The best ex-pat community in Thailand.

[Jonde]

My 2 cents on this: I think the best way to hang out with "expats" is to somewhat join a specific group, i.e bowling group or join one of these fancy expat clubs like internations.org/thailand. I was wondering around SIAM and MBK area. Lots of white folks and other foreigners. From my perspective, it is somehow .. I wouldn't say weird but I get the impression that most of them want to be left alone.

MBK: I randomly spoke to a European I guess, because his English sounded like it. Anyway, I asked him simply about what football club he prefers. He was playing PS3 (a gaming console for those who don't know it). I didn't mean to interrupt or anything, and he seemed to smile at me, but he couldn't get my question and he was just nodding his head.

I can't really say that CM, BKK is the best place... It all comes down to what kind of people YOU want to meet specifically. I'm not really a party and club guy but it kind of seems to be the no1 thing for expats when I look at Bangkok Expats in Facebook. The expats as a whole are too diverse and there are many events you might want to try out.

[jpeg]

Seems like no one likes the OP wherever he lives.

A round of golf could help him maybe...like....

More like a good shag?

Are you man enough to be up for it?

Sorry you have never struck me as being the type, best forward this over to the Gay forum.

Ma well be he is stuggling to come to terms with coming out, confused and dazed (should that be Dazed & Confused?).

[Kudel]

After reading about people getting fleeced out of their life savings after joining certain expat clubs in Thailand i would stay well away of said clubs and avoid them like a bad smell.

[snottgoblin]

After reading about people getting fleeced out of their life savings after joining certain expat clubs in Thailand i would stay well away of said clubs and avoid them like a bad smell.

That looks like a given regarding certain places and individuals. Most of thos plumbs would never get membership to certain clubs in other countries. Rotary is a joke here, which is sad

[Strangebrew]

Well for myself anyplace but I tend to judge people by how they are not where there from. Have a few Thai friends too so depends on your and how you interact with others. Hey even sometimes I don't want to be around myself but very rarely.

[ggt]

where is the most variety of decent ex-pats?

Living in other countries...

[bazza40]

Not sure why a lot of responses are condemning the OP's nationality preferences, we all discriminate although we won't admit it to ourselves. There's one part of the world I want to see again only in the warm afterglow of a nuclear explosion.

It really doesn't matter where you go in Thailand, there are expats you can make friends with, and others who are oxygen thieves - just like online. Enjoy the first group, and learn to ignore or avoid the others.

[loongdavid]

Beats me why you even bothered to visit Thailand, let alone settle here. I really don't think you could assimilate anyway.

[Pii Kate]

You're right. Chiang Mai is too darn far away.

[Mudcrab]

Most likely Scotish...

Naah, the fact he uses the term "Brits" leads me to believe the OP is a colonial cousin

If he was Scottish....he would be referring to the "English c**t's"

and if he was aussie they would be bloody poms/pommies, who calls them "Brits"?

If he was an Aussie he wouldn't be asking the question.

We just say G'day to all and sundry and can see through the bullshit and call it what it is.

If someone responds positively .. that's great..if not ..up yours and move on. You can be a mate for life or just another <deleted>...up to you.

We can be friends with any nationality as long as the person is genuine as that is our nature and upbringing from a multinational country.

Even Greeks bearing badgers don't faze us.

[Frank James]

"Of Chiang Mai, I personally think it has had its day. It was good 10-20 years ago, but is now overrun with expats and a little bit weird and busy."---Dave Austin

Aw Dave, NOW you tell me!

[seancbk]

How old are you, nationality and interests?

I think in a genuine post he would said far more about exactly what you ask, of course he has made no replies as of yet.

Perhaps he will, rather than just talk about people he dislikes.

I'm not surprised he hasn't replied given the unfriendly responses he's had.

[seancbk]

In my opinion our infinity11 is spot on with his description of the ex-pat scene in Thailand, except that I would elaborate and say this extends to all nationalities of farangs living in Thailand and is not exclusive to the Russians and the British and certainly do not consider the OP`s comments as racist, he is just telling it how it is.

His question: where are the-best ex-pat communities in Thailand? My answer to that is; there are no ex-pat communities in Thailand that I am aware of.

I would doubt that any Westerners plonking themselves in Thailand for the long term would ever be successful in gaining close friendships within the ex-pats circles. Many are extremely iffy, for example I have learned over the years to never ask farangs what they do in Thailand, some are openly hostile, rude, arrogant and strictly anti social. The older ones in general seem to be the grumpiest of all, totally rooted into their own worlds and some will consider other farangs only as intruders into their space, like a dog meeting another dog for the first time.

Over the last couple of years there have been quite a few farang social groups starting up, loads on facebook, but as the OP said; most are just people trying to sell something or hustlers seeking jobs or just those looking for potential customers to sell whatever it is they are peddling.

I have been lucky because I plonked myself in Thailand over 30 years ago, there were some good groups here then and consider myself as having and had the best of it. But today it is a different scenario, a completely different scene and a completely new breed of ex-pats arriving in Thailand, more or less as our infinity11 explained it.

I've lived in Bangkok for 6 years and in that time I've made some very good friends, although not that many.... in fact I'd say about 12 good friends who I see regularly and then maybe 30 or so people who I know quite well socially.

Sadly only 1 of my good friends is Thai.

The fact that in 6 years I've only come to know less than 50 people is pathetic. I had 600 friends at my 35th Birthday in Hong Kong and could have easily doubled it if I had a bigger venue.

It is a fact that because of employment restrictions, Thailand will never have much of an expat community for people in their 30's and 40's.

Sure there are plenty of expats passing through as tourists but not long term young expats living and working here to socialise with and develop long term friendships with.

Beetlejuice, how many of the friends you made when you moved here 30 years ago are still here?

[arend]

Friendships are the result of shared values, interests, experiences and time spent hanging out. Gets tougher as we get older and we become naturally more reclusive and preoccupied. I have accepted that acquaintances based on casual encounters and conversations may be as good as it gets now. Thus, I find myself reaching out to old friends via facebook helps. And the friendly conversations I have with other farangs, young-old, multi-nationalities, in my building, at the store or coffee shop will do for a social life. But the one thing that creates a natural affiliation is that we're ex-pats, foreigners, striving to make a life here. Maybe I'm naive but my first response is openness and interest and not suspicion. Maybe a perk of being retired is I no longer feel threatened. It's not quite what I expected but it is what it is....CM embodies many of the values I have, health, nature, art and spiritual growth....It takes time to become part of a community...

Edited October 17, 2014 by arend

[cloghead]

After reading about people getting fleeced out of their life savings after joining certain expat clubs in Thailand i would stay well away of said clubs and avoid them like a bad smell.

That looks like a given regarding certain places and individuals. Most of thos plumbs would never get membership to certain clubs in other countries. Rotary is a joke here, which is sad

I would never want to join any 'club' that would accept someone like me as a member

[carter1882]

I suspect the OP has all the information he needs after reading the "helpful" comments on this microcosm or moronism. Whatever you do stay in Bangkok where it is possible to avoid the cretins and enjoy your life without the need or pressure of joining any particular "community". Pattaya, Chiang Mai and, heaven help us Hua Hin.....ugh, think I'd rather be in Bournemouth. Beaches are nice for very short holidays but give me glorious Krung Thep anytime.

[BlueSkyCowboy]

Well, I left the US because I did not like the illegals, especially Obama etc

[Jomtien2649]

How old are you, nationality and interests?

Asking what part of Thailand would have the best ex-pat community is a fair question.

Making negative comments about the Russians and Brits was not a good idea but surprised by all the negative and mean spirited comments...

I think living in an ex-pat community is more interesting and fun then living in a Thai village but then again it is an individual thing it depends on what type of life style you want to have in Thailand...

I have been visiting Thailand for 25 years and it has changed a lot since I first started going their, some of the islands used to be really nice but when you live on an island you are somewhat isolated and over time the island seems to keep getting smaller..

Chang Mai has a nice ex-pat community but the air pollution is terrible during the summer months and is too far from Bangkok, and not a lot of things to do their... Hua Hin is nice but too quiet.....

I believe Pattaya/Jomtien has the best ex-pat community, it has a large European community, but also many other foreigners from England, Australia, U.S. Russians etc. its nice to be able to interact with people with western views , their are many international restaurants, it offers more activities then any other place in Thailand, the night life is probably the best in Thailand, it is close to Bangkok and the airport... I prefer Jomtien over Pattaya but if you want to go to Pattaya it is a short drive...

[CharlieH]

Many off topic posts removed.

[super22k]

It is strange how these "nasty old Brits" almost colonised the world to make it into a better place.

It is strange how the whole world is trying to immigrate to live with these"nasty old Brits"in Britain

It is strange how these "nasty old Brits"invented almost everything from the jet engine to television.

It is strange how everyone wants to speak English the language of these "nasty old Brits"

Maybe the world would be a better place if we had more of these"nasty old Brits."

[AYJAYDEE]

It is strange how these "nasty old Brits" almost colonised the world to make it into a better place.

It is strange how the whole world is trying to immigrate to live with these"nasty old Brits"in Britain

It is strange how these "nasty old Brits"invented almost everything from the jet engine to television.

It is strange how everyone wants to speak English the language of these "nasty old Brits"

Maybe the world would be a better place if we had more of these"nasty old Brits."

very unlikely.

[mango66]

I have nothing against your posts so I will answer.

Is there anywhere that you would like to be?

Seems to me, you find a fault with everywhere you have been.

You don't like the British, you don't like the Russians.

What about the Greeks? Any good to you?

I can't understand, how do you expect other people to help you.

I do believe you have to help yourself and stop being so choosy.

did you ever pay to an non Greek a free drink ?

to OP:

I have best experiance with frech ,

on beginning very difficult of their reservation of language reasons,

and of war histories,

but once the ice is broken,

bon jour !

Sawar vabien !

sorry in english - as I dont speak much french, but enough

[mango66]

OP sounds like a judgemental bigot

The OP sounds like a real bag of fun at parties, of course one suspects the only ones he is invited to attend would be the balloon variety

Definitely an whinger full of self entitlement, got to be an overstayer for definite..

I don't know, I wouldn't be so hard on him. There are stuffy, grumpy old Brits, and there are certainly unsociable Russians. He's not saying they all are, just that there's a concentration of them in the places he's mentioned.

My city would be hard pressed to raise 100 farang in total, and this is the 3rd largest city in Thailand, yet some of the Brits are certainly grumpy and old, and the few Russians I've come across....well, just by the loud and aggressive way they were treating the shop staff, I wouldn't want to know them.

Just yesterday, I was beside a fellow farang on the Big C travelator.....farang being so scarce here, and we were travel companions for a minute, I smiled and said "G'day"....he snubbed me completely. Took him to be a Brit with his sandals and shorts and pasty white clean-shaved face.

Why would someone not even say hello? Unless he was just some pervert sexpat that was too embarrassed to meet someone who would guess what he was?

does a brit really smiles at all ??

[KonaRain]

In Hawaii we are civil to other non Asians in Asian community..though in years passed its get somewhat more homogeneous..

Aloha

[dotpoom]

My best ex-pat community would be void of the judgmental type such as yourself. When you point your finger at other people....there are three pointing back at yourself.

[KhnomKhnom]

One of the reasons I moved out of America was the general run of people. I certainly do not want to pal around with the types I moved away from.

[Loptr]

It is strange how these "nasty old Brits" almost colonised the world to make it into a better place.

It is strange how the whole world is trying to immigrate to live with these"nasty old Brits"in Britain

It is strange how these "nasty old Brits"invented almost everything from the jet engine to television.

It is strange how everyone wants to speak English the language of these "nasty old Brits"

Maybe the world would be a better place if we had more of these"nasty old Brits."

Ah yes, british colonialism... Do you really want to go there?

[benalibina]

It is strange how these "nasty old Brits" almost colonised the world to make it into a better place.

It is strange how the whole world is trying to immigrate to live with these"nasty old Brits"in Britain

It is strange how these "nasty old Brits"invented almost everything from the jet engine to television.

It is strange how everyone wants to speak English the language of these "nasty old Brits"

Maybe the world would be a better place if we had more of these"nasty old Brits."

Ah yes, british colonialism... Do you really want to go there?

Credit where credit is due....they make the best police/detective series....still.

[roamer]

Decided to move to Timbuktoo and it's all your fault, don't want to live near such a miserable bunch of

[loongdavid]

It is strange how these "nasty old Brits" almost colonised the world to make it into a better place.

It is strange how the whole world is trying to immigrate to live with these"nasty old Brits"in Britain

It is strange how these "nasty old Brits"invented almost everything from the jet engine to television.

It is strange how everyone wants to speak English the language of these "nasty old Brits"

Maybe the world would be a better place if we had more of these"nasty old Brits."

Ah yes, british colonialism... Do you really want to go there?

Yes, well it's certainly well out in front of whatever is running second. I think you want to learn the difference between jealousy and envy.