When I first came here, it was all pretty predictable.

Nights out, bars, always somewhere busy. That was the routine.

These days it’s different. Quieter, less going out. I still drop in now and then, but it’s not the center of things anymore.

The scene itself feels different too.Fewer girls around, or just moved online?

Prices definitely not what they used to be Thailand not quite the “cheap” place it once was

So sometimes I wonder…

has the place changed, or have I?

Do you still live the same way… or maybe moved on from it?

And do you miss how it used to be? I know I do, but then getting older sucks too!

Sounds like you have changed.

Happens when one get older.

Neither, I'm the same, as is TH. TH upped their infrastructure, but the rest is the same.

I've certainly changed in the 22 years I've been living in Pattaya. I was becoming less of a barfly anyway, but Covid and the loss of two of my best friends really seems to have made me lose interest in going out. Nowadays I prefer to just stay at home in the late afternoon with a cold beer, maybe pruning the flowers or just reading a book or magazine, or listening to music. It's not been a deliberate change on my part, it just sort of happened. Perhaps even more oddly, all my closest friends here now are Thai, even though I'm still friendly with quite a few farangs. At this rate, if I last another decade I'll probably have become a monk and joined a monastery, lol.

1 hour ago, Merlin said:

Do you still live the same way

I got rid of the mother of my children, these days things have changed for me.

I now have a sexy young new girlfriend, she takes care of me, I spoil her to death.

We have all changed no doubt, but the place has changed dramatically. From a standpoint of nightlife Thailand is a pale shadow of what it once was, for single men the quality of available women is a pale shadow of what it once was, and the bar scene it's nothing like what a once was.

It seems part of the problem now is that beautiful young women have way too many options online, and men seem to be more emotionally vulnerable than they have ever been, so they seem to be willing to spill all kinds of money, in many instances without having even met the woman. Oh well. At least we can say we were there to see it in the glory days.

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I got rid of the mother of my children, these days things have changed for me.

I now have a sexy young new girlfriend, she takes care of me, I spoil her to death.

How did you get rid of her? Did she leave you or was she not decent? Was she good to you for awhile and changed? That does happen as I know. You're spoiling this one now, but what happens to her if she "changes"? I know you have 6 kids, are they all from women here or some western?

I've not changed much since living here. Just a little older and wiser. No more children for me and only here until we can move back to Texas. I haven't noticed any changes since moving here. The same happens all the time in my area. Maybe I've noticed more people who are overweight than when I first moved here but I could have been blinded, concentrating on the pretty, slim ones and not noticing the others until I settled in.

Yes, depends how long you've been here. But I agree with the OP. Things have changed but so have I. You're right about the 'scene' if you mean girls. Yes, pretty sure they've gone online. Makes more sense. They don't need to put up with the BS of drunken farangs or others at the bars, and they don't need to sit there drinking all night. If they can get 2-3 guys a day online, that's better for them. I think that's part of what we are seeing in the nightlife areas (which becomes less intersting as a result of that and age). Also, it's obviously become more expensive for many things. You'd only notice this if you've been here 15-20 years or so (IMO).

I don't think the scene has changed that much. But, if a person has lived here for awhile there is definitely a burn out factor. Just a quiet evening at home watching a movie is more enjoyable at this point.

4 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I got rid of the mother of my children, these days things have changed for me.

I now have a sexy young new girlfriend, she takes care of me, I spoil her to death.

Is the women of your 6 children OK? I would hope you set her up well so she could get on with her life. You seem insecure and need a beautiful GF that you spend lavishly on to feel important. I seriously doubt this new woman would like you in the least minus the money. Doubt this dream of yours is going to end well but maybe you're the exception :)

Pattaya and Bangkok look like Zanzibar after covid. If you say Thailand hasn't changed you need to have your head examined.

In 2028 I was set to return to Bangkok with wifey. I think I have a better idea. Move to KL. Cheap world class food, cheap rentals, cheap hotels, cheap everything. If wifey wants to visit her parents it's a short 2 hour flight. I am also considering Osaka 6 months a year.

14 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Neither, I'm the same, as is TH. TH upped their infrastructure, but the rest is the same.

You mean the girls got bigger ?

15 hours ago, Guderian said:

I've certainly changed in the 22 years I've been living in Pattaya. I was becoming less of a barfly anyway, but Covid and the loss of two of my best friends really seems to have made me lose interest in going out. Nowadays I prefer to just stay at home in the late afternoon with a cold beer, maybe pruning the flowers or just reading a book or magazine, or listening to music. It's not been a deliberate change on my part, it just sort of happened. Perhaps even more oddly, all my closest friends here now are Thai, even though I'm still friendly with quite a few farangs. At this rate, if I last another decade I'll probably have become a monk and joined a monastery, lol.

So your not like the other farangs ,living in shoebox flats in say the Nirun Condominiums or Flybird Condominium

You actually have a garden , beautiful

9 hours ago, Celsius said:

Pattaya and Bangkok look like Zanzibar after covid. If you say Thailand hasn't changed you need to have your head examined.

In 2028 I was set to return to Bangkok with wifey. I think I have a better idea. Move to KL. Cheap world class food, cheap rentals, cheap hotels, cheap everything. If wifey wants to visit her parents it's a short 2 hour flight. I am also considering Osaka 6 months a year.

Is KL cheaper?

33 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Is KL cheaper?

KL is more consistent, cleaner, more predictable and good quality international food. I like Kl more than Bangkok. And if I was going to retire in a city, KL would be first choice in Asia.

IA replies to my statement:

So if your priorities are stability, cleanliness, predictability, and dependable international dining, KL is often the better fit.

If your priorities are energy, scale, street life, and constant novelty, Bangkok usually wins.

A simple way to put it:

KL = easier to live with

Bangkok = more stimulating to explore

10 hours ago, Celsius said:

Pattaya and Bangkok look like Zanzibar after covid. If you say Thailand hasn't changed you need to have your head examined.

In 2028 I was set to return to Bangkok with wifey. I think I have a better idea. Move to KL. Cheap world class food, cheap rentals, cheap hotels, cheap everything. If wifey wants to visit her parents it's a short 2 hour flight. I am also considering Osaka 6 months a year.

Thought it was too hot in KL but it's cooler than Bangkok. Never really considered KL an option for me. Always good to have somewhere near Thailand just incase something happens and a move is required. Do you need a car and how is the traffic?

An offensive troll post has been removed @Ralf001

16 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

How did you get rid of her? Did she leave you or was she not decent? Was she good to you for awhile and changed? That does happen as I know. You're spoiling this one now, but what happens to her if she "changes"? I know you have 6 kids, are they all from women here or some western?

I was in my 30's when we met, we were together for a long time, we drifted apart, still friends, I help her out occasionally.

We are still quite close, she's had conversations with my ex girlfriend brother, grandmother, mother, she's offered to take care of my recent baby so my ex girlfriend can go back to work.

My baby's mother and I are no longer together, still friends.

13 hours ago, atpeace said:

Is the women of your 6 children OK

You seem insecure and need a beautiful GF that you spend lavishly on to feel important.

Doubt this dream of yours is going to end well but maybe you're the exception

6 children, 3 mothers

They all are looked after well.

I've been working on offshore drilling rigs for decades, I have too much money, I spoil all my partners to death, they enjoy it, I enjoy their company.

I have lots of haters here, your comment, nothing new.

I'm living the dream

Everyone changes but Thailand has changed dramatically in the last 20y or so and anyone that says it hasn’t either wasn’t here or was too switched off to notice. It’s gotten all middle class, normal and expensive, while the ‘smart’phone has ruined people (esp women) beyond repair.

When I first came out it was, without doubt, much better, much more lively.........1990.

Bars everywhere............derelict buildings, under flyovers, waste land, disused multi-story carparks......street food everywhere, market stalls ................. buzzing.

Now......'proper' shops and bars and a lot the street food and markets banned.

19 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I got rid of the mother of my children, these days things have changed for me.

I now have a sexy young new girlfriend, she takes care of me, I spoil her to death.

Canceling their lifetime subscription and switching to pay-per-view is quite common among those struggling with their midlife crisis.

14 hours ago, Celsius said:

Pattaya and Bangkok look like Zanzibar after covid. If you say Thailand hasn't changed you need to have your head examined.

In 2028 I was set to return to Bangkok with wifey. I think I have a better idea. Move to KL. Cheap world class food, cheap rentals, cheap hotels, cheap everything. If wifey wants to visit her parents it's a short 2 hour flight. I am also considering Osaka 6 months a year.

I'll be interested if by 2028, somone can bake a decent bread loaf in KL. Oh, and offer something more than bloody Kilkenny on draft in another naff Irish-themed pub.

20 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Neither, I'm the same, as is TH. TH upped their infrastructure, but the rest is the same.

Talking of infrastructure, i notice that my nutsack hangs lower than it did about 40 years ago when I fell from the sky at Don Muang. I'll be interested to hear if anyone has had to get a scrotum tuck.

4 hours ago, Hummin said:

KL is more consistent, cleaner, more predictable and good quality international food. I like Kl more than Bangkok. And if I was going to retire in a city, KL would be first choice in Asia.

IA replies to my statement:

So if your priorities are stability, cleanliness, predictability, and dependable international dining, KL is often the better fit.

If your priorities are energy, scale, street life, and constant novelty, Bangkok usually wins.

A simple way to put it:

KL = easier to live with

Bangkok = more stimulating to explore

If anyone thinks that dealing with Thai bureaucracy is a ball ache as you get older, better get that scrotum tuck before you settle down in Malaysia.

I first visited in 2000.

I used to go to bars in Nana Plaza to admire the girls shoes...

... cuz that's all they were wearing.

Now that was entertainment.

24 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

I first visited in 2000.

I used to go to bars in Nana Plaza to admire the girls shoes...

... cuz that's all they were wearing.

Now that was entertainment.

Had to fulfill that 2 garment requirement, shoes and Gstring, while shaking on stage and serving suds. Just lovely

OK, a couple things have changed 🙄

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

6 children, 3 mothers

They all are looked after well.

I've been working on offshore drilling rigs for decades, I have too much money, I spoil all my partners to death, they enjoy it, I enjoy their company.

I have lots of haters here, your comment, nothing new.

I'm living the dream

As long as you're spending time with those kids you're doing the most important thing. Money with absence never makes anything right. Spoiling the kids with gifts and no real time makes them think they're owed in life. Children need a dad more than anything else in life until they leave the house. A married partner is number one, the children two. An unmarried partner is always number two behind the children. The reason most children go haywire is an absent or abusive and neglective father.

I think i never had the pink glasses, and never travelled for the girls,

32 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

If anyone thinks that dealing with Thai bureaucracy is a ball ache as you get older, better get that scrotum tuck before you settle down in Malaysia.

never had a problem, just annoying when you think you are all set, and you have to do it again, but renewal of retirement, is a walk the park when you first got it.

23 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Had to fulfill that 2 garment requirement, shoes and Gstring, while shaking on stage and serving suds. Just lovely

OK, a couple things have changed 🙄

I don't remember there being G-strings.