AhanFan

Actually this thread has restored my faith a little - i.e. there are compassionate foreigners amongst us living in Thailand, regardless of if the OP is legit (I think he is)

I think he is who he says and is facing a difficult situation.

It would not be good to be homeless in a foreign country, or in one's home country.

If one has no family and few friends, then one is at greater risk.

The USA is a very cold place, which prides itself on worshiping individualism.

It seems that Thailand is a place where people are willing to help their neighbors, and members of their extended family.

However, for a Farang in Thailand, I doubt whether this commitment to help the westerner might be so available.

We are only at no risk of these vagaries when I take our last breath, and breathe a great sigh of relief.

For me, I will be happy to see this day come, when it comes.

What is your nationality?

Do you have continuing health problems?

Have you worked in your home country and if so, for home long? Your writing sounds like you're from the U.S. If so, perhaps it would be worth returning and applying for disability and maybe returning.

Lots of people live here on U.S. disability income.

How?

It does not seem plausible, but I guess it could be.

No, I don't have to quote anybody here. Why is it that so many feel it necessary to belittle and go the name calling route for those who have different view points.

I'm happy to say those few farang I come in contact with are relatively normal and don't seem to have the biased views of most of you.

Are you saying, the few farang you contact inside Thailand, or outside Thailand, are normal.

Because, I think you are wrong in either case, and both cases.

Lasted seven years, came back last fall.

Cost of living is cheaper here, better quality of life, and:

People smile without hoping for anything other than a smile back;

Haven't heard a single dog bark in three months, let alone been attacked by a pack of them;

No burning of plastic;

No loud music, caterwauling as the moon sets, or unbridled exhaust;

Haven't seen one person pick their nose. Nope, not even the person preparing my food ...

Were there good things about my time in Thailand? Sure, but no where near enough to consider living there any longer, let alone dying there.

My wife is joining me in April. We have a bucket list in the first month that includes:

The Grand Canyon- camping and rafting;

Las Vegas- attending a Cirque de Sol show, and, in the casinos, losing money;

Driving north from San Diego through Malibu, sailing to and about Catalina, then taking Hwy 1 up the coast into Washington State and eventually Victoria, B.C. We'll stop at wineries and cheese farms along the way, detouring for camping in Sequoia National Park, and Redwood National Forest. Then Yosemite and back over to the coast ….

Absolutely no way I would consider wasting another precious day of life in LOS.

I CANNOT believe your comment!

I mean, how did you ever last 7 years, or even 7 months, in the first place.

The first day I hit Thailand, I LOVED it.

There was not one day that went by that I did not like it.

I have lived for a time in the USA, but the Kooky Koche brothers mentality has pervaded the whole GD country.

People in the USA, now, and for the past 30 years since I left, have become really nuttier than fruitcakes.

I kid you not.

Well.....

As they say,

Each to his own,

And may you lie in it.

OK, then if you can buy alcoholic things at 7 eleven, from 5 until 12 midnight, What can you buy in a 7 eleven, in BKK, and for how much.

For example, I might want to fly down to BKK and I noticed that there is a 7 right next to my hotel.

I also wanted to buy 1 liter of about 45 percent alcohol spirits.

What does a BKK 7 sell that would be closest to this?

I do not care THAT much about taste, but I would prefer the best that they have at a 7.

So, what would that be? And how much? Please...

Thank you!

(And, does 7 also sell cigarettes from 5 until midnight? And, is this the same every day, even on weekends?)

Thanks.

Funny video, but at the same time, it points out some idiocies that are commonplace in Thailand.

Although not mentioned in the video, tipping money at a restaurant/bar in Thailand is a "Western" thing, although today even some generous Thais are doing it as well. One time I wanted to tip a bar 20 baht, but using spare change that I had (mostly 1 baht coins). They would not take it!... and even shouted at me for even offering it. It was not because they did not want the tip, but because it was all coins. So apparently these particular Thais felt that there is more value to a 20 baht note than to 20 baht of change. Seems to me that they are equals amounts. Anyhow, I gave them a 20 baht note, and in addition, I tossed the coins on the floor (oooh, a faux pas in Thailand!). I figure they would pick them up after I left the bar, like dogs picking up scraps.

As for footwear in the house, I presume most Thais take off their shoes to prevent tracking dirt/dust into their houses. This makes sense. Yet for some reason, at my home (in Thailand) I have to sweep the floor (Note: I do not have a work permit!) on a daily basis. I guess bare-feet also track in dirt/dust.

Tipping in coins is considered rude in the US too, FYI.... "...like dogs picking up scraps." Wow, keeping it classy.

Yes. This is a strange one. When I go to BigC and get coins back as change, my wife sticks them in her pocket. Next time: instead of having to accept ฿99 in change or whatever, she can give them the one Baht (or whatever) and we leave without a load of loose change. We get strange looks sometimes, why don't we pave the road with them or something? -kind of thing.

Those strange looks are just the people around you thinking:

"There stands a mental giant."

Posted 31 minutes ago

Correct, it is too late for us to minimize this risk of being born.

However, we should be extra careful before we cause others to be exposed to the same risk as we, unless we have some way of minimizing this risk for our children.

So we must be honest before fathering a child, or giving birth to a child.

Make sure we are very honest in assessing our capabilities to provide our children with whatever it takes to lead lives that are better lived, rather than better not lived.

I know what you are going to say, that it is up to the child to fend for himself or herself.

But this is just propaganda based on nothing which we often hear when people are talking through their hats,

Similar to when they say that these kids should pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.

The simple truth is that too many kids are being born to parents who are not enough capable, either wealthwise or mentalhealthwise, of minimizing the risks which need minimizing if the kids are to have a decent fighting chance in this world.

If you cannot be fairly sure that your kids will be happy, and happier alive than never being born, then you should not have any.

So, for all you young things of 16, try to take your contraceptives until you are very, very, VERY sure of what you are doing.

You have no right to make this decision for another human being, to bring them into this world unless you are far surer than most seem to be.

People are always in charge of their own destiny. It means planning your life.

In your opinion.

But your statement is patently untrue and people are simply not in charge of their destiny

Isn't there an old saying that goes something like ;

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray"?

Of course there are those whose lives will go according to "their! plan but whether this is good management or plain just good luck who knows, who can tell what is around the corner and what is in store for a person?

When it goes pear shaped there as it does from time to time there will be those who can weather the storm and then there will be those who are simply overwhelmed.

Let the person who has never made a mistake or taken a wrong road in his life throw the first stone or they can do what they usually do and make un-emphatic and critical posts on this thread.

I

I agree we all make mistakes but there are many things we can do in order to control destiny. Manage risk, identify the problems or hazards one may encounter in life, unemployment, ill-health, relationship problems, financial hardship, bereavement etc etc and then plan what you do should these events occur. Learn different or complementary skills as a standby, purchase insurance for the unforeseen, ensure financial stability for a given period are just a few examples. I wasn't being "un-empathetic" or critical I was giving my point of view that it is possible to manage ones life by minimising risk and therefore controlling ones destiny.

Being born, is the greatest risk of all.

And we should minimize this risk if we do not wish to be unhappy.

But once born in to this veil of tears,

Then you are correct we should follow your methodology as much as we are capable of doing so.

Your suggestions require a methodical personality, one who keeps plodding along, inch by inch, always making the best logical choices.

Still, there are others who cannot live lives always making the best choices, and instead are drawn to excitement, and falling in holes.

I have known some people like you describe.

Their lives seem too boring for me.

And, let us not forget, that no matter what we do our destinations are all the same.

We all will have the same result, no matter what decisions we make.

We go from this can of worms we call life,

To being food for the worms, or at least food for something or some organism.

Life will be over shortly, before we even know it, almost

So do not sweat it, please.

Happy times are here again.

Some Thai culture you should integrate such as wai, say Sawasdee, etc. But you also can be yourself. I saw do and don't video for newbies in another topic. It has good information.

Do not eat with your mouth open.

Do not talk and eat at the same time.

Very good advice.

Just use your common sense, if you have any.

Then all will be OK.

A farang wants to be Thai but most Thais want to be farang!

A Thai who wants to change nationality? Happens but not frequently. In appearance maybe but not in soul. Thais are not the most ethnocentric people in the world but they are in the top ten.

This is not ethnocentrism which causes Kon Thai to stay in Thailand.

It is a justified liking for their own country and home.

Does anyone know what one needs to pay for one of those 2 level houses which are attached?

I am talking about the type which has a small enclosed area in front of the house, where people use as a courtyard.

I have seen some on the East of Chiang Mai, sort of near the mountain, in some of the back lanes.

They are very nice and quiet.

Another poster was wondering about a cheap condo.

So, I have been wondering about a cheapish attached house, or what some would call a villa.

Actually, these are quite small, probably around 60 to 100 square meters.

What do they cost and what are the advantages and drawbacks to actually buying one.

Do they have problems such as theft?

Look, Let's Get Serious Here, for a moment.....

The absolute best thing, the cheapest thing, the least costly thing for the UK taxpayers would be to send this guy about 150 pounds per week, PLUS a case of whiskey.

Then, before you know it, he would probably be up in heaven for a minimal taxpayer outlay.

Or, who knows, he might clean himself up if he had a steady monthly allowance, and a clean house with some help.

This would be the smart thing, to keep him in Thailand where it costs far less to maintain him than to put him in prison or in a hospital, or on the streets of the UK.

The UK should consider a policy where it could export its ne'erdowells, with a minimum monthly stipend, just to allow other countries to manage their problem better than the UK is equipped to do so now.

The only time red and yellow works together is when you get this...

Then you get junk food, which is.........Yuuuck!

Monkeycountry - I guess you must live in a different Thailand to the one I lived in. They take up space meant fror drinker's, the girls don't care, Mamasan calls the dog pack, no TLC, minimum resistance to being woken up results in a beating. Actually on reflection, it also happened one time to a Canadian who lived in the same apartment as me, big lad too, but size counts for nothing when the dogs are upon you.

What is this? The Hounds of the Bastardvilles you are harping about?

400 Baht is nothing.

I think he would be better to fake a heart attack and go to hospital than jail.

Or become mentally unstable and get a nice bed in a home with a garden view.

Or go out in style...stand in middle of piccadilly naked and run around shouting I've got a big bomb up my arrse...

How does one fake a heart attack?

It would be better to try to catch some Dengue before he leaves and when he is sure he is infected, then quick hop a plane back to London.

Or, I am thinking maybe he could do with a dose of the clap.

One of those that requires hospitalization.

Anything is better than scaring people on an aircraft, especially the little kiddies.

So now its the taxpayer through the NHS that has to pick up the bill. Is there anyone who just things this guy should just get a job and stop poncing off the Thai, The ExPay community and the British Taxpaying Public ?

Who would hire a drunk?

If he is 63, an old drunk.

He probably wishes he had never been born.

But, too late now.

"Or maybe its just me and it could be okay for most to drink the same awful alcohol that Thai drink when having dinner / party ?"

Yes, it is definitely just you.

There must be something wrong with you.

Have you never seen the millions and billions of Chinese enjoying their evening meals and feasts with fiery whiskey?

You must have a screw loose to even ask such a question.

Yes, it is just you, Babe.

Just you, and no one else, Babe.

Grow up.

good effort. and shows one of the benefits of dating a filipino; they can speak english!

just a reminder for some of you guys out there; you DONT wai someone of lower status; dont walk into restaurants, hotels, shops, etc. and start waiing all and sundry, you only embarrass the staff, make them feel uncomfortable show your cultural ignorance.

I am so old, I do not wai anyone.

Hi Men!

I have been in Thailand before, but no more than 5 Klics from the DMZ around the airport, about two decades ago, I reckon.

Thailand has changed since I recall it.

I am going to like it here, now that I have some money for a change. I will just head out and sop up some of the atmosphere and suds at the local watering holes I guess.

I am here alone, mostly.

I just like to look at the things walking by, or stationery sometimes.

I have read that little book Suzie Wong, last year.

So, I thought I would just come over and see what it is all about, while it lasts, and it still works.

I went to Hong Kong before this once.

And where I am now there are no big ships like in the harbor, just those pickup trucks with people sitting in back.

I know I am going to like it here.

I have 364 more days to go.

And I am going to savor every moment of the days.

Nice to be here.

Real nice,

If you know what I mean, hey, hey!

Bye for now.

I think he would be better to fake a heart attack and go to hospital than jail.

Or become mentally unstable and get a nice bed in a home with a garden view.

Or go out in style...stand in middle of piccadilly naked and run around shouting I've got a big bomb up my arrse...

How does one fake a heart attack?

It would be better to try to catch some Dengue before he leaves and when he is sure he is infected, then quick hop a plane back to London.

Or, I am thinking maybe he could do with a dose of the clap.

One of those that requires hospitalization.

Anything is better than scaring people on an aircraft, especially the little kiddies.

You're a guest. Behave as you would hope a guest of yours would behave. But integration? Thais are even more insular than Brits (and that's saying something), so by all means try but don't be disappointed with the results.

Well, there had to be one! Brits insular? It is one of the most integrated of societies. Please tell us where you're from so we can all have a laugh and do remove that chip from your shoulder.

Actually, he is correct. There are very few countries today which so welcome foreigners to come in and be with them, like the Brits.

It is maybe not enough insular for its own good.

The Thai society I do not find insular, at all.

I have lived in insular places, and Japan is certainly one.

I could not live in Japan for long, it is just too insular.

I am going to try to make myself at home here and enjoy the people, but not get stressed out about what degree to which I am accepted.

Maybe I will wear my hair in one of those knots on the top of my head.

Who knows?

As farangs on Thai discussion boards we tend to think Thai's don't have opinions about us. Of course they do, they laugh at our habits, they criticise our behaviour much the same as we do to them. The only difference is we do it on the internet they do it face to face.

You obliviously haven't read pantip.

What or where is Pantip?

You mean the Plaza?

"OH ... if only I seen this before I came to Thailand ... my life would have been so much easier."

I thought he said, his WIFE would have been so much easier.