Questioning why i live here....

[Jameskrabi]

After two and a half years, i am beginning to question why i am here, in what i have this weekend begun to look upon a very barbaric race of human beings...

I do not look down upon but merely see that the civilisation is not upon par with the majority of the world, and agree that not all but the majority this applies too.

I am not racist in any manner and feel i am a good person and have always aided people where i can, i have paid for kids tuitions, i have bought computers so friends kids (thai families i know to work hard) can learn english and better their education...

Friday evening i had just left a friends house in Rawai, and pulled up in Saiyuan a short distance from the main road to take a phone call from family abroad, i left the car for better signal and within 1 minute a scooter had arrived and the Thai gentleman told me to give me the phone or he would shoot me, naturally i did thinking it would be better to track with the ios tracking capabilities than be shot over such a ridiculous thing in monetary terms and reality terms.

When the perp road of i was in good mind to chase him down and hit him in the car, but thought better so sped of to chalong police station this being 12.03 i arrived at chalong police station at 12.07 and spent the next 4 hours arguing with the police who did not care nor want to get involved.

It wasnt until i commandeered the computer and brought up my facebook and showed some pictures of me with a police general when me and the wife donated some money and other like photos that the urchin started writing a report, leaving at 5.57 am in the morning a entire 5 hours and fifty minutes later!!! having not acted immediately this allowed the perp to turn of the phone and the tracking movements, there was no interest in the cameras, or a sketch there was no interest at all....

Ive moved my entire life out here, houses, cars. charity and even a role in a development, and am seriously considering giving it all up, ive come to the conclusion as driving through chalong with a people carrier on my arse. and so indicated left a couple of times so the driver would get off it and go down the left lane above the speed limit as i was not prepared to move as i was travelling the optimum speed, he bibbed, so i bibbed and when he went past he was pointing down and getting very hairy (over a 20sec lap lag loss im sure), ive now come to the conclusion that they are barbarick and like pack dogs...

Maybe i am wrong, in shock still, or even bitter over it all but i now look at thai men with distrust and disdain, even thai friends i dont want to know right now ...

[CharlieH]

Sad, typical, but not worth changing your life over.

A lesson wel learned hopefully, dont get out of your car at midnight, was the call that important.

Forget the Police, in most cases they couldnt care less and shouldnt be relied on.

Edited January 26, 2014 by CharlieH

[addy77]

Mind over matter. They don't mind and you don't matter. Always be prepared to walk away from this place and by having set yourself up with choices, you will be happier. Remember why you're here and enjoy those things to outweigh the negative.

[samuibeachcomber]

Have only been to phuket once,but from what i have heard your experience there is not unique.There are laws here but they are not enforced and the police are generally lazy unless "tea money" is forthcoming.This is the reality of living here,and its all ok until something like what happened to the OP happens to us.I have no idea if such an incident would affect me as it has the OP.

To live here successfully,happily,its important understand the culture here.

Plus in my opinion its not a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket,anywhere in the world.

[JaiLai]

Have only been to phuket once,but from what i have heard your experience there is not unique.There are laws here but they are not enforced and the police are generally lazy unless "tea money" is forthcoming.This is the reality of living here,and its all ok until something like what happened to the OP happens to us.I have no idea if such an incident would affect me as it has the OP.

To live here successfully,happily,its important understand the culture here.

Plus in my opinion its not a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket,anywhere in the world.

To live here happily / successfully it's best to have as little interaction with the locals as possible.

Why would you want to learn the cultures? You'll never be fully accepted or understand them.

[ukrules]

Did he even show you the gun ?

[Julie H]

Man up or go home. I would have called his bluff

[Sam Gold]

Leave Phuket, it's the worst place in Thailand, I used to live there, it's the land of violence against foreigners and corrupt cops.

You can't decide to leave Thailand because of something that happened in Phuket.

[samuibeachcomber]

Have only been to phuket once,but from what i have heard your experience there is not unique.There are laws here but they are not enforced and the police are generally lazy unless "tea money" is forthcoming.This is the reality of living here,and its all ok until something like what happened to the OP happens to us.I have no idea if such an incident would affect me as it has the OP.

To live here successfully,happily,its important understand the culture here.

Plus in my opinion its not a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket,anywhere in the world.

To live here happily / successfully it's best to have as little interaction with the locals as possible.

Why would you want to learn the cultures? You'll never be fully accepted or understand them.

Not to be accepted but to help understand the way of life here.

[wayned]

Every morning I get up and walk down the road in front of my house and never question why I live here!

[MrTee]

Could happen anywhere .

I've had guns put in my face in the UK and in Egypt, had knives pulled on me in many countries.

A BG chased my friend down the road a while back, to return his iPhone which he left somewhere.

Good & Bad everywhere.

[WitawatWatawit]

Every morning I get up and walk down the road in front of my house and never question why I live here!

DSC00829.jpg

Guess you'd have to get up in the morning to get to the nearest go-go bar by opening time. Beautiful countryside, mate. You've chosen well. Maybe you should invite the OP for a visit and show him the better side of Thai life.

[Hedghog]

Have your police General sort it out.

Your so well connected,why didn't you have a police escort?

What is unbelievable in your yarn,"I commandeered the police computer"really!

Try harder.

[apiwan]

Get IOS 7 on your device

You can't turn of location or reload the software with iTunes without password,

In Thailand you will mostly be robbed by stealth,

In the UK it will be a gang of hoodies that will take your stuff then kick you into a coma.

It's just your luck,can happen anywhere

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Jameskrabi]

Get IOS 7 on your device

You can't turn of location or reload the software with iTunes without password,

In Thailand you will mostly be robbed by stealth,

In the UK it will be a gang of hoodies that will take your stuff then kick you into a coma.

It's just your luck,can happen anywhere

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Unfortunately when he pulled up and brought the gun to light and demanded i gave the phone without even turning it off, to-date the tracking has not shown the phone, had the police been more responsive they would have apprehended him that evening...

[Jameskrabi]

Have your police General sort it out.

Your so well connected,why didn't you have a police escort?

What is unbelievable in your yarn,"I commandeered the police computer"really!

Try harder.

i fail to see your point, it was not a i know people. it was i had to really show to get the urchin off his frigging youtube account, further more i could not just ring anybody having had my frigging phone stolen , i have to ask how you even made it to the airport with a comment like that.

oh attached the police report that took 5 hours and 50 bloody minutes...

[mrtoad]

Have only been to phuket once,but from what i have heard your experience there is not unique.There are laws here but they are not enforced and the police are generally lazy unless "tea money" is forthcoming.This is the reality of living here,and its all ok until something like what happened to the OP happens to us.I have no idea if such an incident would affect me as it has the OP.

To live here successfully,happily,its important understand the culture here.

Plus in my opinion its not a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket,anywhere in the world.

To live here happily / successfully it's best to have as little interaction with the locals as possible.

Why would you want to learn the cultures? You'll never be fully accepted or understand them.

That's drivel; many of the locals are good people. yeah, in the tourist area there will always be the usual scum, but don't tar all with the same brush.

I went to my local village last night, for some food. I ended up staying for about 3 hours, as plate after plate of food was delivered to my table. At the end when I went to pay, no one would take the money. So, maybe I am getting a different experience from your jaded views, but there are plenty of good, honest decent people around.

[JaiLai]

Have only been to phuket once,but from what i have heard your experience there is not unique.There are laws here but they are not enforced and the police are generally lazy unless "tea money" is forthcoming.This is the reality of living here,and its all ok until something like what happened to the OP happens to us.I have no idea if such an incident would affect me as it has the OP.

To live here successfully,happily,its important understand the culture here.

Plus in my opinion its not a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket,anywhere in the world.

To live here happily / successfully it's best to have as little interaction with the locals as possible.

Why would you want to learn the cultures? You'll never be fully accepted or understand them.

That's drivel; many of the locals are good people. yeah, in the tourist area there will always be the usual scum, but don't tar all with the same brush.

I went to my local village last night, for some food. I ended up staying for about 3 hours, as plate after plate of food was delivered to my table. At the end when I went to pay, no one would take the money. So, maybe I am getting a different experience from your jaded views, but there are plenty of good, honest decent people around.

It's not drivel, the only thing that you fail to understand is its more blatant in tourist areas.

My views are jaded yes but I have a very broad overview on which to base them.

Don't think coz you got a few plates of road kill for free everyone's your friend. You are right there are SOME decent locals about but not many of them are honest.

Farangs are mocked more in rural Thailand than in the tourist areas imo

Edited January 26, 2014 by JaiLai

[Chao Lao Beach]

When the perp road of i was in good mind to chase him down and hit him in the car,

I bet you regret not doing that now

[nonthaburial]

Man up or go home. I would have called his bluff

Here we have another brave, challenging from his keyboard, boring so boring. I know for a fact and no I won't elaborate, but when you are actually faced with this scenario, manning up has sod all to do with it, and neither does stupidity, I am a Farang, I am important, I am bigger than you,I am richer than you. Common sense prevails end of!

[mrtoad]

Have only been to phuket once,but from what i have heard your experience there is not unique.There are laws here but they are not enforced and the police are generally lazy unless "tea money" is forthcoming.This is the reality of living here,and its all ok until something like what happened to the OP happens to us.I have no idea if such an incident would affect me as it has the OP.

To live here successfully,happily,its important understand the culture here.

Plus in my opinion its not a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket,anywhere in the world.

To live here happily / successfully it's best to have as little interaction with the locals as possible.

Why would you want to learn the cultures? You'll never be fully accepted or understand them.

That's drivel; many of the locals are good people. yeah, in the tourist area there will always be the usual scum, but don't tar all with the same brush.

I went to my local village last night, for some food. I ended up staying for about 3 hours, as plate after plate of food was delivered to my table. At the end when I went to pay, no one would take the money. So, maybe I am getting a different experience from your jaded views, but there are plenty of good, honest decent people around.

It's not drivel, the only thing that you fail to understand is its more blatant in tourist areas.

My views are jaded yes but I have a very broad overview on which to base them.

Don't think coz you got a few plates of road kill for free everyone's your friend. You are right there are SOME decent locals about but not many of them are honest.

Farangs are mocked more in rural Thailand than in the tourist areas imo

Well, I am certainly not one of the saffron tinted brigade, but I have lived in a couple of places over the last 9 years in Thailand, and I certainly getting a different experience. The most dishonest and deceitful people that I have come across are generally foreigners here.

I don't think for one moment that a plate of food means I'm everyone's friend that is just one example of many different things with the people I know in the village. Actually, it is also in a tourist area.but thankfully not one of the more notorious places such as Phuket, Samui or Pattaya.

I don't understand why anyone would move to another country and not want to interact with the locals at some point.

[nicolas18]

So, someone robbed you and the police refused to treat it like a Nr 1 priority, and, because of that, you want to move out?

And move out where? In a country where no one ever steals from each other and where the police treats the theft of a phone as if there was a serial killer on the loose?

Not saying that I would not be pissed off if someone stole my iPhone. I would. But, thefts happen everywhere.

[nicolas18]

To live here happily / successfully it's best to have as little interaction with the locals as possible.

Why would you want to learn the cultures? You'll never be fully accepted or understand them.

Could you please remind us again why you moved to a country whose country or people you are not interested in?

[wym]

If you feel the need to write "I am not a racist" then you most likely are.

Good and bad everywhere, sh%t happens, chalk it up to experience, don't sweat the small stuff.

Don't worry be happy.

Sure cliches but all true, best way to live your life if happiness and peace of mind are your goal.

[geriatrickid]

Leave Phuket, it's the worst place in Thailand, I used to live there, it's the land of violence against foreigners and corrupt cops.

You can't decide to leave Thailand because of something that happened in Phuket.

Although, I can't argue against your view since I got out of Dodge myself, some people just can't walk away so easily.

How about we put this in perspective and build on your comment about Phuket? As you point out Phuket is not Thailand and is the hub of corruption in Thailand. I used to think Pattaya was bad, but Phuket makes Pattaya look like amateurville. These motorcycle thieves come in cycles, and everyone knows that Rawai can be dangerous as is the stretch between Patong and Karon. It's not just foreigners getting robbed, but Thais as well. The reality is that this was a hold up and hold ups are frequent in Phuket and often go unreported. It is the cost of living there. Doesn't make it right, but one sociopath's behaviour doesn't make everyone else bad. We should be grateful that at least he wasn't knifed or shot.

Edited January 26, 2014 by geriatrickid

[HardenedSoul]

Have only been to phuket once,but from what i have heard your experience there is not unique.There are laws here but they are not enforced and the police are generally lazy unless "tea money" is forthcoming.This is the reality of living here,and its all ok until something like what happened to the OP happens to us.I have no idea if such an incident would affect me as it has the OP.

To live here successfully,happily,its important understand the culture here.

Plus in my opinion its not a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket,anywhere in the world.

To live here happily / successfully it's best to have as little interaction with the locals as possible.

Why would you want to learn the cultures? You'll never be fully accepted or understand them.

Moronic statement.

Lots of people living here successfully and happily while interacting with the locals every, single day.

Maybe you need to look at yourself before slagging off the people.

[irishsmile]

Give the OP a break! He is obviously still suffering from shock and he already stated the issue ain't his phone being stolen it's more that he is realising now that the LOS ain't the paradise he thought it was and now it's been confirmed by his awful experience when facing down the barrel of a gun with a complete lunatic at the other end of it! And his understandable frustration of trying to motivate the lazy greedy scamming local BIB to help and get this lunatic off the streets before he does pull that trigger on some unfortunate soul!

I must concur with the argument that like every other country in the world has exactly the same problems with its fair amount of lunatics .... And because of a few nutters it's wrong to say everyone's the same!

I've got lots of genuine caring gentle thai close friends and I'm sure as the OP stated he has too but to call him high and mighty and to call him a racist is so unfair! There are lots of Thais that see a walking ATM every time they spot a farang and I've noticed myself how much they are getting more and more dishonest and will try anything to scam every last baht from you!

So to say he wasted his time going to the police or saying to him to get over it and move on is wrong! I admire him for standing his ground and insisting on a written report and it was his duty to report this lunatic before someone loses their life!

My advice to the OP is to take some time out... Go back to your home country and spend some time with your family and friends and when your mind is more clearer and you are recovered from what must have been a terrifying and depressing episode then you and only you will be able to make the right decision on where your future goes....

Hope you can get over this quickly good luck to you in whatever you decide you must do.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[96tehtarp]

To live here happily / successfully it's best to have as little interaction with the locals as possible.

Why would you want to learn the cultures? You'll never be fully accepted or understand them.

Moronic statement.

Lots of people living here successfully and happily while interacting with the locals every, single day.

I am one of those people living here successfully and happily and have almost no daily contact with other farang.

I swore off visiting Phuket in the early 90's shortly after AOT widened the Phuket airport's runway and started allowing wide bodied charter flights full of tourists coming from everywhere. The problem with Phuket is the farangs. There are too many of them.

JaiLai above apparently dislikes Thai people.

Thai people in heavily touristed areas like Phuket and Samui tend to hate farangs who dislike Thai people.

I dislike Phuket, and sympathise with th OP. A robbery at gunpoint and the anger over it can eat away at a person psychologically for years.

At the very least the OP should check out Langkawi and take a breather before making any major decisions.

[nicolas18]

Give the OP a break! He is obviously still suffering from shock and he already stated the issue ain't his phone being stolen it's more that he is realising now that the LOS ain't the paradise he thought it was and now it's been confirmed by his awful experience when facing down the barrel of a gun with a complete lunatic at the other end of it! And his understandable frustration of trying to motivate the lazy greedy scamming local BIB to help and get this lunatic off the streets before he does pull that trigger on some unfortunate soul!

I must concur with the argument that like every other country in the world has exactly the same problems with its fair amount of lunatics .... And because of a few nutters it's wrong to say everyone's the same!

I've got lots of genuine caring gentle thai close friends and I'm sure as the OP stated he has too but to call him high and mighty and to call him a racist is so unfair! There are lots of Thais that see a walking ATM every time they spot a farang and I've noticed myself how much they are getting more and more dishonest and will try anything to scam every last baht from you!

So to say he wasted his time going to the police or saying to him to get over it and move on is wrong! I admire him for standing his ground and insisting on a written report and it was his duty to report this lunatic before someone loses their life!

My advice to the OP is to take some time out... Go back to your home country and spend some time with your family and friends and when your mind is more clearer and you are recovered from what must have been a terrifying and depressing episode then you and only you will be able to make the right decision on where your future goes....

Hope you can get over this quickly good luck to you in whatever you decide you must do.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Calling him a racist is unfair? Which part of "a very barbaric race of human beings" is not racist exactly?

[claffey]

Your biggest mistake was going to the BIB. Did you really expect them to down their beers and start chasing this punk to get your precious phone back!! Wise up and chillax...You should be ecstatic that you didn't get hurt...Surely you realise by now that the 'mai ben rai' attitude will always prevail...Calm down. Weight up the positives and the negatives and stay in Thai. I left a few years ago and I've regretted it every day. My only solace is reading thaivisa. I'm waiting for the right moment to return and then I'm never leaving. Why don't you try Bangkok? or Chiang Mai....