rethaired

I don't like to jump the gun, but I'm 38 and am having some serious lower right hand abdominal pain and it hurts to move and it definetly hurts to press on the area (about a 6 on scale of 1 to 10).

I've been researching and most websites say people up to the age of 30 get it so I'm hoping it's something minor. I have had the symptoms for about 36 hours.

I'm new to CM so I have no idea where to get it checked out. I have BUPA so i'm nor worried about costs.

What are best options if in the morning (it's 4:00 am now) and it is still bad or worse?

Thx

For 3 years in a row, I dismissed those symptoms (which re-occured at the same time and at the same place). I did go to the hospital (in a Western country) and they misdiagnosed it (2 times out of 3). Finally they operated on me, but it almost cost my life. This sounds like it could be an appendicitis. Check it out.

After having spent many years together (on and off, as I go back to my home country to work), my GF is asking for a salary, but she tells this is not about business, it is about love! I ask her how much? She tells me bar girls can get about 30,000 B, so maybe my salary should be about the same. Of course, she was shy about talking about this at the beginning, because "it is not polite"! I am supposed to be a gentleman! I also must help her parents! I must also help my parents. Is she helping my parents? Is she going to? Nope! I am confused! Should I run?

If your GF does not like it then let her take the lead and mobilise support from other Thais to talk to the temple.

I'm quite sure many Thais, esp. elderly people, are actually quite happy to hear the early morning sermons.

If you've heard them for 3 years then by now you should be able to tune them out and not let them disturb your sleep anymore.

We have a mosque near our home and I just do not "hear" their calls to prayer anymore.

What would you think if an Asian person living in Europe starts complaining that the ringing of church bells early Sunday morning disturbs his/her sleep?

Leave religious (and royal) issues to the Thai population!

opalhort

Royal issue? Where have I talk about the king? Where?

Why are you trying to make the link? To shut me up? This is not acceptable!

Religious issue? This is not about religion. Where have I made disparaging comments about any religion here? Where?

Why are you trying to make the link? To shut me up? This is NOT acceptable!

Good try though!

This issue is about noise. It is about the freedom of people to live in quiet and peaceful environments. And, personally, why should I be FORCED to listen to someone if I don't want to? Why should anyone be forced to? How would you feel if I started blaring out some music over my loud speakers in your direction at 3 a.m.? And,what about soliloquies about how I feel about thoughts' control? And, while we are at it, let's allow all people to do so and at any time in the day. This is about noise, about the respect for others privacy and their freedom of beliefs, while we are at it.

But, this is foremost about noise pollution. I don't care who or what is making the noise. In fact, a few years ago I complained about the whistling done to somehow help people park their cars in parking lots. I also have complained about dogs barking in the past. I also complained about people slamming the doors in apartment complexes during time when people sleep. Of course, it would help if the building owners would find a way to reduce the noise that the slamming doors make. And what about those ad trucks blaring out their message? By the way, I complain about noise pollution in my home country too. When bikers go up and down the street waking everyone up, I complain. So, this is not just about Thailand.

Tune it out! Are you kidding? And, it is not even melodious!

Interesting that these chants are sermons though! Very interesting! Very, very interesting! This might explain that!

As far as the church bell ringing on Sunday in many Western countries, first let's make a big distinction. It only lasts a few minutes and it does not happen at 6 a.m. Secondly, bell ringing is not as ... insidious. However, you make a valid point. At the same time, I would have no problem if Asians or Africans --or Martians , for that matter-- were to complain about the noise. I would see that as a positive. In some countries we have the right to voice our concerns. It is called democracy. If enough people feel the bells should not be rung, then they should not. Majority rules. Now, we also have rules to protect minority and their freedom of expression.

If the majority of Thai people love to be awaken at those odd times and for hours by anyone, let them decide and let them decide in a fair way. And, by the way, as gracious hosts of all of those people who help the Thai people live better lives, you might even consider involving those dreaded foreigners. We sometimes have good ideas! But, sometimes --and understandably so-- ideas and views that some people from certain groups might not like us to express ... on forums or on PA systems at 3 a.m.!

Not sure about forum rules in this regard, but may I suggest you leave this issue to the local Thai population?

The same goes for the calls for prayer from mosques.

Don't forget we are living in Thailand!

opalhort

I have heard them for 3 years now, so it is hard to know if the Thai population at large loves it or tolerates it, I suppose. They might even dislike it, but for some reason they are not doing anything about it. One thing is sure, I don't like it and my Thai GF does not either, which is understandable when it takes place in the wee hours of the morning! I doubt all Thais love it! Do you think expats and tourists like it?

Sure, it takes place in Thailand, but is it a redeeming features or Thailand? In our country (and in many countries around the world), people have voted in favour of laws prohibiting people from making noise or disturbing the peace, as it were. But, you are right, Muslims do not seem to care. Does it make it right?

Cultures like languages evolve. Ours does. There are things in my country that people want to change and sometimes that takes place. Let's hope Thais find a solution to this problem, should they feel it is a problem, of course.

I would like to have a feel as to how people feel about Wat chants blaring out for hours and hours on end and, if they feel, anything can be done about it (petitions, letters to the local government,...).

Would this violate forum rules? If so, which one?

Thank you.

A millionaire heiress Harvard PHD grad with a body like Barbie wouldn't hold candle to a wife in my eyes. I hope that all the men here feel that about their own wives and girlfriends.

I've had them all in different packages. It still comes down to living a long time with the same person. That can get boring unless your libido is dead and you don't have any other interests. I basically came to realize that marriage is all about raising children into responsible adults. If you are happy alone then you are better off single. You can certainly get more sex in Thailand if you are single.

Good sex? Safe sex? Without condoms? Even though variety is nice, is it best?

As for love, the caring type, where does a men/boyfriend/husband rank on the spectrum? Below an extended family member? Below a son or daughter? Below a friend? At the end, action speaks louder than words in demonstrating love/care, I think.

As for lust and love, I think the mia noi idea after a certain age sounds like a reasonable compromise as long as all parties are getting what they want, I suppose. Are human beings really meant to be monogamous or various religions (for inheritance purposes) made it so. Communal living seems quite compelling if you are the stud of the pack or group, I suppose? But, then, maybe women like variety too in this context, provided children are taken care of, of course. The extanded model could be part of the communal model as well.

Just some unconnected thoughts to start or ... end the discussion.

This happened to me a few years back, and I had to pay the full 46,000 Bath for the bike. We sat together me, my friend, the rental guy, and the police at the police station. They rental guy looked very sad, and the police told us this was gangs from Laos stealing bikes in Chiang Mai. There was no insurance covering theft, so we had to pay out. All we thought of was to get our passports back. Maybe it was a scam, maybe not..

Btw, they rental guy let us keep the bike keys, as he said he didn't need it. So i kept it as an expensive souvenir...

Speaking of which, are theft insurance easy to get on a motorbike? If so, can someone advise me on insurance companies that cover motorbike theft? Thanks.

Some news from Chiang Mai (Honda and Toyota) and buying a car.

I've tried the 2 Toyota dealers. For one, it took a lot of persuasion and a phone call to the manager to persuade the saleswoman to give me 30% financing with a Thai guarantor, consulate paper for residence, and of course a bank account with money in. Of course, this was agreed verbally and who knows if tomorrow I will not get a different story. With the other dealer, I could not speak to the manager, but the saleswoman and another person (whose role was not ascertained, since their English was not strong enough) indicate a foreigner on a tourist visa could NOT buy, no matter the kind of arguments I threw at her.

Honda: I must give a 50% deposit, but I did not talk to the manager.

I have yet to visit the other dealership.

I will keep people informed of the development.

reviens au Chiangmai.

??

You seem to have gotten yourself halfway to pointing out two errors in my title. You may, without any fear of being wrong, proceed the rest of the way, if you wish.

Stay cool. I was only winding you up for showing off.

"revient" and "à" (with a grave accent). But, don't take this wrong, I love reading French and admire English-speaking people who have learned another language, even though some use that as a status symbol more than anything! Néanmoins, c'est sensas!

I have the reciept of the road tax if you dont believe me... I know that some companies will put on a surcharge for the "work" that they have to do... same as my insurance farce...

To sum this thread up in one go...

Foreigers can borrow money to buy a car, easy way is to go through a finance company.

They do require a deposit on your car of 30-40-50% depending on the finance company, and the sales person.

I put down 30% on my car, no guarantee on that...

Never put the car in someone elses name, even if they have an accident you will not be responsible, the driver will be so if you are not in the country, well, that should not be a problem. Just make sure that the person driving the car has a drivers permit (license)...

My GF have several times smashed my cars (nothing serious) and everytime I have fixed it it has been with a smile and friendly humor at the insurance companys site... They really don't care about the money they spend fixing it...

Give your GF a car sounds nice, I did, then she started taking the piss out of me so I just turned around and sold it, that showed her, now she is back to her normal self. She can use my car when I am not driving it...

There we go, that was 2 pages in one post.!

I have a 6 months' tourist visa and have been coming to LOS for the last 3 years in the same manner. I am not 50. I am not married, but have a GF.

I would like to buy a car, but would like to finance as I can make more money investing my money in stocks. What are my chances of being able to finance it? Can someone recommend me a decent financial company just in case the dealerships do not want my money!

Thanks.

I've used amex cheques for years in LOS, and large denomination ones - 500 GBP. I always wait until they authorise the cheque before I sign it. Never had a problem. If they decide your signatures not up to scratch, don't think there's alot you can do. They do have an office in Bangkok, though. Worst comes to worst you could always head down there.

American Express (Thai) Company, Limited, S.P. Building, 388 Phaholyothin Road, Samsennai, Phayathai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

Has anyone ever had any problems cashing larger denomination cheques, say, 1000 CAD in LOS?

Hi there,

I understand getting a car loan from local finance company is very difficult, at best. I don't work in Thailand but I go through it often enough to consider buying a car and keeping it with my girlfriend . Is there any bank in Thailand that offers loans to foreigner to buy a car? I want to be named owner of the car.

Anyone know what is the annual road tax for the very small Honda Jazz?

Any clues?

Any help deeply appreciated

Hondo

Dear Hondo,

Please send me your address so I can come to you and hit your over the head!!!

If you buy a car in Thailand, do it under your own steam... do not leave it with your girlfriend, do not put it in her's or someone else's name, etc. etc. not matter how much you "LOVE" each other... now.

It just sends the wrong message and will make it more difficult and more expensive for the next guy she has sex with if she thinks it is that easy to get a car from a man.

If you are looking to make payments it means you cannot afford to 'waste' money in this way... SO DON'T!!!

Smartest thing you have done is join ThaiVisa...NOW READ A COUPLE OF THOUSAND BAD RELATIONSHIP STORIES BEFORE YOU SPEND A SINGLE SATANG!!!

If you really really really need to buy a car and want to establish credit and get a loan...put the amount you want to borrow in a Bangkok bank like Citibank or HSBC or Bank of America savings account... then arrange a 'passbook loan' using your savings as a collateral guarantee. You may need to speak with a few bank officers a that branch before they will do it...but once it is done...getting credit cards and other loans down the road are much easier with them.

Good Luck

Good point!

Sometimes financing is smarter though! If the car loan is, say, at 3% and you can make 10 to 15% in dividends from stocks. Ya! Ya! Dividends can disappear and so can the value of a stock! I know! But, since the stocks were bought at a low price and the companies have good fundamentals, it is highly unlikely that dividends would shrink or the stock would plummet (and vanish). Actually, in this environment it is possible that in a few years the yield on your investment could increase as the stock value increase!

So, you are saying buy/finance the car in your own name. I agree! At least you will have something if she leaves you! Having the best insurance would be smart too of course!

I would think you would want to insure the car in your own name too. Normally that's what I do in my home country and no one else drives my car. But, in LOS, is that the right course of action too, knowing that she will drive the car and she has little experience doing so?

as far as know getting a IDP based on the UK license has to come from the AA or other British goverment approved entity and stand to be corrected but the IAA is not ???

Any reference to back up this? The IAA web site says otherwise.

Having looked at the IAA website show me where it says that...

Having had a look at the application forms for an IDP from IAA and the AA UK have the following comments:

IAA doesnt even require you to prove you have a valid DL from any country, I couldnt get any futher in the process, because they want your C/C details (certainly makes me think). It appears somebody could be issued a IDP without evening having a legal valid DL.

Someone is going to argue that it doesnt matter because your valid D/L has to accompany this document, but if an offical (read BiB) doesnt know of this requirement, due to the "high quality" finish of this document looking all legimate with monograms etc, it would be easy for an offical to be lead to believe this is a strand alone license.

In comparision with the application for an IDP from the AA in the UK, you are required to provide photographs and full photocopies of your UK license or other listed documention.

The most interesting statement says if you can cant provide the listed document an addtional fee is required for the AA to do a seach with DNLV to ensure you are entitled to drive ie you have a legal DL, therefore the AA in the UK do check that you have a valid UK drivers license.

Seeing as IAA is US based, can you see them being allowed to check the validity of someone DL from another, would be interesting to see if they can even check the validity of a US DL with the DNV

IMHO, IAA are a scam or at the very least mis-representing the validity of their IDP, granted they go to great lengths to say its only a translation of a valid DL and must be used in conjuction with a valid DL, but it appears you can get an IDP from AA without a valid DL, this alone makes the system very suspect...

Suppose an analogy on this subject is the bought/on-line/life experience University degrees, yes a very pretty piece of paper, structured in such a way that its not illegal, but certainly misrepresents the value of the so-called degree..

A few good points made. Thanks. I think too that if you get in an accident the insurance company might look twice at that IDL and might use it against you if it is not the approved type! Do the employees know the difference, that's another matter?

In Canada, they ask for 2 passport pictures and 15 CAD. Having just one (since the visa asked me for just one), I thought one would be enough, but I was told one was used for the document that goes to the office. Can someone please explain to me why we need that extra one official passport picture? I would think they could easily verify that my faces matches a scanned copy! Why one year anyway? Am I asking too many questions for the bureaucrats?

In the many years that I have lived in SE Asia I have seen far more rip off scams and thievery against expats done by foreigners than locals.

edit: And I have never been unfairly treated by the Thai Police.

Ditto! Befriended this young, tall, handsome, Dutch painter/tennis player telling me he has no money ... "Can you lend me 500 B?" Never saw the money back and he never emailed me back to keep in touch. Now, 500 B. ain't a whole lot, but this was a good lesson! Too bad that we cannot help our fellow human beings because of scums like these. BE CAREFUL!

BTW, Thais tried on 4 occasions to get me: the usually taxi driver, the usual tuik-tuk who tells you your destination is 2 km or more when it is not, and the usual dinner with the whole family when the dinner was supposed to be with the one Thai person!

HOWEVER, I have had many, many gestures and behaviour that I would qualify as being outstanding and generous.

Whichever country, school system or language we are talking about, 45 children in a grade 1 class, that is simply insane. At that age, the maximum a teacher can reasonably work with is 25, maybe 30 if their knowledge and skills are more level.

I would run away and find a school with smaller class sizes, where the teachers have time to listen to and teach every single kid.

Especially if the parents are bringing students who have not learned a thing! That number is insane!

Not sure about the student's ability, but written output in Grade 1 classes is very limited. It would be nice to know what is the specific issue with her writing. Looks like she might be slow or she might need glasses, perhaps! Not sure!

What a bunch of dim-witted censorious moralists!! You actually seem to think that the mere carrying of drugs is evil, and that taking them is terrible, and that this poor woman deserves this sentence. You obviously think that prohibition is sensible and right.

The "war on drugs" is an idiocy that has created most of the criminality in the world today and cost society untold billions and untold misery. Drugs should be decriminalised and state-controlled, with support and care for addicts. That policy would be an immense improvement on the current state of affairs worldwide (except in a few enlightened European countries), costing the whole lot of us far far less in taxes and suffering.

People who support the current drastic penalisation of drug-takers and drug-traders are simply out to lunch.

Totally agree with you!

It is obvious to the most educated, the most reasonable, and the most intelligent people out here know that prohibition serves traffickers and even sometimes states or the police/military (Mexico). Let me guess that most people wanting the old stick-in-the-hand method (probably the same one that our forebears used when they were fighting saber-tooth tigers) are also believing in Santa Claus (or people that look like him)!

But, there is hope at the end of the tunnel. More and more people are being educated and are finally getting the idea that legalization is the only way out. BTW, legalization is NOT handing drugs on street corners to everyone. I suppose that's what some people think it is. People who advocate legalization also believe that education, regulation, rehabilitation, and enforcement will be needed as well. It worked with tobacco.

Legalization of these and other substances is the only solution as prohibitions has served the traffickers (and all the other people employed as a result: lawyers, police, custom officers, DEA,...). BTW, legalization means also education, rehabilitation, regulation, and enforcement. Tobacco is an excellent example of legalization. And for those people who believe that this is an illegal substance and that to legalize it means we encourage its use, you are mistaken. Caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol are addictive substances, and while heroin might be more addictive, all of these substances are. The whole idea of legalization is to take out the profit (hence the crime). Now, it could be that legalization might not be the solution in Asian countries, but it is a fact that the war on drugs in Western countries has been an abject failure. And continuing to use the same policies will amount to the same results. BTW, the majority of Western people are for legalization, according to the surveys I have read.

Now, let's look at things from a Thai perspective:

Suppose we let foreigners have the right to buy land and houses,... what do you think will happen?

I believe that inflation will occur because rich (relatively to Thais) will buy lots of land and houses because they have the means. Houses and land price will go much higher. How will the average Thai afford a house now? Sure, in time, his salary might go up, but it will take time. And, if there is inflation, cheaper Thailand will not be for very long!

What do you think?

So, aren't those laws needed to protect the average Thai citizen who does not usually have as much as foreigners?

Sounds like a Popular trick to me?

Many years ago another shop did this with a Honda Wing 125 & the customer paid for the replacement value of the bike.

I had all the details of the bike & two months later when the bike reappeared on the rental row I went down with a lawyer & the police to claim the bike as it had been paid for. The shop refunded the money & I returned it to the customer.

PM me the details of the bike & I will attempt to follow up for you.

Smart! Very smart! Of course, if you are a tourist there for 3 weeks, you are scr*wed! Did the police or the lawyer pursue the matter after this, against the owner of the shop?

Like others mentioned, get your own padlock, but even that can be defeated rather easily, especially if the bike is out of the beaten path.

BTW, I have used an old passport successfully as proof of identity, although I like the idea of copy and moving on if they don't like it.

I've read that Samsung has a mobile tracker feature, but I do not have much info on it, as I don't have it : tracker.

I am amazed at how many people seem to have difficulty with reading and comprehension these days.

An opportunity to volunteer in the community is being given to native English speakers with a TEFL qualification.

A forum sponsor is promoting this opportunity and is also promoting their TEFL training programme.

TEFL qualified teachers can either take up a paid teaching position, volunteer their services or both.

It 's not rocket science.

JxP

Thank you for the synthesis! Do you ever read the fine print in a contract you sign?

It would appear that things were not as simple as they first appeared.

For the record, I --and I assume some people-- would probably not mind too much working 4 hrs a week to get a visa (if I cannot get it any other way) to stay longer in LOS. I have no problem in helping and volunteering. I also realize that someone (the owner) might benefit fairly or not!

BTW, would a regular teacher with a BA, an education certificate, and 20 years of experience teaching ESL and FSL need to have a TEFL certificate?

Rightly or wrongly, the purpose of the law (or regulation) is to stop farangs using their wives as "nominees" to own land.

Of course what frequently happens is not that the farang manages to successfully circumvent the land law, but that the Thai wife kicks out the farang and ends up owning an expensive house which she can dispose of how she sees fit and keep the proceeds.

The farang will not own the land and never can. The thai wife (national) will own the land and thus always staying in thai hands. I think this thread is about the victimisation of thai women who chose to marry a farang thus restricting them to own land something that is afforded to every other thai woman.

Who is being victimized? That is the question! The farang who is getting into a conditional type of relationship, buys land with some hard-earned money thinking all is nice, and loses before he kicks the bucket? Or is it the one who gets the land for free, for whatever reason? Half each after a few years is reasonable. Anything else is criminal.

I think he's talking out of his arse. Typical non-sensicle statement that you can always count on a high-level Thai civil servant to make on most occasions. I agree, it should do wonders to help slag-off all the million dollar "villas" for sale to silly foreigners who were thinking about buying in Phuket.

With unintellegent fools like this in high office, its no wonder that Thailand is slowly going downhill. And although its only my guess, i bet that he is of Chinese decent ?????

Chinese, not Thai! So, is he a foreigner? So, if this is true, this guy better not hold any land! Right? But, I guess that there are different rules for people of Chinese decent? Right? If these guys continue, they certainly are NOT going to see ANY significant money from me AND they better hold on tight because soon there will be fewer and fewer tourists and retirees coming to LOST: the Land of Smile Transgressed. Maybe they have a back up plan though!

Hi Mapguy,

Volunteers need to complete our 120-hour TEFL certification programme. They will pay the normal training cost for this which is US$995 without accommodation, or US$1195 with accommodation during the 4-week training period. At the end of training they will be awarded our TEFL certification. This means they have a vocational training qualification that will enable them to find paid work as a TEFL teacher in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Asia or just about anywhere; and/or qualify for our volunteer programme. The training cost covers our overhead, staff and administration expenses.

If they opt to become a volunteer for our foundation there will never be additional charges, fees or costs other than the direct cost of the visa and work permit (about 5,000 baht). They could also opt to volunteer for the foundation and find paid teaching work if they wish.

The training includes teaching methodology, grammar, basic Thai instruction, a cultural-awareness day and 6 1-hour observed teaching practices with real Thai students in real Thai schools. There is more information on our website. There are testimonials on our website that describe the effectiveness of the training.

John

I am a bit confused.

If you expect people to volunteer (work for nothing), why are the trainers/leader(s) NOT volunteering (working for nothing) too?

Why isn't the training free?

I think there is a fine line between exploitation under the guise of volunteering and volunteering. Moreover, teaching is a demanding task which demands high skills and a personality to match! This seems to undermine teaching and teachers who should be paid just like cooks, tour guides, ministers, doctors,... Like anyone, really! I know we live in an overly capitalist world, but since the leaders are not doing this for free, why should the volunteers (and pay the training to boot)?

However, if people feel that it is ok to make someone very rich ($1000 US is not pocket money in LOS, especially considering one can assume there will be many people in the training class and that this a 4 week class*) and teaching for nothing, hey, maybe they can phone me! I understand they get a visa, but ... it sounds like a bit too much ... or too little, actually!

BTW, are the trainers doing this for free (and giving all the proceeds of their work to the leader/president of the company)?

* If there are 10 trainees, that's $20,000 US for one month (30 hrs per week). Good deal for the company!

This may seem trivial and petty, but it does seem to influence conditions offered when applying for jobs in Thailand. In other countries Republic of Ireland is usually listed when indicating native English speakers, but it is never listed in Thailand. Many teachers are not even aware that Ireland is a native English speaking country. In most schools where I have worked it is the western teachers who are responsible for drafting advertisements so I wonder why this omission. Is it a type of snobbery? Even South Africa is often listed despite the fact that many there do not speak English.

Irish have a very thick accent. This might be the problem. Apparently, Canadians have the easiest accent to understand.