Zlabermacht

Thank you Ubonjoe. I appreciate your help.

Oh damn, I accidentally deleted all in writing my thanks to Ubonjoe. Well I don't want to write everything again and since he is the most expert on the matter, I am ok with this. Sorry to the forum for causing this problem.

Proud to be Italian this time.

the only correct way, would be to bring it to north africa and sink the ship

invasion of europe by non christians, how much longer before people get really fed up ?

in some countries, they already took all weapons away from civilians so they cannot fight back

who deceides all this crap ?

but hey, here in thailand, we farang , are we invaders ? are we a burden ?

if we don't have money, we our kicked out, deported, blacklisted ...

Wait, wait, wait. What are you talking about? Sink the ship? Kill migrants?

konying, on 18 Dec 2014 - 10:30, said:

Call me crazy, but a huge number of thai learn English at school for 10 years, followed by 4 or so years at uni and still can not speak , read or write but they expect Middle aged foreigners to hold a convo in thai after few months of study?

But they are in their own country, aren't they? They get no VISA or other official documents from the fact of studying English. They just need as English as necessary to rip off some vely endsome fallang in some way, when they get older.

Sheryl, I thank you for your support and advise which I am sure you make in good faith, but I couldn't prescript that antibiotic by myself, nor one of my best friends, which is a doctor but not a specialist, could. I had to take an examination by a person with experience, and before going to RAM of course I did read the doctor's CVs on the hospital's website and went the morning I knew I could find the best one.

Yet I was rather nervous some days ago because of the money paid, but now - call me simple, I probably am - the treatment is having a good outcome, it wasn't an obvious one (this antibiotic turns out to be not a common one) so I am pretty happy to pay little more than 1000 baht for a good clinic eye looking at my problem.

You are not 100% correct about peritonsillar abscess, the surgical treatment was not necessary at that time, if little it can reabsorb and it is doing so.

Yet of course a definitive solution would and will be to have the tonsils removed, but there is no hurry for that and I will be doing it the next time I visit my country in Europe (I have, as a tax payer, free medical assistance for these kind of things).

bye

Pharmacy would have sold you the antibiotics for 40bht.

Of course! Yet I went to the hospital to be given a careful look, as I was worried about the situation. But the price of that was much, much too high.

Errata corrige, AnotherOneAmerican. Yesterday I'd run out of medicines, so not still being ok (incidentally, to all of those making their comments implying that I went to the hospital for a little throat sore, a cold or something: google "tonsillar abscess" click on images and check yourself how badly it can go) saying, not still being ok I went to pharmacy to buy the same antibiotic. None of the street pharmacies had it, they didn't even know it. I had to drive to a very big pharmacy near Chiang Mai University that finally had it. Price, 380 baht for half the tabs they gave me at the hospital.

So I was WRONG. We all were WRONG.

Appearently, we all should fly lower, my friends. Newbies or great experts.

Bye bye

P.s. before some genius even tries it: my infection is not a thing you can heal with 40 baht amoxicillin. I know because I tried for days and the result was a very vicious infection. So, please.

Nancy, I follow your reasoning and find it sounding, just one thing I don't get, which is what should matter or imply if I was a newbie or not.

Ok, someone said that it is "well known" (here on this forum, I suppose) that Ram hospital is so overpriced and stuff. So I have two questions for those people:
Q1 why there were so many Thai people in there? They didn't look stupid or misinformed, they rather looked like pretty wealthy Thai people. Maybe they do not pay the same prices as farangs do?
Q2 why was I suggested to go to the Ram hospital by my Thai teacher? She is a University teacher, nothing to do with sick buffaloes, gogo bars and other things most of you people out there associate with the words "Thai women". Perhaps she wanted to help but didn't really know? Perhaps it was because she knew that Ram hospital was so popular amongst farangs (I saw at least 5 of them in there) ? Or maybe because she likes the idea of the stupid farang spending a lot of money for nothing? I don't exclude that, I'm beginning to hate this kind of things which I start seeing more and more around, even since I begin to really understand the language.

Just wondering.

Kitsune, on 13 Dec 2014 - 19:29, said:Kitsune, on 13 Dec 2014 - 19:29, said:

AnotherOneAmerican, on 13 Dec 2014 - 16:04, said:AnotherOneAmerican, on 13 Dec 2014 - 16:04, said:

Pharmacy would have sold you the antibiotics for 40bht.

Government hospital would have charged 60bht for doctor visit and 40bht for antibiotic.

CM RAM great cosmetic surgery clinic, not much use for anything else.

If the said government hospital does not refuses you care on the basis you're not Thai and tells you to go private.

Can this really happen? I find it difficult to think so.

Pharmacy would have sold you the antibiotics for 40bht.

Of course! Yet I went to the hospital to be given a careful look, as I was worried about the situation. But the price of that was much, much too high.

I went to Chiangmai Ram Hospital because of a pretty bad throat infection. After about 10 days of antibiotics it wasn't going better at all, so I was obviously worried and I decided to go to this renowned hospital.
Other times I had health problems here, I went to normal hospitals, paid Thai prices and received average standard service, except one time I went to a private clinic and received a pretty good service for what I thought to be a pretty high price. But for some reason, this time I wanted to try the excellence: Ram Hospital, let's go.
I was immediately puzzled at the hall, as I was expecting something more luxury: it did look about the same of any other hospital I got into.
Even the nurse welcoming and escorting you through the premises didn't impress me, as it is a Thai standard, in any hospital you get that.
I was rapidly and I would say pretty much summarily checked by a comically high number of attendants (none of those being actually able to communicate in English), had to fill a form asking me a lot of very personal data, been photographed (..tf?!) and finally I acceded to the specialist doctor.
There came a very hurried check, in which no special equipment was used (except some tools which I hope had at least been sterilized beforehand), a very brief conversation and prescription was made: pills of another common antibiotic and come back in 5 days to see if we need to remove the tonsils. Next.
Then I was conducted to the cashier, had to pay more than 2000 baht, of which 1600 going to the hospital (for...?), and I was given two small blisters of the antibiotic, not even covering the full treatment.

This is crap, my friends.
In my country I expect to pay this much if I go to a private clinic, but the quality of the premises, furniture, equipment would then be MUCH higher than that. I don't question the quality of the doctor, which of course is the most important thing, but he only takes 400 baht, which for being in Thailand is a fair price, for such a 3 minutes visit.
The icing on the cake, was that I wasn't even given a certificate, a diagnosis I mean, not even informal! I wasn't going to (try to) use my insurance for such a little thing anyway, but I would have liked to read what was the opinion of the doctor about my disease, a medical name for that thing, anything. Nope.

So long story short, Ram Hospital appears to me like a completely overrated hospital. You can get better stuff anywhere for half of that price. And of course I am not going to give another 2000 baht in 5 days.

Amazing Thailand... everyday a new stimulus to learn the language

You are not in the US! Here nobody expect a tip, there is nothing like 'tipping unwritten rules' here, nor anywhere else in the world except the US. And I understand the tipping culture and find it intelligent. But anywhere that is not US, it's totally up to you.

Thanks everyone, this forum is just great.
I forgot to mention that I once went up to Doi Pui with passenger with a 110 click, and a couple of times up to Doi Suthep: the road is much different, easier or what? Thanks
PS> Doi Pui was an hell, and coming down our engine did pass out every time. That was being dangerous haha

Hi there, I am planning a holiday trip from Chiang Mai to Pai, go one day and back the other day, by motorbike.
I am a good small scooter driver, but I never drove anything more powerful than Honda click 125i (on two wheels) and have little experience with gears (but I learnt them at 14 years, so I can make it). Currently I am driving a dear old Honda click 110.
First of all: is the road any difficult?

Do you think I can make it with my current bike or should I get a newer/more powerful one?
I have literally no idea about the road, just googled it and look like a simple 140 or so kilometers, but I guess it will be quite mountainous: can I make it with an automatic or will I definitely be going to over stress the bike?

I would like to hire a big comfortable scooter, like a Forza 300 or a 250 something, but I never even tried to ride these kind of bikes: should I try or better not to, and in this case stick on a Honda Click 125i, which I know good and which I guess can make pretty easily the road (if that is correct) ?
Thank you for any suggestion. Chok dee
PS. would you call stupid the idea to make it with a Kawasaki KLX 150?

How things are be in my opinion:
You indeed made a mistake, defamed her, caused her damage and so she went to the police to report the fact in order to have a legal basis to bring you into a civil court. Is this just a bluff or did she went to a lawyer as well? Only time will tell. Because the police is not going to do anything, unless you immensely idiotically show up there. In that case, they will try to extort you money with any means, to divide with the offended girl.
If you will ever receive a registered mail, go to a lawyer and be prepared to spend some good grands, but I would bet 10k baht vs a coffee that it will never happen on earth.
P.S. 1: Forget the 30 grands you handed her. You have just been very generous.
P.S. 2: Remember, good girls in Thailand, as everywhere else, but especially in Thailand, do NOT demand their boyfriends for THAT money. If they do, sorry but they are harlots. No exceptions. So please no doubts on this point at least.
P.S. 3: Don't be ashamed to make anything it can make you feel safer, like change number, move for a couple of months or more, change places you go, contact a lawyer (this one could really be a nice investment because after a brief meeting and 500/1000 baht, you would get his number and you would have someone to call just in case you ever were harassed from the girl or the police showing up at your door, as they of course cannot arrest you nor force you to do anything else than go to court if you were prior noticed - including signing any paper in Thai, remember, always call your lawyer beforehand).

It is just a cultural thing. Give and forget, receive and remember, says the Thai proverb... remember, not necessarily show joy

MikeN, on 04 Nov 2014 - 22:01, said:MikeN, on 04 Nov 2014 - 22:01, said:MikeN, on 04 Nov 2014 - 22:01, said:

Oh ok, yes for sure you don't have to be on an ED visa in order to take a class to learn the language. Yet it seemed to me that the people you were referring to were interested in the changes of the rules (8 hours per week, more days a week, which you say they couldn't comply due to their work schedules) rules which are specifically made in order to be legitimately on a ED visa.

I mean, if they are just coming to school but they are on another kind of visa, they should not be interested in the requirements to have a legit ED visa, nor the school should, am I wrong? maybe there's something I am not grasping, sorry.

Anyway, the important thing is that, except some very special cases - e.g. teaching or researching in the same field of study - you confirm that nobody will NEVER legitimately work on a ED visa

brianp0803, on 04 Nov 2014 - 07:01, said:

I am in complete agreement with the Thai government's immigration changes.

It seems they have the same opinion as me on Ed Visa abuse by students and schools.

They are trying to improve the country.

This may be an unpopular opinion.

I agree with you, sir. Not that unpopular, at least among legit students and people legit working in Thailand.

MikeN, on 04 Nov 2014 - 18:19, said:MikeN, on 04 Nov 2014 - 18:19, said:MikeN, on 04 Nov 2014 - 18:19, said:

Sorry, so I am wrong to think you can't legally work while on ED Visa? Maybe are there different kinds of ED Visa?

Anyway, it is among the rules here at CMU, but I thought it was actually illegal and not only prohibited by the course rules. Thank you, I know I could check around TV and find the answer myself but I hope this point remarked here could be useful to others as well

mynameisphil, on 04 Nov 2014 - 17:20, said:mynameisphil, on 04 Nov 2014 - 17:20, said:

Zlabermacht, on 04 Nov 2014 - 16:10, said:Zlabermacht, on 04 Nov 2014 - 16:10, said:

Thanks, interesting stuff. Also wondering how they get away with 6 hours or whether they're now changing to 8?

Also, I know it's just a language course but do you need anything, qualifications etc.. to study at CMU or is anyone welcome to enrol on the course?

I have no idea mate, probably things are a bit more complicated than we can understand. Probably Paz is right, maybe I could even guess - but I don't know - that the Government gives more autonomy to institutions like universities compared than small schools, agencies and so on. Maybe.

No specific qualifications needed, only a decent English - yet, the worst English speaker so far is my teacher oh yes, if you are the kind of guy who need things to be deeply explained in a perfect English, then you will have some headaches in the CMU courses. But a lot of people, modestly including myself, are able to learn anyway, so I don't think is that important to have a fluent English speaking teacher, at least not at a basic level.

mynameisphil, on 04 Nov 2014 - 15:40, said:

I'm currently looking to start studying, not sure if I should hold off and get a tourist visa until everything is clear?

I'm in Chiang Mai, currently looking to find a school, any recommendations would be great. Ideally cheap, but a legit place where you learn and there's no visa issues. I know Walen is close although I've heard mixed reviews and they're on the higher end of the price scale, so I'm just looking for others before I jump in.

As for the changes, 4 or 8 hours, no difference, it's not exactly gonna wear you out, plus you'll probably learn a bit better, the only thing would be the price rising for a year's study, bit of a pain.

Hi Phil, I assume you want to learn Thai language, of course In Chiang Mai you have quite of a few options, but the best one in my opinion is the Language Institute of Chiang Mai University. Though, I also heard very good about the Payap University courses.

I would suggest, if you are really interested in learning as good as you can, and if you want to minimize the chances of hassles of any kind with the visas, to stick on these two choices, and this for a simple reason: these are Universities, not random companies making language courses. This means they do have a different relation with the Government, possibly their activities are regulated a bit differently, and it is anyway very unlikely that they will have problems like the private schools are purportedly experiencing.

I study here at CMU since a few months and we were informed last week of some new rules coming, but that was meaning only a more strict attitude towards unexcused absences (before, formally strict but in fact veeery relaxed) and the need of a medical certificate in case you had to miss more than 2 classes per month. Not big issues so, and no changes in the schedule had ever to be made, nor more money asked. The menu is 6 hours per week, break of 3 weeks holiday every three months, here at CMU. From what I remember, it was similar at Payap.

At CMU the yearly courses are 30,000 baht or some, at Payap a little more expensive (40?) but they should give more materials while at CMU you have to buy it yourself (just a few hundreds of bahts sometimes over the months).

Yes it is a bit more expensive than among privates, but with no offence intended for the private schools and the people studying there, apart from bureaucratic advantages as described, I still think that, generally speaking, you can expect more quality teaching in a University than anywhere else. Of course there will be lots of exceptions.

AnotherOneAmerican, on 01 Nov 2014 - 18:38, said:

Baa_Mango, on 01 Nov 2014 - 18:23, said:

Also - yes when English speakers hear people slaughtering English, it is often easy for us to understand of decipher what the point or meaning is.

With Thai, and I may I venture, other tonal or Asian (?) languages, no matter the context, can often leave people clue less. I thing it is pointless to pin this on one race or kind of people, because I am sure if I was in Iran at 7-11 jabbering and "Farsi" and waving my hands around, it would still be stretch for the staff to realize I just want a bottle of vodka, rum, or phone credit.

I think people may need to exercise cultural empathy for once and try to understand where others may be coming from.

Pointing at the bottle of vodka on the shelf behind the checkout could be helpful.

In a 7/11 in Iran? I really don't think so. LOL

Useless?! what a joke! Exercise, exercise! Never think you are good already! Work on the little inflections, on using the proper pronouns and words for the circumstance you are into... work on the details, for example if you have a baritonal voice, of course you need to make the "nasal Asian accent", or at least try to speak with an higher pitch! Have you ever heard a Pavarotti in Thailand? Never get nervous when they avoid talking to you, or can't understand: if your Thai was really fluent, be sure that almost all of them would love to.
Also, you are sure you can actually read? It helps a LOT to understand the proper tones. Listen carefully and imitate, imitate and imitate: sometimes it's all about the flow of the language.
After almost one year of practicing, some expressions and phrases now come out of my mouth very well: they are invariably very happy to hear that "farang puth daai", and yet still too often I am really sorry to disillude them after a short exchange, even if they often keep saying "keng maak loey!"

Keep it up farangs! Never give up, never think you have done!

P.S. have you ever tried speaking English in England as a non native speaker? I don't think so...