ChrisKC

Better the truth today that hurts, than the discovered lie tomorrow that double hurts. Be passionate about anything that is worthwhile.

Happiness is freedom from stress Control yourself, manage others My own quotes - and I have many others

gods, thousands and thousands of them are things not beings and therefore are common nouns, not even requiring a capital letter. And even supposing there was that something you believe actually exists, you are up against all the other gods that millions of other people believe in - quite irrationally! Therefore your question is unnecessary and irrelevant!

Got what he deserves!. Can get out and close his own door!

It is of no consequence whatsoever, except to you, it seems - easily offended for no good reason.

When in Bangkok and I hailed a taxi, he stops and I open the passenger door. asking for the meter to be turned on, if he says no, I leave the taxi with the door still open!

I have SCB account in Udon Thani and in Chiang Mai but I live in Lampang, though I was in the appropriate areas when I opened them.

You are so cynical, you don't realise just how how cynical you are!

No "cause of death" is being recorded and no mention of a postmortem - that knowledge would help a lot of people including his Mother, Suicide is not so much a cause of death as the method used. A real Doctor should be able to find this - as in overdose of drugs or external indications of obvious self harm or by a third party! In general terms, a suicide note is reasonable evidence to work with by Police and Forensics! Cynicsim regarding the incompetence or a "cover up"of RTP is unfair, as this is a matter of International concern and should be treated carefully to avoid unnecessary escalation.

Good morning Bob, This is a good, positive and encouraging post. Next step, stay away from processed food I am glad for you.

Shouldn't be in a boat at this time of year!

No special comment to this silly remark! And I stand by that as well!

No! If I could afford one, I would use the money for something else. I am not the ostentatious type!

Another one blaming the victim and effectively exonerating the thief.

It's been six months, dear

If I "pay" B1,000,000, half each to the girl and the parents and I don't get that money back (call it a free gift then), I have bought her and what's more, when the relationship fails I lose her as well! I can't claim on the guarantee either! I stand buy what I said which wasn't a gambit!

You notice them because they think more about the relationships that follow that are far more important than the "getting" married process. Please give advice to the foreigners, not just what is actually (traditionially) only symbolic, but the great number of relationships that will fail; doesn't matter the reason, before they even think about marriage or giving pots of money away, especially in Thailand and where there are significant age gaps between them. In the OP, the girl gets B500,000 and the parents get B500,000 - for "safekeeping" - HaHa! And if the relationship fails he has to say goodbye to that and maybe to half his remaining assets as well. Bad news at the beginning - bad news at the end - but only for the man - now, HE is a real loser! Plenty of stories abound! Would you fall for such a dumb deal?? I respect Thai tradition but I won't be a slave to it! I am not a slave to my English traditions either.

it is not normally mentioned, as it isn't here, that a dowry can only be considered authentic or justified when the daughter is a virgin; a sensitive question to establish such a thing of the girlfriend or the parents for the prospective husband! Marriage traditions have been handed down through many generations. For many years it was more the norm that a girl would be a virgin and thus, the dowry system would be enacted by most prospective couples, bearing in mind that near to 100% of both parties would then have been Thai and as I understand it, it was a token amount to show good faith and even a modest sum would be given back after the marriage ceremony. Now that there are numerous Interracial marriages, it isn't surprising, that certain of the traditions have been diluted in favour of a more mutual understanding of each others culture. The final point from my own personal perspective is that I see dowrys nowadays as a way to extract money mainly from rich Thais or from foreigners. I am not prepared to buy my girl. If she is Thai and we marry in Thailand, I am absolutely OK with a Thai wedding ceremony - that I did 5 years ago!

You might like to consider that not all women require all the marriage traditions to be met, especially as in the case of the OP, that of sinsod or dowry of any kind.

Yes, especially the OP

I have had at least three girlfriends that told me they loved me but didn't show it. I have had four dogs during my life and none of them told me they loved me but they certainly showed i! And I am NOT a human you need to avoid!

Not a dilemma at all. it is ransom money - I would show no interest in such a situation. It isn't the money, it is the audacity of parents and their supporters to suggest sinsod is a security (of the relationship) issue. And the girlfriend thinks it is reasonable - well, she would, wouldn't she? "Thin end of a wedge" springs to mind here My American friend, don't THINK about not returning, just don't

To me, an "exPAT" is somebody who used to be an Irishman.

I am an Englishman accustomed in my own usage of how to write the date. I don't only use numbers. Today's date for me is 13 Sept. Equally accurate is Sept 13 The numbers system used by USA and UK are both equally correct. However, it is equally true that using only numbers is confusing for each country using numbers only but only up to the month number 12. The USA also tend to put the year first in many cases. Nothing to do with logic but countries are to blame by not appreciating that there are more countries than their own, especially on the Internet, accessing information that may be date sensitive and therefore, in my opinion, there would be no confusion by anyone using the method in my first paragraph.

I wonder what the women have to say! Always two sides to a story.