prakhonchai nick

I am flying over Easter with Qatar Airways 29000bt

Booked through www.moxtravel.com

Excellent service - highly recommended. Can pay through bank/ATM. No need for credit card.

I paid my wife the equivalent of 7,500,000 Baht over 25 years (+ another 7,500,000 for the house).

I pay my Thai G/F 2,000 Baht a week - I calculate that I have another 72 years to go with my Thai partner.

Anybody seen Garyk since the first [post

Have we really got to put up with you Ray for another 72 years?

The Monks !

My wife gave up work when we started out together. Some of the money she earned went to help her family. It seemed only right to recompense her for her loss of salary, and I continue this "allowance" to this day.

When I stepped ashore in Thailand in 1986 it was just 39bt. & 70 three years ago was great - I even topped 80 on one transfer.

Like Chaimai I had anticipated 60 at Christmas, but we got nowhere near. I am still optimistic we will reach 60 in the next couple of years.

13 months is better than not at all.

I never recall seeing the owners/managers et all of the Royal Jomtien Resort where fire claimed 90+lives due to locked doors being prosecuted, nor those involved in the collapse of a hotel in Khorat many years ago.

No doubt prosecutors are still formulating their cases!

Not "Law" but covered by Terms & Conditions of issue i.e. Nationwide:-

The Bank Manager speaks. Good to see you back Chaimai.

It is indeed very common. The fortune teller usually tells them they will be broke over the coming months, which is not far off the truth, since they were likely broke before and having borrowed money to pay for the fortune teller and all the crap that has to be supplied, they will be broke and in debt forever more!

I've been to a few parties, some wedding, some house building, some Thai on Thai and others with a westerner involved.

For the Thai / Thai morning party, some beer in large ice boxes was presented. All Chang or Leo. I got someone to bring in some Singha I think. Food was poor quality (read large lumps of gristle etc.), I guess home cooked stuff and soup. Booze flowed and some started on whisky brought or bought, not provided. Perhaps some small number of bottles of local whisky was provided; I don't drink the stuff. What was apparent was that the locals were hardly interested in the actual ceremony but in the boozing. They had little or no money and they tried to hit us up, some out of town Thais and my partner and me to chip in. Begging cigarettes as well. The bride, a friend of my partner, came out in the end sans all the garb and sat with us (a table of 12 or so) and ate and drank. A few hours later we left. The nightime affair was largely a damp squib as the elders had passed out or been thrown out for fighting and being aggressive. It did not go on long. I think there were financial constraints as well. People chipped in (not me) to help the groom up to a show sinsot of Bt100,000 which all went tits up when it was not returned (and thus he could not repay it to some who were expecting it back at the wedding) and it had been "disappeared" which soured the whole thing tremendously. As well as the missus chipping in with some decent whisky for her and her mate, me with a box of beer and a Bt500 tied to the bride's wrist, we paid nothing else. No envelopes.

A nightime western / Thai wedding party saw the local dancing maidens on stage with the usual music. Food and drink was provided up to a level of about 1 bottle of whisky, X soda, 1 large coke, 1 large fanta on each table. Any more and you bought it yourself. I think I again organised some beer for me and a couple of other westerners. Top table dignitaries got red label and beer I think instead of Sang Som. Food began as nicknacks, followed by individual pork knuckle at one place, omitted at another, then the usual Tilapia fish and ended with tom yum goong soup. Rice of course. There were perhaps 30/40 tables, some with 8, some as few as 4. My missus thought it might be Bt200 / 300 per head for the food and drink. I know the cost of the whole thing came in around 80k including the music and dancers and about half of that was recovered from the envelopes. I suspect though that there were some additional "forgotten" costs and tips to the waiting staff.

A house party at an up market place went down similar lines on the food / booze set up. They even had police working to keep people out !

What was patently obvious at each place I went was that if there had been a fully expensed bar, then the locals would still be there drinking. Fighting, pissing in the street, falling asleep in a stupor, all par for the course. The Thais getting terribly drunk on very little either beer or more often whisky was the norm. I understood the well to do Thai couple having the police keep some out. They all followed a similar theme. There appeared to be nothing at a higher level. One of the local police chiefs also hired out all the chairs, did the catering etc. Rather a closed shop I'd say in that area. Down market from that you had home cooking, self service and less booze.

After seeing maybe half a dozen over the years, I am in no hurry to see another one unless someone I know was involved.

Spot on reporting Torrenova. That's how it is folks out here in Isaan. Nobody cares about the "event" - just the boozing. I avoid them all!

Since you have made provisions for your wife here in Thailand, property is probably in her name etc. Your concern for your children receiving the assets in the UK could probably be solved by having them registered as co owner with you, with rights of survivor ship. Doubt if any legal firm would have to be involved. I have done this in another country, but as I am writing this it has not been implemented as yet, but all parties agree that probate/lawyers will not be wanted/needed.

If you own property in the UK then your child/children can be shown as co-owners. Similarly bank accounts can be in joint names. There can however be problems, so a simple will, held in the background in case of need is recommended.it can be drawn up by yourself, the main thing being it must be witnessed.

Thank you for these helpful replies.

I fully accept the preference to have a will(s) and my understanding was fairly clear until I saw a Thai legal website that said:-

If you die without a will or without a valid will, or if your will only disposes of part of your estate, the Civil and Commercial Code rules that your property will be distributed among your heirs.

This seemed to contradict what I had hitherto believed i.e. that as a UK citizen my assets would be dealt with under UK Rules of Intestacy.

I also realise that (after PM-ing with PrakhonchaiNick) that it also important that beneficiaries, especially a Thai wife, knows WHAT to do in the event of my demise.

I would imagine that the Thai legal website you refer to is one based in Chiang Mai. What they say certainly applies to Thai Citizens, but UK nationals living in Thailand who are still domiciled in the UK (as I would imagine99%+ are) would have their estates settled under UK law. I find it strange that this particular law firm would show the Thai rules in the English language. I have asked them for confirmation but to date no reply.

If you are a UK citizen, domiciled in the UK (and maybe residing in Thailand), then upon your death your assets will be distributed in accordance with UK Law. If you make a will - no problem - although separate wills for UK and Thai (if any) assets is advisable. If you die intestate then your wife (Thai or otherwise) takes precedence over everyone, although other family members may be able to lodge a claim if they feel they should also inherit. There are however limits as to how much the wife may receive, excess amounts going to other family members.

If you have UK family -i.e children - and you wish them to inherit part of your estate then a will is a must.. Otherwise they could get nothing.

If you are married in Thailand then upon your death your wife can claim a £2000 bereavement payment from the UK Dept of Work and Pensions. Similarly if you and /or your Thai wife) have children either pre-school age or still at school, your widow can claim Widowed Parents Allowances of up to £97 a week whilst a child is still at school.

Mr Chaimai -you would be well advised to make a will -particularly one dealing with your UK assets, so that your children as well as your Thai wife will get what you want to give them.

You. Mr Chaimai and all other UK citizens with Thai wives would be well advised not only to make a will, BUT to make sure that your wives know what to do after your death, to obtain your assets and whatever the UK government will give them and their children.

Most wives unfortunately lose out because they have no knowledge of their entitlement and even if they do, they have an insufficient grasp of English to enable them to make a claim.

It is possible to deposit full details of your assets etc with a holding company, which will be accessed and dealt with on behalf of your wife once your death is notified.

PM me for details if you are interested

As to tax, well there is tax at 5% as there is on all prizes in Thailand. I understand you can just take it to the bank. Now what I would ever do if I won the jackpot and had the correct series ticket to claim the jackpot prize, say perhaps Bt50,000,000 or so, I do not know. I speculate that somehow there would be a reason why a westerner could not win or I would get a visit. Giving it to the missus would seem logical and illogical at the same time

Contrary to my earlier comment, there is a tax on winnings, but it is 0.5% not 5%. Prizes of less than 20,000bt can be paid out by local agents, but they usually deduct an extra 2-3% from winnings in addition to tax.

Piece of cake

Did it myself. Embassy,translation, Foreign office and had the papers EMS'd to me.

Knew nothing about witnesses. Down to the local amphur 3pm, with the papers. Just the 2 of us. 20 minutes later had 2 marriage certificates. Smiles all round. total cost 40bt.

Why is it necessary to buy 2 identically numbered tickets ? Why can't we buy just one? Tickets incidentally are printed with their price - 40bt! If the government want to stop the illegal lottery they would cap the sale price of the lottery ticket at 40bt -no exceptions.

There is no tax on winnings. Take your winning ticket to the lottery office in Bangkok and you will be paid in full. Upcountry, winnings can be collected from traders who take a minimum 3% commission.

It's all a bloody scam!

"Since June 2008, a number of 2,708 students were contracted nationwide"

This is approx 11 a day, and schools are closed!

Three times this number of people die every day in road accidents (mainly those on motorbikes) I don't see any action being taken to restrict motorbike use amongst children and students.

What a load of B....x!

Makro Buriram and Surin are equally as bad,

French bread sticks and their 29bt white loaf are never available until 12 noon - yet they open at 6am

Hamburger buns if you are very lucky you can find 2 packs

Potatoes often sold out.

Used to sell packs of a dozen combs - assorted types, No longer able to find.

And so it goes on.

I believe there is a local business who provide taxi services, car hire etc. Try 081-0704750 - this may be useful if you have a preference to pre-book.

Care to mention the name of this business Chaimai?

It'll be more than windy in the UK in the coming weeks - Dave the Dude!

Fire Insurance on homes normally covers in addition storm damage (ie wind damage to roof and subsequent water damage) flood, burst pipes, impact from vehicles and earthquake. Even a concrete structure can have damage. Electrics could short circuit, and cause some fire damage,

Theft cover is not normally available separately.

Some of the figures quoted are absurdly high.

For a little over 2000bt a year if you have a concrete structure* you can insure for a value of 3,500,000 for fire and all the extras above AND theft.

** Homes that are 50% concrete 50% wood normally cot 50% more for cover.

I have arranged over for many farang friends.

PM me if you would like more info.

How many in that number are foreigners who visit 3.4 5 or more times in 1 year?

I have a few - no record player at present. Are you buying? What price did you have in mind?

Some 80% of all road accidents reportedly involve motorbikes

Around half of all motorbike riders and passengers do not wear helmets

Approx half of motorbike riders are children, who do not have driving licences

SOLUTIONS

1)Get serious about breaches of the law. Never mind 100/200bt fines. Minimum 1000bt first offence, 5000bt second and then 10,000 + 6 months disqualification

2) Bring the schools onside. Hundreds of underage kids ride bikes to school every day, often with 2 or even more passengers. Usually traffic police stop cars and wave them across intersections! The school principles should not allow any under-aged child access to school premises riding a motorbike.

3) As well as all the crap taught at Thai schools, devote half an hour a week to instruct pupils how to ride bicycles, motorbikes etc.

4) Punish any parent/guardian that allows unlicenced under-age children to use a motorbike

These put into effect (no extra costs involved) would greatly reduce the accident and death rate.

In my case I am looking for a taxi to go from Buriram province to Suvarnadhumi and then a return trip a few days later. I don't mean some idiot trying to charge 6,000 Baht+ but someone who is content to get 3,000 Baht or so for a days work.

6k for a RETURN TRIP doesn't sound to steep to me, CM.

The fuel would probably cost 1,000b for gas or 3,000b for deisel

My brother is coming to Surin from Pattaya 2moro and paying 4,000b & I thought that was a fair price.

Dave

If the fuel is costing 3000bt then with a 60% GPM, 6000bt is cheap!

I think however CM is indicating a price of 3000bt for each trip. Nevertheless with fuel, insurance and wear and tear + depreciation, and drivers fee, 3000 hardly covers it

Chevrolet Buriram tried to rip me off

Saw a display model in Big C. O% for 4 years

Went to the showroom 1km up the road. No Aveo's. Only one in Big C. Was told no 4 year interest free - only 2 years. eventually manager condecended to speak with me. he stated only 1 year. I left

Contacted Chevrolet web site - No reponse!

I NOW OWN A HONDA