GizmoBKK

Oh dear...

And what part exactly is it that feels so attached?

Great advice in my humble opinion. I think the best way to approach this is for me to lose the seriousness and pick up some fun!

So, how was the long weekend...?

She is in los now n will just be comin here for 5 days because she needs to return to farangland again next weekend. Man, I don't know how am I gonna be with her after knowing the 'whole' story. I know I have to brealk it down with her during her time here but I just don't know how. Its not the same situation with girls here. And she's paying for her flight whilst I have booked accomodation..I feel really dumb now to be honest..

Well, you need to decide what suits YOU best.

Some ideas to ponder:

• Why do you "have to break it down during her time here"? Are there any other options?
• If you are sure you want to break up anyway, what about canceling the flight and saving some money on both ends?
• How comfortable would you feel playing the game that the bar girls would play in such a situation: turn off the brain (and the heart) and just have a great time together and the rest - time will tell...

Hi Gizmo. Thanks for the advice so far. Your post suggests u too have thought long about this issue. Thing is, I've always found it noble for thai girls as such to want to get money for their family at all costs although I find it extremely wrong at the means they are doing so. She is slated to travel to farangland this weekend to visit me for 5 days. I'm thinking of a way to let her go then

Really, she is going to visit you at home for 5 days? She's just flying over to visit you or she combines it with visiting her bf? (How would you actually feel if you were this bf?) And who has paid for the flight?

And how are you going to spend 5 long days together after all this story?

Excuse my curiosity.

Some extra information for you guys to assist me out. Thing is she lives with her so called bf now and will be finding a job as a retail assistant in farangland. That's her main reason for living with him. To get the financial backings without having to work bar.

And again, the seniors on this forum will predict how the story will go: she will come to "farangland" (wherever this is). She will realize that this country is different form Thailand: here friends and family (both very important for most Thai girls) are not around. If there is not a big Thai community, she will feel lonely and bored. She will suddenly realize that an Euro or USD is woth less in its home country compared to its value in Thailand. And she probably will not be able to find a job (if she tries to find one at all) because of her very limited language skills. In other words: reality will hit her hard.

I would estimate the average time before splitting up with the bf and being back to the bar scene is about 3 months.

Yes, once more a lot of stereo-typing, but I see a lot of people with a grin on their face and nodding while reading this post.

And I've asked her this- "can you help me out if I have my money runs low?" And she says yes she would once she secured the job. This really puzzled me. Ok I know I'm gonna have to leave her as this is getting crazier everyday. But why answer in that manner. Is she playing reverse psychology with me ???

She does not necessarily play reverse psychology. She might be so naive to really believe this. She might indeed help you out one day if she had all that money she is dreaming of.

Try it out. Get broke and see with how much money she will support you.

I'm actually just feelin bad to leave her after all we've talked about and also the fact that I've bonded with her family. Its just so hard on me and its

affecting my studies now knowing she is shagging another everyday.

It's a bitter fact of life that we sometimes get to know people, feel close to them - but learn that things would not work out...

Ask yourself what is better for you: continue the relationship (with all its consequences) - or take it as an experience that made you grow and made you a wiser man - and move on. It does not mean you are not compassionate, it does not mean you have to throw the good memories over board.

1) If she does not want (need) your money, where does the money come from then? All the bar girls work for the money, not because it is the job they dreamed of. They need money for the family (the "fatherless son"!) so she either gets it from working at the bar, from someone else, or from you. Which option do you like?

2) What is your concern of leaving her really? That she feels bad about it or you feeling bad? Trust me, if she is a bar girl, she is used to seeing people come and go, and even though I do not know any of the two of you, it is likely she will not even shed a tear and look out for the next one. As beano said, this is Thailand...

Caring for other people is a great thing. You seem to be a considerate person. But can you go out to all the girly bars, to the slums, to hospitals and help everyone who is miserable? You will find thousands of stories like the one you are just experiencing for yourself.

Well, the most important thing you say is

s I don't mind leaving her

I do not want to jump to conclusions, but from the little that you describe this seems it is what you have to do.

It doesn't matter much what are the reasons for her going back to her "bf" (or should we say "sponsor"?), be it family obligations or "love". You've got a taste of what's to come if you stay in this relationship.

What zzaa09 says is in a way true: we've heard the sentence

And if I leave her, I'm afraid she might continue working the bar scene!

too many times. There is no love in the bar scene. (Personally I have not heard of a single Farang - Thai bar girl relationship that worked.)

Take good care of yourself!

Kevin,

Take a step back. Re-read your post as if you had not written it yourself. Let's say you hear this story from a friend, and he asks you for advice.

What advice would you give your friend?

All the best,

G.

Soy milk with sugar is definitely not what you want to drink when you intend to lose weight. But soy milk is also available without sugar.

As for the comparison with milk, many will tell you that a diet without animal protein and without animal fat is a lot healthier than with this stuff.

However my experience with regard to weight is not so much about what you eat as moreover how much you eat and how much calories you burn via physical activity...

To eat less and move more, motivation is the key. Wanting to stop being lethargic and not wanting to die to soon sounds like an excellent start to me ;-)

All the best!

Blog Post by "The Care Guys" on

How to choose the New Year Resolution that suits you best – and stick to it

Happy New Year, too!

Ha! New Year Resolutions are a big topic for the 1st of Jan. I have just written an eBook titled "Why You Should Not Make New Year Resolutions". I give it away for free, but posting links to my own website is considered not appropriate on this forum...

Hi!

I am an accredited and certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Administrator in Bangkok. Unfortunately I find this thread a bit late, but thought it might be useful to add that until today there is no Thai translation for the MBTI assessment.

The Myers-Briggs organisation continually translates the test into other languages, but since they are very serious about it (they want to ensure validity) it takes time. A personal letter to Mr. Peter B. Myers from many people interested in the test in Thai language may help speed up the process...

If I can be of any support with the English version, let me know.

Best,

G.

You know what.. Sometimes I become too confused.. What is the right way of thinking, actually. Like I got confusion from my own mixed-culture.

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so"

Shakespeare, in Hamlet

Enjoy life

Hi MindoriApple,

Well, it might very well be that as you say it "might be just to get better known each other, so we may develop from acquaintance to be platonic friend." It might as well be that he is looking for a date.

More important is the question what do you want?

No one will be able to tell you what the guy wants except this person is a mind reader - or you just try to find out. We can do a lot of stereo-typing, but it does not go so far that we could predict what another Farang wants.

So, what does your heart tell you? Do you want to find out? Then go ahead. If not, then just don't.

The good thing from my point of view about dealing with Westerners (so I do some stereo-typing here...) is that you can be straight-forward: if you feel that he wants more than you want, you can just straight away tell him that you are neither looking for dating nor a relationship. Most probably he will appreciate your direct way of communication. An no one loses face ;-)

Chok dee khrap,

G.

Hi Mavec,

I am no expert on Thai food, but as far as I understand "yum" is a kind of spicy and sour sauce. It is indeed also in the spicy papaya salad som tam, and of course in the dishes as indicated in the names e.g. the famous shrimp soup tom yum kung or pomelo salad yum som-o.

However, if you seriously have gained 10 pounds in 6 weeks, this is probably not only about what you eat, it's about how much you eat. Have you considered changing your eating behaviour?

;-)

Best,

G.

DrAzTik,

I assume many of the answers were not necessarily what you expected to get, but there is obviously some reason for the snidely remarks: countless failed Farang-Thai relationships in Thailand.

I am not saying your relationship will not work. I just wonder, would you start a relationship with someone in your home country you cannot communicate with? This said, I am fully in line with little_muppet.

Others in this forum have different opinions, but for me communication is THE key in a good relationship. You have to decide how important that is for you.

What is it that really attracts you to each other?

Will you be willing to learn Thai? Will she be willing to learn English? How long will it take until you can communicate in a foreign language about what matters in a relationship? And how will you overcome this period?

Where's a will, there is a way. But spare yourself unnecessary pain. The "mocking people" on this forum may have some stories to tell, and once in a while it's worth listening to.

Best,

G.

Just saw this old thread from 2008. Any up-date on 2010? Prices in BKK seem to be fixed throughout all stores.

MacbookPro 13.3" 2.26 GHz 46,900

MacbookPro 15.4" 2.53 GHz 64,900

Better to buy in Singapore or Hong Kong? Will the shops in BKK fix a Mac bought abroad?

Thanks for your input!

There have been numerous discussions on the safety issues, and I have asked the organizers of the track day to comment on that on this forum. For whatever reason, they have not done this so far.

However, in a personal message, they have offered me to return my money if after the first session I decide to quit for safety reasons. I assume this will apply for anybody else as well.

Let's face it: none of the tracks in Thailand is "safe", including Bira. I agree though that it's quite unfortunate if a brand-new track does not confirm to international standards. But rather then just following opinions, I will do as in the Japanes concept of "Genchi Genbutsu" – go and see yourself. Then, I'll take it as a fun day, riding within my limits without getting too ambitious.

I assume passing through Bangkok will be the most unsafe part of the whole journey anyway.

Btw, still nobody leaving the city of fallen angels today between 6 and 7 pm?

Anybody going there, leaving Bangkok on Friday around 6 p.m.?

fellas what is this event actually? is it just an open day for people to ride their bikes or what? wouldnt mind heading down and checking some bikes out etc. cheers

kind of.

three groups (usually slow, medium, fast), each going on the track for 20 mins per hour.

whole day 1,200 Baht. this time no race though.

all bikes welcome, however most are race or sports bikes, of course.

the pics from the last HST-Pirelli track day in Feb might give you an idea.

http://www.pirelli.in.th/cpg1414/thumbnails.php?album=23

Looks nice! Any telephone numbers to check with them at what dates the track is open to the public?

To whom it may concern...

My international driving license, issued in my home country, expired a while ago. Getting a new one via my embassy in Bangkok is not possible; I would have to apply for a new one once I visit my home country.

However, I just realized, that it is possible to apply for a international driving license also in Thailand if you have a local driving license already.

You can get it at the Land Transport Office Mo Chit if you bring the following

• Original Passport and non-immigrant visa
  
• an authorized letter from your embassy stating your address in Thailand OR a Thai work permit
  
• your original Thai driving license valid more than one year
  
• two 2 inch photos (not more than 6 months old)
  
• 505 Baht fee
  
• one photo copy of each of the a.m. documents with your signature
  
• and if you send somebody on your behalf, you need an letter of authorization with your signature and an additional 10 (!) Baht fee.
  

The whole thing is much more expensice than getting a local driving license, but probably still cheaper than in any Western country.

This are the conditions as of yesterday, and it worked out well for me. Note that this is Thailand and things might be same same but different any time anywhere… Hope that sharing this information might be helpful.

Hi there. We are thinking about a bike trip to Vietnam, however, we have heard there are difficulties taking big bikes across the border. (not allowed > 250 cc?)

Any experience with that? How can it be done? What paperwork is needed? Time required?

Thanks in advance everybody and safe riding.

G.

Thanks for your input; I'll chem 'em out...