Diary of Cor van Kampen (part 2)
When I decided a long time ago to move to Thailand with my Thai wife after my retirement (I could retire at the age of 61), to sell my house in the Netherlands and to buy a house in Thailand with the surplus value, a new life.
Everything sold or given away and with six moving boxes with personal memories and photos to Pattaya. First more than three months in a beautiful condo in North Pattaya on the ground floor and a swimming pool from the back door of the kitchen. Of course, first live on as holidaymakers. Then search for the dream house.
There was a travel agency/agent in Soi 2. I knew those people quite well because I had been staying in a hotel on that Soi for many years. Reliability is very important in such a decision. Within two weeks the choice was made. It became a bungalow in Bangsare. In the middle of the Thai people (especially fishermen). The estate agent had assured us that it was a quiet neighborhood and that there were never any problems. The man was right. We are still happy there.
Then life goes on. The visits to bars became less and less. I found something new. Twice a week to the Soi Buakhow market. On Tuesday and Friday. At a strategic location near Keyman. A man with a small bar who could also do anything with keys. Often called in the night because someone had lost his keys with his drunken head or a motorbike taxi had broken his key.
When his girlfriend left him years ago, the little bar was neglected. Later he came up with the idea of renting out a piece of space to a lady who mended or repaired clothes and also kept things clean.
Then we come to the last story. We have never let him down. In all those years, expats gathered there. I met people there. They were not friends, but acquaintances. You knew them by name and knew a little about their background. Gay with a Thai friend. A Fleming, Gerard and David an Australian hippie.
And much more. All a bit older guys. Suddenly one no longer comes on the appointed days. A few weeks later you hear from the gay who lived close to him that Gerard has died. Then the elderly hippie no longer appears. He comes back after three months. had bowel surgery. Didn't look good at first. Now it's okay again. I can name many more examples. Expats don't have to be friends, but if acquaintances you've known for so long and had a lot of fun with, disappear, you're going to miss them anyway.
Cor's first Diary appeared on April 10 under the title Dagboek van J. Jordaan, his pseudonym at the time.
Well Cor, you did move in the right time. A house with surplus value is a rarity in the Netherlands these days. And you live in a beautiful place, I heard from a reliable source. You belong to the lucky category.
I'll be in the area next year, maybe we'll see each other at the Soi Buakhow market then. That then becomes Amsterdammer meets Rotterdammer. Exciting.
Hello Kor,
It is good to hear that someone has found his feet again far from the wet Netherlands. Have you previously worked for the fire brigade in Amsterdam? Well or not I wish you a good time.
I'm also going to take the step! At this time, build a house in the north-east. I'm in Holland for a while, but the weather here is a drama! 10 degrees during the day. Nice to hear that there are also good experiences with Thai women!
Yes Cor, you have done what we can only dream of. For the time being, we will have to continue working here for a while and hope for a price-fixed pension and an upswing in the housing market.
You have selected an excellent location. Congratulations on your choice.
When I am in BKK for my work, I have 2 options for the free weekends to enjoy the beach sun and sea and the color locale, Bang Sare being one and Cha-am being the other.
I myself always go to the beach at the southern tip of Bang Sare, where I have to drive through the military base. Hand in your ID on arrival and take it with you when you leave the base.
The military 18-hole golf course is also recommended and very attractive from a price point of view.
Lilliwadee resort is my regular place there (100 meters from the beach) with 12 small bungalows and a 15 meter swimming pool, run by a Dutchman with his Thai wife. Fine coffee and Dutch breakfast (I also like rice soup, but not every day ) and the possibility to rent a scooter.
Amsterdammers and also Rotterdammers there on the market, hmm that can still be fun there on the market, if everyone reads this??
Fr.gr Steven
Hello Steven, nice to see you here, thank you for doing a little publicity for us and we hope to see you here again soon. Greetings, also from Wantana, Zacharias
Hi Zach,
Thanks for your comment.
You were one of the first Dutch people to discover Bang Sare and as you can read here on Thailandkoorts, a few more Dutch people have come up with the same idea of choosing domicile in Bang Sare.
Well, for now work is eating, both here and in Thailand, free time, your resort is high on our wish list. Greetings back from my person and Nattaporn
Hallo,
we, my partner Kob and I., were also on the beach for a while this afternoon at the end of the base and then over the hill. Beautiful bay with beach and facilities.
I have not yet discovered an 18-hole golf course. I've read the name Lilliwan Resort, but I don't remember exactly where. Is that back to Pattaya?
We live in Sattahip and we also go to Hat Nang Ram beach, in the direction of Ban Chang, but that is also seventeen kilometers. Along Sumkovit Rd. towards Sattahip last week we discovered a Bar with Pool table, owned by an Englishman. We met a Dutchman, Swiss, German and of course another Englishman. They could use a little more patronage. The bar is located between Sumkovit no. 13 and 23.
Hi John,
Thanks for your tips I've noted them down!
Nice that you and your partner found your way to the beach behind the military base.
Liliwadee resort is located right behind the center of Bang Sare and 100 meters from the sea, at the end of the boulevard. Zacharias Krikke and his wife Wantana will greet you warmly, the coffee is always ready and I really wouldn't be surprised if Zach also is able to serve a herring with fresh white bread.
His son has taken over one of the largest fish shops in the eastern Netherlands from him and he remains a fishmonger pur sang.
Fr.gr.
Steven
Dear Cor,
I read that you leave for Pattaya with six moving boxes with personal memories and photos.
How did you get that stuff over to Pattaya. Is this an expensive affair or are the costs manageable? I myself am busy to get myself well informed in this area.
It was not my intention to advertise the Lilliwan Resort.
Your use of my diary irritates me immensely.
Try to come up with something yourself. I wouldn't advertise for you myself.
I wrote my story without having any interest in advertising my village.
Just Jacques. Always welcome. One of our friends recently vacationed in
The Netherlands has visited you has my e-mail and telephone number.
Furthermore, the last. My moving boxes went with my flight from Eva Air.
You can arrange that with the company. However, long waiting times at Bangkok airport because the freight luggage is unloaded later. I had about 60 Kilos.
Then 100 euros.
The last thing. Moving boxes to Thailand also means that you don't own anything else.
No screwdriver, no drill, no plate, no spoon, etc.
You have to buy everything again. In terms of price, the purchased house did not reach the WOZ value used by the tax. Still bought a motorbike, bought furniture and later a car. Street free at the end. But the years that followed were very happy.
No more guilt. No more paying house rent.
I hope I can enjoy it for years to come.
Cor van Kampen
Hi cousin, just a test if this works.
How is it there in Thailand?
I couldn't believe my eyes are you really my cousin Cor v kampen.
I would like to communicate in this way.
Greetings, Elly Van Tol