@Jeff ******

well that is true..... but you need one to teach legally and I never advise people to break thai laws.

A holiday may be just what you need for a bit of a boost, be presentable and the female attention will cheer you right up.

If you have a degree you can teach in Thailand. It could be the best or the worst idea ever for you. For what it is worth, I have lived a few years in Thailand recently. I saw many foreigners like yourself come unstuck there. It is not a good place to be alone and depressed. On a darker note an unusual number of foreigners come to a strange ending in Thailand and there's usually mental health issues involved.

But, you may also find as I did, that the Thai culture is revitalizing and make many thai friends. After 4 years in Thailand I now have a Thai wife and family and we travel between both countries. But things could have worked out very badly for me also and I have had my fair share of problems in Thailand as well ranging from corrupt police through to dodgy gangs, attempts at drink spiking and so on. Its another world.

Wherever you go, there you are..... your problems will follow you.hut kne can also reinvent themselves in another country.

Thailand is a very difficult place for foreigners to work in most jobs as they are protected for thais. Foreigners are usually underpaid and often exploited and pressure to work illegally.

Perhaps consider finding work that allows you to take extended time off to visit Thailand regularly. Many people find that their living costs are so much lower in Thailand that they can work 6-8 months at home saving up and then have a huge holiday every year. I have worked in Thailand and found the hours huge and the pay so low that it is not worth it financially for me. However it has been I valuable as a cultural and language learning experience and changed my life forever. Being in Thailand all through covid I forged so many Thai friendships that now it is just as much home to me as Australia and in some ways more so, as these friendships have proven so strong and reliable through tough times, when you make a real Thai friend they are like a brother to you and will save your butt when you are unaware of what is going on!

I guess I would advise avoiding the main tourist destinations without going off too remotely alone which can be uncertain. I have found expats to be more dodgy than locals ....... watch out who you befriend.

Start learning Thai language if you are serious.

Have someone at home to check in with about your mental health. Thailand is not the place to go off the deep end, trust me on that one.

Best of luck to you.

@Dave *********

why not it's like taking a holiday to Russia without buying a ticket! There is some seriously good Russian food in that area! It is a bit over the top though and there are a few less than savoury characters amongst the tourists who never seem to have trouble entering Thailand for some reason.

Can go to Bangkok for shopping it's world class for nice stuff or for cheaper stuff well there are amazing markets everywhere.

Krabi has a good balance, I lived there a few years recently. It has become very touristy in Ao Nang where 99% of krabi tourists base themselves. Consider visiting further south, the whole peninsula is amazing. Mountains, farms, waterfalls caves and temples. I moved to Trang where I am now based and the local environment is incredible. The main tourist spot here is Koh Mook and Koh Kradan which are magical tropical islands from your dreams mostly national park with coral reefs and no cars. This is a serious tip, this area is about to be heavily promoted by Thailand as an eco friendly nature destination. Trang airport is being upgraded to international status and many piers and toad being built even high speed rail to connect to Bangkok by 2035. It is my wife's home maybe we will see you there!

If you loan money to a thai be prepared you may not.get it back I have found so I only loan very small money and then they owe me a favour which can be worth it's weight in gold.

It's a pretty trivial.amount of money to launch a legal case over. You are making a mountain out of a molehill. Learn and move on.

@Dave *********

the OP does need a visa. Vietnam is communist. Both are correct. Good day to you.

@Dave *********

wow you didn't know Vietnam is communist?

@Ste ******

wow did I just teach you that Vietnam is a communist country?