Dear Hillary,

I am so disappointed, angry and revenge thirsty! When I on my vacation suddenly had the opportunity to move to Thailand, I had to quickly find a home. A good Thai friend, who worked at the guest house I lived in, would love to help. We also found a house, a bit expensive but ok. I would like to have a small Buddha statue to the house, and would my Thai friend also buy for me. He said it cost 2000 B. Well, I moved into. As the newly purchased Buddha was placed, so I at the back, it only had cost 399 B, then had my “friend” cheated me of 1601 B. In the new house I lived alone, but had company in 1000 some of the ants, which I could not get rid of, even though I spent a lot of poison. Many things were broken in the house, so I looked around for another house. Therefore I resigned the lease. There were interested to see the house, and they could tell that they had to pay 12,000 B in rent, while I paid 14,000 B. Now I was really worried about my “friend’s” honesty. And sure enough, when I should have my deposit back, get the owner to confirm that my so-called friend got 2,000 B every month in commission. As termination salute, the owner demanded 3,500 B for cleaning including air-con 500 B which had never been used, cleaning the house 1,000 B (I took a dirty house), etc. What would you advise me to do? Make the “paradise” hot for them, or just forget it all and do not care that probably comes several they cheat?
Benjamin

Dear Benjamin,
What rock have you been hiding under? What on earth made you think that everyone in Thailand is “honest”? For that matter, are people anywhere “honest”? If an opportunity arises to make some money on the side, then it will happen. What to do? Take the Buddha statue with you (after all you paid over the odds for it) and try to see the good in people. Revenge is not an honorable emotion. Put it all behind you and chalk it up to experience.

Second time lucky?
Dear Hillary,
I’ve done it again, despite all the advice from friends. I’ve taken the girl back, even though she cheated me out of close to a million baht last time. I met her in a bar and it was an immediate attraction and she moved in right away. I did the usual thing of buying her out of the bar and she was very thankful for that, as she said she didn’t like working as a bar girl. We carried on like any normal couple, and I did help her send money home. Then I paid for a house to be built up country and gave her a little car to run around in. About two weeks after that she sold the car and went to live with her mother - in the new house I had paid for. Of course everything was in her name! Anyway I carried on by myself, but I kept on thinking about her and contacted her after three months to make sure she was OK. Turned out she was back in Pattaya, but at a different bar, and so I went round to see her. She started to cry and said she was sorry, and so I said she could come back. My friends all think I’m loco, but she’s the only one for me. Are my friends right, or am I?
Bobby

Dear Bobby,
There’s no such thing as right or wrong in these situations, my Petal. All it really is that some directions are more risky than others. You’ve gone into this again with your eyes open this time, just don’t get carried away with this second honeymoon. Remember the saying, “He who cheats me once - shame on him. He who cheats me twice - shame on me.” I hope you are going to be lucky this second time around, but lay some ground rules about spending!

ABF++
Dear Hillary,
I often come to Thailand and have stayed at many different hotels. The thing that confuses me is when they quote a price with ++ after the number. I am sure there is a simple answer, but I am a simple person and it escapes me at present. It took me years to work out that ABF stood for American Breakfast! I know I could probably ask them in the hotel, but I don’t want to appear ignorant. I can ask you, Hillary without appearing like a goose!
ABF.

Dear ABF,
It means plus service charge and V.A.T. (value added tax). Hillary always asks on every occasion, as she likes to know exactly how much and what she is paying for. Sure you won’t look like a goose, just smile and the Thais will be glad to explain anything to you. Like you I also took some time to work out the American Break Fast acronym.