How A Love Affair With Thailand Changed My Life
I had always intended to travel the world before I turned 30, but it was already fast approaching and I was too busy stuck in the rat race to really notice. I was the kind of guy who could afford almost anything I desired, and regularly splurged on weekend breaks to Europe and expensive meals out. I’d even spent my bonus on a pair of exquisite handmade shoes costing £1000, and a lost bet over a pool match set me back a £250 gourmet meal. Despite my enviable lifestyle and a well paid job in the UK, something indefinable was missing and my feet were growing decidedly more itchy by the day...
My conscience kept reminding me that you only live once, but I was continually mocked by friends and colleagues: “you’ll never leave” was the retort when I explained my plans. This made me even more committed to follow the dream, and one day I was spurred into action and booked a round-the-world ticket. Now there was no going back. Several weeks later and unable to contain my excitement, I spilled the beans to my boss and handed in my notice. The reaction at work was mixed but generally quite positive - most people’s sentiment was “it will be the best experience of your life” but others were understandably quite worried - after all, I’d not yet invested in property and there was no guarantee that I’d be able to resume a career when I returned home, especially with a recession looming. My attitude was that planes leave to exotic destinations every day, and I wanted to jet off on a life-changing adventure on the other side of the world.
A Road Less Travelled
My departure date approached incredibly slowly - it was an incredibly long, hot summer in the UK and I had to work my 3 months’ notice period...as you can imagine I indulged in long, lazy lunches and talked incessantly about my upcoming trip. The day finally arrived to bid farewell to friends and family, and I left the UK full of anticipation and just a little trepidation. I’d chosen Southeast Asia to start the trip as it seemed incredibly mysterious and exotic - just imagine the splendid ruined temples of Angkor Watt or the dense Vietnamese jungles! Over the next few months I travelled to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos; there were fascinating sights to experience everywhere and I didn’t miss home one bit. I was extremely proud to be a real, hardcore backpacker.
Several months into the trip, I departed Laos by slow-boat chugging along the Mekong from the charming town of Luang Prabang, and arrived sedately in Thailand. It wasn’t really much of a culture shock as I was already used to the unexpected in Asia. Ladyboy shows? Passé. Snake wine? Delicious. I had always been a little reluctant to visit the country due to its infamously seedy reputation, but I was happy to discover there was much more to Thailand than just pingpong shows and spicy food. After Cambodia and Laos, it sometimes felt like being back in the West as there were ATM machines, 24-hour 7-11 stores, iPhones and Japanese cars everywhere.
The Land of Smiles
During the first couple of weeks in Thailand I did all the usual touristy things: ornate Buddhist temples, beaches, and an elephant ride or three. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I eventually succumbed to the charms of an attractive Thai woman and fell head-over-heels in love. Despite some misgivings, we stayed together until my itinerary forced me onwards to New Zealand, but I was desperate to return to Thailand and flew back just a few weeks later. It’s true that I never really made it all the way around the world, but somehow became stuck in Thailand.
One year into the “holiday” and funds were quickly running out, so there was no choice but to return home and find another job. I left Asia feeling quite sorrowful as I had optimistically hoped to stay indefinitely. Thankfully, I managed to find a great position in the UK almost immediately, but was back in the rat race with a considerable thud down to earth. Fortunately my new job involved extensive travel within Asia, so I was able to visit Thailand several times a year. On every business trip I would tag on a week’s holiday at the end, which let me spend valuable time with the Thai lady I was still obsessed with.
An Asian Obsession
I continued working hard for the next two years but soon felt the nagging urge to return to Asia. Could I leave the UK and escape to Asia again? What would this do to my long term career prospects? The decision was not a hard one. I sold all my worldly possessions on eBay (except the expensive shoes) and, feeling newly liberated, booked a one-way ticket to Thailand, despite the unpronounceable Icelandic volcano causing havoc and red-shirts rioting in Bangkok. The icing on the cake happened at Dubai airport, as the smiling gate attendant handed over a complimentary upgrade to first class. I was to arrive in style. Surely this was Karma at work - some fortuitous reward for all the good deeds I’d done? This time around I was determined to do things very differently and search for work immediately. I planned to rent an inexpensive apartment, and wouldn’t squander money as I had done the last time...
It came as a shock when a month later my Thai girlfriend walked out, as it was obvious she was involved with somebody else. Had I made a giant mistake? I had sold everything and given up a promising career. To mend my broken heart I partied every night, burning through my hard-earned cash like there was no tomorrow. It wouldn’t last for long though, as every month I would spend double or triple what was necessary to live on comfortably. A full year passed quickly and I had a stark choice: either find a job in Thailand or return to the UK and start over. My mind was set, and I scoured the Internet daily looking for suitable work. There was always the possibility of becoming an English teacher, but I suspected it was somehow possible to make enough money online.
All Work and No Play
Fortune always seems to smile on me, as I was offered a role as a travel writer for a popular expat website. I produced a few sample articles and they awarded me the job. During the next six months I wrote all kinds of travel stories about Thailand and made just about enough money to live on; it’s easy to reduce your expenses if you knuckle down to work and stay at home. The writing eventually led to further work and before long I was busier than ever, but I was still “living the dream” in a tropical country. The real Thailand however isn’t like the brochures - it’s certainly no paradise but it can support an attractive, laid back lifestyle nonetheless.
Over time I slowly improved my Thai skills, speaking with the locals whenever possible and learning to read the bewildering alphabet. I learnt a lot about the country and it was also a great way to break the ice with Thai women. Despite being incredibly busy I yearned to meet a decent Thai girl, so I posted a profile on an Internet dating website. Meeting a partner in Thailand is relatively easy, but all too often they’re not the sort you could introduce to your parents; think heavily tattooed women that like to drink and gamble. Luckily, the Internet route came up trumps when I met a sweet girl with a respectable job in a bank, who had recently studied English at University. I was understandably cautious this time, but we visited each other every weekend and became quite close.
A Life Changing Experience
At this point I was committed to life in Thailand. Money was tight but I usually made enough to live on, and had no intention to return to the cold, unforgiving UK weather. The recession was in full force back home, and I’d invested considerable time and energy here so I decided to stay. My Thai was steadily improving, and I’d been lucky to make some useful contacts who provided me with ongoing work and opportunities.
Two years on, I’m still living in the Land of Smiles and my life has changed considerably; I no longer aspire to the old materialistic lifestyle and I’ve learnt that it’s possible to live contentedly on a lot less money than you might think. Nowadays, I often wonder what I’ll be doing in
