Bob

A rather insightful (and, perhaps, brave) article about the current poltical happenings as written by Thomas Fuller, the NY Times correspondent based in Bangkok. I'm a bit surprised he hasn't received a bit of heat over some of his comments: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/17/world/asia/in-thailand-rallying-cry-is-against-too-much-democracy.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&ref=thomasfuller

By the way, because of this thread and the problems I've been having with IE, I googled the issue and the most common advice seemed to be to switch back to IE 9 and not to use IE 11 until they fix the compatibility problems. Since I don't want to bother with that, I'll just use Chrome if/when I want to use the quote function.

I initially had some of the same thoughts, Firecat, but honestly don't know one way or the other; regardless, presuming that the OP's partial description is relatively true, I hope he gets it resolved satisfactorily.

For the moment, I think Buckbee has the correct answer. I can't use the quote function either while using IE (but I'm not sure if that's a problem only with IE or a Windows 8 problem or combination thereof). If I want to use the quote function, I just use Chrome (and I suspect other browsers will work as well). Clearing cookies, cache, or whatever doesn't seem to help. More often these days i get messages from various sites (including, for example, Siam Commercial Bank's site) that IE won't work well with their websites. For whatever reason - how Microsoft fiddled with the latest IE and/or how programmers are setting up their websites these days - it's become a somewhat common problem.

Yes, I did and I meant it with good intentions. Our and other message boards are sometimes great places to turn for general information, some camaraderie, and often entertainment. The OP, however, is apparently talking about having difficulty dealing with some personal "agony" and crisis and, if his situation is as acute as he suggests, I don't believe turning to any message board as a method to try to resolve it is a very wise choice.

Not my business to tell somebody not to treat the board as a "Dear Abby" column but it may not be such a good idea. As far as I know, not too many posters here are trained with dealing with depression and/or mental health issues and, additionally, I'm doubtful if the OP can distinguish good advice versus bad advice. OP (Mr. Shy), if you're really going through something you feel is really serious, your best choice is likely to talk it over with a qualified psychologist or, at worst, with a close friend who actually knows you and may be familiar with your situation. Just my opinion.

The other day, a Thai friend (he's a good friend's bf) asked me if I like karaoke and then, after a pause, somewhat giggled. So I asked him what's up and he said that if you say you like karaoke, that means you like to suck cock (I'm guessing because it's sorta like holding a microphone?). He warned me, though, that you can only say that with very close friends and you'd likely have a big problem if you said that to people you didn't know well. Hell, they have there own goofy idioms in English! I won't likely learn many of those let alone the Thai ones! I like the old-fashioned Thai idioms. One of my favorites (posted here long ago) in "English" (because I'm too lazy at the moment to verify that I'd spell it right in Thai) is: "gam kee dee gwaa gam dtoot." Literally it means: "A handful of shit is better than a handful of fart." Its real meaning is: "Something is better than nothing."

If possible, I'd suggest you have a Thai friend check it over for you. We falang often miss the nuances of certain Thai idioms and I also sometimes get the feelings that some of those idioms are even a bit regional even here in Thailand. Additionally, one has to be careful as to who one targets with some of these phrases/idioms. Many phrases to close friends are considered cute, sassy, and/or friendly whereas the same phrases to others are crude and insulting. Unless you know for sure (i.e., you've used the phrase with people you know before and achieved the desired effect), probably best not to even go there.

I'll try to tell what I thought was a funny story about the traffic in Hanoi. My bf and I were sitting at a window booth in a Hanoi restaurant near a corner. After a while, we kept watching a foreigner (falang) who was at the corner and waiting to cross the street. He would occasionally start to cross but would pull back quickly and it was obvious he was terrified of trying to get to the other side. This kept happening for more than 15 minutes or so. Suddenly, one of the little old pho ladies (there were 5-6 sidewalk pho "restaurants" near this particular corner), without saying a word, came up behind the falang, grabbed him by the back of his arm, and pushed him across the street through the traffic. The look on his face - a look of freakin' terror that would have made Hitchcock giggle - was priceless. And then all the pho ladies who watched this happen all broke out in a giddy laughter. I and the bf were laughing our asses off too. When I first came to Thailand, crossing the street in Bangkok was rather terrifying to me. It got to the point where I would wait until a couple of Thais were going to cross and then I would go stand on their left side (thinking I'd have time to jump somewhere when I heard a car thump the first one!) and just step out when they stepped out. The tricky part was the "shuffle" I'd do once we got to the center of the road - the shuffle being that I would quickly jump over to the right side of the group crossing the road so I wouldn't be the first person whacked by the cars.

Lol. If you think it's "fun" (as in terrifying) to try to cross the road in Pattaya, you need to stay off the roads during rush hour up here in the boonies (Chiangmai)! In Hanoi, one has to have balls the size of water buffalo to take that first attempt to cross a street. But, once you learn how to do it (you just walk at a steady pace and the drivers miraculously won't hit you), it'll make you think crossing a road in a Thai city is a walk in the park.

I'm not sure what you paid the tuk tuk guy (I either missed that in this thread or the amount was stated in another thread) but paying a tuk tuk driver 50 baht to go anywhere up here is pretty much history. To go anywhere at night, you'll likely pay 80-100 baht. During the day, at least 60 baht. I'd note that you'll do better flagging down a tuk tuk from the street versus using one that is parked out in front of several "controlled" pickup joints (like in front of both malls, Thaepae Gate, in front of Tesco on Nimmanhaemin, etc.). But the red baht bus system is rather easy to use and cheap (20 baht) and you should give it a try. Just flag one down (just stick out your arm - palm down - and they'll pull over unless they're full or more likely on a special trip for somebody). Just go to the passenger window and tell the guy where you want to go. If he says "okay" or nods "yes", get in and he'll get you there (although it's pretty much up to you to know when to get out). If he shakes his head "no", then he's not going there and you'll have to flag down the next baht bus and try again. If you limit your location to a major tourist location [Wararot Market or "Kad Luang", any of the five gates, either mall in the city, etc.), 90% of the time they'll say okay. During any fairly unbusy time, you can hire one of them to take you to a specific location not normally on their usual routes but they likely (but not always) will ask for more than 20 baht. By the way, if the driver doesn't mention any price, it's 20 baht and they don't expect to be tipped. If by chance you want to go to other far-out locations, one normally can go pretty much anywhere using one of baht busses of different colors (other than red). If you want that info, say so and one of us will explain the color system to you and where to pick up those baht busses.

It'll go on as long as the foreign capital flows out of Thailand....which has happened for about 6 months now (and I, just guessing, don't see why that won't continue for at least the next 4-6 months). A lot of money flowed into Thailand which was chasing good returns (bank account interest, for one) and the Thai economy has been going downhill most of this year, the banks keep lowering the interest they'll pay (they were paying 3.75% in October for 22-month funds whereas that's now approaching 3% - a pretty swift lowering), the western economies are improving, the long-term interest rates are beginning to rise in the west (well, at least in the US), and, of course, there isn't a lot of confidence in the Thai political situation. Most of the drop, though, occurred before the current unrest although it's accelerated quite a bit in the last few weeks). The Thai baht has lost 14% against the dollar since May. And of that amount, over 2% of that occurred in the last 10 days. Rather dramatic drops there. On the other hand, Thai exports sure ought to pick up in 2014 as the price of their goods will be significantly lower Given the percentage of gdp that Thai exports (of services and goods) represents - over 70% - a falling baht can provide some good things here (in the US, exports of goods and services only represents about 14% of gdp).

Hmmmm.....a bit difficult since you don't say what style of music you like. When I first came to Thailand in the late 90's, they were playing a lot of heavy base music, mostly rock-and-roll (the cutesy pop stuff started a few years later). Anyway, one of the all-time classic rock-and-roll tunes was Som Sarn (ซมซาน) by Sek Loso. Here's one version of that performed by Sek and Thongchai McIntyre (Bird) at a 2004 concert in Bangkok: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAFf3sEGqbw

Hmmm.....Moses, you're saying your third photo is the winter palace? How do you explain the different architecture let alone the designs in the lawn out front? Here's a photo of the Catherine Palace from the net (I'd note I've never been there):

I think Moses' third picture is Catherine's Palace near St. Petersburg. As to Christian's photos, hell if I know (except I think Place D is in Thailand and likely in/near Bangkok). The McDonalds in Moses' second photo sure looks like something out of Switzerland or Austria (but I don't know).

Roman triremes? If you look in the first photo under "D", you'll see green/yellow taxicabs and an arch in the background that clearly mark those photos as taken here in Thailand. Where? Hell if I know. As to the other locations, my best guess is somewhere between Austria and the Netherlands. As for a prize? I'm guessing it's 9 baht (which was the amount Christian saved by switching to the drinking water machines). (Just kidding, Herr Christian).

I've heard a few complaints from others regarding treatment by the US border service but I've never experienced any of that. After checking my paperwork, 9 out of 10 times I get a "welcome home." Once, about 2003 or so, I was treated rather discourteously by some old dude in Detroit but, other than that, I've had no complaints. The US no doubt has over-reacted to the various terrorist threats (perceived and/or real) but I actually feel a bit more comfortable knowing that the people I'm cooped up with in an airliner are not likely carrying any weapons. So, just from my point of view, I think the security (or at least feeling of security) is a fair trade off for the inconveniences encountered. .

Agree completely. Like most others, I'm more than eager to help others understand what the typical costs are for a lot of things here (whether boys at the bars, tuk tuk or baht bus fees, and just about everything). My comments were only directed at the apparent notion that those "paying too much" are ruining it for those who are, let's say, less generous and that's it's our business to tell those people that they shouldn't pay or tip so much.

I just don't get the concept that I or anybody else ought to be telling or urging anybody what they should be charging for any products or services or, more to the point, what others ought to be paying for same. I'll pay what I choose to pay and I'm not about to tell any of my friends that they're paying too little or too much. As far as I'm concerned, it's personal choice. We've seen over the years others rant against Americans for how they generally tip at restaurants. I suppose the logic here is that it's the fault of Americans that the price of meals has increased due to their tipping proclivity? Baloney.

Kee niow (ขี้เหนียว) literally means "sticky" but is a perjorative idiom meaning "stingy." Sort of the same as a Thai calling somebody a "cheap Charlie."

No big deal but I still can't use the quote function or paste text into a reply using this damn Internet Explorer (11.0 something). I can do both with Chrome but not with IE.

I was sitting in one of the Bangkok bars more than a decade ago chatting with a boy I knew from prior trips. I have no clue (memory) as to what led up to it but out of the blue he asked me if I would buy him a car. I just looked at him a bit deadpan and said: "Sure, what color?" For a moment, he had a look on his face that I'd describe as somewhere between puzzlement and a "hell, I struck it rich!" expression. Before he had a chance to inquire further, I turned and asked: "Would you buy me an airplane?" The resulting facial expression can be accurately described as somewhere between a "HUH?!?" and a "What the fuck?!?" but a few seconds later he grinned widely and said: "What color?" I'm glad he had a sense of humor. I don't remember if I offed him that night but I'm sure I at least bought him a drink.

I don't know and really don't care (I fly Korean Air) but, for the heck of it, just tried to book any flight on United from Tokyo to Bangkok in April. Couldn't do it on the United website (which makes me think they're not flying that route anymore). It's either that or all their April flights are fully booked (which I knda doubt).

Nelson Mandela always chose his words with a great deal of circumspection. He said: "If twenty-seven years in prison have done anything to us, it was to use the silence of solitude to make us understand how precious words are and how real speech is in its impact on the way people live and die." My favorite Mandela quote of all time: "No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." And, hoping that Suthep here in Thailand might be listening, here's another: "Long speeches, the shaking of fists, the banging of tables and strongly worded resolutions out of touch with the objective conditions do not bring about mass action and can do a great deal of harm to the organization and the struggle we serve." RIP, Mr. Mandela.

Hmmmm......