AN Irishman living in Bangkok has offered his five tips for anyone looking to move to the country.
He reckons the Thailand culture shock isn’t for everyone, but for those who stick it out, it can be “incredibly fun”.
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Travis Leon, from Ireland, decided to move to Thailand in 2021, and loves it there.
He told the Irish Sun: “It was actually unintentional to stay here long term but Thailand had been so welcoming and I felt a strong sense of relief and freedom being here, I fell in love with the people, the culture, nature and the food. Bangkok also just turned out to be an incredibly fun place to live”.
Travis shares content about his life in Bangkok on social media platforms TikTok and Instagram under the username @travisleon1.
His lighthearted videos and informative posts have gained him hundreds of thousands of followers.
The 32-year-old said he would recommend Thailand to “open minded people” as it can be quite a “culture shock”.
He explained: “If you’re not very adventurous then maybe stick to Spain or Europe.
“Thailand is hot, chaotic, and crazy which can be very overwhelming for some people, for other people it can be highly addictive and exciting.
“It’s also still a developing country with very different laws and norms so you will see a lot of crazy things you would never see at home. However personally for me, I feel the pros massively outweigh the cons.
“The nature and beaches are beautiful, the people are warm, the food is amazing and the nightlife is incredible, just bear in mind it is incredibly hot all year round.”
But for those who want to move there, or even just visit for a holiday, Travis has five tips.
The first is to not just stick with Irish communities.
Travis said: “Irish love to connect with other Irish abroad, but I recommend not making your circle completely Irish, there are so many successful and interesting people of different types of nationalities and backgrounds, its a great opportunity to broaden your mindset.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
“Of course you can connect with the Irish very easily too, they even have a GAA club“.
But meeting new people can be difficult, so Travis recommends joining communities in order to branch out.
He said: “If you are relocating here, it’s definitely the best way to make friends with similar interests.
“This also is a better alternative than meeting people on nights out, sometimes you can meet good people but often they will just become a new drinking buddy. “
Travis said there’s a common misconception about Thailand – it’s not as cheap as everyone thinks.
And he said having that mindset reflects poorly on Irish visiting.
DON’T BE CHEAP
He explained: “Many come here trying to have this cheapest trip or experience possible, and while you can do this if you need to it’s a bad mindset that many people get stuck in and it reflects poorly on all of us.
“You can and will save money on lots of things but tourism is a big part of Thailands economy and a bit of extra spending goes a long way for them, plus you will simply have a way better time.”
He added: “Also try not to haggle.”
One major thing people moving to Thailand should be aware of is the the unrelenting heat.
Travis said you should be prepared to “completely adjust” your wardrobe, and know there is no winter season.
Finally, Travis urged people, especially those who are Irish, to take it easy on the alcohol and not “get lose in the sauce.”
He said: “As Irish we love a drink, but when your in a place with more clubs and bars than you have time to visit, as well as a nightlife scene that feels like a Saturday seven nights a week, you can loose the run of yourself very easily.”
For more content from Travis on how to move to Thailand, follow his social media channels.
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