Is Thailand now your home? Why?

[migrant]

I love Thailand, the culture, the food, and yes, the prices. I went through a late in life divorce so financially retirement in the States would be a long way off, but feasible in Thailand.

Why did you choose Thailand?

Are you pleased? Or are you stuck now and can't make a move?

I'm interested in your thoughts

Thanks

[stgrhe]

I did chose Thailand because I am married to a Thai and my wife works for the Government here. I have also a reasonably good experience of this country since I have been coming here a minimum of ten times yearly for the past twenty over years and one can have a good living here.

Other pluses with the country is of course the climate and the cost of living. There are also downsides, quite a few actually, and should I have not been married to a Thai I would most likely have opted for Malaysia instead, a country that I find superior to Thailand in so many ways.

G.

[hhfarang]

Migrant,

I'm sure you've read my answer on other threads... but, in a nutshell (since you asked):

I had been visiting Thailand as a tourist since 1981 and loved it that way. In '96 I married a Thai and took her to live in the states but she was never truly happy there, as she missed her family and her culture, so... for her, I took early retirement (5 years earlier than planned) and we moved to Hua Hin.

To me it is much different living here retired than it was visiting as a tourist. On those previous trips, money was not an issue and anything I didn't like about the country was ignored as I was only here for a week to a month anyway.

Living here on a pension month to month is not a good experience for me. I feel much like my wife did in the U.S. I miss home and family but am trapped here due to financial constraints.

Others have mentioned the climate as a plus... to me that is the biggest minus. It's nice for a vacation where you are spending most of your time in bars, restaurants, or the water, but when you have to put up with oppressive heat and humidity day after day with little or no relief, then the climate becomes boring and terrible (to me; Super Joe loves it! ). I prefer somewhere that has four seasons providing a variety of climates throughout the year... but that's just me. Most of the ex-pats here come from places that are cold, snowy, or rainy and overcast most of the time so they love this heat and sun. You come from the best climate in the world (imo) so you may get tired of it after a while.

Anyway, if I had it to do over again, I would probably not move here, and I would have worked a few more years before retiring. I would have retired in a smallish town with a nice climate somewhere in the U.S., and maybe spent a few months a year in Thailand to keep the wife happy.

[leo65]

...I would most likely have opted for Malaysia instead, a country that I find superior to Thailand in so many ways

I've lived in Malaysia but i didn't found there the gentleness of thais in KL the "Bumi" often treat the others citizen as inferior, expecially chinese and indians originary. The chinese malay people has not the courtesy of thai people and indians has not the gentleness.
And also the food and culinary culture in Thailand is superior.
So please stgrhe explain in wich way you think Malaysia is superior to Thailand

bye
leo65

[JAJA]

Although of retirement age, we can't yet afford to retire. Hence we are both still working and singing "we've got to get out of this place if it's the last thing we ever do". Well I hope it’s not the last thing I do as do want to enjoy HH before I cark it. What I do know is that whenever the song lines turn into reality, it will be a lot cheaper to do so in Thailand than here. It is definitely a slower and more relaxed piece of the world. As for not having to wear multiple layers of warm clothing, shorts and a T shirt are about as much as I want to wear.

[stgrhe]

...I would most likely have opted for Malaysia instead, a country that I find superior to Thailand in so many ways

I've lived in Malaysia but i didn't found there the gentleness of thais in KL the "Bumi" often treat the others citizen as inferior, expecially chinese and indians originary. The chinese malay people has not the courtesy of thai people and indians has not the gentleness.
And also the food and culinary culture in Thailand is superior.
So please stgrhe explain in wich way you think Malaysia is superior to Thailand

bye
leo65

In Malaysia there is real progress whilst in Thailand there is virtually none of that; compare the infrastructure, the system of laws, the corruption level just to name a few. Compare the two countries how they were 25 years ago, that's when I first came here, and what progress they have made until today and you'll see the difference.

Corruption is what I dislike the most and although there is still corruption in Malaysia it is not as bad as it was then and nowhere Thailand's level. In Malaysia they have a rather effective anti-corruption squad and no one is immune there whereas here in Thailand the elite can virtually get by with everything. I have for the past 25 years been doing business in both countries with their respective government on top levels and thus met many of the top brass on both side of the border. I cast my vote for the Malaysians every time.

You are right about the 'Bumi' system, it is not fair, but you have an even worse system here where the Thai-Chines elite are doing exactly the same. In Malaysia they do at least admit that they have this odd bumiputtra system whilst in Thailand the elite pretend to represent the people.

I have many friends among the three Malaysian communities you mention in your post and like everywhere else you will find good and bad people. But I cannot agree with you that the Thais in general are more friendly than the Malays. To me the Malays are much more genuine with their straight forward and open-hearted attitude whereas the Thais much too often say one thing but mean something else.

G.

[valrhona]

I agree with the previous poster and would add that it's also easier to communicate in Malaysia since English is more widely spoken and I think it's easier to make friends of the various communities then to make friends with thai people most likely because of language issues.

I also enjoy the variety of food in Malaysia, I wouldn't say it's better than thai but certainly just as enjoyable to my palate.

On the other hand, I'd say the biggest drawback to Malaysia for many is the lifestyle for men which is obviously not anywhere near the same as it is in Thailand and THAT is probably the kicker. I also find Malaysia generally hotter...

[norm]

The biggest reason we are presently living in LOS is the Australian Government moved the goal post on retirement visa after we had been living there on one for over 12 years.

So from the handwriting on the wall we decided to leave Australia. Won't bore you with all the details, about Australia. We loved Australia by the way.

We had been to LOS many times starting in 1984 (the year I retired). So decided it would either be LOS or Panama. We went to Panama and spent some time but did not really find an area that we would like to live in. But Panama does have a lot going for it as far as retirement goes. They make it very easy you can buy and own land like a native and they want you there.

But in the end we decided that LOS was a good place for us and we have been here for three years and don't anticipate leaving, unless of course the Thai Gov't decides to move the goal post as Australia did.

Money did not really enter into the decision as our finances are sufficient to live where we want. I must admit that on occasion I have thought maybe I blew it in choosing LOS over Panama but then that passes and I am quite happy here. My wife (also farang, whose been my best friend for 35 years now) is very happy with our lifestyle in LOS.

Like everyone we have our bithces about things in LOS, such as traffic and the rules for immigration changing at a whim, and the language is a real problem for me, not so much for the wife. We love the weather and live on the beach so life is good (yes, we do have air conditioning).

Can't think of anywhere I would really make the effort to move to. So we will be here for the foreseeable future. But you never really know until you give it a try.

norm

[Chas]

Yes this is my home. My ONLY home I might add. The "why" of it was falling in love.

The thread title here prompts me to add that apart from the first few weeks when I first visited Thailand as a tourist and fell in love, ( and those times when I stay at a hotel in Bkk) I have never been a "guest" here, as some people are fond of saying. I am in my OWN home, not someone else's, no-one else is supplying me with hospitality, no-one is "hosting" me. I pay my own way and take care of myself entirely.

I also worked and paid Thai taxes here like any other "citizen" for several years.

And I dont need the debate about how Thai people view me, or the Byzantine visa laws or whatever, I am still not a "guest" by the usual definitions of that word.

If you want a term that fits me ( and which I feel is more accurate for many of us here here are a few . . .I am a resident alien or farang, permanent resident, resident American) you can use the term "guest" for yourself but I find it inaccurate in my situation.

The title of this thread says it all in fact. You can not really be a "guest" in your own home after all!

[loverboy44]

I just simply think itis a big difference if you have to make a living here, need a work permit, pay taxes, etc. or if you got enough money, retire and can relax.
I always saw it as my home but i do really enjoy the freedom to go back to my home country, to, as a good friend of mine always says, make a reality check.
I understand HHfarang, which posts i do enjoy, when he feels a bit like a prisoner, due to financial barriers.
I can really recommend everyone not to close all windows at home and crash into here without a safety belt.

[Chas]

lb. . .that is part of what I am saying here . . .I have no "windows at home" (meaning back in America) If the shit ever hits the fan here, I would be a refugee with an American passport . .yeah the passport gives me travel freedom, but it doesnt give me a home to go back to.

These days we are discussing going "home for the holidays," but by "home" we always mean the village in Isaan.

I think that old saw still rings true: Home is where your heart is. . .and mine is right here.



.

[leo65]

@ stgrhe

ok, your reasons. Sure we can feel more confortable in a country where english language is wide spoken and where corruption is not much "practiced" as in Thailand and where there are better infrastructures.
I generalized about the three Malaysian communities and of course everywhere else we can find good and bad people . But the generalization is used to point at the majority of cases and this is undeniable. When I lived in Malaysia I can continuously breathe this discrimination. I also get friends in all the Malaysian communities and them confirm to me this situation, so is not just my own sensation, the impression of a foreigner.

In Thailand people can be not friendly when we are not friendly, when we treat them as inferior race, when we do not accept their habits, when we reject to learn and speak their language that is a golden rule for someone wish/have to live in Thailand. For these reasons we will always be a "farang" to their eyes, and a "golden goose" to prey on for somebody

On the other hand if for us this is not sustainable we are right to prefer Malaysia! There we'll find much of our own culture and don't need to learn other language and become one of them easly

Cordially
leo65

[sandman67]

one reason: A 5' tall bundle of fun called Amy.....Mrs S.

I came here originally as a tourist and loved the place. I still do at heart....its just the last year and a half have me worried as to the direction the country is going in....to the dogs

If it weren't for Amy Id be in Vietnam

Malaysia is not an option.....I dont like semi-secular semi-not Islamic states, and particularly ones that rattle the religion sabre every year and impose dumb bigoted morality laws.

[shunpike]

Thailand is my home, it's been so for seven years now. I was at loose ends in Canada, was still single and so had no strong attachments personally and felt like I needed a change of scenery. I came to Thailand to try teaching and see how things would unfold. Within a couple of years I found two important things: my wife of five years now, and that I really enjoy teaching Thai kids. My wife is well educated and finacially secure. She has a good paying job and runs a profitable small business on the side. I earn enough to take care of any of my needs so we are secure on that front. I'm 46 and my wife is 41, we both figure we'll work for another ten years or so then move from Bkk to HH. We recently bought some land about 25 kms west northwest of HH and look to build our eventual retirement home. Life is good.

Sure, there's always stuff to worry about, but that's pretty much the case anywhere. Oddly enough the only thing I don't much like is the weather. I'm one of those eejit Canadians who actually like cold weather. But hey, you can't have everything in life.

[richard]

Shunpike


Great post.

Yep I do miss the cold crisp frosty mornings in the UK but having just returned from a trip there after several years my body cannot adjust. Maybe its because Im now 64 and totally acclimatised to the tropics.

I love the place because of the climate, scenery, food and hospitality if you become INTEGRATED

Petty hassles like visas etc do not worry me. When I think of the policing, red tape, political correctiveness in the UK I think Im better off here

Whether I would be better suited to Cambodia, VN, Malaysia who knows

I have lived here now about 8 or 9 years (memory loss). Most of the time in Hua Hin but I am now living the peasant life in northeast Thailand (Isaan)

The day I am no longer happy with my lot I will move. Been doing it since I was 5 years old

Enjoy