Yeah, yeah, yeah I know it's me but for all those who disagree it will be interesting to hear your views.
I don't know about you, but I could be living on the moon.
What do I mean, although I am here physically there is absolutely no way I am here mentally.
I tried to settle here prior to the internet, which I did successfully. Looking back a big deal at the time.
My day revolved having my edition of the Bangkok Post delivered to me on the beach at 4:00PM.
Hey don't knock it that was rocket science at the time, previously it involved going in to town to see if the same day's edition had arrived.
The internet was of course proverbial at the time, the original message in a bottle that came with a fibre optic cable attached to it. By the way does anybody still use a phone to talk to people.
But I digress, I am living here mentally in another world, that Thailand rarely if ever has any reverence.
Although I'm here, in reality I just could be anywhere.

There was a time however I did try to break through.
You know what I mean, trying to find a connection, something in common, that we could in fact relate to.
After weeks of exhaustive research I narrowed it down to the following : Takraw, Nok Krong Hua Juk, Kai Chon and Manchester United.
Coincidentally and ironically up to this point nobody had referred to the option of sex.
So one day I just had to know, if they knew just want might be over the hill in the distance. I mean just what was on the other side of it.
This was effectively a bridge too far, I had reached their limits.
Thankfully a degree of trust had developed, so I was able to get this old worthy to become more forth coming, and finally extracted the following from him.
Let me tell you son, in this village I know all those who have <deleted>  who, further more all those that are currently <deleted> who, and finally my dear boy all those that will <deleted> who in the future.
But to this day I still don't know what's on the other side of that hill.

Edited June 1Jun 1 by John Smith 777

Many foreigners come to Thailand and find precisely what they came for, which usually involves the movement of a bit of money in one direction and satisfaction in the other: comfort, convenience, companionship, escape, or adventure. There is nothing wrong with that. The arrangement often works rather well. But an exchange is not the same as understanding.

To understand a place, one must eventually be invited beyond what is being offered. That invitation cannot be purchased, and it is rarely accompanied by an explanation. It comes in its own time, if it comes at all.

The hill was never the obstacle, mate. The real error was assuming that because you were standing in the village, you already knew what lay on the other side.

Edited June 1Jun 1 by Gary The Git

Coming to Thailand is different for everyone. One thing I have found in common is that people who have not travelled extensively beyond their own area of the world find it difficult when they come to Thailand.

To feel a part of any country you need to be open minded and prepared to understand the difference. If you don't understand the differences you cant embrace them and it is then you feel that you are looking at the country from afar.

@John Smith 777 Reality check! If you walk out, look at the sky, and your eyes and brain tell you that you can see the moon far away. Then, most probably both your mentality and body are in the same place.

Yes true OP,in every sense. But what you suggest is the meaning of life,and that is death,death is rapidly catching up on you,and Thailand is giving you the freedom to escape those thoughts temporarily,but medical expenses will surely make a dent in your thinking pattern,old age (if you are not a mug) guide you back into the arms of the NHS.

I've done it,kept me alive for far longer than imagined,and shovelled a heap of money in my direction in the mean time...meantime Thailand? give it no thought,carry on as tho everything is imagined

Aseannow is getting weirder ,what's he on about ,people just seem to be thinking too much,

The Bangkok post thing i stopped it been delivered 20 years ago ,and never looked back 😃

I have read his post 5 times and still cannot fathom what he is trying to get across.

regards worgeordie

23 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Aseannow is getting weirder

Anything goes in the Pub forum, it's the best.

Pub forum and the Dear Abby colouum my favourites, your guaranteed a laugh 🫪

Edited June 1Jun 1 by SAFETY FIRST

I don't know about you, but I could be living on the moon.

No, you couldn't.

Do you have any supporting evidence to substantiate your claim?

6 hours ago, John Smith 777 said:

There was a time however I did try to break through.
You know what I mean, trying to find a connection, something in common, that we could in fact relate to.

I don't know what it is with all this connection and wishing to know about Thai society.

Most people in their own country don't even talk to their neighbor who is three doors away. Let alone someone from a different society.

Simply live here. Find a few expat/farang mates (golf/motorcycling/running/whatever) and enjoy the palm trees and sunshine.

5 hours ago, Photoguy21 said:

Coming to Thailand is different for everyone. One thing I have found in common is that people who have not travelled extensively beyond their own area of the world find it difficult when they come to Thailand.

To feel a part of any country you need to be open minded and prepared to understand the difference. If you don't understand the differences you cant embrace them and it is then you feel that you are looking at the country from afar.

Good post.

It's all about background, isn't it?

Before coming here I traveled overland across Asia on the Hippie Trail riding two-up on a friends BMW 650.

That, and earlier travels in Europe and the Caribbean sort of prepared me for the omnipresent weirdnesses we found here in the late 1970s.

3 hours ago, CMHomeboy78 said:

Good post.

It's all about background, isn't it?

Before coming here I traveled overland across Asia on the Hippie Trail riding two-up on a friends BMW 650.

That, and earlier travels in Europe and the Caribbean sort of prepared me for the omnipresent weirdnesses we found here in the late 1970s.

Live in a foreign country for more than half your life, then go back to your native country and the omnipresent weirdness feels even more intense.

11 minutes ago, Harry Tuchas said:

Live in a foreign country for more than half your life, then go back to your native country and the omnipresent weirdness feels even more intense.

It sure does.

The USA that I grew up in no longer exists.

But hey, to each his own.

19 hours ago, John Smith 777 said:

Let me tell you son, in this village I know all those who have <deleted>  who, further more all those that are currently <deleted> who, and finally my dear boy all those that will <deleted> who in the future.

I reckon he's <deleted>ing with you.

Well the AI bot posts are getting to be a bit more sophisticated than the earlier Lewd Louie or whatever used to post. Not quite there yet though.

15 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

don't know about you, but I could be living on the moon.

Would you still be able to post on AN if you were?. Hope not!

19 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

@John Smith 777 Reality check! If you walk out, look at the sky, and your eyes and brain tell you that you can see the moon far away. Then, most probably both your mentality and body are in the same place.

19 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

@John Smith 777 Reality check! If you walk out, look at the sky, and your eyes and brain tell you that you can see the moon far away. Then, most probably both your mentality and body are in the same place.

I think you would like it on Mars where the little green men can deliver your paper every day at 4pm. Elon will give you a lift in one of his rockets ...if they don't blow up first.

Don't know about the moon but having lived and worked in countries on four continents over many years life in Thailand is as good as in many and better than most.

16 hours ago, CMHomeboy78 said:

Good post.

It's all about background, isn't it?

Before coming here I traveled overland across Asia on the Hippie Trail riding two-up on a friends BMW 650.

That, and earlier travels in Europe and the Caribbean sort of prepared me for the omnipresent weirdnesses we found here in the late 1970s.

It definitely is. If you have an open mind you can live happily anywhere. I have lived and worked in many places from Canada to Papua New Guinea so I find Thailand easy to live in.

bob smith is back, 'eh?

22 hours ago, wavodavo said:

I think you would like it on Mars where the little green men can deliver your paper every day at 4pm. Elon will give you a lift in one of his rockets ...if they don't blow up first.

Was that your professional assessment?