Andrew65

I spent my time living where lots of expats live in Bangkok. I did sometimes notice that when guys showed up from 'up-country' they tended to talk a lot. Something I saw that even if we speak Thai, conversation with Thai people might be limited, because we have different 'common-knowledge or references? A old friend has been retired in Bangkok for 15 years now, and he seems happy enough reading books and watching TV. Personally, it became apparent that even if you have good TV channels, it's not going to be nearly enough for 16 hour days.

In the last 3 years that I was in Thailand boredom became a big thing for me. And then you can end up in the bars every day, basically drinking yourself to death!😒

It was a factor in why I returned to the UK (in 2018) after 20 years in Thailand. Finances were probably the biggest thing, also that at 53 I needed to get a job. I returned to the UK with quite a lot of money, and I believe that made doing so much easier. In the last 5 or 6 years that I lived in Thailand I pretty much never screwed around at all, although I had done so a lot in previous years. I became very 'cynical' about the bargirl blah blah blah stuff. (I'll add that I loved Thailand as my home for 20 years, and always will, if I won the lottery I would retire there).

I suspect that when the death penalty was abolished in the UK, people were under the impression that the life sentence that replaced it would mean that someone would spend the rest of their life in prison, not 10-12 years, as is often the case. (Before someone mentions it, I'm fully aware that when someone is released early they spend the rest of their life on-licence, I'm talking about the amount of time that people actually spend in prison).

Some guys don't like cats, but at least cats don't tell the cops where your stash is!😀

Many years ago I was visiting a friend near Nong Khai. A few miles up river boats were criss-crossing the river from the Laos side with seemingly no checks at all. God only knows what comes into Thailand that way!?

Don't know about Germany but the UK has people that can smell cash.😁

COVID23😁

...but some of them will try to shag yer leg!😁

I don't live there any more...but I did live there for 20 years. I sort of resigned myself to it, and would buy some beer beforehand. As people used to say, can't you go for one day without going out for a drink!? Also should bear in mind that there used to be more bar closure days in the past. The King's birthday was, until he commented that he wanted people to have a good time. Constitution Day was another (Chakri Day also?)? Now it's only really Buddha days or election days.

Take the neighbour's everything and give it to her, and then throw said neighbour in chokey for a few years. The only thing being, said neighbour is probably 'rich', and in Thai society the rich seem to get a pass where justice is concerned.

Might be that such a country gives Thai citizens free visas also, such things are often reciprocal.

...or maybe "Russia's curse" - vodka!?☺️

From his photo he's a "Smiling Assassin". An old Scottish friend used to say that Thailand's full of them, and to be wary of them!🙂

Sounds like many years ago when I was very nearly mown down in Soi Cowboy by a motorbike taxi (in the middle of the day).

His biggest crime was to propose helping the less well off, less fortunate, in Thai society (something that certain other people consider themselves to have a 'monpoly' over, but don't do a good job of).????

It's a family-friendly resort. ????

I was very fussy where and what I ate in Thailand. Like you, I never ate street food, not meat anyway (fruit's a bit different). If it's chicken or pork, I would never trust how long it had been out of the refrigerator/unfrozen etc (in a hot climate too). Also, I used to walk before dawn every morning in Bangkok. I would occasionally see rats rummaging around on the food carts that had been left chained to a lamp post overnight.

To be honest with you, I'm not a very 'foodie' person anyway. Over the 20 years that I lived in Thailand I hardly ever ate Thai food. But for some people food would be a bigger consideration.

For 3 or 4 years in the late 90's/early 2,000's I survived by just using my UK-based Abbey National or HSBC account in Thailand, and it wasn't a very big problem.

The Phils isn't famous for it's food, also I get the impression that it's not as safe as Thailand.

"Falang think too mut!!"????

When I worked in Saudi (2005) one of my Saudi colleagues got into trouble there when a Thai immigration stamp was found in his passport (by Saudi Immigration). He said that they were only supposed to visit Thailand if they had a business visa, they weren't supposed to visit Thailand as tourists (at that time). He got off with a slap on the wrist due to the fact that he had 'friends in high places'.

We've all long been aware that (real) prison is only for the poor in Thailand.

Thanks, but the Dr put me on that for a month and it had pretty much no effect. Anyway, I have a date with 'Mary Jane' this weekend.