cm-happy

A wake up call for a new forum on TV? Thais living abroad.

The only place in the world for truly superb beer is Belgium. Long way to go for a brew, but used to do it once a month from East Coast of US, only a 7 hour flight. 3 days of beer heaven, then back to Budweisser UGH!!

Hey when i was there last month, i was in a mini bis (van) and this american girl pooped her pants, it stunk so freaking bad, i think she had the runs.

The worst part was that she was a blonde stunner. But i wouldnt touch that now. lucky we got out in about 10 mins, she came so close to making it.

Had to feel sorry for her though, she didnt want to lose face by saying she has to go to the toilet, then she paid and stunk us all out

How did you know she was American? Did she use blank passport pages to tidy up and you saw passport?

13. But if you are the smart guy I think you may be, you have brought sheets of tissue with you in your right pocket, so after finishing your stuff, splash water ON THE TISSUE, and wipe your a.. (sorry, I meant your... you know what I mean). Do this 2 or three times and finish of with tissue, without any water. You'll be clean as a newborn baby.

But what do you then do with the soiled tissue? Flush it down the hole?

Personally I favour the hand cleaning method although the lack of soap to properly wash up afterwards is sometimes a problem.

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Use ONLY the left hand to do the cleaning and wiping. Thats why farang should NEVER hand anything to Thais with their left hand since it is considered dirty.

I hope the shit hits the fan over this!!

If nothing else will be an impetus for the long overdue police reorg.

DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!

If it's the same Der speigle I'm thinking, they were totally discredited many years ago, when they published "The Hitler diaries" proven to be totally false and forgeries. Some jail time was earned as well as a few heads rolled.

Am planning a holiday to Ubud Bali. Would like a room in a 3 to 5 star facility within WALKING distance to city center so I am not a prisoner of wherever I stay. Evening options for me to go out to bar and/or restaurants, shopping,entertainment rather than having to stay at the hotel,etc.

Have looked on the internet and local maps but its very confusing. There does not really seem to be an Ubud city center but rather spread out.

Only requirment is that the facility have a well equiped excersize room. Don't really care about golf, tennis, but a relaxing pool would be pleasant.

anyone been there? perhaps some recomendations about facilities as described above or, at least location of city center to help narrow down choices.

Have looked at the Four Seasons, but found out it is owned by the Suharto family and alegedly because of their political connections was built illegally, acording to some travel mags.. so would rather not stay there and also is quite far from everything.

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Cm-happy, please don't take this the wrong way, but the problem seems to be between you and your boyfriend. It is up to him to tell the friend to 'piss off', if he wants to. If he doesn't want to do this I can't see how you having a go at the friend will help things. It could make things a lot worse. Do you want your BF to choose between you and the friend? Might be a risky move.

Sorry if this is not what you want to hear.

The b/f has effectivly told his friend to "piss off". Does not want to see him anymore. Or be friends with him.

Common sense has prevailed. Needless to say I'm pleased, but just too bad my b/f has lost his best friend over the drinking problem.

First exprience with squatters was just after moving to Thailand. At the time was suffering from a digestive disorder. It struck during a shopping trip at a local mall.

rushed into the loo looking for a conventional western toilet, and of course none were to be found. so had no choice but to use a squatter. Cleaning lady smiled at me as I rushed around.

After all this I bravely squatted down, and not used to THAT type of aiming, I MISSED!!! Got cleaned up and casually exited.

On the way out heard the poor cleaning lady exclaim, OY SHIT!!!

Needless to say I havn't been back here too often.

The DA thing sounds very suspicious to me. How could they possibly legally be your state of residence for voting purposes?

Have opted for the old fashion method, using absentee ballot! Its been sent back to Us several weeks ago. will do the same for general election just to make sure my vote is counted.

I had my day in court yesterday(Thurs. Jan, 24). The defendent did not show.

When judge heard my case she said the defendent did not receive, or not get the registered mail stating he was being sued and to appear in court.

This being the case the court ordered that a court officer serve the defendent in person. The case will be rescheduled after the defendent is served with court papers.

Sat in the court room for a few hours just watching what was going on. Most of the cases invov

led bad loans by Thais to other Thais.

One case involved 29,000 baht. The borrower pleaded poverty, no job and blah,blah,blah. Judge got pissed, sent him off to jail for one month, a 1000 baht fine and still has to repay the loan. Policeman came and took the borrower away.

The other case was more interesting. 50,000 baht. borrower was already in jail for an unrelated offense. He was wearing ankle chains, handcuffs and standard prison garb. and brought into the court from prison by a policeman. Judge told him pay up or serve more time. Do not know however, what his original offense was.

anyway it was an interesting experience.

My attorney was delighted the defendent did not show. Makes a stronger case for me and told me the judge was angry at the guy especially since he is a policeman and should know the law and not try to run away from his responsibilities. Said the judge would attach his salary to repay the loan if he did not do so voluntarily.

I CANNOT use the squat toilets. A balance thing. During emergencies I'll duck into the nearest hotel, order a drink at the bar and use their modern Western facilities with paper and sprayer.

Cm-happy, please don't take this the wrong way, but the problem seems to be between you and your boyfriend. It is up to him to tell the friend to 'piss off', if he wants to. If he doesn't want to do this I can't see how you having a go at the friend will help things. It could make things a lot worse. Do you want your BF to choose between you and the friend? Might be a risky move.

Sorry if this is not what you want to hear.

Garro,

Your advice is well taken. Probably best for me not to go after the friend, but just talk calmly with b/f and let him decide that best thing for him to do is stop this drinking buddy behavior and distance himself from the best friend.

My Thai partner is not an alchoholic, but his best friend IS!! The friend is a boozer drunk everyday, does not like to drink alone.

frequently my b/f will be invited to go drink with his friend and get drunk himself, so much so that he cannot drive and will spend the day and night away. This affecting our relationship. I HATE IT! The <deleted> friend cares nothing about anyone else or his family as long a he has company to drink with.

Is my b/f and enabler? Ive tried to talk with b/f about what is going on and he is starting to see what I see as well and realized that his friend is taking advantage.

The next time the friend phones looking for a drinking partner should I tell him to PISS OFF, leave my b/f alone.

Whats the best way to handle this??

This is not a troll post but a serious question.

As per the TOPIC TITLE AND DESCRIPTION, there is much more to having a Thai b/f other than just a roll in the sack!

How many of us turn out to be surrugate fathers for our boyfriends. I don't mean providing shelter, food, some dosh but much more encouragement, guidance, mentoring, all the other things a good caring father would provide. Physical, psycholgical emotional needs of our beloved and cherished partner.

Thanks much for your input Toptuan and Marcoh and all the others as well.

CM-Happy maybe Yasothon-happy some day?

Regarding Thai homophobia, there is such a thing. You can throw out your book on "Thai Culture", because it is a complete load of rubbish. The book is just like any other "bible"...full of rules & laws, which most people are loath to follow. But they do follow them (the rules/laws) for reasons of guilt or a "promised land." Where have I heard this before?

Could you please give us specific examples to support your position rather than making a very broad generalization.

Thanks.

I was on my way to the old airport in BKK to meet a friend coming from HK on a Friday evening. I had left early because of the horrible traffic at that time (no expressway). I realized I was quite early, so I stopped at a place in the area. I didn't know what to do, so I bought some oranges--I showed the money and ended up with a huge bag of them. I then sat down at a place and ordered a 7-up. A very nice young man was sitting there smiling. I asked if he wanted an orange. He and his friends all laughed and he took an orange. He spoke brilliant English.

I told him to call me, which he did the next day. I said "why don't you come by," which he did. We've been together ever since--around 20 years.

Scott, thanks for sharing!

Sounds as though you did not get an orange, but rather a PEACH!

I would guess the OP has never heard of artistic license and suspension of reality!

As far as the competition between the US SST effort vs Concorde. The SST was abandoned as an economic failure which the Concorde indeed was. The Boeing execs got a good laugh at the Brit and French expense.

The OP is overly dramatic! But he does have a talent for it, save it for a play or a novel.

To quote the great FDR "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" and the OP.

One question I would first ask: In your home country, did you live in the city or the country?

Second question: If you ever lived in the country, did you like it? Especially the quiet, living closer to nature, greater sense of independence, simple lifestyles and grounded values of country folk?

In home country also lived in suburbs. 1.5 hour drive to NYC(rarely went. Too much hasle getting into and out of the city) and 1.5 hour drive to Phildelphia( went there often on weekends, great restaurants).

Where I am now, Mae Rim is as country as I've ever lived. still just 45 minute drive into CM. Chicken crowing, dogs barking, bug noises all night.

One poster did mention about hopping off to supermarket for farang food. Maybe can do mail order from Eurogourmet or the other new TV sponsor, sorry forgot their name. Or make monthly trip to KK to stock up.

I know is wrong forum for farming question. Don't really care if profitable or not, as long as I break even.

Another poster's comment about bank lien being cleared is well taken.

Does five years qualify as "long term," or are you looking for some advice with decades of experience behind it? I've got a few points to contribute but don't want to wade in too deep.

Five years is fine! Not really need to hear from guys with decades there, although their input would be very welcome. Just a few years experience of living in Isaan would be fine.

I currently live in suburban Chiang Mai.

My typical day life style is usually to stay at home.

reading, playing with internet, watching DVDs, tending to house and gardens

Not a big party animal but also enjoy the abiltiy to go out clubbing once in a while.

Am giving some thought to moving to rural Isaan, Yasothon specifically to a tiny rice farming village(my b/f's home village). The village is about 25 K from the provincial capitol.

We have a house there, but would requite some changes to include farang ammenities. Have stayed there many times, but without any books, papers, dvds to watch so was quite boring for me.

Given my typical life style as per above, do you think a successful transition could be made?

Some of my concerns are available health, dental care and required periodic visit to immigration for 90 day reports and extension of retirement visa.

Does anyone have first hand knowledge of Yasothan hospitals, and if there is an immigration office there, if not where would be the closest?

Is there anything about living full time in rural Isaan that I should know about?

I'm not sure if I would sell my house here in CM before actually moving there full time, Don't want to burn my bridges behind me, should full time life there be untennable.

Motivation for considering this action is b/f has just returned from his usual 2 week visit with his family.

Many of the local farmers, want to sell their farms. They are heavily in debt and borrowed heavily using their farms as security to banks. It's now time for them to repay and they cannot and are afraid of the bank forclosing on their farms. They are wanting to sell at quite cheap price rather than see farm forclosed.

If I were to follow through, would get about 10 to 12 Rai of farm land. Would not plan on turning into rice farmer, but rather plant rubber trees and harvest the latex sap or an alternative crop. The business would be in b/f's name so not to jepardize my retirement visa. The b/f already has 3 rai of land there that was bought for him to save his family from financial ruin. The village now has plenty of water thanks to an irrigation system installed by the Taksin regime. Could hire local experienced farmers to end to the farm(s) since niether I nor b/f are experienced in farming or methods.

Thoughts, suggestions? Long term Isaan guys only please.

nothing can be that bad can it

Oh yes it can. I watched "Chocolat" once. What a load of (insert insult)

So what's not to like about movie Chocolat? I thought it was pretty good, but thats what makes the world go round.

Back on topic will make a point of missing Cloverfield. But who stars in it?

Had a neighbor that used to always burn yard debris in the empty lot next to my house. Got tired of smelling his burning. Finally went to the local moobahn housing estate council and bitched. They talked to the guy and magically the burning stopped.

One more thing. I have a fireplace in my house and during the cold season like to build a fire, glass of wine and cheese.

Are fireplace fires exempt? 0r the terra cotta fireplaces I sometimes see being used in outdoor bars.