angiud

I'll be totally candid with you.  As a professional photographer working in Thailand for 10+ years I advise.. no I plead and beg.. my models to stay away from amatuer photographers.  If you somehow think you can pay a Thai girl of model quality baht 1000 to pose nude for an amatuer and to sign over their rights.. you're so far off base it's incredible and you really have no idea of the culture and how Thai's look at nude photography (specifically the model) or the stigma attached to farang photographers in general.   It takes years and years of a solid reputation before any model of merit will pose nude for you, or as much experience where you can convey to the woman in a short time the confidence to do so.

Do you know that once a model is known to have posed nude she will no longer be able to model for other jobs such as car shows, catalogs, malls, etc?  No reputable agency will knowingly touch her.   Thailand isn't the west, and even in the west once a model crosses that threshold it most often really affects their career.

The other poster was spot on with his question, "why not professional models?"  My guess is because professional models are expensive and their agencies are very strict with releases and what they allow you to do with the images.  You somehow think you can come here and pay a few santags to a local girl so you can sell them to a website or whatever your plans may be.  I do modeling workshops often, but they're strictly controlled and I refuse more clients than I accept.

Please look elsewhere.  Thailand doesn't need more "amatuer photographers" running around with their first entry level DSLR trying to pay a few baht to capture the local women nude like a monkey in the zoo..  If you want to build credibility as a glamour photographer that's something else altogether.. but that's not what you're asking.  And please don't get me wrong, I support amatuer photographers 100%, probably more than any other pro I know in Thailand.  I make things possible for them and show them things that only years of experience will allow.  But before I help them venture into an area that will possibly ruin a local girls life, or endanger their own, I make sure they understand the culture and have the right ethics so these things don't happen.  Two days in Thailand and every question you asked would have been more than apparent.

I left Thaivisa open when I was in my office today and one of my colleagues sat down and started navigating the site. I don't know about you but I'm a little bit guilty of taking Thaivisa for granted.

Anyway, I couldn't get him off the laptop!! He went surfing through all of the forums and he couldn't believe the range and amount of forums and sub forums on here.

So it got me thinking, we have 50 odd sub-forums, covering an incredibly diverse range of topics. The amount of information on this site is quite astounding, and on top of that it's free!! Some of the contributors, especially in the sub-forums, are incredible in ther depth of knowledge and their willingness to answer queries, and they do it voluntarily.

So I know I'm going to get slaughtered for this however!!! I think we should all praise the TV team for bringing us this outstanding website every day, and take our chance to answer the question.......How did Thaivisa help you? or if you would like, praise the contributor that helped solve your problem or query.


ps   Trolls, form a queue to the left, cynics, wait your turn behind them, malcontents, your on the subs bench.

pps I know I'm going to get pelters for this topic, but I don't care.   It's nice to take the time to show some appreciation now and again.

Two thousand baht will buy an HD Dash Cam with a 4gb memory card from Tukom 2min. 5 min or 10 min recording options. Never leave home without one!!

Beetlejuice, on 2012-05-23 19:38:44, said:

"Firstly forget about forming relationships with other farang expats" "In the past i have had the unfortunate experience of meeting 'people like them'! Has it ever crossed your mind that you could be the snob here?

ydraw, on 2012-05-23 16:02:46, said:

not since 2003

TyWellspeak, on 2012-05-23 10:10:57, said:

Well, as it seems most reports are coming in from Chaweng and Bangrak. So it is pretty obvious that a fast aircraft flew over the general airport area. Most likely just a subtle warning against Bangkok Airways / Samui Airport. (The next one will be carrying....)

Hidden message in there; 'Either we see prices starting to drop, or something else will drop'

I did try replying to your post yesterday, but it shoot away into cyberspace .... will try again!

I am on KP at least once a month, just for a day, and l always rent my bike at Kate, which is just up from the pier and past 7-11 (go straight) cross the road with the boulevard and it's the second shop up about 50 meters on right side. The first shop is more bigger noisy bikes!  Her price, is 150 baht  for Clicks and another smaller Honda (cannot think of the name.... all fairly new automatic bikes) ..... and 250 baht for Honda PCX... now she may give me a discount because she knows me, not certain about that. Also may rise during FMP.

You were probably last at Island View during their renovations, they might be worth a second look, their lower priced bungalows are still 400 baht. I think one of the nicest beaches on either KP or Samui ... Mostly same staff that has been their for years... I always found them great and stop there for lunch each visit, as do hundreds of other people each day... it has to be the busiest lunch time places on KP.... never seems to make a difference to time of year. Their "western food"  has also improved.

Snorkeling still fairly good, but harder to find live coral now... but still some there as are the fish.  

If you stay in Mae Haad,  consider renting a bike from Narwin Store on main street (big changes their) .... he does not rip people off in the event of an accident, I'm not sure of his current rental price.

As for staying in Tongsala, well better places and beaches around, I certainly agree Chaloklum is worth a look too. (away from the fish dock! )

hanstheastrologer, on 2012-05-18 20:43:21, said:

That is the funniest thing I've heard for a long time. Yes she is a local, are you?

You could get that 'Spray foam' stuff (750b/m2) which would stop leaks and keep the house cooler but I know some people advise against it.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DO NOT GET SPRAY FOAM !!
Do not expect spray foam to stop leaks in the roof! If the roof leaks, get it fixed from the outside because rain water will always find a way through spray foam and then you will not be able to find the spot where the rain is entering the roof. This is from experience.

chonabot, on 2012-04-27 12:43:53, said:

I was employed by a PR company based in Spain for over 35 years, most of my assignments where within South East Asia. I was on legal contracts to work in South East Asia and in Thailand.

Have now fully retired on a generous pension and a healthy bank account, can live with peace of mind in Thailand 100% legal with no concerns or the need to look over my shoulder to see who is watching me. I can walk into Immigration once a year for my visa extension and all done within 20 minutes. I am by no means rich, but do believe I did everything the right way and for this reason I feel quite proud of myself, so I’m blowing my own trumpet here.

If on my travels and I happen to meet other ex-pats that have the need to run over the borders every 5 minutes, work in bars paying the police beer money so as to convince them they’re not really there, struggling to keep they’re Thai girl friends from the underclass’s of Thai society content and happy, hoping to find any job, doing anything to support themselves here, than I have to ask myself, do I truly want to become involved and socialise with them? And the answer is no. Why? Because I don`t need to.

Call it elitism, snobbery or what you like, but the worst that can happen is that those sorts wont like me. So what, I certainly would not lose any sleep over that, plus I know there are plenty more living in similar situations as myself in Thailand and will think the same way. So I am being straight and up front with you regarding how it really is. Some may respect that and some may not, either way it makes no difference to me.

Never had any problems with Airasia, I love them, cheap, new airplanes, and since most of their flights are short I don't need any service on board.
Delays and cancelations are normal, I can't think of any airline that never has a delay.

What do you want to own a gun for?!

Don't you think life would be easier if you had no gun, therefore no Thai laws to offend, no special case scenarios and no drama?

If you're planning on using the gun to protect your property from a break in, do you have no conscience that you could shoot someone just because of them trying to steal your material possessions?

petercool, on 2012-05-07 18:26:56, said:

petercool, on 2012-05-08 00:12:19, said:

For some reason, I don't believe you.

Methinks the middle class in Thailand suffer from the same problem that every middle class in the world suffers from.

They are drowning in debt, striving to achieve but constantly worrying from one month to the next. Too much disposable income going on consumerism and not enough to foundation saving.  I have seen extraordinary vehicle loan agreements in Thailand, people putting themselves under ridiculous pressure. I think a lot of people are getting in too deep, way too deep.

With the way debtor law is in Thailand I fear for the middle class if a downturn hits, which it inevitably will.

I have dealt with a similar situation. However it may not apply to your besotted friend. Although the advice in my previous post still applies - despite my resolution to not waste my time giving advice to most who don't listen - in your case. Be patient and listen to this brief story ....

I ran short courses in the 90's throughout SEAsia and played the field. Posted to Bangkok many eons ago and continued to do this. After some time I evolved a 'harem' of about 4 -6 wonderful girls who took their turns on different nights of the week - everybody was healthy, nobody stole, we could communicate and it was perfect. However, over about 2-3 years these girls, varying from middle class women to bar girls, began to marry foreign ATMs and moved off. I still see some who have returned or are back in town. ONe is 30 kilos heavier and dancing in Cowboy!!! Tragic - beautiful face and blimp body!

However, 1 woman was smarter than the rest, speks very good English and became my main squeeze - but I only want to see her on weekends which caused major suspicions and probs for her. After one year's training - 'where are you? what are you doing?', she eventually settled so successfully into this arrangement that I cannot get her during the week.

This is because she now has  a tomboy. Luckily, it does not bother me because she is completely reliable in regard to me and I have tested her through illness. The tom does not bother me although I understand that the tom is worried about me. I was blind for 3 months, liquid draining from my eyes, the whole disaster and visually impaired for two years. She was there - every time (we abandoned the weekend schedule during that time). Still have significant eye problems. Anyway, it is a great arragement. If she does not turn up, I cut her money (which is not much)and not a squeak from her. Everybody is happy and I screw around during the week.

However, I realise that I am lucky and that not everybody is able to be as detached as this.  Some remained sold on marriage, etc. In that case .. cut, cut cut. It is going to be very low quality and angst for you. But, as when I said to the guy about never giving his bird his pin no., they don't listen.