Thailand: Would I Do Anything Different? 

Arrived in Chiang Mai for a one month holiday in 2003.. I had $500 left when I decided to stay. I had absolutely no idea how I was going to live but I figured I could squeeze by on the 500 for a month. Wasn't sure what was going to happen after that! I stayed for 9 years. By absolute chance, I got an amazing job leading tours through SEA for high-end US tour companies. Now I own places in CM, a place in BKK, and a farm and house in Issan! In Oz at the moment, but will be back in October. Best decision I every made! Hope I see you Wayne! I have been watching you since the first video. If I see you in CM, I hope I don't fanboy out!! Hahahaha

10:35: “Carrying on, being unhappy” is the greatest sin to yourself. I’m glad you made the right choice, mate.

You summed it up perfectly mate I have been visiting 3 times a year my life was getting me more and more down in the uk so I woke up last week and thought to myself I am not happy have no family but friends in Thailand money is nothing give me happiness anyway sold my stuff rented a cheap little place there quit my job and I am moving to Bangkok next week 😊

I am completely convinced , that learning a new language , is like Art , some people are good at it , some aren’t , Some people have a natural talent, just the way it is

I am Buddhist too for 7 years now 🙏🙏🙏

Happy days 😃 - the boy is content as ever ✌️- hello from China - back in Thailand next week - can’t wait - Thank you my friend 🤩👍🙏

Beautiful day in CM ❤

Nice to see you chap … I’m in Chiang mai next week … can’t wait!

Great Vlog Wayne; living for the now is the only way to go!

Never is too late to start learning Thai... there are several apps you can use for free. Its not impossible!!

Always enjoy Your Vlogs👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Great vlog Wayne enjoyed it , just gearing up for my next visit to Thailand cant resist no longer , have a great day. Adios from Newcastle upon Tyne

Nice Walk About Conversation Wayne

Some positive vibes, glad you're livin the life and being happy. Thanks for the advice about learning the language. I paid for an online course, but dont spend enough time on it. You gave me some motivation to pick it up more seriously now. 😊

Good topic and insights Wayne, thanks for sharing. I very much enjoyed the walkabout and the bit about getting too comfortable, Surviving the Comfort Zone is perhaps the biggest challenge to life in paradise as misery is a hell of a motivator. And when I think back maybe that's what was different about Japan over Thailand, and why I was almost moved to tears when I was leaving Japan going back to hell in Alaska. In Thailand I always felt like it was easy to get spoiled, while Japan was a place I could feel content and but it was challenging enough to keep you on your toes and not get too comfortable. I know a guy who spent 16 years in Japan, started resenting it and opted to go to Africa rather than Thailand because he said Thailand was too comfy and Africa kept him from going soft.

Hey Wayne! Interesting personal story; thank you for sharing. Definitely a beautiful temple! Many dining and drink businesses. Good fortune, health, happiness and safe travels.

The walk abouts are definitely fun for me Mate. Watching you walk past the places I know and lived around reminds me how much I want to get back there later this year. Chris Parker just did a great Vlog with a top tax guy talking about the new tax law 1602 and how it will impact me and how to be smart about it. So I am getting my ducks in a row to handle that the best way possible. Overall its not anything that would stop me in any way and getting walk those streets and share a tea and a Moo Op AN with you is in the cards! Be well my friend.

Great video wayne ,love the chatty walks.come on England 🇬🇧

Hi, Wayne! 👋I finally retired!! I won't have much money but I'm still a travel addict, so I'll probably see you back in CM before long (just for a visit, not moving there). This video really made me miss it! But next time, I'm bringing a friend. 😉Good thing you healed quickly for your operation and could still head to Thailand. But if anything happens while people are in Chiang Mai, the hospitals are excellent and inexpensive compared to the west. I had an operation on my eyelid (my entire eye area was swollen shut) and including local anesthesia it cost less than $300. My American insurance company reimbursed me 100% after I returned home.

Wayne you still can learn Thai , YMCM has classes in English. It is much more easier to learn the language in Thailand

Yes Wayne 100% as the number one priority I 'd be trying to learn the language, especially if I were to stay in Thailand permanently. I watch Mickey Stotch the Norwegian vlogger who is fluent with the Thai language, from time to time and he loves chatting away to the locals, joking with them and whatever else and, yeah I'd love to go to Thailand with that grasp on it. As always top vlog Wayne. Cheers buddy. 🤩

They reckon people come into your life for a reason, like your ex. My ex introduced me to Thailand, so I'm thankful. Life moves in mysterious ways. You're living a good life👍

Hey Wayne, was the Khao Soi place right on the corner? There used to be a really good one there. Was looking for it last week but was late in the day & a few were already closed. Ended up with Khao Man Kai.

Great video, the area you were walking looks really nice. What part of chiang mai is that

Hope your well Wayne, another great vlog mate. You must be nearer to that retirement visa Wayne at 50 is that something your planning to do? I want to make a move next year to living 6 + 6 UK > Thailand and keeping things going here house, nhs, bank etc, for a while and then make a move to Thailand full time after that to be with my GF.

Check out the city tour in a Tuk Tuk it should be a blast

I dig watching your videos brother...hope we can sit down for a beer sometime!

Nice video mate . Staying loyal to your values and friends is a place to start. But dipping into savings without replenishing them is challenging unless time In Thailand is planned within specific time frames. Otherwise running out of cash is inevitable.

Great advice with very personal take on what life events led you there. How long have you been living in Thailand now? Wayne, I'm finally visiting CM next week! I'll be in the old city area. If you're available, would love to casually chat over lunch. (No weirdo here.. just a Californian trying to find options in the future.) Thanks for considering it.

You're sounding pensive Wayne, which I believe we should all be at times, it's good for the soul. Love the football jersey, I gotta get one for myself, what's the team man? The national team is it? I should know this. 🤣

if you could point out on a map where you are during your videos, that would help a bunch. I love some of the neighborhoods you walk through, but not sure where they are. Thanks!

Hi Wayne can you do a vlog in Pantip plaza...I heard it has been upgraded..Thanks

A city tour on a tuk tuk would be very cool :)

Your living life, your not running on the hamster wheel like the rest of us 👌

It's hard to move forward when constantly looking behind. Something like that anyway.

I go by there on my way to mountain coffee , down the lane from the un Irish bakery

Hey Jude I just wanna kick it like you do Ooh, ooh Hey Jude I think I'm 'bout to copy all your moves Ooh, ooh Jude, Jude, Jude, Jude

You ever go to the silver watt?

66 now.Wish I could learn Thai off my Thai wife,but I cant even remember what I eat the night before🤔

Walking in the road is often safer than the dodgy sidewalks

Make a list of things you want to do and buy in UK when you visit. Your time will go very quickly there and it would be a shame if you got back to CM and realised you had forgotten something.

just found out ,Thailands new DTV visa for 5 years,10,000 B multi entry max stay 180 days.thats all I know

Hi Wayne this question is going to be off-topic but I am going to Thailand for one month,I will be using a slim folded up mobility scooter To get about on a normal basis,will I be able to get around without hassle?

I have a medical thing, they can see the symptom but can't put their finger on the cause. Just pushing pills, I passed now for the 2nd time. Doc took my license for 12 months. Travel insurance wants a reason to cover it. Anyone got any ideas? Need some cover encase I wake up in ED a time or two, don't want to be fleeced either. Seen on The naked guru building over there, material is dirt cheap $27AUD for a medium sized window 🤯 If you self built a place or at least done the bulk of it.

Good info Wayne, thanks. i have learnt a few words in the last couple of weeks BUT shit get the tone right, otherwise you might get slapped hard.😁 Or get a translator or app.

I'd love to relocate with my family of 4. But such a tough scary move.

The tax thing is doable if you get a Cambodia retirement visa for 280$ usd and just visit Thailand for under 180 days and go back to Cambodia or any other local countries and rotate as needed

how do you get money to stay in thailand?

feel free to use any of our music for your channel wayne... for free ;-)

You can always say 'what if' Wayne. The fact is you would not have stayed there if you wanted to do anything else. Really sounds like you are mentally preparing for a trip back to Blighty. You can always go back to Thailand.

Do you work in Thailand, How do you get an income,.?

drink more coffee!

Maybe, the good the bad & the ugly between home & Thailand.

If you regret not learning Thai and not getting proper insurance what's stopping you doing that now ?

Working a few months a year back home until the pension kicks in wouldnt be so bad...

I can teach you Thai

I recon you need to go home,so that after one week,you can say,what the hell am I doing here.Then your mind will be made up and youll get rid of that itch

only if tax could be sabai sabai like buddha 🙃

Sorry 2500baht per day for an 850cc bike really car hire 1000 baht a day

Turned off when i realized this wasn't about Phil Collins. People used to think i was obsessed with Phil Collins. Idiots. Just take a look at me now.

You have to learn "mai ow khap" , not want thank you

I’ve met people here teaching English on line and make 400€ a week , fyi