After a bit of a layoff here I’m back with another Thailand blogger interview. Today we focus on Mike Rose from My Thai Friend. Mike is retired in Thailand for a couple years and writes on a diverse variety of subjects at his blog My Thai Friend. You’ll also find that he has several other blogs and is an avid photographer. Sounds to me as if Mike is living a pretty darn good life in his retirement in Thailand. Check out My Thai Friend and be sure to check out his other sites as well by clicking the links at the top of My Thai Friend.

1. What is your name, the name of your blog and the subject matter of the Thailand blog (language, food, general life, nightlife, etc)? If you don’t mind, please provide a photo of yourself so I can share it with my readers. We all like to see who it is that we’re talking to.

My name is Mike Rose aka The TEFL Don and my main Thailand blog is My Thai Friend. Originally it started as a personal diary of my life as a retiree in Thailand, then focused on useful expat and tourist information. I now seem to have gone full circle focusing more on a personal diary again.

2. How long have you been blogging about Thailand? What was your inspiration to start My Thai Friend? Did you (or do you) blog about any other subjects?

I started my blog in June 2007 prior to attending a TEFL course in Thailand to share my experiences with friends and family. I have several other blogs one of which, My Thai Photo Blog, covers images and commentary about places I visit in the country. I have recently started another photo blog, Canon Capture, which focuses on my world travels but also has a Thailand section. Add to this English Conversation Online and Bucket List Blogs. The former is a TEFL orientated blog while the latter is about blogger issues. I guess you can see how I spend a fair bit of my retirement.

3. Obviously you are not Thai and have chosen to expatriate to Thailand. What country are you from originally? What made you choose Thailand as your home away from home?

I am from the UK and chose Thailand as a second home for a number of reasons. Before making the move I visited the country on several occasions, holidays and a TEFL course. I liked what I found, but I mainly moved here because of the good weather and cheap cost of living.

4. How long have you been visiting and/or living in Thailand? If you’re currently living in Thailand, what part of Thailand do you live in? Why did you choose this city/province over others in Thailand?

I first came to Thailand in 2000 as part of a trip to the Far East. I have since had two holidays here in different parts of the country and attended a TEFL course in Phuket. I accidentally chose Prachuap Khiri Khan to settle. I had originally intended to work here teaching English and was offered a job in PKK in January 2008. The job never materialized but I stayed, bought a house here and as they say the rest is history.

5. From the south of Thailand to Bangkok and Chiang Mai and the NE provinces of Isaan Thailand is very different depending on what part of the country you’re in. What is your favorite region in Thailand and why?

I very much like where I live on the Gulf of Thailand, it has beautiful unspoiled beaches and very few foreigners. However if I had to choose somewhere else then it would be Chiang Mai or the Kanchanaburi area. I have trekked up North and enjoyed it very much. The River Kwai and Kanchanaburi are equally interesting but have a lot of tourists. No seaside like here but beautiful hills and mountains and cooler too. The high humidity here gets me down occasionally.

6. Even though Thai food is really built upon the same 4 precepts as Chinese food (sweet, sour, spicy and salty) Thai food is known throughout the world for its spicy component. Do you like spicy food? What is your favorite Thai dish?

No I don’t like overly spicy food. That said I can now speak enough Thai to make sure I don’t end up with chili burns! Favorite food is difficult as I like most Thai dishes. Probably it would be fish based with vegetables in a sweet and sour sauce. We have great sea food here. I also live with an excellent Thai cook so I get a great variety of dishes served up every day.

7. Thailand is known to be very affordable as a tourist destination and as a place to live. What things do you find to be the biggest bargains in Thailand?

Thai food, clothes, in fact most things that are not imported. I mean a half litre of beer is only just over £1! Although cars are expensive to buy, particularly second hand, running them is very cheap especially repairs. Getting my bin emptied every week for 30 Baht a month is the biggest bargain of all!

8. Even though there are bargains to be had, some things are certainly more expensive than others. What do you find to be most expensive in Thailand?

Electricity is relatively expensive especially running air con as are all imported goods. You can soon spend a fortune if you buy imported foods at Tesco for example. Red wine is one thing I really miss from the UK, buying it here is a rare treat since it costs 2/3 times more and doesn’t travel well.

9. There are many good reasons given by those who live in Thailand for settling in the Kingdom. What do you feel is the best part of living in Thailand?

This is difficult to answer concisely. It suits me, it’s laid back, folk leave you alone if that’s what you want. Visa regulations are quite relaxed and Thailand has provided me with an opportunity to retire early that would not have been possible in say Malaysia.

10. One group that’s easy to find online are the complainers who live in Thailand, but seem to feel that the Thai’s should change to accommodate their Western guests. What things do you feel are frustrating for foreigners living in Thailand? Do you think these aspects of Thailand should change or that they are simply part of the culture?

A few things can be frustrating here. Red tape can be tedious, but the only thing I really dislike is the Thai attitude to driving and road safety. Thai culture is a unique thing that probably attracts many expats in the first place, it would be a pity if it became too westernized. I find Western complainers far more annoying than anything that my adopted country comes up with. That’s why I don’t live in an expat enclave!

11. Considering the last few years especially it’s evident that Thailand is a country in flux. Western thinking and Western customs are rapidly invading the Kingdom. The Thai people seem to be looking for change and the political leadership in Thailand is constantly changing. How do you think Thailand has changed since the first time you visited, both positively and negatively?

To be honest it seems the same to me. True there has been a coup, lots of different prime Ministers and political colors but fundamentally Thailand remains the Thailand I first fell in love with back in 2000.

12. Even with all the changes in the past decades, it’s safe to say that Thailand is very different from any Western country. How is your life in Thailand different from your life in the West?

A lot more laid back, no pressure. My stress levels must be 100% lower. Yes I occasionally get frustrated but the longer I stay here the more enjoyable I find things. At least the country doesn’t grind to a halt when an inch of snow falls. Mind you it probably would if snow did fall.

13. Please tell us about 3-5 of the best posts from your blog.

I have selected a few posts from different aspects of my blog, this includes a little humor, some expat issues and some tourist information.

Breaking Thailand Expat Myths
Chickens in the Soi
A Guide to Prachuap Khiri Khan

If you liked this interview why not go check out all of my Thailand blogger interviews.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Check out these similar posts:

• Thailand Blogger Interviews
• Ben From Thai Pirate
• Vern from Thai Pulse
• Martyn From Beyond the Mango Juice
• Chris from My Egg Noodles
• Talen from Thailand – Land of Smiles
• Jon from Jonny Foreigner