Mr Meeseeks

2 minutes ago, cmarshall said:

 

Nonsense.  Linguistics scholars consider all languages to have about the same complexity.  If Thai seems basic to you, it's because you can't speak, read, or write it. 

Then there's this:

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/501139-how-many-words-in-the-thai-language/

1 minute ago, cmarshall said:

 

Nonsense.  Linguistics scholars consider all languages to have about the same complexity.  If Thai seems basic to you, it's because you can't speak, read, or write it. 

Wrong. I can read, write and speak it bub.

4 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

You also need students that are actually interested in learning. And a Prime Minister who doesn't tell students that they shouldn't worry if they can't understand English as one day all the world will speak Thai.

Main problem right there. 

Of course we can't fully discuss the dubious authenticity of the origins of the Thai language because of locals laws.

I would suggest that Thai will not exist as a widely spoken language in 100 years. Much like Gaelic in Scotland or Catalan in Spain.

2 hours ago, Natai Beach said:

a funny thread.

 

A whole bunch of farangs who have lived here for years who cant string a simple sentence together, complaining about Thais who have never been and have no interest in going to England and not being able to speak English.
 

And the endless advice on what the Thais should do without seeing the irony. ????
 

Much more useful for an expat to be able to speak the language where he lives than for Thais to speak a language they will never use. But it easier for them to complain on a forum than actually bothering to learn even basic polite Thai.
 

As a fluent Thai speaker I get your point about expats not integrating which is a bugbear of mine also.

That being said, Thai is a very basic language, with only about 50,000 words, and is purely locally used and will never be adopted internationally. It makes no sense for people other than immigrants or businessmen doing business in country to learn it. 

In comparison, English is the lingua franca of the modern World, and as Thailand relies heavily on exports and tourism, it needs a level of proficiency to be able to compete in these areas. Also, if Thais want to further their careers they need to have another language, English being one of the most useful. 

8 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Wonder how many folks are languishing in Thai prisons after being convicted of drug offenses for stuff like baking powder, baking soda, etc etc...

 

Their lab work here appears to leave quite a bit to be desired....

 

Or by being found 'guilty' by the fake GT-200 bomb scanners they were using to search for drugs and explosives in the South. 

2 hours ago, Forza2002 said:

While enforcing this law the BiB should fine people for driving with their fog lights on. Why Thais insist on using their fog lights is beyond me. Asked many Thai friends why they switch them on, get the standard 'mai roo' response...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-wSRYbWJvU

Just this morning as I left for work in the moo baan a car pulls out of a side street in front of me, not looking at all. They would have got a shock when I sounded the horn and screeched on the brakes though.

The fact is a very large percentage of Thai people cannot operate a motor vehicle competently and are a danger to themselves and others.

3 hours ago, aussiexpat said:

But it's not your country, you don't get to have a vote who is elected, you don't get a vote for who should be allowed in, so stop acting like you do.

 

Letting people in from low risk countries makes sense for the health of Thailand.

 

The out of control countries, sorry but you need to wait your turn

 

Sounds like you are stuck outside Thailand.

Tough luck there bud.

4 hours ago, DLock said:

...and you trust these clowns with a vaccine?

 

But I bet a few company executives are feeling a little better tonight.

I don't trust them to anything properly, and that is a result of personal and business experience over 30 years here. 

They are great for a laugh though, but attempting to take this place and the people seriously will drive you to an early grave.

7 minutes ago, BigStar said:

Exactly. All farang bank accounts will be confiscated, safety boxes broken open, houses searched by Thai SWAT teams and looted, farang rounded up, detained, extorted, and then summarily deported. Could happen tomorrow.

Happened next door in 1975 but most round eyes that were still there were executed, not deported.

32 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Whats your basis for this ? I’d argue that they were night shift taxi drivers as clearly evidenced by the M-150 bottle ! 

 

 

(I’m obviously being a facetious troll with this silly comment BTW - just for the benefit of those who may miss a little juvenile humour) 

A conundrum when their cabs are sweet smelling and clean, however I have seen bottles of urine in Bangkok cabs before. 

Few things worse than a flatulent Thai cabbie though, the bottling of urine is a necessity due to Bangkok traffic. 

On 11/22/2020 at 1:01 PM, BigStar said:

Still, it was far more than just a usual weekend and helpful. Some places were packed with locals, e. g., the food fair in T21 and Hops, to name just two

Locals love the mediocre food in there. Never worked out why. 

Beer is good though. I suppose if you drink enough the food starts to taste better.

On 11/22/2020 at 7:53 AM, ExpatOilWorker said:

This beauty has 9 stations and a top speed of 500 km/h.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chūō_Shinkansen

Another technology invented by the British. 

On 11/20/2020 at 4:28 PM, sanuk711 said:

Exactly what they used to say about the BTS, used to sit around Soi 7 beer bar in the late 90s , all the usual experts telling you how it couldn't be done --and then when it was, telling you how no one would use it. Last time I was in BKK had a job to even get on it --so packed out.

 

Yep lets all have a good laugh at the Thai's maybe one day British rail might catch up with them.

It was mostly Brits that supervised the building of the BTS and MRT mate. Sorry to break it to you.

7 minutes ago, Roy A F said:

Many did and probably still do, get this type of lease, its not completely legal, or illegal. You get a 30 year lease, but with an option to pay and renew twice, if you lived that long. Also the property could be sold as a freehold to a Thai national, as one cold get the local Or Bor Tor to change the deed for a price. The main problem with that 30+30 +30 lease is, if the lease is in one's name and then that person dies, his inheritors cannot claim the property, as leases cannot be inherited, they revert to the original owner. So if you are in this position of a individual lease holder, get the lease changed into multiple names just in case of ones demise.

I thought it was ruled illegal in a court case in Samui not so long ago, which has set the precedent?

20 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Buddy from the US, a Thai National with a business visa, just sold his house in El Dorado Hills, Ca. For 1.5 million USD, and sold his Thai restaurants. Moved back here last month and repatriated all the cash as it was allowed.  He lived in the US for 20 years.  Sent money back here monthly to care for his Mother. He owns a restaurant here in Bangkok on the River and a nice Mansion in Minburi. He is 60 and will be able to live here very nicely.  If he had not gone to the US when he did he would still be eking out a living as he was before he was able to get to the US on a work visa.  He worked in a Thai restaurant until he opened his own at the height of the boom for that type of food.  

 

In retrospect as a foreigner here you can not do the same unless you bend over and play by the rules here, and then you worry that some Thai will steal your business model and customers and out of business you will go.

Foreigners have to do business in areas where Thais are not able in Thailand, that is one of the keys to success. Look at the Chinese, they are selling them subs and high speed trains, both of which are far beyond the expertise of local companies. There will be an influx of skilled foreign (in this case Chinese) labour to supervise the Thais, just as there is on every mega project in Thailand. 

Opening bars, restaurants and laundry services are low hanging fruit and just asking for local competitors to destroy you.

You have to think what is beyond the ability of the local Somchai. 

Granted, those businesses and opportunities are continually diminishing, as Thailand continues to develop, but if one is so motivated they are still available. 

42 minutes ago, SomchaiCNX said:

Probably to a certain limit, what if you have foreign passengers in that vehicle?

Depends on the vehicle, pick-up with possibility to carry passengers or goods, van, fortuner etc. A car from the company for personal use, yes no problem. I employ Thai drivers but sometimes you have situation that none of them is available. So no advertising on my cars (pick-up) to avoid problems, better safe than sorry.

 

Yes, luckily the police are mostly clueless on labor laws (and some traffic laws). But unfortunately my staff are Thai and teached to obye, they will not argue and pay.

 

Remember many years ago they busted the lawyers of an Australian company that was doing an audit on a Thai company (the one the Australian accountant was killed) because they had meeting in a hotel in BKK. That hotel was not stated on the WP as the place of work. They got all arrested and fined on the spot. No big deal but they did it anyway to show who is in charge in this country.

 

They will always have a reason if they want to catch you.

I have the company named but I don't have an address or a 'place of work' defined on my work permit as I have multiple offices and facilities that I must regularly visit. I attend conferences and meetings on behalf of my company all the time and have never given it a second thought. 

I think you are thinking too much about the vehicle situation too mate, I can see issues developing if you are driving about in a Toyota Commuter van with a bunch of tourists in the back and the local transport mafia have grassed you up but other than that I am sure you would be fine.  

Just now, blackcab said:

 

Can I ask what sector the company operates in please?

Sure, it is oil and gas under the Petroleum Act.