Stevemercer

I think Thai people value life, the same as we do in the West. It's just that Thai's (and most Asian cultures) are more used to death then we are. Death is a part of life and Thais are constantly exposed to it through funerals and other reminders of our mortality. So Thais can more readily accept death as a normal part of life. Funerals can be social occasions to meet old friends and celebrate life with family, whilst ensuring the departed has a good send-off in accordance with traditions. In western countries, we tend to be more isolated from death. It is not a routine and regular part of our lives, and it therefore comes as a shock. We are not prepared for it and may be at a loss as to how to properly mourn and honour the departed. I think the Thai approach to death is probably the better way to go. But sometimes I think if we lavished the same attention and money on the elderly (before they passed away) maybe it would be better. Why not give the same sort of 'funeral party' for the elderly, before they pass away, and while they can still enjoy it.

The original article is correct in saying that the reason why 'Big Joke' was removed from Immigration has never been officially explained. It may have something to do with the IB's then purchase of a biometric system, signed off by the then police chief. 'Big Joke' is on the public record as saying the IB spent over 300 million baht per unit although the same brand and model of machine can be purchased for 36 million baht. Whatever, that police chief has retired and it seems 'Big Joke' has the support of the current chief. Or maybe the powers-in-charge reckon it's better to have 'Big Joke' on their side where they might be able to better control him.

I think maybe 10 - 15 years. Of course, human women will be able to get their own male 'well made' android that will never tire of her and can pleasure her endlessly. Maybe us blokes will have no choice, but to fall back on an android woman.

Most larger plant nurseries have a water plant section, or can direct you to the nearest place. Water lilies are an obvious choice.

Best wishes to you and your family. Great to hear from you again.

I'd pay the 15,000Baht and let the shop worry about ordering etc. They should provide 6 - 12 months warranty and you can go back if there is a problem. As suggested by another poster, check the tyre pressure. I remember buying a Suzuki GS450 once. The owner hadn't ridden it in a while and apologised for the poor handling. My test ride confirmed the poor handling, but I stopped at a garage to check/inflate the tyres. They were less than 50% the recommended pressure. This dramatically restored the handling. I got the bike cheap because no one had wanted it after a test ride, and no one had thought to check the tire pressure.

It is usual for these things to take time (12 months). The police probably know the guilty parties (assuming they are local). They are waiting to see what develops. Maybe the situation will turn to their advantage, particularly if their are other complaints against the party. The police may need a 'bribe' to finalise an investigation. However, even with good Thai, it is not a good idea for you (as a farang) to discuss with the police. The police may think you have plenty of money and misunderstandings may arise. Almost certainly the guilty party has conned other people. The police may want to wait for other people to come forward. The police may have already approached the guilty party and he has paid them off. Can you find a Thai person of good repute to ask questions on your behalf? They might be told more, particularly if police want money before taking action. Alternatively, the police may not want to proceed with your complaint for whatever reason. At the very least, the Thai person can find out from the police whether or not it is worthwhile pursuing your complaint. As others have said, it is unlikely you will recover your money. The most likely outcome would be a negotiated outcome where the guilty party will repay a certain percentage. The police would act as mediators for a pre-agreed fee.

There are plenty of HiSo Thai ladies married to farang, but the farang are normally wealthy, famous or accomplished in some way. As other posters have said, the best way would be through introductions. You just have to be in Thailand and try and make social connections (e.g. attend costly events and hang around fashionable shops.

We normally leave 20 - 40 Baht per day for housekeeping staff. In my opinion, 100 Baht is excessive and a bit ostentatious (equivalent to tipping one third salary, or about $50 per day if you were in Australia).

Why you understand me?

For most foreigners, the land would be owned by their Thai wife/relative (e.g. someone with whom you have a close and continuing relationship). Because the foreigner doesn't own the land, they may want greater certainty they can continue to live on the land for the rest of their lives if the marriage breaks down, or something similar. A foreigner can take a 30 year lease/usufruct/lien on the land, meaning that the land can't be sold without the foreigners permission. The usufruct maust be stamped onto the original chanoot (land ownership) to be enforceable. The land offices in some provinces will not do this. You can pay for the land (but it is owned by the Thai national) and you can build a house on the land with a 30 year lease (if allowed by the Province local land office). The land, if sold, would be sold with the house on it. You would only do this as a lifestyle choice, because there are too many uncertainties to consider this an investment route. You must be 100% certain the land has clear freehold title, the Thai national is trustworthy, and the land office will allow the lien to be placed on the land. In the longer term, you should be prepared to walk away from whatever costs incurred if the relationship falls through or there is some reason why you don't want to live in Thailand anymore. In Thailand, if married, you are entitled to 50i% of assets obtained after the marriage. So make sure you marry first before buying the land and building a house. If you are persistent, you may be able to recover 50%, but it won't be anything like the original 6 million baht spent. The land, purchased for 2 million, may increase in value if in a township area or with direct road frontage. The house will not increase in value and a 4 million baht house might be worth only one or two million, particularly if the location is somewhat remote. A Thai family, with 6 million baht to spend, would typically have their heart set on building their own new home and not buying somebody elses house. This is doubly true in rural Thailand where fewer people would have that sort of money freely available. So, a best case scenario would be to be married to a Thai national, with the land in her name, and a 30 year usufruct on the land. You both live happily ever after for the rest of your lives. After you die, the family might sell or live on the land. If you got divorced, and the ex-wife is agreeable, you could continue to live in the house as long as you want. Just bear in mind that no decent Thai lady (e.g. if you want to marry again) will want to live in a house/land owned by your ex-wife. Alternatively, and if the ex-wife is agreeable, she could sell the property/house and give you 50%. Assuming the land is still worth 2 million, and the house is in excellent shape (maybe 2 million in the best possible outcome), you could get back 50% of 4 million baht, or 2 million baht. If the ex-wife is not agreeable, and uncooperative, you might want to walk away and save yourself all the aggro.

As the original post implies, these are just foot soldiers obeying orders from higher up. There is no way street cops, like these, would get the keep the 27,000 Baht exhorted. They may get 500 Baht each, but most will go up the food chain right to the top of the metropolitan police. The subordinates get all the blame (and the book will be thrown at them effectively ruining their lives and reputations), but the higher-ups shrug off any responsibility and do everything to keep out of the spotlight.

The Prime Minister and police chiefs are intent on punishing the rank and file coppers hoping the real culprits escape notice. The real culprits are the top cops who claim to have no responsibility for what the rank and file do.

The only country I have visited as a tourist where I felt systematically fleeced was France (tourist spots in Paris). Short changing, over charging, not getting what was advertised: all seemed almost routine. It was a relief to fly to my next destination (Glascow) where the merchants were honest, and you didn't have to count your change, even if I couldn't understand what they were saying.

It's a pretty black and white issue and the solution is obvious (if the government is serious about stopping corruption). The Thai press continues to demand action to curb endemic police corruption. The solution is obvious. Endemic and systematic corruption always starts at the top. The top cops are the ones who set the tone and example for the entire police force. They are either on the take or incapable of addressing corruption. Either way, they are responsible, they are to blame and the finger should be pointed at them. Dismiss them and replace with honest cops (if such a thing exists in Thailand). If the government won't do this then they must be part of the problem.

I just read in the media that the National Police Chief had ordered the Bangkok Chief to transfer the responsible police station chief to an 'inactive post', and that the police are now saying the allegations made by the Taiwanese tourist may have truth.

I must admit my biggest gripe with Thai traffic is the frequency with which drivers go through red lights. I always look carefully before proceeding on green, but sometimes I'm tempted to move out a little to try and scare a driver who is obviously not going to stop before the lights change.

Why would the Taiwanese lady bother making up such an allegation? The answer is that her allegation is most likely true. Do the police target drunken foreigners for a shakedown? The answer is most likely yes, they will target anyone they think has money, is vulnerable (e.g. no connections/influence in Thailand, drunk, technically breaking some law etc.) and/or in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It's an Oriental Rat Snake. Not venomous and harmless to humans.

I've always said it is easy to get to Thailand, but hrd to become a citizen even if married to a Thai national. It's the opposite in Australia. It's hard for a Thai (with little money) to get a visa, but easy for that person to stay in Australia once there and to become a resident/citizen (e.g. just marry an Australian national). Australia still has Covid regulations in place that allow foreigners in Australia to apply for visas for which you would normally need to be in your home country. I'm sure most western countries are the same.

In Thailand, an autopsy is always done if a foreigner dies. This should determine the cause of death and his medical records will show any pre-existing conditions.. RIP and best wishes to the man's family and friends.

Most people seem to use coarse fishing rigs here. Like you, I prefer to fish light and with the simplest set-up possible. Fishing parks are probably best for kids as they have shade/food etc. for the kids if the fishing gets boring. Nearly all of Thailand lakes and rivers are heavily netted and it's hard to find a reliable spot using the pot luck method. In Australia, any river that looks inviting will always have fish. In Thailand, becasue of the fishing pressure, you need to know the best seasons or be prepared to travel off the beaten track. Another reliable fishing method is to know someone who has private stocked dams on their property. This is probably best for kids as they are usually guaranteed to catch something.

Somebody has already posted some links. All local home improvement/hardware/building type shops will have what you need. A 2000 L tank is typically around 2,500 Baht, a 250 Watt constant pressure pump about 2,500 - 4,000 Baht. 250 W is fine for a single storey house, 2 storey may need 350 W. It's better to place the tank on a concrete pad reasonably close (within 5 metres) to the first water entry point into the house, if possible. A raised pad (maybe 0.5 - 1 metre) is good, plus a pump with a bypass that will allow water to pass through if the electricity is off. You can test that the existing town water pressure is adequate to fill the tank by holding up a 2.5 metre length of water pipe (e.g. simulating water flowing in at the top of the tank) connected to the end of the hose. If the water can't make it up, you will need a lower profile style of water tank (to avoid having to use a booster pump). You'll also need an assortment of blue PVC pipe connectors and pipe lengths. It's all pretty simple to install and any Thai with experience will be able to install and set up. Just be aware that the higher pressure in the house pipes will show up any leaks or weak points. You may need new shower heads or taps if the old ones are in poor condition. Any repair costs will be pretty minimal assuming the water pipes are attached to the walls and accessible (almost certainly the case in an older home)

I notice China has allowed tour groups to New Zealand, but not to Australia. I guess that are punishing Australia for discriminating against China - requiring inbound Chinese tourists to show a negative Covid test (despite China requiring all tourists to that country to show a negative test).

Thanks for the comprehensive explanation. What perplexes me about the Thai Baht is that the government seems to have no clear policy about whether they want a stronger/weaker Baht. The PM and senior Ministers often jawbone it up, while the central bank fiddles around to weaken it incrementally. Maybe the PM is haunted by the 1997 Baht crash and also has the nationalistic/third world view that a strong currency is good for the nation and reflects his own good governance. Compare this to a typical Western country which will have a clear policy/government line (even if counter to the central bank). I come from Australia which, as an exporting nation, always maintains the mantra for a weaker Australia dollar so as to boost exports and (hopefully) dampen imports. I suspect a lower dollar is also a means of boosting government revenues whilst also promoting more spending within Australia, rather than overseas, by its citizens. I would have thought that Thailand, as an exporting nation, would also talk the Baht down, but it rarely does. It surprises me that this lack of certainty doesn't harm the Baht. Maybe the Baht stays strong in the long run precisely because investors (and finance beauracrats) are certain that the government, in its heart, wants a strong Baht.