Hi Expats,
What are the good & bad things about living in Thailand compared to the UK. I do like the UK, but only for the materialistic lifestyle I have, I have often dreamt of leaving the UK to live in another country.
Cheers.
THAILAND VS THE UK
Although I don't live in Thailand I think that all the things that make Thailand such an enjoyable place are also the things that can lead to frustration there. From my own black-hearted viewpoint, some positive and negative interpretations of the same concepts could be:
Laid back approach = Lazy & unreliable
'Mai bpen rai' attitude = 'I don't give a shit'
'This is Thailand' = 'We don't care what you farang think, just shut up and show us your money'
Not over-regulated = Wide open to corruption
I think it's unlikely that you would ever come to these sort of conclusions as a holiday maker unless you have been loads of times and got sucked into having to do stuff in Thailand - dealing with offialdom, buying property etc.
Other than that, if you have an off-shore income and can let these things wash over you, I think you can live pretty damn well as a foreigner in Thailand! Personally speaking, I fear that I am too cynical and highly strung and that the frustrations would kill me!
Laid back approach = Lazy & unreliable
'Mai bpen rai' attitude = 'I don't give a shit'
'This is Thailand' = 'We don't care what you farang think, just shut up and show us your money'
Not over-regulated = Wide open to corruption
I think it's unlikely that you would ever come to these sort of conclusions as a holiday maker unless you have been loads of times and got sucked into having to do stuff in Thailand - dealing with offialdom, buying property etc.
Other than that, if you have an off-shore income and can let these things wash over you, I think you can live pretty damn well as a foreigner in Thailand! Personally speaking, I fear that I am too cynical and highly strung and that the frustrations would kill me!
One big issue for me is the factor that having worked overseas for most of my life, I own no property in the UK.
This means that now I am in my forties, I would be faced with taking on a huge mortgage with the prospect of working into my seventies, just to purchase an average house. I would also have to renew negotiations with the revenue, an organization that I have legally avoided for many years. I have no problem with taxation as a concept, but in the UK, I find the amounts involved discouraging.
As things stand I can live a pleasant lifestyle in Thailand, financed by going away working on a contract basis as much as I need to, but I really can’t see any standard of living awaiting me on a return to the UK. Having said all that, I do enjoy a visit back to Blighty once in a while!
This means that now I am in my forties, I would be faced with taking on a huge mortgage with the prospect of working into my seventies, just to purchase an average house. I would also have to renew negotiations with the revenue, an organization that I have legally avoided for many years. I have no problem with taxation as a concept, but in the UK, I find the amounts involved discouraging.
As things stand I can live a pleasant lifestyle in Thailand, financed by going away working on a contract basis as much as I need to, but I really can’t see any standard of living awaiting me on a return to the UK. Having said all that, I do enjoy a visit back to Blighty once in a while!
Steve, don't go back. We did in the mid 90's and had itchy feet until we moved out of Britain again 5 years ago (to Spain this time) The country will drive you mad with it's Nanny State mentality, rediculous taxes, spin, house prices which mean ordinary people can't afford ordinary houses, student fees, ID cards, speed cameras and policemen that you can't find until you get behind the wheel of your lease purchase car (with optional final payment that you can't afford) etc, etc. Not to mention Big Brother on tv, consolidation loans, Blair, Brown, Prescott (the minister with special responsibility for thumping the electorate and rogering his secretary) and finally, invading countries on the strength of a bunch of lies.
Not that I feel strongly, you understand.
Enjoy Thailand.
Not that I feel strongly, you understand.
Enjoy Thailand.
Interesting thought about ID cards, is the Thai version a requirement with certain types of visa?
I always smile when Brits rage about the possible introduction of ID cards. I think 88% of the population are in favour, the others, I guess, must still regard the Guardian as a serious paper. Staggering the Tories and Lib-Dems are on the anti-bandwagon, well not the Lib-Dems maybe? Oh well, I'm equally biased - in favour. Won't vote for a party that doesn't support it. But then my views are based on my career, knowledge and understanding, not hype. The current situation is far worse, but little do the masses realise.....
I always smile when Brits rage about the possible introduction of ID cards. I think 88% of the population are in favour, the others, I guess, must still regard the Guardian as a serious paper. Staggering the Tories and Lib-Dems are on the anti-bandwagon, well not the Lib-Dems maybe? Oh well, I'm equally biased - in favour. Won't vote for a party that doesn't support it. But then my views are based on my career, knowledge and understanding, not hype. The current situation is far worse, but little do the masses realise.....
Talk is cheap
An ID card that is not compulsory, except when you renew your passport.
Let's have a little think; the only people getting this new form of ID are the ones getting an existing form of ID, neither of which you are required to carry.
Result - law abiding people will have two (rather expensive) forms of ID neither of which they have to carry in the UK. They will however, have to pay the tax (sorry, fee) for both and give loads of personel details so that the new Dear Leader, Gordon Il Dour can ensure they contribute correctly (get financially wrung out by the revenue), tax the car, pay their speeding fines, not chase foxes, make the kids eat 5 veg, have a t.v. licence.
Non law abiding people can ignore the above, they remain free to do whatever they like except get benefits (until the forgers catch up - about a week should do it).
Nah, Tones' ID cards are about big brother databases and nob all to do with the war on terror. Having said that, invading Iraq had little to do with the war on terror either.
Let's have a little think; the only people getting this new form of ID are the ones getting an existing form of ID, neither of which you are required to carry.
Result - law abiding people will have two (rather expensive) forms of ID neither of which they have to carry in the UK. They will however, have to pay the tax (sorry, fee) for both and give loads of personel details so that the new Dear Leader, Gordon Il Dour can ensure they contribute correctly (get financially wrung out by the revenue), tax the car, pay their speeding fines, not chase foxes, make the kids eat 5 veg, have a t.v. licence.
Non law abiding people can ignore the above, they remain free to do whatever they like except get benefits (until the forgers catch up - about a week should do it).
Nah, Tones' ID cards are about big brother databases and nob all to do with the war on terror. Having said that, invading Iraq had little to do with the war on terror either.
And my wife and I are thinking about coming back to the land of the free for a month in September.
I might just have a serious re-think
Then again, with the current climate of checks and censorship here in the other land of the free, my wife may just about feel at home having to carry her ID card/passport. Still, I don't think she'll appreciate, or understand, speed cameras and traffic police doing their jobs. Fines, she will comprehend though.
I might just have a serious re-think
Then again, with the current climate of checks and censorship here in the other land of the free, my wife may just about feel at home having to carry her ID card/passport. Still, I don't think she'll appreciate, or understand, speed cameras and traffic police doing their jobs. Fines, she will comprehend though.
Don't worry Lomu - like everything else in life, these things only affect you if you let them. Irrational paranoia is the biggest threat to enjoying yourself in this country at the moment. ID cards, Big Brother and Gordon Brown will have absolutely no impact on your projected holiday, which I hope you and Mrs Lomu enjoy to the max! Recorded temperature this week was hotter than in BKK and it has been the hottest July since records began so I hope it lasts till September for you!
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appleman_thai
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- Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:26 pm
- Location: Dublin, Ireland
LIving in LOS
THailand is an emotional rollercoaster..... full of ups and downs (in more ways than one!!).
The highs are the highest but the lows are the lowest!
If you are in any way emotinally charged or if you get stressed about the little things in life then THailand is not for you!
I think that living here is easier than most places but doing business here is a nightmare!! Better off living here and earning an income from outside THailand - thats the best case scenario!
The highs are the highest but the lows are the lowest!
If you are in any way emotinally charged or if you get stressed about the little things in life then THailand is not for you!
I think that living here is easier than most places but doing business here is a nightmare!! Better off living here and earning an income from outside THailand - thats the best case scenario!
Do you really believe that Jaime?Jaime wrote:Recorded temperature this week was hotter than in BKK and it has been the hottest July since records began so I hope it lasts till September for you!
Wouldn't 15 degrees and rain be a better estimate for September?
I know you had some hot days, but not sure they will last much longer.
I intend to live forever - so far so good.
It's a bit more than that Norseman - the last time we had rain here in sunny Ystrad Mynach was about a month ago!Norseman wrote:I know you had some hot days, but not sure they will last much longer.
Actually September has been pretty good the last few years, as has May - it's the bit in between that has been the problem, except for this year which is SCORCHIO!
October is usually the drop off point when it gets quite grim weather-wise. Depends where you are though - I met a couple in Spain last year from Scotland and they told me that they only have good enough weather for one or two BBQ's a year! I've lost count of how many we've had here in South Wales this year already and the SE of England is hotter still!Admittedly the recent 36 degrees is a bit much to hope for in September but the early twenties would be quite pleasant coming over from the heat of Thailand. Don't forget - this ain't Norway!
UK vs THAILAND
I left uk 35yrs ago have been back a few times but now have no wish to go there or europe in general ,I now live in capetown and i think its the best place to be .I would be feeling insecure living in thailand now that i am getting old ,will visit every year but not to stay. Boom time now inSA
leading up to the world cup in 2010 everybody wants a piece of the action
choc dee hope to meet some of you guys in dec.
leading up to the world cup in 2010 everybody wants a piece of the action
choc dee hope to meet some of you guys in dec.
may the wind be always at your back