4 hours ago, Mark1969 said:

Hua Hin

+1 for HH, IMO best place for a foreign retiree to set up. Plenty to do there, lots of sports/golf and HHH, great variety in dining, not so far from BKK if you need to go there for whatever reason, it's also the gateway to the South if you want to hit the beaches/islands further South, good for shopping with a couple of big shopping complexes, an OK bar/massage scene, not huge and all over like Pattaya but adequate. 

4 hours ago, JensenZ said:

Many expats also stay in Pattaya because it is the most livable place in Thailand. Most expats don't live in the central area where all the beer bars/gogos are found - it's a big place with lots of accommodation options far from the bars. I've been married for most of the time I've lived in Pattaya and don't visit bars. Your vision of Pattaya is biased by your tunnel vision. I've never been interested in bar girls in Pattaya.  

 

If there is a better place for foreigners to live in Thailand, I'm all ears. Explain why it is better, and you may be able to convince me to move, but after 20 years, I've not found a better place. 

 

Utilising the services of prostitutes is something quite possible anywhere in Thailand, just as it probably is in your home country. 

There is many nice places to live in Thailand and not necessary any tourist city or Island. Depending on mobility, interests and economy to live comfortably and also being able to travel a bit. 

 

What ticks the boxes for one, might not do for another

9 minutes ago, grain said:

+1 for HH, IMO best place for a foreign retiree to set up. Plenty to do there, lots of sports/golf and HHH, great variety in dining, not so far from BKK if you need to go there for whatever reason, it's also the gateway to the South if you want to hit the beaches/islands further South, good for shopping with a couple of big shopping complexes, an OK bar/massage scene, not huge and all over like Pattaya but adequate. 

2 malls are average. Food scene is average. Nice beaches. Crap nightlife. Not a good walking city.

Offensive posts removed:

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Ad hominem posts removed. Granted, the topic is about losing the plot in Thailand, but don't take it too literally and please refrain from attacking each other. Thank you. 

On 8/27/2025 at 9:14 AM, Walt Kowalski said:

The heat, the masks, the smells, the traffic, the tuk tuks, the delivery drivers, the 'hey my friends', the 'where you come froms', the trannies that say 'darling', the ones that never stop at zebra crossings & the ones that run red lights, the ever increasing prices, the constant flip flopping on bangkin and visas..

 

Anyone else feel like they are slowing going mad here?

If that many complaints, time to go elsewhere or go home unless it was even worse than these complaints.  

When you do not have the chance to move to another country then do yourself a favour and move into a more quiet corner of Thailand. It took me 35 years go find that out and today I enjoy the weather, peace and nature with all above-mentioned negative points which make any non-Thai life miserable over time 🙂 

On 8/27/2025 at 3:18 AM, jvs said:

Get the ultimate fix,go back to where you came from for one month!

You will be willing to crawl back to Thailand!

 

Rubbish 

On 8/27/2025 at 9:14 AM, Walt Kowalski said:

The heat, the masks, the smells, the traffic, the tuk tuks, the delivery drivers, the 'hey my friends', the 'where you come froms', the trannies that say 'darling', the ones that never stop at zebra crossings & the ones that run red lights, the ever increasing prices, the constant flip flopping on bangkin and visas..

 

Anyone else feel like they are slowing going mad here?

No. Still same and happy in Thailand having first arrived here in 1962.

On 8/27/2025 at 9:14 AM, Walt Kowalski said:

The heat, the masks, the smells, the traffic, the tuk tuks, the delivery drivers, the 'hey my friends', the 'where you come froms', the trannies that say 'darling', the ones that never stop at zebra crossings & the ones that run red lights, the ever increasing prices, the constant flip flopping on bangkin and visas..

 

Anyone else feel like they are slowing going mad here?

No. Still same and happy in Thailand having first arrived here in 1962.

11 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

No. Still same and happy in Thailand having first arrived here in 1962.

Gee long time ago

I have lived here for 15 years, and everything about this country drove me crazy for years until I saw the US turning into a sh*thole country with all of its perverts and corrupt politicians. Suddenly, living in Thailand became the better alternative. I have pretty much accepted all of the negatives in living here, but my biggest disappointment has been the absolute deterioration of the Moo Ban in which I purchased a home in 2011. In the beginning it was pristine and had great amenities and homes, but once the developer moved on, the residents opted to let the local municipality take over the maintenance versus setting up a homeowner's association and having that entity oversee the upkeep. The HA was voted down over a measly monthly fee of 400 Baht required of all homeowners. Now, the village is in shambles, and it is a total embarrassment. Every time there is a new election for Director of the Tessaban, he comes around with all of his false promises to improve the infrastructure, then once he secures all of our votes, he disappears until the next election, and the village continues to deteriorate. There's no doubt in anyone's mind that any money set aside for our maintenance goes directly into the pockets of the higher-ups, and yet, the locals in the village continue to put up with the neglect and abuse and refuse to complain to anyone about it. It's absolutely pathetic!!! Home values were once on the rise substantially, but over the last several years they have continued to decline. Until now, after 14 years, my home is worth less than I paid for it, and I probably have the most well-kept home in the village. Of course, it doesn't help that most of the homes now make our village look like a shantytown. Rant over!!!!!

On 8/27/2025 at 9:14 AM, Walt Kowalski said:

The heat, the masks, the smells, the traffic, the tuk tuks, the delivery drivers, the 'hey my friends', the 'where you come froms', the trannies that say 'darling', the ones that never stop at zebra crossings & the ones that run red lights, the ever increasing prices, the constant flip flopping on bangkin and visas..

 

Anyone else feel like they are slowing going mad here?

 

When I moved from the UK to retire in Thailand, there were no such problems living among the Northern hills, mountains, lakes and rivers of Lanna - my kind of lifestyle!

On 8/27/2025 at 9:16 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

You get used to it, but yes, after 20 years here I'm slowly going mad.

Isn't going mad how you get used to it?

On 8/27/2025 at 9:14 AM, Walt Kowalski said:

The heat, the masks, the smells, the traffic, the tuk tuks, the delivery drivers, the 'hey my friends', the 'where you come froms', the trannies that say 'darling', the ones that never stop at zebra crossings & the ones that run red lights, the ever increasing prices, the constant flip flopping on bangkin and visas..

 

Anyone else feel like they are slowing going mad here?

it's all what you describe and much more, is what keeps you alert and planning your next move; i think without this you will surely slip into depression and senility. Try relocating near the ocean or the mountains where the pace is less hectic before you pull the pin. Just trying to help.

27 minutes ago, fittobethaied said:

I have lived here for 15 years, and everything about this country drove me crazy for years until I saw the US turning into a sh*thole country with all of its perverts and corrupt politicians. Suddenly, living in Thailand became the better alternative. I have pretty much accepted all of the negatives in living here, but my biggest disappointment has been the absolute deterioration of the Moo Ban in which I purchased a home in 2011. In the beginning it was pristine and had great amenities and homes, but once the developer moved on, the residents opted to let the local municipality take over the maintenance versus setting up a homeowner's association and having that entity oversee the upkeep. The HA was voted down over a measly monthly fee of 400 Baht required of all homeowners. Now, the village is in shambles, and it is a total embarrassment. Every time there is a new election for Director of the Tessaban, he comes around with all of his false promises to improve the infrastructure, then once he secures all of our votes, he disappears until the next election, and the village continues to deteriorate. There's no doubt in anyone's mind that any money set aside for our maintenance goes directly into the pockets of the higher-ups, and yet, the locals in the village continue to put up with the neglect and abuse and refuse to complain to anyone about it. It's absolutely pathetic!!! Home values were once on the rise substantially, but over the last several years they have continued to decline. Until now, after 14 years, my home is worth less than I paid for it, and I probably have the most well-kept home in the village. Of course, it doesn't help that most of the homes now make our village look like a shantytown. Rant over!!!!!

so other than that Thailand is pretty good..yes!

I used to think One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was a story. Now I know it is reality. My name is now Jack Nicholson or Martini.🙃🙃

    No.  Spouse and I travel about once or twice a year outside of the country and by the end of these trips we're happy to be back in Thailand.  

3 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Gee long time ago

Then aged 21, now 84.

On 8/27/2025 at 9:18 AM, jvs said:

Get the ultimate fix,go back to where you came from for one month!

You will be willing to crawl back to Thailand!

 

 

 

Where I came from was and still is an amazing place.  It's just a lot more expensive than Bangkok and I love it here as much as I loved it there.

If I had the money I'd definitely visit home more often to see the hundreds of friends that are still there, but I'd never live there, I get a lot more for my money in Bangkok. 

Actually some things back home are way better, the quality and availability of educated, sophisticated women for one; and the quality of male expats to have a bigger social group.

If you are so UNHAPPY here, why do you stay?

 

Have been here 12 years, and found my home.

 

Lived in Pattaya 2 years, great party town - problem was, I didnt spend my time in any watering hole.

Moved to BKK stayed with GF, there 1 year ( married her after 8 years - paid off her condo ) too damn much noise in BKK.  Moved to KORAT, stayed in a furnished condo ( outskirts of town ) for 2 years while looking for another place via scooter rental. 

Found OUR HOUSE ( 4 years now ), 2 BR, Indoor Kitchen, yard on 4 sides, 2 banana trees, car port, WiFi  cable TV, US TV, 2 AC's, a mango tree, fenced yard, now a veggie and herb garden, in a gated community with a GREAT landlord.

Fishing lake 2 minutes from door, several mom & pop stores ( now a new strip mall ) 3 minutes away, 2 restaurants and street food,  7-11 and Immigration 5, 10 & 15 minutes south of me, 4 major stores 15 minutes north of me. Hello electric trike ( 10,000bt one time ) for local travel, NO car upkeep or insurance ) We are 20 minutes from center city by taxi (averages 260bt round trip) we do go to the mall and take a bus to BKK monthly.

Temple 5 minutes ( for wife ) and they have regular non religious activities on weekends 2-3 times a month, same with socker field.

 

Outstanding loans to relatives, 1,500bt. HER farmer family takes care of themselves, 5 sisters, 1 brother. Family visits us usually only 2-3 days, we do the same.  I'm 79, she is 56.

 

WE could get by on $850USD monthly ( did it to see if could be done ) - paying all bills, eating good.

 

She gets 5,000bt a month personal allowance / savings monies,  Admitted, some months we blow 50,000+( holiday last month 57,000+ with  no savings. )

 

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION and LIFESTYLE is the key.

13 hours ago, Freddy42OZ said:

 

 

Where I came from was and still is an amazing place.  It's just a lot more expensive than Bangkok and I love it here as much as I loved it there.

If I had the money I'd definitely visit home more often to see the hundreds of friends that are still there, but I'd never live there, I get a lot more for my money in Bangkok. 

Actually some things back home are way better, the quality and availability of educated, sophisticated women for one; and the quality of male expats to have a bigger social group.

Sounds like you are living a Western life in Thailand, or is that only a "sometimes" thought? Sophisticated women & quality of male ex-pats? Remind me which planet you came from.🙃🙃

All depends on where you live here. I would certainly be losing the plot in my home country 

On 8/27/2025 at 9:14 AM, Walt Kowalski said:

Anyone else feel like they are slowing going mad here?

 

No. I think it's just you.

On 9/1/2025 at 4:16 PM, edwardflory said:

Lived in Pattaya 2 years, great party town - problem was, I didnt spend my time in any watering hole.

a lot of guys like being in a bar. i hate it. i'm better off having a beer on my balcony.

One Walt the OP on this thread joined late August did 100+ posts in his first week and hasn't been back for a week.

Hope he's OK, perhaps he was just a bot that didn't work out.