Looking Back, Now..….What Was Your Favorite and Happiest Year in Thailand?

[GammaGlobulin]

My Dear Fellows, if I may refer to you as such …

 

The reason I ask this question is because, during the past many months of the COVID, my mind sometimes plays tricks on me, and calls up images of some truly great times which, alas, can never be relived.

I am quite sure that you, as do I, feel such abiding nostalgia for our shared past, as well as feelings of unfortunate angst attached to our inability to return to those happier halcyon days when, compared to recently passed days, we had, very nearly, not a care in the world.

I am not just joking here.

These days, there is probably not a week that goes by that I do not slightly get into a funk just thinking about the glad times I shared with such amazing friends doing things we loved. In my case, principally, I shared much happiness with fun and wonderful people from around the world, learning Thai together in a tightknit group.  There was always a ton of laughter, mostly laughing at our own linguistic errors.  We, at that time, also enjoyed classes in a real classroom, and it was like Heaven, compared to now.

In Thailand, learning Thai language at school is fun and low stress. Thai teachers never use the whip.

Somedays, after class, we would board a red car together, screaming and shouting, bound for an evening meal.  And, Man!  When I say screaming, it was the Thai students who loved to scream. And we loved it, too. (In passa Thai, there is a word for this scream, of course. You might know it.)

These days, the great memories I have of my year learning passa Thai, along with good friends, mean much to me, simply because this is all that I have left…or, until some unknown time, maybe in the fairly distant future.

Many of the friends I met at Thai-language school still contact me.  I think that we all now realize that those days were the days before the storm.  And so, those moments seem even more special to us now.

For some reason, and I have heard this before from other students, while learning passa Thai together in a classroom, it is often the case that students bond for life.  I do not know why, but I know that this is certainly true.

Today, these good times are gone and sorely missed.

We do not know why or for what reason. We did not learn the reason in Thai class.

We only know that pandemics are a part of life, same as mosquitoes. We do not like pandemics, and mosquitoes are even worse than pandemics. Yet, we are still unable to rid our world of either.  I don’t know why.

I should not ramble on further about my boring but great times in Thailand.

I am sure someone here might have a better tale than mine to tell of nostalgia, and far more interesting.

If your tale is more interesting, please tell it, because, I would like to hear it.

Obviously, it goes without saying that you need not regale us with the type of bar stories or hook-up stories or paying-for-it stories that we have already heard, ad infinitum, on these pages.

Instead, maybe it’s time to be more uplifting and inspirational, especially now that most people are looking back to better times, and not toward the near future.

 

Time heals all wounds.

This is true, given enough time.

Given enough time, due to entropy, even the universe will disappear and clean up after itself.

In the end, not even a lonely photon or neutrino will be left of what once was.

We know this to be true…..

Talk about feelings of Nostalgia!!!!!

[Maha Sarakham]

The best times are behind Thailand, you're not mistaken.

[cdemundo]

The year 2000 because the exchange rate was 40THB = 1USD

[Chris.B]

"Obviously, it goes without saying that you need not regale us with the type of bar stories or hook-up stories or paying-for-it stories that we have already heard, ad infinitum, on these pages."

 

Well I was going to regale with stories of my wild days in Pattaya circa 2002 but now I won't! ????????????

 

[GammaGlobulin]

2 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

"Obviously, it goes without saying that you need not regale us with the type of bar stories or hook-up stories or paying-for-it stories that we have already heard, ad infinitum, on these pages."

 

Well I was going to regale with stories of my wild days in Pattaya circa 2002 but now I won't! ????????????

 

Your loss, and not ours, I guess. However, there are so many bar stories floating around, since the 1970's, that most are just too lurid to have much credence.  I have never seen, heard, nor even spoken to a bar girl since my arrival in Thailand...knowingly. I have never known one, either, in fact. Strange as it might seem, this is true.

 

I am an introvert.

Bar girls must be extroverts, as part of their job requirements.

 

Introverts and extroverts mix like oil and water.

 

Give me a good book, and a glass of warm milk, at bedtime, I always say.

[lolalol]

For me that was 2018.  I visited Thailand for the first time that year, and stayed for a few months.  I remember Thai people being really relaxed and courteous with beautiful smiles.  Just really easy going and generous to others in general, and they seemed quite content  with their life too.  Even though their life seemed a little difficult in my point of view. Their attitude in life gave me good first impression of Thailand and Thai people.

 

I returned to Thailand in late 2019.  I could feel that the air changed a bit.  People seemed quite fed up for some reason.  I could feel that people were stressed for some reason.  I was told that decrease in numbers of Western tourists and increase in numbers of Chinese and Indian tourists kind of changed lots of things.  I remember seeing Indian tourists negotiating for discount at a roti stand in one occasion.   I think the roti lady was selling one for 20 baht.  I was like WHAT THE F...

 

And now.  In 2021.  Its just terrible.  I feel lots of pessimism and annihilism on the streets.  I see so many people living on the streets, people selling handmade goods and foods on the streets.  Their products often look amateurish..  Which makes me even more sad.  Because I can see that they lost their job, and they are doing their best to make a living.  Thailand seems to be full of desperation now.

 

I remember getting watered from all over the place by everyone during the Songkran in 2018.  I'm quite nostalgic about that time.  Getting watered by random people on the streets.  lol.  People were just being playful.  People were just enjoying their time.  Full of smiles.  I really miss those days.  I'm feeling quite sad as I'm writing this. 

 

I remember that back in the day, lots of things were open 24/7.   There was always something to do. There were always places open to eat.  

 

I think Thailand will be back in business after COVID gets sorted out.  I have no idea when.  But I think it will be an uphill battle for Thailand.  Because other SEA countries are quickly becoming attractive day by day now.  

 

 

[55Jay]

it's all relative to our time here.  Previous batch of guys in Thailand always had their best times, in their time here.  I've had plenty, and in the past 6 months, 3 of our number have died suddenly from liver cancer, after years on the good times with Leo, Chang, et al. 

 

I'm quite sure there will be a few more to follow.  Living the dream, as they say, until we chuck you into the big pizza oven at the Wat.  Small words murmured amongst us, and then it just doesn't matter anymore.  And so we carry on, as we do, hoisting a Leo in your honor, as if it matters.  As if it ever did.

[couchpotato]

Well one of mine was 1977.  Co-owned (with another Wesgeco guy) the "Pitstop Gogo Bar" in Patong (next to Rick's Grand Prix and 2 doors down from the Book shop). Great times for a couple of years.

But the high light of that year was bedding both the famous twins (featured in the Deerhunter) from the Mississippi Queen Gogo Bar (located opposite Pitstop).

For those wondering, I have added 2 photos from 44 years ago of both twins dancing....enjoy.

Edited August 2, 2021 by couchpotato

[Maha Sarakham]

15 minutes ago, lolalol said:

For me that was 2018.

 

I returned to Thailand in late 2019.  I could feel that the air changed a bit.  

 

And now.  In 2021.  Its just terrible. 

 

The progression of Thailand over a shortened period of time.  For many members here, it was a much longer stretch of time, but the sentiments will be the same.

[GammaGlobulin]

What I tell anyone who will listen to me is that, so very honestly speaking, the place I live in Thailand is, with zero doubt, the best place I have ever lived in my life.

 

I have lived in a few places, such as Canada, Hong Kong, China, Japan, and some of the most beautiful places in the US. I mean, I am not from Oklahoma.

 

Thailand is, by far and away, the very best of all. Or, I should say....NONE OF THE ABOVE!

 

When I first arrived here, I thought that the shine might wear off.

As everybody knows, living in a new country goes in definite stages.

First you love it.  Then you tolerate it, And then you are sick of it.

So far, this has not been the case with me and Thailand.

If anything, I love it more now.  And, I am just very nostalgic about the beautiful times I recall during the first year I arrived.

Or, I should say, the second time I first arrived.

I first arrived in 1971, just for three days.

My next visit was many years after this.

 

Although I still very much love China, just as I do Japan, and as I also love Canada and the USA, and even Taiwan, there is truly no place like Thailand that I love so much. Go ahead and crack your jokes about my love of Thailand, even more than any other country. But my love of this place stems mainly from my love of the culture and the people...that is the crux of it all.

 

After a decade of loving living here, I would be surprised if my feelings for this place were to change much during the next century.

Hard to change a culture such as that of Thailand.  And hard to change my opinion about this place.

As long as the culture remains the same, then my love of this place will remain constant.

 

And so, I wish to leave everybody here with this condensed thought from sonnet 116, as Shakespeare wrote about my love of Thailand:

 

 Love is not true if it changes with time; true love should be constant, regardless of difficulties.

 

I know you guys might think that I am being less than honest when I proclaim my love.

 

But, you should not doubt my constancy.

 

(Is Thailand, at least for me, better than any place I have lived?  I can only tell you what I honestly believe.  The answer is YES.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[couchpotato]

5 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

What I tell anyone who will listen to me is that, so very honestly speaking, the place I live in Thailand is, with zero doubt, the best place I have ever lived in my life.

 

I have lived in a few places, such as Canada, Hong Kong, China, Japan, and some of the most beautiful places in the US. I mean, I am not from Oklahoma.

 

Thailand is, by far and away, the very best of all. Or, I should say....NONE OF THE ABOVE!

 

When I first arrived here, I thought that the shine might wear off.

As everybody knows, living in a new country goes in definite stages.

First you love it.  Then you tolerate it, And then you are sick of it.

So far, this has not been the case with me and Thailand.

If anything, I love it more now.  And, I am just very nostalgic about the beautiful times I recall during the first year I arrived.

Or, I should say, the second time I first arrived.

I first arrived in 1971, just for three days.

My next visit was many years after this.

 

Although I still very much love China, just as I do Japan, and as I also love Canada and the USA, and even Taiwan, there is truly no place like Thailand that I love so much. Go ahead and crack your jokes about my love of Thailand, even more than any other country. But my love of this place stems mainly from my love of the culture and the people...that is the crux of it all.

 

After a decade of loving living here, I would be surprised if my feelings for this place were to change much during the next century.

Hard to change a culture such as that of Thailand.  And hard to change my opinion about this place.

As long as the culture remains the same, then my love of this place will remain constant.

 

And so, I wish to leave everybody here with this condensed thought from sonnet 116, as Shakespeare wrote about my love of Thailand:

 

 Love is not true if it changes with time; true love should be constant, regardless of difficulties.

 

I know you guys might think that I am being less than honest when I proclaim my lov

 

(Is Thailand, at least for me, better than any place I have lived?  I can only tell you what I honestly believe.  The answer is YES.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Is Thailand, at least for me, better than any place I have lived?  I can only tell you what I honestly believe.  The answer is YES.)

 

Yep me too...????

[RichardColeman]

I have three answers to this.

 

1. The first time I went as a single person to Pattaya - 2003 - the kid indulging in the sweet shop syndrome. Soi 7 and 8 were packed. 

 

2. The year I met my wife, married her and moved full time to Thailand - 2015. For me, if you're gonna get married, make sure you get it out of your system first.

 

3. The year I eventually get back to the family after getting stuck in the UK and everything gets back to normal

[GammaGlobulin]

24 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I have three answers to this.

 

1. The first time I went as a single person to Pattaya - 2003 - the kid indulging in the sweet shop syndrome. Soi 7 and 8 were packed. 

 

2. The year I met my wife, married her and moved full time to Thailand - 2015. For me, if you're gonna get married, make sure you get it out of your system first.

 

3. The year I eventually get back to the family after getting stuck in the UK and everything gets back to normal

As you just said, without family, life can never be normal, but always abnormal.

May you be reunited, soonest.

[Whale]

My first year. 

[bkk6060]

The year I was here and my divorce in my home country was final.  Every year since then has been great.

[bojo]

probably '91, in the sand pit at the Reggae pub on Koh Samui of course............................!!

[thaibeachlovers]

9 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Instead, maybe it’s time to be more uplifting and inspirational,

LOL. IMO nothing more uplifting and inspirational than really good sex, but never mind, to answer the OP minus the happy bits, 1996 had to be the best year for me in Thailand, I had completed my contract in Saudi and was fully financed, I had as much time as I wanted as between jobs, and back then Pattaya really was Fun City. Not just Pattaya, Bangkok and tours through LOS, as I also visited the islands, which had not yet become the flashpacker hell they were to become.

All in all, a year to remember.

9 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Given enough time, due to entropy, even the universe will disappear and clean up after itself.

IMO unless it all disappears into a black hole, once the last sun runs out of fuel and dies, the universe will remain as a void full of burnt planets and whatever suns are once they consume themselves, but as noted that's my opinion, and none of us will be around to see what does happen.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, Whale said:

My first year. 

Sadly, my first year was when I had to learn from my mistakes, and there were many of them. I have too many bad memories for it to be my best.

[BritManToo]

All my years in Thailand have been great  (2009+).

Still enjoying it, but old age has changed the ways of my fun to a slightly quieter and more sedate level.

 

Plenty of ups and downs, but that's  what attracted most of us.

Edited August 3, 2021 by BritManToo

[thaibeachlovers]

10 hours ago, lolalol said:

 I remember seeing Indian tourists negotiating for discount at a roti stand in one occasion.   I think the roti lady was selling one for 20 baht.  I was like WHAT THE

LOL. I was on a Pattaya baht bus ( 10 baht fixed price ) and an Indian tourist was going to try and bargain it down!

[thaibeachlovers]

Just now, BritManToo said:

All my years in Thailand have been great  (2009+).

Still enjoying it, but old age has changed the ways of my fun to a slightly quieter and more sedate level.

While you are enjoying, give a thought to those of us that had to leave LOS and get zip now.

[sezze]

Thinking about my best year in Thailand must be around 2002-2003 . But i did not know anything at all back then . It wasnt my 1st-2nd -3th travel there back then but knowing more then 0 also . After it went down i think before boing up big time , and after slowly going down to the point where i am now .Which is nothing at all to early 2000's sessions ,

 

[tonray]

My years here are very different as I've grown and matured, hard to compare. I guess I'd say that each year has its own charms and good memories. Every year here has been better than the  previous decade in America...so no complaints as that is the real comparison to make.

[thaibeachlovers]

8 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Your loss, and not ours, I guess. However, there are so many bar stories floating around, since the 1970's, that most are just too lurid to have much credence.  I have never seen, heard, nor even spoken to a bar girl since my arrival in Thailand...knowingly. I have never known one, either, in fact. Strange as it might seem, this is true.

 

I am an introvert.

Bar girls must be extroverts, as part of their job requirements.

 

Introverts and extroverts mix like oil and water.

 

Give me a good book, and a glass of warm milk, at bedtime, I always say.

Never been near a BG and it shows. IMO those lurid tales do indeed have credence, and to claim that one KNOWS that BGs MUST be extroverts is IMO nonsense.

I knew many BGs that were anything but extroverts. What you apparently do not understand is that Thai BGs are usually just ordinary girls out to make a bit of cash while they have the looks to do so, and perhaps pick up a rich farang husband.

IMO they have zero in common with the western opinion of prostitutes.

Edited August 3, 2021 by thaibeachlovers

[BE88]

My first 6 years have been fabulous, only these last two years have become heavy for covid due to its limitations especially now, but it is nothing compared to the drastic limitations in Europe, so all in all Thailand is still better than Europe that is still closing with new restrictions including vaccinated so Thailand is still all my preference.

[Kwasaki]

11 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Talk about feelings of Nostalgia!!!!!

2005 when I left England for good and retired here. 

[OneMoreFarang]

The time before everybody had a mobile phone.

And then obviously the time before everybody used the internet.

I remember my holidays in Thailand. 3 weeks without any contact with "home". Wonderful!

[Mac Mickmanus]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The time before everybody had a mobile phone.

And then obviously the time before everybody used the internet.

I remember my holidays in Thailand. 3 weeks without any contact with "home". Wonderful!

Yes, that internet thingy is a terrible thing , would be better if everyone stopped using it

r/s

[Saltire]

Why when I read your OP do I hear it being read aloud by Noel Coward?

 

Did you type it wearing a smoking jacket?

 

????

 

Seriously I moved here in 2016 and with the excitement of a new wife/house/country this would be my best year.

 

Unfortunately for me covid has put the kibosh on what I love most, travelling around Thailand with my wife.

[HappyExpat57]

I arrived late 2006. After discovering soapies, EVERY year they were available was best!