Guitar God

I guess Ubon is on Google's bucket list. They only did one street in the entire city, Chayangkun.

How do you explain the success and attraction of dating sites and matchmaking companies in the west then?

There are many with loads of highly educated, attractive, upper class women (and men) using them and finding mates and dates because they prefer that to hanging out in upscale bars and clubs. Not everyone likes bars.

Why are Thai women different ?

I doubt many millionaire thai fashion models use the sites but all of them aren't whores or scammers either.

I know one Thai woman who is looking for a bf and has also tried finding a nice guy online, she has an MBA and her written English puts the skills of quite a few of the native English speakers here to shame.

Blimey the "I found a Doctor, while grubbing around on the internet" fantasists have been out in force.

MK must have done a roaring trade that week.

I've just spent an hour on TF and the only impressive professions I found were one 'teacher' whose English skills were on a par or below that of the average bar girl, two 'accountants' who had the stupidity to post pictures of themselves while clearly on a beano to some beach resort with their latest sponsors.

I'm afraid that for these posts listing all these high class women and their supposed high falluting occupations, it's more a case of "I want to believe" over facing up to the sad the truth of their situations ie "The best I can do is some blagger off a dodgy internet dating site for the desperate, skint and needy"

Do you really think top level Thai women are really going to turn to the desperate TEFL losers trawling Thai Friendly when they could quite easily head out to the upmarket bars and clubs to find a Westerner who has already made something of himself, either here or at home?

As for Noradonis, Tolkein couldn't have invented a better fantasy world than the one he inhabits.....

A couple things indicate to me that a fair percentage of the women on Thai dating sites are there for similar reasons to why men are there-to meet someone for love, marriage, sex, or other relationship, and not to scam old farangs out of money.

1. Many profiles are in Thai, many say they are looking only for Thai men.

2. Many are only interested in men close to their age and don't reply to messages from anyone older. A lot say " I already have a dad", or "I don't need a grandpa".

3. Many warn to not contact them if you want to hotchat or talk about sex. Hardly the way to attract a sugar daddy.

4. Many say they don't like "players" or "butterfly's".

Of the few women I know personally who are looking for a bf online, their biggest complaints about online dating are guys who they chat with and would like to meet but they guys are only interested in chatting and have no intention of meeting them. Or the guys they meet who seem nice and "just want to be friends" and when they meet them, the men are only interested in sex.

The bar girls and goldiggers on those sites are pretty easy to spot. For the others, a little bit of chatting and you should have a pretty good idea what she's really interested in.

That's why people have profiles on dating sites, you lay your cards on the table, the other people look at them and then decide if they're interested.

If some woman contacted me and her profile said she smoked and drank a lot and I told her I didn't like I didn't like smokers and she changed her story to try to please me, she wouldn't get a reply.

I'm not saying dating sites are guaranteed to weed out devious people who have hidden agendas but I'd rather know 50 (stated) facts about someone first before I'd decide to spend bigs bucks on them on some fancy date at KFC.

What's to say that some woman you meet at a grocery store or a park who's receptive to advances from a (most likely) older foreigner isn't out to scam you? You don't know the first thing about her, except what she eats, or if she cleans up after her dog. At least online you have a a list of info to go by.

I met the woman I lived with the longest, and I met my wife through a bbs and the internet. Two relationships, 22 years. Still good friends with the ex, happy as a clam with my wife. No poo on the face so far. YMMV

I might meet a woman in public and we're both attracted to each other but unless we each have a questionaire ready, it's going to take a date to find out that we're definitely incompatible. Maybe she loves dogs, and I'm allergic, maybe I want kids and she doesn't, maybe she doesn't appreciate German midget porn, maybe she's an opera singer.

A lot of people don't have the time to go on dozens of dates only to find out that none of them are a good match.

Just studying Thai isn't going to ensure that you're going to meet suitable people. Where are you going to run into these single women, who you're interested in and they're interested in you, and you have similar interests? When you do meet someone, you may satisfy some of each others criteria, at least superficially but what happens when she pulls out a cigarette, or a bong, or her favorite opera CD or the Koran, or her penis or something else that's a deal-breaker for you? Back to square one.

I went on many dates years ago, pre internet, pre BBS and many times I was certain we would hit it off, only to find out we were incompatible. I like technology, use it correctly and it can save you time and energy.

kely to end up with a big steaming poo on your face, so to speak.

I think you will find the Thai ladies on Thaifriendly will agree to be whatever you want and do whatever you want.
It doesn't work like back in the States, where YOU need to interest and pander to HER.

I disagree.

That's a little like staying in your cave and waiting for some someone to wander in and entertain you instead of turing on your TV or using the internet.

Technology isn't a substitute for human interaction but it can facilitate contact and the selection process. Dating sites are an increasinly popular way for like-minded people to meet.

It's just a tool people use to preselect people they want to meet. In business, people email their CV to prospective employers, HR looks to see if they could be a fit and interview the ones who pass muster. They don't spend 30 minutes talking to everyone who walks in looking for work.

I might meet a woman in public and we're both attracted to each other but unless we each have a questionaire ready, it's going to take a date to find out that we're definitely incompatible. Maybe she loves dogs, and I'm allergic, maybe I want kids and she doesn't, maybe she doesn't appreciate German midget porn, maybe she's an opera singer.

A lot of people don't have the time to go on dozens of dates only to find out that none of them are a good match.

Just studying Thai isn't going to ensure that you're going to meet suitable people. Where are you going to run into these single women, who you're interested in and they're interested in you, and you have similar interests? When you do meet someone, you may satisfy some of each others criteria, at least superficially but what happens when she pulls out a cigarette, or a bong, or her favorite opera CD or the Koran, or her penis or something else that's a deal-breaker for you? Back to square one.

I went on many dates years ago, pre internet, pre BBS and many times I was certain we would hit it off, only to find out we were incompatible. I like technology, use it correctly and it can save you time and energy.

So what is this Thaifriendly thing, Iv'e never heard of it before.
Is it a site for picking up hookers of the higher class, sort of a craigslist for Chinese Hi So dollies?

Ttb,

I hadn't heard about this thaifriendlu until the other day, I have never used a dating site. I wouldn't trust stuff like that. If you want to meet people just go out the front door. instead of wasting money joining those sites, pay a teacher to teach you Thai. If you can speak to them there's women everywhere. None of that handsome man, darling crap.

Like anything, you only get out of stuff what you put into it.....there are no shortcuts.

Ohh yeah and the money you spent learning the Thai will save you money in the long run because you'll be able to hear what's happening around you and less likely to end up with a big steaming poo on your face, so to speak.

I haven't used Thaifriendly personally but I know other people who have met their wives or girlfriends online. I know a few Thai women who use TLL or similar sites trying to meet a nice guy. A couple are friends or coworkers of my wife and none of them are gold diggers or women stringing along multiple guys to extract money. A couple have been burned or stood up by foreign men, at least one had a guy trying to scam her.

Obviously they are looking for a nice, attractive guy with hopes their life will be better but even in the west, I doubt many women are looking for poor, lazy guys who aren't interested in contributing anything more to the relationship than semen.

That said, there are lots of scammers online, more in poorer countries. I'd guess 10-15% of the women on Thai dating sites are genuine and sincere.

So do I.

About half way round there is a man made slope both sides to cross, lorries use it..........

Happy happy, joy joy. The best news I've had in a while. I'm almost looking forward to going back to Bangkok, just for a visit though. Thanks for the info.

So the roadblock is gone and Chaengwattana road is open again?

No not yet.

Please look at the relevant thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/696226-immigration-services-at-cheang-wattana-now-suspended/?view=getlastpost

Maybe on June, 2nd but not confirmed.

Since late last week, the Chaengwattana Road PDRC roadblock was removed. The overpass and road are now back to normal.

I accidentally left my wallet at a small shop in Ubon a while ago, it had 30-40k in cash, ID's and credit cards including an AmEx black card you could buy a car with. I went back to pick it up and the guy wouldn't take 1 baht for taking care of it for me. I insisted he take something but he said no. My wife said to just thank him and that some people don't want to take money for just being honest and helpful.

Maybe the teacher offered her 100k but she wouldn't take it. I wouldn't take a reward for finding something and giving it back to the owner.

He drops 2.2 million bht = $67,600 in the street & only rewards the good lady with 10,000 bht = $307......tight fisted bas****. I hope he rethinks his reward & seeks out the lady to offer more

The curfew seems to be being observed in Ubon. The first night I didn't hear a single vehicle on the road after 10, the next few days people were out a little past the curfew but it was still dead here by 22:30.

I think they've just been giving warnings and telling people to go home here but I heard if you were picked that it would cost 40k to get out. I haven't heard of that happening to anyone though.

Found on the internet:

Beer Myth 8: The Thai beer Singha has formaldehyde in it

It seems widely believed that Singha is brewed with formaldehyde, as is Chang beer, San Miguel, Vietnamese 33, and Singapore's Tiger Beer. The most believable explanation for this one is that Singha is much more bitter and contains more alcohol than most lagers. When American or British expatriots and soldiers were drinking beer in Thailand, they got drunk much more quickly then they were used to, and it was much more bitter flavor then they were used to. To explain this it was suggested that it contained formaldehyde. Crazy.

That last bit is a kernel of truth (more on that later)... but it’s the only one. Of course there is no formaldehyde in Singha -- any more than there is formaldehyde in Chang, the other popular Thai beer, or the Philippines beer San Miguel, or the Vietnamese 33, or Singapore’s Tiger beer, all of which have also been rumored to contain formaldehyde. Think about that for a minute while we solidly dispose of the Singha rumor.

Some Chinese breweries have added formaldehyde to beer because it is an inexpensive clarifying agent but none of these beeers are exported. If you don't like formaldehyde in your beer, watch what you drink when you're in China, as far as Thai beer goes, it seems to be formaldehyde free.

If no other drugs were involved, the most likely explanation is, as mentioned previously, his body lacked the enzyme which breaks down alcohol and he drank too much too fast.

Why would they add formaldahyde to Chang beer? I can't think of any benefits and I would guess that making or buying formaldahyde is more expensive than making beer.

It's like when McDonalds was accused of adding ground earthworms to their ground beef. They said no they didn't and anyway, earthworms cost more.

Spirit houses are supposed to provide an alternative location for any spirits who may be hanging around your property to live, instead of moving into your house. That's also why new houses are supposed to be occupied continously for three days after the ceremony where the monks bless your house. The spirits are also supposed to watch over and protect your home and business.

I don't know about other people's medallions or amulets, but mine protects me from crazy Thai drivers, and it allows me to fly.

So the roadblock is gone and Chaengwattana road is open again?

Dismantled, or still there?

I read the military was dismantling the protest sight in from of the government complex but nothing since.

Did they remove the mountains of sandbags and tires or are they still there?

Big-C and Tesco were closed before 20:30 in Ubon, even the 7-11's are closing up shop early. I expected them to be open until 21:00, but I was wrong.

I'm surprised that the King doesn't seem to have made any statements or comments about this. Maybe he has and I haven't seen it. I asked Mrs. G but if it's not on during a soap opera, she probably wouldn't know either. Others heads of constitutional monarchies often make statements when there's something going on in their countries. Isn't that something that's done here?

Good UV blocking window film can make a huge difference. I had four large windows done that got afternoon sun and you could really feel the difference. It's not going to help with your walls absorbing and reradiating heat but it will certainly keep a lot of the heat out that's coming in through your windows.

Okay, thanks. I met the owner of the Outside Inn but have only driven by, I didn't know they had a restaurant too. One to add to the list.

Is there another restaurant ran by an American in Ubon? By which hospital, Ubonrak? Do you know the name?

You're right, it's a region of 20 provinces, not a province.

I thought that many commonly used foreign words usually had a standardized English spelling. I remember when Saddam Hussein was in the news, the media mentioned that they had decided on one spelling.

Same with countries where the name is pronounced (roughly) the same in English as the local pronunciation, like Kyrgyzstan and other countries using Cyrillic alphabet, (but not Finland which Fins call Suomi so we made up a new word).

To my ears, If I were unfamiliar with the word and was in a spelling bee, I'd spell it "Easaan". But "Isaan" seems to have the edge, even though I'd say it rhymes with Nissan.

No wonder there's so many different spellings.

What is the commonly accepted English spelling of this NE province of Thailand?

Isaan isn't a province.

Not to derail the thread about Peppers but where is this American (or American/Mexican) restaurant Sirchai referred to?

( I saw a mention in a post but can't find it again )

Hopefully it will have less effect than the Chaengwattana roadblock has had on mine and my neighbors. Businesses that have been there for years are closing up for lack of customers. Revenue is down 30-60% since November and only companies with low overhead or deep pockets are surviving. I've lost over half a million since they blocked the road.

I'm hoping the military is there to restore order and keep the peace and I hope their idea of restoring order includes taking down roadblocks.

I wouldn't call it "full control" as long as there's still a roadblock on Chaengwattana road.

In Ubon today I heard a lot more military jet fighters flying around than usual. I'm not sure how they figure in keeping the peace in Bangkok buy they were buzzing all over the place here today.

I sponsored my (then) Thai girlfriend for a Schengen visa and just said on the form ( or in a cover letter, I can't recall which) that I would pay her food and lodging during the trip. She brought along a copy of her bank statement and a letter from work and it was granted without question.

The only snag was we applied at the embassy of the country I was a resident of, because we would be arriving and departing from there and it would be easier for that government to verify my income and history, but we were staying in Spain longer than we were staying there. I told them their embassy approved it based on the itinerary she submitted and they let her in.

I suspect her lack of proof of employment or other ties to Thailand would be more of an issue to immigration than verifying means of support.

They main thing immigration are looking for is assurance that will this person leave the country before their visa expires.

Concentrate on proving that.

What is the commonly accepted English spelling of this NE province of Thailand?

Not even Thais seem to agree on how to spell it.

Hotel Siri Isan and Wikipedia chose one "s" and one "a" but here the preferred spelling seems to be with two "a" 's .

I've also seem it with a double "s", an "r" thrown in and it starting with an "I" and an "E".