Thailand - Not for me

[Small Joke]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Thailand is not for everyone. I do agree that by living here, we are giving up some things. For me, the culture part of the equation is a sacrifice. I would love to be able to have access to great live jazz, stand up comedy, the ballet, art museums, and other such luxuries. I definitely do not have them here, with the exception of MOMA in Bangkok, which is outstanding, but there are only so many times I can visit! 

 

However, some of us enjoy a very good life here. On my relatively modest income and savings, I live a whole lot better here, than I would in the US. I like most of the people here, and find most to be far more pleasant, light hearted, fun, helpful, and kind, than the average American I run into back there. I also like the food here, though I miss the sheer variety back there, and the ease of travel within the region. There are alot of other aspects of life here I enjoy. Granted, I have a wonderful wife, who is delightful to be around on a daily basis, and that is after many years of being together. Granted, we could live in the US. But we would both be bored to tears there, very quickly. As I said, Thailand it is not for everyone. You have to be able to overlook alot of nonsense here. And you have to be light hearted, and not take things too seriously. And be very adaptable. 

 

Though I do enjoy the cleanliness back in the states, much of the rest of the lifestyle leaves me cold. Just take the malls for example. Here, the malls are downright entertaining. I can spend hours at Siam, or Central in Bangkok, and just admire the gorgeous gals, the selection of foods, and the vibrant life within them. In the US the malls are dull, fabulously uninteresting, lifeless, devoid of flavor, sterile, and have horrendous food, overpriced cinemas, and alot of really unattractive people. Not much bird watching!

 

The sheer predictability of every day life back there is mind numbing for me. And the cost of living is staggering, these days. Whoever says inflation is low in the US, is lying through their teeth!  

 

I hope and I pray I never have to live in the US again. In my opinion the quality of life is dropping by the day. I love it here and hope to spend my dying days here. 

'Brown Sugar' had great live jazz. It used to be opposite Lumpini Park. Another venue I can't recall the name of at Victory Monument. They may not have been Herbie Hancock or Hugh Masekela, but they were pretty decent jazzmen!

I left for a year, tried a few places, Cambodia, Philippines, Mexico, nope! Back with a deeper gratitude... wicked wats, wrongful watches, washed up would be warriors, in fact, warts and all!

Edited August 25, 2018 by Small Joke

[Kwasaki]

11 minutes ago, huawei said:

This is just ignorance...thailand for the majority of time only had young(er) people from the West here...there are good jobs out there, good international schools, Asia has been booming since the mid 80’s, the retiree is a new phenomena. 

 

It is just ignorance is it dunno where you come from mush, the salaries have always been rubbish compared to what many people earn in their own country,  unless your employed to work here for a western country.

Retirement is a new phenomena ? how old does it have be. 

[Small Joke]

2 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Tourist visa: The tourist visa you get when you come into Panama gives you 180 days in the country. This visa is for Americans, Canadians and citizens of the European Community and some other counties. After 180 days, you must leave Panama and and return to your own country for a period of not more than 30 days.

Panama is the most overrated retirement destination it seems. On paper wonderful.

Bitter reality from all the whining on forums there, not so good.

Few here (even in chaotic Pattaya) feel unsafe, or at war with the locals, or simply disillusioned with what they were sold, as what I read about Panama.

[473geo]

Absolutely nothing wrong with rediscovering the joys of your birth country

Posting about it just just rattles those who claim to be in Thailand because their birth country has gone down hill. I've always found that a poor excuse myself.

 

The reality is, if there is nothing to really keep you somewhere, better to evaluate your situation, and if necessary make a change. More so, I would say, if your health is affected.

 

Your wife too is making the same choices, and has decided the attraction of Canada does not outweigh the security she enjoys in Thailand

 

Good luck, life moves on at pace, who knows what is round the next turn!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Small Joke]

The trick in Thailand is to love it at arm's length.

The Rooster, Spidermike, and a few others get this...

Sure, we all have a whine, or a laugh, it keeps us sane, but we count our blessings.

The crazies at the helm will soon be replaced by another entertaining circus, and if not, well, four plus years in, and how bad is it really? Few of the draconian laws affect us expats in any meaningful way.

Some things have even got slightly better...

We have Grab (a huge deal if you lived in CM before it!) and Chiang Mai main roads are also improving, there are real public buses, and light rail has just been signed off. 

We focus on the things and people we love... and let them get on with their little power games, they mostly leave us be, and that's almost as much a priceless gift as good health!

[Colabamumbai]

Dull grey city, quite happy here, Toronto holds nothing for me, cursed my parents for me being born in Canada.

[Odysseus123]

12 minutes ago, 473geo said:

Absolutely nothing wrong with rediscovering the joys of your birth country

Posting about it just just rattles those who claim to be in Thailand because their birth country has gone down hill. I've always found that a poor excuse myself.

 

The reality is, if there is nothing to really keep you somewhere, better to evaluate your situation, and if necessary make a change. More so, I would say, if your health is affected.

 

Your wife too is making the same choices, and has decided the attraction of Canada does not outweigh the security she enjoys in Thailand

 

Good luck, life moves on at pace, who knows what is round the next turn!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well said-a very good post!

I must admit that I find the usual form of 'Dualism' on topics such as these to be somewhat puzzling as I enjoy living in my home country and(hopefully) will return to Thailand for a holiday someday.

Nevertheless I have certainly enjoyed various posts here...and what is good for the goose may not necessarily be good for the gander.It's all about respecting choice and opinions-not to mention life stages and facing stark reality at times.

[james1995]

my country is not for me either.  too many old fat, old women and everything is far too expensive.  terrible weather too.  i enjoy far better purchasing power here in Thailand.  here, i have to fight the ladies off with sticks.  that doesn't happen back "home".  enjoy this little "phase".  you'll get over it and come running back in a couple years.

[Dazinoz]

4 hours ago, vinegarbase said:

Panama thank you.

Hats off to you

 

Edited August 25, 2018 by Dazinoz

[Odysseus123]

10 minutes ago, Dazinoz said:

If you hate Thailand ways so much why are you on the TV forums?

Why not?

If he has lived here then he most certainly can post here,I would think.

We  are all entitled to analyse,compare and form some sort of opinion of Thailand and,indeed,any other country in the world.

[hobobo]

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Thailand is not for everyone. I do agree that by living here, we are giving up some things. For me, the culture part of the equation is a sacrifice. I would love to be able to have access to great live jazz, stand up comedy, the ballet, art museums, and other such luxuries. I definitely do not have them here, with the exception of MOMA in Bangkok, which is outstanding, but there are only so many times I can visit! 

 

However, some of us enjoy a very good life here. On my relatively modest income and savings, I live a whole lot better here, than I would in the US. I like most of the people here, and find most to be far more pleasant, light hearted, fun, helpful, and kind, than the average American I run into back there. I also like the food here, though I miss the sheer variety back there, and the ease of travel within the region. There are alot of other aspects of life here I enjoy. Granted, I have a wonderful wife, who is delightful to be around on a daily basis, and that is after many years of being together. Granted, we could live in the US. But we would both be bored to tears there, very quickly. As I said, Thailand it is not for everyone. You have to be able to overlook alot of nonsense here. And you have to be light hearted, and not take things too seriously. And be very adaptable. 

 

Though I do enjoy the cleanliness back in the states, much of the rest of the lifestyle leaves me cold. Just take the malls for example. Here, the malls are downright entertaining. I can spend hours at Siam, or Central in Bangkok, and just admire the gorgeous gals, the selection of foods, and the vibrant life within them. In the US the malls are dull, fabulously uninteresting, lifeless, devoid of flavor, sterile, and have horrendous food, overpriced cinemas, and alot of really unattractive people. Not much bird watching!

 

The sheer predictability of every day life back there is mind numbing for me. And the cost of living is staggering, these days. Whoever says inflation is low in the US, is lying through their teeth!  

 

I hope and I pray I never have to live in the US again. In my opinion the quality of life is dropping by the day. I love it here and hope to spend my dying days here. 

Very well said, spidermike007. I am in very "similar shoes", just substitute UK for US. As you said, Thailand is not for everyone, but I'm mightily glad that it is for me!

[jesimps]

Also don't forget that in Canada you're living under a far left, PC government. Pink lumberjacks, no thanks.

[Don Chance]

Condos are way over priced in TO, in a big bubble. Not bad idea to sell IMO.   TO has gone way down hill, crime, traffic, it's an expensive place to live. And oh ya, feminists. One of the most feminist cities in the world. OP is lucky he didn't marry a Canadian women, she be owning that condo by now and he'd be stuck.

You need to earn 80k a year at least to live in Toronto or no point. I give the OP 6 month before he goes crawling back to Thailand. As for his wife, doesn't sound like a keeper if she could just turn her back on him like that.

[Faikham]

5 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

Its a UK expression basically meaning being on the verge of doing something and then backing out at the last moment due to being unsure of afraid. After reading your post I don't think it applies in your case.

So it is both an obscure terms and misused?

[gaff]

7 hours ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

I left my wife in Thailand

 

Lucky her ! I hope that she never have to live your $hit life in Canada...

If at least you where millionaire, I could understand that you wanted her to follow, but as you seem far to be, let her live a happy life in Thailand and just waste yours in Canada !

 

 

[Thingamabob]

Pathetic. Time to grow up.

[Thaidream]

1 hour ago, Small Joke said:

We focus on the things and people we love... and let them get on with their little power games, they mostly leave us be, and that's almost as much a priceless gift as good health!

A wonderful post and so true.  Sometimes, I long for the small town on Lake Erie that I grew up in.  However, I have to keep remembering- that town doesn't really exist anymore as people have changed; there are different issues and it's a different era.

 

Sometimes- I also whine about Thailand and how it has changed from when I first came 50 years ago- but the reality is the World has changed and realistically Thailand is moving into a new era.  My university age daughter will hopefully determine Thailand's future.

 

Myself, wife and children have a much better lifestyle than if I was living in America or mostly anywhere else-Medical Insurance for my wife and children would almost break my budget  in America while in Thailand our medical insurance is more than reasonable. 

 

I did find that japan was a great place to live when I was working there but I can't afford to live there with family.  I'll stick with Thailand-  it looks pretty good when I realistically compare it with alternatives

[ResandePohm]

You always had a strange attitude towards your wife. Continually bragging about how you lived free of charge at her expense. I am not at all surprised she doesn't want to follow you anywhere to get more of the same. She is more likely happy to see you gone. It also gives her an open opportunity to find a real man

[Don Chance]

Canada is being erased and it's started in TO.

 

 

[rwill]

As far as looks go everywhere in the world there are beautiful and ugly people.  And what different people consider so can vary quite a bit.

[AGareth2]

21 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

Thailand and how it has changed from when I first came 50 years ago

yes sure has

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I never quite understand why so many people here in this forum feel the need to criticize and attack someone, or anyone, who decides to go back to their home country. Why???

 

I'm living here reasonably contentedly now, not planning to leave any time soon, but may eventually move back to the home country with my Thai wife when the time is right.

 

But, even with all that, I've never felt the need or inclination to second-guess others for the decisions they make with their lives. Everyone only gets one shot at it, so you'd better make the best of things as best you can in the time you have.

 

[Dazinoz]

1 minute ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

I never quite understand why so many people here in this forum feel the need to criticize and attack someone, or anyone, who decides to go back to their home country. Why???

Unfortunately it is not just people who going home that are criticised. I think it is just a hobby for some people to criticise anything they remotely don't care about.

 

[Wake Up]

Best of luck to you. Sorry about you and your wife not going together. Life is full of changes. If you find your place you are a lucky one and even then sometimes your place changes. Being able to choose is IMO a great luxury of life. Enjoy Canada and being able to choose.  Thailand will always be here if you change your mind. Peace

[khunPer]

Thanks for sharing your story and thoughts,. It's always interesting to hear other's experience, and have the ability to compare to own situation, and evaluation if Thailand is the right place to stay, or returning "home" is a better option...?

?

[GinBoy2]

I'm with @TallGuyJohninBKK on this one.

The OP made a decision to go back to Canada, based on how he felt at this moment in time.

We all change over time, have different needs, desires, wants at different points in our lives.

What location works for you today, or 10 years ago, may not be what works for you tomorrow or in the next 10 years.

Who knows??

But there are those on TVF, for whatever internal reasoning seem to have the desire, or maybe need, to to slam anyone who dares to decide that Thailand just doesn't work for them anymore.

I have my own suspicions on what lies behind that mindset, but Hell, each to their own!

[Whip]

7 hours ago, sanemax said:

Another one of these older guys with a teenage mentality .

Of course that is going to cause problems 

Sounds like a loser. I am from CDN and I am never going back

[Dazinoz]

1 minute ago, Whip said:

Sounds like a loser. I am from CDN and I am never going back

Actually a Thai red bus driver at a dinner he drove us to said only loser farang come to Thailand because they are losers in their own country.

[tassieman]

To [OP] good luck ? You just gotta do it as you see it as far as I can tell. Life goes on. I have just come to terms with the decision NOT to even try and take the Thai-leap (not the balcony one lol)...but the relocate. It all comes down to what makes you happy as blase as that is...for me, a bit of fishing and golf and a walk in the hills in the neck of the woods i know and grew up with is what I want in my later years.

 

Sure, I have a wonderful Thai partner who lives in Thailand and who happens to be crazier than a tiger snake...won't compromise at all or do anything other than what suits her and her Family lol...and then there's the farang-ATM horror...why bother. Hmmmn. At a certain stage in life, other things start to matter more than a great r**t

 

[Psychic]

In my ideal world I'd live half the year in Thailand and half in the Vancouver/Victoria of 30 years ago.

 

But those cities have been ruined. I have a journeyman's ticket and even then I'd be spending half my income on a small apartment. Not possible on a pension.

 

Never would I consider Toronto but to each their own.

 

Haven't been to Prince Edward Island for years but that looked lovely in the summer.

 

But even if I could afford to live well in Vancouver I wouldn't consider it without my wife.

 

All things considered we have a good life here. Of course there is annoyances, mostly dealing with the seemingly endless bureaucracy.

 

And when I make my trip back to visit family that first breath of cold air feels good.

 

Then again when I got outside the airport 2 years ago and it was 2 degrees with the rain blowing sideways I felt like getting back on the plane.

 

Beautiful women...Montreal has the best looking women in Canada in my opinion. But that's probably because they have a European tradition of not going out in sweat pants and hair rollers. Anyway, I'm married. Can look but not touch.

 

Cook most of our western food ourselves. I do miss Vancouver's variety especially good Greek food. Haven't found that around HH.

 

And always loved Thai food. Luckily they make that here.

 

Enjoy living in your box in Canada's centre of the universe looking at all the hot young women who want nothing to do with you.

 

Enjoy paying $100 for a simple meal for two.

 

Enjoy the humidity and heat in the summer and the freezing rain in the winter.

 

You might. Every place is what you make of it.