SURVEY: What is the biggest drawback to living in Thailand?

[Hummin]

45 minutes ago, meechai said:

Pretty much every reason on the list is a valid reason

 

Truthfully unless your seeking cheap  living or sex Thailand does not offer much.

"Quality" of life is quite low overall

 

 

 

What else is there to live for? 

 

I get my pizza, cheese, whine, steak, people smile to me every day, a nice condo with view 15k a month, big swimmingpool, gym, 5 min from beach, fresh delicious fruit and food, silence, and a dragon who try to control me. The jealousy is maybe going to kill me, but hey, where else in the world can you have a partner who is there for you 100%. Sometimes a pain in the ass, but woman is from Venus and so on 

[ostyan]

Getting and the conditions of Visa, immigration AND Work Permit are the biggest sorrow, together with 90 days nonsense of course.

Another issue is whatever you want to manage in a governmental office you surely will have another information than in another office, say 50 meters away.

[Scooby and Puppy]

On 29/04/2018 at 11:05 AM, DoctorG said:

You needed an "all of the above" box.

It was there under  ‘other, please leave a comment’,  which you did, so it’s sorted.

[grollies]

The effin flies.

[Sapporillo]

3 hours ago, Cranky said:

Ball Hooks. This is the site that reckons you can get a three course meal for two in a 'mid-range'  restaurant for 850 Baht.  Good luck with that.  For those of us that like a decent bottle of wine and a bit of cheese, drive a half decent motor and enjoy all things imported the costs here are absurd, try putting the cost of kids education (if it affects you) into the equation.

I don’t know what you consider a ‘decent motor’, is it possible that you’re from the US? Because here in Europe, the majority of people can’t afford to drive anything better than a pretty standard 4 cylinder either. A lot of people drive the so-called ‘premium brands’ nowadays, but they’re still just ordinary 4 bangers, maybe with a turbo, and usually not even bought, but leased.

As for the food, if you absolutely have to go to a ‘farang’-food restaurant, of course it’s gonna be expensive, it’s a niche market. In my experience, it goes both ways: go to a Thai restaurant in Switzerland and order a dish of rice and chicken curry, and it will be 20-30% more expensive than a premium steak with homemade French fries - people are willing to pay for it because it’s ‘exotic’, it’s as simple as that. 

[holy cow cm]

Residency or citizenship. How little they accept to become a resident or citizen and how hard the qualifications are to be in the acceptable position. Long timers with family should be easily acceptable. 

[StreetCowboy]

1 hour ago, grollies said:

The effin flies.

If there was no effin' flies it would be unbelievable

[Gecko123]

2 hours ago, Sapporillo said:

As for the food, if you absolutely have to go to a ‘farang’-food restaurant, of course it’s gonna be expensive, it’s a niche market. In my experience, it goes both ways: go to a Thai restaurant in Switzerland and order a dish of rice and chicken curry, and it will be 20-30% more expensive than a premium steak with homemade French fries - people are willing to pay for it because it’s ‘exotic’, it’s as simple as that. 

To illustrate your point, here are a couple of current day Thai restaurant window menus from Paris. A plate of vegetarian fried rice in the first restaurant costing 6.50 Euros + 10% tax + 15% tip, for a total of 8.125 Euros (or 317 baht), can commonly be found in Thailand for as little as 35-40 baht or about one tenth of the Paris price. 

Edited April 30, 2018 by Gecko123

[NutsMango]

6 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

To illustrate your point, here are a couple of current day Thai restaurant window menus from Paris. A plate of vegetarian fried rice in the first restaurant costing 6.50 Euros + 10% tax + 15% tip, for a total of 8.125 Euros (or 317 baht), can commonly be found in Thailand for as little as 35-40 baht or about one tenth of the Paris price. 

You compare prices Paris vs Isaan? I haven't seen 40 THB fried rice in a proper restaurant in Bangkok.

 

Not to mention the Paris portion is likely twice as big, and from significantly better ingredients.

[billd766]

On 29/4/2561 at 6:09 PM, Aj Mick said:

Rising costs, affordability, financial concerns

• After 15 years employed as a teacher in a tertiary institution my base pay has gone up by about 40%. However allowances have not increased in many years, and they are now taxed. My net pay has increased by about 18%..... the old give 2 and take one back. 
•  
• Add to that a 50% in teaching hours..... and with increased class sizes, 60 - 80% increase in rolls. An increased documentation required.
•  
• Meanwhile the cost of living has about doubled.
•  

Another issue is the documentation and hassle required for visa and work permits......  Thus living in the country on the basis of annual contract and permitted to stay on the basis of a highly satisfying job albeit with limited prospects, rights and freedoms.

 

I have a wonderful self satisfying job.

 

I am retired.

[Gecko123]

1 hour ago, NutsMango said:

You compare prices Paris vs Isaan? I haven't seen 40 THB fried rice in a proper restaurant in Bangkok.

 

Not to mention the Paris portion is likely twice as big, and from significantly better ingredients.

Meat and produce prices in Paris make for an even starker contrast. That looks to me like a rolled pork loin for 16.99 Euros (662 baht/kg!). Compare that to 140 baht/kilo which is available in Big C and Makro all over Thailand including Bangkok. Carrots for 2.40 Euros (93 baht)/kilo), while carrots here are typically 40 baht/kg.

 

I used to think that all the food in the West was of superior quality too, and admittedly some of it is, but not all of it. First, there's a global food chain which means that everybody is eating much of the same food imported from around the world. For example, at least 80% of the shrimp eaten in the US is imported, mostly from Asia, including Thailand. Thai chicken meat is exported to the West as well. The South American grapes, nectarines and peaches available in Europe are the same as available elsewhere in the world. Mexican avocadoes on sale in Thailand came from the exact same place as Mexican avocadoes in London.

 

Second, there's a fair amount of hype out there about artisanal food manufacturers and small family farms and chestnut fed pigs, but the majority of food is produced on an almost industrial scale, and pesticides and herbicides are used around the world, so the idea that higher prices necessarily equates to higher quality isn't necessarily true. I am more and more of the opinion that what is driving those higher food costs in the West are higher labor, land, rent, and overhead (insurance, regulation, etc.), rather than any factors which improve the product quality.

 

 

Edited April 30, 2018 by Gecko123

[billd766]

13 hours ago, meechai said:

Pretty much every reason on the list is a valid reason

 

Truthfully unless your seeking cheap  living or sex Thailand does not offer much.

"Quality" of life is quite low overall

 

 

 

 

Really?

 

Where I live in rural Thailand is in my wifes house on 2 1/2 acres. In the UK when I was married before I lived in a 3 bed semi house with small front and back gardens owned jointly between me, my wife and the Halifax building society.

 

Now I can cook and eat whatever I want and everything is paid for, house, land, pickup truck, 2 motorbike etc.

 

Why would I need cheap sex at 73 years old?

 

Visas are no problem, 90 day reports I do every 3 months when I do a bulk shop in Khampaeng Phet.

 

The only thing that really concerns me is the cost of living but that is due to Brexit and nothing to do with Thailand.

[StreetCowboy]

12 minutes ago, billd766 said:

 

I have a wonderful self satisfying job.

 

I am retired.

Self satisfaction is great, but it doesn’t count as a proper hobby

[billd766]

1 hour ago, NutsMango said:

You compare prices Paris vs Isaan? I haven't seen 40 THB fried rice in a proper restaurant in Bangkok.

 

Not to mention the Paris portion is likely twice as big, and from significantly better ingredients.

 

How do you define a proper restaurant?

 

There are plenty of places that sell good food at reasonable prices in the same way that there are plenty of excellent restaurants that sell exactly the same food at extortionate prices.

[jak2002003]

Noise.... specifically base beats from endless parties, weddings, funerals, festivals etc.

 

Seems now almost every night (and throughout the day) from one direction or the other comes the constant 'de dum dum dum, de dum dum dum).    Not always very loud, but even quietly the base noise can not be escaped and gets right under my skin!

 

Lived in several location here over the years and its getting worse.. even out in the countryside it can be louder than in the city!!!

 

I am just grateful that it usually stops after midnight.  Once they accept the noise can go into the early hours (outside tourist places) I will be off to another country.  

 

 

 

 

 

[billd766]

2 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

Self satisfaction is great, but it doesn’t count as a proper hobby

 

Of course it does.

 

As a hobby I also make bread, bread rolls, ham, bacon, sausages, pate, burgers, pies, and hopefully this week I will try to make corned beef American style.

 

I also make biscuits but I confess my cakes are not that good.

[StreetCowboy]

3 minutes ago, billd766 said:

...

I also make biscuits but I confess my cakes are not that good.

What about your buns?

[billd766]

10 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

What about your buns?

 

They are reet tasty.

 

My son and my Thai neighbour like them as do both Thai and farang friends in the local villages. However I wouldn't want to start a business as a baker as it is too much like hard work plus I would have to change my visa extension and get my wife to form a company to employ me.

 

The cost would be high as I would have to upgrade all my baking equipment, rent a shop in the big village, employ staff and start work around 3 am, 7 days a week, which would bugger up the little social life that I have.

 

I would like to go on a proper course to learn how to bake bread properly and cake making but purely for myself.

 

I am 73, (74 next month) and I retired 9 years ago.

 

I make stuff for me and for friends but at my age, bugger working for a living.

Edited April 30, 2018 by billd766
added extra text

[yuiop]

no brain idiots on uniform

[JAZZDOG]

On ‎29‎/‎4‎/‎2018 at 11:25 AM, RBOP said:

Reporting to immigration every 90 days. 

Is that really a big deal?

[OJAS]

1 hour ago, jak2002003 said:

Noise.... specifically base beats from endless parties, weddings, funerals, festivals etc.

 

Seems now almost every night (and throughout the day) from one direction or the other comes the constant 'de dum dum dum, de dum dum dum).    Not always very loud, but even quietly the base noise can not be escaped and gets right under my skin!

 

Lived in several location here over the years and its getting worse.. even out in the countryside it can be louder than in the city!!!

 

I am just grateful that it usually stops after midnight.  Once they accept the noise can go into the early hours (outside tourist places) I will be off to another country.  

 

 

 

 

 

My #1 pet bugbear of living in LOS as well. IMHO this constitutes noise pollution, pure and simple. I will, however, readily admit that I do reciprocate by cranking up the bass on my stereo system whenever the boom-boom racket coming from outside really does get too intrusive for my liking (my ears are, I think, as sensitive as yours).

Edited April 30, 2018 by OJAS

[JAZZDOG]

Sum it up in three words: Sixth grade education

[JAZZDOG]

On ‎30‎/‎4‎/‎2018 at 1:16 AM, sirineou said:

I reside in NY and Florida, I don't think there any place in the US further away from Thailand than  Florida. Until I retire  june 2019 , I make the trip at least once a year.

The plane trip requires a lot of alcohol. LOL

Lived in Boca and that travel alone keeps me here. Have a place in NE Brazil and the best flight is 36 hours!

[Ahab]

19 hours ago, Cranky said:

Ball Hooks. This is the site that reckons you can get a three course meal for two in a 'mid-range'  restaurant for 850 Baht.  Good luck with that.  For those of us that like a decent bottle of wine and a bit of cheese, drive a half decent motor and enjoy all things imported the costs here are absurd, try putting the cost of kids education (if it affects you) into the equation.

It probably depends on where you live in Thailand (regarding food and lodging). If you want to drive a 700 series BMW, or a decent bottle of wine then the prices are outrageous here in Thailand. If you only want to eat food from whatever country you came from then prices are outrageous here in Thailand.  In Hawaii we put our son in daycare and it cost over 15,000 baht a month (this was 15 years ago and that was an inexpensive facility) and all the kids did was run around a playground and take naps. 

 

However, if you do not live in a foreign tourist hellhole (my opinion) and can eat local Thai food most of the time it can be incredibly inexpensive to live here in Thailand. But in the end everyone is different and many factors go into how expensive (or inexpensive) it is to live anywhere.

[JLCrab]

The downside for me after 14+ years living in Thailand with these verbal and two minor physical confrontations:

 

- Thai idiots with dogs.
- Farang idiots with dogs
- Thai idiots water dowsing me at point blank range while walking or on motorbike during Songkran .

 

... but nothing that ever required any legal intervention so, as has been noted before, I don't understand and am ill-informed as to the procedures for legal / official intervention. But all-in-all I'll take it.

[Sapporillo]

7 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

Second, there's a fair amount of hype out there about artisanal food manufacturers and small family farms and chestnut fed pigs, but the majority of food is produced on an almost industrial scale, and pesticides and herbicides are used around the world, so the idea that higher prices necessarily equates to higher quality isn't necessarily true. I am more and more of the opinion that what is driving those higher food costs in the West are higher labor, land, rent, and overhead (insurance, regulation, etc.), rather than any factors which improve the product quality.

Absolutely true. I’ve been working briefly in the industry, delivering meat, chicken, fish and the like to all kinds of restaurants, and since then I hardly ever go out eating in restaurants, unless I have no choice (when I’m on the road or on vacation). 99% get their supplies from the same sources, and unless I’m 100% sure that a particular restaurant gets their fish (as an example) every day from local fishermen, I’ll choose something cheap and easy to cook from the menu, like pizza or pasta, because otherwise it will just be frozen, imported stuff from industrialized farms, with lots of antibiotics and other fine add-ons on top. 

[Sapporillo]

7 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

 

Edited April 30, 2018 by Sapporillo
Deleted, double post

[anon537687643]

– a lawless population who places personal freedom above the public good

another undeniable fact”totally selfish”



Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[JLCrab]

39 minutes ago, Sapporillo said:

<snip> otherwise it will just be frozen, imported stuff from industrialized farms, with lots of antibiotics and other fine add-ons on top. 

So when Thai BETAGRO says e.g. chicken breast:

 

• No antibiotics 
• No hormones used
• No growth promotants used 
• No harmful pathogens

 

You don't believe them? http://www.betagro.com/food/en/product/1220/153

 

 

 

 

[Sapporillo]

2 hours ago, JLCrab said:

So when Thai BETAGRO says e.g. chicken breast:

 

• No antibiotics 
• No hormones used
• No growth promotants used 
• No harmful pathogens

 

You don't believe them? http://www.betagro.com/food/en/product/1220/153

 

 

 

 

Hmmm...at a glance, impossible to tell, and I don’t care all that much either. My point was, don’t expect higher quality (healthier) ingredients in expensive restaurants, unless you’re willing to spend at least a hundred or hundreds (US$ or Euro) for a single meal, or unless you know the place and its suppliers and you’ve done your “research” yourself.