Zendesigner

hi everybody,

i have an example of last week.

I had to go to the Kasuan Thang Phrathet (ministry for consular matters) to legalize my marriage in thailand.

I paid an asked for the fast procedure which cost 400 bath. I deposited the papers including 500 bath.

The girl said they would process the bill and i could sit down until they called me.

After 25 minutes i asked my wife to go and ask what happened to the money. She came back with the news that they MISPLACED the paper and were processing it now.

After 1 hour i went back myself with my wife since they not called my name yet and to ask what had happened?

The money was in front of them adn they insisted that they called my name twice already but i didn't respond.

Now one of two things probably happened.

1 they wanted to keep the 100 bath themselfs and hoped that i would not remember?

2 they were afraid to lose face pronouncing my name and therefore just didn't?

They handed the receipt  + money and said i had to wait two hours. The standard wait is two hours !!! .

I Put them on their place western style and made them lose face big this time.  as they made me lose an hour there already (i wanted to go to lunch) losing stuff and not doing there job right. I demanded in a loud voice to have the paper rady in an hour while everybody could hear it.

Guess what ? the paper was ready in 30 minutes.

Now i didn't want to raise my voice in the first place and was prepared to go with the flow untill it was ready.

They just created the situation in the first place. I saw in the mean time Thai company's coming and leaving in 5 minutes with 10 papers stamped and registered.

That's what drives farang's to Lose face in thai's opinion in the first place.

BAd service, Hiked up prices, corruption from police for 200 bath, the constant I dont know attitude of shops , ect...

Most Farangs are JAi DEE but there sometimes is a point where enough is enough...

Bart

Loosing face ?

For d80 and the rest of the thai people here.

In no disrespect to your culture. The face thing is mostly used in thailand to hide several things:

' I cant do it'

' I Don't want to do it '

'there is a small problem , but i'm afraid to tell you'

'I really don't like you , Fxxxx off'

There is a really BIG problem but i'm afraid to tell you'

' I'm lazy or tired, let me sleep'

In all of the situations you get a big smile and YES, no problem.

The Farang thinks , ok it will be done.

The Thai thinks ' My god didn't i save my face this time, i was nice and didn't hurt anybody's feelings ( and in turn i didn't have to do nothing)'

After two weeks when the problem is REALLY big.

The farang is pissed and will start to shout why you didn't tell him before. Which in turn will make you lose face in front of him , cause he will think your incompetent.

The thai gets angry because the farang shouts at him and makes him lose face, because he is a bad person to make him lose face and to rock the boat like that.

In the end both are angry and don't like each other.

Maybe we should abolish this concept of face altogether. It's not from this world anymore !

This is al to readily used as a way of " getting out of responsibility" thing. I see it in shops, offices, even on the streets most of the time as " sorry but i don't care"

My wife has learned after many times that:

If she tells me the problem instantly, she might get some annoying questions, but it will be handled normally.

If she's afraid to tell me and to lose face, If i find out some weeks later. She will get ten times the questions and a big word fight on top, because by that time it's usually to late to do something about it.

Than she REALLY loses face.

I really urge the thai to abolish this concept if they really want to become a First World country, like their leaders so readily want. In the end it's just crippeling to all your relations with other country's and people being Farang or Others.

That's my two cents...

Bart

Hi adroc,

I,m looking myself now for three months and already experienced how difficult it is.

I'm an ###### / project consultant / network consultant with around 8 years of experience and had my own business previously, so i know something about that also.

i still didn't find anything yet.

Even if you would find a job at your age (i'm 36) you wouldnt get a work permit cause BOI just reasons " a 22 year old can't have something that they can teach to a thai person, they can't have experience"

They have plenty of graduates from university who want do do the same job for 15.000 bath a month or even less.

If you are that good already they just wont hire you cause you make them lose face! They maybe even take it from somebody same age as them or older but really not from a young guy.

if you really want to come here and try. I suggest you come with a minimum of 1 Million Bath ( yes 1.000.000 bath) so you can survive here for at least a year to one year and a half.

You WILL need that for a western lifestyle and really if you are in to the nightlife. Money goes just as quick here out of the door as in the western world. Only there you pay in tax, and here in 20 bath there for some stupid thing, 100 there , 500 there for paper nr 27 you need ect..

I find myself spending around 40 to 50.000 bath a month, i'm married and live in a little one room studio.

You can think OH i'll eat thai food and live in small room... forget it. you wont do it , the girls (or boys ?) will pluck your money away quick. and then wat????

Don't kid yourself. Work 10 to 15 years in the states, build up some reserves, get experience and then come live here. Maybe start a biz there first so you now what that means also..

for the rest just take a HOLIDAY ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR !!!!!

Bart

hi kwiz,

sorry didn't get your pm apparently. send you one myself  

hi it man :-)

i found it on a wifi search site somewhere . don't know how accurate everything still is though.

i myself tried in starbucks last week first in the emporium where they said they were out of cards and didn't know when they would get some more. then at lang suan where they still had them.

but i must say connection was lousy. i was one of three people with a laptop there. connection dropped two times in the middle of my email download so had to start all over again.

went to a regular internet cafe next. couldn't get my mail anyway.

bart

hi kwiz,

i'm experiencing exactly the same phenomenon you describe. up till now i've applied to 130 company's by letter and i suspect they just get trown away by a thai hr manager.

i'm focusing now on getting to know ceo's or managing director of farang owned company's.

i myself am an ###### / Network consultant / project manager with 8 years of experience.

i must say that i've never experienced such a racist attitude to finding a job anywhere else in the world.

If i as a ceo put in a belgian job add "belgian nationality only" I will be in jail in two weeks.

bart

hi here you are

WiFi hot-spots in Bangkok and around the country

Called M-Web Hotspot, it will be available at five branches of Starbucks coffees: Soi Langsuan, Thong Lor, Convent Road, the Emporium Shopping Mall and at All Seasons Place.

WHERE TO CONNECT: More places are popping-up where you can connect to the Net without a cable

Here is an update of WiFi (wireless 802.11B) hotspots in and around Bangkok.

Arnoma Hotel

Broadband wireless; WiFi cards provided and CD ROM with software for guests.

WiFi area: Anywhere on Business Class floors, conference rooms, lobby, restaurants and poolside.

Access provider: Milcom Systems and Far East Internet.

Tel: 02-255-3410

Amari Atrium

Wireless in all meeting areas of the hotel and at poolside. Broadband in the rooms for 300 baht midday to midday.

Information: Sales and Marketing Department at 02-718 2000 ext 3101.

Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa

WiFi area: Guest rooms at 1,000 baht/day

Information: 02-476-0022

Le Royal Meridien Hotel

WiFi area: lobby, Pick-Me-Up Cafe, business centre, function rooms, the Royal Club, and Tower Lounge.

Access point equipment: Cisco Systems and NetONE Network Solution

ISP: Loxinfo

Charge: Web Kit Baht 450/ 5 hours.

Tel. (02) 656-0444

President Solitaire

(Sukhumvit Soi 11)

WiFi and wired LAN Internet free of charge to all residents, in all areas: lobby, restaurant, bar, business centre, swimming pool, as well as in all suites. In May 2003 claimed to be the first property to offers this service in guest rooms.

Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel

WiFi area: lobby and library

Access point equipment: Cisco Systems

ISP: Asia Infonet

Charge: Baht 400/ hour, Baht 1,000/ day

Tel. (02) 653-0333

Conrad Hotel

WiFi area: Lobby, swimming pool, Diplomat Bar, function rooms, Executive lounge,

Charge: Free of charge for guests with LAN cards

ISP: Maginet

Charge: Free of charge for guests

Tel. (02) 690-9999

Gaysorn Plaza

WiFi area: 1st floor and underground

Access point equipment: Cisco Systems

ISP: CS Loxinfo (iPSTAR satellite broadband)

Charge: Baht 180/ hour, Baht 350/ 2 hours

Contact: CS Loxinfo Khun Pratabjai Tel: (02)263-8222

Starbucks Coffee, Central Ladprao

Access point equipment: Cisco Systems

ISP: CS Loxinfo

Charge: Baht 180/hour, Baht 350/2 hours

Central Dept Store

(in front of Starbucks) in Bangna, Rama II, Rama III and Pinklao.

MacDonald's Ploenchit

Other MacDonald's in Bangkok coming soon.

Chiang Mai:

Central Dept Store (in front of Starbucks)

Hua Hin:

Springfield Country Club: Lobby

SpringField Resort: Lobby

Dusit Polo Resort: Lobby

Samui:

There are two public free hotspots in Samui, the largest one (using several repeaters linked) is around the IT Complex (itc.samui.org).

Another one at Chaweng beach near to the beachcam (samuicam.com): this one is currently not free.

All spots are operated by sawadee.com, whose parent company operated the ISP Ji-Net node in Samui, called SamuiNet.

hy kwiz,

I'm an expat ###### / network consultant looking for a job. if you need to change to a trustworthy and secure system system. just PM me, we can talk.

Probably he is not spying but just not capable like so many systems and administrators i've seen here.

bart

thanks en 184,

Will keep searching though for a good thing here. but in the mean time i'll keep my options open.

bart

guys,

most of it is wrong you are telling here.

I opened two Bank account in thailand from day one i got here. One with bangkok bank the other with kasikorn or farmers bank. they only needed my passport. I'm here on a non o immigrant but they not even checked that. I went to another bank first wich nedded a form from immigration of house registration ???,

i just went to bangkok bank next.

The difference is they cannot give you a current account in thailand according to the law.

they circumvent this by giving you a savings account. You just as well get an atm card , also a VISA Debit card.

For a Real Visa Credit Card you need a work permit and that's the only thing a bank won't do for you.

I also transferd money through wire from belgium to my accounts without problem took 4 days lost 3000 bath in the process.

dreetje kom rustig naar hier en open een account waar je wil , als de branch moeilijk doet looop je gewoon bij een andere binnen.

bart

guys,

most of it is wrong you are telling here.

I opened two Bank account in thailand from day one i got here. One with bangkok bank the other with kasikorn or farmers bank. they only needed my passport. I'm here on a non o immigrant but they not even checked that. I went to another bank first wich nedded a form from immigration of house registration ???,

i just went to bangkok bank next.

The difference is they cannot give you a current account in thailand according to the law.

they circumvent this by giving you a savings account. You just as well get an atm card , also a VISA

or you can export everything to a separate pst file with

file

export import

export to a file

pst file

choose place

choose folders

and export

yeah all those former drugdealers need to get money from somewhere these days.

gues somebody didn't think about that before.

Hi EN184,

Can you tell me how is the best method of applying for a job in SP. I'm an ###### Specialized in Network Consulting.

thanks

bart

hello,

i'm in the process of getting a job in thailand.

What papers does my employer have to provide to obtain a boi company related work permit?

Where is the BOI office that supply's work permit's and visa at the same time?

can it be done in the immigration office of pattaya as i saw that they have a BOI officer.

Thanks Bart

hi exchange,

i'm up for it , bu probably i'm guessing it will be only the thai version at 40 us.

will check in the shops to see how far prices go.

bart

hy,

officially you need a work permit but...

as you probably have a software selling biz on the net it all is to much bother if the only thing you need to do is edit your website and send download codes to your customers.

if you need to export or package your stuff you need work permit, export license, company here and so on.

If you dont need that just get an Non O immigrant if possible from your country and work at home and just pretend to be a tourist for a few years.

A friend of mine does exactly the same and just takes money from his visa card or via bank transfer into thailand.

non O should give you at least one year with visa run every three months (for every member of famillie). you can come on tourist and get non o here but its a hassle and illegal by law yet many people do it. starting something here just for your stay would seem over the top ( why would you wanna pay taxes times two).

if anybody asks you how do you make your money just say you live from a relative or a fund from overseas.

thais are all to happy to see money coming in.

bart

hi exchange,

is it protected by the internet firewall when it wants to open some ports ?

i'm sure most users can stop their rpc service if they are not in a network.

bart

Quote (GlenTuk @ July 22 2003,22:03)

Quote (simonpayne17 @ July 22 2003,04:48)

How many of you out there are able to keep your penny in your pocket when you are away from your loved one in the LOS.  

Unless i want Mr Nudge cut off and used as an ingredient in a Tom Yam soup, Then the mouse stays in the house !  

tom yum joo...ahem, no thanks!  

Back to top

at least here he was still joining the fun  

hi judy,

Ask sunbeltasia one of the sponsors of this forum. they are biz brokers and can help you with everything.

Dream Businesses Here:

www.Sunbeltasia.com

bart

this from mobile commerce net

UK wireless venture Link77 has launched a new service that allows users to browse the web, select an image, and have it sent straight to their mobile phone. Clicapic resolves the problem of using Premium Rate Services (PRS), where a premium rate telephone number is called from a mobile phone. Many mobile networks block access to these high-cost numbers. The Clicapic solution widens availability with reverse billing, whilst also offering a very simple purchasing process.

Simon Luttrell, Chief Executive Officer of Link77, is keen to emphasise that users must verify the copyright restrictions of an image before they download it to their phone: "With our Clicapic service, virtually any web image can be sent as a picture message or operator logo. If the copyright allows it, you can download any one of millions of picture messages."

Link77 will license this service through Europe enabling new users to benefit from this industry.

  great work simon. Not by any change need a IT specialist/partner in your biz in Bkk?

Bart

hi,

tesco's has them in the supermarket in the back next to the audio and video section. they just sell them as reseller for the company that put's the in place.

bart