Getting Fed Up Of Thailand

[robes]

I have been living in the oh so wonderful land of smiles for half a decade now, I am in my mid 20s, can speak Thai fluently but have had recent events taint my view of this country. I knew before of the things such as corruption and incompetence, anybody here long enough knows about that.

However I was subject to pretty severe police brutality and had my motorbike stolen and thrown into a cell all in one day, and now there seems to be a greater crackdown on laws regarding long term staying foreigners. My visa is all in check and everything, but now you get fined 2k baht for not carrying an ID? What a wonderful way for the BiB to make some more money.

Is it just me or do others feel a change in the atmosphere here, the winds of change are certainly blowing and I think that maybe it is time to look elsewhere, maybe Cambodia or Laos.

Here I cannot use my skills in graphic design because it is pretty much impossible to get a job as a farang in that field as we all know, and starting my own business? What a joke, I would need 2 million baht and to hire a couple of Thais, what are they going to do, start my computer in the morning and watch me work?

What are your feelings of the recent changes in the law and is anybody else considering relocating?

[Soutpeel]

I would suggest getting a Soapie and you will feel much better in the morning... promise

[Seastallion]

I can't imagine why you motorbike was thrown into a cell.

I think you're just having a bad day or are a troll. Someone will test your claim to fluency, and that might dispel troll accusations.

[tonytigerbkk]

My feelings, I'm very happy with the recent changes.

The idiots who pretend that they have something to offer Thailand will move on.

[Bernard Flint]

Retiring in Thailand is far better than trying to work, i wont even ask if you have a work permit

Overall the enforced rules need to be applied,we have terrorism on the southern border,world wide crazy muslims, non thai criminaLS, overstayers,ed visa scammers,do i need to continue????

The whole system has not been adhered to, and non thais think its so easy to flaunt the LAW.

All the corruption haters, welcome to the Junta

[sanuk711]

A member for 20 minutes...... thank for sharing your complaints robes----you be happy to know I am in complete & utter agreement with you.......... You should go......................

[mrtoad]

Oh my god, he's upset about having to carry ID. The Sky is falling.

[mrtoad]

I would suggest getting a Soapie and you will feel much better in the morning... promise

He's probably a soap dodger

[khunpa]

I have lived here 4 years now and I am starting to look for another place. I am simply feed up with the trouble of doing business here, visa, work-permit etc. and of course also now having to report to the police, when we go and visit friends and family here. It is just too much and I have become really sick of it.

Our company here could e.g. grow and easily hire 2-3 skilled foreigners, but since we need hire 4 Thai-employees to get one work-permit, then it is simply not worth staying here. And we can not find the skilled local staff, so it is impossible to grow the business here. It is simply stupid and frustrating as well. Can not find local staff, but need them to be able to hire skilled foreign staff. It is just stupid.

Will visit both Cambodia and Philippines during the next couple of weeks and then decide where to move. One thing is for sure... I am out of here. I was hoping for better conditions for foreigners here, but have seen nothing else that more and more restrictions. It seems as Thailand is only a place for older people with their pensions to spend.

A shame really...

Edited July 29, 2014 by khunpa

[Loptr]

Oh my god, he's upset about having to carry ID. The Sky is falling.

Which as been the law for how long?

[Bernard Flint]

I have lived here 4 years now and I am starting to look for another place. I am simply feed up with the trouble of doing business here, visa, work-permit etc. and of course also now having to report to the police, when we go and visit friends and family here. It is just too much and I have become really sick of it.

Our company here could e.g. grow and easily hire 2-3 skilled foreigners, but since we need hire 4 Thai-employees to get one work-permit, then it is simply not worth staying here. And we can not find the skilled local staff, so it is impossible to grow the business here. It is simply stupid and frustrating as well. Can not find local staff, but need them to be able to hire skilled foreign staff.

Will visit both Cambodia and Philippines during the next couple of weeks and then decide where to move. One thing is for sure... I am out of here. I was hoping for better conditions for foreigners here, but have seen nothing else that more and more restrictions. It seems as Thailand is only a place for older people with their pensions to spend.

A shame really...

Very big pensions in some cases

Get yourself a Cambodian passport, only 500,000 us dollars, peanuts realy

[MrWorldwide]

OP, if its any consolation whatsoever, I know two Thai women who have been thrown in jail for riding their motorbikes from Walking St after a few drinks. Both claim to have been treated 'like shit' by Pattaya BiB and both were subjected to extortionate demands for money. I would also note that many Thais cheered when the General fired the police chiefs - unfortunately his crackdown on tea money appears to have made them even keener to find new revenue streams.

[chiang mai]

The herd has broken into a gallop, the government wants everyone to have legitimate visas and to carry ID, as a result many will now head for Cambodia or Central/South American countries, do you realize how stupid that all sounds and do you not think those countries will have laws and rules also that you have to abide by!

[robes]

I don't work here I am a student, I am not trolling no and I can speak Thai fluently but I am not so hot on writing just yet. I can write how I would speak if you want proof. Sam wan ti-leow rot kon pom hi laow, mai rue krai ow der donee mai mee rot. Ja tam yang nai mai reu, der pom naa bua maak. Mee banha kerab tukwan.

Anyway enough of that, basically my bike was parked outside of a police station, a tourist police station for that matter, and when I got back it was gone. So I went over to them and they were playing cards at the time, go figure, they seemed very disinterested and so I spoke a Thai slur and that was enough to warrant one of them to come up to me. We argued and then got into a scuffle, then I was cuffed and whilst cuffed beaten around the head and face sat down, and then kicked. I got put in a cell and was not charged with anything and released the next day.

I do have things to offer like I said, I graduated with a diploma in graphic design but starting a business here is beyond my means. This is the first time I have ever had an encounter with the police in this fashion and I am a quite kind of guy, prefer to read a book than go to a bar. I am thinking maybe Laos or Cambodia, the languages will be easy enough to pick up.

[neverdie]

The OP is obviously upset, we are all here to offer words of support and encouragement for the poor simple sod.

Dear OP, have you been gurgling Badgers milk ?

[Brit_Doggie]

Not considering shipping out from here,but i will help you pack your bags,with your skills surely anywhere else in the world would be better suited for you.

The law is clear about carrying id as we all know.

Bon voyage.

[mrtoad]

Oh my god, he's upset about having to carry ID. The Sky is falling.

Which as been the law for how long?

Exactly.

[tonytigerbkk]

I do not understand why people have to announce to everyone when they want to leave a room.

Just go, we didn't know you until 5 minutes ago, so rest assured that we won't miss you.

[mrtoad]

The OP is obviously upset, we are all here to offer words of support and encouragement for the poor simple sod.

Dear OP, have you been gurgling Badgers milk ?

Might be a tad expensive for the OP

[Seastallion]

Off you trot then.

You're not very convincing.

[neverdie]

I do not understand why people have to announce to everyone when they want to leave a room.

Just go, we didn't know you until 5 minutes ago, so rest assured that we won't miss you.

He will be missed down at the Sukhimvit Felchers club.

[robes]

Yes very funny, you know TV posters for the most part one some of the coldest and inhuman people on the internet, I have known this for a while so it is to be expected. Most of you are just old men with pensions looking for a nice Thai bride who will probably screw you over eventually.

I posted this as a matter of opinion to discuss, and as you can see I am not alone with thinking that this place, Thailand, is becoming less and less welcoming as time goes on.

I would like to see how you felt after your bike was stolen and then you get severely beaten to the point you cannot eat for a few days, and put into a cell.

[neverdie]

The Thais should make a national sport out of kicking the crap out of douchebags, there's no shortage of them visiting

[GentlemanJim]

Posted by robes

I have been living in the oh so wonderful land of smiles for half a decade now, I am in my mid 20s, can speak Thai fluently but have had recent events taint my view of this country. I knew before of the things such as corruption and incompetence, anybody here long enough knows about that. However I was subject to pretty severe police brutality and had my motorbike stolen and thrown into a cell all in one day, and now there seems to be a greater crackdown on laws regarding long term staying foreigners. My visa is all in check and everything, but now you get fined 2k baht for not carrying an ID? What a wonderful way for the BiB to make some more money. Is it just me or do others feel a change in the atmosphere here, the winds of change are certainly blowing and I think that maybe it is time to look elsewhere, maybe Cambodia or Laos. Here I cannot use my skills in graphic design because it is pretty much impossible to get a job as a farang in that field as we all know, and starting my own business? What a joke, I would need 2 million baht and to hire a couple of Thais, what are they going to do, start my computer in the morning and watch me work? What are your feelings of the recent changes in the law and is anybody else considering relocating?

Well if you are working from home on your computer then do you need a work permit? I guess only if you have people in Thailand paying you in to a Thai account. Get paypal or some other payment system connected to a bank out of country, and do your work 'outside' Thai borders electronically.

What you are really saying is that you want to live in a lawless country. The change 'in the atmosphere here' has been amazing as far as I am concerned. Get this General out of the Army and get him voted in as PM as quick as possible pleas Thailand! For those that moved here so that they can drink drive with impunity, break most laws and bypass trouble with the equivalent of a few dollars bribe and ignore a countries visa policy then hopefully things will change for the worse for you. Those searching 'comfort' in Cambodia or Laos simply do so to ensure they can continue to live a relatively lawless life. Well you know where the airport is, don't waste time typing on here, your mind is clearly made up, just go. Good luck

[robblok]

Oh my god, he's upset about having to carry ID. The Sky is falling.

I have to carry an Id in my home country.

This rule might make all those lazy expats get a Thai DL.

[ATF]

Your Thai is still in the "Me Tarzan you Jane" phase.

[Bernard Flint]

OP, if its any consolation whatsoever, I know two Thai women who have been thrown in jail for riding their motorbikes from Walking St after a few drinks. Both claim to have been treated 'like shit' by Pattaya BiB and both were subjected to extortionate demands for money. I would also note that many Thais cheered when the General fired the police chiefs - unfortunately his crackdown on tea money appears to have made them even keener to find new revenue streams.

I know a couple of brits who were arrested for drink driving,thrown in jail too, maybe deportation. having only a few drinks is still over the limit,they should have 6 months in jail,plenty of mb taxis,and baht buses.

[FritsSikkink]

I don't work here I am a student, I am not trolling no and I can speak Thai fluently but I am not so hot on writing just yet. I can write how I would speak if you want proof. Sam wan ti-leow rot kon pom hi laow, mai rue krai ow der donee mai mee rot. Ja tam yang nai mai reu, der pom naa bua maak. Mee banha kerab tukwan. Anyway enough of that, basically my bike was parked outside of a police station, a tourist police station for that matter, and when I got back it was gone. So I went over to them and they were playing cards at the time, go figure, they seemed very disinterested and so I spoke a Thai slur and that was enough to warrant one of them to come up to me. We argued and then got into a scuffle, then I was cuffed and whilst cuffed beaten around the head and face sat down, and then kicked. I got put in a cell and was not charged with anything and released the next day. I do have things to offer like I said, I graduated with a diploma in graphic design but starting a business here is beyond my means. This is the first time I have ever had an encounter with the police in this fashion and I am a quite kind of guy, prefer to read a book than go to a bar. I am thinking maybe Laos or Cambodia, the languages will be easy enough to pick up.

We argued and then got into a scuffle

What are you studying? Who told you it is a good thing to get into a scuffle inside a police station?

[khunpa]

I have lived here 4 years now and I am starting to look for another place. I am simply feed up with the trouble of doing business here, visa, work-permit etc. and of course also now having to report to the police, when we go and visit friends and family here. It is just too much and I have become really sick of it.

Our company here could e.g. grow and easily hire 2-3 skilled foreigners, but since we need hire 4 Thai-employees to get one work-permit, then it is simply not worth staying here. And we can not find the skilled local staff, so it is impossible to grow the business here. It is simply stupid and frustrating as well. Can not find local staff, but need them to be able to hire skilled foreign staff.

Will visit both Cambodia and Philippines during the next couple of weeks and then decide where to move. One thing is for sure... I am out of here. I was hoping for better conditions for foreigners here, but have seen nothing else that more and more restrictions. It seems as Thailand is only a place for older people with their pensions to spend.

A shame really...

Very big pensions in some cases

Get yourself a Cambodian passport, only 500,000 us dollars, peanuts realy

I don't really need a passport, since I already have one.

I just need a place to have a business, where I do not need to hire 4 local staff, when I want to hire a foreigner who can do the job. Besides that would be nice to be able to own 100% of the business, I invest 100% in and not only 49%. Have until now stayed here for personal reasons and because I hoped things would change to the better. Since this does not seem to be the case, then luckily I have other options.

There are actually countries out there, who actually value foreign investment and skills and who will not make things as complicated as possible for me. The current situation here does not attract or value foreign investors and entrepreneurs. It might take some time for Thailand to see that, but when they do it might also hurt the people living on their pensions here.

[mrtoad]

OP I can definitely see where your coming from. I also feel like Thailand is a hoer house for retirees

Well you know where the airport is then