Post: #76

Indeed. I'm new to Asia and maybe all of that takes getting used to, but if you're able to setup a good life in a Western country, I can't be convinced that Bangkok is better. It's not some kind of a magical escape from the problems of the west, which some posts in this thread would've made me think.

Post: #77

(09-15-2017 11:23 AM)GreenHills Wrote:  Indeed. I'm new to Asia and maybe all of that takes getting used to, but if you're able to setup a good life in a Western country, I can't be convinced that Bangkok is better. It's not some kind of a magical escape from the problems of the west, which some posts in this thread would've made me think.

You are not wrong. It's not a magical escape. I lived in Bangkok for many years and I can't see myself living there again for that long.

But I will admit to being one of the guys who is to blame in hyping up living in SEA. There is something unique about the place. For a while it is easy to block out the annoyances for all the exciting shit. Eventually the excitement fades and real life sets in.

The West and Asia both have positive/negative. It just kind of depends on what you prioritize and what stage you are in your life.

Post: #78

I passed by da nang, Shanghai and Singapore. All of these are places where I can imagine myself living, so I'm not against Asia or anything. There's a lot to be hyped about. But Bangkok ... not working out for me, the city brings me down. Other parts of Thailand might be better.

Post: #79

(09-14-2017 09:56 PM)Svoboda Wrote:  The test button is a circuit breaker.
Turn on the heater and water (don't get under the shower yet) and push the button.

Sometimes you can't reach the button without getting wet.

Anyhow, what happens when you press the button if it works as it should and if it doesn't?

Post: #80

(09-15-2017 09:49 AM)GreenHills Wrote:  I was in Bangkok recently and out of the many cities I've been to I strongly rate it as the worst place I've been to. I hope I never have to live there.

. The traffic is terrible. Cabs take forever to go anywhere.

. The city is gloomy. I don't know if it's pollution or what but at 6pm everything has this ugly yellowish tint.

. Thais really don't strike me as an intelligent bunch. They also don't speak English.

. Dirty.

. I don't like the women. Again, they look like a low intelligence bunch. Talk all you want about how that doesn't matter but even MRG admitted that he gets bored with them intellectually.

. Cockroaches. In bathrooms, in showers. I'm taking big ass mofos.

. Read bad things about mosquitos and disease.

But I make good cash in US and I never stay without a woman, so I don't see why I would go to Thailand.

Just another point of view for guys who have never been to Bangkok.

I'd take eastern Europe jumping out of joy, compared to Bangkok.

Stay away then. You sounds like the most stuck up diva to ever travel anywhere outside of the USA.

Post: #81

(09-15-2017 06:11 PM)Kdog Wrote:  Stay away then. You sounds like the most stuck up diva to ever travel anywhere outside of the USA.

Post: #82

@cheetah
The heater would shut down when the circuit breaker works. The water will still come out. There's usually a little light that signals when it's heating or not.

If it doesn't work it doesn't shut down (continues to heat the water). This means the main security against preventing electrocution in case there is an "electrical leak" does not work.
It does NOT mean you will get electrocuted for sure.

By the way, I'm not saying people have to test it every day. But if you're taking a look at a new place to rent you really should test it.

Post: #83

A lot of the responses in this thread remind me why I don't bother listening to what anyone else says before thoroughly exploring a place on my own.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #84

.

(09-16-2017 12:16 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:   I don't bother listening to what anyone else says before thoroughly exploring a place on my own.

Wise words from Beyond Borders.

Especially important for anyone considering long-stay in Thailand (the thread topic here).
Most posts about Thailand -- on any public forum -- are from short-time tourists.
Yes, some have visited multiple times, but, still, they never got over the big gap from tourist to expat.
A gap in their knowledge.

Plus, most tourists writing about Thailand are Cheap Charlies, with endless complaints about hotels, restaurants, and transportation.
As expected at the bottom of the price scale, in any location.

On the other hand, long-stay expats don't care about hotels or restaurants aimed at tourists, especially not those for low-budget tourists.
And transportation in Thailand has many options -- many of which tourists never see.

Instead, we expats wonder about a very different set of topics:
Finding an apartment that is quiet and has good maintenance.
Avoiding restaurants by cooking at home, or ordering meals delivered from a commissary.
Finding convenient transportation to the supermarket, the book store, the hardware store, and a barber shop.
Using delivery services to avoid going out at all in the heat and humidity.
Posts on public forums rarely mention essential topics like that.

So, thank you, Beyond.
Your comment is right on target for any man thinking about expat living in a foreign country.
.

Post: #85

What some people forget, or willfully ignore, is that when you move from your home country to a foreign one, you are trading one set of problems for another.

It is easy to forget your old set of problems when you're mired in the new set of problems -- today. It's easy to complain about the strange shit going on in your new country and all the inconveniences. I try to take them in stride, but some days they do grate on me.

When I have these what-the-fuck-is-this-stupid-shit moments when I just want to pull my hair out, I remind myself of the problems in my home country- road rage that could get you KILLED, rabid feminism/SJWism that could get you JAILED, and the lack of freedoms in such a police state that exists today in the West.

It helps me cool down and keep things in perspective.

Post: #86

The way I see it, when you move to a less developed country, you exchange some few major problems (feminism, high taxes, gov involvement in your private life) with a lot of smaller problems.

I personally much prefer to deal with a lot of everyday annoyances - which I can predict and prevent by my own actions - than trying to fight the problems brought on by big oppressive governments in the West.

The only thing that really bothers me with these countries, including Thailand, is lack of regard for the law and that you can't trust to be treated fairly.

Post: #87

(09-16-2017 08:57 AM)nomadbrah Wrote:  The only thing that really bothers me with these countries, including Thailand, is lack of regard for the law and that you can't trust to be treated fairly.

I worry about the rule of law, too, even as it continues to disintegrate in the U.S. (see the failure to prosecute Hillary Clinton). Answer: become a perpetual traveler and have multiple passports. If the local police or bureaucrats unfairly target you and confiscate your passport to exert pressure, use the other one to leave the country -- and then replace your first passport on your next stop. Or have a trusted family member hold your second passport and have it sent by expedited delivery in the event of an emergency.

I read a story about a fellow who rented a vehicle. To make a long story short, the car rental agency unfairly wanted him to pay for the full replacement value of the vehicle. It had the local police confiscate his passport until he paid up. He used his second passport to jump on the next plane. This could also occur with criminal matters. I emphasize that I speak of unfair -- or even illegal -- power plays by local bureaucrats, not the evasion of legitimate responsibilities by visitors to another country.

You can obtain a second citizenship by naturalization, descent, marriage, treaty, or investment. Here is the investment option:

/thread-63640...itizenship

Post: #88

(09-16-2017 11:07 AM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  I worry about the rule of law, too, even as it continues to disintegrate in the U.S. (see the failure to prosecute Hillary Clinton). Answer: become a perpetual traveler and have multiple passports. If the local police or bureaucrats unfairly target you and confiscate your passport to exert pressure, use the other one to leave the country -- and then replace your first passport on your next stop. Or have a trusted family member hold your second passport and have it sent by expedited delivery in the event of an emergency.

Except for all the countries that have a mandatory exit procedure when you leave the country. Good luck using a different passport to leave than the one you used to enter.

Post: #89

(09-16-2017 11:45 AM)Suits Wrote:  

(09-16-2017 11:07 AM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  I worry about the rule of law, too, even as it continues to disintegrate in the U.S. (see the failure to prosecute Hillary Clinton). Answer: become a perpetual traveler and have multiple passports. If the local police or bureaucrats unfairly target you and confiscate your passport to exert pressure, use the other one to leave the country -- and then replace your first passport on your next stop. Or have a trusted family member hold your second passport and have it sent by expedited delivery in the event of an emergency.

Except for all the countries that have a mandatory exit procedure when you leave the country. Good luck using a different passport to leave than the one you used to enter.

I am talking about walking over the border in emergency circumstances. To use an analogy, walking across the border from the U.S. to Mexico. No one checks your passport on the U.S. side (and usually not on the Mexican side). Under dire circumstances when someone has confiscated your passport, you would take a bus (or walk) across the border rather than return through an airport. Yes, if you are on an island it could pose an issue. You would need to use a ferry or perhaps pay a local for a boat ride to another country. Or, if your feel lucky, you take your chances at the airport and pay the exit fine. Border guards forget to stamp the passports of incoming tourists all the time. Probably not the wisest course, however, if there is any chance of getting caught. The point is that a second passport gives you various options. Having options is always better than having no options.

Post: #90

(09-16-2017 11:45 AM)Suits Wrote:  

(09-16-2017 11:07 AM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  I worry about the rule of law, too, even as it continues to disintegrate in the U.S. (see the failure to prosecute Hillary Clinton). Answer: become a perpetual traveler and have multiple passports. If the local police or bureaucrats unfairly target you and confiscate your passport to exert pressure, use the other one to leave the country -- and then replace your first passport on your next stop. Or have a trusted family member hold your second passport and have it sent by expedited delivery in the event of an emergency.

Except for all the countries that have a mandatory exit procedure when you leave the country. Good luck using a different passport to leave than the one you used to enter.

Yes, not possible. No entry stamp, no exit stamp.

If you lose your passport or otherwise lose your exit stamp, then you need a new one. You might be able to swing it and lie about your other passport in some third world countries, but everywhere else big problems.

I once moved a Visa sticker in my passport because I had no room for stamps to enter Hong Kong and I almost got hauled away. Countries take passport tampering very seriously.

Post: #91

(09-16-2017 02:34 PM)nomadbrah Wrote:  

(09-16-2017 11:45 AM)Suits Wrote:  

(09-16-2017 11:07 AM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  I worry about the rule of law, too, even as it continues to disintegrate in the U.S. (see the failure to prosecute Hillary Clinton). Answer: become a perpetual traveler and have multiple passports. If the local police or bureaucrats unfairly target you and confiscate your passport to exert pressure, use the other one to leave the country -- and then replace your first passport on your next stop. Or have a trusted family member hold your second passport and have it sent by expedited delivery in the event of an emergency.

Except for all the countries that have a mandatory exit procedure when you leave the country. Good luck using a different passport to leave than the one you used to enter.

Yes, not possible. No entry stamp, no exit stamp.

If you lose your passport or otherwise lose your exit stamp, then you need a new one. You might be able to swing it and lie about your other passport in some third world countries, but everywhere else big problems.

I once moved a Visa sticker in my passport because I had no room for stamps to enter Hong Kong and I almost got hauled away. Countries take passport tampering very seriously.

Big problems everywhere else? I have done this myself in Europe. I leave the U.S. with my U.S. passport and enter Europe with a European passport. Typically, I leave Europe with the same passport just to make things clean, but leaving Europe on the U.S. passport is also no problem.

Again, you guys are missing the big picture: having a second passport gives you options. You are not necessarily at the mercy of a corrupt legal system. And I am not talking about passport tampering, just having another passport.

If you are in dire straights (e.g., accused of a crime that you did not commit by a corrupt legal system that has confiscated your passport) are you really going to present yourself to the border guards when you leave -- even if you have a second passport? No, you will pay a local to give you at boat ride to another country and enter illegally. You will then use your second passport to get out of that country and get back home -- after possibly paying a fine for not having an entry stamp. We are talking about the lessor of two evils here (incarceration for a crime that you did not commit, versus paying a small fine for not having an entry stamp).

I just did a quick Google search. Because this is a Thailand thread, I did a search for Thailand. Here is a real life example of someone leaving Thailand for Laos, then coming back without getting an entry stamp, then trying to fly back home.

Quote:My son's friend is home now. Here is the short story . He went to Laos just around a month or so ago(he first went to Thailand in mid December) and when he came back, apparently his passport was not stamped. When he went to the airport to leave they would not give him a ticket as his passport was not stamped for reentry to Thailand. He was told he would have to go over to another area where there was a long long line up and wait there. His plane was leaving in an hour and he was panicking. He called a friend who he met while in Thailand who used to work as a border patrol. This Thai friend told him to leave that line up and go to another area (which his friend directed him to while on the phone) He ended up at a small office where there was no line up. He told the person there about what was happening and the person there gave him the proper paper work and he hurried back and was able to catch the plane.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/f...ort?page=4


Wow! He had to actually stand in line and fill out a form!

So, what if that guy had his passport confiscated in Laos for some trumped-up reason? He gets across the border into Thailand and then uses his second passport to get back home. But because he has no entry stamp into Thailand, he must wait in a line, fill out some paperwork, and maybe pay a fine. Big deal. On the other hand, he could have remained in Laos and faced serious jail time for a crime that he did not do.

You could also do the same thing without a second passport, by getting across the border and making your way to the nearest embassy and getting a new passport, explaining that your passport was lost or stolen. Seriously, you guys do not think about this stuff -- and do not have an exit strategy when you travel offshore? I am not saying you need to obsess over it, but you should have some concepts in mind when you travel. Yet another reason for the general rule that you should carry twice the cash that you think that you will need for your entire trip. You may need to pay for a boat ride or to grease some palms.

If you believe nomadbrah's original comment -- and I do -- that "the only thing that really bothers me with these countries, including Thailand, is lack of regard for the law and that you can't trust to be treated fairly," then you should have an exit plan in place -- at least in concept.

Now, how did the Thailand thread become the fleeing fugitive thread?

Post: #92

I do agree a second (legit) passport is very beneficial, I plan on getting one myself. If you're European, then you can do a lot with that due to Schengen.

Post: #93

(09-16-2017 05:18 PM)nomadbrah Wrote:  I do agree a second (legit) passport is very beneficial, I plan on getting one myself. If you're European, then you can do a lot with that due to Schengen.

Yes, I am philosophically torn. As a simple matter of logic, the European Monetary Union must fail -- and deserves to fail. But the ability to travel and live in a few dozen members of Schengen countries is a nice perk. Perhaps some vestige of the right to travel freely will remain. If swarms of illegal aliens continue to stream into Europe, I doubt it will. The implosion of the EU will create much pain -- but it will also offer some great investment opportunities for those holding cash when the crisis hits. Best regards.

Post: #94

(09-16-2017 06:05 PM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  

(09-16-2017 05:18 PM)nomadbrah Wrote:  I do agree a second (legit) passport is very beneficial, I plan on getting one myself. If you're European, then you can do a lot with that due to Schengen.

Yes, I am philosophically torn. As a simple matter of logic, the European Monetary Union must fail -- and deserves to fail. But the ability to travel and live in a few dozen members of Schengen countries is a nice perk. Perhaps some vestige of the right to travel freely will remain. If swarms of illegal aliens continue to stream into Europe, I doubt it will. The implosion of the EU will create much pain -- but it will also offer some great investment opportunities for those holding cash when the crisis hits. Best regards.

Good: European countries have no idea where you are.

Say you want to escape to some country, you can use one passport to claim residence in one country (need an adress), then go to a whole different country, leave it on your other passport. You're practically invisible at that point to your original country.

Other things, you can register in Malta (very low tax), but practically live in another country if you're smart about it. And with a Blue EU Card you can even get free healthcare treatment.

Post: #95

(09-15-2017 09:49 AM)GreenHills Wrote:  I was in Bangkok recently and out of the many cities I've been to I strongly rate it as the worst place I've been to. I hope I never have to live there.

. The traffic is terrible. Cabs take forever to go anywhere.

. The city is gloomy. I don't know if it's pollution or what but at 6pm everything has this ugly yellowish tint.

. Thais really don't strike me as an intelligent bunch. They also don't speak English.

. Dirty.

. I don't like the women. Again, they look like a low intelligence bunch. Talk all you want about how that doesn't matter but even MRG admitted that he gets bored with them intellectually.

. Cockroaches. In bathrooms, in showers. I'm taking big ass mofos.

. Read bad things about mosquitos and disease.

But I make good cash in US and I never stay without a woman, so I don't see why I would go to Thailand.

Just another point of view for guys who have never been to Bangkok.

I'd take eastern Europe jumping out of joy, compared to Bangkok.

Christ: This is either the worlds greatest exaggeration or the result of a short stay in a dingy hotel on Khaosan Road. Either way, this comment "Thais really don't strike me as an intelligent bunch. They also don't speak English" - stinks of a guy who thought he'd pull hot women "Because well, it's Thailand" - Didn't. Got butthurt and posted accordingly.

Post: #96

Short stay and some culture shock. I'd say the comment I made about the intelligence of the Thai people was idiotic and something I'm not proud of writing. I'm still in Asia and had a day full of heat and some caffeine when I wrote that so I was snappy.

Sorry about diluting the thread as the topic is indeed long term stays.

Post: #97

GrrenHills, I can understand that feeling.

Asia is crazy, compared to the west. It always takes me a few days to get into the "Asia mode" where you sort of accept how things work and stop trying to swim against the current.

When you are in "Asia mode" everything gets easy, fun and the small annoyances drift off.

I love Thailand very much, but I always hate the first few days back for this strange reason!

It has treasures for the long term stay, if you can get into "Asia Mode"

Post: #98

(09-16-2017 07:30 AM)MRG1946 Wrote:  .

(09-16-2017 12:16 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:   I don't bother listening to what anyone else says before thoroughly exploring a place on my own.

Wise words from Beyond Borders.

Especially important for anyone considering long-stay in Thailand (the thread topic here).


Instead, we expats wonder about a very different set of topics:
Finding an apartment that is quiet and has good maintenance.
Avoiding restaurants by cooking at home, or ordering meals delivered from a commissary.
Finding convenient transportation to the supermarket, the book store, the hardware store, and a barber shop.
Using delivery services to avoid going out at all in the heat and humidity.
Posts on public forums rarely mention essential topics like that.

.

Great thread, but most of these points are BK specific.

- Outside of BK living in a house is better value than overpriced shoe box Thai style apts

- Where I live now, local restaurants (Thai and non Thai) are great and even though the wife is an excellent cook, we eat out often. Friday went out for one of best Pizzas in the city. 12 inch four topping pizza with extra cheese, 1 salad with garlic toast, iced fruit drink for my wife and a bottle of water for me; 250฿. Try finding that in BK, Phuket or Samui.

- Convenient transportation in my area of Thailand means choosing between driving one of our 2 cars, 2 scooters or motorbike. (For those that don't want to drive the city has metered taxis, Grab Car, Uber and the usual songthaews, tuk tuks).

- Still fairly hot and humid where I am, but why do I need delivery when I can get everything I need (and cheaper) 5-10 minutes after leaving my home.


Edit: Since this is a game forum, BK blows every other city or area in Thailand away when it comes to women.

Post: #99

All the discussion about living in SEA is great. But this is pretty much a P4P thread. I don't see how you can possibly argue it's not.

Why is any Asian woman, 18-40, going to be in a relationship with a farang several times her age?

Post: #100

(09-18-2017 11:05 PM)Travel Museums Wrote:  All the discussion about living in SEA is great. But this is pretty much a P4P thread. I don't see how you can possibly argue it's not.

Why is any Asian woman, 18-40, going to be in a relationship with a farang several times her age?

Are you unfamiliar in general with the dynamics of older guy/younger woman relationships in general or?