One of the teacher’s we recruited to Thailand, Rob James, has shown himself to be quite the writer, so with permission we have been allowed to post his recent blog entry. To see the original entry on his own blog, click me.
The 5 best things about living in Thailand
1. Affordability. Whether you want to take a 10 hour coach journey, spend a night in a nice hotel or visit some outstanding tourist attraction, you can be sure that 99 times out of a 100 you can comfortably afford to do just that. The standard of living that you can attain with your earnings is arguably the best in the world. Everyone is a V.I.P in Thailand and even when your watching the pennies, you can always eat delicious street food and feel like a king.
2. Culture. Thai culture is dominated by its association with Theravada Buddhism, which ensures a calm approach regardless of the situation. It is inspiriting to see the levels of recognition for others throughout the Thai society, especially their profound respect for their elders, the King and of course Buddha. The customs dictate that it is beneficially to keep a ‘Jai Yen’ or cool heart even in times of frustration – keep cool and the situation will resolve itself.
3. Food. Thai food is world renowned not only for its flavours but also for its health benefits. In Bangkok, you can eat just about any food that the world knows at a myriad of international restaurants but the classic Thai dishes are the ones that make up the staple for most people here. Composed of a combination of salty, sour, spicy (incredibly spicy) and sweet, these quick stir-fry rice or noodle dishes are served literally everywhere and everyone loves taking time out of the day to stop and eat.
4. The Beaches. Simply world class in every aspect. You’d be hard pressed to find anywhere as stunning as the beaches in the south of Thailand, especially around Krabi and Koh Phi Phi. Furthermore, even Koh Samet – a few hours from Bangkok – has arguably got equally as impressive white sand beaches. The year round warm temperatures mean it’s never not time to go to the beach!
5. Bangkok. A truly indescribable place to visit and experience. The capital of Thailand is the centre of everything Thai and contains nearly everything you could imagine – twice! The volume of people wheeling and dealing, shopping, attending business meetings, meditating, exercising and of course eating, all simultaneously in one manic super-city can leave you feeling dizzy at times. Walk out in Bangkok and the place will take you away with its endless energy that never ceases.
The 5 best things about living in the U.K.
1. Christmas Season. Britain at Christmas time is always a special place to be. The shops make sure we’re ready (in October) and the majority of people stop working for a week or two to reunite with friends and family, who they usually wouldn’t see. Christmas dinner is a once a year feast, unrivaled by those ‘ordinary’ Sunday roasts we experience year round and the pubs have a fantastic atmosphere to go and celebrate the joys of the season.
2. Tolerance and freedom of expression. The U.K is one the worlds leading countries in terms of freedom of expression and human rights (and animal rights for that matter). Perhaps we take it for granted at times but being able to express opinions against our own government and establishment is in fact a fantastic privilege. All religions are permitted to be practiced in the U.K and we have been blessed with multi-culturalism in many areas of the nation despite the best efforts in parts of the xenophobic national media!
3. The English Countryside. Britain is home to some stunning areas of natural beauty whether it’s the Yorkshire Dales, the Lake District or the Welsh mountains, you are sure to see iconic views that are synonymous with the nation’s identity. The seasonal weather also means each place has a different feel dependent on when you visit.
4. The Music. The country that gave the American Jimmy Hendrix his break, saw the rise and rise of the Beatles and has now given the world Adele, there’s no denying that the U.K is inextricably linked with pop music culture. The people’s passion for music is sustained with multiple world class outdoor festivals each year, including the symbolic Glastonbury, ‘V’ and Download offerings. Tickets for these sort after gigs are guaranteed to sell out months before the event.
5. London. One of the world’s most renowned cities is steeped in history, culture and style. The enormous metropolis is a haven for avant-garde arts, media, fashions and entertainment and is one the globe’s financial super-heavyweights. The former Londonium has gone from strength to strength as the city built on the Thames continues to dominate the modern world.
Conclusion
So there we have it, two countries and two very different cultures both with multifarious positive qualities and also some negatives too. It’s true that the U.K is a more financially exclusive place to inhabit but it’s also true that Thailand has dubious animal rights and a largely ignominious police force. The U.K has mass unemployment among its youth whereas Thai corruption renders political ambitions unfeasible. But how different are the opposing lifestyles and ideologies that are typified by locations in the East or West? Perhaps we should remind ourselves of Rudyard Kipling’s poem which gives this blog its title.
The Ballad of East and West
Oh, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgement Seat;
But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the earth!
But I’m still struggling to decide… Now I like living in Thailand. But I also like living in the U.K. But which is better? There’s only one way to find out… FIGHT!!!
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