Welcome to Land of Smiles – Your Guide to Real Expat Life in Thailand

Discover the real Thailand beyond the beaches and temples. Land of Smiles is a personal blog sharing honest, funny, and informative stories about life as an expat in Thailand, with a special focus on Isaan culture, Thai food (yes, even the weird stuff), rural adventures, and local customs. Whether you’re planning to move to Thailand, already living here, or just curious about what Thai life is really like—this blog gives you the inside scoop on everything from cost of living and cultural quirks to street food, language, and unexpected local experiences.

Latest blogs below

Beyond Bangkok: A Two-Week Thailand Itinerary Featuring Underrated Provinces

Looking to explore Thailand beyond the usual tourist trail? Tired of seeing the same loop—Bangkok, [...]

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Thailand’s National Park Passport: The Ultimate Bucket List Challenge for Travellers and Expats

If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring every corner of Thailand — from misty mountain ranges [...]

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Hidden Gems of Isaan: Secret Temples, Chicken Shrines, and the Weirdly Wonderful Northeast

Think beyond beaches—Thailand’s northeast is full of spiritual oddities, jungle hideaways, and roadside surprises you [...]

Living the Thai Life: Finding Joy in Everyday Moments in Isaan

Discover the beauty of everyday life in rural Thailand—monks on morning walks, friendly locals, delicious [...]

The Land of Smiles….and Alcohol

If you’re reading this, you’re probably curious about what it’s like to live in Thailand—beyond [...]

The ‘Secret’ to Learning Thai

The ‘Secret’ to Learning Thai – So, you wanna crack Thai? My secret? I actually wanted [...]

🐃 10 Things That Might Surprise You About Life in Isaan (That No One Warned You About)

You came for the cheap living and the spicy food—but Isaan has a few surprises [...]

Training Muay Thai in Thailand: Best Camps, Costs & What No One Tells You

✊ Thinking of flying to Thailand to punch stuff, sweat buckets, and live your Ong-Bak [...]