Mr_Dave

Not sure about the lasts, but Siam bootery and the shop next door but one to it will make made to measure if that's what you mean by handmade. They are on Sukhumwit (oddly enough) and the exit 4 from Asoke station will bring you virtually outside their door.

Here is a second to that recommendation for Siam Bootery in Asoke.

I had store-bought shoes re-soled there -- special project: more than the street repair booths could handle.

Siam Bootery did a superb job: careful workmanship, and exactly as I had ordered.

I highly recommend that shop.

It seems like for me at least they have implicitly added a "foreign-sourced income requirement" to the "800K deposit from abroad" requirement.

It is possible that things would have worked better if I'd had a Thai speaking attorney with me.

No, not any better.

On August 1st, I went in for the usual, one-year extension of time to stay for retirement.

Money sitting in the bank since 4 months ago, from abroad, all nice and proper.

But I had exactly the same problem described in the original post and by others on this thread.

I did have a Thai-speaking attorney with me.

Same attorney I've used in previous years: a visa specialist who goes to Suan Plu (Bangkok Immigration office) several times every week.

He does everything, I just follow along.

Previous years, never a problem.

This year, he seemed stunned.

He stumbled and stammered to explain to me.

I'd say, he was caught completely unaware.

I received extension of one month only.

So, what about farang teaching basic Thai to farang new learners? Good idea or not?

Superb idea.

I wish I'd had that when I started.

After three years of studying Thai here in Bangkok, I've had to reverse-engineer the language with my Thai teacher, starting from scratch.

There are no books I've found.

Yes, on the Internet there are bits and pieces scattered around on many good web sites, but no all-in-one source.

My teacher can, of course, read, write, speak, and understand, but he can not explain very well.

Thais do some things very well, but explaining their own language is not one of them.

So we worked together: his Thai experience and my farang engineering.

I made it a game for my teacher: you old-Thai-hands understand the importance of that.

But it would have saved a lot of time and frustration to have a farang explain to me from the start.

Plus, Thais don't do frustration very well -- I've learned to be very "jai-yen-yen" with asking questions of my teacher.

But, now, I sometimes explain Thai language to my Thai acquaintances.

They are amazed when I say something like, "haw-hip" with final "gaw-gai" and no "wanna-yuuk" must be "siang-eck" = low tone.

They can say it correctly, but they can't explain it.

I can say it, and I can explain why.

But it took a lot of work, time, and, yes, money, getting to this level of understanding.

Total immersion is total nonsense.

Total immersion in something you don't understand is like total immersion in deep water -- you'll drown.

Show me someone who has learned only by total immersion, and I'll show you someone who can't speak or read very well.

Oh, sure, their wife or "faen" can understand when they want another beer, but watch them try to ask directions on the street.

What is far, far, better is slow, methodical, explanation and practice: first the basics, then, gradually, more complex grammar and vocabulary.

So, for a farang teaching the basics to new learners, yes, I think that's the ideal way.

For higher levels, sure, must have a Thai native-speaker, of course, but for the new learner, get a farang who already knows.

Would I be willing to teach basic Thai to new learners?

Sure would.

I've taught many things in my life:

Every time I teach something to somebody else, I learn a vast amount myself.

The best way to learn something is to try to teach it to someone else.

I'm not advertising any teaching service, but mutual-assistance, yes, sure.

There couldn't be any fees for that, because both sides gain and learn, just at different levels.

So if somebody wants to learn the alphabet (ax-sorn and sa-ra) and the basic tone rules, yes, I'd certainly be willing to help.

I'm not promising anything, just suggesting that I'm open to the possibility.

To discuss this further, you are welcome to send email to me.

I am in Bangkok - Sukhumvit area.

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My second time to Sunrise -- lunch today.

I'm still looking for something big to complain about there

I like to complain.

Can't find anything, yet.

Ordered 3 crispy tacos -- assorted:

1 ground beef, 1 barbacoa beef, 1 chicken.

All those taco fillings I liked a lot.

A few more baht to order assorted like that, but not enough to even mention.

Would do it that way again.

Cheese only this time, instead of sour cream.

Frankly, the sour cream has very little flavor.

It's not bad, but it doesn't have much taste.

I've tried the sour cream at Bourbon Street's Mexican buffet.

Same there, too.

Today at Sunrise, I added a side order of guacamole and chips, and a side of the magnificent mango salsa.

The guac' is delicious -- fresh and homemade -- but it's a very small serving: only about 4 bites and it's gone.

The mango salsa is even more delicious and you get more for the money.

I like seeing the food being made right behind the counter.

You can see it's fresh and you can see everything is very clean.

This is the new standard for Mexican in Bangkok.

I'll be back.

Here is yet another vote for Sunrise.

I was there for supper tonight.

My first time.

The food was so good, I took home some carryout for lunch tomorrow. _

But it didn't last that long.

All gone now. _

For you Mexican food fans, I will start with one observation which you'll appreciate.

They make their own tortillas.

You can see them doing it, on the counter behind the food line.

They have a real tortilla press and they heat the fresh tortillas on a griddle.

Got the picture?

The owner said they grind their own corn masa.

I didn't see it, but I believe it.

Where else in Thailand do you get honest, fresh, home-made, tortillas?

Yes, I met Greg, the owner.

He politely introduced himself, and his wife, and "May" the waitress mentioned in previous posts here.

Greg carefully explained how the menu worked -- you order exactly what you want at steps 1-2-3.

I never got attention like that at any restaurant "back home".

There all we got was, "welcome_ta_taco_time_take_ya_orda_pleezz".

I ordered three crispy tacos with ground beef.

For 117 baht it is an amazingly good value.

They are not the biggest tacos in the world.

For that price they couldn't be.

If you want more food, order more food.

I did.

The ground beef was a suitable amount for the size of the taco.

The lettuce was fresh and crisp.

I ordered cheese AND sour cream AND guacamole, and didn't hesitate to pay a few baht for extras. _

But the salsa choice was difficult.

That involved a four-way consultation among myself, the owner, his wife, and waitress "May".

I decided on the mango salsa, and a delicious choice that turned out to be.

I did have one taco with the ordinary, fresh tomato salsa.

That was pleasant, and I would have been satisfied, IF I had not tasted the mango salsa.

Next time I will order extra mango salsa, perhaps an extra liter as a side dish. _

On the subject of portion size, this is a fast-food place, with fast-food prices.

Only a fool would expect huge portions at those prices. _

The value at Sunrise is in the quality, not the quantity.

Next time, if I'm really hungry, I'll just order another order of something.

I took home an order of Carne Asada -- marinated, grilled steak.

It was far better quality of steak than I expected at that price: 169 baht.

It comes with beans and rice and salsa and chips.

I also took home an order of guacamole and more chips.

The guacamole is definitely homemade and obviously mashed by hand.

So many places serve a tasteless green goop and try to pass it off as guacamole.

At Sunrise it's honest avocados.

99 baht for a small, but reasonable, portion.

The items I tasted at Sunrise were full of flavor, but not full of hot chilis.

That's exactly the way I like it.

Those who require lots of hot chilis might be disappointed.

Perhaps the red hot salsa will help, I don't know.

Sunrise is easy find:

BTS skytrain to Asoke, trundle down the steps, and you're almost there.

Exit BTS-Asoke, on the South side, nearest the Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit hotel.

Walk about 50 meters West -- pass Times Square shopping center -- to the parking lot in front of "Leader Price" store.

Sunrise is on the East side, your left side as you walk toward Leader Price, opposite side of the parking lot from Pizza Company.

MRT subway station is Sukhumvit, right on the corner of Asoke.

But once you get there, don't expect much in the way of atmosphere.

It is fast food style, not fine dining.

For eating, there is a thin counter along the window, with about 8 chairs.

That's it.

This is not the place to dine and linger.

You eat and leave, or you order and take away.

In the past, I've enjoyed Mexican food from Charlie Brown's.

I've certainly enjoyed Tia Maria many times.

I've sampled -- but not enjoyed -- Senor Picos. _

But for the quality and the value for the money, Sunrise has now taken over my first-choice spot for Mexican in Bangkok.

I just hope they can maintain the quality. _

So many new, home-style places start off great ...

But, then, little by little, they trim something here, cut back something there, and within a few months, well, it's time to look for somewhere else.

Sunrise is off to a great start.

I'll watch carefully to see if they can maintain their lead.

This week, again, another good pizza from Bangkok Pizza.

That place is now my first choice for pizza.

The menu has changed.

The new menu has fewer items and the small, 7" pizzas are no longer available.

I ordered a 12" half-and-half: Hawaiian (ham and pineapple), and the other side "meat lovers".

Delivered very hot in about one hour.

The "meat lovers" is consistently my favourite.

I keep ordering that and trying others alongside for comparison.

On the Hawaiian, the ham has little flavor.

But my TG favored that side, maybe because of the pineapple.

I also ordered the vegetable lasagna.

That was okay, but nothing special.

I've tried lasagna at many Italian restaurants in Bangkok, but haven't found one that seems to have the knack.

In the past, I've ordered banana fritters at Bangkok Pizza.

They use a dough which is very chewy and tough -- similar in texture to "Mister Donut".

I didn't care for it.

From now on, at Bangkok Pizza, I'll stick to the pizza.

Thailand down? Sure

Right now there is a huge building binge going on because of the excess currency

I love it when people say - my home has appreciated 50% in the past couple of years.

we only have the buying power of less than 10%.

Japan is attempting to make thialand the detroit of asia and you can bet if it works - others will follow.

now we have one of the scariest and much much bigger than pre-depression bubbles ever

Shochu has done his homework very carefully.

He's made a very neat summary of the essential factors.

I'll add only one, small, detail to everything above.

It is that Thais save gold.

Not the paper kind that depends on a stock exchange, but the kind that feels heavy in your hand.

Many Thai people, whenever they have money to save, will buy a gold necklace or bracelet and put it away "to keep".

Add that factor into the equation and I certainly agree with Shochu's assessment:

In the long run, Thailand will be fine.

I'm staying.

ive been to tia twice, the second time was only to give it a second chance...there will not be a third.

Tia Maria served the most horrible mexican food I have ever eaten in my life. I couldn't finish it and left to go eat somewhere else. I can't understand why it is still open.

I love Mexican food.

If there's a Mexican restaurant in any area where I go, I'll make the effort to try it.

I've eaten at little cantinas in West Texas and off the food trucks in South Central Los Angeles, as well as more conventional restaurants in many cities.

Tia Maria -- right here in Bangkok -- is one of my all-time favorites.

I just discovered it about 2 months ago.

Since then I've been back four times, and I'm ready to go again: perhaps this evening, before the Songkran madness begins.

I like the food at Tia Maria, because it is home style and fresh, not restaurant style.

The refried beans appear to be mashed by hand, not come from a can.

The enchilada sauce seems home-made, again, not from a can.

The Spanish rice seems to have bits of fresh tomatoes, not dried tomatoes from a food-service package.

The taco shells are crisp and warm and seem to be freshly heated, rather than just taken out of a plastic package.

All of that, and more, is what keeps me returning to Tia Maria.

The flavours and spices are mild by Mexican standards, and that suits me just fine.

But at every meal, five different hot sauces are provided for those who like more heat.

The restaurant itself is un-assuming.

Unlike the more famous Senor Pico in the Rembrandt Hotel, there is no live-band, no fancy plates.

At Tia Maria, the decor is plain, the drinks list unassuming, and the music from a CD.

That's fine with me -- I go for the food.

Tia Maria is in a very awkward location.

Too far to walk from Asoke subway or Phrom Pong skytrain.

Difficult to notice for passing traffic.

And the sign is not large or bright.

So it's a bit of a hide-a-way.

But I'm pleased to have discovered it.

The food is some of the best, home-style, Mexican food I've ever tasted.

If you need more details about how to find the location, you are welcome to send email or PM to me.

.

.

If you are a beginner, avoid AUA Thai language program in Rajadamri (Bangkok).

But, keep in mind, when you reach intermediate level, AUA can be valuable.

I will explain.

I attended a one-hour sample class at AUA when I first arrived in Bangkok.

Couldn't wait for the hour to end, the teaching was so awful.

Instead, I took classes at several language schools, including TLA school which I described in a post above.

In the previous two years, I've been studying with a private tutor, 5 days a week.

Expensive, yes.

But I can read and write with ease at the P-2 level.

My tested vocabulary -- as of today -- is 976 words, with 94% comprehension.

My speaking ability is such that I can tell a taxi where I want to go -- just once -- and that's enough.

I'm far from comfortable with the language, but it's starting to get better.

I'm not trying to brag here, just offering the facts to demonstrate that I am at intermediate level now.

And that's where AUA comes in.

AUA has value for intermediate students

I started attending there last month, level one, the lowest level beginner class.

For someone who already knows some vocabulary, it's a great way to sit back, relax, and listen to Thai language spoken in a clear, ordinary way.

The teachers -- two of them in every class -- use drawings and impromptu acting to illustrate their topics.

And, if you know Thai teaching methods, you already know that can be very funny, in a slap-stick sort of way.

At this stage, AUA is a useful source of listening and comprehension practice.

But what about for a beginner?

For a beginner AUA is awful.

I look around the classroom there and observe the other students.

They haven't a clue.

If it weren't for the teachers' drawings and acting, all the beginning students would be totally lost.

I listen when the other students try to say a few words of Thai.

The AUA technique is based on NOT speaking for the first 800 hours of classroom instruction.

But many of the beginner students try to speak anyway, and the teachers neither stop them, nor correct them.

Their pronunciation is universally awful.

Maybe it improves by some as-yet-unobserved, magical process, at some higher level, but I doubt it.

Those unfortunate students at AUA are developing terrible speech patterns.

For an intermediate student who wants review of listening comprehension, AUA is a good source.

For a beginner, it's an awful place to begin.

If specific questions, you are welcome to send me email or PM.

.

Do you have a telephone number for "Bangkok Pizza"? Hew mak mak talking about this subject. Thanks ... TP

Bangkok Pizza Co. -- telephone numbers

Wow, thanks for letting me know that my highly educated, light skinned, never been married, has no children, comes from a good family, attractive to both Thais and westerners, Thai GF is a left over that no man Thai wants.

...Obviously, Furbie didn't read carefully, before dumping that emotional response.

...The thread topic is "Thailand Is Down".

BAF's comments are relevant:

The Thai women who "turn their backs" on the Thai men aren't the "pretty ones". They are, lookwise, the least desirable for Thai men's tastes and they are also the least desiderable as wives since they have, usually, already been married (guess what, to a Thai...) and with child(ren). Like it or not, farangs are usually picking up Thai men's leftovers, in Thailand.

...BAF's observations match everything I see here.

And, as Thailand continues to go down -- in various ways -- we will see more and more leftovers on offer.

...Living in Bangkok, and speaking enough Thai to carry on a conversation about such matters, it is easy for me to confirm that the Thai women working in the farang areas are, indeed, leftovers.

Going to work in a farang tourist area is, often, their last-chance on the down-ward slope of their lives.

If they don't win the lottery here, before they reach about 40, then it's back to the village and a hard-scrabble life for their remaining years.

Not just the bar girls, but the waitresses, shop clerks, hotel maids, all of them.

...Now, if you want to see many, really fine, Thai "pretties," just walk past the restaurants and bars catering to Japanese men.

Those girls are consistently adorable, and, often, very well-educated, too.

The quality is very much higher than what's available in the farang places.

The best of the lot are eager to work in the Japanese places, simply because Japanese pay more -- often far more -- than farangs.

As Thailand trends down, the prettiest and the smartest are following the money over to the Japanese side of town.

...Frankly, I like leftovers.

My TGF is one of those leftovers I described above, and I'm very happy with her ways of taking care of me, with her honesty and diligence and her loyalty.

Her skin is rather dark, she's not well-educated, and she's certainly not pretty.

But for an aging farang, it would be difficult to find a better woman.

As Thailand trends down, there will be more and more such high-quality leftovers available to farang men.

For us, it's going to be even more of a buyers market.

.

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The Dubliner does a lovely fried breakfast

It certainly does.

Here is one more vote for The Dubliner -- AND an equal vote for CAFE-22 in the same neighborhood.

If you like the fry-up at the Dubliner, you can get a similar breakfast at CAFE-22 for about half the price.

But, only about half the atmosphere, too.

And CAFE-22 includes orange juice (small) and coffee or tea at no extra charge at any time of day or night.

The bubble and squeak is a generous portion, but home-fried potatoes are an option.

Eggs can be ordered scrambled, and are quite tasty that way.

CAFE-22 is an open-front, bar-restaurant, and NOT air-conditioned.

Street noise can be annoying.

I would avoid during the peak of hot season, but it's delightful on a rainy day.

The breakfast at CAFE-22 is available until they close late at night.

Given a choice between Dubliner and CAFE-22 ... hmmm ... that's a difficult choice.

Not the same, but both are worth trying.

To get to CAFE-22 the closest skytrain is Phrom-Pong (Emporium) station.

From the intersection of Sukhumvit and soi 22 go South on 22 for 518 meters.

Pass Regency Park hotel on the right.

Pass Imperial Queen's Park hotel on the left.

Pass Grand Mercure hotel on the right (that's the hotel formerly known as "Jade Pavillion")

Pass Admiral Suites hotel on the right.

DO NOT pass Liberty Apartments and DO NOT pass Wilshire Condominium on the right.

CAFE-22 is before Liberty and Wilshire (closer to Sukhumvit).

You can also come in from Rama IV starting in the vicinity of the Davis Hotel.

.

Three times now (once on Sukhumvit, once on Ekkamai, once on Thonglor) I've been in a store or restaurant, and a man has rushed in, seemingly very confused and out of breath, and asked me (farang) "Do you know where to change money around here?"

It's been the same man. I think he's Thai, but tries to look and sound Japanese.

...

I wonder what the scam is. I am guessing he offers the mark some money to do the changing for him later, and the Yen or USD or whatever he gives them are fake? Any other scam you could think of?

...Thanks, Glossolalia, for posting about that.

...I've never seen or read about that scam before, but it certainly has all the ingredients:

...Very good to know about this one.

...Also interesting that he approaches a you, a farang, apparently speaking in English.

In a real emergency/rush, its difficult to imagine any Thai or Japanese asking for assistance from a farang!

By accident I ended on a small pizza restaurant near the Emporium.

The restaurant is named Bangkok Pizza ... and it is in Sukhumvit 26/1, a small soi near the BTS station. They also deliver.

...I've ordered from Bangkok Pizza three times in the past month, since I was told about it by a Thai friend who brought me one of their menus.

Delicious pizzas every time.

...The location is Sukhumvit 24/1 -- NOT 26/1, but actually closer to 26 than to 24.

It is a very tiny soi -- between 24 and 26 -- on the Emporium side of Sukhumvit.

Very close to the BTS sky train Phrom-Pong station.

The little soi is filled with massage parlors catering to Japanese and Koreans, so one might feel a little out of place walking in there, but nothing serious.

...My approach was to go in to Bangkok Pizza, give them my order, and explain I was going for a foot massage for one hour.

Then I went to "Rynda Massage Shop", two doors further down the soi, and enjoyed the foot massage while the pizzas were cooking.

Each time, the waitress brought the pizzas to me just as the foot massage was finishing.

Very nice.

...My favourites (I've got a menu right here on my desk):

...I learned that the 12" pizzas turn out better than the little 7" size.

The second time I ordered two small ones, the owner suggested half-and-half on a 12", for less money.

The crust was more crisp and the ratio of ingredients-to-crust was higher, so, from now on, I will get one 12", not two 7".

...You could eat there, plenty of tables and clean, but it doesn't appeal to me: red walls and Thai-style rock music are not inviting.

Better for take-away and for delivery.

...No web site that I could find, and I won't give phone numbers, because I don't want my comments to seem like advertising.

You are welcome to send me a private message or email and I'll reply with the phone numbers.

One nice idea: they have one number to call for English, a different number to call for Thai.

...A similar style of pizza is available at Little Italy restaurant, on the corner of Sukhumvit Soi 23, near Cowboy.

I like the taste of both equally well: both use fresh dough and are generous with the toppings.

Little Italy offers pizza-by-the slice, but I didn't see any slices on offer at Bangkok Pizza.

Maybe they do at lunch time; I don't know.

...Both places are open very late:

Bangkok Pizza until 2:00 AM - with delivery until then, also.

Little Italy's sign says they are open all thru the night, but I know anything about delivery service from there.

I agree with Daves comments and add that the 'Brave New World' direction that the new owner of TV (George?) has taken TV in is a lot duller and boring than it was in the 'good old days'.

I certainly do NOT agree with JimsKnight's implied link to my comments.

TV was deteriorating long before any transfer of ownership.

ALL open, public, Internet forums have been going into steep decline in the past few years.

TV is merely following the trend on that.

TV would improve if there were more moderation to eliminate posters who consistently write inane comments.

That means stricter moderation.

But that requires value judgments about quality of thinking.

Making value judgments about people has gone out of fashion.

Since the moderators are not removing the people who post junk, I simply do junk removal with the ignore user list.

Easy.

On the other hand, since I posted on this topic, I've received some very positive private messages.

That confirms my conclusion that private messages and small, exclusive, sub-forums -- by invitation only -- are where we will see future benefits on Internet forums.

The process of Internet conversations is changing.

I'll stop in for a look now and then to see if TV will change and keep up, or continue to deteriorate.

I sincerely hope TV can regain and maintain its past glory.

To put things into perspective, this problem of deterioration is not just here on TV, but is spreading to many other forums on the web.

But especially the Thailand forums in English.

Manners and level of conversation are deteriorating steadily.

(That is not just a problem of this forum, but to all venues of public discourse throughout the English-speaking world. I don't know about others.)

What to do?

In my post above I mentioned making generous use of the ignore user function.

Now, sometimes an entire thread consists only of, "You have chosen to ignore user ...".

In addition to that, I've been sending and receiving more private messages than ever before.

That works very well for avoiding the nonsense posters.

It takes an initial post to ask a question or open a topic, but then the most helpful responses come in by private message.

Or I see a sensible initial post and I reply by private message or email.

Another forum (not TV) has added private sub-forums of 5-10 individuals to "gather" by invitation only, to discuss some topic amongst themselves.

That's a new function in forum software, which I've observed is working very well for eliminating the nonsense posters.

Another factor that is new is 100% private forums -- by invitation only.

I've been participating in several of these with excellent results.

The most valuable and most focused information is transmitted that way.

Low number of posts per month, but high quality per message.

But, of course, the initial contacts are still made in public forums (such as TV).

I do not blame the moderators or the owners of TV.

It is their forum, their private business.

They founded it, they maintain it, and they run it as they wish.

I respect their wishes, although I don't admire their approach.

When I joined TV in 2003, my main reason was to learn about living in Thailand, and to offer my experiences to others with a similar interest.

As forums have deteriorated, that's changed.

Now my only reason for occasionally posting to TV is to attract other "like minds" into private conversations by email.

For that purpose, TV still serves rather well.

If any readers are annoyed, upset, or offended by my comments, I sincerely invite you to add my name to your ignore lists.

I've provided detailed instructions above on how to ignore me.

On the other hand, if you are in agreement with my comments, I welcome emails and private messages.

I am always pleased to discuss any aspect of living in Thailand.

.

if you are not happy with this forum, you can do a google search and be on another one in 5 minutes.

if you think thaivisa is no good anymore, you wont last 2 minutes on the rest.

It's so easy.

I'll write it down here for other readers who wish to sift the wheat from the chaff on TV.

With thanks to Terry57 for offering himself as a superb example:

1. Upper left corner of a message ... User name: "Terry57" => Click!
   
2. "View Member Profile" => Click!
   
3. "Options" => Click!
   
4. "Ignore User" => Click!
   
5. Scroll down to bottom of a very long list ... "Update Ignored Users" => Click!
   

Easy.

I hope many others will return the favour to me.

I really do, because the ignore user list is the saving factor on TV.

I frequently add to my ignored user list, so I see only messages from posters I want to read, plus new posters.

My ignored user list now contains over 100 posters, many with hundreds or thousands of posts.

Over 100 posters whose consistently inane, sophomoric, rude, posts are now easily avoided.

What remains on my screen can be worth reading.

It's the best solution I've found to the observations in Pepe's OP.

I can’t see what the fuss is all about. I use taxis all the time and I can’t think of many times in the last couple of years where I have had a problem.

Good to hear that you've had no problems with taxis in Bangkok.

If other travelers had your good luck there would be zero interest in any thread on this topic.

The fuss is because that is the most common scam or problem that visitors to Bangkok are likely to face.

A quick search will show that taxi problems is a very common topic on all travel forums related to Bangkok.

There are other scams, of course, but the most common that you read about again and again, year after year, on forums related to travel in Bangkok are problems with taxis (and tuk-tuks).

Thus, the fuss.

Hopefully, if experienced travelers continue to post here, about their experiences, and their solutions to the problem, then novice travelers will have a better chance of avoiding taxi scams in Bangkok.

A few years ago I was attracted to participating in these forums spontaneously.

The positive, up beat, objective, informative and often amusing discussion about Thailand was very valuable to be.

Now more than not people who ask for advice or state impressions are tore into in the most sophmoric manner.

Accurate summary.

Exactly my observation, too.

A few years ago I used to look forward to browsing TV -- several times a week.

But not now.

Now I rarely read and rarely post any more for exactly the reasons Pepe described.

Most of the men I met a few years ago thru postings on TV, don't come around here much anymore, either.

Yet, they have far more experience now, with Thailand, and far more to offer than before.

But they say, "Why bother?"

The fault in most public forums is they seek only quantity, rather than quality.

Advertisers want quantity.

Forum management wants quantity, too.

It's easy to measure number of members and number of posts.

But quality is a more elusive goal.

Contemporary culture claims that everyone "has a right to be heard".

Well, on most all public forums, not just TV, we're seeing the results of that.

The effect on quality is becoming starkly obvious.

If anyone reading knows of a forum about expat living in Thailand, where the emphasis is on quality of information along with civility of writing, I hope you'll send me a private message.

I really want to know.

Thank you.

I'm a woman but yes, I do know my way around Bangkok

"Woman" explains everything about Chatette's problems with taxi drivers refusing to take the fare.

Whether some foreign female knows anything about Bangkok or not is irrelevant in the taxi-meter game.

In her post on this thread about problems with taxis, Chatette didn't disclose she is female and her profile states, at this moment, "Gender Not Set".

That omission is misleading to visitors coming to Bangkok and reading this forum for advice about taxis.

Foreign females are simply not desirable taxi customers.

Females offer no chance of taking the passenger to "massage" where the driver can get a good commission.

It is my opinion, that foreign females in Bangkok can expect more rejections than foreign men with taxi-meters.

Now we'll see all the liberated foreign females howl and scream that I've offended their gender.

However, in my talks with Thais in the tourist business, the topic of foreign females comes up quite a bit.

I have no interest in that topic, but Thais I know mention it a lot, usually along these lines, "Lady farang no good, no tip."

Perhaps taxi drivers are thinking the same when they see Chatette trying to flag down a taxi.

Ah, yes, ease of getting taxis is yet another of the many benefits to being a man in Bangkok.

It is certainly not unfair to ask a person driving a taxi meter to drive you somewhere for the number the meter says when you get there, it is required by law.

Mr. T.S., may I ask, respectfully, do you have much experience in Bangkok?

I ask because whether or not some foreigner thinks something is fair or not fair, is of little concern here.

That is a lesson most foreigners learn very quickly after arrival.

(Some never do learn.)

As for "required by law" -- in Thailand -- that is better learned by your own personal experience rather than from any suggestions on a forum like this.

I sincerely hope your learning experiences on that topic are benign.

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There are loads of Expat meetings in Bangkok, many called [something] Young Professionals, but you don't necessarily need to be young or indeed professional to go to them! A few of the best ones as follows:

European Young Professionals

German Open Young Professionals

Hash House Harriers

American Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Committee

Hmmm ... those are just "a few of the best ones", eh?

Where, please, are all the others?

Dantilley, since you kindly suggested those clubs, I'll ask your opinion before I gamble 20 baht on subway fare to get there, and another 20 to get back home.

Here's the situation: Age 60+, white hair (getting thinner by the day), double chin, bifocals, and a hearing aid (but only one, and it's very small).

Oh, yes, and rather well-off financially, in a modest way, of course.

Do you really think I'd fit in comfortably at those "young professionals" meetings?

As for the drinking club with a running problem, a man can get a drink just about anywhere in Bangkok, without needing to run first.

So, at this point, looks to me like no other social meetings for retired expats in Bangkok.

And those that were started several years ago never survived.

Am I the only one wondering about this?

In Pattaya there are two expats clubs, both of them large and active.

But in Bangkok, nothing.

Are Bangkok expats different than Pattaya expats?

Do Bangkok expats tend to be anti-social or agoraphobic?

Are Bangkok expats totally wrapped up in family matters with their Thai wives?

Or do Bangkok expats only wish to get unwrapped at Lolitas or Star of Light and then go home?

I've been living in Bangkok several years already, but I still can't figure this out.

Can someone explain?

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If you mean the taxis hanging around hotels saying you need taxi mister – then yes, run like hel_l.

Right, Furbie, that is what I meant, but, thank you for repeating it, because those are the taxis that, invariably, cause problems for unwitting passengers.

Happened to me in front of the Shangri-La, and in front of the Royal Orchid Sheraton.

Five star or not?

You can decide.

As for taxis that drive up to the hotel entrance where the doorman, in his fancy uniform, opens the door as I get in, that's never been a problem.

Not yet.

Those taxis always put on the meter before they leave the hotel driveway.

And I always tip the doorman.

But many visitors and expats aren't using 5-star hotels with doormen who write down the license numbers.

Those folks depend on taxis on the street.

And that's where the problems start: meter or no meter, and overcharging scams.

Not true at all. Many times I have hailed taxis miles from any tourists or "better game" and been refused the journey. It's not because they are out looking for someone to rip off, but maybe they know there's a lot of heavy traffic between where you are now and your destination, or it's too far and their shift finishes soon.

Dantilley shifted context -- from tourist areas to outlying areas -- and added in other factors like traffic and shift change.

Yes, some taxi drivers certainly are looking for ways to scam.

In the tourist areas, I have been refused multiple times, so it must be happening to other expats, and frequent visitors who "know too much", such as chatette explained in his post above.

Here's one example to illustrate the situation:

Several taxis in a row, driving along the soi, refused my short ride of only 2 KM.

An ordinary, weekday, evening -- not a weekend, not raining, not near shift change time.

Finally, the third or fourth taxi took me, but he was laughing.

He saw the other taxis ahead of his, as I opened each door, gave my destination, got a negative, then closed the door and waved down the taxi following.

So I asked that driver to explain.

He laughed again and, in Thai, said, "You speak Thai very good. Other driver want take you massage, take you restaurant, take you buy gem, but you know too much. He cannot. You give only 40 baht. Not good. But I take you, okay, can."

We both laughed because it is clearly true.

This has happened to me several times.

And, I haven't changed my clothing, my haircut, or my wristwatch.

The only thing that has changed is the fluency of my Thai language, my knowledge of the city, and my apparent confidence in talking to taxi drivers.

The taxi drivers who are out for a quick scam are very, very much in the minority. Some are unpleasant or difficult occasionally, but the outright scammers are few and far between.

I can easily show you areas in Bangkok with 3-5 taxi scammers waiting in front of every medium or better hotel.

I'll call that "many and close together".

I've seen the same taxi scammers waiting in front of the same hotels every day, for years!

They stand near the entrance, or across the street, waiting for hours and hours for just one fare.

I promise you they aren't going to start their engine for any 40 baht ride.

Not even for a 200 baht ride.

They've been waiting for a long time, so they have to get a big fare each time.

And, remember, they have big bribes to pay, too.

Of course, I haven't counted, but I'll estimate upwards of 500 taxi scammers around Bangkok, concentrated at the tourist hotels.

I base that estimate on 100 hotels in the 3-4-5 star category and 5 taxis waiting at each hotel.

That's hardly "few and far between".

Of course, they don't wait in front of cheap guest houses or on Kaosan Road -- no juicy targets there.

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I haven't had a problem with drivers not wanting to use the meter for years. Problem I find is they refuse to go where I want to go, long or short distances. ...[snip]... I actually bought a car after 4 yrs in Bangkok because of unpleasant taxi experiences.

There is a hint of useful information in that post form chatette.

Chatette has obviously been in Bangkok for some years.

Yet, still, some taxi drivers refuse to go where he wants to go.

Why?

I say it is because he knows too much.

Chatette probably looks, moves, and talks like a man who knows his way around Bangkok.

Taxi drivers who are out for the quick scam will immediately see they have little chance of success with him.

So they refuse the fare and go prowling for better game.

When I first arrived in Bangkok some years ago, I never was refused by a taxi driver.

But now that I am more confident here, know exactly where I want to go, and can speak to the driver in clear Thai, I, too, sometimes get refused even short distances.

Especially at night near the tourist hotels.

Smart taxi drivers don't want 40 baht from me, when the next man hailing his taxi is more likely to be a novice who probably offers a far larger target of opportunity.

No problem for us.

Simply wait for the next taxi.

In the tourist areas -- where the problem occurs most often -- there is always another taxi coming along, usually already in sight.

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