Visiting Pakbara (ปากบารา) In Satun, Thailand

[@johnrambo5917]

there also a beach,dragon spine beach, where when low tide, you can walk across the sea, it connect the island and the mainland

[@expatlivinginthailand]

I didn't know that. Interesting!

[@johnrambo5917]

Ya, you can ask around

[@gangsom]

You obviously filmed this a while back talking about the situation in the UK. Anyway I've been here In satun. I'd say it's ok for a couple of nights anymore than that and it's a little boring. Nice food there though. Another good video.

[@expatlivinginthailand]

I did. I run two channels, the other is about language. Previously the other channel had mixed content so I'm moving all the non-language content here to separate the language and non-language content. You're right, it would be boring for a long stay. We've only stayed there for one night for a quick break and to eat some good seafood.

[@nsiva8798]

Nice place, nice video.💕

[@expatlivinginthailand]

Thank you! It's an old video that I had previously uploaded, but I'm in the process of separating my Thai language and non-Thai language videos. I'm removing all my non-language content from my language channel and putting it here.

[@calsonyap8337]

I wish you can do a video on Satun Town center. Markets, tourist attractions, hotels, etc. There are very few videos about Satun Town. Thanks.

[@expatlivinginthailand]

At the moment - unfortunately - I simply have no free time, but my wife just told me that there are several public holidays next month. Depending on what may family want to do, a trip to Satun may be possible next month but I can't make any promises. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm always happy to receive suggestions and ideas for videos.

[@johnrambo5917]

satun really a nice place to travel for those who like nature there is a geopark in satun, and under uneso heritage

[@expatlivinginthailand]

It really is, and not too many tourists. I really need to get to Lipe and Tarutao islands, but it's not easy with my family's school and work scheduled.

[@johnrambo5917]

@@expatlivinginthailand ya, when have family , all the time tide up

[@expatlivinginthailand]

@@johnrambo5917 You're telling me! I live by the saying, "You can have anything, but you can't have everything." You can have a family, but once you do there are so many things you can't have and can't do!

[@redflamelcd]

I’m curious how you picked up Thai? Was it a slow listen and repeat sort of learning or did you actively take lessons? Cos Thai is really not easy for non native speakers to learn

[@expatlivinginthailand]

The biggest factor is attitude. Some foreigners I have met have had an extremely negative attitude and simply refuse to learn. Even before I arrived I had already decided that learning the local language would be a priority. When I arrived I took 20 x 1 hour conversational Thai lessons. I actually put these on-line phil.uk.net/tutorials/index.html I never wanted to live in an expat bubble and have generally always avoided expats. This has forced me to improve my Thai. I bought a lot of language books, but the transliteration of Thai words into English is a disaster and most were useless. Subsequently, I taught myself to read Thai so that I could avoid transliteration and read the Thai directly. I run another KZbin channel about learning to read Thai if you are interested. It's really not that difficult. Hat Yai has few farang tourists and expats, therefore English skills among the locals are generally weak. In many situations it was a case of speaking Thai or not being able to communicate. To practice reading I tried to read every sign I saw and used Thai menus in restaurants (I still do this). In 2010 I got married to a local girl whose English is extremely poor. Thai has always been the language of communication in our marriage and this has helped me a lot. I've always found that I learn better in real life situations rather than in a classroom setting from books. I'm not fluent, I never will be fluent, and I will never stop learning. I've heard many farangs who know some conversational Thai and say they are fluent, but they aren't. It's just that they don't understand what it means to be fluent. Conversational Thai uses informal vocabulary, but to be fluent you need to understand the formal (written) vocabulary, royal vocabulary, and you need to know enough vocabulary to be able to speak in any situation.

[@t.q.6639]

Do you think it’s the presence of the Thai military, the large number of Muslims community, or the sporadic violence in the southern part of Thailand that could be keeping tourists from Hai Yai or Pakbara? I’ve flew to Had Yai three years ago on my way to Koh Lipe. I noticed a number of military soldiers at the air port and check points. That visual/experience was intimidating for us Americans. Is there any similarity of how Muslim community in Thailand view westerners such as Americans vs how the Middle East view us?

[@expatlivinginthailand]

None of the above and the southern insurgency problem has been quiet for quite a long time. I recently did an update on the Hat Yai tourist situation and many Malaysians/Singaporeans left comments. There were various reasons keeping tourists away, but these things weren't mentioned. Thai Muslims are very well integrated in Thai society, especially in Satun and Songkhla. It may be a bit different in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, but I went to Pattani earlier this year and didn't sense any danger at all. I have Muslim neighbours and friends, some of whom are in mixed Muslim/Buddhist marriages. The military is huge in Thailand and you see soldiers everywhere. Some of those Muslim neighbours/friends I mentioned are also in the army. A strong military presence is normal in Thailand. In my experience, Thai Muslims are different to Muslims elsewhere. A relatively small radical element exists, but the vast majority of Thai Muslims bear no ill will towards foreigners. That's my experience, anyway.

[@t.q.6639]

@@expatlivinginthailand Thank you, good to have local’s perspective.

[@expatlivinginthailand]

@@t.q.6639 Pleasure. I've read so much about how dangerous it is in southern Thailand and most is nonsense. Here is what the UK Foreign Office advises on its website: "The FCDO advise against all but essential travel to Thailand’s southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, and to southern Songkhla province." I could never guarantee that you won't run into problems, but there's a lot of hyperbole and personally I have never felt in any danger. That includes periods of time in the 2000's when the southern insurgency problem was at its peak. This is now my 20th year living in Songkhla province.

[@davidteoh7080]

@@expatlivinginthailand the recommendation is a bit dated, i would say and does not really reflect the actual situation. But normally Foreign Office advisory normally err on the side an actual incident. There are bound to be differences when 2 cultures/religion try to coexist, with opportunist most likely influencing the zealots to action. But this has actually changed in the past 30 years or so, in large i believe due to economic prosperity, measures that the Thai govt have put in place to alleviate poverty. When you can make a honest good life for yourself n family, ppl normally will settle down. I might be wrong but the OTOP programme seems to a good idea that has been floated, given a few white elephants have been created.

[@Florida30]

You don't need bars and girls to enjoy life

[@expatlivinginthailand]

I actually think that it detracts from your quality of life, which is why I chose to live in Hat Yai, and not Pattaya!