Bangkok Podcast 17: Finding an apartment in Bangkok

With Ed being stuck in the US, he relates ten experiences he has had during his stay in Ohio that he doesn't think he would ever have in Thailand, introducing them with his characteristic wit and charm. (Ed wrote this). From overly aggressive nazi guards at the airport to overly aggressive kindness from fellow shoppers, and all the way down to Covid carelessness, vaxxers of all types, and the sweet, sweet siren call to consume, consume, consume at all costs. While some of them may be trivial or only be special in Ed's bizarre consciousness, the boys do their best to tease out truths about American and Thai culture and interesting insights into American society. At the very least, Ed's been on an adventure that should be of interest to anyone who cares about the fascinating differences between the West and Thailand. Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

18 Jan 202239min

Greg interviews Phra Pandit, the resident Bangkok Podcast expert on all things Buddhism, about negative emotions such as anxiety and anger and how Buddhism deals with them. Displaying his deep knowledge of Western psychology, Phra Pandit begins first by discussing the Freudian approach to anxiety, which separates out reasonable negative emotions from neuroticism, which is defined as anxiety that is irrational or inappropriate given the context. Greg brings up the sometimes casual attitude that Thais seem to have towards death, and Phra Pandit explains that the Buddha taught his followers to contemplate death and even encouraged monks to meditate in cemeteries and in close proximity to corpses. By addressing the issue of our physical death so directly, Buddhism aims to give us perspective on day to day annoyances, such as getting coffee that's lukewarm instead of hot. :) The old friends continue with a wide ranging discussion of the differences between how westerners and Thais deal with traumatic events and negative emotions, and Phra Pandit weaves his general knowledge of human psychology in with his very deep and specific knowledge of Thai culture and Buddhism. Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

11 Jan 202250min

It's a COVID Christmas Craptacular! The guys discuss all the ways that COVID has made the holiday season difficult for expats and travelers to Thailand. To start things off, Greg plays a quick conversation with podcast supporter Ash, who is now more or less locked out of Thailand due to the recent tightening of restrictions. So much for planning ahead! Next, Ed details his absolutely epic adventure to Ohio. Despite a successful last-minute scramble to get the right health insurance and beat the deadline for applying for a Thailand Pass, he managed to test positive for COVID on Christmas Eve! So much for spending Christmas with his family for the first time in 20 years. Despite no symptoms whatsoever, he tested positive a week later and is now unable to get back into Thailand under the new rules, so he is stuck in Ohio for the time being. Never fear: the Bangkok Podcast will go on as usual. Last, Greg plays a short conversation with Scott, sometime podcast co-host. Unlike Ed, Scott does not have COVID, but what he also doesn't have is a Thailand Pass, thanks to a lack of hotel paperwork. The result: he's stuck in Canada for the time being. Maybe Ed and Scott can have a locked out of Thailand party! Woo hoo! Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

4 Jan 202250min

When Greg and guest-host Scott moved here at the turn of the century, Bangkok had about 22km of train lines (not counting the SRT diesel trains). Now there are 210km in operation with a further 250km under construction. That's huge! But it presents a problem - Bangkok is evolving very quickly, and unless you ride the trains A LOT, you are probably, like us, becoming more and more unfamiliar with how to get around the city you live in. Greg and Scott set out to change this, and spent a day riding around on various lines, visiting a few stations, and seeing what they could see from above (and below) the city. To get a better idea of how things look, check out this Google Map that Greg made of all the existing and upcoming train lines in Bangkok. From the confusing new Blue Line loop to the massive Bang Sue Grand Station to dusty end of the Purple Line, the boys give their impression on how things are progressing and why - if you live here - all of us should make an effort to get more acquainted with Bangkok's train lines before we start to feel like lost, confused tourists in the very city we live in. Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

21 Dec 202143min

The show welcomes back Dr. Jessica Vechbanyongratana, an economist at Chulalongkorn University, to discuss the cold, hard data on Thailand's demographics. It sounds vague and geeky at first, but the more you look into it, the more you realize just how much you can tell about Thailand by observing things like the age that people are getting married and retiring at, how many kids they're having, the rate of household debt, and how all of these things will affect the next generation. Jessica discusses the link between all of these, as well as the changing logistics of operating a university when there's not enough students to go around and what she sees her students doing as they enter the "real world" and start to get jobs. She also talks about what to expect when you grow old in Thailand, especially if you're going to rely on the social safety nets which, to be honest, look about as robust as the green fishing nets you see draped over piers in Ko Samui. Lots of other great insights into how Thailand is moving into 2022 and beyond, and the indicators we can keep an eye on to give us an idea of how things are changing Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

14 Dec 202151min

Greg and Ed finish up the Seven Deadly Sins series with a discussion of 'gluttony' in the context of Bangkok - in this case, wanting to eat the largest quantity of food for the least amount of money. While we all know that Bangkok is one of the best places to eat in the world, it doesn't necessarily mean it's the best city to eat A LOT for CHEAP. Ed begins by showing off his farang nature: pizza in general in Bangkok is good but not cheap. However, several delivery companies (shout out to The Pizza Company) frequently run generous promotions, like an automatic upgrade of a small pizza to an 18 incher (!) or just a two-for-one. At that rate, pizza in Bangkok qualifies for pigout status. Greg goes more Thai by opening up a discussion of Thai street food. It's delicious. It's cheap. But Ed notes that the portions tend to be small, quite different from the heaping plates of Chinese food available in the States. But Greg counters that as long as you are willing to make the rounds and buy many dishes, for 3-400 baht you can have a veritable feast! To burnish his Thai credentials, Ed then brings up Thai fresh markets, which are famous for being ridiculously cheap and focusing on bulk purchases. Huge slabs of meat, bags o' veggies and culinary accoutrements...the big caveat of course is that you must be willing to cook or prepare your meals before feasting. The boys continue debating the pros and cons of various possibilities, but it all boils down to one thing: Bangkok is not only a great place for delicious food, it's also a great place for gluttony. :) Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

7 Dec 202134min

Greg interviews Belgian Ambassador to Thailand, Madam Sybille de Cartier, formerly Ambassador to Egypt and Sudan, with plenty of diplomatic experience in other posts around the world. She discusses the long history that Belgium and Thailand share, going back all the way to 1839, which is pretty amazing since Belgium itself was founded in 1830. Belgium also played a key role in the modernization of Thailand under King Chulalongkorn, providing advisors that aided in maintaining the Kingdom's independence and building up its legal system. Next, the Ambassador talks about her country's current relationship with Thailand, especially economically, and the function of the embassy in Bangkok which actually also services Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. The two continue and discuss a myriad of the details of the relationship, from mutually beneficial social security rules to the genesis story of the famous Thai-Belgian bridge of friendship, a story worth hearing in detail. Special thanks to Ambassador de Cartier for taking the time to be our guest! :) Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

30 Nov 202138min

In a very topical show Greg and Ed discuss the role that alcohol plays in Thai culture. For a country that seems to love restricting alcohol consumption, be it for religious holidays or even election days, Thails love to drink (the most in SEA, actually). But there's a rather huge gulf between the way Thai people actually behave and the image that the Thai government would like to project to the world, which is of a 'conservative Buddhist country.' This leads to a discussion of the partial re-opening. Tourists are allowed in with some restrictions, alcohol can be sold in restaurants until 9 pm, but all purely entertainment venues are shuttered, supposedly until January 15th at least. Greg plays devil's advocate (or in this case, angel's advocate) and points out that in early stages of the pandemic, some major outbreaks occurred in nightclubs. It's common sense that people are less careful when intoxicated, so what's wrong with closing bars and entertainment venues? Ed does his best to counter with bulletproof logic, pointing out the flaws: why can restaurants serve booze, but not bars? What magic happens at 9 pm, when alcohol stops being served, that causes COVID to suddenly be transmitted where it wasn't before? And wouldn't rules about ventilation and the density of customers be a more scientific strategy? This leads to Ed's main argument that the government has stopped making policy based on science and is instead merely acting as a 'conservative Buddhist' teacher of morals and proper behavior, much to the disadvantage of Thai bar owners and entertainment workers. Don't forget to read the excellent article on Thai Enquirer that discusses the same issues - and definitely check out the classic commercial Greg and Ed discussed. JHON! KRIED! KIN LAO! Yes, folks, Thailand is in the midst of a SOCIAL ORDER CRACKDOWN! So journey here only if you are one of the sizable number of travellers that doesn't really care about partying after 9 pm. :) Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

23 Nov 202128min