After watching the video myself there was something I was trying to say but didn’t come out right. Some people like to comment on Thailands problems when I say how much I like living here & regardless of the problems the issues that Thailand has The fact is they have got something VERY VERY RIGHT ! My day to day life experience is absolutely a pleasure with many smiles such high levels of politeness to unbelievable patience kindness happiness all around me everywhere I go (except when driving 😂) But seriously the manners kindness politeness & safety aspects are key to why we all love ❤️ Thailand 🇹🇭
Absolutely Richie, Western complaints are mostly about the cost of things in Thailand. I live on the GC Australia and they should come here if they want to learn about the cost of things. I go to Thailand yearly for the smiles and welcoming people and Kata Noi beach. Sure, I know I'm a trick with a baht they'd like to get, and they do get it because I'm happy to spend my money there. I agree with all of your points. If you know, you know.
I'm British, and live there, but I spend a couple of months per year in Thailand. I couldn't agree with you more regarding the UK. It is a complete shit hole, for all the reasons that you mentioned. I wouldn't disagree with any of it.
I agree I lost my money and passport I left it in a restaurant and someone handed it in and they were so kind and polite Richie and they wouldn’t accept a gift from me
Each to his own. My paradise is my back garden, the birds singing in the ivy, the roses blooming in springtime, the aroma of freshly cut grass... the unique beauty of an English spring, and most of, all my family and grandchildren living a few minutes away.
No millions of kids below the poverty line,food banks,renting so so expensive,so difficult to buy a house now,very low wages,polluted seas & rivers,knife crimes here,there & everywhere,drunk foul mouthed scum filling the city centres at the weekends,foul mouthed drunks invading holiday resorts,homeless everywhere,nobody knows if it's a male,female or something in between! This is only the beginning of the future.Good luck
Thailand has always been a revolving door with people coming and going. You have put together a pretty good list. I moved here at 23 and now at 70 there is almost nobody from my early years. I learned long ago that people don't stay so I stopped worrying about it.
@@villagefarang I first went to Thailand in the late 1980's and go back every other year - trust me things are a lot better than they were: Bangkok especially - Patong less so whereas Pattaya has always been a cesspit which may explain its popularity among the Brits and Germans who will put with any environment providing the sun shines and the beer is cold !
I’ve been in Thailand for 3 years. It gets boring after awhile. What once was a new and unusual place turns into normal. Then you look for something else
Was born in Thailand and now living in Canada . People complain about Canada is too cold , no sun . I have to argue Thailand is too hot and too humid. I love summer time in Canada , fresh and good quality air , flowers everywhere the temperature is just right . Health care is not perfect here but the same in Thailand if you have to use government run hospital . The one that I can not get over with is the traffic in Thailand , pedestrians are treated as second class citizen. Don’t forget about work life balance that doesn’t exist in Thailand ( here we get bonus from employer for travel ) . Don’t give me wrong I still love my country and want to visit as often as I can . When I went home last year , it was funny I feel my neighbors in Canada are more friendly than my neighbors in Thailand , talk about friendly. There was no smile , no acknowledgement, no hi , nothing , that is the Big change for me .
The foreigners that make it in Thailand and are happy are the ones who accept Thailand for what it is and understand that they'll always be considered a tourist, have to pay more than Thais to gain access to attractions, etc. and in many cases realize that they will be seen as a walking ATM in a lot of situations. Thailand would certainly attract more foreigners if they could gain long term residency rights and could buy land and property for starters. It's also unsettling for a lot of foreigners that the government are constantly threatening to change/tighten up the rules for foreigners staying in Thailand. ❤🇹🇭❤️
Funny thing, when I was last in thailand my wife and I were doing a lot of tourist things,,, and at several places where farang were charged more, my Thai wife just told them, he's Thai, and they waved us through as Thais... I'm a fat old fair hair scotsman and they never cared enough to challenge my fiesty Thai wife :D
@BrianBeuken I hear that on Koh Samet they are not charging foriegners more now because there are too many walk aways. It seems Thai traders on the island are losing money. If tourists do not tolerate this racism, Thailand will cease racism.
I always say “just go for awhile, then go home”. I keep my stay to 2 or 3 months then head back. I find myself after 1 or 2 months wanting to go back. This doesn’t mean I hate the place, I just am ready to get back to the familiar. I think I’ll keep to that. My former career as a sailor made me love traveling.
Because most people come here on holiday, free of worries from home, have a great time, splurge, eat, drink & spend a little more, party, relax, basically have a great holiday. Along the way they meet up with other expats who live here and go on about the cheap cost of living, so it plants a seed in their mind. They get back home to the drudgery of life and decide to move in Thailand. Usually 2 big mistakes with these people: 1 they mistake having a holiday for the regular daily life of a long term expat 2 they rarely make any serious effort to figure out how they will make a living and plan a realistic budget. Their desire to come makes them blindly super optimistic about the real cost of living. They come and are broke in very short period of time.
... and also: Based upon the new monthly channels so many people think they can make an income from being a vlogger - you must be super unique and engaging to make a living from this. If you are then it takes a long time, years, to even make more than pocket change, then even if you make some dough then keep in mind these social media platforms can vanish overnight (MySpace anyone?)
Mate the real truth is most people moving to Thailand are creepy weird fucks no european or american women want, so they go to buy wives all this other shit is secondary. Like he said in this video, only the men stay.
I’ve lived in America for 20 years. I’ve tried twice to move back to England. First time I lasted a year. Second time I lasted 2 months. Couldn’t stay. I think once you’ve moved on mentally it’s difficult to readjust back. You keep wanting more adventures and new experiences. I miss England but realize I may never fully return now. Especially now my parents are gone. I see Thailand on the horizon once I’m ready to retire.
family ties will naturally be a draw on people, no matter where they are in the world. I moved to the Netherlands from the UK and didn't even last 6 months, I missed my family and just felt that everything that meant anything was on the other side of the North Sea. I never married, so I suppose being alone abroad never helped. I wonder how many Brits do move abroad and never return? I only know one person that succeeded
@@mancunianinlondon i too have lived in the states for 20 years now (since i was 23) i will never go back to Britain to live I have been gone too long .
Been here in Australia for 35 years. Don’t see me ever going back to uk. Especially now Mum and dad passed. Maybe 6 months Aus and 6 months Thailand will work as wife is Thai
Think you are right on point Richie. Many get lost in fantasy that they are going to work online or be a you tuber and live a dream life in Thailand. Does not work out for most.
There's one important thing you missed. Very few foreigners are married to a good Thai. Most are either single or arrive with their foreign spouse or marry a bargirl. Being married to a good Thai provides a reason to stay, and also means that you can buy a house etc.
Yep very important point. People's decision making skills go out the window when under the spell under the tropical sun where every day is the same heat. I have thai friends and family in a quiet southern part of the country and it will always be my second home I would never think about any other options. Must be under the spell.
Speak it LOUD about the woke shit going on in the West. my wife is Thai in Thailand and I spend months at a time over there with her family. I'm working on securing a role in my work in cybersecurity so I can live full time there with my wife, and leave the entire Western world behind. Thailand protects her own, and every time I'm there, I'm grateful to be a guest in their home. I love your family. I love your content. I love your attitude.
Richie admits being willingfully ignorant of Thai problems. Obviously, he doesn't care about voting rights and self determination for local Thais. You know, woke stuff.
I love Thailand and have spent a lot of time traveling and staying in my girlfriends village in Isaan. The thing that a lot of people forget is that it is totally different when you are on holiday than actually living in Thailand.
The last thing the UK did, after giving him all the things needed to make life in Thailand possible, was to make living in the UK so unbelievably insufferable that the choice to live in Thailand became a no-brainer. The Western world isn't falling. The Western world HAS fallen, and those left living in it are in pockets of the remnants of what it used to be.
As do so many ex pat you tube vloggers , seemingly trying to justify their life in Thailand and constantly trying to belittle and berate the country they left behind , but a bit later on when they get seriously ill they soon go running back to the Uk for treatment ,, don’t forget sooner or later one in two of us will get a form of cancer and that can get prohibitively expensive in Thailand . Having said that anyone who has made the move and is enjoying a new lease of life I wish them all the best
One man's "Paradise" is another man's hell.Have some respect for Richies message, he is probably one of the most knowledgeable thailand expats on youtube
@PaulWallisWriter - you're a bit of a legend yourself and one of my own inspirations for choosing Thailand as my place to exist. Don't pay any attention to those people below - they don't have a clue who you are or their own ignorance.
I lived in Thailand for many years - but just got bored with it all............... and the constant two tier living... there are much better places - you need to travel more....
We left Phuket mainly because I’m pregnant & didn’t want to give birth in Thailand, but also because it’s just so expensive & overcrowded in Phuket right now. The visa issue just became too much hassle also! We are so happy to be home, but we miss it there so much! 🇹🇭
Just because you move and live somewhere it doesn’t mean it’s permanent. Where I live is exactly that,where I live. Home will always be the UK and the place I always return. I’m soon to leave France after 15 years of living there.
Exactly, I move locations quite frequently even in the UK, I just get bored and want a new experience. People can buy and sell, stay and leave. It’s ok to change your mind and move on. Keeps life interesting.
Thailand's a nice vacation getaway in Asia. That's it for me. I tried living there. So, to start, jobs are not always in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or anywhere "developed". Most cities in Thailand you live in a hotel, not an apartment. Teaching jobs pay pretty low, and the last school I dealt with changed 180 from being very relaxed to suddenly wanting to fire me for the smallest shit. I came in at the end of the semester replacing a guy that always went out drinking all day long and would only be at school when he had to teach a class. Guy didn't even pay his bar tab at the hostel, so hostel owner stopped running tabs because of him. To get to work, I had to catch the rare taxi truck thing because my only other option was a motorbike taxi which motorbikes are extremely deadly in Thailand. My final complaint is the animals. Birds everywhere shitting all the time, geckos slipping into my room, and snakes hiding everywhere. It's not a good place for someone with a fear of snakes. So, Southeast Asia is a great place for vacationing, but not my place to live.
Been here going on 3 years now (Hua Hin). My wife of 12 years is pregnant now with our first child. Absolutely no way I’d send her to any American school. She will grow up here Thai and speaking both English and Thai. She will go to the best schools here though. I’m 64 and my wife is 32. I’ve already raised a daughter in the U.S. who’s now a doctor. Looking forward to the second time around! Definitely staying in Thailand and do not miss the States at all!
I have known a lot of guys who ended up going home after having a kid with a younger wife. They couldn't afford the better schools here and their wives were not very well educated so weren't much help on the school front. Kind of sad how they come here for something new and end up heading down the same old path which didn't workout well for them in previous marriages. Looks like you are in a better position to make it work here long term.
I’m just at 20 yrs. Thailand is a cultural land mine. Thailand used to be very much live and let live. Not now. When I first dipped my toes In the beautiful Andaman sea, Phuket was virtually all wood construction. There were: No internet No cell phones No nothing. John Lennon said “ if you don’t change with the times, the times will change without you “ Thoughtful post. Well done.
Gotta love your point of view Richie ❤ You’re totally living the dream in my opinion! You have a beautiful & very successful Coffee Garden my husband & myself have been to this year & a couple of years ago..You have an awesome and now a beautiful baby girl….not to mention, a wonderful wife who’s got your back! You have a fantastic thing going on for you in Phuket! You’ve got it made there:) We love San Francisco, the city we call home; but, lately over the last 3 years, we noticed that it’s too freaking expensive and the crime rate has totally gone up:( We feel safer in Thailand 🇹🇭 Thanks for posting this video & giving us a glimpse of Maicie! Cannot wait to watch your next video😊
isolation and loneliness language barrier different culture dreams that where unrealistic broke without money alcoholism/sickness the visa situation..pick one..they are all common reasons
I think the isolation and loneliness is a big part of it. I've been here over twenty years but if I get chatting to someone (less and less these days) it strikes me I would never have bothered with them back in the UK and the only thing we have in common is that we're here. I wouldn't go back, the past is another country. And a bloody cold one. However, do miss pubs, theaters, stand up, galleries .. bugger all here apart from beaches (which gets very old very quickly) and titty bars.
@@tamsinthai 10 years for me in Thailand working and living and i took time to learn pretty good Thai..i did relocate to the Philippines 2 years ago because i was so tired of same same in Krungthep ..Next time i think i relocate to siem reap/cambodia ..the place do really looking good nowdays after covid..i still have some years left on my thai elit visa so i can always move back
You keep yourself busy with work and keep an active mind. That’s a major factor as well. I was recruited to work here 10 years ago on a salary far better than I could get in my home. I love going home but can’t wait to get back on the plane and come home to Thailand. Out of the 40 countries travelled I can’t find a better place than Thailand as it ticks most of the boxes.
Having rose colored glasses isn't a good thing. It's holding a romanticized notion of what a place is and not being able to see when things go bad..The People that have colored colored glasses are the ones who end up getting taken advantage of and being stung the worst in the long term... @@mixalis6168
Rose colored glasses aren't a good thing. Wearing them opens you up to potentially be taken advantage of. It's constantly romanticizing the place without realizing that there are some serious issues like anywhere in the world@@mixalis6168
Eventually, the health insurance will not insure you, like virtually impossible over 80 years old, so yeah better have instant death in Thailand as unlike the UK and many other Western countries, Thailand hospitals are not free and a hospital stay can cost thousands of pounds or whatever currency you have!
How is the same narrative happening at the same time in the world, and mainly the west. Yes you are correct, if your awake and can see it... Lots of us see through the narrative and good on you for standing true.
The biggest reason in my opinion, is you can have been there for 1y or 10 yrs however you are still a tourist you have no rights as a expat! 0! constant visa changes issues with stamps ect, potentially set your life up to live in a country and eventually any problem and it’s all gone.Good luck by the way 😊wishing you all the best! FYI I lived near you for 8yrs
Yeah thats actualy a bilateral treaty issue not touched by our own homecountrys..........don't blame the Bauernschlaue Thais dafür Gutmenschen und Opportunismus Muss ich noch spezifischer werden?
What rights, exactly, do you want that you don't have in Thailand? You want to vote? How does voting benefit you? It most certainly doesn't benefit Westerners in their own countries! Just what rights do you feel you lack in Thailand?
@@Sagan_Starbornmaybe a possible visa rule relaxing with out the need to report every 90days,,I think twice a year would be ok,letting you own a house in your name without dummy companies,,I dont think any farang wants voting rights,
For me the hardest adjustment was altering my lifestyle to accommodate the heat and humidity. The language can be a barrier but then I consider the extreme cost of living in my home country of Australia. I can afford a much better lifestyle in Thailand than I could ever achieve in Australia.
Great job on this. Speaking from experience, ideas and thoughts not aligning with some can result in painful comments and actions. Empathy is demanded, but not given, and noncompliance is unforgivable. Stay strong- you're a good guy!
Hey RAB ,have watched your vids on you tube for a while . this one in my thoughts is the best you have posted . Honest, real, and relevant , all the best to you peeps and the new addition to family .cheers Kev in Oz (Australia)
Please don't take this the wrong way Richie, but why do you keep playing with your face and looking around everywhere else instead of at the camera where your viewers are watching and listening to you. Just my observation Richie
Stay at least two years. The first year you will see everything for the first time, the weather, the traditions and customs, the food, the weather, and the people. You don't know what's around the corner or what's coming next. The second year, you have some idea of what's coming and can prepare for it, both, mentally and physically; you know when to run for the hills and when to run to the beaches. Give yourself a chance
And me, I still believe in paradise. But now at least I know its not some place you can look for, cause its not where you go. Its how you feel for a moment in your life when your apart of something, and if you find that moment... it lasts forever...
A key thing is there are social security agreements with UK for pensions in South Korea and Philippines which means i would get annual pension rises, but not with Thailand
I’m like you. First chance I had I moved. Had the chance to live in 4 countries but my real love is Thailand. We lived in Phuket for 2 years but unfortunately moved 6 months ago due to having got an opportunity I couldn’t say no to. Thailand I promise you, we’ll be back.
I have been here for about 6 months per year since 2011 (When 23) and I find that I miss home if I stay for longer, usually around the 8 month mark, especially if that happens to be in the hot season. A few weeks of England soon fixes that though and makes me want to come back lol
Biggest worry for me is health care (age 67). I have a good insurance (retiree) and would have to keep paying for it if I moved to Thailand....and what if/when a major disease comes and private insurance drops you in southeast Asia? This also takes a lot of cost savings out of the equation. So, I plan on being the three month kind of guy. Concentrating on what is good, not bad. And your daughter is very sweet....enjoy her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve been over 85 times and the point is a lot of people can’t understand the difference between having a great holiday and actually living there……that’s when reality kicks in. At first I was mad keen to live there 19 years ago, but the more you get to know the place, lovely as the people are, if you dig a little deeper you realise how unstable and corrupt it is…..ps, my wife is Thai and we own a very good Thai restaurant in the uk, but when we move to Thailand, there is NO WAY I will buy property there. The only sensible thing to do in my opinion after many years experience and research is to rent, whether it’s a home or a business due to the volatility of laws that change frequently.
Whenever foreigners compare their country to Thailand and talk about how shit their country is they seem to forget they are comparing it from an extremely privileged position. So for example with healthcare compare it to the average thai on 300 baht a day, how great is it then? Ive spoke to plenty of Thais about their healthcare and they dont seem to be singing its praises as the jolly foreigner does.
That's because only wealthy Thai and monied westerners can afford Bumrungrad, one of the world's top hospitals out of tens of thousands of hospitals on the planet and the best hospital in Thailand. And now you've learned something, right?
Rich you are not wrong on your opinions..some people have not woken up to what's going on around the world unfortunately. Enjoy the sun there because here in England it near non existent at the mo....been very very challenging to make it through another winter. Although next coming winter l will definitely be out there and see how l like it. Great channel love watching your journey.
Having paid for a lot of renovations in your coffee shop with your credit card from one of your old vlogs you must living the same as many others on a budget
Pro: 1. The cost of living is less expensive and way better than most Western countries. 2. Traveling to neighboring countries is practical and not so expensive. 3. Friendly locals in non touristic areas. 3a. Locals here by their tradition and culture respect their elders The West doesn't or have very little regard or respect for their elders. 4. Variety of local and western foods are available in big cities. 5. Healthcare in big cities with private hospitals is comprehensive and comparable to the West. 6. There are plenty of healthy, very fresh seasonal tropical foods,herbs, and vegetables than the West. 6. Food sources at local markets are very fresh and less chemically and artificially treated than the West. Western countries top the chart with the most cancer and highest in diseases rate. 7. Getting old lifestyle in the West is like cows putting out in the pastures. Con: 1. Language barrier 2. Immigration does not improve or make the life of expats, especially senior or sick expats, more easier or more bearable. 3. Double price tiers for foreigners for tourist attraction spots. 4. Foreigners' bank accounts may not have an account guarantee like the West. 5. Adjustment and acceptance of the thai ways and their culture are challenging.
Hi Richie, It’s Jeff from Khon Kaen and I agree with you 100%. You have a resin and purpose in live to be who and where you are. You have drive and a mission. With a young baby you tend to focus even more. I have been here for 14 years and I’m from Australia. Thailand to me is true freedom if you can respect the people and laws. We have travelled down to Chumporn today and could be in Phuket in a few days. If so we will call in to your restaurant to say hi and support you. I have followed you from the start and we are similar. Cheers guys and stay positive!!!!
I have been coming to thailand for over 31 years. I left phuket coz I hated it, too many russians, too much traffic and too expensive, Phuket has lost its soul it's as simple as that. The thai people hate the russians, they are taking all the local jobs. I would like too know what keeps you in phuket. the place seems to be doomed, sorry to be so negative but that is my personal opinion. my wife and family could not wait to get off the island
I agree with you on one point louisjones,@@limes..100 , phuket does have some of the best beaches in thailand, its a shame they are full of arrogant, obnoxious, unfriendly, russians
@@philliproberts7294thais like farangs and other foreigners, but in a busy tourist destination spots with a lot of drunk mad people's from all around the world and always causing troubles is the kindness gone. If u live in a small coastal district like khanom or sichon for example u will feel the difference, the people's here, wether farangs tourists/expats or thais are more relaxed, nicer and friendlier. It's maybe because they have no traffic, no stress and slow life style. I heard from many tourists or expats that this area is a hidden gem and that they still can feel the real thailand, it's same like koh samui 20-30 years ago. It can't be compared with commercial tourist spots like pattaya, bkk, phuket, koh samui etc. Do u know how many tourists from china, russia, india etc. come and can't behave and think their something better? That's the reason why many thais also more aggressive and it feels like they don't like foreigners in those popular tourist destinations. the environment makes people different!
(a) get fed up with the UK (b) believe that leaving the UK with solve all the underlying problems in life (c) live abroad (d) realise that life abroad has all its own complications (e) the dream sours and homesickness creeps in now the UK is not on hand to moan about (f) move back home and complain that they wished they never bothered.
Spot on about schooling…..my wife hard a very hard upbringing as a farmers daughter and had to leave school at 14 to help her father. Well I can tell you, she is the most intelligent and well rounded woman I’ve ever met, so it’s actually nothing to do with education but her upbringing by a loving family.
I have been going to Thailand for the last 30 years. In my opinion, it is a short term paradise, it's a beautiful lovely country but it isn't the country that used to be and certainly the prices especially in the tourist areas are just crazy now and if you want to go and live in the country there's nothing to do but drink yourself to death unfortunately that goes for most foreigners that live in Thailand, they end up drinking themselves to an early grave and yes I do understand you can work and own businesses but nothing is easy in Thailand from visas to work permits to owning a property getting involved with Thai women putting things in their name always ends in disaster. So yes a lot of people do tend to go back to their Origin countries, I'm not slating Thailand, it's just the truth and particularly in Phuket. There's a lot of criminal activity, foreigners mafia Thai so it's not always easy.
So right Paul been going since I was 17yrs old never entered my brain to live there full time, my last trip a few months ago at 68yrs may be my last, you are never a Thai citizen if you weren’t born there despite wearing elephant pants and speaking the language. The 70’s were the absolute best of times.
That's some BS about the elephant pants not gaining you Thai citizenship. I remember in the 80s, the right pair of parachute pants could grant you automatic US citizenship.
My boyfriend mate sold his house in jersey CI £ 350,000 pounds went to Thailand met a lady brought her a house 6 months sifter house was built there relationship ended she ended up with the house he lost everything we don’t know where he is
Massie has gotten so big and she looks very much like Maybelle. Beautiful little girl what a great family she has been born into. You described the struggle of getting into the right mindset for a long term life change. We all must carve out our own path. Thank you for a very thoughtful video Richie. Good ideas to mull over.
If you’re thinking about moving to Thailand 🇹🇭 you’ve got to ask yourself some serious questions about why you’re moving to Thailand. If you’re moving there because you’ve got this great memory in your head of how it was there when you went on holiday then you’re setting yourself up for failure because living in Thailand and holiday in here are two completely different experiences. Always try before you buy and that motto is for everything.
Richie, I think you forgot one important fact and consider the amount of people, after moving back “home”, how many of them want to move back if they could. Unfortunately they become restless anywhere in the world and most of them will never find their real “home”.
The thing I liked best about this video was when you pointed out how much easier it is to "disconnect" when you are living in Thailand (or any country far from your own). People are people...there's good, bad, and all shades in between regardless of where you live. But when you are in another country, while you understand the problems, and recognize some similarities with your home country, you cannot really do anything about these problems, and that inability to affect change in any way sort of takes away the problem...at least for you. It makes it easier to just allow yourself to enjoy the life you have. I hope that makes sense :)
Love being in Thailand since they legalized. Very chill, just blast a joint and chill lol. I gave up alcohol, much better health now. I'm with a filipina though and she prefers philippines so we live in philippines and holiday in thailand every few months. Works for me.
We made the move from London. Me, my wife and 6 yr old daughter. Been here since the end of January and I don’t feel we’ll ever want to go back. The UK and the western world seem to be on a downward spiral. Thailand isn’t perfect but I’d still rather be here than there. We are in Hua Hin btw. Been watching your videos from the start. Really happy for how things have gone for you. All the best to you, Maybelle and Macey
i have been coming to Thailand for over 20 years and have a friend thats living in Jomtien and compares everthing to California which he so wanted to leave i told him to not compare places but experieces and also compare what he would pay to live on the beach here in Los Angeles instead of his $300,00 a month condo in Jomtien ! There are some people that are not happy no matter where they are its a mind set...
I like all guys who do videos of Thailand, especially Pattaya. But I love the way you present the reality. You don't speak out of your fantasy, your feet are on the ground. Others tell great stories and failures are just parts of the struggle, but I don't quite believe them. You are way real in al senses. Thanks.
Richie young fella you do not have a clue of the whole picture regarding ex-pats: We spent lots of time on Phuket/Karon/Kata etc which was absolutely beautiful with a village atmosphere in 90's, & then the crims moved in with a free hand to exploit. Lots of people scammed into buying property that was sold 3 & 4 times. People exploited to move by the usual persuasion methods which hasn't caught up with you but it will. The main reason we being professional people there is no chance of wealth creation thereby not being able to continue those skills achieved by too much protection against employment. We chose Australia with no regrets continuing to grow both as persons well-being & financially & citizenship.
Terrific podcast. Loved your responses to others comments and opinions. At the end it's all about what we as individuels want out of life. For me it's now peace, love and serenity. Sounds like 60s hippy life. Yeh perhaps that's what I need again. Perhaps Thailand can supply that. I will come and see. Cheers Mate.
I moved to East Asia in the mid-nineteen-eighties and am still here. Out of that I was in Thailand for nearly sixteen years and now in Cambodia for thirteen years. Few western people become lifelong expats. Some wash out after a couple of years. But you've only been in Thailand four years, you've barely begun to live in the country and if you are living in places like Phuket you aren't living in Thailand. Many have had their fill of dealing with immigration (I moved to Cambodia because I realized that nearly every conversation I had with foreigners ended up talking about visas). That wears you down. Others get married to local girls and find that they've married a whole family in a culture where men and women live socially apart from the opposite sex. The men sit around a fire and drink and eat the looser of the Sunday cock fights. The women are usually in the house with the children and stick their heads outside once in a while to make sure the men have food and beer and not getting too drunk or fighting. When I moved to Ubon Rathchanthani I found that I could almost never go anywhere alone with my wife, there was always a raft of relatives and babies who will tag along. That was the drawback of owning a pickup truck. But even if you only own a moto, it is amazing how many people can fit on a single bike. Last year my ex-wife called and asked if I wanted to go out to dinner for my birthday. She showed up with three bikes that carried a total of 13 people including five children under the age of three! I had a blast, (we went for low-rent hot pot in Phnom Penh which cost less than US$40), but many foreigners would have felt extremely uncomfortable in this place. The girls won't tell you but they eventually get tired of having to follow their foreign husband around EVERYWHERE they go to even do the most trivial things and up feel isolated and lonely and it ends up putting a terrible strain on the marriage. It's not fair to the girls. Most foreign men are clueless and helpless and never learn the culture, language or feel comfortable eating the local food every day year-in year-out. Then there is the problem of living in the expat ghettos -- where other foreigners live -- which is dreadful. The endless gossip, bickering and closed nature of these expat tidal pools wears you down too. Most western expats keep close ties with wherever they came from and often go back at least once a year. They never really make the mental leap and internalize their new country as home. Those are the ones who will eventually move back, because they never really left. They aren't expats, they are just people living in a foreign country and culture. The lifers are few and far between. They tend to keep their distance from the expat community and not talk a lot. Most of the lifers I know are or were foreign war correspondents and photo-journalists. It would never occur to them make videos like yours. If you are lucky you'll make it to the next big thinning of the expat herd which happens around the ten year mark. You won't believe me now, but if after ten years you still think of where you grew up as home, that gravitational pull usually eventually wins. You'll see.
You make some great Points, i have heard stay away from Expats, most are a PIA, i have picked up a few words of Thai but its a challenge which is good. Trouble is not getting conned by the Girls playing the "Long Game" they wait years then clean you up. As one Thai lady said to me "The girls know how to use their Assets" 😁🤣
There are many reasons some get bored you need a purpose like a job or volunteer I actually done volunteering in a government school and if I retire here I would do that health allowing. Some come and stay 3 months per year or 6 months I think if your younger I think you should come with 6 months salary at least if your working from home
Just stumbled on your channel..Brit 4yrs in Udon Thani Province. Yep agree the UK is done. I nip back for a few months a year to get money and get back asap. Sure there's many things that piss me off here but they leave us alone pretty much.
Great to see you making videos again Richie. I think that anyone moving abroad should temper their expectations and as you say stick it out and wherever you are will become home. Macy is so beautiful congratulations again.
Hi Richie, thanks for covering this topic in your latest video. I also left the UK and have lived in New Zealand for 17 years now. However with the cost of living here I would certainly be looking to Asia later for living. The issue that I find with Thailand is that the Government do not make it easy for people to come and stay, in fact they make it hard. Outside of the possible corruption aspect and as you have stated having to see Immigration every 3 months. With also the recent changes that for anyone having an income (retirement fund) being taxed by Thailand it now places the possibility even more challenging. If they want people to come and spend money in the country then the authorisities must make vaiable so as not to alienate people and possible revenue.
Congrats, my friend. This video was not about Thailand, but about self freedom. You are great man. You are, what's most important in this life, freethinking and nonconventional man. Meaning, you realy own your life.
Your later comments on being able to tune out of the hysteria perpetrated by those in power struck a chord with me. A major reason I want to exit the west. Well done, subscribed and liked.
I went for the first time last winter. February. I went to Hua Hin I attended a music jam session in a bar owned by a Spanish guy and his Thai wife I played guitar and sang for 3o mins along with a some other foreigners who like to play live A serious looking guy stood in front of us and took video. 30 mins later we were all arrested taken to the tourist police station where we were threaten with prison and deportation I’m 60 years old with my wife we were detained for 5 hours it was the scariest moment in my life. The police were experts at intimidation the owner of the bar was fined 10,000 euro on the night or go to prison another American was fined 2,000 euro on the night. As the police said they had video over three weeks of the jam session they had secretly videotaped and they said the musicians were working without work visas All a big scam by the police I will never go back. I witnessed some traffic accidents and the foreigners were instan in serious trouble with the very excited police who knew the ways to make the situation way more complicated and intimidating the foreigners. There are so many tourists I. Prison for jumped up offences it’s a corrupt dangerous place Never will I go back
The problem becomes when you have passed the age of 60 when the insurances increase almost tenfold. Then it will be difficult to live on your pension hear. It will also hit you one fine day.
15 years living in Thailand. 10 years Phuket and now 5 years Khao Sok. Way better over here in my opinion. Happy with my family like you are. I agree with nearly everything you are saying and loved the reason why you didn't get back to the comments of the previous video! Wishing you all the best and do let me know if you come to visit Khao Sok some day! Cheers
I have a long history in Thailand spent many many years there I have friends who have lived in Thailand for between 30-40 years and they do it successfully the reason is because they are clever and they came to Thailand when they were financially stable Most farangs who try to live in Thailand have little money or a alcohol problem or both they are dreamers and dreams can’t pay rent or buy food Very few farangs can live in Thailand successfully for the rest of their lives I only know a few who have done this
Yep. A good friend of mine has lived in Thailand since the late 90s but he is exceptionally bright and has a great job that pays a huge salary. He always keeps his head screwed on and sees things for what they actually are. He is not a fantasist.
All people, all business and all countries have some problems but right now it feels very good in Thailand and have been here for 16 years Love you're life and the channel When you and your family have time come and visit us in Hua Hin ❤
Thailand gets it right because their culture, religion and civic values are intact, respected and nurtured. They respect all people and are tolerant of all religions. But watch out if you choose to disrespect their laws and values. Thats why I love Thailand..... ever since my first visit in the 1970s. Sadly, many expats today are different and eventually leave because they have zero interest in the above and come to either relive their youth or embark on the terminal vacation.
Why are you laughing at other guys misfortune. They have taken a chance and started a business thats failed. You seem to think you are better than them for some reason but your no different. Tour a sugar daddy to a poor thai girl. Bo different to the other guys
Don’t kid yourself mate,you could be one of them in the future.ive had many mates in phuket have to leave just because they upset someone who knows the boss of immigration and they got black listed.
I left Chiang Mai in 2018 after 8 years. Primarily to be care giver for my, now, 94yr old mother. Now 70, I plan to return but my clock is ticking. Once you get used to all the bullshit it really is great. So much better than Canada where we had 4 inches of snow yesterday.
That's because we already live in beautiful countries with great health care and high wages, but I have travelled to Vietnam and the Philippines and I love my time there so never say never. I will also check out Thailand, it is so refreshing experiencing a new culture and we all need it to grow to be better humans. TC Richie , Maybelle and congrats on the Birth of Maisie she is a beautiful baby.
A person can only eat the same food for so long, before he trys another place. Not to mention getting over charged, ripped off and gets tired. The vloggers have almost burned out Bangkok, Pataya and other cities. Samething is happening in Philippines. If someone transplants to another country; he should truly love the country itself. Not the women. You can only walk the same streets a few times before you choose to try something new. Retirement is not about sleeping with a girl thats been with 7 nationals, and 6 guys the week before. Thats not Retirement
Thailand is a beautiful country in so many ways. We've been here for years, and have no plans to leave. If you love the culture, learn the language, and live frugally, you can have a very good life here in the long term.
After watching the video myself there was something I was trying to say but didn’t come out right.
Some people like to comment on Thailands problems when I say how much I like living here & regardless of the problems the issues that Thailand has
The fact is they have got something VERY VERY RIGHT ! My day to day life experience is absolutely a pleasure with many smiles such high levels of politeness to unbelievable patience kindness happiness all around me everywhere I go (except when driving 😂)
But seriously the manners kindness politeness & safety aspects are key to why we all love ❤️ Thailand 🇹🇭
its because no place is perfect and Thailand is a nice place if you have money, but for the have nots, its a hard life.
Absolutely Richie, Western complaints are mostly about the cost of things in Thailand. I live on the GC Australia and they should come here if they want to learn about the cost of things. I go to Thailand yearly for the smiles and welcoming people and Kata Noi beach. Sure, I know I'm a trick with a baht they'd like to get, and they do get it because I'm happy to spend my money there. I agree with all of your points. If you know, you know.
I'm British, and live there, but I spend a couple of months per year in Thailand.
I couldn't agree with you more regarding the UK. It is a complete shit hole, for all the reasons that you mentioned. I wouldn't disagree with any of it.
@@Thai.Farang hiya Ferang, I plan to do the same with Australia, I'll here, but I intend to spend 2-3 months a year in Thailand.
I agree I lost my money and passport I left it in a restaurant and someone handed it in and they were so kind and polite Richie and they wouldn’t accept a gift from me
Each to his own. My paradise is my back garden, the birds singing in the ivy, the roses blooming in springtime, the aroma of freshly cut grass... the unique beauty of an English spring, and most of, all my family and grandchildren living a few minutes away.
Well said
No millions of kids below the poverty line,food banks,renting so so expensive,so difficult to buy a house now,very low wages,polluted seas & rivers,knife crimes here,there & everywhere,drunk foul mouthed scum filling the city centres at the weekends,foul mouthed drunks invading holiday resorts,homeless everywhere,nobody knows if it's a male,female or something in between! This is only the beginning of the future.Good luck
Very well said.
Much better then Canada
boring and done before !
Thailand has always been a revolving door with people coming and going. You have put together a pretty good list. I moved here at 23 and now at 70 there is almost nobody from my early years. I learned long ago that people don't stay so I stopped worrying about it.
it boggles the mind to imagine the change you must have seen unfold over the years.
@@HairyPixels That Thailand is gone though, so I try my best to live in the present. No use getting bogged down with memories.
@@villagefarang I first went to Thailand in the late 1980's and go back every other year - trust me things are a lot better than they were: Bangkok especially - Patong less so whereas Pattaya has always been a cesspit which may explain its popularity among the Brits and Germans who will put with any environment providing the sun shines and the beer is cold !
You've lived there for 47 years ?
@@Wilko11 Yes, first visited as a university student in 1975 but moved here in 1977.
They leave because they are broke
😂 hah … definitely speeds up the decision making process
Simple.
I’ve been in Thailand for 3 years. It gets boring after awhile. What once was a new and unusual place turns into normal. Then you look for something else
broken heart?
Yes, because their Thai girlfriend and her family have sucked away all your money😂
Was born in Thailand and now living in Canada . People complain about Canada is too cold , no sun . I have to argue Thailand is too hot and too humid. I love summer time in Canada , fresh and good quality air , flowers everywhere the temperature is just right . Health care is not perfect here but the same in Thailand if you have to use government run hospital . The one that I can not get over with is the traffic in Thailand , pedestrians are treated as second class citizen. Don’t forget about work life balance that doesn’t exist in Thailand ( here we get bonus from employer for travel ) . Don’t give me wrong I still love my country and want to visit as often as I can . When I went home last year , it was funny I feel my neighbors in Canada are more friendly than my neighbors in Thailand , talk about friendly. There was no smile , no acknowledgement, no hi , nothing , that is the Big change for me .
The foreigners that make it in Thailand and are happy are the ones who accept Thailand for what it is and understand that they'll always be considered a tourist, have to pay more than Thais to gain access to attractions, etc. and in many cases realize that they will be seen as a walking ATM in a lot of situations.
Thailand would certainly attract more foreigners if they could gain long term residency rights and could buy land and property for starters. It's also unsettling for a lot of foreigners that the government are constantly threatening to change/tighten up the rules for foreigners staying in Thailand.
❤🇹🇭❤️
Thailand does not want foreigners to stay long term. Come spend your money and leave then you are not a drain on the system and a massive net gain
Funny thing, when I was last in thailand my wife and I were doing a lot of tourist things,,, and at several places where farang were charged more, my Thai wife just told them, he's Thai, and they waved us through as Thais... I'm a fat old fair hair scotsman and they never cared enough to challenge my fiesty Thai wife :D
@BrianBeuken I hear that on Koh Samet they are not charging foriegners more now because there are too many walk aways.
It seems Thai traders on the island are losing money. If tourists do not tolerate this racism, Thailand will cease racism.
@@PeterBren I wouldn't call it racism, its more a case of exploiting the fact that tourists have more disposable income to spend.
@BrianBeuken Oh thats alright then. 😏
I always say “just go for awhile, then go home”. I keep my stay to 2 or 3 months then head back. I find myself after 1 or 2 months wanting to go back. This doesn’t mean I hate the place, I just am ready to get back to the familiar. I think I’ll keep to that. My former career as a sailor made me love traveling.
Because most people come here on holiday, free of worries from home, have a great time, splurge, eat, drink & spend a little more, party, relax, basically have a great holiday. Along the way they meet up with other expats who live here and go on about the cheap cost of living, so it plants a seed in their mind.
They get back home to the drudgery of life and decide to move in Thailand.
Usually 2 big mistakes with these people:
1 they mistake having a holiday for the regular daily life of a long term expat
2 they rarely make any serious effort to figure out how they will make a living and plan a realistic budget. Their desire to come makes them blindly super optimistic about the real cost of living. They come and are broke in very short period of time.
... and also: Based upon the new monthly channels so many people think they can make an income from being a vlogger - you must be super unique and engaging to make a living from this. If you are then it takes a long time, years, to even make more than pocket change, then even if you make some dough then keep in mind these social media platforms can vanish overnight (MySpace anyone?)
Mate the real truth is most people moving to Thailand are creepy weird fucks no european or american women want, so they go to buy wives all this other shit is secondary. Like he said in this video, only the men stay.
Lived here 15 years and not moving back to Canada. One of many reasons is the cost of living and the weather
@@linkinemerson8620 good luck trying to resolve ALL the many many many problems you guys have in the US...not enough room here to list them all
You may miss that free heath cover when you are over 80 stuck in a Thailand hospital with no medical insurance
@@gregb1599 may not, since the medical insurance is good value. But not enjoying life all along the way to only make dying easier seems silly to me.
What about family though? Weather in Vancouver is amazing in summer season and fall. Many Thais also move here too.
no move.
I love Thailand but had to leave after 3 years since just couldn't handle the heat snd humidity in the summers
I’ve lived in America for 20 years. I’ve tried twice to move back to England. First time I lasted a year. Second time I lasted 2 months. Couldn’t stay. I think once you’ve moved on mentally it’s difficult to readjust back. You keep wanting more adventures and new experiences. I miss England but realize I may never fully return now. Especially now my parents are gone. I see Thailand on the horizon once I’m ready to retire.
family ties will naturally be a draw on people, no matter where they are in the world. I moved to the Netherlands from the UK and didn't even last 6 months, I missed my family and just felt that everything that meant anything was on the other side of the North Sea. I never married, so I suppose being alone abroad never helped. I wonder how many Brits do move abroad and never return? I only know one person that succeeded
@@mancunianinlondon i too have lived in the states for 20 years now (since i was 23) i will never go back to Britain to live I have been gone too long .
Been here in Australia for 35 years. Don’t see me ever going back to uk. Especially now Mum and dad passed. Maybe 6 months Aus and 6 months Thailand will work as wife is Thai
I made it for a year and 4 months. America might be a mess but it's a mess I'm familiar with.
Word 🤣🤣 ...I can only last in Try-land about 6 months... then I'm out.
20 years here in Malaysia, married to a local sweeties. :P
@@bigglyguy8429 Penang was a terrible experience for me.
@@happy_hammy Can you expand on what happened to you ? Thanks.
Think you are right on point Richie. Many get lost in fantasy that they are going to work online or be a you tuber and live a dream life in Thailand. Does not work out for most.
There's one important thing you missed. Very few foreigners are married to a good Thai. Most are either single or arrive with their foreign spouse or marry a bargirl. Being married to a good Thai provides a reason to stay, and also means that you can buy a house etc.
You can buy a house but you cannot own it.
@@PeterBrenfor what 30year lease, that's it,,
Yep very important point. People's decision making skills go out the window when under the spell under the tropical sun where every day is the same heat.
I have thai friends and family in a quiet southern part of the country and it will always be my second home I would never think about any other options. Must be under the spell.
My Thai girlfriend ask me why many men like Esan lady 😅 they are sometimes very tiny cheers from Krabi 🎉
good thaiwomens usually don t go with farang
Speak it LOUD about the woke shit going on in the West.
my wife is Thai in Thailand and I spend months at a time over there with her family. I'm working on securing a role in my work in cybersecurity so I can live full time there with my wife, and leave the entire Western world behind.
Thailand protects her own, and every time I'm there, I'm grateful to be a guest in their home.
I love your family. I love your content. I love your attitude.
Richie admits being willingfully ignorant of Thai problems. Obviously, he doesn't care about voting rights and self determination for local Thais. You know, woke stuff.
Well done. Your not stupid. I'm a English man in Bulgaria. Welcome to the jungle. Life is Life x
I’m just n chaingmai for 12 years, seriously thinking of moving to Bulgaria! What’s your opinion on living there?❤
I love Thailand and have spent a lot of time traveling and staying in my girlfriends village in Isaan.
The thing that a lot of people forget is that it is totally different when you are on holiday than actually living in Thailand.
Agree 👍 I always say THAT I LOVE TO visit Thailand and the I do NOT live in THAILAND
Yeah - it's better living here.
Yes, you are so right, but it’s that way when you go on holiday anywhere.
@@christopherraley781 Every country is the same. I came to travel to Europe. Wow, dream land When I really moved in Oh, this is hell.😂🤣
@@scotty3463Agreed you get to have 15p doughnuts and sweet soya breakfast EVvverrry Dayyy! instead of a few days😂
Let’s be honest, the Uk has gave you everything and made a life in Thailand possible. Long time viewer. Keep up the good work.
The last thing the UK did, after giving him all the things needed to make life in Thailand possible, was to make living in the UK so unbelievably insufferable that the choice to live in Thailand became a no-brainer.
The Western world isn't falling. The Western world HAS fallen, and those left living in it are in pockets of the remnants of what it used to be.
Well said, but he keeps putting the UK down like Nike!!!
Yes Maybelle couldn't open a business without Richie's money from the UK. The basic wage in Thailand will just keep you alive.
As do so many ex pat you tube vloggers , seemingly trying to justify their life in Thailand and constantly trying to belittle and berate the country they left behind , but a bit later on when they get seriously ill they soon go running back to the Uk for treatment ,, don’t forget sooner or later one in two of us will get a form of cancer and that can get prohibitively expensive in Thailand .
Having said that anyone who has made the move and is enjoying a new lease of life I wish them all the best
Totally agree. A lot of UA-camrs love shitting on their home countries.
Not all leave, some of us have found our paradise!
One man's "Paradise" is another man's hell.Have some respect for Richies message, he is probably one of the most knowledgeable thailand expats on youtube
Lived here just four years I don't think so
@PaulWallisWriter - you're a bit of a legend yourself and one of my own inspirations for choosing Thailand as my place to exist.
Don't pay any attention to those people below - they don't have a clue who you are or their own ignorance.
@@Phatthana529 you need to watch his vlogs, the man knows what he is talking about
Hey Paul 😊
I lived in Thailand for many years - but just got bored with it all............... and the constant two tier living... there are much better places - you need to travel more....
Which developing nations worth going to that _don't have_ a two teir system and many things common to all 3rd World/Developing countries?
Where do you consider better?
I see you didn't bother to respond to previous comments.
2 biggest reason's I hear is money no1. And secondly the hassle of visa's
We left Phuket mainly because I’m pregnant & didn’t want to give birth in Thailand, but also because it’s just so expensive & overcrowded in Phuket right now. The visa issue just became too much hassle also! We are so happy to be home, but we miss it there so much! 🇹🇭
Thailand is soo much bigger then Phuket!
@@jackvanstrien
Who told you that ? ....
🤣😅🤣🤣😅
Phucket island is part of Thailand but if you are referring to Thailand mainland, Yes it is.
Phucket island is just an island and its part of Thailand and Thailand mainland are much much more bigger than Phucket
Just because you move and live somewhere it doesn’t mean it’s permanent.
Where I live is exactly that,where I live.
Home will always be the UK and the place I always return.
I’m soon to leave France after 15 years of living there.
I agree with that. I want to live in Thailand but not necessarily forever.
Exactly, I move locations quite frequently even in the UK, I just get bored and want a new experience. People can buy and sell, stay and leave. It’s ok to change your mind and move on. Keeps life interesting.
Thailand's a nice vacation getaway in Asia. That's it for me. I tried living there. So, to start, jobs are not always in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or anywhere "developed". Most cities in Thailand you live in a hotel, not an apartment. Teaching jobs pay pretty low, and the last school I dealt with changed 180 from being very relaxed to suddenly wanting to fire me for the smallest shit. I came in at the end of the semester replacing a guy that always went out drinking all day long and would only be at school when he had to teach a class. Guy didn't even pay his bar tab at the hostel, so hostel owner stopped running tabs because of him. To get to work, I had to catch the rare taxi truck thing because my only other option was a motorbike taxi which motorbikes are extremely deadly in Thailand. My final complaint is the animals. Birds everywhere shitting all the time, geckos slipping into my room, and snakes hiding everywhere. It's not a good place for someone with a fear of snakes. So, Southeast Asia is a great place for vacationing, but not my place to live.
Been here going on 3 years now (Hua Hin). My wife of 12 years is pregnant now with our first child. Absolutely no way I’d send her to any American school. She will grow up here Thai and speaking both English and Thai. She will go to the best schools here though. I’m 64 and my wife is 32. I’ve already raised a daughter in the U.S. who’s now a doctor. Looking forward to the second time around! Definitely staying in Thailand and do not miss the States at all!
You cracked the code. Chok Dee na krap!
I have known a lot of guys who ended up going home after having a kid with a younger wife. They couldn't afford the better schools here and their wives were not very well educated so weren't much help on the school front. Kind of sad how they come here for something new and end up heading down the same old path which didn't workout well for them in previous marriages. Looks like you are in a better position to make it work here long term.
Newborn at 64 years young...wow..hats off to you....but...
THE OTHER MAN'S GRASS IS NOT ALWAYS GREENER ! 😂 😛 😂
Never trust a Grass!!!!
@@andrewhyland9212 😄
especially when you water yours...
😂😅😂
So much greener here
I’m just at 20 yrs.
Thailand is a cultural land mine.
Thailand used to be very much live and let live. Not now.
When I first dipped my toes In the beautiful Andaman sea, Phuket was virtually all wood construction.
There were:
No internet
No cell phones
No nothing.
John Lennon said “ if you don’t change with the times, the times will change without you “
Thoughtful post.
Well done.
It was the same in Koh Sumui
Culture/ CULT you belong to a cult
Rawaii and nai harn RIP
I remember those days in early 80s , body surfing nai han,
Also Bali, wearing a sarong and singlet.
Paradise indeed ❤
❤
Gotta love your point of view Richie ❤ You’re totally living the dream in my opinion! You have a beautiful & very successful Coffee Garden my husband & myself have been to this year & a couple of years ago..You have an awesome and now a beautiful baby girl….not to mention, a wonderful wife who’s got your back! You have a fantastic thing going on for you in Phuket! You’ve got it made there:) We love San Francisco, the city we call home; but, lately over the last 3 years, we noticed that it’s too freaking expensive and the crime rate has totally gone up:( We feel safer in Thailand 🇹🇭 Thanks for posting this video & giving us a glimpse of Maicie! Cannot wait to watch your next video😊
isolation and loneliness
language barrier
different culture
dreams that where unrealistic
broke without money
alcoholism/sickness
the visa situation..pick one..they are all common reasons
I think the isolation and loneliness is a big part of it. I've been here over twenty years but if I get chatting to someone (less and less these days) it strikes me I would never have bothered with them back in the UK and the only thing we have in common is that we're here. I wouldn't go back, the past is another country. And a bloody cold one. However, do miss pubs, theaters, stand up, galleries .. bugger all here apart from beaches (which gets very old very quickly) and titty bars.
@@tamsinthai 10 years for me in Thailand working and living and i took time to learn pretty good Thai..i did relocate to the Philippines 2 years ago because i was so tired of same same in Krungthep ..Next time i think i relocate to siem reap/cambodia ..the place do really looking good nowdays after covid..i still have some years left on my thai elit visa so i can always move back
Not many youtubers dare take up the isolation and depression many expats feel because that's real and not funny and happy..and gives no views
@@tamsinthai "Bugger all here apart from beaches (which gets very old very quickly) and titty bars". Very true.
@@toneloc-cz2xi The malls are nice.
You keep yourself busy with work and keep an active mind. That’s a major factor as well.
I was recruited to work here 10 years ago on a salary far better than I could get in my home.
I love going home but can’t wait to get back on the plane and come home to Thailand.
Out of the 40 countries travelled I can’t find a better place than Thailand as it ticks most of the boxes.
its because often after 4 years, the rose colored glasses wear off and they realize it aint all its cracked up to be.
Possibly for people like you !!
Having rose colored glasses isn't a good thing. It's holding a romanticized notion of what a place is and not being able to see when things go bad..The People that have colored colored glasses are the ones who end up getting taken advantage of and being stung the worst in the long term...
@@mixalis6168
Rose colored glasses aren't a good thing. Wearing them opens you up to potentially be taken advantage of. It's constantly romanticizing the place without realizing that there are some serious issues like anywhere in the world@@mixalis6168
rose colored glasses aren't a good thing. Why does this comment keeping getting deleted? Could I get an explanation at least?@@mixalis6168
And for many others...you don't need rose colored glasses to stay here. Once again, this comment keeps getting deleted, why censor?@@mixalis6168
Been in Thailand for just over 7 years, and I will die here. Wild horses would not drag me back to the UK.
Been in Malaysia 20 years and feel the same!
Why
@@TheCheckit96 Stupid question
Eventually, the health insurance will not insure you, like virtually impossible over 80 years old, so yeah better have instant death in Thailand as unlike the UK and many other Western countries, Thailand hospitals are not free and a hospital stay can cost thousands of pounds or whatever currency you have!
Home is where the heart is ❤
How is the same narrative happening at the same time in the world, and mainly the west. Yes you are correct, if your awake and can see it... Lots of us see through the narrative and good on you for standing true.
The biggest reason in my opinion, is you can have been there for 1y or 10 yrs however you are still a tourist you have no rights as a expat! 0! constant visa changes issues with stamps ect, potentially set your life up to live in a country and eventually any problem and it’s all gone.Good luck by the way 😊wishing you all the best! FYI I lived near you for 8yrs
Yeah thats actualy a bilateral treaty issue not touched by our own homecountrys..........don't blame the Bauernschlaue Thais dafür
Gutmenschen und Opportunismus
Muss ich noch spezifischer werden?
What rights, exactly, do you want that you don't have in Thailand? You want to vote? How does voting benefit you? It most certainly doesn't benefit Westerners in their own countries!
Just what rights do you feel you lack in Thailand?
@@Sagan_Starbornmaybe a possible visa rule relaxing with out the need to report every 90days,,I think twice a year would be ok,letting you own a house in your name without dummy companies,,I dont think any farang wants voting rights,
Owning land not being visited by immigration out the blue having a two tier pricing for locals & non locals ect ect
My wife thai wife, only wants to holiday uk, ❤
Such a a sweet baby she looks like her mum 😘
Awesome baby.....
Totally agree with what you said. I also moved from Europe to Asia, and don't regret it at all.
For me the hardest adjustment was altering my lifestyle to accommodate the heat and humidity.
The language can be a barrier but then I consider the extreme cost of living in my home country of Australia.
I can afford a much better lifestyle in Thailand than I could ever achieve in Australia.
Awesome, loving your content. And trust the family is safe and well Richie
Great job on this. Speaking from experience, ideas and thoughts not aligning with some can result in painful comments and actions. Empathy is demanded, but not given, and noncompliance is unforgivable. Stay strong- you're a good guy!
Hey RAB ,have watched your vids on you tube for a while .
this one in my thoughts is the best you have posted . Honest, real, and relevant , all the best to you peeps and the new addition to family .cheers Kev in Oz (Australia)
Just a nice guy with a realistic view on life.with your attitude,you’ll make it work anywhere you live.
Please don't take this the wrong way Richie, but why do you keep playing with your face and looking around everywhere else instead of at the camera where your viewers are watching and listening to you. Just my observation Richie
He did live in Scotland and London most of his life. Gotta take a while to fully aclimatise after that.
Great video. I love how down to earth you always are Richie. Keep it real!🎉
Stay at least two years. The first year you will see everything for the first time, the weather, the traditions and customs, the food, the weather, and the people. You don't know what's around the corner or what's coming next. The second year, you have some idea of what's coming and can prepare for it, both, mentally and physically; you know when to run for the hills and when to run to the beaches. Give yourself a chance
And me, I still believe in paradise. But now at least I know its not some place you can look for, cause its not where you go. Its how you feel for a moment in your life when your apart of something, and if you find that moment... it lasts forever...
I wonder if anyone recognizes this , quoted from a movie
Yes
A key thing is there are social security agreements with UK for pensions in South Korea and Philippines which means i would get annual pension rises, but not with Thailand
We think if you understand the culture of Thailand, you will never lost Thailand. The people are great and the food is amazing.
I tend to find with myself and other people is doing the trade off, part of my year in Thailand and part in the UK....best of both worlds.
I’m like you. First chance I had I moved. Had the chance to live in 4 countries but my real love is Thailand. We lived in Phuket for 2 years but unfortunately moved 6 months ago due to having got an opportunity I couldn’t say no to. Thailand I promise you, we’ll be back.
I have been here for about 6 months per year since 2011 (When 23) and I find that I miss home if I stay for longer, usually around the 8 month mark, especially if that happens to be in the hot season. A few weeks of England soon fixes that though and makes me want to come back lol
Same here just like spring and summer in Dk
Biggest worry for me is health care (age 67). I have a good insurance (retiree) and would have to keep paying for it if I moved to Thailand....and what if/when a major disease comes and private insurance drops you in southeast Asia? This also takes a lot of cost savings out of the equation. So, I plan on being the three month kind of guy. Concentrating on what is good, not bad. And your daughter is very sweet....enjoy her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve been over 85 times and the point is a lot of people can’t understand the difference between having a great holiday and actually living there……that’s when reality kicks in. At first I was mad keen to live there 19 years ago, but the more you get to know the place, lovely as the people are, if you dig a little deeper you realise how unstable and corrupt it is…..ps, my wife is Thai and we own a very good Thai restaurant in the uk, but when we move to Thailand, there is NO WAY I will buy property there. The only sensible thing to do in my opinion after many years experience and research is to rent, whether it’s a home or a business due to the volatility of laws that change frequently.
Whenever foreigners compare their country to Thailand and talk about how shit their country is they seem to forget they are comparing it from an extremely privileged position.
So for example with healthcare compare it to the average thai on 300 baht a day, how great is it then? Ive spoke to plenty of Thais about their healthcare and they dont seem to be singing its praises as the jolly foreigner does.
That's because only wealthy Thai and monied westerners can afford Bumrungrad, one of the world's top hospitals out of tens of thousands of hospitals on the planet and the best hospital in Thailand. And now you've learned something, right?
Rich you are not wrong on your opinions..some people have not woken up to what's going on around the world unfortunately.
Enjoy the sun there because here in England it near non existent at the mo....been very very challenging to make it through another winter. Although next coming winter l will definitely be out there and see how l like it. Great channel love watching your journey.
Chemtrails are blocking the sun. None here in Thailand
Having paid for a lot of renovations in your coffee shop with your credit card from one of your old vlogs you must living the same as many others on a budget
Better to risk someone else's money than your own, amiright??
@@kw3147 what don't pay your credit card bill and get blacklisted and continue to live in a different country?
Pro:
1. The cost of living is less expensive and way better than most Western countries.
2. Traveling to neighboring countries is practical and not so expensive.
3. Friendly locals in non touristic areas.
3a. Locals here by their tradition and culture respect their elders
The West doesn't or have very little regard or respect for their elders.
4. Variety of local and western foods are available in big cities.
5. Healthcare in big cities with private hospitals is comprehensive and comparable to the West.
6. There are plenty of healthy, very fresh seasonal tropical foods,herbs, and vegetables than the West.
6. Food sources at local markets are very fresh and less chemically and artificially treated than the West. Western countries top the chart with the most cancer and highest in diseases rate.
7. Getting old lifestyle in the West is like cows putting out in the pastures.
Con:
1. Language barrier
2. Immigration does not improve or make the life of expats, especially senior or sick expats, more easier or more bearable.
3. Double price tiers for foreigners for tourist attraction spots.
4. Foreigners' bank accounts may not have an account guarantee like the West.
5. Adjustment and acceptance of the thai ways and their culture are challenging.
Beautiful little one!! You are blessed🙏🏽. Good video.
Hi Richie,
It’s Jeff from Khon Kaen and I agree with you 100%.
You have a resin and purpose in live to be who and where you are. You have drive and a mission. With a young baby you tend to focus even more.
I have been here for 14 years and I’m from Australia. Thailand to me is true freedom if you can respect the people and laws. We have travelled down to Chumporn today and could be in Phuket in a few days. If so we will call in to your restaurant to say hi and support you.
I have followed you from the start and we are similar.
Cheers guys and stay positive!!!!
I have been coming to thailand for over 31 years. I left phuket coz I hated it, too many russians, too much traffic and too expensive, Phuket has lost its soul it's as simple as that. The thai people hate the russians, they are taking all the local jobs. I would like too know what keeps you in phuket. the place seems to be doomed, sorry to be so negative but that is my personal opinion. my wife and family could not wait to get off the island
A lot of Phuket is ruined but the weather, beaches and cost of living trump living in the uk most of the year.
I agree with you on one point louisjones,@@limes..100 , phuket does have some of the best beaches in thailand, its a shame they are full of arrogant, obnoxious, unfriendly, russians
Most Thai don't like falung either jing jing
@@philliproberts7294thais like farangs and other foreigners, but in a busy tourist destination spots with a lot of drunk mad people's from all around the world and always causing troubles is the kindness gone. If u live in a small coastal district like khanom or sichon for example u will feel the difference, the people's here, wether farangs tourists/expats or thais are more relaxed, nicer and friendlier. It's maybe because they have no traffic, no stress and slow life style. I heard from many tourists or expats that this area is a hidden gem and that they still can feel the real thailand, it's same like koh samui 20-30 years ago. It can't be compared with commercial tourist spots like pattaya, bkk, phuket, koh samui etc. Do u know how many tourists from china, russia, india etc. come and can't behave and think their something better? That's the reason why many thais also more aggressive and it feels like they don't like foreigners in those popular tourist destinations. the environment makes people different!
(a) get fed up with the UK (b) believe that leaving the UK with solve all the underlying problems in life (c) live abroad (d) realise that life abroad has all its own complications (e) the dream sours and homesickness creeps in now the UK is not on hand to moan about (f) move back home and complain that they wished they never bothered.
Spot on about schooling…..my wife hard a very hard upbringing as a farmers daughter and had to leave school at 14 to help her father. Well I can tell you, she is the most intelligent and well rounded woman I’ve ever met, so it’s actually nothing to do with education but her upbringing by a loving family.
I have been going to Thailand for the last 30 years. In my opinion, it is a short term paradise, it's a beautiful lovely country but it isn't the country that used to be and certainly the prices especially in the tourist areas are just crazy now and if you want to go and live in the country there's nothing to do but drink yourself to death unfortunately that goes for most foreigners that live in Thailand, they end up drinking themselves to an early grave and yes I do understand you can work and own businesses but nothing is easy in Thailand from visas to work permits to owning a property getting involved with Thai women putting things in their name always ends in disaster. So yes a lot of people do tend to go back to their Origin countries, I'm not slating Thailand, it's just the truth and particularly in Phuket. There's a lot of criminal activity, foreigners mafia Thai so it's not always easy.
So right Paul been going since I was 17yrs old never entered my brain to live there full time, my last trip a few months ago at 68yrs may be my last, you are never a Thai citizen if you weren’t born there despite wearing elephant pants and speaking the language. The 70’s were the absolute best of times.
That's some BS about the elephant pants not gaining you Thai citizenship. I remember in the 80s, the right pair of parachute pants could grant you automatic US citizenship.
My boyfriend mate sold his house in jersey CI £ 350,000 pounds went to Thailand met a lady brought her a house 6 months sifter house was built there relationship ended she ended up with the house he lost everything we don’t know where he is
Massie has gotten so big and she looks very much like Maybelle. Beautiful little girl what a great family she has been born into. You described the struggle of getting into the right mindset for a long term life change. We all must carve out our own path. Thank you for a very thoughtful video Richie. Good ideas to mull over.
I have been travelling to Thailand for the last 25 years.i am retiring and moving to Thailand next year
If you’re thinking about moving to Thailand 🇹🇭 you’ve got to ask yourself some serious questions about why you’re moving to Thailand. If you’re moving there because you’ve got this great memory in your head of how it was there when you went on holiday then you’re setting yourself up for failure because living in Thailand and holiday in here are two completely different experiences. Always try before you buy and that motto is for everything.
Richie, I think you forgot one important fact and consider the amount of people, after moving back “home”, how many of them want to move back if they could. Unfortunately they become restless anywhere in the world and most of them will never find their real “home”.
The thing I liked best about this video was when you pointed out how much easier it is to "disconnect" when you are living in Thailand (or any country far from your own). People are people...there's good, bad, and all shades in between regardless of where you live. But when you are in another country, while you understand the problems, and recognize some similarities with your home country, you cannot really do anything about these problems, and that inability to affect change in any way sort of takes away the problem...at least for you. It makes it easier to just allow yourself to enjoy the life you have. I hope that makes sense :)
Russians......dude, you gotta stop touching your face----really distracting. Cheers
Love being in Thailand since they legalized. Very chill, just blast a joint and chill lol. I gave up alcohol, much better health now. I'm with a filipina though and she prefers philippines so we live in philippines and holiday in thailand every few months. Works for me.
We made the move from London. Me, my wife and 6 yr old daughter. Been here since the end of January and I don’t feel we’ll ever want to go back. The UK and the western world seem to be on a downward spiral. Thailand isn’t perfect but I’d still rather be here than there. We are in Hua Hin btw. Been watching your videos from the start. Really happy for how things have gone for you. All the best to you, Maybelle and Macey
i have been coming to Thailand for over 20 years and have a friend thats living in Jomtien and compares everthing to California which he so wanted to leave i told him to not compare places but experieces and also compare what he would pay to live on the beach here in Los Angeles instead of his $300,00 a month condo in Jomtien ! There are some people that are not happy no matter where they are its a mind set...
Guess you mean 30,000 baht a month ?
I like all guys who do videos of Thailand, especially Pattaya. But I love the way you present the reality. You don't speak out of your fantasy, your feet are on the ground. Others tell great stories and failures are just parts of the struggle, but I don't quite believe them. You are way real in al senses. Thanks.
They don’t give you a home in uk if your homeless but if you come of a boat from France 🇫🇷 you will get a 5 star hotel not joking Richie
Richie young fella you do not have a clue of the whole picture regarding ex-pats: We spent lots of time on Phuket/Karon/Kata etc which was absolutely beautiful with a village atmosphere in 90's, & then the crims moved in with a free hand to exploit. Lots of people scammed into buying property that was sold 3 & 4 times. People exploited to move by the usual persuasion methods which hasn't caught up with you but it will. The main reason we being professional people there is no chance of wealth creation thereby not being able to continue those skills achieved by too much protection against employment. We chose Australia with no regrets continuing to grow both as persons well-being & financially & citizenship.
Exactly, I can make boat loads of money working construction projects in California, but if I worked construction in Thailand, I would get arrested.
Maybelle is a great person! You are blessed with her and now your baby! I hope you will have another kid too :) One big happy family.
Terrific podcast. Loved your responses to others comments and opinions. At the end it's all about what we as individuels want out of life.
For me it's now peace, love and serenity. Sounds like 60s hippy life. Yeh perhaps that's what I need again. Perhaps Thailand can supply that. I will come and see. Cheers Mate.
I moved to East Asia in the mid-nineteen-eighties and am still here. Out of that I was in Thailand for nearly sixteen years and now in Cambodia for thirteen years. Few western people become lifelong expats. Some wash out after a couple of years. But you've only been in Thailand four years, you've barely begun to live in the country and if you are living in places like Phuket you aren't living in Thailand. Many have had their fill of dealing with immigration (I moved to Cambodia because I realized that nearly every conversation I had with foreigners ended up talking about visas). That wears you down.
Others get married to local girls and find that they've married a whole family in a culture where men and women live socially apart from the opposite sex. The men sit around a fire and drink and eat the looser of the Sunday cock fights. The women are usually in the house with the children and stick their heads outside once in a while to make sure the men have food and beer and not getting too drunk or fighting. When I moved to Ubon Rathchanthani I found that I could almost never go anywhere alone with my wife, there was always a raft of relatives and babies who will tag along. That was the drawback of owning a pickup truck. But even if you only own a moto, it is amazing how many people can fit on a single bike. Last year my ex-wife called and asked if I wanted to go out to dinner for my birthday. She showed up with three bikes that carried a total of 13 people including five children under the age of three! I had a blast, (we went for low-rent hot pot in Phnom Penh which cost less than US$40), but many foreigners would have felt extremely uncomfortable in this place. The girls won't tell you but they eventually get tired of having to follow their foreign husband around EVERYWHERE they go to even do the most trivial things and up feel isolated and lonely and it ends up putting a terrible strain on the marriage. It's not fair to the girls. Most foreign men are clueless and helpless and never learn the culture, language or feel comfortable eating the local food every day year-in year-out.
Then there is the problem of living in the expat ghettos -- where other foreigners live -- which is dreadful. The endless gossip, bickering and closed nature of these expat tidal pools wears you down too. Most western expats keep close ties with wherever they came from and often go back at least once a year. They never really make the mental leap and internalize their new country as home. Those are the ones who will eventually move back, because they never really left. They aren't expats, they are just people living in a foreign country and culture. The lifers are few and far between. They tend to keep their distance from the expat community and not talk a lot. Most of the lifers I know are or were foreign war correspondents and photo-journalists. It would never occur to them make videos like yours.
If you are lucky you'll make it to the next big thinning of the expat herd which happens around the ten year mark. You won't believe me now, but if after ten years you still think of where you grew up as home, that gravitational pull usually eventually wins. You'll see.
You make some great Points, i have heard stay away from Expats, most are a PIA, i have picked up a few words of Thai but its a challenge which is good. Trouble is not getting conned by the Girls playing the "Long Game" they wait years then clean you up. As one Thai lady said to me "The girls know how to use their Assets" 😁🤣
Well said. Can relate to the expat ghetto having seen the awful behaviour of many expats to each other, I avoid most of them.
Well said - very informative
There are many reasons some get bored you need a purpose like a job or volunteer I actually done volunteering in a government school and if I retire here I would do that health allowing. Some come and stay 3 months per year or 6 months I think if your younger I think you should come with 6 months salary at least if your working from home
Just stumbled on your channel..Brit 4yrs in Udon Thani Province. Yep agree the UK is done. I nip back for a few months a year to get money and get back asap. Sure there's many things that piss me off here but they leave us alone pretty much.
Great to see you making videos again Richie. I think that anyone moving abroad should temper their expectations and as you say stick it out and wherever you are will become home. Macy is so beautiful congratulations again.
Hi Richie, thanks for covering this topic in your latest video. I also left the UK and have lived in New Zealand for 17 years now. However with the cost of living here I would certainly be looking to Asia later for living. The issue that I find with Thailand is that the Government do not make it easy for people to come and stay, in fact they make it hard. Outside of the possible corruption aspect and as you have stated having to see Immigration every 3 months. With also the recent changes that for anyone having an income (retirement fund) being taxed by Thailand it now places the possibility even more challenging. If they want people to come and spend money in the country then the authorisities must make vaiable so as not to alienate people and possible revenue.
Congrats, my friend. This video was not about Thailand, but about self freedom. You are great man. You are, what's most important in this life, freethinking and nonconventional man. Meaning, you realy own your life.
Great video...I am in agreement with you on your observations...2 years living in Thailand and I have zero desire to go back to the USA.
Your later comments on being able to tune out of the hysteria perpetrated by those in power struck a chord with me. A major reason I want to exit the west. Well done, subscribed and liked.
I went for the first time last winter. February. I went to Hua Hin I attended a music jam session in a bar owned by a Spanish guy and his Thai wife I played guitar and sang for 3o mins along with a some other foreigners who like to play live A serious looking guy stood in front of us and took video. 30 mins later we were all arrested taken to the tourist police station where we were threaten with prison and deportation I’m 60 years old with my wife we were detained for 5 hours it was the scariest moment in my life. The police were experts at intimidation the owner of the bar was fined 10,000 euro on the night or go to prison another American was fined 2,000 euro on the night. As the police said they had video over three weeks of the jam session they had secretly videotaped and they said the musicians were working without work visas All a big scam by the police I will never go back. I witnessed some traffic accidents and the foreigners were instan in serious trouble with the very excited police who knew the ways to make the situation way more complicated and intimidating the foreigners. There are so many tourists I. Prison for jumped up offences it’s a corrupt dangerous place Never will I go back
Nothing like home that why we called HOME SWEET HOME
your comment about being determined to leave and convinced that will figure it out is exactly how i feel!
The problem becomes when you have passed the age of 60 when the insurances increase almost tenfold. Then it will be difficult to live on your pension hear. It will also hit you one fine day.
I’m considering retiring to Thailand from Australia….you say the insurances is very high?
@@LunaSunnySunflowerYes, over 65. Better have 3 milj Baht in a bank account.
15 years living in Thailand. 10 years Phuket and now 5 years Khao Sok. Way better over here in my opinion. Happy with my family like you are. I agree with nearly everything you are saying and loved the reason why you didn't get back to the comments of the previous video! Wishing you all the best and do let me know if you come to visit Khao Sok some day! Cheers
Living in Thailand ten years now… it’s a treat to visit the US… but I enjoy TH as home base at this stage in life.
I have a long history in Thailand spent many many years there
I have friends who have lived in Thailand for between 30-40 years and they do it successfully the reason is because they are clever and they came to Thailand when they were financially stable
Most farangs who try to live in Thailand have little money or a alcohol problem or both they are dreamers and dreams can’t pay rent or buy food
Very few farangs can live in Thailand successfully for the rest of their lives
I only know a few who have done this
Yep. A good friend of mine has lived in Thailand since the late 90s but he is exceptionally bright and has a great job that pays a huge salary. He always keeps his head screwed on and sees things for what they actually are. He is not a fantasist.
All people, all business and all countries have some problems but right now it feels very good in Thailand and have been here for 16 years
Love you're life and the channel
When you and your family have time come and visit us in Hua Hin ❤
Thailand gets it right because their culture, religion and civic values are intact, respected and nurtured. They respect all people and are tolerant of all religions. But watch out if you choose to disrespect their laws and values. Thats why I love Thailand..... ever since my first visit in the 1970s. Sadly, many expats today are different and eventually leave because they have zero interest in the above and come to either relive their youth or embark on the terminal vacation.
Humans are born nomads. The urge to move around and explore is innate.
Why are you laughing at other guys misfortune. They have taken a chance and started a business thats failed. You seem to think you are better than them for some reason but your no different. Tour a sugar daddy to a poor thai girl. Bo different to the other guys
Don’t kid yourself mate,you could be one of them in the future.ive had many mates in phuket have to leave just because they upset someone who knows the boss of immigration and they got black listed.
I left Chiang Mai in 2018 after 8 years. Primarily to be care giver for my, now, 94yr old mother. Now 70, I plan to return but my clock is ticking. Once you get used to all the bullshit it really is great. So much better than Canada where we had 4 inches of snow yesterday.
When I lived in Hong Kong all Brits wanted to never go home but Kiwis & Aussies did !
Yes! Always like this!
That's because we already live in beautiful countries with great health care and high wages, but I have travelled to Vietnam and the Philippines and I love my time there so never say never. I will also check out Thailand, it is so refreshing experiencing a new culture and we all need it to grow to be better humans. TC Richie , Maybelle and congrats on the Birth of Maisie she is a beautiful baby.
Hmm wonder why. Even the cleanest places in Asia have terrible pollution compared to Australia.
A person can only eat the same food for so long, before he trys another place. Not to mention getting over charged, ripped off and gets tired. The vloggers have almost burned out Bangkok, Pataya and other cities. Samething is happening in Philippines. If someone transplants to another country; he should truly love the country itself. Not the women. You can only walk the same streets a few times before you choose to try something new. Retirement is not about sleeping with a girl thats been with 7 nationals, and 6 guys the week before. Thats not Retirement
Thailand is a beautiful country in so many ways. We've been here for years, and have no plans to leave. If you love the culture, learn the language, and live frugally, you can have a very good life here in the long term.