richard_smith237

Its Six to one and half a dozen to the other for me.... 

Women seems to be a common theme, but, IMO there is an abundance of attractive women back home, here in Thailand there is an abundance of slim women who are perhaps 'more available' to the average older guy which I can understand makes the difference for some. 

Weather: is perhaps a factor, but I do enjoy traveling back each Winter on one of my biannual visits and feeling the cold, dressing up in layers and a nice warm coat, it makes a refreshing change from sweating most of the year round whenever outside although the time of year I visit the UK is also a perfect time in Thailand with regards to pleasant weather. 

Costs: Again, I'm 50/50 there are many things which are so much more expensive here. Wine, Craft beer, cheese, but again other food items are ridiculously cheap, accommodation is perhaps cheaper here in Thailand when comparing like for like. Cars are more expensive here (this one breaks my heart).

Family: both my Wife and I have have close family ties. We see her parents and family a few times a week here in Bangkok, we'd see my parents and family a few times a week back in the UK.

Education: My son's education is key to where we are. If I couldn't afford International School (Kindergarten) we would be back in the UK which has fine comprehensive schooling in my area, that said, I'm extremely happy with the level of International Schooling and consider it a better option for the moment. 

Safety: This is a big issue, while no country is perfect I am particularly conscious of Thailands safety woes, on the road with the awful driving, poor vehicular maintenance and cowboys taking chances in their company trucks... I've mitigated against this as much as possible with a decent 4x4 and an excellent car seat however, the UK is a much safer country on ever aspect. Walking down the road, using electrical appliances, the levels of safety here are simply absent which means there is little 'relaxing'... everything is checked out first.

Quality of life: Playing football twice a week, taking a massage, eating out regularly, having a maid / nanny going on so many nearby beach holidays.

Medical: Thailand has excellent private hospitals, the majority of issues are readily dealt with professionally and efficiently. Thailand has an extremely poor 'first response' to emergencies. 

Decent medical insurance is costly in Thailand, hospital treatment in the UK is reactive, time consuming, slow. I'd rather be in the UK if subject to an emergency, I'd rather be in Thailand for pretty much any other 'standard' treatment.

......

And so.. I feel I would be happy here or in the UK, I feel my Wife would also be happy here or in the UK. She would definitely need her 'Thai Fix' which could readily be fixed with a biannual visit home to Thailand and one of the many Thai TV web subscriptions. Obtaining Thai food at a reasonable price may be an issue.

I have spend my adult life here in Thailand, right out of the gate from graduation I have been based here. I have many friends here now, perhaps more than I have in the UK and my friends here are in a more concentrated area (mainly in Bangkok) whereas in the UK my close friends are spread all over. 

In the UK the proximity to wonderful European cities would also be an advantage as would the proximity to the Alps and great winter holidays. 

In short, both the UK and Thailand have something amazing to offer, both are fine places to live. For now Thailand is 'edging' it because its what I know, but I wouldn't have any major concern if we had to move back to the UK. Life is what you make of it even when faced with choices beyond our control, its about attitude, particularly the attitudes of those closest to you - the location can change, its just scenery.

Beyond the sheer number of cars on the road, one of the biggest contributors to the hideous congestion is stupid and careless parking. 

Motorcycles, delivery vans, cars all parking on Sukhumvit Sub-Sois effectively turning 2 lane roads into a single lane, the knock-on effect is a traffic snarl-ups which tail back onto the major arteries.

Those who block box junctions also add to the terrible gridlock. 

Courteous driving and parking would do wonders to address no only Bangkok's traffic woes but that of any city and town nationwide. 

It is stupidity and carelessness which creates the issues, changing lanes also has an impact but it's negligible impact when compared to other 'choking' factors. 

2 hours ago, Mooner said:

 

The well known doctor has offered an apology. He said that it was dark and he couldn't see very well.

?Headlights?

 

"Police arrived and a large crowd gathered who pressed the police as to whether he was to be breath tested. The police said it was not necessary. He had the right not to be tested.

 

Thos beggers belief. The guy runs somebody over and staggers from the car.

The police then need proof to confirm alcohol is involved but its in his rights to refuse a breath test. 

What the <deleted>? What can the police do when laws like this exist?

 

Laws like this don't exist. When someone refuses a breath test, they also assume guilt in being over the legal driving limit. 

In this case the BiB should also be charged for not performing the duties. 

Of course, 'should' is a much used word in cases such as this in Thailand where the law is clear and enforcement is vague in the extreme to the point of deliberate negligence when those in positions of power can hold influence over the very same people attempting to police them. 

The whole tragic situation is a blight on Thai culture and a black mark against Thailand. 

28 minutes ago, 01322521959 said:

If only they would just make it policy to stop and fine all motorcyclists not wearing helmets 500Baht and continue to do so. That's one job done. If they just had the guts to see something through and continue to enforce the law. 

While they don't seem able to do this nothing will change.

The above is all that is needed to stop the increasing carnage on the roads.

I ride most days. In the last week I PERSONALLY have seen 

1 Motorcyclist dead under a white sheet having gone under a van

2 Bike on it's side having been hit by a taxi.

STUPID unnecessary accidents at very low speed.

Agreed... 

1) Charge EVERY motorcyclists without a helmet 500 baht (confiscate the bike if they can't pay)

2) Charge EVERY DUI 20,000 baht and add points to their license. 

Thats the two primary issues dealt with (mostly). 

3) There is a Penalty Points system for drivers in Thailand - Use it properly.

4) Suspend licenses that have acquired the full number of penalty points.

5) Confiscate cars that unlicensed and uninsured drivers are found driving, return the vehicle for a significant charge (50,000 baht). 

6) Deal with dangerous driving seriously - real charges which have an impact. 

The only way to reduce accidents and  deaths is to 'force' the masses to drive with consideration, the only way to force them to drive with consideration is to hit them where it hurts (wallet) when they don't. 

Every accident and tragedy can't be avoided. It would be impossible to make the roads 100% safe, but it wouldn't take a huge degree of effort to have a significant impact in a very short amount of time. 

What it would take is a sufficient incentive for a Police force to effectively carry out its job - and this is where the primary issue lies. How can an institutionally corrupt and inherently apathetic force become incentivized to actually make a difference ?.... the simple answer is they get a cut of the fines but that would only lead to more corruptions.  

The best answer I can come up with is to pay the Police more, but with what ? there would need to be more cash in government coffers, so to get more cash people need to be paying more tax, or more correctly, those at the far end of the 'tax manipulation' (avoidance) spectrum need to pay more tax. But how to get such powerful corporations and powerful people to pay more tax when it is they who are pulling the strings?.....  the vicious circle ultimately costs those most innocent and we remain at square one. Until the 'whole' of society cares enough not much will be done.

I think back to my younger days at Uni and am not particularly proud of the way I treated women. 

Some I abandoned in the middle of the night without a word, some I was quite rude to and perhaps even a handful who lacking sobriety were coerced into a 'drunken bodily union' and even got up and made me breakfast !....  But in retrospective self criticism I find myself remembering being on the receiving end of such treatment too !... 

If I were famous and perhaps more pertinent to recent events extremely wealthy there may even be a few who remember such events and may chose to speak out negatively. 

I have never 'pushed a no' and have never harassed a woman..  However, the issue is so multifaceted it impossible to be definite for each and every situation is individual and can and should be judged on its individual merit.  There are some ladies with whom I'm close friends and I'm downright cheeky, boisterous and sexist, but I draw the line at any contact particularly which may be construed as 'sexual'. The issue here is that while the ladies in question may well play along and join me in the 'boisterous banter' others may not welcome such comments, neither may other men welcome the comments of those ladies with whom I'm verbally sparring, joking, exchanging stories and generally enjoying being friends with. 

It is for each of us to evaluate our comfort zone and that of whom we are interacting. 

The 'line' which shouldn't be crossed isn't a line, its constantly moving window which meanders through the spectrum of appropriateness. Without this interaction perhaps becomes more forced, less natural and less enjoyable. 

Acting now as I did at University would be inappropriate and acting at university as I do now would seen me with far fewer female friends as my standoffishness would seem, well, standoffish.

Women are equal, they should be viewed as equals and with that I give them them the respect they each deserve along with anyone else I meet, and, as interaction becomes more concentrated so it becomes more natural and enjoyable for both parties. 

There are some pigs out there. Guys who are total and utter dogs who's behavior is disgraceful - its clearly ok to say that. However, equally so there are some women out there who's behavior is equally disgraceful who are taking advantage of a political charged climate, who use political correctness to their advantage whenever the opportunity arrises - for some reason its not ok to say that, which leaves me wondering where is the so-called equality now?

Unfortunately we now live in a society where political correctness kneecaps common sense, this same political correctness is now kneecapping natural interaction. Women are talking of 'glass ceilings' and 'ice ceilings' and many comments are fare, balanced and just, however, some are overdoing it and the glass ceiling is turning into a 'glass box'..... one which surrounds everyone, one which hinders interaction, prevents social development. 

There has to be a healthy balance, but in a society which is starting to demand a 'set of rules' for each and every interaction I fear in aggregate the outcome and only be damaging to society on a whole. 

Reacting with the 'others' can be a delicate situation, but it shouldn't have to be for both parties, if both parties can simply remember that each is deserving of a mutual level of respect. 

This is utterly disgraceful and inexcusable. It is an example of the unbelievable consequences of a society whereby responsibility and accountability remain sorely wanting. 

The lack of humanity evident in this video clip is frightful, it is shocking, and for many of us who've spent any time here it is a recognizable response to the total disregard some have for others.

It is damning that such a beautiful country with so many wonderful people can so readily fall foul of the inexcusable and completely irresponsible actions of a few. 

That the motorcyclists rode on by without doing anything also speaks volumes of the carelessness for others. 

It is so easy to comment so negatively when we see videos such as this, it is such a disappointment that for many who've been tainted by their years in Thailand that the assumed result will be some form of pay off, a public apology, sometime in a temple and a reduced sentence... I hope I am wrong, I fear not....

While no society can prevent these events their frequency can most certainly be reduced. It is truly depressing when behavior such as this could be stamped out in a matter of years with effective law enforcement and uniform consequences for those at fault.

13 hours ago, Bang Bang said:

 

14 hours ago, autanic said:

I am fortunate enough to have several "friends" who work in high ranking jobs in the Thai Government. When we go out for lunch they speak English to one another, when they speak to the Waiter they speak Thai.

The only reason they speak English when you're there is because you're there. Once you've left they'll heave a collective sigh of relief and revert to Thai. (Yes, I have Thai friends with money and western PhDs.)

 

14 hours ago, autanic said:

This is because the ability to speak English shows that one is educated and of a certain social status.

BS actually. Thais are incredibly proud of their language and for not having ever been occupied or their culture "polluted" by foreigners (all arguable but that's the way they see it).

 

A Thai attempting to to speak English to another Thai would be seen as a dick, not upper-class. They'd never try it. This is not India where knowledge of English is a class marker.

Many Thai's are now educated Internationally or at International Schools - their English is better than their Thai and some choose to speak in English amongst themselves. 

A number of my Thai Friends' kids also attend various International Schools here, when we all meet up the Kids are all speaking English to each other although they are all 100% Thai. 

I also agree with the comment that when with a group of well heeled Thai's they will primarily speak English for the sole benefit of the one non-Thai's present who's Thai skills are not up to scratch or up to the standard of the English of Thai's with whom we are conversing. Once departed it is more than feasible to assume that the language reverts back to Thai, although I see quite often that when the same Thai's do speak Thai with each other there are many English words and phrases that are slipped in amongst the Thai language - it almost becomes a hybrid language.

When in a service setting the waitress / shop assistant etc does not address you there is a simple answer... they are uncertain and frightened that there will be confusion and thus takes the most comfortable solution - ultimately their apparent poor manners have manifested out of a lack of confidence.

In this situation speaking Thai may help, but in many cases the 'eyes don't believe the ears' and the poor rabbit in the headlights you are attempting to communicate with will mentally panic and shut down until they reach the 'oh-horrrrr moment' when it dawns on them that the foreign face in front of them is speaking the same language they do....

..... but then again, I see my Wife is commonly misunderstood when I can clearly understand what she is saying, orders or conversations have to be repeated multiple times and then mistakes are still made (wrong orders etc)... its usually because the 'other party' is either from a province outside of Bangkok and is having difficulty with the Bangkok dialect (or lack of their home dialect) and is struggling with the accent or is just not very switched on is struggling to pay attention. 

I do find accurate, concise, efficient communication here a struggle even when language is not a barrier and its Thai on Thai, this is obviously compounded when Thai on foreigner. 

7 minutes ago, MrPatrickThai said:

Shouldn't you, as the foreigner, adapt to Thai culture?

When the word 'Culture' is used here in Thailand its most commonly used to excuse some poor, unacceptable or un-understandable behavior... 

The fact is that Thai's themselves wouldn't be pleased when faced with similar behavior. We may mistakenly wave it off as 'culture' when in fact it just simply poor manners, Thai's when caught out may 'claim' the Thai 'culture' card... i.e. 'its the Thai way' in a clumsy attempt to save face...

Ultimately Culture is rarely relevant - poor manners are poor manners wherever you are, with whomever you are conversing, in which ever language you are speaking....

1 hour ago, Sapporillo said:

Would a private hospital even accept a patient (unless in an emergency) without advance paiement or sufficient guarantees?

Yep...   We were only presented with a Bill upon checking out....  

Labour Room, Medically elective C-Section, 4 nights stay in a regular hospital room at Bumrungrad. 

Insurance paid for all (BUPA International). 

Edit: come to think if it we had to obtain pre-authorization from BUPA who probably contacted the hospital. 

It really is a terribly tragic that those in positions of decision making power are simply too apathetic about this issue for anything to change.

The solutions are simple and start with taking this issue seriously rather than the weekly comment to the media in response to the latest tragedy. 

The simple solutions involve:

- Better / more intelligent and road design

- Actual Policing & Patrols rather than the lazy check points

- Strict fines / bans

- Harsh penalties for DUI

- Equality of the rule of law

- Driver education (on TV at prime time)

6 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Statute of limitations should apply, period of 3 years. Innocent people being hoinded and dragged through the courts for a comment that was perfectly acceptable 30 or, 50  years ago. 

Why should there be a Statute of Limitations at all ?...   People should be held accountable for their poor behavior especially when it involves someone attempting to utilize their power over another for sexual gratification or gain. 

Was this behavior perfectly acceptable 30 or 50 years ago?... my Parents and Grandparents would disagree... If however, unzipping and suggesting you'd whop out your John Thomas is something you witnessed as being perfectly acceptable 30 or 50 years ago you may do better to keep a lid on it for it isn't normal or perfectly acceptable in a mentally healthy society. 

If the equipment was fully functional and the ladies death was a result of her panicking underwater I wonder why the company is facing charges ?

While most UBER and Grab drivers can and do use the GPS location, there are also many who it would appear are unable to read a map. 

Equally so there is a significant number of 'clients' who also cannot use a map and place in the wrong pick up location so the drivers never quite trust the 'pin'.

Then there are some younger UBER and Grab drivers who have no idea where they are and can only drive following the GPS which is not always accurate with regards to the best directions. 

In summary, not all passengers and drivers are switched on enough to make something as simple as using a GPS location seamless. As such there are always one or two hiccups when dealing with the 'spectrum of humanity'. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tourism_rankings

Thailand is 9th in the 'World Tourism Rankings'.... 

The reason Bangkok is up there quite likely has much to do with the fact that the majority of Thailands tourist arrivals travel through Bangkok. Bangkok is also a major South East Asian Hub along with Hong Kong and Singapore who also score incredibly highly on Tourist Arrivals. 

Whichever statistic we choose to look at they all show that Thailand is 'up there' always close to the 'top' in the list of tourist destinations. It would be good to see Thailand looking after its tourist better.

An example at hand is India - the Majority of people visit India as a tourist once, the reasons are clear. However, with Thailand visitors are often repeat visitors and taking steps to ensure all visitors want a repeat visitor should be of key importance.

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

5 hours ago, BBJ said:

I have have been involved in 4 accidents over the last 5 years.  1 bike and 3 car.  While the driver of the other vehicle has blamed me, the insurance company, and recently the police have sided with me.  I always let the person rant on how dangerous I drove, despite the accident scene clearly showing what happened.  
 
Bought a new car 2 months ago.  Silly lass pulled straight out across two lanes and ran into the side of me.  She had no insurance and claimed I was doing 90kph.  If you know immigration exit that has the slopped entrance, there is a carpark opposite where you make a u-turn to get back to main road.  From that u-turn to the slopes she claimed I was doing 90kph, in a mini van!  Even the copper laughed at her.
 
Never had an issue with police or insurance.  But every driver had lied like a 5 year old dipping their hands in the cookie jar!

When you have an accident what's the procedure at the scene? Swap insurance details? Or do police need to come?

In a Car - Ensure you have 1st Class insurance. Call them immediately (they are usually with you within 30 mins). 

Your insurance 'agent' deals with this stuff daily, they will know exactly what to do, but that doesn't mean you have to agree with their decision if you feel you are being treated unfairly. 

There is no need to communicate with the other party at all. 

Do not move your car until the Police arrive. If there are people around someone will call them, or you can ask a local to call the Police for you. 

Do not accept fault if you believe you are not at fault, even if the Policeman suggests you are to blame (he's probably just being lazy even if he makes up some obscure rule).

Take lots of photos of the scene - they will be useful (and have for me in the past).

I use a Mac... Approx 100 GB of Music stored in iTunes / 100 GB of Photos Stored in iPhoto. All well organized, with playlists and catalogued.

When I tried switching from and iPhone to Android it was a nightmare... It took days of trial and error with different software to transfer my Music and Photo's across. I had to spend a lot of time reorganizing things - In the end I found a workable solution but it wasn't quite as 'neat'. 

I also found that the Android system a little less intuitive and 'dirtier' (if that makes any sense), I managed to 'get my head' into it and became a what some may call a power user, even rooting the machine and making some funky changes....  I first used the HTC One before switching to a Samsung S5.

Ultimately I found the 'Package' too slow.... I found the S5 slower than the iPhone I'd previously had, I found that stepping outside of Apples beautiful walled garden created numerous headaches with data handling (photo's etc). When I returned back to an iPhone again life (the use of a phone in combination with a computer) became easier again.

I don't like to like the iPhone, but IMO it is the better machine, but I can do anything on my iPhone that I would on my computer (its just more convenient to do most things on a computer) and when there is something 'new' to do on an iPhone I find it intuitive. 

IF all you are doing is surfing the net, texting, making calls and using Chat Apps then all you really need is the most basic of smart phones with a reasonable screen size.

The iPhone's are now priced ridiculously - when its time to upgrade I'm considering rebelling and ditching Apple again in the hope that this time I won't regret it.... 

Google Translate works on the iPhone..

In the App you take a photo of the Thai Script (a label etc)

The App then identifies the Thai script, with your finger you highlight the specific area script you want translated. 

(start the App off in an English > Thai Translation, open up the photo part, then switch to Thai > English).

It does work with Thai, although as with any language translation software there will always be a few errors. 

9 minutes ago, gamini said:

what about all the scams farangs pull on other farangs. Brit boiler rooms, real  estate swindles, fake international driving licences etc etc. I have been scamed far more by farangs than Thais in the 35 years tha I have lived here. 

Want to buy a bar ???

Ultimately both Thai and Foreigners are prepared to scam each other. Scamming is a facet of human nature not race, religion or nationality.

I'm not sure this question has been touched upon. 

What was a 14 year old doing at a Party with drunk adults? something still seems not right...

Where were the parents? who permitted the child to attend the 'adults' party?

Not that any of this is mitigating circumstances for the appalling behavior of someone 'coming on to' a youngster, but it does seem a little strange, some of these stories raise more question of both 'sides'. 

16 hours ago, markaoffy said:

If the guy had “pushed me Away “ physically, I would have handed out something physical he wouldn’t forget .... if he was around to remember after it happened !

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

12 hours ago, EcigAmateur said:

I would also throw the guy in the pool with his bike.

But it seems that the OP just get what he deserves for being a guy with nuts !

 

 

Wow... there are some frightfully tough people on this forum !!!... 

Are some of you guys really so unhinged that you would so easily and so readily resort to violence over such simple matters ?....  a reaction which ultimately could have significant impact your ability to remain in country. 

The authorities in Thailand always seem to be complicit whenever there are issues such as this which inevitably grow and other issues branch off. 

In this case, they are supporting the entitlement of the beach vendors who will fight, swindle and intimidate customers in their attempts to profit - In this case they will now feel they can charge what they like with impunity, actually in full support of the authorities, their sense of entitlement will turn into indignation as the public become upset with them and their overcharging.... there will be fights, there will be some violence and bad publicity...  and all because the authorities have no foresight and are too lazy to implement controls protecting the tourists.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Lat Phrao, a Bangkok neighborhood known locally for horrible traffic, cheap rents, and more than a few broke expats.

More than a few broke expats ?.... where did this come from ?... 

Is Lad Prao area renown for expats living in a shoe string? I've been in Bangkok for 20 years and have never heard of such comments regarding those who live in Lad Prao.

Some of these journalists are total tools in their attempts to 'create interest'....