John's Life in Thailand
Updated June 13, 2008

READ ABOUT JOHN'S RECENT VIETNAM TRIP



Hello, and welcome to my special life in exile.  I chose this life for myself because I felt the materialistic life I led in America was not satisfying for me, and I yearned for something simpler, yet more challenging and more adventurous.  Living in Thailand became that adventure, and you can join me if you like, without even leaving the comfort of your living room.  Just read on. Picture of John in front of Temple Gate

What Is John's Life in Thailand, Anyway?


John's Life in Thailand is a series of short articles about my experience, thoughts, and feelings living in a foreign country.  It offers both a factual account of Thailand in the 1990s and my own personal perspective on living here.  You may see a few photos, but most of the pictures I will try to paint for you with my words. 

Want a break from the routine?  John's Life in Thailand is your chance to get away from your job, your town, your life in general for a few hours, and have exotic adventure.  Only you don't have to take the risks, because I do it for you.  Think of me as your medium.  I travel for you, I see for you, I deal with customs for you, I throw up for you.  Then I write about it, and sometimes take pictures (but not of the barf).  It's all in a day's work.

View my guestbook. Sign my guestbook.

Living Abroad


Living in a foreign country involves many discomforts and sacrifices.  There is some risk involved as well, for instance, disease, unfriendly officials, or even dishonest or obnoxious tourists from your own country.  Yet, in the end, if you are willing to put up with the inconveniences, you will find the rewards to be very great indeed.


Are you ready to go to
Thailand?


Please read my Notice to Travelers about Thailand


HOW THIS WEBSITE IS ORGANIZED

I now have the following sections for your reading enjoyment. Those with questions about coming to Thailand are advised to read item #4 below.
  1. Newsletters about my life in Thailand
  2. Stories about Thai Artists and their art
  3. Student Profiles about my own bright students
  4. Notice to travelers answers frequently asked questions about traveling and living in Thailand
  5. Links to Other Sites about Thailand, southeast Asia, travel, and teaching English
  6. Links to Sites about Writing and Writers
  7. Visitor Center - Take a survey, sign my guestbook, read other people's comments, and make some of your own.



Table of Contents

Newsletters


Introduction to Living Abroad:
Newsletters from 1997



Newsletter #1    January 1, 1997                   Welcome to Chiang Mai
Newsletter #2    January 10, 1997                 The Weather
Newsletter #3    January 20, 1997                 Eating and Shopping for Food
Newsletter #4    January 30, 1997                 Shopping and Bargaining
Newsletter #5    February 1, 1997                 Geography Tour of Southeast Asia
Newsletter #6    February 15, 1997               Showers and Toilets, Driving
Newsletter #7    June 1, 1997                       Working at the University, part I
Newsletter #8    June 15, 1997                     Working at the University, part II
Newsletter #9    June 30, 1997                     Working at the University, part III
Newsletter #10  July 1, 1997                         Traveling Through Thailand, part I
Newsletter #11  July 15, 1997                       Traveling Through Thailand, part II
Newsletter #12  November 1, 1997               My House in Chiang Mai



Life in the Land of Smiles:
Writings from 1998 and 1999

Newsletter #13    May 1, 1998........................  Looking Back After a Second Year
Newsletter #14    May 15, 1998......................  The Quality of Life in Chiang Mai
Newsletter #15    June 1, 1998........................  The Thai Economy
Newsletter #16    July 1, 1998........................  Quality and Service in Thailand, Part 1
Newsletter #17    July 15, 1998......................  Quality and Service in Thailand, Part 2
Newsletter #18    August 1, 1998....................  Dogs, Dogs, Dogs
Newsletter #19    September 1, 1998..............  It's a Man's World?
Newsletter #20    October 1, 1998..................  Flaky Farangs
Newsletter #21    November 1, 1998..............  Back from the U.S.A.
Newsletter #22    March 1, 1999....................  Back from Cambodia
Newsletter #23    April 1, 1999.......................  April in Chiang Mai
Newsletter #24    May 1, 1999.......................  May in Chiang Mai
Newsletter #25    June 1, 1999........................  In Search of the Neon Light
Newsletter #26    August 1, 1999....................  Moving Back to the U.S.A.
Newsletter #27    October 1, 1999...................  Bouncing Around Thailand, Laos, and the U.S.A.



Newsletters from a Distant Shore:
Writings from 2000 and Beyond

Newsletter #28    June 24, 2002.....................Where Have I Been Since 1999?
Newsletter #29    July 1, 2002.......................Greng Jai and the Farang
Newsletter #30    June 21, 2003......................Looking for Real Thai Food in LA
Newsletter #31    January 1, 2005....................Tsunami


Thai Artists and their Art

December 10, 1997 ............................................Roongroj Paimyossak
August 20, 1998..................................................Wancharoen Japakang
January 1, 1999 ..................................................Srijai Kuntawang
May 1, 1999 ......................................................Charoon Boonsuan
June 1, 1999 .......................................................Le Duc Hai and Le Ngoc Thanh



Student Profiles

January, 1999 ....................................................Kanjana Saelim
February, 1999 .................................................Wanwisa Srimanon
March, 1999 .....................................................Students of My Oral Expression Class
July 1, 1999 ......................................................My New Students



Copyright 1998, 1999, 2003 John Irvin


Links to Other Sites about Thailand, Southeast Asia, TEFL
These links checked and updated in Dec, 2006

  • Lonely Planet's Destination Thailand is still one of the best references online for the budget traveler. Plus, you can visit the Thorn Tree , Lonely Planet's online bulletin board, and get some ideas and opinions from other travelers.

  • A Guide To Asia   A Travel Guide to Asia with Traveling Tips, History and Culture, Language, Government, Climate, Entry Requirements, Tourist Destinations, Attractions and Places of Interest of Asian Countries.

  • Complete tourist guide to Chiang Mai   Everything you need to know about visiting or living in Northern Thailand, including sight seeing, trekking info, teaching English, ex-pat life, hotels, restaurants and more.

    Blue You - Travel Guides   A great travel guide to thailand, with suggested itineries, and detailed resort guides; including: Bangkok, Koh Samet, River Kwai (Kanchanaburi), Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Hua Hin. Check out the great Koh Samet photo gallery.

    Thailand.pagina.nl is a multilingual site (much of it in Dutch) with links to other useful sites, forums, and resources.

  • The Exploitz.com has a wealth of travel info on countries all over the world, including maps, hotel and weather listings, and tons of photos. Really comprehensive site - check it out!

  • 1-language.com Online ESL Center is a great new site developed by Jeremy Paton. If you teach ESL, you should definitely check this out. Includes forums, realtime chat, jobs, interactive quizzes and games, flashcards, audio materials, helplines, multi-lingual content, and more.

  • Dave's ESL Cafe, by Dave Sperling, is a great resouce for those who intend to teach English around the world. Contains job centers, forums, grammar section, quizzes, links and more. Special section on countries.

  • The Chiang Mai City Life formerly published as Chiang Mai Newsletter, contains articles of local interest in Chiang Mai, published monthly.

  • Rene Hasekamp has some information about Thailand on his website, inlcuding a message board and other useful features.

  • Global Access is a website for disabled travelers with lots of stories and information.

  • Ian Batterbee's site has stories and photos about his trip to Thailand. Well organized, good reading.

  • Work in Thailand , by Miles J. Thomas, may be of interest to those wishing to make money from taking online surveys. I haven't tried it, but you can visit his site to get a full explanation of how this works.

  • Matthew's Travel Website, by Matthew Tedstone, has a collection of the author's photos and stories about living and working in Thailand, as well as some of the surrounding countries.

  • Southeast Asia Picture/Photo Gallery is a great resource with around 500 large pictures from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam, plus over 200 pages of travel writing.


Links to Other Sites about Writers

  • Ray Smith writes really good stories about China, the US, and other things. Check him out at his website.



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