Living in Thailand

[GypsyT]

There isn't much to see. Over prices shops and fake Italian village where many condos were on sale.

Looked getting run down due to lack maintenance. https://dimaak.com/blog/tuscany-italy-replica-in-thailand/

 

Large developments bankrupt. Only couple of fancy show room villas at entry then empty lot. I was one sucker to go to see them.

 

Lot of cop corruption on Hi way  304 & 3052 intersection. "Tea" money demands...

 

Better Khao Yai is on Koh Larn and Si Racha 🙂 Pluis 10 others. Google.

A. Khao Yai, Khao Ko Larn

B. Khao Yai, Si Racha

 

 

 

[Hammerheads]

On 1/30/2025 at 6:23 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

Just in general, it seems many women don't want that their husband (alone or together with her) lives in Thailand because here are so many pretty young available girls. Women, especially when they get older, don't want competition.

And I am sure they don't tell their husband: I don't want that we live there because probably you will look for a pretty girl half my age.

So, what do they do? Find other reasons. It's too hot, too much crime, whatever.

This is true and has been on my mind. But I'm at the stage in life where I really couldn't give a damn about some young Thai girl who wants to hook up with a farang for an easy life. My wife is a diamond, we've been together for 25 years and I wouldn't trade her for anyone. And could I be bothered with all that? Give me a swimming pool and a cocktail any day, far more satisfying!

[Hammerheads]

31 minutes ago, GypsyT said:

There isn't much to see. Over prices shops and fake Italian village where many condos were on sale.

Looked getting run down due to lack maintenance. https://dimaak.com/blog/tuscany-italy-replica-in-thailand/

 

Large developments bankrupt. Only couple of fancy show room villas at entry then empty lot. I was one sucker to go to see them.

 

Lot of cop corruption on Hi way  304 & 3052 intersection. "Tea" money demands...

 

Better Khao Yai is on Koh Larn and Si Racha 🙂 Pluis 10 others. Google.

A. Khao Yai, Khao Ko Larn

B. Khao Yai, Si Racha

 

 

 

Thanks for your comments, we'll be giving it a go for a while to see how the region stacks up. If we don't find happiness there we'll be off to Ao Nang. 

[KhunLA]

On 1/26/2025 at 11:11 AM, Hammerheads said:

Her concerns surround the heavy increase in drugs, crime by Thais towards farangs, widespread corruption etc. 

 

On 1/30/2025 at 1:23 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

Women, especially when they get older, don't want competition.

And I am sure they don't tell their husband: I don't want that we live there because probably you will look for a pretty girl half my age.

So, what do they do? Find other reasons. It's too hot, too much crime, whatever.

All I hear quite a bit, what the expats, want a be s, and use to be s, complain about is pretty much the same concerns she has.

 

Or maybe she just like where she's living, and prefers not to waste time coming to TH.   I can definitely understand that.   Especially since having thoughts of living in big city or tourist area.  

 

Certainly wouldn't be my choice either.

 

Coming from UK, yea, it is too hot, possibly more crime (location dependent), and don't forget the smog.

[jojothai]

For Hua Hin you can look at some comments on the following thread.

It depends what you want, considering some topics, such as.
Cost of living, rent and food.

Comfortable and easy access to shopping.

Living out in country areas away from too many people
Living near the sea.
Clean atmosphere.

Health facilities.

Reasonably good expat community. And whether older or younger.

Safe environment.
Some nightlife?

[Hammerheads]

Thank you

[jojothai]

i have read through the posts vnow, another few comments that do i do not seem to have seen

 

Always rent and stay for a good while to get familiar with the local area and neighbourhoods. 
Try some different places to decide what suits you best.

 

Its not just about safety and dogs., Noise can be an immense problem, anywhere.
Even in the remote areas do not always expect peace and quiet.
Me and my wife have one house in an off the main road farming area, where houses are sparse. There are local people hundreds of meters away that periodically play extremely loud thumping music that you can probabaly here kilometres away
Unfortunately there seem to be a lot of Thais who seem to love blasting out music as loud as they can.
We have another house in a gated village in Hua hin 3km from the main town beach and malls, in a more populated area, It is so amazingly peaceful and quiet.

 

You mention the heat. Yes, the heat and humidity are a problem several  months of the year until you get used to it.
Even then its still hard to cope with it sometimes.
To keep costs down you will need to get used to aircon on settings of 24 to 25 degrees.
Be aware that a new inverter air conditioner is far more cost efficient than the older types.
Use fans where appropriate. Its not always necessary to use aircons if you can get good circulation of air. 

 

Be careful for the orientation of the place you stay and exposure to direct sun and heat.
You do not want main rooms exposed to direct sunlight too long. 
Internal Blinds do not do much, especially if there are metal/aluminum frames. The frames get extremely hot and pass the heat through. In my house in the province, i built it double block with cavity on the main exposed walls - helps great.
And the bedrooms at the back end of the house facing south east have large mango trees that were there originally and shade well from the sun. 

 

Best of luck on your travels. 

[georgegeorgia]

On 2/13/2025 at 8:33 PM, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

 

On behalf of the entire Manila population, we thank you for your service.

No !!

...thankyou !!!!!

It was a pleasure and I may do it again someday 

[Harrisfan]

On 2/13/2025 at 5:37 PM, Hammerheads said:

Thanks for your comments, we'll be giving it a go for a while to see how the region stacks up. If we don't find happiness there we'll be off to Ao Nang. 

Best cities are Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Hua Hin.

 

Ao Nang is Indian food and tourists. Khao Yai is worth 3 days.

 

 

[Harrisfan]

On 2/13/2025 at 4:59 PM, Hammerheads said:

My wife is originally from Udon, I lived there for 6 months but not really what I was looking for. The people I met are fantastic. If you want to buy a big plot of land up there please let me know 🤣

What things do you like doing? Udon has nice western food.

 

 

[Harrisfan]

Pak Chong hey? I stayed there for 2 nights. Was enough for me. Given your wife likes mountains and you beaches split your time between Chiang Rai and Hua Hin. Two of the best small cities. The roads between Chiang Rai and Nan are ranked amongst the best in the world for driving or riding. The food is awesome better than any Pak Chong food. You will thank me later.

[Harrisfan]

On 2/13/2025 at 5:37 PM, Hammerheads said:

Thanks for your comments, we'll be giving it a go for a while to see how the region stacks up. If we don't find happiness there we'll be off to Ao Nang. 

Ao Nang is a dive. Bad beach, crap food, tourists galore. No hospital. Even the food in Krabi Town is crap.

 

Ao Nang and Khao Yai are two of the strangest options for living.

 

Phuket is the only good place to live in the south. It has hospitals, good beaches, good food and lots of shopping for the woman.

 

 

[BritManToo]

9 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

It has hospitals, good beaches, good food and lots of shopping for the woman.

I used to enjoy shopping for women.

Too old now!

[hotandsticky]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

I used to enjoy shopping for women.

Too old now!

 

 

You are never to old......................................the service you shop for may change over the years.

[Negita43]

On 1/28/2025 at 3:02 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

Stay out of the big cities

As you get older big cities do have attractions mainly connected with your health

[jojothai]

2 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Ao Nang is a dive. Bad beach, crap food, tourists galore. No hospital. Even the food in Krabi Town is crap.

 

Ao Nang and Khao Yai are two of the strangest options for living.

 

Phuket is the only good place to live in the south. It has hospitals, good beaches, good food and lots of shopping for the woman.

I agree for Ao Nang.
Been to Ao Nang a few times and there is nothing I personally can recommend it for,
except going out to other places on tours.🤪

Phuket has a number of other issues to consider that are not so good. 
In particular, check how associated costs compare elsewhere. 

[madone]

On 1/30/2025 at 1:23 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

Just in general, it seems many women don't want that their husband (alone or together with her) lives in Thailand because here are so many pretty young available girls. Women, especially when they get older, don't want competition.

And I am sure they don't tell their husband: I don't want that we live there because probably you will look for a pretty girl half my age.

So, what do they do? Find other reasons. It's too hot, too much crime, whatever.

 

 

What an utter crock of <deleted>, blaming safety concerns on feminine insecurity. 

[OneMoreFarang]

18 minutes ago, madone said:

What an utter crock of <deleted>, blaming safety concerns on feminine insecurity. 

I can't really help you if you don't understand the "logic" of females. 

And like I wrote above, that is obviously not true for all women. But there are enough of them who have this problem.

[madone]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I can't really help you if you don't understand the "logic" of females. 

And like I wrote above, that is obviously not true for all women. But there are enough of them who have this problem.

 

just listen to you.

[OneMoreFarang]

11 minutes ago, madone said:

 

just listen to you.

Good idea! 😉 

[Hammerheads]

3 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Best cities are Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Hua Hin.

 

Ao Nang is Indian food and tourists. Khao Yai is worth 3 days.

 

 

Thank you. I enjoyed Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Hua Hin. Not been to Nong Khai but Udon and Khon Kaen are not for me. Sad to hear about Ao Nang although I didn't find anything wrong while visiting. Found a superb seafood restaurant on the outskirts overlooking a bay. It was awesome. My wife is a chef so we don't choose to eat out a lot. I do like Hua Hin. Pollution in Thailand from crop burning appears to be a big issue. 

[Hammerheads]

3 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Ao Nang is a dive. Bad beach, crap food, tourists galore. No hospital. Even the food in Krabi Town is crap.

 

Ao Nang and Khao Yai are two of the strangest options for living.

 

Phuket is the only good place to live in the south. It has hospitals, good beaches, good food and lots of shopping for the woman.

 

 

I'm interested to know why you believe that Khao Yai would he a strange option? I love nature, I don't like hugely crowded or polluted areas (so wish to stay away from big cities and farming communities). I don't do flooding so there are a few areas I will not live in. I don't wish to sit in sports bars and be plagued by young Thai girls wanting someone to look after them. I don't do poor areas. 

[Harrisfan]

9 minutes ago, Hammerheads said:

Thank you. I enjoyed Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Hua Hin. Not been to Nong Khai but Udon and Khon Kaen are not for me. Sad to hear about Ao Nang although I didn't find anything wrong while visiting. Found a superb seafood restaurant on the outskirts overlooking a bay. It was awesome. My wife is a chef so we don't choose to eat out a lot. I do like Hua Hin. Pollution in Thailand from crop burning appears to be a big issue. 

I like Khon Kaen. Better food than Hua Hin and cheaper. Hua Hin has good seafood and beaches. Not much culture or anything else special.

 

What do you want to do each day? 

[Harrisfan]

3 minutes ago, Hammerheads said:

I'm interested to know why you believe that Khao Yai would he a strange option? I love nature, I don't like hugely crowded or polluted areas (so wish to stay away from big cities and farming communities). I don't do flooding so there are a few areas I will not live in. I don't wish to sit in sports bars and be plagued by young Thai girls wanting someone to look after them. I don't do poor areas. 

Nothing much to do there. Lack of culture. NP and tourist stuff.

 

For nature near beach pkk/ Ao Manao would be my pick. Just south of Hua Hin.

 

Krabi has nature but crap food except seafood. I prefer meat.

[Hammerheads]

13 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

I like Khon Kaen. Better food than Hua Hin and cheaper. Hua Hin has good seafood and beaches. Not much culture or anything else special.

 

What do you want to do each day? 

I have an online business, this keeps me busy. I like to visit national parks, play golf occasionally, I do like the seaside, I hate tackiness, over crowdedness, girlie bars and all that rubbish. May start a small business with the wife catering for visiting Bangkok Thais and traditional tourists.  

[Hammerheads]

Just now, Hammerheads said:

I have an online business, this keeps me busy. I like to visit national parks, play golf occasionally, I do like the seaside, I hate tackiness, over crowdedness, girlie bars and all that rubbish. May start a small business with the wife catering for visiting Bangkok Thais and traditional tourists.  

What is NP?

[Harrisfan]

1 minute ago, Hammerheads said:

I have an online business, this keeps me busy. I like to visit national parks, play golf occasionally, I do like the seaside, I hate tackiness, over crowdedness, girlie bars and all that rubbish. May start a small business with the wife catering for visiting Bangkok Thais and traditional tourists.  

Look at Ao Manao and the southern part (best) of Hua Hin then. Good natural parks and golf. Central Hua Hin is girly bars, horses pooing on beach. North beach gets washed out at high tide. The southern beaches are best.

 

 

[Harrisfan]

3 minutes ago, Hammerheads said:

What is NP?

National Park.

[Hammerheads]

4 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Pak Chong hey? I stayed there for 2 nights. Was enough for me. Given your wife likes mountains and you beaches split your time between Chiang Rai and Hua Hin. Two of the best small cities. The roads between Chiang Rai and Nan are ranked amongst the best in the world for driving or riding. The food is awesome better than any Pak Chong food. You will thank me later.

I did ride a motorbike from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, the roads are awesome. Stopped off at Samkampaeng for the geysers and visited the white temple. Went to see Big Buddha on the Maekong River, yes was very enjoyable up there. 

[Hammerheads]

Just now, Harrisfan said:

Look at Ao Manao and the southern part (best) of Hua Hin then. Good natural parks and golf. Central Hua Hin is girly bars, horses pooing on beach. North beach gets washed out at high tide. The southern beaches are best.

 

 

Hey thanks, I've heard good things about this area