spidermike007

C'mon dude give her a hand. You need to have the feng shui correct in the bed room at least:

http://fengshui.about.com/od/love/qt/perfectbedroom.htm

"A good feng shui bedroom is a bedroom that promotes a harmonious flow of nourishing and sensual energy."

Nourishment and balance come from within, not without. One can only depend so much on external devices, as a excuse for not doing any inner work. Feng Shui is a crutch, and nothing more than that. Easy to get carried away with nonsense, or things that do not mean too much in this life. Do not let it happen. Reason with her. Try to get her to understand it is not about luck, but rather the fortune we create with our behavior, and our lives. Relatively simple formula.

Send them to Phuket or Samui too to study further the prices

Samui is downright reasonable if you know where to go, and where to eat. I find two course meals for 100-130 baht all the time. I could not find that in Phuket, and it is difficult in Bangkok, unless you really know where to go. Also, the quality of the food is better in Samui, than in Bangkok, in my opinion. But, having said that, Bangkok is a fantastic city, on alot of levels. And it is still pretty reasonable, in my opinion.

<deleted> since when did the police have authority over ambos in a life and death situation? I have attended numerous serious incidents and accidents and we definitely can not give orders to ambo's. An ambulance attending a life threatening situation can park anywhere it bloody well likes as human life takes priority over everything. Who cares if traffic is held up if it saves a life. What the BIB should have been was diverting traffic down another route ( if possible) even if it is 1km back down the road.

I would hate to be in this coppers shoes if it was in Australia as he would be in a pile of poop and facing internal disciplinary action and lets not forget a coronial inquiry where he could be found to have contributed to the death and the civil action that may come after. If it was an Aussie ambo the copper would have been told to pull his head in and to F off.

Are you a Thai policeman or not !

Exactly. The paramedic should have simply said back the ***k off **thc. I am trying a save a life, which is more than you have ever done with your sorry life and career. I have authority over you, as I am handling an emergency situation, and if you have any questions have your boss call my boss. Period. I am not moving, if you want to put a bullet in my head, go right ahead. That is about your only course of action officer, at this moment.

Can't find it right now, but about 10 years ago, the State of Indiana passed a tough, no-nonsense "first responder law". Basically, all first responder vehicles were equipped with dash cams to record what was happening on their way to an emergency situation. Anyone who did NOT move out of the way had their license number recorded, which would result in a fine of something in the neighborhood of $5,000 and a week in jail. This came about after there was a fire in some low income apartments, and people just stood and watched, blocking the way of emergency vehicles while people burned to death. To make sure everyone in the state knew about it, the law was published in the papers, and put on television for a solid week. After that week, the Governor and head of the State Police came on television and basically told people - "You've been warned!"

News travels fast here, so something like that would be effective. The problem is the govt. has no teeth, no will, no vision, and seems unwilling to implement policies that benefit the masses. And law enforcement is some of the weakest on the planet. So, where do you start to fix things, when they are completely broken?

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Very nice to read about super wealthy Thais giving something back to society. Heartening indeed. One wonders if there are more of these heroes? Or are they an anomaly here? There does not seem to be alot of that mentality here. Is that due to most of the wealth being new? In the US it took a long time before guys like Bill Gates, Ted Turner, Warren Buffett, and others really stepped this kind of activity up. May take some time before the RedBull and Singha types realize their level of obligation to Thai society. With great wealth comes great obligations to shepherd the fortune wisely.

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

How about if the thai govt. starts enforcing the no smoking laws on Koh Samui, where anyone can smoke freely? Any restaurant or bar. Zero protection to guests and non smoking patrons. Lets get real, and focus on stuff that matters, rather than engaging in constant hyperbole.

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

EDITORIAL

A government of the people should not threaten

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Ministers have been getting overly sensitive and protective recently; they should learn some humility

About a week ago, Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi threatened to arrest protesters who showed up at the 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit in Chiang Mai. He compared to them to "garbage", suggesting that there was no place for them and that their concerns and opinions were worthless.

Apparently, the chairman of the Water and Flood Management Commission didn't want to have any unwanted incident at the summit - knowing that the media spotlight would be on him. Perhaps Plodprasop thought he was living in North Korea not in Thailand, where people - well most people at least - value this notion of freedom of expression.

But just as the dust in Chiang Mai had settled, the government found itself with another predicament that demonstrates that they have not learned much about anger management. Bad enough to have Plodprasop calling environmental activists "trash" and behaving dictatorially by threatening them with legal action.

Then, shortly after, the legal experts and big wigs in the Pheu Thai Party went on the record to state that they want to do something about the Guy Fawkes mask phenomenon - Thais or others on social media who oppose the Yingluck government in cyberspace.

What is mind boggling is the why this government is so thin skinned. The Pheu Thai sales pitch often claims it to be a government "of the people and by the people" - a line that they use to justify just about everything that they do, it seems. And yet, they are not willing to tolerate netizens using a well-known movie-based mask as their icon to criticise their work.

There is an old saying: If you don't mind, it don't matter. But apparently, the Pheu Thai people do mind, especially when the criticism involved their dear leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto leader of the party.

Never mind self respect or integrity, it was important for the Pheu Thai people to be the first to get off the block in defending Thaksin. It would be such a grave sin if they didn't defend his honour with all their might. Perhaps they are concerned that the

V-mask group could get out of hand and take their anti-government campaign from cyberspace and onto the streets. We have this before with the Yellow Shirt movement when a media personality went from old buddy of Thaksin to become one of his worst

enemies.

Today, this movement has hit a major roadblock as their leaders are facing criminal charges, something that confines their activities on the ground, not to mention that the move also faces a credibility problem.

But with the legal threat from the Pheu Thai leaders, it has become clear that not even cyberspace is a safe place for anybody wishing to voice criticism of the government's policies and activities, especially ones that centre around saving Thaksin from facing his criminal charges.

Anti-government movements around the world involve democracy to suit their needs. What sets Thailand apart with political action groups here is the level of hypocrisy. Supporters of the Pheu Thai Party cited democracy when they were in the opposition but now look the other way when their opponents are threatened with legal action and a possible clampdown.

Instead of showing anger and paranoia, perhaps the Pheu Thai Party should try a little humility and dignity. This shouldn't be too much to ask, especially if one claims to be a government for the people, of the people and by the people.

-- The Nation 2013-06-02

The problem is, that in order to show humility and respect, you have to be a well rounded person, with self respect, and good self esteem, who has done something with their lives. Unfortunately, there are very few ministers in the Thai government who are talented, capable, and worthy of their positions. Many are small men, with alot of money, and little regard for the public. For this guy Suraswadi to have uttered a statement as ignorant as this, shows who he is. For him to be in such an important position, is a travesty, and perhaps shows how broken the political system is. If the government is serious about improving the lot of the Thai people, they can start by hiring based on talent, and appropriate skills, rather than cronyism, and the level of support someone brings to a campaign.

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

with 60% burn, she will never look the same again...

now, how are the kids going to grow up knowing that the father put their mother in fire alive? what society is this? must be animal...

Stop saying such ridiculous things. These kinds of things happen all over the world. They do not happen in your own country? The things that happen in the US are worse than this. What about India. Of course, this is a heinous act, and hopefully this pig will end up in prison, and will become the "girlfriend" or some smelly, fat prisoner. But, to say this is a thai thing is small minded, and just plain silly, and very rude to your hosts.

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I have only seen about 12 cows in Thailand, and they do not look like they had much milk to offer. Also, they say many Asians are lactose intolerant. Sounds like this one has not been thought out too well. Another overpaid ministry official trying to justify the big salary? He sounds like about on par, IQ wise, with Chalerm, the dropout.

Poor police work in the south? How about the north, in the capital, and elsewhere in the country. In essence he is at fault. Part of the problem is lack of funding. He is in a position to change that. But, this incompetent guy, who stands up on his soapbox at every opportunity, and spends each and every day not improving the lives of the average Thai, would rather mouth off, and do nothing.

When the police are found doing things that would get them jailed in most civilized nations, here they are transferred, with full pay, to another station, with a pat on the back. Don't worry, this will blow over. You can come back with full honors. In China they would be executed. In Indonesia, or Malaysia, they would be given 5-15 years in prison, and the families would be fined over a million baht. Here, they are transferred. This kind of nonsense will continue FOREVER, unless Thailand somehow, somewhere, sometime, figures out that it is of vital importance to establish effective law and order, of they will go the way of Mali, or Timor. Irrelevancy to the planet. As of now, the government continues to refuse to give the police proper attention, or funding. The forensic department remain some of the most underfunded, and least capable on earth. There are fewer qualified detectives per capita, than most nations. It is no wonder they have such a hard time solving tough cases. That appears to be the direction they so desperately want to head, based on their leaders fabulously myopic lack of vision. In some places like Koh Samui, they are notorious for rarely ever solving a crime, and seem to be compromised at every level. There appears to be no accountability at all. Shame on the central and the state governments for not caring more.

When the police are found doing things that would get them jailed in most civilized nations, here they are transferred, with full pay, to another station, with a pat on the back. Don't worry, this will blow over. You can come back with full honors. In China they would be executed. In Indonesia, or Malaysia, they would be given 5-15 years in prison, and the families would be fined over a million baht. Here, they are transferred. This kind of nonsense will continue FOREVER, unless Thailand somehow, somewhere, sometime, figures out that it is of vital importance to establish effective law and order, of they will go the way of Mali, or Timor. Irrelevancy to the planet. As of now, the government continues to refuse to give the police proper attention, or funding. The forensic department remain some of the most underfunded, and least capable on earth. There are fewer qualified detectives per capita, than most nations. It is no wonder they have such a hard time solving tough cases. That appears to be the direction they so desperately want to head, based on their leaders fabulously myopic lack of vision. In some places like Koh Samui, they are notorious for rarely ever solving a crime, and seem to be compromised at every level. There appears to be no accountability at all. Shame on the central and the state governments for not caring more.

spidermike007, on 20 May 2013 - 11:52, said:

From what I have heard, if you show a Thai drivers license, or proof that you live in Thailand, they are obligated to offer you the Thai price. It does work sometimes, unless you are dealing with a exceptionally stubborn, or ignorant individual. Have you ever run into one of those?

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Simple - speak the local language and you get in for the local price.

Fair enough in any country.

But not fair to people who work here legally & pay taxes but may not speak the local language...shouldnt they get the local price as well ?....after all they are paying into the system

Just simply say no. What would a Thai person do in the US? He would say no. Fair is fair, and two tier pricing is pure BS. Racist nonsense. Just say no to the horsecrap.

In some cases, charging tourist more than Thais is reasonable.

 

Tourists would not be here if they could not afford to spend some money.

 

Many Thais are very poor and should have access to things like parks, museums and cultural sites.

 

 

I am not a tourist. I am a full time resident of Thailand, and a Fa rang

 

I have been the victim of double pricing many times, but never by the same vendor twice.

 

For example:  Sitting waiting for a haircut, I see four Thai men before me pay 30 baht for a haircut and a shave with a straight razor. 

 

When it is my turn. I get a haircut and no shave for  50 baht!

 

In my poor Thai, I ask" why no shave?"  Answer :" Farang!"

 

I ask why 50 and not 30?  same answer.

 

I now go to a Thai barber, in the same village, who charges me the same price for the same service he gives Thai men.

 

I recently went to see him for a " touch up trim" I wanted before an interview.

 

When finished with a great job, he told me " No cut much today. No charge money"

 

This guy will be my barber as long as I live here!

 

 

I refuse to spend any money at any business that charges more for non Thais.

 

Some of the local Farangs feel the same and we share the info when over charged and all boycott the offenders.

 

Some Thais are not wise enough to know they would earn many more baht in the long run by treating us right and developing a relationship with us as good, loyal repeat customers for years to come.

 

( as we have become with those Thai businesses that do not discriminate)

 

I Guess it's better to rip you off for an extra 20 baht one time than to have years of business and profit!

 

I've been told there is no word for logic in the Thai language.

 

 

Maybe a nation wide campaign to boycott double pricing establishments would make a difference. 

 

Offending establishments could be marked with a decal and all would know to avoid them.

I have met very very few thais that ever think of, or consider the long run. Vision does not seem to be part of the Thai consciousness. Period. Today. Only today. 20 more baht now seems to be worth more than 2,000 baht later.

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Instead of criticizing, I applause. thanks for the great work. For those who think there is such a huge difference between 3 and 4G.... I think a normal user won't see much of a difference, but will see it on his phone as it will die much faster than 3G. They have not been able to overcome the power consumption issue with the introduction of 4G. So, even tomorrow, I get the choice between 3 or 4G, I'll stick with the 3G just because of the battery life that is once more scarified for a tiny bit of more speed.

Being 10-12 years late is no reason to applaud anything. Please, the NBTC needs to be condemned as much as it possibly can so that in the future they don't lose their 'face' and at least implements it when everyone else does.

Totally agree, Thailand sucks. I'm only getting 12 Mbps.

Sure we've only had inexpensive, nationwide 3G for the last two years but we all know Cambodia has 9G already.

Yes, the US, Canada, And Europe have 4G and Cambodia has 9G. What planet are you living on? Where is your information source?

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

From what I have heard, if you show a Thai drivers license, or proof that you live in Thailand, they are obligated to offer you the Thai price. It does work sometimes, unless you are dealing with a exceptionally stubborn, or ignorant individual. Have you ever run into one of those?

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

The aspects of Thai food that is the least healthy is the copious amounts of MSG used in nearly every dish, and the very low quality of the cooking oils. The two healthiest oils for cooking are readily available in Thailand (sunflower and rice bran oil both have very high flash points, and therefore remain largely unsaturated) but they cost more than the junk oils, like soybean or cottonseed. Both of these oils are very unhealthy as they have very low flash points, and are largely responsible for the saturated fats in Thai cooking. When cooking at home, all we use is sunflower and rice bran oil, which is available at any tesco, for 100 baht or so, per liter. Sunflower is even cheaper. Of course there are other foods to avoid, but if one cooks at home, uses good oil, avoids the use of MSG, and alot of sugar, and avoids the rest of the nonsense, Thai food can be relatively healthy.

Here's an image of a Thai Taxi driver:

Notice how the insect is armed? Have you ever seen one fight with his fists, and alone? Always with a weapon and with a crowd. A sure sign of a very, very small man.

No doubt good idea, but what about cracking down on ones who do not use meter at all?

Nope, nothing about Samui taxis...they're allowed to carry on as they like

Samui always has been, and may always be the lawless zone. The police are completely impotent. The taxis, and the mafia thugs own the place. Zero law and order. I costs 350 baht to go 1 kilometer in a mafia taxi. For some reason, the central government has forgotten about the island. Is there any hope for reform, in Samui's future? Many of us think not.

u include a speedtest with 5 digits (15000 kbps or something)

i have never seen anything like that in Thailand

im happy when i get jbrains' speeds, often its much less (with AIS, the worst, speed is usually zero)

im in central BKK and using all 5 providers, AIS (the worst for 3G), DTAC (sucks), True Move H (mostly ok), TOT (used to be ok, but getting worse over the years), CAT (mostly ok)

the price here is about the same as in Western Europe

Sorry, the speed I get in Los Angeles on 4G, is typically about 9,000 KBPS and 4,000 KBPS. In thailand it is usually about 2,000 KBPS on AIS 3G. If that. So, you say true is better? faster speeds? I was thinking about switching, as the speeds on AIS are usually not too fast. And there are some areas in Bangkok I seem to get poor reception, which is surprising. Anyone know how good the TRUE 3G coverage is in Samui? thanks