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astrosmile
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This is the only place I could post this.
This is addressed to the x-pats living in LOS/BKK. I, and I'm sure others, would love to know how you managed to swing living over there.
I realize living somewhere is going to be different than going on holiday there for a month, but how? What's it like to have a (semi-) permanent base there?
Did you go for work and decide to stay, or returned to live after a vacation there? Was it difficult at the start?
Did you have to get visas etc (or perhaps you do a monthly run?), and if so, how hard was that? What do you do over there for a job (if any) ?
What kind of place do you live in? How do you spend your free time? How long have you been there and if a while, has it changed since you've been there?
You get the idea. You see the kind of things that would be interesting to know.
Spare us the witty repartee and whimsical jocularity about being professional drinkers/BG shaggers/under cover agents.
Any chance of some real answers?
THANKS!!
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:35 pm on Feb. 23, 2004
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Abrak
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Despite the whinging that you see on this site and elsewhere, I think the majority of expats really enjoy living in Thailand - I for one wouldnt dream of living anywhere else.
Why?
Well its cheap. For US$5k a month you can live extremely well here and for US$10k a month you can live like a King (countless servants, drivers etc.). Everything is cheap with the exception of wine and cars. (Cars are damn expensive - Mercedes E series will cost you US$110k)
The people are friendly and honest... I believe that Thailand is one of the few countries where the people genuinely like foreigners. I come from England and well - we put up with foreigners - but that is about it.
Finally I think the underlying quality of life has improved here steadily over the last 10 years. Rents and properties are cheaper (in US$) than 10 years ago, traffic is better, more choice of TV, restaurats, golf courses etc.. Maybe some of this has reversed in the last 2 years - traffic? rents? friendliness - but the medium term trend has been very favourable.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 1:02 am on Feb. 24, 2004
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The Machine
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Abrak
Well its cheap. For US$5k a month you can live extremely well here and for US$10k a month you can live like a King (countless servants, drivers etc.).
Well that would be stating the obvious.
The fact is the majority of people do not make anything like that.
Your other point about the friendliness of Thais may be seen thru rose coloured glasses.When you are throwing around the sort of money you are talking about of course they are going to be smiling and happy.
Quite simply if you are rich compared to the majority of people anywhere in the world you will have a pretty good life.
I am sure the really rich lead a great life in Europe and the USA etc. They also are probably not queueing up to live in Thailand.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 1:52 am on Feb. 24, 2004
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DrLove
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Have to agree with The Machine.
But as I am a boozing BG shagger with aspirations to be an undercover agent, you probably don't want to know my opinion as an expat living here for 10 years....
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 2:23 am on Feb. 24, 2004
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Kryptonite
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Imagine being illiterate and a mute. That is about how you will feel living here until you can speak the language. I have been here for 3 1/2 years, and can only speak about 60% without any schooling.
I still can't read Thai, so finding places is hard. Take a long hard thought out afternoon, and just think about not being able to read street signs, store front signs, the newspaper, your phone bill, etc. etc. etc.. It aint all roses let me tell ya.
It gets really frusterating at times. But then you got tot remember that Thai's don't like confrontation. So when you get pissed off and want to scream and yell profanity, you are better off locking yourself I nthe closet and screaming into the darkness. As the Thai's will have nothing to do with that type of situation.
Yeah sure, if you got 5k - 10k US to throw around every month, everyone is going to be your friend and smile. I make 50k baht per month. I see the real way that Thai's think of the "farang." Let me tell you, they don't think much of middle class foreigners with no money.
Vacationing here is great. Living here is a challenge. You better think about it hard and long. Your life wont get any better here. If you are a loser low life in your own country, you will be a loser low life here as well.
If you are not a survivor, or have a million + US, stay home and save for retirement. Living in Thailand wont be for you.
Krypto
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:24 am on Feb. 24, 2004
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DrLove
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Right, Krypto!
A very good statement of a friend who's always short on cash:
'I rather be unhappy in Thailand than in England.'
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:29 am on Feb. 24, 2004
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Kryptonite
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Another thing to add.
Ever wonder what is was like being a black person in the Southern USA before the black rights came about?
Move to Thailand, it is similar. Walking through markets and hearing kids say farang farang farang, and seeing their parents smack them for it. Farang is not a "friendly" word when said a certain way. Similar to the way the Americans used "nigger" to describe the blacks.
No there is no KKK or anything here, but there might as well be. Everything else about the way you are treated is similar.
This feeling towards you seems to ease if you can speak the language and are very nice and polite. I have managed to get through that time and perception of myself. But getting through it is really tough.
Krypto
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:40 am on Feb. 24, 2004
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astrosmile
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Let's have what you got DrLove...of course I wanna hear from the knowers.
Thanks for the posts so far. Sounds a bit gloomy Kryptonite. You might want to think about a glorious return to the homeland.
I don't qualify for the loser lowlife moniker (at least...) so I would asume if you are a bright, young breezy thing with a skip in your step it might be a good place to be. Not sure I can muster $10K per month though.......
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 2:44 am on Feb. 24, 2004
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Abrak
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I disagree with some of those comments...
US$5k or US$10k a month will not get you a decent life in the UK. A just livable house in London will cost you a US$1m - while in Bangkok it is almost impossible to spend that much. A meal for 2 in London - US$300.
Seriously in the UK US$5k a month will only just be enough to make ends meet.
You could probably live off US$1m for the remains of your life in Thailand...
And the really abusive phrase for the farang tourist with no money and who is rude... is..... farang ki nok....
ki nok literally translates as 'bird sh_t'
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:55 am on Feb. 24, 2004
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