pgs

Here in Oz it depends if I'm working & what hours as to whom does what. If I'm home afternoon/evening, I'll often have dinner prepared by 2pm. If it's left to her ladyship, the prep may start about 6pm. When in LoS, she'll cook at mum's but I generally do it at home (whilst she's with mum). If she's not about at feeding time, one of our sisters may feed me if she's early enough.

I'll do a little in the garden - but not much. We have different ideas about allowing vegies time to grow to a useful size before ripping them out. I protect the gekkos, she chases them out.

Who's on the front of the bike is determined by where we're going & which bike we're on. Majority of the basic cleaning she'll do (says it's her job - who am I to say otherwise?) Extensive yard work I often let the local lads do. It's inexpensive, much easier & I don't run the risk of being picked up for 'working'.

Gotta love the life....

Why would you bother sending heavy items like washing machine / tv / etc? All of these can be bought quite cheaply in Thailand. We compare prices from Sydney to Bangkok & Chaiyaphum each visit. Pretty much everything can be bought in TH with a good saving - with UK pricing it can only be more. A 5kg front loader in AU is about AUD900, in TH it is about AUD500. Not worth the cost of shipping. You may also have trouble getting parts for machines not sold there.

wow mister or misses Backpack, you seem to be a real bible belt American. I think that the parents of the murdered girl have far more grace than you do. Ghandi already knew that an eye for eye would make the entire world blind! The Ceath sentence is barbaric and therefore only used in barbaric societies.

Of course the death sentence is only used in barbaric societies - that's why it's still used in parts of the US.

Those boys will get their desserts in the BKK Hilton. Hope they enjoy it at least as much as she didn't.

BTW: I have no problem at all with the death sentence for drugs.

wow mister or misses Backpack, you seem to be a real bible belt American. I think that the parents of the murdered girl have far more grace than you do. Ghandi already knew that an eye for eye would make the entire world blind! The Ceath sentence is barbaric and therefore only used in barbaric societies.

Aussies must have a different effect on country people. I don't push my Mrs to eat Western food. In Thailand I do most of the cooking at home - inc the Thai foods. The local kids seek me out for help with English homework and I am regularly invited to the school for various funtions & meals (we have no kids). The family don't ask for money - they aren't rich, but are OK.

In the few years we've been together, Nok has had her education broadened greatly & has been to far more places in & out of Thailand than before. The only one that has expected to get things each visit was the 5 YO nephew - this concept has been changed.

Quite likely this isn't much different for any other farang, but I'm quite happy with how things are in our area. I don't push ANY western 'holiday' - they are all too commercialised.

Fair go 'nuffsaid - all kids are monsters.

Little monsters go to monster school (akin to pre-school or playgroups).

Bigger monsters go to bigger schools.

My little nephew now answers to the name monster (monsatuh) and most of the family now refer to him this way - sort of an unofficial nick-name. Really, he's a great kid - major improvements over the time I've known him.

Each visit I assist in one of our local schools, the teachers & kids seem to look forward to it & I quite enjoy it. It is all done with the principal's blessing & joy. He likes my visits enough to take me out for lunch or dinner at least once per visit - that's on top of the 'staff outings' that seem to be arranged during those times.

I help the teachers with their English & help prepare the older students for their English tests. Last year I coached some for the big spelling contest in Chaiyaphum. For the students/teachers that are interested, my door is open to assist them.

Some of the recent posts & photos brought back memories of our wedding in the village. Sound system - it would have been quieter under a 747 with all engines on full. The bulk of our party was on a vacant block next door. About 3am her ladyship & the bridesmaid went to the ladyboy in the next village to have the makeup/hairdo/clothes done. They both looked stunning - it was hard to decide then which I should be marrying ;-)

Around 6am was the first beer, bear in mind I had been up for 3 hours - that makes it OK. Next beer was during the ceremony. One of the ladies decided I needed one as the ceremony was so long. Can't argue with the lass whom gives the beer.

Really, the organisation of it was pretty amazing. From arriving at home about 6AM Friday, discussing the possibility during lunch to marrying the next morning at 9. All the food, decorations, people coming in (brother's family were living in Nong Khai near Buri Ram).

It was big day in the village, it showed the relationships were (and still are) strong both ways. Some of the teachers from the school I help in came across for it - reasonable I guess, I've never known a woman to miss a wedding.

Quite often the 'normal' Thai customs are really relaxed for me. For some of the families if the male can't assist with something, he'll send his wife with me and some willingly offer their car/truck to me when I visit. It's been a bit of a learning curve both ways. I've taken kangaroo across for a surprise dinner. My wife has now been to parts of her country she may not have otherwise been to.

I'm sure the novelty for them will wear off eventually, but it's still a great lifestyle & I can't wait to have it full time.

Thank you. I thought there should be a way.

I added a comment to a forum earlier today - but don't remember what it wsa under. Can we search by username to find what we have put in? If so, how?

New PayPal Feature Available:

After October 1st, registered PayPal users in Thailand will be able to withdrawal funds to their Thai bank accounts.

New! Withdraw PayPal funds to Thai bank accounts, Here's how:

1. Log in to your PayPal account.

2. Click the ' Profile' subtab.

3. Click the 'Bank Accounts' link in the 'Financial Information' column.

4. Click 'Add'.

5. Fill out the Add Bank Account form.

6. Click 'Add Bank Account'.

7. You are now able to withdraw funds from your PayPal account to this bank account.

Refer: http://pages.ebay.co.th/eng/news_update.htm

Doesn't appear to be an option from Australia - I only see AUD & USD.

Sadly I don't get to live in Thailand full-time. But when I am there I don't want to come back to Sydney.

From my first visit to my (now) wife's village in Ampur Khon Sa Wan (Chaiyaphum), I have been treated as a local. No-one tries to increase prices for me in our villages, I have always had the 'locals' prices at the market - wife checked a few times what she would pay to what I paid. My sisters look after me well & I have a lovely Thai family. I sometimes help out at one of the internet cafes in the next village & usually have a few days each visit at one of the local schools. The kids & teachers love it. We try to have at least one outing with the school staff. The last two Mother's Days I was at the school by special request - if you don't come, we will collect you. The bus inspector at Chaiyaphum has a little English & generally has a quick chat when checking tickets. I have made some very good friends of teachers & their families.

At the end of a long visit, one of the teachers asked what I missed most from home - it took 15 minutes to decide - a decent computer. Don't miss TV or radio as both in Sydney are pretty crappy. There are only a few Aussie beers worth drinking & I prefer Thai beer anyway. For meals, I generally do the cooking - here & there. When I started going to the village, some of the women would drop by to see what I was cooking & have a sample. Yes, I'm known about the area, but am not sure if this is a good thing ;-)

One thing I found there that I'm not fond of is the practice of putting ice in beer. My family keep beer in ice for me at parties & the shop over the road is told a few weeks before I come back so she keeps 1/2 carton in the fridge for my first day & has at least 2 cartons on hand for me to ake home. The beer is a few B cheaper if we get cartons from Chaiyaphum, but I like to try to keep money in the area - and she is happy to get the beer and keep it cold for me. (kob khun khrup, Yoong).

Sometimes it does get a little boring & I NEED someone who has decent English to chat with - I guess most of us get like that. Ah, well - knock the top off another Chang. Oh, no!!! It's not breathing! Quick - mouth 2 mouth.... :-)

On thing - could you please put your areas or nearest large town in the post somewhere? I'm having trouble finding some of the villages on the maps.

Hi Ken Bower,

I can't find your village on the map - are you near Ban Ladyi or on the Khon Khro road? Our village in in Ampur Khon Sa Wan, we generally visit once a year or so. You're right about eating places in C city (city???). Some of the small family eateries are pretty good, but sometimes we just need what we're most use to. Seeing KFC has moved in, I expect McD's will be there next visit. Might boost their (McD's) economy, but won't do much for the locals.

I did meet a Canadian in 'The Gate' (now Tesco) a couple of times, but have not heard from him for about 2 years.

If possible we might look you up next visit?

Paul.

Looks like the changes will be such fun. We tried getting a joint account with KTB, HSBC & Bangkok Bank only to be told at each that joint accounts are not legal in Thailand. This was topped off with 'you can't open an account here if you don't have residency'. Now the good bit:

I can't get residency without 400,000B in the account I can't have without having residency first.

At last, a system that outdoes Australia for redtape.

Thaksin's son, Panthongtae, is believed to have left on a flight to Singapore along with Khunying Potjaman and Minister of the PM's Office Newin Chidchob at 9pm last night.

Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkol were all in New York with Mr Thaksin, whose speech to the UN General Assembly tomorrow should be interesting. A caretaker prime minister who no longer has a country to take care of.

Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan and Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak are currently in France, and likely to postpone their return.

The source for this is the Bangkok Post.

From US, Thaksin bans foreign travel

Speaking via a webcam connection from New York, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday ordered his cabinet ministers not to make unnecessary overseas trips.

He cited political uncertainties during the run-up to the general election later this year, and told ministers via the Internet link they should only travel when it was vital.

Mr Thaksin, joining the weekly cabinet meeting via the Internet link during his five-day visit to New York, told his cabinet members that under the current circumstances, especially regarding political uncertainty, they should not travel abroad except for highly necessary purposes, such as making preparations for visits by members of the Royal family.

The report on Mr Thaksin's order from abroad was delivered to the public by caretaker Deputy Public Health Minister Anutin Chanvirakul.

The prime minister also was reported to have asked the ministers to suspend their planned overseas visits for bilateral meetings on any issues.

Government deputy spokeswoman Sansanee Nakpong said the prime minister did not want the cabinet members to travel overseas except for necessary business.

Mr Thaksin reportedly recommended the ministers to send their assistants to go on their behalf. If cabinet members must make overseas trips during this period, they must ask for his permission in advance for at least one week. (TNA)

everybody who is involved only a little bit in this business knows and will tell you, that ASIAROOMS is the "black sheep" of the internet-hotel-brokers and with their doubtful business-policies, they are damaging the reputation of the whole online-booking-business in Asia....

What can i say..........ive always found them ok.

Would you care to expand a little on your above statement and also point me towards another online booking site i could look at.

Cheers.

I generally compare room prices across several online agencies. The one problem is that some are run from the US or UK - hence high prices. www.asiatravel.com (based in Singapore) has been the best for me so far. Any problems with the booking & they have called - even up to an hour before getting there. One hotel we couldn't find in BKK, called them - they called the hotel for directions & called us back. Can't ask for more. The girls in the BKK office (Mee Mee especially) have always been very helpful.

We have found that in some hotels, Asia Rooms buys blocks of bookings, so you have to use them (Bangkok City Inn is one of the places - great location, but lousy food).

Will buses be running from Suvarnabhumi to the Northern Bus Terminal? If so, how long should this trip take at about 22.30?