[Jackson]

Over the years I have given a lot of advice and even assistance to people looking for lost relatives in Thailand (and the States) here in Thailand it certainly isnt as difficult as one would imagine. Ive already sent rachel an e-mail but i'd like to post a similar message just in case any of the readers would like to gain some info. on how its done.

Since you mother is Thai, from Udonthani and married a caucasian some thirty years ago it is probably certain that she is from the province's rural parts. This is Thailand and you will find that addresses from 20-30 years ago are still of very worthy help. The address you have now though is obsolete as the postal address system has very much changed since then.

If you have the intention to really seek some of your relatives out you had better come to Thailand. Your first step would be Udonthani General Post Office, they will be able to give you a new address in exchange for the old one and be able to pinpoint out to you precisely the area in which your mother had relatives.
Should you find that area deserted of relatives it will probably mean that they have relocated to another area nearby. In that case you will have to contact the 'Phuyai baan' (Village Headman) as he will have, in his office, archives of all the families that have resided in that area of the past few decades and even if miraculously, they have ALL moved out, he could still be able to advise you on where that family left to. If, in the case, you had in fact very few relatives in that area and they left years ago, you could take your investigation higher and ask the 'Kamnan' (Sub-district Head) or even the 'Nai Amphur' (District Chief) himself to trace records of any relatives. At the end of the day you cant really fail in being able to locate at least a couple of relatives, as your extend family is a large one.

The local authorities are most helpful when it comes to being asked to locate lost relatives, you won't have been the first.

Any more info/assistance. Then do ask.

Steve