Four Things We Tell Everyone to Avoid in Bangkok (2.14)

There's a lot of great buildings and great history that has been bulldozed over in Bangkok, so it's nice when we see someone going the extra mile to actually preserve both an historic physical space as well as the stories and history behind it. On this show Greg interviews Art and Irma, owners of Siri Sala Private Thai Villa, located off of Charan Sanitwong Road, not far from where Ed lives. The couple begins with the story of how they discovered the property - at the time, an old family home that had fallen into disrepair - while on a boat ride down the Bangkok Noi Canal, and the various serendipitous events that were necessary for them to become the new owners.  Greg then discusses with them the extensive rebuilding and renovations that needed to be done to complete the space. The entrepreneurial couple explains the lengthy design process, one driven by a desire to maintain the authenticity of a traditional Thai house, but with the lived-in practicality of a genuine home, as opposed to a museum piece. Next, the conversation moves to the various uses of the unique location. Irma explains that events were the primary intended purpose, but that very quickly video productions were knocking on their door. After several smaller shoots, they were chosen to play a major part in White Lotus, Season 3, and Greg talks with Art and Irma about that amazing experience.  Last, the couple announces the impending opening of Siri Sila as a boutique hotel, that allows rental of individual rooms or the whole property, as well as entire buyouts for those who want a memorable stay they will never forget.   Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know. Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.

4 Nov 47min

As Thailand starts got back to bid-ness after COVID, there were a whole lot of n00bs coming in to tour, work and live. Most who have been here for a while already remember what an overwhelming experience Bangkok was in the early days, and how helpful it was to make a network of friends that you could turn to for advice. Of course, not all advice is great, especially when you're talking with random people about how your new foreign home works. We think it's fair to say that most advice you get is subjective and can probably be taken with a grain of salt, but some advice…some advice is gold, and should be locked away for further investigation. Greg and Ed take a look back at their early days in the Kingdom and each come up with 2 bits of advice that they got that they did not lock away for further investigation, and now - in their wise old age - regret. From dating to geography, sometimes it pays to listen to old-timers to make the most of your new situation. 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 Okt 34min

This week Greg and Ed have a bit of fun revisiting an old blog post from Greg about what would be the best slogans for various malls around Bangkok. As most listeners know, Bangkok may very well be the capital city of malls and mall culture, and each mall seems to have its own identity. The guys walk through Greg's somewhat salty slogans from ten years ago to see if they are still valid. Here are some representative examples: MBK - "Not even we know what stores lurk in our dark corners and forgotten depths." Ed chuckles at the appropriateness of the slogan, given that MBK seems chock full of unexpected side areas and forgotten hallways. EmQuartier - "Come for the cool food hall and interesting stores. Stay because you can't find the exit." Once again, Ed concurs, having just been at the infamously architecturally complex mall. Central World - "Stop whining, the 5 km walk will do you good." With its renovations over the years, this mall has undoubtedly improved, but one fact can't be denied: it's freaking huge. So if you need some more steps to get to your 10k for the day, this is the mall to do it. Ed even chimes in with some of his own slogans for Bangkok's new malls, such as Icon Siam: "A mall designed 100% for Asians: as long as you are a rich Chinese tourist." This time Greg nods his head in agreement. Listen in for our take on the bounty of unique malls through the city. Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.

21 Okt 42min

We've all seen the incredible amount of drama that can go down if you don't run a tight ship in Thailand - everything from visa worries and bank problems to relationship blow-ups and trouble with the law. But it seems that a huge proportion of this drama is reserved for people relatively new to Thailand. Greg and Ed discuss why, as long-term expats, they seem to miss a lot of this drama. Is it something they did? Or did they just age out of the baggage train? As both have been in the country for effectively a quarter of a century, the guys have solved a lot of problems and overcome a lot of obstacles to the point that they are each happy with their somewhat stable, undramatic lives. Many expats in the first few years of their life in Thailand experience CRAZY amounts of drama and adaptation, most which are way in the rearview mirror for Greg and Ed. First, Ed brings up obvious contrasts: early stayers almost always have to deal with visa, work permit, and address-reporting issues. Beginners have to sort that stuff out in the first place, which really isn't that easy, but then have to worry about complying for the months and years to come. Border runs at first may actually seem like a version of a holiday, but they QUICKLY become a stressful annoyance due their cost, complications, and inherent uncertainty. Second, Greg mentions more current problems, such as the Thai government's crackdown on money laundering, which seems to have cast an absurdly wide net and effectively shut down the bank accounts of many short term expats, but has left most (but not all) long-termers alone. He reiterates his old advice: if you are here more than a few months, you should step-by-step become more legitimate ON PAPER, such as by getting the proper visa, work permit, bank account, driver's license, credit card - anything you can. Every little bit helps to build your credibility as a serious person that the government is less likely to trifle with. The boys conclude with a vow not to dunk on those suffering short-timers and to remember when they themselves were wee-little expats too. :) Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.

14 Okt 30min

In a special episode, Greg and Ed interview Kevin Maes in Kevin's own podcast studio on Rama IV. Kevin is a long-time expat in Thailand hailing from Belgium who became entangled in a very unfortunate crime drama and subsequently wrote a book about it called 'Kingdom of Trials,' which is now available on Amazon. Kevin begins with his Thai 'origin story,' how he ended up in the Land of Smiles, and more importantly, how and why he fell in love with it. Unfortunately, he eventually was sucked into a drama involving his ex-wife's boyfriend that shockingly ended in the boyfriend's death. Kevin and another friend were charged with murder, and a years-long ordeal would ensue involving the ins and outs of the Thai justice system. Kevin recounts his fears step-by-step, including his shocking (but somewhat heartening) decision to return to Thailand to face the Thai justice process even though he had an opportunity to remain in Belgium safely for the rest of his life. Suffice it to say, both the interview and the book are worth the interest of any expat or serious Thai-phile. Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.

8 Okt 1h 1min

It's been a while, but one of our favorite semi-regular guests is back! Bangkok Podcast's official Buddhist correspondent, Phra Pandit, welcomed Greg at his temple to talk about amulets, talismans, and Buddhist relics - and what ties them all together. The burning question Greg had was - if seemingly every third temple claims to have a piece of Buddha's body - what exactly happened to the poor guy when he died? Phra Pandit explains the history behind the idea of Buddhist relics and what Buddha said about them, as well as their link to Sri Lanka and how a wooden mannequin brought to life kicked the whole thing off. Greg and Phra Pandit also dive into the topic of amulets and talismans, including the famous Jatukham craze of 2006, and discuss what - if anything - makes one amulet worth more than another one. Does it make them more effective? Do people act differently if they think they're more effective? They finish with a fascinating discussion about how stories and tokens can be a powerful tool in helping us solidify and understand abstract concepts such as marriage, death, and even architecture! As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. 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 Sep 36min

Greg and Ed discuss the recent BBC 'documentary' called 'The Dark Side of Paradise' and what it says about media representation of Thailand. Ed explains that the recently aired 3-episode series has been getting a LOT of blowback on expat social media. The series depicts Zara, a young British woman, on her first trip to Thailand, ostensibly to report on the popularity of the Land of Smiles with British influencers. However, the show quickly devolves into an exploration of all the negative stereotypes about Bangkok, from partying to drugs and prostitution. Greg admits to finding the first episode so grossly underwhelming and riddled with cliches that he couldn't even make it to the end. Ed notes that he got through the first episode, but was shocked by the number of basic factual errors in the show. For example, Zara stated that Khao San Road is open 24/7, and everyone knows that hasn't been true for 25 years. Other very blatant errors, such as the claim that all go-go bars have covers when none in fact do, really calls into question whether the filmmakers did any actual investigating at all. Ed also mentions that a YouTuber who was interviewed in the documentary has claimed that the BBC lied to him about the nature of their interview. Greg expands the discussion to include how Thailand is typically portrayed in the media. Unfortunately, negative stereotypes always come first, even though there is already a veritable boatload of 'content' out there on these issues. One would think the BBC would have the budget and the experienced writers to do more than scratch the surface with every well-worn cliche about Thailand, but apparently not. Watch at your own risk! Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.

23 Sep 41min

Greg and Ed interview Chatwan Mongkol about his relatively new website called 'Soiciety.' Chatwan begins by explaining that he was born and raised in Thailand but then went to the U.S. for a year of high school and stayed on for university. He majored in journalism and (shock!) subsequently worked for several news outlets in the Northeast. During his time there he saw a type of news that Thailand lacks: truly LOCAL news that focuses on important practical matters that primarily affect people living in a particular city or region. Hence, 'Soiciety' was born! The website is in English, but is primarily based on Thai sources of information. Chatwan has chosen to focus on matters directly relevant to people living in Bangkok - not international news, not national Thai news, not abstract political stuff. Does it affect the daily life of people living in Bangkok? If no, it's out, if yes, it's in. Further, currently his audience is made up of foreign English speakers, but he's hoping to expand into international Thais, and in the future could even provide Thai language content if the market is there. Greg and Ed moderately bash the current quality of English language news sites in Thailand, and heartily support the idea of focusing on stuff of immediate practical value. Is a skytrain station being planned for my neighborhood? I want to know that. Are alcohol sales hours being changed in the city? I'd like the answer. Is the city doing anything about the air pollution? Please tell me. You get the idea, and if you live in Bangkok, you could probably use some 'Soiciety' in your life too. Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.

16 Sep 42min