Phuket -- A pessimist's Paradise

[hansgruber]

Small business is dying.

Just go down Taina rd in Kata. It used to be a bustling place but now it's a ghost town. Shops closing down everywhere.

It's due to the demographic changing. Russians and Chinese get all inclusive meals and dont venture out.

They aren't individual travellers, I used to just book a return ticket with no hotel plans at all and play it as it comes and see where I would end up.

Thailand got what it wanted, arrival figures.

[Valentine]

Small business is dying.

Just go down Taina rd in Kata. It used to be a bustling place but now it's a ghost town. Shops closing down everywhere.

It's due to the demographic changing. Russians and Chinese get all inclusive meals and dont venture out.

They aren't individual travellers, I used to just book a return ticket with no hotel plans at all and play it as it comes and see where I would end up.

Thailand got what it wanted, arrival figures.

Hit the nail on the head there Hans. Arrival figures with many captive tourists are taken only to places owned by the rich & influential. None of this money really flows through to the general populace.

[belg]

thai people live day by day

saving for tomorrow?

you can see when it is pay day, malls and parking lots are mega fulll

what i do today, has impact tomorrow and later (bush burning, shooting in owns footh with all kinds of maffia and non returning tourists)....

mai ben rai

[Mur]

No matter how cynical I get, I can't keep up

[LivinLOS]

If you cant win.. You need to know when to fold and leave the table..

I had some great years but Phuket wore me down, ended up with that expat syndrome of being on guard all the time, a distrust and in conflict with my surroundings. So much so I considered the west or other options.

But all Thailand is not like Phuket and while many of the same traits exist in the national psyche to a degree, its balanced by genuine smiles, a joy of sanuk, and a pretty easy going nature also. When you live in a community of people who have in general just arrived with a get rich quick mindset, and a total lack of any enforcement or stigma to scams and rip offs, you will be surrounded by the worst scammers and rip off artsist the country has. they are the only ones who can keep their head above water with the costs that Phuket places on its Thai population. Plus Thais dont handle stress well, and Phuket must be a stressful place for them too.. A Hamster wheel of making large turnover and having it sucked out of their hands by 'the powers that be' by the few families that own the land pitches by every government group or bor tor or bor jor and what have you.

Thailand is becoming modern and developed all over.. In a way that makes life easy it wasnt outside of Phuket or Samui (or a handful of others) 10 or 15 years ago.. Theres plenty of space and outside of the main tourist localles theres plenty of genuine locals, people who have better aspirations for their children than to 'work bar'or find an old farang to 'take care' of them.. Normal Thais, putting their kids through college to have normal careers and prospects. Live near this kind of Thailand and 90% of that tourist stress vanishes. No ones barked at me in a couple of years.. No ones shouted 'oi farang.. Cannot one time.. No ones said I cant park in a free space.. Servers dont tolerate other Thais stepping in front of you in a queue (tho little old chinese ladys do it to everyone, Thais alike ).. Young people still smile and say hello to practice limited english, petrol station attendants still wai you and we havent yet lost that little bit of farang credibility.

I do miss the ocean, so I go on breaks to it.. But the rest I dont miss for one second.

[hansgruber]

 

I had some great years but Phuket wore me down, ended up with that expat syndrome of being on guard all the time, a distrust and in conflict with my surroundings. So much so I considered the west or other options. 

This hits home with me. After 10 years I think I'm getting to this stage.

Holidays used to help but not anymore. I think a good description for expat syndrome is anxiety.

[bubblegum]

Every illusion is the start of a disillusion

[iSabai]

Personally, I've never understood why being an optimist is good and a pessimist is bad.

An optimist feels either justification, or disappointment when whatever they are being optimistic about eventuates.

On the other hand, a pessimist feels justification, or, is pleasantly surprised.

Which one to be?

Logical innit?

That actually makes sense to me. Should I be worried?

I keep my expectations low so my disappointments are few. Does that make me an optimist or pessimist??

In relation to Phuket, that make you a "realist."

If you have low expectations on Phuket, you will not be disappointed.

That's quite true, realistic is where it's at.

Being either an optimist or pessimist means having some pre-conceived notions about things. Being a realist allows you to play things by ear and adapt with the flow, whatever that flow may bring.

But in the end, it's as LOS says above; after awhile it just wears you down. You end up having to play within circumstances which are set down mostly beyond your control. And you no longer have complete control of how those circumstances affect you, and no longer have complete control to enjoy whatever it is you originally came here to enjoy. Time away from - then the attitudes here, immediately noticeable on returning to the island - confirms that in spades.

There are many things I love about Phuket, but I'm now seriously prepared to move on. (Have been mulling it over for the past 2 years now.) Seeing other places has made me realize what I'm missing out on and what I originally came to Thailand for. Living in a tourist town that's now grown to be over-run by dodgy shady-looking tourists, and those dodgy shady-looking locals seeking to part them from their tourist money (at any cost!), is not the experience I was seeking.

The past 2-3 years especially have seemingly brought the worst of the world to Phuket, both farang and Thai. Phuket was fun for awhile, not anymore.

[NomadJoe]

Well said and I agree. Even my Thai wife agrees that these government officials seem to think that water flows up hill! Gravity? What's that? As for your last sentence, farangs will be blamed as we are for everything else here. We are leaving here at the end of August for 9 months at least. I hope there is some improvement in the lame excuse for a government, but somehow I doubt it.

I am single, but, from memory, I think I have mentioned this a long time ago. Why can't you guys with Thai girlfirends/wives get them to register to vote here, and vote on election day for the alternative candidate.

Sure, we may be getting just more of the same, but at least they may start to listen to expats, speaking on behalf of themselves, and tourists, and voting throught a proxy, their wives and girlfriends. These votes can't be bought for a few baht, and these women do not need any "favours" in relation to business, land, construction etc.

Is it possible this could force some positive change?

There was once a candidate that de-throned the long-time tuk tuk king of Patong, but he quickly had the winner thrown out by claiming, hypocritically, he bought votes.

Edited June 23, 2013 by NomadJoe

[grumpyoldman]

We now have on this forum three or 4 threads all ending up in the same "oh Phuket isn't what it used to be", "oh Phuket sucks with all the traffic and taxi mafia" "this is what annoys me here" 'I'm leaving after years IN PATONG",,,,I mean really, you guys, and I'm the GOM?

Fellow TV member and I on the way to playing some tennis today had this discussion and he imparted a small tale which I will now relate.

The Gate Keeper:

Back in the 1700's there was a city gate keeper, a traveler happened upon him and asked how are things in this city. Gate Keeper replies, well, how are things where you come from?

Traveler-people aren't very nice, everybody greedy so everything now very expensive, sometimes the law there works most of the time corruption.

Gate Keeper- well, thats the same here, best you keep on moving.

Traveler #2 shows up asks the Gate keeper the same gate keeper replies the same , how are things where you are coming from.

Traveler 2 - actually I have lovely parents there and many a good friend, fabulous times, weather is usually o.k. and our harvests always good, as a bird out of the nest it was just time for me to spread my wings.

Gate keeper opens the gate and says welcome, what you descibe is how it is here too.

Perspective. Mind-set. Attitude.

[dunque]

Well said and I agree. Even my Thai wife agrees that these government officials seem to think that water flows up hill! Gravity? What's that? As for your last sentence, farangs will be blamed as we are for everything else here. We are leaving here at the end of August for 9 months at least. I hope there is some improvement in the lame excuse for a government, but somehow I doubt it.

I am single, but, from memory, I think I have mentioned this a long time ago. Why can't you guys with Thai girlfirends/wives get them to register to vote here, and vote on election day for the alternative candidate.

Sure, we may be getting just more of the same, but at least they may start to listen to expats, speaking on behalf of themselves, and tourists, and voting throught a proxy, their wives and girlfriends. These votes can't be bought for a few baht, and these women do not need any "favours" in relation to business, land, construction etc.

Is it possible this could force some positive change?

She is registered with the government here. But she wasn't born here. So she can't vote here. And we're headed for the USA at the end of August. There is no such thing as an absentee ballot here in Thailand, like there is in the USA. Do you think Thailand is an actual democracy?

I don't think your right to vote is restricted to the district where you were born - I could be wrong of course. Edited June 23, 2013 by dunque

[andreandre]

Everyones circumstances are different and this reflects in how they see and feel and talk about this place..what's the problem with that?

Someones 'milk and honey' vision isn't neccessarily the same as his neighbours is it?

Also at times relates directly to just how rose coloured the observer/commenters specs are.

[Jimi007]

Well said and I agree. Even my Thai wife agrees that these government officials seem to think that water flows up hill! Gravity? What's that? As for your last sentence, farangs will be blamed as we are for everything else here. We are leaving here at the end of August for 9 months at least. I hope there is some improvement in the lame excuse for a government, but somehow I doubt it.

I am single, but, from memory, I think I have mentioned this a long time ago. Why can't you guys with Thai girlfirends/wives get them to register to vote here, and vote on election day for the alternative candidate.

Sure, we may be getting just more of the same, but at least they may start to listen to expats, speaking on behalf of themselves, and tourists, and voting throught a proxy, their wives and girlfriends. These votes can't be bought for a few baht, and these women do not need any "favours" in relation to business, land, construction etc.

Is it possible this could force some positive change?

She is registered with the government here. But she wasn't born here. So she can't vote here. And we're headed for the USA at the end of August. There is no such thing as an absentee ballot here in Thailand, like there is in the USA. Do you think Thailand is an actual democracy?

I don't think your right to vote is restricted to the district where you were born - I could be tong of course.

You're right. She would just have to change the address in her house book. But she hasn't.

[IrishIvan]

looks like the low season blues are in full swing

[NamKangMan]

We now have on this forum three or 4 threads all ending up in the same "oh Phuket isn't what it used to be", "oh Phuket sucks with all the traffic and taxi mafia" "this is what annoys me here" 'I'm leaving after years IN PATONG",,,,I mean really, you guys, and I'm the GOM?

Fellow TV member and I on the way to playing some tennis today had this discussion and he imparted a small tale which I will now relate.

The Gate Keeper:

Back in the 1700's there was a city gate keeper, a traveler happened upon him and asked how are things in this city. Gate Keeper replies, well, how are things where you come from?

Traveler-people aren't very nice, everybody greedy so everything now very expensive, sometimes the law there works most of the time corruption.

Gate Keeper- well, thats the same here, best you keep on moving.

Traveler #2 shows up asks the Gate keeper the same gate keeper replies the same , how are things where you are coming from.

Traveler 2 - actually I have lovely parents there and many a good friend, fabulous times, weather is usually o.k. and our harvests always good, as a bird out of the nest it was just time for me to spread my wings.

Gate keeper opens the gate and says welcome, what you descibe is how it is here too.

Perspective. Mind-set. Attitude.

Great story GOM.

Nothing to do with "perspective, mind-set, attitude" - obviously, Traveler 1 and Traveler 2 are from different cities.

I'd guess Traveler 1 is from a place where he pays a minimum 200 baht journey in a tuk-tuk and Traveler 2 is from a place where he can go a far as he wants on a baht bus for 10 baht.

Edited June 23, 2013 by NamKangMan

[NamKangMan]

Everyones circumstances are different and this reflects in how they see and feel and talk about this place..what's the problem with that?

Someones 'milk and honey' vision isn't neccessarily the same as his neighbours is it?

Also at times relates directly to just how rose coloured the observer/commenters specs are.

I don't think expats, tourists and locals want "milk and honey."

They just want what everywhere else in Thailand has, nothing more, nothing less.

We are all being held to ransom here by the "influential people."

[fiddlehead]

We now have on this forum three or 4 threads all ending up in the same "oh Phuket isn't what it used to be", "oh Phuket sucks with all the traffic and taxi mafia" "this is what annoys me here" 'I'm leaving after years IN PATONG",,,,I mean really, you guys, and I'm the GOM?

Fellow TV member and I on the way to playing some tennis today had this discussion and he imparted a small tale which I will now relate.

The Gate Keeper:

Back in the 1700's there was a city gate keeper, a traveler happened upon him and asked how are things in this city. Gate Keeper replies, well, how are things where you come from?

Traveler-people aren't very nice, everybody greedy so everything now very expensive, sometimes the law there works most of the time corruption.

Gate Keeper- well, thats the same here, best you keep on moving.

Traveler #2 shows up asks the Gate keeper the same gate keeper replies the same , how are things where you are coming from.

Traveler 2 - actually I have lovely parents there and many a good friend, fabulous times, weather is usually o.k. and our harvests always good, as a bird out of the nest it was just time for me to spread my wings.

Gate keeper opens the gate and says welcome, what you descibe is how it is here too.

Perspective. Mind-set. Attitude.

Great story GOM.

Nothing to do with "perspective, mind-set, attitude" - obviously, Traveler 1 and Traveler 2 are from different cities.

I'd guess Traveler 1 is from a place where he pays a minimum 200 baht journey in a tuk-tuk and Traveler 2 is from a place where he can go a far as he wants on a baht bus for 10 baht.

NKM: You missed the whole point of the story.

It doesn't matter where traveler 1 or traveler 2 come from or go.

They are going to find the same kind of people, similar situations, broken dreams (or fantastic ones) wherever they go.

Do you really think that the people who have lived here and left for greener pastures because of corruption, traffic, prices, etc are happy where they landed?

[NamKangMan]

We now have on this forum three or 4 threads all ending up in the same "oh Phuket isn't what it used to be", "oh Phuket sucks with all the traffic and taxi mafia" "this is what annoys me here" 'I'm leaving after years IN PATONG",,,,I mean really, you guys, and I'm the GOM?

Fellow TV member and I on the way to playing some tennis today had this discussion and he imparted a small tale which I will now relate.

The Gate Keeper:

Back in the 1700's there was a city gate keeper, a traveler happened upon him and asked how are things in this city. Gate Keeper replies, well, how are things where you come from?

Traveler-people aren't very nice, everybody greedy so everything now very expensive, sometimes the law there works most of the time corruption.

Gate Keeper- well, thats the same here, best you keep on moving.

Traveler #2 shows up asks the Gate keeper the same gate keeper replies the same , how are things where you are coming from.

Traveler 2 - actually I have lovely parents there and many a good friend, fabulous times, weather is usually o.k. and our harvests always good, as a bird out of the nest it was just time for me to spread my wings.

Gate keeper opens the gate and says welcome, what you descibe is how it is here too.

Perspective. Mind-set. Attitude.

Great story GOM.

Nothing to do with "perspective, mind-set, attitude" - obviously, Traveler 1 and Traveler 2 are from different cities.

I'd guess Traveler 1 is from a place where he pays a minimum 200 baht journey in a tuk-tuk and Traveler 2 is from a place where he can go a far as he wants on a baht bus for 10 baht.

NKM: You missed the whole point of the story.

It doesn't matter where traveler 1 or traveler 2 come from or go.

They are going to find the same kind of people, similar situations, broken dreams (or fantastic ones) wherever they go.

Do you really think that the people who have lived here and left for greener pastures because of corruption, traffic, prices, etc are happy where they landed?

My friends that have moved to Pattaya say to me they are a lot happier.

Believe it, or not, they actually say to me Pattaya has a more relaxed atmosphere.

[hansgruber]

We now have on this forum three or 4 threads all ending up in the same "oh Phuket isn't what it used to be", "oh Phuket sucks with all the traffic and taxi mafia" "this is what annoys me here" 'I'm leaving after years IN PATONG",,,,I mean really, you guys, and I'm the GOM?

Fellow TV member and I on the way to playing some tennis today had this discussion and he imparted a small tale which I will now relate.

The Gate Keeper:

Back in the 1700's there was a city gate keeper, a traveler happened upon him and asked how are things in this city. Gate Keeper replies, well, how are things where you come from?

Traveler-people aren't very nice, everybody greedy so everything now very expensive, sometimes the law there works most of the time corruption.

Gate Keeper- well, thats the same here, best you keep on moving.

Traveler #2 shows up asks the Gate keeper the same gate keeper replies the same , how are things where you are coming from.

Traveler 2 - actually I have lovely parents there and many a good friend, fabulous times, weather is usually o.k. and our harvests always good, as a bird out of the nest it was just time for me to spread my wings.

Gate keeper opens the gate and says welcome, what you descibe is how it is here too.

Perspective. Mind-set. Attitude.

Great story GOM.

Nothing to do with "perspective, mind-set, attitude" - obviously, Traveler 1 and Traveler 2 are from different cities.

I'd guess Traveler 1 is from a place where he pays a minimum 200 baht journey in a tuk-tuk and Traveler 2 is from a place where he can go a far as he wants on a baht bus for 10 baht.

NKM: You missed the whole point of the story.

It doesn't matter where traveler 1 or traveler 2 come from or go.

They are going to find the same kind of people, similar situations, broken dreams (or fantastic ones) wherever they go.

Do you really think that the people who have lived here and left for greener pastures because of corruption, traffic, prices, etc are happy where they landed?

My friends that have moved to Pattaya say to me they are a lot happier.

Believe it, or not, they actually say to me Pattaya has a more relaxed atmosphere.

To be honest, pattaya is the only place in Thailand that I didn't feel safe walking around at night.

Hardly relaxing atmosphere with viscous ladyboys and freelance hookers on every corner.

Then there is the boys on bikes looking for a mug to rob.

Never once have I felt that here in Phuket.

Edited June 23, 2013 by hansgruber

[IrishIvan]

We now have on this forum three or 4 threads all ending up in the same "oh Phuket isn't what it used to be", "oh Phuket sucks with all the traffic and taxi mafia" "this is what annoys me here" 'I'm leaving after years IN PATONG",,,,I mean really, you guys, and I'm the GOM?

Fellow TV member and I on the way to playing some tennis today had this discussion and he imparted a small tale which I will now relate.

The Gate Keeper:

Back in the 1700's there was a city gate keeper, a traveler happened upon him and asked how are things in this city. Gate Keeper replies, well, how are things where you come from?

Traveler-people aren't very nice, everybody greedy so everything now very expensive, sometimes the law there works most of the time corruption.

Gate Keeper- well, thats the same here, best you keep on moving.

Traveler #2 shows up asks the Gate keeper the same gate keeper replies the same , how are things where you are coming from.

Traveler 2 - actually I have lovely parents there and many a good friend, fabulous times, weather is usually o.k. and our harvests always good, as a bird out of the nest it was just time for me to spread my wings.

Gate keeper opens the gate and says welcome, what you descibe is how it is here too.

Perspective. Mind-set. Attitude.

Great story GOM.

Nothing to do with "perspective, mind-set, attitude" - obviously, Traveler 1 and Traveler 2 are from different cities.

I'd guess Traveler 1 is from a place where he pays a minimum 200 baht journey in a tuk-tuk and Traveler 2 is from a place where he can go a far as he wants on a baht bus for 10 baht.

NKM: You missed the whole point of the story.

It doesn't matter where traveler 1 or traveler 2 come from or go.

They are going to find the same kind of people, similar situations, broken dreams (or fantastic ones) wherever they go.

Do you really think that the people who have lived here and left for greener pastures because of corruption, traffic, prices, etc are happy where they landed?

My friends that have moved to Pattaya say to me they are a lot happier.

Believe it, or not, they actually say to me Pattaya has a more relaxed atmosphere.

I dont find it relaxing at all, those baht busses clog up the roads. The Pattaya jetski scammers make the guys in Phuket look like saints. It is gods waiting room, armies of wheelchair bound farangs get marched up walking street every night with the young Thai brides pushing them along wishing them to die. The younger expats there (50yrs +) look like they need psychiatric care.

[JetsetBkk]

No matter how cynical I get, I can't keep up

Love it! I must remember that one.

[starkey_rich]

Well said and I agree. Even my Thai wife agrees that these government officials seem to think that water flows up hill! Gravity? What's that? As for your last sentence, farangs will be blamed as we are for everything else here. We are leaving here at the end of August for 9 months at least. I hope there is some improvement in the lame excuse for a government, but somehow I doubt it.

I am single, but, from memory, I think I have mentioned this a long time ago. Why can't you guys with Thai girlfirends/wives get them to register to vote here, and vote on election day for the alternative candidate.

Sure, we may be getting just more of the same, but at least they may start to listen to expats, speaking on behalf of themselves, and tourists, and voting throught a proxy, their wives and girlfriends. These votes can't be bought for a few baht, and these women do not need any "favours" in relation to business, land, construction etc.

Is it possible this could force some positive change?

She is registered with the government here. But she wasn't born here. So she can't vote here. And we're headed for the USA at the end of August. There is no such thing as an absentee ballot here in Thailand, like there is in the USA. Do you think Thailand is an actual democracy?

My GF is from Issan she registered change of address to Phuket and she votes.

[andreandre]

Everyones circumstances are different and this reflects in how they see and feel and talk about this place..what's the problem with that?

Someones 'milk and honey' vision isn't neccessarily the same as his neighbours is it?

Also at times relates directly to just how rose coloured the observer/commenters specs are.

I don't think expats, tourists and locals want "milk and honey." They just want what everywhere else in Thailand has, nothing more, nothing less.

We are all being held to ransom here by the "influential people."

You got it wrong... I never said that expats, tourists and locals want "milk and honey." i was saying that peoples interpretation of their lifestyle/surroundings can vary immensely..in that, say for eg, GOM may interpret his lifestyle/surroundings as being great ie ''milk and honey'' but his neighbour for example may hate his own lifestyle/surroundings.

Nothing at all to do with how you replied.

If you read some of the posts you will see that some people are perfectly happy with their lot here., which i feel is what GOM was saying in #70.....

[Jimi007]

Well said and I agree. Even my Thai wife agrees that these government officials seem to think that water flows up hill! Gravity? What's that? As for your last sentence, farangs will be blamed as we are for everything else here. We are leaving here at the end of August for 9 months at least. I hope there is some improvement in the lame excuse for a government, but somehow I doubt it.

I am single, but, from memory, I think I have mentioned this a long time ago. Why can't you guys with Thai girlfirends/wives get them to register to vote here, and vote on election day for the alternative candidate.

Sure, we may be getting just more of the same, but at least they may start to listen to expats, speaking on behalf of themselves, and tourists, and voting throught a proxy, their wives and girlfriends. These votes can't be bought for a few baht, and these women do not need any "favours" in relation to business, land, construction etc.

Is it possible this could force some positive change?

She is registered with the government here. But she wasn't born here. So she can't vote here. And we're headed for the USA at the end of August. There is no such thing as an absentee ballot here in Thailand, like there is in the USA. Do you think Thailand is an actual democracy?

My GF is from Issan she registered change of address to Phuket and she votes.

Yes, as I have said three times now she hasn't bothered to change her address in her house book for four years. Moot point now. We are leaving for California at the end of August for 9 months.

[Felt 35]

Everyones circumstances are different and this reflects in how they see and feel and talk about this place..what's the problem with that?

Someones 'milk and honey' vision isn't neccessarily the same as his neighbours is it?

Also at times relates directly to just how rose coloured the observer/commenters specs are.

I don't think expats, tourists and locals want "milk and honey." They just want what everywhere else in Thailand has, nothing more, nothing less.

We are all being held to ransom here by the "influential people."

You got it wrong... I never said that expats, tourists and locals want "milk and honey." i was saying that peoples interpretation of their lifestyle/surroundings can vary immensely..in that, say for eg, GOM may interpret his lifestyle/surroundings as being great ie ''milk and honey'' but his neighbour for example may hate his own lifestyle/surroundings.

Nothing at all to do with how you replied.

If you read some of the posts you will see that some people are perfectly happy with their lot here., which i feel is what GOM was saying in #70.....

Its soon only room for one lifestyle here due to the surroundings.......

[NamKangMan]

Everyones circumstances are different and this reflects in how they see and feel and talk about this place..what's the problem with that?

Someones 'milk and honey' vision isn't neccessarily the same as his neighbours is it?

Also at times relates directly to just how rose coloured the observer/commenters specs are.

I don't think expats, tourists and locals want "milk and honey." They just want what everywhere else in Thailand has, nothing more, nothing less.

We are all being held to ransom here by the "influential people."

You got it wrong... I never said that expats, tourists and locals want "milk and honey." i was saying that peoples interpretation of their lifestyle/surroundings can vary immensely..in that, say for eg, GOM may interpret his lifestyle/surroundings as being great ie ''milk and honey'' but his neighbour for example may hate his own lifestyle/surroundings.

Nothing at all to do with how you replied.

If you read some of the posts you will see that some people are perfectly happy with their lot here., which i feel is what GOM was saying in #70.....

I understand what you are saying.

Every morning I wake up, in good health, I'm happy for another day on this earth. If you have your health, you have everything. A good life can be viewed as simple as that. Saying that, people may view me as optimistic, although I am sure many on this forum view me as pessimistic.

Circumstances do change in life. Sometimes overnight, sometimes, over a longer period of time.

An example may be, today you are "perfectly happy with your lot" on Phuket, tomorrow, you find out they are building a pig farm next door to your house. So, you go from being happy on Phuket, to not so happy, now owning a worthless property, and you will have to move and buy again.

Another example, applicible to all of us here, is, you are riding your motorbike along, doing the right thing, and then you are hit by a drunk tourist, causing serious injury to yourself. Surely, you would have to think the lack of transport on Phuket had a role to play in your accident. If you were to interview the drunk tourist and ask. "Why were you riding drunk?" If they reply, "Because the tuk-tuks are too expensive" - maybe the transport issue on Phuket is now well and truly in your face, as you lay in hospital. Sure, this does not diminish the culpability of the drunk tourist, but the transport issue here has now affected "your lot in life" here, through no fault of your own.

There's been many complaints, recently, of lengthy black outs on Phuket. I haven't had them here in Patong. Should my attitude be, "who cares, it doesn't effect me" therefore, I am "happy with my lot" on Phuket, in relation to electric supply, when a short distance away, electric is going down for hours, regularly?

There seems to be a general attitude of, "It doesn't effect me, so I don't care" here on Phuket, despite the motorbike example I gave above, that it could happen to anyone, anytime.

Years ago, many came here with the "TIT" (This Is Thailand) attitude, myself included. We all had a laugh at things and simply just put it down to "TIT." Most were "happy with their lot" on Phuket back then. Slowly, we discovered it wasn't TIT, it was "influential people" that have created such negative change on Phuket, and they continue to do so, unabated.

I would suggest, that "negative change" effects us all here, therefore, effecting our "happiness with our lot in life" here, and those negative changes keep happening, in the short term, and the long term here, and will continue to change one's attitude and perspective of Phuket, to the point that tourists will not come here, and expats will move away from here.

Edited June 23, 2013 by NamKangMan

[LivinLOS]

Do you really think that the people who have lived here and left for greener pastures because of corruption, traffic, prices, etc are happy where they landed?

But thats exactly my point.. I left Phuket, and all those phuket troubles, which I thought at the time were thai troubles but are not.. Stopped.

I am happier now than I have been in years, I have a much nicer set of locals, and while I will probably always be views as a bit of an outsider, I dont feel that that comes with much of a negative here. My wife has better friends, the expats I know seem more integrated, more stable, have more normal lives.. Both Thais and westerners socialize together, do community things together, I feel pretty much accepted. After a bunch of years that became important to me.

For everyone that says 'íts the person not the environment' I am here to tell you that in my case.. It WAS the environment, once I changed it those troubles went away.

[NamKangMan]

@ Jimi007

Will you be returning to Phuket?

[Colonel_Mustard]

Everyones circumstances are different and this reflects in how they see and feel and talk about this place..what's the problem with that?

Someones 'milk and honey' vision isn't neccessarily the same as his neighbours is it?

Also at times relates directly to just how rose coloured the observer/commenters specs are.

I don't think expats, tourists and locals want "milk and honey." They just want what everywhere else in Thailand has, nothing more, nothing less.

We are all being held to ransom here by the "influential people."

You got it wrong... I never said that expats, tourists and locals want "milk and honey." i was saying that peoples interpretation of their lifestyle/surroundings can vary immensely..in that, say for eg, GOM may interpret his lifestyle/surroundings as being great ie ''milk and honey'' but his neighbour for example may hate his own lifestyle/surroundings.

Nothing at all to do with how you replied.

If you read some of the posts you will see that some people are perfectly happy with their lot here., which i feel is what GOM was saying in #70.....

I understand what you are saying.

Every morning I wake up, in good health, I'm happy for another day on this earth. If you have your health, you have everything. A good life can be viewed as simple as that. Saying that, people may view me as optimistic, although I sure many here see me as pessimistic.

Circumstances do change in life. Sometimes overnight, sometimes, over a longer period of time.

An example may be, today you are "perfectly happy with your lot" on Phuket, tomorrow, you find out they are building a pig farm next door to your house. So, you go from being happy on Phuket, to not so happy, now owning a worthless property, and you will have to move and buy again.

Another example, applicible to all of us here, is, you are riding your motorbike along, doing the right thing, and then you are hit by a drunk tourist, causing serious injury to yourself. Surely, you would have to think the lack of transport on Phuket had a role to play in your accident. If you were to interview the drunk tourist and ask. "Why were you riding drunk?" If they reply, "Because the tuk-tuks are too expensive" - maybe the transport issue on Phuket is now well and truly in your face, as you lay in hospital. Sure, this does not diminish the culpability of the drunk tourist, but the transport issue here has now affected "your lot in life" here, through no fault of your own.

There's been many complaints, recently, of lengthy black outs on Phuket. I haven't had them here in Patong. Should my attitude be, who cares, it doesn't effect me, therefore, I am "happy with my lot" on Phuket, in relation to electric supply, when a short distance away, electric is going down for hours, regularly?

There seems to be a general attitude of, "It doesn't effect me, so I don't care" here on Phuket, despite the motorbike example a gave above, that it could happen to anyone, anytime.

Years ago, many came here with the "TIT" (This Is Thailand) attitude. We all had a laugh at things and simply just put it down to "TIT." Most were "happy with their lot" on Phuket back then. Slowly, we discovered it wasn't TIT, it was "influential people" that have created such negative change on Phuket, and they continue to do so, unabated.

I would suggest, that "negative change" effects us all here, therefore, effecting our "happiness with our lot in life" here, and those negative changes keep happening, in the short term, and the long term here, and will continue to change one's attitude and perspective of Phuket, to the point of tourists will not come here and expats ill move away from.

I think that is a rather poor example to be honest. Tourists CAN afford taxis and tuk tuks here and there are plenty of drunken accidents in places with cheaper transport. I am also sure you could have a pig farm built next to you in other provinces too.

You keep going on about negative change but that's always been perceived to be the case. When I came here 12 years ago, there were people who had been here 10 years already and they complained about how things had changed negatively.

As I have stated previously some of the changes have a slightly negative impact on my life but many of the changes have had a positive impact, so for me Phuket is overall a better place to live than it used to be as it is for many other people too.

Edited June 23, 2013 by Colonel_Mustard

[NamKangMan]

Do you really think that the people who have lived here and left for greener pastures because of corruption, traffic, prices, etc are happy where they landed?

But thats exactly my point.. I left Phuket, and all those phuket troubles, which I thought at the time were thai troubles but are not.. Stopped.

I am happier now than I have been in years, I have a much nicer set of locals, and while I will probably always be views as a bit of an outsider, I dont feel that that comes with much of a negative here. My wife has better friends, the expats I know seem more integrated, more stable, have more normal lives.. Both Thais and westerners socialize together, do community things together, I feel pretty much accepted. After a bunch of years that became important to me.

For everyone that says 'íts the person not the environment' I am here to tell you that in my case.. It WAS the environment, once I changed it those troubles went away.

That's why I call it "Planet Phuket."

All the BS is on Phuket, not all over Thailand.