[Expat Explore] Why is it that more Expats don’t choose to live on a Thailand Island?

[Thailand Explore]

 

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Why is it that more Expats don’t choose to live on a Thailand Island?

 

For the past 7 weeks I have been isolating from this pandemic on Koh Chang, away from my normal home in Pattaya. I have to admit I am dreading having to leave the island now as it has been an absolute pleasure. It has got me thinking, why do not more expats – especially retired – not choose to live on an island rather than inland Thailand?

 

(1) Lacking in Health Facilities

It is probably best to start with the reasons why they don’t. Possibly the biggest issue is that islands offer the bare minimum in health services, although larger islands like Samui, Phuket and Koh Chang do have hospitals. Samui and Phuket has the best equipped of all the islands I have visited, but I struggle somewhat to class ‘Phuket’ as a real island experience.

Koh Chang, the third biggest island in Thailand, maintains the most rugged, authentic island experience – and has a public hospital and basic private one. If you need to find a hospital like a Bangkok-Pattaya version you would need to travel inland to the province of Trat. But it is only a 30minute drive inland once you have done the ferry crossing. If you were to fall seriously ill the island has a ‘ambulance-speed boat’ service that would set you back 20,000 baht to use.

There is a simple sliding scale at play, the smaller the island the less health facilities. To live on Phuket or Samui you would be fine and next down the list, Koh Chang, for any serious health issue you would need to travel inland.

(2) Schooling

To be honest, the same rules applied to health services apply here too. Phuket and Samui is acceptable for schooling younger children whereas on Koh Chang you do not have anything near like an International School – there simply is not the demand. And with any of the smaller islands, you can forget about decent schooling for your kids.

But, these are changing times. During this pandemic I think the rules to life can change. We are too accepting of the way things were always done. I don’t agree that schooling is the only option for socialising and educating my kids. I know for well I can give them a very decent education through online teaching or finding a tutor for one-on-one tuition. International schools in Thailand are expensive too, so to trade some or all of that spend into online teaching and taking your kids to other lifestyle classes is very possible. On an island they could learn to scuba dive, go trekking and so on.

 

I have certainly been spending a lot of time questioning the structure and path we routinely obey to family life all across the world. We just don’t need to obey this structure and should be exploring alternatives. Whilst on Koh Chang I have found an exceptional tutor who has been teaching my kids 6-days a week. The class size is only 5 children, and I have noticed how quickly my kids are learning from her. I have been very satisified and my kids enjoy the classes.

I want my kids to be well educated, rounded and have a grasp of what is possible in life.

On balance, as things stand, I would reluctantly still choose Pattaya for us as a family to live due to my kids though. In Pattaya they attend gymnastics 3 or 4 times a week and also have a private Russian tutor they attend after regular school finishes. It is the laziest and easiest solution for now, but – trust me – I am reviewing this situation.

 

(3) Working

For many of us working expats there is a need to meet customers and our teams, but I get the feeling it will only be a few more years before approaches change. Has the pandemic not shown us that we can stay equally well connected online through Skype/Zoom type conference calls?

I would argue I have never been so well connected during this lock down. When you have face to face meetings you introduce the burden of travel. In Bangkok the most I can hope for is 4 meetings in one day, and that would mean a late finish into the evening. Here I am one click away from a new meeting – I have found it very productive and efficient.

 

If you are management then you can spend more time at your computer – which could be anywhere. When you need a face to face set of meetings you plan a few days each month in Bangkok or where ever.

…But these are the only drawbacks!

OK, we can say there is less things to do. Less restaurants, less attractions and shopping malls and the likes. But, do we need this? I have enjoyed the more simple life and being around stunning nature and clean air. If you want to do shopping just go inland for a long weekend, it is no problem.

Here is how I look at it. What is more important to you: Having lots of shopping options nearby or being in a stunning location with insane natural beauty?

 

I still love larger cities like Bangkok and Pattaya, but what I don’t like is the traffic, the large crowds, the poorer air. It is a clear trade off choice between what larger cities offer to what islands can offer.

Islands offer far more provisions and services than most people realise. I even had a message from one reader to ask if Koh Chang had ATMs – which of course it does, not only that but all the main banks have branches here. Food shopping also is easy with a Makro, Tesco and Big C on the island.

For now, my life will return to normal as I head back to Pattaya again. The experience of spending so much time on Koh Chang has been useful though. I never tired of waking up to a glorious sunshine, walking along a tropical beach and swimming in clear waters. Koh Chang has relaxed and de stressed me – but shouldn’t our life be more simple and relaxed anyway? I have been relaxed yet still working to my optimum and delivering some very good results in business. My mind has been very alert and it has enabled me to make sound business decisions – all online from my computer.

This blog is not designed to be antagonist, it is merely one of observation and food for thought. We do not need to live the life we had before and there are alternatives that can enhance our existence! But we are all responsible for driving this change, so we should consider all options.

 

My days spent on Koh Chang have been some of the finest I have had in many, many years.

 

The original article can be seen at https://danaboutthailand.com/2020/05/09/why-is-it-that-more-expats-dont-choose-to-live-on-a-thailand-island/

[Airalee]

Island fever.  
 

Koh Chang is certainly a beautiful place, but I prefer more life around me and have mostly been a “big city” guy for the majority of my life.

 

Horses for courses.

[thequietman]

Health facilities, reporting to immigration, and the internet would be my 3 biggest issues.

 

Island life would be perfect if I didn't need money, not need to work online, and if they didn't require the totally unnecessary 90 day reports that I have had to do 4 times a year for 15 years!

 

That's 60 reports to an address that I have never moved from! Catch yerselves on IO. ????

Edited July 15, 2020 by thequietman

[EVENKEEL]

Schools a big minus and easy transportation for lil lady back to visit Isaan another minus. For me personally if I can have a cold beer on a beach.....heaven.

[muratremix]

Phuket offers everything (at higher cost) and it is an island with very clean air (AQI around 50!). 
 

there are quiet parts of phuket where you can avoid noise and relax, and drive anywhere when you need something. 

[ExpatOilWorker]

Lack of working sewage treatment plants and generally pollution. 

Sand flies at some beaches. 

[billsmart]

The biggest drawback for me is there are too many Farangs... ☹️

Edited July 19, 2020 by billsmart
misspelling

[nightbird]

I can always holiday on an island when I feel I need a break from urban BKK. BKK has all the necessities including efficient transportation to make life smoother and more enjoyable. I don't have a car and don't need one. I enjoy living in a modern apartment with built-in security, pool, & gym. When you get older, you need these conveniences. If you have to make money, you need the access a big city can give you. Circumstances differ with everyone. If you just want to escape people, or modern life, an island might be a good choice. Islands are often run by 'families', who want control and will scheme to get it. You are more 'noticeable' on an island, different, and stand out like a celebrity. I could go and on. 

[zyphodb]

Wives that want to live near the outlaws, usually in Isaan is the problem for most I should imagine...

[OneMoreFarang]

Higher cost and more local rules (some people call it mafia), no or little competition, etc.

All those local scammers get away with what they are doing because there is not enough competition and enough local "protection" to let them get away with it. 

And that is just the ordinary daily life.

 

If there is an emergency and someone needs specialist medical treatment then things get extreme expensive because the greedy people know they can overcharge 10 times in life and dead situations.

 

[Tagged]

Where to go when have holiday, another Island? 

 

For me it is important to have normal days, and exciting days since I need contrasts in my life. Right now I have been saving up for awhile, building a small farm and struck by covid prevent me from going home to work, since I live here, and do not want to leave before I have to. Living cost in a rural village in Isan, is more than half than any island in Thailand, and make me save up quite a bit for my later days, and also times like now. I mean 30k a month in living costs and that include salery for her parents working for us. Easy math and even bether when we go holiday, it is not day to day normal. 

[ChaiyaTH]

They fear incest. Islands are very tiny and beaches are not special after a week. Got nothing to do with Thailand but with islands in general.
And price wise, I could live at prettier beach or island destinations ouside TH than here too..

Edited July 19, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[1FinickyOne]

It gets boring... but lovely for a vacation... 

 

I was on Koh Chang nearly 20 years ago... 5 years later, people were telling me I would not recognize it... and that was 15 years ago... 

[4MyEgo]

On 7/15/2020 at 4:58 PM, thequietman said:

Island life would be perfect if I didn't need money, not need to work online, and if they didn't require the totally unnecessary 90 day reports that I have had to do 4 times a year for 15 years!

The hour 20 drive used to annoy me 4 times a year over the past 4 years, however last one done on line, next one due online next month, and now that there is no more TM30 unless one changes their address, immigration is once a year, yippee ki yay mf's......... 

[Grumpy one]

Never really thought about island living.

I live 1 block from the beach, in hind sight we should have bought further away from the water.

More peaceful and maybe less neighbours

[ChaiyaTH]

5 minutes ago, kenk24 said:

It gets boring... but lovely for a vacation... 

 

I was on Koh Chang nearly 20 years ago... 5 years later, people were telling me I would not recognize it... and that was 15 years ago... 

True, even my first visit in 2012 was not the same 2 years later. They ruined it with concrete etc. 

[4MyEgo]

4 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

Never really thought about island living.

I live 1 block from the beach, in hind sight we should have bought further away from the water.

More peaceful and maybe less neighbours

What part of Thailand you at ?

[OneMoreFarang]

33 minutes ago, zyphodb said:

Wives that want to live near the outlaws, usually in Isaan is the problem for most I should imagine...

Wives can have their opinion - but we don't have to ask them what they want and we don't have to do what they want.

[rwill]

Island living is over rated.  Being on the beach on the mainland is just like being on the beach on an island.  People just think it is more exotic.

[Keesters]

Question asked and then answered by the same person. 

[Sujo]

Not enough to stir the senses. Once you have eaten at all the restaurants and drank in all the bars it gets boring.

 

Much easier to find new places to eat and drink in a city.

 

But each to their own.

[Meat Pie 47]

3 hours ago, billsmart said:

The biggest drawback for me is there are too many Farangs... ☹️

Well there is always North Korea

[natway09]

The island mafia made me crazy so I left

[Tagged]

35 minutes ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

Well there is always North Korea

I heard Pattaya, Koh Samet and Koh chang was empty now.

[mrmicbkktxl]

Chang,Samui and Phuket are Mafia territory.All three are overpriced and to far from BKK.

[salsajapan]

Koh Chang, great ! one of the ugliest island in the country ! it seems that an expert is speaking !

 

[salsajapan]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Wives can have their opinion - but we don't have to ask them what they want and we don't have to do what they want.

 

Yes someone need to grow some to be able to think like you and me !

 

[sead]

Higher prices, costs of boat etc everytime you want to go somewhere. Very controlled by local maffia. 

[sead]

1 hour ago, mrmicbkktxl said:

Chang,Samui and Phuket are Mafia territory.All three are overpriced and to far from BKK.

You beat me to it. I answered exactly same haha

[brianthainess]

5 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

The hour 20 drive used to annoy me 4 times a year over the past 4 years, however last one done on line, next one due online next month, and now that there is no more TM30 unless one changes their address, immigration is once a year, yippee ki yay mf's......... 

You can do the 90 day report on Koh Chang.