First, I would like to thank you for being part of my story and for wanting to learn a little about me and why I decided to move halfway around the world!
And the story goes…
What began as a lighthearted joke about “retiring young” quickly grew into something serious. I realized that with hard work, meticulous planning, and some sacrifice, the opportunity to live life experiencing another culture and growing myself was well within our reach.
In an attempt to enrich my lives, I decided to trade in my job, sell everything I own, and board a one-way flight to Thailand in March 2013. I landed in Chiang Mai, a city in Northern Thailand, and have been there ever since.
What is Tieland to Thailand?
I started Tieland to Thailand as a way to casually share with my friends and family what life was like as expats living on the other side of the world (quite literally), but it has evolved into so much more.
Tieland to Thailand has become a blog that inspires, informs, and empowers travelers who are curious about what it’s like to leave society’s “normal life” behind and travel around and live in Thailand. For five and a half years, I have shared the ins and outs about life abroad in a level of detail that my readers hunger for and have come to know and love.
I’ve tackled visa hurdles, new food culture, off-the-beaten path travel spots, teaching English, and budgeting abroad. I’ve written about our experiences with exactness and honesty and have essentially paved the way for the next traveler who wants to follow in our footsteps and make Thailand their home.
I encourage you to explore our site. Get lost in the details and eventually you’ll find yourself thinking, “Wow, I should go to Thailand!”
Connect With Us on Social Media
If you love the information found on our blog, I also share experiences and other exciting events about my travels in Thailand (what doesn’t make it on the site) through my social media channels. You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. Be sure to join my free private Facebook group where past, present, and future Thailand expats connect!
About Chris
Chris grew up in three different countries and has moved over a dozen times in his life. Although he first looked forward to residing in one place and settling down permanently after getting out of the military, the travel bug got the best of him, and back in the summer of 2011 he found himself wanting to move again, this time to Thailand!
After serving four years in the U.S. Army’s Presidential Honor Guard, he accepted a corporate leadership position in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. He is passionate about health and fitness and has certifications in personal training and nutrition.
Chris is enjoying his new-found freedom to be able pursue the things that inspire him and has found living minimally to be more conducive to traveling. He loves spicy Thai food and the fact that he won’t have to drive in the snow and ice. He spends much of this time investing, experimenting with different workouts, expanding on his web development and social media management skills, and cultivating a positive online community for Thailand expats.
Angela grew up close to Washington, D.C. and has lived within that area all of her life. It wasn’t until she was 26 that she finally got her passport and traveled outside the US for the first time. It was the beginning of what was to open her eyes to the wonderful world of traveling.
Angela earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and worked for a research facility for five and a half years before she decided that she wanted to travel full-time.
Angela is always looking for activities to keep her busy. Because of her love for all things food-related, she can be often found spending her free time searching for and experimenting with new recipes, trying out new Thai food from local markets, and finding new restaurants and cafés.
Now in her early 30’s and at the five and a half year mark in Thailand, she is still pursuing her goal of learning to speak and read Thai. She’s always thinking of new topics to write about to help travelers and expats overcome hurdles so often experienced when traveling around and living in Thailand.