Wow, How long have you been in Thailand.

Thai's are generally reserved, have muted emotions overall, higher tolerance, accepting, seek living in harmony, and desire respect.

You want Wow, some people still live sleeping on hard bedding and only a Fan in their room. (Respect). Some work outside all day and Don't require Medical Assistance because of the heat.

What we like about Thailand is the flexibility, understanding, being accountable for ones own actions. Thailand seems to follow the if something is occurring but is not a danger to the community, and people should be able to live their live their way and style if it's not to far outside societal norms in that location.

Wow, a country that with limited resources, lack of equipment and/or tools and was able to achieve great standards.

(Healthcare, Electric, Water, Internet, Roads, affordable public transportation, affordable labor) Woowwwww

54 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

"Nearly every day something happens that surprises me here in America"

YES😁

Me too. 10% monthly increases in both goods and services always comes as a surprise.

I saw this today and it made me go "wow" too. A Thai elephant made his own backscratcher.

After over 60 years of visiting, working and residing in Thailand I still find it an enchanting, entertaining and interesting place to live.

Covid was a portal for humans to evolve...and parts of Thailand (Phuket, Samui, Pattaya) are evolving into Clip Joint cities...like New York, Vegas, LA, Miami, and other clip joint cities in the rest of the world.

The market will determine if they succeed, but based on history, they will.....

On 7/6/2026 at 1:16 AM, 123Stodg said:

Or maybe there are still plenty of those “wow” moments out there, and I’ve simply stopped noticing them.

Seems like you already found the answer — after many years in same location the wow-factor simply decrease — Thailand still has a huge lot of 'wow' to newcomers, or just expats that gets out of the inner circle and realize that the is something, if not a lot, 'wow' outside, but still inside the Kingdom...

On 7/6/2026 at 12:29 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

My life in Thailand is not about that, I enjoy the simple things, the smile, hospitality, pleasantness.

Everytime I look at the west, genuinely makes me stop and think, then I want to vomit.

On 7/6/2026 at 12:29 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

My life in Thailand is not about that, I enjoy the simple things, the smile, hospitality, pleasantness.

Everytime I look at the west, genuinely makes me stop and think, then I want to vomit.

On 7/6/2026 at 12:29 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

My life in Thailand is not about that, I enjoy the simple things, the smile, hospitality, pleasantness.

Everytime I look at the west, genuinely makes me stop and think, then I want to vomit.

My sentiment entirely- save that I do not want to vomit

I just feel a little sad that certainly in the UK the values and so on are not anything I can align with

Here life has less pressure and I embrace its culture as best I can

I didn’t realize how stressful my job was until I retired and moved here. I feel unburdened. Maybe that’s what it is. At least, that’s what it is for me, Thailand is the land of no stress!

when don muang was the main airport for less than 1 million tourists sure. was exciting and not westernised ,no mcds no sky train ,very exciting place

Yeah, I reckon Thailand lost its soul around 2015.

On 7/6/2026 at 11:57 AM, Gottfrid said:

An easy explanation! Thailand will still be that exotic place for new visitors, but of course in a modern way compared to 30-40 years ago.

For us, that have lived here, it´s not something exotic, magical nor a wow in each corner. It´s become daily life, and most of are satisfied with that.

Exactly.

And though it has changed, the westerner who comes for the first time this year will enjoy it just as much as I did decades ago.

Live a few months in Isaan, then go for a road trip and find nice hotels and restaurants. 😉

The art of living is to never take things for granted, but rather give yourself time and contrast to again feel you have found something genuine. I have been taken by surprise in many places where I did not expect anything, and they haven’t been so-called five-star establishments. I have to say, the resort in the picture was nice, but we only stayed, used the facilities and restaurant, and did not book a room there. It was out of our budget, but the food was fantastic. I’m happy when I have fresh, good food, a quiet environment, a pristine, peaceful beach, a good night’s sleep, and some exercise facilities. That usually makes my day.

About 11 000,- baht difference between those two resorts pr night.

Thailand hasn't lost it's spark, people have. Wow isn't going to come to you, you have to leave your '15 minute city' and explore just a wee bit.

Be at and do the same over & over, and that wow diminishes, after you've seen the big picture, down to the 'macro' view of life. Time to peek at somewhere, something else, even if the same same, but different.

We go O&A to the same provinces, but I try to find a different viewpoint to view and spend my time at. Whether setting at the top of a ridge, looking out, or bottom of a limestone walled area. A seaview, lake or river view, or sit in front of a waterfall while having a crappy brekkie.

After a week or 2 of that, return home and appreciate what we have and see everyday.

Then get to wake up, cosidering my past life, realize my now life, and the prospect, I may even wake up tomorrow ... that's wow enough as it is.

Edited July 16Jul 16 by KhunLA

I don't really feel any type of wow if human beings are there in masses. Planet Earth has so many beautiful places that have been destroyed by a mix of poor development, ignorance, greed, rubbish and the usual range of negative human interference. Wow is relative and depends on how blind you are. I still don't get it how people can sit at a street restaurant, eat, smile and talk as the sewer smell is overwhelming. Then the Thai plumber who installed a new septic tank last year claims that it is "Thai Standard" to direct the sewage overflow onto the road. Sorry, not much wow around here.

On 7/7/2026 at 3:34 PM, RMK54 said:

I didn’t realize how stressful my job was until I retired and moved here. I feel unburdened. Maybe that’s what it is. At least, that’s what it is for me, Thailand is the land of no stress!

Wow, now that's a wow because TH is more stress to me now as a retiree than when I lived and worked in Australia.

16 minutes ago, ZigM said:

Wow, now that's a wow because TH is more stress to me now as a retiree than when I lived and worked in Australia.

Where do you live, and who did you let build your house. How is retirement more stressful than working 5 days, and usually not enought time to get all the things done in a week that you want to.

Retirement ... all you have to do is feed yourself, stressful ??? 🤣

Edited July 21Jul 21 by KhunLA

5 hours ago, ZigM said:

I still don't get it how people can sit at a street restaurant, eat, smile and talk as the sewer smell is overwhelming.

I love the smell of poop in the morning.

Better question you might ask yourself. What type of fool would travel across the globe and setup home in a nation that sewage smells are common? Did you not have a nose on previous trips?

5 hours ago, ZigM said:

Then the Thai plumber who installed a new septic tank last year claims that it is "Thai Standard" to direct the sewage overflow onto the road. Sorry, not much wow around here.

lol, the sewage smell is the final straw that will send you packing?

Thailand possesses few of the attributes that originally drew me here. Central Embassy is building a new mall. In Bagna, they're building one of the biggest malls in Asia. Another huge mall is going up in Siam Square right across the streets from Siam Paragon. Thirty years ago, I don't think anyone could have envisioned what Thailand has become. Is it better or worse? For most people, I think the answer would have to be it's a lot better. It's rare now that cashiers try to rip me off, strangers in the street try to scam me, or it takes two hours to get across town. No more pervasive smell of garbage or fear of falling into a ditch when you're walking at night. It's more affluent, the infrastructure is a lot better, On the other hand, farangs are no longer special. Still, it's cheaper than the West and there's no compelling reason to relocate (until they kick us out).

When I came here, I also had the choice of going to China. I often wonder what would have happened if I had chosen that road diverged in a yellow wood.

10 hours ago, save the frogs said:

lol, the sewage smell is the final straw that will send you packing?

I'm guessing you've never been married or in a serious relationship, let alone with a Thai? I'm not the only decision maker in this relationship. What I find abhorrent is "normal" to locals.

10 hours ago, atpeace said:

I love the smell of poop in the morning.

Better question you might ask yourself. What type of fool would travel across the globe and setup home in a nation that sewage smells are common? Did you not have a nose on previous trips?

It might appear odd to you but yes, I've had the same nose for over 60 years. Same as I responded to another comment, although it was my decision to retire here in the end, my decision was also influenced by my Thai wife. She wanted to be close to her children from a previous marriage. I understood her desire and sacrificed a lot to stay with her.

"... some people still live sleeping on hard bedding and only a Fan in their room..."

I'd say the 'wow' factor is that people need an air-con and soft bedding! I sleep on a hard mattress (good for your back) and have no air-con. The air freely flows up through the gaps between the wooden boards on my little stilted house. Far more healthy than an air-con :)

I saw a video of a location I stayed in the 90s (not in Thailand) where I paid $1 per night to sleep on a piece of cardboard on a dirt floor in a tin roof shack.

Well, it looks a little more upscale now. Has it lost its spark?

There's still plenty of places in the world where you can still do that, but is that what you want?

Extreme poverty, income inequality, tribal traditions, etc

Most visitors from the UK are honeymooners and just want to continue their drinking habits from back home.

After all, you can get a pint for £1.50 back home which is 67b here, quite cheap.

Beer tastes better here apparently. 😀

11 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Where do you live, and who did you let build your house. How is retirement more stressful than working 5 days, and usually not enought time to get all the things done in a week that you want to.

Retirement ... all you have to do is feed yourself, stressful ??? 🤣

I just fired the last electrician a week ago as he tried to abscond with 90,000 baht advance payment - he's now paying back the money in stages - despite no children allowed on site, workers love to use my site as a daycare center I gave clear instructions not to - Before I came here, I lived near the beach and worked remotely for government in my last job. I admit that I didn't appreciate my cushy life in Australia but I've since broken all bridges and won't go back to my old life. Here, 90-day reporting, my visa extension is due, dealing with scammers, it's very stressful here at least to me. If you are here to focus on eating, drinking and bar-life, that's your prerogative. I don't drink or smoke and merely stuffing my face isn't why I'm here. I guess that if you came from a country that was dismal to begin with, TH would be an upgrade. However, I was quite happy where I was before.... but hey, I made sacrifices to be with the woman that I love.

On 7/6/2026 at 6:49 PM, J Branche said:

Wow, How long have you been in Thailand.

Thai's are generally reserved, have muted emotions overall, higher tolerance, accepting, seek living in harmony, and desire respect.

Wow, a country that with limited resources, lack of equipment and/or tools and was able to achieve great standards.

(Healthcare, Electric, Water, Internet, Roads, affordable public transportation, affordable labor) Woowwwww

Like any other third world country, outside the the larger cities. But then, even in Korat, poverty is everywhere once you've left the shopping malls and nicer hotels.

9 minutes ago, ZigM said:

I just fired the last electrician a week ago as he tried to abscond with 90,000 baht advance payment - he's now paying back the money in stages - despite no children allowed on site, workers love to use my site as a daycare center I gave clear instructions not to - Before I came here, I lived near the beach and worked remotely for government in my last job. I admit that I didn't appreciate my cushy life in Australia but I've since broken all bridges and won't go back to my old life. Here, 90-day reporting, my visa extension is due, dealing with scammers, it's very stressful here at least to me. If you are here to focus on eating, drinking and bar-life, that's your prerogative. I don't drink or smoke and merely stuffing my face isn't why I'm here. I guess that if you came from a country that was dismal to begin with, TH would be an upgrade. However, I was quite happy where I was before.... but hey, I made sacrifices to be with the woman that I love.

OK, so you haven't been here long, and it's a learning curve. I'm long term retirement, family, living in 3rd house contracted, bla bla bla ... 25+ yrs & counting.

Was in RE in USA (great place, still is), so dealing with home contractor or construction was easy for me, and stressful at times. Good help is hard to find at times, though either good choices with our contractors, or just lucky, as all 3 were quite good, and inexpensive, <฿10k m²

Good Luck moving forward

Edited July 22Jul 22 by KhunLA

41 minutes ago, ZigM said:

I'm guessing you've never been married or in a serious relationship, let alone with a Thai? I'm not the only decision maker in this relationship. What I find abhorrent is "normal" to locals.

The government not paying for garbage pickup in many villages has locals either throwing that garbage into the woods or burning it, adding to the polluted air. Yes, some can get used to filth and decay, but when you've grown up with clean conditions, it's not easy or impossible.

It's not a third world but developing country, and no matter how advanced they are in some respects, it has a long way to go and the lack of enforcement of laws and allowing of things that hurt the environment needs to stop asap.

Curtailing the amount of pregnant soi dogs by putting money towards that spay/neuter program will also curtail an assortment of problems.

Better protection of their children by not allowing any in school to drive scooters until they have a license at 15, wearing helmets and no riding on the top of school buses will show caring for their future generations. The spark was expats and tourists coming to a new country for younger women , food and scenery. That can continue if the act is cleaned up measurably.

18 minutes ago, ZigM said:

I just fired the last electrician a week ago as he tried to abscond with 90,000 baht advance payment - he's now paying back the money in stages - despite no children allowed on site, workers love to use my site as a daycare center I gave clear instructions not to - Before I came here, I lived near the beach and worked remotely for government in my last job. I admit that I didn't appreciate my cushy life in Australia but I've since broken all bridges and won't go back to my old life. Here, 90-day reporting, my visa extension is due, dealing with scammers, it's very stressful here at least to me. If you are here to focus on eating, drinking and bar-life, that's your prerogative. I don't drink or smoke and merely stuffing my face isn't why I'm here. I guess that if you came from a country that was dismal to begin with, TH would be an upgrade. However, I was quite happy where I was before.... but hey, I made sacrifices to be with the woman that I love.

Better to be in a place you're comfortable in, which makes you happier, along with your woman, and if that isn't here, maybe think of going back home as I am. Children grow and leave the nest, in other areas, with their own lives, and they can always visit you.

Edited July 22Jul 22 by fredwiggy

23 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Children grow and leave the nest, in other areas, with their own lives, and they can always visit you.

That's a big factor, relationship with children. Never had my own in USA, so leaving USA, 'for me', was easy, after 45 yrs. Raising Thai daughtter through to Uni & beyond here and she living in BKK, where I don't want to be, made the decision to stay, a bit mixed.

Being a responsible adult was all new to me, who knew I could pull that one off

But not until that decision, everything was with an, unknown / USA ?, plan B in mind, realizing, either stay here in TH, or pop back to visit. Since not a fan of air travel, staying was the only option, so I better pick a place I love, and isn't too inconvenient to visit BKK at least once a month. To avoid air pollution, had to be south of Krung Thep.

Sold 2nd house at Udon Thani, which took 3 yrs thanks to scamdemic, and rented at PKK for 3 years while she was in Uni (bkk) deciding, then had house built in PKK, as fine resting place, since favorite holiday location.

Even the cars we bought were throw away JP entry level POS as not wanting to waste money on depreciating assetts. Thank you MG for providing something comfy for same silly price.

2020 was true retirement decision to remain in TH.

... "What the hell, I'll stay, TH is as good as any" ...

Only took 20 yrs to make up my mind

That was the 1st day of 'My Life in Retirement', so I guess I'll explore a wee bit more, and visit the kid at least once a month. Welcome to My World.

Edited July 22Jul 22 by KhunLA

13 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

That's a big factor, relationship with children. Never had my own in USA, so leaving USA, 'for me', was easy, after 45 yrs. Raising Thai daughtter through to Uni & beyond here and she living in BKK, where I don't want to be, made the decision to stay, a bit mixed.

Being a responsible adult was all new to me, who knew I could pull that one off

But not until that decision, everything was with an, unknown / USA ?, plan B in mind, realizing, either stay here in TH, or pop back to visit. Since not a fan of air travel, staying was the only option, so I better pick a place I love, and isn't too inconvenient to visit BKK at least once a month. To avoid air pollution, had to be south of Krung Thep.

Sold 2nd house at Udon Thani, which took 3 yrs thanks to scamdemic, and rented at PKK for 3 years while she was in Uni (bkk) deciding, then had house built in PKK, as fine resting place, since favorite holiday location.

Even the cars we bought were throw away JP entry level POS as not wanting to waste money on depreciating assetts. Thank you MG for providing something comfy for same silly price.

2020 was true retirement decision to remain in TH.

... "What the hell, I'll stay, TH is as good as any" ...

Only took 20 yrs to make up my mind

That was the 1st day of 'My Life in Retirement', so I guess I'll explore a wee bit more, and visit the kid at least once a month. Welcome to My World.

If you're comfortable here and have a decent partner, along with your daughter in a good school, that's okay. I'm looking at my daughter having a much better chance of a better paying career in the states, along with safer conditions and a much better chance to find a decent partner when she's older. Myself I can't enjoy my hobbies here so it's a no brainer. Thailand is a nice place to visit, but not a home for her or I. I like having everything I like within driving distance, and a lot more with a quick flight.