How Social are the Expat communities in Thailand ?

[Social Media]

 

 

[zzaa09]

Couldn't think of anything more undesirable...

[Denim]

Expat communities ......eeeew.

[MRToMRT]

After 3 minutes I had to give up, I realised the only "social group" I belonged to, and wanted to, was going down the pub. 

[JustThisOnePostOnly]

If you can't pub then you probably aren't worth meeting in the first place.

[Social Media]

Off topic removed.

[bkk6060]

Generally it seems, people from different countries don't like each other.  And, their opinion is all that matters others know nothing.

The daily drinking crowd seems a strange bunch.  Only seek other drinkers, yet the majority of them seem to want to stop drinking.   Odd.

[proton]

Been here 17 years and don't know one ex pat, the only ones I see look miserable being dragged round Big C or Tops by rough looking Thai woman on the shop. Thai concert goers is the only group I seem to be in

[StayinThailand2much]

2 hours ago, Denim said:

Expat communities ......eeeew.

With few exceptions (e.g. Filipinos), there are no expat communities. After all, everyone is more or less a "tourist", being required to renew their visa status at least once a year. Also no clubs, meeting opportunities, etc., and many are probably not interested in social bonds anyway...

[DaLa]

Living in Nonthaburi I rarely see another farang never mind converse with one, which I do miss. Luckily I have another place down in Cha Am and can pop down and meet with half a dozen guys of French, Belgian, German, US, Irish, Swedish, Norwegian and English origin. They are mostly very sensible guys that I can spend a few days with chatting, eating and drinking. I would label these guys as some of my best friends and the nearest to a 'community' I'll get out here.

 

Back in Nonthaburi my other options are Internations which is mostly ‘show up and throw up 30 year olds plying their trades or a bar in Bangkok where it’s hit and miss as to how crazy anyone I strike up a conversation with turns out.

 

Finally I have around 10-15 Thai men that I can have a limited conversation with. Family, business associates and staff.

 

I’m a social animal, but having said that I don’t get too close. No lending money and watching out for the guy that decides to take a liking to my wife as happened back in the past. On reflection he did me a favour as I’m now in los with a less crazy, prettier, younger harder working and more confident wife.

[Saphan]

39 minutes ago, proton said:

Been here 17 years and don't know one ex pat, the only ones I see look miserable being dragged round Big C or Tops by rough looking Thai woman on the shop. Thai concert goers is the only group I seem to be in

They can't get a good looking one so of course they are miserable.

[fredwiggy]

4 hours ago, proton said:

Been here 17 years and don't know one ex pat, the only ones I see look miserable being dragged round Big C or Tops by rough looking Thai woman on the shop. Thai concert goers is the only group I seem to be in

Been here over 6 years now and know around 10 foreigners I can call friends, a few good friends. This is in Sisaket province. When I was here a few years ago, I was at Tesco Lotus and said hi to a farang with his wife. He said hi back, and we had just started to say a couple words when his wife dragged him away with a scowl. Guess she didn't want him talking to anyone who might have negative things to say about living here, or that might give him ideas that might strengthen his relationship with other farangs. It isn't the only time this happened in some way.

[Skallywag]

6 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Generally it seems, people from different countries don't like each other.  And, their opinion is all that matters others know nothing.

The daily drinking crowd seems a strange bunch.  Only seek other drinkers, yet the majority of them seem to want to stop drinking.   Odd.

I could not disagree more.  Have met many expats at my condo building, 95% from other countries.  We talk about everything from where we grew up, where we worked, local restaurants, local politics, girls, transportation etc..etc..  Most people who travel and live here are open minded and interested in other people and their experiences in life.  Been out to bars with a few in the evening, but none are daily drinkers like you see on Soi Buakhao daytime here in Pattaya

[richard_smith237]

Any community or group is going to be a sociable as you are. 

 

IF a person is one of those foreigners here who for some very odd reason take pride in how they manage to avoid other foreigners then you are not going to be spending much enjoying the company of other open minded foreigners (its not them, its you !).

 

Conversely, if a person is open minded, easy to talk with, not over-opinionated in person etc they will find themselves meeting plenty of interesting people, from sports groups (i.e. playing football), to meeting friends in bars, other school parents, become friends with people through introductions etc.

 

There are obvious groups etc but I don’t find there to be a specific ‘expat’ community, there are simply too many foreigners here for there to be a specific expat community. 

 

 

[Damrongsak]

Loei has the Loei Gentlemens Motorcycle Club that was started 15 or more years ago.  On one visit long ago I met the founder because my Thai bro-in-law worked on his bike.  The club is still around and has quite a few group rides, attend charity events, meet with Thai clubs and whatnot.  They have expat and Thai members.  They had a clubhouse/bar but it shut down due to Covid. 

 

On a recent visit I met up with the  club secretary, a nice British fellow, and I bought him a beer.  He's been riding his bike all over northern Thailand for a couple months and is currently up in Laos having fun with some German riders.  I didn't seek out others or folks at the farang Saloon Loei in the two months I was there.

 

Wife and I went to Vietnam.  Up in the mountains in the far north she met a Thai/British couple who were touring on a motorbike.  On our way back to Hanoi we met them again at a bus rest stop.  They live in Chiang Mai.  Had a nice chat and we may visit them one day. 

[nigelforbes]

On 2/3/2023 at 9:20 AM, proton said:

Been here 17 years and don't know one ex pat, the only ones I see look miserable being dragged round Big C or Tops by rough looking Thai woman on the shop. Thai concert goers is the only group I seem to be in

I couldn't agree more. The only time I ever see any is at the opera or the ballet, sometimes at garden parties but that's it.

[Cricky]

On 2/3/2023 at 9:20 AM, proton said:

Been here 17 years and don't know one ex pat, the only ones I see look miserable being dragged round Big C or Tops by rough looking Thai woman on the shop. Thai concert goers is the only group I seem to be in

Yes, Tops Pattaya, here in TukCom attracts these guys.

 

I was sat in McDonald's (above Tops) on Saturday eating my burger, an elderly foreigner walked in with a small container, he walked over to the sauce dispenser and filled up his container, walked out through the side door, snapped the lid on the container and walked off.

 

Geeze, poor bloke must be doing tuff, nicking the sauce. ????

[JayClay]

On 2/3/2023 at 8:16 AM, bkk6060 said:

Generally it seems, people from different countries don't like each other.

While you see a lot of that on ASEAN Now, I find that the people you meet when out and about seem to be united against Russians and Chinese exclusively. And boy will you hear about it!

 

Very often when you meet somebody one of the first questions you will be asked is where you're from. I used to naively think this was just a bit of "small talk", part of getting to know you kind of thing. But unfortunately, more often than not, it's just a way for your new-found friend to confirm you're not Russian so that they can go off on a rant about how much they dislike Russians.

[VocalNeal]

3 hours ago, Cricky said:

Yes, Tops Pattaya, here in TukCom attracts these guys.

 

I was sat in McDonald's (above Tops) on Saturday eating my burger, an elderly foreigner walked in with a small container, he walked over to the sauce dispenser and filled up his container, walked out through the side door, snapped the lid on the container and walked off.

 

Geeze, poor bloke must be doing tuff, nicking the sauce. ????

I used to take three or four small plastic containers put one squirt in one for my fries and then pocket the rest. Good for mixing up epoxy glue at home????

[ArnieP]

In Udon Thani if you’re a boozer then you are made. The same guys congregate daily in bars along Soi Sampan, Nutty Park and out at a few out-of-city centre bars. Their bantering is audible to all, full of profanities and often featuring strong racist content.

 

For those who only drink in moderation or not at all, meeting or socialising with non abrasive  ex pats in Udon is next to impossible.

 

 

 

[roo860]

5 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

Loei has the Loei Gentlemens Motorcycle Club that was started 15 or more years ago.  On one visit long ago I met the founder because my Thai bro-in-law worked on his bike.  The club is still around and has quite a few group rides, attend charity events, meet with Thai clubs and whatnot.  They have expat and Thai members.  They had a clubhouse/bar but it shut down due to Covid. 

 

On a recent visit I met up with the  club secretary, a nice British fellow, and I bought him a beer.  He's been riding his bike all over northern Thailand for a couple months and is currently up in Laos having fun with some German riders.  I didn't seek out others or folks at the farang Saloon Loei in the two months I was there.

 

Wife and I went to Vietnam.  Up in the mountains in the far north she met a Thai/British couple who were touring on a motorbike.  On our way back to Hanoi we met them again at a bus rest stop.  They live in Chiang Mai.  Had a nice chat and we may visit them one day. 

One of the groups I ride with in Chiang Mai some members attended the Gentleman's meet.

[Cricky]

1 hour ago, VocalNeal said:

5 hours ago, Cricky said:

Yes, Tops Pattaya, here in TukCom attracts these guys.

 

I was sat in McDonald's (above Tops) on Saturday eating my burger, an elderly foreigner walked in with a small container, he walked over to the sauce dispenser and filled up his container, walked out through the side door, snapped the lid on the container and walked off.

 

Geeze, poor bloke must be doing tuff, nicking the sauce. ????

I used to take three or four small plastic containers put one squirt in one for my fries and then pocket the rest. Good for mixing up epoxy glue at home????

Wow, that's really weird.

 

[Thailand]

Maybe Anti Social Clubs for those who don't want to mix with anyone?

 

How would that work? ????

[nigelforbes]

6 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Maybe Anti Social Clubs for those who don't want to mix with anyone?

 

How would that work? ????

Easy, the club sends everyone an invitation to the next club meeting but each one shows a different location and time. The quarterly news letter will be a breeze, "last months meeting was a huge success, nobody showed up". I like this concept, it could have legs.

[Crossy]

2 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

I used to take three or four small plastic containers put one squirt in one for my fries and then pocket the rest. Good for mixing up epoxy glue at home????

 

Now why did I never think of that?

 

Asean Now for all your DIY tips!

[Thailand]

12 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

Easy, the club sends everyone an invitation to the next club meeting but each one shows a different location and time. The quarterly news letter will be a breeze, "last months meeting was a huge success, nobody showed up". I like this concept, it could have legs.

I therefore propose myself as the founding member  of the Anti Social Club and will be the first not to show up!

I don't care if there is no seconder!

[gargamon]

7 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

Loei has the Loei Gentlemens Motorcycle Club that was started 15 or more years ago.  On one visit long ago I met the founder because my Thai bro-in-law worked on his bike.  The club is still around and has quite a few group rides, attend charity events, meet with Thai clubs and whatnot.  They have expat and Thai members.  They had a clubhouse/bar but it shut down due to Covid. 

 

On a recent visit I met up with the  club secretary, a nice British fellow, and I bought him a beer.  He's been riding his bike all over northern Thailand for a couple months and is currently up in Laos having fun with some German riders.  I didn't seek out others or folks at the farang Saloon Loei in the two months I was there.

 

Wife and I went to Vietnam.  Up in the mountains in the far north she met a Thai/British couple who were touring on a motorbike.  On our way back to Hanoi we met them again at a bus rest stop.  They live in Chiang Mai.  Had a nice chat and we may visit them one day. 

So what you are essentially saying is that people who have a history riding big bikes are some of the friendliest you have met. I do agree. I might exclude harley riders though. 

[nigelforbes]

1 hour ago, Thailand said:

I therefore propose myself as the founding member  of the Anti Social Club and will be the first not to show up!

I don't care if there is no seconder!

Excellent, you're elected, I look forward to never meeting you. :))

[Damrongsak]

14 hours ago, gargamon said:

So what you are essentially saying is that people who have a history riding big bikes are some of the friendliest you have met. I do agree. I might exclude harley riders though. 

[soi3eddie]

On 2/3/2023 at 7:37 AM, Skallywag said:

I could not disagree more.  Have met many expats at my condo building, 95% from other countries.  We talk about everything from where we grew up, where we worked, local restaurants, local politics, girls, transportation etc..etc..  Most people who travel and live here are open minded and interested in other people and their experiences in life.  Been out to bars with a few in the evening, but none are daily drinkers like you see on Soi Buakhao daytime here in Pattaya

Agreed totally. During Covid, I met a huge number of expat friends through a couple of bars in Bangkok and Pattaya. We enjoy lawn bowls, bicycling, motorcycling, dinners as a group with our significant others, get togethers for Sunday roast lunch (often 18 persons at our table) and coffee etc. Mostly Brits but also Irish, Swedish, Dutch, Americans, Canadians. A real decent bunch of people who have worked hard, been successful, got pensions/investments and just want a better/different life here in Thailand. Not everyone is the miserable type or sexpat often portayed coming here.