Good men's shoes and good linens for the beds.

Isn't it funny the things we can't live without?

I used to laugh at my mom when she would go home to Singapore and buy suitcases of food and household items to bring back to China with her. Then I came here and I'm not laughing anymore. Our last trip saw us packing olive oil, sea salt and Chiang Kiang vinegar in our suitcases. Ah well.

Re a couple of the replies just above....

At least in BKK at Villa Markets, they are well-stocked in items such as baking soda, olive oil (virgin and regular), and sea salt. I buy those products for my home use all the time. Baking soda and sea salt are pretty cheap, nothing special about the price at Villa. But when I looked the other day, the olive oil was pretty pricey compared to the U.S. rate....

I have to say that the one thing that I cannot find in Thailand (unless I come into the city, but even that is hard) is shoes that fit properly and underwear. I have size 39 European and I like shoes (heels) and I've given up finding them. And the underwear I cannot find in matching sets. Thai girls are so skinny (I'm jealous) and I have a problem because if i find a bra i cant find the matching bottom or vice versa and the sales girls won't separate them for me ( I swear I have a normal body too!)

Also, I know it's stupid to say but proper hair coloring is hard to find for girls with lighter/blond hair. I cannot pay for a good colorist and i don't want to bleach my hair but i cannot even find highlights (for home use) that work. so between that and the humidity, i look (and feel )like a freak

thanks everyone

when I moved countries all I took with me are clothes, shoes, and laptop

But then again, are you a woman?

read the highlighted text and take a guess if I am

but every now and then I do wonder too

especially when I looked at my last post in the shoes thread. anyone coming across the post without knowing me, looking at my avatar and then my choice of shoes, would have doubts about my gender too Im sure

take a look here

Sorry Miggy, brain not switched on! (embarrassed emoticon!)

Eek - I'm v jealous. I live on Phuket and it is v hard to find simple clothes without all the glitter, bows etc. Even worse, nearly all the clothes are incredibly skimpy, assuming we all want to show off as much flesh as possible!

Oh well, just have to keep on looking I suppose.

I don't want to rain on your parade Miggy, but is one of them a Thai or the holder of a Business visa and a work permit ? If not, there are zero concessions on taxes or duties on arrival.

Eek - I'm v jealous. I live on Phuket and it is v hard to find simple clothes without all the glitter, bows etc. Even worse, nearly all the clothes are incredibly skimpy, assuming we all want to show off as much flesh as possible!

Ow...I still havent had the opportunity to head south, have no idea about what is available. Im in Chiang Mai, so I guess its all about where you are living. Im lucky here. I suppose the same story on other Islands, right? I suppose same in the smaller cities and towns. Maybe treat yourself to a shopping trip in BKK sometime!

So, for anyone moving here, i think the list of what to take will be different depending on where they are going. Major cities like BKK and CM, have many of the basics (such as tampons).

Doc I think he will have a fair bit of privilege coming into thailand the shipping all paid for by his work as well is my guess

lucky him! when Im back there will have to get him to take me out somewhere nice for all the hard work Ive done

thanks everyone

Well I am going off to the UK next week for about a month and the main things I have down on my list to bring back mainly consists of accessories for my tools. The stores in Thailand and Laos have an ok selection of stock tools but if you need anything slightly unusual no chance and when you make guitars there is often a need for slight unusual tools!

Then again bandsaws aren't that unusual but parts and blades just don't exist over here. No wonder most of the furniture I see looks like it's been made blindfolded!

Also expanding foam filler! One of the most useful things ever made but impossible to find in Thailand or Laos.

Other than that I am a pretty content person just find it frustrating not to beable buy specialised tools . . . . import stuff from the US or UK via the internet is ok but when you realise you need a tool and have to wait for 2 week it's pain - and also it just doesn't match a good root around stores. That said I am taking my father a woodworking router back to the UK since they are dirt cheap over.

The wife on the other hand I think is intending to buy half of boots stock (Thai Boots stores have sod all incomparison to the UK) and high on the list is about 15 sets Calvin Klein underwear since they are the only company that she has found that make her perfect size. Also she is itching to go to Cheshire Oaks retail park . . . for pretty obvious reasons (for those not familiar with it in the UK - it's the UK's large outdoor designer outlet).

My (thai) husband who has lived in the UK for over 4 years now is in total agreement with you on the tool front, we plan on shipping back a 20ft container when we relocate in a couple of years & tbh, apart from kids garnen toys, a couple of antique funiture peices, photos & Christmas stuff it will mostly be filled by his tool collection cause he says the stuff in los is crap in comparision to the low cost for good quality you can get here. Particuarly when the sales are on, he stocks up on larger items, routers, jigsaw benches etc just to take & eventaully use in LOS (he has no real need for them at the moment)

Kitchen appliances. If you need a large crockpot. A food processor. High quality juicer or distiller. Yeah you can find here but either size or quality is not optimum and the price is high.

I am surprised nobody mentioned a good men's electric shaver. I don't know if you noticed but the Thai don't have much facial hair, and I can't imagine they import enough of them to bring the price down to affodability level.

Since I buy one of these every year and have to use it daily or I will look like Sasquatch, it is a concern for me.

after 42 posts:

bring 2 extra 40' containers....

LaoPo

Another thing to consider being an American - a scale that you can weigh yourself in pounds, or perhaps smaller items in ounces. Of course, that depends on whether it is really important to hang on to these archaic systems of measurement.

I always carry with me Norwegian goat cheese , its just a part of my life .

Also real milk chocolate is hard to find in Thailand.

been trying to think about this for last 2 days

a friend is about to move to Thailand on a long term basis. Hes got a baby girl, about 1 or 2 years old, his wife will be coming with him.

they have packed the usual basic things, clothes, books, and whatever else people do.

he asked me what would be 'missing' / expensive in Thailand, that an expat/westerner might want to bring....

I couldnt think of many things, everything seems to be available. I told him wine

but need more ideas

(they still have lots of space in what they are shipping over)

so over to you?

other alcoholic drinks? (he likes to have drinks and will be doing a fair bit of entertaining Im sure)

female stuff?

baby stuff?

anything else? (but non perishable only)

thanks everyone

I'll go for "female stuff" (we suppose to choose from the options right??)

on a more serious note: good cigars, good wine, good underwear ...... still haven't found these here yet !!! ohw and I got lots of gifts for my baby. Like stuff and baby songs I grew up with as well. Stuff they do not have in Thailand!!

I see overall lack of qulity and speacility items. Even if they are available, no common, they are overpriced

For a kid:

Books and workbooks

Decent quality shoes and sneakers

Cotton socks and underwear

Carnival costumes

Decent quality inflatable pool toys and lounges

Party plates for birthday

Soap-free shower gel

For us:

Kindle (so now I can read what I want not what's available)

WiFi Booster and Finder

Good quality swimming suites for girls and woman

300+ thread cotton sheets, American type with 2nd sheet is the best (all sizes)

Concentrated organic all-purpose cleaner

Knives, silverware, kitchen utensils, dutch oven, pans

Natural material shoes and clothing (in States shopping is so much better)

Aveda hair products and hair color if you not a L'oreal/Wella fan

Fresh OPI nail polish, buffs, other nail stuff if u r DIY (I'm, some times)

Cheese (usually bring 3kg at the time), spices

PS: Tampax can be easily replaced with Boot's brand tampons. Had no problem finding soda, buckwheat, pasta, olive oil, etc.

a red or yellow t shirt

Def a decent coffee machine