Alternatives to Thailand because Denied Entry in Chiangmai

[baansgr]

10 hours ago, BritTim said:

Add the Philippines to your shortlist. Visas are pretty easy, and living costs low, especially if you like to spend some of your time in bars. The main drawback is that the food scene is pretty dismal.

Flipper food is no comparison to here as we are quite spoiled but the cantinas i find offer cheap tasty food, Adobo and the like. Where PI beats Thailand is with Western food, an abundance of restaurants serving at a fraction of the cost here. Anyone thats lived here a while would still be able to cook the same Thai dishes at home anyway.

[KiChakayan]

47 minutes ago, KiChakayan said:

Another thing to keep in mind, is where you are going to "boomboom" when you get a bit bored with you wife. In an Issan village, every smile you dispense to the local "hotties" will get reported to you MIL. I get all my medical done at Bumrungrad which is a stone throw from Nana.  And then it remains a small world...????

Sorry wrong thread, was meant to be in "Moving to Issan". Too many tabs...

[JackThompson]

5 hours ago, pr9spk said:

Like most places in the world, if you bring respect for the local culture and populace, you will be unlikely to encounter issues.

I agree with this part - if you are talking about interacting with locals.

 

5 hours ago, pr9spk said:

You are an ambassador for your country, please don't besmirch the rest of us by only trying to see what you can personally get out of living in a different country. Instead of complaining about the people, why don't you do something to change it?

I saw nothing in the OP's post "complaining about the people" of Thailand.  It was immigration who screwed him.  And which is it - "respect" - OR - "change it"?  How to go about changing it, and what aspects?

 

OTOH, educating foreigners about the "real-world" nature of immigration at several offices and entry-points in Thailand, is not complaining about "the country" at large - or its people, who are quite welcoming.

 

5 hours ago, pr9spk said:

And learn the bloody rules about the country's visas.

More like "learn how the corruption operates, and the arbitrary so-called "enforcement" of vague, so you can avoid the rampant lawlessness." 

 

We have no obligation to, "Shut up, and pretend the corruption doesn't exist."  On the contrary, we need to make sure every foreigner who comes here knows "how it really is," so as to minimize opportunities for the corrupt/lawless types to harm/scam them.

 

5 hours ago, pr9spk said:

your white-privilege allows

No such thing in Western countries - the inverse, in fact.  I cannot believe anyone still believes in that myth.

 

Granted, some Asian countries do have race-mentality issues, but White is not at the top of their socially-constructed hierarchy - just not at the bottom.

 

Of course, there is "Wealth" privilege, which is universal.  As long as women are predisposed to seek higher social-rank (their natural gene-survival strategy), and social-ranks exist, we have what we have.

[JackThompson]

3 hours ago, Peasandmash said:

You're most likely being being treated much better than what your meager contribution to the economy entitles you to. I've read absurd posts just like this so many times here. "I pay taxes here, I should be able to vote here" or "I spend a whopping $30-40 thousand baht a month here and I should receive special treatment". One word comes to mind when I read posts like this>>> Delusional.

No one is talking about voting - ever, that I've seen.  I and many others (with experience in other countries) think the restriction against foreigners owning land is a good idea. 

 

If the OP spends 40K+ Baht/mo into Thailand, that is 4 Thai salaries worth of money being poured in, with no downside for the country at all.  It is the epitome of insanity to turn him away. 

 

The restrictions on Visa-Exempt were brought in under the supposed-rationale of stopping those coming to take jobs here illegally, but are now being abused, with the primary result of screwing-over Thais, who benefit from foreigners' spending. 

 

We foreigners, such as the OP, can simply go elsewhere, but the Thais who no longer have a revenue-stream supporting their job, can not.

[sfokevin]

8 hours ago, pr9spk said:

Vietnam is too xenophobic towards Westerners...

Given what that country has been through can you blame them... 

 

[sfokevin]

1 hour ago, KiChakayan said:

I get all my medical done at Bumrungrad which is a stone throw from Nana.  And then it remains a small world...????

One assumes you have a medical condition that requires frequent monitoring... 

[balo]

2 hours ago, Number 6 said:

In my opinion, the Philippines is only superficially appealing. The food is horrendous especially if you have high BP or cholesterol. The veggies not fresh, fruit is old. Everything is overpriced for foreigners and everyone will want a piece of you. Foreigners pay premium rates for hotels, even ghs. It's difficult to get utilities established. Unemployment is chronic. Everyone speaks English but no one's especially interesting to talk to. I find Filipinos and the culture extremely dull. The poverty is crushing and the nation is ruled by Chinese merchant politico class. The place is absolutely hopeless. I have never met quality foreigners there, it's always guys on the run from debt or the law. Alcoholics.

Great observations, and add to that the tropical storms, flooding and earth quakes. I think you have to be a bit desperate to move to the Phills. 

[JackThompson]

4 hours ago, Thailand said:

I thought Lechon is roast pig street food and delicious?

It is.  Name 5 other delicious PI dishes, though. 

 

If you like Western food, you are set in many areas of the PI.  If you like Thai food, you will need to go to Thai restaurants, or cook it yourself. 

 

Note that all the ingredients for good Thai food are easily found in Cambodian markets - not sure about PI markets.

 

2 hours ago, Number 6 said:

In my opinion, the Philippines is only superficially appealing. The food is horrendous especially if you have high BP or cholesterol. The veggies not fresh, fruit is old.

That depends where you shop.  But I will grant you, the best PI banana I ever had was from the grocery in the airport in Singapore - they tend to export their best. 

 

But, I had similar experiences in many markets in Thailand - finding when I moved to the boonies, that the best foods are eaten locally, and they sell their worst to the cities.

 

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Everything is overpriced for foreigners and everyone will want a piece of you. Foreigners pay premium rates for hotels, even ghs.

The only time I encountered this, was in smaller to medium-sized towns - due to a general lack of "middle-class" housing in those areas.  Choices were "resort" or "shack".

 

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It's difficult to get utilities established. Unemployment is chronic. Everyone speaks English but no one's especially interesting to talk to.

Unless you are interested in local gossip, this is the same in every country I have been to, including my passport-country.

 

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I find Filipinos and the culture extremely dull. The poverty is crushing and the nation is ruled by Chinese merchant politico class.

... and descendants of the Spaniards.

 

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The place is absolutely hopeless. I have never met quality foreigners there, it's always guys on the run from debt or the law. Alcoholics.

It's a mixed-bag, like everywhere.  I met decent expats there.

 

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The girls are mercenary, many scams exist and they work extortion rackets with the cops.

Don't date girls who look too young.  Problem solved.

 

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The cops are worst on the planet I think.

They were more friendly, in my experience, than any I have ever encountered in the world.  Almost all returned a smile, offered to help with directions if I stopped to see a street-name (as did locals), etc.

 

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There is not even the semblance of fairness and law. Also... happened to a friend (truly, not me). He was at ATM and stupid ignorant woman could not figure it out. After waiting far too long he became upset and cursed her. She told the bank, cops came, hassled and fined him.

Abusing locals for "taking too long" at an ATM is idiotic behavior.  The PI has a culture of civility, and breaking that code would understandably upset them.  A "fine" was an easy-out - allowing him to walk away, and them to preserve a shred of dignity (which he had undermined).

 

I've waited far too long at Thai ATMs, given you can do like 10 different things with them now - paying bills, etc.  Yes, it is annoying, but I'd never curse local Thais for it.

 

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The place operates at a really stupid even childish level. Everyone has degrees but they are utterly worthless. Everyone unemployed.

The unemployment is a problem, but I lived in working-class areas of Cebu, and all my neighbors had jobs.  There are huge slums, though.

 

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The younger women can be cute but as they age even into early 20s their bodies go fast imo due to poor diet.

Ahh, now I see where you had problems with the "police/girl scams," I think. 

 

Some locals have the "stay thin" genes, and some don't.  A much higher percentage have them in the PI than my passport-country, so I found it a pleasing place to be.  It was the first place I'd been where you would see a still-attractive mid-30s lady with 3 kids trailing behind her (I had not been to mainland-Asia, yet).

 

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Filipinos are not Asians although there are obviously mixed ethnicities. They are Pacific Islanders. This is the mentality.

 

When people think of hard working ambitious Filipinos, yeah the ones smart enough and educated enough to get out of the Philippines.

I met several in that category who worked there.

 

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Philippines has always been known as the sick man of Asia. Vietnam, sleeping powerhouse will catch it and surpass it quickly. Why? Thailand and Philippines we're at parity early 70s.

Thailand's population rate quickly declined, the PI's didn't.  That's why you have the slums.  Thank the Pope's lousy family-planning advice, and the locals buying into it. 

 

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Enjoy it for a year. Hope you're not blackmailed.

As long as he doesn't seek out children as sex-partners, he should be fine.

 

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Refuge of scoundrels

Ha.  Who is the scoundrel?

[JackThompson]

7 minutes ago, balo said:

Great observations, and add to that the tropical storms, flooding and earth quakes. I think you have to be a bit desperate to move to the Phills. 

Depends on the area.  I had hurricanes go directly over when I lived in Baguio, and the power did not even go out.  Down on the coasts, a very different story.  It's cooler year-round up there too, and a short bus-ride down from the mountains to the beach.

 

Further south, fewer hurricanes - Cebu is rarely hit (but can be).

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, AndrewChinagmai said:

 

11 hours ago, BritTim said:

Add the Philippines to your shortlist. Visas are pretty easy, and living costs low, especially if you like to spend some of your time in bars. The main drawback is that the food scene is pretty dismal.

Thanks, added. Any recommended city for your personal experience. Please don't post second hand information. 

It really depends on the kind of atmosphere you like. I am keen on playing pool, and also enjoy quiet daytime bars. That makes Angeles City somewhere I enjoy (though I might get bored if I lived there). There is a good airport nearby, and generally reasonable infrastructure.

For me, the sprawling Manilla metropolis does not have great appeal, though Makati has something going for it.

If you like peace and quiet, Baguio is a mountain town with a pleasant climate most of the time. There is little nightlife.

If you want a beach area, there are thousands of places to choose from. I do not especially recommend those I have seen so far, but I have only visited a couple in Cebu. If limited infrastructure is acceptable, I am sure you could find somewhere to your liking with a beautiful beach.

[wreckingcountry]

Like most places in the world, if you bring respect for the local culture and populace, you will be unlikely to encounter issues. You are an ambassador for your country, please don't besmirch the rest of us by only trying to see what you can personally get out of living in a different country. Instead of complaining about the people, why don't you do something to change it? And learn the bloody rules about the country's visas.
 
If you arrive in a country and show nothing but disdain for the culture, it's peoples, and it's food, then it's only a matter of time before someone walking around with a year's average earnings in their wallet gets robbed. So many Thais earn under 500 baht a day, flashing 50k at your local Pattaya hangout is not smart. It's a case of getting out what you put in. In most countries, showing an abject lack of respect for local cultures and traditions will not be outweighed by your wallet. Disrespectful farangs in Pattaya who chuck money around because they think that they are better than the bar ladies are labelled with a certain word in Thai, and it's not pleasant. It's sad that in today's society that we can have tourists from rich European or Scandinavian countries who because of exchange rates, are able to treat Thais with such utter disrespect. 
 
Why do you expect the locals who have been there for generations to show you any kind of respect, when you are fresh off the banana boat, don't speak the language, and turn your nose up at their foods?
 
South-East Asia has some amazing places to visit, beautiful scenery, lovely people and a very distinct culture. Don't ruin it by assuming that your white-privilege allows you to condemn their way of life, their culture and their values, just because you think that you are better than them. You are not.

So who’s that having a dig at ? Flashing money around is what rich Thais do so less of the hypocrisy ! Being polite and showing respect has different forms! “Do unto others as they do to you “


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[sanemax]

5 hours ago, pr9spk said:

 

Thai cuisine is one of the best in the world, a taste-bud explosion. I agree that food in the Philippines doesn't have the same draw, but it is very cheap, and a damn sight better than the crap I used to eat in the UK when I was growing up. Go drinking with some Filipino guys and try a balut - 

If I remeber correctly , "balut" is a chickens egg that just before the chicken hatches , they boil it , open it an eat it .

  Feathers, beak, feet , placenta  the lot .  

[dbrenn]

6 hours ago, Thailand said:

I thought Lechon is roast pig street food and delicious?

It's a roast baby pig. Pork.

 

I suppose it depends on your taste but a lot of Philippine food reminded me of oily or roasted food, often in bland gravy, that had become cold and congealed. Vile, really, and I remember being glad to have left the place mainly for that reason. Add to the mix the Godforesaken dump that's Manila. Not for me, sorry.

 

Fresh fruit and seafood are good there though, I'll grant them that.

 

I don't see many Philippine restaurants outside of the country either, which speaks volumes. 

[baansgr]

5 hours ago, sfokevin said:

Given what that country has been through can you blame them... 

 

I think there was a documentary made about this girl later in life, still brings tears to ones eyes.

[Cloudy]

I'm done with Thailand. Want to move to a new country where they'll value the dollars I spend in their economy. I can't afford elite visa. So, please don't suggest elite. I am single with a unsteady Thai GF. I know she will find a person when I leave her. 
 
I am living in Thailand, mostly in Chiangmai, for the last seven years using tourist visas, extensions, and visa exempt. My online business generate around 1200USD and I live a relaxed life. I was recently denied entry in Chiangmai entering with a visa exempt. Eventually I entered using the land border. I have done numerous border runs and I am fed up with that. It's tiring and and unnecessary  expenses. I Want to move to a new place. Please advice countries where I have a chance to live with using my online incomes of around 30/40K baht per month. Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Sri Lanka come to minds. Visa requirements for these countries. 

Value your pathetic sum of 1000 USD per month lol. I’m sure there are a bunch of countries lining up to take you in.




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[brokenbone]

8 hours ago, Mahseer said:

Take a break in Vietnam. Chang Mai has direct flight to Hanoi and Saigon plus Air Asia are about to add Da Nang.

 

Hanoi is full on and loved by many. Grab a hotel for 1,000baht in the Old Quarter and enjoy.

 

Nha Trang is mentioned here but that's full on Chinese and Russian package tourists if that's what you want but Doc Let 50kms north is another world.

 

Da Nang another mentioned and if it's city living you want then give it a go. Hoi An down the road is more laid back but very much on the tourist map but worth a look.

 

Somewhere more sedate to ease into the country? Look at Quy Nhon midway between Nha Trang and Da Nang. Laid back as only just starting to appear on the tourist map and you can get clean hotel room for 500baht (family run Ngoc Linh for one). For the record AQI here today is 53!

good post, just marking it so i can refind it

[sanemax]

Just a quick question : I recently purchased an AirAsia ticket online  , whats the procedure , do I have to download the ticket or just turn up at the airport (with no ticket) ?

[BritManToo]

On 3/24/2019 at 2:30 AM, pr9spk said:

If I was in your situation, it would be Philippines (but anywhere except Manila), or maybe Luang Prabang. In my personal opinion, Cambodia is too "third-world", Vietnam is too xenophobic towards Westerners, and Sri Lanka just doesn't seem as "safe".

Cambodian and Vietnamese people treat foreigners much nicer than Thais.

I suspect you've never been.

 

I thought Sri Lanka was for kiddy fiddlers (I've never been).

[Tomtomtom69]

I wouldn't choose Cambodia anymore. Westerners will quickly find themselves unwanted in Sihanoukville, which is basically a Chinese casino town now. Visas are still relatively easy, but if you're under 55 without a job you can only get 6 month extensions now and then will be forced to do a visa run. I don't know whether they tolerate visa runners but my hunch is they do, for now (although questions may be asked at immigration once you do a few). If you happily pay any extra charges they ask of you, you should be OK for the time being. However, the infrastructure is poor, the medical system is atrocious, the corruption is among the worst in the world.

I would rather suggest Laos, Vietnam or the Philippines. Even Malaysia.

[BritManToo]

Just now, Tomtomtom69 said:

I wouldn't choose Cambodia anymore. Westerners will quickly find themselves unwanted in Sihanoukville, which is basically a Chinese casino town now. Visas are still relatively easy, but if you're under 55 without a job you can only get 6 month extensions now and then will be forced to do a visa run.

There are no restrictions on 1 year VISAs for under 55s APART from they are required to show evidence of income.

Siam Reap is very nice.

[Tomtomtom69]

9 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Cambodian and Vietnamese people treat foreigners much nicer than Thais.

I suspect you've never been.

 

I thought Sri Lanka was for kiddy fiddlers (I've never been).

I completely disagree. I speak Thai and I have never been treated poorly. Most foreigners who are treated poorly by Thais are entitled, arrogant, raise their voices or otherwise disrespect the locals. An average, polite foreigner will almost always be treated well in Thailand.

 

Cambodians are quite nice, I agree with you on that one. However, the same applies as in Thailand. If you disrespect them, they can make your life difficult. However, Cambodian immigration officials are universally surly if not downright rude. Just look at the comments about how universally loathed they are by clicking on any Cambodian border crossing checkpoint on Google Maps. The comments are almost unanimous. Whereas Thai officials range from very friendly at provincial border checkpoints to so-so at airports.

 

Vietnamese? They are OK in my opinion but I have encountered aggressive customs officials and Vietnamese who have told my Vietnamese friend that he would like to charge us more because we're "rich foreigners". Vietnamese often like to laugh at westerners (especially if you venture into a rural area or somewhere with few westerners) and make you feel uncomfortable far more frequently than Thais.

[Briggsy]

Have a go in Mongolia. See how you get along.

[Tomtomtom69]

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

There are no restrictions on 1 year VISAs for under 55s APART from they are required to show evidence of income.

Siam Reap is very nice. 

they need to show work permits now. Or be on a study visa. Otherwise only 6 months will be granted.

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, Tomtomtom69 said:

Cambodian immigration officials are universally surly if not downright rude. Just look at the comments about how universally loathed they are by clicking on any Cambodian border crossing checkpoint on Google Maps. The comments are almost unanimous. Whereas Thai officials range from very friendly at provincial border checkpoints to so-so at airports.

You've not passed through Aranyaprathet then. Cambodian immigration just want a 100bht bribe, Thai customs don't want to let white people in or out. And the Cambodian VISA scams are all done by Thais, on the Thai side.

[ThaiBunny]

1 minute ago, Tomtomtom69 said:

However, Cambodian immigration officials are universally surly if not downright rude. Just look at the comments about how universally loathed they are by clicking on any Cambodian border crossing checkpoint on Google Maps.

While that may be true it's only at border crossings you encounter them.  The rest of the time visas extensions, renewals etc. are handled by travel agents; no need to go near Cambodian Immigration officials

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, Tomtomtom69 said:

they need to show work permits now. Or be on a study visa. Otherwise only 6 months will be granted.

On ignore.

Tired of fools posting misinformation, if you don't know and haven't been, why do you do it?

[Tomtomtom69]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You've not passed through Aranyaprathet then. Cambodian immigration just want a 100bht bribe, Thai customs don't want to let white people in or out. And the Cambodian VISA scams are all done by Thais, on the Thai side.

Nonsense. I've passed through Aranyaprathet many times and had no problems, including relatively recently. I do however have a proper visa (unlike some people here). Also, at the Cambodian-Thai checkpoints it's Vietnamese and Laotians that may be questioned at length not westerners, like what happened to my Vietnamese friend at Ban Pakkard when we entered there recently (he was on a new passport with no Thai stamps in it) yet it looked almost like they didn't want to let him in.

 

The Cambodian visa scams are done by Khmers. Many years ago I went there for a stamp, in stamp out by waiting on the Thai side, the scammers were definitely Cambodians.

[Tomtomtom69]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

On ignore.

Tired of fools posting misinformation, if you don't know and haven't been, why do you do it?

I'm tired of fools like you posting misinformation and bs about Thailand. I have even inquired about the process myself at travel agencies AFTER the rules were changed. If you want a 1-year visa, you must have a work permit, end of story. Unless you're over 55, in which case you can receive a retirement visa.

[ThaiBunny]

2 minutes ago, Tomtomtom69 said:

I'm tired of fools like you posting misinformation and bs about Thailand. I have even inquired about the process myself at travel agencies AFTER the rules were changed. If you want a 1-year visa, you must have a work permit, end of story. Unless you're over 55, in which case you can receive a retirement visa.

"Retirement Visa Qualifications. Applicant must be 50 years of age or over"

[Tomtomtom69]

5 minutes ago, ThaiBunny said:

While that may be true it's only at border crossings you encounter them.  The rest of the time visas extensions, renewals etc. are handled by travel agents; no need to go near Cambodian Immigration officials

It IS true, not maybe true. I've been through Cambodian checkpoints from Thailand and Vietnam dozens upon dozens of times. Not once have I ever met a friendly official, not once.

 

On the Thai side though, 8 out of 10 times officials are very friendly, 2 out of 10 times they just do their jobs and don't talk to you or ask you a few questions to ascertain your story, which is fine, because that's what they're employed to do. Airport officials have a high workload and are usually less talkative and stricter, but again, they only cause grief to foreigners who think they can live here on perpetual tourist visas/visa exemptions.