| When most people think of Thailand the first thing | | | | than what I had in Canada but I can upgrade to a |
| that comes to mind is a third world country | | | | faster speed if I want, at present this speed is |
| where most of it's population lives in acute | | | | perfectly satisfactory on most occasions and a bit |
| poverty. These same people would never | | | | slow when there are more users on line in the |
| consider living in Thailand for fear of living without | | | | late afternoons or early evenings. We had 54 |
| the necessities of life. | | | | channel cable TV installed recently. Not as many |
| I moved to Thailand in November, 2004 and | | | | sports or movie channels but the monthly cable |
| decided to make it my new home while in | | | | cost for 2 TV's is about $ 9 Canadian. So for |
| retirement. Now that I have lived here for | | | | telephone, cable TV and telephone the total is $31 |
| approaching two years I can tell you exactly what | | | | compared to $130 in Canada. Canada wins out on |
| it is like to live here versus Canada where I | | | | having better channels, but with cost included as a |
| resided for 53 years. | | | | factor I would call it a tie. As for internet the |
| Climate: | | | | speed is fine with me and the cost much less that |
| For starters I am now living without the drastic | | | | I give the point to Thailand. |
| change in temperatures that occur annually in | | | | Medical care is CHEAP here. I will probably be |
| Canada where half of the year it is warm or hot | | | | treated by a doctor who received their training |
| and other half of the year it is freezing cold. The | | | | overseas and who speaks excellent English . A |
| temperature differentials require residents to buy | | | | doctor can be seen the same day and a specialist |
| clothing for all seasons. To live in Canada you | | | | within a few days. I can expect to receive |
| need summer jackets, winter coats, sandals, | | | | prompt treatment for a fraction of the cost in |
| shoes, boots, and suits and overcoats and the list | | | | North America. A dental cleaning here was $9 |
| goes on including hats, gloves and scarves. | | | | versus $50-$100 in Canada and repairing a broken |
| Here in Thailand you have your different seasons | | | | veneer set me back a whole $18 here and I |
| but basically the temperature is either warm or | | | | would guess it would have cost me $100-150 in |
| hot, and for three months of the year you will | | | | Canada. So a sure point for Thailand. |
| see virtually no rainfall at all and during the rainy | | | | Accommodations are a hands down winner in |
| season you will witness rainfall almost daily. The | | | | Chiang Mai. Not only are the accommodations |
| type of clothing that I wear during the seasons | | | | CHEAP I repeat CHEAP but they also provide me |
| does not change one iota. | | | | with everything that need and want. Shortly |
| One gets used to the heat here just as one gets | | | | arriving in Chiang Mai I stayed at a serviced |
| accustomed to the cold weather in Canada. | | | | apartment for 2 months at $250 Cdn. monthly |
| Surprisingly the evenings are cool and during the | | | | for rent which includes water, utilities, cleaning and |
| night with the window open a blanket would be | | | | change of linens and towels twice weekly and also |
| necessary during most months of the year. | | | | cable TV. The serviced apartment had a |
| So if I had my choice where to live in terms of | | | | swimming pool on the top floor, massage on 4th |
| climate alone it would be here in Chiang Mai, | | | | floor, restaurant, beauty salon, motorbike rental |
| Thailand. | | | | on main floor. It was clean, comfortable, the |
| Score Thailand 1 Canada 0 | | | | owners were extremely hospitable and it was |
| Food: | | | | located within walking distance of the largest mall |
| In Canada I ate my share of fast foods and junk | | | | and also numerous restaurants many of which |
| foods. Potatoes in one form or another were | | | | had superb entertainment in the evenings. |
| present in most meals from hash browns in the | | | | Food is another necessity. Even though I resided |
| morning, to french fries at lunch, to mashed or | | | | in the Niagara Peninsula area of Canada which is |
| fried potatoes at dinner. | | | | blessed with an abundance of fruits, and |
| Now I still eat potatoes which are priced higher | | | | vegetables the point here goes clearly to Chiang |
| here than in Canada but I do not eat them as | | | | Mai. Many fruits are grown locally here also, and |
| regularly. French fries or potato soup now and | | | | you get the added benefit of fresh seafood, So |
| then and I am content. | | | | adding up the score Canada ½ point for the tie |
| Thai people eat rice the way I ate potatoes. It is | | | | on TV, Thailand 1 point for doctor and dentist, |
| evident in almost every meal. I seldom ate rice | | | | one for accommodations , 1 point for internet and |
| when I lived in Canada but I enjoy it now | | | | ½ point for TV. |
| particularly because of the sauce that is added. A | | | | Score Thailand 6 ½ Canada ½ |
| rather ordinary fried vegetables with rice dish | | | | Things to Do: |
| becomes a very tasty meal with their secret | | | | I lived most of my life in and around Toronto, a |
| sauce added to the dish. | | | | city that has a reputation for being very clean |
| Overall I eat much healthier foods now, more rice, | | | | and safe, a city which is home to a diverse |
| less potatoes, more vegetables, seafood and | | | | population that intend to stay in Canada and a city |
| fresh fruit and less junk food. So on the basis of | | | | which is in a great location for both summer and |
| health, and taste Thailand scores another point, | | | | winter activities. Niagara Falls is but a 1 ½ hr. |
| and that is not even taking into consideration that | | | | drive away, lakes for boating and fishing a mere |
| the food is priced much lower here than in | | | | 1hr. drive north of the city, and skiing in the |
| Canada. Expect to pay about 60-70% less on | | | | winter a short 1 hours drive away. Overall, a |
| groceries here and yet eat as much or more of | | | | great city in my opinion and one that fares well in |
| foods that are delicious and fruits that are locally | | | | surveys of best places to live. |
| grown. | | | | But looking at it honestly I can do all that I could |
| Score Thailand 2 Canada 0 | | | | do back there except for the skiing here and do |
| Transportation: | | | | it for less money. A trip to the reservoir here is |
| In Canada my main means of traveling from point | | | | similar to going to a trip to the beach in Hamilton. |
| A to point B was my car, something most people | | | | The children swim, play with inner tubes, the drive |
| in the world cannot live without, well at least if | | | | there is quick and without traffic, there are areas |
| they stay where they are. | | | | to walk around, and the restaurant food by the |
| Because of the distances between places that I | | | | side of the reservoir is plentiful and inexpensive. |
| would normally go to in Canada a car was an | | | | So after I leave the reservoir I have paid for the |
| absolute necessity for me. | | | | meals, drinks, entrance fee, inner tube rental and |
| For most North Americans the car is a necessity | | | | this is what I would have paid for the parking to |
| and an expensive one. It isn't just a means of | | | | gain entrance to the beach in Canada. |
| transportation but also a status symbol. If we get | | | | The singers in the restaurants and nightclubs here |
| a raise at work we reward ourselves with a new | | | | copy local hit songs to perfection. The malls have |
| car, the neighbor gets a new car prompts us to | | | | the latest movies at the theatres. There are pool |
| do the same, and a sporty car is always | | | | halls, bowling, an abundance of restaurants, and |
| necessary to impress the girlfriend. | | | | many things to do from shopping for bargains at |
| The actual cost of operating their motor vehicle in | | | | the Night Bazaar, hot springs, elephant rides, |
| total is unknown to most drivers, and I estimate | | | | Chiang Mai zoo, parks, many fine golf courses and |
| that the depreciation or lease cost, insurance, gas, | | | | much more. |
| repairs would add up to over $10,000 for most | | | | There is something amusing that I want to share |
| decent vehicles. Now think about this. I can show | | | | with you. We were watching a new program on |
| you how to retire here in Chiang Mai, Thailand on | | | | TV where three singers go on stage and each |
| less than $10.000 and live comfortably, eat | | | | sings a song. The same song is performed by all |
| healthy foods and enjoy yourself. Does your | | | | three but only one was actually singing and the |
| motor vehicle contribute as much to your life? | | | | others were merely pretending. So then the |
| If you live here you do not need a car. The tuk | | | | judges guess who was the real singer and explain |
| tuk (three wheeled motorcycle with bench seat | | | | the logic behind their decision. This one night they |
| at back) or Red taxi (pick up truck with covered | | | | played a Patsy Cline song. I swore Patsy had |
| back section with bench seating on two sides) can | | | | come back to life God rest her soul. One |
| get you around town for next to nothing. Should | | | | performer was in her early twenties, one in her |
| you want to go out of town then on those | | | | late twenties and one merely a child who looked |
| occasions you can rent a car. | | | | like she was only 11 years old. I quickly discounted |
| So forget about a car if you live here. Forget | | | | her as the song required a mature voice and the |
| about the insurance costs increasing every year | | | | hosts of the program were just trying to put a |
| and also expensive fuel costs. Forget about | | | | member of the family on TV so I thought. Well, |
| speeding tickets, parking tickets and car washes. | | | | wrong again. After the judges finish guessing the |
| The advantage here definitely goes to Chiang Mai. | | | | three performers go back on stage and sing the |
| Getting around town is both quick and | | | | same song at the same time and then gradually |
| inexpensive. For those residents that buy a | | | | one stops singing and then another leaving the |
| vehicle it is normally a pick up truck as the pick up | | | | actual singer left singing the song. Well I could |
| trucks are taxed less by the Government | | | | have bet a dollar to a donut as the saying goes |
| perhaps many are manufactured here and thus | | | | that the youngster was not the singer. Glad I |
| become more affordable. Auto insurance costs | | | | didn't. A very entertaining program. |
| here are about 33% of what I would pay in | | | | Oh and a Thai movie that we rented recently |
| Canada and if you did not have any accidents in | | | | came to mind not that I speak Thai but it was |
| the first year then expect a reduction in your | | | | rented for the amusement of the others in the |
| premium which would reduce the cost to 23% of | | | | family. To get to the funniest part of the movie, |
| what you would pay in North America for very | | | | you have two groups approaching a bridge. Both |
| good coverage on a decent vehicle. | | | | want to cross first. One group is a funeral |
| So sorry Canada, another point for Thailand. | | | | procession and the other a wedding procession. A |
| Thailand 3 Canada 0 | | | | Buddhist monk comes to the rescue. He suggests |
| Living Necessities: | | | | that one group cross in single file on one side of |
| Don't know about you but internet access 24 | | | | the bridge while the other group crosses at the |
| hours a day and a TV are absolute necessities in | | | | same time on the opposite of the bridge. Well it |
| my life. I can live without food for 24 hours but I | | | | works but what is amusing is that one group is |
| am not sure if the same could be said for TV and | | | | smiling, joyous and happy while the other is sad, |
| internet. In Canada I had hi speed cable for $50 | | | | crying and grieving. The more the grieving side |
| monthly, and cable TV for another $50 monthly | | | | sees the other side laughing the more they cry. I |
| for a total of $100 a month. | | | | guess you have to see it for yourself to |
| Doctors and dentists are living necessities. You | | | | appreciate it. |
| would never want to live anywhere for an | | | | The final score for those of you who are keeping |
| extended period of time without both easily | | | | track is Thailand 7 ½ and Canada ½. |
| accessible. In good old Canada one has to make | | | | When I was in Canada I viewed it as a fantastic |
| an appointment to see a family doctor, if after | | | | place to live. It was safe, clean, with a reasonable |
| repeated visits the family doctor doesn't know | | | | cost of living, and with numerous activities through |
| what ails you they will finally make an | | | | the year. Now that I have lived here in Chiang Mai, |
| appointment for you to see a specialist who will | | | | Thailand in all honesty I have to say I feel safer |
| probably know in 15 minutes what the problem is | | | | here, it isn't as clean but it's not nearly as bad as |
| and how to treat it. Unfortunately the | | | | some would lead you to believe, and the cost of |
| appointment to see a specialist is normally a 6-8 | | | | living here is so much lower that you can actually |
| week wait. | | | | live here comfortably, and happily for less than |
| What else is a necessity? Hmmm.. | | | | you ever imagined. |
| Accommodations. In terms of accommodations in | | | | So for the benefit of those who thought they |
| Canada houses prices have ballooned as | | | | would never want to live here for fear of living |
| elsewhere in the world in the past few years. And | | | | without I would say the following. Chiang Mai, |
| we all know what can happen to balloons. When | | | | Thailand is already home to thousands of |
| house prices go up it is accompanied by or | | | | foreigners who have realized that this city has all |
| followed by an increase in rental prices. So why | | | | that they need and want, and best of all they can |
| shouldn't the apartment or condo owner not get | | | | also live here affordably with many things to do in |
| a chance to gauge the consumer. | | | | and around this beautiful city that in Thailand is |
| Let's see how Chiang Mai fares versus Canada in | | | | commonly referred to as "The Rose of The |
| these categories. | | | | North". What I am living without now are the |
| I have internet and phone here for about $22 | | | | snow, freezing cold temperatures and high costs |
| Canadian monthly. The internet speed is slower | | | | of living and these items I can live without. |