spidermike007

31 minutes ago, Scotwight said:

The topic is leaving Thailand.  You are the one who has made it an advertising pitch for the Philippines.    

Wow. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today? Yes, the topic is leaving Thailand. And a big part of that topic for most of us, is where to go next. Pardon my offense for making a suggestion, and providing some information to support that suggestion. Damn. Hope you day improves, and may you live long and prosper. 

17 minutes ago, Scotwight said:

So, the new topic is how much we all love the Philippines and women from a particular country are all the same? 

Of course I am generalizing here. But, I have experienced it myself, and have heard it from dozens of men over the years, including friends who used to live here, and in Cambodia too, and compare those spots to the PI. On so many levels they prefer Philippine women. I am married to a Thai woman who I adore, and know alot of really lovely Thai women. But, this is just for the sake of comparison. And I would say the general rule of thumb is the older you are, and the younger you like them, the more this applies. Much more so in the PI, than here in the LOS.

1 minute ago, dick dasterdly said:

Never under-estimate the capacity of ex-pats in any particular country to exaggerate the advantages of their chosen country - to validate their decision!

 

I came away with a negative impression of Filipinos after a 5 week holiday in a tourist area (about 15 years ago), but perhaps I was unlucky.

First of all the place has changed alot in 15 years. It has grown, and it has gotten more developed. The infrastructure is better now, than it was back then. Also, you really need to see different parts of the country, to get a feel for the place. Manila is one of the least interesting, and most congested capital cities in Asia. So, you have to travel around. The culture is incredibly diverse, so people are different wherever you go. Many dialects, and many different ways of life there. In the few trips I have had there I came away with a very positive impression of the people. Also, the Philippine people I know in the US, and here are impressive people. Hard working, straight forward, smart, quick witted, educated, and they speak great english! Need I say more?

1 hour ago, dcnx said:

 

They all left the PI to work.  There are no jobs there.  That's the only reason Filipinos willingly leave. 

This is very true. They are the largest remitters of foreign currency on the planet. The PI is still very poor. Which is good for an ex-pat who chooses to live there. There is alot of potential upside for us. They have real ghettos, and very poor people. Not so here. 

37 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

I'm in my 10th year here in Thailand, still enjoying it although not as much as when I first came here. Have a house in Isaan, a condo in Jomtien where I go chill and eat by the beach, living in Bangkok most of the year and thinking of having a place up North in CM / CR for the winter months.

 

Things I dislike, particularly about Bangkok is the horrendous traffic, idiotic drivers, the oppressive heat, difficulty in communicating (I speak passable Thai), nonsensical rules and regulations (from immigration to traffic issues) and corrupt policemen. Apart from that, I still love the food (though not as much as street side food in countries like Malaysia), the good quality of life that I enjoy and the reasonable prices.

 

However, as time goes by, I believe that the cons will outgrow the pros and that will be the time to start thinking about moving. HK and S'pore are out because of the high cost of living. Met some lovely Vietnamese ladies in HCM although I personally don't think I would enjoy living there (not sure about other parts of Vietnam). PI sounds a good alternative - have friends who rave about life there. Laos might be a bit too backwater. Wasn't impressed by Phnom Penh or the cuisine.

 

At any rate, will wait for the big event and take it from there.

Good points. I happen to love Bangkok, but I do not live there, and only visit as often as I can. I do not think I would enjoy more than two weeks at a time there. 

Of all of those spots, the only one that would appeal to me for living is the PI. It really has alot going for it. The nature there is spectacular. Far more unspoiled than in Thailand. And far more rain. So very lush, with super clean air, outside of the cities, and amazing water, that is as good as, or better than the Andaman. Now, if Thailand has some more options for living on the Andaman, besides the tired, worn out, and grossly overpriced Phuket, it might be a whole different story. Though there are some nice beaches on the Gulf, the water is really inferior, and too polluted. Also too shallow, so not much circulation. The waters in the PI, the diving, and the adventure and travel options with over 7,000 islands, are endless. 

Another plus is the visa policy. Far less cumbersome than Thailand. 

Though there are alot of ex-pats living in Thailand, it seems to me that the ex-pat community is far larger in the PI. I do not know the exact numbers. But in certain spots, there are thousands of ex-pats. A lot more Americans than in Thailand, probably because of the long relationship between the PI and the US. And the fact that it is so much more Westernized. So, the place does not feel like another planet, as Thailand often does. The people here really have no concept of the outside world, nor do they seem particularly interested. And that brings up my final point. There seems to be something about the educational system here that discourages curiosity, and interest in the world at large. Not so in the PI. People are far more fluent in geography, seem much better educated, more curious, more alive on some levels, and most definitely more interested in foreigners, and learning, and expanding their horizons. That would be very, very refreshing, to be around people like that. Plus the average Philippine speaks very good english, can read and write english, and it makes communicating so much easier. And the signs are in an alphabet we can recognize! I get so tired sometimes of the extreme lack of english. Even on major Thai websites. Astonishing, really, how behind the curve they are here when it comes to english. 

Having said all that, there are some real downsides to living there. The infrastructure is far inferior to Thailand, and so is the food. The place is not as secure as here, and there is alot more crime. Vehicles seem to be even costlier than here. However, the PI has a far more intelligent and visionary import and duty system, which makes it far easier to enjoy imported goods, or have things sent over from overseas. Many foreign products are cheaper. The place in general is cheaper than Thailand.

If you are willing to deal with the downside, you can enjoy a very good life there, especially as a single man, where the place ranks very close to paradise, according to several men I know that live there. PI women can be exquisite, and are far, far, far less cunning, and infinitely less jaded than the majority of Thai women, and as a result of that, their requirements, desires and expectations seem to be a fraction of what the average Thai woman wants, or needs. 

16 minutes ago, Scotwight said:

I have Philippine friends who had to go back this week.  Crying at the airport and everyone upset.  They have lived in Thailand for 10 years.  Had children here.  Educated here.  All say no comparison between Thailand and Philippines.    

 

If thousands of Philippine people come to Thailand to work and live and feel going back is like a death sentence that has to tell you something.  No?  

 

That and I've a couple of friends who ran afoul of the church there.  It is easy to have church problems there and almost impossible to have church problems here.  If you had lived there you would know what I was talking about.  Nutty place.  But go try.  Better if you avoid any personal relationships and are a hermit then everything might turn out OK.   

Like everything in life, there are pros and cons. From a relationship point of view, the PI has Thailand beat by miles, and miles and miles. The PI women are superior on countless levels. And I am married to an exceptional Thai woman. But, if I were single, I know where I would move in a nanosecond. The overall quality of life is definitely better in Thailand. But, it is more expensive, and the people are a bit more jaded. That is especially true of most of the women. One other advantage with the PI, is that the men are infinitely more interesting, intellectually. Most Thai men do not seem to want to be bothered with developing friendships with foreigners. Not so in the PI. Again, an example of how much more open minded the people are there, and how interested they are in the world around them. 

No question the church there holds alot of sway. That may be slowly changing. But, they are hanging on for dear life, till their last gasping breath. They do influence alot. Especially the inability to get divorced. That is quite heinous. But, most people I know who marry PI women refuse to marry in the PI. They do it elsewhere. Smart. One must resist stupid and ignorant policy, with all the power in one's being. 

No idea what you are referring to about you avoidance of personal relationships. I have alot of wonderful relationships all over the world. Best if you stay on topic. 

On August 31, 2016 at 5:25 AM, Jools said:

Since they're so concerned about our wellbeing, they might consider breaking some heads at the Jomtien songtheaw mafia. These scum poke and prod passengers in an effort to pack the seats as full as they can. They are abusive and will make you get out of the songtheaw if you protest about being touched. They need to find several of their number washed up on Pattaya Beach. The lowest form of life imaginable.

Many of us consider the songtheaw guys to be difficult, but sort of ok, and tuk tuk guys to be quite obnoxious, and by far the worst. I avoid them like the bubonic plague, and spanish influenza. I am ok with most taxi drivers in Bangkok, but on the southern islands, they have been allowed to fester for a generation with little to no regulation by a fabulously indifferent series of governments. I am definitely ok with most moto bike taxi drivers. They have a hard job, and most perform it quite well. But, those other guys? In Pattaya, Phuket, and on Samui they seem to be the worst. Really low lifes. Really abusive. 

4 minutes ago, Scotwight said:

So, did you enjoy your weekend with the Philippine travel brochures?  When are you planning to visit?

I have visited a few times already. Plan to go back soon. Have a dear friend who just moved there from Thailand. So, will be traveling there often. I really like the people there. 

Your cynicism knows no bounds. I suggest you get out more. 

One has to wonder if there is any sincerity behind these proposals. They are so long overdue, and the country is so deficient when it comes to traffic safety. Thailand remains #2 in the world in traffic fatalities, and is fast catching up with Libya. Maybe the TAT can brag about that too. I have never seen a speeding ticket being issued here. I have heard stories, but of all the days I have spent on the highways, have never seen one. On many occasions I am traveling at 120kph, which I consider the maximum safe speed on a Thai highway, and people shoot past me doing 150-180 kph. With all of the obstacles, outlets, U-turn lanes, slow trucks and out of control drivers, reasonable speeds are required if one is concerned about survival, and the preservation of ones limbs, and one's family. 

There is so much to be done, one does not even know where to start. I suppose adding another 2,500 highway patrol cars would be a good place to start, and taking the existing highway patrolmen to the wood shed for hanging out in the office, and playing cards, pokeman and watching you tube would also be a good start. Get those guys out onto the highways. They only seem to show up after an accident. Another good place to start would be to start writing 10,000 baht reckless driving tickets. My guess is the word would travel around the nation in a few days, and people would start to consider that, when driving like banshees from hell. 

11 hours ago, AlexRich said:

 

Where is the safest place to stay in the Philippines? The one thing that comes up time and again is how dangerous it can be, compared to Thailand. I just wondered if there was an area that is generally regarded as being safe?

In general the PI is safe to visit and spend time. You just have to be more careful than you would normally be in Thailand. The place is alot poorer, so there are occasional crimes of desperation. You have to be discreet, and keep your eyes open. Most Philippine people are really lovely. Far friendlier, and far, far more open than most Thais. They are more aware of the world, and are far more Westernized than the Thai people. They do not seem xenophobic at all, and the nationalism bug has not bitten them, like it has here. One thing to be aware of is that alot of PI men are skilled fighters. Much, much more so than the average Thai man. So, you do not want to get in a scuffle with them. It usually does not end well. But having said that, most are far friendlier than most Thai men. In general, they are much more open minded people.

13 hours ago, bannork said:

all in the name of investigative journalism of course.

Definitely not something to be proud of. Just consider what he will be thinking, when he looks at this photo in ten years.

16 hours ago, phycokiller said:

I could be wrong but I seem to remember this particular vendor being in the news before for similar behavior, but considering the jetski boys got away with their violence daily for a decade or two and bar bouncers still regularly beat their customers in the streets I dont think abuse of tourists is the biggest concern Thais have

That is a fairly astute observation. The little man talks about how important tourism is, and the midget mind heading the Tourism Ministry always goes on and on about what a great job everyone is doing, and how tourism is booming. But, how much time and energy and resources are devoted to the safety and welfare of the much coveted tourists, once they arrive here? What kinds of resources are available for tourists? How strongly do the police advocate for the safety of tourists? 

There is dreadfully little energy put into this on the part of the authorities. Public safety, traffic safety, and the welfare of the people has never been high on the agenda of this non-visionary administration. 

1 hour ago, rott said:

Can you even lie straight in bed? I think the violence the OP had in mind is the habit of every Thai in sight joining in when there is a dispute between a Thai and a farang, and all putting the boot in together.

 

I think it was the unnecessary and pathetic "whinging pom" comment in your first post that initially put me off you. Nothing the junta has done has had any effect on my daily life either, or on anyone else's that I know of. Pity nothing has happened about the petty corruption after we were told it was going to be eliminated, but perhaps they will do it before the election. There is possibly still time.

 

What did you do before TV? You have done almost as many posts in 10 months as I have done in nearly 10 years.

 

Anyway, have a good day now.

The corruption that he promised to eliminate, was corruption amongst those without much money, power, connections, family name, political or military office, or influence. Those people are seeing some resistance, and some are getting arrested or jailed. Absolutely NOBODY in a position of power or influence is seeing any difference in their lifestyle. The term above the law has always been applicable here, and the Little man has done everything in his power to protect the elite, powerful and wealthy. Everything. And nothing to disrupt the flow. 

2 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

 

Did you live-in jerry seinfelds building?

 

 

Funny man. No, just had alot of friends nearby, and it was considered perfectly acceptable to just knock on someone's door, and say hey. Not so in LA. Not so here, from my point of view. NY is just a spontaneous kind of culture. A unique place, on alot of levels. From my point of view, the center of the universe. Culturally, most definitely. 

On August 23, 2016 at 11:56 AM, DennisF said:

I can fully understand the wanting to get back here, really!

 

The so called pressures are nothing specific, just a build up of straws that have broken the camels back.

 

Not sure which straw was the final weight!

 

I have lived in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Issan and found them all to be acceptable and enjoyable.

 

I just feel quality of life here has deteriorated substantially in the last 10/12 years.

Not to sound too pessimistic, but I find the quality of life has deteriorated nearly everywhere in the world in the past 12 years. People are under more pressure, lifestyles have diminished, salaries have barely risen, inflation (despite the nonsensical drivel they keep trotting out) keeps driving up prices, the political climate is bad in most places, and in general people seem more disenchanted than they were before. 

So, my question is where to? I continue to ask myself that same question, from time to time. If not here, where? I have considered the PI. Nice people, gorgeous water, reasonable, etc. But horrendous food, security issues, storm issues, and other problems. So, where to?

It is called Luk Thep. A celebrity showed up on a TV show some time back, with one of these fabulously ridiculous dolls. He talked about the monk blessing it, and installing a real soul inside it. He claimed it was alive. It became a nationwide phenomenon, with the airlines going as far as developing seating policy for these stupid dolls. Many are still drinking the kool aid. My guess, is that most of these people do not have real lives. Whether or not the men were gay has nothing to do with anything. It is people from all walks of life here that have participated in this utter and complete nonsense. And these dolls sell for around 20,000 baht! The entire planet is mocking Thailand over this.

The phenomenon of Thailand’s luk thep dolls reached viral status in January 2016, when Thai Smile Airways started to allow passengers to purchase seats and meals for their realistic dolls. Luk thep, which translates to child angel, resemble American Girl, or Reborn dolls, and have become an intriguing part of Thai culture to the outside world.

http://time.com/4353544/thailand-luk-thep-doll/

Nobody ever comes to my place unannounced. When I lived in NY, it was part of the culture. You would just be walking around town, and you could knock on a friends door. But here? Never. Announce your arrival in advance please. 

There is a percentage of the male population that just allows life to happen to them. If it works for them, power to them. But, for most of us, we prefer a bit more control over our lives, and prefer to deliberately limit the amount of chaos we have to deal with. 

15 hours ago, Langsuan Man said:

Of course Thailand has had such positve luck in manipulating their currency for the benefit of the export section.....I mean the Asian Economic Crisis of 1997...barely impacted Thailand because the BOT acted with such acumen  NOT

 

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Asian_financial_crisis

Let us not forget that benevolent citizen Thaksin was partly responsible, by shorting his home currency to a massive degree. He and his buddies made a fortune on the economic downfall of his nation. And that was before he became PM!

Speaking of toads, at this present moment, there are two toads running for the office of president of the United States. 

2 minutes ago, Banana7 said:

Well 18B baht doesn't convert to US$6B.

At Oanada 18,000,000,000 THB is USD$519,845,000 or GBP 397,107,000

 

yes, I stand corrected.

8 minutes ago, 1337markus said:

Simple solution so Thai vendors wont have to think. All tourists boycott Pattaya; then there is no need to chase tourists off the beach. In CNX it happened to the Chinese being boycotted but now who pays the vendors money? LOL.

While it is a decent concept, it would never happen. Pattaya is now part of many Chinese tours. It is easy to get to, relatively inexpensive for the tour operators to book rooms (as there are hundreds of hotels willing to discount their rooms substantially, as long as it is not public knowledge) and they can include:

"tour of the wild crazy sex workers zone"

"see how the Thai sex industry thrives"

"witness the lives of the Thai hookers"

"come and see hundreds of lady boys all dressed up"

"visit the morally depraved zones of Sin City"

Has anyone really stopped to consider these prices? Nine acres for $600 million US? 

There is a second reason to not eat toads. Self esteem. Why would anyone who is sane, and living on the same planet as we occupy, want to eat one of these horrendously ugly, and slimy beasts? What on earth makes them think that is a good and correct thing to do? What are they thinking? Are they thinking? Are they from planet earth?

There are countless reason to not eat toads. Common sense dictates that. Oh I forgot. 

There is plenty of room for both deck chairs, and people laying on the beach. The deck chair worms do not own the beach. All that is required is for the police to give them a major slap up the back of the head, and fine them 50,000 baht for abuse of tourists, payable within 24 hours, or the permanent loss of their concession. The word will get around, and within 24 hours all tourists using the beach without renting chairs will be left alone. End of story. All that is required to resolve these kinds of problems are a firm hand on the part of authorities, and some coherent and consistent policy. Problem solved. 

The few remaining Western tourists who are visiting Thailand, deserve more hospitality and respect than this. The last thing in the world they want to encounter is a screaming, petulant, entitled, arrogant, small minded, non-visionary Thai harassing them on the beach, because they are not renting one of their chairs. How boring. How petty. How unintelligent a thing for them to do. They need some discipline. The police need to do some real law enforcement work. I realize it feels alien to them, but they need to do it. 

If the same vendor is charged with a second offense, they should be permanently removed from the beach, their concession should be permanently revoked, and they should be blacklisted from having a beach concession anywhere in Thailand, for the rest of their lives. Problem solved. 

The reality is, if Obama was not so soft, and easily bought, they would be paying this amount to the US. It is an American company, that has been allowed to skirt US tax policy for quite some time, due to ridiculous loopholes in the law. Corporate tax policy in the US is completely broken. Why not just admit that fact, and begin to reform the system? Most corporations pay far lower taxes, percentage wise, than most individuals, that are not super rich. The super rich pay very little as they can afford creative advisors, and the tax code was designed with them in mind.