The ever-present sunshine, the warm and friendly people, and the low cost of living are some of the things that British expat Mike is enjoying in Thailand. He also shares some aspects of what it's like to live in a rural area in Thailand and several tips about adjusting to Thai culture and attitudes.	Mike Rose

-Where were you born?

I was born in Mansfield in the UK.

-In which country and city are you living now?

I live in a small village near Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my Thai partner.

-How long have you been living in Thailand?

I have lived in Thailand since January 2008.

-What is your age? 

 I am 61 years old.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Thailand?

I had visited Thailand for several holidays and really liked the country and the people. With a low cost of living, little crime and friendly people it seemed a natural choice. The sun always shines and the people always smile. Perfect for a relaxing retirement away from the stresses and strains of the UK.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

Visa applications from the UK to Thailand are easy compared to a lot of other countries. Initially I obtained a year long multi-entry visa but once in country I found it relatively easy to extend my stay on the grounds of retirement for a further year. There are several things that effect your application, including income.  I have written several articles on this subject under the heading "Retiring to Thailand."  This information is available on my blog.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

I don't have medical insurance. That said I have sufficient funds to cover medical emergencies in the excellent local private hospitals. Should you wish to join a scheme it is very easy and quite cheap by UK standards, there are age limits on some schemes. A good policy can cost anywhere between 50,000-90,000 baht per year.  You have to pay the money upfront, I am not aware of any schemes that have monthly subscriptions. Different levels of cover are also available.

-How do you make your living in Thailand? Do you have any type of income generated?

I live on my private pensions and another income stream. I do not work in Thailand. Work permits are hard to obtain without a letter of introduction from an employer. That said there are plenty of jobs for expats, particularly in teaching English. There are plenty of resources on the Internet to find work as a teacher. I would recommend www.seriousteachers.com or locally www.ajarn.com.  Several expats have business interests in Thailand but you need Thai partners and I would suggest good legal advice as well if you are thinking of setting up yourself.

-Do you speak Thai and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Please add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs.

I am learning to speak Thai out of respect to my host country. Some people do speak English but tend to be shy using it. At the end of the day if you want to integrate then Thai is a must, its not easy and of course the written word is even harder since they do not use the Roman alphabet.

There are several things a visitor should avoid in Thailand, these include not insulting the Royal Family, touching a Thai on the head and not pointing your feet towards a person. Loosing face is a real issue for a Thai person so angry words and gestures are out of place here.  There are a lot more things you should consider as well, particularly if you have a Thai partner.  Family life is very different to the West.  Once  again you can read about it in more detail in my blog www.my-thai-friend.com.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

Obviously everyone sometimes misses home, but I use Skype to keep in touch so I get to hear what's happening on a regular basis. There is so much to do here, a beautiful beach just 2km away, lots of restaurants and all the shops you would ever need. However, I live in rural Thailand and you occasionally have no power or water or perhaps the Internet is down. If that happens I just get on my mountain bike and have a pleasant ride through the countryside to remind myself of the positives of living here. If you are seeking bars and discos this part of Thailand is not for you and anyway the real Thailand is not about those things anyway.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

For the time being I am happy here, but who knows, I really enjoy travelling, so watch this space!  That said Thailand is a great jumping off point for the rest of Asia and Australia so it makes a good base anyway.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

I bought my own house here (leased for 90 years actually because of property ownership laws). It cost around £15,000 and is a three-bedroomed bungalow with all mod cons including air conditioning.  

Renting is an option and there are plenty of properties to suit all budgets. You could get a home like mine for less than £100 per month.

-What is the cost of living in Thailand?

A simple answer is low. I live on about £700 a month which provides me and my partner with a high standard of living and a bit to spare for a rainy day. Because I run the air conditioning a lot my electricity charges are high but still less than the UK.  There is no Council Tax, I pay just 30Baht a month to get my bins emptied!  My partner is an excellent cook and we buy fresh produce all the time at local markets with only a few essentials being purchased at the Tesco supermarket in Prachuap.  We eat out whenever we feel like it and a quality meal for two is very cheap, certainly less than £10 including drinks.

-What do you think about the Thais?

The locals are great, friendly and helpful. They see foreigners as being very rich and it takes hard bargaining to get a fair price. Better if you speak Thai or have a Thai partner. Thais are respectful to each other and there is a strong class system which can get in the way of social activities. Family units are strong and are very different to a lot of Western cultures.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Thailand?

I have already mentioned many of the positives, negatives, yes there are a few but really if you can deal with Thai bureaucracy then there aren't any. When you live here you adapt to a different way of thinking; as we say, This Is Thailand!

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Thailand?

Yes. Come here on holiday, visit different areas, try and stay away from hotels and speak to any expats you see. There is an excellent forum at Thai Visa where most of your questions will be answered.  Also consider choosing an area away from Bangkok and the other areas with a lot of expats.  Learn Thai and blend in with the locals, its far more rewarding.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Thailand?

All the information I have provided in this interview and a lot more can be found in my blog, www.my-thai-friend.com. If you visit the site you will find links to Thai Media, Blogs from Thailand and other useful resources.