Even though I don't believe Thailand would fall into complete disarray, I was wondering where expats would move to if Thailand fell into civil war making it to unsafe to live in Thailand.

 

Where would you go?

If my teerak was joining me, I'd go to Vientiene for language/cultural reasons.

 

If going alone, I'd go to Bali.

 

If riots but not civil war I'd just hole up in my apartment.

If I am forced to move away from Thailand, rather than somewhere else within Thailand, my next stop would be Phnom Penh as Plan A, Laos as Plan B.

Only if worse came to worse would I consider leaving Thailand, but then we would go to Hanoi.

It would have to get real serous for me to consider leavning, and then it would only be for the time required for things to heal over somewhat. I don't think I would try to live somewhere else, but would visit my sister for the time needed for things to quiet down.

 

Also, I am not sure the unrest would spead all over the country...hopefully not here in the east and Ubon!!

I would go to Yangon or Bali

I really think this is all a moot point. Even if there is a civil war (which I don't think will happen)if you stay away from the areas of fighting there should be no problem. Sri Lanka just ended a 25 year civil war. I have some UK friends who have been going there regularly for many years. I was there 3 years ago and except for a lot a military presence, I saw no problems in and around Colombo and took the train up to Kandy with no problem.

Even if there is a civil war (which I don't think will happen)if you stay away from the areas of fighting there should be no problem. Sri Lanka just ended a 25 year civil war . . . I was there 3 years ago and except for a lot a military presence, I saw no problems in and around Colombo and took the train up to Kandy with no problem.

I wonder, though, if Sri Lanka is the obvious analogy. Despite a few forays into the capital and elsewhere, during the bulk of the war, hostilities were largely confined to a part of the north east. Here in Thailand, the red shirts are well entrenched around a much larger proportion of the country. If war were to break out (which I also do not believe) it is likely to affect far more of the population.

 

In a case of civil war, a problem many of us will have is that the value of our homes would plummet. I believe prices in the capital for many apartments have dropped 20% - 30% already. We could probably write off another 50% in the short term if war came.

I really think this is all a moot point. Even if there is a civil war (which I don't think will happen)if you stay away from the areas of fighting there should be no problem.

I think the same as you do. But it is interesting to see what people are saying they would do if they are ever forced to leave Thailand.

What I find the most interesting is that the majority picked places in Asia. Is that because of the culture? The boys? The price? All the above?

 

For me, I would be in Brazil. The boys are amazing. The prices similar. It is not a third world country. It is easier to get around that most places in Asia. They love Americans. The sex is amazing.

But what about the crime rate in Brazil? Personal safety if of prime importance for me.

But what about the crime rate in Brazil? Personal safety if of prime importance for me.

 

It really depends on the city you are in. Yes, Sao Paulo and Rio are dangerous if you are not careful. They are not as safe at Pattaya. Although, I'd love to see some real crime statistics if all the crimes in Pattaya are reported. I was stayed at a nice hotel recently and a lady killed a man by throwing him off the balcony. It was never reported and hush hush.

 

There are ways to be smart in Brazil and be safe. Walking at night in a bad part of town is not smart. But, if you take a taxi or drive where you want to go and follow some smart rules, you will be fine.

 

That being said, I always feel safer in Thailand than Brazil. I also feel safer in New York than in Thailand. I also feel safer in Mississippi than New York. Lastly, I feel safer in Church in Mississippi than I do on the streets. So, if it is a choice between Church in Mississippi and Brazil, I'll choose Brazil.

I always feel safer in Thailand than Brazil. I also feel safer in New York than in Thailand. I also feel safer in Mississippi than New York. Lastly, I feel safer in Church in Mississippi than I do on the streets. So, if it is a choice between Church in Mississippi and Brazil, I'll choose Brazil.

That, my friends, is a certain kind of logic. Reverse logic????

That, my friends, is a certain kind of logic. Reverse logic????

 

LOL Well, I still have scars from my religious upbringing in the south. I guess that sometimes gets the better of me.

 

I would happily go into a Heaven and Hell analogy related to Thailand and Brazil but it would not be as easy as the one above.

LOL Well, I still have scars from my religious upbringing in the south. I guess that sometimes gets the better of me.

 

I would happily go into a Heaven and Hell analogy related to Thailand and Brazil but it would not be as easy as the one above.

 

 

I noticed your religious devotion in a bar the other night when you yelled out "Dear GOD that is a sexy dancer!"

I noticed your religious devotion in a bar the other night when you yelled out "Dear GOD that is a sexy dancer!"

 

Yes, and I noticed yours when you said, "Sweet Jesus, is that dick real?"

I believe retired U.S. citizens have to leave the country part of the year if living in Brazil. It certainly isn't as easy for retired Americans to stay long term in Brazil like it is in Thailand. Also, costs of housing, health care, transportation, food, etc. are much higher in Brazil than in Thailand (even though the sex costs about the same). Let's just hope that we can stay in Thailand and we don't have to look into it.

I'm still earning a living in Farangland.

 

Before deciding where to retire, I would want to spend several weeks in Pattaya, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Vientiane, Luang Prabang & Phnom Penh. I enjoyed all of these locations for a few days.

 

Assuming the novelty of Pattaya night life would wear off after a few months, somewhere like Luang Prabang could be a more agreeable location for long term residence.

 

As for Brazil, I just wouldn't want to live in a country where it's not considered safe to take a guy back to the hotel room.

Assuming the novelty of Pattaya night life would wear off after a few months, somewhere like Luang Prabang could be a more agreeable location for long term residence.

For some the novelty wears off and for some it doesn't. But other considerations include medical care availability and quality, availability of the foods you like, shopping, grocery stores, transportation, cost of living, proximity to immigration offices (some people have to make long trips every 90 days just to report their address), banks and ATMs, Internet availability, activities, etc.

 

All of those, plus more, are things to check before coming to a decision.

I am going to give Chaing Mai a try for long term and if that doesn't work for me i'll try Cebu in the philippines.

I also have a yearning to try Merida Mexico. The yucatan area has many options and those mex boys can be so hotttttttttt!

The statements from the "Yellow Shirts" that they are getting involved I think does make this more of a possibility and I do wonder if Civil war is on the way. What other possible outcome can come?

I do wander if Civil war is on the way. What other possible outcome can come?

I believe that is an example of 'falang-think'. Furious though some of my Thai friends may be, they always tell me very strongly that there can not be a civil war type conflict here. This could, perhaps, be yet another example of Thais running away from problems rather than trying to solve them - something I have witnessed a lot. But I think not. I do believe there is a line across which Thais will just not cross, whatever their differences.

 

That said, there is a certain glue holding much of this society together. If that becomes unstuck for whatever reason, all bets may be off. For obvious reasons, I will take this line of thought no further.

I do believe there is a line across which Thais will just not cross, whatever their differences.

I hope you're right, but things keep getting worse every day. I have been reading news reports that now in several areas the Red-Shirts have set up road blocks and are forcing people to stop and have their cars searched, which is completely illegal. Only the police have the right to stop and search vehicles. The reports say that the Red-Shirts can be sued for such actions, but I don't know how practical that would be to do. Who would you sue?

 

What it amounts to is use of illegal intimidation tactics. If you are traveling by car and are subjected to one of these searches, I don't know what you could really do about it. I don't think I would be afraid of being physically harmed, but I can certainly envision the possibility of having valuables stolen.

 

It is certainly making me think twice about planning trips by car any time soon.

I hope you're right, but things keep getting worse every day. I have been reading news reports that now in several areas the Red-Shirts have set up road blocks and are forcing people to stop and have their cars searched, which is completely illegal. Only the police have the right to stop and search vehicles. The reports say that the Red-Shirts can be sued for such actions, but I don't know how practical that would be to do. Who would you sue?

 

What hope have they got of suing these people, if they are not prepared to arrest them in the first place? Thailand needs a rapid dose of law and order. The rot set in when the yellow shirts occupied the airport, now the red shirts are out of control.

 

The latest actions are the result of setting a precedent that disruption is tolerated AND can make a difference.

 

Illegal roadblocks need to be countered by greater force & fast.

Illegal roadblocks need to be countered by greater force & fast.

There are several of these stories appearing. Here are links to some of them:

 

Red shirts block highways

 

University lecturer complain red shirts try to search students' test papers

 

Red-shirt checkpoints arouse anger in provinces

 

Abhisit has ordered the police to break up these illegal roadblocks within three days and supposedly the police have agreed to do so. Of course, it remains to be seen whether anything really will be done or whether Thailand degenerates further in a direction toward anarchy and civil war.