I have been living in Thailand for over 16 years since retiring from an executive banking position. I settled in here as I had had a small vacation house since the late 1980's and loved the place and its people. Living at first in the more urban area of Pattaya, I took opportunity in the year 2000 to make a change in lifestyle by moving only 15 kilometres down the coast to live directly on the beach near a small fishing village called Ban Amphur.
Ban Amphur, though close to the resort complex of Pattaya/Jomtien, is the "real" Thailand. The town lives on fishing, its seafood restaurants which are nationally esteemed and its function as a schooling centre with baccalareate, technical, commercial and agricultural high schools all clustered here.
Ban Amphur has a good clean atmosphere with virtually no nightlife or entertainment venues other than restaurants for locals, students and largely Thai visitors. There is a very nice beach with seating and food concessions and safe swimming in the centre of the town.
Nonetheless only 20 minutes (15kms) away on a fully lit divided highway to the north is the huge and active Pattaya/Jomtien resort /holiday complex. Everything needed for a sophisticated lifestyle from extensive shopping at department stores, several hypermarkets including Tesco and Carrefour to a bewildering and bewitching array of world class restaurants, 5 star hotels, nightclubs, discos and bars is available there. Every taste can be and is catered for in this cosmopolitan city.
Bangkok itself is only 1 hour 45 minutes north by car on a choice of super highways and its airport, Suvannabhumi, is even closer only 1 hour 30 from Ban Amphur.
A sporting life is easy here. The nearest championship golf course is only 6kms from town and it is only one of 20 world class courses in the surrounding area. The town is home to the only first class marina on the coast for those interested in yachting and boating with all dock and repair facilities on hand. There is a light plane airport only 6 kms away. Tennis courts, badminton, squash, gym and other such recreation facilities abound.
Schooling for expatriate children is good in this area and schools pick up and return day pupils in special mini busses.
Health care is terrific in Thailand. Local hospitals are well staffed and equipped to deal with minor matters and emergencies and for major medical needs Bangkok, only 1 hour 45 minutes away, is home to several world class international hospitals accredited by US and International health bodies. Within 20kms of Ban Amphur are Bangkok Pattaya Hospital and Queen Sirikit Hospital, both capable of handling almost any matter. A complete array of pharmaceuticals is available in Thailand.
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