Thinking to move to Phuket from Los Angeles :)

[Captor]

On 7/17/2021 at 7:02 AM, Hanuman2547 said:

Bernard Trink passed away last October at the age of 90.  He was a Bangkok institution.  Stick on the other hand has fled back to Kiwi land.  Whether he ever resumes writing the Stickman site remains to be seen.

He is still writing: https://www.stickmanbangkok.com/

[Deli]

I'd like to swap with you Phuket for L.A. Nuff said.

[XtraFly]

2 hours ago, Deli said:

I'd like to swap with you Phuket for L.A. Nuff said.

Very interesting. What makes you think LA can be better than Phuket, or what do you dislike the most about Phuket or miss about America ?

[gk10012001]

Phuket, being an island in a warm sea really really is very humid, especially compared to Southern California and many other parts of Thailand also.  I mean, on Phuket it is always humid.  Some people don't  tolerate that well, except short time while on vacations

[The Hammer2021]

Phuket is one of the worst places in Thailand. A high end beach area would be Pratumnak, Jomtien/ Pattaya.

[The Hammer2021]

On 7/17/2021 at 10:11 AM, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Finally visited pattaya after 12 yearly visits to LOS...left the next day...not my scene.....nor is the south as a whole..ripoff

You can not have   experienced Pattaya in such a short time. You just visited your own prejudices along a clichéd, jaded path. It's the last cosmopolitan city in Thailand, very Thai style in parts, inhabited by some of the best cheap and expensive restaurants, several beaches and surrounded by jungle, mountain and countryside. I like most places in Thailand except Phuket but I gave Phuket a couple of visits before I decided and got a lot of things done too.

[sallecc]

14 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

That is not fair. 

Pattaya is tourist ripoff, and Patong is tourist ripoff on steroids.

There are still some lovely beaches in Thailand. But most people who know those places don't want write about them on the internet to be sure next time they visit it's not full of tourists.

That's also not fair... Phuket is not only Patong, same as BKK is not only Soi Cowboy, it's great city with much more to see, same as Phuket is great island with many more beautiful places then Patong.

[Scott]

Inflammatory post reported and removed.  

 

[Stargeezr]

When you ask the hot water question, it sounds like you have not been to Thailand very many times.

  At 36 years old, you likely have not had any great lengthy vacations either.  A month in Thailand is nice, but

the seasons are very different, and it is rainy season now. I have seen years when  even over the Winter months, rains

still happen in Phuket.  It would be wise to travel to Phuket a few times at different times of the year on vacations

to see what the weather is like.  You also will have little or no family around you if you move to Thailand.

  Being homesick is something a lot of people do not think about until they have been away from family after a few months

as well.   The culture shock is a real thing as well.    Many things to think about, when you are planning to move to somewhere

else in the world for more than a few months. Maybe if you can, take off several months and do a long visit and rent and

concentrate on all aspects before committing yourself completely.

Geezer

[XtraFly]

55 minutes ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

When you ask the hot water question, it sounds like you have not been to Thailand very many times.

  At 36 years old, you likely have not had any great lengthy vacations either.  A month in Thailand is nice, but

the seasons are very different, and it is rainy season now. I have seen years when  even over the Winter months, rains

still happen in Phuket.  It would be wise to travel to Phuket a few times at different times of the year on vacations

to see what the weather is like.  You also will have little or no family around you if you move to Thailand.

  Being homesick is something a lot of people do not think about until they have been away from family after a few months

as well.   The culture shock is a real thing as well.    Many things to think about, when you are planning to move to somewhere

else in the world for more than a few months. Maybe if you can, take off several months and do a long visit and rent and

concentrate on all aspects before committing yourself completely.

Geezer

At 36. I lived at 6 different countries extended period of times including Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, Dubai. Homesickness doesn’t work on me since m family are not in the US anymore. Rain doesn’t bother me it’s the humidity I’m not sure how I’m gonna handle it since I’m spoiled by having probably the best weather on the planet here in LA.

[OneMoreFarang]

5 hours ago, sallecc said:

That's also not fair... Phuket is not only Patong, same as BKK is not only Soi Cowboy, it's great city with much more to see, same as Phuket is great island with many more beautiful places then Patong.

Is there any place in Phuket without taxi mafia?

(I am asking, I don't know)

[Damrongsak]

Hot water?  I lived in Thailand about 3.5 years and had no hot water.  Sometimes no water pressure at all.  Had to have a bathtub-type thing (ang/ong) and let the water drip in there all day. Electricity was a joke.  I had several rented houses. I graduated from a mattress on the floor and mosquito net to a bed frame with a mattress and net.  No other furniture.  I had  monaural cassette player until it got stolen one day.

 

Up in Loei in the winter, I had to put an old bus window on a 20 liter washtub and set it out in the sun all day so I could take a bucket bath comfortably before sunset.  No screens or glass windows, just lizards and bugs fighting it out inside before bedtime.  I miss it. 3,000 Baht a month salary was sufficient.

[XtraFly]

6 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Is there any place in Phuket without taxi mafia?

(I am asking, I don't know)

I seriously believe every popular exotic tourist city has its own cartel network which includes the taxi mafia for example places I visited and noticed the same thing Cancun, Rio, Cape Town, Belize. So for sure Phuket and other places are gonna be just the same and it’s very common when you bring tourists with dollars or euros and they have no idea what they are doing along with drivers that live below poverty line in a country that doesn’t enforce its laws strictly enough. Thoughts ?

[XtraFly]

4 minutes ago, Damrongsak said:

Hot water?  I lived in Thailand about 3.5 years and had no hot water.  Sometimes no water pressure at all.  Had to have a bathtub-type thing (ang/ong) and let the water drip in there all day. Electricity was a joke.  I had several rented houses. I graduated from a mattress on the floor and mosquito net to a bed frame with a mattress and net.  No other furniture.  I had  monaural cassette player until it got stolen one day.

 

Up in Loei in the winter, I had to put an old bus window on a 20 liter washtub and set it out in the sun all day so I could take a bucket bath comfortably before sunset.  No screens or glass windows, just lizards and bugs fighting it out inside before bedtime.  I miss it. 3,000 Baht a month salary was sufficient.

You would be a great candidate on naked and afraid LOL. 

[zzzzz]

13 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Is there any place in Phuket without taxi mafia?

(I am asking, I don't know)

not really<
BUT if you live here you never have to deal with them as 95% of people buy at least a motorcycle or car

[tonray]

On 7/17/2021 at 10:11 AM, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Finally visited pattaya after 12 yearly visits to LOS...left the next day...not my scene.....nor is the south as a whole..ripoff

Never been in 6 years here...maybe another 6 years and I'll pop over to see what it's all about

[Damrongsak]

10 minutes ago, XtraFly said:

You would be a great candidate on naked and afraid LOL. 

Well, I'm half naked at the moment because I was power washing my deck today and it's messy.  I was afraid of my Thai wife if I didn't make some progress.  You called it right.

[Damrongsak]

13 minutes ago, tonray said:

Never been in 6 years here...maybe another 6 years and I'll pop over to see what it's all about

I get back about every 10 years or so.  I have a house in Loei I've never seen.

[tonray]

1 minute ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Send me a postcard...hide your gold necklaces/and/ or watches...or rings..or anything of value

Isn't there a ferry from Hua HIn ? If so...I'll probably just make it a day trip from there.

[digibum]

On 7/18/2021 at 4:29 AM, sallecc said:

One guy even posted that "closest thing to Italian he had in Phuket was Pizza Hut", that's just ridiculous...

I remember my first scouting trip to Phuket, I was having a beer in a little bar and mentioned that I was looking to move here.  
 

One guy said, “Hopefully you can start a business making pizza, because that’s what we need here, another farang owned pizza place.”

 

Obviously he was being sarcastic because every third business seems to be a pizza place.  
 

Not sure where that Pizza Hut comment is coming from other than ignorance.  

[digibum]

13 hours ago, XtraFly said:

Very interesting. What makes you think LA can be better than Phuket, or what do you dislike the most about Phuket or miss about America ?

Most people have no idea what they’re talking about.  
 

Like when someone complains about traffic in Phuket, even 20 years ago, it often took me 1.5 hours to go 12 miles in LA.    It’s 10x worse today.  
 

Or people talk about crime in Thailand.  LOL, try going to a fast food restaurant in LA that has bulletproof glass like a bank between the cashier and the customers.  
 

Poverty?  My buddy owns a multi-million home in Venice (why he didn’t just move a few blocks south to Marina del Rey, I have no idea) and he’s got people deficating in front of his house.  
 

Way better in Phuket.  

[sallecc]

8 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Is there any place in Phuket without taxi mafia?

(I am asking, I don't know)

Yes.

[London Lowf]

10 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

the ladyboys await amongst other delights........cash only.....double wrap

Did you expect her to be able to swipe your credit card between her butt-cheeks?

 

And, next time, just use proper lube (Liquid Silk) rather than a mouth-full of gob!

 

(Just kidding!)

 

 

[JetsetBkk]

On 7/17/2021 at 8:53 AM, XtraFly said:

7- Do you lose water and power on regular basis there or it's reliable ? (asking since it's an island)

https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/Phuket-blackout-power-Rawai-tomorrow

[Deli]

22 hours ago, XtraFly said:

Very interesting. What makes you think LA can be better than Phuket, or what do you dislike the most about Phuket or miss about America ?

Too many limitations in a 3rd world Junta ruled country for too many things. It starts from daily life things such as super markets, cars, handymen etc. continous to food supply, healthcare ( even if money is secondary ), schooling and LANGUAGE SKILLS. Visa regulations. On the other hand... nice beaches, cheap rents, very flexible laws and endless girls. Struggle more and more due to the lack of education of the people and the ineptibilty of the people in charge running the show.

[XtraFly]

11 hours ago, digibum said:

Most people have no idea what they’re talking about.  
 

Like when someone complains about traffic in Phuket, even 20 years ago, it often took me 1.5 hours to go 12 miles in LA.    It’s 10x worse today.  
 

Or people talk about crime in Thailand.  LOL, try going to a fast food restaurant in LA that has bulletproof glass like a bank between the cashier and the customers.  
 

Poverty?  My buddy owns a multi-million home in Venice (why he didn’t just move a few blocks south to Marina del Rey, I have no idea) and he’s got people deficating in front of his house.  
 

Way better in Phuket.  

You sound like an Angeleno that knows LOL. I’m glad I found someone that knows what is real LA and not thinking LA in the movies lol

[Robin]

Think about the language;  English, or American is not a widely spoke in Phuket as it is in LA.  Unless you are fluent in Thai you will need a 'trusted companion' to help you negotiate with locals.

I have a rule that anything I bring to Thailand will stay in Thailand.  That applies to any financial investments you make.

if you worry about constant hot water, then Thailand is probably not for you, as it is mostly a country here nothing works properly.

[Hanuman2547]

On 7/18/2021 at 2:46 AM, Captor said:

He is still writing: https://www.stickmanbangkok.com/

I haven't checked that sight since about April but I don't see any updates on the weekly columns since 31 January 2021.  Readers submissions haven't been updated since 29 January 2021.

[XtraFly]

On 7/16/2021 at 10:12 PM, tlandtday said:

Xtrafly I would seriously consider the area called Rawai Beach.  Close proximity to Phuket town and great beaches as well as being one of the few areas in Phuket still lively.  The infrastructure is good regarding roads, internet, restaurants etc.  I have spent a couple months there a short while ago.

I appreciate you, I'm comparing phuket to Samui past few days, and so far Samui seems like a good fit for me. not sure yet gotta visit for few weeks or couple of months and compare the two, but I appreciate the advice.

[kynikoi]

IMO this is a very bad idea for 36yo to move here permanently especially now.

 

No matter what is floated in the press you will be visa grubbing continually and imo it will not be easy.

 

Even spending four months here in cool season will be problematic as soon as a few years. Everything will return to normal and that means sour immigration and consular attitudes.

 

Settle in Cambodia and trip here in cool season as you can for the beaches.