Tony125

34 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Back in my early days in LOS, I went on many tours. I never experienced one where the tour guide ( taking all English speaking tourists ) could speak proper English.

Hasn't changed much, given my last, and recent, tour in Chiang Mai, and why is it that they always pick everyone up in a brand new van and then make us transfer to a clapped out old banger with dodgy AC for the actual tour? Now that really makes me PO.

 

My worst ever tour though, many years ago, and still seared in my mind, was the private tour for myself and Thai GF to the palace and Doi Suthep temple in Chiang Mai. Despite me turning up in shorts, the English speaking "guide" failed to mention I could not go into the palace in shorts, thus not getting half of my tour, and spent the entire time talking to my GF in Thai.

I don't need to mention what I thought of Thai tour guides after that.

Your  "story" is a little suspicious. I have been to Doi Suthep many times in the past  and  since you had a Thai GF with you she  should have explained you could rent pants/coverings at the top of the Dragon stairs. Even at the Gran Palace and other temples around Thailand you can rent or buy pants/covering at the place or as in case of the palace I went down the street and bought a pair I might actually wear later.

17 minutes ago, Airbagwill said:

I agree with the sentiments, bt you grossly underestimate the number of languages that British people speak - or at least know a little of. UK is incredibly multicultural and even government documents are written in several languages depending of the local communities.

Was not talking about Gov or business employees who as a qualification for their job need to be fluent in another language. Many places in US have signs forms written in Spanish and other languages and some stores have signs saying "we speak Spanish, Viet ect" I was talking about general public in US and Britain such as taxi drivers, security ,police  that Thian in his post said don't understand him. I try to learn a little of the language of countries I go to. If you at least make an effort to speak the people are more inclined to help you. Have had Thai laugh but then correct my speech and help me with what I want. Even had Thai who heard me talking with a Thai who I could not understand come over and tell me in English what the person was saying to me. Has happened many times when I first got here by both male and female Thai. 

16 hours ago, Thian said:

I agree about the not speaking english part....taxidrivers, staff in the big malls around Siam, the police in that area, the security...nobody can speak english while there are loads of foreigners around from all continents.

 

The rest of BKK also can't speak english but those tourists rarely go there....

 

Last week we went to a restaurant which is very highly mentioned at tripadvisor..

 

My wife told the taxi the name, he dropped us at a pier but there was no restaurant..we could see it over the water though, 10 meters away. So my wife asked some Thai how to get there....we followed the directions and couldn't find it....she asked again, we ended up in scary alleys which were under construction, totally dark and looked like a scary place you never wanted to be, we even had to walk over elevated planks without railing....

 

We just kept on walking since we got lost totally and after some more directions from locals we finally got there.....

 

I had to laugh so much about it, it's a famous restaurant and nobody in that whole neighbourhood can give directions how to walk to it, even when we are very close cause we see it....

 

Yes, that's thailand...nothing more nothing less.

I'm from US and because of my heritage speak some Spanish/French but most Americans only speak English unless their parents are recent immigrants.  Most Brits only speak English even though they are close to Europe and most people from EU speak more than their own language . My father ,gran-father ,uncles  were from Portugal but all spoke 4--5 different languages including English. Because Brits colonised a lot of the world they think everyone should speak English --learn their (Brits) language. Thailand has never been colonised by Brits, French, Dutch ,Germans ect  (as many other Asian countries were) so don't speak or even care to understand those EU cultures. I teach my Thai nephews/neices English as I tell them it is important to learn if traveling or working overseas and even getting jobs in Thailand where they may need translators. When in Britan do the police , security ,taxi drivers talk to travelers in Mandarin?  Spanish? French ? Thai?

17 hours ago, laislica said:

 

 

The first link is really great, thanks.

It pulled together much of what has been suggested by other posts.

Now I Have a different perspective of what Pattaya might be and I'm quite looking forward to seeing some of the sights.

 

Cheers

http://www.sukhawadee.com/new_web/index.php

You have to visit here !   Take any of the lrge golf carts to go from one venue to another. After goint to top floor of first building go down to 2nd floor and look around. 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1226133-d6000931-Reviews-or20-Sukhawadee_House-Bang_Lamung_Chonburi_Province.html#photos;geo=1226133&detail=6000931&aggregationId=101

17 hours ago, stevenl said:

No, that was not the reason. Read the thread.

Ok read the thread  my mistake but I was referring to a previous post of a woman who was refused entry for a drug conviction 20+ years ago.

Scroll down page and clik next to see all 25 places

https://www.thecrazytourist.com/top-25-things-to-do-in-pattaya/

Also visit Mimosa  and SilverLake Winnery

https://www.renown-travel.com/daytripspattaya/silverlakevineyard.html   Site has many places listed to visit

8 hours ago, dennis D said:

I meant the Thai Embassy. Someone else has posted in the site that they got refused entry for a crime from 25 years ago and much lesser crime. They visited Thailand before then when they went back they got refused entry.

That was because when visiting Thailand before---- that person committed an offense here so that record would be on file since that person was banned/blacklisted

17 hours ago, StreetCowboy said:

Anecdotally, racial harmony was much better 15 - 25 years ago, although that was before my time.

It has been alleged that the Prime Minister was paid to arabise Malaysia.

 

It's worth bearing in mind that there were dozens or hundreds killed in race riots in the USA in the late sixties as well, but I still don't mind going there.

 

SC

According to this vid Chinese are banned from speaking Chinese but some will still speak it in small villages that are not as strict

23 hours ago, Juntaa said:

Sad. I will ignore this comment.

http://adst.org/2016/03/a-black-day-for-malaysia/#.Wm2Q0qiWbIU

https://www.counterpunch.org/2007/05/26/the-1969-riots-against-the-chinese-in-malaysia/

The above articles show race and religion problems in Malaysia for many years

4 hours ago, Just Weird said:

Unless you know that he is moving to CW, why suggest that he opens an account so far out of the city and such a pain in  the arse to get to at most times of the day?  He should open an account in the area in which he is going to live.

 

 

I mentioned CW as it is very easy to open an account there. Once he has opened an account he can access his money from anywhere in Thailand at either a Bangkok Bank ATM or even other banks ATM for a 20 baht fee

9 hours ago, yooper said:

Well, the Thai embassy in Chicago said we can only get a new ID card in Thailand, they do issue passports if you have an ID. We have all the documents you mention and are denied. Thanks for your opinion anyway.

There is no Thai Embassy in Chicago  that is a consulate and cannot do all the services that the Thai Embassy in Wash DC can and also not thesame as some other consulates in US can. Can check the various services available at different Thai Consulates in US. Same as Thai Consulates in nearby countries to Thailand . Different rules /requirements at each one.

Him and people  saying he was innocent because he was in prison when they found the gun fail to take in the scenario that he was arrested/detained on one charge and then when officers were sent to search his  home/car for other eveidence found the gun. Could have been planted but doesn't prove he didn't own or knew about the gun or that he is innocent.

12 hours ago, balo said:

I don't read anything about that in the first post.....

 

For your info :  http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30337090

Sanong also addressed questions about claims that Nathapop had conducted an inappropriate relationship with a Prathom 6 student at his previous school.

Sanong said Nathapop was found to have inappropriately touched the girl and was punished with a 5 per cent salary reduction for two months plus a transfer to this school. He said Nathapop had settled the case with that student’s family, although he didn’t elaborate.

9 hours ago, maxcorrigan said:

If you read the opener Tony he says that in the first line (Nov 16th)

I read  that in his report just confirming that it's old news, been like that ( 2AM  closing) for over 2 months now.

5 hours ago, hottrader77 said:

although some of his story may be true , I still think there is something he is hiding , such as how did he get 10 million baht ? he could have been a drug dealer in thailand and had a gun which could have been his own as a way of defending himself , also where was he when his wife was pregnant , if he was in jail for another offence ( undisclosed offence ) could have been for dealing drugs would you want him in your country if he was doing this ? also he tried to pay off police ( bribary ) he says he was innocent so why try pay police off , there is alot of smoke here without the fire , and he must have put alot of assets in his wifes name ( big mistake )) a person with his wealth should know better but maybe he did it because he wanted to hide things , he is now in bohol and supposed to be living on 3000 usd a month but yet he has money to go to the gym if i was desperate for funds i would do my fitness free of charge , jogging on fields or main roads , situps on beaches or in the back yard but no he pays to keep fi with no money ( something does not fit this story ) sorry keep him deported is my judgement on him , there are corrupt police here but its people like him that makes them corrupt as he admitted trying to corrupt them by offering money to them and his kid will be better off without a scruppulous person like him 

As many posters have replied to your post as they can't believe it. You asked "how did he get 10 mil baht"  Maybe you are not aware of the high incomes in Norway, the country is considered one of the best in the world economically  even higher than my country USA . And being retired he could have easily sold a property and moved here with a lot more than 10 mil baht. He maybe lives in the Phill rather than go back to Norway as he would like to remain relatively close to Thailand and enjoy the warm weather and even cheaper cost of living in the Phillippines As far as the fitness gym why not pay for it. On $3,000 USD a month he can live very well in Phill and it wouldn't cost that much for gym.  Yes he was stupid to put all assets in his wife's name but it has happened many times. Google " Ian Rance "  or  " Colin Vard " they lost a lot more than 10 mil baht.

On 1/24/2018 at 7:08 AM, Dexlowe said:

Sorry, but where did you get this information from? I see nothing in The Nation report about an incident at a previous school.

For your info :  http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30337090

Sanong also addressed questions about claims that Nathapop had conducted an inappropriate relationship with a Prathom 6 student at his previous school.

Sanong said Nathapop was found to have inappropriately touched the girl and was punished with a 5 per cent salary reduction for two months plus a transfer to this school. He said Nathapop had settled the case with that student’s family, although he didn’t elaborate.

The late night closing is old news to me. Was there with my wife in November and they had posted signs saying they would now be open till 2 AM. Don't think it's just for the high season.

2 hours ago, charliebadenhop said:

I understand what you are saying Matt,

 

And to be sure we are on the same page- I am fairly certain that neither government knows she is holding dual citizenship, or one or both countries would try and make her renounce the "other" citizenship.

 

When she enters the US on her US passport, I have been assuming that the US side cannot see that she just left Japan on her Japanese passport.

 

And then- 

Can't the boy go to Cambodia using his Thai ID card and then fly out of Cambodia as a Brit?

 

??

The US alows dual nationals and some have more than 2 nationalities . Thailand no longer forbids dual nationality as well . There are many Thai besides the Shins who have dual citzenship , they are not required to give up ones citizenship

According to this the persons of color are from Syria, Nigeria, Somalia and are just refugees escaping persecution back home.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/bangkok-somali-refugees-persecuted-living-fear-180120094817942.html

Come to Thailand , open an account at Bangkok Bank say at Central Chang Watena. You can then make online tranfers from your Chase Bank to Bangkok Bank  using their Routing Number of Bangkok Bank in new york.  Then can withdraw funds using your Bangkok Bank ATM card.

6 hours ago, welovethailand said:

Tumeric & lots of water.

cleans out the liver & kidneys, which will help clear up the brain.

Gator Aid? No, its full of high frutose corn sugars (makes you fat)

Asprines will clog up the liver so use sparingly....

Alcohal has been a "weapon of sorts" by many nations...a depopulation tool to rid the world of those they don't want. Not attacking all alcohals,, but the cheap junk sold to the "poorer" is a weapon to kill them. Look at in the NE Thailand, cancer/liver diease is the highest, probably in the world. Hospitals around the world are full of cheap alcohal "victims". I use the word "victims" because truth and education are being hidden fom the masses.

There is a forum on Tumeric here somewhere, read it.

One guy wrote ,"Tumeric" seems to work, because after a few days, I feel better and can go out and drink again".

Regardless, notice your limits and stop it before it takes you over.

Or if you live in a bar enviorment, get out to one thats not. They don't "love you" in the bars, they just want your money.

It's spelled "TuRmeric"  Curcumin is a naturally occurring chemical compound that is found in the spice turmeric . The two words are sometimes used interchangeably, but the technical difference between the two is that turmeric is the yellowish powder used to flavor foods, while curcumin is a chemical contained within turmeric. Turmeric reduces inflammation and can help  with many ills. Just Google benefits of taking Turmeric. I take 2 capsules twice a day after a meal but you can take uo to 4 times a day.

2 hours ago, Colabamumbai said:

Why do people get down on blacks here all the time. Thais are responsible for selling more drugs than coloured people. I am a white Canadian, I do not criticize what people do based on colour. More whites probably sell drugs worldwide.

5

Why? Maybe this; "Nigerian scams involve someone overseas offering you a share in a large sum of money or a payment on the condition you help them to transfer money out of their country. While these scams originated in Nigeria, they now come from all over the world."

Years ago I was in a bank in Pratunam going to get a wire transfer from the US.   A Nigerian was there to transfer money to some country  and when he opened a large satchel to take out some cash he must have had a 4--5 hundred thousand US in the bag. Yeh I'm sure he was just a legitimate businessman dressed like a crackhead. Also saw another in Pattaya give his Thia  GF money to deposit in a bank. He stayed outside in brand new car waiting for her return  They come over offer a poor Thai girl money to marry them so they can stay in Thailand and come and go to bring in their drugs. Of course, other nationalities can do the same.

14 hours ago, lemonjelly said:

no vitamins in a saline I.V. drip.
just drink plenty of water and eat some fresh fruit, oh, and ease off the booze for a while


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

My wife collapsed from exhaustion on 2 different occasions. The 2 different hospitals gave her saline drip which also included vitamins/minerals  which is why it was yellow color instead of clear. Loaded with B vitamins which if you take in pill form will make your urine yellow.

21 minutes ago, toofarnorth said:

Just what I was thinking mauGR1 , I am a mere 70 but I won't look that fit at 77 as I don't now.

You can, I got lazy ,fat  2 1/2  years ago and had a heart attack. Got back to exercising and changed diet ; a little more veggies and fruits but still have a hamburger, cheese  , carbs sometimes just not every day. Got rid of the belly and hope to have a 6 pak within 6 months ---just have to take baby steps don't think change occurs overnight. Didn't take 6 months to get obese won't get thin in 6 either.