NewbieInBangkok

Despite what some of you think, many people continued to work throughout  the past few months as normal.  I know of many factories, companies and of course all the service workers and essential workers that continued as usual.  Many of them lost their annual leave during that time When Songkran was cancelled.  They are owed those days off.  Just because you’ve been off work for months does not mean that’s true of everyone.

Having a postponed Songkran does not necessarily mean all the water fights in the streets.  It could simply mean giving those employees their annual leave so they can go and visit their families, take a vacation or just simply relax. There are many well-off Thais and expats that could inject much-needed cash by going for a week or so to hotels around the country.

Is there a threat of spreading Covid?  If we are to believe that the only recent new infections have all been repatriations that were immediately quarantined then it should be okay as long as we continue to take precautions.

Thanks folks!  I’ll give the recommendations a bash but I’m thinking soda and fresh lime might be the way to go.  Not into sweet drinks and coke as a mixer always seems to give me a headache.  I’m pleasantly surprised by Sang Som...expected it to be rough but it’s not bad at all.

59 minutes ago, moontang said:

Soda or coke/Pepsi...would be the only time I wouldn't do coke zero..lots of ice..half and half...people who use a bottle cap as a measurer need reeducation, but they are here...

Why not Coke Zero?  Half and half sounds good ????

So we arrived in Bangkok a few days ago and due to extortionate prices on alcohol in supermarkets etc we decided to try the local Sang Som for a wee cocktail in the evening.  We tried it straight and with Schweppes lime-soda that we found in Big C.  It’s not bad at all was the unanimous verdict.  Are we being complacent and there is a bad hangover to come? ????

Which mixers would you recommend with it?  Especially diet versions preferred ????

Looking for recommendations of where to go for actual massages for both male and female and not the happy ending kind of place.  Sports injury/physiotherapist recommendations appreciated.  As close to Chidlom/central World area as possible but we will gladly travel for superb therapist.

Thanks everyone!

So I will head to Central World or 1 of those shopping malls around there as I’m staying nearby and I’ll pick up a Sim.  

Good point about contract cancellation charges so I’ll stick with the top-up system. Sounds easier and more flexible than faffing with post-paid.

Cheers everyone for the advice!

15 minutes ago, moontang said:

bad news...Tanqueray is 1169 THB for a 750 ml at Tesco....welcome to Thailand!

 

https://shoponline.tescolotus.com/groceries/en-GB/products/6072051221

 

pretty easy to get 320 ml cans of Scweppes tonic for 15 THB , though...limes are usually quite cheap.

Thanks for that depressing news ????. Mind you, we pay about 70 baht for Fevertree tonic and 55 baht for a lime here so it probably all evens out. 

I embarrassed myself in Bangkok when I asked for a beer at 4pm.  I had no idea there was a midday ban.  Is that all over Thailand, even in the tourist spots like Krabi, Koh Samui etc?

Disclaimer: Despite this thread turning into booze chat, we are not big drinkers or party animals but a cold beer after golf and a gin and tonic in the evening will be sorely missed ????

2 minutes ago, moontang said:

duty free sells the liters..the stores will sell more 70 cl, and you hardly get any savings for buying large.  the Abso!ut seems to be commonly fake, and same for Johnnie walker...I am thinking 1000 THB for Tangerey Gin, but I am not a big gun drinker..seen the gilbets, too. Will let you know...can bring in 1 liter per person, and don't carry anyone else s, including your spouse.  biggest problem with airport SIM might be waiting in front of, behind, or with a tour bus full of chinese..but if it is empty and you got time..go for it..there is a bit of a registration process...can vary, and I haven't do e it in years, but they are going to want some info.

After getting advice from you guys and checking them out I’ll just wait to get a Sim after we get checked in at hotel as the shopping mall is across the street.  I do remember seeing long queues at the airport now you mention it.

24 minutes ago, sfokevin said:

 

 

I just bought this... 12 months 60gb/month data for 1,250... 

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/max-speed-60gb-true-wifi-1-wifi-sim-turbo-1-net-i548788734-s995152995.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.5.415929bc0mZIDi&search=1

Can this be bought in stores or just over the internet?

11 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

a AIS SIM card costs 50 baht. Period. put in your phone. download AIS app. log in with your phone number. choose package. can change at anytime. Pay with banking app, in the malls at AIS, many options.    

Thank you

20 minutes ago, sfokevin said:

“If I’m getting a pay as you go then I might just pick it up from airport when we land.“

The tourist sims they have at the airport may not be able to be extended past the original 7-14 days of validity... Many places sell regular sims... Lazada has great deals on long term 12 month sims that include data too...

 

I just bought this... 12 months 60gb/month data for 1,250... 

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/max-speed-60gb-true-wifi-1-wifi-sim-turbo-1-net-i548788734-s995152995.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.5.415929bc0mZIDi&search=1

Oh!  Great info thanks!  

22 minutes ago, moontang said:

booze is very expensive in Thailand..Jameson is 6-700 TUB more per liter in town, and there are some counterfeiting problems.  get a sim, and you will get daily text messages with data plans, that you can just type in a code to activate.  money changers are better downtown, too.

Eeeek!  How much is a bottle of Tanqueray for example?  In Japan it’s only around 400 baht for a 750ml bottle.  The price of the tonic is more the killer here.  

Are places like Big C, the mall supermarkets and 7-11s safe from counterfeits?

Might need to bring some with us from Japan then ????

thanks for info ????

2 minutes ago, moontang said:

get you a bottle of booze, when you land at king power..I bought a liter of Jameson for 900 THB...get the SIM at the Mall...you will thank me.  

Are there no places to buy reasonably priced booze in Bangkok?

Whats the difference between getting Sim at a mall rather than airport?  Do they have airport-only higher prices for same package as you get cheaper in mall? 

3 minutes ago, torturedsole said:

Not necessary.  Far better deals to be had in-town.  

Oh!  So the companies mentioned above don’t sell Sims at airport?  

Its mobile data that I need more than calls and texts.  I remember seeing a YouTube video and the guy mentioned a great mobile package that wasn’t advertised in the shops but if you asked they would sell it...but for the life of me I can’t remember the info or which vlog it was.

4 minutes ago, SchopenhauersGhost said:

Both get dtac Sims. Prepaid. Use Wi-Fi around office and wherever. Have daily packages if need be b10-20.

 

Life is simple for people not addicted to stupid internet.

That’s the thing....I am addicted to internet ????

Just now, moontang said:

every mall seems to have a company store, where you can take care of payments, registration, etc..  not something you need to do at the airport, but many do.  the mall shops will have good evening hours...get abprepay, and then take care of internet later..no telling g what your options on that are until you find a place..the big three mobile phones work everywhere, but you may face hurdles on internet..private condo will be more likely to give you the most options..newish apartments might require you to use their wifi...

Our rent includes internet fee so we are sorted on that front apparently.  My husband will get a phone from work so it’s really just me that needs a Sim.  I’ve never had a pay as you go as the countries I’ve lived in were easy and cheaper to get contract but I did wonder if in Thailand it might be easier to get pay as you go.  I dunno ????‍♀️????

If I’m getting a pay as you go then I might just pick it up from airport when we land.  When we came over a few weeks ago we were just so busy I didn’t have a chance to get one or check them out.

Thanks guys!  

Hi,

We are moving to Bangkok and will need to get a Sim for mobile phone data.  What options are available?  We have phones so just need the Sim but not sure if we can get a contract or if pay as you go is the way to go?  We will both have visas (work and spouse) but getting a contract might be a problem at first until bank account is set up.

Which companies are best?  Ideas on best packages?  What do you folks use?

Links to any websites appreciated if info is in English.

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

If you need boots on the ground, just pm me. I guide for food. Be prepared for a culture shock ????

It’s a very, very quick visit next week and will mostly be guided by company colleagues but we may just do that once we move in Dec ????

Thank you Wordchild and Nyezhov....you’ve both given me some great advice on both threads.

We will be flying over to look and choose next week.  We will see a bunch of others too that have been mentioned in the previous thread but I didn’t know much about the ones above and they also seem to offer something different to some of the small, concrete boxes that I’d been focussing on.

Thanks to to everyone who has helped me out on the 2 threads ????

45 minutes ago, Beggar said:

If bars and restaurants are within walking distance this could be great. It might be not so great anymore if they are within hearing distance... 

That would be the case anywhere but I’m looking for specific knowledge (even if secondhand) about these 3 properties.  From looking at a map (all I’ve got to go on from several thousand miles away at the moment) none of them seem to be on top of boisterous areas.  

Any specific thoughts on these properties or these parts of Thonglor and Ekkamai?

Does anyone have any knowledge, thoughts or opinions about 

- The Grand Villa Condominium Complex in Ekkamai?  

We can get a 200m2 2 bedroom place for the almost same price as an 80m2 high rise condo in Thong Lor and Phrom Phong.  My only concerns are mosquitoes (and other unwanted guests) and the lack of a skyline view (I can live without that).  Small looking pool and gym but then again just a fraction of the residents that are in some of the 40-storey high rises.

The area looks interesting with nice bars and restaurants within walking distance.

A lot of floor space for almost the same money as the teeny boxes in other condos.

- Capital Residence Thonglor?

Pool looks amazing.  Interior furniture looks bland.  Location a bit far up Thonglor but nice bars and restaurants within walking distance.  On the main road though.  15k cheaper than Grand Villa but half the floor size.  High floor so no mozzies though.

- HQ Thonglor?

Seems to tick a lot of boxes with location, new but not tiny (100m2), nice furniture.  Slightly odd floor plans though (washing machine right in hallway as you come through the front door to the open plan area.  At least 1 condo spotted on Air BnB but only for minimum stays of 1 month (I’m trying to avoid places that are used by tourists on a nightly/weekly plan).

Anyone know about these places? 

Your thoughts are much appreciated.

7 hours ago, rimmae2 said:

You could also check if there are shops near Silapakorn University, whch has many courses in Art. Other places to enquire are private painting/art classes, of which there are numerous but probably mostly advertised in Thai.

Yes I plan to do that once I get there but I was just checking if there was anyone who knew before then.  Thanks.

I found 1 that may be promising (Siam Art Supply) but al I can tell so far is that it has a decent amount of watercolour supplies.  No idea if they do a good selection of oil paint stuff too.

I’ll ask in some art forums to see if anyone lives in Bangkok there.

Thanks guys....I will check them out when I get there but from what I can tell they seem more of the arts crafts type quality stuff.  I’m hoping for dedicated art stores that hold quality products for oil painting in particular. If not then I will stock up before I get there.  They might be useful for some stuff though so thanks ????

I’m moving to Bangkok in 6 weeks and I wondered about the availability and cost of art materials - mainly oil paints, canvasses, mediums, turpentine, linseed oil and brush cleaner etc.

Is it readily available?  Which brands are available?  What are the costs like?  

At at the moment I live in Japan and I regularly buy stuff from Amazon and Jackson’s in the UK but I understand that import duties and shipping to Thailand would be much higher than I’m currently paying.

Should I be stocking up and hauling it all with me?  I’m sure I can carry oil paints in my checked luggage but turpentine, mediums etc would probably not be allowed and none of that is allowed to be shipped with the company we ship with so it’s hold luggage or buy in Thailand.  I don’t mind paying for extra luggage if there is not much choice in Bangkok when I get there.  I currently use Holbein, Old Holland, Michael Harding, Williamsburg, Maimeri Puro, Schmincke, Rembrandt and Winsor and Newton.  

Any artists here here that can advise me about this?