Bredbury Blue

3 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

Premium economy, where you pay extra for the basic facilities that should be included with any ticket.

As a tall lad i disagree with that. In economy I'm so cramped, knees touching the seat in front, arms touching those in the neighbouring seats, it's a very uncomfortable time so I choose Premium Economy for comfort.

Not a podcast but youtube vids, "Comprehensible Thai" has lots of videos of thai teachers chatting, and they classify the vids by different levels of Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.

1 hour ago, JayClay said:

 

Right. Now I'm telling a story in the future. How can I make it apparent that the narrator's perspective is from further in the future looking back, rather than from the present looking forward?

https://www.thaipod101.com/blog/2021/07/08/thai-tenses/

On 11/7/2023 at 2:43 PM, Bredbury Blue said:

With "On January 20, 3015, Mr Spoon sat at the breakfast table" in english, the reader doesn't get confused and assume you mean 2015, so why would a Thai in thai language get confused? My mate Google says use วันที่ 20 มกราคม 3015 คุณสปูนนั่งอยู่ที่โต๊ะอาหารเช้า which looks correct and clear to me.

ในอนาคตวันที่ 20 มกราคม 3015 คุณสปูนนั่งอยู่ที่โต๊ะอาหารเช้า

In the future, January 20, 3015, Mr. Spoon is sitting at the breakfast table.

With "On January 20, 3015, Mr Spoon sat at the breakfast table" in english, the reader doesn't get confused and assume you mean 2015, so why would a Thai in thai language get confused? My mate Google says use วันที่ 20 มกราคม 3015 คุณสปูนนั่งอยู่ที่โต๊ะอาหารเช้า which looks correct and clear to me.

Also consider Prof.Dr. Chucheep Sahakitrungruang who is at Bumrungrad, Bangkok Christian and Chulalongkorn. Personal recommendation. His manner and his English are excellent. Bangkok Christian cheaper and excellent.

30 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

After living for more than 20 years in the middle of Bangkok my Thai language skills are still limited.

I am able to communicate with Thai people about basic things like food, locations (tell the driver/rider where to go), everyday shopping, and some small talk. 

When I visit the family of my Thai gf up country then we are somehow able to communicate, but not much. And to be fair I don't really care if I could have a deep meaningful conversation with them.

 

I am not able to have a proper business conversation in Thai. And when I go to official offices then I go normally together with my accountant or maybe an agent who deals with i.e. immigration every day.

 

I wonder if it makes sense to try to learn more Thai. And it's not just learning more. If I would learn to communicate properly with Thai officials, how long would I keep that ability if I use it only one or max 5 times a year? And even if I would understand every single word from the officials, would that replace a Thai person (i.e. accountant, lawyer, agent) who communicated with these officials all the time?

 

What is your experience with learning more than basic Thai? Do you need it? Did your life improve? How?

Or did you learn it and then forget most of it because you never used it?

 

If it would improve my life in Thailand considerable if I would know Thai language better, then maybe I should learn more.

But if it won't make a difference 99% of the time and if I would likely forget it soon again then what would be the point?

 

How about you?

Interested to know how you got to such a level. I have reached a plateau at lower intermediate but would like to get to advanced level so any advice would be appreciated.

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Prof Chucheep is the country's leading colorectal specialist (and very, very busy accordingly) and this is why  asked Op if this was a routine screening or for a problem. If it had been for a specific concern I would certainly have advised her to see him but for routine screening I think overkill.  Relative of mine had colonoscopy at BKK Christian about 4-5 years ago, cost was something like 24K (with no polyps removed).

The family researched it thoroughly, read he was the country's top man, met him and found him also to be a lovely man. For anybody interested now or in the future, believe he works at (in expensive to cheapest order) Bumrung, Bkk Christian and Chulalongkorn, so 3 hospitals for different budgets.

Do not recall the cost at BKK Christian for a family member, but can definitely recommend Prof.Dr. Chucheep Sahakitrungruang who works there and Bumrungrad.

'Comprehensible thai', probably the best and most extensive out there

Not sure I understand your question, but yes Phi is elder and Kai is checken and the person's nickname.

My advice - keep away from transliteration and learn to read thai. I reckon learning to read thai to a very basic level didn't take me long (a week?) but I still make many mistakes and I'm probably at a 7-10 Yr old thai kids level.

Learning to read even basic thai is an eye opener and makes life so much easier and interesting.

On transcription systems, I get so <deleted> off with the terrible and wrong spellings of thai towns and cities in to English. The number of years I was pronouncing Kanchanaburi as  Khanchanaburi (wrong).

https://youtu.be/Xh7RMNMGPw0

On 8/4/2021 at 1:58 PM, Bredbury Blue said:

So here’s how I learnt to read (I’m still at the stage of reading slowly):

 

1. I used the lessons in the brilliant old book ‘THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE THAI LANGUAGE (Fifth Edition) by Stuart Campbell and Chuan Shaweevongs’ to learn the consonants, vowels, tone rules, etc. I bought the book years ago and I found it online here

http://www.lyndonhill.com/FunThai/CONTENTS.html

The website has been updated. But found an archive copy at 

https://web.archive.org/web/20180821202823/http://www.lyndonhill.com/FunThai/CONTENTS.html

Yes it's correct. I very recently checked exactly the same thing out with our lawyers who gave me the same advise you received.

Returned yesterday to Samut Prakarn DLT office to do my licence renewal (2yr. to 5yr.).

Have to say it was far quieter, a lot more pleasant and parking no problem at Samut Prakarn DLT office than at Sukhumvit 62 DLT office, though seemed like very little English is spoken there (I was accompanied by my wife, Thai). On my each of my visits I saw only one farlang.

Showed my paperwork outside and was told that I had to go to 2nd floor, counter 4. At counter 4 was told to queue for the boss’s office (it’s behind counter 4). Went in and he checked my paperwork was in order against my passport, Work Permit and expired driving licence. He put a form on top which I signed then took it all back to counter 4 who checked it again and sent me downstairs to the testing room.

In the testing room for the 2pm appointment slot there were 3 Thais and me (not busy like Sukhumvit 62 when I went 2 years ago, where they we testing many groups of 10 at a time).

So, I got my 5-year licence and I would recommend Samut Prakarn DLT office over Sukhumvit 62 DLT office if you live close enough.

Plenty of vids on YouTube of people doing it on motorbikes which should give you an idea.

I'm never sure when people say the MHS Loop do they mean the big one that goes from Chiang Mai to Mae Sot and back or the smaller loop of Chiang Mai to Mae Sariang and back.

Drove the big loop a few years ago, we loved it. Especially loved the drive from Mae Sot to Pai. Loved Mae Sariang, MHS and Pai. 

Route was:

BKK to Sukhothai (1 night at hotel at airport)

Visited the brilliant Si Satchanalai Historical Park (2nd night at hotel at airport)

Sukhothai via Tak for lunch and on to Mae Sot (1 night at centara hotel)

Mae Sot to Mae Sariang (1 night at Riverhouse hotel) *mistake not to stay an extra day at M.S.

Mae Sariang to Mae Hong Son (2 nights at Imperial)

MHS to Pai (2 nights at The Quarter)

Pai to Chiang Mai (2 nights)

Chiang Mai to Sukhothai airport again (1 night)

Back to BKK

2 minutes ago, cyril sneer said:

you say you get bein sports, is there an option to subscribe to the true sports channels with premier league?

I downloaded on my phone and subscribed to BEin connect app - don't remember how much but it was cheap. On the box I downloaded the BEin App. I log in on my phone and connect the phone and BEin App on the tv to watch.

We already have a True tv package with Premier League, but I think through the box you can subscribe just for a PL package (i can see THB 149 and THB 249 on the screen).

It looks like the True Box I have. Got it for free I use it everyday to watch Netflix, YouTube, football on BEIN Connect. Worth having. If it doesn't come with a remote (It should) then download 'Android TV' App on to your phone.

The smaller of the two boxes. It connects in to the tv.

On 11/15/2021 at 3:38 PM, Bredbury Blue said:

Using SLT Smart Queue, i just tried booking an appointment first at Bangkok's DLT Phrakhanong Sukumvit 62 and then at DLT Samut Prakarn.  The earliest appointment booking spot that is free at either place is in March 2022!!!

This afternoon the wife and i went to Samut Prakarn DLT office, reasoning that it'd be quieter than Phrakhanong Suk 62 office, to see if I could book an appointment in person as I didn't want to wait till a March 2022 online booking slot.

When we arrived at the DLT reception the wife said she wanted to try to book an appointment for me. We were told to go up to the 2nd floor, desk 4 and ask to see the office boss (he's jaydee we were told).

Joined a small queue for our turn in the boss' office. 

Wife explained to him my licence expired in July, I'd done the 1hr video lesson in June (showed the certificate on my phone), and as I had to go overseas for work was it possible to get a quicker/earlier appointment than booking online. 

He booked me in for the earliest possible date which is just after the Dec 5th holiday.

He was indeed jaidee.

Very happy to get that appointment date.

On 11/16/2021 at 1:35 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

just needed colour copies of every page of his expiring UK passport and new counter-signed photos.  I al

EVERY page is needed. I didn't copy a couple of the 'info page's, they checked and i had to get the missing pages copied.

22 hours ago, mark5335 said:

So I resorted to renewing my license in a less busy location outside of Bangkok

Can you advise which one?

23 hours ago, howerde said:

I gave up trying to use smart queue, and just turned up, took a thai speaker with me,  about 4 months ago, they gave me an appointment a month later, then they were closed for a month, with no one answering the telephone, i turned up with expired appointment card last month, they let me in,  and i came out with a 2 year license about an hour later. its best if you take a Thai speaker with you, if you can not speak Thai, not  much english spoke there, dont forget to wear trousers shorts are not allowed in, plenty of signs warning you.

Thanks, i'll send you a PM