What Do You Do All Day ?

[strikingsunset]

Hi,

I have posted recently that I am coming to live in BKK,(rather than just holiday) and several posters have asked "what I am going to do with my time ?" ;

Well for starters :

Thai Language Classes Mon-Friday am.

Gym Sessions 90 minutes,5 times a week.

Internet/BBC Radio Listening,say 3 hours/day...love it.

Dancing Classes eg Salsa,2 nights/week.

Jogging,circa 60 minutes,2 times/week.

Foreigner Bars,Happy Hours,2 times/week.

Also really interested in Food,so will do some food shopping/cooking.

Cinema,see New Movie Release,maybe once per week.

Eat out regulary in Food Courts.

So thats a start,is this ok or is it a sad life ?,am I missing something glaringly obvious,that I should be doing in BKK to enjoy my week ?.Look forward to your thoughts,(this is not a troll post)

Just to add I am 55 yrs old,not working,progressively,hopefully, retiring.

Regards.

[DragonQuest]

I do the same

[maprao]

Try all of the above. What you would do at home to keep yourself busy plus whatever else in Thailand makes you tick

[strikingsunset]

I do the same

Thats a relief,hopefully I am on the right tracks.

[DavidSL]

Blimmin' 'eck - you're gonna be a busy one!

I've had all of this week off, and so far, apart from going out with my girlfriend when she gets home from work, I've barely left the room.

I've been...

- watching my 'Red Dwarf' DVDs from my recent trip home,

- playing my PS3 that I sensibly brought back over with me,

- trying my best to practice drawing and keep a daily routine going (when I can summon the willpower),

- reading a little (I'm quite into my comics and find Kinokuniya a little haven on weekends),

and...

- eating.

That's it. I admire people like you - I really need to work on my routine. Of course, I do start back at work next week, so that'll boost my energy levels a bit!

[DummDays]

You missing one of the biggest Thrills:

Daytrading in Currencies

This keeps you Bussy Day and Night

Saturday and Sunday: I do the same

[sarahsbloke]

Hiking in the jungle 1-2 days a week

Taking daughter to/from school, 10 trips a week

Visiting friends 2x 1/2 days a week

Reading my e-books, not much time for that lately

Learning Thai, Monday, Wednesday, Friday

I don't know how I ever managed to fit working into my schedule!

[WhizBang]

Travel...  once a month my girlfriend and I make a trip somewhere inside Thailand, usually to either the mountains or the islands, where we spend a pleasant few days sightseeing and taking photos.  Once every three months we make an international trip.

Partake of my hobbies (with my girlfriend), which is mainly photography and watching good movies.   And her hobby too... mainly shopping 

Every once in a while I get to spend a few quiet days at home.  She likes to read and I work on the computer editing video we have shot in our travels or playing some of the higher end FPS games.

Not very exciting, I know, but a lot better than what I used to do in the US, which was watch TV alone all day.

[bluebluewater]

That is the #1 question I get whenever I come back to the States "What do you DO over there?"

"I live there same way there that I would live if I was back here. I would be living modestly here, I live modestly there."

And I do . . and I do most if not all of the things that have all ready been mentioned. Excercise, language lessions, a monthly trip that takes me out of my area or to another country. I've taught myself to play one of the Thai flutes, the ukulele is next. The internet keeps me connected and I can keep a handle on my investments, email, family. A couple of times a week I take a long walk and stop in at the mom & pop places where I have friends and have a beer - no real bars where I live. A couple of times a month I'll make the 25km trip into BKK and get some food other than Thai. I eat out often, weekends I do some cooking. I take a nap from time to time.

Actually I would like to be a bit busier with something more constructive but I've not found it yet.

[ESB7]

Thats great that you have all that planned and hope it works out well but all these activities are individual..............where and who will you ever talk to...ok at the gym you may make friends and chat between working out but apart from that Thailand is a lonely place if you dont work or have interaction with others......a possible recipe for becoming a bar fly

[DavidSL]

In lieu of my last post being a little dry, I'll add this - the weekends are my 'sanuk' time. That's when me and my girlfriend head out around Bangkok and visit temples occasionally, or just head to shopping malls to 'hang out'. I find shopping malls here to be much more thrilling than back home - the nearest shopping mall to me in England is a good 40 minutes away and not the most convenient place to go to spend time. On the weekends we are rarely stuck at home except for our lie-ins and sometimes evenings watching a DVD. We enjoy going to the cinema as well, and find the cinemas here really inviting, but this can be expensive on a regular occasion.

My best advice is this - plan it all, but don't expect to stick to it completely. I find the weather here really slows me down, which is why going to malls on the weekends does become a fun past time because it's nice and cool in the air conditioning and you can find nice restaurants to eat in and relax. That said, if you aren't working then you don't want to be in the habit of waking up late and becoming a sloth - so yes, waking up early to go to Thai lessons is a fantastic idea. If I didn't have my work routine here I would have gone mad by now. Definitely get involved in something educational to keep your mind active.

Good post - I'm always interested to see how other Westerners live their lives here. Although this week has been a slow one for me, I'm out a lot more than I was at home. I'm out every night, and all weekends. None of it involves bars or drinking, either, which is quite refreshing from UK life.

[strikingsunset]

Thats great that you have all that planned and hope it works out well but all these activities are individual..............where and who will you ever talk to...ok at the gym you may make friends and chat between working out but apart from that Thailand is a lonely place if you dont work or have interaction with others......a possible recipe for becoming a bar fly

Hi,Yes I totally agree with you,it is a worry that all these activities are Individual,so I know lonely times will come,but I have been in relationships where I have felt lonelier than If I had been alone,I am hoping if I can find a decent g/f that will help,to an extent,and also hoping things like Thai Language learning and things like Salsa/Dancing classes will give me some interaction and hopefully lead to making some friends.

Thanks for your post,I am really glad you pointed this out.

Edited May 13, 2011 by strikingsunset

[villagefarang]

I understand that many find life difficult without schedules and deadlines. Personally I do not like having a schedule. I may have a vague idea what I might like to do tomorrow, but I much prefer to see how I feel when I get up, and see what the weather looks like. Having fixed times and places where I must be, feels too much like work to me. That is exactly the point for others I suppose, who feel lost without the regimented structure of the work place and the tight time constraints dictated by artificial deadlines.

After thirty years in Bangkok I made the move to village life and suspect life in the village is easier for me now that I am a married man and with my temperament. Those who try to replicate the frenetic pace of city life or a high pressure work environment would surely find my life one of boredom.

The wife and I have both developed or continued hobbies from our life in Bangkok. In my case I have found some new outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, my motor bike, photography, our dogs and <snip>. Even with help, my wife is kept quite busy with village responsibilities, the house, the garden, baking, and cooking for me, four dogs and a cat. She still finds time for exercise, reading, and keeping up with her friends around the world, through email and Facebook.

We have good friends in Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Hawaii so we get visitors from time to time and we get out of Chiang Rai as well. Health clubs in Bangkok can be quite social but it also helps if you have a sport. I found that squash led to many connections over the years and learning Thai is an absolute must. Above all be open to new things, this is after all a chance to reinvent yourself.

Edited May 13, 2011 by soundman
Link to blog only in profile please.

[Semper]

Hiking in the jungle 1-2 days a week

Taking daughter to/from school, 10 trips a week

Visiting friends 2x 1/2 days a week

Reading my e-books, not much time for that lately

Learning Thai, Monday, Wednesday, Friday

I don't know how I ever managed to fit working into my schedule!

Where do you live?

[mca]

- playing my PS3 that I sensibly brought back over with me,

That's one way to have your life taken over.

[Tafia]

and remember Thailand is a BIG Country compared to the UK it doesn't stop at Bangkok, many places to go visit or even stay for months or years. Dont restrict yourself.

Edited May 13, 2011 by Tafia

[destiny0671]

I tend to wake around 9am . Take the GF to work at around 10.30 am . Usually go for a swim at the local hotel . Then eat lunch . Look around the city on my motorcycle . Football starts at 5pm . Home at 7pm then pick up GF from work . We can then eat together and watch a movie before sleep .

Sometimes I will take the bus or train alone and explore. Its these times when I think being single is a good idea. Sometimes I would like to explore more, or stay overnight, or have another drink etc.

Anyway school starts next week so up at six and home at five..

ps my first post so hi to all ..

[DisparateDan]

Put my folding bike on bus/MRT/BTS and make serendipitous journeys, even at 4 am , (bus)

Geocaching only tough ones.eg Prapadaeng.not park and grab.

Set Geocaching puzzles under name "ximines"

Correspond internationally with puzzle solvers/setters

Listen to mp3 audiobooks, every topic under the sun except science fiction

All my own shopping/cooking/house cleaning.."reminds me of Bill Murray's joke in the Robert de Niro movie"

Watch "UBC:" a lot

Take care of fatherless toddler, take him to Toys r Us, Lumpini, Chatuchack Rot Fai Park, Central World and Chidlom children's play areas. I put this as the most satisfying and exhausting "do what" experience,

Seek out non beggar "tramps" and buy them food and give them stuff and cash.

It is a good thing to be an insomniac sometimes.

Search for keys and remotes.

Edited May 14, 2011 by DisparateDan

[Pacificperson]

Does anyone have a morning social coffee at McDonald’s or the equivalent? They can be quite enjoyable.

[Semper]

"What Do You Do All Day ? "

Hate to admit this. But drinking beer and watch the television.

[smokie36]

"What Do You Do All Day ? "

Hate to admit this. But drinking beer and watch the television.

I can't be bothered with TV....not when there are so many girls around.

[smileplur]

"What Do You Do All Day ? "

Hate to admit this. But drinking beer and watch the television.

+1 here ... That's about it. However, I work here. This is holiday time for teachers, so I haven't done a lot. I did drive my motorbike up to Korat and Pimai. I went out with friends dancing on Friday. Last night, I went to watch the FA Cup. Generally, there is a lot of beer and internet involved.

[smileplur]

"What Do You Do All Day ? "

Hate to admit this. But drinking beer and watch the television.

+1 here ... That's about it. However, I work here. This is holiday time for teachers, so I haven't done a lot. I did drive my motorbike up to Korat and Pimai. I went out with friends dancing on Friday. Last night, I went to watch the FA Cup. Generally, there is a lot of beer and internet involved.

[CHANGOVER]

"What Do You Do All Day ? "

Hate to admit this. But drinking beer and watch the television.

I do the same but internet instead of the television.

[jfchandler]

It's a good topic....

I'm a little early retired, so I left behind years of really long work hours and constant demands back in the U.S. The last thing I want to do is re-create that here.

Now, I have few to none scheduled or advance planned activities....but I'm always busy and never watch TV at home during the day (one exception below) before my wife comes home from her work.

I'm a house husband, I guess, so I do all the grocery shopping and cooking for myself during the days (apart from a light dinner we have together after my wife's work), as well as laundry and general cleaning around the house, paying the bills, etc.... I didn't plan it that way, but it's become my way of helping to take care of my wife...who in turn takes good care for me.

I spend a lot of time learning and catching up on things that I never had the time to do when I was actively working, including how to best manage and grow my retirement savings. And keeping up with ThaiVisa because it's a great way of learning how to best do a lot of things here, from visas to banking to shopping to travel, and on and on.

Another thing I like to do is keep up with things from my U.S. home by listening to a couple of daily radio show podcasts via ITunes...so I don't entirely lose touch with what's going on abroad, and lately I've expanded those a bit to include listening online to live news from NPR, BBC, etc. The radio broadcasts are nice because I can have them on in the house during the day when I'm working about...but not need to be tied down or sitting down like TV.

There's always something demanding my attention here... And I can't think of a single day ever since I moved where I woke up feeling bored or spent the day idle.

The only exception on the TV comment above is during the NFL season and during the NBA playoffs, when I'll watch the games by VOD during the daytime here. Other than that, the wife rules with Thai TV.

[Lammbock]

..get a girlfriend ^^