Top Ten hard truths of living as an expat in Thailand

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Top Ten hard truths of living as an expat in Thailand

By Tim Newton

 

 

There will be bumps along the way between your visits to the beach, bar and immigration office (sometimes the bumps will be at the beach, bar and immigration office). Expat life is what you make it here in the Land of Smiles. Moaning about it never helps but accepting the bumps is part of the adventure. Here are our Top Ten Hard Truths for expats in Thailand.

 

1. VISAS ARE A PAIN IN THE NECK

You have plenty of options but the options never quite fit into your line of work or expectations. But between the Non-B visa, Retirement visa, Education visa, Tourist visa, Elite visa and Smart visa, along with a few visa runs and trips to your local immigration office, you can usually fernangle a long-term stay in Thailand (yes, we know we used nick names for some of the visas). One way or the other you will need to keep your paperwork up to date as the fines for over-stays and visa problems can be quite aggressive and difficult to negotiate your way around these days. There’s plenty of good information on the net about visas but, despite what you read, interpretation may be different on the day you visit the local office and depending who you end up speaking too.

 

At the end of the day, ask yourself how difficult is it for Thai citizens to live in your country…

 

2. YOU CALL IT CORRUPTION. THEY CALL IT BUSINESS.

You are a guest in a foreign country. Thailand has a long history of independence and hasn’t been tainted with a lot of western influence. Unlike Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia. Philippines and India (just to list the countries around Thailand), there has never been western colonisation of the Kingdom. And most Thais will be delighted to remind you of this proud fact. The down-side is that your perception of western efficiencies and customs are going to be challenged whenever you want to do just about anything. And there will be times when you will be asked, or invited, to put your hand in your pocket to get something happening – it could be a building project, a visa, getting your accounting done or getting a signature on a contract. If you are running a business in Thailand you’ll be invited more often than if you’re just living the single life here. Be shocked, be angry, be determined to point out your issues with corruption – it’s not going to change a system that has been in place for generations and unlikely to change much during your time in the Kingdom.

 

Full story: https://www.phuketgazette.net/lifestyle/top-ten-hard-truths-living-expat-thailand

 

-- © Copyright Phuket Gazette 2018-02-02

[Samui Bodoh]

Good, well-written article that should be given to all who come here for a long stay!

 

However,

 

"The 20-something bar girl with the short skirt and fetching smile probably doesn’t love you."

 

is just plain wrong. They have told me on numerous occasions that they love me and I believe them.

 

 

[ezzra]

There are probably more ' hard truths ' of living in Thailand that the article didn't cover,

but we're here for now until we find a better place to live....

[isaanbanhou]

 

 

"The 20-something  with the short skirt and fetching smile working in the bar  possibly isn t a female"

[Ruffian Dick]

I don't mind paying bribes, I just dislike over-paying bribes.

[Thaiwrath]

11. Beware of some expats, especially the ones who try to be your best friend, despite having just met you.

       Also, don't always believe the 'ex S.A.S., Navy Seal, Special forces' bullshit, as most who have done it, will 

        never ever mention it.  

[inThailand]

Add...

 

Don't believe 98% of the stuff posted on expat forums. For the most part, its down right false and hersay.

[ukrules]

But never lose your temper and try not to raise your voice because it’s just not the Thai way.

 

Rubbish, Thai people lose their temper, shout and scream and do anything they can to try and get their own way and that's just one example I saw in the Banana IT computer shop in Market Village, Hua Hin.

[steven100]

37 minutes ago, isaanbanhou said:

 

 

"The 20-something  with the short skirt and fetching smile working in the bar  possibly isn t a female"

Just for you '  Moaning about it never helps but accepting the bumps is part of the adventure '   

In other words .....  either just accept it and it's workings or move on  !!  

[Kadilo]

Nothing new there then.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[bluesofa]

"7. BUT THAT’S NOT HOW I DID IT LAST TIME!

Immigration rules, negotiating with police, business rules, road rule enforcement. The way you tackle some of these day-to-day little ‘impediments’ should be treated as a single adventure and not to be referred to in the future as the-way-things-are-done."

 

That's jogged my memory about that very subject of immigration.

 

One year when extending my permission to stay, I was talking to the IO that he'd asked me for something different to the previous year. He knew it wasn't a complaint, but just a comment, as I had more than enough documents with me to cover the requirements.

The IO said in a resigned-sort-of-a-voice, that yes, and next year they'll change the system again, so I'll have to ask you something different next year.

I appreciated his honesty and could see he was just as fed-up with the system as the applicants.

[gunderhill]

14 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Just for you '  Moaning about it never helps but accepting the bumps is part of the adventure '   

In other words .....  either just accept it and it's workings or move on  !!  

If nobody ever complained about anything  the world would be a  seriously  screwed  up  place.

[steven100]

6 minutes ago, gunderhill said:

If nobody ever complained about anything  the world would be a  seriously  screwed  up  place.

agree .... but there are some keyboard warrior here who achieve nothing by pounding on their keyboard day in day out just for the sake of moaning. lol

Edited February 1, 2018 by steven100

[Rc2702]

Just now, steven100 said:

agree .... but there are some keyboard warrior here who achieve nothing by pounding on their keyboard day in day out just for the sake of moaning. lol

Lol. How true is that lad. Lol. Just for the sake of typing they go and say something so blinking obvious and useless about something obvious and totally and utterly useless. It's a dangerous game and some people are suckers.

[Laza 45]

1 hour ago, isaanbanhou said:

 

 

"The 20-something  with the short skirt and fetching smile working in the bar  possibly isn t a female"

 

[gunderhill]

24 minutes ago, steven100 said:

agree .... but there are some keyboard warrior here who achieve nothing by pounding on their keyboard day in day out just for the sake of moaning. lol

Gives them some relief

[Colabamumbai]

55 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

11. Beware of some expats, especially the ones who try to be your best friend, despite having just met you.

       Also, don't always believe the 'ex S.A.S., Navy Seal, Special forces' bullshit, as most who have done it, will 

        never ever mention it.  

I try to make a few foreign friends here living in a small town. I find most ignore me if I say good morning, or hello as I pass them on the street or in a store. I am not looking for anything more than intelligent conversation with a foreigner. I don't do bars.

[gunderhill]

9 minutes ago, Laza 45 said:

 

"Derek"  looks  ok

[catman20]

1 hour ago, Ruffian Dick said:

I don't mind paying bribes, I just dislike over-paying bribes.

extortion ?

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

 

But never lose your temper and try not to raise your voice because it’s just not the Thai way.

Seems, the writer has never seen two Thais fighting... This is as much a half-truth as: "Thais always smile", "Thais are 'jai-dee' ", or "there is no prostitution in Thailand". Nice-sounding,  empty phrases that have nothing to do with reality.

Edited February 2, 2018 by StayinThailand2much

[BaldPlumber]

Am I the only one who has never met anyone who has claimed to be ex-SAS or Navy Seal?

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, BaldPlumber said:

Am I the only one who has never met anyone who has claimed to be ex-SAS or Navy Seal?

You obviously don't mix with the right sort of bullsh!ters.

[Jeremy50]

Colonisation has never 'tainted' Thailand. Notwithstanding that Chantaburi province was 'colonised' by the French from 1900 to 1910.  The British and the French, having been enemies for hundreds of years, needed the Thailand 'buffer zone' between their respective empires. Otherwise Thailand would have been reaping the same benefits of having been colonised as other countries in the region. And benefits there undeniably were. Yes, yes, I know about all the drawbacks, so no need to remind me.

[leeneeds]

More donation envelopes than I have ever seen, 

always done in private!

[catman20]

8 minutes ago, Colabamumbai said:

I try to make a few foreign friends here living in a small town. I find most ignore me if I say good morning, or hello as I pass them on the street or in a store. I am not looking for anything more than intelligent conversation with a foreigner. I don't do bars.

your gonna struggle with that one here mate. i gave up years ago talking to farangs

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, Jeremy50 said:

Colonisation has never 'tainted' Thailand. Notwithstanding that Chantaburi province was 'colonised' by the French from 1900 to 1910.  The British and the French, having been enemies for hundreds of years, needed the Thailand 'buffer zone' between their respective empires. Otherwise Thailand would have been reaping the same benefits of having been colonised as other countries in the region. And benefits there undeniably were. Yes, yes, I know about all the drawbacks, so no need to remind me.

Didn't the Thai army surrender to the Japanese only after a day or so during WW2?

But that's not colonisation...despite the fact they had Thai/Japanese banknotes during the war.

I'm happy to stand (well, sit) corrected if I'm way out on that one.

[Jai Dee]

A baiting troll post as well as a reply have been removed from this thread.

 

Please stick to the subject matter and keep any personal comments about other members to yourself.

[StayinThailand2much]

9 minutes ago, BaldPlumber said:

Am I the only one who has never met anyone who has claimed to be ex-SAS or Navy Seal?

Haven't met one in 20 odd years, coming to Thailand. Maybe searching for them in the wrong places... 

[Rc2702]

Pattaya where you have more chance of meeting a retired SAS general than a postman.

 

It's ok to believe you are handsome in thailand even if you are fat and bald. Hard core truth.... ok a bit of a lie but not too much.

 

 

 

 

[Kadilo]

16 minutes ago, BaldPlumber said:

Am I the only one who has never met anyone who has claimed to be ex-SAS or Navy Seal?

They are all in Pattaya undercover .........in a bar.