Is Living In Thailand Really That Bad These Days?

[jumnien]

With every passing day, Thailand gets better and better! Spring is in the air!

[Insight]

The comment about not taking things seriously - this is the exact comment I had in mind - correct IMHO on so many levels, unless it's specifically in the interests of the person you're dealing with. It's a bad attitude I know, but after nearly 7 years here I'm utterly jaded.

It's fun for a period of time, but if you're ever in a position where you need something done quickly this fact alone will be a major stumbling block. Any Thai will confess to skirting around issues rather than dealing with them directly, so that rules straight answers to questions right out.

I've enjoyed Thailand over the years but after returning from the UK on a holiday I'm convinced now more than ever here is not where I want to be for the rest of my life. I think the next few months will be spent planning an escape route while the wife finishes off her contract.

(Could all change tomorrow mind )

girlx - excellent post and I agree with most of it.

[soundman]

Sadly, I agree with this. Which seemingly leaves only one option, to exploit their country for what it's worth to you, or get out. Most of the long term farangs I know have completely withdrawn from the community and live their own encapsulized farang life within Thailand. I don't even blame them, the Thais don't really let you do much otherwise.

I'm sorry to say, but this sort of attitude / action is what leads most Thai's to believe that farang's are second class guests in this country to be walked over at will.

Farang's life / lifestyle in Thailand is what they make of it. It can easily become a "dog eat dog" battle on a daily basis. It, IMO, is up to the individual how they handle this. I, for one, won't let the Thai's push me around. Somebody tells me no to something, I just keep looking for the next person until I find the one who will say yes.

Cheers,

Soundman.

[LinkPopularity]

Thailand ... heaven to life, hel_l to work ...

[mellow1]

Entering the 7th year of living here, and I have to pretty much agree with girlx. I don't let Thais push me around as soundman suggests some of us may do, but I can guaranty should the right Thai want to push you around, there won't anything you can do about it. You will loose no matter what, and no one will bat an eye.

[distortedlink]

Lots of posters here, including the OP moaning and groaning about Thailand and the Thai people.

The people of Thailand or of any other countries are not obliged to change their way of life or habits, good or bad, to accommodate foreigners. For the losers that cant afford to live anywhere else, beggars cant be choosers.

Don’t like the natives, go back to your home country’s.

[burman]

As long as you can keep your dealing with Thais minimal, it's a nice place

Sadly, I agree with this. Which seemingly leaves only one option, to exploit their country for what it's worth to you, or get out. Most of the long term farangs I know have completely withdrawn from the community and live their own encapsulized farang life within Thailand. I don't even blame them, the Thais don't really let you do much otherwise.

After about 6 years of living here, I am not sure it's such a good place to live. Not that America was much better most of the time, but Thailand is not the nice, fluffy place people think it is when they first arrive. There are lots of positives- the weather, outdoor lifestyle, great food, at least superficially friendly locals, interesting visitors from around the world, amazing geography, cheapness... but there are also many negatives; Thais are of often ruthless and seemingly heartless the closer you get to them. In general- they are obsessed with money. They do not value honesty or loyalty (outside their family) for the most part. They are poor and uneducated and have no real world view, so often can see things only from a very narrow perspective. They will always look at you as a "farang" first, and rarely see you as an individual. The police force is corrupt, the dogs and often children neglected. They pollute their surroundings mercilessly with noise, smoke, trash. They are ot the least diplomatic, often electing to solve their problems with violence. They do indeed whore their daughters (especially those from Isaan). There are huge drug/alcohol problems here. The medical care is laughable outside the big cities. And the nationalistic government constantly makes it clear we as westerners are not wanted here.

Definitely do a trial run before burning your bridges and coming to live here permanently. I still like it here and am not moving on yet, but I will probably not end up here in the long run. The cultural differences irritate me to no end.

Girlx, you don't have enough intelligence to mix with the right kind of people.

If fact you sound like a jaded sex tourist which from reading many of your posts over the years probably isn't far from the truth.

[torrenova]

Interesting place for the first two years, after peeling back the layers now madly want out of here in my 5th year.

Also don't want my son to grow up and be educated here, mom feels the same and is more often disgusted by her own country.

I often find myself agreeing with you Tony and by and large, I agree here. For me, the more I want to do the less I actually want to do it. If retired then perhaps but like you, I have a baby and each month that goes by I think whether this is the right place. For the first time ever, the last 12 months have not seen me re-invest the proceeds of any business sale or retained profits. I've another going through next week and I wouldn't be surprised to see be fully divested in the near future. Sort out the country and I'll happily do business again. Keep on this track and I'll only spend holiday money here again.

[PeaceBlondie]

The noise does not bother me much. The sound trucks driving by, yes. The moobahn next door, with its community address system, yes. But that is not even 30 minutes per day. I live next to the airport, and the planes are not that loud....unless I am losing my hearing.

We can all make a long list of things that irritate us, but that was true back home, too.

My kids went back to the old neighborhoods of their childhoods. One of our homes had been demolished - but it was 100 years old. I could go to a high school or university reunion, but there is no need to live in the 'hood again.

We often draw false conclusions based on wrong assumptions. Mexico has high crime (mostly theft), but Tijuana and Juarez are not typical, just as Thailand's big cities are not.

Take what you want, and leave the rest. And if you still don't find what you want, look elsewhere and y'all come back and see us now, you hear?

[jumnien]

Setting out this morning to fly my small plane over the rice fields of Petchaburi and into the mountains along the Myanmar border over Kaeng Krachan National Park, I am filled with gratitude for having had the experience for the last ten years of living in Thailand! It doesn't get much better than this!

[Heng]

I live on Ramkhamhaeng/Sukapibal 3 and what I sometimes hear is the soft ker-plunk splashing sound of monitor lizards diving into our pond to get at a catfish or bass. I can vaguely hear a klong boat going by, but the klong is about 200 meters away so it's hardly the same as living klongside. No sound of cars at all and I'm 100 meters from the street. The trees and foliage on our property sucks up a lot of the sound.

Now my place in Pattaya, yeah, very loud because there's construction going on in every single direction. But hey, maybe that will stop soon when the "crash" that the whingers are hoping for finally happens.

Life's what you make of it.

Edited April 30, 2008 by Heng

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

Well have only lived here or 18 months but find it a very nice place to live. Live on the beach and find it is fairly quiet except for the occasional party at one of the adjoining resorts but that usually ends at 10:30. The most annoying thing is the Thai drivers, they don't seem to have any common sense.

As far as being ripped of I think you are much more apt to get ripped off by a farang than a Thai

But I agree with those who say it is good if you have enough money to not have to struggle with it. I find I can live a much more comfortable life style here than I could in Australia or the US. It does make sense to check it out for a few months before making long term commitments. It is not for everybody.

[Naam]

Lots of posters here, including the OP moaning and groaning about Thailand and the Thai people.

The people of Thailand or of any other countries are not obliged to change their way of life or habits, good or bad, to accommodate foreigners. For the losers that cant afford to live anywhere else, beggars cant be choosers.

Don’t like the natives, go back to your home country’s.

i second that wholeheartedly!

disclaimer: i can't really judge the moaning, groaning and whining as i live a rather secluded life.

[LooseCannon]

As long as you can keep your dealing with Thais minimal, it's a nice place

... but Thailand is not the nice, fluffy place people think it is when they first arrive....

....The cultural differences irritate me to no end.

This is the main problem - people don't think.

The point is, it never was 'fluffy', it is exactly the same today as the day you arrived, it's just you & the other malcontents didn't bother looking.

Superficially things have changed, there's mobile phones, new roads, 7-11's etc. etc., but the Thai people are more or less the same people that they were 10, 20 ,30 years ago & any changes would be inperceptable to you.

All those 'cultural irritants' were there long before you arrived.

The disgruntled falangs that thought they wanted to live in Thailand, but in reality didn't know what they wanted, can only blame themselves for their own poor decisions.

Thailand is by no means perfect or a paradise, but don't expect things to change to suit you.

[ray23]

Interesting thoughts, somethings are a bit different at least in Udon some good some not so good. One a lot more farrangs living in the community. We are not nearly a entertainig to the Thai people as we used to be guess they got to know us. Certainly a lot easier to get foriegn foods. A lot more places to hang out with other farrangs get drunk and complain about Thailand. That one escapes me If I wanted to strictly be around farrangs then I picked the wrong place to live.

It's funny I don't like trashy streets, but it was a part of the mystique when I moved here. Reminded me of my Vietnam days hanging out in Keelung Taiwan. Nothing was perfect. but the clutter itself told you, you were in a different world and that in itself was exciting. Then there were those beautiful Asian ladies.

Well Thailand had all that to offer and more. I still recall on my second visit and first trip to Udon. I was sitting on the plane next to a Thai lady who spoke english and her complaint about farrangs they wantred to change Thailand. I didn't understand it then I do now. On that trip if I had to much to drink some Thai would escort me home to make sure I was OK and would never accept money for it. They were some of the best hosts in the world. Whats different now, well lets see a lot more bars for farrangs to complain about Thailand, get drunk loud and rude. Ya that seems to be different, would they make surre some loud mouth drunk got home safely, I doubt it wouuld yuo?

Unlike otheres here the problems in six years I have had with Thai's are really insignificant. The problems that were big here, I can easily trace back to farrangs, who thought they understood Thailand. Giving away that great wisdom to newbies. Very entertianed by watching you struggle thorugh. Then sitting around the farrang community talking about how stupid you were. In my guess that was very through, not because of what I did, but I liestened to them, that made me very stupid.

Money I have lost very little to Thai's and a heck of a lot more with farrang association's.

Well I did my courses at WBU, I learned, these days my biggest battles are with the boredom that comes with retirement. But, that has nothing to do with Thailand.

The bottom line this is not for everyone, if your not happy here then done balme Thailand, look at yuorself. Make whatever changes you deem neccessary to make your life what you want it to be. There is no disgrace in not adjusting to this lifestyle, the disgrace is to continue living here and blame this country for you being unhappy.

[Ulysses G.]

As long as you can keep your dealing with Thais minimal, it's a nice place

Sadly, I agree with this. Which seemingly leaves only one option, to exploit their country for what it's worth to you, or get out. Most of the long term farangs I know have completely withdrawn from the community and live their own encapsulized farang life within Thailand. I don't even blame them, the Thais don't really let you do much otherwise.

After about 6 years of living here, I am not sure it's such a good place to live. Not that America was much better most of the time, but Thailand is not the nice, fluffy place people think it is when they first arrive. There are lots of positives- the weather, outdoor lifestyle, great food, at least superficially friendly locals, interesting visitors from around the world, amazing geography, cheapness... but there are also many negatives; Thais are of often ruthless and seemingly heartless the closer you get to them. In general- they are obsessed with money. They do not value honesty or loyalty (outside their family) for the most part. They are poor and uneducated and have no real world view, so often can see things only from a very narrow perspective. They will always look at you as a "farang" first, and rarely see you as an individual. The police force is corrupt, the dogs and often children neglected. They pollute their surroundings mercilessly with noise, smoke, trash. They are ot the least diplomatic, often electing to solve their problems with violence. They do indeed whore their daughters (especially those from Isaan). There are huge drug/alcohol problems here. The medical care is laughable outside the big cities. And the nationalistic government constantly makes it clear we as westerners are not wanted here.

Definitely do a trial run before burning your bridges and coming to live here permanently. I still like it here and am not moving on yet, but I will probably not end up here in the long run. The cultural differences irritate me to no end.

I've lived here around 20 years, and although I disagree with many of your points, I did enjoy your post.

It took me long time to meet Thai people who are nothing like the ones you are talking about and realize that there are many, many who are as good and kind as we first thought when we arrived here.

If you stick around long enough, maybe you will see what I mean.

Edited May 1, 2008 by Ulysses G.

[thaimate]

Its interesting to hear people post about how Thailand was paradise when they first came and now its awful, and some of them have only been here 5 years. I have posted it before, I will post it again. There is a very steep learning curve for living in Thailand and most people never make it out of the second stage.

Stage 1: They come to Thailand with stars in their eyes, its a paradise, the people are wonderful

Stage 2:disillusionment sets in and people are awful, greedy selfish and criminal, its a hel_l on earth

and the final stage that many posters don't ever seem to reach but instead leave first :

Thailand is a place, just like any other. It has its good things and its bad things, some people are awful, some people are wonderful, but most people are just people living their lives. Your life is what you make of it and if you look at everything with a negative viewpoint then negativity will surely dog your footsteps.

As to the Thai person you've talked to, well, nothing is worse than watching your home get taken over by outsiders, your community destroyed and your home become so expensive that most local people can't afford to live there anymore. It happened to Phuket, its happened to Samui, its starting to happen to Koh Phangan. My husband would have similar things to say about our little island and we don't have even 1/10th of the problems Phuket has.

well said.

most of the idiots who post on here about how bad it is couldnt get on anywhere in the world ,that goes for the two week millionair who posted that thailand was only good for whores,cheap beer and temples.

well mate ****flame removed*** somewhere else and take your tattoos with you.

[Scott]

I have lived in Thailand for around 20 years (working), but doubt that I would make this a permanent retirement place. Where I live was a lovely moo baan (village--actually housing estate). It was quiet, pleasant, lots of greenery etc. Then the neighbors changed. The new ones have had constant construction and reconstruction on their house--going on 2 years of endless noise. When the workers aren't there, then it's Karoke. Then a factory was opened nearby. Then part of the road was raised--making us the lowest place, and thus flooding. Then the water system wasn't upgraded, so we have almost no pressure.

The place is still Ok, but it has gone from being really nice to OK. I see some more nearby noise producing construction that will likely make it intolerable eventually.

The lack of city planning (or any kind of planning), the complete disregard for laws, regulations etc., and corruption make it a not very good place to retire. It's just too unpredictable and in a not good way.

[Tingnongnoi]

The bottom line this is not for everyone, if your not happy here then done balme Thailand, look at yuorself. Make whatever changes you deem neccessary to make your life what you want it to be. There is no disgrace in not adjusting to this lifestyle, the disgrace is to continue living here and blame this country for you being unhappy.

great post

[sbk]

As long as you can keep your dealing with Thais minimal, it's a nice place

Sadly, I agree with this. Which seemingly leaves only one option, to exploit their country for what it's worth to you, or get out. Most of the long term farangs I know have completely withdrawn from the community and live their own encapsulized farang life within Thailand. I don't even blame them, the Thais don't really let you do much otherwise.

After about 6 years of living here, I am not sure it's such a good place to live. Not that America was much better most of the time, but Thailand is not the nice, fluffy place people think it is when they first arrive. There are lots of positives- the weather, outdoor lifestyle, great food, at least superficially friendly locals, interesting visitors from around the world, amazing geography, cheapness... but there are also many negatives; Thais are of often ruthless and seemingly heartless the closer you get to them. In general- they are obsessed with money. They do not value honesty or loyalty (outside their family) for the most part. They are poor and uneducated and have no real world view, so often can see things only from a very narrow perspective. They will always look at you as a "farang" first, and rarely see you as an individual. The police force is corrupt, the dogs and often children neglected. They pollute their surroundings mercilessly with noise, smoke, trash. They are ot the least diplomatic, often electing to solve their problems with violence. They do indeed whore their daughters (especially those from Isaan). There are huge drug/alcohol problems here. The medical care is laughable outside the big cities. And the nationalistic government constantly makes it clear we as westerners are not wanted here.

Definitely do a trial run before burning your bridges and coming to live here permanently. I still like it here and am not moving on yet, but I will probably not end up here in the long run. The cultural differences irritate me to no end.

I've lived here around 20 years, and although I disagree with many of your points, I did enjoy your post.

It took me long time to meet Thai people who are nothing like the ones you are talking about and realize that there are many, many who are as good and kind as we first thought when we arrived here.

If you stick around long enough, maybe you will see what I mean.

Well, UG, I am coming up on 20, in my 19th year this year and I have to say that certainly there are people who live here as girlx says, in their farang bubble, but I wouldn't call them "successful" and I wouldn't really call them long-term either since I would be very surprised if any of them last longer than 7 or 8 years living in this manner.

Living in a farang bubble and treating all Thais that you come into contact with as if they are all service personnel is not conducive to creating good relations, understanding or respect.

I have integrated into my local community and know, respect and like quite a few Thai people. I know lots of lowlife scums and I know lots of really nice, decent hardworking people who just live their own lives and mind their own business. Foreign and Thai.

And in fact, the other people that I know who have lived here nearly as long, or longer than myself, live in the same way as myself.

[Ulysses G.]

As long as you can keep your dealing with Thais minimal, it's a nice place

Sadly, I agree with this. Which seemingly leaves only one option, to exploit their country for what it's worth to you, or get out. Most of the long term farangs I know have completely withdrawn from the community and live their own encapsulized farang life within Thailand. I don't even blame them, the Thais don't really let you do much otherwise.

After about 6 years of living here, I am not sure it's such a good place to live. Not that America was much better most of the time, but Thailand is not the nice, fluffy place people think it is when they first arrive. There are lots of positives- the weather, outdoor lifestyle, great food, at least superficially friendly locals, interesting visitors from around the world, amazing geography, cheapness... but there are also many negatives; Thais are of often ruthless and seemingly heartless the closer you get to them. In general- they are obsessed with money. They do not value honesty or loyalty (outside their family) for the most part. They are poor and uneducated and have no real world view, so often can see things only from a very narrow perspective. They will always look at you as a "farang" first, and rarely see you as an individual. The police force is corrupt, the dogs and often children neglected. They pollute their surroundings mercilessly with noise, smoke, trash. They are ot the least diplomatic, often electing to solve their problems with violence. They do indeed whore their daughters (especially those from Isaan). There are huge drug/alcohol problems here. The medical care is laughable outside the big cities. And the nationalistic government constantly makes it clear we as westerners are not wanted here.

Definitely do a trial run before burning your bridges and coming to live here permanently. I still like it here and am not moving on yet, but I will probably not end up here in the long run. The cultural differences irritate me to no end.

I've lived here around 20 years, and although I disagree with many of your points, I did enjoy your post.

It took me long time to meet Thai people who are nothing like the ones you are talking about and realize that there are many, many who are as good and kind as we first thought when we arrived here.

If you stick around long enough, maybe you will see what I mean.

Well, UG, I am coming up on 20, in my 19th year this year and I have to say that certainly there are people who live here as girlx says, in their farang bubble, but I wouldn't call them "successful" and I wouldn't really call them long-term either since I would be very surprised if any of them last longer than 7 or 8 years living in this manner.

Living in a farang bubble and treating all Thais that you come into contact with as if they are all service personnel is not conducive to creating good relations, understanding or respect.

I have integrated into my local community and know, respect and like quite a few Thai people. I know lots of lowlife scums and I know lots of really nice, decent hardworking people who just live their own lives and mind their own business. Foreign and Thai.

And in fact, the other people that I know who have lived here nearly as long, or longer than myself, live in the same way as myself.

So we agree with each other, don't we?

[Scott]

I think some folks are getting mixed up on the difference between living here as an expat, having a family here and retiring here. Living and working here is OK, but I find the country more difficult to deal with as I get older (I am living in a city though). If you have a Thai partner, they can often run 'interference' when having work done etc.

For people planning on retiring here, who haven't lived here, it's a big move and for a lot of them, it can be too big of an adjustment and therefore disappointing. It's a good idea to have some extended visits first.

[Theyreallrubbish]

Interesting thoughts, somethings are a bit different at least in Udon some good some not so good. One a lot more farrangs living in the community. We are not nearly a entertainig to the Thai people as we used to be guess they got to know us. Certainly a lot easier to get foriegn foods. A lot more places to hang out with other farrangs get drunk and complain about Thailand. That one escapes me If I wanted to strictly be around farrangs then I picked the wrong place to live.

It's funny I don't like trashy streets, but it was a part of the mystique when I moved here. Reminded me of my Vietnam days hanging out in Keelung Taiwan. Nothing was perfect. but the clutter itself told you, you were in a different world and that in itself was exciting. Then there were those beautiful Asian ladies.

Well Thailand had all that to offer and more. I still recall on my second visit and first trip to Udon. I was sitting on the plane next to a Thai lady who spoke english and her complaint about farrangs they wantred to change Thailand. I didn't understand it then I do now. On that trip if I had to much to drink some Thai would escort me home to make sure I was OK and would never accept money for it. They were some of the best hosts in the world. Whats different now, well lets see a lot more bars for farrangs to complain about Thailand, get drunk loud and rude. Ya that seems to be different, would they make surre some loud mouth drunk got home safely, I doubt it wouuld yuo?

Unlike otheres here the problems in six years I have had with Thai's are really insignificant. The problems that were big here, I can easily trace back to farrangs, who thought they understood Thailand. Giving away that great wisdom to newbies. Very entertianed by watching you struggle thorugh. Then sitting around the farrang community talking about how stupid you were. In my guess that was very through, not because of what I did, but I liestened to them, that made me very stupid.

Money I have lost very little to Thai's and a heck of a lot more with farrang association's.

Well I did my courses at WBU, I learned, these days my biggest battles are with the boredom that comes with retirement. But, that has nothing to do with Thailand.

The bottom line this is not for everyone, if your not happy here then done balme Thailand, look at yuorself. Make whatever changes you deem neccessary to make your life what you want it to be. There is no disgrace in not adjusting to this lifestyle, the disgrace is to continue living here and blame this country for you being unhappy.

I'd agree. After 15 years one of the big differences is that the Thais find us less interesting and have a much more negative view of farangs.

I notice that this occurs in places where they have more exposure to farang. When you go into remoter areas its like it was many years ago with the Thais more forthcoming and friendly and going out of their way to be helpful and good hosts.

But there aren't many places left that haven't had extensive exposure to farangs.

Let's face it, we're not that interesting to them anymore so we don't benefit from them taking an interest.

I'd also agree that I've never been ripped off by a Thai in 15 years. The only scams were from farang. Luckily for me all I've fallen for is the 500 Baht a time to help out people who had "lost" their passport or claimed they had it stolen.

Edit: Just remembered I lost 20,000 Baht about 12 years ago providing a computer and printer to a farang who claimed he needed it for his freelance writing and would pay me back. Karma, he ended up in jail in India transporting fake passports.

Edited May 1, 2008 by Theyreallrubbish

[sbk]

So we agree with each other, don't we?

Astounding, isn't it?

I think it would be more difficult to retire here, adjustment to huge changes in climate, culture and behavior would require tremendous open-mindedness and the ability to take things as they come. As well as the social isolation one feels when one first arrives would and could make life in Thailand very hard for many people.

As many have said before, don't make the big move without giving it a really good try first. Live here,at the very least, for 6-8 months--without doing the touristy things, taking care of yourself. Life here can be difficult if you don't have a Thai partner or don't speak Thai and I think that alot of the frustration you see comes from people whose ability to take care of themselves here is limited by their ability to communicate to get things done.

[girlx]

Girlx, you don't have enough intelligence to mix with the right kind of people.

you don't know me or the people i mix with so who is being stupid here?

I am coming up on 20, in my 19th year this year and I have to say that certainly there are people who live here as girlx says, in their farang bubble, but I wouldn't call them "successful" and I wouldn't really call them long-term either since I would be very surprised if any of them last longer than 7 or 8 years living in this manner.

Well where I live there is one farang woman with her Thai husband who is very successful and after about 13 years here has decided it is best to stick to herself. There are also 2 long term farang men married to Thai women, with successful businesses, who rarely leave their houses. They all have been here for 10+ years and all say they learned early on that it was best to not mix with the locals.

I do think it helps if you have a Thai partner though. I think the only reason one might be accepted into local culture is because of a Thai partner. If the partner wasn't around, you would be just another farang.

[sbk]

Yes, in general, unless the farang made the conscious choice to become a part of the local community, then yes, they would be "just another farang". But, I do know several western guys who do not have Thai partners who are welcome in the local community and have local Thai friends.

I didn't come here looking for a long lost paradise that never really existed, didn't come here expecting to find my peaceful retreat. I came as a tourist and stayed because I fell in love with a man. As I am still in love with the man I am still here. And sure, there have been bleak times where he was the only reason I stayed, but I was committed to him so committed to staying and working things out, not just with him but with the locals, his family, his culture and all the baggage that goes with that.

[girlx]

yeah i also think it is different if you stay for love of a man (or woman) than if you stay for love of the country and culture. because after awhile you tend to get disillusioned with the country and culture and have no real reason to stay- whereas if you are with a partner you love there is obviously more incentive to adapt and make things work.

[sbk]

And to continue the sbk/girlx conversation

To be honest, if I lived where you live, I would probably not have integrated as much as I have. Your community is just a tad too small, too insular and because of that the 'everybody knows everybody else's business' problem becomes amplified tenfold. Hadrin used to be that way (could still be that way, but I don't know too many people who are left there anymore) and a friend of mine who lived there got very tired of the gossip and backstabbing (from foreigners and thais alike I might add).

So, small community is good, but not too small. Otherwise your business becomes everybody else's business, mainly because they've got nothing better to do with their lives.

[hanibal7]

I have been here in pattaya for 5 years and the place hasnt changed much in my eyes.However i have noticed more farangs that are undesireables and the chavy/hooligan element of uk land coming over.Certainly there are many things not good about pattaya and i will not be living here all my life,the same as uk,people do move from one area to the other due to various circumstances.

People com eover here for long holidays not in the least interested if they upset thai people and i have seen many problems due to drunken farangs and pushy thai sellers.I honestly believe pattaya has some problems due to bad farangs too.My personal experience is i am finding it more distasteful even when friends come over and they way they act are an embarassement to the human race.

thailand can be a lovely place to live if you think of all the bad things in your own country.

mine is england

young thai trouble makers are called chavys in england

thai drug sellers in england are called yardies

shhoting in both countries

this is getting boring now as i need a 10 kilo walk and smile to the many lovely thai people here,and avoid the farang <deleted> tourists.

[girlx]

Your community is just a tad too small, too insular and because of that the 'everybody knows everybody else's business' problem becomes amplified tenfold.

yes, agreed... and also there are a lot of particularly "bad" people in that particular village- most families there have made their money from drugs and have a history of shooting each other over them. so of course it is best to stay away from personal relations with them. (that said i have become quite good friends with one lady who has probably the worst reputation of all!) but i also noticed this same situation on koh chang when i lived there- maybe it's an island thing.

Edited May 1, 2008 by girlx