What's the Most Surprising Thing You've Learned About Living in Thailand?

[freeworld]

How special, beautiful and friendly Thailand and its people are until one reads the comments of the exceptional jaded expats living here always critical of everything the Thais do an how they think that everything is better in their home countries.

 

 

So, why aren't they living there.

[NoshowJones]

17 hours ago, Conan The Barbarian said:

Living in Thailand has been an eye-opening experience for me. This country is incredibly peaceful, and the people are genuinely helpful. Thailand has everything you could need: delicious food, great weather, beautiful beaches, luxurious spots, and an amazing party scene. At the same time, Northern Thailand offers the perfect retreat if you’re seeking relaxation and peace.

Please share your experiences.

I agree with most of the OP's post, but as for the weather, for the past few weeks, it has reminded me of my home country Scotland with all the rain nearly every day.

Thailand would be a great country if not for the dreadful road statistics of most Thai drivers and motorbike riders.

[wavodavo]

1 hour ago, bob smith said:

only when you are paying them.

Yep..The old saying ..no money ..no honey!!!!

bob.

 

[Task Master]

The one surprising thing I've learned in my 13 years in Thailand is: no matter where you go, there you are 🤪

[spidermike007]

Always know when to stop arguing with the Thai. If you think you're right and you think you have a valid point, and you try to get that across to a Thai person, and they do not want to hear it, it's best to just back off. Thais have alot of great qualities, but Thais can also be very stubborn, and sometimes you just simply have to know when to quit. 

[NoshowJones]

2 hours ago, proton said:

 

I was surprised that there has been an Islamic terror campaign going on in the south for over 20 years costing over 6k lives, when people call the country 'incredibly peaceful' 

Is that not mainly because of those of the religion of peace? 

[georgegeorgia]

3 hours ago, BobDobbs said:

I've learned how unappreciative and indifferent Thailand is towards foreign expat presence.

 

It is perfectly legal and acceptable for industries to discriminate against us foreigners. Not simply tourists, but those who have lived years in Thailand, have family in Thailand. Not simply for National Park entrance fees (which can add up to consider both sums with a long stay), but more importantly the hospitals which are already prone to gouge us - fully legal and allowed.

 

Continual and habitual whining and complaining about TOURIST revenue sources from abroad yet completely ignore our contribution. This is born out by the fact how difficult it is to conduct any personal business from banking to the government dealings.

 

Even a bringing in as little as b40,000 pm is still double that of a typical wage earning Thai. Therefore the contribution is double that of perhaps 65% of the country.

 

Foreigners are disallowed from owning a tiny plot of land and home despite Thailand providing and will be success for these individuals to be in country.

 

All visas without exception are non-immigrant. It is virtually impossible to get permanent residency and especially citizenship. All sorts of stupid and ridiculous barriers are set up to sabotage the effort. It's basically old retirees and expatriots with exceptionally well paying jobs that can take a stab at PR and citizenship.

 

It seems almost since the beginning of the entrance of Chinese into the tourist market Thailand has been beset with all sorts of criminal and cultural problems. Including a pervasive kidnapping problem as well as call centers. Only love here. Thailand continues to lower the barrier of entry to the country for these people.

 

Starting a business since ridiculously complicated and needlessly expensive.

 

It is impossible to now gain Thai government insurance for a former teachers unless that person can be placed in a yellow book which means they must be for their spouse must be a homeowner.

 

We often support wives that many have been cast off in marriages as well as their children.

 

Despite smelling like a rose and dressed well the last empty seat on any transport conveyance will be next to us.. the farang

 

Now, the tax bullsxx+, tax worldwide income..

 

A case in point to the jingoism: recently there was banter about condo ownership/ raising the quota of foreigners. The typical yellow shirts came out... Xenophobia and jingoism ... The actual fact of the matter is that not one more Foreigner will be added to the condo rolls due to this adjustment. There are scant few condos in which foreigners are bumping up against the limit. I would argue further that these are condos in which ties would NEVER want to live in anyway

 

If I wasn't married I would be out of here in a flash. As an expatriate of some nearly 35 years I would entirely discourage anyone from setting down roots in this country.

 

It's only going to get worse.

Philippines is more fun.

 

[spidermike007]

The treatment of boys here. They are an overly entitled gender here in the LOS. Boys from an early age are told they are special.

 

What parents need to start doing is to tell their sons:

1. You are nothing special. You become special when you prove yourself to be a worth person. An exemplary character. A cut above the rest. Someone who gives and does not just take.

2. Your sister is special. She works hard, she is ambitious, and she is not lazy. Prove yourself to be at least an equal to her. It is the women who really run this country.

3. Respect is not freely given. It must be earned. Go out into the world and earn respect.

[Conan The Barbarian]

4 hours ago, Kalorymetr said:

What I learned?

Yes can mean "I don't know". They never acknowledge if they don't know something so asking locals for directions is a waste of time.

You might be doing something wrong. In my experience, whenever I've asked a Thai person for help, they've always tried their best to assist me.

[gamb00ler]

4 hours ago, tandor said:

..they drive on the right side also.

yes... a completely non-partisan country when it comes to driving.  They accept all drivers regardless if they're left, right or center.

[Cameroni]

20 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Philippines is more fun.

 

 

Not at all. Manila airport is by far the worst one anyone will have the misfortune to experience. 

 

Internet in Phil is terrible compared to Thailand.

 

The food in Phil is certainly not fun. Try to find the western products you get in Thailand, you can't.

 

Climate is way worse in Phil, rainier and more humid, not to mention typhoons and earthquakes.

 

Filipinos are way more violent than Thais and more prone to scam and rip you off.

 

Poverty is far worse in Phil.

 

Some women have great bodies in Phil, but almost all have giant and crooked teeth. You see that much less in Thailand. Not to mention Filipinas lie like you would not believe and are totally untrustworthy.

 

No, I disagree, Thailand has been way more fun than Philippines.

[Lacessit]

I've learned how devoted to my welfare my Thai GF can be.

 

I'd marry her in a heartbeat, if it was not for Australian social security regulations that discriminate financially against foreign wives.

[PJ71]

3 hours ago, BobDobbs said:

 

When asking for directions

 

Don't ask in Thai unless you can understand the response

 

Ask precisely where something is or how to get there. Do not point or offer anything like is it this way or that way left or right. This is indeed because if the person doesn't know they will just agree with you. This is the Asian way and not necessarily particular to Thailand

Due to technology the days of asking for directions are long gone luckily.

 

 

[BigStar]

How great the UK is. There, people are highly educated, intelligent, and knowledgeable on all subjects; learn English or dialect anyway; invariably polite; and drive perfectly. No poop on the beaches or other public areas. Wonderful free health care. Safety everywhere, at all hours, no thuggery or menacing drunks. No noise. Little traffic. Modern airports with friendly, welcoming immigration officials. Superbly maintained infrastructure, no potholes. Sympathetic bureaucrats offering prompt efficient service in all government offices, no red tape or waiting. Delicious, world-renowned cuisine, including proper pork scratchings. Fantastic service in all the shops, restos, and stores. Compliant, beautiful women on all the dating apps. And convenient local mosques everywhere. Paradise, really.

 

Yet here I am living in a beach condo in Pattaya, desperate to sell, stuck, longing for the wonderful UK I've been hearing about many years.   

[CanadaSam]

3 hours ago, b17 said:

they are adept at watching me, their older uncle, struggle with multiple bags of groceries when I return from a shopping excursion to 'Big C' or 'Tops'.

 

Change begins with you!

 

I always take the opportunity to "educate" young boys, with gentle persuasion, to help out, even often rewarding them with a treat, certainly I do it with my extended family members!

 

It falls on you to make the youngsters you are in contact with into more decent helpful human beings, even if you manage to instill these important traits into one or two of them, you are helping make this world a more beautiful place!

[Celsius]

3 minutes ago, BigStar said:

How great the UK is. There, people are highly educated, learn English or dialect anyway, invariably polite, and drive perfectly. No poop on the beaches or other public areas. Wonderful free health care. Safety everywhere, at all hours. No noise. Little traffic. Modern airports with friendly, welcoming immigration officials. Superbly maintained infrastructure, no potholes. Sympathetic bureaucrats offering prompt service in all government offices. Convenient local mosques. Paradise, really.

 

Yet here I am living in a beach condo in Pattaya, desperate to sell, stuck, longing for the wonderful UK I've been hearing about many years.   

 

I know the feeling especially now that 99b breakfast is hard to find and black pudding seems to be a luxury.

 

 

[Cameroni]

4 hours ago, BobDobbs said:

I've learned how unappreciative and indifferent Thailand is towards foreign expat presence.

 

It is perfectly legal and acceptable for industries to discriminate against us foreigners. Not simply tourists, but those who have lived years in Thailand, have family in Thailand. Not simply for National Park entrance fees (which can add up to consider both sums with a long stay), but more importantly the hospitals which are already prone to gouge us - fully legal and allowed.

 

Continual and habitual whining and complaining about TOURIST revenue sources from abroad yet completely ignore our contribution. This is born out by the fact how difficult it is to conduct any personal business from banking to the government dealings.

 

Even a bringing in as little as b40,000 pm is still double that of a typical wage earning Thai. Therefore the contribution is double that of perhaps 65% of the country.

 

Foreigners are disallowed from owning a tiny plot of land and home despite Thailand providing and will be success for these individuals to be in country.

 

All visas without exception are non-immigrant. It is virtually impossible to get permanent residency and especially citizenship. All sorts of stupid and ridiculous barriers are set up to sabotage the effort. It's basically old retirees and expatriots with exceptionally well paying jobs that can take a stab at PR and citizenship.

 

It seems almost since the beginning of the entrance of Chinese into the tourist market Thailand has been beset with all sorts of criminal and cultural problems. Including a pervasive kidnapping problem as well as call centers. Only love here. Thailand continues to lower the barrier of entry to the country for these people.

 

Starting a business since ridiculously complicated and needlessly expensive.

 

It is impossible to now gain Thai government insurance for a former teachers unless that person can be placed in a yellow book which means they must be for their spouse must be a homeowner.

 

We often support wives that many have been cast off in marriages as well as their children.

 

Despite smelling like a rose and dressed well the last empty seat on any transport conveyance will be next to us.. the farang

 

Now, the tax bullsxx+, tax worldwide income..

 

A case in point to the jingoism: recently there was banter about condo ownership/ raising the quota of foreigners. The typical yellow shirts came out... Xenophobia and jingoism ... The actual fact of the matter is that not one more Foreigner will be added to the condo rolls due to this adjustment. There are scant few condos in which foreigners are bumping up against the limit. I would argue further that these are condos in which ties would NEVER want to live in anyway

 

If I wasn't married I would be out of here in a flash. As an expatriate of some nearly 35 years I would entirely discourage anyone from setting down roots in this country.

 

It's only going to get worse.

 

Lol, Bob, you should go to UK or Germany to see how appreciative people are there of immigrants. You're getting special treatment in Thailand and it's made you a bit entitled. It's understandable.

 

In terms of medical fees, they are way lower in Thailand than in UK or Germany. You're not getting gouged on medical fees in Thailand. Foreign students in the UK or Germany however are gouged.

 

Banking and dealings with government admin have been somewhat easier in Thailand than UK or Germany. Don't see how it's harder here. Try to arrive in UK with no visa and get an extension so easily. Won't happen. I find the ability to pay with QR scan, which is STILL not possible in UK or Germany, very convenient.

 

Land ownerhip, yes, it's annoying and seems unfair, until you realise the economic disaparity would lead to Thailand being sold to foreigners like Palestine was if it were allowed without restrictions. But looks like Thai government are improving it at least a bit now. But you can lease for a lifetime or find other ways around the land ownership issue if you really want to build.

 

PR and Citizenship are complex applications in every country in the world worth moving to.

 

Criminals? Again way worse in Europe, feel much safer here.

 

Yes, starting a business is expenive here, but then incorporation costs money in most places.

 

If you support cast off wives with children that's certainly your decision, I'm not doing that and many people aren't doing it either. I would never date a woman who has children already. That's mate selection 101.

 

Yes, it's true that many Thais have prejudice against Farang, but that's in every country in the world. Even Caribbean countries look down on immigrants.

 

Tax, yes, again. Like everywhere else. But here too there are ways to mitigate this issue.

 

I don't think Thailand is getting worse. It's getting better. Better internet, QR scan payment, even more and better events taking place all the time, better visas even, see DTV. 

 

Of course some things will get worse, but overall if you compare your complaints with other countries you will quickly realise how sweet you have it in Thailand. 

 

Thailand is the closest we have on earth to a paradise, for all its faults. Nothing comes close. 

 

 

[Doctor Tom]

I have found out that there are actually many quite 'normal', well adjusted, happy expats here, living quite a 'normal', basic life.  They don't frequent bars, don't chase bar girls, have stable families, haven't been scammed, arrested, or ripped off, not alcoholics and healthy.   You don't necessarily expect it when you first arrive here , but its nice to see.  

[KhunLA]

Most surprising thing about TH, along with most negative, the pollution.   Air topping that list, and many are still in denial of it's extensive existence where they live.   AQI & PM2.5 meters don't lie, as if you even need one.  When vis is down to <5 kms or even 1 km, you don't need a meter to tell you it's unhealthy.  Maybe I notice because of my photography hobby, or lived and travel around where there are mountain views.   Urban & city life, you may not notice, except for that rough throat feeling & cough.

 

Water pollution (seas/gulf), fecal count mainly, to the point, I don't bother going in, or rare occasion that I do, the ears stay out of the surf.

 

Trash, surprisingly, doesn't bother as much, unless on my bicycle, then a bit too obvious.

 

Aside from that, all is good.  Love the cost of living, large ticket items (home, EVs, solar), no real RE Taxes, and affordable, accessible healthcare with cheap meds, if needed, relative to USA.

 

Of all the places I visited & researched for retirement, TH wasn't on my radar at all.  A fluke that I visited, more so I tested retiring here, one year later, after only 2 very short visits (1 & 2 weeks).   Returned 3 months later & stayed, 24 yrs, come next month.  Seriously, completely ignorant of all aspects of TH.   Didn't even check to see what visas were available 

 

Not like I couldn't just hop a fly out, any time I wanted that 1st year here.  No real risks involved.

 

On Topic, as always .... main thing I've learned, never trust western country expats.  YMMV, saying that, met a few good friends that are expats, but a small % of expats I know, or knew.

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, freeworld said:

How special, beautiful and friendly Thailand and its people are until one reads the comments of the exceptional jaded expats living here always critical of everything the Thais do an how they think that everything is better in their home countries.

 

 

So, why aren't they living there.

Usually, it's because they would go broke quite quickly in their home country.

 

Some of us have worked out it's smarter to live here comfortably, than struggle back home.

 

My only reason to go back to Australia is for serious health issues, as I have top level private health cover there.

[ChrisKC]

Before deciding to retire to Thailand, I visited a few times, including staying for a month, twice (with my then English wife) and we did a lot of research!

 

Having lived here for many years now, I am very surprised at how little we knew when we first landed here and staying for good and a for few years after that!

 

I now live in a predominantly Thai environment with my Thai wife and I know for sure that I have been accepted by every Thai person I have met!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lacessit]

46 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

 

 

In terms of medical fees, they are way lower in Thailand than in UK or Germany. You're not getting gouged on medical fees in Thailand. Foreign students in the UK or Germany however are gouged.

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, I went to a cardiologist in Chiang Rai because I had an issue with edema in my ankles, and possible cellulitis. After reading my ECG and CAT scans from Australia, he checked me over carefully. Asked questions about my medical history, and medications I was on. Very professional.

 

He said the edema was minimal, and he did not think I had cellulitis. However, he would prescribe an antibiotic as a precaution. Come back in a week to check progress.

 

I was absolutely gobsmacked by the bill, 250 baht including the antibiotic. The equivalent of AUD 11.

 

In Australia with the same specialist, I would be charged at least AUD 150.

 

 

[radiochaser]

4 hours ago, Old Croc said:

I was initially surprised, and frustrated, by the incredible layers of paperwork and processes to effect simple everyday tasks. 

To transfer a phone line required more than an hour sitting in front of a clerk in TOT painstakingly completing multiple forms, photocopies, signatures and payment of deposits, etc.

Transferring the electric connection was even worse where I was confronted by a Vogon clone who demanded more and more documentation to simply change the name on the connection. 

These things are handled by a short phone call in my home country.

My surprise was because Thailand was/is largely computerized, but many government and public companies either don't understand or mistrust their use. They require, and store, reams of paperwork for everything.

My yearly visits to the bank for a statement and simple letter still rankles because of the protracted processes involved.

 

Vogon's are in Thailand?!?!

May the gods help us!!!!

[Cameroni]

38 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Yesterday, I went to a cardiologist in Chiang Rai because I had an issue with edema in my ankles, and possible cellulitis. After reading my ECG and CAT scans from Australia, he checked me over carefully. Asked questions about my medical history, and medications I was on. Very professional.

 

He said the edema was minimal, and he did not think I had cellulitis. However, he would prescribe an antibiotic as a precaution. Come back in a week to check progress.

 

I was absolutely gobsmacked by the bill, 250 baht including the antibiotic. The equivalent of AUD 11.

 

In Australia with the same specialist, I would be charged at least AUD 150.

 

 

 

We are truly blessed in the north in terms of pricing, that is very reasonable. I had a similar experience with dental work which was also so cheap. 

[retarius]

6 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Sapiens has sub-species, and homos.

Ugh what a vile sentiment. 

[Expat68]

5 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

The situation is even worse in the UK.

Not only do we not appreciate them, we are out rioting to protest against them.

 

i expected a red carpet when I arrived, but nothing.

Maybe you are living in the wrong area of Thailand?

[Lacessit]

53 minutes ago, retarius said:

Ugh what a vile sentiment. 

Not often I agree with you.

 

Some white supremacists will have a touch of the tar-brush in their ancestry, and compensate for it with extra fervency in their expressions of racial hatred.

 

I understand the same applies to homophobes.

[GammaGlobulin]

The most surprising thing I have learned while in Thailand is that it is possible to make sense out of Thai script, if and only if one spends a bit of time and effort.

 

Thai script looks kind of weird, initially, but becomes less so, as time goes by.

 

[AndreasHG]

This is the very first thing I learned when I moved to Thailand: Without Thai women, this country would sink deep into the gulf of Thailand and disappear from the face of the Earth.

What I learned thereafter was just as amazing.

[OneMoreFarang]

5 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

The most surprising thing is how many bootlicking Farang there are in Thailand.

Do they pay for that priviledge?