ricky63

- I have no plans on paying sin sot or dowry, she's been there done that and I'm not from Thai culture

- Will propose to her next month with a gold-diamond ring. . I want her to have a diamond and she likes gold..

- We will go to the American Embassy, get paperwork done/translated, and then to the amphur office upon my arrival to BKK

- We will go through village ceremony, 30 guests, small party she says, 10-15k no problem

- I will return home and start processing her paperwork for fiancee visa for her to come to America

- She will get a job here and support her family in which we have already talked about

- We will process paperwork for her son's visa and return home for the BIG party and pickup of her son

- She has a job now paying 4500 baht a month cleaning house. She wants to work to save to buy me a ring.. One months pay to spend on me, that's very thoughtful of her. What I make in less than a day she makes in a month..

Am I really just a customer or walking ATM? Is this all a dream? Is she not lucky? Am I not lucky?

I could of had any Thai girl I wanted but I found one in a million. This is her story, our story.

I have a few comments about the above:

- Good that you are not paying sin sot, as you probably will be paying for awhile (or forever?).

- A diamond ring is look upon very highly by other Thai women. Your fiance will be very excited to get this and show it off

- I asked my wife about the marriage ceremony in Thailand. She did not want it. I think she is embarrassed to have one. I believe it is because she was married to a Thai man before, and for a Thai lady... divorce is a bad mark you carry forever.

Our "marriage ceremony" consisted of getting marriage pictures professionally done in Bkk at a studio. She says the pictures are what really prove you are married to other Thai people. This took most of a day, and cost $125. Excellent quality digital photos, with disk and some prints, and included all of the fancy clothes, hairdressers, photographer, and support staff.

Why should you pay for the wedding? You are American, and in American culture the father of the bride will pay for the wedding, and the guests provide the gifts.

- Obtaining a fiance visa is not very easy... I know because we got one. It took about one year and allot of paperwork and effort. My wife was the General Mgr at a large resort hotel, and I am an executive with a good job, good references, credit rating, etc. I think the reason that we were able to get it was I asked my State Senator's office to send some emails to the US Embassy in Bkk (which they did). Your wife also has a child, which will complicate things if you add him/her to the visa application.

Before getting married, be sure to have a prenuptual agreement signed off in your hand. You have 90 days from when your fiance arrives, to get married.

I don't mean to be harse, but you are asking:

"Am I really just a customer or walking ATM?" Probably

"Is this all a dream?" It is reality, but the road to you being happily married to her and residing in the USA is a long one, full of blind curves and potholes.

"Is she not lucky?" She is very lucky to have you

"Am I not lucky?" If your fiance is a "good one," then you are indeed lucky.

"I could of had any Thai girl I wanted but I found one in a million." I think the "one in a million" thai girl has graduated university with a few degrees (many have Masters and PhDs), has a rich family with good connections (very important), has assets, has had very little "experience" with men, is beautiful, talented, hardworking, honest, etc etc. Difficult to find, but I think they are in Bangkok somewhere...

Best of Luck, and Happy New Year

What's the situation like with hotels in Kantang, from my wofe's relatives, I understand that there are some hotels or is a hotel(?) in Kantang, but I'm expecting some country side Thai style hotel at the best!

Going over there with the family to a wedding from my wife's relatives. Any input is appreciated.

We stayed in Kan Tang this last Oct. at some friends house. We were there for the Vegetarian Festival. Other than the festivities, this place was boring.

There is one small hotel there (sorry I don't have the name), that was right next to my friends house. I don't know the name of the road, but it is about 100M north of the police station. The hotel looks like someones house, in fact. It is not a real hotel. My friend said they charge about 200 bht per night.

Trang is a better place to hang out... there is allot more there to see and do.

Enjoy

Congratulations!

http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/Reader/reader2172.htm

You don't have to pay Sin Soht... Please click on the link above and read the submission about paying a dowry/Sin Soht to your fiance's family.

I had an Isaan girlfriend that I was serious about. Even though I sent her money, there always seemed to be demand for more. I felt sorry for her and her family, so we discussed it and came up with a plan. I told her I would give her startup money to start a restaurant. Her family knew the restaurant business (cooks), and they said they would work together on this. She agreed that if she did not use the money to start a business she would return it. Once I transferred the money, it was immediately spent on a motorbike and home improvements (for the house in Isaan). That was the end of our relationship.

I married a Thai woman from Phuket, and have been very happy since. I never paid Sin Soht, and I told her she didn't need to pay any dowrey to me We all work together within our means (ie we all work, make money, save, discuss finances together, don't spend unless it is agreed). This equal contribution makes all of us happier.

I just returned from Thailand, where I played about 10 times in 30 days.

This "sport" is one of the most challenging things to do (physically and mentally) that I have ever encountered. When you are playing well, it is exhilarating. When you play poorly it becomes quickly disheartening... this is where the mental challenges come into play.

Playing golf in Thailand is good exercise, as well. I usually lose about 2 KG within a few weeks where I play there (I walk the course, instead of taking a buggy).

Until you take lessons from a GOOD teaching pro, you can expect your scores (and emotions) to be erratic.

To me, walking the course and having a good round is quite therapeutic.

I highly recommend golf for the recreation and exercise. Thailand is a great place to enjoy this activity.

I can recommend Grapho Design. They did our website, and did a good job.

You can contact through their online form at: http://www.graphodesign.com/contact.htm

OR

Grapho Design Co., Ltd.

64/4 Chao-fa Rd., T.Taladnue

A.Muang, Phuket 83000

Tel: 0.7624.6526-7

Fax: 0.7624.6528

http:// www.graphodesign.com

e.mail: [email protected]

Good luck with your project.

My wife and I had a meeting at the Planning (?) Dept. on Phuket Island about this, approx 2 years ago. We wanted to find out about the General Plan for Phang Nga bay and the surrounding areas.

We did see the plans for this major project. They were talking about dredging out parts of the bay for a deep sea port.

Apparently this is still talk. Any progress since June 2007?

I sympathize with Snowflake, and I need to understand more of what is missing in your life there. It sounds to me like you might be happier in a different part of Thailand... Phuket, Chiang Mai, or even Bkk.

I am planning to "retire" (really, I doubt if I will ever stop working) to Thailand in the next few years, so this subject is very interesting to me.

Because I have a PLAN, there is a sequence of events I am executing. Briefly, I am making as much money as possible so that I don't have to worry about it once I move there. Then, I am setting up my bank and trading accounts, so that there is a steady stream of (very good) monthly income. My Thai wife already has land and houses, so we will have a place to stay. We have a rubber garden, which should give us some income, as well.

Once I move there, I am planning on joining a golf/mens club, and volunteering for the "most deserving" charitable organization I can find.

Just a simple question to the board: If you have the basics of life covered (housing, food, medical, entertainment, etc), is there enough in Thailand to keep your interest, and keep you happy?

I know here in farangland, we are constantly bombarded by "bad news," ie War, crime, economic worries, etc. I feel that if I can escape that "noise," I can live a happier life. I feel the "grass is greener" in Thailand.

Can you guys please weigh in?