stereolab

2 hours ago, LaosLover said:

 

-They provide little to YOU. The community accrues merit via gifts to the temple.

 

When I wanted to visit a remote meditation center outside of Mae Hong Son, the driver was happy to give me a reasonable price.

 

By delivering me and my donation, he too would be accruing merit. He also brought along a box of soap powder. My karma-driven appearance before him was a merit-multiplier, and had the opportunity been let to pass, a merit deficient.

 

I researched Buddhism in Laos for a while and they have the most beautiful, folk art-funky temples in Asia. A lot of them are being redone in a more modern Thai-style via Thai donations. Middle class Thai's accrue merit by giving their poorer brethren a "nicer" temple.

 

Lao people also like a nicer temple. My well-intentioned Westerner idea's about historic preservation and the beauty of the folk art style are not relevant at all to Thai and Lao Buddhists.

 

Nor, respectfully, is your assessment of what the temples do and don't provide.

 

There's one in every town, these poor people are voting with their wallets on their worth, and have done so for centuries.

I am not sure how many our very large village has, it is around 14 in the immediate area, overkill. I have 2 BIL as Monks, both senior.  This is my experience, I have no time for any religious beliefs.

On 6/24/2022 at 10:17 AM, spidermike007 said:

For me personally, I would rather tip and help out where I can, within Thai society. I am not a supporter of the temples, and do not really see the great service they are providing for the people. Perhaps you can clue me in, if I am wrong about this. 

You are not wrong, generally speaking they provide little to local communities. Have a look and see how the top Monk in a temple actually lives, they are treated like Gods.  Each temple has one key goal, and that is to acquire more land to build larger, fancier buildings than their rival temple. 

On 6/17/2022 at 8:35 AM, dick turpin said:

That's the first thing they do when they receive

your application in the UK.

 

Check your credit card account few days after

applying.....it is a useful way of checking that

your aplication has been received and is being

processed.

Your card is charged immediately upon receipt of documents in the UK. I checked my CC account one week after submission in CM, the money had been debited.

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Go digital 100%... cut out the gougers who've been fleecing the nation for years.

Absolutely correct, everyone here has a mobile phone, on-line monies go straight into the account, immediately, zero losses, this is a win-win situation for everyone apart from the current distributors of physical numbers. Imagine paying extra online for a “lucky number”, the mind boggles.

4 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

Walking distance from Pantip. 

I thought Pantip is in Bangkok. The OP is referring to a Chiang Mai hotel.

9 hours ago, Thailand said:

5 million being sold online, big deal.

 

I guess the remaining 50? million will still be at street prices as per normal.

The 5 million will be sold on day one. There is big money to be had here for Government funds, if they went for the UK model, with outlets in convenience stores, petroleum stations etc.

On 5/28/2022 at 8:31 PM, KannikaP said:

So their own rules apply to their office wherever they're situated?

You had better believe it!  It makes all these on-line enquiries so pointless and irritating.

4 hours ago, swm59nj said:

With all the vehicles I saw on the road today.  I doubt that will happen 

I disagree, our locals now speed through the village at only 110kph, rather than 120kph.

23 minutes ago, fredscats said:

Good post,..but it was always like this,but its good to confuse the issues,put something there that is absolutely naff,least it gets bandwidth reduced

If you have never done it previously, what it was “always like” has no relevance.

29 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

The DL is not a bad idea, but most will fall outside the one year rule. Up to HMPO in Liverpool whether they accept.

 

 

HMPO are cooperative and will accept, for example, a copy of a wife/partner's ID card signed by her stating that you live at 55 moo 5, Nakhon Nowhere.

 

 

Remember VfS are paper processors and have no authority. They will usually just ask if you are happy with the documents you are sending,

 

 

Please expand upon “the one year rule”.

I recently, via VFS Chiang Mai, renewed my UK passport, book an appointment, complete the paperwork, via GOV.UK website, take special care on passport size, mine took, 5 weeks from date of submission to receipt of new blue/black passport. My Immigration transferred visas in 20 minutes. No need for Embassy letter. When submitting I would recommend you take your Thai driving license, as it shows your Thai address on the reverse, or A P60 original. Their office is located adjacent to the MAYA shopping centre, with free parking.

On 3/30/2022 at 5:33 AM, starky said:

If so many want the joint to open up with zero restrictions, zero testing, zero anything in regards to covid does it matter what the numbers are?

You need to test 100% of the population, daily, to get an accurate figure. As stated above, the breakdown of death statistics is sorely lacking.

On 3/29/2022 at 10:26 AM, NanLaew said:

A solitary man in "our" fields and gardens?

‘Our’ refers to my families property, I may be married, but I have no friends. No other family member does any work, unless they are paid for their time. I cannot converse with them, therefore they cannot become friends, but they remain as relatives.

He is simply reminding the populace that they only have 2 more weeks to stock up on booze.

Yesterday, at VFS Chiang Mai, I collected my new UK passport, received well ahead of the 10 weeks advised at submission. The whole process is simple, no need to employ a third party, assuming of course you can get to a VFS office. Pay strict attention to the requirements for passport photographs, get it done at a shop, and take along your Thai driving license, as it shows your Thai address written in English, they did not want to look at either yellow book or pink I.d. Card. I took my P60s along as back-up, they accepted those.

Superb professional service.

15 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

It's not a turbo, but I love the Mazda 2. Nimble, and the ability to choose auto or manual mode on a torque converter gearbox makes it much better for me than any CVT.

Go one better, and try the CX-3. 2 liter engine.

17 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

One of my Wife’s uncles is a senior monk and one of the temples in Bangkok. 

He drives around in an S-Class Merc (a few years old) - it was ‘donated to him’......... (probably by someone caught by his wife with a mia-noi !!!)....     No issues with him driving a Merc... but it does lead to the question of how ‘abstinence’ is viewed and the fact that as he ‘rocks up’ in an S-Class Merc he is somehow viewed as being ‘more important’... or more senior... again.. money and wealth or the appearance of wealth supersedes all...

Senior Monks in this area also arrive with 2 police car security details. Certain Monks live in quarters exceeding  5 star quality , with adoring fans (groupies) attending to their every need.

On 3/19/2022 at 5:18 PM, Brick Top said:

Has Ubon Joe stated a UK passport cant be

renewed on line in Thailand , you have to apply in person in Bangkok 

Service also available in Chiang Mai, went there last month, very efficient service.