Chronic dissatisfaction in contrast with simply surviving
We are back home. Bewilderment, shame, mental poverty and chronic dissatisfaction befell me in the first week after my arrival from Thailand. What a sadness in my motherland.
I saw the NOS-Journaal after five months of BBC World and the blush of shame rose to my jaws. Bankers earn too much, while this was previously approved by our incapable MPs and ministers. Opening Journal. So a non-opening. But it got much worse. The low point of the PVDA, in the person of our national garden gnome, Diederik, visited our old people with a dustpan and a chamois at the ready. So think of my dear mother of 94, that target group. Samson, who through his own measures, together with the VVD, first raised the old people to the begging position, is going to play nicely with a duster again.
Second NOS-Journal item, this kamikaze action by our National Wind was portrayed uncritically. Dear friends, what are you still doing here? Is there no one left on this stamp that takes itself too seriously who still dares to face a tough confrontation? I am deeply ashamed of my fellow journalists, as they still dare to call themselves, who go through the dust for politicians who behave like true charlatans. Add to that the chronic dissatisfaction of the people around, and the picture is complete. My partner is a dick, my boss a loser, I don't earn enough, I don't have to see my family anymore and my best friends are also dying of jealousy and envy. Those were the themes that came to me in different places in seven days. Can't see a positive story.
"How are you doing, Tony?" “Nice to be home again?”
You know dear people, how stark is the contrast with Thailand and the discontent in our own country. The ordinary Thai has only one mission: how do I survive? How can I, sometimes seven days a week, feed my family, provide clothes, take care of the high school fees, pay my rent, energy and keep riding my motorbike. Leave the rich Thai there.
"Thailand is getting more expensive, isn't it?"
The fall of the euro has caused panic among the Dutch living in Thailand. Panic? The first day I was back in the Netherlands I spent 100 euros on simple groceries. An amount with which I can live abroad in Thailand like a Western monarch. Again: we, from that wealthy west, are falling apart from chronic dissatisfaction.
Yes, that's how we are. Always wanting better if possible. Never satisfied.
Hard work has made us big and rich.
Not quite right, because this chronic dissatisfaction is also here among the “expats”…. you don't even need to hear or understand what they say for that. Just watch the gestures. Look at the facial expressions. Recently I saw a scene that is characteristic of the way many Farangs present themselves. Two men were waiting for a bus. One gesticulating violently with his finger piercing the air. Serious talk. You rarely or never see this kind of sign language with a Thai on the street.
I agree that many Thais, despite their poverty, have a better mood than many Dutch people... but they certainly don't have any less worries. Maybe it seems that way to us.
Yes, and speaking of prices… I'm also going to the Netherlands soon, I've been looking for a cheap place to stay. The cheapest is a campsite (we have no transport), where you still pay 60 Euro per night. There is no such thing as a cheap hotel where you can spend the night for 20 or a maximum of 30 Euro. Here in Thailand you can easily find accommodation for 900 Baht with breakfast for two people.
Those who complain about the prices in Thailand should go to the Netherlands as a tourist. To any country in Europe (except Turkey and Greece I believe)…. and your money is slipping through your fingers like sand.
Chronic dissatisfaction? not being able to spend a day on the beach, traffic lights at a crossing that don't work, the euro that is becoming less and less valuable…. "Old farts", that's what they are !! Probably had a job in the past where you had the morning off, and you didn't have to come in the afternoon ……, but you had to be home on Saturday, because then the wages were brought ..!!.
Don't talk but brush, those were the Dutch, weren't they?
Fare you well.!
carl.
Beautifully written…..there are so many…
Indeed people if you have to live again in the Netherlands, Belgium and all the surrounding countries, you will either have good cash and have built up a sufficient reserve. Do you have property there, that is already a step forward, but do not forget which taxes and charges must be borne there. In short, if you are no longer going to work together, you have to watch out. On the other hand, it is indeed a lot better in Thailand, even more so Cambodia is also in explosion, as you have already read here on Thailand blog, new roads are being built, etc., and tourism is also starting to pick up there. But again as far as Thailand is concerned, the military intervention has been lifted, but what they all protrude, such as no more chairs or sun loungers on the beaches, does not please the tourists at all, moreover, they lift far too many taxes on everything and anything. Now you can no longer buy alcoholic beverages in Makro and Villa Market until 17 pm, what kind of stupid intervention is that ??? The VAT on it is constantly increasing, if you want to buy a slightly better wine you quickly pay double what you pay in our countries. On the other hand, the taxes in Vietnam and Cambodia are much lower. Do they want the expats out or what? Only then will their economy collapse. Let's hope they see all this in time.
Well, well, those are very important topics that are being discussed. Those beach chairs, beer and wine.
Is it so bad to complain about that, uh sorry to be dissatisfied with that. 🙁
Cheap accommodation can be found near Ypenburg station.
5 minutes by bike. Nicely decorated. Best luxury. Not big but everything is there.
If you are interested
[email protected]
Thanks Henk, I will definitely look into that!! Sorry that I waited so long with my response (reacting to each other is not allowed by the editors)…
In that sense, I have a little less to grumble about the Netherlands and maybe it's not that expensive there after all.
Incidentally, I am fortunate to have very dear friends from long ago who offered us shelter. That saves costs and is a lot more fun.
Dear Jack,
Now assume that people are complaining and I think most of them are right to complain.
Worked for years, paid/deducted all premiums and levies from A to Z.
When you finally think you can enjoy your well-deserved retirement, you will be informed that you will receive less of this, that the percentage of that to be paid will increase, so that you will have 1-2-3-4-5 years longer. must work with all the consequences that entails.
When these people finally think they can enjoy all those buckets of premiums they've paid all these years, TO BE TELLED THAT THEY ARE THINKING WRONG.
Depending on the occupational group in which one has worked, there are various occupations where one really cannot work for a year after the age of 65.
Just think about the construction industry and which branches of the construction industry will not be affected.
And yes, everyone knows when they go to the Netherlands that there is a difference in prices.
You don't have to say, but that doesn't mean you have to compare this with Thailand.
Apples to apples and pears to pears.
Tourists make the mistake of saying: "Gosh, it costs so much in the Netherlands..."
Logical, so did we and found it all heavenly.
Every Ali who enters the Netherlands gets bags of money and yes, this has been paid for by those same people, who now suddenly have to work a few years longer.
So in my opinion, complaints from a lot of Dutch people are completely justified, with one exception.
Just think about it if you think you will retire next year October 98 and you will be told that you have to continue for a while.
And with this Dutch government, who don't even know how much 5 plus 5 is and think they have the ear of the world!!
This trend has started with the arrival of the euro and we can all hope that someone finally stands up and dares to open his mouth.
It's just very dangerous for your health.
LOUISE
Louise, I see people complaining about the increase in prices in Thailand… the wine gets an extra tax and that's why the expats will soon go to Cambodia… to put it simply.
People complain about beach chairs… outrageous…
Cheese, butter and I would almost say eggs… are more expensive than in the Netherlands. How strange! Imported products are more expensive. How is it possible.
This is only the financial side. People here complain bitterly about the way of driving in Thailand and everyone knows a solution (including me).
People complain about the poor quality of many products, about the handyman who builds your new kitchen. People complain about the police… To be honest, I don't know what isn't complained about. The famous Thai smile has become a grimace… people are cheating, women just exploit and men look down on us.
But I understand very well that it is difficult for some people. When you come to Thailand as an economic refugee, hoping to have a better life and then see your income drop by 20% in a short time while prices rise, you are right to be concerned.
However, and that's what I meant about complaining about the prices here…life doesn't have to be expensive here. I don't need expensive wine or beer.
What Ruud says and about which you hardly hear anyone complain about: to cover only the basic costs in the Netherlands, you have to pay a lot more than in Thailand. Do you have your own house in Thailand or the Netherlands… well then you can see the difference. Rental value flat rate? Fortunately, they don't know that here. Real estate tax? Many times lower than in the Netherlands, if you have to pay it at all. Road tax? Car insurance? Petrol? Car maintenance? Change tires? Key service? Home delivery? Sewer rights? Collecting waste? Dumping dirt? Internet? TV and radio fees? Well, I can say with certainty that these costs in the Netherlands are four to five times or even more.
There are a few things more expensive, import goods such as cheese, wine, strong alcoholic drinks and vehicles for example. But those are luxury goods.
The basics of life are many times cheaper here than in the Netherlands. That is not looked at so quickly.
If you start complaining about the prices in Thailand, because pickled herring has become so expensive and you can't put chocolate sprinkles on your bread every day… then you're in the wrong country.
But if you can no longer cover even your basic needs in Thailand… well, complaining doesn't help, but then it might be time to go back to the motherland. Because then you still have a chance for support and government funds….
What Sjaak writes here is a truth like a cow. It is a certain category of people who, out of ignorance, or just stupidity or just complaining for the sake of complaining, stand at the Wailing Wall and even cite things that are completely beyond dispute. Who don't even have a clue about the prices in the Netherlands / Belgium and Thailand. Like many Blog Readers, I am sick and tired of the “economic refugees” complaining… and, yes, there are many responses to these complainers. What I can say clearly: if you can't make it here in Thailand, because after all, you either want to live beyond your means and can't leave behind old customs from the homeland, or don't have the means to keep your promises to “tie rakske ” try it again in the Netherlands / Belgium, then you will quickly notice the difference and have reason to complain.
lung addie
@Sjaak S, very well noted and I completely agree. If you live like an ordinary working Thai does, there is nothing to worry about. We, our family of 3 adults, including 1 boy studying, live on approx. between Euro 500 and 700 per month. We pay everything plus car and 2 motor cycles, 2 air-cons, internet and what else. Eating out once a month. My 1-year-old sister in the Netherlands has already spent Euro 75 per month on house rent. Try renting a room in the Netherlands, also 500 or 400 Euros per month. My daughter rented a room of 500×6 mtr with private bathroom and toilet and cooking facilities new construction, for Baht 4- in Chonburi. Free parking space, free water, free cable TV but pay for electricity use. Compare with the Netherlands. So all that complaining about Thailand I shrug my shoulders.
The difference between the Netherlands and Thailand is that you have to spend a lot of money in the Netherlands just to be there.
Then you haven't spent a dime to live on.
In the villages in Isan, there is a lot of land owned by the government and poor villagers can use it to build shelter.
Some houses also belong to the government and are provided free of charge to poor elderly people.
The care, while not great, is also free for the poor.
(And for me apparently at the village doctor's office. Don't ask me why, because I don't know.)
So you can survive there with very little money.
If you live in the Netherlands you start with all kinds of taxes, an unaffordable high rent and health insurance with huge deductibles.
Only then can you begin to think about where to get something to eat.
The first point you touch on, the ignorance of journalists, well. Apparently one has to score as much as possible as quickly as possible. Newspapers, but also radio and TV (news and current affairs programmes) that release articles into the world with few or no checks. I see too little critical, solid pieces based on investigative journalism. For example, a personal annoyance of mine is the nonsense about migration and integration figures that NOS, VK, RTL, Trouw, Televaag, etc. have been distributing for years: wrong figures due to not understanding the legislation, terms or statistics. Think of not knowing the difference between total number of applications, 1st applications, repeated applications, granting residence. Think of confusion around concepts of country of birth, origin group and (1st, 2nd, both generation) immigrant/native etc. The result has been a lot of nonsense on the front page and on the tube for years.
Other than that I have little to grumble and I don't hear much grumbling around me because of the well-known "what's the weather k**" after. In my opinion, grumbling is equally common among Dutch people in NL and Thailand (tourists, migrants, expats). As you write, we actually have it damned well in the Netherlands, few have to be concerned with survival. It is true that prices in the Netherlands for services such as hotels are disappointing. Then don't or hardly go on holiday if that is not easy for 40-50 euros per night. Good reason to enjoy the prices in Thailand. In the Netherlands I get my pleasure from other things such as often good service (in stores), online shopping, assortment in stores, etc. I enjoy my stay in the Netherlands and Thailand so don't let me drive you crazy. Being sour doesn't solve much, so seize the day, smile and enjoy.
“Enjoy both countries and you are a king”
Gaaaaaap……
where are we? (looking around me with blinking eyes against the bright sunlight), oh…. in thailand!! oh my god, what luck...
good morning everyone, have a good day…..
see you tomorrow then, and goodnight for later…!
Completely agree with Rob V's last 2 sentences. I think that many thailand bloggers also think the same way.
By the way, it seems like there are more “complainers about complaining Dutch/Belgians” than there are “complaining Dutch/Belgians” 😉
The Netherlands is a country in serious decline, not only economically, but above all morally. Everything that once made this tiny country great has been demolished and the few remaining ruins of prosperity are currently being hammered down. There is little left to cheer for. The Hague and European statistics should keep us going. This is how we remain the happiest and most prosperous people in the world. Happiness and prosperity for an increasingly smaller elite group, but yes, it remains happiness and prosperity!
Severe decay is everywhere, is a global problem. But perhaps developed and richer countries have much more to lose. In the long term, I think you are better off in Thailand, Thailand is not yet too developed and can easily take a different path. Can easily switch to self-sufficiency, a transit economy.
Statistics are folk deceit, are used to make us believe that things are going well, see also mainstream media.
Well panic is a bit exaggerated as far as the euro is concerned. It is not only the Dutch who complain about the low euro. Do you hear the Germans, French, Belgians, they complain even louder than the Netherlands. By the way, everyone who has the euro as an income. Now 100 Euro in Thailand is only 3400.bath worth it. Well, you can also lose that here if you get your food in the supers. Just did some shopping and believe me, I lost more than 100 euros and what good was my shopping? Thailand is expensive Have become friends who are here on holiday wanted to see the Walking Street. Ordered 4 beers, 600 bath. Later sit on a terrace and the same. Very many shops. Cafe, bars, etc. are for sale, because the owners no longer saved with the low number of people who visited the business. We are really not curmudgeon lickers, but see, and clearly notice that things are rapidly deteriorating in Pattaya. Often poor service and unfriendly operation. Even compared the prices in the advertising magazines of supers in the Netherlands. Well, for the 100 euros quoted by the writer, you can buy much, much more groceries in the Netherlands than in Thailand. By the way, everything has become at least 20% more expensive here. Yes, if you only eat Thai food, it is of course something else.
H van Hoorn,
This is closely really uninhibited complaining what you do. I haven't been to the Netherlands for over 7 years, but I do remember that in some places in Amersfoort I paid 4.50 euros for a glass of beer.
Comparing the price of your groceries here with the magazines in the Netherlands is also nonsense. If you want to buy foreign (Dutch) here, you pay the transport costs from the Netherlands to here.
When my wife lived in the Netherlands, she paid 8.00 euros for a simple somtam in a Thai restaurant. But yes that was foreign (outlandish) food there.
I eat Thai here every afternoon and it costs me 40 baht with free water. Go eat out in the Netherlands. I read this week that you even have to pay 50 euro cents for warming up a baby bottle in a restaurant.
It depends on what your needs are in terms of food. Of course, buying Western food in supermarkets is more expensive due to the import of the articles. Yes, we look at the advertising magazines from the Netherlands. We almost always cook ourselves to keep a little structure in our lives. 4,50 for a beer in the Netherlands? You don't even pay that in the longe of Seraton or Hilton. You don't even pay 4,50 for a beer on a terrace in Amsterdam. We also go out for dinner with our friends, and sit very cozy, but we can certainly see that it has become more expensive. I also cannot remember that under the menu once stated that extra percentages are charged (apparently a kind of VAT.) That was usually included in the tip. That does not stop us, but it is striking. Seen on the beach road wall? Often only Russians and Thai, but now they are more nationalities. A lot of people sit there with drinks, which have been bought at, among others, seven eleven. Given how many terraces there are almost extinct due to the prices that people have started to disappoint. Given that the bars in the evening are often only populated with barlady, s. A beer costs almost 2 and half euros without counting. Not to mention a mix, 160-180 bath is now more than 4 euros. And let's be honest are, that is really a lot for Thailand. Even in decent restaurants you pay very quickly 1200 bath otw 34 euros for a dinner, outside the drinks you take, and that falls for people, who, for example, only have their vacation spend a lot of money in Pattaya, really a lot of money. But for Western goods in the Supers, the prices are often much too expensive, due to imports, compared to other countries, where Western goods are also sold. But, OK, if you would like to If you eat Thai food for a day, you have indeed lost nothing. And of course a free glass of water.
Very well written and totally agree.
Go and drink a beer in Belgium, in Knokke on the dike, you will soon know how much a 25cl and not a 33cl as here will cost you. You want to live in a "paradise" but apparently don't pay for it. You want to buy foreign products but don't want to pay for the import and long-distance transport. Also ask me in which supermarket in Thailand you will shop. When I went shopping in Belgium with 100 Euros, I saw the bottom of my shopping cart at the checkout…. here in Thailand I don't see that bottom for the same money.
The fact that there are many shops, bars, etc. for sale is quite simply because there are too many. I live here in the countryside, the shops should certainly not live off the turnover made by Farangs because then they only have one customer: lung addie…. At first there was one shop here, which was doing well…. then came a second, and a third…. result: after six months, two had already closed: there were simply too many. Before you draw a conclusion, think first and analyze, you will come to different conclusions.
lung addie
Just calling Belgium Belgikistan says enough for us. You forget that the euro in the EU countries still has a euro value. That is no longer the case in Thailand. Why do you think that there were 25% fewer tourists to Thailand last year? have gone? They also see in the EU countries, including the Netherlands, how this currency value has fallen. On Thai TV, the blame for the decline in tourism is attributed to the riots that have been. Oh come on. Everyone knows that a tourist was not bothered by that at all. Well, that doesn't matter much to the male people who go to Thailand for their "reverse". Read that now many more Dutch and several Europeans now only go on vacation in the EU. Also that the supers don't rely on the farangs? No? then go shopping in Big C, Frindship, etc., almost only Farangs. Of course also Thai, but they are usually accompanied by their ""farang""Or Thais who do not have a low income. We also go out. Do we ever come in a bar with only "companion ladies" We also find Boystown very cozy. And are happy to pay the price that is asked for food and drinks. We have come into conversation with both the girls and boys, who have to earn their money in a way that originated from poverty. What made us very angry is that the boys and girls are only allowed to drink alcohol if a farang offers it. That yields the most for their boss, they themselves receive 20 bath for the drink offered. of about 200 Bath per long working day, evening. People breed alcoholics and it is known that they use drugs and alcohol to live that life. And to keep it up. Also something that we are concerned with from a human point of view and compassion. people don't take a bottle of limo? We're puking from the whole thing. by exploiting people who don't like to be in that life at all, but pure poverty and maintaining family. Can you just get a job? Where?
Moderator: please don't just reply to each other.
Good morning H.
Uuh, 100 euros of groceries in the Netherlands is just a small layer in your cart.
I have never been price conscious in the Netherlands, much more so here.
And yes, if you buy imports, you pay import prices.
Eg I love cumin cheese and we buy it at Friendship for a ridiculous price, but that's a choice you make.
100 euros, now currently over 3400 baht.
We pay more for a whole cumin cheese, but again, a free choice.
If you spend this in a supermarket here, then your cart is quite full.
If you remove the imported products from this, quite a bit is left over from that 100 euros.
Of course everything has become more expensive, I do not want to deny that, only apples with ……etc ..
We are also hoping that the euro will bring in some more baht, but with this government??
LOUISE
Found on http://www.daskapital.nl Investigation 20-01-2014
Though impoverished and needy, our elders are gravely content with their lives. This is evident from the annual satisfaction survey conducted by Statistics Netherlands. The statisticians ask the Dutch how satisfied they are with their lives in general and the life aspects of finances, home, living environment, work, leisure time and personal relationships in particular. In 2012, an average of 85% of the Dutch population was satisfied with life in general. But that does not mean that the 85% gave a plus with all aspects of life. For example, 'only' 70% of the Dutch are satisfied with their financial situation. So interesting are the people who are satisfied with everything. That is only 44% of the Dutch. But if we break down those respondents by age group, we see the unmistakable happy heads: the 65+. Almost 60% of them are satisfied with all aspects of life. There will probably be a psychological factor – the elderly may be satisfied with less and, like the less educated, they are very satisfied with the amount of free time – but money also counts. That 60% means that at least a large majority of the elderly are (very) satisfied with their finances and their home. That is not surprising, because about 40% of the elderly have a capital of 200K or more, often due to home ownership. Poor slobbers.
There they are again, the well-known statistics from CBS this time. Many people still think that all those studies are objective. This fable has already been suppressed by de Volkskrant. In December 2001, the Volkskrant reported that the Kok cabinet had been conducting 'secret polls' on difficult dossiers for years. The results of this were not made public, but (apparently) used by the cabinet to adjust policy if necessary or to present it differently. After all, knowledge is power. It is also possible that a number of years ago you could conclude from studies initiated by our administrators in The Hague that the Dutch were less productive in terms of labor compared to neighboring countries, we had too many days off and would retire too early. A week later, Eurostat, the research agency of the EU, published a study showing that neighboring countries have many more days off and retire even earlier! When asked about this striking cover, everyone in The Hague fell silent!
Apparently many people don't want to understand that studies serve a specific purpose, which is to support policy and influence opinions. In short: Throw sand in the eyes!
To support the current government's policy on the elderly, research has indeed shown that many elderly people are “rich”. In other words: Don't complain that the state pensioners are being tackled harder and pensions have to be cut. Annoying, however, is that that alleged wealth is indeed often in stones that one cannot do anything with. That wealth is nice for Father State, because in most cases he reaps more than 25% of that wealth upon death. Here too, the Netherlands is once again an outlier in Europe with the third highest inheritance tax. Gosh, how happy those old people are! Would they also include those tens of thousands of elderly people who are neglected in nursing homes in this kind of research?
Thailand is not a price paradise. Certainly not for someone who goes shopping in the supermarket and cooks at home. An egg at the 7-eleven comes to 7 Baht, 20 euro cents. A banana is the same price. That is about the same level as in the Netherlands. It only becomes cheap because of the low wages, so if you have the raw materials processed. The food in a not too prestigious restaurant is hardly more expensive than the ingredients. The costs of 'ordinary' life are disappointing, those of 'luxury' life are not too bad.
At 'top locations', the - mostly foreign - operators try to maximize profit. That happens all over the world and of course you don't have to participate in that, and certainly not every day.
We are satisfied in Thailand and will only have short holidays, not only to see family with Skype, but also in "real life" Now we have been in Thailand for 12 years, and that a lot has changed is of course normal. certainly also in the Netherlands. And cooking at home also gives a regularity in life. Also shopping. We also like to spend money, because as you know, there are no pockets in your last shirt. We are not part of a farang club of Dutch people , but rather with people who just arrive, for example from Europe. And with expats who have also been staying here for a long time. We are really not on the money and pay the price that is asked for goods. But that is why we are allowed to do have the complaint that the prices are often absurdly high. which no longer have anything to do with imports, and those prices have gotten out of hand. If the employees benefited from that now, but that is not the case. They work for a very low wages and are exploited, including with far too long working hours. And far too short days off or vacation. We buy what we want to eat, but are shocked by the prices. Also the firing of Thai employees to hire even cheaper workers. For example, Cambodians or from Burma, bothers us, because we have experienced this in our area. Crying Thai people who supported their families from their meager wages and were on the street from one day to the next. You don't have to be blind and deaf, do you? to be if you spend your life here, for the Thais, as a so-called "rich farang". We are well off in Thailand, but we also had that in the Netherlands. We also often reason about the poverty that has hit the Netherlands , but always, for example, a benefit, although it is sometimes much too low. Also the loneliness, poverty and poor care, especially among the older seniors. But we are gradually discovering that we care much too much about the very poor circumstances in which many Thais have to live. Is it possible after 12 years? We don't live away from the obvious. The social conditions in which many Thais have to live are appalling. And the farangs who only see Thailand as living like God in France. With e.g. food for 40 baht and a free glass of water. We often talk about leaving Thailand anyway and going to Spain. People tell us, Oh, Spain is so expensive. But that doesn't bother us. not such a nice life that many Thais have because of poverty. And we can hardly live with that anymore. Is it because of the many years we spend here? We no longer want to see people have to empty the garbage cans to get on with their daily having to come for a living. Also no longer how foreigners see Thai people as less than “them”. Many Russians have the habit of that.
Well Ton, first of all the compliments to your mother, she still looks great at the age of 94. So you don't have to be ashamed of that, you can only clench your hands for it. Few people in Thailand live to this age, let alone look this good! Your biggest annoyance after returning to the Netherlands seems to be the NOS news, after 5 months of BBC world. Yes, in the Netherlands many people are concerned about the culture of grabbing money among bankers, but that is no reason for you to let the blush of shame rise to your cheeks, is it? You call Samson a garden gnome, you may or may not agree with someone's political views, but that doesn't mean you have to give such a degenerate description of someone, do you? Respect, especially for someone with whose views you do not agree, is a virtue. And I think you are exaggerating a little in your statement that your mother has been reduced to a penury; if you had talked about the elderly in Thailand receiving a pension of 500 Bath per month, I would have agreed with you! You say that after returning to the Netherlands you have not been able to observe a single positive story to continue with: "How are things going Ton, nice to be back home?" Well, if you're g*cking around at home like you do on this blog, your environment may not like it at all that you're back home. Incidentally, disagreements occur in the best families, but that is certainly not only in the Netherlands. How about Thailand where I don't know how many women are on their own with regard to the costs and upbringing of their children and whose father left with the northern sun and the concept of alimony does not occur. Ton, countries, peoples and cultures cannot be compared with each other, but for your own peace of mind I hope that you will soon be able to find your way back in your native country. By the way Ton, when I go to a supermarket in Thailand and buy "simple" groceries, such as some fruit, milk, meat, fish (200 gr. smoked salmon, which I love), roast chicken, chips, shaving cream, a case of beer, a bottle of wine, a piece of cheese, etc, then I really can't make it with € 100, = (3450 Bath). I certainly do not agree with your description that as a Westerner I am falling over from chronic dissatisfaction! Do not know when you will return to Thailand, but in the meantime try not to develop a chronic dissatisfaction yourself. I myself am extremely satisfied, both in Thailand and in the Netherlands. And thanks to the simple fact that my cradle was in the Netherlands, I am able to travel to Thailand regularly.
Those high prices for foreign products are really not due to imports, it is the excessive taxes levied by Thailand, a small example of a Mercedes C class, converted about 1.600.000 bath in Belgium, in Thailand 3.800.000. Does anyone really think that it Costs 2 million to import a car? What do you think that Thailand is building all that new infrastructure, not from the ballast because most of them don't pay
Indeed Louis, the high price of a European car in Thailand is due to the level of import duties, sometimes up to 200%. Isn't the price difference due to imports?
Moderator: Please do not chat.
Dear people,
It is right that there is now a lot of complaining and grumbling about finances.
Due to the mismanagement of “Brussels” and the Dutch government (and also other Euro countries), the bankers, supervisory directors, directors, the care bobos, the top civil servants, the shareholders (especially at the SHELL) are well fed.
This is all at the expense of the financially weak in our society. So the rich are getting richer and the poor are being directed to the food banks.
So life is made more expensive (also in our Thai paradise), solely to make our dear elite happier.
Unfortunately, we Dutch and Belgians are among the weakest peoples in Europe. We can grumble a lot, but jumping on the stage and protesting loudly we are nowhere to be seen.
So just keep swallowing everything!
Quote from Chander:
“So life is being made more expensive (also in our Thai paradise), solely to make our dear elite happier”
The core of many things, so one can go to 'foreigners' or the unemployed.
This is not even a delusion, but CONSCIOUS choices of EU politics. Just put that in your ears.