connda

Good to see the Education Minister acknowledging Thailand's shortcomings and the need to improve in this important area.

However, he should also understand that there are two kinds of nations in ASEAN.... those whose well educated people speak it's lingua franca (English) and those who don't. Any educational hubs will emerge from the first category whilst Thailand falls into the second category.

In some areas being 'colonised' in the past does have it advantages after all.

It's pretty sad of have residents of one ASEAN country (The Philippians) teaching English to the residents of another ASEAN country (Thailand) because residents of the former have mastered the English language (well, slight problems pronouncing words starting with "F" but that can be overlooked)

I have a dream.....a dream that one day I may travel along the sidewalks of Bangkok in a wheelchair.

I have a dream...a Honda Dream 125 that I park on the sidewalk when there is nowhere else to park.

It's just one of those things. Are you a person who wants more or less regulation in your life. I'm pretty happy with having less regulation imposed on me, so I now accept things like sidewalks being a place for car and motorcycle parking, planting large trees, public works appliances, vendors, tables, chairs, more vendors, potted plants, large signs promoting the latest and greatest in WiFi and Cellular Technology, garbage, castaways, drunks, dogs, and an occasional pedestrian.

I'm with it. I accept it. I embrace it. It's one thing in life that simply does not bother me. Thank god (and Buddha)!

You might like Mogadishu. I understand there is virtually no regulation of anything there; a paradise!

If you like Buddha, consider the middle path. A little bit of regulation to prevent excessive annoyances or dangers is not necessarily a bad thing. I witnessed a teenager get hit and killed by a bus as he tried to get on a motorcycle taxi that was parked on the sidewalk too close to the street with a bunch of other obstructions in front of him. Would it be that difficult to designate a safe area for these guys to park and pick up passengers? Too much to require that street vendors stick to one side of the sidewalk instead of crowding both sides and leaving no room for two people to pass each other (let alone the inevitable motorcycle trying to push through? Too much to ask that at least a portion of sidewalks be made available for the use of actual pedestrians?

On the other hand, I fear the crusaders for order will go too far and strip the streets of all their character instead of implementing just a few common sense measures as above. I guess I wish them only partial success in their efforts.

It truly is this bizarre when the idea of freedom is to have the individual right to inconvenience thousands in a communal area.

It's Bizarre to have a Bazaar in a communal area? Really? Take a second and really think about that.

I have a dream.....a dream that one day I may travel along the sidewalks of Bangkok in a wheelchair.

I have a dream...a Honda Dream 125 that I park on the sidewalk when there is nowhere else to park.

It's just one of those things. Are you a person who wants more or less regulation in your life. I'm pretty happy with having less regulation imposed on me, so I now accept things like sidewalks being a place for car and motorcycle parking, planting large trees, public works appliances, vendors, tables, chairs, more vendors, potted plants, large signs promoting the latest and greatest in WiFi and Cellular Technology, garbage, castaways, drunks, dogs, and an occasional pedestrian.

I'm with it. I accept it. I embrace it. It's one thing in life that simply does not bother me. Thank god (and Buddha)!

You might like Mogadishu. I understand there is virtually no regulation of anything there; a paradise!

If you like Buddha, consider the middle path. A little bit of regulation to prevent excessive annoyances or dangers is not necessarily a bad thing. I witnessed a teenager get hit and killed by a bus as he tried to get on a motorcycle taxi that was parked on the sidewalk too close to the street with a bunch of other obstructions in front of him. Would it be that difficult to designate a safe area for these guys to park and pick up passengers? Too much to require that street vendors stick to one side of the sidewalk instead of crowding both sides and leaving no room for two people to pass each other (let alone the inevitable motorcycle trying to push through? Too much to ask that at least a portion of sidewalks be made available for the use of actual pedestrians?

On the other hand, I fear the crusaders for order will go too far and strip the streets of all their character instead of implementing just a few common sense measures as above. I guess I wish them only partial success in their efforts.

The trouble is, once the 'Regulation Genie' is out of the bottle, their ain't no putting him back in. There is "Power" in the making and enforcement of regulations. Once 'law-makers' get their mojo working -- mmmmh mmmhhh -- it feel good to have power! Look at the EU. The UK. Parts of the US. Over-regulated. In the US little kids are fined and their parents threatened with jail for simply setting up and selling lemon-aide on the road side. "Ya'll can't do that..you need a permit...a health permit, a business permit, ya can only sell in specially zoned areas, not safe to sell near the street -- young children might get hurt." You get my drift. Crikey, setting up a road side lemon stand was a right-of-passage for young kids in my day. You took your first baby-steps into the entrepreneurial world. Nowadays, you end up with a $499 ticket and a day in court. Nope, the West has gone flipping overboard. Less regulation is better imho.

Do I like the vendor setting up business and blocking the entire sidewalk, forcing me to walk in the street? Not really. But I accept the good with the bad. I prefer it here to my own country. And when car traffic gets thick -- I just follow the other motorcycles up and onto the sidewalk. Beats standing in the sun.

Love, Peace, and RIP Mr. Tum. You'll be missed, but your work will live on!

I have a dream.....a dream that one day I may travel along the sidewalks of Bangkok in a wheelchair.

I have a dream...a Honda Dream 125 that I park on the sidewalk when there is nowhere else to park.

It's just one of those things. Are you a person who wants more or less regulation in your life. I'm pretty happy with having less regulation imposed on me, so I now accept things like sidewalks being a place for car and motorcycle parking, planting large trees, public works appliances, vendors, tables, chairs, more vendors, potted plants, large signs promoting the latest and greatest in WiFi and Cellular Technology, garbage, castaways, drunks, dogs, and an occasional pedestrian.

I'm with it. I accept it. I embrace it. It's one thing in life that simply does not bother me. Thank god (and Buddha)!

And where are they going to put them? On the road?

In Chiang Mai, I learned about parking on the sidewalk from the locals. On the main roads, from 3pm to 6pm you move your vehicle from the road to the sidewalk. The BIB don't care so I assume it's legal. Basically: When in Rome do what the Roman's do.

I.d like to know where in CM you live. I have a Lifan 250, have found the mechanic at the dealer to be just as described. I have done some work myself, and if I take it them, I stand over them and watch. I have 3000k on mine, and use it only for recreational riding. I.d love to get together with you for fun rides. My wife loves riding on the back, and we have only one guy that I ride with, a lover of crotch rockets, who whines that my bike is too slow for him. I like cruising, not road racing. As far as other mechanics to work on it, all I have inquired with, refuse to work on Lifans. Personally, I love the bike. You couldn't ask for a more comfortable ride on 2 wheels.

Yeah. PM me something. I'd like to ride with someone. The only thing slowing me down right now is my sick wife. We're dealing with so health issue with her, but I'd still be interested. I'm retired. Schedule is not an issue. And I live and an apartment between Thapae and Loi Kroi downtown, but also have a house in Lamphun province near Doi Khun Tan.

Yes I have. Her customer service style is morose on a good day, and it's that crappy attitude from the first point of contact in CM immigration which is why the service there is so bad. Their queuing system is about the worst I've experience in Thailand.

To the OP: What they usually do is go to the ticket machine in the back right corner, turn it on, pull 15 or 20 tickets from the machine corresponding with the 90 reporting queue, take them to the middle front counter, and pass them out. Now, why the heck they don't just leave the ticket machine on and program it to only dispense tickets for 90 day reporting is beyond me. But they don't.

Suggestion, if you not assisted by the front counter, just move to the front of the 90 day reporting line and tell them that the queue is broken and you instructed to come to their line. Put you paperwork on the counter and wait. They will eventually take care of you.

Yes, it sucks.

Thanks for the advice. I will remember that.

You're welcome. Best of luck.

Well Yui, you can now take the route of thousands of other Thai women. Find a nice farang guy, marry, settle down, live the life that your karma has now handed you, forget about the past. Either that or go completely crazy. Best of luck young lady.

To young folk who find themselves as Super Stars:

Religiously save 10% (or more) of everything you earn. Eventually you will no long be a Super Star and no one will care about you except your closest friends and family. Have something to fall back on. Enjoy the ride. Don't take it too seriously.

"It cannot be the responsibility of individual citizens to acquire documents that validate their own passports."

It is whatever your regional immigration offices says it is. Who are you (or any of us for that matter) to say otherwise. If your regional immigration office wants you to stand on one leg while playing a violin and singing the Thai National Anthem at the top of you voice is order to get service, guess what you (and the rest of us) are going to do?
"bra thet thai ruam lueard nuea chart chuea thai ............."

Fifteen years ago, I worked as a lead foreman for a large Dallas construction company. We hired many sub-contractors and watched them like hawks. We tested every truckload of concrete for proper slump before a pour. No work was done unsupervised by the general contractor because we were the ones responsible if someone were hurt or something was constructed improperly.

I find it difficult to believe that Sansiri, a supposedly reputable builder, was unaware of the shoddy work being done. Possible their staff were corrupt in colluding with the sub-contractor in substandard building practices. I have stayed in apartments in Bangkok where the 'p' trap in the shower drain was left out and sewer gas would come up from the drain and stink up the room; all to save less than a hundred baht. Very large monetary fines and large compensation to the buyers would go a long way to curb this bad behavior.

We're obviously not in Dallas anymore Toto.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

Stay away from the drugs, especially benzodiazepines. If you do use them, just realize what goes up eventually comes down. Benzo withdrawal can be worse then the initial problem.

Look into MBCT. Best of luck.

I've been watching these sickening accounts of slaughter on thai roads for years now. If thai authorities choose to do nothing then you can only think that the death of a dangerous driver prevents them from repeating this behaviour( a bit like natural selection as per Darwin's theory However the death and injury to their innocent victims is a different matter

I got pulled over by the BIB today and fined a couple of hundred baht for not having my new tax sticker stuck to the lower left corner of my window. Dang new tax tag was still in the glove compartment. I'm sure the BIB was saving lives left and right at that highway road block.

To bad they don't pay as much attention toward reckless driving and excessive speeding. But it's much more comfortable sitting under a roadside sala enjoying the cool breeze coming off the rice fields, issuing tickets for missing stickers, unworn seatbeats, and the like while chatting it up with those unlucky enough to get ticketed.

Another point worth making, which was mentioned earlier is the way Thais say things and the way we "westerners" say things ie, 3 chickens or chickens 3.

The speak like a "westerner" ( just usung that really for non Thais so dont take any offence) you have to think like one rather than a Thai. I am sure that our American friends think differently to my English in some areas, but, we do allow for that.

A short while ago I was asked by a local policeman to help with his English, he gave me a sheet which contained some references to American History, well not a strong subject especially around the Revolution have to admit, so there I was reading this American history through English eyes and supplying what I thought were the right answers and then it was to be marked by a Thai teacher!

It was a bit of a stumper also to me as to why early American History would be of use to a Thai policeman, I thought the plan was to get them to learn to speak English in case they came across us in the normal job and needed to communicate, cant think he would want to discuss any history, but then again someone may be making a course and have to justify the fees?

It probably would have been much more beneficial to work on his pronunciation skills than his knowledge of US History. However, I'm sure all he wanted were the 'correct' answers to the history test...sadly.

I can only imagine what happens during ASEAN member meetings when it's decided to have break out groups from various countries to get together and discuss specific topics in English only. Obviously the Filipinos and Singaporeans will be leading most of those meetings as the Thais quietly gravitate toward the back of the room -- smiling -- quietly.

"Psst...kowjai mai?"

"Oooiii. Mai kowjai arai loie."

I remember some clown of a driver who drove a minivan from CM to Mae Sai for a visa run. On the way back to CM, the driver would look in the reaview mirror and say, "I think my driving scare you mai?" and then laugh "Ha ha ha ha ha."

Yeah, his driving scared the crap out of me.

Now that I live here, the only way I travel is in my own car, on my own bike, locally with a Thai friend with a Tuk Tuk who I trust (he doesn't drive like an idiot), or by air. I now stay away from buses, minivans, and derailment prone trains.

Go pay the fine. Less worries in the future.

I'm happy he survived and is now recieving care.

That said. There is a BIG difference between "calls for help" and genuine suicide attempts. Genuinely suicidal people always jump immediately, take the pills or w/e method they are using, without hesitation. A suicide attempt is one where the person goes through with it immediately and entirely, but for whatever reason survives it. A call for help is when they hang around on rooftops or w/e until somebody stops them. That is a linguistic issue I have with the title of the OP, and does not change the fact the poor guy is in a state and I am very happy he was picked up and taken into care.

To anyone else in this boat, please remember; there are billions of people in the world and somewhere out there is a person who will love you truly for who you are, not for your money or for your friend-group or whatever. You just have to keep going out into the world, try new stuff, join a book-club or w/e other unlikely place, she might be waiting for you there. I say that as somebody who has been celibate and single since the late 1980s and I am super-happy to be both of those things btw, but I have also lost a lot of good friends to suicide, usually involving "women and drink" problems which seem to compound each other. Never give up hope.

Even going through those step is a cry for help. This poor guy is hurting bad. I feel for him. I hope he gets good care and is able to straighten out his head. Best of luck dude.

Thai-EU trade talks could kill cheap life-saving medicines

That's just the point. The trade agreements are good for lining the pockets of the rich, wealthy, and hi-so at the expense of making life saving pharmaceuticals out of the price range of any Thai who is not rich, wealthy, and hi-so. The Amart will sell the rest of Thai society right down the river. Bet on it.

Wonder why they came here ???

They don't practice sharia law on Soi Cowboy.

The CM Immigration Office goes a pretty good job, considering the facilities and resources they have to work with. Sorry the OP had a problem getting a number, but the personal nature of his/her (?) remarks, directed at one individual, seem a bit overly hostile. In the four years I have been reporting to the office, I have found that the system is slowly improving.

When I go there, four time a year, I try to imagine that I am on the set of a live "sitcom", as I watch this parade of anxious farangs milling about, seeking attention and service. As has been pointed out before, if you're just wanting to do your routine 90 day report, and/or getting a re-entry permit, show up after 1:30 and you'll probably be in and out in an hour or so. There's no point showing up before 7:00 AM, standing in a queue in the muggy parking lot, shifting from foot to foot, if you don't have to.

I was there two days ago for my annual renewal (retirement). Was handed number 43, from the hand of the young person who got slammed in the OP. Got number 227, to come back after 1:30. Got served and processed at 2:00, was out by 2:30.

I have noticed that agents of the visa services, coming in carrying a big stack of passports, get served right away. I'm going to sign on with one of those outfits. The cost is quite reasonable. I will miss seeing the people parade, though.

That's funny because over the last 5 years I've noticed the service slowly deteriorating.

However, on a positive note, that staff that actually work one-on-one with customers on visas (those at desks behind the counter) actually are very professional. The primary problem is the lack of reliable first-tier, customer service at the front counter and the pathetic queuing system. Once you get behind the counter, you deal with professional staff with decent customer service skills. The problem is getting behind the counter.

Why not try speaking nicely to and about her----------Using the Thai language of course !

I agree. I have found that they can all be somewhat grumpy. Can you blame them? They deal with us all day! But as soon as I smile and speak some Thai their demeanor changes immediately! They suddenly get very friendly and helpful.

I'm sorry. I've worked in the service industry both retail and first-tier computer support (Help Desk). Yes, you do get grumpy, frustrated customers. No, that does not give you the excuse to become grumpy and unresponsive to your own customers. You're paid to handle the 'difficult customers' with respect, and if you can, calm the customer down and get them to work with you.

I doubt that Miss Happiness at the front counter of CM Immigration has the skill sets to actually perform her job. She is sullen and unresponsive most of the time, and lacks communication and people skills. That is not the fault of customers. That's a lack of training, personal discipline, and actual ability to perform customer service oriented work. Her interaction with customers is a direct reflection on the Manager and his ability to efficiently manage the organization with the staff he has.

More good reasons to use a reliable visa service, I'm a convert.

Any recommendations on dependable services here in CM. I'm about to the point where I'm willing to pay someone else to keep myself from going through the frustration every 90 days.

Yes I have. Her customer service style is morose on a good day, and it's that crappy attitude from the first point of contact in CM immigration which is why the service there is so bad. Their queuing system is about the worst I've experience in Thailand.
To the OP: What they usually do is go to the ticket machine in the back right corner, turn it on, pull 15 or 20 tickets from the machine corresponding with the 90 reporting queue, take them to the middle front counter, and pass them out. Now, why the heck they don't just leave the ticket machine on and program it to only dispense tickets for 90 day reporting is beyond me. But they don't.
Suggestion, if you not assisted by the front counter, just move to the front of the 90 day reporting line and tell them that the queue is broken and you instructed to come to their line. Put you paperwork on the counter and wait. They will eventually take care of you.

Yes, it sucks.