Thailand-Sawadee

Whan I read that I though the same thing but then I remembered while on a boat ride on the river going through the klongs I saw a shop that had dozens and dozens of coffins.

I always thought that Thai people cremated their dead. Why would they have a cemetary?

That is so sad that you may have to resort to those mesaures. It appears that the Thai Government has had it with farangs. After all this years I guess they all have enough of our money to now kick us out so they can go back to the way it was. I admit there are are lot of things in the country that the farang messed up and changed in the way the culture once was but now we all have to suffer.

I'm beginning to feel that it's not really worth the effort to stay in Thailand.

Recently I've been thinking about the reasons for being in Bangkok and I can't really come up with a unique selling point!

If you want to hang out in pool bars with lots of willing women who don't speak much english, then Bangkok is great. It gets boring after a while (several years ago!)

Restaurants serving western-style food are pretty poor or very expensive (even by western standards), Thai restaurants are blandly luxurious or great food but austere surroundings.

Entertainment? - Cinema? ummm....golf?

Work environment - don't get me started!

Traffic and cost of cars?

I'm tired of not being able to get an original version of movies, CDs and computer software, tired of getting sold stuff where the pacakaging has been opened already. Tired of buying fake Polo shirts, or getting tailored suits that fit worse than M&S off the shelf. Tired of pressing the 'guaranteed 60 second' button in McDonalds (has anyone ever been served in 60 seconds!?)

Tired of reporting every 3 months to say that I'm still with my wife and kids. Tired of signing all rights away.

Perhaps I'm just jaded, but now that I just spent a bundle of cash to set up an IT consultancy company over here, it seems I might find it difficult to get a work permit to work there! I wasn't planning on any more assignments in Thailand anyway, but I need the WP and salary so I can continue to live with my wife and kids in our house (in her name).

Perhaps I'll chage my mind, but right now, I'm thinking the whole family is going to be moving, next time I get a contract outside Thailand.

AS HEAD of security at the world’s newest airport, Squadron Leader Pannupong Nualpenyai faces an intimidating range of potential enemies.

As well as the problems of cost overruns, poor transport connections and the fallout from last week’s military coup, the managers of Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok have had to cope with hauntings, mysterious deaths and the demonic possession of members of their staff.

But the most stubborn problem of all is a frail old man with a blue face named Poo Ming. He is not an Islamic militant or an environmental activist. He is a ghost; an unquiet spirit who has become a regular visitor to Thailand’s new airport — a $4 billion (£2.1 billion) project which officially opens tomorrow and is built on a former cemetery.

“I believe in this phenomenon,” says Squadron Leader Pannupong, a former commando who heads a staff of 1,000 airport security personnel. “I have seen many ghosts in my life.” As it happens, so much has gone wrong at Suvarnabhumi that the supernatural visitors might be regarded as being among its lesser problems.

The need for a new airport was recognised in 1973 when 8,000 acres of land were purchased 15 miles (25km) east of Bangkok. But plans were suspended after a bloody student uprising against an earlier military government.

The plans were revived in 1996 — the year before the Asian economic crisis. Eventually the site, unpromisingly known as Cobra Swamp, was drained and after his landslide election victory in 2001 the recently deposed Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, adopted the scheme as a symbol of Thai pride and achievement. He renamed it Suvarnabhumi, meaning “Realm of Gold”.

On the scheduled day of its opening a year ago, Mr Thaksin watched as the first two planes took off. Unfortunately, no more followed as the airport was unready for passengers. Soon afterwards the hauntings began. Two airport workers died after wrapping their cars around lampposts. Some might have blamed this on the road, which encouraged reckless speed, but the airport workers felt there was more to it than that.

Strange footsteps were heard around the airport at night, as well as traditional music, with no apparent source. Squadron Leader Pannupong almost died when a woman in traditional dress walked in front of his car carrying a baby, then mysteriously disappeared. Then there were the sightings of the old man.

“It was late at night when I saw him,” says Pratheet Wanmuda, a guard. “He had an aura around his head and walked with a stick. I called out to him but then he was gone. I was so scared that I forgot to ask him for next week’s winning lottery numbers.”

For all its superficial modernity, Thailand is a country of enduring superstition and airport management knew better than to ignore such omens. Last Saturday 99 monks prayed at the climax of nine weeks of exorcism and rites.

In front of the airport hotel a young luggage operator staggered forward. He introduced himself as Poo Ming, a guardian of the land where a cemetery once existed.

“He was walking like an old man and spoke in an ancient,quavering voice,” recalled Pholprasit Tinakul, another guard. The orange-robed monks doused him with holy water, struck him over the head and the young man was returned to himself.

“Since then the atmosphere is back to normal and my staff are much calmer,” says Squadron Leader Pannupong. “I think that Poo Ming has gone now. If not, perhaps he will become our friend and protect us against those who threaten this place.”

It sounds like I need to do some additional research on the medical portion. One of my major considerations for relocating had to do with the raising cost of medical expense in the US. Fortunately, I do not have any medical issues to deal with at this time but Father Time may change that.

As for the rose-colored glasses, I somewhat agree in that I am a dreamer but always have been. I do not feel that it would be that difficult to adapt provided my health remains good. There has to come a point in the decision making process where you make the change from tourist to reality, right? I have always had the dream to go to Thailand and the first time I visited there, I fell in love with the place. Admittedly, it had a lot to do with the girls at that time but that was not all. The people, the setting, the climate, environment, natural beauty, temples, the cost of most items all were attractions.

I have been visiting Thailand each year for the past 22 years and I have not changed in the way I feel about the people and my dream to someday live there. Early on, I was married to a girl from Ubon and quickly learned the hard way with broken heart and lost money. Now, I am married to a gem and my interests have changed in that regard.

The people of Thailand amaze me in how they seem to treat me with so much respect. In turn, I do the same. I am always allowing myself to be open to whatever I experience and I do show respect to the people. I have seen a lot of tourist act absurd and disrespectful to the people with little regard for the Country. This in no way represents the way I am.

As for my Son, he is only 15, and there is no way that he wants to live in Thailand. I may have to wait it out and not be so selfish until he grows up and is able to be on his own. Today, I do not know when that will be! It may be 21, 25 or 30. I will have to see how things go. In the mean time, I may just have to keep being the yearly tourist until that special day comes when I am able to make the change. My hope is that Chaing Rai will still be a nice quite place to settle down and relax.

Soasp, Lopburi3, Maestro:

Thank you all very very much!

Although all my questions have been answered, it has now raised other important considerations for me.

Based on some of your answers it has stimulated interest in that I must plan this very carefully otherwise my dream of relocating to Thailand may not materialize.

Example of considerations:

I am 54; I have a family, wife and son who are not Thai nationals.

Obviously, I cannot purchase land so this presents some additional challenges.

What I do know is that I am adamant about settling in Chaing Rai since it has much of its natural beauty, the people seem caring and genuine, and I felt good about my recent experiences having visited there.

I recently made a trip to Thailand (without the family) and I am now spell bound with Chaing Rai. I have been to Thailand before, visiting Chaing Mai 22 years ago. As you all know, it was much cleaner then.

A few weeks ago, I revisited my footsteps and although Chaing Mai still had charm, it was extremely crowded and the air was thick.

From Chaing Mai I took a 2 hr. ride (by car) to the pier. I climbed onto a long tail boat, taking a boat ride for 6 hours enjoying the Makok River to Chaing Rai. A couple of times along the way, I stopped off to visit a Tribe where I brought some food for the children. It was quite an experience for me. Seeing the families along the water edge, feeding the children, made me feel good and made me think that I could somehow do more for them in the future.

My finances - not what I would like them to be:

Example, I do not have a pension.

I am not eligible for retirement Social Security until 62, 66, or 70 years of age.

I can pullout my retirement savings early but have to pay a heavy penalty of 30%.

If I sold my house and my material belongings, I could probably have in my hands approximately 10 million baht, which is really not that much long term. This of course would have to hold me until 62 years when I become eligible for Social Security. Of course, that assumes that Social Security would still be available to me. (Assuming that you may not be aware the US government is considering major changes to the SS system)

I realize that this account of my personal information probably seems unwise to some of you. However, I am trying to fulfill a dream to move to Thailand and I am somewhat frustrated because I would like to do it now and not have to wait years to make it happen. The other frustrating aspect is that I am not aware of all the legal requirements to make such a move and what the Thai immigration expects of me. From what I am hearing, with a pension, 800,000 baht has to be available each time I renew my visa for extension. This would essentially freeze funds exclusively for showing Thai immigration.

Contingency plan – If I am not able to pull this off, my contingency plan is to relocate to Taiwan. My wife is Taiwanese and apparently, I would be able to live in that Country with her without to many obstacles. The cost would be somewhat higher than Thailand (Chaing Rai) but food and medical expenses would not be inflated like the US. Taiwan would also be close enough to Chain Rai (3 hour or less). If I could fly there a couple times a years for 1-3 months, I think I could be happy.

Why am I even considering this?

As I get older, I am realizing that with the cost of medical expenses here in the US, it can and most likely eats all my funds/savings and I cannot let that happen.

Thailand is the only place in the world (my opinion) where the people genuinely open their hearts to foreigners. If you smile at them, they will smile too. It is a warm friendly place and it all feels so right. As I get older, I am looking for a simpler way of life with all the stress. I want to live Sabai, Sabai.

Again, thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge on my original questions.

I am considering moving to Chaing Rai, I am over 50 and would like to know the process for living there for at least 5 or more years.

I do not plan on working there but am concerned on the visa requirements. Some of the questions that come to mind are:

1. How long can I stay in Thailand?

2. Is it possible to live there legally for 5 + years?

3. Going to Burma from Chaing Rai, is this the best method for extending a visa?

4. What is the most cost effective way and to what location for a visa extention?

One last question: What is a realistic dollar (US) amount for living/eating/etc. in Chaing Rai?

A middle of the road ball park dollar figure would help me guage what is realistic ofr living there.

Thank you

My email address is:

//email removed//

Can you send pictures of the house in Chaing Rai? They would be helpful. How far is the house from the Night Market?

My email address is:

Thailand-Sawadee (at symbol) sbcglobal.net

Thanks