learning the thai language

[skinner]

AIA VITALITY ?

[Chuchi]

The humongous advertising sign at the 4 way ringroad-Khonkaen Hwy intersection goes hand-in-hand with the 180 second stop light. If I hit the light after it's just turned red, that gives me a full 3 minutes to decipher the sign.
When I see signs like this, I often wonder how many Thais know the meaning. Any takers?

AIA Vitaliy?

[Chuchi]

The humongous advertising sign at the 4 way ringroad-Khonkaen Hwy intersection goes hand-in-hand with the 180 second stop light. If I hit the light after it's just turned red, that gives me a full 3 minutes to decipher the sign.
When I see signs like this, I often wonder how many Thais know the meaning. Any takers?

AIA Vitaliy?

Vitality

[parrot]

Vitality it is. All the google searches for that word in Thai lead me to AIA websites.
Here's the rest of the sign:

[parrot]

I've made a few feeble attempts at learning some basic Buddhist chants, but because I'm not much for religious activities, I never made progress.
But one day, in my earlier days of learning to read Thai, I was at a funeral ceremony, when I faced four words that were easy enough to read and understand. It was moments in my early struggles with reading that I realized the worth of learning to read (basic basic basic basic). Three of the words are in the photo........can anyone provide the fourth?
Something to dwell on next time you're at a funeral.

[FrazeeDK]

can't see the 2nd for the glare but its Birth, ....... Pain, Death.. so is the 2nd one Life?

[parrot]

The second one is แก่. Something I think we all can relate to.
By the way, I took that photo off of a city facebook website....from the funeral for a politician who died recently. The glare was in the fb photo........and a target of learning opportunity.

Even if you don't understand the chants, if you can read the four words, you'll have something to ponder as the long chant goes on.....and on.

[parrot]

There's a good vocab/reading practice link for basic Thai words (3600 or so) at
http://thai-notes.com/freethai/FreeThai.shtml

[Shado]

Great link parrot! Very useful. Thanks.

[randerson79]

That’s a great resource. Thanks Parrot!

[parrot]

Having gone though a good amount of levels, it's surprising how many words I know outright when I read them, but I'd never be able to recall them when speaking. And it's also surprising how easy it seems to deduce the correct answer from 4 choices, even when I don't really know the meaning.
I guess that's why people like multiple choice tests!

[FrazeeDK]

liked it.. It seems to go back to previous words a number of times, perhaps to reinforce the learning process....

[parrot]

I've sort of lost track of the number of reasons, but I'll guess #3192. Today, while returning home from a soup slurp, I was taking the shortcut past the airport to the ring road when I was pulled over at a police stop (both sides). I inquired........he said he saw me put on my seat belt as I passed the corner near the PTT station/school. I told him that was impossible (เป็นไปไม่ได้) but he directed me to the pay table on the other side of the road. I explained to the man that as I was coming from near the mosque, it would be intolerable for me to drive that far with my seat belt warning alarm chiming loudly. He directed me to the cop that pulled me over....where I again explained the situation. Ok......he handed back my license. End of story. Smiles and a wai and he waved me off.
That's the second time in the year that I've been able to talk myself out of a fine. I'm not opposed to paying when I'm in the wrong......and it's a good feeling to be able to contest it when I'm not.

[parrot]

After not paying my traffic fine, I stopped to fuel up......and noticed the sign on the truck at the nearby pump.
Does anyone want to have a go at the Thai?

[parrot]

After not paying my traffic fine, I stopped to fuel up......and noticed the sign on the truck at the nearby pump.
Does anyone want to have a go at the Thai?

นึกถึงสัตว์เลี้ยง นึกถึงเรา
When you think of pets, think of us

[parrot]

Today we went to the Sky View Temple in SangKhom district. A nice 300km or so roundtrip with a great Vietnamese beef noodle shop just before ThaBo and an excellent lunch spot along the Mekong in SangKhom after visiting the temple.
The name of the temple isn't Sky View.....rather, it's วัดผาตากเสื้อ which is an interesting name for a temple. It joins the ranks with our favorite temple in Udon (SW ringroad).....วัดป่าหัวหมู
The noodle soup shop is the sign in Thai......the lunch stop photo was the back of the shirt of one of the waitresses.

[parrot]

Reason #3201 might be the need/desire to maintain situation awareness. For example, while most road signs these days are in Thai/English, there are many that are in Thai only. You see the sign below.....it's yellow....it's probably a cautionary sign.......but if you can't read it, you are at a disadvantage to other Thai drivers who can (IMO). The sign is just before the PTT gas station, kilo 8, as you're approaching Udon from Nongwahsaw. I've never seen a similar sign elsewhere.
Anyone want to take a stab?

[jeebeeg]

stay left

[parrot]

ชิดไซ้ = stay left

ผ่านตลอด = ??

[jeebeeg]

something like `the whole passage`