What Thailand YouTubers DON'T Tell you about living in Thailand
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- Опубліковано 27 тра 2024
- 🌏 In this video I interview Jon, an expatriate with 18 years of experience living in the Land of Smiles, as he unveils the untold realities that many Thailand-focused UA-camrs seldom discuss.
🛑 In this conversation, Jon sheds light on the sacrifices and challenges that come with living in Thailand as a foreigner. Contrary to the idyllic portrayals often seen on social media, Jon delves into the flip side, exploring the difficulties of becoming a permanent resident in Thailand as well as the challenges expats encounter when seeking meaningful employment and professional growth.
🤔 If you're considering the move to Thailand or are simply curious about the unspoken truths of expat life, this interview with Jon is a must-watch. Brace yourself for an honest and insightful conversation that goes beyond the glossy surface, providing a realistic perspective on the sacrifices and challenges faced by expats in Thailand. #movingtothailand #expatlifeinthailand #thairishtimes
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Subscribe to Jon's channel: @JonCanton@JonInChiangMai
00:00 intro
02:17 Thailand hasn’t given me what I want
10:10 Struggling in rural Thailand
18:48 Don't come to Thailand if you want a career
check out Jon's channel here: www.youtube.com/@JonInChiangMai/videos
Great content, well done 👍🏽
I think Jon is a decent bloke. Obviously struggling atm. The longer he is off the piss the better. Good interview👍
nah.
i lived in southwest Thailand, Koh Lanta (70% Muslim island) for 8 1/2 yrs beginning 2009 (left to be Euro girl for few years, will return 2025)
if one takes the effort to learn Thai and respects/honors the culture, not just lives as an expat! Jon doesn't like Thailand? Jon wants to change Thailand?!?!?!? he can f**k off, HE is the one who needs to change! ANY foreign male CAN get Thai citizenship/perm residency if they marry Thai woman AND learn to read & write Thai... understandibly, it is easier for me as a fgemale age 68, when i return i will marry a Thai man and achieve Thai citizenship; even though i speak fluent Thai it's NOT a requirement for a female foreigner! so what if Thailand has changed?!?!?!?!? if you get off the tourist trails, and actually relate to Thais and don't just hang out w/other expats, Thai culture still shines! i will never sub your BS channel and won't watch any more of your BS vids! you are giving misinformation, this is a bs waste of my time, gotta stop after 5 minutes
doesn't like Thai food, married to Thai woman but obviously doesn't speak much Thai (if he spoke and read & wrote Thai well, he COULD get perm residency, even citizenship!) this is a BS interview w/someone who would obviously be happier eating crap Brit food back in Blighty! i lived in sw Thailand on Koh Lanta 8 1/2 yrs beginning 2009, will return when my album is mixed/mastered & released, then will marry Thai man and get citizenship (it's easy for foreign woman!)
you are doing a disservice; but maybe not, you're keeping whingy losers from coming!
Jon needs to take a trip back to the UK and then his appreciation of Thailand would go back up.
If he thought the UK was bad 12 years ago, he should see what it is like now.
Definitely this
He’s entitled to his opinion .. keep in mind he did what most of us never did .. landed in a foreign country namely Thailand when he just turned 17…I like Jon follow him all the time
I bet you are right. He sounds miserable. Maybe a few weeks around loud and obnoxious Western women would slap some sense into him.
Yh it's horrible right now trust me
But I wonder is it horrible if you bought your house 25 years ago in the uk and maybe you renting it out for 2k a month while you live in Thai ? If you in your 20s in uk then no chance(like Ireland) but bear in mind some people own 2 or 3 houses that have quadrupled in value also........property will make men rich if you get in early I guess
Some people don’t realize that wherever you go, you take yourself with you. If are a mean nasty drunk in your home country, you will be the same here. If you have untreated addictions at home, they will just get worse here. If you have no capacity for self-discipline or self-reflection, you aren’t going to change in Thailand.
If you have empathy and a desire to understand others, Thailand can be place where you can practice that with joy.
If your life is filled with discontent of others because they don’t please you at home, your life isn’t going to magically change here…or anywhere else.
💯
100% spot on!!
This! 💯
It's like more money shows a person's character vividly.
Exactly!
Thailand has always been geared towards tourists and retirees. Anything in between is going to be difficult.
That's because you almost never hear from the "real" expat community. The foreigners who actually work for international companies. They have no interest or time to push out their daily life on social media
Great point. It is NOT a place to permanently immigrate to. Enjoy a short visit and/or your "golden years." That's it.
Disagree! The best place is the place you're in right now.
@@graerindley6312that's a nice sentiment but Thailand can rob a young person of their working years and potential. The guest shows this and I have my own story to tell as well.
@@graerindley6312 to a certain extent youre correct,live in the present bc it is indeed a present,a gift,living in the past is a waste of energy and looking fwd too far into the future is pointless
It sounds like he got tied down into all the Western traps whilst living in Thailand. Nobody is claiming Thailand is better if you want to be a 9-5er living in a random town in the rat race. They are claiming Thailand is better because you can escape from all of that and avoid all of that. If his priorities in life are mortgage, suburbs, corporate jobs etc, he should just go to a Western country rather than complaining that it's hard to live that life in Thailand. Of course it is!
Well, I don't know his income, but if he doesn't make $85,000 a year, his family is dead broke in Western countries.
I think 17 was way too young for him to live in Thailand. He’s talking about Thailand passing him by is because he hasn’t advanced his skills as fast as normal teenagers would in the western world. Most expats come at a later age with the skills, education, wealth they need to be comfortable.
Yes. He should’ve worked, lived frugally and saved up in his home country then move when he’s ready financially.
@@everybodysjonathanthinking the same, if he had worked in the West for 15-20yrs then moved, he’d have a property, pension, investments and savings, so bigger financial power in Thailand
The beauty of Thailand is you can live on $50k USD a year like you are living on $175k back home. So all you need is $50k a year, some of us have stuff back home so you have add in that home overhead which can be a bunch, or sell everything and be freeeeee! Well you need that $50k yr nest egg 😊
He's not saying any specifics, it's annoying.
Yes, I agree. he should be probed to give more specifics and explain. I know more on that would be interesting and he could do it easily if asked. Thanks for the interview Mr. Thairish Times. I enjoyed it. But more probing next time ;-)
I was thinking the same thing.
Really, this is supposed to be an informative interview, this guy is unspecific as it comes and I,m sure his experience would be extremely helpful
I gave up halfway. Waste of time.
It sounded like he feels like he’s entitled to be in Thailand and Thai people should bow down and kiss his feet.
"Comparison is the thief of joy" Make your little space, Think about what you like, and set out to do it. Accumulation of things and wealth is an endless and I would say joyless journey. Finally- if you don't have health everything else is worthless.
Good call man
Well said truly words of wisdom that people should value
I love ur comment ...
@littleengine9502 (a) the people who say that money is not important tend to have lots of it (b) what's the point of good health if you have no money with which to enjoy yourself with it.
It really depends on your frame of mind, where you are in life ( I was once young - I am 52 now- and wanted wealth, working 12-15 hours a day. If you think you need money to be happy- and only picture yourself happy if you have a lot of money, then you are in a sad boat. I am financially stable- not wealthy. I could go out and hunt for opportunities, but then I think to myself, how much time will I need to put in, how much effort and bodily sacrifice- to achieve wealth , you need to barter or exchange something for it. Right now, TIME is more valuable to me, and understand what cathexis is.Good Luck @@revol148
I’m an American retiree living 7 years in Thailand. I would never recommend to young working age adults that they move here. Better to work a career, make western $$, and earn a pension and/or Social Security in your western home country. Thailand then becomes your reward for all that hard work. It seems to me that the opportunities for a sustainable future are just not here for young people unless you set your standards pretty low.
Agree. I’m now collecting my pension and Social Security and going back to Asia this year. That’s the best way to do it. Like you said.
If you work remotely it could be. That's what I'm doing in the Phil right now, and I'm decades away from retirement.
@@redpillsatori3020 Yes, digital nomads earning western $$ can work overseas. Don’t forget to contribute to future retirement programs. While online work opportunities have increased, thanks to the experience of the pandemic shutdowns, it is still a tiny niche of the workforce and this guy being interviewed doesn’t seem to be part of it.
I dont entirely disagree, but that sounds like you're saying be miserable for decades and enjoy life once you're old. People today are searching for a balance. Especially as life in the West is super depressing.
If you can work remotely and earn well, places like Thailand are far better.
I left the UK in 2015 and glad I did. Of course there are challenges, though theres challenges everywhere right now.
That's nonsense, I made a lot of money working in Thailand when I was younger, it's an excuse
Hi,
It sounds to me like John is depressed. Living in rural Thailand can be very boring and unfulfilling. For me I do live in rural Thailand in a small village. It can be soul destroying at times, but we go back to Pattaya for a week per month in order to preserve our sanity.
Spot on comments re living in rural thailand and agree entirely. After 20 + years here.. 8 in bkk and 15 in rural Buriram, to maintain mental health escaping to bkk regularly is essen
Pattaya for sanity? Now I have heard it all in regards to Thailand. How can the sewer of Thailand bring anyone sanity? It's mostly just old angry drunks and young Arabs doing messed up shit that they couldn't do in their home countries.
Maybe it's cheaper for him
Hi Kev
Couldn't agree more I'm 65 live in Sa Kaeo province in a small town called Khlong Hat in a farming district with my partners family and after a week were out of there usually to Bangkok 3hrs away or maybe Hua Hin, Koh Chang for a few days otherwise the boredom would send me crazy but after a week its quite relaxing to get back there so the best of both worlds really and a whole lot cheaper than living in Australia! $$$$$$
So if you get bored, move somewhere else.
It seems like this is a good example of a guy who needs to go home and get his life recalibrated and then come back with a better plan. Anyone else agree? I did that with my time in Thailand couple times and it made a world of difference.
Yeah. Needs to take accountability. Blaming Thailand for his own actions is ridiculous.
Agreed. He came at age 17 and has been there 18 years. I think his perspective is such a unique perspective that most of it won't apply to most westerners who move to Thailand. Most people moving to Thailand have experienced the pros and cons of living, working, and surviving as an adult in the West. Even the 30 somethings have about a decade of that experience. That perspective will help when things get difficult in Thailand and you ask yourself so do I really want to go back to that western way of living for another 10+ years?
All this guy has ever known his entire adult life is Thailand so he's never experienced that. Also I don't know his full economic background but I suspect he hasn't built up a large reserve of cash as someone who worked and saved diligently in the West so his economic choices may be limited. If you can't afford to do a lot of the things you want to do even in paradise that starts getting old. Part of the appeal of moving to Thailand is the value of Western currency allows most to live a lifestyle they just couldn't afford in their home country.
@@ariefraiser140 I couldn’t have put that any better if I tried. You have hit the nail on the head.
Spot on. This bloke doesn't know himself. Stop whining and find/create a solution.
@@ariefraiser140nailed it. when I hit rock bottom in Thailand I went home and came back later with a high paying job. Problem solved. Staying in Thailand and bottom feeding just makes it more painful in the end.
He is regretting wasting his youth away. While his peers have built a career with upward mobility, he's fallen into a trap of his own making. For a guy who complains about the UK's nanny state, he would be the one who can benefit fom the UK's safety net.
I have lived in Japan for almost 30 years, and there are similar challenges, but to thrive you need to be creative. I wouldn’t change anything about my life. Living in Japan has given me many, many opportunities to travel the world and to enjoy a very interesting culture. I recommend that if you move to any culture, you find one aspect of it to immerse yourself in. This will not only connect you with the culture, but it will also help develop friends. For myself, it has been Zen Buddhism. I have experienced wonderful things, and made Japanese friends for life.
I hope the guy in this interview finds happiness.
I worked for a Japanese company in pacific islands spending my timebetween islands and in Japan…. When I know you KNOW… 😊😊…
That totally makes sense you got to find your place of peace and meaning and purpose and position yourself there and grow from there.
Dude can't compare Japan with Thailand
@@oneoneoneman Dude, yes I can!
@@ElBrandenBrazil It seems that your zen was in vain then 😆
I moved to Thailand three years ago entering through the Phuket sandbox; I stayed there a few months before finding a condo at The Base in Pattaya for 7000 baht/month. I was there a year before moving to Pratamnak for 9000; now I live in an older condo on Jomtien beach with a beautiful ocean view for 9500/month. My bills are reasonably priced; electric and water. I'm from Missouri in America. Even a crap apartment in the small town of Cape Girardeau Missouri is not cheap; 1000usd if you are lucky.
Although I agree mostly with what was said in the video, Thailand is still a bargain. It may not be the bargain that it once was. There are numerous other upshots to living here as well; I won't elaborate at this time. cheap delicious food; beautiful women; gorgeous weather, et al.
and lets not forget very friendly people. If you have a problem, Thai people who you don't know are willing to help you out, while in the West, people are way too busy with themselves to even look at others.
Recently, I visited 'Missoura' for my 50th HS reunion and was surprised how expensive everything had become. Thailand is still cheaper but the prices here continue to climb.
I did the same came in to BKK, after living in Mexico for 2 years now here 3
@@ExpatSenseiHow do you like it so far? I hope to do the same by the end of this year/beginning next year
@@ExpatSenseiThat’s awesome, dude. I’ve been in Thailand for a very long time and by coincidence I saw a series on HBO called “the anarchists”(go figure 😂). about some people living in Mexico, and I got really excited about living there. So my question is…after a few years in both places…where do like it better? What’s the main differences? And more thoughts about it, if you have them? Thanks 🙏
Even today Thailand is a great place to live if you have the financial means and resources.I can remember the old expats in the late 90s complaining about how expensive Thailand was becoming compared to 70s 80s etc.Things change and we need to be adaptable to survive here.
Exactly it’s all relative and simply just new generations saying the same stuff in many cases globally! 70s music was cool to know for a generation and now Gen z think knowing 90s songs is great and on it goes ! Yes things progress and change but the human mind is so obvious and predictable when viewed over decades. Build it, destroy it and repeat 🔁 for century’s ! He thinks he knows the real Thailand because he went in 2000 and I think I k ow the real Thailand because I was there in the 80s and the guys who were there in the 60s think they know the real Thailand.
@@CJCIEtrue ain't it.then I meet a Thai lad in Samui never left the island in 28 yrs he don't even know the real Thailand hardly gets out
More expensive but if they are on a government, military or social security pension, it has cost of Living increases so not sure why they would think things are more.
I'm sure Thailand is getting more expensive every day. The thing is, the West is getting more expensive as well, except more so
@@PhilLee-qn7gr it's relative. As wages rise, so does the prices. Still, paying 1/8th the price of America is way cheaper to live here.
He just seems unhappy with himself, and he's blaming Thailand instead of holding himself accountable for his own life. He needs to develop himself and not use the excuse of limited opportunities in Thailand. Thailand has always been about Thai people. Suck it up and handle your own life like a grown man is supposed to. There are sacrifices to move to Thailand and sacrifices to stay where you are.
I've seen a few of his videos and I completely agree.
Two UA-cam fools crying poor , passive income west to live in east , 500 k minimum
U buy good condo good location, it never falls then invest rest etf collect divs and live off that , live Thailand forever, no income inflation owns u down the track , bums in Thailand complain all the time , the truth is u have property in west u have no problem, why does ever broke fool think Asia is the answer
This guy couldn’t get laid in the West, so he shouldn’t complain about the Kingdom … 😂😎🎉
Guy is confined by his choices. If you dont like the situation....change it
I do have sympathy for the age at which he came to Thailand- 17 is so very young. But there’s also a few red flags. I’d expect a man of that age, with a Thai family, to speak excellent Thai. I believe writing and speaking excellent Thai would open up so many doors. His job clearly seems dubious, as evidenced by how cagey he was speaking about it. That’s not going to make you feel great about yourself or your life.
In my mid 20s, I moved to Russia and taught English for a few years. While there, I studied Russian intensively.
While some of my coworkers put very little effort into their teaching, working for what a friend in Bangkok brilliantly termed “beer tokens”, drinking between classes, often hungover, I really studied English grammar. I never wanted to not be able to explain the theory of something. That helped tremendously with my writing. Even led me to one day publish a book.
After 3 years I managed to get editing and translation work. My students were often successful. They worked at museums and galleries, international firms, places that needed clean English translations, which they hired me to do. They had friends who worked in media.
That eventually opened up the door for me to work in journalism, which I’m doing now. It’s my career. My salary is decent enough for me to invest. Those investments, I hope, will allow me to live in Thailand permanently in a few years.
See, I’m not an entrepreneur. I don’t have a business mind. But there are opportunities for every sort of person, depending on how they choose to spend their time, wherever they are.
I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the people I knew back in Moscow are doing exactly the same thing. Working for beer tokens. Nursing increasingly worse hangovers. Some folks I know from Bangkok are doing more or less the same. Wherever we are, we have choices.
It all comes down to: why are you really in Thailand? A cheaper consumer experience? An ability to get a girlfriend without having to confront unresolved trauma? Is there anything about actual Thai people and Thai society that speaks to you? Can you form deep relationships with Thai people where sex isn’t involved?
Once again, what leads a 17-year-old here versus a 70-year-old could very well be different, but resentment of your own society also isn’t a great reason. That’s only a reason to leave. But it’s not much of a reason to “go”.
Who are you, who do you want to be, and how can 20 years in Thailand help you become more deeply rooted in your own human experience than 20 years back home, or anywhere else?
Whenever we are, we must ask ourselves: to what end am I actually living my life? And does being in Thailand actually bring me closer to that purpose, or does it simply make it easier to get by because I’m not actually trying to realize my purpose, if I have one to start with? Thailand offers plenty of distractions from confronting yourself. And that’s a serious problem if facing, and learning to love yourself, is the one thing that you really need.
>> " I’d expect a man of that age, with a Thai family, to speak excellent Thai. I believe writing and speaking excellent Thai would open up so many doors "
@@fn2577 Like many of us, I really get the sense he misspent his time and is looking to point fingers. Also his attitude. His refusal to pay into the UK system, betting on welfare benefits being gone by the time he is older, is ludicrous. It’s just one bad decision after the next with this guy.
Speaking and writing fluent Thai does not lead to much as far as work is concerned. You may believe, but you don't know. You can start off in Thailand, but most will need to move on to other countries to progress. Basically, a foreigner here is rowing upstream.
@@johnred6888Even if what you’re saying is true (and I don’t believe it is), you chose what stream you put your boat in.
I also know people who came to Thailand, learned Thai, built amazing businesses, and beautiful lives.
We all do with our time what we do.
And you’ll see things how you chose to see them, and act in kind.
@@johnred6888 agree, just because you speak Thai, doesn't mean you are going to necessarily have better job opportunities.
Gad, I'm six minutes into the video and he's hardly given any specifics at all. Just fluff so far.
When you're young you accumulate money, when you're old you get to spend it, bear that in mind when you think about living in Thailand!
Exactly
Yes, perhaps but it's hardly wise to simply spend your youth accumulating money so that you can spend it when you're old. Who really does that? After the age of sixty your chances of developing diseases massively increases and your window of time for enjoying your money is consequently much reduced. Life is all about balance at any age.
@@michaelpaterson732 that's why you work hard to be able to retire early. That's the benefit of Asia, use it to your advantage..
I'm not sure if you intentionally miss my point or not. Life is to be enjoyed when you are young.... and so is money too. This is also true for the elderly; that is, they should enjoy their lives and what money they have. One way or the other, we all have to work hard in order to accumulate the wealth that we need after retirement but.. well .. the journey is more important and more meaningful than the destination. Aside from that, there are in fact plenty of young westerners making lots of money in Asia at large. John's story is hardly representative of everybody within his generation who lives and works abroad, whether in Thailand or not.@@hobo1704
That's right when I first went to Phuket at 21 I fell in love I thought wow I could live here then I realised construction pays alot better in Australia
This guy is trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
What are his actual complaints? That he's not getting what he wants? So, Thailand's not what he wants or doesn't give him what he wants, but he still wants to get Thailand citizenship. Countries, companies, people in general want people who can contribute to them, not freeload and take. This is just life. Work your butt off to make things happen. Don't just expect to get things.
He is a small town guy who doesn't like big cities.
It's lack of women
Foreigners need to understand that Thailand is a small country and most of local people still have low income. The main source of income of local come from agriculture which is required land. If Thai government allow high income foreigner to own the land, how can the local survive. Historically, our ancestor protect the land and the country for future generation, so we have to protect that. What kind of right do you expect? Political right? Many developing countries will converge to similar level of developed nations. Like other country, Thailand is not a perfect nation, so choose wisely.
💯
+ 1
I would say citizenship should be hard, but attainable. For instance someone who lived in the country for decades, is married, has children, has contributed to Thai society should be given rights such as permanent right to stay and land ownership. This is simply called being reasonable and reciprocation
@@TitB1199 Yes, but Thais don't think that way lol
@@andreww3621 The laws don't currently.
If you have certain problems (mental health issues)
They will still be with you, no matter where you live in the world.
It’s all down to perspective. What I’m experiencing as a retiree living in Thailand is completely different from what Jon is describing. I can imagine living here as a young person with a family, ambitions, a career and a life to build, you may get seriously frustrated because of the limitations you have as a non-Thai, and as Thailand is progressing and becoming more developed, I understand that you may get a feeling of being left behind.
As a retiree, I don’t have to think about building a career anymore. I don’t aspire permanent residency. I’m not tied down to any one place. Basically, all of my time is leisure time and - barring any financial restrictions - I can basically do what I want.
Yes, there are certain aspects of Thailand that frustrate me no end, even to the point that I sometimes get angry about it and my wife has to calm me down 😂, but that’s also true for my home country. And of course Thailand is not the same as it was 10, 20, or 30 years ago (what do you expect?), but neither are western countries. The whole world changes, and alas, not always for the better.
With all due respect to, and understanding for Jon and his particular situation, I just want to say that it’s all very relative depending on your particular situation, location, stage you are at in life, etc. For me, in my particular situation, there are many more positives than negatives about Thailand. I’ll happily take the less fun things and the restrictions of being a foreigner in Thailand in my stride and focus on enjoying the good things.
I’m happy here, and I’m staying as long as they will allow me.
Very well said👍
@@randyirvine5858yes , very very well said. ❤
I'm Thai and I'm glad you found the life you seek here. At least with my own personal opinion, even though you might not receive Thai citizenship, you will always be welcome here and considered as a part of our country. Please stay here as long as you like as it is your own home country, and thank you for finding goodness in our country. ❤
i just wish the uk had the same rules as Thailand. Everyone knows that the uk now is messed up beyond repair. I respect the Thai immigration laws, Makes me so mad when You tube creators bitch and moan about it. When Thailand has it spot on. KEEP THAILAND FOR THAI PEOPLE.
The only problem with your argument is that many Thai people have a foreign Father. He has no rights. This is a terrible disadvantage to those children.
Completely agree.
go home farangs
The West has collectively gone made regarding immigration....Thailand's immigration laws are what normal countries - including the West in the past - adopt.
100%. If we could buy land here, prices would balloon pretty fast too so it wouldn't be what people imagine for too long anyway...
Funny how some folk who have been living there for many years complain about the place. If you don’t like it leave.
He has a wife and 10 years old daughter. Do you think it easy for him to move? 😂
@@raccooninUKshould have thought about being in a relationship COSTS and if one is not in the position financially, then what's the point of even going out on a Date with only 10 bucks in your wallet. My Goodness 🤦
I think thats silly. A lot of these people really do love Thailand, but they don't wear rose colored glasses about it all. To tell them to leave is ridiculous.
Objectively I understand where he's coming from.
For those of us over 55, who have sold our business and no longer have financial concerns, the challenges of things like citizenship, needing a mortgage, and rising prices are not our concern. A young man's Thailand and a retiree's Thailand are two very different places.
Only watched 15mins. Couldn't take it anymore.
How does a 17yr old from UK relocate to Thailand anyway? Sounds to me like a 2 week holiday followed by Daddy Finance to remain in Thailand, rather than return home. Im guessing well-off parents in North Yorkshire(?).
He lives in rural Thailand and is unhappy with its sleepy way of life? What did he expect? Leeds Call Lane / Corn Exchange?
I think best thing for him is to move back to UK. Daddy will fund a property for him and family. Spend a few years working hard, gaining maturity, guidance and some credit history, before re-evaluating and he'll realise just how amazing his Thailand experience should've been.
@SoybooCow totally agree - I also have real issues with self-pitying people !
Put it this way bro, where would you rather be September to June, Thailand or the UK?
@lolitapitpong3826 I've been visiting Thailand for 13 years. Retired here in 2022. The big difference between me and Mr Beard is that I know how sh*t the UK is, on many levels, that's why I moved here. I definitely don't mope around and cry, 'poor me...'
Read revol's comment above.
@@lolitapitpong3826 October 15th - April 15th - I would rather be anywhere than the UK - April 16th - October 14th - I wouldn't be anywhere else.
@@SoybooCow thanks mate - glad we are on the same page. I've spent far too much of my life dealing with British expats of the variety who mopped around the UK moaning and now find themselves mopping around Asia......you guessed it - moaning !
Thanks for inviting me on Pete, always interesting to read the comments on a video like this :)
I think a young western man should spend his productive years at home and build up wealth so he can retire wherever.
At 35 in Thailand having been here for 17 years didn't do that . But at 35 it's not too late to restart in the West . You got another 30 years at least to catch up .
Think about it. Think about it as a migrant who ends up in the West and makes good.
@@consulthai Agreed. I think he knows what part of the issue is. As others have commented I think he rejected his privilege to develop personally and build wealth in a western country, which would have enabled him to progress much faster in life. But he chose to chase a life of pleasure in Thailand. That choice came at a cost.
Countries like the US/UK/Germany,etc. have large economies and numerous opportunities to build yourself as an individual through education and hard work. Almost anyone can get rich in the West if they want it and are willing to work hard for it. That’s why many people want to live there but I think he already knows that.
35 is not too late to start again in the West. One shouldn’t let politics discourage their ambitions as long as you still retain your liberties and the opportunity to build yourself. He could simply go back to the UK and work his butt off for 5-10 years and be in a decent position in life. But he has to want it and put things into motion. It’s his choice. What a privilege to have.
@@upperlowerclass well said,mate. I went through a divorce in Australia at 40, had to start all over again and succeeded .
He seems like a smart guy so he can too.
Now he wants to get permanent residence in Thailand by year end. I don't see how that's going to build wealth. Mind you some farangs made a success here but they had higher education and probably some seed capital .
A level playing field is more in the West than here. In Thailand it's more who you know...but,but.. as a retirement place, if you got money behind you, it's good .
I'm in Chiang Mai too as he is , retired and live a secure and prosperous lifestyle.. but hey, I built wealth in Australia first .
@@consulthai Great to hear you succeeded after divorce. I did a career change at 34 in the U.S. and 5 years later I was able to build some wealth and own property. Taking a break from work now to travel around SE Asia for 6 months because I can afford it. But believe me I’ll be back in the U.S. again to continue being productive and building my wealth. I would be crazy to reject that opportunity. Cheers!
Try to read my message in this list. Towards the top. I lived in the Philippines for eleven years. They offer a cool special law for foreigners. If you buy a condo for at least US$55,000 you automatically get a permanent resident visa. I know because I got one. It has many benefits. Including opening up a business if you want. It’s called an ICR card. Quota visa. Check it out. Maybe another option for you. Plus mostly everyone there speaks fluent English! Everything there is in English too. Easier for an English speaking foreigner.
Why did he move to Thailand at such a young age?
I think this man should watch some UK news or go back and live their for a year.....
This guy is not exactly half glass full is he?
Glass half full
That was an akward interview on many levels.
I have lived here some 38 years. I hear locals speaking badly or mockingly about 'idiot' Farang all the time. Just go with the flow. How you behave, where you go to, how you treat locals! It's all about respect! Treat the locals with respect and you shouldn't have issues! I can speak Thai enough to get that 'respect across'!
If you have been there 38 years you should be fluent.
First time I came to Thailand was in 1980. But even then I realized that Thailand is a country to make holiday or one day retire, but never a country to find a job and a career. Now I'm living here since 2013 and there is hardly any other place in this world where I rather would want to live. Well to me it hasn't changed very much. Just modernized.
I noted watching his previous videos he dwells on the fact that the pound to the baht has decreased significantly in the last 15 years. Firstly the money he brought over initially is already spent, so that is irrelevant. Secondly his life is in thailand now, so it almost irrelevant what the exchange rate is now. Seems like he dwells on negatives in life. Even moaning about being born in the Uk in the wrong time period
It is an issue if he is paid in GBP. After Brexit people were looking at a 20-25% hit.
@@rasputinswalloper475 that is true. Not sure if he confirmed how he is paid. But still, earning from the UK whilst living in thailand is still advantageous.
Sounds like the guy is in a rut tbh in his own life / mid life crisis ... rather than it being anything to do with where he is located. "Thailand has changed..." , everywhere changes, a bit more expensive than 10 - 15 years ago but pretty similar IMO, especially in rural Thailand.
Very hard for a Townie to adjust to rural living, whatever country your in.
When you live in a city where everything is available 24/7, even if you don't need or want it , but it's there.
Move to the sticks and everything shuts down at sunset, having spent the day watching the water buffalo chomping his way through the paddy fields, its no wonder that almost all rural people are either making babies or/and getting drunk on gut rot.
I have experienced this myself.
Just look at the foreigners walking around Pattaya and that should give you a clue as per how foreigners are regarded and treated by locals! If you look like trash???
Yeah bed by nine then up at five to feed the monks then off to the farm. Contraception what is that?
Mate, go home, Britain, Ireland, Europe in general, Australia, Canada, USA, NZ and I’ll guarantee you’ll be back within 12 months. EVERYWHERE in the world has obviously changed over the last 20yrs, but it’s a lot easier to live in Thailand than aforementioned countries. Change??? Change your outlook, change your mindset.
Jon is absolutely correct. And I thought I couldn't see the economic advantages of living in Thailand or Vietnam five years ago. As a Westerner, if I wanted to live a reasonably comfortable life, it would cost me almost as much as just staying back in my home country. SE Asia is rapidly developing, becoming aspirational middle-class societies, with all the attendant rises in the cost of living and social expectations. The old, romantic notions of life in SE Asia are falling away; many are gone forever, but we in the West often cling stubbornly to outdated expectations and then get annoyed when reality insists otherwise.
Realizing that as an outsider, you will never be entirely accepted as an equal in a SE Asian country, constantly subjected to the passive-aggressive soft discrimination against non-nationals that routinely exists as a fact of life in these places (do we call these 'micro-aggressions'?), can be sobering and demoralizing. But getting to that realization can take a while (and some money). Some don't realize it, even while still sensing that not everything is correct.
100% agree, Thailand is not the place that it used to be anymore. I lived in Thailand from 2012 till 2019. I moved to the US, but was visiting. Last visit in 2023 (4 month stay) gave me worth experience. You absolutely right, if you want to live not in the shed or bungalow full if cockroaches, they price for rent will be insane. I was happy to find descent house (they call it villa, anyways) for the price 50.000 baht only because of low season and long rent (I came to Koh Samui in rain season). Otherwise the price for good house will be 110-130k Baht. We were sick 3 times during our stay. I don't know why so many viruses there. Nobody cares anymore about Covid or other viruses. This is really bad. Never was sick so many times in such short period of time. And last but not least - immigrants. They came in hundreds. And they are not the best people sometimes. I never before saw that pickup truck with some foreign asshole honking me on the road or cut me (I was driving a motorbike). You came to the popular restaurant - and there is a line at the entrance. Just insane to see it. Traffic, smell of garbage. And yes, even getting Tourist visa at Penang was like getting a permanent residence experience in another country. I loved Thailand a lot, but after what I saw in 2023 I'm thinking to find another destination and never fly there anymore.
I don’t think John is psychologically together enough to go back to the uk. Without a doubt he needs to clear his head and get a proper life plan as he’s clearly v confused.
It’s quite depressing listening to him. On the one hand he criticizes the uk but on the other hand he’s negative about how Thailand has changed. He just isn’t happy period and is lacking a sense of identity or belonging to somewhere.
Unfortunately for him he is now approaching an age when he’s made his bed, there is no way of going back to the uk now, he’s spent too much of his formative years abroad.
He talks of moving to South America. I’m not sure what is Thai wife would think about that and his 10 year old child !! At this point I’m thinking grow up ffs!!
Rather than focusing on the financials of existing in Thailand like a older man entering his retirement years , I think he needs to try and focus on integrating into Thai society something that he should have done a long time ago.
I really wish him the best of luck. This was truly a difficult video to listen to.
Spot on.. no Thai wife or Asian woman in general will move to South America and make it work out. He needs to get off the beers and start exercising to get his mind in order. I was in a similar situation in S.E.A , and got out!
Best thing for him right now is move back into his comfortable UK house with mummy and daddy, gain some maturity and guidance before deciding what to do for future.
My Thai wife and daughter and I, all moved to Belize, everyone loves it, so, it can be done.
He sounds a bit homesick? He focusses on things he can not do. Why not look on the things someone can do ?
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in most difficulties"
This bloke wasn't happy in England and he brought his misery with him
@@chinesecrested9528 ... "It is difficult to find the luck inside of us - and it is totally impossible to find it anywhere else" .....
Sounds like the guy hasnt adjusted to Thai rural culture or overseas culture. I have lived in an isaan village speak local language and there are no expats 10kms in either direction. Thats why I like it as totally immersed for last 25 years in Thai culture. Perhaps he needs to be in a ASEAN city which can provide all the city centre comforts that he would appreciate. He needs to move on sounds like impacting his mental health and well being
what about all the snakes out there??@@peterandben1
So I'm a retire in the kingdom for 7 months now and loving every second, and i wouldn't go back to the UK to live while i live in paradise over here.
So for me thinking that his still a young man and he hasn't seen the world that much.Yes every day passes by the kingdom is changing for good and bad also.I lived in the UK in London from 1970 to 2023 thats 53 years and ive seen a vest difference from 70's to the 80's and so on in London. It's all to do with progression all over the world. Ive seen old photos of Bangkok from 80's and 90's and a good few of my friends who got married during the mention years had there honeymoon in Bangkok and when i show them the photos from the time they visited and now they are just blown away with what transformation Bangkok has gone through.
So for me, i fell in love with Thailand during Feb 2022 within a week and a half, and that was my very first visit .
Why did i fall in love
People,food, beautiful skyline, transportation, and the list goes on, but one thing stood out very cheap cost of living, and no fear on the streets walking with expensive items on you.
In the UK you have to think twice now if you still want to wear that expensive watch you worked very hard for.
I'm lucky my Thai girlfriend has her own house and car, and I've taken care of everything in the house, so we have a very comfortable living for the years ahead.
If you have a plan to come over at a young age, make sure you have your finances sorted and a plan to live here for the rest of your life.
Thailand is always changing there status on the Expats,regarding Visa, Buying land , Reporting at immigration and so on and i think as the years gos by Thailand will lift a lot of the red tape we expats experience over here.
Love this country for everything it has to offer apart from the hot weather. it's the only thing that i will have to get used to.😊😊
I believe you for sure
Yep come over and see if you can stand the heat unless your happy to stay in the air con all day. November December not bad but still pretty hot.
Seems like economic security is weighing heavily on him. It can seem fun at first but as you get older and you havent built up a pension, the worries start to build. Have a solid plan if you want to live in Thailand. Or make Thailand your reward & motivation once you achieved your goals back home.
Good comment. He's getting older and has nothing to show for it. All fun in your 20s and 30s perhaps but as you say as later life starts to move in and with a child, what future is he providing for her? Not in Jon's particular case but some people never want to grow up and run away from any responsibility which is easy in Thailand.
I lived & worked in Thailand (unusual - single Western middle aged woman) for a few years from age 52. I qualified to teach English, had a few good jobs in schools around Rayong & Pattaya. It was evident to me that what you get out of Thailand depends on the stage you're at in your life. Unless you have a thriving business which keeps you busy, there's nothing really fulfilling. This guy's looking for & expecting something that just isn't there & it's no wonder he's disillusioned. It's not Thailand's fault. His expectations are totally unrealistic. Seriously - he's hacked off cos he's chosen to live in rural Thailand & he can't nip out & buy a pie 🙄
Many activities can be fulfilling in Thailand for years, but it is difficult to earn a decent income with these...
Every country has changed in the last 20 years
the problem is not Thailand, but where and how you live there ...
Living in Thailand is great when you have a remote job for a Western company.
Working for a local company means rather modest income.
It's just not worth putting up with lack of rights if you do not have a financial leverage 🤷♂️
truth
Agree
Every success depends on your own abilities.😊
What sort of wages do Western companies pay in Bangkok? I spoke to one guy who was earning about 50k? A bit more than an English teachers wage? How are you meant to survive on that?
Jon is the type of person who looks for a black spot on a white wall.
Yes, it's very easy to criticise but let's face it, foreigners do often suffer from a host of existential dilemmas as a result of deciding to settle in Thailand. It may look like a paradise but appearances can be deceptive.
I lived my life as best i could and then i died
Be careful where you step the grave is wide
You still there bro?
Dude should get a new job in chiang mai or talk to his friend/boss and ask him if it's possible to the business to chiang mai and then move there with the family, seems pretty straight forward to me.
Jon feels like paying rent is a waste, but now in order to buy a house he is living in a place he doesn't want to be. I have been renting for 7 years and have moved 4 times. Every one of those moves made my life better. For me, rent is cheap insurance to guarantee that I can be where I want to be. I wish him well. Finding happiness is always a challenge.
All of the hallmarks of depression which is very relatable and in many ways this deserve sympathy and support. Perhaps as he came here at a younger age his comparisons are based on that starting point.
The definition of happiness is when expectations are less than reality. The definition of sadness and depression is when expectations are more than reality.
Very helpful to hear the "other side of the coin" and more nuanced points, complications of living in TH long term...Thanks Jon for bringing this up
Sorry pete got bored of him after 10 mins,no worries next time
I was in Thailand when I was younger and I was a rock star. Now older man with health problems. Don't even think about it stay where you are. If you are 70 and not in good health stay where you are. Thailand has changed. Paradise lost. Filipino women in the long run will make you happier. Thais have become tired of foreigners. The Visa situation has for me been very difficult. Thailand is no longer cheap. The weather is hot and humid and unpleasant. Rural Thailand is not the answer
It's still cheap if you stay off the booze.
Thailand is no longer cheap for foreigners who never invested in the country. Foreigners who invested into Thailand early made money and are living just fine.
@@patrickglennon7058 I.M.O Thailand without booze is a bit like living in a seaside resort and never visiting the beach.
@eddyk564 In the States, I was a heavy drinker from my 20's to 40's had great fun, but I am now in my 60s. I've totally lost interest in it. I moved to Jomtien in November and so far so good, even without booze. Different strokes I guess.
Good advice. Same applies to majority of young people, especially if one comes from not a well to do family with a huge safety net. 😂
I agree with Jon. I've been living in Thailand, on and off, for 11 years. I have an OVisa and can stay long term, renewing annually,. I learned to speak Thai and read and write basic Thai. But when I take a date to a Thai restaurant, I ordered the meal in Thai but the staff will ignore me and speak with my (Thai) date. I also don't like brusque way I am often treated at Immigration, even though I dress in business casual and am polite. I make an effort to get along, but IMHO, the Thais really don't want foreigners living in Thailand, only visit and spend lots of money :) During the pandemic, I applied and was approved for Mexican Permanent Residency. Straight forward process and they acted like they appreciated me living there. Just one guy's opinion.
Exactly. Same with my expat friends after we all got "driven out" (in reality) of Thailand. We have reciprocal property rights in Latin America and experience a real welcome. Have you watched Nomad Elite? Good guy.
How do you get an O Visa?
I am a traditional expat living in Vietnam (ie. here for work and will leave when something better comes along) and I thought this was very interesting. It's brave of Jon to open up and be honest about the downsides of deciding to settle in a foreign country. It's rarely as easy as people imagine.
I don’t think employers in the west will look too favourably on you taking a jaunt to teach English in se Asia for a few years?
I'm not a teacher although may foreigners claim to be teachers! I head up a western company's operation in the country.
well said.
Not having convenient stores or other crap wouldn’t bother me one bit. I spent many years without them and still managed to find happiness. I think if you are looking for a faster pace as a young man the countryside anywhere would be disappointing. I am old and desire peace and quiet. Somewhere to hike and swim and fresh fruit and I’d be happy.
Thank you so much Charlie I won’t forget that precious advice of peace quiet somewhere to do some interesting exercise and yes….fresh fruit 😊 I always be happy when having it too.
Simple people are happier than complex people.😊
If you are over 50, you may want to skip this blog. The interviewee is in a much different place in life then I am.
its because he was there since 17. The best thing about moving to thailand is coming in with wealth from the west or remote jobs that allow you to live way comfortably than in the west.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing that, you two.
Having lived/had business in Thailand in 2005-6, I actually found Thailand in 2023 during my recent visit, as the time has stopped- that amazing vibe is still there, simple, respectful people, who find solution for everything. Though I like less the expats and tourists that now arrive, less of the free thinking crowd more of the entitled people. As a European feel ashamed on how some of my fellow countrymen behave there.
No matter where you live it has its challenges. Owning is not always better than renting. Especially in a foreign country. I live in a small town in Philippines and own a house. There are advantages and disadvantages to my situation as well. I came from Vancouver and there was good and bad there as well. Very expensive and impossible to own property as a citizen because of inflated real estate. Rents are through the roof. He even admits that UK is is a mess and can’t stand it there too.
I'm not sure what the issue is here other than resistance to change, the lack of money, or just not happy in gemeral. Either adjust your thoughts to cope with your temporary discomfort or continue to be miserable.
Life isn't perfect. Enjoy the ride while you can without making others around you miserable.
That was the message from my wife to me when I had a job in the usa. I listened and did something about it. Uncomplicate your life. Oh, stop boozing, that is a dead end.
Underfunded,lack of ambition.
He’s not going to be happy wherever he is! Period 😂. I know a bunch of people like that 😂. Well done Pete to find the unhappy one 😂
There's only one main reason someone this young moved to Thailand, girls, girls, girls. You don't come to Thailand to work. Stay in your home country, make your money and retire in comfort.
It's completely different to 22 years ago
Last week I was walking with a French friend in Benjakiti Park who has been in Bangkok for seven years. I shot a video of our conversation where my friend said about living in Thailand: "don't be a slave to an illusion." It was a great, short conversation about expat false expectations.
With due respect, sounds like he wants it to stay cheap for selfish reasons. Everywhere changes, things get more expensive everywhere. Just can’t see his position is right, though I get it. Maybe he should go back to 🇬🇧 to see just how much it’s changed here….. cost of living here is crazy.
It has just gotten richer... I first moved here in 2012 and it has developed massively. There are benefits being from a rich country and living in a poorer country and those benefits have been watered down.
It is difficult to begrudge this though. I hope it keeps getting richer...
Nice to see Jon on your Channel Pete. He does a great job showing Chiang Mai to all of his Viewers !
If he comes to the Philippines for awhile he'll appreciate Thailand. Many expats in the Phills are considering the move to Thailand. Better food , much better infrastructure,and cost of living a little less (more value for the same money).
Thank you for your appreciation ❤
wow heard it was the other way around thats interesting
Could your guest talk in specifics, not generalizations?
Refreshingly authentic. Exploring an interesting topical focus long neglected if not completely unexplored. Excellent work!
Thanks Scott
I have been to Thailand many many times. I love visiting but I will never live there. I love the comfort of my home in Aussieland.
I would've thought the plandemic changed Aussies minds about their country
I recently started watching your work. Very impressive. Love your calm & serious demeanor. Your interview process is commendable & you ask & focus on key points of interest.
Very appreciated!
(Jim in Honolulu, intimate affiliation with Thailand)
Thanks Jim 🙏🙏🙏
Thailand has never been on my radar for a 9 to 5 living…never. I will retire there though in a few years time.
I was surprised to see Jon here b/c I had been watching a lot of his condo videos in Chiang Mai which I found very helpful. Seems he's going through a "funk" right now where he feels "stuck" where he is. It's ok. It happens in life. It'll pass and things will get better. Stay positive.
Age and focus are definitely a factor. The mindset to want to build a fortune to western standards in rural Thailand is just far too difficult. I feel to live in rural Thailand, one must be focused on simple family life and building as part of the community for long term stability. Speak Thai, live Thai, be Thai. Most westerners have to take the path of rat race living (with possible company sponsored time in Thailand) to build the expected foundation and then become a farang that wants to stay forever. They make it easier for people over 50 for a reason, they are bringing wealth to the country and aren't taking away work from ambitious Thais. If living in Thailand during the prime years to avoid the western rat race, expectation would be that it would be extremely difficult as it is for Thais. Very few people like will be able to find long term success (just like becoming a millionaire in the west).
fair play to Jon.. i think hes made some valid points and its not right or wrong, its just his opinion and how he feels about things.
Look at Pete asking the cutting questions like a pro.
Pete is amazing. He is what the BBC is lacking.
Good job. I found this very interesting and enjoyable. As someone who, ahem, would be a couple of decades older, I'd now love to hear the honest perspectives of retirees who have experienced retirement in the LOS.
Is this not obvious? If you move anywhere with lower GDP/salaries than your home country... Then expect to earn less. In general, based on averages, your local income will be relative to your local living costs. So if you are scraping the average Thai salary each month, you will be living like a local.
If you are a wealthy pensioner or if your (non Thai) job or business allows for it, you can live in Thailand like a king on a relatively - by most Western major city standards - low sum of £2.5k a month. Probably less than that depending on how much of the "nightlife" you are partaking in.
If that is not someone's situation, then there is no point living in paradise while scraping through each month. It's stressful and if you cannot enjoy your "paradise", which requires money, then what is the point? People in that situation are only fooling themselves that things will be worse back home. Perhaps the weather and the beauty of the women, but that's about it.
The "digital nomad" movement has also popularised what I call 'the three cringe "c's"' - coaching, courses and content. It was touched on in this video. Many in Thailand are doing exactly that whether DNs or expats who (also) can't afford to live there. And it's all a nonsense. Selling your soul doing and promoting something you don't actually believe in, all for a fast buck that never materialises. You'd earn more stacking shelves in Sainsburys back home, but alas that doesn't have any excitement or social media clout behind it. Plus you can't call yourself an "entrepreneur". It's so cringe.
As for the guy in this video, he should go back to the UK and find a base/job there. He will be earning more. Net net probably end up with slightly higher living standards where he's now living in the backwaters of Thailand. He does not seem happy or content.
On that point, how is that any better than living in some run-of-the-mill suburbia in the UK? He would get access to the NHS, even if it is terrible. Plus can start paying towards his state pension where he doesn't seem particularly switched on financially - and like most people won't have enough non-pension savings - so he will need that state pension in later life. And if he hasn't been making voluntary NI contributions, then he's lost almost 20 years of state pension contributions out of the 35 that's required.
If he returns home, he can be eligible for the state pension by retirement age, but would need to backpay several thousand in NI contributions to make up of the "missing years" he was out of the UK. In other words, he needs to get saving. And earning more.
That would be a more sensible life decision in my opinion. Staying in Thailand is clearly pointless and if he moves to a cheaper Asian country, this exact scenario will play out again and again.
It all points to one thing: time to return to the UK.
I was going to write my own comments to this video but you, my friend, have stated everything perfectly. Every single observation you make is spot-on.
I would love to see a video where you and Mr Unhappy sit down for a conversation discussing the answers he's provided here. You would make him realise where he's been going wrong in 5 minutes. He would benefit greatly just by reading your comments.
Excellent work👍
Agreed. Except i'd say you're selling your soul working a 9-5 anyway. Might as well be an internet hustler, in the tropics, where things actually work than in the broken "west".
@@Tugela60 Found the guy whos never traveled before.
Thailand is the best, but only after you've gained the experience of living in a few other countries first. Then it's way easier to adapt and enjoy all the positives without being phased by the other stuff.
I like hearing this guy's perspective, by the way. Thanks for sharing
Nice one Pete, Jon seems clued on!
Can understand his situation… what I like about Thailand is that it doesn’t hold anyone’s hand, if you want to do something, you’ve got to get up and do it… the rewards can be very worthwhile in comparison to the work per rewards ratio in the west… but it also gives a fantastic calm ‘better quality of life’ for those who have put the hard graft in back home throughout the years and want to move to relax.
The visa situation can be tedious for sure, but I guess there’s a flip of a coin way of looking at it…
Best of luck to this chap!
Cheers Jono well put
EU is a mess right now 😢 I'm laughing at how they look down on Thai but can't walk streets at night because they are unsafe and the governments there don't seem to have any care for their own citizens 😢😢
I think this comparison is a bit silly. Of course one should always be aware of the flip side (down side) the risks, sacrifices etc. But I think when he says the main thing is Bangkok has moved forward the disparity is comparable to the UK is absurd. The cost of living in Bangkok is massively less than London, living in small town Thailand is much cheaper than small town UK, even at "Western standards" . Everywhere is developing, every major city is growing rapidly and costs exploding.
Nice one Pete. I'm 66 years old now and Thailand is the perfect place for me. I have a goal of sleeping with 1000 women by the age of 80. So far I've slept with 679. Wish me luck. Cheers.
I get the impression you're running from something.
How you mean@@graerindley6312
@@graerindley6312 Wot you mean? Are you perhaps jelous
any favourites?
Herpes.
Thailand is a wonderful place, but it's not the fairytale that some channels present. If you are there on a 2-week vacation, you can live that dream. If you live there, it's more like a marriage you have to work on. To fit in better you need to speak Thai. But once you learn Thai, reality also starts to set in.
Great Video and Jon has some good insights into Thai Life
Perhaps do the hard craft first? Earn your money then live in Thailand. Wanting the easy life without putting your time in. Hence why you are where you are at this present time.
Just your commitments it was easier for generations before. No we just had a different mindset. Your thirty five still twenty years left before you retire. Don’t do anything and just wait for it to happen make it happen. Time goes so so very quickly.
John is absolutely correct about the development when we visit our family in Jomtien area the roads, promenade and hotel buildings have totally improved this area comparable to any European destination.
If you fall in love with the things that have the least path of resistance to change you will slowly find that your expectations are not met, leading to unhappy days. And the question comes "is it worth it?" If you have some deeper fundamental cultural differences as the reason for change and migration you will be in a better shape for the long haul. I have seen a lot of changes to Thailand but at the end of the day it all comes back to me, what I really love and appreciate and staying honest to that
Living in Thailand you need to adapt. As a foreigner you never be one of them. Just focus on enjoying the fruits of what it has to offer. But one thing I learnt is you need money and considerably amount of it.
Happening all over the world. Immigrants arriving and expecting the host country to adapt to their culture. A lot of foreign victim videos appearing on UA-cam these days concerning Thailand. Very sad, it’s a wonderful country, just as long as you remember it’s their country.
It's Thailand not my land
Young adults searching for utopia el dorado & narnia
They don't exist, but some are figuring it out
It's called living a life
Challenges are everywhere
Maturity is the result of exposing yourself to reality
I feel sorry for Jon. He has delusions of grandeur. From what he says, he is living a very good life … has 2 houses in Thailand and decent paying job. Be happy for what you have Jon.
Yea, I think he has it better than he thinks.
I was last year in Thailand for 3 months just checking out. There is lot of good things about Thailand but not for everybody the best choice as myself.. I am much happier in Bali..