robusto

Tons of expats move to Thailand because of combat sports. Many of them fight to old age, and very few of them die from it. People die in other sports too, if you stay in the ocean there's a chance you'll end up at the bottom of it, if you climb something you might fall down etc. I'd be more concerned with neurological injuries than actually dying from injuries.

Thanks! Just what I was looking for. Seems like prices are well under my local prices, 25% VAT and additional warranty regulations probably doesn't do it any good...

Does anyone know the actual prices for these phones? I can see their official list prices, but I want to know what I'll be paying after negotiations at Pantip or MBK or promo prices. For some reason it's really hard to find any kind of online price guide or even ads for online stores in Thailand, so I'll ask here instead.

Hey Nardrunner,

Thanks for the invite, but I'm not in Thailand at the mo', and not sure when I'll be back. Nice gesture, though. I'm sure you're a cool guy to have a chat with, as long as you're not in a bad mood from Internet haters.

 

On 10.11.2017 at 6:43 PM, NardRunner said:

 

If I was going to do another event, would I chose Siriraj as my Charity? Probably not.

 

I'll probably conduct the next event without raising any money for charity.

 

The level of keyboard warriorism I've been subjected to regarding being a scammer is unbelievable. This site is the lesser of the lot!

 

To attempt something of this magnitude knowing that I'm going to get tonnes of shit of the Packard Mafia would do my mental game no good whatsoever.

 

If I would, I would select, as you say, an orphanage or a more remote hospital.

While I like most of what you're saying other places here, I must admit I'm kind of baffled by this (focusing on the negatives... I know ).

Here's a man who's willing to run 900 kilometers and doesn't stop until he's pissing blood, but some gripes on the Internet get him down. You're obviously game for the physical challenge, but why stop there and not just crush the mental challenge too?

Let's break this down:

- First there are the purely negative people. They're just sad. What they say stems from their own inner pain and bad experiences. No reason to feel bad about sad people being sad, we should feel sorry for them instead.

- Then there are the misunderstandings. The article left a lot to interpretation, and some interpreted it wrong. Well, no reason to feel bad about someone being wrong on the Internet, is there? That makes no sense.

- But then there's the difficult part, which I think is bothering you. Some might actually have a point. And you're a man with high standards, so someone pointing out that you might have done something better – that gets to you.

There's been a lot of negativity. I might have been negative, so let me try to turn this around with a constructive suggestion.

For you or anyone else considering a charity event, simply get a page on the recipient website that says you're officially working for them and post the link once in a while and to any doubters. If it's a reputable place with good routines and accounting so that they're not the ones pocketing the cash, even better. Then no reasonable person can doubt you're working for them.

You can always improve things, but at a certain point you just need to say hey, I tried, I did pretty good, I did what could be expected of me, and if you think you can do better, either suggest an improvement or do it yourself. Problem solved, really.

British army veteran's Thai fundraiser turned out to be fraud. Hmmm.

Are you trying to guilt trip people for suggesting maybe you could provide some evidence that this money is actually being handed over to its rightful recipients on the very same day another British ex-army veteran was busted for a fraudulent charity collection, Nardrunner?

I mean yeah the boxes are all sealed and just call the hospital, but noone here knows about those seals, and if you call the main number of the hospital, they won't have a clue what you're talking about and will likely answer "kaa" to everything you're saying.

So it's basically you saying you're not like those other guys. Ok, I hope so too. But I won't feel bad asking for evidence about it.

NardRunner,
 

The only thing that can be reasonably inferred from the article is that

1 - you're a former marine collecting money

2 - you're currently hospitalized in Thailand due to a self-chosen activity with an extremely high risk of rhabdomyolysis, which in fact turned out to give you rhabdomyolysis

The article doesn't do much in the way of substantiating that you're paying for the stay, and that the money actually goes to charity, which is basically what people are discussing in a more or less nice way here.

SEA is a scammer's paradise. The lack of jobs, costly private entertainment, lack effective official control and transparency, and desperate people with burned bridges and dodgy pasts who come here see to that.

One of the first things I remember from my first time 10 years ago and that's really stuck with me is never mind the locals, watch out for all the crazy farang/barang/bule trying to grab your cash. I can't count the number of charities from more or less good people who turned out to actually stuff the money down their pockets over the year. The royal family and being and ex-RAF are strong emotional arguments, which are frequently used to create trust. So some people are suspicious with good reason.

The burden of proof that you're actually passing these contributions on is on you here. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for some evidence before we believe you. You're saying we can contact the hospital for the auditing, but do they employ proper auditors or accountants? Has anyone actually checked with them yet?

Thailand has a problem with corruption. Theoretically someone in charge might be splitting the proceedings and giving a small amount or nothing to the hospital. Not suggesting it's a fact, but it's hard to disprove it as of now. There's a reason why we have registered charities with independent auditing in Western countries, and it's to prevent fraud. As far as I can see, this isn't a registered charity with independent third party auditing.

You seem credible to me, but credible guys have frequently shown themselves to be unworthy of trust in Thailand before. In any case, I hope you get well and that the hostpital gets some good contributions.

God, you're slow.

I said if you're a foreigner, you need a work permit to work in Thailand. I didn't say you needed one as a Thai. As a Thai, working as a prostitute is tolerated, and doesn't require a work permit.

On 24.9.2017 at 10:15 PM, tryasimight said:

There is a work permit for prostitution?

If you want to work in Thailand as a foreigner, you need a work permit. It's implied.

On 24.9.2017 at 10:15 PM, tryasimight said:

I learn something new everyday.

I really doubt that.

3 hours ago, tryasimight said:

African ladies can get tourist visas the same as any other nationality. If they choose to sell their bodies while on holiday....who cares?

Thai tourist visas are given to people from countries that benefit Thailand. Thailand has no obligation to hand out visas to anyone, and if people from those countries as a whole tend to be a pain in the ass, they shouldn't and/or don't.

If you want to work in Thailand, you need a work permit. The reason is you might be taking work away from thai people. In some cases, where thais don't have the education or knowhow to do certain things, this can be overlooked. But when it comes to selling sex, then these girls are competing with Thai girls. It's pretty obvious if you think about it, really.

You're willing to pay someone to help you get better deals on 50,000 miles a year with Thai Airways?

Sounds like you've lost the plot.

If it's all that legal and ethical, why do you need to solicit the service from complete strangers on an Internet forum?

Not sure if we understand eachother here. I'm an ROP gold member, which means you fly 50K miles a year, unless you're on some fast track. It also means it's really nice to have a credit card you earn air miles with, because for example, if you use it for 1 million bath a year, it means you get around 100K extra air miles, which means a return ticket to Europe a year on business or first class. If I only use the miles I earn flying, then I'll only get a coach bonus ticket, plus I'll need to fly Thai Airways to get it.

Why wouldn't I use TV for this? It's free, and chances are if anyone can do it, someone knows someone.

So you are the managing director of an accounting firm in Hong Kong? You must have some kind of network, or know at least someone who can pull some strings?

I'm a managing director of an offshore technology company based in Hong Kong, the accountant part is I pay for a Hong Kong firm to take care of accounting, virtual office, stuff like that.

Bye bye, robusto.

I'm asking for a completely legal and ethically sound service. I'm sure some particularly salty people will find a reason to hate on it, though.

Of course they're not going to vouch for Robusto the Thai Visa member, but I have a ten year relationship with my Hong Kong bank and accounting firm as a managing director and a 25 year relationship with my home country bank that can be verified before I open the account and apply for the card.

I'm expecting a person trusted by banks whose job it is to vet people to do their job and vet me. My accountant was a complete stranger to me a few hours before he vouched for me at HSBC, and ten years after, that's worked out great for everyone involved.

This is an expensive credit card at 10,000 bath/year, which I will pay the premiums for. The bank will earn top money by having me as their client while taking no risks, because I don't require any credit. And of course I'll be available for any reasonable measure the bank or assistant/intermediary might find necessary to qualify me.

you got a work permit for Thailand ?

One assumes the company registration refers to a Thai company

I don't have a Thai work permit, that's why I want an intermediary/assistant to help me, either working for the bank or an independent. If I had a work permit, I'd just go to the bank and do it myself. The thing about getting a credit card or an account in Thailand is, it's basically up to the bank to decide. They have some demands, but they're not legal requirements, they accept or deny people at their discretion. And if you bring a trusted person to vouch for you, the bank is a lot more likely to accept you if you don't fulfil all their regular requirements.

There's nothing illegal or shady about it – it's very common around the world, and it's the way I opened my bank account at HSBC in Hong Kong. You can't just go into the offices at HSBC and get an account and a credit card, you need someone to vouch for you. And since my accountant is a trusted person there, they let me open the account. So I'm looking for an intermediary to vet me and vouch for me as an account holder, and for that service I'll pay 10,000 bath.

Hi all,

I'm a Thai Airways Royal orchid gold card member (50,000+ miles with Thai Airways a year), and I'm looking for ways to rack up air miles using a good credit card. I live mostly in the Philippines, but I visit Thailand 4-6 times a year. I'm looking for someone to help me legally open an account at Citibank and acquire this credit card: https://www.citibank.co.th/en/credit-cards/credit-card-rop-preferred.htm

Failing that particular card, I will choose whoever gives the best offer for frequent Thai Airways travellers, like Aeon, Amex Platinum, Krungsri etc.

- I don't require any bank credit or insurance that might come with the card, I only want the airline-related benefits that I don't already have as an ROP gold member
- I have an address in Thailand I can use for correspondence (my regular condotel), and one in Norway
- I can deposit 100,000 bath cash at account opening
- I'm a managing director for a Hong Kong offshore company, and I earn around 2 million bath/year from that, and I'm looking to spend 1 million bath+ a year using this card

Any help welcome.

As a Norwegian: sounds reasonable. Danes are more laidback and humorous, and just better business people. But this is coming from 255 middle managers from 14 companies in Thailand, so it's a pretty limited scope.

Also Danish women are fatter and uglier than Norwegian ones (scientific fact).

KCM: It's still ok to use Uber even if it's illegal?

Diplomatico: Those are the list prices of the airport limousine service, so ideally, I'd be looking to get a regular driver with a car like that pruned to 1500-1000 bath instead of 2300-1700.

Taxi is what, 300 bath regular hours and 400 late/holidays including highway from BKK central? I think 2-4 times the regular rate should buy you a decent limo service, I wouldn't want it if it's overpriced.

It seems like you get camrys for under 1000 bath, and then the mercedes e-types are the next step up at around 1500 bath, and then the top of the line luxury sedan bmw 7-series at over or maybe around 2000 bath.

http://www.limousine.in.th/#transferrates

http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/en/115-limousine

Finally I'm ready to get rid of all the filthy sweaty plebby masses when I travel, my Thai Airways gold card is due to arrive this summer. So I noticed last time I went to Suvarna that the 1st class lane which leads to Thai Aiways business/first/gold card check in area 1 is for limousines only - and some of the cabs can get a bit stuffy. So I was wondering if anyone would like to recommend a limousine service that does a good job in the 1000-1500 range from BKK central to Suvarna airport so I can hop right into the first class driving lane at the airport?

Do you REALLY think Issan girls are warmer than "normal" girls? If so, try this little experiment.

Find yourself any poor Issan girl, in the first 5 minutes of meeting her tell her you have little or no money, if fact you have hit on bad times.

No prizes for guessing what would happen.

Money makes you more attractive as a man in Asia, but it's not a wild card you can use to get anything you want, and it's not necessary in order to find someone nice if you have other good sides. Where I live, young, capable, good looking expats usually have pretty hot local girlfriends even if they're just scraping by financially, and the most attractive girls and women who are interested in foreigners usually pick guys who are both attractive on a personal level and can support them, but they don't pick them after the size of their wallets.

Look at it this way - if a Western man REALLY hated something, like being poor, how many many of them do you think would do it anyway all the time because they liked the girl? Some wouldn't even stretch their budget 1000 bath for the evening for someone they really liked, never mind spending a life in poverty for them.

Aside from not being able to buy stuff you like, poverty in a third world country usually means you lose a lot of rights, because the official state tends to serve people with money. You get less proper medical treatment, your lifespan will probably shorten, you're much more likely to be victimized in crimes etc. People who come from poor places know this all too well, so it's not just a question of vanity and consumerism, it's about survival and happiness, and it's pretty understandable really.

I guess a lot of it has been said before, but here goes. Yes, you were stupid and coming on too strong by giving her a gift and showing up at her office. And fruit in Thailand? Isn't that like giving someone ice in Antarctica? If you give a lady a gift, you're supposed to show your brains and taste in choosing something she fancies, something delicate, luxurious, imaginitive or fantastic from a far away land, to lull her in to some fantasy that coincides with the romantic fantasy you're also trying to lull her into. Don't give her something she could buy everywhere else and she's very used to. Hope you atleast didn't give her a bunch of banans.

And for God's sake skip the long explaination letter. It'll make you seem desperate. Give her a few days, and she might start to think about you. Give her a week, and hopefully she'll be thinking even more of you, your good qualities, how she hopes you don't dump her etc. That's when you give her a nonchalant message on her cellphone. Don't grovel about the mistakes you made if you meet her again. You can talk about them if she hints at them, but don't grovel. Try to forget her in the mean time, it will help you no matter what.

I can't believe all the feminist age related nonsense in this thread. Attractiveness is based on fertility and finding what appears to be a suitable partner. Women are most fertile at 18-21 after their hips have widened fully, then their fertility starts sinking like a rock in the end of their 20s, and then full or relative infertility usually occurs at 30-40. Men produce sperm unless their reproductive organs are damaged, they're dying or dead. Time is the real test of a man's caliber, if his genes and ability to take care of his children are good, while women don't have that luxury. That's why older men have liked younger women and vice versa throughout the ages. Men are universally lauded for having many partners, while women are universally shunned for it. In terms of fertility, a 41 year old man and a 26 year old woman are pretty much the same, like it or not.