hullmonkey1

Personally, I do not like the feeling of walking down a strange street and hearning whispers of FARANG FARANG. The intent is not rudeness but the feeling is.

If you're Kosovan, Polish, Albanian, Hungarian etc... etc... and you're walking down any street in England in 2007 and hearing 'whispers' of '**cking immigrants', the intent is almost certainly rudeness & is absolutley designed to induce a feeling of unease among the 'aliens'..

native mindset = "this is my country, who the *ell do they think they are..."

Sorry, but thats the truth.

westerners in Thailand will experience the same..

as will brits in oz, yanks in india, ruskys in mexico, munchkins in timbuktoo etc.. etc.. JUST LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT..! (don't be so bloody sensitive. remember : sticks & stones may break my bones but...........)

Can’t see where you get the notion that the use of the word Farang is designed to induce a feeling of unease. As another poster has explained, it has come from the meaning of Frenchman. Now that really pisses me off be called a Frenchman

I work in India and every white guy here is referred to as angraise admi (spelling ?) which translates as Englishman. I suppose that would really piss off most ozzies

In Hongkong all white folk are called guillo (spellin?) which translates to something like ghost-man. Not something that should piss anyone off IMO. But I worked with a guy there who lost it one night after being called a guillo once too many times, and started shouting CHINKY CHINKY CHINKY to the oblivious street vender

All of of the above are just terms and without any further adjective eg: French <deleted>, English scum, cannot be classed as being designed to induce a feeling of unease.

So I suppose that I agree with you in so far as being call a fukcing Farang would disturb me but plain old farang means nothing at all to me.

"Thais will buy a BMW and sleep on the floor in a B2000 a month room"

Oh really?

Again, another self projection post.

Scenario 1: and they were able to pay 3-12 million (not sure what the 7 series are going for nowadays, I drive a Honda) cash. Yeah sure, and they'd be renting a 2,000 Baht a month room.

Scenario 2: they finance 80-90%. Yeah sure, folks living in 2,000 Baht a month rooms would be able to afford the 80,000-100,000 a month payments.

p.s. we actually have a few strips of 1,000 - 2,500 Baht a month rooms for rent in the extended family. The typical transportation is motorcycle, saleng (converted bicycle/cart type setup), or foot. On the rare occasion that someone has a car, it's either a 20 year old pickup or one of the first Mazda's that came off the boat here.

Cant say that I have met a Thai who's drives a beamer and lives in a hovel but I have met a few Hong Kong Chinese that did, just that....Maybe he was talking about chinese thai's

Stick with the main Seiko dealer. I had my Seiko kenetic repaired in a jeweller's in BKK. it WAS water resistant up to 200m.... now it mists up if I forget to take it off before I get in the shower

Took my GF to the UK for a 6 month hol. She hated the cold, the boiled to death food, the sat night punch-ups in the city centre pubs, planning a BBQ and then seeing it piss down on the day ..but in the end she got used to it and nearly 7 years later with a wedding ring on her finger and a UK passport in her pocket she started to like it and was against coming back to live in thailand A year down the line she is happy with living in thailand again and visiting the UK once ayear

With me it depends on what's going on, if everything is well then I see things through rose colored glasses. If I get stopped by the boys in brown in order to get a donation, or a vendor tries to overcharge me, the glasses come off and I bash. I know its not good to have these types of emotional swings, but I put it off to being human. As for money, I have never experienced a surplus, I can always use more, weird isn't it.

My glasses are on when I get stopped for speeding by the BIB on the long trip up to khon Kaen. 2 mins time I am on my way minus 3-500bht ....It would cost me over 4000bht and 3 points back in the Uk...(12 points is an instant ban from driving and massive increase in car insurrance)

I'm glad for you in having found a cheap way of breaking the law, and feel smug about it. I'm also glad to read that it only extends to traffic laws ( hopefully ), and that your not a killer, or child molester escaping justice by also paying bribes. The rampant corruption is something rose colored glasses can't hide. It affects the country in every aspect. It is one of the biggest, if not the biggest problem that Thailand is facing. I'm sure more people fueling this system are needed. You have found the right place to be.

Mellow out old boy. It was just a light hearted comment concerning driving. The roads up there are nearly empty and 140km/hour hardly puts me in the child molester bracket.

As far as corruption being Thailand’s biggest problem. What do you base your opinion on? Do you know anything at all about Asia. At the moment I work in India, which has far more corruption and also has the 2nd fastest growing economy on the planet. I have also worked in Vietnam, which has basic corruption levels (speeding tickets/bribes) about on a par with Thailand and much higher levels when dealing with government officials (couldn’t even get our machinery off the docks without handing over a brown envelope)…the fastest growing economy in S.E Asia… The cops were pretty straight in Hong Kong but the big money corruption was rife (again a booming economy)

Chill out mate and enjoy the place for what it is. It isn’t the UK/USA/Europe thank god and that’s why I live here. Not because I am on the run for being a kiddie fiddler

With me it depends on what's going on, if everything is well then I see things through rose colored glasses. If I get stopped by the boys in brown in order to get a donation, or a vendor tries to overcharge me, the glasses come off and I bash. I know its not good to have these types of emotional swings, but I put it off to being human. As for money, I have never experienced a surplus, I can always use more, weird isn't it.

My glasses are on when I get stopped for speeding by the BIB on the long trip up to khon Kaen. 2 mins time I am on my way minus 3-500bht ....It would cost me over 4000bht and 3 points back in the Uk...(12 points is an instant ban from driving and massive increase in car insurrance)

I work in India so I have become accustomed to people pushing in front of me at shops, airports, and on the road. It seems that everyone does it so I don’t let it wind me up. Over 100,000 road deaths a year speaks realms for their driving abilities.

I do however get wound up by it when I am out of India but instead of directly confronting the offending individual I take other action like stepping on the back of their heel just above the shoe (very painful ) then apologising profusely when they turn round. I was rudely pushed in front of and interrupted by an Indian gentleman while I was enquiring as to why my flight was delayed in Dubai. He placed his bag of expensive duty free chocolates on the floor in front of me so I stepped on them with my size 10 foot…he was most unhappy, but hey accidents happen right.

You might be right about the new money, as many Indians will queue in an orderly fashion at the departure gate (presumably experienced travellers) while others (presumably the new money) will just join the queue at the gate. On the other hand I have worked in Hong Kong where they have been affluent for decades and they are even worse than the Indians.

thanks for the swift solution george

My format for viewing this site has changed. I now only see the first post in full and the first line of the answering posts. I have not changed anything myself and have tried looking through 'my controls' and everywhere else on the page but cant find anything to enable me to revert back to the 'full post' view. Can anyone help please

Anyone who has to pay the school fees out of their own pocket would not consider Regents it is extortionately expensive!

Erm that would be me my 2 lads back in the uk want to come and live with dad so no choice but to send them to a school that will provide them with a uk based Education..and by internation standards it isnt expensive at all

Yes, the non-immigrant visa category Ed will be the correct visa for your sons.

--

Maestro

Many thanks Maestro. I Googled your answer for more info and got a page from TV (http://www.thaivisa.com/279.0.html). Thanks again for the swift reply, I wasnt sure if it was do-able.... you have made me a very happy chappy ..now I just need to get it sorted out before the exwife changes her mind

Can anyone advise me on the following?

I want to get visas for my self and 2 sons to live in Thailand.

I am 46 years old so a retirement visa is a no-go. I have a Thai wife and a house in Thailand. My sons are 13 and 14 years old and I want to enrol them at an international school (would an educational visa be a possibility)

At present I don’t have a visa of any kind as I work abroad and only travel home for 2 weeks every three months.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Jim

I can get hold of tetley T-bags from the local village store here in Kashmir. They are the square type with a string and tab but taste the same as the UK variety (unless I have been here too long). They work out at about a quid for a box of 80. Would be happy to bring you a couple of boxes over. I am home this saturday. I live out near the crock farm but will be in patts most days

Jim

I'd happily drive out to the croc farm to pick some teabags up. PLease let me know after your return if you have any "spare".

Thanks.

Torrenova I have told rigsby he can have 3 boxes and I will save 2 for you

They only had 6 boxes of 100 Tetley T bags. Thats one for me and 5 spare. PM me your tel No. if you want them. I will be leaving site tomorrow at 8.30pm thai time and have not got a net conection at home yet.

I can get hold of tetley T-bags from the local village store here in Kashmir. They are the square type with a string and tab but taste the same as the UK variety (unless I have been here too long). They work out at about a quid for a box of 80. Would be happy to bring you a couple of boxes over. I am home this saturday. I live out near the crock farm but will be in patts most days

Jim

I'd happily drive out to the croc farm to pick some teabags up. PLease let me know after your return if you have any "spare".

Thanks.

I will pop into the village tomorrow and buy whatever tetly's T-bags they have in stock. If they have plenty I can stick them into the spare hold-all I use for taking stuff back with me. Will post the result of my little shopping trip tomorrow. I dont need many as I only get 17 days leave for every 13 weeks worked so will be more than happy to hand them over.

As a newbie I am Looking forward to meeting a few of you guys

Jim

Hope you won't regret it!

/edit:

Might drive him to drink?

I will certainly be having a few slurps as the wife will be driving

OK, chaps.

I have been in touch with Keith at Caddy Shack.

The most convenient night for him and for me would be Wednesday 10th October to host a get-together. I know it's not Friday, but the Caddy Shack has other commitments on Fridays.

Any and all who can make it are welcome from -say- 7.00 pm onwards.

There will be some bar food for those who have skipped an early evening meal (and for those greedy buggers who just want more). I'll try to get some Thai eats as well for the high-end guests.

Please give me a response within the next week, as I will need to give a rough idea of what to put on the bar. Obviously there will be people who have to change plans at the last minute, so I will not charge anyone who doesn't show.

The Caddy Shack also does full meals, so anyone who needs a full meal can order there - but I do intend to put on plenty of casual stuff.

Count me and the wife in HB. We wont be staying late as I am driving up to Khon Kaen the following day. As a newbie I am Looking forward to meeting a few of you guys

Jim

I can get hold of tetley T-bags from the local village store here in Kashmir. They are the square type with a string and tab but taste the same as the UK variety (unless I have been here too long). They work out at about a quid for a box of 80. Would be happy to bring you a couple of boxes over. I am home this saturday. I live out near the crock farm but will be in patts most days

Jim

Bojangles, good posting. May I ask how did your gf react upon first settling in the UK? I am preparing for this now, researching visa info for us and also trying to re-adjust my mindset in preperation for going back to England and taking care of the both of us. I ask as I want to make it comfortable for her, as I know she will miss her home, family, culture and all the rest inbetween.

In my experience, food, food and food. Find your nearest Chinese supermarket, for the basics like Rice, fish sauces, chilli's etc. Then look for a Thai grocery for the bits she can't get. I know all the places in the Manchester area but not sure about other places in the UK.

My mrs settled in very quickly once she knew she could eat near enough the same as she can in Thailand. More expensive though And get warm clothes.

Lots and lots of Thai restaurants are also opening up, so find one and let her do the talking to the owner. She can find out the low down herself then.

Just my experience, and upto now it seems to be making MrsBoJangles happy enough. Good luck

Have to agree 100% Food is the main factor. Chinese supermarkets for fish sauce,thai curry paste,coconut milk, sweet chilli sauce, shrimp paste etc. If you are moving to an area with a large south asian comunity the pakistani and indian market stalls are a lot cheaper for stuff like chilli's and other thai style veg. Just get her to close the kitchen door and open the window's when she is cooking. The wife also did a part time english course to keep her busy while I was at work. Good luck mate we were in the uk for 6 years and are only based in thailand now because its my choice as I work in Asia. She would prefer the UK.

I have read loads of threads about various schools in Pattaya but still havnt got a full picture of what is available. My 7 year old will be starting the new term in pattaya and I would be grateful for a comprehensive list of schools with an english language programme. My price range is around 100k bht a year...maybe up to 150 if the diference is worth the extra cash.

Not at all. I got excellent service from Maxis.com for MYR 88/month. That's about 880 Baht. There is more competition in Malaysia, more infrastructure, and less corruption.

There's your answer.

The latest stats I've seen put the Internet penetration of Malaysia at 47.8% and Thailand at 12.5%.

Malaysia is even ahead of the average for Europe (40%).

so why did you bet it would be expensive there

my son goes to assumtion school in sriracha and does the english program,what a school absolutely fantastic ,2 terms 40k a term and a bus collects and delivers him home.1900 bhat a month,so many playing fields football pitches and swimming pools and the grounds are superb as is the standard of teaching,

How long does the bus take to get there and back

so he can boost his ego by writing about it on internet forums.

The whole point of this thread isn't it? Showing off about what kind of work he can turn down.

Crabs in a bucket

On the original point. I would take a 20% pay cut to swap the next 3 years here for a project in Thailand

Indeed and many people would - that is why pay deals for expats in Thailand have gone through the floor.

R&R in Thailand next month will do me nicely.

I can see your point GH but 20% less than I am getting now would still be 30% more than similar jobs are paying in Dubai and aprox 60% more than the UK. Quality of life is also an issue and in Kashmir there is no life at all.

salaries and benefits are always higher/better in the middle east than in SEA...and I'd rather work for an arab client than an asian one anyday...

I suppose it depends on your line of work. I have done a couple of contracts in H.K and one in Vietnam for Japanese outfits and the packages were very good. I am now in Kashmir putting a tunnel through the mountains and I am getting around double the salary that similar positions are paying on the Dubai metro project. OK Kashmir involves a small risk but the HK and Nam jobs were still a lot better paid than they are now paying in Dubai.

On the original point. I would take a 20% pay cut to swap the next 3 years here for a project in Thailand

. A mate told me to crush 4 XXXXXl in a saucer of sardines. I tried it and the cat eat the lot and I never saw it again.

OOOOoooooo a smiley face, so it's sposed to be funny, right?

Dunno, but somehow accounts of cruelty and nastiness just say, oh look it's a knuckle dragger. One good thing about Thailand is that it's a land where Karma does come true. So for you, the acid tossing folks and devotees of painful poisonings, I will await your own painful horrific fates.

Yup matey that would be be... a nuckle dragging concerned parent. All kinds of ailments can be aquired by a thumb sucking toddler with catshit all over his little hands

I have also shoveled up dogshit from the grass verge outside my uk home, knocked on the door of the lazy <deleted> who let his dog leave it there, dumped it on his doorstep and told him, that as it belonged to him I was kindly returning it. Being a bit of a nuckle dragging chappie he would have gotten a slap with the shovel if he had dared protest. If it was down to me all stray's (including dogs that have owner's but are let out to shit all over the place) would be shot on site.

If your child is playing with cat feces to the point where it's hands become covered with it then;

1. You may wish to supervise your child more closely as a child that would get to that point is more likely to eat dirt, or garbage or bugs or to be bitten by a ground dwelling animal such as a snake.

2. The animal that left the feces may not be a cat as cat feces are often dry and dessicated due to the high protein and low water content. Cat feces are therefore usually hard and dry. It is somewhat difficult to make a mud pie with cat feces. Feel free to test the hypothesis and report back accordingly.

Exposure to ground bacteria and other "garbage" is considered an important component of building a child's immune system. Without getting into all the science here, early exposure does benefit the child.

Although you may wish to protect your child, keep in mind that the cat you kill may be some child's furry friend or the sole companion of a lonely old lady that has been abandoned by her family. The heartbreak that the person suffers is not pleasant. There are always consequences to acts of cruelty.

I have no issue with you taking up the matter with the custodian of the animal. I agree and support such a discussion. You are oozing charm, so I am sure you can convince the scofflaw to stoop and scoop. Please remember too, that if you support your local spaying and neutering program, the problem mught be solved within a matter of months.

Just as you wish you could kill all the stray animals, my colleagues would like to euthanize or at least spay and neuter some people. For some odd reason, the Thai guys always want to do this to farangs. Fortunately, the ethical review boards don't allow for this. Besides I think the general public might get upset if my colleagues embarked on such a campaign as it might impact upon the foreign tourist trade.

1) In my own fenced off, well kept garden, free of garbage, no snakes, dangerous bugs etc, the biggest health risk was catshit. I shouldnt have to supervise my kid every minute in my own little patch of england.

2) On many occasions I saw the offending creature and IT WAS INDEED a cat.

3) Dont try and tell me that there is any benefit to be gained by a child ending up with catshit in his mouth....DRIED OR OTHERWISE. On the other hand I can see some benefit to be gained by a nasty stray dog ending up with a steel toe-cap boot in its mouth.