Kenny202

I been here ten years and I don't think once I felt any gifts or acts of kindness were appreciated either to partners or locals. In fact usually left with the feeling that its ok but doesn't measure up to someone else's Facebook (un) reality, and perhaps I should have bought a more expensive home, motorcycle, car.....or heavier baht weight gold. Small gifts or thought fullness is only ever measured in the value of the gift..not the thought. And the laughable thing the people judging the gift bearer have probably never given anything or done anything kind or spontaneous....particularly if it involves more than 5 baht of their own money. Most ungrateful people I have ever come across. Never worked it out either. Possibly another one of their weird self defense mechanisms where showing gratitude means lessening yourself or leaving themself open for a reciprocal request ala The Godfather. A Thai guy told me once Asians generally don't understand acts of kindness. They think you are either stupid or want something in return in other words eyed with suspicion or a fool who is easily separated from his money. I remember when I first came to live in a village anything kind I did for anyone usually left me disgusted. Buy a couple of kids with no parents an ice cream in a shop and the grandmother asking why I didn't "take care" of her, she is older than the kids. Or the time I offered to pay for a gravel road into the temple through the rice fields for the old ladies. I assumed if I paid for the materials couple of the guys with tractors would spread it....some of their mothers used to walk through the muddy track to the temple. Nope..... a total greed fest every one with there hand out. Or someone is jealous or offended in some other way. The self satisfaction to me of doing a good deed or making someone happy would be enough for me, no thanks required but when all it does is stir up bad feeling and jealousy why do anything. I don't bother anymore. It's just a waste of money and their is no thanks in it, usually the opposite. Most relationships I have had here were finished by me after weighing up the ledger sheet of what I was giving and receiving in return. Usually in my estimation 95% / 5% ratio... if that. We kid ourselves its "cultural" and all that stuff but IMO people here tend to respect people who treat them harshly and look down on those who are the kindest to them. A mate of mine with a Thai wife told me before coming here....the hardest thing is teaching them not to bite the hand that feeds them. IMO never truer words spoken. Met a lot of good people here too, really good people but there are an awful lot of the latter

This forum gets more disturbingly bizarre every day

Sounds like a pretty A typical farang / Thai women (village born?) relationship to me. Lazy, entitled, selfish, greedy etc....Probably the full seven deadly sins all in one package. Even without their 11yo attitude / intellect / anger issues they usually have very little to bring to the table apart from usually kids, needy family and a lot of issues / debts. No world / real life experience, no initiative. So even if they were happy thoughtful, agreeable, helpful with their husband / kids they would still be next to useless, though most of us would be happy with someone that at least tried to contribute. Not act like everyone owes them something. They wont do anything by themselves and hate being asked to do anything. No interest in learning or personal growth. Hobbies include scrolling through Facebook liking posts and reading other peoples comments, various other social media, watching inane drama shows and sleeping. As far as cleaning, cooking or helping in anyway I assume you are probably doing that yourself including most of the children's care and paying for everything of course. Yet she still walks around with a shetty look on her face and an attitude like she is the down trodden one lol. I hear you and I think just about all the friends I have in Thailand are in similar relationships to some degree. Most of them stuck there and tolerating it because they are on the pension and house in her name... As for your dilemma only you can work that out for yourself. What about the financial situation in Germany? Does she have the rights to half or more of everything you own like in most countries? Can you afford to bare that loss and start again? In any case sounds like you are in an intolerable situation and she has no interest in doing anything to make amends. By the way not all Thais / Thai women are like this by any stretch. Got some really good Thai friends and they live very much like we would. Tidy homes, structure in their life, have goals, work as a team together etc. The women we seem to be attracted to and indeed seek foreigners out are usually as you describe....bottom of the barrel, at the end of their road and looking for a free ride. These traits aren't cultural to Thailand....they are traits of a typical type of person found all around the world. The kids well, I guess you wouldn't be comfortable with her taking care of them....nor should you be by the sounds of it. She probably doesn't even want them but will play on that for sure. I would try and find out what it is she actually wants....if it is just exit stage left and leave the kids with you, and not suck you dry probably your best option. I got left with 4 kids in Australia and the first two weeks was hectic then it all worked itself out. You have to make the decision first that you are really going to finish it up with her, then start taking steps. It gets easier after you start moving. You didn't mention if she is working or solely dependent on you? Will be a lot of things possibly that can come into play even if she seems ammeniable to separating....one of which is her friends getting in her ears as to the financial possibilities. And you can bet they have their own forum in Germany with plenty or women giving out free (often ill informed) advice just like Asean now. I know it is not in our play book to use kids as pawns etc but they have no such qualms. I got left with a child here, very similar situation to yours but in Thailand. She had me dancing around on a string for three months manipulating me with my child. In the end I suggested to her she may be the one that gets "left holding the baby". That straightened her up 5000% and her whole attitude changed. They use your concern / love for the child actually against you...as they have no such feelings themselves.

They call it "go fast"lol

Thais thin all paints Don't listen to them. The last thing on their mind is a good result. 1stly thinned out its easier to apply, secondly cheaper as the paint goes further. In their mind win win. But like many buildings here the paint will be see through in 6 months and peeling off in a year. Thailand...the hub of cheap.and nasty

Prefer a place has a bit of western / Thai style.....not just Isaan or Thai. Reasonably priced ???? Thanks in advance

What are DTAs and DTRs?

I was under the impression if I leave my super in the original fund, and draw bits and pieces of it, the remaining balance can sit in the fund accruing tav free interest. I was under the impression if I drew it all out and invested somewhere else it would then be taxable. Is that right?

Hi all, I am guessing this topic has been done to death. I scroll through the news on Asean now everyday and seems to be two very polar opposite schools of thought re it will effect the average expat or it definitely wont. My situation is that I have superannuation (mandatory superannuation investment fund) in Australia. I draw on this once or twice a year for living expense. the money in my super account was paid in monthly during my working life so I assume this money has already been taxed? The money sits in the super account and continues to attract interest which for me at retirement age I believe is tax fee in Australia. We aren't talking about millions of dollars by the way. I will also be on the Australian pension in the years to come. It is my money, I earned it and was with held during my working days. I have no other income in Thailand or Australia nor do I file a tax return in either country. I live in Thailand permanently. Are the new rules if they come to fruition likely to effect me...or are we going to have to get some damn certificate from my bank to give our Thai bank or something every time we bring money in to prove it is non taxable? Not like the Thai government to blab out some ill thought out dreamed up scheme without thinking it through or sharing the details (I doubt they even know themselves yet) I understand the change of law is predominantly to plug a loop hole where people (Thais?) can earn money / invest in other countries and simply leave it there for more than a year and the money is non taxable / non declarable when the funds are returned to Thailand after the 1 year.

One of the reasons we like where we stay. The beach seems super safe, you would need to walk out 500 meters to be in water higher than waist deep. very safe for the kids. No drop offs or channels. I used to be a lifesaver back home and never looked like there would be rips here though of course things can change. Have seen it windy and rough a couple of times there but the water stirs up pretty bad so not like you would want to swim anyway. The currents / rips around these Islands must get pretty bad though as drownings among tourists seem to be fairly common. The beach for us more for the kids to play on the sand and go for walks. hard to beat the beautiful pools in the resort for swimming, even when raining.

We have been there quite a few times this time of year and never experienced any beach digging or anything that inconvenienced us. Was pretty drear last time we went about 2 years ago so many businesses gone, and not shut up.....cleared out and left for good....but otherwise we don't do much apart from go to the beach and swim at the hotel pool. Got a few favorite restaurants which have always been open. Any touristy sights or tours etc doesn't interest us. In any case we have 2 kids at school (just started school holidays) , and the beach is a 10 hour drive for us so popping over for a weekend or 2 or 3 days not really convenient so we don't really have a lot of choice. Come to think of it we been lucky in that respect too, I don't remember it ever raining while we were there but was a bit windy and overcast last time. usually we go mid to late September. But thanks for the info ????

I actually picked a little 100w Hitachi 220/100v transformer up off Lazada 300 baht. Damn hard to find with Lazada's crappy search but got there in the end. I did talk to my guitar amp technician....he did actually say 110 volt would be no problem at all and that guy knows his shet ????

Thanks Crossy, it does say 50/60hz. I will give it a whirl. Pretty sure I have used them before. It is nearly impossible to find 100vac step downs here at any price and the rare few are too pricey or actually questionable if actually 100v and not 110v

Got a 100vac amp I got from Japan. Very easy to buy a 110v step down transformer but not so easy to find 100vac. What do you think Crossy? Would 110v be ok / not damage the electronics? Our power supply here is so variable anyway. The amp is 60w and the power supply is 100w so that's covered. Appreciate the help ????

We eat at Uturn a fair bit. I think they are Cambodian? Lovely family, great food, great prices and close to where we stay ????

Far from a tourist trap. Most untouristy tropical island I've ever been to. No high rise, real village feel and everything so cheap. Infact theirs not much to do but enjoy the natural surroundings

Thanks for that ???? You can walk in and pay for breakfast without staying there? Any idea of cost?

I do think the online only fans etc is and will eventually kill off the bars. Girls seem less interested every year. I can remember years ago a mate of mine saying was like having a bunch of cats rubbing up against you walking into a bar. These days they won't look up from their phone. Probably waiting for someone to request an online show and nip in the dunny for a quick virtual 1000 baht. I saw one chick on only fans....very ordinary overweight village women who had 300 subscribers at $10 us a month. And on top of that premium private shows / videos. Pretty serious coin for not leaving ur house and not getting pawed by some old sweaty fat drunk ( like me ????)

We got a couple of fave restaurants there. Awesome food and cheaper than a city restaurant. Tourist area with country prices...applies to most things there

While we're at it, hotel we normally stay great location and everything else but breakfast a bit ordinary. Can anyone recommend a good buffet breaky somewhere?

Actually it popped up on our Facebook a couple of weeks ago as a memory on Facebook from two years ago when we would have been there about when you said. The water / beach was pretty ordinary then too and weather overcast most days.

I think last time we came high season just after Covid was like a ghost town. No one on the beach and so many businesses boarded up

Anyone live there have any idea if it is a busy time or not? We don't like the crowds ????

Reminds me of living in several villages here, always a village lao khao drunk. Usually dressed in his Sunday best, hair dyed like he's still a bit of a catch and the village playboy. Wandering the sois with a big watermelon eating grin, biting people for 20 baht....hoping no one will notice lol ????

I got an app has all the latest news feeds in Thailand (if you can call it that lol). Asean now posts pop up in that. I wouldn't be purposefully looking for any info or life tips in Glamma's posts 5555. Poor bugger, at least he's positive and refuses to be offended