Thailand has had a bad few years with coups, riots, and most recently this horrific double murder.

Now, i am not condoning any of it but these things and the way they are handled are normal (for want of a better word) here. When i moved here to live around 9/10 years ago my eyes were wide open knowing that there is a dark side to the country and the way it operates. I'm Brit national BTW

You know what though? It has never ever effected the way i live (apart from the odd curfew which is not a big deal for me), i have never ever felt threatened in any way. Ok i am dam sure i have had a check bin padded for 20-30 baht, i know i could have haggled longer when buying a tee-shirt,.....i still have a roof over my head and food in all our mouths.

The Thai people have never changed, they are all still the same smiles and helpfullness they have always been when i interact with them. I can still have a amazing night out in various towns and cities in the country, the beaches are still great and prices in general and favorable.

I've been lucky enough to have been to around 100 countries, i'm 40 doing the offshore thing so i spend genuine quality time in the country (for someone still working) I still love the country and what it offers me and my family. When i land at Swampy for my month off (i do 28/28) i still have a smile when we taxi to the jetwalk.


Like any normal person i find this murder horrific and very uncomfortable, but is anyone really that surprised about the way it's been handled? I'm not, sadly.

So, who else still loves the place and what it gives you and your family...................

OP, I'm happy that you are happy, so that makes us all happy.

I'm very happy living in Thailand as you are happy too.

Is that enough happiness in the air?

Firstly you are dichotomising the situation, just because people criticise the place it doesn't mean they don't like living here, you also use the word "love" which again is exclusive of many people who are happy to stay here.

The other possibility is that you are one of those people so cut off from reality you have not the slightest realisation of what is going on around you........ whether irt is human rights, politics social depravation human trafficking etc etc...... things that any right-minded person would be at least concerned about.

Thai people love living in Thailand..the rest of us accept it to one degree or another. Exactly as it should be.

After all, who loves to live in Australia.bloody Australians ..the rest love to one degree or another

Firstly you are dichotomising the situation, just because people criticise the place it doesn't mean they don't like living here, you also use the word "love" which again is exclusive of many people who are happy to stay here.

The other possibility is that you are one of those people so cut off from reality you have not the slightest realisation of what is going on around you........ whether irt is human rights, politics social depravation human trafficking etc etc...... things that any right-minded person would be at least concerned about.

These things i do shut off to as i cannot change them. I see it all the time, so used to it.

Thai people love living in Thailand..the rest of us accept it to one degree or another. Exactly as it should be.

After all, who loves to live in Australia.bloody Australians ..the rest love to one degree or another

Thailand is my home and my house , home is in Thailand. Have lived here for twenty years and married for nineteen, with a son of eleven.

I am shocked daily by events here and worldwide. But we try our best to be satisfied. No missiles aimed at our home at present; glad not to be in other parts of the world.Maybe things can turn pear shape, but less likely here I hope!

i too love living in thailand,, yes love,

im the same when i land for my 35 days off, i do 35 /35, i cant wait to get home,

ive worked as many have in some bad places, i was in IRAQ earlier this year,, was a hell hole, was on stage 2 lock down on the camp after 4 days,( s££t myself,)

thailand isnt to bad when you think of some of the other places in this world and the trouble in these places,,

yes it has its problems, so do most countrys,

ill stick with thailand thank you,, i love it, and my family

i too love living in thailand,, yes love,

im the same when i land for my 35 days off, i do 35 /35, i cant wait to get home,

ive worked as many have in some bad places, i was in IRAQ earlier this year,, was a hell hole, was on stage 2 lock down on the camp after 4 days,( s££t myself,)

thailand isnt to bad when you think of some of the other places in this world and the trouble in these places,,

yes it has its problems, so do most countrys,

ill stick with thailand thank you,, i love it, and my family

"yes it has its problems, so do most countrys," countries!

Agree.. I ran out of likes, or would have given one.... but my feeling are the same... it is not a bad place to live !

i too love living in thailand,, yes love,

im the same when i land for my 35 days off, i do 35 /35, i cant wait to get home,

ive worked as many have in some bad places, i was in IRAQ earlier this year,, was a hell hole, was on stage 2 lock down on the camp after 4 days,( s££t myself,)

thailand isnt to bad when you think of some of the other places in this world and the trouble in these places,,

yes it has its problems, so do most countrys,

ill stick with thailand thank you,, i love it, and my family

I just knocked back a job in Iraq as it happens.

Yep. It's awesome.

I seem to live in a different Thailand to many of the people who post here, though.

I love it here and it's a love affair that will last the rest of my days.

Yep. It's awesome.

I seem to live in a different Thailand to many of the people who post here, though.

Same here mate. It's easy to block out the bad and embrace the good......very easy

"Who all still loves living in Thailand?"

I do. I do. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else

When i moved here to live around 9/10 years ago my eyes were wide open ...

Likewise. Some of the veteran bashers think those of us who are reasonably happy here must be wearing the fabled saffron-colored glasses, but it's quite the opposite.

If you/I/we decided to come here with, as you say, your eyes wide open, you made an informed & deliberate decision after weighing the good & the bad. Since things have panned out pretty much as you (and I, and many others) thought they would, we are able to take life in Thailand without continually getting our knickers in a knot or trying to claim that the reality is completely different from what we first thought ... apparently due to some devious scam that prevented us from seeing things as they actually were.

Conversely, those who were wide-eyed (and wearing the saffron colored glasses on those wide-eyes) and initially overwhelmed by the prospect of wine, women & song under the palm trees, have turned into the bitter old dears who think it was all a deception and blame their myopia on everyone and everything Thai .

I still am quite happy in Thailand. The Thai people I know and/or deal with regularly are friendly and pleasant people. Many things that are somewhat problematical like higher prices, increasing crime, traffic, obnoxious "tourists," etc would be a problem in virtually any other touristy location where we might have settled.

I know the bashers are a relatively small but vocal group, but I can't imagine being that relentlessly bitter and unhappy about everything while blaming all the unhappiness on the country they purposely chose to visit or in which they decided to take up residence. If I felt that miserable so much of the time, I'd pick up and move on to wherever I thought the pastures are greener. Why spend all one's time whining ... although I expect some of the whiners have done the same most of their lives wherever they were.

Yep. It's awesome.

I seem to live in a different Thailand to many of the people who post here, though.

Same here mate. It's easy to block out the bad and embrace the good......very easy

I don't block out the bad. Well, I did when I first moved here, almost 25 years ago.

Every country has its bad and its good sides. And what is bad and what is good is for every individual to decide for himself.

So, I made the list, comparing Thailand to my home country and to some other countries I know. The bottom line was that Thailand is best for me.

That's the rational dimension, On the emotional dimension, I feel homesick for Thailand when I'm on a long trip overseas. "Long" means over two weeks. I love it here.

Yep. It's awesome.

I seem to live in a different Thailand to many of the people who post here, though.

I think I do too. I live here because I have so many wonderful Thai friends. I never have any problems because they will always know someone who can sort them out. They are kind and considerate and thier generosity is embarassing at times. My policy when living in a country is to assimilate. I don't seek out my own countrymen. I love Thai food and feel very much at home here. I have lived in Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. But Thailand beats them all.

I think it's very important to not allow "Thailand to control you"....you must control Thailand in the way you live. Especially if you live in Pattaya or spend a lot of time in the Nana plaza type places, which i love btw.

When I'm on my month off the first few days are not spent I a bar getting hammered or looking up mates. It's spent with my family. The first night we have this sort of ritual of going to Sizzler in Laemtong in Rayong then upstairs to allow the kids run rout in the soft play. Next day I have a long lie then me and the mrs do a huge shopping.

I might go for a drink that second night at my local in Rayong city, but it's two or three beer then I'm home by 10 max. Next few days are basically spent chilling doing the school run. I never drink at home as I'm a social drinker rather than someone that has to drink.

The first weekend, tbh nothing regular. One hitch it might be Pattaya, the next it's a weekend at home and around Rayong with my mates there.

I have a great life and always feel those of us that still have to work, well, us rotational workers get the best deal as we earn outside Thailand then come back and don't need to worry about getting up etc.

I've landed on my feet after years as a nomad and being as well traveled as I am, I wouldn't live anywhere else

Me

loving a country blindly is dumb.

Love it warts and all. The Thais aren't allowed to mention the warts. Farangs can and should.

It frustrates the hell out of me sometimes but generally speaking, I love living in Thailand.

The family are well and happy, I love my job and I get along with my neighbors.

Of course, I bitch and moan sometimes, don't we all (some more than others on this forum, it has to be said!) but there's nowhere else I'd rather be.

I hope others on this forum are as happy as I at this moment in time.

Love Thailand and it's people. Always have, Always will.

Yea like murders dont happen elsewhere in the world ! As for living, im still loving it, and so are 99 % of people i speak too.. Iv lived all over the world, and love Thailand...

I also work away but love coming back to my missus and the dogs. Living in the city (Sakon) I've been fortunate to have made a few new mates who I can have a bevy with or hang out out in the day time swimming or even hanging around the university coffee shop :-)

I still buzz getting off that plane at swampy, spending a few hours in Bangkok before making my way back home.

If the wifey and I want to go a bit mad we can always go down to Pattaya or Bangkok for a few nights.

Happy days really. I'm lucky.

Thailand is a third world country masked by a prolific tourist industry that markets a deceptive picture of the country. The Thais that smile at you do so because you give them money, you make them uncomfortable or they think you are a white buffalo. They have no interest in you, where you come from or your culture. In fact they have no interest in anything other than their repetitive food. The question is, why are you so happy? The expat, semi expat or refugee population in Thailand is predominantly male and middle aged. Query what makes them happy. I understand why you love Thailand after spending 28 days in an oil rig, but having visited 100 countries I would expect that there would be at least 50 in the list that have more interesting things to offer than Thailand. I worked there for 3 years. I am happy to be away.

double murder does not both me, it's the death of 30,000 plus people each year on the roads.

other than that love Thailand.

Thailand is a third world country masked by a prolific tourist industry that markets a deceptive picture of the country.

I would say that Thailand is growing wealthy country that is deceptive pictured as a 3rd world nation.

Firstly you are dichotomising the situation, just because people criticise the place it doesn't mean they don't like living here, you also use the word "love" which again is exclusive of many people who are happy to stay here.

The other possibility is that you are one of those people so cut off from reality you have not the slightest realisation of what is going on around you........ whether irt is human rights, politics social depravation human trafficking etc etc...... things that any right-minded person would be at least concerned about.

These things i do shut off to as i cannot change them. I see it all the time, so used to it.

do you have any idea how lame that sounds??

Thailand is a third world country masked by a prolific tourist industry that markets a deceptive picture of the country.

I would say that Thailand is growing wealthy country that is deceptive pictured as a 3rd world nation.

the only people who think Thailand is a "third world" nation don't know what "third world" means or don't know Thailand. By any definition it isn't.

thailand is a wealthy "developing" country......and it will soon be regarded as "developed".

Thailand is a third world country masked by a prolific tourist industry that markets a deceptive picture of the country. The Thais that smile at you do so because you give them money, you make them uncomfortable or they think you are a white buffalo. They have no interest in you, where you come from or your culture. In fact they have no interest in anything other than their repetitive food. The question is, why are you so happy? The expat, semi expat or refugee population in Thailand is predominantly male and middle aged. Query what makes them happy. I understand why you love Thailand after spending 28 days in an oil rig, but having visited 100 countries I would expect that there would be at least 50 in the list that have more interesting things to offer than Thailand. I worked there for 3 years. I am happy to be away.

In a nutshell.....what a load of Rhino Dung

Been here 16 years and have been scammed is so many ways. Many friends lost everything due to the cunning Thai's, and have retuned to their home country broke.

One thing they are good at is getting the money out of you, and then when you are broke they say, adios amigos.

If I had to do it over again I would chose Malaysia. My days here are numbered.