LEAVING THAILAND

Post by **fredythehound** » June 7, 2011, 2:06 am

I,M THINKING OF LEAVING THAILAND,AS ITS CHANGED FROM BEING SO NICE ,WELLCOMMING,INEXPENSIVE,AND FRIENDLY,TO CORRUPT,PREDGERLIST,HIGH CRIME RATE,WITH MANY WHO THINK FARANGS ARE THERE JUST TO BE RIPPED OFF BY MOST DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING IMIGRATION,I FIRST CAME TO THAILAND 20 YEARS AGO AND EVERY YEAR ITS JUST GOT WORSE AND WORSE,ANYONE SUGGEST A NICER PLACE IN ASIA TO LIVE,AND BENIFITS FROM LIVING THERE INSTEAD OF THAILAND

Post by **LoongLee** » June 7, 2011, 3:21 am

Penang Malaysia if you can afford the yearly income requirement,,,,,

Post by **rct** » June 7, 2011, 5:33 am

In all seriousness, I checked my dictionary and could not find "predgerlist". The time being 05h30 , my brain was not intepreting what is really meant, now I get it.

*****
Luckily the authorities do not require one show their Udonmap avatar in the visa approval process, there are a few used by members including OP that would probably not pass their scrutiny. I cannot read Udonmap with children around for fear they may see some of them....

Post by **GARYZX6R** » June 7, 2011, 7:11 am

The trouble is Freddy that in 20 years you have been here,the whole world has changed,for the worst.If you think its bad here don't even consider europe ,its been totally ruined.Been to Vietnam and Cambodia both nice for a visit but can't say they are better than here to live.
You have a hard decision to make,take your time theres no rush.
Rct I see more flesh on show at UD town at night than on his avator, best not take your children there .

Post by **TicToc** » June 7, 2011, 8:18 am

rct,
You can turn off avatars by using the User Control Panel,Edit Display.

Post by **jimboLV** » June 7, 2011, 9:47 am

Fred if you're really serious about leaving LOS why limit yourself to Asia?, I would consider Central America, specifically Panama, Costa Rica, or Belize. It's been years ago but when I did extensive research on retirement spots, including visiting them, I settled on those three, until I came to Thailand and fell in love with it (and still am). I have also heard that Ecuador is now attracting a lot of expats but have no first hand knowledge of that.

Post by **rct** » June 7, 2011, 9:55 am

Tic Toc, thanks for the thoughtful suggestion, I just did it, avatars went away.

Then I logged out, went back in without logging in, and avatars are back, including yours that would need some explanation to my children or my wife who might pass by thinking I am looking at inappropriate materials.

So the edit does not really solve it, since I do not plan on loggin in everytime I go to read a few posts. I am not a prude, just find they render the forum inappropriate for family viewing, even 1% using such avatars might lead others to conclude and stereotype all reading members as..... Anyway, sorry to go off on this tangent.

Post by **old-timer** » June 7, 2011, 12:20 pm

jimboLV wrote:Fred if you're really serious about leaving LOS why limit yourself to Asia?, I would consider Central America, specifically Panama, Costa Rica, or Belize. quote]

OT can confirm that Belize is a great place and has a good re-hab clinic.
Getting back on topic, I thought that Udon had got better over the years, especially the last ten years. I'm sure a lot of the problems people have are brought on by themselves.

OT............. $\:D/$

Post by **DRILLER** » June 7, 2011, 1:50 pm

i researched a place to retire back in 2009. i came up with udon thani...because its a city without being congested everywhere. also because at that time i was a year away from 50yo.

when i arrived in udon november 2009...it was just as i imagined. new, exciting & friendly.

since then there has been some changes that has me avoiding it for some time.

the redevelopment of central plaza & the choking dust & fumes from the lorries that tear through the city & out to the ring road.
discovering how thai landlords can be greedy to the point of misleading & ignoring the obvious to the detriment of others if they stand to gain.
the changing attitudes of the locals themselves from warm to hard & so much more anti alien sentiment.

i lived in the philippines before that time & it appears that udon thani is too heading in that dangerous direction.

next time i venture to thailand it will be a more sceptical farang that hits the tarmac.

Post by **Ricohoc** » June 7, 2011, 2:06 pm

Bye.

Choke dee!

Post by **bumper** » June 7, 2011, 5:48 pm

Ecuador was the one I was checking out, not hard to get a lifetime visa. Spanish is a lo easier to learn the Thai.

But I believe someone really hit the nail on the head, 20 years the entire world has changed.

20 years ago Udon was a much smaller town then today. 10 years ago Udon was a much different and smaller place. I spent a bit of time in NKP reminded me of Udon old.

Maybe you don't need to leave Thailand but find a smaller town to live in. Just a thought

Post by **parrot** » June 7, 2011, 6:52 pm

Thai politics is no worse than it was 15 years ago. Dirty, bloody, and full or corruption. Nothing new.
Immigration is better than 16 years ago. Back then money and gifts were commonly exchanged for extensions. In the 15 years we've been here, I don't know a single person applying for a legit marriage/retirement visa in Udon who has had to pay under the table.
Falangs ripped off? You're not getting ripped off in any of the restaurants, Lotus, Global or most other big stores (prices are posted...same same for everybody). If you feel you're getting ripped off, it's easy enough to cost compare or ask on the forum for a sanity check.
Cops/corruption? I get stopped nearly every time going into town at the old Carrefour area and going out of town in the Nongwahsaw area. Show my credentials, exchange a few 'yes, sir yes,sir' and I'm waved off. Been warned a few times for driving in the fast lane, but never beyond that. If I'm speeding and I get stopped, it's a legit stop for me as well as for the many Thais who are also stopped.
Crime/drugs......always been there, but for most who don't read the local papers, it's mai ru arai sabai (ไม่รู้อะไรสบาย) (ignorance is bliss).
I'm with OT......life's much better in Udon today than 10 years ago......and much much better than 15 years ago. More traffic? Sure! But hardly a reason to pack the bags. Although I've always got a plan B in my hip pocket if the need arises in the future.

Post by **Laan Yaa Mo** » June 7, 2011, 7:22 pm

A friend of mine from New York was considering Ecuador for retirement. He has made a few trips over the past 2-3 years and has concluded that it has become a rip-off the gringo place par excellence. Awhile ago it was possible to buy property on the cheap, but then the locals figured out how to take advantage of the gringoes, and raised property taxes and all that. Crime against the gringoes has skyrocketed too. I would think twice about Ecuador, and Panama too. Some people are looking at Uruguay now as the place to seek retirement. Check it out in person.

If you want a quieter, nicer place than Udonthani, try Nakhon Panom, Nan or Loei. I am not suggesting that I would agree that they would be preferable to Udon, but they might be of interest to you.

Post by **pienmash** » June 7, 2011, 7:44 pm

The forum appears awash with negativity at the mo , visas , immo probs , folks wanna jump ship , the crap England football team , my gran died , 747 is back in NK , Chelsea still dont have any buggar that wants the managers job , pork prices , building a house next to a rubbish dump ........... to name just a few , nobody got any good news a jolly story to tell ??

LYM , im thinking about Canada for retiring , playing my banjo on the porch , tending my flowery patch .......... i think i would fit in ok as some folks even speak English there nowadays and most houses have electric ...... the only downside is i like my history and Canada doesnt have their own it was stolen from the Brits and i wouldnt want Sarah Palin to be queen !! ........ with only a few hundred people living there crime must be low indeed the last recorded fellany in Canada was when aunt Maud ate her starter with the main course knife n fork ........ she was sentenced to years watching ice hockey , do they a drug problem ?? i can say yes to this as a mate got arested in Torontonio for taking 2 yes 2 paracetemols his only excuse HE HAD A HEADACHE ...... absolute ballderdash hes a druggie !! .

So its Canada for mr mash , can i doss at your house til i get a log cabin of my own LYM.

mash.

Post by **trubrit** » June 7, 2011, 8:19 pm

Okay Mr Mash. A positive reply. I love Thailand. I am going nowhere. My heart , my home ,and my future, however limited , is here . However I do wonder about the reasoning of the original poster. Remember he say's "I am thinking of leaving Thailand" Now to me that's not a very positive statement and possibly indicates that he really doesn't want to leave and his hoping that one of us will come up with a good reason to stay .Surely if he really felt that bad about the place he would have just gone, not instigated a discussion on it .So , all I can say is , get it out of your system, look at the positives of life here and put that suitcase back in the cupboard . :-"

Post by **pienmash** » June 7, 2011, 8:27 pm

You should be a phykaiyertrist TB , what a brilliant reply full of positivity , happiness and even a hint of accuracy at the end .

Sorry about the spelling i aint Karol Vorderman u know !! ......... a vowel please , and another , consanent please Karol.

Mash ....... 3 cans of Kepplers im bolloxed off to bed.

Post by **arjay** » June 7, 2011, 10:37 pm

The OP actually asked about alternative places in Asia. According to my atlas that would exclude Costa Rica, Ecuador and other Central or South American countries. :-"

Post by **Laan Yaa Mo** » June 8, 2011, 12:49 am

This is true, so what do you suggest?

Laos would probably be my number one choice as the language is the same as Isaan as is the culture, cuisine and so on. Amenities might not be as up to date as Udonthani, but I do not know for sure. Maybe Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Salawan are worth checking out. Viang Chan might have the same problems that he wants to avoid in Udonthani.

What is the word on Indonesia? Asia covers a lot of ground from Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka to all of Southeast Asia and East Asia. Some of those countries are expensive (Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong) compared to Udon, and some are cheaper (Cambodia, Burma, Bangladesh, maybe the Philippines, and, of course, North Korea), some are less corrupt (Singapore, Hong Kong), but all contain some drawbacks that might make living there unsuitable for the OP.

Post by **fredythehound** » June 8, 2011, 4:32 am

A friend suggested cambodia,as he said its like thailand of 15 years ago, if thats correct,then thats what i,m looking for,if its less expensive,less corrupt,and visas are easier,then i think this will tempt me,not sure of what the pit falls are though

Post by **GARYZX6R** » June 8, 2011, 6:18 am

Can confirm its cheaper having just returned from there. Paid half US Dollar for a can of M150 ,250cc size and .85 Dollar for a snickers ,bargin $\:D/$
Only went on a weeks trip but had to pay $25 to get in and $25 to get out again !

Food was cheap and so were the gin fizz at $2 each in PP,happy hours of course

Corruption there ? For sure
Consider it to live ? For sure if you have fell out with Thailand.
Oh forgot ,the people where very pleasant to.