What Is The Long Term Prognosis For The Farang In Thailand

[Boon Mee]

Not to mention that they have all had serious revolutions within our lifetime.

The worst one was in '98 when the Baht went from 25/1 to 45/1 (USD)!

[Ulysses G.]

If you have doubts you should leave now. I will remain and endure the growing pains of the political process in Thailand. It has been worse and will always be in flux. I would not compare Thailand to Laos , Vietnam or Cambodia. The same problems will happen there soon enough.

yes mate,

all this talk of bolting over to vietnam, cambodia and laos is a load of <deleted>.

ive been to all these country's and one would have to be mad to think things are fantastic over there compared to thailand.

but if you think better boys, off you go then and good luck.

Quite right.

terry 57 strikes once again!

[Boon Mee]

Quite right.

terry 57 strikes once again!

Where's my kiss - kiss gif when I need it?...

[Jonson83]

If you have doubts you should leave now. I will remain and endure the growing pains of the political process in Thailand. It has been worse and will always be in flux. I would not compare Thailand to Laos , Vietnam or Cambodia. The same problems will happen there soon enough.

yes mate,

all this talk of bolting over to vietnam, cambodia and laos is a load of <deleted>.

ive been to all these country's and one would have to be mad to think things are fantastic over there compared to thailand.

but if you think better boys, off you go then and good luck.

They are just 'babies' compared to Thailand though,but they are growing up and growing up fast.

Ive spent plenty of time in all four and i can honestly say LOS isn't all that much better.

[Pringle]

Today I talked with my Thai middle management collegues ... more than a little surprised at their very strong feelings about some of the indecision making coming out of Bangkok. Tonight we learn that the Foreign holdings law is to be reversed - this may or may not let the company I am with off the hook.

To say it is very dis-organised is something of an understatement.

My Thai collegures also do not understand why someone is able to buy a condo here then not allowed to live in it for six months of the year (ie, snowbirds).

They fully back the changes to the VOA to stop the monthly border run guys who spend most of thier time dossing on beachs or generally not contributing to the economy here. But they said it made no sense to have a 3 visits then 90 days out - that directly affected regualr visitors with a track record of weekend visits - those people wern't abusing the system, just spending money here.

They didn't understand why, if the authorities were so worried about illegal working, why they didn't just issue tax numbers to people who are over the 3 months limit, and peg the tax payable to the minimum foreign wage (of 50,000B). A quick and simple solution which brings in 3500B per month from all long term visitors. A win/win situation.

They couldn't agree on the question of the rules being any foreigner. They thought it was a move to shut down the old regimes business interests, such as the Shinapore influence. But the did agree that the way everything has been done is so careless as to make it seem that anti-foreign.

For me, I'll ride out the storm until it become impossible. I can live with the crazy administration stuff - like being asked to pay immigration a 2000b fine for not having a piece of paper in my passport, a piece of paper they forgot to staple in. I can live with the insane idea of having to keep 200,000B in the bank just have a credit card to have a limit of 200,000B (why don't I just spend the money using a swiped ATM free? ie, its not a credit card). That's the kind of TIT stuff that makes living here so much fun - it makes absolutely no sense whatsever.

50B says its gets more crazy before it gets better again.

Pringle.

[OlRedEyes]

I am staying for the moment, for my own reasons.

I do think that in comparing Thailand to the other options, there are two things to take into account:

Which direction is Thailand moving in, and which is it's neighbours taking. They may be behind in development, but going in a much more positive direction for expats. For business, that is also a positive.

The devil you know is better than the one you don't. Inertia of being ensconed where you are has to be overcome. So long before we start really leaving, new ones will stop coming.

I really think there are a few countries currently offering a better future for me, and more welcoming generally, but I really don't feel like moving right now. Simple.

[dradrian]

I guess from this discussion, i shouldnt consider buying proprty yet but wait to see?

I have been preparing to retire to LOS in 2 years with about 600k USD at he grand age of 48. Deal or no deal? advise please.

I love the place and wasnt aware of the direction since the coup as I havnt visted. plan to in march though

adrian

[Scott]

It is basically not a developing country, but a developed country (almost). As such, it's immigration and business policies are becoming more stringent. This happens to be affecting foreigners who, as non-citizens, have little control or voice in the manner. The next step is to see things tightening up on the Thai side, i.e., less corruption, more enforcement of laws etc. That will tell the story of the direction the country is going.

Most every country is Xenophobic. When times are tough, it's because of all those damned people from OTHER countries--refugees, illegal immigrants, whatever!

[terry57]

I guess from this discussion, i shouldnt consider buying proprty yet but wait to see?

I have been preparing to retire to LOS in 2 years with about 600k USD at he grand age of 48. Deal or no deal? advise please.

I love the place and wasnt aware of the direction since the coup as I havnt visted. plan to in march though

adrian

why not invest your money in your home country low yield, low risk, nice and safely, and just come and rent a very nice condo.

this is what i am going to do mate and then you can just retire here and have a wonderful life not worrying about all this other crap.

theres no need to buy anything as rents are cheap and why worry about things when you dont have to.

the people that have worryies on this thread are the already established business people.

theres no need for you to enter this game.

[kmart]

If you have doubts you should leave now. I will remain and endure the growing pains of the political process in Thailand. It has been worse and will always be in flux. I would not compare Thailand to Laos , Vietnam or Cambodia. The same problems will happen there soon enough.

yes mate,

all this talk of bolting over to vietnam, cambodia and laos is a load of <deleted>.

ive been to all these country's and one would have to be mad to think things are fantastic over there compared to thailand.

but if you think better boys, off you go then and good luck.

They are just 'babies' compared to Thailand though,but they are growing up and growing up fast.

Ive spent plenty of time in all four and i can honestly say LOS isn't all that much better.

I have visited those countries and I'm glad to say that coming back here was a relief. I agree that the teething troubles that Thailand has endured with development is just starting to bite in those countries as well. People say that Thailand is xenophobic, but communist / socialist countries really take the biscuit for that. There are good opportunities in those countries for business, but the authorities are looking over your shoulder all the time, and the law there is much weaker than even here in Thailand.

Be careful what you wish for.

[bendix]

Good thread, and a lot of common sense posted on it.

Yes, these are interesting times in Thailand and, yes, it looks less stable now than it was 2 years ago when i arrived, but the country is going through a substantial change of government. Mistakes will be made, and - hopefully - corrected. Cock-ups will occur, and we will react, and then life will get back to normal.

Despite the 'turmoil' (which, frankly, isn't giving me any sleepless nights) every single aspect of my life in Thailand (career, personal, financial, health, peace of mind) remains immeasurably better in Thailand than it was in either the UK, Australia and New Zealand where I have lived before.

Laos or Cambodia as better alternatives? You gotta be kidding me.

[1Lucky]

My view is that yes things are getting more tricky for farangs in thailand now. Personally I think this is a shame and the hamfisted manner in which this is being achieved will likely cause more detriment than benefit to the Kingdom, though I'm sure there will be some benefits for thailand.

in terms of whether it is therefore time to move away I think that depends on what kind of character you are. really to be based here I think you need to be flexible enough to take the rough with the smooth and expect that there will be difficult times here as well as very pleasant times (as modern history here shows). you need to be able to adapt and find new ways to overcome (or get around) the new hurdles - and after all this being thailand such ways will surely be found for those flexible enough to find them. If you don't want the hassle and prefer and easier life maybe somewhere more stable like Singapore would be the way to go.

Amazing how all those who cheerfully welcomed the removal of democracy in thailand are now beginning to remove their heads from the sand.

[terry57]

Good thread, and a lot of common sense posted on it.

Yes, these are interesting times in Thailand and, yes, it looks less stable now than it was 2 years ago when i arrived, but the country is going through a substantial change of government. Mistakes will be made, and - hopefully - corrected. Cock-ups will occur, and we will react, and then life will get back to normal.

Despite the 'turmoil' (which, frankly, isn't giving me any sleepless nights) every single aspect of my life in Thailand (career, personal, financial, health, peace of mind) remains immeasurably better in Thailand than it was in either the UK, Australia and New Zealand where I have lived before.

Laos or Cambodia as better alternatives? You gotta be kidding me.

im starting to like you bendix,

but i must say that i liked your other avatar better were you were swearing at everyone.

[bendix]

but i must say that i liked your other avatar better were you were swearing at everyone.

So did I, but some killjoy member complained to Those Who Must Be Obeyed, and I was asked to change it.

[aussiestyle1983]

Great thread. Its interesting to hear the opinions of others on this matter.

I have a work permit and I work as a teacher, but I will be leaving. My wife just got her migrant visa to Australia (where there is a lot more common sense) and I have decided, even though I am now legal here, we can actually have a better life in Australia. Beggers cant be choosers and this country is desperate for teachers, yet the requirements to be a legal teacher here are ridiculous! Its actually harder to qualify to be a legal teacher here in this poor third world country than it is is many first world countries. //edit - lopburi3// So I think with all thats gone on recently and what possible events might happen in the near future, farangland is the better option for myself at the moment.