I live in CM. I usually avoid this sort of video but Karl is a lovely guy and a neat storyteller. Most importantly, he reminisces about Thailand in the 80s without putting down Thailand today which - let’s face it - is all we’ve got. Still a great place with wonderful people.
Only just stumbled onto this channel and so enjoying the last 3 videos as my own first trip was early 90 at about the same age (I am 56 now). Brings back so much memories of amazing times and the truly wonderful girls I met back then. Its hard to explain unless you experienced it, but my god I am glad I did.
Having travelled all over the world as a young back packer for several years I came to the conclusion that the thing that sets Thailand apart is the ability to mix with the locals . Its possible elsewhere but not like it is in Thailand .
Yes, Thai culture is very unique, I can have the most incredible times here and some very frustrating times too but it's never boring. And the locals are indeed very sociable, sometimes too much for me lol.
Cheers Damien, glad that you’re enjoying my videos. This is the 3rd and there’ll be at least 4 more (87-92). Unfortunately my interest in photography waned a bit after 1992
wonderfull memories mate love them dosent time go quickley you were a handsome young man karl same as me but we are not done yet mate look forwood to the next one
If you’d lived that life just think how old you’d be now lol. Thailand’s still a great place to visit and Samui is still beautiful. Thanks for your comments
I was also in Thailand for the first time in the 80s and before that in many countries around the world. A lot of memories come back and I like listening to the old stories. Over 35 years have now passed and a lot has happened in my life. The highlights were certainly that two of my children were born in Phuket and Bangkok. Thanks for sharing your stories.
Ha... was looking forward to this , love the old pictures and stories. Have watched a load of your videos and I really like the positive vibes and no BS approach. All the best for the future Karl, chok dee.
Glad you are enjoying my videos. There’s a lot of love for the Best Friends Bar Beer Complex. I must admit that it was probably my favourite too unless you count the madness of Soi’s 7 and 8 20 years ago. You must be sad to see it go with such a memory attached to it
This is a brilliant series, thoroughly enjoying the photos and memories. You can see from the pics how much everyone enjoyed each other's company! Cheers Karl
Brilliant memory share. Making great moments to 'sip like fine wine' years later has always been a great joy - you had good times and its great you share with us - more on the way... Thank you
Great memories from best friends bars complex shared many great memories here and sat for a beer at every bar in that complex, that how cosy the place was. Also had the muay thai boxing every night, so many people love this place. now in the memories book.
@@karlsthailand yes so true best friends are always here in the memories ❤ bar 16 jam bar or bar 12 any memories for you. bar 16 run by jam & aussie Chris???
Love this Karl it’s put a big smile on my face , old school Thailand love it !! Man I dream about these days and how it was, I got the later 90s but still so much has changed both good and not so good . Cheers from Oz.
Wonderful reminiscents Karl! Brings back memories from my second trip to Thailand in 1981. Spent two months of my overland route in Thailand going to a lot of the same places, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai for hiking in the Golden Triangle and staying with various hill tribes. Spent two weeks on Ko Samui as well, similar accommodations to yours but no electricity let alone AC back then. I remember every night the heat lightning would light up the sky. Thanks for putting this and the prior one together.
Cheers Jim, there’s no going back to those times and we were fortunate to have experienced what we did. We had to make the effort though so probably deserve our memories
Hi Karl, I love hearing your stories from years gone by. You are really good at story telling, most entertaining and interesting. Reminds me of my ol'days in Thailand. Your photos are fantastic. Looking forward to you next video.
Live in Pratumnak but wife and I on Koh Samui in Chaweng watching this. My Thailand Experience does not go back as far as yours but even looking back to 2002 it has changed so much. Especially the traffic.
@@karlsthailand 100 percent. I never realized how impactful those times were until many years have passed and I look back at myself. I had to grin, I also bought a Canon EOS and lugged that damn thing everywhere with me... and a Sony camera for a bit as well. Lovely times. I am now many trips into Thailand and I do love it so.
Fabulous karl and what a look back amazing , it's a historical documentary you have captured of Thailand life over the years , and now you're exploring new destinations in the Kingdom . Thanks for sharing
@Karl's Thailand that's great will look forward to watching them , went round Pratanmak Hill early this morning, and looked back at your discussion with Paddy Doyle and the quiz 😀
My first trip of many to Thailand was back in 87 as a 16 year old with my father whom ran bars on Soi Cowboy in the late 70s early 80s. Best time of life, needless to say ive got a few wild stories myself. Good times great memories.
Thailand has only been a sexond home to me for the last 12 years . But I love this old stuff from the 80,s and 90,s. Jogs my memory of the wild days I had in Weatern Australia in the same period. Karl your an AWesome story teller too
This is perhaps my second time watching this video Karl! Love the story ❤ which in my opinion, could be made into a movie 😊 You are completely a great storyteller:) Thanks for sharing 😊
I really enjoyed that Karl, Thank you. This is the Thailand I remember as the best of times, way more innocent than now. I really hope you keep sharing! Thanks again! They were the best years ever!
Thanks Tony, I’m happy that it’s brought a bit of that time back for you. There are at least another 4 videos to come, basically every year from 1987-1992
@@karlsthailand Great stuff. I have and I'm sure everyone watching has fond memories of Thailand 'before', not as far back as you mind. 2006 to 2010 was my single era.
Golden years, before most people would venture to SE Asia, like you say it'll never be the same again, great that you experienced it while it was relatively unexplored. Gold.
Really enjoying this series of your travels. Those photos you took are fabulous. It's like they've been waiting all these years for the technology to catch up with their quality. Nowadays we can see on a computer or big screen tv. Nice story about the girl recognising you. Its often said people remember how a person treated them and made them feel more than what they said to them. I'm sure you've done that everywhere you've been on your travels Karl. Looking forward to the next video.
Thanks Popicorn, yes taking slides seemed like an awkward thing to do at the time but I’m so glad I did now as the quality is better. It was a great coincidence meeting Darin again
Great stories Karl 👍 My first time Thailand was 1989 on ko samui in lamai beach,i remember what you where saving there was only the sandroad and behind the coconut plantage, i also remember bauhous,it was on a corner and above the entrance was standing the cup from the Europacup 1,if i am richt. I am still going back every year, except the last 2 years,but i am glad that i go back in september. Thanks for the nice story. 😇🙏
@@karlsthailand Lol I’m 30 now. And have been to Thai land 3 times. In my life. Last time I went to Bangkok for most of the month I stayed. I really like Bangkok 👍👍. Looking forward to going agian this year some time. 👍👍
Great pics and memories Karl. My first few trips to Thailand in the 90s are all a bit of a blur 🤣will never beat that buzz coming into land in DM knowing you’d be soon be in sukhumvit bars !
Karl ,the 2nd video I've watched of yours and 2nd time I wanna cry, great video but I feel the loss of times gone by that will never come again, I had the same experience of meeting a girl and then going back to samui years later and had a massge on lamai beach Rd only to notice she was the owner now and not an employee with her farang husband, bitter sweet to be honest, I wish her the best 💙 keep up your vids pls
Damn Karl! I was listening to you when I was working out and you mentioned Best Friend Bar Beer in Pattaya! Had great memories of a young lass named Noi Nong back in 92 and 93 wow!
Thanks. I kept in touch with some of them for a year or two and saw them on subsequent trips but gradually lost touch. It wasn’t like today where all you need is their Facebook. Yes, I wonder too
Great stories 👍. Lamai was my favourite place, a bit after you though, I remember whiling the night away in the couple of beer bar complexes, on to Bauhaus then finishing off in the Rock pub opposite until 9 or 10 in the morning, happy days 😊.
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, my memory has always been good when it comes to the chronology of things happening but having the pictures to remind me is a big help. Cheers
Great video karl and an amazing story seeing durin after all those years. Something similar happened to me in 2002. I was working in london and got off the tube in piccadilly outside tower records. Unbelievably i bumped into a thai girl i knew from a bar called ying's corner, one of a cluster of ramshackle bars on asok corner, now demolished. Of course she couldn't believe it when she saw me but her partner was less than impressed 🤣🤣🤣 needless to say she was back in Thailand within 6 months.
Hi Karl, I'm on holiday in chiang mai, I had the han lae in jok somphet, did the monks trail to doi suthep and back, and next will be the floating pagodas. I greatly enjoyed, thank you 👍👍
Great channel mate would be amazing if you could meet up with the girls you used to go with back in the day and see what there up to all these years later
Great memories I was there in 1986 Bkk then night train to Surat Thani then ferry to koh samui, then went to the states for 24 years and returned to Thailand for two years four year back, but I also remember the one and only club disco on koh samui 😂 Great photos you have, I did the same tripod etc but I had an Olympus O.M.1. All the best look forward to the next one.
Cheers Vin, what a journey that is by train and bus and ferry eh? But to quote from ‘The Beach’…”Trust me, it’s a bargain!”. You’re one of only a few I know who remember Flamingo House. Do you still have your pictures from 86?
@@karlsthailand I do Karl But in storage in the U.K. not there just now but when Im back I will dig them out, You got some Great colouring on your old photos, Did you use a filter? Yep The flamingo house great memories, I was in a beach bungalow on Lamai beach forgot the name but she the lady also had a restaurant in the middle, she used to give everyone that thia stick 😂 and no one was bothered to move so she had your custom most evenings eating and drinking then pay your bill when you left ha. Look forward to the next one.
@@karlsthailand We was Karl very lucky to experience them times, I stayed at the old famous or infamous hotel Miami when I first went to Bkk I believe it was in its time a hang out for U.S. Troops on leave from Vietnam, I don’t know if its still open? I used to go to Cheap Charlies open air bar Famous with ex pats and the like, went back after 30 odd years and was still open I think its. Closed now, Did you ever go? Im probably the same age as you so I can relate to your experiences at that young age in that magical place Thailand. All the best look forward to your next Video cheers.
More great memories Karl 👍 Bet those Hmong children served me coffee as 30 odd year olds now when I was up at Doi Pui in April! Amazing memories, keep em coming 🙏🏻👍
Great memories Carl. Do you remember the Jasmin necklaces and bracelets they used to sell around sonkraan. Smell was amazing. Pity they dont sell them any more. Its all football team bracelets now. Remember Bauhaus in lamai. Old reggai pub and doors pub in chaweng. Fab photos.
My first and oldest memory of Thailand is the smell of the jasmine garlands. Flew into Don Muang way back in '76 and caught a cab into town. The driver kept calling himself 'Steve McQueen' while darting in and out of traffic. Each time we stopped hands would reach in the window with loads of those jasmine necklaces. The scent was unforgettable.
