Thread: I'm so happy I'm gone.

Originally Posted by thaiguzzi

I just could not do it.
Move back to the West.
I go back every 15-18 months for a 4 week sojourn.
See my Dad, see my Mum, see my old friends.
After 4 weeks i've had enough.
The greyness.
The drabness.
The cold rain and drizzle.
The everything the sameness.
The slowly dying town centres.
The grotty cities and city centres.
The traffic.
The speed humps and speed cameras and 20 mph speed limits.
The PC.
The laws and regs.
I've lived here 16 years now, and every time i step out of BKK airport and the sounds, sights, smells and heat hit me, i say Yes!!!, Thank Fuck i'm home.

That's why I want to live in SE Asia eventually.

I suspect your list is why this forum exists. It's for ppl who like SE Asia.

Stayers gonna stay, Leavers gonna leave. I left, after 12.5 years, a year ago. Why? Thai immigration and it's ever changing, petty rules is to this farang, a headfuck. And I despise the inept and corrupt military government, hiding behind it's figleaf veneer of 'democracy'- what nonsense. There is no question the country has been going backwards, certainly compared to the halcyon days when Thailand topped Asean in FDI growth, average income growth, and GDP growth. But that seems a long time ago now, it all came tumbling down with the commencement of the Coup cycle in 2006, and the inevitable subsequent trampling of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. There seems no end in sight. Whoever said FDI is 'booming', are you mad? It isn't, neither is GDP growth- just read the Bangkok Post. Closer to home, the same villa I used to rent for 75K per month to well paid expats, would struggle to reach 45K now. That is some regression, in a decade.

Good luck with the move Eli, glad it's working out for you.

After a year back in Oz, can actually say it's been cheaper for me living here than Thailand (that's thanks to the aussie government 'subsidy' really). Didn't expect that! And I've put on weight. I miss some things about Asia/ Thailand, but would certainly not move back to Thai under the current 'system'- heck, I even boycott buying Thai products. The Filipines, VN, Cambo, several other countries appeal more now.

Decent surf in Hawaii, good on u Eli.

My little place in samut prakan feels like home. If I go back to the UK then something has gone terribly wrong.

Originally Posted by sabang

Stayers gonna stay, Leavers gonna leave. I left, after 12.5 years, a year ago. Why? Thai immigration and it's ever changing, petty rules is to this farang, a headfuck. And I despise the inept and corrupt military government, hiding behind it's figleaf veneer of 'democracy'- what nonsense. There is no question the country has been going backwards, certainly compared to the halcyon days when Thailand topped Asean in FDI growth, average income growth, and GDP growth. But that seems a long time ago now, it all came tumbling down with the commencement of the Coup cycle in 2006, and the inevitable subsequent trampling of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. There seems no end in sight. Whoever said FDI is 'booming', are you mad? It isn't, neither is GDP growth- just read the Bangkok Post. Closer to home, the same villa I used to rent for 75K per month to well paid expats, would struggle to reach 45K now. That is some regression, in a decade.

Good luck with the move Eli, glad it's working out for you.

After a year back in Oz, can actually say it's been cheaper for me living here than Thailand (that's thanks to the aussie government 'subsidy' really). Didn't expect that! And I've put on weight. I miss some things about Asia/ Thailand, but would certainly not move back to Thai under the current 'system'- heck, I even boycott buying Thai products. The Filipines, VN, Cambo, several other countries appeal more now.

You seem to have lost touch with the reality here.

FDI has boomed in the past two years, just check the BoT data but a simple excursion along the EEC corridor will demonstrate the physical manifestation of the increasing foreign investment in Thai manufacturing. Factories are offering wages plus OT of around 18,000 per month these days and everyone owns their own pickup on credit.

Rents have fallen because of the rapid expansion in housing stock, its called competition obeying the law of supply and demand - the past decade has seen a boom in construction that is not running out steam but is expanding as the transport infrastructure improvements proliferate- the BTS/MRTA network expansion is generating exponential growth energising SMEs and spreading the development of Bangkok into the previously fallow and moribund outskirts.

The thing is pal, western currencies have fallen between 15%-25% in value compared to the Baht and that means the cost of living is ever rising for those dependent on foreign currency denominated incomes but if they were to restore previous values Thailand would be a treasure trove of opportunity.

Australia is a commodity boosted economy selling resources to China which bolsters a modest manufacturing contribution to overall GDP of 6% and is reliant on China's performance which at present is weakening. Australian household debt is considerable, 119% of GDP, and its current account surplus of around $5 billion is not that much more than Thailand's $3 billions. Both countries have a broadly similar debt to GDP ratio when compared to other western societies.

Thailand is the current dynamo of the region and as ASEAN develops so will Thailand's influence.

Facts, dear boy.

Here is some reality, backed up by figures. As of November 2019, Thai has the second lowest growth rate in Asean. Top are Vietnam, then Fil's. A far cry from the early naughties. VN, Fil's, Indon, Cambo are all growing at over double the rate of Thailand.
Think the boom may be in your head, asylumseeker. But don't take my word for it-

https://www.ceicdata.com/en/blog/ase...growth-q3-2019

Q3 is always slower in Thailand, though.

Very selective data.

Just look back over the last few years on the same graph Syb, it goes back to 2017. Same story- Thailand is lagging. No surprise to me. Ferget double- VN and the Fil's are over trebling the Thai growth rate.

The visa situation, corruption and politics never bothered me. I quite liked the edge and unlawlessness about the place It's the novelty that has worn off for me with Thailand.

It was Paradise when I first came here twelve years ago but I'd sooner live in Birmingham than Bangkok now that I've exhausted the place and its erm temples.

It will always have a place in my heart Thailand and I will be back for the odd holiday but fuck living in this stinking, polluted, retarded, unsafe shithole anymore with its lack of pavements, stinking open drains, plastic and fly tipping everywhere, rabid soi dog and sexpest overpopulation, 6 months of Monsoons, blazing heat and humidity, sky high import prices and its rocketing cost of barfi... living. It's not what it was.

Adios Fuckos

Originally Posted by Dillinger

The visa situation, corruption and politics never bothered me. I quite liked the edge and unlawlessness about the place It's the novelty that has worn off for me with Thailand.

It was Paradise when I first came here twelve years ago but I'd sooner live in Birmingham than Bangkok now that I've exhausted the place and its erm temples.

It will always have a place in my heart Thailand and I will be back for the odd holiday but fuck living in this stinking, polluted, retarded, unsafe shithole anymore with its lack of pavements, stinking open drains, plastic and fly tipping everywhere, rabid soi dog and sexpest overpopulation, 6 months of Monsoons, blazing heat and humidity, sky high import prices and its rocketing cost of barfi... living. It's not what it was.

Adios Fuckos

That's more like it.

Extrapolating from this to Q3 GDP performance or a thirst for democracy is just bullshit as far as reasons for leaving Thailand are concerned imo.

I remember some prat on ajarn giving his reasons for leaving as a lack of democracy and rights for foreigners, so he and his wife had moved instead to...Dubai!

Stuff just gets old sometimes and its time to go. Don't let the door slam...

Originally Posted by Dillinger

It will always have a place in my heart Thailand and I will be back for the odd holiday but fuck living in this stinking, polluted, retarded, unsafe shithole anymore with its lack of pavements, stinking open drains, plastic and fly tipping everywhere, rabid soi dog and sexpest overpopulation, 6 months of Monsoons, blazing heat and humidity, sky high import prices and its rocketing cost of barfi... living. It's not what it was.

Adios Fuckos

Spoken like a true Pattaya-ite.

Thank God my stint in the sess pool area will be short lived. I have already had enough of the Fn chinese infestation and their snot rocket, nose picking, shoe shuffling crap.

Originally Posted by Dillinger

The visa situation, corruption and politics never bothered me. I quite liked the edge and unlawlessness about the place It's the novelty that has worn off for me with Thailand.

It was Paradise when I first came here twelve years ago but I'd sooner live in Birmingham than Bangkok now that I've exhausted the place and its erm temples.

It will always have a place in my heart Thailand and I will be back for the odd holiday but fuck living in this stinking, polluted, retarded, unsafe shithole anymore with its lack of pavements, stinking open drains, plastic and fly tipping everywhere, rabid soi dog and sexpest overpopulation, 6 months of Monsoons, blazing heat and humidity, sky high import prices and its rocketing cost of barfi... living. It's not what it was.

Adios Fuckos

You insightful city slickers have all the fun.....

Dilly, I don't think you have mentioned where your next port of call will be.

Would you mind sharing with your fellow TD'ers?

Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker

We got of to a bit of a depressing start as my mum died about 6 hours before i got there. Funerals on friday.

So sorry to hear that mate. At least you can make the funeral. Six hours fucking hell. Smash some tinnies in her name I know you will.

Originally Posted by Bogon

Dilly, I don't think you have mentioned where your next port of call will be.

Would you mind sharing with your fellow TD'ers?

Secrets can't be shared....

It could be anywhere painted blue!

Originally Posted by Bogon

Dilly, I don't think you have mentioned where your next port of call will be.

Would you mind sharing with your fellow TD'ers?

We could start a Poll. My vote is somewhere highly exotic and by the ocean, like Skegness

Originally Posted by Bogon

It could be anywhere painted blue!

haha whats that blue spec in asia ? Spore ?

Originally Posted by sabang

Here is some reality, backed up by figures. As of November 2019, Thai has the second lowest growth rate in Asean. Top are Vietnam, then Fil's. A far cry from the early naughties. VN, Fil's, Indon, Cambo are all growing at over double the rate of Thailand.
Think the boom may be in your head, asylumseeker. But don't take my word for it-

https://www.ceicdata.com/en/blog/ase...growth-q3-2019

Yeah and our western currencies are still falling vs Baht

I reckon that the Thai gig is exceptionally easy as long as ya don't punch out kids and ya have a decent wedge to see ya through.

But the killer is raising kids in this retarded shit hole innit. Don't matter where ya educate the little fukers they will still have the retard gene fooked into them eh.

They grow up viewing violence corruption and fukwittery as being a normal everyday thing and they will always have Chicken heads as mates.

Yer fook that shit, fook punching out kids here eh and if ya really need to do that do the little fukers a favor and fook orf to a proper cuntry where at least they will be surrounded by proper human beings.

Besides that lot, lieland and is fookin brilliant and the more Farang that leave this shitter the better it is for us that stay innit.

Just saying.

Originally Posted by cyrille

You're...joking, surely?

You sound like some ex-prime minister of the place.

If it were anyone else I'd say they couldn't possibly be that conceited.

Unlike you, Norton has some honesty and integrity.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

You seem to have lost touch with the reality here.

Errrm no. That's you, but then you were a civil serpent, so no reality will ever exist for you.