Thailand Thread

[*Robert* 2]

It was certainly quite an interesting experience being only 22 and teaching hundreds of beautiful Thai women between 18 and 24. I taught at Assumption University (ABAC), which is known for having actors, singers and children of politicians among its student body. Whenever I told taxi drivers where I taught, they'd ask "nak-su-saa suay mai" (Aren't the female students beautiful?) I'd replay "suay mak leoy" (You bet they are!) "tae-wa som-phan mai gin gai wat" (But the monk doesn't eat chicken in the temple - Teachers can't sleep with their students).

That would always send them into a fit of laughter. I loved the taxi drivers; some of the funniest, kindest, most interesting and informed folks I met in Bangkok. I'd always make a point to strike up a conversation, and once they saw I spoke Thai, they would ramble on and on. Another thing I really miss.

One of my freinds, and a room mate of mine in the Navy went to Assumption when he was younger living in Thailand accompanying his family. He has now lived in Bangkok for over 20 years! Excellent school!

[daboyz 36]

Stay away from Lao Khao. I came back over a month ago, and I'm still hungover.

[bill13060 0]

Stay away from Lao Khao. I came back over a month ago, and I'm still hungover.

Light weight!!!

[daboyz 36]

Stay away from Lao Khao. I came back over a month ago, and I'm still hungover.

Light weight!!!

Laugh. That stuff is brutal. You can buy it in plastic bags. Surprised I'm not blind.

[*Robert* 2]

I think the difference between us is that your "as the Romans" philosophy - as expressed above - appears to extend an uncritical "it's all good" attitude to whatever goes on in that foreign place.

I have an "as the Romans" philosophy too, but I am quite willing to say that when something those foreigners are doing seems wrong to me - call it for what it is. It's wrong.

Wow, Ron, didn't know you were such the writer! Very well said and written. (Unlike some other rants I've seen around here! )

I wouldn't go so far as saying that I have an "it's all good" attitude, but when there is nothing I can do about a particular law or policy in a foreign country, I'd rather not ruffle any feathers. When I first started going overseas in the Navy, they always told us NOT to discuss politics with foreign nationals, and for the most part, that is what I try to do. When I go overseas, I avoid wearing anything that conspicuously identifies me as an American, because I don't want to become a target. Basically, I go out of my way to avoid being the stereotypical “ugly American”. There are definitely a lot of things I see wrong in Thailand, but it’s hard for me to speak out against them when I don’t actually live there, and might not know all the facts. I don’t even like to hear the news here at home, and prefer to stay somewhat in the dark. I know that’s not being a good citizen, but honestly, unless something is happening directly to me, I’d rather not know about it.

[*Robert* 2]

Stay away from Lao Khao. I came back over a month ago, and I'm still hungover.

Light weight!!!

Laugh. That stuff is brutal. You can buy it in plastic bags. Surprised I'm not blind.

I'm just a Chang beer fan and Sang Som drinker! I have some Chang here at home right now.... just love it!

[daboyz 36]

Stay away from Lao Khao. I came back over a month ago, and I'm still hungover.

Light weight!!!

Laugh. That stuff is brutal. You can buy it in plastic bags. Surprised I'm not blind.

I'm just a Chang beer fan and Sang Som drinker! I have some Chang here at home right now.... just love it!

Every time I would buy Sang Som, my wife would hide it. I drank a bunch of it on the bus coming back from Laos after a visa run. Stepped off the bus, and fell on my head on Sukhumvit. 2 nights in Samitivej hospital.

I'm not allowed near it now. Probably a good rule.

[*Robert* 2]

Thanks Ron. I wanted to relax tomorrow. Now I feel like I have a history paper due.

I'll get on it.

You have no idea who you're messing with, dude! I'll defer to you in a knife fight anyday, but when it comes to constitutional and civil rights issues, let's just say I read Federalist Papers the way some guys read the sports section. I LIVE this stuff, man.

Peace.

Dayum, Ron! Now that I've read all the way through what you wrote to Scott, I get a very good idea what your political inclinations are! Damn Left Wing Liberal!!! :lol:

I guess too would have to say I don't agree with you 100%, but you make some excellent points concerning freedom of speech, but only as it applies to US Citizens. Where I disagree with you is when you apply our interpretations of the First Amendment to foreign countries.

[*Robert* 2]

Stay away from Lao Khao. I came back over a month ago, and I'm still hungover.

Light weight!!!

Laugh. That stuff is brutal. You can buy it in plastic bags. Surprised I'm not blind.

I'm just a Chang beer fan and Sang Som drinker! I have some Chang here at home right now.... just love it!

Every time I would buy Sang Som, my wife would hide it. I drank a bunch of it on the bus coming back from Laos after a visa run. Stepped off the bus, and fell on my head on Sukhumvit. 2 nights in Samitivej hospital.

I'm not allowed near it now. Probably a good rule.

Ouch!!!

I didn't start drinking Sang Som until I started hanging out with guys in the Royal Thai Air Force. When I lived on Kwajalein (out in the middle of the Pacific, Marshall Islands), every now and then a RTAF C-130 would stop for fuel and spend the night on its way to Hawaii. These guys were GREAT!!! They would cook a $hit load of food, and we’d play music and drink all night long. I would always buy a couple cases of Heineken, because I know how much Thai men love that beer. Any subsequent planes, even though they had different crews on-board, would come bearing gifts, as a result of my generosity to the previous crew. (Another great thing about the Thai people!) Needless to say, I really miss hanging out with the guys. Two times I had them over to my house, which wasn’t that big, but we still managed to squeeze 21 RTAF guys into the house, and had a great time!

[scandal 951]

Stay away from Lao Khao. I came back over a month ago, and I'm still hungover.

Light weight!!!

Laugh. That stuff is brutal. You can buy it in plastic bags. Surprised I'm not blind.

I'm just a Chang beer fan and Sang Som drinker! I have some Chang here at home right now.... just love it!

Every time I would buy Sang Som, my wife would hide it. I drank a bunch of it on the bus coming back from Laos after a visa run. Stepped off the bus, and fell on my head on Sukhumvit. 2 nights in Samitivej hospital.

I'm not allowed near it now. Probably a good rule.

Ouch!!!

I didn't start drinking Sang Som until I started hanging out with guys in the Royal Thai Air Force. When I lived on Kwajalein (out in the middle of the Pacific, Marshall Islands), every now and then a RTAF C-130 would stop for fuel and spend the night on its way to Hawaii. These guys were GREAT!!! They would cook a $hit load of food, and we’d play music and drink all night long. I would always buy a couple cases of Heineken, because I know how much Thai men love that beer. Any subsequent planes, even though they had different crews on-board, would come bearing gifts, as a result of my generosity to the previous crew. (Another great thing about the Thai people!) Needless to say, I really miss hanging out with the guys. Two times I had them over to my house, which wasn’t that big, but we still managed to squeeze 21 RTAF guys into the house, and had a great time!

I also find that Chang is my favorite Thai beer. I drink Singha and Tiger as well, but prefer Chang. Here near my house there's a liquor store with an excellent selection of beers from around the world, as well as great domestic microbrews. They carry Singha, but not Chang . The odd thing is that in Israel, where I had a much more limited international selection available, I could easily get Singha AND Chang at the local supermarket.

Regarding Sang Som - I tend to be very snobbish about my whiskey drinking habits. I'm primarily a single malt scotch kinda guy. I stock my liquor cabinet with Bowmore, Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Laphroaig - good peaty Islay malts. I also keep around some decent blends (Black Label, Famous Grouse), Canadian ryes and Jack for mixing with ice or soda, but I drink the malts neat. So, Sang Som is just not my idea of how I want to poison my liver.

But... on the last trip to Thailand in Sept, Thanti+me were in the islands, on Kho Phee Phee (sp? - I'll let you experts correct my Anglicized spelling of that Thai name). Anyway, there was a beach-front bar near our hotel that had a fire jumping show. They had these guys (and girls!) jumping through hoops of fire and doing other crazy acrobatic stunts like juggling flaming batons, etc. It was very cool. So Thanti and me sat down and ordered one of those "bucket" gizmos, where they fill a plastic bucket (picture your typical kid's bucket for the seashore, maybe 1 quart's worth of volume) with a full flask of Sang Som + coke and ice. As the ice melts off, they refill you. Thanti is not much of a drinker, but she was sipping at it. I probably had 80% to her 20%. We knocked off the full bucket, and by the end of the evening WE were the ones jumping through the fire ring on the beach, quite pissed. Needless to say it's a good thing we were facing towards the sea because inevitably somebody's jeans were gonna catch fire, so it was good to have the instant fire extinguisher by falling into the surf. THAT was a hangover the next day!

[scandal 951]

Dayum, Ron! Now that I've read all the way through what you wrote to Scott, I get a very good idea what your political inclinations are! Damn Left Wing Liberal!!! :lol:

Yup, that's me! Registered Democrat and proud of it.

I have had the distinction of voting for left wing parties in national elections in three countries.

-Liberal (and even NDP, once in my young and misguided years) in Canada.

-Labor and Meretz in Israel (in the 2006 election I voted for the centrist Kadimah)

-Democrat in the US.

I guess too would have to say I don't agree with you 100%, but you make some excellent points concerning freedom of speech, but only as it applies to US Citizens. Where I disagree with you is when you apply our interpretations of the First Amendment to foreign countries.

Agreeing to disagree, in a civil fashion, is what it's all about imho. I think earlier on in this thread someone was worried that we were getting touchy and descending into a flamefest. I don't think that's true at all! I LOVE having an opportunity to discuss these kinds of matters. Esp. in a thread that freely mixes in banter of knife fights, whores, adolescent behavior and drunkenness along with the serious blather. I love that contrast, as we jump back and forth.

[daboyz 36]

Dayum, Ron! Now that I've read all the way through what you wrote to Scott, I get a very good idea what your political inclinations are! Damn Left Wing Liberal!!! :lol:

Yup, that's me! Registered Democrat and proud of it.

I have had the distinction of voting for left wing parties in national elections in three countries.

-Liberal (and even NDP, once in my young and misguided years) in Canada.

-Labor and Meretz in Israel (in the 2006 election I voted for the centrist Kadimah)

-Democrat in the US.

I guess too would have to say I don't agree with you 100%, but you make some excellent points concerning freedom of speech, but only as it applies to US Citizens. Where I disagree with you is when you apply our interpretations of the First Amendment to foreign countries.

Agreeing to disagree, in a civil fashion, is what it's all about imho. I think earlier on in this thread someone was worried that we were getting touchy and descending into a flamefest. I don't think that's true at all! I LOVE having an opportunity to discuss these kinds of matters. Esp. in a thread that freely mixes in banter of knife fights, whores, adolescent behavior and drunkenness along with the serious blather. I love that contrast, as we jump back and forth.

I will agree with the bolded part 100%.

[anya-D 8]

Stay away from Lao Khao. I came back over a month ago, and I'm still hungover.

LOL talking about เหล้าขาว เหล้าดอง is quite good too - I have to track down the rice wine.. I tried it when I was in the university and I couldnt find it again.. it's really good.

I'm home - finally!!!

I like reading all these conversations

[*Robert* 2]

LOL talking about เหล้าขาว เหล้าดอง is quite good too - I have to track down the rice wine.. I tried it when I was in the university and I couldnt find it again.. it's really good.

I'm home - finally!!!

I like reading all these conversations

Yeah!!! Anya is "home"! Welcome back Anya, glad you made it home safely!

I'm sure I can speak for the other guys when I say that we enjoy your participation as well!

[*Robert* 2]

Agreeing to disagree, in a civil fashion, is what it's all about imho. I think earlier on in this thread someone was worried that we were getting touchy and descending into a flamefest. I don't think that's true at all! I LOVE having an opportunity to discuss these kinds of matters. Esp. in a thread that freely mixes in banter of knife fights, whores, adolescent behavior and drunkenness along with the serious blather. I love that contrast, as we jump back and forth.

I will agree with the bolded part 100%.

And I double agree 100%, and have to LOL at the part in blue!