Affordable town to live in.

[can123]

Could also do with some advice. What's Rayong like? Considering moving there for a spell

Rayong has some gorgeous beaches which are usually empty. Having said that, the town is nothing to write home about, the shopping is adequate but not particularly appealing. It was fine for beach visits when I lived in Pattaya but I have dismissed as a place where I would want to live.

Sattahip is nicer but you would live there at the whim of the Thai armed forces so you can forget that as well.

[sabang]

Ban Phe is OK- some f'rang life, good seafood & markets, beaches & shopping nearby, ferry to Ko Samet if you're bothered. But if I was a beachgoer, i'd prefer the coast south of Hua Hin- hot sun at your back, basically.

[peterpan]

Udon appears to growing fast, I was looking out from the roof of my house and It appears some big condos are being built, so get Udons nice slow paced life while it lasts.

[PHP 87]

Hi,

Newbie here, but I've been active on another well-known Thai forum.

Currently in California. Plan to retire to the LOS in a few years, likely to CM

I will likely spend a year there to get a true handle on my living costs and then venture out to see what I can afford while saving money for emergencies and an exit plan. Of course, I will be on a retirement visa and will have some money in the bank as well.

I will have Medi-Care at age 65, so if I have a major medical need such as cancer or similar, I can fly to Guam or Hawaii, otherwise, basic medical care will be paid out of pocket which is fairly inexpensive in Thailand.

CM looks nice. I don't need to be by the beach as I've lived in California all of my life near plenty of them and I'm too old to be playing in the waves.

A serviced condo with a pool will suffice.

I'm sure there are better places and probably less expensive, but CM will be my starting point to get my feet wet and to figure out expenses.

[cnx37]

PHP 87 - your "choice" - wise. I arrived here 12 years ago. I was in BKK for 1 day. Coming from a "beach country", my desire for such has diminished - zero. Anyway, from CNX, not a difficult to get "wet" in Pattaya, Phuket & other resorts.
Accommodation, general cost of living - very,very affordable.
Medical - an abundance.
Quite an American population for homesickness & BS chatter.
Immigration Office - in CNX.
Interests - this is the challenge. There are numerous available activities but alcohol consumption can be seductive & hazardous.
12 months - take a look - quality decision.
My punt - after 12 months, you will not wish to leave. Sometimes, I am right - sometimes, I am wrong. GOOD LUCK!
PS: learn the language - invaluable asset. (My only regret - did not move here earlier).

[Zooheekock]

Chiang Mai is very easy and foreigner-friendly. Probably the worst thing about it is the summer weather - hot, dry and terrible haze. If you any respiratory problems, you might want to find somewhere else to live from March to May (ish).

[cnx37]

Zooheekock's comments - accurate. My experience re air pollution - one adjusts. Add increased traffic congestion - Thai affluence - appetite for debt.
Accommodation - inner city studios - B8-15k/mth - "good".
Satellite TV - similar all over LOS.
Overall climate - reasonable - not too hot - not humid.
Religion - Buddhism, Jesuit priests, New-born, Catholic - whatever you want.
Sexuality - very "understanding"/"accommodating".
You may also wish to research Malaysia - north.

[Seekingasylum]

I've lived within 30 miles of the sea for all of my life and couldn't imagine having to dwell in some landlocked city amid nothing but jungle clad hills. Still, horses for courses but if forced I'd opt for Chiang Rai rather than Chiang Mai. Has a farang presence but less of an American enclave ( Chiang Mai has probably more septic poofs per sq.metre than anywhere else outside of San Francisco ) and is more relaxed yet with the frisson of being a frontier town of sorts. It has an excellent little airport too.

[PHP 87]

I'm aware of the burning season and will deal with it as it comes.
I don't smoke so I have good lungs, nor do I drink but I will have to play it by ear and maybe head elsewhere during those months.


I plan to live outside the "Ping" but within the Super Highway.
If the telegraph operator question was directed at me, the answer is no.

My Social Security will pay me about 58k BHT per month - plenty for a single guy that doesn't drink or smoke, but we'll have to see how the dollar does over the next few years and if SS is cut or remains solvent.

I wish I could leave now, but I still have some commitments and responsibilities here in the US (Marin County, just north of San Fran)

I have Rosetta Stone V.1 that has Thai, so I'm going to start in on that as well as learning the Thai alphabet.

I can't imagine living in a foreign country and not knowing the language basics, reading, writing and speaking as well as assimilating into the culture.

Like I said, I wish I could leave now, but it could be anywhere from 6 month to 6 years, but I've been planning for a few years and have settled on Thailand and specifically, CM

Thanks for all the advice and input.

[Seekingasylum]

Thinking you will assimilate into the local culture is quite naive if you mean Thai society. You have no nexus and will always be a farang outsider and of no relevance except as a consumer.

You will however inevitably become assimilated into the farang culture which is a reasonable place to be as long as you can readily identify the frazzled idiots, the weird, the stupid and the criminal who should be avoided at all costs. It is a reasonable refuge offering a good all round package but not without its faults, chiefly the Thai themselves but if you avoid them socially you should be ok. There is no culture here beyond the folkloric but as an American I doubt that will trouble you too much.

[taxexile]

and will always be a farang outsider and of no relevance except as a consumer.

Or more importantly, as a provider.

[thaimeme]

and will always be a farang outsider and of no relevance except as a consumer.

Or more importantly, as a provider.

One and the same.

[PHP 87]

By assimilating, I meant knowing the language and the culture, and fitting into society as seamlessly as possible, unlike many that come to America and have no desire to do any of the above, even after 20+ years.

[Seekingasylum]

Err, have you been here for any length of time?

[buriramboy]

By assimilating, I meant knowing the language and the culture, and fitting into society as seamlessly as possible, unlike many that come to America and have no desire to do any of the above, even after 20+ years.

Learning Spanish not compulsory then before they give you US citizenship?

[PHP 87]

Err, have you been here for any length of time?

What I'm getting at is learning the alphabet, the language, reading/writing Thai, customs such as not patting a child on the head, pointing with your feet, stepping on thresholds at temples, taking your shoes off before entering a home and most shops, etc...as opposed to being "The Ugly American"

[Seekingasylum]

By all means, read the Lonely Planet Guide etc but for anyone seeking to live here that is as much use as a chocolate teapot.

[sabang]

I have Rosetta Stone V.1 that has Thai, so I'm going to start in on that as well as learning the Thai alphabet.

Seriously, good for you, but...

I can't imagine living in a foreign country and not knowing the language basics, reading, writing and speaking as well as assimilating into the culture.

then you've clearly not lived in Thailand. the 'basics' of Thai culture do not require language proficiency, and certainly not alphabet- frankly, most expats possess neither. The 'secret' of fitting in is no secret at all- a bit of mutual respect, and attitude adjustment. You don't need a degree to know better than to pat a Monk on the head. And the fact is, many foreignrs live here who remain resolutely 'foreign', basically at war with all things local, yet survive they do- just ask the Gent.

[PHP 87]

I have Rosetta Stone V.1 that has Thai, so I'm going to start in on that as well as learning the Thai alphabet.

Seriously, good for you, but...

I can't imagine living in a foreign country and not knowing the language basics, reading, writing and speaking as well as assimilating into the culture.

then you've clearly not lived in Thailand. the 'basics' of Thai culture do not require language proficiency, and certainly not alphabet- frankly, most expats possess neither. The 'secret' of fitting in is no secret at all- a bit of mutual respect, and attitude adjustment. You don't need a degree to know better than to pat a Monk on the head. And the fact is, many foreignrs live here who remain resolutely 'foreign', basically at war with all things local, yet survive they do- just ask the Gent. :)

Well, I never mentioned patting a monk on the head but I get that you're being facetious. My point is that I want to be able to speak, read and even write the language as well as know the customs as the Thai's have several that us Westerner's would find unusual and as I said, I don't want to be "The Ugly American"

I think it's an advantage to be able to speak and read the language when living in a foreign land and knowing the customs is a plus.

It might even keep your ass out of the sling.

Just my opinion.

And that just doesn't go for Thailand. If I were to retire to the Phils or any other country, I would want to be able to communicate, read signs, know the local customs, etc.... I would feel lost otherwise.

Does that make sense?

[cnx37]

PHP 87
Living in LOS. I know one farang who can speak & write the language fluently. Speaking so-so - sufficient challenge. Not all your days & nights will be spent with the Thai language?
Etiquette - I consider very important. Good manners & respect - top priority.
It ain't a competition! I'm bigger, better, richer than you stuff. Middle is very acceptable.

[Zooheekock]

I think it's an advantage to be able to speak and read the language when living in a foreign land and knowing the customs is a plus.

Of course it is. I'm amazed that people live here for more than a few weeks without learning at least how to read menus, signs, etc but you'll find that only a few foreigners speak Thai with any real degree of mastery and almost none learn to read and write with any fluency at all. You'll also find, and in fact you already have on this thread, that an awful lot of the old white men in Thailand (and Chiang Mai is no different in this regard) are absolute fucking arseholes. Sadly, such is life. If you want to learn Thai in Chiang Mai, you might have a look at the course at Payap University (Foreign Language Intensive Thai) which people seem to think is fairly reasonable.

[Seekingasylum]

To the OP, as an occidental steeped in the culture and behavioural patterns of your own experience and those of your antecedents there is absolutely nothing you can do within what remains of your life that will permit you to reside in Thailand in circumstances other than what the bog standard tourist seized of a brain, a little bit of common sense and some native intelligence can achieve.

By all means waste your time in trying to learn how to speak Thai, in 12 years I have only encountered three folk who speak it fluently, but please don't dwell in some silly illusion your life will be the richer for it. Speaking decent Thai to Thai simply puts them more on their guard. It is not a passport to anything except perhaps to feed an ego.

Unless you are married to a Thai do not even consider settlement here until you have spent considerable time, at least three years, in the country. Thai are quite nasty, stupid, reckless, meanminded and cruel folk but unlike others elsewhere in the world they cloak their hypocrisy in wreaths of meaningless smiles and deceit.

But then, this is the East and they do think differently.

Others here disparage those who speak the truth but,really, it's just their way of reinforcing their own self deception.

Unless you have a specific reason for coming here, ask yourself why you are doing it and what is it you hope to get You cannot obtain elsewhere.

[RPETER65]

Thinking you will assimilate into the local culture is quite naive if you mean Thai society. You have no nexus and will always be a farang outsider and of no relevance except as a consumer.

You will however inevitably become assimilated into the farang culture which is a reasonable place to be as long as you can readily identify the frazzled idiots, the weird, the stupid and the criminal who should be avoided at all costs. It is a reasonable refuge offering a good all round package but not without its faults, chiefly the Thai themselves but if you avoid them socially you should be ok. There is no culture here beyond the folkloric but as an American I doubt that will trouble you too much.

I totally disagree with the gent. I moved to Thailand 2008, and have blended in well with the Thai people, both the rural farm people and more affluent and educated people in the cities, try understanding Thai culture and get along with it, if you realize Thai people have not grown up around western values, and therefore don't think or live like westerners you will have a much easier time when socializing with Thai people, and don't go around withe attitude that coming from the west you are somehow superior, good luck, hope it all works out for you, as Thailand can be a very interesting place to live.

[RPETER65]

To the OP, as an occidental steeped in the culture and behavioural patterns of your own experience and those of your antecedents there is absolutely nothing you can do within what remains of your life that will permit you to reside in Thailand in circumstances other than what the bog standard tourist seized of a brain, a little bit of common sense and some native intelligence can achieve.

By all means waste your time in trying to learn how to speak Thai, in 12 years I have only encountered three folk who speak it fluently, but please don't dwell in some silly illusion your life will be the richer for it. Speaking decent Thai to Thai simply puts them more on their guard. It is not a passport to anything except perhaps to feed an ego.

Unless you are married to a Thai do not even consider settlement here until you have spent considerable time, at least three years, in the country. Thai are quite nasty, stupid, reckless, meanminded and cruel folk but unlike others elsewhere in the world they cloak their hypocrisy in wreaths of meaningless smiles and deceit.

But then, this is the East and they do think differently.

Others here disparage those who speak the truth but,really, it's just their way of reinforcing their own self deception.

Unless you have a specific reason for coming here, ask yourself why you are doing it and what is it you hope to get You cannot obtain elsewhere.

Why do you live here, with all the hate you seem to have for Thai people it seems you would be much more comfortable in a more sterile environment.

[Seekingasylum]

QED.......

Why use the term hate? I see their wretched society for what it is and thankfully have no need for it. I am not a child and have no desire to conduct my life according to the principles of some stunted adolescent which is a prerequisite if one wishes to relate to them.

However, where possible I am content to deal with them on the hypocritical, superficial level which is all that is necessary.

Quite how you think you blend in is up to you but I suspect you are just kidding yourself if you think your presence here is more significant on any level than, say, a wet fart in the breeze.