llso

I was just talking with my Thai wife and daughter and we were wondering if LEE's Restaurant on the corner of Sukumvit at Soi 15 is still there. We used to live near there and the old man was quite old. They had the best duck anywhere. We haven't been back to BKK in 5 years.

Is there a certain type of Bamboo that is grown for food. If so how is it grown? The Bamboo we have seems too woody.

LL

when I lived in Thailand in the mid 2000's I seen a river otter cross the road along the Pranburi River near our factory. Also seen large Monitor Lizards and the occasional SE Asian Water Lizard.  

Yep Tree snake wildly abundant in Thailand, used to get in my screens in kitchen all the time in Hua Hin. 

Lived in Thailand for 7 years and seen my share of snakes,

20 hours ago, TPI said:

Twenty years ago Thailand was in the middle of a financial breakdown, I knew a neighbour in Bkk who said, while cooking and selling noodles at his ornate front gates, "this is only temporary, tomorrow the Bank is taking back the car!" "How is this a good thing" I said, "I've already paid 3 million baht, so they'll have to give me my money back". He was not pleased when I explained to him how the system really worked! 

 

Things were really bad during those years!  ?

Excellent Point

15 hours ago, samsensam said:

 

OP; troll or mug. take your pick.

I am a long time poster to TV and can assure you I have better things to do than make up fictitious stories on an Internet forum,. I'm not quite sure what a "Mug" is but it doesn't sound good. Perhaps others are nor willing to admit they were duped. Anyway glad we could all have some fun with the topic and enjoyed some of the comments.

7 hours ago, grollies said:

And you wonder why your host was very affluent? Being a business dinner he probably had it all on expenses too.

 

Who cooked dinner? Did his wife cook, him, or did he hire in a caterer? Did you mis-understand the occasion? Sounds weird.

 

Apart from that, never heard of this before.

It was a very casual affair at his home , The food was prepared by his "servants". I don't want to divulge too much info.

Weird indeed,

When I was living and working in Thailand about 20 years ago, myself and my colleague where invited to our very affluent Thai Partner for dinner. We went to his house and enjoyed a nice Western meal of Steak, potatoes, and vegetables, and a glass of wine. After a pleasant evening and discussion about the business, at the end of the dinner he pulled out a receipt from the Villa market and a small pad and paper.  After some calculating we were each essentially presented with a bill that was our portion of the expense of the meal. Needless to say being westerners we were quite surprised by this and it became a great source of amusement and a story to tell. 

Just recently I met someone very casually and we got to talking about Thailand. He told me that he had been to Thailand about 20 years ago when a coworker from Thailand invited him to visit. He stayed with the friends family and had a very nice time. He then began to tell me that one of the most curious things was that when he was leaving his friend presented him with a bill on how much he should pay his family for staying with them He was surprised by this as he had taken them out to eat and bought small gifts to show his appreciation. He was also assured that this bill was less than what he would have payed at a hotel. As he was relating this story to me I began laughing and then explained to him my experience with being presented with a bill at someones house that invited us for dinner. I told my friend who was with me at the dinner the story of the guy who got a bill for staying at a friends home. Both of us have never heard of anything like this before as being a common thing. We both at the same time concluded to write about this on Thaivisa and see if others have experienced anything similar.

On 12/28/2017 at 2:12 AM, duanebigsby said:

How would you ever know it was 10%abv?

Did you have some sort of test kit while out drinking?

I had read somewhere that the ABV of Chang beer could vary that much sometimes as high as 11%. That was pretty much common knowledge twenty years back. Believe me you could tell the difference if you drank one that had a higher content.

I remember when I first came to Thailand Chang had quite a kick to it. The quality control was not that great and sometimes you'd get a very potent batch 10% ABV. So much for the "Changover"

16 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

I personally am of the opinion that Thai's in general don't value their lives as we farang's do, they don't want the rules changed, they want to be in the back of the pickups and in the trays.

 

You have motorbike riders without helmets, children running freely from their front yards almost onto the streets (villages) without the parents anywhere in sight, motor vehicles, tractor style wagons double parked on bends without any warning to cars coming from behind, vehicles, motor bikes, tractor like looking contraptions without lights, part lights at night and then you have them coming on your side of the road in the small shoulder of your lane, you have to keep your wits about yourself driving.

 

Ok, I give up, so "up to you"

     It,s not that they don't value their lives. It is more of the belief that when it's your time, It's your time. Fate, Therefore, wearing helmets, seat belts, speeding, all manner of unsafe behavior has no bearing. Because when "It's your time" nothing can stop it. 

I came to realize this when my lovely Thai wife of 17 years  told me this. I call it "The Parable of the Turtle".

We were driving down the freeway and there was a big Turtle trying to cross the road. I saw this and slowed down and was going to get the Turtle put him in my truck and put him in the pond at our house. She immediatelly began to hysterically scream and say No! don't stop. So as not to upset her I continued on our way. I then calmly aked her what did she have against Turtles? She replied, "It was his Time".

On 3/4/2017 at 7:12 PM, 4MyEgo said:

I suppose I should complain for paying 1,500 baht on top of the normal fee of 1,900 baht for the immigration officers to come to our place of residence so I could get my 1st extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai, even though it is not advertised on the board, I believe its called tea money.

 

I suppose I should complain that DoHome charged me 127 baht on my Mastercard savings account on top of the 16,000 baht I just spent in their store when I am using my won money, i.e. not a credit card.

 

If your not getting your tea money back and it urkes you, I would suggest a better way than to vent as opposed to putting Thai's down (in a way) would be to have some loose coins with you if your not with your wife, or do what I do if you are with your wife, i.e. always allow the wife to pay, that way if anyone is going to short change anyone, they will get a mouth full as my wife as she is as tight as a fishes a$$hole.

 

I can appreciate you have tipped them in the past and you want to be able to make the decision as opposed to being short changed, sure that would urke me too, but living here has made me realise that I am a millionaire more times over than most Thai's, so if its 20-30 baht let them have it, put your principals aside as they are far and few between here, and the only person getting urked here is you, I won't call you a cheap Charlie as I can relate to what you are saying, but you have to realise where you are more often and adapt, most here have never had the opportunies we have had back home, so if they fleece you for 20-30 baht, just smile, its not going to break your bank account, and perhaps if it does urke you and you can't let go of the principal/s (not easy), perhaps change venues and have loose coins with you.

 

I saw a lady laying down in front of a 7/11 store the other day on some cardboard, sun was out, bloody hot, silver cup in front of her, small old suitcase next to her, about 70 years old, I dropped a 100 baht in her cup, it made me feel slightly better, at least she could get a meal, and no she wasn't a regular and doesn't own the mansion around the corner as some fleecesters do, just down on her luck I suppose, I don't know if there are shelters or mechanisms that Thai's would have in place for people such as her, what I am trying to say is Thai's in general IMO are far worse off than us, just got to Isaan if you haven't been out of the touristy areas, your waitress probably is and see's you as not requiring your small change because you always tip and your tip is helping her along her way as small as it is, remember, in the eyes of a Thai, all faranga are rich, but on the other hand you not getting your change small back is peeing you off because of your principal/s, which as I said before and will say again, I understand, but I was raised in the west, Thai's are not accustomed to what we are used to, although they try or do their best to understand, they don't, its smiles all around (no idea), and I could say that this could apply to you when reversing the situation, if your prepared to step out of your shoes for a minute and digest what I have just said.

 

Perhaps its now time for you to change your generous guy attitute and say, you know what, I am not going to tip anymore, nothing wrong with that, and no need to feel guilty if you don't, because as soon as you throw some piece of bread in the water, more and more fish will keep coming, but you may not have enough bread to feed them all, or you can say, you know what, I am going to feed the fish today.

 

"Up to you" as the Thai's say 555 notfr

When I went to the Local Amphur office many years ago to register my marriage to my Thai Wife. The Official there asked me for a fee. Back in 2003 the paperwork from my Embassy stated that there was no fee for marriage. As we were doing the paperwork the official began quizzing my wife about if I was working. She unknowingly not realizing that a Farang needed a work permit started to tell him about our Factory. Being that I had a fairly good grasp of the Thai language  I interjected that we had not finished all of our Ek A- San. And that my work permit was being processed. When everything was finished and he handed us the lovely beautifully decorated Marriage certificates. (one for wife and one for husband) . When I gave him his requested fee I told him here is your "Tip". I could tell by his reaction he go the point! 

16 hours ago, MANFROMBOCA said:

that happens everywhere in the world not just a thai thing

 Defender of the Thais. Such a noble cause, get back to me in a few years. I too once was able to see everything through "Rose Colored Glasses" . Then one day the spell was broken.

 Many years ago at a 7-11 I bought something with a 1000 Baht note. When the girl handed me the change I looked ait and it was a 100 Baht short. With a dead pan look she reached on the side and handed me the 100 Baht.No explanation or reaction at all. I guess she was just expecting me to not look and stick the change in my pocket. Wonder how many times she got away with it. This was in Hua Hin in the middle of Tourist area. I'm sure this wasn't tried on a fellow Thai.

5 minutes ago, llso said:

 

5 minutes ago, llso said:

 I'm 99.9% sure you will end up with something on the side. I lived in Thailand for 7 years and seen everything and done everything. One story I like to tell is when I lived in Hua Hin there was an American Engineer that came to town to work on a plant. He found our little Farang expat bar and saw that everyone had Thai wives and children.  We told him be careful you will end up with a Thai wife. He told us no way because he didn't like Asian women at all and he would never have one. He came in about a month later and said" I met this most amazing girl!" I'm getting married in a month . I am so in love. We all burst out laughing and nearly pissed ourselves.

On 11/23/2016 at 8:14 PM, ThaisGood said:

Yes. Thank you all above for responding. 

 

To be specific my wife, who kept her Thai sense of humor (she had always been a good joker like her father was), came here and had three kids so I understand the weight issues.  She is a good 40 lbs heavier and it's not a pretty sight with the big mid section, but after all she and I came a long way. Actually our marriage is 22 years.  We could move south to a better climate here. I am just needing a change, recognize the so-called midlife crisis.  I guess it's hitting me.  I can't stand these winters, and I no longer need to be stuck here. 

 

We both worked hard on the finances.  She was never a money waster (Thai/Chinese).  But her weakness seems to be superstitions. I am like many of you here maybe, Thai wife has a superstitious explanation for everything.  She gets talked into anything on her trips back to stay with her mom. It's always fortune tellers, monk asks to sponsor a cow to stay alive, etc. Her brothers are pretty useless too. So I'd say this is her weakness, she could get hit up hard for money in Thailand.  I can almost sense she's afraid of it too 

 

As for me, I got involved with sports for our two boys. I really became somewhat of a health nut. Not overweight at all.  And let's face it, as men we do stupid things for beautiful women, and I find Thai to be just gorgeous. Here, I haven't a chance to have a relationship with a sexy Thai lady 20 years younger. Not a chance! It's almost funny to think about it.  No way.  I am basically 90% sure if I move there, I'll end up with something on the side. 

 Wow, Your last paragraph describes exactly what happened to a neighbor of mine in a similar situation as yours. After selling off everything and moving back to Thailand. She is remarried to a Thai and he after going off the deep end living with a young Thai girl wound up homeless on the streets after he was broke. He is now living back in his home country penniless. I am not suggesting this would happen to you, but this is not an uncommon occurrence.

LL

Any similarities to person living or dead is purely coincidental

On 10/4/2016 at 3:22 PM, Think2Mutt said:

I'm sorry to tell you this but the cold,hard truth is that you should start with a DNA test for your baby,it's common for Thai girls to have live in lovers/husbands in their foreign lover/husbands house.This has all the hallmarks of one of those stories I doubt very much if he really is just a nephew or relative at all,you are just another foreigner being played for a fool get the test done a.s.a.p.
(P.S. The 'attitude' that you describe is generally because he is the boyfriend/husband and father of the child not you and of course everybody knows this but you!)

I am by no means suggesting that this is the case of the original poster. I think most people have a pretty good feel whether a child is theirs or not. That having been said in my 7 years of living in Thailand I knew of two instances where a Thai woman had a Thai boyfriend/husband living in the house with a Farang that he built and being passed off as a brother or relative. As this poster suggested everyone knew the truth except the Farang. One way I found out was that I speak and understand Thai very well and overheard the Thais joking about it. In another instance my wife told me.

 Having been married to a Thai lady for 16 years this month. I have had similar experiences. I built a very nice house in Lower Issan for my wife and her "family". The thing is is that we the Farangs are perceived as being rich and privileged they are under privileged. Early in our relationship my wife would tell me when we would take the family to eat at a restaurant (We lived in Hua Hin for 7 years). To let them eat the Shrimp, Crabs , Fish etc. because they don't get to eat that . I immediately put my foot down and said if they don't have enough I can order and pay for more. I explained to her that if she wanted to kiss her family's ass that was up to her but I sure wasn't going to do it. And if anything for all I have done for them they should be kissing mine , Not that I expected or wanted that. One time at our house I paid for, the nephew and uncle would help themselves to my beer and cigarettes. She told me it's no big thing let them have it. The problem was if they had asked I would have had no problem in sharing with them. To me it was very disrespectful. This was all rather early in our relationship. I have a very good relationship with her family and don't mind helping them to the extent that it doesn't affect my family. Believe me they are not as mercenary as many others out there.  

Now that we have moved back to Farangland for ten years and they constantly hit her up for her money that she earns she is less understanding and generous. Being that this nephew is on drugs you have to get your wife/girlfriend and child out of that environment, as it is very dangerous. She is put in between a rock and hard place regarding you and her family. As others have noted this situation is not going to get any better. You're in a no win situation and need to act now.

LL

 When I lived in Thailand (7 years), I noticed the same smell like cat pee in my bathroom. There was no cat or any way for one to get into the house. I have heard of this same thing on here before. My theory is that there is a certain type of mold in SE Asia that gives off a smell very similar to cat pee. 

 Having lived in Thailand before for many years there are still things I am not aware of. I just noticed and began to think about that whenever we break a plate or bowl in the kitchen my Thai wife from Issan puts the broken pieces under the front porch. I noticed this before but never really thought anything about it. A newly broken plate was also thrown under the porch. I'm sure there is some sort of Thai superstition involved. Whenever I ask her about any of these things she dismisses as something I should not be concerned about. Has anyone else heard anything about this or seen the same thing?

13 hours ago, kannot said:

I live near you ive seen two in the last 3-4 years

My experience was about 10 years ago. Beautiful area . We had a Seafood Processing plant very near Khao Kalok. Back in 2000 when I lived there the area was quite remote with all manner of Wildlife.

 I'm not saying that there aren't stinging Jellyfish in the water at Hua Hin. I mentioned I had been stung myself. What I was saying that I personally wasn't aware of any "Box Jellyfish" stings around Hua Hin.

 I lived in Hua Hin for many years and seen quite a bit of Jellyfish. Late summer seems to be the best time for them and they wash up near shore at high tide. Being knowledgeable in Marine science I limited my time in the water knowing what was potentially out there. I did get some minor stings on occasion and vinegar helps to neutralize the venom. I have heard of some very  rare cases of Box Jellyfish around Samui. They are more prevalent further South,especially Australia. I have never heard of any near Hua Hin but is certainly possible. Box Jellyfish are extremely venomous and in some instances fatal.