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Post by ************** on Feb 23, 2015 11:45:27 GMT
A Filipina or Pinay is a lady from the Philippines (which is about a 2 hour flight from Bangkok to Manila, i think). The national language of the Phils is english so it's easier to chat etc and the population is overwhelmingly Christian. However, the Philippines is a country that is quite a bit poorer than Thailand and there are lots of well documented problems with human trafficking and sex tourism. Having said that for a population that doesn't have a great deal of money to splash around, you won't meet a happier bunch of people. All have silly nicknames. Filipino's tend to smile a great deal and they like to have fun. That's not to say Thai's don't have fun, but in my opinion Filipino's specialise in fun and some Thai's can be incredibly snooty as well. Filipino's also like to eat 5 or 6 times a day too and tend to see cousins and second cousins as we might regard brothers and sisters - so you may end up with a dozen round for dinner! But beware - Filipino food is not that great especially when compared to Thai food ~ too much vinegar for my tastes! In terms of the countryside - both Thailand and the Philippines are stunning. I'd recommend a visit to each country as you'll come back with great memories. I'd say as cities Bangkok is miles ahead of Manila though, but get out of Manila and you can't possibly fail to be anything but staggered by the overwhelming beauty of a thousand volcanic, coral fringed islands. Sounds great cheers mate hope my trip comes off. Ben diving before in Egypt and red that is great in Fillip ins too so may tty do some out there . eating 5 or 6 times a day is rate up my street lol ! Camiguin Island is the place for divers in the Phils. Although for more experienced wreck-divers, half of the Japansese WWII fleet lies scuttled north of Coron.
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Post by wizzardofdribble on Feb 23, 2015 12:09:29 GMT
There are good ones and bad ones mate, so you need to be very careful as some are just looking for a big money farang. But I find that they generally nag a lot less than western women and usually know how to have a better laugh and tend not to make a drama out of a crisis. The Buddhist thing appeals to me quite a bit too. They seem to age much better too (unless they been working in a paddy field all their lives) and tend to be much less overweight. My missus has friends in her 50's who look like they're in their late twenties. You may also find that you play second fiddle to the family at times, so its swings and roundabouts at the end of the day. Language can be an issue too. Language is no issue..Less nagging. And a lot of Thai/Phillipino women living in the UK age really well, given that they do fuck all most of the time apart from spending their husbands money on botox, makeovers and expensive clothes.
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Post by ************** on Feb 23, 2015 12:13:12 GMT
There are good ones and bad ones mate, so you need to be very careful as some are just looking for a big money farang. But I find that they generally nag a lot less than western women and usually know how to have a better laugh and tend not to make a drama out of a crisis. The Buddhist thing appeals to me quite a bit too. They seem to age much better too (unless they been working in a paddy field all their lives) and tend to be much less overweight. My missus has friends in her 50's who look like they're in their late twenties. You may also find that you play second fiddle to the family at times, so its swings and roundabouts at the end of the day. Language can be an issue too. Language is no issue..Less nagging. And a lot of Thai/Phillipino women living in the UK age really well, given that they do fuck all most of the time apart from spending their husbands money on botox, makeovers and expensive clothes. And western birds don't do exactly the fucking same? Come off it... I'd like to see a bird from Hartshill ploughing a rice paddy by buffalo power like mar lady.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2015 15:15:49 GMT
Sounds great cheers mate hope my trip comes off. Ben diving before in Egypt and red that is great in Fillip ins too so may tty do some out there . eating 5 or 6 times a day is rate up my street lol ! Camiguin Island is the place for divers in the Phils. Although for more experienced wreck-divers, half of the Japansese WWII fleet lies scuttled north of Coron. Most of those ships at Coron are supply and cargo vessels ************** not warships ....one or two gun boats are there but nothing really major .
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Post by ************** on Feb 23, 2015 15:29:26 GMT
Camiguin Island is the place for divers in the Phils. Although for more experienced wreck-divers, half of the Japansese WWII fleet lies scuttled north of Coron. Most of those ships at Coron are supply and cargo vessels ************** not warships ....one or two gun boats are there but nothing really major . Coron itself has a few, although there are supposedly loads to the north. www.coronwrecks.comI didn't know you were into wreck diving Bish? Thats cool.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2015 15:37:55 GMT
Most of those ships at Coron are supply and cargo vessels ************** not warships ....one or two gun boats are there but nothing really major . Coron itself has a few, although there are supposedly loads to the north. www.coronwrecks.comI didn't know you were into wreck diving Bish? Thats cool. I aren't. ************** , but I am into the history of World War 2 in a big way......that's an interesting link by the way , most of the Major units of the Imperial Fleet were gone by then as I said , that flotilla was mainly cargo ships and a few minor escort vessels , I know it's a very popular diving site for enthusiasts .
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Post by ************** on Feb 23, 2015 15:44:04 GMT
Coron itself has a few, although there are supposedly loads to the north. www.coronwrecks.comI didn't know you were into wreck diving Bish? Thats cool. I aren't. ************** , but I am into the history of World War 2 in a big way......that's an interesting link by the way , most of the Major units of the Imperial Fleet were gone by then as I said , that flotilla was mainly cargo ships and a few minor escort vessels , I know it's a very popular diving site for enthusiasts .
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Post by ihaveadream on Feb 24, 2015 14:11:36 GMT
Is it just me or are English women a rate ball arch lol ? Seriosly Think in of going thai and buyin one - does anyone have any experienced of thai birds do they a a pre shinier a gentlemen?
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Post by ihaveadream on Feb 24, 2015 14:14:05 GMT
Is it just me or are English women a rate ball arch lol ? Seriosly Think in of going thai and buyin one - does anyone have any experienced of thai birds do they a a pre shinier a gentlemen?
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Post by tuum on Feb 24, 2015 20:36:00 GMT
I live in Bangkok and think it is the best value for money city in Asia. I really don't understand how anyone can call it a shithole especially a tourist. You must have seen a darker side than most to form that opinion, especially since you preferred Vietnam & Cambodia..both of which are equally as dirty as Thailand.Look inside any Bangkok shopping centre or public building and see how clean the toilets are. They put the UK to shame. Each to their own. I also lived in The Philippines for 4 years. Manila is much shittier than Bangkok...and with awful food. Having said that,Manila like all Asian cities has an underbelly that draws you in. Read Alex Garland 'The Tesseract' for an accurate depiction of Manila. I feel much less safe in Manila and the PI than I do in Bangkok and Thailand. You stray too far from Makati or Roxas in Manila and you are looked on like a lame wildebeest by the locals.Ripe for picking. In Bkk outside of the tourist areas 99% of the time you will be left alone.
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Thai wife
Feb 25, 2015 2:30:44 GMT
via mobile
Post by britsabroad on Feb 25, 2015 2:30:44 GMT
There are good ones and bad ones mate, so you need to be very careful as some are just looking for a big money farang. But I find that they generally nag a lot less than western women and usually know how to have a better laugh and tend not to make a drama out of a crisis. The Buddhist thing appeals to me quite a bit too. They seem to age much better too (unless they been working in a paddy field all their lives) and tend to be much less overweight. My missus has friends in her 50's who look like they're in their late twenties. You may also find that you play second fiddle to the family at times, so its swings and roundabouts at the end of the day. Language can be an issue too. Language is no issue..Less nagging. And a lot of Thai/Phillipino women living in the UK age really well, given that they do fuck all most of the time apart from spending their husbands money on botox, makeovers and expensive clothes. There seems to be no middle age for them. They look either 20 years old or 120. The change seems to happen overnight as ive never seen anyone who looks 40. I think the major attraction for Western men is their submissive nature. Each to their own, but if i had to choose it would be Filipinos over Thai every time.
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Post by ************** on Feb 25, 2015 9:34:42 GMT
Language is no issue..Less nagging. And a lot of Thai/Phillipino women living in the UK age really well, given that they do fuck all most of the time apart from spending their husbands money on botox, makeovers and expensive clothes. There seems to be no middle age for them. They look either 20 years old or 120. The change seems to happen overnight as ive never seen anyone who looks 40. I think the major attraction for Western men is their submissive nature. Each to their own, but if i had to choose it would be Filipinos over Thai every time. Very true Brits. I had a 2 year relationship with a Filipina before the relationship i'm in now with a Thai girl. I got to know both cultures very well. Both are very different ~ Filipino's carry a sense of national shame and Thai's can be incredibly aloof but I can't really say I have a preference. However to live, i'd say Thailand hands down. For a holiday...it's the Philippines for me, as long as its not Manila. As Tuum says, (and I lived in both Makati & Pasig City, Manila) Bangkok is a great city.
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Thai wife
Feb 25, 2015 12:10:04 GMT
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Post by britsabroad on Feb 25, 2015 12:10:04 GMT
There seems to be no middle age for them. They look either 20 years old or 120. The change seems to happen overnight as ive never seen anyone who looks 40. I think the major attraction for Western men is their submissive nature. Each to their own, but if i had to choose it would be Filipinos over Thai every time. Very true Brits. I had a 2 year relationship with a Filipina before the relationship i'm in now with a Thai girl. I got to know both cultures very well. Both are very different ~ Filipino's carry a sense of national shame and Thai's can be incredibly aloof but I can't really say I have a preference. However to live, i'd say Thailand hands down. For a holiday...it's the Philippines for me, as long as its not Manila. As Tuum says, (and I lived in both Makati & Pasig City, Manila) Bangkok is a great city. See, I can't stand Thailand. Beautiful country but ive never met such dishonest people. Then im still with the English girl i moved out to Asia with and plan to keep it that way...i havent been Asianified yet, so maybe my view would change if i was. Im not the only person i know who thinks that way.
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Post by ************** on Feb 25, 2015 12:15:33 GMT
Very true Brits. I had a 2 year relationship with a Filipina before the relationship i'm in now with a Thai girl. I got to know both cultures very well. Both are very different ~ Filipino's carry a sense of national shame and Thai's can be incredibly aloof but I can't really say I have a preference. However to live, i'd say Thailand hands down. For a holiday...it's the Philippines for me, as long as its not Manila. As Tuum says, (and I lived in both Makati & Pasig City, Manila) Bangkok is a great city. See, I can't stand Thailand. Beautiful country but ive never met such dishonest people. Then im still with the English girl i moved out to Asia with and plan to keep it that way...i havent been Asianified yet, so maybe my view would change if i was. Im not the only person i know who thinks that way. I'm not sure i've been "Asianified", although Mumf would probably say I am , however finding somebody with a good heart has always been the most important priority for me. I really understand what you are saying about dishonesty, although I think that it's more down to Thai's being more blatant and upfront in any negotiation ~ they are no respecters of foreigners, but once you get past that they are fine. I went through a period of disliking Thailand after my second holiday there with The Farang thing. The issue actually turned out to be mine. The English way is far more subtle...and the truth is often concealed under layers of diplomacy and protocol. Thai's just do things different to us and whilst i've never had a problem with true dishonesty, i've had plenty of cultural bangs to the head though which on first impression actually seem to be dishonest. I've always found Thai's to be generally more law abiding and responsible than the Europeans i've met in the land of smiles. You've dealt with Chinese and Indians before haven't you Brits? They are even more difficult...
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Post by tuum on Feb 25, 2015 13:41:31 GMT
I am with ************** on this one. A lot of the 'dishonesty' is a cultural thing in my opinion. Trying to get the 'wife' to admit that she is wrong is an art form in itself. You have to accept that you will be misled on occasion. Not necessarily because they are being deliberately deceitful..sometimes they just don't want to give you bad news and they are trying to spare your feelings. I think this applies to all Asia. I can fully appreciate western women. Not as bad as people make out & I can understand the attraction. Thai girls can quickly wear thin in terms of novelty value. One of the good things about my partner is that she wants to travel and explore the world. She is not stuck to Thai ways or unwilling to step out of her comfort zone.
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Post by ************** on Feb 25, 2015 13:53:07 GMT
I am with ************** on this one. A lot of the 'dishonesty' is a cultural thing in my opinion. Trying to get the 'wife' to admit that she is wrong is an art form in itself. You have to accept that you will be misled on occasion. Not necessarily because they are being deliberately deceitful..sometimes they just don't want to give you bad news and they are trying to spare your feelings. I think this applies to all Asia. I can fully appreciate western women. Not as bad as people make out & I can understand the attraction. Thai girls can quickly wear thin in terms of novelty value. One of the good things about my partner is that she wants to travel and explore the world. She is not stuck to Thai ways or unwilling to step out of her comfort zone. Bang on. Takes a few years to get to understand this unorthodox logic, you have to live it, but it sounds pretty similar to some of the experiences I have had.
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Thai wife
Feb 25, 2015 16:18:19 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2015 16:18:19 GMT
Thai girls can quickly wear thin in terms of novelty value. How can the novelty of having ping pong balls fitted out a fanny ever where of lol ?
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Post by ************** on Feb 25, 2015 17:43:04 GMT
Thai girls can quickly wear thin in terms of novelty value. How can the novelty of having ping pong balls fitted out a fanny ever where of lol ? Believe me, it can become like Chinese water torture
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Thai wife
Feb 25, 2015 23:52:18 GMT
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Post by upthefud on Feb 25, 2015 23:52:18 GMT
Leaving the army after six years and moving out to Thailand (starting in Ko Phangan) in September. Hoping to find work as a diving instructor.
Really can't wait for it now!
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Post by tuum on Feb 26, 2015 3:08:20 GMT
Leaving the army after six years and moving out to Thailand (starting in Ko Phangan) in September. Hoping to find work as a diving instructor. Really can't wait for it now! Just be careful. The one piece of advice I would give is that if your funds start to run low then go back to the UK. Thailand can corrupt peoples values pretty quickly. The place is awash with foreigners on the bones of their arse who refuse to leave and end up scamming or"balloon chasing". I know two guys in Bkk who are essentially decent blokes but have chosen to stay here rather than go home. One is now a 'gofer' for a bunch of drug dealers. The other works in a 'boiler room' operation. The boiler room guy quit once because he realized it was a scummy way to earn money but he went back because he thought he needed the money.Neither of them drink in my local anymore because they know that what they do is not respected by most of the people who drink there. Their new drinking circle is people who are in the same game as themselves. It is the thin end of the wedge and not always easy to get yourself back on the straight and narrow.
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Thai wife
Feb 26, 2015 3:47:58 GMT
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Post by upthefud on Feb 26, 2015 3:47:58 GMT
Leaving the army after six years and moving out to Thailand (starting in Ko Phangan) in September. Hoping to find work as a diving instructor. Really can't wait for it now! Just be careful. The one piece of advice I would give is that if your funds start to run low then go back to the UK. Thailand can corrupt peoples values pretty quickly. The place is awash with foreigners on the bones of their arse who refuse to leave and end up scamming or"balloon chasing". I know two guys in Bkk who are essentially decent blokes but have chosen to stay here rather than go home. One is now a 'gofer' for a bunch of drug dealers. The other works in a 'boiler room' operation. The boiler room guy quit once because he realized it was a scummy way to earn money but he went back because he thought he needed the money.Neither of them drink in my local anymore because they know that what they do is not respected by most of the people who drink there. Their new drinking circle is people who are in the same game as themselves. It is the thin end of the wedge and not always easy to get yourself back on the straight and narrow. Yeah I know it's not gonna be easy, obviously I'm pretty nervous about it too. Theres four of us who are going out there and one who's done it before so that should help with finding our feet. Wanna do the whole travel experience for as long as possible. Been saving for a good year now so if I can find work to supplement it then I should be flying Did you find it easy moving out?
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Post by ************** on Feb 26, 2015 4:06:51 GMT
Tuum is giving you very good advice. After 2 years living on Koh Samui (very near ~ 15km from Ko Phangan) me and my Thai missus, along with another english lad and his Thai girl moved to Hua Hin. This was 12 months ago. As staggeringly beautiful as Samui is, in the end it simply became too claustrophobic. I was also struggling to find any work in my own field, relying on work from international customers. Basically, if you want to work in the tourist islands, you simply have to be doing something for the tourists or the farang that live there ~ and that is restrictive, but dive training may be cool. Getting work out of Thai's typically doesn't happen for foreigners unless its something specific or skilled. I can't speak for Ko Phangan but on Koh Samui I formed the clear impression that locals don't really enjoy farang living there year round, living low cost ~ Thai style ~ but they tolerate it. I felt that locals much prefer farang to come for a 3 week holiday and spend a fortune. So my suggestion is to keep your head down, and keep your business strictly to yourself (this applies equally to both Farang and Thai). Loose lips sinks ships and you may be surprised to hear stuff you've mentioned innocently in passing doing the rounds as something totally different. When Nam and I re-settled in the far busier and beautiful City of Hua Hin we set up a new business and got motoring quickly. But unfortunately, our good friend went down "the golfer" route as Tuum described. It's very sad, but i've had to drop him like a bad habit. Making a crust out there is not easy at all, but fly straight. Don't risk your liberty. Thai jails are notoriously tough and sentences can be very long if you fall foul of the law. Make sure the job you plan to do isn't taking food out of a Thai's mouth ~ there's a list of jobs that foreigners are forbidden from taking under Thai law. If you do plan on working then a regular tourist visa will not allow this either. Most farang business's that succeed on the islands generally give something free back to the local Thai community as well e.g. free dive lessons. You will bump into plenty of dodgy British/Aussie characters who are essentially potless and are looking to get into your wallet. Use your inner Stokie to detect bullshitters. It takes a few months to get into the tempo of the place, but when you first arrive keep your wits about you. Don't get involved in gangs or anything dodgy as 100 eyes are on you all the time - particularly on a small island. Avoid dealing with the Police at all times and don't be late or overstay with your visa timing. Don't get involved with Thai women who aren't introduced to you by people you trust ~ Thai bar girls will happily mislead you in order to get paid ~ you don't know who these women are involved with or married to. You need to protect your reputation as Thai's love to gossip about farang and learn about what you do. Most Thai families seem to have at least one brother in the Police ~ and they also like to know exactly what is going on. Oh, and the golden rule - never swear (e.g. if you're out on your bike in traffic and a local pulls out on you) or argue/fight with a Thai (male or female). If you do that then you totally risk taking a severe beating from up to 30 local youths. Thai's stick up for one another like brothers and sisters and they will come at you thick and fast from nowhere. You will be beaten to unconsciousness or worse in seconds. Avoid the Ladyboy areas (main bar and club roads) especially late at night. They can get right in your face but many of them know Muay Thai and will steal to feed their various habits. Try and stay under the radar, by that I don't mean hide ~ simply go about your business in a placid way. Getting drunk around the bars is OK for a holiday, but if you live within the community it's not really a great idea as most Thai's don't tend to get drunk in public and take a dim view of drunk farangs. Think very carefully about how you conduct yourself in public. You don't want to get your card marked in a small Island community.The other thing worth knowing is that Thai's will call the Police out over the smallest thing ~ best avoided, but if the Police do come out don't overreact ~ remain very calm, be polite and wait your turn to speak. If you end up at the Police Station ask for the Mediator or The Tourist Police as regular Police aren't obliged to speak English. Always wear a helmet when you're out on your bike and buy proper medical cover. BUPA is a good one to pick up on the island as it will be cheaper than buying in the UK. Bear in mind that almost all Thai's worship and love their King, so always tread carefully and sensitively around the subject of Thai Royalty and never ever insult or poke fun at the Thai Royal Family ~ their image, particularly The King's (in various facial expressions) is everywhere. Even dropping a banknote onto the floor (all notes carry the Kings image) or handling notes in a casual throwaway manner in a 7/11 can cause a bother in the wrong company. You'll see some people passing notes with a slightly bowed head using both hands. Thai's really appreciate that sort of gesture ~ it shows that you respect what is important to them. I hope that's not put you off, but living there is different from holidaying ~ forewarned is forearmed and Thai's do not tolerate idiots, drunks or criminals in their communities long term. Things can also go bad very quickly so be prepared to bail out at the drop of a hat if you need to. I know guys who now "sleep in the mountains" ~ it does happen. If your friends start misfiring, get away from them as you'll automatically become tarred with the same brush. Box clever and protect yourself at all times. Go crazy in Bangkok, but remember that on a small island many westerners have a lot of free time on their hands, beers flow and so the tendency to gossip about each other can be hard to resist for some. I'd say don't engage in idle chit-chat, especially with folks you are 100% with - your reputation is everything and you have to build up trust and respect within the farang and Thai community, it's not given freely. And as a Dive Master, you will have to be meticulous! The positive side is that you will be rewarded with some form of acceptance from the locals and be privileged to live part of your life in a wonderful and stunning island paradise. My daughter came over to Thailand in the summer and she travelled all over. She reckoned Ko Phangan was the highlight. It's a wonderful and very safe country to live in as long as you regulate your own behaviour..and that is essentially what Buddhism is all about. Keep smiling. Here's the link to the Consulate for your Visa. They are based in Hull. You'll probably be best off starting with a six month triple entry visa for £85.00. www.thaiconsul-uk.com
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2015 9:37:45 GMT
Just be careful. The one piece of advice I would give is that if your funds start to run low then go back to the UK. Thailand can corrupt peoples values pretty quickly. The place is awash with foreigners on the bones of their arse who refuse to leave and end up scamming or"balloon chasing". I know two guys in Bkk who are essentially decent blokes but have chosen to stay here rather than go home. One is now a 'gofer' for a bunch of drug dealers. The other works in a 'boiler room' operation. The boiler room guy quit once because he realized it was a scummy way to earn money but he went back because he thought he needed the money.Neither of them drink in my local anymore because they know that what they do is not respected by most of the people who drink there. Their new drinking circle is people who are in the same game as themselves. It is the thin end of the wedge and not always easy to get yourself back on the straight and narrow. Yeah I know it's not gonna be easy, obviously I'm pretty nervous about it too. Theres four of us who are going out there and one who's done it before so that should help with finding our feet. Wanna do the whole travel experience for as long as possible. Been saving for a good year now so if I can find work to supplement it then I should be flying Did you find it easy moving out? Carefull with the work bit mate, since the coup they are shit hot on farrangs working without permits, unless of course the diving school will get you a permit, best is to say nowt for a few weeks, weigh up the situation then, and then look at the costs of going legit.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2015 9:44:29 GMT
Tuum is giving you very good advice. After 2 years living on Koh Samui (very near to Ko Pangan) me and my Thai missus, along with another english lad and his Thai girl moved to Hua Hin. This was 12 months back. As beautiful as it is, in the end Samui just felt too claustrophobic and I was also struggling to find any work in my own field, relying on international customers. Basically, if you want to work in the tourist islands, you simply have to be doing something for the tourists or the farang that live there. Getting work out Thai's typically doesn't happen for foreigners unless its something super specific. I can't speak for Ko Phangan but on Samui I formed the clear impression that locals don't really enjoy farang living there year round, living low cost ~ Thai style ~ they tolerate it. I felt that locals prefer you to come for a 3 week holiday and spend a fortune. So keep your head down, and keep your business strictly to yourself (this applies equally to both Farang and Thai). Loose lips sinks ships and you may be surprised to hear stuff you've mentioned innocently in passing doing the rounds as something totally different. When we re-settled in the far busier City of Hua Hin the missus set up a new business and got motoring quickly. But unfortunately, our good friend went down "the golfer" route as Tuum described. It's very sad, but i've had to drop him like a bad habit. Making a crust out there is not easy at all, but fly straight. Don't risk your liberty. Thai jails are notoriously tough and sentences can be very long if you fall foul of the law. Make sure the job you plan to do isn't taking food out of a Thai's mouth ~ there's a list of jobs that foreigners are forbidden from taking under Thai law. If you do plan on working then a regular tourist visa will not allow this either. Most farang business's that succeed on the islands generally give something free back to the local Thai community as well e.g. free dive lessons. You will bump into plenty of dodgy British/Aussie characters who are essentially potless and are looking to get into your wallet. Use your inner Stokie to detect bullshitters. It takes a few months to get into the tempo of the place, but when you first arrive keep your wits about you. Don't get involved in gangs or anything dodgy as 100 eyes are on you all the time - particularly on a small island. Avoid dealing with the Police at all times and don't be late or overstay with your visa timing. Don't get involved with Thai women who aren't introduced to you by people you trust ~ Thai bar girls will happily mislead you in order to get paid ~ you don't know who these women are involved with or married to. You need to protect your reputation as Thai's love to gossip about farang and learn about what you do. Most Thai families seem to have at least one brother in the Police ~ and they also like to know exactly what is going on. Oh, and the golden rule - never swear (e.g. if you're out on your bike in traffic and a local pulls out on you) or argue/fight with a Thai (male or female). If you do that then you totally risk taking a severe beating from up to 30 local youths. Thai's stick up for one another like brothers and sisters and they will come at you thick and fast from nowhere. You will be beaten to unconsciousness or worse in seconds. Avoid the Ladyboy areas (main bar and club roads) especially late at night. They can get right in your face but many of them know Muay Thai and will steal to feed their various habits. Try and stay under the radar, by that I don't mean hide ~ simply go about your business in a placid way. Getting drunk around the bars is OK for a holiday, but if you live within the community it's not really a great idea as most Thai's don't tend to get drunk in public. Think very carefully about how you conduct yourself in public. You don't want to get your card marked.The other thing worth knowing is that Thai's will call the Police out over the smallest thing ~ best avoided, but if the Police do come out don't overreact ~ remain very calm, be polite and wait your turn to speak. If you end up at the Police Station ask for the Mediator or The Tourist Police as regular Police aren't obliged to speak English. Always wear a helmet when you're out on your bike and buy proper medical cover. BUPA is a good one to pick up on the island as it will be cheaper than buying in the UK. Bear in mind that almost all Thai's worship and love their King, so always tread carefully around this subject and never insult or poke fun at the Thai Royal Family ~ their image, particularly The King's (in various facial expressions) is everywhere. Even dropping a banknote onto the floor (all notes carry the Kings image) or handling notes in a casual throwaway manner in a 7/11 can cause a bother in the wrong company. You'll see some people passing notes with a slightly bowed head using both hands. Thai's really appreciate that sort of gesture ~ it shows that you respect what is important to them. I hope that's not put you off, but living there is different from holidaying ~ forewarned is forearmed and Thai's do not tolerate idiots, drunks or criminals in their communities long term. Things can also go bad very quickly so be prepared to bail out at the drop of a hat if you need to. I know guys who now "sleep in the mountains" ~ it does happen. If your friends start misfiring, get away from them as you'll automatically become tarred with the same brush. Box clever and protect yourself at all times. Go crazy in Bangkok, but remember that on a small island many westerners have a lot of free time on their hands and so the tendency to gossip about each other can be hard to resist for some. Your reputation is everything and you have to build up trust and respect within the farang and Thai community, it's not given freely. The positive side is that you will be rewarded with some form of acceptance from the locals and be privileged to live part of your life in a wonderful and stunning island paradise. My daughter came over to Thailand in the summer and she travelled all over. She reckoned Ko Pangan was the highlight. It's a wonderful and very safe country to live in as long as you regulate your own behaviour..and that is essentially what Buddhism is all about. Keep smiling. Here's the link to the Consulate for your Visa. They are based in Hull. You'll probably be best off starting with a six month triple entry visa for £85.00. www.thaiconsul-uk.comEverything ************** & Tuum have told you is 100% correct, and if you follow these tips you should be ok, if you end up in Pattaya drop me a PM and we can meet for a few beers and watch some games, incidentally there are a few good dive schools in Pattaya, and as ************** said, it is far easier to blend in here than the small village of Koh Samui, my ethos in life, especially here, is keep your head below the parapet and no one will take a shot at you, stand up and make a fuss, then prepare for the worse. Other than that it is an amazing place to live in many ways.
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Post by ************** on Feb 26, 2015 10:03:20 GMT
Tuum is giving you very good advice. After 2 years living on Koh Samui (very near to Ko Pangan) me and my Thai missus, along with another english lad and his Thai girl moved to Hua Hin. This was 12 months back. As beautiful as it is, in the end Samui just felt too claustrophobic and I was also struggling to find any work in my own field, relying on international customers. Basically, if you want to work in the tourist islands, you simply have to be doing something for the tourists or the farang that live there. Getting work out Thai's typically doesn't happen for foreigners unless its something super specific. I can't speak for Ko Phangan but on Samui I formed the clear impression that locals don't really enjoy farang living there year round, living low cost ~ Thai style ~ they tolerate it. I felt that locals prefer you to come for a 3 week holiday and spend a fortune. So keep your head down, and keep your business strictly to yourself (this applies equally to both Farang and Thai). Loose lips sinks ships and you may be surprised to hear stuff you've mentioned innocently in passing doing the rounds as something totally different. When we re-settled in the far busier City of Hua Hin the missus set up a new business and got motoring quickly. But unfortunately, our good friend went down "the golfer" route as Tuum described. It's very sad, but i've had to drop him like a bad habit. Making a crust out there is not easy at all, but fly straight. Don't risk your liberty. Thai jails are notoriously tough and sentences can be very long if you fall foul of the law. Make sure the job you plan to do isn't taking food out of a Thai's mouth ~ there's a list of jobs that foreigners are forbidden from taking under Thai law. If you do plan on working then a regular tourist visa will not allow this either. Most farang business's that succeed on the islands generally give something free back to the local Thai community as well e.g. free dive lessons. You will bump into plenty of dodgy British/Aussie characters who are essentially potless and are looking to get into your wallet. Use your inner Stokie to detect bullshitters. It takes a few months to get into the tempo of the place, but when you first arrive keep your wits about you. Don't get involved in gangs or anything dodgy as 100 eyes are on you all the time - particularly on a small island. Avoid dealing with the Police at all times and don't be late or overstay with your visa timing. Don't get involved with Thai women who aren't introduced to you by people you trust ~ Thai bar girls will happily mislead you in order to get paid ~ you don't know who these women are involved with or married to. You need to protect your reputation as Thai's love to gossip about farang and learn about what you do. Most Thai families seem to have at least one brother in the Police ~ and they also like to know exactly what is going on. Oh, and the golden rule - never swear (e.g. if you're out on your bike in traffic and a local pulls out on you) or argue/fight with a Thai (male or female). If you do that then you totally risk taking a severe beating from up to 30 local youths. Thai's stick up for one another like brothers and sisters and they will come at you thick and fast from nowhere. You will be beaten to unconsciousness or worse in seconds. Avoid the Ladyboy areas (main bar and club roads) especially late at night. They can get right in your face but many of them know Muay Thai and will steal to feed their various habits. Try and stay under the radar, by that I don't mean hide ~ simply go about your business in a placid way. Getting drunk around the bars is OK for a holiday, but if you live within the community it's not really a great idea as most Thai's don't tend to get drunk in public. Think very carefully about how you conduct yourself in public. You don't want to get your card marked.The other thing worth knowing is that Thai's will call the Police out over the smallest thing ~ best avoided, but if the Police do come out don't overreact ~ remain very calm, be polite and wait your turn to speak. If you end up at the Police Station ask for the Mediator or The Tourist Police as regular Police aren't obliged to speak English. Always wear a helmet when you're out on your bike and buy proper medical cover. BUPA is a good one to pick up on the island as it will be cheaper than buying in the UK. Bear in mind that almost all Thai's worship and love their King, so always tread carefully around this subject and never insult or poke fun at the Thai Royal Family ~ their image, particularly The King's (in various facial expressions) is everywhere. Even dropping a banknote onto the floor (all notes carry the Kings image) or handling notes in a casual throwaway manner in a 7/11 can cause a bother in the wrong company. You'll see some people passing notes with a slightly bowed head using both hands. Thai's really appreciate that sort of gesture ~ it shows that you respect what is important to them. I hope that's not put you off, but living there is different from holidaying ~ forewarned is forearmed and Thai's do not tolerate idiots, drunks or criminals in their communities long term. Things can also go bad very quickly so be prepared to bail out at the drop of a hat if you need to. I know guys who now "sleep in the mountains" ~ it does happen. If your friends start misfiring, get away from them as you'll automatically become tarred with the same brush. Box clever and protect yourself at all times. Go crazy in Bangkok, but remember that on a small island many westerners have a lot of free time on their hands and so the tendency to gossip about each other can be hard to resist for some. Your reputation is everything and you have to build up trust and respect within the farang and Thai community, it's not given freely. The positive side is that you will be rewarded with some form of acceptance from the locals and be privileged to live part of your life in a wonderful and stunning island paradise. My daughter came over to Thailand in the summer and she travelled all over. She reckoned Ko Pangan was the highlight. It's a wonderful and very safe country to live in as long as you regulate your own behaviour..and that is essentially what Buddhism is all about. Keep smiling. Here's the link to the Consulate for your Visa. They are based in Hull. You'll probably be best off starting with a six month triple entry visa for £85.00. www.thaiconsul-uk.comEverything ************** & Tuum have told you is 100% correct, and if you follow these tips you should be ok, if you end up in Pattaya drop me a PM and we can meet for a few beers and watch some games, incidentally there are a few good dive schools in Pattaya, and as ************** said, it is far easier to blend in here than the small village of Koh Samui, my ethos in life, especially here, is keep your head below the parapet and no one will take a shot at you, stand up and make a fuss, then prepare for the worse. Other than that it is an amazing place to live in many ways. If you are serious about working i'd definitely take Shangs advice regarding a work visa, and i'd also take a look at Pattaya. Earning a living in Thai is a great trick if you can actually make it work and everyone falls in love with the idea of working and living on the islands, but the reality is they are relatively small communities. Pattaya, Hua Hin and of course Bangkok open up the chances of an income dramatically. And the same goes for me with beers if you drop into Hua Hin en route to the islands. You can get the train from BKK to Hua Hin as well, and then onto Surat Thani where you catch the ferry on to Ko Phangan.
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Post by tuum on Feb 26, 2015 14:08:54 GMT
There seems to be no middle age for them. They look either 20 years old or 120. The change seems to happen overnight as ive never seen anyone who looks 40. They ripen like a pear....in the words of Karl Pilkington. Rock hard and raw for ages, then ripen overnight for a day, then to mush almost immediately.
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Thai wife
Feb 26, 2015 15:08:14 GMT
via mobile
Post by upthefud on Feb 26, 2015 15:08:14 GMT
Wow, that's a lot to take in! Cheers for the advice guys.
I'll let you know how I get on on this thread. My outbound flight is the 29th of Sept so I'll be able to let you know more about what's going on closer to the time
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Post by ************** on Feb 26, 2015 15:44:30 GMT
Stay in touch fud!
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Post by naurdicus on Feb 28, 2015 23:40:40 GMT
**************'s advice is sound. And can really be applied in a general sense to any foreign culture you steep yourself in. Before I moved to Hua Hin (not living there now), I spent hours on the forums at Thaivisa.com just to get a feel for the place before arriving. If you want to find trouble it certainly exists in Thailand. The more informed and less naive you are upon arrival the better. And if you want to find good things that is possible too, of course.
I lived in Hanoi for a couple of years before moving to Thailand. By comparison, I found Thailand to be much more westernized. I loved and hated them both for different reasons. But I love the variety! Those cultures are so different to ours.
Another option to consider if moving to Thailand in search of work is to bring a job with you. I worked as a (hack) writer the entire time I was there. All online. I had never wrote before for money. Granted I was a learner and didn't save much but I was able to take care of myself with room to travel around the region for play on occasion.
One thing someone told me was hugely helpful. Remember, you will see things and make judgements based on your own cultural identity while traveling. But as much as possible, it is important that you also strive to view their world through their lens.
Go and use thy head.
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Post by ************** on Mar 1, 2015 0:08:58 GMT
**************'s advice is sound. And can really be applied in a general sense to any foreign culture you steep yourself in. Before I moved to Hua Hin (not living there now), I spent hours on the forums at Thaivisa.com just to get a feel for the place before arriving. If you want to find trouble it certainly exists in Thailand. The more informed and less naive you are upon arrival the better. And if you want to find good things that is possible too, of course. I lived in Hanoi for a couple of years before moving to Thailand. By comparison, I found Thailand to be much more westernized. I loved and hated them both for different reasons. But I love the variety! Those cultures are so different to ours. Another option to consider if moving to Thailand in search of work is to bring a job with you. I worked as a (hack) writer the entire time I was there. All online. I had never wrote before for money. Granted I was a learner and didn't save much but I was able to take care of myself with room to travel around the region for play on occasion. One thing someone told me was hugely helpful. Remember, you will see things and make judgements based on your own cultural identity while traveling. But as much as possible, it is important that you also strive to view their world through their lens.
Go and use thy head. That's the thing, right there.
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