Thread: Romanised Thai

Is romanised Thai understood by the Thai's, I wouldnt think so.
So how would someone in a western country address mail to Thailand other than by getting a Thai to write it or photocopying something and pasting it on the letter.

Addresses in Romanised Thai are understood by the post office. Many times they are understood to contain MONEY too! write somethng across the envelope flap or paste a sticker there to keep it from being opened. Some idiot sent me cash money not surprised when it never arrived.

Originally Posted by friscofrankie

Some idiot sent me cash money not surprised when it never arrived.

I sent you money as well, don't tell me it hasn't arrived ?

I've been really surprised how the posts office manages to deliver despite my address being written in various versions.

Originally Posted by Begbie

I've been really surprised how the posts office manages to deliver despite my address being written in various versions.

Yes, they do quite well. I've never had any problem with not receiving something. And, I'm amazed at the speed. Always seems to take less than a week to or from anywhere in the world. (Except Saipan which takes three or four weeks to or from anywhere....)

Apart from the post office do others generally understand much.

Nah.

Originally Posted by Whimsical

Is romanised Thai understood by the Thai's, I wouldnt think so.
So how would someone in a western country address mail to Thailand other than by getting a Thai to write it or photocopying something and pasting it on the letter.

I've had mail missing.

Maybe you could scan the address in Thai (and also English) and email it to the person.

Naw....would that work?

Well, if they make a printout and glue it to the envelope I dont see why not.

Originally Posted by Milkman

Originally Posted by Whimsical

Is romanised Thai understood by the Thai's, I wouldnt think so.
So how would someone in a western country address mail to Thailand other than by getting a Thai to write it or photocopying something and pasting it on the letter.

I've had mail missing.

Maybe you could scan the address in Thai (and also English) and email it to the person.

Naw....would that work?

That's precisely what I did - sent an email to my brother with my address in Romanised Thai and in Thai. He made lots of labels from this and now I get mail from the family in envelopes with my address in both English and Thai, side by side.

The important thing to get right is the numeric part of the address - e.g. 23/10 Moo 5 - and the post code. The rest - name of soi, road etc - can be misspelled, but should still arrive.

Phuket is notorious for mail going "missing". I've had several letters not arrive - there's simply nothing that can be done. The Phuket Gazette newpaper regularly has letters about this problem, but it never gets sorted. There was a case where the post master at Patong was caught on film going through the mail - i.e. opening the letters - and pocketing the contents of some. The ones he opened were then thrown away. Inexplicably, he was told that he was filmed doing this and was allowed to go home. No one has seen him since - or so they say. He obviously has some friends in the right places. This is the sort of corruption in Thailand that needs stamping out, but as it happens from the very top downwards, it'll never happen.