Kenny202

They were similar figures I was told by a nurse in a village but it was closer to 10% from memory. And that is only the people tested and that is generally women at 3 months pregnancy. I don't know what the real figure would be including untested people but would have to be close to double the official figures

Back when I had my brush with HIV there was no legal responsibility for a partner or medical staff to tell even a husband or wife their partner is infected. I found that incredible at the time but I guess there is an argument for both sides. You would be pretty p$$d off though if you contracted it and you were not warned. Used to be very sad several times I sat in a HIV clinic, very normal looking middle aged women with kids etc sitting there looking pitiful waiting for their appointment. Hubby I guess must have passed it on to her. At the time though an infected person had a legal responsibility to inform any sex partners they had the virus before sex, or so I was told. Very illegal to call someone out with HIV and very strong punishment apparently. I was told this was because so many well to do / Hiso had this secret. Not sure about now. Was one of the problems back 5 or 6 years ago was that particularly in rural areas....the hospitals had a special clinic / area for HIV. People had to wait outside for their appointment and you know how many local people you would bump into in a small community, and you know how rural people love to ask uncomfortable questions and gossip. I always thought that may have been a deterrent for people after being initially treated to come back for more meds / treatment. Or even just having to make an excuse for leaving the village for most of the day and travelling to the local hospital. They used to get their meds once a month....was about 3 different pills they had to take same time each night. Then they could get there meds every three months and now I believe 6 months and they only need take the one pill As far as drinking with retro virals, not sure on the effect of the meds but the effect on a person just taking the meds is nearly like being stoned but feeling sick, disorientated also. Very strong drug and in fact I read the drug long term maybe nearly as bad as the virus itself. Were signs of diminishing liver function over a long period of time from memory but not enough data at the time to be sure. Not sure if these side effects lessen over time but I can't imagine anyone wanting to drink after taking the meds. Meds may be completely different now but I remember if I had contracted it there was no way I could stay here. Meds were about 20k pre month back then for a foreigner. I had a one week wait to be tested at the regional hospital. Was a hellish week I had even convinced myself I gave it to her. Good village girls don't get up to any nonsense (). She had already been tested local clinic and had to have follow up / 2nd test provincial hospital which was when I would go test too. Was like when you wake up from a really bad nightmare and it takes you a few minutes to calm down and realize only a dream. Except I wasn't dreaming. The nurse confirmed the GF pos results then said something to me like would you stay with her if you were negative which didn't make sense in the moment, then the penny dropped and she told me my test result was negative. Which opened up so many questions of me living with her for 3 years and she had / and I didn't. She even admitted to sleeping with the young guy across the road while I was away....but it was only once and it was my fault because we had just had a fight on the phone and she got drunk and didn't know what she was doing. Confirmed many suspicions I had and I am sure it wasn't one time or even one guy.

There is a very low risk. I know, I was living with a woman for several years who the doctor estimated by her low viral load she had been HIV pos for 3-5 years. The doctor said it was a miracle I didn't get it and I said yes but its hard for a man to catch it from a woman right? He said statistically yes...but you only have to catch it once and you got it for life. A roll of the dice. On retrovirals nearly zero chance of contracting it in any way but I have sat in clinics listening to the doctor admonishing one patient after the other for not taking their meds. She knew because their VL had spiked. And I believe once a person is on antivirals should they go off them the condition can be even worse than if they never started them

You can't read between the lines?

I know personally a women with HIV was and probably still working in a bar / bars Pattaya. Cared not a jot. Would be many more too who know or don't know they are infected. Retro virals do reduce near to zero virus levels but even on retrovirals it can spike during sickness or stress. I lived with a village nurse for a while and for a small population they had an alarmingly high amount of people infected. Most of those know cases were only due to the mandatory 3 month HIV test in pregnancy. What is the most typical thing about this story in Thailand is the way the woman excuses herself. You would nearly feel sorry for her hienous careless selfish actions. She became a hooker as a coping mechanism for her broken heart 🤣🤣 How to polish a turd 101

I think they display and promote what Netflix think your usual preferences are. I often dig up some gems by accident, even when searching for similar genres. And many Thai movies are incredible....the cinematography alone is amazing. A lot of talent here in that regard as many Hollywood films are shot or partly shot here. I even watch some Thai drama series. Mainly historical. Unfortunately they usually tend to run off the rails somewhere and lose the plot at some point. There are some incredibly talented, creative Thai film makers and in awe of some of the musicians / artists. Thai film / drama isn't all bell and whistle slapstick these days and they have some quite sophisticated soul / fusion music. Both usually my preference these days

There are heaps of foreign films. We mainly watch Thai movies....unsurprisingly hundreds of them as well as many other nations movies

Found most of them here with a few exceptions to be the one aspect of the relationship they do take care of dilligently. But like most women around the workd....the hotter they are in the sack the crazier they are to live with lol. One of Gods cruel ironies. As normal blokes I am sure most of us as my grandmother would say would be happy with full bellies and empty b@ll$....a nice smile and pleasant demeanor a bonus too. Then who cares about the housework etc. Unfortunately I need a little more substance having a child that will need taking care of in the future.

Distressing an understatement...the full story would make your hair curl lol. New lady last 4 years who also has a son the same age as mine. Wonderful little guy couldn't say enough about him. Spent his first couple of years living hard in a village and appreciates every single thing he has. He is smart, super caring, helpful and wants to learn everything and learns fast too. Most responsible kid I have ever come across and my son and him as close as any real brothers could be. He is what you would expect from a village girl that has had a hard life and appreciative of a new life, good family and security in her life. If only my girl was 50% the same! 5555. She is a good person, not greedy or too selfish. Both mom and dad passed and no real close family so no hangers on. But there is a moody, entitled, hormonal 12yo girl lurking in there. Probably as good as it gets here and that's not saying much really. I do 90% of everything including taking care of the kids and paying for everything of course. In reality she is like having an extra kid. If I didn't have my son I would see no reason to have a relationship here...in fact I liken it to tying a wet bag of cement around your neck, dragging it behind you and paying for the privilege as well. The village type girls I have come across .....putting all the entitled ness, greedy family stuff, moodiness etc aside....at best bring very little to the table. In fairness / some ways they just aren't capable....they don't have the life experience, education and lets face it there is an evolution lag in the mix there somewhere. Most have little or no initiative, interests....ability to develop and grow outside of social media or the latest kiddy games. Finding a proper life partner, who was interested in the growth, development, prosperity of her general family (husband, kids etc) rather than trying to only increase her own wealth with as little effort as possible or extracting from someone else (Us) IMO needle in a haystack stuff. I know Thai families here (Thai husband / Wife) where the wife does take control of these things, works tirelessly to put her kids through Uni, better her family etc. The demographic we seem to attract might be good looking or whatever but in real terms the bottom of society looking for a free ride, easy money. I have had relationships with professionals and more educated women and in some ways better but really the only difference is higher debts / outstanding loans and a greater need for money. Older women you would think better but seeing some of my mates relationships they seem to be the worse particularly for gambling...and gambling the house and assets a way. A very familiar story in Isaan. Anyway, it is what it is and you have to accept it if you want a younger good looking woman. An old guy said to me once, no good complaining they are stupid or lazy....Think yourself lucky....if they weren't this way they wouldn't be interested in us old codgers 🤣

Took me 5 years, got shod of her 5 years ago. Still ghosting me today....but only when she is in the shet of course lol. Left me with a 3 month old son. One of 4 kids she abandoned to others. Lied to me about everything before I came here. Only found out she had 3 other kids when I saw her Tabien baan. She couldn't tell me because she knew I wouldn't accept it...like it was kinda my fault as they do 😂 last I heard she had HIV and working in a bar in Pattaya. Anyway, no regrets as bitter as I must sound. Been an interesting ride and have enjoyed every minute of watching my son grow.

That was long ago in another life lol. She was definitely entitled. I live in the city now, as much as I loved the village I lived in I don't do villages or temples anymore

The disparity for me is never so obvious as when you see them bowing, scraping.....kob jai phee......nong......poor jai ....maximum respect to someone they don't know let alone who has ever done anything for them.....or worse a cement ooger booger statue in front of a temple they believe will make them lucky.....and just this morning you did yours and her washing....cooked for yourself and cleaned the house. Not only did she not help even clean up for herself looked down on you as if it were your job anyway lol. I refuse to play that game anymore 🙂 Often said if you think all you need to bring to the table is your pu$$y, guess again. There is plenty of that available anywhere in Thailand in fact I was doing better on that front when I was single. Unfortunately the only thing that makes them realize they had it good is after you have split up and already moved on. Then the next 6 months to 2 years trying to get back what they had and took for granted all along

I been here ten years and I don't think once I felt any gifts or acts of kindness were appreciated either to partners or locals. In fact usually left with the feeling that its ok but doesn't measure up to someone else's Facebook (un) reality, and perhaps I should have bought a more expensive home, motorcycle, car.....or heavier baht weight gold. Small gifts or thought fullness is only ever measured in the value of the gift..not the thought. And the laughable thing the people judging the gift bearer have probably never given anything or done anything kind or spontaneous....particularly if it involves more than 5 baht of their own money. Most ungrateful people I have ever come across. Never worked it out either. Possibly another one of their weird self defense mechanisms where showing gratitude means lessening yourself or leaving themself open for a reciprocal request ala The Godfather. A Thai guy told me once Asians generally don't understand acts of kindness. They think you are either stupid or want something in return in other words eyed with suspicion or a fool who is easily separated from his money. I remember when I first came to live in a village anything kind I did for anyone usually left me disgusted. Buy a couple of kids with no parents an ice cream in a shop and the grandmother asking why I didn't "take care" of her, she is older than the kids. Or the time I offered to pay for a gravel road into the temple through the rice fields for the old ladies. I assumed if I paid for the materials couple of the guys with tractors would spread it....some of their mothers used to walk through the muddy track to the temple. Nope..... a total greed fest every one with there hand out. Or someone is jealous or offended in some other way. The self satisfaction to me of doing a good deed or making someone happy would be enough for me, no thanks required but when all it does is stir up bad feeling and jealousy why do anything. I don't bother anymore. It's just a waste of money and their is no thanks in it, usually the opposite. Most relationships I have had here were finished by me after weighing up the ledger sheet of what I was giving and receiving in return. Usually in my estimation 95% / 5% ratio... if that. We kid ourselves its "cultural" and all that stuff but IMO people here tend to respect people who treat them harshly and look down on those who are the kindest to them. A mate of mine with a Thai wife told me before coming here....the hardest thing is teaching them not to bite the hand that feeds them. IMO never truer words spoken. Met a lot of good people here too, really good people but there are an awful lot of the latter

This forum gets more disturbingly bizarre every day

Sounds like a pretty A typical farang / Thai women (village born?) relationship to me. Lazy, entitled, selfish, greedy etc....Probably the full seven deadly sins all in one package. Even without their 11yo attitude / intellect / anger issues they usually have very little to bring to the table apart from usually kids, needy family and a lot of issues / debts. No world / real life experience, no initiative. So even if they were happy thoughtful, agreeable, helpful with their husband / kids they would still be next to useless, though most of us would be happy with someone that at least tried to contribute. Not act like everyone owes them something. They wont do anything by themselves and hate being asked to do anything. No interest in learning or personal growth. Hobbies include scrolling through Facebook liking posts and reading other peoples comments, various other social media, watching inane drama shows and sleeping. As far as cleaning, cooking or helping in anyway I assume you are probably doing that yourself including most of the children's care and paying for everything of course. Yet she still walks around with a shetty look on her face and an attitude like she is the down trodden one lol. I hear you and I think just about all the friends I have in Thailand are in similar relationships to some degree. Most of them stuck there and tolerating it because they are on the pension and house in her name... As for your dilemma only you can work that out for yourself. What about the financial situation in Germany? Does she have the rights to half or more of everything you own like in most countries? Can you afford to bare that loss and start again? In any case sounds like you are in an intolerable situation and she has no interest in doing anything to make amends. By the way not all Thais / Thai women are like this by any stretch. Got some really good Thai friends and they live very much like we would. Tidy homes, structure in their life, have goals, work as a team together etc. The women we seem to be attracted to and indeed seek foreigners out are usually as you describe....bottom of the barrel, at the end of their road and looking for a free ride. These traits aren't cultural to Thailand....they are traits of a typical type of person found all around the world. The kids well, I guess you wouldn't be comfortable with her taking care of them....nor should you be by the sounds of it. She probably doesn't even want them but will play on that for sure. I would try and find out what it is she actually wants....if it is just exit stage left and leave the kids with you, and not suck you dry probably your best option. I got left with 4 kids in Australia and the first two weeks was hectic then it all worked itself out. You have to make the decision first that you are really going to finish it up with her, then start taking steps. It gets easier after you start moving. You didn't mention if she is working or solely dependent on you? Will be a lot of things possibly that can come into play even if she seems ammeniable to separating....one of which is her friends getting in her ears as to the financial possibilities. And you can bet they have their own forum in Germany with plenty or women giving out free (often ill informed) advice just like Asean now. I know it is not in our play book to use kids as pawns etc but they have no such qualms. I got left with a child here, very similar situation to yours but in Thailand. She had me dancing around on a string for three months manipulating me with my child. In the end I suggested to her she may be the one that gets "left holding the baby". That straightened her up 5000% and her whole attitude changed. They use your concern / love for the child actually against you...as they have no such feelings themselves.

They call it "go fast"lol

Thais thin all paints Don't listen to them. The last thing on their mind is a good result. 1stly thinned out its easier to apply, secondly cheaper as the paint goes further. In their mind win win. But like many buildings here the paint will be see through in 6 months and peeling off in a year. Thailand...the hub of cheap.and nasty

Prefer a place has a bit of western / Thai style.....not just Isaan or Thai. Reasonably priced ???? Thanks in advance

What are DTAs and DTRs?

I was under the impression if I leave my super in the original fund, and draw bits and pieces of it, the remaining balance can sit in the fund accruing tav free interest. I was under the impression if I drew it all out and invested somewhere else it would then be taxable. Is that right?

Hi all, I am guessing this topic has been done to death. I scroll through the news on Asean now everyday and seems to be two very polar opposite schools of thought re it will effect the average expat or it definitely wont. My situation is that I have superannuation (mandatory superannuation investment fund) in Australia. I draw on this once or twice a year for living expense. the money in my super account was paid in monthly during my working life so I assume this money has already been taxed? The money sits in the super account and continues to attract interest which for me at retirement age I believe is tax fee in Australia. We aren't talking about millions of dollars by the way. I will also be on the Australian pension in the years to come. It is my money, I earned it and was with held during my working days. I have no other income in Thailand or Australia nor do I file a tax return in either country. I live in Thailand permanently. Are the new rules if they come to fruition likely to effect me...or are we going to have to get some damn certificate from my bank to give our Thai bank or something every time we bring money in to prove it is non taxable? Not like the Thai government to blab out some ill thought out dreamed up scheme without thinking it through or sharing the details (I doubt they even know themselves yet) I understand the change of law is predominantly to plug a loop hole where people (Thais?) can earn money / invest in other countries and simply leave it there for more than a year and the money is non taxable / non declarable when the funds are returned to Thailand after the 1 year.

One of the reasons we like where we stay. The beach seems super safe, you would need to walk out 500 meters to be in water higher than waist deep. very safe for the kids. No drop offs or channels. I used to be a lifesaver back home and never looked like there would be rips here though of course things can change. Have seen it windy and rough a couple of times there but the water stirs up pretty bad so not like you would want to swim anyway. The currents / rips around these Islands must get pretty bad though as drownings among tourists seem to be fairly common. The beach for us more for the kids to play on the sand and go for walks. hard to beat the beautiful pools in the resort for swimming, even when raining.

We have been there quite a few times this time of year and never experienced any beach digging or anything that inconvenienced us. Was pretty drear last time we went about 2 years ago so many businesses gone, and not shut up.....cleared out and left for good....but otherwise we don't do much apart from go to the beach and swim at the hotel pool. Got a few favorite restaurants which have always been open. Any touristy sights or tours etc doesn't interest us. In any case we have 2 kids at school (just started school holidays) , and the beach is a 10 hour drive for us so popping over for a weekend or 2 or 3 days not really convenient so we don't really have a lot of choice. Come to think of it we been lucky in that respect too, I don't remember it ever raining while we were there but was a bit windy and overcast last time. usually we go mid to late September. But thanks for the info ????

I actually picked a little 100w Hitachi 220/100v transformer up off Lazada 300 baht. Damn hard to find with Lazada's crappy search but got there in the end. I did talk to my guitar amp technician....he did actually say 110 volt would be no problem at all and that guy knows his shet ????

Thanks Crossy, it does say 50/60hz. I will give it a whirl. Pretty sure I have used them before. It is nearly impossible to find 100vac step downs here at any price and the rare few are too pricey or actually questionable if actually 100v and not 110v