dazdaz

The ads are pretty awful.  I liked this forum because it had little internet crap on it, but slowly more and more is being added.

Sorry for strong words, but when you create something special and then trash it, the effect is like toxic waste.

Please do something about them.

Regards

They have new previews.

http://www.ip-tv.tv/

Check out the wonderful RiverHouse under TV On Demand, I did'nt pick up where it was.

You may like the Music VDO section, along with some of the other sections, worth exploring.

Regards

Thanks for the information, it's useful and very interesting.

I'd like to see things like who is top of the league, how the league works, boxer profiles.

Can you still practice if you wear glasses?

I'm more interested in speactating in Thailand and the UK at the moment.  How much are tickets in the UK? Where can you go and watch it?

There is something special about it, but I can't put it down in words yet.  I noticed they do that drumming when the match starts, it really creates an atmosphere which gives a big impact, anyone else noticed that?

So you did Thai boxing as a career, hmmm.  How does that work?  Do you need to win fights to earn enough from the prize money.

Out of interest, which other martial arts have you tried?

Regards

Having been to Lumpini Stadium and sat at ringisde, wow what an experience, I wondered if there was enough interest here for a forum on Muay Thai boxing?  I'd like to learn a lot more.

Does anyone have a good list of web resources?  I've found a couple, but not quite content with them.

This one is quite an interesting read!

http://www.lannamuaythai.com/

I have a lot to learn, but it appears more a way of life for the boxers than a sport.

Regards

Sorry to hear that friend, sometimes life is'nt fair.

Bank loan

Rent out rooms

Start up a business, although you could'nt earn enough in that quick a time

Sell the house, buy a cheaper one

Leave Thailand

* Complain bitterly to the Thai Government!!!! *

What is the best way to do this?  Talk to the opposition party?  I know little about politics.

I'm surprised by those who think the hike in charges is acceptable, they are not.

Regards

Come on, of course not.   They know your there to spend a UK/European/American amount of money for holiday, which is a lot for them.

ok what is Thaksin's email address?  I feel inclined to send him an email, is he on the Net?

Dear Thaksin,

Old buddy, drinking partner and various other things, how's it going, long time no write, me and the chaps arn't too happy your about to take away our fun in the land of smiles, and we aint too pleased about it.  How about I buy you some more Heineken, we know you like Heineken, and see how you feel about things then.  I mean there's no harm in buying your PM a drink is there?  You would'nt take it personally, shoot me, or put me in the BKK Hilton would you?  Or make me work in a massage parlour?  Well ok, you can make me do that, but you must allow me to make enough to pay for my permits ...

Anyway, me and the chaps and the Heineken think that you've made a slight miscalculation that will send Thailand to the depths of another economic recession, remember the last one?  See, we think that this decision is a political and not an economic one.

machine guns shoots me dead ...

There's just some people who won't listen to reason.

Regards

I thought i'd wait before posting to this one so I could think about it some more because my initial reaction was complete and absolute shock, disbelief and then anger.

Is this legal under international law?  Would that be under United Nations related law?

I should feel happy that expats are being protected but for some reason I immediately fely angry when reading that article.  Am I reacting emotionally without any reason?

I think the Thai's believe this is a great step forward in globalisation aka culture integration and protection, the problem from what I can make out, is that the rest of the world meaning the large industrialised countries are already 5 steps ahead.

It's because people from different cultures are automatically given different minimum wages.  It's putting a price on different cultures, bring them down to hard currency I find really and highly offensive.  In my opinion you can't cut people down to individual cultures, we're all human and humanity deserves a minimum wage, not a particular nationality.

Do other countries discriminate in this way in defined law?

How do other people feel about this?  I'm going to have to find something good to post about, we can't have more bad news on here.

Regards

"Train No 01 will be flown to Thailand in October and be in use when the city's new underground railway opens in April next year."

How do you fly a subway train?  

Would'nt the weight and size be too great, or is the Thai subway using a choo-choo train.

Regards  

I have to agree with Boo on this, to be ripped off in principle is just and simply wrong.  It does'nt matter if your a USD $$$ millionaire, or poor.

There is also the unfair concept that every expat and foreigner is rich.  This is not always the case.  Perhaps we should conduct a Thai expat salary survey to gain an insight into this.  Take the TEFL salaries as an example.  In fact we could go into a definition of rich, but I don't think it has any bearning at the moment.  To be taken advantage of is wrong.

To me, the problem is that this has been accepted practise for far too long, and people's defences have been worn away over the years. That's how I view it.

>''I demand you lower the charge to B100 for everybody and end this overt racism!''

This approach would be bad face in Thailand and considered rude, and I doubt would make any change.  In fact it's the worst approach to take.  I know your giving an example, I think this comes back to Eastern and Western philosophical differences.

A campaign of anti-racism should be considered though, because i've seen this first hand against myself in the country in which I was born, so can understand it quite well.  

This may be considered flame-bait, but it's not intended to be so, I wonder if the price hike in visa charges is along the same lines as our discussion.

I would like to see more Thai people on this board, so we can learn more about the issues from their perspective.

Regards

afaik with that website it recommends 2 websites under I.T. with Australian salaries, however all 3 websites in total are bogus, something that i've noticed when dealing with Australian recruiters which has quite surprised me.

Here is a UK salary survey that does give you the actual figures ...

http://www.jobstats.co.uk/

I did notice that several Australian recruitment websites do every so often have positions in Thailand which may be of worthy note.

Regards

Guys, guys ...

>>"Dave-yo"

What you said offended many people, and I think and would hope the lesson has been learnt not just for you but also others.

Anything related to the King in a negative or even contemporary way is generaly taboo, even discussing the taboo from what i've noticed is generally taboo too.

From what i've seen every ex-pat whines at some stage though, that's ok, I don't mind and I don't think others mind some moaning every so often, expatriation has good and bad sides, we should go into them some more but please be sensitive to others feelings in how you do it.  The first thing you hear when learning about Thailand, is don't insult the King, and you've done the worst thing possible.  I dread to think what would happen if you had said this in person in a Thai bar, you would almost certainly be thrown out, if not worse.

Perhaps just to be clear, this should be made a little clearer when joining?  Or a pointer to a note / webpage about the taboo for those that are new, learning about Thai culture so as not to offend others.  I think that would be a really good idea, but also careful not to go over the top.

Just some thoughts.

Anyway, back to the mind boggling price hikes discussion.

Regards

This brings up a very interesting topic because we've read a lot about discriminatory practises that happen in LOS.

But what we don't hear about, is people appealling, complaining, fighting the injustices that have been done.

This is potentially illegal discrimination the world over, it may be the norm, but the norm does'nt mean it's acceptable.  I feel angry for you on this.

Why is this?  Is everyone scared?  Is Thailand that precious that we darn't risk being asked to leave.  

Have you approached senior management about this?  Are the Thai's unapproachable on issues like this?  

Regards

You mean the government contractor does'nt pay for your work permit?  That's awful.  I did'nt realise.

Is this the general case, that everyone has to pay for their own work permits?

I'm quite shocked.

Regards

I'm a big fan of all these animals, especially the Asian elephant.  There's something very special about them, that i've never been able to put into words, perhaps it's best that way.   I don't suppose you have any really good quality couchy coo type pictures of these elephants available on the web?

Are Orangu-tangs native by any chance?

I saw a picture on the web of people sticking their heads inside those alligators.  [Never sure of the difference between alligator and crocodile], anyway a little scary.

Oh and on this topic, is there a website for Bangkok Zoo, I did a quick search but did'nt find it.

Regards

The other posting someone made about filiming wildlife made me wonder what kind of special animals are native to Thailand?

Was'nt there a James Bond film with crocodiles in it filmed in Thailand? There must be more than that.

Regards  

This would make a good TV documentary is anyone inclined is reading.  Building your house abroad, the perils, the pitfalls, the danger and the complete lack of competence that seems to be prevalent.

Do any competent Thai builders exist, or are they like leprachauns?

It could be very amusing for the viewers.

Regards  

It's great to see jobs advertised on the board.

There are however some clarifications that I think interested people would like to ask and so I hope you don't mind me asking those questions.

So in other words this is a sales and clerical role for someone who can speak English.  Is the role open to Farang's?

You don't mention the name of your recruitment company, the size, history of company, how long have you been established? nor an indication of the benefit package, nor the sales person's on top of earning (OTE) incentive for making extra sales.

For all people know, you could be just collecting CV's. Is CNSLT your company initials?

Is there a company website?

Forgive me for asking all these questions, but there is a lack of information and you post from a Hotmail email address which does all look suspicious.  I apologise if this is'nt the case, but everyone will want to know the answers to these questions.

Regards  

Increased rates worldwide are a symptom of globalisation or the Americanisation if you prefer that term which is based upon the American dream or quite simply greed.

Survival of the fittest is nothing new.  What has changed is the level of greed, he who earns more, can live a normal lifestyle and he who does'nt, is forced to live a sub-standard lifestyle.

This does make Singapore, Hong Kong or maybe even China "more attractive" for the expat as you have a greater chance to earn a salary that's paid in relation to your skillset and the global economic market conditions as opposed to a local Thai salary which is usually pittance.

I think a knee-jerk reaction to every rise would be bad, it's better to look backwards, see what changes have been implemented, and then work out a rough prediction of future trends.

Regards

Interesting fictional book called Bangkok 8.

US website with a review (hardback)

http://www.amazon.com/exec....0352115

UK paperback (cheaper)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec....3890207

By John Burdett

Looks like good fictional reading, anyone read it?

Regards

I'll have to share a virtual beer else i'd love to attend  

Regards

1000  -         Tourist visa, single entry

Is that you pay when you depart Thailand, aka the departure tax?

I still get very confused over the multiple taxation systems, I go crossed eyed and then faint.

Regards

I wondered what online resources existed for the development of Thailands information technology industry. I'm curious to learn more about the countries roadmap for the future.

There is a good email list here, but it's for South Asia, and not South East Asia, aka not Thailand. But this is the kind of thing i'm looking for.

http://www.apnic.net/mailing-lists/s-asia-it/

Does Thailand have a good I.T. Roadmap and how is it being implemented.

Regards

Exactly my thoughts!  This is all about *face* value!  The PM must be seen to be making changes, as that's what their supposed to do.  If anyone can provide hard statistics before and after these cleanups, that would make interesting reading.  

Also be careful over who provides those statistics, are they an independent third party, or working for the Government.

Also watch and be careful to see if the campaign is backed up with new legal legislation, this is a very old politicians trick! Unfortunately it works 99% of the time in fooling the people.

I may be wrong, but to see a country going through so many changes is alarming, the reality is that it's PR (Public Relations), it's funny how after all these years people still don't see through it.  Also ask yourself why these changes hav'nt happened earlier and why this PM is any different.  All that is different is that the PR department is more talented.

Always ask yourself,

"When in Asia, what is face and then what is the reality."

The greater the face value, the greater the problem that is underneath else why make such a big public show of the situation.

I'd like an expat forum for the rest of Asia, I think it'd be very interesting.

Regards  

Today may be your lucky day! There are some power related SE Asia positions available on this website!

http://www.expatsdirect.com/ed/index.cfm?scn=jobs

Let me know if it takes you where you want.

Briefly, some HR only speak Thai, so they will delete your email without a flutter of their eyelids or a swivel of their chair.

Also farang are judged and executed without a fair trial or interview in our case, others here can answer this much better than I.

Afaik every topic is still online here from the launch, just read around, good luck.

Regards