fredwiggy

Been here over 6 years now and know around 10 foreigners I can call friends, a few good friends. This is in Sisaket province. When I was here a few years ago, I was at Tesco Lotus and said hi to a farang with his wife. He said hi back, and we had just started to say a couple words when his wife dragged him away with a scowl. Guess she didn't want him talking to anyone who might have negative things to say about living here, or that might give him ideas that might strengthen his relationship with other farangs. It isn't the only time this happened in some way.

Having raised 5 kids before I came to Thailand, and having one 6 year old now joint custody here (the others I had custody of in America yes, I know exactly what it takes to take care of children regarding finances, and living here over 6 years now, I know what it takes here. I teach English part time here ,and work with many schools, so I know what it takes here. If you are going to have children, you take on the responsibility of their needs. That doesn't include leaving them with grandma because your boyfriend here left, which happens thousands of times, and as far as the justice system here goes, they aren't held responsible. That means you stay home, get a job locally, and see that your child is taken care of by at least one parent. Grandparents here are a lot of the times too old, and illiterate, to properly take care of children, and when the kids get to around age 8, they are out riding scooters without helmets. Yes, I know about at least 5 personally just in my village. Then when they get to be teenagers, as one replied, they are smoking,drinking and doing drugs. The schools pass them even if they are failing, and that leaves them in the same place as their parent (s). You don't have to make a lot of money here to have a child in public school, and if you have the "help" of family for a little while during the day, you can work full time. That way, you are home every night, taking care of your child. No excuses. Thailand leads the world in the stats that over 35% are raised by grandparents. Even Laos and Vietnam are only around 3 to 6%.

Nothing of the sort. I just state things as they are. Opinions mean nothing.

Home, working locally, instead of spending her time in another country, child in school, going home to family until she comes home from work, if work lasted until after she was out of school. Going to another country, or city , as thousands do here, is an excuse to not want to take care of your kids, while they party it up elsewhere, and granny gets the job. Thailand leads the world in kids raised by grandparents. Not a good thing.

Dad should have been in a hospital, getting psychological help, while "mom" should have been home, instead of living elsewhere and sending money back while her daughter is left to her own devices. Grandparents, especially here and in other countries where education is weak, aren't the best choices for the welfare of a child.

As is the norm for over 35% of children here, mom goes to work, leaving her kid with relatives, many whom are illiterate grandparents who let the children run wild and drive scooters at age 8, while "dad" is out making babies with yet another clueless girl., or in this case, became a monk to hide his habit, like so many others here do to evade prosecution. Sadly this is a major reason this country has so much trouble. Whoever started the age of consent at age 15 is yet another imbecile. That doesn't matter in this case, but in so many others where children have children with children.

These were pickup trucks, so the same as for cars

Exactly. Last night around 9;45, on the way back to my girlfriends after a party for her son and his girlfriends engagement, I was driving on 24 West around 100 kmh. Two trucks passed me going at a rate I'd guess of at least 170 KMH or more. Like I was standing still, maybe two meters apart from each other.Just ahead was a tent with at least 5 police, all on their phones and sitting. I believe the speed limit on 24 there is 110 or so.

Good to know about having to get an eVisa for Vietnam.

It's a non O single entry. I've been here over 5 years but that was the first time I've left. I thought when you visit Vietnam, you get a 30 day when you arrive at the airport.

Thanks to the both of you

Just came back from visiting America. I have a visa with one entry and used that this time. How can I apply for a second one to visit Vietnam within the same year my visa is eligible? My visa expires in June and I'm thinking of visiting Vietnam sometime in March or April.

I meant to re-read my last post. People are the reason for this problem. Animals can't help what they do if left wild. As far as animals maiming, many owned dogs in the US attack and kill kids and others because they are trained with violence, or to be violent themselves, and again, this isn't the animals fault.

Re-read my post.

Every living thing needs a qualified teacher to function normally in society.

There isn't any wrong with dogs roaming, IF they are treated right and taught respect for people, as well as being fixed, because there isn't any reason for them to have more puppies no one wants. Dogs that haven't any owners is a problem, and that's the populations fault, as well as a government that won't do anything about it, and leaves it up to a foundation that's trying it's best, in a humane way, to control the growth. As far as leaving poo and pee, there are thousands of locals that do this daily, and it's never going to stop. There are countless dogs that are owned that bark and bite, so it isn't just to soi dogs. If a lot more money is put towards this problem, meaning the government gets involved, then the problem will be lessened. This is just like the deer overpopulation in some urban areas of the US. People don't allow hunting near towns, and the deer population gets out of hand, and accidents increase.

Patient

Again, lowering the population by spaying and neutering is where a lot of the money should go. Population gets lowered, problems from overpopulation get lowered. The dogs here are from people who thought a dog was cute when it was a puppy, and they didn't spend any money on getting it spayed or neutered. The dog got bigger, the cuteness went away, and they are left to roam and make other puppies, continuing the problem. Spaying and neutering will help the problem of overpopulation enormously. Feeding stray animals is honorable, but it doesn't fix the real problem. If you hate animals, and treat them badly, you are an anti-social person, and perhaps have Cynophobia. Not caring for animals is one thing, but a hate is different. These types were taught as children that animals should be abused ,tortured and hated, because their parents had these tendencies. A person who abuses animals will abuse people. It's a precursor. Some aren't animal people, and couldn't care less. That's not a problem. Some of the dogs I've encountered dislike people, and avoid them. This is because they have been treated bad by some. I was bitten by one here, and it was someone's dog. This person didn't teach the dog respect for people, and that could cost him a lot of money someday. And very few of these dogs are rabid. If a dog has rabies, it will die within a week to 10 days after it gets into their brain, where it can bite and cause transmission. If they had the facilities to house these stray dogs, as they do in the US, and keep them until adoption, that would help. For now, going around and fixing them is the only reliable thing to do.

Everyone will be underground eventually, or ashes. While we're here, we need to fit in, and here in Thailand, that means earplugs, because nothing else will work. People are ingrained to do things because others have done them before, and they think it was a good idea , they were their friend and they trusted their judgement, or they had another idea which worked before, so they follow. Like Hitler, Putin, Stalin, Buddha, and Donald Trump. Some think they had a good idea. Others waited until they saw if that idea worked out. Like with most leaders, who are all narcissists, they all fall by the wayside when proven wrong. It's always best to stand back and see what actually does work, instead of taking others advice which hasn't been proven. Earplugs don't hurt and can help. I know your post was sarcasm or came from inebriation, so that's ok, it's not taken seriously.

Just read the link, and many others, to see what goes on here. There is a lot more crime here than you see just on TV. And the punishment isn't as extreme as in the US either. Except for drug crimes and murders, you can't bribe your way out as easy there as they can here. From my own observance, in the US for 62 years, and here for the last 5, I don't see the interaction between men and women here like I did there. Talking, just plain talking, about anything and everything. Here, it's rare to see people holding hands in public and kissing, although I do see a little, but compared to home, very little. I've eaten hundreds of meals and barbecues in the US, and saw everyone talking to each other, men and women, wives and husbands, girlfriends and boyfriends, and family members. Here, I and many of my friends here have said the same thing, I see men in a group talking to each other, and the women in a group, on the other side of the yard, talking to each other. The ex and girlfriend said the same thing. I haven't actually seen any gun crime here, besides my ex's nephew, a teenager, who was caught with a pistol three times, and every time, brought to the police station and released to grandma, no charges. He is now in jail for drugs. In the US first offense for having a gun in possession is, just for example, Massachusetts (Others are a little different but similar) Possess without license: first offense: up to two years in prison or jail, a fine of up to $500, or both. Subsequent offense: up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Possess without license outside of home or place of business: from 2.5 to five years imprisonment, or 18 months to 2.5 years in jail; with a mandatory minimum of 18 months

I lived in the US for 62 years, and rarely saw any crime, and no gun crime. I sold guns for years, and talked with thousands of gun owners. I never felt unsafe anywhere, besides when I worked in NYC, and I really wasn't in fear anyway. US cops might, some, be trigger happy, but corruption here is way more. Look at the link. Really look, and you'll see what I meant. There are gangs here, and have been here for a century, and trafficking in humans is about the highest in the world. I've been here, and talking to many Thais, for over five years, and observant, and rarely see any of the women talking to their men, besides like I said, and my ex wife and girlfriend here say the same. Others have said the same. Of course I don't live with any of these people, so I'm just going by what I've observed, comparing it to what I saw for those 62 years in the US.

Quite the contrary, this country has more than it's share of all crime, and gun violence is almost on par with the US, at least as far as percentages. I lived in the US for 62 years, and I never saw people going after others 5 on 1, and with machetes like happens here. I'm not sticking up for any country, as they all have their share. As far as communication, unlike America, where men and their wives talk, and women and men in general, here it seems the only communication that happens between men and women is the day to day work and regular activities. And the bs that men say to get sex. https://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Thailand/sub5_8f/entry-3280.html

Saying he was attacked first? He brought the knife. His intention was to, in the least, intimidate. In the worst, premeditated murder.

Ear plugs are the only resort you have. The headman will do nothing ,mainly because you are a foreigner. They blast music at 6 AM every morning here, just before they talk about current events. It's been done for decades. Most Thais are up that early because of farm work, and it doesn't bother them. It DOES bother foreigners and the elders who need to sleep longer, but nothing will be done because they are in the minority. Inconsideration comes easily here, and the highways is a place you will also see this. people (a lot,not all) drive below the speed limit right on the center line, and won't move over to let you pass, which leaves you and the oncoming traffic in danger when you do. It seems that most don't use their mirrors, or just don't care. Everyone has a right to complain. It doesn't matter if this is their country or not. What happens from those complaints will sadly, be little to nothing. Disturbing the peace is wrong, no matter where you live. But again, ear plugs will be the only resort that will work.

Approached her from behind on scooter. Knew she had the gold. Someone she knows or a friend of theirs.