Have you been to Thailand?

Nice to meet you. Yes, I have been to Udom Thani too. Beautiful city! Would be so nice to visit there again.
Thank you for your response.

You'd find Thailand has changed a bit after being away for 35 yrs...still a pretty place though. Udon gone crazy with industry..same with Ubol and korat (Nakorn Ratchasima) Chiangmai now has over one million people. First went there in '90. Been spending 4 to 6 months there ever since. Been to many countries through out the world, think Thailand is still my favourite...good location also..hop skip and a jump to Burma (from my base in Chiangmai) if one can still get there..coupla hours you could be in Laos...can bus it over to Cambodia, from there on to Viet Nam. 2 hr flight you're in Hong Kong. Travel is dirt cheap, even with the gas hike. Food great..people fantastic. Cost of living on the whole (can be) very cheap..climate nice...can rent a honda dream for 100 baht a day.Been in dozens and dozens of towns and villages from Mukdahan to Hat Yai..never had a problem (young girl DID steal my heart some years ago)so I adopted her,watched her grow up, finish school (took her down to Bkk to get her certificate from the king's son)..get married, have a baby..and now she owns a construction company..Return flt from Toronto to BKK STILL only $1000 taxes in (AND I DON'T NEED A VISA)..AND IT BEATS THE SNOW AND COLD OF EASTERN CANADA!! WOT ELSE IN DA WURL COULD A PERSON ASK FOR??? Leavin' Toronto for Bkk. Oct.7th. Anyone wanna tag along??

After my day from hell yesterday I would go now!!! I am trying to finish up my college degree and at this point money is really tight. (Don't you love people who make excuses? Everyone can come up with a ton of they why they can't...they really need to kick off the shackles of "can't" and go for the gusto!) Maybe next October...unless you have an extra large suitcase I can fit into! (LOL)

When I left Thailand I left with tears in my eyes and heart. The Thai people had accepted me as one of their own, and I had never had better treatment from a group of people in my life! There was one gentleman that fell in love with me and begged me not to leave... in many ways I wish I hadn't, except that I couldn't have found work as the US government's policy was to only hire Thais for their openings.

Well Loverbear, as soon as you get your degree you got it made. You can hop on the next kite out and be teaching English in Thailand in a jiffy..no experience necessary. Money not too bad, depending on where, how long the contract is, who you work for...AND..how good you are at negotiating...can get your own apt. own 'puter, fare paid to Thailand (and return if you sign a one year contract)Money not near as good as in Korea or Japan, but I like Thailand better, especially the north. You DO need a degree to teach in Korea and Japan (and be under the age of 60..so get a move on) As far as Thai students go, (adults and kids) first comes Buddha, then comes the King, then comes Ahdjan..teacher. Don't need a degree to teach in Thailand, but it helps..moneywise, respect, etc. etc. As you may know Thais are fairly class conscious. A lot of people I know just fly on across the pond and finish their studies over there. Anyway, I'm just gabbing...have a nice day.

Hey, just keep on gabbing! I love the ideas that you've put into my head. I'm sitting here just after finishing another on line final and munching a piece of dark chocolate with a dog barking in the other room and Willy, my flame point Siamese trying to help by laying in the way. He really helped on that final too...he kept walking over the keys and messing up the programing that I was trying to complete. It made a 3 hour test into a 8 hour test..(LOL) He is such a sweetheart that I couldn't get mad at him.

Anyhow, keep gabbing about things, I love getting to read new ideas, thoughts, and getting information.
Toni

Yes ma'am. You are perfectly right. This is one of the most beautiful and admirable countries in Southeast Asia, culturally and traditionally too! I am sure you will be very happy to visit there! There are so many interesting places to see.

Welcome everyone to Thailand

Phuket is a very nice place too, beach resort town. Have to make sure the weather conditions are ok before you go to Phuket. Have a nice trip.