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mbutt
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Greetings

Post by mbutt »

Hi there forum,

just joined - been here some 6 months but have only recently discovered on-line life (us old fuddies take a bit of time with this internet thing - being on the line is interesting)

I'm from the UK. Decided to get out before David Cameron hands the reins over to the fanatics.

Did not realise how noisy and smelly the country is, so am a bit shocked. Watched too many travel documentaries I think. Sigh. Never mind.

Anyway, nice to know that there is a kind and caring community to turn to for help :-)

Mark Buttersworth
GLCQuantum
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Re: Greetings

Post by GLCQuantum »

Welcome Mark,

The noise and smell are a little tough to get used to. Unless you manage to block them out, you'll have a frustrating time here. I currently have a nightmare neighbor with 10+ dirty, howling dogs and a place littered with rubbish. It sucks but you just have to bite your lip about it.

Enjoy the forum, plenty of good people with good advice to share here.
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Big Boy
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Location: Bon Kai

Re: Greetings

Post by Big Boy »

Yes, welcome Mark. I used to think Thailand was dirty and smelly (I was aware before I moved here), but I've just come back from Sihanoukeville - you aint seen nothing yet :D
Championship Plymouth Argyle 0 - 1 Preston NE :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Points 41; Position 18
Midsman
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Re: Greetings

Post by Midsman »

Welcome Mark.

Yes can be frustrating here at times but my positives are higher than the negatives.

Where you from in the UK, age etc ?

If you like football get yourself to Hua Hin City. Now they are frustrating 555555
mbutt
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Re: Greetings

Post by mbutt »

Hi there,

I'm from Hertfordshire.
I'm 61 years old.

Thanks for the tip but I have no interest in football. Now boxing yes, so I will most likely have a look at Thai boxing matches.

I am reading up now on Thai attitudes. Was a bit shocked at what happened during the Song Kran nights, and have decided not to wander around at nights on my own.
Wish I had read this forum before I came here, I might have been better prepared :-)

Many thanks

MB
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JamesWest
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Location: Khao Takiap, Hua Hin

Re: Greetings

Post by JamesWest »

mbutt wrote:Hi there,

I'm from Hertfordshire.
I'm 61 years old.

Thanks for the tip but I have no interest in football. Now boxing yes, so I will most likely have a look at Thai boxing matches.

I am reading up now on Thai attitudes. Was a bit shocked at what happened during the Song Kran nights, and have decided not to wander around at nights on my own.
Wish I had read this forum before I came here, I might have been better prepared :-)

Many thanks

MB
61 is not old.

HH is very safe. just use common sense. You would not believe the places I go at night in HH. :)
Don't get drunk, don't be aggressive, ever. always use situational awareness everyhere you go. don't use victim posture.
Use humor to get your point across.

And yes if you want to play it totally safe, go home at midnight or have a friend with you. have the number of a motorcycle taxi so you can wait wherever you are to be picked up. or have a scooter near by. I go everywhere no problems. I just hang back and check out the vibe. If you go into bars, look for Thai men in the bar (a no go). Or Thai men talking to their girlfriends outside the bar.

or just don't go into Binabaht or other bar areas with drunks.

you should join the gym at True Arena. Join Hash House Harriers and go hiking on weekends. Many UK people there in their 60's plus who are very active. You can walk at your own pace.

http://h2h3-cah3.weebly.com/history.html

i would worry about dangerous roads and traffic. that is your real problem here. :) Understand and accept this as part of the daily survival routine.

Nothing is important here except your personal safety and health. If you keep things simple, the rest is just theatre.

I am 60 and I did these irresponsible things the last 14 days: (this is the declassified PG-13 version.)
Train/Bus to Phuket. Bus was very dangerous. Flew to BKK. Train back to HH.
650 cc motorcycle trips to Pranburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan.
out to dinner every night. Drank some water that had ice in it.
Hiked/Walked 7-10 kilometers on the beach every other day.
Dancing at the hilton till 2 am, at Cat bar till 4am, then dinner at noodle stand on soi 55 at 4:30am with many Thais. no problems at all.
Went out on four dates with four different women. (i'm slowing down a bit.)
Drove 115 KPH on my motorcycle at 3:30 am last night (Monday) on Phetkasem Road. Not a soul or dog in sight.

not sure if you are married. if not, get a Badoo app for your phone. You will be mister popular even if you look like the elephant man.

rent and don't buy so you can move. nothing lasts forever and Thailand and HH are changing fast.

get on the train and go somewhere. you can go anywhere in Thailand on the train.
four hours to BKK. 412 baht.
From there to the underground Metro to Asok Station 26 baht.
Train to BKK airport. Then Vietnam in 90 minutes for about 3000 baht. or wherever.

VIP bus to Pattaya 5 hours 400 baht.

get on scotter and explore down the coast.
Have you been to Kanchanaburi, Pranburi, Phetchaburi or Prachuap Khiri Khan yet? Not too far away.

I have no problems with soi dogs. Dogs know when you are fearful of them and any negative feeling and agression on your part changes everything. yes go ahead and laugh. Just last night the Thai lady I was with was very fearful and the same dogs that pay no attention to me where running out to bark at her. It takes practice to not have fear of dogs. I feed the dogs around here and that was the last of most of the barking.

don't waste anytime trying to change Thailand. It is not going to happen.

Don't let internet fear and paranoia ruin your day.
I really like this forum because there are no personal attacks. All the members contribute in a positive way to my posts.
Eiahhh
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Location: Hua Hin

Re: Greetings

Post by Eiahhh »

great post James :)
mbutt
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Re: Greetings

Post by mbutt »

Hi james

many thanks indeed for the post, and the tips seem very helpful.

I'm not afraid of dogs, I'm more aggressive towards them. I was attacked as a dog when very young and although the physical scars have healed I have always had a hatred for them.
I wrote 61 - sorry, meant that as 51 (still getting used to this keyboard)

So looks like I will go and get a scooter this week. The streets do seem crazy, no lane discipline and people on the phone driving at 10 miles per hour.

Thanks again James.
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Khundon1975
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Re: Greetings

Post by Khundon1975 »

Hi mbutt welcome to the forum.

Don't worry about the smells, you will get used to them, the dogs will get used to you, you will soon learn the rules of the road as there aren't any, the girls will welcome you with open arms and all the rest you will learn as you go along.

Enjoy Hua Hin and relax. Life is too short to do anything else.

:rasta:
I've lost my mind and I am making no effort to find it.
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