From the beginning of a long series of trips to the Far East in my working life, I was “in love” with Thailand and Indonesia. The love for Thailand was a bit bigger, probably because I came there more often and therefore knew better than the country, which was once a colony of the Netherlands. However, I have never forgotten the attractiveness of Indonesia, including the food, which is my favorite, and the memories of the recognizable Dutch influences in the country.
Now I've been living in Thailand for a while now, I've been to Europe twice with my Thai wife and last year we decided to go to Bali for a week. No sooner said than done. We had a good time, not really, but it was still a slight disappointment, especially for my wife. We took a first-class hotel on the quiet east side of the island, by the sea, a great swimming pool and a great restaurant (“yes, that's great, but we also have that in Thailand). Had a nice meal in the hotel restaurant and in the village (“why don't they have Thai food here”), made trips in heavy traffic (“how crazy those people drive here”) through beautiful landscape (“I like Thailand better”) to ao a monkey colony (“did we have to go to Indonesia especially for this?).
A few days ago I met Harrie again, a jovial Limburger, who lives with his wife and daughter in Buriram and who occasionally comes to Pattaya. They had just returned from a holiday, yes, also to Bali, and before returning to Buriram, they came to Pattaya for a few more days. “And how was it in Bali?” I asked. I heard more or less exactly, albeit in slightly different terms, the objections of his wife, which I have described above. So not a real success, two days of shopping in Pattaya had to cancel out that disappointment!
Mind you, my wife (and I think Harrie's wife too) is really not a whiner, but it was all a bit disappointing to her, no real new experiences like the ones she had had in Europe. I had already tacitly decided not to make holiday trips to neighboring countries, although I would like to take a look at Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and even Myanmar. If it happens, then at least without her, but better with a bunch of European friends.
I am curious whether the blog reader recognizes what Harrie and I experienced with a trip to an ASEAN country. Have you been to a neighboring country with your Thai partner and if so, how did she find it?
I recognize the previous part. I have been to Cambodia / Vietnam myself with my girlfriend and have made many excursions there. She liked it but not to the extent that I thought it was. Don't do her any great “fun with that. “
When I drove to Penang at the beginning of this year to get my visa for Thailand, of course I took my girlfriend with me. She thought the city was beautiful, but especially hot and the food (the Malaysian curries, she thought was terrible. They didn't even give this to the pigs in Thailand.
Well I have to say, I was also a bit disappointed in the food. I had it better in my memory. Nothing was spicy. When you were at a restaurant or stable where, just like in Thailand, you get a plate of rice and chose something from the different dishes, you got a big slosh of curry on top. Perhaps we should have reacted faster and had the curry put in a separate bowl, we were not disappointed.
And I can imagine that a Thai person is not impressed by Indonesian or Malaysian beaches. You also have that in Thailand.
I think I would rather go to a city like Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. I think this leaves an impression. However, I know from my girlfriend that she is not that impressed either. She does not like large crowds and is not someone who wants to go shopping all the time.
What she really enjoyed in Penang, for example, was the “Butterflyfarm”… a Botanical garden was nothing.
I do indeed think that it is better to go on the road with Western friends. But whether your sweetheart understands or likes it???
Together with my Thai wife I have already visited many countries in Asia, such as Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar. Her reactions were different from those of the two Thai ladies from Gringo's story. In Cambodia, however, she was not happy about the fact that as a Thai she had to pay the same price everywhere as farangs, Japanese or Koreans. She could now personally experience what it feels like to always have to pay more than the local population, as is the case for farangs in Thailand. At first she didn't want to go to Myanmar – after all, the Burmese were the archenemies of the Thais for centuries – but now that she's been there, she thinks the country is fantastic; it was like Thailand forty years ago. So she wants to go back there. Her reaction may be different because we both live in Flanders and every trip to Asia brings her a little closer to her home.
I have no experience yet with traveling to another SE Asian country with my girlfriend, but that is on the agenda. She has heard stories from friends (former studies/school, former colleagues, etc.) family, etc. about traveling to Singapore, among others. A few years ago she also had a plan to go to Singapore with friends, but that never happened. Now she is here in the Netherlands. Then we sometimes watch travel programs or hear my grandmother's stories about her childhood in the Dutch East Indies. My girlfriend indicates that she would like to go on holiday in the region. We'll see whether she (or I) will like it in practice. She likes various Indian meals, but some rice dishes are too sweet. She is an easy eater in that respect, almost everything from the world cuisine, including Dutch pot, goes well.
And yes, once you have been to the other side of the world where everything is very different, a neighboring country, whether that be Germany for us or Indonesia for them, may be less spectacular (but still beautiful).
Was together with my Thai partner in Cambodia and Hong Kong, shortly afterwards we traveled together through Belgium, the Netherlands and France, must admit that all the trips we made together were an equally great success, with the same interests in nature and nature for all countries. culture also for my Thai partner, I think it just depends on person to person and not so much to do with Thai origin or not, just realize that every place in the world is different and see each place as it is.
I read something very familiar.
I have had the same experiences with friends from Thailand. As if people are not interested at all… And that is usually really the case…
I've always experienced this as quite negative... but what's not in it doesn't come out either.
It is often better to go alone…..
I only have the experience of two visits to my son's in-laws in Laos. A beautiful country. I am interested in Gringo's idea of visiting the surrounding countries with European friends. I would like to get in touch with Gringo. How is this possible?
Dick: I sent your response to Gringo.
I have – for now – no plans to visit a neighboring country of Thailand, Huib.
Every year during Songkran I go to the Philippines with a bunch of friends for a week, that's enough for me!
Proper preparation is key.
Discuss it frequently and, above all, show what can be done.
My girlfriend is especially proud of Thailand and she didn't like Myanmar or Cambodia at first. This is mainly because it was dictated by her environment. “Everything is better in Thailand”. The 2 countries were considered heavily backward and hostile cultures where you just don't want to be. But partly thanks to the many (Thai) travel reports including photos, she is convinced and would love to visit those countries. Laos was always ok, because in her eyes they are just like Thai, only a bit poorer. Now we are making plans for both Myanmar and Cambodia, even running out of time in the things we want to see/do. She is especially enthusiastic about the originality of these countries and it is like going 50 years back in time.
Bali attracted her at first, but now that she has seen the photos, she no longer has to go there. I also understand that because Bali is way over the top and the serene is really gone. I used to go there regularly 25 years ago, but it's so crowded and dirty now that I don't have to. Much nicer is Koh Chang, just to make a comparison.
So far I have not been to one of the neighboring countries with my Thai wife, but it has been on our program for a while. She does show a strong interest in visiting Vietnam, Laos and Burma/Myanmar… and definitely wants to go to Bali… All places I have visited myself (before I knew her). Perhaps it has to do with the fact that we live in Belgium, and her interest in the 'neighboring countries' has therefore become a bit broader? She has already decided, once her old mother is gone, not to go to Thailand every year for family visits, but to take the children to other Asian countries 😉
What do you expect, on average, from a resident of the best country in the world, who has been told all her life that Thailand simply has everything better…
Fortunately, the counterpart, or perhaps the anti-knee, is open to other things.
Both the trips to Laos and Cambodia were a success.
Just like the times we have been to the Netherlands.
But yes, the even/counter knee was and is open to new impressions, and has ignored what he learned about Thailand.
I think that liking or not being interested in other countries or cultures very much depends on whether someone can distance themselves from their own culture.
I recently went to Vietnam with my Thai girlfriend for 2 weeks and my girlfriend loved it! Her best vacation ever, she said. Friendly people (also towards an Asian woman with farang) Something I had different experiences with in Laos. There my girlfriend was sometimes called after with not the friendly texts. she also found the nature, the big cities and the history of the war very beautiful and interesting. A few years ago I went to Malaysia and especially in Kuala Lumpur we didn't find the people really friendly. We were often looked at there with a disapproving look. Outside of Kuala Lumpur, that was not too bad. But Vietnam has left an impressive impression on my girlfriend and on me.
Some of the stories sound a bit the same as after the war (WWII) that you were not interested in visiting Germany. However, I later visited half the world with my Thai wife and our appreciation for the various countries was often the same. in Europe, America and Asia.
Many Dutch people also only swear by Holland as a place to live and holiday. It depends on the person, I guess what they are or are not interested in and what they like or dislike because of it.
The age difference that may exist between the partners also plays a major role. In general, interest in other countries also increases as the level of development increases and also when travel experience has been gained there early in life.
Also had the same experience with my wife when we were on holiday in Bali. I had been there many times for her and always thought it was wonderful. But once they arrived at the hotel it started, she thought it was a bit of a joke, while it is one of the better hotels in Kuta and out of 1 times it is fully booked 10 times. She liked the excursions I did with her and my regular Balinese driver, but it was no surprise to her. According to her, everything was better in Thailand, even though she comes from that dead (for me) Udon THANI where there is nothing to do. is . So I think visiting one of the countries around Thailand with your Thai wife is not a success in my opinion.
Completely unrecognizable reaction. Was with my Thai partner in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Sumatra. Every visit has been a great success.
In the Netherlands you also have whole tribes who dread a holiday abroad and cannot handle the so-called holiday stress. A better diagnosis seems to me: whiners. And the therapy just stay home.
I have never researched the holiday behavior of the Thai (man or woman), but I have researched the holiday behavior of the Dutch population for 20 years, published about it and consequently read a lot of literature on the subject. Half of those who go on holiday are looking for variety, something different from their own country and new experiences. These Dutch people mainly go to destinations they have not yet seen and rarely return there. The other half does not like surprises and goes to destinations that are culturally quite similar to their own country (Germany, France, Austria, Costa del Sol, etc.) and are not so far away that you cannot drive straight home if it is not pleases.
I would be surprised if it were different for the Thai population. So you just have to ask yourself which half you are married to (and which half you belong to).
Sorry Chris, you make - as often happens on this blog - a comparison of Thailand with the Netherlands, which makes no sense.
The concept of a holiday is something unreal for the majority of the Thai population, it simply does not exist. You should know the figures of Thais, who may go on a trip for a few days, a week, but that will usually be in Thailand itself (family visit, etc.). The percentage that really goes abroad “on holiday” will be minimal.
A trip abroad with a Farang is therefore a unique opportunity for many. It therefore seems logical to me that a trip to Europe is more exciting than to a neighboring country.
I don't make a direct comparison with the Netherlands at all. For 15 years I have studied the holiday behavior of people, including non-Dutch people who do not go on holiday as often and as frequently as the Dutch, such as the French, Germans and Chinese. I am also only talking about the motives for going on vacation. And then there is a group that is actually looking for the same as in their own country (the risk avoiders, those who think that everything is better at home) and the more adventurous people. Both groups are the same size, regardless of nationality and holiday experience.
A small addition. I am a university teacher and my students belong to the top 20% of the Thai population. Really EVERY student goes on holiday abroad at least once a year: Singapore, China, India (because of the Buddha) and Japan (especially now that the Thais no longer need a visa) are the favorite destinations. I don't think 1% is minimum, but of course they all live in Bangkok and don't go on holiday with a foreigner.
Chris: There are almost 70 million people living in Thailand. How many people are you talking about? Less than 1% I guess!!
Dear Gringo.
I would like to get rid of the image that (Dutch) (retired) expats only marry women who have had a sensually tinted bar life, and/or a failed marriage with an adulterous and drunken Thai man and/or honorable women who are out a poor family from the north or north-east of Thailand. Although this is the general picture, the reality is much more colourful. There are still expats who work here, there are also those who are married to a Thai woman with a good job (from the well-to-do Thai middle class) and a good income and - not to forget - there is a group of gay men who live here. live in Thailand with a Thai man. Of all these couples I know, the Thai has a good to very good job (managers, pilots). Traveling is therefore no problem at all.
Shaving everyone with the same brush may make the world clearer, but it does not correspond to reality. In addition to all neighboring countries, my wife has also visited the USA, Germany, Turkey and Italy. She does business there. This category of women who have seen a little more than the local temple and 1Eleven is increasing in number.
Dear Chris,
We could have a nice discussion, but then we would deviate from the topic of the posting.
I would say, just project “my students” and “my network” and the “20% of the richer Thais” as the benchmark for Thai society, everyone has their own truth, right?
Moderator: Please end this chat session.
Moderator: Please end this chat session.
I had to go to Bali last year to arrange something, my girlfriend from Khorat also came with me, we were going to go for 2 weeks, but after 5 days everything was arranged and my girlfriend was actually fed up with it after 2 days, we were staying with friends anyway. in a luxury villa with a swimming pool, but no Thai food, and yes Thailand number one in the world for my girlfriend, so after 5 days I changed the ticket and returned to Khorat.
It was a great relief to her to be back home,
Also 1 time in Cambodia and 1 time in Laos to extend my visa, but we were not out of Thailand for more than 1 hour,
She found Bali too small, the roads narrow, the cars small, so I think she won't go to Bali anymore, we live in busy Nakhon Ratchasima where the cars are indeed quite large, 70% is a thick pickup .
Regards,
They read
A big advantage of a holiday with your Thai partner in the ASEAN countries is that you don't have to worry about visas and embassies.
Also recently to Japan , I have heard in the news .
This is something that has always bothered me personally.
No freedom for many people to go anywhere but in your own country.
For one, filling in a piece of paper in the plane on the outward journey to your destination in an Asia country, eg Thailand, is sufficient.
For the other it is a few trips to embassies with documents and confirmations and evidence, etc., copies to go to a country such as the Netherlands, for example.
I can personally speak to this.
Even when my mother died, I went alone.
Still very angry about this.
Rules, rules and more rules.
Mvg Jantje from Pasang.
I have been married to a woman from Had Yay for 10 years and we have lived in Phuket for 12 years. Went to Bali twice and she fell in love with Bali from the first moment. This was partly because I had been there many times. And now I read whether you can go to an Asian country with your Thai partner, but that will only cause problems. Never read so much nonsense before. My wife fell in love with Bali from the start. Just like she was with me in the Netherlands. Just like many reactions to other subjects, I do not understand my fellow countrymen. Always dependent on reactions from other people, Never doing anything myself. I could go on and on about all the annoyances I read on Thailandblog. But that's too much.
Moderator: removed a number of hurtful and generalizing statements.
I have no experience with my partner abroad. (outside the Netherlands more than 1 year)
Last year I went to Singapore with 16 Thais, male and female, young and older, from my running club for 5 days. The highlights, outside the marathon, for which we had come were:
1. trips to Thai restaurants. Other food was not tasty and she missed somtam.
2. visit to Universum amusement park. Where all participants from 9.00:21.00 am to 3:XNUMX pm enjoyed themselves in all kinds of ziplines. I had seen it after XNUMX hours.
3. the chinese district and market with different thai restaurants!!.
4. we spent 4 hours in a whole Thai shopping mall, where everything was bought that can also be found on the market here and at a lower price.
I couldn't persuade my roommates to walk freely around Singapore. I have only been to the Indian district, visited the Chinese district and drank tea there, visited a wrong bar, drank beer in various places, etc. The rest were early every evening in the hotel room watching TV or playing cards!!
The 3 men with whom I shared the room were very enthusiastic about my proposal to get beer for the room, but didn't drink a drop of it, because it was Singapore beer and not Thai. By the way, I didn't mind this, great beer.
Thais, unworldly, can only hold their own in a group and there is nothing better than Thailand. With the same people, sometimes 2 or 3 buses full, I have made very nice trips in Thailand as the only foreigner.
I stay in Belgium for a good month after the whole year, firstly because I still have to work and secondly because I have decided for myself that the climate in Thailand can only appeal to me between November and the end of February.
When we stay in Thailand there are family ceremonies half the time, which is a minimum if you have to miss your family for the rest of the year.
When I met my now Thai wife about 5 years ago I did the classic tour of Thailand with her and we explored Isaan with a private driver, but we also went to Luang Prabang in Laos and my wife was very impressed by this . Her dream is the visit of Buthan and so I can say that if Buddhism is involved it is a mustache.
Because I've always been a fanatical motorcycle traveler, we traveled through the Northwest by motorcycle around New Year's Eve (including Mae Hongson and Pai) and my lady really liked that, so much so that I'm trying to figure out whether I can travel safely with my own motorcycle. also can visit Myanmar.
So it is certainly not standard that everything is "better" for Thais, because my wife likes Belgian beer and even our climate better.
After riding alpine passes in Europe for 2 years in a row, she has informed me that the next European motorcycle trip may be a variant and so we will try Spain once. During our European trips she can even miss her rice, can you believe that now?
Greetings,
Fun and Benny
Very recognizable, having traveled around part of Europe with my Thai wife, and even the neighboring countries of Thailand. Fortunately, she has a university education and I can live with (according to me) that she has a good (although limited) knowledge, information, etc... of everything that takes place outside Thai life EVER, and to a lesser extent contemporary. So history, events, culture, people, etc... forget about it for the most part. Together with her daughter, I now also follow what they learn at university. It's incredible what teaching material is still being taught in 2013 and especially WHAT NOT to do to reach an international level. Especially a lot of shows, collective herd performances, all kinds of sports (mandatory to participate), getting up at night for pointless meetings, including Saturdays and Sundays. She is therefore overtired and has to stay home like a wreck for a week. So dear people, do not look far to find the real cause of the disinterest of many Thai people in what is happening outside the world of Thailand. Eating on time, money and family, that's what it's about.
For Thai nothing beats Thailand and Thai food and certainly not in SE Asia try South Korea or Japan think this is the only thing that might get the approval.
It would be very interesting if all neighboring countries of Thailand would be discussed in the forum. Example Every week one neighboring country is discussed where everyone can share their experiences. Always nice for visa runs… This would certainly not look out of place on the Thailand blog…