There are 220,000 miles of coastline in the world. What's so special about Thailand's 3,000?
For one thing, all three thousand of those miles are in Thailand! And let's face it, once your daily dose of sand and water has put you in high spirits you have to return to the normal world. And the 'world' of Thailand is one of the most delightful on our planet.
Thailand Beaches
Rather than trying cover all of Thailand's hundreds of beaches let's focus on one which has a famous name but whose many charms are surprisingly little known. But if you're considering retiring to a Thai beach remember: our example is one of hundreds.
Just off the southwestern coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea lies the "Pearl of the South", arguably the world's most beautiful, and Thailand's largest island, Phuket. Phuket is divided lengthwise by a mountain range extending the length of the western coast, all fringed by wide, sandy beaches. Away from the beaches and mountains Phuket is rather flat with rich green tropical hills and valleys. At about 200 square miles, it's almost the same size as nearby Singapore, yet the cultures could hardly be more different!
Weather is the next biggie for expats considering dropping out of the rat race and dropping in to beach life. Phuket's weather is hot and humid most of the year, with November-January providing a break, bringing cooler days and nights. Phuket's weather is influenced mostly by the direction of the monsoon winds. When the northeast winds start in November they bring the end of the rainy season. The cool season is the best time of year to visit Phuket. There is lots of blue sky, little rain, low humidity and the temperatures are comfortably hot. Understandably, it's Phuket's high season for visitors.
Experienced travelers agree that the island's southern beaches are some of the best-if not the best-on earth. In addition to its brilliant-white beaches and amethyst lagoons, Phuket has an asset that many tourists miss: one of the oldest, biggest, and most diverse racial and ethnic mixes in Thailand. Over the centuries an endless stream of immigrants has arrived here from the mainland, China, Vietnam and Malaysia, along with shipwrecked sailors and intrepid travelers from 80 countries.
They've cooked up a storm of dishes featuring Phuket's abundant, fresh-daily seafood. There is even Portuguese influence in the fried dishes, Dutch/Indonesian, and Chinese coastal provincial dishes that have been subtly altered to accommodate local ingredients. Southern Thailand's cuisine dominates, of course, but the rich coconut-milk based curries adapt equally well to suit Malaysian recipes. Even retirees' famously picky palates will be endlessly entertained in Phuket's hundreds of eateries. And I wouldn't be doing my duty as a retirement scout if I failed to remind you that a big bottle of cold, crisp Singha beer, served at your table, will set you back .50
There are, by my count, 62 primary retirement locations in Thailand each of which--depending on personal preferences--can be an earthly Paradise for someone. Phuket is just one.
Reasons to Retire in Thailand: Beaches
My company, Thailand Retirement Helpers, shows you how you can double your income while living here, in paradise (if you define "paradise" as somewhere beautiful, warm, friendly, safe, happy, and affordable).
Our week-long workshops immerse you in Thai life--from language to shopping, from medical care to elephant care. After one intense week you'll know what, where, and how much to pay for living here. AND you'll have the vacation of a lifetime.
You can find out more by downloading the book "How to Retire in Thailand and Double Your Income" from Amazon, and by going to the website, http://www.thailandretirementhelpers.com.
While you're there, sign up for the free monthly Thailand Retirement newsletter. It's both fun and useful, and the pictures alone will cheer you up!
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