Comments on: Cold Economic Realities … for Some http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/ Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:38:50 +0700 hourly 1 By: Talen http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-9015 Talen Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:49:36 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-9015 Chuck, I'm with you...Yes the American society created me and empowered me to be able to travel and find Thailand. I would never turn my back on that either...but. The great thing about growing up in this society is that I can take what I've learned and use that from anywhere in the world. The world has changed and as much as I hate the terminology we have become a global community. I know I can use the skills I have learned anywhere in the world so why limit myself to one country. Obviously I would be limited from working in certain skill sets in Thailand but I can still use Thailand as a home base. The internet, while still in it's infancy, is starting to become more viable in the scheme of things as well. Leveraging the internet can be not only profitable but also very satisfying in terms of work and it can be done anywhere you can find a connection. I agree completely that the stock exchange is a huge ponzi scheme but still not as huge as the Federal Reserve that empowers it. Chuck, I’m with you…Yes the American society created me and empowered me to be able to travel and find Thailand. I would never turn my back on that either…but.

The great thing about growing up in this society is that I can take what I’ve learned and use that from anywhere in the world. The world has changed and as much as I hate the terminology we have become a global community.

I know I can use the skills I have learned anywhere in the world so why limit myself to one country. Obviously I would be limited from working in certain skill sets in Thailand but I can still use Thailand as a home base.

The internet, while still in it’s infancy, is starting to become more viable in the scheme of things as well. Leveraging the internet can be not only profitable but also very satisfying in terms of work and it can be done anywhere you can find a connection.

I agree completely that the stock exchange is a huge ponzi scheme but still not as huge as the Federal Reserve that empowers it.

]]> By: ChuckWow http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-9014 ChuckWow Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:12:05 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-9014 I apologize for sounding too critical. It's just that I feel privileged to be able to do what I do - fly around the world and find a place and a lifestyle that I prefer to what I have at home. Something the rural Thai people can only dream of doing. The society that created me, with all its faults, is the one that has enabled me to do all of this. Even when I become a full time ex-pat I will never turn my back on it. BTW - Bernie Madoff is just a piker when compared to the world’s largest Ponzi scheme - the stock exchange. Just my two cents. I apologize for sounding too critical.

It’s just that I feel privileged to be able to do what I do – fly around the world and find a place and a lifestyle that I prefer to what I have at home. Something the rural Thai people can only dream of doing.

The society that created me, with all its faults, is the one that has enabled me to do all of this. Even when I become a full time ex-pat I will never turn my back on it.

BTW – Bernie Madoff is just a piker when compared to the world’s largest Ponzi scheme – the stock exchange. Just my two cents.

]]> By: Talen http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-9010 Talen Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:05:29 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-9010 Craig, I've heard a lot of good things about Bali. I'm glad you found the blog as well...now I'm off to check out yours. Craig,
I’ve heard a lot of good things about Bali. I’m glad you found the blog as well…now I’m off to check out yours.

]]> By: Talen http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-9009 Talen Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:03:57 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-9009 Chuck, I am...or should I say I was in the same boat until the economic downturn saw me downsized. But even before that happened I was already turning my back on the society that allowed me to discover Thailand. Over the past few years I have been making sure that I can be self sustainable in my own right so when I do turn my back completely it will be covered. Chuck,
I am…or should I say I was in the same boat until the economic downturn saw me downsized. But even before that happened I was already turning my back on the society that allowed me to discover Thailand.

Over the past few years I have been making sure that I can be self sustainable in my own right so when I do turn my back completely it will be covered.

]]> By: ChuckWow http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-9008 ChuckWow Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:26:55 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-9008 Talen, Obviously, I have to agree with you, but, this post begs the question - what do you do for a living ? I work in a highly technical field that pays fairly well and allows me to travel quite extensively. Based on this blog I can only assume you are in the same boat. Have you had an epiphany ? Are you going to turn your back on the society that enabled you to find your true calling ? Talen,

Obviously, I have to agree with you, but, this post begs the question – what do you do for a living ?

I work in a highly technical field that pays fairly well and allows me to travel quite extensively. Based on this blog I can only assume you are in the same boat.

Have you had an epiphany ? Are you going to turn your back on the society that enabled you to find your true calling ?

]]> By: Twitted by StayAdventurous http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-8241 Twitted by StayAdventurous Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:21:09 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-8241 [...] This post was Twitted by StayAdventurous [...] [...] This post was Twitted by StayAdventurous [...]

]]> By: craig Zabransky http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-8165 craig Zabransky Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:28:11 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-8165 Interesting and true. This past summer I spent hours on the beach in Bali watching seaweed farmers work. Not even 2-3 Bintang (the local pilsner) allowed me to understand the farming methods, but something not was not lost on me. They were not as worried as the hotel managers and employers that relied on the tourists. Bali reminded me a lot of Thailand. Spirituality in a land of smiles. In fact, I can recall a specific conversation I had with a taxi driver. He told me, not to worry "it's all right, it's ok" http://www.gaincontact.com/blog/?p=429 Glad I found this post and blog. I look forward to learning more aobut Thailand.... stay adventurous, Craig .-= craig Zabransky´s last blog ..<a href="http://twitter.com/StayAdventurous/statuses/3971790694" rel="nofollow">StayAdventurous: Clijsters, great moment for Moms everywhere, congrats on the W. And the young Dane did well too. Great match. #USOpen.</a> =-. Interesting and true. This past summer I spent hours on the beach in Bali watching seaweed farmers work. Not even 2-3 Bintang (the local pilsner) allowed me to understand the farming methods, but something not was not lost on me. They were not as worried as the hotel managers and employers that relied on the tourists.

Bali reminded me a lot of Thailand. Spirituality in a land of smiles. In fact, I can recall a specific conversation I had with a taxi driver. He told me, not to worry “it’s all right, it’s ok”

http://www.gaincontact.com/blog/?p=429

Glad I found this post and blog. I look forward to learning more aobut Thailand….

stay adventurous,
Craig
craig Zabransky´s last blog ..StayAdventurous: Clijsters, great moment for Moms everywhere, congrats on the W. And the young Dane did well too. Great match. #USOpen. My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Talen http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-8101 Talen Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:28:25 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-8101 Martyn, I agree that Pattaya or Bangkok is a bad place to be poor even for Thai's. The crime rate in Pattaya is up with more theft going on which is a direct sign of the bad times. Martyn, I agree that Pattaya or Bangkok is a bad place to be poor even for Thai’s. The crime rate in Pattaya is up with more theft going on which is a direct sign of the bad times.

]]> By: Martyn http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-8100 Martyn Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:35:33 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-8100 Talen an excellent post. Thai village communities really are a complete world in their own. If you completely cut off the outside world then they would like you say survive and survive without any real pain. Water from the skies, fish from the river, rice worked from the fields and vegetable and salad grown from the land, served in baskets woven by elderly village hands. Survival. If you were down to your last 100 baht then the streets of Pattaya or Bangkok would be a hell of a lot more lonely place to be than the red dust soi's of a Thai country village. Maybe you would have to let the Chang wagon in once and a while but I bet there wouldn't be much else that needed to get through. .-= Martyn´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.thaisabai.org/2009/09/amazing-thailand-the-bin-man/" rel="nofollow">Amazing Thailand – The Bin Man</a> =-. Talen an excellent post. Thai village communities really are a complete world in their own. If you completely cut off the outside world then they would like you say survive and survive without any real pain. Water from the skies, fish from the river, rice worked from the fields and vegetable and salad grown from the land, served in baskets woven by elderly village hands. Survival.

If you were down to your last 100 baht then the streets of Pattaya or Bangkok would be a hell of a lot more lonely place to be than the red dust soi’s of a Thai country village. Maybe you would have to let the Chang wagon in once and a while but I bet there wouldn’t be much else that needed to get through.
Martyn´s last blog ..Amazing Thailand – The Bin Man My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Talen http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-8099 Talen Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:41:39 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-8099 I think you are spot on Mike about this being true of most Asian countries. But I wonder as time goes on what technological progress will do to those countries and if they will become more like the west. I see Thailand like it is America in the early 19th century. So much to look forward too and yet people were still sensible...unlike today. I think you are spot on Mike about this being true of most Asian countries. But I wonder as time goes on what technological progress will do to those countries and if they will become more like the west.

I see Thailand like it is America in the early 19th century. So much to look forward too and yet people were still sensible…unlike today.

]]> By: Talen http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-8098 Talen Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:39:32 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-8098 Malcolm, I think you and I have a lot in common my friend. Today I watched CNBC all day as it is a holiday and they had very compelling programming on all day about the economic downfall and those that caused it. Quite a few of those people have committed suicide...those that didn't aren't faring well without the money. It really starts to make you understand that technology, while great, has a very real and dark side that could ultimately be our downfall. We need to learn to lead more simple lives. Malcolm, I think you and I have a lot in common my friend.

Today I watched CNBC all day as it is a holiday and they had very compelling programming on all day about the economic downfall and those that caused it. Quite a few of those people have committed suicide…those that didn’t aren’t faring well without the money.

It really starts to make you understand that technology, while great, has a very real and dark side that could ultimately be our downfall. We need to learn to lead more simple lives.

]]> By: Talen http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-8097 Talen Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:36:28 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-8097 I have been kind of poor myself at certain times in my life and I would like to think I could survive but I don't think it would be as well as those Thai's with their knowledge of working the land. How is " Letters from Thailand"? and please tell me more about the klong descriptions Cat. I have been kind of poor myself at certain times in my life and I would like to think I could survive but I don’t think it would be as well as those Thai’s with their knowledge of working the land.

How is ” Letters from Thailand”? and please tell me more about the klong descriptions Cat.

]]> By: Mike http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-8096 Mike Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:16:14 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-8096 What an interesting post. Quite thought provoking. I guess the same could be said about many Asian countries or at least their rural farming communities. I know damn well that if someone pulled the plug I would struggle to survive. Not that I have always been comfortable in the wealth stakes but I have never had to play the role of hunter gatherer. .-= Mike´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheTeflDon/~3/hE4gUCBvLLU/thailand-land-of-smiles-los.html" rel="nofollow">Thailand Land of Smiles-LOS</a> =-. What an interesting post. Quite thought provoking. I guess the same could be said about many Asian countries or at least their rural farming communities.

I know damn well that if someone pulled the plug I would struggle to survive. Not that I have always been comfortable in the wealth stakes but I have never had to play the role of hunter gatherer.
Mike´s last blog ..Thailand Land of Smiles-LOS My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Malcolm http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-8095 Malcolm Tue, 08 Sep 2009 05:13:17 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-8095 Talen, without a doube, this is one of the best post I have read in a long time , you make so many right on statements and say things that a lot of people would like to say , but are afraid to even think about, must less write them down on a post . as for me and mine (Ciejay) I realize when I retired in 2003 that we, would not be able to live on my meger SS check ,in America ( I never saved a penny my whole life)and all the mistakes I made during and after my first marriage relieved me of what little I did have. It's almost like a miracle that I meet and married Ciejay ,and came to Thailand for a visit and , my eyes and heart were open to this country where family , community, food ,shelter, were the most important , and not all that business of keeping up with the Jones and more, more and yes , MORE. I too like you will go with Thai. Malcolm .-= Malcolm´s last blog ..<a href="http://malcolmandciejay.blogspot.com/2009/09/im-boss-here.html" rel="nofollow">"I'M THE BOSS HERE"</a> =-. Talen, without a doube, this is one of the best post I have read in a long time , you make so many right on statements and say things that a lot of people would like to say , but are afraid to even think about, must less write them down on a post . as for me and mine (Ciejay) I realize when I retired in 2003 that we, would not be able to live on my meger SS check ,in America ( I never saved a penny my whole life)and all the mistakes I made during and after my first marriage relieved me of what little I did have. It’s almost like a miracle that I meet and married Ciejay ,and came to Thailand for a visit and , my eyes and heart were open to this country where family , community, food ,shelter, were the most important , and not all that business of keeping up with the Jones and more, more and yes , MORE. I too like you will go with Thai. Malcolm
Malcolm´s last blog .."I’M THE BOSS HERE" My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Catherine http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/09/07/cold-economic-realities-for-some/comment-page-1/#comment-8093 Catherine Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:42:20 +0000 http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/?p=2309#comment-8093 You make excellent points Talen. I've never really thought about it that way. I'm now reading 'Letters from Thailand', where it describes the difference between Thailand and China's poor (it also has the klong descriptions I was hoping for). Apparently, when it comes to what they survive off of, the Thai poor are lucky as Thailand is a rich country. The poor in other countries, like China, are not as privileged. I have been poor so I know I could survive if I've had to. I just don't think I could do it with their good humoured grace. Not without my Laphroaig. .-= Catherine´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/womenlearnthai/PKcd/~3/YRQLXmPcX38/" rel="nofollow">Bangkok Photo School: November Courses</a> =-. You make excellent points Talen. I’ve never really thought about it that way.

I’m now reading ‘Letters from Thailand’, where it describes the difference between Thailand and China’s poor (it also has the klong descriptions I was hoping for).

Apparently, when it comes to what they survive off of, the Thai poor are lucky as Thailand is a rich country. The poor in other countries, like China, are not as privileged.

I have been poor so I know I could survive if I’ve had to. I just don’t think I could do it with their good humoured grace. Not without my Laphroaig.
Catherine´s last blog ..Bangkok Photo School: November Courses My ComLuv Profile

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