willyumiii

I am looking forward to a better exchange rate with THB and USD.

Any thoughts?

Are we celebrating the New Year early guys?

The OP clearly stated in his post that it was 14,000 Euros.

and the first two replies ask what currency the 14,000 is in??

Read it again?

I am curious as to where he is from.

His English is interesting.

Very understandable, but a little different from what I usually read.

OP, you will not live like a millionaire on 14,000 Euros,

But if willing to stay away from westernized " Tourist Thailand" and live reasonably in real Thailand, you will do fine.

Good luck to the OP!

What changes ( good or bad ) for expats in Thailand to you anticipate or speculate will happen in the New Year?

Happy New Year to all on TV!

Have a safe one.

It could be very entertaining watching the police trying to shoot one down.

With their reputation for marksmanship, they may get lucky and hit one from time to time.

The rest we could see on videos shot from the drones, posted on youtube!

Obviously you have never been to Korat before so I should come for a visit first and see if you like it before you go down the route of renting or even buying a property here, as you didn't say which you are intending to do.

I say obviously because there are no mountains here, not even a big hill,...lol...Korat City is as flat as a pancake.

HL

The OP's post also makes me wonder how familiar he is with Khorat.

It is flat,

The area is known as the Khorat Platue ( sp?) It is flat about as far as the eye can see.

There are a couple of lakes in the area ( check online for a map ).

If it is true that he does not know Khorat, he really should investigate before even considering living there. This photo

I like Khorat and it does have things to offer,

but, it is not your charming, beautiful Thai city like say, maybe Chiang Mai.

This photo gives you an idea of what to expect.

Click on the photo to view it.

If you are referring to the Korn Buri located south of Chokchai, you could consider building or buying a nice house in that area.

The area is developing rather fast and it is very near mountains and lakes.

It is a less expensive area to live in and it is only about one hours drive from Khorat if you have any "big city" needs.

Chokedee!

It would depend a lot on just where in Thailand you would be.

Are these things you want to experience or avoid?

I am well away from " Tourist Thailand " that makes me very safe from ( extremely rare anyway ) Tsunamis and very likely to experience large animals, large snakes and large spiders...that I enjoy!

Again.....what part of Thailand are you asking about?

I have to wonder what the reasons were for denying permission to change altitude to avoid the storm were.

A way out! ??

Success is being happy and content and satisfied that you have made the correct decision in relocating here.

Period.

Democracy??

Is there any country on earth that is a true democracy?

Even my country, the USA, who wants to force "democracy" on other countries is not a democracy.

It is a republic.

Democracy only works on a very small scale.

More people than it takes to fill a large room, and you have lost it.

OP

You, me same same story..almost to same same word!

Wife of me make me same deal on bar girl.

Me did not do, but love her for offer of deal..

( Scully, please note, the English used in this post has been modified for your benefit, now you can accuse me of not being educated as well!).

Quote "Farang have to have sex, cannot wait.. go see bar girl have sex her, you no love her..I not care.."

She doesn't sound very educated.

Only people who speak impeccable English are educated?

You really need to get over yourself!

That was a very foolish statement to make.

Are you educated?

My wife was a university graduate and a computer systems annalist for one of the larger banks in Thailand when we met.

She had never been married before, had no children.

Had never really had a boyfriend before me.

We have been happily for over 13 years now, have a beautiful child and have lived in both USA and Thailand since our marriage.

She is definitely not in it for the money.

I had some serious financial problems a few years ago and she actually supported myself and the family on her income and investments!

Now, all the losers who have never been with a Thai woman who was not a prostitute an or wanted them for their money can post their disbelieving snide remarks.

I have heard you guys before.

The difference is that I know and speak the truth.

Sorry, guys!

We are not all losers who have to pay for it!

Who's calling you a loser? It's good that your relationship suits you but what has it got to do with those who are in happy relationships with ex-bargirls? Are you trying to show off? A little sad if you are.

Sorry if I came off that way Brewster..

Not showing off.

I guess I am being defensive.

Every time I have mentioned my wife and our relationship here in TV, I get flooded with replies from guys who do not believe that there are any Thai women with farang husbands that are not bar girls or prostitutes.

There are many of us out here that are very happy and married to good Thai women who never worked in the sex industry.

I should also add that I don't consider all Thai women who work in the industry to be bad people.

I know some past and present sex workers who are wonderful people. ( some are very good wives of good friends )

We all do what we need to do to get by.

Some of us have fewer options than others.

My wife was a university graduate and a computer systems annalist for one of the larger banks in Thailand when we met.

She had never been married before, had no children.

Had never really had a boyfriend before me.

We have been happily for over 13 years now, have a beautiful child and have lived in both USA and Thailand since our marriage.

She is definitely not in it for the money.

I had some serious financial problems a few years ago and she actually supported myself and the family on her income and investments!

Now, all the losers who have never been with a Thai woman who was not a prostitute an or wanted them for their money can post their disbelieving snide remarks.

I have heard you guys before.

The difference is that I know and speak the truth.

Sorry, guys!

We are not all losers who have to pay for it!

Yes, the semi-literates on the forum should be culled.

It's not only their misspelled words and fractured syntax, it's their callow opinions that are so tedious.

A "Knob of the Year" contest would be a good first step.

Not all posters on TV are native English speakers and their input is as valid as yours!

Lighten up!

By the way, can you define "knob" for us?

Sounds like one of those obscure British terms to me?

I respect those with the balls to post in a language they have not mastered..

much more than I respect the pompass (sp intended) jerks who belittle them!

( hope this reply wasn't too tedious for you sir!)

Morals police? Ethics police?

Are'those not those the last two steps before the dream police take over??

Who will be the judge?

Will this mean no more gay and lesbian Thai teachers in the Thai education system?

We will lose 40% of the best teachers!

Maybe the university teaching students should learn about teaching the "critical thinking" teaching method the rest of the world uses instead of the rote ( I am a parrot) method they use now, like the government and education administrators have said they should use?

The students will decide who teaches...and the inmates will rule the asylum.

My heart bleeds for the students who could ecell if the system would permit them to.

This is Thailand...poor Thailand!

This advisory should go out to the people of Thailand.

Since I have lived here I could not count the number of times I have seen Thai people cook indoors with charcoal bar- b- qs!

Not safe at all!

Thailand's archaic marijuana laws were strongly influenced by America's DEA.

The people of America have fought for and won decriminalization of marijuana.

Give Thailand 25 years to catch up, then it will all be good.

I was a legal ( government permit) medical marijuana grower in USA, supplying legal distributors for years.

I would not even think about touching it in Thailand as long as it is illegal!

You can't fix stupid and stupid is as stupid does!

This is yesterday's headline:

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS NOW LEGAL IN ALL 50 STATES THANKS TO CONGRESS

I know something about this, being the co-ordinator of www.LannaCareNet.org

The hospital will not release your remains until the bills are paid, so yes, your wife is going to be responsible for your final medical bills. More importantly, you should consider having a Advance Direct or Living Will in place to make sure your final wishes are followed, or you may find yourself being kept alive for a very long time in a hospital, especially if it appears that it's likely someone will foot the bill. Remember, this is a Buddhist country with a tremendous respect for life and there is much medical technology available to keep people alive long past when most westerners would consider it a good idea.

As for the handling of your remains after you die, the hospital will notify your Embassy and they will contact your wife. She will probably be encouraged to have your remains cremated here with the remains shipped to her. This can be arranged by the hospital for less than 20K. It sounds like the OPs wife remains in Australia while he comes here. The Embassy will keep in touch with the OPs wife and see that she receives the appropriate documents to be able to file insurance claims, close bank accounts, etc.

While it's good that the OP is worried about what should happen if he dies while in Thailand, given his advanced age, he should be more worried about what will happen if he becomes ill here in Thailand. Very few people just die suddenly. Usually, they're hospitalized first and often are unable to communicate their wishes, access funds, etc. He should plan ahead for this scenario.

The OP probably know about this, but be sure to register your travel plans on with the Aussie gov't website so the Embassy has contact details for your wife:

https://www.orao.dfat.gov.au/orao/weborao.nsf/Homeform?Openform

Just a thought...

If your hospital bills are not paid, what will the hospital do with your body?

Surely they will not store it indeffinately!

Unless you have some superstitous ( religious ) consern about what happens to your used up body...

Let the hospital keep it!

I know something about this, being the co-ordinator of www.LannaCareNet.org

The hospital will not release your remains until the bills are paid, so yes, your wife is going to be responsible for your final medical bills. More importantly, you should consider having a Advance Direct or Living Will in place to make sure your final wishes are followed, or you may find yourself being kept alive for a very long time in a hospital, especially if it appears that it's likely someone will foot the bill. Remember, this is a Buddhist country with a tremendous respect for life and there is much medical technology available to keep people alive long past when most westerners would consider it a good idea.

As for the handling of your remains after you die, the hospital will notify your Embassy and they will contact your wife. She will probably be encouraged to have your remains cremated here with the remains shipped to her. This can be arranged by the hospital for less than 20K. It sounds like the OPs wife remains in Australia while he comes here. The Embassy will keep in touch with the OPs wife and see that she receives the appropriate documents to be able to file insurance claims, close bank accounts, etc.

While it's good that the OP is worried about what should happen if he dies while in Thailand, given his advanced age, he should be more worried about what will happen if he becomes ill here in Thailand. Very few people just die suddenly. Usually, they're hospitalized first and often are unable to communicate their wishes, access funds, etc. He should plan ahead for this scenario.

The OP probably know about this, but be sure to register your travel plans on with the Aussie gov't website so the Embassy has contact details for your wife:

https://www.orao.dfat.gov.au/orao/weborao.nsf/Homeform?Openform

Just a thought...

If your hospital bills are not paid, what will the hospital do with your body?

Surely they will not store it indeffinately!

Unless you have some superstitous ( religious ) consern about what happens to your used up body...

Let the hospital keep it!

Cuba was once an extremely popular holiday destination for Americans.

Very close to the states,

Good weather,

Warm

Friendly

Fun

Interesting cultur,.

Beautiful sexy women.

Great cigars!

It will be popular again soon.

Look out Thailand!

I've killed a few of them, so I know they really are mosquitoes

If they are not biting you and not irritating you with their "buzzing",

Why are you killing them?

Sport?

Great White Hunter!

lol

My question:

Why did they choose " Thailand"?

"thai" is passa Thai. It means " free".

But, "land" is an English word. It means land ( duh) or " eee-din" (sp?) in passa Thai.

Why was is not called Thai eee-din?

"