Dangers And Annoyances In Thailand

[snamos]

Thats probably my problem...all ways coming from Kata to Chalong pier in the afternoon....and then trying to go to Phuket town after Chalong pier

Yeah but you have to enter the round about twice now.....that doesnt make sense...I use it almost every day...I think its slower ...hmmmm most of my friends feel the same way......strange you guys think different....oh well each to their own....i just try to avoid the place at certain times

A roundabout with only four roads leading into it has got to be less congested than if it had five roads leading into it.

Logic innit?

Not a matter of feeling or thinking but of timing. Agree though, if not busy and coming from Kata it takes more time, but: if busy it is faster now coming from all directions, if not busy and the canes are not removed it is faster coming from all directions except for Kata.

[ilyelol]

<br>I havent been here that long and I dont profess to know half as much as you...but I will give you a quick Thai lesson the word for falung or farung is spelt like this - ฝรั่ง literal translation is Frung. The F and the R together are then pronounced with a short "a" almost like a "u" in the middle.  Then followed by  ร which is an "R" R in Thai is Raw Ruea which is the boat consonant which is a rolling "R" it is almost closer to an "L"<br><br>and then  ัง "UNG".....Yes you are technically correct it is spelt Farung.... but ask your Thai girlfriend to say it 10 times quickly...and if she is from isaarn (which she most certainly is) she will say it falung.  Also ask her to say Raw Ruea or ask her what this letter is >>>> ร<br><br>I am not religious.........I dont know the differnce between a monk amulet and a buddha necklace. To me its the difference between a catholic crucifix and a protestant one......<br>I just find it strange that foreigners would want to wear them. I go to the temple with my Gfriend while she makes merit...but you certainly wont see me kneeling in front of the monks (with a buddha necklace)<br>and grinning stupidly while listening to ancient chants I know nothing about and getting different colored bits of string on my wrists <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt="">.....Just the same as I wouldnt expect my Thai Gfriend to wear a crucifix, drink wine and eat stale bread in front of an audience at a local church in my home town either.....BTW my Gfriend cant understand the fa(l)®ungs wearing buddhas either, she thinks its weird...she is BKK born and university educated....maybe the BKK people are different to Phuketians or Isaarnies?<br><br>And the Chalong circle hasnt improved at all....yes i remember the traffic lights....i also remember before the cones.....It was better with just the police in the middle without the cones. Just my opinion...its why I started the thread! <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""><br><br>

<br>

<br>Also another 2 things that bewilder me is:<br>Falangs wearing Buddhas around their necks (complete with linen shirts)<br>

<br>I wear a Buddha and I go to Wats with my GF. She gave me Buddha for my birthday (not a monk amulet, do you even know the difference?), that's well over a hundred years old from her great grandfather. She put it in a white gold holder, but I don't wear linen shirts... Oh, and by the way it's spelled farang.<br><br>

<br>I had another annoying moment today.........Cone hour at Chalong circle.....why make cars enter a roundabout twice? eg...if i want to go down to Chalong peir from Kata....I have to enter the roundabout....then turn towards Phuket town....then bust a U turn into the Traffic...then re enter the round about.....&lt;deleted&gt;?? This is moronic<br>

<br>It's improved traffic flow a lot! The circle is way too small to accommodate the amount of traffic there. They have tried stop lights and police directing traffic over the years, but the back ups got worse. I guess you haven't been here very long...<br><br>Next...<br><br><br>

<br>

Pretty out of line there buddy.<br><br>Most farangs with amulet might be douchebags with no knowledge of the buddhist religion. Well they still know more than most thais about buddhism. Thais blindly follow drunken ritual of buddhism and holidays, they know nothing of the religion.<br><br>Also a LOT of westerners have moved to budhism, not because you come from a town of 50 people we're you all follow your master christian leader that the rest of the world is the same

Always makes me cry when someone says their gf is university educated so she must know everything about everything. My gf is university educated(not a cheap one in the middle of nowhere) and she still couldnt find huge countries like the USA or brazil on a map and i still know as much or more than her about Buddhism even though i only read 2 books about it and hardly care about that religion. I do not know anything about amulets, worshiping statues or holidays though. So in the eyes of a thai im prob dumb as shit when it comes to Buddhism.

All in all Buddha would love WAY more a farang with an amulet who follows his teaching and meditate on his life more than a thai with all their dumb worshiping which is suppose to be done in western religions, not Buddhism.

Congrats though, University educated GF. JACKPOT. Make sure your next post state that she has a job where she received a gold star for tying her shoes

edit: i do not wear an amulet and would never be caught wearing one. As i would not wear anything religious ever. Religion is for one-self. You gotta be really insecure to wear a big crucifix or amulet.<br>

Edited November 2, 2010 by ilyelol

[KarenBravo]

^

First post of yours I agree with 100%.

[MikeyIdea]

Here's something that is a bit annoying now a days

When I first came out here, it almost didn't make any difference if I booked a time at my dentist or not, I still had to wait almost as long. Now, I can almost not see my dentist without booking a time first

Improvement?...

[snamos]

I hear you buddy and Im not adding to this thread to wind people up ....I didnt relize the buddha necklace was a touchy subject

I know about the Thai GF University story too its on par with the water buffalo one.......sometimes its true sometimes it aint, You can make up your own one with mine, I dont really care...only I will know the truth. The reason I brought it up is I learn my Thai from my Gf...so when amulet boy starts giving me spelling lessons I will naturally ask her . And If I have made a mistake I will apologise.

But just establishing a couple of things.....amulet boy was trying to gig me with his knowledge of the word falung or farung...and also giving me stories of his awesome temple visits and he was also asking if I know the difference between monk amulets and GF amulets......(no I dont). The truth is the sacred amulet has probably been passed from Bf to Bf over the last few years...I dont really give 2 hoots....Also the "you havent really been that long in thailand" badge of honor crap doesnt really do much for me .......

so this begs a few questions

After how long in Thailand am I able to successfully don a buddha necklace?

Can any Falang please recite the Thai equivalent of the hail mary's and please forgive me stuff?

Why do I never see Falung women (and I know plenty of them that work here)donning Buddha atire ?

Another story....

There was an australian guy named Phil that used to drink at Tamarind bar in Chalong....he used to wear 3 buddhas around his neck complimented with yellow shirts daily....he used to also have some "rent a Thai buddies" hanging around and they would drive his convoy of fortunas complete with sirens...he pissed an important person off in Chalong...I have since ran into another buddy of mine that lives in Manila....Phil has now swapped the Buddhas for a crucifix.

This cries out as an acceptance thing to me

Next plz!

Edited November 2, 2010 by snamos

[Jimi007]

I havent been here that long and I dont profess to know half as much as you...but I will give you a quick Thai lesson the word for falung or farung is spelt like this - ฝรั่ง literal translation is Frung. The F and the R together are then pronounced with a short "a" almost like a "u" in the middle. Then followed by ร which is an "R" R in Thai is Raw Ruea which is the boat consonant which is a rolling "R" it is almost closer to an "L"

and then ัง "UNG".....Yes you are technically correct it is spelt Farung.... but ask your Thai girlfriend to say it 10 times quickly...and if she is from isaarn (which she most certainly is) she will say it falung. Also ask her to say Raw Ruea or ask her what this letter is >>>> ร

I am not religious.........I dont know the differnce between a monk amulet and a buddha necklace. To me its the difference between a catholic crucifix and a protestant one......

I just find it strange that foreigners would want to wear them. I go to the temple with my Gfriend while she makes merit...but you certainly wont see me kneeling in front of the monks (with a buddha necklace)

and grinning stupidly while listening to ancient chants I know nothing about and getting different colored bits of string on my wrists .....Just the same as I wouldnt expect my Thai Gfriend to wear a crucifix, drink wine and eat stale bread in front of an audience at a local church in my home town either.....BTW my Gfriend cant understand the fa(l)®ungs wearing buddhas either, she thinks its weird...she is BKK born and university educated....maybe the BKK people are different to Phuketians or Isaarnies?

And the Chalong circle hasnt improved at all....yes i remember the traffic lights....i also remember before the cones.....It was better with just the police in the middle without the cones. Just my opinion...its why I started the thread!

Also another 2 things that bewilder me is:

Falangs wearing Buddhas around their necks (complete with linen shirts)

I wear a Buddha and I go to Wats with my GF. She gave me Buddha for my birthday (not a monk amulet, do you even know the difference?), that's well over a hundred years old from her great grandfather. She put it in a white gold holder, but I don't wear linen shirts... Oh, and by the way it's spelled farang.

I had another annoying moment today.........Cone hour at Chalong circle.....why make cars enter a roundabout twice? eg...if i want to go down to Chalong peir from Kata....I have to enter the roundabout....then turn towards Phuket town....then bust a U turn into the Traffic...then re enter the round about.....&lt;deleted&gt;?? This is moronic

It's improved traffic flow a lot! The circle is way too small to accommodate the amount of traffic there. They have tried stop lights and police directing traffic over the years, but the back ups got worse. I guess you haven't been here very long...

Next...

You ASSUME! She is from Chon Buri, went to trade school for electronics, then worked for IBM, while attending military university in Bangkok. I am a fortunate man to have met her. I was never religious, but I do find some spirituality in the Buddhist ceremonies I have been a part of. I thought it was very special that should would give me a family heirloom and put it in a very nice white gold enclosure for my birthday on our second year together... She wears a white gold diamond heart, that was my grandmothers that is also over 100 years old... Oh, and so now I'm amulet boy.... ASS U ME?

Yes, it's more of an LR sound, but it's still spelled farang, not falang as Thais , unless they are taught by a native speaker of English usually can't make the pure r sound. I still can't say snake properly in Thai, after trying for years! The sounds of certain things in Thai are very hard for me as a native English speaker, just as English is hard for Thai people as they never use that sound...

And as far as you having to do a U turn coming from Kata, it helps relieve the traffic back up coming from Rawai, where I live...

[Jimi007]

Pretty out of line there buddy. Most farangs with amulet might be douchebags with no knowledge of the buddhist religion. Well they still know more than most thais about buddhism. Thais blindly follow drunken ritual of buddhism and holidays, they know nothing of the religion. Also a LOT of westerners have moved to budhism, not because you come from a town of 50 people we're you all follow your master christian leader that the rest of the world is the same

Always makes me cry when someone says their gf is university educated so she must know everything about everything. My gf is university educated(not a cheap one in the middle of nowhere) and she still couldnt find huge countries like the USA or brazil on a map and i still know as much or more than her about Buddhism even though i only read 2 books about it and hardly care about that religion. I do not know anything about amulets, worshiping statues or holidays though. So in the eyes of a thai im prob dumb as shit when it comes to Buddhism.

All in all Buddha would love WAY more a farang with an amulet who follows his teaching and meditate on his life more than a thai with all their dumb worshiping which is suppose to be done in western religions, not Buddhism.

Congrats though, University educated GF. JACKPOT. Make sure your next post state that she has a job where she received a gold star for tying her shoes

edit: i do not wear an amulet and would never be caught wearing one. As i would not wear anything religious ever. Religion is for one-self. You gotta be really insecure to wear a big crucifix or amulet.

I don't usually agree with you much of the time either, but in this case I do agree with most of what you have said. I took an interest in philosophy at a fairly young age and decided I was an existentialist: The shortest definition I could find is: Existentialism is a 20th century philosophy concerned with human existence, finding self, and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. The belief that people are searching to find out who and what they are throughout life as they make choices based on their experiences, beliefs, and outlook without the help of laws, ethnic rules, or traditions.. But I have started in believe this form of Buddhism is more to my way of thinking: Theravadans believe that every individual is personally responsible for their own self-awakening and liberation, as they are the ones that were responsible for their own actions and consequences (Sanskrit: karma; Pali: kamma). Simply learning or believing in the true nature of reality as expounded by the Buddha is not enough, the awakening can only be achieved through direct experience and personal realization. An individual will have to follow and practice the Noble Eightfold Path as taught by the Buddha to discover the reality for themselves. In Theravada belief, Buddhas, gods or deities are incapable of giving a human being the awakening or lifting them from the state of repeated cycle of birth, illness, aging and death (samsara). For Theravadans, Buddha is only a Teacher of the Noble Eightfold Path, while gods or deities are still subject to anger, jealousy, hatred, vengeance, craving, greed, delusion, and death. The common thread of these beliefs is personal responsibility...

The small cast bronze Buddha I was given is well over 100 years old and a family heirloom. I think it was a very thoughtful, loving gift from the heart. It is not pretentious. I wouldn't go around wearing one of those big chains full of amulets either. I always thought they looked a bit out of place on a Thai or westerner.

[pmgthailand]

My Thai GF wears far too much make up. I tell her that she looks fine without all the make up. She cannot even go to the market without plastering it on, doing her hair and wearing spikey stillettos. I ask her who she is getting all done up for, she says herself. She spends a small fortune each month on make up, skin whiteners and hairdressers. I think she looks great in a t-shirt and jeans. I think that Thai women wear far too much make-up. C'mon girls you are beautiful without tarting yourselves up all that make-up.

Hum... Where did you find her?

I find her in Tesco, not BG she tell me and I believe her, BG's wear less make up ha ha

[ilyelol]

clearly the guy i answered is an insecure jesus freak, i added him to my ignore list.

'equivalent of a hail mary' Well first of all most westerners do not know the hail mairy and dont want to know about it. And there's no Buddhism equivalent unless you are talking about the fake buddhism religion that thais invented to make money.

Buddhism is simply learning through buddah's findings and giving tribute to everything in the world. not to a bunch of unknown retards in gold. They might be usefull to help you meditate but just going to see them for good luck or whatever is as dumb as those Christians who think god will save someone in their family if they prey while they think that god already has a plan for everyone.

pretty sure that the 7/11 clerks are all university educated and lots of bargirls too

[snamos]

Im a devout athiest....Im not trying to annoy anyone here....i was just bewildered with the Buddha necklaces on Falang guys. But you were spot on with my university comment. I would like to rephrase that.......My Thai GF converses well in English and I didnt meet her in Laguna at 4am in the morning. Maybe I am being biased but I feel she represents a more normal cross section of Thai people and I think if people look deeper into the whole "falang males wearing buddhas" they will see that it doesnt make sense

Cheers

clearly the guy i answered is an insecure jesus freak, i added him to my ignore list.

'equivalent of a hail mary' Well first of all most westerners do not know the hail mairy and dont want to know about it. And there's no Buddhism equivalent unless you are talking about the fake buddhism religion that thais invented to make money.

Buddhism is simply learning through buddah's findings and giving tribute to everything in the world. not to a bunch of unknown retards in gold. They might be usefull to help you meditate but just going to see them for good luck or whatever is as dumb as those Christians who think god will save someone in their family if they prey while they think that god already has a plan for everyone.

pretty sure that the 7/11 clerks are all university educated and lots of bargirls too

[snamos]

The time share idiots on motorbikes saying "fancy a bit of real estate mate?" (in thier english accent) really annoys me....I have found that asking for their work permit disperses them rather quickly. Real estate agents in general annoy me, as I have never heard a real estate agent say "now isnt the time to buy" its all ways "Now is the perfect opportunity to buy....get in quick you might miss out"

miss out on what?....The 400 condos per day being built on the island? When the last tree is cut down on Phuket then I will think I might have missed the real estate boat

[F1fanatic]

Why do I never see Falung women (and I know plenty of them that work here)donning Buddha atire ?

This cries out as an acceptance thing to me

You answered your own question!

Farang women normally don't find it necessary to accept the local beliefs/customs as a way of bringing good luck, acceptance or whatever. Perhaps those of us that are 'brave' enough to move to a foreign country are more pragmatic where religion or superstition are concerned?

[F1fanatic]

Also agree with the poster who made the point about Thailand having an amazing variety of vegetables etc. that they cook v badly!

I generally like the Thai food in restaurants (but suspect that's cos they've been adjusted for Western tastes?). The curry type meals that can be bought in the market I find inedible .

The first time I came to Thailand on holiday (many years ago in Cha-am) I thought Thai food was heaven. The local market had a guy cooking stir-fried veg with noodles and egg that cost 20 baht......

Wish I could find the same here....

[snamos]

Im addicted to the Chai See and Champ noodle places...I all ways grab a bowl on the way home at night...I know what you mean about the curries...maybe its a southern thai taste...I find them very Gamey or Tangy (for want of better words) But I really like the street food in BKK ...I dont think that it is Falang adjusted there and its soooo cheap I dont know how they make a profit.

Also agree with the poster who made the point about Thailand having an amazing variety of vegetables etc. that they cook v badly!

I generally like the Thai food in restaurants (but suspect that's cos they've been adjusted for Western tastes?). The curry type meals that can be bought in the market I find inedible .

The first time I came to Thailand on holiday (many years ago in Cha-am) I thought Thai food was heaven. The local market had a guy cooking stir-fried veg with noodles and egg that cost 20 baht......

Wish I could find the same here....

[zzdocxx]

Something I do like is the theme to the latest Thai soap opera called "Nak soop palang khow niaw" or detective powered by sticky rice. I find myself joyfully singing along when it comes on TV.

Link to song please? (youtube?)

:jap:

[Jimi007]

I find this thread annoying...

[Lumumba]

Why is it that in the men's room, some would ignore the rest of the 50 unoccupied urinals and chose the one next to where you have your pecker out

[pmgthailand]

I find that when I am shopping, people here move so bloody slow, like they are in a daze or something. Zombies's move quicker!

[ableguy]

None of those things really bother me. The only thing that annoyed me for years, and was the hardest thing to come to terms with was the atrocious standard of driving. I used to look at it logically, and tell myself that just 30 years ago this was a tiny fishing village with dirt roads. To change so much in such a short time, it's stupid to think that the people would keep up. That coupled with people coming from other rural places, driving among so many cars for the first time, is always going to cause problems.

Never the less it still took a long time before I could accept that other people could do something so badly that I find so easy. Now just a little shake of my head, a little mutter under my breath, and I move on happily to the next near miss half a mile down the road.

These days the only thing I find tedious are threads like these.

Strange, and yet you take the time to pen a lengthy answer ?

[snamos]

HAHAHAHAH

I think that problem is not unique to Thailand or Phuket

Why is it that in the men's room, some would ignore the rest of the 50 unoccupied urinals and chose the one next to where you have your pecker out

[snamos]

Tedious...Im finding it hilarious you have to admit some of the posts are great!

None of those things really bother me. The only thing that annoyed me for years, and was the hardest thing to come to terms with was the atrocious standard of driving. I used to look at it logically, and tell myself that just 30 years ago this was a tiny fishing village with dirt roads. To change so much in such a short time, it's stupid to think that the people would keep up. That coupled with people coming from other rural places, driving among so many cars for the first time, is always going to cause problems.

Never the less it still took a long time before I could accept that other people could do something so badly that I find so easy. Now just a little shake of my head, a little mutter under my breath, and I move on happily to the next near miss half a mile down the road.

These days the only thing I find tedious are threads like these.

Strange, and yet you take the time to pen a lengthy answer ?

[KarenBravo]

Waiting to turn right out of a side soi onto the main road when you see a vehicle coming towards you with their left turn indicator on.

Wondering whether they have forgotten to turn it off, or, are they really going to turn into your soi.

Nine times out of ten, they have forgotten to switch it off, so, best wait until they pass, or turn.

Waiting to turn right out of a side soi onto the main road when you see a vehicle coming towards you with no indicator light on, then they turn into you soi. This causes a missed opportunity to actually get out.

[ableguy]

The thing that really gets me worked up here in Hua Hin. There are a couple of really busy shopping streets in the middle of town near Soi 57 each street on both sides has parking for the public with clearly marked white boxes yet most of them will have a plastic chair in the middle of the box or some other object ranging from a lump of concrete to a wooden saw horse, these objects are placed here by the shopkeepr whose store is opposite the parking spot to tell the public this parking spot belongs to me, I have checked at the police station and this is not the case at least that is what they say but who can take the word of these guys ? Try moving the object and parking there at your own peril or having your car trashed when your back is turned. Some street vendors do this too on parking boxes not opposite a shop, they will block off the spot all day so it is free when they come to set up there noodle stall at 5pm. I have been threatned so many times I now park else where. Having lived here several years I put it down to the fact we live in a lawless society here, there is no law people make their own laws, and take the law into their own hands to extract revenge for the smallest slight.

The next thing that winds me up is members of this forum who assume all retirees here are whining pennyless old farts who do nothing but drink 40 baht beers and whine about how their money is worthless whilst living with a stunning 20 year old.

[snamos]

Oh yes Karen you just reminded me of something......Motorbikes without lights at night....its frightening...I must have seen about 50 on the way back from BKK a week ago.,......Then the police of Phuket have advertising campaigns about road safety and hand out free helmets....I think handing out light bulbs as well would have been quite beneficial

[KarenBravo]

Oh yes Karen you just reminded me of something......Motorbikes without lights at night....its frightening...I must have seen about 50 on the way back from BKK a week ago.,......Then the police of Phuket have advertising campaigns about road safety and hand out free helmets....I think handing out light bulbs as well would have been quite beneficial

Yup, I agree. pretty silly to lose your life for the want of a 20 Bt bulb.

[snamos]

The whole of Patong beach is public parking.....but you cant get a spot there because it is taken up by jet ski operators, bike rentals and car rentals.....whilst on the other side of the road the restaraunts views are blocked by the lovely sight of a tuk tuk driver laying in his hamock in the back picking his nose ..Instead of being able to see the sunset. I know who is suffering here...the punters and the business owners

The thing that really gets me worked up here in Hua Hin. There are a couple of really busy shopping streets in the middle of town near Soi 57 each street on both sides has parking for the public with clearly marked white boxes yet most of them will have a plastic chair in the middle of the box or some other object ranging from a lump of concrete to a wooden saw horse, these objects are placed here by the shopkeepr whose store is opposite the parking spot to tell the public this parking spot belongs to me, I have checked at the police station and this is not the case at least that is what they say but who can take the word of these guys ? Try moving the object and parking there at your own peril or having your car trashed when your back is turned. Some street vendors do this too on parking boxes not opposite a shop, they will block off the spot all day so it is free when they come to set up there noodle stall at 5pm. I have been threatned so many times I now park else where. Having lived here several years I put it down to the fact we live in a lawless society here, there is no law people make their own laws, and take the law into their own hands to extract revenge for the smallest slight.

The next thing that winds me up is members of this forum who assume all retirees here are whining pennyless old farts who do nothing but drink 40 baht beers and whine about how their money is worthless whilst living with a stunning 20 year old.

[ozsamurai]

Baby grabbers - For some reason, although being friendly I'm sure, bar girls, street vendors, security guards and even passers by all seem to want to touch, pick up, or pinch my son (7mo) with their mostly grubby hands, no permission from Mum or I. Yeah, don't mind us, just help yourself!

Blurters - Thais who feel a compulsion to blurt 'DEK FARANG' and point when I am pushing my son in the stroller. If TW is pushing, no such calls?? Did he change?

Oz

[MikeyIdea]

I find that when I am shopping, people here move so bloody slow, like they are in a daze or something. Zombies's move quicker!

You don't know my wife, had she done things slower, then her heart would stop beating. But she has other good qualities too

[KarenBravo]

Prices specified in Bath instead of Baht.

[snamos]

The plastic on top of the water bottles drives me insane.

a) because I cant get it off so I use my teeth as pliers and end up wearing some of the cold water

Because I see them all over the beaches (not Rawaii beach as I rarely go there for obvious reasons...and it aint really a beach)

Edited November 5, 2010 by snamos