What do you Like/Dislike most About Your Stay in Thailand?

[Deep Blue]

Oops, I apologize I hadn't had my morning coffee yet and a little groggy from drinking last night - I really can’t think of anything serious that I dislike about Thailand, it’s a wonderful country full of nice happy people.

[Pleng]

Thank you kindly oh friendly administrator. By the way... I was not mocking other posters - I was mocking myself, if you didn't notice.

Are you HHTel's son??

[NOKYAI]

For me it's mostly all good, I'd been coming for 10 years plus before I bought a house I saw built, on the soi I always stayed on, so there were no real surprises.
The negatives....well the police irritate me! Coming from a country where they are someone you would go to for help, here they are just highway robbers, worse than petty criminals. They don't deserve any respect, and don't get any from me. I was once fined for knocking one over as he stepped out in front of me, best B200 I spent in Thailand....lol

Other than that I live a pretty contented life when I'm here and miss it when I'm back in the depressing UK

[Big Boy]

I was once fined for knocking one over as he stepped out in front of me, best B200 I spent in Thailand....lol

[dozer]

I have a great life here, with a wonderful family and I came to terms with my dislikes long before I could share them on the internet.
Traffic is probably my biggest bugbear.
I was downtown the other weekend with a friend of mine, he was bitching about the traffic, and I told him to try working out of BKK and remember what HH was like before the by-pass.

[pharvey]

So go with the flow. Barter with good nature and a smile. It can help to establish a good relationship with the vendor which could serve you well in the future.

I'm sorry, but I can't. As soon as somebody asks an inflated price, I'm out of there. Their intention is not to sell for a fair price, but to squeeze as much money as they possibly can out of me, whilst playing stupid games. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask

Got to agree there - no BS, just a fair price required...... The LHG on the other hand is a master of the barter (Cardiff Market didn't know what hit them when we moved back)

[dtaai-maai]

So go with the flow. Barter with good nature and a smile. It can help to establish a good relationship with the vendor which could serve you well in the future.

I'm sorry, but I can't. As soon as somebody asks an inflated price, I'm out of there. Their intention is not to sell for a fair price, but to squeeze as much money as they possibly can out of me, whilst playing stupid games. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask

I really don't understand this paranoia about haggling. It happens all the time in the UK, both at (real) markets, the car trade and the housing market - when was the last time you bought a house or a 2nd hand car at the asking price?

If the price is too high for you, walk away. That's what it's all about, but no need to get your knickers in a twist about it. That's a bit like refusing to eat rice as a matter of principle.

[oakdale160]

as an every day annoyance--Speed bumps drive me insane and ruin my bike.

[Big Boy]

Fortunately, I don't have to eat very often

If the price is too high, I do walk away. What gets me is when they shout after you with sensible prices - that just tells me they were trying to rip me off. I'd rather go without, or wait until somebody sensible wants to sell me one. If I need something important, I'll usually get somebody else to buy it for me.

If I go somewhere like Home Pro to buy something, Mrs BB will usually go ahead and warn the kids to give me a wide berth. When I've made my selection, I'll still walk away if they try to tell me that I want something else.

[dozer]

So go with the flow. Barter with good nature and a smile. It can help to establish a good relationship with the vendor which could serve you well in the future.

I'm sorry, but I can't. As soon as somebody asks an inflated price, I'm out of there. Their intention is not to sell for a fair price, but to squeeze as much money as they possibly can out of me, whilst playing stupid games. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask

I really don't understand this paranoia about haggling. It happens all the time in the UK, both at (real) markets, the car trade and the housing market - when was the last time you bought a house or a 2nd hand car at the asking price?

If the price is too high for you, walk away. That's what it's all about, but no need to get your knickers in a twist about it. That's a bit like refusing to eat rice as a matter of principle.

I agree, I enjoy the banter and don’t really mind if I pay a bit more.
I was in a bar in BKK the other day and a guy was trying to haggle the price of two glasses of white wine, I just looked at the guy and said “really, come on you have to be joking” and he and his good lady took off looking rather sheepish.

[Arlo]

as an every day annoyance--Speed bumps drive me insane and ruin my bike.

Yeah me to, especially the ones that are black on a black road. I am not sure the law but it sure seems like anyone can put a speed bump or two anywhere they please.

[pharvey]

^ And every-time I hire a car in HH, it seems to come with low profile tyres as standard... always great with the potholes also

[Ratsima]

Like: I have an easy life, a brilliant and funny wife, a nice house, a condo at the beach, plenty of places to cycle and/or run. Although retired, my days are busy and I run out of time long before I run out of things to do.

Dislike: I can't speak Thai. I don't have friends. This is the first time in my life, except for a dismal year on Maui, that I haven't been awash with people with whom I had a lot in common and with whom I enjoyed spending time. I didn't expect my retirement to have so much alone time. (My wife's an attorney and spends an awful lot of time working.)'

But, I'm content enough and would never consider living elsewhere.

[hhfarang]

An important omission from my "dislikes" about Thailand list:

47. No Home Depot or Lowes!

[kendo]

Always barter with a smile and don't point.
I used to have a girlfriend that used to save all those free sachets of creams and lotions like Olay. She used to say "give me a better price and I will give you a present" after already haggling this used to work. She would then pull out a bag with fifty plus sachets in and give them a hand full of their choice. They were always happy with this and she done this all over the world with her job as a stewardess for BA.