[Farang]

This question may be legit to you and it means nothing but to describe a non-thai (European - White Person) as the norm, but describes all non-Thai's in the most part.. I was in the military on exercises in Pattaya.. We were all called Farang, whites, blacks, asian.. I thought it was the word for tourist.. I don't take offense of the word Farang.. unless the word 'fuc_ken" is mentioned before Farang, then I might get upset.

I've never had anyone straight try to get my attention by saying "hey, FARANG" It does not happen.. not even on the television!!

Things being covered over and over about this and any subject does get old.. But if you're new to this site, I understand... I only have a few post on this site, but read more than I respond..

[One-way Ticket To Bkk]

I am planning to fly to BKK and return to Cambodia one week later by road because of possible excess baggage. I have a Swiss passport, a business visa for Cambodia and a ticket out of Thailand valid until next year, just in case. Will AirAsia refuse my boarding or will I have problems on arrival? Getting a tourist visa in PNH seems too complicated. Thanks.

You're flying into BKK on a one way ticket?? Could be a problem or not.. If you're on a 30 day visa on arrival into BKK, then you are required to have a return ticket..

I'm sure you will have no problem.. I've never been asked to show my return portion of my flights when I go for less than 30 days. All that other shit you mentioned about luggage and Cambodia has nothing to do with a one way airline ticket into BKK..

I read about this type of question all the time.. CALL AIR ASIA....

You must already know that you the answer.. Just take the chance, which the odds are, you won't have a problem..

[Applying For Tourist Visa In Usa]

Apart from the consulate in LA

I found the embassy in DC, most difficult to work with

The Houston, TX Consulate has the best service.. Recommended!!!

[I Have 2 Passports]

Can anyone advise please,.i have 2 passports,obviously both legit,current and both in my name,the one with my current (retirement ) visa in is one page off full and that will be used next week when i go to cambodia,my question is can i start to use my second one from within thailand ( or cambodia ) ?

I can tell you that if you have only one page left on your passport (departing Thailand to Cambodia, just to return to Thailand on the same passport visa).. you might/will have problems..

Your biggest problem is only having one legit page left in your passport.. Cambodia takes up one full page of your passport for their entry stamp and you can't remove it or any other visas stamps/stickers to make room for an entry stamp back into Thailand...and Customs going back into Thailand won't give you an entry stamp if your passport is full.. (again.. normally)...

To answer your question, in my opinion... #1. You must have an entry stamp into Thailand in your passport to exit, or pay the overstay price.., unless you have a Thai passport.. #2. The same.. you should/need an entry stamp into both countries, and I don't think showing both passports will work.. Again, that's my opinion..

[Martial Arts]

I keep telling him that I largely believe that most of the martial art practitioners could not fight their way out of a paper bag.

To bolster my opinion I recalled the contest between Mohammed Ali/ Cassius Clay and the then World Heavyweihgt Champion at Karate, a huge lantern jawed Japanese guy.

At the bell, he dropped his ass to the canvas and for 15 rounds scooted around trying to kick MA/CC on his calves.

So my grandson was leaning to TaeKwanDo, until he saw the Olympic contestants hopping from foot to foot and never ? making any contact with the opponent.

I told him all these sports are good for fitness and agility, but as for self defence, they are useless.

Grabbing the leg of the high kick should end the contest.or a low level kick to a very sensitive area.

Any self defenese training "should" be in the best interest of any individual... Unless you're a total tool, and are a weak bastard, that any self defense lessons is usless to you... which sounds like you're the poster child to prove that fact that "if you can't fight you're way out of a paper bag" even with self defense training, then bow down and never get into a fight..

It's not that easy to just grab the leg, do a low level kick to the balls... That's if you're fighting someone with training.. or just a bad ass, which I'm assuming you're not..

[Departed Thailand 12th July?]

I arrived in Thailand on the 13th April and departed on the 12th of July after doing 2, 30 day visa runs,my Question is what day can i land in BKK on a 30 day visa on arrival again! would it be the 10th or 11th of October?

Many thanks.

My opinion would be the 11th of October..

[Cheapest Way To Call Thailand Found]

If you are in the US, subscribe to Vonage's unlimited monthly plan for $24.99 for your domestic calls. For an additional $10 per month, you can call Thailand (actually SE Asia) on an unlimited basis as well.

Only if Vonage had the $10 service for unlimited calls to Thailand and not the $24.99 for domestic calls.. I don't make ANY domestic calls... I do manage to keep my monthly calls to Thailand under $20.00.. but it's not easy some times, so it my be worth the plan you suggested.. Thanx...

[Sukhumvit 11 Clinic]

I just went and got an HIV test at the little clinic about halfway up Soi 11 on Sukhumvit Soi 11. I was sort of in a daze as I went through the motions but as the lady was drawing my blood I noticed she didn't have any latex gloves on. As I got on the BTS I started to wonder if she had used a clean needle? I assume they would but now I'm a little worried. Has anyone ever been to this clinic? Are they for the most part hygienic?

I'd worry.. Not because she was not wearing gloves, it's the point that you did not see her open the Syringe/Needle package before she stuck you.. But the odds of that -- I'm sure are rare!!... so, like someone else said, don't worry...

I've witnessed something less evil.. I had X-Rays of my teeth twice.. The women and doctor sat in the same room while it was being conducted.. I've served 22 years in the U.S. military and every time I got an X-ray, the person taking it and everyone else was required to leave the room while it was taken. Not in Thailand.. so, I'm not surprised about no gloves to protect them..

[Photos]

Hi Rather than post 1 or 2 pics

Please take a look at the photos i have up at Zenfolio;

The ones of india, Nepal etc are scanned from Slides so are not the quality of the newer ones i am shooting now that i live over here in Cambodia.

http://phuket.zenfolio.com/

Very nice..

[Return A Slap From A Lady. Right Or Wrong?]

Need an insight into this, I've reached several points where I encounter this and a similar situation. Regardless if it's a slap or a shove.

You can add verbal assault as well.. I'm sure some will disagree with what I've done in the past, but will do it all the time when I'm getting disrespected..

I'll add, I can get disrespected from anyone I don't know, but if I know them, and support them, and paid for the home they now live at, then all bets are OFF!!!

I can replace property that I might destroy (which is stupid, but works for me).. You take what that person that slapped you likes the most, then you smash it right in front of them!! Then continue to destroy everything else in sight.. then watch her reaction... Then walk away.. And if she comes after you to hurt you, I don't know about that... When I lost control, everyone ran out of the house, with the exception of her mother and father..

The mother was the only one said anything, and got in her face and chewed her ass out, while her father sat back and watched..

Then in the morning.. Everyone was happy again.. At least that's how my story ended... We still have our ups and downs, but we have not come to that point again.. (knock on wood)...

[Marriage, Pregnncy & Birth Certificates]

Your child will still be able to have your last name withoutn you being married, my girlfriend has just had our son 5 weeks ago, he has my last name.

You all have me curious.. You don't need to be married, but you can have your family name as the father of your child on the birth certificate.. What does that entitle the child? Does that make him/her a dual citizen?? Your child can depart Thailand with you?? I really don't know.. I'm in a long time relationship as well, not married, but if we had a child, I would like that option to take my child back to the States, without going through a bunch of paperwork to do that, but I'm sure that is normal protocol..

[90 Days Notification]

My last arrival to thailand was 16 june and got my stamp admitted stay to 13 sept. based on my old (first one) non-imm. O visa. I got 1-year extension at the imm.office on 27 june - now my questions:

1. Do i have have to make my notification at imm. office based on my arrival 16 june - 90 days = 13 sept

2. Or shall I use the date 27 june when i got my extension of non-O (27 june - 90 days = 25 sept.)

Thanks in advance

#2...

[When Does A Non Imm O Start & Finish?]

Hi, I'm really unsure about this, can anyone clarify this for me.

I have a Non imm O, but, when did my Non imm O start exactly?

My visa was issued on 18/09/07 & valid until 18/09/08.... Does my visa of one year begin on 18/09/07 or when I arrived?

I arrived 19/11/07... Does this then mean that I can stay until 19/11/08?

Thanks for looking

deleted.. I have to some more research on this..

[Doing Things The Falang Way!]

What do you think amuses/annoys Thai about falang?

I think we can have fun with this one

Amuses Thia's... Be a Farang and speak Thai...

Annoys Thai's... Understand what they're saying when they talk shit about you..

The best advice given to me was "don't let a Thai know you speak or understand the Thai language"...

["look, Look At The Falang"]

I don't know what. .. ... (sorry, edited out the bullsh1t)

WOW! in 56 posts you're the new resident cunning linguist on all things thai.

'neion2000'; what an insightful yet one sided moronic diatribe about how YOU happen to see the word ฝรั่ง, evidently while wearing your spiffy color coordinated shirt, matching bracelet as well as your rose colored glasses.

Sorry to burst your bubble; but ฝรั่ง (sorry no karaoke thai) can be either a non-judgmental comment denoting a foreigner, or it can be used with a negative connotation. It is decided by the CONTEXT (a big word for you I know, but try to keep up).

What does 56 posts have to do with my response to an ignorant post? My response was deleted, so what's your point?

I'm flying back to Thailand in 2 months to get punished/degraded by being called a FARANG!! And will arrive on the 30th of October on another one year Visa.. When I arrive at the airport, or where ever I decided to stay at, and hear the word FARANG directed towards me.. Then I know I'm back in Happy Land..

I deal and accept how Thai's accept me.. I ALSO accept when a non-US born tourist comes to the U.S. and can't speak English or speaks broken English.. If a tourist from Japan, China, Germany, Italy, or where ever, might get offended on how some individuals from the States treats them, then "it's up to them to complain and whine on a forum like this, with a subject like this.." I think anyone that complains about a word that generalizes all races, then so be it.. You're IGNORANT!!!

At least other countries attempt/try to speak English... NOT LIKE THE US... I can only give my opinion on where I was born and raised.. The U.S... Thailand is more receptive to tourist than the other countries I've been to... Which is many!!!

[Is "farang" Impolite?]

farang is as i can understand not impolite but it's the use that makes it impolite.

eg : you ask for an info to someone who doesn't know the answer, he then goes to see his friends and says the farang needs to know this. <--- this is impolite

the right sentence should be something like, the person needs to know this. <-- polite way

Good God!!! What is polite or impolite in the country you're from, may not be that way in Thailand..

It's Thailand, you're in their Country.... That's the way they describe (A NON-THAI).. What is the problem??

[Where To Buy Dumbbells?]

Hi,

Just wondering where in Bangkok I can buy dumbbells?

Also, how much would they cost?

Something like these: http://www.scottsdale-fitness-training.com...ness_gym_01.jpg

with attatchable/detatchable weights, 30kg or so in total would be fine.

thanks

Big "C"... I think I paid 3000 to 3500 baht for a 2 dumbbell set... each weighed 35 pounds, 2 - 10 lbs plates, 2 - 5 lb. plate and 2 - 2.5 lb. plates... and the bar, so maybe it was slightly more than 35 pounds, but that was the only set that had, and I bought it.. It was a steel/metal set, not that plastic covered up crap... I've also seen them in BKK at one of the other larger shopping malls, but never looked at the price or recall where I seen them at, but they're out there in BKK...

[Is "farang" Impolite?]

Last weekend, I was asked to teach an intensive course to 4th year, university Sociolgy Students.

I taught them about describing one's ethnicity but first asked them to fill in a group questionaire as to what was polite to say in Thailand.

I found the results interesting but actually thought as much:-

1 - Black - polite

2 - Kaek(Indian) - impolite

3 - Jaek (Chinese) - impolite

4 - Farang - impolite

PLease don't embarass yourselves by calling yourself a farang.

I guess it's on how you presented your question... From what I know what Thai individuals say about your questions 1, 2, 3, and 4...

1.. Black.. No good (those I spoke with) don't like the color... And that is skin color..

2.. Indian.. No good.. (smell, stink, nasty)... It's true and not true..

3.. Chinese.. Very nice white soft silky skin...

4.. Farang.. Is what it is.. You have the good, the bad, and the ugly..

I never call myself a farang while in Thailand, they figure that out all by themselves... Without going to a University...

So, what's your point? The questions you asked your students, seem like general questions.. So, what did your intensive training come up with, after you came up with your final conclusion that we're not supposed to say we're farangs?? Not that I ever heard of anyone introducing them as a farang...

You must be black or even Asian??

[Removing Cambodian Visa Sticker After Use]

Just curious if anyone removes their one page Cambodian Visa sticker after use to save pages in your passport? I've done it once at the border cause I desperately needed an extra page to which the official made me write an apology letter to the government of Cambodia for desecrating sovereign property. I have done it once since then with no problems.

Can anyone site any rules on this, and who might enforce them?

Well, I've been at the Cambodian border numerous times.. During one border run, I heard someone tell this guy that his Passport is full, and this was after they allowed him to depart Thailand.. He never received an entry stamp to Cambodia, so he started to tear out one of the previous Kingdom of Cambodia stamps he had, where he was quickly stopped by the border police..

Then to kick him in the balls while he was down, they told him he had something like 5 hours to depart Thailand.. He ended up with other options, but I would never want to be in his shoes.. But sure as shit, they tell me my passport is full, but I they did stick the Cambodia sticker on the last valid page of my passport, page 21.

When I tried to re-enter Thailand, that was the most uncomfortable feeling ever.. They went through my passport numerous times, then tossed it back at me.. so, I ran like a little girl to the service I used for the visa run. We went back to the window, they spoke in Thai (I'm half asian, look asian), he tells the border police I'm Thai, then he stamps an entry stamp on page 23 of my passport.. Now I've checked on what pages that are valid and not valid and after page 21, it's not used for visa stamps. I still don't know why that all that happened, but I departed Thailand 28 days later..

What was all those blank pages used for? I don't even care anymore..

When I returned to the States, I played it safe and just got me a brand new passport, cuz I hated when I entered Thailand, when they would mark my entry stamp with they yellow marker.... My last trip with the new visa, no problem, no yellow marks...

I really don't understand the point that Cambodia and even Thailand will take up one full page to place a visa stamp.. When I say even Thailand, I'm talking about the one year Cat "B" visa stamps..

But to the point of your message.. Even if you can pull out one of those Cambodia entry stamps, they also place two separate ink stamps in red, that they stamp part over the sticker and part on your passport page, so there would be evidence that you pulled out the Cambodia entry stamp.. So, why take the chance?

[Marry A Thai Women ?]

Ok I will chip in here and probably regret it.

The reason I would never marry a Thai woman is that there is no necessity to do so.

Most Thai women are happy to live/be with you without marriage.

Why complicate things?

I hear ya!!!! But it's the same with all women in my case, I just don't want to get married, I won't say never, but I'm 44 now and I'm always content to live with, stay with, be with, a nice women (from any country) and not get married.. I like it easy, with no complications when/if it does not workout.

I was just putting my 2 cents on the OPs know it all advice..

now I may get blasted for this resonse..

[To Get Involved Or Not To Get Involved?]

What's up Boo? How you doing?

[Marry A Thai Women ?]

just experience and realism after 5 years!

My advice is DO NOT GET INVOLVED or MARRY A THAI WOMAN........

The chances are stacked against it being a success. ( Fact )

I am happy to give the reasons if it stops someone making the biggest mistake of their lives!

Best regards.

Dude... You need to look in the mirror and look at the idiot staring back at you.. Just because you and some others have had a failed relationship with a Thai women, does not make you the expert in given advice..

There are many failed marriage all over the world, some shorter and some longer then 5 years.. So, for you to state the FACT that it's Thai women specifically that no one should marry, based on your failed marriage is ridiculous..

So, what you need to do while your looking into the mirror, tell yourself about your problem and advice and keep it to yourself.. and go on your happy way, pat yourself on your back that you saved many men from making the same mistake you did.. NOT!!!

[To Get Involved Or Not To Get Involved?]

Soooo, it goes like this. I have a friend who works in a bungalow and bar in Koh Phangan. I go down and see her occasionally as my favourite dog lives there (sad I know). I like to catch up on the gossip when I am down there. The boys on that beach are pretty wild and it keeps me entertained hearing about their latest escapades. So I went down last week for a catch up. My friend got onto the subject of three swedish girls who had been there for a while - all of whom were dating boys (and yes they really are boys) who worked there. The longest relationship out of them all is 2 months...the oldest girl involved is about 22. You get the picture. So I have now been told that all 3 couples are planning on getting married so the boys can all get to Sweden. Of course I creased up when I heard this, until I heard that the youngest girl (19) has been trying for a baby, and that her boyfriend has been verbally abusing her about the fact that she has not got pregnant yet. Whhhhhaaaaaaaa?????? Now I know beach boys/ bar boys. I know what they get up to and what their ultimate aims are but for some reason this story is really upsetting me. I am not involved, I don't know these girls personally, but I feel like there is no one telling them that they are being ridiculous. I feel most for the youngest girl - she is obviously both completely immature and completely hoodwinked. There are no other people staying there who will get involved and her friends are the ones getting married so are in no position to help.

I feel helpless, I think if I got involved then it wouldn't be appreciated or listened to, but I feel like this girl might very well end up pregnant and married by the end of the month. Is there anything I can do to help or does she just have to learn the hard way? When should you or should you not get involved in situations you see like this?

You should say something, if they ignore what you tell them, then it's on them.. You can't say, or should not say anything after it goes all wrong, then you would be someone with no integrity!! Integrity for me in this case means, doing the right thing by telling your friend or this girl, what they don't know.. It's like if you knew the brakes on a friends car are not working properly, and you don't tell them, then they get into an accident, then it's now your fault...

[90 Day Limit On Entry Stamp Visa]

I think that it is probably enforced differently in different border posts. I was at immigration a week or so ago, and saw a sign that clearly said that it was 90 days in a 6 month period. The recently someone posted a link to a q&a section in a Pattaya newspaper where some official at the immigration office there said that it was 90 days in 180 days.

To be safe, just figure back 6 months, and make sure you are not over 90 days, then that way, no matter how they want to count it, you would be ok.

Thank you very much for the explanation...

[Rat Infestation]

When I last went away it seems my house became infested with rats. It is an old Thai wooden house so it is near to impossible to prevent them coming in. So far I have been using the glue traps and drowning them- I have killed 13 so far and I can still hear more. I think they are living in my roof. What can I do to get rid of them without having their dead bodies laying around and putrifying? Tips?

Knock down your old Thai wooden house and build a more modern one, where it would be more difficult for the rats to come in.. Right now, you can kill every single rat in your Thai wooden house, in a few weeks/months a new family of rats will move in.. I'm sure you already know that, since you've already knocked off 13 of them.. and still have the problem.. Other than the clue and poison, you're going to have a dead rat laying some where in your house..

Now where I stay at, bamboo/wooden house... New house just about complete...Until that is completed, I buy rat poison, they eat it like candy.. In the night, you can here them squealing, and running around like there brain is on fire, eventually you find them dead... The cat suggestion, have not tried it, but would think with the numerous dogs around, the cat might be the one we find dead...

For shits and giggles, I have a pellet gun, and when I see one of them bastards run by, I'll sit there and wait until he pops up again, then POW!!! It's something to do.. Plus the little kids around, they have no problem in getting rid of them...