What's getting better / worse for the foreigners in Thailand in the last five years.

[retiredat50]

Not counting currency changes.

What's better now than 5 years ago and what's worse ?

What do people think will be better and worse in the next five years ?

[bushwacker]

Setting up of local immigration offices in various provinces has been fantastic!

[jacko45k]

Worse, the traffic.

Better.......many many things.

[kurnell]

Daytime drinking. Where to go???

[Ricardo]

I mourn the rapid development of Thailand, anywhere within a hundred miles of Bangkok is a polluted urban-sprawl, and it's happening up here in Chiang Mai now.

They really don't need this many moo-bans & shopping-malls & cars !

But it would be wrong to deny ordinary Thais their own chance at material success Western-style, I'm just sorry to see them rushing to embrace 'civilisation', with such deluded fervour.

I remember the Samui & Phuket of 25-years-ago, heck even Pattaya was a much nicer place then !

[noikrit]

Long list of Pros and Cons .... I'm just happy "they" still let me live here !!.....

[meatboy]

the 1980's were great,so was 1990's,but since then thailand has gone backwards and is getting worse,even the wife is begining to resent settling back here.

i can only hope the next 20yrs bring some improvement,as to what? there aint enough time to print it all.

[lostmebike]

What's getting worse? My neighbours! LOL

[ccarbaugh]

I first came to Thailand in 1973. Back then, the people were infinitely more friendly,So, right off the top of my head, I would say that the attitude is very much worse. As far as what's better, maybe more places are air conditioned, taxis have meters and there are BTS and MRT now.

[khaowong1]

I remember in the mid 80's, it was a bitch to get around. Now not so much.. BTS, MRT, better taxi's, better buses. Better highways etc.

[meatboy]

I remember in the mid 80's, it was a bitch to get around. Now not so much.. BTS, MRT, better taxi's, better buses. Better highways etc.

ok.minister.

[richard10365]

I love the new shopping malls in Chiang Mai. Lots of places to shop and eat. It's also spreading out the traffic in the city. Now people don't just go to airport plaza, they go to Promenada, Central Festival or one of the new shopping or entertainment destinations in the city. I think the variety spread out in the city actually reduces traffic in one area and increasing it in others. However, it's more evenly distributed instead of one side being empty and another being totally swamped. While I hated Promenada when it first opened, It's very pleasurable to go there for specific items such as eat at Dukes, shop at Chi Chang Computer, see a movie or go to Toys Are Us.

New international standard moo bahns means the houses you buy in Chiang Mai now are just as good, if not better than houses in the west. True, it's not cheap, but it is nice. I have everything here now that I had in the west without the graffiti and gangs. Satellite TV, high speed internet, roaming security guards, and a cleaning service that goes around cleaning the neighborhood are some of the benefits to the new moo bahns.

International education options seem to be increasing. Various schools in Chiang Mai are adding international programs to their curriculum. Varee has a beautiful new annex to their school teaching IGCSE and A-levels. Other schools are considering programs such as Yuppart.

I do agree about the traffic growing excessively large. I hope find a solution for that soon. I don't even go to the CMU side of town because of it. I refer to this area as the black hole of Chiang Mai.

Other than that, I love living in Chiang Mai. It's a great city to live in.

[Bernard Flint]

I first came to Thailand in 1973. Back then, the people were infinitely more friendly,So, right off the top of my head, I would say that the attitude is very much worse. As far as what's better, maybe more places are air conditioned, taxis have meters and there are BTS and MRT now.

Sir

In 1973 most countries in the world were nicer,less crime,mummies looked after the kids, daddy was the bread winner, need i continue ???

[villagefarang]

I wouldn’t worry about it. Just sit back and watch what unfolds before you. No one has a crystal ball and there is nothing we can do to change it, so just find a way to enjoy your life and don’t sweat the small stuff. At least that is my view after living here for 36 years.

Oh, and I have been living here since the 70s and I have no desire to go back in time. I don’t get the whole nostalgia crowd and there longing for the good old days. Right now is just fine with me and always has been.

Edited January 1, 2014 by villagefarang

[Bernard Flint]

I cannot think of anything worse,as my glass is always half full.I try to compare Thailand with the uk,good and bad everywhere,it is up to the individual to make things good for themselves

[Issangeorge]

In my area the good is better roads, also new Tesco Lotuses, Big CD, and Macros. The bad is the increased traffic.

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

[metisdead]

A post using all caps has been removed. Turn off your Caps Lock button when posting.

[soi41]

I love the new shopping malls in Chiang Mai. Lots of places to shop and eat. It's also spreading out the traffic in the city. Now people don't just go to airport plaza, they go to Promenada, Central Festival or one of the new shopping or entertainment destinations in the city. I think the variety spread out in the city actually reduces traffic in one area and increasing it in others. However, it's more evenly distributed instead of one side being empty and another being totally swamped. While I hated Promenada when it first opened, It's very pleasurable to go there for specific items such as eat at Dukes, shop at Chi Chang Computer, see a movie or go to Toys Are Us.

New international standard moo bahns means the houses you buy in Chiang Mai now are just as good, if not better than houses in the west. True, it's not cheap, but it is nice. I have everything here now that I had in the west without the graffiti and gangs. Satellite TV, high speed internet, roaming security guards, and a cleaning service that goes around cleaning the neighborhood are some of the benefits to the new moo bahns.

International education options seem to be increasing. Various schools in Chiang Mai are adding international programs to their curriculum. Varee has a beautiful new annex to their school teaching IGCSE and A-levels. Other schools are considering programs such as Yuppart.

I do agree about the traffic growing excessively large. I hope find a solution for that soon. I don't even go to the CMU side of town because of it. I refer to this area as the black hole of Chiang Mai.

Other than that, I love living in Chiang Mai. It's a great city to live in.

Makes me wonder, why you moved here in the first place? All the pros you mention are related to Thailand becoming more westernized. All this you could have got in London, Paris or Berlin.

Why move across the world to get more of the west?

The things to like here are the true Thai stuff, like the streetvendors, the motosai-taxis, the tuk-tuks, the hookers, the temples, the soidogs (!), the Thai way of doing things (are they f****** stupid), the smiles (yes they are still there) and really an endless list!

All those small things make me happy to be here and not back in the boring west!!

A couple of pics to illustrate true Thainess (stupid? yes, but make me react, so I am alive!)

What can possibly go wrong??

[Ulic]

Development that hasn't been planned properly, littering/ garbage disposal, the level and amount of corruption.

All getting worse, not really sure what is getting better, the amount of choice i suppose. Also communication

by cell and INTERNET.

[NoshowJones]

In my area the good is better roads, also new Tesco Lotuses, Big CD, and Macros. The bad is the increased traffic.

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

Better roads???????????

[thailiketoo]

I first came to Thailand in 1973. Back then, the people were infinitely more friendly,So, right off the top of my head, I would say that the attitude is very much worse. As far as what's better, maybe more places are air conditioned, taxis have meters and there are BTS and MRT now.

Sir

In 1973 most countries in the world were nicer,less crime,mummies looked after the kids, daddy was the bread winner, need i continue ???

Bit off on our dates are we?

[thailiketoo]

When I got here no color TV. Much better now.

[meatboy]

I remember in the mid 80's, it was a bitch to get around. Now not so much.. BTS, MRT, better taxi's, better buses. Better highways etc.

i wonder if those poeple waiting to get a bus at mo-chit bus station would agree with you after being caught up in what reporters call a scuffle [3KILLED]

[mickjn]

Changed for the worse without a doubt

[suthansman]

m/c helmet laws being much better enforced the last couple of years is better especially if it has saved a few lives.

[abrahamzvi]

I love the new shopping malls in Chiang Mai. Lots of places to shop and eat. It's also spreading out the traffic in the city. Now people don't just go to airport plaza, they go to Promenada, Central Festival or one of the new shopping or entertainment destinations in the city. I think the variety spread out in the city actually reduces traffic in one area and increasing it in others. However, it's more evenly distributed instead of one side being empty and another being totally swamped. While I hated Promenada when it first opened, It's very pleasurable to go there for specific items such as eat at Dukes, shop at Chi Chang Computer, see a movie or go to Toys Are Us.

New international standard moo bahns means the houses you buy in Chiang Mai now are just as good, if not better than houses in the west. True, it's not cheap, but it is nice. I have everything here now that I had in the west without the graffiti and gangs. Satellite TV, high speed internet, roaming security guards, and a cleaning service that goes around cleaning the neighborhood are some of the benefits to the new moo bahns.

International education options seem to be increasing. Various schools in Chiang Mai are adding international programs to their curriculum. Varee has a beautiful new annex to their school teaching IGCSE and A-levels. Other schools are considering programs such as Yuppart.

I do agree about the traffic growing excessively large. I hope find a solution for that soon. I don't even go to the CMU side of town because of it. I refer to this area as the black hole of Chiang Mai.

Other than that, I love living in Chiang Mai. It's a great city to live in.

I fully and entirely agree. I have been living in CM for some 5 years now and I think it can favourably compete wit most cities in the West. The quality of life here is unbeatable

[DrTuner]

Worse, traffic, prices, general consumerism. Better, internet, availability of western foods. Same same, most of it.

I'd say it was better before, the traffic tips the scale. Just too many cars now.

[tigermonkey]

The ,most significant change over the past five years, is that I am now five years older, which is not all good ! Next five years ? - if I survive them and remain reasonably healthy, that will be marvelous.

I can't even begin to describe the changes since I first lived in Thailand ( Udon Thani) in 1968. It's like a time warp.

[Ghostnigel]

I remember in the mid 80's, it was a bitch to get around. Now not so much.. BTS, MRT, better taxi's, better buses. Better highways etc.

......'better buses'?...man, they're using the same ones FROM the 80's....555

[Ghostnigel]

What's better?........the roads
What's worse?.........the f*****' idiots who drive on 'em