What do you like and dislike most about Thailand?

[Brunolem]

Thailand is no paradise and no hell.

Like anywhere else, there are positive and negative aspects.

Here are the ones that come to my mind:

 

What I like most

 

1. Easy going people

 

Contacts with both locals and foreigners are easy to establish.

Roughly a week after arriving in the land of smiles, I knew more people than I had known in my suburb, West of Paris, over more than ten years (granted, the French are not particularly friendly, generally speaking).

 

2. Women behaving like women

 

In Europe, women do their best to behave like men, thus encouraging the latter to travel to Thailand or similar places to look for a feminine company.

In the US, thanks to major advances in (social) science, they have removed the distinction between men and women, and come up with a "gender neutral" population, which complicates things even more...

 

3. The winter season

 

As in the rest of the world, the climate in Thailand is rapidly changing, for the worse...

Yet, I particularly enjoy the fresh and dry season, at least what's left of it, roughly going from November to February, even more so when I look at the weather in Europe during these same months...

 

What I dislike most

 

1. The lawlessness and corruption

 

Listening to Thai people, you might come to think not only that there is a law for everything, even the most trivial issues (the law says that you have to hire a caddy to play golf), but also that basically all the Thais are lawyers since they can quote the law every time it is convenient, which is often.

 

The reality is that laws happen to be made on the fly, depending on "where, who and when"!

Where you are, because the law appear to radically change from one place to another, even inside a province.

Who you are, because the law always favor the rich over the poor, and the Thai over the foreigner, no matter what.

When you are, because the law can change overnight.

 

No wonder that corruption can flourish in such an environment...

 

2. The visa hassles

 

Visa rules are like the local electrical wiring: a bag of knots!

This pesky issue constantly remains in the back of almost all foreigners' mind.

Even in the best circumstances (retirement visa), you still have to report every 90 days.

And the penalties for failing to comply with the rules are harsh, and getting harsher...

 

3. The rapid destruction of the country

 

Destruction of the country's natural beauties is not specific to Thailand, but the lack of education of the majority of the population, combined  with an insane tourism policy and a (un)healthy dose of corruption, do nothing to help.

It has come to a point when it is becoming impossible to swim in the sea, lie on the beach, eat the locally produced food and breathe the locally polluted air...that is unless you are a Chinese, already accustomed to much worse...

 

Your turn to share your own likes and dislikes...

 

[Dmaxdan]

My biggest dislike has to be road safety. Something that's not going to change anytime soon.

 

Apart from that I like most things, but most of all my family, including my in-laws. 

Edited August 31, 2018 by Dmaxdan

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Like - year round good weather, friendly and welcoming Thai people.

 

Dislike - people dumping trash and the road safety

[faraday]

The great weather, & living in Issan, the winter.

 

Although it quite amuses me, when the temperature in winter drops to 15 C sometimes, & I complain about how cold it is! 555!

 

The road safety & complete lack of courteous driving. At times,  genuinely scares me.

[PatOngo]

Cheap cigarettes! ?

[Peterw42]

Like: its not the over taxed, litigious nanny state I left.

 

Dislike: westerners who come here and wont be happy until they have turned it into the over taxed, litigious nanny state I left.

[Odysseus123]

The road safety is a downside.

Very few facilities for disabled people.

I enjoy the company of Thai women-as I do that of European,American and Australian women

[Lacessit]

Likes: Thai women ( very feminine ), Thai food, and low cost of living for essentials such as rent and massages

 

Dislikes:  Thai doctors (arrogant), Thai officialdom and its blizzard of paper.

[Badrabbit]

Hate barking dogs and there irresponsible inconsiderate owners!!

 

Sent from my SM-P585Y using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

[Vacuum]

Kids driving around with nonexistent mufflers on their bikes.

[Badrabbit]

Kids driving around with nonexistent mufflers on their bikes.

Anyone driving around with loud exhausts is a pain, inconsiderate f%$&@$s!

Sent from my SM-G610F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[NCC1701A]

The chaos and uncertainty are what brought me to Thailand. And the illusion of freedom.

 

As an American I accept responsibly for my actions here in Thailand. Meaning I understand it is dangerous to live here.

If I get killed on my motorcycle I was the one who came here knowing the risks. I have three levels of insurance.

 

I actually was looking forward to the first time a traffic cop asked me for money. It was my fault and I laughed because it cost 200 baht. In the USA, 6000 baht?  But it is corruption that hold the whole country back. But I didn't create this country, the Thais did.   

 

Women who act like women, not like men. 

 

Happy Thai people who will start dancing at work at the drop of a hat. I mean in a grocery store, not in a gogo.

 

Things like the rocket festival and Songkran or spontaneous fireworks on the beach none of which you could never have in the USA.

 

I like the rainy season.

 

And being able to help Thai people with just a small amount of money which goes a long way. My maid is really happy when I give her the stamps they hand out at 7/11.

 

I live in a very simple way, no family, no wife, no business.  No problems with immigration. I don't have a problem with 90 day reporting. Very easy for me to do. Retirement extension of stay, easy no problems. I have respect for all the Farangs here that work and have businesses. I could never do it. Too much red tape.    

 

Bangkok Bank, no problems. AIS is great once you get their text messages sent in English and get over the culture shock of how Thai cellphone companies do business. PEA easy, True no real problems. 

 

I live in Thai neighborhood near the water in Hua Hin. It took two years to find a quiet area. My neighbors are hard working and conservative, and have a lot of money by Thai standards, but it took me a while to figure this out because they look very average wearing shorts and flip flops and live in some funky houses, until I checked real estate prices. There is a very old Thai woman who sweeps the street in front of my house and gave the PEA man hell for trying to disconnect my power when I forgot to pay my bill. I lost my keys somewhere around my neighborhood and somehow they reappeared on my door step the next day. So living away from Farangs outside a gated community makes me happy.

 

Sometimes it is hard to get things done because of the language barrier.

 

I lowered my expectations of how things should be done because I know they are rarely met.

 

things I find that make me a little sad are some Thais not wanting to listen. I find the ones who are willing to listen are more intelligent. 

 

Things I have a problem with because I want the Thais to do better are the continuous poor engineering and construction, water management, unsafe electrical everywhere. Loud speaker on trucks, kids on scooters, sometimes the heat and humidly. Air pollution, garbage everywhere. Police checkpoints and random ID checks are illegal in my country, so the first few times I was very uncomfortable until I realized it was all Kabuki theater.   

 

I found that Thai women doctors listen more than their male counterparts.  

 

 

 

Edited August 31, 2018 by NCC1701A

[hobz]

The "women behaving like women" must be code for "I have nothing to offer women except money and that no longer works in the west" 

Edited August 31, 2018 by hobz

[SymS]

Like - Easy going people (at least in Chiang Mai), low cost of living, local food

Dislike - Excessive garbage, excessive ads / billboard, some government regulations (including visa process)

I wanted to add freedom to cross the street anywhere to the like list, but that would be too long... Now looking for my "Jaywalking is not a crime" T-shirt... ?

[NoshowJones]

Like. The nice nature and how most Thai people are very non confrontational and helpful.

Don't like. The unhelpful attitude of Thai immigration, and how the immigration offices make up a lot of their own rules. 

[seancbk]

What I like about Bangkok 

Rent is way cheaper than where I came from originally.
The city is rapidly getting more modern.
 

[NCC1701A]

10 minutes ago, hobz said:

The "women behaving like women" must be code for "I have nothing to offer women except money and that no longer works in the west" 

 no. not in my case. and I am addressing Thai women in general, not just with Farangs.

Edited August 31, 2018 by NCC1701A

[NoshowJones]

39 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

The chaos and uncertainty are what brought me to Thailand. And the illusion of freedom.

 

As an American I accept responsibly for my actions here in Thailand. Meaning I understand it is dangerous to live here.

If I get killed on my motorcycle I was the one who came here knowing the risks. I have three levels of insurance.

 

I actually was looking forward to the first time a traffic cop asked me for money. It was my fault and I laughed because it cost 200 baht. In the USA, 6000 baht?  But it is corruption that hold the whole country back. But I didn't create this country, the Thais did.   

 

Women who act like women, not like men. 

 

Happy Thai people who will start dancing at work at the drop of a hat. I mean in a grocery store, not in a gogo.

 

Things like the rocket festival and Songkran or spontaneous fireworks on the beach none of which you could never have in the USA.

 

I like the rainy season.

 

And being able to help Thai people with just a small amount of money which goes a long way. My maid is really happy when I give her the stamps they hand out at 7/11.

 

I live in a very simple way, no family, no wife, no business.  No problems with immigration. I don't have a problem with 90 day reporting. Very easy for me to do. Retirement extension of stay, easy no problems. I have respect for all the Farangs here that work and have businesses. I could never do it. Too much red tape.    

 

Bangkok Bank, no problems. AIS is great once you get their text messages sent in English and get over the culture shock of how Thai cellphone companies do business. PEA easy, True no real problems. 

 

I live in Thai neighborhood near the water in Hua Hin. It took two years to find a quiet area. My neighbors are hard working and conservative, and have a lot of money by Thai standards, but it took me a while to figure this out because they look very average wearing shorts and flip flops and live in some funky houses, until I checked real estate prices. There is a very old Thai woman who sweeps the street in front of my house and gave the PEA man hell for trying to disconnect my power when I forgot to pay my bill. I lost my keys somewhere around my neighborhood and somehow they reappeared on my door step the next day. So living away from Farangs outside a gated community makes me happy.

 

Sometimes it is hard to get things done because of the language barrier.

 

I lowered my expectations of how things should be done because I know they are rarely met.

 

things I find that make me a little sad are some Thais not wanting to listen. I find the ones who are willing to listen are more intelligent. 

 

Things I have a problem with because I want the Thais to do better are the continuous poor engineering and construction, water management, unsafe electrical everywhere. Loud speaker on trucks, kids on scooters, sometimes the heat and humidly. Air pollution, garbage everywhere. Police checkpoints and random ID checks are illegal in my country, so the first few times I was very uncomfortable until I realized it was all Kabuki theater.   

 

I found that Thai women doctors listen more than their male counterparts.  

 

 

 

Your'e second paragraph. You sure contradicted yourself there. First you hand over 200 Baht to a policeman, then you condemn corruption.

[wgdanson]

43 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

Women who act like women, not like men. 

Unless they are a lezzy Tom Boy.

 

43 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

Happy Thai people who will start dancing at work at the drop of a hat

Instead of getting on with their job

 

43 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

Things like the rocket festival and Songkran or spontaneous fireworks on the beach

Dangerous!

 

43 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

none of which you could never have in the USA.

Double negative there mate.

 

43 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

I like the rainy season

And the devastating floods which come with it. 

 

43 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

My maid is really happy when I give her the stamps they hand out at 7/11

Pay her a better salary

 

43 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

Things I have a problem with because I want the Thais to do better are the continuous poor engineering and construction, water management, unsafe electrical everywhere. Loud speaker on trucks, kids on scooters, sometimes the heat and humidly. Air pollution, garbage everywhere. Police checkpoints and random ID checks are illegal in my country, so the first few times I was very uncomfortable

Totally agree. 

 

Oh yes, and guys who ask very silly questions on ThaiVisa.

Edited August 31, 2018 by wgdanson

[hobz]

4 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

 no. not in my case. and I am addressing Thai women in general, not just with Farangs.

It could be that I dont understand what you are trying to say.

 

[rwill]

The best thing about Thailand is the overall cost of living.

 

The worst thing about Thailand is how you can get in trouble for telling the truth.  (no freedom of speech)

[Badrabbit]

The best thing about Thailand is the overall cost of living.
 
The worst thing about Thailand is how you can get in trouble for telling the truth.  (no freedom of speech)

Especially to your wife!

Sent from my SM-G610F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[hobz]

The best things:

 

Cost of living.

Weather. 

Easy going people.

 

 

The worst things:

 

Road safety.

Low quality and standards.

Justice system / police. 

Corruption.

 

[Phuket Man]

The worst thing is the noise.

Drives me mad.

[55Jay]

1 hour ago, hobz said:

The "women behaving like women" must be code for "I have nothing to offer women except money and that no longer works in the west" 

Or it could just be you, looking for code and hidden meaning when there isn't any.     Which may be one of several reasons why @NCC1701A

has found peace living AWAY from silly farangs with attitudes like yours.

 

BTW, money works GREAT in the West. Just takes more of it is all. 

Edited August 31, 2018 by 55Jay

[LennyW]

Like - The women and the weather

Dislike - The women and the weather

?

[IAMHERE]

What I dislike most is the constant feeling that if something goes wrong it is the farangs fault. 

Just too much noise, especially at night every speaker is turned up to eleven.

The air pollution is getting terrible.

I enjoy the food, the warm climate, and I think all things considered they drive pretty good.

[Kurtf]

I like the low cost of living and the friendliness of most Thai people.

I H A T E the Thai drivers. And the lack of enforcement of traffic laws. Hey you Thai drivers..The red lights are NOT a suggestion you stop.

A lot of lives could be saved if they made driving lessons mandatory in HS.

[CG1 Blue]

Like - the utter randomness and rule bending

Dislike - the utter randomness and rule bending

[helloagain]

Likes my thai wife, my home. Cheap labour and can download good tv. Money you can make buying land when you first come here and sell 12 years later.    Hates piss heads who smoke in bars and resturants. Corruption in all areas. Most peoples lack of driving skills. No police checking licence or helmits at markets. Shop staff who come to you the second you look at something and cant speak english or understand if you were selling something would you employ these staff. The way many thais have quick anger issues. People who are too lazy to find things out themselves and just ask on thai visa christs sake ask google or get your ex bar girl to phone up. Crazy prices at international hospital. I think i better stop there 55555