Mental health effects of spending decades in Thailand

[Tom Bruise]

Don't you like it? There's nowhere else on the planet I'd rather be weather-wise from May to September. The Mrs was over for the whole of July and loves the 9:30pm sunsets, something most in the tropics will never witness. April and October can be hit and miss but you've got compensation in the form of April flowers and October yellow leaves. November to March sucks though and I've normally left by now.

[Tom Bruise]

I remember on our most recent visit to the Cameron Highlands we opted to walk the two miles from our airbnb lodge through the country lanes to the bus station. It was 15 celcius when we got up and 21 celcius during our midday walk. Perfect. We arrived in Ipoh mid afternoon and got hit by that familar wave of humid baking heat (32 celcius) upon stepping off the bus. Straight in a Grab and off to the local shopping mall.

[harrymsmarkle]

Don't you like it? There's nowhere else on the planet I'd rather be weather-wise

Well, yes: that's you and your opinion. Others, much to your surprise I imagine, prefer different climates. And if a farang wants to sit in the tropical shade in his wifebeater clutching a Leo and imagining he's in paradise: so what?

[Tom Bruise]

Read the title of the thread.

A colleague just got back to the office having spent two weeks on Koh Chang doing exactly that on my recommendation. His words were "I could have done with another couple of weeks of that" not "I could have done with another couple of decades of that" because he doesn't despise his life and have the trailer park one you described (from experience?). He'll be back to playing and watching rugby this weekend and enjoying his life in England.

[Boon Mee]

Now there's a recommendation: British summer weather!

Ah yes, how I miss Skeggie in the summer!

[harrymsmarkle]

Read the title of the thread.

A colleague just got back to the office having spent two weeks on Koh Chang doing exactly that on my recommendation. His words were "I could have done with another couple of weeks of that" not "I could have done with another couple of decades of that" because he doesn't despise his life and have the trailer park one you described (from experience?). He'll be back to playing and watching rugby this weekend and enjoying his life in England.

Well, then: that's him and you: 2 Brits who delight in British weather. On the other hand, I know a circle of people (including Brits) who have lived here for decades and are actively involved in social events, work and family life. Are there farang derelicts living in wretched studio apts when not busy infesting Pattaya's byways? Yep, seen 'em myself. Are there Europeans living happily in places many of us would avoid? Yep, know a number of them. I repeat (after rereading the thread title), so what? Your lazy attempt at generalizing the longtime farang resident reveals contempt for others possibly happier than yourself.

[Boon Mee]

Don't you like it? There's nowhere else on the planet I'd rather be weather-wise...

You need to expand your horizons a tad, Tom.

Try S. America. Best weather moi ever experienced anywhere is Brazil. From the north to the south.

[Tom Bruise]

^
Have been to three south American countries. Next on the list is Mexico, specifically Mexico City which has an amazing-looking tropical highland climate.

The problem with Brazilian cities such as Rio are that their rainy & humid season is the time of year I like to be outside the UK i.e. November to March. Similarly with Bali and other places south of the equator. Rio's best weather is April to October, when the days are coolest and driest, but I'm happily back in Europe during those months.

I know a circle of people (including Brits) who have lived here for decades and are actively involved in social events, work and family life.

And I know a Cantonese guy called Ip who for 30 years has run the takeaway in the town I grew up in. He is similarly involved in the local community. So what? It's possible for anyone to adapt to a very different culture as a young adult but you have to wonder what caused them to do so.

Your lazy attempt at generalizing the longtime farang resident reveals contempt for others possibly happier than yourself.

Lazy?

You're adopting the haughty approach of so many others there - that any analysis and less than glowing commentary of such things must stem from envy. It's this exact approach that traps so many there in a perennial delusion that they're living a special life. One only need to look at the likes of loy toy (who has recently come clean and said he's desperate to leave but can't) who used to claim that farangs who left Thailand did so kicking and screaming with their tail between their legs, and flaps who told me that like him I'd still be living in Thailand if I hadn't lost my job there 11 years ago.

Once the mindset that taking root in Thailand is a pride worthy achievement has set in, it's clearly difficult to shake it

[harrymsmarkle]

^
Have been to three south American countries. Next on the list is Mexico, specifically Mexico City which has an amazing-looking tropical highland climate.

The problem with Brazilian cities such as Rio are that their rainy & humid season is the time of year I like to be outside the UK i.e. November to March. Similarly with Bali and other places south of the equator. Rio's best weather is April to October, when the days are coolest and driest, but I'm happily back in Europe during those months.


a) And I know a Cantonese guy called Ip who for 30 years has run the takeaway in the town I grew up in. He is similarly involved in the local community. So what? It's possible for anyone to adapt to a very different culture as a young adult but you have to wonder what caused them to do so.

Lazy?

b) You're adopting the haughty approach of so many others there - that any analysis and less than glowing commentary of such things must stem from envy. It's this exact approach that traps so many there in a perennial delusion that they're living a special life. One only need to look at the likes of loy toy (who has recently come clean and said he's desperate to leave but can't) who used to claim that farangs who left Thailand did so kicking and screaming with their tail between their legs, and flaps who told me that like him I'd still be living in Thailand if I hadn't lost my job there 11 years ago.

Once the mindset that taking root in Thailand is a pride worthy achievement has set in, it's clearly difficult to shake it

a) Exactly: so what? b) So, objecting to your generalizations is haughty then. Posting about your personal adventures in climate discovery is one thing; assuming it is the one true perception of what promotes mental decline in farangs who choose the tropics is quite another. Here, I would point to your disdainful descriptions of Loy Toy and Flaps to support your opinion. A bit haughty, what?

[Tom Bruise]

I would point to your disdainful descriptions of Loy Toy and Flaps to support your opinion. A bit haughty, what?

I didn't describe them. I repeated what they've said. What is disdainful about that? To invent this straw man is somewhat defensive. As is whining on about

generalizations

[harrymsmarkle]

I didn't describe them. I repeated what they've said. What is disdainful about that?

Well now, we have only your post to purport that their words have been accurately reported and conveniently support your point of view. Perhaps if you included the opinions of other acquaintances who disagree with yours we might be able to strike a balance. However, I suspect you might not hang out with folks who disagree with you.

[Tom Bruise]

we have only your post to purport......

......if you included the opinions of other acquaintances who disagree with yours we might be able to strike a balance

.....you might not hang out with folks who disagree with you.

So typical of the Thailand beerbar stool brigade mindset - adopt a haughty "we" approach to represent a judge and jury, then end with a sneering personal put-down

[Tom Bruise]

Brits who delight in British weather.

I'll just point out that were I spending 11.5 months of every year here like most Brits, it wouldn't be my ideal climate. For that I'd choose somewhere like Barcelona or Brisbane to live. The thing that makes it great is being here for only the good months of the year.

[Somchai Boonporn]

You people don't really socialize and hang out with your own kind, do ya?
Why?

Is this a conditioned reflex to seek out Farang company?
Why?

[Arthur Daley]

^ I hate the loner Brit types who seek out my company in beerbars and say "it's good 'ere innit?" Then start a conversation that begins with "so where abouts are you from?"