Bored of Bangkok... Any advice to an alternative place to live?

[kingofallasians]

I am afraid Bangkok is getting a bit boring (and expensive) for me.

 

I had a best friend out here that I used to hang out with a bit.  Long story short, I think she is ghosting me and humankind for that matter.

 

The Meetups have me bored to tears.  The same locals who have nothing going on for themselves seem to show up all the time.  Retired expats and weirdos.  But also, it's exhausting to have the same conversations with people who you are never going to see again in your entire life.  Things were pretty awesome when Tao had his Meetups and I met some pretty cool and interesting people that way, but those are no more.  The only meetup in the city I find engaging is the FIRE meetup.

 

I am considering living in another part of Thailand or Cambodia.  I enjoy the events that happen around Bangkok and the livelihood of the city, but I am becoming an old fart where maybe I want a little bit less people.

 

Jomitien I heard is nice and cheaper than BKK.  Maybe I can try living in Chiang Mai or Udon Thani for a bit. 

 

I get around $1100 a month and was also wondering if it would be possible to living somewhere comfortably and maybe even save some of that per month.  I have horrible discipline in BKK since boom boom is everywhere and I admit I am probably a sex addict and bit of a sexpat at times.  Also, I eat my fair amount of Burger King and McDonald's as I am a cultureless American.

 

Has anyone lived in Siem Reap before?  I heard it is cheap but boring.  I went there for a few days and was pretty impressed.  However, I like to hide in malls from the sun during the day and Siem Reap does not seem to have any of them.  Also, there is the ease of staying there on a visa.  From what I hear it costs around $40 - $50 a month to extend your tourist visa and they will keep doing that indefinitely.  This seems better than leaving for a visa run every few months which also includes the 1900 baht extension at their immigration office.

 

So I guess I'm asking for some advice.  Is there more or less going on in Jomtien, Chiang Mai, and Udon Thani?  I thought I could never get bored of Bangkok because it's such a lively and interesting city, but it really has not been as good as before the pandemic.  No more 24 hour bars.  Thailand wants to be like Singapore which kind of sucks.

 

 

 

 

[grumpyoldman]

Sounds to me your next move would be Pattaya.

 

Somewhere inexpensive on the outskirts, when you want to have some fun you can head into town.

[still kicking]

Thailand will never be like Singapore, so don't hold your breath.

[josephbloggs]

7 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Thailand will never be like Singapore, so don't hold your breath.

Thank God. I hope Thailand never ever becomes anything like Singapore.

[grumpyoldman]

Also, was just reading Simon's thread on Myanmar forum and a poster named Burma Bill piped in with he is currently living in Siem Reap. I'd message him for info there.

[still kicking]

40 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Thank God. I hope Thailand never ever becomes anything like Singapore.

Is it because you can't afford it?

[save the frogs]

7 hours ago, kingofallasians said:

But also, it's exhausting to have the same conversations with people who you are never going to see again in your entire life.

there's no need to be looking to meet interesting people in the real world as most interesting people have a youtube channel in this day and age. and digital is even better than real world in many ways. because they can be accessed from anywhere in the world in the comfort of your living room. 

 

I've given up trying to meet interesting people in the real world. Anyone who has anything interesting to say usually has a presence on social media. 

 

[josephbloggs]

6 hours ago, still kicking said:

Is it because you can't afford it?

Yawn.

I go to Singapore often. There is nothing redeeming about it.  Soulless, boring, characterless. Probably why you like it.

 

It's a great city for people who can't handle Asia, who live in this part of the world but still pine for the west. And yes, it is stupidly expensive.

 

[OneMoreFarang]

7 hours ago, kingofallasians said:

I get around $1100 a month and was also wondering if it would be possible to living somewhere comfortably and maybe even save some of that per month.

 

Up country sounds perfect for you and your budget.

[KhunBENQ]

Anybody voting for Hua Hin?

I only know what you find on the net.

And that looks like a good mixture.

Don't know about the prices though.

 

The thread is in the Bangkok forum and might miss some attention?

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

"The same locals who have nothing going on for themselves seem to show up all the time.  Retired expats and weirdos."

 

Are you talking about Meetups or Asean now?

[KhunLA]

23 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Anybody voting for Hua Hin?

I only know what you find on the net.

And that looks like a good mixture.

Don't know about the prices though.

 

The thread is in the Bangkok forum and might miss some attention?

Hua Hin, not a bad choice, but wouldn't be my choice.

 

Does have a nice mix of everything anyone could need, want.  Decent govt hosp, with a few private hospitals, if not a patient person, and or have good health insurance.

 

Lots of shopping option, plenty of western managed food vendors, good & bad, or so I read, though no personal experience with any very good ones.

 

Cons for me ...

... traffic congestion, zero parking

... to many people, tourist

... bland food that cater to tourist

... higher pricing, due to high tourist destination

... for some reason, higher AQI & PM2.5 #s, than areas just a wee bit further south.

[Yagoda]

I moved from Bangkok to Siem before Covid and have no regrets.

 

You should be able to find a nice, comfortable apartment for less than  $200 a month. My buddy just rented a 2 bedroom house with a 75x25 meter front yard resplendent with banana trees for $300. There are tons of houses for less. Its a renters market. 

 

The whole place has the feel of a sleepy stereotype of an Asian city. Its loaded with tourists, last year, they sold 1.1 million tickets to the Park so the whole place is accomodating.

 

Transport anywhere is town is no more than $2. You can get Chicken burgers for $1. Weed is $4 a gram for top shelf, $2 a gram for regular, even if you just want a gram. Vegtables, rice and all that stuff is cheap.

 

I find the nightlife as to girls is pretty lame, so I save a ton of cash for trips to Bangkok. A round trip bus/van is $54, air fare as little as $150 with transport to and from Siem airport.

 

Angkor Park is a must see. Pictures do not do it justice. Im out there 2x a week just chilling. After two years here they give you a free pass, and long term paid passes for expats are cheap IMHO ($200).

 

The English level in Siem is high. The people are the nicest folks in the world. Foreigners who behave appropriately (please, thank you, hello, smile) are treated like kings and queens. The government collects your Visa money and ignores you thereafter. Everyone knows you are their rice bowl and treat you accordingly.

 

Thats the important part. Siem Reap is where basically ALL the foreign exchange in the whole country comes from. Thousands and thousands of people are dependent on the tourist dollar so NOTHING is allowed to interfere with that and the folks will bend over backwards for you, unlike in Thailand, where tourists are viewed as a necessary evil.

 

Right now Im watching the NFL in my breezy 5th floor rooftop apt (with pool), waking and baking with some Mondulkiri Arabica ($5, 500 grams) and Ice Cream Cake, ($4 a gram).. Ill call my driver later ($1) to take me too the hangout where I will have a few teas ($1 each) and smoke more weed and maybe order a plate of fresh rolls ($1)

 

Good luck. PM me if you need help

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

@KhunLA

Your cons unfortunately apply to Pattaya/Jomtien too. And even worse for some.

[KhunLA]

6 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

@KhunLA

Your cons unfortunately apply to Pattaya/Jomtien too. And even worse for some.

Why I don't live in many of those places.  Also don't need, on a daily or weekly basis, what those areas offer.

 

Though if having transport, you can usually live rather rural, within 30 minute, or all those comforts, most towns provide.

 

Main issue for me, about Hua Hin is the air pollution, and crap, boring, ugly surf.  No easy access to it, along with too crowded to even bother.  It's a congested tourist area.

 

During the day, any day, every day, I just want to relax surfside, without the hassle of simply finding a place to park.  Most of the beach at Hua Hin is fronted by resorts.  NO THANKS

 

I'm not a patient person, and enjoy the ease of daily, every day living, hassle free.

[LittleBear57]

5 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Yawn.

I go to Singapore often. There is nothing redeeming about it.  Soulless, boring, characterless. Probably why you like it.

 

It's a great city for people who can't handle Asia, who live in this part of the world but still pine for the west. And yes, it is stupidly expensive.

 

Sounds like Hong Kong, the missus has been to both and says Hong Kong is much better. I thought it was boring when I was there, only good for taking the girl to Disney. 

[Colabamumbai]

13 hours ago, kingofallasians said:

I am afraid Bangkok is getting a bit boring (and expensive) for me.

 

I had a best friend out here that I used to hang out with a bit.  Long story short, I think she is ghosting me and humankind for that matter.

 

The Meetups have me bored to tears.  The same locals who have nothing going on for themselves seem to show up all the time.  Retired expats and weirdos.  But also, it's exhausting to have the same conversations with people who you are never going to see again in your entire life.  Things were pretty awesome when Tao had his Meetups and I met some pretty cool and interesting people that way, but those are no more.  The only meetup in the city I find engaging is the FIRE meetup.

 

I am considering living in another part of Thailand or Cambodia.  I enjoy the events that happen around Bangkok and the livelihood of the city, but I am becoming an old fart where maybe I want a little bit less people.

 

Jomitien I heard is nice and cheaper than BKK.  Maybe I can try living in Chiang Mai or Udon Thani for a bit. 

 

I get around $1100 a month and was also wondering if it would be possible to living somewhere comfortably and maybe even save some of that per month.  I have horrible discipline in BKK since boom boom is everywhere and I admit I am probably a sex addict and bit of a sexpat at times.  Also, I eat my fair amount of Burger King and McDonald's as I am a cultureless American.

 

Has anyone lived in Siem Reap before?  I heard it is cheap but boring.  I went there for a few days and was pretty impressed.  However, I like to hide in malls from the sun during the day and Siem Reap does not seem to have any of them.  Also, there is the ease of staying there on a visa.  From what I hear it costs around $40 - $50 a month to extend your tourist visa and they will keep doing that indefinitely.  This seems better than leaving for a visa run every few months which also includes the 1900 baht extension at their immigration office.

 

So I guess I'm asking for some advice.  Is there more or less going on in Jomtien, Chiang Mai, and Udon Thani?  I thought I could never get bored of Bangkok because it's such a lively and interesting city, but it really has not been as good as before the pandemic.  No more 24 hour bars.  Thailand wants to be like Singapore which kind of sucks.

 

 

 

 

Bang Saen has everything. Mae Rampung Beach Rayong quiet few friends. Wonderful, Thailand since 1971. 

[Tarteso]

17 minutes ago, Colabamumbai said:

Bang Saen has everything. Mae Rampung Beach Rayong quiet few friends. Wonderful, Thailand since 1971. 

OP said he is, probably, a sex addict, Nothing to do in Mae Ramphueng Beach 🤔

[jvs]

3 hours ago, Yagoda said:

I moved from Bangkok to Siem before Covid and have no regrets.

 

You should be able to find a nice, comfortable apartment for less than  $200 a month. My buddy just rented a 2 bedroom house with a 75x25 meter front yard resplendent with banana trees for $300. There are tons of houses for less. Its a renters market. 

 

The whole place has the feel of a sleepy stereotype of an Asian city. Its loaded with tourists, last year, they sold 1.1 million tickets to the Park so the whole place is accomodating.

 

Transport anywhere is town is no more than $2. You can get Chicken burgers for $1. Weed is $4 a gram for top shelf, $2 a gram for regular, even if you just want a gram. Vegtables, rice and all that stuff is cheap.

 

I find the nightlife as to girls is pretty lame, so I save a ton of cash for trips to Bangkok. A round trip bus/van is $54, air fare as little as $150 with transport to and from Siem airport.

 

Angkor Park is a must see. Pictures do not do it justice. Im out there 2x a week just chilling. After two years here they give you a free pass, and long term paid passes for expats are cheap IMHO ($200).

 

The English level in Siem is high. The people are the nicest folks in the world. Foreigners who behave appropriately (please, thank you, hello, smile) are treated like kings and queens. The government collects your Visa money and ignores you thereafter. Everyone knows you are their rice bowl and treat you accordingly.

 

Thats the important part. Siem Reap is where basically ALL the foreign exchange in the whole country comes from. Thousands and thousands of people are dependent on the tourist dollar so NOTHING is allowed to interfere with that and the folks will bend over backwards for you, unlike in Thailand, where tourists are viewed as a necessary evil.

 

Right now Im watching the NFL in my breezy 5th floor rooftop apt (with pool), waking and baking with some Mondulkiri Arabica ($5, 500 grams) and Ice Cream Cake, ($4 a gram).. Ill call my driver later ($1) to take me too the hangout where I will have a few teas ($1 each) and smoke more weed and maybe order a plate of fresh rolls ($1)

 

Good luck. PM me if you need help

 

 

That ice cream cake sounds very expensive!

Must be good?

 

[bkk6060]

Just spent a week in Hua Hin. 

Plenty of bars and massage shops expats hanging around these places.

The traffic and air were very bad.  Lots of Russian families around they actually were quiet.

Enough to do for a week or so.  I did play golf at Black Mountain very nice course.  I guess it is okay, but in reality for me any place gets kind of boring just try to make the best of it and travel someplace when boredom hits.

[Briggsy]

I suggest Satun.

[Thingamabob]

12 hours ago, still kicking said:

Is it because you can't afford it?

If you dig below the surface Singapore has a lot going for it, but you have to put yourself about a bit to find the action.

[Tiger1980]

1 hour ago, Colabamumbai said:

Bang Saen has everything. Mae Rampung Beach Rayong quiet few friends. Wonderful, Thailand since 1971. 

Just returned from Bang Saen, yes a very clean and well presented area, however I noticed a large % of the tourist (Thai) who visit there are of the obese size probably due to the abundance of buffet food venders.

It made me think I was back in the UK so unlike many areas of Thailand

[Gottfrid]

14 hours ago, kingofallasians said:

I get around $1100 a month and was also wondering if it would be possible to living somewhere comfortably and maybe even save some of that per month.  I have horrible discipline in BKK since boom boom is everywhere and I admit I am probably a sex addict and bit of a sexpat at times.  Also, I eat my fair amount of Burger King and McDonald's as I am a cultureless American.

Ok! I think we are making it a little bit big here, aren´t we? you get around 1100 USD per month. After that we have rent, electric, and mobile/internet. If you not live in a shoe box behind a garbage can, that will be about 12-15k in Bangkok.

So, if you count a fair amount of Burger King and McDonalds into that, can be another 6k per month there. 

I might be wrong here, but you don´t sound like a booze free person. That might add another 5k per month. 

We can now be up in 24-27k. Leaves about10-13k baht for being a sex addict. If your lucky, that will give you 6 times a month. 

I am absolutely no doctor, but I think your addiction is under average and totally controlled. 

[Billpro785]

I'm an American expat living in Kanchanaburi. Love it here. Close enough to Bangkok, 2 hours if you need anything. Nice little expat bar area, low key, but fun. Plenty here to keep you busy, and the scenery . 

On costs, you can rent a nice 1 bedroom floor level apartment near the river for less than 100 Used per month. So yes, with your 1100 USD per month, you can live well, and put some aside for savings. 

Pm me if you have any questions. 

[bluemoon58]

7 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Anybody voting for Hua Hin?

I only know what you find on the net.

And that looks like a good mixture.

Don't know about the prices though.

 

The thread is in the Bangkok forum and might miss some attention?

Just what I was thinking KhunBENQ! From first hand experience, it has everything I need (even boom boom when required), in my opinion very affordable if on a budget and the poster who mentions all the cons is talking complete bs. Been here 13 years and if you know where to live and get a decent circle of friends, there's no need to go anywhere near the expensive tourist traps to have a very affordable,  pleasant life indeed. Love it that much that I'll kick the bucket 🪣 here!