Farang Beggars in Thailand
Last updated: 2007-07-17
You've probably heard countless stories about foreigners who are down on their luck in Thailand. Perhaps they stayed too long in paradise, ran out of money and neglected to keep a return airfare in reserve. Perhaps they fell in love with a bar girl who robbed them blind. How low do you think it is possible to go if you're a foreigner?
Perhaps this article will give you some insight. Foreigners may sometimes be upset by the sight of very young children begging for a few Baht on the streets of Bangkok, including popular tourist areas like Sukhumvit Road. However, imagine the surprise of seeing a Westerner begging for money in Thailand... Yes, that's right, the phenomenon of farangs begging for money is real.
This subject has been debated quite a lot in the expat community of Thailand. How did they wind up in such a dire position? Surely their embassy can assist them to get home?... These are just a couple of the questions being asked.
Lets take one particular example, a Dutchman who's been begging for years in Bangkok's Skytrain stations and other areas popular with tourists. He has been spotted on numerous occasions looking forlorn and holding a hand written sign, claiming he needs thousands of Baht to return home. In fact, he could have walked back to Europe, so long has he been begging in the city.
Perhaps you are wondering if he really is down on his luck and in need of help. I'm sure there are cases where foreigners have been robbed etc and find themselves in desperate circumstances. However, Why has this character not approached his embassy for help after so long? Surely the Dutch Embassy would have stepped in by now to spare themselves national embarrassment?
Of course there are real reasons why anyone from any country might end up in desperate situations. However, if you are young, able bodied and from a country where it is easy to find work, it seems unforgivable that they should beg on the streets just to extend their stay.
Perhaps it may help to understand if we know that he has a girlfriend in Thailand and actually has an apartment in the Prakanong area. It appears he is making enough money to rent an apartment that would be considered very nice to the average Thai citizen. Perhaps the thought of going home to get a job and earn his own money is what is really holding him back form flying home, rather than a lack of funds. It's also wirth noting that he always has a clean shirt and appears well fed. I'll leave it for you to decide for yourself.
Whatever the case, being the citizen of a wealthy country and having to beg for money on the streets of a third World country (where the local beggars often really are in dire straits), is just about as low as you can go.
Need advice? Got a question? Go to our Thailand Forum