In Search of Space

They opened up last month, I didn't make the free cocktail first night party, but if it is anything like News Cafe then it should be good - hopefully i will get a free meal out of that Andy !

A few weeks ago I arranged to meet one of my Thai work colleagues in The Londoner. He was running late and called me to ask what he should pay a motorcycle taxi from the office to the pub. Told him i paid 100 baht, but he should be able to get it for 60 - 80 baht. They hit him for 120 !

Excuse me sir, is that a blow-torch in your pocket ?

Before metered taxis in Bangkok you had to negotiate the price. Wife would stand on kerb, wave down taxi, agree the price then I would jump out of hiding and get in. A driver told her, instead of 60 baht, lets charge him 100 baht and we split the difference. She said that we were married and the drivers reaction was "so what ?"

Another occasion. I asked a nephew to take me to town on the back of his motorbike - he isn't the sharpest tool in the box - needless to say we rounded a corner and there was a Police check and guess what, he was given a ticket for 200 baht. When we got home, i told the wife and asked how much for the ticket, I immediatey gave him 200 baht and told him to pay. He returned half hour later saying the cops wanted ot know who the Felang was, he said "Uncle', so the ticket went up to 500 baht. The wife gave him a slap and told him he was stupid.

Been married 25 years (yep, you get less for murder). She has even lived in the UK for 25 years, now we live in Thailand. Her English is awful, but I always speak to her correctly in English, no pidgen, still some hope that she will improve - in all areas !

my newly aquired lady friend (not aquired by me......she just came round 1 day and has stopped ever since) likes to call me 'poo tao, hua lorn,oan, ham yang'. it takes around 5 seconds to reel it all off and now i know the meaning of it all id be happier if she just stuck to 'farang'.

.......and now theres 2 flying rats in my spare room......im slightly bemused as to where this lot is going...

Sounds exciting, tell us where it all goes

"HEY YOU FARANG"

I personally don't mind it and have been pointed at by various Thai people (mostly children) and had "FARANG" shouted at me.

I point back and shout "KON THAI"

I did get followed round a village by a group of young boys who after I had said hello to them shouted back "screw you mother-@&£?", I guess they had been watching a lot of movies

So, was "screw you mother-@&£?" better or worse than being called Farang?

It was certainly different, but it showed they were keen to learn English, might be running the country soon

"HEY YOU FARANG"

I personally don't mind it and have been pointed at by various Thai people (mostly children) and had "FARANG" shouted at me.

I point back and shout "KON THAI"

I did get followed round a village by a group of young boys who after I had said hello to them shouted back "screw you mother-@&£?", I guess they had been watching a lot of movies

BTS

Through work I have to see the government from time to time and I've been told they will ask "Is the falang coming ?", I don't see it as a big deal, as someone earlier said, it is how it is said

I don't mind paying the extra for the Express, but I always seem to miss it by 5 minutes, so take teh City Line. Forget the express and put the seated carriages on the City Line - not saying I'm old and can't stand up for 30 minutes

A relationship with a masseuse can only have an happy ending.

Mine didn't !

It is far to easy to rent sports bikes without licence or agreement, very few of the customers have experience

I keep asking my wife to find a young, sexy maid to keep the house clean.

Up to now she's brought 3 different old hugs.

Don't know what's the matter with her? Doesn't she want a clean house????

I'm currently looking for a couple of pretty painters & decorators, any suggestions ?

BTW:-

That the idiot Oldfield won his appeal does not mean that your step son will win his. Apart from the fact that each appeal is considered on it's own merits, Oldfield is a UK resident who appealed against a deportation order issued after he was convicted of a criminal offence.

Nice to know we agree on Trenton Oldfield. You should never bite the hand that feeds you and his crazy antics

spoiled the race.

I have to say I'm a bit of a pessimist so when a Thai friend decided to bring her 15 year old non English speaking

son to the UK several years ago I thought it would not work out. However the boy worked hard,learnt English and spent his weekends working in a chip shop. He then got another evening job when he turned sixteen and to cut a long story short he got his O and A levels, saved £20k and returned to university in Thailand when he was 19.

It can be done.

In 1990 I took the wife's then 14 year old son to the UK. Was told by embassy (then) that 16 was the cut-off age whereby the child was no longer considered dependent.

He didn't do too well in final 18 months of UK school, as spoke no English on arrival, but has a job, Thai wife & two daughters & still in UK.

Cant say about all but my experience with Thai Ladies is the one's that don't come from farm's clean ok.

Have several friend's with Thai wife's/G/L that come from big town's and their cleaning is top notch.

Only know of two married to farm girl's and they are at best rubbish.

My wife doesn't miss a thing if it doesn't move quick enough it get sorted even the dog get's a shampoo once a week.

Well...

Does she have a sister?

Does she have 2 sisters & can I trade-in the wife ?

Hitler as a fashion statement in Thailand is not about freedom and lack of political correctness as the extremist Thai-ier than thous delusionally believe. There is severe political correctness enforced in Thailand but just about DIFFERENT things.

You guys are making it sound like this Nazi Chic thing is all over Thailand. I've never seen it! Yes, I'm aware about these incidences in the schools and KFC, and t-shirts, etc., etc., but I haven't personally seen it. Honest. In 10+ years. But if we keep talking about it, perhaps some of these kids may start getting ideas.

But ok, JT, so what is Hitler as a fashion statement in Thailand supposed to be about?

Oh man, I see it almost daily, certainly weekly. Just yesterday I was in a police supply store and their was a WWII German helmet with the symbol of the SS, a Swastika and the 3rd Reich eagle on it sitting on the counter. I asked about it and the staff said it was left by a Thai customer. Presumably a Thai policeman.

At any motorcycle meet here you will see all manner of Nazi shirts, stickers, patches and helmets. In the last couple months I have seen more than one Thai wearing shirts with Swastikas on them, and not the Buddhist kind.

I see quite a few mainly girls but some boys wearing swastika t-shirts (NAZI style, not chinese or other), it is probably seen as fashion rather than any political statement, but I do feel a little sad that they don't quite understand what it means, especially in the context of the millions who were murdered by Hitler and his henchmen together with all of the soldiers and civillians who died during WWII.

Luckily my wife's family don't talk to her - except when they are short of a few baht, oh, the calls have started again

this is what you get, when it s only take 1 day to get your driving licence

actually less...

My wife Bless her, recently went to the Dept of Roads to get her car licence, she had zero previous experience, she did study the rule book but when she sat the multiple choice she failed twice!!! No problem 200 thb and that test was passed. Then went outside and was supposed to drive a car around a course, place was nearly closing so inspector said 200 thb and no need to do that part either, so 400 thb plus another couple of hundred legit just under 2 hours later waltzes out with full licence and says...I drive home darling... NOT A HOPE IN HELL..

Note: My lady was not the only one that did/does business this way on the day I was there I would have seen at least 10 others that I ( guess ) received their FULL drivers licences exactly the same way...

Be careful out there folks

At least she is half-way there by actually bothering to get a licence

Years ago I asked 5 policemen on different occasions what the maximum speed limit on Thai highways is. None of them knew it. Nor did the staff of Avis know...

It's not in their interest to know - less income for the boss.

Hello everyone, just properly joined TV after several months of receiving news. First came to Thailand in 1985, got married in 1988 (hoping to get divorced in 2014 !), been working in Bangkok for 18 months & hoping to retire here, one day, if the wife hasn't spent all my wages.

After many years of coming here for holidays, I now have a very different view of Thailand having worked here in a large international company, just hope the country sorts itself out

Well, let's see.

I like people with soft voices and have quieted down myself when I speak.

I don't argue, especially not with Thais. Rather I joke with them

When I greet many Thai I wai and say politely Sawadee krab.

When I address a Thai person I say Non Krab, They are always younger than I am

When I want something, I say: "Maybe I could have..........."

When I get the wrong thing, I take responsibility. I speak very little Thai and the miscommunication I suppose is mostly my fault.

When I don't get what I want, I say softly kob khun krab and leave.

I believe this is the country of the Thais, their laws and rules.

I don't believe they are stupid, although I do sometimes get frustrated about their ways of doing things. But....it's their country

The noise level is very, very hard to take............

I like their non cursing, non aggressive approach in most things. I find the degree of governmental corruption disgusting

I want to get along with them, but I also tease them and we often laugh together.

An easy going country - in most things - and generally very friendly. Thank you Thailand.

I have been here for more than 10 years in retirement in the Bangkok outskirts.

I agree, but "I like their non cursing, non aggressive approach in most things" - you haven't met my wife !!!!

Is that what this thread is about "wanna be Thai's"!.....ain't gonna happen because no matter how much thai food you eat, dress like them or even read/write Thai. You as a farang will never get near being "THai"....I'd like to hear what others think "Thainess" is because its such a unique thing to Thai's that brings together there culture, education, work ethic , survival instincts, communal spirit etc That in the ten years I've been here I have barely scratch the edges of what Thainess is .....only to the point that I know it exists...Oh well

It exists alright, but even Thai's don't know what it is - like the make up of a black hole in space