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tmd5855
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Posts posted by tmd5855
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Before the wife became the 'ex' she wanted me out of her hair, plus the house, her life and her bed.
Company had openings worldwide, took one in Indonesia, wife was happy (extremely so) that I done the 90 day, tax rule for non-residence.
Only problem were?? Where to live in Asia? Lots of guys were already in Thailand, so ended coming here after some travels.
Cost of living, weather and the lovely women if one has to be honest.
Also, it was a pleasure to get back to nature (sort off) working on farms and rural homes, fitting pressurised water systems, lights, power circuits and overhauling lots of little diesels.
Okay being eaten alive by many things, suffering headaches from heat and dehydration. But in return I had found a country and people I could relax and enjoy my life with.
Not for all ex-pats though, living quite rough and eating Thai food in a rural enviroment is not for the majority, but the boy scout in me took to it.
Have now built my retirement home, with all mods and cons, intend calling it quits no later than Aug 2015.
Back in the UK my ex is angry (
) and bitter that I have prospered without her, cannot get my dosh that is in the bank, and incandesant with rage that I am happier now than when married ( ).My son is happy for me and been out visiting a few times. Wishes me the best, say's never seen me so happy and relaxed.
So why did I come to live in Thailand??
1) Found a niche in life that convinced me, this was my place (happiness and contentment).
2) Earnings tax free.
3) Weather/climate.
4) The beautiful women (should of been placed 1st)
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My home in Pattaya, at La Bella Casa was flooded to 30cm, water all gone now.
Water ran off Soi Bongkot into the estate, flooded quickly.
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Spare a thought or two for Jock Stein.
Born on this day (5th October) in 1922.
One of the greats of the game.
Yes, a great.
Why he never got a knighthood, in being the first british manager to win the European cup. Yet the second British manager to do so, recieved a knighthood.
Strange and unfair
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It was a wet the baby head day.
The guys are all ex pat's and friendly with the management and owners of Champagne.
It were not "Pink" (God forbid) shirts but a bluey/purple shade.
Allan the owner of "18 coins" was the proud father. They were not drunk and they are all 45-55 year old well heeled gents.
Not a sandle or Changi singlet amongst them.
pink/purple was the color of the shirts and they looked pretty drunk when I spotted them in Buhakao
They were neither pretty, nor were they drunk.
They were extremely tired and emotional and needed a rest
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It was a wet the baby head day.
The guys are all ex pat's and friendly with the management and owners of Champagne.
It were not "Pink" (God forbid) shirts but a bluey/purple shade.
Allan the owner of "18 coins" was the proud father. They were not drunk and they are all 45-55 year old well heeled gents.
Not a sandle or Changi singlet amongst them.
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You are saying that as a poor American, people from rich American families are even bigger snobs and wouldn't even talk to you.
There are plenty bad apples (like those on Wall Street) but plenty too whom have dedicated themselves to charity like Gates and Buffet and numerous others.
But you miss the point. Class is celebrated in Thailand throughout all classes. It is not in the USA. There are plenty of snobs sure but we aren't very impressed by them. Remember, we were a bunch of rednecks who threw the King and his well dressed tea sipping "soldiers" out of the country and have not looked back.
No "Tea sipping soldiers" you colonials threw your own tea into Boston harbour during a 'party', saying "No taxation without representation" (Might be wrong since I was not around when it happened)
The rednecks, "ye bud, we know"
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You know though......there is one thing that unites everyone who has chosen to live an ex-pat life, on a company package or otherwise.......each and every one of you has had the bottle to have a go.
As Norman Tebbit said, you " got on your bike ", and you got on your bike to make a better life for yourself or family. The motivation could have been travel, employment, retirement whatever, the bottom line is that you stepped out of the norm and tried.
Far too many people go through lives in the starting gate, you can't say that about ex-pats. Many ex-pats shot out of their starting gate as soon as they could, ( villagefarang is a prime example, finished Uni then took off to Thailand where he has now lived for 35 memorable years ), many may have lived conventional lives in their own countries for a substantial period before moving, however every single ex-pat has one thing in common......eventually they went through the departure gate.
So that unites all of you, you have all had the bottle to go through that departure gate and try..............and that's a far better way to live your life than entrapping yourself within small horizons.
I'll be quiet now.
No need to be quiet, you should speak up more, since what you wrote down made perfect sense...
As said in the earlier post.
You cannot pigeon hole people into groups. The "starting gate" is a good analogy, we all start from different tracks, different venues and decide to move for our own reasons?
Could never put my finger on it .... but I never felt 100% at ease back in the UK, had the house, the car, big boys toys etc, etc, but something was missing.
Had always travelled abroad owing to my line of work which I enjoyed doing. Coming back to the UK on leave was filled with DIY, m/bikes, rugby etc.
If not for my ex pushing me to go for a tax free status (also p*ss off) would never of taken a posting in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Made my base in Thailand ... The rest you can say is history.
Company pay me more than enough money to do whatever I want, have replaced engines on tractors, plumbed houses in villages after fitting pressure controls on the only pump at the village well.
Been woken up when the mosquito net drops down onto me owing to something that landed ... then left... it were big??
Have shared rural/farm food and amenities for weeks at a time. Learnt Thai, speak good enough to joke with the locals.
I find I have no stress, at peace with myself and living food wise with beer on less than 200bhat a day.
But ... When I go back to work with photos of my off time, see some colleagues roll their eyes and point to healing inscect bites on my arms??
Some others are riveted on my tales, want to try... but are scared......... Why ... the "unknown" I would think, scared to try, leave their cosy, safe little world.
I am glad I will spend the remaining years of my life here. Everything is coming together as planned. House I have built is only 3hrs 30mins away from Bangkok, Korat 45-50mins.
After a couple of weeks up there come back pattaya for late nights and bodily abuse.
You can be anyone you want to be here in Thailand, if you have the resources but most of all, if you like the country and the people at grass roots level.
Just remember (those TV posters who see themselves so Hi-So)....... when you are in your nice car in bangkok or wherever, looking down at the poor, black skinned Thais from the villages.
You are just like them, born of a woman, eat and s**t the same and will die the same.
I am not a number!!
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/agree with the OPBut that's because people essentially live in different worlds here. To give a brief description of each I'd say:
Multi National Corporation (MNC) Expats - Western lifestyle, but in Thailand. Working for a Western company
Retired - Not working, but still have money.
Urban Expats - Western lifestyle, but in Thailand.
Rural Expats - Thai lifestyle
Teacher Expats - Thai lifestyle. Working for a Thai company/school.
With most Retired Expats living in an urban area, they often have something in common with the MNC Expats, even though one works and the other doesn't. Likewise, the Retired Expats who live in rural areas would have more in common with the Teacher Expats, as they would have many of the same problems etc associated with integrating into a Thai lifestyle.
As I think that the level of integration into Thai society and acceptance of "Thai style" is the main difference in understanding between expats. As if you have money, you're less likely to integrate into Thai society, as it's easy to stick with what you know. Likewise if you live in a rural area, you're more likely to integrate into Thai society, because there simply aren't as many choices.
Edit: Oh and although working could be seen as common ground for MNC Expats and Teachers, it's not really. Because MNC Expats often earn more than 10x what a teacher does, and are also in a completely different profession.
Edit2: Also the OP said "What chance is there of ever understanding Thais?". As an Urban, MNC Expat, you'll probably find it very difficult to understand your average Thai person. Although you'll probably meet a lot of westernised Thai people through work, who are effectively westerners. For someone living rural, especially teachers, they'll learn to understand "Thai style" to some degree at least.
I beg to differ as far as rural expats having something in common with expat teachers! I would suggest (certainly those I have met) that expat teachers are generally here because they cant get a job back home or on the run from some sort of truoble and are not to be trusted even by other expats. I stopped socialising with the local farang community because they all seem to be a bunch of <deleted>...... Ups, sorry that is the only way to explain them.
As for intergrating into a thai lifestyle, surely that can be done even in the cities, it is after all up to the individual as to how much they immerse themselves in the culture!
Sent from my GT-P6200 using Thaivisa Connect App
Strange one??
Putting groups of people in pigeon holes never seem to work owing to differing personalities amongst the group.
Work for a European company and have the ex-pats package,(pension, Health cover etc). What group am I
But I like going a little bit wild (GoGo bars/Drink) in Pattaya where I have a home for the past 8 years. What group then am I.
Have already built my retirement home, all landscaped, fishponds etc, way out in the country. But not retiring for a few years? Where you put me.
Being single have lived in TGF's parents farm, sleep on the floor, no A/C and a bowl to wash. Where you put me.
Some guys can wear different hat's, I am a totally different character at work to how I play.
Wear a collar and tie, then its flip flop working on farm machinery.
I despair at times with some elitism shown by some members on this forum and the terms/description of same.
Some people who live and work, live and work outside Thailand, live here because they are retired here.
If they are happy, content and at peace with themselves, then they are all the same regardless of employment status, money or whatever.
My innane ramblings need to stop.
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Some of the most caring, helpful females I have met in my 8 years living here "Work Bar" .
As Jesus said, "He without sin cast the first stone"
Look in the mirror and ask yourself what you would do to support your loved ones/Family
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Phuket=turning into Pattaya
I left Phuket in 2005, I could see the way things were slowly going.....
Moved to Pattaya and Pattaya is nowhere near as bad as Phuket.
Lived just off 3rd road for a number of years and it were safer to walk that road than walk home in Phuket
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The other day I had quite a serious accident that meant me suffering bodily injury and the loss of some possessions including my mobile phone. The local rescue people took me to a hospital somewhere in the 'outback' to be cared for by the doctors and nurses.
In this small hospital hardly anyone spoke English at all and what English they could speak was limited. When they were getting stumped as to how to get an understanding of what was needed, I asked them to phone an ex g/f who I have known for 3 years and seen once in the last year, as hers is the only number I can remember off by heart.
She took the call and sorted everything out over the phone so all could understand what was going on and what needed to be done. She then had a word with her boss and dropped everything at work in Bangkok and got someone to drive her down to find me. When we finally met up after some mix ups due to me not having a phone until I got a lift home to use my spare phone, she stayed 2 days to ensure everything was OK. Then she went back to BKK. She phones 3 times a day to make sure I am doing okay. She is willing to be there at the other end of the phone to help in an instant.
There are good Thai people out there, even ex g/f's.
As an aside, if I'd had my phone, there are several other Thai people I could have phoned and they would have helped too, but I doubt they would have / could have dropped what they were doing at work instantly to come to me, stay with me at the hospital and then take me home, clean up, tend to all sorts of little things and make sure I was as best I could be before having to return to work.
Don't believe all bad things about all Thai people. There are good and bad people the world over as there are good and bad Thai people and I for one am grateful i have some numbers of really good Thai people.
I had similar occur to me. Never went out with the girl but we had always exchanged pleasantries. Fell ill, she heard all about and came to see me. Took me in her car to hospital, she had gathered all the documents needed and "Took care" Later she would take nothing from me.................. There are some remarkable ladies out there who will make any man their King.
I can only speak good of Thai ladies, because they have never done bad to me.
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Ha, so whats your opinion that l did all that's necessary but lost most cos my wife wanted to tour the world with another guy and took most of my financial and home building in the settlement.
Some here are blind to individual cases. fuc_k, l get angry with some snotty nosed do gooders.
Ah??
We are the same in some way then??
2004 my wife wanted rid of me, so took an overseas posting to Indonesia while she went to the lawyers.
2007, lawyers drew up the papers, she kept a 4 bed house 48 miles from London heathrow. All the money in the bank, shares and the 3 cars.
I had two suitcases, zero money in the bank but kept my Merchant navy officers pension.
Worked all the extra days possible, done freelancing and by 2010 had got back on my feet.
August 2011 started building my retiement home (No GF, land etc protected).
Pictures below
Reason why I did this??
My ex thought she had crippled and broke me, little did she realise that with no more access to a joint bank account she was depleting her bank balance as I were building mine. When she became assest rich but cash poor, I were now cash rich mak mak. It made my day to see the look on her face when after telling her tales of woe and needed money, my reply was "No" the look was was priceless.
Took me 5 years to get everything back, why don't you do the same
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Brits between the ages of 50 and 70 (that's the old gits whinging about pensions) have been raised in a welfare state, left school at a time of full employment, had free higher education if they had payed enough attention in school to pass selection, alternatively had access to apprenticeships, lived through decades of increasing personal wealth, rising house prices, had access to jobs with defined benefit pensions...basically this demographic group have had oportunity and wealth handed them on a plate.
If you're a Brit coming up to retirement and the only pension daving you have is the state pension then you must have ducked, ignored or squandered the multitude of oportunities handed to you over decades.
Now you want us to listen to "it's 'snot fair"
I am 56, 57 this year, product of a single parent family from a large council estate nearby Glasgow.
Father died when mother had just turned 38. She was too young to recieve a widows pension so had to work like hell. Full-time job during the day, part-time at night and a job on a Saturday.
Were the youngest, had an elder brother and sister, we have all done well by ourselves. Not by having a welfare state to support us, rather by seeing that you had to take care of yourself and not rely on others. Joining the Merchant navy at 22yr then going offshore 40yrs has allowed me to plan my retirement outwith any government handout. Only 18 months left and its tend the fields, fish and fruit.
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Thanks to all of you who have posted replies/comments. It has opened up many possible scenarios and conversations.
Up Barmet Narong looking at the preparations and have pointed out to my mate (Might be wrong on this)
If his wife, her mother and daughter were all to pass away in an accident?? Her two brothers would inherit everything. That had his wife jumping up and down so she wants to go down the same route as me to protect him?
Funny old world??
Thanks again to all for advise, being here 7+years now seen many guys loose the shirts on their backs.
But there seems to be some decent/non-mercenary Thai females.
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I've personally lost friends to that drug, it's evil and should be stopped!
Ditto. Agree.
I would go further. They were doing this for personal gain.
In their head they had already spent their wages, without a pico second thought to the carnage their cargo would bring to individuals, their families and the wider society that has to cope with addicts.
I suffered with my youngest son on drugs, sadly he is no longer in this world so have zero tolerance tolerance now.
It is never "A bit of fun", "its harmless". It is a dirty, soul destroying activity to families.
They are not worth a passing thought
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And to think there are some who come here and search out Thai women
Only some..............
I thought we all did.......
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The average expat here I think spends 60-70k a month from what I've read. Some poorer members may not report due to shame, some richer guys may report due to bragging.
Some guys simply lie.
That's a stupid statement if ever I've seen one. 60/70k a month maybe easily in BKK if you live the high life, slightly less in other major cities. Much less out in the sticks! Shame/bragging??
Showing ignorance there Chops, sry.
It is not a stupid statement.
I am at least a 100k+ a month person. I am out every day/night and have a great time living here in Pattaya these past 7 odd years?
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Mmmmm .... dragging back an 18 month old post. Wonder what brought that on ???
Your right ??
I clicked on "View new content" something, somewhere went wrong.
Pom sia jai
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Whats happening to phuket it really is becoming very dangerous for farangs now, tourists and expats alike. The thais , (tuk tuk drivers , jet ski operators , shifty bargirls , corrupt police ) are scaring their breadwinners away.I know thai people cannot alway think straight , but you think someone in the government should realize the damage being done and try to do something about it.
I moved to Thailand in 2003, choose Phuket since I knew and worked with some guys living there. Did not know any better, but have to admit I never felt at ease, comfortable with all the scams etc going on. After the Tsumnami many airlines were pulling out and I could not always get a suitable flight from Phuket to catch my connection in Singapore. Started having to fly to Bangkok, where I would end up speaking to guy who lived "down the road" in Pattaya. Met up with some a few months later and was shocked (Pleasantly). Taxis cheaper, rented villas vastly cheaper, bars etc all cheaper so moved to Pattaya late 2005.
Have been back Phuket a few times to see former work colleagues but the whole attitude from many 'Phuket' Thai's appear downright hostile when compared how the Thai's in Pattaya potray themselves in their dealings with you.
Reading the increasing post's from BM's on the day to day happenings in Phuket, it no longer comes across as an idealistic place one would wish, to retire too anymore.
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does the recognition of a Palestinian state by the UN kill, maim or hurt anybody? stopping aid "if" is just more evidence what kind of power the zionist blackmailers in the Greatest Nation on Earth™and its 51st state Eretz Yisrael wield in Washington.
Eh...
Bit confused with comment/viewpoint above...
Could you stop sitting on the fence and beating around the bush............
Just say where your evenhanded and balanced sympathies lie, or what side of the fence are you shouting from ?
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Been living here 7+years, working offshore China.
Are the girls worth it??
In my opinion yes. Just as any woman will respond kindly being treated kindly, with good manners and respect. It just seems to me that Asian (Thai) females appreciate it and respond in kind with more affection than those that believe it should be the norm without any reciprical behavior.
Had one relationship with a wonderful Thai lady, when we split, she asked for motorbike, I let her keep it.
She did nothing wrong except want marriage and a baby.
The weather, the food, the standard of living and you are centrally placed in Asia, makes Thailand (For me) ideal.
I intend retiring retiring here, this country despite many faults still ticks more postive than negative!
As for the previous post.
Are the girls back home worth staying there for?
My answer............ sadly it is a BIG NO
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Thank you all for replying.
Well thought and informative replies, will be contacting 'Seb' at Issan lawyers.
Intend retiring within 3-4 years and do not want the risk of meeting/falling in love with a woman who has me twisted around her little finger while my head is detached from sane thought process.
If you get what I mean, want to avoid.
Thanks again
TMD
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Halfway through building a house up Chaiyapum.
Firstly there is no Thai girlfriend involved, it is my friends wife who has everything in her name.
Been family friends for 7+years and my mate who I work with has been married to her for 11 years.
She is helping me to build my retirement home (I am 56). She is has a local lawyer who will transfer title of land and house to any Thai Lady I may meet. But she is scared that Thai GF will not have the most honest of motives, so wants me to get independent legal advise.
Sunbelt will be contacted when I come home on leave. At present working offshore, China.
Can someone advise me please on the following and anything else that may spring to mind???
1) Told that if I marry, I can get a lease from my wife for 15 x 2 years to stay in the property, but if we divorce that lease agreement is void, this correct??
2) Also the lease can be sold to a 3rd party.
Is that correct?
3) The person that gives me a lease...... That person dies..... her family inherit the property and can evict me??
This correct
4) Heard that the Thai person who owns the land can sign a document at the land registry giving up rights to the land/house for the duration of my life. (This is more interesting)
Is this correct.
All advise comments welcomed. Realise I will need to take legal advise (Sunbelt?) only wish to know options, pitfalls and questions I will need to have answered.
Thanks in advance.
TMD
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Maybe it is simply a heartwarming tale of true love that withstood the test of time; about a couple who overcame great odds to be reunited. And they triumphed over Japanese bureaucracy, Thai immigration, prejudices about Thai women, stereotypes about Japanese men and the jaded opinions of thaivisa members.
Had to laugh at at your last 5 words. 555 555 555
) and bitter that I have prospered without her, cannot get my dosh that is in the bank, and incandesant with rage that I am happier now than when married (
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Help Needed For Gout Sufferer.
in Health and Medicine
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I suffer from this if I get de-hydrated and have a long haul flight, an attack occurs within 24 hours. I found taking one 0.6mg a day of Colchicine which you buy at any Pharmacy cures it.
20baht for a strip of 10.