Dubai 2 Koh Samui - Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand?

From the desk of Loy Machedo: Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand?

This is an article I wrote when I visited Koh Samui for the 3rd time within the year. So in a moment of creative insight, I let my thoughts flow. Here are my thoughts that day as I sat down sipping coffee, thinking about life

If you wish to get in touch with me
loy@loymachedo.com

Loy Machedo
The World’s #1 Personal Branding Coach
www.LoyMachedo.com
www.whoisLoyMachedo.com
www.ThinkPersonalBranding.Com

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7am
After an epic 18 hour journey of stop-overs riddled with airport / airplane changes, constant interruption by the cabin crew members on what stale microwave heated plastic meals I would like to eat and drink and at its worst – having to sit in a prison box like seat, that too in amongst a stinky smelly large group of passengers in Economy Class (Yup – NEVER EVER EVER Travel a Cheap Indian Airlines Economy Class – Your nasal passages will be tortured beyond your wildest nightmares) – you will pray to your gods that this journey ends as soon as possible.

As my plane was about to land – I saw the familiar sight of the place that changed my outlook on life of life forever……Koh Samui.

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Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand?

KOH SAMUI – WHAT ABOUT IT?

Koh Samui – one of Thailand’s largest islands in the Gulf of Thailand that is peppered with fringed beaches, coconut groves, dense mountain rainforest and a pleasant tropical climate at its best.

This place on one hand is home to the simple, polite, lovable and kind Thai community where simplicity, peace and true happiness is found with the bare minimum of what can offer – while focusing on what money cannot buy.

While on the other hand – this place is also home to luxury resorts, posh spas, and a rather adventurous beach party life filled with alcohol, dance, music and pleasure for the young at heart – which in turn attracts backpackers and party animals from around the world who seek pleasure – but with a different flavor.

THE MYSTERIOUS REASON TO WANT TO LEAVE DUBAI

So what drove me – a guy who was raised in Dubai – the most happening city in the world – where the biggest, the best, the tallest, the richest, the most powerful, the….whatever superlative you can think of – where money, luxury and power is concerned – from the age of 4, to want to leave this city and consider a simple village like life in Koh Samui?

Well, if you are like most professionals in Dubai, who want to just read the bullet points and get it over with…here is the summary

1) A Simple Laid Back Life

End of Reasons.

………………..

That’s it.

I know what you are thinking.

That’s it?

That’s all it took to make a life changing decision?

A Simple Laid Back Life?

Well, before you judge and assume I have lost all my marbles….let me elaborate a bit more – and may be then it would make more sense.

Here is the typical day in a life of an Expatriate in Dubai.

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Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand? (Contd…..)

AN EXPATRIATE’S LIFE IN DUBAI – FOR DUMMIES

5am
BRRRRRR!!!!
The Alarm Rings Violently!!!
You wake up in your super overpriced rented apartment where 70% of your salary goes into and rush to get yourself + the family ready & prepared for work / school

6am
Rush down the high-rise building and jump right into the super expensive luxury car (which the bank was kind enough to give you via a bank car loan and thanks to which 20% of your salary is being eaten up). After all – you know for a fact you would never be able to drive this car back in your home town – so why not ride it here???

6:05am
You are on the road, where everyone is driving their cars as if they are in an Indy Car Race Track where Common Sense apparently seems to be replaced with Rage, Urgency & Aggressive Behavior. And yes, where the space between you and the car in front of you is so precious – if anyone were to give you the indicator that he wants to shove his vehicle into your lane – all hell may break loose.

7am
You drop your children to a super expensive school that charges you super expensive exorbitant school fees for useless sub-standard teachers to teach your kids an outdated curriculum. That too, for your children to be awarded a paper that guarantees them no job, no future and gives them no real-life-world-skills.

7:15am
You are back on the highway. Now the traffic has gotten bad to worse. You turn on the radio to listen to crap – Crappy presenters talking absolute nonsense while interrupting you constantly with time wasting mindless chitter chatter. And you do this not because you like it – but because for the next 45 minutes – you know for a fact – you will move at a snails pace to cover the next 2 kms space to work. So ensuring your mind gets numb is indeed a good option!

8am
Finally you make it to your dreaded office space. You do your best to look super excited and super happy. While your office colleagues give you their best fake smile, to show how happy they are to see your morning grumpy puffy caffeine swollen face and how delighted you are to see their rotten fake diplomatically encrusted faces which do their best to camouflage the most obvious truth – they can’t wait to bitch about you and stab you behind your back to their boss.

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Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand? (Contd…..)

THE TYPES OF OFFICE PERSONALITIES

8:05am
You go to the pantry to prepare your coffee. And there all the other losers are also gathered – including
A) THE SLEEZY SALES CHAMPION who knows how to kiss the boss’s ass and gives you an aura that you are a low life,
B) THE GOSSIP MONGER who is waiting to overhear another juicy piece of personal information which he can add some exaggerated spices and then make it today’s special bulletin,
C) THE MOANING & GROANING MORON who sees a rotten lining in every cloud, who will keep letting you know how bad the market is, how many people will lose their jobs, how world war 3 is upon us and how the company is filing towards bankruptcy,
D) THE COWARDLY VILLAGE IDIOT – whose only game plan in life is to keep working in the same job, same position and same company for the rest of his life and who believes if he were to ask for a dollar as a raise after 5 years of work – would amount to blasphemy,
E) THE HARDWORKING FAMILY MAN – whose dedication, honesty, sincerity and patriotism towards his work – is the only thing he knows in life because this work defines his pointless existence
F) THE AMBITIOUS IMMATURE INTERN – whose enthusiasm and energy is so irritating because she believes that by giving 100% dedication and effort – she will one day become the CEO of this company
G) THE CORPORATE SPY – whose only job is to take his note book and pen and jot down what next juicy piece of information he can share with the boss – simply because he is not qualified to do anything else
H) THE ‘LOOK-AT-ME-IM-BUSY-WORKING’ COLLEAGUE – who will do his best to look as busy as possible – especially when the book walks around
I) THE FAMILY AUNTY – who has to show you every single day yet another picture and photograph of her baby, her husband, her dog and her house

8:25am
As you take your freshly brewed cheap-ass office coffee, the Day starts – with the most annoying format ever – a one hour meeting with the boss and everyone in the department – all crammed into an small office space. You make your way there – only to have your other colleagues make a statement by bringing in their thick paper cups of with the brand ‘Costa’ or ‘Starbucks’ nicely printed on the outside – to let you know while you drink cheap shitty coffee – they can afford a super expensive overpriced-to-the-moon Coffee – after all for all this is always Mastercard – Isn’t it?

8:30am
All your office colleagues are seated in the office meeting room where everyone is strategically seated – the ones who want to kiss the boss’s ass or who want to make the statement that they are the big dogs in this small zoo – sitting right in the front, while the people who have no clue where they are headed in the middle and then right at the end – the ones who really have no interest in working – but are there to make their presence known – after all they need to pay up their credit card bills because of all the money they busted on booze, parties, night clubs, women, shopping and showing off what they couldn’t possibly afford. That too minimum payment every month.

8:35am
Your Boss walks into the room and everyone gives him the customary ‘respect’ by standing up or smiling or showing alertness or may all the three together – while hate your life and your very existence. And then the meeting starts.

10am
Meeting has ended. When you look at your notes on what was discussed at the meeting – you realize it is….nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
What they discussed last week, last month and even the last year – was the same old recycled garbage which they shared with you – once again.
We need to focus on this, we need to do that, the market is competitive, we need more customers, more quality, you will be made redundant if you don’t do this and…….
then after depressing you with enough stress for the day….well they hand over a few $5 worth awards and a $.50 worth printed certificate with your name on it – so that you are recognized for your hard work.
They do this because, they have incredible hope and optimism that you will take this cheap certificate and show it to all the members of your family and proudly place it on your house wall – and that would convince your wife enough not to nag you about asking for a salary increment for the next 5 years.
After all – since getting married – no one ever appreciated you.
Shit happens.
So yeah – this give your family the belief that this ordinary boring middle aged man, with a receding hairline, jutting pot belly and middle class lifestyle is at least worth – at least whatever is printed on the paper.

10:05 am
You start answering emails.
Most of it you have no idea or remember what they have written to you about.
But since you want to sound relevant, you add in one or two lines of wisdom.

11am
Its time to do what you are created on this planet for.
To go out there into the market where the temperature is 50 degrees heat – to do what you do best.
Sales
Or in other words – Beg, Plead and Grovel for Sales.
After all – who cares about your sales skills?
All they want is the “Bestestest Quality” for “Cheapestestest Price”

1:30pm
You complete your corporate begging session for the day.
Now, You have to go and pick up the kids and drop them home, have lunch and rush off again.

2:30pm
You are back in the office half dead, half asleep and half exhausted with all the afternoon heat, humidity and traffic.

4pm
You decide you need to waste some time in the office pantry – and in come in all the cartoon characters – once again.

4:15pm
You now have another 1 hour 45 minutes to quickly finish any other possible office work and run off – so you start getting focused.
You wonder why is it – only at 4:15pm – that too when your day is ending – do you get the most productive!!!???!!!

5:45pm
You look at the watch and get completely geared up to leave – waiting for those few seconds to move faster….After all you do not want to bump into traffic – which doesn’t make sense anyways since everyone will be rushing home anyways….

6pm
You rush off from your office space, you rush out of the office building into an overcrowded elevator, you rush out of the elevator to your car, you start your car as soon as possible, you rush on to the road and you rush on to the traffic deadlock….
And then you think to yourself….
oh wow….did all the cars have to come out at this time only???

Suddenly you see all the cars ahead of you…..moving at a speed called ‘Snail Pace’..

8pm
You finally reach home.
You are dead tired.
Absolutely exhausted.
Your head is pounding as if someone hammered your head with a frying pan for the last 2 hours.
You are stinking with fatigue, you are fed up of life, disillusioned, sore and dizzy.
And there you get face to face with the mess in the house.
Does life get any more worse?

8:30pm
You finish taking a hot shower, scrubbing all the infestation and dust of the corporate world – to sit down in front of your monitor where you just want…peace….and as you sit down to rest – the tsunami of your wife, your children and all the other headaches of the century come rushing in.
Apparently – everyone missed you so much – they have to irritate you with what happened today at school to what groceries were missing at home.
Suddenly – though you look fresh, your hair combed (or whatever is left of it), though you just had a shower – you are not officially brain dead.
You are sitting there thinking – Can I shoot myself in the head?

9:30pm
Your eyes are now shutting down…and you know very soon you are going to fall asleep or die out of exhaustion. But you need your private time – don’t you? So you put your children to bed. And then sit down for some quite time – to watch the news – and yeah have dinner.

10pm
Everything is done. Time to sleep.
You go to bed – and before you know it – you are in some land far far away….thinking of some sexy heroine you could have sex with…..OH yeah baby…light my zzzzz…

5am (next day)
BRRRRRR!!!!
The Alarm Rings Violently!!!
You wake up in your super overpriced……..

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Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand? (Contd…..)

Now imagine doing this everyday for the next week, the next whole month, the next whole year and then for your entire lifetime – until retirement….

Can you imagine doing that forever?

I couldn’t.

I seriously couldn’t.

And I wouldn’t.

The worst part of this lifestyle was simply that I would end up living my entire life
for a company I didn’t like to work for,
for a group of colleagues I never connected with,
for a corporate vision I didn’t believe in,
for a job I didn’t like,
for a time schedule that didn’t allow me personal time,
for a lifestyle I didn’t want to live….

And all this – for what?

To pay for expenses that never seem to end and had no finish line?
Save for a future I didn’t know if it would ever happen?
Be a slave to a lifestyle that would ensure I paid for everything I kept using or had no option other than addiction to want to use it?

QUESTIONS I HAVE ASKED MYSELF…..

Where does this all end?
Where was the finish line?
What was the meaning to all this?
Was this the only purpose to my existence?
Was this how I wanted to look back at my life when I was 80 years old?
That I lived my entire life….being a rat in a rat race?
Living it on other peoples terms, conditions, rules and regulations?

Was this the life I truly wanted, dreamed about and hope for?

Was this all that there was to life?

However, fortunately for me – I was never a slave to this system.

I had given up this lifestyle many many years ago.

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Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand? (Contd…..)

HOW DID I LIVE MY LIFE…..

I lived my life as a Industry expert, a World Class Brand, A Rebel who defied the system and defined the rules of his game and his existence.

Where others worked 8 hours a day (in Dubai its normally 12 to 16 hours a day), with 3 hours dedicated to dying in the traffic jams and the next 2 hours of their lives just sitting and home wondering what was happening to their lives – I worked 5 days a month for 3 hours each – while spending the next 25 days waking up whenever I like, sleeping whatever time I like, doing whatever I like with whomsoever I wanted to.

I spent my entire last 6 years doing what I loved.
Reading
Blogging
Video blogging
Training
Speaking
Exercising
Living the life of my dreams
And at the same time earning enough and more money – where I could enjoy life with the best what money could buy.

So then – the question was really this…

THE BIG QUESTION EVERY EXPATRIATE IN DUBAI MUST ASK HIMSELF…..

What would happen to me when Dubai would ask me to leave its sandy shores?

After all – no normal ordinary expatriate could stay in Dubai forever.

Who would provide the visa to live in Dubai forever?

Not everyone could run a successful business and stay in Dubai forever.

And even if that question was answered with a positive “Yes, you can stay in Dubai forever” – the bigger question was – how could one manage the rising costs, the inflation and the rising expenses – especially when rents were spiraling out of control (my rent from AED 28,000 this year – jumped up to AED 48,000 in just one year. And when I asked for the justification – I was informed EXPO 2020 is coming to UAE – which made me wonder – what exactly is EXPO 2020 and how does it increase of impact my income??? I was pretty sure even he didn’t know what EXPO 2020 was all about.)

And though I would love to be rich…Not everyone is meant to be a rags to riches Jagtiani who enjoys a annual turn over of US $6 Billion or a Yousef Ali of Lulu and turn over of UD $5.5 Billion
(Well I wouldn’t mind – wouldn’t we all??? And then we can write a best seller stating the 7 secrets to our success is…
1) Hard work
2) Focus
3) Dedication
4) Leadership
5) Delegation
6) Finding the Right People
7) Having a Vision
Yup….Rare gems of advice….I must add….)

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Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand? (Contd…..)

DUBAI IN THE PAST VERSUS DUBAI IN THE PRESENT….

I remembered a time when the rent for a family sized apartment was AED 2,000 per year (YES! It was AED 2,000 per year) and where the Arab Landlord would respectfully beg, plead and ask you to come and stay at his property.

Today the same sized apartment is nothing less than AED 66,000 per month.

I remember at time when the monthly grocery shopping bill for a family was AED 200 per month.

Today it comes to nothing less than AED 3,000 per month for the very same family.

Once upon a time the only monthly expenses I had to worry about was
AED 100 for electricity and water,
AED 150 for my school expenses,
AED 60 for petrol for a full tank that lasted me for a month travelling back & forth to office & home

Today my monthly expenses are
AED 1000 goes for electricity and water
AED 2,000 goes for my school expenses
AED 360 for a full tank + AED 120 for Road Toll + AED 500 for parking while meeting customers + AED 500 for extra parking near the office + AED 500 for parking near my house

In fact,
Just today I found out, where once upon a time if I had an accident, I could get the ambulance and the police coming to my aid for free….now I would have to pay AED 6,770 for the ambulance + AED 500 for having the accident + AED 500 for calling the police.
(Well the good news is now – people will drive safely right…? Err…wrong)

However, lets face it – if the earning capacity had not increased over the period of time – managing all these expenses would have never been possible. So if Dubai has increased its expenses of living – it is because it is the only place where you can make money – that too in bucket loads if you are smart.

Dubai has given birth to billionaires and millionaire more faster than any other city or country in the world, in one of the safest and more secure environments ever.

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Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand? (Contd…..)

THE REALITY – DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE

But – this reality – may not be the reality for each and everyone.

At least – a common man like myself.

I am not billionaire.
In fact I am not even a millionaire.
Oh come on…who am I fooling….I am just an average joe (although I may not look like one)

And where I am different I suppose is that – even though I earn enough – I blow it all off and live life ‘happy-go-lucky’.

But not without having a deeper insight and inner thought process of being aware of what is happening around me, to me and with me.

I know for a fact, that one day, when I am of no use to UAE or to my customers – I would be asked to leave Dubai.

That goes without saying.

If I – an expatriate reach my time – I will be asked to leave.

That was a straight forward proposition made me to me when I landed on the shores of UAE.

Now comes the important pivotal choice.

THE 2 CHOICES FOR EXPATRIATES

Do I stay in Dubai until I am 60 years old, of no use to anyone and then be asked to leave the country?
OR
Do I choose to move out of Dubai when I still have another 20 years left – where I call the shots and decide what to do where and when?

The former choice may force me to save aggressively, spend less, build investments all across the country where I wish to finally retire – and then retire when its time.

But then I wonder – is this how I would like to live my life?
Save money for a future I have no idea – if I would even exist living the first place?
Is there any sense of trying to save for an unknown future – when I can choose to live like a king in the present moment?
And then again – I know so many people who have saved millions – and sacrificed their present for a hopeful future – only to either die before their time (so all the money earned is now handed over to others to enjoy) or to lose everything in a investment that went south.

Then comes in the latter choice.

Make the change when you still have time on your hands.

Over here – the only challenge is this.

You get out of your comfort zone NOW.
Choose to suffer for the next few years.
But do so – when you call the shots.

So I am pretty sure by now – you know what I am hinting towards.

But here goes something else for you to think about.

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Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand? (Contd…..)

IMPORTANT DECISIONS FOR EXPATRIATES THEY HAVE TO MAKE ONE DAY

I am pretty sure like everyone else – the only options for an Expatriate are:
1) Go back to your home country
2) Migrate to the west.

In Option number 1) Go back to your home country – personally for me – this is a absolute and total and emphatic NO FUCKING WAY!!!

I have nothing against India – however, at the same time I feel nothing for India. (Well as I type this out, I have found out things are not very bright for UK, US and European Nationals also)

I mean I have never been there in India long enough to know what it feels being an Indian. Nor do I feel the surge of patriotism when I hear its national anthem or feel any sense of loyalty when I see the Indian flag waving itself proudly on a pole.

The feeling I would get when all this would take place is may be the feeling of Patriotism you would get when you see the flag of the Imperial Army of Star Wars wave on Disney Land.

Well may be with Star Wars you would feel a bit more excited than watching the flag of another country – but I think you get the point.

So where India is concerned – I know for a fact – I cannot survive or have the desire to survive in that country.

Its really not in my taste or lexicon to want to be in India.

So then comes – which western country do I want to settle down for the reminder of my life?

Here the ironical thing is this.

THE IRONY……

If go down to any western country – I would have to start from scratch.

Become a dishwasher, cleaner, petrol attendant, cinema hall worker, garbage man, laborer or may be some Mcdonald’s employee – after all I know for a fact that unless I was some ‘big hot shot’ with unbelievable credentials – no corporate job with an exceptionally well-paying salary would be waiting for me.

After all – any country in existence where citizens pay outlandish taxes – have to first take care of their citizens, then the people who have experience in its shores, and then when nothing or no other option is available – give jobs to immigrants.

So is that what I would want to do?

Given the fact that I am fully tattooed (face and all), I doubt any corporate job or any job where customer services come into play would open its doors to me.

And then I would need to accept that if I would go to any of these western countries – I would have to start from scratch – which would destroy all that I worked for – my brand, my online presence, and my revenue income.

So what solution did I have?

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Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand? (Contd…..)

THE SOLUTIONS I HAD TO CHOOSE FROM

It came down to:
1) Being true to myself
Doing what I love doing and finding ways and means to do it in a better way, with more time, worrying less about the rat race and focusing more on myself.

So there was only one place for me in the world.

To be in a country that was
1) Less in terms of expenses
2) More in terms of time – for myself and for doing what I love doing
3) To enjoy greater freedom
4) To have lesser stress
5) To enjoy greater income and live better

And that in turn, zeroed down to Koh Samui.

Now, before I tell you anything else – let me share with you the exact moment where I realized Koh Samui was the place for me at least.

A VERY STRANGE EPISODE IN KOH SAMUI

In Koh Samui there is this 60+ British gentleman whom to protect his true identity, call as Richard.

Richard spends the first 55 years of his life getting stoned, drunk, drugged and in parties – doing everything that a Christian doctrine would say ‘Do not do’.

And this laissez faire lifestyle leads him to the shores of Koh Samui.

One fine day he decided to stop this reckless lifestyle booze, bums, and boobs and settle down being smart.

So he went back to the UK, sold off all his property and ended up constructing nice little restaurant outlet – where he would open in the evenings serving customers from 6 pm all the way to 12 am.

One fine day, I happen to drop in his outlet for a meal.

Absolutely delicious.

So I decided I would go once again.

After 2 days, I dropped in again to enjoy another great culinary experience.

I reached there at 8:30 pm and saw him sitting down in his restaurant having a few beers with few friends of his.

Being a polite customer, I asked him if could place an order expecting him to stand up eagerly to take ‘another precious order’

However, to my amazement – he gave me a flat out “no – we are closed.”

For a split second, I thought I heard him say “no – we are closed.”

So I repeated my request again
I’m here to place an order.

Once again, he repeated.
We are closed, buddy.

When I asked him how come – he responded by stating –
“My daily target is to have 10 deliveries. Today within the 1st hour, I had 11 deliveries, so I am closed for the day. And now I am enjoying myself.”

WHAT???

Can someone do this???

I was absolutely shocked.

I mean something like this in Dubai – would have been tantamount to blasphemy!

After all – one would have the attitude that tomorrow could be a rainy day for business – so why not save up for the rainy day???

Isn’t that what business is all about?

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Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand? (Contd…..)

ANOTHER CRAZY ASS EXAMPLE

Consider the second example.

I went to this Indian restaurant – which looked like a really large shed with fans on the ceiling. More like a ghetto styled broken down restaurant. Nothing fancy.

Inside the restaurant, on the left side were – a few benches for backpackers who wanted to order food, 10 scooters for rent, and finally little bit ahead – a small shop where cheap Indian Jewellery and pictures of Indian gods was being sold.

On the right side, once again, there were a few benches for backpackers to eat food, then there was a sofa with a couple of books on a shelf – where you could read at your leisure for $1, watch TV if you like for $5 and next to that sofa sitting area – a nice small bar where you could purchase drinks.

In and around the place were a few dogs that belonged to the owner – who kept walking around enjoying themselves.

And finally, Behind this set up was a wall – where the bedroom and the toilets were present – which the owner had for himself and his family to stay in.

The whole business was run by the business owner and his family – him, his wife and his young daughter.

They would stay here and work here.
And I kept thinking to myself – gosh…he doesn’t have to drive through traffic to get to work!
WOW!!!
Is that even possible?

WHY WAS I IMPRESSED?

Now – why was I impressed with this setup?

The set up wasn’t particularly great, neither was the food.

But what really screamed at me was the personality of the business owner.

His personality was such – that in Dubai – he wouldn’t even get the most minimum or basic job. He lacked everything from communication skills, to networking skills, to competitiveness, to a personality – which in Dubai you need if you have to survive – let alone thrive!

He didn’t have any such skill!!!

In fact, he didn’t seem to be a businessman at all.

He looked terrible.

And that lead me to ask him – how did the hell did he do this?

HIS STORY

So I asked him…

And this is what he told me.

He had come down to Koh Samui as a cook 15 years ago. And after working for 2 years as a cook, decided he would open a small push cart with wheels and cook on the streets – and with whatever he could earn – he would manage to live his life.

That lead him to save small trickles of money and savings.

And with that – he kept saving and reinvesting.

Today he earns enough to feed a family of 4 comfortably.

Not millions or billions.

Just enough to feed him and his family.

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Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand? (Contd…..)

TROUBLING THOUGHTS OR LIFE CHANGING THOUGHTS?

Through the many days that followed with my stay in Koh Samui, I found not just him but quite a number of individuals – who were very basic and simple – but lived a rather contented life.

They were not super bright, super smart or super dynamic.

They didn’t have a killer instinct to fight nor did they have Einstein’s mind to create, innovate and brand anything out of the world.

All they had was a simple product, simple wants and simple lifestyle.

Don’t get me wrong – I am not trying to disrespect or discount the whole island of a few thousand people.

I am pretty sure there are really bright, amazing, innovative and incredibly talented individuals who have the capacity to earn billions.

But I doubt they would stay here on this island.

They would move on.

And that is what makes me so attracted to want to come down and stay here for the rest of my life.

The fact that I can be happy in its simplicity.
That I can earn a little – easily – and live a stress free life with peace.

That I can eat the best food in the world, stay in the most luxurious apartment or villa (which is 10,000 times less expensive than Dubai) and enjoy a distraction free life of wanting to keep up with the Jones.

And all this – while finding love – when and where I least expected to find it.

In a simple village – where money, madness and mayhem is no longer present.

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Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand? (Contd…..)

AFTER THOUGHTS….

You know…right now…as I type these thoughts…it says 10am on my iphone.

And right now it says – 7am on my laptop – which has Dubai Time on its clock – given its 3 hour time difference

I smile because as I type this article, after having eaten crispy pork skin, along with a nice hot cup of coffee prepared by my really beautiful blonde soon-to-be-wife (Did I mention she is hot, sexy and amazing in bed?), I am sitting here relaxing and thinking and typing a creative article.

While most of the poor souls in Dubai are once again running up and down trying to fit into their busy mindless schedule – the never ending quest to finish even more work in the less time that they have – so as to earn more – so that they can pay their bills and never ending costs which keep growing day in and day out…..

Given the fact, that I would roughly have another 20 years more to live, I seriously don’t think I want to live it anymore in that crazy fast paced lifestyle.

Don’t get me wrong.

Dubai offers a world of choice, luxury and comfort unparalleled to anything that this world has ever seen.

It is Fast, Furious and Fantastic.

But at times, Mad, Bad and Quite Sad.

I think I have reached or may be reaching a phase in my life where I want the 4 L’s of Life – To Live, Learn, Love and Laugh.

And may be have another “L” – to stay true to myself – “loymachedo.com” – the brand that preaches the irrefutable truth – You have only one life – Live it.

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Dubai 2 Koh Samui – Why I am leaving The Most Luxurious City In The World To A Simple Village Life in Koh Samui in Thailand? (Contd…..)

MY CONCLUSION

So as I touched down on the shores of Koh Samui once again, I kind of remember the words of Henry David Thoreau who said:
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.

I realize how applicable it is to my life and may be so many others who are not only in Dubai, but the world over.

They spend their entire lives chasing behind this elusive pot of gold, earning more, working harder, doing it faster…..only to one day reach the twilight of their lives and wonder – this is it?

Just this?

In fact, I think people need to ask themselves…. I did all this, worked all these years, sacrificed so much, gave up everything – for…..what?

More Money?
Better House?
Faster Cars?

Where does it end?

One day when I go to my grave – I cannot collect and take this all with me now?

Isn’t it?

That is why may be, many years ago, I once decided – no more of these ‘things’ or ‘goals’ I would chase.

I would focus on only one thing and one thing alone – Being happy.
Being True to Myself.
Being ‘loymachedo.com’

And today- I am taking the biggest and riskiest decision of my life.

To give up everything that I was once used to and addicted to.

To move from the Luxurious life of Dubai

To something more meaningful, simple and ordinary – that lies in Koh Samui.

American film and television actor – Jason Behr succinctly said it when he stated
It’s not about finding a home so much as finding yourself.

May be in this final act – I will truly find who I am, what I am made up off, and where my true calling lies.

May be that is why I am taking this drastic step that will be my final game changer.

I will conclude this article in the words of English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for the Beatles
– Ringo Starr who sums up what I feel…..

I feel the older I get, the more I’m learning to handle life. Being on this quest for a long time, it’s all about finding yourself.

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