welcome
s wales uk
rob
s wales uk
rob
Happy rider from Thailand
- Thread starter firstime911
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SilverBullet
Well-Known Member
Full time 2004-2007 but probably a couple dozen trips prior to that. Been spending my time in Philippines lately. I have a small bike there and been doing a lot of island jumping rides. My tickets for April, May and July were all cancelled by airlines. Putang ina COVID-19. I would fly tomorrow if I could.
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PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
I'm currently riding a Husky TR650 Terra, but am considering getting a S10 within the next year....If this COVID and no pillion debacle runs its course the way I trust it will. Maybe if you are in Manila we can meet up... I am in the south, on the outskirts.
Soi 6 . Still haven't recovered. Did a Month in Thailand mostly Phukhet. Absolutely wonderful people there. Unless you have been you cant really understand it.
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
Thai culture is wonderful. Their general attitude to life is to make the best of whatever poo is thrown up whilst enjoying themselves. The same is true in Laos. When I was was teaching Ingrid in schools, colleges etc I would always listen out for "mai sanuk" (not fun/too serious). Anything that had too much gravitas or seriousness just closed the shutters.
Same is true of the language: "len" is playing/not serious. So, poot (speak) len is playing at speaking, or joking; dern (walk) len is playing at walking, or strolling; norn (sleep) len is playing at sleeping, or snoozing, etc. Some of the language is very similar to English: phoo mai mee leurk - crab doesn't have blood/can't get blood from a stone...and older sayings can be very thought-provoking and similar to English sayings: Nahm mah, plaa ghin mott. Nahm lot, mott ghin plaa - When the water comes fish eat the ants. Went the water recedes the ants eat the fish.
They are very pragmatic too. Most reasonably well-off Thai men have a miah noi (small wife/mistress) in the Chinese(?) tradition. In fact, in a study 48% of men admitted to having a mistress. On the other hand, the wives in the same study admitted to having the same - to the tune of fifty two percent
.
They are generally very tolerant too. Never test it though. After a very silly confrontation with a local, my extremely high-up government friend and student turned up to sort things out. We drove around in his AMG for an hour until we found the guy. I just wanted the situation resolved so that no further silliness came from it. My friend opened up the armrest and asked me - in all seriousness - what I wanted to do to resolve the problem*** as I stared at a silver Berreta(?) pistol - it was resolved peacefully. There are serious mafia in all the tourist areas, including Khaosan, so it is important to play nice.
I love Thailand!!
***the guy was a meth head and the argument was about a public phone that I used for too long... there was another 100m away...
Same is true of the language: "len" is playing/not serious. So, poot (speak) len is playing at speaking, or joking; dern (walk) len is playing at walking, or strolling; norn (sleep) len is playing at sleeping, or snoozing, etc. Some of the language is very similar to English: phoo mai mee leurk - crab doesn't have blood/can't get blood from a stone...and older sayings can be very thought-provoking and similar to English sayings: Nahm mah, plaa ghin mott. Nahm lot, mott ghin plaa - When the water comes fish eat the ants. Went the water recedes the ants eat the fish.
They are very pragmatic too. Most reasonably well-off Thai men have a miah noi (small wife/mistress) in the Chinese(?) tradition. In fact, in a study 48% of men admitted to having a mistress. On the other hand, the wives in the same study admitted to having the same - to the tune of fifty two percent
.They are generally very tolerant too. Never test it though. After a very silly confrontation with a local, my extremely high-up government friend and student turned up to sort things out. We drove around in his AMG for an hour until we found the guy. I just wanted the situation resolved so that no further silliness came from it. My friend opened up the armrest and asked me - in all seriousness - what I wanted to do to resolve the problem*** as I stared at a silver Berreta(?) pistol - it was resolved peacefully. There are serious mafia in all the tourist areas, including Khaosan, so it is important to play nice.
I love Thailand!!
***the guy was a meth head and the argument was about a public phone that I used for too long... there was another 100m away...
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Checkswrecks
Ungenear to broked stuff. LiB battery consulting
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I've worked in Thailand several times and would love to go back.
Maybe reconnect with my translator friend:
Maybe reconnect with my translator friend:
Nice photo.
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
Great pic. Ayuthaya, the old capital, is beautiful.
Thailand, unlike the Philippines, always feels far more like an exotic holiday. The food, the attitude of Thais, the culture - I will return too and with my Filipina wife's blessing. She loves Thailand (except for me having to explain why she is not Thai to Thais that expect her to speak Thai
. Her looking Thai and not speaking confuses Thais and they think she is being aloof (she gets a quizzical look). Once I explain, it is situation normal - back to laughing, joking and being polite)According to legend, Thailand has never in its history been conquered. The Kymer (Cambodians) used to send raiding parties to Ayuthaya. The Thai response was to pack their valuables and leave. The Kymer would then stay in Ayuthaya for a while, then leave...... Gone now? The Thais would return
I recall learning many years ago that the French were fighting (or were on the cusp of fighting) the Thais and, realising the odds were not favorable, the Thais gave the area to the French as a gift. I have not checked this, but it sounds like a very pragmatic thing that a Thai would do...
SilverBullet
Well-Known Member
Exactly the same for me. 555 they would think she was stuck up until I told them. Didn't help any that I would speak some Thai so they assumed she was Thai. We spent Feb 2020 there, last trip before COVID craziness hit. Planning to return in Sept as we'll both be fully vaccinated then....She loves Thailand (except for me having to explain why she is not Thai to Thais that expect her to speak Thai
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
Yep, same here. I would start talking and then they would talk to my wife who doesn't speak Thai and would they think she was stuck up. You don't often see Thais making faces , even subtle ones, but it was very apparent very early on that they find aloof behavior very unsociable and their "face" was upset enough to show it - subtle as it was.
You'll be fortunate to be vaccinated. We're having to go private here and still waiting. Otherwise it looks like 2023.