teddy_bare

Thank you all for the excellent info. All clear and pointing me in the right direct. It also confirms some of my own research.

I am legally married in Thailand and will be registering with the Brit Embassy in February.

Thanks again, really surprised at the positive response. Everything esle on Thai Visa often gets so negative so quickly.

My own experiences with the Amphurs and Brit Embassy have been really good, as long as you do your homework and don't ask them questions that are on their leaflets or websites!!!

Cheers and a Happy, Jolly Holly New Year

Can I go slightly off topic and ask why there are so many different size C-section scars? I've seen them in size almost from hip bone to hip bone and bright red even after 2 years, while others are delicate and a couple of inches across.

Is this down to the doctor or the size of the baby?

Also, how many babies can you have by C-section? Is there a limit?

Does the scarring get worse after each C-section?

To the OP, I have seen quite a few C-section scars here, though they do not put me off, I know many of the ladies have been embarrassed by them, especially the larger ones, both vertical and horizontal. Maybe also a little something to consider?

Totally agree. This is one of the reasons, but not the main. So far the examples are unfortunately as I expected. Just handy to know all the usual reasoning being used to justify unnecessary C Sections.

I guess another expensive option is to go back to UK to do it there. Not really ideal.

Before anyone comments, I know TIT and comsumers are not a major concern in the selling of incorrect or bad service.

Again, just interested in other peoples actual experiences' with this procedure

Pregnancy and indeed all medicine in Thailand is a business and don't ever forget that. As caesarian sections are more costly than natural births then they are also more profitable.

Thai people think doctors are some sort of gods and kiss the ground they walk on. I don't. Therefore, as doctors are profit driven and Thai people are subservient towards them, it is not surprising that caesarian births are on the rise.

Don't let any discussion with the doctor be in Thai if your partner can understand English. Get involved. If you do not, the doctors will steam roller over you as they do with their Thai patients.

There are good ones I know but even those have the $ in the eye at some times.

As for needing a caesarian birth, the size is not the real issue but rather dilation, how near to full term and rate of baby growth. Those fact and the mother's condition should dictate your choice, not what the doctor wants or what is fashionable. Ask your doctor what his / her % rates are for caesarian.

I understand what your experience with Thai Doctors. I have been in Yanhee many times, and even got advised to have a full op for a throat cyst that turned out to be a allegy when checked at the ENT hospital an Pin Klao and cost 2000 baht and not the Yanhee 50,000 Baht!!!!!!

My wife speaks and understand English good enough for a full blown medical discussion so the plan was to do everything in English.

I am just curious to see if anyone has experience of the C Section op recently.

Hello,

Recently read an article in a girl mag, that 49% of Thai women are choosing to have C Sections instead of a natural birth. The reasons given were to do with: being less painful; quicker; perceived medical needs. The article did highlight that it's actually more painfully in the long run due to post op recovery time. In addition, medical staff were readily offering the procedure as routine.

My Thai wife is about to have my kid. We have talked about it already and we agree it's not something we would want to have unnecessarily.

My worry is that the medical advice we get is baised, flawed, misconceived, with the addition of the expectation of medical staff and friends etc that is is ok and normal. This could lead to a lot of unnecessary concern to my wife at a time where we would both need accurate advice, free from myths, fashion and money making bais.

I realise our child could be of larger porportions due to my DNA input. Not that I am a giant.

I am not looking for anyones opinion of the medical ethics or mystical believes of individuals. I would just like to know if anyone else has experienced anything like this recently. If so what were your observations and what did you do?

For those who want a reference: I was in Soi 70/1 Charen Sanitwong, in the Coffee shop, in the Natural Place when i read the article. The mag will probably still be there.

I will be a father in July. My wife is Thai, and it looks like the baby will be born in Thailand.

I will be registering our marriage with the British Embassy soon.

Pro and cons aside. We want to register the birth in the UK with a view to getting the nipper a UK passport.

Anyone had recent experience of the procedure and any qualifiers I should know of now?

H2O Sportz in Bangtao are very good and cater for HISO holiday makers very well. Bit stormy this time of year, unless you go to the east of Phuket. The east side of Pee Pee Islands are really good, but you'd have to be staying on Pee Pee for that.

Thanks for all the replies.

Seems most people who responded have all had good experiences here compared to elsewhere.

Nice to get positive replies, even the whoremongers are happy this time.

Denboy, your summery of the UK is spot on. I wish I'd found Thailand 15 years ago.

Thailand certainly has a lot to offer. It's just being open enough to see it. There are idiots in every country and the differences often make amusing watching .

Despite all the fun and games on the political front, and the harsh Pound to Baht rate , I will continue to live here, marry my g/f, and pray for happier visa regulations.

I've been in Thailand now for 5 and a half years, give or take some time out to earn cash. Originally came to do some dive training during a transition between being employed in the UK to starting my own company in the UK. I fell in love with the way of life and diving everyday, and decided I didn't need all the hassle of a Western style life (with the exception of earning loads of money and eating bread). After the Tsunami getting work was hard, and i found myself in Iraq, but I have always come back to Thailand. I have never felt the erge to move on. The thought of having to go back to the UK sends shivers down my back.

I am a regular reader of TV and get dismayed at the amount of people who only see the negative in Thailand. I see the differences and, yes, many seem a less that efficient ways of doing things, many also seem better. I often thank my UK education and life opportunities for allowing me to live away from my country of birth. I have a few foreign friends who berate everything thai, yet continue to live here. Fortunately, I find I move further from these friends with every episode and outburst.

Anyhoo, the question.

What reason brought you to Thailand and why do you stay?

Seems strange, as I walked into the cinema in Central Rama 3 with a video camera. This happened 2 days ago. They had a search area and metal detector. I handed my man bag over to the checker who throughly checked it and must have seen the video camera inside the bag. The detector indicated and i pulled out my fairly new and hi tech mobile phone. They smiled and waved me through. More amazingly was I had to go back out to use the toilet as the one inside was out of use. On my returned they waved me through the check point.

So poor security skills and lack of interest or too much respect of culture. i think they wouldnt have challenged me as i am, 1) older than them, 2) A White guy.

i had no intention of using my video camera, i had just carry it all the time to capture Amazing Thailand in action.

Amazing clips include, following a very drunk Motor Cycle taxi driver and boy of six making their way home on his bike. One car jumping the lights to cross the Kasete road, missing high speed cars as it crossed. Somchai the Policeman, trying to scam me on a traffic voilation. He even watched me start my video camera and position it on the dash!

I wasn't driving whilst i captured any of these, so please no moaners.

For those who think it's impossible or unfeasible to take mobiles off of cinema goers, you are wrong. Trying going to Fantasea or Siam Niramit shows. They have massive attendence and easily manage to take in, hold and safely return phones and cameras. Staff in most Centrals hardly seem pushed at any time, so a little extra work wont break them.

Firstly may I say (although im sure you already realise) that when a woman's mind is turned on, the body follows. In general a woman needs mental stimulation more than physical stimulation (for a proper 'intimate' encounter). If she is really turned on but the body isnt following then as suggested, it is a physical condition. However if she is unable to 'let go' and be properly into whats going on, then it will be mental.

The vagina is never "too small", only constricted. Women from certain religious or cultural backgrounds or how they were brought up can often suffer with mentally being unable to let go during sex, causing the vagina to constrict and cause lack of natural lubrication. If it was possibly drummed into your gf that sex is bad, dirty, only for married couples, etc, then she needs to overcome that in order to feel more relaxed. Professional cognitive therapies should help or she could try self-help. I am not sure where she/you can source self-help information on this but maybe others will know..or via google. It might also be worth considering a non-penetrative relationship for a while in order to take the pressure off while you work through this. If she is not mentally letting go then no matter what you use (lubrication, sex-toys, etc) she will not 'loosen' up. It also means that she is most likely not enjoying sex.

I wish her luck in this. It must be very frustrating.

Hi thanks for the info. My major was in psychology and as she recounted her past sexual experiences I realise the issue was a psychogical problem as opposed to a matter of size. I am very patient by nature and she is a keeper, so combined, I am sure we can address and resolve the concern. Another reader identified the medical term vaginismus and I found this excellent website http://www.vaginismus.com/ It offers self help solutions. We have already discussed chatting with a gynecologist. Armed with the info from the website I think all will be well.

I will consider give you all an up date, but without pictures

Ok all joking aside,

I have been dating a Thai girl for about one month. We decided the time was right to take our feelings further and we tried to have sex. She had already said her vagina was very small. I just thought it was her way of saying go easy and perhaps her justifible fear of getting physically hurt. I have lived in Thailand 4 years and have experienced this reaction before. The first time there was no sucessful peneration. We talked about it and she said she had had some issues with a previous boyfriend who had apparently been forceful and rough. No problem as I was in not hurry. The next time we managed to make love in the usual manner, although it took a lot of patients and lubrication. It was still painful for both of us, by workable. The next time was similar to the first time and we decided to stop. I had almost certainly tried to penerate too fast. I believe some of the issue is the mental scaring and her clamping up

I am currently in Iraq and will be back to see her in December where we will restart our physical relationship. In the meantime does anyone know of any exercises she can do to make her muscles relax and accustom her vagina to my girth.

This is a serious question and I'd really appreciate not having her or myself ridiculed. If you want to Troll go to YouTube or whatever.

Cheers in advance to any serious posters

"""(@

Apparently so:

Wayward police officers must wear pink armbands of shame in Bangkok

INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE

By Seth Mydans

Published: August 7, 2007

BANGKOK: It is the pink armband of shame for wayward police officers, as cute as can be with a Hello Kitty face and a pair of linked hearts.

Park in the wrong place, come to work late or drop a bit of litter, and an officer will be decorated with the latest insignia for the Thai police, no matter how many ribbons for valor he may already wear.

"Simple warnings no longer work," said Pongpat Chayaphan, acting chief of the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok, who instituted the new humiliation this week.

"This new twist is expected to make them feel guilt and shame and prevent them from repeating the offense, no matter how minor," he said. "Kitty is a cute icon for young girls. It's not something macho police officers want covering their biceps."

Ten of the armbands have been prepared but none had been issued as of Tuesday, said an officer who declined to give his name while discussing this sensitive topic.

An aide, Major Weeraprach Wonrat, said the chief was a believer in behavioral science and in the "broken window theory" in which small changes can have large effects.

Pink armbands for misdemeanors are a start. Stronger measures could be next for corruption and extrajudicial killings.

An early experiment in armbands was not encouraging.

When he first came in, Pongpat tried tartan. Ten tartan armbands were issued. But instead of feeling shame, Weeraprach said, the officers took them home as souvenirs.

Only one tartan arm band remains.

Commanders met again to consider strategy, he said, and agreed that Hello Kitty might work where tartan had failed.

So far, he said, there is no fallback plan. The department has not yet decided what punishment to impose if officers make off with their pink armbands as well.

Pink_Thai.bmp

I just caught the last minute of the morning show (US TV).

It said thai police would have to wear a pink armband if found guilt of not doing their duty. They show pictures of a youngish police officer having one put on.

Unfortunately the report was cut short by my middle eastern satelitte provider.

Any truth in this.

If true, some of them will look like Mr Blobby from the UK after a few weeks.

Devoted belief in reincarnation combined with lack of road safety training and 2 wheel speed machines seems to be a recipe for trouble.

Saying that, i have ridden 2 years in Phuket, 1 in Bkk and driven all over Thailand. The only accident i had was on Nani on a corner after they had dumped building sand on my usual route home. Had many near misses but other cars and motocide to blames. I drive agressively and defensively depending of the road conditions, the area and who is around me.

My observations are: Dont follow closely to 3 Wheelers as they will and do stop and turn without warning. Indicators are just lights that flash, not an indicator of intention.

Undertake on dual carriageways, the truck cant be bothered to switch lanes. Lots of full beam as you pass will alert their sleepy heads to your intention.

Buses are gods, respect and curse them as appropiate.

Taxis are taxis and will cut in, cut you up, u turn, switch lane, fight you. Observe laugh and stay away from them (difficult in Bangers).

Motorbikes fall into many catorgories:

Older lady going about business

Young lads showing off to girls or friends

Police man (helmet optional, and forage caps very strong apparently)

Very old man

Delivery drivers (read speed freaks)

Motorbike Taxis (some very good, most very bad, yet nice enough people)

12 year olds

Drunk drivers

All to be treated differently. All i can say is mirrors, mirrors and more mirrors. Use them and be aware of who is around you.

""""(@

It is extremely risky which is why banks will never send credit cards to Thailand buy any kind of mail, registered or otherwise.

The only safe way is to send by courier - DHL or the like. My bank in the Channel Islands do this - they have sent cards on 3 different occasions and they all arrived OK. It costs around 25 pounds.

I f by any chance you only need your card for purchasing over the internet, then you could get someone to send you the full details of the card by email, and then you can use it on line.

Sorry but that just is not true. My bank sent all my cards to my home address in Phuket and again in BKK. I had to call them to instruct them to DHL them. Not a piss ant bank BTW. It was Barclays. When they DHL'd it it cost me zero quid

""""(@

Stories on this forum seem to follow the same format:

Initial story followed by shock, horror, indignation, criticism, flaming, etc

A couple more posts report further facts, more analysis, more horror, goofy lighthearted followed by key expert

Facts then distorted further and more flaming of individual's lack of educational abilities.

MODs step in with threats and heavenly advice.

Same old, same old

Shame, as I used to enjoy the articles on this forum.

Love Thailand, now indifferent to Thaivisa.

""""(@

8 foreign doctors - three bombs, no casualties.

Harold Shipman - one doctor, one syringe, 300 dead.

Makes you almost proud to be British!

""""(@

The Daily Record incorrectly reported the driver's name as Ave Singhed Majeep

My last electric bill was 350 baht but we have no ac. My wife was not happy paying so much. In the village living with mum and dad we paid on average 250 baht per month. Save money, be sweaty

Hot and sweat is great if your with your lady, bad if you're trying to work!

""""(@

Goodbye by Zambol Heinz

Ok have we finished now!

I bet he was stopped by the BIB just before the hill for not wearing a helmet. 300 baht tee money then on your way. No number plate no problem, helmets today, insurance tomorrow and lights on a Monday. Maybe a wake up call for law enforcement agencies. Then again maybe not.

I was just recently in the British Embassy sorting out my Freedom to marry letter and gathering info on a tourist visa for my TGF.

Having read many similar forum to TV, i was sort of dreading the whole event. How things have changed. The staff were extremely polite and helpful. To be exact more than helpful. My letter had printed out on 2 pages and i was informed they would charge twice the fee. I thought i was going to have to make a quick dash to the internet shop again, but no. The official asked if it would be ok if HE took my pages to the photocopier and re jigged them to one page. After picking up my chin, i agreed and thanked him. He later gave me some cracking info on the visa application service and the best approach to completing it.

On collecting my papers the next day, i received a cheery wave of recogition and a warm welcome. Even though i took a ticket, the gentleman official came out to collect my receipt and i was served in double quick time. As i was leaving I loadly and publicly thanked him for his help.

I would also like to share that thanks with fellow TV members.

There seems to be a fresh team in place.

In addition, the Thai staff at the Ministry of Affairs at Cheung Wattana were very good and very cheery. I think my thai medallion greased the wheels of government, or at least made them smile.

Hello Mate,

I just got back from Hong Kong last week. I booked direct with Emirates at http://www.emirates.com/

and booked my hotel thru:

http://www.ratestogo.com

the cost for 2 people was flights at 13,700 and the hotel was about 2,500 per night. I was in the Majestic, just off Nathan Road. You can get cheaper.

Tip: Buy your Airport rail connection ticket from the customer service desk as you'll save 20 dollars.

Go up on the hill tram if the weather is good. We had a great time.

Angus

Mate i am in Kirkuk right now. Yes it is sometimes dangerous if you are traveling around the streets and roads every day. The main concerns are traffic accidents, armed robbery, kidnapping, coalition cross fire and then terrorist attacks. I am guessing you would be based in a camp, compound or other secure location. The security guys sound like Local National's doing static guarding of the compound. Most companies move their staff with Ex pat security forces. Ask them, they should tell you.

Kirkuk is hotting up and will continues to get worst as the Referedum approaches. The attacks are mainly in the south of the city which contents Turkomen, Christains and Arabs. The North part is mainly Kurdish. Erbil is safe and you can wonder around the markets and shops without any issue. The Plaza hotel even has 4 Bangkok girls (Aon, Nok, Aee and Nuch) offering Thai Massage. Aee is the nicest!

Yes you will see High Profile security vehicles flying. This is because the UN related NGO's have policies that dicate how their staff operate. The rest of us do it in low profile cars.

I would say go because i have seen it a lot worst in other places.

Tips.

Try not to look American.

Carry enough money to get your self out of trouble ($1000- $2000).

Make friends with the locals, but never fully trust them.

Kurdish and Turkomen in my opinion formed from many years of interaction with different Iraqis, are the best type of Iraqi. More interested in enjoying this life than the afterlife.

Read as much as you can about Iraq.

Stay alert and never just rely on your security team.

Hand the side arm back if you have little or no experience of them (you'll live longer).

Keep fit or get fit if you are not already.

Enjoy your time there and think of what your money will buy.

PM me for any info or help.

I will be back in Bangkok in three weeks to spend my hard earned dosh.

Stay Safe

P.S. My preference is to ride a motorcyle without a helmet and do so whenever I can get away with it..........Chownah

your wife and children must be very proud of having such a responsible husband /father.

an accident (possibly with an overloaded out of control pickup) could leave you a drooling catheterised vegetable for your family to look after.

there is a big difference between living an exciting life and living a stupid life.

....and if imagining that you might run over the body of a stupid person who falls out of a pickup truck is too much for you to handle then I would prefer that you go to some safer more risk aversive culture and leave the riskier ones for those who prefer to manage their own risk.

a crass statement , indefensible !

First I was dumb and now I'm crass. I can always tell when I've made a good case for my point of view because some people start calling me names because they can't come up with a good arguement against me....never mind them just politely posting their own point of view and just letting us dumb crassnicks express our views in quiet dignity.

And by the way....I agree, there is a big difference between living an exciting life and a stupid life....I prefer the exciting life...seems like those who want the gov't to take on the responsibilty for thier lives want a stupid life....but that is just my view and is probably crass and dumb like all the other indefensible stuff I've posted here.

Chownah

The problem is letting people decide for themselves affects other people, obviously! Regulating some actions stops abuse and putting other people in danger. My counterpoint to yours was pointing this out. In my country they used to shove children up chimneys to clean them. Regulation and enforcement was the only reason they stopped. Bosses etc insist their workers travel this way as it's cheaper not a freaking life choice.

I guess that you think that passing a law that limits the number of people that can ride in the back of a pickup will improve safety and that this should be a high priority for the gov't.....and I think that taken within the context of all the risks in life that such an intrusion on people's personal choices is unwarranted and does not address the real issue which is one of weight. I really don't think that either of us will convince the other of having a wrong view....so why not just leave it at that.

Seems to me that most Thais don't consider riding in the back of a pickup too risky and are not averse to doing it....it saves them time and money and I'm sure they would oppose a law to limit this....actually they probably wouldn't care about the law as they would probably just ignore it if allowed to.....but this is just my view of Thai people and I really have only met a tiny fraction of all the Thai people so I could be mistaken on this.

Chownah

Yes i do think a law will improve safety of many individuals. Just as the helmet law (when abided by) has saves some amount of lives. Your point on weight is more than valid as it also effects the performance of the car. But your arguement would suggest that's the choice of the driver. maybe he enjoys the lack of responsiveness and reduced braking ability. Maybe that is his thing. Are you seeing my point yet?

Given a choice there are a lot of govt, social, morality rules and regs many people would rather not adhere to. Do complete strangers walk in your house/farm to use your toilet? i doubt. Sorry i am taking the example to the ridiculous, just to make a point.

People the world over dont like rules and regs, but they protect the majority from the choice loving idiots, who believe their individual rights are more important than the next guys safety.