Just now, daveAustin said:

but feel lucky to be able to stay here all the same.

The world is bigger than Thailand.

 

Eric.

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

You must ask a lot of guys for sex

...I'm straight.

 

Eric.

Just now, Stressed Eric said:

...I'm straight.

 

Eric.

Then why 3 ladyboys a year?

Just now, Harrisfan said:

Then why 3 ladyboys a year?

cos that don't make ya queer!

 

Eric.

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

I agree with you, if I wasn't already here with a house, local wife and kids, I wouldn't be coming now as a newly retired person.

The Philippines and Vietnam have just been trashed by storms.

Cambodia is deep in the dodo from the border closures.

There must be somewhere better for n00bs, but I don't know where!

In SEAsia if cheap is the main criteria - then check out Philippines where there is good strong buildings, and keep an eye on Vietnam who are putting together a long term Visa deal to attract retirees.  The Philippines is not all bad - just like there are parts of Thailand that flood badly and many where it does not, there are many places in Philippines where the storms are not a huge problem like in the poorer areas/villages. They speak English and have good infrastructure and services.  Vietnam is very cheap and friendly and is not so 'tourist aggressive' as Thailand - but they dont have the infrastructure and services everywhere (yet).   Then there are the other 'newer' candidates where the Yanks are now going - Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador.  And of course the Europeans are now looking more at Portugal, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Croatia. Spain used to be 'big' but they have done what Thailand is doing and Expats have been leaving and new ones not arriving - only the 'opposite of quality' and Sexpats now remain/visit.  

5 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Despite not being what it was, Thailand is still on orders of magnitude better than my neck of the woods. I’ll have a whinge, typically regards the shysters in control here, but feel lucky to be able to stay here all the same. The alternative is unthinkable. 

Where is unthinkable?

30 minutes ago, marin said:

Isnt that the truth. Never venturing out of the "farang enclaves". Never getting to know the real Thai's. Sharing a laugh a beer and a meal are unknown to them. Rather than integrate they whine. Eric/bob/susan being a prime example. These kind of people will be unhappy wherever they choose to live. I make it a point to stay well clear of naysayers like this. 

 

In fact there's no need to mix with these unhappy folks. 

 

I got posted to Thailand, quickly met a wonderful lady, a Dr. of medicine, she spoke perfect English from 12 years of medical studies in Australia (basc MD, and 2 speciaist studies). We soon got into a great relatonship, adopted one son.

She came from poverty, way b4 the internet, searched everywhere for medical scholarhip etc. went to Oz speaking close to zero english but the scholarship included a sizeable study of English to get started.

Here is LOS she worked for a famous hospital but on week-ends she conducted free clinics for the poor, often unde a big shady tree. Our son was in charge of greeting attendees, seating them, giving them a snack and water.

We only spoke to our son in English and his skill developed quickly.

My wife passed away from lung cancer. She never smoked 1 cigarette in her life. Lung cancer also took all her siblings and her mother. They all dies from second hand smoke from their chain smoking father, including at the meal table, in the car and 2 or 3 times every night and house always stank of cigarette smoke,

Today I am an old man, I live with my Thai son and his Thai wife, another wonderfuk lady and their 4 kids. Both have very advanced educayion.

They take care of me, love me, pamper me 24/7.

Son's wife has problems with her siblings re bad farangs but that's from a specific incident and this could have happened in any country.

Life for me is great. 

1 minute ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

In SEAsia if cheap is the main criteria - then check out Philippines where there is good strong buildings, and keep an eye on Vietnam who are putting together a long term Visa deal to attract retirees.  The Philippines is not all bad - just like there are parts of Thailand that flood badly and many where it does not, there are many places in Philippines where the storms are not a huge problem like in the poorer areas/villages. They speak English and have good infrastructure and services.  Vietnam is very cheap and friendly and is not so 'tourist aggressive' as Thailand - but they dont have the infrastructure and services everywhere (yet).   Then there are the other 'newer' candidates where the Yanks are now going - Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador.  And of course the Europeans are now looking more at Portugal, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Croatia. Spain used to be 'big' but they have done what Thailand is doing and Expats have been leaving and new ones not arriving - only the 'opposite of quality' and Sexpats now remain/visit.  

Cambodia visa is easy. 

8 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

UK wins at 97% poop!

Chiang Mai 45% not bad

Feel free to leave at any time.

2 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Cambodia visa is easy. 

and they love tourists there, can't do enough for them!

 

Eric.

Udon

 

Friendly

400 baht with pool

Nice food

Nice markets

 

 

Only 2 farangs in that hotel.

 

 

Just now, Harrisfan said:

Udon

 

Friendly

400 baht with pool

Nice food

Nice markets

 

 

Only 2 farangs in that hotel.

 

 

what's the point when you are glued to the stool in soi 6?

 

Eric.

1 hour ago, Stressed Eric said:

With the constant changing of the laws, the ever more regressive policies being announced/implemented, the dual pricing, the pollution, the constant ripping off, the fake smiles & the passive aggressive behavior of the locals (or even overt aggressive behavior, see Miss Universe), one really does have to wonder - why on earth would anyone want to holiday/live here these days?

 

Thailand is not what it once was, it is a shadow of it's former self and anyone who can't see that is living in denial imo.

 

Eric.

Stop comparing Thailand today with 20 years ago. Compare Thailand with other countries. Where is better then?

Just now, Stressed Eric said:

what's the point when you are glued to the stool in soi 6?

 

Eric.

You got no idea. Udon has honeys in restaurants. 

Thailand has certainaly changed over the past 25 years. When we first arrived, the tourist activities were aimed at Thai cultural events. Young backpackers on their Gap Year travels came to go trekking and do homestays with Hilltribes. They kept busy taking classes in Yoga, Massage, Silversmithing, Ceramics, Photography,  and dance. They went to museums and Kantoke shows. Now they come to drink beer and go tubing. They come for the Full Moon Party and the Half Moon Party. (These things just 'happen' to take place in Thailand, so they come here.)
Are there still Kantoke dinner shows being presented? I never see advertisements for them. 
Remember the giant Chiang Dao Market on Tuesday mornings? Several hundred meters with hundreds of vendors. Lahu, Lisu, Pawlong, Karen, Paduang hilltribe families in full costume doing their weekly shopping. Gone.
Now it's a small square of vendors, looking just like any other fresh market. No more truckloads of folks from the mountains coming down in costume.  Might as well visit Chiang Mai Gate Market.

All that said, none of this has any I'mpact on my life. We still go to the same places to shop, same restaurants to eat, and same places to play, all around Chiang Mai. Life in Thailand hasn't changed for us. As the famous guy once said, 'It goes on.'  We're pretty happy about that.  🙂

 

Just now, sidjameson said:

Stop comparing Thailand today with 20 years ago. Compare Thailand with other countries. Where is better then?

Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Costa Rica, Tahiti...

 

Surely you don't want me to list them all??

 

Eric.

Just now, Stressed Eric said:

Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Costa Rica, Tahiti...

 

Surely you don't want me to list them all??

 

Eric.

Well then stop sitting on the lb and move

2 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

You got no idea. Udon has honeys in restaurants. 

I've been there multiple times and tasted said honey...

 

There's more to life than sex!

 

Eric.

1 minute ago, Stressed Eric said:

I've been there multiple times and tasted said honey...

 

There's more to life than sex!

 

Eric.

But I do women. You do ladyboys.

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

But I do women. You do ladyboys.

I do both!

 

Eric.

Just now, Stressed Eric said:

I do both!

 

Eric.

 

Absolutely.  Everyone dabbles.

2 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

Absolutely.  Everyone dabbles.

No they don't.

Just now, Harrisfan said:

No they don't.

stop living in denial!

 

Eric.

Just now, Stressed Eric said:

stop living in denial!

 

Eric.

They look too creepy for me.

1 minute ago, Stressed Eric said:

stop living in denial!

 

Eric.

 

It's usually those that deny it the most, that secretly indulge the most!

1 minute ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

It's usually those that deny it the most, that secretly indulge the most!

And how do you know this?

1 hour ago, Stressed Eric said:

With the constant changing of the laws, the ever more regressive policies being announced/implemented, the dual pricing, the pollution, the constant ripping off, the fake smiles & the passive aggressive behavior of the locals (or even overt aggressive behavior, see Miss Universe), one really does have to wonder - why on earth would anyone want to holiday/live here these days?

 

Thailand is not what it once was, it is a shadow of it's former self and anyone who can't see that is living in denial imo.

 

Eric.

Nice controversial topic there Bob....  Bound to generate lots of posts eh? (wink)

2 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

They look too creepy for me.

I had one a couple weeks ago.

 

She/he was anything but creepy, and was hotter than all of the girls at the bar and went like the clappers all night!

 

Eric.

Just now, Stressed Eric said:

I had one a couple weeks ago.

 

She/he was anything but creepy, and was hotter than all of the girls at the bar and went like the clappers all night!

 

Eric.

You must have a sore bum