martinhuahin Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I've seen this abbreviation used here and in many other places. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wonders what it means or where it comes from? Can any one help???! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 Land of Smiles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinhuahin Posted June 5, 2006 Author Share Posted June 5, 2006 Land of Smiles. He he, I just knew it would be something obvious like that.... no I feel stoopid. Thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sing_Sling Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 The classic misnomer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leisurely Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I don't know about classic misnomerer. The police man who just tried to get 400 baht from me for turning right (on a right turn light) was smiling as he asked. Less cheery when I insisted on a ticket. Silly me, I have to go to RamaIV police place to collect said licence. Hey ho. TIT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donz Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I don't know about classic misnomerer. The police man who just tried to get 400 baht from me for turning right (on a right turn light) was smiling as he asked. Less cheery when I insisted on a ticket. Silly me, I have to go to RamaIV police place to collect said licence. Hey ho. TIT! i bet he is smiling now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sing_Sling Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I don't know about classic misnomerer. The police man who just tried to get 400 baht from me for turning right (on a right turn light) was smiling as he asked. Less cheery when I insisted on a ticket. Silly me, I have to go to RamaIV police place to collect said licence. Hey ho. TIT! i bet he is smiling now Clearly I have to take my statement back . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donz Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I used to think the S on LOS was a different word when I first joined, It was because of another phuket forum and they used to throw that LOS around and also talk about all these girls allday long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leisurely Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I'm not laughing, it is at least two hours out of my busy day(!) but I refuse now to pay the BIB a satang for something that is wrong. I will not get on my high horse about it but it is wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Mist Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 new one for the OP to ponder pay the MIB 55555555555555555 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogercw Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I'm not laughing, it is at least two hours out of my busy day(!) but I refuse now to pay the BIB a satang for something that is wrong. I will not get on my high horse about it but it is wrong Why fight it. If you paid 4,000 baht a year in "fines" that would be an expense of less than 10 USD a month. Petty cash and much simpler than the potential problems of not paying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sing_Sling Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I'm not laughing, it is at least two hours out of my busy day(!) but I refuse now to pay the BIB a satang for something that is wrong. I will not get on my high horse about it but it is wrong Why fight it. If you paid 4,000 baht a year in "fines" that would be an expense of less than 10 USD a month. Petty cash and much simpler than the potential problems of not paying. There is something so inherently wrong with this attitude of condoning and supporting graft and bribery - so very wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donz Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 Its better if you just pay it, you will probaly be better off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumbojumbo Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 LOS has a different meaning nowdays. It means Land Of Shiniwatra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khun Yak Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I've seen this abbreviation used here and in many other places. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wonders what it means or where it comes from?Can any one help???! Thanks. There was a whole thread about abbreviations some time ago - cant find it though right now but I'm sure a bit of seach will enlighten your TV experience. Cheers KY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael W Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 Land of Smile or Land of Smiles, the second obviously sounding more correct. As to its origin, while the term has probably been kicking around for a good while, I remember what seemed to really popularize and enter it into usage was sometime in the late 90's when a wooden archway style sign was put over one of the airside passage entrances in Bangkok International Airport. As I recall (I haven't seen it for a few years now -- don't know it's still there) it said in capital letters in a stylized script "WELCOME TO THAILAND THE LAND OF SMILE" with no 'S' at the end of SMILE. Hence the first choice for what LOS stands for! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chippie Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 Land of the verticle smile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xbusman Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 REALLY??? I had come to believe it stood for LAND OF SHOWERS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg.d Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 Or maybe Land of Saving.......face Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mai Krap Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 Land of Schism Land of Sexism Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jai Yen Yen Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 I'm not laughing, it is at least two hours out of my busy day(!) but I refuse now to pay the BIB a satang for something that is wrong. I will not get on my high horse about it but it is wrong Why fight it. If you paid 4,000 baht a year in "fines" that would be an expense of less than 10 USD a month. Petty cash and much simpler than the potential problems of not paying. There is something so inherently wrong with this attitude of condoning and supporting graft and bribery - so very wrong. Right!! Its better if you just pay it, you will probaly be better off Wrong!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlRedEyes Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 I've seen this abbreviation used here and in many other places. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wonders what it means or where it comes from?Can any one help???! Thanks. Depends who screwed who today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkangorito Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 I'm not laughing, it is at least two hours out of my busy day(!) but I refuse now to pay the BIB a satang for something that is wrong. I will not get on my high horse about it but it is wrong Why fight it. If you paid 4,000 baht a year in "fines" that would be an expense of less than 10 USD a month. Petty cash and much simpler than the potential problems of not paying. I gotta agree with this. Pay the bribe & be happy, else be prepared to enter the Land Of Rules & Regulations. Why? Let's look at the possibilities; Complain about this simple form of corruption with the hope that tighter controls will 'stamp out' bribery (& unfairness). The outcome will be simple - Thailand will be one step closer to being like the Western 'control freak' Culture. Feel free to then add this worry to the tiny list of worries that currently exist in Thailand. I hope & pray that Thailand NEVER becomes as controlled & regulated as any other Western country. After all, didn't most of us come to Thailand to be 'free' of the constricting & 'overworking' Western lifestyle? Thailand may not be prefect but it is the LOS...until some Westerners convert it into an image of their former Western homelands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klrsmith Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Legions of Scammers Regards, Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maestro Posted June 10, 2006 Share Posted June 10, 2006 The definition “Land of Smiles” for LOS even made it into the acronym dictionary: --------------- Maestro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayo Posted June 10, 2006 Share Posted June 10, 2006 I'm not laughing, it is at least two hours out of my busy day(!) but I refuse now to pay the BIB a satang for something that is wrong. I will not get on my high horse about it but it is wrong Why? What is wrong about it? (see further below for a good way out of it) I'm not laughing, it is at least two hours out of my busy day(!) but I refuse now to pay the BIB a satang for something that is wrong. I will not get on my high horse about it but it is wrong Why fight it. If you paid 4,000 baht a year in "fines" that would be an expense of less than 10 USD a month. Petty cash and much simpler than the potential problems of not paying. There is something so inherently wrong with this attitude of condoning and supporting graft and bribery - so very wrong. Again, what is wrong? I lived in Los for the exact reason that this sort of thing is possible. Having said that, I was taught, and I here pass it on, a succesful way to beat it. Technically, a few years ago, in order to fight corruption, the copper has to send you and your fine to the local constabulary to pay at a special "fines" desk. Aforementioned "fines desk" usually only runs business hours. So if your timing of getting caught is aprozimately correct. Fight for your receipt (to the coppers Chagrin) but before he writes it, tell him you are flying out before the next business day begins. The copper can then no backtrack to a "paperless fine" for risk of losing face, and will undoubtebly let you go. (with a sigh and perhaps a minor veral warning). What I would then love to do is slip the bastard a hundred bt in closed hand to thank him for HIS cooperation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary74 Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 LOS= Land Of Sex tourists It should be changed to LODDOM= Land Of Disgusting Dirty Old Men Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maestro Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 LOS= Land Of Sex tourists It should be changed to LODDOM= Land Of Disgusting Dirty Old Men Speaking for yourself, I presume.--------------- Maestro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Mist Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 Land Of Smiles it is by common agreement and Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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