What you love about thailand

[saakura]

10 hours ago, meechai said:

 

Yeah once you get past the 60 or so dead bodies each & every day the roads are quite nice ????

I have been driving here almost every day since 1990 and have yet to see even one one dead body on the road, though i have seen many accidents. Not saying that 60 people here are not dying in accidents every day. But you are just being over dramatic claiming that each and every single day, a driver in Thailand has to drive past 60 dead bodies. 

[Sametboy2019]

5 minutes ago, saakura said:

I have been driving here almost every day since 1990 and have yet to see even one one dead body on the road, though i have seen many accidents. Not saying that 60 people here are not dying in accidents every day. But you are just being over dramatic claiming that each and every single day, a driver in Thailand has to drive past 60 dead bodies. 

I live in Rayong have seen at least 1 a year for the last 7. 

[ThailandRyan]

2 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

This isn't a forum to pretend and say nice things.

 

Forums are for people to speak their minds.

 

When people say they live on and off in Thailand for 10 years, instead of I have lived in Thailand for 10+ years, makes me wonder how long you have actually lived there, enough to see how it has changed?

 

There are many long time residents on this forum. Ask them. The first time I went to Thailand was 1984. Was in Prachinburi. Thought it was heaven. Finally moved to Thailand full time in 2003. By this time foreign mass marketing had set in and Thai's were brainwashed into thinking they were nobodies without the latest Iphone they couldn't afford. Money had become more important than human life. Greed and corruption were running rampid.

 

Over the next 10+ years things continually went down hill.

 

With the ouster of Thaksin  Shinawatara, the country really started to go down hill, and all these crazy visa rules started popping up.

 

The Great Flood of 2011, really got me thinking if there was something better out there for me and my family. Without that I might still be there, but thank God I made a decision to leave.

 

So yes, people can have it whatever way they want, because in the end, we all have choices.

 

 

Good on you, I do not pretend to love living here, my views are not made up fictional words, I live here because I love where I am. 

 

My first time in country was in 1982, and that was as a fresh 19 year old with the US Military.  I then came and went on many deployments.  Moved here in 2010 working as an Investigative Director, married a Thai woman, and moved to Udon Thani, went back and forth for deployments while also teaching the RTP in special investigations.  Each year was approximately eight months of living here, with four either back in the States or wherever else I was requested. 

 

My now Ex Father in-law was a judge and is now a Pu Yai, former Brother in-law a RTP Lt, Colonel.  Have lived from Phuket to Chaing Rai and decided to settle in Bangkok. 

 

I have had my share of ups and downs, but I don't bitch about the past or what might have been.  I find what makes me happy and live my life accordingly.  I have seen more death than a person should see, and as bad as people whine about things, the only power you have if you do not like them is to vote with your feet and move. 

 

To ridicule another person for what they like about where they live, and it can be anywhere, shows that you are either not happy in your life because of decisions made that still affect you.  Cause and effect.  For each action there is a reaction.  A misspoken word can bring ruin and chaos to a normal life.  An action deemed by someone to be minor in its causes finds that there is more to the actual action as the ball starts rolling.  Careers and relationships have been destroyed by just mere words.  So choose yours carefully. 

 

Life is to be lived and enjoyed, not to be destroyed by a bad attitude, and bad actions, which can and have shortened individuals lives because of the medical issues and conditions it can cause to the body.  It is amazing what a glimmer of hope and positiveness can do to ones morale and turn around a medical condition which can end your life in a heartbeat.

 

I chose to answer this specific Op without whining about Thailand because I do Love where I am, from where I have come from, and from what I have lived through.  To make anything less of my situation would just be plain stupid.

 

Enjoy your life if you can, and do your best to not stomp all over someone else's.  

 

Edited April 9, 2020 by ThailandRyan

[keysersoze276]

10 hours ago, Solinvictus said:

I like the clear skies and summer being mostly all year round weather.

 

I can speak Thai enough too also enjoy that aspect of it as well.

 

People here are simple just have to look for it.

 

Durian! ❤

The clear skies?  Are your from Delhi?

[keysersoze276]

23 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

A misspoken word can bring ruin and chaos to a normal life.  An action deemed by someone to be minor in its causes finds that there is more to the actual action as the ball starts rolling.  Careers and relationships have been destroyed by just mere words.  So choose yours carefully. 

As can an entire nation.  Tell that to Anutin. 

[thaibeachlovers]

16 hours ago, possum1931 said:

I could take you to a road near my village/town which has deep potholes, and a dreadful surface which has not been touched in many, and I mean many, years, it is not a main road, but still has to be used regularly to get in to town, if any stranger rides down the road in the dark he/she is in big trouble.

On the road from Lamphun to Chiang Mai that went through the huge trees there was a pothole right where m'bikes went. Didn't affect cars, so wasn't fixed. Lethal for any riding a m'bike that didn't know about it.

The road along the railway was worse though, so it was worth risking the traffic on the main road.

[thaibeachlovers]

6 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Enjoy your life if you can, and do your best to not stomp all over someone else's.  

Unfortunately some are apparently only happy when denigrating some other person for their druthers.

[MartinL]

I was reminded of something that I love about Thailand twice before 10 am today, yet it's something I very rarely even think about here.

 

1) Welds broken on the gate to our area. A risk of the gate falling. My wife went to see the local welder at 8 pm yesterday, asked if he could repair. He said he had a big job on but would see what he could do. He arrived today at 6.15 am, had everything repaired before 7 and was on his way to his big job.

 

2) Friday morning, washing day. Washing m/c tub wouldn't fill - I found a broken solenoid on the inlet valve. MrsL went to see the local washing m/c bloke with a photo of what was needed. He arrived at our house before she could drive home, had exactly what was needed and did the repair. About 35 minutes from my identifying the problem to m/c being back in action.

 

I shudder to think how long I'd have had to wait to get those jobs done 'back home' (it isn't any more). "Hmmmm ..... maybe we can fit you in a week next Wednesday". 

Edited April 10, 2020 by MartinL

[bwpage3]

14 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Good on you, I do not pretend to love living here, my views are not made up fictional words, I live here because I love where I am. 

 

My first time in country was in 1982, and that was as a fresh 19 year old with the US Military.  I then came and went on many deployments.  Moved here in 2010 working as an Investigative Director, married a Thai woman, and moved to Udon Thani, went back and forth for deployments while also teaching the RTP in special investigations.  Each year was approximately eight months of living here, with four either back in the States or wherever else I was requested. 

 

My now Ex Father in-law was a judge and is now a Pu Yai, former Brother in-law a RTP Lt, Colonel.  Have lived from Phuket to Chaing Rai and decided to settle in Bangkok. 

 

I have had my share of ups and downs, but I don't bitch about the past or what might have been.  I find what makes me happy and live my life accordingly.  I have seen more death than a person should see, and as bad as people whine about things, the only power you have if you do not like them is to vote with your feet and move. 

 

To ridicule another person for what they like about where they live, and it can be anywhere, shows that you are either not happy in your life because of decisions made that still affect you.  Cause and effect.  For each action there is a reaction.  A misspoken word can bring ruin and chaos to a normal life.  An action deemed by someone to be minor in its causes finds that there is more to the actual action as the ball starts rolling.  Careers and relationships have been destroyed by just mere words.  So choose yours carefully. 

 

Life is to be lived and enjoyed, not to be destroyed by a bad attitude, and bad actions, which can and have shortened individuals lives because of the medical issues and conditions it can cause to the body.  It is amazing what a glimmer of hope and positiveness can do to ones morale and turn around a medical condition which can end your life in a heartbeat.

 

I chose to answer this specific Op without whining about Thailand because I do Love where I am, from where I have come from, and from what I have lived through.  To make anything less of my situation would just be plain stupid.

 

Enjoy your life if you can, and do your best to not stomp all over someone else's.  

 

What does your ex-father in law or brother in law have to do with anything?

[bwpage3]

On 4/9/2020 at 1:14 AM, Solinvictus said:

I like the clear skies and summer being mostly all year round weather.

 

I can speak Thai enough too also enjoy that aspect of it as well.

 

People here are simple just have to look for it.

 

Durian! ❤

Summer, you mean the 6 months of Monsoon Rains?

[bwpage3]

On 4/8/2020 at 6:19 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

One can always find bad things about any place in the world, and in most places one can find things that make it worth while to live there.

LOS can be horrible for anyone that doesn't want to look outside Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai or Bkk, but outside those places there are so many wonderful and interesting things that a man would never grow bored in a life time.

If anyone doesn't find anything to love about LOS, IMO they just aren't trying hard enough.

Must be lots of Thai's not trying hard enough as well.

 

There must be 20 Thai restaurants in our county in Florida, Thai Temple, Thai grocery stores, tons of Thai people

 

None of those folks want to go back to Amazing Thailand for some odd reason?

[Solinvictus]

On 4/9/2020 at 10:15 PM, keysersoze276 said:

The clear skies?  Are your from Delhi?

In Bangkok the majority of the year has clear blue skies. I can see it with me eyes...

 

It's sunny too if you can't see that...

[Solinvictus]

11 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

Summer, you mean the 6 months of Monsoon Rains?

6 months...for 'monsoon rains.' Right..

#getaclue

Edited April 10, 2020 by Solinvictus

[thaibeachlovers]

20 hours ago, MartinL said:

I was reminded of something that I love about Thailand twice before 10 am today, yet it's something I very rarely even think about here.

 

1) Welds broken on the gate to our area. A risk of the gate falling. My wife went to see the local welder at 8 pm yesterday, asked if he could repair. He said he had a big job on but would see what he could do. He arrived today at 6.15 am, had everything repaired before 7 and was on his way to his big job.

 

2) Friday morning, washing day. Washing m/c tub wouldn't fill - I found a broken solenoid on the inlet valve. MrsL went to see the local washing m/c bloke with a photo of what was needed. He arrived at our house before she could drive home, had exactly what was needed and did the repair. About 35 minutes from my identifying the problem to m/c being back in action.

 

I shudder to think how long I'd have had to wait to get those jobs done 'back home' (it isn't any more). "Hmmmm ..... maybe we can fit you in a week next Wednesday". 

LOL. My wife contracted a firm to install steel gates on the carport. After they left the gate fell off because the weld was so bad. In the end she borrowed a welder and I fixed it myself.

I employed an "electrician" to install a shower heater. I specifically requested an earth. After they left I had to go buy a proper earth rod as the one they put in was useless.

I had to reinstall an outside light circuit at the family home when the local "electrician" they employed managed to melt 10 meters of cable and the fittings by shorting it directly to earth.

 

Not all bad though. Had tire punctures repaired without having to wait and for a pittance.

[thaibeachlovers]

17 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

Must be lots of Thai's not trying hard enough as well.

 

There must be 20 Thai restaurants in our county in Florida, Thai Temple, Thai grocery stores, tons of Thai people

 

None of those folks want to go back to Amazing Thailand for some odd reason?

Nothing strange about that at all. The grass is always greener and I wanted to live always in Thailand.

[bwpage3]

21 hours ago, Solinvictus said:

6 months...for 'monsoon rains.' Right..

#getaclue

Average rainfall (mm)	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Bangkok	11	28	31	72	190	152	158	187	320	231	57	9
Chiang Mai	8	6	15	45	153	136	167	227	251	132	44	15
Ko Samui	144	33	51	86	158	93	131	106	113	266	526	213
Pattaya	19	14	52	67	177	79	77	91	202	249	134	4
Phuket	42	30	60	157	345	286	284	272	417	351	188	71

[rumak]

i love the new headgear.   they're gonna have a hard time finding me now  

[BritManToo]

24 minutes ago, rumak said:

i love the new headgear.   they're gonna have a hard time finding me now  

You needn't have worried, we white folk all look the same to them.

[keysersoze276]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

You needn't have worried, we white folk all look the same to them.Perhaps.  But I am even more handsome here than in USA!  Lol

[rabang]

As disclaimer I am not interested in living in Thailand full time, especially now that it is getting more and more difficult but I have spent about half of my time there in recent years.

 

The best thing is the overall convenience when it comes to necessities such as accomodation. Renting a condo or a house is very easy and usually affordable compared to most places. Building quality is poor and infrastructure is shabby though but it doesn't matter for a short time especially as the condos are new and clean. Internet is cheap and fast. Travelling around the region and in Thailand is cheap and easy.

 

Thailand has a certain energy that gives me a sense of meaning of life, raison d'être. Even if many days are very similar I don't feel the emptiness or small existential crisis nearly as frequently as in my home country. Sunny and warm weather makes it easier to get up in the morning.

 

The climate, although far from perfect and sometimes too hot, is in my opinion definitely healthier than a cold climate. For example one thing I notice always is that my skin gets better when I arrive there in winter from the cold. I could wash my hands and use disinfectant without any limit in Thailand but here I have to apply some lotion. The pollution in Thailand is however ridiculous and has caused some respiratory problems to me. It is absolutely the first thing I would fix if I could. You can get around most things in one way or another but is just impossible to escape bad air unless sitting inside all day with an air purifier or go around wearing a gas mask.

 

Then there are little things one gets used to, like happens everywhere. Creature of habit. Being able to go to a local coffee shop around the corner for a morning coffee or using other local services that are affordable. Thailand can still be cheap if you want but it means excluding yourself from many things, especially imported products.

 

The food is overall not my favorite. I like maybe one third or 40% of all dishes but the rest is almost inedible for me. There are many restaurants with food from all over the world in Bangkok so it is always easy to find something appealing.

Edited April 12, 2020 by rabang

[WalkingOrders]

Age 61, I love my wife, daughter, residence, food, the overall friendliness of people, the lack of rudeness, the absence of people arguing in public, or being terminally upset about everything or nothing, the prices, the beaches, the MRT, shopping, and love that I am fit healthy, no stress, no high blood pressure, no worries! In Thailand since 2016.

Edited April 12, 2020 by WalkingOrders
Clarity

[geronimo]

The climate, the women, the cuisine, the serenity, the freedom and the culture.

[Solinvictus]

On 4/11/2020 at 9:00 PM, bwpage3 said:

Average rainfall (mm)	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Bangkok	11	28	31	72	190	152	158	187	320	231	57	9
Chiang Mai	8	6	15	45	153	136	167	227	251	132	44	15
Ko Samui	144	33	51	86	158	93	131	106	113	266	526	213
Pattaya	19	14	52	67	177	79	77	91	202	249	134	4
Phuket	42	30	60	157	345	286	284	272	417	351	188	71

Keep lookin on the screen...I'm looking outside...@ my original comment. ☀☀☀

 

[Solinvictus]

15 hours ago, geronimo said:

The climate, the women, the cuisine, the serenity, the freedom and the culture.

Well put! I agree. Well, less so about the culture..ha..

[caribbean82]

On 4/8/2020 at 1:08 PM, spidermike007 said:

Wow. Where to even start. This is an entirely subjective topic, of course. But some of us live very good lives here. Some of us have been fortunate enough to find an outstanding woman, who is delightful to be around, on a daily basis, always has our back, and is fun, smart, and lovely. For me, that likelihood of finding that back in the US, would be very low. So, that is a big factor for me. We have no children, and we are very fortunate in that regard, so no child rearing required. She is a gourmet cook, so whenever I want, she is thrilled to whip up an incredible meal. But, mostly it is about outstanding companionship, being with a kind, loving woman who always has my back, as I always have hers. It is the most satisfying relationship I have ever been in. We have fun, we talk, but we don't try to break down the origins of the universe, and the conversations are lovely, but not particularly deep. She speaks very good english, but is not fluent, so that is one aspect of it. But, the primary aspect is just a lack of interest on her part, in the deeper subjects, (such as astronomy, physics, science, botany, theatre, independent film, etc.), which I find to be the case with alot of Thai women, and I am fine with that. 

 

I have met very few Thai women that I would describe as philosophical, or intellectual. Most Thais simply do not have inquiring minds. Most are not taught to be curious souls, as youngsters. This does not mean they are not smart. But, most of the intellectual kind of stuff I like to discuss with my friends, my wife considers bizarre, and uninteresting. And that is not even one iota of an issue for us. I learned long ago that an intellectual woman, who can match me intellectually, also tends to be a combative woman, and the chance of harmony is low. I for one, love a harmonious house, where my woman is joyful and light hearted, with a great sense of humor, and an amazing attitude toward life, and us. Just my point of view. Whatever works for you, stick with it. I have my friends, who I can talk to, and break down the universe with, if the desire to do so is there.

 

The second factor is just the quality of life. Sure, I miss alot of the culture back home. The theatre, independent film (which I can download here with no issues at all, and a super fast 240mbps fiber optic connection, at under 800 baht per month!), stand up comedy, live jazz, etc. But I have a lovely home that I rent, for about 10% of what I would pay in California, I live very well on an income which is not huge, have access to great health care, at a tiny fraction of what it costs in the US, and do not have to put up with alot of the aggravation that I had to when I lived back there. I would not want to move back there, unless I was either being paid a million dollars a year (net), or the situation was dire. 

 

Sure, Thailand has changed. My first trip here was in 1976! It was so much different than now. The air quality if getting worse each year it seems, as nothing is being done about it. The politics here are absolutely regressive. The army is horrendous. Will that ever improve? I think so. I think the youth will eventually oust them, as they are virtually useless to Thai society, with the exception of protecting the elite, those in power (themselves), and the super wealthy. But alot of things here have improved since then. The infrastructure here is quite good. Sure they could use a high speed rail. That would be amazing. Hopefully it will happen. The whole world is different now. The whole planet is being affected by a greatly expanding population, inflation, environmental issues, politics, and congestion. So, we are going to experience some of that no matter where we are. All I know, is that every day I wake up, I am very glad to be here, very glad to be with the woman I am with, and thankful for my life. Would I feel the same way in the US? I seriously doubt it. Most of my friends back in the US, say they would trade positions with me, in a heartbeat, if they could. I believe them. And I feel for them. The quality of life where I came from is a pale shadow of what it used to be. No thanks. There is one more consideration. No matter where we go, we still have to contend with ourselves, our attitude, our issues and our minds. So, some will always be seeking greener pastures. Nothing wrong with that. But, it does not insure fulfillment. I find most Thai people to be quite pleasant, and light hearted. Fun to be around, and a great humor.

 

In the US I can spend days trying to get someone to smile, or laugh. It is a very serious place, and people have become very dour, and heavy hearted, as a general rule of thumb. Nearly everyone I know in the states tells me that their wives do not try as hard, once they are married. That the motivation to be all they can be just sort of disappears. I can see if for myself. They often do not seem the same as they were before. And this especially applies once the kids were born, though that might happen here, to some extent too. Fortunately, I do not know about that part of the equation. Here, I do not see that happening. For some reason, the cultural differences allow the women here to be a greater version of themselves. They are allowed to express their femininity, and they are not ruined by "me too", expectations of being more successful than their man, and other nonsense like that. Does that make sense? I realize if you are a Western woman, it is not easy reading this stuff. Same applies to being a western man, married to a western woman. These things are not easy to hear. And certainly this does not apply to everyone, either here or there. Some in the west are just exceptional, and capable to rising against the tide. But, it does apply to most, from my point of view.

 

Mike i love you're posts. How long have you lived in thailand 

[spidermike007]

On 4/15/2020 at 4:05 PM, caribbean82 said:

Mike i love you're posts. How long have you lived in thailand 

Thanks alot. Well over a decade. I would certainly call Thailand home, and I love it here. 

[bwpage3]

23 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Thanks alot. Well over a decade. I would certainly call Thailand home, and I love it here. 

Well, do you love the military government?

 

Pollution?

 

Over-crowded roads?

 

Corruption?

 

Handling of CV, floods, droughts?

 

Or are you financially trapped there?

 

You have commented over and over and over how expensive it is in the USA and you would a million dollars to live there?

 

You already have the love of your life. Is Thailand the only life you can give her?

 

What's the age difference?

 

Going to leave her set for life when you pass?

 

Western education?

 

Any education or tools she can use to ensure her quality of life continues?

 

Or as you living the standard Thai life, just brushing by with enough each month?

 

Own any cars, real estate, land, farms?

 

 

[kingdong]

5 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

Well, do you love the military government?

 

Pollution?

 

Over-crowded roads?

 

Corruption?

 

Handling of CV, floods, droughts?

 

Or are you financially trapped there?

 

You have commented over and over and over how expensive it is in the USA and you would a million dollars to live there?

 

You already have the love of your life. Is Thailand the only life you can give her?

 

What's the age difference?

 

Going to leave her set for life when you pass?

 

Western education?

 

Any education or tools she can use to ensure her quality of life continues?

 

Or as you living the standard Thai life, just brushing by with enough each month?

 

Own any cars, real estate, land, farms?

 

 

Calls Thailand his home?you,'re a guest not a citizen,just hope they don,t tell you . " it's time for you to go grasshopper"and everyone else who's decided to give Thailand the pleasure of their presence should bear this in mind, this present emergency is going to have severe consequences on future events.

[shy coconut]

On 4/8/2020 at 2:54 PM, bwpage3 said:

Why lie and make things up?

 

I lived there for 10 years and it went downhill every year

 

I revisited in Dec 2019 after being away for 6 years and it was even worse.

 

The pollution for one.

 

No one can impose anything on anyone, and it is silly to even suggest that.

 

My opinions are from my experience, what is best for my family and I am not one for trying to convince myself how great it is, when it isn't.

 

Been there, done that and moved back. Why?

 

Because I did not burn bridges, had the finances to do so and the education to jump back into corporate America.

 

Think about why someone would write a post about "What do you love about Thailand?

 

Most people have trapped themselves financially. What do you think they will write other than to convince themselves it's great.

 

My experience comes from living there, moving and revisiting.

 

To say what I love about Thailand? At 30 baht to $1 it is not as cheap. If you want to live in a one room flat the rest of your life sure.

 

There are 1000's of places around the world, if you could afford to live there, you would like more than Thailand.

 

The fact is, if I love Thailand and wanted to live there, I would.

 

I don't and I am not forced to live some where to make ends meet on a measly income.

 

Pretty sure if Thailand was all that, we wouldn't have 1000's of Thai's living in Florida.

You seem to be trapped in Thai visa....

[thaibeachlovers]

11 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

Or as you living the standard Thai life, just brushing by with enough each month?

 

Own any cars, real estate, land, farms?

What is wrong with living a standard Thai life? Are you denigrating Thais?

It's not as though western people are not living on credit up to their eyeballs, is it?

 

Farangs can't own real estate ( other than a condo, and owning property in LOS is barking, IMO ), land, farms and no need to own a car in LOS.