Bangkok - seeks survival guide

Skull said:
That's what I'm wanting to know. As an example there is a nice club/bar on Khao San actually, all wooden interior, very american style, with live music etc.
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I think I know the one you mean, and it's 140 baht per beer!

And anyway, my girlfriend insists there are plenty of bars around Sukhumvit soi 18-22 that don't have hookers, and are good places to drink and meet people. I went to one called "The Londoner" up that way which was pretty good.

But I'm curious... How can it be that I know this and someone who lives over there doesn't? What's your job? What on earth made you live and work in Bangkok when you clearly have such a cynical/negative view of it's nightlife?
 
seek said:
I think I know the one you mean, and it's 140 baht per beer!

And anyway, my girlfriend insists there are plenty of bars around Sukhumvit soi 18-22 that don't have hookers, and are good places to drink and meet people. I went to one called "The Londoner" up that way which was pretty good.

But I'm curious... How can it be that I know this and someone who lives over there doesn't? What's your job? What on earth made you live and work in Bangkok when you clearly have such a cynical/negative view of it's nightlife?
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Well, a few reasons really. The first is that I drink very little. I also live about 30-40 minutes away from Sukhumvit, my friends live nearby and go out in this area etc. However, you can never know too much and it's always nice to know of a good spot for a special occasion!

We may have different priorities in life, but your perspective seems to be a little blinkered if you're baffled by someone who wants to live in Bangkok but generally feels the sex-based expat nightlife scene is hollow and unfulfilling. As if the two are somehow mutually exclusive?
 
Skull said:
We may have different priorities in life, but your perspective seems to be a little blinkered if you're baffled by someone who wants to live in Bangkok but generally feels the sex-based expat nightlife scene is hollow and unfulfilling. As if the two are somehow mutually exclusive?
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Well that's pretty much what Bangkok is known for to be perfectly honest. So is it really unusual to be curious about why someone would want to live there if they don't like that?

I assume then, that it isn't your choice to be there. But rather it's a work commitment.
 
sanaxe1 said:
Praise buddha

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you really shouldn't have taken that picture, pointing you feet at an image of Budha is an insult.
 
seek said:
Well that's pretty much what Bangkok is known for to be perfectly honest. So is it really unusual to be curious about why someone would want to live there if they don't like that?

I assume then, that it isn't your choice to be there. But rather it's a work commitment.
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Nah, your perspective is far too narrow. Nottingham is known for gun crime and Robin Hood but you don't have to be a crack-slinging archer to live there. Similarly, Bangkok may have a big sex industry, but that's a tiny part of it - unless you're saying the 7 million-odd residents flock to Nana Plaza on a friday night. Perhaps sex is just what Bangkok is known for in expat and tourist circles.
 
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Skull said:
Nah, your perspective is far too narrow. Nottingham is known for gun crime and Robin Hood but you don't have to be a crack-slinging archer to live there. Similarly, Bangkok may have a big sex industry, but that's a tiny part of it.
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Well tbh, it was you who brought sex into this. I was talking about the nightlife/bar/club scene which doesn't necessarily have to involve hookers.

So if you're not into that aspect of Bangkok, and it's your own choice to be there (as opposed to a work commitment as I suggested above), then what is it that appeals to you?
 
Skull said:
unless you're saying the 7 million-odd residents flock to Nana Plaza on a friday night. Perhaps sex is just what Bangkok is known for in expat and tourist circles.
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Hardly. Not least beacuse 800'000+ of those residents work in the sex trade industry.

Anyway, you seem to be very hung up on this aspect of Bangkok. If you don't like it then you could always go elsewhere. You seem very keen to **** off the negative aspects of the city, without offering any advice on the more positive things. It would seem you hate being there, so why no go somewhere else?

Seriously, why the hell are you there, when you clearly hate it?
 
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seek said:
Well tbh, it was you who brought sex into this. I was talking about the nightlife/bar/club scene which doesn't necessarily have to involve hookers.

So if you're not into that aspect of Bangkok, and it's your own choice to be there (as opposed to a work commitment as I suggested above), then what is it that appeals to you?
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I think from your posts on the subject I've gathered the impression that those sort of places are what you meant. Sorry if I was jumping the gun with that.

I came to Bangkok because I felt like it really!
 
I hardly feel inclined to engage with you when you've launched into a tirade about how I must "hate" the place if I'm not here specifically for the nightlife (should I behave equally childishly and ask you if "you love the nightlife so much, why don't you marry it?"):confused:

Nonetheless, I like living in a big, bustling city. I love the people, the language(s), the food, the shopping, seeing the clash between old and new and the contrast between the spectacular wealth and humbling "make-do" lifestyles. I like the fact that all the modern conveniences are on my doorstep but rural countryside is just a bus ride away. I like that there is always something to do - whether it's something small like visiting something 'cultural,' seeing a movie, wandering randomly and finding a cool place to have a meal, stopping and having a chat with a stranger, learning a Thai song or something big like nipping to the airport and going to Singapore.

There's so much to explore and see and do that I'm never bored.
 
Skull said:
I hardly feel inclined to engage with you when you've launched into a tirade about how I must "hate" the place if I'm not here specifically for the nightlife (should I behave equally childishly and ask you if "you love the nightlife so much, why don't you marry it?"):confused:
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No need to be like that, I was merely (genuinly) intererested in why you choose to live there. The nightlife is Bangkok's biggest appeal to myself and many others, so I was interested to learn why someone who wasn't into that side of things made a conscious choice to live there.

I seem to have hit a nerve by asking about this though. :confused:
 
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seek said:
Not every man in Nana is a fat/bald old man! I'm only 31, and my girlfriend was 26. I asked her if she prefered young men or old men, and she said "I want boyfriend, not papa!" :D
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sounds quite odd. did you 'buy' this girlfriend or something? sounds like this was the first time you met her?

does sound an awesome country/culture to experience though, one on the list anyway.
 
If anyone is interested, theres a great restaurant on Soi 36 called Vietiane Kitchen, serves northern and isaan style food. There is a traditional band and dancers on for a couple of hours every night too.
 
Now for my survival guide based on visiting bangkok 6 times as backpacker, ill just edit/leave seeks...

seek said:
Getting into Bangkok from the airport:

metered taxi should be around 400bht a bit more to khaosan

Where to go first?

The vast majoriy of people will head to either Khaosan road, or Sukhumvit/Nana. The former is where all the backpackers/travellers go. And the latter is the main bar-girl/gogo district which is where to go for the nightlife. Personally I hated Khaosan road. But different strokes for different folks and all that...

Accomodation:

You can get reasonable hotel rooms from just 700 baht (£12). I didnt stay in a hotel but decent hostel/'flashpackers' are around 400 for aircon and hot shower. Can get much cheaper hostels but no AC or hot shower. around 200

Getting around:

walk, you see much more, tuk tuks or local bus, also the skytrain. you can get a free ride in the tuk tuks if you stop at 3 places like gem stores, or suit shops. when they ask questions, just ask them back at them and have fun with them. :)


Money:

My nationwide card didnt charge me at all. I averaged £20 a day for everything. With this i lived like a king for 3 months. 3 meals a day, diving courses, trips etc

Law:

I walked around with my top off in swimming shorts. Nothing said. Most of the time i had a tshirt on though.

Be polite and respectful to police/authorities. This goes for anywhere i suppose, just dont **** them off. I hear the bangkok hitlon isnt a nice place

Girls:

Play safe kids. ;) This also means that when you are wasted check the luggage area before kissing :eek:

Food:

Do NOT avoid the street venders, i ate off them for 6 days in a row. The chicken pad thai on khosan road is 20p, is massive, good for you and filling. It will take you a few days to get used to food but then you will be fine. Mcdonalds and all the usual crap is also there. I highly recommend the fresh shrimp off the street vendors. Just make sure the fire is roasting hot first

Small local restaurants are also great. In sukumvit (sp) i ate a few local restaurants that were owned by thai families. great fun, great food, great memories. Meal is around 100bht (less that £2 when i went) for something like fresh noodles/rice and meat. Large beer was about 50


What to see?

Loads of stuff, but try and do less touristy things. Sure temples are great but when u have seen 5 they get boring. I walked into a political demonstration and it was great fun. Free food (black jelly stuff??) music and dancing. It was something to do with the presidend at the times of the riots were streets were blocked off by police but it was peaceful demonstration and was great

Finally, When you get home...

Save money to go back to thailand :D
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Useful info here Seek pal. Will be off to Thailand in March/April next year so will hopefully stand me in good stead, can't wait to see in Thai new year when i'm there, it's meant to be WILD!!!!!
 
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