So Many Decaying Housing Estates.

[Richb2004v2]

The concept of maintainance does not exist here. Pure and simple.

They just let stuff rot and break. That is the way here.

Same as with cars. That's why you see so many second hand cars for sale. They ALL need work.

They rather spend 4 mil up on a new car than maintain them.

The concept of maintainance does not exist here. Pure and simple. = Wrong.

They just let stuff rot and break. That is the way here. = Wrong again.

Same as with cars. That's why you see so many second hand cars for sale. They ALL need work. = Wrong again.

They rather spend 4 mil up on a new car than maintain them. And guess what, wrong again.

It's like saying ALL Farangs are bigoted a-holes who think they are doing Thailand a huge favor by living here, whilst that tag fits many, its certainly not all.

You've obviously never been to Pattaya! Nothing publicly owned gets fixed there. The infrastructure is just decaying away. Every year things just get more and more broken and decrepit. Only places like Central and Royal Garden Mall are maintained. Even the apartment block I lived in hadn't been maintained properly.

Bangkok isn't much better. Sukhumvit, which should be the pride of the place is a derelict eyesore.

Samet is a crime against nature.

Hua Hin is an encroached eyesore, and don't get me started about Phi Phi or Phuket.

The post seems pretty RIGHT to me.

That's my experience, in all those place and more. Where ever there are numbers of average Thais, which is 99% of Thailand, there will be mess and decay. I'm sure there are places, as described by some here, that are very nice, but they are in the tiny minority. And even those nice spots are likely to be sitting very close to the normal Thai environment. Maybe in the future it will change, but I don't see it happening soon.

I'll never understand why someone with significant wealth would choose Thailand over their European homeland. Unless they are a single male of course, or at the very least making use of the 'facilities'.

[rgs2001uk]

I'll never understand why someone with significant wealth would choose Thailand over their European homeland. Unless they are a single male of course, or at the very least making use of the 'facilities'.

Well I for one prefer the lax attitude to simple things such as income tax.

I much prefer to be here rather than living in European socialist La La land, being taxed to the hilt to pay for bail out packages for bankrupt banana republics such as Greece.

I also prefer the Thai attitude to matters concerning immigration, noone I know of in the soi I live is paying taxes to support economic/illegai immigrants keeping them in housing and giving them handouts, whilst at the same time providing free education and health care for the tribe of hangers on they bring with them.

No annual property taxes is another plus.

[Naam]

I have seen quite a lot of well-maintained moo bans.

It just depends where you look and what you are supposed to pay.

why argue with people who live in dumps, can't afford anything else and therefore look at dumps where they can afford to rent till "the renter of their house in UK vacates it.." and they can move to the glory land again?

it is quite understandable that frustration causes threads which deal with certain shortcomings in/of Thailand. but statements such as "all houses over two years of age are decaying" and "all moo bans in Thailand bla-bla-bla..." are nothing but ridiculous. if confronted and asked how many moo bans these experts visited they will dodge and try to divert from the topic using irrelevant attacks.

And just when you thought the level of self-humiliation couldn't reach any further...

The above should be seen in relation to the sad fact that Naam has posted pictures of his own house here on TV - better opportunity to rip him a new butt-hole I may never get (said with regards to what he can afford or not), but out of respect for his family and friends I have opted not to.

Foreskin,

let the ripping begin; but don't forget to post some pics of your place on village farang's nice thread. You are a pain in the...

only hypocrits pretend they don't know that on TV there's not only one main thread but several others where TV-members post pictures of their houses or part of their houses and gardens to assist and exchange views/ideas with those who are still in the construction phase and ask questions.

another reason to post pictures when the typical Thai-hater comes up with nonsense "houses older than two years are decaying" et al. then, even a picture that shows a part of one single room enables them to issue ridiculous judgments such as "not a comfortable house".

also interesting are threads "how much do you pay for electricity" or "we are looking for a maid, driver or <insert staff description>. those who dare to use the expression "servant" are chided and advised to use the word "helper" and anyway one only needs domestic staff if small children have to be cared for or the employer(s) are old and need help to bumspray their àrses after shitting.

if somebody in the thread "electricity consumption" mentions he/she has more than one airconditioner installed they are attacked because their carbon footprint is too high, that airconditioning is a waste of money, fans will do just fine and 34ºC is not really hot but quite comfortable.

a person who decides to live in Thailand because in his home country the taxman takes 44.10% taxes of everything he makes and on every remaining Dollar, EURo or Pound spend another 19% VAT is levied is accused of being a "sexpat" by those who most probably never paid any taxes because whatever pittance they earned was below the tax threshold.

and when the tax avoider (not evader!) claims that buying a BMW in Thailand is in his case indirectly not only 40% but nearly 50% cheaper than the official list price, some people who lack basic arithmetics but claim to be in the finance business, don't understand or pretend not to understand the reasoning.

[thaibeachlovers]

I'll never understand why someone with significant wealth would choose Thailand over their European homeland. Unless they are a single male of course, or at the very least making use of the 'facilities'.

Well I for one prefer the lax attitude to simple things such as income tax.

I much prefer to be here rather than living in European socialist La La land, being taxed to the hilt to pay for bail out packages for bankrupt banana republics such as Greece.

I also prefer the Thai attitude to matters concerning immigration, noone I know of in the soi I live is paying taxes to support economic/illegai immigrants keeping them in housing and giving them handouts, whilst at the same time providing free education and health care for the tribe of hangers on they bring with them.

No annual property taxes is another plus.

While it's way off topic, I have to agree with you. In NZ I had to work hard to support silly girls who "happened" to get pregnant, and therefor deserved to have a better house than I could afford, a better car than I could afford, and altogether better standard of living than I could afford. Of course it was supposed to stop once the child reached a certain age, but that was easily remedied by another "mistake". I have been told that 40% of the population is presently on a taxpayer funded benefit of some sort. No wonder so many of us choose to live in a country that isn't insane with regard to benefits.

[travelmann]

Threads like this make me realise why I dont want any neighbours or any social interaction with other people next to me :jap:

[travelmann]

I'll never understand why someone with significant wealth would choose Thailand over their European homeland. Unless they are a single male of course, or at the very least making use of the 'facilities'.

Well I for one prefer the lax attitude to simple things such as income tax.

I much prefer to be here rather than living in European socialist La La land, being taxed to the hilt to pay for bail out packages for bankrupt banana republics such as Greece.

I also prefer the Thai attitude to matters concerning immigration, noone I know of in the soi I live is paying taxes to support economic/illegai immigrants keeping them in housing and giving them handouts, whilst at the same time providing free education and health care for the tribe of hangers on they bring with them.

No annual property taxes is another plus.

While it's way off topic, I have to agree with you. In NZ I had to work hard to support silly girls who "happened" to get pregnant, and therefor deserved to have a better house than I could afford, a better car than I could afford, and altogether better standard of living than I could afford. Of course it was supposed to stop once the child reached a certain age, but that was easily remedied by another "mistake". I have been told that 40% of the population is presently on a taxpayer funded benefit of some sort. No wonder so many of us choose to live in a country that isn't insane with regard to benefits.

The Uk IS like this, get pregnant at a young age and they are obliged to house you........... the UK has gone mad.

[samran]

I'll never understand why someone with significant wealth would choose Thailand over their European homeland. Unless they are a single male of course, or at the very least making use of the 'facilities'.

Well I for one prefer the lax attitude to simple things such as income tax.

I much prefer to be here rather than living in European socialist La La land, being taxed to the hilt to pay for bail out packages for bankrupt banana republics such as Greece.

I also prefer the Thai attitude to matters concerning immigration, noone I know of in the soi I live is paying taxes to support economic/illegai immigrants keeping them in housing and giving them handouts, whilst at the same time providing free education and health care for the tribe of hangers on they bring with them.

No annual property taxes is another plus.

While it's way off topic, I have to agree with you. In NZ I had to work hard to support silly girls who "happened" to get pregnant, and therefor deserved to have a better house than I could afford, a better car than I could afford, and altogether better standard of living than I could afford. Of course it was supposed to stop once the child reached a certain age, but that was easily remedied by another "mistake". I have been told that 40% of the population is presently on a taxpayer funded benefit of some sort. No wonder so many of us choose to live in a country that isn't insane with regard to benefits.

geez...you musn't have been earning much money then?

[Richb2004v2]

I'll never understand why someone with significant wealth would choose Thailand over their European homeland. Unless they are a single male of course, or at the very least making use of the 'facilities'.

Well I for one prefer the lax attitude to simple things such as income tax.

I much prefer to be here rather than living in European socialist La La land, being taxed to the hilt to pay for bail out packages for bankrupt banana republics such as Greece.

I also prefer the Thai attitude to matters concerning immigration, noone I know of in the soi I live is paying taxes to support economic/illegai immigrants keeping them in housing and giving them handouts, whilst at the same time providing free education and health care for the tribe of hangers on they bring with them.

No annual property taxes is another plus.

While it's way off topic, I have to agree with you. In NZ I had to work hard to support silly girls who "happened" to get pregnant, and therefor deserved to have a better house than I could afford, a better car than I could afford, and altogether better standard of living than I could afford. Of course it was supposed to stop once the child reached a certain age, but that was easily remedied by another "mistake". I have been told that 40% of the population is presently on a taxpayer funded benefit of some sort. No wonder so many of us choose to live in a country that isn't insane with regard to benefits.

The Uk IS like this, get pregnant at a young age and they are obliged to house you........... the UK has gone mad.

It is frustrating to see people living from handouts paid by the tax payer, that's for sure. It is abuse of a fine system set up to protect the citizens in times of need. A system that many countries don't have.

I am reminded of the alternative system set up in Thailand when I drive out of my estate most days and see a women with a filthy child, sat on her home made (and highly dangerous) motorcycle, rummaging through the bins for anything that might ease their condition. Similarly I think of the money the government here must have saved by not having a system of social services or care when I see the matted haired clearly disturbed individuals wandering the streets

You could say they are two different systems, or maybe one with an abused system and without any system at all. The one without any system at all is still far behind the other in every way. I know which I prefer.

[welsh1]

I'll never understand why someone with significant wealth would choose Thailand over their European homeland. Unless they are a single male of course, or at the very least making use of the 'facilities'.

Well I for one prefer the lax attitude to simple things such as income tax.

I much prefer to be here rather than living in European socialist La La land, being taxed to the hilt to pay for bail out packages for bankrupt banana republics such as Greece.

I also prefer the Thai attitude to matters concerning immigration, noone I know of in the soi I live is paying taxes to support economic/illegai immigrants keeping them in housing and giving them handouts, whilst at the same time providing free education and health care for the tribe of hangers on they bring with them.

No annual property taxes is another plus.

While it's way off topic, I have to agree with you. In NZ I had to work hard to support silly girls who "happened" to get pregnant, and therefor deserved to have a better house than I could afford, a better car than I could afford, and altogether better standard of living than I could afford. Of course it was supposed to stop once the child reached a certain age, but that was easily remedied by another "mistake". I have been told that 40% of the population is presently on a taxpayer funded benefit of some sort. No wonder so many of us choose to live in a country that isn't insane with regard to benefits.

The Uk IS like this, get pregnant at a young age and they are obliged to house you........... the UK has gone mad.

Now you dont even have to get pregnant...Just come from any of the EU country's you will be housed and get all benefits also !!!

[samran]

ah, immigrants bashing immigrants. It doesn't get much better than that!

[GreenSnapper]

ah, immigrants bashing immigrants. It doesn't get much better than that!

Really, Samran, are you living on Thai social welfare?

[IMA_FARANG]

The following is my opinion only

Those Decaying Housing Estates you speak of are a direct result of the Capitalistic build it/sell it/ and get out with your profits system...not only in Thailand....but worldwide.

There is no profit in maintenance of infra-structure...in fact it cuts into the profits to be required to maintain the appearence of such a housing estate after the houses are built and not yet sold. The investors that put up the capital want their profit as soon as they can get it, so they can go on to another profit making venture as quickly as possible.

This attitude is ultimately self-distructive...but the oiginal investors hope to be gone before the bills come due...and they don't care about the people who buy the units...because those people are regarded only as "profit centers" for the investors.

That attitude is what at least starts a "real estate bubble" as it is euphamistically called.

End rant here.

Now you can start critising what I just posted.

Edited July 4, 2011 by IMA_FARANG

[samran]

ah, immigrants bashing immigrants. It doesn't get much better than that!

Really, Samran, are you living on Thai social welfare?

No, but the roads you got home on, the electricity wires that bring electricity to your house, the water mains and sewerage, well they were all built on someone elses coin, and everyone here uses them.

The engineer who designed them, the doctors who you use etc all are trained at public universities. The petrol you put in your tank, the gas that cooks your food.

And they are subsidised. All of them, and continue to be so.

The people who are treated for free, so that they can go back to work and drive the Taxi that you get around in. The kids who are immunised, partly, so your kids also don't get sick.

Everyone here gets something paid for by someone else.

It is only the meanest amongst us who decide to kick those who they deem less worthy.

Edited July 4, 2011 by samran

[bermondburi]

The concept of maintainance does not exist here. Pure and simple.

They just let stuff rot and break. That is the way here.

Same as with cars. That's why you see so many second hand cars for sale. They ALL need work.

They rather spend 4 mil up on a new car than maintain them.

The concept of maintainance does not exist here. Pure and simple. = Wrong.

They just let stuff rot and break. That is the way here. = Wrong again.

Same as with cars. That's why you see so many second hand cars for sale. They ALL need work. = Wrong again.

They rather spend 4 mil up on a new car than maintain them. And guess what, wrong again.

It's like saying ALL Farangs are bigoted a-holes who think they are doing Thailand a huge favor by living here, whilst that tag fits many, its certainly not all.

You've obviously never been to Pattaya! Nothing publicly owned gets fixed there. The infrastructure is just decaying away. Every year things just get more and more broken and decrepit. Only places like Central and Royal Garden Mall are maintained. Even the apartment block I lived in hadn't been maintained properly.

Bangkok isn't much better. Sukhumvit, which should be the pride of the place is a derelict eyesore.

Samet is a crime against nature.

Hua Hin is an encroached eyesore, and don't get me started about Phi Phi or Phuket.

The post seems pretty RIGHT to me.

That's my experience, in all those place and more. Where ever there are numbers of average Thais, which is 99% of Thailand, there will be mess and decay. I'm sure there are places, as described by some here, that are very nice, but they are in the tiny minority. And even those nice spots are likely to be sitting very close to the normal Thai environment. Maybe in the future it will change, but I don't see it happening soon.

I'll never understand why someone with significant wealth would choose Thailand over their European homeland. Unless they are a single male of course, or at the very least making use of the 'facilities'.

the weather, durian , mango trees , lychee , mangosteen. A child friendly country. Wealth doesn't get you any of that in the UK.

[Darrel]

Those Decaying Housing Estates you speak of are a direct result of the Capitalistic build it/sell it/ and get out with your profits system...not only in Thailand....but worldwide.

I dont think so. There are plenty of houses/condos in the world that are well-built and well-maintained. It's just that very few of them are in Thailand. Many Thais (and quite a few farangs in Thailand) just dont care about maintaining the property they own. I'm not sure why. I suspect incompetence, lethargy and inertia, with a side-order of money-grabbing.

I have lost count of the number of quite expensive places for sale or rent in Thailand that I've seen in which I wouldnt even house a dog, due to the general filth and decrepitude.

[Darrel]

As crazy as it may seem, you'll soon get to know that you live in a dump, that you cant afford a BMW and that you dont work with what you claim to work with.

I have no idea what this means.

[Richb2004v2]

The concept of maintainance does not exist here. Pure and simple. = Wrong.

They just let stuff rot and break. That is the way here. = Wrong again.

Same as with cars. That's why you see so many second hand cars for sale. They ALL need work. = Wrong again.

They rather spend 4 mil up on a new car than maintain them. And guess what, wrong again.

It's like saying ALL Farangs are bigoted a-holes who think they are doing Thailand a huge favor by living here, whilst that tag fits many, its certainly not all.

You've obviously never been to Pattaya! Nothing publicly owned gets fixed there. The infrastructure is just decaying away. Every year things just get more and more broken and decrepit. Only places like Central and Royal Garden Mall are maintained. Even the apartment block I lived in hadn't been maintained properly.

Bangkok isn't much better. Sukhumvit, which should be the pride of the place is a derelict eyesore.

Samet is a crime against nature.

Hua Hin is an encroached eyesore, and don't get me started about Phi Phi or Phuket.

The post seems pretty RIGHT to me.

That's my experience, in all those place and more. Where ever there are numbers of average Thais, which is 99% of Thailand, there will be mess and decay. I'm sure there are places, as described by some here, that are very nice, but they are in the tiny minority. And even those nice spots are likely to be sitting very close to the normal Thai environment. Maybe in the future it will change, but I don't see it happening soon.

I'll never understand why someone with significant wealth would choose Thailand over their European homeland. Unless they are a single male of course, or at the very least making use of the 'facilities'.

the weather, durian , mango trees , lychee , mangosteen. A child friendly country. Wealth doesn't get you any of that in the UK.

Personally I think the great weather here is debatable. If you like heat and high humidity for 10 months of the year, then yes, otherwise not so great. The fruit is good, but other countries have their own fruits, including the Uk i.e strawberries, plums, peaches, grapes, dragon fruit, pomegranates etc etc. They are equally good fruit. It's just that you probably prefer the Thai fruit as they seem exotic and exciting to you.

I would say that Thailand is very far from a child friendly country. It's terrible education standard is infamous. In the Uk children can almost universally walk to their schools on pavements, without fear of being wiped out be an irresponsible driver of various dangerous vehicles, or falling on the crumbling pavements (if they exist at all), or being garroted or electrocuted by a hanging cable. Similarly in the Uk children can ride their bicycles on the streets in relative safety, unlike Thailand. To overcome these problems in Thailand you need considerable wealth to pay for an over priced private school, and an expensive Gheto castle, where you just might be safe from idiot Thai drivers. Also the Uk has a health care system that will add to the overall safety of your child. In the Uk an ambulance will come to your child should they need it. In Thailand a gung-ho rescue pick up truck might roar down the road if you're lucky. Hospitals are also free in the Uk once your in the system. They can be cheap in Thailand too, but admitting your child to a government hospital would not be a good way to care for your children in my opinion.

In the Uk all those luxuries are pretty much standard. You might need wealth in the Uk to buy Durian but otherwise you are completely wrong. To meet the standards in Thailand that you left behind in Uk you will need a degree of wealth, but even then they are not really attainable here. That's why it is a developing country, and why so many people from developing countries are so desperate to get out and into the places we left.

[Chonburiram]

As crazy as it may seem, you'll soon get to know that you live in a dump, that you cant afford a BMW and that you dont work with what you claim to work with.

I have no idea what this means.

Don't worry,

he is on a mission.

[Forethat]

As crazy as it may seem, you'll soon get to know that you live in a dump, that you cant afford a BMW and that you dont work with what you claim to work with.

I have no idea what this means.

Not that it will help resolving the confusion: I am just as puzzled as yourself. Trust me.

[Forethat]

Personally I think the great weather here is debatable. If you like heat and high humidity for 10 months of the year, then yes, otherwise not so great. The fruit is good, but other countries have their own fruits, including the Uk i.e strawberries, plums, peaches, grapes, dragon fruit, pomegranates etc etc. They are equally good fruit. It's just that you probably prefer the Thai fruit as they seem exotic and exciting to you.

Out of all fruits you left out the best one UK can offer: apples! Out of all produce I miss from UK the two things that tops my list is Sausages and Apples. Ok ok, the strawberries are high on the list as well..with the Champagne you can buy....24 pounds for a bottle of Ruinart...!!!

I would say that Thailand is very far from a child friendly country. It's terrible education standard is infamous.

Spot on.

To overcome these problems in Thailand you need considerable wealth to pay for an over priced private school, and an expensive Gheto castle, where you just might be safe from idiot Thai drivers.

...

...

In the Uk all those luxuries are pretty much standard. You might need wealth in the Uk to buy Durian but otherwise you are completely wrong. To meet the standards in Thailand that you left behind in Uk you will need a degree of wealth, but even then they are not really attainable here. That's why it is a developing country, and why so many people from developing countries are so desperate to get out and into the places we left.

I couldn't have said it better myself! well, in fact this is more or less exactly what I wrote when the self-acclaimed financial wiz-kid of this forum started handing out certifacates "for having no clue" and arguing that he had a biling...triling....multilingual gardener.

Here are my exact words:

The BMW was used as an example of an item that will do serious damage to your economy if you attempt to duplicate whatever life you had before you came to Thailand. I also used examples like education, champagne and brand suits. If you would make list of the 5 biggest and most costly (not expensive!) investments you will ever make, the car and the education is on that list. Housing is likely to be at the top, and that's one thing we can agree is cheap in Thailand. In this context, it is tempting to enter the disussion regarding ownership, but I will leave that aside.

I have mentioned this before, but it is clear that there'a difference in living a relaxed life on your own with a girlfriend and spend your days in a t-shirt and a pair of shorts compared to living a normal structured life just as you would do if you didn't live in a developing country. If the latter is what you're after, then you WILL have to make adjustments to your spending habits, or you WILL end up paying a much more expensive price than you would in, for instance, UK.

The interesting thing is why so many refuse to admit that this is true, and instead behave as if Thailand was really cheap. It is not.

But then we have those who refuse to admit being wrong. No names mentioned.

[latelyo]

Housing Estate in Chiang Mai

http://twitpic.com/5l1lxq

[Darrel]

he is on a mission.

Oooh. What fun. Is it like the "Blues Brothers"?

[Chonburiram]

he is on a mission.

Oooh. What fun. Is it like the "Blues Brothers"?

EXACTLY!

How did you know??¿

[seriouseats]

Housing Estate in Chiang Mai

http://twitpic.com/5l1lxq

That's not really decaying. That's more getting back to nature.

I find that it looks a lot better than most moobaans i have seen.. trees and grass, empty houses(less trash burning, less noise, less dog poop and less muslim music in the street)

[mario299]

. Also the Uk has a health care system that will add to the overall safety of your child. In the Uk an ambulance will come to your child should they need it. In Thailand a gung-ho rescue pick up truck might roar down the road if you're lucky. Hospitals are also free in the Uk once your in the system. They can be cheap in Thailand too, but admitting your child to a government hospital would not be a good way to care for your children in my opinion.

In the Uk all those luxuries are pretty much standard. You might need wealth in the Uk to buy Durian but otherwise you are completely wrong. To meet the standards in Thailand that you left behind in Uk you will need a degree of wealth, but even then they are not really attainable here. That's why it is a developing country, and why so many people from developing countries are so desperate to get out and into the places we left.

Hey Rich, remember a year ago when things were okay for you here?

We had cause to use the local government hospital late at night a few days ago. I was reluctant but didn't fancy the long drive to the expensive private one. Anyway we were seen very quickly, the staff were very friendly and seemed thorough. Plus it was a tiny fraction of the amount I usually pay at the private hospital. I was very satisfied and couldn't find anything to complain about .

You just like to complain a lot, don't you?

mario299

[aneliane]

You just like to complain a lot, don't you?

mario299

You don't say ....

Moaning is UK national sport and Rich is obviously homesick

[bermondburi]

Personally I think the great weather here is debatable. If you like heat and high humidity for 10 months of the year, then yes, otherwise not so great. The fruit is good, but other countries have their own fruits, including the Uk i.e strawberries, plums, peaches, grapes, dragon fruit, pomegranates etc etc. They are equally good fruit. It's just that you probably prefer the Thai fruit as they seem exotic and exciting to you.

I would say that Thailand is very far from a child friendly country. It's terrible education standard is infamous. In the Uk children can almost universally walk to their schools on pavements, without fear of being wiped out be an irresponsible driver of various dangerous vehicles, or falling on the crumbling pavements (if they exist at all), or being garroted or electrocuted by a hanging cable. Similarly in the Uk children can ride their bicycles on the streets in relative safety, unlike Thailand. To overcome these problems in Thailand you need considerable wealth to pay for an over priced private school, and an expensive Gheto castle, where you just might be safe from idiot Thai drivers. Also the Uk has a health care system that will add to the overall safety of your child. In the Uk an ambulance will come to your child should they need it. In Thailand a gung-ho rescue pick up truck might roar down the road if you're lucky. Hospitals are also free in the Uk once your in the system. They can be cheap in Thailand too, but admitting your child to a government hospital would not be a good way to care for your children in my opinion.

In the Uk all those luxuries are pretty much standard. You might need wealth in the Uk to buy Durian but otherwise you are completely wrong. To meet the standards in Thailand that you left behind in Uk you will need a degree of wealth, but even then they are not really attainable here. That's why it is a developing country, and why so many people from developing countries are so desperate to get out and into the places we left.

So the weather for you is not so good. Each to their own. Same again on the fruit front. I like Thai fruit because they taste nice to me, as do big oranges , apples , bananas ect and I do miss a juicy nectarine but WHEN YOU COMPARE TO THE KNIG OF FRUITS.......THE DURIAN ! then Thailand wins it for me.

I think you misunderstood my meaning when I said that Thailand is a children friendly country. What I meant by that is that Thai people are very friendly towards children in a way that people in the UK aren't and never can be. Thais are very open hearted when it comes to children and I've lost count of the number of times people want to play with my kids , complete strangers buying them gifts etc, having a joke with them. Thais give children a lot of time and rich or poor you won't find many unhappy Thai kids. When you walk into a retsaurant in the UK with your kids you can see the staff inwardly groaning at the future noise / chaos / mess that might ensue. In Thailand you have ten ready made babysitters on hand. Personally ( and this is just me ) I find Thailand a great place to raise kids and I like the fact that they always get a lot of interaction with other people. I would rather have this than the situation in the UK where you wouldn't even dream of talking to someone else's kid for fear of being labelled a paedo !

You mention healthcare. Both of my children were born in a government hospital in a medium sized town in Isaan. Absolutely great level of care. no complaints there at all. I would also add that in that hospital there were people going round the window frames with a toothbrush, the floor was constantly being cleaned. How I wish the same could be said for the UK. My mum was recently hospitalized for a long period and she couldn't be put in her local hospital because the ward was shut because of MRSA. I don't think this is uncommon either.

You do have a point regarding road safety etc but it's easy to make comparisons when we don't know what you are comparing too.There are good and bad things about any place. If you are comparing a village in the middle of nowhere in Cumbria to BKK then obviously Cumbria will be safer. In my case I'm comparing to SE London and where we live now is far safer and a much better environment to live in. There is no big knife carrying culture here and people don't get shot all the time like they used to do where I used to live. There is not the same drugs culture here as there is in the UK. You don't see teenagers walking around smoking skunk everywhere. Yes a lot of people do yabba but it is nowhere nearly as prevalent as the use of cocaine and ecstasy by youths in the UK.

Are thais really that desperate to leave here. I don't think so. I think most of them would rather stay here. They are Thai and they like Thailand.

Perhaps you could add your own experiences of raising children in Thailand and or the UK so we know where you are coming from. How old are your children here ? and if it's so bad here why don't you leave. WE need to know.

[bermondburi]

You just like to complain a lot, don't you?

mario299

You don't say ....

Moaning is UK national sport and Rich is obviously homesick

just look at his avatar !