Let's Be Honest - It Was *never* The Temples ....

[MrWorldwide]

I still see the odd Puritan on a forum trying to tell me that they dont go to Thailand for the women, and they certainly wouldnt retire to LOS on that basis, but who are we kidding ? I might as well just move to New Zealand or Fiji if that wasnt a major factor in my decision making ....

[muythai2013]

Hard to answer someone who has made up everyones mind for them based on your own reasons for going.

[smokie36]

Plenty of women all over the world.

Next.....

[maprao]

Plenty of women all over the world.

Next.....

Yeah but only in Thailand can everyone be "vely vely handsome"!

[BookMan]

And excepting those:

• who are Gay
• who are already married/in a relationship
• Are women who like men
• Who find it an affordable relaxing place to live
• who enjoy Thai culture

[bangkokburning]

Honestly, for me it was. I came to Asia on a holiday 20 years ago. Both Angkor Wat and Pagan (Cambodia and Myanmar) opened for first time since forever. It was a childhood dream to visit these places as well as "Saigon".

I was so impressed, I quit my job and moved to Cambodia (94-96). Thailand just seemed like a big bore (save for the islands). I visited Lao mid nineties on and made addlntrips to Myanmar, Vietnam, India and N Pakistan.

Thailand was always just a base that I had to circuit out of. The only big plus for me,the food and the islands. My first trip in Thailand was around 98 and I found it just as dull as my initial recon suggested.

I came to depend more on Thailand as I aged and the backpacker trail became overburdened by whiny overindulgent children looking for a party rather than having any sense of real adventure.

Should have kept going, far afield, but I was getting old.

Settled in Thailand but still long periods in Indonesia, N India and US.

Fast forward, more years and now married. Found the whole p4p scene so unrewarding and unhealthful, Im getting on.now +52 - why not marry an attractive, thin and lovely woman 15yrs my junior?

I do not disagree with your premise, most men here its always and only been about the easy access to affable and friendly (young) women. I relish the day when the govt shuts down the farang sex establishments (bars, gogo, massage, escort, clubs). That will be the last straw, given the rise in the thb, the costs there will be a stampede to leave here.

Always said, take away the women, aircon, western toilets and tissue paper and 50% gone in a month. Other 35% to follow.

[MrWorldwide]

Hard to answer someone who has made up everyones mind for them based on your own reasons for going.

Sorry to ruin your day / week / life.

[muythai2013]

Hard to answer someone who has made up everyones mind for them based on your own reasons for going.

Sorry to ruin your day / week / life.

seems to me the man who goes thousands of km's to get laid days/weeks/lifes in ruins.

[MrWorldwide]

Hard to answer someone who has made up everyones mind for them based on your own reasons for going.

Sorry to ruin your day / week / life.

seems to me the man who goes thousands of km's to get laid days/weeks/lifes in ruins.

Lighten up, man - it wasnt meant to be a navel gazer, but clearly you see it differently.

[ivan96822]

Hard to answer someone who has made up everyones mind for them based on your own reasons for going.

Sorry to ruin your day / week / life.

seems to me the man who goes thousands of km's to get laid days/weeks/lifes in ruins.

Depends. I see it as expanding one's horizons and aspiring to be more of a Roger Moore 007 than a Dirty Harry.

Edited May 14, 2013 by ivan96822

[Razzler1973]

There's more to Thailand and Asia than P4P scene and also more than temples too

I never came to Thailand and Asia for the girls, well, anymore than I will try to get girls wherever I am but the P4P is really not for me. I don't return for it either, or the temples, seen 'em!

[Jingthing]

The over the counter prescription drugs at popular prices were a big draw for me!

Nookie was a big part of the tourism draw for me initially but when it came to making the big retirement decision, much less so. That was mostly an economic decision.

Also it's hardly the only country with EZ nookie, now is it? (BTW, if you think that it is, you kind of need a travel agent or something ...)

Edited May 14, 2013 by Jingthing

[Spoonman]

Yeah ya got me, I did not come for the temples but instead a short term work relocation to assist with a new facility set-up.........forgot to go home though.

[longstebe]

I came for the birds and the whole adventure. After 13 years coming and going I still buzz off the place.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Payboy]

Plenty of women all over the world.

Next.....

Plenty of women all over me here. I'm stayin'.

[bangkokburning]

I forgot Viagra. Take away the Viagra and the retirees are gone. Expat living is a very poor value here if you have any sort of Western needs. Alcohol is more expensive here, bars and pubs aside.

Only bargain is medical services and general labor.

Viagra, the bane of Thailand. Hah, never thought of that...all Thailsnd has to do is treat it as ya-ice and the farang won't be able to leave fast enough.

Thats it! Forget the complications I mentioned above. Viagra = ya-ice prison time. Done, done and done!

[johnlandy]

Hard to answer someone who has made up everyones mind for them based on your own reasons for going.

But ya gotta admit that the seafood is cheaper here, particularly if you are partial to oyster.

[Ulysses G.]

“Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it.”
― George R.R. Martin

[manarak]

I'll admit Thai women play a big role in what made me move to Thailand, but objectively there are many more things...

relaxed lifestyle, taxes, costs, weather...

It's the combination of all that makes Thailand win.

[StreetCowboy]

Hard to answer someone who has made up everyones mind for them based on your own reasons for going.

Sorry to ruin your day / week / life.

seems to me the man who goes thousands of km's to get laid days/weeks/lifes in ruins.

Lighten up, man - it wasnt meant to be a navel gazer, but clearly you see it differently.

I see someone below mentioned James Bond - he was a naval geezer

[cheesyd]

I came for the food. There's nothing like a Chicken fried rice to fill you up and prepare you for a night out at the bars.

[winstonc]

you came for the food ?????? we all came here to get away from our depressing countries,or we wouldnt have left,,,,,would we,,,,bring it on,,,,,

[surfinglife]

Honestly, for me it was. I came to Asia on a holiday 20 years ago. Both Angkor Wat and Pagan (Cambodia and Myanmar) opened for first time since forever. It was a childhood dream to visit these places as well as "Saigon".

I was so impressed, I quit my job and moved to Cambodia (94-96). Thailand just seemed like a big bore (save for the islands). I visited Lao mid nineties on and made addlntrips to Myanmar, Vietnam, India and N Pakistan.

Thailand was always just a base that I had to circuit out of. The only big plus for me,the food and the islands. My first trip in Thailand was around 98 and I found it just as dull as my initial recon suggested.

I came to depend more on Thailand as I aged and the backpacker trail became overburdened by whiny overindulgent children looking for a party rather than having any sense of real adventure.

Should have kept going, far afield, but I was getting old.

Settled in Thailand but still long periods in Indonesia, N India and US.

Fast forward, more years and now married. Found the whole p4p scene so unrewarding and unhealthful, Im getting on.now +52 - why not marry an attractive, thin and lovely woman 15yrs my junior?

I do not disagree with your premise, most men here its always and only been about the easy access to affable and friendly (young) women. I relish the day when the govt shuts down the farang sex establishments (bars, gogo, massage, escort, clubs). That will be the last straw, given the rise in the thb, the costs there will be a stampede to leave here.

Always said, take away the women, aircon, western toilets and tissue paper and 50% gone in a month. Other 35% to follow.

Golf. Don't forget the golf. And the gorgeous caddies...ooops, here we go again, those b*&%y women. I'm not leaving, toilet paper or no toilet paper!!

[Docno]

I'll eventually be going there for one woman, a great culture, and a much lower cost of living than what I have to put up with now. We all have our reasons ... can't expect them to all be the same

[Wat dee]

20+ years ago when 20 yrs myself, hell yes.

Now been there and done that.Not so interested any more.

Fortuned enough to retire early and enjoy other things in Thailand.

[Salapoo]

And excepting those:

• who are Gay
• who are already married/in a relationship
• Are women who like men
• Who find it an affordable relaxing place to live
• who enjoy Thai culture

• Don't suffer from involuntary celebacy outside of Thailand.

Edited May 14, 2013 by Salapoo

[OldChinaHam]

"I came to depend more on Thailand as I aged and the backpacker trail became overburdened by whiny overindulgent children looking for a party rather than having any sense of real adventure."

This is actually true, very true. And maybe we have publications such as Lonely Planet to half thank for it. In the distant past when we were traveling around parts of Asia, the influence of the backpacker was minimal. Most of the passengers on the planes coming over from the US west coast were businessmen. I recall one flight from LA to Tokyo that was a 707 and had 5 passengers. I don't hate backpackers just like I don't hate chewing gum, particularly. I just prefer that they were not always underfoot in some of the otherwise nicest places.

I too, like you, don't come for the cheap sex. I have never liked it cheap.

[Issangeorge]

"It was never the temples." No it was the beaches (Koh Samui), but after greed ruined paradise I settled in Isaan.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[hellodolly]

Hard to answer someone who has made up everyones mind for them based on your own reasons for going.

Sorry to ruin your day / week / life.

Sounds to me more the other way around.

[andrewrooney]

Don't forget the food!