Leaving home to move to a different country, whether it be for retirement, teaching, volunteering, or studying, can be a stressful and sometimes overwhelming endeavor. When the country you’re moving to is completely foreign and different than your own, it makes that move even more challenging. The challenges of becoming an expat are also part of the fun, but it pays to do your research…
Thousands of Western men come to Thailand every year, many because they’re looking for a Thai girlfriend or wife. The biggest mistake a lot of these men make though is choosing a ‘bar girl’ or prostitute, simply because these are the girls they can meet easily. But, if you wouldn’t date or marry a prostitute in your own country, why would you want to…
Don’t let this be your retirement My wife, Warunee (Jen), the owner of Retire In Thailand, has been pushing me to write this for about 2 years, so here goes. I saw myself in a similar situation as the above picture If I stayed in Australia. Around 2005 I began to see things happening in Australia that I thought would get worse before they got…
Spirit of mythical princess looms large in Thai cave search Before you apply for a Thailand retirement visa, consider the following. If you’re familiar with Thai culture, you know that belief in ghosts and the supernatural is very prominent. Thus, supernatural beings can be divided into two main groups which are benevolent and malevolent spirits. The benevolent spirits are primarily guardian spirits, for instance the…
Thailand is one of the most affordable and interesting places in the world to think about retiring. One challenge, though, for the foreign retiree, can be culture shock. No question, Thailand is an exotic option. Thais take for granted behaviors that would take you and me by surprise… and Thais say and do things that you and I would never say and do. It’s much…
Amulets as blessings on the road In Thailand, a taxi ride may be an introduction to Thai culture and belief. Hence, it might even become a kind of religious experience regarding all the sacred objects and talismans that Thai taxi drivers arrange on their dashboard altars. You may ask yourself the reason for these talismans. Well, since the majority of Thai people are Buddhist, they believe…
Buying Over-The-Counter Medication in Thailand – What Can You Buy? It’s easy to buy certain medications over the counter at a pharmacy in Thailand, so much easier than in the US or UK, where just about every medication you need requires a prescription. In Thailand, buying medicine is also cheap (often less than 15% of what you pay in the US) and, even if they…
Chiang Rai is the real Thailand. Authentic and quaint, this small town in the north of the country is known for the glorious Wat Rong Khun, a looming white temple complex covered in unconventional decor (think skulls, monsters and more). Though many tourists only pop over to Chiang Rai for a day trip to see the famous Buddhist structure, spending a few nights, a few…
To receive more informative posts like this one be sure to subscribe What’s the best place to retire in Thailand? That is a matter of personal choice. Do you want to be near the beach, do you want a lot of night life or are you looking for some place that has everything you need but is still quiet and peaceful? It is a feeling…
To receive more informative posts like this one be sure to subscribe Tucked away in the far-north of Thailand, Chiang Rai is emerging as the next destination to check out almost by accident. You could say Chiang Rai enjoys obscurity. For the casual visitors it presents a baffling puzzle; just what do you do after you have seen its colour-coded temples? But to others that’s…