I am so excited!

[JB300]

 
 
How many friends do you have living nearby?   

How many times a week do you go out and have fun with your friends?   

Do people get together for dinner parties or BBQ's at each other's houses?
 
From what I've read it seems that most of the people living in the sticks hardly do any socialising.

What is public transport like?   Can you stand at the side of the road and get a meter taxi?   Can you call an uber?   
 
 

I'm a massive fan of Bangkok but can't spend more than a week or so there before wanting to be somewhere with cleaner air & less traffic (felt exactly the same way about London which is why I used to commute 3.5 hours each way a couple of times a week when I worked there).

But as with everywhere, there are compromises to be made, all of us have different preferences & priorities

[Ahab]

On ‎2‎/‎12‎/‎2017 at 10:59 PM, georgemandm said:

You will like Buriaum , I my self think it is a very good  province , have live and stayed it lots of towns in issan , and I put buriram at one of the top 5 . 

Vert  Central for traveling around the northeast.

you can PM me if you like and I will tell you more , as you know on this  site thai visa has lots of  people who like to put rubbish on other members .

I have  travel a lot out of buriram around the north east and south of bangkok by car .

I have always loved the countryside in Issan. Some very scenic areas, and to me Issan is the real Thailand. I cannot stand being in Bangkok more than a day or so (the minimum possible to get whatever I need done and then leave). We plan on exploring by car (truck actually)  in the first couple of years. I may take you up on your offer, Thanks.

[Ahab]

On ‎2‎/‎13‎/‎2017 at 0:41 AM, Jackin1960 said:

Don't worry the excitement will soon pass and be replaced with utter amazement at the every day stupidity you will see. 

There are stupid people everywhere. Hawaii has them, London, Paris, you name a place and I guarantee it has stupid people.  If you  understand Rule #1 you will never wonder why some people do stupid things, rule #1 is "people are stupid". 

[Ahab]

On ‎2‎/‎13‎/‎2017 at 4:18 AM, Deepinthailand said:

Good for you both enjoy don't listen to the dark side on here just enjoy yourselfs. As for wherever go and what to see just go with the flow if you arrive somewhere that looks good stay a while. Travel with plans never work.

There does seem to be a bunch of grumpy people on TV. Concur with your comments on the travel plans.

[Ahab]

10 hours ago, chudless said:

Advice......avoid Buriram. It's a small town that has delusions of grandeur...not helped by that prick Nevin who believes he's a local God.

Glad I left that tinpot town.

Of course, just my humble opinion....each to their own. 

Buriram is a province not a town. Hope you found someplace that you enjoy more.

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

If your wife is a native Thai I guess the starting point for the tour is her home town, or why else would you chose it. There is some really spectacular and beautiful scenery and flora and fauna to see. The BBC recently ran a three part series on some of the off the beaten track areas worth a look, you might want to catch it on the Iplayer.

I've been here for years and had an extensive tour some years ago. The reason I have stopped touring in the main is the fact the roads are so terribly dangerous now.

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck.

[puchooay]

14 hours ago, chudless said:

And your presence the exact reason I left the horrible place.....your response typifies that. Full of falang who believe it's a glorious big city in Isaan....or rather the number one city in Isaan.

 

You are 5 years behind Udon Thai, Korat and Khon Kaen 

That's  one of the beauties of Buriram.  Can get most of what you need without the hustle bustle of a big city. 

 

Korat just down the road if you need something you can't  get here. 

 

Best of both worlds.  But like moving to a big city but living 40kms away. 

[malt25]

13 hours ago, seancbk said:

 

None of those places offer much do they?

I cannot for the life of me understand why someone would choose to live out in the sticks instead of Bangkok.   

I guess to live out there you need to be a pretty anti-social person who doesn't like having fun with lots of friends.

 

" I cannot for the life of me understand why someone would choose to live out in the sticks instead of Bangkok."

I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would choose to live in Bangkok instead of rural Thailand.

[mick220675]

I have known a few people who lived in Lahansai, its just like many small towns/villages if you have the ability to build your own life you will be very happy there.

 

I moved to a small village further along the border 15 years ago after living with my Thai wife in the UK for 5 years. The area has developed fast, if you have a car Buriram and Surin are around a hour away. There is anything you need in the city's, if you want to talk to farangs Bankruat has a few bars.

 

The most challenging thing I have found over the years is the pressure my wife has been put under. It has been more difficult for her to return to Thailand than for me to come. There is constant demands for money from family and friends. The idea that my wife is marred to a farang so has a unlimited supply of money has caused her problems, when a relative asks to borrow 100,000 baht and she says no she is a bitch.

 

I enjoy living in the area, when the schools are on holiday we travel, Burirams airport comes in very handy. I also love to cross the border and spend time in Cambodia.

 

I'm sure you will love it Ahab.

[seancbk]

15 hours ago, JB300 said:

 

I'm a massive fan of Bangkok but can't spend more than a week or so there before wanting to be somewhere with cleaner air & less traffic (felt exactly the same way about London which is why I used to commute 3.5 hours each way a couple of times a week when I worked there).

But as with everywhere, there are compromises to be made, all of us have different preferences & priorities

 

Yes, that is true.   I'm just trying to ascertain whether it's possible to live out there and have a thriving social life, or whether everyone who move out to the sticks does so to spend time alone.
 

[seancbk]

3 hours ago, puchooay said:

That's  one of the beauties of Buriram.  Can get most of what you need without the hustle bustle of a big city. 

 

Korat just down the road if you need something you can't  get here. 

 

Best of both worlds.  But like moving to a big city but living 40kms away. 

 

40kms is just down the road?   Sure if you have a car and don't mind spending a load of time driving there and back.

Just down the road for me (and perhaps most people) would be no further than 500m.   Any further and I'd take a cab, except where you are I doubt cabs are very common.
 

[zorro1]

I'm a massive fan of Bangkok but can't spend more than a week or so there before wanting to be somewhere with cleaner air & less traffic (felt exactly the same way about London which is why I used to commute 3.5 hours each way a couple of times a week when I worked there).

But as with everywhere, there are compromises to be made, all of us have different preferences & priorities

Traffic is something I look down at from the sky train. Whith so many bts why do farang live in remote areas of BKK and expose themselves to the traffic. I guess it's about budget

Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk

[puchooay]

1 hour ago, seancbk said:

 

40kms is just down the road?   Sure if you have a car and don't mind spending a load of time driving there and back.

Just down the road for me (and perhaps most people) would be no further than 500m.   Any further and I'd take a cab, except where you are I doubt cabs are very common.
 

40kms is no more than 30 minutes.  I get your point though.  It would take 30 minutes to travel 500m in Bangkok. 

 

Lots of cabs in the bus station. 

[JB300]

Traffic is something I look down at from the sky train. Whith so many bts why do farang live in remote areas of BKK and expose themselves to the traffic. I guess it's about budget

Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk

No doubt some would like to live in Central Bangkok but their Budget puts them on the outskirts but others (I'll include myself in this category) like to visit large cities but don't enjoy living in the middle of one.

Not a big fan of the BTS as I find it's usually a 10min+ walk either side so tend to use Taxis when I'm there.

But... I don't live there (Live in Singapore) so my experience is from 1 failed Month trial at living there (lasted 2 weeks staying at Trendy in Soi 13 before having to leave as I felt like I couldn't breathe) & around 20 visits of 3-6 days.

Again... I love visiting Bangkok, it's just not my cup of tea living in the Center (Maybe the answer is to try somewhere on the outskirts near a BTS station.

[zorro1]

No doubt some would like to live in Central Bangkok but their Budget puts them on the outskirts but others (I'll include myself in this category) like to visit large cities but don't enjoy living in the middle of one.
Not a big fan of the BTS as I find it's usually a 10min+ walk either side so tend to use Taxis when I'm there.
But... I don't live there (Live in Singapore) so my experience is from 1 failed Month trial at living there (lasted 2 weeks staying at Trendy in Soi 13 before having to leave as I felt like I couldn't breathe) & around 20 visits of 3-6 days.
Again... I love visiting Bangkok, it's just not my cup of tea living in the Center (Maybe the answer is to try somewhere on the outskirts near a BTS station.

Small world I live the same building many many years. Your a slow walker! Takes me about 5 mins to Nana bts, bit longer to Asoke . I don't have problems with breathing the air but I do occasionally get a skin rash which I put down to pollution as I never get it in Pattaya where I spend 3 months every year.



Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk

[JB300]

Small world I live the same building many many years. Your a slow walker! Takes me about 5 mins to Nana bts, bit longer to Asoke . I don't have problems with breathing the air but I do occasionally get a skin rash which I put down to pollution as I never get it in Pattaya where I spend 3 months every year.



Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk

Good to get away to the seaside every now & again :)

[Gary A]

You city lovers may be happy in Bangkok, I much prefer the country. I lived in Bangkok for five years. Not because I wanted to but that was where I was working. When I was able to leave Bangkok, it was a very happy day. I still have a condo in Jomtien when I want a change of scenery and to see old friends. Even Jomtien is too congested for me. I am always happy to get back to the boonies upcountry. 

 

Even Bangkok beats Southern California. I guess that I am just a country boy. 

[seancbk]

1 hour ago, puchooay said:

40kms is no more than 30 minutes.  I get your point though.  It would take 30 minutes to travel 500m in Bangkok. 

 

Lots of cabs in the bus station. 

 

It would only take 30 mins to go 500m during rush hour, in certain parts of Bangkok, if you insisted on driving (or taking a taxi).

I walk everywhere (I will not use Motorbike taxis) but 500m is about the limit I'm prepared to walk (maybe 1000m if there are no cabs).  

The big difference though is social life.  I can't get my head around how little social life people must have (with other farangs) out in the sticks.

[puchooay]

9 minutes ago, seancbk said:

 

It would only take 30 mins to go 500m during rush hour, in certain parts of Bangkok, if you insisted on driving (or taking a taxi).

I walk everywhere (I will not use Motorbike taxis) but 500m is about the limit I'm prepared to walk (maybe 1000m if there are no cabs).  

The big difference though is social life.  I can't get my head around how little social life people must have (with other farangs) out in the sticks.

Maybe you should come a look.  There are many expat communities here.  Not that I spend a lot of time at them, but they are there if you need them. 

 

 

[seancbk]

1 hour ago, puchooay said:

Maybe you should come a look.  There are many expat communities here.  Not that I spend a lot of time at them, but they are there if you need them. 

 

 

 

Unless they are made up of people in their 20's to 40's  I'll pass thanks.   Whilst I don't mind having a few friends who are older I much prefer the company of people who are more on my wavelength.

Aside from which my business will be based in Bangkok.  Perhaps once I start looking to expand outside of Bangkok I'll investigate things upcountry.   

How many people up where you are go to Starbucks for coffee rather than drinking the cheap stuff that is available?    ie how many consumers where you're based are brand driven versus cost driven?

I suspect not many yet....  but it will come (hopefully) as more people get upwards mobility.

 

 

[seancbk]

3 hours ago, JB300 said:

No doubt some would like to live in Central Bangkok but their Budget puts them on the outskirts but others (I'll include myself in this category) like to visit large cities but don't enjoy living in the middle of one.

Not a big fan of the BTS as I find it's usually a 10min+ walk either side so tend to use Taxis when I'm there.

But... I don't live there (Live in Singapore) so my experience is from 1 failed Month trial at living there (lasted 2 weeks staying at Trendy in Soi 13 before having to leave as I felt like I couldn't breathe) & around 20 visits of 3-6 days.

Again... I love visiting Bangkok, it's just not my cup of tea living in the Center (Maybe the answer is to try somewhere on the outskirts near a BTS station.

I grew up in Hong Kong so Bangkok is perfect for me.   

My sister lived in Singapore for a few years while the Marina Bay Sands was being built  (Chestnut Drive, near Upper Bukit Timah).   I used to visit her and her family every month when they lived there.    I love Singapore, actually waiting for Bangkok to become more like HK and/or Singapore, which it will gradually.  Bangkok has become better over the 8 years I've lived here, I reckon another 12 years and it will be vastly improved.

I live next to a BTS station on what some people might call the outskirts, but is only 15 mins from downtown by BTS during the day and very easy to get back to by Taxi at 2am when I'm typically heading home.

[georgemandm]

14 minutes ago, seancbk said:

 

Unless they are made up of people in their 20's to 40's  I'll pass thanks.   Whilst I don't mind having a few friends who are older I much prefer the company of people who are more on my wavelength.

Aside from which my business will be based in Bangkok.  Perhaps once I start looking to expand outside of Bangkok I'll investigate things upcountry.   

How many people up where you are go to Starbucks for coffee rather than drinking the cheap stuff that is available?    ie how many consumers where you're based are brand driven versus cost driven?

I suspect not many yet....  but it will come (hopefully) as more people get upwards mobility.

 

 

I tell you something you think you know it all , one day you will get old that is for sure.

but someone who is in his 50 , 60 or 70 has got there , you have to get there let's hop you make it .

and for Starbucks that is the worst coffee I have had to drink in my life , just shit coffee and people who drink that shit have know idea about good coffee.

[seancbk]

Just now, georgemandm said:

I tell you something you think you know it all , one day you will get old that is for sure.

but someone who is in his 50 , 60 or 70 has got there , you have to get there let's hop you make it .

and for Starbucks that is the worst coffee I have had to drink in my life , just shit coffee and people who drink that shit have know idea about good coffee.

 

Of course one day I will get old.  I'm 50 this year.  But so far I don't feel even slightly old.   And I certainly don't want to start acting old.

I would go out to the clubs every night if could, I love good banging House music and dancing all night to a good DJ.   

I hope that when I'm in my 60's I'll still like listening to dance music and going out to clubs, although maybe I won't dance as much.


I didn't say that Starbucks is good coffee or not.  I asked if there are many people in the provinces who like to buy it because they want to be seen in there, ie they want to act like they are not poor.  

Perhaps you don't understand branding and the desire of people to feel like they are in a higher social class by buying into a certain brand.

 

[georgemandm]

2 minutes ago, seancbk said:

 

Of course one day I will get old.  I'm 50 this year.  But so far I don't feel even slightly old.   And I certainly don't want to start acting old.

I would go out to the clubs every night if could, I love good banging House music and dancing all night to a good DJ.   

I hope that when I'm in my 60's I'll still like listening to dance music and going out to clubs, although maybe I won't dance as much.


I didn't say that Starbucks is good coffee or not.  I asked if there are many people in the provinces who like to buy it because they want to be seen in there, ie they want to act like they are not poor.  

Perhaps you don't understand branding and the desire of people to feel like they are in a higher social class by buying into a certain brand.

 

Ok sorry misunderstood you 

 

[seancbk]

1 minute ago, georgemandm said:

Ok sorry misunderstood you 

 

No worries George.  

 

[georgemandm]

2 minutes ago, seancbk said:

No worries George.  

 

Ok but sorry 

I was a young bloke and called my old boss a old c??? ( was a joke ) and his reply was I have got to his old age of 65 I think , very true words.

i am not there yet , but have never forgotten his words  , it is not easy to get to old age .

[seancbk]

1 minute ago, georgemandm said:

Ok but sorry 

I was a young bloke and called my old boss a old c??? ( was a joke ) and his reply was I have got to his old age of 65 I think , very true words.

i am not there yet , but have never forgotten his words  , it is not easy to get to old age .

 

It's all good.

I have probably called at least one boss an old c*nt too in my time!   

Getting old can't be easy, but I don't really understand why some guys don't try harder to slow down getting there.

I'm 50 in a few months, I'm just over 6 foot and my body weight is under 75kgs which is what it was in my early 30's.  I see guys who are under 40 that look and act like they are older than me.  It makes no sense to me, we will all (hopefully) get old, but you don't need to let yourself go to seed before it's time.

 

 

Perhaps I'm just one of the lucky ones, not fat, not suffering any failures in my body (yet), no bad knees or back etc  Long may it last!!

 

[Gary A]

49 minutes ago, seancbk said:

 

Unless they are made up of people in their 20's to 40's  I'll pass thanks.   Whilst I don't mind having a few friends who are older I much prefer the company of people who are more on my wavelength.

Aside from which my business will be based in Bangkok.  Perhaps once I start looking to expand outside of Bangkok I'll investigate things upcountry.   

How many people up where you are go to Starbucks for coffee rather than drinking the cheap stuff that is available?    ie how many consumers where you're based are brand driven versus cost driven?

I suspect not many yet....  but it will come (hopefully) as more people get upwards mobility.

 

 

 

The people here in the boonies where I live are all retired. If there were a Starbucks here, no way would I pay those stupid prices. We get together once or twice a week and solve world problems over alcoholic drinks. Beer prices have gone up. It is now 70 baht for a big bottle. If someone wants hard liquor, they buy a bottle. Their name goes on the bottle for the next visit or they can take the bottle with them when they leave.

[Ahab]

On 2/14/2017 at 11:13 PM, George FmplesdaCosteedback said:

If your wife is a native Thai I guess the starting point for the tour is her home town, or why else would you chose it. There is some really spectacular and beautiful scenery and flora and fauna to see. The BBC recently ran a three part series on some of the off the beaten track areas worth a look, you might want to catch it on the Iplayer.

I've been here for years and had an extensive tour some years ago. The reason I have stopped touring in the main is the fact the roads are so terribly dangerous now.

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck.

You are correct, my wife's family lives here, but we have been visiting for the last twenty four years. I just really like rural Thailand and once we get settled in we plan on doing a bunch of exploring around the country.

[Ahab]

On 2/15/2017 at 10:12 AM, mick220675 said:

I have known a few people who lived in Lahansai, its just like many small towns/villages if you have the ability to build your own life you will be very happy there.

 

I moved to a small village further along the border 15 years ago after living with my Thai wife in the UK for 5 years. The area has developed fast, if you have a car Buriram and Surin are around a hour away. There is anything you need in the city's, if you want to talk to farangs Bankruat has a few bars.

 

The most challenging thing I have found over the years is the pressure my wife has been put under. It has been more difficult for her to return to Thailand than for me to come. There is constant demands for money from family and friends. The idea that my wife is marred to a farang so has a unlimited supply of money has caused her problems, when a relative asks to borrow 100,000 baht and she says no she is a bitch.

 

I enjoy living in the area, when the schools are on holiday we travel, Burirams airport comes in very handy. I also love to cross the border and spend time in Cambodia.

 

I'm sure you will love it Ahab.

We nipped the borrowing money thing in the bud before it could really get started. We have supported my wife's parents with three to four thousand baht a month. I really like almost all my Thai in laws (issue with one sister), my mother in law is the best and my father in law was also great (he passed about two years ago). My Thai in law experience is considerably different from other TV members and that is because my relationship with my wife is apparently very different also.