questions from a potential expat

[LAnative]

It says Ask the expats so I will
I've read that water is rationed during the dry season. True or false?
Is the water there safe to drink, shower with and brush teeth with?
Is wireless internet available?
Is T.V. there worth looking at? It is aweful here in L.A.!
Are there any radio stations playing American rock?
Is ther a gym in town?
Do you recycle and have a recycle center?
Are imported foodstuffs and vitamins heavily taxed?

Most of what I've read on this blog so far is scaring me away. I'm trying to overcome my anxieties about this move but the more I read the worse the anxiety. It seems everyone is unhappy there.
LA native

[Farang]

I've read that water is rationed during the dry season. True or false?

Neither, the water is not rationed, but sometimes it is not available, or is only partially available.

Is the water there safe to drink, shower with and brush teeth with?

Drink, it depends, shower and brush teeth with, yes.

Is wireless internet available?

It is available in very limited manner. Further, it is slow.

Is T.V. there worth looking at? It is aweful here in L.A.!

Thai TV? Definitely not. The Mexican, Venezuelan and Egyptian soaps are pure higher education compared with Thai soaps. Just forget the TV in T-Land.

Are there any radio stations playing American rock?

No.

Is ther a gym in town?

Yes.

Do you recycle and have a recycle center?

Yes, there are any number of mobile recycle stations active in HH. They come and recycle your carbage at no cost to you.

Are imported foodstuffs and vitamins heavily taxed?

Yes.

Most of what I've read on this blog so far is scaring me away. I'm trying to overcome my anxieties about this move but the more I read the worse the anxiety. It seems everyone is unhappy there.

Most of what I've read in your questions makes me sure you'll be very unhappy here. Then again, I might be wrong. Why don't you come and visit HH for a week or two to judge yourself.

[JW]

Hi LAnative,



I've read that water is rationed during the dry season. True or false?
Water very occasionally runs low but can always be got. In 7 years here i have never ran out. Certain areas do suffer more than others so careful research will mean that the problem can be avoided.

Is the water there safe to drink, shower with and brush teeth with?
Drinking is a no - everything else including cooking is fine.

Is wireless internet available?
Available and good enough to stream video.


Is T.V. there worth looking at? It is aweful here in L.A.!
TV ok, many expats are using Web TV and really enjoying watching up to date TV.

Are there any radio stations playing American rock?
Nope but again - internet gives all of that - we play 80s in the office from BBC radio.

Is ther a gym in town?
Yep, my Dad goes to the Hilton 3 times a week and loves it.

Do you recycle and have a recycle center?
Yes and Yes

Are imported foodstuffs and vitamins heavily taxed?
They are, but the food here is really excellent and varied.

Dont be put off Hua HIn, its a great place to live - see it for yourself before you make any judgements.

Happy to have a beer if you come to town.

Cheers,

JW

[crazy88]

It says Ask the expats so I will .
GOOD FOR YOU

I've read that water is rationed during the dry season. True or false?
ALWAYS AVAILABLE ALTHOUGH YOU MAY HAVE TO ORDER YOUR TANKS FILLED IF MAINS ONLY IN SOME AREAS

Is the water there safe to drink, shower with and brush teeth with?
DRINKING FROM THE TAP WITHOUT AN INEXPENSIVE FILTER NOT A GOOD IDEA .SHOWER AND TEETH MIGHT GIVE YOU A DICKY TUMMY FOR THE FIRST WEEK >

Is wireless internet available?
YES


Is T.V. there worth looking at? It is aweful here in L.A.!
PLENTY OF PACKAGES AVAILABLE .

Are there any radio stations playing American rock?
NOT THAT I AM AWARE OF IN HH BUT MANY BARS AND YOU CAN DO IT VIA INTERNET .

Is ther a gym in town?
SEVERAL

Do you recycle and have a recycle center?
IF YOU DUMP A BAG OF RUBBISH AT ONE OF THE BLUE BINS IT WILL BE PICKED UP BEFORE YOU ROUND TH NEXT CORNER >GET THEM TO COME TO YOUR HOUSE AND THEY WILL BUY YOUR RUBBISH .

Are imported foodstuffs and vitamins heavily taxed?
SOME ARE BUT MOSTLY NOT DEARER THAN HOME .THERE ARE SOME GREAT LOCAL PRODUCERS BOTH WESTERN AND THAI THAT PROVIDE GREAT PRODUCTS .FRESH PRODUCE HERE COSTS BUTTONS .


Hope this helps


Crazy 88

[Lung Per]

Suggest you consider Hawaii instead. Seems like you will be more happy within the U.S.

It says Ask the expats so I will
I've read that water is rationed during the dry season. True or false?
Is the water there safe to drink, shower with and brush teeth with?
Is wireless internet available?
Is T.V. there worth looking at? It is aweful here in L.A.!
Are there any radio stations playing American rock?
Is ther a gym in town?
Do you recycle and have a recycle center?
Are imported foodstuffs and vitamins heavily taxed?

Most of what I've read on this blog so far is scaring me away. I'm trying to overcome my anxieties about this move but the more I read the worse the anxiety. It seems everyone is unhappy there.
LA native

[migrant]

LAnative

I live in Orange County, Brea. My wife and I are planning on retiring to Thailand in a couple years, but I've spent a lot of time there, and in other countries.

The people that have given you answers are all better suited than I, but no amount of questions will substitute for actual living there.

I could actually retire now, but both my wife (Thai) and I want sufficient reserves in case we do not want to live in Thailand full time. Even with all our time there living 24/7 will be different

It's sure different than So Cal (even during rush hour|)

[lomuamart]

Water? We live pretty close to the centre of town and it does go off sometimes. Especially after laundry, watering the plants and showering!! The worst I've known it at this address was three days without supply so we went to family for an occasional clean up.
Don't drink the stuff, but pretty much everything else is OK.
One PS to that is that if you have any open wound, don't ever let the water get on it or it'll get infected.
As below for everything else.

[johnnyk]

It says Ask the expats so I will
I've read that water is rationed during the dry season. True or false?
sometimes water shortages, just like dry parts of the u.s. Is the water there safe to drink, shower with and brush teeth with?
drink bottled water then. shower with no worries.
Is wireless internet available?
yes.
Is T.V. there worth looking at? It is aweful here in L.A.!
tv awful most places. why come to thailand to watch tv?
Are there any radio stations playing American rock?
don't you know british rock is far superior?
Is ther a gym in town?
more than one.
Do you recycle and have a recycle center?
fruit/veggie waste into the garden. other stuff in the bin, beverage containers leave out for kids to cash in.
Are imported foodstuffs and vitamins heavily taxed?
import food costs more everywhere. french cheese not cheap in the u.s.
don't have to buy import vitamins, they can be made anywhere and in the end you have to believe the label.

Most of what I've read on this blog so far is scaring me away. I'm trying to overcome my anxieties about this move but the more I read the worse the anxiety. It seems everyone is unhappy there.
LA native

My guess is you are pretty frightened about lots of stuff anyway. But you live in the usa where nearly everyone is scared stiff about something: terrorists, std's, peanuts, dairy products, muslims, trans fats, obesity... but not guns strangely enough.
With your anxiety levels over small stuff you might as well stay home, you won't be happy here.

[margaretcarnes]

What a shame you've got the impression that most expats seem unhappy! I guess we are all partly to blame for that. But the reality is that both current and ex expats like myself live, or have lived, very happily in HH.
Remember that there are about 3000 expats in HH now. I haven't tried to work out the percentage who actually use this forum, but the percentage of those 3000 who are regular users must be pretty low.
Yes we moan about some aspects of life in LOS. There are highs and lows, just as there are anywhere. But most things are bearable. Even funny in hindsight. Its easy to get wound when your water tank runs dry, but as Lomu says it never lasts long and you get by. Many of our moans are because we love the place, and hate to see anything bad going on there.
There are places where conditions are much more basic. Where a vehicle is essential to go buy your own bottle gas and fuel for the generator. Where you need to pay State taxes for the privelege of dumping your own garbage in landfill, but pay nothing to dump bodily waste straight into a cesspit!
As us Brits say it's 'horses for courses.' If you really have serious hangups about the quality of TV programmes and availability of music genres in HH then maybe it isn't for you. On the other hand you might just find there are more important things to life there, which compensate for the small sacrifices 100 fold.

[LAnative]

My therapist told me to alleviate anxieties by gathering information. Hence my enquiries. Thanks to all who responded, even those who implied I should stay home.
I am moving to HH in order to be able to live on a fixed retirement. I cannot afford to stay here. I feel it is always better to know as much as possible before making a leap. It is unlikely I will be ABLE to return and re-establish myself in the U.S. so I must get details beforehand.
Hope to meet some of you during my 3 week visit in October. It will be a refreshing change to meet some caucasians after becoming the minority in the place I was born. Living in L.A. I laugh at traffic jams and no parking. I am prepared to be the minority, I am prepared for water conservation, I lived in a Bush monarchy already, I am used to beggars hitting me up for money and greedy store owners' high prices. I am used to living in isolation. What I am NOT used to is the small town mindset, uncooperative authorities and not having my own car. Otherwise I believe I can make the adjustment.
Thanks again to all

[MrPlum]

I am moving to HH in order to be able to live on a fixed retirement.

Seeing how rapidly things are going downhill in the U.S. I would not wait one year, never mind two and I certainly would not rely on the dollar holding its value, which will affect your purchasing power. If it were me I would transfer as much of my assets as possible into inflation-proof vehicles. Gold, Silver and Oil come to mind.

The fact that people ARE living happily here should provide some reassurance.

[Tony_S]

Dont worry about TV...it's much more entertaining sat in a bar (even having a coffee) watching the girls and they will put some rock music on for you too !!

I watch TV in the UK but when I'm in Thailand I never switch it on.

I spend about 6 months in the UK and 6 months in Thailand and Thailand is better in most ways.

One thing you will see more of in Thailand then any other country is people with a smile....that should tell you everything

[T.I.G.R.]

LANative

If you are not used to "uncooperative authorities" and "not having my own car" you might want to look elsewhere.

Thailand is a beautiful place but not for the fainthearted. Authority here is vested in many ways, none of which most of us Americans can fathom or internalize. You can get by without a car but I personally wouldn't want to do that here or anywhere. If you think one will be cheaper here do some more homework. Most cars here cost a great deal more than in the States unless you buy a used one.

You tell us you're just gathering information before you make the leap but it appears you have already made the leap mentally.

I live here because of limitations in my retirement income just as you describe yourself.

I had been to Thailand many times in over twenty years of marriage to a Thai before I decided this was our most reasonable post-retirement option. I can tell you that even with those years of accumulated knowledge of Thailand, it's people and it's customs, I was woefully unprepared for life in the Kingdom.

If you think living in L.A. has been difficult you are in no way prepared to live here. Please do yourself a favor and do not make any plans or decisions you cannot undo before you come here in October, and preferably for a good time beyond that.

If you can figure out a way to live here for six months or more before you make a final commitment I would strongly suggest you do so.

Good luck.

[dtaai-maai]

My therapist told me to alleviate anxieties by gathering information. Hence my enquiries.

I've just read this thread from the beginning and was going to say you should just get over here, relax, have a good time for a while and then decide whether or not to commit. But then I came across the above comment - if it was serious, I'd advise you to stay well away from Thailand. Even for a long weekend.

[Wanderlust]

LAN,
While I broadly agree with dtaai-maai in his last post, at the same time I applaud anyone who leaves their 'comfort zone'. However, you appear to be choosing Thailand because it is cheaper than LA in the main, and that is not a good reason to base this sort of lifestyle change on. For a start that could easily change in the next few years, but other than that, I think Thailand is a wonderful place to live, so everything is relative. Your therapist is right in that you need to go into this with your eyes wide open, knowing as much as you can, but at the same time, if you need/use a therapist in LA, then you may not be best suited to living in Thailand as others have alluded to. However, it seems you have made your choice already, so use the valuable information available here and throw yourself into it; you are queueing up for the biggest rollercoaster you have ever ridden but it is well worth it!