10 Little Reasons I Love My Life Here


Big life changes often come with big expectations. But in the end, it’s not the grand adventures or the exotic views that make me love living here the most.

It’s the little things.

Here are ten of them:

1. Sunrise coffee on my balcony – when the sky is still soft and the world is quiet.

2. Sunsets on the beach – just 200 meters from my door.

3. The morning chorus of birds that sounds like a cheerful wake-up call.

4. Having a swimming pool within reach – a luxury I never take for granted.

5. The freedom of “I don’t have to” – life at my own pace.

6. Frangipani trees in bloom, their sweet scent drifting in the warm air.

7. Fruits warmed by the sun – mango, watermelon… the same as in Europe, yet completely different in taste.

8. Warm evenings without a jacket – just the sound of the waves and the hum of cicadas.

9. The friendly smiles from neighbours and strangers alike.

10. Tiny gecko friends on my balcony – sometimes bold enough to wander into the house.

Life here isn’t perfect. But these little moments add up, and together they make my days rich in a way I never expected.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Healthcare and Insurance in Thailand – How It Really Works

Image
Let’s be honest – coming to Thailand without travel insurance is asking for trouble. A private hospital can hand you a bill that makes your heart race faster than a chili pepper 🌶️. That’s why we stick to an annual travel insurance policy that can be renewed every year. It’s not perfect, but at least we sleep better at night (and in our age, a good night’s sleep is already a luxury 😉). With the Non-Immigrant O visa there’s no requirement to have medical insurance. Sounds great, until you actually think about what could happen if something goes wrong. We tried to buy a local policy here, and that’s where the fun began. Insurance companies welcome you with a smile… until you mention the words “chronic conditions.” Suddenly, that smile fades. The offers we got included a two–three year waiting period. In other words: you pay around £2,000 a year, but coverage for chronic illnesses only starts years later – if at all. And the conditions you already have? Not covered. So basically you pay...
Read more

The Dark Side of Thailand – What You Don’t See on Postcards

Image
Thailand seduces with tropical beaches, golden temples, and warm smiles on every corner. But behind the postcard-perfect image lies a reality you don’t even have to look for to see. Because every paradise has its price. And too often, it’s the weakest who pay. This isn’t an easy topic – but it can’t be ignored. Thailand has struggled with prostitution for decades. Officially, it’s illegal. In practice – it’s everywhere. Open, visible, and largely tolerated. Tourists from the West don’t always come here for the scenery. Some come for “entertainment” that has nothing to do with nature. And in many tourist areas, that becomes clear very quickly. In places like Pattaya, Western men can easily find “company” for 1,500–2,000 baht – no questions asked. A straightforward transaction, openly discussed in bars and on the street, showing how deeply this trade is woven into the fabric of some tourist hotspots.  And then there’s something else – it hits you after just a few days: old, frail Wes...
Read more

Water, Chlorine, and Gratitude

Image
I’ve been terrified of water all my life. Not “a bit uneasy". Not “not a fan". I mean genuinely afraid – the kind of fear where even getting into a bathtub felt like a risk, and only with a rubber duck for backup. Lakes? No. Pools? Only the shallow end. The sea? Maybe ankle-deep. Maybe. But here in Thailand, there’s no escaping water. The heat, the humidity, the sudden downpours – without a pool, you melt. And I kept staring at that blue rectangle with a mix of awe and dread… Until Wlodek decided to teach me. Again. Yes, the same Wlodek who once made it his mission to teach me how to drive in England. And he did. Despite my tears, my panic, my near-refusal to even sit behind the wheel. Now, in Thailand, he set his sights on something even bigger: teaching me to swim. Alright – “swim” might be a stretch. But for me, it counts. I don’t drown. I don’t cling to the edge. I manage to swim across the pool – sometimes ten, sometimes even twenty lengths. And yes, I still have panic a...
Read more