ronthompson

My choice as well is the Majestic, would like to add that with children check into the suite, they have a very nice 2 bedroom suite and while expensive for the area, it is not as expensive as a room in the States or Bangkok. \\If they are slow u may obtain a good deal.

I have been in Thailand nearly 5 years about 2 in Bagkok and full time in the village the remainder. I have discovered it is better to go where i can pick up what I need at the best price.

Sometimes it is the day or night market, sometimes Big C or Mikre or the local Thai super center. Some item are a better deal at a local Thai store, it just depends on what I need and/or want.

I enjoy a trip to Bagkok for shopping ( my wife more than me) and resturants. I discovered Korat shopping a while back and enjoy trip there.

your question must be answer with a question, what do u want to do with your time and if u enjoy shopping, i believe LOS has the worlds best shopping. after a while u will discover where u want to shop and my odea is to shop in stores I enjoy some small shops are bad other great.

I am lloking forward to the new shopping guide Thai Visa is talking about so I may add really great stores and Bad ones as well.

While I do not pick mushrooms my self u are correct they taste great.

Have u tried fresh picked deep fried mushrooms? They are outstanding a rural American treat.

I agree with Dave, while Big C may be less expensive u would be better off with a purchase from an applicance store. I wound not however even consider a water heater. cold water is OK.

I would just use blue plastic pipe and run a water line from the pump to where u plan to keep the machine. In Bangkok our machine was out side and here in Banthago it is ouside as well, but protected from the sun.

Our machine is used all the time by our house keeped and family members, the thing keeps on working.

I live up close to Buriram and welcome to the area.

It is as every has told u, depending on your life style, u will spend too much on the extended family at first and it will depend on the toys u will want to play with.

I can really only speak for my self and I spend too much, i realize that but I am very happ and would not change any thing.

Where in the States are u from?? I lived in So Ca for 15 years before moving here in 05.

It is a sad truth but youru experence with Thai life is all too common. While events such as happened to you are very common in Thailand, The same or close to it happens all over the world.

I too am from America and every day I find it very easy to compare elements of the Thai society with elements of Americam society. Too many want something for nothing and most do not know u must work for it.

Stealing is a way of life for too many and society will end up paying the price, In the States too many are in Jails and yet crime is still present, in Thailand very are in Jail so u will have more stealing from each other. U have it I want want.

Change must start at the top and work it way down but will that ever happen???????

Great story I have been there, done that. u wrote in my opinion an excellent report.

Thanks I really did enjoy reading it, do u have any objections of me passing it along to friends with your name.

Best of luck Martin, hope your treatment goes well!

If i had it to do over again was your question, would give everything away in the states and not even bring a suit case with me.

All the clothing I need I can have made and at a good price, i do not wear shoes so my XXX are not required,

I burned up all my electrical item i carred over the voltage regulators from Radio Shack are no good for your good tooth brush. I am amazed that people have been able to use electrical things from the States, I must have done something wrong. My daughter was here for a visit last month and while we were at a nice hotel in BKK with the electrical outlet marked 110 her sonic tooth brush died. Whith an expensive voltage regulator her electrical hair thing burned up.

I have discovered in LOS to avoid items made in China same problem in Walmart they suck and do not last.

if any thing I miss some of the food stuff I can not find, i believe everything is available here if u can find it.

I find LOS to be very different but thats ok I still love it here!

i have been in LOS for 5 years full time, 2 years in BKK and 3 in a very small village between Surin and Buriram. I love my life here its the dessert for working. I was 65 when I moveded here.

I do not understand how some one young can expect to move to LOS if he does not have money, a young Thai wife is wonderful but do not expect the Thai women to fall in love with u because u are a forang, they each and every one are looking for the dream of a better life.

While it is very possible to live with less money in Thailand, your life style will reflect your finicial status. I do not belive u should move to Thailand and expect to make a good living.

I also do not understand why forangs will move to Thailand with plans to have a family, children are not cheap and will u live long enough to support them even if u have the funds? In America babies and children are in a car child seat for several years and yet in Thaind the are on a motorbike when they come home from the hospital. I know its not my place to say who can and should have children but children DO NOT cement a marriage in Thailand any more than it does in the States and they will NOT MAKE u a better person.

In answer to your question as to what I should have carried to Thailand when I moved??

U sound as if u are coming from the States so

1. Bring Money

2. I miss my hand tools but with the differentce in electrical power u can not bring power tools.

3. Have a monthly income

4. Most food stuffs are easily availabe here but have friend who will be able to mail u the certain items u like.

5. Thailand is a cash society

Do not believe for a second I am not happy here, I am all i want is here and I have no plans to leave.

I believe electric mowers will always be less expensive and the are quiet will never have a starting problem, if they donot start right up they will not start.

gas mowers are stronger will usually be easier to repair and u are not limited with a cord, I ran over an electric cord once it made a good day bad.

I do believe a gas mower will be a better buy in the longer run. IMHO!

Ron,

what is the height of the fence?

You've given some of us some good ideas.

Thanks.

2 meters and the land was filled with 100 loads of fill so its actually about 3 meters higher than the surrounding area

Looks ok I think.

I made a concrete wall around my land (still yet to see the finished product).

Now I have another piece of land with my house on but with no fence.

Its got me thinking.

It will look a lot nicer when you have your grass down and other things.

You are right with out planting etc it does not look good, a Patio is being completed today, the gazebo should up tomorrow and grass is on order.

only hold up is my Koi pond!

In America the poles are placed then the chainlink or fabric is pull tight and a fitting is used to attach the fabric to the poles. The fittings are a clamp like thing that attaches the pole and fabric.

Drive by and look at the Buriram Mackro i followed their fence design with a few modifications, My brother in law is a metal fabricator by trade so the welding was easy to do and will out last me.

Cost was 39,000 for the supplies from Hi Q in Surin. The size 25 M X25M X 25M the fouth side opes to my present garden.

Plans are to build a large Koi Pond, with many different planting areas.

I do not like village chickens on my property and village dogs tend to fight. I believe the fence will allow ventilation on the hot evenings.

If u are in the Huairat area and would like to take a look just PM me.

No offence mate but it does not look good. Chainlink never does. Maybe you could get some plants that would grow on it? Is that your neighbours house in the background? He might have something to say as well.

Cheap and practical no doubt, especially if you breed dogs.

To each his own, for my purpose it is right, the house u noticed is my sister in law, she likes it.

Nice garden, Is that babies at the bottom of the poles ?

I have a thing for cement/ pottery figures.

another view of my flag poles.

attachment=86986:IMG_5193.JPG]

I wanted to start a new garden and discovered the cost of a cement fence was close to 200,000 i decided to go with a American type chain link fence. My brother in law did the work and I was able to find the necessary supplies. I could not obtain the proper connectors but that problem was resolved with welding.

The end result was very affordable, good loohing and the ventilation is much better if u are in the Buriram area and in need of a good fence consider chain link!

My grass is about 25 meters X 25 meters with trees and plants, i used the 1 meter strips and it is gwoing great. i have just started on a second area to "fix: up.

I purchased mine from a supply store in Krasang, it has a grass catcher, easy adjustment, very easy start cost was aroud 6K. I am very happy with machine

What did u do to have such a clear pond??

I have no idea what to do about the growth but i wish my fishing pond was half as clear>

I live down in the Buriram area and wanted grass, in the States I tried grass seed but was never 100% happy. I spoke with a local plant store and purchased sod for 25 Bht a square, I had a sprinkle system installed and am !00% happy with the results, I used Village ladies for the work and while the grass was expensive the saving in labor cost helped with the expense.

I purchased another lot from a different dealer for another area at a lower price and the quality just wasn't there and it does not look nearly as good. So the cheaper price was not worth it for me.

I hire a neighbor boy to mow my lawn every Saturday.

I wonder how the bite will be explained when he returns home?

No problem, we will just go back next month,

I will do the chest compressions but who will do the mouth to mouth?