RamenRaven

Traditional baskets. Things wrapped in cloth. Pushcarts and animal transportation. You might want to see vintage photos of Thailand from 100 years ago to get an idea.

I have been to 3 funerals in 3 different parts of Thailand. Every time it's more or less the same. An elderly person, aged 60 to 90+, dies and a carnival-like Buddhist funeral is held. No tears shed at all. No one is crying. People look either happy to see each other, or are slightly bored by the long Buddhist chants. Street vendors come to sell food, people see it as a family reunion event, and everyone talks about the food. It seems like just another religious festival. At one funeral, as an old lady was being cremated and smoke was coming out everywhere, her sons (in their 60s) were talking about how delicious the local som tam is. All smiling, no tears or grieving faces, even though they loved their mother a lot. And then one lady said nonchalantly, "maen" (kind of smells), but no one cared. But I could only stand there silent, because a human body was on fire! It was such a poignant moment for me, but no one else cared. I told a few Thais that in the West, close family members often cry, shed tears, and show a lot of emotion at funerals. They take turns speaking and show grieving faces. I just got blank stares. "Oh they do that?" Confused looks. Then on to the next topic. Can someone explain how Thais view funerals?

Ubon Joe just answered it, thanks!

When did Thai immigration get rid of the requirement for having to report your address within 24 hours every time you come back to your house, even if it was just a short trip to a hotel in Bangkok, or if you had a re-entry permit? That's news to me.

What puzzles me is why so many Thais on 25k baht salaries can get car loans for brand-new Toyota HiLux pickup trucks. In many other countries, no one would ever approve you for a car loan if you make that kind of money (under $700 USD per month).

So say I'm on a Thai marriage visa, decide to go on a 2-week trip abroad, and fly back into Thailand. No need for me to do anything if my 90-day report is not due? I thought you had to report your address within 24 hours every time you come back from traveling. Sorry for the repetitive question, but I haven't traveled abroad in years due to the pandemic.

Are immigration lines at Suvarnabhumi Airport still really long, like before the pandemic? Back then I would do this trick: Befriend a Thai girl (or girls) on the plane. Walk and chat with her as you get off the plane. Immigration will assume that you're her husband and you can get into the express Thai lane too, or at least a really short one next to it!

Brilliant, thanks as always Ubon Joe. And of course, the signed photocopies.

And after staying in the hotel, you go back to your house or apartment. All you have to do is to fill out the TM 47 form online within 24 hours, right? No need for TM 30 (I think the TM 47 is just to re-confirm your TM 30 registration)?

Paper, paper, paper. Thai government officials need paper only. Forget about phones. They need everything to be printed out, photocopied, and signed with blue ink.

If you buy a new house with your wife in Thailand. what kinds of documents do you need to take to immigration? - TM 30 (landlord form) - TM 47 (notifying address, same form used for 90-day check ins) Photocopies of: - Blue household registration book (tabian baan) - Wife's Thai ID - Your passport Anything else? Or is that unncecessary and you can just fill out the online TM 47 form at https://tm47.immigration.go.th/tm47/#/login ?

I'd say 90-95% won't. Theft is relatively low and sporadic in Thailand compared to the US or the Philippines. But you'd want to watch out for the 1-5% that might. Most are opportunists who see something expensive sitting right out in front of their eyes, and they might decide to simply take it. Theft is still possible but it's best to take precautions. A good way to deter would-be thieves is to put up a security camera sign (even if you don't actually have a camera), which you can easily order on Lazada or Shopee.

If it's in your wife's name, and she does not have a social security number, then no. Otherwise, I would ask a tax professional.

What are local incomes and salaries actually like in Chiang Mai? Some people tell me not to underestimate how much Thais are making, and that quite a few Thais earn over 100k baht per month. As a result, farangs making 30k-50k baht per month teaching won't even raise eyebrows. Others say that's a gross exaggeration, and it's more like 15k-25k per month.

I'll go with chipping 2-3 cm off. The seller just told me that's OK.

Looks like a traditional raised Thai house where the first floor is an open space. These kinds of houses are often built for people who aren't over 170 cm, and remodeling could be a challenge. Glad you successfully fixed it!

Just asked a contractor to fix a low beam to create more stairway headroom. He said it's made of "faa" instead of "bun" and that he can take 3 cm off it. What's "faa" (falling tone) and what's "bun/boon"? Can't find the words in Thai dictionaries.

Got a contractor to chisel off the top, take off the tiles, and raise it to 91.5 cm, which is the US standard, with additional bricks. There's also a raised section on the side for me at 97 cm. Fits everybody just fine. Now I just have to get rid of the dust.

Just asked a contractor. He said it's made of "faa" instead of "bun" and that he can take 3 cm off it. What's "faa" (falling tone) and what's "bun/boon"? Can't find the words in Thai dictionaries.

Dohome and Thai Watsadu are really good. Boonthavorn is more of a higher-end chain.

I wouldn't say that the seller didn't think about the height of people today. I would say that he obviously did, but only 1-2 things slipped past the cracks, namely the kitchen counter and the stairway. Everything in the house is built higher than in older Thai houses, except for the kitchen sink and stairway. The bathroom sink is 38 inches or 96.5 cm (they are actually 36 inches or 91.5 cm max in the US), but the kitchen sink is 31 inches or 80 cm. For me, that means washing dishes in the bathroom sink. I was also pleasantly surprised at how the tops of the bathroom mirrors are all 210 cm. Perhaps the seller assumed that shorter Thai women would be doing the dishes, while their tall husbands and sons would be using the bathrooms. The metal bar for hanging towels is 150 cm high. No bending over to reach for the towel unlike in other Thai homes. The main electrical switchboard is high up on the wall. The actual switches are 180 cm above the floor. After moving out from my older Thai-style house, I can now walk around my new house without even having to bend my neck (that is, except for the kitchen sink and stairs), and my posture feels much better now. In many Thai houses, many Western men would have to walk around hunched over to do just about anything. Only 2 things need to be fixed in my house, but for older Thai houses, I'd have to do around a dozen alterations.

Another option is to file off the top of the step (i.e., tread) that's right under the big beam so that the step can be lower. Maybe 3 cm can be taken off?

Thanks! There is no "perfect" house, and it's not so bad if you just need 2 things to fix (low kitchen sink and low stairway clearance). My older rented house had a few 178 cm doors, 179 cm stairway clearance, and other annoyances, so 187 cm is not so bad, comparatively speaking, but I'd really like to stop worrying about bumping into things. The problem is that I can't wear slippers or sandals going up this stairway due to the 187 cm clearance. The steps feel like concrete and can be really hard on your feet if you're frequently climbing them barefoot. The seller said that large beams make the house strong and sturdy so that it can last many years.

I'll need to ask the seller to give me the plans. Judging by the sound of the beam on top, it sounds like concrete. Maybe it can be somehow filed off?

Max they can do is to chip 12.5 cm off your leg bones. That means with the max option, I'd be 173 cm. Still taller than the average Thai male but I'll be able to fit inside market stall umbrellas. ???? https://www.healthline.com/health/height-reduction-surgery