In early 1998 I sold everything that I owned and came to Thailand for one reason – to “DIE”! I had been experiencing severe angina for a long time and was told that I had to have heart surgery.

I decided that if it was my time, so be it, and took early retirement and moved here. I had no intention of going through the surgery. When I arrived, within days, the angina stopped and I’m still here,15 years later.For me it has definitely been a better life. The daily BS that I have to put up with is well worth it!

Same reason, I came to Thailand to die also, I admit that i don't think I'm going to die any day soon, there is still a few years left in me.

But one thing I can say I have only budgeted for 65 If I am still alive and kicking after that, all I can say is I will be owing some one money when i pop my clogs

"The daily BS that I have to put up with is well worth it!"

The daily BS that I no longer have to put up with far outweighs any BS in Thailand.

i felt it would be unsporting to claim expert status here without a weeks experience on the ground.

Edited March 6, 201313 yr by candypants

Thailand was the first stop on what was to be a 10 year odyssey around the world.

It was cheap, cheap, cheap so I decided to hang about for a while.

5 years and counting.

I came to Thailand to live....and study chrome deficiency in the local population.

Edited March 6, 201313 yr by ExpatOilWorker

I came for a 2-3 week holiday which has at present become a 14 year holiday.

came here for holidays

I was bored with my social life. Being in my late 40's and single in the US leaves one without many BM's or just friends to hang rwith after work as almost everyone in my age group is married with kids.... I had been to LOS many times on holiday and knew I could have some fun with the ladies so I quit my well paying government job and sold almost every thing I had and here I am 7 years later. My work situation here turned out pretty well... Now I live out on the dark side of Pattaya and life is pretty good. I work a little and play a lot which includes long bike rides almost everyday and a 2000 meter swim every other day. I find the BS factor here is a lot less then the US and I love being able to go out and have fun with the ladies without having deal with the attitude you get these days with most single women in the US. Yeah i get it, I am handsome and funny as long as I have money but it is the same in the states its just a lot more discreet... And as far as having to pay for play as they say, I much rather pay up front then on the back end as so many men in the US end up doing when they get divorced... And it is a hell of a lot cheaper too... So i came for the ladies and I will stay as long as I can for the same reason....

Edited March 6, 201313 yr by montereyjp

I came here to thaw out. I was bloody freezing.

I came here to live!

I came here because there's no cold weather, esp. snow and ice.

The cheap lifestyle, the cheap health care.

I like Thai food.

I'm in Chiang Mai because of the large English speaking expat community (not so prevalent in other parts of the world) so lots of literature in English, people to talk to.

I came here because I can't live in the U.S. with all the daily Bullstuff.

Edited March 6, 201313 yr by qdinthailand

I will be staying in CM in the future, though not now:)

Put it a nice way- retirement;)

Cross my fingers..I do hope CM will remain a wonderful place till then.

Edited March 6, 201313 yr by Choonpon

Temples, food, culture.........oh and cheap sex.

I was running away from women.

OK, so everyone can make a mistake.

Visiting friends having a blast down south and up north ....

finally settle down in the middle of it !!!

Assigned to work here by my employers.

The 'Hardship Posting' allowance clinched the deal.

Farangland went pear shaped, topped by an incurable disease, so l thought f........ it. Many years on I am still not in a box.

I awoke nearly 4 years ago in the middle of a field in what I now know was Isaan. Naked. Cold. Hungry. I found my way to a nearby village were I met an elderly Thai couple who took me in and raised me as their own "lost" 40 something year old son.

I awoke nearly 4 years ago in the middle of a field in what I now know was Isaan. Naked. Cold. Hungry. I found my way to a nearby village were I met an elderly Thai couple who took me in and raised me as their own "lost" 40 something year old son.

Did they have a beautiful 16 something year old daughter?

I awoke nearly 4 years ago in the middle of a field in what I now know was Isaan. Naked. Cold. Hungry. I found my way to a nearby village were I met an elderly Thai couple who took me in and raised me as their own "lost" 40 something year old son.

Did they have a beautiful 16 something year old daughter?

She was already married off.

I awoke nearly 4 years ago in the middle of a field in what I now know was Isaan. Naked. Cold. Hungry. I found my way to a nearby village were I met an elderly Thai couple who took me in and raised me as their own "lost" 40 something year old son.

Did they have a beautiful 16 something year old daughter?

She was already married off.

To the "brother" ........ but Grandma was a widow....and nearly all her own teeth.....

I awoke nearly 4 years ago in the middle of a field in what I now know was Isaan. Naked. Cold. Hungry. I found my way to a nearby village were I met an elderly Thai couple who took me in and raised me as their own "lost" 40 something year old son.

Did they have a beautiful 16 something year old daughter?

Your op had my respect.

This 16 year old comment however lost it.

Did you say angina or vagina?

I came because of the strong Buddhist culture, the belief that Karma will repay any good or bad deed you do that permeates Thai society.

I came to learn how to smile my way through each day as the indigenous people do, free from the worries and stresses of western culture.

To live simply among simple, childlike folk who are all Jai Dee. The strength of the extended family, supporting the elderly and bowing to their wisdom was a strong influence, and I was hoping I would be honoured as old and wise.

Fat chance.

I have lived in Chiang Mai twice, each for about 90 days. I liked it but I failed to travel enough. I recently returned from my first trip to Isaan. I spent most of my time in the general Surin/Sisaket/Buriram areas. I did make it through Kohn Kaen to Udon to Sakon Nakhon and back down.

I want to get away from it all and live rural. By rural, something like Surin/Sisaket or probably lots of other places would do. I don't want the crowding of a Chiang Mai or certainly a Bangkok or a Pattaya.

I grew up on a sizable ranch in the Western US and I spend a lot of time in the farming forum here. No, I don't want to farm but I'd like to live in farm country.

I'm really looking forward to getting away from life as I know it.

I think it boils down to a change at this point. I want a real change. I want lazy days and Thai food. By lazy I mean do what I want to do.

It's an adventure I give myself 2 years to try, and then decide if I'm in for good or gone. I think I'll be all in.

Thanks for asking.

I came here because I was tired of working as an sas, military legend with a purple helmet medal and a gajillion £'s in the bank. Women would chase me down the street with propositions no man could resist.

Now I live here Im still all of the above but now im a hansum man. Made all the difference hearing those words.

Had it in the back of head moving here 46 yrs. ago when I first stepped foot in Thailand. Had to move a little bit out in the sticks for it to resemble the good old days. Well I still have the memories. No one can take them away, while I still have have all my marbles anyway.

Some of you guys remind me of the line by the great American baseball player Mickey Mantle:

"If I'd known I was gonna live this long, I'd have taken a lot better care of myself." ...

Epistemology

Some of you guys remind me of the line by the great American baseball player Mickey Mantle:

"If I'd known I was gonna live this long, I'd have taken a lot better care of myself." ...

That was James Cagne