Daily Archives: July 6, 2005

Cars sold in Thailand

I mentioned a few days ago about the cars seen on the road here in Thailand. Many of them are brand new though in the last few years I have seen a growing market for secondhand cars. Today I want to show you what the most popular cars are that are being sold in Thailand. These figures are for the period January-May 2005.

Total Sales:

Pickups 174,303 units
Cars 74,268 units
SUVs 16,539 units
Others* 17,366 units
TOTAL 282,476 units

* bus truck and van

Top 10 Car Sales:

1. Toyota (38,150 units)
2. Honda (19,294 units)
3. Mitsubishi (3,787 units)
4. Nissan (3,413 units)
5. Chevrolet (3,025 units)
6. Mazda (2,375 units)
7. Benz (1,915 units)
8. BMW (745 units)
9. Ford (582 units)
10. Volvo (298 units)

Pickup Sales:

1. Isuzu (66,389 units)
2. Toyota (59,402 units)
3. Mitsubishi (12,942 units)
4. Nissan (12,937 units)
5. Chevrolet (9,879 units)
6. Ford (8,172 units)
7. Mazda (4,582 units)

SUV Sales

(1) Toyota (11,970 units)
(2) Isuzu (1,326 units)
(3) Ford (1,185 units)
(4) Honda (765 units)
(5) Mitsubishi (378 units)
(6) Mazda (371 units)
(7) Sukuki (169 units)

The most popular vehicle in Thailand is Toyota with a 40.3% share of the market. Follwed by Isuzi (25.6%), Honda (7.1%), Mitsubishi (6.4%) and Nissan (6.2%). Last year, 626,000 vehicles were bought domestically and 333,000 vehicles were exported. The government hopes that by the year 2010, Thailand will be producing 1.8 million vehicles a year for domestic use and export.

Here are some price guidelines:

Toyota:
Camry 2.0 E A/T – 1,135,000 Bht
Camry 2.4 Q Navigator – 1,605,000 Bht
Wish 2.0 S Auto – 1,102,000 Bht
Corolla 1.6 J M/T – 685,000 Bht
Corolla 1.8 G A/T – 984,000 Bht
Soluna 1.5 J M/T – 467,000 Bht
Soluna 1.5 S Auto Sporty – 648,000 Bht
Land Cruiser Prado – 3,599,000 Bht
Crown – 3,800,000 Bht
Celica – 2,445,000 Bht

How to Play Thai Lottery

Related Link: WinThaiLottery.com
Related Link: ThaiLotteryResults.com

The idea of lottery goes back a very long way towards ancient times. People of Thailand are very fond of being a gambler themselves. Lottery is taken very seriously in Thailand as it is the only kind of gambling allowed here in Thailand. The system is very different compared to the western world. So, here is how it goes.

First, I would like to talk about the image of what a Thai lottery looks like.

National lottery

As you can see, there is only one kind of lottery available, which is the top one. The other ones are recent, as I will talk about them a bit later on. This form of lottery has been used in Thailand for a long time. It is still paper-based material while many other countries have developed an electronic system to organise the lottery tickets. In Thailand, you’ll have to get lottery tickets from agents, which receive these tickets from retailers. Usually, lottery tickets are drawn twice a month, which are the first day of the month (the 1st) and the 16th. Every ticket costs 80 baht. This is the standard price. Each ticket has 2 parts, the top and the bottom part. It is not possible to buy just one part as they come in pairs. So, every ticket will still cost you 80 baht. However, if you win, your prize is doubled. Every ticket has 6 single digits, which you’re able to choose when you buy one. If for example, in England, the digits could be double digits up to 49 numbers which you would have to pick 6 numbers. However, the stake is so much more but it is much harder to win.

When the numbers are drawn live on national television, there are probably more than 20 drawn every time as they’ll have to draw all of the numbers according to the number of prize stated. Now, the prizes and amount of these lotteries are as follow

First Prize 1 number 2 million baht
Second prize 5 numbers 100000 baht
Third prize 10 numbers 40000 baht
Fourth prize 50 numbers 20000 baht
Fifth prize 100 numbers 10000 baht
Bonus prize* 2 numbers 50000 baht

* Bonus prize is for people whose first 5 numbers are correct but the last digit is incorrect by one number above or below. (For example, if your last number is “5” you can get the bonus prize if it is a “4” or “6”.

Next, I want to talk about how to watch out for a fake lottery, which could be sold to anyone. Here are the steps.

A fake lottery has characteristics as follow
– different color from the original
– different paper
– no watermark

If you win a prize, you’ll have to go to the GLO (Government Lottery Office) where you will receive a cheque. However, if the prize is less than 20,000 baht, you can go to a local agent and he/she will give the money to you in cash. There is tax, which you’ll have to pay in order to get the money. The nominal rate is 50 satang (0.5 baht) for every one hundred baht. If you cash your money at a local agent, they’ll normally charge you about 2 baht for every one hundred baht.

Now, I would like to talk about the cheaper kind of lottery ticket which plays like the Irish lotto. A prize is drawn the same day as the national lottery. Here is what it looks like;

100 baht lottery

There are 3 prices of these tickets, 20, 50 and 100 baht. The first row is for 3 single digits lottery. The prize is set to a standard at 500 baht per one baht. For example, if you win the correct amount in the same order and your ticket is the 100 baht ticket, you’ll get 50,0000 for the prize. However, there’s a second Tote row, which the numbers shouldn’t have to be in order and you can also win. The prize of this tote row is 10 baht for every one baht. For this kind, there will be 4 prizes drawn every time. For the third row, you can choose 2 single digits and if you win, you’ll get 65 baht for every one baht. However, you can also choose the last row as it would be a reverse row and if you win that, you have halved the prize money.

I hope that every person who comes to Thailand they try out the Thai lottery. The chances are much better than the European and American lotteries even though the prize is much less. However, always be aware of agents who try to trick you and be aware of all kinds of theft.

Related Link: How to Win Thai Lottery
Related Link: Thai Lottery Results

Learn 300 Words of Thai in 5 Minutes!!

You will see many English words written in Thai characters when you visit Thailand. This says “ice cream”

After mentioning ‘Tap Sap’ (Imported vocabulary) in my last blog I couldn’t help but sit back and write up a whole stack of notes on the issue and this is the end result. See below for the entire list I have put together

I’ve clearly noticed that a whole load of our foreigner readers out there are interested in learning Thai. Since living here, I can’t remember how many times now someone has asked me to the likes of “How do I go about getting started with learning the Thai lingo?” well, sure-a less, I’ve pointed them in the direction of ‘Tap Sap’, cause its darned easy Thai lingo to learn as of course it is in fact English in origin.

Since the Thais started playing around with the Thai language they have effectively made up a whole string of English sounding phrases that most foreigners wouldn’t have a clue to the meaning of and one of the ‘classics’ has to be ‘American Share’. This Thai-Eng lingo does in fact mean to ‘share the bill’. In Thai tradition it’s usually the elder that foots the bill (ie the one who is oldest or wealthiest). This phrase did in fact arise from the days of the American Gis. ‘American Share’ has certainly become popular over the years due to cultural development.

If you thought that Thai-Eng lingo was pretty absurd, nothing beats this one: ‘Working Woman’: I don’t know about your home country but in my hometown ‘Working Woman’ does not sound good at all!! And sounds instead like a stray woman walking the streets at night!! Here in Thailand, it means a woman who is pursuing her career ie, working for a company etc.. This phrase became so popular that a few years back there was even a TV chat show named ‘The Working Woman’. So lads, the next time you meet some Thai girl on ICQ that tells you she is a ‘Working Woman’ for goodness sake don’t misunderstand what she’s trying to say!

One of my fave Thai-Eng phrases has to be ‘Lip-sing’. Perplexed to the meaning? Well, don’t be as it in fact means ‘to mime’. Therefore, the next time when you are out with your Thai friends and they are egging you on to sing the awful likes of ‘Take me home country road’ or ‘Hotel California’ (for the ninety-fifth time!) just inform them that you prefer to ‘Lip-sing’ and so evading this gruesome chore. Next, we have the cute ‘awk date’ which actually translates as ‘go out on a date’, pretty popular phrase with the younger trendy Thais. As for Pattaya’s ‘Banana Boats’, the Thais just love them!!

Now, since the introduction of ‘Tap Sap’, a darned load of English words within the Thai lingo have in fact been corrupted in meaning and now mean something completely different to the English. The worst of all may in fact be ‘Coffee Shop’. Here in Thailand a ‘Coffee Shop’; means nothing of the sort and certainly not the kind of place to take yer girlfriend or old mum when she comes for a visit!! As for coffee, such establishments do serve such a thing but they’ll prefer you instead to be knocking back bottles of beer and buying drinks for a few stray ladies who will soon be appearing uninvitedly at yer table!!

As for a ‘Pub’, I’m not sure about you Americans but in England a pub is usually a dull, squalid place where for some mysterious reason half the customers stand at the bar being served by a couple of grannies. As for a ‘Pub’ in Thailand! You’ll soon be bopping away at your table and being entertained by some scad-looking girlie singers wearing as little as possible in some rather raunchy out-fit. Then for the female customers there are a set of fine handsome male singers wearing the latest Japanese hair-do to admire. Certainly beats having to stand at the bar in a pub back home having to listen to the likes of ‘Darned government cut me social welfare benefit again’. Then, we have the word ‘bar’, it may sound perfectly OK in English to say ‘I’m going out to the bars tonight’ but if you translate this to Thai it does not sound good. And instead means you’ll be looking for more than just a game of pool and a chat with yer buddies!! You have been warned.

Next, we have the word ‘Scotch’. If it’s a bottle of whiskey your after from your local shop to celebrate your new house-warming party, the shop-owner will be instead handing you adhesive tape! Of course ‘Scotch’ in Thai is actually an abbreviation of ‘Scotchtape’! Now a ‘Tour bus’, these in Thailand are any old inter-provincial air-con bus and nothing like the double-decker tour buses that rove around the streets of Paris.

Many words to do with the car are “tap sap” like this one, turbo, and also break, clutch and air.

The Thais certainly love ‘Tap Sap’ that has hailed from The States and ‘Camp’ is one of them. Originally coming here as a teacher I was bewildered when arriving at ‘Camp’ as it was in fact a modern funky place with dormitories to sleep in. To us Brits it is nothing of the kind, but instead a smelly camping ground where you sleep in a tent! Here, in Thailand, its camp this and camp that, I mean any darned location where the company staff or students go for a day or two and play nothing but silly games and ‘sing karaoke’.

Now we all know the Thai people have a plentitude of virtues and one of them has to be ‘nicely-cunning’, I mean they are pretty smart in regards to ‘Tap Sap’. Not only do they import a word from English but they then abbreviate it. Look at the English language, now what’s the point in saying the long-winded likes of ‘Basketball’ when you may as well just say ‘Bas’? Or ‘Badminton’ when you may as well shorten it to ‘Bat’. The Thais have certainly taught us a lesson in laziness of speech! ‘Air’ can mean either ‘Air-conditioning’ or ‘Air-hostess’. ‘Batt’ for ‘Battery. Then if you’ve just arrived at your office job after being sent out here by your company, don’t be perplexed if you here the likes of the workers mentioning “Soup, soup” all day. There aren’t talking about their favourite broth of course, but instead gossiping about their ‘Supervisor’.

Should you hear any Thais asking you “What is your ‘spec’ in a guy?” they are in fact asking you “What specifications do you look for in a guy?” ie. What kinda guy do you like? Then, there is ‘Mike’ as in ‘Microphone. ‘Down’ as in ‘Down-payment’ and ‘Film’ as in ‘Camera Film. Then, one that certainly gets on a lotta peoples’ nerves, and that is ‘Charge’. Not only does ‘Charge’ mean as in the sense to ‘charge a battery’ but it also means ‘Overcharge’.

Then we have the classic ‘Ver’ (Wer)!! ‘Ver’ is an abbreviation of ‘Over’ and can be used when seeing someone obviously making a fool of themselves. Yes, ‘Wer” means ‘Over the top’.

Once upon a time ‘Tap Sap’ used to compromise of only nouns as in ‘Helicopter’ and ‘Taxi’ etc… but a fair share of common verbs and adjectives are engraining themselves in the Thai lingo. Last time I told you about ‘Work’, ‘Get’ and ‘Take care’ but howabout the word ‘Show’. Geez, this word in Thai now has as many or even more meanings as the English equivalent. If someone likes to ‘Put on a bit of a performance in front of the room’ it means that person ‘Likes to ‘Show’. Then in regards to girls who enjoy wearing something a little revealing, she too also likes to ‘Show’. ‘Show’ can also have a negative meaning, as in ‘Show off’. Then if you feel a little injustice being dealt your way just say ‘Mai fair’ as in ‘It’s not fair’. Or if your not sure about something just mention ‘Mai sure’ as in ‘I’m not sure’. And…should you hear any Thai ask you to the likes of “What football do you cheer?” they of course means ‘Cheer’ in the sense of ‘Support’

And finally, howabout ‘Hit’. It certainly doesn’t translate to a ‘Hit in the head’ but it does translate to ‘Hit’ as in ‘Plaeng hit’ (Hit Song). Or just about anything that is in fashion. Then we got the latest of all the ‘Tap Sap’ – ‘Hot’. Not hot as in the weather but ‘Hey he’s a hot guy’ ie… he’s a bit of a stud!

As promised, please find below my whole list of ‘Tap Sap’. I decided to split the list up into three. The first list is of ‘Tap Sap’ that is now perfectly common in the Thai language and on some occasions, if there is a Thai word equivalent, it has now become defunct in spoken conversation. The second list comprises of ‘Tap Sap’ where even though there is a perfectly usable proper Thai word, the ‘Tap Sap’ is used just as often, or in some cases more. The third includes ‘Tap Sap’ that is used with up-to-date Thais and especially those who are students or have a decent job. Most of these ‘Tap Sap’ however wouldn’t be understand by your average farmer. For a more comprehensive list of these just listen to the next speech by our beloved PM. A speech of his in Thai goes alone the lines of “Blaaa blaaa infrastructure blaaa capitalism” etc…. of course half the upcountry population haven’t the faintest but who cares! He sounds ‘Brainy’.

I have not included ‘Technical’ ‘Tap Sap’ like ‘Bacteria’, ‘Amoeba’, ‘Alluminium’ or say ‘Malaria’ etc..

To be understood you’ll need to say the following ‘Tap Sap’ with the Thai pronunciation. Try them out!!

1) Visa, Hello (telephone), Free (as in getting something), Pump (as in pump/petrol station), Sexy, Townhouse, Cake, Battery, Notebook (as in PC), Jeans, Lipstick, Chalk, Check-in (hotel), Theque (discotheque), Sheet (paper), Chemi (Chemistry), Board (Whiteboard etc), Bow (hair), Plan, Microwave, Skateboard, Cheerleader, Cook (occupation), Cookie, Guide (occupation), Tour (go on), Stamp (letter), Motorcyke (motorbike), Shirt, Game, Honeymoon, Print, Poster, Check (bank), Ball (football), Giraffe, Gorilla, Chimpanzee (lots more animals), Volleyball, Ping Pong (Table Tennis) (lots more sports), Commission, Marker (pen), Suit, Coupon, Corruption, Tank (as in oil), Sofa, ICU, Lock, Lift (elevator), Seminar, Game Show, Cutter, Invoice, Liquid (Liquid Paper), Gel (hair), Stunt, Cartoon, Furniture, Tip (in a restaurant), Gym, Logo, Barber, DJ, Cream, Chat (Internet), Copy (fake), Guitar, Piano, Neon, Bonus (job), Spa, Jacuzzi, Rock (music), Yaught, Cashier, Skate (roller), Fuse, Cap (hat), Scooter, High-Lo (card game), Card (as in X’mas card), Part (as in part 2), Kilometre, Centimetre, Atnomat (automatic), Bingo, Buffet, Calorie, Clip, Franchise, Graph, Tissue, Khaki, Nawee (Navy), Lens, Champ (champion), Opera, Sauce, Chong Fridge (freezer), Starter, Clutch, Brake, Gear (Lots more vehicle words) , Helicopter, Com (computer), Condo, Flat (accommodation), Fax, Stereo, Remote (remote control), Cream, Pear, Plum, Peach, Cherry, Strawberry, Blueberry, Jam, Salad, Sundae, Vanilla, Ice-cream, Beer, Spaghetti, BBQ, Fast-Food, Macaroni, Steak, Mustard, Pasta, Custard, Punch (fruit punch), Wine, Toffee, Nugget (chicken), Chocolate, Donut, French-fries, Hamburger, Hot-dog, Ham, Cheese, Bacon, Mayonnaise and of course Pizza. Then my fave kind of ‘Tap Sap’ for cuteness, Choc-Chip (chocolate chip).

2) Happy Birthday, Bye-bye, Merry X’mas, Smart (as in smart-looking), Dic (dictionary), Charge (battery), Mini-Mart, Xerox (make a copy), Bakery, Bank, Passport, Chauffer, Program, Print, Motorshow, Casino, Office, Walkman, Footpath (sidewalk/pavement), Cologne, Promote, Promotion, Sales (occupation), Joke, Pick-up (vehicle), Bill, Star (as in famous), Queue, Technical, Ticket, Brochure, Bomb, Party, View, Inter (international), Club, Four-wheel, Select, Hero, Lotion, Hurricane, Romantic, Import, Export, Agent, Alien, U-turn, Classic, Curfew, Diet, Disc, Double, Popular, Serve (occupation), Lottery, Engine, Conversation, Menu, Modern, Plaster (sticky), Shock (surprise), Gap, Certificate, Lab (Labratory), Gift, Gift Shop, TV, Walkman, Tape, Projector and Switch.

3) Happy, Sorry, Good-night, Get (understand), Work (as in a plan), Support, Quality, Department, Store, Hotel, Mobile, Surprise, Edit, Police, Dinner, Perfect, Uncivilised, Refugee, Summer (as in camp), Sick, Dancer, Super, Stop, Check (inspect), Magazine, Shampoo, Drop (as in drop a course), Service, Inspiration, Delivery, Drink (both verb and noun/alcohol), Clear (verb and adjective), Holiday (as in day off), Effect, Action, Fit (corrupt usage of Tap Sap, means ‘tight’, as in a blouse), Mini (esp. mini-skirt), Boss, Basic, Advance, Quote, Centre, Save (money), Notice (as in notice board), Note (verb and noun), Size, Revision and finally Form (as in both ‘good form’ and the thing you fill-out)

And I know there are lots lots lots more!!

I do hope that you have found some of the ‘Tap-Sap’ in this blog helpful. I have decided to put together the most comprehensive up-to-date list of ‘Tap-Sap’ available. So, dear readers if you can think of any more ‘Tap-Sap’ pls do write a comment and tell me.

Visit Steve’s main page at Steve’s Weblog

Trip to Aranya Prathet & Poipet

AK880 touched down in Don Muang Airport on time, a rare feat of AirAsia. Thanks to Air Asia, I learn that the word “LaCha” means “delay” from the ground crew when I last flew on Air Asia. I have convinced my wife that I have done my home and Internet work well ahead to know exactly what to do and what to say in Thai, of course. My wife is a “packaged” tourist and is worried of any unplanned things. she is also a city tourist and just back from Osaka and Tokyo. A trip to outback country is something she would least want to try.

On hearing that I am going to AranyaPrathet on a bus from Mochit Bus station, the cab driver tried to persuade me to take a cab direct to AranyaPrathet for 2500 bahts. I told him that I could not afford “Mai mee gern”. Nice try.

The meter in the taxi miraculously did not function. I had to convince the driver that I have been here and that I know how much to pay even though that the meter is dead. Well, I am supposed to have “senuok” (incidentally, the Malay word for fun is “seronok”) here so I paid him 180 bahts he asked for the journey. The bus to AranyaPrathat leave exactly 10:30, 5 mins after we arrived at Morchit.

At AranyaPrathet, we took a tuk-tuk for 60 bahts to Cambodia border, exactly as posted in the Internet. Immigration is OK except I had to pull along my trolley bag on uneven road surface between the 2 immigration checkpoint.

Crossing into Poipet, Cambodia

Poverty is a relative term. If you said Thais in rural areas are poor, you have got to come here in Poipet and see for yourself what poverty really is. For a few Bahts, kids as young as 8-10 years old are paid to pull wooden carts full of luggage to Hotel.

Carts drawn by human power are frequent sights

We checked into HoWah Genting for 600 bahts per room night. HoWah Genting is a Malaysian-owned company listed in KL Stock exchange. Breakfast is included.

There are about 9 casinos in Poipet, I was told. Free flow of food is served to the patron of Casino. There are also many Toyota Camry around to ferry patron between Casinos. Generally the stake can be as low as 10 Baht. As we are no gamblers, we just opt for the easy-to-play Roullete to past time and have some cheap fun and thrills. Time are spent moving around the casinos, eating and drinking. The night ended with a foot massage.

The following day, we went back to Thailand side to shop at the border market and tried some Thai delicacies.

We spent another night in Poipet and lost 1500 bahts on the table, I guessed. As we are here for “Senouk”, we gave trips generously to the croupier when we strike, just to make everyone happy. In Zurich, no one will pick up a one Swiss Franc coin in the street. Here, one Franc will bring a lot of happiness.

We met some Malaysian here and were given food coupons to dine at their hotels. We learnt from the Malaysian that there is bus to Bangkok for only 100 Bahts. It stopped at BangNa and also in the City.

The trip back to Bangkok is more pleasant and took only 3 hours.

In Bangkok, we stayed in Regency Park at Sukhumvit Soi 22 for USD30 booked through the Internet. Shopping at MBK is the part of trip my wife enjoyed most.

AK881 back to KL was a pleasant trip too.