Why This American Entrepreneur Left Luxury New York for Thailand ​⁠

[@iPaulLee]

Thanks for having me 💯

[@EGAWEF]

Hi Paul, korean american here in my mid30s. I feel the same way and even felt the same thing when I moved to seoul from nyc. Im literally putting things in order after 1 month stay there to move to thailand. Its just like the city of new york and bkk has people actually living life. The city country is full of actual human life which I missed. I agree to everything you said and gave me more motivation as korean american to moce to bkk. Want to be a person not a robot in a smartphone world

[@EGAWEF]

Can tell you been trough alot and thought about those moments thoroughly too before making up your mind and value. So impressive.

[@EGAWEF]

Korea is just the same in the states.

[@EGAWEF]

Thanks for mentioning the korean discrimination. Im 100% korean and felt more at home in nyc than that country. They are very hostile to foreign cultures. Very rude too if you look like a korean, they have a very different behavior and mindset towards you.

[@DreamofThailand19000]

You are very wise young man. I didn't have that mindset when I was at your age!

[@andersonmark5765]

As a NYC resident who moved to Thailand just over a year ago, I could certainly relate to much of what Paul was saying. I said goodbye to the corporate work culture and the obsession with being busy or looking busy.

[@boncharusorn6173]

well, welcome to Thailand folks :) im glad yall like the place :) im Thai and was an exchange student in Valdosta, GA back in the 2000s. i spent 10 years in America getting a Bachelor & a Master degrees with a few years of work and that was all i needed from Uncle Sam. i left America and returned home at the beginning of crumble in 2008. personally, i believed thats when everything you see wrong today started. i wish things would get better for America but it never did. i like America. i have many friends from many shades of skins. BTW, a good friend of mine lives in Macon, the Budenski brothers, and his family is also from Korea. i usually visited the US every few years but i dont feel it like before anymore and i dont know why. hopefully, some day that happy feeling will again restored. well, im glad you folks found Thailand to be yall new home base while engaging in prosperity this city/country have to offers. with the advantage of knowing both sides of the coin, im doing my part to educate those i can reach about the things that the West is suffering with. the effort is to hope that Thai culture will not fall in the same way. anyway, nice knowing you guys. have a great Bangkok day.

[@safeandeffectivelol]

Globalist big money and corruption took over the US after the GFC

[@shivasuresh5957]

Great interview Forrest. I was already familiar with Paul's channel as well yours so it's super cool to see the two of you collaborate. You asked excellent questions and Paul gave insightful answers. Terrific job guys!

[@30AndAWakeUp]

Great interview as usual. Can't wait to return soon!

[@theredditnerdlol]

Yo Kevin!

[@30AndAWakeUp]

@@theredditnerdlol Yo!

[@theredditnerdlol]

Wanna see your new JOMTIEN CONDO TOUR vid.@@30AndAWakeUp

[@DreamofThailand19000]

Awesome interview. Forrest knows how to ask good questions. Paul is very wise and insightful!

[@goonerdoy]

Very insightful and thoughtful interview, Paul is clearly an intelligent young man! I am a Korean-Aussie myself with limited Korean language skills and lived in Thailand for several years so I can relate :). Cheers Forrest, well in!

[@ewstuber]

So much wisdom for such a young guy!

[@pamjiang]

Love Paul’s outlook and comments, just enjoy the journey and not so focused on materialistic. I can see he is living a very content lifestyle now. ❤

[@jbranche8024]

You can't compare Western and Eastern culture, they are very different. Western thinking about themselves, materialistic, value media and friends perception more than good morals and values. Thailand, think as group, more careful with words to let others Keep Face, try to be accepting and live in harmony, good morals and values, polite, easy to make friends, honest, and appreciate family values.

[@friedrichbythesea]

Great interview! I'm looking forward to being back in the calm, only ten days to go. I'll have to binge Paul's content, I've become terribly jaded.

[@chelsea_entropy]

I am from New York and will be leaving in January to live in Thailand for 4 months. I will be learning thai massage and continuing my muay thai training. It will be my first time there and I am afraid I will fall in love with Thailand and never want to come home hehehe. I love your channel and thanks for posting :)

[@norris007]

Glad to see you two connect. Just started watching Pauls content as well

[@SlayTheseFools-hu5jy]

One of the best videos about Thailand!!! Thanks for keeping it real!!!

[@brictator]

great talk

[@vloginvain]

Interesting interview but why did you just use 1 microphone?

[@leavinforadream]

Great video and what @iPaulLee said with regards to learning Thai is SPOT ON and those are the expats to me that I don't really l just listen to and that really isn't jut for Thailand but also for the Philippines and other places too! HOW can someone live some place overseas for 10-20 years, be married to or in a relationship with a local of that country and have children with that local, and even HEARING that language DAY IN AND DAY OUT from the person they are with talking to their friends and family, and STILL NOT know any of the basics of the national language and/or STILL mispronounce words in that language. I have seen SO MANY videos on KZbin where that is the case and when it comes to why these expats leave Thailand they always point to "the language barrier"..! Not one of them ever says they made any effort to learn the language whatsoever and then they say "everyone here speaks English", which of course depending upon where one goes within that country is NOT the case...!! Again Great Job...!!

[@aniwee17]

Thai is a tonal language. It took me two years to finally have a clue to decipher the five tones of the Thai language. That is given the condition that the speaker slows down enough for me to hear the different tones. I have not yet had enough courage to try the Thai script. Still at the beginner/intermediate level in Thai listening comprehension. Believe me, it is not an easy language to learn and unfortunately, Thai language usage is pretty limited to Thailand and a few SE Asian countries. However, I will continue with my quest to be fluent in Thai. At this speed, it may take up to ten years to make it happen.

[@Live-dt9hj]

@@aniwee17I speak Thai it's easy to learn when you live in a all Thai area

[@aniwee17]

@@Live-dt9hj If you are young, it is easier to pick up a language. I am already eligible for AARP. Learning Thai is not so easy for me, but still I have hope.

[@Live-dt9hj]

@@aniwee17 I'm 40 😅

[@DreamofThailand19000]

@@aniwee17 I am Thai. I am sure you are doing well because you are trying hard. Thai language is not easy because of the 5 tones. Thais will appreciate when you try to speak Thai to them, even it's not perfect. On the other hand, I have been living in US, people still laugh at me when I speak English with Thai accent 😁

[@citizensauto]

Big fan of both, i just stumbled onto Paul's KZbin channel and ive been binge watching. Great interview 👍 👏

[@grantr7682]

Lee-squared, if I may? Good work, gentleman. This was a collaboration that needed to happen! 💯💣

[@bijanbayne3259]

Tons of Western KZbinrs, realtors, and travel content creators who have lived in Thailand 20 yeara, say "Pa-TTAY-a", or worse, "PAT-ty-a". Ppl complain about it a "language barrier", as if Thais in tourist towns, or Isaan, are supposed to be able to understand heavily accented British, Irish, Aussie, Italian, German, Danish, or Scottish English. If you hear Thais pronounce 'papaya salad', you can tell the city is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable

[@lezzeppelin2222]

Most of them are idiots 🤣

[@kolkattaindia]

Two great guys! Good interview. 👍👏🙏

[@lezzeppelin2222]

Right , 2 oriental 🤪

[@harleydavis3814]

The 2 Lees finally collab together

[@jasonelliott9762]

Loved the video! Would love to see more of these expat vids. Seriously thinking about moving away from the rat-race USA.

[@pamy5965]

Great interview. Very down to earth.

[@argonunya882]

AWESOME! you guys finally got together to chit chat! (i do watch pauls content too)

[@antoinepury4137]

Great video! Thank you for your sharing your experiences. Having lived in bkk for 1 years, I couldn’t agree more with you guys.

[@mosqutio88]

My two fav content creators!

[@saidonfax]

Man such an interesting story. I admire you guys for having the courage to step out of the only safe zone you know and move across the continent to a place where hardly anyone speaks your language. That's bravery. While I'm aware and understand stuff like share of GDP from tourism, when I say I'm happy with those who moved here it is never because of that. I attempted to end my life before. Having much time contemplating about meaning of life and how to not wake up to a living hell, it's never about nationality. This is humanity. And I truly wish the best for everyone who finds peace of mind here. We don't owe anyone our lives. We have the right to be and live wherever we find peace and happiness.

[@daveb3987]

“I thought you were in your mid 40s… “ 😮 😂

[@saishore]

Great interview, looking forward to visiting in Jan 2024 and making blogs like these talented gentlemen. (And maybe collabs too!)

[@ClarenceWilliams-k7z]

Very good video and very honest about their life journey and being able to find your place and your peace 🙏✌️

[@briannewton9369]

I gotta say, this is one of your best. Just a couple guys in Bangkok, soon to be my home too. I love it.

[@dexterspeights3484]

Thailand needs to lower the age requirement for the retirement visa to 45 instead of 50 years old because people in 1st world countries are retiring younger with stable financial resources.

[@jackflowers999]

hey ....nice vlogs again.....what type are your sunglasses brand?

[@ericb5328]

stuck in nyc right now. cant wait to get back to thailand

[@henryquach604]

Forest Lee. I wish I could move and live in Thailand but my career is based in Canada. I got family here and a mortgage. I can't just leave and go to Thailand with no job. 😢

[@denisefitzgerald7653]

Great Interview.

[@uBenji1234]

Hey there Forrest! Super good tip concerning those 2 bars u mentioned to hang out with some expats/japanese guys in BKK. Super, thanx!! I am considering checking out BKK after X-mas/this spring for a few days. Would u be interested in meeting up in BKK after X-mas?

[@williamhartz8707]

I don’t think Paul would like South Korea- 1) A very structured, competitive society 2) Materialistic 3) Chaebols that have a lot of power. Paul is a very levelheaded, intelligent young man. I think he will survive Bangkok. BTW I think if I was an “Asian American” I’d try living in an Asian country ( Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam…) because when you don’t look like the “stereotype American “ ( blond hair, blue eyes, built like a football player) you’re sometimes treated like an outsider though YOU ARE AMERICAN. Definitely the women are better in SE Asia- not just looks but also attitude and not having a grudge.

[@iPaulLee]

100%. I definitely like to visit Korea but I don’t think I’d ever want to live there

[@shawnar.3]

Could you do a show focused on US expat areas where people are residents?

[@EricD_]

Great content...thanks

[@ranctil3]

Focus on the journey not the destination, everyone should take this wise advice and apply it to their own lives.

[@ModifiedBelle2023]

Ugh where do I find a guy like Paul. Jeez I’ve never been overseas, but your videos make me want to travel even if I can only afford to do so once. I like dressing up and going to anime conventions, but I do feel sortve weird since I haven’t really figured out how to find a guy I actually want to date lol. I don’t have any irl friends so I’ll go by myself of course, but I’m hoping I can do this maybe next year or 2.

[@BobGoodi]

Very nice talk there guys. 2 more months and l will be joining you all in Thailand again. Lol

[@tvstarks]

Hey Forrest!! Question for you.. what expenses do you have to maintain in the US? I've been in Bali for over a year, but I still have expenses in the US. Nobody talks about that when tallying up expenses to live in SE Asia. Thx bro!

[@xx-soshi-xx6437]

Awesome interview!!!

[@CatsAndGoodCoffee]

All positive things, not a single word about the next year taxes for farangs (including taxes in savings, any money coming from outside Thailand basically).

[@SmokyOle]

Their going to ruin a good thing and people are going to go somewhere else.

[@strongjaymusicgroup]

I can relate

[@joelpo43]

A bunch of us woman are fat and act like men here in el salvador they love maintaining their bodies and being super feminine i love it

[@anarchoflow]

Good vibes here!

[@linehand21]

Great interview! My dream is to save money, live and enjoy Thailand

[@LUCKHEF]

Good content 🙏🏽

[@DT-gs3wi]

Expats needs to learn thai!!!

[@lezzeppelin2222]

They can’t because most of them are idiots. 😂

[@ahlads]

The URL of his channel in the description is giving me 404 not found.

[@SynCoz3]

You guys made me feel that I'm lucky to born in this country and I learnt alot from your aboard perspectives. Just additional information, the vibe of peacefulness and caring of Thais may come from Budhism belief that is strongly mixed in Thailand culture. So as long as Budhism belief is strong here, people will continue to have a certain degree of peaceful mind. However, Budhism in Thailand changed into a worse way of believing in ghosts, praying for luck and etc instead of the core teaching of Buhda himself.

[@glorgau]

You guys need a better mike setup ;-)

[@ellvtv2314]

Yep, simply duct taping the mic on a stick would have worked just fine.

[@b4bmm]

Any more options traders in Bangkok/Thailand?

[@vincem8065]

You mean on NYSE?

[@MT-qq1rq]

That's my future plan. To live in Thailand and get income from trading options. Currently live in NYC and I can relate to what Paul stated....this is a city that dogs eat dogs and never enough mentality.

[@simplefilemaker327]

Wow. Amazing combo. Quality chat

[@forlua9211]

00:13:45 Yes, Thailand is moving toward liberalism but not the extreme/absurd liberalism like in the west. In the west, being extreme is usually seen as being confident, smart, brave, on the other hand, in Thailand, it is usually perceived as being closed-minded and selfish. Thailand is a collective society and most importantly a buddhist society, doing or saying anything that make other people suffer is never consider as a good thing.

[@niamahmah666]

No liberalism,no thanks

[@CHANGOSMILES]

Big fan of both of you!!!

[@manolexing68]

Paul may​ be young, but​ his mind is fully matured 😉.

[@DaBooster]

Smart young man

[@method341]

With regard to Falang not learning Thai: their Thai wives do not want them learning Thai because it will make it easier for them to cheat/leave them and the man doesn't have to talk as much to his wife 😂😂

[@jbranche8024]

Not True. Lazy, difficult, ability to read Thai which uses characters not familiar to the West. I'm learning but old so in 10 years I should understand the basics.

[@DT-gs3wi]

Only ghetto thai chic are doing that!!!

[@iPaulLee]

😂😂

[@Selfimageisyours]

I didn't know I needed this collar.. too slick..

[@user-gi5nv3br6m]

you gotta love the korean american's genuine perspective, you can tell he is very honest and the description came from the heart. only americans are this way, if you grew up in china... people are cunning - deceptive

[@georgeh7338]

that will be my home one day soon. cheers

[@kapteng]

this kid got it!

[@nj2mddude205]

Hi Forest, you're a great interviewer. Can you interview some more American expats and discuss the economic opportunities that these expats have taken advantage of in Thailand?

[@WhiskeyThieves]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Bangkok is like New York a “ultra competitive, superficial, competitive lifestyle” especially when you reach the upper echelon of society. You will realize this once you lived there long enough and bumped elbows with the rich and successful. It’s a very materialistic culture. Forrest has tasted this and is enthralled, but give it sometime and upper crust BKK lifestyle will be as draining as the west if not more.

[@boredguy5805]

it's ultra competitive for locals, for foreigners its fine as long as you keep making decent usd money

[@Jsbc-k8h]

Man good stuff Paul 👍

[@acousticglatv]

Hi Forrest after this I would love to see you talking with a rising youtube star "Joyce Sin" an Asian-american girl move to Thailand like you & Paul do.

[@SimpleMan038]

I follow both of you. and soon. I'll be over there doing the exact same thing. God willing

[@TheChadNapier]

Great video dudes from hua hin.

[@HK-xs9yg]

When you’re young strive for the best and nyc was honestly one of the most hustle city of the entire world. Ppl say living in nyc changes them to have thicker skin. I’ve visited thailand and as great as it is, it’s missing the entrepreneur side of things that the US has. Felt the same in europe as well. There are great ppl living there just enough for the means. Great food, cheap living, friendly ppl. Literally a paradise and you get sucked into the comfort of things. Get bunch of broke nomads doing digital marketing or selling courses or you get retired expats living on their retirement funds. But if you really want to have opportunities and meet like minded ppl that wants to grind then theres no better network than the US/nyc

[@dexterspeights3484]

NYC SUCKS 100%

[@picandvideo]

Your friend is not even in 30 but real wise in many aspects. Very surprised 👍

[@JulioMoscoso39]

But how much is enough?

[@realdeal139]

Dude story is inspiring me to leave the rat race of nyc.

[@dexterspeights3484]

NYC > USA is the most expensive in the world to retire for 2023. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and U.A.E is cheaper than NYC!

[@hitmusicworldwide]

Bro not everyone in New York is doing this and if you think that Thailand is an escape from materialism not in Bangkok brother especially when you're Asian What do you think all those gold jewelry shops as well as the BMWs and other status symbols in BKK are? Asia is all about $$$ to an even more extreme level of you are in the "Hi So" circles. The type of perspective you're looking for can be found anywhere. You just have to pick the right people to be around and get your head on straight but since you're just 27 you haven't realized that yet, but you will, Good luck

[@toms5763]

nice

[@taterrhead]

refreshing takes ... I think almost ALL Americans feel (rather they externalize it or not) better once they land outside of USA into some other nation && experience homogenous people/culture for the first time ... multiculturalism will go down as a top 10 myth in history of mankind

[@SmokyOle]

Has zero to do with homogeneous anything. It's about how relaxed other cultures are.

[@daveb3987]

“In the west” should be “in the US”. Don’t lump the rest of us in with you guys.

[@boredguy5805]

Canada's not too different

[@daveb3987]

@@boredguy5805 it’s annoying eh. By no means is Australia perfect but it seems most people back home wash their hands with soap and water. Have lived in Korea and it seemed similar. Either way, anything less than 100% is bad, and around here it’s just depressing.

[@method341]

Many of those supposedly 'hi-so' Thais are broke af and living off credit cards 😂😂

[@johnrud3189]

Paul, what about health care in Thailand. I know you are young, but you must go to dentist. Also, what about taxes? Do you file in America or Thailand? Are you still resident of NewYork?

[@lezzeppelin2222]

Asian people gets bullied more than other races that is why he moved to Thailand 🤪

[@F.C.77]

I like this video.

[@ellvtv2314]

Nice to the see the Lee twins together. So who's Arnold, and who's Devito?

[@enzosolo2321]

I love Thailand

[@shane5385]

Tax man coming to Thailand

[@garoonbennett5424]

Guys smash the Like it’s real easy!

[@JaclkPluto-bm7cm]

Lee for lee

[@elperro3056]

Let be honest most passport bro go over sea cus it cheap 2 k and u make it 😁 safety too in Asia

[@offhamsterwheel2789]

when Paul started saying Everybody this and Everybody that in Thailand, my BS meter starts to go off, c'mon now...

[@lezzeppelin2222]

Why this oriental guy black t- shirt keep saying “ LIKE “ 😂

[@arg888]

Truths that are the crux of what Paul is saying. 1) hustle culture in the US is not for everyone. If you're not on the top making $10 million a year, it ain't worth it. That's why many young people check out of the west these days. Also for some, it's nice moving to a place where you (think) that you're not last in the pecking order. 2) If you're Asian in America, you'll feel more comfortable among people who look like yourself. 3) Most people of move out of the U.S. do it not because of wokism, but because of economic reasons, retirees and digital nomads alike. It's not for the culture. And my own take, is that when things go well living abroad they're great, but if and when you learn the language, hear what other people say about you, and also if you find yourself on the wrong side of the law, your opinion will change quickly.

[@elperro3056]

Ya look like brother 🫡

[@arg888]

Asia is not materialistic? 😅

[@lordpinus4599]

You guys look alike.

[@elperro3056]

Aisa passport bro respect 🫡

[@johnyjsl9219]

I live in NY and not materialistic at all. It is really up to you how you want to live. The big difference with living in SE Asia is the lower cost and slower pace. You are bringing with you USA based net worth so obviously your life will usually be better.

[@nofood1]

I’m meeting a lot of New Yorkers lately in SEA, nice to see folks leaving the slave capital of the world..

[@veramann]

Damn it. I need to buy a business or own an investment in order to have steady income w/o working, so I can be like these two dudes with the most hottest Southeast Asian chicks in the world. LOL