Another Thailand blogger I like is Talen from Thailand, Land of Smiles. I have found his blog to be a great resource and source of both information and inspiration. If you haven’t been there before I highly recommend you check it out. I think you’ll agree that the writing and information provided is top notch.

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 Tim but I go by Talen which is a combination of my first and middle names. The name of my Blog is Thailand , Land of Smiles. I write about a little bit of everything from rural life to food, language and all the great sights Thailand has to offer.

2How long have you been blogging about Thailand ? What was your inspiration to start Thailand Land of Smiles? Did you (or do you) blog about any other subjects?

I started blogging about Thailand in 2007 after my second trip to the Kingdom. I really fell in love with the country, it’s people and the culture and I wanted to share my experiences with anyone that might be interested in Thailand . I’ve played around with a few other blogs on different subjects but I found out that you really have to have a passion for what you’re writing about or it’s really not worthwhile so Land of Smiles is my baby and I tend not to stray much from it.

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’m American. I’ve been fascinated with Asia since I was young and after a lot of research it seemed to me that Thailand would be a great first step into my Asian exploration. It’s hard to put a finger on any one thing that makes Thailand home for me, certainly the culture and sense of community is a huge draw. And although it may sound odd, I feel like a better version of myself when I’m in Thailand.

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 made my first trip to Thailand in 2006 and have been coming back every 6 months or so since. Sometime within the next 8-10 months I’ll be making the move to Thailand and living between Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom. I love the tourist areas of Thailand such as Bangkok and Pattaya but I’m not sure I could live there full time, Nakhon Phanom though seems to be a great combination of city life mixed with a more relaxed rural setting. While you won’t find Starbucks and Burger King there you can pretty much find what you need and the people are just so amazingly nice.

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’d have to say the North East area of Isaan has to be my favorite. I love to visit all the other areas of Thailand but Isaan gives me that sense that this is the real Thailand and the people are just so warm and inviting that it’s hard to believe there is any other place on earth like it.

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?

I never used to like spicy food until I came to Thailand and it’s been a very tasty learning experience. Being American I’ve never been exposed to curries much and I’ve really grown to love the Thai green and red curries. I think my favorite dish would have to be Pla Kapong Keemao which is fish with garlic sauce and just the right amount of peppers and fish sauce to make it spicy but not too spicy.

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?

Definitely the food. If you stick to the places the locals eat you can eat like a king for a few dollars a day. Entertainment is usually a good bargain in Thailand too, you can always find something fun to do without breaking the bank.

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?

Electronics, Thailand is definitely not the place to go to find a deal on computers, phones or anything else that has a plug or needs to be charged.

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?

Great question, I think for me it’s the sense that Thailand is still growing and becoming what it’s meant to be. There is still a real sense of community and you have the feeling that you can be part of something. When you walk down any street people smile at you and say hello. Maybe it’s a case of the grass is always greener but for me it’s something America has lost because everyone seems so consumed with themselves.

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?

I’ve never understood people that move to another country and then expect their hosts to change their ways for them. I think a lot of foreigners are frustrated with the visa rules constantly changing and being limited in what fields they can legally work as well as land ownership rules. I can understand Thailand protecting their own in this regard though. . Thailand isn’t a large country and if these things changed in the ways many foreigners would like then Thailand would be over run. It wouldn’t be Thailand anymore but Britain/America East.

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?

My first trip to Thailand was 2 weeks after the 2006 coup, since then it’s been a roller coaster ride politically. There have been some positive changes like Bangkok starting to work towards removing elephants from the streets and getting sex education and information out to the masses but overall the political problems have really hurt Thailand and outweighed any positives.

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?

Like I said before I feel like a better version of myself when I’m in Thailand. I don’t feel as stressed as I do in America and there is an overwhelming sense that I can accomplish more. There are some difficulties but overall I feel like I’m a part of something which is getting harder and harder to find in America these days.

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

These are some of the posts I’ve written that seem to have struck a chord with a lot of people.

Western Perceptions and Thai Realities
Cold Economic Realities…for Some”
Hazzars of the Hongnam
Reality of Rural Thailand
I Learned to Speak Thai and So Can You

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

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