questions from a potential expat

[hhfarang]

Living in a foreign country isn't about finding a comfortable set of neighbours who all share the same language, and live inside their security patrolled compounds sharing BarBs and Bangkok Post crosswords.

Mags,

That pretty much describes the four years I lived in Saudi Arabia (substitute scuba diving, darts, cribbage, and backgammon for the Bangkok Post crosswords) and It was 4 of the best years I can remember!

[lindosfan1]

IMHO Anyone who moves to another country should try to integrate with the locals, living in an enclave immediately alienates you from the rest of the population which makes you a target. I lived in Samoprong whilst in Thailand a few farangs but mostly palace employees or local police live there, (the ones I met anyway)
When pulled up on many of the local road checks once I said I was from samorprong I got waved on.
Living in another country is about integration not isolation.
The only time this does not apply is if you are living in a dangerous country EG. Somalia Iraq Iran Saudi. Thailand does not come into that category unless you live down near the malay border. Most of the country is probably safer than LA or parts of the UK

[Tony_S]

IMHO Anyone who moves to another country should try to integrate with the locals

That's my favourite passtime...integrating with the locals

[uncle tom]

I have already purchased a non-refundable plane ticket to BKK for Oct. so I WILL be visiting Thailand a 2nd time but I may just skip HH in favor of Pattaya/Jomtien. Altho' "seedier" and dirty from some accounts, I would likely associate with happy tourists on holiday and there would be more of a party mood there. If worse comes to worse there is always Chiang Mai.

You won't find an American ghetto in HH - or indeed a ghetto for any other culture. Why? because HH doesn't really segregate - we all get along just fine. All a visitor needs to do is breeze in with an open mind, start chatting to some seasoned expats in the bars, and you'll be part of the furniture in no time..

If you like the Russian mafia, then fine, go to Pattaya. If you like hardened whores, or like ogling girls who are not only naked, but also stripped of all self respect, then ditto.

But if you want a town that is far safer than any US city, where the people are relaxed and genuinely friendly, where there are girls in bars who work of their own free will, who will probably agree to spend the night with you, IF you are nice to them, and will then behave like a girlfriend, not a hooker; then come to HH

Tom

[kendo]

LA'N before you jump on a plane and go to the party place as you call it, google Pattaya one news and have a good read of the archives.
Pattaya is a big melting pot, the worst of Thai's and the worst of people from all over the world that are all in the same city and as a new farang in town you will stand out so becarefull.

For me, i am under 40, have been to pattaya once, when the world cup was on to catch up with friends that live there and watch the footie, i can asure you that it was a real eye opener and not for the faint harted, and it made me realize how nice and safe Hua hin is.

My opinion is that Pattaya is the evil place and i dont think i will ever go back and i would never encorage anyone else too.

I can understand why single men go there for a few weeks of fun but to want to live there is totaly beond me.

Kendo.

[Big Boy]

I haven't been to Pattaya for about 8 years, but used to visit regularly until then. I have had some fantastic holidays there, and have many stories to tell.

When I used to go, every year there were stories about how it had changed for the worse - I never noticed the difference. Maybe it's because my origins are from a Naval town, and I'm not easily shocked by what used to go on.

I am always sceptical about how bad it is these days, and keep meaning to make a return visit.

Having said the above, my preference is definitely Hua Hin.

[LAnative]

It has been awhile since I read thru ALL the responses, but I can't remember anyone saying anything really GOOD about HH, something that would entice someone to go there.
So my challenge to this blog is for all participants to say one good thing about HH, preferably one of the reasons they chose to live there. I read the weather is the best, but I KNOW it is not BETTER than L.A.'s. What else ya got?

Cheers
LA Native

[MrPlum]

It has been awhile since I read thru ALL the responses, but I can't remember anyone saying anything really GOOD about HH, something that would entice someone to go there.
So my challenge to this blog is for all participants to say one good thing about HH, preferably one of the reasons they chose to live there. I read the weather is the best, but I KNOW it is not BETTER than L.A.'s. What else ya got?

Cheers
LA Native

I started a POLL asking 'Are You Happy Here?' partly with you in mind. If you look at the results, you will see the majority ARE happy and I think for reasons you have already expressed. Not sure there is any need to add to that but others may be happy to.

[Wanderlust]

LAnative,
I chose Hua Hin over 6 years ago after having spent 4 years in Bangkok and travelling around both Thailand and the neighbouring countries. I had left the UK because I wanted to travel and had actually envisaged going all over the world, covering places that I had not been to in my previous jaunts, but my plans went out the window both because of how Thailand fitted me, and the ubiquitous girl I met, who I went on to marry, buy a house with (in Bangkok) and divorce. The break up with my ex made me want to live somewhere else than Bangkok - the house had too many memories and so one night I just started driving in the direction of Hua Hin but without a specific plan; I'd been there twice before on week long breaks. I had a great time, both walking the beach every day to clear my head of the marital mess as well as the after effects of too much beer, and the contrast to Bangkok was huge and very welcome. I had always wanted to live near the sea and after two weeks my head was clearer and I had made some key decisions. I returned a few weeks later, rented a house and have been here ever since. There are plenty of good things, and some bad things about Hua Hin. Reading the rest of the forum should educate you more about the bad but the good is talked about as well, only not as much. Someone started a thread a few months, maybe a year ago asking everyone to say the good bits and it would be worth your while looking for it, and reading more of the forum.
My situation when I arrived in Hua Hin was completely different to where you are now, and the town is also different now, so while others may say their piece about what they like here (be it golf, girls, boozing, nature, community, price etc) only you can really determine if this is your 'paradise'. A lot of what determines whether you like somewhere is the people you meet, and if you are lucky you will meet and make good friends, but some people have not been lucky and thus their perception is different about the same place. There is good and bad everywhere, and good and bad in everyone so I just hope that you discover more of the good than the bad when you come here. I'd rate your chances of that much higher in Hua Hin than in Pattaya or a number of other places in Thailand though.

[Earth]

I do honesty and sincere to those Thai and Farang to stay altogether ever.

Will you believe me once apon a time more than 20 years ago at Huahin when I was a child, I was learn many thing (indirect) from many GOOD FARANG who stay in Huahin, Those day most of farang were retiree people with Thai-wife-Huahin local, not from somewhere else, then very quiet and peafeful, farang in those day not so many like today (nowadays some of them pass away already) They are all very good example, so kind, helpful and good mind without thinking things in business or thinking things in return. They didn’t teach me Eng directly but helping by showing their---don’t laugh at me!!, they show their good example, house tidiness, politeness, how gentle and educated, calm, always smile, fixing the house by themselves at the thing that they could do, reasonable person, and etc (absolutely no mafia!! : ).

I could remember how they had supported us childrens by answer the interview (Huahin local School in those day, As in Eng class, teacher assigned student to interview farang in order to see their ability using Eng to farang, in real life, gramma, question set up, etc. I admire to farang to how patience to listen to us with our eng language in those day.

I and people in Huahin do really admire to farang who stay in the past, they were excellent but now Huahin fill with lots of non-huahin and lots of farang everage younger than in the past stay in Huahin from variety of background... Then a bit difficult, quite near and far to what i have thought and expect Huahin should be..like Wanderlust comment

if you are lucky you will meet and make good friends, but some people have not been lucky and thus their perception is different about the same place. There is good and bad everywhere, and good and bad in everyone so I just hope that you discover more of the good than the bad when you come here. I'd rate your chances of that much higher in Hua Hin than in Pattaya or a number of other places in Thailand though.

Cheers,

[johnnyk]

quote T.I.G.R.
"If you bat from the other side of the plate "

I think Babe Ruth and reggie jackson batted on the other side of the plate both left handers i believe

Yes they did and so did Ted Williams.
And Mickey Mantle was a switch-hitter.

[margaretcarnes]

A thought provoking view there from Earth, who has clearly seen the change in the expat community over the years.
All places change over time, not least HH, and it's interesting to hear that a Thai resident has noticed it as well. Last year, after a 4 year absence, I found it strange that farangs on somteows for example wouldn't chat. Sad to say they were Americans. 10 years ago all farangs spoke to each other, offered advice, cooked Christmas dinners for eachother etc. Now new expats can I suppose live there more independantly, and don't even have to cope with Thai run shops if they don't want to.
Not the way I would want to exist there, and thankfully there are still plenty of the 'old school' expats around. But the choice is there for those who want it.

[johnnyk]

A thought provoking view there from Earth, who has clearly seen the change in the expat community over the years.
All places change over time, not least HH, and it's interesting to hear that a Thai resident has noticed it as well. Last year, after a 4 year absence, I found it strange that farangs on somteows for example wouldn't chat. Sad to say they were Americans. 10 years ago all farangs spoke to each other, offered advice, cooked Christmas dinners for eachother etc. Now new expats can I suppose live there more independantly, and don't even have to cope with Thai run shops if they don't want to.
Not the way I would want to exist there, and thankfully there are still plenty of the 'old school' expats around. But the choice is there for those who want it.

Sad but true. The way of the world nowadays?
I'm sure others have noticed that many falang (of all nationalities) don't make eye contact with other falangs. Say "good morning" and often you get a scowl in return, make a bit of banter and they turn their back. Smiles are a lost art among so many of them. Strange to be miserable in a friendly country.

[MrPlum]

I'm sure others have noticed that many falang (of all nationalities) don't make eye contact with other falangs. Say "good morning" and often you get a scowl in return, make a bit of banter and they turn their back. Smiles are a lost art among so many of them. Strange to be miserable in a friendly country.

Agree 100%. It was a joy whenever I travelled to countries with peasant or poorer populations. They smiled so easily and it really does make your day. Westerners are cautious, selfish or too beaten down. When you do smile, it's such a shock, they look at you like your nuts.

Then again, sometimes it's cultural. Those from colder northern countries tend to be more po-faced, Russians, for instance, ask 'Why are you showing your teeth?' We've also had the macho square-jawed thing with Clunk Driftwood, John Wayne and 'The Warriors'. If yer 'ard, ya don't smile.

Going back to voluntary English teaching. Last year I went to Phuket University and recorded some English scripts for them, then took a class. I'd never done it before and it went very well. I'd certainly be open to doing it again, as long as they don't lock me up!

Brummies, Scousers and Glaswegians should not attend.

[jayhawk874]

From what I understand and read.....you are from Los Alamos...I moved here to HuaHin from Albuquerque...have been here for two years now and plan to stay permanently. The only thing I miss is the beauty of New Mexico. The blue skies, the fresh air...the dryness of the weather. But I am sure you will not miss the snow. I have found that the only thing that I had to get used to was the weather. Everything else is available here..except for a few minor luxeries that you won't really miss. It will take a little adjusting, but in the long run it is really worth it. Economically, if you are financially stable, you can live very well here and enjoy the years without the pressures that you get from the US. It will be the beginning of a new life with everything else left behind. It's well worth it.