lordofdelusion

Cheers to the OP for this one. Many times I had found myself defending Thai women on this forum. My GF was nothing like the horror stories others were telling, or was she??? Maybe all the negatives were true. Maybe she was a master thief, an evil little ...... NAAAAHHHHH. She really was as honestly sweet and kind as anyone I had every met. And her family and friends took me in to their circle day 1. I couldn't be happier

Sorry I don't arrive in Phuket until the 15th By the sound of it I will be stumbling over many of you soon enough.

What's with all you people having to go to work?? I think you missed the point of heading to an island paradise.

Great stories! I agree with the premise that being raised in relative poverty shapes a persons outlook. Like my parents who were raised during the depression. They never threw anything away.

It sounds like I could do worse. I can't wait for our first visit back to the states. Take her shopping on Rodeo drive just for fun

Don't worry about it Donna, with any luck the price of corn will increase by a couple of Bhat per cob and he will have to leave the kingdom, oh what a shame.

Yep, absolutely. Take your backpack, your 200 baht in loose change and whatever is left in your hash pipe and bugger off!!!!!!!!!

[When we go to the supermarket like Big C she will stand at the end of the checkout and cross check all the items on the bill. sheesh!

Greg

Mine won't let me go to Big C/Tesco often because they are "too expensive". She prefers to haggle at the markets.

When we bought the last truck she haggled down to the last baht then first thing we did was take it to the local Wat and spent a few thousand baht getting it blessed!

EXACTLY!!!!!!!

well, lord, that is certainly a major generalization. I am an American woman and am quite a thrifty person. Not cheap, and not willing to live in a shack but certainly know how to stretch my money further than most.

So, like most things, it depends on the person, not the culture.

Remember you are an American women who has chosen to consider a different lifestyle in a foreigh country. You are not average.

Here's a departure from the usual greedy Thai women (hooker) thread. My Thai girlfriend, and her sister are cheap. Thrifty, penny pinching, tight economical, whatever. Her sister is married to an American who first pointed this out to me. Do any of you, who have a Thai mate have a similar situation? They won't let me leave a decent tip or buy them anything extravagant. My girlfriend is helping me look for a place for us to live now and is constantly finding these shacks in less than desirable areas. I assure her it's OK to spend this much but she says I should save my money. It's kinda sweet really. She gives a lot to her local temple to make merit but otherwise lives simply. Just a cultural thing or is she an exception? Sure is different from the American women!!

Help out a computer illiterate here. I have been talking to friends back in Thailand while in the states via Skype or Yahoo. I'm able to call their cell phones. I was hoping to call home using the same services from Thailand to the U.S. Are you saying I can't log onto Skype or Yahoo in Thailand and call home???

I'm flying L.A. Singapore next week on NWA. Change in Tokyo. For whatever reason their business class was $600 less than the LAX-BKK route Eva air is nice and you can get the 777 out of LAX but not every day. Check one day before and after if you don't see the 777 aircraft on your flight.

Fares can be very confusing. You find something one day, it's gone the next.

The thrill of a new love. A relationship that seems perfect while you sit watching the sunset off Phuket island wrapped up in a never ending hug.

I would give Thailand a break. I had to chuckle about the house and land price thing. It's about half what I would pay back in the home town, as other posters have mentioned. Much different than in the past I'm sure but so is everywhere else.

My good old USA government has become by, for and of the coporations and the gap between rich and poor widens every year. Crime is far worse than in Thailand and most other places for that matter. As for the healthcare debate, I have worked in US healthcare for the last 15 years, I know it well. If you have insurance your co-pays and out of pockets will exceed the charges you pay in Thailand. If you don't, you are screwed. Healthcare costs will bankrupt you and hospitals and doctors will not treat you. The system is cracking.

Knowing these things, I chose Thailand to retire to. It's cheaper, safer and I rather like the Buddhism thing, thank you. There is probably somewhere better out there, but until I find it Thailand is an upgrade. I'll be back July 12th for good this time to start my retirement. And none of you gloomy types are going to stop me!!!!!!!

A Good Positive Post LOD.

Unfortunatley we get the ranters on here sometimes... It really does make me wonder why people bother coming here..perhaps they feel better to get it off their chests.

Anyway..will drink to your re-location in THE LAND OF SMILES on July 12th

WELCOME

Thank you, it's been a long 3 months back here. The poop can't get much deeper.

I once asked in one of my first posts why did I hear so much complaining from people who have chosen to live in Thailand and will never leave? All a matter of perspective I suppose.

I would give Thailand a break. I had to chuckle about the house and land price thing. It's about half what I would pay back in the home town, as other posters have mentioned. Much different than in the past I'm sure but so is everywhere else.

My good old USA government has become by, for and of the coporations and the gap between rich and poor widens every year. Crime is far worse than in Thailand and most other places for that matter. As for the healthcare debate, I have worked in US healthcare for the last 15 years, I know it well. If you have insurance your co-pays and out of pockets will exceed the charges you pay in Thailand. If you don't, you are screwed. Healthcare costs will bankrupt you and hospitals and doctors will not treat you. The system is cracking.

Knowing these things, I chose Thailand to retire to. It's cheaper, safer and I rather like the Buddhism thing, thank you. There is probably somewhere better out there, but until I find it Thailand is an upgrade. I'll be back July 12th for good this time to start my retirement. And none of you gloomy types are going to stop me!!!!!!!

>>>>I believe I/We can handle the siblings

Be careful they could be worse.

One cousin of my wifes, a young girl in her 20's just shows up one day and announces

"I am going to live here for awhile". Tells my my wife, not asks. My wife said no you

cannot but you can stay for a bit. I didnt mind it, she was pretty hot and

didnt wear too much clothing. We had alot of fun together just hanging out and she

had a real bubbly personality for a TG. Well one morning i am sleeping. My wife went

to go see her mom who needed to go see a Dr. I am sleeping on my side and I feel

someone slip into the bed. I thought it was my wife thinking maybe she didnt go. So I

try to drift back to sleep. Next someone is kissing the back of neck and i could smell

whisky. I thought hmmm my wife doesnt drink. So i turn around and its the cousin!

Worse than that she is drunk and not wearing a STITCH of clothing! She kisses me right on

the mouth and gets right on top of me. I was in shock. In my mind all i see is that Robot

on that TV series "Lost in Space" repeating "DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER!" Well

i just froze for a second. She had me pinned and was speaking something in thai and

kissing my neck, i am thinking wow this girl is mint. Her voice would melt a steel girder.

I started saying MAI MAI and she locked on tighter. She kept talking in thai and the kissing -

guys i was getting weak, my whole body just relaxed. Then a car drives by my baan and

scared I launch out of bed like a missile. Luckily it wasnt any relatives. So I throw my clothes

on and left and bolted to a nearby Wat, i figured its the safest place at this point. I got my

cell phone, do i call my wife and tell her? If i did the fur would be flying when she got back.

I was stressing. So after an hour a go back and she is gone. All her stuff gone. I never said

anything and seen her about a month later in town with some othe TGs. I smiled at her and

she smiled back.

Upcountry Dangerously...

YOU MADE THIS UP!!!!!!!!! C'MON

Why is this a racial issue at all? This is a behavior issue. If the whole family was from the same country and the in-law had a fit, we wouldn't be looking to explain it away . Have 'em hauled off for a 24 hour psych evaluation maybe. I'm sure if the OP had a fit in Thailand he would be looked down on as definately not jaiyen, maybe worse. When you are a guest anywhere, learn how to act like a real person.

You can choose your friends but you can't choose your family. (Actually that applies to your blood relatives, never mind)

When I return next month, for what I think will be a permanent stay, I hadn't planned on working. The more I think about it though, I may get bored. I was a critical care/emergency/ flight nurse in the US for 15 years. Specialized in pediatrics. Does anybody know if I can do this kind of work in Thailand. I will be in Phuket and understand that they have something like an international health coordinator position at the international hospitals. I'm not sure what that is. I certainly don't want to get back into full time, high stress employment, but maybe a part time thing. Anybody have any input??? Volunteer work is fine.

Well, i just wonder what did really happen over there - now its 12.6. and the games are going on; tonight with Italy versus Ghana. Starting at 2 pm Thai ! And what about the next matches? Please report.

P.S. CS defeated the US.

I have just finished watching italy win but such lousy acting ,pretending to be injured.

I`ll take hockey anytime since i`m from Canada

AMEN brother!!! Did you catch game 4? That's some tough play. Caines up 3-1 now returning home. I watched some world cup earlier (ZZZZZZZZZZZ) and then turned on the hockey. Thought they had it running in fast forward compared to the soccer

What is up with the soccer players always acting like they have been disembowled every time someone touches them. Geeezs!

Your photo was missing something Chuchok.

Rugby rocks!!!! As does American football and ice hockey

The USA is going to show the world why they are ranked #5 in the world. Why does the general public fail to realize how good the US is. They are gong to win their group and make it to the semifinals. BTW where are there good places to watch the matches in Bangkok and Ko Samui?

We have a soccer team??? Well how about that!

In regards to the initial post, a possible Thai economic slow down; I am stuck here in the states for another month and I follow the financial news very closely. (Trying to get set up for retirement, ya know. ) Every fund manager, every talking head and everybody with a TV economics show is sayin get out of emerging markets now! A friend has her monies with a large investment firm and they called her reccomending a ZERO percent allocation to emerging markets. The dollar with all it's problems will probably rise against many smaller markets.

Anyone else?

My wife will have a dream and wake me up to tell me that it has a certain meaning. (at 3 in the moring sigh) Sometimes due to the dream she will be mad as I did something in the dream to offend her.

Thai poo-ying. Anyone figure them out yet?

I'm working on quantum physics and the nature of reality now. When I'm done I'll tackle the Thai poo-ying.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/04Jun2006_news01.php

Minister thinks another financial crisis might be on the way.

In regards to the above;

Paiboon Wattanasiritham, chairman of the Centre for the Promotion of National Strength on Moral Ethics and Values, said His Majesty the King's self-sufficiency economic policy was an answer as Thailand faced a looming economic crunch.

He vehemently disagreed with a government idea that economic success could bring more happiness to society.

Instead of focusing on gross domestic product, the government should devise a tool to measure the happiness of the people. This method has been used by Bhutan, he said.

This is a interesting position. Lord knows happiness is not busting out all over in the US where we are just so rich and fulfilled

Give her my litmus test, tell her:

1) ###### i lost all my $$$$ (make up some sob story)

2) I am kicked out of America, that darn Bush kicked me out, can never go back (or take you back)

3) I need you take care of me, can i stay with you etc til i find work

4) It might be a longtime til i find work, i might make 20,000 bt a month if i am lucky

Basically thats what i did, this story sent the gold diggers and greencard dreamers heading

to the hills. I stongly sugest you do this, especially since its a massuese from Phuket.

One girl said "No problem", married now 9 years since then, her family tested me though and i told

them to get F###ed, thats about it. Oh and i get a lot of jealous/angry looks from lady farangs.

If you told any 20 something girl in the states the same stories, she would beat the Thai girl into the hills.

What?, no coach bag? no sports car? no future alimony? Later loser!!

I too was with Bof A. Own the stock but don't bank with them. The stock is a good bet because they make so much money ripping us off.

I opened an online account with HSBC. Easy internet access to your account, bank to bank transfers and they gave me an atm card. Current interest rate is 4.65% too. Other online options that are similar are GMAC bank and etrade financial.

I am a the ripe old age of 32....

Planning to head back to Thailand in August for a visit of unknown duration.

Well then, sounds like you have a girlfriend I'll be back in Patong in July myself after dealing with business issues here in New Mexico. I met my GF on my 3rd long stay in Thailand in the pleasant area of Patong. A civilian, her university degree was in microbiology. Our first date didn't include sex. Thai women who are not bar girls do not want to be thought of as bar girls. Our relationship grew and we became very close. Met the family, stayed together, etc; but it didn't happen overnight. We talk daily while I'm over here and I enjoy her company. There are many on this board who assume all Thai women are bad news. There are many who are in long term relationships with Thai women. Very similar opinions about American women in the states too, eh?

80% of board members have found love with a girl like yours and most are delighted. Keep up the good work

A positive post MC.........

Follow yer heart man, it might let you down fut buck it. Keep smilin.

redrus

I didn't notice you mention your age. If you're 52 take a pass on romance. Friends are very valuable however. Thai women tend to mature later than in the west IMHO. 22 is pretty young. Maybe she is moving slowly due to lack of experience in this area. But otherwise, I'm with these guys, enjoy! You will regret what you didn't do more than what you did do when you are old and gray.