Hi. First good luck with getting the job you聮re after. If I may ask you, why Phuket? Is it because it聮s on the coast, I can see the draw for that and if you聮ve been on holiday there and fell in love with the place, I can understand. But I suggest you have a good look at all locations in Thailand as well.
Are you able to follow what聮s happening in Thailand, more to the point Phuket? The place is going through a tough time. There is an element of gang activity going on there. In the form of extortion, above and beyond the normal you find in Thailand to start with they run all taxis and tuc tucs, operations.
It would seem from reports that it聮s on the increase as the BIB, Boys in Brown, (police)
Will not get involved, and as the perps are getting away with it, they are getting increasingly more violent. Phuket is a beautiful place and the people from there are very friendly and warm, and there the rub! These gangsters are not from that area, just like every where in Thailand, they will follow the $ extorting a westerner is far easy than bending your back in a rice field all day. Phuket, I聮m afraid is in the grip of this at the moment.
Don聮t misunderstand me; I聮m not trying to suggest there are running battles in the streets, or that you can聮t leave your house, but this reply was just to give you a heads up.
I聮ve traveled all over Thailand in the time I聮ve lived here, and still do, there are many fantastic places to go and see, but! Where to live and work? I love the beach and coast myself, but a lot of the coastal area are holiday destination, they draw the good, the bad and the ugly of the world聮s societies, this in turn, drags in the bad boys of Thailand.
Where would I suggest, the north of Thailand, Chiangmai. The north of Thailand, I believe has a higher demand for teachers than the south and there are less foreigners living there. In my experience I have found less western influence, and the people are friendlier.
Again! This is only my opinion based on my experiences here in Thailand. If you want the Thailand you聮ve read about, Fantastic people, beautiful views, great food and the feeling of having gone back in time to a more sedate way of life聟聟 Then, I think, you should consider the north, and hay! You can still fly down to the coast for a long weekend.
Having said all this聟聟聟聟. I wish you all the luck with the move, job and life in Thailand, wherever you decide to live.
