All the issues with Thailand

[Boarn]

After being here for 16 years I thought it an idea to go over all the issues I see with Thailand, most of which were not here when I arrived.

 

To all those who say 'go home then', well there is far worse!

 

1. Bangkok is no longer Bangkok, all the best places are gone and new condos in place.

2. Overdevelopment at certain island retreats remove from the character. 

3. Cheap only if you liked being bored, yes it's cheaper to be bored in Thailand than bored back in the West.

4. Entertainment is so expensive, a night out in 'Bangkok' runs 4x to 5x want it did in 2005.

5. Houses for sale in developments usually come with no land.

6. Land prices are absurd.

7. Fun cars are too expensive.

8. The sky train in Bangkok is more than Mo Chit to On Nut.

9. Whimsical government schemes start to grate when related to foreigners.

10. A huge change in foreigner 'demographics'.

11. Inconsiderate neighbors, burning, cooking with wood, spraying trees with fertilizer etc.

12. Cheap only if you like pork or chicken, not cheap if you prefer beef and lamb.

13. The Thailand I moved to no longer exists in so many ways.

14. Annoyance of immigration rules which used to be a worthwhile yearly hassle now seem to be over burdensome for benefits accrued.

15. The playing field has shifted away from Western expats.

 

Well that's 15. For me, I moved to Thailand because I could be entertained for a tiny amount of money, this is no longer true.

 

Point in question, on I think my 2nd night here I went out for a meal in a lower Sukhumvit, a Western meal, looked at the menu and saw fish and chips for 69 baht. I assumed this must be a tiny portion and ended up ordering 3 meals and about 4 beers, the bill was 520 baht, just under 8 pound GBP. It turned out that these were real size meals and of course I ordered 2 meals too much, but I was hooked, I could live for pocket change, beers in the bars were a third of now and the workers were a lot more fun and expected far less in return. 

 

So, I was sold a lie, bought in hook line and sinker and have been yearning for this ever since. You simply can't have the same thrill when things aren't dirt cheap.

 

I have no idea what attracts people to Thailand now, if you've moved recently, why? I would genuinely like to know!

 

 

[Halfaboy]

I did not read about the ever changing immigration requirements.

[Boarn]

4 minutes ago, Halfaboy said:

I did not read about the ever changing immigration requirements.

Requirements are the same for me, but very annoying to have to do, used to think it was a worthwhile hassle, now it's like why I am degrading myself like this?

[1FinickyOne]

12 minutes ago, Boarn said:

You simply can't have the same thrill when things aren't dirt cheap.

Geez, who ever told you that everything remains the same? Things change!

 

It seems like many of your complaints are easily solved - - - if you just had more money. 

 

The world changes - - if everything had remained the same, you would complain abt the deterioration and lack of modernization... 

[Boarn]

1 minute ago, 1FinickyOne said:

Geez, who ever told you that everything remains the same? Things change!

 

It seems like many of your complaints are easily solved - - - if you just had more money. 

 

The world changes - - if everything had remained the same, you would complain abt the deterioration and lack of modernization... 

That's not quite true, the issue is not not being able to afford something, it's that you can't get that same thrill than you could. Yes things change but as a 16 year old I found Thailand as I wished it to remain, I had no idea it would change so much away from where I found it. Change but don't transform is what I'm trying to say.

[Denim]

14 minutes ago, Boarn said:

So, I was sold a lie, bought in hook line and sinker and have been yearning for this ever since. You simply can't have the same thrill when things aren't dirt cheap.

 

If you stay here and experience the rising cost of living then it seems it is not as cheap as it used to be.

 

A long holiday to your home country should put this into better perspective.

 

In the UK , to put a tent up in a camp site a common charge now is 12 pounds per person. 24 pounds for 2 people or about 1000 baht a night .................  for a tent in a field.  Here , even in Bangkok , 1000 a night will get you a nice hotel.

 

My sister pays 250 pounds a month for her community charge. That is , rubbish collection , street lights etc.. Here we pay just 20 baht.

 

Petrol there is twice as much.

 

Etc etc etc.  A trip back to your own country can sometimes boggle the mind because it is so expensive. So much so that when you get back here you really appreciate that it is still a lot cheaper than back there.

[Kwasaki]

14 minutes ago, Boarn said:

'go home then',

???? Sounds like your thinking about  it. 

Since 2003 when our house was built things have improved no end for us where we live. 

 

You opinion seems based mainly on one place Bangkok and some islands there's much more to Thailand, I wouldn't live in Bkk if you pay me. 

I would say some people still find things OK there only the pandemic has mess things up. 

[Boarn]

2 minutes ago, Denim said:

 

If you stay here and experience the rising cost of living then it seems it is not as cheap as it used to be.

 

A long holiday to your home country should put this into better perspective.

 

In the UK , to put a tent up in a camp site a common charge now is 12 pounds per person. 24 pounds for 2 people or about 1000 baht a night .................  for a tent in a field.  Here , even in Bangkok , 1000 a night will get you a nice hotel.

 

My sister pays 250 pounds a month for her community charge. That is , rubbish collection , street lights etc.. Here we pay just 20 baht.

 

Petrol there is twice as much.

 

Etc etc etc.  A trip back to your own country can sometimes boggle the mind because it is so expensive. So much so that when you get back here you really appreciate that it is still a lot cheaper than back there.

That might be an idea, get things back into perspective, not been back to the UK for 13 years!

[Boarn]

1 minute ago, Kwasaki said:

???? Sounds like your thinking about  it. 

Since 2003 when our house was built things have improved no end for us where we live. 

 

You opinion seems based mainly on one place Bangkok and some islands there's much more to Thailand, I wouldn't live in Bkk if you pay me. 

I would say some people still find things OK there only the pandemic has mess things up. 

Haha yes, no I no longer live in Bangkok, everywhere I used to frequent, well 90%, of places are no longer there and they were not replaced with something similar, just a big condo block. 

[Kwasaki]

2 minutes ago, Boarn said:

Haha yes, no I no longer live in Bangkok, everywhere I used to frequent, well 90%, of places are no longer there and they were not replaced with something similar, just a big condo block. 

Places in Phuket I Iiked back in 2000 as of now I'd never go back there again.

[Boarn]

Further to my original post.

 

The issue is not change, it's how it's changed.

 

Let's say they closed your favorite location, that may be the pool places on Soi 7, this is not replaced with something similar, it's going to be a condo block. That is not suitable change.

 

If you heard someone say, wow they just opened a new place on Soi 11, it's even cheaper than xyz, yes I would like this change. But it's not happened this may.

[AndyFoxy]

Title of the thread should be changed to something like, "All the issues I personally have with Thailand because I don't have enough money".

[Boarn]

2 minutes ago, AndyFoxy said:

Title of the thread should be changed to something like, "All the issues I personally have with Thailand because I don't have enough money".

Haha, if only that were true.

 

This is not a money issue, it's a feeling issue, I have more than I did when I arrived but feel worse off. The issue is the feeling you get when you can do certain things for pennies. 

 

I got a kick out of going out and doing everything I wanted for pocket change, it just doesn't feel the same when you're paying actual money for it.

 

70k baht a month in 2005, 135k baht a month now, take me back to 2005 it was a better time.

[GrandPapillon]

it was bound to change, every time there is a good deal, they go away as soon as the news spread, and it did spread for Thailand, huge inflows of farangs between 2000 and 2006, prices eventually had to go up fueled by economic activity and high growth

 

if you want cheap, it's Cambodia and Laos, but guess what, it was a great deal back in 2010, now it's catching up too ????

[Denim]

9 minutes ago, Boarn said:

Let's say they closed your favorite location, that may be the pool places on Soi 7, this is not replaced with something similar, it's going to be a condo block. That is not suitable change.

 

When they closed the original Thermaes I cried for days.

 

Yes, it was already over run with Japanese but nonetheless...... they will be bulldozing Hualampong station unless we protest.

[Boarn]

Just now, GrandPapillon said:

it was bound to change, every time there is a good deal, they go away as soon as the news spread, and it did spread for Thailand, huge inflows of farangs between 2000 and 2006, prices eventually had to go up fueled by economic activity and high growth

 

if you want cheap, it's Cambodia and Laos, but guess what, it was a great deal back in 2010, now it's catching up too ????

Yes, I attempted Cambodia for a few months back in 2009 after Thailand started on it's path to now. I liked most things just the lack of suitable accommodation put me off, maybe now that's changed. 

[GrandPapillon]

4 minutes ago, Boarn said:

Yes, I attempted Cambodia for a few months back in 2009 after Thailand started on it's path to now. I liked most things just the lack of suitable accommodation put me off, maybe now that's changed. 

I was there in 2015, and accommodation were much better than when I was there in 2009, safer, and a lot of cheap places to eat and go,

 

1L happy hour beer for 2 USD ????

Edited September 21, 2021 by GrandPapillon

[wprime]

I can emphathise with your old watering holes turning into condos. I used to hang out at the beer garden at On Nut market. It had terrible pool tables, terrible music, but a great atmosphere with good people. It was the end of the BTS line back then so you had all the working class people getting off there and chilling at the market. There was a good farang-Thai mix, we had everyone from politicians and police officers to motorbike taxi drivers and mothers of 10 children and everyone got along. I could go there on any random night, see people I knew or sit down with strangers, sometimes we'll group together and go party somewhere. Now it's a condo, but these things happen. Times change and you can't be stuck in the past. I recently discovered W District which seems to have a similar vibe and people to On Nut though I haven't gotten to know people yet. There will always be great places, you just need to rediscover new ones when your old ones become condos.

 

The only thing I really miss that's not coming back is the ability to park on the street in Bangkok. That's all but gone for obvious reasons but it's still possible in the provinces.

 

Explore the country a bit, go on a road trip. There's still plenty of the 'old Thailand' up in Isaan and the North. Most of Isaan needs quarantine at the moment but a lot of the north is open at the moment.

 

Also good beef was always expensive in Thailand but the local stuff has gotten better, try Thai-French beef. It's a cheap local producer that actually has good quality beef.

[FritsSikkink]

1. Bangkok is no longer Bangkok, all the best places are gone and new condos in place.
Lot of new places, think you focus too much on Sukhumvit.

2. Overdevelopment at certain island retreats remove from the character. 
Happens everywhere, go to another island.

3. Cheap only if you liked being bored, yes it's cheaper to be bored in Thailand than bored back in the West.
Not a problem if you have more money.

4. Entertainment is so expensive, a night out in 'Bangkok' runs 4x to 5x want it did in 2005.
Not a problem if you have more money.

5. Houses for sale in developments usually come with no land.
Enough land for sale outside the big cities.

6. Land prices are absurd.
Not a problem if you have more money.

7. Fun cars are too expensive.
Not a problem if you have more money.

8. The sky train in Bangkok is more than Mo Chit to On Nut.
This looks to be a good thing from my point of view.

9. Whimsical government schemes start to grate when related to foreigners.
Don't understand what you mean by this.

10. A huge change in foreigner 'demographics'.
For some people it is a problem that it isn't whites only anymore.

11. Inconsiderate neighbors, burning, cooking with wood, spraying trees with fertilizer etc.
Move to a better neighborhood.

12. Cheap only if you like pork or chicken, not cheap if you prefer beef and lamb.
Not a problem if you have more money.

13. The Thailand I moved to no longer exists in so many ways.
Every country changes.

14. Annoyance of immigration rules which used to be a worthwhile yearly hassle now seem to be over burdensome for benefits accrued.
Never had a problem with immigration. 

15. The playing field has shifted away from Western expats.
For some people it is a problem that it isn't whites only anymore.

[GrandPapillon]

W District was fine 5 years ago, and the vibe was there like OnNut Beer Garden (which has moved to Soi 101 Sukhumvit)

 

but W is trying to be middle class "up market" so limited opportunities for meeting new women :)

[Boarn]

1 minute ago, FritsSikkink said:

Not a problem if you have more money.

This isn't the fix though, paying more in Thailand for things that were cheap doesn't fix the feeling or the thrill. It's easy to pay more money but I find the more I spend the less I enjoy the experience, I found the thrill I got was the price being so cheap. This is regardless of how much money you have.

 

The last time I was out in Bangkok for the night I was 20k out of pocket, yes it was a good time but I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it cost 5k like it used to.

[it is what it is]

 

every country changes over time; thailand is no dfferent. some changes are benefitial and some detrimental. the thailand 16 years prior to the OP arriving - i visited over 25 years ago, was in many ways much better then when the OP arrived, did it stop him? for some the glass is half full, and for some half empty, thankfully i'm the former.

 

 

[flexomike]

52 minutes ago, Denim said:

When they closed the original Thermaes I cried for days.

 

Yes, it was already over run with Japanese but nonetheless...... they will be bulldozing Hualampong station unless we protest.

first night in Bangkok in 1968 i visited Thermae after hours, remember it well was my first physical encounter in Thailand

 

[Denim]

11 minutes ago, flexomike said:

first night in Bangkok in 1968 i visited Thermae after hours, remember it well was my first physical encounter in Thailand

 

Yup....down the stairway to heaven .

 

Edited September 21, 2021 by Denim

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, Halfaboy said:

I did not read about the ever changing immigration requirements.

That was certainly true in Chiang Mai.

 

RE the OP, nothing ever stays the same, and my country bears no resemblance to the one I grew up in.

The secret is being able to adapt to change eg if Bkk is no longer worth it, move elsewhere.

 

2 hours ago, Boarn said:

5. Houses for sale in developments usually come with no land.

6. Land prices are absurd.

7. Fun cars are too expensive.

The above probably apply in many countries.

[thaibeachlovers]

17 minutes ago, Denim said:

Yup....down the stairway to heaven .

 

I didn't like it. I never got to see the appeal, but I only ever got to visit the new place. Apparently the original was better.

[tubby johnson]

2 hours ago, Boarn said:

1. Bangkok is no longer Bangkok, all the best places are gone and new condos in place.

---- Thailand is much bigger than Sukhumvit.

2. Overdevelopment at certain island retreats remove from the character. 

---- Plenty of peaceful islands if you look for them.

3. Cheap only if you liked being bored, yes it's cheaper to be bored in Thailand than bored back in the West.

---- Only boring people feel bored.

4. Entertainment is so expensive, a night out in 'Bangkok' runs 4x to 5x want it did in 2005.

---- Not true.

5. Houses for sale in developments usually come with no land.

---- Also not true. There's more to Thailand than just a couple of cities.

6. Land prices are absurd.

---- Land is a great long-term investment.

7. Fun cars are too expensive.

---- You'll get what you're willing to pay for.

8. The sky train in Bangkok is more than Mo Chit to On Nut.

---- How is this a bad thing?

9. Whimsical government schemes start to grate when related to foreigners.

---- Ignore them.

10. A huge change in foreigner 'demographics'.

---- Too many dark-skinned people for you?

11. Inconsiderate neighbors, burning, cooking with wood, spraying trees with fertilizer etc.

---- Only if you live in a redneck backwater.

12. Cheap only if you like pork or chicken, not cheap if you prefer beef and lamb.

---- Cheapskate.

13. The Thailand I moved to no longer exists in so many ways.

---- Things change. Don't expect everything to stay the same.

14. Annoyance of immigration rules which used to be a worthwhile yearly hassle now seem to be over burdensome for benefits accrued.

---- That's always been the case -- unless you play by the rules, then it's simple.

15. The playing field has shifted away from Western expats.

---- Because you're not in Kansas anymore. Maybe you should return to the West.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

1. Bangkok is no longer Bangkok, all the best places are gone and new condos in place.
Lot of new places, think you focus too much on Sukhumvit.

2. Overdevelopment at certain island retreats remove from the character. 
Happens everywhere, go to another island.

3. Cheap only if you liked being bored, yes it's cheaper to be bored in Thailand than bored back in the West.
Not a problem if you have more money.

4. Entertainment is so expensive, a night out in 'Bangkok' runs 4x to 5x want it did in 2005.
Not a problem if you have more money.

5. Houses for sale in developments usually come with no land.
Enough land for sale outside the big cities.

6. Land prices are absurd.
Not a problem if you have more money.

7. Fun cars are too expensive.
Not a problem if you have more money.

8. The sky train in Bangkok is more than Mo Chit to On Nut.
This looks to be a good thing from my point of view.

9. Whimsical government schemes start to grate when related to foreigners.
Don't understand what you mean by this.

10. A huge change in foreigner 'demographics'.
For some people it is a problem that it isn't whites only anymore.

11. Inconsiderate neighbors, burning, cooking with wood, spraying trees with fertilizer etc.
Move to a better neighborhood.

12. Cheap only if you like pork or chicken, not cheap if you prefer beef and lamb.
Not a problem if you have more money.

13. The Thailand I moved to no longer exists in so many ways.
Every country changes.

14. Annoyance of immigration rules which used to be a worthwhile yearly hassle now seem to be over burdensome for benefits accrued.
Never had a problem with immigration. 

15. The playing field has shifted away from Western expats.
For some people it is a problem that it isn't whites only anymore.

I get the impression that some posters never leave Bkk.

I agree with everything except your comment about the sky train as I don't know why it would be a good thing.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, Boarn said:

6. Land prices are absurd.

Why would that be a problem for farangs? Farangs can't buy land, and they shouldn't buy it in someone else's name IMO.

[Denim]

44 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I didn't like it. I never got to see the appeal, but I only ever got to visit the new place. Apparently the original was better.

I tried the new place once. It was enough. Thermaes in name only. Nothing at all like the original.

 

One of things I liked about the old place ( and there were many ) was that even if I was gone a year I would go back and see all the same waiters and bar staff. And amazingly, if you had been a regular and left a few tips over time , they remembered you and acknowledged your return with a wry smile and speedy service. Loved the jukebox too.

 

These two songs will always remind me of old T's :

 

Last plane to London....just taking off.

 

 

 

It seemed like every time I opened the door to go in this was playing :

This video just sooooooooooo captures the Thermaes vibe of that era.

 

 

Edited September 21, 2021 by Denim