NorthernRyland

People get isolated and bored very easily in Thailand which is a breeding ground for drinking. Lots of bars doesn't help either. Probably a really bad place to be if you have alcohol problems.

What Trump is confronting is a problem globally it seems. Maybe tariffs aren't the solution but trading with China seems to be presenting challenges that need to be addressed.

You get a new stamp upon entry for the term of the visa, which is 180 days in this case. In theory you can do this infinite times until the visa is expired, which is 5 years for DTV. To the OP I would be weary of this visa because it's so new. For people with businesses, retired and married people you need a retry permit to keep your extension alive but DTV can do this for free and not even do 90 days reports (I think). By far the most generous visa Thailand ever had so I wonder how the IOs will react over enough time.

You get accidents are straight roads with perfect visibility because people are driving too fast, driving too close and making dangerous passing moves at high speed. Then all the motorbikes doing all the crazy things they do they get themselves killed. It's not even a skill or road issue from what I see.

Oh I see what you mean. Yes they're useless and just chock up the roads. I don't understand what the purpose is.

How???

what is complex about this? There are simple rules that need to be enforced. That's step one and they haven't even done that so why are you talking about some greater scheme?

I see this too. It's all the same as the people back home. If given the chance they're all going to go down the same paths.

I concure.

Anyone one of these people can dick you around for whatever reason they see fit. Your experience could have been totally opposite with a different person in a different location.

Speeds limits are no good? You said "like consistent and fair law enforcement, urban planning that prioritizes safety over speed" so you must agree right?

yeah I just don't want to live like that anymore. The places I used to like are gobbled up in big roads and I felt trapped. Speaking of that, this "luxury" project is up the street from that intersection. 9.9 million baht. That's around $330,000 USD, not small money. This is how you're living as a wealthy Thai in Chiang Mai I guess. I don't know what makes it luxury but you're still on that road living that lifestyle. I think Thai's are running in to the same trap as Americans did and it's getting ugly out there.

How about the most basic of all rules, speed limits. Could they for once in their existence enforce speed limits, is this really too much to ask? I would say yes it is, it's way too much to ask and nothing will be done as usual.

His expression does not give me hope anything will change this year. 😂 In fact I would bet my life savings it will be exactly the same as last year and exactly the same in 10 years.

Yes it does have nice parts but they're vanishing as it develops and you get ghettoized in this areas unless you want to cross into the ugly parts. Basically the "good" parts of Chiang Mai are the ones that haven't been developed. It's on an obvious downward trend and the reason I had to move out because it was really getting me down and still does when I need to go back in to do errands.

Before you think about changing Isaan have you considered it could get worse than it is now? In my experience developed Thailand is getting worse not better. One of the charms of Thailand is the less developed areas which are like stepping back in time. You can ride around a motorbike see people faces outside selling things, enjoy the meandering roads with no rhyme or reason, little shops everywhere and things to explore. Compare this how to Chiang Mai is developing. All the "progress" here has been wider busier roads with barriers and u-turns, long red lights , concreted over housing projects and big box stores like Big C, HomePro, car dealerships etc... all the trees get cut down and big power lines go up. This is looks like an industrial wasteland to me. Ugly as hell. Here's where I have to go to if I want to go to a grocery store and get imported food products. Traffic is terrible and there's very little parking leaving you driving around. It's a horrible experience, too car centric and much worse than America now even. There's even some condo buildings on that intersection ahead. Imagine living in a tiny concrete box and listening to traffic noise all day and night. One the right side you could see the mountain in the background mocking you. This is no way to live but it's the reality of developing Thailand for many.

Not being bothered is a really underrated perk of Thailand.

These comments are misguided if you ask me. Thailand has no problems worth fixing? really? No believes that not even Thai people. It's not true in Thailand or any other country for that matter.

How about never? It's not in the nature of the people to create societies like Japan. Most people care content to get just by and do the minimum required to survive. This is common throughout the world in hot weather tropical countries. Even the plague of road safety doesn't seem to register with most people and just how bad it is. I don't think they have the tools in their culture to confront these issues even if they wanted to so I except it to stay the same. Seriously they've been driving for how long and haven't figured out how to enforce speed limits. If they haven't gotten it by now it's a choice.

Seriously how many more tourists does Thailand need? 50 million, 60 million? They all go to the same locations which are already crowded and barely even have any Thai people left so they become tourist ghettos. It's enough already if you ask me.

Live and learn.

Whenever you're in a country that needs signs like this you know you're trouble.

Stray dogs, lizards and birds are the only abundant wildlife I see in Thailand and I live in the frickin' mountains surrounded by miles of touched forests. I really don't understand how everything could cleaned out to this extent since there's really not that many people even. Never once saw a wild monkey in all my years here even. The forest fires must be the culprit.

That tree was a "hoo gra jong" (not sure the english name, hoo as in ear) and it's very fast growing but won't do meters a year. Which tree are you talking about which grows so fast?

btw, which year was it you retired? I'm an American so I only follow UK news from abroad but I think the demographics of the UK changed radically over the last 20-30 years, maybe it mostly happened after you left or hasn't reached your particular region?