Why Do Australians Come Long-time to Places Like Thailand?

[GammaGlobulin]

22 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Spot on

 

Football n cricket

 

Yawn

One cannot help but wholeheartedly agree that football, and all pro sports, is a blight upon the world, and with many good reasons.

 

Therefore, if one were to choose a place to live, and if one had unlimited funds, and if one were born in Australia, then what would be the best place to live, for an Australian, better than Australia?

 

Monaco, maybe?

Luxembourg?

 

 

Where?

 

 

Edited August 15, 2022 by GammaGlobulin

[The Hammer2021]

This is quite an  interesting  read

https://www.spiked-online.com/2021/08/17/the-authoritarian-takeover-of-australia/

[scorecard]

On 8/13/2022 at 11:37 AM, 2009 said:

-Cheaper lifestyle

-Sex

-Family

-Work

-Maybe politics, culture, migrant issues, PC rubbish

 

I am sure Australia isn't the place it was decades ago.

I was back in Oz a short while back. Everybody has their own circumstances etc., however the item that shocked me was the cost of living.

 

Buying a steak was way outside of my budget, I selected vegies carefully to ensure I kept in budget, no variety. I went to a mid priced restaurant not long after I arrived back, the bill for a basic dinner gave me a heart attack, no more restaurants. Friends/neighors mentioned a fish platter at a local sports club AUD75, for one person. 

 

I had neighbors who have stopped using their air con in summer, the electric bill would bankrupt them. Taking a taxi suddenly in the AUD40, 50, 60 plus range. I struggled with buses, using a folding walker. 

 

But aussies still very helpful and friendly. 

Edited August 15, 2022 by scorecard

[Ralf001]

On 8/13/2022 at 1:25 PM, Lacessit said:

The population of Australia is getting close to 27 million, not 40 million.

 

About 80% of Australians live not more than 3 km from a coast. Get into the back blocks, the next house may be 10 km away.

 

 

How far from the coast are the back blocks ?

[Lacessit]

Just now, Ralf001 said:

How far from the coast are the back blocks ?

300 - 500 km. Google towns such as Nymagee, Nullagine, Ravenshoe or Katherine, although places like Ceduna are right on the coast, but still back blocks.

[Ralf001]

4 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

300 - 500 km. Google towns such as Nymagee, Nullagine, Ravenshoe or Katherine, although places like Ceduna are right on the coast, but still back blocks.

Ahhh, out in the country.

 

I could not find any statistics claiming 80% live 3km from coast... 85% live 50km from coast is a common find though.

[GammaGlobulin]

One cannot help but ask if Australia is as bad as Australians say.

 

Judging from the comments here, it sounds as if Australia is Hell on Earth.

 

And, if Australia is Hell on Earth, which I doubt, then is Australia a democratic country?

 

If Australia is a democratic country, then why not vote for change?

 

Because, it seems from the comments that half the people in Australia are living a wonderful life without working, being given plentiful handouts from the government.

 

And, another major sector of the population are extremely hard workers, but cannot afford steak.

 

And then, there are the politicians who do not serve the people, yet cannot be voted out of office.

 

Has anyone ever read Candide?

If so, is there no Voltaire of Australia who can write a new Australian Candide Satire?

 

I have never, ever, read comments by a People who were so disgruntled about the state of their country, nor a People who wished to be able to ride in taxis for free and eat cake, such as I have read in this interesting Topic.

 

I do not doubt that Australia is as bad as Australians say, if they say that it is.

 

I just feel sorry that Australia has come to this state of affairs, if it has.

 

Maybe, America should provide more aid to Australia.

 

With only a population of 27 million, America could double Australians' income with a flick of a pen.

 

Just say the word.

 

Two Trillion in foreign aid for Australians to eat steak every day, and ride in taxis subsidized by the US government.

 

We do not want Australians to be too dissatisfied with their lives.

We need allies.

 

We are willing to extend hands across the sea.

 

Our Australian friends are crying out for more low-cost beef steaks.

 

Somebody needs to buy beef from Venezuela and flood the Australian market with it.

Everybody should be able to eat steak if they want it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lacessit]

52 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

One cannot help but ask if Australia is as bad as Australians say.

 

Judging from the comments here, it sounds as if Australia is Hell on Earth.

 

And, if Australia is Hell on Earth, which I doubt, then is Australia a democratic country?

 

If Australia is a democratic country, then why not vote for change?

 

Because, it seems from the comments that half the people in Australia are living a wonderful life without working, being given plentiful handouts from the government.

 

And, another major sector of the population are extremely hard workers, but cannot afford steak.

 

And then, there are the politicians who do not serve the people, yet cannot be voted out of office.

 

Has anyone ever read Candide?

If so, is there no Voltaire of Australia who can write a new Australian Candide Satire?

 

I have never, ever, read comments by a People who were so disgruntled about the state of their country, nor a People who wished to be able to ride in taxis for free and eat cake, such as I have read in this interesting Topic.

 

I do not doubt that Australia is as bad as Australians say, if they say that it is.

 

I just feel sorry that Australia has come to this state of affairs, if it has.

 

Maybe, America should provide more aid to Australia.

 

With only a population of 27 million, America could double Australians' income with a flick of a pen.

 

Just say the word.

 

Two Trillion in foreign aid for Australians to eat steak every day, and ride in taxis subsidized by the US government.

 

We do not want Australians to be too dissatisfied with their lives.

We need allies.

 

We are willing to extend hands across the sea.

 

Our Australian friends are crying out for more low-cost beef steaks.

 

Somebody needs to buy beef from Venezuela and flood the Australian market with it.

Everybody should be able to eat steak if they want it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australia is so vast many Australians can't get their heads around how big it is.

While Australia is harsh on people low in the socio-economic order, its main attribute for the description  of hell on earth is boredom.

 

This may come as a surprise to you. In terms of foreign ownership of Australian assets, the USA heads the table.

America also heads the table with its corporations in Australia in terms of tax avoidance.

I forget who it was said when one shakes hands with an American on a business deal, they count their fingers afterwards.

 

The US sells us highly expensive military equipment, some of which does not work as intended. IIRC, the latest deal is to sell us 30 yo nuclear submarines so America can upgrade its fleet without the cost of decommissioning the old ones.

 

The US dominates the fast food franchise system in Australia, all of which make us obese. Similarly, its tobacco industry makes us sick. About the only thing America does not own is the beer industry, possibly because they don't know how to make it.

 

Your post takes me back to the Peter Sellers classic, "The Mouse That Roared."

 

Thank you for the kind offer of assistance. However, I think we get quite enough help from America already.

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

13 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Australia is so vast many Australians can't get their heads around how big it is.

While Australia is harsh on people low in the socio-economic order, its main attribute for the description  of hell on earth is boredom.

 

This may come as a surprise to you. In terms of foreign ownership of Australian assets, the USA heads the table.

America also heads the table with its corporations in Australia in terms of tax avoidance.

I forget who it was said when one shakes hands with an American on a business deal, they count their fingers afterwards.

 

The US sells us highly expensive military equipment, some of which does not work as intended. IIRC, the latest deal is to sell us 30 yo nuclear submarines so America can upgrade its fleet without the cost of decommissioning the old ones.

 

The US dominates the fast food franchise system in Australia, all of which make us obese. Similarly, its tobacco industry makes us sick. About the only thing America does not own is the beer industry, possibly because they don't know how to make it.

 

Your post takes me back to the Peter Sellers classic, "The Mouse That Roared."

 

Thank you for the kind offer of assistance. However, I think we get quite enough help from America already.

 

 

This comes as "no surprise" to me, just to quote you.

 

I think I already mentioned that Washington owns everything from Alaska to Chile, plus the UK, plus Australia, and is now gunning for Africa.

 

This comes as no surprise to anyone.

 

Also, Australia had a contract to buy French subs, but Washington nixed the deal.

Now, Australia has US subs.

 

But these subs are also CONTROLLED by Washington.

 

Peter Seller's classic was not the mouse that roared, either.

His classic was...

 

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by GammaGlobulin

[GammaGlobulin]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Australia is so vast many Australians can't get their heads around how big it is.

While Australia is harsh on people low in the socio-economic order, its main attribute for the description  of hell on earth is boredom.

 

This may come as a surprise to you. In terms of foreign ownership of Australian assets, the USA heads the table.

America also heads the table with its corporations in Australia in terms of tax avoidance.

I forget who it was said when one shakes hands with an American on a business deal, they count their fingers afterwards.

 

The US sells us highly expensive military equipment, some of which does not work as intended. IIRC, the latest deal is to sell us 30 yo nuclear submarines so America can upgrade its fleet without the cost of decommissioning the old ones.

 

The US dominates the fast food franchise system in Australia, all of which make us obese. Similarly, its tobacco industry makes us sick. About the only thing America does not own is the beer industry, possibly because they don't know how to make it.

 

Your post takes me back to the Peter Sellers classic, "The Mouse That Roared."

 

Thank you for the kind offer of assistance. However, I think we get quite enough help from America already.

 

 

Just to refresh your memory about shaking hands and losing fingers, in case you really did not know...

 

It might be an Albanian Proverb:  "After shaking hands with a Greek, count your fingers."

Certainly, not American in derivation.

 

Regarding your US submarine purchase, these are not 30-year-old nuclear subs. So, best not propagate false rumors.

As far as I know, this is US/UK technology.

 

Regarding fast food franchises in Australia, it is not the American food which makes you so fat.  Rather, no doubt, it is your overindulgence in drinking Fosters Beer.  And, as we all know, Foster's is brewed in Texas.

 

So, every move you make, every breath you take, we'll be watching you, and selling to you.

Guys from Australia are just another market to us, really.

 

You will never escape being in our group...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scorecard]

First point is to recognize how big Australia.

 

Sure it's an Island but it's a very very big island with enormous distances between the state capitals, enormous distances between regional cities/towns. 

 

Another item, be aware of how big sheep grazing properties are as you get further away from the coasts. My family 2 generations back owned one such property in NSW just down from the point where Queensland/NSW/Nth. Terrritory Queensland join togther. Total size of the property 170,000 acres. 

 

Grazing/ranching properties are typically rates for 'how many sheep/cattle can be successfully run on one acre. The property I'm referring to was rated at 17 acres for 1 sheep. 

 

And there were many such properties in that area.

 

 

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

This comes as "no surprise" to me, just to quote you.

 

I think I already mentioned that Washington owns everything from Alaska to Chile, plus the UK, plus Australia, and is now gunning for Africa.

 

This comes as no surprise to anyone.

 

Also, Australia had a contract to buy French subs, but Washington nixed the deal.

Now, Australia has US subs.

 

But these subs are also CONTROLLED by Washington.

 

Peter Seller's classic was not the mouse that roared, either.

His classic was...

 

 

I agree it's another Sellers classic; however, it was way too much black comedy for me. "The Mouse That Roared" is more light-hearted.

[Ralf001]

3 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

One cannot help but ask if Australia is as bad as Australians say.

 

Judging from the comments here, it sounds as if Australia is Hell on Earth.

Lived there for a couple of years, was further than 3km from the beach but not out in the back blocks.

 

Was ok, might return there oneday.. might not, I prefer Canada.

[Lacessit]

52 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Just to refresh your memory about shaking hands and losing fingers, in case you really did not know...

 

It might be an Albanian Proverb:  "After shaking hands with a Greek, count your fingers."

Certainly, not American in derivation.

 

Regarding your US submarine purchase, these are not 30-year-old nuclear subs. So, best not propagate false rumors.

As far as I know, this is US/UK technology.

 

Regarding fast food franchises in Australia, it is not the American food which makes you so fat.  Rather, no doubt, it is your overindulgence in drinking Fosters Beer.  And, as we all know, Foster's is brewed in Texas.

 

So, every move you make, every breath you take, we'll be watching you, and selling to you.

Guys from Australia are just another market to us, really.

 

You will never escape being in our group...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Given the subs are not arriving until about 2035, permit me to doubt both your statement, and that they take that long to build. Fat lot of use they will be for defending Australia in the interim.

You need to keep up, Australian tastes have been switching to wine over beer for several decades now. Something else Americans can't make successfully.

I am in Thailand, and have set myself free from your pharmaceutical industry. All the vehicles I drive are Japanese origin. My OS is free Linux, not the bloated software of Windows, or the fashion statement of Apple. I buy on Lazada.

I am actually hard put to think of anything America sells me, as an individual.

No doubt there are some things, perhaps you could nominate them.

 

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by Lacessit

[Lacessit]

23 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 My family 2 generations back owned one such property in NSW just down from the point where Queensland/NSW/Nth. Terrritory Queensland join togther. Total size of the property 170,000 acres. 

 

 

 

 

In the mid-NSW area, Euabalong - Condobilin - Nymagee, anything less than 40,000 acres is deemed too small to be financially viable.

[2009]

5 hours ago, scorecard said:

Friends/neighors mentioned a fish platter at a local sports club AUD75, for one person. 

But to be fair, that's like 3-4 hours of minimum wage work in Australia. For a fish platter in a nice place. 

 

What do Thais get for minimum wage? It probably works out at 30 baht an hour. I can't see anyone getting a fish platter in Thailand for 90-120 baht. They'd be paying a couple of days wages for a special seafood platter.

 

5 hours ago, scorecard said:

Taking a taxi suddenly in the AUD40, 50, 60 plus range

Likewise, in Thailand now most taxi rides to the airport, for example, are likely to cost a good 300 baht.

 

For a Thai person on minimum wage that would be a day's wage, for 10-12 hours work.

 

That would be $200AUD plus!

 

[GammaGlobulin]

32 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Given the subs are not arriving until about 2035, permit me to doubt both your statement, and that they take that long to build. Fat lot of use they will be for defending Australia in the interim.

You need to keep up, Australian tastes have been switching to wine over beer for several decades now. Something else Americans can't make successfully.

I am in Thailand, and have set myself free from your pharmaceutical industry. All the vehicles I drive are Japanese origin. My OS is free Linux, not the bloated software of Windows, or the fashion statement of Apple. I buy on Lazada.

I am actually hard put to think of anything America sells me, as an individual.

No doubt there are some things, perhaps you could nominate them.

 

 

What is your opinion about Torvald's penchant for working in his pajamas, at home, on the kernel?

[simple1]

8 minutes ago, 2009 said:

But to be fair, that's like 3-4 hours of minimum wage work in Australia. For a fish platter in a nice place. 

 

What do Thais get for minimum wage? It probably works out at 30 baht an hour. I can't see anyone getting a fish platter in Thailand for 90-120 baht. They'd be paying a couple of days wages for a special seafood platter.

 

Likewise, in Thailand now most taxi rides to the airport, for example, are likely to cost a good 300 baht.

 

For a Thai person on minimum wage that would be a day's wage, for 10-12 hours work.

 

That would be $200AUD plus!

 

You're correct to highlight buying power, though one of the current largest cost overheads is housing affordability. A rough indicator for average income for full time employment is currently around AUD1800.00 p.w., less outside of city areas, more for remote miniing and so on. I live in a tourist are, my stepson earns $75k p.a., four days a week as a cook. Cost of living has esculated as businesses are seeking to recover from losses from Covid, though wages do not reflect price increases nor do increases in welfare payments. Unemployment is very low at 3.5%.

 

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/average-weekly-earnings-australia/latest-release

 

Oz has a relatively low welfare payment regeime, so if you didn't own a home in Oz, Thailand could be attractive, though I suspect many Western single men in Thailand experience loneliness, buying companionship will quickly become a turnoff.

 

In Oz there are those who have been negatively identified in this OP as there are in any country, but one is not obliged to socialise with them - some of the comments are totally over the top. Happiness comes from within, to be reliant on others to enjoy life is a receipe for misery.

[Lacessit]

30 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

What is your opinion about Torvald's penchant for working in his pajamas, at home, on the kernel?

Can't say I have done any serious reading of Ibsen.

 

If you are saying I have opinions on everything, no. I have opinions on things I know, or have experienced. As Groucho Marx once said, if you don't like them, I have others.

 

Now, I wait for someone to correct me on attribution.

 

 

[scorecard]

On 8/13/2022 at 12:06 PM, 2009 said:

Who is prejudice?

 

The aboriginals nowadays who don't like Australia as it is now?

 

The migrant Aussies who personally did nothing to the aboriginals and don't want to accept blame?

 

The aboriginals want cash compensation for their history. That's pretty much it, right?

 

I am just stating facts about how Australia has changed for the better, including for the aboriginals alive today.

 

"The migrant Aussies who personally did nothing to the aboriginals and don't want to accept blame?" 

 

OK but the migrant aussies need to accept whatever baggage comes with the situation. Applies to many things in life. Nobody did/would guarantee them that the country was perfect. 

 

A bit too serious...

 

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by scorecard

[Lacessit]

40 minutes ago, simple1 said:

You're correct to highlight buying power, though one of the current largest cost overheads is housing affordability. A rough indicator for average income for full time employment is currently around AUD1800.00 p.w., less outside of city areas, more for remote miniing and so on. I live in a tourist are, my stepson earns $75k p.a., four days a week as a cook. Cost of living has esculated as businesses are seeking to recover from losses from Covid, though wages do not reflect price increases nor do increases in welfare payments. Unemployment is very low at 3.5%.

 

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/average-weekly-earnings-australia/latest-release

 

Oz has a relatively low welfare payment regeime, so if you didn't own a home in Oz, Thailand could be attractive, though I suspect many Western single men in Thailand experience loneliness, buying companionship will quickly become a turnoff.

 

In Oz there are those who have been negatively identified in this OP as there are in any country, but one is not obliged to socialise with them - some of the comments are totally over the top. Happiness comes from within, to be reliant on others to enjoy life is a receipe for misery.

The housing market in Australia is distorted by both negative gearing and a capital gains tax discount. Reforming it is political dynamite, as Bill Shorten found out. There are quite a few MP's in Parliament who are negative gearing multiple properties.

 

As a result, rents are at insane levels. When even the most basic rental costs 60% of a

pensioner's income, it does not leave much room for food, power, water and a bit of luxury.

 

You have stated the average income is about $1800/week. The base age pension in Australia is about $1950/month. Big difference, many are in Thailand for that reason.

[GammaGlobulin]

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Can't say I have done any serious reading of Ibsen.

 

If you are saying I have opinions on everything, no. I have opinions on things I know, or have experienced. As Groucho Marx once said, if you don't like them, I have others.

 

Now, I wait for someone to correct me on attribution.

 

 

OK.

But only if you insist.

Here is Ibsen speaking, with justified moral rectitude, about your beloved OpenSource Movement:

 

 

 

 

 

[2009]

10 hours ago, scorecard said:

OK but the migrant aussies need to accept whatever baggage comes with the situation. Applies to many things in life. Nobody did/would guarantee them that the country was perfect. 

 

Why?

 

It isn't their responsibility. They didn't arrive on the boat with Captain Cook. 

 

They were born in Australia in migrant families. That's it. They ain't guilty of anything.

 

The aboriginals are already afforded all the social benefits and opportunities that other Aussies have.

 

They can dig up history if they like, but there's no guilty person alive today to throw <deleted> on. The ones who colonized Oz are long dead.

 

 

[Fat is a type of crazy]

To comment on some of the above.

Australia is a good place to live. No pollution. Best beaches and forests and outdoors.

Long winter where I am but not like the UK and lots of options for better weather. Australians generally fun and friendly and believe in the fair go.

Lot's of opportunities to succeed right now. Heaps of good paying jobs. It is expensive but wages are high. Property is over priced, drooping now,  but that's good for many older Australians who worked through their lives. If you were unlucky or lazy don't blame Australia. 

Covid rules gave Australia a bad name. The tough rules did have some excellent outcomes such as low death rates, and not so excellent outcomes, for some  individuals. The Australia as nanny state thing though is over the top.

Yes there is oversight of business and government, but this has the outcome of little corruption, and little likelihood of Mountain B night club type situations, and fair treatment of workers in general and fair pay. 

 

Covid payments paid to businesses who didn't need it was bad. Not corruption as such. I put it down to ineptitude, a pro government business, and a big concern of recession at the time. Think back to March 2020. The government wanted money out there fast, so for the first payments they said 'If you think sales are going to drop then you can get it'. Of course everyone said they thought sales would drop and got the payment. Should have had stricter criteria. Second payments were better controlled. Other government handouts like for the NDIS have been plagued by abuse too. 

The downside of Australia is also an upside - the people are pretty similar 1000's of kilometres apart.  Can make it seem a bit boring for older people - shopping malls, pubs, pokies etc. But you have freedom of speech and freedom to live how you want.