CHAPTERS BELOW 👇👇 BEST DEAL ON A VPN: Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code NAKEDGURU for an extra 4 months free at surfshark.deals/NAKEDGURU 🍄 MUSHROOMS: Get Discounted Fruiting Body Mushroom Supplements Thailand & Worldwide Shipping: shorturl.at/zAMqs Use Coupon code: BAMBOO10 00:00 Intro 00:14 Peasants 01:00 Disclaimer 01:15 Begging In Rural Thailand 01:58 How They Look 02:32 Livestock & Land 03:53 First Interaction With Villagers 04:30 Why Are They Happier? The Weather 05:05 Poverty Thailand Vs UK 05:31Homelessness & Hunger 05:40 Second Interaction With Villagers 06:16 Food Provision & The Temple 06:53 Fear & Over Thinking 07:31 They Are Not Thinking 08:20 Community - Children Taking Care Of Parents 08:39 Talking To The Grandmas About Happiness 10:00 What Did They Say? 10:31 They Are Happier Than Me 11:10 Buddhism & Religion 12:50 Community Living Vs West 13:16 Neurosis & Psychological Issues In The West 14:20 Taking Care Of Parents Cycle 15:15 Conclusion
Hi dude in a hat! They don't have nothing, they have everything. At first I suspected people were acting overly happy to be polite in my presence. I have no less than 10 cameras all over my property and listen in to all the visitors that pop by to visit mom. Food and laughs are always shared even without a farang about 555. I have never seen a happier bunch of hard working folks in my life. I could sit with the grandmas all day!! Even though you're just wearing a hat, your 110% spot on with this video.
Entitlement breeds resentment. That's the main issue in the West. Everyone feels entitled to become a millionaire and live a luxurious life and anything short of this breeds contempt and resentment.
On my first trip to Thailand I ate at a family’s home turned restaurant under a small carport,they had a young daughter that was helping/working she couldn’t have been older than 6 they didn’t have much at all . She had an old Barbie doll she played with after helping serve us she had the biggest smile and laughed and played. My daughters are great kids but want for nothing nor do they ask but I told them I never want to hear I’m bored nor frowns in their faces showed her picture and told my story and it really sunk in their head fast forward 13 years my girls are 20-22 and never forgotten that little girl. Not this years trip but the following I’m taking my daughters to Thailand so they can experience and understand why I love going and hopefully able to eat at that families home .
I’ve been to Thailand 30 times and work with Karen (car-wren) refugees and orphans from Burma. I was there to help them but they profoundly helped me. I would much rather live a very simple life in Thailand serving others than enslaved by my possessions in the US that require my constant time and maintenance.
Say.. I saw somewhere -'retired persons cannot volunteer '..I was disappointed... Volunteering is - family's legacy.😊... Hoping Thai government can clarify.. I want to Volunteer when I get back to Thailand ❤🇹🇭 ❤
Today I sat with my Thai GF and her sisters in the garden in a village outside Chiang Mai. I don't speak Thai other than basic. I'm happy to sit and listen to them chit-chatting without understanding the whole conversation, there is something Mị̀mī pạỵh̄ā (no problem) about everything when they talk. Today I was thinking, here am I a Westerner wealthy by their standards and they are poorer financially, peasants as you say yet the thing that strikes me is how different we are yet how much the same we are as well. That's why the term peasants isn't correct. At heart, no one is different really. We have a basic desire to connect with each other.
Village community spirit is off the charts in Thailand. They have virtually nothing but give half of what they have to the temple and when someone dies everyone chucks 100 baht in the pot for the funeral and celebrations. Eventually you get your share back 😫 Incredible people ❤🇹🇭
I love living in Thailand, it's just so much more relaxed than living in the UK, I can't imagine ever willingly returning there. About the only thing I would say as a warning about the Buddhist philosophy of living for today without concerning yourself with tomorrow, is the potential for a very difficult old age. My wife's parents have a friend who, as is common here, retired and expected her son to support her in her retirement. Unfortunately her son died just 5 months after she retired, she is now 68 has almost no money, grows food to eat and has had to start working again to be able to survive. She never expected her son to die before her and never considered, let alone planned, for supporting herself during her old age. At the moment she can survive by working, but what happens in 5, 10 or 20 years when she can't work? Perhaps as westerners we worry too much about the future, but to not worry at all is not a better alternative.
I read what you said and i see the same in my village though i live on a farm outside teh village Here such a person will continue to grow vegetables and will also in due course be assisted by the other villagers including myself
Another great presentation about real life in Thailand! Your channel has given me a totally different view of Thailand than what I see on most other channels. And I really appreciate what you are doing! And you are right, I don't always agree with your viewpoints, but that is okay. We are both human beings that were placed in this world. And I think it is okay that we have different viewpoints because our viewpoints are a culmination of what our life experiences have been. Everyone's life experience is unique to them. Thus, their opinions and viewpoints are unique to them. Who knows the ultimate truth? I believe I know, but this not the time or place to go into that topic! I am positive that others on this channel also believe they know the ultimate truth. No need to debate that here. Just keep doing what you are doing. Great information, education, and joy in watching your family grow and your life experiences in Thailand. Thank you!
Interesting video I have spent a lot of time on Thailand and found they have much higher happiness bank accounts that most of us in the west. Simplicity is beautiful!!
Narrow and small minded people just never think or know what’s round the corner for them . The majority of the people I’ve seen on your channel look very content and happy with their life x
Seeing all your vids all I see is well fed & happy people . They have there own land grow there own food look like very rich to me . Money doesn't make you rich . Love out :-)
Great Video! Material things can bring a state of comfort or success but not happiness all the time. Cost a lot to own nice things like house and cars in the west.
One of my favorite aspects of traveling has been the constant reexamination of what contributes to happiness and wellness. We have been fortunate enough to have been exposed to a lot of differnt ways of life. One of the more profound differences from our Western Culture Roots has been the general lack of correlation between money and happiness. I think you nail it when you talk about the constant state of worry or the constructs of elaborate planning. The happiest people don't worry and fret themselves to death.They take time to enjoy life and appreciate the meaningful things. We are back in the States currently and I can say I am starting to feel that underlining feeling of concern grip me once again. We will venture out again soon.
Just finished building our retirement place in Northern Thailand after 20 years married in the UK, hoping to move over late next year and can't wait to live with the peasants on a more permanent basis 🙂
Great video mate. I enjoy your insights and convo. Easy to listen to and very informative. Just came back from Thailand a week ago. Been holidaying there with the family over the last 20yrs. So many things we love. Keep up the great work. Good luck with the project 👍
It’s very happy lifestyle to live in. You’re indeed very lucky person who can be able to live in Thailand without being bothered by another persons around. I live in Berlin Germany where I must go to work and have a hard working job in order to survive the highest costs of our rental properties , foods, etc. at the end of the month we nearly have 0 cent to save. German tourists are saving so hard to afford one holiday overseas. It’s not that easy to have some spare money for holiday. You should be so proud to spend your quality time like this. ❤❤❤❤
The thing that strikes me when we are in Thailand but also other SE Asian countries we have travelled to that they do not work by the clock. You ask a Thai what date it is, what day of the week it is or even what time it is and they will struggle to be able to tell you. I really admire this as in the west we are totally programmed by time.
I've noticed that people with mental issues are guided into the temple environment and become monks. On a side note: it is extremely relaxing sipping on a wine and watching the peasants toil in the fields. Lol. They are definitely happy and don't seem to care if they are worse off, or better off than others.
Anyone who refers to any person as pesants is totally off the planet and has no idea about Thailand or Thai Culture or its people The village life which l have experianed is one of sharing and caring a sense of community a sense Family which compared to our lives in the west is a joke. Its all about self in the west of being independant Village life is a real lever every person is respected and position and wealth take a back seat to community Keep on keeping mate
My daughter from SA just spent 30 days in Thailand which i encouraged her to do looking for a better future. I was pleasantly surprised with her verbal feedback, pics and video's. It matches so much with what you are saying. She is currently in Cambodia and then hopefully visiting Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. Would she have the same experience in those countries if you maybe know? Thank you!
Another excellent perspective from Thailand. As an American who has spent about 2 years un SE Asia, I will agree with your observations and opinions. There is a radical difference in 'cultural norms ' between Thailand and most Western countries....something that cannot be appreciated unless a person has spent time with "the peasants ". Tge Thais have virtually NO sense of entitlement, e.g., and appreciation us ever-present. I think this is an important lesson for everyone. When I return to the USA, a place of amazing abundance, I am astounded by how many people express a sense of deprivation, and seem to feel they have been cheated or something. It's very odd, and there can be no doubt there's a correlation between that sentiment and the ever increasing rate of mental health issues in the country.
Aloha from Hawaii. Your lifestyle is very similar to ours. We enjoy your content and can relate to your lifestyle. I wish I could be there to help you build your home. I am retired in Hawaii. I may drop by someday to say hi. Be yourself and hold your children high.
Rural Thais are the most happiest and friendly people I have ever met in my life. It was the first thing I noticed when I first visited Thailand back in 2000 . Seeing how happy they were with very little made me reconsider my western lifestyle. Family and community is number one.
The “peasants” are the soul of Thailand. Hard to truly love OR understand Thailand without an appreciation for its people. Suspect that isn’t a blinding flash of wisdom and true of most countries but I will say I have been fortunate enough to travel extensively and submit that I find rural Thailand exceptional from a general contentment perspective.
Another consideration - when you look at the essentials of life (such as housing, school education, healthcare, transport and the ability to provide an income for themselves) most Thai people are in a very real sense richer than people in the UK. It starts when Thais are born. Most are born with inherited rights to a parcel of land on which they can build a house (at very low cost) and grow food and obtain an income. Land is abundant in Thailand and the government has on several occasions distributed land freely to poor families. There is no inheritance tax unless you are extremely wealthy and no land tax if you actually use the land By comparison, most people in the UK start with nothing and go into debt to buy a place to live that is hugely expensive - it takes their entire working lives to get to the point where they own a home and are net positive, if they ever get there. Let's take another example - providing an income. Any Thai can set up a makeshift shop on the side of the road or from their house selling things or cooking. There are zero costs to get started, zero approvals required and (in most cases) no taxes. By comparison, if you want to start a shop or restaurant business in the west there is a significant startup costs (whether you're buying an existing business or starting a new one) and you have to pay business rates, social security taxes, income taxes, corporation taxes, accountancy fees and bank charges. Things like this are a massive advantage and means that life is far less stressful for many Thai people than westerners. Added to that, the very recent and rapid economic development of Thailand through tourism and global trade has seen huge increases in land values and business values; a substantial number of Thais have become very wealthy even by western standards without actually doing anything much at all
The Thai people in the rural area that I have come across seem happier, less burdened by materialism, more relaxed and have more of a community spirit. Have seen friends and family bring surplus food, fruit and vegetable to share out. On a Sunday the family all coming together for bbq, drinking and fishing. Only seen 1 beggar in the close by town. Old boy, blind and body crippled. Happily drop him some baht every time. As do a lot of people.
Ryan. Your theory about being cold in UK…. It is not untrue. However, please consider that you body (blood) does adjust against cold or hot climates. So the climate is not necessary a point in the discussion. I would rather refer to extreme climates, which Thailand can be at times. The heat and humidity does paralyze to a certain stage. Just a food of thought. But for the rest of your explaining, I fully agree.
Loved this! 💗 I appreciate their simple way of life. (and o maybe you can be the village's counsellor if ever needed hehe 😄). As a side: not sure how kids feel about sending money to their families like if there might be a sense of burden or stress involved? do the parents expect that of them or is optional?
Great insights. You are doing such a wonderful job of giving us a window into your world. At another level of your analysis, which is more controversial, there is the whole social control issue. The West promotes individualism because it is more profitable while easier to control. Divide and rule. Communal living is not subject to the same government manipulation. Given the recent track record of governments abuse of power globally, community may now be our security.
They are happier than the West. In the West we are bombarded with ads telling us what drink we should drink and what we should drive like a Tesla or get the latest phone or we see rich folk flaunting their wealth making us want to have these things if we don't we get depressed.
Obviously rural folk are happy that’s pretty the same worldwide because of their basic appreciation and ignorance is bliss. The UK is an industrious nation so no comparison really, but the UK I believe is up to something dodgy lots of corruption and inflation happening in higher levels it seems
Great video, thanks for the education on the fabric of Thai culture. But let's be serious, how can they achieve true happiness without a 82 inch flatscreen TV!? Impossible.
I agree that in general Thais are happier than Westerners, even when their circumstances don't seem to warrant it by our criteria. They live more in the here and now. One of the commonest complaints by Thais is that 'falang tink too much'. That's certainly true of me, whether it's dwelling on past regrets or contemplating the future. Spiritual teachers are always stressing the importance of NOW. I try to do it but it's not easy to break a lifetime's habits. One way in which thinking ahead has helped me is that in the various disastrous unreciprocated love relationships I have had during my 19 years in Thailand I have never allowed them to endanger my future financial security. We all know of cases of farangs who have lost everything. On your happiness scale I would give myself 5/10. If I'd continued to live in England I think it would have been lower. Incidentally, going by your face and particularly the eyes on your RU-vid vlogs, I would say you seem a bit harsh giving yourself only 6/10. You look happier than that.
the reason most thais stress the importance of NOW is they are ashamed of their past and their future means debt. So they harass, beg, borrow, lie, sell themselves or do whatever is required today so they can keep driving that shiny pickup they cant afford and park it outside their lean to tonight. The only way out of that cycle is a farang. Not the farangs money, but support, advice and guidance. Money alone will just make it worse, which is what most farangs opt for.
Where abouts in Thailand are you ? I am very interested in building something in ubon when I finish in Phuket , it’s like two different country’s enjoy the countryside 🙏🏻
It's so easy in the western world to be consumed by a society with unrealistic expectations which I believe contributes to the breakdown of community. Successful societies are built with teamwork not competition with each other. We can all learn something from Thailand's "mai bpen rai" way of life.
Like my house looks fabulous from the outside whilst inside I’m in trackies and a shitty jumper. Am I happy? Yes to a certain extent but I’m not doing what I want to do. Having a nice house and car etc doesn’t make anyone happy. My happy place is Bali and I dream of going there for an extended period but circumstances won’t let me yet. Balinese people are so wonderful, weather is fabulous, food is delicious. Maybe next year?
When referring to "liberal" Buddhists in Thailand, the term describes a flexible, inclusive approach to Buddhist teachings and practices. This involves adapting ancient teachings to modern life, embracing diverse interpretations, and engaging in social issues from a Buddhist perspective. This is distinct from the political definitions of "liberal" and "conservative," which pertain to political ideologies and policy preferences. In the political context, liberals typically support social equality, civil rights, and government intervention in the economy, while conservatives often emphasize tradition, limited government, and free-market principles. Thus, "liberal" in the context of Thai Buddhism is about a progressive approach to religious practice, not political ideology.
A better yardstick for Thai rural happiness would be to look at similar societies with either static or growing incomes e.g. Cambodia, Loas and Vietnam. Are they just as happy? I suspect that they would report similar levels of happiness... given that their societies have roughly similar social and economic trajectories. But perhaps you know better than I. Comparing rural Thailand with the UK is not useful. Unhappiness in the west has many causes of course, but one big one that does not impact rural Thai, is an ongoing long term, decline in living standards. The UK has been in a precipitous decline essentially since the end of the second world war. If you had something - anything - and it is systematically taken away from you... it will wear on your happiness. It is aways better to have not known what upper middle class Western income looks and feels like - rather than to have lived it... and then have it taken away from you or worry that your kids will never have it. North America and Western Europe are all in decline now.. rising poverty, gross income disparities, and the feeling that kids will inevtiably be worse off than their parents...this leads to all sorts of social ills which you have pointed out including; societal and relationship breakdowns, addictions, crime rates, and struggles with mental health.
For those that said those of kind of things, I highly suggested to travel more outside your comfort zone and see how people around the world. Perhaps maybe it might open up your horizon and more understanding of other cultures. It also might help from being racists and fascists tendency
All depends on one thing, MONEY!!! There is no DSS there so if they have enough money good luck to them but if not, well those miserable poms will be "Happier" with their state based pension and living on the poverty line.
Honest advice *because I do see most youtubers in Thailand not married to a Thai and some have a Thai gf or have been divorced* Would you recommend a foreigner Marry a Thai lady?
Ahh right. My friends (that have great Thai husbands) suggested meeting someone that works for the govt. teacher *like me* etc. and to stay away from girls on dating apps.
That’s because they have never been Ask many Thais in the UK or in my wife’s sisters case Germany do they wish they could come home and they will say yes. It’s only money that keeps them there 👍
@@thenakedguru have you ever seen any Thai at any level of society not put money first.They are like the Pakistani's in the UK all love their mother country until the real prospect of return is a possibility.
Ryan, one thing you have not touched on is the entitlement of Thai men. I have had many girls that have worked in my bars over the years having escaped from drunken abusive or absent husbands, leaving the wife to support the family back in the village. My wife was badly beaten by her former husband on many occasions and I look forward to meeting him one day.
My happiest times in life were when I was poor by American standards. I don’t consider those times poor but Americans do. Living in a tent and my car and traveling where I wanted to and getting a temp job for food and gas. When I owned a large house with a pool and a beautiful succubus in California and made good money I was miserable. Happiness is accepting your circumstances and experiencing nature and the world around me. I discovered that through Buddhism. A beautiful life practice I got a lot out of even if I don’t believe in all of it. Happiness is peace and freedom from the pain of desire
My wife graduated from college in Bkk 55yrs ago, many of her classmates were country students who were sent to Bkk to study, my wife finished up marrying me and moved to Australia. Now we are retired visiting Thailand for months at a time and renewing acquaintances, including those who studied and returned to all parts of Thailand. To visit them, you would think they look as if they havent got a dollar, but then you find they have children who are professionals, living all over the world, they have travelled internationally, but still return to the farm, living the simple life. I envy them, and as you they are much happier than me.
People are narrow and small minded, they are too occupied in the maze of the ratrace. We are moving to Thailand when our kids turn 18 (in about 6 years). We leave them the house at home or they can come with if they like. To start with 6 months a year, until we turn 50 atleast and then apply for the retirement Visa (in 9 years). We want to find our paradise outside the tourist beaten path aswell. We have been several times to Thailand. We are well travelled and seen quite a lot of the world, but we always are most happy in Thailand. Why just survive and just exist in our home country when you can LIVE be HAPPY in Thailand.
Yes…Thailand is quite a remarkable place…I fear the Western influx will ruin the country and pray the Thai government will protect its culture by expelling bad actors.
@@johncooke61 We live in and are from Norway, why wouldnt you be allowed to leave the UK to live in Thailand in 9 years you think ? Must be a sudden and huge change in politics for British people to lose the ability to move out of the commonwealth. You sound like a negative Nancy if you ask me, you or any other person will never spoil my dreams, so dont worry :)
Where you are walking is identical to where I live. The local people, my extended Thai family are very kind, generous with their help and time. Where possible I help them and they help me. My thank you to them is most often to share a couple of cold Chang or Leo. 🙏🍺
I’ve never left my home country, and I absolutely love rural Thailand from what I have seen on your channel, my soul craves this type of lifestyle. Western mindset is full of arrogance, and ignorance.
I have lived here surin for nearly 22 years now i am an old scouser 73 years young, i would dread going back to the uk, where no one smiles as they pass by, NUFF SAID EY !
In the ten years i have lived here in rural Thailand on a farmie have seen more happiness and than in my previous 70 years in my home country i have no intention of ever leaving this lovely country
❤🙏🏼for the super rant!🤣👍🏼My Mum died two week ago 96yrs UK . It is sad, but I feel so free, because now I don’t need to go back anymore. It was so sad to see everything that is happening there. Asia seems the best place in the world right now. Living a simple life is why they are so contented. They have hearts of gold! 💞💞💞💞
Don't understand why people would talk down about farmers and call them peasants. Those same farmers are the ones who work very hard to grow the food that those who look down on them eat. Without those farmers they would starve.
Hai Ryan..just to share with you,my wife..she's from a javanese kampung..which we call in english village.. She's a padi farmers daughter..l love and appreciate the village (kampung) a hold lot better than living in a city..in Malaysia.. I always tell to people who don't know how to think about facts about money and about survival..when you live in the city..it's all about having money..but back in my wife's kampung..this farmers survive all from what they grow and chickens goats and cows that they rare..l know they live a very simple life but nothing great..and as you said..when from the family members that have left the village and gone out to the city..they send back home money for the parents..like what we are doing now..From the time l married my wife..l only know to go for vacation at my wife's kampung for a holiday..😅
The families are always happy when one of the girls brings their farang boyfriend back to the village for an extended stay. Steak, BBQ food, fresh fish, Lao Kaho whiskey, cigarettes and Chang beer every night. The boyfriend is treated like a rock star for his generosity. I know from 1st hand experience 😂
Ryan had a video about this setting boundaries and not setting yourself up as an ATM. What you are describing sounds more like 40 years ago when a farang indeed was a novelty in the village. I no longer find this the case
@@Philip_Thornton This was only 2 years ago in a small rural village in Isaan. One example was when I was riding a motor bike through the village and as I rode past a group of kids on the side of the road they were all pointing at me and shouting out Falang.
As a former farmer, I was happier back then, even though we had so much debt but work at the farm, there are no rush, less pressure. Now, I have to work in the city, rush to work every day, and face a lot of pressure at work. When I have time off, I mostly go back home to see the views and nature. It helps me calm down, just like your vlog, which helps me through rough times. When I watch, it feels like I'm home. Ryan, you are truly lucky. Nowadays, even rural areas are changing. Some changes are for the better, but some go the wrong way, as in my village. I can say that rural Isaan is original and developing in a better way than other areas in Thailand.
People with the least have always given me the most, that’s from a 58yrs old especially during travel through Asia . When your in trouble here in the uk 80% will walk on by ❤
Talking about people not being hungry in the village . When I’m in the village I always notice that neighbours pop in to each others houses and have noodles. I found it weird at first, because in the west it’s generally just immediate family that eat together. But in the village people are always going to visit each other for ‘lunch’….Neighbours are always giving each other food if there’s some going spare. Whether it fruit, vegetables , chilli’s ect . And it’s al very normal and no one keeps a tally. If someone needs something, Thais just give ❤️
Very very true money is not everything ,i lived in sri lanka for many years ,the people were much happier than us in the uk ,most are alone and very unhappy ,well done to you and your lovely family in my option you are living the dream
Ryan,here in Sweden we have a very very wealthy guy he’s 93 years old now,and he grow up in a small farm where his mother and father had like five cows,and the father leased the land from a more wealthy farmer,and eventually they had to move out from the farm,and one month later the father passed away,but just before the father passed away,he said to his son…….the last “garment that you wear has no pockets” and that is so true,we can have many motorcycles,cars,houses,and what not,but we can’t take it with us,and during our life time…did it make us more happy,then all of your neighbours Ryan ?? I don’t think so. I like your videos and your thoughts on life Ryan.❤❤❤❤❤
From the very first time I visited Thailand in 1988, I visited some villages and was amazed at how happy the poorest Thai people were. I think the fact that a large number of them never went to school, stopped them thinking and analysing everything like we do in England and the West. There was zero rat race and everyone lived for today and had no plans for what's to come in the future. I still find myself wondering if they have it right or we do. I guess what's right in one country is not the same in another country. I am guilty of liking my material things and luxuries, but I would probably give up most of it to be able to live and more so think simply like the Thais. Thanks for another interesting video.
It can be quite sad at times, as well, when their superstitious beliefs and social pressure to conform leaves them unwilling or unable to make even the slightest change for the betterment of their health, safety and wellbeing. Diabetes, liver disease, heart disease, osteoporosis, accidents are often left up to fate or karma with the belief there is nothing they can do except perhaps consult the village witchdoctor and perform a ceremony. Like with most people, the way one frames a question will elicit very different responses. That one lady with the bad knee must really be in pain to answer differently from the other ladies. Unless one is very drunk or gossiping about someone else it is rare to show much negative emotions in a group situation. Still from a western perspective much of what you observe will make sense as a sign of happiness. Scratch the surface and there is a great deal more angst, trauma and abuse than one might think, they just don’t like to talk about it.🙏
Yes happiness is a state of mind. Some people try to find gratitude in what we find and what life brings while others are always planning to be happy in the future. There is only here & now 👍🙏
You’re such a profound individual Ryan!! Gotta love you for that…. I am most likely closer to your mom’s age & gosh, I wish there were more people like you in my college years and even now! Love the simplicity of rural life in Thailand…..you’re living the dream! Hopefully, my husband & myself can have that too when we do make our move there! Thanks for producing this Video 😉
I'll tell you why. They allow their poor to stay on the land and make a living on it. In the West we are enslaved and have no access to the land. Also, lands in the West have a lower carrying capacity and require modern farming methods and fake money to import in order to support their populations and yet they flood our countries with millions from areas with higher carrying capacity. It's insane. I hate the for what they are doing to us, and it makes me think my only option is to leave for somwhere like Thailand. Have you seen what they are doing to Ireland? There are only 5 million Irish and this little country that is 360 times smaller than Africa is being forced to to African "refugees," which all seem to be fighting age makes only. This same thing is happening all across the West. Strange, don't you think?
Also, I have to say do not blame the breakdown of community on the people of the UK themselves. This was brought about by certain insidious elements that I won't speak of here on YT. It could have been different, but it isn't. The West is a nightmarish hellscape rapidly descending into 1984.
Hey Ryan, thanks for sharing the straight forward truth and beauty of community and resilience in rural Thailand. Because you have a background in psychology, what are your thoughts on mental illness in Thailand (particularly village life) vs the West? I'm wondering about the areas of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, borderline, etc. Thanks for your wonderfully informative videos. 🙏💚
Very well described - totaly agree! I have always been so well received and accepted in "my" village (not a permy, though) and I owe those people so much for sharing their happyness, daily life, their spiritual events and so many festive events: birthday parties, Song Kran, Roy Katong, Pee Mai, weddings and unfortunatelly a few funerals as well. I only had one case of "friction" - my mother in laws brother visiting from a village far away; he was initialy down right racist towards me, but eventually he too came around after we had our "ice breaking moment" (involving no small amounts of alcohol) and we get along really well now and I even miss the guy...It's tricky to know the wealth of local people in rural Thailand; some seem to be surprisingly well of, but it doesn't always show: A neighbouring family lives in a very typical rural housing arrangement - a few pretty basic buildings/sheads around a small yard. Few chickens, few pigs, bunch of dogs - the usual stuff. Then, they suddenly throw this HUGE party to which EVERYONE was invited - loads of food, drink music and entertainment. The day before a bunch of trucks arrived to the place with all sorts of gear, smackin up a serious Rock Festival grade stage, with light ramps, huge speaker systems - the whole works. The stage framing was like a 3 story building with stage workers hanging in wires while mounting lights etc. The thing filled up the whole yard, and a serious crowd showed up, spilling over far into the surrounding fields and the village streets... Professional actors (known from TV) and a literal orchestra played a historical comedy theatre kind of thing the whole night - even had a TV-team shooting from air-lifts! The whole spectacle was like a miniature Woodstock-festival and must have cost a small fortune, but was free for every one! Apparently a, since long deceased, family head had set up this "trust fund" earmarked to throw huge parties like that, every five years in his memory. Isn't THAT a great legacy or what?!!! The ways of the Thais are so fascinating and lovable and I count myself lucky to be included in them!
They Smile due to there History , where non Smiling Peoples were Killed By Invading Armies . It is Hard to kill Smiling People . It's like a Natural Selection kind of thingy .
This content triggered an interesting thought. You said if a local person returns home with what is by local standards, a lot of money it can raise a red flag. This makes perfect sense. I’m now wondering, who exactly are the high earners in Thailand? What exactly is considered wealthy in Thailand? Let’s exclude Thai royalty and “old money” or generational wealth. If we could perhaps use US dollars is 100K per year considered rich in Thailand or maybe even 60K per year? Who are the people who earn this kind of money and more? This might not fit in with your channel and I don’t know if you can answer it, but I think it’s interesting to know.
Another great video Ryan. There is certainly a lot to unpack on the differences in life mindsets between the West and rural Thailand. I love the way Thailand forces you to slow down and think less (with exception of working in bkk). We r about to return home to bkk for a couple of weeks with the family. Feeling very grateful for the richness of life and happiness we maintain as a family with mixed race. 🙏🙏🙏🇹🇭🧘♂️🇦🇺
A negative side: parents that don't have land to work (or that they don't want to work) will be off to Bangkok or Chonburi for a miserable factory job. As a consequence the villages tend to be occupied with grandparents looking after their grandchildren, with a few (generally older) men slogging away at subsistence farming. I'm not sure why you consider the word 'peasant' to be a derogatory term, maybe you should stop caring about what elitists have to say. Generally happy? I guess so, my wife's family still feels resentment towards another family that, 60 years ago, 'stole' land from them. Plenty of that kind of thing in the background, goes on in big towns also but people aren't forced to be neighbours.
Hi Ryan. Very good video. Personally, I have nothing but great respect for the farming community. They work tremendously hard for what they have, which is typically far more than I can say for many spoiled westerners who are douchy enough to look down their big noses at them. I am curious, though, as you mentioned that you give yourself a 6/10 on a happiness scale. That seems quite low to me. Could you, perhaps, elaborate more on that and let us know what might make you happier, or what detracts so significantly from your happiness? Thanks, mate!
I think a lot of happiness comes down to expectations. For our generation(around 30's), we know of the life improvement our parents and their parents experienced, particularly post-WW2. So we were born with the same expectations. But all they've done is make it harder for the younger people while the older continue to prosper. Under their watch, real wages have dropped, house prices have skyrocketed, social services have been stripped apart, public services(putting people over profits) have been sold off or eliminated. Even in my country there has been constant attacks on our medicare system. So when you're worse off than your parents it makes you feel a bit jaded. Especially when the societal solutions are so obvious, but there's no one in a position willing to fix everything. For Thailand, the older lived through poverty, war at their borders, military coups, etc and have shown their children what is a very simple life relying on family and community, which is absent in the west. So people find happiness in simpler things because you can get by with little(as the foragers do). But I think the younger generation in Thailand will follow in the west's footsteps a bit because some precursors are there. Inflation is hitting Thailand, but people aren't getting wage rises. City rents are rising(for these issues not as much as the west). Government is slapping them in the face with clear corruption. And they've seen a lot of unjust things happening to people while privileged people can do whatever they want. I think this generation is mostly fine, but I haven't seen any policy changes, and probably wont, imo, that indicate Thailand wont reach the tipping point the west did. Or maybe I've just got a glass half full. I'm still going to live there with my Mrs though.
Happy is an emotion not a state of being. I don't know an alternative word, maybe satisfied? Regardless, I think if we scratch beneath the surface of Thai village life we will find the same petty jealousies of neighbors and wealth etc. we'd see anywhere else, keeping up with Jones is a thing there too. That being said, the Jones in Thailand aren't multiples of 60x more wealthier than you like in the west where the wealth divide is so much more pronounced and easily observable. Also, too, IMHO westerners are just more driven and irritable in general and Thai folk are generally more laid back, Mai Pin Rai. Westerners are consumer/material driven to buy things. My 2 cents. My credentials include being married to a Thai wife for 15 years who is CPA from rural Thailand where we have a nice house and Durian farm where we plan to retire. Always good content.
I had to place a comment as I was touched by this video. It took a cross section of Thai society. The idea that you look after eachother work totally as a team is a beautiful concept. Rural England would have been like this maybe 200 years ago. Britain/England has totally lost this attitude. Many many decades of governments brainwashing kindness out of us. Pitting us against eachother. Thai government/ religion is still practicing unity and love to eachother. It's a marvel to behold from ruthless England.
I don't live far from you Ryan. Some expats never get it. But you have. Learn to read Thai you will love it as I do. You will never pronounce wrong ever again and become padantic about it. 😂
I am amazed that people would even judge in our society most of American poor are waring pajama bottoms and halter tops and we just people that actually work for a living. So shameful that we look at things this way, I am ashamed of being an American that has had opportunity, worked hard and smart to get where I am. I fell in love with Isan woman and changed my view of all. It became a world view of what I could do with what I have and be with a person that can respect and appreciate maybe something I can not see. You do not see the anxiety in Thailand that American work themselves into. I have been amazed with what I have seen, ashamed to be American compared to Thai.
