ronthompson

If u find your self down in the Buriram area, please stop and see our home. PM me for number and directions.

I used yellow light bulbs and tubes in the states to control bugs, Was not able to find in Bangkok and I checked in all the big stores.

Had a reason to stop at our Friend Rays house and he had yellow bug lights on his back porch, just like what I used in the States and he is very happy with them. His wife told my wife how to find the store and we purchased a couple.

PM me if u want my number to talk with my wife about the address.

I have been to several of these parties and they are all really big, They seem to be larger in scope to the first post or new house parties. A few have been really big catered, stage shows, parades and many gifts to the Wat. What ever the family can afford seems to be the price tag. The bigger the party the more u put in the envelope. Most Thai in Issan do not have the money to put a large sum in the envelope.

If he is a good friend just tell him u would like to help him and what would he prefer from u financial support, a pig or 2 or even beer or whiskey; You will have a chance to help cut his hair.

The propose of the party is for him to have as easier journey into the next life. Now I am NOT an expert but I have been to many going to be a monk parties and this is from my observation and discussion with my wife.

IMHO: I would wonder about some of your friends, It is your money so spend it to make u happy, thats why u worked.

I live in a small village half way between Burriam and Krasang and have excellent phone service. I do not use my phone often and tried a phone card for about 6 months, it would run out of time just when i decided to make a call. I signed up for an AIS plan and it works great with no problem what so ever and I use a cheap phone.

On my side of Buriram we do not worry about floods however some of the rain storms will make u wish your house was higher. You do need to build up the area where your home will stand.

In Bangkok I had a condo which I remodeled and had a very modern American type kitchen. When I moved to the village I had a new kitchen built, nice but with no built in oven. My wife wanted a small cooking area on the "back porch" outside of the house. Turned out to be one of the best projects I have ever had done. 90% of the cooking is outside where its cooler, I at last found real bug lights so its bug free and very comfortable. I have started to enlarge the area with more ceiling and NO walls. An outside kitchen is really a great thing to have.

"if we opt for outside builders we might piss off a few people for a while"

You can not worry about that when it comes to a major project. Local labor can be good if you have a strong local boss and he most likely will feel his way is the only way. IMHO u should seriously consider having some one with sound knowledge checking the work. Make certain as well that your workers understand the concept of cleaning up the job site.

Thanks for the info a good burger is hard to find up country.

In the States I lived in several houses and had two built for me and after a few months I would discover the such and such should have been different. That is life.

In Thailand I have discovered that the price is always low and I know I will have to pay a higher price in the end. All in all I Have been happy with the work except for painting.

I would like to suggest for u to visit as many friends or Forangs as possible and notice what little nice things they have, you can obtain many ideas which will in the end give u a more comfortable home.

Best of luck, do hope u enjoy your new home.

I enjoy shopping at Makro, It is very much like Sam's Club and Costco in the States. Some items are bulk but many are not.

In Burriam there are three main Store and the price on certain things are different in each as a rule I do not shop prices but I am amazed at the difference between Makro, Big C and twickets here.

Makro has a excellent selection of cheese, mostly in BIG packs of a couple KG so if u have a friend buy and split or like me buy and freeze.

Do try the store. IMHO

Some Forangs spend a lot of money here and while I am very happy living in Thailand I do wonder why the Government does not try to make our life easier. I just sold a condo in Bangkok and pay a very tidy sum for taxes and yet I receive very little from the Government in return.

I have aways wondered and been amazed at these socall list for government appointment. How does the government chose?

But then what does any govertment know.

As a wise man once said the worse words you hear are " I am from the Government and I am here to help you".

For fun I purchased a nine carat Dragon ring at Big C. For a couple of weeks it looked nice then I noticed that it was turning colors. Dumb me ask at the store if it could be cleaned with some solution and I was told "never allow it to get wet".

Buy only good Thai gold for your wife or G/F, they can tell the difference.

Good Jewelry is always expensive; cheap jewelry is always cheap.

I live close to Huairat which is close to Burriam and I have had all types of work done locally and while I am happy with most local workers I must say painting is impossible. I have had several local men trying to paint and I end up telling each of them not to come back.

Granted I could do it my self but I am just too lazy. So good luck.

It looks as if I will need painting in a few months and I am planning on trying Burriam and just paying extra for quality work.

Good luck and let ,e know your results

In a small way I feel sorry for the guy. What I have a difficult time understanding is how young men can come to Thailand or any country with no money and expect to live. Thailand is less expensive than the states granted but it still takes MONEY to live, food, housing and hospital cost. His trip to the hospital in Bangkok had to be paid.

Too bad he was screwed or taken for a ride or was he. He only worked 2 months in the states was coming off a divorce, called 6 times a day, shipped his property to Thailand and flew over. He was with the g/f a couple of months what did they live on?? Too many points in his writing that makes him look a bit unsteady in life to me.

I was very lucky My Thai/Cambodian/Issan wife is perfect and I consider myself to be a very, very luck man.

Thailand may not be perfect but it all I want is on my small Issan rice farm.

I had the same problem in my village near Hauirat and the driller told me he promise the find a good water source or he would drill another hole. I have had 3 drilled, one for my fishing lake i for the house and a third for my trees. All have worked well, lots of hard water.

Seems nearly every house in my village area has a "scarecrow" on the gate or fence, wife told me its an old Cambodian thing to keep the "bad pee bobs" away. Been doing it around here since she was a little girl so I guess That means its not a real OLD custom.

If u notice a lot of men paint their left baby finger with bright red nail polish, that is to keep the man hungry female PEE BOBS away from men cause she will see the red nail and think he is a she?? And if u are a tuna fisherman painting your left baby finger Wll help u catch more fish???

Good luck, I hope u find what u are seeking!

I would have signed it.

What is/was the problem?

I think u are right but the other that respond are right as well, live and let live, dress like a bum most people do not care.

I just feel better about my self if I wear clean clothing when I go shopping or to town.

If u feel good about your self and your dress good for u, great. My impression of u is based on what I see and I really doubt if u care about my opinion.

Like it or not we are guest in the LOS and I recall my Grandmother saying wear clean clothing when u go to town cause u may be in an accident and u don't want the emergency room people to find holes in your underwear.

What u wear does NOT bother me I just smile and shake my head.

While I have a retirement Visa and do not pay an exit fee, I do not know if u should pay it or not. However I too, am a stupid Forang and would pay the fee if a person told me too.

Strange how all these smart forangs that know all the answers are in a class by their self.

Local police stopped in my Village a few months back, My wife answered his questions. I asked why the questions and the translation was all long stay Forangs had to be interviewed so the police would know they were OK.

They also stopped at the next village interviewed my friend who told me they were there a year or so ago and that they were suppose to check all Forangs at least once a year.

Seems like a reasonable thing to me. I have no problem with it.

Thanks for the input.

I was on the phone for over an hour this AM, I just kept being put on hold but I decided to wait them out. I was told by the last person the Buriram Branch did not copy my pass port correctly. So I need to go in and resubmit all the paper work.

I believe they just do not want my business, I have had an account with Kasikorn for over three years and very happy with them. I just wanted to open a 2nd account to more easily track my farm income or lack off). Is seems Kasikorn only allows 1 INTERNET account per person, which I can easily accept.

Will go to town tomorrow and start an SCB account.

I opened a saving account at the Bangkok Bank Branch in the new big C on 7 Feb and requested INTERNET. I called tonight requesting a PIN number and was informed Bangkok Bank does not allow accounts with out a work permit, I explained I had a Retirement Visa and again was informed I needed a work permit. Is this a local problem? I have an account with Kasikorn in Bangkok.

It has been cold all week in Buriram as well, just may have to look for an electric blanket soon.

But is is still better than shoveling snow.

I am under the impression the 12 Bht water is from the Reverse Osomsis process. Which is the same as Bangkok and the water from Southern California, SPARKLETS< was from the same process.

As I understand it, the process it can be from any water source.