mstribling

Pfff. Look at the lightweight! He certainly can't wear a jacket on a windy day because otherwise he'd be blown away like a dry leaf. One kick and he'd be gone!

Who plays this character in your mind? Is it you, or perhaps a famous actor?

Thinly veiled advert for the Bunker Bar on Walking Street ?

+1

<deleted>! This story really steams me! I have a mind to fly down there and do a walk about. At 180 lb.'s and an accomplished brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu I would love to tie these waste of a human life into ladyboy knots.

I hope the police get to them soon!

When you imagine these things, do you play the part, or does an actor?

From England. They aren't rich by any means but average by local standards.

I was thinking a bottle of decent whiskey for her Grandad and potentially some Thai gold for her Grandma. Nothing over the top but I do know my girlfriend has been saving up to buy her something, so we could work that out together.

As for embittered responses I was expecting the usual responses but figured there might be some sensible ones in there too (as thankfully the ones so far are!!)

I wouldn't go with the whiskey. I once made the mistake of thinking my wife's brother would appreciate a bottle of Black Label (OK, not so fabulous by international standards I grant you but 1000 baht nevertheless) as opposed to the bottle of Sangsom she said would be OK. I then had to sit back and watch him and a couple of already inebriated farmhands dilute it with liberal quantities of Big Cola and down the lot in about an hour and a half.

Bad for the blood pressure (mine, that is).

So you gave someone a gift, and you were disappointed in what they did with it?

Who says you can't find classy anymore?

You should get a bit real - are you telling me that if you gave your wife a genuine gold piece of jewellery, complete with a real diamond, and she treated it the same as a bit of junk bought at the local market you would simply say mai pen rai and not feel the slightest bit disappointed? You may (rightly) maintain that it's hers to do with what she will but I bet you'd be re-thinking your gift list next time around. I gave them the good stuff only to realise my wife was right and they didn't seem to understand what it was - my disappointment was mostly that I hadn't listened to my wife, a valuable lesson learned.

I learned a long time ago to give gifts freely, without expectations.

Why do you give gifts?

You've got the part of heeding advice of experience 100% correct.

[...] I am lucky enough that my wife has a university degree and can do the talking to the Immigration officers...I am just sitting next to her and smiling.

Can you (or anyone else who's been through this) expand on this a little? How does a degree-holding wife make the process any smoother? I'll be going through this process in a couple months and I'm wondering what's involved. Hopefully it's not as bad as the "green card" interview in the USA where they interview each spouse separately and then compare the answers.

He means that he won't have a flat-footed farm girl, bling'd up,sitting next to him, and immigration will notice this and label him "better" old white dude.

Gotta love the guys quoting the rule books huh?

Seriously. I doubt anyone here has any recommendations. Most everyone here is married to a Thai, therefor usually wear jeans and a shirt at the beach.

I think you'll just have to get out and go walking. Shouldn't have to go far.

I wouldn't make a deal out of it. Just cover up with a towel if someone approaches.

Good idea. I thought of that too but will it still be considered an offence legally ? Covered with something is not considered nude or naked ?

I don't want to risk it. Thailand is too good to be missed

See now your splitting hairs and pointedly asking me if something is illegal. It is. You knew that already.

Now your saying it isn't worth it. Your right. Keep your pants on.

No, I won't give up. With so many islands and beaches, I am sure I can find a remote beach on my own....

There you go. Shouldn't have to go too far.

Good luck.

Gotta love the guys quoting the rule books huh?

Seriously. I doubt anyone here has any recommendations. Most everyone here is married to a Thai, therefor usually wear jeans and a shirt at the beach.

I think you'll just have to get out and go walking. Shouldn't have to go far.

I wouldn't make a deal out of it. Just cover up with a towel if someone approaches.

Good idea. I thought of that too but will it still be considered an offence legally ? Covered with something is not considered nude or naked ?

I don't want to risk it. Thailand is too good to be missed

See now your splitting hairs and pointedly asking me if something is illegal. It is. You knew that already.

Now your saying it isn't worth it. Your right. Keep your pants on.

Nice to see they slipped the old "Thailand only South east Asia country to never be colonised" line in there.

Did they learn anything from it? Not being colonised I mean, it certainly did not expose them to new ideas did it?

It could be argued that Thailand has been colonized by the Chinese.

Sure. If you make up your own criteria and definition of colonization.

Chatuchak and Jatujak

I asked my Thai building manager to write my adress down and she wrote Soi Seuksavittaya, on google maps it is as Soi Suksavithaya.

Bang Rak or Bangrak.

Is this nornal?

Thais don't spell words in different ways.

Exactly.

Shame she didn't write it in Thai and hand it back.

These uneducated Thais. Can't even be bothered spelling their words correctly in English. I'm surprised they cover their breasts.

Are they specifically looking for an island get away? On the Eastern seaboard Ko Samet is very nice. Further south is Ko Chang, which is very touristy. Several small island resorts off Ko Chang might make a nice trip.

Never been to Hua Hin. Though not an island, friends tell me the beach is nice, and they have excellent spa's there.

Hope you find a great spot for them.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gotta love the guys quoting the rule books huh?

Seriously. I doubt anyone here has any recommendations. Most everyone here is married to a Thai, therefor usually wear jeans and a shirt at the beach.

I think you'll just have to get out and go walking. Shouldn't have to go far.

I wouldn't make a deal out of it. Just cover up with a towel if someone approaches.

Pretty simple. There are over 300 million Americans. They should equal almost all the Europeans combined.

Try again.. the population of Europe is 731,000,000

He might have meant working ones.

From England. They aren't rich by any means but average by local standards.

I was thinking a bottle of decent whiskey for her Grandad and potentially some Thai gold for her Grandma. Nothing over the top but I do know my girlfriend has been saving up to buy her something, so we could work that out together.

As for embittered responses I was expecting the usual responses but figured there might be some sensible ones in there too (as thankfully the ones so far are!!)

I wouldn't go with the whiskey. I once made the mistake of thinking my wife's brother would appreciate a bottle of Black Label (OK, not so fabulous by international standards I grant you but 1000 baht nevertheless) as opposed to the bottle of Sangsom she said would be OK. I then had to sit back and watch him and a couple of already inebriated farmhands dilute it with liberal quantities of Big Cola and down the lot in about an hour and a half.

Bad for the blood pressure (mine, that is).

So you gave someone a gift, and you were disappointed in what they did with it?

Who says you can't find classy anymore?

I tip everywhere I go. I haven't been to CM yet. I might head that way, and see what is going on. Thanks.

...and kicking my belly.

What is it with Thais in kicking/hitting females in the stomach. You see it on Thai soap operas all the time.

Never kick them in the money-maker.

I served in the forces for 21 yrs. Now I'm set for life.

Get them the traditional Thai gift. A basket of bird nest drink. Brands.

Thais often will bring a regional snack. We live in Chanthaburi. We always bring mangosteen. If your from England you could probably just bring some smokes.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but aren't international drivers permits a scam?

I can't vouch for every Country in the World,but in the UK International Drivers Licences are issued by the AA & RAC and are perfectly legal,and accepted by almost 3 quarters of the Worlds Countries.

Really? Interesting.

Good point. My bank is notorious for freezing my card at inopportune moments. Certainly keep them abreast of where your going.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but aren't international drivers permits a scam?

I'm fairly certain, though I can't cite anything APA style, that regardless of where we go. We are certainly a danger to ourselves.

60% of my mistakes have been mine. Every time.

I visited here because it was affordable, and the women are lovely. I moved here because it is still affordable, and the ladies are still lovely.

I don't live in my homeland because it is expensive. The ladies there are lovely as well, but did I mention expensive?

Like the others, I maintain an US address. I have my Thai residence listed as residential address,and my US address listed as mailing/billing.

Use of the Thai billing address forces you to use Thai iTunes, which is unsatisfactory.

Thanks. Wonderful suggestion. I'll look into that. Never had considered it before.

Again. Thanks.