Niagara Falls Speed Boat

When most people think of Thailand, the first thing that comes to mind is a third world country where most of its population lives in extreme poverty. These same people would never consider living in Thailand for fear of living without the necessities of life.

I moved to Thailand in November 2004 and decided to make my new home while in retirement. Now that I've lived here for almost two years, I can tell you exactly what it is like to live here compared to Canada where I lived for 53 years.

Climate:

To begin, I am now living without radical changes in temperature that occur each year in Canada, where half of the year, it is warm or hot and the other half of the year it is freezing cold. The temperature differences require residents to buy clothing for all seasons. To live in Canada, you have been jackets, winter coats, sandals, shoes, boots and coats and suits and the list continues, including hats, gloves and scarves.

Here in Thailand, you have your different seasons, but basically, the temperature is warm or hot, and during three months of the year you will see virtually no rain at all and during the rainy season you will witness almost rain Daily. The type of clothes I wear during the season does not change one iota.

You get used to the heat here as you get used to the cold in Canada. Curiously, the evenings are cool and at night with the window open coverage would be required during most months of the year.

So, if I choose to live where in terms of climate alone, it would be here in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Score Thailand 1 Canada 0

Food:

In Canada, I ate my share of fast food and junk food. Potatoes in one form or another were present in most meals of potatoes fried in the morning, French fries at lunch, mashed potatoes or fries for dinner.

Now I still eat potatoes whose price is higher here than in Canada but I do not eat that regularly. French fries or potato soup from time to time and I'm happy.

people eat Thai rice in the way I ate potatoes. This is evident in almost every meal. I rarely ate rice when I lived in Canada, but I like it now mainly because of the sauce is added. A rather ordinary fried vegetables with rice dish is very tasty meal with their secret sauce added to the antenna.

Overall, I eat much healthier foods now, more rice and less potatoes and more vegetables, seafood and fresh fruit and less junk food. Thus, on the basis of health, Thailand and taste scores another point, and it's not even taking into account that food is a much lower price here than in Canada. Expect to pay about 60-70% less at the grocery store here and still eat as much or more foods that are delicious and the fruits that are grown locally.
Score Thailand 2 Canada 0

Transportation:

In Canada, my main way of getting from point A to point B was my car, something most people in the world can not live without, well at least if they remain where they are.
Given the distances between the places that I would normally go to Canada with a car is an absolute necessity for me.

To most North Americans as the car is a necessity and cost. This is not only a means of transportation but also a status symbol. If we get a pay rise, we are rewarded with a new car, the neighbor gets a new car prompts us to do the same, and a sports car is always necessary to impress his girlfriend.

The actual cost of operating their motor vehicle is a total unknown to most drivers, and I think the depreciation or leasing costs, insurance, fuel, repairs could add up to more than $ 10,000 for most decent vehicles. Now think about it. I can show you how to retire here in Chiang Mai, Thailand on less than $ 10,000 and live comfortably, eat healthy f.