Comments on: A Few Thoughts on Ten Years in Thailand

By: Greg

Greg — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 15:53:59 +0000

Hi Amy, thanks for the comment! Interesting in the changes that you can see in a city (and yourself!) in such a short time. Hope your move back goes well - Bangkok's still as exciting and crazy as ever.

And yep, I wrote for Movieseer for 5 years, funny that you recognize me. It was a good gig - didn't pay much but I mostly just did it because I'm a geek and liked writing about movies anyway. Stay in touch, let's grab a Singha when you're back in town!

By: Amy T.

Amy T. — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:53:52 +0000

Hi Greg! Just found your site via Catherine's Women Learning Thai site. Love it! I first moved to Bangkok in 2001 as well, so I've seen and been through all the same things you documented. However, after giving birth to my baby, my husband, son and I all moved back to the States in 2005. We visited again in 2008 and it was remarkable how much had changed in three years. Yet another three years later I can only imagine that BKK has changed even moreso. We plan to move back next year for a few years of Thai immersion for our son, but his later school years needs to be done in the US (that opinion is open to debate, though!)

Anyway, thanks for this fantastic post. BTW, did you used to write as a reviewer for MovieSeer.com? You look familiar and with all your movie posts on this blog, I'm kinda putting 2 and 2 together. If that was you, I enjoyed your reviews very much. I used MovieSeer all the time to find theaters playing movies with English subtitles.

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:47:39 +0000

Great post Greg. I have just passed my 5 years here and can relate to so many of things you have written about. Still can't believe your friend bailed after 8 days : D

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:57:16 +0000

Thanks Josh! Good point about the posters...though in my defense, I had all three original Star Wars posters on the opposite wall. :D

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:16:27 +0000

Great post, Greg! But, we really do need to work on your choice of movies. Moulin Rouge? Really?

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 06:02:07 +0000

Thanks for the comments everyone (even though I hate Squarespace's comment abilities, I can't reply to each individual comment). Anyway, good to hear I'm not the only one who's had my horizons broadened or doesn't mind a gecko or two in the kitchen. Here's to ten more years!

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 07:16:16 +0000

My favorite posy so far, Greg! :)

By: Frodo Douchebaggins

Frodo Douchebaggins — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 03:32:21 +0000

Great read as always.

Two things:

(1) (“Saw a movie. Ate at Sizzler. Walked around. Slept.”). That killed me.

(2) Re: sexual politics, just think of Bangkok as a Thai reboot of Goodfellas -- "Saturday night was for wives, but Friday night at the Copa was always for the girlfriends."

By: Jack

Jack — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 02:25:02 +0000

Wow...10 years in Thailand....Congrats....I'm from a third world country and when we go to first world countries like Canada, US or UK etc....Its a breeze, smooth ride compared to when folks from first world countries try to live in a third world country.

I think comparatively ...You have actually experienced 50 years of life in Thailand, than a Thai guy would experience if he goes to Canada. The intensity, The chaos, The unpredictability of everything, The relationships etc etc...is far more intense in Thailand than in Canada.

Bangkok and Thailand is the best place to experience every level of emotions, no wonder, Bangkok was voted the best city in the world and also now features in pop movies too.

Congrats again..

By: Alan Black

Alan Black — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 22:26:48 +0000

Hi Greg,
I arrived in Thailand 1 month before you. I stayed for 3 years in Lopburi where I was working for a Japanese electronics company and lived in a horrid dorm on-site at the factory for the first year. I then moved to work in Samutprakan for a Taiwanese electronics company and stayed there for a further 7 years.

10 years and 1 day after I first arrived (28th June 2011) I left and moved back to the UK to work in F1. Had an amazing time while I was there but felt it was time to get back to the real world and buy a house and sort out the pension and other financial stuff before it was too late.

For 10 years, although I loved Thailand, it never felt like home to me. I knew that I would want to bring the kids back at some point and get them educated in a good, free system rather than paying 300-400K a year to have my kids get an average education at an international school.

I wish you all the best with your life there and your up coming wedding.