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241
Banged up: Thai prison nightmare exposed by British tourist
The Immigration found it from the paper about closing my work permit - it was in April, but I left the country in May. Though, they didn't see that when I was leaving the country, not when I applied for a new Non-B visa from different employer ... -
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Current live music venues in Pattaya, Jan 2025
Surprised you didn't mention the Triangle just off Soi Buakhow. Philipino band will play just about anything you ask them to! -
123
Promises made Promises kept , POTUS first few days! The lefts radical response!
Eggs prices are already dropping.- 2
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123
Promises made Promises kept , POTUS first few days! The lefts radical response!
Legal immigrants, not mass migration folding into the country. The downward pressure on wages, upward pressure on housing prices, impact on social services, education and medical care far outweigh any small price reduction due to lower direct labor.- 1
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23
Living in Thailand
I live in Roi Et province, south of the town in a rural area. I hear that drugs is an increasing problem in Thailand, and I have no doubt that it affects the NE as much as any other region of the country. However, I've seen no evidence. My partner is close friends with the village head man's wife, and my partner's brother-in-law is a deputy head man and is lined up to be the next head man so my partner has good awareness of what is really happening, and none of it appears to concern her. In short, I live in a community that helps us and I try to help them, if I can. It feels like England apparently used to be in the 50's and 60's. Corruption does exist but I'll give the only example I've seen in the two years that I've been here. When making a purchase of land, we went to the Land Registry office and found it was very busy. The seller's beneficiary had travelled up from Bangkok for the day to collect the money and was very keen to get back, for family reasons. As there appeared to be a chance we might not complete that day, my partner spoke to one of the officials to ask if there was a way to expedite our situation. A few hundred baht changed hands and we were finished 30 minutes later. It's not exactly going to make the news headlines, is it? I could understand that crime might be higher in big cities but here it's apparently non-existent. Don't shoot the messenger but, like Britain now, the big cities are multi-racial - here in the sticks, they're not (no Chinese, Germans, Russians, or any other foreigners in our village as far as I can tell, other than me). Understandably, I had a novelty factor when I first arrived but they've calmed down now. 😉 I smile at the locals when I'm out and about and they invariably smile back. Many have been very friendly and helpful to my Thai partner and me, and I try to help them at any opportunity (harvest time presents endless physical opportunities). I concur with what an earlier poster said about leaving keys in vehicles when shopping, leaving some shopping dangling on the cargo hooks or the handlebars of our scooter, and not bothering to lock our gate or front door. I rarely bother locking the car on the drive, because sometimes I like to get something out and it saves the bother of fetching the keys. My peace of mind is probably aided by the fact that I am calm, level-headed and don't drink to excess - if I wasn't able to say this, any one of these things could potentially cause issues in the Thai culture (or perhaps anywhere else in the world for that matter). I respect my host country, even if there might be the odd thing that I find objectionable, e.g. cockfighting. I recently had a wonderful experience with one of the locals. I am interested in the Thai kites that fly overnight and make a distinct relaxing humming noise (it's big in rural areas, particularly here in the NE). I saw one of these kites flying during the day (they usually get launched at dusk and taken down shortly after dawn) so I jumped on the scooter and found the farm where it was flying from and introduced myself and complimented the farmer on his kite. Soon, I asked if he could show me how to make one. He said he was happy to help and immediately handed me a machete and some bamboo and led me to his work area. I don't speak much Thai and he didn't speak English but Google Translate and sign language and gestures sufficed. We spent three hours that Saturday afternoon and he asked me to return the next morning to finish it. I arrived at 9am as agreed and was offered breakfast when I arrived. I'd already eaten but it's just typical of the generousity of my community. Another three hours work later and we were test-flying my new kite. On completion I thanked him and said I'd like to reward him for his time. He replied that he was happy to make the kite as a gift to me. I remind you that we'd never met prior to me turning up on his farm uninvited the previous day. Naturally, I told him that in my culture I would feel guilty accepting such generosity so we agreed that I'd buy some of his favourite beer. I value these experiences. We travel a lot. I observe that traffic issues are directly related to traffic density. When I'm in Bangkok or any big coastal towns, I expect worse standards so drive accordingly and shrug it off. Where I live, it just isn't an issue. The rural life isn't for everyone. Not everyone wants to own several rai and have idyllic peace (yet be 400m from the village with 7-Eleven, Lotus, two markets, etc.). However, the dark skies are truly dark at night and my telescopes are a great way to unwind in the evenings at this time of year. The north of Thailand has great scenery but is unfortunately saddled with poor air quality in the post-harvest period - we only have a few days a year (maybe 4-6) here in the NE when it's smoky (never smog) so it's just not a concern and we just keep doors and windows closed those days. I respect that we're all different, and I'm sure, like all communities, there are good places to live in all cities. I wonder how the OP's wife formed her opinion, or what might possibly be driving her concern. As has been shown be all the respondents before me, it appears to be an exceptional view. -
128
Thai Tax Laws for Expats: the Practical Implications versus the Realities
I have never had the intention of changing the way you see it. I am just asking you if you think the Thai's will see it the same way as you do, after all, it is their country, it is their laws, and it's your money they want, and you have no right to live in Thailand? Not a great position to be in, is it?
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