In particular, guys who are interested in getting away from western culture for an extended period of time, maybe even permanently, will want to consider it. Thailand is one of the most popular retirement destinations in the world, but I hear a lot of disgruntlement coming from guys who have opted to set up new homes in the most popular tourist destinations in the kingdom. Those places are great for short holidays, but living in such places for any length of time can easily take a big toll on your health and your finances.
Another reason for the disgruntlement from tourist areas comes down to the changing nature of the nightlife entertainment there, and whilst the popular destinations are still a lot of fun Pattaya is my personal favourite there is no doubt that the fun factor is fading.
Prices are rising, service standards are falling, and more than a few Thais are justifiably tired of the antics that a sizable number of western tourists engage themselves in. The sharing of information via the internet has done a lot to make the world a smaller place and you can feel it in the big cities in Thailand. Where once you would walk around and experience real Thai culture, with ever smiling faces, friendly people and a slower pace of life, these days you find that globalization has changed things into a more familiar, westernized sort of setting.
Economic development is a fine thing for the local Thai people who find themselves with more money, extra job security, better healthcare and so on, but these advantages also come with more responsibilities, and a higher workload. The end result is a place where the pace of life is gradually speeding up and the famous Thai smiles are starting to disappear.
For many of the expats in town this is exactly the sort of thing that they were trying to get away from. This is obviously not going to be much of a selling point for people planning a vacation, but it is an oasis of sanity for those westerners who want to find a permanent base of operations in Thailand. The local women love it, and many of them like to get up and sing their hearts out at the karaoke bars in town.
