If you haven’t seen my latest video yet, I shared a pretty honest look at my recent trip to Thailand — and why I’ve decided not to move back, even though I’ve lived there many times before. Keep reading for a brief followup.
My Connection to Thailand (Then vs. Now)
I’ve lived in Thailand many times — starting when I was just 16 and I even raised my son there when he was little. I love the culture, language, and the Thai people.
But this most recent trip made me realize that while Thailand will always be special to me, it’s no longer the right place for me to live long-term – at least not right now.
I summed it up in the video by saying it just felt “too chaotic” — and that really was the simplified version.
Red Flags and Widely Known Issues
When I was younger I overlooked a lot of these things. I didn’t want to get into too much detail in my video, but I will share here that these are some issues and concerns I have with living there long-term:
I’ve personally experienced serious threats and extortion while living there.
This happened to me the last time I lived there. It made it clear how little protection you have as a foreigner if something goes wrong.
There’s a visible rise in sex tourism and trafficking.
The normalization of predatory behavior from some older foreign men is a huge problem.
Air and water pollution were worse than I remembered.
There are various types of pollution from the air, trash on the ground, and water contamination that can lead to certain health issues.
The roads are chaotic and dangerous.
Whether you’re a pedestrian or on a motorbike, it’s stressful and dangerous. It’s a lot worse than years ago and crossing the street reminded me of crossings in Vietnam.
Thailand doesn’t have the same kind of free speech protections that exist in places like the U.S.
Even respectful criticism can sometimes be risky to share publicly or online.
There are more foreigners causing problems now than I remember.
Of course, not everyone — but there’s a noticeable shift. The local people are often left to deal with the consequences.
Why I Made This Video
I didn’t make this video to bash Thailand. I still love the country. I’ll absolutely visit again.
But I think it’s important to be honest — especially for people who might be considering moving there without really understanding what it’s like long-term. With that said, I created this video to share with my subscribers what I’ve recently experienced on my trip — some challenges with skin cancer, realizations about the country and my observations there. I didn’t realize this video would attract so much outside attention.
There are so many beautiful things about Thailand. But like anywhere, it has a issues too. And while some people might not want to hear it, I think sharing a real, balanced experience is more helpful than glamorizing everything and pretending it’s paradise.
Final Thoughts
I’ve gotten a lot of comments — some really supportive, some angry and unhinged (saying I’m a CIA operative or doing a journalistic hit piece). But, I’m just sharing some observations on things that are commonly-known. Maybe it makes people uncomfortable when it’s brought up. But, if Thailand works for you long-term, that’s great and I wish you the best!
Thanks to everyone who left respectful comments and shared helpful advice. I really do appreciate it. — Holly (aka น้ำผึ้ง)
