How Long Have You Been In Thailand

[the gentleman]

I am from Sri Lanka. Probably the only Asian in this forum.

3 Yrs in Thailand. Living in Bangkok and married to a Thai.

Chartered Accountant by profession. Unfortunately it's Ban for Expats in Thailand. So, change to IT.

Waiting until my wife finishes her studies. Very disapointed with the attitude of thai's against the Asian's. Planning to migrate to a western country. This is not the place for both of us.

Hi Kwiz,

We Australians are also Asian mate, we are Australasian!

Good Luck in whatever you do, it is unfortunate you feel that way, I havent trod in your shoes, so I havent anything else to share - Cheers and Merry Christmas.

[Johnny Moron]

From Johnny Moron aka Professor Sebastian Mortimer aka Comrade Vladamir Zharkhovsky aka Python Lee Jackson aka California Dave.

Four and half wonderful years. Time split between managing a growing buffalo farm in Yasothon and the occasional teaching of English to corporate clients here in sunny Bangkok.

Yasothon wins hands down any day for quality of life, but BKK helps pay the rent.

Modest houses in both locations, but as yet no gleaming merc. Nice new DVD player, but as yet no TV above the ubiquitous 21 inch flat screen. Regular visitor to Thaivisa.com, but no great wish as of yet to take seriously anything other than the visa pages.

At least your lives sound interesting!

[dangerboy]

American male......lived and worked in Asia for 15 years..........ten of those years in Bangkok.

I am in the entertainment industry. No, not a singer, director or porn star.

I consider myself very fortunate.

[HEXtaB]

Close to 6 years residing in Thailand now, not set foot in England for 5 years already.

Wonderful wife, life, and family in Bangkok, Thailand.

Currently lead software infrastructure programmer at an expensive school you may know.

HEX

[sanook]

I have lived in Thailand since 1985 and returned to salmon fish Alaska in the summer of each year until 1996 when I retired. I have not left the LOS since then and do not plan to in the future. I have Thai wife and 8 year old daughter. My best recollections of Thailand past was a 3 month stay on Koh Samui at the Peace Bungalow. No electricity until they started the generator for a few hours at night. No big hotels but mostly bungalows , no airport..it was really peaceful. Not like now!!

[bangkokblue]

First visit 1970 HM Government service. Bangkok has been my second home since 1976 would have retired in los if not for the 'if' factor and not rich anough not to be concerned. Contrary too all the not's it still gets my yes vote, if only........

[karenfraser18]

I am just going into my second year and loving it here. I am a retired widow from Canada

[Felt 35]

6 years in Thailand.Spends the summer in Europe. Thaiwife. Informationconsultant.

[kwiz117]

I am from Sri Lanka. Probably the only Asian in this forum.

3 Yrs in Thailand. Living in Bangkok and married to a Thai.

Chartered Accountant by profession. Unfortunately it's Ban for Expats in Thailand. So, change to IT.

Waiting until my wife finishes her studies. Very disapointed with the attitude of thai's against the Asian's. Planning to migrate to a western country. This is not the place for both of us. 

You seem to be independant in a certain way. The dislike of people from your area

is mainly due to the goodness of a country to let you earn a decent way of life you ( people from your area) show up with 50 more relatives and they with 50 more that take advantage of the very system that cost most of us dearly and years of hard labor.

We have to show up with what we need to survive and not feed off the backs of the locals and

we never bring 50 others ( english teachers in thailand excluded) that feed off the hospitality of the host nation. We are proud of sacrifice and independant self supporting honest living. Do not take this negatively if it does not apply to you.

Hi Khun?

No problem..I said the same by myself before in another thread and got slammed for making a generalization.

I am totally with you. Actually that is the reason Thai people have this attitude. I understand them and I am just among the .5% who are independent from our big family trees. [papa and mama boys]

I studied in UK and have seen the way people in my country, India trying to create sub cultures and societies in UK. But I never got discriminated.

When I came here, I see the same. But sadly, so much of discrimination.

So thought, better to go back..

[udon]

Just over 3 years in BKK. Been robbed so many times I've lost count but still lub those LBFMs.

Retired domain name registrar.

[Khun ?]

You have to remember a small country with at least 75% of it in the lower class

with assumed rich tourist in abundance leaves a negitive effect on the general populace. It would be very hard for them not to be prejudce in some way. As you agree most people in your area come without anything and play on the hospitality of the host. You seem to be different from the average person from your area and

just looking out ofr your well being not a tribe of thousands of aunts, uncles, brothers sisters and all of their friends and relatives. 70% of petrol stations in the USA are foreign owned (probably all of the 7-11 stores) China holds 120 bil of government bonds (debt). Anyways all is far in love and war, we love to hate.

Just making do for ones own is just a down right miserable task in itself so good luck to all.

14 years never more than 3 months at one time in Thailand. Business associates

were conmen still chasing them around. Ex wife lives outside of Thailand along with a daughter. a few foreign friends that live at least part time in Thailand and most of my time is spent with thai friends. After this many years I still do not have a favorite hotel or bar. Always make Pattaya the base of launch and seems I have

to travel around every few days, I am not one for sitting to long in one place. So much to do and see in such a short time. Always seems it is low season when I

make it there. Nothing is ever planned nor is anything planned ever done as planned. I like the provinces the big cities and beaches alike. I guess I just like anything and everything except slackers and bottom feeders. I would rather work a month than have a day without funds to do what I want when I want. In the last 30 years I have worked and lived 25 of those years in foreign countries only for home country companies to include my own. Retirement soon I hope.

[Whiplash]

Just begun my 3rd year here, married 6 months.

Retired due to an Whiplash injury, and now just slacking..

Going back to Sweden in May 2005 for 2-3 years so wifey and her daugter from a previous marriage can get permenent residency over there. (Daughter is 15 and we have to go before the year she turns 18, or no go for her.)

After that we plan to return to LOS during the winters, and back to Sweden during the summers.

[A. BOOZER]

I do think that this thread is a very good idea, hope that a lot of other members have the same feeling.

A 52 year old Englishman who first came to LOS back in 1968, currently living in UK with my Isaan wife who is one year my junior. A publican by profession (30 years full time), recently have additionally been trading in ladies clothing in the North of England, looking forward to 2004 when we will take up permanent residence in our small property in Rayong.

[Mai Shai Satroo]

Almost two years.

Was a software engineer (mostly IBM midrange) in the US for 18 years. Had enough of living in a Dilbert comic, heartburn, headaches every day, so my wife and i decided to move here, leaving her daughter (30 years old) over in Minnesota with her husband and family. She's from Surin, and 14 years my senior (sometimes I joke her and call her "Yai"). We married in the states 8 years ago or so, she'd been there 25 years.

We have houses up here and the required Isuzu pickup (very popular up here) which I hate and want to sell. Currently in the process of building house #3, a 2-story job. I am constantly amazed (baffled, dissappointed, concerned, frightened) by the general contstruction practices up here, but, life goes on and no major mishaps so far.

[the gentleman]

Dr Pat Pong, ?

[Johnny Moron]

looking forward to 2004 when we will take up permanent residence in our small property in Rayong.

Nice one dude.

I like the word "small". I'm now of the opinion that most of those here in Thailand who use instead the word "big" have probably just had a little too much Newcastle Brown.

[the gentleman]

American male......lived and worked in Asia for 15 years..........ten of those years in Bangkok.

I am in the entertainment industry. No, not a singer, director or porn star.

I consider myself very fortunate.

not a singer, director or porn star well what then?!

[taxexile]

American male......lived and worked in Asia for 15 years..........ten of those years in Bangkok.

I am in the entertainment industry. No, not a singer, director or porn star.

I consider myself very fortunate. 

not a singer, director or porn star  well what then?!

its obvious... he's a comedian!!

[mijan24]

From the land of OZ - enjoyed the sights of South Vietnam 1968-1971 and then Papua New Guinea 1973-1976, tripped to the Phillipines in 1975 for the thriller in Manila enjoyed a sandwich and draught beer @ the original Kangaroo Club (followed by tripping to the land of Matriachs for the next 19 years).

First trip to LOS 1982, taught at the Military Technical Training School Bang Khen, current spouse (Thai 5+years) met in Townsville married in Nonthaburi 1998.

In mode of moving to LOS permanently for past 2 years (5 trips to & fro in meantime).

Thats me in a nutshell not much but I and wifey enjoy life here in Newcastle but Nonthaburi wins hands down in the climate (both weather & human) stakes, so heres hoping to relocate sooner rather than later.

[otherstuff1957]

Real newbie here - one month & 10 days! I'm making a real stab at "going native" and seeing how long I can survive in Thailand. Currently working as a EFL Teacher, and I HAVE taught before, although not English. Pom poot par sar Thai nit noy, and my goal in to be reasonably fluent in six months or less.

[monty]

Came on 1 month holidays between '89 and 93 (7 times). Relocated to LOS in Feb '93 and haven't been away since except 1 visit home every 2 years...

Currently in IT(main job) and yacht construction(side business)...

[the gentleman]

American male......lived and worked in Asia for 15 years..........ten of those years in Bangkok.

I am in the entertainment industry. No, not a singer, director or porn star.

I consider myself very fortunate. 

not a singer, director or porn star  well what then?!

its obvious... he's a comedian!!

That or a gogo owner!

[Kan Win]

Dr Pat Pong, ?

Dr. WHO !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nitroII]

Spent nine years in Middle East doing the oil field gig. I invested $750,000 (U.S) in stocks (On the NYSE), but ended up losing the majority of it. (This was after two tours in Viet Nam, where I won the Congressional Medal of Honor). Came to Thailand, opened a bar, and invested the profits on the Thai stock exchange. I make roughly 15,000 baht a day from those investments (Isn't life great?). Plan to stay here forever. By the way, I'll be 35 next month.

You don't mind getting the next round, do you?

[Pink Mist]

nitro you must have been born during a leap year or 5yo when in Nam!

[Khun ?]

35 maybe the years he has been going to Thailand and of course he was awarded the medal. Many day traders make their place of business in Thailand now with

the lack of enforcing immigration laws many people do businees from inside of Thailand that is outside of country. Simple way to hide from taxes even though

when doing business between U.S. citizens require taxes paid if money is from

the U.S. that is supporting doing the business.

[Pink Mist]

Could be right khun maybe he meant, "It'll be 35 years next month", I guss weall make typoos

[nitroII]

Sorry people,

Figured I'd have a little fun there. I was taking a shot at the beer- bar experts who have experience in everything but Mathematics (the years never add up).

In reality, I've been coming here for approx. 20 years, and have spent almost 15 years in-country. The majority of my income has come from teaching English as a second language, but have supplemented that with Thai-English translation.

[Guest ka1234]

4 years 1999-2002, software development. Thai family.

Looking for a way back to Thailand but for now I am prostituting my brain on the opposite side of the planet.

[mike100]

14 months so relatively a newbie compared to most of you guys.

Married to a Thai for nearly two years, who lived with me in London before the big move.

Got very sick of the UK rate race and realized that I could sell up and take early retirement over here, after I’d carefully worked everything out.

Providing the UK interest rates stay around 3.5 %, we can live fairly well on the interest, and in another 12 years can (hopefully) add the UK state pension to that. Also have a small private pension which was cashed in early.

Used to work as a video editor and was a part time musician.

We have a house with a small holding farm in Buriram and two bungalows just outside Pattaya, one of which is to be used as a rental.

For transport, we have a newish Toyota truck and a medium sized motor cycle.

Definitely no regrets so far.

Mike.