What I miss about Thailand.

[thaibeachlovers]

Been a few weeks now since I bid farewell to LOS, and thinking about what I miss.

Obviously the women and the cheapness of most things, but more than that-

foodcourts- I loved the choice at reasonable prices. Here there are only the commercial chains and takeaway shops- pricy too.

 

the chaos- LOS was always interesting when I left the room. Here it's basically boring. Place is dead after 10 pm, and sport     seems to be the only thing people get excited about.

 

public transport- here it's just buses at set times. There is no equivalent of the songtheaw or m'bike taxi. Outside cities/ large towns buses don't exist. I have to own a car, or ride a pushbike.

 

the lack of bureaucracy- in LOS, the only time I faced bureaucracy was at immigration, here it's everywhere.

 

Sorry, but out of time, so that'll do to start the ball rolling. I'll come up with more when I can get back to the internet, which may be more than few days.

 

[korkenzieher]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Here it's basically boring.

Got that.

 

Where? If you are drawing a comparison against Thailand, it would help me at least to know where against....

[1FinickyOne]

Thanks for the honest update. 

 

I think that when many of the expats here complain - - what is lacking is - - as compared to what? 

 

They complain about the cost of beer or wine while not mentioning that the rent alone in their home country would be 2-3x what they are paying here and for some, I would guess, the rent back home might be entirely unaffordable and eat the majority of their pensions... [ how much more is your rent now?]  

 

And welcome back on your return... 

[cnx355]

1 hour ago, korkenzieher said:

Got that.

 

Where? If you are drawing a comparison against Thailand, it would help me at least to know where against....

It sure would help !

[smotherb]

Yeah, I guess I will have quite a different perspective.

 

I like Thai food, so it will be more expensive back in the States.  However, I also like Western foods; much cheaper there than here--good beef, good crabs and oysters, breads, cheeses, wines, beers, spirits; my backyard has oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, avacados and strawberries--good burgers, wings, and pizza are everywhere; and if you like that god-awful American fast-food, it is much cheaper there than here.

 

I don't use public transportation except for flying; so I would not miss it. My Harley, Camry, and F-150 are all much cheaper there and so is the gas. I live in Florida, so weather there is not  a problem.

 

Things happen after 10pm; there are no stupid hours when you cannot buy booze; and  the entertainment venues are unbeatable, but very expensive. I have my lovely wife with me, so I will have companionship. However, girls are available, but more expensive, but just rationalize that you are paying by the pound.

 

Certainly, other expenses are greater--e.g., housing, taxes, insurance, hired tradesmen, and my favorite personal services are ridiculously more expensive there--and fewer issues can be solved with a bit of graft. They actually enforce traffic and other laws, but they don't stop you on the street for tea money. The other drivers don't try to run you off the road. It's not immediately your fault because you are there.

 

Damn, I've almost talked myself into leaving. However, those things that are more expensive there are so severely so, that they make it worthwhile to not be there.  That, and I have spent so much of  my life in SEA, it is home for me. Most of my friends and relatives are here.  So . . .

 

[Nice Boyd]

26 minutes ago, kenk24 said:

Thanks for the honest update. 

 

I think that when many of the expats here complain - - what is lacking is - - as compared to what? 

 

They complain about the cost of beer or wine while not mentioning that the rent alone in their home country would be 2-3x what they are paying here and for some, I would guess, the rent back home might be entirely unaffordable and eat the majority of their pensions... [ how much more is your rent now?]  

 

And welcome back on your return... 

In San Francisco a 1 br will cost you 4200 dls a month, Ridiculous 

[metisdead]

A post using ALL CAPS has been removed, please turn off your Caps Lock when posting. 

[anon4637435435]

I beg to differ. depends where you live. I prefer Aus over thai. I head back to melbourne alot. looks just like thailand but cleaner with a lot of other not asian faces alao but I he majority seem to be. Food is fantastic and the choices are endless. I have trains, trams, buses, taxis, bike tracks literaly at the front door. Depends on where you are. Here in thailand where i am in kanchanaburi there is no transport and foods terrible probably the worst in the country. Never had food poisioning until coming here. Food courts get boring and food chains just want money. service is piss poor. In melbourne there is a lot of small classy more personal resterants. Pricey for sure but you get what you pay for.

[lumply]

Where is 'Here' or is it a secret? In which case the post is completely irrelevant...sorry to say

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, smotherb said:

However, girls are available, but more expensive, but just rationalize that you are paying by the pound.

 

 

 

Brilliant comment. Although I've come to the conclusion small is beautiful.

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, lumply said:

Where is 'Here' or is it a secret? In which case the post is completely irrelevant...sorry to say

thaibeachlovers is Australian, AFAIK.

[Lacessit]

I go back to Australia for medical checks every 6 months. I agree with TBL about the boredom - 3 weeks is about as much as I can stand, and I miss my Thai GF. Can't wait to get back here.

[digger70]

2 hours ago, Nice Boyd said:

In San Francisco a 1 br will cost you 4200 dls a month, Ridiculous 

That's why and many More things that we live in LOS

[Tony125]

4 hours ago, smotherb said:

Yeah, I guess I will have quite a different perspective.

 

I like Thai food, so it will be more expensive back in the States.  However, I also like Western foods; much cheaper there than here--good beef, good crabs and oysters, breads, cheeses, wines, beers, spirits; my backyard has oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, avacados and strawberries--good burgers, wings, and pizza are everywhere; and if you like that god-awful American fast-food, it is much cheaper there than here.

 

I don't use public transportation except for flying; so I would not miss it. My Harley, Camry, and F-150 are all much cheaper there and so is the gas. I live in Florida, so weather there is not  a problem.

 

Things happen after 10pm; there are no stupid hours when you cannot buy booze; and  the entertainment venues are unbeatable, but very expensive. I have my lovely wife with me, so I will have companionship. However, girls are available, but more expensive, but just rationalize that you are paying by the pound.

 

Certainly, other expenses are greater--e.g., housing, taxes, insurance, hired tradesmen, and my favorite personal services are ridiculously more expensive there--and fewer issues can be solved with a bit of graft. They actually enforce traffic and other laws, but they don't stop you on the street for tea money. The other drivers don't try to run you off the road. It's not immediately your fault because you are there.

 

Damn, I've almost talked myself into leaving. However, those things that are more expensive there are so severely so, that they make it worthwhile to not be there.  That, and I have spent so much of  my life in SEA, it is home for me. Most of my friends and relatives are here.  So . . .

 

You say the weather is not a problem? Guess you have not been thru a hurricane there yet. 

[JAFO]

My wife and I are back in Calif for a month or so.  I miss my home in Thailand.  I got off the plane and my wallet started shaking...LOL.

 

I could post a lot about what I miss in Thailand.  Big one is just hoping on the scooter and blazing around to get Thai food for a $1. 

 

A month here is just enough.  

 

 

[pgrahmm]

1 minute ago, JAFO said:

My wife and I are back in Calif for a month or so.  I miss my home in Thailand.  I got off the plane and my wallet started shaking...LOL.

 

I could post a lot about what I miss in Thailand.  Big one is just hoping on the scooter and blazing around to get Thai food for a $1. 

 

A month here is just enough.  

 

 

Amen - we pick up the RV there & get to other states asap....

[Nyezhov]

8 minutes ago, pgrahmm said:

Amen - we pick up the RV there & get to other states asap....

The ultimate goal: Sept to May in Thailand, out west with the RV for the summer

[georgegeorgia]

If the OP is in Sydney Australia we have " Thai town" similar to chinatown.

 

A few thai restaurants...isaan karaoke nightclub, a 3 floor thai restaurant disco club....and thai supermarkets.

 

Thai market stalls sell clothing cheaper than in Thailand every weekend in Sydney.

 

Sydney seens to be the second Bangkok

 

[JAFO]

5 hours ago, pgrahmm said:

Amen - we pick up the RV there & get to other states asap....

I have no assets in the US any longer. Far more convenient to Rent RVs and places to stay and like you, we say Hello to folks and travel on. I just sat through 2 hrs of traffic and people honking and cutting people off.

 

That said., another thing I miss being home in Thailand is the the easier life and no traffic.

 

 

[Wake Up]

To each his own. Lucky I can live anywhere in the world I want and was lucky to travel most of the world for work. I am back in the USA for a family emergency. Been here one week with two more weeks to go. Can’t wait to get back to Bangkok, Pattaya and Khon Kaen. I read the Thai visa regulars gripe about Thailand and I think they have never been anywhere in the world.  I wish that complainers had to leave Thailand for a month a year so a lot of the BS complaints would stop. Never will understand people that hate where they choose to live. Probably they have no options in life and feel bad about the choices they made in life so they criticize everything but themselves. 

[theguyfromanotherforum]

4 and 5 star hotels in BKK and Patterz. So cheap, so good.

[simoh1490]

I agree with the OP, I've been in the UK for two months and boring is the word, I'll be happy to get back to Thailand in another month. A part of the problem is that the uncertain and usually inclement weather makes it difficult to plan things, so when the weather turns grey and rainy everyone retreats into their homes and families. Also, most places close up at  6pm, unless you're in London the only thing open after 6pm are the pubs and a few restaurants. At least in Chiang Mai there are shopping malls that stay open until 10pm, multi-screen move theatres, shed loads of eateries and entertainment options or simply, a nice evening to take a walk around town...all those things seem virtually non-existent here or simply not dooable.

[sirineou]

I thought the title of the OP is " What I miss about Thailand " it seem there are a bunch of cheap charlies here because many want o talk about prices.

   theguyfromanotherf said 5 star hotels, and indeed it is one of the things I also miss.

Back in the US working, hope to be retiring this coming spring and spending all of my time in LOS (if I can short out my medical insurance issues }   I miss my wife's family, what a bunch of nice people!! and I miss the night markets.  Love to walk around with the wife looking around and trying new foods.

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

I agree with the OP, I've been in the UK for two months and boring is the word, I'll be happy to get back to Thailand in another month. A part of the problem is that the uncertain and usually inclement weather makes it difficult to plan things, so when the weather turns grey and rainy everyone retreats into their homes and families. Also, most places close up at  6pm, unless you're in London the only thing open after 6pm are the pubs and a few restaurants. At least in Chiang Mai there are shopping malls that stay open until 10pm, multi-screen move theatres, shed loads of eateries and entertainment options or simply, a nice evening to take a walk around town...all those things seem virtually non-existent here or simply not dooable.

Have to agree with you here.

I return to the uk regularly to see my 2 kids ( not kids anymore, 30 and 27 ! ) 2 grandkids and primarily to spend some quality time with my aged father.
I usually go every 3 or 4 months and stay on average 1 month, this time I decided to skip a visit and haven’t been since March.
Apart from some guilt from not seeing my father I don’t really miss my visit .

I don’t drink and I left the family home in ‘95 so I have zero social life over there and have a sort of strained relationship with the kids and g/kids !!

It’s strange because I love to visit my birth town ( a close knit village community in West Yorkshire) and for the first week I am happy. I stay with my dad in the family home ( that he bought in 1955 ) and all the memories come flooding back.
But then I realise it’s really a solitary existence I’m living spending most of my time gardening or repairing things in the family home to make my dads last years more comfortable.

The uk is great for a week in summer (IMO) but the winter months are depressing and soon make me realise why I abandoned it in ‘95. Of course, many posters will still have friends in the uk and their outlook on the place will be different, but nearly all my friends were work related and since I gave up that habit 3 years ago I have mainly lost contact.

So, this brings me to why I miss Thailand.
Number one has to be the weather !, even during the rainy season it is short lived, a good old downpour which is over and done with in a short spell and the sun comes out shortly after, in the uk it could drizzle all week and stays damp for....... well... forever !!
The heat can be oppressive at times but I much prefer cooling down with a shower or cold drink to trying to stay warm in the uk winter.

The food is great as it is in the UK ( IMHO ) but I think it’s the availability over here that wins hands down, the ability to pop out at any time of day or night and find a good variety is a big advantage.
Plus I love fruit so much easier to obtain from the street or local market here.

But in general it’s just a feeling that over here I’m where I want to be !!

Going back to the uk in November for a month, another gkid on the way, but it’s just a feeling of family duty rather than having an actual desire to visit ( especially in November !! ). I know after a week I’ll be spending more time lamenting about the things I could be doing in my garden in Thailand rather than enjoying my surroundings .

[thaibeachlovers]

On ‎9‎/‎8‎/‎2018 at 5:51 AM, theguyfromanotherforum said:

 

Notice how the OP refuses to say where he is?

 

There is a difference between living in Sydney and "existing" in Camden.

 

I know Australia as I was married to one.

 

Just like there is a difference between living in Thailand on US dollars and existing on Australian peso.

 

 

I made one post a while back and I'm "refusing" 555555555555555.

Actually, read the headline, as it's nothing about comparing where I am to Thailand, so where I am is irrelevant. I liked Thailand better than London, if that's any help.

Seems that TVF has a resident clique of posters that just have to go on threads they don't like to bait the OP. Here's a suggestion, go post on threads you do like.

Times up, so have to bow out again. Be back in a few days, maybe. I l miss my internet access in Thailand too.

[StreetCowboy]

I miss the clean, well-organised open air Thai food courts.  The three places I used to go have all been demolished to make way for up-Market development

[Gecko123]

Being able to take a leak on the side of the road without having to worry about being arrested for indecent exposure.

[johng]

Apart from my wife I missed riding around on my SuzyUke Raider 150 bike.

[GinBoy2]

For me at least, after moving back home I miss nothing about Thailand.

Mrs G, misses the ability to go and buy noodles in the road, but other than that, not much either

[Gecko123]

4 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

For me at least, after moving back home I miss nothing about Thailand.

Except, apparently, TVF.