Thailand is considered one of the most developed countries in Southeast Asia in terms of tourism. combines a developed infrastructure and national flavor, but this is not what attracts tourists. subtropical, so here almost all year round good conditions for a beach holiday. starts in May and lasts until October, but many visitors prefer to come to Thailand on vacation in winter.
After a holiday in Thailand, returning back to the cold, so some travelers wish to stay in Thailand for permanent residence. Local legislation does not allow foreigners stay in Thailand and get citizenship , but there are visas on which you can move to live in Thailand.
Like any move, life in Thailand has its own nuances that should be taken into account when you are in Russia. Preparing for the move does not require much effort, but it is important to plan everything to the smallest detail and be prepared for possible unforeseen difficulties, but if you read the information for the move, these should not arise.
How to get citizenship in Thailand?
It is not easy to obtain citizenship in Thailand, although in theory it is possible. If you decide to go to Thailand for permanent residence or long term, more than 3 months, then you need to apply for a visa . Citizenship has its advantages over a student or work visa, but not everyone needs it. Citizenship allows you to buy and own land, take part in public affairs and work in public office.
At the same time, you lose your Russian citizenship, and children born in Thailand officially receive the citizenship of this country. You can live in Thailand at least all your life without citizenship. Thailand - great country, according to which you can live for years or come to spend the winter, but not everyone will decide to live in Thailand all their lives.
There are several ways to live in Thailand legally for a long time:
- Registration of a long-term visa . Having received a visa and having lived in Thailand for more than 3 years, you can apply to the migration service for a residence permit. It must be renewed within 10 years, after which you automatically become a citizen of Thailand. During this time, you can legally work, travel around the country, buy property, etc.
- Starting your own business . This method is not popular among foreigners, but to open a business, you need not only to register a business, but also to obtain government permission. It will be issued if your business is considered profitable in order to make tax payments.
- Get married . In the case of a Thai marrying a foreigner, she receives a residence permit and a work permit, and in the future she may receive citizenship. When married to a Thai woman, a foreign citizen also receives both a residence permit and a work permit, but his wife loses her citizenship. Having lived together for 12 years, they can apply for citizenship.
- Education. Regardless of which educational institution you study in, be it a school or a university, upon graduation, you will receive a residence permit.
- Attracted foreign workers receive a residence permit if the organization invites them to work itself.
- Investments. A person who invests $ 200 thousand in the country's economy automatically receives a residence permit in Thailand.
To obtain citizenship, you must:
- Live in Thailand for 10 years.
- Have a permanent residence permit.
- Reach age 21.
- Do not break the law in Thailand.
- Have a certificate of knowledge of the Thai language.
- Pay a receipt for paperwork.
- Start a family, predominantly of Thai origin.
Living in Thailand in the winter is great for those who don't like cold weather, as Thailand is warm and sunny during this time. In order to simply spend the winter in Thailand, it is enough to apply for a tourist visa, which can be extended several times. A foreigner does not have the right to work on a tourist visa, so any work on it is considered illegal.
To get a job, a foreigner does not need to have citizenship. If you came to Thailand, and, initially, you did not have a goal to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days, then you do not need to apply for a visa. For those who want to stay in Thailand longer, there are tourist, student, business visas that give the right to legally stay in Thailand. You can get a job if you have the appropriate permission. Illegal work is punishable by a fine or imprisonment , but this does not prevent her from being in demand among foreigners.
Most of the Russians who live in Thailand have started their own business and in fact killed two birds with one stone. Firstly, they received a residence permit and a work permit, and secondly, they received a legal job. This is a popular but not the only way to get a job. Russians can get a job in a school or kindergarten for Russians, if they have the appropriate education. The second way is to sign a contract with a local company. To do this, you must speak English at the level of a native speaker and apply for a work visa.
You can apply for a work visa at the Consulate for 25,000 baht. Under this document, you can work with anyone, but only for an individual or legal entity. To get a job, you need to collect a package of documents, which must be translated into English and certified by a notary.
It is easier, of course, to open your own business on a business visa. Thailand has excellent conditions for doing business, but not everyone can afford it. Loyal state of emergency conditions for foreigners are due to the attraction of investors to the national economy, which is very beneficial for the country. Moreover, to open your own business, you need to find a partner, always of Thai origin. According to the Law, most of the shares must belong to him. Despite this, many Russians have long opened their own business and have received good capital during their stay in Thailand.
Usually tourists in Thailand come for a short time and settle in hotels, but renting a house on a long-term basis is also not a problem. There are real estate agencies through which you can easily rent an apartment in Thailand. You can rent a house through the Internet or a local newspaper. An agreement is concluded between the tenant and the landlord, according to which a foreigner can obtain temporary registration. You can rent an apartment in Thailand if you have a document confirming your legal stay in the country, but this is a convention.
Apartment price depends on many factors. The most expensive will cost apartments in resort towns, and on the islands. The cost depends on the availability of the necessary communications, furniture, appliances, kitchen utensils, etc. If you conclude a contract during the high season, that is, from May to October, then you risk getting overcharged and extra overpayments. The rental price also depends on the area. , infrastructure, transport connection and territorial location of the house. Usually, the payment for light, electricity and gas is made by the landlord, and it is included in the price of housing, but sometimes this responsibility is assigned to the tenant.
Typically, rental contracts are concluded on a deposit, that is, in addition to paying for housing, the tenant pays a certain amount of money, which is returned to him after the expiration of the contract, if there is no damage to the apartment. The standard cost of housing is 5,000 baht per month, but if you sign a contract for a long period, for example, for a year, then the landlord can reduce the price to 4,500 baht.
If you want to buy your home in Thailand, then it will not be difficult. Documents are processed according to the same scheme as in any other country and you do not need citizenship to purchase. You can rent out your property or come on vacation, it doesn't matter. The only thing to consider when buying a home is that the Thais overestimate the price of housing for Russians. This is due to the fact that Russians, when they come to rest, do not really count money and are not particularly competent in buying a home. Another problem that Russians may face when buying a home is the lack of a license and permission to own from the company that sells it. If you are careful and bargain a little, you can buy excellent housing in Thailand.
Life in Thailand for Russians
There are many rumors that living in Thailand is expensive. On this account, there are denials from Russians who have been living here for more than one year. So, the standard cost of housing in Thailand is 7,000 baht. This amount usually includes utilities, so this amount can be fully invested with housing. Food in Thailand is relatively cheap, especially local vegetables and fruits. If you eat, do not deny yourself anything and include meat, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, etc. in your daily diet, then you can spend from 1000 to 1500 baht per week. If you do not have your own transport, then you can use public transport.
Thailand has a fairly well-developed transport connection, especially in big cities. The fare for the bus, trolley bus and tuk-tuk is from 7 to 15 baht. Life in Thailand with a child will cost more. The school will cost 200,000 baht per year, while you need to constantly pay hospitality and fees.
Sethavidhya Hua hin School Medical insurance in Thailand for foreigners
For those who are going to live in Thailand, it is necessary to take out medical insurance. It is needed so that if you need to go to a medical facility, you have the right to care. Also, in the health insurance policy, drugs are prescribed - analogues that can be bought in Thailand. The maximum term of medical insurance is 1 year, that is, if you decide to move to Thailand for permanent residence, it must be constantly renewed. You can sign a policy with any insurance company.
Life in Thailand: pros and cons
Thailand is a country with eternal summer. Life in Thailand for foreigners is easy here. It is not difficult to issue all documents and upon arrival in Thailand, you can quickly and easily find housing. Among the obvious advantages of Thailand - climatic conditions. Almost all year round, beautiful weather reigns here, and even in, there are resorts where you can swim and sunbathe. The advantages of moving to Thailand include:
- Availability of housing.
- Possibility of official employment.
- Low business tax.
- Various options for obtaining citizenship.
- Low food cost.
Thailand will appeal to lovers of entertainment. Most tourists come here not only to swim and sunbathe, but to go for a real Thai massage, watch transvestite shows and try exotic dishes. Nightlife in Thailand is even more diverse, so if you move to Thailand, then only at a young age. If you want to move here with your family, then it is better to choose modest and quiet towns, away from the center. Among the disadvantages of moving to Thailand:
- Duration of obtaining citizenship.
- Expensive education.
- High rental costs.
Thailand is a hospitable country, but you will never feel at home in it. For Thais, the main thing is faith, so they show the costs of Buddhism in everything. No one will impose their faith on you, but if you move to Thailand for permanent residence, you still have to reconsider your views on religion. In general, Russians should not have any problems with moving, the main thing is to apply for a visa in advance and choose a city.
Politeness is universally accepted. What is polite in other countries is also polite in Thailand. However, there are some cultural peculiarities - these are mainly social and religious taboos, the violation of which can cause offense. For example, Thais honor the royal family. Even social oppositionists who disregard the law and norms of society cannot tolerate even the slightest disregard for the Thai monarchy.
Outward expression of anger here is considered rude and bad manners. All doors will be open to those tourists and guests who remain calm and smile. Visitors must be neatly dressed when visiting religious shrines. You may not be wearing shorts, warm trousers or any inappropriate clothing, or be shirtless.
If you enter a private Thai home, temples where Buddha images are kept, or if you enter a Muslim mosque, you must take off your shoes. Each image of the Buddha, large or small, destroyed or not, is perceived in Thailand as a sacred object of worship. Never climb these objects to take pictures and do not show your disrespect for them.
It is not customary here to publicly show affection between a man and a woman. Modern Thai couples can walk hand in hand, but only if it is approved by the surrounding society.
Pointing at a person or object with your foot is considered rude. Thais consider the head both literally and figuratively the most important and important part of the body. Therefore, you should not touch the head of a Thai, even if it is a friendly gesture.
Food
Thai cuisine. Thai cuisine is original due to the abundant use of spices with the addition, in the spirit of the best Chinese and Indian culinary traditions, noodles, curries, sweet and sour dishes, ingredients for easy and quick cooking, exotic spices and seasonings.
International cuisine. Chinese cuisine is the second most popular in Thailand. The main European, Levantine, Asian and Oriental cuisines are presented in specialized restaurants. American, English and continental breakfasts are offered by most hotels and numerous cafes specializing in European cuisine. Western fast food restaurants, snack bars and ice cream parlors are becoming increasingly popular among Thais.
Restaurants. Restaurants and eateries in large malls and hotels are a common sight in Thailand. Numerous restaurants offer every imaginable Asian cuisine and a wide range of dishes to suit all tastes. Open-air and riverside restaurants are quieter and more revered by Bangkok residents.
The restaurants offer a varied menu, excellent service and reasonable prices. You can taste the cuisine of all areas of Thailand. Gourmets can enjoy dinner on boats cruising the Chao Phraya River. Light breezes, candlelit dinners and quiet music create a romantic mood. Sea Food restaurants are also very popular in Thailand. They offer a wide selection of fresh, custom-cooked, charcoal-cooked food, as well as an excellent selection of local and international wines.
Some restaurants offer visitors to watch classical and folk dance programs. The Department of Tourism of Thailand (TAT) regularly awards special awards to the most popular restaurants. The owners of these restaurants guarantee tourists high quality food, service and hygiene.
Relaxation
Gardens and parks.
The gardens and parks of Bangkok invite you to take a break from the city's heat and noise.
Lumphini Park is located at the northern end of Silom Road and is bounded by Wireless and Raj-damn streets. From morning to evening, Lumpini Park is visited by runners, athletes and hardening enthusiasts, families with children.
Chatuchak Park is located in Lard Prao, near the intersection of the Paholi-yothin and Viphavadi Rangsit highways on the way to Bangkok International Airport. This place is also known for its weekend market where you can buy almost everything that is produced and grown in Thailand.
Khao Din Zoological Garden has an artificial lake and scenic landscape. The zoo is located near Ratchadam-noen Avenue and the National Assembly building and has an excellent collection of mammals, amphibians and birds from Asia and Africa.
King Rama K Park or Suan Luang Gardens. This vast park with a beautiful botanical garden is located in the depths of Sukhumvit Soi 103 (Sukhumvit Soi 103) in the eastern suburbs of Bangkok. The botanical garden was founded with private and public donations in 1987 on the occasion of the 60th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadiet of Thailand.
Theme and entertainment parks
Park Magic Land (Magic Land) in Lat Phrao (Lat Phrao) is located northeast of the hotel "Central Plaza" and is the largest amusement park in Bangkok. The park complex offers a wide range of carousels and other entertainment, as well as horror rooms and various performances.
Similar rides can be found in the eastern suburb of Min-buri in Siam Park City. This water park is equipped artificial sea with real waves, waterfalls, water slides, whirlpools and other water attractions.
In the nearby Safari World park, you can see African and Asian animals: lions, tigers, zebras, giraffes and bears that live in the wild. This large complex houses Asia's largest collection of birds, with over 4,000 species.
Theaters
Bangkok's theater life includes classical Thai dance and puppet theatres, drama performances in English and Thai, concerts by foreign touring artists, musical performances and occasional mime performances. Tourists can learn about the repertoire, date and time of the start of performances from newspapers and booklets on English language. The main theater scenes are:
The National Theater of Thailand, located near the National Museum in Sanam Luang, Bangkok. It usually hosts concerts and performances of classical Thai drama. On weekends there are occasional performances of classical Thai dance drama.
Cultural Center of Thailand on Ratchadapisek Road.
Alliance Francaise Auditorium on South Sathom Road.
The hall of the AUA Language Center (AUA Language Center Auditorium) on Rajdamri Road.
The British Council Center at Siam Square and the Goethe Institute at Soi At-takamprasit off South Sathom Road also show musical and theatrical performances.
International and Thai sports
Golf, football, boxing, badminton, tennis, skittles and snooker (billiards) are the most popular sports among Thais. Of the local games and sports, the most famous are Thai boxing, tacro, kite fighting and boat racing.
Tourists can practice the following sports:
Underwater hunting. The Bang Sare Fishermen's Club, located south of Pattaya, is the main center for fishing and spearfishing enthusiasts eager to catch marlin, king mackerel, tuna, sharks and other inhabitants of the Gulf of Thailand. The main fishing centers on the coast of the Indian Ocean are Ranong and Phuket.
Golf. The mild climate of Thailand allows golf lovers to practice this sport all year round. The main golf courses are located in Bangkok, Nakhon Paton, Hua Hin, Chonburi, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai.
Horse racing. Tourists can attend horse races on weekends at the racetracks of the Royal Turf Club and the Royal Turf Club in Bangkok.
Motorcycle racing. Pattaya International Motodrome with a track length of 2.4 kilometers regularly hosts national and international motorcycle races.
Vehicles on water. In Pattaya, especially on Jomtien Beach ( Jomtien Beach), you can rent water bikes. Other watercraft, including sailing, can be rented in Hua Hin or Phuket.
Scuba diving (with scuba or snorkel). Thailand offers wonderful diving opportunities, perhaps some of the best in all of South East Asia. You can practice this sport in the Gulf of Thailand in Pattaya, Sattahip, Samet Island near Rayong, the National Marine Park on Koh Chang, Chum Phon and Surat Thani archipelago, which includes the magnificent island of Koh Samui and the Angthong National Marine Park, and also in the Andaman Sea near Surin, Similan, Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands, and in the Tarutao National Marine Park near the Thai-Malaysian border. Specialized stores selling professional diving equipment provide training services for beginners in this sport.
Tennis. Badminton. Squash. Most Bangkok hotels and resorts have facilities for playing these popular sports. A list of courts that are open to tourists can be found in the Bangkok Yellow Page telephone directory.
Windsurfing. The center of this increasingly popular sport is located on Jomtien Beach in Pattaya. Windsurfing is also available in Cha Am, Hua Hin, Koh Samui and Patong Beach in Phuket.
Thai boxing. This sport began to develop as a form of self-defense during the period of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya (1350-1767). Boxers are prohibited from wrestling and biting. They can kick, push each other, use their fists, legs, knees, elbows, shoulders in order to disable the opponent. This sport can be seen at Ratchadamnoen Stadium on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and at Lumpini Stadium on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Tacro. This game is played by a loosely formed team of men who use their legs, knees, hips, chest, and shoulders to acrobaticly pass a wicker palm ball to each other, keeping it in the air, with the aim of eventually hitting it into a basket that is hung above them. heads.
Fight of kites. During the hot season, especially in March and April, the opposing teams Chula (men's) and Pakpao (women's) have a mock kite fight. The small, nimble snake Pakpao tries to bring down the bulky Chul snake, which in turn tries to hook and drag the snake of the women's team into the men's territory.
Boat racing. Regattas are held annually at numerous fairs throughout the country, which mark the end of the rainy season. Long, narrow wooden boats, decorated with flags and flowers, are dexterously steered by the competitors. The most significant races take place in the cities of Nan, Phi Chit, Nakhon Phanom, Surat Thani, Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani near Bangkok.
Entertainment
Thais are very cheerful people who love fun, jokes and laughter. Boxing stadiums, golf courses, tennis courts, billiard halls, nightclubs, bars, concert halls, amusement parks, museums, theaters, galleries, massage parlors, zoos, cinemas lure entertainment lovers all over the country all year round.
Thai newspapers published in English daily publish information about the repertoires of concert halls, cinemas, exhibitions, shows. Specialized publications for tourists are also published weekly, such as "Bangkok This Week" (Bangkok in a week) and others, which contain information about Bangkok's nightlife and places (restaurants and clubs) that are offered to visit. Beer and cocktail bars are located mainly in Sukhumvit and Silom Street.
Thais and cars
For the most part, Thais behave very calmly on the roads, they don’t honk, they don’t cut, they just stand and wait in a traffic jam.
The flip side of this exposure is stupidity. It's okay to spread out like a flock of sheep
on a 4-lane road and drive at a speed of 40-60 km per hour, ignoring the dedicated lane for fast cars (In Thailand, the right side)
Also, fearless Thai motorists park like a buddha puts on their souls, since the “stop ham” movement does not exist, but to get a hole in the wheel
or a car lined with a key is unrealistic here.
In the same way, everyone leaves cars anywhere without fear, radio tape recorders are not stolen here, windows are not beaten.
In general, they say that cars are stolen, mopeds too. For such cases, there is insurance.
The Thais have clean cars, wash them often, decorate the inside and take care of the car. It is very possible to buy a used car here.
Thais and food
It is really customary here for the entire collective farm to eat a hundred times a day.
No one really needs a kitchen in an apartment, the morning of a Thai or a Thai begins with a sleepy crawl out to a passing
past the house of a cart in which every morning they sell all sorts of "goodies"
If in our cafe mainly wealthy people eat, then there is no such division here.
Any Burmese builder can afford to eat from macarons.
food in Thailand is sacred
I heard that Thai girls are very body conscious, dieting and making fun of fat women.
Everyone who is over 50 kg is fat.
In reality, I didn't notice anything of the sort. Young girls, women, eat constantly.
And God forbid you need something between 12 and 13 days. Dinner time is a sacred concept. All Pattaya at this time goes to dinner.
Tiny-miniature taeks with children's clothing size will still have a lot of rather well-fed compatriots.
Eating is a favorite activity in Thailand
Take, for example, female athletes who play tennis and whom we often see at tournaments.
They don't eat my way only when they play on the court. And then, during the breaks, they manage to gobble up some muck.
I also remembered food licentiousness.
In Thailand, carbonated drinks are drunk from childhood. For example, at a children's birthday party, children drink Fanta, Cola, Sprite,
other drinks are simply not provided. Nobody looks askance. A child at 2 years old gushing Pepsi-Cola is the norm.
And this happens in all segments of the population.
Similarly, fast food has cheerfully joined the Thai diet. And if McDonald's is sometimes empty, then KFC enjoys
hyper popular. It is customary to come here with the whole family, on holidays and weekends, and at the same time walk the children in the nearest children's room.
That is, leisure is very similar in content to Russian. Go to the mall on the weekend, eat there, buy something and go to the children's room.
Culture and education
It is not customary to read here. From the word at all. Nobody reads books here, and there are practically no bookstores.
The most famous bookstore - B2S or Asia Books - is so modest in assortment that it is difficult to call them bookstores.
It mainly sells reference literature, biographies of the king and family, culinary recipes, travel guides,
children's literature. Children's books stand like a cast-iron bridge. They are not cheap here either, but here it’s just a plague, not prices.
The bookstores also sell stationery, music, sweets, and so on.
And until recently, I thought that maybe this applies only to Pattaya? But no. Same song in Bangkok.
In the Bangkok subway, for example, no one reads, they just sit, chat, stare at the phone.
Teenagers are much more uncomplexed than ours. They say about such people “did he fall out of the forest yesterday?”
I don't know how else to explain it to you, but somehow.
For example, there was a reception in honor of the final tournament, which brought together the best tennis players, by age.
Tennis Association pays for everything, cool hotel, food and drinks, everything is top class.
There were participants and their parents. Everything is very decorous, decently, long speeches, diplomas, cups.
And you just had to give the go-ahead that the buffet is open - you should have seen these queues. As if for the last
time for rice.
Also songs and dances. Karaoke is a favorite Thai entertainment. It doesn't matter that you have neither hearing nor voice,
every Thai considers it his duty to yell into the microphone.
I was a bit shocked when the girls from the Mashinoy age group jokingly tumbled onto the stage and started
wobbling his hips to howl some utter nonsense in bad voices.
It was not a prepared number, but an improvisation. Uh, terrible improvisation.
After that, one of the mothers came out to the stage and gave the girls a tip of 100 baht.
Appearance attitude
For some reason, there is an opinion that Thais are some incredible cleanliness, tourists are fed with tales, that Thais wash themselves a hundred times a day.
Of course, I didn’t sniff, but watching a lot of familiar Thais, I didn’t notice that they generally tried to wash themselves and were familiar with the comb.
One of our acquaintances solved the problem of hair tangled in a tangle radically - he took scissors and with a slight movement of his hand turned from Mulan
to Anna Wintour. It's about a man, yes.
And I repeat, I’m not telling you about Cambodian guest workers, but about people who drive jeeps, take their children to sports,
not homeless, in short.
I can't get used to the fact that at tennis tournaments, girls often have shoes 2-3 oversized.
As if they are wearing out after their brother (although this is not so), a girl is walking, and sneakers, like a little flour, are clapping. And how are they in this
kind of manage to play without stumbling constantly?
Same thing with clothes. In my opinion, only my Masha selects outfits and everything she has is laid out according to styles, colors, style and other feng shui.
This don't care. Did you get a synthetic jersey for participating in a tournament? OK! Let's play it!
In 90 percent, it all looks strange and sloppy. So I can’t agree about the multi-stage approach to my appearance.
Maybe it's about the madam, who lower hundreds of thousands per hour in Siam Paragon?
Business, competition, customer relationship
The Thais have a very strange approach to business, trade, transactions and everything related to finance.
If you are used to trading in Turkey or Egypt, they will talk to you, run after you offering better prices
and better, there is no such thing in Thailand.
I don’t know who started the rumor that you need to bargain everywhere here, to be honest, I don’t even know where you can bargain here.
On the market? Well, perhaps, on a tourist one, if the price is too high at times, and even then, it’s not a fact that you will be thrown off the price.
In shops? Forget it.
I most often go to the Thai market for Thais, buy fruits and vegetables. Nobody trades there.
At the same time, on a tiny piece (in the market), the price, for example, for a mango can range from 50 to 80 baht, no one
it doesn't bother.
Just yesterday I bought a watermelon from an aunt for 30 baht a piece, her neighbor sold the same one for 80.
Skillful tourists can bring down the price of housing when concluding a contract, but this scenario is also not common.
If an agency rents an apartment to you, then Thai agents are generally indifferent to renting - if you want, rent it, if you don’t want it, leave it.
They have a cheat from the apartment and they are in no hurry to reduce it. If you come directly to the condo and communicate with local Thais
in the office, here in 90 percent of cases you will stumble upon complete indifference, and sometimes even aggression.
They are even too lazy to show apartments, not to mention talking about the price.
I will give an example of my friends who wanted to rent an office, agreed on a price, but they were not satisfied that
the entrance fee must be paid immediately, they asked him not to even reduce it, but to break it up monthly.
The Thais did not like this option. This office has been empty for four years now. Here is such a business.
No plasticity or desire to solve a problem, to make money with a little effort. No.
At the same time, I cannot call Thais lazy. Many get up early, sweep, clean, roll their carts,
they trade from morning to night, trying and trying to somehow rake out in this life.
There are few beggars here. But there are professional beggars. From year to year, you can meet some
and the same cripple with injuries who sit right on the floor in the rows in the night market and beg.
They are served.
A girl plays the violin, a blind man strums on some kind of guitar, no one is chasing them.
Many disabled people sell something. Lottery tickets, homemade dolls, whoever can.
face loss
I wrote about losing face. Yes, this is an important point. You should not convict the Thais of something shameful, sarcasm, irony, such concepts are not in use here.
They will weave any fables, deny the obvious, turn on the fool and contradict
reality, if only not to admit their mistakes, because this is not comme il faut.
If you don't like a Thai employee, cleaner, assistant, salesperson, it's easier to fire and hire
new than to teach something or tap into the common sense of someone whose job you don't like.
Visitors often notice that Thai children behave more calmly, less capriciously, they are not beaten, they are not yelled at.
I think the flip side of this coin lies in the fact that children, in principle, are not particularly involved.
They grow like grass. No developmental activities are provided, many do not know how to read and write at all.
In Thai kindergartens there are not as many classes as in ours. The level of development here is certainly lower, no doubt.
The school curriculum is also lame. The student may not be respected by the teacher, the teacher cannot directly scold the student,
convict him of lying, cheating.
But they can publicly humiliate, hit on the hands and even on the head.
Of course, there are international schools, but sometimes the devil is going on in them too; I heard complaints from many parents.
You can’t just scold everyone, but it’s hard to find a good school, kindergarten, with an adequate program and attitude towards the child.
And if you think that Thai parents don't scold and beat their children? They beat, scold, but not in public.
Our friends complained that during a trip to America, dad could not weigh the children with cradles, and those bastards blossomed
at all. And all because you can’t shoot a bottle in the head there, good neighbors will knock on the social service, and hello!
Relations between men and women
I don’t remember if I wrote about it or not, but lesbian relationships are considered the norm among Thai women. Can often be found
a couple - a feminine girl, with a masculine girl, short-haired, under the arm and in an embrace. It's possible.
But hugging a guy or, God forbid, kissing in public! Nooo. This is a complete taboo.
In mixed marriages, a Thai-European, in most cases a girl from those same ones. And no one cares.
No one will whisper behind your back and stigmatize you as a "prostitute".
They generally have no concept of grandmas on the benches. As well as the shops themselves, however.
External influence on culture
Of course, both music and films are sold, they go to the cinema, but apart from Star Wars, which, by the way, they go to
some farangs or taechki with farangs, removed in Thailand great amount local films.
They are terrible in their primitiveness, antics and on a level somewhere between "Just Maria" and "The rich also cry."
Thais love "their" sports, appreciate domestic tourism and rarely travel abroad.
Most Thais (up to 80 percent) choose resorts within Thailand for recreation. And of course it's not from lack of money.
The poor Thais are also another myth. Guys, this is the fourth most developed economy in Asia, and unlike some,
considered to be developing.
Apart from tourism, which in Thailand is an unfortunate few percent, and rice, (these two things come to mind first),
Thais have a well-developed industry. They successfully produce cars under Japanese licenses, they have a developed light, agricultural industry,
and so on.
So even if all Russian tourists put together spit on Thailand and stop coming here, no one will cry.
Remember last year's situation, all of us were easily replaced by the Chinese.
Yes, the Thais do not like the Chinese, they do not respect them, and in some places they even despise them. Surprisingly, among the Thais there are many ethnic
Chinese.
Those Chinese who arrive in Pattaya are noisy, ill-mannered, overweight.
If the Chinese fill up on 7/11, as usual, with a modest company of 30 people, then after 10 minutes, as if
the typhoon and the locust swarm have passed. They spit, grab from shelves, violate your personal space, push and behave inappropriately.
Even the women stink of fumes and garlic.
It is for the Chinese that warning signs are hung in the latrines so that they do not wash their feet in the sinks and observe
cleanliness in the toilets, but in vain. Wash, do not comply.
How to save money on a hotel or apartment on vacation?
I'm looking on the Rumguru website. It contains absolutely all discounts on hotels and apartments from 30 booking systems, including booking. Often I find very profitable options, it turns out to save from 30 to 80%
How to save on insurance?
You need insurance abroad. Any admission is very expensive and the only way not to pay out of pocket is to choose an insurance policy in advance. For many years we have been making out on the site, which give the best prices for insurance and selection, along with registration, takes only a couple of minutes.
If somewhere I have already repeated - I beg your pardon. I must have forgotten something, if I remember, I'll add it.
See you later!
Before traveling to another country, modern tourists surf the Internet in search of general information about the country - excursions, currency, religion, cuisine, and more. Undoubtedly, it is worth paying attention to the people of the country you are going to in order to better understand the local population, communicate with them and leave the best impressions about the country.
So who are the Thais?
These amazing Thais
The indigenous population of the country is the Thais, and the Chinese, Lao, Malaysians and other peoples with Thai roots who live in Thailand consider themselves Thais. The Thais themselves proudly call themselves “Khontai”, this word has a special meaning here, which has developed over time. The country has never been a colony and no one was able to conquer and enslave the country, although there were many attempts, hence the meaning of “khontai” - a free person.
The Thai language is used only in Thailand, it also cannot but cause pride among the local population, because the language and writing are quite complex, which is worth 5 tones used in it.
The vast majority, approximately 95%, of Thais practice Theravada Buddhism. This religion is very tolerant, which cannot but affect the lifestyle and attitudes of Thais both towards each other and to visiting tourists.
The first days in Thailand, your observations of the local population will probably cause you a lot of questions - why do they behave this way and not otherwise? The answer lies in their specific perception of life and attitude, which undoubtedly differ from European views.
Philosophy and way of life of Thais
Three pillars of the basis of Thai philosophy of life are: "sanuk" - pleasure, "sabai" - nice and "suai" - beautiful. This means that everything in life should bring pleasure and joy, it’s not worth it to overshadow life with haste, worries and fuss, and of course you always need to be neat and clean, in this country you are met “on clothes” like nowhere else. Of course, such a “light” attitude has its historical roots. Firstly, the fruitful nature - the abundance of fruits, vegetables, herbs and the absence of cold seasons have contributed - nothing needs to be grown and mined, everything grows by itself, just pick and eat. Secondly, access to the sea - both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea have always had huge stocks of fish and marine life, which you just need to catch and dinner is ready. Only the main ingredient of every Thai meal required hard work - sowing and harvesting rice. But even here, the Thais showed ingenuity and learned how to grow rice in water, which saved them from constant watering, and as a result, provided them with the opportunity to enjoy life measuredly between sowing and harvesting. The measured expectation was brightened up by creation - the Thais became talented artisans and painters. Palaces and temples throughout the country testify to this to this day. Thus, to this day, the Thais live a very measured life, trying not to rush anywhere and not to upset themselves with various minor troubles.
It is also worth paying attention to the Thai smile. It is believed that all emotions must be expressed through a smile - absolutely everything, even negative ones. Therefore, even if a Thai has a storm in his soul, there will be a smile on his face, because it is a smile that is the path to understanding in Thailand.
Small peoples of Tai
Along with modern Thais, small Thai peoples live mainly in northern Thailand. These are various tribes living their age-old ways and beliefs. They, as residents of one state, are also considered Thais, but only on paper. The locals themselves call them according to their names - Akha, Lisu, Shans, Karens, Miao and many others. All tribes have special traditional clothes and language features. Every tribe has its own way of life. Many of them continue to worship the spirits of nature - the sun or the moon. Rites dedicated to a festive or tragic event - birth or death - are also kept for centuries. Basically, the tribes live apart, having no contact, not only with tourists, even with the Thais themselves, but there are also tribes that have even learned to make a small profit from visiting tourists, selling various homemade jewelry and souvenirs. So, for example, in the north of the country in Chaengmai, you can visit the tribes of long-necked women in their homes and look at the simple way of life and lifestyle. Today, even in tourist Pattaya, you can visit such a village, though artificially created.
Communication with the local population
Thais are very hospitable hosts. In tourist areas, most Thais speak English, so if you have a small vocabulary, there will be no problems. It is also worth studying the section on the Thai language and printing out a mini Thai phrase book - just in case. Well, in communication, do not forget about a smile and restraint in communication. Even the Thais themselves speak quite reservedly. Any conflict and even raising your voice can lead to “losing face”, this is also an important concept for the local culture. A person carries his face proudly throughout his life, so any misconduct can lead to a loss of respect.
It is thanks to this Thai culture and philosophy that Thailand is very popular among tourists - where can you rest your body and soul, if not in the country of the eternal sun, sea, fruits, smiles and hospitality!
Welcome to Thailand!
We can't believe that so many months have already passed since we came to live in Thailand, in such a beloved country. On the one hand, only 6 months, people live in Thailand for years. On the other hand, for our couple, this is a decent time. Before that, the maximum time we lived in one country was 2.5 months in Sri Lanka. Even before leaving for Asia, I kept a diary of planned flights from country to country, Thailand was in 6th or 7th place in the general list. Fate and circumstances have distributed this list in their own way. We did not regret at all that we live in the kingdom right here and now.
We haven't seen much in six months. Unlike most travelers, we do not have a pursuit for the number of places and attractions visited. We lead a measured life in Thailand and do not jump from city to city. We live based on our financial capabilities, as well as each other's preferences. We are lucky that they converge in most cases.
How did we end up in Thailand?
Fate brought us to Thailand from. There we met the new year 2014 on the island. After Malaysia, we decided to go to a new country where we could live for a few months. The closest such country was Tai.
Why Bangkok?
We understood that it would be impossible to find decent accommodation in tourist areas in January at the height of the season. Also, Glory and the Sea immediately ceased to interest us. Therefore, all resort places such as Koh Samui, Krabi and Phuket were immediately excluded. Pattaya was not even considered then. They unanimously chose Bangkok and went to it.
Glory on some nameless street in Bangkok
We lived for two unforgettable months in the capital of Thailand - in, which for us to this day remains real Thailand and just a convenient metropolis. We settled in the most expensive, by our standards then. We happily went and, which we only wanted. After Malaysia, we just ate. Several times they fell on numerous ones, dragged them to their apartment, rejoiced, riding inexpensive Bangkok taxis and slowly got to know non-tourist Tai.
Elephant House in Bangkok
And we have a siesta!
In the evenings, the streets of Bangkok turn into an endless restaurant
Will we return to Bangkok again? Definitely yes!
Firstly, because everything is the way we like it, secondly, because flying from Bangkok, wherever it is most profitable, and thirdly, because before flying to Russia, you need to stock up on clothes and shoes at low prices .
Where can I order a transfer from the airport?
We use the service - Kiwi Taxi
Ordered a taxi online, paid by card. We were greeted at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You have already talked about your experience in this article.
Moving from Bangkok to Krabi
After Bangkok we rushed to . This resort is most remembered for the arrival of my mother, with two pools, rocks as from a picture and its nature.
Glory on Ao Nang beach admiring the sea
Mom tells me in my ear which restaurant she wants to go to in the evening
We celebrate mother's birthday in a restaurant by the sea
The flow of tourists here is large, the prices are appropriate, and people with the naked eye are different from the capital. But what islands, how many living creatures and impressions. And as many as three changes of residence in Krabi itself. This was not the case anywhere. A month and a half of life at the resort disappeared, as if we lived there for two weeks. Basically, the pastime consisted of hiking on and, and we also visited some excursions. Krabi did not catch my heart or Slavino. The main thing is that mom was delighted, which means that the task is completed and you can move on.
Amazing cliffs in Krabi
Will we return to Krabi again? Probably not.
It makes no sense. Everything you wanted to see, and for the fabulous nature and landscapes you can go somewhere else. Krabi is not the place where you want to return, it is not addictive. Despite such subjective observations, we wish everyone to fly there at least once. Neither on Koh Samui, nor on Phuket, nowhere, as in Krabi, there is no such nature. For the sake of relaxation and for the sake of loved ones - this resort does not go unnoticed by tourists and backpackers. But it makes no sense to stay there for more than two or three weeks.
Leaving Ao Nang without regrets
We moved from Krabi to Pattaya
And now, we are already in. In a city that neither of us ever wanted to go to. Live there? I never dreamed of even relaxing there. With such extraordinary thoughts, we arrived in Pattaya. Thank you so much for completely changing the way we think about ourselves. Despite the endless flow of tourists at any time of the year, the dirty sea, trance thieves and inviting prostitutes, it's good here.
Panorama of Pattaya from the observation deck
South Pattaya
View of Jomtien area
Russian signs in Pattaya
Pattaya beach
Pattaya has many attractions, entertainment for every taste and places where it is interesting to visit. There are kind locals here, prices are not for wasteful hotel tourists, and here it even looks a bit like Bangkok. He's so close it's within reach. Now, no matter what anyone writes negative about the most famous resort in Thailand, I will refute it.
