happyending

but im sure theres enough grey matter on this forum to sort it out once and for all

If the greatest minds in human history couldn't come to a definite conclusion, I doubt thaivisa members will do any better.

According to the Pali Canon, the Buddha taught at two levels. To his serious followers (the monks) he taught a system of mental cultivation that led to a state of being without suffering in this lifetime. For the rest, he taught an easier path that could be followed over more than one lifetime but which didn't include continuation of personal identity. So if we look at the real focus of his teaching, it was all about the here and now.

The Level 1 teaching didn't require blind faith, Level 2 teaching did. Perhaps the Buddha got it wrong in the Level 2 teaching, or perhaps it was inserted into the scriptures later by monks who wanted to make everything easier for the laity. We'll never know. The one thing we do know is that the primary teachings were essentially atheistic and required no blind faith.

well said

teaching on 2 levels

like sunday school or the parables

budda

level 1 = quieten the mind to the state of no mind to attain peace, of mind [1%]

level 2 = follow the teachings and youll escape any further bad luck/karma [99%]

jesus

level 1 = do the right things and you will be at peace within yourself [1%]

level 2 = do good and you will go to a wonderful place [99%]

sad that the authorities/churches jumped on the level 2 bandwaggon

and keep on milking it for all its worth

but with 99% of willing donors - its a good money/power maker

no buttons in the plate, please

hi all

will be in chiang mai when my visa extension finishes

will then move onto the 3 visa runs options

whats the quickest and easiest and cheapest option for a visa run out of chiang mai?

is there any company to avoid?

thanks in advance

google sky adventure chiang mai

thanks sunrise

did the search

sent off 2 separate emails to sky adventures - got no reply

later phoned the school

all i got was - 'yes, we got your emails ,ha ha ha.'

'send us an email and we will answer your questions, goodbye'

???

what universe is this

doesnt give you alot of confidence

maybe there are others

anyone know?

Previous topic has some information in it.

thanks for that

im wondering if theres any info more recent [>2006]

dear chaing maians

i want to learn to fly microlights

ive heard chiang mai is the place

has anyone trained here before or know of any schools offering good training

thanks in advance for any leads

To happyending

Instead of going to the bars as you stated where these girls go. why not try and meet girls who dont sell themselves as you might get a better chance of meeting a genuine one, not bar girsl with 10 bfs.

tomuk

thanks for the tip

i agree with what you say

i myself dont go to bars to meet girlfriends

im refering to friends i know who have been told by family [mamma]

to go and find a farang to milk

most of them dont want to go but feel obligated due to the eastern cultural differences

these are good, genuine people

but their culture tells them to obey their parents

some get lucky and find a good man

some learn the game and take on 10 bf

others are sad and feel guilty for not providing for their family

see it from their side

its not an easy life

Why do people feel the need to escape the West to come live in Thailand, but when they get here constantly find fault with things because they are different from the West?

its a good question

those who whinge about their old country

will whinge about this one - and the next...

its their nature

unhappy with themsleves wherever they go and blaming it on everyone/everywhere else

[they will whinge about this comment as well]

you can change locations

but you cant run away from yourself

you are always there, waiting

a trip back to the old country is a good tonic

check your smile when you get your passport back with that thai visa in it

what flashes thru your mind then - beaches, bars, warm nights, girls, food, smiles,

then see how much you complain

nowhere is perfect

no-one either

be thankful youre one of the lucky few who can get on a plane

and go live in another country

riding down the wrong side of the road at night

no helmet, no light, no license

and the bib waves and says hello

where else but thailand

$$$

You don't need a license, you need a psychiatrist.

Back on topic;

The food, the girls, the islands andmy nieces and nephews.

Not necessarily in that order...

hey pepe

my turnoff is a nightmare

easier to crawl down the bike lane on the right, then turn right

my psychiatrist tells me not to conform

go against the flow was the advice

i applied it to traffic

Back on topic

yes, the food and girls are sweet and available

7 / 11 if you want

i also like the fact you can go away

then come back here

and in an hour you have your life set up again

accommodation, food, entertainment

its all available

you can feel at home again in an afternoon

walk down the street and people remember you - say hello

try that in most other countries

too much red tape and regulations

its an east / west thing

in the west

the most down and out busted arse poet will find a girl who loves him for who he is

he can get a student allowance / unemployment benefit / family allowance

they can live the bohemian life style in a dump somewhere

in the east

theres no benefits or allowances

the money flows up from child to parent

not down from parent/state to child - the key difference

so when daughters are sent to resorts and bars

the intention is to find a farang to end the poverty cycle

then channel that money back to mamma

love?

the test for new players is to play poor

just enough money to support yourself or you and her

then

see who runs and see who stays

its the acid test

and

be prepared for a long wait

I like the timelessness of Thailand, and my life in that timelessness. However, if I were you, I would have changed my name before asking a question like that. Here in Thailand, particularly. Maybe you should add a picture, so people can see why you chose that particular name.

i chose that name because

when i set out on anything, i anticipate a happy ending

regardless

back to the topic ...

beer in a supermarket

cant get it my old country

riding down the wrong side of the road at night

no helmet, no light, no license

and the bib waves and says hello

where else but thailand

ok, a topic that looks on the bright side

[whingers need not apply - save it for another topic]

we are all here because thailand holds an interest of some sort

so what is it?

what do you like about this place ???

for me

i like the way you can go to the markets or the beach

leave everything in your bikes basket

and when you come back - its all still there - including the bike

i once saw money left in a bikes basket and no-one went near it

wouldnt happen in most countries around the world

a certain respect there

over to you...

im working on one right now

a combination job

first, the moneys running low - business is not so good

bring this one on over time

also, must go back home to check on business status

tie this one in with a visa finishing

[vanish on visa trip]

family illness is a good backup

nana/mother/sister is sick - may die soon

must go back to see her one more time

[exit to next resort town]

if in real doubt

listen to neil simons '50 ways to leave your lover'

'just slip out the back jack'

'make a new plan stan'

'no need to be coy roy'

just listen to me

'hop on the bus gus'

'no need to to discuss much'

'just drop off the key lee'

and get yourself free

http://phuketdir.com/pktimmigration/index.htm

I'm not sure, but it is a little chance, that the Imm-office at the beachroad in Patong (Number at link bottom) , between Bangla and Sawadirak, may have opening hours at the weekend!

Or the Immigration at Chalong, if this one is offering extension service!

nonono

thank you, thank you, thank you

your link says it all

for those interested ...

Phuket Immigration Offices are located in Phuket Town and Patong Beach.

DAYS OPEN

Monday - Friday

CLOSED

Saturday, Sunday & Holidays

HOURS

8.30 A.M - 4.30 P.M

a quick question

is the immigration office in phuket town open for business on saturdays and/or sundays

i must extend my visa on sunday 8th june [if open]

am assuming monday 9th will cost me an overstay fine

thanks

just wondering if someone might know if i can extend a single entry visa by 1 or 2 weeks instead of 30 days at a lower cost.

or is it fixed at 30 days and 1900 baht

thanks

Every extension is 1,900 Baht be it 7 days or 1 year.

A single entry Tourist Visa will be extended for 30 days.

An entry stamp without a Visa will only be extended for 7 days.

thanks lite beer

ok - to extend my SETV for 1 or 2 or 4 weeks cost 1900 baht regardless

so i am, in fact, being encouraged to stay longer to get my moneys worth!

this is new for me

i feel so warm inside

no wonder everyone smiles at me all the time

they love me here

just wondering if someone might know if i can extend a single entry visa by 1 or 2 weeks instead of 30 days at a lower cost.

or is it fixed at 30 days and 1900 baht

thanks

sorry palusa

i was in the old 'thai bashing' groove

but

you may be onto something here

strong consensus from 'outside' that the bib are incompetent and corrupt

'evidence' that its not done this way in the real world may just force an about face, save face, response

perhaps an entry from 'my learned friend' on all matters legal in the us or europe,

quoted at length, might have effect.

i rest my case

right hon. happyending

siam not change me, kup

same same before, laaooo

who say me changing i boxing, mah mah

he said

putting on his jacket backwards

and riding off down the wrong side of the road

with family of 4 aboard

to the beach, to eat som tam and swim fully clothed

pay ... and pay and pay until you get what you want

thats how it works in 3rd world military dictatorships

money is the rule of law

dont kid yourself its any other way

pay the game or cash in your chicks

lots of people recommending south america

especially argentina

must be something in it

sri lanka?

or south africa - dirt cheap at the moment

lots of saudi / mid east money pouring into malaysia these days

cant help thinking it will go sharia one day

[didnt they jail the opp. leader on suspicion of being gay]

then on down to indonesia

and sth thailand?

nth thailand

pressure from communist china?

will be an interesting next 5 years

plan b sounds sensible

You may want to think about relocating/retiring to Lake Chapala which is located close to Guadalajara Mexico. There are throngs of US and Canadian retirees there but not so many that it dilutes the local Mexican culture and customs. The cost of living there is very reasonable and the locals are very warm and friendly. Good luck

RNM

mexico sounds good

must be some nice beach towns there as well

must be cheap now too with the usd tanking

maybe s/where in the south

thanks

navy pilot?

heres my story

travelled thru here and liked it - as a backpacker

came back on holiday for 2 months some years later

returned home, saved for a year and sold everything

invested all my capital in shares

moved back here with a carry on travel bag and a laptop

2 years here now and havent looked back

i can live well on 1000 baht a day

thats a beachside bungalow and seafood every night if you want

its surprising how little you need in asia

if you invest wisely your income can fund you travels forever

better go

got to finish this beer and these prawns before i head down to play some pool

I'm about six years out from retirement and the big move. Sometimes I look in my garage at the boxes of "stuff" and wonder what I'm going to do with it all. I guess I'll sell what I can, see if my kids want anything, and eventually put the stuff on the street with a "free" sign. I hope to to have a nice chunk of cash from the sale of my home to help with the transition. It's still a fairly long way off but I'm sure it will be here before I know it!!

dave

we meet again

get over here

sell the house - ditch the junk

come over and play - golf among other things

things change fast

do it now while you still believe you can

[sitting over a putt doesnt make it go in]

I live in Aus 6 months and Thai 6 months , i dont think i would like to live in Thai or Aus for more than 6 months at a time but there are a lot of faults in both countrys.

But one thing for sure i can work in aus 3 months which pays for my 6 months in thai try doing that the other way around .

cheers

kanga

sounds like a nice setup

what do you in oz

where do you go in thailand

make $$$ in the rich countries

spend it in the others

helps everyone out