Why Thailand???

[aragon]

What is it that draws us expats to LOS as opposed to say Cambodia or Laos or Vietnam??

I read here on the forum a lot of less than happy comments, yet we still keep coming back to LOS. I know that a lot of guys do it because they are married to Thais, but not all of us are. Should we be looking at other parts of SE Asia and is LOS past its sell by date??

[advocate]

I for one prefer to live in a democratic country.

[Roel]

So where do you live?

[aragon]

So where do you live?

I'm not sure if you are asking me or "advocate"; but I live in one of the most undemocratic countries in the world, Qatar; but then it's not as bad as most people belive by a long shot.

My query was, just why do people (us) consistently choose LOS over neighbouring countries, when all the reports tell us that neighbouring countries are better??

[Roel]

The remark was merely tongue-in-cheek to advocate who referred to Thailand as a democratic country. Well in theory it is of course. But forget politics. I personally cannot answer your questions as I really would not mind moving to one of the countries mentioned above if a good job opportunity would lead me there. But others might reply soon. I know some have personal experience with these countries.

[hhfarang]

I'm one of the ones you mentioned who is only here because I am married to a Thai and bowed to her wishes. I really would not choose to live anywhere in southeast Asia if it weren't for that. I think all of the countries are wonderful for a holiday but grow tiresome after a few years of full time living.

[usual suspect]

"WHY ARE WE HERE!..??" (Taken from a scene with Mel Gibson in the film 'Air America').
Why do I stay here?? Well (like many forum members) I'm kinda established here now, and it does become a case of 'Better the devil you know, than the devil you don't'.. well that's my excuse.
Yes many people DO get married here, have ties etc, so to move-on the where the grass is/seems greener would maybe not be so easy now.
Another option which many ex-pats who've been here for many years have opted for is to move to a new area of Thailand..still got the family around you, still speak Thai, but now live in a very different area and lifestyle to Hua Hin...for example Chaing Mai..? Bang Saphan? Khon Kaen?
Yes, I'm one of the biggest offenders when it comes to moaning and groaning about this country, but much of it is just p***-taking.. 5-5!
Yes, living here is getting more expensive year-by-year, but if you forsake lunch at the 'Bistro' and opt for Som-Tam, plus a cold Thai beer at a plastic-tabled, roadside place and savour the mellowness of simply being here, then life here's not-so-bad after-all.

[Takiap]

I think if I was single I would maybe move on to experience one or more of the neighboring countries since you can't really judge a place until you've actually lived there for a few years. I also think that we about to see a few changes in the current "move to Thailand" trend. It might not happen right now, but I'm sure it's going to happen soon enough, especially now that Burma is starting to open up as well.

Personally, I still love living in Thailand because I like the freedom we have here compared to in the west where everything is so controlled and regulated. Yes, there are countless things that irritate me here, but there were even more things that irritated me back in my own country and in the UK where I lived for 10 years.

Also, apart from the fact that I have a wife and kids here, I don't really have a country of my own that I can return to. Yes, I could go back to South Africa, but.....................


All in all, I'm happy here in this crazy place they call Thailand.

[Pleng]

I read here on the forum a lot of less than happy comments, yet we still keep coming back to LOS.

I think negativity just has a louder sound to it than positivity. From what I can gather there are certainly a lot more people who are happy to be here than there are people who would rather not be here.

I'd be more interested in a comparison between the volume of people people who are absolutely glad to be here vs people who are pretty much nonchalant towards the place.

[MrPlum]

From what I can gather there are certainly a lot more people who are happy to be here than there are people who would rather not be here.

Count me as one of them. I took a poll a couple of years ago and... if I recall correctly... 80% said they were happy. With the economic woes, that might have changed.

I'm sure I'll return to Blighty one day. On a rendition flight.

[STEVE G]

I based myself in Thailand after living permantly for six years in Indonesia and what I worked out was that although Thailand isn't the the most perfect country in SE Asia, it's probably the easiest to live in as a Westerner.

[hhfarang]

^ But how many hours, days, weeks, or months per year is that opinion based upon Steve? I get the impression that you spend most of your time in one of the happiest countries in Europe...

Wait until you retire and live here full time... you may (or may not) have a different opinion.

[aragon]

Some interesting comments from all, thank you for sharing your thoughts

[STEVE G]

Wait until you retire and live here full time... you may (or may not) have a different opinion.

Not a problem HH; due to the financial state of the world, retiring is a thing of the past!

[Calguy]

Interesting comments and an adjunct to my earlier post "Why are you there". I STILL haven't seen a major factor that attracts expats to LOS. Is it climate first, a semi-democratic monarchy, physical beauty, cost of living etc. OR...? My first interest was the cost of living on a fixed pension, but apparenly I must give up on that idea with rising costs. My other attractions are the geographic beauty, the pretty girls, the FOOD, the Wats and Buddhist attitudes, the scuba diving, cheap tatoos etc. I also don't think the neighboring dictatorships would appreciate our taken for granted freedom of speech and action. Then there is the ifrastructure.
Some thoughts on the matter, useful or not.