This topic is meant to be a bit of a piss take, so don't get your panties in a bunch about it. That said, it won’t apply to many of you crusty old gits, since most of you never even leave Thailand, let alone the house, your air-con, or the keyboard, and God forbid your beloved AN, the only thing you have left in life. OK, all kidding aside, even though I wasn’t completely kidding.

For those who do leave Thailand for extended periods, do you miss it when you are away? I sure don’t. Especially when I’m in parts of Europe. Great temperate weather. Beautiful ancient architecture. Food, don’t even get me started. Great wine, edible beef, cheese, chocolate, coffee, butter, a tub of hummus for a euro, peanut butter the same, strawberries, plums, peaches, raspberries, mandarin oranges, etc. And it's all locally made or grown stuff. Not imported and many times the price it should be. Don’t get me started. And of course people who have a much higher level of public awareness, not walking down the street plowing into you while staring at their phones. Humans actually look at each other and even smile because they aren't shy or scared to display public emotion. And people dress with a bit more individuality.

Anyway, I will stop with the comparisons because there will be no end to it. But really, what is there to miss about Thailand when you are away? The bleeding heat? The traffic? The visa nonsense? Maybe the noise and air pollution? The 60+ average road deaths per day? The rotting smell of garbage or open sewers in the streets?

Come on, prove me wrong. Let’s have it!

I don't miss Thailand, I miss my wife if she is not traveling with me.

When that is said, life is easier in Thailand, especially if you are well established with everything you need.

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

I don't miss Thailand, I miss my wife if she is not traveling with me.

When that is said, life is easier in Thailand, especially if you are well established with everything you need.

The same applies wherever you are. When you travel and stay in hotels, you often do not have everything you need, so it can feel less convenient. But if you stay in an apartment that has almost everything, and you bring or buy whatever else you need while you are there, then it is not really an issue. In any case, the topic is not about convenience. It is about whether you miss Thailand or not, and you already said you do not as long as your wife is with you. That supports my point.

Haven't been back in 8 years, and yes i miss all of it, hoping to go back permanently in the next 1-3 years.

3 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

This topic is meant to be a bit of a piss take, so don't get your panties in a bunch about it. That said, it won’t apply to many of you crusty old gits, since most of you never even leave Thailand, let alone the house, your air-con, or the keyboard, and God forbid your beloved AN, the only thing you have left in life. OK, all kidding aside, even though I wasn’t completely kidding.

For those who do leave Thailand for extended periods, do you miss it when you are away? I sure don’t. Especially when I’m in parts of Europe. Great temperate weather. Beautiful ancient architecture. Food, don’t even get me started. Great wine, edible beef, cheese, chocolate, coffee, butter, a tub of hummus for a euro, peanut butter the same, strawberries, plums, peaches, raspberries, mandarin oranges, etc. And it's all locally made or grown stuff. Not imported and many times the price it should be. Don’t get me started. And of course people who have a much higher level of public awareness, not walking down the street plowing into you while staring at their phones. Humans actually look at each other and even smile because they aren't shy or scared to display public emotion. And people dress with a bit more individuality.

Anyway, I will stop with the comparisons because there will be no end to it. But really, what is there to miss about Thailand when you are away? The bleeding heat? The traffic? The visa nonsense? Maybe the noise and air pollution? The 60+ average road deaths per day? The rotting smell of garbage or open sewers in the streets?

Come on, prove me wrong. Let’s have it!

So, you're trapped in Thailand for Songkran again? Sucks to be you.

Best wishes,

Chilling in Accrington

2 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

The same applies wherever you are. When you travel and stay in hotels, you often do not have everything you need, so it can feel less convenient. But if you stay in an apartment that has almost everything, and you bring or buy whatever else you need while you are there, then it is not really an issue. In any case, the topic is not about convenience. It is about whether you miss Thailand or not, and you already said you do not as long as your wife is with you. That supports my point.

After half-a-dozen hotel quarantines during COVID, I find myself averse to hotels and try to limit using them on my travels. I stay with friends whenever possible or serviced apartments where I feel less boxed in and can do my own cooking. I should try Airbnb some time before I expire.

As for Thailand, I miss it when I am away for more than a month. Wherever I am, I eventually get cabin fever and look forward to getting back to Thailand and the family. Then, about six weeks after my return to Thailand, I get cabin fever again and need to get away. My wife reckons I'm like a bloody yoyo but it's probably better than getting bitter and twisted like some "crusty old git". As my dad used to say, a change is as good as a rest.

2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

So, you're trapped in Thailand for Songkran again? Sucks to be you.

Best wishes,

Chilling in Accrington

Sorry to burst your bubble matey, but I'm neither in Thailand nor staying in a hotel. I'll let you use your tremendous maths and skills of deduction to figure out the rest. But since you're batting a thousand already, go for it, up 2 u nah. And Bob sends his regards.

2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

After half-a-dozen hotel quarantines during COVID, I find myself averse to hotels and try to limit using them on my travels. I stay with friends whenever possible or serviced apartments where I feel less boxed in and can do my own cooking. I should try Airbnb some time before I expire.

As for Thailand, I miss it when I am away for more than a month. Wherever I am, I eventually get cabin fever and look forward to getting back to Thailand and the family. Then, about six weeks after my return to Thailand, I get cabin fever again and need to get away. My wife reckons I'm like a bloody yoyo but it's probably better than getting bitter and twisted like some "crusty old git". As my dad used to say, a change is as good as a rest.

Yep changing the wallpaper is always good and healthy. But if you can't stand being in a place for more than six weeks then perhaps the issue comes down to "no matter where you go, you're always there." 😂

5 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

crusty old gits, since most of you never even leave Thailand, let alone the house, your air-con, or the keyboard, and God forbid your beloved AN, the only thing you have left in life.

I miss these guys 😂

1 minute ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I miss these guys 😂

Who doesn't, right? 🥳

6 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

This topic is meant to be a bit of a piss take, so don't get your panties in a bunch about it. That said, it won’t apply to many of you crusty old gits, since most of you never even leave Thailand, let alone the house, your air-con, or the keyboard, and God forbid your beloved AN, the only thing you have left in life. OK, all kidding aside, even though I wasn’t completely kidding.

For those who do leave Thailand for extended periods, do you miss it when you are away? I sure don’t. Especially when I’m in parts of Europe. Great temperate weather. Beautiful ancient architecture. Food, don’t even get me started. Great wine, edible beef, cheese, chocolate, coffee, butter, a tub of hummus for a euro, peanut butter the same, strawberries, plums, peaches, raspberries, mandarin oranges, etc. And it's all locally made or grown stuff. Not imported and many times the price it should be. Don’t get me started. And of course people who have a much higher level of public awareness, not walking down the street plowing into you while staring at their phones. Humans actually look at each other and even smile because they aren't shy or scared to display public emotion. And people dress with a bit more individuality.

Anyway, I will stop with the comparisons because there will be no end to it. But really, what is there to miss about Thailand when you are away? The bleeding heat? The traffic? The visa nonsense? Maybe the noise and air pollution? The 60+ average road deaths per day? The rotting smell of garbage or open sewers in the streets?

Come on, prove me wrong. Let’s have it!

Why bother assuming what anyone is doing in Thailand when you have no idea? Seeing you aren't here, why bother posting about Thailand at all? Now that I wondered about your motives................

Everyone knows there is better food in general outside of Thailand, including Thai food as good as you can get here, and is only one of the many reasons I will take my daughter out of here as soon as it can be arranged, but unless you are a frequent visitor here, meaning yearly and stay for awhile, why would anyone worry or bother about what goes on here anymore?

The only thing I will miss about here is my girlfriend, and some of the historical places I visited, but they're only places and memories. I will be looking forward to traveling to Europe myself for the history and food also. Just sayin', as there's not much here to miss anyway. It's just as hot in Texas and actually hotter during the summer, so the heat's not a problem, but the rainy season here isn't to be missed.

The weather is great most of the time. Lots of places have little traffic. Friendly people. Eating food on the beach served to you. Spending 20 baht on motorbike fuel to have a beach all to yourself. Being admired by women non stop. Having a beach bungalow discounted to you because you are nice to them. Receiving free food and transport.

I moved to Siem Reap from Thailand coming up to 1 year ago and come back for a visit every 5 months. The only things I miss are the swimming pool at my condo, my condo itself which is much bigger and luxurious than what I rent over there, and the 1st world shopping experience available in Bangkok and Pattaya. I need any personal items be it clothes, electronics, camera gear etc, that's part of my trip.

Nothing else

I just got back from a month in the US. The passport control in BKK was the worst I've encountered in 15 yrs. Guys without TDAC allowed to stay at the window doing it with official helping. Are you forking kidding me. Over an hour waiting.

I missed the vibe of a small beach community here in Thailand. I missed the ease of living, a slower pace, in one minute I can be at the beach, 7-11, restaurants.

Had my car worked on in USA, hourly rate is $150. Don't get me wrong, I love the US but my credit card took quite the hit.

Since I have residents, both here and in the US, I don't miss the other much when I am not there. But that could be because I do 6 months in each and am not away long enough. Of course, there are things I like better in each place.

I miss my regular short time girl and the swimming pool, not much else.

9 hours ago, Hummin said:

I don't miss Thailand, I miss my wife if she is not traveling with me.

When that is said, life is easier in Thailand, especially if you are well established with everything you need.

Bingo.

Really is dependent if in a relationship, which I usually am, when traveling. Rarely travelled solo. So never in a hurry to return anywhere. Only went back to USA twice, once for long weekend, once for few months.

Couldn't wait to get back ... to my daughter & wife/GF.

Locations are ... well, locations. All having their pros & cons. Most everything in OP, you have everywhere. Even if you have a few family & friends you connect with, you want to be with the ones you love the most. And return to them ASAP.

Who cares if the fish are biting, it's who you're fishing with that matters.

9 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

The same applies wherever you are. When you travel and stay in hotels, you often do not have everything you need, so it can feel less convenient. But if you stay in an apartment that has almost everything, and you bring or buy whatever else you need while you are there, then it is not really an issue. In any case, the topic is not about convenience. It is about whether you miss Thailand or not, and you already said you do not as long as your wife is with you. That supports my point.

That depends. Got the dog, wife, coffee making crap, microwave, camera kits, laptops & drone with me. If not for the Greenhouse & garden, we wouldn't need to go back home, as soon as we do.

Only have a house, since needing a permanent residence for Immigrations. If not for that, I'd have a pick up truck, so I could travel with anything else I could think of, that I'd need for more than 2 weeks O&A.

After 2 weeks, especially during rainy season, catching with weeds & grass is a bit much. Aside from wasted food growing. Need to pick the figs 😄

Big time. I travel back to America at least twice a year, and two to three weeks prior to my departure back to Thailand I start counting the days. I enjoy spending time back there, I get to do a lot of things back there that I can't do here. I have access to good friends, live music, theater, Independent films, fine wine and the kind of dining that I can't find here. And usually when I go in the spring and fall the weather is pleasant, mild and a really nice contrast from here.

But I find America to be rather joyless these days, and a lot of people are bitter, disappointed, sour and have a poor disposition, and almost completely humorless, unlike the Thais, who can be very light-hearted and love their sanuk sanuk. And everything there is ridiculously overpriced these days.

When You Are Away from Thailand, Do You Miss It?

Don't know - haven't left for 18 years.

12 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

This topic is meant to be a bit of a piss take, so don't get your panties in a bunch about it. That said, it won’t apply to many of you crusty old gits, since most of you never even leave Thailand, let alone the house, your air-con, or the keyboard, and God forbid your beloved AN, the only thing you have left in life. OK, all kidding aside, even though I wasn’t completely kidding.

For those who do leave Thailand for extended periods, do you miss it when you are away? I sure don’t. Especially when I’m in parts of Europe. Great temperate weather. Beautiful ancient architecture. Food, don’t even get me started. Great wine, edible beef, cheese, chocolate, coffee, butter, a tub of hummus for a euro, peanut butter the same, strawberries, plums, peaches, raspberries, mandarin oranges, etc. And it's all locally made or grown stuff. Not imported and many times the price it should be. Don’t get me started. And of course people who have a much higher level of public awareness, not walking down the street plowing into you while staring at their phones. Humans actually look at each other and even smile because they aren't shy or scared to display public emotion. And people dress with a bit more individuality.

Anyway, I will stop with the comparisons because there will be no end to it. But really, what is there to miss about Thailand when you are away? The bleeding heat? The traffic? The visa nonsense? Maybe the noise and air pollution? The 60+ average road deaths per day? The rotting smell of garbage or open sewers in the streets?

Come on, prove me wrong. Let’s have it!

Actually, Bangkok was my first accompanied assignment in 1976. As a single person military, I spent a couple of years in VN , then as a civilian another 2 years there without my family but I did become acquainted with Thailand and thought it would be great for my family. They agreed it was fun and different but wanted western style so we moved to Madrid which they liked a lot but which I didn't enjoy that much. So we moved back to Asia - Manila and I got into SCUBA - some of the best in the world for sure, plus a lot of golf courses were being built during that time. Then the family wanted western style again so we went to Rome for a couple of years. Then back to Asia - Manila again, then Bangkok again, and meanwhile I was doing a lot of shorter assignments in both Europe and Asia. During all this time I kept a log - yeah really anal for sure but included all the good and the bad of every place I did get to work and spend some time at. When my retirement started to hit me in the face, I went through my logs and number one in just about every category was Thailand. I retired here over 20 years ago and have travelled back to the states several times and occasionally over 4-5 months but always missed Thailand. Last 10 years, I only left Thailand to go visit my college daughter in Seoul for a week but did miss Thailand while I was away. I could easily live in the US financially but do not like the weather changes nor a lot of the states. I grew up in MD and definitely could not live there although I do have a daughter that still lives and works there. She spent most of her pre-college life overseas and once back in the US going to college, found a career and likes living there. Almost all my relatives do live in the states, most in the eastern part but I do hear a lot of complaints about life there. Here, on the forum of course I hear a lot of complaints too. I belong to the European forum (several countries) and the PI forum) and smile as many of the complaints are the same as those on this forum. Meanwhile, after more than 40 years here in Thailand, I still feel that I am in paradise. i speak the language, love the available foods and all the seasons other than the "burning one". Last week, there was an article about the number of fires in Thailand reaching an alltime high - i think high 5xxx's and today noted that even if Thailand put out all the fires, Laos still has over 9000 today, Myanmar has theirs, Cambodia and Vietnam too so I guess there will always be a "burning season" with high pollution in the CM area where I live but thanks to the avaliability of air purifiers, life can continue during this short period before the rains come back. My diet is based on Dr. Li's books of healthy food (all available here year round) research, I have no real body fat, exercise regularly and am approaching 80 years of age this year. When my visa runs out in 8 years, i hope to be able to extend it another 10 years while staying here. I do wish the best for all, if not happy here then my advice would be for you to seek another land as there are quite a few really great places.

12 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

The same applies wherever you are. When you travel and stay in hotels, you often do not have everything you need, so it can feel less convenient. But if you stay in an apartment that has almost everything, and you bring or buy whatever else you need while you are there, then it is not really an issue. In any case, the topic is not about convenience. It is about whether you miss Thailand or not, and you already said you do not as long as your wife is with you. That supports my point.

I did not say I do not miss Thailand. I do. But I also have other things I prioritize, and they keep me occupied while I am away.

When my wife is not travelling with me, the one thing I truly miss is her. And when I am abroad with my wife, I miss my dog, my cat, the easy life on the farm, and the view. But even then, the most important thing to me is still my wife.

Of course, if I were stuck in Norway for too long, I would miss Thailand — or any place with sun, smiles, and a good climate. But while I am in Thailand, I can miss other things instead: clean air, the fjords, the sky, cold water, seafood, and that whole feeling of the north.

No matter where we are, we will always miss something when it is no longer around us. That is just part of life.

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Big time. I travel back to America at least twice a year, and two to three weeks prior to my departure back to Thailand I start counting the days. I enjoy spending time back there, I get to do a lot of things back there that I can't do here. I have access to good friends, live music, theater, Independent films, fine wine and the kind of dining that I can't find here. And usually when I go in the spring and fall the weather is pleasant, mild and a really nice contrast from here.

But I find America to be rather joyless these days, and a lot of people are bitter, disappointed, sour and have a poor disposition, and almost completely humorless, unlike the Thais, who can be very light-hearted and love their sanuk sanuk. And everything there is ridiculously overpriced these days.

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I haven't seen any changes in people there in all my 69 years. It all depends on the people you hang around with, and family. America hasn't changed as far as humor. In fact, comedy has increased in the last 2 decades, where more and more people enjoy the comedy clubs that weren't around as much back then. When I'm back, I'm home, and it' s a huge relief being in a place where everything feels normal, the smiles are real, as well as the scowls, which are honest.

The weather back home of course is much better, especially if you live not too far north. 4 seasons, unlike 2 here, hot and too much rain, with less things to do in both unless you live at the beach. Staying inside you can do anywhere. If you love the beaches and islands, I see that as a positive, but take away those younger girls and what else is attractive?

It's always been a friendly place, with people talking to you who are strangers, whereas here with the language, unless you really are fluent, you can't have a real conversation.

People here aren't as happy as you think, as poverty is felt all over. Gossip is huge here because of this, as gossip comes mainly from people who are angry and or bored. Lakorns are just as big as they are back home, and it's a fake fantasy many live for, and it ruins relationships as it's not how normal people live. Happens back home also, but here with the lower wages, jealousy rears it's head a lot more.

The country people don't do much besides tend to farms 6 days a week, with vacations happening once in awhile, usually locally. A pretty boring existence for millions, with many seeing what those who have foreign husbands have and want it for themselves. Again the jealousy is there, and those smiles you see aren't happy ones. What's true is that those who never see or have, won't miss it, but it's becoming less and less with all the foreigners having wives and girlfriends here, along with children who also have more, and half foreign kids aren't treated the same, as this link shows............https://counsellingthailand.com/luk-khrueng-%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B9%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B6%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87/#luk5.

10 hours ago, NanLaew said:

So, you're trapped in Thailand for Songkran again? Sucks to be you.

Best wishes,

Chilling in Accrington

Accrington Stanley !!!! who are they.

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

did not say I do not miss Thailand.

Looks like you're having a bit of amnesia. 😂

14 hours ago, Hummin said:

I don't miss Thailand

8 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Being admired by women non stop. Having a beach bungalow discounted to you because you are nice to them. Receiving free food and transport.

Fantasies are great. 🤣

4 minutes ago, SoCal1990 said:

Looks like you're having a bit of amnesia. 😂

If you want to be bickering and pick answers apart just for fun, do you are welcome 🤗

enjoy

Good to go and great to return🙂🙃

Felt

4 minutes ago, Hummin said:

If you want to be bickering and pick answers apart just for fun, do you are welcome 🤗

enjoy

I simply quoted the first 4 words of what you wrote with nothing taken out of context. But if you prefer your own version of reality we can go with that instead. 👍🏼

Try saying the above in a court of law in front of a judge and let me know how that works out for you. 😂

Yes I miss it.

Looking down at a cute 20 year old with braces is almost impossible where I am from.