Nokawou

I use Talking Thai <> English Dictionary + Phrasebook from Paiboon Publishing exclusively, mostly on my iPad. Real person pronunciation and easy to search. I put of the transliteration as I force myself to read Thai. Now and then I get a slang word that is not in it but very seldom. Well worth the price I paid for it.

Try โน๊ต อุดม some episodes have Thai transcripts and even English transcripts and it is really funny and give you an insight into the Thai thinking. He is very well known and respected in Thailand. I am in the same boat as you and read/write Thai but have problems understanding conversations and will be working hard on it this year. 

yes you are right there is no word ทุ so it must be a typo so it has to be ทุบ.

I also learn this way much more interesting!

I can't read the script but the squiggly things on the outside are called อณาโลม unalom in Pali or Urna in Sanskrit and represent the life of Buddha ending in enlightenment at the top the literal translation is "a tuft of hair between the eyebrows" as seen in all Buddha images. I also read it represents the hindu fire god Agni.

According to the Dutch embassy website the proof of income is a requirement from the Thai authorities thus not from Bangrak only.

Just got married at Bangrak last week, got a "freedom to marry" certificate at the Dutch embassy AND had to give proof of income that included my title in the company. This was in the form of a letter from my employer and had to be translated and legalized at some Thai government department along with the "freedom to marry" letter from the embassy. The letter of income was scrutinized at Bangrak and did not have the amount in Bath, this was calculated and inserted into the document and the marriage was finalized. It seems that this proof of income was important and without it the marriage could not proceed. To conclude the OP is correct without proof of income the Thai authorities will not marry a foreigner and Thai.

I always pay because I earn more than they do, but we only take close friends never more than 6 they always offer to pay there share and I always flatly refuse. Never been abused and kind of enjoy to treat them.

I went with my wife to Thailand for the first time in the beginning of the year and she lives in a predominantly Thai community in Bangkok (I was the only Farang in there for the entire week) and NOBODY wai's ANYBODY there the only time I was waied to is when I was formally introduced and only one time. She did not wai anybody not even her sisters or mother when we went to visit and I was waied only when formally introduced. From all this I conclude that the wai is only for formal introductions and is not normally used in everyday life, so no wai'ing to strangers or service staff for me I just follow her example and wai back when formally introduced to somebody. This makes it all very simple, in the case of service staff wai'ing I normally nod she does not even do that just ignores the wai of service staff. I used to worry about this issue before going to Thailand but it seems to be very simple, wai back when formally introduced the rest of the time just nod or do nothing.

sorry brain fart, never been to Thailand the dates always get me. Has been banned since 2001 in South Africa and yes still could be asbestos.

is that 09/09/45 like in 1945? In that is the case it should be asbestos but like Crossy said is perfectly safe is you do not cut, drill or grind it. I used to work in an asbestos mine as a student and lived in a house constructed from asbestos sheets and am still here.

You can consider turkey's as well they are no hassle lay really good eggs and also taste good, although if you give them names they are getting very difficult to eat.

Any good exercise program will do when you are a beginner for example Allan King, Craig Ballentine, Tom Venuto, BEN PAKULSKI, Shawna Kaminski just download a program for a few bucks and start. Print out the exercises for each day and make notes of the weights so that you can track you progress. I am currently doing Shawna's pullups program, she is a great lady 51 years old so if she can do it I can do it, Will move on to Ben's program next week. Same time every day and rest every second or third day and very important change your routine every 3 weeks that is the main reason you need a professional program so that the variation is build in, your body is very smart and adapts within a month. Start slowly and build up the weights your muscle will get stronger in a month but your tendons take up to 4 months to adapt going heavy in the beginning will only lead to injury. Good luck and just keep to it if you are over 50 the benefits are really worth the effort.

I certainly do and I speak regularly with my South African Ex and even visited here a few times with my Thai gf/wife they seem to get on quit well together.

At 28 you will not have a problem with sagging skin is only a problem if you have a thick layer of fat under the skin the moment this is removed the skin will shrink on its own. I have tried quit a few diets but the latest one is a very good check out John Kiefer carb backloading he has 40 pages of medical references so no BS. Weight training is absolutely essential do not fall for the extensive cardio low fat stuff, I done that and lost all my muscle and getting it back after 50 is no joke, just be careful with the weight training get a good personal trainer when you start, doing it wrong will lead to injuries. Lastly if your diet is not working check you hormone profile if something is out of whack there no amount of dieting or exercise will make you lose weight and focus on losing fat not weight big difference… Best of luck it is hard work but once you are fit and 10% body fat you will never want to be fat and lazy again.

This is not unique to Asia I have seen is many times in South Africa and Mozambique (indigenious population only) has to do with spirits and good luck mostly animistic believes.

I have been sugar cane farming in Sout Afrika Komatipoort region under irrigation and average is 100 t/ha breakeven is about 80 t/ha very good yield is 130 t/ha do not know how large a rai is. We burn the cane and it get harvested by contractor cutting by hand and loaded with machines and we have contracts with the mill. Hope this helps to compare yields.

Hi I am 55 years old and have been on HRT (Nebido) for the past 5 years and my quality of life has improved dramatically. It looks like you could have low T the best will be to see a Dr specializing in HRT and have your bloodwork done this will immidiately shown you if there are problems the Dr route is vitally important if you have underlaying prostate problems HRT will aggrivate that. Testosterone can only be injected there is no oral route it will get digested in the stomach and all these so called T boosters you can buy over the counter do nothing. My main simptoms were a serious lack of drive and total disinterest in the opposite sex can assure you I was not being my normal selfe. The injections are pricy ($160 every 3 months) but worth every cent. Woman HRT is widely accepted I see no reason why we have to suffer just because some a-holes abused the stuff. Once you get back into regular excesize you will feel much better and wonder how you could get along without being strong and fit. Good luck and keep up the good work.