wilsongbrown

Hey i love cambodia but theres only so much a civilised man can take, i'd say 2weeks although there are always the super guys who just cannot be p-ssed off by anything and you can't win against them. In Thailand i generally eat off the street or may be at Thai speaking low end restaurants but in Cambodia i found it impossible to eat the street food with out getting ill and as far as 'some of the best dishes in asia' your the first person i've heard say it, i came across a few dishes but nothing on a scale that Thailand offer at street level which is where it counts, i'm not interested in boutique hotel restaurants, if i can't pull up a chair at a street vendor and eat without a bout of diarreah then the country cannot boast having good food, end of. The french apparently left them le baggette and cheese triangles but it was the funniest bread i ever came across but safe to eat.

I've been to the three main towns twice and battambang once and found the majority of the male youth to be troubled. Thank the gods they have angkor wat coz they'd struggle for tourists otherwise it's a must go attraction i've never been to a thai temple but the main angkor wat is breath taking. I'll be going back though and the rice is the best i have ever tasted don't know why it's not sold more widely.

No matter where you go, can find things that will certainly piss you off and Cambodia or Thailand or wherever is no exception.

As for eating off the street, I don't touch the stuff in Thailand because of the smell I can't stand and all the grease. I know plenty of Thais who will not eat off the street too and because of the filthy dirty environment with dogs, heaps of trash, dirty dishes and bad air quality all about. I knew quite a few farangs who ate off the street and got seriously sick. Probably the only thing I will eat off the street is the fruit here. Too bad you can't hardly find the fruit vendors in the morning and that's when I really like to eat fruit.

Cambodian street food is altogether a different matter. I always ate off the street in Siem Reap and it was really nice. It costs a dollar for a nice plate, no dogs, no trash, and a cool scenery with little traffic. It beats the hel_l out of Thailand street food IMO and the other expats I was with agreed. As for Sihanoukville, WOW, we're talking about fresh grilled seafood marinated in lime juice and pepper while sitting by the ocean at sunset. Throw in a nice salad (with not so sweet salad dressing like you always get in Thailand) along with a true baked potato with sour cream all for about four bucks and I say, 'heaven on earth.' So you have a few beggars now and then, so what. Oh and the fish n Chips were great there too! Yeah, real western style fish n chips even with tarter sauce or malt vinegar. Nothing in Thailand (street wise) could even remotely compare! And the really nice part about is the fact that you can get to know the Khmer while eating there because most of the owners and vendors speak enough English to have decent conversations. There's no rush and they actually treat you like a person instead of part of the crowd as is the case in Thailand.

As for the temples in Cambodia, I was not that impressed. I'm sorry to say it, but they just didn't do much for me. And some of them were down right scary. I do prefer Thailand when it comes to seeing historical hot spots. I also find them a lot more interesting and beautiful in Thailand.

Well what a surprise, you have disagreed with me on every point.

I've eaten on the street where you can get a plate of food for a dollar in siem reap which is a tourist town and probably owned by westerners or koreans who cater to tourists.

So do you sit down with these khmers and eat four buck meals that each party can pay for ? I doubt you will see many khmers in the places you eat paying a 2 or 3 times there days wages for a potato.

Any town you go to in Thailand you will be able to find good food on the street or in small affordable (by locals also) restaurants. Anyone who perseveres in spreading a myth that cambodia is heaven on earth is not only deluded but is also providing a dis service to his fellow countrymen by providing misinformation. I'm sure being a troll is all good fun but blatently painting a picture of paradise for people who have never been there is no good for anyone.

As i have said before i love cambodia but good food is hard to find.

Apart from the Japanese, Thailand has the best food in SE Asia. As far as Khmer food is concerned, when I was last there the food was bloody appalling, but that might have something to do with the fact that the Khmer's are relatively extremely poor. Having said that, I found the most delicious european food in Siem Riep and still make one particular french restaurant's version of the dull tuna melt to this day. (It's the capers, chillie, garlic and balsamic make the difference ...)

Forgot, what was the point of this utterly useless post?

After more than a decade in Thailand I took a job in Beijing about three years ago. I actually like it better in China. I have written up some of the differences for those who might be curious. For those who are not, I apologize for the length and suggest you read another topic.

Some pros and cons:

Public Transport:

Beijing transport is now top-class, with a subway, bus and taxi system that can rank with any of the best in the world. Bus and subway so cheap they are almost free. Taxis are everywhere, well-regulated and very affordable. Motorcycles are banned from the city. Traffic cameras everywhere, so no one runs red lights. Traffic is very bad at certain times and places, but nowhere near that of many Thai cities. There is actual enforcement, so tickets are issued and they bite hard enough to really hurt. If you want a car, many affordable options because China makes so many cars (it's actually the largest car market in the world now).

Noise:

Beijing is much more quiet. Large dogs are banned, and the one little dog permitted per family is so beloved it is never thrown out onto the street, so there are no packs of feral dogs barking and snarling at night. And while the Chinese are extremely loud people, I have never been disturbed at my home by a neighbor's noise. No two-stroke bikes. They do honk the car horn excessively, unlike Thailand. Construction noise can be a problem, but that too is well-regulated so it doesn't last all night, etc.

Girlfriend:

China's one-child policy has resulted a generation of little princesses that are so self-absorbed that studies say many could meet the definition of pathological narcissism; they will freely tell you how cute, lovely, clever, etc. (all at once) they are, when they might be nothing of the sort, but they truly believe it. They have been thoroughly spoiled by two sets of grandparents and their own parents. Until they learn by hard experience, they expect that other people are there to serve them.

I met a girl much younger than me and we began dating, and she didn't seem to realize that there were two people involved. After enough of her selfish behavior, I broke it off. A few months later we started seeing each other again – with me far more wary – and she seems to have changed. Now we have something closer to a normal give-and-take relationship. It's just no one ever set boundaries for her before. The one-child policy has had a huge negative social impact, but maybe there was no choice given the population and relative poverty of the nation, especially when it was enacted.

That said, she is in many ways very reliable and conscientious. After so many years in Thailand I thought she was lying to me about how she spent her time, but when it all played out, I was wrong, but luckily I hadn't really accused her of seeing another guy. I still have a hard time trusting people here after my years in Thailand and all the disappointing experiences I had trying to find trustworthy mates/friends.

(Incidentally, she is beautiful, and there indeed are a lot of beautiful women here. As well, they seemed to be better educated and hard-working).

I also have a couple of Chinese guys who are my friends and I like and respect them. I never came remotely close to having a Thai guy as my true friend.

Cost of living

Beijing is quite a bit more expensive than Thailand, but the pay and quality of life are far superior. On balance, a better deal.

Food

Thailand has it hands down. North Chinese cooking is just loaded with oil – in fact they call it "edible oil" and it is a significant ingredient in many dishes. You see old people hauling five-gallon containers of the stuff home all the time. But Thai food beats about any cuisine. The fresh vegetables in China are far superior and the beef as good as the U.S. I've basically gone back to a beef diet. Because this is a temperate climate, vegetables and fruit grow more slowly and seem much richer as a result. As well, parts of China have natural black soil as good as Canada, U.S. and the Ukraine.

Housing

My apartment in Beijing has central heating, air conditioning and hot water. Broadband internet is available everywhere. All appliances, etc. work fine and there has never been a power cut.

Weather

The work they did for the Olympics really did improve things greatly. BKK and Chiang Mai are far more polluted in my opinion. We are now going into the autumn season with cool nights and clear skies. In winter it can get damned cold, especially the wind howling in from Mongolia and Siberia, but I have found that I have far more energy and enjoy wearing heavy clothes (at least as the cold weather begins). It can get brutal, however, and one is thankful to see the first buds of spring. On balance, I think I prefer four seasons. In Thailand it's hot, rainy and hot, and killer hot.

Police

No drunk policemen with guns here. In fact, one rarely sees a uniformed policeman, but I understand there are undercover police everywhere. Extremely safe place. Women go about their business at all times without much concern for personal safety. I'm too old for such nonsense, but I have heard that expat vs Chinese fights do occasionally happen in the Sanlitun area – the only place I've seen here that reminds me of the kind of tourist ghettos one sees in Thailand – between drunks. It seems a similar tale: 10 Chinese guys come to the aid of their friend. Only here, the foreigner is quickly deported and that's the end of the story.

Government

Visa: Once you receive a visa you do not have to keep checking in. In my case I have a one-year working visa which required a medical check on blood, TB, blood pressure and basic heart EKG. Then you have to register with the police in the city district, then you're done. You can also leave and re-enter without needing a re-entry stamp.

Of course one is well aware of the Big Brother approach to government, but in my life, the only real impact so far is the annoying habit of blocking internet sites. But most users – expat and Chinese – are proficient in using a proxy server and simply go around the firewall. I decided I wouldn't try to tell the Chinese how to run China, so the fact there is no democracy hasn't ruined my life. You who live in Thailand live with a government dominated by godfathers, the elite and all the rest that I can't go into. Is that better than the Chinese approach? All this red, yellow and whatever shirt stuff started as I was leaving Thailand and I was very ready to bid it farewell.

Biggest upsides in China:

Infrastructure is vastly superior and much more opportunity. More reliable relationships.

Biggest downsides:

Far too many people, far too many people who are extremely loud, and a period of very cold weather.

Typical expat. You're not talking about CHINA, you're talking about BEIJING. Not quite the same is it? Rather like comparing Bangkok with Mukdahan.

Do try to get out into CHINA and report back on your experiences in CHINA. (And people knock Phuket for not being 'in Thailand ...')

From an anthropolgical point of view, I find it interesting that age differences are never mentioned in these many many posts here on tv.

You're writing style suggests you are of, er mature years? And you're referring to these two women as girls. So. How old are you? And how old are they? I believe neither one of them have a clue what you're on about with your lovesick wafflings, and you seem to be suffering from the same delusion many farang men have here.

By the way, not having a pop at older men, some of the younger ones sincerely believe they've morphed into Tom Cruise, or Gary Oldman and actually say so, or that every shopgirl simpering over their buying a loaf of bread, or whatever, is after them for their good looks, nothing at all to do with money

Not to say 'love' doesn't happen, but best you all could hope for is some mutually convenient companionship. At your age.

er wha??!!! -sorry, not as old as you think, not even close. when i'm old, as you, 'er', say, I promise i'll chop it off ok?

both are mid-20's, and I'm 28 almost 29. one's got a kid and a former husband, -so her maturity in general is on another level. at least with respect to motherhood and family.

just had to mention though....

with regard to your ()wn writing: just a negative opinion about people you observe that you don't like. don't start with the 'delusion' rant either, your angst is easy enough to detect no matter how you veil it. -if you have issues about older guys, then take your 'pop' at them. it's the prerogative (or preoperative) of the lady and man, everywhere in all of the world at all times, age, gender, race, all aside. do you like people different than you? integrate well?

what store are you shopping at that's got you upset? sounds like an important loaf of bread he bought. she was just in the moment, so was he, let it go. "some of the younger ones". anthropological, yeah right. were you buying a broom at the time? forgive that high IQ with some Shiraz and chocolate. please never find my village 1000 years after it's gone.

and

wait, oh no------------------>

you have mentioned

T O M C R U I S E O N M Y P O S T, N O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O . . . . . . . . . D Y I N N N N G G . . . . .

must commence vomiting now... the ref jumps in and blows the whistle, general fleeing commences. the post has been contaminated by a 4 foot tall former hollyweird movie star that's probably a sick android that broke into a plastic surgery studio and got a screen actor's guild card. -I just have to ask, -Do You Think Tom Cruise is Hot?

same same your 'girlfriends'

Ok I wanted to know if I am the only one feels like this. I have been here for almost 3 years and had to deal with Thai workers and contractors many times.

I like it here but i do miss people have satisfaction of having pride and doing job right.

Unlike in west particularly US, I do not see anyone over here have pride in doing their jobs. They always take shortcuts and/or just don't finish it properly

Please give me your thoughts

QUOTE

On another thread someone pointed out that in Saudi Arabia the Thais are appreciated for their workmanship, and quite possibly their cheerfulness

But there again, the fact that they were being paid a decent living wage might help. How much pride would you take in your job if you were only paid 140-200 baht a day? Again, refer to the teaching forum where most of the disgruntled 30k a monthers are of the general opinion that at that price, do the minimum one can get away with.

I wish no ill by anyone but I am always happy to see drug peddlers taken out of circulation one way or another.

So we can expect to see the various heads of the Tobacco Monopoly of Thailand with an intravenous needle sometime soon then can we?

Wake up all you Sun Readers. Cigarettes kill far more people than any other drug, including heroin, anywhere in the world, including Thailand. Only Thailand's government's the pusher.

Thanks for the replies. I asked on a 'local' forum as most of the sites giving info on tropical plants usually concern growing in a non-tropical climate and cater mostly to those who would like to plant a banana tree in Basingstoke or Berlin.

I've just set a Fox palm free and hope it will spread its fronds and look as magnificent as some of the specimens around the 'hood, as opposed to the sad straggly creature it is now. Not by neglect by the way, I have many different palms, mostly potted, and all doing very well. On which note, if palms of any flavour don't divide (and they usually don't being pot bound), and they don't produce flowers, how to propogate them?

In the meantime, it's raining, the soil is more forgiving on the back, so will plant a Lady Palm and see how she goes.

Thanks

Thailand...... the hub of the first of April.

Ah you beat me to it

Not sneering. Just can't get my head around the double standards of the wealthy sending their children overseas whilst keeping the rice producing peasants ignorant. Oh yes, where would they get their wealth via cheap uneducated, ill skilled, non English speaking labour from?

I had a well dug in the garden 5 years ago. Best 70,000 baht I ever spent.

I was spending about 1000 baht a month on water at the time, as we have a large garden and had a lot of new trees and grass to nurture. I suspect our water bill would be less now anyway, but we often have water shortages where I live in Pattaya - and with the well we always have water.

In fact as I live at the top of a small hill in our village, befeore we had the well, when there was a drop in water power for whatever reason, water often did not reach us at the top of the hill at all - or was just a trickle!

Dear 'dsfbrit',

I hate to be the bearer of bad news and thus dampening your mood of exhiliration, but under Thai Law, ALL wells must be properly registered. An approved water-volume-measuring device ('water-meter') must be installed and the amount of water used must be paid for to the local government, on amonthly basis.

On a more serious note. If you build a house along the lines of your country of origin, usually low ceilings and small, separate rooms divided by cement walls, it will be extremely hot and you're using aircon to keep it artificially cool will of course cost you a small fortune. People relocating from colder climes tend to assume electricity is cheaper here, it most certainly isn't.

Some of the locals have adopted these Western style designs as a way of 'moving up the ladder' or to sell on to farang. Thinking outside the box, and I know it's quite difficult for many here, but, consider a Thai from the boonies having moved to cold old europe and building an older style Thai house and complaining they're having to pay too much to heat it? I built a house here in keeping with the thinking of Laurie Baker of India whose buildings were designed in such a way to encourage natural air flow. High ceilings, vents open to thermal winds etc.

As for the solar power - in the name of all that is holy why, in this hot and sunny country, does the Thai government insist on keeping it so expensive there's no recourse other than to pay for unecological expensive fossil based fuel energy? Unlike the Japan most of them aspire too with it's cold climate and extensive government supported solar power?

Come on Thailand, time for yet another crackdown, on energy waste.

I know this is probably more of a 'garden' related subject, but I have several Lady Palms and would like to know, before I take to the backbreaking task of digging a hole and planting one in the ground, as opposed to a pot, does anyone know just how big these things are capable of growing? It's simply that they seem to grow quite quickly - up to 3m - in a smallish pot, but what about their natural habitat, the earth? Thanks

I have been in Phuket for three weeks and have already taken a one hour driving course. However, I do not think I can pass the parallel parking aspect of the driving test. I am willing to pay somebody to get a driver's license. Is there a specific person within the traffic department I need to see? Please advise.

Mexico has an excellent system.

In Mexico I have been pulled over numerous times while drivingand running red lights. I would have been classified as "legally" drunk in the U.S. drunk in the U.S. and subjected to thousands of dollars in fines, a night in jail and possibly losing my driver's license for 6 months. There is always one cop that can speak English. They simply tell you what you did wrong and say: "That will be $10 or $20 at times, U.S. And, that's it. You are once again on your way. If that is corruption then it is beneficial.

I did not pass the parallel parking aspect of the driving test as after I'd parked my army jeep in the 6 metre space, the officious official indicated that I had erred as I have a small 'car' and should park it in the 4 metre parking space. I told him I could do it, but did he have an hour or so as this is how long it would take, bearing in mind a 26 year old army jeep doesn't have power steering. (I am sure those of you who've had the pleasure of driving one will understand what I mean). The two of them thought about it a bit and then said, 'we don't think you would be able to park it if you went to somewhere like Phuket Town'. I told them I'd parked it at least 3 or 4 times the previous day with no problem, I just have to pick a bigger spot to park in. They still looked a bit 'oo, what do we do about this then' so I stepped towards them with the keys outstretched and asked them to have a go, in the 4 metre space. They both jumped back like cats on hot coals exclaiming 'mai mai mai'. They thought I was offering them tea money.

I did ask a Thai friend who had family working there what that was all about and he told me NO TEA MONEY. But didn't elaborate on what had been said or done to stop it. Again, if this can be done there, it can be done everywhere.

I would also like to refer back to a previous thread on the superior knowledge of Thai wives, I concur with the general concensus that they know sod all. So the poster who said his wife saying 2k 'pairng' is correct, but where? And when? And most certainly NOT in Phuket for ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY.

As for this poster, running bloody red lights and driving drunk, we have enough to deal with here on the island with the locals doing it without the importing of morons like you, so if parellel parking is you're bete noir, all to the good. Idiot.

You have to understand that the future to a Thai is about 5 minutes from present. Plans are made to be broken. Nothing is set in stone... even if it is written by a lawyer. Once you understand that and go with the flow the easier it will be for you. Make plans ONLY for yourself. If your girlfriend or spouse wants to participate then fine, but don't count on it. By men's standards, women EVERYWHERE say crazy things. Get used to it.

I'm sure they do think further away into the future Ian. But most are scared, when it comes to making long term decissions, because of family pressure. It's easy for us westerners to jump on a plane to "somewhere" then they do.

Nothing to do with 'family pressure'. They Don't Want To Go. Especially with you.

It depends where you live. If you live somewhere where the locals aren't ignorant peasants, then, generally they have learned not to cut in line. If by chance some 'out of towner' or just downright arrogant tries to push through to the front, he/she will get the benefit of my elbow in their ribs, a step on the toe, and a 'my suparb', or 'mai por' depending on the estimated origination of aforesaid cheeky bastard.

First the Airport, then customs, now road safety.

Go Abhisit!

Has he been reading the letter page of the Bangkok Post?

No, he had the benefit of a quality western education. Duh.

His cabinet's largely sneered at so called 'crackdowns', particularly on this forum, are simply the things any Western government would give priority in implementing. Those new laws he would like to implement will take a while longer, given his having to sup with a long spoon.

There are always those who insist renting is the only way to go. That's fine if you're on your own, no family, not bothered with planting a garden or decorating, whatever.

We rented an old Thai house for five years (only meant to stay three months but got attached to the jungle atmosphere), and the only improvement we felt comfortable about spending money on was painting the walls and putting a few pot plants out, in the certain knowledge that the landlord/lady could turn up any day and turf you out. No Tenant's Rights Act here.

Poor nice couple across from our new bought and paid for house, (never mind all the 'but it's not really yours', this ain't Zimbabwe and the natives aren't going to come and lay claim to it any time soon), painted up the rental, maintained and added to repairs and cultivated a garden for six years. Then one day landlady (another farang) turned up and just threw them out, and all for another 5k lousy baht.

Some of us realise this life's not a rehearsal and if you want some place secure to hang your hat, BUY something. Quality of life more important than hanging on to some perceived sense of security and leaving it all in some bank for your heirs to squander on booze and plastic surgery

If you have problems like that now it means you cannot trust your wife. Why would you buy a house in her name if she does things like that.

You must have more money than sense.

I don't really have any probs now. Just dont want to run into any in the future. I just know during the low season they tend to borrow money against property and cars. They are actually pretty generous.

How can they borrow money from the bank against property they don't own?

Is your wife borrowing the money and then giving it to them?

This is a very good question. I've often seen Thais in the banks clutching their Title Deeds asking for loans and assume the land is theirs, although a neighbour stupidly had the builder on the list of directors to form a company to buy the land - the builder then went ahead and borrowed 4m against the house in total. There's now a metal sign on the wall of the house stating the name of the current owner, in Thai.

We rented a house a few years back, the landlord was forever having people from the bank round to take a look at it for yet another loan when he was broke.

Does anyone know how it works here? In the uk for instance, you have to show an income of some sort from which you can pay the loan back, surely many Thais are borrowing against their land/property because they too are broke? Is all that is needed is to flash a Chanote at the bank manager?

and so the waffling goes on ... If.Something.Was.Said.Or.Done.To.Stop.Tea.Money.Being.Taken.At.A.Large.Governmen

t.Department.ie.The.Traffic. Department.In.Phuket. It stands to reason that whatever was said or done, yes, right here in Thailand! can.be.said.or.done.at.every.bloody.government.department.in.the.kingdom.

or am I interrupting just another mindless rant on this forum...? As you were. Natch.

A good start would be a crackdown on the traffic Department who for the right money will issue a drivers licence without even a test . This would ensure that at least potential drivers would have to prove they understand road rules and can actually drive. This may reduce the number of road deaths in Thailand and also reduce the road rage of foreigners who observe the abuse of traffic laws.

No it doesn't. Phuket Traffic Department WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT take tea money in lieu of a test and it's done nothing here to lessen the daily carnage on Phuket's roads. I don't know what on earth was said to them to make them stop at least five years ago, but if it works at that one department, it can work at all of them.

As an aside, I told the a local cop the only way to reduce the death toll here was an enforceable speed limit. He told me speed cameras were too expensive. So daily death toll isn't?

The fees will be huge if you list for 9k US.

If you think this thing will sell start at auction at a much lower price. 1st picture is free. IF it sells then you have to pay eBay a percentage of the earnings.

When you say 'huge', ballpark, how much? And if auction how much? (and assuming there's a 'reserve' price?)

Thankyou.

How much would it cost to list an item of around 9k USD at a fixed price on ebay? How long does the item list for? And does the fee include pics? Thankyou all

ps: yes I have looked, but still confused

From an anthropolgical point of view, I find it interesting that age differences are never mentioned in these many many posts here on tv.

You're writing style suggests you are of, er mature years? And you're referring to these two women as girls. So. How old are you? And how old are they? I believe neither one of them have a clue what you're on about with your lovesick wafflings, and you seem to be suffering from the same delusion many farang men have here.

By the way, not having a pop at older men, some of the younger ones sincerely believe they've morphed into Tom Cruise, or Gary Oldman and actually say so, or that every shopgirl simpering over their buying a loaf of bread, or whatever, is after them for their good looks, nothing at all to do with money

Not to say 'love' doesn't happen, but best you all could hope for is some mutually convenient companionship. At your age.

By the way, before anyone asks, it's not the email service, I've tried both gmail and yahoo, both the same.

Same here on Phuket. Gave up last night as couldn't connect at all.

Can connect this morning and access email but have been attempting to upload just one small word file for the past five hours! Called TOT to ask if there was yet another problem with Phuket's connection, guy had me run a speed test and told me everything was okay! Well, no it's not, is it

In my village people quite often drop off unwanted cats and dog at the Wat knowing that the Monks will take care and give food. I take food to our Wat every afternoon for the last several years. perhaps you can speak with one of the Monks there where you live. You are a very good person to have taken the kitten to the Vet for treatment. I wish you good luck and for the kitten

Yes, here people will abrogate their responsibility by shoving their unwanted cats and dogs out of, preferably a speeding car, at Wat Chalong, whereby they will be lucky to escape being made raspberry jam of by the speeding trucks along the bypass road just outside. They know the monks won't risk detracting from their 'merit' you see.

Best to put a pretty pic up in the vet's office (if he/she hasn't suggested that already - guessing hasn't). You might be lucky to find someone to actually take care of her. You meet some of the nicest people here at your local vet's surgery. Good luck and don't drop the poor thing off at a Wat or put it back in the jungle at that age.

from a neutral point of view, it's kind of amazing the immediate negative reactions this post got

You were amazed by it?