Thailand, with its sumptuous temples and vibrant nightlife, is incredibly popular among globetrotting backpackers and adventurers. The country’s famous hospitality also makes it an ideal destination for pensioners who dream of spending their golden years in the sun.
However, an expat moving to Thailand might also consider the negative aspects that relocation can entail. In certain neighborhoods of cities like Bangkok or Pattaya, it is hard to ignore the sordid side of the party circuit. The red-light districts, for instance, with their strip bars, sex workers, and drug users, attract less than savory visitors.
However, all expats should be aware that both these images — the dream of a foreign paradise as opposed to its darker parts — are two sides of the same coin. Exaggerated exoticism often leads visitors moving to Thailand from abroad to either romanticize or demonize the country.