First Time Visit To Thailand

[scouser1892]

Good evening ladies and gentlemen,

My name is Sami, currently living in Montreal Canada. I will be visiting China on a business trip late March, during my trip I will be visiting Thailand for 2 days and Malaysia 2 as well.

I work mainly online and with suppliers in China, but when Im not in China, I need to be somewhere around, after careful examination, I believe the 2 destinations I choose seems to be a good match for me, with slight advantage to KL over BKK.

Briefly, Im 32 years old, I have been traveling since I can remember, but never been to Thailand. First impression I get when I hear about Thailand isn't very positive. I have a member of this forum for 4-5 years now, I receive emails from ThaiVisa regarding the situation in Thailand, most of the news is either about kidnaping, killing, for me someone who has been to Thailand, it seems like hell on earth. On other hand, I've heard about Thailand natural beauty, cheap compared to the west but yet luxurious ( accomodations ).

I will be booking a private tour for 2 days using a third party website. Of course 2 days is not enough to make a final decision, but at least I will get the beat of the place. Having a professional guide by my side will do nothing but good, I hope.

Questions for you are: Why would someone, who never been to Thailand, would want to live there? What attracted you to make a choice of living in Thailand?

Partying and drinking all day long isn't part of my plans, what else Thailand has to offer beside party, girls and nice scenery ?

If any of you been to Malaysia, why would one choose Thailand over it ?

Thanks for taking the time in reading this.

[Hooters]

"I have a member of this forum for 4-5 years now"

1st ever post. Your certainly the shy type

your not interested in bar girls or drink, what are you interested in? that would be a start.

[scouser1892]

"I have a member of this forum for 4-5 years now"

1st ever post. Your certainly the shy type

your not interested in bar girls or drink, what are you interested in? that would be a start.

I have an old account that was banned because of a request I had made ( asked where to buy fake kits from Thailand), but I still do receive emails from Thaivisa, hope this satisfies your curiosity.

I said earlier, I want to experience Thailand differently then most people do. The scenery, the food, the people, so many things that interest me more than drinking and bar girls.

[whybother]

Bad news sells. Check out your local news and think about why you would live where you are with only that to go by.

Bangkok is a great place to live ... Sometimes. I'm sure KL has its pros and cons too.

The only way your going to know for sure is by spending some time (not 2 days) in both places.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[CharlieH]

You might also want to think about the practicalities of the paperwork, visa's, work permits etc, you may need to stay in either place for an extended period of time.

[asanee]

Good morning from here-BKK, 7.52 now

BTW-do you happen to be of Chinese descent? I guess yes-Asians have an enormous tendency to get anxious, worried etc. of about anything they do not know from home. They are also the people who think that hiring guides is the way to solve that. Most farang responding here seem unable to even conceive that other races may have different notions about some aspects of life.

1.do a daft simple thing: read a guidebook aimed at younger people. It will give a much more balanced view -both the pro's and con's- of this country. Or simply borrow one from your library-also for MY and compare.

2. I guess you are adult enough to realise that newspprs-and now also sites like this-tied to one of TH main english newspprs-only bring bad news. However they way they solve that in MY is unique: only positive news on the country itself can be printed, but this includes anyone who their police captures: what a brave police we have!

3. TH wins hands down above MY- ,mainly due to its people, the attractive Thai to farang. But again: if you are CHinese you may notion far les of that plus you have ''your own folks'' a plenty in MY and they are not that country bumpkins striving on fake imitiations and money-hungry as their mainland Chinese ancestors.

PS-hiring guides: do not do. They all only live from commissions paid to them by bringing you in as ignorant mark-label hungey buyer in any shop along the road. DO read that guidebook and take the plunge-if even 1000s of young Canucks of 17-18 survive and have a goodtime-you can do it too.

[WilliaminBKK]

Sami come and learn/experience Thailand then you decide, nothing any of us say will convince you-there are thousands of Canadians/Europeans who call Thailand home for many reasons, food, culture, shopping, sights, sounds and the people. I personally don't like KL that much, but don't blame/influence the news you are getting from TV - are you getting the same type of information about KL daily ?

If you are trying to compare Malayasia to Thailand, I would ask you which is better Toronto or Montreal,

[Hooters]

Regardless of what people say here its nearly always about the girls. As these people grow more confident in their new found 'pulling power" they also become ( strangely) philosophical about life since the basic underlying desire to be attracted to the opposite sex has been fulfilled. This can lead to illusions of granger and an over all feeling of superiority.

This will all come tumbling down like a pack of cards if the "girls" where removed or the said persons were forced back home. So its always always about the girls.

[scouser1892]

Why bother:

Thanks for your reply. Sadly I just have 4 free days, so can only do what we have right.

CharlieH: Well said, I'd take that into considerations.

Asenee: Thanks for your reply. No, I am no of chinese decent. I am asian that's true, but from the extreme west of Asia, Lebanon.

You see, it's true I may be a bit anxious going to places I never been to, I guess anyone would be, nothing over, just enough to make me sit behind my desk, open this topic and seek more info from locals. I remember the first time I went to Cuba, I stayed in my hotel for the whole week, nowadays when I go there, I don't even book hotels no more, so there is a period of adaption necessary, whether you're Chinese, Lebanese or from outer planet.

Hiring a guide for 2 days won't solve the problem, only reason I am hiring someone is because I want someone who knows the city, knows how to get from point A to point B, without getting lost, my time there is already short. Don't worry about me being '' forced '' to go to the lucky buddah,gem store or cheap clothing store, Im an atheist who happens to import cheap clothing from China.

William: I will surely do that, by the way Montreal is way better

Hooters: Not everybody fancy paying for sex, if you do, then good for you.

[Hooters]

Why bother:

Thanks for your reply. Sadly I just have 4 free days, so can only do what we have right.

CharlieH: Well said, I'd take that into considerations.

Asenee: Thanks for your reply. No, I am no of chinese decent. I am asian that's true, but from the extreme west of Asia, Lebanon.

You see, it's true I may be a bit anxious going to places I never been to, I guess anyone would be, nothing over, just enough to make me sit behind my desk, open this topic and seek more info from locals. I remember the first time I went to Cuba, I stayed in my hotel for the whole week, nowadays when I go there, I don't even book hotels no more, so there is a period of adaption necessary, whether you're Chinese, Lebanese or from outer planet.

Hiring a guide for 2 days won't solve the problem, only reason I am hiring someone is because I want someone who knows the city, knows how to get from point A to point B, without getting lost, my time there is already short. Don't worry about me being '' forced '' to go to the lucky buddah,gem store or cheap clothing store, Im an atheist who happens to import cheap clothing from China.

William: I will surely do that, by the way Montreal is way better

Hooters: Not everybody fancy paying for sex, if you do, then good for you.

"Hooters: Not everybody fancy paying for sex, if you do, then good for you"

looks like you wont be having any sex then.

[exeter]

2 days here or there and working into the bargain is bit like a smack round the head with a wet fish, you will learn virtually nothing, I would suggest you save up some quality time, plan your visit well ahead and return when you can give the country a fair crack of the whip. personally I think anything less than 3 weeks will not do it for you.

I am curious why have you been a member of thaivisa for 4 or 5 years and yet appear not to have been here before and then think 2 days would suffice, as seasoned traveller you should know this and guides take you where they want you to go which probably is noit where you want to go.

[scouser1892]

2 days here or there and working into the bargain is bit like a smack round the head with a wet fish, you will learn virtually nothing, I would suggest you save up some quality time, plan your visit well ahead and return when you can give the country a fair crack of the whip. personally I think anything less than 3 weeks will not do it for you.

I am curious why have you been a member of thaivisa for 4 or 5 years and yet appear not to have been here before and then think 2 days would suffice, as seasoned traveller you should know this and guides take you where they want you to go which probably is noit where you want to go.

As I said earlier, I want to get the beat of the place, I will not make my decision based on 2 days trip. Currently I have a 20 business trip scheduled for late Mars, 2 days in each destination is all the time I can afford ( timewise ). I will be going back to China in July, by then I'll have to make up my mind on where to settle.

I have a member here because I've always been interested by Thailand.

[LuckyLew]

I have lived in both Montreal and in Bangkok Thialand and I much prefer Thailand.

There are many reasons, some you might think as frovulous but to me they count

The weather here is way better, there is no snow

The food here is much more to my liking.

Good cuisine in Montreal is Lafleurs at 3am

I prefer Asian girls to Causasian girls

Taxes are lower here.

I do not have to read in the papers about French v English

You are always a short trip from a great beach

Life seems to have more freedoms here

As for visiting for two days ...

There are many temples to see in Bangkok

Go visit the Grand Palace

Take a boat ride on the Chao Praya

Do not always believe what you read, it is no more

dangerous here then in Montreal or St-Leonard or Brossard

If you go off the beaten track and go down dark alleys at night

in any city, you go at your own peril

[Dancealot]

2 day KL and 2 days BKK back to back to china will raise some eyebrows at costums.

[whybother]

Toss a coin. You're probably not going to learn anything with 2 days in each place.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[marstons]

your tour guide will probably only take you commercial area's where they get kick backs, i doubt you will get anywhere near where you really want to go. i did it once never again, wasted valuable time in places i did not want to be. like it or not its his/her tour not yours. probably not best idea to say you were banned then reopened with another user name, tends not to go down to well.

work out where you want to go then use google on how to get to and from, make your own itinerary.

as to what made me want to live here, that's a good question, i ask myself that every day, almost.

initial attraction was the birds and the booze plus the beaches, that was 15 years ago, apart from the booze the rest has gone to pot, just my opinion.

[scouser1892]

Thanks Lucky for your reply. Noted Grand palace and boat ride on my to do list.

Dancealot: That's true, But nowadays being middle eastern alone raises eyebrows.

Whybother, probably not, but at least, I'll get to see Thailand.

Marstons: My guide will take me where I want to go, otherwise she doesn't get paid.

I got banned because of a silly mistake I made, It was on my frist post too. Got what I deserve I suppose.

See, I got fed up of being here in Canada, cold long winters, people on the rush.... I like my city, don't get me wrong, but not for 12 months.

Thanks all for your replies.

[Ulysses G.]

"Partying and drinking all day long isn't part of my plans, what else Thailand has to offer beside party, girls and nice scenery ?"

What else is there?

[thehelmsman]

It was the Museums and Libraries which first attracted me to Thailand - being the scholarly scholar that I be.

[theblether]

2 days here or there and working into the bargain is bit like a smack round the head with a wet fish, you will learn virtually nothing, I would suggest you save up some quality time, plan your visit well ahead and return when you can give the country a fair crack of the whip. personally I think anything less than 3 weeks will not do it for you.

I am curious why have you been a member of thaivisa for 4 or 5 years and yet appear not to have been here before and then think 2 days would suffice, as seasoned traveller you should know this and guides take you where they want you to go which probably is noit where you want to go.

As I said earlier, I want to get the beat of the place, I will not make my decision based on 2 days trip. Currently I have a 20 business trip scheduled for late Mars, 2 days in each destination is all the time I can afford ( timewise ). I will be going back to China in July, by then I'll have to make up my mind on where to settle.

I have a member here because I've always been interested by Thailand.

So your going top pick up the beat of the place in two days.......hmmm, some guys have been here 20 years and haven't picked up the beat of the place yet.

Forget about the tour guide, just turn up and make your own way, you'll learn more. If you like being bored to death go to Malaysia, if you enjoy life, Thailand.

[Semper]

"Partying and drinking all day long isn't part of my plans, what else Thailand has to offer beside party, girls and nice scenery ?"

What else is there?

The temples.

[Hooters]

"Partying and drinking all day long isn't part of my plans, what else Thailand has to offer beside party, girls and nice scenery ?"

What else is there?

The temples.

tailors

[WhizBang]

situation in Thailand, most of the news is either about kidnaping, killing, for me someone who has been to Thailand, it seems like hell on earth. On other hand, I've heard about Thailand natural beauty, cheap compared to the west but yet luxurious ( accomodations )

Yes, the situitation has been rather dire for the past few years. Currently we are in a lull... the calm before the storm?

Bad things can, and do, happen everywhere. So just use common sense to avoid the majority of problems and you will be ok.

As for Thailand being cheap... Sorry, not any more. Between the poor exchange rate and inflation, Thailand is now easily as expensive as North America.

You can get by on the cheap by going totally native (fan rooms, eating at street vendor stalls, etc.), but who really wants to do that?

Thailand used to be known as the Land of Smiles (LoS), but now that is more likely to mean Land of Scams.

I have family here, which, right now, is the ONLY reason I stay.

There will be a cataclysmic event here in Thailand in the near future (an event we cannot talk about), and that will be the time to be somewhere other than Thailand.

Good luck on your trip, however, 2 days in Thailand is simply not enough.

[Hooters]

situation in Thailand, most of the news is either about kidnaping, killing, for me someone who has been to Thailand, it seems like hell on earth. On other hand, I've heard about Thailand natural beauty, cheap compared to the west but yet luxurious ( accomodations )

Yes, the situitation has been rather dire for the past few years. Currently we are in a lull... the calm before the storm?

Bad things can, and do, happen everywhere. So just use common sense to avoid the majority of problems and you will be ok.

As for Thailand being cheap... Sorry, not any more. Between the poor exchange rate and inflation, Thailand is now easily as expensive as North America.

You can get by on the cheap by going totally native (fan rooms, eating at street vendor stalls, etc.), but who really wants to do that?

Thailand used to be known as the Land of Smiles (LoS), but now that is more likely to mean Land of Scams.

I have family here, which, right now, is the ONLY reason I stay.

There will be a cataclysmic event here in Thailand in the near future (an event we cannot talk about), and that will be the time to be somewhere other than Thailand.

Good luck on your trip, however, 2 days in Thailand is simply not enough.

"There will be a cataclysmic event here in Thailand in the near future (an event we cannot talk about)"

Dont think so. haven't you noticed that yellow and pink shirts are not worn much these days. IMO that event is already factored in.

[transam]

How did you arrive at your forum name choice ? Just curious.

[exeter]

I have lived in both Montreal and in Bangkok Thialand and I much prefer Thailand.

There are many reasons, some you might think as frovulous but to me they count

The weather here is way better, there is no snow

The food here is much more to my liking.

Good cuisine in Montreal is Lafleurs at 3am

I prefer Asian girls to Causasian girls

Taxes are lower here.

I do not have to read in the papers about French v English

You are always a short trip from a great beach

Life seems to have more freedoms here

As for visiting for two days ...

There are many temples to see in Bangkok

Go visit the Grand Palace

Take a boat ride on the Chao Praya

Do not always believe what you read, it is no more

dangerous here then in Montreal or St-Leonard or Brossard

If you go off the beaten track and go down dark alleys at night

in any city, you go at your own peril

Sounds good advice here to me.

[exeter]

How did you arrive at your forum name choice ? Just curious.

Liverpool FC ? A fan perhaps?

[transam]

How did you arrive at your forum name choice ? Just curious.

Liverpool FC ? A fan perhaps?

Perhaps, or perhaps he's a Liverpudlian.

[scouser1892]

whizbang thanks for the informative replied.

transam and exeter yes Im a Liverpudlian, at heart of course. Been to Liverpool twice, last time was in Oct for the game against the Mancs.

[Ulysses G.]

As for Thailand being cheap... Sorry, not any more. Between the poor exchange rate and inflation, Thailand is now easily as expensive as North America.

Horse manure. Where can you get a hotel room with TV, aircon and a swimming pool for 500 baht ($16 US) in a major beach resort in North America? Where can you find tasty, cooked meals for 30 baht ($1.00 US)? Thailand is not as cheap as it used to be, but what country is?