skylar

It's more to do with your accent, I think.

It's not just the lack of women though. If he wanted to survey males only, he should have put the following conditions on: male, aged 18-71. That would have removed women (non-working, working, married and single women) and people who lived in Thailand up until the completion of their schooling. The survey doesn't even define 'farang'.

There's just way too many questions in there biased towards males, as well as those biased to some coloured viewpoint and just pointless questions which do nothing for the 'study'.

For example, the options available for Question 12 is just ridiculous: What was/were your full or part-time occupation/s in Thailand , if any? (Select more than one if necessary)

Did not have job in Thailand.

English teacher.

Diving instructor

Bar work

Worked via Internet in another nation (e.g. journalism, website design)

Worked part of the year in another nation but not in Thailand.

Just assumes that those completing this survey didn't even have a similar job to the occupation specified in Question 11. The majority of people I knew who have/had jobs in Thailand, both in the past and the present have the same occupation in the West as in Thailand. Why assume that when they come to Thailand that this is not so? This is obvious bias towards a particular image of a typical respondent the researcher had in mind and is one of the many examples that renders the results that this survey collects useless. I've crapped on far too much already and I could pick out many more structural and question structure mistakes that just assume instead of trying to find a real answer.

I had a look at the survey and it was extremely biased in its nature. It seemed to be only geared to farang men. I couldn't even complete the survey as the person who designed it obviously had never contemplated someone of my background living in Thailand. I certainly wouldn't have expected this type of 'research' from someone with a PhD working at a top tier Australian university. It's rubbish and the findings mean nothing.

Try the NAATI Directory at

http://mail.naati.com.au/naati/pdsearch/pdsearch.aspx

Also, the Thai Welfare Association does translations using NAATI translators - see if you are eligible or not. Their contact details are:

http://www.thaiwelfare.org/translation.html

an old one is http://www.geocities.com/joe3phort/

No longer updated, but at least has some fairly modern songs.

Not again. Why did Viet immigration even let him in after what he did in Cambodia?

oh, one more thing I forgot is that newbies should not wear those hideous velcro sandals. They're revolting.

I think you are getting worried about nothing.  Sounds like you are on a full blown expat package, something that most people on this forum don’t have much experience with which explains the negativity.  I have 6 colleagues in my office with school age kids, average time here is probably 5 years and they all love it. I have l lived in 4 different Asian countries, for people like us; the lifestyle is pretty much the same, just different place.

You will live in a nice place, your kids will go to a really good school, you will have a car and driver, so the problems with public buses that you are used to in Singapore won't be an issue.

Relax.

TH.

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Thank you. My sister and I lived in Bangkok when we were young. We went to a (proper) international school, which got above average results out of pretty average people. All children in Bangkok are aware from a young age (maybe 5 onwards?) about the shadier side of society, but it was not our concern. And the bus thing was a mild analogy as to the disorganisation that exists. But that's the beauty of it. It was in no way meant to be negative. Singapore is orderly to the point of sanitisation. Bangkok makes people feel alive.

I think some people have forgotten here that kids like to play. This takes up a lot of their time, as does homework, but of course that is up to the individual. And there's heaps of activity programs at any decent international school. Most days, my sister and I biked around the sois, swam, rollerbladed, went ice skating, shopping, to Magiclands, to Leo Land, the movies and various festivals. In the company of other people our age. And I would come back again and have no doubts about bringing up children here. It's what you (and they) and your wife make of it.

Not sure if this one is private or government...

Bangna Hospital

Km. 3, Bang Na-Trat Road.

Tel: 393-8534 -5

Fax: 398-9531

I like bai tiaw.

For whatever reason he has for contacting his son, it does not entitle you to pass judgement on his past actions. You do not know the story, and he is not obliged to provide it to you. He has asked for help. Either provide it or don't post - you are being obstructionist.

Singapore is highly regulated in most aspects of everyday life. In Thailand, you muddle your way through each day. For example, people in SG line up for the bus, whereas in Thailand you will need to squeeze your way on.

Try http://registry.amerasianfoundation.org/

And for news articles on Amerasians in Thailand try http://www.amerasianworld.com/thai_amerasians.php

Chances are that your son will have been looking for you too. He may or may not be residing in Thailand because of the Orderly Departure Program that took place in the 70s and 80s. It also depends on what nationality he was awarded - Thai, or Vietnamese?

The site for the Orderly Departure Program is here:

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/embassy/odpmain.htm

All the very best of luck.

Pai Nai Ma: Thai Australian Experiences

"From Loy Krathong to Buddhist Temples, Thai culture has become a part of the Parramatta and wider Australian story. Reflected in this exhibition are experiences of living in Thailand, migration to Australia and contemporary life in New South Wales from the Thai Australian perspective.

From 4 November 2005 to 29 January 2006 at Parramatta Heritage and Visitor Information Centre, 346A Church Street, Parramatta (beside Lennox Bridge), telephone (02) 8839 3311.

A partnership with Parramatta Heritage Centre, Thai Welfare Association, the Migration Heritage Centre, and guest curator Zoe Pollock."

The exhibition covers many interesting aspects of Thai migration to New South Wales, namely migrant brides, the White Australia Policy, The Colombo Plan, Wat Buddharangsee, and contemporary Thai community.

An online exhibition is to be posted soon at http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au

At all times, try and be a good ambassador for your country, especially if you are English or American. 

Consult for further info on this.

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A fine sense of irony, but what why does he lump Americans in with the worst mannered tourists.

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Did I not also say English?

And where did I say 'worst manered' ???

The English, I'll be the first to admit, are awful tourists - not all I should add.

Americans have a reputation just for being easy money and for judging people from what they read on an internet forum as if it made up the greater mass of their actual first hand persona.

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What about the Germans? The guys are huge and sweaty and the women have armpit hair. At least Americans don't seem to have a BO problem.

In 1993, there were 11 McDonald's in the whole of Thailand. In 1997, there were 31, with another one opening. It was fashionable in the 90s for young Thai guys to impress their girlfriends by taking them to McDonald's for a meal. (Can you imagine doing that with a falang gf?)

Going to Maccas was considered fashionable. Being there marked out those who had the money to go from those who did not. It still does. It's why Pizza Hut still has floor space for customers. What we are seeing here is the same trend that started developing in Western countries in the late 80s - it's Thailand's turn, and it will only get worse.

Does anyone remember the time when Boyzone were the pinups for KFC?

Hey Bambi don't dispair, you are in excellant company as shown by Dr. Porntip.

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Khunying wanted her hair like that.

All in all, pretty good advice Scamperoo... I'd just like to add that people in Thailand are much more responsible for their social and physical wellbeing than in Western countries... so if you do like your tipple or your ยา, illegal or not, and enjoy riding on motorbikes with no safety gear and no helmet don't expect anyone to peel you off the floor when you need the hospital... know your limits. Of course I am not aiming this advice at addicts, it's just that I've seen way too many vomiting backpackers in Kanchanaburi to refrain from commenting.

Also, a really good way to spot a kathoey is by looking at the feet. Miss World Kathoey at the Sydney Loy Krathong Festival had got big flat ones

AIRPORT

- taxi .. better catch a taxi at the upstair (2nd or3th floor  ) , at the Departure Zone 's door .. no queing nor 50 bht charge

I mentioned this tip and got a verbal hiding from another TV member for mentioning it. Sure, I defended myself, but how come he hasn't picked on you yet?

2.Foodstalls were mainly from the local restaurants...all in all average food.

God knows why they dont get a Liqor license for the day and set up a bar.

There was a drunk man wandering around the grounds all day. One was enough!

Hey, all in all, it was a pretty good day. I was disappointed that there wasn't a pageant at this year's festival.

And kids certainly enjoyed jumping on the 'kom - kom' horse - it deflated twice before it was decided to just keep it that way!

Just a gentle reminder to all Sydneysiders that the festival at Tumbalong Park is on tomorrow. MCs start from 1pm onwards.

Flew AirAsia from Bangkok to Hat Yai - the only airline to depart and arrive late. Nok Air, Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways and Phuket Air were on time.

Mr. Skylar, Mr. Skylar, Mr. Skylar!

I'm female

It would be appropriate if you would compensate your ignorance by wearing purple on Tuesdays from now on.

My avatar shows two elder ladies enjoying the consumption of betelnut.

Good thing they're not Western then or we'd be seeing some girl on girl action in your avatar.

Do we still use แพ้ for gluten/lactose intolerance?

I thought all elephants were in huge game parks where the tourists could see them in the wild.

No, they're not. People in the countryside have electric fences surrounding their houses to keep them out.

I smoke. That is what I do.

So? Good on you. That's your choice. Others' choice is not to smoke. Clapclapclapclapclap.

All the popular brands are available and I have found one that is very close to my usual brand.

My mother used to send me down the road for Dunhills at 20 baht a pack. They were so cheap that she smoked more of them. When we moved to Australia, she realised that smoking that many Dunhills here would send the family bankrupt, and she ended up on Horizon 4s. That's the bottom of the barrel for non-Aussies. I sincerely hope you don't have to suffer this fate one day.

It makes no difference to me as to whether someone lights up in my face or not, as I have been a second hand smoker since birth. At the train station, I have noticed that smokers come to sit right next to me even when I am the only one on the end of a bench and light up to make me move out of my seat. Fortunately for me, smoke smells like sweets. However, I do take offence to 'Sky', a truly horrid brand my mother smoked in England in the early 90s - it smelt like cabbages cooking.