About mnbarlas
M. N. Barlas (Nomi), Thailand
Most information about Thailand online is written by short-term visitors, content writers, or people repeating what others have already said.
This site exists to do the opposite.
I’m M. N. Barlas (Nomi) — and Thailand has been my home for over a decade.
I live here, deal with the systems here, pay the costs here, and experience daily life the way residents do — not through itineraries, but through routine. mnbarlas is where I document those realities honestly, without hype or tourism gloss.
Why This Site Exists
Thailand is often portrayed as cheap, easy, relaxed, and simple to settle into.
The truth is more nuanced.
Some parts of life here are genuinely excellent. Others are misunderstood, romanticized, or rarely explained properly. Visa rules, cost of living, healthcare, transport, daily routines, cultural friction — these things matter far more than hotel reviews.
mnbarlas exists to help people:
- Understand what living in Thailand is actually like
- Make informed decisions, not emotional ones
- Avoid costly surprises
- See the country beyond social media narratives
My Background (And Why It Helps)
I come from a structured, analytical background.
- Former military service
- Master’s degree in Business Administration
- Master’s degree in Computer Science
- Full-time trader with experience in forex and global markets
That background shapes how I write:
- Practical, not poetic
- Observational, not speculative
- Focused on systems, processes, and outcomes
When I explain something — whether it’s daily expenses, visa realities, or life adjustments — it’s based on first-hand experience, not assumptions.
What You’ll Find on mnbarlas
This site focuses on four core areas:
- Thailand Daily Life
Routines, habits, transport, food, and everyday realities - Thailand Guides
Step-by-step explanations of systems people struggle with - Bangkok & Cities
Area-specific insights based on lived experience - Costs, Visas & Reality
Money, bureaucracy, long-term living truth — without sugarcoating
Occasionally, you may still see older technology-related content. That reflects the site’s earlier direction and background, but the primary focus now — and going forward — is Thailand life and practical guidance.
What This Site Is Not
- A tourism blog
- A “Top 10 places” list factory
- Sponsored hype
- Rewritten or recycled content
Everything here is written with one guiding question in mind:
Would this help someone understand Thailand better before making a decision?
If the answer is no, it doesn’t get published.
Final Thought
Thailand can be an incredible place to live — for the right people, with the right expectations.
This site is here to help you figure out whether that’s you.
— M. N. Barlas (Nomi)
