Oceanbat

So how do you think this is going to eventually turn out?

Assuming the parents can keep sticking this out (so often justice delayed is justice denied) it seems to me things are actually going in their direction.

So, will Baby Carmen get to go home to the warm embrace of her loving extended biological family or will she have to be delivered to the hands of the surrogate lady who is no relation to her?

These baby buying fools will get sick and tied of the baby and move on to another fad.

Without pointing any fingers I just had a thought....

How long does it take generally for the wife buying fools to get tired and move on to the next wife

Epic burn

OB

It's not just older farangs who have lots of tatoos. During my six months in Tokyo each year, I work out at the Yokota AB fitness center several times a week. You would be amazed to see the large number of young service men and women who have extensive tatoos!

Really?

I went to Tokyo several times and clearly remember signs displayed at the gym that anyone with tattoos would not be allowed in the premises.

AB is airbase.

OB

Or I could explore the APEC card option, I have a legitimate business, only problem is I am the owner of the company, I can't possibly ask my staff to sign the recommendation letter. Would need to do more research into this APEC card thing. Does anyone owns an APEC card and have prior experience?

Here's the link for Singapore

https://eabtc.ica.gov.sg/eabtc/index.xhtml

As the owner of a business I would think you have a better case as Long as you can prove you are doing regional business. I had one from Australia when I was director of a co in Singapore. It takes a it of time as each country have to pre-approve but it's worth it. You can use the priority lanes at all member airports.

OB

Agree on APEC card. As a biz owner doing biz in the region you should qualify. Takes a bit of time but well worth it. You get 3 months each entry into Thailand

OB

....so why doesn't the author of the post and his colleagues organize a march across bangkok with signs and banners declaring what an outrage this is.

Why post about it here? Nothing will ever change unless someone steps outside of their "comfort zone" (or social media site) and does something about it. Submit a proposal to the czar or something....but to continue to yack about it here....pointless.

I agree with the position on the whole double pricing scam. ....from hosptials to national parks to the countless shop keepers who specifically target foreigners (not farangs) ....it is complete bulldogbuffaloshit.

can ya smell me.

successful

Gatherings of more than 4 people are illegal.

OB

How old are you? How old is she? It's likely she doesn't think her mum will approve.

My wife's cousin didn't tell his mum he was visiting us in Singapore with his gf as she didn't approve and they are both Thai.

OB

It's a pointless waste of time and paper.

OB

Thailand want's retirees to live here because of the substantial contribution they make to the local economy. They do this in a number of ways, buying property, educating children, starting family businesses, buying farms and orchards and all kinds of money making enterprises with money brought in from outside Thailand or foreign investment. In the same way and for the same reasons Thailand strives for foreign investment it strives for retirees because they are a means of introducing hard currencies into the Thai economy. This process is facilitated by requiring a minimum being kept on account in a Thai bank.

I think we can assume that most of the retired persons living here open Thai bank accounts because of the traffic on Thai Visa about opening a Thai bank account and the volume of questions about the processes of obtaining a retirement extension.

The major difference between the retired guy and working guy is 100% of the retired guys income that he spends in Thailand comes from outside of Thailand whereas the employed person's money comes from inside Thailand. All of the advantages of foreign currency deposits are applied to the retired persons expenditures.

The income that retired persons spend is not accounted for under any of the categories reported by the TAT of Thailand.

How much money do Thai people over 50 spend? How much money do Americans retired in Thailand spend? I have suggested a way to find out but I guess no one really wants to know.

I think everyone understands that those over 50 living here and not working contribute new money.

The problem you have is that you have no idea how many people qualify for you calculation and can only guess at their average spending, and do you know Thailand's GDP?

An earlier poster used the figure of 200,000 as provided by the Thai government and I suggested doing a survey to determine how much they spent. For a population of 200,000 one would only need 270 for an accurate survey.

200k expats though yeah? The vast bulk of whom would be Japanese working here and paying taxes. So they probably do contribute a bit. More than retirees for sure.

OB

How do you figure? Retiree me; I contribute 1 million baht per year. Japanese man how much in money from outside Thailand spent in Thailand? Doesn't he get paid for work performed in Thailand with native Thai dollars and Thai raw materials?

Well, by being here I'd say first up his company has probably invested here. I'd wager they earn more than most retirees as well as create more jobs. They all certainly have drivers. They would also probably be paying the highest rate of tax which is 35%. Don't get me wrong I do think retirees add to the economy. But I'm pretty sure the Thai government values its Japanese friends more. With good reason.

OB

Thailand want's retirees to live here because of the substantial contribution they make to the local economy. They do this in a number of ways, buying property, educating children, starting family businesses, buying farms and orchards and all kinds of money making enterprises with money brought in from outside Thailand or foreign investment. In the same way and for the same reasons Thailand strives for foreign investment it strives for retirees because they are a means of introducing hard currencies into the Thai economy. This process is facilitated by requiring a minimum being kept on account in a Thai bank.

I think we can assume that most of the retired persons living here open Thai bank accounts because of the traffic on Thai Visa about opening a Thai bank account and the volume of questions about the processes of obtaining a retirement extension.

The major difference between the retired guy and working guy is 100% of the retired guys income that he spends in Thailand comes from outside of Thailand whereas the employed person's money comes from inside Thailand. All of the advantages of foreign currency deposits are applied to the retired persons expenditures.

The income that retired persons spend is not accounted for under any of the categories reported by the TAT of Thailand.

How much money do Thai people over 50 spend? How much money do Americans retired in Thailand spend? I have suggested a way to find out but I guess no one really wants to know.

I think everyone understands that those over 50 living here and not working contribute new money.

The problem you have is that you have no idea how many people qualify for you calculation and can only guess at their average spending, and do you know Thailand's GDP?

An earlier poster used the figure of 200,000 as provided by the Thai government and I suggested doing a survey to determine how much they spent. For a population of 200,000 one would only need 270 for an accurate survey.

200k expats though yeah? The vast bulk of whom would be Japanese working here and paying taxes. So they probably do contribute a bit. More than retirees for sure.

OB

Speak for yourself!

Chiang Mai:

The OP is only the most recent of a steady stream of posters who have commented about the idiosyncratic nature of the expat community in Thailand. Whatever the label used: "quirky", "oddball" "antisocial", etc., some have gone so far as to comment that Thailand's expat community is idiosyncratic even when compared to expat communities in neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Laos. Other than the sex industry, what prominent social dynamic can you point to which might help explain this phenomena?

It's undeniable that Thailand's sex industry attracts many visitors, both tourists and expats alike. You need only look at the high percentage of male visitors travelling solo to confirm this. As unpalatable as this may be for some to hear, the truth is that sex tourists are probably not the most socially and psychologically well adjusted group of people on the planet.

But if you don't think the sex industry plays a role in this dynamic, that's fine. I'm open to listening to any alternative theories you or others might have.

Having lived and worked in several countries in the region since the mid 1990's I aware that most countries in SE Asia have a sex industry of some sort, not all are as widely advertised as Thailand, thanks to the UK tabloids, but they are, none the less, all mostly very buoyant industries that thrive and are tolerated well. Even the heavily Muslim countries of Malaysia and Indonesia have them, as do "respectable" territories such as Singapore and Japan (and to quite some degree I might add). So when I compare Thailand to those countries, with a view to the behaviors of the expat contingent in them, honestly, there's not that much difference between them other than attitudes of the host country government.

So to suggest that Thailand attracts more than it fair share of misfits by virtue of its sex industry, is actually a giant step to leap on the basis of thinking there are many single travelers who come here and also quite wide of the mark I suggest. Although I can imagine that views on this subject might be totally opposite given those of a person who lives in say Pattaya and a person who lives where I do in rural northern Thailand. And whilst this is in no way shape or form an attempt to bash Pattaya, a foreigner walking around Pattaya might be forgiven for holding your view simply because the subject is always in your face, 24 hours a day, in rural Chiang Mai province it is 180 degrees about face.

As to the origins of any potentially idiosyncratic tendencies of expats in Thailand and I'm not sure that's actually proven nor measurable: Thailand is a holiday destination known for its relaxed attitudes, beach resorts, hot climate, decent infrastructure and inexpensive living. Neighboring countries have many of those characteristics but none of them have all of those things, pointing at the Thai sex industry as the sole single cause of expat behavior (if indeed it truly is any different here than elsewhere in the region) is naive and very short sighted I suggest.

Maybe pose a question this way how many " expats" would have set themselves up in Thailand if there wasnt such a prominent sex industry ?

Having worked an lived in many countries over the years with "expat" populations have to concide Thailand appears to have large numbers of "broken" or strange expats far more than anywhere else i have been

FWIW I would have, it was always my plan to retire here after living and working in China and Hong Kong for many years, simply, I didn't want to go back to spend my final days in the west and Thailand offered me an opportunity to retire with an above average standard of living and no taxation to speak of. Recent dickheads will pounce on the opportunity to call me a liar when I say that the sex/relationship aspect wasn't a factor in deciding to live here but it's true, At the turn of the century the islands were largely unspoiled and I found the country to be a very desirable place to live, I still do albeit I now live further out from the centre of a city than I used to but it still suits me well. Other expats, sorry, I don't meet any that haven't been here for less than fifteen years, that being by chance and by design since I don't go out of my way to meet the same.

That could be your issue. There's a heap of youngish professionals working here in various capacities. All you meet is old retired or close to retired people.

OB

Must confess in my 15 years working here have met some of the " youngish professionals" and havent been overly impressed with them either LOL

Fair enough. All we have to go on are our own experiences.

OB

Speak for yourself!

Chiang Mai:

The OP is only the most recent of a steady stream of posters who have commented about the idiosyncratic nature of the expat community in Thailand. Whatever the label used: "quirky", "oddball" "antisocial", etc., some have gone so far as to comment that Thailand's expat community is idiosyncratic even when compared to expat communities in neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Laos. Other than the sex industry, what prominent social dynamic can you point to which might help explain this phenomena?

It's undeniable that Thailand's sex industry attracts many visitors, both tourists and expats alike. You need only look at the high percentage of male visitors travelling solo to confirm this. As unpalatable as this may be for some to hear, the truth is that sex tourists are probably not the most socially and psychologically well adjusted group of people on the planet.

But if you don't think the sex industry plays a role in this dynamic, that's fine. I'm open to listening to any alternative theories you or others might have.

Having lived and worked in several countries in the region since the mid 1990's I aware that most countries in SE Asia have a sex industry of some sort, not all are as widely advertised as Thailand, thanks to the UK tabloids, but they are, none the less, all mostly very buoyant industries that thrive and are tolerated well. Even the heavily Muslim countries of Malaysia and Indonesia have them, as do "respectable" territories such as Singapore and Japan (and to quite some degree I might add). So when I compare Thailand to those countries, with a view to the behaviors of the expat contingent in them, honestly, there's not that much difference between them other than attitudes of the host country government.

So to suggest that Thailand attracts more than it fair share of misfits by virtue of its sex industry, is actually a giant step to leap on the basis of thinking there are many single travelers who come here and also quite wide of the mark I suggest. Although I can imagine that views on this subject might be totally opposite given those of a person who lives in say Pattaya and a person who lives where I do in rural northern Thailand. And whilst this is in no way shape or form an attempt to bash Pattaya, a foreigner walking around Pattaya might be forgiven for holding your view simply because the subject is always in your face, 24 hours a day, in rural Chiang Mai province it is 180 degrees about face.

As to the origins of any potentially idiosyncratic tendencies of expats in Thailand and I'm not sure that's actually proven nor measurable: Thailand is a holiday destination known for its relaxed attitudes, beach resorts, hot climate, decent infrastructure and inexpensive living. Neighboring countries have many of those characteristics but none of them have all of those things, pointing at the Thai sex industry as the sole single cause of expat behavior (if indeed it truly is any different here than elsewhere in the region) is naive and very short sighted I suggest.

Maybe pose a question this way how many " expats" would have set themselves up in Thailand if there wasnt such a prominent sex industry ?

Having worked an lived in many countries over the years with "expat" populations have to concide Thailand appears to have large numbers of "broken" or strange expats far more than anywhere else i have been

FWIW I would have, it was always my plan to retire here after living and working in China and Hong Kong for many years, simply, I didn't want to go back to spend my final days in the west and Thailand offered me an opportunity to retire with an above average standard of living and no taxation to speak of. Recent dickheads will pounce on the opportunity to call me a liar when I say that the sex/relationship aspect wasn't a factor in deciding to live here but it's true, At the turn of the century the islands were largely unspoiled and I found the country to be a very desirable place to live, I still do albeit I now live further out from the centre of a city than I used to but it still suits me well. Other expats, sorry, I don't meet any that haven't been here for less than fifteen years, that being by chance and by design since I don't go out of my way to meet the same.

That could be your issue. There's a heap of youngish professionals working here in various capacities. All you meet is old retired or close to retired people.

OB

Note the word 'hear', not 'read'.

The operative word above was news not heard or read. The poster was making a point that the news media does not use the word Farang.

And of course he was wrong as demonstrated by our very own news media

New trend of young, educated Thai women with farang husbands emerges: researcher

http://news.thaivisa...earcher/109615/

The operative word was 'channel', not 'article'.

But we're just wasting electrons yet again.

No the operative word was news. Irrelevant if channel or article or skywriting.

The point the man was trying to make was that the news media don't use the word Farang and he is in error.

You are one strange individual. I think most people would associate the term news channel with television.

I can't believe I got sucked in.

OB and out

Seems that enuf people reasoned or not, defo find just the use of the word offensive to give credence to the arguement that maybe it aint quite so cool to use it after all. Or will ignoring that it causes offence just carry on.

rijit

You want the Thai people to change their language because a small number of over-sensitive foreigners don't like a neutral word?

Seems a bit much.

I'd argue they already do. As I do at work and in situations that require me to show respect. You are usually pretty sharp SB.

OB

Actually I worded that badly. I should have said each other not superiors/subordinates.

OB

Exactly. Anyone that works here will realize the pretty formal system Thais have for addressing superiors subordinates in the office whether Thai or not. Why wouldn't this extend to all other social interactions regardless if Thai or non Thai?

OB

You are taking a tour to a place that only lets in Thai people. The person on the phone asks your wife/GF is your husband Thai or Farang.

Soutpeel won't answer maybe you will.

Did you read my post? If you don't think farang can be used as a pejorative then there is no point arguing further.

OB

Boy you guys have a hard time admitting you are wrong. Farang may be a pejorative or neutral or good depending on the context. Why can't you just say I was wrong and let it go?

Did you read my post? I said it was all about context. Maybe go back and have a read.

OB

Maybe you better read the above. You wrote, "I think you are being deliberately obtuse. The answer to either of those questions is not "the farang"

That is not correct the answer to my questions is Farang. Thais would not say "the."

I think your argument is a straw man so let's bring it back on topic. If the person on the phone asked "is your boyfriend thai or farang?" Farang would be appropriate. If however, she was using it instead of his name would that be an issue?

Thoughts?

OB

I think you are being deliberately obtuse. The answer to either of those questions is not "the farang"

I also cannot recall my wife or her family ever referring to me as "the farang". Neither have my colleagues.

As mentioned above it's about context. Describing someone as farang, like describing someone as Asian is different to referring to them as "the Asian."

OB

You are taking a tour to a place that only lets in Thai people. The person on the phone asks your wife/GF is your husband Thai or Farang.

Soutpeel won't answer maybe you will.

Did you read my post? If you don't think farang can be used as a pejorative then there is no point arguing further.

OB

Boy you guys have a hard time admitting you are wrong. Farang may be a pejorative or neutral or good depending on the context. Why can't you just say I was wrong and let it go?

Did you read my post? I said it was all about context. Maybe go back and have a read.

OB

I think you are being deliberately obtuse. The answer to either of those questions is not "the farang"

I also cannot recall my wife or her family ever referring to me as "the farang". Neither have my colleagues.

As mentioned above it's about context. Describing someone as farang, like describing someone as Asian is different to referring to them as "the Asian."

OB

You are taking a tour to a place that only lets in Thai people. The person on the phone asks your wife/GF is your husband Thai or Farang.

Where is this place that only lets in Thai people?

There is a karaoke bar near us that is like that

I also heard of bars in Pattaya where the same rule is applied for a few days after the Thais have been paid near the end of the month.

Plenty of places in Bangkok that only allow jin as well. Not even Thais are allowed in.

OB

I think you are being deliberately obtuse. The answer to either of those questions is not "the farang"

I also cannot recall my wife or her family ever referring to me as "the farang". Neither have my colleagues.

As mentioned above it's about context. Describing someone as farang, like describing someone as Asian is different to referring to them as "the Asian."

OB

You are taking a tour to a place that only lets in Thai people. The person on the phone asks your wife/GF is your husband Thai or Farang.

Soutpeel won't answer maybe you will.

Did you read my post? If you don't think farang can be used as a pejorative then there is no point arguing further.

OB

I think you are being deliberately obtuse. The answer to either of those questions is not "the farang"

I also cannot recall my wife or her family ever referring to me as "the farang". Neither have my colleagues.

As mentioned above it's about context. Describing someone as farang, like describing someone as Asian is different to referring to them as "the Asian."

OB

You are taking a tour to a place that only lets in Thai people. The person on the phone asks your wife/GF is your husband Thai or Farang.

Where is this place that only lets in Thai people?

Why do you want to know? I asked Soutpeel.

I want to make sure I never try and arrange a tour there.

Especially if your wife is "farang". Would blow their minds.

OB

It is quite normal for "The Farang" to be referred to in the third party context by family and friends.

I disagree, I have never been present where I have been referred to as "the Farang"

Is your wife Thai or Farang? Is your husband Thai or Farang? You have a problem with either of those statements?

Why so defensive ? Just relating my own personal experiences and as stated as far as i am aware i have never been referred to as "farang" in company whether her family or friends

but if in company the typical question that my wife gets asked is where is your husband from, not where does the "farang" come

I'm not defensive. You are the one who didn't answer my simple question. Is your wife Thai or Farang? Is your husband Thai or Farang? You have a problem with either of those statements?

I think you are being deliberately obtuse. The answer to either of those questions is not "the farang"

I also cannot recall my wife or her family ever referring to me as "the farang". Neither have my colleagues.

As mentioned above it's about context. Describing someone as farang, like describing someone as Asian is different to referring to them as "the Asian."

OB

Doesn't seem too bad. The place is massive and in central Bangkok. 1.27mln gets you a studio in HK/SG/NYC.

OB

I posted in another topic about Asian looking English teachers in Vietnam.

I know an English born man who runs a English program school in Vung Tau, Vietnam........just south Of Ho Chi Minh City.

His Vietnamese wife actually owns the school, he acts as the headmaster of the school.

He told me quite candidly, that it is hard to hire Asian looking English teachers there.

This is because there is a feeling among Vietnamese that to teach English you must LOOK like an English man or woman.

In his school many Vietnamese -Chinese parents pay a premium fee for an education in English in his school.

It is the parents who feel that they are paying for an English based education for their children and therefore they want "real"

English teachers that look English.

I know, as does he, that it doesn't make sense..... but it is what the parents who pay for a "true" English education want and they are the ones who pay the bill.

I expect some of the same mentality applies to Thailand also.

It does make sense,, I would not like a child of mine to learn English from a Asian with a American accent. The school has brains,and knew it would cause

problems

So quick surgery

Why?

OB

Yesterday I started a job to finish out the semester with a school.

I taught a few classes but when I met the manager I knew something was wrong.

In the middle of the day the agency spokesperson told me that the school didn't want me. I asked and they basically said it's because I look Asian. I am Asian.

What the hell is wrong with Thailand? Why are do many people so dumb and racist? I love this place but too many people are brought up to be imbeciles.

Welcome to Asia. Western countries aren't that bad overall are they?

OB

Thanks for the above answers but it still begs more questions.

Let's say my daughter gets both Thai and US passports. Flies to US and enters with US passport and then departs for return to Thailand with Thai passport. So far, so good.

But, the next trip to America she arrives with US passport and US Immigration asks when she departed America from the first trip since it is not indicated in her US passport because she traveled on Thai passport and if she manages to sweet talk her way onboard what happens when she arrives in Thailand and is asked basically the same question - When did you depart Thailand since it is not indicated in her Thai passport?

Always enter and depart on the passport for the appropriate country. Leave Thailand show Thai passport. Arrive US and show US passport. Leave US show US passport, arrive Thailand show Thai passport.

OB

And what doe you say when immigration asks where your departure stamp is located. Your safest bet is to contact Thai immigration.

Which departure stamp?

OB