connda

Of course. It is a major cultural event. Having photographer is not unusual at all. Especially during the time that the Buddhist laity present the Chanting Monks with gifts like robes. It is part and parcel of Thai cultural and Buddhist tradition.

As I said. Westerners have a perverse and illogical fear of dead-bodies and death in general. Look at a body as nothing more than a rotting log. It's "light's out, there is nobody home." Reflect on that and you can see that open air cremation in a different light. The modern gas crematoriums are repetitively new devices. Open-air cremations were the norm historically in the past. Really. I find the aversion farangs have to this as amusing. TIT. As the old saying goes: "When in Rome..."

Once you are dead, your body is nothing more than a rotting organic object. Cremation is quick and clean. Also - Westerners have a morbid and perverse fear of death as well as the aftermath of death. Funeral are morbid affairs in the West, well except in places like Louisiana where the Creole speakers have "Wakes." We live on the road to the crematorium in our village. I've probably seen 100 bodies pulled by travailing from our Buddhist temple to the crematorium grounds over the last 17 years. I've also participated in the three day Ngaan Sop1 (festival for the dead-body) of friends and relatives. Yeah, you see some teary-eyed people, why not, you'll miss those people. But overall the Ngaan Sop funerals and the cremations are not the same morbid affairs you see in the West. And afterwards there is almost always a wake. I attended my first probably 14 years ago in Isaan. The family had a stage erected with a band and dancing gals. It was one hell of a party. So, unless you've lived here and integrated into Thai society and are a Buddhist, you're probably going to have a problem grasping the cultural and religious differences and significances. By the way - I highly recommend attending a Ngaan Sop if one has the chance. It's an interesting view into how Thai cultural approaches the topic of death in the heart of Theravada Buddhism. And it ain't morbid in the least. 1 Ngaan (festival), Sop (dead body)

"Facilitation Fees." Do you know why I didn't even blink? Because they do the same thing in the US at places like DMV. Normal processing time for processing a license plate renewal. Something like a week or more. But - pay a "facilitation fee" and get your renewed plate the same day. That was back in 2006 in my home state. So. Look at it like a "facilitation fee" or "rapid-processing fee" in order to cut through the bureaucratic red-tape.

The Land Office tried to talk my wife out of granting a Usufruct. My wife isn't your typical shy, sensitive, and deferential Thai woman. She is highly assertive for a Thai woman. However, my lawyer said we needed to grease the wheels so to speak. It didn't require much grease.

Like immigration offices, your experiences will differ from offices to offices. Speaking from direct experience. Some will require a lawyer and a brown envelope. Just saying.....

Been there. Just saying...

For the same reason people can criticize Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Taoists, Confucianists, Animists, Shintoists, Bahaists, and the 100's of other minor regional native and folk religions found globally.

Word of caution to any tourist visiting Thailand. If you don't have experience driving motorcycles back home, don't rent one here. If you do have experience driving motorcycles back home, turn your defensive-driving dial to 11. (For those who don't understand that, watch Spinal Tap). And have a policy that covers motorcycle accidents.

No. But I do miss Mexican food. But that ain't "the old country."

I'm speechless. 🙄

I use that as well, but they both have there strengths and weaknesses. I'm glad I purchased the Windows version. It's incredibly useful for translating into the form of transliterations that I've been using for years. It comes in handy translating Pali-Thai to Pali-English.

Thai2English.com has been one of my favorite Thai-English translation since I arrived in Thailand. Guess I'll periodically check to see if it reincarnates or not. I still have a fully function copy of the Thai2English Windows program that I purchased years ago. It still runs. Well - if it bit the dust. "So long and thanks for all the fish translations."

With laser printers you pay more up-front, but the cost per printed page is a fraction of the cost of ink-jets. So long-term, a laser printer is far cheaper than an inkjet to run and maintain. I did that 'cost-benefit' analysis regarding "cost per page" years ago which is why I switched for good. I recently purchased a combination printer/bed-scanner laser printer to replace my old mono-colored Brothers HL-1110. I'm still using the the first B&W replacement toner cartridge I purchase to replace the original tone cartridge in the HL-1110 in my new printers. The tone cartridge that came with the new printer is in a drawer unopen and brand new. Whatever year the old toner cartridge runs out, I'll have a spare to replace it.

Debt which was caused by engaging in deficient spending after dropping the interest rates close to zero for close to 15 years. Pour gasoline on the economy, then try to put out the flames with kerosene.

Mega-Projects funding and a half-Trillion Thai Baht public give-a-way, combined with lowering interest rates will be highly inflationary. 34K THB gold today; 50K THB gold soon. Who will that effect the most. The economically disadvantaged and most vulnerable. Who by the way will be dumping their family's gold jewelry in order to survive day-to-day.

Regarding Agricultural burning of "rice fields." There are alternate methods to planting rice that do not require either burning or plowing. I've read books regarding these methods. "We've burned field for centuries. It's part of our customs!" It's time to learn a new method that doesn't destroy the air quality. A first step to ending the burning would be state-run and funded educational programs to teach local farmers the alternative methods and to assist them during the their first year(s) of planting. This is exactly the type of thing that his Majesty Rama IX 🙏 did during his youthful days. "It can't be done," some will say. Yeah it can. Just last week we helped sponsor an educational seminar here in North-East Lamphun led by one of Thailand princesses 🙏 that involved 4000 people to teach and assist the local mountain tribes in agricultural techniques. So, it can be done at the Amphur level in each rice growing province, especially here in Northern Thailand. But there needs to be the will to do it.

A similar trend was detected in Chiang Mai, where the smog crisis used to last until March but now drags on until April. When? 100 years ago. I've lived here well over 15 years and horrid air quality lasts well past Songkran an into May. Much of the problem in the CM areas is wide-spread ag burning as well as arson-set forest fires.

Will new air-quality laws cure Thailand’s smog-driven health crisis? Absolutely not as there are few enforcement mechanisms or public officials who will to enforce them at a local level, e.i., most village heads, Amphur leaders will always temper the enforcement because they live in those communities. Lip Service? Bunches. Action? Not much. The Thai government would have to create an Air Quality department and fully staff it with well paid enforcement agents who can't be bribed to look the other way. 🤔 Ain't gonna happen so the official story will remain that the bad air is the fault of all the country around Thailand and "so sad, nothing we can do."

I got the feeling from one of Marc Faber's latest interviews that there should be some reverse correction coming. But yeah, arbitrage is an issue.

Thailand is signaling a Central Bank rate cut and the government is signaling massive deficient spending. Just like most of the world's governments. 34K? Look at it this time next year as gold nears escape velocity.

Work for the government and life is good. Pension, Health Care, etc. Normal people? Too bad to be you commoners.

I tried some. Just more tiger pee.

Did you have to replace the toner cartridge? Poor little dude.

I changed to laser printers years ago and have never looked back.