would you recommend relocating to Thailand to friends back home?

[Sewell]

I'd quite like to have a few of my friends nearby.

I like spending time with some of the Thai people here, but sometimes you want to be with people who you have more of a cultural connection with. All the other foreigners in this small town are significantly older than me. Many, but not all, express sexist, racist and generally condescending attitudes that I really can't identify with.

[kimbathewhitelion]

Had the same feel, but that's what's forming new relationships is all about. Being in Thailand with this "Yes" or "Up to You" people have taken away from the 'casual sit down & talk' from social being. It's still there, just give it some effort.

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[10Yen]

Depends how old they are,

If too old to adapt and to old to change after a lifetime of living in a nanny state, then , NO, only come here for holidays.

If younger, or a person that has moved around to different places and can adapt to different conditions without always comparing it with and expecting it to be like back home, then Yes, why not.

I have been here since 1990 and everything about the infrastructure is better now than then, but, in 1990 the volume of traffic was nothing like it is now, so I have grown with the traffic boom, I drive regular 600 Km trips up country and back, and I am never worried, not saying I don't ever have some scary moments, but I have got used to the way of driving, when I first came here it was strange and well scary, now I'm used to it and would probably get screamed at by drivers in the UK for my driving if I ever went back there, as my driving has probably changed from what it once was.

Things here are strange at times, and for an older person who has no experience of different cultures and social conditions, they may struggle to adapt.

My advice would be, have a year over here go back home for a few months if you can last that long, then repeat for a couple of years, see how you feel about the place then, but even then it's not like being here full time.

For me, I have no choice, I have nothing or nobody back home, so I have to make the best of it, if I had the choice of going back, would I go if I could, NO WAY.

That's why I can never understand the whiners here who do nothing but put Thai people and Thailand down, they have the choice to go back to where everything is better yet still choose to torture themselves here.

[kimbathewhitelion]

Find a common ground & ignore the rest.

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[laolover88]

Well! On what basis would you 'recommend'?

From your experience, How much do you know about Thailand?

I was in Bangkok yesterday, and I lived there for 5 years, and thought thank the lord I don't live here any more!

I was in the Chiang Mai house and just got in before the smoke closed the airport..on the road to ruin, too.

I used to live in Phuket and Trang; (I like hot sea!) before the Russians came! Are you going to suggest they live in

Korat or Hat Yai?

I live here, now, in what Thai people, let alone

my friends, think is the wilderness, in a small provincial capital; because I have a wife, a family; my children have

friends and go to school, however useless. They will have jobs, houses; all the things that have disappeared in Europe.

It is far from ideal; but where is? Here it is a bit like somewhere like Farnham or even Shrewsbury in the UK.

I like the climate, I like what passes for culture, I miss good book shops, (but I can buy almost everything I want from

Kinokuniya on the internet or even Amazon) and salami and cheese and the theatre; (my wife has everything, ordered on

the internet, for her shops delivered from BKK in 24 hours) but any 'disadvantages' are more than made up for by 24 hourstreet markets, endless festivals, and anyway we have Big C, Makro and Tesco Lotus if you really want to

shop. More importantly we have a beautiful house,a beautiful garden bought for threepence............

And it has an airport..I can be in BKK in an hour

I went to almost every Asian and S.American Country to work; Thailand was clearly a preferable place to live.

It was always my dream, when young, to live in Provence, but luckily I only

did so briefly................depends what your friends want!!

Edited March 27, 2014 by laolover88

[Scottythai]

Easy yes for me as I already have. I good friend of mine from Canada got in at my company. I told him the single best thing you can do is live outside of Canada and not pay tax. Being a guy who likes money he agreed. He is a bit stubborn to try to learn the language but he loves the weather and beaches. Now I do believe it would depend on the person. We all know people from back home who are not ment to travel.

[danmarnj]

I can love it for a few months each year. Im retired with no dependents and a nice pension, but Im bored after a while there. Then i go back to my home country, play golf and enjoy friends and creature comforts. Then get bored and back to LOS for a different type entertainment

[simple1]

YES!

You are Thai so I assume you lived overseas for a number of years. What country is 'back home' for you & why would you recommend relocating to Thailand?

[yourauntbob]

I stopped recommending this place to myself a few years ago, and if all goes well in the next month I might be able to take my own advise.

[Issangeorge]

Depends on the friends. It takes a special kind of person yo live here. Someone who is willing to adapt and fit in, someone who realizes the west isn't right about everything, someone who is willing to change and willing to go along to get along.

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[johnmarhall]

if they are unhappy in their life then why not

[nanapong]

If the person wants to witness how different a place can be from more mature societies in the west, yes

If the person wants cheap sex or companionship, yes

If the person wants to instantly raise his intelligence relative to the surrounding population, yes

otherwise, no

If somebody had to move here just to feel more intelligent I'd advise them to stay at home. Some of the posts I read on here certainly reassure me of my superior intelligence though.

Mature societies.......?

Cheap Sex?

Surrounding youself with lower intelligence to look good?

Sounds pretty pathetic....not anything close to what most of us come for.

A new adventure after a lifetime of a droll work environment.

A warmer climate.

Lower cost of living.

Companionship with like minded farangs

Perhaps a good relationship with a lady who don't weigh a ton and a half

Cheaper health care for those over sixty, who cannot get that at home.

A beach view....a few laughs with friends...something exotic to write home about

It can be positive.

" Perhaps a good relationship with a lady who don't weigh a ton and a half "

Take that out of the equation and 90% of farangs wouldn't stay here for more than a few months.

The other 10% are gay !!!

Edited March 27, 2014 by nanapong

[moonseeker]

After 20+ years I would have to say NO, unless they are very superficial and not critical to what kind of world Thailand has become in the last 10 years.

However there are still some good places, especially down South and with plenty of disposable income some people might make it their own paradise.

Living here or being a 1-mth. tourist in a nice resort are two very different pairs of shoes. MS>

[Naam]

i have done so. a fistful of them are happily living in Thailand, another fistful will arrive within the next 2-3 years.

[Naam]

Depends on the friends. It takes a special kind of person yo live here. Someone who is willing to adapt and fit in, someone who realizes the west isn't right about everything, someone who is willing to change and willing to go along to get along.

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i [not so] humbly beg to disagree. completing with a non-Thai wife soon 10 years in Thailand. our life in Thailand is very comfortable without "adapting" (but accepting certain circumstances which are beyond our control) and we definitely did not "fit in" nor are we willing to "fit in".

summary: we like Thailand. once in a while we bitch a bit, but smile and think "TIT".

[ccarbaugh]

No, I wouldn't recommend it.

"Farangs" are always outsiders here

no matter how fluent, friendly, civilized, virtuous....

It is a very distrustful society that is

fixated on appearance and superficiality.

[robblok]

Depends who they are.. and depends if they can make money here or not. With money this is a great place if you are just scraping by it is not.

[Neeranam]

Depends on the friends. It takes a special kind of person yo live here. Someone who is willing to adapt and fit in, someone who realizes the west isn't right about everything, someone who is willing to change and willing to go along to get along.

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i [not so] humbly beg to disagree. completing with a non-Thai wife soon 10 years in Thailand. our life in Thailand is very comfortable without "adapting" (but accepting certain circumstances which are beyond our control) and we definitely did not "fit in" nor are we willing to "fit in".

summary: we like Thailand. once in a while we bitch a bit, but smile and think "TIT".

If you want more serenity and peace, perhaps adapting to the things not under your control would be beneficial. It takes courage

[EASYDOGG]

Only if they had money for a comfortable life. Once the pot dries up a return beckons and that might be worse than just staying put to start with.

[kimbathewhitelion]

Higher cost of living compared to size & quality of space, or quality of food, or quality of anything, if not living like a peasant, horrible pollution, hot & humid all year long, the most expensive & worst wine in the entire world, the worst international food whether by restaurant or available for cooking, a country without sanitation laws, without ANY health laws whatsoever including serving spoiled food to customers without any liability (in other words, if you get the most severe food poisoning, you're still required to either pay the bill or go to jail); in all foreigners have less rights than the day laborer Burmese.

The only thing attractive about this country is no individual income, (most places, no) sales (but if, than 17%), or yearly if any, property Taxes. Or if you're unattractive, old past your means, obese or socially inept, than easy pay, beautiful young women.

Will always deter people away, far away from this country.

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[stevo52]

you think so yes))) nice place to relocate yes ok have a view this u-tube then you tell me if your only going to live there to get ripped off or not there are 2 more recently done u-tubes circulating one shows and old ferang getting beaten & bashed for his property in the northern provinces ! family set him right up --its time to remove the rose colored glasses guys'' before crimson turns to blood - would you relocate -- to their??? after seeing this u-tube ???? plus 2 other new ones that are out ??

1 american just had losses close to 500k ------------- another i know last week supporting a family near 3 years she was all scam losses to him $51 k usd -lovely place eh / not !

talk about---- come in spinner !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STCpKDAmKSs

[ironhorse10]

It would depend on what the person was looking to do here, if they wanted to start a business, buy a house, take a chance on civil unrest, buy a Harley at a decent price, work in your garden with out being bit by a snake and I could come up with a lot more, then I would say no, if the person came here for Cheap rent, good food, scenery, Cheap Medical, beautiful women then I would say yes.

[kimbathewhitelion]

Ironhorse10, forgot about that. Having lived in Issan. The daily incursions of snakes, millipedes & wasp nests all over the house. Centipedes from 12 inches to 1 meter long traveling either through the grass or hanging from the tree branches. Ants galore. Mosquitos, knats, flies, all by the billion, daily. And every single insect bites or stings, ferocious itch or pain.

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[Tony125]

I have recomened to friends, 1 is retired over here with me now and a few will be joining us later when they retire in a few years --4 are married to Thai girls a few others will visit and decide if they would like it here long time. I have had 5 friends send thier kids over on hooneymoons and eco vacations, Being an expat is not for evewryone but doesn't mean I don't recomend Thailand to visit and check out. All have pensions as well as other assets when they retire.

[janpharma]

NO...

Behind the "Amazing Smile" is no smile....

[stevo52]

NOW THE MAN ABOVE CAN SEE THROUGH THE GLASS ))))))) WHAT I WANT TO KNOW--- IS WHEN IS SOMEBODY GOING TO CLEAN UP ALL THE SCAM ? - HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO LOSE THEIR LOT--------- BEFORE SOME BRAVE JOHNNY STANDS UP DEFIANT---- AND SAYS OK WE ARE GOING TO FIX THIS !

THE PLACE NEEDS A CLEANUP TOTALLY!

[NoshowJones]

No, as my home country offers them a more secure life than Thailand would.

That's all right if you don't mind lots of wind and rain, paying lots and lots of taxes, and living a week to week existence, unless of course, you are very rich. I am only referring to the UK here.

[transam]

NOW THE MAN ABOVE CAN SEE THROUGH THE GLASS ))))))) WHAT I WANT TO KNOW--- IS WHEN IS SOMEBODY GOING TO CLEAN UP ALL THE SCAM ? - HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO LOSE THEIR LOT--------- BEFORE SOME BRAVE JOHNNY STANDS UP DEFIANT---- AND SAYS OK WE ARE GOING TO FIX THIS !

THE PLACE NEEDS A CLEANUP TOTALLY!

Never happen. You alien, your problem, we have your cash, get on with it, we no care...............

[dunque]

If the person wants to witness how different a place can be from more mature societies in the west, yes

If the person wants cheap sex or companionship, yes

If the person wants to instantly raise his intelligence relative to the surrounding population, yes

otherwise, no

I am guessing that as far as the third reason you give, you are the exception that proves the rule.

[kimbathewhitelion]

I have recomened to friends, 1 is retired over here with me now and a few will be joining us later when they retire in a few years --4 are married to Thai girls a few others will visit and decide if they would like it here long time. I have had 5 friends send thier kids over on hooneymoons and eco vacations, Being an expat is not for evewryone but doesn't mean I don't recomend Thailand to visit and check out. All have pensions as well as other assets when they retire.

Eco Vacation in Thailand, are you kidding!! And you live here. You know Eco refers as an energy friendly environment not economic friendly, but both are a huge MISS here either way. You must be way out in the sticks & probably given, the 1st expat of the country.

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