Why Thailand?

There are obviously any number of reasons why population pick to visit and maybe decree in Thailand. These reasons could be something very simple: the desire to retire on a petite allocation with entrance to cheap housing and very low living costs. The reasons could also be on a higher plane: the diverse Thai culture, the exotic cuisine, the tropical climate, the kindly people, enchanting beaches, or the vibrant nightlife.

There a few places in our world where you can find what Thailand offers. A pleasant climate, appetizing food, kindly people, enchanting landscape and very affordable living costs.

Starting with the main considerations for living or retiring in a foreign country, let us survey what Thailand offers.

Access to affordable housing with costs well below what you would need to pay for comparable housing in any western country. Obviously, a luxurious apartment in Bangkok is vastly more high-priced than a comfortable and spacious house located somewhere along a sun drenched, tropical beach. Access to exquisite international schools teaching the U.S. Or British curriculum. These schools are high-priced but there are hidden schools that teach the Thai curriculum with heavy emphasis on the English language and these are very affordable. Access to university education. Many local universities have an transfer program with overseas universities whereby a learner can faultless 50% of the study program in Thailand and then faultless the remainder in another country like the U.S., Britain or Australia. Excellent hidden condition care. The hidden hospitals in Thailand offer a proper of aid that you can only dream about in other western countries. Rehabilitation for minor remedies is cheap, whereas major operations can be very expensive. A hidden condition assurance face major items is very desirable. The exposure to Thai culture, history and the Buddhist way of life. Thai history goes back a long way and remnants of different Kingdoms, like Sukothai and Ayudhya, prompt exploration and a challenge to survey their origins. In the northeast, there are the remnants of many antique Khmer temples and population in some areas still speak the Khmer language. The exposure to the exotic and aromatic Thai cuisine together with the collection of tropical fruits. If in doubt, you could, however, buy food from McDonalds, Kfc or Pizza Hut, drink coffee at StarBucks and visit any number of restaurants that serve international food. In fact, very few countries offer such a collection of international food outlets as Thailand.

For those who are more attracted to the corporal side of life, here's what you will find here:

Swimming and sun bathing at sunny tropical beaches, with a selection of crowded tourist beaches or totally deserted beaches. The most beloved destinations are the southern islands around Phuket, Koh Chang on the eastern seaboard, and Koh Samui. The selection of a wide collection of water sports. These contain scuba diving, water skiing, deep sea fishing, jet skiing and para sailing. Year round golf with a wide selection of high capability golf courses. The area around Pattaya offers the cheapest golfing with a selection of 24 courses. The opening for exotic sightseeing enchanting destinations contain Kanchanaburi, Chang Mai, the northern area around the "Golden Triangle", the southern islands, Koh Chang and many others. We should, of course, not forget Bangkok itself.

So, I can hear you say, what are the negatives? There are a few and there is a need to weigh them against the more generally known attractions.

The language. The Thai language is difficult to learn and there is no doubt the foreigners who cannot speak Thai have to live their lives "on the fringe" of Thai society. For many, this is not a big problem. While most visitors praise the friendliness and hospitality of the Thai people, there are fundamental attitudes that are more complex. Thai population are proud and very protective of what is Thai and what belongs to the Thai people. Never start an consulation with a Thai person because you will simply cause resentment. The Thai considers it impolite to show resentment or anger towards another person. The legal principles does not favor foreigners. Thai courts will obviously deliver just and unbiased decisions but complications or disputes will seldom go this far. Disputes are more likely to be resolved without entrance to legalities. This goes from easy situations like traffic accidents. Here, affect and position often dictate outcomes.

These are observations from living in Thailand for 15 years and only reflect a personal view.