Why do you continue to live in Thailand

[4MyEgo]

This topic has probably been bashed around so many times before, but just out of interest, I am curious to know why you are staying here vs going back.

 

I for one am exiting come the end of the year, yes ok, good riddens ????

 

Been coming here since 2005 and moved here in 2015 thinking I could live here quite easily as I was and still am cashed up from the sale of my place back in Sydney Australia, and am young enough to go back at 60.

 

But I was wrong, maybe it's because I am living in Issan, but I have been all over Thailand and it's pretty much the same.

 

Democratically elected predominantly "military government", the bad air quality, rubbish, polluted beaches, no police presence on the roads to combat speeding or drunken drivers/riders, apart from the beginning and the end of the months to make budget, immigrations repetitive online and extension rules with mountains of paperwork, corruption, the cost of living and private health insurance. Also lets not forget the xenophobia.  

 

I could keep the "negative" list going, but to me, it already outweighs any "positives" about living in Thailand, so I will stop there.

 

Let's try to keep it clean, I have no regrets moving here to retire, but the 5 year "holiday" for me is up and personally I can't wait to get back to cleaner air, cleaner beaches, police presence, albeit it a nanny state for a reason, no immigration brain damage every time I go to another province, 90 day online reporting and annual extensions with mountains of paperwork, no corruption, free public hospital cover, government support for kids, and pretty much the same when it comes to the cost of living here (excluding renting or owning your own property).

Edited June 10, 2020 by 4MyEgo

[Mavideol]

I can't afford to live anywhere else, even if the idea cross my mind

[stouricks]

Hey 4MyEgo, why don't you change your footnote which says 'I am where I want to be'     PML

[bodga]

Numerous reasons I never  planned to come here but married my Wife 15 years  ago and decided that  us being separated was not good. Her  salary exceeded mine and she's  kept me ever  since.

Thailand has many faults most of which, but  not  all, can be avoided, I hated the UK weather endless grey days and cold, here it's  too hot but preferable over that damp cold.

So Wife weather money.

I also found the younger Brits to be  getting pretty vile in their ways.

Edited June 10, 2020 by bodga

[J Town]

I have told this story numerous times (most likely every time this topic bubbles up from the sewer). Circa 2014, I got fed up with Thailand. Pulled up stakes, moved to Zijuatanejo, Mexico (remember "The Shawshank Redemption?"). I was back in 6 weeks with a renewed appreciation. I was reminded immediately why I left in the first place, trying to get internet hooked up, but considering the alternative, it was an acceptable compromise. Affordable housing, decent infrastructure, world class medical, wonderful food, and even in my 60's I am considered in certain circles a "handsome man" by girls I could only dream about back in the US.

[petermik]

I,ve been living here 6 years and still have a house back in the UK...went back for the first time last year for a family wedding...could not wait to get back here,for all it,s negatives it would be a sad day for me to return permanently to England......

[ChaiyaTH]

Mostly the complicated aspects around my Thai girlfriend/wife and mother of my child as she has only a Thai passport. This makes things more complicated for long term visa's or relative expensive, plus once decided, it should be for quite some term, to be worth the spendings. 

I used to travel abroad quite often, sometimes almost monthly and then Thailand does not get very annoying too. Stays fun. Now that is quite different. 
Have to say that it was different too because you never worried about the visa part back then. You were just allowed in.

If I had been single, I am pretty sure I left for a while now at least and tried out Vietnam and Indonesia for a while or most duration of time. I do not like to see no progress in the 8 years I have been here, in fact, things are going backwards since 2014.

Edited June 10, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[4MyEgo]

15 minutes ago, stouricks said:

Hey 4MyEgo, why don't you change your footnote which says 'I am where I want to be'     PML

Perhaps it means just what it says, "I am where I want to be" an example could be that I don't have to work for the rest of my life, but I am not one to want to rub salt in anyone's wounds.....how about you, is your ego as big as mine ????

 

[mr mr]

borders closed.

[Saltire]

 

"Democratically elected predominantly "military government", the bad air quality, rubbish, polluted beaches, no police presence on the roads to combat speeding or drunken drivers/riders, apart from the beginning and the end of the months to make budget, immigrations repetitive online and extension rules with mountains of paperwork, corruption, the cost of living and private health insurance. Also lets not forget the xenophobia."

 

Apart from the first one which I think will always bring the uncertainty to living here, I have little or no exposure to the rest of your list of negatives. Air is good, no rubbish, not near a beach, never see a policeman from month to month, roads are quiet, never seen any corruption directly, annual extension not so onerous when you get to know your Imm Office, 90 day online worked fine last 3 years, never experienced xenophobia (though I am not disputing it exists).

 

I will continue to live in Thailand till either I pass or somethng goes pear-shaped with my marriage, but all has been wonderful for the last 3 years. The thought of going back home to Scotland makes me break out in a cold sweat; cold, wet, dark and unfriendly in general. I'd be very lonely and unhappy.

 

Good luck anyway.

[stouricks]

12 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Perhaps it means just what it says, "I am where I want to be" an example could be that I don't have to work for the rest of my life, but I am not one to want to rub salt in anyone's wounds.....how about you, is your ego as big as mine ????

 

Impossible!   PML

 

The only song I know with EGO in the title. Cheers.

Edited June 10, 2020 by stouricks

[PingRoundTheWorld]

Why does any man do anything? P....Women.

 

I was in Thailand mainly because it was fun, relatively inexpensive, good quality lifestyle if you have money. It was basically a perpetual vacation and I could go out (almost) every night and get laid whenever I wanted to.

 

I did however decide to move on this year. Too many immigration headaches, and Bangkok is severely overpriced when it comes down to nightlife. I could spend half as much for just the same somewhere else in Asia. The plan forward is to go back to my home country, get a good IT job, and visit SEA (not necessarily Thailand) occasionally. Congratulations immigration - your "come too mutt" policies worked - I won't come as much anymore. Idiots.

[OneMoreFarang]

26 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Democratically elected predominantly "military government", the bad air quality, rubbish, polluted beaches, no police presence on the roads to combat speeding or drunken drivers/riders, apart from the beginning and the end of the months to make budget, immigrations repetitive online and extension rules with mountains of paperwork, corruption, the cost of living and private health insurance. Also lets not forget the xenophobia.  

How often did you have any problems with the government?

Bad air, ok, agreed, at least part of the year

Some beaches are nice

Immigration: How much time do you spend on that? Maybe one or two days for each year?

Health insurance: You should have one wherever you live.

Xenophobia: Is that really a personal problem for you?

 

Personally I still like it in Thailand, after more than 2 decades.

"Back home" I don't like the weather, lots of ugly old women, very strict rules and enforcement of those rules, lots of old people and little fun.

In Thailand the sun shines almost every day, it's never cold, 90% no hassle with the police and if then it's 100B cash, lots of young and friendly people, still reasonable prices, life is good and fun.

[statman78]

I enjoy living here. I have a great place in Chiang Rai with my wife.  I go to Bangkok to see friends when I want since I worked there in the past.  My standard of living is much better here.  
The US is becoming a nanny state.  It is also a place where you can’t voice an opinion without being soundly criticized if it is even a little bit politically incorrect.

The immigration rules aren’t that burdensome. I don’t have problems doing my retirement extensions. It takes only a few minutes to do my 90 day report online.  When needed, I do the TM30 online.

I don’t expect every Thai to be my friend but there are many in the neighborhood that are very friendly and easy to get along with.

If you come here thinking that it will be like your life in a western country then you definitely came to the wrong place.

Edited June 10, 2020 by statman78

[nauseus]

35 minutes ago, bodga said:

Numerous reasons I never  planned to come here but married my Wife 15 years  ago and decided that  us being separated was not good. Her  salary exceeded mine and she's  kept me ever  since.

Thailand has many faults most of which, but  not  all, can be avoided, I hated the UK weather endless grey days and cold, here it's  too hot but preferable over that damp cold.

So Wife weather money.

I also found the younger Brits to be  getting pretty vile in their ways.

Does your wife have a sister?

[Orton Rd]

Because the mrs will not live in the UK, in her words it's too cold and too many black foreigners

Edited June 10, 2020 by Orton Rd

[PatOngo]

 

[Old Croc]

36 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

moved here in 2015 thinking I could live here quite easily 

 

Democratically elected predominantly "military government", the bad air quality, rubbish, polluted beaches, no police presence on the roads to combat speeding or drunken drivers/riders, apart from the beginning and the end of the months to make budget, immigrations repetitive online and extension rules with mountains of paperwork, corruption, the cost of living and private health insurance. Also lets not forget the xenophobia.  

Virtually every negative you've listed existed in 2015. Questions are better directed at yourself than others. Why did you come here? Did you do your homework on life here, or had you just viewed the country as a tourist?  Do you feel just a bit too embarrassed to admit you made a mistake, and feel the need to put the onus on others for not also running back home.

Before implying the rest of us are bonkers for staying, perhaps you should consider the possibility that most of us knew what was in store for us when we came, and decided it was, and remains, the best choice for our personal situations. 

I hope you find what you need back in Australia and trust you don't become another sad sack continually posting here about how great life is, and how cheap cheese is, back in the home country.

[Pravda]

If I had a choice I would live in KL instead of Bangkok.

 

But I don't have a choice.

[Catkiwi]

15 minutes ago, nauseus said:

Does your wife have a sister?

Yes, but she used to be her brother

[Keyser Soze666]

Because I have commitments with a son and a daughter. If I were single I would have been gone long ago. No doubt.

[Keyser Soze666]

Because I have commitments with a son and a daughter. If I were single I would have been gone long ago. No doubt.

[Thaiwrath]

Climate

Cost of living

Tried and trusted friends

Don't have to wait 3 weeks to see a doctor, as in UK. 

I can walk round my local lake every morning at 4.30am, without being attacked by a smackhead. 

 

What else does a 60 year old (on Sunday) need ?

Edited June 10, 2020 by Thaiwrath

[bodga]

26 minutes ago, nauseus said:

Does your wife have a sister?

Yes, shes a  total waste of space, but  your'e  welcome to her, shes the exact  opposite

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

I am curious to know why you are staying here vs going back.

The UK police won't let me go back.

[ChaiyaTH]

I have to add: my wife would never last in Netherlands. She takes things way too easy and slowly up north here. Would be too stressful and chaotic, she doesn't like sitting at home either (which you will with the prices of activities and weather there). 

Edited June 10, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[ramrod711]

I've been here 15 years, married for 10 to a good woman. The weather is generally a lot nicer than where I come from. We have a very nice home that I designed and we had built for us in a village near Chiang Mai. I have never used an agent for my extensions at immigration, paperwork is simple if requirements are met. I do use an agent for 90 day reports, it's cheap, I drive right by the office almost every day, and I prefer to avoid going to immigration if possible. I have a lifestyle that suits me, I'm at the gym 6 days a week, I can swim there as well, every month of the year. Traffic is an area of concern but I'm not in much of a hurry anymore. I miss sports on TV but nothing is perfect and Thailand is close enough for me.

[BritManToo]

7 minutes ago, ramrod711 said:

I'm at the gym 6 days a week, I can swim there as well, every month of the year.

Not the last 2-3 months.

[Logosone]

Quote

 

But I was wrong, maybe it's because I am living in Issan, but I have been all over Thailand and it's pretty much the same.

 

Democratically elected predominantly "military government", the bad air quality, rubbish, polluted beaches, no police presence on the roads to combat speeding or drunken drivers/riders, apart from the beginning and the end of the months to make budget, immigrations repetitive online and extension rules with mountains of paperwork, corruption, the cost of living and private health insurance. Also lets not forget the xenophobia.  

 

I could keep the "negative" list going, but to me, it already outweighs any "positives" about living in Thailand, so I will stop there.

 

I hear what you're saying.

 

I came here in love with Thailand and now, after living here for some time, that has certainly changed.

 

To your annoyances of bad air, horrible traffic, and poor quality beaches I could add awful neighbours and lose dogs everywhere, no Amazon, and of course it's actually too hot.

 

I'll stay for now because overall with the variety of food in Chiang Mai, world class massage, lower living cost and fast internet and good accommodation there is still a lot to be said for being in Thailand.

 

I'm certainly not discounting moving to Spain, Italy, SG or KL at some point however as indeed the annoyances in Thailand are increasing.

 

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

I could keep the "negative" list going,

That might be the only sure thing in this post... my guess is that you will have an equally negative list in 5 years about wherever you are...

 

as they say, 'wherever you go, there you are.'