Feeling 'eyed' by Thailand and what I'm planning on doing about it

[robertson468]

The biggest problem for people, especially the Senior Citizens is CHANGE.  They are happy and secure in what they know and have adapted to, however, throw in a few changes and many become unsettled and want to get away from the change.  I have lived in Thailand for 15 years and yes sometimes I become restless, but that is me, not Thailand or the Thai people, who by and large are very hospitable and friendly, providing you are to them!  Certainly a lot more sociable then UK from where I originated.  Back to the Immigration issue, what has happened is not the result of actions by Thai Immigration, but by the various Embassies who have refused to issue letters confirming income.  That has caused Immigration to seek a new route, either lump sum deposit or monthly income, at the level appropriate to your marital status.  Personally I don't find it a problem, but if you find you can't meet the requirements, then you are right to leave instead of getting in to trouble with the Thai Authorities.  Would suggest that you go back to USA and spend sometime there to assess if it is more suitable than Thailand.  UK means to me high prices (a beer is 250baht plus), cold wet climat, unhappy and largely unsociable people, boring food, Council Tax, Nanny State et al.  At the age of 74 I am more than happy to stay in (Wild West) Thailand and enjoy all that it has to offer.  But good luck to you....you might want to look at yourself rather than blaming other issues and remember the grass is not always greener on the other side!

[RocketDog]

1 hour ago, Gecko123 said:

This is an interesting observation.

 

My take on this is that the reasons Americans may be more outspoken about some of the recent changes to immigration policy is that they are perhaps more sensitized to civil liberty issues than other nationalities. Every American on this forum grew up in an era in which issues regarding civil rights - whether racial, gender, sexual orientation, disability, employment, freedom of speech, or abortion - were rarely not in the news. "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," is the one fragment of the US Constitution every American can cite.

 

Whether people choose to ignore it or not, both the changes to the 800K requirement and the TM-30 Housemaster reporting requirement are clear infringements on your civil liberties. The 800K requirement has gone from being a once a year verification of sufficient financial means to a heavyhanded deprivation of access to your personal private property. While your property is certainly not being confiscated or seized, for five months out of the year you plain and simply no longer have access to $25,000 of your property, and for 12 months out of the year you no longer have access to $12,500 of your property. That's a big change which many see as an infringement on property rights.

 

The TM-30 Housemaster reporting requirement has effectively added a transaction cost to your freedom of movement whenever you leave the country, and depending on the whims of various immigration offices, even if you stay overnight in another province. How anyone can see that as anything other than an encroachment on your freedom of travel or movement is beyond me.

 

If it is true that Americans have been more outspoken on this issue than other nationalities, I would strongly disagree with those who have said that this is because Americans were the ones most abusing the income verification rules, and were caught with their pants down when the embassies stopped issuing verification letters. While I am certain there are plenty of examples from every nationality, my strong suspicion is that it was the British who were hit hardest by this rule change. My reasons for saying this are: (1) the unexpected and severe devaluation of the Pound following Brexit, and (2) the fact that British retirement entitlement programs are generally less generous than in the US. I would just like to add that I empathize with the British over this predicament, and am fully cognizant that the same situation could easily befall Americans, i.e., a currency devaluation and cuts to entitlement programs.

 

Growing up in the 50's in America I agree with you, mostly.

 

The money in the bank thing doesn't bother me too much as I'm happy not to keep too much in USA banks. Thankfully I have enough that it doesn't bother me. 

 

The TM30 thing I completely ignore if I'm traveling to another province for a few days. I'll take my chances. 

The Civil liberty encroachments here rankle me but recent visits home and following the news it is clear to me that those same liberties are significantly and increasingly being abused more in America. When I get upset about something here I stop and think about life in America and quickly release my ire. 

[Gecko123]

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

Depends entirely on who you have around you as you move from old to very old. In my case, at 77 years of age, I am still lucky in that regard, and I'm far from convinced that the elderly are well looked after in my home country, the UK.

Very true. But...I can't help but wonder how many guys would be up $*it creek if their Thai spouse died. Even if that didn't happen, how many guys are genuinely confident that their Thai wife would be willing and able to manage their care to the standard you hope for? Setting aside how devoted your spouse is, what I see is that in many cases because of the lack of resources and training, the norm for at-home elder care borders on medieval with people lucky to be helped out of bed or be fed more than once a day. I realize there is plenty of nursing home abuse in the West, but don't you think there is probably a better regulatory structure in place to monitor care than you would find here?

[atyclb]

16 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

Can relate to the change in Thai attitudes, I have had people who will not sit next to the foreigner on a bus many times, or if they do move as soon as they can. Last week sitting at the food court in TOPS the woman next to me got up and dragged her table away (they have two together) Many other little slights like that go on, it's stopped being the land of smiles a long time ago, although you there are still nice encounters of course.

 

 

i think their fear of you striking up a conversatiion in complex english like "hello" compels them to move away.

[lipflipper]

Thais attitude to foreigners has changed as evidenced by this incident to my friend. He had his Camry keyed three times and it took a lot of pressure on the Police before they would do anything about it despite having CCTV footage of the guy. Finally they rounded up the Bozo and he just simply told the Police he hated foreigners and had done this many times to their cars. Did he have to pay, yeah right, did he do any jail time, ditto. IMO this Thai smile is all superficial but I can deal with that and just go about my business.

Sent from my CMR-AL19 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[GalaxyMan]

1 hour ago, soistalker said:

Thais get nastier and more aggressive each year. You can be ripped off by random police officers waving you over to a desk that looks like a lemonade stand to ask you, "How mut you gib me?" And everyone wants to cheat you.

I don't see that it's changed all that much in that respect since I came here in 1983, just a bit more sophisticated at times due to the innovations in technology. I was held up at gunpoint in Bangkok back in 1983 by a senior police official who wanted to make an extra 200 baht by making up some infraction. When I told where to put it, he pulled his gun and stuck it in my face. I gave him his 200 baht. Of course, there was no receipt. Has it really changed?

[Jonnapat]

17 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

Can relate to the change in Thai attitudes, I have had people who will not sit next to the foreigner on a bus many times, or if they do move as soon as they can. Last week sitting at the food court in TOPS the woman next to me got up and dragged her table away (they have two together) Many other little slights like that go on, it's stopped being the land of smiles a long time ago, although you there are still nice encounters of course.

You got it exactly right, I've noticed many instances such as you describe 

[neeray]

2 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

The US and western countries are for males who want to be controlled by females and it is all a big game.

Dating 65 year old women, always talking politics and using it as a tool, paying 2,000 dollars a month for an apt. plus, governentt regulation, taxes, etc. etc. is certainly not my idea of a fun quality life. 

And some think the attitudes of people in these countries are friendlier?

Good luck to those who seek a better life there make sure please you come back and let us know how much those places suck also....

The little home surrounded by a "white picket fence" never was my idea of LIVING.

Thus, Thailand.

[Captain 776]

Sooooooo many are losing their minds over recent Immigration changes.

Frankly......I dont see it as a big deal.

Complain here until you are blue in the face, nothing is going to change by complaining here.....or anywhere else.

 

We are Guests in this country and either comply with the rules and requirements or choose another location or go back to your native country.

 

Sad but true.........those are your options.

 

I am a licensed ship Captain, my first plan was to retire in the Carribean and run boats part time but my main career of Oil and Gas landed me on this side of the world in Australia, Africa, and China and I landed in Thailand.

I am happy here (13 yrs now) would like to go to Carribean but wont move now.

Very happy in our small village with nice house, nice neighbors, my pets, my hobbies.

 

Enjoy where you are.......no matter where you land

 

The Captain

[marcusarelus]

24 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

Very true. But...I can't help but wonder how many guys would be up $*it creek if their Thai spouse died. Even if that didn't happen, how many guys are genuinely confident that their Thai wife would be willing and able to manage their care to the standard you hope for? Setting aside how devoted your spouse is, what I see is that in many cases because of the lack of resources and training, the norm for at-home elder care borders on medieval with people lucky to be helped out of bed or be fed more than once a day. I realize there is plenty of nursing home abuse in the West, but don't you think there is probably a better regulatory structure in place to monitor care than you would find here?

In a word?  No.  I read the VA reports on health care rankings and not only is the care bad but the executives responsible for the sub standard care are getting promoted.  A Law Meant to Discipline Executives is Being Used to Fire Low-Level Workers.  Google, "Suzanne Klinker is getting a promotion." (I lived in Florida)  or google, "A 66-year-old nursing home patient died after being bitten hundreds of times by fire ants"

 

Here in Thailand I have arranged my care and the availability of doctors to make house calls.  I've had the same cardiologist for 6 years. 

 

I toured many nursing homes because I had elderly parents before they passed.  Most that I saw smelled of pee and the staff was 3rd world born raised and trained.  Thailand health care is much better.

 

 

[mngmn]

It seems to me that the main issues driving people to reconsider living in Thailand that are being discussed in this forum are:

• Changes to the financial requirements for an extension of stay based on retirement
• TM30 reporting requirements
• The level of bureaucracy and corruption at the Thai Immigration department
• Thai culture in general and the perception that Thais are/have become less friendly to foreigners

Few seem to mention the concerns that led to my decision to return to my home country:

• There is no security for personal relationships.  You can only stay with your partner/children at the whim of the immigration department on a year-by-year basis.  Rules can change at any time, possibly forcing a long term separation.
• Thailand is becoming (and will continue to become) quite an expensive place to live if you aspire to a middle class lifestyle (always made worse by rampant double pricing).
• Pollution is becoming a problem throughout Thailand.  Since much of it is due to the vast fleet of aging diesel vehicles and entrenched agricultural practices, I  see little hope of it being solved.  Living with this level of pollution, if only for a few months of the year, will shorten your life. Especially if you are older. Apart from physical health, there is research that poor air quality can lead to depression in the elderly.
• It is next to impossible to afford full medical cover as you age. This means you may face the difficult decision between bankruptcy or premature death. Accessing free medical services in your home country may not always be possible for long-term expats.

Many in the forum have also mentioned the many benefits to living in Thailand, that for them, offset the disadvantages.

 

In the end it's going to be a very personal decision to stay or leave.  Apart from the ever present trolls, this forum is a useful discussion of the pros and cons.

 

[Vacuum]

15 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

25 years ago I would get Thais coming up to me in the Street, or sitting next to you to practice their English, not these days.

Happened to me last night.....

[Saltire]

17 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

have you been to Hua Hin? you should come to visit for a solid month. A bit more like California or Florida as far as hospitals, malls, shops. The Thais are used to Farangs here. They call it "White Town". No cop would stop and ask you where are you from. No drug tests and anything like that.

 

I live like a king on just my SS alone. Sometimes when I travel I add in a few extra hundred dollars for a big party. ???? 

 

I watched my mom and dad age in the USA. They lived to be 89 and 92. I am in 63 and have zero health issues except for some IBS. 

People live a long time in my family. So I expect to live until at least 80.

 

It was expensive as hell to get my parents home care.  Like $30 A HOUR! and they had it running around the clock and then assisted living.

That is why I came to Thailand. All you have to do is give a Thai the incentive to keep you alive and they will.

But you have to be start about it.

 

also the USA you know was destroyed about 20 years ago. you will not be able to speak your mind about anything. 

 

Hua Hin is I hope my eventual destination in a few years. I haven't been everywhere in Thailand but Hua Hin is my favourite, regular escape from my otherwise rural happy life. It's like a smaller-scale, friendlier Pattaya for me. At the moment I could never contemplate returning to live in the UK. Unfortunately I agree - like the USA it's never going to be the same as it was 20 years ago.

 

I feel fortunate to have a smaller. friendly immigration office and can honestly say I have never been made to feel unwelcome. Maybe many smiles are insincere, but mine will continue to be.

 

Good luck to the OP.

[mngmn]

8 minutes ago, Captain 776 said:

And on a further note.......reading the comments, many say how Thailand has changed, so have our home countries.

 

U K

Now has a Muslim mayor.......how did that happen?

Because Muslims already have enough to carry the vote.

For damn sure, no Brits voted Muslim.

The Mayor is IN and Parliament is their next target.

England will be a Muslim stronghold by 2030.........if it even takes that long,

 

U S A 

Now has 3 radical Muslims in Congress and the dipstick Democrats want to change Capitalism to Socialism.

The United States is spiraling into the toilet on FAST FORWARD.

 

Australia has their issues.

 

Is Thailand reallythat bad?

Mods.  These seem particularly insensitive comments following the Christchurch terrorist attack.  Would also point out that 5% of the Thai population (double Australia's 2%) is Muslim and the Thai government really doesn't need foreigners stirring up Islamophobia given the sensitive situation in the southern provinces.  At last we have a really good reason for denying entry to Thailand.

 

[marcusarelus]

5 minutes ago, mngmn said:

It seems to me that the main issues driving people to reconsider living in Thailand that are being discussed in this forum are:

• Changes to the financial requirements for an extension of stay based on retirement
• TM30 reporting requirements
• The level of bureaucracy and corruption at the Thai Immigration department
• Thai culture in general and the perception that Thais are/have become less friendly to foreigners

Few seem to mention the concerns that led to my decision to return to my home country:

• There is no security for personal relationships.  You can only stay with your partner/children at the whim of the immigration department on a year-by-year basis.  Rules can change at any time, possibly forcing a long term separation.
• Thailand is becoming (and will continue to become) quite an expensive place to live if you aspire to a middle class lifestyle (always made worse by rampant double pricing).
• Pollution is becoming a problem throughout Thailand.  Since much of it is due to the vast fleet of aging diesel vehicles and entrenched agricultural practices, I  see little hope of it being solved.  Living with this level of pollution, if only for a few months of the year, will shorten your life. Especially if you are older. Apart from physical health, there is research that poor air quality can lead to depression in the elderly.
• It is next to impossible to afford full medical cover as you age. This means you may face the difficult decision between bankruptcy or premature death. Accessing free medical services in your home country may not always be possible for long-term expats.

Many in the forum have also mentioned the many benefits to living in Thailand, that for them, offset the disadvantages.

 

In the end it's going to be a very personal decision to stay or leave.  Apart from the ever present trolls, this forum is a useful discussion of the pros and cons.

I agree that discussion is always a good thing but the premise of this thread, "feeling eyed" is clearly flawed and due to the OP's paranoia and impossible to measure. 

 

Your post goes wrong about double pricing (double hospital prices are still cheap except in health care free countries) Nothing else of any consequence is double priced.  Security of personal relationships is not a concern if one has enough money to stay in Thailand long term.  If not you should not be here - move family to your country.  Inflation is very low in Thailand and much lower than your country (check price of housing 20 years ago and today).  

Check threads in med forum about insurance prices. 

 

Pollution?  I live on the ocean.  Not a problem for some.  Is a problem for others. 

[ThaiBunny]

Having read the OP again, my overwhelming sense is one of unrealistic expectations that were, of course, never met.  If you want to see how you will be treated in a foreign country, look closely at how newly-minted migrants from foreign cultures are treated in your own. Generally they live in ghettoes of their own kind, and interact with locals minimally.  Very often the locals deliberately limit any interaction as they are fearful of "foreigners".  There are very, very few countries where what's sometimes called multiculturalism is a success and that's because governments in particular actively promote it. Thailand is not one of them - it's the reverse, if anything

[Jingthing]

21 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

I agree that discussion is always a good thing but the premise of this thread, "feeling eyed" is clearly flawed and due to the OP's paranoia and impossible to measure. 

…

It's up to the OP to respond to your personal attack against him, labelling him paranoid, but here is my impression.

I read his OP and what I read was a well reasoned subjective account of his feelings as well as actions he is considering taking in response to his subjective feeling about the situation here that he has observed.

Who exactly are you to diagnose him as paranoid?

Also it really isn't up to other people whether to agree or disagree with him -- his subjective feelings are part of his truth and they are valid for him.

Others may not feel they are having similar experiences, and of course, those feeling are also just as valid for them. 

Even if you are a trained psychologist or psychiatrist you would know even better that it is not ethical to make such determinations about a person without direct clinical contact.

If you've got an agenda -- to sugarcoat the very real issues that are happening for foreigners in Thailand, fine. Pursue your agenda.

But part of your tactics appears to be pursuing obnoxious character assassination towards people that you feel threaten the pursuit of your agenda.

As one of your serial targets, you've done similar towards me on multiple topics over a period of time, so I'm particularly qualified to call this out. 

 

[mngmn]

4 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

I agree that discussion is always a good thing but the premise of this thread, "feeling eyed" is clearly flawed and due to the OP's paranoia and impossible to measure. 

Agree but his paranoia has spawned an interesting discussion.

4 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

Your post goes wrong about double pricing (double hospital prices are still cheap except in health care free countries) Nothing else of any consequence is double priced.

Are you sure you live in Thailand? Gouging falangs is a national passtime.

4 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

Security of personal relationships is not a concern if one has enough money to stay in Thailand long term.  If not you should not be here - move family to your country.  Inflation is very low in Thailand and much lower than your country (check price of housing 20 years ago and today).

My point was that Non-O visas and extension of stays are only for one year at a time.  Rules could change at any time.  Has nothing to do with what I can afford.  In any case moving my family to my home country would be far more expensive than 'living in Thailand long term'.  Have already decided 'I should not be there' but thanks for the additional input.

4 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

Check threads in med forum about insurance prices. 

Can't beat free.

4 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

 

Pollution?  I live on the ocean.  Not a problem for some.  Is a problem for others. 

Buy an app for your phone that allows you to check pollution levels.  In Feb pollution in Pattaya, Jomtien, Rayong... was almost as bad as Bangkok.

[The Theory]

19 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

I have a big incentive to wait for four more years until I'm 70. If I can hold off on starting SS until then, the combination of the higher SS payout, being able to live in Thailand essentially rent free

I calculated mine, if I start my SS at 62 it will be the same as 67 or 70 till meet 79. Then I lose after 79. 

I decided to start at 62.

[Gecko123]

1 hour ago, marcusarelus said:

I agree that discussion is always a good thing but the premise of this thread, "feeling eyed" is clearly flawed and due to the OP's paranoia and impossible to measure. 

You try articulating subtle changes in people's behavior. I'm sure it will provide me with ample opportunity to speculate about your mental health as well. 'Eyed' was the verb I chose to describe somewhere between being glared or stared at and friendly direct eye contact. It was used to describe a sense of being observed, watched or being casually monitored without any other verbal or non-verbal communication. Your wild speculation about my mental health is just that: wild speculation.

[The Theory]

19 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

Maine, if anyone's interested, has some amazing homes available for well under $100K, but you're probably talking about 5 feet

 

My brother in law offered me a piece of land in small town, Pennsylvania. I did not need to pay for it, for free. I did not take it, because of the same problem you mentioned about Maine. 

Depression would be even worse than snow at higher age.  

[malibukid]

7 hours ago, Isaan Alan said:

Yes, great and honest post. 

 

The feeling of change in attitude is real I beiieve. I have found that jealousy runs very deep in Thai society and that Thais are often motivated by schadenfreude, that is a joy obtained from seeing others, in this case farangs, suffer a fall. There is a lot of lying on social media to make others jealous and show a fine face sometimes as a payback or out of ignorance of the negative affect.  With many Thais, behind the smile is a deep shaft of jealousy. Of course, Westerners have the same problems but I expected more from such a strongly Buddhist country.

 

My quals for saying this: 3 years in Thailand and and being married to a Thai. 

why would we they be jealous of a white, educated, wealthy farang?

[Gecko123]

1 hour ago, marcusarelus said:

In a word?  No.  I read the VA reports on health care rankings and not only is the care bad but the executives responsible for the sub standard care are getting promoted.  A Law Meant to Discipline Executives is Being Used to Fire Low-Level Workers.  Google, "Suzanne Klinker is getting a promotion." (I lived in Florida)  or google, "A 66-year-old nursing home patient died after being bitten hundreds of times by fire ants"

 

Here in Thailand I have arranged my care and the availability of doctors to make house calls.  I've had the same cardiologist for 6 years. 

 

I toured many nursing homes because I had elderly parents before they passed.  Most that I saw smelled of pee and the staff was 3rd world born raised and trained.  Thailand health care is much better.

 

 

Your gobbledygook reply ignored the central question of my post: who exactly is going to coordinate your care and look after your interests in the event you have a stroke or a debilitating ailment like dementia? One of the Thai Cupid bootycalls who were so eager to make your acquaintance "now-that-immigration-has-cleared-out-all-the-riff-raff-from-Thailand?' You're in such bad shape you can't even make it to the hospital and doctors have to make housecalls? In the interest of full disclosure, could you even leave Thailand if you wanted to?

[Lacessit]

17 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

 

 

Folks look at me a lot though, I attribute that to my stunning bronzed physique. Plus I stuff a sock.

Chest or groin? Just asking.....

[joevanwyck]

Very well thought out and written. I have been thinking the same things. Always good to have a plan for what the near future may bring. Good post.

[Kwasaki]

20 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

tapping IRA accounts

Oh well things change, these are still active ya know don't touch IRA money. ????

 

I know there's this mid-life crisis thing that goes on with some men maybe yours has come a bit late. 

 

I can't see any of your concerns that bother me in the least, I would say the problems are yours, I never thought living in Thailand was gonna be conservative.

[marcusarelus]

4 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

Your gobbledygook reply ignored the central question of my post: who exactly is going to coordinate your care and look after your interests in the event you have a stroke or a debilitating ailment like dementia? One of the girls who are so eager to meet you "now-that-immigration-has-cleared-out-all-the-riff-raff-from-Thailand?' You're in such bad shape you can't even make it to the hospital and doctors have to make housecalls? In the interest of full disclosure, could you even leave Thailand if you wanted to?

My wife is an executive at a major multinational manufacturing company in Thailand.  She speaks 5 languages and I have insurance both in Thailand and America.  The hospital I go to direct bills VA.  I'm in good shape.  I made arrangements for house calls in the past to have a dressing changed from an operation and for the future if it becomes necessary.  If I needed a 24/7 caregiver it would be one of her less well to do cousins.  I could leave Thailand and have investigated VA health care in the US.  It would be up North and not really my cup of tea but doable if necessary.  My Thai wife would not come.  The gobbledygook you speak of is nursing home care in America is poor and in the VA even poorer.  I have visited over 50 nursing homes and know this from my own experience. 

[Lacessit]

In Chiang Mai, I haven't noticed any change in Thai attitudes towards me. I just mind my own business.

 The only serious change has come from Bangkok, with respect to qualifying for a visa extension. It's moot as to whether that's a response to corruption, or an attempt to eliminate impecunious retirees. If the authorities squeeze too hard, other countries will benefit.

[Nyezhov]

6 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Chest or groin? Just asking.....

Did I say socks or sock? There is your answer Breaker.

[Thaidream]

12 hours ago, uhuh said:

Much more than 5 years in Thailand,  and 2 weeks ago my first bad experience with immigration.  No big deal,  but a whole day wasted at CW.

 

Oh, and last year my then girlfriend casually mentioned that "nobody likes farang". I had never heard it in this absoluteness. So a while ago i mentioned to my current gf that Thais don't like farang. She was a bit apologetic but agreed. 

I don't think it is absolute- but as a rule most Thais now hold Westerners  in low esteem until proven otherwise.

 

When I first came to Thailand in 1971- there were hardly any foreigners- a few Westerners and the Us Military-  many Thais were afraid of Westerners because they had no interaction with us.

As the years have progressed-  Foreigners- especially Westerners were held in High esteem- as we were well dressed; had money and acted politely.  This all changed with mass tourism and the growth of sex tourism. the more Westerners that came in  due to low cost flights brought in not only the good but also the bad.   In the early years- even with the US military on leave from Vietnam- I cannot remember foreigners acting up; criminals; overstays in numbers etc.

 

In the last 10 years- there have been almost daily reports of  Foreigners- mostly Westerners- getting into bar fights; killing each other; stealing; and just generally unable to hold their alcohol or committing a crime in Thailand. Throw in criminal Westerners posing as school teachers abusing children; running boiler rooms; selling drugs; robbing banks 

 

In addition- the advent of the social media-the internet and smart phones  means it is immediately  sent to millions. While we all know that locals have their good, bad and ugly; I believe that  abhorrent Westerner's stand out to Thais because most Thais  didn't expect there would be so many  Westerners that could cause so many social problems.

 

I try and keep smiling; treat people with respect and generally get a smile back. However, when I don't- I try and remember why.  

 

The bottom line is that while Thailand is  not as 'friendly' as it once was and there are myriad reasons for this besides  Western fatigue-  I would also postulate that our countries are not as friendly as they once were for also a myriad  of reasons.