I’m Dylan, a 42-year-old chef from Melbourne. For most of my life, I worked in high-end restaurants — pressure, precision, perfection. Every night was a performance, and I loved it… until I didn’t. Somewhere between the third tasting menu and my second burnout, I realized I was hungry for something more than food.
A vacation to Thailand changed everything. I took a cooking class in Chiang Mai, wandered through local markets, and rediscovered what food felt like — raw, alive, joyful. Back in Australia, the stainless steel and white tiles of my kitchen suddenly felt cold.
So, I made the move.
Now I live in a cozy house near the beach in Krabi. I found it on https://thailand-real.estate/ — it has a garden full of herbs and a kitchen that opens into the backyard. I teach Thai-fusion cooking classes to tourists and expats, host pop-up dinners, and experiment with flavors under palm trees.
Life is slower, warmer, more human. For the first time in years, I feel nourished — body and soul.