Steve LePoidevin

Steve LePoidevin, IL’s Peru Correspondent, is originally from Quebec but spent most of his working life in British Columbia. He and his wife, Nancy, have lived abroad since 2008. Following almost six years in China and another three years in Thailand, they currently live in Huanchaco on the north coast of Peru. When not writing or traveling in real life, Steve enjoys designing 3D objects and worlds in virtual reality.

Low-Cost Homes in Thailand’s Royal Beach Town

Low-Cost Homes in Thailand’s Royal Beach Town

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Blessed with some of the country’s best beaches—as well as great golfing—Hua Hin has been a Thai holiday hot-spot for almost 100 years. More recently, foreigners have also discovered everything this town of 80,000 people has to offer. New condo complexes and housing developments are springing up within a 10-mile radius, hand-in-hand with a burgeoning infrastructure of new malls, international restaurants, and tourist attractions that were much more difficult to find just a few years ago.

The Five Best Day Trips From Chiang Mai, Thailand

The Five Best Day Trips From Chiang Mai, Thailand

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Chiang Mai, in the heart of northern Thailand, has become popular among expats like me for its low cost of living and many attractions. An ancient city with over 300 exquisite temples, it’s culturally rich, vibrant, and offers a wide variety of things to do. But don’t limit yourself to the city. While Chiang Mai proper can keep you busy with its many cafés, cultural events, bookshops, and expat hangouts, some of the best discoveries lie in the foothills beyond the historic city center…

Living Overseas…the Best Education of All

Living Overseas…the Best Education of All

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You must be really desperate to want to move to China!” said my 80-yearold mother as I broke the news of my new job. Actually, no; I wasn’t. At that time—almost 10 years ago—I had a great teaching position in rural British Columbia, with the end of my long career in sight. I was the kingpin in a small storefront school teaching all the local misfits, no boss looking over my shoulder, a decent salary, and enough regular holidays to keep me rejuvenated. So why did I decide to move?

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Excellent Healthcare That Doesn’t Break the Bank

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Excellent Healthcare That Doesn’t Break the Bank

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A long with being a low-cost and tropical retirement haven, Thailand has long been an international destination for medical tourism. Why? Because healthcare is low cost and excellent quality. I should know. I’m a retired Canadian schoolteacher living in the northern city of Chiang Mai, with personal experience of two hospitals here—one public and one private. In both I felt welcomed and unrushed. And in general I’ve found the health professionals in this city maintain a high quality of empathy and caring for all their patients.

From Canada to Chiang Mai—Low-Cost Life in Thailand’s “Rose of the North”

From Canada to Chiang Mai—Low-Cost Life in Thailand’s “Rose of the North”

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Each morning I wake to a symphony of songbirds and roosters. Somehow, my wife, Nancy, usually sleeps through this, but for me it’s the start of another relaxed day in retirement. We live in a 968-square-foot condominium in the center of Chiang Mai, the principal city in northern Thailand. We have two balconies overlooking a large wooded farm—an uncommon rural oasis in this growing city. Despite this, we’re close to everything—trendy cafés, glitzy malls, and craft beer pubs.