Chimp

23&Me, wife is Southeast Asian, Chinese, Korean, Southwest Asian, and Ashkenazi Jew. Although you take these tests with a grain of salt, if you speak to family members it appears to be fairly accurate with the exception of Ashkenazi Jew and Korean.

My wife said the two witnesses being interviewed at the end of the video said the man was not on the balcony when the girl jumped (?).  He came out on the balcony calling her name when she didn't come back in the condo.

The next thing you know they will have an airline seat next to the carry-on baggage measuring device.  If you appear portly the person at the check-in counter will make you sit in it, giving you a thumbs up or a thumbs down.  If you are rejected they will offer you the seat next to you, for a price.  If there is nothing available you will be required to catch the next available flight.  

My wife and I tore down my MIL's dilapidated home and built her a new one.  Because she is an only child we knew that she would inherit the home and it was an investment in her future.  In addition, whenever we are in Thailand we have a place to stay which makes our visits enjoyable and stress-free.  After visiting Thailand dozens of times over the past 30 years we have decided that Thailand is not in our future as a potential retirement location.  As a result, we gave our interest in my MIL's home to my wife's cousin and family.  They have taken ownership of the property so there is no going back.  It was money well spent, just to see the joy and pride that my MIL had when we had the housewarming and when family and neighbors come to visit made it well worth it. At the time we built, the baht was weak and the price of the home was less than the cost of most new cars. No regrets.

I love the weather:

I began regularly traveling to Thailand in 1989 and thought of moving here permanently on many occasions.  I really enjoy how laid back Thailand appears to be and how friendly everyone seems to be.  My wife lived in the U.S. for several years before we met.  After we married we started traveling to visit her family and to tour Thailand. After several trips, we decided to build a home on her mother's property, allow her mother to live in it and we would use it when we were in country.  We planned to move into it permanently when we retired from our jobs.  After traveling back and forth for twenty plus years we both decided living in Thailand wasn't for us and gave our home to my wife's mother, her cousin and her cousin's husband.  We enjoy our time when we are visiting but like all places, it has changed and to me has lost some of its luster.   My wife just returned from a visit but I haven't been back for almost two years although I do plan on visiting.  I'm happy for those of you that have decided to make it home but I'm sorry some of you have disconnected from your home countries.  I would personally have a difficult time never returning to my native country. 

You never know who is telling the truth..................

Lots of cheap and free books here:  https://www.bookbub.com

It has been a long time since I was there, however there are so many historical things to see.  Rent a car and follow the signs.  If you like wine try the local Kokenilli.  Fish mezes and all of the assorted kabobs are very good.   Halloumi cheese is a unique experience.  If the Green Line, UN Buffer Zone is still there it will somewhat restrict your travel on the island itself.  Lots of villages throughout the island with typical markets.  Many very good resturants.  Was affordable when I was there but as I said it has been a long time since my last visit.   If you have access to the HGTV network it had a couple of House Hunters International shows with people looking for a house on Cyprus.  Enjoy your visit.

My wife and I were traveling by bus and had a large suit case in the compartment in the lower part of the bus.  The bus made a few stops and my wife got a feeling that she should watch the people departing the bus during the next stop.  One lady, about 35, was walking away with our suit case.  We were able to stop her and make the bus attendant retrieve our suit case.  No apologies from the lady just a feeble excuse that she thought it was hers.  We have never traveled by bus since unless it is a trip we can make with just carryon baggage.

Thank you Rdrokit, I see where I was misreading it now.  

I've noticed that the rules say you have to have a campaign medal but I understand you can join if you were awarded the Korean Defense Service Medal.  If that is the case why isn't this noted in the rules to join?  Also there are many that have the Vietnam Service Medal but did not serve long enough to receive the Vietnam Campaign Medal.   If the KDSM works why shouldn't the VSM. 

The Royal Thai Consulate in Vancouver, Canada is still issuing METVs according to their website.  You can contact them at:

Royal Thai Consulate General in Vancouver

1040 Burrard St,
Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2R9
Tel. (604) 687-1143
Fax (604) 687-4434
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.thaicongenvancouver.org

I brought back a fairly large brass Buddha about 5 years ago. I had it in my check-in baggage. I was asked to open my bag and the inspector saw the Buddha, looked at me and smiled. He told me to close my bag and waved me on. We had heard about having to have a letter from one of the ministries, etc. We tried finding it but we never did and decided to see what happens.

Thanks, I'll check that out. I recently bought his book Iberia, it is a bit slow. I enjoyed The Covenant and although not by Mitchner I'm considering re-reading Shogun. I love books that take me away to another time and place.

I purchase my first Kindle Paper White last year. I really like it so far.

I just finished The Source by James Mitchner, a book I read once before, many years ago. My taste in authors is varied.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-pay-your-taxes-or-lose-your-passport-1447971424

Get your Tourist Visa before November 12th or lose your opportunity.

My dad is 87 and just got a Harley Davidson Ultra Trike for his birthday.

I was visiting my FIL (Buddhist Monk) in Nakon Sawan and met a man from England who was a monk. He wrote a book named Phra Falang. You might try to find a copy of it and see if it may give you an idea what it is like being a monk in Thailand.

We had our translations done through a company in Lampang who in-turn had it stamped by the MFAs. We paid a little over song pon baht. Where I went wrong the last time is when I made my statement on the affidavit I used my wife's current name versus using her maiden name. The people at the amphur said I had to change it to my wife's maiden name and then have it re-translated. We ran out of time and had to return to the U.S. We basically have to start from scratch. The person in charge of the process tried to be helpful but she was not familiar with the process herself and kept referring to instructions provided in a manual. After finding something wrong with the paperwork on four different occasions my wife has found it very frustrating and said she is giving up on getting it changed. Hopefully she will change her mind before our next visit in December.

You take the original marriage certificate to the U.S Consulate and fill out an affidavit swearing that the marriage certificate is a true and accurate document. After you get the affidavit stamped by the consulate you would have the marriage license and affidavit translated into Thai. You can get the affidavit in PDF format via the consulate website. My wife and I are going through a similar situation with my wife's ID. The name on her ID is her maiden name and we are trying to get it changed to her married name. We have been back to the amphur at least 4 times trying to get it fixed. Hopefully on our next trip we will get her ID changed and also get her Thai passport renewed.

I have had to episodes of severe sciatica via bulging discs. The first episode lasted 9 months and eventually resolved itself. I did do exercises, etc. that I assume helped resolve the issue. Second episode lasted 11 months. I was scheduled for surgery but started to get slight relief about three week before I was to go under the knife. The surgery was cancelled and I was pain free two months later. I have been pain free for almost two years now. Although surgery is necessary for some, if there is any chance of getting relief without it, you are better off. My understanding is a person who has surgery and a person that doesn't, within 10 years they will both be in the same condition. Keep in mind some patients are worse off after the surgery.

I had an MRI in both cases and also understand that MRIs are not in favor now.

Thank you for the post. Great information.