meadish_sweetball

Now THAT's auspicious. All the best to your children on their birthday, Songhua.

My goodness! There seems to be a lot of nervous people out there!

Of course, it is no joke to get bonked on the head or have your bag stolen. Sh*t does happen. But not a lot round here. And you can find this sort of warning circulating in a lot of towns in a lot of countries. Some of it is real, some of it is second and third-hand rumor. Neither makes much of a case.

Anecdotal evidence like this often spreads like a virus and poisons the air. Just to take Priceless'es line, such tales do not make much of a case. I am not constraining anyone to say what they wish about their personal experience on the streets of Chiang Mai, as someone above suggests, but the problem I have seen over the years with this sort of "warning" is a constraint on common sense rather than the opposite which is intended.

To stretch the point (considerably), would you now recommend that people arm themselves with personal weapons for self-protection? I dimly recall a thread several months ago when some (IMHO) gun nuts locally were suggested just that!

It must be a dreadfully slow day at the Mapguy residence...

The posters here who think I'm somehow trying to find excuses to shirk school are hysterical

So my thanks to those who, at least in this matter, appear to be giving me the benefit of the doubt

For those being unduly harsh about the article, if you read the last of the comments at the bottom, you'll see the writer talks about being 'satirical'. In his last point he says "culture and language go hand in hand. You haven't just taken steps to learn the language, you've also begun to change your culture." Satirical or not, I think there's a lot of truth to that. Especially if, like me, you're also trying to live in the country whose language you're trying to learn.

In my time I've studied other subjects very hard. And the work I was involved in until relatively recently could be extremely demanding mentally. However, learning Thai - for me at any rate - is proving to be something else altogether. It's starting to mess with my head in ways that I'm not sure I'm comfortable with. Of course I'm older now, and grimly aware we do start to fall apart!

No one here - so far - really shares these feelings. Fair enough. That's all part of what I was trying to find out by creating this thread. Thank you for contributing.

I think the symptoms you describe are part of the prolonged adjustment to a new culture coupled with the general fatigue of intense studying, perhaps more so than language learning per se. The fact that our brains shut down their faculties after heavy exposure to a new language is natural. I had that when I first went abroad to an English speaking country. I was technically fluent and could express myself and discuss most things in English, but actual exposure to the culture where a language is spoken, is something else. And I am not talking about exposure in the sense of being a fly on the wall which is most farang people's experience of Thailand, but rather actively striving to understand and become a part of the new culture, which requires learning the language. Yes - it IS tiring because it is tough exercise for your mind. Physical exercise is also exhausting, but in both cases, the benefits far outweigh the discomfort. Keep at it and it gets easier.Apart from cramming, make sure you apply the language to situations and subjects you enjoy. That's what I've always done. If there's no physical Thai community in your vicinity that shares an interest you have, find it online instead.

With motivation and talent, it is possible to learn to read out regular Thai words properly in a month if you apply yourself to it full time, 8+ hours per day.

It took me 6 months to have broken the code, but then I was studying general linguistics and other aspects of Thai at the same time, and spending a little too much of my time drinking masala chai and chain smoking. If we had focused exclusively on the reading, 1 month would have been possible.

Of course, even after the stage of having learned regularly spelt words, you still have all the irregular words to tackle. And in advanced texts, there are many.

Rikker Dockum who used to post regularly in this forum was a speed learner, he was chatting away with ease online in written Thai after just one year. So they're around alright.

That is a bit steep. Ah well, I can wait. Good heads-up for next year.

Yes, yes. Good luck with that, Ole.

Since four months back, I drink a huge glass of คาวทอง khaao thawng Houttuynia cordata ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houttuynia_cordata ) juice every evening before bed. Seems to work well enough, haven't been sick since, my stomach health is better (I used to have IBS like symptoms but not anymore) and haven't noticed any side effects.

The plant mentioned above is part of the Solanum is called มะแว้งเครือ (mawáeng khruea) in Thai. From googling, there are at least three types of plants with the component มะแว้ง (mawáeng) in it. But I guess if you ask at a pharmacy and specify it's for cold/chest symptoms, chances are they'd know that you want mawáeng khruea.

Here's more info if you can read Thai:

http://www.rspg.or.th/plants_data/herbs/herbs_08_4.htm

The above URL claims it is used like this:

Anti-phlegm, anti-cough

มะแว้งเครือ Mawáeng Khruea

Scientific name: Solanum trilobatum L.

Family: Solanaceae [[same group as nightshades and horse nettles; potatoes, eggplants and nettles are part of this family]]

Other names : มะแว้งเถา [mawáeng thao+] (Bangkok) แขว้งเควีย [khwâeng khwia] (Tak)

Botanical characteristics: Climber that runs along other plants. Round, green, oily stem. The branches have thorns. Single leaves alternating in a garland pattern. Thorns line the veins on the underside of the leaves. The flowers are purple with five petals, forming axillary buds at the ends of the branches. The leaves have five pointed lobes, and are joined at the base. It has five yellow stamina. The fruits are round, 0,5 cm with smooth skin. The unripe fruits are green with a white pattern. The ripe fruits are bright red. The seeds are flat and plentiful.

Parts used: roots, the entire plant, stem, leaves, fresh full-sized but not yet ripe fruits

Properties:

Roots - reduces severe bleeding from the anus or urethra, expectorant (anti-cough), anti-asthmatic, diuretic, anti-spasmodic hallucinatory fever [traditional Thai medicine classification, not recognized in Western medicine; fever due to "elemental congregation"], balancing elements, reduces stickiness of saliva, thirst, anti-tuberculosis

Whole plant - reduces sweating, expectorant, anti-asthmatic, diuretic

Stem - Reduces flatulence in pregnancy, anti-cough, anti-phlegm, reduces stickiness of saliva, strengthens blood, reduces severe bleeding from the anus or urethra

Leaves - Balances elements, anti-cough, reduces stickiness of saliva

Fresh fruits - Anti-cough, anti-phlegm, diuretic, anti-diabetic, tonic, reduces stickiness of saliva, strengthens blood, reduces severe bleeding from the anus or urethra

Method and amounts

Anti-cough, anti-asthmatic, as a bitter medicine to stimulate appetite

Take 5-6 fresh Mawaeng Khruea fruits, chew them, swallow all of the bitter juice, and spit out the rest - very potent anti-cough remedy.

Pound 5-10 fresh fruits until crushed, squeeze out the juice, add salt. Sip frequently, or chew the fresh fruits and swallow both the juice and the pulp.

Treating diabetes, lowering blood sugar

Use 10-20 full-sized Mawaeng fruits and eat as veggies dipped in nam-phrik

Substances :

The leaves contain Tomatid - 5 - en -3- ß - ol

The flowers contain Alkaloids, Cellulose, Pectins Unidentified organic acid Lignins, Unidentified saponins

The fruits contain Enzyme oxidase, high levels of Vitamin A

As Hang Dong, Mae Rim and Mae Hia are getting more crowded, the city develops in new directions.

The most intense and rapid development seems to be along the new Sankampaeng Road, from Big C/Promenada out towards Mae On, but Doi Saket may be second(?) - like San Sai is and Mae Jo, it still has a few nice spots left... for a few more years...

It's a winding road for sure, but so far I've never seen anyone puke on that route.

The previous two posters already gave you the important parts. I would translate it like this:

เงินในธนาคารของยาย บ้านของยาย โอนไม่ได้ ติดเรื่องสัญญา เพราะยายไม่ได้ทำพินัยกรรมให้ใคร เลยโอนให้น้าหมูไม่ได้ หลานต้องเซนยินยอม

The money in the bank is Grandma's, and the house is grandma's. We can't transfer them. It's a problem with the contract, because Grandma did not write a will to anyone, so that's why it's not possible to transfer it to Uncle Moo. The nephews/nieces/grandchildren have to sign their approval.

Let's be honest, the very concept of buffets is about greed.

Lao is not a dialect of Thai

Lets not confuse people here...which you have just done in one post.

This is a fair question which doesn't need language wanke_rs getting all arsey on certain (irrelevant) points old bean.....

I'm sorry my answer confused you. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to the questions about what is a language and what is a dialect. If you find it difficult to take my word for it, feel free to read up on the issue elsewhere. If you can point out what part of my answer confused you, or went against your beliefs or assumptions, I may be able to clarify it.

Lao is not a dialect of Thai, but the Isaan dialects are usually considered part of the Lao dialect continuum (except for political reasons). However, since both Thai and Lao are in the same language family anyway, and mutually intelligible with some effort, Thai has had an impact on how the young Isaanites speak their dialect, and the Isaan dialects are likely to gradually become more like Thai with the passing of time.

Not related directly to Buddhism, but I think there is some general logic to the pricing system:

1. Relative (geographical, familial) distance from the seller

2. Relative perceived ability to pay

and, for the less honest, also

3. Likelihood of getting away with it (aka. perceived gullibility of the scammee/probability of meeting again).

1 works something like this: Close family and close friends, you do not scam (unless you are desperate). Instead, you go out of your way to help them as much as you can, because they are the only support network you can rely on.

People in your perceived 'larger group' you charge the local price. For CNX where I live, this would be native speakers of Northern Thai, who are perceived as being similar enough to yourself, and thus also will probably know going rates, might be somebody you bump into again, or with whom you may even share mutual acquaintances or even distant family). Other compatriots, Asian looking speakers of accent-free Central Thai, get charged the local price if your service is common enough that the person could reasonably be aware of the going rate. It may also be subjected to a small mark-up, or a larger one, if they seem to be rich. Foreigners, who do not speak the local vernacular or Central Thai, are almost always assumed to have a fair bit of money and not be culturally savvy. If they negotiate well, are friendly and confident (takes practice to strike the right balance), they may still be able to get the regular price, or close to it. Foreigners who speak the local lingo tend to get the local price most of the time, but may still be lumped in with the greater group of foreigners now and then.

2. A poor Thai pays little. A rich Thai pays more (unless you think he might be helpful to you later). (Perceived) poor foreigner *may* get away with paying less, if he is polite/friendly/confident.

3. Needs no further explanation.

It doesn't have much to do with Buddhism.

ฉันจะส่งปัจจุบันขนาดเล็กที่มีโปสการ์ด

This would be interpreted as:

I will send a small sized Now(=present time) that has postcard.

Starrdog's translation is fine.

Are the food and objects in the alms bowls personal, or is the food pooled for sharing once back at the temple?

It's the new Formula 1 Circuit.

http://www.chiangmai...news.php?id=517

Why don't they build that thing in Pattaya where there might be a few people who actually appreciate the WAWWWWOOOOOOOOM WOOOOOOOOOOOOM WOOOOOOOOOM?

If you want diabetes, it's just the ticket.

1. Left click to the left of the first letter of the Thai text, hold the left mouse button down and drag the mouse over the text so that everything is highlighted.

2. Hover the mouse over the highlighted Thai text, press the Right mouse button, pick "copy".

3. Open this Thaivisa thread in your browser. Click on 'Reply'. In the text box, right click and in the menu, choose Paste.

4. The Thai text you copied is now pasted into your post.

It's close but I'd have it down like this:

I almost can't remember, you're so beautiful my friend.

งาม means beautiful, it is used in the North and Isaan and also in the elaborate Central Thai compound 'suay[R]-ngaam[M]'. The added mai cattawa could either indicate a dialectal or an emphatic tone.

The basic meaning of เพื่อนเรา is 'our friend' like rgs2001uk says, but often เรา is also used as a singular personal pronoun. It's possible the person writing thinks of herself or himself as part of a group of friends, in which case rgs2001uk is correct. It's all in the context.

Reads like a Facebook pic comment.

Go over to Zoe in Yellow on Rathwithi Road at night, and you should find some people your age there.

Mu.

Here's a vague one for the adventurous: Coffee shop in a soi off Nimmanheimin. More or less opposite one of the best Thai barbeque chicken places in town. If you drive into Nimman from Suthep Rd, keep going until you see a wall with wagon wheels on your left hand side. Turn left into the soi immediately after the wall and it will be your first coffee shop on the left hand side. Not much of an atmosphere, but the best coffee I've had in town so far.