A (maybe) temporary life change with reward

Not only for me but also for my girlfriend this all is a strange experience. I want to develop and build as much as possible with my (our) own hands. For me a much easier change, getting my pension, having my constructional and architectural background, and having enough time, than for my girlfriend.

She studied food science at a Thai university and is working in the world of banking now. Not having any more experience so far than only watching how constructions are built. A lot to discover and learn. Being clever enough it will be a challenge.

In the process we need her helping hands. Physically (see picture 😉) and keeping an eye on the budget. Feeling and understanding this culture and knowing the language she has a tremendous valuable part in this journey.

Indeed it is something else. A (maybe) temporary life change with for sure a reward.

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Two pieces of land in Surin at the end not for sale

Also, in Thailand, land is expensive depending on the area where you want to buy.

Good for us is we do not want to live in busy touristic areas and also do not prefer the seaside to live. Nice to go there sometimes but better to rent a hotel.

Once I rented a house with a swimming pool in Mae Rim (Chiang Mai province) and for me it wasn’t the best experience in my life. Never again so to say. Yes, we like nature, my girlfriend organic gardening and growing own vegetables and herbs. And yes, we like water in the garden. So, a nice pond if the time is there will be part of the project. Offering a nice habitat for some water animals and to store rain water during the rainy season to keep the land around the project a bit drier.

For a while we were interested in a part of land near a village lake in Surin. At the moment there are banana’s growing on that land. It is not too big and a pond is not needed because it is on the other side of the street so to say. Actually, we discovered the landlord cannot sell the land because the land-paper is at a bank. Something that happens a lot in Thailand to get a loan. So to say ‘normal’.

A friend of my girlfriend recommended us another piece of land. It is a nice spot next to a cycling road to a big reservoir and dam. Not too busy but enough ‘life’ around. Around one thousand square meters. And the price we liked. At the end of the day it worked out the family discussed and wanted to keep the land in the family. So… not for us.

All steps on the journey of discovery. No problem. The right place will unfold and we are not in a hurry.

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Looking (feeling) for land

After living over seven years in the North of Thailand for me it is time to change the area where I am living now. Enough experiences in this beautiful part of Thailand.

What a wonderful opportunity this new experience offers us to travel around in Thailand. Now I know I did not buy the new car for nothing. Yes, indeed for fun. Also Kadhow (my dog) likes it a lot. 

For me it is hearth warming to hear the reply of my girlfriend to get the opportunity to visit many places of her own country for the first time. She learned at school, heard of them and many times gets the latest news about these areas following the news, but never had the chance to visit.

I really want to stay in Thailand. Not looking forward to the touristic South and, although a Dutchman born close to the sea, not really longing for the sea. I like nature, some hills and also riding a bicycle.

In life so far, I learned I can live everywhere as long as it feels good. And if it is not feeling totally comfortable, I make it comfortable.

I lived at many parts in The Netherlands and at several places abroad in the world. I am used to make myself these places my home. I do not need many foreigners to feel happy (although I need to have some contacts). Reason why I start to learn to speak Thai (again). Hard to do but I feel it as a must. Again, no goal for reaching something but a playful way of learning half an hour on a daily base.

During our trip to India and Kashmir last April (2019) we met some nice and very kind people. They invited us to visit the province of Nakhon Ratchasima because they new a lot of free land. We had a great time and yes, what a great place to live and beautiful nature. This place is very attractive to people working and living in Bangkok. Nice spots (sometimes a bit too much to choose as the picture shows), good feeling, high land prices (yes I am still Dutch) and in my eyes also getting more and more touristic with all the developments (highways coming) going on.

It is just our first trip and we want to visit more before we decide where to start the next part of living life.  

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com