Find content
Not Telling
Vimeo link
Haven't researched background enough, looks like the auteur is US-based film student but actually ethnic Vietnamese??
Replaced the link with an article to some more detail, but leaving the above Q to stimulate others to find out more, as I'm "lazy".
#5313098 Beautiful Video (Thai W Eng Subs)
Posted
on 2012-05-19 10:52:23
#5318588 Remember To Take Care Of Those Who Take Care Of You
Posted
on 2012-05-21 10:37:58
Video link
Emotional Thai life insurance commercial, with English subtitles
Maudlin perhaps but a great message worthy of reminder.
Emotional Thai life insurance commercial, with English subtitles
Maudlin perhaps but a great message worthy of reminder.
#5277446 Mothers Day, Australia - This Sunday
Posted
on 2012-05-06 12:14:51
Just a gentle nudge that this Sunday (coming) 13th May is Mothers Day in Australia.
For those lucky enough to have Mum around, maybe a nice time to share a thought with her.
#5285174 Aussie Dsp
Posted
on 2012-05-09 10:52:10
I am on the DSP , was doing some part time work but that has since stopped. For years a family member retired in Thailand has been urging me to come over and see if i'd like it, considering how many times i had complained about the cost of living in Australia. With the cheap fares offered for advance bookings by budget airlines, i was able to travel there return for less than a return domestic flight. When i got there i found a much cheaper and convenient lifestyle. One that suited my medical problems to a tee.
On those days when it was difficult to move, i could have someone come to my room and massage me until i was mobile for a fraction of what it cost at home. ( i had 6 weeks of physio at home that did nothing ) I could have food delivered to my door also at a fraction of the cost,.....same with my laundry and many other duties i have to do myself at home and sometimes find difficult. The level of care here was much much cheaper than home.
At home i stay inside a lot, i dont eat out, and i very rarely go out . Here i see all kinds of disabled people getting around with the help of locals who i see on the backs of wheelchairs or helping disabled people get around. Last year i was in Thailand and had a very severe bout of back pain,....i literally could not walk. But with a phonecall my brother came to help and i employed a women at almost no cost to come and stay with me and help me to the bathroom, to eat, and to help me walk when i was able. She got medicines and did everything i could not.
It will be a shame to lose the time i can spend here, cause it makes my life a lot easier. But as i have a woman that cares for me full time when im here now, and would like to marry i will have to look at engaging in the expensive and difficult process of bringing here to Australia to live in a country i can barely afford to live in let alone pay for two of us.
And no one on here should have to explain what their disability is to anyone else on this forum.
On those days when it was difficult to move, i could have someone come to my room and massage me until i was mobile for a fraction of what it cost at home. ( i had 6 weeks of physio at home that did nothing ) I could have food delivered to my door also at a fraction of the cost,.....same with my laundry and many other duties i have to do myself at home and sometimes find difficult. The level of care here was much much cheaper than home.
At home i stay inside a lot, i dont eat out, and i very rarely go out . Here i see all kinds of disabled people getting around with the help of locals who i see on the backs of wheelchairs or helping disabled people get around. Last year i was in Thailand and had a very severe bout of back pain,....i literally could not walk. But with a phonecall my brother came to help and i employed a women at almost no cost to come and stay with me and help me to the bathroom, to eat, and to help me walk when i was able. She got medicines and did everything i could not.
It will be a shame to lose the time i can spend here, cause it makes my life a lot easier. But as i have a woman that cares for me full time when im here now, and would like to marry i will have to look at engaging in the expensive and difficult process of bringing here to Australia to live in a country i can barely afford to live in let alone pay for two of us.
And no one on here should have to explain what their disability is to anyone else on this forum.
#5172817 Racism Against Farangs
Posted
on 2012-03-28 22:22:24
OK, you live in the heart of a big city, and like big cities all over the world, they can be lonely, unfriendly and cruel places.
I know Onnut quite well as one my ex wives used to have a hair salon there. It might have changed since last spent time there, but during my days I never ever experienced any racism or rude behaviour, but I admit that I did not take the buses. But I did spend a fair amount of time amongst Thais there, and like everywhere I have been in Thailand I found them, on the whole friendlier and more willing to help than most people from my home country.
But like any big city, most people were more concerned with their own personal affairs than worrying about some farang in their midst.
I now live some 20 kms east of central Pattaya, and even here the difference in the attitude by Thais towards me,as compared to down-town Pattaya, is chalk to cheese.
If you want to know what Thais are really like, the further you get away from big city environments the better, but even here, the Thais are great - most of them are better than the general class of farangs who have recently moved into the area.
They're polite, deferential when the occasion demands it, (i.e when I am a customer), usually very friendly and often offer to help when needed.
I can honestly say that after coming to Thailand since the early 70's and living here all told for almost 20 years, off and on, I have never detected any outright racism towards me and no Thai has ever insulted me or given me a hard time to my face. Neither have I ever been attacked, robbed or in any way been a victim of bad Thai behaviour. And trust me, I have been in some pretty unsavoury places at pretty unsavoury times, in a pretty unsavoury state. In fact, in my worst drinking days, when I have been in a really bad state, it has always been Thais who have come to my rescue and taken care of me.
I was talking about this very subject with a friend the other day, who has lived here even longer than me, and has also had a very similar, good experience of Thais. I think it is all down to how you behave, and how you react with Thais. The obvious behaviour 'pointers' are: never to stare at strangers; if you do make eye contact, always smile, and generally behave in a soft, polite manner, much as you might expect them to behave towards you.
But it is more than this, it is more instinctive, and if, deep down you don't really feel very friendly, the Thais will sense it.
Of course it goes without saying that the more Thai you can speak, the more you will be both respected and accepted. It never fails to astonish me how farangs can live here half their lives yet can barely speak a dozen words in very bad Thai.
If you were in England and a Thai who had lived there for 20 years spoke to you in such bad English that you couldn't understand a word he was saying, how would you feel about him?
Now I'm not suggesting that everyone should run to school and learn Thai in order to make the Thais more friendly, but I am suggesting that anyone who wants to interact in any meaningful level with the average 'Thai in the street' should at least make an effort to speak a bit of basic Thai, and more important than the extent of your vocabulary, is the clarity with which you speak it. The clearer your Thai, the more you will be respected. Go learn from another Thai - not from a school. Immerse yourself in Thai for a few weeks. And never, ever learn Thai from a dictionary with phonetic spelling - it will screw you up forever. Learn by listening.
These days, I speak pretty good Thai, (all learned from 'immersion'), but there was a time when my Thai was minimal. But what I did know, I spoke very clearly, and it never failed to impress any Thai person who I spoke to.
Frankly, as soon as a Thai hears you speak Thai reasonably clearly, their whole attitude changes and they accept you as part of the Thai community. It is almost as though by speaking Thai, you are considered knowledgeable on all aspects of Thai culture and thinking. This isn't necessary the case, but many seem to think it is.
Of course, there are many farangs who have no desire to learn Thai and they also have no desire to interact with Thais at 'street level. I knew a German, a retired banker, who, when I asked , wouldn't it be nice to hold a conversation with the street noodle seller when you buy a bowl of noodles, answered: 'I never have any desire to eat noodles or any other Thai food and I have no desire to communicate with anyone here. I have everything I need in my house and my driver and wife do all the shopping.'
Farangs are guests in an alien country with a culture so far removed from their own. It is screamingly obvious that it is the farang who should be the one who should make the effort to fit in and be accepted, rather than the other way round.
Thais are as good and as bad as any other race of people and the have their likes, dislikes and prejudices, just like the rest of us. I personally happen to believe they are actually better than most races, but that it just my opinion. But if you are having many problems fitting in and think that all Thais are racists, then with respect, I suggest it is you, and not them who is at fault as many other farangs do not experience similar problems.
Maybe you are simply not cut out to live in Thailand and maybe you would be happier somewhere else.
I know Onnut quite well as one my ex wives used to have a hair salon there. It might have changed since last spent time there, but during my days I never ever experienced any racism or rude behaviour, but I admit that I did not take the buses. But I did spend a fair amount of time amongst Thais there, and like everywhere I have been in Thailand I found them, on the whole friendlier and more willing to help than most people from my home country.
But like any big city, most people were more concerned with their own personal affairs than worrying about some farang in their midst.
I now live some 20 kms east of central Pattaya, and even here the difference in the attitude by Thais towards me,as compared to down-town Pattaya, is chalk to cheese.
If you want to know what Thais are really like, the further you get away from big city environments the better, but even here, the Thais are great - most of them are better than the general class of farangs who have recently moved into the area.
They're polite, deferential when the occasion demands it, (i.e when I am a customer), usually very friendly and often offer to help when needed.
I can honestly say that after coming to Thailand since the early 70's and living here all told for almost 20 years, off and on, I have never detected any outright racism towards me and no Thai has ever insulted me or given me a hard time to my face. Neither have I ever been attacked, robbed or in any way been a victim of bad Thai behaviour. And trust me, I have been in some pretty unsavoury places at pretty unsavoury times, in a pretty unsavoury state. In fact, in my worst drinking days, when I have been in a really bad state, it has always been Thais who have come to my rescue and taken care of me.
I was talking about this very subject with a friend the other day, who has lived here even longer than me, and has also had a very similar, good experience of Thais. I think it is all down to how you behave, and how you react with Thais. The obvious behaviour 'pointers' are: never to stare at strangers; if you do make eye contact, always smile, and generally behave in a soft, polite manner, much as you might expect them to behave towards you.
But it is more than this, it is more instinctive, and if, deep down you don't really feel very friendly, the Thais will sense it.
Of course it goes without saying that the more Thai you can speak, the more you will be both respected and accepted. It never fails to astonish me how farangs can live here half their lives yet can barely speak a dozen words in very bad Thai.
If you were in England and a Thai who had lived there for 20 years spoke to you in such bad English that you couldn't understand a word he was saying, how would you feel about him?
Now I'm not suggesting that everyone should run to school and learn Thai in order to make the Thais more friendly, but I am suggesting that anyone who wants to interact in any meaningful level with the average 'Thai in the street' should at least make an effort to speak a bit of basic Thai, and more important than the extent of your vocabulary, is the clarity with which you speak it. The clearer your Thai, the more you will be respected. Go learn from another Thai - not from a school. Immerse yourself in Thai for a few weeks. And never, ever learn Thai from a dictionary with phonetic spelling - it will screw you up forever. Learn by listening.
These days, I speak pretty good Thai, (all learned from 'immersion'), but there was a time when my Thai was minimal. But what I did know, I spoke very clearly, and it never failed to impress any Thai person who I spoke to.
Frankly, as soon as a Thai hears you speak Thai reasonably clearly, their whole attitude changes and they accept you as part of the Thai community. It is almost as though by speaking Thai, you are considered knowledgeable on all aspects of Thai culture and thinking. This isn't necessary the case, but many seem to think it is.
Of course, there are many farangs who have no desire to learn Thai and they also have no desire to interact with Thais at 'street level. I knew a German, a retired banker, who, when I asked , wouldn't it be nice to hold a conversation with the street noodle seller when you buy a bowl of noodles, answered: 'I never have any desire to eat noodles or any other Thai food and I have no desire to communicate with anyone here. I have everything I need in my house and my driver and wife do all the shopping.'
Farangs are guests in an alien country with a culture so far removed from their own. It is screamingly obvious that it is the farang who should be the one who should make the effort to fit in and be accepted, rather than the other way round.
Thais are as good and as bad as any other race of people and the have their likes, dislikes and prejudices, just like the rest of us. I personally happen to believe they are actually better than most races, but that it just my opinion. But if you are having many problems fitting in and think that all Thais are racists, then with respect, I suggest it is you, and not them who is at fault as many other farangs do not experience similar problems.
Maybe you are simply not cut out to live in Thailand and maybe you would be happier somewhere else.
#5155730 Foreigner Assaulted At Bangkok BTS Station By Security Guard - Police Launch...
Posted
on 2012-03-22 15:55:03
I haven't seen so many singled sided self-opinionated posts ever at TV, before this thread.
Nobody here knows what happened before the attached phone-vid started, so how on earth can this fellow be accused of being drunk, after he's obviously been hit on the head. If he is a well respected teacher, as claimed, I'm sure he wouldn't be drinking around his daughter in the day, as teachers just don't. (Good teachers, that is)
To say he's a thug, after he's been hit and is very angry is ridiculous. Nobody knows any details. For all and sundry, with the balloons it may well have been his daughter's birthday, and who wouldn't want to keep her balloons. Heresay, of course, just like the rest of the trash that has been posted here. As for being with a little girl, and the balloons it's ludicrous not to permit him on the train with them. Safety issue my arse!
As nobody knows for sure, until the CCTV evidence is released, if ever, then there is no point at all in making self-indulgent, some racist, some down-right petty, and most based upon uninformed info; posts.
Time to move on, for me anyway.
-mel
Nobody here knows what happened before the attached phone-vid started, so how on earth can this fellow be accused of being drunk, after he's obviously been hit on the head. If he is a well respected teacher, as claimed, I'm sure he wouldn't be drinking around his daughter in the day, as teachers just don't. (Good teachers, that is)
To say he's a thug, after he's been hit and is very angry is ridiculous. Nobody knows any details. For all and sundry, with the balloons it may well have been his daughter's birthday, and who wouldn't want to keep her balloons. Heresay, of course, just like the rest of the trash that has been posted here. As for being with a little girl, and the balloons it's ludicrous not to permit him on the train with them. Safety issue my arse!
As nobody knows for sure, until the CCTV evidence is released, if ever, then there is no point at all in making self-indulgent, some racist, some down-right petty, and most based upon uninformed info; posts.
Time to move on, for me anyway.
-mel
#5155857 Foreigner Assaulted At Bangkok BTS Station By Security Guard - Police Launch...
Posted
on 2012-03-22 16:39:37
whybother, on 2012-03-22 14:17:20, said:
DP25, on 2012-03-22 14:10:57, said:
londonthai, on 2012-03-22 14:01:55, said:
from the uncoordinated movements of the "victim" looks, like he was drunk. As to "miscommunication" there seems to be thai lady (possibly wife), who was trying to mediate.
The clip might be staged, at the end the "cameraman" is signalled tumbs up by the foreigner on the escalator
The clip might be staged, at the end the "cameraman" is signalled tumbs up by the foreigner on the escalator
He's uncoordinated...because he just got BASHED IN THE HEAD with a metal detector by the Thai security guard and there is blood streaming out of his head near his left eye.
Unbelievable some people are defending this, out of a misplaced need to defend Thailand from being bashed. This isn't about bashing on Thais, this about a violent individual who assaulted someone for carrying too many balloons in the BTS ticket area.
This about a violent individual (ie the farang) who doesn't want to follow the rules, and about a guard who is trying to do his job.
Has anyone seen any video about how the farang got the blow to the head? Given the aggressive way the farang was acting, and the way he was trying to push through the guards when they were just trying to tell him he wasn't allowed on with the balloons, I wouldn't be surprised if it was his fault that he got the blow to the head.
The video starts with him having already been assaulted and severely bleeding and from that point he is just trying to get through the BTS, away from the guard and onto the platform. He only pushes back when he is cornered by several guards.
The fact is, him and his large friend could've torn that short guard to pieces between them, and given that the guy had already been dealt a potentially lethal blow to the head I think the two farangs show great restraint from what the video shows. If his only crime is trying to carry some balloons onto the skytrain, given the level and range and crimes that are constantly in your face in this city, is it any surprise he thought it wouldnt be a problem?
Disrespectful farang or undermined jobsworth guard? Its just speculation at this point. Chances are we will never know the truth. If the farang comes out with his side of the story I would be more inclined to believe it though.
Anybody who lives here knowing the tolerance for very serious crimes everywhere you look and still thinks that this guy deserves a beating in front of his family for trying to carry some balloons onto the BTS seriously needs to re-check their moral compass.
#3898584 Experience At Royal Thai Embassy - London
Posted
on 2010-09-22 06:45:02
Hi all,
Just thought I would share our experience today at Thai Embassy as it may be of some interest to someone in a similar position.
Our daughter is 9-years old, born in the UK, has British passport.. Wife of 15-years is Thai. We currently have our house on the market and as soon as sold will be moving to Thailand. In the meantime I wanted to get our daughters Thai Passport so it's one less thing to worry about when relocating. In order to get the Passport we needed to get her a Thai Birth Certificate. Both could be applied for at the same time.
We booked the appointment at the Embassy over 3-months ago. 11:00am today was the soonest we could get in. Downloaded all the relevant forms from the Embassy website for Birth registration and E-passport and filled in prior to the appointment.. All three of us had to be there.
Documents required for Birth Registration;
Duly completed application form. Copy of daughters British Passport accompanied by original.
Copy of daughters Birth Certificate accompanied by original. Copy of UK marriage Certificate accompanied by original.
Copy of Wife's Thai ID card accompanied by original. Although not requested I provided a copy & original of my UK Photo Driving Licence.
Copies and original of parents Passports. Only copied ID page with page copy of last entry to Thailand for mine and page copy of Wife's Leave to Remain Indefinitely Stamp (only 2-pages of each, not the full passport.
One Passport Photo of daughter.
Documents required for E-passport Application;
Duly completed application form.
Copy of Thai Birth Certificate (in our case this was being applied for at the same time).
Copy of Wife's Thai ID card accompanied by original. Although not requested I provided a copy & original of my UK Photo Driving Licence.
Copy of UK marriage Certificate accompanied by original.
Copies and original of parents Passports. (same pages as with Birth Reg Application).
Daughter had to sign the application
One Passport Photo of daughter. I don't think this was actually needed as they take a picture there but supplied it anyway.
Turned up at our 11:00am appointment 45-minutes early. Still had to take a ticket for the queue. All passport applications/renewals & Birth Registration etc. are by appointment only so I guess the room full of people there already had appointments. They had 3-service windows open. 1 and 2 for Passport Birth Reg applications etc. and 3 for Visa stuff.
1 and 2 were a green ticket and 3 was a blue one so bear this in mind if you find the need to visit. Our ticket was No. 65 and at that time No. 50 was being seen to.
Each person was taking on average 10-15 minutes, however, window one had a Thai girl there who was taking forever. She hadn't filled any forms, didn't understand any of the questions on the application form and had to be walked through the whole process. The problem was that when it was 12:30pm the placed closed. If you hadn't been seen by then, tough, come back tomorrow. We had travelled 4 hours to get to London and stayed over in a Hotel the night before, so having to come back the next day would have been a real bummer. Luckily, we got the applications checked by 11:30am.
Although we had 15 numbers in front of us some didn't come forward. I presume these were from were people picked the wrong coloured ticked and threw it away when they realised.
The girl who dealt with us was very polite and efficient. She checked over both applications, stapled the photos to the forms. The girl gave us a Royal mail Special Delivery envelope for forwarding the Birth Certificate and Passport to us when it was ready. I filled our home address and handed it back. All paperwork was put into a plastic sleeve and handed back to us. Original docs were returned.
Payment then had to be made in cash. Total cost was £31.00. It was £25.00 for the passport and £6 for the Special Delivery. There was no charge for the Birth Registration.
We then had to hand the folder over to another person sat at the desk near the entrance who was equipped with a PC, a Scanner, a fingerprint scanner and a Photo taking set-up.
After waiting in turn once again, the two applications were checked over a second time. I think the documents in the folder may have been scanned to the PC but I couldn't swear to it as I popped out for a quick smoke. Our daughters right and left forefinger fingerprints scanned and a photo taken. These were all filed electronically and the applications retained.
That was it. We were out by 12:15pm which was a relief. The Birth Certificate and Passport should be with us in 4-6 weeks.
As an aside, you can park pretty much outside the Embassy or at least just along the road a bit. Parking is in marked bays. Parking is £3.00 per hour, into the pay and display machine. Don't forget to put your ticket on your dashboard, drivers side and clearly visible. The area is alive with wardens.
Also, the Embassy is located well inside the Congestion Charge area. You can pre-pay this on-line. On the website HERE just enter your car Reg Number, the post code of were you are going and will tell you the charge. You can pay by card. We have a SUV and the was £8.00.
Royal Thai Embassy London 29 - 30 Queen's Gate London SW7 5JB
Service Hours : Monday - Friday 9.30 AM - 12.30 PM
Tel : 020-7589-2944 Ext. 55
Website
Hope someone finds this is ofsome interest.
Just thought I would share our experience today at Thai Embassy as it may be of some interest to someone in a similar position.
Our daughter is 9-years old, born in the UK, has British passport.. Wife of 15-years is Thai. We currently have our house on the market and as soon as sold will be moving to Thailand. In the meantime I wanted to get our daughters Thai Passport so it's one less thing to worry about when relocating. In order to get the Passport we needed to get her a Thai Birth Certificate. Both could be applied for at the same time.
We booked the appointment at the Embassy over 3-months ago. 11:00am today was the soonest we could get in. Downloaded all the relevant forms from the Embassy website for Birth registration and E-passport and filled in prior to the appointment.. All three of us had to be there.
Documents required for Birth Registration;
Duly completed application form. Copy of daughters British Passport accompanied by original.
Copy of daughters Birth Certificate accompanied by original. Copy of UK marriage Certificate accompanied by original.
Copy of Wife's Thai ID card accompanied by original. Although not requested I provided a copy & original of my UK Photo Driving Licence.
Copies and original of parents Passports. Only copied ID page with page copy of last entry to Thailand for mine and page copy of Wife's Leave to Remain Indefinitely Stamp (only 2-pages of each, not the full passport.
One Passport Photo of daughter.
Documents required for E-passport Application;
Duly completed application form.
Copy of Thai Birth Certificate (in our case this was being applied for at the same time).
Copy of Wife's Thai ID card accompanied by original. Although not requested I provided a copy & original of my UK Photo Driving Licence.
Copy of UK marriage Certificate accompanied by original.
Copies and original of parents Passports. (same pages as with Birth Reg Application).
Daughter had to sign the application
One Passport Photo of daughter. I don't think this was actually needed as they take a picture there but supplied it anyway.
Turned up at our 11:00am appointment 45-minutes early. Still had to take a ticket for the queue. All passport applications/renewals & Birth Registration etc. are by appointment only so I guess the room full of people there already had appointments. They had 3-service windows open. 1 and 2 for Passport Birth Reg applications etc. and 3 for Visa stuff.
1 and 2 were a green ticket and 3 was a blue one so bear this in mind if you find the need to visit. Our ticket was No. 65 and at that time No. 50 was being seen to.
Each person was taking on average 10-15 minutes, however, window one had a Thai girl there who was taking forever. She hadn't filled any forms, didn't understand any of the questions on the application form and had to be walked through the whole process. The problem was that when it was 12:30pm the placed closed. If you hadn't been seen by then, tough, come back tomorrow. We had travelled 4 hours to get to London and stayed over in a Hotel the night before, so having to come back the next day would have been a real bummer. Luckily, we got the applications checked by 11:30am.
Although we had 15 numbers in front of us some didn't come forward. I presume these were from were people picked the wrong coloured ticked and threw it away when they realised.
The girl who dealt with us was very polite and efficient. She checked over both applications, stapled the photos to the forms. The girl gave us a Royal mail Special Delivery envelope for forwarding the Birth Certificate and Passport to us when it was ready. I filled our home address and handed it back. All paperwork was put into a plastic sleeve and handed back to us. Original docs were returned.
Payment then had to be made in cash. Total cost was £31.00. It was £25.00 for the passport and £6 for the Special Delivery. There was no charge for the Birth Registration.
We then had to hand the folder over to another person sat at the desk near the entrance who was equipped with a PC, a Scanner, a fingerprint scanner and a Photo taking set-up.
After waiting in turn once again, the two applications were checked over a second time. I think the documents in the folder may have been scanned to the PC but I couldn't swear to it as I popped out for a quick smoke. Our daughters right and left forefinger fingerprints scanned and a photo taken. These were all filed electronically and the applications retained.
That was it. We were out by 12:15pm which was a relief. The Birth Certificate and Passport should be with us in 4-6 weeks.
As an aside, you can park pretty much outside the Embassy or at least just along the road a bit. Parking is in marked bays. Parking is £3.00 per hour, into the pay and display machine. Don't forget to put your ticket on your dashboard, drivers side and clearly visible. The area is alive with wardens.
Also, the Embassy is located well inside the Congestion Charge area. You can pre-pay this on-line. On the website HERE just enter your car Reg Number, the post code of were you are going and will tell you the charge. You can pay by card. We have a SUV and the was £8.00.
Royal Thai Embassy London 29 - 30 Queen's Gate London SW7 5JB
Service Hours : Monday - Friday 9.30 AM - 12.30 PM
Tel : 020-7589-2944 Ext. 55
Website
Hope someone finds this is ofsome interest.
