little beatuful town like this... where is one you know of ?

[driedmango]

Looking for a little place like this...

On the ocean, where you can take a little dingy out around some coastal areas and maybe catch some seafood

Very little air or water pollution

Just off the beaten path but not to far that you can get everything you need or get out when you go crazy

thriving small group or expats

thriving Thai alternative arts and culture place

A little run down but charming at the same time

Cheap rents and foods.. but not so bad

Nature

Any tips ?

[foot long]

you think anyone would post it to a public forum?

but perhaps hua hin region might be suitable for you.

[Thai at Heart]

Mango.

I think it's safe to say that finding all of those qualities might be virtually impossible in all but a few places in the world let alone Thailand.

Thailand is not the Mediterranean.

[keestha]

Between Chumporn and Hua Hin there is a string of small beach resorts, going from South to North: Ban Krut, Bang Sapan Noi, Bang Saphan Yai, Thap Sakae, Sam Roi Yot. Also check out Khanom and Sichon in Nakhon Sri Thammarat. You might also like the coastal strip in between Trat and the Cambodian border. Songkhla province has a lovely coastline all the way from the Malaysian border up to Nakhon Sri Thammarat, check out for instance Sating Phra.

Trang province, South of Krabi. Phangnga and Ranong, you might like Khao Lak (Phangnga) or the islands of Koh Phayam and Koh Chang further up North in Ranong.

[HeijoshinCool]

I lived in such a place in Trat. Quiet, hard to find, seafood at reasonable prices, cold beer. A secluded beach, across from Koh Chang. I paid 5000 a month for a beachfront, sunset bungalow.

But .... the "thriving small group of expats" was a Norwegian guy who cleaned the beach for two meals a day, and lived in a shack, three years into overstay.

The reason he cleaned the beach everyday, was from all the hospital waste that washed up in the middle of the night.

Belize, then.

Where, as a matter of fact, I am headed.

Not that you won't have any disappointments (slight lack of Thai alternative arts), but it seems the best at otherwise fulfilling your fantasy-based list.

[craigt3365]

Crime is a huge problem in Belize. Not as bad on some of the outer islands, but then you have major problems with storms. Great diving though!

[phuketrichard]

from all reports i have seen, Argentina is the place to be

cost of living,

visas

ease to do business

[onionluke]

Girvan , on the west coast has every thing you need , and more.

[craigt3365]

from all reports i have seen, Argentina is the place to be

cost of living,

visas

ease to do business

We loved Argentina. Tough if you are a vegetarian! I've read about problems lately with visas?

[SpaceKadet]

Sure, I know where it is. I'm living there. And I'm not telling where... Don't know about arts and culture though.

One thing, cheap places tend to attract cheap expats... I have no choice there, wife is a local.

Edit: Correct typo

[Rama]

Decaprio was in a movie about such a place - wasn't that 'The Beach"? it took place in a similar idyllic place.....we all know how that ended......

[bocceball1]

I live in such a place....And I'm willing to tell you where it is!

I live in Hat Saeng Chan beach. It's a 1 1/2 hour drive south of Bangkok on the eastern seaboard. Hat Saeng Chan is, to me, the land that time forgot. The area is a little islet with the beach on one side and a Klong on the other side....there are maybe 20 sois with about 6 homes on each soi (many a lot less). t Many of the homes are run down and in need of repair but that is happening now all the time. There's one hotel (kantary Bay) Two condominiums (PMY and Warunya) a few more low rise resorts but mostly homes.

Some may argue that their is Air and Water pollution....There isn't in Hat Saeng Chan because the current generally bypass's the beach taking most of the crap east of here. As for Air Pollution ...yeah were near an industrial estate (Map Ta Phut) which is about 10 kilometers west, but the Southwest Monsoon winds blow their exhaust inland. Bangkok Hospital did an Air Study before they built near here (2 kilometers away) and deemed the air quality top notch.

Great Nightlife....Live music, large venues and seedy (if that's what your into) and many many many small quaint places for drinking and eating

Homepro, Global, Tesco Makro and Big C and the shopping mall Lamg Tong all within 5 kilometers (Central is now building a new shopping center)

The new high speed train is supposed to come whenever its built (if its built)

Five years ago when I moved here ....the children would point and say "farang" although when they said it, it sounded like "falang" and I would NEVER see another farang.(although there were some here)

Now when I go to the mall I always see 5 or 10

Rayong (Hat Saeng Chan is the beach area of the city of Rayong) is a growing, thriving city with lots to offer

[craigt3365]

An area i want to check out is just south of you, mae phim. Some day i will take a trip there...

[bocceball1]

An area i want to check out is just south of you, mae phim. Some day i will take a trip there...

A really nice area.....VERY quiet...starting to get built up more and more ....but still quiet, If you want to go shopping (Tesco, HomePro etc.) you go to Rayong.

[schondie]

Dear God, it sounds like you're looking for Shangri-la. It isn't out there.

You can't have it all. Peace and quiet but no farangs is obtainable but once farangs are there, the rents go up.

Good luck with your search but I doubt it's out there.

[driedmango]

I got some awesome feedback.. Ya I know there isn't some perfect place out there, I bet I will get there and it will be the same old shit, but nice to set your sights on something your looking for, but I wouldn't mind having the hope that i would find a killer little place to hang my shorts.

[driedmango]

ps.. Don't be afraid to message me in Private if you have something you don't want to tell the world.. I will be just one more dreamer that may or may never get to come.

[bocceball1]

One person's oasis is another's dump. The key to Shangri-la is to have a fantastic women. Happy Wife! Happy Life!

[sustainable moron]

One person's oasis is another's dump. The key to Shangri-la is to have a fantastic women. Happy Wife! Happy Life!

wife and shangri-la are immiscible .concepts

[bocceball1]

One person's oasis is another's dump. The key to Shangri-la is to have a fantastic women. Happy Wife! Happy Life!

wife and shangri-la are immiscible .concepts

Sounds a little sad that you think so.....I guess others, also, have not discovered who they really are yet, as to know ones self is to be able to let go of said self and intertwine with another ....or as you would say....be misciible.

[ableguy]

Prachuap in Prachuap Kirin khan might suit you,if you get fed up lots North and South.

[Thai foon]

I live in Hat Saeng Chan beach. It's a 1 1/2 hour drive south of Bangkok

what make of helicopter do you drive?

[Thai foon]

One person's oasis is another's dump. The key to Shangri-la is to have a fantastic women. Happy Wife! Happy Life!

wife and shangri-la are immiscible .concepts

Sounds a little sad that you think so.....I guess others, also, have not discovered who they really are yet, as to know ones self is to be able to let go of said self and intertwine with another ....or as you would say....be misciible.

there is more than one grain of sand on the beach and they are all different, you can keep your just one all to yourself. life is to short to be narrow and you dont get a second one to try the next grain of sand. no thanks, you can keep your definition of shangri-la.

[Tim207]

I lived in such a place in Trat. Quiet, hard to find, seafood at reasonable prices, cold beer. A secluded beach, across from Koh Chang. I paid 5000 a month for a beachfront, sunset bungalow.

That wouldn't be Ao Tan Koo would it? My sister in law was very impressed that a farang cared enough to pick up garbage on the beach. I thought maybe it would inspire her to be a little more clean but it didn't work.

[bocceball1]

I live in Hat Saeng Chan beach. It's a 1 1/2 hour drive south of Bangkok

what make of helicopter do you drive?

Guess your a slow driver ....OK

But from Rayong to Pravet (suburb of Bangkok where we have another house) its 1 1/2 hours drive. 150 kilometers. you do the math.

[DocN]

Kho Koh Khao- justof the coast of Khao Lak

[RubbaJohnny]

Mae Sariang but rather hefty 900km to the beach

[bocceball1]

Thought a photo might help.....many of the homes here rent for 12,000 baht/month some less, some more. Old fixer up homes go for about 3 million baht but all are no farther than 100 meters to the beach. Here's a few photo's taken from my home.....Rayong

[craigt3365]

Again, really nice. You are very lucky.

Sent from my GT-N8013 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[driedmango]

Thought a photo might help.....many of the homes here rent for 12,000 baht/month some less, some more. Old fixer up homes go for about 3 million baht but all are no farther than 100 meters to the beach. Here's a few photo's taken from my home.....Rayong

they wouldn't let me buy a home even if i could finance it...