Frustration Quantification

[bcboy5440]

I have spent some time reading the forums and have picked up on the issue there are several frustrations living in Thailand. Having spent 2 months in China I realize it may often not be real big issues but a series of or many issues combining to grate on you or wear you down. For example in China I found:

1) the food to be an issue, soaked in oil, questionable quality, many of us ended up feeling nauseous for days on end.

2) language - Mandarin was hard to learn and not many English speakers around, trying to be understood was a real challenge and hard

3) government - it is a communist country and having to register with the police every time you traveled was an eye opener

4) travel information - hard to find out schedules and connections for trains, traveling around was difficult at times as the stations did not have the train schedules for connections.

I am trying to get a sense of how difficult things really are in Thailand. I have read that:

1) in the tourist areas there are plenty of English speakers so the language issue is minimized for areas like Pattaya, Koh Samui, Bankok, Chiang Mai. Is this a reasonable assumption?

2) Safety - Crime is on the rise - How bad is it? Is it unsafe to go out at night? How can one quantify what the dangers are?

3) Driving - Riding a motorcycle is dangerous , is this because of the other people on the road or the questionable skills of the motor bike rider?

4) Government - The government is making it seem inhospitable by changing visa requirements. Some are saying you are better off looking to other countries that are easier for visitors who what to stay 3 -5 months or possible 2-3 years.

5) Economy - It is getting more expensive in Thailand and it is now questionable whether or not it is worth staying?

6) How can one best prepare for living in Thailand, I heard about being patient as things take a long time to get things done, Do not come to Thailand with western standards in mind - is this a reasonable assumption?

As a Canadian I am looking at going to Thailand for the first time, I am 54 and could possibly look at retiring there. However as I have read on the forums here it is worthwhile doing research so you don't go over with unrealistic expectations. I have found this forum very helpful and I am hoping to shape some of the ideas I am gleaning from here. Thank you in advance for your thoughts and ideas.

bcboy5440

[bkkjames]

I have spent some time reading the forums and have picked up on the issue there are several frustrations living in Thailand. Having spent 2 months in China I realize it may often not be real big issues but a series of or many issues combining to grate on you or wear you down. For example in China I found:

1) the food to be an issue, soaked in oil, questionable quality, many of us ended up feeling nauseous for days on end.

2) language - Mandarin was hard to learn and not many English speakers around, trying to be understood was a real challenge and hard

3) government - it is a communist country and having to register with the police every time you traveled was an eye opener

4) travel information - hard to find out schedules and connections for trains, traveling around was difficult at times as the stations did not have the train schedules for connections.

I am trying to get a sense of how difficult things really are in Thailand. I have read that:

1) in the tourist areas there are plenty of English speakers so the language issue is minimized for areas like Pattaya, Koh Samui, Bankok, Chiang Mai. Is this a reasonable assumption?

2) Safety - Crime is on the rise - How bad is it? Is it unsafe to go out at night? How can one quantify what the dangers are?

3) Driving - Riding a motorcycle is dangerous , is this because of the other people on the road or the questionable skills of the motor bike rider?

4) Government - The government is making it seem inhospitable by changing visa requirements. Some are saying you are better off looking to other countries that are easier for visitors who what to stay 3 -5 months or possible 2-3 years.

5) Economy - It is getting more expensive in Thailand and it is now questionable whether or not it is worth staying?

6) How can one best prepare for living in Thailand, I heard about being patient as things take a long time to get things done, Do not come to Thailand with western standards in mind - is this a reasonable assumption?

As a Canadian I am looking at going to Thailand for the first time, I am 54 and could possibly look at retiring there. However as I have read on the forums here it is worthwhile doing research so you don't go over with unrealistic expectations. I have found this forum very helpful and I am hoping to shape some of the ideas I am gleaning from here. Thank you in advance for your thoughts and ideas.

bcboy5440

Point 1, correct

Point 2, no more than other parts of the world during economic downturn

Point 3, other people on the road + poor drivers (motorbikes)

Point 4, ever changing

Point 5, its more expensive in Canada now too no?

Point 6, go spend 3 months in India, then you will be ahead of the game when you arrive in Thailand.

[bcboy5440]

bkkjames

thanks for the response, but I have little or no desire to go to India

I am trying to find a warm and pleasant place to winter or perhaps live

[bkkjames]

bkkjames

thanks for the response, but I have little or no desire to go to India

I am trying to find a warm and pleasant place to winter or perhaps live

i tell you what, just go spend the next few weekends in Richmond, driving around, wandering through the chinese only language malls, for a some patience building before arriving here.

[verydumbubba]

Motorcycles are inherently more dangerous than automobiles. Period.

You have already done time in China - no need for any more - this place is heaven.

Come enjoy - before they flame you all the way to Alaska.

Bubba

[bkkjames]

Motorcycles are inherently more dangerous than automobiles. Period.

You have already done time in China - no need for any more - this place is heaven.

Come enjoy - before they flame you all the way to Alaska.

Bubba

bubba, he's from British Columbia, not Alaska. Please try again.

[colinscarr]

Point 6 - preparing yourself for Thailand.

I'd suggest a couple of visits of around three months to get a feel for the place. Rent somewhere to live and generally aim to live within what you expect your long term budget to be.

Read the local English language papers - Bangkok Post, The Nation, with particular reference to Thai news. Thailand is far more blatantly corrupt than the West. (But saying that, perhaps corrupt Western politicians are just better at hiding their corruption?). The papers will give you an idea of the issues. You can then judge if you want to live in such a country. The last couple of sentences make it sound like hel_l on earth - sorry, it really isn't like that.

Travel around the place, see if you prefer Chiang Mai to Bangkok etc.

Attitude, if you expect things to happen reliably and punctually, you will be disappointed! Adopt a more laid back approach to life. Be prepared for simple things to take time, and several attempts to get them right.

Learn at least a LITTLE BIT of Thai.

Think how you would occupy your time if you were to retire here. Could you keep yourself amused?

Finally, a personal view. If you could put up with the downsides of China, Thailand should be a breeze.

[dttk0009]

Crime is certainly higher here than in Canada. Depending on where you live, you could be faced with a couple of home invasions, though the robbers will typically flee immediately upon being heard or detected. Very popular in Thailand are also scamming schemes, as you may have already heard. Don't let people lure you into jewelry shops or anything like that. There's not so much mugging here, at least not from my 21 years of experience. I did have a friend who was mugged by a taxi driver and an accomplice, but he was well drunk. In fact, it seems most mug jobs happen exclusively to the inebriated. It's also not unheard of to get your pockets picked in some areas, so don't wander around with 100 baht bills hanging out of your back pocket Having said that, you don't have much to worry about if you stick to the main roads and other people. Don't get caught in a dark ally by yourself, though that's generally a universal rule that should be applied in every country.

[Neeranam]

bkkjames

thanks for the response, but I have little or no desire to go to India

I am trying to find a warm and pleasant place to winter or perhaps live

You are 54 years old and never seen India! It's a wonderful country that has to be experienced.

Don't be such a boring old fart - adventure. Throw your guide book out the window and learn yourself.

[geriatrickid]

No need to visit India. He can get the cleaned up version in Surrey. Cleaned up in the sense that he won't walk in human excrement, or be assaulted by the stench and dirt. He just has to avoid the open gang wars with explosives & guns. Therein lies the advantage of Thailand over China and India. As filthy as this place is, it's still cleaner than those 2 places. If my motorbike breaks down in Thailand, a Thai will usually stop and help (or offer advice ) In China, they run away. Same with a motor crash. In every crash I have seen here, at least some Thai will stop and give comfort. Not much but it says something. In China or India they just stare, point and gawk.

One could go on and on about the negatives, but Thailand is worth checking out for a few months first and then deciding. However, to get the real sense of the country, stay away from pattaya and Bangkok in the first few months. Check out Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Surat Thani. Heck, visit Issan and Surin, you will be pleasantly surprised by the warmth, decency and simplicity of life. Not as luxurious as the wealthier parts of the country, but sort of like rural newfoundland in terms of quality of life and heart.

[bcboy5440]

Thank you to all who took the time to respond. It is helpful in shaping ones thoughts and ideas on how to approach living in a new and different culture. Having lived in Canada all my life I realize there is a lot to learn and take in to consideration.

[sanook2me]

West Sterile Controlled vs East Unsterile Uncontrolled

take your pick!

Thailand is a breeze and lovely place, recommendations keep away from the sex tourist areas until you get a feel of the place and choose farang friends carefully....

join normal clubs such as a fitness centre and meet normal Thai people/girls of a similar status to yourself...

or

Just go live in Pattaya marry a poor uneducated girl with a kid and large poor famly and then come back too complain about it in 6 months....

lots of choices here....

upto you!