A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand

[yinyang]

Monks walk past a statue depicting Iron Man, a US fictional superhero character, at Wat Tam Ru in Samut Prakan. The abbot decorated the temple with statues of US superheroes as Iron Man, Hulk and Superman, as well as Japanese manga series character Arale Norimaki to inspire and attract children and young people to visit the temple to learn about Buddhist teaching.PHOTO BY EPA

 

[yinyang]

A heart warming slice of thai mango

Brave student sees beyond his disability
Pawin Piamchai has been totally blind since the age of 12, but that hasn’t stopped him getting into an elite engineering faculty.

• Bangkok Post Published: 28/02/2016 at 12:41 AM

Now hear this: Pawin Piamthai, the first blind student accepted to Chulalongkorn’s engineering faculty, performs complex mathematical equations on a calculator equipped with an audio system.

Earlier this month, he passed all the written and oral exams to study computer engineering, which has always been his dream. He took the same test as the sighted students.

There was no special treatment involved in the selection process, with the exception that a volunteer read some of the questions for Mr Pawin to answer.

Chulalongkorn's faculty of engineering has never been known to compromise when it comes to the selection of its students. Mr Pawin was a top student at Saint Gabriel's College and passed entrance exams for other well-known colleges. He turned them down in favour of Chulalongkorn.
“I chose Chula because I want to be a computer engineer,” he told Spectrum.

The 23-year-old student is likely to blend in easily with the crowd of other freshies. He is obviously smart and pleasant to talk to. He can travel independently, commuting around town using trains and buses.

On the day of the interview, Mr Pawin travelled from his house in Samut Sakhon to meet Spectrum at a BTS station. Earlier in the day, he had been at a science fair at Mahidol University.

With a folding cane, a MacBook laptop and a few learning devices in his backpack, the young man likes to talk about his fascination with the rules of physics and science. “Did I go into too much scientific detail?” he said several times during the interview.

But when asked if he has ever been teased for his handicap by others and how he felt, Mr Pawin paused and said, “Yes. I felt a bit annoyed. But it’s already behind me and I don’t want to dwell on the subject.”

LEARNING CURVES
His journey to Chula has been extraordinary. The faculty of engineering is not for average students. It is not common for blind students to study science and maths subjects in their high school years because they involve graphs and charts. Most blind high school students would choose to study liberal arts.

“I would like to be a programmer or researcher. I am strongly interested in the work of computers, especially artificial intelligence, machines and neural networks,” he said.

Mr Pawin was not the only blind student at Saint Gabriel’s, which has nine visually impaired students. But his choice of subjects made him work much harder than the others.
“When I study with my sighted peers, I have to listen to the teachers and I take notes in Braille to memorise. But when teachers show graphs on the board, I cannot comprehend just by listening. I have to meet teachers after class and ask them to explain the charts and graphs for me.”

Charts and graphs aside, there are more problems for him to tackle. Most of the classroom textbooks, especially for science and maths, do not have Braille versions for visually impaired students.

“We need a Braille counterpart or a volunteer to read the book for me. Usually, my mother would read it and record it so I can listen whenever I want to, rewind and fast forward.”

In addition, Mr Pawin has a modified calculator with functions for visually impaired students. “It is more capable than a normal calculator. It can solve geometry problems by inputting the number of variables,” he said.

Mr Pawin puts the calculator close to his ear and presses a number to demonstrate the black calculator's audio system.Wooden frame with a wire net on top. To demonstrate, he places a piece of paper on top of it and writes the formula of methane chemical compound.
Mr Pawin used a ball-point pen to draw four Hs, representing hydrogen atoms, like the points of a compass, and one C, representing a carbon atom, at the centre. Pressure on the wire net makes bumps on the surface of the paper, which he feels to make sure he gets it right.

While drawing the edge of the diagram, he explains, “The formula of methane is that H is everything and it is connected with the C.

“I use this board along with the pen to write so I can touch the surface for my chemistry class.”
Mr Pawin learned how to use the board to overcome his visual impairment at the Bangkok School for the Blind. His parents made a cheaper version by using a wooden frame and wire net. “I have plenty of these boards at home,” he said.

LOSING HIS VISION
Mr Pawin was not totally blind at birth. He was diagnosed with glaucoma.

“The condition, I believe, makes your eye pressure go up really high and you cannot see things. The condition cannot be cured," he said.

He said when he was 14 days old, he underwent an operation to replace his corneas which gave him limited vision for 12 years. When he was 12 he underwent another eye operation, but that time it failed.

“The operation went wrong somehow and the retina detached from the optic nerve. I have been blind since then,” he said. “I was devastated. To tell you the truth, I was quite depressed. I had a period of OCD [obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms] for almost a year.
“Since I was little, I have been fascinated by computers. When I lost my sight, I thought it would be impossible for me to use a computer.” But something renewed his hope.

TALKING COMPUTERS
“I found that I can use a computer when I was nine years old. One day, my mother brought home a computer for her work. I snuck into her room and messed around with it. I tried to do various stuff. I found it very fascinating.

“My parents knew. They supported me on this quest. They brought me many learning materials and CDs. I really got into computers.”

When he became totally blind and could not use computers any more, he was heartbroken.
But later, he learned about software called Screen Readers, a program which can read the screen aloud for the blind.

“I contacted the Thailand Association of the Blind. They were very kind to give me the information that I can use the computer again. That gave me hope.

“I thought, maybe I might be able to learn to be a programmer. It brought me back to life.”

Mr Pawin showed Spectrum a MacBook equipped with Screen Readers which allows blind users to hear a speech synthesiser read text or Braille. “I can write a document, print it and submit it to teachers like other students.”

Mr Pawin went to the Bangkok School for the Blind when he was 16 to continue his studies. After passing primary level, he studied high school at Saint Gabriel’s College.

To make up for an absence of books in Braille, especially in maths, he found volunteers to read to him. His mother, an accountant, also played a pivotal role in helping him with his homework. “I am able to get help,” he said.

Some volunteers were concerned because they could not understand the complicated scientific texts they were reading. “I told the volunteers, just read it verbatim, that’s enough for me to understand.”

He was a straight-A student, with the exception of physical education. “I did not get an A because I could not play with others. The teachers asked me to write a paper instead.”

DEGREES OF DIFFICULTY
Despite his disability, Mr Pawin said he has much to be grateful for. An only child, he said he wished he had brothers and sisters but always received encouragement from his parents and friends.

He returns regularly to the School for the Blind to mentor and inspire young students. He is also thankful to all the teachers and friends from Wat Tha Sao Primary School in Samut Sakhon, Saint Gabriel's, the National Science and Technology Development Agency for accepting him under its scholarship programme, and Chulalongkorn University for giving him the opportunity.

Asked how he has stayed motivated, he said, “I have loved science since I was a child. I am a man of science. I love to be able to discover something new, I love to read about computers, maths and physics.

"The thought of being able to continue my studies to be able to go to college has encouraged me.”
Mr Pawin plans to study to doctorate level. He hopes to explore more possibilities to use computer science to help disabled people. “Science makes things possible,” he said.

He said he wants to use his knowledge of computers to create devices to help disabled people.
Asked what he wants to be in the future, he said he may become a scientist.
“In fact, I have always wanted to be a teacher for young children.
"But I think a teacher’s salary may not be enough,” he laughed.

by the numbers: Pawin Tiemchai has a range of equipment to help him with his studies, including a calculator with an audio system, an abacus and a board with which he plots and feels graphs.

It all adds up: With the help of an abacus, Mr Pawin is able to track and solve complex mathematical equations by feel.

Getting around: Mr Pawin relies on assistance from staff at the BTS stations while in transit.

Lots to like: With the help of built-in audio software, Mr Pawin is able to use apps like Facebook on his iPhone.

Describing himself as “man of science”, Pawin Piamchai refuses to succumb to his fate. In August, he will become the first blind student at one of the most selective colleges, the faculty of engineering at Chulalongkorn University.

 

[johnny333]

Re: A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand ? Feasible?

Advocator of Sufficiency Economy.

I was told that some of the royals are more popular than others with the common Thai citizens. I'm not that familiar with Thai royalty.

Is this princess popular? I heard that the male prince who is married to the porn actress is not that popular.

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

Re: A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand ? Feasible?

I was told that some of the royals are more popular than others with the common Thai citizens. I'm not that familiar with Thai royalty.

Is this princess popular? I heard that the male prince who is married to the porn actress is not that popular.

She's more popular than sia-O the crown prince who is rumored to be in exile.

 

[Froggy]

Re: A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand ? Feasible?

I was told that some of the royals are more popular than others with the common Thai citizens. I'm not that familiar with Thai royalty.

Is this princess popular? I heard that the male prince who is married to the porn actress is not that popular.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lèse_majesté_in_Thailand Thai Criminal Code elaborates in section 112: "Whoever defames, insults or threatens the king, queen, heir-apparent, or regent shall be punished with imprisonment of three to fifteen years."

Sorry no comment

 

[Froggy]

Krung Ten Restaurant






Very good service at Krung Ten






Soft shell crab


Fried chicken with salt and Thai herb


Seaweed soup


Fish cake


Cabbage with fish sauce


Roe river prawns


Deep sea pomfret with pickled plum

 

[yinyang]

No prizes to guess who :p

 

[KopiMeng]

Deleted by moderator for graffiti.

"First warning!"

 

[Froggy]

Just discovered a great Japanese restaurant, Sushi Hiro.

Sushi Hiro had grown to become 8 restaurants in Bangkok latest 2 opened at The Crystal and The Promenade at Fashion Island. Sushi H

iro is well known for their very fresh seafood and wide variety, one could even get puffer fish, lion fish, blue fin tuna (whole fish) and most Hokkaido seafood.

Was at The Promenade restaurant on Monday

 

[Froggy]

Started with this, don't be fooled like me



this is foie gras sushi, yes I though was unagi, this foie gras was perfectly done, caramelized and slightly crispy on the skin while soft and juicy inside.

Toro and salmon sashimi - love the cut, thick and firm to the bite


Toro closeup


Kanpachi sashimi


Uni


Canadian lobsters and geoduck sashimi


Fresh lobster soup


Sushi wrapped with fresh salmon with stuffed avocado and foie gras


Unagi

 

[yinyang]

Tax breaks for personal income tax. Small wonder, Froggy's living it up :p

New tweaks planned to thin tax rolls
Personal allowance to double in restructure

• Bangkok Post Published: 2/03/2016 at 07:29 AM
  

Individuals with a monthly income of up to 30,000 baht are likely to be exempt from personal income tax payment as the ceiling personal allowance could be doubled to 120,000 baht, says an informed source at the Revenue Department.

At present, those earning 20,000 baht a month or less are tax-exempt, based on a personal allowance cap of 60,000 baht, a 30,000-baht tax allowance and the exemption for taxable income of 150,000 baht or less.

Apart from raising the maximum annual expense allowance, wider taxable income bands are expected to be included in the new personal income tax restructuring to ease the tax burden of earners, the source said.

The source said for example, those earning taxable income in a range of 150,001 to 1 million baht a year may be taxed only 5%, the current range for those earning 150,001-300,000 baht. The new range for the top tax bracket of 35% may start at annual taxable income of 6 million baht, up from 4 million now, said the source.

Under the current tax structure with seven brackets, taxable income of 150,001 to 300,000 baht is charged at 5%, 300,001 to 500,000 baht is charged at 10%, 500,001 to 750,000 baht is charged at 15%, 750,001 to 1 million baht is charged at 20%, over 1 million baht to 2 million is charged at 25%, more than 2 million to 4 million baht is charged at 30%, and over 4 million baht is charged at 35%.

A broader taxable income band would help both income earners and salaried workers, the source said.
The source said both Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong and the Fiscal Policy Office, the Finance Ministry's think tank, oppose reducing the seven tax brackets because they are worried high-income earners will reap the most benefit from personal income tax reductions.

Moreover, trimming the highest personal income tax rate to 30% from 35% will lead to almost 100 billion baht in lost revenue. The government will only lose 30-40 billion baht if tax rates are kept unchanged but the taxable income is increased in each bracket, the source said.

Revenue Department data from 2014 shows the largest taxpayer group was those earning taxable income of 150,001-300,000 baht per year, comprising 1.63 million people. Only 24,700 people declared taxable income of more than 4 million baht.

Revenue Department director-general Prasong Poontaneat recently said the new personal income tax structure will seek cabinet approval this month, coming into force in 2017. The overhaul is pending Mr Apisak's deliberation.
The changes aim to benefit low and middle-income earners and create fairness for those who pay the top rate of 35%.

 

[jayeho]

like jp sushi di mak! how much total ?

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

Sasiwan Mokkhasen
29 February 2016, Last update at 18:20:00 GMT

Street Man Beaten to Death, Dumped in Canal by Drunks

Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem Photo: Heinrich Damm
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter

BANGKOK — Pankacha Khlonkrata and three of his friends, all drunk, were walking near Hua Lamphong Railway Station when they found Teera Phromkot lying in the street.

Pankacha believed the man laughed at his group, he would later tell police, so he approached and ordered him to do push-ups for their amusement.
It was Teera’s badly beaten found floating Friday in a canal between the century-old station and Chinatown, where Pankacha told police they dumped him after savagely beating him for failing to do as requested.
Police arrested four men on suspicion of the crime Sunday and later said they confessed to beating Teera. They dragged him into a dark area where police said they kicked him in the head and stomach until he lost consciousness. Then they dumped him in Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem.
Somehow, they told police they were surprised to learn he had died.
Pankacha, 42, was just released from prison in April and had a rap sheet including fraud, gambling, gun possession and more. Suspect Kwanchai Yamtoe, 39, had priors for drug-related crimes, robbery, interfering with a peace officer and escaping detention. He had been free since October 2014.
The other two suspects are Somkiat Phakheekao, 20 and Kiattisak Sattharattanatrai, 18.
All of them will be charged with murder, police said.

 

[KopiMeng]

this thread so nice. i like very much. i come here got lots of pictures to see. really good thread.

from bottom of my heart ok.

i muack muack all of you.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

this thread so nice. i like very much. i come here got lots of pictures to see. really good thread.

from bottom of my heart ok.

i muack muack all of you.

Glad you like it.
Special thread for all Thai lovers....shit stirrers kindly stay away

 

[KopiMeng]

Glad you like it.
Special thread for all Thai lovers....shit stirrers kindly stay away

i agree i agree. I love thia thread too.

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

Five Injured After Attempted Robbery at Chinatown Gun Shop

Police Lt. Gen. Sanit Mahatavorn investigating the scene where four men tried to rob a gun store. Photo: Matichon Online
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter

BANGKOK — Five people were injured in a gun battle at a firearms shop near Chinatown on Friday morning.

Four Chinese-speaking men armed with BB guns and knives reportedly went inside gun store “Interarms Limited Partnership” on Charoen Krung Road at around 10am and attempted to rob the place. The owner and staff fought back by shooting at them, police said.
Five were injured: the store owner and a member of his staff were stabbed by the suspects, while three of the would-be robbers were shot, according to police reports. All of them were sent to hospitals in the area.
One of the suspects was not injured and fled from the scene but was later apprehended at Sirichai Soi 1.
Lt.Col. Somkasem Jarak of Samranrat police station said police have arrested all four suspects. The suspects used BB guns in their attempt to hold up the place, he said.
Somkasem also described the robbers as Chinese speakers, though their nationality has not been confirmed.

​

Photo from the crime scene by Matichon​

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/153734

• 

​

A powerful gas explosion on a boat shuttling service between Wat Sribunruang temple and Pratunam in Klong Saensaep canal this morning left at least 40 passengers injured, two seriously.
The boat, operated by Krobkrua Khonsong and loaded with over 60 passengers, was sailing from Wat Sribunruang pier to Pratunam when a thunderous explosion happened in the engine room.
They were admitted to Bangkok, Paetpanya, and Piyawej hospital, two of them in serious condition.
The explosion damaged the boat’s engine room but fortunately it happened while it was about to anchor at Wat Thep Leela pier.
Initial inspection of the boat revealed that the boat is powered by LNG gas, not diesel.
However the gas tanks were left intact but the boat engine was badly damaged, indicating it was not from the tanks.
The company executive Chavalit Maetayaprapas said the boat service will continue as usual and was not disrupted by the explosion.
He said the company operates the service for up to 30 years and thus was the explosion was the first time.
Marine Department is sending technicians to join the company’s technicians to inspect and find the exact cause of the explosion.
The engine room is at the rear of the boat and the explosion happened at 6.20 am on the first trip of the boat service.

 

[yinyang]

People take pictures of 1,600 paper-marche during a flash mob at Sanam Luang. The small pandas sculptures, designed by French artist Paulo Grangeon, were scheduled for a flash mob in nine other locations in Bangkok, aiming to raise funds for the World Wide Fund for Nature.PHOTO BY PATIPAT JANTHONG

 

[yinyang]

MILF behind face job of celeb singer, hitting media lately:p

Xeping Chaiyasan, the woman behind the youthful look of 59-year-old singer Surachai Sombatchareon, goes to the Office of the Consumer Protection Board to defend a surgery project.PHOTO BY TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD