tell her why I was running late, and there he was at my shoulder.

He had followed me going away from home just to make sure I was okay.

This latter was really generous I thought because it was a kindness that I would most probably never have discovered.

Kon Thai jai dee!

Yes that seems he was concerned about yนu

nice guy!

น่ากลัวจริงๆอยูภนนมืดมิด จ.สุรินวะ! กลัวโดนปล้นโดนฆ่าคับ เป็นผมๆก็ตามไปเฝ้าเหมือนกันนะคับ ฝรั่งอยู่โดดเดี่ยวแบบนั้นในสถานที่มืดมิดไม่มีคนก็น่ากังวลมากนะ

i would have followed you too though for the same reasons.

I have been attacked before and also robbed so i know.

He was worried you might end up as a corpse in an "Oy" field.

I have a foto in front of me of a child and father floating in a pool under a bridge just 30 meters from the roadside restaurant.

He left the restaurant and went for a pee with son and was murdered for the gold chain around his neck (broad daylight)

I just wanted to start a thread to say about nice things Thai people have done for me, I wonder how many post we will get in before someone starts having a go at the locals.....

The hire car I was driving got a problem up in Issan and before I could even get down and have a look, 3 people had stopped and one, a mechanic, fixed it for free, he didn't even want some beer money (but I insisted).

A Thai friend invited my family to eat and he turned up with wrapped presents for them for Thai New Year.

My Sister in law arranges all the stuff I need doing up in Issan, when I was having land prepared for my house I was out of the country and she took care of everything.

When I was in an accident in Nakorn Phanom at least 3 by standers came to the cop shop as witnesses against the A Holes who hit me.

Who'se next? Think nice thoughts

Well done for coming out with these things!

I have a reputation for always knocking the locals.. but yes there are exceptions (same as the whole world over... 90% <deleted> and selfish and 10% decent people).

Some Thai people have ethics, and it is these people who are sick of the ignorance, ill manner and selfish, brutal attitude in their own country (i have this from the horses mouths), and feel sorry for u8s Farang who have to be the target of being taken advantage of due to our lesser status and the limits we have imposed ()cant buy land in our name, vehicles etc, cant have 100 percent of company, have to do visa runs). Thus, these ethical Thais (who are normally people who have enough of their own money to not have to think dodgy thoughts about how to decieve us), try to give a good example for their nation by doing good charitable deeds to us farang to show us that Thailand and Thai people areb not all like that.

I have 3 Thai friends who never ever ask me for anything, come to my house and bring khaw hniaw and gai yang etc... They like to extract knowledge about the different mindsets that Thais and Farang have (or Asianm and Western).. so they visit me often to chat.

But these 3 are the exception... as soon as i go on the street it starts.. "oh heloo! tattoo!" and grab my arm! well these days i say "hey! whats the score man? who do you think yu are? why dont you go up to that 43 year old Thai guy and grab his arm? anmd say "oh hello tattoo!"

No of course you wont! he will probably shoot you if you do! so0 why do they think they can do thjings with us that they would never dare to do with their own kind? because they think we dont know.

A kid asks me "hey farang!" got a cigarette? - i reply - "yes! but only if you dare to go and ask that Thai guy same age as me in the same manner forst" lol you should see their faces drop... you see, for a teenager to talk mlike that to a 43 year old elder is unacceptable.

So anyway, i am glad you found those far and few between people.. you will meet some along the way, I love Thailand and Thai CVulture as i am sure you do too...

but i am still cynical i saw ,my first faran in 2 months 2 weeks ago i am that excommunicated from Farang land.. no farang where i live. I speak readf and write only thai except here and on my website i write english. I know only Thai people socially almost never see a farang.. i have been doing this for a long time so i feel i really know the inner workings of the thai culture and mindset because it is that which i use myself in daily life. Tv only Thai films only Thai, newspaper only Thai. Dont ask me who is PM of Great Britain as i havenmt a clue.. but ask me about Thai politics, history or religion or literature then i can talk.

Basically im almost Thai, thats whgy i am sick of the thais and this enviroment...

Thats why all these women want out of here! they are sick of the fact that you cant have anything the pothers just peel you opf it loans borrow this borrow that.. so get a farang and get out o here! Others just want someone to build a house for them when you are dead and they are old.

Sorry to be super cynical, but the bit about your "sister in law" taking care of all the land transactions hahahahahahaaaaaaa!

i do that to! any l;and transaction is p[aid 3 to 7 percent to the middle man without any paperwork.

so basically she got 3 percent minimum of whatever you paid!

thats for sure as ALL Land transactions in TYhailand go that way.

I know because i used to do it myself.

So of course she was "Nice enough" to oblige in taking care of the paperwork

if you cant read Thai, you are beng peeled somewhere along the line. they do it to each other, so of course they will do it to us.

Also as to love... a Thai lady looks for a future and a financial wellness before looking if you are handsome or if you fit together well.

whereas a farang lady will not care if you are rich or poor (*well some bitches do but you can tell which type is which) - they will choose you for you and for what you are.

A thai will choose you for what you have!

Exceptions

Older fat ugly darkskinned women who are afraid to die alone old and poor because no nkids or kids pissed off.

the odd person with a clean ethical mind

40 year old thai lady gets 27 year old handsome young farang (wierd huh? theres lots of that stereotype! - the thai girls always ask me why these handsome young farang take ugly black old wives. (i reply that the farang dont realize that their gf is older than they think, or that maybe they are wise and know the only way to get a faithful thai wife is to choose from the dregs.)

A Thai woman thinks "who will come and take care of me"

a Farang Woman thinks (*at leasty thos i have been with) "who will love me and care abut me and be a good man to me."

which is the right reason for taking a partner?

Its not their fault it is also nnot wrong that they think like this.. we think its wrong and it is for us.. butb they have learned a different system.

Its the way the cookie crumbles and you have to live with it like it or lump it or if not then f off home.

I prefer to put up with it.. the lesser of 2 evils is live here... i couldnt go back to uk with all that cuppa teas maRMITE BEANS ON TOAST and the daily mirror

i am used to waking up here and going to a temple and chant, sit and talk cosmic things with monks, watch people go into animal posession trances learn how to make invincibility amulets...... sit in the garden and say there is a ghost between the rose trees.. and it is taken seriously as a fact - magick is fact here... in the West everything is banal and mundane - here everything is like out of a thousand and one nights in comparison..

so thats why i live here.

Not because i love the Thais.. i love Thai people and worry for the welfare of Thailand.. but i am very disappointed and concerned with the general state of my chose\n land and people.. the truth is i want them to be good because i love them, but i am so frustrated trying to teach this.

I never cared about any penny or item that a Thai got from me, i am no materialiust... what bothers me is not the extra expense.. it is the fact of hukan selfishness it is like a blindness.. it cust me up inside, it chaps my ass, because it is unnecessary. To be nice to me will only nmake me want to be generous to you

to have false intentions.. well i have 6th sense anyway so i know before they even open ntheir mouths why they came around. so they should learn that they dont need to trick me.. just bemy family and what is mine will be yours.

but thats a hard one to teach them (us)

well anyway

summary

Thai people are lovely in principle

They just have to learn to see us as equals before they can begin to treat us as such.

Other exceptions - when you are really down and out... Thais are "Khee Songsarn" (ขี้สงสาร) and will help you when you are really down and have nothing.

(after they peeled you of it all) If you have no food they will come and feed you every day

but if you have your rent money only and they see it they will ask to borrow it to pay a panding debt today and pay you back tomorrow (i promise SURE!).

next day you have to tell the landlord you will pay late because the3 <deleted> has disappeared.

(when all i have is my rent and no food money, how can a person dare to ask to borrow that rent money??? i wouldnt have the cheek)

But yes down and out then you get help.

Al;so last example of an exception is a new phenomenon occuring in the last 10 years.

Before all there was, was older farang pensioners geting 16 year old wives.

These days there are young handsome keanu reeves david bekham george clooneys type (in their eyes) coming to either teach or learn muay thai or work as programmers or just live here...

Thes epeople are able to encounter young Thai girls \nice and white and chinesey looking), with rich mum and dad and just have a normal mutual relationship (ok she has 30 other guys in her mobile fone as do all thai girls).

Thats it.

sorry to enlighten you about your sister in law

Hi

I have been researching Sak Yan's and have decided to have one done but as I have found out I think the monk who tattoos you decides which is good for you and where it should be tattooed.

I would like to get one though in the middle of my back and if I do get to choose I would preffer to get either a tiger, Hanuman or turtle Sak Yan

I am trying to find out the meanings for the Tiger and Turtle Sak Yan's and also any other Sak Yan meanings.

So my question is do you know any meanings of any Sak Yan's?

I have found the following...

Choo-chok tattoo's print

An old man with a money's bag on his shoulder, His name is Choo-chok, he is a beggar at first and a millionaire at last. This tattoo's print is good for your business and everyone who want to get richer.

Hanuman Soong-Rith tattoo's print (White Magic's Monkey)

There were many Hanumans' tattoo-prints from No.1 to No. 10 (Most popular and very special are No.8, No.9 and No.10) In Ramayana Indian tale, Hanuman is immortal, lucky in game and lucky in love. If you want to success for life, protect you from any weapons and luckiest in love, choose it!

Kao-Yod tattoo's print ( Nava-Horakoon tattoo's print)

This is a major tattoo's print and may be a 1st tattoo for a new comer. The meaning of Kao-Yod is explained by 9 magic abilities of The Lord Buddha that show you in 9 lines of tattoo's print. This tattoo's print is good for protect you from any weapons.

Rahoo-Om-Jan tattoo's print (Giant and the moon)

From the phenomenon that silhouette on the moon we call Rahoo-Om-Jan. We believe that Rahoo is a giant's master and command all of devil. This tattoo's print will help you live up or change your destiny and against all harmful.

Matchanu (Semi God's monkey and fish)

Matchanu is a son of Hanuman and Suwan-madcha. (Mermaid) This tattoo's print is look like Hanuman but you will see his tail like a mermaid. This tattoo's print is good for fishermen and in every property is same as Hanuman.

Ganesha (Pra-Pikanesha)

Ganesha is a god of wealthy and successes, you can remember him easily with his elephant's head on god body. He is the god that cleverest and he can bless you to pass all suffixes. This tattoo's print is good for artists, actors, singers and technicians or who want wealthy.

Erawan Elephant

Erawan Elephant is a god elephant with three faces. He is more powerful and larger than another elephant in heaven. This tattoo's print is good for the governors who work with workers and good for travelers because it prevent from harmful.

Alligator (Jorakae Tain Kwad)

The symbolic of great Thai Buddhism culture is alligator's flag (Gatint) If you want to be a conquer and receive a mercy from social, This tattoo's print is good for achieve, mercy and lucky.

I have also made a thread in general topics which has been going about a day now which has some good info if anyone is interested. Here's the Link

hello, sa wa dee ca ! i am also trying to find meaings of different sak yan to get on my self and i have not found much. i think the best thing to do is go to a monk and see what they offer. this link sakyant.com.au is popular. i read in another thailand forum from "sabaijai" said the tiger tattoo is for physial power and the sak yan on angelina jolies left shoulder is for good luck and success in one's career. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...44506&st=25 and is it true that monks decide the tattoo for you ?

to tell you the truth monks do make women too but in fact it is against the vinaya (พระธรรมวินัย) so i would recommend you to go to Por Gae Ruesi Tha fai (ajarn Thoy) at wat tong nai temple in bangkok on soi awn nut 25 - he is a ruesi not a monk which permits him to touch a woman.. i persona;lly find it ok that monks at wbp temple tattoo women but in fact they are comitting abhati อาบัติ (transgression of the rules of monkdom) of the type "Phaaraachik" meaning you have to leave the monkdom

Thailand is suffering a massive problem in Buddhism with many ordained members of the clergy behaving outsdide of the rules of the vinaya

simply the practide of any occult methods is abhati - causing blood to flow from a human or living being is abhati

i recommend the Ruesi or another brahmin or layman such as ajarn gaew in bang sue bkk

i dont recommend ajarn noo ganpai as he takes up to 30 thousand baht from farang for a simple gao yord tattoo whereas others take a hundred or so baht..the hygiene is the same wherever you go ..except for at por gaes because i have an autoclave sterilizer there which if you make an appointment before then it can be arranged to sterilize the tip (needle) for you and bag it in a sterile bag.

in the case of a sterile private appointment before he opens the office the tattoo would be more expensive..a gao yord for example might cost 1000, a big tiger on the chest maybe 2 and a half.

fo it in the normal way no hygiene then the tiger maybe 1000 and the gao yord 99 baht

They hurt far more than machine tattoos (half my back is covered in them).

Be careful that they are done in a somewhat sterile way.

Nowadays the most famous place for westerners getting these tattoos is Wat Bang Pa in Nakhorn Pathom province, by the followers of the now deceased Luang Por Poen.

Hey ColPyat

Cheers for that reply would you care to post a few of you tattoos for me to have a look at?

Yes will make sure it is sterile. Thats a must.

Wat Bang Pa in Nakhorn Pathom province is a bit far for me any ideas for Chiang Mai?

Thats for you post!

Yes there is a sak yant master in chiang mai

if you go onto the forums on the website that was mentioned in your other post (i am not allowed to mention the link - i have been told off for this so you shall have to work it out yourself)

log in to the "pedia" part of the website and look for a member called tevijjo - he is often in chiang mai and like myself is learning yant magic i am in bkk but he is up in the north so if you pm him you will be able to find out where you can go in chiang mai to recieve one of these tattoos.

otherwise i recommend go to por gae in bangkok at wat tong nai on soi awn nut 25 near the skytrain station.

if you need total sterility then the only place you can go is por gae ruesi at wat tong nai as he is the only master who has agreed to use an autoclave sterilizer that i know of..he only uses it if you wish for this as a special case (he knows farang are afraid of the hygien, so i convinced him to let me use my sterilizer there if i bring farang for a tattoo)

you have to make an appointment for this though so we can prepare the tip for you.

also the tattoo becomes slightly more expensive lets say a gao yord with no hygiene is 99 baht if you do it with the sterilizer and special appointment in private about 1000 baht.

maybe there are other masters with sterile tips but i have still to encounter one.

ajarn noo says he changes the needles but i have seen the sticks be reused many times in one day and they just stick it in a bucket of water between people.

i have been a professional tattooist for over 20 years and trained in cross contamination prevention methods and can say that this isnt enough unless the magic can protect you..up to you if you believe that or not.

i dont look on my message board on this forum as i am busy on my own forums so youll have to contact me through other means if you wish any more info before i return here..i dont come too often.

my mobile number is on my main homepage.

Some people come to Thailand with plenty of money and lose it all. Some people come with nothing and make a life here. Some people base their life around the idea of one day moving to their place in the sun, when conditions of right, but for many this day will never come. Some people live in the now.

I am always broke haha..but to live in Europe in the snow eating farang food and no temple round the corner to go to and speak with the monks, no Pad kaprao

or Gaeng Thai (แกงใต้) no going waddling in the stream catching fish (ทอดแหจับปลานิน) and maybe a million other things then i just couldn't live.

i make only 17000 baht a month dont work at all except on developing my website and taking the odd person to a temple for a tattoo and translating for them.

On this 17000 baht a month i live quite well only i dont have any savings.

I can understand someone who comes here lives in a beer bar, starbucks kfc and the pizza hut would prefer to go home and make money than live here broke, as they live the same western life here as they do at home...

but i cant eat that stuff i eat only thai food and for me a pad kaprao with a fried egg on top costs me 15 baht or 2 curries on rice i get for 20 to 25 baht

I also cant live without this food i dont eat bread and all that farang bull it isnt tasty and also expensive.

A coffee in starbucks costs 60 baht (uff what a waste thats 3 square meals for me which are much more delicious than a coffee)

I always wonder why some farang copme here as some people pack their tins of beans, marmit/vegemite, and all their other "home copmforts" and live on that when they are here...what is the point of being here if you cant adapt to the lifestyle and have to need your stuff from home country.

This is like taking your country with you.....why dont you just stay home if you dont like the real life/food/culture here?

i suppose some people only come for the women..which is as far as i am concerned stupid, as Thai women dont like farang they just like their money.

I couldn't take a wife who only wanted an easy life and a free ride but really all she is waiting for is me to die so she can go home and make a house and marry the thai she has always told me is her little brother or cousin.

I know a guy he employs his wife's little brother...well that guy is her boyfriend really i found out about it...but i ain't telling the farang because he has to learn himself.

Broke in Thailand? yes! But it is still better life than being middle class in Europe.

How many people in europe can afford a prawn and lemon grass soup every day eating out?

Even your average Thai can afford to eat fresh fish, prawns and lots of other lovely stuff on a "Broke" budget.

My 2 room condo apartment costs me 2700 baht a month and have internet for 300 a month 1mb another 100 baht a month gets me 50 cable tv channels...god i would have to work my ass off in Europe to keep all that together.

The broke thing isnt important as if you have a lot of money here then you either just blow it all on uinnecessary luxuries (ie starbucks) or some woman or thai guy syphons it out of you.

If you have nothing for them to take then they cant take it off you.

A cynic might say that that as Thailand does not have a war to fight, this is Mother Natures way of culling the population. I read today also that the Interior Minsiter is considering banning alcohol at Songkran next year, that would make it like a 7 day election and kiss goodbye to even more tourists. Let's face it, whatever we say or think, nothing will change because the Thais seem to LIKE risking their own lives and that of others with lunatic behaviour. I feel truly sorry for the loss of life incurred thus fare and for what is still to come. Happy Songkran, stay at home!

Banning alcohol won't change anything as the folk wont take any notice...same as the ice water and white powder (paeng)..

it has been illegal since years to drive (suan tang) the wrong way up the road on the side path..drive to the south from BKK and you will notice that you constantly have motorbikes driving in contra-direction up the side paths trying to get you and themselves to die (without a helmet on)

I never wwear a helmet except in BKK and even then only when i drive out of my area...never get stopped and even the few times i do they ask for 100 baht and off you go.

So banning alcohol just wont do anything

the real solution to stopping accidents is far far away in the future as the reason for the chaos and corruption is not the law, it is the hearts of the folk, which are greedy, uneducated, unmoral/ethical and corrupt.

This has to be dug up at the roots through education and social sciences.

Selfishness is the rule here and this is the cause for a completely beautiful country full of decadent souls

one last tip...if you get there real early (say, 9am) then the police are more friendly as later in the day they get all stressed after a whole day of putting up with the heat and their bosses cpmplaining and all thew tourists.