Moving to Thailand - The Many Benefits
By Mitch Bowler
In the heart of Southeast Asia - that is where you can find Thailand. Wai is what they call an act of respect that they do for greetings. You will put your hands together in a prayer like gesture and bow your head. In India they call it namaste. One of the most important parts of their custom is the belief that the head is the most honored part of the body and feet are the dirtiest. So touching a person's head is a rude attitude for Thais. As almost all of us know, Buddhism is the most practiced religion in this country.
You must be 50 years or older in order to apply for a Thai Retirement Visa. The first requirement in applying for this visa is a non-immigrant visa and in order for you to get that, you need to be 50 years old, have proof of a monthly income and a letter from the bank, which shows the statement of your pension or funds. To fulfill the financial requirement for the visa you must show proof that you have a bank account with at least the amount of THB 800,000 which is US$ 24,330. You must also have a monthly income of THB 65,000 or US$ 1,975.40 to be exact. Your retirement visa is valid for a year and you will need to renew it every year that you plan to live here. Once you have been granted a retirement visa you will no longer be allowed to work while staying in the country.
Internationally, Thai food is one of the most popular due to its taste with a touch of both Western and Eastern unique flavors. Thai food is also well-known for its hot and spicy dishes. Like many other East Asian countries the main food here is rice. Some examples of Thai cuisines are Chok, which is a breakfast food; a porridge which is eaten by most Thais. Another example is a rice soup with pork or chicken which they call Khao tom. When it comes to desserts, you will often find fresh fruits. Thais traditionally drink Sato (rice wine). For anyone willing to be extra adventurous and walk on the wild side you can also find exotic insect dishes here that really must be seen to be believed!
The cost of living in Thailand is very affordable. You can live a comfortable and simple life for only US $400 to US $500 a month, including the house rental, other utilities (electricity, water, etc), transportation and food. Thailand is also a safe country but like in other countries, you still need to observe and apply safety precautions for your own protection.
Mitch Bowler is an avid traveler, having lived the majority of his adult life overseas exploring different cultures and learning about the best that each has to offer the expatriates who live there.
Visit http://www.retiring-overseas.com/moving-to-thailand.html for more information on living abroad.
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