One hears about how Thailand is paradise. I am curious as to what the important characteristics of Thailand are that make expats move here, and what is possibly different than in your home country. Being specific in your reasoning would be appreciated.

For instance, better weather is an obvious one for many. Cheaper prices (but not in all categories). Etc.

the temples,

the beaches,

the weather,

the wildlife,

or sod it the great sex with nice ladies,,,lol

so was I ...

Depending on what your definition of paradise is ......it can be many things

For me..."Paradise is a place of contentment, but it is not necessarily a land of luxury and idleness." Wipedia

As such I am VERY content as I have a wonderful wife and children....That being said paradise could be anywhere in the world as long as I am with the wife and family. Sounds corny, I know...but for me its true. Since my wife is Thai, she wants to live here even though I have offered her other alternatives. No regrets as Thailand has great weather, nice people, and a laid back lifestyle....

Great weather??? Ever been to San Diego? Thailand is like living on the sun! That said I enjoy visiting but definitely not my vision of paradise. The beautiful green mountains of Central PA and 4 beautiful seasons spent with my beautiful wife and large family is my paradise.

the temples,

the beaches,

the weather,

the wildlife,

or sod it the great sex with nice ladies,,,lol

All that....and you havent been to weegee's place yet?....pandemonium is paramount here.

the temples,

the beaches,

the weather,

the wildlife,

or sod it the great sex with nice ladies,,,lol

All that....and you havent been to weegee's place yet?....pandemonium is paramount here.

Hmmmmmmmm, and drunkenness.............. ............

Only tonight though...

If one took out the free availability of young ladies in Thailand one really wonders how much of a paradise Thailand would be for a lot of farangs

Is Thailand my paradise ? Not by as long shot

Edited January 27, 201511 yr by Soutpeel

If one took out the free availability of young ladies in Thailand one really wonders how much of a paradise Thailand would be for a lot of farangs

Is Thailand my paradise ? Not by as long shot

Agree. It's an interesting place to work for a few years. And I like I can take a holiday without getting on a plane (like singapore/hk) but I don't think it's paradise. I do live in bangkok though so I'm sure my outlook is different to someone who is retired and lives at the beach.

OB

I think if you move anywhere expecting it to be paradise, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Nowhere on earth is perfect.

Paradise doesnt exist and Thailand isnt it.

Its cheap, I dont get too much interference from the govt, its the total opposite to where Im from, my Wife lives here and wouldnt live in the UK I do not worship the Thai people Temples or culture.

Thailand isn't anymore of a paradise than anywhere else. You make a place a paradise by surrounding yourself with good friends and family and enjoyable activities.

7/11 cheese and sausage toasties does it for me

It's not paradise but there's a strong feelgood

factor here. Ok so someone commuting to work in

38 degree heat in BKK every day wouldn't call

it paradise but someone waking up at relaxed

o'clock, strolling to the cafe for elevenses

and starting work proper at 2pm for 2-3 hours

would say it's close enough. Add in awesome

Thai food, weird but nice locals and still far

cheaper living costs than Europe and it's still

a no-brainer for me.

Edited January 27, 201511 yr by YeahSiam

No question that I would live elsewhere if the women were ugly and the food crap, but who would have even come here as a tourist with that combination on the tourist brochures ? As much as I enjoy the company of women from the PI and Indonesia, I'm in no hurry to get on a plane - Japan, OTOH, has the best food and the most beautiful women anywhere but at a price I simply cant afford to pay (Winter would be a major part of that price). Someone mentioned cheese and sausage toasties and now I cant stop thinking about food - the microwaveable fish and chicken dinners at the convenience store near my hotel in Tokyo were easily the best pre-packaged meals I've ever eaten and it depresses me to see whats on offer 7-11 here, but temps in the low to mid 20s in Pattaya atm assuage some of that pain - I guess paradise is where you find it.

Paradise? No, definitely not.

Paradise is half as nice as heaven that you take me to - Amen Corner.

Without the women, as Soutpeel and others have said, what else is there? Temples? Heat? Corruption? Stuff that. I can find those or their equivalent in many other places.

I'd be off to Bulgaria or somewhere. Cheap. Plenty of women. Cold too. Maybe the P.I. Some great women there. Portugal - same.

Great weather??? Ever been to San Diego? Thailand is like living on the sun! That said I enjoy visiting but definitely not my vision of paradise. The beautiful green mountains of Central PA and 4 beautiful seasons spent with my beautiful wife and large family is my paradise.

I'm going to stick up for you here. Thailand is a great place to vacation but after a while it gets old for me. It is, at its roots, third world. I also think perhaps some members don't know how much cheaper it is to live in rural USA than it is in Europe or Australia. I said rural; not San Diego.

Someone who hasn't been to Central Pennsylvania or many other more rural parts of the US may not know how beautiful it is or the costs, added to the benefits of a first world environment. Living in the rural US is a lot cheaper than W. Europe or Australia.

The UK is very cold and I can see their point. It's also very expensive giving another good reason. In the US you can choose your climate and your housing costs by where you live. Consumer goods are cheaper than even Thailand.

To me the best of both worlds is to live in the US and make an annual trip to Thailand for a couple of months.

You're better off raising your family in the US also because the culture and schools are so much better for the children.

Enjoy.

S you are serious..

Sure it's paradise..with a 3 or 4 month best before date..

signed,

A

bolthole back home

Not Paradise

My Thailand....

"Parental Alienation through a Father's Eyes"

If I said this was "a blessing in disguise,"

You'd shake your head & close your eyes.

You'd think I didn't understand,

But you'd be wrong, please take my hand.

I once had children,

Who filled me with pride,

First words, first steps, I always cried.

I loved them fiercely without condition,

Made their safety & happiness my only mission.

I watched them grow w/ loving care,

Promising them I'd always be there.

Then, one day, something "broke,"

I was gasping for air & starting to "choke."

Their Mother took them without permission,

Keeping them away was her only new mission.

I must have cried a thousand tears,

Looking back on all those years.

The tight bonds that we once shared,

Being destroyed, beyond repair.

I thought my life was circling the drain,

I couldn't see clearly through all the pain.

Loved ones gathered not knowing what to do,

They loved me & hugged me & said that they "knew."

In reality though, they could only sympathize,

They couldn't understand what was in front of thier eyes...

How could a once "loving" parent be so cruel?

What was her reasoning & her fuel?

They looked on helpless & felt ashamed,

They tried to protect the "me" that remained.

But, through the darkness, I slowly saw light,

Dim at first, then turning bright.

My children were brainwashed, but, they were still "there,"

Their Mother had badmouthed me w/o care.

Their injured hearts needed me back,

To mend & soothe them & protect from attack.

I was the Father who held them long nights,

I was still there & I needed to fight!

At first very weak, I slowly grew strong,

Unknowingly, I had this inside all along.

I told my kids what happened wasn't "right,"

That Mommy was angry & wanted a "fight."

But, I wouldn't sacrifice my love due to fear,

They're still my "babies," & had been for years.

I wouldn't back down from my new sole mission,

Re-teaching my children love without condition.

Through this journey, I learned something new,

Through adversity, I still grew.

With my eyes wide open, I refused to look away,

I thought, with others, this can change one day.

This is what I meant by a blessing in disguise,

Without knowing, I might've closed my eyes.

But now that I've experienced all of the pain,

I'm hoping to prevent another life claimed.

Parental alienation leaves many scars,

It becomes ingrained & a part of who we are.

Though through adversity, we've grown strong,

The fight is inside you, it's been there all along.

So never give up & teach your children how to "fight,"

Teach them to speak up when something isn't right.

Show them through actions that you'll always care,

Leave the door open, let them know that you're there.

If you can leave behind one important life lesson,

Teach them to turn pain into a blessing.

Show them through actions that you're always strong,

They'll "know" you've been there all along.

Paradise is my gf.

Better women. More women. Couldn't even find a girlfriend in my own country. Took me less than 12 months in Thailand to find a wife. Prettier and classier than anything I could have ever found in the US by a long shot.

Great weather??? Ever been to San Diego? Thailand is like living on the sun! That said I enjoy visiting but definitely not my vision of paradise. The beautiful green mountains of Central PA and 4 beautiful seasons spent with my beautiful wife and large family is my paradise.

I'm going to stick up for you here. Thailand is a great place to vacation but after a while it gets old for me. It is, at its roots, third world. I also think perhaps some members don't know how much cheaper it is to live in rural USA than it is in Europe or Australia. I said rural; not San Diego.

Someone who hasn't been to Central Pennsylvania or many other more rural parts of the US may not know how beautiful it is or the costs, added to the benefits of a first world environment. Living in the rural US is a lot cheaper than W. Europe or Australia.

The UK is very cold and I can see their point. It's also very expensive giving another good reason. In the US you can choose your climate and your housing costs by where you live. Consumer goods are cheaper than even Thailand.

To me the best of both worlds is to live in the US and make an annual trip to Thailand for a couple of months.

You're better off raising your family in the US also because the culture and schools are so much better for the children.

Enjoy.

I find Thai cheaper due to the low rent(<$150/month). I can not find rent under $350/mo. in the US and that is in a bad neighborhood in the midwest. Besides, in America there is no real culture. You need a car to drive everywhere. Everything is suburban w/ strip malls & such. Healthcare is a giant scam and wildly expensive. Weather is bad unless you live in an expensive state like California where you need a huge income to live middle class. Overall, I'd say Thailand is for me. You can make more money in the US but the US has a very low quality lifestyle. And the women? That's an entire 'nother topic altogether.

Been to 85 countries and Thailand hits my hot button.

Better women. More women. Couldn't even find a girlfriend in my own country. Took me less than 12 months in Thailand to find a wife. Prettier and classier than anything I could have ever found in the US by a long shot.

x

So a long flight and a few time zones turned you into a "hansum man".

Thailand is a paradise in some ways, not so much in other ways.

If you like year-round warm weather, Thai food, are financially secure and don't need to make money/pursue a career, can adapt to change and ambiguity, speak some Thai, aren't tied to rigid ways, and would like to meet younger Thai women or men (for the gay guys and the ladies), then perhaps Thailand can be paradise.

Better women. More women. Couldn't even find a girlfriend in my own country. Took me less than 12 months in Thailand to find a wife. Prettier and classier than anything I could have ever found in the US by a long shot.

x

So a long flight and a few time zones turned you into a "hansum man".

At least he's honest. Too many guys say they can get young hotties back home but only come to Thailand because they "don't like western women." Which of course, is usually hogwash.

Big one for me is the quest everything to be 'sanook'. That and the 7/11 baloney with chili suspended in it.

Not paradise,but better than some places,worse than others,it will do for now.