richard_smith237

I agree... Cutting anyone out is a very rude. I find that when I am the only foreigner in a room, the Thai's will still speak English, especially when they are all fluent, but within that group there may be individual spin-off contestations in Thai. And often I'll speak to someones Wife in whatever language is easier for either of us, but I'd always ensure to include her partner if he is part of the conversation. I often see my Wife deep in conversation with my friends, me in conversation with their wife... or wives of others.... Its normal to communicate in the most efficient manner for both.... But... to deliberately speak a different language to avoid someone's partner understanding, is underhand, impolite and ultimately quite wrong.

My wife doesn't speak English. What type of farang do you think I am? I kind of get his point... But you have been too literal... I think he means... the type of friend he makes is not the sort of person to enter into a relationship with someone they are unable to communicate with..... i.e. the Old Westerner with Thai Female Slave stereotype. AND... I kind of agree with him. My Thai is not fluent, and I never have been interested in any relationship with a female who's standard of English is not 'educated fluent'.... And... I don't mean the level of English 'picked up' in and around the entertainment industry ( as clever as those girls are and props to them ). I do mean the level of English that comes with a solid education (ether a Degree in Thailand (studied in English) or an Overseas Uni Degree)... Doing so has just made life a whole lot easier, not just in Thailand, but everywhere we have travelled.

Same here... when people are polite and friendly etc... But, there have been the odd times where we're not talking about someone who's missus is pleasant and a little rough around the edges, but someone who's 'partner' is obviously an ex-hard-core ho with that degree of mercenary brutality to match... there simply is no common ground.

Indeed.... Phuket used to be especially good at this... Negotiate a TukTuk home after boosy evening... 4 of you in the TukTuk and he quotes 300 baht.... Fair enough. You get to your destination and he's asking for 1200 baht, the 300 baht was each !!! - cheeky-feckers.... the issue of course is that they know they can turn to violence and get away with it so they escalate very very quickly.... So.. the above never happened to me... BUT... the try to be misleading - i.e. TukTuk... ok 200 baht.... 200 baht each, or for all of us... 200 baht... each or all ?... 200 baht... Its very difficult to get them not to be vague and I'm sure while on the journey the work out how they can extort more. So... Yeah... I avoid TukTuks wherever possible, but recall, last time I was in Phuket, speaking Thai with them the rides and pricing was actually very smooth, no hassles, so I think its only the new tourists who are getting stung.

When I first came here with friend (early 20's), we'd already been made aware of the scams etc.... So... When a TukTuk approached us and offered to give us a tour of the City (Banglamphu area) for 25 baht we agreed... We told him, its go, go to the Tailors and Jewellers... thats ok, but also take us to some decent stuff. So... we did stop off at a load of Tailors and get hassled to buy a crappy suit, a silk shirt or a funky tie... and we did stop off at jewlers and get offered discoloured quartz and emeralds and rubys etc... All part of the fun, we knew we were not going to buy anything... ... But, we saw some sights and got a feel and a smell of that area of the city... I can't remember, but we ended up giving the driver about 200 baht... we were with him for about 3 or 4 hours... if I'm not mistake, he got his fuel tokens etc for delivering us to the various shops etc... BUT... had the guy been even remotely pushy, it would have simply been a no go.... anyone gets pushy and the only response is walk away. I recall in India, we'd hired a driver the 5 days we were there (not only to get us around but as a filter for all the relentless hassle a tourist gets there - and it is relentless, its exhausting).... I recall getting rick-shaw around the spice market (in Delhi) and this guy jumped on the back and started rabbiting on endlessly... I stopped the rickshaw and told the rider that his companion is getting no money, and we'll get off if he doesn't get rid of him... It worked and the rest of the journey through the maze of the spice market was as peaceful as it can be without a guy rabbiting on at full volume 10cm behind our heads... In short - its ok to speak up, but also be prepared to just walk away - all of us know this. I'm wondering why the Korean didn't simply walk away too.

Not even on Birthdays ??? 🎉 🍾🍾🍑

My wife has commented on this in the past when meeting the significant other of a work colleague etc…. & they’re asking very personal questions & giving up very personal information… … Wife wants no part of it & neither do I… … it’s what’s happens when guys marry hookers who try to communicate with those outside of their socio-economics-educational bracket….

it’s a bit like the second hand Aston Martin add… …. But in this case I’d very much care who went before me…. … I’d be concerned about touching the door handle !!!! 🤣🤣🤣

Agreed - it’s as if they think they are showing some degree of deference to those they consider below them…, … there is an almost racist undertone to those refusing to wai, or at least an undertone that they themselves feel superior & wish not to diminish their ‘image’ by lowering themselves to an act they consider beneath them.

I agree it you’re familiar with Thai’s laughing at you behind your back or it’s a concern of yours, it about you, not your Wai or lack thereof.

Then your teachers are letting you down. I’ve also had poorly educated halfwits give me flawed advice which is solely based around their own socio-economic status and not mine. Step outside this classroom and see the reality of the world around you. This morning I’ve seen 2 Dr’s & 1 physio specialist - all wai’ied on greeting & departing - it would seem very rude not to. & as far as classrooms are concerned - teachers here are notoriously locked into their ‘world’ & lack intelligent discretion. Way back I had a Thai teacher teaching me refer to myself as “Chan” - clearly she was an idiot.

That response is so dumb it’s entertaining!! Tourists using TukTuks have half a brain or you mean I only have half a brain for suggestion the use of TukTuks is one of Thailands tourist attractions…??? Darwin does indeed ‘usually’ rule, you should thank your parents for slipping one past the goalie !!!! 🤣

So you’re saying an IDP is not needed, but a policeman may not know that and you’d win that point if an issue is escalated…. Good luck fighting that on the roadside in Bulgaria or Italy etc… Or, just have the IDP & all options covered & drive without worry. There is also the issue of rental company acceptance. Last question then: IF an IDP ID is not needed, why do they issue one ? (IRS £5 in the UK, so not exactly a money spinner). OP: Get an IDP all the fools saying you don’t need one are not the ones who are going to be stuck unable to hire a car or facing a roadside debate with a policeman. Enough posters on this forum have already stated they were asked for an IDP driving in the EU with a non EU passport. Additionally: Even though an IDP is not officially required for a UK Licence in Thailand, the advise is still to get one, because not all policemen are educated in this & an IDP ensures no miscommunication or improper conduct. So you advise the Op to take a chance or cover his bases ?

Wrong, folks with half a brain don’t make such flawed sweeping generalizations!!! 🤭 Tourists want the ‘tuktuk experience…. It’s part of the Thailand experience… coming here & not going in a TukTuk would seem as if something is missed. The issue is not the tourists, it’s the unregulation, the lies, the cheating & in this case the overzealous hard sell which appease to have intimidated the ‘wet’ tourists.

Equally so, the forceful tactics could have compelled the Korean to simply walk away.. 1220 baht for a 4hr TukTuk sight seeing trip doesn’t seem excessive & every first timer wants their TukTuk experience…. Perhaps negotiate a 100 baht fare the the Grand Palace next time…

Are you suggesting that the IDP issued by Thailands Depeartment of Land Transport 'may or may not be legal' ? Are you suggesting that the Thai Driving Licence is Valid for tourists to drive in every single country in the EU ? Are you arguing that posters with first hand experience of this are liars ??? i.e. Likeithot, above who states an IDP is required with a Thai Licence when driving in Italy. I'd double check your information.... I wouldn't be so certain that 100% of Countries in Europe allow driving with Non-EU Licenses with-out an IDP. IF you are the sort of person to fly across the world and take that chance, then fair enough - but when offering advice based on all the information out there, airing on the side of caution is the only intelligent course of action. In short: You are either correct and the Op has no issue other than spending an extra hour and a few 100 baht on an IDP. Or, You are incorrect, and your advice would ruin someones holiday. I wouldn't side with PJ71 who doesn't care about the accuracy of advice he gives - he just wants to argue and troll posters - his posts are always ignored for good reason.

There are actually three treaties in place. The 1926 Paris International Convention relative to Motor Traffic. The 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. The 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Various countries have signed both treaties, in which case the later counts, whereas other countries were not a signatory of the latter treaty and this the earlier 1949 treaty in valid. For example: Japan did not sign the 1968 Vienna treaty, thus, when travelling there an 1949 IDP is required. Thus: The reason you are asked is so that they can give you the correct IPD for the treaty that specific country has signed.

Depending on the country you wish to visit, the IPD required is either the 1949 agreement, which has a validity of one year, or the 1968 agreement, which as a validity of 3 years.

Would it have annoyed you if the p!llo£ from the video posted by Proton disrupted your afternoon, or caused your flight to delay because of his 'tik-toking' attention seeking antics ??? There's a line, and clearly some people are crossing that line... Sadly, TikToker is on moniker.... some are excellent and bring decent content, but this is tarnished by those who just want to get views for acting like a complete Deekhead.

Yup... I've seen this clown on TikTok before... He's flooding the side with video's of himself being an absolutely prIck... he thinks hes quite the business man, and perhaps he is, he's potentially making a fair chunk of income from his online videos.... He seems to be running a Ganga / Kratom Shop bar type thingy in Krabi and seems like quite a character... If we read news that something serious happened to this guy, it won't be a surprise... he's a dichotomising character the sort who a lot of people will like and a lot will dislike.... There's also something likeable about him on the surface, at the same time.... his reckless comments have highlighted that parts of his personality are vapid and toxic.... I think he had a recent online spat with someone who tried to give him some online advice.... Through no related events, very sadly, that guy ended up succumbing to stage 4 cancer very quickly (in his 30's) and past away very recently - this guy in the above video (Tom Birch) posted a video revelling in his death which is the actions of a very sick mind... ... I wouldn't want to be on a flight with this person... TikTokers - many do decent entertaining stuff which fills a few mins when waiting in an airport lounge etc... But guys like this are just oxygen thieves.... As are those 'First amendments rights videographers attempting to trigger the police and secuirity guards with the drones etc' - I just want to see someone punch their lights out...

Scared it could be Bob Smith, who'll nip off with her to Koh Chang while you're taking a nap ????

I think there may be another facet at play here. Taking sending the phone to Samsung can take weeks (I guess), but getting the phone repaired locally could return solution within a day, perhaps two. Thus, when given the choice I imagine most Thai's would want the 'quick' repair. Its possible the vendor was not trying to deliberately cheat the Op, but giving him the solution he thought he wanted and going about in a very clumsy, unprofessional manner becase everyone else is just more of the attitude of 'yeah whatever - just fix it'.... So... I don't think the Vendor was pulling a deliberate scam.... but just operating in an manner which is clumsy without clear communication - and thats is pretty much par for the course here and its only when we start asking 20 questions that we find out the rings, hoops and circles Thai's will jump through and run around not to do something properly....

It doesn't look silly. But, it looks strange and out-of-place. Also, it is an invasion of personal space. Don't shake hands in Thailand! I wonder in who's eyes.... Its certainly not strange for me to see a Thai shake hands... I shake hands and Wai after every golf game with a Thai. I shake hands and Wai every time I meet my Father in Law and friends Parents etc I shake hands with friends after football game.... sometimes a Wai too depending on their instigation. Shake / Wai... just go with the flow in a relaxed manner.... none of it looks silly unless someone is a socially awkward person who doesn't know how to read signals, read the room or lacks awareness of simple social protocols. ------ I first notice this 'read the room' when in greeting people in Iraq years ago.... In the North the Kurds are very happy to shake a hand, then place their hand over their hearts..... (as a heartfelt greeting).... even the women are happy to shake your hand, although I'd wait for them to offer a handshake first..... In the south, its only hand over heart and a slight bow... sometimes its then a hand on both shoulders and a 'simulated' kiss on each side (leaving about 6" distance - but this is a whole new dynamic, one, two or three 'air-kisses' ??? - thats a tricky one).... But then in a 'professional meeting room'... its handshakes, but not with the females where its just a 'nod'..... The dynamic is different everywhere... But, to say 'I'm not going to try because I think they think I look silly'.... is the realm of the juvenile.... of course, don't try too hard, just read the room and allow this to happen naturally... This discussion on the wai, does indicate many lacks the basic's of 'reading the room' (i.e. lack observation skills so dont pick up on social cues).

Here's another dynamic.... You are in Thailand, have lived in Thailand all your life, Daughter is half Thai and introduces you her Boyfriend.... What do you expect ? ... If the BF is Thai (or half) I'd expect him to Wai me, or offer to shake my hand when meeting. ... if the BF is Western, I'd expect him to offer to shake my hand when meeting. and heres the kicker... ... If the BF is Thai or Western (or half) I'd expect him to Wai my Wife (Thai).... As far as the other discussion where the BF is older than the GF's father.... that's another different one... Not something I'd need to consider.... But interesting nevertheless. In that hypothetical situation, I think I'd still Wai the GF's father, even if I'm older, because I',m showing respect for his daughter by Wai'ing him and I think that would be considered important to them.... It could just be the thing that makes life a little easier. My FiL was never happy with his daughter dating a foreigner..... He was dead against it and it caused arguments at home. Yet, FiL was always polite with me, spoke well, shook my hand, returned my Wai's... and that was extremely important to me... I suspect it was extremely important to him that I also behaved in a manner respectful of him and his family - he'd had very little exposure to Westerners outside of some business dealings... and certainly none on a social or family level. Thus.... had I behaved like an entitled 'foreigner' refusing to Wai.... I think that relationship would have been very short lived.

It was an extremely easy social pathway to for me navigate because my Wife and I are of similar age and I'm about 35 years younger than my Father and Mother In Law - there was no doubt as to who should Wai first, and I had no doubt as to whether or not I'd give them a Wai.... ... as is I my custom when meeting one on one... I offered a Wai, then followed with a handshake. FiL & MiL have since met many of my friends, often in social situations and its interesting to see that social dynamic.... People I am in sports teams with or know socially, bump into us when we are out for dinner etc.... and they, of course, a respectful of my in Laws and Wai them when they are introduced.... I'm not saying everyone has to Wai, because some people clearly really object to the idea and start making up excuses as to why.... (often from a basis or ridiculous misunderstanding or projection)....... But, what I am saying is, offering and returning a Wai at the right time 'does' make a difference. So, for those who think never wai'ing makes any difference, I'd suspect they are never in such a setting for it to matter or with those who care so little of them or about them any passing evaluation or consideration is completely irrelevant, they're invisible and always disregarded to the fringes anyway.