I lived in Bangkok for thirty years and before that in the suburbs of a university town and then in Hawaii on the windward coast.  I used to debate with a cousin of mine about whether it was better to live in the city and visit the countryside or live in the countryside and visit the city.  Looking back, I see that my being single had a lot to do with my city preference.  After being married for nearly ten years, traveling a lot as a married couple and me getting older and feeling the need for a homestead of my own, my preference switched to country living and visiting the city.

 

After thirty years in the city I wanted some toys and hobbies other than my squash racquets and club memberships.  I wanted land, views, pets, cars, motorcycle, bicycles, hiking, waterfalls, reservoirs, rivers, mountains and beautiful sunsets shared with my wife and our pets.

 

I suppose I brought with me my city sensibilities and was looking for nature, beauty and comfort, not how to make a living from the land.  I am eleven years into my country living and I am still enjoying it.  I find a drive into town every few days, an occasional flight to Bangkok or an impromptu road trip only helps to reinforce my attachment to country living.  It is always so very nice to return home.

 

I take a lot of pictures of where I live and thought it might be ok to share some of them as a way of illustrating why I like my country life and maybe remind others of why they are here or that there is life beyond the tourist districts.

 

View from the house.

 

Nearest waterfall 20 km away.

 

Sunset on the Mekong River.

 

Cherry Blossoms in the winter.

 

Local Balloon Festival coming up next month.

 

Mountain Roads.

 

Nearby Mountain Peaks.

 

 

 

Tea Plantations.

 

Pets.

 

Local Reservoir.

Cycling and hiking are favorites.

 

 

I think you have got it right ...I've seen you pics before...very nice.

 

We live right on the border of BK and Nonthaburi ...ok the house is nice but the traffic traps you morning and evening and now they are building another 'kin BTS just up the road.

 

Am wearing a N95 mask whilst driving ..waiting for Mr BIB to looksee ...

 

Time around again and it would be Sattahip ...Bangsaray area  , jet ski and sailing boat ...

 

So we get away when we can...MrsJ likes Phu Tub Berk ...so would I IF there were 4 or 5* places to stay instead of the absolute shit holes there. If it wasn't for the hard floor the temple wouldn't be that bad ..

 

 

 

Even rice fields can be beautiful.

 

 

 

 

Very nice photos.

Great photos!

There is some decent western food around.

 

 

Always enjoy your photos, excellent especially the one with the boat on the lake. Refreshing to see someone posting something so positive. Great stuff.

We even have a very special Chef's Table here in Chiang Rai which is absolutely amazing.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for posting such lovely pictures.

 

 

3 minutes ago, faraday said:

Thank you for posting such lovely pictures.

 

 

You are very welcome.  This is just the way I see the world around me.????

12 minutes ago, villagefarang said:

We even have a very special Chef's Table here in Chiang Rai which is absolutely amazing.

 

 

 

 

Where is that ...we will be up that way later in the year ... golfing 

Thanks for sharing some stunning pictures ???? 

 

And the way you see your world is very very good !!

A great positive Topic and one I am sure many will feel as a refreshing view of "the other side of the coin" a beautiful and honest personal view, seldom seen, a stark contrast to the negativity that is unfortunately so prevalent among many.

 

Your positive attitude and outlook is a credit to you.

 

Thank you !

Nice photos VF especially of the upscale cuisine. But, for right now, I would stay off the Visa section as there are a lot of people desperate to be able to financially stay in Thailand given the new regs and your stuff would smack to them of "Let them eat cake" as I have been on the receiving end just for saying that I intend to be able to comply with the new regs.

28 minutes ago, JAS21 said:

Where is that ...we will be up that way later in the year ... golfing 

Locus Native Food Lab on FaceBook

 

For more information check the link above.  Chef Kong is an amazing young man.  He only takes very small groups and you often have to book well in advance.  We are going again next week with friends from out of town.

Fantastic photos - thank you for posting 

Always enjoy your pics. Thanks for sharing.

Nice pics and the pets are adorable! 

Makes me want to get up country more but I still have that city man blood in my bones so three or four days are enough. But as you said that can change in ones life. I live in Bangkok 1/2 the year and very near Boston the other half and I like to go up to the Green mountains in Vermont to see what I always thought was the most intense green I have ever seen, but your sweet pics show that I can see that in Thailand as well. 

18 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

Nice pics and the pets are adorable! 

Makes me want to get up country more but I still have that city man blood in my bones so three or four days are enough. But as you said that can change in ones life. 

I have done a 180 and now find three or four days in Bangkok or elsewhere enough for me.  I surely wouldn't have said that twenty or thirty years ago.

 

Having all your stuff helps tremendously, like toys, electronics, hobbies and pets.

A few more pet photos.

 

 

 

 

 

Worth plenty of words those photos are! Real eye catchers thanks!

 

The beautiful green hues of outside all under such soft blue skies is paradise! Rain or shine!

Happy villagers.

 

 

 

 

Outstanding pics VF.

 

I too have pics like you are posting and take it all in every day.  I take moto rides up in the mountains by our place and see country living.  During rice growing season the fields are stunningly green. There are beautiful hidden treasures all over if one just gets out and looks.

 

 

 

 

Fantastic pics and by the looks of it life.

But i would also guess that you are in the global wealthiest 1% Ofcourse Thailand or anywhere else for that matter should give you all you want.

9 minutes ago, sidjameson said:

Fantastic pics and by the looks of it life.

But i would also guess that you are in the global wealthiest 1% Ofcourse Thailand or anywhere else for that matter should give you all you want.

I don’t believe I could live this well anywhere else.  I have had time to learn how to live here and to acquire a few things.  I only have what I have and receive nothing in the way of pensions or government handouts.  I have no ex-wives or children to worry about so that helps too.????

Id  agree................BUT  you'd have to remove the Thais to make it perfect, they just screw it  all  up.

Never  liked  people  much, always wanted a place by myself, cant stand the Wife here for too  long either but fortunately she has to work in Bangkok with me down at Pranburi.............in a field with no neighbours withing 500 metres. We meet  up every 3-4 weeks........Wife  not  neighbours!

My love of growing palm trees  keeps  me sane...........just about.............no rice here.

Like to  go  out at  night  with  a  torch to  see interesting  things, birds  nesting in trees, snakes, weird insects etc......3am now!

Good pictures, Village farang, i have the same life than you and I like it 

There are several Thailand, mine is very pleasant 

11 hours ago, villagefarang said:

Even rice fields can be beautiful.

 

 

 

 

Stunning. If I were ever be jealous of another person you would be one of them. How are the issues with mosquitoes, snakes, etc out in the countryside?

With all the farmland around do you have huge issues with the burning there in the Springtime?