REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

FishTaco · 12-20-2012, 04:18 PM

Looking for some advice on living in thailand.

At the age of 21, my gf and myself went to south east asia for 6 months backpacking. We visited Hong Kong, Laos, Singapore, Malaysia, thailand, and cambodia. We spent on average of about $1,000/month each but we were living pretty decent.

I'm now 27 and have been wanting go back but do it differently this time. I have been saving my visa Avion points for a long time so i used them towards the cost of my flight which reduced it to $330 round trip from kelowna. Im leaving feb 4th and it's kind of an opened ended ticket, but I think I'm staying for at least 3 months. Looking at furnished condos in bangkok they are renting from between $300-$400/mo for a nice furnished bachelor suite. I enjoyed the hectic city life when I was there and I think it would keep me pretty entertained since I'm into photography.

Is anyone living in thailand right now?

What are the popular neighbourhoods for foreigners? I'm going alone so I would like to be around other expats to make friends.

How much are pay/go cell phones?

Are there any thai - English car forums like revscene there?

I dont know if I'd prefer city life in bangkok or quiet beach life down south in Krabi or Phuket area. Any insight?

Also looking to get a tattoo but I'm concerned about hygiene. Recommend a good artist/parlour?

I'm flying with Delta, are they a decent airline? Last time we flew through Cathay and that was pretty sweet. Flight attendants were gorgeous.

Any tips or input would be appreciated! And yes im aware of the majority of tourist scams =)

bbbj · 12-21-2012, 12:05 AM

hey do you have any photos of the place you rented? possibly looking to go to thailand and $300-400 seems pretty reasonable for a place for a month... although I have not much idea of what cost of living is there so i can't do any comparison as I have yet to do much research

FishTaco · 01-21-2013, 09:19 AM

^Look on craigslist.

Arriving Feb 4th, let me know if anyone else will be there to meet up!

FishTaco · 09-07-2013, 08:28 PM

So heres an update. Sorry for instagram pic quality.

Still in Bangkok. My flight day came and I decided to stay. I am now teaching 3rd grade at a private school in Bangkok.

Found a condo close to work.
Balcony view.

Pool view.

Rooftop view.

Bought a cbr400 to get around.

Found a sick street kitty and decided to give her a life. Took to the vet and got her vaccinated. Her name is Akira.

Night cruise with my bike friends into Chinatown for dinner.

New 10 year passport.

Amazing car/bike scene here.

Cambodia

I love it here =)

LC21 · 09-07-2013, 08:44 PM

Are you hangin out with ladyboys?
Posted via RS Mobile

FishTaco · 09-07-2013, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LC21

Are you hangin out with ladyboys?
Posted via RS Mobile

I dont know, what do YOU think?

Here they are with my buddy.

chinook79 · 09-07-2013, 11:08 PM

Loved the picture but I'd probably want to remove pic of your passport

Brandon J***** Born in 85.. etc.. more than enough info to screw you up if it falls under wrong hand IMO

dlu · 09-08-2013, 02:55 AM

I just came back from SE Asia after a 2 month trip and it was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. I have found myself thinking about what you're doing right now, especially as I'm in the middle of looking for a career job. I don't think I've seen and experienced enough different things yet to be tied down, so I hope you don't mind answering some of my questions.

How much of your trip was planned before you landed in Bangkok? Meaning, did you arrange a place to rent before you arrived? How hard was it to get a working visa in Thailand and was it difficult to find a English teaching job? Does the job pay you enough to cover rent, food and entertainment or does most of what you spend come from your savings?

FishTaco · 09-08-2013, 03:58 AM

I didn't have a plan at all. I bought a return flight because it was so cheap and I wasn't sure if I would be staying here. I brought a backpack with a few changes of clothes. I left my chihuahua with my parents because if I brought her with me I wouldn't be able to travel around.

I signed up with couchsurfers.com and found a person to stay with. I was planning on staying there for a few days and then find another person to stay with but he ended up being really cool and was fine with me staying for 2 months! I helped pay for utilities even though he always tried to say no. He introduced me to some of his friends and one of them said he is a school teacher and I should apply at the school he works at. I sent my resume and went for an interview a couple weeks later. I don't have a university degree nor did I have previous teaching experience so they offered me to fill in for a grade 5 position to see how I am. After that they offered me a 1 year contract. Work visa was done through the school but I paid around $400 for a year

Once I found work I took my bike to where I would be working and looked at some condos. The place I'm at right now is OK. There are nicer places but I was in a crunch for time so I just picked the one that was first available.

Here's what my pay and bills are like:

Purchases:
1993 CBR400 65,000/baht($2,100CAD)

Income:
Full medical
35,000baht ($1,130CAD)/month from school
12,000baht ($385CAD)/month tutoring for 3 hours every Saturday
=47,000baht($1,518CAD)/month

Bills/Expenses:
Condo - 8000baht/month
Food - 5000baht/month
Electricity/water - 1600baht/month
Petrol - 3000baht/month
Cell - 700 baht/month
Internet - 700baht/month
Cat food/litter - 500 baht/month
Soap, toothpaste, etc 2000baht
=20,800baht($672CAD)/month

This is a rough figure and doesn't include things like going to the cinema, going out for drinks, taxi(around $3-4 anywhere in the city), clothes, etc. but I hope it gives you an idea.

fliptuner · 09-17-2013, 08:22 PM

Thanks for all the details. Keep us updated please.

FishTaco · 02-02-2014, 07:03 PM

Update:

My parents came to visit. They brought my dog with them and are here for 6 weeks traveling around. Shortly after they came, my little Akira passed away. She loved the view off the balcony so much but she fell while I was at work. I brought her to the temple where she could be cremated by the monks. My friend drew a picture for me. Poor little bugger. RIP Akira.

Moved into a new condo. Sold the CBR and bought the VFR.

Me at work with my Thai teacher lol.

jasonturbo · 02-02-2014, 10:13 PM

Keep this thread going, absolutely awesome.

Eastwood · 02-08-2014, 02:47 PM

I was in Thailand in October for 35 days. Loved it.

I traveled all over the country with two friends; we had a truck.

How long do you plan on spending in Thailand? Also out of curiosity did you keep your job back home? Or are you in a transition period?

Ch28 · 02-09-2014, 07:27 PM

Sorry to hear about your cat. Cute little girl!

Spidey · 02-09-2014, 08:15 PM

RIP Akira. I thought you were going to say that she succumbed to her previous illness... Such a tragic passing.

FishTaco · 03-24-2014, 06:01 AM

Thanks guys. Miss her all the time.

Took my dog down to Koh Samui for a little island holiday.

"We will destroy Koh Samui, then when it is done and Samui is ashes, then you have my permission to die.”

- Bane dog

J____ · 03-24-2014, 10:06 AM

awe man, I miss koh phi phi. Check it out if you get a chance, great community. I stayed at vikings nature resort, sweet hotel!

racerman88 · 03-29-2014, 03:04 PM

Sorry to hear about your kitten. Sounds like you are having an awesome time. Keep us updated.

hillmar · 03-29-2014, 05:31 PM

This is awesome how you really are doing this all by yourself in a foreign country. Thailand looks like paradise. Keep us updated and all the best to you!!

FishTaco · 08-30-2016, 06:01 AM

I haven't updated this in a while. Bounced around to a few different condos. The last condo I was in was tits. It was huge and had a great view on the 27th floor. Met an amazing girl and got engaged, now our son is 6 months old. We moved into a house just outside of the city. Its very quiet here which is nice when you have family and pets. 30 minute commute by bike each way.

Just sold my Corolla not long ago. I prefer having a motorcycle here because of the traffic. Got 3 bikes at the moment.

Old condo

Current house

Anyways, these are just a few things off the top of my head. If anyone is thinking of moving abroad, make sure you factor in the little things that certainly eat up funds.. So many things were overlooked by me. It's not cheap getting setup in a foreign country.

I do love it here. When my friends ask when I'm coming back, I don't really think about it. Delicious food, affordable cost of living, motorcycle year round, hot and sunny, couple hours to the beach. It's great. I'm not sure if Thailand is our future or we will move to another location. But at the moment, what more could a guy want?

subordinate · 08-30-2016, 04:11 PM

You're living the dream man.
How much did you have savings wise when you left for thailand?

FishTaco · 08-30-2016, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subordinate

You're living the dream man.
How much did you have savings wise when you left for thailand?

I left with about 30k. The first 6 months of being here I was spending a lot because I was doing a lot. I figure I spent maybe 5-6k during those months. Bought some bikes = 6500. I spent a lot more just doing this and that, holidays, having baby, etc.

You don't need anywhere near 30k to do a move, but I wouldn't recommend doing it if you have less than 5k, unless you have a job lined up prior.. Just my opinion.

subordinate · 08-30-2016, 05:52 PM

Incredible story. Glad to see it all work out well.

Ch28 · 08-30-2016, 10:12 PM

Almost 2.5 years later and you're still there! Pretty big update with the whole 'engaged with 6 month old son" haha

cdizzle_996 · 08-31-2016, 05:16 AM

Why are you doing for work there?