Russians are everywhere.

[CANSIAM]

18 minutes ago, Dogsredrocket said:

I loathe them and don't feel bad about it. They are rude, loud, standoffish and don't integrate. Every forum or social media platform seems to have a small minority of posters claiming unwarranted racism is directed towards them but the majority of people seem to thoroughly dislike them, Thai people included. I have no interest in my very expensive gym membership or using my developments pool because they have taken them over and are forever loud, rude and unfriendly. 

 

The question is what happens in 6-12 months from now when the savings run out and the Russians have no intention of leaving Thailand even though they have extremely limited employment opportunities. The running narrative is that most are well off professionals but I call BS. I have seen many that appear to be skint based on their rented or purchased motor vehicles. Wealthy people don't ride a bicycle or a 125cc scooter as their one and only means of transport.

 

Deport!

Many are walking as well........

[edwardandtubs]

24 minutes ago, rabiedabruce said:

They've all pretty much left Phuket after flooding the island. Good. Hope the next purported Chinese invasion falls flat too. Bring back faux vid.

Really? The Russians have all left Phuket? That seems a bit far-fetched.

 

I'm planning a beach holiday and am looking for somewhere not overrun with Russians. I like Kata but fear it will be full of them.

[KhunLA]

25 minutes ago, Dogsredrocket said:

I have seen many that appear to be skint based on their rented or purchased motor vehicles.

I think you just described most expats on long visa, and those using agents to skirt the financials here, Along with most of the tourist ... ????

[CygnusX1]

I don’t know about the current crop of Russians, as I’ve not returned to Thailand for 3 years, but when I first visited Jomtien about 10 years ago, there were so many Russians that if you didn’t look Asian, you were assumed to be Russian, and I had to memorise the Russian for “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Russian”.

 

I never found them obnoxious, and some on the beach were gracious, happy to try out their limited English, and even offering me food. I didn’t find the presence of some of the younger Russian ladies at my condo’s pool too objectionable, either. As for the nightly Pattaya to Jomtien baht bus free-for-all, I think all nationalities were equally guilty.

 

None of the above applies to their psychopathic president, of course.

 

[Kwasaki]

26 minutes ago, CANSIAM said:

Many are walking as well........

And they are not everywhere as the title suggests. 

[Boyn]

4 hours ago, Mickeymaus said:

Perhaps they are not on vacation here and a it is a Russian invasion but more cleverly done than in Ukraine.

The Thais would never notice an invasion anyway as they always have their heads down eating or on their phones.

[Dogsredrocket]

35 minutes ago, CANSIAM said:

Many are walking as well........

Quality, well of ex-pats indeed!

[mikeymike100]

29 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I think you just described most expats on long visa, and those using agents to skirt the financials here, Along with most of the tourist ... ????

There were reports that many of the Russians in Phuket that had rented condos long term had purchased ED visas from agents, they were going for around 50,000 baht?

Elsewhere they were a bit cheaper to get, like everything Phuket seems a bit of a rip off?

[zzaa09]

4 hours ago, Denim said:

They and the Chinese just stick to established tourist areas .................. praise the Lord. None of either around here.

A blessing in disguise that any of 'em wonder upcountry. 

[CartagenaWarlock]

1 hour ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Reportedly, the sanctions have a minimal effect on the Russian economy.

Correct it only exacerbated inflation in the Western countries. Helped China and India acquire energy at cheap prices. It is a win-win for Asian countries but a loss for Western countries. 

[RandiRona]

Haha, it seems Falangs cant catch a break! Before it was Indians, then Chinese and now Russians. Relax folks, Thailand is what it always been, a Dump, anyone can use it if they are willing to way... you are using it so will others and there is nothing you can do or say will change it. So do what you did so far as by living in Thailand...Compromise with the situation you are in and accept the reality as it or Go Back to you Country as a Thai apologist would say!!

[ozimoron]

6 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

Correct it only exacerbated inflation in the Western countries. Helped China and India acquire energy at cheap prices. It is a win-win for Asian countries but a loss for Western countries. 

Russia's inflation rate is higher than any western country.

 

https://www.statbureau.org/en/russia/inflation#:~:text=Monthly inflation rate in Russia was 0.84% in,and year over year inflation rate is 11.76%.

[edwardandtubs]

3 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

Correct it only exacerbated inflation in the Western countries. Helped China and India acquire energy at cheap prices. It is a win-win for Asian countries but a loss for Western countries. 

That's a bit simplistic. The Russian economy is in recession and it will get worse this year as sanctions take time to make an impact. Meanwhile, Russia has a big budget deficit which reduces its ability to fund the invasion.

 

Of course, not all Russians are suffering and indeed there are plenty of ways of profiteering from war. Combine that with their limited travel options and I'm sure the Russians will keep coming.

[kidneyw]

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

A bunch have moved into my condo building.   Guys and girls loud taking over the gym and pool.  They say the word" bubushka" a lot in researching the meaning I am not sure why.

Maybe Kate Bush fans.

[Dogsredrocket]

29 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

There were reports that many of the Russians in Phuket that had rented condos long term had purchased ED visas from agents, they were going for around 50,000 baht?

Elsewhere they were a bit cheaper to get, like everything Phuket seems a bit of a rip off?

I have been told by one of the few Russians I know that this service is openly advertised on social media. I know from first hand experience that some language schools in Phuket are at their license limit and expanding to meet demand from the Orc horde. Some schools are also getting cold called by other "schools" looking to merge and access genuine schools student quota. Personally I hope that immigration come down hard on schools playing games.

[LaosLover]

They were thick on the ground in Nimman, Chiang Mai, in the early fall but seem to have wholly vanished. I am neutral, leaning slightly positive, about the Russians I have met in Thailand.

 

Even if they love Putin and are just opportunist draft dodgers, it's still better for them to be adding to the Russian brain drain and general demoralization about the war.

 

No Chinese tourists here either, mostly just Japanese, who everyone loves. It's def still a bit of high season here and good-value hotels need booking about a week in advance -anything in the 1,200-1,500 baht range.

 

The smoke season isn't too bad just yet, and N.Thailand is still packing them in. Was just in Pai. It's still a mecca for Israeli's (which is fine by me) and about 80% full on the weekend. No Russians spotted there either.

[London Lowf]

7 minutes ago, Dogsredrocket said:

Personally I hope that immigration come down hard on schools playing games.

Why would they? They never have in the past.

 

This situation must be a golden goose for any dodgy schools, agents and immigration officers that are profiting.

 

[OneMoreFarang]

6 hours ago, Denim said:

6 hours ago, bob smith said:

he said he was a supporter of the war

A lot of them are until it is their turn to be fed into the meat grinder. I would imagine they might feel differently about it then.

Let's not forget how many Americans supported their wars of terror.

When Russia invades another country then people are like: How dare they do that. That is illegal. And why do their people don't oppose that war.

And when the USA does it, i.e. the unprovoked war in Iraq without the weapons of mass destruction. Then it's called supporting the troops and all that.

Same same, not much different. 

 

 

[zzaa09]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Let's not forget how many Americans supported their wars of terror.

When Russia invades another country then people are like: How dare they do that. That is illegal. And why do their people don't oppose that war.

And when the USA does it, i.e. the unprovoked war in Iraq without the weapons of mass destruction. Then it's called supporting the troops and all that.

Same same, not much different. 

 

 

Shhhh....don't wanna usurp the fanciful parade that they've enjoyed for so long. 

[Dogsredrocket]

6 minutes ago, London Lowf said:

Why would they? They never have in the past.

 

This situation must be a golden goose for any dodgy schools, agents and immigration officers that are profiting.

 

I doubt immigration will for that reason but have foreigners came here in such prolific numbers all at once before? They have already distorted prices of things in Phuket. Digital gonads and other expats that find themselves priced out of areas like Phuket may leave but there is also the option of moving down a rung and displacing working class and lower middle income Thais. I don't know how feasible that is but I imagine it would go down absolutely splendidly with the Thais.

[London Lowf]

13 minutes ago, Dogsredrocket said:

I doubt immigration will for that reason but have foreigners came here in such prolific numbers all at once before?

In addition to the Russian influx we're all playing catch-up after eighteen months of Covid - many people saved a lot of money as there were limited ways to squander disposable income and, in the UK, many small businesses actually made a killing thanks to the generosity of our government and tax-payers. A holiday in Thailand in the Northern European winter is very tempting.

 

My apartment contract expires next December and I'm hoping that things settle down before then otherwise I fear that my landlady will require a signiificant increase in rent.

Edited February 17, 2023 by London Lowf

[LaosLover]

After Covid and a tepid tourist season, I am in favor of anyone coming over and spending money here.

 

Those very pretty 150 baht mango shakes for instragamers on my corner are not going to drink themselves.

[edwardandtubs]

37 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Let's not forget how many Americans supported their wars of terror.

When Russia invades another country then people are like: How dare they do that. That is illegal. And why do their people don't oppose that war.

And when the USA does it, i.e. the unprovoked war in Iraq without the weapons of mass destruction. Then it's called supporting the troops and all that.

Same same, not much different. 

 

 

Quite a few differences. Ukraine is a democratic country that has never invaded a neighbour whereas Iraq was led by a dictator who had invaded Iran and Kuwait and oppressed his own people. The USA wasn't seeking to annex all or part of Iraq whereas Russia is seeking to do exactly that in Ukraine. People in the USA were free to protest against the war whereas Russians go to jail for doing that. But keep parroting Russian disinformation if it makes you feel good.

[OneMoreFarang]

11 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

Quite a few differences. Ukraine is a democratic country that has never invaded a neighbour whereas Iraq was led by a dictator who had invaded Iran and Kuwait and oppressed his own people. The USA wasn't seeking to annex all or part of Iraq whereas Russia is seeking to do exactly that in Ukraine. People in the USA were free to protest against the war whereas Russians go to jail for doing that. But keep parroting Russian disinformation if it makes you feel good.

Sure there are differences, there are always differences.

But fact is that the USA illegally invaded Iraq because they claimed that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Iraq didn't have any of those weapons. Iraq was also not involved in 9/11.

The invasion was illegal and the fact that Saddam Hussein was a bad guy doesn't make it legal.

 

My point was and is that lots of people in countries who go to war support their leaders and the war. We are the good people. We fight the bad people and all that.

And we can be pretty sure Putin will tell something similar to Russians.

But when some Russians believe that and support Putin then they obviously must be ignorant and stupid and all that. But if Americans support their illegal wars, then they call it something different like fighting for democracy etc. And people believe that. Amazing. Why are they so ignorant and stupid? ...

 

 

[edwardandtubs]

9 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

But if Americans support their illegal wars, then they call it something different like fighting for democracy etc. And people believe that. Amazing. Why are they so ignorant and stupid? ...

Personally, I was against the Iraq war but I wouldn't call people who support overthrowing a dictator who invades other countries and uses chemical weapons against his own people ignorant and stupid. The Russian war to "liberate" Ukraine from "neo-Nazis", on the other hand, is so blatantly false and immoral that you can't compare the two at all so I wonder what your true motivations are in trying to do that.

[OneMoreFarang]

2 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

Personally, I was against the Iraq war but I wouldn't call people who support overthrowing a dictator who invades other countries and uses chemical weapons against his own people ignorant and stupid. The Russian war to "liberate" Ukraine from "neo-Nazis", on the other hand, is so blatantly false and immoral that you can't compare the two at all so I wonder what your true motivations are in trying to do that.

Obviously you can think long and hard about my motives.

But maybe there is not much to think about. It's just an example of people believing what their leaders and media tell them. 

[Jingthing]

5 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

 

Up to now I only associated it with Babushka dolls (Matryoshka doll).

Babushka means grandmother?

Grandmothers at the pool? Guess not (or were there?).

Or it's just a similar sounding word...

Bilfs?

[save the frogs]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Let's not forget how many Americans supported their wars of terror.

When Russia invades another country then people are like: How dare they do that. That is illegal. And why do their people don't oppose that war.

Had a dream
It was war
And they couldn't tell me what it was for
But it was something they could lie about
Something we could die about

 

 

[FritsSikkink]

8 hours ago, Jerno said:

Potential conflict.  Duh!

Like the US military police would allow that, grow up.

[FritsSikkink]

6 hours ago, whereyougo said:

I'm in an all Russian condo complex in Jomtien for another month and despise them. Loud arrogent abusive and that's just the kids

Mum and dad could teach the Chinese a lesson in que jumping. 

You can watch them storm the baht buses from Pattaya to jomtien happy to trample children to get a seat ????

Try a taxi instead of a baht bus