petedk

At thai border crossing certain countries are given 30 days stay others only 15 days...some need visa other don't....strange no one claims this is RACISM..

This is Visa agreements worked out between the governments based on many things.

Nothing to do with racism.

OP, I'm against the 2 tier prices also.

But I have to accept it, as it is also happening in my country and other countries I have been.

Recently, after obtaining the Yellow book, I pay Thai prices.

But to make a statement that they are racists because of that, it's out of order.

It's just an attempt to increase their revenues from people that they believe that can afford to pay more.

As I said before, Thais are not racists, but they do envy foreigners earning more money than them and can have a better life.

Wouldn't you?

If such happend in Scandinavia

2 tier pricing

we would be bombed by muslims and faced lawsuit for being racists (if we survived)

so yes 2 tier pricing is racistic !

You are 100% right , but I did actually experience a kind of racist behaviour but let it go.

I was married to a Danish lady for many years and amongst other things we had a petrol card at Q* petrol stations. The card was in both of our names. When we divorced I asked them to wipe my wife's name off the card. They couldn't do that, I had to apply for a new card and cancel the old one. No problem.

After many weeks I hadn't received the card, so I called Q8. A young lady talked to me and after a few minutes she said "I am sorry, we cannot give you a card as you are not Danish.". I exploded and asked what the #$%$ she meant by that. I was so angry I slammed the phone down.

I applied for Shell.... got a much better deal.

Oh I am British, by the way.

It's not about race. And certainly has nothing to do with age. It's about tax dollars. Public facilities like the Korat Zoo are paid for with tax dollars. Thai tax dollars. If you're able to show a work permit or sometimes just a non-B, you can pay the Thai rate at those facilities. Usually. Every once in a while you get a ticket vendor that's not familiar with that policy...

So, if I understand you clearly, Thais who don't pay income tax, for whatever reason, should pay the increased price...

God, I'm getting raked over the coals for this one... All I'm saying is that's the way it is and that's why it is that way.

But if you're asking me personally, then yeah, I think it's fair that foreigners pay a little extra to enjoy attractions that are funded by Thai taxpayers. That being said, I think they've got it weighted a little high for foreigners. I mean, I think national parks are like 40 THB for Thais and 200- or maybe even 400- THB for foreigners. That's kinda ridiculous. Still, it doesn't compare to the likes of Angkor Wat over in Cambo: free for locals and something like $20 per day for foreigners.

If only they would set the difference as locals (regardless of nationality) and non locals (regardless of nationality).

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OP, I'm against the 2 tier prices also.

But I have to accept it, as it is also happening in my country and other countries I have been.

Recently, after obtaining the Yellow book, I pay Thai prices.

But to make a statement that they are racists because of that, it's out of order.

It's just an attempt to increase their revenues from people that they believe that can afford to pay more.

As I said before, Thais are not racists, but they do envy foreigners earning more money than them and can have a better life.

Wouldn't you?

I'm afraid that's very Thai logic you're spouting - discrimination (of any sort) on the basis of race is RACISM..............get it?

Pricing based on residency is NOT Racism...and a serious mistake to conflate the two concepts.

I agree.

But often proof of residency will NOT give you the Thai price. That is racism.

OP, I'm against the 2 tier prices also.

But I have to accept it, as it is also happening in my country and other countries I have been.

Recently, after obtaining the Yellow book, I pay Thai prices.

But to make a statement that they are racists because of that, it's out of order.

It's just an attempt to increase their revenues from people that they believe that can afford to pay more.

As I said before, Thais are not racists, but they do envy foreigners earning more money than them and can have a better life.

Wouldn't you?

It's just an attempt to increase their revenues from people that they believe that can afford to pay more.

they wouldnt try it on with a rich thai family who turn up in a new Merc so it must be about racism and lack of respect for people of other races

I wish I could like this post 100 times. I agree entirely.

Again I have experience. I went to a park in Chiang Mai with a very wealthy Thai family and friends. They were given VIP treatment but when they saw me sitting in the back of the car they asked for the farang price. My friend argued that I live here, I spoke Thai, I showed them me work permit and drivers license. No way would they give me the Thai price.

After a long argument my friend told them to "forget it", turned the cars around (we were about 10 people, including "bodyguards and drivers" ... yes it is true.) and he shouted to all the cars waiting in the queue "get out , get out ...someone has fallen in the hot spring... I saw his ghost... he's coming ... get out"

One of the best days that year.

The swimming pool the city runs near my home charges more for non-residents than residents. Here in America. Happens all over.

People in these forums try to single out Thai people as being different. However, there are not a lot of differences among people for the very most part. Anyway.

"non residents" - fair enough. So if a person who is resident and doesn't have white skin they still get in at resident's price.

The difference her is that many places don't accept proof of residence but insist that the lower price is a "Thai price". Any white skinned person (even if they have lived here 30 years and show proof) are still charged extra. That in any language is racism!

It happened to me on the BTS. They even refused to allow me to add money to my wife's pensioner's card.

+1 on the Mucky Duck, Asoke BTS.

The Picked Liver on Soi 7/1 Nana BTS (live cat-strangling on Friday evening) also does half decent grub as does the Robin Hood at Thonglor BTS.

Am I making a point that Private Medical Treatment should be the same price for all.

Yes I am.

More specifically that the differential pricing of medical care in private hospitals in Thailand acts as a barrier to foreign residents of Thailand receiving the care they need.

Expats, specifically those willing to bend over and take whatever is thrust up them, seldom like to address this issue, but it is of vital importance to all expats that they have access to affordable health care.

Dual priced health care in Thailand is a disgraceful example of exactly how money grubbing Thai businesses can be when it comes to foreigners, whom they perceive as an endless supply of easy cash.

There is a dual pricing system for Thai hospitals but only Falungs down on their luck would want to go there. 50 people to a ward.

All the decent hospitals like Bangkok Nursing, Bangkok Hospital, Samitiwej etc. are the same price for Thais and Falungs but most Thais can't afford them and they don't accept the 30 Baht scheme. I left out Bumungrad because it mainly caters for medical tourists.

All these hospitals have discount schemes which are available to Falungs and Thais.

You are completely wrong there.

Bangkok Hospital has several rates depending on whether you are a foreigner on holiday , a foreigner living and working here or a Thai national.

I know from personal experience where a quote was reduced by nearly 40% after I produced my work permit.

A Thai friend called the hospital to ask for a quote for the same operation. 50 % cheaper than they quoted me.

Needless to say I dropped them and found another private hospital at a third of BGH price.

The argument, 'their country their rules' becomes a little less solid when a foreigner is charged a higher price for medical care in a private hospital, a price which might exclude the foreigner from the treatment or deter the foreigner seeking early medical investigation/treatment.

I'm not sure that I see your point; could't you say the same about a Thai in the UK, having to pay for medical treatment when a local gets it free on the NHS?

The same would apply to that same Thai travelling to Oz, where the locals get free medical treatment on Medicare, whereas a Thai would have to pay upwards of $60 just to see a doctor, with no Medicare subsidy on (outrageously overpriced) pharmaceuticals.

If you are making the point that the cost of private treatment should be the same to all, then I agree with you there.

A Thai working legally in the UK would get free medical treatment

There is no distinction just because of skin colour

OP, I'm against the 2 tier prices also.

But I have to accept it, as it is also happening in my country and other countries I have been.

Recently, after obtaining the Yellow book, I pay Thai prices.

But to make a statement that they are racists because of that, it's out of order.

It's just an attempt to increase their revenues from people that they believe that can afford to pay more.

As I said before, Thais are not racists, but they do envy foreigners earning more money than them and can have a better life.

Wouldn't you?

The problem is that not all foreigners earn more than Thais.

I think nearly all my Thai friends earn more (some much much more) than me. They back me up when we go to national parks and places where I have to pay four times what they pay.

Yes, my Thai friends call it racism.

Often is NOT a cheaper rate for residents (as some people mention) as the price difference is based on skin colour alone.

In other words bars were pretty empty while lots of Chinese walked the street before being taken back to their hotels.

I haven't been to Pattaya for ages, but went there on Monday.

Yes, it was exactly as you say. In fact it was very quiet on the walking street. I saw several groups of Chinese following the "flags", with no time to stop and buy or look at things.

I noticed many of the bars were empty too.

Yes, it was bloody cold, with a strong wind coming off the sea.

By the way, I think Pattaya has become very expensive. We had a meal that cost 1,400 Baht and wasn't very tasty. Came back to Bangkok yesterday and had exactly the same food.... 600 Baht and much tastier.

Oh yes I forgot. The RTP are monitoring Line

The idea is good though.

No problems here.

All foreign news stations are on air as usual.

Bangkok Hospital quoted me 350,000 for laproscopic surgery for a double iquenal hernia. That is the same as the operation costs in the Houston Medical Center. In Canada it is free but they won't cover me here because it is done in Canada and it is not an emergency yet. But I work here for Thai wages and I enjoy my job a great deal so I would like to stay. Has anyone had a comparable operation done in Thailand for less money?

I realise that this is an old post but 3 weeks ago I went to Bangkok Hospital because I needed hernia surgery.

I was quoted 350,000 for 5 days in hospital.

I then asked at Rama 9 hospital. They quoted 90,000.

I had the operation there. I had a little complication as an x-ray showed something on my lung. A CT scan soon showed it ws nothing.

Total cost 120,000.

I told Bangkok Hospital I wasn't interested and that I would go somewhere else. That was 2 weeks ago.

Just 5 minutes ago they called me to apologise. The price they quoted was for foreigners not residing in Thailand. They had a much lower price for me but needed to see my work permit.

Reasonably priced? BGH is just a money machine.

I did have surgery there about 5 years ago and I remember that I was admitted 8 am and spent the whole day going to different departments (4 or 5) , having my blood pressure taken, temperature taken, being weighed and asked if I was allergic to anything. I am not joking. About 5 times went through the exact same procedure before my operation at 6 pm.

Found out the Japanese guy was going to Bali Hi.

I called 1337 to ask the price. She wouldn't tell me but she did say that I shouldn't get the songtaew from the bus station but should walk out to the road.

Just got on the bus. 30 baht from bus station to soi 12. Pay in advance. Ok

Japanese guy opposite paid 50. Not sure where he is going

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As you probably will have noticed already, the major supermarkets in Thailand have a tending to sell their chicken and other meats in big open tubs stationed in the middle of the walking area.

That way it is all day exposed to sneezes, coughs and more of thousand of people passing and scrambling in those tubs. Some may have diseases that are transmittable or bad hygiene.

I for one will never buy any meat out of such a tub, even if it was for free, and would think that in the Western world this would be strictly forbidden.

What do you think about this practice?

The OP is more concerned about diseases passed on from coughing and sneezing than bacteria developing on the meat.

In the Big C supermarket where we shop the "tubs" are so cold that often the meat is frozen to the surface, so I don't think there is a big problem there.

As for coughing and sneezing, - what about the fruit section and the bread section? These products are just as exposed to germs and bacteria and people are always testing the crispiness of bread with their fingers.

I always wash the meat and cook it well. Same for for vegetables and fruit. They are always washed well.

Unfortunately we can't wash bread and cakes, so we make our own

It has been posted a few times already that washing poultry doesn't remove any bacteria, most fruits however normally have a peel which you remove before eating them, and fruits and vegetables can be thoroughly washed as well.

Actually I wasn't only thinking of bacteria. A lot of people sneeze and cough fluids into the air and onto the produce (especially sneezing). They can be washed off.

Some people have very dirty hands - anything from oil to .... whatever. I don't like the idea of someone going to tthe toilet, not washing their hands, and then touching the food. Bacteria or no bacteria..

As you probably will have noticed already, the major supermarkets in Thailand have a tending to sell their chicken and other meats in big open tubs stationed in the middle of the walking area.

That way it is all day exposed to sneezes, coughs and more of thousand of people passing and scrambling in those tubs. Some may have diseases that are transmittable or bad hygiene.

I for one will never buy any meat out of such a tub, even if it was for free, and would think that in the Western world this would be strictly forbidden.

What do you think about this practice?

The OP is more concerned about diseases passed on from coughing and sneezing than bacteria developing on the meat.

In the Big C supermarket where we shop the "tubs" are so cold that often the meat is frozen to the surface, so I don't think there is a big problem there.

As for coughing and sneezing, - what about the fruit section and the bread section? These products are just as exposed to germs and bacteria and people are always testing the crispiness of bread with their fingers.

I always wash the meat and cook it well. Same for for vegetables and fruit. They are always washed well.

Unfortunately we can't wash bread and cakes, so we make our own

I've noticed this for over a week now, especially in the evenings. I am on cable internet 16 Mbps.

I was talking to a Thai friend about it and he said he read in a Thai newspaper (last week!) that the Internet was slow because of the government's surveillance system.

I don't know what it is, but even loading a Thai visa page took 90 seconds the other day.

Torrents are at a standstill in the evenings (can't even connect to peers), but super fast in the mornings.

I complained to True and they sent a technician, but of course he couldn't find anything. When he was here I was getting the full download speed when testing, but still the websites took a minute or so to open. He said it was "normal" and left!

I give up and use the mobile for browsing.

Your problem is just a slow connection to your residence/your local area. I think when you say cable, you really mean xDSL which is a copperline/phoneline as a cable connection runs over a different type line...a line like TV signals run on. And very common for Thai internet to slow down in then evening to around midnight as everybody is home/off work/out of school using the internet.

I'm on a True DOCSIS/cable 15Mb plan and it zips alone fine....ThaiVisa pages load fine...they appear on the screen very quickly.

No. it is mot xDSL. I have cable Internet - True Ultra High Speed. There is a splitter to separate the internet from the cable tv. If the cable tv is down then internet is also down. This happens quite often in our area. True blame it on maintenance.

Today (or should I sat right now) the Internet is fine but it can change just like that.

I still believe the problem lies with True.

I've noticed this for over a week now, especially in the evenings. I am on cable internet 16 Mbps.

I was talking to a Thai friend about it and he said he read in a Thai newspaper (last week!) that the Internet was slow because of the government's surveillance system.

I don't know what it is, but even loading a Thai visa page took 90 seconds the other day.

Torrents are at a standstill in the evenings (can't even connect to peers), but super fast in the mornings.

I complained to True and they sent a technician, but of course he couldn't find anything. When he was here I was getting the full download speed when testing, but still the websites took a minute or so to open. He said it was "normal" and left!

I give up and use the mobile for browsing.

I very rarely watch true any more ,just download everything put it on a usb and watch it when i want ,

But for how long? Many torrent sites are slowly being closed.

By the way, BBC HD is on 780

I guess there will always be changes. Contracts expire, new contracts are made. We just have to live with it.

Yes, I'd like to see some more British channels.

Wednesday always used to be a no beach umbrella/clean up day on the beach but it was allowed to fall by the wayside. I wonder how long it will last this time.

The letter was in the print version.

I saw something about a ban on umbrellas ... even tourists own. It also said something about people being pressed into a small area. I forget the exact wording now.

I read a letter in Bangkok Post this morning about Pattaya beach (or many parts of it) being closed.

I didn't really understand it and can't for the life of me imagine it is true.

Can anyone enlighten me?