IanForbes

I wouldn't agree that the Thais borrow with absolutely no intention to pay back. Most do not consider their ability to repay though. Eg. If they have an income of 2 or 300 Baht a day, they will still borrow and agree to repay at 5,000 Baht per month.

I think you touched on a very real point. Many people DO have the intention of paying back a loan. What they DON'T have is the concept of how to actually do it. It's like when they purchase a motorbike for whatever extremely high interest rate the company charges. They only make 7000 baht a month, their room rent is 2500 baht, but they have two children to take care of plus all the other expenses. They try to make minimum payments and eventually just fall behind. A year later the Honda company comes and repossesses the bike. Thais are actually quite generous with each other, but with large amounts of money there is no concept of how to pay it back.

And for those seeking romance, let's not forget that wonderful Thai proverb: เป็นที่รักของชายชราดีกว่าเป็นทาสของชายหนุ่ม = Better an old man's darling than a young man's slave!

Good one, Honkytowner. I'll have to remember that one.

It DOES remind me of that old song, though... You call everybody darling and love comes a knocking at your door....

There is no such thing as a "loan" in Thailand... unless it's something that YOU borrow from a bank.

All "loans" between family friends and relatives are "gifts". If you want to give a gift then set your limit and stick with it.

Of course, you already knew all that.

I'll spend an extra half hour in the shower and call it my Songkran... then get on with my life without anyone trying to kill me.

I can get IN for free, but I have to pay to get OUT.

Sorry, I'm a little far away right now to offer my services. Cutting down problem trees used to be my specialty.

You say 'falang' instead of 'farang'.

Stop it people; it isn't cute. It's stupid.

Yah, but when I hear someone say Fah rang I ask him to call back later.

When I make a burger at home, they cost at least 250b each.

That is because 200 baht of it is the imported cheese.

i would hate to be attractive young thai woman trying to get a visa to go out and work because most countries will see her as an aspiring young hooker

sad truth but very real that people ARE this racist in 2012

I know lots of young attractive Thai women that have had no problems obtaining visas to work overseas - I've worked in the same offices as them in the UK, Italy, the US, Singapore, Japan.

But - take Singapore, I suspect there are far more Thai women working as prostitutes in Singapore than there are Thai women working in the professions. Japan and the UK for sure have significant numbers of Thai women working in the sex industry.

Thai women have been marketed as a very distinct brand in the world's sex industry - It is not racism to see this or point it out.

If anyone says all Thai women seeking visas to move overseas are prostitutes then or course that would be a racist statement - to say that significant numbers of Thai women travel overseas to work in the sex industry is a demonstrable fact.

As I've said before, if Canada replaced all its politicians and fat cat lazy senators for Thai hookers the country would be a better place.

No, but it does make you hornier.

Good reply to heavy drinker, Berkshire. I agree with everything you said. Most often it is the WOMAN who decides if there are going to be children or not in a May-November marriage. In Thailand, the women do 90% of the child raising anyway. If the man offers financial support then that is considered sufficient. As for myself, I don't WANT to start raising children again. I'm too selfish and enjoy my freedom too much. For that simple reason I won't lie to a women and promise her a long term relationship.

When you don't notice the 3 dozen stray dogs barking allnite in the empty lot next door.

Ain't that the truth. It took a while, but I finally got used to the dozen or so roosters crowing all night in the empty wooded area behind my hotel.

Depending on the time, I would spend a few days in Bangkok at the usual places: The Grand palace, the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) on the river, and the Chatuchak market. The market is a huge open shopping area full of just about everything imaginable.

You can also take a day trip to Ayuthaya and return back to the city via a boat ride on the Chao Phrayo River. Various tourist outfits offer it and it's well worth the trip. Ayuthaya is like a mini-version of Ankor Wat.

Just for the experience I'd also suggest an evening walking tour around Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy. There's no need to join in the festivities, but it sure gives a different perspective on life. It's all contained in one small area of the city on Sukhumit 4.

From there I would fly south to Krabi and spend some time on the beaches near Ao Nang. The Andaman Sea has the most marvelous beaches.

I would end my trip in Pattaya just to see what everyone is talking about. There is far more to see and do than just the infamous bar scene. The beaches are okay but the ones on Koh Larn are beautiful and well worth the inexpensive ferry ride.

Pattaya streets

Pattaya beach

Jomptien beach

Koh Larn

I would leave northern Thailand for another visit. It's more laid back and more suited for an easy life style than a tourist type trip. It would actually be a slight disappointment. If you want a slight look of mountain life in Thailand then take a 2 hour bus ride from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi and then a day tour to Mt Erawan waterfalls

At some point in the game you weigh all the options and settle on what is best for yourself. However, once trust is broken it can never be healed entirely. It's like lying. Once you have been caught in a lie the other person will never entirely believe you again. And, it takes 10 more lies just to cover up just one. Nobody has a memory good enough to cover all their lies. And, that is precisely why at the age of 18 I swore I would never lie again. Lies caused me a very serious breakup with someone I loved as a young man and I vowed never to do so again.

Who worked in a Bank. .

I could understand that. A couple of my past, lovely girl friends worked in banks. Unfortunately, when they realized I was not interested in a long term relationship, they dumped me. Well, not really unfortunate, because I always wish the best for everyone and I was far too old for them. I told them that if they met a nice, younger man to grab him... and they took my advice. The other place I find them is the Dtac office in Chiang Mai. I swear they only hire good looking young women at Dtac.

Oh and a warm welcome to our new member Ericg, a young man who seemingly speaks with a maturity beyond his years - a great couple if first posts and so right on topic too.

Its good to have young people amongst us, I hope he sticks around so we can learn more of his young man's adventures an young man's perspective. We need more of such things.

Agreed x2

He speaks from the heart and an open mind. And, personal observations.

Your own portrayal of the lifestyle you lead makes me doubt that you could view this subject with any objectivity.

And there you go makng a false assumption about someone you do not know.

When you are single, and look around at all the married couples that you were once a part of, it is easy to see the hypocrisy, and the rights and the wrongs of society. Prostitution has been around since the dawn of time. It's been called the oldest profession. It is the so called leaders of society who have determined that it is somehow wrong. And, even that is for their own devious reasons.

It is the religious, bigoted hypocrites that that have used their own doctrines to bend people's minds to become subservient. If you actually believe in God, or some form of god that created Humans, then that god SHOULD have created the perfect person. However, humans are not perfect, and given a chance to be in power they use that power to gain privilege over others. There is a very true saying that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Religion (pick one) have been screwing up the world since humans were on the earth. They start with what appears to be good doctrines, but wind up making them fit their own personal goals of gaining power. There are thousands of examples, so there is no sense in naming them all. There should only be a few basic rules in life... Thou shall not steal, thou shall not kill and thou shall not harm other people. after that it is all a load of BS. What goes on between consenting adults should be entirely up to them. Marriage is just a load of BS. Two people can have a perfectly good relationship and live a happy life together without harming anyone. A piece of paper is not necessary and not going to change things. It's only there to make lawyers rich. Children needed to be protected until they are old enough to fend for themselves. Proper, caring parents would make sure that happens. Those that don't are basically evil and no better than the worst criminals.

drove 600k from Chiang Mai a couple of years ago during Songkron

Did not know at the time it was the most dangerous time to be on the roads.

Would not do it again

The worst is going up mountains there is always two lanes & one going down.

Many times while going up in the right lane around blind corners we were met by

tractor trailer sized trucks & buses coming right at us in our lane around the blind corner.

Thrilling to say the least.

That's just normal, every day driving in Thailand. Silver vans that travel in groups are the worst. At least the transport trucks are usually driving slowly. The vans are all traveling at top speed. I can't count the number of times I've been run off the road by them. But, because I EXPECT it, I've always managed to get out of their way... barely.

I think that covers most of it. It all depends on your OWN moral standards. When I was 18 I made a pact with myself that I would never lie, cheat or steal ever again. And I would never go after another man's women even if she was inviting the option. I am proud to say that I have kept that vow for 54 years. It isn't so much about how others perceive you as it is about how you perceive yourself.

You cannot own a woman (or a man) and therefore you cannot steal her, what she does and who she does it with is up to her.

The idea the she can be the property of any man is just hopelessly wrong.

I said nothing about stealing women. I meant items that don't belong to you. I agree that you can't steal or own a woman. She does as she wishes. Whether you CHOOSE to live with her is another point entirely. My first wife cheated on me and that was the end of our marriage. On her behalf though, I probably didn't make her feel loved enough when she was going through menopause.

Just blow them all away and sort out the problems in the morning.

I must admit I never thought about the 1.5 litre bottles of frozen water.

It would be a good idea when I do a monthly bulk shop as I travel 56 km each way.

Thanks for the tip.

He is correct. A full freezer works less hard than an empty one. I always keep my deep freezer as full as I can. You can do a little experiment to prove it. Take 3 coolers and fill One full of crushed ice, another full of block ice and the third just half full of ice. The one half full of ice will melt 3 times as fast as the one with the block ice and twice as fast as the crushed ice. The crushed ice will be long gone before the block ice has melted.

Oh Right.

Logical arguement cant win this one. Im not responsible for what i do when im alseep. Better just hope it blows over

You haven't really learned anything about women... have you.

You are ALWAYS responsible for EVERYTHING you do... or even DIDN'T do... even in your sleep, or did 40 years ago.

You actually listen to what they say on the moo bahn speakers.

Yah mean these dam_n things that start up at 6 AM and run for 2 hours?

Propaganda at its worst.

Male American Tourist on Soi Cowboy: "Dam_n I'm glad I brought my American girlfriend with me!!!"

I've always wondered about that.

What's the saying... "coals to Newcastle" ?

I was once sitting at the sushi bar in Sofitel Khon Kaen which is directly next to their cocktail lounge as the girls were arriving prior to work. How I managed to stifle my guffaws I don't know when this British woman at the next table said to her husband " Pull your bleedin' eyes back in your head for fuc_k's sake"

Given their full due, this past winter in Chaing Mai I saw a lot of very attractive young farang women from Europe walking the inner moat tourist area. A few were there with their boyfriends. But, I also noticed a bunch of fat matrons with their husbands in tow who were trying hard not to look at all the tempting lovelies.