Hey, another farang in the village
I have lived in it for quite a few years now Thailand and I'm still not sure what to do if I see another Farang.
Yes, here in Pattaya it is of course not a problem, there are so many Farangs that you meet every day without paying special attention to them. You walk past each other on the street without saying hello, let alone getting acquainted and having a chat. This is also the case in other tourist places, where meetings of compatriots often take place in bars, restaurants or during joint activities, such as diving or para-sailing.
Isaan
My wife is from Isaan and occasionally I can (have to) go to the village to meet her mother and other relatives. I don't really mind that, because the people in the area are hospitable and nice, especially because they know that the weather will be good for food and drink in the coming days. There's a Farang nearby! For my wife it's nice to be back for a while, enjoy hours of njek-njek with the family and I really have to make sure that I pass the time. I do read a book, go around on my moped and sometimes go to the local market to serve as a pack mule for the purchased groceries. At that market I am stared at by all Thai passers-by as the eighth wonder of the world, some children are bold enough to touch me (Is it real?)
During our most recent visit – we celebrated New Year's Eve there – my wife was proud to say that there are now three Farangs in the village, no, not visiting, they live here permanently. “Well, that's nice for them,” I said, maybe not, I thought. One of them would even be a Dutchman was said. “How do you know that”, I asked, “is he wearing clogs or does he (like us in Pattaya) have the Dutch flag hanging outside?” She didn't know that, but she did know where those Farangs lived and she suggested we drive by and get to know them, then I would have something to talk to too. “I don't worry about it”, I said, but I had to explain that in more detail.
Mayor
I told her that there could be all sorts of reasons why those Farangs came to live in the village. That can be very plausible, they don't want to live in a big city, but in the countryside. Their partners are “home” again, they have a nice cheap house here and he can devote himself to all kinds of hobbies. The question is whether he feels the need to talk to a Farang who happens to be visiting. Maybe, but then you run a reasonable chance that he will tell you his whole life story in a few minutes. The lamentation about the Netherlands will then be added for free. No, he is happy here, although there is still a lot to improve in Thailand and he can tell you all about it.
He could also do a lot of good in the village, just make him mayor or something and everything will work out. And if he somehow notices that he is staying in Thailand longer than you, he will also explain in detail what you should and shouldn't do.
Maybe it is someone who has fled the Netherlands for justice, so a wanted criminal, a gangster or a white-collar criminal, who knows. He can even stay here illegally, because he already has a considerable overstay and thinks he is reasonably safe in the village. He probably doesn't like that you "discovered" him and he would rather spank you than have a beer with you.
I am not saying, of course, that it is already described above, but it could be, right? As a city person, I don't understand why someone wants to live in the Thai countryside, but there must be a good reason for it. This blog is also responded to by Dutch people who have made the choice for the Thai countryside and they will probably help me get rid of my “problem”. Why?, What is your background, How do you like it?
– Reposted message –
I am currently staying near Roi et and can enjoy the peace and quiet. I hear many people say that they are bored to death and see a visit to their partner's family in Isaan as a duty, but I have no problem with that at all.
Precisely because I lead a busy life in the Netherlands, I can relax here and enjoy the sounds in the evening (usually everyone goes to bed early) and in the early morning. During the day it is relaxed, just read some internet and visit some markets or temples in the surrounding area.
Ok I'm on holiday now of course and understand that's very different from settling yourself in the isaan, but I wouldn't mind. Life here is relatively cheap and I like the atmosphere. In contrast to the Netherlands, where people withdraw a bit more, there is more of a family relationship here and, as a farang, you are expected to treat the family every now and then, but who cares.
Now another farang has just arrived in the village and you are soon introduced to each other, but here too I find it quite nice to hear someone else's story about how he ended up here. No, I am not a Thailand expert and you can learn from each other's experiences. If that click isn't there, you can always say you want to go home with a headache 🙂
Everyone has their own taste, Gringo likes to stay in Pattaya, where you have everything at hand, but rather give me the peace of the Isaan and if the temperatures get really high I would just go find some cooling on the coast in Rayong.
hi, leave and permanent residence are completely different, I won't have to tell anyone that
above 50 years. so you have been warned before you take the step to migrate to isaan,
grts
Nice piece Gringo, I recognize your story, I hated staring at you when I walked through the village or to the weekly market at the temple. Due to sad circumstances I was forced to stay there for almost 3 months, but I did have the luxury of a "Western" toilet, albeit that it was slightly lower than the floor and that went wrong once, but luckily everything went well. well off and I had BVN there in the bush. I have also been in a hospital there 1 times in the Dr. Hann hospital in Yasothon as a supervisor and that was really no fun on that hard "bed" and no one spoke English, only the doctors. I think the worst are the toilets along the way, but I noticed that the BIG C shopping center had beautiful toilets there.
There was an English farang living in that village (Sao Hae/Nong Hee) who had a greengrocer's shop there and luckily sold potatoes there so I could eat well there. He had 2 very low pensions and could live so well there.
People were already asleep at 8 or 9 o'clock and at 5 or 6 o'clock you could already hear people talking loudly and the children already playing. I found the roosters crowing very loudly at night, sometimes every hour. Afterwards I couldn't sleep well in a hotel in Bangkok because I missed the animal sounds. I definitely wouldn't want to live there.
I lived for 3 months in the isaan near Udon Thani in a small village and met my current girlfriend there.
There is nothing wrong with the Isaan, but the same applies there as in the Netherlands.
One likes the sea and the other likes the beautiful Achterhoek forests.
Well, I am a native of the Achterhoek and grew up in the woods, so that part of nature does not interest me.
I find the sea beautiful and pleasant, while someone who was born and raised by the sea would say you are out of your mind.
In short, I have also been on holiday in Rayong where I did not like it, expensive, a lot of ruin, etc.
Now have a house near prachuap khiri khan, beautiful beaches, little tourism and not too expensive.
Disadvantages no good hospital around the corner and no karaoke bars.
My girlfriend also likes it there very much and does not even want to go back to the isaan and the family (miracle of god or budha miracle
Nice story, now that I also live in Isaan, in Sungnoen, about 35 km from Korat, and I love it in the countryside, better than in a tourist town.
Was a catering entrepreneur in Holland, I'm going back tomorrow with my wife, son and daughter-in-law for 5 days in Pattaya, but enough already, I see too much that I don't like about the tourists, women hunters, drunken noisy men, more like a trip to the sea, relaxing hotel with swimming pool, and especially some shopping.
Now in Sungnoen, several fellang, and the occasional contact, without bullshit, having a cup of coffee, and now a Dutchman a friend, and the women get along well, just don't overrun each other.
As an Amsterdammer, happy here in Sungnoen, many sights, and nice places to have lunch. eg at the waterfall, or the sabadoe a lake, with many restaurants.
And since I live here permanently, those trips of a few days are just little short vacations
Funny, I am also an Amsterdammer and live nearby in a village, but I am the only farang here. I once drove past that waterfall on a Saturday, it was so busy that I didn't stop.
Incidentally, I also moved to a small village in the Netherlands quite soon after I got married, which suits me better than the big city. Last week I spent 5 days in Pattaya, nice, but I'll be glad when I'm back.
Have been living in the Isaan for some years now, 100 to 160 km from the next larger provincial cities. I only got to know my wife later, in Bangkok where she lived, and she went with me to that village in the Isaan. That also works. She has no family here, who live up to 1.000 km away.
Great for us, all facilities available, peace and lots of friends, "big" city within driving distance.
The lukewarm salty water and beach of Pattaya do not appeal to us, Bangkok is nice for a few weeks.
Of course there are disadvantages, larger shops a little too far, but advantages, wonderfully free and spacious, reasonably affordable living. If you want the hustle and bustle, look it up.
I was once welcomed by a friend's family in Phon. Somewhere between Khorat and Khon Kaen.
Of course, they also went out for dinner. There was a poster in that restaurant. It was meant to be a comical poster with all caricatures from NL, eg the Euromast and the pier were on it.
Although I didn't see any other farangs in Phon in those few days, I was at least sure that I wasn't the 1st NL'er in Phon.
Henk
Everywhere you have such villages and another foreigner is "strange". You may have a short informal conversation, but drinking real coffee is often not an option. It seems that there is no need for it and perhaps the memories of the "home front" are actually not wanted. I don't even know what to do with it. Somewhere lives a Belgian, Frenchman, German and American. That Belgian does nothing but complain that he has been "swindled" by his in-laws while he has not paid a sticker to sinsot. The Frenchman is a nice pear, but speaks poor English and certainly no Thai. That German is a strange fellow and even the Thai speak badly about it. And then that American… it really is a mystery to me what he is doing here now. Anyway…. so no coffee. LOL
I have been living in a small village in Isaan for several years now.
Wonderfully quiet and plenty to do if you want.
I can help on the land or read a book on my e-reader.
Contact with the outside world by computer or telephone and if I want some entertainment then I get in the car or bus for an 8-hour drive to Pattaya.
Last month, a car stopped at my son's pineapple stall.
When he noticed that it was a Dutchman he said, “My father is also a Dutchman” Willem van der Vos drove into my driveway honking loudly.
We chatted for hours and I was sorry he couldn't sleep over.
Too bad I lost the note with his phone number an hour after departure.
The dog thought it was edible. I tried to make the copy visible with a pencil, but I couldn't get his phone number.
So Willem if you read this, or if anyone in Khon Kaen knows Willem, give him a call. Thank you Hans
And if you are near Huai Mak Dang at Chaiyaphum, feel free to drop by.
I have been living in a Moo Baan for a few months, about 5 kilometers from Udon Thani. I really like it here. Wonderfully quiet, most residents are Thai, only a few farang. And I have absolutely no need to get in touch with them. Contact with a few Thai residents. Very pleasant people. The advantage of this location is that you have the tranquility of the Thai countryside, but are only 20 minutes away from Udon Thani center. Where you will find all the facilities of a city.
I also lived in Pattaya for 6 months. But that was just way too (sex) touristy for me. I was happy when I got out of there.
Hans Gie.
I live in Khon Kaen but also have a house in a village not far from Muang Pon.
Will inquire about William. Is it Willem Vos or really: van der Vos.
I have your email.
Henk B, in Sungnoen please send me an email. I am from Asd-north and sometimes drive to Khorat. Have a chat?
[email protected]
dear hans, that henk b, he used to have a cafe, who was married to ee, about 67 years old if you mean that, has passed away. now lives in don yang near Khonkaen. has been to my thai wedding.
Hey Jacob if you do come to Korat then the coffee is ready.
Ben. Corat
What strikes me is that the long-stayers apparently only know 2 locations, pattaya or Isaan.
I live in Nontaburi province, where farangs are very few.
henry,
Is it true that few foreigners/Dutch people live in Nonthaburi/pak Kret.
I often shout if I want to see Dutch people then I will go to the Netherlands. I am having a great time among the Thai. And yes, you have to make it fun yourself.
How could it be that many long-stayers only know two locations and often live in the Isarn? The real answer to this question could cause some serious confusion. So let us simply put it this way: the choice of final place of residence is very often determined by the origin of the Thai partner and that is very often the Isarn. They often have a piece of land here that belongs to the family, and they can build a house on it very cheaply. Since the Isarn is one of the cheapest regions of Thailand, life there is also much cheaper than in the richer South or in the major cities and tourist centers.
Pattya then: here, as a Farang, you don't actually live in what you could really call Thailand. Pattaya offers the advantage that you need little or no language knowledge as everything is geared to Farangs. You will also find just about everything you can find in your home country… so an easy living environment for those who are unable to integrate into rural life with all its language difficulties.
I myself live in Chumphon province, 550km south of BKK and it is very sparse here as farangs are concerned. Throughout the Ampheu there are about 10 long-stayers and in my village 2, me and an Italian who came to live here 2 years ago after having lived in Chiang Mai for 10 years.
Everyone has their “own” choice and preference as long as they are happy there.
To avoid chatting, it suffices to say that the responses largely come from Isaan and Pattaya and this does not necessarily have to be decisive for the actual distribution of Dutch people in Thailand. We have been living on the outskirts of Bangkok for 5 years now, where farang are also few and far between and you are treated the same as Thai people. Because of my work it is practical to live in BKK. But on weekends we escape the city and enjoy staying 200 km outside BKK near the Cambodian border.
When I retire I will therefore leave BKK and live in the countryside. To prevent boredom, it is possible to do all kinds of things, which we are already preparing.
We also live in BKK and we still like it very much, but just like you, we also intend to move to KhonKaen.
I have been living in Narathiwat in the far south of the country for almost two years now. In fact, it's so bad here that you can count the number of long-stay farangs in the entire province on the fingers of one hand. And as far as I know, the same goes for the neighboring provinces of Pattani and Yala. In the latter, in all my visits, I have never even seen a single Westerner.
Well,
I live in Laksi, (next to Nonthaburi), Rarely a foreigner at the Big-C or Lotas, once a foreigner is drinking coffee, I am happy and sit down, turns out to be a Finn, but………. does not speak English.
This is Thailand
I have been living in Suphanburi for 4 years now, Donchedi. Be the first farang
here with number 1 on my ID card.
Our house is 10 km outside the village in the middle of the bush. I like it here.
My holidays in Thailand included (are) of course a family visit to my late wife's village near Khon Kaen. There seem to be one or two stray farang living there, but that doesn't bother me, just as I had to point out Asians to my love (“Look honey, an Asian, maybe even Thai!!” 555) in our village. My wife and I thought it was nice to know a single compatriot, but it shouldn't become a madhouse. And on holiday, the Netherlands and compatriots are low on the agenda. A meeting with a single acquaintance from home or this blog is fine if it comes out without too much effort. If I lived in Thailand I can't imagine doing it much differently. Sitting among compatriots in your new home country every day, we didn't have to think about that. Rather meet local people and find your place in the society of your (new) home country. That was our humble opinion.
I also live in Isaan in a village Poncharo and 50 km from Buengkan, I am the only farang here in the village and the only farang woman in the area.
Live with my daughter in law and grandson have lived on koh samui and in chiang mai.
Then village life is a bit different, sometimes farangs of the Dutch come here, but they are too arrogant to have a chat.
If anyone lives in the area and wants to have a cup of coffee, you are welcome
Hello, I also live in Isaan, in a small village near Pakhat and 35 km from Beung kan. I have been living in Thailand for 11 years, of which 4 years in Nong bua lamphu and 7 years in Ban na so.
I had a house built here, and I also had a Farang living here, a Frenchman who went back to France due to illness. And Rieki the village where you live I know is on the road from Beung Kan to Kamthakla, I'll get there agree because a German lives there who has a restaurant and makes and sells several types of meat products and self-made sausages.
So if I'm in the area I'd like to have a cup of coffee there in Poncharoen.
Leave your email with the editor Greetings Peter Lenaers Ban na so
Precisely because I am a city person I live in the countryside, a hamlet of 300 villagers 60 km south-east of Khon Kean.
Because I am a city person and also love to travel a lot, I wanted to live in the countryside, as the opposite of the hectic pace of the cities.
I don't think there is a better reason to live in the country than in the countryside.
My wealth includes the tools I have to build the house myself and to always be busy developing a nice large piece of land, which is very nice, especially when I come back from a trip.
It's nice to have your own cattle and lots of fruit trees.
It's nice to see a starry sky, which I miss in urban areas.
I'm a city person, but I don't understand Pattaya Gringo!
I've never met a graduate woman who likes to visit this city, but I'd like to hear if I'm wrong.
Greetings from the beautiful countryside for 10 years!
Danny
Great Danny, that you are having such a good time in the Thai countryside, even as a city person!
Why you have to drop off at Pattaya, I don't understand, there are people who want to live in a city as a city person. Do you understand that or else, come by sometime, I'll explain it to you in detail!
Then I'll also tell you what I think about your ridiculous comment about college graduates.
You are welcome in Pattaya!
That comment isn't funny. I live near Kalasin, not far from Khon Kaen. My girlfriend is not dependent on me at all, not even a little bit. Indeed, she too has nothing to do with anything that has anything to do with Pattaya. And so are most here. Even ladies with tattoos are viewed with suspicion. Finally this one, I don't know a single woman in the Netherlands who still likes to go to the red light district.
Dear Gringo, I understand your story and also how you feel about it. It is a pity, however, that you cannot understand that there are also people with a different opinion. I live in Isaan and amuse myself here every day, wouldn't want to live in Pataya, for example. But I do understand that there are also people who would like to live there. It just depends on how you are and how you think about life. Give me the countryside with its many advantages in my opinion: no stress and crowds, environment and air quality, fresh air instead of stench, much less crime, peaceful people around you. There are also disadvantages of course. But the main thing is that you are happy. And that's me! Hope Gringo is too.
The way Gringo tells his story is a bit one-sided. Surely there are other people who like peace and fresh air. I myself come from the hustle and bustle, have worked all my life and now yes I live here in the Isaan. And I am having a great time here every day. And I don't see criminals here! Criminals also feel best in an environment like Pataya, I thought, but I don't want to say anything about the farangs that live there. Because I am convinced that there are different people with different interests. Don't understand Gringo's point of view.
nice story, remember this a bit. live in donyang now. small village near Khonkaen. see if I can find another farang.
Do you also find it a beautiful and recognizable story, and my answer to this to Gringo and Frans, I have spent almost my entire life in the Netherlands, it was honestly a good time, but I have now opted for Thailand and the Thais, and no Frans , I don't feel the need to meet a Fallang in the village where I live, but I don't think I can avoid it in the future, more to the extent, because I think Europe will become unlivable in the foreseeable future !
I am in the outskirts of Pakthongchai .
Around the house all mal nature.
We have in the center 2 Tesco and 1 Big -C ,
is around 5 km and 5 minutes by scooter.
My wife goes to the market every morning with her bicycle,
which benefits her figure.
Yes , I am the only farang here in the village ,
but not in Pakthongchai , which has a lot of outlying villages around .
Khorat is 30 km from here and you can get there by bus for 21 baht.
But when I get there , I immediately notice the dirty air .
I'm doing something in the garden every day,
but do this when I feel like it and to keep fit .
Once a month there is a farang meeting for Germans and Austrians
in Chok Chai with an Austrian you would have had a wiener schnitzel
can chat and because I am originally Austrian myself,
is this very nice for me to talk there in my native language .
The Netherlands was fun, but after a life full of adventure
I now enjoy the peace and nature of the village.
I (Belgian) also live in the isaan in a village Ban Phu (bang nong khung) 50 km from Udon thani am the only farang here in the village also in the area and surroundings.
If anyone lives in the area and would like to have a chat, you are welcome
0870597390
If there happens to be another farang living in your village, or coming to live, I think it's actually normal that you greet each other in passing.
If you would like to have further contact with this person, I would first try to find out in a careful conversation what kind of person it is in fact.
You often also meet farangs, who think because they come to Thailand for a few years longer, or live there, that they can teach you all kinds of things.
Although they have a very poor knowledge of the language, and most of the information can only come from their own imagination and the conversations with their Thai relation, they like to sell this as the only truth.
It is not uncommon for such a farang to start such conversations with herachie games, in which they clearly want to show the other farang, who in his eyes is a newcomer, that he is the great connoisseur.
Then, in passing a Thai, if you suddenly start talking Thai, in a way he can only dream of in all his years present, they suddenly get in a hurry to get away.
Another possibility is that the farang had basically been very lonely for years, and now, outside of the few conversations he had with his partner, suddenly sees in you the person he clings to so socially that he looks at you almost daily. sidewalk state.
And the smartest species, in my opinion, are those who constantly scold their homeland, forgetting that they were given the opportunity there to have a financial basis at all, and now praise everything to heaven in Thailand.
I have been living in Nonghin isaan Loei for 3 years now. I am from Rotterdam and I am having a good time. I will never leave there again.
Thank you Gringo. The many disadvantages of living in the countryside cannot be emphasized enough. Imagine all kinds of attractive stories about village life appearing here. Then perhaps more and more city dwellers will move to the countryside, and the peace here in the villages around Lampang will disappear. So people, get it in your head: it's all misery here in the countryside.
We lived in NL in a medium-sized village with quite a lot of facilities, 3 supermarkets, etc.
Small town 15 minutes and larger (Nijmegen and Venlo) 30 minutes. If I had to go back to NL, I wouldn't want it any other way.
Here in TH we live in a medium moo job (500 houses) in a district of BKK in the northeastern part (Khlong Sam Wa) and wouldn't want it any other way. Everything within reach, hospital shopping centers etc.
Everyone feels at home where his heart is.
I live with great satisfaction in the countryside (Wat Kwang near Pho Thale).
the thais living here are nice but still a bit suspicious with me.
the disadvantage is that I have to spend an hour in the car to eat in a restaurant, half an hour in the car to the nearest 7/11. Fortunately, I have to go to immigration once every 3 months.
My wife is a great cook, but you want to go out sometimes, but I think I'll stay here.
You have Isaan and Isaan, the cities are quite ok but once you are 5 km away from a city you go back to the 19th century.
As far as I'm concerned, no, thank you. I lived in a village for 2 years and in the city for 2 years and to be honest I will never live in Isaan again.
Poverty galore. (In the villages that is).
No, give me somewhere with mountains and sea and where it is more developed like Chanthaburi or the like.
You can also have Pattaya as far as I'm concerned, but yes that is everyone's opinion of course.