robert2

The "not pointing your foot"-thing is a small thing to be aware of and will help you integrate into society.

If you do not care about this you will more than likely be seen as a barbarian. Pointing your feet is an insult in Thailand, and there's no need to make a bad first impression.

As far as I remember French helmet manufacturer Shark had production of their top model in Thailand.

I'm a furniture importer.

Mainly produced in Thailand (coincidence though)

This is a part of a picture where I'm standing next to a statue in Singapore.

Statue won the "looking funny"-contest !

The headline on this thread is a classic.

Govt. officer makes a media stunt blooper and everybody have a laff.

Good thing they got those drugs off the street though. Honest !

Youtube refused to remove the clip? The general ban suddenly seems very justified to me.

Why should they remove it? Youtube is not owned by a thai company and it doesn't reside on Thai soil either. If Thais want to force their country's legislation on the U.S. that's another matter entirely and i'm sure the majority of the U.S. population would be _very_ opposed to that concept.

Your point is correct. And youtube stays offline in Thailand.

Looking at the CNN site "world news>asia" I founde the following (Quote):

"BANGKOK, Thailand (Reuters) -- Thailand's army-backed government accused online video-sharing Web site YouTube on Thursday of being heartless and culturally insensitive for refusing to remove a clip mocking the country's revered king.

"We have told them how deeply offended Thais were by the clip, but they said there was much worse ridicule of President Bush on the site and they kept that there," Communications Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom told Reuters.

"I don't think they really care how we feel. Thailand is only a tiny market for them," said Sitthichai, who ordered the entire YouTube Web site (www.youtube.com) blocked in Thailand on Wednesday until its owner, Google, removed the clip."

Youtube refused to remove the clip? The general ban suddenly seems very justified to me.

The clip is still online is you search the posters name on youtube. So youtube will stay offline in Thailand.

Just speculating, but the creator of the video is likely of limited mental capacity and has had some traumatic experience related to Thailand, probably within the context of a romantic relationship. Unfortunately he's unable to separate the issues in his mind and heart and lashes out without thinking. We get this sort of crap in our corporate email from time to time, too; one even went so far as to Photoshop a juxtaposition of a Thai VIP, certain body parts of a woman and animal waste. It's sad but it happens and people who are that bent out of shape deserve pity as much as condemnation.

The poster pulled his vid from the site. Must have realised that if he go to Thailand and somehow get identified he's in big trouble.

Wonder when youtube will be available again...

Just in case you thought it was a TIT moment

"Last month, Turkey cut off access to the site for several days to block a video deemed insulting to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. Insulting Ataturk is a criminal offense in Turkey.

A court in Brazil ordered access to YouTube blocked for several days in January after clips of a prominent model cavorting in the sea with her lover kept reappearing on the site"

So not the first country or the last

You tube is full of fun and entertaining clips but also neo nazi propaganda and all sorts of things.

Built on the ideal of the internet as a totally unregulated media, realities are that this does not fly in the real world.

I can live without youtube. I typed in "Thailand King" on youtube to see how many links there were, around 8-900. I didn't browse through the actual list as I won't lower myself to spectate, and thus indirectly support, any insults to the King. (If I did, it would probably make me write comments which could be perceived threatening towards to the clip poster. I think he already would have received some threats by now.)

This story is not nessesarily bad for Thailand as the rules of law concerning insulting the Thai Monarchy may reach some unaware who doesn't know about these. So hopefully this will help avoid future insults to the King.

A way to get around the double pricing is to let your GF/wife do the talking.

When at the entrance for a show in Chiang Mai the rate for farang was 500 b and for thai 100 b.

Before entering the I made sure to hand the money to my (thai) friend who then purchased the tickets. She told the guy in the booth that she had invited me and thus couldn't pay the farang rate.

It works sometimes, sometimes not.

Thailand has a buddhist majority. Buddhism speaks against killing your fellow man. But self defense is allowed.

There is monk for the convicted on death row. The execution of drug smugglers, murderers etc. is perceived as Thai society using self defense.

My concept of Buddhism is it only shows you the way. It's up to you to take it or not.

True, buddhism leaves you responsible for your choices and actions.

Thailand has a buddhist majority. Buddhism speaks against killing your fellow man. But self defense is allowed.

There is monk for the convicted on death row. The execution of drug smugglers, murderers etc. is perceived as Thai society using self defense.

Uh, it's april 1st...

Good one !

When I started this thread I was looking for your opinion on the death penalty, not just in Thailand but as a general issue.

Most western countries has abandoned it, but countries in all other regions seem to keep it.

Even if this poll has been done before it's worth noting that a poll is an instant picture of moods at the time is made and new members has joined since.

If the previous poll shows about 50/50% split in opinions, the mood could very well have changed to 75% against death penalty.

My belief is that:-

1 - We are dragged down to the level of the killer, by killing the killer.

2 - I don't trust justice systems to be 100% correct. (I don't trust the Thai justice system to be correct 10% of the time).

3 - I do not have any right to kill another human being, or judge them to be killed.

4 - I cannot trust, or respect, people that choose to kill others.

We do have other choices.

I vote no.

Thank you for voting.

The reason I made this poll thread is to get an idea of the expat community's opinion about death penalty in general. I have left out a "don't know" option. If you're not sure or have no opinion don't vote.

We have all already been given the death penalty; some need to have their appointment moved up a bit.

Fantacstic point.

It's about justice, not revenge.

Great topic, November Rain. Now let's see that we don't do too much Thai-bashing. We've been talking on other topics about this problem: the bus crash where 29 people died in the fire; the village where the police allows a 10-year old to drive a car; driving habits, etc.

Is there some cultural tradition like mai bpen rai that affects this? Is there a fatalism in Thai Buddhist-animism that keep them from protecting themselves from hazards? Is it a fault in the education system, or in the police system?

I passed a family last night on a dangerous road. Dad was driving, Mom was on the pillion, and she held the infant up high. One quick swerve or braking would have sent that baby flying to its death.

I have been forming a Grand Unified Theory about this and other matters of a similar ilk. Originating in the subsistence farming / daily survival culture, most priority is given to now - to consider what might happen tomorrow is a luxury many cannot afford. Continuing this line of thought, tools are left out in the rain, budgeting for the future does not happen, litter is dropped, plastic is burnt, new pickups are bought on credit, safety is not considered - because priority is given to today, to now, to this very moment; only when society as a majority is able to climb to the level where a hardship can be voluntarily experienced today to pay for something better in the future, will this forward planning become a part of the national psyche.

Well, this is my humble opinion, and certainly not intended as Thai-bashing; quite the opposite in fact. Do you agree? Or am I wrong? Let me know your ideas....

You may be onto something.

A friend who lived in Thailand for 35 years (Fluent in the language, reading/writing etc.) told me that he'll never fully be able to understand the Thai way of thinking.

Safety, maintainance and saving for tomorrow might be some of those things that won't be prioritised by many Thais.

To explain this mindset might be difficult, let alone changing it.

Perhaps when something goes wrong you rely on your family to help out ?

Just a thought...

The news clippings this week touches the issue of death penalty for some crimes.

I support it. The only problem I have is that someone innocent may die. But I also think it is a nesessary measure.

People who smuggle drugs, human traffickers (sex slave traders), rapists and murderers deserve it.

The opposition against death penalty seems to come mostly from europeans, for whom the death penalty is too harsh. (I live in Europe.)

What do you think?

Death penalty, yes or no ?

Two years ago the cops started a crackdown on motorcyclists without helmets as there were around 38 fatalities every day.

In Bangkok most riders now wear helmets (although crappy ones). I just went to Chiang Mai and not many wore helmets. Dunno why the situation in CM is different than Bkk.

Personally I'll always want to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. I have been in too many accidents and wouldn't be alive if it weren't for wearing a good helmet.

Safety as a personal choice is fine with me, but endangering your kids should not happen, Thai or not.

I guess if you believe in karma and reincarnation you don't need safety regulations...

This case should have everybody consider the following:

1. When meeting someone from the Internet, never show up alone if you're a woman. Bring some freinds or relatives.

2. Always meet in a public place, ie. restaurant, library, coffeshop etc.

Mohammad Arif killed a woman he tricked into meeting him. Some people can't figure that lying on the internet doesn't get you very far in real life, unless you're running an online scam tricking money from other people.

He could have found a bargirl instead if he wanted to "get lucky". Thailand has been very nice to you, Mohammad Arif, even letting your sorry a.. off a death penalty.

I hope this guy won't be released from jail. Ever.

Thankfully the BIB caught the perpetrator before he managed to flee.

I hope to do the big move this year, asap, had a good offer on my Business in the UK yesterday, looks good, just got to think about it for a couple of days, as it is the biggest desision i have ever made, i am so anti UK at the moment, all this red tape etc, i work every morning at 5 am to 7 pm at night i get home, my family are suffering as just got no time for the youngest daughter, time i get home she is going to bed, this is no quality of life, i want to spend more time with my family and relocate to Thailand, we have everything set up there, so that is one good thing. also i would like to learn the village kids english in my spare time and do something for the community.

There is only one problem i can see when moving to Thailand, VISA, as i am only 42 and got no income coming in once i sell, i am going to build another house in the UK and rent out. so it will cover the 40,000 baht.

In the UK you are working for the tax man, not yourself any more.

I also use to import furniture and carvings from Hang Dong, this was 12 years ago, now everybody has got on the bandwagon, so stopped , but still have all my contacts. which may come in handy.

You might want to consider keeping the business in the UK and hiring someone or finding a partner to run it. This way you'll have an income, it might not help you on the visa side of things, but it could see you have a flow of money coming your way and something to fall back on.

This is how I'm imagine a future for myself in Thailand, in about five to ten years.

My advice to the OP is quite straight forward:

Either move to Thailand and live there OR set about enjoying your life where you are.

Better still aim to have a fulfilling life in which holidays in Thailand are only one part.

Making yourself misserable by wishing you were somewhere you are not, is no way to live life.

I'd like to move to Thailand, but as things are for now I need to focus on my current situation and work hard to get success, maybe 5 to 10 years.

Doing business importing from Thailand gives me a reason/excuse to go to LOS as often as possible.

When things are up and running in Denmark I will shift my focus to Thailand and the option of relocating to build a future in Thailand. I think I'd go nuts if all I did was watch television and drink beer so I'll want something constructive to do like starting another business in Thailand.

If you open your eyes and mind, there are many great oppotunites in Thailand, product quality is no longer an issue when you have some tight control. It's all about finding the right business idea.

I'm too young to be on a "Never-ending holiday", and retirement is years from now too.

I'm sure many people living in farangland is looking for a solution that enables them to combine the best of both places.

I have not found the answer for what will work for me yet, but I will.

Have you noticed that Thai bills are rarely crumpled, but folded nicely?

And I have never seen counterfeit thai money?

Why?

The King is pictured on them so you treat them with care.

The penalty of counterfeiting is probably up there with the drug smuggling, so no sane person dare to do that.

Know a Danish couple who spend part of the year here and part in Denmark and other countries. One of the most friendliest couples we met here in Thailand, would like to think they are exactly the same when in Denmark!

I might have been generalising a bit but not that far off.

This may be due to the lifestyle in western countries. In Thailand you don't want to "lose face".

This might be seeping into western societies too, although in a bit different way.

As material wealth increases in the western countries, expectations also rise.

If a family doesn't "have it all" or a "perfect life" many feel they are being cheated or left out. And this leads to folks who just aren't very polite. There is quite a few of them.

So I think people in the west gets stressed out about the Playstations, new homes etc. they feel a need to buy. And they bitch about it.

Going to Thailand is a real stress relief, your money gets you more.

Looking at how hard life is for some in Thailand, you may realise all the unnessesary material items you got don't actually make you happy.

Oops, ranting a bit. My point is that for some reason I feel more happy when in Thailand.