Phil in Udon Thani Talks About Leaving Bangkok for Something New [S7.E44]

Ed interviews our buddy Phil Allen about his adventures visiting,
and eventually living in, the Isaan region of Thailand. Phil
begins by explaining his arrival in Bangkok about five years ago
as a roving economist working primarily in financial technology.
Unfortunately, the pandemic struck and Phil found himself in a
very strange situation in a brand new country. He decided to take
the aggressive approach and move from AirBnB to AirBnB in
different neighborhoods around Bangkok before a full lockdown
ensued.


Phil's story continues with his interest in motorbikes. Due to
Bangkok traffic, he thought it would be safer to learn to ride in
a small town, so randomly he and a friend began to visit Buriram,
a town northeast of Bangkok and not too far from the Cambodia
border. Thus, Phil's love affair with Isaan began, eventually
leading him to Udon Thani, where he currently rents a house while
traveling back to Bangkok a few days a week for work.


So what is it about Isaan that is so attractive? Phil discusses
many things he likes about the region, from delicious, cheap food
to truly engaging people. Ed and Phil talk about the pros and
cons of Bangkok vs Udon, and Phil makes an excellent case for
putting Isaan on your travel calendar, whether you are a tourist
or an expat. 


You can connect with Phil on Instagram at newphysiocracy. 


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