-INTERNET DATING BLAMED –
Its Thai Brides week in the British Press, or at least the Daily Telegraph, and the Government wants to close a few loopholes without being accused of ‘social engineering’.
It seems ‘single’ pensioners have been taking on Thai brides and then claiming pensions for having them – even though the wives have never contributed to the system – see this link.
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| Mid-Week Diary |
Actually the British Government does still not appear to have cottoned on to the fact, much discussed in Thai wives groups in the UK – and even reaching such far flung posts as Udorn Thani, Buri Ram, Khon Kaen, Surin etc., that having married a Brit and got a couple of kids, if they were to choose to leave their husbands, they would get near the top of the housing queue.
I’ve just had lunch with a Brit whose wife just did that. And their daughter had already left home. The mother used to work at what I call the ‘*** ****’ in Patpong which shut down 20 years ago I’m told. She does not want to return to Thailand.
Worse: Last week I was in Khon Kaen speaking to a father who married a girl from the ***** ****** in Pattaya and lived happily, he says, for nine years.
They had three daughters born in the UK, who were to all intents and purposes English, then the wife suggested: “Why don’t we go back to live in Thailand?”
The father said okay, sold his house and put the £80,000 from the sale (The house was in the north) into his wife’s bank account and stayed behind to tidy affairs. Well I know you’ve guessed the rest.
But to cut a long story, she told him to get lost, spent the cash from the house, sent the kids to live with their granny in the sticks, while she went to work in O*****d Tower, Singapore, very close to an area known as the ‘Four Floors of Whores’, doing seven 30 day stints, and finally picking up another Brit in Pattaya, returning to the U.K. on her settlement visa, and moving into his council house.
The ditched husband was hospitalized for stress. In fact for two years he seemed to get every stress related ailment possible. But eventually he recovered, went back to work from a friend’s sofa, got a new home (rented) and went to the back of beyond of North East Thailand and found them. Their teeth were rotten, they had head lice, he claimed, and the eldest now 13 could not even do simple arithmetic.
He wanted to take them home but the British Embassy would not re-issue him with passports. This was on account of the fact they he could not return the originals as his wife had them.
“But they’re British,” he protested. Ah here’s the catch. Most Brits in Thailand (with Thai wives) get their children both British and Thai passports. That is so the kids can leave Thailand on the Thai passport and arrive in the UK on the British passport and leave Britain on British passports and arrive in Thailand on Thai ones.
Well that’s all and good. But if they enter Thailand on Thai passports then that limits what the British Embassy can do. In a recent case where a Briton’s wife got into trouble in Hua Hin the husband actually fled to Victoria Point in Burma (sorry Myanmar) and brought him back in on a British passport so that the authorities could not mess with his son.
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The ‘Khon Kaen’ dad could of course have reported the passports stolen, but he was, er, too honest and by then it was too late.
It was tragic to see the anguish in eyes. He may never see his kids until they are teenagers and can make their own minds up.
The wife is back in the UK of course instructing the granny and grand-dad to keep the father at bay and doing late shifts in a Thai restaurant.
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Unless the Embassy corrects me, is this. She could bring them back and actually apply for government housing, plus all sorts of allowances.
(But that’s the British way but, I’m guessing, not one supported by David Watson, a UKIP candidate featured recently here.)
But then, heaven forbid, she might have to bring up her own children! North East Thailand is on another planet where the grannies are of course the mothers.
Anyway you will notice above I have included an ad for Thai Love Lines. This is not because I support such a venture but just to show even they can put a gloss on some very strong negatives. Read this, which regurgitates, not necessarily accurately, some stories I have covered in the past.
(The above does not necessarily reflect the views of the authors’s partner or ex partners)
* Names of bars, sex areas, have been removed to act in compliance with British Health & Safety and FCA regulations.
World Funniest (albeit dated) Thai Bride Agency Video
The comments are not mine!
The most ill conceived relationship
And finally a VERY TRAGIC film someboy posted on my Facebook page.
BY EMAIL FROM SIR LANCE
Would you please post my comment as follows: (?)
Nice but very true article Andrew!, the film should be compulsive viewing for all single male visitors to Thailand.
I cannot help but feel sorry for the unfortunate ‘victim’ but he actually made all the classic errors associated with imminent disaster after arriving here!
Sad though it turns out to be, he was extremely lucky that he did not have children by the Thai wife! That’s when it really goes bad!
The film included a subtle irony of the Thai wife getting her Farang to become a pig farmer, fatten the pigs up and sell them for slaughter for money!
Also noted the amount of beer bottles in most of the scenes! Surely that’s is not how he lived back in the UK was it?
Every village around my area has these small bars where Farangs sit and tell the stories of ‘ lost millions’ how strange the duplications!
At the end of the film the Thai wife is even reluctant to kiss him good bye as it is apparent he would take her back in a heartbeat, no lesson learned?
The Thai was very easy to understand and the wife clearly stated that Farangs have too much money but they cannot buy Isaan people!
There are literally hundreds of these events happening every day here in Thailand! The guy had no idea of the culture here or could even speak basic Thai!
‘A fool and his money are easily parted’.
Best regards,
Sir Lance.
Thanks for the videos. They are all worth watching. In the second and third videos, "Thai Girl Takes Lie Detector Test" and "My Thai Wife (how guys lose it all in Thailand)," the guys are such LOSERS – even though they are likeable personalities in the video! I don't know the real character of the women but I see that even THEY can't stand the guys any more. "My Thai Wife (how guys lose it all in Thailand)" is interesting. It's like a "he said – she said" for the very niche situation of the Isaan Thai/foreign couples. It's interesting to see how the men gather at a picnic table in the dusty old town, happy to have a chance to speak English. Read more about it here http://www.mythaibridefilm.com/ It must have translations in the finished product, but not on youtube. So for those of us who speak Thai and English it is a wonderful film, because you can hear each side in their own language. Some explanation of the Thai is in the youtube comments. I just loved it, it made me think for a long time, maybe because "My Thai Wife (how guys lose it all in Thailand)" has universal truths about human nature, which apply to all of us.
Excellent write up as usual Andrew but what else can the Pataya ex pat community do other than take the Mrs back to good old land of the plenty. At least one of the family is British and the kids are half British which could start a new booth at Heathrow instead of the massive lists of asylum seekers, etc etc.
These people have no choice Andrew. Did you know the ones who are skint, cleaned out are in real need of help.
Imagine that you came to Thailand, spent your compensation you got for getting stabbed or shot in a back alley just because you were in wrong place at the wrong time, then you sat in Pataya soi 6 for 3 years with lots of friends then one day your friends were gone, just coincidentally the day you said you were down to your last few 1000 baht.
Then to add injury to insult, the boiler room boys who were your best mate now have given you a knock back for a job in one of their 130 premises in Thailand because you do not fit the requirements. Then the British Consulate has the balls to deny them a free flight home. Do you know how much they contributed to Thailand. GOOD OLD UK Here we come
Good post, Jill.
As you say, taking all the videos together gives a very balanced picture of the reality that is the Thailand that expats live in. "How guys lose it" is a very honest piece and the expat explains how guys can be mis-led and lose a lot of money. Most expats in that situation can't bring themselves to admit they have made a big mistake. They either become Thai apologists, where the Thai can do no wrong; or they see only the seedier, dangerous, and devious side of the country. The Thai forums give examples of both, but don't want an open discussion to take place. The moderators and the flamers have a lot to answer for.
The Thai culture is not explained to westerners. Do expats think only with their western mind engaged?
Hollinger's "Mae Pen Rai" written in the 1960s and some books by Welty do succeed in de-mystifying how Thais live and think but I guess most of it does not sink in.
Andrew's blog at least allows all points of view to be expressed and he is terrier like in his exposes.
I agree with Good Farang, an excellent write up AD. .
Indeed, Andrew, there are many fools who comes to this beautiful land, and pay the price for their naivete. You need to continue your fearless efforts to keep the community of tourists and residents aware of the pitfalls in the Land of Smiles. They–and we–need you.
James Earl
These clips have been around for quite some time and although both entertaining and sometimes sad they're certainly not earth shattering news for any man living Thailand.
Its a fact of life here the lady bars are predominantly staffed by young ladies from the poor farming region in North East Thailand.
Its also a fact of life their parents and siblings are aware of the line of work these young ladies are entering into. And before the wailing and gnashing of teeth begins I'll add that many young girls enter into this line of work out of necessity rather than choice.
Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you view matters, landing any Farang is considered better than a lottery win (no outlay necessary) and certainly a boost to their status in the village.
Incidentally the Pigs in the video looked fit and healthy and far more attractive than many of the Northern Pigs (male and female) shown boozing and fighting in the UK policing documentaries shown expressing concerns about the "Boozing in Britain" culture.
I'm sorry to say no matter how many books or films produced warning of the dangers of marrying Thai hookers they're sure to go unheeded. Its a sad fact of life that many Farangs coming to Thailand (not only from the West) are perfectly preprogrammed for slaughter here.
I'll not bother to mention "Private Dancer" or the old cliché about "taking the girl out of the bar" etc. but for the grace of God go us all here or in the UK! :-))
Tommy Truthsearcher and Ally – While the temptation must be too great please try and avoid comments that might get me sued.
AD…are they Northerners? Sorry if I touched a nerve! :-))
Getting back to the original subject,"Thai Brides Accused of Draining British Government Coffers".
I believed the UK coffers were already empty, at least that's what the departing Ex-Treasury secretary Liam Byrne's note implied to his successor.