dthomasss

As the new Psychologist in town I will be offering discounted therapy for those totally confused by the two new but definitely different Expat "groups."

Actually I suggest you check them both out. Perhaps even be bold and join both...

I am going to Thailand for a year and would like to take my desktop mid-tower as carryon to keep it from getting destroyed as checked baggage. It will fit in a regular carry-on suitcase.

Will the airlines let me do this or are they going to see it as some type of "terrorist device.?"

I want to avoid breaking it down and packing each part if possible.

Also, even though I will back up all my data, is there a risk of the Hard Drives being wiped going through x-ray?

Well I certainly hope so! As a matter of fact I am hoping for a welcome to bangkok party mid july.. after all i have been thinking of making the move for years!

You and JonnieBKK can  host it!

Go

With

You

Handsum

Man

Of course you "have a ###### good time " every time you visit. Everyone is supposed to have a ###### good time every time you visit anywhere. That's the whole point of vacations.

I am no expert like JonnieBKK, but I am making the move after 14 trips and lots of research.. and I do have a good job I am going to, even though I am taking a huge salary cut...

Of course, from what I keep reading, many of you think that a 70,000 baht a month salary in Bangkok puts me in some type of elitist class LOL

Before you consider making the move make a list of all the reasons why you should do it, and all the reasons why not.

If your "should" list only includes cheap sex, nightlife (cheap sex), beautiful Thai women (cheap sex), the lovely smiles of the people (cheap sex), the wonderful beaches of Pattaya (cheap sex) the nice warm climate all year round (cheap sex), freedom from western judgments (cheap sex), or because you think Western women are cold and calculating (cheap sex)... then I strongly suggest you don'd do it! Be honest with yourself; nobody else is keeping score. My lists look something like this:

Reasons to Make the Move:

1. I have been stuck in a rut for a number of years and would like to have the experience.

2. I have a decent job with good prospects for a fairly good salary (70,000 a month for now, possibly 100,000 after a year)

3. I spend too much time just going from work to home and not getting out. Bangkok offers much more interactive lifestyle for me.

4. My idea of relaxation is a foot massage, a face massage, not having to drive my car to go places, having conversation with people from all over the world, studying the human pysche.

5. I have always had a wanderlust feeling having lived on two other continents before moving to the USA when I was 12.

6. It is nice to have "instant companionship" should you choose to.

Reasons not to:

1. I will have a much smaller salary.

2. Bangkok is polluted.

3. The traffic is awful

4. Farangs are tolerated but rarely "accepted."

5. The weather can be downright miserable.

6. Thailand is still a developing country so in many ways third world.

7. TV in Thailand is abominable.

8. The language barrier (spoken and written)

9. If it all falls apart I have to return to USA without a job and have to find a new place to live etc.

I am still making the move and for the most part feling good about the decision, but I am not fooling myself. I am not trying to dampen anyone's spirit but remember, whatever internal "issues" you have in life, they will follow you to LOS

Just my two baht...

I am obviously not going to bring my desktop puter with me but I was thinking of getting a nice laptop as a replacement. It seems to me that laptops are no cheaper in BKK than in the USA and if I bought one before I go I could configure it and load it up the way I want with all my files.

Does Toshiba have service there?

Does it make sense to buy the laptop before I come?

555555

You want to send her to California so she can help me figure out what to take and what to put in storage!

And while you are at it woudl she like to help me find a place to live  

I will be moving to BKK in June. I am allowed to bring two checked bags up to 70 pounds each free on EVA and I think that will be enough, bit worse case I will bring a third bag.

Here is my question:

My plan is to to relax on the beach for a week or two and then come into Bangkok to find a place to live (I can get a great rate at the good old Nana if I pay two weeks at a time until I find a permanent apartment/condo)

Can I leave all my luggage at Don Muang in storage when I arrive and leave it there until I am ready to move in to my new place?

I know there are some lockers there but these will be big suitcases and I want to leave them for several weeks.

Appreciate any help.

If it was $40,000 a year do you think I would even hesitate to take the Pattaya job??? hel_l I would probably buy a condo at each end of the beach in case I got super lazy!

As for off shore accounts, are they really that reliable and how do you set one up?

am in the delightful position of making a tough choice. On my most recent trip to LOS I did some serious job interviewing and I have been offered two job beginning in July... one in Bangkok and the other Pattaya. I am looking for some feedback here.

The Bangkok job is a better position, 80,000 baht per month plus health insurance. It is the standard 2-3 weeks vacation per year.

The Pattaya job is 40,000 per month plus health insurance, which meands I would need to subsidize from my savings to have a decent lifestyle, but it would provide about 12 weeks vacation plus every Thai holiday.

I prefer the slower pace of Pattaya and I love the beach so this is a bit of a tough choice. Do I dip into my savings (I have about $120k in assets) or do I stick it out in Bangkok and use the weekends to get away.

By the way I am 53 and searching for the meaning of life as are we all!

Or maybe I am just looking for the enjoyment of life!

am in the delightful position of making a tough choice. On my most recent trip to LOS I did some serious job interviewing and I have been offered two job beginning in July... one in Bangkok and the other Pattaya. I am looking for some feedback here.

The Bangkok job is a better position, 80,000 baht per month plus health insurance. It is the standard 2-3 weeks vacation per year.

The Pattaya job is 40,000 per month plus health insurance, which meands I would need to subsidize from my savings to have a decent lifestyle, but it would provide about 12 weeks vacation plus every Thai holiday.

I prefer the slower pace of Pattaya and I love the beach so this is a bit of a tough choice. Do I dip into my savings (I have about $120k in assets) or do I stick it out in Bangkok and use the weekends to get away.

By the way I am 53 and searching for the meaning of life as are we all!

Or maybe I am just looking for the enjoyment of life!