1Ping1

Appreciate advice but I'm no chicken sh.... By a long ways but I'm also not going back. Keeping in mind I love dogs....... I would take nothing short of two glocks w extra 15 round clips before I ventured back onto what this dog knows, feels is his turf.

As you noted, pepper spray great if wind is right, when though "in a dog fight" w enemy coming at you from 360 degrees and risk of blinding yourself, not a good option.

I am dead serious when I am still asking...... What would you have done...... Tragically. I have a good friend that spent two weeks visiting an older. 70'ish friend in hospital here who darn near was eaten alive by a totally different pack........ Crippled for life as calves torn to shreds.

That is reality, anyone who loves dogs, as I do..... Loves dogs....... These though are more like being hunting in Alaska and being attacked by a pack of wolves. Only problem of course is you have no gun. Only a stick.......and they sure as hell, trust me. Are not afraid of it.

Truly love to hear what others would do. "Both short term and long term"

For those that would call these family pets or strays, well all I can say is YOU HAVE NEVER RAN INTO A "REAL" PACK OF SOI DOGS.

Keep in mind I love dogs. Grew up in farmland, and hunted deer, elk, caribu, and black bear. Also, 6'4 and around 230#.

Having stated that, never been so scared in my life as u was roughly a month ago while walking down road at base of mountains outside hua hin.

Out of jungle, forest came a pack of soi dogs. They flat out appeared to want to eat me alive. Scared shitless. I first id'd alpha male as I've been taught and charged and growled at top of my lungs. Dam thing just got madder. Now only about 8-10 ft away. I looked around and by miracle, a large surveyors stake was across ditch. I jumped over, grabbed stake and came back out to road. Dogs surrounding me again but better than being in bushes.

Again, as I've read and been taught, I went after the large obvious alpha male, beating my club on ground, roaring like a frickun cave man. I'm telling ya, it just pissed him off more. I'll see those teeth till day I die as he snarled and growled, slowly tracking my every step and keeping just out of reach of my club. I finally slowly retreated, not turning my back for 300 meters as I left what I'm sure was "their turf"........

Would love advice on what you would do if this were to happen to you. I love to walk. Do 4-5 miles a day. Honestto God, never walked for two weeks after this encounter. Now, sadly avoid mountains and back to being main roads flatlander. I'm sure of only one thing. If I would have let that lead dog get a bite into me his pack would have taken me to the ground in seconds.

So...... Again, I'm big dude, stick, roaring, taking on lead dog all good but sure as hell did not scare this dog one bit. It was like he was losing face to his pack if he let me go. PS..... Good survival therapy just getting this of my chest. Truly scared me to death. Any advice on what I should have done different would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all. Greatly appreciate sage. Solid advice and info. I guess I'm off car shopping after gathering required info. FYI, did visit both Honda and Toyota dealerships yesterday. "Both" sales girls said first "no way" must have work permit. Politely kept explaining retired and got them to call finance dept. Now gathering info to meet w both.

Thanks again for great info

I use delta and Thai air exclusively. Both by going directly to their web sites. Good to great rates and often with only 3-10 days notice as I never know when some minor but urgent business forces my hand.

Suggest shopping around both sites. Never more than 1.5 hr layover in either Seoul SK or Tokyo Japen. Depending on direction I'm headed.

Appears to me anyway. By luck or whatever that always a few last minute seats to fill and they drop the rates to fill them. I've traveled one way for 650 us. Then booked another four day notice for roughly same for return trip.

Half dozen trips in past few yrs. Both airlines never late. Thai great food and free drink. Delta. You can upgrade to economy comfort for 100 bucks and get four inches more leg room and free beer and wine.

Thanks all.

Crossy and others....... So you can get dealer financing at dealerships??? I did no know this. Anyone buy Honda or Toyota this way w 50% down??

Also, I keep reading Thai wife, even though no income can co sign?? She does. Can show significant funds into her account over past two years each month but again, not yet "legally" married. Sounds like from some no problem??

As for daughter. Appreciate advice and concern. Once married though in states think all good w ssa as long as I dot my I's and cross my T's.

What is a good solid insurance company to go with. In perfect world. I would go w dealer finance at decent interest rate and milk out for 3-4 years while planning to pay of much sooner.

Also, still not clear on wife, (not recorded) as co signer. Several have stated no problem. For the record I give her roughly 60k each month. Have for two yrs. Bank records as proof. I roughly then bring in the same to los using atms each month. Is this the documentation lenders are looking for? Will they then still want, need her to co sign?

Greatly appreciate help guys.

Thanks again

Also appreciate reality check on scooter. Promise I agree with you 100%. Fact is that I also once, within two weeks or arriving in Thailand, and having driven "real" motorcycles for 45 years, flippen drove a 125cc scooter off a cliff and ended up with five ribs broke in seven places, left clavicle and shoulder plus a few fingers. All i all a lesson well learned, I drive only minimally, pray for my wife each day and keep saving for the car. Thanks Again, as you stated, its not a matter of if but of when.

Little background info.

While married by Monk, paperwork not filed with courts as plan was to get finance immigration visa for wife and six yr old daughter and head to US. My wife loves her country though, I love it more each day and we are planning on spending 4-6 yrs here and then look at immigration again to US. I have lived in Thailand for two years.

How best to buy a new car with roughly 50% down is the first question. I have solid income so payments not a problem and in fact would work to pay off in roughly a yr but would want smaller payments so 4-5 yr financing if possible. I truly need sage guidance as not at all clear on how this works. Dealers finance or go through bank as only option?. I do have an SCB savings account for what it is worth. Balance is always low though as let wife handle all living expenses, I only pull enough money into account each month to stay afloat as not real trusting of non insured thai bankis and felt it best to build up solid history in her account and was not thinking about mine.

Second question, can I put the car in wifes name. Reason I ask this and please tear me up if warranted but I am a bit concerned about having it in my name. I have read stories about a car being in farongs name and when wife wrecks car and hurts someone they can come after me as the registered owner of car and will do so if they know owner is farong and think he has money. I trust my wife with my money, I am of the "only invest what in Thailand you can afford to lose" group or mindset also though. Is this something that I should worry about. Has anyone heard of this happening where car was in farongs name and wife or GF got in wreck and hurt someone and they came after the legal owner of the car, the farong for damages and compensation? Or am I being paraniod and can go ahead and simply finance it in my name and not worry.,

I do not plan on driving the car other than minimal and away from city traffic. We also though with six year old daughter truly need the car for my wife taking our daughter to school. While I am not biological father they is 100% my daughter in my mind. The thought of them going to school on motorscooter is driving me nuts.

All advice, guidance is greatly appreciated.

Tragic at the very least. I would lobby that all involved stop playing the blame game and call in for help on a global scale. Once it hits the shoreline you are screwed. Since it already has started to, all we can hope for is that they are not understating the amount of oil in the water. If they are, and they could be by a magnitude of 10 to 100 the end to this is no where near, months to years as one correctly stated. Many, many more beaches, islands could and will be destroyed. All you have to do is look at what happens in other countries, as in the US in Alaska years ago, (oil still there by the way) and the Gulf just several years ago.(oil still there also) Once in the sand and on the beach the sad reality is that sand literally has to be removed to remove oil. Meanwhile, all marine life living in these areas is gone for years to come. So very sad as such a beautiful area.

Greatly appreciate your response but tourist visa very hard to get from Thailand to US.

800k baht in bank

Plus, own business

Own car and property

Or after a fricking year wait, even if most of above satisfed.

No entry is normal standard answer.

In my case. GF of two yrs has masters degree in economics and
business, owned, designed clothing for clothing store at 26 yrs old. But
does not have property tieing her to Thailand.

What's very sad is she has no desire to live in US. God bless her,
she loves her country, so do I. And just want to give her chance to
visit.

Thanks again

I have also been told that this is a option for bypassing what for Thai Girlfriend to US is a one year ordeal on either a Fiance Visa or a marriage visa. No, we are not married. Getting a visitor visa though is next to impossible without her having a ton of money in the bank, she owns her own business and must own house and car.

Having said all that. Is there anyone that has used the "tour package" route to get Thai girlfriend into the US for a few weeks. Though we live in Thailand, love living in Thailand, I would love to take her there to visit and meet my family and show her around the west coast.

Any, all info would be greatly appreciated.

Poor Dudes. RIP to them both.

As workers, they were following orders from their boss. That he then let/sent a third in that passed out is even more insane. It would have been H2S and most likely some CO2 as it as with H2S is heavier than air. Methane also though while ligher than air when confined to a sewer line it has no where to go until it is opened up. Then the length of the line is going to determine what percentage you have in line. Anything over 10ppm is above epa standards. In sewer lines like this, most likely in the thousands of PPM.

Tragic but again, workers should not be to blame. If they were uneducated, someone above them should have been and not allowed them to enter the fricking line.

Again, RIP to both the young guys.

My Thai GF of two years has told me that there is a tree bark that grows only in Northern Thailand that is a Double Winner. You drink it as a powder mixed with water and if you drink, OR SMOKE even a swig or one inhale you get physically sick to the point of spending the night vomiting. While extreme if it was to work it would be great for me.

Has anyone heard of this. The name she gave me for it is thai and would not translate to english. I tried finding it on Ask.com and google and came up with everything but what i was looking for. She states an old man goes into the forest in the village she grew up in and sells it at his herb, medicene shop. She swears it works 100% as her mom slipped it into her dads water and he was sick for three days every time he drank or smoke. She never did tell him but it worked.

I would love to find out what this is and give it a try. please let me know if you have any info.

My Thai GF of two years just told me a great one. Would love to hear if this is true. I told her I was tired of smoking, I have tried many many times over the years, all with failure, longest break six months over a 35 yr period.

She states that their is a herb called lemon grass, or white glass herb that makes you sick if you smoke or even smell cigs. I did a little research and it shows this same info on the web as a "side affect" from its natural use in Northern Thailand for indgegestion, nausea, fever and half a dozen other things. But the side affect is you do not want to smoke as they make you physically ill.

Number one, has anyone ever heard of this and used it. Number two, where the heck can I get some. While I find it online, not into credit cards and thai web sites for security reasons. Is there stores that sell this stuff.

thanks

Thanks to all for great info and opinions, responses. Yes, I am more than a bit freaked out over the I-864 form.

And yes, once a US citizen, it goes away but that is a five year minimum in the US to clear that hurdle.

In my neighborhood there are roughy 50 nice homes. 70 percent Farong and Thai "wife". I use the term losely as some I believe are not truly married but in Thailand, Boyfriends are Husbands and Girlfriends are wifes. Just the verbiage they use.

Also, about half the Farongs go back home for three to six months a year and I suspect that the true reason is the same anxiety that I have. They do not seem to want their "wife" to get legal immigration status due to the same financial obligations.

the entire thing really sucks for me. I love my fiance. That is the main reason I want to get married in the states. At some point I am going to die, she will outlive me as I am 59, she is 27 and her daughter, that I love more than life is 6. By marrying in states and getting her to thru process to the point of getting US citizenship. She can then get my SSA benifits and my retirement. But.............................Again, Gosh darn, what a risk we take when we do this.

I can see why so many marry, not marry but do the part time dad and father, husband and fly home for months on end but it is not in my opinion a great thing to do to someone you love. The flip side of course is running the gauntlet and praying things do not go south after you have filled out the 864 form declaring, as noted, contract with goverment that you are going to pay them 125% of the poverty level, roughly 35k a year forever, regardless of divorce and until or unless they immigrate back to their home country.

Is is possible to use Fiance Visa, fly to the states and then get married and fly back to Thailand without filling out the forms. While I suspect this blows her SSA benefits years down the road, I think she could then at least get other benefits as my pension or life insurance. "all covered in prenup of course.

I should add that my Fiance has told me many times, she does not want to live in States, just wants to get green card and then move back to Thailand. This would be roughly two years and not possible with me not filling out form. I also think not great for child to be hauling her from country to country over two years.

Again, any, all advice is greatly appreciated. I believe and thank you all for your sincere answers and advice.

am a newbe on this site but was looking to ask a question
and came across this forum. I am also an Nov guy. the Fourth to be exact.
10/04/2012. It is at the CA processing center. Does this mean I am getting
close?

Form I-864 scares the heck out of me. No one plans on getting divorced but as noted, not my first
rodeo and have worked hard my entire life to only lose half of it as I did in
first marriage in States due to divorce. In second marriage to an American, I had a solid prenup that covered
my assets that I already had before marriage and pretty clean divorce in keeping them when we divorced. We are planning on living in SD. I have a solid retirement and investments that I want to protect in case of
divorce.,

I love my Thai fiance, and her daughter very much. I am just trying to be realistic in knowing that while we could be good for the next 50 years, Shi...... happens. If it does, I do not want it to wipe me out. Will a solid prenup keep me out of trouble. I have zero problem with us sharing all assets gained from day we are finally married.

Just want to ensure that my grown kids and their familys, my grandkids are covered in the future by
current will and solid prenup.

I should add that we are using a Bangkok Attorney to get to the states. After that an American Attorney to carry us the rest of the way. Meaning Prenup signing and will..

Thanks for all the great info. I must admitt this entire process, even though I have printed and read out just about every form and instructions for each form about three times is still is giving me headaches. I must admitt that I have been blown up more than a few times in my life and my memory or retention of info is not top notch. I greatly appreciate all the help.

Questions:

Just what is the process: Yes, I have looked for it. Those are correct and thanks so much for info in my first post last week, that I should not worry about the 1-134 affidavet of support. But also correct that I sure as heck should be worried about the I-864, "affidavit of support" under section 213A of the act. The problem is I do not see anywhere where I have to fill it out.

Please HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS. And yes, knock the snot out of me when I am wrong.

The way I read it, I being a Nov filer wait a few more months to get I-129 approved, package sent to US embassy/immigration in Bangkok and then go through with filing 1-134 and Finance goes through interview?

Once accepted, we get visa to states?

Once in states we get married, and asap file 1-130 for green card and work permit. Then also file for 1-131 for early permission to travel while still under temp green card while waiting for our two years to get permanent green card.

MOST IMORTANT, AND BACK TO ORIGIONAL QUESTION, WHEN, WHY, WOULD ANYONE FILE FORM 1-864. As noted, not the sharpest tool in the shed but I cannot find anything that tells me when, or at what stage I would have to fill it out. It is as most of you rightfully noted, is pretty much signing over 35 of 100k per year in income if you were to get divorced once you sign the form. It is to ensure that even if divorced, you are responsible to keep her and child at 125% of USA poverty level if you were to get divorced. The only out would be if they went back to their home country per what I have read.

I totally understand why the USA does this. My issue of course, as noted in first posting is while we are in love, well, not first rodeo and sure as heck do not want to sign over roughly 35% of my income for rest of my life if things go south on me down the road. While a solid pre-nup as noted, should protect existing assets, and I have zero problem with splitting 50% anything we gain together, if we were to divorce the form I-864 is like a death star.

Any clarity for this begging smuck that does not understand just when, why I have to fill out the I-864 affidavit of support form? and is my info on timeline, or flow chart so to speak correct?

God Bless for any and all responses, as noted, while I read and re-read, I cannot ever seem to find a solid, this is how it plays out, and when do you or not have to file form I-864.

I will take all the bashing if deemed needed to get some insight on this but the question is serious. How protected are my or for that matter yours, how are you protecting prior assests in US once married and then something falls apart. It was a Thailand Attorney that noted even though my wife speaks five languages and reads writes, speaks Englishas well as I do, all she has to do “per him” is state she did not understand the prenup. Yeah, that puckered me up a bit…………

Thank You So Much For Any and All Help In advance, I am a nervous wreck over this thing and not sure if I am worried about nothing or if I am not worried enough!

I am a newbe on this site but was looking to ask a question
and came across this forum. I am also an Oct guy. the Fourth to be exact.
10/04/2012. It is at the CA processing center. Does this mean I am getting
close?

Second question. Has anyone reviewed the form I-134,
affidavet of support form. It does scare the crap out of me a little bit. I am
55, retired early and not my first rodeo, as I am sure is the same as others.
This form pretty much has you signing off on the "sounds" like fact
you are going to be responsible for financials of fiance and daughter. That is
fine, but what if you get divorced. Any input on this would be grealy
appreciated.

No one plans on getting divorced but as noted, not my first
rodeo and have worked hard my entire life to only lose half of it as I did in
first marriage in States due to divorce. We are planning on living in SD. I
have a solid retirement and investments that I want to protect in case of
divorce., in second marriage to an American, I had a solid prenup that covered
my assets that I already had before marriage and pretty clean divorce in
keeping them when we divorced.

I love my Thai fiance, and her daughter very much. I am just
trying to be realistic in knowing that while we could be good for the next 50
years, Shi...... happens. If it does, I do not want it to wipe me out. Will a
solid prenup keep me out of trouble. I have zero problem with us sharing all
assets gained from day we are finally married.

Just want to ensure
that my grown kids and their familys, my grandkids are covered in the future by
current will and solid prenup.

Any, all help, guideance, assurance or reality checks would
be greatly appreciated.

I should add that we are using a Bangkok Attorney to get to
the states. After that an American Attorney to carry us the rest of the way.
Meaning Prenup signing and will..

I will take all the bashing if deemed
needed to get some insight on this but the question is serious. How protected
are my or for that matter yours, how are you protecting prior assests in US
once married and then something falls apart. It was a Thailand Attorney that
noted even though my wife speaks five languages and reads writes, speaks English
as well as I do, all she has to do “per him” is state she did not understand the
prenup. Yeah, that puckered me up a bit…………

Any ideas on average start to finish on getting fiance visa approval for USA. Filed and got notice of them getting it last Nov fourth.

Been looking on CA processing center from time to time and it always said 5.5 months for homeland security to process and then it gets sent to immigration for another three or four months.

Just looked at web site and now it shows 7.5 months ave processing time.??

Anyone have a feel for what's going on w CA processing Times. And more important. What is reality on just how long this is going to take?

Been w fiance for 1.5 years. Tons of pics. Doc, rental agreements showing strong relationship so feel good about going smooth but just how long does "smooth" take.?

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

Soooooo..... Last yr they had a big push for gov paid first time car buyers.

Soooooo.... This year they state plan to change side of road you drive on. Plus adding you cannot legally sell car w right hand steering once law in affect.

Also. As a nuckle head, that "cheap" conversion from right to left hand drive is anything but cheap.

What smells here???? Yeah I would say great for manufacturing as all converting to left hand steering.

I'd also be pretty peeved if I just bought a new car and then found out I cannot resell.....

Forgot to add. In case outages in different areas at different times. Or do they just shut off entire city. I live on soi 102.

Thanks again

Thanks a lot for great advice.

Tank is outside the house. Cannot disconnect bottom discharge to properly flush without cutting pipe as suckers who installed it used PVC and glue straight into bottom of tank.

I'm going to go with useing pump to drain. After shutting off street valve and then once empty turn back on. Rinse and then repeat process. Hell of a catch 22, must turn of water to drain. Then no water to clean. Thinking I will tie float up to fool it into thinking full so I can do both at same time.

Does anyone have any idea what schedule is for city turning supply off and on. ? With my luck. I'll have clean empty tank right about when they shut off my supply.

Thanks again for great answers and advice.

New to site and may be stupid question but does anyone know what's going on w water problems in hua Hin. Seems like we are losing water every few days and living off pump and scum filled blue tank.

Second question, how do I drain and clean tank properly. There is no drain valve.

Third. Om guessing its a 1500 liter tank. How much chlorine should I add to kill bacteria and make safe for at least showers.

Thanks