Another important thing one should consider is to give power of attorney to a trusted relative or friend in case one becomes incapacitated. This can be drawn up by any lawyer and if you are not sure about using one in Pattaya I know of an Englishman who works with a large firm in Bangkok. One should also ensure that one has a valid Thai Will if one owns any property here or else the case could be in the Courts for years thus causing huge problems for any Thai dependents. A foreign Will is required to cover possessions in one's home country. Please also ensure that someone has the contact details of family members overseas as this will save a great deal of time and work for those arranging the funeral.

The least complicated way to die is in a hospital where one has been a patient for seven days. In such a case a death certificate may be issued without too much fuss. If one dies at home it becomes more complicated. The police must be informed as well as the emergency services. The body is sent to Bangkok for an autopsy to determine the actual cause of death. I understand that the cost of the transportation must be borne by the estate of the deceased. In the case of any death of a foreigner in Thailand the relevant Embassy must be informed as soon as possible.

In Australia, as in most of our home countries, after a death we call an undertaker who arranges the removal of the body from the home or hospital and then meets with the family to discuss the arrangements and the choice of the coffin. Here in Pattaya things are not so simple since each aspect of the situation must be handled separately. There is not even a standard pricing system for each of the required services. The only set price seems to be the price of the coffin. To purchase that someone has to visit a coffin shop and these are situated in Naklua in the same area as the Post Office. Prices range from 2,500 baht to 15,000 baht The choice of coffin depends upon the size and weight of the deceased and the personal choice of the purchaser. This is much cheaper than in Australia where they can cost thousands of dollars and many of them come with a twenty year guarantee which is not very useful when the body is to be cremated.

After the coffin has been selected and paid for the Sawang Boriboon will collect the coffin and place the body in it and can arrange storage until the funeral. They provide transport to the temple or church and can assist with other arrangements. In dealing with all of this one must have a Thai national to assist since the only fixed price seems to be for the coffin, everything else is by donation. There is a suggested donation for the temple and this is calculated by the weight and size of the body since this determines the amount of fuel required for the cremation.

One must be careful in the selection of a temple since not all of them are equipped to cater for larger foreign bodies. I understand that Wat Tam, which is situated opposite South Pattaya Road in the soi with the temple gate over it has a large oven which is able to accommodate larger bodies. The only problem with Wat Tam is that they require the body to spend two nights at the temple prior to the cremation which makes it difficult to have a funeral service in a church. But there is a place available to hold a Christian funeral service at the temple and this avoids the necessity of transporting the body. If a Service in a church is requested then we use St. Nikolaus on Sukhumvit Road and a donation of 1,000 baht is acceptable for the use of the church. If this is the case then I would suggest the temple off Soi 10 Pattaya Central Road or the one almost directly opposite The Bangkok Hospital Pattaya for the cremation. These temples are clean and well cared for and I was actually given a price for the cremation which is 5,000 baht. One can take the body there direct from the church for the committal service and the only requirement is that one walks around three times before the cremation. At some temples, such as the one opposite the school in South Pattaya Road, the monks insist on conducting a short Buddhist ceremony as well.

The ashes can be collected the next day and these can be disposed off in a variety of ways. They could, for example, be scattered in the grounds of the Chinese temple on Pratumnak Hill or dropped into the sea. I know of people who have placed the ashes into a ornamental earn, which can be purchased from the coffin shop, and placed on the mantel piece at home. The ashes can also be scattered in the sea either from a speed boat which can be expensive or taken to a temple which has a wharf. The name of this temple is Djittabhawan College and there is a very large sign with the name in English at the entrance. It is situated on Sukhumvit Road, towards Bangkok, past the Rayong turn off and just before a bridge with a " CC Resort " sign. For a fee the monks will permit the ashes to be scattered on the water from the end of the wharf. Please do not attempt to throw them into the water while travelling on the public boat to Ko Larn! There is only one cemetery in the area and that is beside St. Nikolaus' Church which is basically only for members of the parish so if you want to be buried I suggest you become a Catholic.

As I stated at the Pattaya Expats Club I am not in the business of selling coffins however I am available to give any assistance in arranging a funeral. There is a need in Pattaya for a western style firm to arrange funerals. There is one in Bangkok and I personally have worked with them twice recently. The company name is: John Allison Monkhouse Co. Ltd. and may be contacted on : 02 3825345-7 or by e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Phone:087 1331 601

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