connda

This is how it would work. Fine tourist 200 baht for lttering because there are no litter barrels to deposit litter into.

It is good that at long last a US president has toned down the rhetoric, turned up the heat on Muslim leaders globally and stepped up the attacks on the violent extremists that have emerged from the Islamic world.

Almost all Muslims want the same things others of all religions want, which is peace and prosperity, not perpetual holy war. Know thine enemy for sure but also know who is not your enemy, and the billion Muslims of the world are not the enemy.

Good post.

Those who demonize all Muslims almost always have an agenda... and nowhere is it more obvious than on this forum.

The absurdity that because Islam is called out for exactly what it requires of its adherents and the actions of the adherents, this hardly translates into "demoniz[ing]" anything or anyone. These are statements of facts. The endless stream of news reports, terrorist actions, and their citations for their actions is hardly fictitious. The assertion that Islam is not responsible for the current state of jihad throughout the world is never- NEVER- backed up with scriptural references or nary a clerical admonishment. Why? Because they are consistent in following the injunctions of Islam. "Demoniz[ing]?" Hardly.

Perhaps those who assert the wrong headedness of posters like myself would provide us some examples from time to time indicating exactly why these jihad terrorists don't reflect islamic injunctions? Perhaps even a topical argument could be provided rather than just pejoratives or impugning the motives of posters who announce measurable facts? Perhaps some do not want to provide such scriptural arguments for their positions because they inherently object to the notion that islam has anything to do with the terrorism at all; so, they wont be bothered with such research to support their position? This would be akin to an ostrich with its head in the sand because, of course, if, according to Obama, we should consider the islamist grievances we should also consider their scriptural references for their authority; they nearly always provide it.

Lastly, it is a bridge to far to assert one knows what all muslims want. What can be known, however, is the product of their collective action or inaction regarding the Third Great Jihad. When considered with regard to the fact that the koran and hadiths actually do call for perpetual holy war what all muslims want becomes a concern. Perpetual holy war is not occasionally mentioned; it is not inferred; it is not poor exegesis. Perpetual holy war is the actual foundation of the entire ideology. You cannot sustain the concept of islam and sharia if you removed the requirement to lesser jihad. There could not ever be a dar al islam unless there is first a dar al harb. Assertions like this combined with leadership like Obama's will seek to redistribute further intellectual, monetary, and military wealth into the hands of islamists under the premise that they need jobs, or opportunity, or equality in outcomes. Normally, IMO, when civilization jihad arrives (and it actually slowly, inexorably arrives everywhere since 632CE because jihad is the actual blueprint) people like me are the last to be whacked, beheaded or burned because we at least know its coming. It is usually the people who greet [them] at the gates that are killed first. Good luck. (Note: My problem is not with muslims, it is with islamic jihad and shar'ia).

For anyone who doesn't understand this, and you have the attention span of an relatively intelligent adult - Google:

What ISIS Really Wants

"The Islamic State is no mere collection of psychopaths. It is a religious group with carefully considered beliefs, among them that it is a key agent of the coming apocalypse. Here’s what that means for its strategy—and for how to stop it."

Author: Graeme Wood

Publication: The Atlantic

It's a pretty informative article. I'm guessing TV won't allow me to post the link, so up to you to do the search.

How many times does the US have to get it's ass kicked for not understanding the actual problem. Convential warfare isn't going to work. Reminds me of the US revolution, but the US is now like the Red Coats, using the same ineffiective strategy over and over again. I'm sure the US Army brass is hoping that ISIS fighter will stand in the open and allow Apache helicopters to mow them down in the open, but darn, they just won't fight conventially. Personally I don't think this has anything to do with ISIS as a problem; it's just about destablizing ME/NA and anywhere else that won't play by Western rules and funnelling massive amounts of money into the coffer of defense contractors and those lucky corporations with contacts on Capital Hill who get the cushy sole-source contracts. Read guys like Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzezinski, then you'll get an idea of the CFR et.al. mindset. Or think what you like. At least try to have an informed opinion though.

Now, where's my coffee. Not my worry unless it spills over into our neighborhood. Think we'll see 'radical Buddhism' established before 'radical Islam' get's a toe-hold in Northern Thailand, at least if Nan province is any indication.

After reading your post a couple of time the shackles have fallen from my eyes. I can see so much clearer now. These naughty little boys of ISIS from Syria are just bored with with nothing else to do. So why not get some AK47s, rocket launchers. cigarette lighters, sharp knives and have some fun. So what if they round up Christians, Jews and anyone else they see fit and chop their heads off or burn them alive? They're just having a little innocent fun. So what if they want to take over Iraq? Not my worry. So what that they have moved into and want to take over Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya, North Africa? Not my worry. So what if they move into Europe, Australia and Asia? So what if they raise their flag over the White House as they have proclaimed they would? Not my worry. I can have a delicious plate of khao mon gai and a cold Leo any time I want. Life is great. Let those naughty boys decapitate or burn alive all the infidels worldwide that won't convert to Islam. That is except Isaan of course.

While these misunderstood fellows are doing all the above fun things, we should insure all the defense contractors and those lucky corporations are brought to justice before they are beheaded or burned alive. They should all be locked up awaiting their judgement from Allah.

Connda I trust you realize sarcasm when you read it. I also trust that you know little or nothing about the ISIS organization itself. How it is growing by over ten thousand a day world wide, their recruitment campaign on Twitter in more than seven languages and on two websites which can easily be found by using Google. For your reading pleasure and enlightenment of this nasty bunch you can go to the link below if you so choose.

I'm not worried at the moment about these barbarians invading Isaan but I am concerned and sorrowful for all the innocent people that are being slaughtered by them.

http://news.yahoo.com/terror-inc---how-the-islamic-state-became-a-branding-behemoth-034732792.html

Then I'm assuming you have the answer as to how to stop the global killing spree and establish world peace? And I'm not even being sarcastic. What's the plan? Show me all the military success that the US and NATO have had in police actions (undeclared wars) since the end of WWII, and by military success I mean campaigns that have turned the hearts and minds of the "insurgents" and have established stable democracies where before chaos reined. North Korea? Vietnam? Somalia? Middle East? Iraq? North Africa? Libya? Afghanistan? Palestine? The Baltics? Sub-saharan Africa? Nicaragua? Cuba? Laos? Give me some concrete examples of where superior military force projected against a "guerrilla-style insurgency" has created stable democracies since after WWII that continued into this day an age? I'm sure there are plenty of examples? Right? (now I'm being sarcastic). Then if you want to start discussing domestic policies of Western countries, how about the establishment of Sharia Law and Muslim-only zones in Western countries. How stabilizing this that? Where do you think that exercise in political correctness is going to go, and why is it being allowed in the first place? If a ISIS flag goes up over the White House, it will only be because it was allowed to go up over the White House.

I think you completely missed my point. I'm just saying that most people don't see the big picture. Start here: The Grand Chessboard - American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives by Zbigniew Brzezinski. Or read one of Robert Gates' books. Or any books by members of the Council on Foreign Relations. Look into some history. Check the internet for references to The Great Game and The New Great Game.

I'm just amazed when the average Joe who gets their primary source of news though SkyNews or CNN think they have a clue of what's really going on in the world. Turn your TV off, throw your newspapers away, and read something written that is targeted for individuals with at least a high school, and preferably a university education. The main steam news outlets spew information that is targeted to an audience that has a six grade education. Is that how you see yourself?

Like a stated before, I'll respect your opinion (although I may not agree with it), just as long as it's an informed opinion. Vet you facts.

Use Thai for Beginners as your bible. Give yourself a year and start learning the read. Why's this important? One word: Transliteration. There are a multitude of transliteration schemes that approximate the sound of Thai words and tones. I'm going to stress: approximate. Also, they lure you into a false sense of familaraity. You'll see 'TH" and you're going to think that sound like the "TH" like in the word 'the'. Nothing could be further from the truth: There is no "TH" sound in Thai.

When you read Thai, you know the correct sound, pronunciation, and tone of the word. When I'm forced to used transliteration, I find myself writing in the Thai word next to it so that I'm sure of how the word is pronounced.

Consider this a journey: it doesn't happen overnight. But once you're able to 'read' Thai, and by this I mean to be able to look at the word, and correctly pronounce it's sound and tonality with about 95% accuracy, you starting hitting a new plataue in your learning. Then suddenly the words start 'popping out' around you as you drive down the street. As you get familiar with the common words, you start to understand the meanings, then you start 'seeing' short sentences, and understand what your reading.

So I suggest to jump into reading with both feet.

How many times does the US have to get it's ass kicked for not understanding the actual problem. Convential warfare isn't going to work. Reminds me of the US revolution, but the US is now like the Red Coats, using the same ineffiective strategy over and over again. I'm sure the US Army brass is hoping that ISIS fighter will stand in the open and allow Apache helicopters to mow them down in the open, but darn, they just won't fight conventially. Personally I don't think this has anything to do with ISIS as a problem; it's just about destablizing ME/NA and anywhere else that won't play by Western rules and funnelling massive amounts of money into the coffer of defense contractors and those lucky corporations with contacts on Capital Hill who get the cushy sole-source contracts. Read guys like Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzezinski, then you'll get an idea of the CFR et.al. mindset. Or think what you like. At least try to have an informed opinion though.

Now, where's my coffee. Not my worry unless it spills over into our neighborhood. Think we'll see 'radical Buddhism' established before 'radical Islam' get's a toe-hold in Northern Thailand, at least if Nan province is any indication.

Wild monkey population control: 22 rim fire.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/04/entertainment/conrad-hilton-assaulting-intimidating-flight-attendants-charge/

What an endearing child. Seeing that many US prisons are privatized, maybe Daddy can buy him one to serve his sentence in. Of course, the lawyer team will probably go for the Ambian overdose defense. Community service and rehab. The humiliation of having to rub elbows with the peasants. <so sad>

connda;

i was in the same , just got a new passport (US) last week valid till 2025;

other one was valid till 2018 but after 2 extra sets of pages only 1blank page left :-)

I am going to transfer my stamp ( 1st entry non o stamp and re entry permit an all the writing they put in) next week and than in June get my next extension.

You could i guess do it all at the same time BUT

Better not to confuse them here in Phuket

Yeah, I just bit the bullet yesterday, printed out all the necessary documents, and showed up at CM immigration at 1:30pm. We were the second to the last people out the door at about 5pm. I've never seen the inside of CM Immigration with only 4 customers in the waiting room: Me, my wife, and two other men. Well, on the bright side, won't need to do that exercise in boredom for another 10 years Lol. Three and a half hours to process 11 people. Amazing Thailand!

You were lucky they even saw you. Three weeks ago when I showed up at 1:30 pm to transfer stamps into a new passport at CM Immigration they told me to come back and get in line before 7 am the next morning. I don't "do" mornings well!

Yeah Nancy, I agree. I generally let my Thai wife do the talking. 8 years around her and I know she has the ability to get results that allude me Lol. So when she showed up with a queue ticket, I was a happy camper. That was exactly what I said when she showed up: "Thank God we don't have to show up tomorrow morning." Went and got a Latte, broke out my Thai study books, and did homework for 3 hours. Afterward, took the wife to her favorite restuarant. Successful day in my book. But equally glad I don't have to do it again for another 10 years And I feel your pain -- I ain't a morning person either. zzzzzzzz

What time is too early for that first drink?

The minute you decided to post this thread on Thai Visa.

Well,you must be a laugh a minute,i am sure.

After a couple of brews, sure I am. Like most people. And I play a mean game of pool to boot. But! If ya gotta ask that question on a public forum, I'm thinking the OP may have a problem. Just calling it like I see it.

Here. Here's was my dad's rule of thumb.

• Before sunrise if you have a fishing line in the water.
• However, if you're hunting, no alcohol until the guns are unloaded, ammo stored, bolt removed, and guns stored. If you got your buck early, lucky you.
• On work days, never before your noon lunch break.
• On weekends, bloody-marys after your morning coffee, which might be spiked with brandy.

However, I'm not my Dad. On work days, not until after work, and I prefered to drink with friends. On days off, mid-afternoon at the earliest, probably watching sports on TV with friends, working on the car or in the yard. And a lot of days not at all. Then again, I've never asked anyone if drinking mid-afternoon while watching sports with friends on the weekend was too early. Some people may say 'yes'; others may say 'no'. And my friends wouldn't care one way or the other.

Do I think my dad drank too early? I never saw him 'drunk' until his liver started going to crap in his mid-60s. And he never abused anyone in the family. He was a good guy and a good provider. <shrug> And it was his life, not mine. I just didn't follow in his footsteps. And he never once asked me my opinion about his drinking habits. The OP did.

Cheers all.

Skoal.

I have noticed that every hotel I have stayed in has a lower railing than most. I have leaned against them and am above the tipping point..... Men's mass is above the waist where women have their mass located lower. Probably help to add another rail....

Not the low railing controversy again. Where are all these supposed low, dangerous railings you claim to be seeing?

I'm 6 foot 1 and have never in the 7 years I've lived here or the 20+ years I've been coming here seen a railing in Thailand that was lower than my stomach, which would make them impossible to "tip over".

I'm 5'11'' and just walked outside to check out where the railing hit me: 4 inches below my hip bone. Trust me. I see them this low in numerous places. I'm thinking you're living a sheltered life. I live in the Thai community. And the railing outside my apartment scares the sh*t out of me.

Hummm? A few more awaken souls have risen. Maybe there is a sliver of hope?

OpEd:

"The outrage expressed by tourists over a ban on beach chairs in Phuket recently showed that visitors are less willing to compromise. Local police have faced resistance from tourists since the rule came into effect on February 12. Some visitors even said they would never visit the resort again in protest against the removal of their favourite beach perches."

In the US, we call this 'voting with our feet'. Regulations were needed to rein in opportunistic and aggressive beach vendors; Not to impose unrealistic barriers on the enjoyment of visitors. I suggest the TAT look at how other countries, which make revenues from their beaches, regulate their beaches. I think you'll find it much less draconian world-wide then the regulation imposed by the Phuket authorities.

Personally, I wouldn't go to Phuket if you gave me a free airline ticket and a night at at hotel. And nowadays, it sounds like many Western tourists are following suit. 'Voting with their feet." They will go where they feel welcome. Thailand, or at least Phuket, isn't making foreigners beach-goers feel welcome.

What time is too early for that first drink?

The minute you decided to post this thread on Thai Visa.

You look like a pretty positive person John. I have no doubts you'll eventually pull though. Best of luck. Heal up!

April Fools!!!

Oppps! Nope. Only Feb 18th. I could have sworn this was a joke! Oh well

This year has been a whole lot better than the same time last year. Went up to Mae Ngam dam today and had lunch with some friends. Slightly hazy but not too bad; could see one fire to the Southeast but that was it. Last year at this time you'd be lucky to have 5km visibility.

I have noticed that every hotel I have stayed in has a lower railing than most. I have leaned against them and am above the tipping point..... Men's mass is above the waist where women have their mass located lower. Probably help to add another rail....

I'm a man, and any lady will confirm that my mass is located below the waste .....

Still, Thai balconies have homicidal tendencies and are seriously biased against us farangs.

Yeah, Thai balconies are built for, errr, short Thais. The balcony outside my apartment scares that crap out of me. It's below my hip. It does make you wonder though: the tendency to build low balconies could be a contributing factor to the numberous farang 'short and unforturnate' flights off of condos, hotels, and apartment buildings.

I've never seen either do it. Perhaps they don't qualify for the "permission sticker" you need to purchase?

Yeah, I really don't remember seeing any either when I go though the base, but I wasn't sure. I was just thinking that if they're force to navigate the traffic around Maharaj/Sripat, and then double back along the canel to get the the airport, then I'm wondering how much more the fares would end up being. Just trying to find some information for a friend.

It's a culture course, not a language course. There should be no requirement to speak Thai if you're teaching English, in fact the classroom should have a strict "English only" rule to be effective. Your GF's son's teacher may indeed be hopeless, but it may be more to do with the students than the teacher!

What a load of crap,,,,Try and get a teaching job in the UK or Germany without being able to speak the local lingo. Just trying to keep your job?

TEFL teachers work throughout Europe without the need to speak the local language. Every school I have worked in has forbidden me from speaking Thai with the children.

I gotta admit, that's pretty tough, especially when the only language that 98% of those kid's speak is Thai. Sure, they can say, "Hello Teacher.", but then again, so can both my dogs. What a joke. The only way I can get a 'level one' rank beginner Thai speaker with no English language skills actually conversing in English is to explain English grammatical and pronunciation concepts using the Thai language. If you can't read, write, and speak Thai to get the base concepts across to students who are functionally English illiterate, you're just adding to the problem. Like I said before, nothing is going to change until Thailand starts to loose major large chunks of market share to countries who can run their business units using English as their base language. Hubris and nationalism. What a waste.

Take a TEFL course and you will learn how to do it.

Sorry, I just have to disagree with you. By understanding the native language, you can develop curriculum and teaching methods that directly address the stregths and weaknesses of the foreign native that is attempting to learn the English lanauge. But that actually takes a lot of work and analysis. Much more that taking a couple of hours to read a chapter out of whatever English language textbox you employer hands you and then scribbling out something that resembles a lesson plan before you head out with the boyz to knock back a few brews before teaching the next day.

Oh, and I did take my TEFL course back in the mid 2000s; about 20 years after I was formally teaching and developing curriculum in Computer Systems Engineering. I started teaching English in Thailand after I formally retired. If the disorganziation of your post is any indication of your teaching methodologies, then I completely understand your problem. I've been around the block a few times; you don't want to compare yourself to me. You'll lose. So that's it for me on this thread: end of comments.

So 600-700million Baht with 100,000 visitors to CM, that's 6000-7000Baht of revenue per person, hardly what you would call big spenders especially if that includes hotel costs!

You are so right !

I have said it before the face of Thailand will change forever. Thais may rue the day that they started to bring such huge numbers of these people into Thailand. Thailand has already changed enormously in the last 20 years. Their culture, temples etc. are now under threat and only some can see it, TAT does not give a damn. Big numbers of Chinese tourists means that the TAT sycophants will be "rewarded" with higher salaries by their bosses, at the expense of Thailand.

Since the debate of increasing the numbers of mainland Chinese came up more and more Thai are realizing its a mistake. Particularly in Chiang Mai, this is where the trouble started first a couple of years ago. These people a loud, rude, dirty (in their spitting), and trample over Thai culture, which is being felt now in Chang Mai. They have had the hide to walk into lectures at the CNX University, disrupting them. And look at the trouble they also caused in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha recently.

They are ignorant of Thai culture and certainly couldn't care less. These people who coming from China are the first generation of international tourism travelers, their parents are still on the farm, in the noodle shop or on the factory floor. The access to money for this Generation Z has done this, and given that they are spending money (and on average per head, its not much), they think can do whatever they want. The Chinese Z generation has a definite sense of entitlement and narcissism.

Another Question: Why does the Thai administration now discouraged Western tourists and want-to-be expats from staying or coming to Thailand. This has been occuring now for years before the average Chinese even left the farm or the noodle shop. I cannot figure out why Thailand is offering free visas to the mainland Chinese. They only stay for a few days then leave. Per capita they spend a pittance, it is only because they are invading the country in huge numbers that they are worthwhile to the economy. On the other hand Europeans, Australians, the English, Americans etc, spend larger amounts and stay longer, and were once the powerhouse of tourism in Thailand, sadly not anymore. They have been discouraged in so many ways over the last 20 years. And if you think about it a lot of the falang money goes directly into the hands of Thais in the lower income brackets, not the wealthy as does the Chinese money through five star hotels and big travel agencies. As in all countries, governments look after themselves, numerus unus prior.

I am very skeptical of a promotion campaign that specifically targets one population. It is skewed too much to be politically correct, as most other nation's tourist bureaus would see it (I will temper my words here).

always concerns me when i see ppl here spending 3 hours + typing things like that

This is a subject that is very dear to my heart. I have lived and worked in the Kingdom for 34 years. Since retiring I mainly live in the Buriram panhandle, Bangkok or Pattaya, sometimes Chumpon. I have an extended family that I look after, putting children thru school for 15 years now. I have a financial and emotional investment in Thailand. I have personally seen what the mainland Chinese tourist is doing. Many Thai are now reluctant that TAT is doing the right thing by them, or are just lining their own pockets.

I didn't take 3 hours to write my posting, that is an exaggeration. Maybe 30 minutes. The longest I have written on TV.

I don't know what is concerning you, I thought we were all given the opportunity to express our feelings, and beliefs, inside the TV rules, that is what I have done. Rather than criticize my posting with less than one line, may I ask if you could contribute, and give a logical view on how you see the issue, and how it affects your stake in Thailand.

Interesting thread. I just asked my Thai wife how she feels about the Chinese influx. Her first comment was that they contribute to the economy and she likes that; but then came the comments about them being disrespectful of the places they visit, trashing parks and tourist attractions, and the worst, defecating in a temple in Chiang Rai and throwing their butt-wipe tissue into an Buddhist offering plate (this must have been on Thai news...first I heard of it). But she acknowledged that this is probably the future of the Thai tourist economy. So there's a Thai perspective.

Personally I find them to be a bit of an odd curiousity. They just seem so....disconnected and unaware of what is around them. Which is why they probably don't bother me that much. It's like navigating an obsticle course where the 'obsticles' have no self-awareness, but I do, so I can work my way around them - sort of like walking through a grove of trees; the trees won't move, so I do, and I understand that the trees are unawared, so I feel no anger. Then when they stand in the middle of the street in a pack, sort of completely oblivious to traffic -- Maybe the Darwin Principle will kick in, and the genetic line of the one's who get run over by Thai traffic simply don't pass on their genes to the next generation. Over time, Chinese develop a genetic propesity to stay closer to the sidewalks in Chiang Mai.

>Do you know the cultural background of Chinese and their colloquail sentence structure?

Yes I do.

And I know disrespect, arrogance and rudeness when I see it.

Kindness is translatable to any language.

I think what we're talking about here is 'New Money'.

The inability of the newly rich to behave well, and their habit of behaving badly, being rude and demanding. You see it in a few New Rich from other countries.

Old Money tends - ironically - be more polite and respectful to those serving them.

Perhaps if they hadn't killed 45 million of their fellow citizens (often the more cultured) they would know better how to behave.

Thanks for the reply. I learned something new, or at least a different perspective.

Anyway, I live here so I guess I'll just have to incorporate rude Chinese into the overall 'Chiang Mai Experience'. To be honest, they really don't bother me any more than rude Thais, or for that matter rude farangs. Although, it's also my experience that farangs generally display the best manners. Well, imho.

Just curious, but does anyone know if Songtaws and/or tuk tuks use the route though Wing 41 to get from Nimmanhaemin to Central Airport Mall and CNX, and back again?

It's entertainment. I like watching them cross Nimmen and clog up the registers at 7-11. When I go into 7-11 to get past them I just shout "move". They are obsessed with going to CMU. They do not allow them to drive on campus anymore. They must use the white campus shuttles.

In the condo I was staying at they rented to Chinese people on a weekly basis... they make the most noise, starting at 430am... hacking up in the bathroom and then talking loud. I had to move.

The one thing I do not like as a result of the huge influx of Chinese tourists is the stupid giant buses the tourist groups come in/use... damn. They clog up the roads.

AND, they smoke everywhere.

The women are ghostly white and soft...

Ghostly white and soft, sorta like every Thai women aspires to be (I know this by watching Thai TV commercials LOL). Personally, a lot of the Chinese gals I've met are pretty high up on my 'eye candy' index. I know the

'ghostly white' Chinese gals have got to make the gals from Surin reallyyyy jealous!