Thread: How many Thai mates have you got?

We (or the majority of us it seems) live in Thailand and alot of us for many years. How is your bonding with the local chaps (excluding the ones in frocks)?

I've been here for nigh on 8 years and I'm yet to meet a Thai that I could class as a good friend, someone who I can talk bollocks with, share my good and bad times with and go for a regular beer at the pub.

Why?

Is it the language?

No, I can hold a good conversation and many of the Thai blokes I meet here are very good at speaking English.

The culture?

Not really. It's not that hard to get your head around it after a while.


Anyone out there got any good local mates?

they all want something

7

although we do not go to a pub

is that enough?

or too many?

Not one! I am not into being conned and cheating into by drinks and food or loaning money.

^^ You don't go to the pub!?! You bent or somet?

Originally Posted by HBerghoff

I am not into being conned and cheating into by drinks and food or loaning money.

Alot of the Thai blokes I know have good jobs and earn and decent wage. The being conned and what not is totally out of the equation. Its just after swapping phone numbers I have no desire whatsoever to liase with them again. It seems false. Don't know why.

Thai drinking buddies = nil!

I hate karaoke, sitting on the floor drinking and playing pool for more then 2 or 3 games in a row. Plus a lot of bars I drink in frown on Thai males drinking in those bars.

I have some longtime Thai friends that I know I could rely on but not many.

To answer your question probably 5 good Thai male friends.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

To answer your question probably 5 good Thai male friends.

Thats alot. Do you speak with them in Thai or English?
Or maybe I'm just mixing in the wrong circles.
Thought I had one Thai mate once, but he turned out to be a cock.

1. My partner whom I speak English too.
2. My factory manager whom I speak Thai and English too.
3. My new partner (a small venture) whom I speak Thai too but have known him and his father for years.
4. My solicitor (who is married to an Aussie lady) and who is a golf buddy/ English.
5. My building foreman who is probably the most trustworthy bloke I have ever met/ Thai.

All good blokes and from different social backgrounds.

Got a couple that I meet when I go fishing - we use the same fishin' 'ole ! Always go for a beer or two afterwards - They always insist on buying their round - OK as far as I am concerned !

None now. Used to.
After a while they always let you down, one way or, another.

^ Well, the one I thought I had, picked up a glass bottle of meths and came at me with it because he thought I'd given him 'a look'. WTF - I'd known this bloke for 3 years.

well i have 1.....i suppose. speaks english quite well, likes to drink and rides a big bike but as attilla said eventually you get let down and while i consider him a friend he has let me down on a few occasions.
do girlfriends qualify? if so i guess she would be my closest thai friend

"Do you want any Thai mates" could be another thread title!

For true friendship, there has to be honesty and we all know how highly valued that quality is in the Kingdom.

You got that right AtH! There is not much honest here in Thailand.

[QUOTE="AnthonyR1"]do girlfriends qualify?[/QUOTE No, Ant. The girls here are a different story. The differences are still there but conversation seems easier. I think we're resented by the chaps.

Originally Posted by somtamslap

Thought I had one Thai mate once, but she turned out to have a cock.

I know, they can be pretty, can't they?

I think Thais themselves have very few people that we westerners would call friends. I think members of their family fulfill that function. What they call friends, we would call mates, or, good acquaintences.

I've seen it with the missus (and many other Thais), they're thick as thieves for a few weeks/months, then the next moment they're moaning about them and the friend isn't around anymore, usually over some imagined, or, real slight.

3 long time Thai friends. About the same number of non Thai friends.

Only 1 mate at the moment.

Originally Posted by Attilla the Hen

I think Thais themselves have very few people that we westerners would call friends. I think members of their family fulfill that function. What they call friends, we would call mates, or, good acquaintences.

I've seen it with the missus (and many other Thais), they're thick as thieves for a few weeks/months, then the next moment they're moaning about them and the friend isn't around anymore, usually over some imagined, or, real slight.

Well said. This is very true and have seen the same with my wife.

Hmm. I've puzzled on this one before. I've had a few I'd class as genuine mates, but found myself more and more unable to gather the enthusiasm to spend any time with them. There's always the suspicion they're mates with you for either what they can get out of you or for novelty value or something.

I'm not sure of the answer, but I generally cannot be arsed with having any Thai mates - it just seems simpler. Also, I find the language difficulties to be a pain and HATE having to constantly think of new ways in which to try and simplify what I say.

In conclusion, I think I'm too lazy and tight to have thai mates.

I was quite close to a southern Thai Man, we spent many hours together everyday for one and a half year, then one day he got really really drunk and when I very mild and carefully explained to him that I did not like him driving my car being that drunk (it took 5 attempts to park the car in the carport and it had scratches down the side) he tried to jump me and stab me with one of my own cooking knifes in the middle of my living room

^ I remember you telling me that story and really quite bizzare.

Thai men don't handle alcohol very well and that's why I have never had a Thai drinking buddy.

When you walk into a bar with one all of the girls seem to avoid you like a dirty smell also. Probably think he is a Thai cop or sumpthik.

^ true, I suppose that is why many farang bars don't want them drinking in the bar, to often it ends in misery.