Moving to Thailand (3)
Daily rain in Thailand
by Hans Bosch
Have you already got used to the new homeland? And to the stir which falls almost every day between May and October? Can you handle the heat in March, April and May? You certainly did not think the temperature in the north and northeast of Thailand in December, January and February can drop to about ten degrees? In the hills and mountains even to around freezing point! Then you should have prepared better. After all, moving from the Netherlands to tropical Thailand with a completely different culture and nature is all about that.
Anyway, you're relaxing with a Thai beer on the veranda or balcony to enjoy the warm weather. Oh sorry, you can forget about that beer, because alcohol is not allowed to be sold in Thailand before 14 a.m. and from 17 p.m. to XNUMX p.m. This is to prevent alcohol abuse. And if you are unlucky enough to arrive on an official or national holiday or during an election, you will have to quench your thirst with non-alcoholic drinks. Smokers are also finding it increasingly difficult here, because the regulatory pressure is growing. However, not every police force adheres to this.
By the way, those police officers do not deserve the salt in the porridge and therefore add all kinds of things. I know cops who own a gambling den or a massage parlor. Street agents like to arrest foreigners because there is more to catch there. Tea money, that's called. An agent recently thanked me (after receiving 300 THB) with the words: “Thank you, my love'. Kickbacks are common when passing deeds of land, importing anything, and if you own a business.
Never make the mistake of buying a so-called 'bar beer' with your new partner for next to nothing. If things don't work out, you're going to die. If it does run, a man will be at the door within the shortest possible time offering 'protection'. Of course for a fee…
Alcoholism is one of the biggest dangers threatening foreigners in Thailand. After all, you have little or nothing to do during the day, the alcohol is relatively cheap (especially the spirits) and a grab for the bottle is therefore obvious. Of course, the risk is even greater for operators of bars and restaurants. I should also mention that a foreigner may only work in sectors that the Thai have no idea about. So restaurant or bar is always in the name of wife or girlfriend and if the relationship breaks down, you already understand what happens... And now don't shout: mine is different. Because there is no cow so colorful that it does not have a spot on it. We only see the outside. The truth partly escapes our perception. I could write a serial about that. I'm talking about topics like: lying about age, child, background, work, debts, gambling, booze and so on. Many of you can easily complete this list. And sometimes it's better not to know everything….
I'm not saying Thai don't have a sense of humour. Let me stick to: a different sense of humour. Smear some black shoe polish on your face and Thais will die; put on a skirt and Thai won't come around anymore. You see that kind of snip-and-snap fun every night on Thai TV, interspersed with soap operas. Those are filled with murder and manslaughter, though every weapon (visible) is blocked off, as is every cigarette. The children should have some bad thoughts. However, behind the scenes, hidden from foreign eyes, Thailand hides a cruel society, far from friendly wais and smiles. You only have to look at the pictures in Thai newspapers to know how the wind blows.
How do you go shopping or visit friends? In Bangkok and other major cities, there are enough taxis to get you from one place to another. There are more than 80.000 in the capital alone. Add to that the Skytrain and the underground MRT and your transport is complete (read the post about transport in Bangkok elsewhere on this blog). Avoid tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis because of the exhaust fumes and the risk of accidents. In Pattaya, the streets are full of so-called songtaews, who drive a fixed route for little money. Each city has its own interpretation of the transport problem.
On the moped? Don't forget that these are usually equipped with 125 cc engines and you therefore need a driver's license (and a crash helmet...). Not that the Thai care about that. Drivers license? Never heard of it and if so, bought it. Traffic rules? A pack of the same sheet. Most deaths in Thai traffic occur among drivers and passengers of these vehicles. The driver drives like an idiot and the other road users overlook these racing mopeds. Be my guest, but don't come complaining when you're in the hospital. In most tourist places you can get such a vehicle in your name without an annual or retirement visa. In Bangkok that is a lot more difficult.
Buying a car? Financing is (at high interest) only reserved for Thais with a fixed income, whether or not according to the truth… That means that you have to pay for the car in cash and that is not exactly advantageous at the current exchange rate. Because Thais, if they can afford it, always want to have the latest model of car or mobile phone, hundreds of thousands of used cars are for sale in Thailand. Purchase is a matter of negotiation. A ride is often only allowed on the seller's premises, so there is a certain risk involved. Don't skimp on insurance and take first class, in fact all risks. This prevents you from falling between the legal rampart and the ship in the event of an accident. With 15.000 to 20.000 THB per year, this insurance is not really cheap, but then you also have something. And put the car in your own name. You can never know. In Bangkok you must first collect a (superfluous) letter from immigration stating that you live where you live, before your name is added to the blue registration certificate of the car.
To be continued of course.
Just keep going and there will be no one left who wants to move to Thailand. (with the exception of winter visitors and tourists)555
Yes Andy .
No matter how quickly the lie catches up with the truth .
It is better to know this before you move than to find out later.
These stories are all true!
Have you ever thought about why there are so many deaths among the expats?
Most of us know how to name a few .
Often it is also their own fault or they unconsciously seek it out.
Many fahlangs have to be very tough to survive in Thailand.
Stay away from alcohol, that makes a lot of difference in the way you can experience Thailand.
That ban is 1 hoot from the highest shelf, a few weeks ago it was on sale until 1 o'clock.
Then go to the neighbors who have it.
If you smoke nowadays you are 1 sinner but the adjustment of 1 car doesn't matter.
I see it differently these days and revolve around those prohibitions, with the result that I can laugh a lot about it.
My PC case that I opened was emptied within 1 week, the police would keep an extra eye on it if 1000 Thb could be collected per month.
Since that time I have never had 1 ticket.
Now when someone smiles at me I grin and think to myself how could I have fallen into that trap.
Peter:
I think for many, boredom is the biggest problem. As a result: drinking.
I wouldn't want to settle in Thailand. Staying there for about 6 months and the rest of the time in the Netherlands.
Then you will not have any problems with your health insurance. You rent something there for that period, so a hassle with property rights. You rent out your house in NL in the same time, so you do not have double housing costs.
When buying / selling both a 2nd hand and new car, the buyer / seller must follow the guidelines of the "Department of Land Transport".
This is only for NON Thais and I think there is also absurd legislation in the Netherlands and Belgium, or am I wrong?
In terms of car financing, this is certainly no more expensive than in Europe, and most banks are currently charging a very low rate to encourage car sales.
TMB and Thanachart and Krungsri bank, among others, are leaders in this.
So the banks don't use usury at all, but the "loansharks" tie is another pair of sleeves.
You have to shop for an “all risk” insurance and Safety and Ayhudhya have a decent service here in Chiangmai.
I have AXA for my fire insurance and the premiums are simply not comparable to the Low Countries.
Everything is not negative here and some things are just well organized in Thailand and you just have to struggle to figure it out!
To feel at home in Thailand, you will have to integrate into Thai society. To understand the Thai you will have to speak their language. Instead of grabbing that jar of beer every day, out of boredom, you can better use that time for a language course. Make contact with the Thai people and don't stick to the Dutch colony with its Klaverjas evenings. In short, think and act like the Thai and everything will look a lot happier. If you can't afford this, just come for a few weeks as a tourist.
@carrot
you got it!totally agree with you.
“Oh sorry, you can forget about that beer, because alcohol is not allowed to be sold in Thailand before 14 a.m. and from 17 p.m. to XNUMX p.m.”
I don't think that applies (or is it not enforced) in the interior, because I am sometimes surprised to see the Thai arrive around 6 o'clock in the morning with whiskey and beer bottles that they have just bought and then to the pig's head ritual with a few men. Anyway, I am amazed at how the Thai are always drinking very early in the day. And since, if they have alcohol, they drink it all, they must be able to buy it somewhere because keeping it until the next day is really not an option.
What is a pig head ritual?
Honestly…..no idea. I've never really asked about it because I'm usually still asleep when it all happens. But what I understand is that if they have asked something from Buddha or some other oracle and it all comes true in the end, or if they have been very lucky in anything, then one (or more) pig head(s) will be sacrificed. Which must be ordered in advance and is/are very pricey. Often there are pirates on the coast and they only receive half a cup or nothing at all and have to wait a day. The more luck, the more pig heads are sacrificed. In any case, if the head is there, it will be offered with all rituals in the morning at the break of day (so 5 o'clock) by, I think, mainly only women to Buddha and the spirits. First in the home of the lucky person and then at a temple or chapel (what is this called in Thailand?). This takes about an hour with all kinds of rituals and loud prayers. After the sacrifice, almost the entire street comes together and then that cup with Whiskey and or other alcoholic drink is eaten to the bone. (Note: Everything goes on. Think for yourself what all). Most of them are already drunk at 7 o'clock. I should dive into my photo archive because of course I photographed that the first time. But then my Thai was so lousy that I couldn't understand a word of it. Maybe others know about this too? and is it something only from the Isaan region or do you see this all over Thailand?
I was in the north of Thailand (Chiang Kham) last month and we wanted to buy whiskey in the afternoon in the Tesco Lotus.. At first it was indeed difficult, but if we bought more than 1 bottle we could just get it.. And I saw enough people already start drinking in the morning
I think it's good that this side of Thailand is also highlighted, because there are too many people who see everything through rose-colored glasses.
I also think it's good that Hans puts it sharply here. I still have the impression that some see Thailand as the promised land. Thai are less friendly than you think. Just get into a fight with a Thai and the true nature will emerge. Like so many Asians, extremely violent and very mean. You will also always remain a farang. And the word farang is also less friendly than you think. Yet NL is not everything and Thailand has many advantages. But the neighbor's grass always seems greener, right?
Read here a lot about the Thai who is already drunk in the morning, also like to admit that it is. But, in my area I also see a lot of falang who are drunk every day and all day. Have a big mouth and pick a fight.
Whining about everything, too little, not tasty, too expensive, haggling for 5 baht etc. etc.
Improve the world but start with yourself I would say !!
Indeed, it is good that the negative sides are highlighted. Thailand is definitely not the promised land. Yet there are people like me, who see many more advantages than disadvantages. I have learned to see Thailand through Thai eyes and not through Dutch eyes. Because if you keep doing that, you'll never get used to it. I'd rather give the police 25 euros/month to look after my shop than pay 250 euros for environmental tax or XNUMX euros for staff. My top model car costs less than half of what it costs in the Netherlands. We do not know road tax or speed cameras. And no nasty permits either. No... it's the freedom that appeals to me so much in the Netherlands we have rules for rules. If you behave properly as a farang and don't want or expect that much, it's a lot more pleasant.
At the moment I don't have much to do, I live here as the only foreigner among the Thai. I have my acquaintances and do my round 7, path thai, coffee and talat nat.
Stay off the booze.
Johnny.
most of us came to Thailand with 1 positive feeling.
Later you find out that it's not really what you expected it to be.
By being able to adapt, the feeling is and remains that you never want to go back to NL.
Giving 25 euros per month to the police is also not the problem, but then they must also do what they agree with you.
Not that you find out later that they themselves were involved in that burglary .
They gain your trust and try to sell you land that doesn't even belong to them.
Through action from above I got most of it back .
As a WAO employee it is great that you can drive here with 1 SUV.
Road tax is indeed there, only the amounts are different in every province, here the number of doors is looked at and not the weight, which is entertaining in itself.
1 laser gun certainly exists here, you will find out if you have not been arrested and come to pay your road tax.
Parking and other fines that you have not paid will also be doubled by 100%.
If the violation was committed in 1 other province, you will not be bothered by anything.
Be careful when purchasing 1 second-hand motor vehicle.
You will have to pay the unpaid fines when you name them.
In itself it is nice if you have to pay to immediately convert what you had lost in NL.
The first thing I think about is how many minutes I could have parked in Amsterdam before.
Lately, the Thais have also smelled that you can earn parking fees, often someone comes to you that you have to pay 20 Thb, if you ask for their permit, most of them don't have it.
Give money to the blackmailer and nothing will happen.
If you don't, it is wise to look for 1 other place because you run 1 big risk that your car has received 1 other motif in the paint all around.
Still, I take that for granted in Thailand and am happy if I pay 7000.-Thb per year in road tax.
Anyone who thinks that insurance is expensive is also wrong.
Where in NL can you insure 450 SUV all risk for 1 euros?
Do you mean WAO or AOW?
Can you move abroad (Thailand) with a WAO benefit with permission from the UWV?
Is there anything positive to report about Thailand? If you read the messages like this, it is 1 and all a complaint from you. The negative prevails in all the messages. But we'll keep going there.
I therefore wonder why so many people still settle in Thailand or stay there, if you already know in advance that you are considered a kind of 2nd class citizen there. That you are regularly lifted and that you are therefore a kind of cash cow for the Thai.
The choice is yours; wherever you are, you will be milked. In the Netherlands it is the government that does that and in Thailand, in addition to the (local) government, the citizen is also involved. Whether you are bitten by the cat or the dog, they will bite you anyway.
I think that almost everyone first has a kind of 'pink' glasses on when they decide to live there. You initially opt for the advantages: cheap, nice weather, few rules. The cons? Then you quickly get over it. Most of them are therefore not completely objective. Of course there is often a Thai woman involved. Then you step over things more easily.
We find the culture and characteristics of the Thai wonderful as a tourist. But if you're in between every day and depend on the Thai, then it's less fun. That nice smile suddenly becomes irritating and you are fed up with the indifference.
I certainly agree with some here that you should a) learn the language and b) start acting like a Thai. That's called integration. But we often have pensioners here who no longer feel like adapting or learning a language.
I think it's a good warning for everyone to 'look before you leap'. Go and live there for half a year first and don't burn all the ships behind you.
More than 50% of all emigrated Dutch people return to the Netherlands within eight years. That says enough, I think.
Perhaps I'm a bit firmer in my shoes than the average Thailand visitor. Thailand is a wonderful holiday country for me and nothing more.
Learning the language is a plus, but to behave like a Thai and adopt his lifestyle, I will never, ever do. I respect the Thai as it is and expect that same Thai to respect me equally in the way I am. Reciprocity should be the starting point in any relationship. The latter is unfortunately wishful thinking. Where the interest for the Thai lies in dealing with a farang, clarity leaves nothing to be desired. In this connection I need only refer to the comments made on this subject.
Thailandgoer.
It is certainly possible to get permission from the UWV to live in Thailand.
In fact, it is very beneficial because virtually no charges are withheld.
You will receive almost the entire gross amount.
I myself have 1 agent in NL who arranges everything for me.
He knows exactly how to act before you are sent from pillar to post, most everything is done within a few weeks.
I hereby authorize the editors to contact me about this subject.
Hoping that I can save many Dutch people 1 substantial amount with this.
Then just hope that the PVV does not come to power because it wants to stop all benefits abroad with the exception of the state pension.
Ron.
Call it 1 insurance with the best coverage.
1 thai soon calls that 1 all risk, my girlfriend works at 1 insurance and before I also found out that I was just not insured for 1 certain damage.
You know who eats apples and who eats apples and to formulate the damage correctly will take you a long way .
If I have to go from Prachuab Kirikhan to Isaan, I will not encounter any toll roads, all toll roads can be bypassed.
As far as I know, these are also only in Bangkok.
Determining the route beforehand is what I always do.
Hello Pim,
I was surprised to read your post that it would be possible with the permission of
the UWV to move abroad, while retaining benefits.
Possibly this is still old legislation because the UWV takes the position
that every unemployed person should be available for the labor market.
Retraining/following a course, the time spent on it is deducted from the benefit. So 20 hours of study results in a 50% discount on your benefit.
Can you explain to me why you can still emigrate / move?
Thank you very much for your explanation.
Yours faithfully,
René
Dear Rene.
You are talking about an unemployed .
I'm talking about being disapproved.
This also falls under the UWV.
I hope my explanation is short and clear .
Good luck.