xerostar

When I introduced my 7 year Thai old stepson to the swimming pool,
I noticed he had a real problem with getting water on his face or in his eyes.
At first he refused to consider dunking his head underwater.
He saw other (Aussie) kids jumping into the shallow end of the pool and
having a good time, so he decided to do the same. He came up gasping
and immediately wiped the water off his face in a panic, swiping the water
downward with his hands.
With more experience he gradually became more water tolerant and
eventually managed to swim and play in the water without worrying about
water on his face. He is now taking swimming lessons.
The other day I was given the rare job of bathing our two year old daughter.
After the baby shampoo was applied, I began using a cup to rinse off her
hair. To my amazement she began to gasp and wipe the water off her face,
just as my stepson had done years earlier.
With the second cup of water she began to cry.
My wife came to the rescue and leant her back and poured water over her
hair without getting a drop on her face.
I agree that's the correct method for a newborn, but for an active 2 year old?
I concluded that this must be a Thai method of bathing children and that is
how my stepson had become so fearful of having water on his face and
now we are going to have the same problem with our daughter.
When you consider so many Thai children drown, it should be a matter
of early training to get children used to water in this way.
Having the ability to control breathing and how to exhale through the nose
can be the start of learning how to survive in water.
It's a big step from controlling breathing under a shower to being totally
immersed in water but I think it's a start.
You've probably seen videos of babies being taught to swim at an early age
and they learn almost by instinct what to do.
What do you think?

I've read many stories concerning lone travellers who are vulnerable to all sorts of scams and tricksters.

e.g. when you're staying at a hotel and someone seems friendly and your invited to go with them for
a drink or you take them to your room after going out for an evening.

Can anyone offer any tips on how to avoid getting your drink spiked, and wake up (if you're lucky ..)
finding cash, valuables and credit cards missing?

Anyone with personal experience to relate?

And are there any general tips that can help avoid having your passport stolen, credit card accounts emptied
or any other advice on prevention.

I'd thought about hiding spare cash or a spare credit card somehow so you could at least buy breakfast
and get a taxi to the embassy.
... and thanks for the advice on not to travel at all.

I've had 2 different Aussie guys ask me the same question this week ..

"How do I get married to a Thai woman who lives in (Surin)*, and the cheapest way to do it?"
*(or in Bangkok )

Both guys want to qualify for the retirement visa by having the minimum 400K baht in the bank.

So they've decided to get married - obviously at a goverment office.

I was reluctant to give them my advice since things may have changed since I got married 6 years ago.
I tried using the search function on TV but most answers were way off topic.

So these guys need a simple "what to do list" covering the formailities of paperwork and addresses etc.
for themselves and their Thai partners.

Thanks in advance

Does anyone have information about good primary schools in Nakhon Sawan?

I want to send my children to a school where they teach a good standard of English
and Thai with a Western type curriculum.

Also any info on similar international high schools would be welcome.

I need to transfer some funds (about 400K Baht) back to Oz from a Bangkok Bank Account.

What ways can you suggest as being the most efficient and or easiest?

I will be travelling to Oz next week.

Wire transfer?   PayPal transfer?   Cash in hand?