What makes life in Thailand still so great?

[BangkokBernie]

When people move overseas to a foreign country, they often say that what makes their new environment so unique and interesting is not the new and different surroundings but the exciting new lifestyle.

 

So, thinking about Thailand and the lifestyle you’ve created for yourself here as a longtime resident, what would you say is so special about your life in Thailand that makes it worth living here versus living somewhere else?

 

Or do you think the lifestyle in Thailand is not so great and that you would actually be much happier and feel more fulfilled living somewhere else?

 

Thirty years ago, I met other foreigners in Thailand who had already been living here for 5-10 years, and at the time, they said they probably would never leave. However, I think sentiments have changed for some people since then, and I haven’t heard anyone say that to me in quite some time. In fact, I know a couple of those who told me that they planned to be lifers, but have since already upped and left. Maybe that’s because Thailand has changed and had a much more positive general feeling about it back then than it does now? Well, I’m not sure.

 

But aside from some people having started a family in Thailand to keep them busy, what do others see as the ideal aspects offered by the lifestyle that are available to foreigners and to be enjoyed in Thailand? Is it perhaps simply the exoticism of living somewhere in Asia off off the beaten path, or is it something much deeper and greater than that? 
 

What also comes to mind are the poetic opening words from Michael Caine in the film "The Quiet American":

 

Quote

I can't say what made me fall in love with Vietnam. That a woman's voice can drug you? That everything is so intense - the color, the taste, even the rain? Nothing like the filthy rain in London.

 

They say whatever you're looking for you will find here.

 

They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes. But the rest has got to be lived. 

 

The smell, that's the first thing that hits you - promising everything in exchange for your soul.

 

And the heat. Your shirt is straight away a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from.

 

But at night, there's a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war, that the gunshots were fireworks, that only pleasure matters.

A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you.

 

And then something happens as you knew it would, and nothing can ever be the same again.

 

 

[susanlea]

Thailand has not changed much at all. These guys got older and got bored. So they went home for medicare.

[susanlea]

Bangkok - not changed 1 bit.

Chiang Mai - maybe pollution worse?

Pattaya - was a dump, still a dump

Hua Hin - gotten better

Phuket - same as before

Krabi - gotten worse

Isaan - gotten better

Others - much the same

 

 

[proton]

Concerts are better, seen her twice in the past month

 

 

[Dart12]

Social media apps on cell phones changed everthing everywhere. 

 

Distinct cultures are being meld into one.  That one being the western culture.

 

And if you are from the west, it's actually the culture you dislike that is being adapted  here rapidly. 

You loved all the differences.

From clothes styles, TV/MOVIE quality, music sounds, attitudes, and beliefs they have been imported.

Where once you might have been exotic, now you are an intruder? (not sure if locals opinion has changed on this one I'm not old enough).
All that you brought here is not distincltly "yours" anymore that made you exotic.  They also now have access to everything as it's been duplicated over here.

I live in the digital age...but I can only imagine how one's own stock took a huge drop once beautiful women now are inundated with 1,000'-10,000 white knights messages in their apps VS them having only the choice of their physical radius of people they met.

***this is actually a  problem for most men worldwide.  The influx of messages and choices they have mean you are disposable af.  It's created a  narcism that is fueled perpetually.  

That's my quick 2 cents on why people's joy with here may have faded.

I'm not old enough to have experiences the past way, but I can imagine how much more exciting it was to change cultures before.

However, godbless translation app lol

[BangkokBernie]

11 minutes ago, Dart12 said:

Social media apps on cell phones changed everthing everywhere. 

 

Distinct cultures are being meld into one.  That one being the western culture.

 

And if you are from the west, it's actually the culture you dislike that is being adapted  here rapidly. 

You loved all the differences.

From clothes styles, TV/MOVIE quality, music sounds, attitudes, and beliefs they have been imported.

Where once you might have been exotic, now you are an intruder? (not sure if locals opinion has changed on this one I'm not old enough).
All that you brought here is not distincltly "yours" anymore that made you exotic.  They also now have access to everything as it's been duplicated over here.

I live in the digital age...but I can only imagine how one's own stock took a huge drop once beautiful women now are inundated with 1,000'-10,000 white knights messages in their apps VS them having only the choice of their physical radius of people they met.

***this is actually a  problem for most men worldwide.  The influx of messages and choices they have mean you are disposable af.  It's created a  narcism that is fueled perpetually.  

That's my quick 2 cents on why people's joy with here may have faded.

I'm not old enough to have experiences the past way, but I can imagine how much more exciting it was to change cultures before.

However, godbless translation app lol

Good analysis of how foreigners in Thailand no longer seem exotic to the locals. But that doesn't necessarily change the lifestyle of a foreigner in Thailand. I also don't think that the foreign men living in Thailand will struggle to find a local partner if they want one simply because of dating apps and the digital revolution.
 

Anyway, my questions were more about what draws foreigners to the lifestyle in Thailand rather than how the locals may now feel about foreigners. 
 

Also, the friends of mine who finally left, didn't leave for any of those reasons. They mainly missed the natural and clean environments of where they came from. They missed hiking, the seasons, the outdoors, the better air quality, etc and they seemed to have gotten a bit tired of all the adventure when living in a developing country. 

[KhunLA]

TH is only a destination. like everywhere else.

 

Life is always great, no matter where I am 

 

TH ... most of the country, just avoid smog season

USA ... lived in MI, WV, FL, PA, NJ ... all very nice

[BritManToo]

I like the warm weather and being able to go out cycling nearly every morning.

But I'd be equally happy to do that in Cambodia/Vietnam/Philippines.

[HappyExpat57]

I missed rehashing this topic. It's been at least two weeks since this dead horse got dragged out and beaten again.

[FriscoKid]

12 hours ago, susanlea said:

Bangkok - not changed 1 bit.

 

Untrue. The positive changes and improvements to life in Bangkok have been quite significant:

 

Mass transit system
Expressway expansions
Air pollution reduction
Expansion of high-speed internet networks
Healthcare system improvements
Many new parks
Mass online shopping outlets
Increase amounts of imported foods

[GammaGlobulin]

12 hours ago, BangkokBernie said:

what would you say is so special about your life in Thailand that makes it worth living here versus living somewhere else?

 

Being here in Thailand provides me with the best/easiest/most-convenient environment to live my Hermit-Kingdom Lifestyle.

 

Here in Thailand, I am free to dial down my contact with the world outside my garden walls.

I can keep my gate locked for weeks, and nobody objects.

 

Thailand, 3BB. offer super-fast and stable internet service connection at extremely reasonable rates.

 

I can go to the markets and shops, and buy what I need for up to 4 months, and then store in my two large fridges.

 

I can order omelettes 30 at a time, and have them delivered through the bars of my gate, without even needing to unlock it, if I chose not to.

 

I enjoy my Thai friends, my Thai Myna bird friends and Thai human friends, and I need no Farang friends.

 

I also have many Chinese friends, but these friends I mostly see via internet and Google Meet, because I will never return to China until Xi is 6-feet under.

 

I love Thai food, and it's these simple things in life that I enjoy most.

 

And then, of course, there is TV, where I interact virtually with my only Farang friends.

I would say that I have about 2K to 3K Farang friends on TV, possibly more.

 

I am free to do just about anything I like to do using my computer connected to the internet.

 

I never wanted to climb Everest, or visit Greece.

 

If I want to look at Van Gogh's  Peach Tree, up super close, and count the brush strokes, then I just go onto the Van Gogh Museum site, which is dynamite.

 

I am the type who might be a suitable candidate for being shot to the Moon, one-way.

I mean, this was actually considered by NASA when we were in the race to the Moon.

 

Shoot a Man to the Moon or Mars, one way...and then...

Spend the next few years trying to figure out how to return him to Earth.

 

Still, Chiang Mai is a far better existence than Moon-living could ever be.

 

I am happy to be here, rather than on the Moon.

 

 

[Presnock]

I first came to Thailand in 1972 - worked for a year mostly in NKP, then came back with my family in 1976-1979 living on Soi Thong lor in a rented house.  In those days there were no fast food restaurants of the west.  If one wanted to buy any western foods, Villamaket on soi 33 Sukumvit was the only store with anything from the west.  Of course there were no milk or icecream from the west.  TV was black and white, andy any programs from the west one had to have a radio to tune to the station that carried the sound track for that program.  During Xmas time, there was no XMAS carols being played in any of the shopping areas (i.e. Central Dept store), there were no XMAS decorations nor fir trees fake or real available.  Bangkok flooded big time every rainy season with small boats even at certain intersections to ferry people across the streets.  Traffic was bad even then on Sukumvit and throughout the city.  There were no trains moving folks around the way of today.  Even 10 years ago, there were very few of the train routes available.  I personally grew bored of fighting traffic so moved to CM 10 years ago - when daughter began college in BKK, we rented a house here and am amazed at how quickly we can get from zone to zone in the city today!  Much cheaper than wasting all the fuel in the road traffic and much more timely today.  Travelling outside BKK was easy in the "old" days, many times we would drive early morning to HuaHin, be the only people literally on the entire beach, enjoy the day there, giant prawns 1 dollar each and the size of lobsters truly, then drive back to BKK in the late afternoon.  Would go play golf in neighboring provinces early morning, sometimes two rounds, cost of 5 USD per round, enjoy lunch between rounds and then drive back to BKK before nightfall - total cost less than 30 dollars for all day including meals, gas and golf and caddie fee.  Even world famous golf courses i.e. Navatanee built in 1973 for the 1975 World Cup was available and very cheap.  Khao Yai had a golf course (now closed) that needed armed guards due to tigers, had rope bridges across deep canyons to some par 3's - caddies would not go into rough for wayward shots due to dangers, my group lost 80 balls on the first 9 holes! but even though 3 of us had never played golf before, it was so much fun we bought clubs the following week a lot due to the Khao Yai course - even though monkeys stole a couple of those balls.  In those days, it was almost impossible to see a fat Thai person, most were shorter than those of today, sorta like if you go to Myanmar (when not fighting) you would note how short most of the locals were.  But, while Thailand has changed, especially the major cities, there are still an abundance of countryside that is totally undeveloped and great for trekking and just wondering around in nature.  Beaches are much more crowded today with too many foreigners.  However, the waters off most beaches are not crystal clear except along the Andaman Sea.  Even in the old days, we were warned about pollution in some of the waters in popular beaches.  But, Thailand is still my choice for retirement.  I am a lot older, and enjoy the greater comforts of today versus the old days.  But  younger folks may feel different.  TYhe political scene remains the same - military still want to control as much as possible.  There were problems in the old days and still come up here occasionally in the same way.  There used to be no cellphones at all but that has changed the world and not in such a positive way totally in my opinion.  Smart phones remind me of just what a dinosaur I am but technology zooms more verticle all the time so AI I am sure will rule the world in the not-too-distant future.  I still love life here and can't imagine having to depart...all depends on the changing immigration/tax/political leanings affecting life here and since my career moved me from country to country many many times, I could leave if necessary.  I do wish the best of all for everyone here - I realize it is not the paradise it once may have been for some just like it is today - "for some".

[Presnock]

Just now, Presnock said:

I first came to Thailand in 1972 - worked for a year mostly in NKP, then came back with my family in 1976-1979 living on Soi Thong lor in a rented house.  In those days there were no fast food restaurants of the west.  If one wanted to buy any western foods, Villamaket on soi 33 Sukumvit was the only store with anything from the west.  Of course there were no milk or icecream from the west.  TV was black and white, andy any programs from the west one had to have a radio to tune to the station that carried the sound track for that program.  During Xmas time, there was no XMAS carols being played in any of the shopping areas (i.e. Central Dept store), there were no XMAS decorations nor fir trees fake or real available.  Bangkok flooded big time every rainy season with small boats even at certain intersections to ferry people across the streets.  Traffic was bad even then on Sukumvit and throughout the city.  There were no trains moving folks around the way of today.  Even 10 years ago, there were very few of the train routes available.  I personally grew bored of fighting traffic so moved to CM 10 years ago - when daughter began college in BKK, we rented a house here and am amazed at how quickly we can get from zone to zone in the city today!  Much cheaper than wasting all the fuel in the road traffic and much more timely today.  Travelling outside BKK was easy in the "old" days, many times we would drive early morning to HuaHin, be the only people literally on the entire beach, enjoy the day there, giant prawns 1 dollar each and the size of lobsters truly, then drive back to BKK in the late afternoon.  Would go play golf in neighboring provinces early morning, sometimes two rounds, cost of 5 USD per round, enjoy lunch between rounds and then drive back to BKK before nightfall - total cost less than 30 dollars for all day including meals, gas and golf and caddie fee.  Even world famous golf courses i.e. Navatanee built in 1973 for the 1975 World Cup was available and very cheap.  Khao Yai had a golf course (now closed) that needed armed guards due to tigers, had rope bridges across deep canyons to some par 3's - caddies would not go into rough for wayward shots due to dangers, my group lost 80 balls on the first 9 holes! but even though 3 of us had never played golf before, it was so much fun we bought clubs the following week a lot due to the Khao Yai course - even though monkeys stole a couple of those balls.  In those days, it was almost impossible to see a fat Thai person, most were shorter than those of today, sorta like if you go to Myanmar (when not fighting) you would note how short most of the locals were.  But, while Thailand has changed, especially the major cities, there are still an abundance of countryside that is totally undeveloped and great for trekking and just wondering around in nature.  Beaches are much more crowded today with too many foreigners.  However, the waters off most beaches are not crystal clear except along the Andaman Sea.  Even in the old days, we were warned about pollution in some of the waters in popular beaches.  But, Thailand is still my choice for retirement.  I am a lot older, and enjoy the greater comforts of today versus the old days.  But  younger folks may feel different.  TYhe political scene remains the same - military still want to control as much as possible.  There were problems in the old days and still come up here occasionally in the same way.  There used to be no cellphones at all but that has changed the world and not in such a positive way totally in my opinion.  Smart phones remind me of just what a dinosaur I am but technology zooms more verticle all the time so AI I am sure will rule the world in the not-too-distant future.  I still love life here and can't imagine having to depart...all depends on the changing immigration/tax/political leanings affecting life here and since my career moved me from country to country many many times, I could leave if necessary.  I do wish the best of all for everyone here - I realize it is not the paradise it once may have been for some just like it is today - "for some".

BTW: during my life I have lived in Japan, VN, Burma, Indonesia, PI, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Malta, Angola, Zambia, Guatemala, California, Maryland, Texas so have not been restricted to any one type of life nor language having studied more than 10 of those.

[Kinnock]

A woman.  My woman.

 

I moved to Thailand for a job posting 15 years ago, just another country in a long list of countries I've lived in for work.  I planned to stay a year or two to set up a business for a US based employer.

 

I thought Bangkok was fun, and daily life was easier than my previous posting in India, but preferred the buzz of Vietnam and the sophistication of Japan.

 

Setting up a business can be demanding and I was making around 2 international flights most weeks, so simple daily tasks like bills, looking after the condo, arranging a housekeeper, shopping for essentials, etc was a nuisance.  My team at work sorted all the business admin but I needed the equivalent for my private life, which was becoming chaotic.

 

She spotted the opportunity and like an affectionate stray cat, she moved in and made herself a home.

 

Suddenly everything 'domestic' was running like clockwork.  Tasty food and drinks just appeared by magic.  The fridge filled itself with fresh fruit and vegetables.  Bills got paid on time, the condo was spotless.  She even dropped me at the airport, then met me with an iced drink and a gorgeous smile when my flight returned .... at all times of day and night.

 

And she was just wonderful to look at.  Long dark hair, exotic eyes .... and those legs.

 

My work was going well too.  With no domestic issues to distract, the business was going well and growing fast, so it was almost time to move on.  That's when I realised I couldn't live without her.

 

I still prefer Vietnam, but I'd only move if she came with me.  

[OneMoreFarang]

When I wake up, my cute gf is next to me.

When I go out of the building, the cute security girl is there.

When I go to my favorite breakfast place, they have not only great food, but also a few cute girls.

...

 

You get the picture.

Nice girls are not everything in life, but when we see them every day, and they smile at us, that makes life just better.

[save the frogs]

16 hours ago, susanlea said:

Pattaya - was a dump, still a dump

less of a dump than where I come from.

you dont need to partake in the bar scene if it repulses you.

 

ps. bangkok bernie, lucky you your name starts with a B, so you can use a cute handle with Bangkok in it. you're destined to be in thailand. 

 

[Hummin]

22 hours ago, susanlea said:

Thailand has not changed much at all. These guys got older and got bored. So they went home for medicare.

Boredom is the biggest challenge in Thailand. I at more ease and kreativ back home than in Thailand. 

 

The best thing with Thailand for me when first came here, was walking the beach and swim in the morning. But after that you got a 14 hours to fill in with something. 

[Hummin]

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

When I wake up, my cute gf is next to me.

When I go out of the building, the cute security girl is there.

When I go to my favorite breakfast place, they have not only great food, but also a few cute girls.

...

 

You get the picture.

Nice girls are not everything in life, but when we see them every day, and they smile at us, that makes life just better.

Women who actually look at you and smiles to you is a great cause and reason. People in general who smile to others, is a great society to live in. Good point

[Hummin]

22 hours ago, susanlea said:

Bangkok - not changed 1 bit.

Chiang Mai - maybe pollution worse?

Pattaya - was a dump, still a dump

Hua Hin - gotten better

Phuket - same as before

Krabi - gotten worse

Isaan - gotten better

Others - much the same

 

 

I could live in Pai for awhile actually. It is nice down by the rivers a bit outside where the rivers seems clear and clean. Refreshing to sup and kayak padle there as well swimming. Got my dirt bikes where there is hips of options for expeditions in any directions on jungle tracks and dirt roads. Can travel for days in that area visiting smaller resorts. Thats kind of exotic and different. 

[Terrance8812]

21 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I could live in Pai for awhile actually. It is nice down by the rivers a bit outside where the rivers seems clear and clean. Refreshing to sup and kayak padle there as well swimming. Got my dirt bikes where there is hips of options for expeditions in any directions on jungle tracks and dirt roads. Can travel for days in that area visiting smaller resorts. Thats kind of exotic and different. 

Pai is in a very nice spot, but too remote, too boring, and too limited for full time living. And the road access, with all the hundreds of twists and turns, is off putting. 

[Hummin]

9 minutes ago, Terrance8812 said:

Pai is in a very nice spot, but too remote, too boring, and too limited for full time living. And the road access, with all the hundreds of twists and turns, is off putting. 

For someone who loves riding motorbikes, it is a dream. And I said for awhile, not permanent 😄

 

If I was single, Pai and  Koh Phangan would had been two destinations among two more  Islands I do not want to advertise for to loud and broadly for because they are not really visited by the masses yet. 

 

On the other hand, I would not live a single life in Thailand or anywhere for that sake, but thats me

[roo860]

I'm in Pai at the moment it's the last night of the Jazz and Blues Festival, pretty busy, we came up from Chiang Mai with the Unsanctioned Riders group.

[Lacessit]

Having a GF who will look after me. She's been doing it for more than 10 years.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 7/13/2024 at 7:36 PM, susanlea said:

Thailand has not changed much at all. These guys got older and got bored. So they went home for medicare.

I went back for the public health service and can't ever go back to live in LOS. Biggest mistake I ever made.

 

Thailand will always be better because it's not full of woke, PC western feminist BS.

[thaibeachlovers]

17 hours ago, Hummin said:

On the other hand, I would not live a single life in Thailand or anywhere for that sake, but thats me

Some of us can't afford a woman, and they all cost. If there is a land where women will pay for themselves to live with an old fat man with multiple health problems I'm not aware of it.

[thaibeachlovers]

17 hours ago, Terrance8812 said:

Pai is in a very nice spot, but too remote, too boring, and too limited for full time living. And the road access, with all the hundreds of twists and turns, is off putting. 

What put me off Pai was the farang ghetto. I preferred Mae Hong Son, though if I had my druthers I'd live at Cave Lodge.

[susanlea]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

What put me off Pai was the farang ghetto. I preferred Mae Hong Son, though if I had my druthers I'd live at Cave Lodge.

MHS is very remote.

[thaibeachlovers]

18 hours ago, Hummin said:

I could live in Pai for awhile actually. It is nice down by the rivers a bit outside where the rivers seems clear and clean. Refreshing to sup and kayak padle there as well swimming. Got my dirt bikes where there is hips of options for expeditions in any directions on jungle tracks and dirt roads. Can travel for days in that area visiting smaller resorts. Thats kind of exotic and different. 

IMO there are 2 Pais. One is the attractive outskirts, and the other is the concrete disaster where the farangs hang out

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, susanlea said:

MHS is very remote.

It is, which is why I liked it so much. Keeps the day trippers and the flash packers away.

[susanlea]

5 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO there are 2 Pais. One is the attractive outskirts, and the other is the concrete disaster where the farangs hang out

About right. The valley area is nice. Centre of town a mess.