Meet the 92-year-old man travelling the world

Travel at 60 blogger Garry shares the story of how he met his friend Leo, a 92-year-old expat living in Thailand. 

My friendship with Leo Ellis of Chiang Mai, Thailand, began a few years ago. It was a hot April afternoon. I was alone and sheltering from the heat in a small well-air-conditioned restaurant in Chiang Mai’s old town when I noticed an elderly gentleman dismount his bicycle and enter.

I invited him to join me and he graciously accepted. Wiping the sweat from his forehead he introduced himself and we began chatting. I was curious to know why an elderly foreigner was out cycling alone on such a hot afternoon.

“I love to be out and about as there are so many interesting places to visit,” Leo explained.

“When it’s very hot, I bring my laptop and a book and come to places like this with good air-con and spend an hour or two over a few drinks.”

Leo must have noticed my look of growing curiosity and concern. “I’m 92, so I guess I need to slow down a bit nowadays,” he said.

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I was amazed. Leo’s demeanour gave me the impression he was in his early 70s – the way he walked, talked and looked. As our conversation progressed he began to happily divulge more about himself including his reason for being in Thailand. Firstly, Leo is no tourist – he lives here. He migrated from Vancouver in Canada at age 88 alone, seeking an even better life.

“I’ve worked and travelled in many countries – England, South Africa, Australia, Central America and several Asian countries. My favourite is Japan, but it’s too expensive for me. I holidayed here in Thailand for six months testing it out to see if I might like to stay here,” he explained.

Leo commented on his dislike for the nanny state and the political correctness paralysing much of western societies. “I don’t want to buy into all that nonsense. The frustration would probably drive me crazy,” he said. “Here the elderly are treated with respect. Respect for the elderly is a cornerstone of Asian culture.”

As we sipped our cold drinks under the cold air of the air-con, I learnt how Leo’s aged pension’s purchasing power has increased four or five fold, which means he is able to rent a very comfortable apartment in the charming old town section of Chiang Mai. He eats out whenever he wants, including regularly at high-end restaurants. He also travels, yes, at 92, to neighbouring Asian countries for holidays. He stopped counting the many times he’s visited Japan. He admits that in the last few years he has ceased returning to Canada; instead he encourages family and friends to visit him – and they do. He’s either planning for their visits or entertaining them. They stay in nearby guesthouses or hotels, inexpensive by Canadian standards.

“How do you fill in your days?” I asked. “I fill them however I choose. I love visiting the numerous cafes and restaurants where I will often meet friends or sit quietly with a book,” he said.“I know many of their owners and staff. I couldn’t afford to do this in Canada. Here, I don’t even have to consider whether I can afford to or not. I also enjoy reading, visiting the library, planning my next holiday or entertaining my overseas guests. My life is as busy or as quiet as I want it to be.”

Observing Leo more closely my mind was beginning to wonder if he had wittingly or unwittingly stumbled upon that elusive ‘elixir of life’ so many dream of. Is his youthful attitude and demeanour attributable to his strong sense of place and meaning within his new-found community; one that generously bestows rightful respect? Surely this must be a contributing factor to his healthy longevity.

Putting ‘life elixirs’ aside, Leo further explains how he’s only had one major brush with the medical profession since being here. That was when he had a kidney stone. After an MRI scan, some CAT scans, X-rays and seven consultations with specialists, his total bill was around AU$700, which he paid out of his own private health insurance fund – of which he is the sole member, contributor and benefactor. “It pays me to take good care of my health,” he said.

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“Isn’t it a little dangerous to be riding a bicycle around town at your age?” I asked. “No more dangerous than most places,” he said. “But I have fallen off a few times. Who hasn’t? I just get back on … a bit like life. Although my last fall has left me with a nagging pain in my hip. I’ve learnt to live with it and I’ll be more careful in future.”

“What other advantages of living here would you like to share?” I asked. “I think many people have negative or misleading ideas of Asia, but perhaps they’re focussing too much on the wrong things,” he said.

“Most places in Asia have excellent, inexpensive public transport. This means I don’t need to own a car. The internet is usually much faster with Wi-Fi access just about everywhere.

“New airlines and modern airports are opening up everywhere, too. I find most people here are less stressed.

“I ride my bicycle all over town slowly, but have never experienced road rage. Showing such anger would have them losing face, that’s something to be avoided at all costs.”

“What about your future? You’re 92; we all have to expect that one day we won’t be able to care for ourselves properly. What will you do?” I asked.

“I’ve already planned for that. I’ve found two local retirement homes with beautiful gardens, one on 100 acres of woodlands with walking paths and a stream,” he said.

“Both have comfortable rooms and excellent nursing and medical facilities. My pension will more than cover the total expenses. I feel I will be looked after better here than back ‘home’. Since my pension will more than cover my expenses, I won’t be a burden on the Canadian public health system’s purse.”

Ever since our first chance encounter on that hot April afternoon, Leo and I have met for breakfast and coffees a few times a week when he’s available, and when I’m in town, whereupon we would share our tales of travel all the while, unknowingly perhaps, fine tuning our very own ‘life elixirs’.

I’m now continuing on with my travels firmly of the belief that if possible, life is not meant to be lived in just one place.