PeeKay

I'm looking for some advice. Our daughter, Thai citizen and Australian Permanent Resident, aged 16 went back to Thailand on the 19th of February as the Grand Mother was quite ill.

The Grand Mother is now fine, though our daughter refuses to return to Australia.

She has not finished school in Australia and is not enrolled in school in Thailand. She left school at age 14+ due to bullying and psycholgical problems etc.

She has hooked up with a 19 year old guy who works in a factory in Siracha, though she is still at home, so hasn't made the big leap into the deep.

Given that she is under 18 years of age, are we, her Thai Mother and I, Australian Step Father, entitled to go to Thailand and get so that she returns to school in Australia. Once she is 18 and has some education, she can do what she wants.

Is there any benefit going to the Authorities like the Tourist Police or Oz Embassy.

I am not totally ignorant of Thailand, having lived and worked there for about 4 years and having picked up the language, though no reading skills.

Any advice or guidance would be immensely appreciated.

Cheers for now.

PK

Wow! It's like something out of a B-movie.

I was thinking more a joke, what do you get when a Thai a Vietnamese and a Cambodian go to Si sa ket?

FEEL FREE TO ADD PUNCHLINE!

A Thai, a Vietnamese and a Cambodian went to Si Sa Ket but were caught spying. The RTA asked them what their plans were.

The Thai told them that he was looking at a new place to be become the hub of espionage. The local area commander demanded his tea money, agreed on a future rate for repeat offences, gave him a wai and sent him on his way.

The Vietnamese told them that he was checking out what the capitalist Thai was doing so he could report on the joys of communism when he got home. He got deported, after paying some tea money.

The Cambodian said < FILL IN THE GAP - MAYBE THAIVISA CAN OFFER A PRIZE >

The Cambodian said, "What do you mean arrested? My map shows I'm still in Cambodia".

I have always been an avid anti Monarchist here in the land of Oz.

However, I had the absolute honor of living in Thailand and witnessing first hand what a TRUE Monarch does and had done for HIS people.

I have the utmost, profound respect for His Royal Majesty and only wish more royals the globe over had the heart, soul and unconditional love for his people, as the amazing Monarch of Thailand has.

May he live long and happy.

Long Live the King. What a blessed man. Honest to God.

PK.

Edit: Have you ever NOT jaywalked in Bangkok? Probably only when using a bridge or sky train station.

The ONLY safe way (other than stated and by taxi) to cross the roads in LOS, is to take your chances and do the bolt.

My experience has shown time and time again that pedestrian crossings are simply target rich environments.

If the BIB and the money sucking hordes really want to make some fast cash, then they should simply stand at the zebra crossings, noting down the number plates of all offenders, radio them through to 'collection' points ahead and scoop the lotto.

Simple really, but maybe too dangerous, as that would be targeting everyday Thai's and couldn't be specifically customised for farangs.

Love the country and love the King, but sick and tired of all the 'sins'.

Peace 2 all.

PK.

The zig zag scam at 'Bumi' was covered in the Channel 7, Sunrise program this morning.

So it's making it's way around the world, consolidating opinion and warnings about shopping at the airport.

In addition to this, the TV presenters aksed for anyone 'stung' in other ways to send them updates.

People can check it all out at and email them via the following:

yahoo7.com.au/sunrise

PK

My darling wife summed this fiasco up rather nicely:

"Pom mai son jai, wellah kon luay le takiattakai siang gnun, som nam nah".

Quite happy we are neither 'luay' or 'takiattakai'.

Subscribing to 'any' scheme in LOS where one has to part with cash for so called promises, is delusional at best.

PK

When I brought my two dogs in from Oz, they demanded 5,000 extra for each dog. I wasn't aware that this was happening, I was just so happy to see my dogs.

When the dogs were 'delayed', I got 'peesed' off and pushed past the 'thugs' and started ripping the timber sides off the boxes. The 'thugs' all became rather worried as I am far from a small man, was angry, had a few beers under my belt and both dogs were large, well trained on my command, and had vibed into me being in some sort of trouble and were having a go at anyone coming close to their cages.

In the end one of the thugs tried to pull me away and I screamed at him not to touch me. My Thai friend confirmed it wasn't a good idea to touch me and then managed to calm me down. Basically I bluffed my way out of being bashed/killed or otherwise, but I still had to part with the cash.

That and countless other small hip pocket hits finally made me see the light and we all now live happily back in Oz and will only ever return for short visits on our way to better play pastures.

They can all go to he_ll, they won't be getting anything more out of us.

Long live the King though, he's the coolest of all.

PK

I am coming to CM in two days and would appreciate some idea of reasonable gynasiums.

I have to keep up some daily cardio work (Doc's orders), whilst keeping out of the smog/fumes, also Doc's orders.

If my lungs were okay, I'd be happy to enjoy nice long walks, but alas, things are different, so I'm basically looking for somewhere that has treadmills and/or those elliptical butt breaking machines.

I will be staying along Soi 2, off Thapae Road.

Your collective wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

Thanking you in anticipation.

PK.

I am not interested who may have said or done what in this 'Matgate' affair, nor am I interested in the apparent constant splitting of hairs in relation to numerous events in LOS.

Thailand will always remain a beautiful, enigmatic and enchanting country, encapsulated in legal, procedural and practical anomalies that more often than not require inordinate amounts of cash, concern and distress to clarify. Far more than our personal, mental and emotional 'budgets' are prepared to meet.

My lovely wife and I chose to leave this wonderous place over 13 months ago and it is quite timely that we are now back to collect our two children and leave the 'mine field', for want of a better word, for good.

Even though we wanted our kids to remain for a while to get a better grasp of the language, it can always be learnt in our native country and refined upon subsequent recreational returns.

I would never contemplate bad mouthing this lovely land, but for the sake of sanity and being conscious of the brevity of life, we are certainly not prepared to waste another second more than required navigating life at the complete whim of others, in accordance with their perceived or real positions in society and level of greed.

We are out of here in two weeks and more certain than ever that our decision is the correct one.

Good luck to those obviously far braver than we, and Long Live the King, for HE really is the absolute God send in the Land of Smiles.

PK.

A chance meeting with a plain clothed Thai 'Official' in Chiang Mai, in November 2007, followed by a few beers cofirmed without a doubt (at least to me) that inter-agency co-operation is very much alive and well in Thailand.

This gentleman mentioned a range of things, including the 'links' with the AFP & ASIO in relation to monitoring a specific group that had moved from the south to the North area of Thailand.

I will never forget his adamant statement that if people REALLY knew what went on, they may be shocked....I think not..!!

Obviously I didn't feel the need to enquire to any depth. I just believed him and happily took his business card when offered, especially on the basis that if I every encountered any 'hassles', he was available.

His availability would have obviously been at a price, but I would have simply considered it and insurance payment. Thankfully there has never been any need, thoug I still have his number.

Whilst few or none of us may have the proof, I for one believe that Thailand has and will always provide 'services' for the protection and 'friendship' of larger and stronger allies.

The methods and means of stopping terrorist aggression are counter balanced by the agression and violence of terrorists themselves.

It may sux big time, but so would being a victim.

Peace to all.

PK

Time and time again I read about the confusion that emanates from all facets of Governement that appears, at the least, to instill confusion and distress to a multitiude of people living in the LOS.

Whilst I am ever vigilant to ensure that my comments do NOT offend anyone, as each person is entitled to live as they please, I am forever brought back to the conclusion that my magnificent wife and I have made the correct decision. At least for ourselves.

We left LOS about 12 months ago and in doing so left a great deal of confusion, uncertainty and disquiet behind us.

Of course the Utopic mix would be somewhere between where we are now and the attributes of the enchanting and engaging magic of Thailand. However for the benefit of our children and peace of mind, we have designated the 'Echanted Kingdom' to the realm of holidays, whilst getting on with our lives with a degree of certainty, outside of the Kingdom.

To all of you that are really SO brave to be still there and enduring, I take my hat off to you and pray that things get easier.

Lord knows you truly deserve it.

To all a wonderful weekend, filled with happiness and magic moments.

PK.

Yet another PRIME example as to why my darling wife and I decided to pack our bags and leave the Kingdom.

Our next step is to bring our girls back to Oz and then bounce between the two countries, hopefully wiser for having lived and worked in both countries, exposed to the 'variances'.

Whilst not often lost for words, this terrible incident is one of those moments.

Our heartfelt wishes to the family and a speedy recovery to the boys.

Sadly, in the end, there appeared only one reality to us, in respect to Thailand and it's spelt, B, A, H, T!!!

Anyway, Thailand will always remain a magically enchanting country.

How I wish for the days of old Siam, as in the King and I, with Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner and Rita Moreno.

Somewhat delusional maybe, but romantically enticing and surely far from where everything is at, at the moment.

A good weekend to all, filled with happiness, safe times and exceptionally special moments.

PK.

The first thing my lovely wife said, when I explained this story was 'Som nam nah'.

We have spent many a time up north and quite frankly got very tired of the constant 'fines' for absolutely no rational reason, despite having everything in order.

I understand the basic economic realities, but it got just a tad too much.

What a blast, I'd imagine the 'fugitive' may be running for quite a while from his ex friends. Just how long he may last is an obvious question.

Now why would I be remotely interested in testing my Thai lady?

I have known her for 15 years, been married for 8 of them and we have a 4 year old son.

Apart from my clothes, computers and some other odds and ends everything is in her name and she is welcome to it all.

She has put up with me for a long time, tried to get me to stop wasting money which I used to most of the time and I have improved a lot.

When I got divorced in the UK by my first wife all I walked away with was my clothes and stuff which all fitted into a Ford Mondeo station wagon and my pensions.

What have I got to lose?

My wife and son love me and she tells me that she will be with me until one of us dies and I do believe her as I have no reason not to.

I get a little bored with the generalisations that all Thai girls are only out to get everything they can from us rich farangs.

I do appreciate that these things happen but I am also certain there are many more successful marriages than unsuccessful and more farangs living happily with their Thai ladies than there are failures of marriages.

Just think how farangs would feel if their Thai ladies did the same to them.

I agree with you 1000%, got wiped out by the first wife (farang ), ended up in a homeless shelter bla bla.

Then met my Thai lady, took her on holiday for 2 weeks, when we got back, she got her monthly pay and handed it over to me without question, so we legged it to a bar and had a rip roaring time.

We're now happily married, with two beautiful girls and she's my boss. Really my boss, as we have a Company and Business here in Oz and she is the sole Director of the Company.

I often ask myself and her, why she puts up with me and I always get the same answer, she loves me and will do so until one of us slips into the next life.

The times that we go back to Thailand, she always asks if she can go and do the most basic of things like get her hair washed and nails done, for a ridiculous 100 Baht. Never misses a beat and funnily enough it peeses me off a bit, cause she works like a Trojan and doesn't need to ask me for anything, but she always checks.

I just hope to Christ I have enough time left to rebuild to a point where I can leave her and our girls with a great future.

As many have said, the mighty $$ is a common denominator in ALL relationshps, irrespective of place of origin.

Cheers from down under.

PK.