The Singaporean Insider's Thailand
by Chan Joon Yee

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Insider's Chiangmai Thailand is a wonderful place to go shopping, relaxing and sightseeing. There are lots of attractive bargains, the spas are heavenly, the food is tasty and the service is simply fantastic compared to the lukewarm treatment from sales staff that one frequently gets in cold and pragmatic Singapore. Beyond the usual touristy stuff, the intrepid traveller who has gone off the beaten track and interacted with ordinary Thai people may be surprised to discover how friendly and hospitable they are even when there's apparently no money to be made. All the much-publicised and readily visible sleaze, greed, dishonesty and lack of dignity seem to belong to a tourist-contrived Thailand and not the "real" Thailand that they have discovered. For these fascinated discoverers, Thailand is quickly transformed from a tour destination to a second home. They become frequent visitors and many of these frequent visitors to the Land of Smiles include citizens from the Land of Sheltered Walkways - Singapore. After a few visits, these sheltered and deprived individuals would have made friends (or fallen in love) and decided to settle down in the Land of Smiles. Over the years, I have come across dozens of foreigners who fell deeply in love with Thailand and settled down, only to leave in disgust and bitterness after a while. Many have even lost their life savings. What happened? Reasons vary from outright betrayal to unintentional sabotage or frustration with a totally unfathomable bureaucracy, sociology and value system. For these discoverers, their final discovery would be that part of the ugliness of the so-called tourist-contrived Thailand exists in perfect harmony with the "real" and charming Thailand. I don't pretend to be able to help anybody who is already in trouble in the Land of Smiles. Neither do I intend to present any scholarly or scientific analysis of Thai culture and mentality. The following articles are just meant to share some information and insights which I've acquired over the last 20 years or so. Quite a few infatuated individuals have angrily disagreed with me. Perhaps they are not aware that like them, I have my fair share of heartwarming and flattering experiences in Thailand. But as someone who is seriously retiring in Thailand, I need a very down-to-earth understanding of the place. A romantic approach won't get you very far. Sin-Thai Village The concept of a Sin-Thai village stems from the fact that though I find Singapore a bit too dull, sterile, expensive and lacking in freedom, I do believe in a systematic and responsible Singaporean way of doing things. It's also based on the fact that I can never become a Thai and accept Thai values in totality. My dream is to form a community of Singaporeans who are interested in retiring in Chiangmai, Thailand. If we have the numbers, we can be very ambitious and build a real village that has schools and other facilities that are of "Singapore standards". Or we could just have a virtual "village" where Singaporeans residing in Thailand can interact and provide support for one another. Whatever it is, I strongly believe that our mindful (of consequences), self-reliant approach to life must be preserved. I want my children to grow up with an unfair advantage over typical Thai children. Articles © Chan Joon Yee knapsacktreks.com Thai Culture/Sensitivity Quiz Book Review: Thai Girl by Andrew Hicks Book Review: Bangkok Kiss by David Thompson Book Review: Hello My Big Big Honey by Dave Walker Social Commentary: How Deep Is Your Respect? Book Review: Confessions Of A Bangkok Private Eye by Warren Olson Introduction to Chiangmai Introduction to Northern Thai Cuisine Social Commentary: Can't Beat Them Join Them? Culture Shock: Khon Kup Rot Social Commentary: Easy Come Easy Go Social Commentary: Skin Deep, Dress Deep Social Commentary: Don't Criticise A Thai Social Commentary: Black Magic & Thailand's Love Industry Social Commentary: Prostitution - a Long Summary Social Commentary: Fun & Freshness at Work Burmese Khao Soi a Misnomer? One Of My Favourite Restaurants In Chiangmai Tom Yam My Way