Where Do You Live?

[Bluecat]

So since we had a poll on the nationality of the members, I think we should have a poll on where they live.

There are so many new forums that it could give us a indication of whether it is wise to create them,...

But besides the location, why do you live where you live?

Is it your choice, is it your wife choice, is it your company choice or you just do not know why you are where you are,... ?

[Bluecat]

I live in Bangkok.

Why do I live here?

My company choice.

Do I like it?

Sure, but I like living in big cities,...

Would I like to live somewhere else?

Outside Thailand, I am not sure (see other forums,...).

But in Thailand, I am sure there are many places far better than Bangkok where people love to live,...

[utapaortnab]

Bluecat,

I have lived in Thailand (Pattaya Beach) in 1971-1972 and 1995-1996, and lived outside Thailand the rest of my almost 68 years on this planet. After my first trip to Thailand, I just always figured I would someday retire for good in Thailand but after I met and married my Thai wife during my 29th trip to Thailand (the youngest daughter of my Thai Monk), and we relocated back here to San Antonio Texas, we are both quite satisfied with just living here, (a city of 1,300,000 with lots of things to do each day), and just visiting Thailand for a month each year or so.

Guess I'm set in my ways, but I don't think at this age I could live without being closer to my(our) kids/grandkids from my first marriage all of which are so close to both of us and have accepted Lat so well, and could not adjust to being without DSL speed computer hookups, 300+ channels of TV available at the click of the remote, and all the perks of living here in the city I love the most.

San Antonio offers the lowest cost of living of any city I'd choose to live in, and we have mild winters, rainy but beautiful springtimes with wildflowers like the Texas Bluebonnet, hot humid summers that only last for three months but are like being in Thailand all during the year, and delightful falls. We also have the friendliest people I've ever met and I've been in all 50 United States and 39 Countries.

Yearly visits for us just seems to be the best parameter but I do envy those with the courage and desire to follow their dreams and live full time in the Land of Smiles and for most of my adult life, I have envied those who found suitable employment in Thailand.

Gosh, I ramble on, don't I?????????????

Ken Bower

San Antonio Texas USA

Visiting Thailand since 1971

http://homepage.mac.com/mgnewman/KenLat/

[Bluecat]

Jeez, Kenandlat,

You again,...

I think your experience and wisdom(you did not come to Thailand without having a job,...) will be much appreciated on this forum,...

By me, anyway,

[tutsiwarrior]

where do I live? bluecat...yer gettin' a bit personal there pardner. Could you keep a secret of if told you?

ahem...'where are you from?', 'where do you live?', 'why do you not reply?'...threads all initiated by bluecat. I am a bit anxious with visions of unsavory types with facial scars in monocles and long leather trenchcoats mumbling together in a central european language collating incriminating information...

[Boon Mee]

No offense intended, Bluecat, but let's not have a poll asking how much $$$ we make?

Best regards,

Boon Mee

[bmanly]

I live in Pattaya 6 Months and Australia 6 months. Pattaya is my choice because it is faily cheap, clean, good markets, good shopping, good restaurants, good entertainment and I can drink in over 1500 different bars. I like to get togeather with other ex pats and have a good time over a drink. My wife likes it too although doesn't like bars or the bar scene but as she says "Pattaya has everything".

[tutsiwarrior]

i have to admit that there is a tescos on the main road to chonburi...

[KevinN]

I live in a small village,not far from a mid-size town in central Thailand.

Why do I live here,,Well I came to Thailand to drink and have sex with the pretty girls without getting shot at all the time while working in Viet Nam in 68/70,and I had a crew of Thai weldors working for me in the Arabian gulf in the mid 70s and liked the people and country.

And I live in this village because there are very few farang here and if I wanted to be around them,I would have stayed in the USA.

[Pink Mist]

Well we (my wife and I) live in Adelaide, South Australia for 11 months of the year and in Issarn for the rest. We have a house in Banpaed, near KhonKaen and it's a great location, friendly people, quiet and cheap.

The plans are to move back to LOS full time in 5 years when we finish renovations to one house and build the other.

My stepson finishes his High School Education then and if he wants to do Uni he will have the option of here or there, I think Adelaide will be his choice though (ay Doc)

[Lourens]

I just finished building a house in Buriram. I don't stay there permanently yet but will do so in the next couple of years (months?). We love the place. It is just outside of town (about 5 minutes by scooter) in a real village setting. The people are friendly and living is easy and cheap. It was a combination of me and my Thai wife's choice to stay there. I have a Brit neighbour about 500 meters away. We would like to get a place by the sea later. (Me and my wife - not me and the Brit!)

[Bluecat]

No offense intended, Bluecat, but let's not have a poll asking how much $$$ we make?

Why? This is actually quite a good idea but since it's yours, I'll let you post it,...

[Maverick]

I live in Bangkok but am tired of the traffic so............looked at C Mai, Phuket, Samui, Hua Hin, Thap Sakae, Chumporn, Nakhonsawan, Sukhotai and last Pattaya. Need international schools access, excellent hospital due to young kids and expat foodstuffs, restaurants - looks like Pattaya is getting the nod due to value for money real estate and facilities above but.......... the reputation of the place slightly bothers me i mean its hardly something u shout from the rooftops is it. Oh also the connection to Bangkok is the safest route having been nearly killed several times driving to Hua Hin/C Mai.

[Bluecat]

I live in Bangkok but am tired of the traffic so............looked at C Mai, Phuket, Samui, Hua Hin, Thap Sakae, Chumporn, Nakhonsawan, Sukhotai and last Pattaya. Need international schools access, excellent hospital due to young kids and expat foodstuffs, restaurants

I think you have to set your priorities straight. Is traffic the main concern or schools, hospitals, expat food stuff,...?

If the traffic is the main concern, go to Nakhon Sawan,...

If it is all the other "factors", stay in Bangkok or consider Chiang Mai,...

[Georgie-Porgie]

where do I live? bluecat...yer gettin' a bit personal there pardner. Could you keep a secret of if told you?

ahem...'where are you from?', 'where do you live?', 'why do you not reply?'...threads all initiated by bluecat. I am a bit anxious with visions of unsavory types with facial scars in monocles and long leather trenchcoats mumbling together in a central european language collating incriminating information...

Today, I went to have a swim. There was a young muscular guy by the shower of the swimming pool and he sneered dramatically at me while I showered.

My clothes were near him, and because he'd acted very strangely, I kept an eye on him while I was swimming.

I've never seen anything like this in a public place before, but he started doing martial arts poses and kicks. Then he started banging his elbows and knees against a big cement post, like it was a punching bag, using Muay Thai strikes, and grimacing in the direction of the pool. This went on for about 1/2 an hour and then he disappeared into thin air.

All I could think of is that one of the nuts from the Internet had tracked me down.

Hold on, is there somebody missing here?

[ChiangMaiThai]

where do I live? bluecat...yer gettin' a bit personal there pardner. Could you keep a secret of if told you?

ahem...'where are you from?', 'where do you live?', 'why do you not reply?'...threads all initiated by bluecat. I am a bit anxious with visions of unsavory types with facial scars in monocles and long leather trenchcoats mumbling together in a central european language collating incriminating information...

Today, I went to have a swim. There was a young muscular guy by the shower of the swimming pool and he sneered dramatically at me while I showered.

My clothes were near him, and because he'd acted very strangely, I kept an eye on him while I was swimming.

I've never seen anything like this in a public place before, but he started doing martial arts poses and kicks. Then he started banging his elbows and knees against a big cement post, like it was a punching bag, using Muay Thai strikes, and grimacing in the direction of the pool. This went on for about 1/2 an hour and then he disappeared into thin air.

All I could think of is that one of the nuts from the Internet had tracked me down.

Hold on, is there somebody missing here?

Sh#t, sorry I missed it. I add all farangs who do martial arts and yoga at hotel swimming pooils to the list of those who need to go straight home. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

[Bluecat]

Today, I went to have a swim. There was a young muscular guy by the shower of the swimming pool and he sneered dramatically at me while I showered.

Can not be the Gentleman, can he?

[Boon Mee]

Today, I went to have a swim. There was a young muscular guy by the shower of the swimming pool and he sneered dramatically at me while I showered.

My clothes were near him, and because he'd acted very strangely, I kept an eye on him while I was swimming.

I've never seen anything like this in a public place before, but he started doing martial arts poses and kicks. Then he started banging his elbows and knees against a big cement post, like it was a punching bag, using Muay Thai strikes, and grimacing in the direction of the pool. This went on for about 1/2 an hour and then he disappeared into thin air.

All I could think of is that one of the nuts from the Internet had tracked me down.

Hold on, is there somebody missing here?

Bet he was just a cook's helper posing as some kind of martial arts expert. You gotta watch your back, Georgie!

In terms of "young/muscular" you never know these days with all the Botox & steroids out there...

[Boon Mee]

No offense intended, Bluecat, but let's not have a poll asking how much $$$ we make?

Why? This is actually quite a good idea but since it's yours, I'll let you post it,...

Bluecat~ I'll pass on the money topic but how about a poll on how many years younger is your Thai wife than yourself? Bet that would be illuminating!

[davethailand]

Today, I went to have a swim. There was a young muscular guy by the shower of the swimming pool and he sneered dramatically at me while I showered.

My clothes were near him, and because he'd acted very strangely, I kept an eye on him while I was swimming.

I've never seen anything like this in a public place before, but he started doing martial arts poses and kicks. Then he started banging his elbows and knees against a big cement post, like it was a punching bag, using Muay Thai strikes, and grimacing in the direction of the pool. This went on for about 1/2 an hour and then he disappeared into thin air.

All I could think of is that one of the nuts from the Internet had tracked me down.

Hold on, is there somebody missing here?

i live in pattaya and love it, also my business is here as well as wife, friends etc

georgie porgie

i'm guessing that you live in pattaya also as i've only ever seen pricks like the guy in your pool here.

[tutsiwarrior]

hold on...do these suspect individuals wear leather trench coats and mutter incomprehensively in a gutteral language? if so I think we got a real problem here...

[Maverick]

hold on...do these suspect individuals wear leather trench coats and mutter incomprehensively in a gutteral language? if so I think we got a real problem here...

where is 'here' - Pattaya?

[utapaortnab]

Bluecat - Although I'd made 35 trips to Thailand including my initial trip in 1971, I've always avoided Bangkok spending probably only a couple dozen days/nites there total but really enjoyed the 4 days we spent there this last month's vacation trip Oct-Nov 2003. Lat and I agreed that we would spend more time in The Big Mango now as travelling about the city via the Skytrain has eliminated the most annoying thing about Bangkok - the traffic. Still do NOT like the smog, noise, and higher costs of being in the Capital of Smiles but....

BManly - Only spent one month's vacation in OZ but really loved it even though I only saw Sydney, Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne. I guess I love Pattaya so much because I've seen it grow from a city having 2 major hotels and a handful of bars and shops to the madness it has become. Still, we spend most of our vacation time there because that is where the majority of our friends are.

KevinN - Seems we may have something in common. I spent 20+ years in the military. (9 1/2 years in the USAF, break in service, then 11 years in the U.S. Army, retiring in Feb 1975). Also served as a Personnel Administrator in Saudi Arabia for almost 5 years for McDonnell Douglas. Spent 5 days in Dhahran, 5 days in Riyadh, 4 days in Khamis Mushayt, 3 1/2 years in Taif, and 20 months in Jeddah. Loved Taif. Most people who have never been to Saudi think it is all lifeless desert while only the Empty Quarter is what most conceive as desert and the rest of Saudi is much like New Mexico, Arizona, or SE California "desert".

Bronco - The only disappointment during our 83 or 84 months visit to OZ was that there were big fires between Melbourne and Adelaide so we didn't get over to your province/city. I would like to take another months vacation to OZ visiting Darwin, Ayers Rock, SW Cape, Perth and Adelaide amongst other areas but at almost 68, I now carry more luggage filled with prescription medicines and incillin related products than luggage filled with clothing and toiletries...lol

Lourens - Never been to Buriram but have met loads of people from there. Perhaps during some vacation in Chiayaphum, where Lat is from, we will have the time to visit Buriram, NKP, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Korat more thoroughly.

Maverick - I can understand ANYONE's desire to move outside the madness that is Bangkok but perhaps when the new airport is built, the NEW skytrain will allow you to live in Bang Na (an area I like) or other suburbs along the new skytrain route that will allow your dependents safe passage to whatever Int'l school they attend there or perhaps you should have a look at Ban Chiang area south of Pattaya Beach. There is a new Queens Hospital there that is as good as any in Thailand excepting Bumragrad (sp) and it might be close enough so your child or children could attend the Int'l school in Pattaya. There are a scattering of farangs living in the Ban Chaing area already including one of the guys who served at U-Tapao during the Viet Nam War.

I hope Lat and I get to meet each and every one of you during our next trip. We will be attending another U-Tapao Group Reunion during our next planned visit. It WAS scheduled for Dec 2004 or Jan 2005 but will probably be re-scheduled for Oct 2005 now due to many of our U-T Group NOT being able to attend over the holidays.

Ken and Rattana Bower

San Antonio Texas

[djinn]

I am living in Naklua,near Pattaya.

My choice of location before deciding where to live was between:Phuket,Samui ,Bangkok and Pattaya.I visited /lived in these places for about 10 months in the last 3 years.(I visited Chiang Mai in the 80’s )

Finally I choose Pattaya

-small city,everything concentrated (shopping centers,hospitals,restaurants…).

-first class hospitals .I am not yet too old (51) but it could become an important factor

-less traffic jam than Bangkok

-air quality good

-rainy season more easy to live there .Thunderstorms but rarely 2 or more uninterrupted rainy days like in the islands in the south

-nice quite places to live around (say 20 min drive max):Naklua,Jomtien ,Na Jomtien,Pattaya East….

-cheapest cost of living of the various places visited (condos,farang restaurants,bars….)

-only 2 to 3 hours to Bangkok

-and last but not least quality and quantity of entertainments

A very important factor was having a social life.I know some businessmen in the city long time established here .They introduced me into a network of local people.

[utapaortnab]

djinn,

Very good post with valid reasons for choosing Pattaya area. I have a very good friend that lives in a very nice condo in Naklua. I have noticed that while years ago, it was mostly filled with German tourists, retirees, it most recently has been the favorite area for Russian tourists/expats.

I have ALWAYS thought IF we ever did decide to retire in the Pattaya area, most likely I would choose to live at the Pattaya Beach Condos on Soi 13 but most recently, I have changed my mind in favor of Ban Chiang, or Naklua, or Na Jomtien or perhaps even Rayong.

But for now, Lat and I are quite content living here in San Antonio Texas full time and just vacationing for a month at a time every year or year and a half or whatever.

I think I am happier with Thailand just vacationing than I was living full time there in 1971-1972 and 1995-1996. Makes us so very excited to get there B4 every trip and yet ready to leave when our month is up.

As we are living on just my retired Army checks and Social Security checks, we could never afford to support housing in both locations and to move full time to Thailand would not allow for our visiting my/our kids/grandkids and other friends here in the U.S. on a regular basis plus as I am over 65 and have diabetes and have had a stent (non working now) and double bypass, living here all my medical expenses are FREE excepting my having to pay $68/mo. for Medicare part B and Lat paying $230/yr plus $12/visit co-pay.

Should I move to Thailand full time, I would HAVE to live in Bangkok or Pattaya areas just to assure having high qualitymedical facilities I might require and even though the prices of doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospital visits there are minimal, any catistrophic medical situation would still bankrupt us.

We'll see what the future has in store for us though once the grandkids get full grown and Thailand continues to improve its computer hookups, phone service, TV programming, and perhaps, we hope, acceptance of Medicare and Tricare for Life Insurance coverages.

Ken and Rattana Bower

San Antonio Texas

[francois]

living in Chiang Mai, sabai sabai

francois

[adjan jb]

where do I live? bluecat...yer gettin' a bit personal there pardner. Could you keep a secret of if told you?

ahem...'where are you from?', 'where do you live?', 'why do you not reply?'...threads all initiated by bluecat. I am a bit anxious with visions of unsavory types with facial scars in monocles and long leather trenchcoats mumbling together in a central european language collating incriminating information...

Today, I went to have a swim. There was a young muscular guy by the shower of the swimming pool and he sneered dramatically at me while I showered.

My clothes were near him, and because he'd acted very strangely, I kept an eye on him while I was swimming.

I've never seen anything like this in a public place before, but he started doing martial arts poses and kicks. Then he started banging his elbows and knees against a big cement post, like it was a punching bag, using Muay Thai strikes, and grimacing in the direction of the pool. This went on for about 1/2 an hour and then he disappeared into thin air.

All I could think of is that one of the nuts from the Internet had tracked me down.

Hold on, is there somebody missing here?

You should quit smoking pot. It makes you paranoid.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

where do I live? bluecat...yer gettin' a bit personal there pardner. Could you keep a secret of if told you?

ahem...'where are you from?', 'where do you live?', 'why do you not reply?'...threads all initiated by bluecat. I am a bit anxious with visions of unsavory types with facial scars in monocles and long leather trenchcoats mumbling together in a central european language collating incriminating information...

Today, I went to have a swim. There was a young muscular guy by the shower of the swimming pool and he sneered dramatically at me while I showered.

My clothes were near him, and because he'd acted very strangely, I kept an eye on him while I was swimming.

I've never seen anything like this in a public place before, but he started doing martial arts poses and kicks. Then he started banging his elbows and knees against a big cement post, like it was a punching bag, using Muay Thai strikes, and grimacing in the direction of the pool. This went on for about 1/2 an hour and then he disappeared into thin air.

All I could think of is that one of the nuts from the Internet had tracked me down.

Hold on, is there somebody missing here?

It might just have been Gentleman Georgie. He has often offered to painlessly remove your head and other bits.

[Pi Sua]

Blue cat

After visiting regularly Thailand since 1989, I lived about a year in Chiangmai and now I've been living near Myanmar for quite a few years. I've got a lovely concubine and our son is going to be 6.

So, I don't know how long I will be living here but I do like this place.

[Boon Mee]

where do I live? bluecat...yer gettin' a bit personal there pardner. Could you keep a secret of if told you?

ahem...'where are you from?', 'where do you live?', 'why do you not reply?'...threads all initiated by bluecat. I am a bit anxious with visions of unsavory types with facial scars in monocles and long leather trenchcoats mumbling together in a central european language collating incriminating information...

Today, I went to have a swim. There was a young muscular guy by the shower of the swimming pool and he sneered dramatically at me while I showered.

My clothes were near him, and because he'd acted very strangely, I kept an eye on him while I was swimming.

I've never seen anything like this in a public place before, but he started doing martial arts poses and kicks. Then he started banging his elbows and knees against a big cement post, like it was a punching bag, using Muay Thai strikes, and grimacing in the direction of the pool. This went on for about 1/2 an hour and then he disappeared into thin air.

All I could think of is that one of the nuts from the Internet had tracked me down.

Hold on, is there somebody missing here?

You should quit smoking pot. It makes you paranoid.

Only if you've got something to be Paranoid about, eh?