Lots of Freetime - What Options Are There?

[onni4me]

Recently reading some threads, there was a claim that there is so much to do in Thailand. I suppose that for those coming here for the first weeks or moths or even for the first couple year, it is all new and exciting and seen through pink eye glasses. Good on you.

For people like me, who have been here more than a decade and has been through the list of:

- Temples...yep, seen quite a few of them, none really really interesting comparing them to cathedrals of Europe or something like mosques of Istanbul. Don't like to visit anymore due to the rampant commercial trade in them and monks almost directly asking for donations in cash (and their relatives driving 4 wheel trucks that make mine look ancient).

- Beaches...no thank you. If I feel like a swim it will be a nice swimming pool. In phuket it was jellyfish larvae making me burn and itch allover after being in the water about 5 minutes. My brother stepped on some sort of a stinger in Pattaya ruining couple of his days with feet infection. Pattaya Water Park...maybe...not thrilled though. They are building a huge new water themed park in Khon Kaen, interesting to see what that becomes. Thai beaches are normally cluttered with plastic bags and especially so during the rainy season when all the shit is flushed from the sewers.

- Bars...no, after learning some level of Thai, not interested hooking up with...well you know...I wouldn't do it in my country and there are plenty of options elsewhere. Free ones that really want to know you. And I am in relationship so why bother. Oh! And I forgot to say that I don't drink anymore. Not a complete teetotaler but just don't have taste for it anymore. Did that one too - maybe so much that it become boring to the extreme. And just looking at the expat bars gives one a shiver thinking of ones own future. I believe that the future is not found in the bars. They seem to gear towards past mostly.

- Traveling in Thailand...no, there is a certain lack of places that I would like to revisit. Chiang Mai perhaps. There one can actually walk around the center without falling into a ravine by any other name. And they have some very nice coffee shops. I have been allover Thailand and traveling mostly is a challenge. Forget about tight schedule and detailed plans. Go with the flow and expect delays and discomfort.

- Thai family events...no...try to avoid since I get bored about in 15 minutes after arriving. Seen it all from funerals to house blessings, from marriages to getting ones university degrees.

After being here so long I feel it's time to make a move. I have neglected my own development and there simply is not much to do in Thailand besides work or leisure. Suits someone retired perhaps well idling around and waiting for the final exit but for someone still active Thailand offers very little intellectual challenges and free time activities are somewhat limited. We are eternal Farang here. Nothing changes that even we speak and read Thai fluently - and who actually can say he does? I would guess a handful of people.

I go on with my sporting activities and read my books and look my movies and care my garden. But somewhere in the background looms the boredom. I find Thailand restrictive regarding opportunities and choices to find meaningful things to do. I am considering returning to Europe with my Thai family and think that it would be more fulfilling life than what we live (and I) live here.

Some may think that this is a rant or that I am very negative. However, I have been living here over a decade and know Thailand and Thais very well. I would seriously be very interested getting answers from people who are long-term residents and feel that they have enough activities and happiness here. Two week millionaires and their besotted views are not appreciated.

On a final note. Thailand and Thais have given me much happiness and experiences that I would not have had without and I love my family very much. But somehow my tolerance towards the eternal corruption and shortcomings is making my feelings thinner and thinner. It might be that change is due to just because the long stay. Mind gets tired of going through all the same thought patterns again and again. And here the patterns truly are the same almost every time.

So, how do you fill your days here in Thailand?

[CharlieH]

Go somewhere else for awhile, then you'll know and understand exactly why you stayed here for so long and will want to return.

[Costas2008]

Man.........you are the image of despair!

My advise........get out tonight.....have some beers.......and think of the bright side of life.

[mogandave]

Job, yard work, house work, cooking, reading....

[krisb]

Pink eye glasses

Sorry about your miserable life. Must be truly awful finding all that negative stuff in Thailand. People are truly suffering in this world and your problem is boredom.

Go for a walk, bike ride, hiking, camping, buy a thousand fireworks and let them off, open a business, buy a tuk tuk and ride across Thailand then tell us of the best village we don't know about yet. Do anything but don't sit around telling us how bored you are.Sheesh.

Edited January 25, 2014 by krisb

[onni4me]

I don't have a miserable life. Boredom? Perhaps after all these years here things start to repeat themselves.

What comes to going for a walk, bike ride, hiking, camping, buy a thousand fireworks and let them off, open a business, buy a Tuk-Tuk and ride across Thailand...who says that i haven't done all that in 10+ years...although, i was not aware that riding a Tuk-Tuk is legal on the motorways...I use a bike or a car.

I didn't expect much asking how others fulfill their days but it seems trolling and filling net with meaningless posts on ThaiVisa is a lifeline for some.

[onni4me]

Man.........you are the image of despair!

My advise........get out tonight.....have some beers.......and think of the bright side of life.

Did you miss the point where I said I don't drink anymore? And looking some miserable expats totally drunk designing pies on the sky I think it's a good choice.

[mogandave]

Man.........you are the image of despair!

My advise........get out tonight.....have some beers.......and think of the bright side of life.

Did you miss the point where I said I don't drink anymore?

As long as you don't drink any less...

[TheAceFace]

If you went back to Europe I'm sure you would feel the same as you do now after another decade.......maybe you have offer issues?

[higgy01]

onni4me .

I hear you loud and clear .

Forget the folks suggesting you running around like a headless chicken will solve anything . [ well , we/i , have already tried that , does not work , , , , for

most of us . ]

Time for a thoughtful change , perhaps ?.

[krisb]

I don't have a miserable life. Boredom? Perhaps after all these years here things start to repeat themselves.

What comes to going for a walk, bike ride, hiking, camping, buy a thousand fireworks and let them off, open a business, buy a Tuk-Tuk and ride across Thailand...who says that i haven't done all that in 10+ years...although, i was not aware that riding a Tuk-Tuk is legal on the motorways...I use a bike or a car.

I didn't expect much asking how others fulfill their days but it seems trolling and filling net with meaningless posts on ThaiVisa is a lifeline for some.

I offered some helpful advice. You see it as a troll.

How about this then, don't bother asking a public forum how to make your shitty life better. Truth is I could not really give a stuff, nor could anyone else

I'm happy having a great few days off in Australia with my family and friends, far from miserable around here champ.

[krisb]

If you went back to Europe I'm sure you would feel the same as you do now after another decade.......maybe you have offer issues?

Maybe?

[JLCrab]

Poem by Shel Silverstein (1930-1999)

Nothing to do?

Nothing to do?

Put some mustard in your shoe,

Fill your pockets full of soot,

Drive a nail into your foot,

Put some sugar in your hair,

Place your toys upon the stair,

Smear some jelly on the latch,

Eat some mud and strike a match,

Draw a picture on the wall,

Roll some marbles down the hall,

Pour some ink in daddy's cap --

Now go upstairs and take a nap.

[krisb]

"I'm board"

"Stand up against the wall while I nail you to it"

Just sayn'

(Blether said it's ok for me to use that btw)

[beachproperty]

Just the other day I got an email from a friend in the states saying how great it is that I'm able to live in Thailand ...BUT he asked ...."what do you do everyday" and

I said "Same thing I would do if I were living in the States......whatever I want!"

[thailiketoo]

Change your sexuality on Tuesdays. Think of all the new people you'll meet.

[Stradavarius37]

Advice thread? Looks like a whinge thread to me.

[Metapod]

get out and meet people, make friends, and try new hobbies.

basically the same thing you would do living anywhere in the world...

[cornishcarlos]

This should keep you busy... Make sure you do it inside a garage though, or you risk being deported

http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/cedar-dugout-canoe-zm0z84zhun.aspx

Then paddle West for 128 days and moan to some Tanzanians...

[recom273]

Job, yard work, house work, cooking, reading....

Yup .. Think of all the things you would like to have done in your own country, but never had the time.

ETS: Yeah, I know how you feel sometimes. I dont know how going back to your will help you tho'

Edited January 25, 2014 by recom273

[wym]

When I get a little disillusioned with the whole girl-hunting thing, I just set off-the-wall or more challenging goals.

Virgins over 19.

One eye noticeably larger than the other.

Outie bellybuttons.

Like that.

----------

If that's not relevant for you, have you considered travel? You get entirely different people and cultures within a two-hour flight.

[thailiketoo]

When I get a little disillusioned with the whole girl-hunting thing, I just set off-the-wall or more challenging goals.

Virgins over 19.

One eye noticeably larger than the other.

Outie bellybuttons.

Like that.

----------

If that's not relevant for you, have you considered travel? You get entirely different people and cultures within a two-hour flight.

Ah yes, remember when they had the two midgets at Nana right in the front. Those were the days.

[ebcal]

Some posters touched on this, but it could very well be more of an internal boredom issue, rather than your external environment. Agree that a change in environment / change of scenery might help, but on the hand, one might still eventually come to the same boredom, no matter where you moved, after you have explored all there is to explore in your location.

So, certainly one can always keep moving then and I suppose many do. But, maybe one might explore if the boredom is more about not following your inner self, not being true to yourself, or not exploring all your real passions and dreams, or maybe not even knowing what your passions are in life, or not trying new activities..............so more how you live your life, how you view things, rather than about the location you are in.

Maybe think about what has meaning to you in life or what your passions are that you have not done, and make some changes to follow them. Maybe try to volunteer to do something to bring about positive change, social work/non-profit to help others in need, or help the earth, or start a business, or take up a hobby you have always wanted, learn to play a musical instrument, .................

That said, I think a change in scenery can always help for awhile, but maybe just not the permanent solution or the real root cause.

Not saying this is the right answer for you, but just a thought.

Edited January 25, 2014 by ebcal

[fishbrando]

As a man, if you're having trouble thinking of something to do in your free time, you probably need to work on your imagination and creativity first.

There are a couple of books, one is called, "A Whack on The Side of The Head" and the other is called, "A Kick in The Seat of The Pants".

Reading these books will help you do something in the meantime - then let your imagination and creativity take over.

[NoshowJones]

Go somewhere else for awhile, then you'll know and understand exactly why you stayed here for so long and will want to return.

Especially if that somewhere else is the UK.

[fishbrando]

Philip Greenspun also had a good article on the subject: http://philip.greenspun.com/materialism/early-retirement/

[jaideeguy]

I can appreciate where the OP is coming from, as I've passed that decade milestone a while ago and am looking for new and different things to do, but never feel bored as in there are too many hours in the day. In fact I find that there are never enough hours and I didn't get everything I planned finished.................but at least I'm content with my family and hanging out at home doing little things like cooking, fixing things, watching my plants grow, playing with my dogs and kids.

What does bore me is dealing with immigration, my home country taxes, shopping and worst of all is watching my wife shop.

I live in a quite isolated area and there isn't much social life with other expats and like you, I have grown extremely intolerant of local social venues and now avoid them as much as I can because I do get tired of trying to converse with locals that have a 4 yr old's comprehension of English and just want to be friendly.

Luckily I have the Thai wife to cover those situations for me.

But the hours, days and years pass and I'm getting older in a young country and I still survive and keep in touch with a few old friends that complain that they are still working their asses off just to pay the bills and wishing that they were in my shoes.

Lucky me!!

[Fookhaht]

You seem really self-absorbed, which will eventually lead to boredom and even despair.

Start investing your life in others (volunteer work, teaching, helping a neighbor with a project, joining a charity project, contact an NGO to see how you can help, etc.). Suddenly your life will help to take on more meaning, when you see others benefiting from your efforts.

[fishbrando]

What does bore me is dealing with immigration, my home country taxes, shopping and worst of all is watching my wife shop.

Watching women shop - I think this violates the United Nations Convention against Torture.

[wym]

Ah yes, remember when they had the two midgets at Nana right in the front. Those were the days.

Just saw Lek (the older one), he's working at the Dew Drop Inn.