horsewell

Has worked for time-share operators over the years...

You would think that these sorts of games would be expected to be seen as business as usual these days...

I don't like filling up there. Always have to watch them like a hawk, always trying something on. Don't have much sympathy, probably wouldn't have been stabbed if he didn't hit them. Could have got it sorted out a different way.

Taking bribes for minor traffic infringements doesn't seem so bad compared to the other things. I guess it maybe a "gateway" form of corruption after a few of these bribes they will move to heavier, more insidious forms of corruption.

There is a lot of people that think driving is a free for all. If you hire a bike in Patong you may not know what side of the road do drive on because of the "one way system"... You would hope that it's ultimately the responsibility of the person renting to be responsible for checking for cars and jet-skis for that matter. That "no insurance" is just bs! Even knowing and adhering to the law doesn't save everyone...

I just wait patiently for the gaps... if someone wants to be in front that much, why argue!? Rather see them then have them behind where I can't see the crazy stuff they are up to. As you said after a short while they were stuck and you could then pass. I've seen just as many local ignorant drivers as foreign ones. Especially, when they want to open up another lane on a finite road so everyone is "stuck" and even bikes can't get passed!

I usually follow locals (except running red lights). Then you can figure out what is allowable and what is not.

If you have spent anytime on the road then you will know that person that zooms passes you will usually meets you at the next intersection. If you don't see them again then they are probably only a few minutes ahead, unless you really, really, get stuck in traffic. Unless you are a delivery driver, what's a few minutes? It's a lot better than being part of the road fatality or accident statics.

Once had a Tuk-Tuk want to be in front of me that he went on the rim of the road to "push" me into the middle of the road and on coming traffic. I slowed and went behind him waiting for a chance. Only a minute later I was in front of him and about 20 or 30 other cars when the flow slowed to a crawl.

Don't forget all the new friends, whose company he will enjoying, in his new accommodation!

It seems like it's reactionary (way later than it should have been too) and if they are looking at 5 years in the future there could be a completely different landscape. Hopefully they will target current tour guides that already deal with these nationalities so that they can get a lot of practise speaking the target language rather than trying to teach people that have no contact with the language thus making it a real hard work for the teachers and students.

Learning the language is a double edged sword. It opens doors and closes them. If you learn impolite language it could certainly have a negative affect on your reputation, if you care. However, knowing polite Thai can be good as you can certainly understand more of what others say. Probably have better relationships with friends and family. Other people, however, will could take a very negative idea and may go to the extreme as belittling you and telling you they don't understand one word... etc... ad infinitum (I get it a lot). If you know Thai language. You have to learn to play dumb too. Have to know when to use it or when to try and muddle through the way you used to before you knew.

I personally have found it a great investment in time and I've had a lot of fun.

All children in Thailand that go to school learn central Thai language and basic English. If you talk to someone who is in their 30s they will know how to speak Bangkok Thai unless you go somewhere where they don't even have Television. University study usually involves mandatory English courses as well.

I've seen a definite rise of mosquitos over the last year or so. Previously, I hardly even noticed them. Have known people to have dengue but not had it myself and hopefully wont ever.

Really... this thread is ridiculous! Depending on what you want and what you know you could say anything is anything. You could live well for a month for less than the cost of one of Jaybonnaza's nights out in Phuket depending on your expectations.

That Cost of Living Comparison seems a little arbitrary don't you think?

If you had a survey of any specific random group of people (1000+ people) and I think you would probably have a pretty diverse picture no matter what the location.

I like http://thai-language.com They also have a bulk lookup. If you are learning Thai it's very useful. I find the translation and transliteration very helpful. You can also set transliteration to be one of the many different systems that you want to use.

It depends on what you are wanting to translate.

I thought this would be about foreigners that treat their Thai neighbours with open contempt. However, it was just a festival that only a few foreigners went to... I think the difference between country and city people too. I live in a large town and don't like to go out during songkran but other festivals you will see me... even if I am only one of a few people I have never been recognised here because there are a lot of foreigners even if they are not their at the time. In the country even though there are a lot of foreigners it is still novel for a lot of people. There are lots of reasons why we wouldn't see other foreigners: out of town, hauled up away from the water slinging, visiting relatives elsewhere.

This seems like such an naive way of looking at things. Obviously, there was a good reception and should be happy that they where the only ones there. If there where many others... they wouldn't have been so special. In due time they will meet the others in the village and get to know the reasons.

I don't think 2600Baht is that extreme. I can use less than 500B / month with only a fan and up-to just over on 1700B / month with aircon. Which is on at night and during the day between 25C to 30C (really 30C feels like being in a fridge sometimes!) at 6B / KWh (in Phuket). I can't complain because if something goes wrong the owner swoops in like a superhero and sorts it out within a few hours!

I have computer / TV / fridge / water heater in the bathroom / kettle / rice cooker / electric wok... cooking can be 2-5 KWh / day depending on what is being cooked. Computer / TV / lighting are almost negligible. The Aircon is by and far the largest cost.

It's probably worth checking your meter and checking that the same numbers are on the bill. Also, doing some experiments with turning on and off power consuming devices to see what is using, and how much, power. Sometimes when one tenant leaves and another moves in the owner may try and charge for power from before you moved in. They can also make adding mistakes as it's almost always worked out manually. I usually take a photo (timestamped) when moving in... but that's just me.

No matter what anyone thinks now... we just have to wait and see. If Gold goes to 200 or 300 USD I will be buying a few kilos ;-) Even if doesn't increase again, I'm sure I can hand it out to future girlfriends to much delight!

You notice that none of those Tourists are "Westerners" (Except for Russians which wikipedia notes as a sometimes grey area [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_world]). I wonder how that is historically and if my pet theory that there has been a decline, if not just in percent, of "Western" tourists over the last few years. The photo seems to speak that story as well. It would be good to see numbers... but then "lies, damned lies and statistics".

You would think that there would be a drive to teach languages other than English in Thai schools, it seems Russian would be apt. They could have made it a requirement or even free lessons or something like that... but probably 10 years ago. When I first came to Thailand I noticed many Russians already.

He's a good man. Who knows the couple could have borrowed the money and been not much better off than the driver. They probably where but it's always wonderful when someone does the right thing, reward or not. I know if I lost property in a taxi, i would be thinking that it was gone. whether it be 10B or 1,000,000B. Have enough experience in life to know that it's a rare thing and should be acknowledged. He's not stupid, he's honest and there is nothing wrong with that.

A few years back I came across a computer gambling den. It was a row of computers that you could play the games on. I was told you pay the owner and they would provide the online credit to play. If someone won money, the owner would call the operator to get then send the money, if the owner of the shop couldn't cover the payout. I'm sure there are a lot of different systems in place. I would seem perfect for children who could pay 50B or 100B to get some "skin in the game".

It's a good lesson if they lose all their play money but it's the hope of winning that keeps most people going back for more. If they only knew that it's software: payouts are likely to be random and the house always gets their cut, which is probably a lot more than in a legal gambling establishment.

It does say something for parking off the street. I see people here with cars and bikes taken into their ground floor room, when they are not being used. I've had my bike vandalised, luckily not torched. It's why I don't really have any want for an expensive car / bike.

It seems like the bleeding hearts are trying to usurp child protection laws for things that they don't personally approve. Really, it should be dealt with in Thailand where it happened. The Australian government seems to love to make laws to restrict the conduct of their citizens, even when they aren't in Australia. They should extradite not litigate.

However, my western moral judgement is that it sounds like pretty bad parenting. However, I wouldn't browbeat anyone over it. I see parents taking their kids to red-light districts all the time. I just take a moment to stare disapprovingly and move on with my life.

Sure someone already mentioned but if you drive in Thailand you are required to have "international licence", which is hardly checked and the one I got was not in Thai language anyway. Most of the time if you have a driver licence from your own country it's "good enough".

To qualify for a Thai driver licence you have to have a visa for more than 3 months, however, there are other ways (as others have noted). In Phuket you need a residence (rental contract, home owner...) and a medical certificate (joke). If you have your international licence you won't need to take the tests, other than the reaction and eye tests.

I'm sure immigration knows where I am, because I have told them over 18 times in the last 3 years alone. Also, the police should know with my driver's licence even my embassy renewing my passport and having to give this address (of course, it didn't come to me, it came to the owners of the building, lucky they are good people!).

I will mention this to the owner next time I see them. I don't know if they keep abreast of immigration policy changes.

In Phuket, Prince of Songkla University has an undergraduate 4 year courses in English (General study and Technology). They have requirements for Foreigners to learn "Living Thai" and Thais have to learn English (I would think a considerable amount). It says 85K Baht / semester fixed.

Looks pretty good but the web site is full of dead ends, year old info and lack of translations (worry that English and Thai info doesn't match up). However, better than most web sites I've seen for bilingual information.

If you were embarking on a 4 year course it would be good to know that at the very least, given attendance and grades, that you would have to right to continue the course to the end.

It would be good to allow students to work some while there are studying to. I notice that some of the courses mentioned above had a 300 hour internship requirement which would be impossible to do legally if there visa rules weren't bent for the international student.

I just sent the Phronesis's info to the school I have been going to and they confirmed (on a Sunday in a few hours which is better than emailing the thaivisa sponsor that has schools in Phuket, BKK, Pattaya and Chiang Mai which after two weeks and a few emails and personal visits (no manager) still reply) that is the way it is.

If you have ever done visa runs 4 a year at the cost of 1500 - 2000THB for a land run. Paying immigration is not that expensive and preferable. If the school and immigration are not so far away it's not days but only hours out of ones life on a weekly / monthly (less than 2 days) basis. If you have spent any time on Thai roads, a visa run is not something that is desired. I have seen horror smashes, read reports and had near misses.

After being on a couple of Non-Imm Ed visas for 5 years the current school says that they don't think I can continue. They say I'm too good already. As soon as you learn the basics the few places I have studied at don't really know what to do, even if they have various levels of study. If you make any effort you will end up going into uncharted water really quickly.

Anyhow, I'm looking into other things I can do. I still have a few months to figure things out.

With the number of break failures and engine failures (buses stuck on the hill itself) that happen you would think that the powers that be would try and keep them off the big hills. Really, those big buses in Patong are just ridiculous! Most of the roads / streets in Patong either have cars parked on both sides or are little lane ways. Some buildings jut out into the streets. It's funny when you see one of those buses have to back up because it's just too big to turn into the street in one motion.