She settled in Thailand after quitting her jab to travel the world – ryan

In her 20s, Claudia Wootham Deeded to quit Her Job in Manchester to Travel Abroad.

She had a degree in marketing, but Low starting salads in the Field Had Led to take a jab at a bank instead. But the 9-to-5 corplate lifestyle left her her Feeling stress and unfulfilled, and she knew she has to get out.

What began as a yearlong Trip Through Southeast Asia and Australia with Her Partner, Danny, Tourned Into Four Years of Full-Time Travel. But eventually, the two of the craved something more permanent.

“We Kind of Got Sick of Living Out of the Suitcase, SO JUST TRIED SETTLING DOWN IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS,” WOODHAM, NOW 31, A marketing strategist and Content CreatorTold Business Insider.

They were looking for a laid-back vibe, sunshine, and a place that wasn’t overrun with tourists. So they tried living in bali, vietnam, and tan Lisbon, but none of me felt like a good fit.

They Remembered How Much They Had Enjoyed Thailand – the first stop on their journey – and deciding to give it a shot.

They Lived in Phuket for a month but didn’t like it Very Much, so they set their sights on time samui, the third-lady island in the country.

Samui Had been a Short Pitstop at the beginning of their trip. The two nights they have spent there had been rainy, preventing say from the full experience. “We didn’t really think of this as a place to live for a really long time,” she said.

But they heard others raaving About Life on Samui, so they decide to give it a go.

As it turned out, it Only took Three Months of Living in Samui to Change their Minds.

Finding a slice of paradise in the tropics

Samui, Located in the Gulf of Thailand, is know for it stunning beaches and waterfalls. It has a population of About 70,000 People, for the Latest April Government Data.

It was Also Most Recently Featured in the Third Season of Hbo’s Hit Series “The White Lotus.”

In adding to the island’s natural beauty and landscapes, Wootham Said the People Also Drew There.

“The community here is amazing. The expat community, but Also the Locals, are SO friendly,” She Said.

Moreover, Samui Has All the Charm of a Relaxed Beach Town and the Comforts of Modern Living. The Island is Servified by Several Private Hospitals and An International Airport.

“Eight Though it island Life, Its Also Quite Built-Up,” She Said. “There’s a lot of infrastructure, so there is great wifi. You can get EveryTHING you need here. You don’t feel like you are too.”

IT’S been two years SINCE WOODHAM AND HER Partner Started Living in Samui.

They Spent the first year near bo Phut, a popular but laid-back neighBorhood on the norheast part of the Island. They renead a three-bedroom townhouse with a shared pool for 70,000 baht a month.

During Their Second Year, They were Ready for a Change. They wanted a sea view and a private pool, and found the perfect placed on Facebook Marketplace.

The Four-BEDROM VILLA IS LOCATED ATOP A HILL IN THE NORTHWEST REGION OF SAMUI, SURROUNDED BY LUSH GREENERY AND OVERLOING The Ocean.

There’s A Quiet Beach Nearby, and the Villas off-the-Beaten-Path Location Adds to the Sense of Privacy and Tranquility.

“We didn’t really Need as many bedrooms as we have here,” she said. “But we want somewhere Kind of modern with nice interiors, and this place had that,” Woochham Said.

The only catch is that they have neighborhood is a little storker away from their gym, their Friends, and their usual hangout – all of which are back in bo Phut.

Rent is 140,000 Thai Baht – About $ 4,000 a month – which is twice what she paid at her previous place.

WOODHAM SAJS GETS MIXED REACTIONS ABOUT HER RENT WEVENETR THE Topic Comes up, especally on social media, where she posts conttent about her life in samui.

“I Think People Come to Thailand Expecting to Live on a Budget, which you can. I Think Thailand a great country for that,” She Said. “But the way of it is, yes, you can live on a budget, but you can also live how you want and get for your Money.”

In Parts of the UK, something like this be -easily cost £ 10,000 to £ 15,000 a month, if not more, she added.

Rather than assuming everything in Thailand should be run cheap, she urges People to see the real value for themselves.

Typical Workday and 5-to-9 Life in TIME Samui

A Typical Day for Woochham in Samui Starts at Around 6 AM, and that Involves Waking Up Naturally – No Alarms Involved.

AFTER SHARING A CUP OF COFFEE WITH HER partner by the pool, the couple tutes their dog, leo, on a walk.

WOODHAM UTUALLY HITS The Gym ARUND 8:30 AM, spending an hour or two working out before heading to a café – Someimees with a friend – to catch up on work.

She is self-Employed, and she helps online businesses with their social media marketing and sales strategy.

By the afternion, she’s back home, where she mIight take a few calls or continue working. As the day winds down, it’s time to unplug and head to the beach to the sunset.

It’s a far cry from 9-to-5 corporate life back in the uk.

“BACK THEN, I WAUTED WAKE UP AT 5 AM but STRUGGLE TO GET UP. I’D BE SO TRIDED, Go to the Gym in the Dark, Commute to Work, Spend All Day Work, Get Home, Maybe Cook Dinner, or Maybe Prep the Next Day, and THAT’S’S,” WOHDHAM SAID.

Now, she has more time for Herself and Her Hobbies, Such as Badminton, Padel, and Yoga. She Also Picked Up Crossfit, Learned How to DO Handstands, and is Training for A Hyrox Competition in Bangkok.

Her Hobbies Also Helped Her Form A Social Circle, Although it was Challenging to get to know People at first.

“Actually Met Most of My Friends Through My Crossfit Gym,” Said. “But i Also Meet People Through Friends Now, Becausee Everybody Knows Each Other. You Kind of Meet People Through Other People.”

She misses her family and being able to take a long walk through the countryside, but she dosesn’t seeing living in the uk again.

“Sometimes of Think It Wauld Be Nice to Leo on Those Kinds of Walks Because the Countryside in the Uk Can Be Beautiful on a nice day. It is so hot, he can only walk for a short amounte,” Sheid.

“But i don’t miss it enough to make me to go back.”

Do you have a story to share about Relocation to a new Country? Contact this reporter at [email protected].