Gruff
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Posts posted by Gruff
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It is all a bit hit and miss i came into BKK from SGN 2 weeks ago visa exempt and neither airline check in or immigration interested in whether i had a flight out. Of course i did have a screen shot of the ticket out (which was with a different airline) and was ready to show it if necessary.
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14 minutes ago, duanebigsby said:
This is funny. We're here discussing Thai people who can't find Thailand on the map when in our home countries we have people saying the earth is flat, global warming is a hoax, 9/11 was an inside job, man never landed on the moon, and the English Royal Family are lizard people ruled by the Illuminati.
But the point is we are contemplating all these things !
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2 minutes ago, kenk24 said:
Agreed - - many ask me the same question too... but I would say from what I have seen, the family does a better job of 'looking out' - than the cold arm of any government... from what I see, it can go beyond kids. If anyone in my extended family is in the hospital there can be as many as 20 people nearby to help out. I have seen this too and true for expats as well.
When my infant niece was in a coma, there were always 2 people at her bedside, 24/7 - - and several others nearby to switch on and off, to watch the ventilator that was keeping her alive, to be there for her. I was the driver, ferrying family members back and forth to the hospital 2 hours away. Each time I would arrive back in the village, there would be a crowd of at least 20 people awaiting my arrival with fresh clothing and food prepared to bring back for the others.
As to unemployment insurance - when younger sister was laid off in Bkk - she came home to the village. Roll out another mat, food is plentiful and she was there to help with everything at home. Not negative stigma. She was welcomed back and has the security to know that will always be true... unemployment payments run out - her family does not.
Yes interesting but 50 plus years ago the extended family had a similarly important role in the UK. Not all progress or modernsation ? is benefical. If you don't know about alternatives or learn from others though you cannot make an informed option about the best way forward
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12 minutes ago, Beats56 said:
And the earth is flat too.?
There is a mass of evidence the earth is not flat there is a mass of evidence there was no moon landing. The point i think is that many Thais don't know there was a pretence of landing on the moon
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4 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:
Wife (of 27 years), not girlfriend. And I'm not saying their way is right. Other than that, you make good points. There is an argument that ignorance is bliss (quote: you'd be limited to watching absolute garbage on tv - but you wouldn;t know it was garbage, you'd think it was wonderful.) If they are happy with garbage then that is what they are - happy. And that was why I posed the question - if they are happy in their ignorance and we are disturbed by things we cannot influence or control, who has it right?
The Thais in general have the concept wrong if they wish to progress
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We should all aim to better ourselves and change for the better if we can and we can only achieve this by learning from other people / other Business / other religious belief / other Nations.. In my opinion a country such as Thailand should be looking to treasure its strenghts and also take the best from the West and vica versa. Ignorance is not always bliss.
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Or is your friend trying to scam you. Makes up story re Visa Agent get your sympathy you help them with the 50k.
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There are a few pretty good value hotels near the centre of Cebu City. I would not rule them out and they may well do longer term rates.
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Thought April Fool was cancelled because it is Easter Sunday!
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On 3/21/2014 at 6:53 AM, Splint10155 said:
G'Day Mate,
I lived in the Philippines (Bacolod) for 12 months, never saw so many guns (every shop has an Armed Guard) or armoured cars in my life, same same in Manila, I found the people were fine but the food left a lot to be desired, ask yourself this, have you ever seen a Phillipino Restrauant anywhere in the world other than the Philippines?
Cost of living I found better than Thailand and workmanship on anything was probably on a par with Thailand "close enough is good enough", apart from Makati I found the rest of the country to be rather dirty actually.
If I left Thailand I would be more inclined to move to Vietnam, probably around the Vung Tau area, yes you have the normal expat issues but the beaches are great, countryside is lovley and the food is just behing Thai for me.
Cheers and good luck.
Yes there are Filipino restaurants in London there is one in Pattaya one in Chang Mai that i know of as well
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Seminyak was full of Aussies Kuta Chinese
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I am in Bali at the moment and it is my first tme. I understand it is a bad time of year for the sea and beaches but i can report that the beaches around Seminyak and Kuta are filthy. Ok i have only been in Indonesia for about 3 weeks in both Jakarta and Bali but my impression is that people are more welcoming and helpful than Thais and probably more so than Filipinos in particular the men. It is also noticeable that there are a lot more guys working in the tourist sector (cleaning hotel rooms etc) than in Thailand or Phils. In general hotels seem a good standard and good price and i have not had a room with anything other than a 'great shower' yet! Bluebird taxis correctly using the meter are cheap Food appears cheap on the surface but by the time taxes and service are added (between 15 and 20%) it is not such a bargain. The restaurants look good but the quality of the food is hit and miss. Food quality is just a small step up from Phils and like Filipinos they cant seem to resist adding a load of sugar to savoury dishes. From what i have seen of Bali (completely unlike some Jakarta hotels which can have wall to wall working girls) the bars are geared towards tourist couples but the massage ladies can be very keen and almost insistent on providing extra service. I have found (outside of restaurants where service is included) that Indonesians are greedy for tips.
Finally i thought that Australia was a sporty country but to put it politely most young female tourists don't look like they participate in much sporting activity. Their male partners not so much so and i can't help thinking they must be tempted by the Balinese ladies!
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I did not think i would ever say this but there are completely herbal tablets out there that really do work. Don't know if you can get it in Thailand but 'DriveMax 'is one example. It may wll be worth giving a few of the herbals a try. Would be about 60 baht a tablet.
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1 hour ago, MaeJoMTB said:
Pick an end date, rent a room on the top floor with a balcony.
PS. I use all my tea bags twice.
I know a few who do that (use teabags twice that is) but all the rest are from Yorkshire. Maybe you were born in the wrong county !
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4 hours ago, Tofer said:
The toughest conundrum is how to find a happy medium, without running out or becoming the richest man in the graveyard....
Yes it would certainly help our planning if we knew when we were going to die !
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12 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:
I traveled from Brazil to Thailand a few times ( lived in Brazil for 20 years ) and don’t believe it will be an issue.
In my case i was refused entry on a flight from São Paulo to Johannesburg because my yellow fever certificate had expired ( 11 years ).
The only other place I traveled to where they requested to see my YF certificate was Angola.
I certainly was never asked to show my YF certificate when checking in from São Paulo to Bangkok ( via Dubai ). The last time i made this trip was 2 years ago.
I do know that if you have the YF injection you have to wait 10 days before traveling.
There is a TVF member called Isac Szwarc Brasil who is Brazilian, he could give you some more up to date information if you pm him.
I came into Swampy from Sao Paulo (via Abu Dhabi) 3 years ago. I was blssfully ignorant about need for yellow fever jab until just now.. No questions anywhere
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12 hours ago, Jingthing said:
Obviously, much fewer.
An interesting question is where would people retire if money was no object other than their home country.
I fun thing to fantasize about.
I am not sure it is just about affordablity but for those that can afford to live in most countries it is surely about value for money. Why for example pay 3 times more to stay in a hotel in Sydney than Bangkok if the benefits are not 3 times as great? For most people i also suspect the climate in Thailand is far from ideal. BKK is the hottest year round capital city on the planet! For me personally i am still searching for the perfect place. I think it will quite likely be more than one destination and moving with seasons.
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6 minutes ago, The Fat Controller said:
I have used the shuttle bus a few times, not the most comfortable but plenty of space for luggage.
Never taken more the 50 minutes.
Yes they are old and tired i had one breakdown on the motorway once. We stood on the edge of the motorway and waited for the next one.
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Other option (but will take nearly 30 mins longer) but still plenty of time Take A1 bus (same placeas shuttle) to Mo Chit. Mo Chit to Phaya Thai on skytrain then change lines at Phaya Thai to Suvarnabhumi. Cost about 80 baht but shuttle bus is free.I would always opt for the shuttle bus but alternative always useful if a known problem on the roads
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7 hours ago, smotherb said:
You must not have met my in-laws and their barrio-mates. Red Horse is their beer of choice, as it is in most barrios I have visited. I remember in the early eighties when Red Horse was introduced; I bought several cases of it for my wife's grandfather's tapos. It quickly became a favorite. San Miguel specifically markets Red Horse to the lower socio-economic classes with this cheap, but strong, beer.
Yes admittedly i should have said not many expats or tourists drink it
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I am in the Phils at the moment and it is widely available. Not many drink it here though (opting for the San Mig Light or Pilsen) i think mainly because it is just too strong ! San Mig also do a (Super Dry) which i like but i am not sure if it is available in Thailand
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4 hours ago, 473geo said:
"Rose tinted glasses" an attempt to belittle those people who just don't get their knickers in a twist about things they cannot influence? Classic example!!
I think you make a good point. For me i like to hear a positive story so long as it appears honest and not about 'blowing own trumpet'. i think far too often there is an element of boasting (eg - i have immersed myself in Thai culture so i have a better knowledge and undersatnding than you) and an element of the unbelievable.
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2 minutes ago, CG1 Blue said:
Yes - maybe you didn't read the 2nd paragraph of my post?
Yes i did and apologies i should have worded better. The term ' shallow' was not individually directed.
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2 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:
I think some people just like to bitch and moan. Moving to Thailand doesn't cure that. If misery is in your DNA it'll soon surface again, no matter where you reside or how good your life is.
I also think forums like this attract those who want to vent frustration occasionally (like myself
). So proportionally there will be more of those types than the happy go lucky types (who perhaps don't need these outlets!)
Maybe but it would be so wrong to include every one who makes a negative comment on TV in that category. That is just shallow !
). So proportionally there will be more of those types than the happy go lucky types (who perhaps don't need these outlets!)
What are the "Pro's & Con's" of living in Philippines?
in Philippines General Chat
Posted
The integrity of taxi drivers very much depends where you are. Be aware whilst taxis from Cebu Airport are well controlled you will struggle to get a taxi from Manila airport to town without getting ripped off!