Thailand is no longer the Land of smiles.

[josephbloggs]

45 minutes ago, rose33 said:

+1

Went thru immigration line last week in Chiang Mai. Unfortunately, the IO was really rude and screamy. Having come from Australia and Taiwan where everyone is so nice (although in different ways)... It was a total shock to the system. I can't comprehend why you'd welcome a tourist to your country in that way. They make it so obvious that they think we are cockroaches. This will be my last time in Thailand. 

Would love to know more about how and why you were screamed at for no reason when you were no doubt as nice as pie. Please tell.

[rose33]

6 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Would love to know more about how and why you were screamed at for no reason when you were no doubt as nice as pie. Please tell.

I failed to read her mind that she wanted my four fingers to already be on the fingerprint scanner. So her opening line was a scream that I should put my fingers on the scanner. Kinda like a psychopathic dictator would behave. 

 

I know you really, really, really wanna paint all Thai women as angels and all western women as evil racist slags... That doesn't fly with me... Sorry buddy. 

[ChaiyaTH]

23 minutes ago, persimmon said:

I`ve come to the conclusion that the more foreigners a Thai has to deal with , the less friendly they become . Thais instinctively know how to act and show respect , contrast this with some ( not all ) foreigners who , for whatever reason ( cultural ? ) behave in a rude and aggressive way - spoils it for the rest of us .

I think it is not much about the quantity of foreigners but about the quality of foreigners / tourists. Same how specific tourist areas are always less friendly in cheap busy tourist areas or places like khao san road etc.

 

I'm pretty sure Thailand has always been different since the coup, more or less, not that all is to blame to the coup itself. So I actually do not see a recent change, still plenty of smiles for me.

[josephbloggs]

21 minutes ago, rose33 said:

I failed to read her mind that she wanted my four fingers to already be on the fingerprint scanner. So her opening line was a scream that I should put my fingers on the scanner. Kinda like a psychopathic dictator would behave. 

Ok then, she screamed at you. You are not ever egging this, it was a scream. Righty ho. I have been in an out several hundred times and never been treated discourteously, not once. Sorry I just don't believe they scream at people for no reason.

 

Quote

I know you really, really, really wanna paint all Thai women as angels and all western women as evil racist slags... That doesn't fly with me... Sorry buddy. 

What the Hell are you talking about?

[swissman53]

Some people are not happy in their own Country, and look for the negative things in other ones. And most times, they forget to look at themselves.........!

[LaosLover]

A smile from someone you don't know is essentially meaningless and worthless.

 

Who knows for sure what they're smiling about?

 

I say this as a former resident of Appalachia. Smiles are ten a penny walking down any street.

 

But it's usually about loving Jesus - you're just in the way.

 

Me? I like a good kaaaaaa that seems to just trail off. They're still plentiful on the ground.

[JimTripper]

1 hour ago, LaosLover said:

A smile from someone you don't know is essentially meaningless and worthless.

 

Who knows for sure what they're smiling about?

 

I say this as a former resident of Appalachia. Smiles are ten a penny walking down any street.

 

But it's usually about loving Jesus - you're just in the way.

 

Me? I like a good kaaaaaa that seems to just trail off. They're still plentiful on the ground.

I don’t think the op cares what they are “really smiling about”.

 

they just want to enjoy their vacation and get through immigration without being ruffled.

[Thalueng]

I beg to differ. I don't know where you go, but everywhere I go I get lots of smiles. Everywhere. Every time. But then, I don't go to the typical tourist places. Try to go upcountry for a change, you will find it there for sure.

corruption - yes, but does not affect the majority of Thai people

pollution - yes, in the North, in Bangkok, no different from the last 50 years

opportunities - there are plenty, including career growth

health care - one of the best in the world, for 30 Baht per year (for Thais), in public hospitals. The doctors are often the same doctors working at the best private hospitals.

household debts - yes, but... Many of my friends kept telling me they are afraid to move their money from the US or Switzerland to Thailand because they do not trust the local banking system - well, what about now?

leadership - the country is not led by a dictator. Every Asian country has and needs strong leadership, Thailand is no different. There are certainly questionable decision been taken by the current government, but this government did more for the country and people than all the previous governments I experienced, and this goes 30 years back.

[rose33]

Agree with you, it's going downhill... Fast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cricky]

16 hours ago, bob smith said:

I see it everywhere I go. nobody is smiling. Nobody seems happy

It's contagious.

 

They probably caught the 'misery' flu that some of the AN members have.

 

Anyway, nothing like a good 'doom and gloom' story to get the AN forum rolling.

 

[Skeptic7]

The bar girls are all ???? if ya got a fat wallet and are intent on letting them slim it down❗ Otherwise not so much. ????

[BE88]

13 hours ago, Stocky said:

Hat Yai mask wearing has dropped to about 2 thirds out and about, whilst most people still do in shops, banks, malls etc. However, you can see from someone's eyes when they smile.

Then I only seldom see someone smile at me under the mask and most I am not 100% sure, indeed few days ago someone gave me a free mask, the thai people are completely scared with this covid epidemic, one of the reason why the population has largely lost its smile in addition to other financial and political problems.

[Eloquent pilgrim]

Try somewhere else then buddy; how about the UK, it’s a bundle of laughs there at the moment. Or maybe France, while you can still retire at 62 and have a two hour lunch with a bottle of wine ????

[save the frogs]

20 hours ago, bob smith said:

and now the recent findings that Thailand is the 60th happiest country in the world. 60th!!

nonsense as there is no way to measure the happiness level of an individual, let alone an entire nation

[1FinickyOne]

4 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

nonsense as there is no way to measure the happiness level of an individual, let alone an entire nation

what those surveys do is rate places based on medical care and education... which does not equate to happiness.

 

If you walk around Hua Him and see all the wealthy stone faced Skandis walking past the poor & silly motorcycle taxi drivers playful joking and wrestling w/each other, you would not have any question as to who was happier... 

[Stocky]

17 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Maybe they were all smiling before you arrived. 

And laughing when he left

[OneMoreFarang]

5 minutes ago, Stocky said:

And laughing when he left

Next is this forum: Do you remember when that guy walked into the door and suddenly all was quiet... 

 

[Skallywag]

You do not live in the same Thailand I live in.  Happiness is something that many people feel and express where I live in Pattaya.  No not everyone, but Thai people are always quick with a smile or laugh if you smile and laugh with them.

 

Over 5 years, never had a problem with Immigration or police or any Thai. 

Only annoyance here are the old farangs who are drunk and disorderly or want to spew their "opinions" on anyone sitting or standing near them ????

[BangkokReady]

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Next is this forum: Do you remember when that guy walked into the door and suddenly all was quiet... 

 

Is there actually a joke to go with this?  I can find the picture on google, but it's always blank.  The title is just "A man walks into a bar wearing boxers with a duck".

[NanLaew]

On 3/27/2023 at 11:30 AM, bob smith said:

On 3/27/2023 at 11:30 AM, Don Chance said:

Try India or Nepal.

what for?

Gurning.

[OneMoreFarang]

29 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Is there actually a joke to go with this?  I can find the picture on google, but it's always blank.  The title is just "A man walks into a bar wearing boxers with a duck".

I guess best is you ask Bob. ???? 

[Bday Prang]

On 3/27/2023 at 12:24 PM, josephbloggs said:

Weird, never been screamed at at the airport in 27 years. Never had my passport throw at me either.

Post Covid I have found the IOs to be genuinely friendly. Pre-Covid never found them unfriendly, just doing their job.

Not sure what you are doing to get screamed at.

Like wise , never a problem with any uniform wearers in 30+ years,  Although I have lost count of westerners behaving atrociously at immigration also with police ,  Some people genuinely make me ashamed

[Bday Prang]

On 3/27/2023 at 8:49 PM, josephbloggs said:

Would love to know more about how and why you were screamed at for no reason when you were no doubt as nice as pie. Please tell.

I wouldn't hold your breath, The few people who claim to have encountered difficulties with immigration never seem to have done anything wrong ever, ( According to them ),   I'm sure they have problems everywhere they go and in most aspects of their lives. Some people are just wrong'uns  and trouble seems to follow them 

[Bday Prang]

10 hours ago, Skallywag said:

You do not live in the same Thailand I live in.  Happiness is something that many people feel and express where I live in Pattaya.  No not everyone, but Thai people are always quick with a smile or laugh if you smile and laugh with them.

 

Over 5 years, never had a problem with Immigration or police or any Thai. 

Only annoyance here are the old farangs who are drunk and disorderly or want to spew their "opinions" on anyone sitting or standing near them ????

Don't seem to meet many of them anymore    (except on here) 

[thaibeachlovers]

On 3/27/2023 at 5:17 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

Did anyone ever really think it was more than a marketing slogan?

It really was a Land of Smiles when I first arrived on the shores of paradise on earth.

It departed long ago though. I wonder if the OP has been in LOS less than 20 years, or just noticed.

[thaibeachlovers]

5 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

also tourist areas..down south are full of jaded thais--cranky from culture clash of nasty rude tourists that dont care about thai "ways"

Ever lived in a rural area a 4 hour bus journey from a big city where you were the only farang? I have and the smile was as lacking there as in any tourist town.

[NanLaew]

7 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Ill have the massage grannies making the gesture for the horn...

Notice for the noobs and neophytes among us, correctly recognizing this gesture is an essential skill not easily mastered.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

7 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

also tourist areas..down south are full of jaded thais--cranky from culture clash of nasty rude tourists that dont care about thai "ways"

Ever lived in a rural area a 4 hour bus journey from a big city where you were the only farang? I have and the smile was as lacking there as in any tourist town.

Maybe it wasn't you though. Maybe it was that woman you were with (again).

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

On 3/27/2023 at 11:17 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

Did anyone ever really think it was more than a marketing slogan?

It really was a Land of Smiles when I first arrived on the shores of paradise on earth.

It departed long ago though. I wonder if the OP has been in LOS less than 20 years, or just noticed.

Or maybe it was that traumatic and awkward personal relationship experience?

[fredwiggy]

On 3/27/2023 at 11:31 AM, Don Chance said:

Smiles.  They believe that the guest is god.  They also speak englsih.

India has also done well with covid and their economy has rebounded.

Firstly, yes, a lot of people smile here, and back to you, but what is behind those smiles. Acceptance, hate, prejudice, fear, possible money? Secondly, India has over 530,000 Covid deaths that are registered, so that's not doing well. It has people with a lot of money, like here, and also like here, it has millions of poor, that barely get by. It's one of the most water stressed countries also, with 1/3 of it's rivers, that they rely on for most everything, polluted. Almost 500 die daily on the roads,which is on par for here for it's size. Besides that, over 400 are killed each year by tigers and leopards, and over 1000 by crocodiles. But the food taste great.