What Led You To Thailand ?

[mucker1234]

Men?

[manarak]

The girls of course the same as every other hetrosexual man on this forum.

They all told me im handsome but if i wanted to get laid i have to pay. I didnt mind that though as its there job . However once normal girls inc doctors, nurses, uni girls, girls with masters degrees and other high earners also said im handsome and gave me sex for free.....well no reason to leave yet. maybe when i get old

Im glad girls made me arrive here. Paradise

I'm not handsome, but I'm allegedly "narak"...

My first contact with Thailand was a short one week holiday that I booked secretly, as I needed a break in a very very unsatisfying and stressful life.

I only stayed in Bangkok, but since that holiday 4 years ago, Thailand always stayed on top of my priorities. Now I manage to spend 50% of my time in Thailand, and I'll move over permanently in about 10 years or so.

The girls are one thing, I love Thai/Lao/Cambo/Viet looks and would be never bored of looking at their nice faces. Give me 3 hours of watching office girls in Bangkok over a western TV soap anytime!

But what gave me the push is all the rest, the people, the climate, the food, the lifestyle.

[bangkokgas]

Simply fun - I started visiting Thailand in '89 (Samui) when working in Japan and took regualr trips till '97. Then moved to Thailand ('97-2009), started my own business there and left in '09 for the simple reason that Thaialnd had ceased to be 'fun'. Now relatively miserable in the U.K. - as opposed to totally miserable in Thailand.

[GooEng]

I was a poor specimen , they called mr "Srotloi" . I brewed my own tea and threw out thee old fishlines from the rocks and fish caught were gutted and eaten ,what a supper time ! I strummed my banjo and lo ...... " Come fill the cup and .garment of replentence fling ."

another "late night" post there p'raps onion old boy?

any chance of a translation of that one?

[nong38]

I came on a 3 week holiday always wanted to swim in warm seas and then I found that body moved a lot better in the dry climate ( as opposed to the UK ). Like the food, the people, lifestyle, no silly PC rules and up to me to fit in as best I could, not like the UK where I am expected to fit in with all the new arrivals. Came at 4 different times of the year to see if I was still seeing the same thing, then a 4 month trip and now 10 months of the year here.

I was originally talked into making the trip by friends when I retired, you hear awful stories, usually from people who have never been but you only live once so here I come........ No regrets.

Must just tell you this, when I told a peer of the realm that I was aiming to spend most of the year out here, the reply was "Their prisons have a terrible reputation!" My reply.........................Not expecting to be spending much time there!

Now have a lovely g/f and lifes good, a lot better than back in the UK.

[onionluke]

I was a poor specimen , they called mr "Srotloi" . I brewed my own tea and threw out thee old fishlines from the rocks and fish caught were gutted and eaten ,what a supper time ! I strummed my banjo and lo ...... " Come fill the cup and .garment of replentence fling ."

another "late night" post there p'raps onion old boy?

any chance of a translation of that one?

The folks at Taraporn called me scotroi after the durable brillo pad . I had a pot and built little camp fires on which I brewed my tea and bbq 'd fish . I was reading the rubiyat at the time and played my banjo ,never went back .

I prefer my drunkin posts .

[GooEng]

I was a poor specimen , they called mr "Srotloi" . I brewed my own tea and threw out thee old fishlines from the rocks and fish caught were gutted and eaten ,what a supper time ! I strummed my banjo and lo ...... " Come fill the cup and .garment of replentence fling ."

another "late night" post there p'raps onion old boy?

any chance of a translation of that one?

The folks at Taraporn called me scotroi after the durable brillo pad . I had a pot and built little camp fires on which I brewed my tea and bbq 'd fish . I was reading the rubiyat at the time and played my banjo ,never went back .

I prefer my drunkin posts .

thx for the clarification, i think....

still none the wiser as to it's relevance to the thread, mind ya!

[Gweiloman]

May I get a general feel of your ages? As for me, I'm 50.

[mr78]

I'll turn 33 in a couple of days.

[tw25rw]

I had a Thai friend at school who was an academic genius and is now high up in the Bank of Thailand and occasionally writes on the economy in The Nation..

Was always keen to go over and catch up with him, though as yet I never have..

[GooEng]

nearly 42.

been here 20 years.

[PattayaParent]

Came on holiday but got a job and stayed.

That was 16 years ago.

[lovelaos]

Cheap prostitutes, drugs, fags and beer. Good climate and clean beaches.

[GooEng]

from mucker :

Honestly? OK, Thai poontang, cheap smack and large amounts of weed.

15 years later, the same things don't keep me here but they were the original draw.

from lovelaos :

Cheap prostitutes, drugs, fags and beer. Good climate and clean beaches.

my first answer although true skirted around the fact of the matter somewhat - the true truth (?) is what those guys above said.

(minus the cheap prozzies - i never got into that - i was one of those mugs who for ethical/moral reasons didn't partake of the ladies of the night, but once "accidentally" succumbed while drunk and promptly fell in love her)

it's now 20 years on and different things keep me here .....

[kerryk]

I never bought a Ferrari because I don't like the way they look. I don't trust Italian engineering. I think red cars are unlucky.

[Penefattore]

the temples and the culture, what else ?

oh, I was forgetting the excellently moderated forums and the overall freedom of expression

[Penefattore]

Came on holiday but got a job and stayed.

That was 16 years ago.

Beware.

I can hear the "did you get a work permit" brigade approaching.

[Litlos]

A 3 month work contract 9 1/2 years ago. The original contract went out to 1 year, swapped companies but same job which finished after another 7 1/2 years. Still here bumming around doing different bits and pieces. Plenty of work, but nationalisation is a pain in the butt. Originally doing 4 weeks rosters and going back to Oz.

Change of circumstance on the home front a couple of years ago and at the same time the tax rules in Oz changed. So moved over here and planning on being here for retirement in about 5 years or so. Plenty of work in the rest of the world, so live here and commute to wherever as required.

Cheers

[Jingthing]

It's complicated ...

but the first time the idea of visiting Thailand came into my head is a bit unusual.

I was eating in a Thai restaurant in San Francisco and there was a table of blue collar 30ish Thai American men, totally assimilated, who were all loud and excited about their upcoming pleasure trip to Bangkok. Their over the top excitement was catching so the idea of visiting someday was planted. I had never heard a group of people so escastic about a planned vacation.

My first trip was a tour actually, and interestingly my first impression of Pattaya (where I live now) was that it was the most horrible place on the planet, and my first impression of Chiang Mai was I want to retire there.

[krading]

Back in '02 an old mate heard I'd split up with the missus, rang me saying he was looking for a drinking partner for a trip to Samui.

I came for the cultural exchange...

of bodily fluids.

[thaibeachlovers]

For me, Thailand was the closest place to saudi that I could have a good time ( only a 6 hour flight ).

[Shotime]

I wanted to see as many Temples as possible in two weeks.

[StreetCowboy]

I never bought a Ferrari because I don't like the way they look. I don't trust Italian engineering. I think red cars are unlucky.

I can drive my proton too fast. What would I want with a ferrari? Anyway, if a two-seater can accommodate your dreams, you're either unimaginative or skint.

I always fancied chartering a red minibus for a trip back from Wanchai, but the cost would be prohibitive. I don't know where to charter a minibus in Thailand, and I would be nervous about the destination. I did think about chartering a tram in HK, but its a bit public.

SC

EDIT: APOSTROPHE!

[StreetCowboy]

I wanted to see as many Temples as possible in two weeks.

You could be the next Simon Templer.

"He can't do any more than me, without his trick photography"

- Splodgenessabounds, Simon Templar b/w Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, please & Michael Booth's Talking Bum

SC

People said I was easily led, but you'd need to be quick on your feet to lead me astray; I've always been able to find my own way there...

[roamer]

I wanted to see as many Temples as possible in two weeks.

You could be the next Simon Templer.

"He can't do any more than me, without his trick photography"

- Splodgenessabounds, Simon Templar b/w Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, please & Michael Booth's Talking Bum

SC

People said I was easily led, but you'd need to be quick on your feet to lead me astray; I've always been able to find my own way there...

I'm sure that makes perfect sense......obviously its just me

[Roadman]

At 45 years young the children I raised had gone to university, and I had a major bereavement in my life. Wanted time out and was sponsoring Isaan rural kids through CCF so came and visited them in 2000. Rented an old ute from Budget and set off in the direction (Budget staff pointed that way with their finger) of Isaan with a Lonely Planet guide book and Thai English Dictionary / Phrasebook. Even thou I got back to Don Maueng with every infection and skin rash going I absolutely loved it. Kept coming back 2 or 3 times a year and eventually met the beautiful Isaan woman that has fulfilled my life for the last 6 years. Have not been back for the last two years as wife and daughter (now ours) are given first call on finances for holidays. Definitely coming back next year as we have farms and crops to be harvested which will shout the trip.

[PattayaParent]

Came on holiday but got a job and stayed.

That was 16 years ago.

Beware.

I can hear the "did you get a work permit" brigade approaching.

All legally done so no worries about that.

[thaibeachlovers]

I wanted to see as many Temples as possible in two weeks.

You could be the next Simon Templer.

"He can't do any more than me, without his trick photography"

- Splodgenessabounds, Simon Templar b/w Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, please & Michael Booth's Talking Bum

SC

People said I was easily led, but you'd need to be quick on your feet to lead me astray; I've always been able to find my own way there...

I'm sure that makes perfect sense......obviously its just me

Ditto

[meom]

I wanted to see as many Temples as possible in two weeks.

You could be the next Simon Templer.

"He can't do any more than me, without his trick photography"

- Splodgenessabounds, Simon Templar b/w Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, please & Michael Booth's Talking Bum

SC

People said I was easily led, but you'd need to be quick on your feet to lead me astray; I've always been able to find my own way there...

I'm sure that makes perfect sense......obviously its just me

Ditto

We’re Pathetique might ring a bell.

[onionluke]

I wanted to see as many Temples as possible in two weeks.

You could be the next Simon Templer.

"He can't do any more than me, without his trick photography"

- Splodgenessabounds, Simon Templar b/w Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, please & Michael Booth's Talking Bum

SC

People said I was easily led, but you'd need to be quick on your feet to lead me astray; I've always been able to find my own way there...

It's a rocky road but somebody has to eat it .