Post op life living in Bangkok

[warlockmaker]

So I moved to live in Bangkok from Hong Kong/Macau, my place of birth and where my family have lived for 400 hundred years. I love my city but wanted to learn to be a female in a very trans friendly city and opted for Bangkok.. it been a wonderful decision.

Life here is so normal, I don't know if I pass or not, pretty sure I pass 100 pct,  but no one cares so neither do I.  The Thai females are ever so polite and ever so vain...suited me perfectly. The females dress up very smartly and I get to wear beautiful feminine clothes, locally manufactured at very reasonable prices.  I take Thai conversation classes and have become a practicing bhuddist.

I have a fantastic large apartment in the heart of the city. I am within 200 yds from ...massage, beauty clinics, hair salon, shopping ,restraunts, yoga and other health spa and gyms.... and everything I need. And within 10 minutes from the 4 largest malls in Thailand..

I have friends galore visiting and made so many new friends, I have maids and an assistant at very reasonable costs. Food and clubs ate fantastic.plus I have male and a she male lovers.  Never want to get into any relationships ...been there and done that...for me falling in love is not what it's hyped out to be.

I have found peace and each day I appreciate life and it's joys. I'm lucky to be healthy and financially secure ...at 68 years old and looking 20 years younger I'm blessed.

I hope my journey will inspire others that being tg is not a misery but we are blessed to experience two lives in a lifetime .

[AnonyMs]

Sometimes I read your posts, and want to say something but struggle to work out what it is.

You've such an interesting life. I'm not sure I'd want to do all of this, but family obligations being what they are I'm a bit stuck for now. You do make me wonder though.

[stephaniec]

good for you , enjoy

[StephanieMI]

Hello,
I am 2 week post op by Dr. Chettawut and currently staying at the Vertical Suite Hotel.  From your description I bet we are within a few miles of each other.
I have to admit, living here would really be nice.  I'm 62 and retired.  Hem?  I wonder?
But I do have a wonderful female partner at home (Florida).  Not going to give that up!
Have a wonderful life
Stephanie

[Paige]

Sounds like a very nice life and you do look remarkably young for your age.   I'm sure there's no scientific data on this but from seeing many older trans-woman, it seems like most look younger than their age.  Fountain of youth?

I'm 53 and you're quite the inspiration.  Thanks for posting this,
Paige

[Kova V]

S'wadi Ka! 🙏  Kab Kun Ka!
That's so awesome! Thank you for sharing your story! My ex of 8.5 years is Thai, we often talked about moving to Bangkok! I really like the culture and food. The has its funny little quirks (with you saying your own gender pronoun at the end of sentences). The people are super nice too. I'll probably end up living there at some point in my life, in either Bangkok or Chiang Mai. I'm happy it's working out for you so well!

[karenpayneoregon]

Very inspiring for those who are considering transitioning, stories such as your's I believe will inspire others along their journey that there are many who are successful and flourish.

[Richenda]

I love this topic Bobbie. I had to laugh loudly at this: 'The Thai females are ever so polite and ever so vain...suited me perfectly.' 

I'm currently at Patong which is also very trans friendly. I lay on the beach all day for the first time ever in a bikini. No-one cared and everyone called me 'Madam.' It's a wonderful country to be trans. I guess my only qualm is the extent to which the kathoey side of life is tied-up with the sex industry to feed foreign fantasies? I've chatted to ladyboys who would love to have ops but cannot afford them and the only way they can subsist is through working the bars. I know you and I have chatted personally about this. Perhaps it's slightly unfair of me and there's definitely a lot more to ->-bleeped-<- than that industry. That's where I also think Bangkok scores over places like Pattaya and Patong: it's so much more than just a tourist mecca. It's a thriving city with a panoply of offerings.

I have only one reservation about Bangkok and it's the heat. I found this March / April pretty unbearable. As I like running every day I found it impossible.

I was intrigued by my recent GiC appointment in the UK. The doctor challenged me that I am in Thailand because 'it's easy.' He asked if that wasn't escaping the reality of being trans back in my homeland. Ouch! It's not entirely true because, for instance, if anyone lives here they need to make sure they have proper medical insurance or good funds.

Thailand is a fantastic country. The people are wonderful. I used to think the smiles might be surface deep and there's of course a darker underbelly at times. But if you're polite and do as you have Bobbie and enculturate: learning their language and customs it is the friendliest place on earth and a brilliant place to be trans.

.

[warlockmaker]

Hi Richenda.  I had a nasty response to this post which was removed and the person banned..I read her reply and I do admit she was very agressive. I also recognized that i may have been at fault and insensitive. Many TGs in the West have this chip on their shoulder and cannot accept a transitioned TG doing well and being happy, there is so much anxiety and misery in our group that I thought a happy post would be good and give others hope. I admit that what I say could be construed as rubbing salt into the wounds of those not so fortunate and I now will not write so liberally and apologies to those that I have offended.

BTW I just had my UK passport changed in Thailand to female with new names.  It was a simple process once you knew what to do.  Once you have your srs and you provide the  doctors letters they have to give you a female passport. If you need any assistance please let me know as I have gone thru the whole process..

See you soon. Hugs

[Richenda]

Oh gosh I'm sorry to hear about that I thought it was just a wonderfully encouraging, positive, post.

Thanks for the passport update: that's brilliant to know. Now I've had my hair styled I do use the ladies out here. I haven't been told off yet and everyone calls me Madam

Hugs back x

[Paige]

I thought it was just a wonderfully encouraging, positive, post.

I 100% agree.  There was absolutely nothing wrong with your post.  As an older trangender person I want to know that there is a possible good life after transition.  We don't need to always here how tough it is, that can be very discouraging. 

Take care,
Paige

[AnonyMs]

It was a great post. It made me smile.

[AnonyMs]

I was intrigued by my recent GiC appointment in the UK. The doctor challenged me that I am in Thailand because 'it's easy.' He asked if that wasn't escaping the reality of being trans back in my homeland. Ouch! It's not entirely true because, for instance, if anyone lives here they need to make sure they have proper medical insurance or good funds.

The way you say that makes it sound negative, but its not, its a good thing if you can manage it. What exactly is wrong with escaping from an oppressive system?

It sounds a bit like you feel you there's some moral obligation to behave as others expect you to. I'm not a believer in that (except the trans thing, the social side of that still scares me).

[Richenda]

Yes I think you're spot on there AnonyMs. When I shared with a friend what was said she replied the same as you and was quite cross with them.

I suppose it's this whole RLE thing: you have to spend 2 years really living fully female in your old society to show friends, family, work, society that you mean it. Then they open the door. I suppose I've slowly come to see the positive side of that though: that it tests your resolve and helps you see what it will really be like but I still think overall that it's a poor approach.

[AnonyMs]

Richenda, I'm not sure if I'm overly clear. Yes I dislike the UK system and by the sound of it your doctor as well, but that's not the main point.

The question is how do you feel about it? You sound like you have some guilt over working around it, but really your only moral responsibility is to yourself (and family if you have one). If you feel its in your best interests to follow the system then sure do that, but you should feel nothing bad about doing otherwise. If I were doing the same I'd just write the doctor off as a fool not worthy of my time or respect and forget about him. No guilt.

Ever thought of moving to Australia? I'm reasonably sure that you'd not have that issue here, at least in Sydney. I actually told my psych when I first met him that if I ever asked for SRS letters and he refused I'd just them them overseas. I needed help at the time and wanted to be open and honest, and I never sensed any judgment from him over it, or any indication that he'd refuse if I did ask.

I kind of wish I could move to Thailand for a few years. I think I'd like it a lot, but I've family obligations. From what I understand its difficult regarding work, and I'm not ready to retire. Pity they don't have a 3 year transition visa. How great would that be!