changchang

Will do. Thanks .

Thanks, julie !

Do the salons usually have a range of colours for blonde, brunette etc, then, or does one need to look around ?

Are hair colouring products for Western-type hair available in Chiang Mai or BKK ? I am thinking of products like Clairol, L'Oreal and so on, in a range of colours, for home application.

If yes, where ? Any information/catalogues for Thai stores online ?

Thanks .

thanks for the info. but have just noticed a casual reference earlier in this thread to a muchhigher figure (90,000)

Should award you a visa for a couple of those !

Why not try the CM Dental Hospital. I am implant-free but they have been fine for other things.They have a website.

What is "ting tong" ?

QUOTE(changchang @ 2006-09-14 02:33:58)

I like Indians and their atttude. I went there on holiday from Hong Kong, so it was like going from one extreme to the other.

Could you elaborate a bit on the difference between Indian attitude and HK attitude?

Seems likely to land me in a lotta trouble !

Let's say that in general I found Indians to be warm, friendly, welcoming, interesting and interested in getting to know folk from other places.

Take a look here : http://www.gmorning.info/Features_chaos2wheel.htm

but meanwhile Rome! ... Italy!!

Indeed ! Good luck to you ... bet you are fat, with all that ... we hate you !

It seems like an idiot question, but trained officers can read certain responses in the passengers reactions.

Fair enough, though they came across as just highly uncomfortable about asking.

I found it funny. In another place I might have developed sweaty palms and itches from the heat of suspicion.

I like Indians and their atttude. I went there on holiday from Hong Kong, so it was like going from one extreme to the other.

You're joking, right ?

Nationalism and xenophobia are not "bad words" in Asia.

On the contrary, it's a virtue.

Of course, mind-colonized western people have some problems to understand that ("oh my god, it's so wrong, it's against human rights" etc.).

Nationalism, xenophobia... are only an extension of the family reality : or the tribe if you want.

This reality is part completly of the asian cultures (and countries).

They don't care about western genereous idea ("yeah, come on Africa, you can come on our land"). Thoses ideas don't "speak" to asian people.

This is the source of all this misunderstanding : asian want to remain homogeneous tribe/population/states.

Interesting comments.

No place for altruism in places with such a culture, or economy.

Yet I believe I was born with altruism (& thus it should be found anywhere). I guess it can be repressed.

Interested to hear more ...

Anyone in Malaysia reading this ?

Dealt with Sunbelt firstly thru internet and now in person in Chiang Mai. All excellent. You can feel very confident in them.

They sure know how to run a business well.

Thanks, blade.

I agree that there is absolutely no excuse for tipping out someone who can well afford to pay for medical treatment, simply because he is infirm.

Exactly. What would the point be ? It could only be malicious. Do hope it is not true.

I can remember boarding a plane in India, with anxious-looking officers at every metre asking passengers, "Are you carrying any drugs?" .

I should perhaps apologize for causing some of the bickering through my rather harsh earlier reponse. However, it's a topic I feel strongly about. Death is not "embraced" in all Asian cultures. ( I am not familiar with all but know enough of some to say this with certainty.)

And I feel strongly about this because of the way suicide happens in horribly repressive cultures where kids are subjected to ridiculous study loads and never expected to have problems, let alone mental illness such as depression that they might discuss with a counsellor. In Hong Kong, schools might have one counsellor who visits for a half day per week. The stigma attached to visiting this person is enormous. Chinese Universities have no counsellors. Foreign teachers are thus frequently approached by kids with personal problems as they are outsiders and known to have a different attitude.

Suicide is considered weak and shameful.

These things are changing, but not fast enough. Many, many kids suicide when they fail exams or when the pressure becomes too great. "Plunging" is the usual method.

You mentioned that you plan to get a Business Visa , there4 such re-entry is not required.

Ah, ok. Thanks.

I figure I will not be the only one with this question here.

Please post recommendations for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur that's pleasant and convenient to wherever it is we'll be going for visa paperwork. Around 3 to 4 star should be decent enough.

Anything we should do/see in KL, apart from shopping ?

We're going to Malaysia to change from tourist to business visas. I believe I have seen mention here & there of "re-entry permits". I guess this is something we'll need for return to Thailand ?

Where does one get these and how ?

Couthy is right.

Thank you so much for your very insightful comments.

I think , but hardly know how to venture here, that there's a certain well-maintained shallowness to life in Asia. (Is it so in Africa ? I have not been there.)

Please, don't forget the Canadians. Imagine what it would be like to live close by where 50% (more and --probably-- less ) of the population have posters of G. Bush in their bedrooms VS Britney Spears (unbelievable, but true ).

T O O F U N N Y ! and highly therapeutic ... cheque in mail.

Thanks so much ! You can just so totally not say that amongst US "teachers" in China.

AND THEY CAN NOT SEE THE PARALLELS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE U>S>. They come to China and carry on about BRAINWASHING !

Am I really allowed to say these things about America ?

I have a gorgeous husband from the USA, BTW.

and the fact that I did not have to pay for anything is bonus, of course, as it is unheard of. )

I love this forum ( because ?) I think most of you are Brits. I am Aussie and have a similar sense of humour & sense of self.

When I lived in China and read the US-dominated "teacher" boards, you could never say a bad thing about Bush. I saw so many parallels between the two places.

Am I really allowed to say stuff about Bush here ? Have I rejoined the free world ?

Please, don't forget the Canadians. Imagine what it would be like to live close by where 50% (more and --probably-- less ) of the population have posters of G. Bush in their bedrooms VS Britney Spears (unbelievable, but true ). Mind you ... our new PM, Harper (a conservative, Christian,...) thinks highly of King Bush (what a surprise? ), so it would appear that we don't have to go far for a depression. Where is Doc Pepe when you need him, hey? DOC! DOC! Where are you?

It is true that I also find the posts really funny on TV.

Is Blair fair game though? The Queen? Prince Charles? ... Dame Edna?

(Any jokes on PM Chretien is totally unacceptable, but ... quite likely. )

Please take your idiotic self-promotion elsewhere.

This is about suicide, if I am not wrong.

and the fact that I did not have to pay for anything is bonus, of course, as it is unheard of. )

I love this forum ( because ?) I think most of you are Brits. I am Aussie and have a similar sense of humour & sense of self.

When I lived in China and read the US-dominated "teacher" boards, you could never say a bad thing about Bush. I saw so many parallels between the two places.

Am I really allowed to say stuff about Bush here ? Have I rejoined the free world ?