Just subscribed to your channel. I have been following a bunch vloggers on TH-cam about expat living in Thailand and have enjoyed your videos more than the others. Your videos are true Reality TV that gives viewers an honest day to day picture of everyday life in rural Thailand. I am now retired and have found much more peace in my life living the much more simple life. I may be heading to the Chiang Rai area in the next year and will look you up. Farm life is probably too difficult for me at my age, unless I was as lucky as you to find a life partner like PIA.LOL
Plenty of sound advice for me here Graham! I've been looking at accommodation in Mae Chan. Looks a bit less expensive than Chiang Rai City but not too far away. Looking forward to running through all your videos and gaining further insight into living in the Chiang Rai Province. And thanks for your earlier reply! Good luck with finding a more relaxing place to live.
Mae Chan is nice but there again there's lots of villages just outside Chiang Rai City that are truly beautiful - everywhere you look there are mountains and trees :) Yes we do need to move as I need more peace and quiet; just not a fan of loud music. Glad you found the information useful.
here i am again looking at ur life and wishing that i was there,lived in buriram 10 years then came back to ireland ,mistake thailand never left me like u i lived country magic time ,u stick to ur dream everything takes time and dont heed the knockers .
There's lots of people who would knock my lifestyle; generally they have a pop because we're poor but have dreams to make things better ... I wouldn't trade where I'm living that's for sure and for the things Pie and I want we'll just work towards them each day ... it's a wonderful life. Have a great day mate.
Idiot! If he use those money, he will no longer have enough money for the next Visa in Thailand. And he have not enough income in GB to get a Visa for his wife there.
l appreciate your straight talk and after 9 years of living with Thai people and 4+ years in Thailand I have frustrations as well. For better or worse, if we are not careful we will be taken advantage of. A promise here is often not kept and we will always be farung. The weather here is not stressful, many areas have very nice people, this country is so beautiful and livable on a $800/month budget. I believe with a little luck I can find a good family to belong to and restore the peace of mind, contentment and enjoyment that was lost. Every morning I count my blessings, chant, do some exercise and yoga to prepare for another day in Bangkok. Going to Roi Et soon......wish me luck.
I've got to agree 100 percent i ve been in rural thailand biulding a house loving the laid back lifestyle coming from Australia its a fantastic life its not for everyone but if you go with the flow its great its not a western country thats where farang go wrong money goes a long way but you have to sacrifice some things thanks for your insight
A friend of mine here in Dallas Texas has a 5 bedroom home in Chang Rai. He told my I could live in his home, but he said not many people speak English.
Spoken English is a bit thin on the ground here. I suspect as tourism grows in the region it will become more prevalent but it's a contrast from Phuket due to it being a high profile tourist destination. I'm lucky as I do speak a reasonable amount of Thai but most of them here do speak and entirely different dialect known as 'North' which I suspect is a dialect of Hom (Hill Tribe). You can always get by with a little patience :)
His home is in the country outside of Chang Rai. He said I can live there free:) he has a gardener, and a maid there. He said they will do my laundry, and cook. He is not as far out as you are. He said good bakeries are not far away.
If you're just outside Chiang Rai City then pop into Central Festival Shopping Mall. Downstairs there's a TOPS supermarket with a lot of western produce and bakery; it's certainly nice but a little on the expensive side. Chiang Rai truly is a wonderful place to live - give it a go and see how you get on :)
i think Hom has Burmese influence, some tribes from Myanmar were allowed to move into Thailand to escape persecution. they live north of Chiang Rai, and are allowed to live there, but not to work (they can farm to provide food)
Great insight Graham. I have to say that two tired pricing does annoy me greatly. When we were buying stuff for our farm when they see me price doubled so I never went shopping for building materials or fertilizers etc. We are are maybe 20k from the nearest big town so have Tesco and Big c there and have a 7/11 only 2k from our house. I would not be able to live without those convinces close to hand. But there is no social live maybe a meal at the beach at weekends but during the week we would be in bed by 7.30pm but up at 5am so I suppose healthy lifestyle .
Yeah the two-tier price is really annoying and there's no question that most expats here feel it's just greed and that they like to openly rip us off. Pie never lets me go shopping for anything to do with the farm as she knows the price will go up once they see a foreigner. Tesco, Big C and Central are 96km from where we live and Chiang Sean Town is 20km - thankfully immigration is there and it's a tiny place. My 90 day report took me just 2 minutes compared to over 2 hours in Phuket. This month is annual visa renewal ... we'll see how that goes :) Light out at 8pm here and up at 4am. I sometimes miss getting together with my friends and having a drink. I'm the only farang in the village and I've seen just two others floating about in Chiang Saen Town. It is certainly a healthy lifestyle; I've lost my middle tyre so that's a plus lol. Have a good one Colin.
I suppose like everything its got advantages and disadvantages. Like me here I can go to my local Aldi and buy a nice bottle of red wine for 6e but its cold and rainy and miserable here...So guess where Would rather be without my bottle of red lol.
For sure it's all relative and it depends on what you do with and do without. It's really cold and wet here at the moment which last for about 4 months.
I'm giving up on the UK in may to Thailand. My plan is to go on a tefl course teaching English and to stay as long as possible. I don't care whereabouts I stay or work so any tips would be great. ..Brilliant vlogs mate
I had a number of friends who became teachers years ago. Unfortunately most get very disillusioned with it due to restrictions and the overall education system. Certainly it'll be an interesting experience but my advice would be to make sure you don't put all your eggs in one basket. Come out here for 6 months and give it a try and leave a safety net for returning if you have to. Once you have the TEFL you can pretty much pick where you want to live. If you like the night life, bars and such then choose Phuket, Pattaya or Bangkok ... if you're looking for peace and quiet then Isarn or the northern regions such as Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. Lots to choose from. If you have the financial resources I would say a 6 month trip and explore several areas as this will give you a chance to experience several aspects. Hope that helps Patrick.
Hi mate ive just subscribed to your channel one day i hope to live in thailand but thats in the future ,someone told me that if you buy thai products you will save money .When i was in bangkok i did just that sometimes we cooked at home sometimes we went out to eat and when you think most thais are not earning a great deal ,the point you make about being a poor westerner a lot of thai will not believe it although it is true for a lot of tourists they have or seem to have a mentality that all farang are millionaires im lucky my fiancee has seen me in good times and bad so she is aware that this is true ,thankfully she is quite frugal herself so that is good in it self anyway a good video and yes living with in laws is not always the best .
Hi mate; this was in early Jan 2017 and we've progressed an awful long way. We've now transformed the farm for Pie's mum and dad and now we'll be working towards our goals; which is nice :) No complaints though as it's been a very interesting journey. Pie is a saver not a spender and neither of us is overly materialistic which helps. Without a doubt things are progressing very nicely and I certainly love it here in Chiang Rai.
Cheap cost of living is great if you have a lot of saved money or businesses outside of the country. Cheap cost of living also comes with cheap earning potential. So just make sure you can earn a living overseas on an e-business or something otherwise if/when you run out of money you will need to grease palms for a work permit and then make £4 a day doing menial jobs.
i have lived in Thailand (eg) Phuket, Pattaya, and Chaingmai, also The Philippines and Cambodia and you are 100% correct. The Thai people, and the others view us Farang or westerner as all filthy rich and cannot grasp the fact that most of the tourists that holiday in these countries have had to save like crazy for 1 - 2 - 3 and even more years just for that 1 holiday
You spoke of Chiang Tao and Phuket (OMG Phuket the only place in Thailand where the city wears you out more than a 20 hour airport overlap in Mumbai Airport)
To ask how much does it cost to live in Thailand, is like asking for how long is a rope. My wife and I rent an old house, same style as the one you living in but bigger. It is in a very small town and we pay 1500 Bath/month. And that is old Thai style, and my wife asked the price, not me. Everything that cost some money she does the deals before they see me. ;-) But you can get new but basic 3 storey 2 Bath/toilet townhouses for 5-6000 Bat/month. When I retire within 4-5 years, I will have a 30 minutes ride from the farm to the nearest 7/11, but I don't miss it. And it will be a half day project to get to the nearest shopping mall and back in either Nong Khai or Udon Thani. And I am fine with that since I love the quietness on the farm. So you are very lucky to live the life you live, despite you don't have your pockets full of money. Just focus on your plan with the house on the farm. :-)
hi graham and your lovely family. I first world like to say I love all your blogs. I'm moving to loei next year and getting married. we took have a farm small. I love the simple live. we live off the farm .if you have any information on how to start TH-cam blogs. I wish you all the best .John from Ireland.
Moving up here was the best decision I ever made. Starting a TH-cam channel is relatively straight-forward. If you look our About Us page there's an email ... drop me an email and ask any questions you like and I'll do my best to help.
Certainly land prices have increased dramatically over the years and it's as a direct result of foreigners interested in buying land. I know people in Phuket that have lived there for nearly 50 years and back then a rai of land could be purchased for less than 50,000 baht.
The way I deal with dual pricing is to turn 180 degrees and walk the other way. NEVER start an argument with a Thai person. It seems a thai wife is essential for having a low cost of living.
Having been in and out of Thailand for over 30 years. The one thing that I have learned is this. If someone tries to double the price because I am a farang, then I just move on to the next stall. Property is a bit different, but not that much. Once again Graham has provided us with a bunch of very good and well presented information. Thanks for sharing.
Prices go down when the farang can speak Thai at a reasonable level, 20 to 40% makes a huge difference. You do not have to be close to fluent in Thai. I know this first hand.
Dear Graham Briar. Sir. It's good to see you. Please may I take a moment of your time. I found something you said regarding Thai people have no other concept of Westerners who are not rich. Please Sir can you elaborate on that particular point. That all Farangs are rich. How do the Thailand minds work on the subject. I really appreciate it if you could fill me in on that please Graham. From Craig White.GB.
Hi Graham love your vlogs hope you're keeping well and Pia's mother's is a lot better, I come from Glasgow and I was looking to retire in Thailand, I like your lifestyle, but I don't drive, which would be a problem living in the rural environment, but I would consider living in Chang Ria I'm 62 years old quite fit and in good health, I don't get my state pension till I'm 66 years old. My home is worth 95 thousand pounds and I've got about 22 thousand pounds in a private pension, do you think I could manage with this amount on a simple lifestyle. I would be grateful if you could reply thanks.
By looking at that land there buddy if it was some way possible, which I doubt it would be great to release a few rabbits onto the property, they breed so well and Rabbit meat is pretty good, there could be a market for it.
hi graham,,good insight,,,still,,,its wayyyy cheaper to live there then any western country,dont get me started on Australia! I think its the third most expensive country in the world
Without doubt it's cheaper here in many aspects but over the years I've found that some things are significantly more expensive especially when it comes to imported goods. No matter where you go there will always be advantages and disadvantages and it's just a case of having to adapt.
Once you get outside the main tourist areas such as Phuket property prices do become much cheaper. I would certainly find an area you like and then rent somewhere for 6 months just to make sure you like it enough to then buy.
Great info there Graham.I think the trick with this is if you what to retire fairly comfortably on a budget is to keep away from the tourist areas,even though Pattaya can be quite cheap and you can get good condo accommodation for around 10k in Jomtien,but that's if you what to live that way.I think the way to go is to live in the Northern areas Chaing Mai/Rai as prices are a lot less.,And if you like the beach life travel to those areas in the low season to save on higher prices.And I really think older people would enjoy a break from the heat and the humidity for a few months compared to the constant heat in the south.And it has been said many times that the local people in the North are much friendlier and there is less trouble.I think the only problem may be the smokey months for some with respiratory problems.They are also very close to good major hospitals in these areas as well.All the best mate and take care.
I hear that a lot of folks up here go to Pattaya, Hau Hin and Phuket for breaks that last a couple of months; some leave for the entire winter ... I don't blame them lol. There's certainly nowhere near the amount of crime or aggravation than I experienced in Phuket; it is a much slower pace of life that's a fact and it's much safer to drive up here. I've seen the medical facilities up here because my mother-in-law has been in and out of Chiang Saen and Chiang Rai hospital and they are nowhere near up to the standards of the international hospitals in Phuket that's for sure. Cheers Graham
I thought Chaing Rai was fairly good for hospital care.I suppose if you had major problems you would go to a private hospital in Chaing Mai if you could afford it.I think the attitude of most Asian people is that all Western people are rich and have heaps of money and are walking ATM machins and that is true to some extents.When the normal westerner arrives in a Asian country he his packed full of holiday money or retirement money.The things most Asian people do not understand is that when the westerner returns to his country he is probably 10 thousand in dept and the price of things and rent are at least 5 to 10 times more in there country(example $28 aud for a pack of cigarettes)and the average westerner works very hard for there money at least 50 or 60 hours to earn a$1000aud and would probably only save around 200 to 300 hundred of that on average,And the retiree will have to live on the money that he has saved after a lifetime of hard work for the rest of his life.I am afraid most Asian people are very naive of these facts and a lot will take full advantage of western people if the opportunity arises not knowing that many just can't afford to lose money.You really have to be on top of your game if to choose to live in these countries and try to avoid getting ripped off.Cheers mate
The local hospital in Chiang Saen is not exactly modern and the main Chiang Rai hospital is mainly used for the 30 Baht health care system; it was not an attractive place. Apparently Pie said there is one for farangs but it's really expensive. I've told locals here about the cost of things back home which is why we generally earn a lot more. Regardless they just think we're rich because I could afford the high prices back home. It just doesn't seem to click that it's relevant that you earn more to pay more. I don't do the shopping for things we need on the farm etc; Pie always tells me to wait outside or go and get a cup of coffee. That's life here and it's something that many westerners never really come to terms with. Cheer mate.
Graham was the best Thailand vloger. And he did a video every day very hard to do
Just subscribed to your channel. I have been following a bunch vloggers on TH-cam about expat living in Thailand and have enjoyed your videos more than the others. Your videos are true Reality TV that gives viewers an honest day to day picture of everyday life in rural Thailand. I am now retired and have found much more peace in my life living the much more simple life. I may be heading to the Chiang Rai area in the next year and will look you up. Farm life is probably too difficult for me at my age, unless I was as lucky as you to find a life partner like PIA.LOL
Great video.
You are a pleasure to listen to.You talk sense.Good luck to you.
The man speaks the truth and it's sad that's he's gone. God bless you and the message you left behind.
R.I.P Graham, my sincere condolences to Pie and your loved ones, you will be sadly missed
Graham was the best Thailand vloger
Plenty of sound advice for me here Graham! I've been looking at accommodation in Mae Chan. Looks a bit less expensive than Chiang Rai City but not too far away. Looking forward to running through all your videos and gaining further insight into living in the Chiang Rai Province. And thanks for your earlier reply! Good luck with finding a more relaxing place to live.
Mae Chan is nice but there again there's lots of villages just outside Chiang Rai City that are truly beautiful - everywhere you look there are mountains and trees :) Yes we do need to move as I need more peace and quiet; just not a fan of loud music. Glad you found the information useful.
just forwarded this vlog to 35 people !! hope you get lotsa subscribers ! ! ! ! !!
Very cool, thank you so much :)
here i am again looking at ur life and wishing that i was there,lived in buriram 10 years then came back to ireland ,mistake thailand never left me like u i lived country magic time ,u stick to ur dream everything takes time and dont heed the knockers .
There's lots of people who would knock my lifestyle; generally they have a pop because we're poor but have dreams to make things better ... I wouldn't trade where I'm living that's for sure and for the things Pie and I want we'll just work towards them each day ... it's a wonderful life. Have a great day mate.
Idiot! If he use those money, he will no longer have enough money for the next Visa in Thailand. And he have not enough income in GB to get a Visa for his wife there.
I know all about Visa and extensions, but it is in my mind gambling to do as you suggest.
yorkymc my wife is from same area. Want to relocate from America to Burium. In a few years why did you leave ? Do you regret leaving?
Loving your vlogs, very informative. Thank you.
Thank you :) I really want to cover a lot of issues and provide insights into life here that people find both entertaining and useful. Cheers Graham
l appreciate your straight talk and after 9 years of living with Thai people and 4+ years in Thailand I have frustrations as well. For better or worse, if we are not careful we will be taken advantage of. A promise here is often not kept and we will always be farung. The weather here is not stressful, many areas have very nice people, this country is so beautiful and livable on a $800/month budget. I believe with a little luck I can find a good family to belong to and restore the peace of mind, contentment and enjoyment that was lost. Every morning I count my blessings, chant, do some exercise and yoga to prepare for another day in Bangkok. Going to Roi Et soon......wish me luck.
I do enjoy your vlogs ! Keep up the good work !
Thank you :) Lots more to come.
Really Good information Graham ,no glossing over , ,ive shred it on f/b for you ...thanks Tim
I've got to agree 100 percent i ve been in rural thailand biulding a house loving the laid back lifestyle coming from Australia its a fantastic life its not for everyone but if you go with the flow its great its not a western country thats where farang go wrong money goes a long way but you have to sacrifice some things thanks for your insight
Agree with you entirely. For me it's about finding and being content and I truly love it up here. Cheers Don, have a brilliant day.
A friend of mine here in Dallas Texas has a 5 bedroom home in Chang Rai. He told my I could live in his home, but he said not many people speak English.
Spoken English is a bit thin on the ground here. I suspect as tourism grows in the region it will become more prevalent but it's a contrast from Phuket due to it being a high profile tourist destination. I'm lucky as I do speak a reasonable amount of Thai but most of them here do speak and entirely different dialect known as 'North' which I suspect is a dialect of Hom (Hill Tribe). You can always get by with a little patience :)
His home is in the country outside of Chang Rai. He said I can live there free:) he has a gardener, and a maid there. He said they will do my laundry, and cook. He is not as far out as you are. He said good bakeries are not far away.
If you're just outside Chiang Rai City then pop into Central Festival Shopping Mall. Downstairs there's a TOPS supermarket with a lot of western produce and bakery; it's certainly nice but a little on the expensive side. Chiang Rai truly is a wonderful place to live - give it a go and see how you get on :)
i think Hom has Burmese influence, some tribes from Myanmar were allowed to move into Thailand to escape persecution. they live north of Chiang Rai, and are allowed to live there, but not to work (they can farm to provide food)
Lol, true about the double charging. But best to roll with the punches here. Good insight!
Great insight Graham. I have to say that two tired pricing does annoy me greatly. When we were buying stuff for our farm when they see me price doubled so I never went shopping for building materials or fertilizers etc. We are are maybe 20k from the nearest big town so have Tesco and Big c there and have a 7/11 only 2k from our house. I would not be able to live without those convinces close to hand. But there is no social live maybe a meal at the beach at weekends but during the week we would be in bed by 7.30pm but up at 5am so I suppose healthy lifestyle .
Yeah the two-tier price is really annoying and there's no question that most expats here feel it's just greed and that they like to openly rip us off. Pie never lets me go shopping for anything to do with the farm as she knows the price will go up once they see a foreigner.
Tesco, Big C and Central are 96km from where we live and Chiang Sean Town is 20km - thankfully immigration is there and it's a tiny place. My 90 day report took me just 2 minutes compared to over 2 hours in Phuket. This month is annual visa renewal ... we'll see how that goes :)
Light out at 8pm here and up at 4am. I sometimes miss getting together with my friends and having a drink. I'm the only farang in the village and I've seen just two others floating about in Chiang Saen Town.
It is certainly a healthy lifestyle; I've lost my middle tyre so that's a plus lol.
Have a good one Colin.
I suppose like everything its got advantages and disadvantages. Like me here I can go to my local Aldi and buy a nice bottle of red wine for 6e but its cold and rainy and miserable here...So guess where Would rather be without my bottle of red lol.
For sure it's all relative and it depends on what you do with and do without. It's really cold and wet here at the moment which last for about 4 months.
I'm giving up on the UK in may to Thailand. My plan is to go on a tefl course teaching English and to stay as long as possible. I don't care whereabouts I stay or work so any tips would be great. ..Brilliant vlogs mate
I had a number of friends who became teachers years ago. Unfortunately most get very disillusioned with it due to restrictions and the overall education system. Certainly it'll be an interesting experience but my advice would be to make sure you don't put all your eggs in one basket. Come out here for 6 months and give it a try and leave a safety net for returning if you have to. Once you have the TEFL you can pretty much pick where you want to live.
If you like the night life, bars and such then choose Phuket, Pattaya or Bangkok ... if you're looking for peace and quiet then Isarn or the northern regions such as Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. Lots to choose from. If you have the financial resources I would say a 6 month trip and explore several areas as this will give you a chance to experience several aspects. Hope that helps Patrick.
Thanks for the info. I am setting off to travel to Thailand soon, exploring retirement options, searching for tips :)
Hi mate ive just subscribed to your channel one day i hope to live in thailand but thats in the future ,someone told me that if you buy thai products you will save money .When i was in bangkok i did just that sometimes we cooked at home sometimes we went out to eat and when you think most thais are not earning a great deal ,the point you make about being a poor westerner a lot of thai will not believe it although it is true for a lot of tourists they have or seem to have a mentality that all farang are millionaires im lucky my fiancee has seen me in good times and bad so she is aware that this is true ,thankfully she is quite frugal herself so that is good in it self anyway a good video and yes living with in laws is not always the best .
Hi mate; this was in early Jan 2017 and we've progressed an awful long way. We've now transformed the farm for Pie's mum and dad and now we'll be working towards our goals; which is nice :) No complaints though as it's been a very interesting journey. Pie is a saver not a spender and neither of us is overly materialistic which helps. Without a doubt things are progressing very nicely and I certainly love it here in Chiang Rai.
Cheap cost of living is great if you have a lot of saved money or businesses outside of the country. Cheap cost of living also comes with cheap earning potential. So just make sure you can earn a living overseas on an e-business or something otherwise if/when you run out of money you will need to grease palms for a work permit and then make £4 a day doing menial jobs.
patreon.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/categories/200359925-Patrons
i have lived in Thailand (eg) Phuket, Pattaya, and Chaingmai, also The Philippines and Cambodia and you are 100% correct. The Thai people, and the others view us Farang or westerner as all filthy rich and cannot grasp the fact that most of the tourists that holiday in these countries have had to save like crazy for 1 - 2 - 3 and even more years just for that 1 holiday
jeff wilson With me they were actually wrong to assume I m rich
You spoke of Chiang Tao and Phuket (OMG Phuket the only place in Thailand where the city wears you out more than a 20 hour airport overlap in Mumbai Airport)
To ask how much does it cost to live in Thailand, is like asking for how long is a rope. My wife and I rent an old house, same style as the one you living in but bigger. It is in a very small town and we pay 1500 Bath/month. And that is old Thai style, and my wife asked the price, not me. Everything that cost some money she does the deals before they see me. ;-)
But you can get new but basic 3 storey 2 Bath/toilet townhouses for 5-6000 Bat/month.
When I retire within 4-5 years, I will have a 30 minutes ride from the farm to the nearest 7/11, but I don't miss it. And it will be a half day project to get to the nearest shopping mall and back in either Nong Khai or Udon Thani. And I am fine with that since I love the quietness on the farm.
So you are very lucky to live the life you live, despite you don't have your pockets full of money. Just focus on your plan with the house on the farm. :-)
I agree, the cost of living will always depend on your expectation. It is wonderful up here; a simple life but rewarding.
A very sensible well explained Vlog Graham.
looks cold in Chang Rai Graham
Thank you so much ka
hi graham and your lovely family. I first world like to say I love all your blogs. I'm moving to loei next year and getting married. we took have a farm small. I love the simple live. we live off the farm .if you have any information on how to start TH-cam blogs. I wish you all the best .John from Ireland.
Moving up here was the best decision I ever made. Starting a TH-cam channel is relatively straight-forward. If you look our About Us page there's an email ... drop me an email and ask any questions you like and I'll do my best to help.
Another very interesting video. Regarding rent, it's perfectly possible to rent a decent house in Chiang Rai city for 4,000.
koh samui 2001 rai of land 1 million baht on a sign, drove passed next day 2 million baht !!!! hate to think what it is now,
I'll find out in May
Certainly land prices have increased dramatically over the years and it's as a direct result of foreigners interested in buying land. I know people in Phuket that have lived there for nearly 50 years and back then a rai of land could be purchased for less than 50,000 baht.
The way I deal with dual pricing is to turn 180 degrees and walk the other way. NEVER start an argument with a Thai person. It seems a thai wife is essential for having a low cost of living.
Having been in and out of Thailand for over 30 years. The one thing that I have learned is this. If someone tries to double the price because I am a farang, then I just move on to the next stall. Property is a bit different, but not that much.
Once again Graham has provided us with a bunch of very good and well presented information.
Thanks for sharing.
Prices go down when the farang can speak Thai at a reasonable level, 20 to 40% makes a huge difference. You do not have to be close to fluent in Thai. I know this first hand.
How do you keep the varments out?
We don't; it's pretty open here at the farm.
Dear Graham Briar. Sir.
It's good to see you.
Please may I take a moment of your time.
I found something you said regarding Thai people have no other concept of Westerners who are not rich. Please Sir can you elaborate on that particular point. That all Farangs are rich. How do the Thailand minds work on the subject.
I really appreciate it if you could fill me in on that please Graham.
From Craig White.GB.
Hi Graham love your vlogs hope you're keeping well and Pia's mother's is a lot better, I come from Glasgow and I was looking to retire in Thailand, I like your lifestyle, but I don't drive, which would be a problem living in the rural environment, but I would consider living in Chang Ria I'm 62 years old quite fit and in good health, I don't get my state pension till I'm 66 years old. My home is worth 95 thousand pounds and I've got about 22 thousand pounds in a private pension, do you think I could manage with this amount on a simple lifestyle. I would be grateful if you could reply thanks.
I am self supporting and at age 74, I have not had to beg anyone for anything. I was raised never to beg, but generate my own, and help others.
By looking at that land there buddy if it was some way possible, which I doubt it would be great to release a few rabbits onto the property, they breed so well and Rabbit meat is pretty good, there could be a market for it.
There a few folks up here that breed rabbits :)
hi graham,,good insight,,,still,,,its wayyyy cheaper to live there then any western country,dont get me started on Australia! I think its the third most expensive country in the world
Without doubt it's cheaper here in many aspects but over the years I've found that some things are significantly more expensive especially when it comes to imported goods. No matter where you go there will always be advantages and disadvantages and it's just a case of having to adapt.
You are a nice guy,,and I thumbs up and share for nice people. Stay blessed.
I like your attitude Sir! Prices of land and property in Chang Rai looks very similar as in Surin province which I keep an eye on
Once you get outside the main tourist areas such as Phuket property prices do become much cheaper. I would certainly find an area you like and then rent somewhere for 6 months just to make sure you like it enough to then buy.
Great info there Graham.I think the trick with this is if you what to retire fairly comfortably on a budget is to keep away from the tourist areas,even though Pattaya can be quite cheap and you can get good condo accommodation for around 10k in Jomtien,but that's if you what to live that way.I think the way to go is to live in the Northern areas Chaing Mai/Rai as prices are a lot less.,And if you like the beach life travel to those areas in the low season to save on higher prices.And I really think older people would enjoy a break from the heat and the humidity for a few months compared to the constant heat in the south.And it has been said many times that the local people in the North are much friendlier and there is less trouble.I think the only problem may be the smokey months for some with respiratory problems.They are also very close to good major hospitals in these areas as well.All the best mate and take care.
I hear that a lot of folks up here go to Pattaya, Hau Hin and Phuket for breaks that last a couple of months; some leave for the entire winter ... I don't blame them lol.
There's certainly nowhere near the amount of crime or aggravation than I experienced in Phuket; it is a much slower pace of life that's a fact and it's much safer to drive up here.
I've seen the medical facilities up here because my mother-in-law has been in and out of Chiang Saen and Chiang Rai hospital and they are nowhere near up to the standards of the international hospitals in Phuket that's for sure.
Cheers
Graham
I thought Chaing Rai was fairly good for hospital care.I suppose if you had major problems you would go to a private hospital in Chaing Mai if you could afford it.I think the attitude of most Asian people is that all Western people are rich and have heaps of money and are walking ATM machins and that is true to some extents.When the normal westerner arrives in a Asian country he his packed full of holiday money or retirement money.The things most Asian people do not understand is that when the westerner returns to his country he is probably 10 thousand in dept and the price of things and rent are at least 5 to 10 times more in there country(example $28 aud for a pack of cigarettes)and the average westerner works very hard for there money at least 50 or 60 hours to earn a$1000aud and would probably only save around 200 to 300 hundred of that on average,And the retiree will have to live on the money that he has saved after a lifetime of hard work for the rest of his life.I am afraid most Asian people are very naive of these facts and a lot will take full advantage of western people if the opportunity arises not knowing that many just can't afford to lose money.You really have to be on top of your game if to choose to live in these countries and try to avoid getting ripped off.Cheers mate
The local hospital in Chiang Saen is not exactly modern and the main Chiang Rai hospital is mainly used for the 30 Baht health care system; it was not an attractive place. Apparently Pie said there is one for farangs but it's really expensive.
I've told locals here about the cost of things back home which is why we generally earn a lot more. Regardless they just think we're rich because I could afford the high prices back home. It just doesn't seem to click that it's relevant that you earn more to pay more.
I don't do the shopping for things we need on the farm etc; Pie always tells me to wait outside or go and get a cup of coffee.
That's life here and it's something that many westerners never really come to terms with.
Cheer mate.
you should open a patreon stream
Hi Dennis; we have a Patreon account - www.patreon.com/gbriar this is listed in the 'About Us' section. Have a great day mate.
If you can't afford $1,000 per month with a wife to move to Chiang rai city you shouldn't be there.. probably more.