Part 2 is out now and you can watch it here! kzread.info/dash/bejne/mq2as6VpZtSrcrw.htmlsi=uXa-TINlW5ct6wb8

I made the move at 34. It was quite easy as I worked on the rigs off Aberdeen and got a job in Africa. I had been to Thailand a few times and decided it was better than reading the paper for 3 weeks in the pub before going back offshore. I had met a lassie from rural Chonburi and I am still here. It's 20 minutes drive for a 7/11 and maybe only 300 people in the village. It helped me speak Thai staying here and I still live here. I am only 90 mins from Pattaya and the airport. I enjoy a night in BKK and Pattaya but not for me. 13-14 years here myself and still on the bloody rigs. Good video mate.

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

Glad you liked the video, Toby! I'm definitely a "city person", but I quite jealous of people who can live in the villages. Actually, being within striking distance of the livelier places whilst living in peace and quiet sounds ideal! Maybe one day I'll settle down on a farm or more likely a coffee shop! You've done well to be here whilst you're still young. That's my only advice, really; get here the sooner the better and enjoy it!

@tobyprice1092

3 ай бұрын

@@balloonchaser I'm originally from the Highlands of Scotland so jungle life is pretty easy and living in Chonburi is a bonus. I could have met a lassie from Sisaket.

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

@tobyprice1092 Well, Pattaya is a bit of a jungle at times, as well 😀

@michaelblack2334

2 ай бұрын

I was the same, worked offshore Aberdeen and got a new job in Abu Dhabi. Moved to Thailand. That was back in 1979. Got tired of the same things, bars and girls. Changed jobs and moved to Indonesia. Been here on and off since 1980. Now retired for 9 years and living the dream on a golf course

@tobyprice1092

2 ай бұрын

@@michaelblack2334 I wish I was retired. I like a game of golf, was a member of the Northern down the links. Still got a flat in Rosemount and had a beer in the Massada. Off to Angola on Tuesday. 14yrs until retirement. Bugger.

Really enjoyed that. Appreciate your honesty in sharing your experiences and look forward to seeing how the story unfolds.

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

Really glad you enjoyed it. It's a bit different for me to talk about my life on KZread. But hopefully, someone else who is thinking about living here will watch it and give it a try!

I came at 56 since that allowed me a reduced pension from my employer. I'd have gotten a full pension if I'd waited another three years, with 40 years of employment, but I didn't want to wait. I knew for a long time when I retired I wanted to try living overseas. Thailand was a bit of a whim and a leap of faith for me. That was back in 2011, and I've been here ever since. It's interesting hearing how people get here, and how some make a success of it and some don't. Thanks for starting your story.

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

I'm with you all the way on that pension decision! I know so many people who have waited for the extra money and not really been physically on top form by the time they've come out here. A few I've known of sadly never made it at all. I thought I'd do a year or two in Thailand, but as with you, I've never really been back. The place is addictive, isn't it?

Brilliant start to the BC autobiography series about your time in Thailand . Well produced as always. Glad you are still around and "teaching" us with all the wonderful KZread videos on coffee, hotels, islands, and travelling options, etc... Keep Calm and Carry On buddy

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

Cheers, Ric. Always grateful for your support, mate. It was really weird going to some of the places that I hadn't been back to for over a decade! But it's a great excuse to get out and about. Hopefully others will think if he can do it, so can I !

great vlog, very interesting to me as i know Ratchaburi well and have spent many nights at the Prawapa hotel, two or three times i got upgraded to the suite, i used to go fishing at a lake nearby hence the visits there, i have been past the school many times and the kids used to love trying out their English on me....although for some reason they had a strange accent (think it was Brummie hehe) i found the city extremely cheap and is the only place in Thailand where i ordered street food and the lady totally refused a tip!! i had an operation in the hospital, got poison under a fingernail and the Doctor (who was probably the cutest woman i ever met) checked me, got me into the treatment room, and did the operation within thirty minutes.....only two stitches and the bill was 1,500TB brilliant!

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

That's a great addition to the story, Tony. I really loved Ratchaburi to begin with, but admit my head was turned by trips to Hua Hin and Bangkok. After living in Birmingham and London, I guess I'm a big city kind of guy. Plus the language barrier can be a downside. Prawapa was quite posh when I was there, but looked a bit tired when I went back. Nevertheless I remember it being family run and the staff were friendly. Luckily, I never needed the hospital. But I do remember there were always lots of nurses milling about outside. I did consider feigning injury on more than one occasion!

Wonderful story telling. Appreciate all the work that went into making this video about your experience in Thailand 🇹🇭 ❤

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

It's nice of you to notice, Fletcher. I really enjoyed making it. And if anyone enjoyed watching, then it's worthwhile! Cheers!

One of the better videos ive seen on moving to thailand. Very informative easy to follow. I find some other vloggers tend to miss stuff out or put too much in. Id like to see a few more about your life in Thailand.

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment, Eli. I'll certainly settle for making one of the better videos. It's a nice compliment and gives me motivation to make more! Thanks again!

Great stuff, looking forward to the next one already. Everyone has a story to tell and yours is already very interesting (even if it ultimately took off in the quietness of Ratchaburi)!

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks, John! Really never imagined working in a place like Ratchaburi. Total accident. But was a great experience to set me up for the next dozen years or so!

Life in Thailand is interesting and varies greatly from one person to the next. For some it is easy and just falls into place while for others things go from bad to worse. I moved to Thailand when I was 23, with no plan, and I am still here 47 years later.

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

That's great! I must admit I do consider myself to have been very lucky. And although I had a plan to stay for a year or two, I didn't expect to still be here now! But to have moved to Thailand aged 23 must have been absolutely amazing?!

@villagefarang

2 ай бұрын

@@balloonchaser Coming here in your 20s is indeed very different from coming here in your 60s. It gives you a chance to experience a very different side of Thailand and run the gamut from young to old, working to not working and single to married.

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

@@villagefarang That sounds wonderful! I bet you don't regret it for a minute!

Hello BC.... thanks for sharing your time in Thailand. An amazing story and inspirational to someone like me. Hoping to follow your footsteps very soon. Looking forward to your next video.... cheers from Keith (in Adelaide, Australia)

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Hi Keith! Thanks for your kind words! If you do get the chance to move out here full-time, I'd just say "go for it". Several times I've thought about quitting, but every time I do, something seems to come along to make it all worthwhile. Only regret is I should have moved sooner! Best of luck with your plans, mate!

Very interesting to listen your story. Looking forward to next ep.

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Many thanks. Got a couple more new videos coming out shortly, then part 2! Keep watching! 👍

Great storytelling at your old places. The old photos are also important. Thank you! Great!!!!

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Many thanks. I must have hundreds of more photos somewhere! I wonder what all those students are doing now, over 13 years later?!

I am really enjoying this series... Thank you for sharing...

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Malc. My pleasure to make!

A fascinating story and I can't wait for the next instalment! My heart is also in Thailand - I visit there for several months every winter, with my girlfriend, and although she loves the place as much as I do, I haven't yet succeeded in persuading her to move there. She's concerned about what kind of work she might be able to do there, so maybe your story will inspire her. Thanks for sharing.

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

Many thanks for your positive comment, Tim. Actually I was thinking, as I recorded this video, how many more possibilities there seem to be to work these days. Obviously lot's of people start their own businesses, and there seems to be more agents etc helping with that. Also, every coffee shop I go into seems to have a few digital nomads working remotely. I'm sure your gf has more transferable skills than me (most people do), so keep trying to persuade her. I'm certain neither of you would regret it!

@TimCoulter

3 ай бұрын

@@balloonchaser You summed up our situation perfectly. I already work online, for clients in various countries, so becoming a digital nomad is not much of a challenge for me. But for someone who's spent her working life commuting to an office, moving overseas is quite a big psychological obstacle. Thankfully, we have a number of friends in Pattaya and Bangkok, so it should be easy enough for us to quickly integrate there. Hopefully our next visit, starting in November, will see us making a positive commitment to Thailand.

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

@TimCoulter Agree with you 100%. In the UK, I'd only ever worked in offices. Commuting every day from Kent into Central London. So the idea of living in another country was definitely daunting. And working was challenging to begin with. But it's amazing how quickly we adapt. I still wake up at 6.30am without setting the alarm clock, so some things never change. But working in a foreign country quickly became satisfying and rewarding. In the video I wrote I was bored in the UK. Maybe complacent is a more accurate word. Working abroad shakes the complacency out of you! Best of luck, Tim!

Excellent video, particularly you wearing the 82 shirt, commemarating Spurs retaining the FA Cup! Seriously though was great to hear about the start of your living in Thailand, and admiration of you for battling through in those pre Internet days.

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Robert. I'm very grateful to Spurs this week for allowing Manchester City to win, thus cementing my beloved Aston Villa's place in the Champions League. Of course, we won the European Cup in 8'2. Great year 😀 Glad you enjoyed the video!

Just watched your video. It’s great to see you obviously put so much effort into something and get justly rewarded. I noticed you didn’t mention the Atlantic bar once, or Electric blue Looking forward to part two

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Phil. Maybe going all the way to Ratchaburi was a bit excessive. Oh, for the days of green screen!

Brilliant Video, great story and amazing editing.I wanna do something similar, myself. Keep putting it off

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

Many thanks, mate. I appreciate your kind words. Best day to do it is...today!

appreciate the big effort on this video

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for noticing, Jeff!

Looking forward to the next instalment, great story 👍

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Many thanks, Shaun! Hopefully, the next instalment will be ready in the next couple weeks or so. But first, I'm catching a ferry to Koh Samui!

enjoyed the video.. well done mate

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Nice of you to say so! Many thanks!

Very interesting insight, thanks for sharing 👍❤️

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

My pleasure, as always. Thanks for your support!

Excellent video. Looking forward to the next one +1 👍.

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Many thanks for the positive feedback, Andrew. Part 2 coming up in the next few weeks!

I hope there is more to this good story? Either way you just gained another sub.

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks. Always grateful for another sub! And yes, they'll be a part 2 from on my time in Bangkok!

New sub here, from a fellow YT’er in Taiwan. Great story, looking forward to your next installment. enjoy these ‘how I came to be here’ stories, and all the adventure and left and right turns along the way

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Many thanks for the sub! I was looking at your channel. Some great videos and great music on there. Plus, your son's teaching intro was cool!

@MoreFormosa

2 ай бұрын

@@balloonchaser I’m trying, lol. Just visited Thailand for the first time ever in Dec/Jan so I’m still trying to get a few videos of that out. Our family absolutely loved Thailand! It’s as if the southern part of Taiwan went on forever, beautiful scenery and food and friendly people, can’t wait to get back. English comprehension is a little more commonplace in Taiwan, but phone apps make everything easier

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

@MoreFormosa Tell me about it! Recording footage is the easy bit. Editing them into reasonable videos is so time-consuming! I used to travel a lot but since coming to Thailand I have really travelled much internationally. I should at least see more of Asia! Perhaps southern Taiwan should be on the list?

Really interesting beginnings!

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

Thanks, PFI. Pleased that you enjoyed it!

Amazing. Wow sounds like the exact story you told me. You have never looked back; that place would have been super quiet before the internet.

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Russ! Looking back I was so lucky to get a job working in a real Thai city. True, it got a bit boring towards the end, but it made me appreciate how different Thailand is outside the main tourist areas!

This was fun and interesting. More like this Mr Balloon Chaser👍

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

Many thanks, Anders. I'll try my best!

Loved that mate 👍🏻

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for your support, Richard! It's appreciated!

Excellent vlog. Immidiatly subscribed. I believe you use a dji mic 2, but may I ask what camera u use?

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the sub. Always appreciated. And yes, a dji mic 2 coupled with a DJI Action 4. Thanks for asking!

Thanks for sharing this and I’ll look forward to the next segment. Hearing how you took a chance and landed successfully can be a good inspiration for others. When you mention “we went to Hua Hin” for example, did you socialize with the other English teachers? It seems that might have been your only avenue to do so locally. How did that work out?

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

My pleasure. There were a small number of western teachers in Ratchaburi, and we hung out together. In Hua Hin I got to know an owner of a language school and almost ended up managing it, but the bright lights of Bangkok were calling me! It's funny how small incidents can change our lives. And yes, I'm a believer in taking your chances and see what happens 😀

@scottgeen3062

2 ай бұрын

​@@balloonchaserhi like to retire in Thailand would 8million baht and pension last me at least ten years from Scott new Zealand

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

@scottgeen3062 Obviously everyone has different needs, but I can say this. If I had over 800,000 a year for 10 years I could live very happily and comfortably. Others may disagree, but in my opinion the amount you quote is well above the minimum required for a nice life!

@scottgeen3062

2 ай бұрын

@@balloonchaser thank you for your advice from Scott new Zealand

Thanks!

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Many thanks, Paul. Really nice of you!

Great story! Looking forward to the continuation... hope to make the move myself while I'm still in my 50s. Hua Hin & Cha Am are high on my list for affordability, but there are so many nice condos in the Pattaya area, can't rule that out either!

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Many thanks! I guess it depends what you like. Hua Hin and Cha Am also have some great condos. Pattaya is obviously livelier, but Hua Hin has more quality, in my opinion!

Hilarious 😂 great story.

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Trev! It's funny looking back 😃

Great :) Looking forward to next video.

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Many thanks. I'd better get on with filming some bits for part 2!

@brallorbow6703

2 ай бұрын

@@balloonchaser lazy sod

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

@brallorbow6703 That's me! 😀 Actually I'm off to samui on a boat!

I am 52 and is so tempted to make the move, i got the money to last me about 20 years and in 17 years i get a pension. Loved your story.

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

All I can say is that if I were you I'd do it right now! Sounds like you have the funds, which is great. Budget properly, and you've still got a bit in reserve. For many people (including me), once you hit the big six oh ,you are forced to slow down. So come when you are fully fit! Glad you enjoyed my tale.

Great story and thanks for sharing. Looking forward to part 2.

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

Many thanks for your comment! I'll have to get myself back up to Bangkok for part 2!

@mothoin

3 ай бұрын

​@@balloonchaserI'm a teacher of foreign languages myself so I can empathise with how overwhelmed you felt just being dropped in rural Thailand with no teaching experience. I don't think it would happen nowadays. The level of spoken English in Thailand is still relatively poor when compared to their Asian neighbours. Even Cambodia which is a poor country in GDP terms has a higher level of English fluency.

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

@mothoin It's a fascinating topic; language teaching in Thailand. There's so much that could still be improved. Being responsible for recruiting teachers (in Bangkok) I can understand how sometimes people just get thrown in the deep end. It's never ideal, but I was lucky to swim rather than sink, and I learnt some useful lessons for later. Really, it's one of the most rewarding jobs I've done. Wouldn't change it for the world! Thanks for commenting!

Yes that is a great story, you are very lucky to have experienced Thai Culture, i hope to one day.

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Many thanks, Steve. Yes, I feel privileged to have been given the chance. Hope it works out for you, too! I never expected to be able to stay this long, but sometimes, small opportunities change our lives!

Nice video mate

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Appreciate the comment. Thanks!

Now for teaching jobs you need qualifications. Before was easy for backpackers or anyone from the UK

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Michael. I guess you've always needed some qualifications. You needed a degree, although not in education, when I worked. Unless you wanted to work in an International School. Whether it's become a tighter restriction since covid, I don't know. That's the time I stopped working in the education field. Thanks for the comment!

Great real video of a beautiful story in Thailand, I enjoyed it very much even though I watch with subtitles because I'm German. I can speak English, but I have problems with some vocabulary. Would like to hear more about your life story. I am from Bangkok and live in On Nut Area in Phra Khanong

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Believe it or not, one of the foreigners teaching English in Ratchaburi was German. He could speak English pretty well, but they banned him from writing any English vocabulary on the blackboard because his spelling wasn't so good. Although obviously much better than my German! I'm going to make a part 2 of my time in Bangkok, where I ended up living in Phrakaniong! Strange, but true! Anyway, thanks so much for your positive comment!

@Michibz57

2 ай бұрын

@@balloonchaser haha great. I hope you know also the Ghost House in Phra Khanong.😅 I love this area

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

@@Michibz57 Mare Nak Phrakanong! 👻

@Michibz57

2 ай бұрын

@@balloonchaser Great

Great story. It's funny where life can take you.

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks a lot! And in this case, it took me to Ratchaburi when I was sure they were offering me a job in Bangkok! 😊

great story

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for your positive comment. Cheers!

Part 2 please.........................

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Jolyon, thanks for your continued support and comments. Part 2 in the next few weeks after a couple of trips around Thailand!

What was your wage at the director role?

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

I'll try to say a bit more about it in part 2. It varied over the years that I did the job. But overall, it was around double what I was getting as a teacher in Ratchaburi.

excellent video, have my own milk train storys from the late 1960's out of swinging london. As you did not say, guess you were a tax person, still nobody's perfect.

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

Many thanks, BB. My government service started at the dole office in Spray Street in Woolwich. Then I was an office manager in Hackney. And eventually, you're right, my last job was working in Somerset House in London, the Head Office of HMRC. Now you know why I retired at 47! Tell me more about the milk train!

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

@bigbopper6311 Sounds like a fun time, BB! Not sure I ever had quite that much energy! And now I'm happy with slippers and a hot cocoa at 10pm. Happy memories!

12 years myself 😊

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Good stuff, Derek! You've obviously made a success of it!

Right now where r you stay 😎I am stay Ratchaburi I think one day to meet you may be🥸

@balloonchaser

Ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment. I spend most of my time between Chonburi and Bangkok at the moment. But, I travel a lot, so I'm sure I'll be back in Ratchaburi at some time in the future!

Liked นะ

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks!

What was the process of teaching English if you couldn't speak thai?

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

That's a really good question, thanks! In Thai schools, it basically works like this: -Native speakers are there to teach English conversation only. Much of this is done by simple speak & repeat, role plays and games. - Students learn grammar and writing from Thai teachers in separate lessons. So the lesson with the "foreigner" is like an add-om - Often there will be a Thai teaching assistant in the classroom to help out with translation and any discipline or domestic issues - On a broader note, there's a whole school of thought suggesting that learning completely in your target language is the quickest way to improve! Bit like me having to learn Thai or survive only on KFC!

@blakesterdrums1647

2 ай бұрын

@balloonchaser channel follower now....great videos. I hope to retire there in the next couple years....maybe by then they'll have something similar in pattaya. Would be fun to do part time

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

​@blakesterdrums1647 Many thanks for the follow. Get out here when you can. You won't regret it, I'm sure! Having something to do part time is good to keep the brain active. Plenty of choice in Bangkok and Pattaya!

You came to LoS and the place you opted to stay was 3rd road? Were you attracted by the temples or "the castle"? These Thai schools are looking for lawsuits. In your case they were lucky, but advertising for teachers in Pattaya certainly could have its downside. I mean, taking your typical sex tourist from Pats and shoving him into a school full of teenage girls, what could possibly go wrong?

@balloonchaser

3 ай бұрын

Thanks, David. I'd been coming to Thailand for several years, multiple times a year before I ever set foot on third road or in Pattaya. But on that trip I started by hanging out with some friends, which may or may not have been a wise decision. Either way my year in Ratchaburi was helpful in learning about Thai language, culture and food. And luckily my urge to travel around this wonderful country has remained strong until today. As regards recruiting teachers, well, that's what I did in my next job. And the topic could probably be a video series on it's own!

62 for the algo

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

All good stuff! Feed the algorithm!

Interesting content compared to some of the crap elderly vloggers are producing . I think most of them come here and are at a loose end with what to do with themselves. I came across one the other day with one fellow drinking beer outside different 7/11s . Zero self awareness

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

I like comments like this. I'm happy to be an elderly vlogger if I can add a small bit of knowledge or information for people wanting to come to this great country. I think you have to respect the host country and be grateful for the opportunities it offers. Thanks, again!

See u dressed for the interview. 😅

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

That's my very best t-shirt, I'll have you know! 😀 Actually even if I'd really dressed like that, I think I'd have still got the job. They were that desperate! 😲

It's a long way for champions league matches 😂 UTV!!!

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

If I could get a ticket for Villa in the final, I'd go! VTID!

no ,the first question is why Pattaya ,why move there . Been 23 years here ,in Sa Kaeo province . As a civil servant ,why leave ,you get paid for doing nothing So to sum up , civil servant -dodgy ,English teacher ,well a waste of time ,they are useless trying to communicate why are you so scared to go further away ,not close to Bangkok the only Thais able to command any degree of English work in a sea side town in Chonburi ,they are velly good It is impossible not to find "a place to eat" in the LOS ,they don't do it ,grub everywhere BUT the stories I could tell of my decade here ,what a place

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Ian, for taking the time to leave a comment. I don't agree with much of what you say, but I welcome all opinions on the topic.

Not knowing much about football being a Villa supporter🤣🤣🤣 - I know, they havent accomplished anything of late have they???

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

Well, it's all relative, David. Compared to our rivals, we're in a different league. Or two!

Be honest you didn't go to Thailand 4 times a year for the sightseeing and sun . You can get that anywhere. You went chasing the young women 😂

@balloonchaser

2 ай бұрын

My rule in life; never chase women. But if they choose to chase you? My days of being popular in that regard finished around the same time this story started 😀!

@corin6677

2 ай бұрын

🙂💪💪