JimTripper

Did a dentist tell you to pull that tooth? If yes, did you get a second opinion? I have saved two molars so far by going to a better dentist, after being recommended to pull the tooth with no other options! They were not low end facilities. All the teeth needed was root canal work, the other an involved re-doing of an old root canal. Without saving those teeth I would be now be missing primary molars on both lower sides, and needing implants or bridges on both sides. Just a heads up to get a second opinion if you ever get told to get an extraction.

I tried Mexico City and hated it. Something about the toilets never worked 🤷🏻‍♂️.

Implants

So you found a living situation that is just as good as an expensive enclave at a fraction of the price? Pretty lucky I guess, but not common enough to go searching for.

That's correct.

I like Vegas much more then Pattaya. Even when I can afford a lot less in Vegas. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Nichada Thani looks nice, but it's way over my budget as a single guy. It's more for people with huge families needing a large house and an attached school. Would look weird living there as a single guy. Nirun is too low budget and gritty Thai street life at your doorstep. What I need is an exclusive condo or condo development that has large grounds for recreation, shopping, pools, etc so I don't have to go outside the complex all the time, but is still within the city or close to public transportation. I looked at Meenam Residences on the river in Bangkok as a possibility, but never followed through. At least that was backed by the river so it had some outside area to hang out in only for residents, not just walking out into the street.

I actually live by the Harbor Mall and like it because it's almost always deserted, but still has a sundae shop and a coffee shop. It's great for relaxing or working. Also, comfy chairs and desk to work on a laptop that are always available. Upstairs has places that sell used computer parts. Low key, interesting with no hassle or hard sales pitches. Many people, Thai's especially, don't like places that are quiet and empty. They seem to draw energy from noise and having other people hustling around. People like very different things. It's interesting that almost everybody avoids that place like the plague, but I find it an oasis. I think there's a lesson there for me somewhere about living in Pattaya around crowds and noise.

It's people that have developed some sort of emotional connection with the owner. I get that a lot in Pattaya. People acting like a buddy when it's just a professional transaction and there's no trust built up yet. Examples are real estate agents, bar owners, restaurants, etc. There's so much competition that just providing a good service is not enough so they try to act like a buddy or friend to get repeat business, good reviews or referrals. You can tell they are doing when it feels overly friendly or familiar for no reason.

A lot of people used to get banned. They just come back under a new name. Looks like the banning has stopped for the most part.

Lack of interest in new areas 🤣. I can't wait to get out of here! My lease ends in 5 months. I will send you a postcard.

Because I can't take a baht bus to jomtein three times a day, plus I have already lived there and ate at all those places already. Also, it's not that big. I was pretty much eating at the same places down there as well. Taking a taxi out of the area to eat every day is not an option either 🤣, so don't bother. Your suggestions suck.

Well I prefer Bangkok for food. I'm here for a year eating out every day. The selection is not adequate in my opinion for long term.

Where do you eat? I have been going to the same handful of places every single day, so much that I'm bored, and I'm in central. I can't even find any new thai places anymore. The food at many places is also pricey for thailand, reaching to 130 baht a meal or so, about $4 Usd.

Right, living around low class foreigners would be just as bad. I just mentioned Thai's because I typically can't avoid the interaction. With low class foreigners I just don't get involved or don't respond so it never becomes an issue or irritation, as long as they are not immediate neighbors or something.

I like the open air beer garden at the foot of walking street, oddly enough. Nice to watch the sunset and quiet, at least in the early evening. They do have some MTV on, but it's pretty good music and not overly loud. It's also free of the riff raff staff, pushing for drinks, etc.

Did you find anything? Interested as well.

That's pretty much my situation, roughly. I try to ignore the riff raff in my daily life, but it's seemingly having a culumative effect of sorts. Fyi I have lived here 10 years, although not in Pattaya, so it's not culture shock. Things were Ok six months ago, but I'm finding that I'm less inclined to leave the condo as time goes on. For example, today I was headed downtown to eat, In the middle of the walk I just thought forget it, and went back to the condo to eat at home. Other times I go out for a drink and just say forget it and go home for a swim instead or a drink on the balcony. I just don't feel like it's worth all the noise and hassle around the locals, seeing that motorbike guy, ignoring those yells from the 10 massage shops both ways, whatever else, to get that drink and act like I'm having a good time. I feel like if I lived in a gated location the people around me would be less "needy" because we would all be in the same situation economically, roughly. Thus the more comfortable and happier living environment, rather then being the dartboard for or constantly exposed to the energy of other people's problems which are not my problems.

Makati seems like it would just be another Bangkok though. The locals would not be Thai, but it's still living around people that are too different, poorer, whatever. The same situation as in Thailand.

Such as? Any names I can look into online? Everything I see regarding the Phillippines online is just isolated expats living streetside in much poorer local communities.

That's nowhere near enough what I'm looking for. I'm looking for something akin to a gated community, maybe in the Phuket area or someplace like that that's removed from things off in it's own area, maybe around a lake or something or part of the coastline. Where you could go out to get groceries or whatever, but would not have to deal with moto drivers or thai street life type situations on a daily basis unless you left that enclave.

That's correct. It's nothing personal against Thai's, it's just me. Nothing wrong with that.

Does anyone have success living in Thailand with minimal contact with the locals? I am looking for something similar to the "Gringo Ghetto's" that are found in Mexico where there are primarily just retired foreigner's living and it could pass as a place in the USA, with minor differences. Or, some of the resort areas around Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. That would involve common spaces, shopping and outdoor recreation like sea, ocean, etc where there were mostly or all foreigners, rather then a mix of Thai locals and expats. I was possibly looking at Cape Panwa in Phuket. Has anyone lived there, or know of any other areas I could look into? Personally, I'm not here to 'be in Thailand', it's a re-location for financial and other reasons and I would prefer a living situation as close as possible to California, USA if that's possible.

My old best friends parents slept in seperate bedrooms. Apparently, they were still intimate regularly, it was just the physical act of sleeping that they did seperately. Maybe they wanted to toss and turn without another body there or just wanted a whole bed to themselves.

Buddha said all creatures what to be happy and avoid suffering. It's time to give these suffering creatures their wish by putting them to sleep.