gejohesch

Probably true, but then the dislike is at different levels! The Thais I know would certainly hold Swiss, Finns, Germans, .... hell even French! much higher than Indians.

I agree with you completely. One thing I know, having been around in Bangkok years ago (I lived there), is that most of the girls/women one meets in the bars are rather Lo-So. I appreciate that may not be everyone's concern, but I could not cope with the vulgarity and bad taste of most of them (eg when chosing clothes), if I had to end up making a longtime partner. And believe me, I'm not overly difficult! That's just one angle to the discussion.

Someone asked above what was typical Isaan food. Maybe P(l)a Râa (the "l" is not pronounced by Isaan people) is one of the most typical ingredients that come to mind?

Thanks! I know Pla Raa, of course, having been around Thailand for so many years. I just did not know "fermented" would be equated with "raw". Personally, I find it totally disgusting, especially the smell. I see everyone in the villages in Isan eating that stuff all the time (added to the food when cooking), but I have forbidden my wife to use it in any food she would cook for me. Reminds me a few years back, traveling around Sakhon Nakhon, we stopped by a market in the country side. People were selling a sauce from a drum that contained easily 50 litres of it: it looked like <deleted> mixed with vomit, smelled like it and probably tasted like it. That was probably a local version of Pla Raa. For the life of me, I cannot understand how people can like that thing in their food!

I'm puzzled by the recurring mention of "raw fish being eaten" in Thailand. I cannot remember ever seeing that, or is the meaning "poorly cooked fish"?

But they wear masks against COVID, 'cause everyone knows COVID is transmitted by mosquitoes and flies that could be swallowed up inadvertently by motorcycle riders if not protecting their mouths!

Good question. As Isan is where I spend my time when I'm in Thailand, and my wife is from there, I guess a lot of the food I see has got a typical Isan touch to it. To be clear, I lived a few years in Bangkok, years back, and I could not be too specific in what the differences are between Bangkok and Isan, whether street food or restaurant food. Then again, one has to realise that a good part of the food on offer in Bangkok is prepared by Isan people! One thing I have noticed : I have nearly never seen people in Isan making the famous Thai curries (gaeng khiao waan or gaeng masaman for example), not even in the restaurants (maybe upscale restaurants do them). I might be wrong, and also that maybe is not unique to Isan. As for food made in the houses themselves, what I have seen over many, many years now is that it is always the same few things. I do not see any interest whatsoever to look for new recipes (my wife being an exception). And I confess I end up being rather bored with it. I'm sure other participants in the discussion can add much more to this.

Good comments, adding on to a number of previous replies. I would like to make a recap, sthg like a 3 points strategy: 1 - Natural approach : 1a = which aliments to favour to alleviate constipation: a number of good suggestions have been made, eg high fiber food and especially a lot of water. 1b = which aliments to avoid. In the case of Thailand, I can see a big issue with the 3-times a day consumption of white rice, and also the fact that so much food is fried! 2 - Remedial approach: Several suggestions above - Interesting. I will take good note and pass on to my wife so she has sthg to ask when next she goes to a pharmacy. However, it's clear that regular use of medication is sthg to be careful with. Conclusion : I will walk my wife over 1a and 1b (the natural approach), and hope she gets sthg useful out of it (as a number of Thais I have come across, she has a tendency to politely listen and nod her head, or just brush away the discussion outright ..... and do everything her own old way anyway!)

Thanks, good advice. One thing is, she probably does not drink enough water. But same with me (always been a challenge to drink more than a few glasses in the day), and that's not caused me any pbm (so far).

UPF .... yeah, I always wonder about all those additives everywhere, and tons of sugar too. Don't know if it affects constipation and/or hemorrhoids, but I'm sure it cannot be good for the general health!

Well, I tend to agree with the general statement, concerning hygiene and poor education in particular. Thanks for explaining about the flukes, I was vaguely aware of the problem. I have the feeling that the issue is severely compounded by the lack of regulations or the non-respect of existing regulations. I confess not to know the details, but I don't have the impression that anyone in a position of authority genuinely and sincerely worries about the health of the population, and that it's rather much of a rat race to sell whatever rubbish to make money, money, money!

Yes? What's the story then about fermented fish sauce? Do you mean nam pla (น้ำปลา) or pla ra (ปลาร้า)? I personally think that the first one is healthy. I don't know about the second one but cannot stand its smell and taste, I find it disgusting.

Thanks for this quick reply! But what is it in their food (Thai and/or Isan food) that causes these problems? Would you know? I keep telling my wife to eat of the cereals I prepare myself in the morning. Sometimes she does, most of the time she reverts to Thai-Isan food. NB 1: the cereals I prepare myself with rolled oats (no sugar added), mixed with whatever nuts and dried fruits I can find. When I can, I include dried prunes (known to be a good laxative). I believe that's excellent food in the morning, and with that in the belly I can easily go until the afternoon! NB 2: I hear of several people in her village having cancer...

The title may intrigue or amuse, but I'm serious. My wife, a Thai woman from Isan, very often complains of constipation and occasionally of hemorrhoids. Now, everyone in the world has come across those problems before, I'm sure, but what I notice is that besides my wife, it's nearly everyone in her family who complains of them. I have come to suspect it's their food that does that to them. My wife appreciates the western food I sometimes make (I'm a decent cook), but only nibbles up a bit of it and goes back to food she makes herself, Thai-Isan food of course, even when we are outside Thailand. Myself, I have nearly never had these problems. What do the "experts" think of it, and what would they advise?

I like reading this, but in practice, will there not be a more suspicious approach in general by immigration officers, having a negative impact on genuine visitors? Maybe a naive question.....

100% agree. I used to ride a 650cc Honda years ago, mainly in Bangkok. I also made a few trips on the bike to Isan and down all the way to Prachuap Khiri Khan. I used to be weary of other drivers in Thailand before, when driving a car, but my anxiety on the road jumped up several notches when going on the bike. Reckless driving is unfortunately very common in Thailand. In any country, there would be at least 4 lines of approach to reduce the number of severe accidents: 1 - Be much more stringent with issuing driving permits, with more focus on correct ways of driving, and especially defensive driving for 2 wheels driving. ...... Oh well, did I mention "focus"??? 2 - More effective police presence on the roads, with zero tolerance on any sort of bad driving. 3 - Zero tolerance on not wearing a helmet when on 2 wheels, regardless whether doing the driving or being a pinion passenger. 4 - Regulate the type of helmets. No tolerance for all those cheap and crap helmets.... In any country but.....

I must say the Philippines are not on my radar. I've been there twice, found the food uninteresting, people way too "americanised", lacking culture "of their own", and/or untrustworthy.

That's exactly what I do, but usually more like between 3 and 6 months a year, definitely not more: 1) Visas are too complicated. 2) Thailand is overrated, and definitely not that "unique". There are several other attractive destinations with good food, good climate, good beaches, reasonable cost of living, nice people, interesting culture and so on. 3) I need to have people around me I can have sensible discussions with, once in a while. I get terribly starved in this respect when spending time in Isan (my case).

This sounds like good advice. With time, let's say give it at least a few months, you will start seeing if this is a nice, decent relationship or not. Until then, indeed, do not get too much into it sentimentally speaking. I know it's a difficult advice to take, as an older man tends to go weak in his heart when a younger woman grapples him up. I have been there a few times myself, and for sure Thai girls / women (many of them) know how to make your heart feel sweet but the truth is : it gets weak as well. As for the amount you are willing to give her, be careful also. I would tell her you give her 15 or 20 k's, at most. That would already be a huge amount of help, for sure, and at the same time you will start drawing lines in the sand between you and her, in a non brutal way. However sweet and genuine she might be, it's important I think that she gets the message: you are not falling in for her unconditionally.

Yes, sugar everywhere. Disgusting!

Thanks for your comments. 😊 "sex pat business" or "a week ensconced in a 5 star resort with a spa" - neither of these options interest me at all 😞 I enjoy my long months in my wife's village, deep in Isaan. She has a large house which we have improved over the years. Once in a while, we have visitors, but rarely foreigners. I enjoy that too. And the regular drives to the nearby markets and rather quiet little cities are relaxing enough. Once in a while, I let myself get dragged along to one of the numerous temples around, that's OK with me, I'm enough of a Buddhist for that. All in all, it's rather nice and relaxing, but certainly that has nothing to do with mainstream tourism! When I put a tourist cap on my head and start doing some research online, lots of places interest me : Turkey, India, Nepal, Mexico, Brasil, Guatemala, Georgia, Rumania, Poland, Japan and so on. Thailand? Not so much anymore, I'm afraid!

Chiang Mai is not on the way between Bangkok and Nong Khai! Chiang Mai is one of the rare exceptions, as I mentioned, with having a walkable centre. Not that large though, and dwarfed by the rest of the city. On that same line, I would also mention Ayutthaya. These are 2 cities having kept an interesting and walkable centre, left from centuries past. Possibly Sukhothai? I cannot remember, last time I went there was 40+ years ago. But again, how could that compare with the dozens, if not 100's of beautiful walkable cities nearly any country in Europe has on offer?

I have been living in my wife's village in Isaan for 17 years, about half the year each year, and of course I have gone to a number of places all around Isaan. Here are bits of my experience: - There are not many sites really worth visiting. I have become sick beyond words of going to tacky and garish concrete temples! - I have not gone to parks for an eternity. Double pricing irks me. It's always too damn hot and often run down. I remember going to see the Erawan waterfalls, I got disgusted with the number of Thai tourists everywhere, OK sure it's their country but the lack of space, food and drinks leftovers and so on - that did not make it attractive! And btw, the waterfalls are really nothing compared to a number of waterfalls I have seen in Mexico, for example. You take any of the several 100's of waterfalls around Iguaçu/Iguazu and it beats Erawan hands down. - Cities are usually not walkable. Not only because of the heat, but also because there is really not much to see. Nothing like one of the 1000's of lovely cities in Europe, or the colonial cities of Mexico. Hell, even Copacabana in Rio, with no historic site whatsoever, is infinitely more walkable than, say, Khon Kaen. - Of course, there are exceptions. I enjoyed walking along the Mekhong River in Nong Khai, for example. But tell me: is there any city between Bangkok and Nong Khai which is worth stopping in for 1 or 2 days? I would like to know! There are several other angles to the tourism issue, and other regions than Isaan. I would not have much to add to all that has been said in previous replies. My overall impression is that Thailand does not have enough to qualify as the "Number 1 tourist destination in the world".

You may be right with the THB strength. For several years now, it has been hovering around 5-10% more expensive than it used to be, some time in the past. Sorry, I am not very precise here, but there might be an issue along these lines. About the "immigration circus" : are you referring to A) long time residents, B) tourists who want to stay for longer than their visa exemption allows, or C) tourists who just come for a few days or weeks? These are very different categories of tourists facing different regulations. I believe category C) represents by far the majority of foreigners coming to Thailand (obviously not talking about nationals of neighbouring countries coming for a low-paid job) and as far as I know, if one comes on a visa exemption, immigration is not an issue. I join in on some other factors mentioned several times above : security, scams, double pricing, and (my personal experience) cleanliness - there is too much trash all around and food quality is often questionable.

and cheaper I hope!