SportRider

17 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

No. We will never be able to be a part of society here. We have to accept that. I am fine with that, as I have never felt a need to belong. The Thais will not accept us as one of them. Could be tribalism. Could be insecurity. I don't really care, and for me it is no big deal. Some aspects of life here, like the spectacularly weak practice of face, are something no sane and rational person would want to emulate. Same applies to some aspects of tradition, and very limited convention. 

 

In many countries, after 5 years or so, you are considered an honorary member of their society. Mexico is a good example. Not here. Not ever. 

Agreed.  Thailand is not as multicultural or as welcoming in the way that places like Singapore are, for example, where I had PR.

Would be helpful to have a definition of Integration... Means different things to different people.

25 minutes ago, freeworld said:

That one guy leaning with his back against the handrail shows that the handrail is quite low.

Yes, scary.  You don't need to be drunk to lose your balance and tip over if the rail is that low.

Bad parenting?

I would be ashamed of myself to be deliberately rude or insulting for no reason.

And my kids have been brought up the same way.  To have good manners.

Vote for AIS

I have AIS 'The One' SIM.  I have an add-on for 300bht per month for UNLIMITED data.  Nominally at 20mbps according to the deal however I routinely get TWICE that.

It's bloody brilliant.

Here's a speed test from just a few mins ago.. 50mbps.

Coverage is very good too.

The trick is to break the cycle, and find your nightly routine that lets you get enough quality sleep without medication as a long term solution.

Melatonin and magnesium pills don't really do anything for me.

What does work is Stilnox.  You can buy a strip of 10mg over the counter in Thailand.

10mg gives 8 hrs sleep (ish).  Half a tablet ie 5mg is perfect for a solid 4hrs.

Just keeping it by my bed, not taking it, helps me sleep better because if I wake at 2pm and dont fall asleep again naturally I have a plan B.  Just knowing it's there helps me relax!

It's 'clean' ie no drowsiness in the morning.

It really works. Avoid alcohol.  

Known as Ambien in USA.

15 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Regents International School. Not far, not near, but the best

Agreed, my daughter loved it there and did very well.

13 hours ago, JimTripper said:

I don't think it's all accidental falls. Maybe people doing it on purpose due to financial or emotional problems. It's guys that are around a lot of booze and hookers and that lifestyle can get a bit crazy if you don't have control. You pick up on other people's problems. Their problems become your problems. Often you can't tell just by seeing your neighbor who says hi and appears ok.

A problem shared,... means two people have a problem.

18 hours ago, impulse said:

 

+1  Counterintuitive as it may sound, giving her the condo could cause her a lot of friction between her and her family. 

 

I've got visions of family members popping out of the woodwork to beg her to use the condo as collateral on a loan to pay off Luigi (or the Thai equivalent) so he doesn't break their legs.

 

This is good advice.

➡️ Somchai. 

4 hours ago, Iron Tongue said:

Is it more a case of depression and a wish to "check out" from the world?

 

Realistically, it isn't easy to accidentally fall off a balcony unless one wanted to, or was pushed.

 

 

 

Thai balcony railings are notoriously low - lower than in the west, and can be below your centre mass point.  Easy to fall over if you lean on that when tipsy.  I'm scared of my own condo balcony (happens to be 4th floor too).

We all know the sociopathic behaviour of the phrase "run amok" ... Not everyone knows this is one of the few Indonesian words to make it into the English language.

For good reason.  Exhibit 1 m'lud - my Indonesian ex-wife.

In further breaking news, I stubbed my toe getting out of the shower this morning.

6 hours ago, impulse said:

 

I wonder if he was pulling a Klinger, in hopes of a Section 8.

 

Cool.  This is one of the few online communities where many of us will get that reference, Hawkeye.

120km for motorways is perfectly fine and very common.

On 12/26/2023 at 3:12 AM, Old Croc said:

Collectively, the top five plastic waste dumpers throw an astonishing 314 million kg of plastic into the ocean per year. So who are the top 10?

10. United Kingdom – 703 thousand kg of plastic
9. Japan – 1.8 million kg of plastic
8. United States – 2.4 million kg of plastic
7. Egypt – 2.5 million kg of plastic
6. Mexico – 3.5 million kg of plastic
5. Thailand – 22.8 million kg of plastic
4. Brazil – 38 million kg of plastic
3. Indonesia – 56.3 million kg of plastic
2. China – 70.7 million kg of plastic
1. India – 126.5 million kg of plastic

Thankyou. Source please?

This would seem to rank Thailand number one, in per capita terms.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Why is this considered news, and why is it considered bad news, and why is the biggest joke involved?

 

It just sounds like Chinese men looking for Thai women, people from all over the world look for Thai women. Are Chinese men worse than others? What's the issue here, I thought that Thailand was supposedly in love with China? 

Agreed, the article is very light on explaining why senior plod needs to get involved. 

On 12/25/2023 at 4:05 AM, ezzra said:

Very soon I'll need to convert and T/T to Oz a very large sums of THB to AUD, the rate i get from my bank at the moment is an

abysmal one: 24.056 THB to 1 AUD, ( btw, converting the other way around will only get you 22 THB to 1 AUD, someone is making a killing here)

handling cash with places like super rich not feasible as the amount is too large to carry around,

which financial institution can give me a better rate?

I use a UK regulated currency broker for all major transactions...  You send them one currency and they send onwards the desired currency.  You can book the rate online or by phone (you get an assigned broker).  Excellent excellent rates I've saved thousands over the years.

Let me know if this is the kind of thing you're interested in, I'll pm you info.

On 12/24/2023 at 3:02 AM, jaideedave said:

Thai little place has been there for decades. I recall it being in the same spot in the early 90,s. It's got legs.

Same.  Have sat there for more than two decades while the missus pops into Mike's.   Wait...err.. you know what i mean!

Maybe Thank Bar on Soi Buakow, towards the market end on right side after jn with Soi 15.

Cheap beer. Unobtrusive music. Good seats looking out onto the road.

Excellent food on site.

The language of the article is quite well written with an evocative vocabulary...

AI?

On 12/20/2023 at 5:19 AM, Woof999 said:

Google Lens app > translation > just point camera at document and read it. Simples.

This

On 12/18/2023 at 4:21 AM, Prubangboy said:

After a few days, you're prob past the phase where antibiotics would help. Drink electrolytes and sleep a lot.

 

Tell us about the curry. In England, I had the super-hot Phaal Curry. Def. a colon blaster. Invented in Bradford, I think.

 

 

I love Prawn Phaal...  Used to get it in an 'Indian' restaurant in Reading UK, run by Nepalese. Mmmmm