Tales from your Thailand honeymoon period

[keestha]

Has been written enough about it: Often expats seem to go through kind of a honeymoon period their first about one and a half years in Thailand, thinking they found paradise, a country full of sweetly smiling people, where everything seems to go super easy. Later though the novelty wears off and certain things start bothering them, and alas in more then a few cases they even end up being embittered, possibly also grabbing for the bottle too often, whining with like minded expats.

Wouldn't it be nice to share some stories from our honeymoon period? I'll start with one of mine.

1992. I was staying at a guesthouse in Bangkok, looking for a job as an English teacher. There was a classified ad in the Bangkok post from a language school at Pinklao Road, I called them, and was invited to drop by straight away. So out I went in the sweltering heat, and waited for the packed red city bus. Went into a cafe a few doors from the language school to prepare mentally and tidy up my appearance a little bit.

I went into the office of the language school, and it was full of absolute stunners, female staff working there. They all looked up when I walked in, smiling at me like I was kind of a teenage heartthrob.

I asked about Mr. Chalermchai who was to interview me, and was quickly directed to his table. Chalermchai seemed like quite a nice guy, and the interview went very smoothly. He assured me he would call me the following day or at the latest the day after that, and I shouldn't forget to let him know if i would change rooms in the guesthouse, so that he would be able to get hold of me for sure (no mobile phones yet back then).

I left the office being sure I had the job. Out on the street, I pinched myself to make sure I was alive and not in paradise already. I felt high without any chemicals involved! What a terrific country, your first job application you walk into an office full of dazzlingly beautiful girls who smile at you like they are ready to hit it off with you straight away, and you are given the job right away after just one interview.

The next day and the two days after that I stayed in the guesthouse, waiting for the guy to call. Only the third day it slowly started getting through to me that the guy had just been polite to me Asian style, not telling me there were other candidates and me certainly not being the best one, not being a native English speaker to start with.

[brit1984]

I remember when we first moved here and I saw McDonalds does delivery... wow!

[nottocus]

Where to start? I remember the first time I arrived in Bkk in Don Meuang at 11 pm. Went out the front of the airport with my mate and some other backpackers and got the bus 56?? to Khao Sanh. The ride in was amazing…non air bus, pollution, traffic, chicks on other buses smiling, lights. I was blown away.

Edited May 6, 2014 by nottocus

[trainman34014]

We spent our honeymoon in Perth; no problems whatsoever !

[marko kok prong]

was is dis hungrymoon peliod?

[Thaiberius]

Arriving at Don Mueang the first time and feeling the claustrophobic heat, the smells, the madness. The buzz has never left me.

[simon43]

I remember wandering around Patpong and walking into the Star of Light, thinking it was just another bar.

In the bar area there was a 'chaise-longue' against one wall on which reclined the fattest and biggest American guy I have ever seen. (His accent gave away his nationality).

He was also stark-naked with 2 ladies .... er ... doing what only SoL does best.

This all came as rather a surprise to a newbie like me. I was so shocked, I had to sit at the bar to recover

Simon

[bkkjames]

For me it has to be the sewer smells - just don't make them like they use you.

[Payboy]

I remember when I used to sit stark naked in Star of Light with two ladies. I remember the look of shock on the faces of gawking tourists and newbie expats. Those were the days.

Wait that was yesterday....!

[JLCrab]

I was always interested in Buddhism from a secular standpoint. In the early 90's I saw a couple of young Thai women lighting incense and do their wais ablutions before going to work ... in one of the big massage parlors and thought now this is the kinda Buddhism I can relate to.

[Ricardo]

was is dis hungrymoon peliod?

Isn't that the period-of-time leading up to just before your marriage-ceremony ?

Just kidding, Mrs R, honestly, now put the scissors down, please !

[Ulysses G.]

My Thailand honeymoom period has lasted more than 20 years, so far. The good stuff has always outweighed the bad stuff. Having to go "home" permanently would SUCK!

Edited May 7, 2014 by Ulysses G.

[Thaiberius]

I work overseas and in the UK occasionally but live in Thailand. I still have a house in the UK. Often when travelling back to work I arrive at the airport and wonder how I would feel if I were never to return due to illness, financial hardship, war, prison. The thought is quite frankly too horrible to contemplate. My honeymoon period has lasted for over a decade and long may it last. I will never live anywhere else.

[Suradit69]

My Thailand honeymoom period has lasted more than 20 years, so far. The good stuff has always outweighed the bad stuff. Having to go "home" permanently would SUCK!

I agree. Not quite 20 years yet, but closing in on it. I wasn't wearing rose coloured glasses when I decided to settle in Thailand, so I'm still happy with the "marriage" and the honeymoon continues.

Being on a continuing honeymoon doesn't mean you must be blind to reality but that you sensibly took into account the pluses and minuses and decided the former outweighed the latter ... and still do. Although something like 50% of marriages don't last in the west, that implies that about 50% do. I'm pretty sure, despite all the whining from the malcontents, that 50% or more of those who chose to live in Thailand are still happy with the choice they made and those who aren't happy would be unhappy wherever they were (and be intent on spreading the unhappiness far and wide).

Likewise, if you reached a well-thought out decision to come to Thailand, then it was based on more than the novelty of gogo bars and the childish belief that people who smile at you must think you're cool. If you make silly impulsive decisions regarding marriage or settling in Thailand or whatever, the novelty will wear off and the marriage will fall apart or you'll get cranky and blame Thais for all your problems.

Making impulsive decisions and blaming everyone else for the results is a way of life for many people.

[fatdrunkandstupid]

Once upon a time laying next to my girl as she slept and breathing in the intoxicating scent from her hair was all that mattered.

[N47HAN]

I live in Phuket now but for me all the memories come from the first two years living in bkk ,

Theres just too many to list or put in any order.

Amazing just amazing time thise first few years.

It would be nice to be so nieve once again :-)

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Cylon]

2005 First time in Phuket , the smell of sewerage in Patong, came back in 2012 to live, they still have not flushed it.

[transam]

Once upon a time laying next to my girl as she slept and breathing in the intoxicating scent from her hair was all that mattered.

Yeh, grandpa told me about mustard gas......................

[brucegoniners]

My wife brought her parents. Nuff said...

[transam]

My wife brought her parents. Nuff said...

Where from..?

[brucegoniners]

Issan, lol

[mamypoko]

I remember wandering around Patpong and walking into the Star of Light, thinking it was just another bar.

In the bar area there was a 'chaise-longue' against one wall on which reclined the fattest and biggest American guy I have ever seen. (His accent gave away his nationality).

He was also stark-naked with 2 ladies .... er ... doing what only SoL does best.

This all came as rather a surprise to a newbie like me. I was so shocked, I had to sit at the bar to recover

Simon

Too funny. Do tell, Simon, what was he saying that you could discern his accent origin?

[fatdrunkandstupid]

I remember wandering around Patpong and walking into the Star of Light, thinking it was just another bar.

In the bar area there was a 'chaise-longue' against one wall on which reclined the fattest and biggest American guy I have ever seen. (His accent gave away his nationality).

He was also stark-naked with 2 ladies .... er ... doing what only SoL does best.

This all came as rather a surprise to a newbie like me. I was so shocked, I had to sit at the bar to recover

Simon

Too funny. Do tell, Simon, what was he saying that you could discern his accent origin?

[simon43]

Too funny. Do tell, Simon, what was he saying that you could discern his accent origin?

It was more like sounds, not words - but sounds definitely emitted with a Texas twang!

[ppmacready]

I came to Thailand on holiday with my friend approximately 18 years ago, because my girlfriend went on holiday with my sister.

I had a wonderful holiday romance with a girl older than my UK girlfriend.

I fell in love with this beautiful girl called Ying, who didn't seem to have a job.

And had only been here about 2 weeks.

The chemistry was electric.

When I went home, I found my girlfriend on the cusp of starting to date another guy.

So I wrapped up my affairs and a year later returned to Thailand.

On a quest to find my new love Ying.

Disappointingly I couldn't find her anywhere.

One day a friend asked me to go to the wildest short time bar in town.

He emphasised how the girls had a nasty reputation and were up for anything!

As we walked in, I noticed all around me scantily clad girls performing the whole 9 yds in the bar!

I was immediately excited, as I'd never been in a bar like that before.

Then I felt my heart sink as Ying, bra less, rushed to greet me, and to top it off, her very first words to me were, can you lend me 500baht?

Not even, Hi, how are you my love!

I believe having that single decisive lesson so early, formed a solid foundation to build a very happy life for the next 18 years in Thailand.

Where I have loved and lost, but not the house or car!

[peterb17]

I had never heard of this expression before ( referring to Thailand) when some git replied to a perfectly sensible comment-" you must still be in your honeymoon period" no that ended a long time ago

[smotherb]

I remember when I used to sit stark naked in Star of Light with two ladies. I remember the look of shock on the faces of gawking tourists and newbie expats. Those were the days.

Wait that was yesterday....!

Ah, but do you remember the Bunny House and the Kangaroo, upstairs over Max's in Patpong

[smotherb]

Haven't gotten to the honeymoon stage yet, still dating I guess. It was only June, 1967, when I first arrived. Met a girl named Mem who was a Muay Thai fighter at Thai Heaven on Petchuburi. I keep finding unusual people, places and things to do in Thailand, so don't when the honeymoon begin.

[Thakkar]

I remember wandering around Patpong and walking into the Star of Light, thinking it was just another bar.

In the bar area there was a 'chaise-longue' against one wall on which reclined the fattest and biggest American guy I have ever seen. (His accent gave away his nationality).

He was also stark-naked with 2 ladies .... er ... doing what only SoL does best.

This all came as rather a surprise to a newbie like me. I was so shocked, I had to sit at the bar to recover

Simon

Too funny. Do tell, Simon, what was he saying that you could discern his accent origin?

He was moaning "oh Gaad!" Instead of "oh God!"

T

[LaraC]

When i first arrived i was awe of how introspective and seemingly deep-thinking the Thais were.
Even when picking their noses, i figured they must be truly deep in thought.

...ahhh, those were the days.