How many of you are now addicted to Thailand?

[flighty 31]

Simon,

Good luck with everything. The thing I like with LOS is how the Thais have not lost touch with their rural roots and origins; if they struggle in the cities they can return up country to the family networks and a more subsistence - type of existence. We in the West, in the post - industrial, post - service economy in my mind are in  an increasingly unreal, unsubstainable place...

... A bit heavy for a first post!

 

Trip six for me early October

 

Flighty

[upena 2]

that should have read

4 OR 5 years

[k1221n 0]

Yes I need my yearly fix also. I am in sales so I can pack it up and leave at any time and come back and find a job. I like to go for two months at a time prefferably feb thru march which is about the time I am really sick of winter in the U.S. I tell my roomate a month ahead of time that I am moving out put my belongings in public storage and move on to thailand for two months and live on a 75 dollar a day budget; kind of gives me the feeling of being an expat. Two months is about perfect, its about that long for me to get a little home sick and wear out my welcome in pattaya at the same time.

[Cato 0]

I am not sure I am addicted, but I definitely love my time there when I go on vacation.  I plan on moving there after I retire from the US Air Force next October.  With what I have saved and my retirement pay, I

should be able to live OK...I believe the key is not to

treat day after day like you would on vacation.  Find

something inexpensive to keep you busy, volunteer

some of your time and workout and get into great

shape.

 

PCato

[Eneukman 1]

Definitely got the Pattaya blues just now - however, it will soon be fixed   ;D ;D ;D ;D  4 days, 16 hours 2 minutes and 30 seconds to go ......................... and counting   ;D  ;D ;D

 

Alan

[Sa-teef 44]

Sixteen days & twelve hours before I'll be boarding.  None too soon because the little Hmong girl at the grocery store is starting to look awfully good!  Mysteriously, I frequent the local stores that happen to have Vietnamese or Lao immigrants working....  As close as I can come at the moment to a Thai girl! 8) 8) 8)

 

+++ Steve

[lloydie 0]

i say go for it as i am moving out there in April (1st but no joke), not sure what i am going to do yet but have a few contacts and friends already living there that should be an advantage and also have a month there from dec 9th to look at a few offers.

 

cant be as bad as the UK at the moment, can always return to work as i have someone keeping my job open for 3 months.

[redevilgak 0]

If i think about it everyday then it must be an addiction ? 12 days and not really counting much !

[BlenderBob 0]

Great subject for my first post.  

I just returned from LOS, my fourth trip.  I took my cousin for his first trip and he is now planning a return trip already!  

I fund my trips with a steady government job, from which I'm eligible to retire next year.  I don't think I'll move to Thailand full time when I do pull the plug, but I'm sure gonna spend a few months each year there.  My pension and stashed money will see me a long way in Pattaya I believe.  

I'm going to return in March to celebrate my 50th birthday in style.  Can't wait!!

[Top_Cat 16]

Great subject for my first post.  

I just returned from LOS, my fourth trip.  I took my cousin for his first trip and he is now planning a return trip already!  

I fund my trips with a steady government job, from which I'm eligible to retire next year.  I don't think I'll move to Thailand full time when I do pull the plug, but I'm sure gonna spend a few months each year there.  My pension and stashed money will see me a long way in Pattaya I believe.  

I'm going to return in March to celebrate my 50th birthday in style.  Can't wait!!

 

Thats the way to go Blender IMHO.  ;D

 

Wonder what the original poster simon916 is up to.  ???

 

Probably too busy living the good life.  8)

 

Top_Cat

[DSBones 0]

I am fortunate enough to have worked in Asia (Philippines & Taiwan) for the last 6-7 years. My current job is just like working for a western civil service which means I can get over to Thailand once a month if I want. I am an engineer so I am confident that there will always be work available to me in Asia for as long as I want it.

I am 38 and my plans are to buy as much property in the UK as I can afford by the time I am 50 & then semi retire in Thailand using the rental income as my pension. Absolutely no plans to 'invest' in any business in Thailand - way too risky. I reckon $20k a year is more than enough for me to live comfortably in BKK/Pattaya.

It amazes me some of the budgets that people come over here with. $75 a day is high living in Thailand (I assume this is exclusive of accommodation) unless you are looking at 2 bar fines a day & eating at western restaurants all the time.

I have friends in Jomtien, one of whom has 'retired'. He lives off less than $10k a year. It's a fairly basic lifestyle & I couldn't do it but he seems happy enough. He doesn't bar fine from go-go bars he just waits for girls (whose boyfriends are temporarily absent) to pass his apartment door. They know where he lives and if they want a bit of cash they find him. This keeps his costs down. He drinks in the launderette because its 5bt cheaper than the bar next door and he eats at the roadside stalls. The fact that he is Scottish has absolutely nothing to do with the 'cheapskate' way he lives his life. I suggested we meet for a beer in Shenanighans a few weeks back and he broke out in a cold sweat at the thought of paying over 50Bt for beer.

If you are single then there should be no worries about trying life in Thailand for as long as you can tolerate it. There is more to life than money...but you should have enough in your pocket so that you never need to compromise on your enjoyment of life.

[Bub 0]

I returned from my first trip to Thailand a week ago. I'm 51, and it was easily the best experience of my life. I am a bit different from some others, though, in that I wish to bring a Thai lady to the US for marriage rather than moving there.

 

There are so many neat things about the country and its people, but the one salient feature is a simple word: attitude. In my 51 years, I have never come close to being surrounded by so many incredibly beautiful people. Not physical beauty. I'm talking about what's in their hearts and souls. If only Americans could learn a lesson from Thailand, we would be such an incredibly better nation.

 

Im sad to say that the only rude people I encountered during my entire trip, including the layovers in Tokyo, were in fact Americans. I wanted to slap them. How could they not "get it"?

 

For sure, if I am successful in bringing my friend back someday as my wife, I would be more than willing to eventually retire in Thailand. It would be a mutual decision.

 

Am I addicted? Absolutely, just in a slightly different manner. My next trip there will be in 54 1/2 days. Who's counting though? :)

[wombat 5]

bub....bro.....i agree with everything you have said......i would suggest you read the "relationships and thai culture" part of this board at your leisure.

[maipenrai 473]

Hi Bub - glad you enjoyed your first trip, I'm sure it won't be your last. Before you decide to take a tg home, though, do a lot of research - you are thinking of plucking a flower from a very special garden, and it could wilt on you...Thais don't always assimilate into our "wonderful western world" that well. Go to www.stickmanbangkok.com and read some of the "Reader's Submissions" for first hand accounts from others....

 

Personally, I have been to the LOS three times in the last few years, and will return in three months. I still have to work for a few more years until I get my pension, and then I will be spending my winters in Thailand, and returning to Canada to work part time in the summers. I have a new relationship with a lovely woman from Chiang Mai, whom I will try to bring over for a visit this summer, but I have no intention of bringing her here to live with me - I'd far rather live with her there, and she would be happier too.

 

Many tg's have misconceptions about the west from watching movies and reading fashion magazines - the real thing is very often just too much of a shock for them... they miss their families, culture, and food too much....

 

But good luck to you, and all the best - enjoy your next trip - I know I will enjoy mine..... ;D

[Bub 0]

Preface: Please forgive the length of this post. It was not meant to be. Please read only if you're bored. :)

 

 

Hi Snowbird,

 

   Thanks for the advice. Before going to Thailand, I had visited numerous forums. I came to several conclusions before ever stepping onto an airplane. I already knew that the majority of Thai women are at least pretty, and that many are outrageously beautiful. I sensed that I would have a good time, but in the end would not find a wife. I would then decide whether to try again or not, maybe even go to the Philippines next winter. I agreed with many that they would probably talk a good line, but in the end none would never move to the US.

 

   I was in BKK for 8 full days, which I realize is short compared to most of the others on these boards. However, it seemed, both then and now, that I experienced far more in those 8 days than I could have imagined possible. There were no wasted minutes. I had so much trouble sleeping that I had to see the hotel doctor on day 3. He gave me some kind of herbs and some Xanax. Glad I asked. :)

 

   The first girl that I actually had a date with, on the first night, seemed too good to be true. When she spoke English, she actually sounded as if she was French. We all know how sexy that can be. She was incredible, an absolute stunner in every sense, and my early tempation was to grab her and run.

 

   The next day, she told me her condition. I had to buy her a house, in Thailand. Then she would move to the US with me. She lied about the reason for several days, before finally telling the truth. As often mentioned, Thai women are disillusioned about the US and want to return. This would be her safety net. Whether her stay in the US was 10 years or 10 days, she would have a free house to go back to. At 10 days, with the house costing $20,000 USD, my cost would have been $2K per day. Thanks, but no thanks. Been there, done that, etc.

 

   After that, I met a wide variety of girls. Many were divorced with kids, while one was a widow, many single girls, too. They ranged in age from 20 to 38, education from very little to a master's degree in accounting, working for a big import/export firm. As far as I know, none were prostitutes, but I don't doubt that some may have been at one time or another. I spent at least 6 hours of each day with one of the girls. I had some really good, genuinely fun and innocent times.

 

  On the other hand, I had met about 40 girls total, and it was painful to have to reject most of them. Some were clearly hurt, and I still feel bad about that. There has to be a better way...

 

   By day 7, I had concluded that I would return to the US and correspond by e-mail with 5 or 6 out of perhaps 40. I was a bit disappointed, because I had quietly hoped to find Miss Perfect. It was not the case, as I had tried to prepare myself before the trip. I was going to spend day 8 sightseeing and taking photos. I had bought a new digital camera just for the trip, but had only taken a handful of photos.

 

  Day 8 arrived. I did a bit of shopping, and was about to grab my camera. I made a call to the introduction company to ask about one gir's e-mail address. The owner said that she could probably arrange for her to see me that afternoon, at the office. She also mentioned that a girl had ridden 8 hours on a bus the previous night, just in order to meet me.

 

  She wasn't the only one who had come a long distance. The others who traveled from afar had generally been disappointing in most aspects, and quite frankly it was difficult to say "no, thanks" without hurting their feelings. Oh well, if she could travel 8 hours one way, I could make the effort to at least meet her face-to-face.

 

  This was my 4th trip to the office in 8 days. It was the 3rd time that a taxi driver had become lost. By this time, it was funny. This driver even stopped and asked a group of traffic cops on motorcycles for directions, still didn't get it right. Just a side note...

 

   I arrived late, and there were several girls there who wanted to meet me. The first one was quite nice. So was the second, followed by a few that were perhaps less than average.

 

   Then came a 34-year-old who was rather stunning. I especially liked the jet-black hair that reached her legs. Incredible smile, absolutely perfect teeth. She could have (should have) done dental ads. Did I mention the near-perfect body? She did have a child, but that was OK. We agreed to exchange e-mail.

 

  Time to leave. No pictures, but oh well, one girl had given me a $50 book on Thailand. Whoops, there was still the girl who came 400km to meet me. OK, then I'll go. :)

 

  Recall if you will, I had not even planned to go this last day. The girl that I had hoped to see again chose to not make the trip herself. One last girl, then maybe go find a bg for the night. What the heck? The others had long since left the building, so no possiblity of another "date"

 

  The last girl, oh my God, was in fact "Miss Pefect". Damn, was I dreaming? By then, both owners of the business were in the room, getting ready to close up. They agreed with me. This was the one.

 

  Only she didn't feel right about going to dinner with me, because she was supposed to meet her sister. OK, what if we invite the sister?

 

  It was a typical ride back to the hotel, driving 120 km/hr on the toll road, only to wait 30 minutes to exit the darn thing. One night, I saw a guy get ouf of his taxi and walk off of the exit ramp. We spoke some, but her English was not too good. I didn't know any Thai at all.

 

  We reached my hotel room, and I grabbed the Thai-English/English-Thai dictionary. Anytime we needed a big word, we looked it up. I also showed her my hobby, which is photography on a computer, yeah, computer graphics. I'm a bigtime Photoshop user. We thoroughly entertained each other for the next hour. It was a blast, using whatever means necessary to get our points across.

 

  Her sister had still not arrived, so we went to a nice Thai restaurant. I asked her to order, and she did in fact do a good job of it, considerably better than the others had done. Her sis showed up about 1/2 way into the meal. She couldn't speak any English at all, but was clearly very nice and funny. She apparently approved of me, then and now. Very good news!

 

   I then asked the hotel's night manager to help. There were too many things that still needed to be said, but time was running short. He helped me to explain that we would go to an Internet cafe and set her up an e-mail address. I also wanted to give her some money to at least cover the trip. She liked the e-mail idea, but didn't want the money.

 

   She wanted to go to the aiport with me, but I told her through our new interpreter that I had to be there at 5AM. She asked if I could stay in the room with me. I admit that I was a bit afraid. She was beautiful, nice and funny beyond my wildest dreams. But, was she talking about hopping into bed with me after only 4 hours? Naturally, part of me wanted it, but my brain said no.

 

   She needed some clean clothes for the next day, so we went looking for clothes. She wanted to pay, but I insisted. Size? We removed both the blouse and jeans from mannequins. That's close enough to perfect for me.

 

  As midnight approached, and we were all in the room, I took a shower. I had only known these girls for a few hours. For all I knew, they would gather up my things and run! I laughed to myself, was more than willing to take the chance.

 

  I exited the shower to find them in the same places, still talking and laughing. The sister said it was her turn. Ah-ha! Cool, she was staying, too.

 

  It was a room with 2 twin beds. I offered to sleep on the floor. No chance; they would share a twin bed. I woke up a few hours later, glanced over and saw that the cover was all the way over their heads, all the way to the headboard. I smiled, realizing I had the air conditioner on too high. They never would have complained.

 

 The wake-up call came at 4:30. How many girls would/could wake up after 4 hours of sleep, wearing the exact same smiles that they went to bed with? The highway was all but empty, and the taxi driver drove 220 km/hr. Have you ever seen the speedometer "bounce" off the far right side? We didn't dare say anything. We sure didn't want to distract him!

 

  At the airport, as an excuse to give her some money, I told her that the money wouldn't be good in the US. I slipped her about 14K baht, mixed in between 20's and 100's. It made me feel good.

 

  No stories, no lines, no cons. I sent her an e-mail from the Tokyo airport. By the time I reached home, she had replied. She sent two more over the next few days, but they were very brief. How was I going to keep her interested if we couldn't write more than a few words, common phrases at that?

 

  I live in a county that probably has less than 30 Asians. Compare that to San Fransicso, which is 31% Asian. Perhaps the only Thai in the entire county just happens to work in my store! Now, she can write to me in Thai, and this girl translates. The e-mails blossomed.

 

  I'm going back in 54 days, but who's counting? :) I suggested that she come here instead, but she wants to wait until she can speak better English. She has enrolled herself in a 2-week immerson course. For my part, I have ordered 3 Thai computer courses, and plan to at least learn enough phrases to meet her half-way.

 

  The forums on Thailand are indeed helpful, but sometimes too opinionated, sometimes dead wrong. I feel sorry for those who conclude that all Thai women are liars, that the "politeness" is an act, that no Thai woman could ever be happy in the U.S.

 

  Gentlemen, I urge you to look around. Ever lived in California or Hawaii? Believe me, they were not all born here. Millions have moved here and have adapted incredibly well; I personally know plenty. Of my best friends in my life, the top 3 have been Asian. Thai's in particular are beautiful people.

 

I'm a pharmacist, a profession which is intensely heavy on customer service. Folks, Americans are among the rudest people on the planet. There are days that we get chewed out by 6 to 10 people IN A ROW, for reasons that they know are completely beyond our control. They know quite well that I have no decision in their copays, nor do I make the laws. It doesn't keep them from trying to ruin my day.

 

  Like all people, Thai's have their faults. Trust me, though, the ONLY rude people I saw during the 10 days including travel were in fact other Americans. If you're looking for a prostitute that you can turn around, then you perhaps took Julia Roberts' performance in "Pretty Woman" far too seriously. No one should say that "all Thai women are liars", but it probably could be said that "almost all prostitutes, worldwide, have a dark side".

 

   Among the non-hookers, Thailand is home to some of the kindest people on the planet. If things work out, I will gladly go back to Thailand someday to retire. That's a desicion we will make together, just as we will most decisions.

 

   It's all I can do to keep from walking off the job to return tomorrow. One of my pharmacists said today that she will lay on the runway to stop the jet. Guess I won't. Then again, I might.

 

Goodnight!

Bub

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

   

[maipenrai 473]

Well - written, Bub - I wasn't aware you had gotten into things this deeply. It looks like you've really put some time and effort into finding the right woman, and I sure hope it works out well for both of you.

 

Keep that positive attitude, would be a pleasure to discuss things more over a beer or two sometime.... I will be back in April to see my CM sweetie again, we'll see how that turns out...

[nidnoyham 30]

Bub- mate !

 

If you are looking for a life companion, no doubt LOS is a fair place to start. The advise you get from the posts here, you may consider oppinionated, but don't ignore it.

 

I have had same lady in LOS, for over 2 years, she visited England ths summer, loved the cathederals/ castles & London etc, but on first day here in June was wearing my winter clothes. Trying to find a meal for her when touring the countryside, was like finding spare parts for a obscure foreign car everyday- rice with everything ! Despite speaking good English and getting on with my family & friends she missed hers in LOS. Thais are very familly orentated.

 

For me the biggest difference between our cultures regarding marriage, is, that you don't marry just a wife, you take on the whole familly, and in my experience, once a Farang is on the scene, the male relatives suddenly stop becoming Bread Winners. Every problem, and they have many ie medical expenses, bank loans can come to you via your wife, it happend with my lady, they looked to her for money- mine. But I made a stand and we now have an understanding about the dreaded money subject. Try to remember you are Mick Jager/ Paul Macartny to them, if you can live with that, then you are 90% there.

My only words of caution are " Most things in life are easier to get into than out of"

 

Whatever you do, take your time. Do all your thinking above the waist (How do you do that ?)

 

You seem to be doing your home work, but it is a minefield, I wish you well  

[Crackpot 2]

Hi Bub

 

Just a point.

Dont expect the Thai lady you knew in Thailand to be the same as the Thai lady you marry and take back to the US

 

They learn very quickly. And though they never get as bad as some of the hard faced cows born here they do learn very quickly.

I was married to a British girl here in the UK for 14 years before she decided to walk (did she walk or was she pushed I'll never know) I've now been married to my Thai wife for over 14 years, and even though she has picked up a lot of the UK womens ways, she still maintains the Thai air of indifference typical of so many Thais.

 

Just dont expect them to stay pure and untouched by what they see and hear around them. The rose coloured glasses soon fall off !!

[Bub 0]

Thanks to everyone. I apologize to those who I may have offended. For sure, every person is entitled to his or her opinion.

 

One of my reasons for the post was to argue, albeit politely, that it's naive to use the word "all" when describing ANY group of people, whether it be Thai women, North Koreans, New Yorkers, Southerners or the Los Angeles Lakers. It's not coincidental that we have different finger prints and retinal scans. Those differences are in fact a reflection, if you will, of the variations within each of us.

 

Do you recall the set of conjoined twins that died recently from surgery to separate them? Can't remember for sure, but I believe they were from the Middle East. They agreed beforehand that it would be better to risk death than life, being attached to each other when their personalities were so vastly different. They were more than just identical twins. They were as close as possible to one-in-the-same, yet as different as day and night.

 

I have no delusions about the changes that a Thai wife will go through after moving to the opposite side of the world. A mere eight days on her side changed some of my own outlook on life.  In small ways, but for a long time to come. There will be many issues to address. I'm happy to say that I have many Asian friends to draw from.

 

I will break my own rule [that didn't take long] by suggesting that "all" people change during their lifetimes. Have philosophers not said that we, each and every one, are in fact the sum of our life's experiences? If my Thai wife does not change, then she would surely have to be a robot.

 

She and I will have only limited influence over many of those changes. I will do my best to guarantee that most are positive. I suggest that the world around us is responsible for most of our zigs and zags. How many of us will ever be the same after 9/11? I would never be the same if I was fired from my job, or falsely accused of a crime, certainly never the same if someone assaulted my wife.

 

In my first 18 years of life, my favorite person was an aunt by marriage. She was truly my idea of "perfect". Most of my family agreed. Beautiful, caring, generous, everything. I never thought of her as deeply religious, in fact never gave it a thought. However, she was into it enough that she ran off with a Methodist preacher, abandoning her family of three. I'm betting, hoping, that my Thai wife would not change as much as she did.

 

Ironically, the issue of food could very well be a problem. I don't remember my exact question to her, but I do recall an answer from her of "100% Thai food". A fiance visa takes some time to obtain, so I will begin addressing the matter of food very soon. My favorite foods are ribeye steak and grilled salmon. If she accepts only those two substitutes, we'll be fine. I hope she would eventually tire of carrying a rice steamer everywhere we go. She did agree with me that we don't have to eat chicken feet or insects.  I did eat chicken feet with another girl last week. Yuk!

 

Regarding the flow of money back to relatives, I am sensitive to that as well. I may be lucky, because I believe she only has a sister and mother. Her sister is terrific! The issue almost scared me away from Thai women altogether. The girl who wanted the $20,000 house was simply relaying the message from her mother. I gave it a lot of thought, so much that it almost ruined the trip.

 

I live in a Colorado ski resort. It's packed with Mexican immigrants, many of them illegal. They constitute much of the work force, yet there is considerable criticism of them. Do you know where you can always find a group of these people? In a line, at a Western Union counter, sending money to their relatives that they left behind. Without fail, every day, all day. They do it on their own initiative.

 

Yes, I will almost certainly move to California or Hawaii if we marry. I have lived in all 4 contitental time zones, and am very flexible. It's true; I saw goose bumps on one Thai girl at 75 degrees. :) Also, I want her to be around other Asians, Thais in particular. San Francisco is 31% Asian, and I love it there.

 

My wife and I will almost certainly run a home computer graphics business on the side. She has already expressed an interest in it. It is fun! It will be my suggestion up front that a defined amount of that income be earmarked for her mother and sister. Fortunately, I make enough from my real job for a comfortable lifestyle.

 

There is in fact a very bad side to my story. I have been writing this note in large part to take my mind off of it. Sorry about that. I have not heard from her in 4 days. I worry that she might be sick. I also know that she may have forgotten to press the SEND button after writing an e-mail. She had never touched a computer until last week, even now only inside an Internet cafe for a few minutes at a time. I sadly recognize that she could have changed her mind. Going through Christmas without hearing from her was extremely difficult for me.

 

Assuming that she does contact me soon, and everything is OK, the new count will be 23 days. The new reservation is already made. I only have to press the Purchase Now button. Yes, I will still take the trip in 54 days, too.

 

Good luck to everyone. I will soon answer the questions about the service that I went through. My verdict on it is still up in the air. Since returning, my 3 requests for help via e-mail have been ignored. My response will be brief; I promise. :)

[nidnoyham 30]

Bub, hope you hear from your lady soon.

 

Of course not "all" Thai ladies are the same son, but it is a good policy to assume they are from the start- time will tell with each individual. You, as a regular sounding good guy, need to be just a bit more cynical than you feel comfortable with. I don't doubt there is a Miss right for you somewhere in LOS, but is is no different from commiting yourself to any woman for the rest of your life.

 

Most of the LOS regulars, me included, have been through the mill of life- broken marriages, bad divorces etc, and may seem cynical, where women are concerned.   When reading your posts we may think- Oops, another one bites the dust. I hope you prove us wrong mate.

 

If you don't hear from your Lady, remember everything happens for a reason.

[handle 0]

Hey Bub, if you do hear from her again you might want to send her some baht for a cell phone.

Then get you a phone card.

 

That will cut your not being able to get in touch by about half on a good day.

The Thai communication infrastructure is not what I would call First World.

 

Hope things work out.

 

 

Oh, Yes I have become addicted, hooked, dependent, fixated, obsessed with, fanatic about and habituated to Thailand.