Some Thai Observations…

[plastacasta]

After having been here a few months now I've noticed some predictable Thai characteristics, and while I am not posting this to encourage Thai bashing in any way, I'm interested in what other posters think, and indeed if they have the same experiences.

I've lived in many Asian cities, and have always made friends with locals. Usually sharing hobbies with them, a lot of Malaysians and Singaporeans, Taiwanese and others, who love mountain biking and scuba diving. This has not happened in Thailand. Despite working here and meeting many locals, I have failed on all accounts to make firm friendships. In fact i think I can honestly say taht there's been no meeting of the minds for me with any Thai.

What happens, I find instead, is that as soon as I extend friendship towards a Thai I get hit on for money. They seem to mistake kindness for weakness. What I mean by this, is that as soon as I do something kind, as soon as I make a gesture of kindness, they see this as an excuse to ask for money. Every Thai has a sob story it seems.

I have started checked my bill obsessively, having noted that at least 60% of my bills are wrong, and always NOT in my favor. NEVER in my favor! I encourage all farangs to check their bill before handing over the payment… I'll bet that many times you are being overcharged. As soon as I leave a generous tip though, and become a regular in a place, I get hit on by the staff for because they just 'lost their wallet' or befell some other misfortune. Another sob story. Sigh.

I think that the women of Thailand are some of the most moody I have ever met! One simple mistake and you get a scowl! Oh how quickly that sweet smile fades. I was in a restaurant the other day and called a girl over. She thought I wanted a menu… 'oh, sorry, I have a menu…' I said, and before I could finishe my sentence (but I'd like to order…) she'd turned on her heel, stomped off, and started whispering with her friend. Both of whom started over at me with daggers! <deleted>!!!

Much as I love living in Thailand, it sometimes gets me so frustrated...

[dingdongrb]

May I ask what part of LOS are you in?

[mahtin]

May I ask what part of LOS are you in?

...and Why?

[dumball]

You are about to get a non orientated farang bashing , few on this forum believe thais can do any wrong , it has to be the way you dress , the way you smell , the way you present yourself , your tattoos , your attitude , you have failed to learn Thai etc etc , it will NOT be the attitude of the Thai , no way man , you are scum , you are illiterate , you are many things , ah well , if you do not like it you can always F""off back where you came from .

TiT , welcome and feel right at home .

[dingdongrb]

May I ask what part of LOS are you in?

...and Why?

Because not all parts of LOS that I have been to are categorized in the stereotyping groups this OP has placed them in. Yes, some Thais might fall into the areas in which the OP is mentioning but many do not. Need I say more? And please explain why you, not being the OP, are interested in why I question and please provide your input to the OPs observations/comments as I would love to hear.

[jaloochapurr]

He has just about got it right.

It is all about money, from the bars to the guesthouses to the dam immigration policies.

What to be retired and get a visa I have to keep 800,000 in the bank forever.

The drink prices are most likely higher for the traveler, try a local bar and you will see what I mean.

Now to the view of the supporters, the ones with the Thai girl hanging around and beers being sucked all day. These are too stupid to see what is going on or just do not want to believe the girl is there for money, but for him. You see these types all over Thailand.

So sorry to burst any bubbles but the starter of this thread got it right and you others are just trying to support your own beliefs.

[crocodilexp]

As previous poster said, your experience highly depends on what sort of neighborhood you hang out in. If speak no Thai, and mostly hang out in a red-light district (that would be lower Sukhumwit, Silom, and all of Pattaya), then you're likely to have such experiences. In tourist ghettos (Khao San, most of central Chiang Mai, Phuket) it is similar.

While living in central BKK (but outside of above areas), I almost never encountered the scams you mention, nor did I get hit for money by people I met. Last daytrip out of town, I handed the van driver 300 baht (for 2 people), thinking the price was 120 per person... and got handed back 180, turns out it was 60 per person (they could have easily taken it, I'd not have complained and nobody was looking). On the same trip, a tuk tuk driver refused a tip (imagine that!) -- I wanted to give him 20 baht in addition to agreed 100 for a 8km ride + half hour of going around various lodgings. Speaking the language, being nice to people and not having a big $ sign on your back helps.

Thais outside of tourist areas are by and large honest -- last time I was riding a van with a friend from southern Europe, the driver collected the fare by passing around a basket where everybody would put the money (and take change as necessary). She mentioned this wouldn't quite work back in her country.

Still, it's common sense that being careful helps, there are bad apples everywhere, and being a Farang does make us stand out.

You do make a very good point that most Thais don't have varied interests and hobbies -- I still find it perplexing. I once had dinner with a last-year Chula economics student, and she didn't care at all for the global financial crisis. With few minor exceptions (mostly Thai-Chinese), I never met a Thai who cares to look beyond their immediate surroundings and life plans, and who finds any abstract concepts amusing at all.

Edited November 30, 2008 by crocodilexp

[dingdongrb]

As previous poster said, your experience highly depends on what sort of neighborhood you hang out in. If speak no Thai, and mostly hang out in a red-light district (that would be lower Sukhumwit, Silom, and all of Pattaya), then you're likely to have such experiences. In tourist ghettos (Khao San, most of central Chiang Mai, Phuket) it is similar.

While living in central BKK (but outside of above areas), I almost never encountered the scams you mention, nor did I get hit for money by people I met. Last daytrip out of town, I handed the van driver 300 baht (for 2 people), thinking the price was 120 per person... and got handed back 180, turns out it was 60 per person (they could have easily taken it, I'd not have complained and nobody was looking). On the same trip, a tuk tuk driver refused a tip (imagine that!) -- I wanted to give him 20 baht in addition to agreed 100 for a 8km ride + half hour of going around various lodgings. Speaking the language, being nice to people and not having a big $ sign on your back helps.

Thais outside of tourist areas are by and large honest -- last time I was riding a van with a friend from southern Europe, the driver collected the fare by passing around a basket where everybody would put the money (and take change as necessary). She mentioned this wouldn't quite work back in her country.

Still, it's common sense that being careful helps, there are bad apples everywhere, and being a Farang does make us stand out.

You do make a very good point that most Thais don't have varied interests and hobbies -- I still find it perplexing. I once had dinner with a last-year Chula economics student, and she didn't care at all for the global financial crisis. With few minor exceptions (mostly Thai-Chinese), I never met a Thai who cares to look beyond their immediate surroundings and life plans, and who finds any abstract concepts amusing at all.

Very well said crocodilexp as this was basically my thoughts/experiences as well but I was trying to understand where the OP was coming from in his/her generalization of Thais so I asked where the location for his/her thoughts were based from before I replied.

I as well have been taken advantage of (or at least had attempts made) as well as having met some of the kindest and honest people while traveling to and living in LOS for the past 8+ years.

[DP25]

Never had a problem with Thais hitting me up for money. Bill has only been wrong a handful of times, and more often than not in my favor. People can be moody everywhere, Thais as well, especially in places like Pattaya. Most of my hobbies are solitary, so I'm not looking for Thai friends to do them with anyway. Aside from drinking, and they seem quite up for that.

[Moonrakers]

As previous poster said, your experience highly depends on what sort of neighborhood you hang out in. If speak no Thai, and mostly hang out in a red-light district (that would be lower Sukhumwit, Silom, and all of Pattaya), then you're likely to have such experiences. In tourist ghettos (Khao San, most of central Chiang Mai, Phuket) it is similar.

While living in central BKK (but outside of above areas), I almost never encountered the scams you mention, nor did I get hit for money by people I met. Last daytrip out of town, I handed the van driver 300 baht (for 2 people), thinking the price was 120 per person... and got handed back 180, turns out it was 60 per person (they could have easily taken it, I'd not have complained and nobody was looking). On the same trip, a tuk tuk driver refused a tip (imagine that!) -- I wanted to give him 20 baht in addition to agreed 100 for a 8km ride + half hour of going around various lodgings. Speaking the language, being nice to people and not having a big $ sign on your back helps.

Thais outside of tourist areas are by and large honest -- last time I was riding a van with a friend from southern Europe, the driver collected the fare by passing around a basket where everybody would put the money (and take change as necessary). She mentioned this wouldn't quite work back in her country.

Still, it's common sense that being careful helps, there are bad apples everywhere, and being a Farang does make us stand out.

You do make a very good point that most Thais don't have varied interests and hobbies -- I still find it perplexing. I once had dinner with a last-year Chula economics student, and she didn't care at all for the global financial crisis. With few minor exceptions (mostly Thai-Chinese), I never met a Thai who cares to look beyond their immediate surroundings and life plans, and who finds any abstract concepts amusing at all.

Very well said crocodilexp as this was basically my thoughts/experiences as well but I was trying to understand where the OP was coming from in his/her generalization of Thais so I asked where the location for his/her thoughts were based from before I replied.

I as well have been taken advantage of (or at least had attempts made) as well as having met some of the kindest and honest people while traveling to and living in LOS for the past 8+ years.

I agree with noth of the above quotes.

Under certain circumstances and particularly in certain regions I am all too often seen as a walking ATM.

However the OP, despite noting some genuine observations, is tarring all thai's with the same brush and he could well be in a tourist orientated place.

I went to Soi Cowboy the other night, and the first thing that I heard was "Haallloooo, you buy me drink?"

I wonder why that was.