After reading through these 3 pages, it seems very strange to me that NOBODY, except myself, has made a single mention of CULTURAL reasons for returning home. By cultural I mean entertainment, sports, music, etc. Do you all really enjoy watching the same television programs as Thai people? You prefer Muay thai boxing and Thai premier league football to your native country's sports? You just love those just-boil-everything noodle soups so much over your hometown fare? You don't miss libraries? You just love Thai music?

Unless you are living on a very tight budget and don’t have access to the internet, most of those things should not be a problem. You can access the world from almost anywhere but I can see where one might have a problem if they missed live events or could not speak the language.

After reading through these 3 pages, it seems very strange to me that NOBODY, except myself, has made a single mention of CULTURAL reasons for returning home. By cultural I mean entertainment, sports, music, etc. Do you all really enjoy watching the same television programs as Thai people? You prefer Muay thai boxing and Thai premier league football to your native country's sports? You just love those just-boil-everything noodle soups so much over your hometown fare? You don't miss libraries? You just love Thai music?

Now that Astro's carrying two or three Superleague games a week, I can't see why anyone would ever leave.

I enjoyed my last trip to the National Stadium to watch international rugby, and it was a lot cheaper than Murrayfield. I'm looking forward to this season's games next month (in KL, conveniently enough).

SC

After reading through these 3 pages, it seems very strange to me that NOBODY, except myself, has made a single mention of CULTURAL reasons for returning home. By cultural I mean entertainment, sports, music, etc. Do you all really enjoy watching the same television programs as Thai people? You prefer Muay thai boxing and Thai premier league football to your native country's sports? You just love those just-boil-everything noodle soups so much over your hometown fare? You don't miss libraries? You just love Thai music?

Now that Astro's carrying two or three Superleague games a week, I can't see why anyone would ever leave.

I enjoyed my last trip to the National Stadium to watch international rugby, and it was a lot cheaper than Murrayfield. I'm looking forward to this season's games next month (in KL, conveniently enough).

SC

2 or 3 games a week? I wish that would thrill me as much as you, but (I'm American) at home on any given evening I have a choice of about 20-30 different sporting events to watch each evening on tv or several live local sporting events of interest to me in town. I REALLY miss that alot. The internet is just no substitution for an American sports fan. Choppy, unreliable, delayed broadcasts on live streams don't even compare.

2 or 3 games a week? I wish that would thrill me as much as you, but (I'm American) at home on any given evening I have a choice of about 20-30 different sporting events to watch each evening on tv or several live local sporting events of interest to me in town. I REALLY miss that alot. The internet is just no substitution for an American sports fan. Choppy, unreliable, delayed broadcasts on live streams don't even compare.

I can understand where you're coming from. As an American also, I was particularly peeved at missing the entire NFL season last year (and I believe it'll happen again this year). But it's one of the sacrifices that you make. On the positive side, I've been able to pretty much watch all other sporting events of interest, including the NBA, MLB, golf tournaments, tennis tournaments, etc. This was a tad better than I expected. The only thing that I can't come to terms with is the amount of soccer they have on at any given time! Ok, sorry, "football" to our Euro friends. It seems that there is a football game on 24 hrs a day, often times on more than one channel. Amazing.

After reading through these 3 pages, it seems very strange to me that NOBODY, except myself, has made a single mention of CULTURAL reasons for returning home. By cultural I mean entertainment, sports, music, etc. Do you all really enjoy watching the same television programs as Thai people? You prefer Muay thai boxing and Thai premier league football to your native country's sports? You just love those just-boil-everything noodle soups so much over your hometown fare? You don't miss libraries? You just love Thai music?

Now that Astro's carrying two or three Superleague games a week, I can't see why anyone would ever leave.

I enjoyed my last trip to the National Stadium to watch international rugby, and it was a lot cheaper than Murrayfield. I'm looking forward to this season's games next month (in KL, conveniently enough).

SC

2 or 3 games a week? I wish that would thrill me as much as you, but (I'm American) at home on any given evening I have a choice of about 20-30 different sporting events to watch each evening on tv or several live local sporting events of interest to me in town. I REALLY miss that alot. The internet is just no substitution for an American sports fan. Choppy, unreliable, delayed broadcasts on live streams don't even compare.

I'd be surprised if you get even two or three rugby league games in a year the US. now living there WOULD be bleak. Though I am sure you'll be pleased to hear that Melbourne Storm are planning an exhibition game in October, if the gossip on the internet is to be believed, and of course having qualified for the world cup in 2013, the profile of the game there will be raised substantially.

I imagine soon young men from the states wanting to seek their fortune in the sport will be beating a path to Widnes, Wigan, Wakefield and Whitehaven to sign up as apprentices. A couple of my neighbours have just followed the lucre to East Hull, to join the Hulking Stonerovers as apprentices (again, according to gossip on the internet (http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/410/three-scots-sign-for-hull)

SC

Edit: Some would say the highlight of the football year, the State of Origin games, were all carried live by Astro. But I was focussing on my own quaint and parochial interests. Astro also carry the Six Nations, NRL, Premier Quattorze or whateveritis, SuperXIV, the English Union, Asian Five Nations, the Sevens series, the Heineken Cup. I was sad they didn't carry the McTavish Cup, but I suppose they have to miss something out. I've been enjoying the curling, when I get the chance, as well. I suppose I could bleat on an on and on about Partick never being on, but they did show the Warriors from Firhill one time, and if I was that bothered about it, I could even download the Press and Journal, I expect...

It really is a small world nowadays, and we need to be very small-minded indeed to find it too big for us

I find it amazing that people spend their time watching sports on the tube. I have alway considered sports as something one did, not something one watched.

I find it amazing that people spend their time watching sports on the tube. I have alway considered sports as something one did, not something one watched.

Its how I foster my blinkered, narrow-minded parochial tribalism.

SC

I find it amazing that people spend their time watching sports on the tube. I have alway considered sports as something one did, not something one watched.

that probably depends what age you are ,when i was a teenager up til about mid 20's i used to boxing ,running ,weightlifting and visit the gym every spare minute i had

gradually it tapered off though and in thai i dont get much exercise at all

I find it amazing that people spend their time watching sports on the tube. I have alway considered sports as something one did, not something one watched.

I agree 100%

I find it amazing that people spend their time watching sports on the tube. I have alway considered sports as something one did, not something one watched.

Yes, people do watch sports on the tube. Quite a few. In the billions. Some of us like to watch and participate in sports. It's ok to do both, preferably not at the same time.

A question to the OP. On top of your list is "The lack of education amongst even the most educated Thais. I miss having intelligent discussion with people outside of the internet."

Do you mind giving me a few examples of "intelligent discussion" you recently had on the internet ? I personally have a problem to qualify your racist rant as an "intelligent discussion" but I'm open minded and ready to be proved wrong

The idiot always asks for examples. I have a better idea; why don't you attempt the following tasks; look up the definition of "rant", explore the other forums out there on the web (there are quite a few!). Carefully think about the question/statement you would like to make, and then come back and post something that makes sense.

After reading through these 3 pages, it seems very strange to me that NOBODY, except myself, has made a single mention of CULTURAL reasons for returning home. By cultural I mean entertainment, sports, music, etc. Do you all really enjoy watching the same television programs as Thai people? You prefer Muay thai boxing and Thai premier league football to your native country's sports? You just love those just-boil-everything noodle soups so much over your hometown fare? You don't miss libraries? You just love Thai music?

Strange post. I see the best of UK and American TV on satellite, and it's so easy to get other material from the internet that it's not funny. I can read UK newspapers either online or printed before my friends in London even wake up, and the two branches of Kinokunya in Bangkok are better bookshops that anything I used to see in London, and cheaper to boot.

Football? Every weekend, UBC shows pretty much every match so I don't miss that? Food? I much prefer Thai food, but if I yearn for fish and chips or sausages and mash, or steak pie and chips, there are dozens of options in Thailand.

the decision to return to the west has been moved forward, and I plan on leaving towards the end of next year.

OP, why wait?

Many people moving here expect the worst.  May be you should blame your self for moving to the third world in the first place.

Blame is what comes after a bad decision or when something goes wrong. Most on this thread have said that despite any negative experiences they had here, they were happy they had the experience and would not change a thing. You're comment is misplaced.

After reading through these 3 pages, it seems very strange to me that NOBODY, except myself, has made a single mention of CULTURAL reasons for returning home. By cultural I mean entertainment, sports, music, etc. Do you all really enjoy watching the same television programs as Thai people? You prefer Muay thai boxing and Thai premier league football to your native country's sports? You just love those just-boil-everything noodle soups so much over your hometown fare? You don't miss libraries? You just love Thai music?

Strange post. I see the best of UK and American TV on satellite, and it's so easy to get other material from the internet that it's not funny. I can read UK newspapers either online or printed before my friends in London even wake up, and the two branches of Kinokunya in Bangkok are better bookshops that anything I used to see in London, and cheaper to boot.

Football? Every weekend, UBC shows pretty much every match so I don't miss that? Food? I much prefer Thai food, but if I yearn for fish and chips or sausages and mash, or steak pie and chips, there are dozens of options in Thailand.

Lucky you! Having 'shelled out' for BBC with TrueVisions, I see the same programmes being shown over and over again . Most of them pretty good admittedly, but too many are repeated ad nauseam.

Books? Generally horrendously expensive here on Phuket (or at least the English books).

Food? Everyone to their own, but I miss the English version of fish and chips enormously and am not a great fan of Thai food anymore. It is too sweet/over-salted/over-spiced for me.

Many people moving here expect the worst. May be you should blame your self for moving to the third world in the first place.

Blame is what comes after a bad decision or when something goes wrong. Most on this thread have said that despite any negative experiences they had here, they were happy they had the experience and would not change a thing. You're comment is misplaced.

Quite. Few move here expecting the worst - that comes later.

After reading through these 3 pages, it seems very strange to me that NOBODY, except myself, has made a single mention of CULTURAL reasons for returning home. By cultural I mean entertainment, sports, music, etc. Do you all really enjoy watching the same television programs as Thai people? You prefer Muay thai boxing and Thai premier league football to your native country's sports? You just love those just-boil-everything noodle soups so much over your hometown fare? You don't miss libraries? You just love Thai music?

I'm australian,i watch more live rugby and rugby league games here on truvision than i did in oz,

i eat australian weetbix and muesli for breakfast,can cook any western dish i want here,

i can watch the same news and entertainment shows as i did in oz here if want to,

if inclined i can fly to singapore to watch theatre and musicals,

i can read any book i want via the internet....but yes i still miss the culture of my country,having a laugh with someone who understands the joke because we come from the same place....but i wouldn't go home for quids

I find it amazing that people spend their time watching sports on the tube. I have alway considered sports as something one did, not something one watched.

That's exactly how I feel about pornography.

I find it amazing that people spend their time watching sports on the tube. I have alway considered sports as something one did, not something one watched.

Ever heard of gambling?

I find it amazing that people spend their time watching sports on the tube. I have alway considered sports as something one did, not something one watched.

Ever heard of gambling?

You mean people watch gambling on the tube as well?

I find it amazing that people spend their time watching sports on the tube. I have alway considered sports as something one did, not something one watched.

That's exactly how I feel about pornography.

So you participate in all the types of pornography you have watched on the web? Interesting.

I find it amazing that people spend their time watching sports on the tube. I have alway considered sports as something one did, not something one watched.

That's exactly how I feel about pornography.

So you participate in all the types of pornography you have watched on the web? Interesting.

Or do you really mean you imagine me participating in all the types of pornography you yourself have watched on the web?

That might be interesting to you and perhaps specialist health professionals, but of no interest to me.

I find it amazing that people spend their time watching sports on the tube. I have alway considered sports as something one did, not something one watched.

That's exactly how I feel about pornography.

So you participate in all the types of pornography you have watched on the web? Interesting.

Or do you really mean you imagine me participating in all the types of pornography you yourself have watched on the web?

That might be interesting to you and perhaps specialist health professionals, but of no interest to me.

No I don't mean that at all. I really did mean that your last statement implies that you participate in all the types of pornography you have watched on the web.

@Kanaga

Please do check to see if your humour chip hasn't malfunctioned.

I find it amazing that people spend their time watching sports on the tube. I have alway considered sports as something one did, not something one watched.

That's exactly how I feel about pornography.

So you participate in all the types of pornography you have watched on the web? Interesting.

...

No I don't mean that at all. I really did mean that your last statement implies that you participate in all the types of pornography you have watched on the web.

I watch ski-jumping.

I participated in pornography with Eddie the Eagle for 15 minutes .

I participated in pornography with Eddie the Eagle for 15 minutes .

I take it that was on the way up...

A question to the OP. On top of your list is "The lack of education amongst even the most educated Thais. I miss having intelligent discussion with people outside of the internet."

Do you mind giving me a few examples of "intelligent discussion" you recently had on the internet ? I personally have a problem to qualify your racist rant as an "intelligent discussion" but I'm open minded and ready to be proved wrong

The idiot always asks for examples. I have a better idea; why don't you attempt the following tasks; look up the definition of "rant", explore the other forums out there on the web (there are quite a few!). Carefully think about the question/statement you would like to make, and then come back and post something that makes sense.

rants. v.intr. To speak or write in an angry or violent manner

You seem pretty angry against the Thais. In your opening post, you managed to call them stupids, racists, corrupted, and dishonest. And that just in a few lines. I consider that pretty violent.

So I stand with my "racist rant".

Now lets talk about your "intelligent discussion" ...

And because I'm a nice guy, I advise you to read this very interesting article before replying : http://www.huffingto..._n_1237796.html

A question to the OP. On top of your list is "The lack of education amongst even the most educated Thais. I miss having intelligent discussion with people outside of the internet."

Do you mind giving me a few examples of "intelligent discussion" you recently had on the internet ? I personally have a problem to qualify your racist rant as an "intelligent discussion" but I'm open minded and ready to be proved wrong

The idiot always asks for examples. I have a better idea; why don't you attempt the following tasks; look up the definition of "rant", explore the other forums out there on the web (there are quite a few!). Carefully think about the question/statement you would like to make, and then come back and post something that makes sense.

rants. v.intr. To speak or write in an angry or violent manner

You seem pretty angry against the Thais. In your opening post, you managed to call them stupids, racists, corrupted, and dishonest. And that just in a few lines. I consider that pretty violent.

So I stand with my "racist rant".

Now lets talk about your "intelligent discussion" ...

And because I'm a nice guy, I advise you to read this very interesting article before replying : http://www.huffingto..._n_1237796.html

Sorry mate, we've moved on since your time. Intelligent discussion is a thing of the past, like cinema organists

SC

A question to the OP. On top of your list is "The lack of education amongst even the most educated Thais. I miss having intelligent discussion with people outside of the internet."

Do you mind giving me a few examples of "intelligent discussion" you recently had on the internet ? I personally have a problem to qualify your racist rant as an "intelligent discussion" but I'm open minded and ready to be proved wrong

The idiot always asks for examples. I have a better idea; why don't you attempt the following tasks; look up the definition of "rant", explore the other forums out there on the web (there are quite a few!). Carefully think about the question/statement you would like to make, and then come back and post something that makes sense.

rants. v.intr. To speak or write in an angry or violent manner

You seem pretty angry against the Thais. In your opening post, you managed to call them stupids, racists, corrupted, and dishonest. And that just in a few lines. I consider that pretty violent.

So I stand with my "racist rant".

Now lets talk about your "intelligent discussion" ...

And because I'm a nice guy, I advise you to read this very interesting article before replying : http://www.huffingto..._n_1237796.html

Sorry mate, we've moved on since your time. Intelligent discussion is a thing of the past, like cinema organists

SC

WOW, do l remember those.