connda

"Govt finally sees the need for long-term planning" which will promptly be forgotten shortly after the last flood waters have dried. Thai long-term planning is probably best defined as future plans with a timeline of one day to one week in the future.

Obviously the Thai Tourism Minister doesn't get out of the office much. The business owners I know around the CM area say "it's slow". I tend to believe the people who cater to tourists.

I've posted some criticism regarding government and bureaucratic (and corporate) planning and response to the flood.

Today I offer some praise.

After weeks of dealing with the floods, one of the things that I'm seeing is efficiencies building in the relief efforts. There does seem to be a synergy building between all people who are assisting with the relief efforts: volunteers, corporate donors, government workers, and the military.

A lot of what I'm seeing now on TV is less about individual entities trying to get the best "photo opportunity" to show the world their "generosity". What I'm seeing more of is a united, group effort to assist those in need. Is it perfect? Probably not. But let's do a comparison:

In the US, Hurrican Katrina devastated low, lying areas in New Oleans. The New Orleans area shares some commonalities with Bangkok: it's a low-lying area, near the mouth of a major river that empties into a Gulf. The relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina we're abysmal. Instead of focusing on assisting people in distress, a state of emergency was called and then groups of armed police systematically went door to door is flooded neighborhoods, broke into people's homes, confiscated legally owned weapons (and who knows what else), and then left. It wasn't about bringing food, water, and medical assistance to flood victims -- it was about the government exerting control. The assistance effort in New Orleans was a national embarrassment.

On the other hand, what I'm seeing in Bangkok, in comparison, is organized and relatively efficient given the extent of the flooding and the huge numbers of people affected. Kudos to the Army official who understood that declaring a "state of emergency" would be counter-productive. Instead, people are making the best of a bad situation that best they can. The outpouring of people helping people is admirable. And it's about 110% better than what I saw in New Orleans during the Katrina flooding.

So Thailand -- good job!

Please leave my beloved home country out of the sarcasm game. :jap:

Yeah!!! You understand! Excellent!

I'm having a good laugh this evening reading today's replies. However, good sarcasm is a Farang past-time. Well honed sarcasm, is priceless, especially when situations simply defy solutions, and not because they can't be solved, but because political, societal, and cultural forces combine to defy a solution. Sarcasm is born of frustration. It's a farang way to blow off steam without being overly serious. Thais smile and say, "Mai Bpen Rai." Farang smile and write sarcasm.

Read some American history for background, and then read commentary by Mark Twain. His writings may open your world a little bit more. When you understand that sarcasm helps you laugh at hopeless situations, then from a cultural perspective you'll understand why we farang indulge in it.

Anyway, it's been a good day. I jerked a reaction out of a few people. Got some brain cells firing. That's good! Now off to bed.

Thailand! Send your civil engineers over to the Netherlands. They had this problem figured out over a thousand years ago. You could learn about and use that technology they developed over the years -- or -- just raise your dikes and add some windmills: you'd be better off than you are now.

Oh wait a minute -- I forgot -- everything would have to be constructed with built-in obsolescence so that the structures fail during the first major floods and have to be rebuilt with kick-backs to the PMs and bureaucrats who set up the initial contracts.

Never mind.....

The Thai new corp must be taking lesson from Fox News. Sensationalize everything. One station had their "talking heads" sitting at a table in about ankle-deep water while broadcasting "live". You've gotta be kidding me.

And what I find most offensive (and every station is doing) is the pictures of some well-dress, dry, grinning Puiyai handing some poor, water-logged villager a donation bag that has some corporate logo emblazoned all over the bag.

Now while you're in your boat, Hand the bag to the poor sot who is arm-pit deep in water -- Stop -- Look at the camera -- Smile big so all of Thailand can see the copious amounts of your fake generosity -- Zoom in on the wading village trying to wai while trying to keep the bag dry -- Off to the next Photo Op -- Rinse, Repeat! I've turned off the TV.

I gave money to the flood relief via a bank anonymously. I think a lot (many even most) Westerners are like that. Most of us just want to help relieve the suffer of people we'll probably never see or meet. That selfless giving is generosity.

But these Puiyai helping the poor, photo opportunities are -- I don't know a good word for it -- obscene in a way. And then the politicized redistribution of public resources isn't just obscene -- it's criminal.

Ok -- just had to get that off my chest. I live here. Nothing I haven't see before. OK! Deep breath.......relax........jai yen............accept it and move on.

Not many obstacles. It is just a question of going to the labour office and talking with them. I have found them more then helpfull in getting all the paperwork in order for a work permit. At my old school even the governor said if there were any problems to just call him. What was needed from me was my passport and degree. Also they will need a etter from the area education office approving you as a volunteer.

Your problem will be with the fact that you are on an extension of stay based on retirement. Normally no work permit is issued in that case. I suggest checking if the school or education office has good contacts with the governor and to try and emlist his help in getting a work permit.

Mario2008,

Thank you -- that's what I was looking for. That gives me a good start. And by the way, I'm on an extension of stay based on marriage on a Business visa. Retirement to me means I'm not working at the moment. I wanted my options open if I wanted to return to work (or volunteer). The visa is not an issue. This gives me a good base to work from. If I can get the support from various community Puiyai, we might be able to make this work. Hey! I see a reason for some optimism! Good deal!

Thanks again!

I have myself, but I volunteer for the government.

Several other memebrs also have a wp for volunteering for various organisations.

Mario2008,

Excellent! That's useful. Here's my situation. I live out in the middle of nowhere in Northern Thailand. I'm retired. I live a simple life in my wife's village. I'm the only farang in the village. I'm one of maybe 5 farang within the Amper, and I guarantee I'm the only farang fully qualified to teach (with over three years of teaching experience in Thailand, and over seven years teaching in my own country -- although teaching was not my primary skill -- computer systems engineering was. Now, I live in a rural community with a lot of poor farmers.

Government schools in this Amper do not have the resources that, say, government schools have in larger cities like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, and Lampang. The bigger cities with large government schools can employee native speaking teachers and pay them a "livable" salary (24K to 30K baht). But rural schools -- sorry -- out of luck. Don't have the money. And not many native English speaking foreigners, especially young 20 to 30 year old's, would want to teach out in the sticks anyway..

When I moved to my wife's village, we talked with family and let it be know that I'd like to find a way to contribute to the community. Now I've lived here long enough to understand the bureaucracy that you have to put up with when dealing with the MoL and MoE. If you've been here since 2008, you know too: Jai yen, be polite, don't make anyone lose face, and Jai yen again. Stay cool...slow heart. Be respectful.

Now it seems that it's been circulated through the local village grapevine that, this valley in the middle of nowhere, now has a retired farang English teacher who's interested in helping the community. This info seemed to have worked it's way, via word of mouth, to one of the local secondary schools. Now I found out from a friend, of a friend, of a friend (you know how it works in Thailand) that the school may be interested in possibly employing me.

Now, problem number one: I don't want to be "employed". I'm retired. Employment means contracts, scheduling expectation, and other headaches that I don't want to put up with, including teaching kids who don't want to be taught.

What I do want to do is volunteer. I have experience developing curriculum, and I have experience teaching Thai English teachers different methods and techniques of teaching English. I've been there and I've done it. I enjoy working with Thai teachers. It's very gratifying. And I love teaching students who are sincerely interested in learning. That is something that I find extremely rewarding: Personally rewarding! Intrinsically rewarding! I don't need or want money. And in the Western culture I come from, retirees routinely do volunteer work -- it's a way of giving back to society. It's self-gratifying.

In my life, I've been dirt poor at times: at one time I was living out of my car. I've also lived a blue collar, middle class life -- a financially comfortable life doing some darn hard, and dangerous work.. I've lived a rather austere life while serving my country in the military. And after completing my college degree as a middle aged man, I found some financial success. I feel blessed in a way because I have experienced living: living poor, living middle class, and living reasonably well off.

Now? I live a very simple life on a modest pension, and I'm happy. I don't need much and I don't want much. I don't live with a bunch of farangs in a big city, gated community. I live with rural Thais in rural Thailand. And I want to give back to society. And Thailand is my home now, so I want to give back to Thai society..

In my country, that wouldn't raise and eyebrow, but here in Thailand I think it's looked on with a certain degree of suspicion. In Thai culture, you know, most people seem to have a reason for doing "charitable acts". If you contribute to the local temple - you make merit. You give money to an institution - you get your name on a plaque. You give food to flood victims - you get a photo op with the local new station. Culturally I believe this is สำนึกบุญคุณ (săm-nʉ́k bun kun) or a expectation or cultural obligation to repay debts: debts of kindness, helpfulness, or help working your way up the social ladder. There is a cultural expectation to be repaid. In Western countries, we're raised to be independent -- many of us (not all of us) are internally motivated. Our gratification is through our own acts of kindness and giving. And there, in essence, is possibly the culture divide that creates this problem.

So, bottom line: yeah! I would like a work permit so I could do volunteer work with the local schools in the poor rural villages in and around where I live. I'm sure that there are some exceptional students and exceptional teachers who could benefit from working with me. If I could help a handful of kids to get beyond the village and into schools or English speaking job opportunities -- that would be my reward. Because those kids could then help their families to live a comfortable life. And therein is my reward. Making life better for people who would otherwise not have that opportunity.

Bureaucratic institutions in Thailand tend to shoot themselves in the foot because, from a cultural perspective, they can't comprehend the resources they have available, especially in the farang retired community.

So Mario2008, what obstacles did you have to navigate to obtain you work permit to perform volunteer work? The more information I can obtain, the more info I can pass on to the schools who may be interested in my offer to perform volunteer service.

Thanks!

I have myself, but I volunteer for the government.

Several other memebrs also have a wp for volunteering for various organisations.

Mario2008,

Excellent! That's useful. Here's my situation. I live out in the middle of nowhere in Northern Thailand. I'm retired. I live a simple life in my wife's village. I'm the only farang in the village. I'm one of maybe 5 farang within the Amper, and I guarantee I'm the only farang fully qualified to teach (with over three years of teaching experience in Thailand, and over seven years teaching in my own country -- although teaching was not my primary skill -- computer systems engineering was). Now, I live in a rural community with a lot of poor farmers.

Government schools in this Amper do not have the resources that, say, government schools have in larger cities like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, and Lampang. The bigger cities with large government schools can employee native speaking teachers and pay them a "livable" salary (24K to 30K baht). But rural schools -- sorry -- out of luck. Don't have the money. And not many native English speaking foreigners, especially young 20 to 30 year old's, would want to teach out in the sticks anyway..

When I moved to my wife's village, we talked with family and let it be know that I'd like to find a way to contribute to the community. Now I've lived here long enough to understand the bureaucracy that you have to put up with when dealing with the MoL and MoE. If you've been here since 2008, you know too: Jai yen, be polite, don't make anyone lose face, and Jai yen again. Stay cool...slow heart. Be respectful.

Now it seems that it's been circulated through the local village grapevine that, this valley in the middle of nowhere, now has a retired farang English teacher who's interested in helping the community. This info seemed to have worked it's way, via word of mouth, to one of the local secondary schools. Now I found out from a friend, of a friend, of a friend (you know how it works in Thailand) that the school may be interested in possibly employing me.

Now, problem number one: I don't want to be "employed". I'm retired. Employment means contracts, scheduling expectation, and other headaches that I don't want to put up with, including teaching kids who don't want to be taught.

What I do want to do is volunteer. I have experience developing curriculum, and I have experience teaching Thai English teachers different methods and techniques of teaching English. I've been there and I've done it. I enjoy working with Thai teachers. It's very gratifying. And I love teaching students who are sincerely interested in learning. That is something that I find extremely rewarding: Personally rewarding! Intrinsically rewarding! I don't need or want money. And in the Western culture I come from, retirees routinely do volunteer work -- it's a way of giving back to society. It's self-gratifying.

In my life, I've been dirt poor at times: at one time I was living out of my car. I've also lived a blue collar, middle class life -- a financially comfortable life doing some darn hard, and dangerous work.. I've lived a rather austere life while serving my country in the military. And after completing my college degree as a middle aged man, I found some financial success. I feel blessed in a way because I have experienced living: living poor, living middle class, and living reasonably well off.

Now? I live a very simple life on a modest pension, and I'm happy. I don't need much and I don't want much. I don't live with a bunch of farangs in a big city, gated community. I live with rural Thais in rural Thailand. And I want to give back to society. And Thailand is my home now, so I want to give back to Thai society..

In my country, that wouldn't raise and eyebrow, but here in Thailand I think it's looked on with a certain degree of suspicion. In Thai culture, you know, most people seem to have a reason for doing "charitable acts". If you contribute to the local temple - you make merit. You give money to an institution - you get your name on a plaque. You give food to flood victims - you get a photo op with the local new station. Culturally I believe this is สำนึกบุญคุณ (săm-nʉ́k bun kun) or a expectation or cultural obligation to repay debts: debts of kindness, helpfulness, or help working your way up the social ladder. There is a cultural expectation to be repaid. In Western countries, we're raised to be independent -- many of us (not all of us) are internally motivated. Our gratification is through our own acts of kindness and giving. And there, in essence, is possibly the culture divide that creates this problem.

So, bottom line: yeah! I would like a work permit so I could do volunteer work with the local schools in the poor rural villages in and around where I live. I'm sure that there are some exceptional students and exceptional teachers who could benefit from working with me. If I could help a handful of kids to get beyond the village and into schools or English speaking job opportunities -- that would be my reward. Because those kids could then help their families to live a comfortable life. And therein is my reward. Making life better for people who would otherwise not have that opportunity.

Bureaucratic institutions in Thailand tend to shoot themselves in the foot because, from a cultural perspective, they can't comprehend the resources they have available, especially in the farang retired community.

So Mario2008, what obstacles did you have to navigate to obtain you work permit to perform volunteer work? The more information I can obtain, the more info I can pass on to the schools who may be interested in my offer to perform volunteer service.

Thanks!

Yes. The course has to be registered with the MoE. Or you'd need to get a work permit just not sure if chef is on the banned list.

Thanks for the reply. You brought up two good points. Almost all of the job skills I mentioned is on the MoL "banned" list. But I'm not looking to work in Thailand. I'm want to train in Thailand. But I think that you may have the answer -- Is the course registered with MoE. And I think that would ultimately be the problem.

If anyone else has any insight on this issue, please comment. Thanks bunches.

Not difficult to get. The difficulty is that many organizations can't be bothered or don't know how to go about it.

What you need is an organisation (government or registered charity) that wants you as a volunteer and is willing to help you apply for a work permit. The work permit requires some paperwork, from both you (like the degree of your highest education) and paperwork from the organisations. (Like contract, how many hours you volunteeer, where, how many people work for the organisation, etc)

You cna even get an extension of stay from immigraiton based on volunteering.

Thanks, but do you know someone who has actually successfully obtain a WP for volunteer work?

I've been through the process to obtain a WP as a salaried employee of a company, but I've never met anyone yet who has said they have obtained a WP based on volunteer work. I'd love to hear from an individual, organization, or charity that has successfully jumped through all the right hoops to obtain one.

The primary factor is accessibility - new cars typically require a 25% downpayment for a first car buyer (up to 40% if buying a 4WD), at least 6 months banking history, a absolutely clean credit history, and more often than not a guarantor that could also qualify for the finance.

Used cars can be bought in many cases for as little as 20,000 Baht down, with far less demanding finance qualifications, high-risk credit options for those with a tainted credit history and/or poor/non-existant income history.

Even though a Thai buyer might be able to make the repayments on a new car, it's the 125K+ downpayment, or the fact that their income is undocumented, or they can't find a guarantor, or they've had bad finance before that keeps them out of the new car market.

The other major factor is availability - cars that are popular for first car buyers routinely have waiting times of several months. So impatience and/or an immediate need for transport pushes a lot of buyers into the used market for nothing other than the fact that they can't wait.

The end result is high used car demand - and just like any other market in the world, the price simply reflects what people are willing pay...

+1 Nice assessment.

<br>

<br>I think for the next year or so, I'd even be suspicious of buying a new car.&nbsp; Look how many car factories got flooded out.<br>

<br><br>Only one factory got flooded - Honda. And no way will those cars be sold as new..<br>

I hope so, but......

...and then there are all the cars that are on the Dealership's lots. Although dealers don't seem to keep as many cars in inventory as they do in the US. But, if the dealership has been flooded, what are they going to do with those flooded new cars??? Heck, I don't trust car dealers in America -- why trust them in Thailand?

I guess I've lived here too long LOL

Sold my 2002 Honda Accord in the US for about $7000. Could have got double that here in the LOS. However: Buyer Beware!!!

With second hand vehicles If anyone has bought a new car on credit, they are going to have to keep full coverage on that vehicle (at least in the US, and I'd expect that Thai bank loan requirement would be no different). If you total the car, the insurance company pays off your loan and then "junks" that vehicle as "salvage" on the second-hand market.

Now I think everyone has noticed a little flooding in Thailand lately. If a new vehicle is flooded, it's worthless -- electrical, mechanical, everything gets messed up and the vehicle will never run well again. Insurance companies will write off these vehicles and sell them for "salvage" on the second-hand market. In the US the car title is clearly listed as "Salvaged". But I'm not sure how it's handled here in Thailand. But as a buyer, I'd be very wary of buying any vehicle on the second-hand market. You're setting yourself up to buy a very expensive lemon on wheels. I think for the next year or so, I'd even be suspicious of buying a new car. Look how many car factories got flooded out. If they put a flood-damaged new car on the market, even with a warranty, the vehicle is going to spend a lot of time in the shop being repaired.

Caveat emptor!!! Good luck.

Does anyone know why 99.9% investment-grade Fine Silver bullion and coins are not traded in Thailand like they are in other countries?

The only silver that I seem to be able to find in Thailand is lower quality silver jewelry (92% to 95%) that is way over priced as compared to world spot silver prices.

Why does there seem to be no market for 99.9% Fine Silver here in Thailand?

In the years that I've been here, I've read lots about Thai labor law, visas, and work permits.

One issue that occasional comes up is performing volunteer work. Most people who follow this subject know that a work permit is required to perform volunteer work.

So, here's my question: Has anyone that you know, or have you yourself, obtained a work permit to perform volunteer work? If so - what did you have to do to obtain the work permit to perform volunteer work?

I'm looking forward to the feedback!

Here's a hypothetical situation:

Suppose I wanted to learn a skill that I was willing to pay a Thai national to teach me. Perhaps it's conventional Thai farming, or learning to cook and run a Thai restaurant, or becoming a Silversmith and creating silver jewelry. So I'm paying someone to educate me.

So let me set a scenario:

1. Assume I have a valid non-tourist visa and I can stay in the country for at least six months;

2. I have met a restaurant owner who is willing to take me on as a student for six months to train me in Thai cooking (because I want to go back to my own country and open a Thai Restaurant;

3. I pay the restaurant owner a tuition to teach me under a contractual agreement;

4. The owner (who is also the primary chef) directly trains and mentors me;

5. The six month educational training includes an internship were I cook in the restaurant under the direct supervision of the owner;

6. I pay for the internship and the opportunity to be trained on-the-job;

So here's the sticky question:

a. Does this violate any Thai laws?

you must have a work permit to teach for free....

That I'm aware of (it's a criminal act: you risk jail time, a fine, and deportation). Actually, one of the primary reasons I wanted to contact this group is to see how they handled the work permit and visa issues (that is, if they did!).

However, thanks for the info. Others that read this thread may not know!

Sometimes people offer 'free' English classes. Sometimes these people are missionaries with their lessons centered on Bible teachings.

Hummmm. Free English classes on Sundays... I think you might have a point there. Thanks for the comment!

Is this all a ruse?

Who is guarding the banks and the gold shops?

I understand that they have imported some jet ski operators and tuk tuk drivers from Phuket to help guard the valuables and protect the tourists!

Good laugh.

Congrats on adding 100 CCTV cams. Pattaya has over 300 of them and not a one is watched when it comes time to scam tourists.

All the security cameras in the world aren't worth a brass satang if the security operators spends their shifts with their heads on the desk sleeping their shifts away. Zzzzzzz Zzzzzzz Zzzzzzz

Darn! I've lived in Thailand too long!

I understand that someone (or group) has started to offer free English classes in Amper Maeta in Lamphun Province about 40 km South of Chiang Mai. I believe that the classes are held on Sundays.

I live in this area and would like to contact the individual(s) teaching these classes. If you know any information about the classes or the location, can you please respond or post a message to me personally through this forum.

Thanks!

I know many people who would like to donate money to help flood victims, but which organizations are trustworthy enough to actually funnel the funds to the poorest segment of the population who have been devastated by the continuing floods.

I'd rather that the majority of the funds go to people in need instead of lining the pockets of some Puiyai in charge of the relief operation.

Anyway, can anyone make suggestions regarding "reliable" flood relief organizations?

Fox in charge of the hen house comes to mind.

+1

Exactly what I was about to write.

Condoms for flood victims??? You gotta be pulling my leg