Hammerheads

I've been living next to Khao Yai National Park for 6 months.The air quality is good, we are 500m above sea level so the weather is relatively cool. It's enormously popular as a weekend retreat for Bangkok Thais. However.... prices are comparable to Phuket beach front and my god is it boring. So I'm coming down to Hua Hin for a holiday and to check it out as a potential home. I don't do girly bars and all that seedy rubbish. I'm looking for some recommendations in terms of decent meeting places, areas to stay and importantly where to stay away from (including flooding). Apologies, this has been a bit rambling but looking forward to hearing from anyone in the region. Thanks, Rob

As a consultant working for the UK NHS for 5 years during Covid-19, we lost 10 people (that I knew to a degree - all fit and healthy) to the original strain. The saving grace was that we had great scientists around the world working swiftly to provide a vaccine. The issue is that any virus impacts people differently depending on their age, ethnicity, medical condition etc. I'm totally thankful to those people who created the vaccines and so glad you are not involved in such a program.

I met a girl at a party in Sattahip. She had a business renting out 7 houses all of which had been bought by Farangs... Fortunately I wasn't one of them. She was an incredibly happy girl though.

https://thai.news/news/thailand/bangkok-revolutionizes-traffic-with-ai-powered-smart-system-in-2025 Should be interesting!

I did previously have a retirement visa for Thailand (15 years ago) but other opportunities in Europe meant we decided to come back. So we've gone full circle really.

To be honest @DrJack54 I was unsure which visa to go for so thanks for raising it. I'm 60, I have a pension, our daughter and son now both live in Bangkok, my wife and kids all have dual nationality. Our plan is to relocate to Thailand. We have a property in the UK so that stays. I have a UK business which generates income and I will remain a tax resident in the UK. So, I wanted a fairly long term visa for Thailand although wasn't keen to try a 10 year one. I also like the 3 month reporting, there is little effort from me to maintain my visa.

Hi, has anyone from the UK been through this process of obtaining and providing a medical certificate which confirms that the applicant is free from the following diseases; 1. LEPROSY 2. TUBERCULOSIS 3. DRUG ADDICTION 4. ALCOHOLISM 5. ELEPHANTIASIS 6. 3rd degree SYPHILIS

You may wish to visit Wangsai Seafood restaurant next time. The food is wonderful and the view is beautiful. Sometimes you have to go a little off the beaten track to find the gems.

Is there anyone in this post who lives in Ao Nang and would recommend it? I currently live in Bath, UK. It is full of tourists and, quite frankly, it's brilliant having them here. I'm not interested in anyone moaning about petty things that you can find almost anywhere.

Hi, I'm coming to Thailand at the end of April. I fancy checking out Koh Chang for a week. Anyone know the island well, can give me some pointers in terms of the better areas to stay/visit. Many thanks

Done a lot of the islands but not Koh Chang. To be honest, a mountainous largish island with a bit to do and see would probably be the best compromise 😁

Sounds good, In the USA I found some incredibly welcoming people, but the gun culture has just got completely out of hand. Not for me, although Thailand does have it's own issues with firearms. I'm currently learning Thai so I think this will help.

Hey thanks, I've heard good things about this area

I did ride a motorbike from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, the roads are awesome. Stopped off at Samkampaeng for the geysers and visited the white temple. Went to see Big Buddha on the Maekong River, yes was very enjoyable up there.

What is NP?

I have an online business, this keeps me busy. I like to visit national parks, play golf occasionally, I do like the seaside, I hate tackiness, over crowdedness, girlie bars and all that rubbish. May start a small business with the wife catering for visiting Bangkok Thais and traditional tourists.

I'm interested to know why you believe that Khao Yai would he a strange option? I love nature, I don't like hugely crowded or polluted areas (so wish to stay away from big cities and farming communities). I don't do flooding so there are a few areas I will not live in. I don't wish to sit in sports bars and be plagued by young Thai girls wanting someone to look after them. I don't do poor areas.

Thank you. I enjoyed Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Hua Hin. Not been to Nong Khai but Udon and Khon Kaen are not for me. Sad to hear about Ao Nang although I didn't find anything wrong while visiting. Found a superb seafood restaurant on the outskirts overlooking a bay. It was awesome. My wife is a chef so we don't choose to eat out a lot. I do like Hua Hin. Pollution in Thailand from crop burning appears to be a big issue.

Hi do you mind me asking you why Samui became unbearable? I've heard mixed reviews.

Thank you

Hi guys, good day to you. Anyone here live in Ao Nang, Krabi or can give a solid opinion of what it's like to live there? I'm about to leave the UK for Thailand, have lived in the country for 12 months previously, travelled extensively and know Thailand pretty well. Ao Nang is always somewhere I head for, I just love the scenery, the location and the vibe down there. However, this was always on vacation so not sure what it would be like to settle there. Be interesting to learn your thoughts.

Thanks for your comments, we'll be giving it a go for a while to see how the region stacks up. If we don't find happiness there we'll be off to Ao Nang.

This is true and has been on my mind. But I'm at the stage in life where I really couldn't give a damn about some young Thai girl who wants to hook up with a farang for an easy life. My wife is a diamond, we've been together for 25 years and I wouldn't trade her for anyone. And could I be bothered with all that? Give me a swimming pool and a cocktail any day, far more satisfying!

My wife is originally from Udon, I lived there for 6 months but not really what I was looking for. The people I met are fantastic. If you want to buy a big plot of land up there please let me know 🤣

She may well be - but I detest it!