menorah

Rather than consistently 'Doom Mongering' a potential 'Bangkok Shutdown', it might serve Thai government better to assume a 'Poker Face' and keep the activists guessing at the level of military and police response likely to be encountered.

Their rhetoric puts me in mind of old 70's boxing tournaments held in UK and commentated by Harry Carpenter. No matter how good 'our man', dear old Harry could always be counted on to find an imagined 'Achilles Heel', which would dismiss our contender as having a little or no chance of winning.

A bit more positivity on the part of government would go a long way toward making this situation less than a foregone conclusion.

I live in Thailand and live on less than 15, 000 baht a month ( I have no interest in bars, booze and I dont smoke ) In Pattaya the studio apts are from 4, 000 to 6, 000 (with pool 6, 000) and meals cost max 35 - 40 baht I would stay in Thailand because you wont save much by moving to Cambodia! Sent from my GT-I9100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I agree with all the above. It really isn't necessary to have tens of thousand baht expenses each month, unless you're a 'social drinker', hungry for a different woman each day or generally have always had expensive taste.

To each his own and never mind those who look down upon extreme frugal expat's, they're not necessarily stingy but perhaps enlightened to the simple life that is well within reach of most foreigners irrespective of their income.

Take a look at the link relating to minimum salaries in Cambodia. You'll quickly see how much better off you'll be with $500 pm,..... not super rich but definitely comfortably solvent compared to the general population.

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Cambodia

As an after-thought, I once heard a millionaire answer the question...... What was the secret to his success?

His answer;

"Aim for the stars and you might hit the ceiling. Aim for the ceiling and you might not get off the floor !"

His point... be bold, adventurous and confident, have greater expectation and goals. Most definitely don't budget for the cheapest lifestyle....it's no fun counting every penny.

I've gone through a 'shed load' of cash in my attempt to make a niche for myself in Thailand. I'm still insure if it will all come together but I have had a great experience along the way and feel there will be possibilities ahead even if Thailand isn't wear I finally 'lay my hat' .

Best of luck.

If Thai central government has any professionalism at all, it will sack the district director of transport for Chumpon, Mr Wachira Pandusa , and clear any monks from the highway to prevent further distraction.

When the times eventually comes, when Thais actually take responsibility for their poor driving, own up to being dangerous and inept and in dire need of qualified driving instruction, only then will we see a reduction in road traffic accidents and fatalities.

All this and they still harbour misguided belief that Thailand will be central to ASEAN. If it wasn't so pitiful it would be laughable !

...Oh, and can anyone tell me how a monk can bless 'holy water'...surely it already has everything it needs! And how is it 'holy water' since Buddhism follows the teachings and ideology of Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama, a once mortal human, born in The Himalayan foothills.

Using the term 'The Rai' is surely nothing less than an affectionate term used by locals who feel some connection with the area?

...same as 'going to 'the smoke' as in city of London or any other city for that matter. And no doubt OP would never refer to 'The Big Apple', Motor City,Skeggie (Skegness) or other 'affectionate terms for town & cities around the world.

Here in kampaengphet or KPP, it's common to hear foreigners talking of going to 'Piss in the road' or Pitsanulok. It's just banter and what the hell !

Definitely a 'wind up' this one.

This must rate as the most banal post to ever appear on TV.

I once had a colleague who described certain 'low life' and other assorted examples of humanity as... 'A waste of skin' ! I now know exactly what he meant.

IMO NEVER divulge your financial info to a Thai woman.

If she really loves you for yourself, she will not ask, though she will probably want to know if you have enough to provide for her.

How can she be expected to 'not ask' and 'want to know if you have enough to provide for her' ? Hows she supposed to find out ? through tea leaves ?

However what's wrong with that ? Theres not a woman from ANY country that would not want to know her future was assured so why would it be any different for a Thai girl ? Its getting tedious how many men think Thai females are there simply to be used and abused and dare to have a modicum of self respect! This is going to shock a lot of people but they are human too!

I don't understand why the Op (if he is thinking of a future with this woman which he appears to be) would not divulge his financial details - unless he is not confident in his own ability not to be a mug.

BENROOM offers a very simplistic analysis of a complex issue which fails to accommodate the 'Facts of Life' pertaining to ordinary men & women in Thailand.

Your lofty admonishment of 'tedious' chauvinist thinking, is slightly misplaced in a culture which readily sees a woman's virtue as a commodity for exploitation... if you find that distasteful or believe it false, then you're denying a fact which many Thais freely admit.

As for a 'future assured', did you ever consider the millions of relationships embarked upon without the least assurance of security.. but with love and a will to making things work out.

Yes, the women are human too and as such, subject to all the inherent human frailties including avarice.

I believe the OP is more than confident in his ability not to be a mug....but sufficiently wise to get a second opinion.

How much information would you reveal to a potential partner in your own country? This is a tangible starting point from which you can apply mitigating factors relating to circumstances here in Thailand, namely cultural anomalies and the absence of state social security and benefits.

I've experienced relationships with 'ordinary' Thai women and 'educated' Thai women and found this makes very little difference to their expectations or behaviour.

If you're confident you could financially sustain a long-term relationship, possibly including raising kids, and assure your partner she has an equal or better chance of a stable 'marriage' with you, then perhaps she might be satisfied and ask nothing more.

I see no reason why any foreigner should continually need to 'bank roll' a relationship simply because they're living in Thailand.

So, he vows to.....

'put an end to the illegitimate regime of caretaker prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra .'

Now, does he mean the regime in general is illegitimate or only the 'caretake' governmental role? Whichever it is, I frankly can't help thinking that neither Suthep, or his brother Walter Mitty, stand a cat in hells chance of delivering Thailand from constructive fiscal corruption into a brilliant white and shiny New World Order .

This situation does, at least, give us 'armchair politicians', something to muse over.

So i 'm not the only one that's getting aggrevated by the thai workingmentality. I do most things myself but no haircuts (yet).

I have visited many company's with a huge sign outside "BAKERY" , when i go in their shop they have 4 slices of pie for sale and a bag of cooky's.

Went to the garage with my wife and her car and told them to balance the wheels. They started lining out them wheels. When i told them that was allready done (by an other garage who could not even place those reflectors/mirrors properly on the rims) they told my wife that it was important to do that first so they continued doing that.

I needed a new battery for my notebook, went to Phuntip and found a batteryshop. I asked him how much it would cost and that was 1700. I decided to see other shops at well and came back to the first shop. There were 3 people behind the counter and the guy who helped me before was busy with another customer and then walked away with the customer. The other 2 didn't help me but started opening boxes. After 5 minutes i took my old battery of the counter and walked away when they called me back. Now he wanted to help me but i refused.

I wanted some jackfruit from a vendor, told him i wanted for 50 baht. Then he got a phonecall and after 5 minutes i still didn't have them, they were allready peeled in a bowl. I walked away again.

Many Thai have a villagers mentality, even in BKK. My wife would never walk away because she also has that mentality. They seem to not realise that there are plenty of vendors/shops who all sell the same product. If i get treated like that i won't come back.

Also for jackfruit i have been waiting for them when they are still peeling the fruits and then a local friend orders in the meantime and they do that order first. So when i think my fruits are ready they keep them apart for the friend and i have to wait for them to peel more. When they don't have customers waiting they start playing with their phone instead of peeling a stock of fruit for the next customer that might come.

I 'm happy with my barber though, costs 150 baht but i never have to wait because it is not busy there. I have been there sometimes before 1 o'clock. The shop is open then but they don't cut yet so i have to come back later. I know that now so that's fine.

I don't know about 'villager mentality' but up here in the province of Kampaengphet, a haircut costs 60 baht and that includes a shave. It usually takes about 40 minutes, which can sometimes be a problem when I'm in a hurry.

I rarely have to wait for a sales assistant attending to 'other business' but if it does happen I tell them 'Today, not tomorrow' ! Some thais like to 'play games' with foreigners and Thais alike, this works if you're too shy or polite to 'shake 'em up'.

To each his own....not everyone is a Sex Tourist, some expats have GF's , wives and families and enjoy a full relationship, that's 'gaining the plot, not losing it.

Does having a Thai wife or gf, when you couldn't get one as young, or as attractive, or at all, in your home country make you not a "sex tourist".

When the only thing you bring to the table is your money.

Nice dream, but in no way reality.

I'm 57 she's 51. I could easily have had a very nice GF in UK but already had a son here in Thailand and a difficult ex wife.

Not everyone requires a teenage GF to be happy or confident in life but so long as you're happy with your choice that's fine, enjoy your breakfast, lunch & dinner.

another thread about how foreigners dress?

the last one ran for 9 pages

you live in a town where there's opportunity for sex for breakfast, lunch and dinner and all you guys can do is critique fashion?

i think some of you have lost the plot

How many wasted hours do you spend talking about low cut cleavage, Hot Pant crutch cuts, heels, boob tubes or whatever!!!

A case of inverted snobbery at its best !

Was this pressed trousers and pressed shirt?

She may have had a different perception had she known the real you and your spelling abilities.

Who gives a toss.

I'm prepared to stick my neck on the line and say a majority of expat's do 'Give a toss', even if you don't.

You're entitled to your opinion but 'posting' your crass response is unnecessary. Maybe you're one of the dirty, scruffy tattooed Neanderthals the street vendor is familiar with.

Regarding the OP's 'spelling ability'..... perhaps he's not an English speaking national, there are many expat' groups in Thailand. Contrary to your observation the woman may have been greatly impressed had she known a non English speaking foreigner can read, write and speak in English as well as have a Thai 'wife' .

So many TV members take a pathetic interest in character assassinations while simultaneously sticking their head up their own arse! A fact proven by later posts to this story line.

The ignorance of people like Suthep is why the country is slowly declining. Maybe its about time some of these people took advice from farangs who come from prosperous democratic countries. Unlike Thai politics, which is basically a joke. Ever heard of a Thai winning a Nobel prize for anything. Very few. Could be seen as a measure of this countries brain power.

I sympathise with expats who find much of Thai culture alarmingly surreal but we do ourselves no favours expecting Thailand to function like a 'western democracy'.

The 'Asian collective', is a hugely diverse people with a long history and unrelated heritage to that of 'The West'. Applying the principles of western culture, democracy, intellectualism etc to Asia, is a fundamental mistake which can only serve to prolong frustration and incomprehension between us.

The Nobel prize may indeed be a worthy one, even if Alfred Nobel was the inventor of dynamite and armaments manufacturer. We should remember that when slapping ourselves on the back.

Thailand isn't looking to assimilate to the known world order and doesn't appear particularly interested to 'throw its weight around' internationally. Perhaps it need only 'embrace' foreign ideas a little more to 'fit in' better and avoid aggravating 'bar room politicians' in Pattaya.

...... it should be possible to get some detailed load bearing information, relating to the concrete planks, from the supplier.

If that route fails then take a look at the info here: NB, you'll need auto translation operating for the 1st link but there are many others offering good online information

http://www.yongconcrete.co.th/priceListPFP.aspx

http://www.acp-concrete.co.uk/precast-concrete-products/floors-and-stairs/beam-and-block-floors/design-information/

For your information, I placed a 1000 Litre water tank on the roof of my 3 storey town house. It too wa was sitting across the join between two concrete planks and like you, I was a little anxious.

In my case the tank was only a short distance from the end of the planks and where they rested on the structural ring beam.

I did think the 1 metric tonne weight might possibly cause the concrete planks to distort..... but filled 'her up' anyway !

Two years on there's no indication of anything untoward and the entire area remains stable, free from cracks or movement.

If you're stlil worried, another option is to use the lightweight blocks but to incorporate strategically placed denser blocks where solid fixings are required. However, the strength of the finishing render coat, either face of the block work, generally provides a very strong fixing substrate.

Oh, I forgot to add...

usually prior to the concrete screed going down, either lengths of steel re-enforcing wires are attached over the planks or a wire grid / mesh.

You could easily have your builder weld together a much stronger area of re-enforcing steel mesh for placement along the joint and across the floor to further spread load.

It would cost very little to construct, approx' B500 and would disappear under the screed... 5cm and any subsequent ceramic tile layer and cement bonding 3cm.

I wonder if I should laugh or cry ?

Next sucker to the front of the line please - don't all rush at once !

It must be so gratifying to have entered this world fully experienced. I bet you're the 'life and soul of the party', or more likely the self opinionated guy everyone tries to avoid !

including a traumatic amputation of his left foot below the knee

I believe most feet are below the knee.

...surgically feet are most often amputated just below the knee or at the ankle, depending on the medical condition or trauma suffered. The wording of the report serves to inform at which point the foot was severed.

Obviously all feet are below the knee but strangely some brains are located in the male genitalia, or so we might believe when considering the actions of some expats in Thailand.

Irrespective of cause, liability or any other reason for the incident, we can at least offer condolences to relatives of the victim I'm sure.

By focusing on everything he cannot have, buy or do, he's contributing to the 'paralysis' which grips him. Far better to focus on 'real' options, to break things down to manageable size.

Better to present himself to Immigration or his Embassy to arrange passage back 'home'. Irrespective of every other consideration, if he repatriates he will have the beginning of a chance to get work without breaking any immigration rules.

As an outsider looking in, it's easy to question why didn't he act earlier, before the situation became dire. And why court a visit from a brother he feels he doesn't know, at a time least convenient. For that matter, why considering his claim he has no family ties back home, does a brother suddenly make contact?

There are more questions than answers in this vexed video rant.

I don't care…I am only asking why they care so much. Sure, I'm happy here but next time I'll just use a short time hotel…its not worth the aggravation to try and save 350 baht.

perhaps your girl friend is a really 'nice person', respected by her new neighbours, to the extent they would like to see her with a similarly 'nice guy' as opposed to a 'run of the mill' Lothario.

Contempt is about as bad as it gets in any relationship, and f*****g a 'tart' in the 'nuptual sack' is the ultimate in contemptuous behaviour.

Considering the many ancient traditions which proliferate Thai culture even in 25th century Thailand. I'm hardly surprised the humble Bangkok Post chooses to identify the 'Androgen' (rhetorical licence used here) as Mr.

Consider also this text from Wikipedia on the subject of 'Transgender', it sums things up perfectly and really leaves the Mr or Miss, without much argument to the contrary.

If nothing else, this story has given us a better understanding of the 'condition' !

Wiki says:

Transgender is the state of one's gender identity (self-identification as woman, man, neither or both) not matching one's assigned sex (identification by others as male, female or intersex based on physical/genetic sex).^[1] Transgender is independent of sexual orientation; transgender people may identify as heterosexual,homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, polysexual, or asexual; some may consider conventional sexual orientation labels inadequate or inapplicable to them. The precise definition for transgender is changing but nevertheless includes:

• "Of, relating to, or designating a person whose identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender roles, but combines or moves between these."^[2]
• "People who were assigned a sex, usually at birth and based on their genitals, but who feel that this is a false or incomplete description of themselves."^[3]
• "Non-identification with, or non-presentation as, the sex (and assumed gender) one was assigned at birth."^[4]

^{..There you are then......."Congratulations mum & dad, ******* it's a transgender".}

Dear Thaiblether,

Sadly, much of the commentary you're likely to encounter from members of Thai Visa Forum, will be negative to the extreme and unashamedly insulting !

Since becoming a member myself, I've certainly learnt a lot about foreigners that I didn't know before. The fact is, many TV 'posts' are from long-term 'settlers' to Thailand, many of whom are here for any number of reasons but, more often than not, to facilitate a feckless, indolent lifestyle supplemented with large doses of alcohol and sex of no particular quality !

It's a contentious statement and perhaps generalisation but made in the knowledge of my last 18 months of posting to Thai Visa Forums.

Thankfully, there are less visible and 'wholesome' foreigners who might more easily be discovered 'outside' of TV and away from the tourist 'flesh pots'. They may even be accompanied by wives and children, although there are a growing number of women bringing families to Thailand too.

In order to effect a more positive response and 'sift the wheat from the chaff ' , you might consider making an editorial contribution to Thai Visa or even Bangkok Post, outlining some of your own opinions and experiences of contact with foreigners in Thailand and inviting email replies, which you could process at leisure and without the need to trawl through the many flippant, blatantly insulting or lascivious online posts.

Good luck and I hope the research will prove not all foreigners are trash.

Good so !!!!

Whoever hit him should have hit him harder, it's scum like him that gives the rest of us from the UK a bad name.[/quote

5555555 you Brits have a good name ?

Well, if you spent less time in your 'Ivory Tower', you might meet a few of the many respectable Brits who visit Thailand.

Just for once it would be nice to read some objective and intelligent posts.....is that really asking too much?

Elderly foreigner hurt in bike-car smash in Phuket

Weird headline because it appears the mc rider had the worst of it.

Just what I thought as well

The car has a large hole in the windscreen where it's quite possible the driver's head impacted.

Also, the damage to the side of the car indicates the bike must have been traveling at least 40kph, which would create considerable sideways force, again this would cause the drivers head to impact against the side window.

Without doubt, both rider and driver will have sustained bad injuries and since this isn't a contest, I hope they both survive without permanent injury.

88 years is certainly older than your average driver but needn't preclude inability to drive well or react to traffic conditions safely. However, as a driver and a motorcyclist, I know how easy it is to fail to see an approaching motorcycle or to adequately estimate its approach speed. This 'accident' scenario is one of the most common where car and motorbike come to grief.

I echo earlier posts regarding the wearing of a crash helmet, they do save lives even if they don't prevent 'accidents'. I recently was obliged to make a sudden manoeuvre to avoid hitting a rider who swerved directly in front of me. I broke 4 bones in my foot, sustained some nasty cuts & abrasions and much later discovered damage to my helmet. I feel sure my helmet saved my life.

"Although the premier did not inform the coalition partners herself, she was quoted as telling her allies that she "had done the best that she could", the source said."

In the 2.5 years she has been the Prime Minister the best she could do was to lead Thailand to the point of no government today!!

to be honest with you and as a totally unbiased onlooker she seems to have handled the whole thing with some class. I think (and it's only my opinion of course) is that this Suthep chap is a first class sociopath. he can't win an election so he tries another way to rig it in his favour by doing his best to rid Thailand of democracy and lead by mob rule, anarchy is the word. He wants to tear down a democratically elected government (which shows what the people think of him, right? They'd rather have a convicted criminal's sister at the helm than Suthep or anybody else) and install an unelected "people's council". Who decides who will be on this council? Suthep? So he wants to be a dictator and some people (like you for example) think this is better than a democratic option? You might be right but back to your statement, it seems to me Suthep is responsible for bringing down the government not the PM.

This has to be the most balanced assessment of a bad situation ever to grace the pages of TV....so much more preferable to other Tin Pot, Wannabe Armchair Politicians venting their 'intellectually impaired spleens' !