My first time oversea,my terible journey in Thailand.

[Rusty Keyhole]

I am in ching mai for one day tour now,also met some swindlers here,i will talk about it tonight.

Please don't leave us soon,you are fxxxing hilarious.

[Jungle Jim]

The taxi story is a bit goofy at best. Second mistake you stayed on Khao San Road. Why in the hell did you stay in that crap hole ? Full Moon Party and Hippie Dippie wannabes stay there = complete moron. Chiang Mai i predict in your future many more mistakes. Sounds like you must have a copy of Lonely Planet in your bag and your following the infamous banana pancake/pad Thai trail. My advise burn the book or give it to someone you really dislike. but to be blunt and honest 99.999 % are following the same trail. Best head home or join the crowd of millions who get scammed at every turn because they are unable to do any research nor have any common sense. No Thai is holding a gun to your head. Remember the word NO or sorry i am not interested. Stop being the victim. Stop blaming the Thais for All your problems. Can,t wait for your next episode of " Foreigner Lost Scammed and Broke in Thailand "

[impulse]

If this isn't just a windup, it's interesting to hear the (justified) rants of a Chinese guy who is, for the first time, experiencing how lao wai are treated in China- especially the tourist areas.

Every time the GF comes down from China, she gets a big dose of what life was like for me in China. Food tastes funky, can't read the signs, don't speak the language, don't know the local scams- in other words, I was (and still am) fresh meat.

Welcome to tourism...in the fast cheap lane.

Edit: BTW, those scantily clad GIRLS that got all handsy with you? Bad news....

[konying]

May be I have missed it but OP stated he has been in Thailand for 6 days, he later States he has changed 6 hotels .

Anyone sees a problem with that?

If by "scuming" OP means hotels charge deposits, then OP should go back to his village.

If OP is unable to open a car door, he should definitely go back to his village.

I am more than sure bangkok taxi drivers do not have super duper central locking system for OP to have to break out of the car

you are not following my point, i didnt mean deposit that kind of things, i am totally ok with deposit. I have changed 6 hotels ,cause i dont wanna stuck in the some place.I already booked all of my hoters on booking.vom and agoda, i just follow my schdule. And about locked the door i knew there is an unlock device near the door,but its still controled by the drivers. I got scamed by the owner of the hoters its that because he offered me a taxi service,and we had a deal,but in the middle of the taxi trip,the driver drove me to some dirty shops and asked for spending my money,thats not with the deal,And he asked me to drink his wine,do you know what that means,means if i drink then i need to follow the driver's @@. And i booked a one day tour in the hoter, i had a deal with them, english translater,english conversation,english circle,the owner said yes resoundingly. But the turth is competely out of the deal. i guess i would just deal with it,learn my lession.The tour guide,tour driver dont even know the hotel.

Got ya, so taxi driver had super duper Central locking system installed and not to be bored you change hotels daily .

Now , in the opening you stated you travel alone, so how are you shopping with a friend on kaosan road?

So you not travelling alone? Or shopping with imaginary friend?

[Jdietz]

As an FYI, we know the IP address used for posts. So we can tell where a member is posting from, as long as they are not using a VPN.

So what bridge is nearest to his IP?

[Rusty Keyhole]

The taxi story is a bit goofy at best. Second mistake you stayed on Khao San Road. Why in the hell did you stay in that crap hole ? Full Moon Party and Hippie Dippie wannabes stay there = complete moron. Chiang Mai i predict in your future many more mistakes. Sounds like you must have a copy of Lonely Planet in your bag and your following the infamous banana pancake/pad Thai trail. My advise burn the book or give it to someone you really dislike. but to be blunt and honest 99.999 % are following the same trail. Best head home or join the crowd of millions who get scammed at every turn because they are unable to do any research nor have any common sense. No Thai is holding a gun to your head. Remember the word NO or sorry i am not interested. Stop being the victim. Stop blaming the Thais for All your problems. Can,t wait for your next episode of " Foreigner Lost Scammed and Broke in Thailand "

I bet you've been here ages.

[Jungle Jim]

yea likely a hell of a lot longer than you. are you one of the KSR, FMP, 99.999 % crowd ?

The taxi story is a bit goofy at best. Second mistake you stayed on Khao San Road. Why in the hell did you stay in that crap hole ? Full Moon Party and Hippie Dippie wannabes stay there = complete moron. Chiang Mai i predict in your future many more mistakes. Sounds like you must have a copy of Lonely Planet in your bag and your following the infamous banana pancake/pad Thai trail. My advise burn the book or give it to someone you really dislike. but to be blunt and honest 99.999 % are following the same trail. Best head home or join the crowd of millions who get scammed at every turn because they are unable to do any research nor have any common sense. No Thai is holding a gun to your head. Remember the word NO or sorry i am not interested. Stop being the victim. Stop blaming the Thais for All your problems. Can,t wait for your next episode of " Foreigner Lost Scammed and Broke in Thailand "

I bet you've been here ages.

[Rusty Keyhole]

You must have made mistakes first time here. Or maybe not!

[ClutchClark]

This is going to be one of those 'To Each his or her Own' Threads. Some people in a foreign country feel quite okay about talking with strangers - even seeking to find someone who speaks their language... Then obviously there are some who think and act oppositely ...

I see it as a waste of time to argue the point - no one is going to change their mind on this issue... and discussing it - is not helpful to the OP... it is just personal opinion... personal likes and dislikes - there is no universal truth about it either way.

I am very comfortable talking to strangers whether I initiate it or they do ... I have found it to be very useful even satisfying to help people here in the Tourist town of Ao Nang... helped some Brit guys find the best place to buy beer last evening...

Never the less ... this is OP's thread and let him decide which route to take -- or neither one..

But please don't waste Solitary Man's time haggling about it... I think OP came here to find some answers - get some advice or just rant a little to expel some frustration... But I really don't think he came here to witness another "I know better than you do" and if you can see that I am right and you are wrong .... blah blah blah.... typical TVF derailed thread... Please don't derail the guy's thread.

thx bro,In fact i am looking for some advice and also vent some of my frastration. I was walking on the street in chiang mai, some girls who didnt wear much clothes just came to me,and their hands just got handsy,touching me, that was disgusting, i just walked away immediatly. And after wacthing kick boxing it was late, there were girls who didnt wear much clothes everywhere on the street, i was so scared,just didnt know how to get out of there,then some of them came to again,i had to run,got no choice. i was afried that if they touch me,then they wont let me go,ask for money that kind of things

They may NOT have been girls !

[ClutchClark]

OP, very good choice of a user name, Solitary Man.

Are you an 18-year old Chinese man who happens to be a big fan of Neil Diamond?

[Jungle Jim]

Depends how you look at it. Yes and No. Going to Koh Samui two days after i arrived. On the third day i met my wife . Shortly there after i learned to get as far away as possible from Samui and other tourists traps. Best thing i ever did.

You must have made mistakes first time here. Or maybe not!

[Jungle Jim]

One of Neil's best songs. Not a bad name for the OP. But from the sounds of it he is not being very solitary and keeps getting into trouble. My best advise to him is either return to China and think over his mistakes or pile up on some food and lock himself in his hotel room for the rest of the trip. P.S DON,T BRING A MASSAGE GIRL TO YOUR ROOM UNLESS YOU WANT MORE TROUBLE.

OP, very good choice of a user name, Solitary Man.

Are you an 18-year old Chinese man who happens to be a big fan of Neil Diamond?

[Jungle Jim]

One problem after another. Well i would avoid the girls with very little clothes. Most foreigners tend to get themselves into trouble with them. Some are even are dumb enough to marry them. Later buy them a home they can never own , a new car and within a very short period of time have no money and are begging on the streets. If you wish to follow their destiny go right ahead. But my advice is you better head back to China before things get worse. You have been here less than a week and it sounds like a nightmare.I don,t think your ready for Thailand many are not. It will chew you up and spit you out no problem.

This is going to be one of those 'To Each his or her Own' Threads. Some people in a foreign country feel quite okay about talking with strangers - even seeking to find someone who speaks their language... Then obviously there are some who think and act oppositely ...

I see it as a waste of time to argue the point - no one is going to change their mind on this issue... and discussing it - is not helpful to the OP... it is just personal opinion... personal likes and dislikes - there is no universal truth about it either way.

I am very comfortable talking to strangers whether I initiate it or they do ... I have found it to be very useful even satisfying to help people here in the Tourist town of Ao Nang... helped some Brit guys find the best place to buy beer last evening...

Never the less ... this is OP's thread and let him decide which route to take -- or neither one..

But please don't waste Solitary Man's time haggling about it... I think OP came here to find some answers - get some advice or just rant a little to expel some frustration... But I really don't think he came here to witness another "I know better than you do" and if you can see that I am right and you are wrong .... blah blah blah.... typical TVF derailed thread... Please don't derail the guy's thread.

thx bro,In fact i am looking for some advice and also vent some of my frastration. I was walking on the street in chiang mai, some girls who didnt wear much clothes just came to me,and their hands just got handsy,touching me, that was disgusting, i just walked away immediatly. And after wacthing kick boxing it was late, there were girls who didnt wear much clothes everywhere on the street, i was so scared,just didnt know how to get out of there,then some of them came to again,i had to run,got no choice. i was afried that if they touch me,then they wont let me go,ask for money that kind of things

They may NOT have been girls !

[thailiketoo]

Why is he using the word, "bro?" Singapore guy maybe? They use bro a lot on line. Do Chinese men use the word, bro?

[Jungle Jim]

that caught my eye also. i don,t think so. But than again this is not an ordinary solitary man. interesting soul to say the least.

Why is he using the word, "bro?" Singapore guy maybe? They use bro a lot on line. Do Chinese men use the word, bro?

[scavenger]

OP, thanks for the good laughs, you're hilarious! If you're bright enough to realize that we are laughing not "with" you but "at" you then there is hope, and no need to fly back to China. You are still very young, especially being Asian, and it is your golden opportunity to get some life experience and grow into a man - and then come back to this thread to laugh with us at your former self. Take basic safety precautions, take no more out of your safe box than what you are willing to commit to your "daily education funds", and go out, develop a sense of humor and have fun! (But do change your plans for that Full Moon Party lah...)

[richard_smith237]

that caught my eye also. i don,t think so. But than again this is not an ordinary solitary man. interesting soul to say the least.

Why is he using the word, "bro?" Singapore guy maybe? They use bro a lot on line. Do Chinese men use the word, bro?

No, all 1,367,290,000 of them (Chinese) have never used the word 'Bro'....

Back on Topic - this may also help other readers here for their first time...

OP:

Get a local Pre-paid SimCard and Download GrabTaxi app on your phone... This will help you avoid most of your hassles (in BKK at least).

Another method I used to use was to get the Vendor (Shop / Taxi etc) to repeat what I wanted - this helps avoid misunderstandings.

Bottom line: You are young and the Scum see an opportunity... (and you are correct, these guys are scum).

I came to Thailand when I was 22 - People used to try it on all the time, I'd face the daftest of situations which just doesn't seem to happen now...

That said, keep your wits about you, keep plenty of change with you (when shopping), don't trust locals who appear to come out of nowhere to offer help (you've already worked that one out).

As you travel more, you will become more astute and less susceptible to rip offs... you will meet other travellers and enjoy your time more..... This is what travelling is all about.

Then - When you are old you can forget you were once young and feel brave again on an internet forum...

[RKASA]

Should have signed on with knocks tours - could have got less and learned more for the money.

[Jungle Jim]

If he lasts that long. my advice is you had better start learning real fast. (1) Stay the hell away from bar girls/ massage girls or any girl that walks up to you. Run don,t walk. (2) Always have small change and learn the Thai currency. (3) If you don,t see a price on something avoid the place. (4) Avoid other newbies they will only drag you more into trouble both young and old. (5) Stay away from Khao San Road, Full Moon Party, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Koh Phi Phi, Pai, or anywhere else there are many foreigners and i would even get out of Chiang Mai ,. having said that i don,t know where would be safe for you. (6) Stay away from bars and drugs only trouble will happen. I started traveling on my own at the very young age of 15 sure i made some mistakes but not the amount you have gotten yourself into within the last six days. Many are more better off staying at home besides the boob tube. My best advice to you is GO HOME!

[konying]

 

that caught my eye also. i don,t think so. But than again this is not an ordinary solitary man. interesting soul to say the least.

Why is he using the word, "bro?" Singapore guy maybe? They use bro a lot on line. Do Chinese men use the word, bro?

No, all 1,367,290,000 of them (Chinese) have never used the word 'Bro'....

Back on Topic - this may also help other readers here for their first time...

OP:

Get a local Pre-paid SimCard and Download GrabTaxi app on your phone... This will help you avoid most of your hassles (in BKK at least).

Another method I used to use was to get the Vendor (Shop / Taxi etc) to repeat what I wanted - this helps avoid misunderstandings.

Bottom line: You are young and the Scum see an opportunity... (and you are correct, these guys are scum).

I came to Thailand when I was 22 - People used to try it on all the time, I'd face the daftest of situations which just doesn't seem to happen now...

That said, keep your wits about you, keep plenty of change with you (when shopping), don't trust locals who appear to come out of nowhere to offer help (you've already worked that one out).

As you travel more, you will become more astute and less susceptible to rip offs... you will meet other travellers and enjoy your time more..... This is what travelling is all about.

Then - When you are old you can forget you were once young and feel brave again on an internet forum...

 

I have to disagree with you there, only because "scum" prey NOT only on those without experience but mainly on those with money.

It is safe to assume at 18 years of age, one would not make a great target.

I would call this one a troll, only because stories do not add up.

Changing hotels daily?

Taxi driver offering wine?

Come alone, but shopping with friend?

Standard taxi car with super duper override central locking and control system

[Jungle Jim]

agree none of it really adds up. but i like the super duper over drive. curious was he gassed in the taxi also ? later to wake up in a den of a thousand large breasted naked Thai women forcing him to suck all night ?

 

that caught my eye also. i don,t think so. But than again this is not an ordinary solitary man. interesting soul to say the least.

Why is he using the word, "bro?" Singapore guy maybe? They use bro a lot on line. Do Chinese men use the word, bro?

No, all 1,367,290,000 of them (Chinese) have never used the word 'Bro'....


Back on Topic - this may also help other readers here for their first time...


OP:

Get a local Pre-paid SimCard and Download GrabTaxi app on your phone... This will help you avoid most of your hassles (in BKK at least).

Another method I used to use was to get the Vendor (Shop / Taxi etc) to repeat what I wanted - this helps avoid misunderstandings.


Bottom line: You are young and the Scum see an opportunity... (and you are correct, these guys are scum).
I came to Thailand when I was 22 - People used to try it on all the time, I'd face the daftest of situations which just doesn't seem to happen now...

That said, keep your wits about you, keep plenty of change with you (when shopping), don't trust locals who appear to come out of nowhere to offer help (you've already worked that one out).

As you travel more, you will become more astute and less susceptible to rip offs... you will meet other travellers and enjoy your time more..... This is what travelling is all about.


Then - When you are old you can forget you were once young and feel brave again on an internet forum...

 

I have to disagree with you there, only because "scum" prey NOT only on those without experience but mainly on those with money.

It is safe to assume at 18 years of age, one would not make a great target.

I would call this one a troll, only because stories do not add up.

Changing hotels daily?

Taxi driver offering wine?

Come alone, but shopping with friend?

Standard taxi car with super duper override central locking and control system

[noodle]

guys,my phone is runing out of power,i will update tonight. thanks the bro above. Overall thais were nice

I'm with you dude, my phone is always low on power(assets?). In my case I think it is because of the seeming impossibility of knowing the cost of using a cell phone. Your case may be different.

[jabis]

epic - nothing more to say

[Tomtomtom69]

You have to be on your guard, especially in the more tourist orientated locations.

These scams are tried on everybody, it doesn't matter where you come from. Learn to spot them and be suspicious of everyone - just tell them 'no' and move on until you find someone honest.

One rule I live by - whenever I'm somewhere I don't know people is that nobody should ever approach you - if they do treat them with caution, they will be strangers and what business do strangers have approaching you unless they want something ?

If you're approached by a stranger they are generally not going to do you any help. They're going to be trying to scam you, rob you or worse.

What a sad opinion you have of all peoples.

what if someone is confuse/lost/distress about something and someone come to offer help?

I have the situation many times when thais step in to help with either translation with others or lost and they never wanted anything from me or to scam.

i guess someone like you would tell them to P.O?

But correct if wrong, your the one who always jump in to crucify others when they ask why expat wont talk or ackhnowlege other farang when in thaland?

Maybe one day you will be in serious need of help and at the mercy of everyone you say are no good.

i would like to be there and watch them stare right through you and ignore and walk on by,which is obviously what you would do

Sorry but he's right - these days you have to be on your guard all the time and I'm afraid that in Thailand, a country where the average joe (or Somchai rather) does not talk to strangers unless he/she has a very good reason to, you can assume that a random person coming up to you is up to no good too - especially in tourist areas but not only. I personally live by the same motto - if you're only coming up to me because you spotted me as a foreigner please go buzz off. I don't go up to random Thais back home and talk to them or try to scam them just because they're Thai or Asian either. To me someone coming up to me unsolicited is most likely a scam of some sort - like for example this weird middle aged Asian lady on Sathorn Road who asks you where so and so station is, you tell her and then she asks for money? Happened to me once. I pointed to the direction of the station she wanted to go to (Thonglor I think it was) and wondered why the hell she wanted to walk all the way there?! After all, who wants to walk such distances in Bangkok when the skytrain can take you right there? Then after she asked for money I told her (nicely) to buzz off. I said sorry and stormed off. After all, if I wasn't there at that time, she wouldn't have had the opportunity to try this on me and the fact I even stopped for her wasted a good 30 seconds I can't get back. Since I don't know her I am also not interested in knowing her and good thing I didn't wait around any longer because as I turned my head back I could see her trying the same crap on other passersby.

Anyway turning to your examples - what's so distressing about not knowing which skytrain station to take? If someone genuinely needs help knowing where to go, THEY will come up and ask someone such as you, not the other way round. Unless someone has all the time in the world, or is more likely a scammer, that approach is just not used, not even back in the good old USA. Someone might want to ask you for directions though, but in Thailand however you will find that few Thais would ask a foreigner how to get somewhere because 1) they assume the foreigner can't speak Thai and/or they don't speak any English/Chinese/Japanese etc. or 2) they assume the foreigner doesn't know the way anyway, being a foreigner how could they right? or 3) they assume they won't be able to understand the answer if they did ask the foreigner for directions. A foreigner asking another foreigner for directions might be inclined to do so, but some will only ask Thais because they assume the foreigner doesn't know the way and they can't distinguish between an expat and a tourist either. So overall that reduces the chance that you as a foreigner will be asked for directions, especially by Thais.

You tingtongtourist acknowledging every person who talks to you or makes an attempt to get friendly with everyone just makes you stand out as a naive tourist meaning you are probably a big target for scammers. Not sure where you're from, but in Thailand people don't act this way and they can spot naive tourists a mile away. Sorry but you're not in Kansas anymore. Having said that if you are in genuine trouble like dropped down on the ground due to a heart attack or an accident, surely there will be locals who will come to your aid. But in general I wouldn't want to be complacent and live by the motto that "surely the locals will help me if I'm in trouble". Although many locals will help, many others won't, especially if they see a random accident scene, which they don't want to be accused of causing and thus they don't get involved. Generally speaking in Thailand you're on your own. You have to do everything to stay out of trouble and when you do get into trouble, you can't necessarily expect others to help you though as I said at some stage usually you will receive help of some sort if you are in genuine trouble. But in any case I would somehow act in such a way as to make it clear that you need help, not just wait for it to arrive. In case of a genuine emergency usually that's no big deal because you'll probably be in some sort of mess which looks out of the ordinary, prompting people's reaction.

[steven100]

why don't you mention the good times you've had .....

every country has it's scumbags ........... even china

[Jungle Jim]

Agree naive tourists can be spotted a mile away. having said that many foreigners visiting and living here are rude jerks. I avoid foreigners because most tend to be TROUBLE. i prefer to hang with the Thais any day.

You have to be on your guard, especially in the more tourist orientated locations.

These scams are tried on everybody, it doesn't matter where you come from. Learn to spot them and be suspicious of everyone - just tell them 'no' and move on until you find someone honest.

One rule I live by - whenever I'm somewhere I don't know people is that nobody should ever approach you - if they do treat them with caution, they will be strangers and what business do strangers have approaching you unless they want something ?

If you're approached by a stranger they are generally not going to do you any help. They're going to be trying to scam you, rob you or worse.

What a sad opinion you have of all peoples.

what if someone is confuse/lost/distress about something and someone come to offer help?

I have the situation many times when thais step in to help with either translation with others or lost and they never wanted anything from me or to scam.
i guess someone like you would tell them to P.O?

But correct if wrong, your the one who always jump in to crucify others when they ask why expat wont talk or ackhnowlege other farang when in thaland?

Maybe one day you will be in serious need of help and at the mercy of everyone you say are no good.
i would like to be there and watch them stare right through you and ignore and walk on by,which is obviously what you would do

Sorry but he's right - these days you have to be on your guard all the time and I'm afraid that in Thailand, a country where the average joe (or Somchai rather) does not talk to strangers unless he/she has a very good reason to, you can assume that a random person coming up to you is up to no good too - especially in tourist areas but not only. I personally live by the same motto - if you're only coming up to me because you spotted me as a foreigner please go buzz off. I don't go up to random Thais back home and talk to them or try to scam them just because they're Thai or Asian either. To me someone coming up to me unsolicited is most likely a scam of some sort - like for example this weird middle aged Asian lady on Sathorn Road who asks you where so and so station is, you tell her and then she asks for money? Happened to me once. I pointed to the direction of the station she wanted to go to (Thonglor I think it was) and wondered why the hell she wanted to walk all the way there?! After all, who wants to walk such distances in Bangkok when the skytrain can take you right there? Then after she asked for money I told her (nicely) to buzz off. I said sorry and stormed off. After all, if I wasn't there at that time, she wouldn't have had the opportunity to try this on me and the fact I even stopped for her wasted a good 30 seconds I can't get back. Since I don't know her I am also not interested in knowing her and good thing I didn't wait around any longer because as I turned my head back I could see her trying the same crap on other passersby.

Anyway turning to your examples - what's so distressing about not knowing which skytrain station to take? If someone genuinely needs help knowing where to go, THEY will come up and ask someone such as you, not the other way round. Unless someone has all the time in the world, or is more likely a scammer, that approach is just not used, not even back in the good old USA. Someone might want to ask you for directions though, but in Thailand however you will find that few Thais would ask a foreigner how to get somewhere because 1) they assume the foreigner can't speak Thai and/or they don't speak any English/Chinese/Japanese etc. or 2) they assume the foreigner doesn't know the way anyway, being a foreigner how could they right? or 3) they assume they won't be able to understand the answer if they did ask the foreigner for directions. A foreigner asking another foreigner for directions might be inclined to do so, but some will only ask Thais because they assume the foreigner doesn't know the way and they can't distinguish between an expat and a tourist either. So overall that reduces the chance that you as a foreigner will be asked for directions, especially by Thais.

You tingtongtourist acknowledging every person who talks to you or makes an attempt to get friendly with everyone just makes you stand out as a naive tourist meaning you are probably a big target for scammers. Not sure where you're from, but in Thailand people don't act this way and they can spot naive tourists a mile away. Sorry but you're not in Kansas anymore. Having said that if you are in genuine trouble like dropped down on the ground due to a heart attack or an accident, surely there will be locals who will come to your aid. But in general I wouldn't want to be complacent and live by the motto that "surely the locals will help me if I'm in trouble". Although many locals will help, many others won't, especially if they see a random accident scene, which they don't want to be accused of causing and thus they don't get involved. Generally speaking in Thailand you're on your own. You have to do everything to stay out of trouble and when you do get into trouble, you can't necessarily expect others to help you though as I said at some stage usually you will receive help of some sort if you are in genuine trouble. But in any case I would somehow act in such a way as to make it clear that you need help, not just wait for it to arrive. In case of a genuine emergency usually that's no big deal because you'll probably be in some sort of mess which looks out of the ordinary, prompting people's reaction.

[Jungle Jim]

Thailand seems to have more scumbags (foreigners) than anywhere. the Thais are easy to handle JUST SAY NO!

why don't you mention the good times you've had .....

every country has it's scumbags ........... even china

[tingtongtourist]

You have to be on your guard, especially in the more tourist orientated locations.

These scams are tried on everybody, it doesn't matter where you come from. Learn to spot them and be suspicious of everyone - just tell them 'no' and move on until you find someone honest.

One rule I live by - whenever I'm somewhere I don't know people is that nobody should ever approach you - if they do treat them with caution, they will be strangers and what business do strangers have approaching you unless they want something ?

If you're approached by a stranger they are generally not going to do you any help. They're going to be trying to scam you, rob you or worse.

What a sad opinion you have of all peoples.

what if someone is confuse/lost/distress about something and someone come to offer help?

I have the situation many times when thais step in to help with either translation with others or lost and they never wanted anything from me or to scam.

i guess someone like you would tell them to P.O?

But correct if wrong, your the one who always jump in to crucify others when they ask why expat wont talk or ackhnowlege other farang when in thaland?

Maybe one day you will be in serious need of help and at the mercy of everyone you say are no good.

i would like to be there and watch them stare right through you and ignore and walk on by,which is obviously what you would do

Sorry but he's right - these days you have to be on your guard all the time and I'm afraid that in Thailand, a country where the average joe (or Somchai rather) does not talk to strangers unless he/she has a very good reason to, you can assume that a random person coming up to you is up to no good too - especially in tourist areas but not only. I personally live by the same motto - if you're only coming up to me because you spotted me as a foreigner please go buzz off. I don't go up to random Thais back home and talk to them or try to scam them just because they're Thai or Asian either. To me someone coming up to me unsolicited is most likely a scam of some sort - like for example this weird middle aged Asian lady on Sathorn Road who asks you where so and so station is, you tell her and then she asks for money? Happened to me once. I pointed to the direction of the station she wanted to go to (Thonglor I think it was) and wondered why the hell she wanted to walk all the way there?! After all, who wants to walk such distances in Bangkok when the skytrain can take you right there? Then after she asked for money I told her (nicely) to buzz off. I said sorry and stormed off. After all, if I wasn't there at that time, she wouldn't have had the opportunity to try this on me and the fact I even stopped for her wasted a good 30 seconds I can't get back. Since I don't know her I am also not interested in knowing her and good thing I didn't wait around any longer because as I turned my head back I could see her trying the same crap on other passersby.

Anyway turning to your examples - what's so distressing about not knowing which skytrain station to take? If someone genuinely needs help knowing where to go, THEY will come up and ask someone such as you, not the other way round. Unless someone has all the time in the world, or is more likely a scammer, that approach is just not used, not even back in the good old USA. Someone might want to ask you for directions though, but in Thailand however you will find that few Thais would ask a foreigner how to get somewhere because 1) they assume the foreigner can't speak Thai and/or they don't speak any English/Chinese/Japanese etc. or 2) they assume the foreigner doesn't know the way anyway, being a foreigner how could they right? or 3) they assume they won't be able to understand the answer if they did ask the foreigner for directions. A foreigner asking another foreigner for directions might be inclined to do so, but some will only ask Thais because they assume the foreigner doesn't know the way and they can't distinguish between an expat and a tourist either. So overall that reduces the chance that you as a foreigner will be asked for directions, especially by Thais.

You tingtongtourist acknowledging every person who talks to you or makes an attempt to get friendly with everyone just makes you stand out as a naive tourist meaning you are probably a big target for scammers. Not sure where you're from, but in Thailand people don't act this way and they can spot naive tourists a mile away. Sorry but you're not in Kansas anymore. Having said that if you are in genuine trouble like dropped down on the ground due to a heart attack or an accident, surely there will be locals who will come to your aid. But in general I wouldn't want to be complacent and live by the motto that "surely the locals will help me if I'm in trouble". Although many locals will help, many others won't, especially if they see a random accident scene, which they don't want to be accused of causing and thus they don't get involved. Generally speaking in Thailand you're on your own. You have to do everything to stay out of trouble and when you do get into trouble, you can't necessarily expect others to help you though as I said at some stage usually you will receive help of some sort if you are in genuine trouble. But in any case I would somehow act in such a way as to make it clear that you need help, not just wait for it to arrive. In case of a genuine emergency usually that's no big deal because you'll probably be in some sort of mess which looks out of the ordinary, prompting people's reaction.

I get your point. I think my observations would differ from yours as when im in Bangkok i live way out in suburbs near bangkapi.

Yes you do have to have your wits about you everywhere but i dont walk down the street with my gaurd up. Of course when go around sukhumvhit you have to be a completely different mindset.

Id never live near tourist places for the very reason you mention though.

me and gf talk to many locals and business people around that area and never got scammed , actually often get our regulaf lady in markets give me stuff for free and refuse to take money because she think is not good enough to sell.

Anyway i like to think i can spot a naughty Thai whos up to no good from a mile away. The worst are no doubt in the inner city trying to make money of rich Thais and foreigners. No use them hanging out in suburbs. Even the average taxi driver out in suburb ive never even had to ask to put meter on and they offer to give the change even if only 20 baht.does help to speak Thai though i think

[NCC1701A]

This is going to be one of those 'To Each his or her Own' Threads. Some people in a foreign country feel quite okay about talking with strangers - even seeking to find someone who speaks their language... Then obviously there are some who think and act oppositely ...

I see it as a waste of time to argue the point - no one is going to change their mind on this issue... and discussing it - is not helpful to the OP... it is just personal opinion... personal likes and dislikes - there is no universal truth about it either way.

I am very comfortable talking to strangers whether I initiate it or they do ... I have found it to be very useful even satisfying to help people here in the Tourist town of Ao Nang... helped some Brit guys find the best place to buy beer last evening...

Never the less ... this is OP's thread and let him decide which route to take -- or neither one..

But please don't waste Solitary Man's time haggling about it... I think OP came here to find some answers - get some advice or just rant a little to expel some frustration... But I really don't think he came here to witness another "I know better than you do" and if you can see that I am right and you are wrong .... blah blah blah.... typical TVF derailed thread... Please don't derail the guy's thread.

I was walking on the street in chiang mai, some girls who didnt wear much clothes just came to me,and their hands just got handsy,touching me, that was disgusting, i just walked away immediatly. there were girls who didnt wear much clothes everywhere on the street, i was so scared,just didnt know how to get out of there,then some of them came to again,i had to run,got no choice. i was afried that if they touch me,then they wont let me go,ask for money that kind of things

yo dude bro, it must have been terible for you, you very afried. where exactly where the handsy,touching me girls again?

[dean008]

an obvious wind up and should have been deleted a long time ago. Is thai visa that desperate. seemingly yes