RamenRaven

Dogs, smoke, motorcycles. The 3 most annoying things of everyday life in Thailand.

Probably not much else.

Theft rates in Thailand are generally low due to Buddhist and animist superstitions and dogs everywhere.

Still safer than the US. Definitely more so than the Philippines.

And just be glad you're not stuck in Afghanistan, Ukraine, South Sudan, or Syria. Thailand is also incredibly stable and safe compared to its neighbors like Myanmar.

Have you ever heard of Bergmann's rule?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergmann's_rule

Bergmann's rule says that living organisms become smaller in size as you move towards the tropics.

You will overheat in tropical infernos if you look like Shrek or King Kong.

And don't forget about the mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes prefer bigger people since they emit more carbon dioxide.

On 3/12/2021 at 8:13 PM, Kiujunn said:

 

Motorcycles, farangs on rented Honda Waves look just ridiculous.

 

Honda Waves are actually for big Thais. Smaller Thais ride those little motor scooters where you can put your feet down on the floor, typically for Thai women with shorter legs.

On 3/12/2021 at 8:13 PM, Kiujunn said:

 

BTW subways in the West aren't any higher than the BTS. Most men from a place like Amsterdam won't fit upright through Western subway doors. Furniture, cars etc in the West are made in Asia, by Asians, for Asians and according to Asian standards.

 

Just be glad that Mr. Wang is making your furnutire and cars, not Somchai, because the Chinese are a head taller than the Thais. It's common for taller Chinese and Koreans to be in the 180-185 cm range, so they will generally build things to accomodate people up to 190 cm or so.

But Somchai thinks that the maximum possible human height is 175-179 cm and builds everything accordingly.

Alice in Wonderland (or Thailand)

Doorknob on the tiny door says "You're too big!"

Drink the bottle on the table, shrink yourself, and you can fit right in!

2 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

Maybe it's not about what she hasn't done, but about what she will not do.  ????

Like how some people think that if Hillary Clinton would have done (censored) for Bill, Monica wouldn't have happened!

I think most Thais are at or over 150 cm, except for the short old ladies and some of the older village men.

But Many Burmese, Cambodian, Laotians, Vietnamese are under 150 cm. You know Thais actually like to gleefully point out how they're shorter than the average Thai person!

2 hours ago, Leaver said:

 

She must be doing something wrong for him to want out.  

But OP himself said that "she hasn't done anything wrong." I'll take his word for it.

Let's count our blessings first.

1 hour ago, chilly07 said:

I am 6ft and my Thai/Farang son is 3ins taller head and shoulders above his mum and many of his thai friends are as tall as him. They do favour western food especially junk so guess that has something to do with it. I think yes you are associating with Thais on Isaan/Lao rations

Even with you typically associate with the bigger middle-class Thais, you can't avoid the working-class little people and their street stalls who surround all the bigger middle-class people.

1 minute ago, elgenon said:

Of course the plus is that 99.9999% of Thai women are shorter than me. Not necessary, but desired. If she is my height or taller, my LB alarm sounds. 555

Thai women aren't picky about height and practically don't care about height. They're perfectly content with the 5' 6" guys. More than 5' 6" and you're tall to them.

As long as you're not a midget, Western men considered to be short in their home countries would be considered to be tall in Thailand.

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

I am 5'8" and tall compared to the locals, have to duck when I go to my sister in laws kitchen.

I would agree with comments about Bangkok. I stayed at a hotel in Pathum Thani a couple of weeks ago and when we arrived the reception was a bit of a media circus. At first I thought it was some sort of ladyboy convention but turned out to be the Miss Pathum Thani competition. Appreciate they were on high heels but couldn't believe the average height, and not a good looker among them.

So this 5' 8" (172 cm) guy here is considered tall by the locals and sometimes has the same problems that the 190 cm posters have.

You would probably need to be 160 cm to be truly comfortable in Thailand.

First time I wished I could get some height shortening surgery!

4 hours ago, chicowoodduck said:

Good Lord....you are tiny.....and should have zero problems in LOS?  I am 198 cm and find the Philippines the real challenge and of course China...????????

First time I've been called tiny in years! Really appreciate something different. Tired of being called a giant for years.

When you're tiny (for a Dutch) but not a midget, the difference between China and Thailand is huge. China is comfortable but not Thailand. If I were to be taller than 185 cm, I would probably crack my skull open in Thailand, but China is perfectly comfortable for 185 cm people.

Take a look at my photographic comparisons on page 4 of this thread for China and Thailand comparisons.

What I'm saying here is that when Thailand is one of the few places that is problematic for males of average height from many European countries, and even other tall Asians - a meagre 180 cm, you know that things here are really, really small even when compared to other Asian countries.

I wear size 45 (EU) / 11 (US) shoes.

Never had a problem buying footwear like flip-flops and running shoes.

But I usually pick out the biggest sizes. If my feet were any bigger than that, I'd be shoeless.

I drink a lot. Especially when it's hot.

It's all pure H2O, no ethanol content.

And my liver is just fine.

The younger foreigner crowd has mostly disappeared due to COVID restrictions.

Students, backpackers, digital nomads, athletes, adventurers below the age of 35 are mostly gone.

I'm one of the few left. I mostly have to do things by myself now.

I'm especially fond of the white bamboo moth caterpillars called "rot duan".

Very tasty and nutritious.

Too many to list.

Blood. Crickets. Fermented rice. Anything with chili.

Yum yum!

It's background noise that you get used to. It makes the place feel alive.

When you go back to suburbs back in the West that are completely quiet except for songbirds and cars, you are practically in a zombie town with anti-social residents.

So go out there and join the firecracker party with your neighbors!

It's perfectly normal food. Many Europeans eat blood sausages and bloody foods.

Rich in iron and vitamins. Prevents anemia and makes you strong.

Eat it with insects for additional protein!

On 2/23/2021 at 11:40 PM, WineOh said:

being in a Marriage with kids I mean.

I'm seriously thinking about leaving my wife at some point.

 

she hasn't done anything wrong but I feel as though my life here with her is wasting away.

I want my freedom back.

You are a very lucky man. She hasn't done anything wrong when so many other farangs here have wives that do plenty of things wrong! If I were you, I would keep her.

Rewire your brain to like chubby MILFs. Lots of websites (not for kids) are dedicated to this niche.

Or make wifey wear a uni student uniform?

6 hours ago, DogNo1 said:

Ever been to Japan?  Ceilings and doorways in newer houses are getting higher but chair legs are still too short.

Yes, it's a place where I feel like I'm just about to have a problem constantly ducking if I'm just 1 inch or 1 cm taller. Japanese infrastructure height is in between China and Thailand.

But not as low as everything in Thailand, which take things to a totally new dwarfish level.

Train ticket counter in Thailand

Train ticket counter in China. The short old Chinese ladies can fit right in with the old Thai ladies, but everything is still built higher up. You can see how the signs, counter tops, barriers are all placed higher.

You get the idea.

Everything looks shrunk in Thailand after you fly in from other Asian countries.

A good way to show friends back home how "not all Asians are the same." 

A few more visual reminders

Somewhere in Isan. "Watch your head" would be constantly running through my mind.

This lady can fit right in, but good luck trying not to duck if you are a Westerner of average height

Now Hong Kong is ridiculously crowded, but still, the doors and signs are a lot higher.

If you're 160 cm or 200 cm, you won't notice much.

But if you are in between at 180 cm, you will notice there is a pretty big difference between infrastructure height with Thailand versus many neighboring Asian countries.

Here's a market in China, a country with plenty of short people similar in shape and size to Thais that you see in markets. You can see that the tall people won't be bumping their heads into the rain covers and things on top. In Thailand, rain covers are often set about 10-20 cm lower. The men in the white shirts below would be brushing their hair against all the rain covers in Thai markets and would need to constantly duck in and out.

Now, check out a street market in Lampang, Thailand. Average height is clearly shorter, and everything is set lower, designed for shorter people in mind.

If you need a visual reminder, here it is.

Nakhon Phanom. Most people in the photo would be 140-160 cm for sure. Tallest, 170 cm. 180 cm, you'll be crashing into the umbrellas and doors if you don't make a conscious effort to duck.

Homes, shops, bathrooms, and even some offices are built this way too, not just markets.

Contrast with a market street in Taipei, Taiwan.

Notice the presence of taller people who can comfortably walk around. That's what I mean here. You can see a few guys who look like they're 180 cm. The people manning the stalls are short little ladies, but they still make everything higher.