32 minutes ago, madmen said:

That's interesting. I to did the NLP course and it was instrumental in my success in my marketing company

But how will your Mrs use it? Big money in training in the west but never really thought that Thais would pay top dollar for it

The courses are very well attended here with 500 to 1000 people most of the time.  Some of the more introductory classes have even more.  I think there were something like 200 who went to climb the mountain in Vietnam for the final event.  The fire walking was a big draw for some.  To complete all ten levels is not cheap as you noted.  The payoff for me is not monetary, however.

 

Some people send their employees as a form of training and others come with family members.  Some are doing coaching while others are using it to advance their businesses and entrepreneurial endeavors.  So far my wife has done some volunteer work but mainly it has helped her grow as an individual.  She is also interested in public speaking and is an active member of the local Toastmasters.  There is also a big social element.  It is great to be around that many highly motivated and positive people.

2 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

I hope to see you out and about with your bike - we’ve been Short of great photos in the Cycling forum

I have actually been doing more hiking with my wife than cycling.  Cycling is solo and I have dropped down to 50 km when I ride. I really enjoy my wife's company so would rather hike with her.  Last winter we did all the Phu peaks out our way and had a great time.  This year she is training for the 10k runs and wants to do a half marathon next.

57 minutes ago, villagefarang said:

There was no sarcasm intended.  I just assumed you have the signature and perhaps the avatar functions turned off leaving you unable to read what is normally at the bottom of my posts.

 

Perhaps you would prefer a different answer.  I consider 40 plus years a long time.

I apoligise, I had no idea that it was possible to turn off "functions"

 

Yes 41 years is a long time, funnily enough I have lived in SEA for the past 41 years, the first ten in Singapore, Malaysia & PI, since then I have been in Thailand, we are also the same age. Time has flown!

Here is where you turn on or turn off signatures.

 

An excellent post VF , welcome back to the fold.

17 hours ago, tideout said:

Great pics and a nice story.  A very pleasant change from the usual drama..... 

Indeed. Top marks to the OP. 

Best place moi has ever lived too! ???? 

Nice photos, nice post, I have always enjoyed my trips to Nan province... thanks.

I love living here with my Thai wife and stepdaughter. After recent actual and proposed changes in obtaining 12 month extensions, I have some doubts about continuing to do so.

I’m with you, I love living here. When I first started to visit on holiday it was all bars and party scene.

but I fell on love with Thailand away from the bars and nightlife. I’ve been to and stayed for ant least a day or two in over 30 provinces so far and now I’m settled with a really nice girlfriend my pace of life is very fulfilling. I wouldn’t change a thing. 

 

Thanks for the posyive story story and the great pics. Lovely way to start my day 

17 hours ago, villagefarang said:

Yes, but today can also be about doing, seeing, learning and loving more.????

 

I am 64 so it helps that my wife is much younger.  She keeps me current and active.???? 

Amen to both of those sentiments!

 

Exactly my life philosophy and situation also.

 

Thirty years in Thailand and still in love with it. It is a rose with many thorns, but it is what you make of it. Those who are bitter will encounter the thorns, while those of us who have a positive outlook and happy disposition will appreciate the petals.

 

 

19 hours ago, villagefarang said:

That is why I decided to post this.  I took a rather long break from TVF but thought I might test the waters again with something a little more positive.

Anything positive is good and nice pictures ????

I thought Nan a pleasant enough town ( stayed a week ) but the real attraction is definitely the surrounding countryside.

One of the more uplifting journals on here for a while.Thanks for sharing the stunning scenery!

nice post and great photos, a trip to nan is on the books.

Nice to see you active on the forum again VF.

 

Thanks for this positive contribution.

????

On 1/16/2019 at 3:03 PM, villagefarang said:

That is why I decided to post this.  I took a rather long break from TVF but thought I might test the waters again with something a little more positive.

I have lived here for 13 years now and like it here, unlike in the UK, no one has ever approached me in a hostile way apart from an immigration officer, and the only time I have approached a Thai person, not in a hostile way, but for attempting to jump queues in front of me, and I have won every time.

So I like it here too, mainly because the people are so friendly and helpful, and I always treat people the way they treat me.

5 hours ago, possum1931 said:

I have lived here for 13 years now and like it here, unlike in the UK, no one has ever approached me in a hostile way apart from an immigration officer, and the only time I have approached a Thai person, not in a hostile way, but for attempting to jump queues in front of me, and I have won every time.

So I like it here too, mainly because the people are so friendly and helpful, and I always treat people the way they treat me.

Hmm. In the last sentence you put an interesting twist on the Golden Rule. Intentional or Freudian?

 

I also like the joke line "Do unto others before they can do unto you." 

 

I guess it's a chicken/egg thing but I find being proactively smiling and courteous an effective first move. It tends to disarm grumpy people before they can get started. 

 

Sorry, your comment just struck me funny I guess. ????

5 hours ago, possum1931 said:

I have lived here for 13 years now and like it here, unlike in the UK, no one has ever approached me in a hostile way apart from an immigration officer, and the only time I have approached a Thai person, not in a hostile way, but for attempting to jump queues in front of me, and I have won every time.

So I like it here too, mainly because the people are so friendly and helpful, and I always treat people the way they treat me.

I agree, went on MRT the other day but entered the station from a different direction. Asked for a ticket to Sukhumvit. As I got downstairs a Thai gentleman came over and said "excuse me I heard you were going to Sukumvit?" I said ,yes. He said you need to go to other side. I thanked him and went to the other side of the platform.

8 minutes ago, Tony125 said:

I agree, went on MRT the other day but entered the station from a different direction. Asked for a ticket to Sukhumvit. As I got downstairs a Thai gentleman came over and said "excuse me I heard you were going to Sukumvit?" I said ,yes. He said you need to go to other side. I thanked him and went to the other side of the platform.

Thanks Tony. Those kind of things happen to me regularly here. Which is to say that I'm often confused and that many Thai people are often nice to me! ????

Over the years I have become less disposed toward trying to influence the behavior of others.  I choose avoidance over confrontation, retaliation or teaching someone a lesson.  That all seems kind of petty and childish to me.  I figure the only person I have control over is me and I need to be able to live with my own conduct and behavior.  Avoiding an obstacle seems to be a much smoother path than slamming headfirst into an unmovable object, at least to me.

 

Thais have been very kind and generous to me over the years and I can't point to any one thing which might explain it.

On 1/16/2019 at 2:49 PM, villagefarang said:

The night market in Nan.

Was there last week with the missus and my Dad who is over on hols from the UK.

Driven thru Nan on a couple of occasions, but never looked around until this time. Very impressive town, we all liked very much. my Dad says it's his favourite Thai city. Prolly a bit like CR was 15 years ago and CM was 25-30 years ago.

The night market is wonderful.

We had a little 2000 odd kms road trip for 7 days, Udon - Chiang Khan - Nan - Chiang Saen - Golden Triangle - Khao Kor (wonderful) and back.

 

On 1/16/2019 at 4:48 PM, from the home of CC said:

I took a long break also, the anti thai sentiments got under my skin some. Then I realized that there's a lot of unhappy people out there that have no where to express it, especially being away from their native homes. I seem to tolerate the bs better if I view it from this standpoint. Post like yours remind me of the reasons I came here. 

There is nothing unusual about being happy and likewise being unhappy. 

 

Many of the guys who are happy live lives that are inconsequential to Thailand. Meaning, they can be under the radar and avoid lots of drama. 

 

However, you will find very few expats who are successful in Thailand based business who are happy in the way a expat with a pension living in a field would be. Old, retired, broke or pensioner expats like this challenge no one, are not a target for their wealth (because they usually have nearly none), ect. 

 

The happy guys need to try to understand the unhappy ones better and visa versa. Both are valid. Just depends on experience. 

I am not sure why you would think it is the old, retired, broke or pensioner expats who are the happy ones.  My experience has been the exact opposite of yours.  Most of the drama I have witnessed comes for trying to game the system and outsmart the locals, whether working or retired.  That tends to put people on the radar and make them vulnerable to lots of drama.

 

I do agree that some of us need to try to better understand others without being quite so condescending.????

On 1/16/2019 at 2:49 PM, villagefarang said:

 I live in Thailand and I like living here.

Blasphemer! Heretic! You have spoken out against the TV.

 

 

Thanks for the post. I agree with you. I like it here too. I find every day to be a pleasant day, I am still pleasantly surprised at many things I see, and I find the foreign and strange culture to be invigorating. I love the attitudes of most Thai people, and find the light hearted spirit to be such a wonderful contrast to what I experienced back in the US for all those years, and when I ago back a few times a year. Another world. One lacking joy, to put it mildly. One obsessed with PC weakness, and extreme emasculation and what they have the nerve to refer to as toxic masculinity. No thanks. I prefer living in a land where women celebrate their femininity, what alot of dignity, grace and appeal. 

 

If you are not enjoying your life in Thailand, I highly suggest getting out of Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, or Samui. Most of the malcontents, seem to live in one of those four spots. The rest of Thailand has alot to offer.

I live in a house with a view generally the other side of something like this (too much to do otherwise):

I've always truly believed "a picture is worth a thousand words". Your pictures speak volumes.

 

A nice post. Very refreshing. It elicited some great responses.

I am partial to my view.????

 

 

 

That's OK -- you see one sunset, you've seen 'em all.

 

As per JFK's 1961 Inauguration speech: "... knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.

 

#neeray. Not to worry, he is a fan of mine from way back.????