Stevemercer

Like many, I just drew up a basic plan (showing dimensions and location of doors, windows etc) on Microsoft Office. The builder then converted these to plans to obtain local government approvals.

Christ, that was a bit of bad luck!

The molam is usually held one year after the cremation, but is often delayed until the family can put together the money

I agree with the above. Tell them you will file a police report if they do not pay by a certain date. The police will issue an arrest warrant, for theft, that will be valid for 10 years. This means they will be arrested at immigration if they return to Thailand, as per standard practice, and will be detained for a court appearance.

You don't have to follow through on filing a police report, but if they play hard bastards, then you can put a bit of a scare into them and make sure they don't try it on again.

I was on a motorbike tour with a Thai friend today. We were going into a national park where the charge was 120 Baht for a Thai national and 500 Baht for a foreigner. He was outraged by all of this and couldn't understand why a foreign 'tourist' should be charged more. He refused to enter the national park on principle.

When I shop in the local market, and if stall owner tries to charge me more, the other sellers always pull them up and make them charge me the normal Thai price.

I think that most decent Thais don't realise dual charging occurs. If they did, they would oppose it (unless, maybe, there was a profit in it for them).

I go back to Australia and am always impressed by how big, clean and fancy it is. I always enjoy surfing up at the Gold Coast, or similar. The beaches and clean water sh#t all over anything in Thailand. Fresh food is available everywhere and often cheaper than in Thailand.

Having said that, driving is the pits in Australia, so many cameras its impossible to travel for a week or two without raking up the fines. The restaurants and accommodation are prohibitive. Unless you have your own home, or can live somewhere for free, its too expensive for someone on a modest income.

Australia is a great place, but Thailand has its attractions and is a great place for an older bloke. In Australia, I'm just another old man, but in Thailand it's different.

The previously posted link to the British 'Sun' newspaper states that he was arrested on suspicion of causing death through negligence, being on over-stay and for stealing a motorbike. He also had the girl's phone with him. 

I've lived for 4 years now on the outskirts of a rural town in Mahasarakham Province (Isan).

The price of day to day goods and services has remained over that 4 years (which is good). For example, a can of coke that cost 14 Baht at a 7/11 is still 14 Baht.

Wages have gone up somewhat. 4 year ago, 300 Baht per day was standard for unskilled and semi-skilled labour. Semi-skilled labour is probably closer to 500 Baht now, although unskilled is still around 300 Baht.

The price of rural land hasn't changed much, but people's expectations seem to be through the roof. It's hard to get through to the average Thai that the value of land is only what people are willing to pay.

There seems to be greater consumer prosperity, at least on the surface. Get off the highways and people are doing it pretty tough (even though by the smiles on their faces you would never know it).

From my perspective, the main financial down has been the continued strength of the Baht against the Australian dollar. 

Well, of course, Americans tend to talk too much and believe they know everything. Brits happily confess to being ignorant, but have strong opinions on everything.

If you're on a modest budget, want a bit of a hobby farm, and room to expand, then Isan is good.

The people are genuinely friendly, given the lack of tourists, which means you often get the rock star treatment. Sometimes it seems like every second woman you meet wants a farang husband, boyfriend or gik....

She's chosen the right country for shopping, given the depreciation of the Pound against the Baht (and all other currencies). 

Shop in London and get more value for your Baht! Free advertising for the UK to attract wealthy Thais.

I haven't heard/read about anyone overturning a blacklist to date?

You can go through the courts, on hardship grounds, but this would probably take over a year. 

Can your family visit you, every now and then, if you meet them in a neighbouring country?

It is hard to get quality sun block lotions at a cheap price in Thailand. Many of them are copy cats or, if genuine, old stock that is no longer effective.

I always stock when I visit Australia, and bring back a year or two supply. A name brand cream costing 75 Baht in Australia is closer to 500 Baht in Thailand.

18 hours ago, stropper said:

hi durio, my first thai wife was from korat, they are a bit of i ams, thais from that area find it hard to assimilate in issan , where i now live, have two friends married to korat thais , in aus, thais hate to be away from there family,very different people and slightly different thai speaking, i now live on our farm at si that, worked all over your area, charters , clermont and emerald, it is no hotter out here in fact i think cooler, we have 4 air cons and they are rarely on , maybe two days a year to me mackey  and rockie are far hotter, bloody humidity, tonight looks like windows shut and one blanket, no mossies or sand flies, here,, very few flies to as very little livestock around, not like aus , i am still working days when not golfing at 71, i am a carpenter, builder , plumber, brickie, sparkie, and much more, so its great on the farm, it is always hotter if you live in the cities, udon thani , i lived for two years was hot, i think it is the constant traffic, same in bangkok,  gets hot there, lived at kong out from korat for a while, same as emerald, i did not like it

Nicely written! Only a true blue Aussie could understand all the references!

I've lived in Mahasarakham province for 4 years and probably average 2 - 4 hrs per day working outside on our land. I also ride my bicycle every 2 or 3 days.

Yes it is hot. Some years are cooler. March - May are hot and humid with most days 35 - 40 degrees and nights 27 - 30 degrees. The rainy season is usually June to October. It is still usually hot (and approaching 100% humidity, but regular thunderstorms lower the temperature every other day. November and December aren't too bad (28 - 32 by day and 25 - 28 at night). January and February are usually the coolest months.

I find the sun the killer, rather than the heat. I always wear long sleeve shirts and pants (and hat) when working outside in the sun. It's best to work early and finish up by 11:00 am. The sun is down enough by 4:00 pm to work again.

Many days feel excessively hot simply because there is no breeze. The sweat just gathers. I'll normally soak through my work clothes a couple of time when working.

Thai bathrooms are often hot and humid, but you can minimise this through some simple measures. Install extraction fans over your shower and a wall fan over your toilet. Have a separate shower cabinet so the whole bathroom floor is not wet. This means you feel cool when coming out of the shower and when on the toilet.

Jetstar is an Australian budget airline (originally an offshoot of Qantas) and is always getting bad press in Australia for this sort of thing. I'm Australian and proud to say I've never flown Jetstar and never will.

I think each prison has different rules about the maximum amount in prison bank accounts. I think it varied between 10,000 - 20,000 Baht. No, you cannot give food to inmates, it normally has to be brought via the prison canteen.

The Chief Warder and Governor probably know all the farang prisoners. If he stays in favor (e.g. sucks up and is helpful), he is likely to get relaxed privileges after a year or two. 

Unfortunately your friend has to tough it out for the first 1 or 2 years. It should get 'easier' after that, all being well.

You are quite right not to discuss the particulars of the case on social media. Thai officials can get prickly over this sort of thing and it won't do your friend any favors.

It is also true that it can be dangerous having access to money because other prisoners (and wardens) can put the squeeze on the inmate (if he is perceived as weak) to deliver ever increasing amounts.

A member of our family is in jail. He was caught, along with 2 others, in a crime. The 2 others pleaded guilty and got 10 years. They were out in 5 years. He pleaded innocent and got 20 years. He is still in prison. More recently he fell out of favor with a warden and says he was setup/caught with a mobile phone, a punishable offence. My wife complained to the prison Governor. Big mistake. The next day he was transferred to a prison about 500 km away with family visits suspended for 12 months.

Remember the prison wardens and officials are always correct. You must work with the system.

That is bad news.

He will be out in 3 years if he does not piss anyone off in the prison system. As noted above, the best you can do is to try and arrange a transfer to a prison closest to his 'support' network (if he has such a thing).

As you know, you can transfer money to his prison account. Having money makes all the difference in prison. 5,000 Baht a week is enough to live adequately and grease the wheels.

There is no point in spending money trying to grease the legal system, but being polite and friendly to prison officials will help with an early release and day to day living. 

I think a key point from the article is below:

'While in matrilineal Isaan culture, sons-in-law are expected to support their wives’ families without earning the mantle of household leadership.'

In Isaan, woman are traditionally the head of the household and the men are expected to support their wive's family. This is a lot of expectation to heap on a young, rural, Thai man, with a poor education/poor prospects, and its no wonder so many duck out of their responsibilities.

Don't believe anything from Morgan Stanley. They are always trashing the Australian dollar because they can make big money if it goes down. These big firms are forever trying to spook the market to advantage their own investments.

It is interesting visiting Cambodia. There are no soi dogs at all. The only dogs one sees on the streets are the very old, infirm or sick. I wonder why this is?

Watching and enjoying a western movie (e.g. in English) together.

My Thai wife is always asleep after 5 minutes if we watch a western movie together. Mind you, she can happily stay awake watching Thai soapies for hours.