Stargeezr

Maybe a card to pack in the wallets of tourists would be a better Idea, Or a plastic ID card to pack in a pocket, a bit

more subtle than wrist bracelets. I don't want to be a larger target than I already am.

Stargeezer

I have not made the plunge to spend more than a month or two in Thailand yet.

I am still thinking that Hua Hin is the place for me, once I do, but like hhfarang,

I want to spend some time like a winter or 2 to make sure that HH is the place I want

to spend from late October until the end of March living at. At least from HH my wife and I can get into BKK for the family gatherings, and go south to Phuket for a week or 2 break to see the cousins

there as well.

Stargeezer

I live in Canada, and am grateful for our medical coverage. I am also glad that I worked for the Government for a portion of my career and have a decent retirement pension from it.

I would like to live in Thailand for up to 5 months a year, if I can afford to in about two more years. I would likely spend some of my time in BKK where my Thai relatives live, and

some of the time in either Hua Hin, Cha AM, or possibly somewhere in Phuket. Likely near Kata or

Karon beaches. I went to a clinic a couple of times in Phuket and the fee for my

shot in the rear for a scratch that inflamed was only $15 US. I seen some of the hospitals in

Thailand and I checked the costs of getting operated on and hospital room rates. I would much

rather have to go to a hospital in Thailand than in America. Weather is much nicer in Hua Hin

and even BKK, no Hurricanes or monsoons, only tropical storms from most directions when it does rain. I see a few guns around Thailand but mostly from guards, police, and the military.

I do not see every body in Thailand, packing, and using the Right to bear arms, as in the USA for having a gun. I have read a lot about Thai customs and try not to tick off any of the

locals, by doing foolish activities, as well. I do not throw Thai money on the ground then step on it, as the king's picture is on the currency, and it would be a very big insult to

do such a thing. I do not step over some persons feet etc. when I am in a crowd as that is an

insult as well. I try to say a few Thai words when I order food and drinks as I am in

Thailand after all and sometimes it is quicker to get served that way.

Also from Thailand I can explore a lot of other places in Asia, a lot cheaper than I can

from Canada or from America, and I don't get charged for my first piece of luggage either

when I get on a plane. Also the service on most Asian airlines is far better than

any American or Canadian airline I have been on.

Stargeezer

My bad, I thought Bruce Springfield! I would have paid to see him sing there. ha ha ha.

Oops I meant Rick, Of course we all know the other guy is Bruce Springsteen.

My bad, I thought Rick Springfield! I would have paid to see him sing there. ha ha ha.

My bad, I thought Bruce Springfield! I would have paid to see him sing there. ha ha ha.

I have stayed at the Nana many times. A few years ago when I stayed on the 11th floor, the balcony was chest height, because a

bar girl was thrown from that floor a year before. I did see one guy do a dive from his floor from another hotel, as he was on drugs

and had a bad date as well. It was sad to see, but some people get drunk, some drug themselves up, and the result is the same, SPLAT! Death in Paradise.

You got it right, Arrive in Phuket, by plane, avoid BKK all together. spend some time at the beach, go

see Phuket Fantasy , take a few tours. Enjoy some time in the south part of Thailand, and if you have time

fly from Phuket to Koh Samui, see the difference, spend 2 or 3 nights there then fly back to Phuket.

That was my favorite trip to Thailand some years ago. One other trip was to fly into Chang Mai, spend a week in the area

and take tours, there are lots of place to see. Fly from there into Mae Hong Son, enjoy another neat place with great scenery

and enjoy the northern experience. Then on your third trip to Thailand, fly into BKK, spend a week there. Take in some city tours, and a tour to Ayuthaya with a boat ride back to BKK, it is one tour you will not regret. After your time in BKK escape to Hua Hin or Cha AM or that direction along the coast, have some time at the sea, enjoy getting away from the pollution, and

enjoy another part of the country. Many places to go in this beautiful part of the world, go and enjoy all that you can

Stargeezer

Very nice VDO, It brings back many memories I spent some time in Koh Chang, with my Thai family and we enjoyed 3 days there.

People were friendly, the price was good, and food great as always. I regret that I did not have a good camera with me

so I do not have any pictures to show of the place.

Stargeezer

Great promo video of the country and people. It shows a nice point of view, and has good music.

I seen Thailand right after the Tsunami and it was a very different scene. I spent time in Thailand in March and April and

felt the hottest temperatures I ever want to feel. I still like travelling and visiting the country, October to February,

and spending time at Phuket, Hua Hin, or Cha AM, as well as a week or 2 in BKK.

I recently went to the North and seen places like Chang Mai, Chang Rai and Mae Hong Son. Lots of temples to visit

and great scenery. One big word of advice, Fly into Mae Hong Son! We travelled by a rental van both ways, and

there was way too much time spent going around far too many corners, both ways into that place.

Stargeezer

I loved the music! and the dancers were nice to watch as well!

I am glad that Thai people do not stone their women for marrying against their parents wishes,

in some sort of honor killing. I dated lots of women in my country, but because I did not own a house

or a new fancy or sports car, and did not earn over 100 thousand a year, they were not at all interested

in the likes of me. In Thailand I was almost a millionaire, so My chances improved a lot.

My only mistake was meeting a woman who has 3 sisters, and 2 of them were single, now

3 sisters out of the 4 of them live in our house, the other sister lives across the city.

You don't marry a Thai woman, you marry the family! Buyer beware!

Stargeezer

My Thai family and I went to the airport at midnight to leave on a 8 AM departure.

Everyone but me managed to sleep about 5 or 6 hours, and I will never do that again.

It is much smarter to get a room at one of the near by Hotels and take their shuttle

in the morning at 5:30.

Hopefully I can find a better flight schedule for my next trip to Thailand and

back home.

Stargeezer

I watched our tour guide screaming at a park personal during our boat ride to the

James Bond Island tour. The park was charging 50 baht per person, and our cheap guide

did not want to pay it. We had paid 900 baht each for the ride in the large long tail boat

and most of us thought it was pretty rude for the guide to flip out like that.

One of my friends that I used to travel to Thailand with, used to complain how much the price of everything in Thailand was going up, when I noticed that the hotel we stayed in was only up 100 or 200 baht per night in 5 years. The bar price was up about 100 baht in 5 years.

My buddy's wages had gone up about 18 percent in that time. He grumbled a bit when I did the math

and pointed this out to him.

Stargeezer

I am the only Farang living in my own home in Canada. There are 7 people in

my house and I listen to them talk Thai every day.

I wish I was in Thailand and living near some other Farangs, so I could enjoy myself

when I am out of my home. I know that I would not enjoy myself too much, by living

in Thailand somewhere with only 1 or 2 other Farangs around. I do enjoy myself very much when

I stay in Hua Hin, or Cha AM, I have never gotten tired of talking with other expats

when I am out and about. Even seeing the other tourists in the night markets is

a pleasant distraction.

I guess I am what you could call a City person.

Stargeezer

Slipper lobster, I liked your post best. Your book would be an interesting read.
My book would only be Lived, loved, married, lost, Lived again, loved again,
married again, Asian style this time, still losing!
Not much of a story really, but then I certainly will not be writing a book about it.
Stargrazer

Let ISIS or what ever they call themselves these day have a part of northern Iraq. Make it a very circle shaped

area. plant a homing device smack dab in the center, then in a few months, send in a low yield neutron package

no strings attached. Is this too barbaric or what. I guess I am not very civilized, as I do not see many other

schemes working to solve this present problem.

Nikkoid66,  it sounds like you and your friends can afford to go where ever you want to.

  I seen a great beach in Fiji once, and in Tahiti, I wished I had taken a picture, when I was

at the hotel the beach looked pristine, but when I walked past the beach chairs and umbrella,

I seen nothing but a lot of plastic, cans and bottles, and lots of rags, ropes and other trash.

  I have been to Phuket and Hua Hin, Krabi, and some of the islands  where I have seen lots of clean beaches.

  Maybe you just went to the wrong beaches on Thailand's coast.

   Hawaii is nice, if you can afford the prices, and I know that I can afford about 10 days max

for staying there, or in Australia or NZ.

I have not seen many places in this world where conditions are the same as they were 10 or 20 years ago.

  I hope I still have enough money in 3 or 4 more years, so I can spend more time over in

Phuket or Hua Hin areas, I spend too much time in BKK, but that is where my relatives live so I should not complain.

  Good luck to you and your friends where ever it is you end up.

Stargrazer

No more in and out for Thailand, I sure hope this only applies to Visa runs!

My vacations happen only every 2 years, and I do want a bit of spice in my life.

If I have a bit more money and if I can just get my wife to retire, maybe we

would spend a 4 or 5 month break in LOS. Hopefully by then, all this visa stuff works itself out.

Stargrazer

I have visited Guatamala, Honduras, and Belize, I would not recommend any of these countries for retirement.

I spent 2 weeks at Roatan, or the bay Islands, about 5 years ago. The stay was enjoyable, but since the

visit, the crime rate has climbed, and even some cruise ships, were avoiding the place for a while.

In Honduras, we stayed with some American expats who run a clinic and have a B and B near Copan Ruinas,

The visit was pleasant, but we were protected from the local mafia, thankfully.

At, Flores Guatamala, again the stay was pleasant , but the poverty in the area was very noticeable and I felt we

would be in danger if we strayed from the island where we stayed. In Belize, we travelled through Belize City by bus

and seen poverty and even a crime scene. We stayed on in island called San Pedro Amberori Cay, and it

was okay but too small to stay for a long time. In Mexico and some of central America, the banking is a

disaster and every time you have to change your currency, it take a long time, unless you give the security some pecos

to speed up the process. wink, wink, nudge, nudge. I have had a much better time in Thailand, and have some Thai relatives

as well that are a great help to me. I have found the banking and getting money to be a lot better in Thailand than

most of the Central America places that I have been to. Maybe I am just biased, and spoiled on Thailand.

At least in Thailand they are still teaching the children how to write in the Thai language, in USA

 the students don't get cursory writing anymore, They know how to print, and how to use a computer,

  but  in a few or several years, you won't see any fancy writings  as so many people will not know

how to write, only how to print their signature. In Canada, I have seen many students that

can not write to save their lives, my niece, who had grade 12, wrote me a letter that was about

a grade 4 standard, any words that were a bit difficult were misspelled. She spelled tho instead of

though, nite instead of night, neybor instead of neighbour, etc, and yet she has a diploma

for her graduation. The world is a sad place.

  Glad I have taken up stargazing as a hobb[attachment=278549:phpsAXyvDAM.jpg]y to get my thoughts off this place.

Stargrazer

When I am in Thailand I wear the kings color on his day of the week, the Queens color on her day of the week,

  and what ever short sleeved shirt I have for the rest of the week.

    I am glad to see the clean up of many things, still going on in the country.

  I spent time in BKK during some of the protest in the last two to three years,

I am sure glad that I had my Thai relatives to keep me away from the trouble spots.

  We were going to go to that concert that got bombed, but changed our minds at the

last moment. About 2 hours later we seen the bombing on the TV, it was a scary

reminder to stay away from big crowds during those times.

And hey Rubl, I liked your post!,  I also do wear Orange, lilac, and other light colors.

 

It is sad to see some one get ripped off with fake currency.

  If you have not read it, this is very serious in Argentina as well. You can even get fake money there at the banks, in taxis

at the market, so beware if you go to that country.

  I hope Thailand keeps modernizing their currency notes.