Gulliver_in_LOS

I don't think the problem is about liking or hating each other. The main obstacle in my opinion is a cultural misunderstanding. These are some observations. The Thais (and Asians in general) tend to be modest and humble in their verbal and body language communications. As an example, when you walk down the street, you must have noticed that the Thais tend to look down when walking, and try to make way as you are coming towards them. On the other hand, westerners in general take an upward body posture and walk in a determined and straight fashion. Also in conversations, Thais speak softly with minimum eye contact, which is obviously the opposite for westerners. There is nothing wrong in both cultures; however, it makes it very difficult to make a first contact in either ways.

I know from my personal experience that the Thais (especially the younger generations) are really curious about westerners, and willing to make friendship with them. But because of the above westerners appear to them as arrogant and looking down at them. This is of course not true in general, but this is how it looks like from their perspective.

Since we are guests in this country, I suggest to take the above differences into consideration, and adopt a more 'approachable' attitude if we really want to make new friends in here. Just smile back and you wouldn't believe how many doors this will open for you!

MHO.

G

"If you judge people you have no time to love them."

Mother Tereza

Whats all this got to do with eating giraffe and paying 100bht to see a couple of pandas....

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Gulliver, let's not beat this dead horse all the way to Khorat and back.  The discussion has been had a thousand times, Loaded stated his position very eloquently in post #49, and unless ChiangMaiThai objects and offers an alternative viewpoint, let's assume he agrees with that post.  For sure there was nothing in his post to suggest that he doesn't.

I suggest you go read some of ChiangMaiThai's 900+ posts on this forum, then send him a private message if you like to debate it further.

Furthermore, the Thaivisa forum discourages talk on bars & bargirls because it ALWAYS ends in these kinds of debates.  It's a very touchy subject, apparently. 

Or open a separate topic in the general forum on "Perceived stereotypical physical features for particular classes or regions in Thai society" (Though chances are it'll blow up in flames and get closed on the first day.

Cheers,

Chanchao

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Dear Chanchao,

I think my motivations were clearly stated in post 46, and agree with you that there is no more need to push it further. As for the suggested new discussion topic, it is an interesting idea. However, I think your suggested title (above in bold) has already (and cleverly!) got the message across.

Have a good one everyone.

G

I know that so many farangs like to come here and believe that their new girlfriend looks like all the locals, but sorry, that's often not the case.

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I still want to know why you think it's a "sorry" situation?

G

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ChiangMaiThai,

Why don't you do the decent thing like "Loaded", and set your position clear? Are you too ashamed to admit your real opinion?

G

The observation that many bar girls come from Issan does not equal women from Issan are bar girls.

Nothing wrong with bar girls, or having one as a girlfriend...

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That's all what we needed to hear!

Have a good day

G

I was trying to put it a bit more politely!

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Dear sierra01,

I am not here to argue for the sake of it. You can see that from my other posts. However, some people just make me angry (and deep down very sad) by making such comments. This is a public forum, with may be thousands of readers, I felt if we let these things go lightly, such as support of discrimination based on race, religion, nationality, etc, others might think that it's OK or this is just the norm here.

In this specific situation, the posters (Loaded and ChiangMaiThai) seem to support this behavior, and if not, didn't have even the courage or courtesy to state clearly their opposition to it.

I don't want even to go into the socio-economical conditions which led this section of society to go into the mentionned sad business. But I just want to invite the above posters or their likes to drive to the countryside or neighboring countries to see by their own eyes where these people came from. I am not in any way supporting their activity, but I just think that every human being deserve to be treated the same, regardless of origin, or even profession if he or she is unwillingly forced to do it for the above reasons. Actually most of them are kind hearted people, and doing it to support their families.

At the end, I think these people should be helped and saved from this conditions, instead of been discriminated against.

MHO.

G

I know that so many farangs like to come here and believe that their new girlfriend looks like all the locals, but sorry, that's often not the case.

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ChiangMaiThai,

I still want to know why you think it's a "sorry" situation?

G

Chill pill gents

bargirls in CM who go with farang are very rarely Northern Thai girls. In the bars you find girls from Issan - they speak with a strong regional dialect and tend to be dark with strong cheekbones. Hill tribe and Burmese girls can look very similar but their accents, again, give them away. Also. the body language of a lady of the night is often a lot less reserved. It's as clear as day to me after 7 years here so i guess it would be even clearer to a Thai.

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I think you have got balls to say this!

So dark skinned or hill tribe or Burmese girls deserve to be discriminated against? Do you support this? Why don't you say it clearly if you don't?

How can you ask me to chill? Is it like "Hey don't worry about it this just normal"?

Then you agree with this as well farang --> loaded (ironically your user name) --> stupid walking ATM -> let's rip him off?

G

I've noticed that farang escorted by bargirl/hilltribe/Burmese girlfriends often get treated disrepectfully by the officials.

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What does an off duty bar girl look like, does she look any different to any other Thai girl?

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I totally agree with sierra01. How do you know? I am waiting for your reply.

If ourselves are judging other people by just their appearances, how can we complain about the Thais (not all of course) looking down at us? Do you like to be seen as a stupid "walking ATM" just because you are a farang? Or do you like to be treated with dignity as a human being? The same applies for any of the people you have mentioned.

G

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I know that so many farangs like to come here and believe that their new girlfriend looks like all the locals, but sorry, that's often not the case.

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Still no answer to my original question:"what is the difference?"

Then another question, why are you saying sorry? Is it because you think that if somebody has a girlfriend who doesn't look like the locals is in a "sorry" situation? If this is the case, can you explain why?

Now I am not sure who should be sorry about the way he thinks himself.

G

Last time I was at CM zoo there only seemed to be one-price-for-all.

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This is about the extra ticket you need to pay to view the pandas.

Below is an excerpt from the Thai airways magazine

--------------------------------------

Giant Panda Entrance Fee:

Foreigner : Adult 100 Baht, Child 50 Baht

Thai : Adult 50 Baht, Child 20 Baht

----------------------------------

In the English version of the official zoo's website only the designed price for foreigners is listed.

G

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The Zoo belongs to the government, right? It's not a private enterprise....

I think the price difference is fair, if based on residency, rather than nationality. Cheaper for the local 'tax-payers'.

Foreign residents contribute their fair amount of taxes, too.

I don't feel the same way about private companies, like the Croccodile Farm, who have price differences based on Nationality.

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Dear Ajarn,

I respect your opinion. However if this is the reason behind it, why is the entrance ticket to the zoo the same for everybody? Furthermore if we extrapolate your argument to all goverment owned companies, shouldn't we have different prices for locals and tourists for public transport, such as buses, subway, trains, etc? Does it make sense? I understand that some sections of society, such as children, students, senior citizens, have the right for a discounted price for some activities, but the standard price is always the same for everyone.

JMHO.

G

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Where I come from, every government university has different pricing structures, based on residency. One price for in-State residents, one price for in-country residents, and one price (highest) for foreign students...

I agree with you that it should be one price for eveyone, but I still can't call the current system unfair. But it would be unfair if they discriminated on the basis on nationality.

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I am sorry to disagree with you again. The example you have mentioned about university fees is a totally different situation. International students are long term residents, therefore during the time of their studies are gaining significantly from infrastructures that took years (even centuries) to build + a degree at the end. This is obviously not the same as a tourist, who came all the way from his country and bringing in external money to watch a panda for 2 minutes!

I agree with you that it is unfair only in the case of somebody who staying illegally in a country and not paying taxes, and then gaining from local benefits, such as subsidized prices.

MHO.

G

I've noticed that farang escorted by bargirl/hilltribe/Burmese girlfriends often get treated disrepectfully by the officials.

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What does an off duty bar girl look like, does she look any different to any other Thai girl?

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I totally agree with sierra01. How do you know? I am waiting for your reply.

If ourselves are judging other people by just their appearances, how can we complain about the Thais (not all of course) looking down at us? Do you like to be seen as a stupid "walking ATM" just because you are a farang? Or do you like to be treated with dignity as a human being? The same applies for any of the people you have mentioned.

G

Last time I was at CM zoo there only seemed to be one-price-for-all.

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This is about the extra ticket you need to pay to view the pandas.

Below is an excerpt from the Thai airways magazine

--------------------------------------

Giant Panda Entrance Fee:

Foreigner : Adult 100 Baht, Child 50 Baht

Thai : Adult 50 Baht, Child 20 Baht

----------------------------------

In the English version of the official zoo's website only the designed price for foreigners is listed.

G

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The Zoo belongs to the government, right? It's not a private enterprise....

I think the price difference is fair, if based on residency, rather than nationality. Cheaper for the local 'tax-payers'.

Foreign residents contribute their fair amount of taxes, too.

I don't feel the same way about private companies, like the Croccodile Farm, who have price differences based on Nationality.

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Dear Ajarn,

I respect your opinion. However if this is the reason behind it, why is the entrance ticket to the zoo the same for everybody? Furthermore if we extrapolate your argument to all goverment owned companies, shouldn't we have different prices for locals and tourists for public transport, such as buses, subway, trains, etc? Does it make sense? I understand that some sections of society, such as children, students, senior citizens, have the right for a discounted price for some activities, but the standard price is always the same for everyone.

JMHO.

G

Last time I was at CM zoo there only seemed to be one-price-for-all.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is about the extra ticket you need to pay to view the pandas.

Below is an excerpt from the Thai airways magazine

--------------------------------------

Giant Panda Entrance Fee:

Foreigner : Adult 100 Baht, Child 50 Baht

Thai : Adult 50 Baht, Child 20 Baht

----------------------------------

In the English version of the official zoo's website only the designed price for foreigners is listed.

G

I've only been to CM zoo once, back in April, I've never seen a more sorry lot of animals, even the Pandas looked pi$$ed off.  That and the double pricing means I won't be going again.

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YES! WHY THE DOUBLE PRICING FOR FARANGS? Have never seen it anywhere in the world!

G

I second p1p, and strongly recommend RAM 1. If you choose this hospital, I highly suggest Dr Amnuay who really did take care of my wife from the first days of pregnancy to the cesarian operation. Actually I have never met a doctor who has such a balance of professionalism, kindness, and communication skills. You can look at his CV by clicking "Appointment" in this website. Mind you it is may be a little more costly than the others, but if you want quality service go for RAM 1.

Hope this helps.

G

You apply at immigration inside Thailand each year and if you ever travel outside of Thailand you have to obtain a re-entry permit first to keep your extension of stay alive.

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Crystal clear!

Thank you.

G

1.  Sign a wire transfer agreement with your bank to allow you to transfer funds into your Thai bank account (even if you don't have it ready yet).

2.  Obtain a non immigrant O visa using your marriage certificate (and perhaps copy of wife id card or passport if required).  This will allow a 90 day stay and should be enough to arrange the extension of stay after money is transferred.

3.  Once in Thailand for over 60 days make application for one year extension of stay based on supporting Thai wife at a local immigration office.  Your employment will be your overseas investments and your 400k will be from income/savings overseas.

4.  Each year you go through the same process and will need the bank account over 400k.  The bank account should show normal usage and overseas input.

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Thank you gents for your reply.

To Lopburi3

About step 4, does it mean that I have to leave LOS and start over from step 2? Or just apply for an extension locally?

Thank you.

G

Hi folks!

Got married to my Thai fiancee last August, and planning to relocate to LOS for few years ahead. I understand from TV that I need to get a marriage visa for 90 days from my home country, then extend it for 1 year after showing a 400K THB in a Thai bank account. My question is: Is it easy to extend it on a yearly basis after that? Or is there other additional requirements, such as employment in LOS, etc? My plan is to live on from my overseas investments while living here.

Appreciate your advice.

G