Acharn

On 4/8/2021 at 5:50 PM, ubonjoe said:

Banks want a police report for a lost bank book. There is also stack of paperwork that needs to be done at the bank and signed in front of them.

I cannot see it being done without going to the bank in person.

Ah, thanks for the information. Since the bank seems to treat any person with the bank book as prima facie the legitimate owner of the account, I can see why that would be. Bummer.

I'd say this was animism. There are various small devotional cults in Thailand. For a while my late wife was involved with one in Sattahip. They were based on the Vishnu cult as expressed in the Ramakhien. One of the members was always possessed by Hanuman, the Monkey God who helped Rama on his quest to recover his kidnapped wife. They would meet once a month or so, and on special days conduct rituals and ceremonies, which included being possessed by spirits. I've never heard of a group doing it all day long, but if a whole village is into it I wouldn't be surprised. Don't look for a "logical" explanation. There are lots of shamans, ghost doctors, witches, mystics, and seers who hold regular sessions/seances where they are possessed by some spirit and act in bizarre ways -- for example smoking a whole pack of cigarettes at once, or at least five or six at once. They answer questions and collect money, make predictions, especially of winning numbers in the lottery, tell people where to look for lost things, etc. I don't know if these little cults are still common -- my first wife died twenty-five years ago and we stopped such activities ten years before that. 

My first thought is, if you're not having fun, why do you keep doing it. The question is, do you have a moral obligation of some sort to her? You're the only one who can answer that. If not, I'd say ditch her. That may not be so easy. I suppose she knows where you live.

On 4/8/2021 at 1:57 PM, Ban Mai Guy said:

Thanks I was afraid of that as I was hoping to go with what we call back in the US is a "mini split".  I, think I'll just have to go with what is figured out for a system for the living room as I don't have the means of putting in a "central air" system. Anything at this point is better than nothing to take the edge off. Nothing like sleeping in a heat box..55555 then again the more I stay here the heat only gets better to deal with. Thanks for your input. I'll be hitting Home Pro after Songkran to check out my options. 

My airconditioner is what's called a split unit (Carrier brand). The compressor is outside. The coolant runs through a pipe that passes through my computer room into my bedroom, where the cooling unit is. I set up an electric fan in the bedroom aimed toward the door into the computer room, and that seems to move enough of the cool air to where I spend most of the daytime hours. I think my unit is 9,000 BTU, but not sure. The documentation doesn''t state it. I think that's supposed to be enough for, like, 200 square meters.  I've found that it works best for me if I set the thermostat at 28°C. There's a control on mine to fix the angle the air is directed at, so it doesn't blow directly at my bed but a couple of feet above it. I usually wake up around midnight from the chill, and turn it off and  find the fan is enough. I lived quite a few years without air con, so my body got acclimated; your mileage may vary.

22 hours ago, ChiefMonkey said:

Thanks, Joe.

I thought as much but, wasn't sure.

So, my Thai bank has my Thai address and I'm in the UK. How do I show proof of the funds, with an original document from the bank, to the Embassy in London?

Have you tried writing to your Thai bank and asking them to send you a new copy of your bank book? They replace lost bank books all the time. I suggest writing a letter so they can check your signature. You might start by sending them an email explaining your bank book has been lost and asking what you need to do to have a replacement sent to you.

On 4/7/2021 at 10:46 AM, Dmaxdan said:

Count yourself lucky. This time of year the temperature would normally be 40 plus, but the recent rain that most regions have had has cooled things down considerably.  

I'd go further and say it's been quite a moderate hot season so far. I know from the meteorological dept. that it's reached 40 some days, but I can live with that. I agree the recent rain was very nice, and the meteorological dept. has predicted that the rainy season will start a bit early, in May. Hot weather is one of the reasons I'm here. I used to live in Michigan.

On 4/2/2021 at 4:53 PM, SiamRead said:

If they predict the highest rainfall in more than 30 years, it's good ! But why must there be a warning  ?

Because in 2011 there were disastrous floods because the reservoirs were allowed to fill up too soon. When heavier than normal rains fell in October, they had to release too much water. I'm skeptical, because they don't even know the difference between a tropical storm and a rainstorm that happens in a tropical country. Japan, in a remarkable display of stupidity, demanded the government guarantee there never again be floods on that scale.

Quote

Shopee site is FULLY in THAI, their Communications are FULLY in THAI, their CHAT is FULLY in THAI., ...

That's funny, when I log in to Shoppee I get a pop-up in red, forcing me to choose between English and Thai. I've never tried using their chat function. Don't you have a Thai friend who can help you? And if they're only in Thai, and you can't read and write Thai, how did you manage to place your order?

I used to have that problem. I had a Zippo lighter that I really wanted to keep. I had even sent it to the factory once to be refurbished. Don't remember why, I think it was just because I hate the no-repair throw-away culture. I was born near the end of The Depression, and my parents instilled in me the old Yankee proverb: "Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, Or do without." Anyway, the daily temperature in Thailand causes the lighter fluid to evaporate quickly. My experience was the same as yours -- after two days it had to be refilled. I ended up reluctantly buying the disposable lighters. I was able to quit smoking ten years ago, so it's no longer a problem for me.

It didn't work well in the United States when we tried it from 1918 - 1933. In fact it made many crooks, like Joseph Kennedy rich. Fermentation happens naturally, and if you're patient you can develop good yeast cultures yourself. Lots of people out in the countryside do it already. I would not recommend trying it.

I dont really get it. I'm happy with instant coffee. Moccona, usually, or Khao Shong. I have a French Press one cup coffee maker and buy Metal Drum brand coffee from Chiang Mai on Lazada, but I only make about one cup a day with it because it's just too much trouble, and the flavor isn't a lot better than the instant. If that turkey giving the TED Talk thinks I'm drinking terrible coffee, [family blog] him. My mother used to make two or three pots a day, and it would sit on the stove for long periods of time, getting thicker and blacker and more bitter. I thought it was fine because it was what I was used to. There are people who spend lots of money on fine wines, so It's OK to spend a lot of money on some special coffee if that floats your boat. None of my business.

Funny, the Thais I interact with (mostly) don't refer to me as "the farang." They might use the nickname my Thai family uses, "grandpa" (which is a term of respect, by the way), or they might use my first name, "roger." Maybe "khun roger," but that's pretty formal for them. If I'm in a place where I'm not known it seems pretty reasonable for them to refer to me (if they need to) by my most obvious characteristic

     >Why do Thais distrust foreigners?

Well, that's a more interesting question. To answer it you have to go back in history to when the Portuguese first "discovered" the route around Africa to the Indian Ocean. The Portuguese sailed into a harbor which had never seen a European, captured half a dozen fishermen, and hanged them from their yardarms by way of introducing themselves. Following that auspicious beginning European businessmen, mercenary soldiers, swindlers, and ne'er-do-wells tried to get rich by cheating the locals. Sometimes they succeeded. The Thais were lucky to have some very smart people as kings during the 19th Century, and are very proud of never having been occupied and colonized like neighboring countries. King Rama V, in particular, was a genius at unifying the rather ramshackle collection of people who made up Siam by standardizing language, religion, schools, and the legal system. He made some mistakes, like with the land registration system, but some of those were because he was thwarted by politicians and/or businessmen. I don't know if there are any English language histories of Thailand currently in print. I found a copy of Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker's "Thailand: Economy and Politics" in the used section at Amazon, but that was at least six years ago. 

19 hours ago, tingtongfarang said:

Are they ignoring the fact bangkok is soon to be underwater?

 

Bangkok has been "soon to be underwater" for at least 45 years. I think the reports go back even further, because I remember that's one of the late stories in my Thai Reader (auth. Mary Haas, wonderful textbook). I know the story appeared at least twice in the English language press (think it was the Bangkok World) while I was stationed at Sattahip 1971-3.

I was assigned here by the U.S. Army in 1971. Under the Roles and Missions of the military, the U.S. Army operates all transport except air. That's trucks, railroads, and seaports. Also, during the Vietnam War the U.S. had support services (payroll, administration and such) for forces in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. We built a deep water port at Sattahip. Later, in Germany, one of my bosses was the Captain who was the last commanding officer at Sattahip (while he was still a First Lieutenant).

On 1/6/2021 at 2:09 PM, Pmbkk said:

 

I go along with this, we got married there with no witnesses - the officers were the witnesses.

 

 

 

Same with me and my late wife in Nakhon Sawan seven years ago. I believe it was true in amphoe Lam Plai Mat, changwat Buri Ram, when I married my first wife, but that was 48 years ago so things might have changed.

At this point there are 17 pages, and the ThaiVisa search function sucks. Is there an Endlish language version available somewhere? Neither app is available in the PlayStore on my six-year-old Android phone, and both the links in the article are in Thai, with no apparent thingy to click on to change language. I've been thinking about buying a new phone anyway, but it has to wait until I get my tax refund next month. Meanwhile my current phone is on Android 4.0 and can't be upgraded. Although I can read Thai, it's a pretty slow process and I don't enjoy it. At the Big C today they're still using dead tree notebooks for people to sign in. I think this "requirement" is going to founder like it did last year.

22 hours ago, Thomas J said:

I agree with worgeordie,  there are a glut of properties but there seems to be a strong resistance to fire sale pricing.  Rental prices have definitely fallen, I guess some feel if they can stem the bleeding cash flow a bit, they are going to hang on.  Also, very peculiar here in Thailand that foreclosed properties don't' get auctioned off at good pricing.  In my village there are two properties that were foreclosed several years ago.  As a former banker in the USA I know it was a practice to liquidate non earning assets as quickly as possible to turn them into earning assets and to stem the costs of holding them.  Here, these banks have held on for years and of course the properties without maintenance are in disrepair but the pricing remains the same.  I suspect at some point with the number of Thai's hurt from the lack of income from Covid that it will result in even more foreclosures unless the government imposes a moratorium.  While good for the homeowner it will hurt the banks. 

Saw the same thing in 1997, during/after the Dom Yum Kung financial crisis. People trying to sell real estate absolutely refused to lower prices. I guess eventually some of the did, but some of the properties with construction going on didn't find a buyer for years afterward. 

On 12/28/2020 at 7:44 PM, lovethai123 said:

well do thai buddhist woman need to convert (atleast on papers) if they marry an american, canadina, uk, nz, au, french, german, spanish, scandinavians , irish etc ? 

 

 

i am just curious. 

 

What do you mean, "have to?" I was raised Christian, but never accepted it, so there would be nothing for my wives to convert to. I suppose of you really cared about some religion like the Abrahamic ones, with jealous and angry creator gods, you might demand your wife "convert." What does convert mean? That she follow the forms? Buddhism is pretty accepting, as is Hinduism, and animism. Buddhist ceremonies are pretty ritualistic, and most Thai practice is caring for the spirit of the land, at their residence, and maybe some Chinese ceremonies during the course of the year. About one third of Americans are not members of any church or religion. Many people people who call themselves Christian never go to church and do not even know the basic requirements of faith (the Nicene Creed). People who follow the Prosperity Gospel are not, in any sense Christian. I believe the Catholic Church still refuses to recognize as valid any marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic. 

I'm afraid I don't understand what your problem is. If you don't need the money now, just let it pile up in whatever accounts it's going to. If you don't need it now, you may need it later. Medical expenses can wipe out even rich people (well, below the 0.01%, anyway). If you don't have any wish to leave a legacy, let the state take it. After you're dead you aren't going to care. As to the advice to withdraw a certain amount every year, that needs to be modified according to individual circumstances. Why would you withdraw it if you don't need to spend it?

Thai monks are not permitted to eat from noon until dawn the next day. I don't know how much they eat during the five or six hours, but I'm sure there are no restrictions on sugar, and I'm pretty sure they don't use electrolyte substitutes. I've been trying to cut down on the amount of sugar I eat, but not give it up altogether, so I haven't really paid attention, but I take a sports drink called New Tower Electrolyte Beverage. Sorry, I have no idea if it contains sugar, as the components are written in a very small Thai font which I can't read without a magnifying glass. I sympathize with your plight, but I think you're trying to be too strict. Long ago I adopted a motto from the alt.fitness Usenet News group, "Breathe through your mouth." The meaning is, you don't get extra points for running a marathon only breathing through your nose. Good luck with your quest.

9 hours ago, mr mr said:

 

for what ? 

 

does the headline not state that the place is deserted at night. that's a clear signal to open longer. 

 

sawatdee kap.

No, it doesn't. It says the place is deserted during the daytime. It'll never recover since PM Prayut, while head of the junta, ordered it to be cleaned up. The kind of tourists who went there (and did spend money, although not a lot per capita) do not do "cleaned up."