After travelling extensively across America, Europe, and Australia, Macauley Haycock, originally from Wolverhampton, had always wanted to experience South East Asia. Following a brief visit to Thailand, he spent five years saving up before making the move at the age of 28. Now 31, Macauley has established himself through MacTV, a popular YouTube channel that combines travel experiences with the realities of running a bar.
To immerse himself fully, Macauley worked with 30 Thai women to learn the language and has grown his YouTube following to over 90,000 subscribers. Reflecting on his decision to stay in Thailand, he explained: “My original plan was to travel through South East Asia and share the journey on YouTube, but I settled in Thailand. It’s a lot better than some other countries in terms of infrastructure, healthcare, food, and the friendliness of people. It worked out well for me, which is why I stayed.”
He added that one of the biggest draws was the sense of freedom: “It’s total freedom, that’s the main takeaway. The UK is becoming increasingly restrictive about what you can and can’t say. Here in Thailand, you can be yourself without judgment. You could be 50 years old, dancing on a dancefloor, or wearing eccentric clothes, and nobody cares. As long as you’re a decent person, that’s all that matters.”
READ MORE: Driving Test Fraudster Used Impersonators in ‘Tip of the Iceberg’ Case
READ MORE: Three Midland Men Jailed Following Discovery of £148k in Counterfeit £20 Notes
Leveraging his experience working in bars in the UK, Macauley opened his own establishment, Deluzion, in Pattaya last December, investing around £53,000. Encouraging others to consider Thailand, he said he misses very little about life in the UK.
“In the UK, I think it’s difficult to build a life nowadays. Here, I have my bar, my business, my girlfriend, and I’ve just moved into a three-bedroom house-something I never could have managed back home. The cost of living is much more reasonable, and convenience is unmatched. You can order food and have it delivered within five minutes, taxis arrive within half a minute. There are more opportunities here, especially for those looking to travel and explore the world.”
When asked what he missed about home, Macauley replied, “The only things I truly miss are my friends and family. Apart from that, I don’t really miss anything about the UK.”