Post deleted by Mat Sklansky
 

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
(thai is tonal so its hard to spell to how it sounds)

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you mean like Chinese? Where a single word has four meanings depending on the intonation of your voice? Ugh. I've tried learning some mandarin, it's really really hard.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
I didn't have that big of a roll at the time so I had to play. I was grinding out $50 SNG's from internet cafe's for much of the trip.

I have to say that was quite an awesome experience.

[/ QUOTE ]

Awesome experience playing $50 SNGs from internet cafe´s or just the trip in general? If the former you must have alot of fun playing SNGs and yeah.. the food, I crave the food now.

Am I wrong when I imagine grinding it out at internet cafe's to be boring?

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Dam all this talk about ThaiLand really makes me want to go there asap [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

Post deleted by Mat Sklansky
 

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
I had put my company on hold (essentially quit my job) a couple months before. Playing for a living was something I really really loved at that time. Now its kinda meh and normal, but for me then, it was the best feeling in the world.

[/ QUOTE ]

Then it makes a little more sense [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]

Ya it sucks playing that way...cafe's aren't 24 hours and internet can be crappy and computers worse (lotta places you can't use the laptop) etc, but it was still awesome.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mm, yeah. It sounds like if I want to go backpacking it's probably best to just take a month off poker and just enjoy Thailand. The alternative is to get some apartment/hotel with high-speed internet connection and grind away.

The best choice seems to be to go backpacking one month (without laptop) return to Sweden and return later on to the place you liked most with laptop in hand, agree?

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

I get the satellite package "UBC" for TV, and I think its AWESOME. I get a bunch of movie channels, and they show lots of sports, and old american TV shows I never watched. There are a LOT less commercials t odeal with.

You can get DVD's for about $1.50 to $2.00 depending on where you go and how well you bargain.

---

In my village we have a married couple that does security for our neighborhood of about 15 homes. The husband rides around on a bike at night, and makes sure everything is safe. These people are really nice, and they would do absolutely anything to help. The woman is the one who cooks my meals for me regularly. She is the best cook I've ever had. (My wife and I are currently debating whether to hire her permanently to be our chef/maid for $75/month.) .. Anyway, the interesting thing is that they are the most well liked people in the neighborhood, despite the fact that they would be considered lower class. It seems like all of the residents of the neighborhood are so busy trying to impress one another, and watch whatever they say cause Thai's are HUGE gossips, that when they're around the security people, they can just relax and enjoy their company... I go over to their little station and swill back a bunch of beers with them, and they love to try and get me drunk. I try and teach them engrish, and they try and teach me thai. Its definitely one of the better things going here for me.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

*grunch*
Hey I'm in Singapore now. Should I go to Thailand?

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Degen and Co,

When in Thailand, what do you miss from America?

[/ QUOTE ]

A good [censored] breakfast. Don't get me wrong, you can get scambled eggs and toast everyday, but I want a goddamn sasuage biscuit or gravy biscuits or a bagel with cream cheese that doesn't taste like ass.


quick question (if no one sees this within like 10 minute ignore it)

Where is the best place to buy an airline ticket from Chiang Mai to BKK? I'm about to go to a travel agent because the internet isn't helping me

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

bangkokair.com

the first and last flights of the day are half price

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

1,600 baht if you get the promo fair. 2,300 is the normal rate

Post deleted by Mat Sklansky
 

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Seems like we need more videos in this thread

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2lJJ9kdslE
(NSFW)

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Degen and Co,

Mexican food.

[/ QUOTE ]Miguel's in Chiang Mai

the rest of the list I agree with though
[ QUOTE ]


Just go to the street travel agents. These are actually one of the few people in Thailand who are somewhat unlikely to overchage you.

[/ QUOTE ]

Alright thanks

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

More dancing girls (with wacky voiceover)

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

There is a great mexican restaurant in BKK called Charley Browns. Its around sukhemvit 11 or so. [censored] bomb food

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

well I might have to consider moving there afterall, stupid [censored] gov't

Post deleted by Mat Sklansky
 

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]

Do you mean like Chinese? Where a single word has four meanings depending on the intonation of your voice? Ugh. I've tried learning some mandarin, it's really really hard.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah its similar to chinese (though i havent tried learning mandarin, my stepbrothers are taiwanese so i hear a fair amount of it) though it definitely isnt as complicated - reading and writing for eg is fairly simple if you know the alphabet and basic rules (for the tai that is commonly spoken, the thai they speak on thai new and the thai they use for political speeches is different but fairly easy to understand if you understand basic thai). overall i'd say its more gutteral than chinese..or less delicate...dont really know how to describe it. also, chaing mai thai probably sounds closer to chinese than thai from the south, which is more gutteral

-pug

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Pug where in Thailand are you located?

And just incase there are not enough reasons to move to thailand in this thread I will present you with one more:
McDonalds delivers and you dont have to tip! I actually prefer subway (they deliver too) but there isnt a subway in samui.

Food is available everywhere in Thailand 24x7. I dont even have a full kitchen but I can go and grab some rice/meat/veggie/thai food/whatever. There are food stalls everywhere. They also have fruit carts everywhere which I really enjoy. I got this fuit man trained to come to my house everyday now (kinda out of the way) and bring me fresh juicy pineapple for 25 cents a slice. Thais have some amazing fruits too. My favorit is Monkut (Mangosteen)
http://dcfud.smorgasblog.com/userimages/mangosteen.jpg

When you live here its cool to goto the markets and pickup all kinds of food. My tastes have changed quite a bit since living here and now I can eat SUPER spicy food like the thais. I eat thai food everyday and enjoy it quite a bit. [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

Post deleted by Mat Sklansky
 

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Do places in thailand have basements or attics? If so can I live in yours?

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

So what does that actually mean?

Are you planning to extend your 3 week trip here?

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

No basements in Thailand. But if you are tight on cash you can rent a small studio for $75 a month. My girlfriends sister rents a small 1 bedroom setup for $75 a month in Samui. You can live like the thais if you need to.

Post deleted by Mat Sklansky
 

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnQAm1XPXc4

everyone needs atleast trip up to Isaan to catch some of this music live and get pissed on rice whiskey!

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
No basements in Thailand. But if you are tight on cash you can rent a small studio for $75 a month. My girlfriends sister rents a small 1 bedroom setup for $75 a month in Samui. You can live like the thais if you need to.

[/ QUOTE ]

seriously, do farang actually live like that? awesome.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

I think some farang live like that. Not me though.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think some farang live like that. Not me though.

[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps you have a shed I could live in?

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
No basements in Thailand. But if you are tight on cash you can rent a small studio for $75 a month. My girlfriends sister rents a small 1 bedroom setup for $75 a month in Samui. You can live like the thais if you need to.

[/ QUOTE ]

seriously, do farang actually live like that? awesome.

[/ QUOTE ]

My wife and I did for a month. It was f'in brutal.

One thing I'm surprised is that no one has mentioned the fact that farang can't own property.

Golf has been discussed a little.. Lemme tell you what its like in Chiang Mai.. At the more expensive courses a round will cost you somewhere from $20-$40 ish. Driving ranges are ridiculously cheap. .50 for a tray of 40 balls. Whenever you play a round u HAVE to get a caddy. Caddies are of course female, but unfortunately not always cute.

KKF is right, for some reason, Pizza Hut girls are HOT!!! Like, ridiculously hot.

Also, asian people and they're stretching routines are pretty anoying. And, what's with them being so comfortable sitting in the catcher position?

Re: Ask a Farang Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Degen:

Visiting soon, have some specific q's about Bangkok.

Spa: I want to send my parents to a great day spa. I don't know if you or your lady friend has ever been pampered at such a place, and I know there are cheaper places available, but I am looking for insight into either the Banyan Tree Spa or the Oriental's Spa. I know they are 'paeng mak' but this is a gift, so I'm not worried.

Dim Sum: Ever been? Can you recommend a place? I'm willing to go to Chinatown, but anywhere is alright.

[/ QUOTE ]

Spa:

I'm sure any of the spa's in the big hotels like those you mention are very very nice. There are so many spa's and massage places in Bangkok, the big hotels have to go the extra mile to stand out. I haven't been to any high end spas , only some average ones when I was down in Phuket.

DimSum:

There is a good place on Sukumvit Soi 11 called "Joke Club". The dim sum is very good and cooked fresh to order. They have a bunch of big aquariums in the front where you can order your fish/seafood from. The broccoli and scallops is excellent too. That's my favorite for dimsum in Bangtown. There is also a cheap chain called "chokdee dimsum" with branches around town. That's pretty good too but much cheaper and lower quality than Joke Club.

Re: Ask a Farang Anything About Living In Thailand
 

There are hot girls working everywhere.

There are still legal loopholes for a farang to own property. You can setup a consulting comapny and do a miniscule amount of work, pay tiny tax each year etc etc. This is still available even after some of the latest crackdowns. Ive spoken extensivly to a lawyer and he asures me that it is still possible.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Okay, a couple more questions:

How is the TV over there? Can you get any western shows? Do they have SKY? In the cheaper hotels you described, do they even have TV's?

[/ QUOTE ]

I have a satellite package from UBC and it is decent. CNN international, BBC, Star Movies, HBO Asia etc. Also get shows like Survivor, Fear factor, Alias, 24, Lost, 4 sports channels (a lot of soccer). Here's a link to UBC Thailand:

http://www.ubctv.com

[ QUOTE ]

Also, let's say I decided to take your advice and just fly there and play it by ear - what's the best way to find a cheap hotel for the first few nights?

[/ QUOTE ]

I would book something online first. At least for the first night. That way you can go there direct from the airport and not have to worry about it. I haven't booked using this site before but maybe others can comment on this.

http://www.hotelthailand.com

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
In the last two hours I have gotten at least 6 AIM's along the lines of 'dude do you want to move to Thailand like, right now?'

The answer is yes. [censored] America. [censored] it hard.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Degen is starting a 2+2 Thailand Expat Wave!

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Be careful with OTC medicine. I got really sick yesterday so I went in the drug store and was like "I have a cold give me something" and whatever they gave me [censored] my head up. I thought I was going to puke all over the airplane, I was kinda seeing tracers (like when you are on drugs) and it was awful. I feel like I just went on a drug binge and can hardly move.

And I went to the wrong cafe and no poker here [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]


PS Airplane ticket was 40 bucks and I flew into THE NEW AIRPORT. Cab fare on the meter from the new airport to Khao San is 211 baht + 65 baht in road tolls + 50 baht airport charge.

The airport is super sweet. Probably the best airport I've ever been in. I almost fell down the escalator because instead of it turning into stairs when it slopes down it stays flat like a ramp. Its hard to describe but I've never seen anything like that before and it almost made take out like 20 people. I'm sure the medicine didn't help

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

OH HELLO THERE ANTI GAMBOOOLING LEGISLATION

looks like there will be a stampede of 2+2 posters next year or whenever this bill goes into effect

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Bring it.

Thailand [censored] RULES.

Tonight a manager of a fancy restaurant invited me to come eat for free at his restaurant. I [censored] pigged out on the nicest seafood I have seen in a long time. I washed that [censored] down with coctail after coctail after coctail after beer and here I stand at 9pm drunk as hell, full as hell and havent spend a single baht all day. Im in [censored] heaven. Thailand amazes me day after day/

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

How early do I have to get to Hat Rin to lock down a room for the full moon party? I gotta do a visa run tomorrow but I think I'll head to Koh Samui the next day and then Hat Rin. I'll be straight if I get there 3 days early right?

I'm worried I'll still be sick and have to wait another day to travel.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

4 days early id say. But are you really planning on sleeping? And if so you wont be able to sleep in hadrin with all the [censored] music blasting all night.

Better off getting a room in another area and that way you wont have to worry about them all being full. But everything is pretty full. It is low season though so who knows...

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
How early do I have to get to Hat Rin to lock down a room for the full moon party? I gotta do a visa run tomorrow but I think I'll head to Koh Samui the next day and then Hat Rin. I'll be straight if I get there 3 days early right?

I'm worried I'll still be sick and have to wait another day to travel.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't stay at Hat Rin. Every beach on the island AND Samui run boats all night (Take at your own risk. I was too drunk to care [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] )

Anyhow Hat Rin fills up three days prior and becomes a garbage and broken glass filled [censored] hole after the party. Plus, hope you like people effing on your bungalow patio. Yikes.

I stayed at Broken Bottle beach on the north side. It was full two days prior to the party. If you want a decent place try to arrive three days or more ahead of time. Have fun. I enjoyed myself but doubt I would do it again.