Living in Bangkok, Thailand, with his wife and daughter has been a learning experience for Max, who comes from England. Here he describes how they came to move to Bangkok and presents his pragmatic view on what being an expat there has taught him. Thailand may be a beautiful country and strategically located in the region, but Max advises those thinking about moving to that country to consider other important factors that might be detrimental to foreigners.

Max

March 05 2007 

-Where were you born?
England

-In which country and city are you living now?
Bangkok, Thailand

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I live with my wife and daughter.

-How long have you been living in Thailand?
Two years at present but a total of seven years if you include previous years spent here.

-What is your age?
Mid-thirties

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Thailand?
We moved to North Wales, which really wasn't a good idea. Beautiful countryside but not the best part of the UK to live in. We became fed-up with life in the UK and then my wife got offered a job in Bangkok so we moved.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Not too difficult to get a visa, and work permits are available as long as you meet the requirements. Every now and then the authorities have a tightening up session regarding visas but generally not difficult unless you're on their black list or have an attitude problem.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
We have family cover through the wife's employers.

-How do you make your living in Thailand? Do you have any type of income generated?
Sadly no, I don't work. I became a "house husband" when we moved here. It's been a great opportunity to bond with my daughter but I miss working and earning an income. Unless you're here on an expat package, employment opportunities are limited. English teaching is the obvious choice for many. There are quite a few success stories of foreigners who have come here, started in business and done well, but for every one there are probably a hundred who have lost out big time. The government recently changed the law on company ownership regarding foreigners, making it harder and giving the foreigner less power.

-Do you speak Thai and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I'm conversational in Thai and yes, it helps a lot. The level of English here is way below some of the other countries in the region, especially outside Bangkok or Phuket. Not only is it easier if you can speak Thai but you get a certain amount of respect from the locals and suddenly you find yourself getting better deals.

It's handy to be aware of some of the local customs so as not to offend the locals. Generally they won't mention it to your face when you make an error but it will be noted. The main issues are public nudity, dress code in temples, loud and vulgar behaviour and disrespecting the monarchy (they take this one very seriously).

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
My family is not a particularly close one but I take the daughter back regularly to see them. I miss the way of life in the UK and the things you take for granted like the NHS - get knocked down on the street here and you won't be whisked away in an ambulance, just lucky if anyone even stops.

Contrary to what the media say about Thai food, it is not that healthy and there are no restrictions about what goes in it, so expect a lot of MSG and sweeteners and flavourings in just about everything. Obesity is becoming a problem here and the Thais are waking up to the fact that frying everything isn't necessarily a good idea.

I also miss the UK climate, oddly enough. Sitting outside in the evening isn't a pleasant experience here, you get savaged by mozzies. The heat is nice but it can get a bit of a drag when it's always hot.

When I get a chance I enjoy cycling or walking, even in Bangkok. The proximity to some of the best islands in the world is a huge plus but sadly most of them are becoming overly commercialised and some parts are being referred to as the Costa del Sol of Asia. The cinemas here are great and cheap too.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
We might be moving back home or on to another country, though nothing is definite yet. I'm doing a writing course online from the UK, with the aim of being able to do a bit of freelance journalism (more hobby than anything else). I'm also setting up an online business based in the UK that, if successful, will enable me to run from anywhere in the world as long as I have my laptop and a high-speed connection.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
A great myth concerns buying property in Thailand. Foreigners can't buy or own land in Thailand. You can get a long term lease, usually 30 years, or you can buy a condo, so long as not more than 40% of the total number of condos in that building is owned by foreigners. There are many ways to "circumnavigate" these rules but if it isn't 100% legal be warned, there are many who have lost everything. Property prices are rising and if it's a condo aimed at foreigners the price will be high.

-What is the cost of living in Thailand?
Take your pick. You can live on GBP£10 a day or you can spend GBP£1,000 a day. Utilities and general running costs are much lower than in the UK but anything of quality is generally expensive: clothes, toys, and some electrical equipment. Eating out at a good restaurant in Bangkok is probably going to set you back an average of GBP£10-20 per head. Street food is dirt cheap and tasty.

-What do you think about the Thais?
Hmm, difficult one to answer. Generally they are OK but it often feels like a very racist place. Foreigners are generally blamed for most of the ills in the country and there's very much a them-and-us scenario going on. On the street most haven't got the time of day for you but once you get to know them as friends they can be wonderful people and very good friends.

I've found it to be the case that they're either blatantly rude or overly friendly. I've had shop assistants refuse to serve me and tell their colleagues (in Thai) that they hate foreigners, and it's happened more than once. The general rule is to be polite and smile and you'll be fine but always be wary of overly friendly strangers.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Thailand?
Positive: weather, beautiful beaches, near to a lot of interesting countries, Bangkok has something for everyone, and generally an easygoing way of life.

Negative: weather (sweating all the time can be a drag), lack of quality bread and cheese, terrible TV, horrendous traffic problem in Bangkok, having strangers laugh and shout "farang, farang" (what Thais call westerners) when you walk by, Thai banks won't give foreigners interest, Thai love affair with military coups, and having so many laws that go against you as a foreigner.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Thailand?
Be very careful investing here. Don’t trust anyone (Thai or otherwise) until you're absolutely 150% sure you can. Look carefully into what you want out of life here before selecting a place to live otherwise you'll spend a lot of your life in a jam looking at the back of a Toyota.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Thailand?
Mine, obviously: Life Out East

There are literally hundreds of sites dedicated to life in Thailand and all of varying degrees of quality. In no particular order of importance are the following: Khao San Road, Bangkok Post, Tales of Asia (from Siem Reap in Cambodia).