Checking for land in Ubon Ratchatani

We went for a visit to Ubon Ratchatani. A province that offers you everything. Nature, mountains, countryside, a great and living center, good energy and atmosphere (for us). 

This province is situated in the triangle Thailand, Laos, Cambodja. We really felt good there as did Kadhow. 

After our overnight stay the scene changed tremendously. The rivers coming together in this beautiful province started to overflow and many parts of the province flooded. 

My girlfriend even seemed to be a bit scared driving the flooded roads on the way to the next province Roy Et. Our car did a great job keeping us safe. 

This all does not say anything about starting to live there. It was just an other experience. 

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

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

The goal is the process not to reach the end of the project. Base is to enjoy the journey.

Maybe strange but we are not going for any goal and do not have a deadline. So, people who ask us when this project will be finished, we cannot give an answer. We just do not know. How wonderful is that? No hurry, no (or not too much 😉) stress.

Actually, it is like philosophy. You enjoy the journey. As soon as you find the solution, the journey is over.

So, I follow my inner guide, energy, creativity, and just trust the best things and opportunities will show themselves. The nice thing is that not having a final destination, every day you learned something new and... you reached a destination. A wonderful awareness. A kind of ongoing meditation exercise.

The nice thing is we already enjoy this journey. A journey full of new discoveries. 

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

New inspiration and energy are calling

There is a saying: “If certain doors close for you, other doors automatically will open”. That’s a bit the feeling that appears to me at the moment. An old seed germinating.

Being from origin (my basic education) an architect and constructional engineer, because of economical crisis in the eighties, I did not work a long time in this direction. I was happy to found great jobs after doing the Dutch Fire Service College. For over thirty-one years as a professional officer and commander, I worked in crises and disaster management functions. They were great opportunities and challenges. Constructional engineering only was a tiny little part of it. Basically, the first years working as a regional fire prevention officer. Raising in ranking till finally CEO in Health and Safety had not so much to do anymore with architecture and construction. We had specialists in our teams.

Living in Thailand, and giving myself the opportunities to ‘surrender’ to my callings, over and over again things happen to me in the flow of my life. Growing by sharing using my unique set of talents (as everybody has) and listening to their ‘voice’.

In many ways I feel my mom and dad and my personal guide working in and with me. Playful, grateful, quality and just do it. LIVE life and make yourself useful. Don’t just only hang around wasting your (life)time.  

Around this moment, actually on the way to deepen myself even more in spirituality, life- & talent coaching, the seeds (talents) of my basic education start to germinate.

I do not know what it brings, it feels good, so let’s explore.

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com