Bluecat Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 this is serious folks...when I was young in california I used to surf...and any surfer will tell you that a good ride is better than sex. So...how are we to judge when it comes to middle age and cheeseburgers? Can't surf no more...can hardly get it up even when presented with flowering Asian beauties but a cheeseburger and beer hits the spot every time. I have wasted time - now time has wasted me. Goethe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisP Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 My Thai "family" who starts with food cooked Mai Pet then slowly heats it up.. until I burn my tonsils..! The same family who are always more concerned about me, and my well-being than they are about themsleves... and they struggle. The peace and beauty of the huge reservoir outside BuriRam at sunset Holding hands with the bf.. and nobody bats an eyelid. CP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff1 Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Thanks everyone, I needed that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest IT Manager Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Jeff Thanks for mentioning it. It's good IMO to sit and ponder the absolute joy of living here. I can relate to nearly everything, most of the time. Every now and then a good tonsil searing keeps the heat in life, and the life in the old body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Eye_Of_Sauron Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 I like the National Anthem, I like that it is played at sunrise and sundown - and that people stand still for it even rushing home from work. I like the sense of National Pride (especially coming from Indonesia, where people didn't give a rat's ass about their country). I like the Royal Family, the reverence for them and wish my own country had the common sense to see likewise. I like the fact that Buddhism works better as a national creed than all the proselytising religions in nearby countries. I like the skytrain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12call Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Getting up in the morning, to greet the day when it's still black outside, so I can take my boy to school. Being waved at by the neighbours kids as catch the song taew to their school. Being waved at by the neighbors. Watching the footy and cheering when our team scores. Watching the takraw and wondering how the he1l they do that. Cheering when our side scores. Getting my washing machine fixed for 15 baht. Buying a frig for 120 bucks... new. Paying the power bill. 600 baht. Paying the water bill. 48 baht. Paying for 3 months supply of gas. 235 baht. Living here Loving here Missing my wife here. Watching my kid stay healthy. Meeting people without ever seeing them. Making new mates daily on Thaivisa. Marveling at the intelligence of new friends. Wondering why new friends are challenged to become new friends. Having a beer with a few friends for 100 baht. Not having a lot of money, living well, Not being thought cheap because I only buy 1 round of drinks. Playing pool at the village bar. Watching the balls slide the last 3" in a new direction, and not caring, just because it's fun to do it. Feeding 5 people for 180 baht including 1 beer. Watching Loong Yen being a big pooying, then laughing when he says Jaow and tries to kiss me. Not feeling strange about supporting a queer community on a big web site. Not being afraid. Being proud of what my wife and I have been able to do in our small community. Not feeling bad because I don't want to go out at night all the time and get smashed. Being proud of peoples' trust in me. well put IT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutsiwarrior Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 I am confused...too many conflicting modes of expression. Me for unlimited cheeseburgers and pizza. As Prime Minister Tutsi said in the famous speech during the Blitz "I am not an ogre...' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutsiwarrior Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 It is, by the way, quite pleasing to see the nieces coming down the street after school in their uniforms, raid the fridge then turn my lonely refuge into a riot of delighted sceaming and laughter with their play. Never had that in the US or England... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecat Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 It is, by the way, quite pleasing to see the nieces coming down the street after school in their uniforms, raid the fridge then turn my lonely refuge into a riot of delighted sceaming and laughter with their play.Never had that in the US or England... Happened to me many times in "continental" Europe. Must be different in the "anglo-saxon" world,... I now understand why SO MANY of you are in Thailand,... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutsiwarrior Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 How many nieces you got bluecat? I'm talking from the perspective of a falang that lost everything from failed marriage...who would want children to smile and give them a cuddle when home after school. Happens everywhere not just in the deprived anglo-saxon world...the desire, that is... But let's not quarrel...home and happiness is a subjective matter. We could endlessly prattle on about personal circumstances and a perceived 'happiness' scenario. I would prefer to rage about the lack of blowjobs resulting from the new 12 oclock closing dictum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terdsak_12 Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 The Hookers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutsiwarrior Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Wouldn't Goethe agree? Nietzsche on the other hand was modern and would condemn crass sentimentalism. Leave it up to groucho... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaksin Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 I'ts funny, but a similar vein runs thru many of the "good points of Thailand" posts, and they seem to be the simple things that "touch one's heart." We all know the feeling. Back home, people are civil, but generally uncaring. I like the one about parking in Phrae "over by chicken." It's just the little things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Some excellent posts above on the delights of living up-country (or among people who have retained up-country joys in down-country places). Can't comment on the BKK expat scene. As a typically brain-washed Western engineer (retired now), I started thinking "Why does it work?, how does it work?, is there an underlying 'formula' that explains it all?". Think there may be two underlying, interlocking common causes of many of these heart-warming little things that make the lovable whole. First it is a country where the people feel they are on the up-and-up (albeit bouncily). A confident spirit makes folk feel and act nicer. Second, Thais are non-aggressive (but, of course, have to know how to defend themselves), which makes for tolerance and trying to react to all pebbles on Life's smooth path with "Mae pen lie" or "Bo peng yang, karp". The good spirit of confidence that this year is a bit better than last, and next year will be even better reminds me of my years in Canada in 1956-1961, and in Singapore in 1986-1993. In each case, I had previously just had a long spell in England. In 1945 to 1955, there had been a general pessimism that the UK was clapped out as a result of WWII. In 1980-1986, there was a pessimism that the UK had descended to accepting 'private greed and public squalor'. To go to a country where folk, particularly the young ones, had good spirit was uplifting. Now to come to another one warms the cockles of the heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanTheMan Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 - Watching my father-in-law to be eat a big bowl of fish head soup and enjoying it. - Watching my fiancee smile when I try to tell her in Thai that she is very beautiful, but instead wind up saying that she is much bad luck--but she knows what I mean anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff1 Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 Good one Dan, I know so well what you mean, I think we all do. One slight mistake with the language means two compleatly different things ! Ouch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecat Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 QUOTE (tutsiwarrior @ Thu 2004-02-12, 20:40:46) It is, by the way, quite pleasing to see the nieces coming down the street after school in their uniforms, raid the fridge then turn my lonely refuge into a riot of delighted sceaming and laughter with their play. Never had that in the US or England... QUOTE (bluecat @ Thu 2004-02-12, 20:40:46) Happened to me many times in "continental" Europe. Must be different in the "anglo-saxon" world,... I now understand why SO MANY of you are in Thailand,... How many nieces you got bluecat? I'm talking from the perspective of a falang that lost everything from failed marriage...who would want children to smile and give them a cuddle when home after school. Happens everywhere not just in the deprived anglo-saxon world...the desire, that is... I have a few nieces, nephews, sons and daughters,... I do not see them as often as I would like but this is how it is,... I love them, they love me. How do I know? They do not tell me, I tell them. But when they meet me, when I meet them, we HUG. I FEEL it, they FEEL it. Love is like electricity, without contact, the flow is difficult,... Works for me anyway,... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Judge Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 I like not hiding my love, for my love. I like to sit with his grandparents and talk about small things.. temple fairs, tambun, the Wat and the gay phra. I like being accepted in the village as a person in my own right not as "the one with the boyfriend". I like asking the neigbours wife how to make Tom Yum Gai, and not feeling stupid about not knowing, nor asking the recipe. I like Thailand... a whole lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gentleman Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Going to the market and buying 3 bags full of fruit and veg, for 120 baht - I love sailing my boat around Koh Yao Islands, the prettiest views of Thailand! I love filling my truck up for half the cost of most countries. I love that things arent the same as my country - like the roads, the language, the simplistic ways of life, the genuine smiles, the bewilderment of the kids when you speak to them in Thai, haggling prices with a smile and the high morals of the average Thai - lovely. I also love that I am about to build a resort on an Island, where I will see out my days in a hammock on a beautiful beach with my wife, my kids and a smile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PD0NVJ Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 I love sailing my boat around Koh Yao Islands, the prettiest views of Thailand!I love filling my truck up for half the cost of most countries. I also love that I am about to build a resort on an Island, where I will see out my days in a hammock on a beautiful beach with my wife, my kids and a smile. Seems you have an amount of money thet you will be comfortable where ever you go. Think most of us can't afford their own Yacht or resort. Best time I had was while I staid in a Bangkok ghetto fore a year in my own build slump house, met people there with the heart on the right place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecat Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Best time I had was while I stayed in a Bangkok ghetto for a year in my own built slump house, met people there with the heart at the right place. Please, PDNONVJ, do not tell us that. Thai people will never, ever have an heart at the right place with farang without money (or with money). Actually, they never had and never will have their heart at the right place, they have NO heart with us, farang,... Believe me, I know, I have been here for many, many years,... But,..., am I wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest IT Manager Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Yes... but maybe not in Bangkok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecat Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Yes... but maybe not in Bangkok. Or KL, Singapore, Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, London, Paris, Roma,.... Yes, capital cities are capital cities and they do not always (understatment ) bring out the best in the people who live in those cities,... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plachon Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Best time I had was while I stayed in a Bangkok ghetto for a year in my own built slump house, met people there with the heart at the right place. Please, PDNONVJ, do not tell us that. Thai people will never, ever have an heart at the right place with farang without money (or with money). Actually, they never had and never will have their heart at the right place, they have NO heart with us, farang,... Believe me, I know, I have been here for many, many years,... But,..., am I wrong? What a load of old codswallop! If you ever read any of Fr Joseph Maier's occasional articles in the Bangkok Post, you might appreciate that even the lowliest drug addicted, AIDs-riddled teenager in Klong Toey, can show a heart of gold to others. Whether that person is a farang or not, is immaterial, it's called humanity and Thais are as human as the rest of.............humanity. However, many farangs will tar all Thais with the same brush even before they set foot in this country, due to a nascent fear of different cultures and living patterns. It's some sort of racial-cultural superiority hang-up, which sadly is ingrained in some people to the day they die. Conclusion: you're wrong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gentleman Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Best time I had was while I stayed in a Bangkok ghetto for a year in my own built slump house, met people there with the heart at the right place. Please, PDNONVJ, do not tell us that. Thai people will never, ever have an heart at the right place with farang without money (or with money). Actually, they never had and never will have their heart at the right place, they have NO heart with us, farang,... Believe me, I know, I have been here for many, many years,... But,..., am I wrong? yes you are wrong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecat Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Best time I had was while I stayed in a Bangkok ghetto for a year in my own built slump house, met people there with the heart at the right place. Please, PDNONVJ, do not tell us that. Thai people will never, ever have an heart at the right place with farang without money (or with money). Actually, they never had and never will have their heart at the right place, they have NO heart with us, farang,... Believe me, I know, I have been here for many, many years,... But,..., am I wrong? What a load of old codswallop! If you ever read any of Fr Joseph Maier's occasional articles in the Bangkok Post, you might appreciate that even the lowliest drug addicted, AIDs-riddled teenager in Klong Toey, can show a heart of gold to others. Whether that person is a farang or not, is immaterial, it's called humanity and Thais are as human as the rest of.............humanity. However, many farangs will tar all Thais with the same brush even before they set foot in this country, due to a nascent fear of different cultures and living patterns. It's some sort of racial-cultural superiority hang-up, which sadly is ingrained in some people to the day they die. Conclusion: you're wrong! ######,... How sad to see a beautiful theory killed by a brutal fact. Aldous Huxley But anyway, sometimes (no too often though), I LOVE to be wrong,... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gentleman Scamp Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 I like the skytrain too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
translator Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 JULY VISA RUN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
translator Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 JULY VISA RUN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
translator Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 JULY VISA RUN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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