Where is "Little ******?"

[1FinickyOne]

Interesting observation.

I think the difference might be in the numbers - how many Americans are there in CM compared to the number of Chinese in Chinatown in NY?

The other issue might be in housing - if there were any area specifically known for expats of one country, it might encourage others to visit or stay there... but as you say, it is non-existant. It might also be that farang are mostly not involved with commerce and much of Chinatown NY is selling Chinese goods and foods to Chinese.. But even if done on a building basis alone, there are % requirements.

[WorkingTourist]

Why do you suppose the Russians behave differently? I can understand the Indians, many of whom do move here as families and start businesses. But the Russians? I thought they only hung out at the beach. Or is THAT the common denominator?

I believe that we are talking about Russian tourists rather than migrants so there isn’t much difference other than Russia being in an earlier stage in the development of international tourism. The Russians buying condos in Jomtien are buying holiday condos (not migrating).

Russian families are likely going with package deals, so their options are limited by what’s offered. Once the demand increase (which normally follow the economical development of the nation) the options should also increase, but the initial places picked by the tour operators will still see a lot of tourists partly because of word-of-mouth (i.e. people who have gone there will recommend it to friends and family, or they may want to return, if they had a great time there) and partly because the area will adapt slightly to the new guests, for example the restaurants will make sure to have Russian menus and some stores may even stock products consumed by Russians, like whatever tea they drink, or the hotels may start to make a thing out of Russian holidays, etc.

Even though many talk about going off the beaten path, there is a huge group of tourists who just want a package deal where everything is planned for them, and being served familiar food and having guides on the hotel that speak their language is considered a big plus, and such offer is only sustainable if a lot of people are sent to the same places.

[HikeFromLA]

I am the only farang out at my village but when Immigration came calling the other day, they told me that their were 300 of us out in this region and I never see them at all when I go out to the house. I mostly see the same faces at the same bars when I drive past the moat/Loi Kroh area.

At certain coffee shops, I see the same Nomads, year in and year out. Went to a party the other night out at Hang Dong and it is my first social contact with farangs for years in fact. Was surprised at the amount of older farang women that could speak Thai.

I'm curious which coffee shops have the repeat or perpetual Nomads - perhaps they are relatively and hosptable comfy spaces to work in - do you recall the shops' names?

[farang95]

important to mention that the farang who doesnt speak the native language are the ones who feel the need to be around other westerner every day ...... a bit strange...But hell who i am to judge lol ...

quite a generalization. And one that has been talked to death on this site (an English only site)...hmm. Kind of blows your thai speaking theory a little huh?

its not a generalization ..It is a fact ...

[HikeFromLA]

Re the OP's question:

In Chiang Mai's Old City:

Ratchadamnoen Road - Soi 5 is majority French-speaking (French, Swiss, Belgian). French are the nicest, happiest and most lively Farangs I have run into. Some other Euros there occasionally, Brits are rare. White House guesthouse on Soi 5 and Eden restaurant on an adjacent soi are exclusively french speakers, for example. Therry's french fry and waffles place tent at the entrance to soi 5 is where french speaking Belgians gather.

Moon Muang - Soi 2 is partly German, other Euros also (thats the Inner Moat Road, east side of town)

There are German Swiss speakers in Chiang Mai, I had drinks with a table full of them on Moon Muang Soi 3 near Ratchadmnoen Soi 2, but I dont know if thats a regular hangout, it may have been a onetime thing.

For Brits and Australians I would look on Moon Muang Road (the inner moat road), south of Tha Pae Gate. The friendly ones are Australians. The others are the Brits.

I gather from this forum that majority of Farang in this region are Brits who tend to live way the hell outside town. But I met some unpretentious Brits at Lob's "Sweet Heart Cafe" off Tha Pae road, and have heard about Archie's Bar, though I have not seen Brits there. Both serve British roast beef on Sundays so I guess thats when the redcoats gather.

I have run into a few very decent Canadians on Tha Phae Road and also at Tha Phae Gate, also at Abusan Market near Ping River, not sure where they live though.

Abusan Market near Ping River has three spots playing live rock nightly, in general good place to find friendly Farangs in the mood for Farang entertainment.

Essentially no Americans anywhere here in Old Town Chiang Mai - just me - there are certainly more Swiss or Belgians or Dutch or Canadians, each, than there are Americans.

FWIW, Udon Thani is known to have a colony of Americans dating back to the old US Air Force base nearby.

[1BADDAT]

important to mention that the farang who doesnt speak the native language are the ones who feel the need to be around other westerner every day ...... a bit strange...But hell who i am to judge lol ...

quite a generalization. And one that has been talked to death on this site (an English only site)...hmm. Kind of blows your thai speaking theory a little huh?

its not a generalization ..It is a fact ...

Facts are proven by DATA

[farang95]

important to mention that the farang who doesnt speak the native language are the ones who feel the need to be around other westerner every day ...... a bit strange...But hell who i am to judge lol ...

quite a generalization. And one that has been talked to death on this site (an English only site)...hmm. Kind of blows your thai speaking theory a little huh?

its not a generalization ..It is a fact ...

Facts are proven by DATA

if you have time...do it on your own..it will prove that fact ...lucky you ..you won't need much time to find out ....

Good luck.

[balo]

You're kidding, right? Pretty much everything inside the moat is Farang Town.

Exactly and why compare oranges with apples? This is Asia . Do you think you will find a little America or little Italy in Tokyo or Singapore? But you will find western restaurants and bars , like any other big city.

[bangmai]

The Worst foreigner in thailand are The UK - Australian and American ..... .i agreed with the thai about that fact.

Have the Thais taken a poll on this matter? As far as I can tell, they hate the Arabs and Indians most (forgot the Chinese) Haven't heard any other groups mentioned. Please educate us on what ALL the Thais think.

Usually, the signs will say No Indian/No African...maybe they just assume all Arabs are from Africa.

[FolkGuitar]

You're kidding, right? Pretty much everything inside the moat is Farang Town.

Exactly and why compare oranges with apples? This is Asia . Do you think you will find a little America or little Italy in Tokyo or Singapore? But you will find western restaurants and bars , like any other big city.

Actually, there is a 'Koreatown' in Osaka, Japan. The area known as Tsuruhashi today is home to about 200,000 Koreans.

Shin-Okubo, in Tokyo, along the Yamanote Train Line is another Koreatown but in Tokyo. These are both residential and shopping districts.

Not enough American in Japan for them to have their own 'real' enclave, but there is 'Americamura' in Osaka. It's really more of an American-style shopping district rather than a real 'neighborhood.