After 15 Years In Thailand And Going Back To The Us

[KRS1]

I too am a Texas, but from Ft Worth and have lived in Thailand for 11 years...made my first trip back to Ft Worth and Austin in 5 1/2 yrs last Oct and must say I was VERY surprised at what I found...I was DREADING the trip back but found that aside from the lack of available Asian women, just about EVERYTHING else in the US is superior...This is from the view of someone who has lived in BKK for 11 yrs...I KNOW it is cheaper upcountry and I plan to join you CNX guys at some point, but for now my biz is in BKK.

1st- People are FAR nicer back home...I live in Central BKK and what used to a very nice friendly place has turned into a much more stand offish if not mean environment. Suk 3-13 are awful, with the changing demographics and copious amounts of trash on the street.

2nd- Cost of living is FAR cheaper in the US (central BKK is about 100% more then when I moved here)...well, if you want to live in a 7k baht a month cement box, eat street food, and drink the local swill then Thailand is the place, but if you want to have ANY semblance of a Western lifestyle then TX is FAR cheaper. A Hein beer at 7/11 in LOS is 41 bath...that is 8.50 a 6 pack...I can buy a 6 of GREAT micro-brew for 7.50 in the US...Clothing, MUCH cheaper in the US for anything of quality...rents, my father rents a beautiful 1200 sq ft 2 bdr 2 ba with wood floors, marble counters, and stainless appliances for 850 USD a month...my SMALL 2/2 in central BKK is 780 USD and it PALES in comparison to his...Cable is cheaper and better, FOOD is cheaper and of higher quality...a hamburger at the Londoner is 11.50...and don't forget the portion size in the US is HUGE, you can easily feed two.

3rd- Cleanliness- BKK is filthy, most places here are. Trash is strewn all over, noise and air pollution rule the day

4th- Technology better in Thailand?? Give me a break, the US has 4g for cell phones, MANY HD channels, faster internet, etc, etc, etc...far better and cheaper then LOS.

As I said, if you want to live like a local it is cheap...BUT I moved here because I could live like a king for less then the US...not the case anymore...

I could go on and on...will start spending 3 to 4 months a year in the states..

People in Chiang Mai are far nicer than Bangkok, Suk 3-13 dirty you say, must be a coincidence that's where most farangs are, and it appears not to be trash, but mainly clutter from the sidewalk vendors catering to tourist.

I'm seeing a pattern of people assuming that 'technology' only means the Internet. Technology covers everything from manufacturing to cell phones. But i still say the Internet is just about as fast in Thailand as in Houston. You want faster speeds step up to a better package, and don't use the same cookie cutter packages 90% of the people in Thailand are using.

Funny how people assume technology in regards to electronics in the US is ahead when 99% is made in Asia, and that includes the engineering standpoint. Electronics, cars and trucks are made in Thailand and are exported worldwide. I cant remember the last time i saw something that was made in or designed in America. Dodge,Ford, Chevy thats about it and Chevy had to get bailed out.

How about fuel? EVERY taxi in Thailand works on either CNG or propane, try finding a place to fill your tank up with CNG or propane in the US. Apart from CNG and propane, Thailand also utilizes biofuel mixtures at almost every pump now,not only this but even selections of biofuels such as E85 - even better is i have someone pumping the gas for me, even if it takes a while sometimes.

I don't agree that clothing is cheaper in the US , i just bought 3 pairs of Levis jeans for an average price of $45 and some shirts at Macy's and they cost the same as in Thailand, but if i go to places like the franchise Import/Export shop (located in shopping malls) or XL for men its literally 3 times cheaper than the US for clothes and pants. This winter i was going to buy a Columbia sports jacket, the price was $125 the same one at Import/Export shop was about $45.

There's a bigger shoe selection here though, and I'm loving that. Of course if you do the majority of your shopping at Ross, Target or Marshalls it will be cheaper. Anyone that has had a suit tailor made can attest that the cost is up to 6x more expensive in the US and that's a figure I use sparingly.

Personally I like the fact I can buy any cellphone in Thailand and not have to be locked into one contract, I can change the SIM card and choose any carrier I wish. You aren't going to see this happen for 75% of the phones in the US. Not too mention the new promotions that come wave after wave with companies like dtac allowing you to change promotions in your next billing cycle.

I don't find cable to be much better, you just have more channels of nothing worthy of watching.

Beer won't cost me $7.50 it will cost me $15 because its not as strong and I have to drink twice as much.

Auto Insurance - I don't even have to talk about this, everyone that drives in Thailand knows how much cheaper it is than the US.

Edited January 7, 2011 by KRS1

[Rumpole]

but who wants to live in Burma or Cambodia or a Muslim country with all the restrictions?

I, along with many other Western and Asian expats, live quite happily in Cambodia, which we generally find considerably more welcoming to foreigners than Thailand.

As to your constant harping about Muslim countries, have you ever actually lived in one? Thought not.

What constant harping about Muslim countries. You're confusing me with someone else. Obviously, Islam seems to work for a few billion people. Women can be treated like sex slaves and get no medical treatment. Men rule the roost. I know men who choose to work in coal mines in terrible conditions. But, given a choice, most of us would pick something different. Some men are happy speaking to nobody and drink beer all day. I also know men who actually enjoy war and killing people. It's like a giant, but real video game. There is something for everyone in this world. Just go look for it. It's there somewhere. I could add North Korea to the list. There are a few million people there as well. I'm sure some of them are happy. Same with Somalia and east Africa.

To be fair, the two muslim countries I have lived in have been, in my opinion, good examples of tolerant multiculturalism and you may be surprised or appalled to know that I attended churches in them both. And drank like a fish, and enjoyed the sight of young ladies walking down the street in shorts or mini-skirts. People might wish to limit their criticism of other countries on religous grounds to totalitarian theocracies, like the Vatican, for example.

SC

Precisely. Many of the opinions expressed by armchair travellers regarding predominantly Islamic countries are formed from sensationalist media reports of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and one or two other fundamentalist societies. The Saudis are no more representative of Islam and the Middle East, than the Amish are representative of Christianity and the 'West'. The Middle East is a huge, culturally and politically diverse area, embracing many of the same kind of values and intolerances that one would find on any of the other Continents. The 'Muslim World' covers an even broader spectrum.

I, too, have lived and worked in many of the Gulf States, some of them more than once, and in most of those women are by no means treated as sex-slaves or denied medical treatment. The more enlightened GCC States have affirmative action policies to encourage women to avail themselves of (generally completely free) education and to join the workforce in both the public and private sectors at all levels. They may yet have some way to go with regard to women's rights, however how long did it take many non-Islamic countries to grant universal suffrage (Switzerland 1971) or admit women into (say) the learned professions? I would say that many Gulf Arab women have far better employment opportunities than their sisters in Korea or Japan.

If sh*gging cheap whores is high on your list of lifestyle priorities, then obviously there are better places to go than the Middle East (Muslim Indonesia being one of them). However in terms of tolerance, multi-cultural harmony, a place to raise and educate children, not to mention general quality of life, some of the Gulf States may actually have more to offer than some places in Asia.

Apologies to the OP for hijacking his thread.

Edited January 7, 2011 by Rumpole

[dave_boo]

+1 I mean your man there's quite right, it's a feral dump, it's different.

But it's cheap, even with the quid down, it's so very cheap.

And the sun shines upon my face.

Up where my house is it isn't too different than where I grew up in the States; granted the enviroment is not as well taken care of, but the people are just as friendly. Much as I did as a child I like to walk around (yes on foot), and much as what happened when I did this as a child people are constantly stopping and asking if I need a ride; try and get that down in the busier provinces!

Going to a mechanic shop for a small repair and having the bill waived reminds me a lot of the way things were in my home state (which I haven't seen in over a decade), a communal feeling prevading all really feels inclusive.

There are flies in the ointment however; for instance at the wife's grandmum's funeral the town drunk tripped and fell on the ground. I helped him up and got him on a chair and told him to stay put. The wife scolded me because "He's just going to do it again". I suppose on the one hand she was correct, however such a train of thought would not have presented in my hometown in that people, perhaps naively, believe that everyone can change...

[Chunky1]

Do you have any evidence that only a few families control the importation of cameras into Thailand?

[lannarebirth]

I am not American but the question i would ask those that sing the praises of Thailand over the US is:

If you were rich where would you prefer to live?

Personally I like the idea of coming in and out of Thailand as and when i please.

But I still prefer to keep my primary residence in my home country Australia.

Given my druthers I'd probably rather live in my birthplace, San Francisco. It's a wonderful place to live if you have more than 10 million dollars or less than 10 dollars. It's often hard to get by for those in between.

[tmwke]

I live in Canada but pretty much the same as the US except maybe not as run down, the economy here never took the huge hit the US has. Never the less I came back because my Thai wife very badly wanted to come to Canada. Its great for her, she was given an opportunity and she has made the best of it. In just 6 years she has over a million baht in the bank and owns her own restaurant.

For me not so great, just before it was time to leave Thailand to bring her to Canada I remember thinking about it while I was looking at a beautiful book of diving in Thailand at a bookstore in phuket town, and I while I was looking at all of these beautiful pictures of Thailand I started to break out in cold sweat thinking this a mistake. Well 6 years later she is doing great but the last 6 years for me has been predictably very stressful and frustrating. The reason I left canada from the beginning is because i was fed up and disgusted with high taxes, over regulation, massive mounds of paperwork regardless of what you do ect. ect. not to mention the shear arrogance and ignorance of the everyday people here. Now I have 3 times the stress than ever before because now I have to do all admin, taxes, paperwork, schools ect. ect. not just for myself but for her, her son, and the restaurant she runs.

In a nutshell its been great for her, hell for me. So what I am trying to say is its all a matter of persepctive. For the Thai foriegn workers here they work, put money in the bank and if they are smart and dont send it all home they can go back to Thailand with a miilon baht in 3 years. For me who has to pay mortgage, high taxes, and high everything else it's just a day to day struggle to meet the bills. Now I'm coming to Thailand by myself this year simply because I cant take it any more. So ladies and gentleman if your Thai spouse or partner is working on you to take her back to your country. I have three words of advice. Dont do it!

I have never read a truer reply posted on this forum Thank You ! (every body take note)

[Heng]

One thing I like better back home is the less obvious social posturing when you meet people. Here there's always that (somewhat) awkward 'weigh in' to see who is bigger/heavier/wealthier/more connected/etc. that will pretty much define the rest of the relationship.

Awkward or just down right dull?

I do have Thai friends that don't do this, at all. They are well off, not rich. But both lived over a decade in the West.

So dunno. It does seem to be the norm.

I'd say awkward but in a natural way. Like going to a village where everyone drinks from the same cup or eats from the same plate without using a middle spoon.

I would bet that it's there but you don't sense it. If they are Thais that refer to folks as 'brothers' and 'sisters' anywhere in their lives, it's a good assumption that they do practice it.

[Heng]

Bangkok is a major world capital. Compare Bangkok to Washington D.C. or New York for prices, maybe Texas to Udon Thani.

Next ...

That is funny...BKK is a capital but it is still WAY substandard when it comes to quality of everything...but now not in price...compare Singapore and HK to NYC and DC for prices but not BKK as it does not offer 1/2 of what those cities offer in sophistication, entertainment, and quality of life...

You would compare UDON to a SMALL midwest town, not to a large US city...

That's because Thailand is still not a 1st world country, although it is classed as newly industrialized. It will take time for increased internal competition to develop. One good example was in the Photography forum about camera prices. Import and distribution of cameras is controlled by a few families, hence the mark up.

And let's not forget the tyranny of the boxed juices monopoly (as one poster in the past apparently had issues with).

[tjrd12]

I too am a Texas, but from Ft Worth and have lived in Thailand for 11 years...made my first trip back to Ft Worth and Austin in 5 1/2 yrs last Oct and must say I was VERY surprised at what I found...I was DREADING the trip back but found that aside from the lack of available Asian women, just about EVERYTHING else in the US is superior...This is from the view of someone who has lived in BKK for 11 yrs...I KNOW it is cheaper upcountry and I plan to join you CNX guys at some point, but for now my biz is in BKK.

1st- People are FAR nicer back home...I live in Central BKK and what used to a very nice friendly place has turned into a much more stand offish if not mean environment. Suk 3-13 are awful, with the changing demographics and copious amounts of trash on the street.

2nd- Cost of living is FAR cheaper in the US (central BKK is about 100% more then when I moved here)...well, if you want to live in a 7k baht a month cement box, eat street food, and drink the local swill then Thailand is the place, but if you want to have ANY semblance of a Western lifestyle then TX is FAR cheaper. A Hein beer at 7/11 in LOS is 41 bath...that is 8.50 a 6 pack...I can buy a 6 of GREAT micro-brew for 7.50 in the US...Clothing, MUCH cheaper in the US for anything of quality...rents, my father rents a beautiful 1200 sq ft 2 bdr 2 ba with wood floors, marble counters, and stainless appliances for 850 USD a month...my SMALL 2/2 in central BKK is 780 USD and it PALES in comparison to his...Cable is cheaper and better, FOOD is cheaper and of higher quality...a hamburger at the Londoner is 11.50...and don't forget the portion size in the US is HUGE, you can easily feed two.

3rd- Cleanliness- BKK is filthy, most places here are. Trash is strewn all over, noise and air pollution rule the day

4th- Technology better in Thailand?? Give me a break, the US has 4g for cell phones, MANY HD channels, faster internet, etc, etc, etc...far better and cheaper then LOS.

As I said, if you want to live like a local it is cheap...BUT I moved here because I could live like a king for less then the US...not the case anymore...

I could go on and on...will start spending 3 to 4 months a year in the states..

People in Chiang Mai are far nicer than Bangkok, Suk 3-13 dirty you say, must be a coincidence that's where most farangs are, and it appears not to be trash, but mainly clutter from the sidewalk vendors catering to tourist.

I'm seeing a pattern of people assuming that 'technology' only means the Internet. Technology covers everything from manufacturing to cell phones. But i still say the Internet is just about as fast in Thailand as in Houston. You want faster speeds step up to a better package, and don't use the same cookie cutter packages 90% of the people in Thailand are using.

Funny how people assume technology in regards to electronics in the US is ahead when 99% is made in Asia, and that includes the engineering standpoint. Electronics, cars and trucks are made in Thailand and are exported worldwide. I cant remember the last time i saw something that was made in or designed in America. Dodge,Ford, Chevy thats about it and Chevy had to get bailed out.

How about fuel? EVERY taxi in Thailand works on either CNG or propane, try finding a place to fill your tank up with CNG or propane in the US. Apart from CNG and propane, Thailand also utilizes biofuel mixtures at almost every pump now,not only this but even selections of biofuels such as E85 - even better is i have someone pumping the gas for me, even if it takes a while sometimes.

I don't agree that clothing is cheaper in the US , i just bought 3 pairs of Levis jeans for an average price of $45 and some shirts at Macy's and they cost the same as in Thailand, but if i go to places like the franchise Import/Export shop (located in shopping malls) or XL for men its literally 3 times cheaper than the US for clothes and pants. This winter i was going to buy a Columbia sports jacket, the price was $125 the same one at Import/Export shop was about $45.

There's a bigger shoe selection here though, and I'm loving that. Of course if you do the majority of your shopping at Ross, Target or Marshalls it will be cheaper. Anyone that has had a suit tailor made can attest that the cost is up to 6x more expensive in the US and that's a figure I use sparingly.

Personally I like the fact I can buy any cellphone in Thailand and not have to be locked into one contract, I can change the SIM card and choose any carrier I wish. You aren't going to see this happen for 75% of the phones in the US. Not too mention the new promotions that come wave after wave with companies like dtac allowing you to change promotions in your next billing cycle.

I don't find cable to be much better, you just have more channels of nothing worthy of watching.

Beer won't cost me $7.50 it will cost me $15 because its not as strong and I have to drink twice as much.

Auto Insurance - I don't even have to talk about this, everyone that drives in Thailand knows how much cheaper it is than the US.

Not as strong?? You must not be drinking good micro-brews...8%, 11& take your pick...and over 150 varieties at the local supermarket...

I would also say that MANY farangs have moved out of the 3-13 area as it is no longer a farang domain...Asoke to Ekkamai is still ok...

And prices, well, Outlet Malls in the US are amazing...that Columbia jacket can be had for 25 USD and Gap Jeans that are 2999 Baht for 23 USD...as I said MUCH cheaper...Coach handbags are another example...here 15k baht plus...same bag, 150 USD at the outlet...9 West shoes, 3500 baht at the 50% off sale at Emp, 75 USD in the USA...as I said I guess it is a matter of how you want to live...

Levis in Thailand will run you about 1700 baht and up...that is a bit more then 45 USD...

There is NO MIDDLE CLASS here...and that is reflected in the choices one has...it is either CHEAP or very expensive...very little middle ground...and I really do not see that changing...

Bigger shoe selection?? I hsve not seen that..quality here is STILL very pricey...again I really think that goods sold locally are inferior...that is not to say that there are not quality products made here, quite the contrary, they are just made for export...

Agree with you on fuels...but petrol is cheaper in the US...

As I said for me the perfect life would be about 4 to 5 months in the US and the rest here...folks I know that do that appreciate BOTH...

Houston has a great downtown now...friend's Dad has a condo next to the ballpark...can walk to numerous restaurants and bars and then head to a ball game...nice...

[tjrd12]

I am not American but the question i would ask those that sing the praises of Thailand over the US is:

If you were rich where would you prefer to live?

Personally I like the idea of coming in and out of Thailand as and when i please.

But I still prefer to keep my primary residence in my home country Australia.

Given my druthers I'd probably rather live in my birthplace, San Francisco. It's a wonderful place to live if you have more than 10 million dollars or less than 10 dollars. It's often hard to get by for those in between.

If money were no issue, San Fran, NYC, Vancouver, perhaps Tokyo...

[tjrd12]

Do you have any evidence that only a few families control the importation of cameras into Thailand?

You can do that research for yourself...and can with most products...go to the company website and look for the Intl distributors...you will find that with most all imported products there is one MAYBE two distributors...and there are folks that have the distribution rights to MANY products.

Also most stores here do not buy their inventory...for instance at the Empo or Paragon when you see Lacoste, the store does not but that inventory, it simply rents the space to the Lacoste distributor, so there is never any real pressure on the store to move the inventory, hence when you see a Lacoste sale it is always 30% off, never more...Same holds true for Samsung and other products in places like Power Mall, Carrefour, and Lotus...that is why prices are IDENTICAL and you have very little bargaining power...and of course the big problem...cars...which in mainly tax...

[ableguy]

come on the op was in los 15yrs and went native, i am amazed his liver still works after 15yrs of bad booze, and lets be honest his choice of Houston is not the model of what the USA has to offer, it is hot, stinks, and is full of red necks with 2 first names i.e. billie bob. I have been in the los for 11yrs and have no desire to ride a motorcycle taxi, drink beer loa, or eat fresh road kill. Is America for everyone? No! Does America offer the ambitious, hard working of any race, education, sex or sexual prefrence an opportunity to see their dreams come true? Absolutly! If you have Child where would they have more opportunities to succeed? los or USA?

Right on bro.

[KRS1]

I too am a Texas, but from Ft Worth and have lived in Thailand for 11 years...made my first trip back to Ft Worth and Austin in 5 1/2 yrs last Oct and must say I was VERY surprised at what I found...I was DREADING the trip back but found that aside from the lack of available Asian women, just about EVERYTHING else in the US is superior...This is from the view of someone who has lived in BKK for 11 yrs...I KNOW it is cheaper upcountry and I plan to join you CNX guys at some point, but for now my biz is in BKK.

1st- People are FAR nicer back home...I live in Central BKK and what used to a very nice friendly place has turned into a much more stand offish if not mean environment. Suk 3-13 are awful, with the changing demographics and copious amounts of trash on the street.

2nd- Cost of living is FAR cheaper in the US (central BKK is about 100% more then when I moved here)...well, if you want to live in a 7k baht a month cement box, eat street food, and drink the local swill then Thailand is the place, but if you want to have ANY semblance of a Western lifestyle then TX is FAR cheaper. A Hein beer at 7/11 in LOS is 41 bath...that is 8.50 a 6 pack...I can buy a 6 of GREAT micro-brew for 7.50 in the US...Clothing, MUCH cheaper in the US for anything of quality...rents, my father rents a beautiful 1200 sq ft 2 bdr 2 ba with wood floors, marble counters, and stainless appliances for 850 USD a month...my SMALL 2/2 in central BKK is 780 USD and it PALES in comparison to his...Cable is cheaper and better, FOOD is cheaper and of higher quality...a hamburger at the Londoner is 11.50...and don't forget the portion size in the US is HUGE, you can easily feed two.

3rd- Cleanliness- BKK is filthy, most places here are. Trash is strewn all over, noise and air pollution rule the day

4th- Technology better in Thailand?? Give me a break, the US has 4g for cell phones, MANY HD channels, faster internet, etc, etc, etc...far better and cheaper then LOS.

As I said, if you want to live like a local it is cheap...BUT I moved here because I could live like a king for less then the US...not the case anymore...

I could go on and on...will start spending 3 to 4 months a year in the states..

People in Chiang Mai are far nicer than Bangkok, Suk 3-13 dirty you say, must be a coincidence that's where most farangs are, and it appears not to be trash, but mainly clutter from the sidewalk vendors catering to tourist.

I'm seeing a pattern of people assuming that 'technology' only means the Internet. Technology covers everything from manufacturing to cell phones. But i still say the Internet is just about as fast in Thailand as in Houston. You want faster speeds step up to a better package, and don't use the same cookie cutter packages 90% of the people in Thailand are using.

Funny how people assume technology in regards to electronics in the US is ahead when 99% is made in Asia, and that includes the engineering standpoint. Electronics, cars and trucks are made in Thailand and are exported worldwide. I cant remember the last time i saw something that was made in or designed in America. Dodge,Ford, Chevy thats about it and Chevy had to get bailed out.

How about fuel? EVERY taxi in Thailand works on either CNG or propane, try finding a place to fill your tank up with CNG or propane in the US. Apart from CNG and propane, Thailand also utilizes biofuel mixtures at almost every pump now,not only this but even selections of biofuels such as E85 - even better is i have someone pumping the gas for me, even if it takes a while sometimes.

I don't agree that clothing is cheaper in the US , i just bought 3 pairs of Levis jeans for an average price of $45 and some shirts at Macy's and they cost the same as in Thailand, but if i go to places like the franchise Import/Export shop (located in shopping malls) or XL for men its literally 3 times cheaper than the US for clothes and pants. This winter i was going to buy a Columbia sports jacket, the price was $125 the same one at Import/Export shop was about $45.

There's a bigger shoe selection here though, and I'm loving that. Of course if you do the majority of your shopping at Ross, Target or Marshalls it will be cheaper. Anyone that has had a suit tailor made can attest that the cost is up to 6x more expensive in the US and that's a figure I use sparingly.

Personally I like the fact I can buy any cellphone in Thailand and not have to be locked into one contract, I can change the SIM card and choose any carrier I wish. You aren't going to see this happen for 75% of the phones in the US. Not too mention the new promotions that come wave after wave with companies like dtac allowing you to change promotions in your next billing cycle.

I don't find cable to be much better, you just have more channels of nothing worthy of watching.

Beer won't cost me $7.50 it will cost me $15 because its not as strong and I have to drink twice as much.

Auto Insurance - I don't even have to talk about this, everyone that drives in Thailand knows how much cheaper it is than the US.

Not as strong?? You must not be drinking good micro-brews...8%, 11& take your pick...and over 150 varieties at the local supermarket...

I would also say that MANY farangs have moved out of the 3-13 area as it is no longer a farang domain...Asoke to Ekkamai is still ok...

And prices, well, Outlet Malls in the US are amazing...that Columbia jacket can be had for 25 USD and Gap Jeans that are 2999 Baht for 23 USD...as I said MUCH cheaper...Coach handbags are another example...here 15k baht plus...same bag, 150 USD at the outlet...9 West shoes, 3500 baht at the 50% off sale at Emp, 75 USD in the USA...as I said I guess it is a matter of how you want to live...

Levis in Thailand will run you about 1700 baht and up...that is a bit more then 45 USD...

There is NO MIDDLE CLASS here...and that is reflected in the choices one has...it is either CHEAP or very expensive...very little middle ground...and I really do not see that changing...

Bigger shoe selection?? I hsve not seen that..quality here is STILL very pricey...again I really think that goods sold locally are inferior...that is not to say that there are not quality products made here, quite the contrary, they are just made for export...

Agree with you on fuels...but petrol is cheaper in the US...

As I said for me the perfect life would be about 4 to 5 months in the US and the rest here...folks I know that do that appreciate BOTH...

Houston has a great downtown now...friend's Dad has a condo next to the ballpark...can walk to numerous restaurants and bars and then head to a ball game...nice...

Tried plenty of brews here the only one that ive found that comes close to a thai beer buzz is Red Stripe beer from jamaica, besides if you start to step into the realm of micro brews your no longer in the $7.50 range like you stated.

Over 150 varieties at the local supermarket ? wake up please, there is no way in this world there are over 150 different varieties of beer at a supermarket, maybe 10-15 tops. It is economically impossible for a supermarket to carry over 150 varieties, c'mon...

Outlet malls are over rated and not as cheap as you suggest, when was the last time you've been to one?

When I said shoes I said the selection here in America.

[MJP]

Do you have any evidence that only a few families control the importation of cameras into Thailand?

It was mentioned by some chap that seemed to know.

[MJP]

+1 I mean your man there's quite right, it's a feral dump, it's different.

But it's cheap, even with the quid down, it's so very cheap.

And the sun shines upon my face.

Up where my house is it isn't too different than where I grew up in the States; granted the enviroment is not as well taken care of, but the people are just as friendly. Much as I did as a child I like to walk around (yes on foot), and much as what happened when I did this as a child people are constantly stopping and asking if I need a ride; try and get that down in the busier provinces!

Going to a mechanic shop for a small repair and having the bill waived reminds me a lot of the way things were in my home state (which I haven't seen in over a decade), a communal feeling prevading all really feels inclusive.

There are flies in the ointment however; for instance at the wife's grandmum's funeral the town drunk tripped and fell on the ground. I helped him up and got him on a chair and told him to stay put. The wife scolded me because "He's just going to do it again". I suppose on the one hand she was correct, however such a train of thought would not have presented in my hometown in that people, perhaps naively, believe that everyone can change...

The village drunk? As in singular?

Please PM me with the location of this village, because it sounds like the paradise I'm looking for. One village drunk and residents that know what 'enabling' means and its consequences.

There's a motorbike mechanic here too, Dee, he's just the nicest man. As with anywhere in the world those who are active and productive have a dearth of personality flaws.

[transam]

I live in Canada but pretty much the same as the US except maybe not as run down, the economy here never took the huge hit the US has. Never the less I came back because my Thai wife very badly wanted to come to Canada. Its great for her, she was given an opportunity and she has made the best of it. In just 6 years she has over a million baht in the bank and owns her own restaurant.

For me not so great, just before it was time to leave Thailand to bring her to Canada I remember thinking about it while I was looking at a beautiful book of diving in Thailand at a bookstore in phuket town, and I while I was looking at all of these beautiful pictures of Thailand I started to break out in cold sweat thinking this a mistake. Well 6 years later she is doing great but the last 6 years for me has been predictably very stressful and frustrating. The reason I left canada from the beginning is because i was fed up and disgusted with high taxes, over regulation, massive mounds of paperwork regardless of what you do ect. ect. not to mention the shear arrogance and ignorance of the everyday people here. Now I have 3 times the stress than ever before because now I have to do all admin, taxes, paperwork, schools ect. ect. not just for myself but for her, her son, and the restaurant she runs.

In a nutshell its been great for her, hell for me. So what I am trying to say is its all a matter of persepctive. For the Thai foriegn workers here they work, put money in the bank and if they are smart and dont send it all home they can go back to Thailand with a miilon baht in 3 years. For me who has to pay mortgage, high taxes, and high everything else it's just a day to day struggle to meet the bills. Now I'm coming to Thailand by myself this year simply because I cant take it any more. So ladies and gentleman if your Thai spouse or partner is working on you to take her back to your country. I have three words of advice. Dont do it!

I have never read a truer reply posted on this forum Thank You ! (every body take note)

+1

My pal in UK took his Thai wife to UK to work for their future in LOS. Three years on she doesn't want to come back to LOS for his retirement and has buggered off with another bloke.

[JimsKnight]

Naturally when you build things first they get old and decay before the newer copies.

For example if you compare the MRT with 'The Tube' in London there's quite a difference. Of course they started work on the London underground 150 years ago so it's no wonder it looks quite old and degraded these days.

That's right, the western worlds infrastructure has been built on top of the older one's.

This means that there isn't a fresh canvas to work on now, it's old, out-dated and about to be given a shock when it comes to the eastern world.

Here they've been able to learn from the mistakes we made and adapt them to fit into city's that have been planned and laid-out for traffic, unlike the UK say, where it's still based on a horse and cart principle for most towns and city's.

This is just one reason the west is falling behind.

No-one in the west has the balls to say 'Drastic, sweeping change to a new way is needed while still maintaining our identity.'

[jazzbo]

If one has spent 15, 10 or even 5 years in Thailand and has established no mode of lifestyle he/she is unwilling to leave behind I guess that says something in-and-of itself.

[tjrd12]

I too am a Texas, but from Ft Worth and have lived in Thailand for 11 years...made my first trip back to Ft Worth and Austin in 5 1/2 yrs last Oct and must say I was VERY surprised at what I found...I was DREADING the trip back but found that aside from the lack of available Asian women, just about EVERYTHING else in the US is superior...This is from the view of someone who has lived in BKK for 11 yrs...I KNOW it is cheaper upcountry and I plan to join you CNX guys at some point, but for now my biz is in BKK.

1st- People are FAR nicer back home...I live in Central BKK and what used to a very nice friendly place has turned into a much more stand offish if not mean environment. Suk 3-13 are awful, with the changing demographics and copious amounts of trash on the street.

2nd- Cost of living is FAR cheaper in the US (central BKK is about 100% more then when I moved here)...well, if you want to live in a 7k baht a month cement box, eat street food, and drink the local swill then Thailand is the place, but if you want to have ANY semblance of a Western lifestyle then TX is FAR cheaper. A Hein beer at 7/11 in LOS is 41 bath...that is 8.50 a 6 pack...I can buy a 6 of GREAT micro-brew for 7.50 in the US...Clothing, MUCH cheaper in the US for anything of quality...rents, my father rents a beautiful 1200 sq ft 2 bdr 2 ba with wood floors, marble counters, and stainless appliances for 850 USD a month...my SMALL 2/2 in central BKK is 780 USD and it PALES in comparison to his...Cable is cheaper and better, FOOD is cheaper and of higher quality...a hamburger at the Londoner is 11.50...and don't forget the portion size in the US is HUGE, you can easily feed two.

3rd- Cleanliness- BKK is filthy, most places here are. Trash is strewn all over, noise and air pollution rule the day

4th- Technology better in Thailand?? Give me a break, the US has 4g for cell phones, MANY HD channels, faster internet, etc, etc, etc...far better and cheaper then LOS.

As I said, if you want to live like a local it is cheap...BUT I moved here because I could live like a king for less then the US...not the case anymore...

I could go on and on...will start spending 3 to 4 months a year in the states..

People in Chiang Mai are far nicer than Bangkok, Suk 3-13 dirty you say, must be a coincidence that's where most farangs are, and it appears not to be trash, but mainly clutter from the sidewalk vendors catering to tourist.

I'm seeing a pattern of people assuming that 'technology' only means the Internet. Technology covers everything from manufacturing to cell phones. But i still say the Internet is just about as fast in Thailand as in Houston. You want faster speeds step up to a better package, and don't use the same cookie cutter packages 90% of the people in Thailand are using.

Funny how people assume technology in regards to electronics in the US is ahead when 99% is made in Asia, and that includes the engineering standpoint. Electronics, cars and trucks are made in Thailand and are exported worldwide. I cant remember the last time i saw something that was made in or designed in America. Dodge,Ford, Chevy thats about it and Chevy had to get bailed out.

How about fuel? EVERY taxi in Thailand works on either CNG or propane, try finding a place to fill your tank up with CNG or propane in the US. Apart from CNG and propane, Thailand also utilizes biofuel mixtures at almost every pump now,not only this but even selections of biofuels such as E85 - even better is i have someone pumping the gas for me, even if it takes a while sometimes.

I don't agree that clothing is cheaper in the US , i just bought 3 pairs of Levis jeans for an average price of $45 and some shirts at Macy's and they cost the same as in Thailand, but if i go to places like the franchise Import/Export shop (located in shopping malls) or XL for men its literally 3 times cheaper than the US for clothes and pants. This winter i was going to buy a Columbia sports jacket, the price was $125 the same one at Import/Export shop was about $45.

There's a bigger shoe selection here though, and I'm loving that. Of course if you do the majority of your shopping at Ross, Target or Marshalls it will be cheaper. Anyone that has had a suit tailor made can attest that the cost is up to 6x more expensive in the US and that's a figure I use sparingly.

Personally I like the fact I can buy any cellphone in Thailand and not have to be locked into one contract, I can change the SIM card and choose any carrier I wish. You aren't going to see this happen for 75% of the phones in the US. Not too mention the new promotions that come wave after wave with companies like dtac allowing you to change promotions in your next billing cycle.

I don't find cable to be much better, you just have more channels of nothing worthy of watching.

Beer won't cost me $7.50 it will cost me $15 because its not as strong and I have to drink twice as much.

Auto Insurance - I don't even have to talk about this, everyone that drives in Thailand knows how much cheaper it is than the US.

Not as strong?? You must not be drinking good micro-brews...8%, 11& take your pick...and over 150 varieties at the local supermarket...

I would also say that MANY farangs have moved out of the 3-13 area as it is no longer a farang domain...Asoke to Ekkamai is still ok...

And prices, well, Outlet Malls in the US are amazing...that Columbia jacket can be had for 25 USD and Gap Jeans that are 2999 Baht for 23 USD...as I said MUCH cheaper...Coach handbags are another example...here 15k baht plus...same bag, 150 USD at the outlet...9 West shoes, 3500 baht at the 50% off sale at Emp, 75 USD in the USA...as I said I guess it is a matter of how you want to live...

Levis in Thailand will run you about 1700 baht and up...that is a bit more then 45 USD...

There is NO MIDDLE CLASS here...and that is reflected in the choices one has...it is either CHEAP or very expensive...very little middle ground...and I really do not see that changing...

Bigger shoe selection?? I hsve not seen that..quality here is STILL very pricey...again I really think that goods sold locally are inferior...that is not to say that there are not quality products made here, quite the contrary, they are just made for export...

Agree with you on fuels...but petrol is cheaper in the US...

As I said for me the perfect life would be about 4 to 5 months in the US and the rest here...folks I know that do that appreciate BOTH...

Houston has a great downtown now...friend's Dad has a condo next to the ballpark...can walk to numerous restaurants and bars and then head to a ball game...nice...

Tried plenty of brews here the only one that ive found that comes close to a thai beer buzz is Red Stripe beer from jamaica, besides if you start to step into the realm of micro brews your no longer in the $7.50 range like you stated.

Over 150 varieties at the local supermarket ? wake up please, there is no way in this world there are over 150 different varieties of beer at a supermarket, maybe 10-15 tops. It is economically impossible for a supermarket to carry over 150 varieties, c'mon...

Outlet malls are over rated and not as cheap as you suggest, when was the last time you've been to one?

When I said shoes I said the selection here in America.

Was in Prime Outlets both in Round Rock and Allen, TX in Oct...bought shoes, Coach Bags, Jeans, all great quality stuff at a fraction of the price here in LOS...my friends who still live in TX now bring clothes from the states to LOS for family members as it is a bargain in the US...the US, with the current deflationary environment is a STEAL...BUT I fear it will not last for long as inflation is right around the corner...but right now the US is the best place to be a consumer...

Go to Central Market (oops I am wrong, 350 varieties of beer http://www.centralmarket.com/Goods/Wine---Beer.aspx) or Whole Foods...easy...and most in the 7.50 range (although nice Belgians will run about 8.50..still cheap compared to 115 baht for a bottle at Foodland in BKK) ...I will agree that mass market beer in the US is TRASH...Try Breckenridge Brewery out of CO...Great stuff...their Oatmeal Stout is REALLY nice..Rahr and Sons from Ft Worth TX (Ugly Pug is fantastic) makes some wonderful brews as well...Fox and Hound in Ft Worth has 2 dollar pint night on Tuesdays and that includes micros and imports (they have Maredsous!) Here in BKK a small glass of Belgian is around 180 baht...Again all due to high import duties to protect the wealthy here at the expense of the consumer...Don't even get me started on wine...305% excise tax....

[tjrd12]

If one has spent 15, 10 or even 5 years in Thailand and has established no mode of lifestyle he/she is unwilling to leave behind I guess that says something in-and-of itself.

Jazz,

I think we were ALL willing to leave a lot of lifestyle behind...LOS 10 yrs ago was a very different place then it is today...a much friendlier place, pre Red Shirt Yellow Shirt, pre Thai Rak Thai, pre US goes to war with the world, etc etc..

The nationalistic sentiment was always there but it was far less pronounced. Asia was coming out of the crisis and the West, the US in particular was still experiencing the end of the tech boom. Exchange rates were favorable and Western films and music were still #!...fast forward 11 yrs, Baht at 30 as opposed to 40 plus, FAR fewer western movies released, Asian MTV and VH1 replaced by Thai MTV and Channel V Thailand, English Language radio stations kaput, more concentration on things Asian...and believe me, I am not saying this is a bad thing...it was bound to happen as Asia takes over as the dominant region on the planet, however, these changes do not suit me personally...I am sure there are many on this forum who have no issues with it, but I do...

Most of all the great thing about LOS was that you could live a 5 star life on a 3 star budget...not the case any more...and of course the women...and that is still FAR better then the West...so as I said splitting time is really the best solution for me...and getting the hell out of BKK as it has become a very tough unfriendly city...CNX in a year or two...

[transam]

If one has spent 15, 10 or even 5 years in Thailand and has established no mode of lifestyle he/she is unwilling to leave behind I guess that says something in-and-of itself.

Jazz,

I think we were ALL willing to leave a lot of lifestyle behind...LOS 10 yrs ago was a very different place then it is today...a much friendlier place, pre Red Shirt Yellow Shirt, pre Thai Rak Thai, pre US goes to war with the world, etc etc..

The nationalistic sentiment was always there but it was far less pronounced. Asia was coming out of the crisis and the West, the US in particular was still experiencing the end of the tech boom. Exchange rates were favorable and Western films and music were still #!...fast forward 11 yrs, Baht at 30 as opposed to 40 plus, FAR fewer western movies released, Asian MTV and VH1 replaced by Thai MTV and Channel V Thailand, English Language radio stations kaput, more concentration on things Asian...and believe me, I am not saying this is a bad thing...it was bound to happen as Asia takes over as the dominant region on the planet, however, these changes do not suit me personally...I am sure there are many on this forum who have no issues with it, but I do...

Most of all the great thing about LOS was that you could live a 5 star life on a 3 star budget...not the case any more...and of course the women...and that is still FAR better then the West...so as I said splitting time is really the best solution for me...and getting the hell out of BKK as it has become a very tough unfriendly city...CNX in a year or two...

Your last line, yes, following the rest of the worlds major cities as it ' progresses '.

[jazzbo]

So as you say it is a lifestyle choice:

I don't drink beer, wine, or liquor.

I mostly cook my own food which I buy early mornings at the market or 6AM Tesco-L

I don't watch TV except for the Thai news -- I'm happy to listen to the NFL football on stream radio

I don't smoke cigarettes

I don't need the fanciest consumer electronic gear

I have in room high speed WiFi with a backup DTAC Blackberry Internet.

I am happy not to own a car

I have plenty to keep myself occupied in LOS aside from but certainly including the TGFs

I can maintain US based Non Profit NGO from my room here in Thailand with a local US telephone number via SKYPE.

I am well-known in the Thai 'social inclusion' community and my activities are respected by Thai Ministries including Labor and Immigration.

I find that my once a year trip to the USA is sufficient for me to bring back those items I cannot readily purchase in Thailand.

I am stilling paying a fraction of what I last paid in USA for housing and especially medical insurance.

My principal concern in USA is my elderly Mother but she keeps such a busy schedule especially world-class bridge that I would not see her that much even if I lived in the same town.

So it turns out that I would be leaving a lot more if I left my lifestyle mode in Thailand than when I left the USA for here and I STILL feel that way every time I return to USA for 3 weeks or so.

Edited January 8, 2011 by jazzbo

[tjrd12]

So as you say it is a lifestyle choice:

I don't drink beer, wine, or liquor.

I mostly cook my own food which I buy early mornings at the market or 6AM Tesco-L

I don't watch TV except for the Thai news -- I'm happy to listen to the NFL football on stream radio

I don't smoke cigarettes

I don't need the fanciest consumer electronic gear

I have in room high speed WiFi with a backup DTAC Blackberry Internet.

I am happy not to own a car

I have plenty to keep myself occupied in LOS aside from but certainly including the TGFs

I can maintain US based Non Profit NGO from my room here in Thailand with a local US telephone number via SKYPE.

I am well-known in the Thai 'social inclusion' community and my activities are respected by Thai Ministries including Labor and Immigration.

I find that my once a year trip to the USA is sufficient for me to bring back those items I cannot readily purchase in Thailand.

I am stilling paying a fraction of what I last paid in USA for housing and especially medical insurance.

My principal concern in USA is my elderly Mother but she keeps such a busy schedule especially world-class bridge that I would not see her that much even if I lived in the same town.

So it turns out that I would be leaving a lot more if I left my lifestyle mode in Thailand than when I left the USA for here and I STILL feel that way every time I return to USA for 3 weeks or so.

If that is your lifestyle then you have made the right choice...

With you on the car...glad not to have to own one...motorbike is the way to go in LOS..

Working here is a pain...have run a legit biz for 7 yrs...but as I said earlier am increasingly annoyed at the fact that I employ folks, pay LOTS of money in taxes and am still not granted citizenship...in most countries, I would have been eligible after 5 yrs.

I would still say that if you compare a comparably fitted apartment in the US to one in BKK, the US (excluding the coastal cities) is far cheaper...again, I would not be happy living in a 7k baht concrete box in a lower class Thai neighborhood, with loud neighbors and tuk tuks...hell, even in nice neighborhoods noise is an issue..but some people are ok with that...not me, and cost wise myself and most of my friends spend about 100k baht a month...and that still does not buy much of a lifestyle here anymore...

Edited January 8, 2011 by tjrd12

[Heng]

Do you have any evidence that only a few families control the importation of cameras into Thailand?

You can do that research for yourself...and can with most products...go to the company website and look for the Intl distributors...you will find that with most all imported products there is one MAYBE two distributors...and there are folks that have the distribution rights to MANY products.

Also most stores here do not buy their inventory...for instance at the Empo or Paragon when you see Lacoste, the store does not but that inventory, it simply rents the space to the Lacoste distributor, so there is never any real pressure on the store to move the inventory, hence when you see a Lacoste sale it is always 30% off, never more...Same holds true for Samsung and other products in places like Power Mall, Carrefour, and Lotus...that is why prices are IDENTICAL and you have very little bargaining power...and of course the big problem...cars...which in mainly tax...

Funny to hear a lot of people complain about the 'master dealer' system that a lot of multinationals and SME's all over the world prefer.... that way you don't have to worry about things like a dozen dealers competing against each other instead of other brands. It's not a perfect system but in many cases/for many products it has nothing to do with a country's political or social system, no matter how much one feels it could be related. The reason why you can't sell X product is more likely that you simply aren't qualified and some other group of business folks probably got there first.

[bonobo]

You really don't have to buy it. All I can say is that I have priced condos along the river, in Pin Klao, and on Sukhumvhit in Bangkok and in the Gaslamp in San Diego, and San Diego is cheaper. And Chicago, in the most exclusive section, is significantly cheaper. You can take it or leave it.

As far as condo fees, I only know what they are in Bangkok, so I can't really comment on that.

My family owns 3 condos in Honolulu, not one was less than 250k USD for a 44sqmt room, $1500 per month maintenence fees, but are ran by accord hotels and receive paybacks from rental income.

My mothers condo in Dallas on Turtle Creek Blvd incurs a $3000 maintenence fee every month and cost $1.2 M USD for around 300 sqmt

These don't sound like they are cheaper than Bangkok, maybe you're getting the farang price.

You are missing the point here. You write that homes are more expensive than the US. I write that in San Diego and Chicago, they are not. I have shown that your blanket statement is incorrect. I don't know Houston, so I can't comment. And on this post, I don't know Dallas. I am familiar with homes, not houses in Honolulu, and they are pricey.

And I have admitted I don't know what condo fees are. But still, your blanket statements that all in Thailand is better than all in US is patently incorrect, as poster after poster has shown here. You can go and cherry pick a Manhattan or Honolulu or Turtle Creek Blvd all you want, but that does not buttress your main point, that being that all is better in Thailand.

[losworld]

Due to the bad US economy and also increased xenophobia (for example the racist Arizona law) a large percentage of Mexicans have self repatriated. Please no more of the fantasy that everyone in the world wants to get into the US. It isn't true now, and it was never true.

http://www2.ocregist...6719-going-home

Also note, ease of class mobility (in other words the chances a poor person can become wealthy) are now significantly better in western Europe than the USA. Not to mention the gap between rich and poor in the US, which is arguably more extreme than in Thailand.

http://www.businessi...of-the-wealth-2

Yes there is truth to what you say with the exception of Arizona laws being racist. Since when is it racist to not desire illegals living in your country, overcrowding your schools and hospitals, sucking social services such as food stamps and welfare, not paying taxes, sending much of their money back to Mexico and not spending it here, taking American jobs, lowering job standards and wages to name a few. And I am not talking about the drug smugglers or scores of Mexican felons heading up to the US to steal cars, break ins, etc.

Okay now let's look at Mexico's policy. Any American traveling without a passport can be arrested and imprisoned/extradited on the spot. Never mind living there. Name one country in the world that does not actively seek and extradite illegal entries?

I'd suggest you either wake up or read up before being so loose with your statements.

[transam]

Due to the bad US economy and also increased xenophobia (for example the racist Arizona law) a large percentage of Mexicans have self repatriated. Please no more of the fantasy that everyone in the world wants to get into the US. It isn't true now, and it was never true.

http://www2.ocregist...6719-going-home

Also note, ease of class mobility (in other words the chances a poor person can become wealthy) are now significantly better in western Europe than the USA. Not to mention the gap between rich and poor in the US, which is arguably more extreme than in Thailand.

http://www.businessi...of-the-wealth-2

Yes there is truth to what you say with the exception of Arizona laws being racist. Since when is it racist to not desire illegals living in your country, overcrowding your schools and hospitals, sucking social services such as food stamps and welfare, not paying taxes, sending much of their money back to Mexico and not spending it here, taking American jobs, lowering job standards and wages to name a few. And I am not talking about the drug smugglers or scores of Mexican felons heading up to the US to steal cars, break ins, etc.

Okay now let's look at Mexico's policy. Any American traveling without a passport can be arrested and imprisoned/extradited on the spot. Never mind living there. Name one country in the world that does not actively seek and extradite illegal entries?

I'd suggest you either wake up or read up before being so loose with your statements.

+1

[losworld]

I live in Canada but pretty much the same as the US except maybe not as run down, the economy here never took the huge hit the US has. Never the less I came back because my Thai wife very badly wanted to come to Canada. Its great for her, she was given an opportunity and she has made the best of it. In just 6 years she has over a million baht in the bank and owns her own restaurant.

For me not so great, just before it was time to leave Thailand to bring her to Canada I remember thinking about it while I was looking at a beautiful book of diving in Thailand at a bookstore in phuket town, and I while I was looking at all of these beautiful pictures of Thailand I started to break out in cold sweat thinking this a mistake. Well 6 years later she is doing great but the last 6 years for me has been predictably very stressful and frustrating. The reason I left canada from the beginning is because i was fed up and disgusted with high taxes, over regulation, massive mounds of paperwork regardless of what you do ect. ect. not to mention the shear arrogance and ignorance of the everyday people here. Now I have 3 times the stress than ever before because now I have to do all admin, taxes, paperwork, schools ect. ect. not just for myself but for her, her son, and the restaurant she runs.

In a nutshell its been great for her, hell for me. So what I am trying to say is its all a matter of persepctive. For the Thai foriegn workers here they work, put money in the bank and if they are smart and dont send it all home they can go back to Thailand with a miilon baht in 3 years. For me who has to pay mortgage, high taxes, and high everything else it's just a day to day struggle to meet the bills. Now I'm coming to Thailand by myself this year simply because I cant take it any more. So ladies and gentleman if your Thai spouse or partner is working on you to take her back to your country. I have three words of advice. Dont do it!

I have never read a truer reply posted on this forum Thank You ! (every body take note)

+1

My pal in UK took his Thai wife to UK to work for their future in LOS. Three years on she doesn't want to come back to LOS for his retirement and has buggered off with another bloke.

I find this quite interesting as Asian women love the west because they will have guys falling all over them and more opportunities. Guys love asian countries because they feel like rock stars in many places. Kind of a reverse scenario.

[MJP]

I live in Canada but pretty much the same as the US except maybe not as run down, the economy here never took the huge hit the US has. Never the less I came back because my Thai wife very badly wanted to come to Canada. Its great for her, she was given an opportunity and she has made the best of it. In just 6 years she has over a million baht in the bank and owns her own restaurant.

For me not so great, just before it was time to leave Thailand to bring her to Canada I remember thinking about it while I was looking at a beautiful book of diving in Thailand at a bookstore in phuket town, and I while I was looking at all of these beautiful pictures of Thailand I started to break out in cold sweat thinking this a mistake. Well 6 years later she is doing great but the last 6 years for me has been predictably very stressful and frustrating. The reason I left canada from the beginning is because i was fed up and disgusted with high taxes, over regulation, massive mounds of paperwork regardless of what you do ect. ect. not to mention the shear arrogance and ignorance of the everyday people here. Now I have 3 times the stress than ever before because now I have to do all admin, taxes, paperwork, schools ect. ect. not just for myself but for her, her son, and the restaurant she runs.

In a nutshell its been great for her, hell for me. So what I am trying to say is its all a matter of persepctive. For the Thai foriegn workers here they work, put money in the bank and if they are smart and dont send it all home they can go back to Thailand with a miilon baht in 3 years. For me who has to pay mortgage, high taxes, and high everything else it's just a day to day struggle to meet the bills. Now I'm coming to Thailand by myself this year simply because I cant take it any more. So ladies and gentleman if your Thai spouse or partner is working on you to take her back to your country. I have three words of advice. Dont do it!

I have never read a truer reply posted on this forum Thank You ! (every body take note)

+1

My pal in UK took his Thai wife to UK to work for their future in LOS. Three years on she doesn't want to come back to LOS for his retirement and has buggered off with another bloke.

I find this quite interesting as Asian women love the west because they will have guys falling all over them and more opportunities. Guys love asian countries because they feel like rock stars in many places. Kind of a reverse scenario.

I think a lot of these blokes are just sick (actually ill from) of the daily grind in the West. Lives buried in facile paperwork, have become directionless and meaningless. Many just want an affordable and simple existence.

I know I did.

[Thailaw]

Due to the bad US economy and also increased xenophobia (for example the racist Arizona law) a large percentage of Mexicans have self repatriated. Please no more of the fantasy that everyone in the world wants to get into the US. It isn't true now, and it was never true.

http://www2.ocregist...6719-going-home

Also note, ease of class mobility (in other words the chances a poor person can become wealthy) are now significantly better in western Europe than the USA. Not to mention the gap between rich and poor in the US, which is arguably more extreme than in Thailand.

http://www.businessi...of-the-wealth-2

Yes there is truth to what you say with the exception of Arizona laws being racist. Since when is it racist to not desire illegals living in your country, overcrowding your schools and hospitals, sucking social services such as food stamps and welfare, not paying taxes, sending much of their money back to Mexico and not spending it here, taking American jobs, lowering job standards and wages to name a few. And I am not talking about the drug smugglers or scores of Mexican felons heading up to the US to steal cars, break ins, etc.

Okay now let's look at Mexico's policy. Any American traveling without a passport can be arrested and imprisoned/extradited on the spot. Never mind living there. Name one country in the world that does not actively seek and extradite illegal entries?

I'd suggest you either wake up or read up before being so loose with your statements.

Great post in response to a really, really bad one. I can't count the number of people that have worked for me in foreign countries (drivers, secretaries, etc.) that have asked for my help in getting them into the US or a job there. And the number of foreign professionals that send their children to study and work in the US or the UK is endless. To the masses, the US is the beacon in the darkness of empty opportunities. To be sure, it has lost some of its shine and the developing world has become much more habitable, but the US still offers the best education and opportunities for growth and development of any plce on earth (it is a pity that more Americans don't take adavantage of what is available there). The gap is narrowing, and places like Singapore may out shine the US in a decade or two -- hence my comment earlier on a second term for Obama, which would only hasten the decline of the US.