Where did you meet your friends in Thailand and how did you become friends?

[Onrai]

It seems the common denominator is Bars. Since I like to get up early and walk instead of stay up and fraternize at the local bars I have been somewhat handicapped in meeting friends. I’d say for every 100 farang out drinking there is 1 out walking early. The conclusion is clear-if you want to meet more people drink more.

[chrisinth]

When I first arrived in Thailand for the long haul (in Pattaya), all the people I regarded as friends (and still do for those that are still alive and kicking) were from the bar scene. I was travelling alone and only planned on a six month downtime before moving on. People say that bar girls can't be friends; I would strongly disagree with that. As for the guys, they were mostly long term expats who I 'used' to get the pros & cons of living here; a lot of those turned out to be long lasting friendships.

 

Spent two years in Pattaya and moved up to Phitsanulok, and that was like chalk and cheese to me. Originally came up here for a break from Pattaya and for the last 21 years haven't looked back. The big thing I found up here was the 'acceptance' period on the Thai side. Don't get me wrong, everyone friendly and no hostility, but it took about two months before (almost at once) everybody wanted to talk to me. Still have a good relationship with some from that time. Perhaps I am lucky, or just have the right personality, but have never had a bad relationship with any Thai here.

 

As life went on, I ran a bar/restaurant here with my missus for 12 years and met most of the expats residing here at least once. A lot of really good relationships grew from this. At the same time as running the bar I started working full time for a company here (one of the reasons we closed the bar as business commitments increased) and this opened up a new path of business relationships leading to true friendships, Thai & expat. Definitions differ, but to me true friendship is when someone has your back at all times and you have their's.

 

For clarity, I don't wear rose-tinted glasses in Thailand, never have. The above is just they way the dice rolled for me. All good so far................ 

[seancbk]

Of my circle of close friends in Thailand (maybe 30 in Bangkok and another 30 in Phuket, Samui etc most of them are people I knew in Hong Kong so have been friends for 20-30 years.   

Of my Thailand friends, some I met in bars, some I met in nightclubs, some I met at hiso style events (wine tastings and dinner parties)

I have met quite a few people through business here, both Thai and Farang.  

I reckon it must be much harder for older guys to make friends here, as their age does tend to limit where they will go; and as they are not doing business here they don't have the opportunities to meet people that way.

 

[4MyEgo]

I have met lots of "friends" in the local bar I frequent, I have a yarn with them, exchange thoughts, down a few beers and go home, I wouldn't consider them friends in the true word as I have never invited them to my place or them me to their places.

Edited August 10, 2020 by 4MyEgo

[thaibeachlovers]

11 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

I have met lots of "friends" in the local bar I frequent, I have a yarn with them, exchange thoughts, down a few beers and go home, I wouldn't consider then friends in the true word as I have never invited them to my place or them me to their places.

They are acquaintances, not friends. A friend is welcome at one's home.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, seancbk said:

Of my circle of close friends in Thailand (maybe 30 in Bangkok and another 30 in Phuket, Samui etc most of them are people I knew in Hong Kong so have been friends for 20-30 years.   

Of them, how many would invite you to go live with them if you lost all your money?

I had a friend of 30 years stole a load of money off me.

 

I needed to borrow a car for a long journey and my friend didn't even hesitate before handing over the keys- nice car too, not a heap.

[rott]

Most male friends I met in the first bar I was in in Pattaya. Including some from the first night there.

Lady friends I seem to meet at Church Christmas Jumble Sales. 

[Pilotman]

3 hours ago, mr mr said:

no. 

if she was a young, long dark hair, dark eyes, stunning body and low morals, then, yes,  absolutely.

[OneMoreFarang]

3 hours ago, Guderian said:

I should imagine you make friends in much the same ways and places here as you did when you lived back home.

I agree that is true for the people who work here.

But the retired people who have no work don't have that option. And from reading posts on TVF some (many?) of them have difficulties finding friends.

[OneMoreFarang]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If I had a vagina I know I'd be a lot more popular.

Are you sure you as a person would be more popular? Or maybe only certain body parts?

[NoshowJones]

18 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

I miss the good ole days when bars were little more than a cluster of shanties, the girls were all freelancers or married to some GI who was TDY, and most everyone was friendly and bought rounds of drinks...

What does TDY mean? Another poster who thinks he is on his smartphone texting instead of a forum

Initials can be OK if the full words have already been used, but TDY??

[NoshowJones]

5 hours ago, steven100 said:

in the bar ....  I said hello 

Not after 5pm I hope. 

[NoshowJones]

I met my closest friend on Thaivisa a good few years ago, and we are still good mates today.

[richard_smith237]

Through various activities.

 

Work, Bar, Sports, Accommodation. 

 

I became long term friends with some guys I worked with (Thai and Western).

I became long term friends with a couple of guys I ended up talking with in a bar (Thai and Western).

I became long term friends with guys I play sports with (Football).

I became long term friends with a guy I lived next door to.

 

In each of the cases over time, I also became friends with ‘friends of friends’.

 

I agree with the ‘common denominator’ (onemorefarang) that in most cases an acquaintance grew into friendship over time as I saw that person again and again. With the exception of the two friends I met in a bar when I was much younger, we instantly hit it off and socialised regularly after that. 

Edited August 10, 2020 by richard_smith237

[DrTuner]

Through family and then friends of friends.

[AgMech Cowboy]

Work, work related, neighbors, golf and, yeah, my pharmacist ????(I see him monthly. I 'wish' my Doctor, 'cause she's pretty ????). I might could have included my son's school teachers and his friends parents (I'm still in a parent's LINE group), but we just live too far away (for me). The wife still has friends from there.

[Puchaiyank]

3 hours ago, possum1931 said:

What does TDY mean? Another poster who thinks he is on his smartphone texting instead of a forum

Initials can be OK if the full words have already been used, but TDY??

TDY is universally understood as "Temporary Duty".  Their military spouses were sent away...so they came back to the bars to play...????

[IvorLott]

Some nice posts here, yearning for a time when BKK/Thailand was a simpler, friendlier place. Sure, some of the impromptu bars which would spring up from time to time, made for decent meeting spots, especially in weird places like 'Blade Runner Alley' (the small alley between Suk soi 5-7) or Buckskin Joe Village.

The sad fact for me is that I grew weary of making pals a while ago (having been fortunate enough to have been a 'long term' expat in BKK most of my adult life, friends were thick on the ground in the aforementioned times; my own personal 'Golden years' being the late 1990s, to the mid 2000s).

Though most went home in the end, only a few from those days remain in Thailand (I myself am on sabbatical leave until this darned plague is passed).

Of those few who remain most are scattered around the Kingdom, some have sadly passed away, but the truth was that it just got too depressing, saying farewell to good people, seemingly week-in, week out, especially in the time of the strong baht so in my last few years there. Even though most, having laid down roots in BKK would return for visits, our time had passed, and try as we might to recapture that time, it remained out of our reach. though, superficially, the stage remained the same, in appearance, the cast had changed, not always to the benefit of the bigger play. 

I became pretty much of an anti-social misanthrope who found walking the familiar pavements of Lower Suk, where I had enjoyed so many great times in the past, just too difficult. Every now and again I would bump into a face from the Golden Years either a Thai or a Westerner, but the ensuing nostalgia trip recalling those happier times, was always depressing in the end, realising those times are gone, with our youths like whispers on the wind. i recall one night walking up Soi 1 where we would stay religiously in the old Golden Palace Hotel, passing the site of that institution, I felt I could almost hear the echoes of some of our wild late night pool parties still hanging in the air, but they were too far distant to truly hear. On my last visit, I found it almost painful to sit in some of those places from the 'Golden Years' such as Chequers,  Big Dog's and Lucky Luke's (or Tiki as it is now named). Luckily I got to have a last spin around Blade Runner Alley, and Check Inn 99 before that area was razed. It fills me with Joy to see the BierGarten hanging on in there while all around gets smashed no doubt for more pointless malls, which will remain empty, more over priced condos no one will buy, or another posh hotel which will run on 10% occupancy. I hope some of the old places fight on, as when attending the funeral of Sam - one of the old gang - in Wales last summer, the minister said 'while they remain in our memories, they are never truly departed' and in those places they are remembered, in fact pictures of Sam and others of the mob, are still on some of the 'rogue's galleries' in a few of our old haunts, long may they remain so.

 

 

Edited August 10, 2020 by IvorLott

[farangkinok]

3 hours ago, possum1931 said:

What does TDY mean? Another poster who thinks he is on his smartphone texting instead of a forum

Initials can be OK if the full words have already been used, but TDY??

Temporary Duty Travel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporary_duty_assignment

Edited August 10, 2020 by farangkinok
decided not to include personal information

[mr mr]

3 hours ago, Pilotman said:

if she was a young, long dark hair, dark eyes, stunning body and low morals, then, yes,  absolutely.

just went and looked again. still just me. 

 

to be honest if i was as hot as you say i would want to go <deleted> myself. 

Edited August 10, 2020 by mr mr

[OneMoreFarang]

9 minutes ago, IvorLott said:

Soi 1 [...] Golden Palace Hotel

I stayed in that place for a few nights I think on my first visit to Thailand in the early 199x.

At that time I though it's a fifthly place - but at least cheap.

I guess if I would have stayed long enough I would have discovered that that filth was part of the theme similar to the old Thermae. ???? 

13 minutes ago, IvorLott said:

It fills me with Joy to see the BierGarten hanging on in there

I wonder how many people will miss that place after it will be gone. Many many years ago it was pretty interesting with lots of freelancers. But in the last years (decade?) it seems all the women in there are the leftover from the last decades. Maybe interesting for a nostalgia trip but definitely no place anymore to look for fresh freelance entertainment.

[stouricks]

10 minutes ago, farangkinok said:

Temporary Duty Travel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporary_duty_assignment

Temp Duty Travel = TDT, Temp Duty Assignment = TDA, but TDY= why? 

Hate TLAs anyway.

[Ireland32]

I don’t trust anyone especially my ex Dutch friend , he reported me for Ganja because he rip me off motorbike in Deal , I had prescription luckily he’s  Big Mouth and Big Ego 39 years old Now,  Beware...Sounds illiterate with his English 

Edited August 10, 2020 by Ireland32

[Peter Denis]

9 minutes ago, Ireland32 said:

I don’t trust anyone especially my ex Dutch friend , he reported me for Ganja because he rip me off motorbike in Deal , I had prescription luckily he’s  Big Mouth and Big Ego 39 years old Now,  Beware...Sounds illiterate with his English 

As they say... with friends like that you don't need enemies...

[IvorLott]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I stayed in that place for a few nights I think on my first visit to Thailand in the early 199x.

At that time I though it's a fifthly place - but at least cheap.

I guess if I would have stayed long enough I would have discovered that that filth was part of the theme similar to the old Thermae. ???? 

I wonder how many people will miss that place after it will be gone. Many many years ago it was pretty interesting with lots of freelancers. But in the last years (decade?) it seems all the women in there are the leftover from the last decades. Maybe interesting for a nostalgia trip but definitely no place anymore to look for fresh freelance entertainment.

The Golden Palace was cheap and cheerful, at around 450-500B for a room with AC, fridge, Hot water, TV, as well as a belting pool, made it  great deal for that area - if not the entire city. Agreed, it was threadbare and a little shabby,  It was a real throwback/time capsule to the VietNam R'n'R days even down to the authentic 1960s jukebox in the coffee shop. Sadly, the hotels from that era are slipping away one by one, with only the Miami remaining. 

 

I think the Biergarten is one of the last of the 'Old School' Bangkok/Asia drinking dives, many an 'Old Asia Hand' wipes away a tear at the mention of these places.

(I wonder how a 'Best Bar in Asia' thread would read in this day an age? with so many of the standard 'classics' which used to be found in the many versions on this theme now long gone. 

The quality of the women there (The BierGarten) has fluctuated over the years, from the downright ghastly to the surprisingly hot on my last visit but maybe that is more my getting on in years....

Edited August 10, 2020 by IvorLott

[sungod]

Dogging......

[Mac98]

Morning coffee and community crossword in lobby of a long-stay Pattaya hotel, including two Brits, an ex-cop who lived in the same little mountain town in California as I did, and an Aussie who is now my landlord.

[Zenwind]

I met most of my very few friends here in Thailand through the Meet Up websites, but also in several Bangkok music venues, or a couple of English-speaking Thais in my immediate neighborhood. 

 

I’ve lived here on the fringes of greater Bangkok for just under 20 years after retiring from teaching in the USA.  My best friend is my wonderful Thai wife, although our language communications are less than comprehensive – since I have an acute disability in foreign language auditory-processing (from childhood accidental brain damage to my left Planum Temporale), and her English is rudimentary.  We get along very well nonetheless.  I am a life-long hermit by nature, so I live easily without excessive social contacts. 

 

Upon moving to Thailand, I found the Meet Up websites extremely helpful in finding like-minded folks.  Movie groups, book clubs, outdoor and recreational groups, philosophical and political groups, etc.  My oldest and best friends here are from a local political Meet Up group (I am a classical liberal/libertarian). 

 

In my years here, I have looked up music venues online and wandered through many Bangkok bars searching for great Blues and Rock music.  Many years ago, the great Peter Driscoll (an English expat here, now retired) played phenomenal old-time Rock n Roll and Rockabilly in long-gone venues like Tokyo Joe’s, Nomads, etc.  Peter is a treasured friend and an incredible encyclopedia of Rock history, and I really miss his live performances. 

 

Most of my Thai friends are Rock n Roll musicians who have long played at The Rock Pub.  I have been a regular there for a long time and have got to know these bands who love Rock like I do.  We talk about our memories and experiences with Rock music, and how it has enriched our lives.  This venue is my ultimate home away from home.  Dear friends. 

 

I also have a couple of English-speaking Thai friends in my neighborhood, who I talk to weekly on my walking rambles, and we share our wisdom and insights. 

 

I have very few friends here, but they are well-chosen and cherished. 

[Kananga]

2 hours ago, IvorLott said:

The Golden Palace was cheap and cheerful, at around 450-500B for a room with AC, fridge, Hot water, TV, as well as a belting pool, made it  great deal for that area - if not the entire city. Agreed, it was threadbare and a little shabby,  It was a real throwback/time capsule to the VietNam R'n'R days even down to the authentic 1960s jukebox in the coffee shop. Sadly, the hotels from that era are slipping away one by one, with only the Miami remaining. 

 

I think the Biergarten is one of the last of the 'Old School' Bangkok/Asia drinking dives, many an 'Old Asia Hand' wipes away a tear at the mention of these places.

(I wonder how a 'Best Bar in Asia' thread would read in this day an age? with so many of the standard 'classics' which used to be found in the many versions on this theme now long gone. 

The quality of the women there (The BierGarten) has fluctuated over the years, from the downright ghastly to the surprisingly hot on my last visit but maybe that is more my getting on in years....

Golden Palace? Green dump more like. 

[ncc1701d]

Have made more enemies than friends. Well... maybe not "enemies", but people if I ever see again will be 1,000 years too soon.

 

The one friend I have made and trust completely... I was organising a sporting event for a group and contacted a hotel to see if they would be interested in hosting. I got a reply from a Thai guy, we met up and he showed me around and was really helpful. Later I introduced my Thai girlfriend to him and afterwards she was like "how the hell do you know him? - he's like super HiSo" (first time I'd heard the term). Turns out he's the CEO and son of the owners of the massive hotel. I had no idea and he didn't let on at all. We've become good friends.