Weho

Just curious, what might the chances be of a "westerner" arriving in Thailand on a tourist visa, looking around for a decent job, (hopefully with a foreign company), and actually getting hired? This would be for someone with a good appearance, college education, bright/quick learner. Ideally, looking for something paying a livable wage, I'm guessing 40,000 to 80,000 Baht per month.

Can this happen? If someone made the job interview rounds, as a tourist, and if a company liked the job applicant, might they be willing to process the VISA paperwork?

Has anyone had luck with this?

Any help HIGHLY appreciated!

Thanks for the great suggestion. Knowing that a music teacher should earn more than an English teacher is quite helpful to me...

I'm sure there are competent Thai musicians, but I haven't found any that are really great that are strictly piano players. I've heard some fine Philipino piano players working in Thailand, but I haven't seen a great Thai pianist working in a hotel lobby bar type situation. I don't pretend to have been everywhere. I've heard that in Japan, they like to hire Westerns to do that, presumably at a good salary, but it's also expensive to live there. I'm thinking maybe a fine hotel in Thailand might also like a westerner playing piano in the lobby.

I've seen some good Thai keyboard players in bands, but there isn't the same "feeling" in an electronic keyboard as a good player can get out of a real wooden piano.

I don't mean to belittle Thai musicians, but I have seen some pretty bad piano players in Thai hotels, including first class/deluxe hotels. I wonder if they care, or even know the difference. Admittedly, I've seen some that aren't that great in U.S. hotel lobbys too.

If you book a Star Alliance award to Thailand, it is my understanding that you can book it to a destination inside Thailand BEYOND Bangkok. Most of the awards allow for a free stopover, so you can make a stopover for as long as you want in Bangkok to OR from Phuket. They also allow "open jaw", so you can go to Phuket, and return from Bangkok, if you desire.

I've booked this kind of award ticket several times, and it's almost like getting a free Thai Airways DOMESTIC ticket along with your international Star Alliance award.

You can also take advantage of Thai's flight from Tokyo to Phuket... for example, you can fly Los Angeles to Tokyo, connect or make a stopover there and then take the nonstop Tokyo/Phuket flight.

I'm still thinking about moving to Thailand. Does anyone have a clue about job prospects for a "farang" piano player, that plays hotel cocktail-bar type piano music? I've worked as a professional, like on cruise ships, so I'm considered pretty good.

Would a first class hotel in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Samui etc. be interested in something like that? Any ideas, even ROUGH ideas, of what that might pay?

Also, would wealthy Thai parents be willing to pay a fair price for a good piano teacher, (that doesn't speak Thai)? Just curious!

Touche!

I thought I was starting a new topic, didn't realize i was replying to another question... but while I"m here, what's the weather like there?

I'm sorry about your dog... and I'm not so sure it's as easy as "just walk the dog in the morning and evening"... in the tropics, it is hot and humid day and night. my dog is sturdy and healthy but it still has to be difficult for them to make the change.

Do any apartments or condos have special dog areas for walking, playing or resting?

Also, is it OK for farang dogs to drink Thai drinking water, or do most people give the dog bottled/purified water to drink? I hope these quesetions don't seem too silly.

If you're looking for a decent place to stay in Bangkok, at a fair price, try the Trinity Silom Hotel, (I think it was Soi 5), which i think is parallel to Convent Road. I paid 1,200 Baht per night, a a BIG SPACIOUS ROOM, with nice big buffet breakfast... and everything worked: air conditioning, hot water, t.v., phone, etc. To some, that may be high, to others it may be a bargain... the best thing was the location, about 8 minutes walk to Patpong area, about 2 minutes walk to BTS skytrain station. The rooms have furniture that is getting old and shabby, same for carpet, but it is clean, quiet, safe and very decent. Hotel guests have the use of an incredible luxury health club in the condo across the street, with huge swimming pool, full gym, etc. There is a supermarket next door, and it's close to many restaurants of all types. Sorry, I don't know their phone or email, and I think it's hard to locate. I've stayed there 5 or 6 times. They gave a nice discount for stays over a week. Staff was very helpful.

I'm sure many of you know places where you can get something similiar for 600 or 700 Baht, but in this area, in a hotel will full facilities and breakfast, I doubt it.

Jim

West Hollywood

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Does khon Kaen have the coolest weather in Thailand? Is it less humid that other parts of Thailand? what are average temperatures? thanks!

jim

Yes, i've been to Thailand maybe 12 times. Does anyone think there are any condos/apartments that will accept a dog, or should I just be looking for houses taht accept dogs? thanks!

My dog is a chow/shepard mix, very sturdy, but long thick hair... i would guess his fur would have to be shaved down a bit. Also, if anyone is still reading, when renting a condo or a house, is it difficult to find one for rent that will accept a dog?

Can anyone tell me how easy it is to get high-speed internet, (DSL or CABLE)? Is this available in Bangkok, what about in other areas of Thailand? Is it easy to get installed in apartments, or is it only available in certain buildings, in certain areas? Any idea what the monthly costs are? Are there any Thai companies with websites that explain rates and availibility? thanks! Jim

weho

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If I get a satellite t.v. in Thailand, what U.S. t.v. stations can I get? Is there a Thai company maybe with a website that has this information and rates?

As an alternative, is there a cable t.v. company that has a website with a list of foreign and U.S. t.v. stations they offer? thanks!

Jim

weho

Just curious if you can give any idea what nice apartments go for in the Phuket area... I'm looking for a 2 or 3 bedroom in a nice building, possibly with 24 hour doorman security, some kind of pool. How much more expensive does it get in one of those "serviced apartments"? How far out of town does one have to go for the prices to drop?

I've seen some on the internet, they seem expensive. Where is the best place to find an apartment, (real estate agent, classified ads, etc.)? Any help appreciated! Thanks, Jim

(weho)

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Just curious if you can give any idea what nice apartments go for in the Chiangmai area... I'm looking for a 2 or 3 bedroom in a nice building, with 24 hour doorman security, some kind of pool. How much more expensive does it get in one of those "serviced apartments"? How far out of town does one have to go for the prices to drop?

I've seen some on the internet, they seem expensive. Where is the best place to find an apartment, (real estate agent, classified ads, etc.)? Any help appreciated! Thanks, Jim

(weho)

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Just curious if you can give any idea what nice apartments go for in the Pattaya area... I'm looking for a 2 or 3 bedroom in a nice building, with 24 hour doorman security, some kind of pool. How much more expensive does it get in one of those "serviced apartments"? How far out of town does one have to go for the prices to drop?

I've seen some on the internet, they seem expensive. Where is the best place to find an apartment, (real estate agent, classified ads, etc.)? Any help appreciated! Thanks, Jim

(weho)

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I'm considering moving to Thailand. My dog is used to cool dry weather. What should I expect when we make the change to the hot humid weather of Thailand? Do people with pets use the air conditioning 24 hours a day? Do people "walk" their dogs in Thailand? Do dogs eventually get used to the weather? Any help appreciated! Thanks, Jim

weho

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I've read a lot of posts on this website which are incredibly helpful, but I can't figure out if it's easy or difficult to pick up and move to Thailand. We are two Americans that want to move to Thailand. Is this an administrative nightmare or not? We're thinking of coming over as tourists, renting an apartment somewhere, doing the 90 day "visa runs" until we figure out where we want to be... BUT... is it unrealistic to try to start a small retail business?

If I have about $50,000 to invest to start a small retail store business, what do I need to do? Can this be done after we arrive in Thailand, or do I have to arrange visas before going to Thailand? I've read about the Thai BOI (Board of Investment)... they have an office in New York... can they help me, or are they only interested in billion dollar companies wanting to invest?

In addition to $50,000 I have about $200,000 cash in bank accounts, which is to live on. Is that a reasonable amount to try to get started with? I've read some horror stories about businesses failing, not being able to compete along with the Thais, etc., and it's quite scary...

Also, I've been many times as a tourist. Do farangs ever get used to the heat? Do you miss not feeling a cold breeze once in a while?

Also, I would like to pay something like $500 per month rent for an apartment in a decent building somewhere. On the internet, I've seen rentals that are often much, much higher than that.

Am I unrealistic? Is it too much to thing a foreigner can simply pick up and go to Thailand, and start a life and business there?

Any help, however help, is greatly appreciated!

Weho

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