featography

Bent? Means something else in UK, thught it was a gay policeman

Beyond the obvious I have known it as meaning to get intoxicated (I really got bent last night) and upset (bent out of shape) but I looked it up online in a slang dictionary and it says it could also mean corrupt though I have never heard it be used that way, at least not in the US.

The UK meaning relates to if someone is not corrupt in any way then they are '' straight '', so if the opposite, they are '' bent ''. As an aging Londoner you can take it as a true slang word.

Along those lines, in the States we also use "straight" in the same context, but our word for bent is "crooked". ie crooked cop, and robbers are called crooks.

Chiang Mai has loads of tourists now, in my opinion any way

Chiang Mai does have tourist and this being low season but not the numbers that we had before September 19, 2006.

Im sure thats only a coincidence.

NOT!

Chula is a well respected University. I hope they can continue to improve and that more money will be spent on research and development.

"CU's vice president MR Kalaya Tingsabadh said: "We categorise CU as world-class in the 'national' university division, not world-class in an 'international' university division."

Excuse me for asking, but how can one be world class on a national level only?

The Thai Police are merely a product of a flawed cultural and societal system.

They are representative of Thai society itself, and the country as a whole.

They can never be changed or improved until the cultural flaws are addressed.

On this issue I agree with you 100%. But what of the accomplices who apparently escaped after 'shooting their way out'? Do we take it that this was just yet another bungled police operation, or was the escape pre-arranged as with red shirt leaders escaping down ropes when the police came to arrest them?

only took 12 posts to make reference to the Red Shirts.

Your entry stamp is transferred into your new passport by Immigration and a notation of old passport number, place and date of issue is also made in the new passport.

That makes sense. Otherwise we could have a problem with our thai drivers Licenses. (Thai dl # is the passport #)

I find running air-con on a timer for 1-2 hours at 25 degrees at bedtime combined with a ceiling fan running all night keeps me cool enough and gives electric bills around 1500 a month living alone in a 3 Bed house. Frugal enough? It works for me.

Everybody so far has good advice. I found the cold items held between the wrists, brings your temp down fast. I taught the wife there are 2 uses for 7-11 cold bottles of water; cooling wrists and neck, and drinking. A great place is under the chin and against the arteries on both sides of the neck.

Considering heat rises to the ceiling, cool air falls to the floor, I have always wondered why fans are installed high on the wall close to the ceiling in this country. Aircon blows cold air, going to the floor, causing heat to rise. Fan blowing the hottest air in the room, downward seems counter productive and costly. I chose not to use them, but instead, in our bedroom, with aircon on, I use 1 small table top fan, situated on the floor under the aircon. The fan only blows the cold air around the room. I have never slept on the ceiling, so I prefer the hot air to stay up there. Set at 28 degrees, the wife will chill early hours of the morning and wrap herself like a mummy with the blanket.

The water filled air cooler op mentioned maybe what we call, in the States, a swamp cooler. They are only used in dry arid areas of the country, because they put humidity in the air while cooling the room. They are virtually useless used in areas that have average to high humidity. And no, the misnomer Swamp Cooler does not mean they are meant for swampy areas. If this is what op saw, I would be very surprised they even try to sell them in Thailand.

Poor guy, RIP...Pattaya is creating so many victims.

That is not Pattaya creating a victim it is drinking from 8am that created the victim. It could have happened in Hua Hin or Udon thani!

Exactly. WHO states that the # cause of death among foreigners in Thailand is dehydration. Although final autopsies will list specific causes of death, they are brought on by dehydration in most cases.

Did l read here sometime ago that a guy was pulled by the BiB for lights on, something to do with only Police, government, or Royalty vehicles could so that others new they were important and to let them pass

well, thats why I have my Highwaypolice sticker in the windshield and lights on, in heavy traffic even fog lights and low beam on. and it works

but there is no law against daytime driving lights, and several new Euros like Audi and Benz have diode daytime lights not possible to switch off

all Police convoys use daytime lights, usually high beam

So, where can I get one?

I am leaving Thailand and can sell you my Police Badge which goes on the grill.

it has enabled me to charge right through police road blocks at high speeds, and get a salute! I shit you not.

its worth the 5,000 baht im asking for it.

the only problem is, you need a nice expensive car to make it look real.

I dont think soooooo. I have seen many on Isuzu and Toyota pickups. Some driven by uniformed people, some by civilian clothes

My question is whats the difference between the windshield sticker, and the badge that goes on the grill??

You know what really pisses me off is if he had had a weapon in his home, and had the opportunity to defend himself, he probably would have ended in in jail for assaulting the robbers with a deadly weapon -- in his own home.

That's one thing I really miss about living in the US. If the perps had broke into my home in America, they would have exited my home horizontally.

I know...crazy, gun-loving Americans. But the fact of the matter is that no matter what country your in, their are no policemen hiding in your closet at the ready to rescue you and your loved ones from bad people who break into your home with the intent of doing you and your family bodily harm. It's just that in some countries, you're afforded the opportunity to avoid criminal prosecution should you be put into the situation of having to defend yourself in your own home. Unfortunately, Thailand is not one of those countries. At least not for Farangs. So the only other option is to make you're home into a fortress for your own protection.

But I agree with one of the other posters...inside job? Perhaps family?

Connda, I agree. There are only 2 things I miss, living here; my grand kids, kids, and my small arsenal of hunting and defense weapons. You got that right too,about Gun lovin Americans! Because "an armed society is a polite society" and it works. For all the bad mouthin done about gun ownership in the US, I have noted that most comes from those whose countries have already banned or greatly restricted ownership. The law abiding Thai neighbors and friends I listen to, wish they had America's freedom to choose whether to own or not own guns. I've been here long enough to see that Thai laws restricting guns has not stopped violent crime here. It has only changed the 2 legged predators' choices of weapons, machetes and knives. Ask any surgeon which they would prefer to repair in e.r., bullet wounds in a man, or a man thats been hacked to pieces by a machete.

I truly hope the gentleman makes a full recovery, and his wife is not forever traumatized.

The colleague's story is exactly one of the reasons whymthere is no happy marriage between police and civilians. he was obviously waiting for the woman to offer a way out of the ticket, and once he saw she wasn't going to cough up, she was allowed to go.

Police in any society are invaluable, including in Thailand. What needs to happen is clean the police up, strip out the corruption, then pay them more for doing the job they do. But as long as there is corruption, there will never be a happy relationship. It's like a married man who cheats, and his wife knows it.

BTW, in a previous life I was a police officer in my home country. Naturally I have a huge amount of respect for them, and it's been the case every time I have been stopped here and I talk my way out of these bogus tickets (most recent in Udon just two-three weeks ago). My wife, on the other hand, isn't so lucky. She's got them for having a dirty bike <deleted> (before my time).

As the annual love celebration is here, it is worth considering a question: why civilians give high respects to the military but cannot spare some love for the police?

A passing thought;

How many military personnel hang on the streets, pulling motorists over for tea money?

Oh, too slow, someone beat me to it.

Apparently this is Thailand's new 'drug problem.'

...and America's old drug problem. The computer data base that went nationwide, put a major stop to prescription medicine abuse/addiction. In a treatment center that I spent a month in for alcoholism, many years ago, there were 12 females, 13 males. Half of the females were in there for prescriptions addictions, most of the other half, for alcohol, and a couple for cocain or heroin. They told us, that it was easy to get all the prescription meds one wanted, if one went to multiple doctors, clinics. Before national database, doctors had no clue about other doctors prescribing to the same patient. Apparently, Thai have discovered the same thing.

Thailand and Cambodia have an "open zone" between the two countries at Aranyaprathet/Poi Pet for casinos, so that people from both countries can enter without entering the other's country, why can't they do the same thing for the disputed temple??????????? Wag the dog...

Agreed. That would be the MATURE way of handling it, but, how long before a mature, person with authority, on both sides, comes up with that solution?!?!?!?

I think corned beef hash is kind of a "retro" food and not really common on US menus anymore. Perhaps people eat it at home. I never ate any and don't want any. I wouldn't mind a serving of s--t on a shingle (SOS in the LOS) though!

Growing up, my mother (English) fed us kids SOS too often. I do believe corned beef hash is an American thing, and it is a d#@m sight better tasting than SOS. The picture doesn't do it justice though.

That's right. The POM's don't eat stuff like sheep's guts. LMAO. Here's an oxymoron. "English Gormet Food"

or how about "English Dental Hygeine"

Makro has all of that, fresh, good quality and the best prices in Pattaya.

As are all the Makro's I have found.

Once every 3 months, I make a day of shopping for farang food. My tour takes me to Foodland, Tops, Makro, and the larger Tescos in Bkk.

In these places, I stock up for 3 months worth on the items I cannot get in our local Tesco and Thai markets. For kitchen accessories, I have found, in the upper scale dept stores the things that Tesco and local places don't stock. The key is if you dont find something in particular at one name outlet, don't assume all the outlets of same name wont have it. It appears to me that each store has some flexibility in what they stock.

Not to mention they stink like an unwashed ass.

They look like they have not washed there clothes or themselves in months

That is surprising. I thought that one of their cannons was to have clean mind and body. They are supposed to rise before dawn and wash, so I thought. Perhaps there is a vow of uncleanliness?

That would be the 2nd clue

Normally I always take hitchhikers, it's a moral obligation because in days long past I did a lot of hitchhiking myself. But I stopped taking monks, my experience is that they invariably ask for money. No way to tell if they are genuine monks or not, and it goes a bit too far to request to be shown the special ID card every monk is required to carry.

a first clue would be "monks hitchhiking"

If you are able to try to see the name of what company or resort is printed on the minibus and phone to complain

wasnt there a name and shame thread a while back?

He didnt say thread it. He said phone it (to those in charge of those vehicles)

The decline really sped up about 2 years ago. Now all I see is Russian tourists everywhere and bars being torn down. Sad to see the place go to the dogs like it has.

I moved to Pattaya just as it started to take this nosedive. I had no idea when I moved here everyone else would be moving out.

Should I move somewhere else? Maybe a different country? I've thought about moving to Cambodia. No visa hassles is a big plus for me, since I'm only 30 and can't get a retirement visa. Khmer food is pretty tasty. Prices are fairly low if you can avoid getting ripped off. Although the major downside is the lack of infrastructure. No good hospitals yet and few of the nice condos you have in Thailand.

I wouldn't move to Hua Hin. I predict in 5 years it will be another Pattaya. Cha Am will be another Pattaya in about 10 yrs.

Why not see if one of those plastic covered chain locks that they use for motor cycles security will tie your spare to something. If your that worried you can buy a 7/16 thread, bolt with eye. Drill one hole near spare, nut either side of the hole, then padlock to the eye.

"Talking bout wheels, how to protect the other 4? In europe all new cars come with a locked seperate thingy (dont know the word, sorry), each wheel has 6 of them to keep them in place but 1 of them has a different unique fitting which cannot be unlocked without my device/key. I need a set of 4 (each wheel 1). Howmuch are these and can these be bought at all wheel/tyre/rims stores?"

In the States they are called lug nuts, and they also sell after market locking lug nuts, in 2 styles; The older versions took standard style keys. The flaw in this design is the nut has a sleeve cylinder that just spins, not allowing a wrench to grab the lug nut, and can be broken off with hammer. The 2nd design is a solid lug nut with clover leaf shaped indentation (female), each shaped different from others. This is accompanied with a matching clover leaf key (;male), Because they are one piece and made with high grade steal, they are virtually indestructable.

I have yet to find these in Thailand, and if you or anyone else does find them, I'd appreciate knowing where.

Okay my Thai wife and I got married first, before the Thai wedding. Same problem with her parents wanted more 1,000,000 baht, a new house and gold. My wife has the same level of employment and close to your wife's age. After a month of talking, which included a lot of crying on my wife's part we did settle on a different number. I will tell you I was not involved in any of the talks, just updated by my wife. From more than 1 million baht we settled with 200k in baht, 4 baht in gold and a new motorbike. We had our Thai wedding and my wife has the gold now, everything else went to pay for the wedding and her parents. In the end everyone was happy and no one complained. In Thai terms we saved face without excess greed. Years later, I have seen many Thai weddings which our final payment is the norm. Good luck.

That sounds more like Thai culture. I got creative in my sin sod, 5 yrs ago.. For a sin sod, I produced the paperwork showing my investments, stocks, life insurance, all listing her as beneficiary, as well as proof of retirement income. I did this already knowing the whole family were good people, and I wouldn't have to sleep every night with one eye open. Her uncle, a retired Army colonel, and the only other person in the family to speak English, read all the papers, and negotiated in behalf of her father, with a close friend of ours, also an English speaking Thai, negotiating in our behalf. I bought the gold rings, her bracelet and necklace, and the papers were displayed and past around at wedding, for all to see my worth. The donated moneys were given to dad, mother having passed away years prior. His daughter had never been married, and had no children. She was and is a business owner, so between our combined incomes, we as a team contribute to her family as we feel the need or want. They never ask for money, but ocassionally ask for loans, which they repay each time. Sin sod are negotiable, folks.

Col Sansern: authorities trying to contain situation and end clash as both sides claimed the other fired first /TAN_Newtork

Col Sansern: clashes still ongoing /TAN_Newtork

Col. Sanders: authorities trying to contain situation and end clash as both sides claimed the other fired first on TAN Newtork.

Col. Sanders: clashes still ongoing with TAN Newtork

whose gonna get the pagoda and who is gonna get the chickens?!??! I cant stand the suspense.

I'm with the previous replyer, we need more photographic evidence,

What!!! Like there's not enough porn on the internet already. You want to turn a forum of intellectuals into a platform for shameless photos of naked and skimpily clad women, because of your own sexual anxiety? HHmmmmm...maybe your onto something. :jerk:

"...forum of intellectuals...." ?

Doesn't Abhisit or anyone in his government realize that Obama believes in everything that the Red Shirts stand for?

I'm stymied. Exactly what is everything that Obama and Red shirts have in common? I'm not being a Smart#$$. Enlighten me.

I just couldn't agree more! This issue really gets my goat. I see them all the time and what's worse is one regular offender LIVES here and goes topless at the beach in front of her nanny!!!! The audacity of this woman to be soooooo disrespectful is just mind-boggling. At least I tell myself that the tourists are just dumb, after all, we all know by now they leave their brains behind when they come on holiday here.....some are just pain rude and don't care, but I dare-say most are just plain ignorant *sigh*.

Does anyone have any more creative ideas about how to deal with this? I was recently faced with 5 topless women whilst trying to have lunch with my husband...a little distracting as you don't have to live here long for modesty to become your mantra and so whereas a set of boobs a few years ago may not have raised an eyebrow, it certainly raises more than that now! Mostly my blood-pressure!

thai double standards. Dont fully enforce nudity laws, but fully cover up smoking, drinking, and guns on tv. Go figure. We have similar laws in Hawaii, but Europeans disrespect the laws there too. The law enfarcement should book em, fine em 1000, euro, dollars BP, hold for 24 hrs , then transport to airport and send em home. Word would spread fast internationally.