Every westerner has his own private reason for moving to Thailand. A young backpacker in search of adventure, a yuppie thirty-something couple with an eye for a business opportunity, a corporate transfer for a high-powered executive.

Or perhaps you are a retrenched baby boomer looking for his second childhood, a long-suffering trailing spouse, a sex-starved bachelor seeking the raunchy nightlife, a lonely divorcee longing for a new relationship, a retired senior seeking to unwind and enjoy his leisure years.

Whatever your reason for moving to this tropical Land of Smiles, one thing is for sure.. Thailand comes the closest to being "all things to all men"!

The following are a few tips and observations to smooth the path and are drawn from my personal experiences over six plus years spent here in this little piece of heaven on earth.

Climate - Thailand is a hot country. (Ok now you know whoever told you this article was going to be ground breaking rocket science was telling porkie pies!) If you are not used to hot climates then allow a little time to acclimatise. Those of you who know me know that I am the wrong side of 16 stone and so was always a little uncomfortable when visiting hotter countries. But I must tell you I have been amazed at how I have adjusted and gotten used to temperatures of 30 plus degrees centigrade every day for the last six years! Drinking plenty of fluids (alcoholic ones don't count unfortunately!) and learning to stay out of the sun almost as much as the Thais do have certainly helped.

Health - Again for those new to tropical climates it will take a little while to get used to the changes in your metabolism and body in general. Cuts and sores seem to take an age to heal and chesty coughs and colds seem as frequent here as they did back in drafty old England. Air conditioning has its part to blame in this, but moving from air-con arctic cold to sauna-like heat doesn't sound like a healthy past time does it? Again you get used to it all very quickly, and suffering from aches and pains in cold damp winters becomes a distant memory. The hot sun on your back as you walk on the fresh clean beaches, the abundance of healthy cheap fresh fruit, veggies and fish mean that you will never have a better opportunity for healthy living.

Medical Facilities - are second to none in most cases. Pattaya and Bangkok have exceptional medical care; world renowned in some fields, and Hua Hin is at least comparable to National Health facilities in the UK (although I am not sure that would be seen as a plaudit these days!). The international hospitals are comparable to private ones back home and the state service in most cases matches state services in home countries. The supply of medicines available again seems more than adequate and the cost is a fraction of costs back home. Bring prescriptions with you if you have pre-existing conditions and your medical notes. I am diabetic and have excellent treatment here with the overall cost of medicines and treatment far less than back in UK. Be warned it is advisable to shop around, prices can vary greatly. Just about anything is available over the counter without a prescription but be wary of buying any prescription drugs from anything other than a known reliable source (i.e. International Hospital).

Respect - remember to treat the Thais with respect and understanding and you will truly learn to understand why Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles. The mainly Buddhist population are brought up to look upon demonstrations of anger as a sign of weakness and nothing will make you lose face quicker than raising your voice. Remember that we are in their country and it really does not matter one jot to them that "we never do things this way back home"! Losing face or keeping face are extremely important to Thais. The lesson to learn here is never create a situation where you cause a Thai to lose face. You may well win the battle but you sure as hell will lose the war!

Driving - in Thailand can best be summed up as only very slightly more attractive a proposition than playing Russian roulette! Expect the unexpected and believe with a religious fervor that it is your life-long mission to ensure that all Thais that cross your path make it safely out of your vicinity. They believe that Buddha will look over them so there really is no need for them to use their mirrors before turning, look over their shoulders on a bike or in any way at all let you have any idea of what they intend to do next as you overtake them! Have fun and remember to smile as you pay the money to the little toe rag that just rammed your car because he was driving down the wrong side of the street with one ear on his mobile, one hand on the 26 inch tv he is taking home from the repair shop and the three girls shrieking on the back seat of his Honda "Too Loud"! For I promise you that if you do have the misfortune to have an accident you will be the one paying for it!

Entertainment - Listen, if life in Thailand does not keep you entertained then you are probably clinically dead all ready or should be declared so! Thailand is naturally a very tolerant society and Asians tend to be very pragmatic people, far less emotional about things in general than us Farangs. So as long as you remember that to abuse this tolerance and understanding can come with a pretty painful penalty, then just about anything goes. A stroll through Pattaya's Walking Street or Patpong or Nana Plaza in Bangkok will leave you with a pretty clear idea of what I mean here. Thais truly know the meaning of having fun and can find an amusing angle in most situations. Their disarming smiles and engaging giggles will leave many a strong imprint on those lucky enough to experience them!

Would I Do This Back Home? - This is one for the guys who leave their brains at immigration as they come through Suwamabhuni Airport. Over my years here in Thailand I have heard so many unbelievable tales of woe that you would not believe. Please do not blame the Thais for these mishaps or errors of judgment on the Farang's part. If you bought a house back home and put it in the name of the girl you met a week ago at the local bar or pub do you really think that she wouldn't be tempted to shaft you too? Get a grip! If you wouldn't do it back home then don't it here is a pretty safe guideline for most things in most places.

Bureaucracy - Thailand lives on paper. Everything is checked and double-checked. Paperwork covers every aspect of a Thai's life, from his birth to his house registration to his ID card. A Thai should by law carry ID on his or her person all the time. How does this affect a Westerner? Carry ID with you all the time. It need not be your passport, but it should be something, which carries your picture and some details of your identity, including a useful telephone number to contact in emergencies.

Keep on the right side of bureaucracy - They are bureaucrats, they are ill paid, they interpret the law without regard to its spirit, and they want every piece of paper absolutely right. Are they a pain? Yes, but they're sitting behind the desk not you. So remember:

- Make sure you've got the right pieces of paper
- Never lose your temper or raise your voice
- Speak politely
- Smile - you will be amazed what this little tip alone achieves!

Follow these guidelines and I am sure that you will enjoy your time here in Thailand as much as I have and continue to. I cannot express well enough how happy I am to have found this little bit of paradise here on earth. From the many friends that I have been lucky enough to make (both Farang and Thai), to my five month old son and four year old daughter (both born here), my beautiful wife and her kind and very understanding family I can honestly say that there has never been a moment that I have regretted my decision to uproot and settle here. Welcome to the Land of Smiles!

Mitch Malone is Managing Director and founder of the First Choice Group of Companies. With offices in Pattaya and Hua Hin in Thailand (as well as representation in Bangkok, Samui and Phuket) First Choice are able to answer all of your questions on relocating, investing or holidaying in Thailand.

To seek further detailed advice from Mitch or his team on Property in Pattaya Hua Hin or Thailand in general, contact him by email or call on: (+66) 086-809-4930 or 086-387-6642.

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