Sunday in Mae Sai 03-18-12

Today was a busy day for us. We started out by putting on our Sunday clothes, black socks and long pants for me. I must say, the pants I bought in Laughlin, Nevada with our friends Michael and Charlotte, during our Super Bowl trip, felt very nice in this topical climate.

We made the trip to ChildLife for a little Sunday service with the kids. It is always uplifting to be with them and Pastor Lota.

We then headed to Rev. Sunit's church for the regular Sunday Morning service and lunch after the service. It was nice to see old friends and to meet a lady from the Netherlands that will be here working the next two years to help the Christian fellowship. I liked her because she laughed at my off-beat humor.

We were also invited to a party at Rev. Sunit's new home. It is to celebrate three things, he and his wife's birthdays and the finishing of there new home. The party starts at 4:00 PM today.

Our next item for the day is a little dental work. I need one filling and Daeng has two teeth that need work. When we got to the dentist Daeng wanted me to go first. Mine was pretty simple, just a filling. By the way, the cost for one filling was 400 Thai Baht (about $13.00 USD).

When Daeng got into the dentist's chair, the dentist looked at the cavities and suggested that some major work be done, a post put into the tooth that had already had a root canal, molar repaired and then a three tooth bridge made to replace the tooth that was already missing.

She took a new x-ray of the two teeth and said she could do all the work including the porcelain, three tooth bridge for 15,000 Thai Baht (about $492 USD). We talked about it and the alternatives. Daeng was concerned about the money and I assured her that she was worth it.

The process would be done over three visits. Today would start with the repair of the front tooth and installing the fiber post in the root canal. Return in a week to repair the back molar, prep both teeth for the bridge and take the final impressions. Then return about a week later and install the new bridge work.

We agreed and she started the process. Daeng was in the chair for a little over an hour but did not have any pain except a little pressure when the drill got stuck once while drilling out the old canal filling. It was down about 14 mm. More x-rays were taken to be sure the tooth repair was okay.

It was now time to go to Rev. Sunit's home for his celebration and party. It is a very nice home on a very large lot just outside town. We stopped at the church on the way to see if anyone needed a ride to his home but everyone had already been transported.

When we arrived they were already having a little service to be thankful for everything and to with the Sunit family the very best in the future. All the clergy, at least the ones that know me, laughed when I told them we were just there for the food and the whisky.

It was a nice party to celebrate the birthdays and the new home. The food was delicious and the chocolate cake was wonderful; just ask the kids.

Tomorrow we are going to head south the visit Chom-nom. He is about 400 Km south of us. We will probable make it a 4-5 day trip also stopping for a few days in Chiang Mai.

Land Office - Mae Sai 04/05/2010

I could not get to sleep until early morning around 2:00 AM. I keep thinking about the shop house.

Daeng's telephone rang at 7:00 AM and woke us. It was Wirat saying he would like to meet at the District Land Office at 8:00 AM before they got really busy. He said he would do the transfer of title to Daeng and they we could go to the bank and give him the money.

We met them both at 8:00 AM with copies of Daeng's National Identification Card and my Passport. Everyone seem to know him and things went pretty smooth. He showed us a copy of the land title and it was the best type of title you can get in Thailand.

The government official questioned me to be sure I know that the title was going into Daeng's name as only Thai people and Thai Corporations can own land here. I said that I understood that. What we will do is record a 20 or 30 year lease to me after the land is transferred.

All the papers were put into a file and Wirat said he had to go over to the bank and he would be right back. We waited for him. He was back in about 15 minute and said that he thought he could clear the 200,000 THB mortgage with Bangkok Bank at this office but the papers had to go to Chaing Mai and be returned. That would take about four days.

He said that he would give us the keys to the place and a contract today. He said to do that he would like a deposit. We told him we could do that but we would have to go to the bank. I ask him how much and he said he would like to have 100,000 THB ($3,125 USD).

Daeng and I went up to the Bangkok Bank branch, withdrew the money and drove to their home. He had a contract all ready; stating the price, the amount of deposit and as Daeng had asked, the due date at the end of the month. We have a fix account coming due on the 20th so we won't lose and interest.

He went through the dozen or more "House Books" that he had in his file and showed us the book for this shop house. A "House Book" is every Thai girls dream. Daeng lite up like a Christmas Tree.

He gave us the keys and said: "It's your home, congratulations!" Things happen fast here.

Just about that time our friends, Peter and Nok, called telling us that they wanted to see our new home. We met them and went to see it. I got the keys to work opening all the security gates and that felt good.

They liked the place and felt we got a good price. They own several pieces of land here in Thailand.

We went over to Tesco/lotus and had lunch, talked and picked up some cleaning supplies. It was almost 5:00 PM and I was beat probably because I did not get much sleep last night. We went home and called it a day.

The shop house is pretty clean but tomorrow we'll start getting it ready for Daeng and I to move in, camping out as things come together. Maybe we'll check out of the guest house and sleep on a floor mat, in the new house, this Friday.

Camping out is fun!

Was this a typical day, I think not!