Hi, I’m Jordan, and I’m originally from Wales, UK. If you are unfamiliar (I won’t hold it against you), it’s basically that small country next to England. On my travels, when I get asked where I’m from, I say, “I’m from Wales.” The usual reply I receive is, “England?” or “London?”. It’s easier to just respond with “Yes.”
For the first 30 years of my life, I was the typical stay-at-home Welsh lad. Apart from a few years in University, I’ve always stayed local. I’m from a small city called Newport. To be honest, it’s more like a town than a city. A place where everyone kind of knows everyone. I’m sure you’re familiar with a place like this!
Going Through the Motions of Life
Looking back, I was definitely going through the motions of life. Right out of University, I jumped straight into working in my family’s construction company. I didn’t even think to consider my options, my aspirations, and my location. And there I stayed throughout my twenties. I tied myself down further with the big house and hefty mortgage, the fancy Mercedes convertible, and got into a long-term relationship. After that relationship ended, I spent a good few years totally confused about what I wanted out of life.
After a stint of depression and social isolation, I got myself back out into the world. But I found myself just doing the same things that made me unhappy in the first place. Groundhog day where every day was the same. I found myself doing the same routine over and over. Complaining about it yet not having the courage to change it. I knew I needed to do something. Ignore my fears and excuses and just go for it!
Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone
So, at the age of 30, I finally stepped outside my comfort zone. I have a lot to thank my brother for. We came up with the idea of traveling around Australia together. I was in a bit of a bad place, controlled by my anxiety. But he supported me through it as we embarked on this journey. Having him by my side made it all so much easier. We ended up backpacking the Great Ocean Road and the whole East Coast.
It’s a cliche, but the experience was life-changing. It was the first time that I had stopped making excuses and instead acted on the reasons to do something no matter how it would turn out. In this case, it turned out better than I could have ever imagined. It became the turning point that I so desperately needed.
My “F**k It, Why Not” Attitude
After my time in Australia, I returned home and found myself falling into old habits. It became clear that I needed more travel. But where? The next destination (Thailand) was never part of my plan. My first trip there happened completely by chance. I matched a girl on Tinder who was an air hostess. She was Thai and would regularly serve the London-Bangkok route. After some back and forth (you know how it goes), she randomly invited me to Thailand during her next week off work.
With my newfound “f**k it, why not” attitude, I flew out to Bangkok to meet her in person. With a flexible return ticket (because I had no idea what to expect), a few days in Bangkok led to a week in Chiang Mai and a couple of weeks in Phuket, followed by some island hopping. I had instantly fallen in love… (with the country, not the girl, I am sorry to say.)
Becoming a Thailand Fanatic
But the trip was the best time of my life! I am really struggling to put how I feel about Thailand into words. It is just so unique and special. The country has an aura about it. The people, the culture, the way of life, the religion, and even the smell of the air. Whether it’s the excitement, its spiritual or cultural roots, its craziness, or its beauty (yes, the landscape and the girls in Thailand). Whatever that ‘thing’ is, it just does something to my soul. Perhaps it’s the combination of everything that makes it fascinating and intriguing.
After my Thailand trip, I returned home, and nothing was the same again. I immediately put my house up for sale, sold that fancy Mercedes, quit working in the family business, and within 6-weeks, I was back on a one-way flight to Bangkok. That was in 2017. 5 years on, I am still that self-confessed Thailand fanatic!
The Birth of ThaiGuider
I have lived in and traveled to various areas, made so many friends, found a girlfriend, and seen everything that Thailand has to offer. There have been many ups and downs during the journey. Please note that Thailand is not purely paradise. This is what makes it so interesting to me. It’s the complete experience, the good and the bad. And for those reasons, it keeps you curious and wanting more.
It is through my love of Thailand I bring to you this website – ThaiGuider. In what I can only describe as a tribute. If you are interested in Thailand and would like to know more, then this is your guide. My goal is to lay out all the information you need to help you learn and understand more about this country.
Bringing You a Balanced Blog
I plan to answer all the most commonly asked questions and areas of interest to give you a complete picture of how to make your life in Thailand more enjoyable and fulfilling. As I said above, Thailand is a mixed bag.
It’s the complete opposite of everything my life used to be, i.e., predictable. That’s because every day in Thailand is different. You never know what to expect, and it is always full of surprises. But I hope you find my blog a balanced and unbiased opinion, where the focus is on providing the most useful information.
I strive to keep things balanced, not overhyping the good things or bashing the bad things about Thailand. I want to draw on my own experiences and discuss relevant topics but not give my own personal opinions. The goal is to provide you with the highest quality information and guidance, so you can make your own opinion and decide if Thailand is the right place for you.
Thank You for Joining My Journey
I hope you enjoy the content, and please do let me know what you think. Feel free to reach out and ask me any questions. And if you enjoy this content and would like to see more, I’d love to hear from you.
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Jordan Sully
– thaiguider.com is part of Sully Digital Limited. Company No. HE 415656 (registered in 2020, Cyprus).