Live in Thailand or return to the UK? Written by an Expat who returned to the UK

[webfact]

File photo

As an Expat it is not uncommon to question if you have made the right decision and for many of us we do consider a move back ‘home’. I have blogged and vlogged on this topic numerous times before, and one such post was picked up by a reader who emailed me their own dilemma. In the end they opted to move back to the UK after living in Thailand for 20 years. This is their story.

 

“I just watched your video blog with great interest. The dilemma of whether to continue to live in Thailand or return to the UK is one I struggled with also.

 

I first went to Pattaya in 1990, following a messy divorce in the UK. I needed that escape to see new territory and face new challenges. I contacted a large Thai public company. I told them I wanted to come and work for them, and I was shocked when they offered me a senior management position. I sold up everything I had in the UK, and two months later, I was in Thailand. I lived in Bangkok, and my job was exciting and well paid; I had a PA and 370 staff, a company car and a driver. The company took care of everything, work permits, visas, insurance, bank accounts. It was all relatively painless.

 

The only place near my office where I could get an English breakfast was Khao San Road. It was amusing when my chauffeur would park up in the middle of the street, open my door, me stepping out, donning my smart black suit and silk tie, carrying my briefcase, into the heat, the noise and the smells, and sitting down on a plastic chair amongst all the backpackers and tourists. I’d order my eggs and bacon while my chauffeur waited patiently for me in the car with the hazard warning lights on. He had made an arrangement with the chief of local police that allowed us to get away with traffic offences and general mishaps. We once did an illegal U-turn, were flagged down and stopped by a traffic cop.

 

My driver flashed the Police Chiefs personal signed business card, at which point the policeman stood to attention, saluted and waved us along, all for a bottle of Black label Johnny Walker now and then. My job required me to travel all over Thailand and South East Asia, but I found it hard to adapt to the Thai management culture, especially the politics. It ended on my terms when I wouldn’t take a bribe. My divorce had cleaned me out, so I didn’t have much money when I arrived in Thailand. I always had to work, which was a good thing. I enjoyed the routine and discipline of everyday life but still had access to the madness whenever I wanted.

 

In 1996 I moved to Pattaya, where I started my own business. In those days, it took many hours to drive between Bangkok and Pattaya, they began construction of the elevated section of the Bang Na Trat highway around 1996, but it took a few years to complete. Pattaya was like the Wild West back then, and that’s what made it special. It was remote and very different from Bangkok. I’d never tell my Thai colleagues in Bangkok that I’d been to Pattaya for a weekend; they would have frowned on that, a place they would never go.

 

When I searched for my Pattaya residence, I was offered condo units with six-month free rent in empty buildings walking distance from the beach. Most streets didn’t even have names or numbers; how we ended up with street names like, Soi Diana, Soi Yamato and Soi Post Office. Friendship Supermarket was the only proper large shop and we had the old Mike’s department store, which was a market. Farm House white bread and processed cheese slices and ham were about, and if you were lucky, you might find HP sauce. If you wanted to buy a car, you had to go to Bangkok. It was an exciting time when an expat with money could do pretty much anything.

 

By 2000 my business had grown, and I was in Bangkok again. I had a 28th-floor office in a city center tower and employed 150 people. Once again, Bangkok for me became like a pressure cooker, and I missed the freedom that I had discovered in Pattaya, so after a few years, I sold the shares in my company and returned to my serine beach house. 

 

Full story: https://danaboutthailand.com/live-in-thailand-or-return-to-the-uk-written-by-an-expat-who-returned-to-the-uk/

 

 

-- © Copyright Dan About Thailand 2022-01-07

 

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[worgeordie]

So he had all that , at least he says so , and he decided to move back to UK ,????

regards Worgeordie

 

[Boomer6969]

Headline should have been: "Work in Bangkok or live in Pattaya".

[newnative]

Buh bye bye

[MRToMRT]

Paraphrase - Man comes to Thailand, makes lots of money (so he says but hey this is ultimate Thai reinvention lie), get married, has a family, kids get to education age and he wants them UK educated, he gets bored, goes back to UK (but hints he may return to Thailand as his wife misses it).

 

The video of Dan's chat to camera is much more interesting and thought provoking.

[Pedrogaz]

How come all these anonymous people are so successful???? and have lame excuses for what they do???? Pardon my skepticism.

[proton]

'In all that time I saw so many changes to Thailand, the culture, the politics, the people, and I’ve been partly responsible for the transformation there also. It’s inevitable things change, places change.

 

I wonder what changes he imagines he has been responsible for in Thailand? Places change but the people and the culture far less. 

[billd766]

22 minutes ago, proton said:

'In all that time I saw so many changes to Thailand, the culture, the politics, the people, and I’ve been partly responsible for the transformation there also. It’s inevitable things change, places change.

 

I wonder what changes he imagines he has been responsible for in Thailand? Places change but the people and the culture far less. 

I, and a few other expats DID change Thailand in the 1990s.

 

My patch was from Pak Thong Chai district up to Nong Khai and Loei, across to Nakhon Pathom, down beside the Mekong to Ubon Ratchathani, across to Buriram and back to Pak Thong Chai district.

 

Initially I was the only commissioner, then I got a Thai guy Motorola had trained up and we were bringing 16 to 20 sites on air every week.

 

I was working with Motorola and DTAC where 6 of us were out every week installing 1G and 2G. I came back again in 2001 installing and commissioning CDMA.

 

The forerunners of 3G, 4G and now 5G.

 

Nokia was doing the same with AIS.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Farm House white bread and processed cheese slices and ham were about, and if you were lucky, you might find HP sauce.

This expat is obviously concentrating on the for him important things in his life.

I didn't bother to go to Dan's website to read more of the same.

 

Also about the parking in the middle of the road: It might be funny from time to time, but I wouldn't brag about it.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, proton said:

'In all that time I saw so many changes to Thailand, the culture, the politics, the people, and I’ve been partly responsible for the transformation there also. It’s inevitable things change, places change.

 

I wonder what changes he imagines he has been responsible for in Thailand? Places change but the people and the culture far less. 

Probably the place in Khao San Road increased the prices because of him. ???? 

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Also about the parking in the middle of the road: It might be funny from time to time, but I wouldn't brag about it.

Not be funny if you wanted to drive through!

[OneMoreFarang]

18 minutes ago, billd766 said:

I, and a few other expats DID change Thailand in the 1990s.

Same with me.

Soon after I arrived in Sukhumvit they started building the Skytrain. ???? 

[Elkski]

Some of you, very few, have a nice garden you can sit in at the perfect temp without bugs, barking dogs, chickens everywhere, and roosters breaking the birdsong.  Silence for all but nature is a wonderful peaceful time to sit and ponder. 

[Aussieroaming]

Sounded like a total BS fake story about an expat in order to generate a discussion.

[Elkski]

I did notice even after thinking heade good money, umpteen businesses later he finds himself at 60 having to worry about cost of travel back and forth to Thailand.   It's hard for many of us to know if we have enough to support our unknown life span.      Airfare or lifetime maximum miles per person may be a thing. 

[BritManToo]

Man comes to Thailand, gets woman who wouldn't look at him in his home country, takes her back.

Same old story but with him returning rich, when everyone else returns broke.

All the 'rich' stuff sounds unlikely.

[Denim]

Would have been better if this novel had started :

 

" Once upon a time ......"

 

And ended with :

 

" And we all lived happy ever after "

 

The drivel in-between could be passed over. 

 

Really , if Dan wants to go just go. No big deal. It's a free country. Nobody will judge him if the shine of the place has faded for him. No need to justify anything. Suits some not others. Simple as that. I will never leave. I plan to die here because I prefer it here. It's not always perfect but where is ? I live in a rural area and love it. Would never live in Pattaya. Other people would hate it here. Too Thai. Nobody is right or wrong. Choose a place according to what you like. Really not so complicated and no need for all the hand wringing.

 

 

[In the jungle]

Didn't read the link.

 

Did he mention his time in the SAS?

 

 

[Elkski]

It seemed like a credible story.  He doesn't feel rich as he pointed out with  several expenses he had to explain and contend with. Out of country tuition, frequent flight costs.  No decent man can't plan for his spouse to visit mom every so often.  Does anyone dispute things have changed for the worst since his early days what 25 years ago?  He also pointed out that his wife is on track to become a benifiting resident.   His child has a dual citizenship, language and decent education.  He also mentioned condos were not as liquid  as he expected. 

[itsari]

Exampal of .01 percent of the foreigners living in Thailand .

[zoltannyc]

Contrary to popular belief, the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. It's simply different.

I had the good fortune to spend significant amounts of time living on four different continents, and I discovered that, if you have the necessary resources and are physically safe, you can live comfortably almost anywhere. When a place seems particularly miserable, you must carefully consider if you or the location is the problem.

[kingstonkid]

1 hour ago, Elkski said:

Some of you, very few, have a nice garden you can sit in at the perfect temp without bugs, barking dogs, chickens everywhere, and roosters breaking the birdsong.  Silence for all but nature is a wonderful peaceful time to sit and ponder. 

One could get the same peace and quiet garden and such by simply moving to Isaan or out of the big city.

 

I find it hard to believe that a guy could make enough money in Thailand to retire in the UK and by BMW and other high end cars.

 

Not saying he did not do it just wondering.

 

I wonder what business he was in that the authorities were such a problem.

[JimmyJ]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

It was amusing when my chauffeur would park up in the middle of the street, open my door, me stepping out, donning my smart black suit and silk tie, carrying my briefcase, into the heat, the noise and the smells, and sitting down on a plastic chair amongst all the backpackers and tourists. I’d order my eggs and bacon while my chauffeur waited patiently for me in the car with the hazard warning lights on. 

Why not leave the suit jacket, tie, and briefcase in the car?

Desire to increase  the sweating from eating outdoors in high humidity?

 

Based on the excerpt the OP provided - What a boring time wasting blowhard.

[Doctor Tom]

No dilemma for me.  I may be a UK citizen, but I will never return to the UK.  Everything about the place is depressing and, to me, unacceptable. The weather, the cost of living, the expense of everything, the miserable people, the traffic jams, the terrible road and rail systems, the horrendous airports..  No thanks.  I much prefer my life in Thailand and my standard of living here. 

[JimmyJ]

Just the beginning:

00:01 to 00:18 (seconds).

[Denim]

1 hour ago, Elkski said:

story

Exactly

[topt]

1 hour ago, Doctor Tom said:

The weather,

Probably the one thing that resonated for me in the "story"...

Quote

The biggest surprise to me was, how much I love having four seasons

Except it would not be a surprise to me as I have always missed it.

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, Doctor Tom said:

No dilemma for me.  I may be a UK citizen, but I will never return to the UK.  Everything about the place is depressing and, to me, unacceptable. The weather, the cost of living, the expense of everything, the miserable people, the traffic jams, the terrible road and rail systems, the horrendous airports..  No thanks.  I much prefer my life in Thailand and my standard of living here. 

I would particularly agree wit your last sentence if Thailand did not have an unelected PM and a bunch of tinpot  soldiers.

[Doctor Tom]

1 minute ago, NoshowJones said:

I would particularly agree wit your last sentence if Thailand did not have an unelected PM and a bunch of tinpot  soldiers.

Who cares, they don't trouble me at all and frankly, they are certainly no worse, and in many ways much better,  than the UK lot of self serving, arrogant, incompetent,  no hopers that run that place. 

[NoshowJones]

1 minute ago, Doctor Tom said:

Who cares, they don't trouble me at all and frankly, they are certainly no worse, and in many ways much better,  than the UK lot of self serving, arrogant, incompetent,  no hopers that run that place. 

I honestly believe that if there had been a properly elected government since 2014 right up until now, the GBP would at least be about 50 Baht to the pound today, much the same as it was when the unelected PM stole the country.