Superficies in Thailand is an attractive property right for foreigners interested in using Thai real property. Since foreigners cannot own land outright, investors must look for alternatives to absolute ownership. The Superficies option is a strong property right that offers long-term protection to potential investors. A superficies is a property right whereby a landowner will grant the use of their land for a specified period to the superficiary. Unlike a lease, a superficies agreement is an actual property right. While the lease focuses on the people who sign the contract, the superficies focuses on the land stipulated in the contract. Since it is a property right, the superficies must be registered with the Land Office.

The superficies in Thailand grants the superficiary the right to build or plant on a piece of land. The term of the superficies can be defined in two ways. First, the landowner may grant a superficies for 30 years. Once the 30-year period has expired, the parties may extend the agreement for another 30 years. The second option involves structuring the agreement like a life estate. The parties may agree that the superficies will last for the life-term of one of the parties involved, either the landowner or superficiary.

Another beneficial aspect of the superficies is that it is transferable. This is because it is a true property right. The superficiary may sell or transfer his interest at any time. Additionally, the superficiary may devise the interest via a will. The transferability of superficies makes it a unique property right for foreigners in Thailand. Superficies in Thailand is commonly employed among married couples where one spouse is Thai and the other is a foreigner. Since the foreign spouse cannot own land, the Thai spouse may purchase property and grant a superficies to the foreign spouse. This requires somewhat complex contractual maneuvering so a couple should consult an attorney before choosing to avail of this option.

While a foreign spouse, in the case of a divorce, may retain the rights associated with superficies, this does not always work out as a practical matter. This is particularly true in the more rural regions of Thailand. While a foreigner may actually retain the legal right to use their spouse’s property, local family and friends may disregard this right and just refuse to cooperate. In order for the foreign party to protect this right, he may consider entering into a prenuptial agreement with his Thai fiancé where this right is provided for in definite terms.

Thailand is home to many indigenous tribes and one such tribe is the Lisu. The tribe can be found in the northern part of Thailand and it spread across some hundred and thirty-five villages. The Lisu tribe is originally from China and it relocated to Thailand some time in the early part of the 20th century. The tribe’s main occupation is growing rice and different kinds of vegetables, and also making handicrafts. However, this was not always the case. Earlier, the Lisu were known to cultivate poppy for opium, but the Thai government took an initiative to bring an end to this and introduced the tribe to different kinds of trades and cultivation practices. Today, the Lisu also make numerous handicrafts that they sell in the adjoining villages. You can pick up great souvenirs to take home if you want to take back a piece of local culture to your country.

Visiting a Lisu village will be awe-inspiring. You will be amazed at their home. The houses are very simple and made out of bamboo. Each home has an altar to remember and honor the ancestors. The Lisu are animists and they have strong belief in spirits. They are known to perform numerous rituals to honor their dead ancestors, and spirits that they believe live in the trees, sun, moon and many other objects. In addition, the Lisu believe that each village has its own spirits that protect and guide them. It is a common practice that Lisu women are not allowed to enter into the shrines of guardian spirits.

Today, many of the Lisu villages have electricity and other modern gadgets like televisions, but the people have not forgotten their roots. They still follow their traditions and ensure the future generations also learn them. Another aspect that you will really enjoy in a Lisu village is the attire. The Lisu are known to wear colorful clothes that are mostly in blue or green. The women wear a tunic that comes up to their knees and this tunic is secured with a black belt that is broad in size. Under the tunic the women wear pants that are usually blue or green in color. In addition, the women wear quite a lot of jewelry made from silver and most of the jewelry is handmade.