Thai culture and their understanding and concept of "NOW"!

[historyprof]

Now is a Thai word it means, "cold."

[krisb]

It could be a blockage in 1 of the interconnected pipes, not yours, your neighbors or downstairs even have blocked it. To fix simply get the whole building to flush at the same time. But seriously try this, turn your sinks, shower, all the water in the house on and plunge it like hell. That's what a plumber did for our blocked toilet and it worked.

[IMA_FARANG]

In the U.S. there is a thing called "Drano".

There advertising slogan was, "Once in every week, Drano in every drain".

I think you can find something similar at places like Home Pro here in Thailand.

I know you used to be able to find Drano in Thailand but I haven't looked for it recently.

But as to the basic issue of NOW in Thailand you need to be polite but insistent .

It doesn't work to be angry in Thailand, it just raises your blood pressure and the Thais you yell at will just "turn you off" and ignore you.

It's one of the things you have to learn to do in Thailand.

Many of the "new" buildings in places like Bangkok are really old buildings refurbished or remodeled.

The sewage system in the building probably wasn't redone in any remodeling that was done ... that would be quite expensive.

So actually you've got a new looking building. remodeled to look new, on an old shell.

The only solution is to find a really new building to move to.

But, finding a cleaner similar to that Drano I mentioned and using it weekly will usually work after a short while.

Maybe some other posters on this topic can provide information on finding Drano (or something similar) in Thailand.

The problem with Drano is that it is strong and in the "nanny state" U.S. now they are so interested in "protecting" you from yourself, Drano is considered "unsafe".

So it goes.

Edited August 26, 2013 by IMA_FARANG

[MaiDong]

It also means 'off' or 'stale' or 'stagnant' or 'past its use-by date' which are all much more relevant

Now is a Thai word it means, "cold." 

Sent from my GT-N7000B

[Jasun]

Sorry to hear about your problem. In my experience, an owner arriving 15 minutes after a call and promising to have it fixed the next morning is a better-than-average result. At least they are onto it. In the long run, there may be little the owner can do. I've heard of condos with plumbing problems such as these, it's a building issue. You may have to move out, or learn to drip dry.

[seajae]

we have the same problem in our house but only after heavy rain and then it clears up in a day or so, nothing will flush. I put it down to too much water in the sewer and back flooding due to crappy thai plumbing but use caustic soda regularly now just in case. As to "NOW", it just doesnt happen, surely you have heard everyone saying "doesnt matter", being ex services, I am a stickler for being on time and doing what you have said you would but here I am yet to arrive anywhere at the given time, my wife just cannot accept it. Even for flights we usually arrive at the airport with minutes to spare, weddings are usually 45 minutes to an hour late, she never does what she says she will and just smiles and says "mai be lai(sp)". As far as I can tell no one in Thailand understands anything resembling "NOW", closest I can get is "sometime in the next 24 hours or so", definitely a thai thing, you either need to learn to crap during the week and not in your place friday night to sunday night or just accept it

Edited August 26, 2013 by seajae

[YeaBiGgiEs]

No paper ? Are you serious ?

I've lived in various places in Thailand and all the buildings had drainage that acepted big wads of toilet paper.

Any blockage which is very rare and the soda stuff fixes it. I've never had to call anyone out.

Lucky you! All I can say is this was the typical Thai last ditch effort or avoidance of responsibility and to blame the stupid farang with something as preposterous as toilet paper being the cause of my problem.

[YeaBiGgiEs]

Sorry to hear about your problem. In my experience, an owner arriving 15 minutes after a call and promising to have it fixed the next morning is a better-than-average result. At least they are onto it. In the long run, there may be little the owner can do. I've heard of condos with plumbing problems such as these, it's a building issue. You may have to move out, or learn to drip dry.

Well let me add a little "TMI" (too much information), in this case I did "drip dry" as I got up and immediately took a shower, spraying my patuutee nice and sparkling clean like a morning spring douche.

My complaint is not the owners responding, they are right on top of things yet the quality of the finished product being the 3rd time in 40 days just was not acceptable, then being told "tomorrow".. WHAT IF it was the Queens Bday or Thai New Year which lasts 4-7 days? No I just can't have it.

[YeaBiGgiEs]

we have the same problem in our house but only after heavy rain and then it clears up in a day or so, nothing will flush. I put it down to too much water in the sewer and back flooding due to crappy thai plumbing but use caustic soda regularly now just in case. As to "NOW", it just doesnt happen, surely you have heard everyone saying "doesnt matter", being ex services, I am a stickler for being on time and doing what you have said you would but here I am yet to arrive anywhere at the given time, my wife just cannot accept it. Even for flights we usually arrive at the airport with minutes to spare, weddings are usually 45 minutes to an hour late, she never does what she says she will and just smiles and says "mai be lai(sp)". As far as I can tell no one in Thailand understands anything resembling "NOW", closest I can get is "sometime in the next 24 hours or so", definitely a thai thing, you either need to learn to crap during the week and not in your place friday night to sunday night or just accept it

Thank you for your constructive and helpful reply. Ex-services here too as I've owned my own limousine company in the US. When you say something I expect it. When I say something, you can take it to the bank. All a man has is their word, as their word is their "bond". If a man doesn't have that then he is nothing. When you say or tell me you will do something, pay me back or whatever the case, I will hold you to it until it just becomes a hassle and obvious you are not good for your word. 15 minutes early is ON TIME, being there exactly when you are supposed to, is already LATE in my eyes and not showing up at all just says you are also a coward with no moral or ethical values nor are you respectful of other people and their time.

[YeaBiGgiEs]

Stupidly Thai bog manufacturers have not caught up with the Thai pipe suppliers who use a 4 inch diameter pipe yet the toilet pan exit hole is probably less than 3 inches.

Or maybe you dump like an Elephant?

Regardless of how one "dumps", multiple flushes takes care of that as well as "courtesy flushes" when you use public restrooms to vacate the stench. However, was your response constructive or did you mean to be insulting and post the very same type of reply that I so kindly asked to spare me of?

[lemoncake]

Lemoncake, thank you for your posts. Soda is a thought or those THB15 drain cleaners as well. I do believe this is a clog somewhere deep in the pipe but would think that their snake would be more efficient than waiting for soda or drain cleaner hours to eat its way through, especially being 18floors up, I should have gravity working in my favor. I recall using yeast, a live enzyme, monthly back in the USA but that was for people who had septic tanks. And to the other post saying I won't last long in LOS making threats, I don't recall mentioning of making a threat. Venting frustration for a 3x problem is way different than making a threat of property/bodily/life threatening injury or retribution which would qualify as a "threat". Please thoroughly read and comprehend what a person has written so you can respond intelligently in the future.

Also my asking my fellow expats for advice on this situation should something arise in the future is certainly a good start to "wising up", dontcha think?!

Snake has a limited reach and also limited capability, ie will just make a small dent.

Have to keep in mind that in Thailand, often the easiest solutions are over looked and many times, its just easier to look for an alternative such as drain cleaners.

Soda is cheap and it usually works pretty fast, also do keep in mind it does work its way all the way down, clearing out any and all blockage.

If you use it on regular basis, you will avoid the blockage and headache, life is too short to keep banging your head on the wall.

Personally i think 30 baht per month is well worth my time and nerves to deal with problem like this.

You will find the specialists will NOT fix the problem and will continue to come with snakes, when the whole system needs a good flush.

As i said before, i have a hotel and had this problem all the time, the "specialists" suggested breaking the walls to replace the pipes and few other mad ideas.

I just used soda and keep on using it and no problem for a few years now and my guests do flush toilet paper as well

[chrisinth]

I responded saying "NOW! "FIX IT NOW" and pointing out my window to Home Pro 200m away and saying "HomePro is OPEN fix it NOW".

The owner now wonders if you're considering throwing yourself off the eighteenth floor.

May even offer to give you a hand.................

[rgs2001uk]

It could be a blockage in 1 of the interconnected pipes, not yours, your neighbors or downstairs even have blocked it. To fix simply get the whole building to flush at the same time. But seriously try this, turn your sinks, shower, all the water in the house on and plunge it like hell. That's what a plumber did for our blocked toilet and it worked.

A bucket of water usually works.

As has been pointed out, more to do with crappy plumbing/drainage system coupled with the rainy season,

poster didnt say where he is, but yesterday it was battering down in Bkk.

Did the OP try his shower and see if it drained?

OP says he is on the 18th floor, problem is probably about 17 floors below him.

[YeaBiGgiEs]

Is this a problem in all the other condominium units on floors 18 and up or just in the OP's unit?

Funny you asked as I asked the same question and drew a diagram of what I believed the whole floor sharing the same exit piping. But the owner quickly adjusted my diagram to show a vertical pipe rather than a horizontal exit pipe shared by the floor. This would then suggest that the condos directly under mine on the 17th, 16th, 15th etc should have a problem also up til the actual problen blockage area. Unless 17th, 16th etc happen to be vacant.

[YeaBiGgiEs]

I responded saying "NOW! "FIX IT NOW" and pointing out my window to Home Pro 200m away and saying "HomePro is OPEN fix it NOW".

The owner now wonders if you're considering throwing yourself off the eighteenth floor.

May even offer to give you a hand.................

This post is meaningless, offers nothing helpful and suggests willingness to engage or take part in a murder plot which is common in Thailand. I suggest that an immediate investigation begin of this posters identity and whereabouts to save him from harming himself or others.

[YeaBiGgiEs]

Lemoncake, thank you for your posts. Soda is a thought or those THB15 drain cleaners as well. I do believe this is a clog somewhere deep in the pipe but would think that their snake would be more efficient than waiting for soda or drain cleaner hours to eat its way through, especially being 18floors up, I should have gravity working in my favor. I recall using yeast, a live enzyme, monthly back in the USA but that was for people who had septic tanks. And to the other post saying I won't last long in LOS making threats, I don't recall mentioning of making a threat. Venting frustration for a 3x problem is way different than making a threat of property/bodily/life threatening injury or retribution which would qualify as a "threat". Please thoroughly read and comprehend what a person has written so you can respond intelligently in the future.

Also my asking my fellow expats for advice on this situation should something arise in the future is certainly a good start to "wising up", dontcha think?!

Snake has a limited reach and also limited capability, ie will just make a small dent.

Have to keep in mind that in Thailand, often the easiest solutions are over looked and many times, its just easier to look for an alternative such as drain cleaners.

Soda is cheap and it usually works pretty fast, also do keep in mind it does work its way all the way down, clearing out any and all blockage.

If you use it on regular basis, you will avoid the blockage and headache, life is too short to keep banging your head on the wall.

Personally i think 30 baht per month is well worth my time and nerves to deal with problem like this.

You will find the specialists will NOT fix the problem and will continue to come with snakes, when the whole system needs a good flush.

As i said before, i have a hotel and had this problem all the time, the "specialists" suggested breaking the walls to replace the pipes and few other mad ideas.

I just used soda and keep on using it and no problem for a few years now and my guests do flush toilet paper as well

Thank you. Now I'm going to ask a rather ignorant question (ignorant = not knowing) What kind of soda? Anything with bubbles? Tonic, Club, Ale, BigCola, Coke?

[YeaBiGgiEs]

It could be a blockage in 1 of the interconnected pipes, not yours, your neighbors or downstairs even have blocked it. To fix simply get the whole building to flush at the same time. But seriously try this, turn your sinks, shower, all the water in the house on and plunge it like hell. That's what a plumber did for our blocked toilet and it worked.

A bucket of water usually works.

As has been pointed out, more to do with crappy plumbing/drainage system coupled with the rainy season,

poster didnt say where he is, but yesterday it was battering down in Bkk.

Did the OP try his shower and see if it drained?

OP says he is on the 18th floor, problem is probably about 17 floors below him.

Bucket didn't work, nor plunger, nor super power hose. Shower and all sinks drain fine.

[lemoncake]

Lemoncake, thank you for your posts. Soda is a thought or those THB15 drain cleaners as well. I do believe this is a clog somewhere deep in the pipe but would think that their snake would be more efficient than waiting for soda or drain cleaner hours to eat its way through, especially being 18floors up, I should have gravity working in my favor. I recall using yeast, a live enzyme, monthly back in the USA but that was for people who had septic tanks. And to the other post saying I won't last long in LOS making threats, I don't recall mentioning of making a threat. Venting frustration for a 3x problem is way different than making a threat of property/bodily/life threatening injury or retribution which would qualify as a "threat". Please thoroughly read and comprehend what a person has written so you can respond intelligently in the future.

Also my asking my fellow expats for advice on this situation should something arise in the future is certainly a good start to "wising up", dontcha think?!

Snake has a limited reach and also limited capability, ie will just make a small dent.

Have to keep in mind that in Thailand, often the easiest solutions are over looked and many times, its just easier to look for an alternative such as drain cleaners.

Soda is cheap and it usually works pretty fast, also do keep in mind it does work its way all the way down, clearing out any and all blockage.

If you use it on regular basis, you will avoid the blockage and headache, life is too short to keep banging your head on the wall.

Personally i think 30 baht per month is well worth my time and nerves to deal with problem like this.

You will find the specialists will NOT fix the problem and will continue to come with snakes, when the whole system needs a good flush.

As i said before, i have a hotel and had this problem all the time, the "specialists" suggested breaking the walls to replace the pipes and few other mad ideas.

I just used soda and keep on using it and no problem for a few years now and my guests do flush toilet paper as well

Thank you. Now I'm going to ask a rather ignorant question (ignorant = not knowing) What kind of soda? Anything with bubbles? Tonic, Club, Ale, BigCola, Coke?

LOL, NOOOOO Mate, Thai name for it is Soda Fie(i think thats the spelling) available only in hardware stores, its not for human consumption- very toxic and corrosive,another name for it is soda flakes

[lemoncake]

Lemoncake, thank you for your posts. Soda is a thought or those THB15 drain cleaners as well. I do believe this is a clog somewhere deep in the pipe but would think that their snake would be more efficient than waiting for soda or drain cleaner hours to eat its way through, especially being 18floors up, I should have gravity working in my favor. I recall using yeast, a live enzyme, monthly back in the USA but that was for people who had septic tanks. And to the other post saying I won't last long in LOS making threats, I don't recall mentioning of making a threat. Venting frustration for a 3x problem is way different than making a threat of property/bodily/life threatening injury or retribution which would qualify as a "threat". Please thoroughly read and comprehend what a person has written so you can respond intelligently in the future.

Also my asking my fellow expats for advice on this situation should something arise in the future is certainly a good start to "wising up", dontcha think?!

Snake has a limited reach and also limited capability, ie will just make a small dent.

Have to keep in mind that in Thailand, often the easiest solutions are over looked and many times, its just easier to look for an alternative such as drain cleaners.

Soda is cheap and it usually works pretty fast, also do keep in mind it does work its way all the way down, clearing out any and all blockage.

If you use it on regular basis, you will avoid the blockage and headache, life is too short to keep banging your head on the wall.

Personally i think 30 baht per month is well worth my time and nerves to deal with problem like this.

You will find the specialists will NOT fix the problem and will continue to come with snakes, when the whole system needs a good flush.

As i said before, i have a hotel and had this problem all the time, the "specialists" suggested breaking the walls to replace the pipes and few other mad ideas.

I just used soda and keep on using it and no problem for a few years now and my guests do flush toilet paper as well

Thank you. Now I'm going to ask a rather ignorant question (ignorant = not knowing) What kind of soda? Anything with bubbles? Tonic, Club, Ale, BigCola, Coke?

LOL, NOOOOO Mate, Thai name for it is Soda Fie(i think thats the spelling) available only in hardware stores, its not for human consumption- very toxic and corrosive,another name for it is caustic soda flakes

Edited August 26, 2013 by lemoncake

[joepattaya1961]

I've heard (3rd, 4th or even 7th hand) that in some occassions construction people block a drain partly in order to have some unblocking activities after the construction is finished.

This could be one of those cases.

For the OP......if you start "shouting" NOW, NOW.....people might think that you are cold.

Edited August 26, 2013 by joepattaya1961

[FritsSikkink]

do tell what the owner of a condo would do to cut OP time in LOS?

The OP screamed 'NOW! "FIX IT NOW' and appears to advocate a violent response for the minor matter of a blocked toilet.

lemoncake, you lack education if you think the OP will last long with such an attitude.

Did I "scream" or did I respond like I had typed. Yes, apologies for using the capital letters as it translates into "shouting" but lets just say I had a higher volume than conversation, elevated even, but I wouldn't say it was "screaming".

"Minor matter" is relative to ones perception. First time, maybe second time or a leaky faucet or loose tile is minor but a 3rd time, on a sunday, expecting dinner guests no longer is "minor" in my perception. Again I asked for mercy from remarks like this and was open to suggestions of what and how to deal with this in the future, if this was expected, an unwritten thai culture and be spared of commentary of my lasting long in LOS (inferring I may be killed?), attitude problems or insults to other supportive posters of lacking education.

Non americans would call it screaming.

[impulse]

Here's a tip.

Take the bum gun. Fill the bowl. Fill the reservoir behind the bowl. Then flush again.

Repeat until all the floaties (and the sinkers) are gone.

Then you can get it fixed on their time.

Long term fix may involve replacing the wax ring under the commode as they can deform on install and prevent the big chunks from passing.

My apartment waits until banks are open to collect the rent. I wait until banks are open to have them make any non-emergency repairs.

Edited August 26, 2013 by impulse

[Thai at Heart]

My loo blocked regularly for one year. Pumped out this, etc etc.

Finally took the plunge and got the bloke to rod the drain. He found half a dozen duplo bricks. Have your kids started walking lately?

[mickjn]

Boil the kettle.Might have to have a few goes but that will fix it

[10ten]

I mean this in a completely non-combative way, but your best bet for having this or other problems rectified quickly in the future is really to modify your attitude. Most things are possible in Thailand, but you likely don't have the social status to achieve them by raising your voice or making demands; you would do better to make a calm and friendly appeal to your landlord's better nature and gently press home the urgency of the situation. Parenthetically, I think this applies in many countries other than Thailand also - I was raised in Europe and I'm not sure that I would have been overly inclined to help you either based on your description of the event. Nevertheless, if you can work on developing a more culturally appropriate rapport with your landlord and the people in your condo office now, you will hopefully have been able to accrue a little goodwill and social capital before the next time you need to make use of it.

Naturally, these sorts of relationships are much more easily built in Thai than in English - perhaps something to start considering if you are here for the long haul?

Best of luck.

[rene123]

Thank you Lemoncake for the soda idea. I'll try it next time I have a problem. Usually a plunger works. When renting a room as a second occupant we can't determine what previous occupants did. I know that threats and aggressive behaviour seldom works in Thailand.

[snake24]

to the OP do you mean in the US if you yelled like this loudly at the repairman NOW they would fix it immediately?

Mind you i have lived in the US too and there were times when things were done in a shoddy manner and american bathrooms. Lord god my bathroom in my apartment didn't have a drainage system so after mopping up the floor i had to flush it down the toilet and of course they don't have the bum gun thing so it's quite gross swiping sometimes. Worst thing is americans all think they are the best in the world so somehow there isn't any need to improve anything.

[snake24]

It also means 'off' or 'stale' or 'stagnant' or 'past its use-by date' which are all much more relevant

Now is a Thai word it means, "cold."

Sent from my GT-N7000B

Goddamnit it's "now" second tone in mandarin which is pretty different from how the word now is produced i wonder how you guys that don't speak a tonal language go about pronouncing words in languages that are tonal in nature you have to pronounce it exactly as it is and to pronounce now in the english way to mean cold in thai is way off.

Edited August 28, 2013 by snake24

[benalibina]

It also means 'off' or 'stale' or 'stagnant' or 'past its use-by date' which are all much more relevant

Now is a Thai word it means, "cold."

Sent from my GT-N7000B

Goddamnit it's "now" second tone in mandarin which is pretty different from how the word now is produced i wonder how you guys that don't speak a tonal language go about pronouncing words in languages that are tonal in nature you have to pronounce it exactly as it is and to pronounce now in the english way to mean cold in thai is way off.

Now now relax man !!

[Stradavarius37]

CLARIFICATION: NO, wooloomooloo, it was you who inferred I would be killed or "not last long" if I kept up my "attitude".

When is enough, enough? When are you in the right to be firm in your convictions and allowed to express them in a matter in which you will be heard and taken seriously? How about when a Thai causes a farang to lose face with their laughing and utter disconcern/disrespect of any given issue. After all we are all humans.

Thank you all.. 25 posts now and the solution is soda (at my time and expense of course) Yet still clueless on why Thais can't understand "NOW" or have any sense of urgency.

When you're not living in Thailand...