Is life better in the land of smiles

[sesdaman]

As a brit, living in England, with a Thai wife and son, we do think about living in Thailand quite a bit. But is life that great for you guys out there? I get mixed messages when I read some of the comments on here. Some of you are really content and happy, whilst others seem to be moaning about just about everything! Is this just the normal mix of views or not? I do wonder why some of you stay there, as theres moans about the government, soi dogs, the price of a meal, the thai people, the weather, taxi's, road accidents, it goes on and on. Some of you just don't seem happy unless you're having a moan! I've been a regular to Thailand for 15 years, and I know there's some real problems over there, but guys, youre living the dream, away from your home country that you weren't happy with. England has issues, everywhere has issues, but there must be good reasons why you stay, and not just the bars and girls!! So tell me, How many of you regret the decision to move out there, and how many of you love it! I'll be interested in adding up the positive replys against the negative ones.

Cheers guys

[HeijoshinCool]

Some of you are really content and happy, whilst others seem to be moaning about just about everything! Is this just the normal mix of views or not?

Look at it from another perspective:

Maybe some claim they are happy because they are deeply invested and have no way out and the lies keep them sane, or it's just as "bad" where they are from, or, they're embarrassed to go back.

And maybe some of us who are sick of it, just aren't complainers.

So, appearances, and especially anonymous claims, are dangerous if you use them to make a major life decision.

Lots of guys who just six months or a year ago, were claiming how everything was great, how LOS was perfect … they have spontaneously vanished from TV.

[i claudius]

My wife son and I lived in the UK for many years,then we came here ,we love it but and it's a big but ,you need money ,and a loving wife who does not go off with her mates gossiping and gambling and a child who wants to learn and go to a good school,anyway that was made us happy everyone is different, as for the moaners ,they would find something to moan about if they lived in paradise

Edited August 16, 2014 by i claudius

[Crossy]

I'm one of the happy ones, yes we do have the occasional run-in with culture etc.

That said:

I earn more, spend less, have a bigger home and a generally higher standard of living than I ever did in the UK, I like the weather

But:

I am a consultant engineer to major infrastructure projects around Asia, not restricted to Thailand although 3 of my current projects are Thailand based.

[Bernard Flint]

I still love Thailand,even after 12 years. There will always be moaners, they moan about politics, get quite worked

up,but they know they cannot do nothing about it. i totaly believe some do it to pretend they know something, and pontificate all day.I bet they sit at bars, and make a complete arse of themselves, by getting riled about this.

Some dont even eat thai food lol, incredible, but as some dont get up untill 5pm, then back out drinking heavily,what a shiiite life for some.

I dont believe this is living the dream, winning 15 million pounds would be living the dream, this is my home instead of uk, and i prefer it a million times more, warts, pontificators and all.

When certain expats decide that they are no better than thais,the place will be better.

Edited August 16, 2014 by Bernard Flint

[zeichen]

First of all, coming here for a holiday isn't living here, so don't judge until you have lived here for 15 years. Second, this is an anonymous forum so people are less likely to stick to social norms. They tend to be negative, lash out, and just plain rude. Myself included from time to time. If you want to be truly happy here, don't read TV or any expat forum. 3rd. I assume with her comments that when you are with people in England, you never complain about the cost of living, taxes, immigrants, pollution, politics, etc. Otherwise how is it any different for forum posters to come here and vent?

Most of choose to live her for different reasons and some adjust better than others. I have been happy here for 15 years but there are times that I get fed up. I don't think that is anything to be ashamed of. If I had what I have back in my home country, I would be there. There are things that I don't have here that I miss but overall it is a choice that I can live with.

Seems like you wouldn't be happy here in the long term otherwise you would be here already. Staying as a long term tourist isn't living here.

I also believe that you would get better responses if your OP wasn't judging the people that you want comments from.

[96tehtarp]

No one can be happy here in Thailand all of the time. That's not possible. It is possible to be happy every day, although not all of the time.

TV is disproportionately populated with moaners and bitter nutcases and weirdos. I should know, I'm one of them.

[chiang mai]

I can put my hand on my heart and swear that I am happy here, there are things I miss about the UK and Europe that I want to experience again so I plan to spend some time there each year, but that need is only driven by the fact that I've been here full time for over ten years and I'm nearly 65.

Two weeks ago we were up in Chiang Rai, just a few hours north of us. We were sat in our room at the Dusit Island Hotel, a room in a five star hotel with excellent facilities and views, it cost us less than £46 a night including breakfast. As we were enjoying the view out of the full length windows, the clouds coming in over the mountains, the river, the colors and the simply wonderful overall vista, I thought back to my UK trip in March where I paid £56 for a room in a Traveldoge with a truck park outside and a very expensive Harvester as the sole means of food, drink and entertainment, the contrast was stark

I then thought about how little it costs by comparison to do the "weekly shop" here in Thailand and how outrageous it can be, unless you have cooking facilities back in the UK.

Once back home in Chiang Mai I needed to visit the Emergency Room at a local hospital at near midnight. I was seen and dealt with in the space of thirty minutes, (overpriced) medicine was prescribed but I felt 100% better within the hour, the cost was £15. But the best parts were that the cashier and the pharmacist both smiled, were super polite, one engaged me in pleasant conversation and the next day, the nurse called to see if I was better.

We eat out here frequently, sometimes it's 50 baht food, a couple of times a week the bill for the two of us runs to 600/700 baht but that's for a really nice meal - the UK comparison is non-existent.

We don't ride motorbikes hence no accidents, we never get ripped off by the police, Soi dogs are easily manageable, taxi's are easy to order by phone and the rate is fixed and cheap enough. Road accidents? you need to be alert, just like everywhere else.

Am I truly happy here, you bet I am.

[CharlieH]

Its a state of mind, you can "choose" to be happy or unhappy wherever you choose to live.

You can choose or decide what will bother you or not, the rest is just geography.

I choose to spend the larger part of the year in Thailand and the rest have trips elsewhere.

[EmptyHead]

Life is only about happiness (in my opinion).

I dunno, would you be happier here? What do you think happisness is about?

[4evermaat]

.... I'll be interested in adding up the positive replys against the negative ones.

Cheers guys

I'm sure you'll have your work cut out for you on TV over the next week or so.

The people in real life are usually much more pleasant than many of the anonymous posters scare-mongering/fear-mongering against various disagreements they have with thai culture or ways of doing things.

[kokesaat]

The ONLY way you will know the answer is to try it for yourself. Not much different than a movie, meal, style of clothes, or choice of beer......what works for some, doesn't work for others.

We've lived here for 15+ years.......on vacations back to the US.....first two or three weeks, I'll question why I'm living in thailand........but after a few weeks, it sinks in.......we could never live this style of life back in the US.....an acre of landscaped yard, a gardener, a maid, no Jones, no snow or ice. As with all things in life, there are trade offs......but they're minor compared to the positives.

[Costas2008]

OP, everybody makes his own life.

I wouldn't listen to keyboard warriors, like me, because we speak about our own opinions and experiences that could be completely irrelevant to you.

You must have by now, formed your own opinion and made your decision.

Follow your instinct and don't listen to others.

Anyway, subjects like corruption, or bar girls or jet ski scams will not affect you.

Thailand would not have a big population of farangs if they didn't like it here.

They would have gone back to their country, as I would have done.

There is no comparison with the UK or any other country, there you slave for a living, here you are the boss of yourself and you adjust yourself and your family as you feel fit.

I wish you and your family all the best in your future life in Thailand

[Rimmer]

Troll post removed

[kjhbigv]

I would say give it a try.... maybe rent out your place in the UK, give it a year and see.

Personally, after 6 years here being married and a new baby, I love it still.

I have property in the UK and go back once a year for a few weeks.... but after a few weeks I honestly have an urge to get back to Thailand.

Not much I miss about the UK and with technology today staying in touch with friends and family is easy.

Next year I will take my family to the UK, to live the UK lifestyle for 3-4 months. I will have a better idea of which lifestyle I want for the foreseeable future.

Give it a go but don't burn your bridges in the UK.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

It's great if you come from a country that's wet and cold.

It's great if you want a younger woman, or just want to go whoring.

It would be a disaster if you came here with a wife and children.

Your children would get a bad (yet expensive) education, no chance of a decent university, and have zero chance of making money in their future.

You owe it to your son to live in the UK until he has started university.

Then you can do what you like, and he will be free to choose his own future, knowing you gave him the best start in life you could.

[bim]

I have to say I would find it hard adjusting to a life again back in UK. The negative comments are always from Farrangs who never embrased the Thai culture. If u do that you will be OK. Going back to the UK depresses me just the thought of it. Get involved with the local community here and always smile and be pleasent and you will be fine. I promise u wont look back. Wishing you and your family well

[pigeonjake]

to answer the OP,

YES

and im not writing it down again, lost count how many time ive writan my reasons down,,,lol

[Banzai99]

I've lived here since 1990, I obviously like it here else I'd move on.

Then again, I moved here when I was 35, so I was young enough to adapt, dunno if I'd feel the same if I had been 65 though.

[zeichen]

"It's great if you come from a country that's wet and cold.

It's great if you want a younger woman, or just want to go whoring."

After someone writes this you can disregard everything else they say. This is the only problem that I see living here is Sexpats like this poster.

[chiang mai]

"It's great if you come from a country that's wet and cold.

It's great if you want a younger woman, or just want to go whoring."

After someone writes this you can disregard everything else they say. This is the only problem that I see living here is Sexpats like this poster.

I am not known to come to the defense of AOA's posts but you have quoted selectively and out of context and need to be incarcerated or shot, your choice!

[pigeonjake]

i too didnt see were AOA said this is what he does,

again another poster seeing in the writan word what he wants to see

[benalibina]

i too didnt see were AOA said this is what he does,

again another poster seeing in the writan word what he wants to see

A common occurance on this forum. Comprehensive reading, and complete quoting, is not a strong point of

many.

[BudRight]

The important thing, for you, is that the education system is terrible and the social environment for kids is like lord of the flies.

[RolandRat]

Absolutely ! .....says it all.....yyeeeaaahhhhh

[neverdie]

If Roland likes it in the land of smiles it must be good. He's an international traveller with much experience.

The Greek Milker of Badgers and small furry animals seems to think isaan is the ducks nuts.

[kevvy]

to answer the OP,

YES

and im not writing it down again, lost count how many time ive writan my reasons down,,,lol

I am with you Jake. Love it here.

[geronimo]

Best thing I ever did was to come to Thailand!

[GuestHouse]

The OP poses a question, but pre-loads it with yet more moaning about people who moan.

I guess it was that time again.

[krisb]

I'm in a similar boat as the op.

Living in Australia, 39yo, Thai wife, 1 small daughter.

We often ponder packing up and moving to Thailand.

The main issue would be income living there. I would still need to earn enough to be able to save for retirement. No idea how that would go in Thailand. Would mean re starting a whole new type of career, from the ground up.

Visa issues...well that's maybe ok with a Thai wife, but who knows in the future. Here in Aus, Thai wife has no real visa issues.

Schooling for daughter...sounds a little worrying from all I have read on here.

Safety of daughter. Maybe I'm over reacting on that one, but I know she's safer here in Aus, and I trust Aussie doctors more for that matter.

Then let's not forget slimey things like Thai corruption, and extortion from locals trying to make a quick baht even though their bike hit yours.

All in all, as much as it sounds great moving to Thailand, think staying put here, schooling the kid here, earning here, saving here etc etc etc here is probably for the best. Then one day, Thailand here we come!

Maybe some longer Thai holidays are what's needed!