1. Take a Bath or Shower
One of the worst things you could do when going out on a date (especially if it is your first date) is to turn up unshaven, looking dirty and smelling. Women are the cleaner of the species and will partly judge you on how hygienic you are. After all, you would be appalled if she turned up for the date looking like a mutt dog with tangled fur that hadn’t bathed for days.

It doesn’t cost anything to take a bath and to make an effort to look and smell nice. Remember, bad breath and body odor are an instant turn off and she will assume that this is how you are all the time even if you are just having a bad day. As a result, she won’t be able to see beyond your appearance.

2. Arrive on Time
Whatever you do, don’t turn up late. Turning up late will send out all the wrong impressions. At first she may think she’s been stood up, but after arriving late her opinion will change to you being unreliable or not caring enough about her to be on time. If you are picking her up from her home then it is advisable to turn up five minute before you are due. Any earlier and you might catch her adjusting her makeup or still getting ready. Five minutes early is the earliest you should arrive. But never be late.

3. Give Her a Thoughtful Gift
A woman feels special when the man she is with gives her a thoughtful gift. What is a thoughtful gift? Well, you obvious know some things about a woman before a first date that came from phone conversations, emails, etc. Take what you know and buy her an appropriate date gift. For example, let’s say that the woman really likes golf. There are companies that make chocolate golf sets - a miniature chocolate club with a chocolate tee and chocolate golf ball. This would make a great first date gift. For a generic thoughtful gift, buy a chocolate rose. That’s always appropriate without being overboard.

4. Be a Gentleman
Hold the door open for her, let her walk through the doors first, pull her chair, and be polite to her along with the people around you. Women like to feel special and by treating her like a lady she will think you are fantastic.

5. Compliment Her
The first thing to say to her is you look beautiful before you even ask how she is. Keep up the compliments throughout your date, but do not go over board (3-4 for the night should be more than enough). A woman loves to be complimented, to feel beautiful and to think that you are attracted to her. The more sincere and observant your compliment, the bigger impact it will have. But remember again not to go overboard. More than four compliments may make you appear fake and not real.

6. Listen to Her and Ask Questions
Nobody wants to spend the whole night listening to someone talk about themselves. But you do have to get to know each other. Ask her questions, but more importantly listen to what she has to say. A woman is attracted to a man who is genuinely interested in hearing what she has to say. Spend a lot more time asking her questions and letting her talk than talking yourself.

7. Prepare for the Conversation
The last thing you want is to be sitting at a meal with nothing to talk about. Think about your date and what you would like to know about her. You may think that it is easy to talk and that you will not run out of questions to ask or that you will automatically have the answers but until you are in the situation, you have no idea what it will be like. Avoid talking about past relationships or other women while on the date. Keep your focus, attention, and conversation fully on her.

8. Pay for the Date
It’s virtually always appropriate for a gentleman to offer to pay for the date. When a man takes it upon himself to pay for the date, he is displaying that old act of “chivalry” that is missing from many men these days. However, some women feel more comfortable going “dutch” and if she insists on this, then don’t resist. To avoid awkwardness, make sure you let her know before the date that you plan on paying for it.

9. The Goodnight Kiss
Some women prefer not to kiss after a first date, while others may be disappointed if the guy doesn’t even try. There is no easy answer to this question. Body language and chemistry throughout the night is key in the decision you make. If it feels right, then you may want to consider making the move. If it doesn’t feel right then a friendly hug may be more appropriate. Remember, you are in Thailand!

10. I’ll Call You
Only tell her that you will call her if you mean it and intend on seeing her again. Do not, under any circumstances, tell her you will call her if you are not interested and have no plans to call her. In this case, when saying goodbye, just say, “It was nice meeting you” and wish her luck. Or you could just say good night, smile and walk a way. But if you do like her and are interested, then you must let her know.

By Joe Tracy, Publisher of Online Dating Magazine

The competition for attention on online dating services is intense. So intense, in fact, that some people resort to lying or posting outdated photos to try and attract that next date.

It’s vital that you are honest in your profile and through your photos so that you don’t meet (or interact) with others under false pretenses.

So then what are some important things you can do to build a better profile? Here are three specific profile tips you can use to improve your profile right now.

1) Avoid Negativity
Have you ever gone out on a first date where the person you were with complained about his/her work, ex, etc? Such negative talk is a major turnoff. Likewise, negativity is a major turnoff in your profile. Being positive is like a magnet. Being negative is like wearing a skunk aroma. Here’s how one person actually began her profile:

“To be quite honest, I have been putting this off as long as possible. I have friends who use Match and have had some terrible dates.” This begs to ask, “what are you doing here?” Now contrast that to this profile introduction:

“I’ve heard online dating is a great way to meet awesome people and that’s why I want to meet you.”

Which one of these profile intros is more attractive? The one who wants to date “losers” or the one that wants to date “winners”? Psychologically everyone wants to be a winner. Therefore in your profile, avoid anything negative like the plague. Be positive.

If you have anything negative in your profile (”I hate country music,” “the last guy I dated was a liar and cheater,” “I’m sick of being alone,” “I’m sick of the bar scene,” etc.) then go edit it out immediately and replace it with something positive (”I love independent music and artists, like…”). Always be positive; not just in your profile, but also in life.

2) Go From Typical to Unique
Read this profile and tell me if you recognize it:

“I am a fun person who loves movies and music. I like walks on the beach, good conversation, and dining out. I’m looking for someone who is fun and can make me laugh.”

Unfortunately, the above describes most profiles - typical and non-informative. Beef up your profile to be more descriptive and unique. Instead of “I like movies,” say “my favorite movie is ____ because _______” or use a movie character to describe you. “I’m a lot like _____ in ______ because _______.”

Use clever words that are descriptive. Instead of saying “on hot days I like to go to the ocean or on a hike,” say, “on a sizzling day my adventurous side leads me to traversing the ocean on a sailboat or discovering a new waterfall that I can cool off under.”

Instead of “I like to discover new things,” say, “I’m a lot like Indiana Jones in that I love exploring the mysteries of life, while educating my mind to appreciate new things.”

Strive to make your profile unordinary by spicing it up sentence by sentence. Be descriptive, unique, and fun!

3) Filter Out Unwanteds
Your profile isn’t about getting responses. It is about getting responses from the type of person you are attracted to. Therefore, use descriptions to help narrow your focus to what you want so that you get responses from who you’re looking for.

Instead of “I’m looking for someone fun and humorous,” say, “I’m looking for a lighthearted man between the ages of 24 and 29 who enjoys the humorous side of life. If you are clean-shaven and can hold a conversation during a 150 mile car journey, then we may be a match. Email me.”

In the above example, you created three filters - an age filter (24 and 29), and appearance filter (clean-shaven) and a communication filter (good-communicator). And you did it without offending. But you also created a response filter (”…we may be a match. Email me.”) You’ve helped tell the person what the next step is if they meet your criteria. You’ve created a call to action, which will help direct interested parties to email you versus waiting.

Bonus Tip
Change your header message and main photo often. It keeps it fresh and interesting for people doing searches and increases the chances of it being viewed. Be creative. View some of our Top 10 lists of funny and philosophical profile headers.

A great way to make your profile better is to analyze profiles you really like. What is it that you like about them? What makes the profiles different?

Now what will you do to make your profile different?

- The King and Queen of Thailand as well as their Royal Family have been in supreme reverence. The people will not put up wiht foreigners talking About them in as insolent and disrespectful way.

- As Thailand is Buddhist country, all Buddhist statutes are held very sacred.

- It is customary when visiting a Buddhist monastery or place to dress up. Remove your shoes before stepping inside the main hall or ordination hall where there is a Buddhist image.

- Never touch or lean against a Buddha image. Ladies must not touch or reach out to a Buddhist monk, offer or receive anything directly.

- It is customary when entering a Thai house to take off you shoes and leave them outside the door.

- Thai woman are taught to be conservative therefore it is considered rude to touch them without their permission.

- Address Thai people by their first names and is very polite to use the title “khun” for adults.

- Foreigners should also be polite and respectful towards elderly Thai people.

- Learn a few Thai phrases. Thai people really appreciate this. Also try the local dishes

- Pay respect by standing to the national anthem. It is played twice a day (at 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m.) as well as before every film at the cinema.

- Never touch Thai people on the head as it is considered a special part of the body.

- Never step on money, the national flag or anything that has the King’s image on it.

- Never point the soles of your feet directly at Thai people or holy images as it is regarded and insult in Thai traditions.

Here in Thailand, there are so many mixed Thai-Western marriages. It has really exploded over the last decade. it is something of a phenomenon, and a whole generation of culturally diverse, multi-lingual children is growing up here.

Of course, the major reason for this expansion is not just the tourist trade. Although there are more than a million western visitors a year, it is natural that some of them will meet and fall in love with local people, especially when the local people are so appealing. But there is more to it than that. One thing stands out when you look at Thailand’s expat population - probably around 90%  are men.

It’s the men who, in general, are marrying Thai women and settling here in numbers that way exceed what is typical elsewhere. There is an obvious conclusion to draw: there are a lot of men coming to Thailand to actively seek wives. They are not just falling in love while on holiday - they are coming with the pre-planned intent of finding a Thai beauty to be their spouse.

Many men seem to be dissatisfied with their experiences of women in their home country. Society has changed rapidly in the west over the last few decades. Women have become more confident and assertive. They can be intimidating to approach and fast with a withering put-down. They are much more demanding in their relationships and expect a lot of concessions from their partners. Many men do not like it. They still want the ideal of a feminine, doting wife.

So, instead, they come to Thailand in search of the answer to this problem. Here, they believe they can still find women who are beautiful, feminine and attentive to their husband’s needs.

It is dangerous to generalise too much about the men who marry Thai girls and settle in Thailand. They all have their own story, but one can broadly place a lot of these men into three broad groups:

Group 1. There are those that come to Thailand on holiday. It is natural that some of these people will meet and fall in love with the locals. There is no doubt that Thai women are very charming so perhaps it is more common here than elsewhere.

Group 2. There are those who fall in love with a bargirl. This is the riskiest one of them all.

Group 3. There are those who come with the pre-planned intent of finding a wife. They have thought about it and come to the reasoned conclusion that a Thai wife would make their life better. And what is the best way to find a genuine bride? Through dating agencies or internet matching services. Some of them will try to meet a good Thai wife away from the tourist resorts but many more will search online for their partner.

Whatever the reasons, the mixed Thai-Western marriage is now an established part of Thailand’s scenery and a lot of Western men are very happy with their choice.

Have you ever seen an older man dating a much younger woman and thought to yourself, “Oh, yeah. I know why they’re together”?

Well, maybe you don’t. Because I thought I knew, too—until I became one of those older men.

Katie and I met last year, when I was 51 and she was… here goes: 22. As in, one year over the legal drinking age. Contrary to the jokes my friends made, I did not meet Katie while I was buying Girl Scout cookies or waiting outside a junior high. Katie and my friend Joel are co-workers, and we met at one of his parties. We hit it off right away.

Obviously, there was an age gap, but at first, neither of us realized how much. Thankfully, it’s still considered rude to ask someone’s age when you first meet them. (The older I get, the more I appreciate that bit of social etiquette.)

Now, before you dismiss me as some old geezer trying to rationalize dating someone nearly half his age, let me just add that she asked me out. And, as luck would have it, I have this little policy that when fun, attractive women ask me out, I say yes.

What other people were saying about us…
The second we began dating, though, my friends started in with the jokes. They ranged from mild teasing (“Is she impressed that you have a car?” and “Are you sure she’s not just using you to buy her alcohol?” and “Which is her favorite Teletubby?”) to outright hostility (“What the @#?!&$ are you doing?!”).

The best was when they’d run the numbers. “When you were her age, she was in diapers!” and “Do you realize you’re closer in age to her mother than you are to her?” and “When she’s your age, you’ll be 61!” But despite what my friends were saying, Katie’s friends were saying worse. They had reduced her to a gold-digger and me to a drooling, aged sugar daddy. I repeatedly dismissed their comments, believing instead that given my genuine connection with Katie, our age difference didn’t really matter.

The difference a yearbook made
Until, that is, Katie showed me her high-school yearbook… from 2002! Her yearbook is dedicated to the victims of 9/11. (Did I mention she graduated in 2002?!) It was the first time I had ever looked through a yearbook and couldn’t mock the hair and clothes as being out of date.

In my high school yearbook, kids are wearing shirts from REO Speedwagon and the J. Geils Band concerts. Katie’s classmates are wearing shirts that said Eminem and The White Stripes. It made me wonder whether everyone was right and I did have issues. Was I going through a midlife crisis? Was it true that all men have creepy fantasies about dating women half their age?

“Am I having a midlife crisis?”
But the more I thought about it, the more I felt sure that age wasn’t a factor in my dating choices. I mean, it’s not like I have a pattern of dating much younger women. My previous girlfriends were all around my age.

It turns out Katie had been wracking her brain, too, trying to figure out whether she had daddy issues. But prior to me, she had only dated guys within her age range. Ultimately, we came to realize that what people were saying revealed more about them than about us. Our relationship had become a Rorschach test of their own prejudices and insecurities—and of our culture’s preconceptions about what my mom politely refers to as “May-December romances.”

The truth is, the older I get, the more shocked I am to be my age. It’s as though time kept moving forward, and I simply didn’t notice. When I hear an oldies station play “Start Me Up,” to me, that’s a new Rolling Stones’ song. But in other ways, I feel far surer of myself than I did at 21. And if age has taught me anything, it’s that life is too short to miss the opportunity of being with someone you like just because society makes assumptions about your relationship.

After six months of dating, Katie and I split up. While I’ll admit that age did play a part — some lack of compatibility had to do with being at different stages in our lives — it was less of a factor than the issues similar-aged couples face, like differences in personalities and religion. In the end, unlike the salacious explanations our friends gave, we started dating for the right reasons and ultimately broke up for the right reasons.

So the next time you see an older man with a younger woman or an older woman with a younger man walking by on the street and you’re trying to figure out why they’re together, remember: They might actually just like each other. (Or, of course, he might actually be her dad.)

Michael Kramer is an Emmy-nominated writer in Los Angeles.

You see, knowing what to SAY to a woman is utterly and totally dependent on WHAT YOU CAN OBSERVE ABOUT THAT WOMAN.

It’s not so much a matter of what to say.

No, the real secret of “opening” women is, knowing what to observe, knowing what to notice, and even KNOWING WHAT TO GET CURIOUS ABOUT.

Does that make sense?

Also, the approach to opening her might differ a bit if she is at a coffee house, quietly studying, as opposed to in a loud restaurant or party, right?

Why?

Because the CONTEXT she is in and what you NOTICE about her is going to be different.

If she’s studying, and you notice that she’s having a hard time; thinking really hard, talking to herself outloud or just thinking “OUTLOUD” in her head, it would NOT make sense to walkup and ask her opinion about the great band that is playing or where she bought her cool bicycle.

So, I will say it again. The most important thing, first and foremost, is NOT what you say, but the context she is in, and what you can observe about her and the setting she is in.

Now, many guys ask me about compliments. Should I give them?Is it a good way to first “open up” talking to a woman? If so,what should I compliment?

Ok. I’ll repeat: it depends on the context, where she is,what she is doing, and what you NOTICE and can OBSERVE.

Look: whether it is opening her by using a compliment, or asking her a question about something, or making a comment about something she’s doing or something going on in the environment,I will ask myself the same question, “What can I notice about this person that I can use to make a connection?”

Now, let’s say I notice something about her that I DO find worth complimenting. My rules for complimenting are as follows:

1. NO sexual content in the compliments. That means I don’t compliment on her great boobs, great legs, great butt, etc. No woman (no half-way SANE woman) wants a drooling lecher.

2. All compliments to be delivered with good eye contact (infact, ANY openers are delivered this way) with a smile on my face AND in my eyes ( I sort of make them twinkle a bit) and deliverd with a MATTER of fact voice tone.

This means I don’t over do it with my tone of voice. The compliment is delivered, matter of fact, with no concern on my part whether she will accept it, reject it or anything in between.

It is NOT about her accepting or rejecting what I say. It is ONLY about me wanting to say what I have to say, and any response she has is OK WITH ME.

Really, this is about the sub-text. This means, you see, that there is the surface message, the actual words I say. Those can be important.

But the sub-text is the unspoken or implied message I am delivering about me and how I walk through the world; that take full responsibility for how I feel about myself, my situation, the events and circumstances in my life, and I don’t need anyone to approve or validate my message.

Now, trust me. When you come from THAT place, and add in a touch of humor….

Almost Anything You Say Will Get A Good Response!

Notice something else. This is a great but different KIND of confidence. It’s not the kind of confidence that say, loudly, “I KNOW I AM GOING TO GET WHAT I WANT”.

It’s more of a, “If I get what I want, that’s fine and good, and if not, that’s ok too. I’m having fun regardless”.

Ok. Back to compliments then.

I prefer to compliment women on the following things:

1. How they carry themselves or how they move. I enjoy awoman who moves beautifully and/or who has great posture. I will tell them so, as follows, “I just wanted to tell….I think you have perfect…….posture. You just carry yourself beautifully.”

Notice the ……. This indicates a pause in your speaking. I don’t run everythingtogetherintoonesentencelikethis.

No. I take….my….time. I pause, right before I tell them what I am going to tell them, so they will get curious about what I am going to say, and therefore be more receptive.

The pauses in the music are as much a part of the music as the notes, to use a metaphor.

2. How they are dressed. I like to compliment on style. So I will say, “I just wanted to tell you…I admire women with class and style…so I had to say “hi”. I’m YOUR NAME HERE.”

Note that this is what I call an IMPLIED compliment. I didn’t’ directly tell her I think SHE has class and style. I said I admire women with class and style, so I had to say “hi”.That IMPLIES that I think she has class and style.

Why is this important?

Well, by implying the compliment, she has to use her imagination to interpret what you meant.

Imagination is an ACTIVE process, and so she doesn’t resist the message, as she herself has to take an active hand in creating it!

Implied compliments are very useful in slipping past any resistance or skepticism to your message!

3. I will compliment on their “energy”. I know this is a New Age, California kind of thing, but women are into “energy” or “vibes”. It doesn’t matter if you believe in it or not-although I hope one day you will.

The important thing is, MOST women believe in it.

So if I notice a woman has a calm, radiant, happy demeanor, I will say, “I just wanted to tell you…..I think you have..a beautiful….energy about you, and it just made me have to say “hi”. I’m YOUR NAME HERE”.

Ok. Another major way to meet women is to say something funny; make an observation or comment that is humorous, based on something you can observe.

Now, again, I can’t give you a “one line fits all” example, because again, it’s based on what you are observing in the actual situation. So you will have to observe her, asking, “What can I notice that I can use to make a connection?”.

Next, ask yourself, “How can I phrase that in a clever, funny way that gets attention and makes her laugh?”

This takes some practice. But you can get good at it.

Now, again, I hesitate to give word for word examples, because it depends on what you observe.

Here Are Some Approaches I Do NOT Recommend:

1. Asking her the time, or for directions. It’s trite, lame, and then where do you go from there? If you are terribly shy and can’t even talk to women, ok, you can start here. But learn to do something else quickly.

2. Being insulting or in any way rude. I don’t care what you might have heard. Insulting a woman is stupid. Any woman with choice is just going to move on. If she’s kind, she won’t insult you back. If she isn’t, she just might give a verbal tongue lashing, and that’s not the kind of tongue action you want!

3. Invading her space when I meet her. Once I make my initial opening, tell her my name, shake her hand; I then actually take a step back, away from her, to give her back her space.

Women tell me that, to them, it demonstrates respect. It also indicates that, while I am strong enough to come up and meet them, I am also concerned with their safety, and they like that combination. And finally, it indicates a challenge: just because she gave me a good initial response to my opener, doesn’t mean she has me! It establishes a challenge, right away.

http://speedseductions.blogspot.com/

Peace and piece,

Ross Jeffries

In my work as a life coach, I find that there are five basic ingredients that lead to sustained happiness. Cultivate these deceptively simple behaviors and you will live a happier life.

1. Give and Receive Love

Your relationships are what nourish you the most, whether with family, friends or pets. Be kind to those around you. Be willing to give and receive support, encouragement and hugs. Spend time with those you care about.

Research has shown that kindness to others provides more lasting satisfaction than having fun.

2. Do Meaningful Work

Meaningful work may be a job you care about, whether it’s work you get paid for, or taking care of your family. Meaningful work might be volunteering at a local hospice or teaching Sunday school.

Meaningful work can also be a hobby or interest you pursue, such as singing in a choir, collecting rare coins or quilting.

Meaningful work gives purpose and joy to your life.

3. Nourish Your Body Properly

You need a healthy body to enjoy life. When you take the time to eat nutritious foods, you provide your body with what it needs to function properly.

You feel better when you eat with awareness. Stop eating when you are full. Listen to your body and choose the foods your body loves. These may be different than the foods you crave. Really notice how the foods you eat affect you and make your food choices accordingly.

Enjoy alcohol in moderation. Life is enhanced by a glass of wine with dinner or a couple of drinks with friends after work. If alcohol is creating problems in your life, it’s time to modify your drinking behavior.

4. Exercise and Rest

Watch a young child or a pet and you will notice vigorous activity immediately followed by rest. They run around like crazy and then conk out. We are hard-wired to do this. Make sure you get enough of both.

Exercise provides your body with the activity it needs to remain healthy and strong. It also produces endorphins, hormones that create a natural high.

Ample rest is as important as exercise. People who get sufficient sleep do better on every measure of physical and psychological health.

Take brief relaxation breaks during the day. You will return to work refreshed and better able to handle whatever challenges you face.

5. Cultivate a Practice of Reflection

Provide yourself with regular opportunity to reflect on your life. Take a walk during your lunch hour or turn off the radio in your car on the way home. Keep a daily journal or spend time in church focusing on the past week and the one ahead. Set up a regular appointment with a life coach.

This is time to take stock of what is working in your life and what you would like to see different and better. You will gain awareness that enables you to be more in control of your life.

Taking time for quiet reflection will also help you to calm and center yourself. This is a great way to manage the stress in your life.

In Summary

You can think of these elements as a beautiful flower with five petals. When you practice all of them, you will definitely make your good life better! Article Source: http://www.superfeature.comDrawing on skills and expertise developed over 30 years experience, Jeannette Samanen PhD provides effective life coaching, empowering you to achieve your goals. Learn more secrets to help you lead a happy life. Subscribe to her “Make Your Good Life Better” newsletter at => www.achieveyourgoals.com .  

As you probably know by now, when it comes to attracting women looks aren’t important! Even if you’re balding or have a few extra pounds, you can still succeed with women.

But there is one important thing to remember…

While it’s possible to attract women if you have physical flaws, you can increase your chances if you fix them. This is especially true if you get into the habit of lifting weights. By work out at least three times a week you’ll receive both physical and mental benefits that’ll help your overall “dating game”.

Here are a few reasons why weight lifting helps your success with women:

1) Your confidence will improve as you realize that you’re in better shape then the other guys who make no effort to improve their appearance.

2) When you start to improve your body, you’ll like yourself better. And once learn to love yourself, you’re overall demeanor and attitude will change. Eventually your improved self-esteem will translate to a positive attitude around women.

3) Your health will improve. While being a physically fit person doesn’t directly correlate to your ability to attract women, there is something to be said about knowing you’re on a pathway towards being fit and in shape. When you have a great attitude about life, you’ll become a fun guy to be around. In a way, your outlook will be another reason why you’re attractive to women.

Now don’t worry if you’re nervous about walking into a gym. Most of us have been at this point in our lives. The good news is most gyms offer guidance and training for new members. So all you have to do is register for a package and you’ll be shown the specific exercises which can improve your physique.

Thak you

By:by Scott Patterson

The following is an imaginary conversation with a taxi driver in Bangkok. I have tried to keep it simple so that it will be easier for you to remember. Just say “bpai [Place]” to say where you are going. In Thai you don’t really need to say “I”. For how much you can either use “tao rai” or “gee baht”. You can learn numbers if you like or just use your fingers.

Tourist: How much is it to go to Panthip? (bpai panthip tao rai?)
Taxi driver: 50 baht (har sib baht)
Tourist: Too expensive, how about 30 baht? (pang bai, sam sib baht dai mai?)
Taxi driver: No. 40 baht. (mai dai. see sib baht)
Tourist: Ok. 40 baht. (dtok long, see sib baht)

Extra phrases:
I don’t want to go there. (mai yak pai)
Do you know World Trade Center? (roo jak world trade cendter mai?)
Turn left. (lee-o sai)     Turn right. (lee-o kwar)
Straight on. (dtrong bai)     Stop here. (jord tee nee)

Tourist tips:
- Always settle the price before getting in the tuk tuk. Usually the minimum is 35 baht though they might start off by asking for 50 baht or more. Knowing how much is always difficult for tourists when they first arrive. The tuk tuk will know you are new and will try and cheat you.
- Please consider the air-conditioned taxis as the meters start at only 35 baht (less than $1). You might even find it is sometimes cheaper and certainly more comfortable.
- Be careful of tuk tuk drivers that tell you that the temple you are going to is closed for a religious ceremony. They will tell you that they know a better one and then you will end up in a gem shop. It is all part of a scam. Be careful. A very useful Thai phrase is “mai ow” which literally means “no want”.

Travellling by Skytrain
One of the most enjoyable ways to travel around Bankok is by Skytrain. It is not only clean and air-conditioned but all the signs and station announcements are in English and Thai. However, you might have a problem going by taxi to your nearest station. To start with, not all Thai people know it by the name “sky train”. They either call it BTS or rot fai fah. The word for “station” in Thai is sa-tha nee.

Where do you want to go? (ja bai nai)
Notice we don’t use “you” in Thai but just shorten it to “shall go where?” Actually, most taxi drivers probably would shorten it even further to “go where?”

I want to go to the nearest skytrain station. (pai sa-tha nee rot fai fah tee glai tee soot)
Again, take note how we do not use “I” at the start of the sentence. This is quite common when speaking Thai. The Thai word for nearest is “glai tee soot”.

… skytrain station. (sa-tha nee rot fai fah …). Put the name for the station you want at the end. For example, Nana Station would be “sa-tha nee rot fai fah nana”.

Getting on and off the Bus

Bus (rot may)

Where is the nearest bus stop?
(bai rot may tee glai tee soot yoo tee nai)

Where can I get on bus no.11?
(rot may saai sib-et kheun dai tee nai)

Which bus go to …?
(rot may saai nai bai….)

Does this bus go to …?
(rot may kun nee bai … mai)

A: Where are you going? (ja bai nai)
B: I am going to Paknam. (bai baak-nam)

For an English-Thai online dictionary, you can visit http://www.thai-language.com.

If you are learning Thai for the first time, you will have some language difficulties. People will speak too fast or there will be certain words you won’t understand. Thai people love it when they meet foreigners who are trying to learn their language. Carrying a small phrase book with words written out in Thai and English is always an ice breaker. Point to any phrase and ask them “how do you say this?”

1. I want to learn Thai. (phom yak rian pa sa thai)
Don’t forget men say “phom” for “I”. Women say “di-chun”.

2. Can you teach me Thai? (sorn pa sa thai phom dai mai). Don’t forget men say “phom” for “I”. Women say “di-chun”

3. Can you help me please? (chuay dai mai). For a “dai mai” question (can you?) they will reply “dai” for yes or “mai dai” for no.

4. Can you speak English? (poot pa sa ang grit dai mai). For a “dai mai” question (can you?) they will reply “dai” for yes or “mai dai” for no.

5. I can only speak a little English. (poot pa sa ang grit dai nit noi). Here we didn’t put in “I” in the Thai sentence. It is not really needed when you are speaking Thai.

6. Can you speak Thai? (poot pa sa thai dai mai). For a “dai mai” question (can you?) they will reply “dai” for yes or “mai dai” for no.

7. A little. (nit noi). This is the best answer if someone asks you if you can speak Thai.

8. How do you read this? (arn yang rai)

9. What do you call this in Thai? (nee pa sa thai riak wa a-rai). Don’t forget to point to some Thai words.

10. How do you spell it? (sa got yang rai)

11. Can you please write it down? (khian dai mai). For a “dai mai” question (can you?) they will reply “dai” for yes or “mai dai” for no.

12. Do you understand? (khao jai mai)

13. I don’t understand. (mai khao jai). If you understand just say “kao jai”.

14. Can you speak louder? (poot dang dang dai mai). For a “dai mai” question (can you?) they will reply “dai” for yes or “mai dai” for no.

15. Can you speak slower? (poot char char dai mai). For a “dai mai” question (can you?) they will reply “dai” for yes or “mai dai” for no.

16. Say again please. (poot eek krang)

17. I don’t understand the word … (mai khao jai cum wa …). Use this when a Thai person uses a word you don’t understand.

18. What does … mean? (… plae wa a-rai)

For more, you can visit http://www.learningthai.com