Thai Exodus?

I am wondering how many people have 'voted with their feet' and left the utopia of Thailand for a different (similar) country? Maybe even gone back to where they came from, as a direct result of the increasing hurdles faced by life in LOS.

Maybe it's the price of a beer in a bar matching that of the west, or 'other' associated price hikes in the night life side of things. Or it could be the amount of proverbial hoops that one has to continually jump through regarding visa & business/work permit regulations.

Maybe it's the fact that you cannot even buy an overpriced beer in a decent restaurant until it is 5pm, or whatever it is now (by the time it takes me to write this). Political instability and high rents does not help matters much either.

Basically these type of problems will not affect those more well off, but for your average joe on the street, retire e or tefler they must be somewhat of putting.

I myself will be checking out Cambodia in the next wee while as it will suit my situation a whole lot better than Thailand does at the mo...

Just curious to hear what people are up to :)

We've had a few guys move back to the UK- Smeg and Buriramboy spring to mind, and NickA and I think MadDog have been back there for a while.

Otoh Hillbilly headed back to the US for a while, but is now returning to Thailand. :)

Most of us Old Farts are pretty settled here though.

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Originally Posted by sabang

We've had a few guys move back to the UK- Smeg and Buriramboy spring to mind, and NickA and I think MadDog have been back there for a while.

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I was only come back for a short stay, a year or so, but circumstances have changed and I'll probably stay longer.

I have to stay the hurdles to coming back to the UK were initially much larger than any I had jump to when I first moved to Thailand.

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Originally Posted by NickA

I have to stay the hurdles to coming back to the UK were initially much larger than any I had jump to when I first moved to Thailand.

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Fuckin understatement that.

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Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

Fuckin understatement that.

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Did you have to prove that you were British too?

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Originally Posted by NickA

Did you have to prove that you were British too?

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Had to prove that I was allowed to be here. Which was an odd one. Also had to prove that I had cut all ties to Thailand and Korea, even with a Thai missus.

Still fighting with them over how long I was away for and it was only temporary.

I have had to say goodbye to some really good mates over the last couple of years including a few who have had to leave their wife and kids behind and to try their luck back home.

These guys visit their families whenever they can but mostly harbour the intention to return when financially secure.

Very sad I must say but you have to do what you have got to do and to support yourself and your family but almost to a man their ultimate goal is to return to LOS ASAP.

I also agree that things are getting more and more difficult here regarding farangs status and really understand the resentment of those that have contributed to Thailand but get kicked in the bollocks for their troubles.

I'm here for the long haul hopefully but would also consider Malaysia as a possible family destination and if things turned sour here.

Cambodia for instance, although showing great potential probably would not suit my family with regards to schooling etc so I could never consider moving there.

I originally left Australia because of the restrictions placed upon those that wanted to work hard and get ahead and I have heard it is even worse now so going home would be my third choice in the event of a Thailand meltdown.

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Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

Still fighting with them over how long I was away for and it was only temporary.

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I thought I told you I had the same problems, and the fact that my Thailand visas were issued yearly solved the matter. Should be the same for you unless your Korean visas were different. (pissed me off cos they'd had my passport 2 months earlier and they hadn't bothered to look and so we spent a lot of time getting other information translated from Thailand)

I actually sent them some emails asking them to check out Thai immigration to see that it was (nearly) impossible for foreigners to move there permanently.

Hi guys. I haven't been the most prolific poster on here but thought I would chip in. Like many posters on the "How long is Thailand bearable for?" thread predicted I have bailed out and gone back to the UK after 4.5 years in LoS. And yes the hoops I have had to jump through have made me wonder why I decided to come back. It hasn't been the credit crunch, nor the weather, nor the increased cost of living which has bugged me, nor has it been having to verify my identity to the UK authorities but it has been the general "suspicion" with which I have been treated (as if I am an illegal immigrant or no longer entitled to come back to the land of my birth....I was given the third degree even when registering with a new doctor !). Grrrr!!!!

:porlao:

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Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

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Originally Posted by NickA

I have to stay the hurdles to coming back to the UK were initially much larger than any I had jump to when I first moved to Thailand.

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Fuckin understatement that.

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I totally agree. The next worse thing after experiencing reverse culture-shock when returning to the UK is the banal rules & formalities.

I have lost a front tooth and have been told that it may take up to 6 years to get an NHS dentist. I can't find work to pay private and a missing tooth does wonders in an interview, that is if there was any jobs.

Once I have enough money saved I will move to Cambodia to eek out a living tefling, while I continue building my web design skills. I am really enjoying doing it and know that I will be able to start charging for it soon.

I loved living in Thailand, picked up the language fairly well & have friends there, but my circumstances make it an impractical location to live in.

At least I will be a short plane hop away in PP Cambodia, living like a king compared to my life at present, and be doing work that is meaningful and positive.

Anyway, once I have made my fortunes I will buy Thailand and have it raised to the ground! Whithnail style :) (that one is for you sabang).

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Originally Posted by NickA

I thought I told you I had the same problems, and the fact that my Thailand visas were issued yearly solved the matter. Should be the same for you unless your Korean visas were different. (pissed me off cos they'd had my passport 2 months earlier and they hadn't bothered to look and so we spent a lot of time getting other information translated from Thailand)

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I did. They didn't accept that. Want contracts, letters from employers, my blood, go d knows what else.

Didn't know you sent your passport directlt either. I just printed out the visas. which they didn't like.

They are beingcunts

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Originally Posted by meow

I have lost a front tooth and have been told that it may take up to 6 years to get an NHS dentist. I can't find work to pay private and a missing tooth does wonders in an interview, that is if there was any jobs.

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Poland or Lithuiania is the place to go

While your in the UK you want to get a load of contacts in web design companies etc, eventually they will be farming out all work abroad anyway so get the contacts whilst you are there.

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Originally Posted by meow

while I continue building my web design skills. I am really enjoying doing it and know that I will be able to start charging for it soon.

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Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

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Originally Posted by meow

I have lost a front tooth and have been told that it may take up to 6 years to get an NHS dentist. I can't find work to pay private and a missing tooth does wonders in an interview, that is if there was any jobs.

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Poland or Lithuiania is the place to go

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Yeah I was thinking along that lines, but I will just wait until back in Asia to get it done. I will get my teaching qualifications while getting dental treatment.

I turn 30 next month and feel like I am at a serious crossroads. I taught in Asia before but without the credentials. Now I am taking things more seriously and genuinely want to do a good job. I will NOT be teaching to fund drink binges and whoring sessions, been there - done that! :)

Besides I am really motivated to see my web site skills improve week by week, and realize that I have found my calling.

I also believe that I have enough Asia experience to actually apply myself whilst in country, instead of farking about :mid:

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Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

They are beingcunts

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Sounds like they are.

I had all the contracts translated and sent and it didn't help.

Visa stamps got it sorted in a couple of days.

Maybe they realised I was used to jumping through hoops and gave in.

Squirrel, I have PMed you the email conversation between me and my LEA. Hope it helps you to sort stuff out.

We shall not cease from exploration
The end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know that place for the first time.

T.S Eliot

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Originally Posted by dirtydog

While your in the UK you want to get a load of contacts in web design companies etc, eventually they will be farming out all work abroad anyway so get the contacts whilst you are there.

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Originally Posted by meow

while I continue building my web design skills. I am really enjoying doing it and know that I will be able to start charging for it soon.

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Good idea D dog, gotta move with the flow!

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Originally Posted by sabang

We shall not cease from exploration
The end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know that place for the first time.

T.S Eliot

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I like that! It makes a lot of sense. Maybe not a few years ago but especially now...

^ Yep, good quote from TS, SB. It always reminds me of Somerset Maugham's The Moon and Sixpence.
Didn't realise how much crap you Brits go thru to get home. Insane. I just continue to suffer from severe reverse culture shock. Time to move somewhere else?

LT, it's true some folks have to take responsibility and actually make some money to support themselves and their families.

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Originally Posted by dirtydog

While your in the UK you want to get a load of contacts in web design companies etc, eventually they will be farming out all work abroad anyway so get the contacts whilst you are there.

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Originally Posted by meow

while I continue building my web design skills. I am really enjoying doing it and know that I will be able to start charging for it soon.

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DD is right. You will get zero work in Cambodia from local/expat businesses.

Left two years ago after six years.

Loved my job and really enjoyed my lifestyle. But the girlfriend's mates kept dropping hints about getting married, visa situation kept getting worse, and that glass ceiling for TEFLers meant I would never have enough money to support a wife, kids, and keep myself entertained in the manner to which I was accustomed. Also family members started having kids and I wanted to see nieces and nephews. I took one trip home and it cost me all the money I had saved in Thailand (A lot of baht = very little in NZ dollars). My choices as I saw them were stay in Thailand and keep doing what I was doing,live happily but cut myself off from family forever and scrimp and save for the rest of my life. Or go home and start again from scratch.

Would seem like an easy decision to make looking back, but after I made my mind up to return I kept wondering if I was doing the right thing. All my farang friends except two told me I was crazy. All my Thai friends supported me fully. After all why work for a little in Thailand when you can get more somewhere else.

A couple of days before I left (and still with some doubts about my decision to leave) I spent a last night out on the town with some mates and ended up in Cowboy. In one of the bars I saw a bloke I knew. A colleauge from a school I worked at. I didn't know him too well, I knew he was a nice bloke with a wife and two kids, same pay rate as me. It was the end of the month (a pay day) and he was sitting at the back of a gogo bar nursing a beer alone. I might be completely wrong in reading the situation but it looked to me like he's just received his paycheck, was having the only small bit of entertainment he could afford before going home.

That could've been me.

Arriving home was no big hassle. Prolly because I didn't have a wife and kids in tow. Being over 25, flashed my passport, filled in the forms, straight into tertiary education with government financial assistance.

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Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

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Originally Posted by NickA

I thought I told you I had the same problems, and the fact that my Thailand visas were issued yearly solved the matter. Should be the same for you unless your Korean visas were different. (pissed me off cos they'd had my passport 2 months earlier and they hadn't bothered to look and so we spent a lot of time getting other information translated from Thailand)

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I did. They didn't accept that. Want contracts, letters from employers, my blood, go d knows what else.

Didn't know you sent your passport directlt either. I just printed out the visas. which they didn't like.

They are beingcunts

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Sorry, guys, but this is interesting. What was the problem and with whom? Who was asking you all these questions and for proof? Just wondering in case I ever have to go back, as I've been living in Asia for 15 years. Mum had no problem, but maybe that's cos she paid voluntary NI while she was in Thailand?

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Originally Posted by meow

I myself will be checking out Cambodia in the next wee while as it will suit my situation a whole lot better than Thailand does at the mo...

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I can understand your situation, but Cambodia is really a dump, no nice facility like Thailand etc... cheap beers and cheap whores, but hopefully your life doesn't revolve around beers :)

Malaysia might be a better compromise,

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Originally Posted by November Rain

Sorry, guys, but this is interesting. What was the problem and with whom? Who was asking you all these questions and for proof? Just wondering in case I ever have to go back, as I've been living in Asia for 15 years. Mum had no problem, but maybe that's cos she paid voluntary NI while she was in Thailand?

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Agreed. be interested in any more details as well. 20+ years out the country for me, and, after over 9 in Thailand it is looking like time to move....