Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Wow... a bit under 1000$ a month for a room 10min from the bts. Sorry sir but you are a fish at renting. .....

Yes, thank you for your consructive opinion, we await your suggestions. I do accept though that price maybe on the top side, however I am from the UK and at that time the exchange rate was healthy at 70 baht to the pound sterling and I felt having looked at various other appartments it was the best value for what I wanted at the time.All said and done it all comes down to personal choice and where your going to feel the most comfortable and for that reason it is probably a good idea to get out and about to check some places over. A copy of the Bangkok post been a good place to start.

Right, back to my pond.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Wow... a bit under 1000$ a month for a room 10min from the bts. Sorry sir but you are a fish at renting. .....

Yes, thank you for your consructive opinion, we await your suggestions. I do accept though that price maybe on the top side, however I am from the UK and at that time the exchange rate was healthy at 70 baht to the pound sterling and I felt having looked at various other appartments it was the best value for what I wanted at the time.All said and done it all comes down to personal choice and where your going to feel the most comfortable and for that reason it is probably a good idea to get out and about to check some places over. A copy of the Bangkok post been a good place to start.

Right, back to my pond.

[/ QUOTE ]

The bangkok post is probably the best place to find overpriced apartment aimed at farang on expat packages.

You paid way too much and made it sound like if it was a good deal. It's misleading for newbies. ( anyone with some common sense would not pay 1000 for an apartment in bangkok especially far from the BTS and in a inconvenient area )

There are a lot of better options all over the place and if somebody want the info they can pm me ( like the last 4 guys looking for a place in bkk did )

Post deleted by Mat Sklansky
 

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
ofdabeat,

CentrePoint are really nice apartments. There are all sorts of apartments for > $1,000 in BKK. If you want modern furnishings, a nice view and other such amenities, and are willing to pay for it...CentrePoint and the other serviced and non-serviced luxury apartments are a good way to go.

As I said in a prior post, there are loads of places all the way up to $5,000+ per month in Bangkok. You can also slum it in a $100 a month place if you want. The choice is yours.

The fact that this guy chose for nicer digs doesn't make him a fish, it makes him a guy who looked at the relative cost of what he was getting in BKK as opposed to what he was getting at home, and chose to spend a comparable amount for something way nicer.

If you want to look at the absolute cost of an apartment and get one for what is considered cheap in Thailand, you can do that. Some might call you a fish at economics, life, reality or whatever...but at least you wouldn't be a fish of apartment shopping in Bangkok [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Lol sure the centrepoint is a very good deal for 1000 bucks
no not at all
I can show you at least 10 apartments better/similar in the center of the city for 15k max a month.
For 25k you can rent a 3-4 bedroom townhouse in Sathorn...

I think you have absolutly no idea of the apartment/condo rental market in bangkok atm...

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Since i got a few pm asking " what can i rent for 1000bucks"

My first choice would probably be the riverside Win long apartment( next to the oriental/shangri la and bts ), for 1k ( 30 bahts ) you can have the "presidential" suite, sorry no pics. But here is a pic of the executive suite :

http://www.winlongplace.com/Image/803.jpg

not too shabby.
Plenty of other choices if i have time i'll post a list.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

how many sqm's is that?

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
how many sqm's is that?

[/ QUOTE ]

60

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
I am now 100% going to Thailand at the end of the year because of this thread. I got the Pimsleur Thai language set, and I have the brand-new (just published this month) Lonely Planet Thailand in the mail from Amazon. I am so hyped it's ridiculous. I plan on staying 90 days, and traveling everywhere. The only constraint is money, but I can live cheap and I don't drink.

One thing that hasn't really been addressed by this thread unless I missed it is any contemplative resources. Thailand is one of the strongholds of Theravada Buddhism, which is the tradition that my meditation practice comes from. I am not so much interested in seeing temples and so forth, though I'm sure that I will, but in maybe studying with Thai teachers for some period of time. Apparently Goenka Vipassana offers the same 10-day course that I have taken here but I would like to do something different.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dude if you have a lot of time (which you do), just find a forest monastery, walk in, and ask if you can stay. If that particular one can't help you it's likely that they will direct you to someone that can. Will be a million times better than any course that's offered at some city monastery where the monks all have cell phones.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Previously unmentioned ladyboy detection technique: ladyboys tend to hang out with other ladyboys, so that cute girl hanging out with a bunch of ladyboys isn't a girl. Same thing if you see a pair and one is an obvious ladyboy.


[/ QUOTE ]

What about the other way around? By that I mean do real girls hang out with ladyboys? So a group of 4 girls, 3 for sure girls and 1 possible ladyboy (I mean some girls are hot yet look sorta mannish ie fergie, keira knightley imo)

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Offdabeat, Please show me a 4 bedroom townhouse in Sathorn area close to BTS for 25k baht a month.

I love the Sathorn area and Im currently looking for something 2+ bedrooms around that price range.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Offdabeat, Please show me a 4 bedroom townhouse in Sathorn area close to BTS for 25k baht a month.

I love the Sathorn area and Im currently looking for something 2+ bedrooms around that price range.

[/ QUOTE ]

Check the bangkok post 3 or 4 bedroom townhouse for 25k ( was still in the classified section last time i checked ) there also a house to rent near my place i'll check the price.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

I think price varies a lot in BKK by locations. It generally costs a lot more to live in the city center although why you would want to is another matter it's so crowded,congested and polluted.
That Riverside Win apt looks a cut above even the Centerpoint Serviced apartments I stayed at on Lumpini near all the Embassies.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Are Chinese people lighting [censored] on fire in Thailand too?

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Are Chinese people lighting [censored] on fire in Thailand too?

[/ QUOTE ]

Last saturday a bunch of guys from the US were tipping dancers from my usual haunt with 1000 bahts notes... The mamasan latter told one of them the short time room is 900 ( it's 300 or free if they know you ) and the actual short time with the girl was 6000... they paid

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

I'm talking about some kind of pagan ritual where Chinese people are burning paper and [censored] in kettles in the street. WTF are they doing?

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

yes same same here.
smells good though

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]

not too shabby.
Plenty of other choices if i have time i'll post a list.

[/ QUOTE ]please do so [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

luckychancer > what do you mean by "center"? only nana/ksr or the whole red zone on that map? http://www.foodbyphonebkk.com/map.html

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Since i got a few pm asking " what can i rent for 1000bucks"

My first choice would probably be the riverside Win long apartment( next to the oriental/shangri la and bts ), for 1k ( 30 bahts ) you can have the "presidential" suite, sorry no pics. But here is a pic of the executive suite :


[/ QUOTE ]they don't seem to provide internet connexion in the room? [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

while I'm at it, do you know lowcost airlines based in South East Asia, other than the following ones, I'm compiling a list:
http://www.airasia.com/
http://www.jetstar.com/
http://www.oasishongkong.com/
http://www.tigerairways.com/
http://www.jetstar.com/valuair/home.html

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

How often have any of you seen king cobras or tree vipers? I would be worried hiking or something away from the city.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm talking about some kind of pagan ritual where Chinese people are burning paper and [censored] in kettles in the street. WTF are they doing?

[/ QUOTE ]


Me surprised at your insensitve wording.

Pls to not be insulting Buhddist rituals or observances.

How do you think a SOuthern Baptist "dunk em in da river" baptism might look to a native Asian?

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Are you leveling? I'm pretty sure this wasn't Buddhist.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
How often have any of you seen king cobras or tree vipers? I would be worried hiking or something away from the city.

[/ QUOTE ]
Lol, I literally lived in the jungle and didn't see any snakes. I saw plenty of geckos, some toads, and even a walking stick. Nasty stuff.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]

they don't seem to provide internet connexion in the room? [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Just ask them and they will

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
How often have any of you seen king cobras or tree vipers? I would be worried hiking or something away from the city.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wanted to post a joke about how i see a king cobra each time i go pee but i won't.

Instead please enjoy this picture :

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/1191/j3000tr1.jpg

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Damn I miss Thailand. Living there for nearly 3 years really spoiled me. I will be buying my ticket back very soon.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]


Instead please enjoy this picture :

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/1191/j3000tr1.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

Ugggh. I'm pretty sure I'd rather see king cobr everytime I go pee rather than another douchey, tatted up, "sokopo" farang.

PS I'm assuming that's not you ofdabeat.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Just read that :

Saudis Ban Thai Tourism...
Due to wine, women & crime

Based on an article from Arab News

Travellers and travel agents were not informed of a ban on Saudis travelling to Thailand and so many Saudis, who visited the country at the beginning of the summer, have returned to face questioning from the Kingdom’s authorities.

Thailand has for the past 12 years been on a list of countries that Saudis are not allowed to visit. The list includes Israel, Iraq and Bosnia.

Many Saudis still continue to apply for tourist visas to Thailand, which are easily obtainable. There are no direct flights from the Kingdom to Thailand. Connecting flights are available in Dubai and Qatar. The Thailand Tourism Commission states it received 9,000 Saudis tourists in 2006. People this summer have once again been asked not to visit Thailand unless for business reasons, a rule that many members of the public are unaware of.

People believe the ban has been reinforced because of men who visit Thailand to drink alcohol, visit prostitutes and then be robbed and at times murdered.

The administration has stressed that those who have travelled to Thailand as tourists and come back will be questioned about why they travelled there. They would also be prevented from travelling for six months to three years and fined SR5,000 for breaking the ban.

However, not all visitors to Thailand have been questioned on return but an employee at a travel agency said: Those who have not been questioned will most likely be questioned when they renew their passports.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOLZA hadn't seen this.

ESP LOLZA since an uber drunk Saudi guy bought me a beer at one of the "after hours" beer cooler stands on the beach a couple of nights ago. As soon as he found I was 'Merican he couldn't stop saying "FK Bush and FK Saudi gubment! We, the peoples of the countries be friends!" He was also uber thankful that I informed his super drunk son that the "Lady" he had chosen for the evening was in fact a katoey.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Hi everyone, im a thailand enthusiast as you all are.

I emailed degen and he has answered most of my questions.
-Those are the ones he thought i should ask here


-Which site would you recommand to find a studio downtown bangkok that is in a secured building w/ internet,gym,pool and that looks a little baller(furnished)? Can i rent it before actualy showing up? if not.. where do i stay the first nights? random hotel?


- what's the name of the adaptor i need for my computer/monitors

cars... how much are cars there? like skylines or wahtever you can only get imported here? can you rent them ? if so do you have to pay much in advance?
i know about the roads and that taxis are the best but im just a sick fan of speeding and high end cars, id like an estimate.. i was on the verge of buyin a g35 here


-health insurance. is it worth it or doctors are cheap enough? (where to find a good one?)


Thanks, ill be there soon! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hi everyone, im a thailand enthusiast as you all are.

I emailed degen and he has answered most of my questions.


[/ QUOTE ]
Any chance you can post the answer on the questions he did answer? :-)

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hi everyone, im a thailand enthusiast as you all are.

I emailed degen and he has answered most of my questions.


[/ QUOTE ]
Any chance you can post the answer on the questions he did answer? :-)

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
- what's the name of the adaptor i need for my computer/monitors

[/ QUOTE ]
Mine worked fine since my power adapters for both take a variety of currents and voltages. For example, the brick that powers my laptop says Input 100-240v, 50-60hz. Depending on what country you're from, you may need an adapter so you can actually plug it in because the shape is different.

[ QUOTE ]
health insurance. is it worth it or doctors are cheap enough? (where to find a good one?)

[/ QUOTE ] Travel health insurance is really cheap if you're young. I would just get some. I'm not sure about this, but I think you get taken to the crap public hospital if you don't have insurance in case of an emergency.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

heres degen's reply
" I have a few questions regarding moving to thailand

-Is there any other way than registring for a class to stay there a year? (where can i find a website to register for such class?)


www.thaivisa.com i see ads for this on there and thats the place to go for info

-Which site would you recommand to find a studio downtown bangkok that is in a secured building w/ internet,gym,pool and that looks a little baller(furnished)? Can i rent it before actualy showing up? if not.. where do i stay the first nights? random hotel?


post in the thailand thread in the Travel forum on 2+2 for this, those guys know a lot more about this than me

-Cellphones? quick overview? where to get one?


MBK or anywhere. buy a sim card at 7-11, this is very easy and cheap

-electronics? will my computer work there and my 2 screens? im not just bringing my laptop for a year.. or are computers cheap there?


make sure you get an adaptor or you will blow your power supply, but ya it will work. computers are far more expensive and you cannot find good monitors, you'll be happy you brought that stuff

-honestly, is it hard to learn basic thai when you live there?


not if you have a thai girlfriend or hang out w/ thai women a lot.

-Do hotels/apts charge more when you are 2 to live in? Can you live in a upper class suite with someone else for about 500-600$ each a month?


for sure, check the thread. $1000 a month total will get you a very nice furnished 2 bedroom apartment in a great area, centrally located.

-cars... how much are cars there? like skylines or wahtever you can only get imported here? can you rent them ? if so do you have to pay much in advance?


everybody takes taxi's and the skytrain, both very cheap. taxi's are insanely cheap. cars are v expensive and you wouldn't want to drive there anyway, roads are crazy.

-Paying in advance, same goes for hotels/apts... do you really need to pay a lot in advance?


3 months or so for a 6 month to 1 year lease.

-Health care. How does it work?


doctors are cheap and hospitals are high quality. ive never looked into health insurance, thaivisa.com would have that info

That's all i can think of.
Thanks!


good luck
"


So anyways, is there anyone else thinking of moving soon?
If you have no one, we can always meet up and do this as a team at first at least.
I am in canada but would be willing to meet up in the states

I would really like to finaly have someone to talk to in real life that is actualy as good as me or better at poker.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hi everyone, im a thailand enthusiast as you all are.

I emailed degen and he has answered most of my questions.
-Those are the ones he thought i should ask here


-Which site would you recommand to find a studio downtown bangkok that is in a secured building w/ internet,gym,pool and that looks a little baller(furnished)? Can i rent it before actualy showing up? if not.. where do i stay the first nights? random hotel?

What is your budget? how long will you stay?
Stay a while in an hotel you want to check the places yourself before renting.

- what's the name of the adaptor i need for my computer/monitors
you don't need any

cars... how much are cars there? like skylines or wahtever you can only get imported here? can you rent them ? if so do you have to pay much in advance?
i know about the roads and that taxis are the best but im just a sick fan of speeding and high end cars, id like an estimate.. i was on the verge of buyin a g35 here

you can buy any car plenty of shops, the new models are usually on the market 5-6months after the car-maker release them in their main market. i don't know about the prices

-health insurance. is it worth it or doctors are cheap enough? (where to find a good one?)

health insurance is quite cheap except for dental/eyes work.

Thanks, ill be there soon! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

see you soon remember to forget your gf home


[/ QUOTE ]

PS : att: newteabag : no it's not me lol

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
PS : att: newteabag : no it's not me lol

[/ QUOTE ]

Didn't think so. But if it was would have been a lot of [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]
from me. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

PS If you ever get tht volleyball TR with pix together, I may just have to come teach at our sschool [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

couple questions

How do i get from the airport to my hotel without getting ripped off and do taxis know the name of most hotels cause id call in before and get a room for a month over the phone with my Creditcard

Any of you have asked doctors how much their procedures are compared to here?
Id love to get a couple scars off for 50% cheaper


has anyone brought their screens with them without getting them smashed? i know that most people who handle luggage are really rough with them..

TY

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
couple questions

How do i get from the airport to my hotel without getting ripped off and do taxis know the name of most hotels cause id call in before and get a room for a month over the phone with my Creditcard


TY

[/ QUOTE ]
You can get the adress for your when you book it?

As far as taxis, it said earlier in the thread to get one with a meter.

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
couple questions

How do i get from the airport to my hotel without getting ripped off and do taxis know the name of most hotels cause id call in before and get a room for a month over the phone with my Creditcard

[/ QUOTE ]

From the airport use ONLY ONLY ONLY ONLY the METERED taxis and make sure they turn ON the meter.

Get a local phone number from the hotel you booked into. Also get it's address.
If showing the printed address doesn't do the trick, call the hotel's phone number and have the receptionist talk directly to the taxi driver to give him direction.

[ QUOTE ]
Any of you have asked doctors how much their procedures are compared to here?
Id love to get a couple scars off for 50% cheaper

[/ QUOTE ]

No idea on this one but I see tons of cosmetic surgery clinics even down here in the islands.


[ QUOTE ]
has anyone brought their screens with them without getting them smashed? i know that most people who handle luggage are really rough with them..

[/ QUOTE ]

WhoIAm brought his monitor and it was a hassle when traveling about BUT once sttled you'll be glad you brought it cus they aren't cheap here and the super huge ones are not readily available.

[ QUOTE ]
TY

[/ QUOTE ]

Mai Pen Rai

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

Oh, i had forgotten about the taxis, i remembered the metering part but did not click on what it was(i have only taken taxis when i was dead drunk)

Teabag, any specific reason you are living on an island instead of living in bangkok besides the calm?

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Oh, i had forgotten about the taxis, i remembered the metering part but did not click on what it was(i have only taken taxis when i was dead drunk)

Teabag, any specific reason you are living on an island instead of living in bangkok besides the calm?

[/ QUOTE ]

I grew up in NYC, have lived in Seattle, D.C., San Diego and more recently London for 5 years.

Living on Phuket Island, which has all necesary amenities, AND beaches, jungle, mountains is just far more relaxing/suiting to me these days.