18/11/2024
After living in Thailand for over 30 years, I often ask myself: would I stay this long if I arrived today? I posed the same question to Joe Cummings, who’s been here for nearly 50 years. His thoughtful answer about change, connection, and nostalgia really struck a chord.
QUESTION: Joe, you’ve lived in Thailand nearly 50 years now, and I’m sure you’ve seen a lot of changes. If you came today, do you think you would stay so long given how much has changed?
ANSWER: That’s a great question. Honestly, it’s hard to say. When I arrived in the late 70s, Thailand was a very different place, and the pace of change has been extraordinary since then. Back then, globalization was just starting to take off, and by the late 80s, it was in full swing. Those changes shaped the country profoundly.
If I arrived today as a young, somewhat naïve traveler, I might find the country too easy, too developed in certain ways. Back then, part of what made it so special was how different and off-the-beaten-path it felt. Now, with digital markets and globalization, it’s more connected than ever. But I have to admit, those very changes have made life here better in many ways—easier and more convenient.
So, while I might initially have sought out somewhere less developed if I were starting fresh today, the truth is I’ve grown to love Thailand more with each passing year. The changes haven’t driven me away—they’ve added layers to what makes this place so unique. And as someone who has witnessed those transformations firsthand, I feel a deep connection to the country that goes beyond nostalgia.
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Do you agree with Joe? Let me know in the comments below.
(This afternoon, Joe was on stage at The Extraordinary Travel Festival. I asked this question in the Q&A at the end of his session. I will be speaking at the event myself tomorrow about my recent Singapore to Beijing train trip. I will post a highlight here.)
