Anyone else tired of the nonsense, and contemplating leaving Thailand?

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

Without getting into opinions about the current thai government, why do you find it much

different from other thai government?

this government is simply same same and not much different than any other previous thai government, they should not budder you at all. And you should not budder them.

we are simply guests here, and sh

ould accept thailand, it's government and the colture for what they are, with the good and the bad.

As for the covid crisis, Thailand is not doing much worse than other countries in it's league.

if you feel like leaving thailand, do not do it because of the "government". Also covid must not be

the reason, because it is a global crisis.

but i must comment that it is going to be tough for thailand in the next year or two, because it;s

reliance on tourism. if you can leave now and come back in one or two years, you might find thailand smiling again.

[shdmn]

Anyone else tired of the constant negativity on this board from people who will not be happy no matter where they live and have decided that it's all Thailands fault?

 

Some of them even feel the need to create these "goodbye cruel world" posts blaming Thailand for all their problems and how they are fed up and totally positively maybe sorta thinking of leave but not really.  Ok fine go, even though I doubt you will.  Don't let the door hit ya on the way out.

Edited July 31, 2021 by shdmn

[wasabi]

I've typically been agnostic to the political situation in Thailand which I expect will eternally be tumultuous. I didn't pay it much mind until recently because it didn't effect me. that is until Covid when it put my life at risk. For that reason my wife and I currently in the USA. But it has been our plan to split our time between the USA and Thailand long before Covid. Only difference is now our stay in the US is indefinite until the situation is brought under control in Thailand. We will definitely return when the time is right, but splitting our time between the two countries helps balance out the frustrations that go with either place. I am aware it is a luxury that we have this option to split our time, but since we do we take advantage of it and it works for us. 

[The Hammer2021]

To return to what nonesense where? Have you seen what's happening in Australia? And parts of Europe? Have you noted the UK death rate? Contemplating an action and acting on it are two very different things!

[david555]

Just 9 months ....and counting .....as planned leaving , even before Covid19 ...., but not in a rush or panic mode ...

Edited July 31, 2021 by david555

[khunpa]

Besides the daily Covid-depression, I feel I have a pretty good life here.

 

Having lived my most of my life abroad, I no longer have emotional connection to my home country (here feels like my home). I am sure I would miss Thailand, if I moved somewhere else.

 

So my plan is to stay, hopefully survive the Pandemic and make the best out of the current situation.

 

But I have to admit, that the current situation is affecting my

mental health more than I thought it would.

[RichardColeman]

My advice would be wait 18-24 months and see what happens. Thailand is not going to go back to the same as it was before in my opinion. The people - already unhappy with the political system - have seen the total failure of appointing generals to run the country during a pandemic. If there does not seem to be any movement in the political structure on the horizon by then I'd advise leaving as not even complete failure will remove them and things will only get worse.

 

 

 

[habuspasha]

For reasons expressed  by Spider, I may not become an expat.  I have loved Thailand since first sight in 1978, loved my Thai GF since first sight in 2014, almost bought our house to live together and planned my retirement together shortly after that.  Recently, the generals and covid have made me think half here and half there might be smarter.  I've always loved my life in Manhattan and my GF has always insisted on staying in Thailand.  She knows nothing about my life here, but now for the first time when I suggest we live in NY, she says yes. 

[david555]

22 minutes ago, habuspasha said:

For reasons expressed  by Spider, I may not become an expat.  I have loved Thailand since first sight in 1978, loved my Thai GF since first sight in 2014, almost bought our house to live together and planned my retirement together shortly after that.  Recently, the generals and covid have made me think half here and half there might be smarter.  I've always loved my life in Manhattan and my GF has always insisted on staying in Thailand.  She knows nothing about my life here, but now for the first time when I suggest we live in NY, she says yes. 

" but now for the first time when I suggest we live in NY, she says yes. "

 

 

 

They( GF..& other Thais ) start realizing their country is f...ck...up by this bunch who broke the normal "coup code " as before to return baracks after 6 to 8 month's after organizing elections .... these group wish to stay forever ....

Edited July 31, 2021 by david555

[habuspasha]

I don't think my GF is thinking in terms of normal coup codes, but she is certainly feeling the effects.  Her complaint is that everything is constantly changing.  "Crazy, that."  And life has become "scary."  She can't go out of the house, is afraid to buy food at the market, constantly worrying about her mother, father, son, or herself getting the virus.  Today finally she was able to get the AZ jab.  After standing for 6  hours in a packed former Robinson's, thanks to special selection by an uncle in the police.  I sense she's loosing pride in being a Thai.   

[WhiteBuffaloATM]

Nothing has really changed in the 17 years I have been here on and off.

if you wanted western warm democracy,should have gone to Med/Carib. !

civilian govt was so bad here the army simply had to step in to avoid chaos.

my thai lady insulates me from most thai bs ( builders, utilities, mechanics, municipal, shopping, schools). Dealing with Imm. & DLT & Insurances here ok.

we have a son and live in / rent out my lovely property in Phuket

which wont sell of course.......

I still work overseas but have not left Phuket since March 2020

but leave to live where ? Malaysia looks best for me, or Portugal perhaps.....

but practically, as local house owner & family man, at 65, Phuket remains the best option for living & retirement. nowhere else would be better.....

better the devil you know... ?

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

5 hours ago, kynikoi said:

Put simply, staying here is a fool's game. It always was but now with covid it's a very dangerous game. Many of you not thinking through this properly.

 

You will get covid. Do you want to be here and pay for it ( and get sh++y treatment) or at home?

 

Covid is FOREVER and ever. It's going nowhere.

 

Wake up. If you have health issues, old it's not just the flu it's death for you in great likelihood.

first, covid is not forever. the vaccines do work and make it go away.

second, the quality of the treatment you will get is based on your health insurance,

and third, you are right. now there is serious wave in thailand. but the same

outbreak might happan also at "home". whichever country it is.

it can really happan in a  mattar of days.

 

yes thailand is a fools paradise. but covid is not worse here than in any other country.

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

5 hours ago, bkkflyer said:

Have been here since 97/98 - it was a lot more fun around that time - THAT is for sure

is it because of the junta, or because you were younger?

[bojo]

5 hours ago, bkkflyer said:

We have been planning to take at least a year or 2 in Scandinavia where I am from (idea was first of all to improve our children's Norwegian language proficiency) . Have 2 daughters soon teenagers going to International school here, and its getting expensive - especially basically without any income ????  Also not sure if Thailand is the best place for my daughters to grow up - especially irt working opportunities.

 

It looks like it will be online schooling again for the children - probably until the end of this year. Quite stressful as well - and I think it is unhealthy for children to sit at a computer screen every day from 8am to 3-4pm. Addictive behavior runs in the family ????

 

Overall cost of living is not that much more expensive there, free school, free healthcare, clean environment, very "clean" governments - but taxwise... well.... - but without the fantastic offering of food and services one get used to here in Asia.

 

Mother of my children could get citizenship after 5 or 7 years and even get a pension.

 

I love the European "summer" - from April to September - and have not missed one for the last 50 years (apart from the last 2). But the winters are depressive..... - but the kids love it when we visit - so....

 

Have been here since 97/98 - it was a lot more fun around that time - THAT is for sure ????

 

Best thing I ever did was take my daughter back to UK aged 11 after 8 years of international schools in the Kingdom. She's going to a great UK uni in a couple of months and she/we visit Thailand all the time as well.......Personally, I'm heading back to Thailand in a few months to carry on as before, a mere 7 years outa my life but my daughter has seriously benefitted from excellent schooling and the UK experience......no brainer if you ask me..............and being back in a Western society yourself also makes you appreciate Thailand's plus points..................

[bojo]

7 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Some of it might be Covid fatigue. But, alot of it is army fatigue. And what feels like a diminishing quality of life. I am just very, very tired

Time for a refresh elsewhere then....................consider keeping your assets (or some of) as they are and having a long trip elsewhere and see how you feel. The people in charge are a red herring as to your sentiments....................There'll be shenanigans, other negatives and dodgy politics wherever you go, you know that. Bite the bullet, a change may well be what you need..................................

[Jingthing]

46 minutes ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

first, covid is not forever. the vaccines do work and make it go away.

second, the quality of the treatment you will get is based on your health insurance,

and third, you are right. now there is serious wave in thailand. but the same

outbreak might happan also at "home". whichever country it is.

it can really happan in a  mattar of days.

 

yes thailand is a fools paradise. but covid is not worse here than in any other country.

Yes it is because so few people here are VACCINATED!

[kynikoi]

5 hours ago, BritManToo said:

The worse Thailand's economy, the more money my pension is worth.

Even my Thai daughter whom finished university earlier this year immediately got a decent job.

This is so I'm alright Jack it borders sociopathy.

 

Your daughter is very fortunate. Many students even from the top three universities have found it near impossible to find work upon graduation. I recall the total number of unemployed or underemployed each year at 660k although this would include presumably rajabats and sketchy universities.

 

Not worried about the economy and career prospects your daughter inherits? Thailand's misfortune is your opportunity. That's a shame.

[kynikoi]

45 minutes ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

is it because of the junta, or because you were younger?

In fairness maybe there is a weariness to the 90 day reports and non sensical chaos. Reentry permits, the legions of police we employ who are often looking for a back hander or simply to make our lives difficult. It's the exception rather than rule when you have a pain free experience with an immigration officer. I know I feel it.

 

If you're some upcountry geezer who's on his 15th extension and never left the country. Who's wife still slavishly bows and scrapes at your annual extension and brings gifts, who's never left the country or the province in that time maybe that's different.

 

What about that disaster of reporting your whereabouts upon your return home? That was only disbanded not because of any favor or humanity to us but imo it screwed up the data of people actually coming and going out of the country. The government was absolutely insistent upon it despite it being wholly broken on many levels.

 

How about paying taxes and getting nothing for it? Not even a modicum of thanks or respect. Personally, I'm in a very high tax bracket here. Not even a vip AZ vaccine.

 

The act of going to MTT by covid taxi to stand in the covid line to return in covid taxi is insensitive and a bit insane really. Ironically during lockdown. Double irony is when the hand is waived ...oh, too much covid we are closed. So... important when no covid, now not so much.

 

I love my wife dearly but if I'd not met her I'd possibly be in East Europe in summer and only here in the cool season Dec-Feb like the old days.

 

This place is done.

 

Want to travel outside? You'll be looking at paperwork, 25 thousand baht in covid tests, 1M insurance policy, reentry permit in/direct costs and ASQ for self and wife. That's gonna be forever. Covid like SARS before and MERS isn't vanishing off the planet. Worse, it's now institutionalized $$. There's policy and graft.

[AlexRich]

4 hours ago, shdmn said:

Anyone else tired of the constant negativity on this board from people who will not be happy no matter where they live and have decided that it's all Thailands fault?

 

Some of them even feel the need to create these "goodbye cruel world" posts blaming Thailand for all their problems and how they are fed up and totally positively maybe sorta thinking of leave but not really.  Ok fine go, even though I doubt you will.  Don't let the door hit ya on the way out.

I’ve never understood comments like the above. The OP makes some valid points about a country that you were not born in and you respond like you're a representative of the Thai people. I think the phrase used is “Thaier than Thai”, and it’s a pretty tiresome response. 

[Damrongsak]

For the last 44 years I always thought I would retire in Thailand after living there for 3 years.  Now at 67+ years not so much.  We have a nice 3 bedroom house in a 2 house compound on 1 Rai in Loei that I haven't been to in years.  Actually never saw the newer (our) house in person. I'd love to spend months a year there and see our family but ... not going to happen anytime soon. 

 

Hopefully I will see a sunrise from our porch one day before too long.

 

[it is what it is]

 

one of the benefits of this pandemic is the enforced stop on many peoples' lives and the opportunity to look at where you are and where you're going, what you want and the life you want to live. several friends returned to the uk and a couple have set up businesses, there is so much opportunity in post-pandemic britain. i very much doubt they will return to their old lives in thailand any time soon,

[Rocking Robert]

Just stop all the crying and just leave

[jerrymahoney]

Another topic where it all depends on whether you are able to export your personal specimen of Thai pulchritude along with yourself.

[cmarshall]

Yes, it's certainly true that the military has screwed up the acquisition and distribution of vaccines along with their other failings.  However, it's well to keep a perspective on matters.  With respect to Covid for example, keep in mind the Covid deaths per hundred thousand of population, which is the ultimate "score" of how well a government managed the pandemic.

 

Thailand     6.72

Spain          173.09

US               186.76

 

Yes, it's true that Covid deaths are underestimated in many countries.  A more accurate estimate of Covid deaths in the US puts it at 900,000, not 613,000, based on excess deaths in the period.  Nevertheless, as rough estimate the above numbers are useful. 

 

     

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, kynikoi said:

What about that disaster of reporting your whereabouts upon your return home?

I never bothered, did my first TM30 last year in order to get a 1 year extension. Lots of hate towards Thailand shown in this thread, if I hated Thailand, I'd just leave.

 

I like it here!

Edited August 1, 2021 by BritManToo

[Ralf001]

Love Thailand even with all its quirks.... why would I leave ?

[Rookiescot]

Sounds to me like the OP needs a holiday. It seems odd saying that when we live in Thailand but this covid probably has us all in a rut.

 

[nausea]

Me, I'm still stuck in the honeymoon period after 15 years, ha! Except for Phuket that is, got pee'ed off with that place pretty fast. 

[Henryford]

I guess many of us are too old to go through the hassle of uprooting and starting out a fresh in a new country. Plus any assets you might have here would be impossible to sell. And where would you go? are there any countries with a normal life. I just read about Australia in the news where they have the Army enforcing their lockdowns. Having extended holidays sounds good but of course impossible to travel normally now.

[mfd101]

10 hours ago, EricTh said:

 

How do you communicate with him if he doesn't know basic English and even Thai?

 

 

His spoken English is fine - limited but OK for day-to-day purposes. And he speaks fluent rural Thai. The family are - like so many poor & rural people everywhere in the world - bilingual & trilingual. The parents (just older than me) speak Khmer & understand Thai. Their multiple children (ages 34 to 50s) speak in Thai & Khmer and code-switch constantly even in mid-sentence. Their children, subjected to Thai nationalist propaganda at school, speak only Thai and refuse to speak Khmer but understand it. One of the children speaks Thai with a Lao accent because he has a Lao father. And one of the adults has a Suai (Khmer subset) wife.