Mistakes expats make in Thailand

ARB360 wrote:

Btw, VillageFarang,...you have an excellent writing manner, that I actually envy, a little bit, :-) I'm looking forward to reading more of your considered opinions, posted to the Thai forum, or any other location forum on this website.

Thank you very much for your kind words.  Everyone is entitled to their own experiences and resulting opinions and I am certainly not arguing there is no ugliness or injustice in the world as that would be a fool’s errand.  The way I look at it, I only have a finite quantity of time and energy, which is better spent focused on love, happiness, beauty and joy. 

I am sure some people gain satisfaction or even take pride in their suffering and sacrifice for some greater cause, as they see it.  I would never suggest they are wrong to have chosen that path but I don’t feel I am wrong to have chosen a more selfish approach.  I just don’t see how my suffering or sacrifice would tip the balance on this planet.  I simply try to do no harm and interfere as little as possible in the chosen path of others while curating my life experiences.  Hopefully I can bring some joy and comfort to those close to me.

villagefarang wrote:

ARB360 wrote:

Btw, VillageFarang,...you have an excellent writing manner, that I actually envy, a little bit, :-) I'm looking forward to reading more of your considered opinions, posted to the Thai forum, or any other location forum on this website.

Thank you very much for your kind words.  Everyone is entitled to their own experiences and resulting opinions and I am certainly not arguing there is no ugliness or injustice in the world as that would be a fool’s errand.  The way I look at it, I only have a finite quantity of time and energy, which is better spent focused on love, happiness, beauty and joy. 

I am sure some people gain satisfaction or even take pride in their suffering and sacrifice for some greater cause, as they see it.  I would never suggest they are wrong to have chosen that path but I don’t feel I am wrong to have chosen a more selfish approach.  I just don’t see how my suffering or sacrifice would tip the balance on this planet.  I simply try to do no harm and interfere as little as possible in the chosen path of others while curating my life experiences.  Hopefully I can bring some joy and comfort to those close to me.

Absolutely spot on words, written by a real Buddhist. You do us all proud.  Thanks again, sir.

(Gently moving back to main topic.)

I get a fill of tourists bragging about how "cheap" it is to live in Thailand, and I guess that's true. But they seem to have no other praise for the place.

Imagine a Thai citizen getting the back-handed "compliment" of how cheap everything is in their home country. They mostly smile and nod, but I don't imagine their low wages is too pleasant a topic.

Back on topic it is, for sure, eh? Now, regarding the "Mistakes" expats make in Thailand!

Interesting enough, despite their Thai low wages, Thai people manage to keep their rice bowls filled to a considerably better extent, than does the average westerner, in the so-called "First-World" western hemisphere. Thus, the considerably lower "street-crime" rate of Thailand, compared to the rest of SEA, and the westworld.

The mistake expats make, is assuming that Thai people need the farang dollar. Rest assured, they (the low-wage earning Thais) really don't.

hoistman wrote:

Rc2702 wrote:

hoistman wrote:

To contribute on a forum, you need to not take things personally.  Members will read, a few will hopefully reply.  You won't always agree what's written.  No need too quote the whole post?

I agree but your post wandered off into territory which was irrelevant and nothing gets taken in the wrong manner it simply gets refuted which as you say is the point of a forum. Disagreements different points of view, different experiences. If the world was as cut and dry as you attempt to make it in the quoted post there would be no need for a forum, no one would make errors and no admissions would be required.

The whole thread has wandered off into different areas.  I think the difference between you and me is quite simple.  I've embraced the Thai way of life.  I got off my backside and learnt the language,  I am happy and chilled.  I'm not one of these people that whinge and moan at every little thing. I can tell by what you write that you the type of person who looks for faults.  You'll never be a happy person here.  You still have the Western attitude.  It will never work for you.

What can I say Hoistman. Well, I'm very happy in Thailand actually and I too speak the language albeit at a basic level thus far. You actually do not sound too chilled at all I mean you took it upon yourself to summarise people's mistakes for your own amusement and then provide some seriously lame advice. I do look for faults though I inspected over 80 motors when buying a 2nd hand car and number 83 was faultless. Touch wood.

Contribute some decent admissions and maybe things will not "wander" off. Some people here I can see are immune from mistakes and take it upon them self to judge and not admit nothing. That's pretty sad actually and for those veterans not to be able to pinpoint mistakes they made says a lot without saying much. So those judges are not really here to contribute anything but more advise people past tense I say your comments are worthless.

There's nothing perfect in this world, be it things or humans or places for worship etc

We all made mistakes and from there, we learn to be better.

I've been here for 19 years and still make mistakes even though I speak Thai and can do business presentation in Thai too.

Everyday is a learning curve and when we fall, we pick ourselves up and move ahead.

I can understand some of us might had been cheated especially being expats but the locals got cheated too. Everyone is in the same boat and how we move ahead in joy depends on our will and determination.

I can write a book of all the minus of Thailand as well as countries that I had been, even my own country. What does it benefit me?

I learn to look at it as a game or teaching lesson while I become smarter.

I live happily here with 2 homes and planning to move to a bigger home in a golf course if I can get good deal.

Don't live in fear but look at the bright side and be happy.

Enjoy your week and GOD BLESS YOU!

I love thailand for the way they are...Nobody really appreciates what it means to be Thai...I live in a privileged society...But most westerners still think of colonial times when they view Asians as inferior subjects...I like your common sense of humility villagefarang...Will look out for your posts...By the way I'm going to retire in Thailand for good very soon...Cheers for now

I love your post...Totally common sensical

ARB360 wrote:

Back on topic it is, for sure, eh? Now, regarding the "Mistakes" expats make in Thailand!

Interesting enough, despite their Thai low wages, Thai people manage to keep their rice bowls filled to a considerably better extent, than does the average westerner, in the so-called "First-World" western hemisphere. Thus, the considerably lower "street-crime" rate of Thailand, compared to the rest of SEA, and the westworld.

The mistake expats make, is assuming that Thai people need the farang dollar. Rest assured, they (the low-wage earning Thais) really don't.

I find your statement odd to be honest with you.

Thailand needs tourism and the farang dollar you speak of is the treasure. Street crime lower? You mean statistical data which in my opinion is widely unreported and I'm not talking about crime on tourists i'm referring to the many crimes which go unreported nationwide.

Rc2702 wrote:

ARB360 wrote:

Back on topic it is, for sure, eh? Now, regarding the "Mistakes" expats make in Thailand!

Interesting enough, despite their Thai low wages, Thai people manage to keep their rice bowls filled to a considerably better extent, than does the average westerner, in the so-called "First-World" western hemisphere. Thus, the considerably lower "street-crime" rate of Thailand, compared to the rest of SEA, and the westworld.

The mistake expats make, is assuming that Thai people need the farang dollar. Rest assured, they (the low-wage earning Thais) really don't.

I find your statement odd to be honest with you.

Thailand needs tourism and the farang dollar you speak of is the treasure. Street crime lower? You mean statistical data which in my opinion is widely unreported and I'm not talking about crime on tourists i'm referring to the many crimes which go unreported nationwide.

https://youtu.be/CSwXC-MRTkM -

I think that's a natural thing that happens when foreigners go anywhere new. The more farangs, the higher the prices go. Supply & Demand at work, in my opinion...

Here's a fun one:
How long did you stare at the hose at the right side of the toilet before you learned about what it was for?

My early years were spent with squat toilets and a scooper to rinse yourself.  The only running water, if any, was provided by a single spigot which filled a reservoir used for bathing and flushing toilets.  I don’t really remember when I first encountered the bum-gun.

I had been through Bangkok already, seen the hose in my hotel room, in public toilets and even the train to 'Mai, before I asked the concierge in 'Mai. She made up some story about washing the floors before she saw my expression. Then she changed her story and told me the real technique. Ha ha, I'm afraid she may have been embarrassed by the truth.

I still can't work out if you use the b..... hose from the front or the back. Got me confused.

danmurdoch wrote:

I still can't work out if you use the b..... hose from the front or the back. Got me confused.

Front

Excellent I will give that a go.

May I suggest both you, and VillageFarang , seriously "re-think" those lower appendages positions, relative to the male (front or rear) utility applications of the "bum-gun", eh?

It doesn't hurt to experiment does it?

RD~You definitely gave me the first good laugh for today. Thanks

It took me three years to start using this contraption and once you know how to aim it works fine.
Secondly, I told my daughters in South Africa of the trashcan next to the toilet in many public toiletswhich you are requested to place your toilet paper. They asked me why is this and I said they collect it and recycle it and use the other side.
They were not impressed with my answer
By the way I do not use it as I know the paper won't block the toilet

Hi,
the conversation you made is very interesting, I learned a lot b/c I will travel to Bangkok after three days.
Fikadu.

Recently I took a train trip. Compliments of circumstances I had the adventure of traveling in 3rd class. Because of the duration of the tip I found myself needing to use the WC or toilet. It was the classic squat toilet. I just couldn't help feeling sorry for the women who had to use is with the the rolling and bumpy travel of the train.
Aside from that heart felt moment, it was a learning experience traveling 3rd class. At least they didn't have farm animals in 3rd class!

Aw, I loved taking the train from BKK to Mai! We don't get enough train travel in the States. (2nd class on the #9!)