If You Die In Thailand, What Do You Want To Be Done With Your Body?

[Beetlejuice]

This morning out of the blue my girlfriend asked me the big question: that when I die, what sort of funeral would I require and what would I want done with my body?

Not sure why she asked me this, perhaps she’s considering cashing in on my life insurance?

But this is something I have never seriously thought about before and considering that I am rapidly passing middle age and old age is creeping up on me, now is the time that although a morbid and depressing subject, these matters should be placed in mind, as who knows when the grim reaper will be giving us a call. Wouldn’t want to leave my family in bewilderment not knowing my preferences or what to do that is best for me.

Personally, I would probably go for a funeral at our local temple and then cremated. Only concern I have regarding a cremation is that it`s so final, unlike a burial which leaves some sort of memorial to say that I’ve been here.

Hopefully I still have some time left before I’m picking up the daisies and can look into the funeral options available to me here in Thailand.

How about you lot out there? Have you given this subject any deliberations?

[Semper]

How about you lot out there? Have you given this subject any deliberations?

Yes I have. I've told my wife , dead is dead. Dispose of my body as you like. Ping River is fine with me.

[mallyrd]

Many of my friends (Thai) and two of my brother-in-laws have been cremated at the Wat not more than 400 metres from the back of my house. This will do me fine, my wife and UK family members are well aware of this.

[Thongkorn]

Out of the blue this morning my wife asked me what i wanted to do with my body when i die,

be very afraid mate,

[electrozebra]

As far as I am concerned drop me in the dustbin. In a few days they will cart me off and leave me on the rubbish tip with all the other rubbish.

Other people have different ideas though.

The g/f says I will be given a proper cremation at the Temple.

My son tells me he would like to be here for a temple cremation too.

Looks like I am outnumbered and outvoted.

[mallyrd]

As far as I am concerned drop me in the dustbin. In a few days they will cart me off and leave me on the rubbish tip with all the other rubbish.

Other people have different ideas though.

The g/f says I will be given a proper cremation at the Temple.

My son tells me he would like to be here for a temple cremation too.

Looks like I am outnumbered and outvoted.

Doesn't say much for your life in Thailand does it?

[Ulysses G.]

How about you lot out there? Have you given this subject any deliberations?

Yes I have. I've told my wife , dead is dead. Dispose of my body as you like. Ping River is fine with me.

Whatever is cheapest and easiest. I could really care less.

[Crossy]

Wifey has already booked our space in the local Wat, nice view over the river

[elwood]

Already seen my final resting place. We have a family plot at the local temple; name on the wall and many slots to take the urns, so that's it

Elwood.

[zzaa09]

Traditional cremation will suffice. Simple and humble ceremony. Lots and lots of cash donations...

[lovelomsak]

I would like to be cremated and sent back to Canada and my ashes spread around on the water outside my Yacht club. I sometimes think of returning just for the sailing, so who knows maybe I wilnot die here.

[DP25]

Buried, near a source of fresh brains in case I rise

[apetley]

MIL got quite upset when I said throw me in the pond at the end of the garden should I die. Then I told the inlaws to do whatever they are happy with as it was no concern to me being an atheist.

As an aside a couple of my Thai friends have donated their bodies to medical research.

[cardholder]

Traditional cremation will suffice. Simple and humble ceremony. Lots and lots of cash donations...

Same for me.

Up to them if what they spend is greater than what they collect.

No ashes back to the UK, I have made provision for a memorial of a rose bush.

[midas]

At least none of the above are as gruesome as in India.

One of their many religious groups called the " Parsis "

( quite an influential group actually - many mega rich

people in India are Parsi ). Anyway Parsis dont bury

bodies - they simply leave them on the roof of the temple

or tall buildings and let the big birds pick the corpse clean

In fact in some high rise condo buildings in Bombay near a Parsi

temple it is not unusal to find human bones on your balcony

or window ledge after being left behind by a bird......

[sarahsbloke]

How about you lot out there? Have you given this subject any deliberations?

Yes I have. I've told my wife , dead is dead. Dispose of my body as you like. Ping River is fine with me.

I was going to say chuck me in the klong (but not the dirty stinky one in Loy Kroh)

[philw]

Already seen my final resting place. We have a family plot at the local temple; name on the wall and many slots to take the urns, so that's it

Elwood.

Scatter my ashes on the bra counter at Central, please.

[DP25]

At least none of the above are as gruesome as in India.

One of their many religious groups called the " Parsis "

( quite an influential group actually - many mega rich

people in India are Parsi ). Anyway Parsis dont bury

bodies - they simply leave them on the roof of the temple

or tall buildings and let the big birds pick the corpse clean

In fact in some high rise condo buildings in Bombay near a Parsi

temple it is not unusal to find human bones on your balcony

or window ledge after being left behind by a bird......

This is a big problem for them because almost all the vultures in India have died from poisoning, so there aren't enough birds left to eat all their dead and they just rot at the temple

[cardholder]

I would like to be cremated and sent back to Canada and my ashes spread around on the water outside my Yacht club. I sometimes think of returning just for the sailing, so who knows maybe I wilnot die here.

I trust that these wishes have been clearly set out in your Will and your wife knows where to find (and understands to act on it before you are burned and scattered locally).

[manarak]

If you donate your body to science, you may become the first Thai Robocop!

[happyrobert]

I'd like to be buried at sea off the coast of Pakistan.

Maybe I can bump into someone who will tell me the truth.

[Thongkorn]

I'd like to be buried at sea off the coast of Pakistan.

Maybe I can bump into someone who will tell me the truth.

I supose it would be difficult for the wife to dance on your grave then

[Member]

Clean cremation on a respectful way (not that traditional open air thing!!) @ San Phu Lek Cementery, Wat Ked, A. Muang, Chiang Mai (see photo), no flowers no firecrackers or other superstitious bs just quick, cheap 'n simple practical and hygienic cremation within 24 hours.

[janverbeem]

Clean cremation on a respectful way (not that traditional open air thing!!) @ San Phu Lek Cementery, Wat Ked, A. Muang, Chiang Mai (see photo), no flowers no firecrackers or other superstitious bs just quick, cheap 'n simple practical and hygienic cremation within 24 hours.

What hygienic has to do with it.You scared you gonna get ill?

[NanLaew]

Clean cremation on a respectful way (not that traditional open air thing!!) @ San Phu Lek Cementery, Wat Ked, A. Muang, Chiang Mai (see photo), no flowers no firecrackers or other superstitious bs just quick, cheap 'n simple practical and hygienic cremation within 24 hours.

What hygienic has to do with it.You scared you gonna get ill?

LOL

[NanLaew]

The OP needs to get a living will in place first and then ponder if he wants to be torched or planted here or back home.

Cremation is OK. The concern that it is so 'final'... unless your are planning a comeback? I like the idea of a commemorative plant but I would be bigger than a rose bush. Great big annoying rhododendron bush.... that's me. Or some sort of fruit tree, still giving fruit that's sour as all buggery.

[geriatrickid]

The downside of cremation is that it is not environmentally friendly. It wastes energy and gives off alot of pollution and toxic waste. The most efficient and least harmful method is a quick burial without embalming in an area away from people's water wells.

One of the ongoing arguments in Thailand is an attempt to introduce double chamber crematoriums to reduce pollution and stink. Orawon Passornsiri and Suriyapong Watanasak, Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, studied the problem:

Nowadays, most of coffins are made of chipboard or particleboard that looks like real wood. Both produce many pollutants such as dioxins and heavy metals. Coffin handles, inner lining, sanitary sheets including decorations around the coffin are all made of artificial materials mainly plastic. Glues in chipboard and paint, containing formaldehyde, are also pollutants when burnt. Clearly, cremation is a practice that generates and releases extreme smoke pollution that contains cancer-producing materials such as dioxins and furans (Association of Burial Grounds, 2003; Cunningham et al, 2003; Environmental Health Department, 2001; Kruaysawat, 1999; UNEP Chemicals, 2001). Moreover, mercury emissions from dental amalgams during cremation may cause huge effect to the environment. Mercury will leak from these fillings because of mercury's low vapor pressure and add to the mercury levels already present in the body. The hazards of mercury are severe even in small doses. Once present in the body mercury immediately and continually affects the functions of the kidneys and can affect the central nervous system. Loss of balance, prevalence of antibiotic resistant intestinal bacteria, and risk of low fertility are other health effects of mercury (Malony, 1998; Scarmoutzos and Boyd, 2003, UNEP, 2003).

When you cremate, this is the legacy you leave. Think about it.

[Jim's_a_Thai_Fox]

Back in the UK, I always said that I wanted to be buried in a cardboard box and have a tree planted above me... dunno about the laws about where you can/can't be buried, doubt that would've been an option.

Over here, a simple cremation and throw the ashes to the wind around the house is fine.

That said, two points to consider about the subject in Thailand:

1) cremated bodies are not reduced to fine ash but bones. This is because the oven temps are not super high gas furnaces as one gets in the west - as such, family should be prepared for a potential shock when collecting your ashes... you are more likely to be a 'mini me' skeleton than a fine powder.

2) Choose a decent photo that you want blown up and have displayed above your coffin. That is how a lot of people will remember you, so choose a decent one without the beer belly/wrinkles showing too prominently!!!

Cheers

[Member]

What hygienic has to do with it.You scared you gonna get ill?

Ever attended a 'traditional' Thai preparation for a cremation ? Will save you the (literally) juicy details and not want sound like bashing their 'culture'...

1) cremated bodies are not reduced to fine ash but bones. This is because the oven temps are not super high gas furnaces as one gets in the west - as such, family should be prepared for a potential shock when collecting your ashes... you are more likely to be a 'mini me' skeleton than a fine powder.

Cheers

That's not too bad, the remains of the bones are very soft and easy to crush and turned into fine powder by hand in a stone mortar and pestle. Did it before no big deal, because the little light-gray bone pieces don't look 'nice' indeed.

[IanForbes]

I was kind of hoping to be swallowed by a large python. That way there wouldn't be any body to make arrangements for.