Young stud seeks new life in Thailand

BLACKCUNT says:

David,
You made the point very clear. But what can we do with all the nong natt's running around the kingdom begging to be shagged out of the brains.I saw the movie MORA" she Is the cutest thing I have seen without clothes and could have sucked out the guys heart through his dick.
Do thai women learn this at school or by peepin through the key hole at mom and dad?
I know you are talking about the english teacher/private investigator that has a thai wife that every farang hits on at mbk. she must look the part really.
On a serious note, David , if you or any of your dignified readers know how i can get in touch with Nong natt, please let her know that Iam the guy that would fulfil all her fantasies .My mom will understand when she sees the movie MORA'.My dad will brag to his friends about who his son is shagging and my friends will all be barred from my house .I am also willing to pay the fines the boys in brown might level on her for showing me what I have been looking for. THE WHOLE BODY minus those pubic hairs.

Combover says:

Who is Nong Natt?

David - can we please have an expose in the Asian Babes section.

David says:

Nong Nat can be seen on page 2 of today's Bangkok Post.

Jules says:

Also known as Kesarin Chaichalermmpol she has made several hard core porn VCDs which have been distributed locally and one soft core which is quite well known.

She was questioned by Pol Col Visut Vanichbutr of the Police Registration Division who had to sit through these disgusting VCDS several times, retire to the gents for ten minutes and then question her.

Pol Col Visut has now passed the matter and the evidence to Pol Col Rujirat Rumbunreung at Crime Suppression who has promised to take several cold showers before viewing the evidence.

Niall says:

This article is so so true. These dumbasses are a real pain in the neck. Obviously to anyone with a brain being rich in a poor society is wonderful but being poor in a poor society and not even a local. COME ON!

How many times have I sat in a bar in Bangkok and some broken down falang twat with no teeth has sidled up to me and tried to signal the bar staff to give him a drink and put the bill in my checkbin?

Wankers! (literally I suspect).

SiLeakHunt says:

So true, I would never want to live in Bankok skint. Bangkok is not that cheap, apart from rent and food. Living in Bangkok not being able to go out on the piss doesnt seem that much fun.

nong? says:

Nong Natt?

hereyougoeveryeone in one of her better poses.

http://www.picgoo.com/uploads7/pdvd_001.jpg

copy n paste if tha html aint workin.

Whippet says:

An excellent article, David, one that I am glad you have written.

It is an issue here, it is sad to see, and, having experienced the same situations as Niall describes, the more honest amongst us here have to be on our guard as much from cheating farangs as we do from anyone else.

I always find it funny how some guys here wonder why the girls disappear from their lap when the money runs out. It is amazing how many 'farang buddies' disappear around that time too.

I never failed to be shocked by the young (25ish) English guy who used to hang around the low numbered Sukhumvit sois last year (he may still be around but I haven't seen him) who would brazenly ask *everytime* if he could "borrow a pound". I was asked by him so many times it wasn't funny; I'd rather be a beggar in Finsbury Park tube station.

Magyver says:

The worse wasters i encountered were 2 english blokes on the temple soi near kho san.

Always pissed, always fighting.

One of them ended up getting his foot amputated - he had gangarine but didnt notice because he was so drunk.

Yeah, Thailand is full of folk like this.

Jules says:

Nong Natt?

hereyougoeveryeone in one of her better poses.

http://www.picgoo.com/uploads7/pdvd_001.jpg

copy n paste if tha html aint workin.

Posted by nong? | July 29, 2004 04:54 PM

Hey is that the apeman in the pic going over her? Seems very disturbing.

Jules says:

There are a lot of weirdos here in LOS trying to eek out a living or some kind of dream without a bean.

An acquaintance in Customs at the Brit Emb (spook) used to spend time at Don Muang liasing. He would stand behind the one way mirrors in the Customs Hall and point out dodgy Brits to be turned over.

He was always surprised by the number of middle aged ex convict types with few possessions coming through and cursed the Thais for not having effective border controls.

Spend a day in the Consular section at the Brit Embassy and you will see all sorts coming in to try and cadge off the Embassy. Takes some of them a few visits before they realise that it ain't the dole office.

S- says:

Seems to me that this guy wanted to retrieve some information from you, David, by placing this email from a context, that he thought that would be the right one to get some useful information by communicating on the same level. He pretty much failed.

" I want to build something up. I'm not only interested in the Thai women. For example, the nature, Buddha, the food ... it just makes me feel home. "

To be honest, when i saw this website for the first time i thought that this was about 'thai girls' mainly. this could be the reason this letter was placed in this context. I'm glad, by the way, this website is more then only about the female world in Thailand, although this subject is a big thing on this site.

I guess, for someone not living in Thailand, and still only reading stories/experiences, I agree about the big enthiousiamse that could kill this guy's "dream". A lot of people that went before him: ... betrayed by their own fantasies and big expectations of his long-term stay in Thailand, they end up not quite as they expected. More then 75% ends up like this, if i heard this right by you guys?

" I want to build something up. I'm not only interested in the Thai women. For example, the nature, Buddha, the food ... it just makes me feel home. "

That doesn't sound really bad? or does it? Or am i just simply mistaking? I understand that the attraction of the 'thai girls' is a big thing with foreigners... you guys can tell (?!)... But sometimes i feel that the link to 'he only thinks in easy blowjobs, cheap food, easy work"... is made very fast.

Nevertheless this guy is taking steps to do some research before he is following his dream, but he might better keep his eyes open for comments, and try to see what is going on....

fugazi says:

I think that a lot of farangs wrongfully have the idea that they are in an advantage in so called less developed countries, being raised and educated in a rich western country. This however only applies to a few with good university grades or engineers.
Then theres a lucky few with the right contacts who might make it, but i wouldn't even think about moving to LoS to buy land and to do what then? Farm it? Cause I think 5000euro is not enough to start sth else with. Chances are far too great for me ending up with the sick buffalo story, in this case could be a genuine, but it will be me on the other end now.

In short: the best place to be poor is probably the european country he is already living in. And the way it sounds to me he's not even that poor in his own country being able to fly 2 times a year to Thailand.

Fugazi

richard says:

Oh Dear Oh dear,

"When I came back... I felt so shitty, till this day. My hate to the western world has become bigger and bigger... people seem only to be interested in money and career."

I always miss this part of Thailand. Maybe there is a beach or valley where man lives out the Utopian dream.

Bollox is there. This boy has clearly been spent his time chemically loved up at some god awfully fake hippy full moon party. Shag me sideways most of the young Thais he meets are gagging to get a piece of the evil Western worlds pie.

Oi hippy if you want to learn to juggle and run around in body pint join a circus and get off my beach.

"I want to go back... I want to build something up. I'm not only interested in the Thai women. For example, the nature, Buddha, the food ... it just makes me feel home.

Give me strength. Women ok. Food i give you that one. Nature hmmm given the natural Thai propensity to chop it down flog it or eat it not for long mate but I give you that also if we ignore all those creepy crawly biting things. Buddha. Oh no way can you get away with that bollox western patronizing crap. Thais are sooo lovely Buddhists don't you know. Buddha does not equal Mbai Pen Rai. Buddha was not a Rastaman and did not smoke de erb. Twat

Right now I'm working full-time to save money, ALL for Thailand... I can't hold it longer then max. 6 months then I want to get in the plane, and fly back. I don't expect to bring a lot of money with meÖ about 5000 Ä.

Oh 5000 you say. Top bloke really. Proud to know you. Need an old timer to show you the ropes.

Mine's a pint

Richard

My real dream-idea is to buy, or first hire land, and later buy land, to build my own small house (if it's like a den, I don't care... sleep, eat, shit.... I'm satisfied for quite a while) but I'm not happy to hear the stories about getting and holding a visa, and what about work? Maybe u can tell me more?

Ragtopmuse says:

Hen Dui. My investment monthly income is 125,000 bhat. My internet company garners a like amount on average. I am 46 years old and spend 6 months a year in LOS and 6 months in the home of the free and the land of the brave. Maybe its the Thai infuence but I like both. In America 6K a month and I feel poor. In BKK ... well, as they say, It's good to be King. But I am married to a wonderful THai woman. My day does not revolve around shagging or drinking. It's a good life. I remember the English teacher I met at soi 7 beer garden "bragging" about the 40,000 bhat a month he makes. I was thinking...not enough for me. But one question, why is everyone ragging on Mr. Stick? He seems like a good bloke. He gives the disclaimer of "One man's opinion." And that is all it is. Good on him I say. He has carved out a nice life based on frugality and creativity. But I am pretty sure there is no "good time" to hand my wife your phone number. I enjoy Stickman. How he gave advice on the nightlife, then the married life. I am looking forward to what he says about the divorced life. THen the circle starts over again.

KDub says:

There are probably 1,000,000 Thais that would trade passports with these idiots. I love Thailand, would like to live there 6 months of the year there someday like Ragtop, but am waiting til I have a load of cash to do so.

S- says:

" but am waiting til I have a load of cash to do so "

why? think you'll need it?

Darlie says:

maybe its better if they have their balls removed then they wont feel so horny and can take things easy without worrying about pussy all the time .

Gimpy1 says:

Tania,

I thought you might like this about one of your so called sexy stocks! By the way, I'm still waiting for the gay bashing remarks.

NEW YORK (July 29) - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. on Thursday said federal regulators are investigating its repurchase of franchises and lowered earnings outlook, sending the doughnut chain's shares down more than 11 percent.

KRT
Krispy Kreme doughnuts

The informal probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission comes as Krispy Kreme is struggling to revitalize slumping sales, particularly in supermarkets.

The company in May slashed its profit forecast for the year by 10 percent, blaming the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins and South Beach, which frown on starchy foods like pastries and bread.

In the last year, Krispy Kreme has also more than doubled its debt load, in part because it launched an aggressive -- and expensive -- effort to buy back franchises from individual franchisees.

Some of those franchisees have included Krispy Kreme executives and other insiders, raising questions by some analysts about the company's practices. A company spokeswoman could not specify which buy-backs were being investigated.

According to the company's latest annual report, it paid $33 million for the rights to certain franchise markets in Kansas and Missouri that were part owned by an officer of the company.

That same year, Krispy Kreme also spent $67.5 million for franchise markets in Dallas and Shreveport, Louisiana, whose franchisees included former Krispy Kreme Director Joseph McAleer and Steven Smith, an emeritus director.

Get Quote, Company Info: KKD
Discuss: Krispy Kreme

Earlier this year the company paid $16.8 million for the 33 percent stake it did not already own in Golden Gate, a franchisee for northern California that was part owned by Krispy Kreme Chief Executive Scott Livengood's ex-wife.

Some investors have been critical of these repurchase deals, not just because they involved insiders, but also because they were expensive.

"Krispy Kreme has strained its balance sheet in recent years by buying back franchises," said David Rocker, who heads up Rocker Partners LP, a hedge fund that is short Krispy Kreme's stock.

"While I have no specific knowledge," Rocker said, "I would imagine that the SEC's concern relates to evaluating the appropriateness of acquisition accounting adjustments, which could have contributed to an overstatement of prior or future earnings."

Krispy Kreme, which operates nearly 400 stores in the United States and overseas, said it is confident in its accounting practices and is cooperating fully with the inquiry.

The company's shares, which have fallen nearly 50 percent since the company's profit warning, were down $2.08 at $16.58 in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

(Additional reporting by Michael Flaherty)

friend says:

I would also like to live in thailand and worryed that 3.000.00 a month with a 2% increase a year may not be good . Unless I live up county and then I am not to sure I can make it there. I have some saving's and will leave it in the state,s just in case thing's do not work out then I can go back to the state's.

Dana says:

Dreamers who dream about going to Thailand permanently focus in their research on the differences between Thailand and wherever they are coming from. They forget one of the things that Thailand and wherever they are coming from have in common. Both countries have 24 hours in every day. What oh What are you going to do?!

Prorogue says:

Dana: Dream about a London skytrain while descending the olfactory blast of the London underground (and one hundred years of dead skin cells)? Or perhaps add insult to injury by scattering, through an imaginative smattering of Chulalongkorns' coquettish students sporting loyal school badges and greyhound skirts (nearly catching up with the hair)?

Try again?

Pro.

Tirak Ja says:

Hmmm my friend and I have been thinking about these things for 2 trips now. We are both reasonably paid engineers in the states. My beer addled analysis of the situation was bleak. Big surprise Thailand requires real resources to live in. As an extra bonus if I took a local job doing what I do in the states a quick analysis showed me that I could expect to earn about 17% of what I earned in the US, nice...Of course that is only if I could speak Thai, which although I am working on it will be a while. As an American I am still trying to learn English!

Thailand is a paradise, but only if you have ready cash. In fact you need a surprising amount of cash to sustain paradise even in the LOS. Interestingly this proved to be even truer in Cambodia. Our driver in Siem Reap told us he meets a lot of hungry Americans in Cambodia.

I do a lot of diving when I am there and so meet a lot of bright hard working westerners when I am in LOS. A good dive master makes about 800 Baht/day. There are no benefits and no paid holidays. It takes several thousand dollars US to obtain the credentials required to be a dive master so it is pretty much out of the reach of the locals. I see very few Thais doing this work. Thai dive masters can expect the princely sum of 600 Baht/day, gratis for being Thai.

So as I look at this I see a profession where a westerner is reasonably protected from local competition but even so can barely eeck out an existence month to month. If your perfect health fails you're done. Also most immediately attract all these Thai hangers on and freeloaders. Man watching that play out for two years has been an eye opener.

Most of the horror stories I am learning about surround two types of farangs for the most part. BTW is it Falang or farang I hear both so I am assuming it is regional? Anyway you seem to have your middle aged blow-outs and your young stud backpacker hippie types. The middle aged guys usually seem to think they can make it on an English pension and the backpackers just seem like complete idiots to me. I feel sorry for the older fellas but the young dodgy backpacker types really just get on my nerves. They just harsh on my mellow. I read one story on Mangosauce last night about some idiot full mooner that got busted for dope. It was real hard to feel sorry for him.

My friend and I are planning to acquire some property in LOS as a staging operation for our eventual (hopefully) comfortable retirement.

I have met a nice Thai woman that I am keeping in touch with a feel real affection for. That having been said I am going to exercise extreme caution in pursuing this relationship. If she does come to the states I am hoping to arrange a student visa for her.

Her choice will be does she want me or does she just want out. I am easily able to give her a free western degree to learn the answer. Since it will take her a few years we will see. Emotionally after being filleted in my divorce I am now very able to be patient with trust. I love Thailand but I know there are always serpents in paradise.

Bento Box says:

Nice article David, and if I remember rightly, it was I that was the subject Tanai's rudderless English teacher quip. Amusing, but alas incorrect. I am neither rudderless, nor a teacher, nor in Japan. I suppose strictly speaking, I'm in Japanese. But not in Japan.

Thailand for me is a pleasant fantasyland that I visit occasionally. I wouldn't want to live there for all the reasons stated above. If you can't make a quid, it could be a very close approximation of hell.

So come David, spill the beans. How are you getting by?

Itekimasu

Combover says:

We had one of these rudderless English teachers turn up at the Thailand office of my company a couple of years back.

He was trying to flog English tutoring services to a subsidiary of a multinational blue chip company, and yet he showed up stinking of ale, unshaven, crumpled and desperate looking.

The Thai manager interviewing him gave him far more time than I would have done, nodded and smiled politely and yet kept the office door open for ventilation throughout the duration of the discussion.

I just felt ashamed of my nationality.

Dana says:

--quoting David: "For a guy without money, life in Thailand is very hard."

For a guy without money, life anywhere and everywhere is very hard. It is called being poor--a charitable way of saying powerless and constantly at risk. To compound that situation by being poor in a third world country without respect or civic protections or rule of law or non-racist social responses or local native friends is just insane. A young man's adventure can turn into a lifetime horror. Some holes can be so deep you can't get out of them. The jumpers may actually be the smart ones. The have seen the future and it is without solution. Logic leads to the jump. Living in Thailand has appeal for me. But only if I can do it from a position of strength. Anything else is madness. Keep up an email relationship with an expat long enough and you will see an evolution in what they say about their living situation. It starts positive and ends up negative. Prisoners of unreasonable dreams who took a chance and failed. I dream about moving to Thailand and using its proximity to explore all of Asia. It would be a ten year project. But only from a position of strength.

nick adams says:

david, i also would be curious to know the answer to this question. independently wealthy? secret english teacher? elephant trainer?

Jules says:

If you have a well paid job in Thailand, great place.

If you have a good pension, reat place.

If you have an independent income, great place

Why doesn't anyone suggest that getting off your arse and starting abusiness in Thailand and working hard at it is a good idea?

Apart from the language this will be easier than in your home country. Do something you know about.

The upshot is that if you are determined and level headed you can make a go of LIFE in Thailand and not just be a long term wealthy tourist.

Veg says:

Good piece today.

To whomever mentioned a strong dislike of the younger visiters to Thailand - I urge you to not group us all together. I am only 20 yet have visited 5 times for a total of some 2 years+ and although I always travel with my trusty backpack, I am clean, respected by the Thais I know and do not share company with the 'ladies of the night' nor do I embarass myself with drink.

I would also urge you not to group all the middle aged falangs together (incidentally to whomever asked, falang and farang are the same word, it is not regional but merely due to the fact that thais have trouble hearing a difference between L and R) as many of the english teachers in Bangkok and elsewhere do not teach to supplement an unhealthy addiction to Soi Cowboy.

Some simply enjoy teaching english.

Bob says:

Enough shitting on English teachers!

Ever single one of you who have been posting nasty things about them obviously aren't one of them or failed in the attempt.

For those of us with degrees/experience/qualifications in teaching English, we CAN get by on 40-60,000 or more (though not usually more than 70,000). Accredited International School teachers routinely make 100,000 plus. Let's do the math per month:

adequate BKK flat: 10,000
beers 3 times/week: 5,000
Tesco/Tops groceries: 5,000
restaurants: 5,000
miscellaneous 5,000

and that's only 30,000 so far!

IF you're a well-educated, experienced and properly-qualified educator you CAN make a decent living here.

If you're not, don't bother. You're obviously giving the rest of us a bad name.

And if you do have a decent job, good for you, but where do you get off slagging dedicated professionals who are most likely supporting someone otherwise would be making 120,000/month or more elsewhere? People who are dedicated to improving the standard of education here.

Yes, the pathetic, drunken, ill-educated has-been/lager-lout trying to get by teaching English is a sad cliche, but not nearly as pretentious and ubiquitous as the pompous twats in 3-piece suits on soi 33 who think they're masters of the universe and god's gift to women because they're getting over-priced shags from tarted-up anorexics.

Be careful before you turn into one of them, and end up proud of it.

Prorogue says:

I haven't met an English teacher yet who discusses a book they've read recently - Call me old fashioned but most are inept. Except that statuesque American with the ample top set who teaches swimming at the Raquet club on Soi 49 - (I got my eye on you and my hand on my pecker) groan!

Pro.

Niall says:

Their is an old English guy who begs in silk pyjamas outside a 7/11 in Pattaya. It is truely pathetic.

There are a huge number of English (I am English so tend to notice them more) fuck ups in Bangkok who are down right desperate and dangerous.

The worst ones who you should avoid like the plague do not fit in to either stereotype of the young backpacker or the middle age divorce burn out (which incidentally is me). They are early/mid 30's have been petty criminals/football hooligans/street fighters in UK. Married worked in a factory/laboured on building site/sat on the dole married a fat ugly local girl had a couple of screaming brats got a house on the council estate and then had 1 shagging holiday in Thailand and came straight back.

They are pot less and not that smart but they live off their wits and their prime source of income is either scamming or robbing new to Thailand falangs. These are the types that sidle up to you in the bars. Couple of teeth missing, tattoos, maybe a few piercings. Initially all over you but get very nasty very quickly if it looks like you ain't gonna play ball. Best thing to do is checkbin and out of there but watch out for them following you. No need to tell the bar owner why your leaving he will know and hopefully ban the turd at some point.

With Thai women its money but you get honey, with Thai men its scams but they are so obvious if you get taken you deserve it, these chavs can be dangerous. Avoid.

Bob says:

Why not a new "let's just slag English teachers anyway and bar girls for good measure" Favourites Category.

Methinks I detect this is as becoming a very common and predictable schtick on Thailand farang blogs. A sort of I-have-no-ideas-so-I'll-just-sling-mud-at-the-usual-subjects type thing.

I like this site and I've now read most of it but the evil bar girl/lowlife teacher stereotypes are getting a little worn out.

How about a Favourites Category on sparrow-boned-geeky-programmers-rubbing their-hands (or otherwise)-and-exaggerating-their-intellectual/sexual-exploits?

"Legends In Their Own Minds" perhaps.

Just a thought!

Jules says:

If you lived here Niall you would see a lot more of this but also you would see those who have lived here for 30 years + and are down on their luck.

I know one guy who came here in 1950 as a young man, in shipping, married and settled down.

He was paid a Thai style salary and did his best to provide for his family but is now penniless. He is too proud for charity of course. Nice chap, very intelligent and well educated but without money even his Thai family look after him in a disinterested sort of way. Not that this is worse than how old people are generally treated in Thai familiers despite the myth that they venerate old people.

Thailand is not an easy place to make your way but with dedication and hard work it can be done. just don't expect the handouts and easy life enjoyed elsewhere.

David Volz says:

Tirak Ja, I also an an engineer in the states. I estimate my Thai salary equivalent to be in the same ballpark, around 20%. In California, I make 250,000 Baht/month. I don't think I could make more than 50,000 B/m in bkk even if my technical Thai lingo was up to speed.

I worked with a very sharp Thai fella in the states. He was an engineer in bkk for many years. His biggest gripe was the corruption of the system. He new I loved Thailand, but said I would not enjoy working there because of this. There are corruption ratings studies out there, and Thailand rates 6.8 (scale of 1-10, 10 being the most corrupt). The most corrupt country is Bangladesh, rated 8.6. On the other end of the spectrum, USA is a 2.3 and UK is a 1.3.

Your best bet is to find a job with an international company that will station you in Thailand. Or, save part of your high income & travel there as often as you can, like I do. Call me greedy, but I find it hard to follow my heart (to Thailand) and give up my career. But if I had nothing to lose, I probably would be in Thailand today.

Tirak Ja says:

Hi Veg,

I have no problem with a person's age. My comments are based upon my experiences and their behavior. At the end of the day I think everyone agrees that there are a fair number of long wandering rogues flopping around Thailand. The empathy I feel for the older rogues is really more my feeling that their options are limited with age and if they aren't well off it becomes a pretty tough go. I think anyone would feel for them.

Also I didn't say all young guys with a backpack were bad. I always take a backpack with me on vacation, it's small though and that's where I carry my laptop. What I meant is that there definitely is a class identified on these forums and coincidently by the Thai tourist authority as the ìBackpacker". In fact darn and I forget which Island, the local government guys were recently crooning, " - and backpackers won't be welcome on this island."

The BGs don't like them either, here's an actual quote:

"Me no like. Stay at New Hut . Mannn-ee young man stay there. Not clean many mosquitoes. I no like go but need money. What can you do?..."

BTW: New Hut is a dodgy Samui Bungalow outfit

For the older sadder cases it is just hard for me to watch because I can see that things aren't likely to get better for them. With the younger guys they have the time and energy to figure this stuff out.

In my mind what we are all talking about in this case probably isn't too far off of what people talked about a few hundred years ago in western colonies or trading ports. It's an old story.

As for the bar girls and moderate drinking I enjoy both. It is hard for me having been 20 not so long ago to imagine you haven't had a go at one the girls. They are sweet and unlike the western version of their profession. In fact I think it is a whole different franchise concept.

In the west there are NO bar girls, not one. In the west we have crack whores and hookers. Call girls and escorts. Has anyone here ever used one? Ick, bad experience. I hate even comparing the BGs to them. At their worst BGs compartmentalize and can be somewhat disingenuous. As I am learning about Thai scams in general, BG scams are pretty flimsy and require the victim to really suspend reality for them to work. However by and large BGs are fun to be with and are a great holiday TGF.

The other thing is that I prefer BGs and Thai Ladies in general to their western sisters. The two show a few interesting differences in the money department. American women for example are generally prostitutes, whether they think so or not. They have been conditioned to believe it is normal to marry a man rant and nag and then take all of his money and property.

Bar Girls like the cash too but A) you actually get something for it, and B) They turn out to be happy with far far less and run tittering off like red Indians with a string of beads. I love them I really do. Okay for those who will flame me for saying red Indians: It was an Englishman who told me this, I am just repeating what I've heard, and you fellas from the UK have been running the show far longer than we Americans have. :-)

Veg not sure but I think you may be wrong about the "R" and "L" thing. I can discern the difference and I have seen the Thais print it that way as well. In Samui last time I distinctly heard locals say Fa"R"ang, my friends from Bangkok, Issan, and Sukhothai say: Fa"L"ang. I don't know the answer as I said I am thinking it is regional.

All in all the LOS seems like a lot of other tourist paradises around the world. The TGs add a special element and so does the culture. It is all very seductive. Guess that is the point. So like anwhere else yous gots to have the cash. Increasingly I am working on getting a plan together for just that but I expect it will take me a few more years. I think I'll need a pretty good cash flow to not feel pressured. Also if you plan to fly back to the west for sometime each year for visa or other reasons, those months won't be cheap either. I'll stay tuned here because this and the other forums I am reading are absolutely great. You guys have been very helpful to me in my travels so so far and I am very thankful for it.

If I hadn't been reading Mango Sauce and BKKTonight I may have stepped in over my head day one. Thanks again to all you guys! You are life savers. :-)

Cog says:

The FaLang versus FaRang issue:

Neither way accurately describes the correct pronunciation.

Fa"R/L"ang is transliterated from the Thai, ฝรั่ง. The enunciation of "R/L" (Thai consonant: Raw-rua; "ร") is actually rolled.

FaRang is transliterated with an "R" because it is the closest English phonetical representation of the rolled R. On the other hand, FaLang is transliterated with an "L" because there are Thais who are too "sabai" to roll their Rs, and also may find it slightly pretentious doing so.

A regional use of Khon Fa"R/L"ang (i.e. a Western foreigner) is the well-known Isaan version ---> bak si da.

Tirak Ja says:

COG, dude you rock!

Dana says:

More on FaLang and FaRang and Lon and Ron and ARRoi and ALLoi, etc. The Thais also use this dancing back and forth between the R and the L to jerk you around. On Wednesday I said the food was arroi and my girl corrected me and said alloi. The next day I said alloi and she corrected me and said it was arroi. Same for the word for 'hot' etc, etc, etc. Just more crap from people who can't be nice. I'll learn their language when they figure the quessing game out themselves.

Cog says:

^Lemme guess:
1) You can't roll your Rs effectively;
2) you're tone deaf; and
3) Your TGF knows how to 'get your goat'.

Dana says:

4) It is not a language that is evolving (towards greater specificity) but a language that is de-evolving.

Cog says:

^Non sequitur...
The fact that your deadened tongue is unable to correctly roll out the "R" has absolutely shit to do with the Thai language being non-dynamic.

I'm quite surprised...for one who finds passion in 'tongue-lashing' the Thais (in more ways than one, I'm sure), you sure have an inflexible tongue.

Dana says:

When the Thais decide which linguistic lilly pad to land on I'll jump. In the meantime, if you care to review my post; I wasn't speaking about linquistic abilities--I was notating the Thai bargirls meanspirited and smallminded juvenile game of constantly correcting you by jumping back and forth between the R and the L sound. When they decide to speak their own language correctly I'll be a better listener--in the meantime they (and you) can shove it.

Longtime Observer says:

Once they've arrived at the point where they are correcting you, it's time for a trade in. There will always be a new girl to strike your fancy. The smart punter knows when it is time to move on.

Cog says:

Dana,
If your complaint is legitimate, I'll be the first to shove it.

Your TGF is a bargirl? Am I correct to assume she's from Isaan? If so, then she speaks an ethnic dialect with origins in the Lao language. Since the Communist takeover, p'hasa Lao has undergone massive deconstructions as a way of not only conforming to Communist idealogies, but also as a way of appealing to the lowest common denominator - among many deletions, the "R" rua (rolled R) was removed from the Lao verbal/written language.

My point: A Thai ethnic Isaan will find both the pronunciation of "L" (law-ling) and "R"(raw-rua) acceptable. Let me digest this further for you...an Isaan will never roll his/her "R" unless s/he's in Central Thai (Thai-glang) "elitist" surroundings.

Your deadened tongue is easily overlooked; your mental rigidity, however, is troublesome. But, I'm sure you'll just tell me to kiss your ass - must be a RedSox fan.

Cog says:

BTW, I agree with Longtime Observer...if you myopically perceive this linguistic leapfroggin' to be a tiresome exercise rooted in BG mental trickery/mockery...then it's time for you to find a mute fuck.

Choak dee...

Niall says:

'Bangladesh is the most corrupt country on earth with a score of 8.6 on a scale of 1 to 10.'

BOLLOCKS BOLLOCKS BOLLOCKS!

The most corrupt country on earth is Nigeria with a score of 0. It was 12 out of 10 but they nicked the score as well.

And in case any body asks I have lived and worked in both.

friend says:

HOW much would you need in US to live in thailand could you live on 3.000.00 a month i get that every mouth for the rest of my life with a 2% raise every year cost of living raise

Dana says:

Hello Longtime Observer--

I take seriously your admonition that "The smart punter knows when it is time to move on." I endorse this and I believe this and this is how I behave. But it is sad. Apparently, bargirls are human beings but I'm not a human being. I perform a miracle every six months when I travel to Thailand. I go from being a human being receiving dignity and respect from those around me to not being a human being. Thailand. What a magic country.

Greg says:

Dana, you know more than others who can't even fathom how talented you are that you are an unually perceptive, imaginative, creative and skilled writer. But your machismo is now an old scar over your soul. Is it any wonder you get questioned if you have one? Someone posts a heartfelt and considered message that includes personal feelings, and you are put off because it is too long winded, and more importantly too fay a thing for a man to do. That kind of machismo is cowardly - not befitting the man I suspect you are and want to be.

Cog says:

Posted by Dana | August 2, 2004 07:14 AM
"But it is sad. Apparently, bargirls are human beings but I'm not a human being. I perform a miracle every six months when I travel to Thailand. I go from being a human being receiving dignity and respect from those around me to not being a human being. Thailand. What a magic country."

Deconstructing Dana...
Ingratiating himself to the anti-Thai lemmings, Dana, in a faux-emasculated pose, marvels at his long-suffering while lamenting on the subhuman treatment he has received at the hands of dimunitive Thais. Boo hoo...

Quote: "I perform a miracle every six months..." ---> The egotist manages to derive superiority even as he perceives himself being marginalized.

If you feel like you're being treated like a knuckle-draggin' Neanderthal, perhaps it is time for you to evolve.

David Volz says:

Niall, see http://www.worldaudit.org/corruption.htm
Bangladesh is below Nigeria, and this wasn't my original source. You're not too good with statistics nor comprehending what my point was. And if you've lived at the bottom of the bottom, I don't envy you either.

Dana says:

Thanks for the sentiments Cog and by the way an additional thanks for not sugar coating it. What a bunch are we! Imagine if we happy posters were all in a lifeboat? It would be a knife fight. All we have in this life is each other and we can't even do that right. And as for evolution: I am evolved--but you already knew that. In a spirit of evolved generosity I'll tell you what I'll do. The next time one of these misunderstood Bargirl princesses is treating me disrespectfully because she can--I'll send her over to your place. No need to thank me. That's the kind of evolved guy I am. I'm a giver. I can't brag. It's a gift. Oh, one more thing. Maybe you can help me with this since you are so sensitive and so centered. If you were on the phone trying to get medical attention because you were having a heart attack and one of these little brown skinned father's daughters started to jerk you around with the pronounciation of the L's and the R's--how would you feel? I need some help with this. I just don't know how I'd feel. I quess I'm not that evolved yet.

Jules says:

Sorry david,

I am with Niall on this one. Nigeria is definitely below Bangladesh.

The main difference is that Nigerians have oil money to play with in their corrupt but highly populous country.

The corrupt are venerated for their ability to grab so much for themselves. many Nigerians aspire to their success.

Cog says:

Khun Dana,
I'm banking on the fact that I haven't grossly misjudged the essence you're trying to project on Mango Sauce. As part of the audience, I can only react to how you wish to portray your thoughts and words onto a cyber-canvas -- with Warholian redundancy you create humorless portraits of Thai culture that manages to be provoking, but yet, is bland and two-dimensional...and destined for the mass produced, worthless pop-art bin.

"The next time one of these misunderstood Bargirl princesses is treating me disrespectfully because she can--I'll send her over to your place."

I wouldn't know the first thing to do with her. However, it would be quite apparent to me that if I were to tame a shrew, I'd expect to get some bites and bruises.

Do not associate social anomalies in sex-for-money relationships with Thai cultural patterns; in BGs, the customary mechanisms are either faulty or suppressed. Culturally rehabilitating BG premaddonas isn't curative, and most importantly, fails to address the issue of why a disproportionately large number of ethnic Thai-Isaan women enter prostitution.

"If you were on the phone trying to get medical attention because you were having a heart attack and one of these little brown skinned father's daughters started to jerk you around with the pronounciation of the L's and the R's--how would you feel?"

Given what you've told me, I'd be furious, but I don't know the full context of the story. What was the Thai word(s)/sentence(s) you were trying to say? I ask because in Thailand, adopted English words are often phonetically "Thai-ized" (e.g. ice cream is pronounced 'ai tdeem'...try it any other way and you'll just get a dead look).

Just guessin' here:
Heart disease is commonly referred to in Thai as ---> โรคหัวใจ ("R"oak hua jai); if one mistakenly says "L"oak hua jai, the meaning changes to a heart-shaped earth. Could it be the father of your BG was actually trying to help you as opposed to your presumption that he was dickin' with you?

BTW, if we were all in a lifeboat together, I'd still demand you pay respect to my Thai sisters (even if they were first-class hos). Remember, RESPECT is a two way street, NOT an all-roads-lead-to Dana street.

Dana says:

Well, Cog--against great odds you have gotten my attention. 'Warholian redundancy' sounds like something clever and educated and original that I might have said. Only I didn't say it. You said it. Nice work.

Regarding--", RESPECT is a two way street, NOT an all-roads-lead-to Dana street." I believe you are stating an opinion here. I have come across this type of thinking before. It is the kind of philosophic pablum for the masses popular in Joe Cummings Lonely Planet guide books. Coffee house and campfire literature for the average. In fact, if all roads did lead to me everyone would be a lot happier.

I'll be in Thailand in September. Let's meet at Lumphini Part. I'll throw the stick. You chase it. We'll both have a great time.

emil says:

Dana,

Please, please get over yourself.

Cog says:

"I'll be in Thailand in September. Let's meet at Lumphini Part. I'll throw the stick. You chase it. We'll both have a great time."

You pathetic fool, I have home field advantage -- it will be your last game of fetch.

Dana says:

Emil and Cog--You are fans. It's ok. It's the natural order of things. Just go with the flow. You are leaves on my rushing water. I enjoy your little posts. The master loves the sound of the whimpering dog.

TANAI KWAI says:

I'm uncomfortable with the Master-dog allusions. They're offensive and not susceptible of being improved even in your skilled hands, Dana. Nor do they really convey anything true, meaningful, informative or amusing -- only that your strained grandiosity is likely the flipside of a serious case depression.

So I ask again, are the canine-Master-slave-ubermensch-untermensch references really necessary?

(...)

Dana says:

TK I would take you seriously if I thought you had reviewed any of your posts--your only defense against juvenile self serving hypocrisy is to postulate that many of your name calling posts were not provided by you.

TANAI KWAI says:

Yeah, I thought you might say that. But I believe there is something different about this particular kind of insult as directed at a person of Cog's intellect and background.

More importantly, since when is my behavior the gold standard? Surely you aspire to something higher.

(...)

Pat Paulsen says:

Dana thinks he's an artist, but is he really a crinklin', can dwelling, beaten-by-yo-mama Southie irishman, with even less 'can do' attitude than the person he writes as? After all, there's not much you CAN do, when you've seen the W. Roxbury "brothers" driving by in a shiny new Lexus, flashing all that gold. Your "team" still can't win the pennant, college girls are getting younger and smarter every year, and everywhere life is contemptably disconnected from you, and in high gear. The remains are fantasies on the internet, and anger at 5th form "6's" who can "read" you...what a lonely life! Maybe Dana should make a fool of himself and fall in love? Nah...considering how inhumane his "character" here is (shrinking everything/body, soul-less minimalism), I wouldn't wish that on any BG, Katoey, 7-11 girl.

Dana, somebody owes you a living*

(A free pass and a warm Budweiser? cheers!)

Veg says:

I accept the explaination offered by COG as to the root of R and L usage in Thai, but must add that the actual sounds of R and L as used in the English language are not used in the Thai language.

Similar to the DT sound and the BP sound, the R and L often mix, meet and swap in ways which confuse us but make perfect sense to Thais.

Incidentally, you -will- find that most Thai people have trouble differentiating between the sound of R and L in english words. A simple test is to find ten of them, and ask them to repeat words which contain the letters. (I did this with some friends and it proved at least to me that they cannot hear the difference easily).

Veg

Cog says:

Veg,
Your additional insights are appreciated. Khob khun khrap.

Nick says:

I think saying that the 30,000 a month a teacher typically makes is not enough to live on is incorrect. I was only 20 when I moved out here, with a TESOL from Inlingua Cheltenham in hand, and I taught for a couple of years and earned 30k a month. I lived with my gf in her parents' house on that salary no problem. 4,000 a month rent, 2,000 power, plus negligible water and telephone bills, internet, UBC, food & drink, holidays and all, and I still managed to save 6k a month for 2 years and with a nice fixed rate 7% interest account I found with Abbey back home. So I taught for two years and saved over 150k, not a bad start living in Thailand as a young pup. I still live in the family house and intend to for the next year or so. I'm 24 now, have some money saved, would never go back to teaching, but am glad for the experience. Admittedly, I gave up a degree back home when I fell for a Thai girl, but with a bit of hard work and good budgeting the teaching English option (ie. the only option, and a vocation I never would've dreamed of doing prior to falling for a woman) served me well. I will take advantage of the cheap cost of living out here to do distance learning, get a degree, study Thai part-time until I'm fluent (I'm so immersed where I live I have a head start already), continue saving money, and then re-assess my position in a few years. I could never have been in this position had it not been for the almost obligatory teaching route. Yes, I could've been better off by now had I stayed in the UK and never come here, but I wouldn't change a thing. Just have to be a little smart and always land on your feet.

BLUE says:

"I'm not only interested in the Thai women. For example, the nature, Buddha, the food ... it just makes me feel home."

There is only one thing that this prick is interested in and it isn't nature Buddah and living like shit in Thailand in a hut he has built on the land he has rented.

He will come here blow his 5OOO Euros (after being blown 50 times)the same as all the other pea brained farangs do, end up penny less and then have to fuck off with his dick between his legs back to farangland !!!!!!

Anyway back to another species of WANKER you come across here.

Have you ever met those weird fucking septic tanks (yanks)generally working here as impoverished English teachers pretending to be cool!!!

Ok ME:

So what you doing over the break???

Septic Tank:

" well dood you know dood I'm going up North dood with my Thai friends dood becuse I have a lot of Thai friends dood bigfucking deal!!!!).

Yea dood Iv'e got a lot of Thai friends dood (I'm so cool) and I wanna get into dood some Thai talking.

Yea dood I wanna practise my Thai dood with my Thai friends and also get into some serious squat shitting dood.

I think that it will be really cool dood speaking Thai and squat shitting with my Thai friends dood at the same time.

You know dood squat shittig is really in tune with the eco system dood!!!!

After i practice my Thai and squat shitting dood for a week in 40 degrees heat and a 100 per cent humidity dood I'm gonna walk down to Laos dood.

I mean dood its only 500 miles away dood.

I think it is so cool dood earning a fucking pittance teaching English in Thaialnd dood because it gives you the opportunity dood to live in a mud hut in Laos for a week dood with no electricity dood (because you can't afford to stay in a hotel) and sweat.

I mean dood if you were earning big bucks dood back home in the States dood the forces of comercialism dood and capitalist indoctrination dood would just force you into a luxuary air conditioned 5 star hotel dood which I just don't want no part of dood.

Yea in Loas dood on an English teachers salary dood I can afford to rent a hut be eaten by moskitos and sweat dood like a pig which I think is just so cool. and of course dood I just wanna get my butt over that hole in the floor dood and go vegetarian!!!!

DO YOU KNOW THE TYPE I MEAN????/

Prufrock says:

Blue: Indeed I do know the type you mean. But FAR more prevalent, thanks to all these cheap flights, are these Brits whose spoken English conforms, either through affectation or naturally, to the lovely lager-lout or foough-bough YOB profile.

I won't bore you with their version of English except to remind you that they NEVER pronounce their T's and their D's if they can help it. And they are full of the quaintest of turns of phrase. And half their articulation lives in their throats about an inch below the voice box.
Their conversation runs the gamut of "birds" "shagging" "beer" and of course "FOOOOOUUGH--BOUGHOW (dunnit, ven ah, ah? EH? dunnit eh EH??)

So that T in city comes out as ci-gh-y
and T in bottle comes out as bo-gh-ough (that's bottle!) I could go on but you get it! There's a million other fuck-ups but you know what I'm talking about.

This bullet-headed waxen-pated exquisitely tattooed, glottal plosive brigade got into the breech ages ago with the likes of Mick Jagger pretending to the class of his market in the early Stones years but NOW we have fooough-boughow (football) and all the loutish pronunciations that come with that. The upper classes are currently just as guilty. They sound like a pack of Swedes or Icelanders at times but get closer. It's English sure enough.

You'd never get a pack of Franco-Canadians blabbing away in pea soup accented English trying to pass themselves off as native speakers so why do you get these characters, barely out of the peat-bogs and the Gordie highlands trying to get it through that that's the way English is spoawk wheah ah cum frum. So 'at's English innit??

Rest assured that their innocent affectation to blending into the Muang or Isaan environment by squat-pooping will last no longer than the first time their feet shoot out from under their less than supple knees and they do a bum-plant into the fruits of their labor. With no water around to wash the digested insects, leaves and twigs and animal offal off their arses the bloom will soon be off the rose if it isn't eaten first in the hunter-gatherer society they propose to visit.
What they don't realize is it is they who have been hunted and gathered most expertly by the rascally Isaan fuck-sprite with the work hardened body who's gladly traded a life of running from cobras and her drunk uncle to cruising for dick in Gulliver's.

This "hipper than thou" crowd "I'm gonna go live in a zoo for a while" has its moment in the sun along with the rest of us, and they deserve it. They've been doing the hipper than thou posture for ages. They'll always be with us. And sooner or later they end up as I mentioned above.

You never get 'round to saying "why 'BLUE'"? but may I hazard that you are perhaps a young lady who's newly-minted (after that slimming over-lander across India ;-) pulchritude was eagerly snatched up by a horny 'Markin backpacker on one of the island beaches until he got his bottle to shag one of these local rascalettes?

Not that you sound like a woman but that's usually the basis for such facile exclusionary commentary as you espouse.
In any event, rest assured that whatever MAY have inspired your angry but extemely accurate post re: the inarticulate common herd in these parts has its counterpart in the 'over 'ome crowd.
And yes. Fat, aging, bespectacled, "appreciative of what's on offer" and enjoying every day, I'm in there somewhere.
Where pray would you put yourself??
Enjoyed yer post,eh.

Dicer says:

"gladly traded a life of running from cobras and her drunk uncle to cruising for dick in Gulliver's."

Ask them about the cobras or the incestuous uncle and the best you'll get is a knowing grin or an "I no om him". Its all to do with - as I said in the past - out of mind out of sight..things go reverse around here. Evocatively put though.

Blue says:

Actually instead of taking the piss out of the Thais (as we love to do on this excellent website) I think a web site dedicated to Thailand’s arang "WANKERS" would be very appropriate.

I am starting to believe that the Chinese twat that recently got deposed was absolutely right when he made the assertion that Thailand should get rid of all the "dross" and attempt to attract a better class of tourist.

I have sat down Nana many a time and just stared in bewilderment at those old, pot bellied, bald, pea brained farangs prancing up and down the soy with their young Thai whore in tow.

Looking at them it is no wonder they get robbed because who in their right mind would really want to fuck these smelly old cunts from farang land.

....And then there’s the "Budget Traveler" The one who measures each sip of water out of his bottle.

" Well you know man I can only take 1 sip of water an hour man because I'm a budget traveler.

Don’t these cunts just make you sick???

....And then there’s the budget Hippy with those horrible greasy long dread locks and 5 earrings stuck through there nose.

....and then you guessed there’s the English Teacher who never earns enough money to even pay for a whore let alone pay for the whore and the bar fine on the same day.

These cunts proclaim to be living in paradise even though they haven’t got a pot to piss in and never will have as long as they stay here..

.....and then of course you have the septics (septic tank- yank) They are just in a class of their own. Some times when I speak to the septics out here I wonder why the Brits in Iraq are not shooting at them instead of the Iraqis.

.....and then there’s of course : I'm not only interested in the Thai women. For example, the nature, Buddha, the food ... it just makes me feel home.

I would be interested to find out if any 1 can extend the above list of “Wankers’

Perhaps I will set up my own Blog “Farang Wankers in Thailand"

seesaw says:

Hey Blue, yeah great idea - set up a blog dedicated to "arang WANKERS" in Thailand. Should be no roblems for a man of your alent.

Prufrock says:

Blue: Loved your septic tank thing (That's Cockney rhyming slang, isn't it.)

So whaddya do for a living, Blue?

Blue like you says:

You're right, Blue. Bangkok, and the world in general, would be such a far better place if every 1 thought and acted and wrote and drank and wore there hair just like you.

Oh, and I think I found someone we can add to your list of arang wankers ...

Andy says:

"Wankers and people who feel compelled to profile and list them all"

Why?

nick says:

How many blowjobs will 2 million get me?