RamenRaven

Thailand is a big breadbasket and has an agricultural surplus. In both rural and urban areas, people usually have food that they don't finish and throw it to the dogs. Food is cheap even by their standards. In fact, Thais are often surprised when I tell them about what food insecurity can be like in Western countries. When eating with a group of Thais, I'm always the only person who finishes every single little morsel and cleans out every grain of rice. Typically no one notices or cares, but occasionally they might ask if I would like some more food when they seen an empty plate. But the Burmese don't throw away food as often.

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.

I just bought a newly built two-story house in Thailand. It's gorgeous and everything looks great, except for the low kitchen counter and the low stairway headroom. At the 6th step, the space between the step and the roof or beam is 187 cm, which is dangerously low for me since I'm just a bit over 185 cm (I'm afraid to wear even slippers), and I'm always feeling my hair brush against the top. There are 18 steps total that are about 19-20 cm high each (irregular), not including the first and second level floors. Each step is 25 cm wide. There's a small storage room under the stairs too. US standards require the stairway headroom or clearance to 80 inches (203 cm). I'm not sure if this violates any Thai building codes, if they have any at all. I don't know why anyone would build a new house where you only have 187 cm when climbing the stairs, but then again, we're in Thailand. I would like the stairway clearance to be at least my height (185 cm) + the vertical height of each step (20 cm), or at least 205 cm (in New York City, the minimum is 213 cm). The seller warned me that chipping off the top (presumably made up of concrete and wood) to create more headroom is not recommended, since it could put the house at risk of structural damage. Or maybe I should just take a risk and see if I can at least chip off a bit to make the headroom to be 190 cm. But then, completely tearing down the steps to create spacious headroom is a tricky and expensive process. Presumably I'd have to raise the height of each step by 1-3 cm each, which would mean shortening the length of the stairway. There would be less room in the storage room underneath the stairway and then the bathroom that's below the stairs might also have to be modified. Which company or home renovator in Chiang Mai can take on this kind of work?

Where in Chiang Mai do they have 36 inch (90 cm) kitchen counters, which is the standard kitchen countertop height in most Western countries? I went to Thai Watsadu and the counters were all 33 and 34 inches (84 and 86 cm) high. I couldn't find any 36 inch counters. Would you recommend custom building it or buying a ready-built countertop? I can't find any ready-built countertops that are 36 inches high. I'm also trying to figure out cost estimates. Then I'd have to decide whether to use marble, granite, ceramic, wood, or another material. I'm asking because the counter in the new house that I just bought is 31.5 inches (80 cm), which is so low that I can't even use it except as a storage space and to do simple tasks like heating food in the microwave. I asked the seller (a property development company) if they can raise it, and they said the only option is to completely demolish it myself and build a new one. Current counter dimensions: about 88 inches long on both sides, measured starting from the corner. There's a big window above the sink that starts at 36 inches, but the stove area is entirely wall.