Remember the olden days in Thailand?

[Hanuman2547]

On 2/18/2025 at 7:39 AM, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   I do seem to recall that Cambodia opened to tourists in about 1998 , before that you couldnt go there 

Actually a few years earlier than that.  It was not until the Paris Peace Agreement brought the conflict to an end in 1991 that tourists started to return to Cambodia.  In 1991 there were about 25,000 arrivals and in 1992 there were about 50,000, with peacekeeping forces and other UN staff accounting for 22,000 of these.  Statistics on tourist arrivals have been officially recorded since 1993.

[Nick Carter icp]

6 minutes ago, Hanuman2547 said:

Actually a few years earlier than that.  It was not until the Paris Peace Agreement brought the conflict to an end in 1991 that tourists started to return to Cambodia.  In 1991 there were about 25,000 arrivals and in 1992 there were about 50,000, with peacekeeping forces and other UN staff accounting for 22,000 of these.  Statistics on tourist arrivals have been officially recorded since 1993.

 

   It was later than that .

When Cambodia began allowing tourists in through the land border .

U.S  staff wouldn't be   tourists 

[Hanuman2547]

45 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   It was later than that .

When Cambodia began allowing tourists in through the land border .

U.S  staff wouldn't be   tourists 

No, it wasn't and I wasn't talking about any one nation's tourists or the manner in which they arrived.  It was UN staff who made a big part of it but there were tourists as well.  It is documented.  

Here, go educate yourself.  You might want to pay particular attention to pages 19-21.

https://www.ide.go.jp/library/English/Publish/Reports/Brc/pdf/02_ch1.pdf

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, Hanuman2547 said:

 

Here, go educate yourself.  You might want to pay particular attention to pages 19-21.

https://www.ide.go.jp/library/English/Publish/Reports/Brc/pdf/02_ch1.pdf

 

   Why the need to speak in such a hostile manner ?

We are just having a civil discussion and there's really no need to speak in that tone ,

   And no, I will not bother to read a 40 page book/link about it .

I do recall being in Thailand when Cambodia opened up to general  tourists through land borders and it wasnt when you claimed it was 

[Hanuman2547]

14 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Why the need to speak in such a hostile manner ?

We are just having a civil discussion and there's really no need to speak in that tone ,

   And no, I will not bother to read a 40 page book/link about it .

I do recall being in Thailand when Cambodia opened up to general  tourists through land borders and it wasnt when you claimed it was 

As I said in my previous post, pay particular attention to pages 19-21 where it states the visitor and tourism numbers.  What are you afraid of?  To be proven wrong?  Hey, it's only a couple of years you're off.

[Ralf001]

16 hours ago, swissie said:

A Farang, Tourist or long-termer has to pay his way in Thailand. No welfare programs for Farangs.

 

 

 

Some long-termers... are covered by SSO.

 

[Sydebolle]

40 years ago I read in the meanwhile defunct evening publication "Bangkok World", that those visa-runners numbered 450,000 and they did dutifully monthly trips to mostly Cambodia or Malaysia. The average spending was THB 18,300/month (USD 800 at the then fixed exchange rate of THB 22.90/USD) per visa-runner/month. 

Once the immigration was beefed up and multiplied in bureaucracy and (many) ignorant and arrogant officers, some new rules were introduced and the visa-runners ......... never returned. Staying with the 1985 figures, 450,000 times a yearly expenditure of THB 220,00 resulted in a staggering THB 99 billion - at the CPI of 1985. 

This money has been missing in the Thai economy ever since. The "quality tourism" of the late 80s with fairly well-to-do Westerners got unprofessionally replaced by avalanches of Russians, then Chinese and Southasians to a proportion of +/- 40 million visitors (if that figure is correct?) and it can be only assumed, that less is more and if they would have kept working on the upper crust of tourism (like i.e. Europe and North America), Thailand would have a very profitable sustainable tourism industry (and its income) whereby the (today missing staff) would have been able to handle the traffic. 

In short, Thailand headed steadily downwards since I came and the bottom is not in sight yet. Clear is, that the economy is coughing and the tourism deteriorated. An unknown percentage of Thais have never heard of paying taxes and the income on luxury taxes and excise income, apart from VAT is not sufficient to cover the spending spree of the recent governments; first and foremost the gentlemen in arms. Chinese submarines without engines do not attract tourists nor is it beneficial for exports - me thinks 😉 

[Nick Carter icp]

4 minutes ago, Hanuman2547 said:

As I said in my previous post, pay particular attention to pages 19-21 where it states the visitor and tourism numbers.  What are you afraid of?  To be proven wrong?  Hey, it's only a couple of years your off.

 

  I suggest that you chill out a bit and we can continue the discussion when you are in a better mood .

   There's no need for an aggressive confrontation in a discussion about what year a land border opened 

[Thingamabob]

If you were doing Visa trips to Cambodia that's not so long ago. The Cambodian border used to be closed to all visitors.

[Thingamabob]

On 2/19/2025 at 3:31 AM, RSD1 said:

Every month or two, another post like this one gets added to the pile talking about "the good old days" in Thailand. But, yes, the late 80s through the late 90s were a great time and Thailand still had a level of fun spontaneity that has since faded over the last 25 years. Back then, Bangkok was filled with amazing, affordable street food, temples everywhere were peaceful and uncrowded, historical sites upcountry were still fun to visit, and the islands retained a natural, untouched feel. The country was less commercialized and Westernized in general. Accommodations were incredibly affordable, and there was far less bureaucracy and formality in getting things done. Visa rules were much more flexible, and overall, there were fewer restrictions. The locals were more tolerant of foreigners, happier, and less transactional. There was also a stronger presence of local culture, vibrant nightlife, and an easy-going atmosphere. With no social media and no Chinese and Indian mass tourism, the place didn't feel oversold or commercialized the way it does now.

Well said.

[Nick Carter icp]

56 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

If you were doing Visa trips to Cambodia that's not so long ago. The Cambodian border used to be closed to all visitors.

 

   Yes, it opened in about 1998 , before that you couldn't cross the land border 

[BritManToo]

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I can't tell if this is 'gone native good thing' thinking or if you are highlighting the ridiculousness of a school being complicit in ensuring a whole class of 15 year olds will be riding motorcycles... 

I was replying to a poster saying it was illegal, when clearly it isn't.

I didn't specify if it was a good idea or not!

[richard_smith237]

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I can't tell if this is 'gone native good thing' thinking or if you are highlighting the ridiculousness of a school being complicit in ensuring a whole class of 15 year olds will be riding motorcycles... 

I was replying to a poster saying it was illegal, when clearly it isn't.

I didn't specify if it was a good idea or not!

 

Fair enough - for further clarification - that license for 15 year olds permits them to ride bikes 110cc or less (if I'm not mistaken) and there aren't many of those around.

 

So... any 15 year old, with a license, riding a greater than 110cc bike so most are in fact 'illegal'....

 

Its only the Honda Scoopy (110cc) and Wave (110cc) that meet this criteria.

[BritManToo]

7 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Its only the Honda Scoopy (110cc) and Wave (110cc) that meet this criteria.

And Airblade, and Cub ....... about 1/2 the scooters in Thailand are 110cc waves.

[richard_smith237]

Just now, BritManToo said:

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Its only the Honda Scoopy (110cc) and Wave (110cc) that meet this criteria.

And Airblade, and Cub ....... about 1/2 the scooters in Thailand are 110cc waves.

 

Its only a legal issue anyway - its not as if the kids (or anyone else) has had any training on a scooter and they are all capable of riding into a pole at 100 kmh.

 

It would have been a far better provision by the school to provide all the kids with driver / rider education classes instead of getting them licenses. 

 

I say this of education in the West to.... Priorities are still stuffed up somewhat. 

- Nearly every child will drive at some point 

- Nowhere near every child will need to use trigonometry. 

- The same can be said for water and electrical safety.

 

Schools seem not to priorities 'life skills' instead focusing on traditional formal education which is of course incredibly important, but I'd like to see some importance places on life skills every child will grow up needing - and for Thailand, that means teaching every kid road safety, especially on scooters (motorcycles).

 

 

 

[saintdomingo]

On 2/18/2025 at 10:34 PM, Harrisfan said:

I would go over the border for 3 days. Have an adventure.

You would or you did do.?

Sometimes a visa run meant you had to go and get a new visa which meant a few good nights in Vientiane.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

Yes, Thailand back in the 1980s and 1990s was more fun.

 

I was a lot younger back then, too.

[Harrisfan]

1 hour ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

Yes, Thailand back in the 1980s and 1990s was more fun.

 

I was a lot younger back then, too.

Everyone was a lot younger then

[JamesPhuket10]

4 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Everyone was a lot younger then

 

That is the main point, it was more fun and seemed great because we were young, it was new to us and we were full of adventure. 

 

We could get Thai girlfriends who were real girlfriends as we were the right age, no bar girls needed, now if we want a younger woman then of course it would all be about money, and what fun is there in that?

 

Thailand has not become worse, it has become better, we just got older and many oldies as far as I can see have just become miserable old gits. 

[JamesPhuket10]

On 2/20/2025 at 7:30 PM, swissie said:

"Good Looking girls at BJ Bars".

 

BJ Bars were the greatest invention since the invention of sliced bread. Just imagine: Sitting at the bar, sipping a beer, waching a soccer game on TV while enjoying a BJ. Ahhh, the good old days.

 

And wondering if it was a bloke or a bird giving you the BJ I can imagine. 😄

[geisha]

On 2/18/2025 at 9:57 PM, Harrisfan said:

30 days visa free

60 days visa free

 

Actually better now. Twice as good.

We had double entry visas .

[swissie]

11 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Some long-termers... are covered by SSO.

 

Foreighners are excluded from Thai Social Security if not working for a large company.

 

Thai government employees get a pension. Around 20K per month. All other Thais get an "old age pension" amounting to THB 600 per month on average. This is not a "typo". It's sixhundred BHT per month.

 

Furthermore, Falangs can not join the 35 BHT health scheme.

[ericthai]

On 2/18/2025 at 9:27 AM, Bill97 said:

The olden days were when Cambodia was not open for visitors and the visa run was to Malaysia. 
 

Cambodia runners are newbees.

 and for a small fee your passport went to Malaysia while you stayed in BKk.  
 

Immigration could care less if you overstayed, they would make jokes if you overstayed.  
you could get a 1 year multi entry B visa so easily in Laos or Malaysia.
 

Mid to late 97 early 98 the economic crises hit and Thailand became unbelievably cheap. 
Less than 4 millions visitors a year  at the time. Great memories…
 

[JamesPhuket10]

2 hours ago, swissie said:

Foreighners are excluded from Thai Social Security if not working for a large company.

 

Thai government employees get a pension. Around 20K per month. All other Thais get an "old age pension" amounting to THB 600 per month on average. This is not a "typo". It's sixhundred BHT per month.

 

Furthermore, Falangs can not join the 35 BHT health scheme.

 

"Thai government employees get a pension. Around 20K per month", you said.

 

So they end up with a pretty miserable life then unless they have savings or a private pension pot of their own. 

 

I know a Thai woman who worked at Thai Airways all her life and then retired at 60, she gets more than 20k baht a month in her company pension, plus the 600 baht a month government pension, plus her house and car were paid off a long time ago in a nice area 60kms north of Bangkok. 

[Ralf001]

6 hours ago, swissie said:

Foreighners are excluded from Thai Social Security if not working for a large company.

 

 

 

Yeah.... I said some, are you blind ?

[harryviking]

On 2/19/2025 at 12:07 PM, marin said:

Could not be more true. For staying long term a triple entry non O from Penang was easy. 3 trips to Pedang Basar or Sadao, the 4th back to Penang to renew the visa. Always a nice gang of people on the train. The dining car served nice hot freshly prepared food and all the beer or Thai whiskey you could want. 

I loved those train trips! 😄

[zlodnick]

The wife an I moved here in 1996. We opened a joint bank account at BB Khon Kaen. We deposited a cashiers check for $40,000. The check cleared in 30 days. We found some land we wanted to buy and the bank let us have Bt 200k even before the check cleared.

 

The interest on a savings account then was 13% !!! We took most of the money out to build a house. The exchange rate at the time was 25Bt to the dollar. A year later it was Bt 52 to the dollar! No crying over spilt milk, it was still the best thing we ever did.

[marin]

13 hours ago, swissie said:

Foreighners are excluded from Thai Social Security if not working for a large company.

No, not at all. All foreign teachers pay into social security at any level of schooling at either private or public schools and universities. I know I am collecting Thai social security after working for 30 years.  Paid into it and millions in taxes over the time, so its only fair.