Charitable Reiner Abele is much more than just “The Kindest German in Thailand!”

 

 

A charitable German who loves his Thai wife and his life in Thailand may be more than just “The Kindest German in Thailand” – he may be one of the most sensible expats you’d ever meet.

 

Reiner Abele has been in the news recently after he was featured and praised in the Thai press for giving daily alms to monks at his Pattaya house and preparing food for the homeless of places like Beach Road.

 

He was also featured with some of his celebrity friends helping a destitute old lady living in a shack behind a neighborhood hospital.

 

He earned the tongue-in-cheek "kindest German" moniker after a compatriot beggar drew ire from some Thais and expats in the country.

 

Yesterday Thaivisa caught up with Reiner who told us about his life in Thailand and Germany. An unassuming man it was not his idea to promote himself but he took the time to explain about his past, present and future.

 

Reiner is 63, has known his wife Angkana for 27 years and has been coming to Thailand off and on for 30 years. He was a policeman in Germany but is now retired and living on a pension.

 

A Christian he said that he is also closely connected to Buddhism as it is fascinating and leaves him “spellbound”.

 

“I retired eight months ago and I have never worked in Thailand,” he said on Friday. “I live on my old age pension.

 

“We have enough for living and also a little bit more so I like to share that with poor people and those living on the street.

 

“I also stand with my darling wife to donate to monks. These things make me happy and give me a good feeling in my life".

 

Reiner apologized for his English though it was excellent. He said that he converses with his wife in German as his Thai is poor. Angkana passed exams in German while they were living there in his hometown of Sinsheim about 120 kms south of Frankfurt.

 

Comparing Germany and Thailand he said: “Every country has its advantages and disadvantages. Germany is my homeland and country of birth, Thailand is the same for my wife. So I love both countries with their different and fascinating cultures.

 

Asked about how he feels about expats who always seem to complain about Thailand especially on online forums, he said:

 

“As a rule, they are people who cannot get their country’s mindset out of their heads. These people also cannot agree with the Thai culture. Although they think they are smart and know everything, in reality it is only superficial knowledge as it is with tourists.

 

He said he was reluctant to comment on other Germans living in Thailand but in general terms he said: “There are good and bad people among them as everywhere in the world. However, most Germans will never really understand Thai culture. Even if they try it seriously they can never shrug off their home thinking".

 

 

He said he subscribed to Thaivisa on Facebook and likes to read the articles there. He has also been featured online in the German language on the “Der Farang” page.

 

He continued: “I never want to completely separate my roots and connections to Germany no matter if I decide to live in Thailand forever. Currently I am still commuting between the two countries.

 

“In Germany I have a son aged 18 and many friends who I miss. I have many friends, Thai and foreigners, in Thailand. In Pattaya and Thailand in general  there is a lot to do in social areas where the city administration obviously feels overwhelmed, which is something I would like to take care of”.

 

Regarding the old lady who had to leave her makeshift home in Pattaya and was helped along with some well-known local personalities including a man called “Chet Smile Buffalo” he said:

 

“It was more or less a coincidence to meet these people and their aid projects have inspired me. Yes, one of them is a well-known rock star in Thailand and I am particularly pleased that I got to know him. He is a wonderful person.

 

“I will continue to join this group and offer my modest help”.

 

We asked the former cop if he had had any dealings with the force in Pattaya and what was his opinion. He answered diplomatically:

 

“I believe the police in Pattaya have a tough job to do. So far I have always only had positive experiences with the police although sometimes one or the other policeman has left an unmotivated impression”.

 

His wife has only ever worked in Germany but they have enough to survive on despite the charity work. “I never thought about the costs of that,” he said, “We help as best we can”.

 

Indicating that he is flattered by being portrayed as kind we also asked him to comment on Benjamin Holst who has been called the “Most Hated German in Thailand” after conning the Thai people with sob stories about a disability then living it up in the bars of Pattaya.

 

“Oh yes I have read a lot about him on social media, especially on Facebook. I do not want to judge this person, it’s his life and he has to know for himself what he is doing. I would not want to swap with him for anything in the world but I do not like everything he does”.

 

Pictures supplied by Reiner show him and Angkana giving alms to a monk, preparing food in the family kitchen at their home in Na Klua and with a neighbor’s young child.

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-02-24

Nice guy. Wish there were a lot more like him here.

Keep up the good work Reiner.

" and preparing food for the homeless of places like Beach Road."

 

he sounds like a good person. keep up the good work.

Naturally, he is a good person doing good for other people. I am all for that, and also do what I can in different cases.
I do not envy him in any kind of way, but doesn´t it seem like this man gets a little bit to much 5 minutes of fame?

 

Of course, I can be deadly wrong. Regarding too much of 5 minutes, I have to refer to a certain high ranking gentlemen that really knows time and have been seen of lot in media out of that reason.

Edited February 24, 20188 yr by Get Real

I think many online forum members here do understand Thai culture and they also like and respect much of it.

They also however realise that it's not infallible. 

Great story, keep up the good work Khun Reiner.

seems many Farangs who has a story written or a Facebook posting about them shows up a month later talking about all the problems the story has caused for them.

 

but lets hope this story get read by many Thais.

As much as I respect what he is doing, I fear we may forget that he is actually taken away a job and responsibility from a Thai(government).

I agree that many of the foreigners that complain about Thailand do so because they simply cannot lose the "back home.. we"...mindset.

25 minutes ago, dotpoom said:

I agree that many of the foreigners that complain about Thailand do so because they simply cannot lose the "back home.. we"...mindset.

I entirely agree with both Reiner and you. One can and in my view should, like and keep contact with her/his original home country and at the same time like and adapt to the ways of living of her/his adopted home country, here Thailand. I have been living here for app. 15 years (retired), intend staying here for the rest of my life, as I really like living here, but I still keep active contact with my original home country, Germany.  To the complaining expats all I can say, either you are permanent complainers and you'll complain about anything, or if you really dislike Thais and Thailand, why don't you leave and go home or somewhere?

sounds like a nice bloke. sharing is caring. you can only eat so much yourself. if there's people around you without then share. why not. i won't get into the whole understanding thai culture coz despite nearly 20 years, i still don't get it and know i never will. however, i am able to live peacefully amongst them and thats all i want to do

I take my hat off to him. Good man...... sorry about the foam containers though!!

1 hour ago, dotpoom said:

I agree that many of the foreigners that complain about Thailand do so because they simply cannot lose the "back home.. we"...mindset.

Yes, because everything is so perfect in LOS.

I also have a lot to complain about in my home country Germany.

And now ?  Is it because of my mindset "back in my second home in Thailand" mindset ?

 

Sorry Reiner, don't want to argue with you. I do admire you and your wife.

1 hour ago, Lupatria said:

As much as I respect what he is doing, I fear we may forget that he is actually taken away a job and responsibility from a Thai(government).

I am not aware of any Thai government programme to help the homeless and the very poor. If there is such a programme, the government keeps very quiet about it (presumably so that farangs won't get some silly notion that there are poor and homeless people in this paradise)

Has he none of the vices I admire ?

Edited February 24, 20188 yr by soalbundy

2 hours ago, Lupatria said:

As much as I respect what he is doing, I fear we may forget that he is actually taken away a job and responsibility from a Thai(government).

Expecting governments to solve all problems is the biggest problem with societies today.

32 minutes ago, hobobo said:

I am not aware of any Thai government programme to help the homeless and the very poor. If there is such a programme, the government keeps very quiet about it (presumably so that farangs won't get some silly notion that there are poor and homeless people in this paradise)

"The Minister of Social Development and Human Security Gen Anantaporn Kanchanarat officially launched the campaign at Patong Beach to raise awareness of the problem with homeless and beggars and provided guidelines for both Thais and foreigners in order to involve every agency to solve the problem." https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1026359-campaign-to-help-destitute-and-impoverished-launched-in-phuket/?utm_source=newsletter-20180224-0751&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

 

Words. For whatever they're worth.

Awesome guy. Good deed!

I admire him and his wife. It is not merely a case of 'cheque book' charity but a genuine wish to do good.

From what I could see in the photos this couple do not live extravagantly. Well done I say.

 

2 hours ago, Lupatria said:

As much as I respect what he is doing, I fear we may forget that he is actually taken away a job and responsibility from a Thai(government).

Like hospitals and surgeons, etc who take away a job and responsibility from Gawd.

Can't fault the guy keeping the poor looks like he gets satisfaction 

from doing this

wish him and his wife all the best in future endeavours 

My last post should have read helping the poor not ( keeping ) 

i personally do charity work with animals in CM.  out of pocket.  lots of cats and dogs in CM who need help.  i believe that one should do more than just sit on a bar stool. 

3 hours ago, dotpoom said:

I agree that many of the foreigners that complain about Thailand do so because they simply cannot lose the "back home.. we"...mindset.

That's true. Once you accept you're at the lower rungs of the sakdina system and there's no future for you, simply go maibpenrai and let it all play out by luck the no worries.

 

However most farangs like to get a bit more out of life than float helpless in the current. Maybe because they've seen how it could be if the feudal society was distmantled, like it was in the west, what, about 500 years ago?

3 hours ago, Lupatria said:

As much as I respect what he is doing, I fear we may forget that he is actually taken away a job and responsibility from a Thai(government).

 

Consider why the man stepped up to the plate and is doing what he is,  could it be that the job and responsibility isn't being done by the relevant department ? 

Do they have a responsibility ?

You set a great example Reiner, thank you sir. 

5 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

seems many Farangs who has a story written or a Facebook posting about them shows up a month later talking about all the problems the story has caused for them.

 

but lets hope this story get read by many Thais.

I think he is a very good person and the world need many the same to remain balanced out my deepest respect for this noble gentleman..BUT on what I think he might be a little wrong is that when he say many other who live in Los don't understand Thai culture...because very many and not just an unfortunate few experienced this culture first hand ( im Lebendversuch )  without warning with the result of maximal financial  loss ( house lifesavings etc ) psycholocical malfunktion ( maybe after realizing the so called brother is in fact her husband that has regular intercourse with his daughter ) and misery in thousand variations incl. physical assault and / or death...it seems like in a casino some win most  loose and the bank takes it all...all the time...

What a great story nice to see Farangs giving something back to the Thais who are struggling to survive.

Avery very nice man. will the powers in office give him a Thai citizenship  would be good . If in the Uk he would be a sir by now . 

7 hours ago, Get Real said:

Naturally, he is a good person doing good for other people. I am all for that, and also do what I can in different cases.
I do not envy him in any kind of way, but doesn´t it seem like this man gets a little bit to much 5 minutes of fame?

 

Of course, I can be deadly wrong. Regarding too much of 5 minutes, I have to refer to a certain high ranking gentlemen that really knows time and have been seen of lot in media out of that reason.

are you jealous of the attention he has received. why judge him?