30 years in total- I think my time is up

[KIngsofisaan]

22 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Then you probably shouldn't be here to begin with, or left a long time ago.

 

That's why Imm has rules.  400k or 800k a year, more than enough if here legally.

 

Or working and in the soc sec system w/health insurance.  If not one of those, you shouldn't be here.

Understand some folks moved here 20+ years ago when the exchange rate wasn't as poor as it is now and prices were much lower.

 

Understand why the widespread use of AGENTS for people who don't meet the 400K or 800k requirements.

 

For the old folks that sold up and moved here years ago, they no longer can afford to move home and if they could, they would find they have no place to live and the cost of living out of site.

 

Image being on a fixed UK Pension from 20 or more years ago?

 

No one can predict how the third world will change every few years.

 

Trying to predict what will happen 10 or 20 years in advance? Impossible.

 

I first went to Thailand in 1984. That was 38 years ago. What I see now versus then? No one ever could have predicted.

 

Trying to predict the next 10 to 20 years into the future is just anyone's guess?

 

When you have a goverment incompetant to fix any problems at all (air pollution, floods, droughts, traffic/road deaths etc.) and concentrate on buying submarines, what do you expect?

 

Do you really expect years later the government is going to wise up and make the country a better place or each new band of politicians that get elected working as hard as they can to line their own pockets with corruption money before the next group gets elected in?

 

I am not foolish enough to state I will live here forever, when I have NO CLUE, how things might be 5 or 10 years from now.

 

I also didn't trap myself. 

 

Should the situation worsen over the years, I have a plan and own a house abroad.

[Hummin]

45 minutes ago, KIngsofisaan said:

I have been to one of his Space X office's  in Cocoa, Florida and met him in person.

 

Once again, try to understand people are NOT you.

 

 

 

 

Wow, is it now you want my list who I have met in my life?

[Hummin]

50 minutes ago, KIngsofisaan said:

This forum requires NO SOCIAL SKILLS.

 

Can you point out in the rules where is states social skills are a requirement to join?

 

Just more of your made up stories.

You are right

[LaosLover]

SparkTrader, I spent a week in Udon and I felt like I saw every square foot of it twice. Not so many westerner comforts, and I realized I need more than 2 bars to go to -and I'm not even a boozer. Loved it from a temple and nature perspective, but how often are you ever popping into a temple or national park a second time?

 

If it costs $100 extra to live in a more westernized place like Chiang Mai, I say do it. The people here living happily in Roi Et are all MARRIED. A single male rattling around in Ubon with little language skills better be very excellent at entertaining themselves.

[KhunLA]

59 minutes ago, LaosLover said:

SparkTrader, I spent a week in Udon and I felt like I saw every square foot of it twice. Not so many westerner comforts, and I realized I need more than 2 bars to go to -and I'm not even a boozer. Loved it from a temple and nature perspective, but how often are you ever popping into a temple or national park a second time?

Lived there / UT for 16 years, way more than 2 bars.  I could take you to 20-50 bars (pre covid), and 10 will probably give you a meat pie, or full English for brekkie.  You want Greek, Indian, Italian, German, Brit, or cook at home, since a Villa Markets there.

 

Probably 20 bars within 1/2 kms of the bus/train station.  You don't even need transport.

Edited July 9, 2022 by KhunLA

[LaosLover]

I aint dissing Ubon, like I said, I spent a week there. It's a rare tourist who does that.

 

It was my fave of the big 4 Issan towns because it had a speck of a downtown around the park. It wasn't just a bunch of traffic circles. And the spiritual vibe with the forest wat and the candle festival is very unique. The riverside part was my favorite such place in Thailand.

 

Also, My favorite Mark Weins video has him eating chicken and cashew nuts at a Chinese shop house there. Very hard to get GREAT chicken and cashews. That video is worth a look.

 

I'm saying that wouldn't be my first address in Thailand, partic without a lot language skills. A solo westerner is not someone the locals have much room for in their lives, nor do the expats. You want a bigger westerner pool of fellow loose cannons to swim in when you're alone.

 

Places like CM old city or Pattaya Beach Road, or Ekami are like the departure lounge before you get on the plane to real Thailand. Going direct to a town like Loei is like just jumping out of the plane.

 

[KhunLA]

Solo single tourist would have no problem.  @ 5:00 of vid

I quite enjoyed my 'single' time there, and I didn't like the places or go to the ones in the vid that catered to tourist / expats.

 

The night markets near the trains station and some of the Thai venues, make it one of the best food towns for the smaller large metros.  Take it over the other top 5 large metros.  You got Krung Thep area, then the larger 5 or 6 metros, and Udon, one of, if not the best of the lot.  Far better IMHO than CM, Korat, Khon Kaen, Ubon.  Haven't made it Hat Yai yet.

 

I hate these place (in vid) but seems to be what people want ????

 

Edited July 9, 2022 by KhunLA

[BritManToo]

8 hours ago, KIngsofisaan said:

And your neighbor is close enough to hand a cup of sugar out the window to!

My place is probably more private than your village house surrounded by 'her' 100 Thai relatives. 

 

My last conversation with my neighbours, "can you make a little less noise in your swimming pool, please" 

Edited July 9, 2022 by BritManToo

[rimmae2]

6 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Solo single tourist would have no problem.  @ 5:00 of vid

I quite enjoyed my 'single' time there, and I didn't like the places or go to the ones in the vid that catered to tourist / expats.

 

The night markets near the trains station and some of the Thai venues, make it one of the best food towns for the smaller large metros.  Take it over the other top 5 large metros.  You got Krung Thep area, then the larger 5 or 6 metros, and Udon, one of, if not the best of the lot.  Far better IMHO than CM, Korat, Khon Kaen, Ubon.  Haven't made it Hat Yai yet.

 

I hate these place (in vid) but seems to be what people want ????

 

Must be one of the most boring presenters ever. Hope TAT don't discover him.

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, rimmae2 said:

Must be one of the most boring presenters ever. Hope TAT don't discover him.

No argument there, just wanted some current, and also why I pointed out 5:00 of vid, try to spare you.  Just to show there's more than 2 bars, as implied, nothing for the bar seeking tourist/expat, being 10 ish at one location

Edited July 10, 2022 by KhunLA

[KIngsofisaan]

14 hours ago, BritManToo said:

My place is probably more private than your village house surrounded by 'her' 100 Thai relatives. 

 

My last conversation with my neighbours, "can you make a little less noise in your swimming pool, please" 

If you next door neighbor is more than 26 rai away, you have us beat, however it is not.

[KIngsofisaan]

22 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

I...will...type...this..slowly...as ..you...seem...to...have..issues...reading....

Please...go..back...and..read..my..posts..slowly.......I..have..clearly..said..i..use

a ..gatorade 320z...bottle..in...my ..car....to...pee....i...use...the..gym...or..a store...for...#2

 

Might...i....suggest...this....program...for...your..reading...com--pre--hen--sion....

 

https://www.hookedonphonics.com/

 

You seem like a classy guy....I wonder if you, yourself can lure a lady into your "Palace"...

but keep it up with your insults, so all here can see what a hero and swell guy you are...

 

Also whatever you do, do NOT google van life on youtube, or the internet..yes, its a thing

 

maybe you will see with the current generation, you are the minority, not the majority

 

It just goes to show how much one can acquire and have lots of cash, you can still be a jerk

 

You clearly said you had a toilet in your car.

 

I do have money--i choose wisely on how i want to spend it My car has tv--ac-bed-toilet-books--laptop--etc I shower at the gym nearby-and eat wherever i choose at cafe-market-etc I always find it funny how ppl will pay money to go camping in a flimsy tent I put a bed in a secure solid car and people freak out......and pay zero and safer and comfy People walk to toilet and showers and campground and pay about $30 a night... as ive stated i choose to live in my car--a rental is out of my budget when i have all the same needs met for less....the little income i have goes to savings to travel back to thailand, where i dont work and the more i have saved the longer i can stay

 

What exactly is that for?

 

Do youself a favor and try sticking to your own story.

 

 

Edited July 10, 2022 by KIngsofisaan

[KIngsofisaan]

22 hours ago, Hummin said:

Wow, is it now you want my list who I have met in my life?

People who respond with these kinds of replies are caught up in their own foolishness.

 

 

[ChaiyaTH]

On 7/8/2022 at 7:54 PM, KIngsofisaan said:

Maybe you forgot the original comment? Wasn't mine

 

I started giving my Thai partner 20K baht a month 13 years ago to pay for food, water and electric. I still give her 20K baht a month and if anything we eat better now than then. I have offered many times to increase the amount, but she always refuses and tells me if she runs short she'll let me know. So if the cost of living has increased, it's negligible.

 

He claims 13 years later his is eating better and cost increase negotiable. Electric has sure as heck increased dramatically past 13 years.

Well obviously it is just electric and water, he sounds like the person not doing much AC so that could be less than 3K together. If the wife is cooking at home all the time she could easily do groceries for 6K, that might today be 12K, but together still way under the 20K in total.

With other words; she always had money left over since the very start, and now a bit less but still enough. So in reality costs did in fact increase drastically, what he says has nothing to do with reality. He just gave her a lot since the start for what needs to be paid of it.

[ThailandRyan]

9 minutes ago, KIngsofisaan said:

People who respond with these kinds of replies are caught up in their own foolishness.

 

 

Pray tell, please explain in detail. Enquiring minds wish to know.  I once met myself when I looked in the mirror, and boy was I disappointed. 

Edited July 10, 2022 by ThailandRyan

[ChaiyaTH]

14 hours ago, rimmae2 said:

Must be one of the most boring presenters ever. Hope TAT don't discover him.

Yeah pretty sure all the married visitors in bars are happy with yet another youtuber.

[KIngsofisaan]

3 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Pray tell, please explain in detail. Enquiring minds wish to know.  I once met myself when I looked in the mirror, and boy was I disappointed. 

If that was you in the photo at the clean beach with the "Punisher" Tee-shirt, I can understand your disappointment!

[LaosLover]

Sticky, I always sneak an empty Snapple bottle on the plane with me so I can take a whizz or two on the 27 hour flight. Sometimes, there's an epic line for the toilet. Referring to a bottle as a toilet is very standard among van-users.

 

 I went down a rabbit hole of looking at YouTubes about converting our Rav-4 into a sleeping van (you have to get the backseats removed -and the Toyota dealership won't do it).

 

But doing the same thing with a Camry is def on the tight side. Are you sleeping diagonally in the back?

 

Have you considered a roof storage unit? I see that's where a lot of car-dwellers stick their spare tire so they can use that bit of floor to have some ceiling height to sit in.

 

The biggest car-dweller mistake I see is trying to have a little kitchen with a stove, ice box, and table and chairs. Like, why not a bird house and a hot tub too?

[n00dle]

Later mate.

 

don't stop to reply.

 

we will just assume that you are off to the better place. 

[Ritchi]

On 7/8/2022 at 7:32 PM, giddyup said:

I do know that the 20K still covers all the same things it did 13 years ago. Fact. Try to see how far 20K (about A$200 a week) goes in Australia for two people.

Find a new money exchange 200 dollars is not 20000 baht  

[carlyai]

On 7/8/2022 at 7:11 PM, ThailandRyan said:

like a white noise background sound.  It is how I managed to live in BKK so long.  Unfortunately the White Noise has gotten to loud 

Well done with living with White Noise for so long. ????

Fo you really know what White Noise sounds like?

White Noise when microwave testing sounds like rats eating through a lead cable.

[ThailandRyan]

On 7/10/2022 at 11:55 PM, Sticky Rice Balls said:

try taping a 1000 bt bill to the mirror in forehead area...boom  insta-hansum-ness!!!

I taped to 500 purples over my eyes, and all I saw was the old monarch, which gave me hope all would be right in the world.

[ThailandRyan]

8 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

I was in a 95 honda accord before the camry! boy was that tight--a little getting used to sleeping in a coffin..took out pass seat and back seat so had some room and laid flat.

 

So i always kept and eye out to upgrade as the tranny started going on my 220k honda

Found the 95 camry wagon!  very hard to find these....dark green..found it on craigslist on a sunday night and drove down to see it same night with $1000 cash in pocket....was a bit nervous as was night--shady area and its craigslist!  i got it and did some needed axle and rotor work but tracked the car from a junkyard salvage,,turns out a old lady died and only had 70k miles on it--super clean!   this model has the old jumpseat which comes in handy and offers storage underneath as spare if on side on car...carpeted..i can fit straight as the back seats fold down and i took lower cushions out to lay it flat.....so feels like a condo from the honda!!....keep my minimal things under the jumpseat storage area which is handy.

 

i have a little converter and jump box for power for fan--pc--cell etc,,,,stream cable on my phone....i tried a kettle for tea but blew fuse..lol..i just get hot water at a 7-11 if i ask them..

 

ice box --they have camping ones but dont really need one--i eat on the fly...i have a folding camping chair and can use my hood or hatch back for table...the bed is 2 sofa like cushions that stack so i have room to sit in the back under cover or with hatch open...

 

everything i need fits in the storage area hidden and clean...as i live here with just a carry on bag......everything is already avail   wifi  tv at gym--stream cable on my phone--toilets--24 hr gyms---food--etc,,,,,,all the comforts of home..just spread out a bit.....the pee bottle helps as i got prostate issues so helps...proper diet keeps your body "regular" for #2

 

can watch the movie nomadland for a peek inside the van life movement---good movie..

 

id love a tiny house---maybe a old trailer if can fix up to live in when i travel home to work.

 

I was hoping to hear from the KING of Isaan but seems i am now worthy of his contempt..

 

 

And yet with all of that your a great Grab driver, your ratings are all 5 star......home is wear the heart is.

[Lucky Bones]

On 7/8/2022 at 5:24 PM, CharlieH said:

Its only a problem if you allow it to be.

 

Is it right, no I dont think it is, but there is NOTHING you can do about it, its a tiny amount, and doesnt really impact anyones daily life here.

 

Perfect.

"It's only a problem if you allow it to be".

Well said.

[LaosLover]

9 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

I was in a 95 honda accord before the camry! boy was that tight--a little getting used to sleeping in a coffin..took out pass seat and back seat so had some room and laid flat.

 

So i always kept and eye out to upgrade as the tranny started going on my 220k honda

Found the 95 camry wagon!  very hard to find these....dark green..found it on craigslist on a sunday night and drove down to see it same night with $1000 cash in pocket....was a bit nervous as was night--shady area and its craigslist!  i got it and did some needed axle and rotor work but tracked the car from a junkyard salvage,,turns out a old lady died and only had 70k miles on it--super clean!   this model has the old jumpseat which comes in handy and offers storage underneath as spare if on side on car...carpeted..i can fit straight as the back seats fold down and i took lower cushions out to lay it flat.....so feels like a condo from the honda!!....keep my minimal things under the jumpseat storage area which is handy.

 

i have a little converter and jump box for power for fan--pc--cell etc,,,,stream cable on my phone....i tried a kettle for tea but blew fuse..lol..i just get hot water at a 7-11 if i ask them..

 

ice box --they have camping ones but dont really need one--i eat on the fly...i have a folding camping chair and can use my hood or hatch back for table...the bed is 2 sofa like cushions that stack so i have room to sit in the back under cover or with hatch open...

 

everything i need fits in the storage area hidden and clean...as i live here with just a carry on bag......everything is already avail   wifi  tv at gym--stream cable on my phone--toilets--24 hr gyms---food--etc,,,,,,all the comforts of home..just spread out a bit.....the pee bottle helps as i got prostate issues so helps...proper diet keeps your body "regular" for #2

 

can watch the movie nomadland for a peek inside the van life movement---good movie..

 

id love a tiny house---maybe a old trailer if can fix up to live in when i travel home to work.

 

I was hoping to hear from the KING of Isaan but seems i am now worthy of his contempt..

 

 

In the states, zoning kills most old trailer and tiny house idea's. Where I live, old trailers are grandfathered in, but no new ones (or new-old ones) can be sited. And Walmart etc is much less welcoming to letting you stay over night in their parking lot. Another good idea for people who want to live cheap getting squeezed. 

 

I took a vacation in Japan with the idea of writing an article on capsule hotels. But after night #5, I was eager not be sleeping in what was essentially a plastic refrigerator crate anymore.

 

I did it at the same time as a slightly mad trip that involved abusing the Japan Rail Pass to see 7 cities Japan in 7 days -which meant lots of late arrivals and early departures from capsule hotels near train stations.

 

They all had bars, swimming pools, massage chairs, and porn avail for $2 inside the little capsule. I was def glad to end up in Tokyo in a 3 by 4 meter room, which felt very plush.

 

But full marks for squeezing into a Honda. Are you a normal-sized person?

 

[NanLaew]

On 7/8/2022 at 6:34 PM, Reposed said:

I've been on 6 continents and around (lost count) 120 countries. I've lived in 8 countries for an extended period....meaning 2 years or more. South America, Central America, Mexico, Japan, Italy, Spain, and, uhm, here....

 

Suffice to say, Thailand is unique in their world view, and my days here are numbered. I'm with you, bud. Ignore the people on here who are Thaier than Thais.

 

Best on your new journey...

I had a long hard think on how Thailand being "unique in their world view" is impacting my life.

 

Still thinking. I'll need to get back with you later.

[giddyup]

7 hours ago, Ritchi said:

Find a new money exchange 200 dollars is not 20000 baht  

20,000 baht was the monthly amount,that works out at around A$200 a week. That clear enough for you?

[4MyEgo]

On 7/8/2022 at 7:57 PM, Scouse123 said:

Why is it all the  time we are subjected to attempts at price gouging, additional airport fees dual pricing,  and ridiculous  nationalistic and jingoistic government behavior.

It's just a part of life here, if you let it chew you up, then you will become another statistic that left.

 

On 7/8/2022 at 7:57 PM, Scouse123 said:

I am not skint, I can live any Asian country and I really am sick of soundbites from authority figures that make me feel I am a burden.

Don't allow yourself to feel that way, just smile and keep on enjoying life.

 

On 7/8/2022 at 7:57 PM, Scouse123 said:

I won't let the door slap me on the ass on my way out.

I don't believe the grass is any greener on the other side, 30 years sounds like you've made it home to me, so why let them win, suck it in and get back out there, your tougher than that, and am sure you can handle the truth, or are you getting softer in your old age.

 

[Reposed]

36 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

I had a long hard think on how Thailand being "unique in their world view" is impacting my life.

 

Still thinking. I'll need to get back with you later.

Well, unlike westerners, Europeans even more so than Americans, the typical Thai has no concept of any culture outside of their own, fortified by school officials telling children for over a decade that they are the superior culture.

 

If one has to spend more than three minutes considering how that might impact ones life living here, well.......

 

If we do not know other cultures, we can neither fully understand nor appreciate our own, nor make needed changes to it to make it better.

 

 

 

 

[Scouse123]

19 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

It's just a part of life here, if you let it chew you up, then you will become another statistic that left.

 

Don't allow yourself to feel that way, just smile and keep on enjoying life.

 

I don't believe the grass is any greener on the other side, 30 years sounds like you've made it home to me, so why let them win, suck it in and get back out there, your tougher than that, and am sure you can handle the truth, or are you getting softer in your old age.

 

They really bug me at times