moses

Hi There

Sitting at my job under "stress" therefore I havent had time to read all the post in the forum but I thought i'd leave a short comment to the voodo/magic stuff anyway. I dont believe in it but, in my opinion it's evil - who want to hurt somebody else by doing some stupid rituals? What's in the hearts of these men and women? I think that what ever it is they do it comes from the pit of ######.

I'd stay far away from it

moses

Thank you guys for entertaining and interesting "reading" though I dont think that so many really answered the question that this tread had to begin with... how to find a thai business partner? You read and hear about scams all the time, i'm certain that you can find honest people to do business with. I'm interested to here more "serios" answers for example, many of you guys are living in Thailand right now with varies business, condos, houses. I'm aware that many have Thai wifes, but if your wife isn't Thai the sitiuation is a little different for example when buying a house or land. Personally I wouldn't stir my self blind in finding a specific Thai business partner but comes one along the way I wouldn't hesitate to getting to know him to see if he was suited for my business.

Regards

Moses

Hi there

I'm not living in Thailand (not yet anyway) I love the place very much and try and get on vacation at least one time each year.

First time I went to Thailand was in 1990 (18 years old), i was amazed of how freindly everyone was - went to Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Ko samet.

In Chiang Mai I hired a motorbike/moped, I asked if I needed a license and I didn't which I liked. The same year I had been driving in England for about a year with Learner plates on a 125 cc motorcycle in wait to do my driving test so I felt confident driving even in Chiang mai on the left side of the road.

It was a lot of fun, and throughe the years I have returned to Thailand mayny times hired motorcycles and never had a license ( I only lived in Enland for one year, returned to Denmark my home country) with out doing my driving test.

Anyway last time I went to Thailand (2004) Phuket I was fined and stopped in one of the road blocks you talk about. The police officer asked for my license and I told him I was sorry but I didn't have one but I showed him some identification instead and he confiscated that. Told me to pick it up at the police station and there I would pay 300 bath in fine for driving with out a license.

What amazes me is that: I was allowed to continue driving after he confiscated my ID card. (I had a girlfreind on the back who speak Thai) It was no problem for the police officer to comunicate in English or in Thai but it seemed to NOT matter.

I went to the police station in the afternoon (on my motorcycle) wich i didn't have drivers license drive. I parked outside the police station. Paid my fine, got my Id card back and drove home again :-)

When I came back home to Denmark the first thing i did was taking a license so next time I come back to thailand I am driving leagally.

The police where actually very nice to.

/moses

I dont know the brand "atec" but if you want a good quality laptop that is economical then an "acer travelmate" is what you wanna go for...

Hi there

I have a question for you guys, if you want you can pm me or write your answers here - Thank you!

I am a bit conserned about a friend of mine (Thai citizen) who has a daughter 3 years old who has been hospitalised for the past two weeks due to a serios heart condition. (Location Koh Pah Ngan)

Money is not an issue in our relationship, but now the mother has asked me if she can borrow 15000b to pay the hospital.(She has never recieved money from me or asked me for a loan before...) Unfortunately I have lots of expenses the next 2 months due to changing job and movement therefore 15000b is not something I can spare in my finances right now. I talked with her on the telephone today, she knows that I can't help her financially (for the next couple of months anyway) She has 5000b wich she will pay the hospital this week. I asked her if she could pay the 5000b now, and then make an arrangement with the hospital and pay of by the month for instant 2000b a month untill the bill was paid. Weather or not she can do that she did not answer, instead she will try and get a loan or something like that.

Does anyone know how it works when a thai citizen go to a hospital?

Isn't there any insurance that covers cost?

I have heard stories about "farangs" getting heart attacks and because they didn't have any insurance or money the doktors just left them to die...

Is it the same for a Thai citizen? If they dont see money on the table wont they get the treatment they need?

I know that her daughter is under treatment but she is still to weak to leave hospital...

Hope for some answers, and please dont come with sarcastic jokes or anyting like that. The mother haven't slept or eaten probably for the past two weeks. She is forced to start work again in a couple of days and she is in a really bad condition feeling sad, broken and helpless. Please help me understand what is going on here... Thank you!

/Moses

Is there a website or does anybody have more information on the laws and regulations?

My Thaifriend phoned and said she had recieved my parcel but did not mension anything about paying import tax. It was valued almost 200usd, I send lots of small gifts (total 5kg) - - i'ts not quit fair if she has to pay tax because I asked her to be santa claus and give out gifts to different people i know...

If she has paid for it she will never tell me - but I am curios - and in that case estimately how much?

She sends me CD's and VCD's from Thailand to Sweden - They have never asked me to pay custom tax here in Sweden.

i have heard stories that they (mormons) offer young thais english lessons and money to convert and turn them into unsmiling robots. the governmnet should stop the mormons in that they are taking away from young thais the most wonderful gift they have.....a wonderful buddhist smile and outlook.

My parents were seventh day adventist... 'Sevis' are known for conducting church services on Saturday. Mormons are a fair bit different now calling themselvvs Latter Day Saints. One Mormon teaching is apparently the idea in numerous wifes..... Whos interested now?

In my understanding seven days adventist have sabbath the 7th day of the week biginning with sunday as day one. All church activities is conducted on saturdays...

The Mormon teaching about numerous wifes is from "the book of mormon" which is an acient writing from 600bc they combine the bible and the book of mormon in there belive system.

now now.....  Maybe we should not call someone of a particular religious persuasion Vermin. Then again... that Benny Hin kinda does look like a big fat bald Rat 

Do u think that soon u will be seeing the 'Hour of Power' on some channel in Chiang Mai? 

Ya right Benny Hinn have you seen his privat JET? As a former brain washed member of a branch of his church - I can only say if you want a get rich quick scheme you should join... :-)

Benny hinns program is called I think is called "this is your day" If it is the same "hour of power" we think about then it's send from the Crystal Cathedral in the US???

Moses

Please, let us not let this thread degenerate into a slanging match between you

and I.

Although I do pose questions to to to you that you do not address.

Tell me and the rest of us what use the Christian missionaries are of use to my adopted country in a reasonable manner.

The next time you get off your high horse take a quick look at what ###### said in his post re Akha people and the missionaries.

Where it said look here, I also promise this will not bring you out in warts either.

Vicar, I swear you drink more tea than a Thai customs man

Allright Mearim, I dont want a slanging match bewtween you and I eigther!

I defend (in my opinion) one of the greatest women on modern times and get a little upset when people disrespekt her work.

I have read the post by ###### and the Akha people. These so called missionaries are destroying the "Akha culture" and its people - and yes that upsets me. I am not defending that kind of missionary work, I understand why people are put off by missionaries if that is whats happening. I dont like missionaries who drive in big cars, and have big fancy homes. That is not the purpose of being a missionary.

This will be my last post on this subject - have a good x-mas every one!

I was worried about you, but as it's Sunday you were probably down at the God factory praying for me.

Save your knees, I have a belly full of Christians in this life, I sure as eggs is eggs don't want to be knocking around in eternity with your mob.

My past is in the Christian Community (Prothestant free church) I left that in 1999. Had i still gone to church I would probably pray for you... anyway it sounds like you have many christian admires who pisses you of... Good luck!

As to Christopher Hitchens, why let the truth get in the way if a good story?

I assume you know this "saint" did not give her charges the best of medical care as you were there, thankfully I was not, but old Aggie whenever she got sick didn't go to her dispensery for the odd aspirin she got on a plane to see proper doctors.

Try reading what he says about this "saint" I promise it won't bring you out in warts.

Would they have gotten the proper medical care laying dieing out in the streets of Calcutta?

Calcutta has 10 million registered citizens (probably 10 million unregistred) and only about 50 procent are fortunate to live above powerty level.... How many million people are in urgent need of medical attention....? If you feel like giving a helping hand or make a contribution to the missionareis of charity i'm sure that it would be more than welcome. As for Mother Teresa seeking medical attention abroad - if it is true - what is wrong with that?

I am a bit worried about Moses and his support for Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhio ( any wonder the old goat changed her name) Albanias one and only export if you disregard asylum seekers in the U.K. perhaps he is in shock after reading Christopher Hitchens expose of her.

I never cared to read Christoper Hitchens, why should I?

There is nothing in the world that can chance my opinion about Mother Teresa. What is so speciel about you ? That you obviously can make judgements on her as an individual?

Mother Teresa has many critics but that does not mean what she did was not a good thing... I have meet Mother Teresa personaly on one of my trips to India, I have seen her work, and worked in one of her homes.

She is if any a true missionary - when you read critical articles often it is viewpoints from the author and not based interely on facts.

I have a christian background, and have experienced abuse with in the christian comunity therefore I would like to give a few comments to this post...

I agree totally that all missionaries with wrong priorities should be trown out of Thailand and never alowed back...

But because SOME are IDIOTS teach and learn the wrong message for there own winnings sake, there own popularitys sake and there own prosperitys sake... These people who claim they spread the LOVE of Jesus to the POOR in the world should have there priorities straightent up. And those are the people you guys talk about in this forum, and I understand why you dont like them a bit, neighter do I and they should be trown in Jail all of them...

Then there is missions like the missionaries of charity - it was started by a nun called Mother Teresa - she went out "serving the poor" at the streets of calcutta. She took care of them, binding there wounds, feeding there mouths, teaching there children. She say that she sees JESUS in every person and because she loves Jesus, she loves every person just as much.

She did not have to preach, all she did was showing her love to these people

Showing love opens the way to a persons heart - true christianity is about love, compasion and caring.

Real missionaries "serve" and "love" there inner source is there deep faith of the love of Jesus!

Fake missinaries want to be "served" and they want to be "loved" In there mind they think they "serve" and "love" all they do is read there bible, pray there prayers and therefor are more holy than other people... They are the saved ones, and every body has to believe the same they do. They will manipulate, and do everything they can to make conversions. They use an "outer source" what they see is what they believe... money comes in, people getting saved, children removed from there non christian families and ect... this is there "outer source" of worship and has nothing at all to do with christianity in GENERAL

AMEN-

Thank you all, and special thanks to Kwiz117 for sharing facts and knowlegde...

I have been present at some of these spiritualist ceremonies in a village in the North East. Where spirits take possession of people in the room. My ex-wife said that she had taken part in these rituals and been possessed herself when she was younger. She said that the experience was quite therapeutic and after would sleep for a long time and then feel good the next day

This was very similar to what I saw...

Why are there so many post out of topic in here? And why are there so many personal attacks? Should we not take this topic seriosly, many people around the world (men and women) are living in slavery and suffering forced out in the sex industry, eigther by there families or simply by poverty conditions.

Many choose to sell there bodys out of free choice? That is a bad argument, what happens inside a human being who sells sex as a profesion? Many sex workers have lost there own idendity/or are on the way of loosing it, sex workers will sooner or later suffer big emotinal problems because the human soul is very delicate. These are facts that no one hardly talk about... but how can we help as rational human beeings to care for these people?

Unfortunately many of the LADY BARS are owned by westernes, why not give these ladys a decent job with a "good monthly salary" so that they CAN take care of there families in there home villages? Why take advantage of there sitiuation?

moses, how on earth did you get a visa by the Swedes??????

Ha ha well that was a long and difficult procedure...

If you have read all my post, I am sure you will get a little confused to weather I live in the UK, Denmark or Sweden. Because in one post I mention my "UK license" another that I am "living in Denmark" and then finally the"cutting of christmas trees in Sweden"

As to chopping the tree down, I will give a miss if it's all the same to you. Christmas in Europe? I would rather go to the dentist, but good luck any way.

How about you and me swop places just during the winter time - I go live in Thailand - you go live in Sweden (-30 degrees) In earlier threths I say I am Danish so in order to avoid misunderstand I will clarify that i live in Sweden (today) as a DANE - and in January as usely it gets down to minus 20-30 degrees where I live... Then a motorbike is useless - most people have snow scooters up here!

Why do some farang or foreigners that obviously don't like the Thais, why do they want to live in los? Why do they post negativ about our hosts in this forum?

There are some people that love to live in Thailand, even if some things are changing, it's not getting easier for me also!

But I really love to live here, I love to comunicate with my many thai-friends in thai, I love to raise my son here in a country with friendly/harty people!

So if you don't like it here, take a break, go to where you come from and see how it's there!

Thank you TASA for a beatiful message and for a possitive attitude!

YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THAT AITIT!

Is there any practising buddhist or people with relegioues knowlegde that can answer these questions for me?

What is the difference between Thai buddhism and Chinese buddhism?

I came to Phuket just after the Chinese Vegetarian festival, and the local Thais which I have known for a couple of years did some sort of ritual dancing the same friday evening as I arrivad at patong beach in Phuket. It was made out as a play with one caractor as an APE, an OLD lady, an OLD man and another caractor was a CHILD which was 11 years old. (plus many more caractors)

It was facinating to look at and I took many nice photos...

My Thai friends had turned there home into a holy place with buddhas and alters everywhere, even the local guesthouse reception was filled with paintings, buddhas and insense.

I asked one Thai friend what all this was? He said it's Chinese Buddah, VERY GOOD-before I did not BELIEVE, NOW I BELIEVE... (ok - good for you)

He explained to me how he walked on broken glass and hot coal during the festival and nothing happend to him, why he said because buddha come inside of me... (ok - good for you)

Another friend of mine which had the caractor of the Old lady in the play said to me that... Buddah come inside, and buddah speak through me in chinese language - that's why people bow down in respekt and worship to her (the old lady) in the play... ( Ok - good for you )

As the days went by I tried to figure out why all these people where suddenly so fond of Buddah... When they talked to me it sounded like an american television show with preachers talking about how they suddenly came to believe in their SAVIOR Jesus Christ - there where a time they didn't belive and they where living in darknes but now.... Jesus christ has come inside of them and now they DO BELIEVE.

Anyway-

I got acquainted with another of the local Thai's - we spend quit a lot of time together - at firts I didn't know she was involved in all the buddhist activitist and rituals but I learned that she was fasting every friday - going to the "holy place" which was in the "guest house" reception... I joined her one friday she was fasting (or only eating vegetables) At the "holy place" something suddenly came over her... I can not explain what it was - she started shaking and I was really worried, she then started to rip of all her jewlery - I was shocked and asked what was going on... The Thai's just smiled and said Buddha come inside of her.... (.....) okej well shit, this is a bit to much for me! I sat down on a chair just waiting.... She could not walk on the floor, because it would burn her feed... they laid out holy gold plated papers on the ground she could rest her feed on. They gave her hot water to clean her mouth from smoking cigerates... it all seemed a bit wired to me! She was in the state of an 11 year old child now... and they started asking her questions - it defently was not her that answered the questions, she became a complete different person after this seance (or what ever it was) She was acting like a child - and suddenly started to shake WILDER and WILDER and then the Buddah or the spirit or what ever it was left her and she came back to normal.

Can anybody explain to me in plain English what that was all about?

I understand that, believing in something very strong can make you do strange things but they put the emphasies on the Chinese Buddah instead of the Thai Buddah, Why?

Thai people in general are not that extreem in there faith, but something really happend to these people

Just curios!

As Denmark is in the E.U. why is your license that you aquired in the U.K. not valid there?

If I had driven car or motorcycle for at least 12 months from the date of issue I would be able to go and chance it = No problem but because it was issued (I think same month) as I got home to Denmark. The police department never bought it!

I have another question for you, how far do you think I would get in your country or most other countries come to that, driving a car or riding a motorbike without a valid i.e. not forged driving license?

You would get arrested.

(on a forged license) you would probably end up in Jail, forging a license, a passport or other ID's is very serios crimes and would not be looked lightly upon and you should try and bribe the polise and see what happens :-)

So if you ever want a chain saw driver i'm your man.

actually I could use some help cutting down some X-mas trees in Sweden :-)

I have a question for Moses.

If you are not licensed to drive a motorbike in your home country what right do you have to ride one here?

Don't you think there are enough people here riding around here without the first clue to any road sense.

If you can manage it could you possibly bring with you the next time you come here some large dogs that you could let lose on the streets, preferably with sarcoptic mange as we are a bit short of them as well.

A brief answer to your sarcasm!

When I lived in the UK in the 90's I learned to drive a small motorcycle 125cc

I dont know how the law is today, but back then you could drive a motorcycle with out a license as a "learner" and a Car with out license with an L plate on and a person beside you who had a license.

When you drive a motorbike this way - you get a certificate which allows you to drive in the UK with out a prober license. I did that for about 12 months! (I was 18)

I passed my driving test for car and motorcycle and got a valid license for the UK.

I moved back to Denmark not long after, unfortunatly my UK license was not valid in my home country. Havent been back to the UK since then, and havent taken another license eighter...

What right do I have? None, I agree

But, I justify my actions by my previos UK license

DO YOU HAVE A VALID LICENSE FOR MOTORCYCLE YOUR SELF? maerim

why didn't the girl you had on the back tell you what you were pulled over for

She did talk in Thai to the officer, and she was in a hurry to get to work... but it was a bit unclear at first why I was pulled over because in my own opinion, I was driving carefully, had headlights and helmet on - She did explain everything to me afterwoods though.

One other thing comes to my mind regarding wearing helmet... I remember a couple of years ago - I was driving a Thai friend and one of his younger children from A to B also on Phuket Ireland.

The child was only 4-5 years old, sitting in front and my friend was sitting in the back on the motorbike. I put the helmet on the child, and my friend said: NO - you must wear helmet yourself or the police stops you... I said I didn't care if I was going to drive the two of them to destination B then the child wears the helmet period.

I was not stopped by the police, everything went well but what had happend if I was stopped? Fined again for not wearing helmet? If I have an accident, the child would be the most fragile wouldn't it? That's how I thought anyway!

Moses

Interesting reading...

If I should want to answer the question why there are so many ladyman in Thailand, I would go back in historie - learn the historical and cultural background. and then maybe come up with an answer.

I admire the freedom and acceptance Thai's show one another!

I have nothing more to say but if anybody know more about the cultural or historical background please do post it..... it is so interesting! Thanks

Moses

To SBK - I did wear a helmet, they fined me only because off a missing drivers license...

Thanks for all your replys on this subject - it's good to know how things "really" are working - next time I will ask the officer if I can buy a Thai drivers license at the police station

moses

These events took place in the month of november 2003, followed by questions some questions....

I was driving from Kata beach to Patong on Phuket Ireland, when a police officer stopped me with hand signals, he wanted me to pull over. I had hired a suzuki (small motorbike) from the guesthouse where I live. This morning as all other mornings during my 2 weeks vacation I was driving my thai girlfriend to he work in Patong beach.

The polite police officer asked me for my "international driving license" - I took up my swedish identification card and said to him, this is all I've got... He asked me if it was my drivers license and I explained to him that it was a swedish identification card. (I wonder what had happend if I said it was a license)

He confiscated my ID card and told me to meet up at Chalong police station the same day late afternoon, I had no idea about what was going on at the time but my girlfreind told me that I got finned and had to go to police station and pay the fine. The police officer wrote out a piece of paper in Thai which probably explained my traffic offences. I tried being polite to, and said krap krun krap with a big smile and praying hands :-)

I imagined that they would arrest me, and I would miss my flight home to Sweden the next day mind you this is the first time ever I visit a police station for an offence in my life... Once entering the police station two police officers sat behind a desk, one of them looked nice and smiling and the other one looked angry and grungy - I got the angry one off cause... He told me to sit down and I waited there in front of his desk for maybe 10 minutes while he was reading something.

Finnaly - he looked up - I gave him my papers, passport and etc and he told me to pay 300 bath in fine - was that it? YES it was it... I got back my Swedish ID card and took my motorbike and drove back to Kata beach!

1) Is it new that you need a license to a small motorbike?

I have hired motorbike every year under the impression that I didn't need a license for it... Thai's say that it is not nessecary - maybe it's a new law.

2) How come, if it is a traffic offence to drive with out license that the police officer let me drive to Patong beach after all, well knowing that I didn't have a valid license?

3) I drive to the police station in Challong on my motorbike pay my fine, get my ID drive back home from police station on the very same motorcycle.

The laws does not make sence, if they told me that I could not drive after getting fined of cause I would have stopped - but they just say drive carefull!

4) Can you get a license in Thailand for motorbike? Or is it only for thai residence... (I dont want to pay 1000's of dollers here in Sweden to get motorbike licence, when I use it one time abroad a year)

Moses

If you plan 2 go 2 phuket and want a beach of your own, then try the "tarzan jungle beach". It constist of tree small beaches - to get there you hire a motorbike and drive down to NaiHarn beach. At the end of the road on Nai Harn beach there is a big resort/hotel (forgot the name) - anyway drive through there parking lot of the resort, down through there basement then TURN LEFT and follow the small road about 3 km. Then you will enter the area of Tarzan jungle beach! to get on the other 2 beaches you can climb a few rocks, but you can see them all with in eye distance once you are there!

Good luck

moses