I guess it is part of expat life, or is it just me. I been here nearly 4 years, been coming here since 98. I loved the place, loved the people, loved the food, the culture. Over the past 4 years my attitudes have remained mostly the same, although there are such HUGE frustrations about this place that piss me off ROYALLY, I have to say. Sick of the traffic - easy to solve, or at least improve but does anyone listen? Mate of mine had a letter published in BKK Post on ways to improve this and actually he had about 200 replies, most from Thai's saying - Go home then! A really mature and sensible reaction!! Sick of the Police - the people you supposed to rely on when harm comes your way - more interested in leaching f**ing money from you, regardless who is to blame for anyone. Sick of Brain Dead people in cars that have no idea how to drive. Sick of sabai-sabai, chai yen-yen attitude of services when you need something. Had a hole in our roof leaking into the ceiling and because of the heavy rain were worried the ceiling my cave in. Called a contractor, said he would be 'tomorrow'. Called 4 days later 'been busy, will be 2 days'. One week later, gave up and called 2 more. Both said 2-3 days later, and so far (4 weeks later) none of the pricks have bothered to come and the hole is still there. I dont want to be someone that sits and whines and pisses and moans. I still love the place and MOST of the people. I see more and more 'wake up Thailand' letters into BKK post about everything from freedom of speach, democratic standing, traffic, pollution, currency, work permit process tightening. If the typical response is the neanderthal 'Go home then' I wonder will anything ever change? Does anyone else getting crappingly frustrated from time to time or is it all smiles and happiness 24/7?? Just spouting off after a couple of totally frustrating weeks of waiting, waiting, waiting for various stuff and cannot help but compare the lacsidaiscial (how the frigg do you spell that?) approach in Thailand to the approach of the other places I have lived here in Asia - China, Indo, Vietnam. 

sabai sabai mate...jai yen...all will be dee mak prueng nee....

Let me tell you about my week last week.

Wednesday: Got to Bangkok airport, waited for re-entry permit, eventually, without a single smile, even though a few months ago, immigration staff were supposedly sent to smiling school.

Wed evening: Arrived Manila airport. Off the plane, got to passport desk, A smiling bloke said, "Hey, welcome to Manila sir, hope you have a great stay, take care", got bag, outside all within 20 minutes of getting off the plane.

Fri morning. Arrived Manila airport, checked in, got to passport control, "Hello sir, *smile*, how are you today? Did you have a good time in Manila? Hope to see you again sometime"

Fri evening, arrived Bangkok airport. Queued at passport control for FORTY FIVE minutes, (It's been worse), whilst watching two guys chatting, giggling, yawning, stretching, walking off at one point, Mum was asked questions without a single smile for 5 mins, so was I. Waited for bag, while process took one hour.

Say no more.

I would tend to agree with the general population - if you don't like it, go home!

If you can find somewhere to live that has

a) No traffic

No corruption

c) Reliable tradesmen

Then stay there! Becuase I have never heard of such a place.

Further, small changes will jump start large changes - take away the traffic, the corrupition and the other frustrations and before you know it Bangkok/Thailand will also lose the things that you might enjoy about it.

What's next - implement hygiene standards and lose street food. Implement stricter liquor licensing and not be able to buy beer from 7-11.

All the little frustrations make Thailand what it is. You have to take the good with the bad!

But if your attempts do pick up momentum and you are successful in westernizing this incredible place please give us plenty of notice so that I can move to Laos!

Does anyone else getting crappingly frustrated from time to time...>>>>

yep. for me it's the people who stop at the top or bottom of an escalator to take a phone call, thereby blocking it. and those small groups of people who, with only two or three people, can expand to block a nearly empty sidewalk.

ps, before miss piant jumps in and does her english teacher thing: it's lackadaisical.

LOLzz.. change your attitude must be easier..

Tony - note you live in Phuket and therefore no doubt enjoy a much more stress free life than those in BKK. It is, of course, always easy to sit in the expensive seats and point out how lucky those in the cheap seats are!!

Who said anything about Westernising? I have a feeling you read things into my note that I neither said nor meant.

I have Thai friends here who have also noticed how the level of service and general politeness or even happiness day-to-day is no longer what it used to be. Don't think that they would really like to Westernise their Country to the point of Singaporean sterility, but if they feel times/people are changing then surely a farang like myself should also notice it.

Anyway, if you don't think BKK has managed to Westernise itself over time, maybe it is time you re-visited from your island retreat and this time actually open your eyes!!

And, by the way, i would not dream of saying that the other places I have lived - Dongguan (China), Jakarta (Indo), Ho Chi Minh City (VN) are free from traffic, corruption, unreliable tradesmen. Far from it, however the people do take a lot more responsibility and pride in their jobs and given commitments, particularly in China and Vietnam. And, before you say it, no I dont suggest Thailand become Communist and introduces a hammer and cyckle to the Thai national flag.

I would state that all of those places are less Westernised than Bangkok already, and long may they continue to remain so.

I did say "I still love the place and MOST of the people" and that remains the case, whether people care to take note of that comment, or not.

Norfolkinchance - Just because I live in Phuket now doesn't mean I haven't at some time lived in Bangkok.

However, you are right in that certainly things at a Phuket pace are not going to get me as highly strung out as you folks in Bangkok. Island life in itself has it's own frustrations but obviously not to the degree that you experience and it is a lot easier to accept in this environment.

But...

Writing letters to the Bangkok Post is not going to improve the traffic situation.

If the contractor hasn't turned up - find another contractor or fix it yourself.

Negative energy attracts negative energy - if you complain constantly about bad service, chances are you are going to continue to receive bad service. Speaking from the service industry perspective the most difficult customers are always those that approach the situation negatively - becuase you have to work that much harder to turn the negative into a positive. Next time you find yourself on the receiving end of poor service, try imposing some positive energy - a smile or a kind word can really turn that whole situation around for you.

Some of the worst drivers on the road are actually Ferang that have been here a while and adopt a driving style that is something between western and thai standards. i.e. just becuase you used an indicator doesn't mean you can overtake me in the emergency lane.

Cops are corrupt everywhere - it is just the degree of corruption that changes. Sure, maybe we get pinched for the odd handout to a thirsty or horny police man... but when was the last time you received a speeding fine/parking ticket/DUI stop. Do the math and I would think you would find you spend less on law enforcement here in the long run. I know I do!

I am going to refer you to a website - you should really check it out if you haven't already. It is based on the circle of concern versus the circle of influence.

http://www.breakoutofthebox.com/circle.htm

In a nutshell - don't waste time worrying about things you will never change - but rather focus your attention on the things you can!! You will find it a lot more rewarding.

You say you "dont want to be someone that sits and whines and pisses and moans" - then don't!

Of course this is just my opinion.

of course everyone is welcome to opinion and, if there weren't a military govt in place, free to voice it. ha ha.

i didnt write to BKK. i know someone that did, and as i say was a bit taken aback by the replies. and, of course i did call a couple of other contractors and guess what - they didnt turn up either, hence the pissed-off-ness.

anyway, enjoy the Phuket sunset. can actually see the sun from my window today, which is a plus. the world seems a much better place when the sun shines!!

Let it out! It cleans the system. Seriously. I can totally imagine what you mean.

"Far from it, however the people do take a lot more responsibility and pride in their jobs and given commitments, particularly in China and Vietnam." <-- Here is one of the keys

Oh btw, does anyone know what would happen if indeed street food would be limited and put to higher standards? People might not have personal close brushes with bad hygiene, but do you think it is already almost non-existent in HK and Macoa for no reason other than those guys are just "mean boring dudes"? Actually there is pretty damn good reasons to control it. I believe without hesitation that bad street food hygiene causes health problems. You might not experience it personally but I cant believe that the rest of the world with better control "doesnt know what it is doing". Oh, also, actually it is also part of the traffic problems in BKK, the street stalls I mean! For real!

But let me say: I do enjoy the street munchies! :-) I missed them in HK, but, as I am only a one man, I dont see the whole picture. Personally, losing it would be bad! But the big picture would show that it would be better off, I would bet my hat about it. So greater good would dictate...Same with that police corruption: personally you might be better with the system by getting away from tickets so "easy" but the whole picture would show that it ain't anywhere the best system. (hmm, I am obsessed with food, and traffic. Maybe because I eat and drive a lot...I better go now...LOL)

"If you don't like it, then go home." - Worst answer possible right there.

The last thing norfolk is trying to do is to hurt Thailand. In actuality, he is voicing these concerns to help the country out.

Whatever, the traffic and corruption are not going to be fixed in our lifetime, but its nice to vent frustrations from time to time. Complaining about service issues is standard. It's done to improve the experience of future customers. In Thailand people normally don't complain at the moment of bad service. Rather, they wait until after and sometimes tell their friends/family about...just as norfolk is doing.

I'd love it if people at the BTS stations didn't stand in front of the doors when passengers exited (got to love the surprised look on their faces when the doors open up...EVERYTIME). If people didn't think they had the right cut in front of lines, I'd be ecstatic.

But these are little things. The good far outweighs the bad over here, and that's why most of us are here. Norfolk is just trying to make the bad lose some weight

Japamerican - a voice of understanding!! Good man. At least you jump off at the deep end and think I am slating the country that I live in, but surely if there are ways to make life of the every-day people easier, then surely it would make some sense to listen. You're right thought, probably never in our lifetimes!!

TonyP, GREAT site recommend http://www.breakoutofthebox.com/circle.htm

I checked it out, and after reading it I immediately changed a decision I recently made. I wasn't in a very good mood before that, now I feel much improved. I printed it out to keep it in sight for a while. I'll pass it along as well. Everyone should dump all religions and replace them with the info on that page, the world would transform! All wars would stop, divorce rates would go to zero percent, world hunger would be gone, maybe even aliens would visit Earth (openly) since it would then be such a cool intergalactic holiday spot, along with Black Holes, Super Novae, Colliding Galaxies, and Horse Head Nebulae.

Yes, Thailand does have it's bad side and I too have noticed standards / level of service has gotten worse over the last 6 years. I am still waiting for things to improve, but the positives far far outweigh the negative stuff.

Agreed though, http://www.breakoutofthebox.com/circle.htm is a great site for enlightenment and putting things in focus TonyP.

Didn't look at the start as I was up to my ears at work. Anyway, I do realise what you are saying has some benefit guys and gals, and am not small minded enough to ignore what others say or suggest.

Been a long, long day and gonna be another tomorrow, so will sign off and go to bed.

Thanks for comments folks and folkettes.

Night )

GermanUsa/Norfolk - if you did appreciate the link and are not just taking the piss - then you should read Stephen R. Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". Changed my perspective completely!

Enjoy!

no piss-taking here TonyP.

not much of a reader, unless on long flights....been trying to read my present book for about 5 months!!

will get round to it some time soon i hope.

cheers

I was serious in the first half, that page DID cause me to change a decision I made earlier. I just had to have fun with a little exaggeration (but could be true too). I have the book, I never fully read it, now I will. Traffic is what it is, it is how you think of it that makes it good or bad for you inside your head. It is possible to "reprogram" your brain, I have been having fun with this idea. There was a food I couldn't stand to eat, liver, then I read about an ingredient in liver that I wanted more of, so I taught myself to like liver. It worked, I like liver now and it only took about one month. Grasshoppers are good too.