Bangkok Podcast 17: Finding an apartment in Bangkok

16 Nov 202147min

The boys address the big story of the day: Thailand's long-delayed reopening to tourists, at least from certain low-risk countries. Ed begins by recounting the current (at the time of the show) rules for tourists: COVID medical insurance, a negative test within 72 hours of departure, and a negative test after touching down which MAY require a night in a government-approved hotel. Note that the info in this show was accurate at the time of recording, but things change fast - check here for more details. The guys discuss the accuracy of the 'no quarantine' promotional material before getting into their predictions on the likely success or failure of the endeavor. Both guys agree that it was high time to start selling alcohol again. Ed laments that sales stop at 9 pm and nightlife is not completely open, but baby steps are better than no steps. Certainly, Thai tourism will recover, but will it take 6 months? 1 year? 2 years? Greg and Ed gaze into the Bangkok Podcast crystal ball and make their best estimates. Each guy then makes their own pitch while the near future is probably the best time to visit Thailand, but it all boils down to this: there's no doubt that Thailand is a beautiful country. What makes it sometimes hard to traverse is the buttload of other tourists! So being able to come when you know numbers will be down and the country has been thoroughly cleaned up is the best of both worlds. There just might be some hoops to deal with on your way over... 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.

9 Nov 202136min

Greg interviews Tristan Knowles, an Australian expat in Thailand working for the Asian Development Bank, specializing in infrastructure finance in the Mekong region, including alternative energy such as solar power. Greg begins by asking the obvious question: Thailand is practically constantly sunny, so why aren't there solar panels on every rooftop? Tristan gives a detailed answer focusing on incentives. Obviously there's an upfront cost to investing in solar power, whether you are a residence or a business. Most people need to be confident they will actually save money with the transition, but without proper financing and help from the government this is not always clear. So many early adopters in Thailand do it for environmental reasons, even if it's not economical compared to traditional sources of energy. Next, Tristan discusses the relative success of Vietnam, where the government has been more proactive in supporting investments in solar power. According to Tristan, Vietnam generates close to 10 times more electricity through solar than Thailand, partly by paying generators more for the extra energy they don't use themselves. This is probably good, because if it's one thing Thailand hates, it's being #2 in Asia. Last, Greg and Tristan discuss some of the nuts and bolts requirements for going solar and the common obstacles that need to be surpassed for solar to be more accepted. Unfortunately, the simple take of "Hey this is a sunny country, perfect for solar!" doesn't capture the reality of investment incentives and the appropriate government regulations to make the transition a reality. Luckily, things seem to be moving (slowly) in the right direction. 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.

2 Nov 202153min

On today's show Greg and Ed address a pretty simple question: When you see Bangkok in movies and in series, are you actually seeing an accurate portrayal of the way Bangkok REALLY is? The guys decide that the short answer is probably not (certainly not in Thai lakorn), but there are some interesting exceptions. For example, even big-budget movies such as "Hangover 2" and "Raya and the Last Dragon" get many details right, such as Fanta served in a plastic bag or 'toilet paper' (to Westerners) used as napkins on the dinner table. Also, some shows (especially Western ones) get some facts correct but over-emphasize them. Yes, Thailand does have elephants, prostitutes, and transexuals - but not EVERY story needs to include them. Greg then raises the elephant (heh heh, get it? we're in Thailand) in the room: foreign productions in Thailand are censored before they are made, and Thai productions are censored after they are made. So, in general, no direct showing of corruption among the monkhood, police or army, government officials, and certainly no mention of the monarchy. Because of these strict guard rails, it's almost impossible to accurately portray Thai society from within the country. Ed then laments the lack of a 'realist' cinema in Thailand, akin to the gritty dramas of the Hollywood of the 70s. Where are the Godfathers, Serpicos, and Taxi Drivers of Thai cinema? No one knows the answer to that question but both guys bring up various Thai movies and series that have flirted with realism in one way or another, including 'The Serpent,' 'Hormones,' 'Changeland,' 'Girl From Nowhere,' and, recently, 'Bangkok Breaking.' Hope springs eternal. Maybe. We guess. We hope. 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.

26 Okt 202142min

Greg interviews Lindsay Kiptiness, the Kenyan Ambassador to Thailand. Ambassador Kiptiness begins by introducing himself and explains his responsibilities as ambassador to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma. He explains his unfortunate arrival during COVID times, and his desire to really explore Thailand when it fully re-opens. The Kenyan healthcare system is behind Thailand's, but he notes that Nairobi did serve as the center of COVID treatment for UN officials. Greg asks the Ambassador about Kenyan products, and the Ambassador regales Greg with pitches for Kenyan coffee and Kenyan purple tea. No, that's not a typo, and the Ambassador assures us it is the best tea in the world. :) The conversation continues on to cover cultural misconceptions, the fickle nature of the global community in times of crisis, and the expatriate Kenyan (and African communities) in Thailand, which is growing, and the Thai community in Kenya, which unfortunately is not. Greg and the Ambassador discuss the reasons for this, and the Ambassador contends there is simply not enough information about Kenya and Africa in Thailand. In fact, the Ambassador makes the point that Greg has made many times on the podcast: all expats are to some extent ambassadors for their home country, and Mr. Kiptiness encourages all Kenyans in Thailand to do their best to promote their home country. 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.

19 Okt 202144min

Greg and Ed confess to their past as Dungeons and Dragons-loving young geeks. Who would have thought? The boys take inspiration from an old blog post of Greg's where he applied D&D's famous moral alignment chart to Bangkok. Moving through the list, Ed provides his feedback as each example is presented. Greg begins by explaining the system (for those of you who were less geeky or simply missed D&D generationally). Then Greg gets into his examples. Who best represents 'Lawful Good' in Thai society? Well, most monks seem to be the obvious answer, and both guys think so, with the important 'most' caveat. However, some other alignments prove more tricky. Who or what represents 'Chaotic Neutral' in Thai society? What about 'Lawful Evil'? The boys re-hash Greg's old answers and see if they still apply today. Listen in for a discussion of all nine different alignments, but the lesson of the day is that it can be very insightful to examine Thailand through a variety of different lenses, be it the Seven Deadly Sins or something more contemporary, such as the moral universe of the most popular role-playing game of all-time. 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.

12 Okt 202135min

On this episode Greg chats with his buddy Jesse Davis. You might not know Jesse's name, but if you have kids, chances are they know his daughter. About four years ago Jesse and his daughter started Brianna's Secret Club, a YouTube channel aimed at kids where Brianna and her pals do things like unwrap gifts, play with toys, build stuff, and do other kid-related things. The channel took off, and soon became a full-fledged family business, with budgets, schedules, assistants, and studio time. As of this airing, the channel has nearly 7 million subscribers, among the most popular YouTube channels in Thailand. Greg and Jesse chat about being judged by the YouTube algorithm, how a 'quick video' is never quick, the balancing act that played out between an office job and this new venture, and how Jesse and his wife ensure their kids stay grounded and treat this as a real job, with real responsibilities. Lots of people come to Thailand with a camera in-hand and dreams of a content empire, but as Jesse explains, it looks easy to the casual viewer, but the work that goes on behind the scenes and behind the screens is anything but. 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.

5 Okt 202152min

Greg and Ed discuss the concept of expat 'merit badges': those experiences that all long-time expats in Thailand tend to have that really remind you that you are in a unique place, distinct from where you grew up. These 'badges,' for lack of a better term, function as a loose type of seniority system. They are generally earned after some amount of time in the Kingdom, when you become comfortable with something that was once alien. In the first few months you might get caught in a flood, but it will most likely be longer than that before you sit down with some Thai motorbike riders, share a drink of moonshine, and play the bastardized Thai version of chess. We go into detail on some other 'level up' experiences - motorbikes, driving, swearing, rock t-shirts and sticking things in your ear! Some of these experiences are positives, some negative, and some simply a sign that you've 'gone native.' Special thanks to our patrons, insightful as always, who wrote in with their suggestions for these badges of honor (and dishonor, to be honest). Listen in for all the specifics and please write in with more ideas so we can make 'merit badges' a whole series! 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.

28 Sep 202144min