Category Archives: Reflections

Reflections

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

8 Comments

thaichristmas2

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our home in Chiangmai.  We are not going to have a white Christmas but there is definitely a cold snap that has taken over Northern Thailand. Temperatures have dipped down to single digits overnight in some areas and frost has been spotted this week in some higher areas. There was actually a mention of possible snow at one point but the meteorological guys in the know said that the country is too low an altitude for this to happen.

In much of the world, temperatures in the teens are not exactly uncommon and cause for concern! As one local Brit said this week, 15 Celsius is “lying on the beach” weather back in England. However, here it is a different story. Apparently over 65 provinces in the country have been declared disaster areas because the temperature fell below that magic number of 15, not Fahrenheit…15 degrees Celsius!  It definitely puts it in all in perspective.  But……it does rise to 26 degrees in the day which ain’t bad for December as far as this Canuck is concerned!thaichristmas

As the year comes to an end, we carry on up here in Chiangmai, oblivious to all the huge demonstrations in Bangkok. Except for the stories online and the pictures on the front pages of the local newspapers, we would have no idea that any of this was happening. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out in the end. It’s too bad that such a beautiful country has to be spoiled by the continuous saga of politicians and their quest for power.  But I have sworn to myself that I will not get into politics or religion on this blog so I will end it there.  As a foreigner retired in this country, I really am on the sidelines watching the proceedings and have no interest in taking one side or the other.

We still love living in Asia after the last seven years and look forward to 2014 and our continuing exploration of the surrounding countryside.  Every day brings a new adventure and another reason for choosing to settle here. I hope everyone has a great holiday and some well-deserved R and R over the next few days.

christmascard004

Reflections

So You Want to Teach Abroad?

Leave a Comment

Teaching Overseas

There are very few jobs that offer you the opportunity to work overseas, travel and experience another culture for a period of time. Teaching is one of them. Whether you are on a teacher exchange, working for one of the many international schools around the world or teaching ESL in Asia, teaching abroad can be one of the most rewarding and exciting times in your life. In addition, five or ten years working in a country with a low cost of living will allow you to save enough money to travel all those places you have wanted to see, or maybe even retire early.  It’s all about priorities!  Whether you want to teach overseas for a year or two, or turn it into a longer stint that sets you up for an early departure from the workforce, this brief article will look at the various options available for those that are interested in pursuing this idea.  Teaching overseas can be a great experience, regardless of your age! Read More

BlogReflections

Why Chiangmai?

5 Comments

A year from now, we should be heading for Thailand for a new life in a new country. Why Chiangmai, Thailand, some friends have asked. Some think we have gone over the deep end even thinking about not returning to Canada; others are bordering on jealousy and would love to be doing the same thing themselves. Most of our friends here in China think it is a great idea! But anyone who has moved to China to live and work is probably not the most normal crayon in the box.

Many boomers are selling out of the North American rat race and heading for pastures that seem to be greener and a hell of a lot cheaper. Tack on a little more sun, no snow, and a lot of people are easily sold on the idea of picking up shop and heading out on an adventure. Thailand is only one of several destinations that many are heading for. Central America is a biggie and other countries in Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines are jumping on the bandwagon to attract retirees. All have a few things in common; warm weather, a pleasant welcome to retirees, and a very cheap cost of living. Many have retirement visas available for anyone that fits the criteria; usually a guaranteed monthly pension and an age requirement.

I will write about all of the places I have been looking at eventually, but today I am going to concentrate on Chiangmai. This city has been near the top of many lists as the ideal place to retire for many years. Because of the recent violent protests and bit of political instability, it has lost a little ground as an ideal retirement haven, but it is still in the top group of most lists as a wonderful place to spend a few months, years or even to retire. Currently, there are over 30,000 foreigners living in the city.

So why do people like this place? The top reasons are pretty straight-forward…Thailand is known for its very friendly people and its wonderful food. As someone who has traveled extensively in the country a couple of times and knows others who have made it their second home, I can vouch for both these observations. People will go out of their way to help you and you cannot beat the incredible Thai food. Not only is it delicious, it is amazingly cheap. As many say, it is almost not worth cooking when you live in this country.

As with all the other places I have been looking at, the cost of living is VERY cheap. It is easy to live on an income of $1500 per month or less. It is possible to rent a nice little house for well under $500 per month or a two bedroom condo for $450 to 550 per month. Real estate prices are also very reasonable if you actually want to buy a place of your own. You can buy a condo outright but houses can only be purchased on a 30-year lease. Check out some of the local Chiangmai prices here

Add to the list above a year-round warm climate, a low crime rate, great medical services, convenient public transport, lots of activities, and plenty of cultural events. Finally, the shopping is really good, ranging from modern supermarkets and malls to huge night bazaars and street markets.

Chiangmai is definitely still very high on the list for those with a limited disposal income who are in search of a warm climate. And as I wrote above, it is only one of many places in the world that are attracting seniors away from the expensive cost of living in the western world. The numbers of Americans, Canadians and Brits moving abroad is increasing annually. It is not a flood but many are fed up with the governments, taxes and prices in these first-world countries. Thailand is only one place in the world where you can live cheaply and still have money left over to travel at the end of the day. I have been reading countless stories of people doing just that; both seniors and younger folks. We certainly have not looked back since we left Canada five years ago and cannot picture ever returning full-time after seeing what other countries have to offer at this point in our lives.

Retire in Chiangmai – a website for those considering retiring to Chiangmai
Never Ending Voyage –love this site about a couple of “Digital Nomads” who spent several months in Chiangmai. They have several articles about the city…this one talks about the the cost of living in the city.
6 Affordable Places to Retire – Chiangmai is at the top of this list.
.

© Copyright 2014. Theme by BloomPixel.