Mae Mugged

[IanB]

Andypaul,

I think you Ian you need to stop comparing thailand and phill totaly different countries (religion,poltics,the way govened now and in the past etc) its like comparing the UK and a muslim north africa country ihmo.

I apreciate your comment. But the fact that two countries are very different doesn't, in itself, seem a good reason not to compare them? What would be wrong is to say that one is better than the other.

My love affair with Thailand has lasted nearly 20 years. During that time I have explored the country, learnt about its history and culture, and married two of its people! So its going to be pretty hard for me not to compare other countries to Thailand or, for that matter, to any of the other countries I know well.

The differences between countries in SE Asia is fascinating. Mahatir, the former (and deeply unpleasant) leader of Malaysia, used to make a big deal about the "Asian way" and how the west had no right to impose its values on an area which had its own values. But is there really an Asian culture? Or even a SE Asian culture? Is there more in common between EU countries than Asian countries?

Whats equally interesting is how each country got to where it is - whether its successive colonisation, or the aparent stability of 400 years of monarchy. Across the whole region is the influence of the chinese, which is something that fascinates me in Thailand but about which I know nothing in the Philippines.

So I intend to carry on enjoying exploring a new group of friends and a new culture - sometimes by comparing with things I understand a little better.

Ian

[joyce]

A lot of friends of mine send money to Thailand via Nationwide Flex Account - no transfer fees, just send her a card. I presume there are enough ATMs in Angeles for me to do it that way.

This is what i am using now. My husband left his nationwide flex account atm card. You can withdraw money at any atm machine that will accept a visa card. Ian you can save your fee for sending the money to mae and there is no bank charge when she will withdraw money from any bank in the philippines.

[andypaul]

Andypaul,



I apreciate your comment. But the fact that two countries are very different doesn't, in itself, seem a good reason not to compare them? What would be wrong is to say that one is better than the other.

My love affair with Thailand has lasted nearly 20 years. During that time I have explored the country, learnt about its history and culture, and married two of its people! So its going to be pretty hard for me not to compare other countries to Thailand or, for that matter, to any of the other countries I know well.

The differences between countries in SE Asia is fascinating. Mahatir, the former (and deeply unpleasant) leader of Malaysia, used to make a big deal about the "Asian way" and how the west had no right to impose its values on an area which had its own values. But is there really an Asian culture? Or even a SE Asian culture? Is there more in common between EU countries than Asian countries?

Whats equally interesting is how each country got to where it is - whether its successive colonisation, or the aparent stability of 400 years of monarchy. Across the whole region is the influence of the chinese, which is something that fascinates me in Thailand but about which I know nothing in the Philippines.

So I intend to carry on enjoying exploring a new group of friends and a new culture - sometimes by comparing with things I understand a little better.

Ian

Hi Ian sorry wasn't attack or anything like that but was just saying as you know they are very different cultures having met thais who have come over here in similar circumstances to my wife. Very different outlooks on life etc.

But its the same for all us brits we shouldn't compare phill to the Uk or a western country it seems easier a lot of the time for your stress levels to just realise its different.

Like you i am very intrested in all cultures from all over the world.

Like you also write neither Phill or thailand are better than one another thats for sure. Like everyone and everything they have their plus and minus points.

With out getting to deep was just trying to point out from the little i have seen of the two countries the Phillipines has a lot of problems due to what seems to be infulences (good and bad) from nearly every nation on the planet while from the little i know thais seem to be much more at one for the want of a better word and know more who they are.

When i speak to older residents in Phill they seem to look back on to the marcos days with a sense of nostalgia, when the buses ran on time and crime was not as bad even if they did have nighttime curfews and people dissapearing. I guess how russians see the comunist era. For most people who kept themselves to themselves they were safer and knew where they stood. I'd like to point out this might not be the same for all phils i can only write from what i have experienced.

Hopefully with the peso people much stronger and things seeming to be improving in the phillipines the crime level and the why bother working i will just rob it off others will reduce.

Sorry Ian if it read rude wasn't meant to be in any way