HarryHerb

Re the size issue, one of the things that baffles me is that I see an increasing number of outright obese Thai women. Where do these ladies shop??? 'Coz I can't find anything that fits in Thailand, and I'm certainly smaller than they are. Granted these women aren't usually wearing anything very attractive, but I'd be happy just to know where I can find T-shirts and ordinary cotton blouses that fit..................!

You can get basic tees and tops in Tesco and Big C in XXL (about a size 10-12!) and even something called "2XXL" which I imagine a size 12 or even 14 could squeeze into Crap quality but cheap.

If you want anything fitted off the peg, forget it. I think the problem is that western ladies are simply bigger-boned (not a euphemism for fat; a fact). I don't have a lot of surplus flesh but I've yet to find a Thai brand that fits properly on the shoulders or around the armholes - the cut is all wrong, they're made for people with small frames. That's why the XL size fits large Thai ladies but not us reasonably svelte western gals IMO.

Still don't know what the solution is, though, other than regular trips back to the uk

For the ladies who said "stylish", where the hel_l do you shop????!

I don't actually want to look like a frump but the fact is out in the sticks the only clothes they make in "big" sizes, i.e. UK 10 - 12 in my case, are the super-shapeless things (I don't really go for the sausage-look, squeezed into Thai-girl size tops )

Thankfully though, I recently visited the UK where I shopped till I dropped and am now sitting in linen trousers and a sequin embroidered top, hooray!

This was done to my kids when they were sick (in addition to giving regular medicine), I did not object as no obvious harm done, nor did I consider myself or my kids "lowered" in any way. It apparently, to answer the OP's question, draws out the heat of a fever and cools down the body. But I think it has multiple uses.

08 May 2009: Due to an IT problem, the UK Border Agency is experiencing delays processing some visa applications. We process around 200,000 visa applications per month and most applications have not been affected by the current problem. The UK Border Agency apologises for any inconvenience and is working hard to fix the problem. We continue to monitor the situation very closely. Should anyone require urgent travel to the UK they should contact their local visa application centre/ call centre/ UK Border Agency at a British mission.

From http://www.vfs-uk-th.com/

We applied on 27 April (Visit Visa as well) and haven't heard anything past the first SMS alert the same day saying it had been sent to the Embassy... a bit annoying as we can't book flights until we get it, but not much you can do.

Thai people, especially out in the sticks, have all sorts of odd ideas about infant nutrition. I was told that breast milk has no nutritional value after 3 months, so I would have to start my little ones on solids then . Explaining the facts was pretty hard, especially to people who's only rationale is "my mother did it like this, so I will too".

I found an excellent website, in Thai, to take care of this: http://www.thaibreastfeeding.com/webboardD...224&keyword

The 2 articles on this page explain the benefits of breastmilk, plus the dangers of starting solids too early. Print them off and show them to the MIL / sister / any interfering busybody who think they know better than you.

There's lots of other good stuff on the site too - though unfortunately nothing about the problems of adding shedloads of nam pla to 6 month old food. I ended up having to hide anything remotely salty that was in the kitchen so my nanny couldn't chuck it in the purees

One of my close (Thai) girl friends has recently noticed that she has started to "thin out" a bit on top. She is only about 25 years old and is obviously pretty concerned, so she has asked me if I know anything that she can do to reverse it...

I have just "googled" it and came across a treatment called "Rogaine" does anyone know about this. eg. Can you buy it in Thailand? Does it work?

Since she has approached me about this, I have noticed that female balding is pretty comon here, has anyone else noticed this? Or is it just that I can usually see the tops of peoples heads in Asia!!

Cheers

An old wive's tale - told to me by my aunt, who swears by this - is to apply the juice of Kaffir Limes (luuk magrood, ลูกมะกรูด) to the scalp as a sort of pre-conditioner before washing your hair. Just pound one up in a mortar and pestle and apply - she leaves it in for an hour or so, then shampoos as normal.

Worth a try and I imagine dam n sight cheaper than Ro/Regaine.

And the winner is... well, no one actually .

It turned out to be a real form (Sor Tor Mor 50 or some such) that the company has to fill in and stamp, but that's in the form of a letter (much like the work permit extension form/ letter).

Thanks for all your help, though!

Having run the OP's phrase through thai2english.com, how about:-

A certificate for a foreigner beginning work, in accordance with the format of the immigration inspector's office. (??)

Scouse.

FORMAT! I think that's the key word here, thank you. I had no idea what type of 'baep' they were on about. It must be a standard letter certifying employment from the company - at least I hope that's right, if anyone else has any better ideas I have until tomorrow...

Hello all

Among various other things I need to present to Immigration on Monday morning is the following:

หนังสือรับรองคนต่างด้าวเข้าทำงาน ตามแบบของสำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง

I didn't think to ask them at the time as I assumed the list they gave me was all the usual company papers stuff - and now it's too late as they're closed for the weekend.

Does anyone have any idea what this could refer to?

Any help will be gratefully received.

80% Moslem and in the heart of the trouble.

Look at a map!

Actually, if you looked at a map, you would see that Satun is on the Andaman Coast, quite far from Yala and Pattani, and there is in fact little to no trouble there at all.

The main problem the OP would have at this time of year is with the ferries as they do not run very frequently to Ko Lipe etc., due to rough sea conditions.

Thanks for all your replies - even if they aren't terribly positive. And, I'm afraid to say, after 10 days of solid searching down all avenues, neither is my conclusion.

So, drumroll, please...

The most reliable way I've found to take cc payments in Thailand from overseas?

By FAX Old-fashioned, quite a lot of paperwork, but it works (or will do when our bank finally approves our application). No chargebacks and instant access to funds. Of course, you need a Thai company to do this, and it makes you liable to declare earnings, but if you're legit it's ok.

We'll still use Thai EPAY as the first line, but switch immediately to fax authorisation when the card (as happens so often) gets randomly rejected, rather than getting the customer to try again repeatedly, getting more and more pissed off and wondering if the company he is dealing with is even reputable.

Apart from the Mastercard issue, the main worry I have about Thai EPAY is that they use the UOB online payment system. Rather than going through the middleman, I originally applied direct to UOB (lower commission, but must maintain deposit of 100,000 in bank account), but a very apologetic customer rep told me that higher management were questioning the whole service after the takeover (i.e. whether they were going to continue providing it) and so they weren't taking on any new customers at the moment. That was 3 months ago. So not sure for how much longer Thai Epay will exist? I mean even the Mastercard problem comes from UOB's refusal, not theirs.

Some avenues I've tried (FYI, FWIW):

1. Paypal - ok if you have UK bank account, but doesn't look professional

2. About 100 American based companies - no international coverage

3. Ditto Australian / Singapore / HK companies

4. 2checkout - had flat refusal from them for ANY 'travel-related services'

5. Worldpay - still no response after auto-reply more than a week ago

6. Bangkok Bank - absurdly high fees

7. Siam Commercial - no reply after a week = rubbish customer service

8. So-called 'high risk' 3rd party processors (apparently travel is on the same level as porn in this world), they charge commission at nearly 20%!!

9. Other UK solutions require a merchant account at a UK bank, impossible unless you are registered in UK.

Anyway, there's not just a niche, but a great yawning chasm in this market if anyone wants to set up a new business

Just read on the 2checkout website that they won't allow people to sell "travel services" (which is part of what we do). But I'm sure I've actually paid for hotels online using 2checkout! Anyone know how strict they are?

Thanks for the replies - all interesting stuff.

Why do you need the transaction to be charged in Thai Baht? We use 2checkout.com.

The transaction itself I suppose doesn't have to be in Thai Baht, but we do need the funds transferred to a Thai bank account eventually. I hadn't realised 2checkout would do this, so had just discounted them as an option. But checked their website just now and they do make payments in THB, for US$6 per transfer.

Are you happy with their service? How about the exchange rate?

Do it through your UK bank account. You have absolutely no worries with the Inland Revenue if you don't live in the UK - you just need to ask them for a form (can't remember the number) that you sign to say you are not ordinarily resident in the UK - we did this and even ended up with a tax rebate thumbsup.gif

What? Say you're not pulling my leg. Income generated abroad from non-UK company, coming into personal UK bank account and then back out again through ATM withdrawals or fund transfer is totally ok? Which payment gateway do you use?

LadyinRed, good suggestions, but unfortunately need to be incorporated, or have bank accounts in HK or Singapore - not possible for us.

Smartecosse - do you use SCB? My experience with Thai banks' own systems is that cards get rejected a lot (used Krung Sri and UOB / Bank of Asia before), with no customer support.

Look at the brains and the heart, not the class per se.

Good post and excellent conclusion!

Also agree fully with the vetting process. Always, always check how the guy is regarded by the community in general. You can pick up signs quite easily if you're observant.

If he's living away from home, be doubly careful, especially in tourist areas - a lot of guys flock to these places precisely to pick up as many farang girls and as much money as they can, especially as they don't have anyone from home watching them.

Sounds like a lot of the 'local' boys you've been hanging out with may not really be local (to your island) at all...

I have a registered Thai company and one of the things we do is run a website that takes payments from customers abroad.

The transaction is charged in Thai Baht and should be payable into a Thai bank account. I also have a UK bank account, which I could use, but don't really want to attract unwanted attention from Inland Revenue with large payments into it, especially as I am not even living / working there (would anyone know if I really would have a problem with that?).

So... over the past 2 years we have tried using a merchant account with Krung Sri Ayudhya Bank (useless, rejected a lot of cards, crap interface half in Thai - not a great customer experience); Payzip (great, until it went tits up last year) and now Thai Epay (useless - no Mastercard payments and half the Visa cards get rejected with no reason and customer service always just repeats it's the issuing bank's fault).

Does anyone know of a real cc processing gateway that

1) allows Thai merchants / Thai Baht payments

2) doesn't require a US bank account

3) doesn't charge the earth because of 1) and 2)

Maybe an Asian / Singapore-based one?

Any help / advice much appreciated!

Since the majority of male posters (and most of the men I know) prefer the natural look - and, more importantly, feel , the question is, why are all these women doing it?

Answer: women are their own worst enemy. Women dress primarily for other women to notice, not for men. Women run the fashion magazines that terrorize people into being ever thinner. Similarly the pressure to slice and dice with your body (not just breasts: collagen, botox, cheek implants, face lifts) comes from women to other women in the bid to outdo each other.

Admittedly, there's also a lot of business to be made from this by mostly male plastic surgeons, but their job couldn't be done without the help of their celebrity female victims, who create the myth that breast implants or a nose job can 'change your life', make you glamorous, or help with your self-esteem. Surgery has thus replaced counselling and pills for ordinary women as the answer to psychological problems. Irony is of course that most of these plastic women - Jessica Simpson et al - have no boyfriend, no mates and look terribly unhappy most of the time (or would do, if their faces were capable of any kind of real expression any more).

RESIST! Strong, confident women don't need boob jobs!

I have never come across these things before but have become somewhat intrigued. My poor wife spends hours using tweezers to remove underarm hair every few days. If I bought her an epilator, would it a.) be as easy to use as tweezers? b.) have the same result? c.) would it save her the time she takes at present.

a) easier, and way less painful

b.) yes, and last for longer (up to 10 days for me)

c) yes, as the hairs are ripped out in one go, only a couple of minutes for both armpits

You can find them in Boots.

p.s. I'm not an epilator saleswoman but I couldn't live without mine. Strictly legs and underarms only, though, wouldn't go near anything more sensitive!

Why you asking?

And are you talking about real names or nicknames?

Supaporn is a girl's name that sounds like something 'farang', but I wouldn't wish it on my child

What are your views? Corks or screw tops?

Or plastic corks - they're also popular now, as kind of compromise.

It's a fashion / status thing, more than anything, I think. New World wants to distinguish itself from Old World by saying they are outdated with their corks. Old World uses corks as a symbol of their traditionalism and superior value.

Old world wine fans - i.e. traditionalists / snobs, whatever you want to call them (us!) will tell you that the cork adds something to the wine and is thus indispensable.

New world wine fans - or just those who can stomach litres of Chilean merlot - will tell you that it doesn't make a blind bit of difference, and that screw tops / plastic corks are way more convenient as they don't affect the taste, the wine never 'corks', and they're easy to replace if you don't finish the bottle in one go. Plus, modern methods of production used in making New world wines makes the cork anachronistic.

Both are probably right. Just depends on your tastes / how much of a ponce you are. Personally, I think removing the cork is part of the pleasure of drinking wine. I also prefer the more subtle flavours of a good bottle of French wine - and if you're willing to fork out the money for that, you do not want to be unscrewing the lid .

Never been in BKK, but went to the one in Krabi a couple of times when it was still open (been closed for a while since the owner passed away) and the burger was OK, really nothing special. Mexican / Cajun food on the menu was a bit better, though still not as good as the Real Thing...

When I press the switch, it lights up. But nothing else happens. The HDD LED lights up for a split second, and I hear the fans start, but they die after 2 seconds. Out of frustration. I just kept on pressing the switch in maybe 10 second intervals, when suddenly it just came to life. It's been a few days now and haven't turned it off since.

As I said above, this is the exact same thing that happened to me, HDD lights then fan dies, occasionally going into the BIOS screen, etc.

Have you tried what I suggested with the RAM (above)? Of course you think I'm stupid, but it really did work and it won't cost you a penny to try, will it?

Sometimes it doesn't have to make sense, TIT.

I seem to reccolect it baked a dozen or so good loaves - then broke down, never to work again!

Oh.

Well that took the air out of my souffle. That's about 400 B a loaf!!

At those prices I may have to reconsider.

This exact same thing happened to me a few years back - identical symptoms - but of course I have no idea if the causes in your case are the same.

If you wish to try, however, this is what solved it:

The guy from the computer shop opened up the box, took out the RAM, got a pencil with lots of elastic bands tied round the end and rubbed it up and down on the metallic strip, replaced it and the thing booted up perfectly.

I'm not a geek so I have no idea if this is normal practice, or even what was wrong. But it worked. It happened to me again a year after and I did it myself (to save the 300 Baht he charged me!) and again worked like a charm.

Good luck!

Isn`t one of the primary requirements for the most desireable man ,a man who thinks you are the most desirable woman he has ever met . Adoration goes a long way in a realtionship.

Well kind of depends on the guy. If he's desirable in the first place, then if he likes you back, that's a bonus.

But if you don't fancy him to begin with, the fact that he likes you makes zero difference to his desirability. In fact, it probably makes it exceedingly uncomfortable to talk to him.

Doting and adoration alone don't go too far with women, I'm afraid. Unlike men, our egos are not so easily flattered

p.s. who said women couldn't discuss politics?