When and how and why..

[Chitown]

When did you first come to Thailand?

How has it changed since you first landed here?

Why do you think it changed?

[Buadhai]

Oh, my. I first visited Thailand in 1977. I flew from Rangoon to Bangkok on a Thai Airways flight on which cigarettes were served after the meal. The FA lit them for you with a gold tipped match which she doused in a bowl of water which contained a floating orchid.

Changed? A bit.

[Texpat]

First came in 2000.

Moved here permanently in 2006. Living abroad was not new to me. I lived in Japan for 15 years.

It's hard to say how the country has changed me. How might I be had I never moved here? Who knows? After returning to my country for a visit last autumn, I know the permanence of my existence here is no longer a foregone conclusion.

Thailand has lost its appeal -- completely. My Thai wife was ready to leave four years ago after the birth of our daughter. Time to start winding it in, offloading assets, and exploring other options.

[sabang]

First came 1982, backpacker. Came a lot during the 90's & early 00's, for business from HK. Moved here early 2006.

The decade I've lived here has certainly not been a good one for Thailand, as a country it has quite disappointed me. But that doesn't really effect my day to day life, well except for the money I've got tied up in illiquid bluddy real estate. Wish I'd never believed the hype, and kept my dough offshore- but happy enough for my arse to be here.

The changes since 80's & early 90's, just enormous. Can never really go back to the likes of Samui, it's a totally changed place. Bangkok is no longer a third world slum city, heck there seem to be more luxury cars on the road there than in Australia. Kind of lost it's character along the way, at least for an old timer, but I guess that was inevitable. Pattaya- well what to say. It was little more than a shanty place until the 90's, now it has a skyline that resembles Bangkok- and the traffic jams too. Yup, I preferred it back then. Don't see many US servicemen there now, even western mongers are depleting- replaced by russki's, arabs, injuns, & chinese in tour buses. Multicultural sleaze.

Even sleepy old Ubon has changed a lot in the decade or so I've been coming, and then living here. Middle class estates on the edge of town, a new Central shopping mall & Sunni Hotel, metered taxi's, two McDonalds (now that's progress!). Many more cars on the road- we now get traffic jams.

The main changes have really just been thru' development. Enormous industrialisation, foreign investment, massive tourism spending & investment. Now stalled, sadly. Thailand is certainly no longer the third world country it was in the 80's. It's all very well to dwell on the past, but living standards for the locals are a lot better now.

[Cheap Charlie]

When did you first come to Thailand? 1985

How has it changed since you first landed here? More people, more condos, more hotels, more commercialized, more expensive.

Why do you think it changed? Everything changes brother!

[Guest]

I first arrived in 1978 ( 22 years old) got busted and deported in 1979. I was lucky not to go to prison.
It was very different back then, no elevated highways, no sky trains, no air conditioned taxis. Only one air conditioned bus line along Petchaburi rd.
Rode khlong taxis all the time. The Grace Hotel was the happening place.
Don Muang was surrounded by rice fields.
Didn't return again until 2004. Been here mostly ever since.

[Exexpat]

People who crave the old Thailand, can't it be found in Burma or Laos?

[peterplonker]

I am a unrepentant xenophile, first moved from my home country to Australia. during which time I worked in the US and served punishment by doing a stint in the UK, then Malaysia then I found Real happiness when I came to Thailand in the 90's, have seen some changes since then, in transportation. sky train etc but its still Thailand. dysfunctional and all the baggage that goes with it, sure its far from perfect but I love it and this is where I will pop my clogs .

[Voltaire BKK]

I arrived in Thailand in 1997, turned into a piss head, and it has not changed at all. Still a hearty party!

[Butterfly]

First came in 2000.

Moved here permanently in 2006. Living abroad was not new to me. I lived in Japan for 15 years.

It's hard to say how the country has changed me. How might I be had I never moved here? Who knows? After returning to my country for a visit last autumn, I know the permanence of my existence here is no longer a foregone conclusion.

Thailand has lost its appeal -- completely. My Thai wife was ready to leave four years ago after the birth of our daughter. Time to start winding it in, offloading assets, and exploring other options.

Living in the states would definitely be a better alternative than staying in Thailand in the middle of nowhere

the US has so much more to offer in terms of tourism, culture, and social interaction

Thailand is simply a zoo, nice for a while, but eventually you get tired of starring at all the animals

[Butterfly]

I moved in Thailand part time in 2000, staying 6 months a year, because of my business venture there

then went full time in 2005,

I saw dramatic changes already between 2000 and 2005, and even more dramatic changes between 2005 and 2010, since 2011, the place has changed completely, but this is what you get when you live in a country with aggressive GDP growth

by changes I mean the "real estate" landscape, infrastructure buildup, the expectations of the locals, and of course prices and the cost of living, and your social interaction with others (including party girls)

too many changes for me with little returns,

and of course since 2014 with the coup, the place has had a different mood altogether, that even long term expats are considering moving out

[Delayed]

Just went to the zoo today!