SGDude

Good answer Samuian. Lying to save face.....

My mum does that too. She wanted to collect more rent from her tenant cos she moved in a few days before the agreed starting date of the lease so she lied to the tenant saying, "My son said you should pay for the extra 2 days" just because it could help her to "save face". It didn't occur to my mum that she made me "lose face" in the process. Hehehe......

It's only skin deep for most of them. And what's funny is they'll do something really hiso to impress everyone, and once they've achieved the exhaulted status, resort back to their loso ways.

I have a neighbor who bought a new truck recently. The payments are 8,500/month for five years. He's a barber (50 baht for standard cut) and his wife sells coconut juice in a roadside stall. Together they gross about 10K baht a month.

I wish them well, but wonder about happens to the face-gain when the truck is repossessed. BTW, a truck isn't hiso.

Did they tell you their truck costs them 8500 thb per month? Just wondering how you knew.

Just wondering....

Is having a daughter/girlfriend that works as a bargirl, bar dancer, prostitute considered as a "lost of face" here?

I know a Thai lady who told me out of the blue that her shoes cost over 2000 THB. She has a car that was a gift from her mum and she told me it is a new car and she just sold off her old car to get this new car. It seems like she was trying very hard to impress me about her "wealth" but she also whines that she is a "poor girl".

Anyway, this face culture is not new to me because as a Chinese, I have seen how my parents, relatives and community do a lot of crazy things just to show other people that they are superior. I think this face culture is shallow and ridiculous and I do not follow it.

I thought Thai culture was really laid back and people wouldn't care about showing off too much. Boy, was I wrong! I have been here for only a few months and I am surprised at how much Thais obsess about their "face" like the Chinese. In some ways, the Thai expression of "face" is more complicated than the Chinese way.

I can understand it if someone thinks of losing face if people were to think of them or their family as being unethical/immoral. I would feel disgraced if my spouse had an affair because it looks bad on me. I would also feel like I have "lost face" if my son got some girl pregnant cos it looks bad on me. However, I wouldn't feel like I have "lost face" if my son did not get 1st in his class cos it isn't unethical or immoral to not be in the top 10. A lot of Chinese Singaporeans fuss about their kids' position in class so much that it drives some kids to suicide.

What I cannot understand is a life that is based on trying to "gain face" by doing a lot of things to create this false sense of self-worthiness and at the same time, doing a lot of unnecessary things to "save face" by not looking low class, stupid or poor.

My concern is not my ability to ride a scooter but the legal ramifications if I were to be caught riding one without a license.

Are the helmets at the Carrefours, Tescos and Big Cs good? I like H2oDunc's helmet. Where can I get something like that or better?

I don't have any driving license. Never driven a car or a motorcycle. I am thinking of learning to ride a scooter and maybe buy a 2nd hand one for my transportation needs.

Any idea where I could learn to drive and get a license in BKK?

It took 12 THB to increase my validity from 1 May 2009 to 28 Oct 2009. No complaints from me. That was cheap. I rarely use my mobile phone cos I use Skype and VoIP. At least I do not need to keep topping up now. Thanks for the tip.

I tried that number again and I got this message that says ".... accumulation validity over 365 days".

Where did you get that number from?

I just tried *113*180# and it extended my expiry from 1 May 2009 to 28 Oct 2009. Thanks!

Just tried this today. My prepaid card's expiry has to be at least 90 days away. That means I need to add a few hundred THB into my card.

Any shops in the chatuchak and sukhumvit area? I am ok as long as it is near some BTS/MRT. Just buying accessories.

I didn't say "my" Buddhism is of greater value than "their" Buddhism. This is not to be taken I am better than them because that was not what I intended to say.

I mentioned what I heard from a tour guide and how I felt it was not what the Buddha taught. I don't think the Buddha taught people to ask for things from him and in return, people had to worship him.

I agree with what the Chiang Mai monk said to phetaroi. Almost everything in the temple, including the statue of Buddha isn't Buddhism. It is hard to differentiate what is and what isn't Buddhism. I think people have made Buddhism way too complicated. Again, the problem is US - You, me and everyone else.

Any idea where I could get the New York Fahgettaboudit® U-lock in BKK?

Buddhism in Thailand seems to operate like a religion with Buddha as the ultimate object of worship. I was at Wat Phra Keow early this year and I heard this Thai guide telling a bunch of Western tourists that if you ask for something from the Buddha and you get what you want, please come back and give thanks to the Buddha. This isn't Buddhism at all. I was deeply offended by the guide's statement but I think a lot of people think of Buddha that way.

Buddhism is an education. Buddhism should not have developed into a religion, philosophy or money-making ventures. Nowadays, temples are tourist destinations and not great places to learn Buddhism. The problem isn't Buddha or Buddhism but people - we tend to be stupid and do stupid things. We always try to justify our bad deeds with rubbish excuses.

Deterrence is the key. I don't think the thieves would want to mess around with a New York Fahgettaboudit® U-lock? The reviews look good:

http://www.slate.com/id/2140083/

http://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Fahgettab...1248&sr=1-2

I think people won't be motivated to try to break this lock in front of a crowded restaurant during the day or night, especially when the lock is more expensive than the bike itself.

I don't clean my bikes but I remove the bubble wraps. Gonna look funny and obviously new if I don't remove the bubble wraps.

Where can I buy Kryptonite and OnGuard Bicycle U-Locks in Bangkok?

Any idea where I could get a foldable bicycle in BKK?

Found this site:

http://www.probike.co.th/list_dahon.php

Any more?

Any idea on the MRT/BTS rules on foldable bicycles?

I just got my cheap Carrefour bicycle stolen today. I thought no one would want to steal a plain looking 1950 THB bicycle that looks just like everyone else's bicycle, only newer... Maybe it is because of my lousy lock. Whatever...

Any advice for me? I plan to get another cheap bike for cycling to the MRT. Since I just lost one outside the bike parking lot outside the MRT. Not sure if I would park it there next time... Dunno what I should do now. MAybe get a bloody good lock?

I have 1 sliding window and 2 hinged "push out" windows. Thanks for the contact.

I have been to the English site. There isn't a list of branches. If there is one, maybe I missed it or it is in Thai.

I need something that won't require drilling. I live in a rented apartment and I do not wish to damage the existing window frames.