maisampatpom

You have to understand that it's not my ego talking here. I'm thinking of the students alone. I mean as perfectly pronounced English as is possible, due to the Thai language depending entirely on unvarying tonality.

"wisdom"?, "glorifying"? I was trying to brighten things up in here.

endure

That's confused me. Why are there all those formatting tools in the editing facility when someone is going to come along immediately and remove all the formatting?

My heart goes out to those Thai peope who want to learn the English language.

As I see it:

The usual case is that throughout primary and secondary education they are taught English by Thais, obviously with a Thai accent, who were themselves taught by Thais.

Then, if they are fortunate enough to be encouraged into further education, they go on to college and university where they might hope to actually come into contact with a Farang, often for the first time, to perfect and fine-tune their communication skills. However, the chances of that farang speaking English without a European, Australian or US American accent and vocabulary are very poor indeed. I have met many Farang who tell me they are English teachers while their native accent is so pronounced that I have trouble understanding them, let alone the poor Thai student who pays so much attention to precise tonal pronunciation.

If the students are unfortunate enough to be taught by a number of different teachers they must get so confused by all the different accents they encounter.

It's no wonder that the majority of Thai people that I have come across have very little confidence and ability when attempting to communicate in English, especially after making a mistake that I ask to be clarified.

The spelling, grammar and puncuation skills of many of the native English speakers we see here in the forums falls far short of the standard that that should be expected from those who take the high position of Ajahn and are entrusted, as experts, to teaching others.

It's one thing to know (or not) how to do something. Being qualified to teach it, however, is another thing completely.

Shouldn't English teachers come from England? (and even then only when they have a very good command of the language), US American teachers from US America? Duch teachers from Holland? I wouldn't dream of taking a position as a French teacher quite simply because my command of that language is not precise and complete enough for me to consider that I qualify.

I understand it's generally the only occupation, as a foreigner, that one can turn to in order to stay in this country, but shouldn't we be considering the student before ourselves?

What do you think?

Definition of 'British': Of or relating to or characteristic of Great Britain or its people or culture.

The language is actually called 'English'.

How about a definition of the word 'Internship". I'm assuming it's a US Americanism.

Also, the incident on Phuket last year when the Thai pilot, having been advised by control that landing would be too hazardous due to the adverse conditions, chosing to ignore the advise with disaterous consequences,

You might want to check your facts before you make stupid offensive derogatory comments mate! The captain was NOT Thai

My appologies, then.

The news report I saw on the BBC said that he was,.... Mate.

The thing I dread the most is hearing a Thai accent.

How good does your partner speak English?

Oh, no partner!! Excuse me!

Petch01

Don't you mean, 'How well does your partner spak English'?

It would appear that my Partner's command of the language is 'gooder' than yours. The comment was not in respect to how well the pilot speaks the language.

Where did that come from anyway? Your balls, I suspect.

My original comment came from the fact that I have met and contracted many Thai professionals (lawyers, doctors, architects etc.), who, while adopting the air of superiority from the pedestal that Thai people tend to put them on, are generally quite naive and incompetent, by European standards. They usually have no idea how to answer an informed question as Thai people rarely ask them. I've contracted many professionals in my time here, only to dismiss them through incompetency. As a result of my experiences I now have any contracts scrutinised and modified independently.

When the professional in question is the pilot of a plane flying at 10,000 metres, dismissal isn't a viable option. Also, the incident on Phuket last year when the Thai pilot, having been advised by control that landing would be too hazardous due to the adverse conditions, chosing to ignore the advise with disaterous consequences, was another factor influencing my response. I would suggest that European standards are best saught in Europe.

Now, off you go back to the beer and football section.

Error!

How hard is it for a tourist to rent and ride a motorcycle? I'll be in Thailand on a 2-entry tourist visa.

From all the stories I've heard, it sounded like it's super easy to rent a motorcycle in Thailand for just $2-$3/day. But from reading the stickies, it seems I need to have a non-immigrant visa to even get a license, I need a medical certificate, I need a rental agreement (what if I'm not renting?) etc.

Basically, I've heard it's super easy, but from reading the board it sounds super complicated.

So, here's my question:

1) How difficult is it to actually get a license? (Not how difficult it is if I went by the book, letter by letter, but how difficult is it, in thailand, in reality, to get a license?)

2) Can I ride without a license?

3) Can I get a license on a tourist visa? (If not, does that mean I can't rent a bike, period?)

i will answer your question........actually 3 questions

1.i think youve read on the forum about gettin a licence......you wont be able to buy one!!!you would have to go to the office and do bike test if your after a bike licence unless you already passed a bike test in home country.

2.yes you can ride without a licence.......most tourists do...........you could rent an unbelievably quick sports bike even if youve never ridden a bike ever before .......i wonder why theres so many fatal bike accidents .if the police stop you then you will have a small fine to pay as you will if you ride with no helmut.

3.you could get a licence on a tourist visa as my friend has just done so but you will need a proof of residency letter from immigration and some offices may not give that to you so that may be a problem.......in pattaya its possible.

if your only here for a few months then i suggest that it is easier to just rent without a licence and wear your helmut and then you shouldnt get stopped too often and its no biggie here even if you do get stopped so dont sweat it....got it

Well, what can I say? Now you've heard it from an expert with an ugly dog.

hey mr.........no need to be rude......is there???? he asked the questions on a forum!...i answered!......im no expert but the idea of the forum surely is to help people when you can...my answers come from my experience in pattaya....so may not be relevant to your town or to wherever he is gonna stay.

as to the dog....beauty is in the eye of the beholder.im sure your thai girlfriend may find you attractive

I wasn't being rude! You clearly have more experience on the matter than I do. I just thought it would be wiser to start on the right side of the law when arriving, as a guest, in a foreign country, the international licence being so easy to get.

I have no idea at all about Pattaya. I spent one night there, which was one night too many. From the accident statistics and the amount of foreign egos riding around, with little experience, on superbikes, I wouldn't consider being on a bike there and I suggest it would be wiser to get to know the conditions before doing so.

The dig about the dog was on the insistence of my two Rottweilers who happen to think THEY are the most handsome dogs on the planet,... and I know better than to argue with them.

How hard is it for a tourist to rent and ride a motorcycle? I'll be in Thailand on a 2-entry tourist visa.

From all the stories I've heard, it sounded like it's super easy to rent a motorcycle in Thailand for just $2-$3/day. But from reading the stickies, it seems I need to have a non-immigrant visa to even get a license, I need a medical certificate, I need a rental agreement (what if I'm not renting?) etc.

Basically, I've heard it's super easy, but from reading the board it sounds super complicated.

So, here's my question:

1) How difficult is it to actually get a license? (Not how difficult it is if I went by the book, letter by letter, but how difficult is it, in thailand, in reality, to get a license?)

2) Can I ride without a license?

3) Can I get a license on a tourist visa? (If not, does that mean I can't rent a bike, period?)

i will answer your question........actually 3 questions

1.i think youve read on the forum about gettin a licence......you wont be able to buy one!!!you would have to go to the office and do bike test if your after a bike licence unless you already passed a bike test in home country.

2.yes you can ride without a licence.......most tourists do...........you could rent an unbelievably quick sports bike even if youve never ridden a bike ever before .......i wonder why theres so many fatal bike accidents .if the police stop you then you will have a small fine to pay as you will if you ride with no helmut.

3.you could get a licence on a tourist visa as my friend has just done so but you will need a proof of residency letter from immigration and some offices may not give that to you so that may be a problem.......in pattaya its possible.

if your only here for a few months then i suggest that it is easier to just rent without a licence and wear your helmut and then you shouldnt get stopped too often and its no biggie here even if you do get stopped so dont sweat it....got it

Well, what can I say? Now you've heard it from an expert with an ugly dog.

hey mr.........no need to be rude......is there???? he asked the questions on a forum!...i answered!......im no expert but the idea of the forum surely is to help people when you can...my answers come from my experience in pattaya....so may not be relevant to your town or to wherever he is gonna stay.

as to the dog....beauty is in the eye of the beholder.im sure your thai girlfriend may find you attractive

I wasn't being rude! You clearly have more experience on the matter than I do. I just thought it would be wiser to start on the right side of the law when arriving, as a guest, in a foreign country, the international licence being so easy to get.

I have no idea at all about Pattaya. I spent one night there, which was one night too long. From the accident statistics and the amount of foreign egos riding around, with little experience, on superbikes, I wouldn't consider being on a bike there and I suggest it would be wiser to get to know the conditions before doing so.

The dig about the dog was on the insistence of my two Rottweilers who happen to think THEY are the most handsome dogs on the planet,... and I know better than to argue with them.

The only one I want to see is when the one about it being a MOSSAD/CIA operation after the truth has come out.

Be carefull, they might get you too

Bring it on!

The only one I want to see is when the one about it being a MOSSAD/CIA operation after the truth has come out.

While watching the usual channel 7 soap with wife last night she casually informs the 'master of the house'

that she has run out of those birth control pills and she wants a 'junior'.

I look, but never respond too much! and eventually say, hmmm-.

I am in 51/ going on 52 and (T)wife is 28. In the early 1980's (UK) my first wife and I had two children, now well into adulthood.

My Thai wife has tried for children with a previous partner but no success and I think this was when she was in her early twenties. She does not like to talk too much about it and I only found this out from my good friends wife!!!

So I have been giving this some thought all day, should I become a Dad once again??.

When I go to the local Tesco's/Big C, I often see some old guys pushing the trolley around with 'farang babies' as my wife descibes them and I usually think poor bloke!- if you think thats going to me!.

Anyway I have given myself some time , by informing the wife that I need to talk to a Doctor.

So good plan or what?, wife wants children - fair enough, myself, still thinking, what about all the complications, what if - scenarios. Is it just me, that these young Thai girls think we farangs can just bang a sprog out when ever! they wish.

Hi. Like any other animal on this planet, reproduction, followed by survival long enough to ensure that the produced also reproduces, is our sole purpose of existence. The ignorant human intellect/ego/self, being a corruption of that nature, however, forms all kinds of phenomenal justification to the contrary.

The 'desire' of your young partner to be a mother is out of her control and, if not satisfied, will remain with, and be a burden to, her, and therefore your relationship, until this need is satisfied. If it is not satisfied she is likely to feel incomplete for her remaining time here, having not fulfilled her purpose of existence. You, on the other hand, have already fulfilled your purpose on the planet and only the intellectual phenomena remain.

If you truly love and care about 'wife' you will not consider the selfish act of denying her motherhood.

So, I think you have to look at who's interests you are considering and where these considerations are coming from. I'm sure this is a common problem in old(er) man/ young(er) woman relationships where the 'master of the house' has already done his thing elswhere. If you can't come to terms with this you could easily lose her to a more willing fertile alternative, as her nature could easily prevail, or making her dissatisfied and quite unhappy for the rest of her life.

The choice is clearly yours, but I know what I would do.

Six years; and if i was forced to leave I would make sure it would be in a column of smoke.

How hard is it for a tourist to rent and ride a motorcycle? I'll be in Thailand on a 2-entry tourist visa.

From all the stories I've heard, it sounded like it's super easy to rent a motorcycle in Thailand for just $2-$3/day. But from reading the stickies, it seems I need to have a non-immigrant visa to even get a license, I need a medical certificate, I need a rental agreement (what if I'm not renting?) etc.

Basically, I've heard it's super easy, but from reading the board it sounds super complicated.

So, here's my question:

1) How difficult is it to actually get a license? (Not how difficult it is if I went by the book, letter by letter, but how difficult is it, in thailand, in reality, to get a license?)

2) Can I ride without a license?

3) Can I get a license on a tourist visa? (If not, does that mean I can't rent a bike, period?)

i will answer your question........actually 3 questions

1.i think youve read on the forum about gettin a licence......you wont be able to buy one!!!you would have to go to the office and do bike test if your after a bike licence unless you already passed a bike test in home country.

2.yes you can ride without a licence.......most tourists do...........you could rent an unbelievably quick sports bike even if youve never ridden a bike ever before .......i wonder why theres so many fatal bike accidents .if the police stop you then you will have a small fine to pay as you will if you ride with no helmut.

3.you could get a licence on a tourist visa as my friend has just done so but you will need a proof of residency letter from immigration and some offices may not give that to you so that may be a problem.......in pattaya its possible.

if your only here for a few months then i suggest that it is easier to just rent without a licence and wear your helmut and then you shouldnt get stopped too often and its no biggie here even if you do get stopped so dont sweat it....got it

Well, what can I say? Now you've heard it from an expert with an ugly dog.

Tell him to go to Vatican City next time or Cedar Rapids or Fargo, ND in winter & roll in the snow.

Vativan City? Lets not bring children into this!

Definitely think that Thailand is for abstainers. I am a teetotaller and celibate (except for my wife) ...

Doesn't celibate mean 'not even my wife'?

God bless the dead - 2Pac

But surely, if you are reading this you already know how to do it, or am I missing something?

How hard is it for a tourist to rent and ride a motorcycle? I'll be in Thailand on a 2-entry tourist visa.

From all the stories I've heard, it sounded like it's super easy to rent a motorcycle in Thailand for just $2-$3/day. But from reading the stickies, it seems I need to have a non-immigrant visa to even get a license, I need a medical certificate, I need a rental agreement (what if I'm not renting?) etc.

Basically, I've heard it's super easy, but from reading the board it sounds super complicated.

So, here's my question:

1) How difficult is it to actually get a license? (Not how difficult it is if I went by the book, letter by letter, but how difficult is it, in thailand, in reality, to get a license?)

2) Can I ride without a license?

3) Can I get a license on a tourist visa? (If not, does that mean I can't rent a bike, period?)

In my experience... All you should need is an international licence from your home country, making sure that it covers use in Thailand.

When I first arrived I didn't have one, but copies of the ID page of my passport and my UK driving licence did the trick. Thailand is cracking down big time on motoring laws, so it's best to go down the correct path on this issue. The only times I see police working are at road blocks where they tend to pick on motorbikes the most.

Thai driving licence requires a Residents Certificate which requires a Non Immigrant visa.

P.S. You can't spend dollars in Thailand

maisampatom, I guess you don't fly Thai Airways as all their pilots are Thai. Issangeorge

Certainly not!

There are ruthless, money-grabbing opportunists no matter where you look. Single male Farang who go to hooker bars in Bangkok and Pattaya tend to come into contact with it more than most people as they are the more lucrative targets. It certainly is not unique to Isan or anywhere else.

Many men fall victim in this way because they have no idea about Thai culture. It's all about survival here and getting a farang husband will usually guarantee a financially secure future. Thais call it "Finding money', and opening your legs for relatively large amounts of the stuff is quite acceptable for some and seen as the ultimate sacrifice by their family.

I can understand this guy's attitude because he has been hurt, big time, and the only people from this area he has had contact with have been involved in ripping him off. The guy is obviously naive and not so bright to allow his balls to do the thinking for him in that situation. In Thailand, a heavily tattooed girl in a bar is not going to be a librarian or a nurse.

I live in a small farming village in the north and I know of a number of 'ladies' who are getting monthly payments from many guys. One is driving around in a large new car, bought with the money she collects from seven foreign men, all back in their countries, working hard to send money back to 'their woman' in Thailand who they probably think is pining for their return to live happily ever after. The community, while generally looking down on her, think the guys involved are dam_n fools for being taken this way, but they consider all farang to be rich and able to afford it anyway. I know of girls who know they have HIV but still have unprotected sex with guys because they get more money for it that way. I'm sure the majority of bar girls are nice people, but many are extremely selfish, dishonest, scheming opportunists who will stop at nothing to get whatever is free for the stealing.

That said, they are few and far between. The vast majority of women anywhere in Thailand are modest, honest, moral people.

Those foreigners who have come here and found a bar girl to marry who is genuine and sincere are lucky, but we tend not to hear about them because there’s nothing to report. I know so many who have told me of their personal bad experiences because they come from a culture where 'I love you' means something quite different from the Thai interpretation.

The guys naivety is what got him to where he is now. Perhaps he will have learned some valuable lessons about the world he lives in.

Google!

I've been celibut for the six years I've been here. I am in a relationship but sex is not an issue. I don't drink either. I and my partner live in the hills and attend temple 3-4 times a week. I also spend extended periods at temple. There is life aside of sex, drugs & other forms of self gratification. I guess it's hard to understand for the majority.

Personally, when I board a domestic flight in this country, the only thing on my mind is the imminent welcome from the pilot, which usually comes long after the point of no return. The thing I dread the most is hearing a Thai accent.