snowleopard

Snowleopad the answer is right here..

We know, we talk here about it.

If we know,we talk here about it!

Which is good.

I suspect many rapes in Thailand go unreported for other reasons than censorship too.

I think this is a great forum and it's fantastic that even censored news can be published.

It exposes the mentality of the Thai authorities and shows how they try to manipulate perception of Thailand.

When "farangs" commit crimes,they are more than happy to report so readers get the impression that Thais are always the good guys or the victims!

I'm a believer in freedom of speech and I think everything should come out in the open and be reported.The good,the bad and the ugly.

If I come across something,I'll remember to post it here!

Snowleopard

The Swedes need a half decent lawyer to tell the owner and the cops to screw 'emselves ...

I'd say there aren't any decent or half decent lawyers in Thailand.

I've talked to many Thais who are attorneys and they have told me some inside stories how money is made by using the law.

In Thailand police,prosecutors,lawyers,judges and the rest all play on the same team.

That is the winning team!

Snowleopard.

On a more positive note, that horrific gang rape is an extremely rare crime as far as tourists are concerned and local authorities crack down swift and hard when they are sure it has happened.

How do we know that it's a rare crime if Thai authorities make sure it doesn't get reported?

I agree with DavidM. The Thai authorities will find the disgusting little efforts that were responsible and deal with them fast.

I bet the Thai police will probably never catch the perpetrators.

If police is pressured with an arrest deadline by superiors,they might arrest some scapegoats to close the case!

What an amazing difference in publicity from the "false rape charge" the Hong Kong

woman brought against the tuk-tuk driver!

She had to apologize to all Thai people.

It would be fun to see those rapists apologize publicly to all tourists who've ever been to Thailand.

Snowleopard.

The questions are extremely simple for anyone who has lived here for any length of time (i.e., what colors are the Thai flag ("red, white, and blue")? what is the name of the current Prime Minister ("Taksin Shinawatra")? what is the reign title of the current King (answer: Rama IX), etc.)

You don't by any chance remember the other 7 questions do you 

Hi there Bobcat,

I can remember a few more questions.

1.What's the population of Thailand?

You only need to say that it's over 60 million.

2.When is the King's birthday?

Dec.5

3.What religion do most Thais adhere to?

Buddhism.

I can't recall the others but they are on the same level as,"What color is an orange orange?"

I got video-taped two times where I had to talk about myself in Thai.

A decision can take long time.When the Interior Ministry is ready,it seems like all successful applicants congregate at Suan Phlu for a couple of days to receive the permits.

Snowleopard.

My question remains: Do you think a Thai national would be charged with the same amount? 15 Lan? Seems like a farang price to me. 

Had a Thai caused the fire then he would have fled the scene either by running or swimming to safety!

They instinctively know how the law works and that it's much safer not being charged with anything!

Snowleopard.

Bangkok Post used to be an interesting read about 10 years ago but since the economic crisis of 97 it has gotten progressively blander and blander!

Farang deaths were first ordered to be reported as suicides or accidents!

When the Post reported so many unbelievable suicides,they got told to stop reporting altogether!

No transparency,no accountability,no criticism and censorship galore are what Toxin likes!

Snowleopard.

farang is kinda like someone who's not Thai

I'm proud of being a Thai Farang!

I'm out of the closet now!

Cheers!

Snowleopard.

What do you think? Vote in our poll and discuss!

Hi there Farang folks,

I've been living for twenty years here in Thailand.

I think I speak Thai fluently and can read and write it too.

Many years ago,I used to be a bit paranoid and think the term was derogatory but I don't think so anymore.

People call me "Khun Farang","Pii Farang",and "Khru Farang" while giving a polite wai and a smile.

I can't detect any bad intentions or hidden meanings so I always feel fine when they say it directly to me.

My shop is called "Rahn Farang" and my house is "Bahn Farang".

My German Shepherd is called "Sonak Tham-Roat Korng Farang".(The Farang's Police Dog)

I've heard many theories about the Farang etymon.

The answer might be as simple as that they were just trying to pronounce "foreign";or,because Laos,Cambodia and Vietnam used to be colonies of "Farang-set"( i.e.France;the land of Franks)

If somebody shouts,"Farang bah" then it isn't polite at all;unless, they're joking or shooting a Farang movie!

Cheers.

Snowleopard.

Hello again easymoney,

Could you please come back and elaborate a bit on some of your experiences in getting Thai citizenship?

I think some folks like alanw,sbk and myself would appreciate if you could explain a few things we're wondering about in our posts!

Thanks in advance!

Snowleopard.

Don't go to text and talk either from what I have read there.

Hello there ######,

Could you please tell me what you mean!?!

Is there anything bad you've read about "TEXT 'n' TALK"?

I would appreciate if you could tell me what it is before I go to book my course!

Thanks in advance!

Snowleopard.

Do you actually WANT to teach, or do you just want a job?

I really want to teach because I've found out that I love English teaching!

I've been teaching small groups privately for several years and I feel I'm ready for real schools!

Cheers.

Snowberry.

Check with your own country if it would be cheaper to do it there or in Thailand

Hello BronzeRider,

Thank you for your answer!

I'm a permanent resident nowadays so I consider Thailand my only home!

I think I must do the TEFL here.

I've been teaching private students for 10 years but I thought I should try teaching in a school setting too!

I need a certificate for that!

I'm thinking about joining the Sunday classes which "TEXT 'n' TALK" offers to get a license.

Do you think it's easy to get a job after receiving their certificate.

That course seems to be cheaper than elsewhere so I was wondering if it's as good as the others!

I read in the "Stickman column" that he doesn't think so highly of them so I was getting a bit worried!

Cheers.

Snowleopard.

Hello everyone,

I'm planning to study and get a TEFL from a Bangkok school called "TEXT and TALK".

They claim to be certified by the Thai Ministry of Education.

Upon completed course,they issue a diploma with a personal number and say it can also be used abroad.

I'm wondering if anyone knows anything first hand from or about this school?

1.Is it a good school?What's the quality?

2.Are they certified by the Thai Education Ministry?(i.e.Are their claims true?)

3.Can you get work in Thailand after completing their course!

I would appreciate all information about this particular school!

Especially from teachers who have taken the course!

I'm gonna decide within a few days whether I will book or not so please tell me what you know!

Thanks in advance!

Snowleopard.

I am a western male who has obtained Thai citizenship.

How much,if anything,did you have to pay apart from the 5000 baht application fee?

I don't now many who have obtained Thai citizenship(speaking males) but it is takes persistence.

1.How long did it take from application until you got it?

2.How long had you lived in Thailand before you applied?

3.Are there more documents to submit than for a Permanent Resident Permit?

4.Could you keep your old nationality or did you have to give it up?

Thanks for replying and showing that it is indeed posible for a Western male to get Thai citizenship!

Cheers.

Snowleopard.

Regarding permanent residency:- does anybody know how many of the 100 places per year per nationality are taken up?

When I applied about three years ago,there were only two applicants of one hundred for my country.

I am English

I heard that England had the highest number of applicants but I don't think one hundred qualified that year.

Do palms have to be greased? (Heavens Forbid)

They asked me several times in interviews if I had an inside contact who was trying to help my case and I assured them I didn't.That helped my application I think because I was finally successful;eventhough, it took a year and a half to get it decided!

The policy seems to be,"no bribes"!

It's the Interior Ministry that decides.

The non-refundable application fee is a fairt bit of money and I would hate to apply not having a chance to start with.

You have to be in it to win it!

You get free visa stamps while you're waiting for the decision!

I had several interviews and they video filmed me a couple of times.

I also got a test in Thai proficiency with questions about Thailand.

The test was very easy!

Cheers!

Snowleopard.

Just by being married to a Thai doesn't carry much weight. Long term residence, working here, committment etc

Thank you very much for that reply!

Snowleopard.

Plenty have obtained citizenship, but it takes time and committment to Thailand to achieve it.

Thank you very much!

I was hoping for an answer like that!

I'm committed and I do have the time too!

I will probably go get the application form next week and start the process!

If I understand correctly,the fee is five thousand baht!

Are there more documents to be submitted here than when applying for Resident Permit?

What are the fees if one is successful in receiving Thai citizenship?

For the Resident Permit,it was 25k!

Cheers!

Snowleopard.

It's relatively straightforward for resident permit holder who can speak, read and write the language to a reasonable level

Hello davidm,

Thank you very much for replying.

Do you know of anyone who has applied and been successful?

I've read in another thread that a male cannot get Thai nationality by being married to a Thai female!

Is this the same issue as having a Permanent Resident Permit and then applying for Thai nationality;or are they separate issues?

I'm still a bit confused!

Could you or somebody else give me some more detailed information about cases of which you know?

Thanks in advance!

Snowleopard.

Thai immigration law gives a Thai male the right to 'transfer' (that's the actual term used in the law and on the immigration docs) Thai citizenship to his foreign wife.

It says nothing about Thai women having the corresponding right and of course we all know it can't be done.

Hello everyone,

I would appreciate if some of you could look at my thread "Thai Nationality for Foreign Males" and give your opinion whether I should apply for Thai nationality or not!

The posters over there seem to say it's possible but when I read this thread it sounds differently!

Could somebody please clarify a little bit about the different things said in both threads?

Has a Western male ever obtained Thai nationality?

Cheers!

Snowleopard.

I'm wondering if somebody knows for sure whether it is possible for a foreign male to get Thai nationality?

I've heard that foreign females married to Thai males can become Thai nationals; but it's impossible for foreign males married to Thai females to receive it.

Sometimes I hear that it is possible anyway!

It's very confusing!

Can somebody please clarify the situation with a simple yes or no?

Has a foreign male ever been successful in obtaining Thai nationality?

I mean a Western male!

My situation...

1.I have lived permanently in Thailand for over ten years and I got my "Resident

Permit" about two years ago.

2.I have my name in the house registration papers.

3.I've been married to a Thai female for more than ten years

4.I can speak,read and write Thai well.

5.Have got work and workpermit

Thanks in advance for all informed answers!

Snowleopard.

You can get more info if you like at;

"Kronborg" soi Denmark off 2. road Pattaya.

"Copenhagen" soi Post Office, Pattaya.

"The Staple"/"Mermaid" soi 8 suk, Bangkok.

I'd like to know if anyone has any more information relating to Meinert's murder case?Any up-dates on the investigation?

Doubtlessly,he was killed and the Thai police is trying to make people forget about it!Bangkok Post reported it as a suicide because they have gotten directives to impose self-censorship!Now they've been told not to report deaths as suicide either anymore;so, it's probable they won't report at all from now onwards!

They are protecting Thailand and themselves this way!

What's the news from the rumour-mill and talk of the town among Meinert's friends and acquaintances?

Any more reports from Danish news media?

Has there been any arrests?

What's the motive?

Who's presumed to have committed the crime?

What's the latest in the investigation?

Any snippet of info concerning this murder would be appreciated!

Snowleopard.

What a horrible fate for big Mejnert!

I used to eat Scandinavian food at his restaurant when he had "Odin's Rest" here in Bangkok and I got to know him a little bit!

He was a skillful cook and served real tasty food!

I never saw any indications that he was involved in any shady business back then,but then again I didn't know him very well!

I hadn't met him for the last ten years but I often thought about going to Pattaya to check out his new restaurant and sample some of his delectable cooking!

I never did!

And...now he's gone forever!

He was a friendly and jovial guy back then and people usually liked him!

He loved Thailand and didn't want to return to Denmark!

I've got a little anecdote Mejnert once told me...

He only went back to Denmark once.That was when his brother invited him to come visit his house in Copenhagen for a re-union.They had a drink and started to argue about something so Mejnert took a taxi back to the airport and went home to the "Big Mango".He only stayed a couple of hours in Denmark!He thought that was enough!

R.I.P. "Old Viking" and may you enjoy many good ales and happy hours in that big saloon up there in the sky!

Snowleopard!