Long Time in Los

[simon_125]

I'm planning on spending longer spells of time in Los over next couple of years. I'm normally there 3 or 4 times a year for 10 days or so and longest time i've been there for was for 3 weeks. I've never been there long enough to be in anything other than holiday mode and been gutted when I've had to return home to reality.
I'm planning on spending up to 6 months there and I'm interested to know the thoughts of guys who have been there for extended periods of time and not been working.
how long did the honeymoon period last for you?
What things really started to annoy you about life in los?
Did Nana and the scene in Pattaya start to lose its appeal?
Did you start to to stir crazy not having a job to get up for?
For me I would need to do something like a thai language course for a couple of hours in the morning to give me something to get up for and a bit of routine.
I don't want to work in Los, I'd rather work for 3/4 months at home and not have to worry about work or money while I'm in los.
I think alot of guys like myself love the idea of spending 6 months plus per year in Los but whats the reality?

[kahuna]

Very good question...It will be interesting to read the replies..

I'm far from a seasoned Thai traveler but last year I spent nearly 9 months in LOS in 3 month increments...and I've had one 3 month trip this year already and I'm planning to return in a week or so...

I kinda hit the wall at two months...why I keep staying for 3 months I have no idea...

That last month for me can be a little wearing...I start counting my walks by the number of times I say fuck off to someone (I don't really say it but I am thinking the words very loudly in my head)....and that's to both Thai's and farangs alike...

And the days can turn into a boring routine...I always say I'm gonna take a language course, but never have...I do have a feeling that taking such a course would make the day's less wearing as time goes on...

Side trips help...a trip every couple weeks to familiar or strange destination offers some relief...

So after 3 months I'm ready to leave...there are no tears at the airport...But after a few weeks at home the longing returns and the cultural differences that create the negative feelings fade...

My next trip will only be for 30 days...for other personal reasons...

But I always know I'll return or hope I'll return...And I always do...

[Guest]

Fourteen months ago I returned from a seven month stay in Pattaya and have since been back for two sixty day trips.
Clearly it is not good to be out on the prowl every night as though you were on vacation therefore, having some nice spacious accomodation goes someway towards preventing nightly nocturnal pursuits. I would also suggest that your chosen location is far enough from the hot spots in order to prevent that 3am foray in the event that you are unable to sleep trouble is, my rubber arm was too easily twisted.
I bought myself a second hand motor cycle and this was perhaps the best value for money expenditure during my stay, I travelled thousands of miles on the thing exploring all the nooks and cranies in and around Pattaya, Sattahip and beyond.
Regular side trips to Bangkok, Phuket, Samet, Chang, Samui and Cambodia stopped any boredom, although it was always fab to get back to Sin City because IMO the place rocks and for the sexually active among us there is no where better on this planet.
It was a wonderful seven months and the time absolutely flew past, I'll probably even repeat the exercise this winter assuming the ponies continue running the way they are at the moment  

[Guest]

Pentire how much did the bike cost ya?

[Guest]

It was a two year old Yamaha Nuovo, I paid 25,000Baht and sold it for 18,000 having put 6000km on the clock. Very reliable and she never let me down

[sev7en]

(simon_125 @ May 21 2008,03:30) how long did the honeymoon period last for you?
What things really started to annoy you about life in los?
Did Nana and the scene in Pattaya start to lose its appeal?
Did you start to to stir crazy not having a job to get up for?

I stayed 6 1/2 months from oct last year to april this year. It was about 2-3 months too long , i think.

I didn´t work and was so bored some days.

Did Nana and the scene in Pattaya start to lose its appeal?
You bet, in the end i couldn´t stand it. I had a steady lb the last month.

What things really started to annoy you about life in los?

Just about anything. From the slow loser shitforbrains cashier in seven-11 to the security ppl at airport when going home. Songkran was 2 weeks before i went home , and i was about to snap at any cunt who threw water at me. I was so fed up with Thailand.
I´ll never do this long stay again.

[Guest]

Problem was with you Rick, you were far too narrow minded and seldom (if ever) explored anything apart from ladyboys with big cocks
In the end it sounds like it nearly drove you mad however, come October you'll be totally focused on having more of the same.

[Ladyboy_Loser!]

For me, having a home in Surin to look after has taken a lot of the bordom factor away. There is always something I can do around the house and in the garden. With a pickup and a scooter I do have a lot of freedom and I like to go exploring the area. There is an ever increasing presence of English, Canadian, Aussies and Americans here in Surin and we can be found every afternoon in one of the Farang Pubs or Restaurants. It's great to chat with them and I look forward to that on a daily basis. There is a golf course nearby and I hit the links at least twice a week. As long as I have books and the English newspapers to read I can spend days just hanging out at home. I do take trips on a regular basis to Jomtien, Bangkok, Koh Samui and Hua Hin to visit friends and for a change of pace. With having said all this I have to point out one important fact. I have not stayed for longer than five months at a time. I do this because I can continue to work in California on a limited basis to maximize my pension benefits and not be bothered by the U.S. Dollar decline, secondly, it gives me a chance to appreciate my home in Surin a lot more and to realize just how much I miss Thailand. One final thought and it relates to the P4P scene, it got old and stale real quick for me. Same old B.S. every night, same stupid questions, same lousy service in a lot of the bars and from the girls and LB'S. After you boink your brains out and you are still here you ask yourself "what's the point?' I was happiest when I had a good lady to spend my time with and a relationship to work on.

[kahuna]

Interesting replies...

In my opinion it really depends on you...your ability to cope and adapt
and your level of patience...Ain't no one better to pose those questions
to but yourself...

Truth is you will never know what the experience is like for you uinless you
try it...And you can always get on an airplane and go home...Once there ain't
no law says you gotta stay for 6 months...

[PanzerPorn]

The trick for non working long stays is to look at Thailand as your second home from home and not only as your everyday Disneyland.
Having a nice accomodation , some interests and hobbies apart chasing for sex will help a lots .
Trying to get out from the usual sex-drink-sex routine will become more natural after the first couple of months.

Nothing is more sad than the bored feelings that you have when you have been here too long and thinking about it you realize there is no place in the world where you can do so easily what makes you bored here.

If you bored of Bkk or Sin city most of the times you bored with life.

I burnt my excitment over the years, still enjoy the place 3-4 months a year,but i'll pay big bucks just to have back the same nasty feelings when taking a walk in the nana or in walking street

[marshal]

stayed for 3 months in 04, and was glad to be home in the end, only to start planning next trip lol.
I agree with earlier posts,you need something other than whoreing- hobbies and things to do! It's reality after a time,and not wake up,drinrk,boom boom.

[TTChang]

(simon_125 @ May 21 2008,03:30) .... I'm interested to know the thoughts of guys who have been there for extended periods of time and not been working.   how long did the honeymoon period last for you?  ....

I've got quite a lot to say  ...  over an evening or two in LOS when you get out here Simon!!   Honeymoon not over at all  .... I still get a buzz walking into Obsessions 

Just to say a few things here:

1. Although my trips to LOS get longer each time ... as kahuna says, 2/3 months may be optimum.

2. Get a nice place away from the action, to keep your sanity.   Go crazy - have a night in occasionally!!    

3.  Don't fall in love with a hooker (oh, you heard that one before !!!)

4.  Have a life away from the bar scene, whether travelling a bit, or language school ... + a few good mates to keep you from confusing fantasy with reality.

[stogie bear]

Come here with no expectations and never rush for the bus...

If you are young (or young minded) then you'll have a different perspective from mine.

Nothing about this place pisses me off (except the bartender in La bamba!)

My days drift along peacefully and there's always something to do.

I can't remember the last time I went to Nana or Guess Bar. I enjoy going but once every couple of weeks is fine for me.

You will bleed money during your first extended stay. The second extended stay you will have learned so much you'll be showing others how it's done.

If having friends is important then you are in the right place. Loads of great people on this forum who live all over the country and they'll be happy to spin yarns and drink the juice while hard working ladyboys twizzle on chrome poles for you and they.

City living isn't for me. I like to have Bangkok and Pattaya close at hand but I don't ever want to have to go there to rest my body for more than a couple of days at a time... I suspect that your situation will be a lot different!

Buy PigDogg a couple of beers at Sally's when you get here and pick his brains. All of this will still be fresh in his mind and he's a really friendly chap.

I strongly recommend that you DO make the semi-move over here because if you don't do it now the chances are you never will.

You can always go home if it doesn't work out but you can't re-live memories that never take place.

As Nike says... Fucking lace-ups suck!

[rossco]

Are you planning on retiring here or just extended vacation - there is a difference.
If you relocate then Thailand becomes your home 'warts and all'. Any relocation is a major step and you need to be prepared to accept a different way of life to the one you have. I get irritated when ex pats say 'back home it was not like this' - then why live here if not happy with it all.

The language problem does not affect tourists so much as people, in the main tourist spots, speak reasonable English. Outside the hot spots then English is not widely spoken. The inability to even figure out what the signs above a shop mean can be intimidating - patience. Most Thais outside of the tourist area are more genuinely friendly and helpful.

As a resident you will have a short life expectancy, if you live the life of a tourist - drinking, hunting etc. You quickly realise that you cannot afford it every night and your body cannot take it.

IMHO living away from the nightlife is better - when you want to indulge you can go into the city/town without the need to actually live there 24 x 7.
The upside of living here is the relative low cost of living, warm/hot climate all year around (really no seasons like Europe/US). In the main cities there are many supermarkets selling those familiar 'comfort' products that you had from your original homeland. The choice of restaurants is good and very varied.

Having something else to do is important - other foreigners to talk/drink/eat with. Golf, sailing, fishing, Tennis are all available. For those who want to 'contribute' there are many associations to join where you can directly become involved in the greater community.

If not residing, here longer term, then ignore all the above and be a Party Animal - you only live once - you may need to get in training if for more than 3 months though!

[PigDogg]

(stogie bear @ May 20 2008,23:21) Buy PigDogg a couple of beers at Sally's when you get here and pick his brains. All of this will still be fresh in his mind and he's a really friendly chap.

That's the best idea I've heard yet on the Forum!

From me you'll get the perspective of a brand new resident.

I live a quiet life with my teerak and am not bored yet.

Best gym in town is an easy walk, open 24 hours, and can always kill time there.

Am living vicariously through my butterfly friends.

Next project is to try to learn a little Thai but somehow I never seem to get around to it cause the time is flying.

But my perspective is that of a brand new resident; perhaps things will change in a few months.