A life full of riches! The story of a farang man who lives like a rural Thai

[Boater]

Not everybody views themselves as rich because they have a lot of money. Some people view being rich in terms of happiness. One man who considers himself to be very rich is Martin Wheeler, a man who does not have any amassed wealth, flashy cars or even a small company, but to him, he has it all. So what is it that makes this man’s life so complete?

Well Martin Wheeler found his nirvana when he implemented the King’s sufficiency economy theory into his life here in Thailand. He is a forty seven year old British man who has a solid comprehension of the King’s ideas. He lives on rice and organic vegetables that he grows himself and has totally detached himself from mainstream life, something that some rather more ‘well off’ people, in the more traditional sense, find puzzling. However some feel rather in awe of this man who has removed greed, money, competition and ambition from his life and now lives in Baan Kham Pla Lai in Khon Kaen with his wife and his three children. He has spent a total of seventeen years in Thailand, eight of those in the remote community he calls home.

So who is this man whose long quest for real happiness has finally been realized? Mr. Wheeler graduated with first-class honours in Latin from London University before he turned his back on his career and decided to live a simple life in Thailand. He spent the last of his money buying clothes, shoes and accessories to make himself look good to try to get job teaching English in Bangkok. As time went by he felt that he was betraying himself doing something that he did not like and eventually quit to start a new and more fulfilling life.

Wheeler is well educated but these days earns less than one hundred baht a day as a laborer. He and his wife currently own forty seven rai of land. Ten of those are used to grow jasmine and sticky rice, seven are for Mai pradoo, one is kept for vegetables and on the rest diptercarpeceae and dipterocarpus alatus trees are grown.

His motivation for his current way of life was that he truly believes there are things that are more valuable than money, he does not dismiss the importance of money and does buy things for himself and his family, but does not allow cash to have any influence over his life. He said “having more money makes our life more complicated and unhappy sometimes, I look at money as a drug that puts our life in danger”.

Mr. Wheeler wakes up at 5.45am and goes to his rice field at 6. If the sun is not too hot he spends between six and eight hours barefoot in the field, his feet often get hurt on sharp objects. While in the field he must pull weeds and take care of other crops. When the rice season comes he ploughs the field, occasionally with the help of local workers when it all becomes too much. But he is never discouraged and says he is happy with his choice of life. He produces around one hundred and fifty bags of rice annually that he keeps in the barn for his family to eat and to provide visitors with a meal when they come to learn about the concept of sufficiency and economy he practices.

http://www.samuitimes.com/life-full-riches-story-farang-man-lives-like-rural-thai/

Edited October 9, 2013 by Boater

[Neeranam]

I've seen a documentary about this guy. I wonder if he needs a work permit?

If I owned 47 rai, it would be for me to say money is not important. He can sell some it anytime he wants.

Edited October 9, 2013 by Neeranam

[johnthompson]

Didn't know foreigners were allowed to work as farmers in Thailand

[itchybum]

Admiral somewhat....but doubt he is truly self sufficient.

Personally, I prefer to have the funds and means to provide for emergencies, health and such, especially for my kids in the unforeseen event.

[Neeranam]

Didn't know foreigners were allowed to work as farmers in Thailand

I know many but they keep it quiet unlike this guy. I've seen him on local tv a couple of times.

[Kathy2014]

He is popular in Thailand with his new thought of living happiness, as easy and plain way of life. But sometimes I am wondering about his children, weather they also want to live in a new world like his Dad.....does he let them ....or force them to be like him. Amish way of life in Thailand. Children likes to see tv too, or play game or ice cream too.

His interview in various of Thai tv.

Edited October 9, 2013 by Kathy2014

[FiftyTwo]

Spent the last of his money on clothes, so what VISA does he have?

50 Rai at 50k/rai = 2.5M not rich but not exactly poor either.

Edited October 9, 2013 by FiftyTwo

[snake24]

ah i see so happiness is living a quiet rural lifestyle i am sure they have farms in england too and quite countryside places but somehow he had to choose to do this in a foreign country.

[Phronesis]

Too young for a retirement visa...Too poor for a O visa...and no work permit.

He is actually a criminal not yet deported.

[klubex99]

Works as a labourer for less than 100 Baht a day?

[itchybum]

I would like to live like that.

But have the funds in storage for when required.

Also pay someone to do all that menial work while I watch from the veranda sipping gin n tonics.....organic gin n tonics with organic lime twists.

[itchybum]

Works as a labourer for less than 100 Baht a day?

I bet he could get the wealthy spinsters in the area to pay him 500 a day to do their housework for them, carry their basket to the market etc or driver.

[klubex99]

ah i see so happiness is living a quiet rural lifestyle i am sure they have farms in england too and quite countryside places but somehow he had to choose to do this in a foreign country.

There are tens of thousands of farms in England, but every farmer I ever met had a few bob, it's not the peasant lifestyle of the Thai farmer. For many, farming is a very lucrative lifestyle, albeit dodgy at times.

But personally, I lived a long time in Rural England and almost every farmer I knew complained about money all the time but were minted. disregarding the few disasters to hit cattle farming (foot and mouth) etc.... most years they make a fortune. They all seem to have very expensive top quality John Deer equipment. A bit more well off than your typical Iron Buffalo driver.

[David48]

I would like to live like that.

But have the funds in storage for when required.

Also pay someone to do all that menial work while I watch from the veranda sipping gin n tonics.....organic gin n tonics with organic lime twists.

Limes are back up $20 a Kilo in Woolies ...

[p_brownstone]

Well, good luck to the Chap I suppose - if he's happy, fine.

But really:

"Mr. Wheeler graduated with first-class honours in Latin from London University"

(I assume they mean the University of London by the way)

Frankly anyone who decides to spend his (Parents? I guess) money reading Latin at University level has already consigned his Career and future prospects to the lower end of the spectrum of life in modern times.

Patrick

Edited October 9, 2013 by p_brownstone

[ignis]

Too young for a retirement visa...Too poor for a O visa...and no work permit.

He is actually a criminal not yet deported.

17 years here, Maybe took Thai nationality

[Spoonman]

Guy looks like he could do with a decent slab of steak.

[Phronesis]

Too young for a retirement visa...Too poor for a O visa...and no work permit.

He is actually a criminal not yet deported.

17 years here, Maybe took Thai nationality

Yes...whether he has residency is a very interesting question.

[davethailand]

If he's happy then good luck to him, personally if that was the only way I could live here then I'd be returning to the UK.

[n210mp]

It takes a very High IQ to go native.

on the basis that intellect is judged by the way that a person can adapt then this man seems to be extremely adaptive.

could someone also explain to me why the Thai Visa police are on his case together with the other negative posters.

What has He done to incur such malice?

Is there some thing that they know that I dont about this seemingly inoffensive eccentric?

Live and let live

[cpofc]

Not surprised there would be a lot of debate over his status, and work status in the LOS.

However the Thais would be reluctant to come down heavy on him.

Turn back the clock to just prior to HM The King's 60 Anniversary on the throne. HM wrote a short essay about 'Por Leaw' or Por Piang (spelling), the OP text above calls it the King’s sufficiency economy.

When is enough enough? About the Corporate high flyer interested in only making money forsaking family and other important issues, and in comparison the honest hardworking rice farmer doing an honest days work and being there for his family, Actually it is quite an emotional and inspiring piece of work. So much so that the students of Chula (I think it was) turned it into a short play which they performed twice daily for the public leading up to and during the Anniversary Celebrations.

So I can't see the Thai wanting to come down hard on him. He is truly following HM's words of wisdom and advice.

Good on him too. Why not. Not many people in this world find true contentment and happiness.

[Phronesis]

It takes a very High IQ to go native.

on the basis that intellect is judged by the way that a person can adapt then this man seems to be extremely adaptive.

could someone also explain to me why the Thai Visa police are on his case together with the other negative posters.

What has He done to incur such malice?

Is there some thing that they know that I dont about this seemingly inoffensive eccentric?

Live and let live

You have missed his point entirely:

It is that WE are the eccentrics.

[nong38]

Sounds good, too good to be true. It depends what you want out fo life I guess. money sure helps whatever, what he does now at 47 is great but in 20 years its hard work things will have to change and they will, you would not find me doing what he is doing. I am more into the relaxing part of life, no work permit, just relaxing, the older you get its more important, a swim, cup of tea. later a beer, you know what I mean?

[jbrain]

I wonder why they didn't write the whole story, but only the parts that ask for some compassion

[bocceball1]

Hey ....Is he happy....That's his question..Not yours or mine....His!!

That being said ....I think he lost the plot long ago....up to him

If he's happy ...Its his life.

Me...I worked ...since I was 13 (Told them I was 15 so I could get a union card).....Worked as a butchers helper making more at 15 than a teacher at the time....Oh well ..Save your money...invest it wisely ....and enjoy life....Not many can say that....I did ...Life is good.....I'm happy

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

hey I'm a little drunk ...hope the above makes sense.

[FiftyTwo]

Frankly anyone who decides to spend his (Parents? I guess) money reading Latin at University level has already consigned his Career and future prospects to the lower end of the spectrum of life in modern times.

No, Latin (or Classics) is the route into MI5 or some other Whitehall civil service career.

Edited October 10, 2013 by FiftyTwo

[ezzra]

Dog bite man, no news, man bite dog, big news, a foreigner working his field anywhere

else around the world, no news, a foreigner working his field in Thailand, big news...

[Dararasmi]

Call me overly cautious, but I'd have put on shoes after my first encounter with a sharp object.

[mrtoad]

Doesn't he post on Thai Visa?

Anyway, don't understand why some seem to be having a go at him, it's certainly not my idea of a lifestyle, but he appears to be quiet happy with it, so good on him. He's probably not like most of these bitters on TV.

[dru2]

Dog bite man, no news, man bite dog, big news, a foreigner working his field anywhere

else around the world, no news, a foreigner working his field in Thailand, big news...

Yes, but a WHITE foreigner.