Back in Bangkok..........

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

Sibley wrote: »

IMHO living here and working here are 2 different things.

I used to love coming on holiday here. Never really got fed up with it and always dreamed of selling my UK house and retiring here.

However, this plan went wrong when the pound lost 30% value against the Thai baht a few years back.

Working here has been a big shock for me and opened my eyes to a few things.

Yes, the Thai way or never mind we can do it tomorrow may be great if you are here on holiday. Try that when you have sales figures to meet and a team of people who don't worry about anything. It's hard going.

It's sort of inconvenient on holiday if your internet goes down or TV channels stop working. Not quite as good when your living here full time.
Most services in Thailand are inferior to UK. I find it like dealing with Indian call center 24/7.

You can live out here cheaper than UK for sure but personally I find it quite boring.
If you can buy yourself a cheap house and are happy just poodling about then fine. Like ABC is saying.

I was the worlds worst for moaning about UK.

Now being away I find I miss so much. The sense of humor, the polite shop keepers, customer service and clean standard of living.
Whatever anyone tells you about Thailand there will always be 1 massive disadvantage and that's no perminate visa or ability to own a house or land.

Yes there are ways round it but no way is it safe money to buy here. OK, you can do it in your wifes name but come on guys. We all know marriages fail. I wouldn't want to fall on the mercy or anyone with everything in their name would you?

Health is cheaper here and great if you have the money. However, if you don't have money it's horrific and you will die unless you go home for treatment. Nobody cares about you. I've seen that as well.

The old boys have taken a hell of a beating out here. Lots were on the UK standard OAP.
In the past it was enough for a decent life. Now it's not. I couldn't live how they do. Small fan rooms and sitting down the beach with cheap 7/11 beer. No thanks.

First sign of illness they are home.

Even people with decent private plans have taken a hit. Cost of living higher and less coming in.




Listen fella. Just this once and once only.

Let me put you right about Ping Pong balls, ladyboys and sex in Thailand.


For guys like you it would be a dream place like you could never imagine.
Instead of sitting in Wetherspoons looking into a pint dreaming of pulling some 40 year old woman with bingo wings. You can take your pick from thousands of 40 odd kilo sexy ladies.
I don't know many blokes that wouldn't love it.

It's nothing like going with a hooker in Europe. The girls stay with you 24/7 and act like your girlfriend if you want that.

Anyone who has spent any amount of time here has seen and done it all. Ping pong balls, ladyboys, gays and Go Go girls.

It's quite tame to us and not even worth mentioning really.
Very old hat.

Somebody like yourself keep going on about it like you do is frankly quite embarrassing to see.

It's obviously fascinating for you.

I suggest you treat yourself to a holiday out here and get it out of your system.

Very well put

Don't forget if any of you do go to Thailand always ask if the 'Female' you pick up for the duration is actually a female, If you don't ask and it is a ladyboy they will not tell you, you will find out the hard way.

JonnyBravo

mystic_trev wrote: »

Judd school is not in Tunbridge Wells it's in Tonbridge, over 5 miles away. There are plenty of properties for sale there, and they're not all being 'snapped up' by Investors. Many of the lower end properties have been languishing on the market for ages, it's only the higher end market that's been moving i.e. above £500,000 - not really BTL territory.

Fancy that.... it's almost like he's making it up.
Note to Sibley: Must read the results from Google a little more closely.

CRASH_BANG_WALLOP

Sibley wrote: »

Well, that's my yearly trip to UK over with.

I had the chance to take stock of everything and spoke to a lot of friends in different situations. Here is what I heard.

Property prices in Maidstone.

Not a great deal of des res available. Anything nice sells quickly for good money.

Tunbridge Wells.

This town is close to us. Prices through the roof but mainly near the Judd school. Still number 1 choice in Kent. If you own a house there you are lucky.

Rentals.

Monthly rent is through the roof. I was shocked.

There is no panic. No problems with people not getting tenants and BTL is king. My best friend has sold his business and bought around 5 properties for this reason. On IO mortgage he is making a killing.

If rates go up there is plenty of meat on the bone before he would have trouble. Anyone waiting for forced repossessions is crazy IMHO. That is a long way away.

It seems the mortgage restrictions for normal people has worked against everyone. Now landlords are free to snap everything up. They all have good credit ratings and it seems to be a self cert style market as far as I can see.

Few of my normal mates who work for people said times are hard. Everything has gone up (I saw that). Nobody in trouble with mortgage though and have lots of toys to sell and hobbies to stop before it got to not paying the mortgage. Again, the crashers are barking up the wrong tree. There won't be a mass of forced repossessions.

Getting a good job doesn't look like fun.

The UK does look in a bit of a state but most news reporting seems to link UK recovery and house prices.

Anyone waiting for a crash will be losing a lot of money in rent.

dude your story telling reminds me of this guy

System

Tonbridge IS a shithole though.

Tunbridge Wells is a nice place and is super expensive to live in. I don't usually do anecdotals but the guy who sits next to me at work just sold a 1 bed flat for £145k there.

gwernybwch

hallmark wrote: »

So kind of like a girlfriend then?

Same, Same. But different.........

Sibley

Sibley, do us a favour. A guy I know can't get a woman in the UK because he's quite ugly or something. So he's getting a bit desperate and was thinking of getting a foreign woman out of a catalogue a bit like you did. So could you please give us the name of the catalogue in which you bought your missus? He'd be very grateful. Cheers

I didn't get my missus out of a cataloge.

Maybe the guy at your work prefers something better looking than what you are married to. After all, horses for courses.

If walking around with a 45 year old bingo winged once a month bonk female is your cup of tea then crack on mate.

I'll stick with my 45 kilo Thai supermodel.

Maybe I'm shallow but I wouldnt trade places with you.

Oh by the way. With negative equity and no money you are not in a position to get a Thai girl a visa. It's not an option for you anyway. :rotfl:

macaque_2

mystic_trev wrote: »

Judd school is not in Tunbridge Wells it's in Tonbridge, over 5 miles away. There are plenty of properties for sale there, and they're not all being 'snapped up' by Investors. Many of the lower end properties have been languishing on the market for ages, it's only the higher end market that's been moving i.e. above £500,000 - not really BTL territory.

Good spot Mystic!

Sibley, you've just been busted. The other bits that gave the game away were:

spoke to a lot of friends

My best friend

Few of my normal mates

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

Not all Thai women are out of catalogues, some don't actually work in the bars. common misconception that all Thai women are either bar girls or bought from a catalogue.

Plus the red light district is actually quite small. There are 2 main areas Patpong which was created for the American army guys who were fighting in Vietnam for R&R and Soi Cowboy which has the original Susie Wong's bar and was created for the Korean war.

There is allot more to Thailand and Bangkok in particular than women.

Having said that most men are like a kid in a sweet shop as soon as they get out there lol too many choices and not enough time to choose.

Sibley

Sibley, does the catalogue you bought your wife from offer a 30 day money back guarantee?

It'd be handy for him to be able to get a full refund if he changes his mind and decides to send the woman back in an attempt to regain his dignity and self-respect.

When your out on the town. Do girls knock you back when you tell them you rent?

I bet they do.