Do You Need Thailand?

[theblether]

Do you need Thailand? Or could you take it or leave it.

If you had to head to the airport tomorrow would it bother you? Or would you celebrate it?

If you had your time again, would you have even have moved here in the first place? Or is it truly Amazing Thailand for you?

[villagefarang]

“Would I be unhappy to leave my home?”, yes I think so. Thailand is not so much an amazing place for me, as a comfortable and familiar place.

[David48]

Miss Thailand ... NO

My Thai Partner/Girl Friend/Wife ... absolutely

[CharlieH]

Personally, and I suspect this may apply to quite a few others, the world and personal circumstances were different 10 years ago.

You can call it rose coloured glasses, the heat of romance or simply a wish for something better, but in hind-sight and knowing what I know now coupled with how things have changed, I could leave tommorow, BUT and this probably applies to many, I have put too much into it financially and emotionally to walk away now.This as the saying goes "for better or worse" is it now unless something drastic happened like cival unrest etc and I felt in danger.

Hind sight is a wonderful thing, yes there are many things I wouldnt do again, but thats called experience and often comes at a price. Thailand is and has been amazing, yes it has its faults like many other places, but it also has its freedoms and joys, of which there are many and for the foreseable future is what I call home.

[benalibina]

Having children keeps me connected to thailand. If not, pleasant memories only. A better view on thailand came really when had kids. Should have followed my gut feeling then. Did not. Thailand though has everything to be a perfect country to live in without having too many commitments. Its like a fatal attraction ! Or like a woman. Cant live with it, her, and cant live without it, her.

All has a purpose in life !

[pigeonjake]

well, mrblether it seams im the odd one out,

i love my life in thailand, ive got a beautiful wife/daughter, a lovely farm thats getting better and more beautiful every year the more flowers and that we keep planting,

pige to make a little money, fresh duck or chicken eggs every day,

i wake up and its a joy to be there, allways a kiss from mac, and off i go to do my bit,

yes i here some say, i work half the year were ever im sent on different contracts and can still have the craic with the lads,

ill agree i do miss that when im on my farm,

but i wouldnt give it up,

so i can say to you hand on heart, ive got a bloody good life in thailand,

and when your home in scotland and im having a pint or 2 with you ill tell you face to face, and show you some beautiful pics,infact if you go to the farming section in shaggys thread farming photos youll see my farm,pigs and even 2 pics of mac my wife,,lol

jake

[ToddWeston]

Thailand is where my heart is - my brain is connected elsewhere.

[ABCer]

What's Amazing about Thailand?

I do like it here. Wouldn't want to go.

Who 'needs' Thailand? Not me...

If forced to go - would need time to sell and get my money out.

I am sure my wife would come with me. But I could be wrong(?)

No, it is not 'love' but

- who else would she push into the shower 3 - 4 times a day without threat of physical retribution?

- who else would cook lovely European food for her? (honestly, she is now as good as I am)

- who else would respond 'Up2U', darling 9 out of 10 times when she thinks we 'need' something?

I am the 'one and only', - am I not?

Edited October 4, 2013 by ABCer

[aTomsLife]

My flight departs this Monday. There are people and things about the country I'll miss, yes, but I'm also very happy to move on with my life.

Living here the last 3 years has been a tremendous experience, but personally I believe I've reached the point of diminishing returns. Of course, for those who know my posts, I speak from the perspective of a TEFL-er, so my attitude towards Thailand has been greatly adulterated by my experiences with its education system. In all, the country and its people have treated me very, very well.

I have to go teach a class now, but I look forward to checking in later and hopefully adding to this thread.

[Jasun]

Having children keeps me connected to thailand. If not, pleasant memories only. A better view on thailand came really when had kids. Should have followed my gut feeling then. Did not. Thailand though has everything to be a perfect country to live in without having too many commitments. Its like a fatal attraction ! Or like a woman. Cant live with it, her, and cant live without it, her.

All has a purpose in life !

What happened?

[weegee]

@theblether....As you have seen, and discussed with me. You already know my thoughts on this, and I just hope others are on track with their lives as well.

Life is too short to not be organized, isn't it.

your OP questions...

(1) if your happy with it and all the differences that sometimes makes you want to rant and rave...and we all do

(2) As stated before on a different thread a while back....The International Airport is 15minutes down the road if needed.

(3) Probably...If I had the same wife as I have now.

[ABCer]

BTW, blether, I must admit you are a good 'starter'.

I've noticed I answer the threads you start often and with pleasure.

Not saying you are 'good', don't get too proud. But usually it's fun.

As a 'starter' can I use you in making sourdough bread? Or curdling milk? - cannot find rennet in shops...

Edited October 4, 2013 by ABCer

[krisb]

I love Thailand but, its the exchange rate that I need. If living cost was up with Japan or Singapore, Id forget the place quickly. My wife keeps me tied to Thailand, but more permanently my daughter always will.

[cgphuket]

I love Thailand but options are limited here unless you are on an ex-pat package from your company or living off a trust fund. For normal working class foreigners, it can be hand to mouth and you can never really assume anything. I have been here four years and leave the end of the month for a new job in Malaysia. However, my goal is to save and work there for 3-4 years and return to Thailand permanently as soon as I have my nest egg.

[cpofc]

Do I need it?

No I don't need it. The world is a big place. Although I am quite contented here and noone likes having their contentment interrupted no matter where they are or what they are doing.

As a matter of a fact even if I had to leave tomorrow, I would still get back the money I have laid out, which is minimal anyway. My Sister in law (USA) confirmed that as recently as last night. I am in a win win situation.

Thailand ceased being 'amazing' a long time ago for me. On the contrary it is probably falangs who amaze me more. Read about them everyday and their antics in places like Nana, Phuket and Pattaya. Some of that is pretty amazing!

Admittedly I have never worked in Thailand and I never had any desire to do so. I always believed that working here could ruin a good thing as aTomsLife post above attests.

Unfortunately he is no 'Robinson Crusoe'.

[HeijoshinCool]

There's a number of places I'd rather be than here. But there's also 40 kilos keeping me here. The only reason I'd do it all over again, would be to meet her again.

Other than that, no. I'd rather be in a foreign culture that is not so foreign as Thailand's. Such as Belize or Argentina.

The big bone of contention here is the Thai style of face.

[BookMan]

I love Thailand but, its the exchange rate that I need. If living cost was up with Japan or Singapore, Id forget the place quickly. My wife keeps me tied to Thailand, but more permanently my daughter always will.

It is a good point you make about exchange rate and cost of living. I'd be much happier if South Korea was cheaper like Thailand

[jocko]

Thailand is far from perfect but then again neither am i.

[Gsxrnz]

Great question Blether, very opportune for me.

I'm in my home country now for 10 days, then back Thailand. The only reason I came home was to see my kids for a few days, plus a bit of business.

I'm lucky enough to be able to live wherever I choose. I happily choose Thailand.

To be fair, for the last few months in Thailand I was getting a little unsettled and was craving many things about NZ. Craving everything from food, the weather, my hometown, my family, local TV, to see my house, to drive around the clean green countryside in NZ.

Those feelings made me slightly resentful of Thailand and the people - worst of all was that I became a little resentful towards my wife. I guess I would describe it as mild depression coupled with homesickness and a dash of "do I really belong here" feeling.

Nostalgia of home can play strange tricks on people's memories of what we perceive as reality.

So after seeing my house, seeing my adult kids, eating a few local delicacies, watched a bit of TV, sorted out a few business issues and froze my arse off.....I have 6 days to kill before I can go back where I belong.

If I had to make a list of things I miss about NZ or Thailand, the Thailand list would be considerably longer. This visit home has been a real eye opener for me. I love NZ and will always miss many things about it, but I don't need New Zealand and at the moment I don't even want it.

Do I need Thailand?.....No.

Do I want to live in Thailand?.....I'm voting with my airline ticket in 6 days time.

Next time I'll shout my kids a holiday in Thailand rather than go through the grief of going home on a duty visit.

[Hedghog]

Thailand is like a pair of old shoes,very comfortable.

But like the old shoes.

Can easily be replaced.

[MacChine]

Sex addicts would need Tailand, and guys who pay for sex most of the time

it seems to me a lot of men really stay for that reason only.... cheap sex with gorgeous ladyboys especially, one cannot find elsewhere.

I'm of the opinion the country really can make foreigners jump through any kind of hoop because of sex availability. ( I used to think it was the women prostitutes, , but now I feel it's katoey, too, maybe mostly even as much as AIDS is spreading )

I'm sure the immigration hoops have to do with keeping perverts out, but I think it may have an opposite affect of keeping a lot of quality, ethical folk out, <deleted> there is no stability in having a 90 day visa... how else do they get away with such absurd rules ?

Agree the place is far better with a minimum of contact with Thai bureaucracy, having lived here as a business and as retired, the business aspects, and immigration , 90 day runs etc etc etc etc etc are really too much of a hassle but actually dealing with anything is horrible- when you don't a Thai partner to take care of it.

Need it< No way cannot wait to get out, it's beautiful where I'm at, but Thais make it so difficult for foreigners. I resent they can own land and businesses in my country and feel like,once I get ack home well protesting at a Thai embassy or something.

I guess a lot of what makes people stay is their home country, I guess if I were a different nationality, Thailand might well be be a better option.

Glad I'm not !

SNIPPET;

Admittedly I have never worked in Thailand and I never had any desire to do so. I always believed that working here could ruin a good thing as aTomsLife post above attests.

Unfortunately he is no 'Robinson Crusoe'.

[Ratsima]

I like living here and I have a good life.

Both my wife and I have lived away from our home countries for significant periods of our adult lives. I doubt either of us would have difficulty adjusting to life elsewhere.

That said, I'm happy that I have no reason to leave.

[phitsanulokjohn]

1) Yes it's addictive,tried many times to give it up but after 27 years we're stuck like glue.

2) I only go back to visit my family and yes it bothers me, not my family, going back,so no i certainly don't celebrate it.

3) Like the lovely old song ''If i had my life to live over,I'd do the same things again,I'd still like to roam,to a place i call home,where my happiness never would end'' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q7QQ_22qTM

Hope this answers your question.

[Nana Cowboy]

the real question here is "does the blether need thaivisa forum?".the answer to this is a resounding yes

[Tatsujin]

Do you need Thailand? No

Or could you take it or leave it. Yes

If you had to head to the airport tomorrow would it bother you? No, not particularly anymore

Or would you celebrate it? No

If you had your time again, would you have even have moved here in the first place? Yes, but I wouldn't have stayed as long

Or is it truly Amazing Thailand for you? No, it's never been amazing, but has been enjoyable for the most part in the earlier days

[Bpuumike]

Although from the UK I spent 11 years in Spain before moving to Thailand, which I thought I knew well.

I would happily move back to Spain but my Thai wife would not, needs to be near the family.

[manarak]

After a while, I get used to Thailand and it takes an extended stay in a western country to remind me of how amazing Thailand truly is.

[Nana Cowboy]

just jerking your chain blether. you dont really need thaivisa forum. you'd figure a way to survive without it if you needed to. lol

[dao16]

I have a good time here, but I would leave if I separated from my wife, for whatever reason. I know guys who are the exact opposite...they soldier on through no matter what and wouldn't go anywhere else. I am not like that. So, for the time being, it is a fun place to be and much less stressful than other places (not to be mentioned) that I have been in Asia.

[Mr Average]

the real question here is "does the blether need thaivisa forum?".the answer to this is a resounding yes

The best idiot is a useful idiot.

Useful idiots are ideal for forums. They help to keep things ticking over.

It works best when the idiot doesn't realize just how useful he is.

If you operate forums, never neglect your useful idiots. Feed them a carrot or two, or perhaps click their "like" buttons.

Give them the space they need to tell you why they're the best in their chosen field. Grant them the opportunity to reveal why they stand out. Humor them. Bait them from time to time, but be careful not to lose them.

And always refrain from any discussion that may highlight the emptiness of their sad existence.