The long journey, through the (almost) earthly paradise (1)
Hans Bos has lived in Thailand for 10 years in December: a look back. Today part 1.
I have been living in Thailand for ten years now. It has been a journey with ups and downs. Unfortunately, Thailand has not turned out to be the earthly paradise that the travel guides consider it to be. The Promised Land does not exist, but there are enough reasons to continue the journey.
When I finally set foot on Thai soil at the old Don Muang airport in December 2005, I confidently faced an uncertain future. I thought I had enough experience, after many (professional) trips all over the world. I came here for the first time in 2000, on a China Airlines press trip to Australia, with a stopover in Bangkok. It was the first time I visited the Land of Smiles and I was not disappointed. After the first acquaintance I visited the country a number of times, also because I had stuck with a Thai.
In 2005 I became unemployed, with the choice between languishing behind the geraniums in my Utrecht maisonette, or taking the plunge into what seemed to be the Promised Land at the time. That turned out to be a misconception, although I never regretted my trip. After selling possessions in Utrecht, I arrived in December 2005 with one suitcase at the old airport in Bangkok.
I moved into a townhouse at Sukhumvit 101/1 with my new Thai girlfriend. It was completely renovated, but with tiles from floor to ceiling. I called this "the slaughterhouse." With the money that was left over from the sale of the possessions in Utrecht, we bought a bedroom, washing machine and all kinds of other household goods. And a used Toyota Hilux, because my girlfriend said she had a driver's license for three weeks. The first ride next to her gave me a cold sweat. What turned out? She had bought the driver's license from the examiner after the examiner ruled that she had failed.
Now I have given driving lessons in Amsterdam for two years during my student days. And then vowed never to do this work again. Unfortunately, for my own safety, I had to get back to work. On a piece of wasteland, I tried to explain how a good driver should drive every day for three weeks.
After a year I was sick and tired of the townhouse. The neighbor would rattle heartily in the morning when I was eating muesli under my roof. The very poor Chinese neighbor in this narrow street ran the engine of his equally elderly Mercedes every day. The old man could no longer drive, but he could start. When it rained, the water flowed under the front door, while the monthly spraying for pest control invariably resulted in a dozen or so immense cockroaches bouncing around the living room in agony.
I can already see the first responders reaching for their keyboards to tell me to fuck off to the Netherlands if I don't like it here. There are still Dutch people walking around with rose-colored glasses, which even the military government keeps a hand above the head. Blessed are the simple ones, for they shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven. You are only responding a long way, because my experience has been spread over ten long years, based not on prejudices, but on events that happened to me.
Part 2 tomorrow.
I certainly won't say go back but I don't think you will find it in the Netherlands either. I live together now 1.5 years in Thailand and indeed it is not paradise. The Netherlands does. No, certainly not, I had to go back to the Netherlands in January and already decided in Thailand not to go back.
After being in the Netherlands for 2 days, I was so far away from being told by a colleague in the Netherlands that I had to think about what I had left behind in Thailand. In short, I found out quickly, also because I kept in touch with my Thai girlfriend via line and I'm going back. Came back in May and got married shortly afterwards and were married to Buddha in August. Now I also have a residence permit to stay permanently and I don't want to live anymore because I have my love here and day is the most important thing. So I'm not here for Thailand, but because I have found my happiness here. Learned on Facebook through my acquaintances how things are going on in the Netherlands and I'm happy to be here.
Politics will be a worst for me at 76 because I don't need that to be happy. Take advantage of this and stop thinking negatively.
Hello Hans
I find it really interesting to hear from my own experiences how things went for you in Thailand. I know how many men consider this step, based on the beautiful holiday experiences.
So for support: go ahead and tell your story!
Pieter
There is no paradise. Every country has its good and bad sides. It's just what you choose and what you do with it. I wouldn't want to live there either. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives in Thailand.
Wonderful those stories with a down-to-earth Dutch look. This is of course at odds with the opinion of the people who are still in a trance or are in the denial phase.
Well, everyone has their own opinion, but that's what this blog is for.
I look forward to part 2 Hans.
Nice musings, bit short. Will there be many parts? You must have experienced an incredible amount of things in those 10 years. I was in Thé a number of times (on business) and found/find the country interesting to say the least. Are you (somewhat) fluent in the language? Bon Courage from Bordeaux, Marc
Paradise does not exist on earth. If it was, it was completely full and then it was far from paradise ;-). A good place to live is determined by the degree of satisfaction with your life and circumstances. There will always be people who are never satisfied but always want more and “better”. Much comes from always comparing ourselves to others. Focus a little more on what you do and have and create your own paradise where you are with the means you can afford. It can always be better but …… always worse. In other words, count your blessings and enjoy them while you can.
I don't like geraniums. I don't want to be behind that. In the Netherlands, the world I lived in was about a circle of 15 km from my home.
Thailand is bigger, more spacious and easier. My world is now much larger, distances no longer seem to exist.
Although a real paradise does not exist. You have to make a paradise yourself.
I have been coming to Thailand since 1981 and have lived there for 18 years now. When I read the story I wonder where Hans lives. Move into an orderly home in a dry place and with good neighbors (village mostly). Mind your own business, leave the Thai out of your house as much as possible, including your family and don't do politics and everything is not too bad. Thailand is far from a paradise, but the weather is wonderful, life is relatively cheap and if you don't make any problems you have there is also none. Your wife is a lottery, but that is no different in the Netherlands.
Hello Hans , I think that wherever in the world you go with just a little money…then you won't find paradise anywhere.
I think it was doomed from the start. I'm not saying you have to be rich to be happy, but if you're unemployed and you arrive in Bkk with a little money and one suitcase, well...
Then you are forced to live in a small house, next to gurgling neighbors, smelly cars and a house full of cockroaches. Of course that appeals less than a small holiday home with a view of the sea and all the trimmings.
But I still wish you good luck!
Dear Erik, I honestly do not understand your comment! You quote Hans and then the words: According to you, it was doomed to fail from the start. I think Hans stayed there for another 9 years and is still there….Doomed to fail?
Hans, I think it's a great story and look forward to the sequel and certainly without prejudice! I know people who left with nothing and are now rich to millionaires! Why can't I find paradise without money?
Dear Hans,
Continue with your story, everyone has their own experiences or they are yet to come. I have been living in Thailand since October 2005, so almost 10 years. 9 years together with my girlfriend, just going great.
After reading your story, it will be 10 parts I estimate, I will do my story afterwards.
I am not negative about Thailand, many social contacts even with Thai.
Good luck Hans
Hans,
May I be so bold as to ask where you are staying now?
Regards, Ben
I have been living in Hua Hin for five years now, in a nice bungalow. You can read that in one of the following episodes.
By the way, I did not come to Thailand empty-handed, as Erik assumes. On the contrary. Early retirement, you could say. The suitcase is only meant to say that I couldn't take more on the plane and didn't feel the need to drag my past behind me in a container.
Right and who knows, maybe your suitcase was full of banknotes. lolll
I'm curious about the rest of your story, wondering if there are similar events.
My first visit to Thailand was in 2002, for a few years 2 months a year, then several years 7 months a year and since 2009 almost the entire year here, but I return to B every year for a few weeks.
Thailand has become my 2nd homeland and I live like in a paradise. I have been there for 8 years now. Was married twice in the Netherlands. I immediately met the woman of my life here who is 2 years younger. After I had left several Dutch friends fall, often because they were jealous, I had everything on track here quickly. And I, with only a state pension without a supplementary pension, am having a great time. I can even know 20 different Thai words.
My happiness is because I don't have to take care of her family etc. I didn't have to buy a big Vito or a house. I have a swimming pool at home. My days are really like living in a paradise.
No tax. No financial worries. I make the food myself, mainly cook Dutch and eat a lot of fish, etc. I go fishing every week, and have more Thai friends than I had Dutch friends in the Netherlands. The wonderful weather, the people who always seem happy.
In short, I am a very satisfied person. And I would say if you don't like it here, feel free to go back to my bare-bones country.
Janus
You sound happy!
But especially the last quote I will remember: "Pick me bare rules country !!" LOL
Always nice to read the experiences of other Dutch people in Thailand.
Looking at the photo of you and your girlfriend, I'd say, "Congratulations, because she looks sweet."
The fact that she can't drive a car is a bit less, but a person can't have everything.
Enjoy it and I too look forward to the new stories. By the way, they could be a bit longer.
Dear Hans. I think it's rather short-sighted to call people who don't agree with you politically stupid. And people who have less negative thoughts have to walk around with rose colored glasses. I would advise you to focus a little more on the positive things this country has to offer. The Thai people do this too and my experiences are based on 37 years of experience with Thailand.
Nice story. I look forward to part 2.
I have been coming to Thailand for 23 years and have lived there for 6 years.
I also speak Thai quite well. What I notice
is that foreigners who long in Thailand and therefore the Thai
really got to know the population, almost all of them
be fairly negative about the Thai fellow man. Exceptions
of course left there. I never knew Thai
population is so self-centered and only cares about money.
TAK, I have to agree with you I have been coming to Thailand for almost 32 years now, I lived there from 1984 until after the Tsunami at Christmas 2004, then I lost everything in Phuket, now I am in Bangkok every winter, I am also very negative about the Thai fellow man, it takes a long time and costs a lot of money before you can do it, and you will never find out their way of thinking (they don't know it themselves). I have experienced everything married 11 times, 24 children, I have been in prison, been in hospitals, a wife of mine was murdered in Phuket, for a gold chain, etc, etc. I am now in the Netherlands and am thinking if I go back in the winter at all. I had that last year too, but when it got cold I went again to avoid the winter. I actually don't feel like going there anymore, but if the cold comes again, who knows, I'll go back to the land of lies and deceit.
Dear readers. After reading the comments, I'm already cracking up. I am very surprised at quite a few negative reactions. Didn't you read that this is part 1. Hans hasn't told his whole story yet.
Wait to post negative comments until he's done.
Hans I look forward to the continuation of your experiences. Incidentally, I agree with one thing, the stories could be a bit longer. I'm really curious.
Regards, William
I certainly think it's a nice piece with many truths that you don't run into as a holiday maker.
I have also lived here for 20 years and have had ups and downs.
What often disappoints me is that the permanent people who write something are always assured of others who never write anything themselves and the permanent writers try to impress the shit with whatever, so those who know better write a piece and keep us posted and we will be happy to share it with you.
Well nice story khad also made that step. But the Netherlands is still my country. It's been scorching hot here for 8 months, traffic is chaotic and women are also after our money, just like in the Netherlands. Air fulfillment is enormous. And the language is very difficult. Many want to go back but can't.
Hans Bos is not editor-in-chief of the Maas- en Waalbode. I started as editor-in-chief of Ad Valvas, the weekly magazine of the Free University. After that I was chief of the Dagblad for North Limburg for years, followed by report editor etc. at Dagblad de Limburger.
Enjoyed reading your piece. The last paragraph, however, left me disappointed. Why, without any reason, so negative about commenters when there was no response yet? Despite this, in my view, unjustified prematureness and unnecessary criticism of possible reactions, I am curious about part II.
I tried to take the wind out of the sails of the sometimes sour commenters. Many reactions are so predictably negative. I always see everything wrong, have done everything wrong. Criticism of Thailand, but also of the Netherlands, is out of the question.
I believe that you should just take any sour reactions for granted. I like your writing style and it is easy to read. There are even people who ask for longer stories. I would like to agree with that, but let the content of your stories/experiences prevail and don't necessarily take a "sour" reaction personally because negative reactions are always there, everywhere on every forum.
Moderator: Please do not chat.
Dear Hans Bosch,
I am an unsuspected source, because I do not live in Thailand, but my realistic assessment based on countless visits to Thailand is that I would choose Thailand to live over my Flanders.
I'm not going to impose my reasons here, just to avoid going off topic because the moderators don't like that, but I'm missing some concrete examples in your story as to why your expectations didn't really come true?
Did you color things in too much?
I wonder specifically where Thailand is not so (perfectly) compliant?
Hans,
looking forward to your next part.
But why the hell are you going to live in Bangkok. Sukhumvit is in Bangkok, I thought.
There are so many other nicer places to live.
You lasted a long time there.
Wonder where you live in the next part.
So far little negative, except for the housing, but that is a matter of moving.
Greetings Hans
I do like a piece of reality, and I like what I've read so far, so keep writing!
I have been living in the north of Thailand for more than 11 years now , near Chiangmai .
Am now 62 years old .
I'm generally having a good time here, but Thailand is certainly not an earthly paradise, but is the Netherlands??
You will find something to annoy you everywhere .
But I will not go back to the Netherlands , I had a good childhood and active time there .
I have closed this period of life , but the many memories remain .
So I then also made the choice whether to stay in Thailand or in Holland.
But Holland is no longer the fatherland of yesteryear .
The Netherlands is no longer there for the real Dutch, you are now a second-hand citizen.
Read the news every day , then you know what I am talking about .
Jan Beute.
Dear Hans,
I read your article with pleasure and recognition.
Will there be an episode for every year you've lived in Thailand?
I'm already looking forward to it 🙂
I am also a Thailand lover. I have been coming there for about 10 years now and I am in a situation where I could live there permanently. Yet I always enjoy coming “home” to the Netherlands.
I notice to myself that after a longer stay in Thailand, mainly between the Thai, I will miss contact with the Dutch. I can certainly enjoy the moment, but I also enjoy working on long-term goals. And in that I stand as a “falang” too lonely, it turned out to me. I also think of the recent message that Thai cannot look ahead.
And although I speak some Thai, I eventually miss a good substantive conversation about essential things and on my own level.
Of course, the Netherlands is not perfect either. I think the variety keeps it interesting for me.
I will probably be able to retire within about 5 years and I also dream of living in Thailand. I have been going on holiday there for short or longer periods for 15 years and I have a very good Thai wife. Always nice to read other people's experiences. Every country indeed has its pros and cons, but I think I am still happier in Thailand than here. Also looking forward to your follow up story.
Dear Hans,
A beautifully and honestly written story, which in your first part does not consist of the well-known rose-colored glasses stories that people often read from expats. I admire that after your unemployment you had the courage to make this change and settle in Thailand. Although I have been coming to Thailand for years and am actually not tied to any country in Europe, I have never had the courage to settle in Thalland for good. Even when I read comments here advising you not to get involved in politics, and to make sure you don't have any Thais coming over you, just to enjoy the cheap life and the sun, the few hairs I still have, ascend to the mountain. Personally, I could never isolate myself like that, and that is also the reason why I spend at most the winter months in my Thai wife's native village, where if I want to feel happy, I have to visit the city at least once a week. Now I have been to Hua Hin regularly myself, and this is of course no comparison with a village somewhere in the country where as an expat you are often the only exotic person. Although I have followed a Thai course for many years and speak a lot of Thai with my wife, after a few days I quickly reach my limits in conversation with the population in terms of the difference in interests. For many Thai men in the village, life only takes place between the wishky and other alcoholic pleasures, so that they are often absorbed in nothing else. I often see during the day, when my wife is hanging out the washing, that a neighbor, without thinking about it, suddenly gets in a hurry to burn his rubbish, so that the washing was actually for nothing. In the middle of the night when you are just sleeping, you suddenly hear deafening music and the explosion of fireworks, because someone wants to let everyone know that he has won the lottery. If an expat who also lives in a village thinks that all this is exaggerated, I can only wish him luck with the village where he lives, or ask him if he is sure that he lives in Thailand. There will certainly be expats who feel happy in the country, or have had no other choice, because their wife already had a house or plot of land here, but my idea of paradise is slightly different. Of course it is only my taste, and I also respect the opinions of people who are happy on the land, but for me personally it has nothing to do with a life, what I imagine after a working life.
Nothing is perfect but happiness is something you make yourself, I think.
What I do miss when I stay in Thailand is having an in-depth conversation.
Let's be honest: you can only have such a conversation in your mother tongue (for 99% of the people).
Let it be just that that could solve many common problems.
This is also the reason why the Dutch and Belgians visit each other when they are abroad.
As a Falang you often (read always) stand there alone and alone when it really matters.
So I wholeheartedly agree
I eagerly await your follow-up stories, I usually stay here 3x 2 months a year Thailand is certainly not paradise, but it is nice to stay here, yet I am always happy when I come back to Belgium, it is just a bit cleaner there healthier and certainly not more expensive (if you have your own home) to live.
I don't like all those rules there either, but I am sure that a large part of the forum members would not last even a month in Thailand without their monthly benefits.
My hats off to those who can stay here without their monthly allowance from N or B except the pensioners of course
Sunny greetings from Bangkok
I have been in Thailand for almost a year now and have been coming here since 2002. When you are on holiday you feel very differently than when you have settled down. Thailand is not the country of my dreams. There are beautiful areas and good people, but you have them in many places on this earth. I came here because my Thai-Dutch wife and I invested here in house and other goods. We live well here and have luxury compared to what we had in the Netherlands. What irritates me immensely is the mentality of the average Thai. They are dirty and pollute their own habitat. We rent out various apartments and how they live in and leave them is too dirty for words. Things are very serious here when it comes to environmental issues. Litter everywhere, in the neighborhoods, on vacant land, and so on. The other day, and I don't do that much, I swam in the sea at the beach after 5 pm. I wasn't wearing my glasses and suddenly thought I was surrounded by jellyfish or something. It turned out to be plastic bags that were floating in large quantities in the water towards the beach. Not to mention the beach, there is litter everywhere that washes up again and is apparently dumped into the sea. It is the Spain of years ago. If you ask the managers of the beach bars why they don't keep the beach clean, they look at you as if you have committed murder. When I have had construction workers come over to do a job on my house, I find a lot of cigarette butts and beer bottle caps in my garden among the plants. I try to keep things tidy and again when I speak to them they don't understand what I'm worried about. When I see in my neighborhood, there are bungalows worth 6 to XNUMX million baths, which are inhabited by Thai people, who have quite a bit of money, where no painting is done and whose garden is not cared for and the houses are therefore look poor, I have no understanding for that.
For 1000 baht they can buy paint and paint the outside. They're too bad for this. They are also too poor to pay maintenance costs in our village for security, cleaning costs, maintenance of the swimming pool, etc. Let the falangs pay for this, apparently, is their motto. is an annoyance. I've been driving accident-free for more than 40 years and I'm not afraid of hitting people, but I am afraid of being hit. So many stories around me of falangs who got into financial trouble because of it. However, it remains a big risk and as a foreigner you are always a zero behind. You are still a money tree that they always want to profit from. The legal inequality that still takes place here in all kinds of areas, the corruption that pops up everywhere, take the fact that I am not allowed to own land, what are they doing here. If I buy this, it will remain Thai soil, nothing will change. The government remains in control. I don't understand how people reason here. Take the glorification of the large numbers of ladies of easy virtue and the bar culture. Is that something to be proud of. I do not think so. you can also enter into relationships that build up a society in a completely different way. I am a sports person and have been doing long distance running for years. I had to give this up here because it is impossible with that heat. Now walking on a band in a gym is far from ideal. Folks, I could go on and on, but I'm here and I'll have to adapt and I'll do that in part. My opinion stands. The Netherlands is a much more pleasant country to live in in these areas. Only those bloody cold winters and the political climate that is sickened by European regulations, resulting in less, less, less cabinet. The reason I stay is because of my wife, who does not want to return to the Netherlands and I can still enjoy the things that are going well in Thailand, because I also observe them.
I have often noticed in the posts of the readers of this blog:
There is a huge difference in perception of Thailand between people who go there as tourists and regular visitors and those who have settled there permanently (usually retired).
The regular visitor is and remains positive about the country: the people are friendly, the food is excellent, the climate is appealing, there are no 1001 stupid laws like in the Western world, the massages are wonderful, consumption is very cheap, the nature is beautiful, etc…
The Dutch or Fleming who lives there is apparently quickly bored with all these fantastic features of this country and yet often shows the typical sour traits of a Westerner and complains about things they originally liked.
For example, the more flexible legislation on everything, which was originally considered very positive, will over time be regarded as a weakness.
I am certainly not generalizing, and nor am I talking about Hans Bos, but it is a clear observation that the critical citizen about Thailand is not to be found among tourists, but among (retired) Dutch or Flemish people who live there.