Maybe You Should NOT Move To Thailand

Maybe You Should NOT Move To Thailand

I wonâ€™t lie to you. Iâ€™ve written four e books about Thailand and this book sells the fewest copies. My belief is that the relatively poor sales of this book are not related to the quality, or the value, of this book. Itâ€™s just human nature â€¦ when considering a possible change in oneâ€™s life, itâ€™s more fun to focus on the positives.

Recently there have been worldwide headlines about a young British couple who were brutally murdered on a beach in Thailand. I imagine that if they had read this book they might have been better prepared for their time in Thailand. They were tourists. But Thailand is Thailand, whether you are a tourist or a resident.

Thailand has changed since I originally wrote this book in 2012. It has a new government. I see fewer westerners on the streets when I walk around Bangkok. Westerners seem to be voting with their feet regarding whether or not these recent changes are appealing.

Thailand is a complicated place. It isnâ€™t always what it appears to be. For example, one of the chapters in this book is â€œThailand Is More Dangerous Than It Appears To Be.â€ My view is that Thailand can be a very safe place if you understand that it bears little resemblance to the country you came from. When I read the news in Bangkok newspapers, it seems Asians (especially Japanese) are rarely the victims of crimes in Thailand. Asians, in general, have a better understanding of Thai culture. On the other hand, Thailand can be a dangerous place for a foreigner who comes here and ignores Thai culture.

To go back to the young British couple who were recently murdered, if you read the descriptions of what lead to the murders, you can see they ignored some basics of Thai culture. Even the current Prime minister of Thailand made a comment regarding the inappropriateness of their behavior. Visit Thailand without being informed and you are rolling the dice. Bangkok and Tokyo have little in common. The Japanese living in Thailand recognize this.

My view is that the families of the young British couple who were murdered on Koh Tao will also suffer because of their lack of understanding of Thailand. At the moment, they are demanding justice. What they donâ€™t understand is that for most Thais, justice is not one of their priorities. They understand from their day-to-day experience that power and money speak with authority here. â€œJusticeâ€ is an abstract concept westerners waste their time talking about.

Excuse me for being both honest and self-serving. If you are considering moving to Thailand, or even just visiting, Iâ€™d recommend you read this book as well as two of my other books, â€œNine Reasons Why An Old American Man Should Move To Thailandâ€ and â€œLiving in Thailand: Finding Serenity â€¦ Forgetting Principles.â€ Knowledge is power.

Putting aside issues of safety, the government of Thailand has also changed recently. I will venture no comments on whether or not these changes, such as imposing martial law and suppressing any political opposition, are for the good or for the bad. Recently a few young Thais were taken into custody for eating a sandwich while reading a copy of George Orwellâ€™s book â€œ1984â€ (as a political gesture). The rules in Thailand are changing so fast that even Thais are not entirely sure where the boundaries are.

My overall advice is that if you want to visit or move to Thailand, get informed before you buy your ticket. Donâ€™t say I didnâ€™t warn you. Follow the rules and you can have a satisfying experience. Ignore the culture and its rules and, well â€¦ you are on you own. Pretty much anything is possible. Amazing Thailand
Country USA
Binding Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate 2012-07-09
Format Kindle eBook

Country	USA
Binding	Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate	2012-07-09
Format	Kindle eBook

Maybe You Should NOT Move To Thailand

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