observer90210

5 minutes ago, Chou Anou said:

Thanks.  Yes, I realize the language thing is a tall order, but hey, if one is going to live somewhere...plus, for the most part (yes, I know there are exceptions), Thais appreciate an earnest effort on the part of foreigners to speak their language...it really does go a long way.

very very true and who would not appreciate? Immagine an Asian tourist loudly asking us something in a Chinese style language, on the streets of some European capital? ..

I noticed in In Spain, sometimes even the locals who speak your language, (either english, french or german)  will pretend not to understand until you utter a few broken words in spanish ....then after having said "no comprendo"...suddenly you will notice them responding in your languguage......(not all are like that, but I did notice this phenomena quite a few times in Spain)...and so on....dynamics of human nature seem to have gone global.

8 minutes ago, tropo said:

I use a cheap printer, but if you buy one make sure you use it often as the printer heads dry out if it's dormant for too long. I'm on my 4th printer now.

My dear friend you just resumed years of my frustrations with the home printers drying up as I naturally prefered to print out the online manuals with the printer at office!!

Solved the issue in investing in a laser printer...the stand by for the ink is unbeatably longer and no more issues with those damm ink holes drying up....the cost is a bit higher for the toner when they need change, but as the prices drastically plunged for these laser wifi printers and the toners in Europe, decided to purchase one 5 years ago and never did I regret it...Ultimately, it perhaps would be cheaper on the long run in not having to replace regularly the dried up ink jet cartridges or what so ever...

17 minutes ago, Chou Anou said:

1) Accept that as a newbie, you WILL sometimes pay "farang prices"

2) Keep things in perspective...50 baht is $1.47 USD, 500 baht is $14.70 USD, etc...i.e. don't lose it over getting "taken" for a tiny amount of cash

3) LEARN TO SPEAK THAI (yes, I know it's a slow process and an ongoing project, but if you're going to live in Thailand, begin as soon as you arrive)...knowing how to speak Thai well will not save you from paying "farang prices" on all things, but it will help with a lot of them

4) Always be polite and respectful when dealing with Thais in money matters.  And please don't say, "but they're not always polite and respectful, wah-wah, blah blah..."  You are a foreigner.  And you have a reputation as a farang (aggressive, crude, loud, quick to lose your temper) that it's YOUR responsibility to overcome.  

5) Learn the "real" prices of things so you can bargain accordingly, and be able to "choose your battles" (getting overcharged 50 baht is a lot different than getting overcharged 5,000 baht, etc.)

6) LEARN TO SPEAK THAI.  And make sure it's polite, and formal when necessary--not just "bar girl Thai"

7) Learn to accept the things (admission to state parks, temples, etc.) that you're just not going to be able to "pay the Thai price" for

8) LEARN TO READ THAI.  This will help more than you know, because sometimes prices are posted differently in English and Thai.  And trust me, if they see you've gone to the effort to learn to read Thai in order to know the Thai price, they will be impressed, and give you the Thai price (as long as you're not loud and arrogant about it...see item number 4)

Very sensible and useful recommendations, dear fellow poster!...Learning to speak fluently as you say is quite a lenghty process.

In the meantime, I always use a google translator in my phone and tweak out the phrase required in Thai. Some locals giggle but it remains friendly...nevertheless, it definately helps to get a buck less here and there, and more important they appreciate and respect the try.

Numbers are bit more tricky for non Thai speakers.. as you need to guess the figure and input the number in our usual indo-arab figures, in order to get the thai translation number and need guess if it's correct...guess it's good to start to learn the thai numbers first and it won't be such a big deal from 0 to 9!!

I like your non colonial approach to the whole issue. One could not abide more by the fact that the farangs, those who are the loud, drunk, arrogant, crude or impolite types,  tend to give a disastrous image for all of us and leaves a bad check for the farang expat communities. 

Just now, tropo said:

They helped him fill in the form and get the correct photocopies from his passport.

 

I applied for the same extension today, but I had used the "fillable TM 47 form" available on Thaivisa and printed it out at home and photocopied the necessary passport pages myself.

 

It only took 10 minutes. The trick is to go midweek late in the afternoon. Everyone thinks you have to go early and by late afternoon the officers have nothing to do and they're just sitting around playing with their phones.

Good Tip, that I'm sure will be very useful for those in need of the formality!...I think I will invest in a photo copy machine as it seems as vital  in Thailand as the a/c!!!

5 hours ago, observer90210 said:

Absolutely....it's stupid and ridiculous to claim quality of blood based on ethnical, social or racial issues...really, human nature and it's stupidity gets overwhelming...

 

Nevertheless, the hygiene of the blood or it's quality, it's testing and screening by laboratories, must be close to antisceptic!!...

Your domestic flight from CNX  arrives at Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Mueng Airport in Bangkok?

Wheather the "fine" was officially cashed or went into the "tea money" account, the trafic offenders violating rules needed to shell out money.

But let's be a sport and say that the dissuasive factor was partially attained!!...

However, making the common man shell out 100THB may be small money even for some Thai's...the fines need to be more dissuasive and for those who recidivate or do something really dangerous -  impound their vehicles.....but one can helas just dream for the laws being properly applied to dissuade the rash who violate the laws, should they be the Thai's or farangs..

3 minutes ago, bizboi said:

aren’t bisexual people half gay?

I will invite you look up the lexical definition of gay in the dictionnary and you will find your answer...if you do not have one I could recommend a great book shop run by a bi sexual gay lady boy lesbian, who would be delighted to give you all the information you need should you wish to reconsider your orientations!

2 minutes ago, bizboi said:

One should know that, that isn’t the point…they would still be competition for one!!

perhaps, but I was refering to gays in my initial post...and if the bi's would also be on the prowl, what to say...cannot win from both sides!!

Just now, bizboi said:

not if they’re bisexual!!!

then one would refer to them as bi's and not gays

The more gays the lesser competition when picking up girls anywhere in the world

5 minutes ago, CutiePi said:

I didn't get a visa but an extension of stay to my non-immigrant visa. I think it was just not crowded...no line at the "retirement" desk.

ok thanks I added "extention" to my post....enjoy your (extended) period of stay!

5 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Do you mean the photo copy shops, not the Visa agents.

 

cannot say, better ask the concerned

sad....very sad...due to the corruption and dishonesty of a bunch of thieves, society gets more suspicious....it will end of with people dying on Thai streets with no bystanders stopping to help....shocks our western attitudes where such accident scams are rare, but does happen a bit to often with the Thai boys in brown outfits and their golden wings, who condone straightforwardly "guilty"  the farang! Obviously cannot generalise, but it happens.

very good and congrats for your visa extention!!.....looks like if you use one of the "accredited visa shops" near immigration, the process seems to be faster?....some sort of accredited split of the cake?

And what would these dishes be, for those familiar?  It would help others to know more precisely and be advised.

Requiescant in pace ©

Absolutely....it's stupid and ridiculous to claim quality of blood based on ethnical, social or racial issues...really, human nature and it's stupidity gets overwhelming...

Nevertheless, the hygiene of the blood quality, it's testing and screening by laboratories, must be close to antisceptic!!...

Road rash drivers!!!...yet it would be so simple to make things safer....punish those who drive rashly, if they recidivate revoke their licence, if they still drive or lack insurance, straight to the Bangkok Hilton...that's how things work in Europe...because many years back, certain European roads were not better then Thai Roads....high fines, licences revoked, jail sentences for those without insurance or driving without a licence, drastically dissuaded and lowered the mishaps!...ok ok I know "but this is Thailand"....to bad....

Very nice....but show me one smart and wise speaker here who will manage to convince a hot looking girlie to quit a job where she makes perhaps 50'000 or 100'000 THB per month, (if not even more)  with the perks that call for fun, booze, meals, trips and perhaps good sex here and there - to drop it all and to take up a "decent" job at 7/11 for say 10'000 THB a month? Doubt it...

They should have rather used the millions of US$ spent to increase the salaries of the Thai Police, Immigration Officers, thus making these structures gain in efficiency and to fight "tea money" corruption....but dream on...dream on...

Disgusting lawyer....such thieves give a disgusting image to the entire Thai bar! The decent Thai lawyers should clean up the rotten apples amongst their own!

Hope the family get's its due!!...Good Luck!

If it's possible for you, open a bank account, bring in the cash with you when you travel to Thailand (that has a bit of risk naturally in case of loss) to cover your expenses during stay, change your cash at a SuperRich Money Exchange booth at Suvar Airport (ground floor near the train station), you will not be ripped off in the bank fee and exchange rate racket, and finally deposit the THB in your account. This would save you the rip offs that all banks world wide practice on currency transfers/withdrawls abroad.

7 hours ago, sanemax said:

This thread isnt about me  .

I would such like to speak in such a blase, bohemian condescending manner old chap, but , at 4 AM. I really cannot be bothered

     

well my dear fellow, looks in contrary that something did quite bother you with regard to your numerous questions, following post no# 181 et al..... that I hope having answered...time to go to bed for you now and chill down a bit!  good night

Refering to some posts here, IMHO it is a smart move from Thailand not to aim solely at the US$ 2000,--/day tourist/expat spenders.The Caymans are just on the other side of the planet where such spending can get relief!

Why a smart move? Such cash flow would generate faster, higher inflation, enlarge the social gap amongst residents local or farang, discourage the mid-level tourists who numberwise are far more then the US$ 2'000,--/day category.

Second point, very true that tourism/expats/retirees will dwindle with the never ending dynamics of scamming and trying to ripoff farangs...this national sport needs to be reprimanded when possible, and the people who savour government propaganda, should be constantly reminded on the direct/indirect benefits of foreign expenditure.

Unfortunately, when ego's or misplaced pride are present, and corruption spreads, the country increases it's chances of losing the hen that lays the golden eggs.

Real pity, as Thailand is an amazing country with a good proportion of fine and lovely people out here!