What has been your Thai experience?

[ggt]

With the time you have spent in Thailand...generally speaking...have you found Thailand to meet your expectations...charming...exotic...accommodating...safe and wonderful place to be...or would you characterize it more or less as...fraudulent...corrupt...dangerous...less than desirable...?

[I Like Thai]

Yes and No

[howerde]

I tick yes to all the above

[Soutpeel]

LOL what time you get off the plane this evening

But to answer your question yes Thailand has met my expectations over the last 13 years in that they have paid me what I am owed every month

However over the years getting more and more cynical about the place, once you have scratched through the very thin veneer of charming, exotic, wonderful Thailand a very dark, " dangerous," and rottern to the core place is revealed

[David48]

With the time you have spent in Thailand...generally speaking...have you found Thailand to meet your expectations...charming...exotic...accommodating...safe and wonderful place to be...or would you characterize it more or less as...fraudulent...corrupt...dangerous...less than desirable...?

Your OP says more about your expectations then mine ... and maybe many of the longer term members here.

I don't have any expectations from this place ... that's why I'm never disappointed and it's refreshing every time I return from Overseas.

For the record, ATM, I split my time roughly equally between Thailand and my birthplace ... maybe a little more time 'here' (Thailand) then 'there'.

Remember ... the one thing that you can genuinely change ... that you have total control over is your attitude.

The right attitude opens many doors here .. .

Enjoy ...

.

[wym]

Yes to all of the above, and actually enjoy the "negatives" as much as the usual good stuff.

I only get bothered by something when it is significant and affects me directly.

Rest of the time it's all a dramatic comedy staged for my amusement.

[ukrules]

In Thailand I've found everything I need which is adequate infrastructure, a supply of western food and a reasonable internet connection.

My only complaint is that it's a bit hot out here sometimes.

[speedtripler]

In Thailand I've found everything I need which is adequate infrastructure, a supply of western food and a reasonable internet connection.

My only complaint is that it's a bit hot out here sometimes.

what kind of western food are we talking about here ? most thai made western meals are pretty rough ime

[tartempion]

After living here for 12 years getting tired of the place.

For the time being can't decide on my next move.

Have a return business class ticket out of here late april (bought it some months ago in a promotion) because by then my home town will have green leaves. (I hate the cold) Not sure I will be back though.

I adopted my gf's brother babygirl 2 years ago, she'll be 3 next week, that's where my pain lies, gf says she will have forgotten me 6 months down the road, but her life is so much better with us....

Edited February 5, 2014 by tartempion

[bkkjames]

This place gets on my nerves all the time........and I wouldnt have it any other way.

[robertthebruce]

For me , after 4 years here, its fine for me, Love the weather, Love the Thai people, the ones that i come in contact with are, Sweet, Gentle, and just plain nice... - Now, i dont have that an exciting life, i dont go to bars at night or stuff like that, but just have your normal ''Joe Bloggs' life style...

I also have a beautiful Condo with an amazing sea view,

Love the food, and all the fresh fruit and veg..

My only negative, is the ''Driving Standards''.. which we all know, is horrendous..

Thats my take on it...

Maybe in 10 years time, it might change.., but for the time being.. ''Suits Me''..

Cheers

[Nignoy]

from the eyeopening life in a north eastern thai village, in the early 60,s, to the mayhem that is modern day life in any thai city!! the pleasure of experiencing what is now Pattaya before concrete and bars!! or Phuket with its one road and one hotel those were the good impressions, the impressions of today are all taken with a pinch of salt, to many tourists, too much concrete and traffic is just a nightmare!!gone are the days of taking a couple of weeks off , pack the landrover and drive from noth of Ubon to Singapore for some noodles

[jackr]

I tick yes to all the above

+1

Focus seems to have shifted more from the pleasant adjectives in the first part of the OP to those of the second part, as it has for many long-termers methinks. The secret seems to be to escape the asylum once in a while.

Edited February 6, 2014 by jackr

[Sigurris]

Thailand flexes the senses and emotions like no other country I know. I love it here. I hate it here. Its ok. Its fine.My first six months were some of the most miserable in my life. Other times have been the best in my life. It is a rollercoaster ride without any end in sight and I would not want it any other way.

I am staying.

[beachproperty]

Thailand is what it is .....just another place on this planet we call earth.

I moved here 10 years ago when I met the most wonderful women I have ever known. No expectations other than to spend the rest of my life with her...

And after 10 years our union is still meeting and exceeding all my expectations!

Couldn't ask for anything better....Thank you Thailand!

I answered your question this way ....because in the long run does it matter really WHERE you live as opposed to WHO you live with. I'm one of the lucky ones who met a great women and made a go of it ......could have been anywhere else in the world but Thailand is where I met her and Thailand is where she wants to live.....Happy wife....Happy life.

Edited February 6, 2014 by beachproperty

[geriatrickid]

Stressful: When my g/f was in university, she'd drive her motorbike to class, sometimes in some terrible downpours. I'd worry if she got to class & home safely. I worry about one of my friends. When I don't hear from him, I wonder if he has been involved in an incident; shot or blown up by an IED. I often worry if I will contract an infectious disease. It doesn't help that my Thai friends do not understand the concept of washing their hands before touching my food. Dengue and malaria are not on my to do list.

Heartbreak & Sadness: The plight of Thailand's wildlife and domestic animals is depressing.

Annoyance: The level of incompetence that characterizes so much of Thailand is amazing.

Sense of Security: Hanging out with the crew and my best friend is reassuring. When a Thai is your friend, and I mean a real friend, you can't get much better than that. Thais will do things western friends would not. My friends gladly drive me wherever I want to go and will stay with me as I am tracking something down.

Contentment: A good Thai meal makes all the petty annoyances go away.

Happiness: Something about the genuine smiles from the heart that Thais can give that cures just about anything. One has to go outside the tourist zones to experience it. When I see Thai extended families interacting, it reminds me of my childhood.

Frustration: Why do some idiots have to ruin it for others with their selfishness.

Delight: I'm not much one for nature, but the natural beauty and sometimes the incredible array of tropical flowers brightens the day.

Relief: So much is available

Anger: So much that is available is shoddy and breaks quickly. My boxers are starting to disintegrate and despite being labeled as 100% cotton have to be a polyester blend because of the telltale fiber balls.

Fun: I get to relive my childhood some days when we go on an adventure to some place in Thailand. I got to take the the train to Ayuthaya to see the temples, despite no one really wanting to go, let alone take a train.

VIP Treatment: I get treated better than most Thais, even in situations when money isn't a factor.

[chrisinth]

Whats been my Thai experience?

Not very good, after 16 years I have ended up with a wife and kids, two dogs, car and living in a 4 bedroom house. Never before in my life have i worked so hard, and actually perversely enjoyed it. Having to learn new things every week, working outdoors for a lot of the time, stacks of travelling, no light at the end of the tunnel.

Of course, another person could call me a lucky git, but that's life I suppose.................

[ExpatOilWorker]

LOL what time you get off the plane this evening

But to answer your question yes Thailand has met my expectations over the last 13 years in that they have paid me what I am owed every month

However over the years getting more and more cynical about the place, once you have scratched through the very thin veneer of charming, exotic, wonderful Thailand a very dark, " dangerous," and rottern to the core place is revealed

You just put words to my experience and I also started to live here permanently 13 years ago. Are you me or am I you?

[Soutpeel]

LOL what time you get off the plane this evening

But to answer your question yes Thailand has met my expectations over the last 13 years in that they have paid me what I am owed every month

However over the years getting more and more cynical about the place, once you have scratched through the very thin veneer of charming, exotic, wonderful Thailand a very dark, " dangerous," and rottern to the core place is revealed

You just put words to my experience and I also started to live here permanently 13 years ago. Are you me or am I you?

That last line sounds like a Pink Floyd lyric LOL

[Naam]

having been to the country for the first time 40 years ago as well as spending umpteen holiday weeks in the country before i settled in Thailand nearly 10 years my expectations were rather limited but all of them were met 100%

-no income tax,

-affordable real estate,

-affordable domestic staff,

-no burden socialising, i.e. being able to live a rather secluded and undisturbed lifestyle.

[JesseFrank]

I suggest the OP add the requirement that everyone who answers his question should include the time period they live in Thailand FULL TIME.

[CharlieH]

Thailand is what it is .....just another place on this planet we call earth.

I moved here 10 years ago when I met the most wonderful women I have ever known. No expectations other than to spend the rest of my life with her...

And after 10 years our union is still meeting and exceeding all my expectations!

Couldn't ask for anything better....Thank you Thailand!

I answered your question this way ....because in the long run does it matter really WHERE you live as opposed to WHO you live with. I'm one of the lucky ones who met a great women and made a go of it ......could have been anywhere else in the world but Thailand is where I met her and Thailand is where she wants to live.....Happy wife....Happy life.

+1

Couldnt put it any better than this

[ravip]

Thailand is what it is .....just another place on this planet we call earth.

I moved here 10 years ago when I met the most wonderful women I have ever known. No expectations other than to spend the rest of my life with her...

And after 10 years our union is still meeting and exceeding all my expectations!

Couldn't ask for anything better....Thank you Thailand!

I answered your question this way ....because in the long run does it matter really WHERE you live as opposed to WHO you live with. I'm one of the lucky ones who met a great women and made a go of it ......could have been anywhere else in the world but Thailand is where I met her and Thailand is where she wants to live.....Happy wife....Happy life.

Brilliant

[Soutpeel]

I suggest the OP add the requirement that everyone who answers his question should include the time period they live in Thailand FULL TIME.

Why ?

[JesseFrank]

I suggest the OP add the requirement that everyone who answers his question should include the time period they live in Thailand FULL TIME.

Why ?

Maybe you should take a look at the last line in your first post in this thread, as that would answer your question.