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When most people reckon of Thailand the first thing that comes to intellect is a third world country where most of it’s population lives in acute poverty. These same people would never consider living in Thailand for dread of living without the necessities of life.

I went to Thailand in November, 2004 and chose to make it my new domestic while in retirement. Now that I have lived here for approaching two years I can tell you precisely what it is like to live here versus Canada where I resided for 53 years.

Climate:

For starters I am now living without the drastic change in temperatures that occur annually in Canada where half of the year it is warm or hot and other half of the year it is freezing cold. The temperature differentials require residents to buy clothing for all seasons. To live in Canada you need summer jackets, winter coats, sandals, shoes, boots, and suits and overcoats and the list goes on including hats, gloves and scarves.

Here in Thailand you have your different seasons but basically the temperature is either warm or hot, and for three months of the year you will see virtually no rainfall at all and during the rainy season you will witness rainfall nearly daily. The type of clothing that I wear during the seasons does not change one iota.

One gets used to the heat here just as one gets accustomed to the cold weather in Canada. Surprisingly the evenings are cool and during the night with the window open a blanket would be essential during most months of the year.

So whether I had my choice where to live in terms of climate alone it would be here in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Score Thailand 1 Canada 0

Food:

In Canada I ate my share of quick foods and junk foods. Potatoes in one form or another were present in most meals from hash browns in the morning, to french fries at lunch, to mashed or fried potatoes at dinner.

Now I still eat potatoes which are priced higher here than in Canada but I do not eat them as regularly. French fries or potato soup now and then and I am content.

Thai people eat rice the way I ate potatoes. It is evident in nearly every meal. I seldom ate rice when I lived in Canada but I delight in it now particularly because of the sauce that is added. A rather ordinary fried vegetables with rice dish becomes a very tasty meal with their secret sauce added to the dish.

Overall I eat much healthier foods now, more rice, less potatoes, more vegetables, seafood and fresh fruit and less junk food. So on the basis of health, and taste Thailand scores another point, and that is not even taking into consideration that the food is priced much lower here than in Canada. Expect to pay approximately 60-70% less on groceries here and yet eat as much or more of foods that are tasty and fruits that are locally grown.

Score Thailand 2 Canada 0

Transportation:

In Canada my main means of traveling from point A to point B was my car, something most people in the world cannot live without, well at least whether they stay where they are.

Because of the distances between places that I would normally go to in Canada a car was an absolute necessity for me.

For most North Americans the car is a necessity and an expensive one. It isn’t just a means of transportation but also a status symbol. Whether we get a raise at work we reward ourselves with a new car, the neighbor gets a new car prompts us to do the same, and a sporty car is always essential to impress the girlfriend.

The actual cost of operating their motor vehicle in total is unknown to most drivers, and I estimate that the depreciation or lease cost, insurance, gas, repairs would add up to over $10,000 for most decent vehicles. Now reckon approximately this. I can show you how to retire here in Chiang Mai, Thailand on less than $10.000 and live comfortably, eat healthy foods and delight in yourself. Does your motor vehicle contribute as much to your life?

Whether you live here you do not need a car. The tuk tuk (three wheeled motorcycle with bench seat at back) or Red taxi (pick up truck with covered back section with bench seating on two sides) can get you around town for next to nothing. Should you want to go out of town then on those occasions you can rent a car.

So forget approximately a car whether you live here. Forget approximately the insurance costs increasing every year and also expensive fuel costs. Forget approximately speeding tickets, parking tickets and car washes.

The advantage here certainly goes to Chiang Mai. Getting around town is both quick and inexpensive. For those residents that buy a vehicle it is normally a pick up truck as the pick up trucks are taxed less by the Government perhaps many are manufactured here and thus become more affordable. Auto insurance costs here are approximately 33% of what I would pay in Canada and whether you did not have any accidents in the first year then expect a reduction in your premium which would reduce the cost to 23% of what you would pay in North America for very excellent coverage on a decent vehicle.

So sorry Canada, another point for Thailand.

Thailand 3 Canada 0

Living Necessities:

Don’t know approximately you but internet access 24 hours a day and a TV are absolute necessities in my life. I can live without food for 24 hours but I am not certain whether the same could be said for TV and internet. In Canada I had hi speed cable for $50 monthly, and cable TV for another $50 monthly for a total of $100 a month.

Doctors and dentists are living necessities. You would never want to live anywhere for an extended period of time without both easily accessible. In excellent ancient Canada one has to make an appointment to see a family doctor, whether after repeated visits the family doctor doesn’t know what ails you they will finally make an appointment for you to see a specialist who will probably know in 15 minutes what the problem is and how to treat it. Unfortunately the appointment to see a specialist is normally a 6-8 week wait.

What else is a necessity? Hmmm.. Accommodations. In terms of accommodations in Canada houses prices have ballooned as elsewhere in the world in the past few years. And we all know what can happen to balloons. When house prices go up it is accompanied by or followed by an increase in rental prices. So why shouldn’t the apartment or condo owner not get a chance to gauge the consumer.

Let’s see how Chiang Mai fares versus Canada in these categories.

I have internet and phone here for approximately $22 Canadian monthly. The internet speed is slower than what I had in Canada but I can upgrade to a quicker speed whether I want, at present this speed is perfectly satisfactory on most occasions and a bit slow when there are more users on line in the late afternoons or early evenings. We had 54 channel cable TV installed recently. Not as many sports or film channels but the monthly cable cost for 2 TV’s is approximately $ 9 Canadian. So for telephone, cable TV and telephone the total is $31 compared to $130 in Canada. Canada wins out on having better channels, but with cost included as a factor I would call it a tie. As for internet the speed is fine with me and the cost much less that I give the point to Thailand.

Medical care is CHEAP here. I will probably be treated by a doctor who received their training abroad and who speaks brilliant English . A doctor can be seen the same day and a specialist within a few days. I can expect to get immediate treatment for a fraction of the cost in North America. A dental cleaning here was $9 versus $50-$100 in Canada and repairing a broken veneer set me back a whole $18 here and I would guess it would have cost me $100-150 in Canada. So a certain point for Thailand.

Accommodations are a hands down winner in Chiang Mai. Not only are the accommodations CHEAP I repeat CHEAP but they also provide me with everything that need and want. Shortly arriving in Chiang Mai I stayed at a serviced apartment for 2 months at $250 Cdn. monthly for rent which includes water, utilities, cleaning and change of linens and towels twice weekly and also cable TV. The serviced apartment had a swimming pool on the top floor, massage on 4th floor, restaurant, beauty salon, motorbike rental on main floor. It was clean, comfortable, the owners were extremely hospitable and it was located within walking distance of the largest mall and also many restaurants many of which had superb entertainment in the evenings.

Food is another necessity. Even though I resided in the Niagara Peninsula area of Canada which is blessed with an abundance of fruits, and vegetables the point here goes clearly to Chiang Mai. Many fruits are grown locally here also, and you get the added benefit of fresh seafood, So adding up the score Canada ½ point for the tie on TV, Thailand 1 point for doctor and dentist, one for accommodations , 1 point for internet and ½ point for TV.

Score Thailand 6 ½ Canada ½

Things to Do:

I lived most of my life in and around Toronto, a city that has a reputation for being very clean and safe, a city which is domestic to a diverse population that intend to stay in Canada and a city which is in a fantastic location for both summer and winter activities. Niagara Falls is but a 1 ½ hr. drive absent, lakes for boating and fishing a mere 1hr. drive north of the city, and skiing in the winter a small 1 hours drive absent. Overall, a fantastic city in my opinion and one that fares well in surveys of best places to live.

But looking at it honestly I can do all that I could do back there apart from for the skiing here and do it for less money. A trip to the reservoir here is similar to going to a trip to the beach in Hamilton. The children swim, play with inner tubes, the drive there is quick and without traffic, there are areas to walk around, and the restaurant food by the side of the reservoir is plentiful and inexpensive. So after I leave the reservoir I have paid for the meals, drinks, entrance fee, inner tube rental and this is what I would have paid for the parking to gain entrance to the beach in Canada.

The singers in the restaurants and nightclubs here copy local hit songs to perfection. The malls have the latest movies at the theatres. There are pool halls, bowling, an abundance of restaurants, and many things to do from shopping for bargains at the Night Bazaar, hot springs, elephant rides, Chiang Mai zoo, parks, many fine golf courses and much more.

There is something amusing that I want to share with you. We were watching a new program on TV where three singers go on stage and each sings a song. The same song is performed by all three but only one was really singing and the others were merely pretending. So then the judges guess who was the real singer and clarify the logic behind their choice. This one night they played a Patsy Cline song. I swore Patsy had come back to life God rest her soul. One performer was in her early twenties, one in her late twenties and one merely a child who looked like she was only 11 years ancient. I quickly discounted her as the song required a mature voice and the hosts of the program were just trying to place a member of the family on TV so I thought. Well, incorrect again. After the judges end guessing the three performers go back on stage and sing the same song at the same time and then gradually one stops singing and then another leaving the actual singer left singing the song. Well I could have bet a dollar to a donut as the saying goes that the youngster was not the singer. Glad I didn’t. A very entertaining program.

Oh and a Thai film that we rented recently came to intellect not that I speak Thai but it was rented for the amusement of the others in the family. To get to the most amusing part of the film, you have two groups approaching a bridge. Both want to cross first. One group is a funeral procession and the other a wedding procession. A Buddhist monk comes to the rescue. He suggests that one group cross in single file on one side of the bridge while the other group crosses at the same time on the opposite of the bridge. Well it works but what is amusing is that one group is smiling, joyous and pleased while the other is sad, crying and grieving. The more the grieving side sees the other side laughing the more they weep. I guess you have to see it for yourself to appreciate it.

The final score for those of you who are keeping track is Thailand 7 ½ and Canada ½.

When I was in Canada I viewed it as a fantastic place to live. It was safe, clean, with a honest cost of living, and with many activities through the year. Now that I have lived here in Chiang Mai, Thailand in all honesty I have to say I feel safer here, it isn’t as clean but it’s not nearly as poor as some would lead you to believe, and the cost of living here is so much lower that you can really live here comfortably, and fortunately for less than you ever imagined.

So for the benefit of those who thought they would never want to live here for dread of living without I would say the following. Chiang Mai, Thailand is already domestic to thousands of foreigners who have realized that this city has all that they need and want, and best of all they can also live here affordably with many things to do in and around this gorgeous city that in Thailand is commonly referred to as “The Rose of The North”. What I am living without now are the snow, freezing cold temperatures and high costs of living and these items I can live without.

Buying a new or used motorcycle is serious commerce. It needs thought and careful choice. A motorbike is sacred to many and just a vehicle to some. But no motorcycle buyer should be without a check list that will help him or her make a fantastic choice.

10 musts before paying for a motorcycle:

1. Check it out and do so with a motorcyclist friend in tow. Check whether the motorcycle is clean and straight down centerline and forks.

2. Take along a list of models and their pros and cons. Discuss the nuances with the friendly sales person.

3. Find out approximately gears, brakes, clutch, and all other mechanics.

4. Determine engine specifics and details of gas tank and wheels.

5. Question approximately service and warranties.

6. Get details of accessories and other musts like helmets, rear view mirrors and so on.

7. Sit on a lot of bikes to get a feel of height and riding position.

8. Read up on bikes in learn Nowadays’s Motorcycling. Get all the information on types of bikes, financing, bike care and more.

9. Whether you are new to motorcycles choose a light-weight bike rather than the coolest, sexiest bike that only pros can ride. New riders should aim for a four-cylinder of less than 600 cc or 75- cc for sports machines and 150cc for everyday use.

10. Question approximately safety gear and budget for this too in the cost of the motorcycle. Use pants, helmet, gloves, and jacket meant for motorcycling.

All motorcyclists must consider safety and reliability. Get a valid motorcycling license and insurance too. Be wise and take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) course see: http://www.msf-usa.org/ .

Refer to magazines like beginner Bikes magazine for recommendations on excellent starter bikes. According to committed bikers, a excellent choice of a motorcycle for a beginner would be Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Buell Blast.

Choose a bike that suits you and not one that looks excellent on the cover of a magazine. The rule of thumb is the motorcycle and its rider must fit like hand in glove. Test ride the motorcycle and get a feel. A large part of selecting a motorcycle is consolation and intuition. So choose a motorcycle with care so that you get long hours of riding as well as consolation and safety.

Never buy a bike on first sight or visit. Take your time in making a choice. Visit the many motorcycle websites on the internet and comparison shop. Find out what offline prices of motorcycles are and compare features as well as prices, service contracts, and warranties. Many people find that the best deals are available on the internet. Others feel a motorcycle must not be bought without viewing and test riding. So get all your thoughts and options in order before you make a choice.

A motorcycle is one of the most convenient and economical modes of transportation.  The motorcycle is marketed worldwide with types to suit all tastes.  Because of the continuing high cost of gasoline and diesel fuel increasingly workers are riding motorcycles to and from work.  Motorcycles use far less gasoline than automobiles do to go the same distance.  Many people prefer to buy a motorcycle or scooter because aside from the expediency that it offers, it is also a more affordable vehicle compared to cars and trucks. A moment hand motorcycle can be a real value and still have a lot of miles left on it. Spare parts for scooters and bikes can be bought nearly anywhere and at a minimal price.  Just a small overhauling, and perhaps some cosmetic work and you’re excellent to go. It will provide a lot of excellent economical transportation.  Whether it is just a trip to the local market, running errands across town, or a road trip, a motorcycle or scooter can be a partner in our daily activities.

Apart from this, motorbikes riding can also be used as a sport vehicle.  Whether this is the case, one has to choose a specialized kind of bike.  For motocross competition, it requires a bit of money and time in preparation for the event.  In considering the preparation for the contest, a motocross enthusiast must have proper motorcycle riding apparel, which should include motorcycle boots, a excellent helmet, mesh safety jackets, padded pants and accessories, like goggles and hearing protection.  These must haves should be well chosen and intentionally bought with quality in intellect for optimum protection.

Motorcycle boots are probably the most vital accessories that a motorcyclist must take into consideration.  Excellent safety boots gives greater, and much needed, protection for the feet.  They can come in a variety of styles and brands.  Some of the most well loved brands are Alpinestars, Gaerne, AGV, Fieldsheer and Motoline. Some motorcycle boots also with added safety features such as padded tops and steel toes.  During the event, motorcycle boots can save the driver from injuries to his feet, particularly when the field is rocky, muddy and slippery. The rider has to choose which boot fits his interest and compliments his taste.

A rider should be able to foresee possible accidents and know how to avoid them. By acquiring excellent quality products, it can add a degree of assurance and of confidence to the rider.  Reading tips and testimonies from champions can help a neophyte plot ahead for his own competition and the type of boots would work best.  Listening to experts can give a sense of motivation as well as inspiration.  Learning from them by any means, such as Internet blogging and asking questions approximately different boot types can help a lot. Joining in a community of motorcyclists is also a excellent way of gaining excellent knowledge approximately the best riding safety equipment. While vital learning should not only be in terms accessories and equipment but mental and physical preparation as well