connda

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Guidance from up above perhaps...

That's what the Catholic Inquisitors thought too. The ones who boiled and burned people (heretics, people who refused to convert, Jews, etc.) alive.

That was during the 'dark ages' when religion replaced faith and men decided that the Pope was God's representative on earth and God was effectively removed from the picture, the Catholic Church decided to do things for God without doing what God wanted, when people stop doing what God wants and start doing what they think God wants while referring to the guidelines man establishes instead of God's word, then the problems begin. There are numerous instances throughout history where people have decided they want to do things for God with little or no knowledge of God's word or will.

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Unfortunately, Christianity was preempted by the end of the 4th century thanks to non-Christians attempting to stamp out Christianity, and more diabolically, Christians attempting to consolidate the power of the Church. Too bad more writings did not survive the conflagrations. My guess is that Jesus probably had it right, but not in the way depicted in that highly edited and nebulous tome of writings referred to as the bible which (imho) was the result of the intercession by the early church in order to bring the “flock” under the church’s rule, authority, power, and control (which has almost nothing to do with spirituality and everything to do with the worst in man). So what really is "God's word?" The key probably went up in smoke 1700 years ago. But then again, TomTao, maybe it didn't.

I think it's great. The average Thai will simply envelop Christianity into their Buddhist and animistic cosmology. That's got to drive the Bible thumpers nuts!!!

Catholicism had pretty much beat the christianity out of me by the time I was an adolencent, so when I stumbled across Buddhism in my 20s, I was pretty much an empty vessel. Forty years later I can see it. Christianity is a subset of Buddhism!

So I don't care if they come here and try to make converts. It's apples and oranges from my standpoint.

I saw Jesus in my cottage cheese once.

Really? I saw him in a glass of Cabernet in Napa Valley! Small world!

But a band of mexican migrant workers and a catholic priest quisked it away to some unknown location before I could drink it. Darn!

I used to see CWC around a lot when I first came to Thailand but not so much now?

http://www.cwc.co.th/

also try here http://www.raat.or.th/

Thanks much. Looks like CWC is nationwide and covers all vehicles including motorcycles.

1st Grade? Waste of money!

Andaman Beach Suites Hotel? Cross that one off my list.

Too bad. The LA <--> BKK non-stop 14 hour flight was nice. Not that I care anymore...no plans to return to the US. But! That was a nice option.

Cracking down on "vice" is like pissing in the wind. What's the real agenda?

Naga lived under the pool -- that's why you can't see him!!!

In the US, there is very good roadside assistance for drivers whose vehicles have broken down on the road. Most cities and towns have tow-truck operators, and most of those operators have agreements with automobile clubs such as the American Automobile Association (AAA). You can purchase roadside assistance insurance through AAA.

If you break down and call AAA (or other roadside assistance agencies), they will contact the nearest service center to your location and issue an assistance ticket. A tow-truck driver will drive out to your location and attempt to get your vehicle running or tow it to a repair facility within 100 mile radius. It's an excellent program that I've used in America.

Now the big question: Is there any similar roadside assistance program here in Thailand? I worry about my vehicle breaking down in the middle of jangwat.nowhere and not being able to get my vehicle towed or repaired.

What do you do here in Thailand?

"Successful Reconciliation Will Bring Thailand More Prosperity" = If you let me back into the country with a get out of jail free card, I'll buy the love of every poor rice farmer in Thailand for 500 baht a family.

Just be honest an tell them that you are not interested in katoeys. Nothing wrong with that, most will understand although some will still want to flirt. Really, if a gay guy hits on you, what would you say? You just say you're not interested...they understand. Same with katoeys. It's not a big deal. It's only embarrassing for you.

And by the way, women don't have an Adam's Apple. It can be sugically removed, but it's pretty rare.

That funny, 99% of the time, I can tell a katoey from a women. Don't know why, just can. There is always something that isn't quite right...very subtle.

Love = Financial Help (Thailand)

Love = Security = Financial Help (Western Countries)

Oh! And don't marry her. Live together for a few years, then if you like her still, consider marriage after consulting a Western lawyer about a rock solid pre-nup. And set realistic boundries for the amount of money you will provide her during the time you live together (married or otherwise) and don't give an inch no matter how much she manipulates you -- and she will manipulate you. You already sound like a good mark. Just being honest.

By the way, I am married to a Thai and I know the drill. I walked into marriage with my eyes wide open, and I understood Southeast Asian culture before I came to live in Thailand.

Good luck! And go buy Thailand Fever at the nearest bookstore. It will answer 90% of your questions about Thai-Western relationships.

More Russian Mafia Money??

Have u all been down Soi Bangla recently? Russian go go bars. Russian dancers/ Russians passing out fliers for their club on the road and in other bars

NO POLICE interference!!

Actually I'm waiting for the day when the Russian Mafia comes in and gives the locals in Phuket and Pattaya a run for their money. It would be the appropriate karmatic consequences for the years of outright rip-offs. It would be fun to watch from afar. I tell all my friends overseas to avoid those two places like the plague. Too many other legit sights to see without being fleeced by the Thai mafia, I mean, the various farang-friendly, service oriented "Clubs".

So that's where my wifes underwear have been going to on wash days. We've been wondering

Why tablets - because they are trendy? Notebooks give a lot more bang for the buck

Laptops will be obsolete in a few years.

I think Tablets and Netbooks/Laptops will merge. Tablets are more fun and portable, but it's not convenient to type text on them. I think we'll see more and more clones of the Eeepad transformer with a dock with keyboard where you can plug your tablet.

PS: 700,000 tablets for 1.9 Billion, that's 2700 Baht per tablet, a bit more than what the Indians pays for their Educational tablet (Aakash): equivalent of 1800 Baht.

Actually I think the original price was 3400K baht. And India can do it for 1800. So let's do the Math! 3400 minus 1800 gives us 1600. So after all expenses are paid, there should be about 1600 baht per table that can be distributed as "bonuses" to the government and business elites who are staging this dog-and-pony show. This whole thing is just rife for corruption from the top down. By the way, how much money was set aside for maintenance? Upgrades? Quality educational software? Training programs for the teachers in order to make the most effiecent use of said software? Development and dissemination of a set of clearly define educational objectives for the use of these computers in the classroom that are targeted specifically toward P1 students?

I'm thinking maybe 0.00 baht? But, correct me if I'm wrong.

Why do I think this is a great idea that will utimately fail due to a lack of planning and foresight, and a culture of unabashed corruption.

With a 1.9B baht budget, this is going to have no effect on 32% of the kids who need it the most (yeah the ones without electricy in their schools or teachers who are incapable of using the techonology).

...and the rich get rich and the poor get poorer.

In the mean time,

In between time,

Ain't we got fun!!!

More fuel for the social and economic disparity fire.

Just make sure you stay signed out of Google before using it. They can't track you if you're not signed in. An delete the Google cookies set in your browser.

Yeah, the BIB are Shocked, just before they head out for a night on the town at their favorite Ob Nam Op. LOL

Real monks don't walk around asking for money. It's against the Vinyana, or the rules of practicing monks. Fake monks target farang and verbally ask for "money". Real monks walk early morning alms rounds and don't ask for anything. Real monks may solicit funds, but I always seen this happen in well established groups, and generally the groups are targeting Thais, not farangs, and they are soliciting funds for their respective temples.

Drug use has definatly increased, but at the same time so has the soical disparite between the have and have nots. I wonder which side of the social divide the majority of drug addicts fall. The link between poverty, lack of opportunity, dysfunctional families and drug use has been clearly established. Until these social issues which underpin drug use are effectively address, the government is fighting a losing battle. Other strategies need to be purseued in conjunction with stricter anti drug laws to make any changes effective and long lasting and provide hope and real opportunity for a better life to those addicted to or at risk of drug addiction.

Other wise the choice is simply - A shit life in a village with no future or a shit life in jail with no future - hardly a tempting choice for those stuck in a cycle of poverty.

My wife acknowledged that there is a Yaba problem in her village, primarily with the male children (teenagers and young adults). It seems to be pretty well corralated to income and opportunity, ie, how poor the kids parents are and how much of a viable future these kids think they have. Kids from families with higher incomes seem to get wrapped up in the use of Yaba via peer pressure. We pulled her son out of the village when he was 15, primarily to get him away from the other kids. We now have him enrolled in school in Chiang Mai. He's now looking at starting Uni next year. I feel sorry for the other kids...no prospect, no future, go parental direction -- and they turn to drugs and alcohol, and then maybe jail. It's partially a social and ecomonic problem. Treatment and education might be a good start, but how do you solve the underlying ecomonic disparity?

I feel your frustration. I gave up long ago and now simply buy them (Nike Shox R4) online. The tax isn't as much as you'd think but the shipping can be a bit steep depending on where it comes from.

Stores like Eastbay and Sneakerhead ship to Thailand with no problems.

Thanks! I might just go that route.

One thing I've noticed in Thailand: almost everything I wear is not imported to this country. For example - shoes. I've been wearing Avia cross-trainers for a bunch of years (since the 1980's). It's one of the best shoes that I have found in the market. Every pair I've bought is high-quality, fits me well, and performs great. Touble is...I can't find them here. I've tried Bangkok, Korat, and Chiang Mai. As far as I can tell, they aren't imported.

Ok! So I need to find another pair of "quality" cross-trainers. Now, what do I mean by "quality?" I mean: 1) shoes that do not wear out or fall apart quickly (I expect to get three to four years of wear out of a pair of sports shoes). 2) Shoes that fit better a few weeks after you buy them than the day you bought them (i.e., they break-in and form to your foot as opposed to breaking-down and quickly becoming a waste of money). Also, quality is not a function of money. Some of the worst shoes I've bought were the most expensive until I settled on buying Avia's -- which I can't buy here in Thailand.

So with that said, I use my shoes for walking, sprints, racketball, aerobics, and weight-training. I'd like to get some recommendation from like minded individuals: What shoes (especially cross-trainers) have you had success with that you have purchased in Thailand. I'm a recreationally athletic guy, about 180cm, and 80 kilograms, size 10 US feet. So, I'm looking for mens sports shoes! Any constructive responses and recommendations are truly appreciated. Thanks!

I am currently on a Non-O 1 Year Extension based on Marriage to a Thai Wife. I got that extension at the Nakhon Ratchasima Immigration office last year, and have since moved to Chiang Mai.

I know that the immigration offices throughout Thailand are not uniformly the same. Each Immigration Office in different locations seem to want different paperwork.

So with that said, what documents, paperwork, and pictures will I be expected to have to renew and extend my Non-O based on having a Thai Wife when I go to Chiang Mai Immigration in March - and - how many copies of each of these documents will I be expected to bring with me.

It would be great to hear from someone who has recently gone through this process in Chiang Mai.

However, if I cannot get information specific to Chiang Mai, I'd appreciate advice from anyone (anywhere) who has gone through the extension process based on marriage to a Thai wife.

Thanks!!!

You get the 'Yellow Book', then go along to your local government hospital and ask for the card. Some hospitals will give it, some won't.

Thanks sinbin! I've been asking my wife to help me get my Yellow House Book for about a year now. Now that I'm almost 60, if thats all I need to maybe get a hospital card - Wow - I'll give it a try. Truthfully I'd like to become a Thai citizen, but I think my age is going to rule that out. Too bad though...I believe I have a lot to offer in the way of education. I've taugh English and I've taugh Computer Technology. But pushing 60, I find I have real difficulty remember and learning the Thai language. I speak some, I read (although I don't alway understand what I'm reading but I know the sounds), and I write nitnoi.