After returning to Thailand, we went straight to Hua Hin and settled at the same villa where we lived in November 2014.  This time, we plan to spend three months in Thailand, two of them in Hua Hin,  and then 3 weeks – on the island of Koh Phangan.

Hua Hin has transformed from the quiet town to the busy beach tourist destination for better or worse.

Market Village

Cicada Market

Many people keep asking us: “You do not work, so what do you do all day?”  Our usual answer is : “We live”.    While we outsource the majority of household tasks (gardening, pool maintenance, laundry, and house cleaning) we still spend some time shopping for food, cooking, etc.   A big house allows us to invite guests, and we enjoy hosting them.  Together, we go to the beach,

visiting local attractions (there are not too many around though),

night markets,

and day markets,

Mango Sticky Rice Stall

doing massages,

eating out…

And believe me or not, it takes some time to do research about our next destination, Thai visas, and stay in touch with relatives and friends.

Thai visas…  I can’t say that Thailand has the best visa policy.  We obtained our 60 days tourist visas in Kuala Lumpur and then planned to extend them for 30 days in Thailand.  A 60 days tourist visa ($30) plus extension ($60) and you end up paying close to $100 for staying just 90 days in the country.  Then you have to leave/exit Thailand, obtain another visa in the nearest country, and repeat the process.  If you add all visa related expenses, you would realize that your long stay in Thailand become costly.   Therefore, we converted our tourist visa into a non-immigrant visa O-A, a.k.a. “retirement” visa ($62).  The first time we got permission to stay in the country for 90 days. Then we will be extending our new retirement visa for 1 year (for the same $60 extension fee we can stay 1 year instead of 30 days).   Cross your fingers that rules will stay unchanged.

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Bangkok Immigration office.  There was a cultural expo in the lobby, never saw anything like this in the government building.  It was fun!

Good morning Bangkok!

Typical morning in Bagkok – waiting for the green traffic light

Bangkok Immigration office, Lobby

Bangkok Immigration office, Lobby

Bangkok Immigration office, Lobby

All ingredients are ready for the papaya salad

Mushrooms…

And the goats…

still in the lobby of the Immigration office!

The main reason for staying in Hua Hin for so long was to decide if it can be used as a base for our retirement.  We still did not come up with the final conclusion.

There are so many lovely things about this town

we met and became friends with the wonderful people…  However, there is something else that still holds us back from 100% accepting Hua Hin as a base.