The Bangkok Double Pricing Debate (2.33)

Diving into the differences between East & West, Greg and Ed discuss two famous cemeteries in Bangkok. Ed takes the Teochiew Chinese Cemetery off of Sathorn Road, and Greg talks about the Protestant Cemetery in the Baan Mai neighborhood not too far from Asiatique on Charoen Krung Road. Ed begins by explaining that Thai Buddhists in general practice cremation, and since most Thais are Buddhists, 'cemeteries' in general are not really a Thai thing. However, multiple minorities throughout Thai history do bury their dead, so cemeteries exist for Christians, Muslims, and some Chinese communities. Ed starts off by discussing his visit to the famous Chinese cemetery roughly in between the Saphan Taksin and St. Louis BTS stations just off of Sathron Road. The cemetery traditionally catered to the Teochiew Chinese minority of which many immigrants to Thailand have been a member of and is more than 100 years old. Further, the cemetery has been made into a legitimate public park, creating an eclectic experience. It features many of the benefits of a park, such as exercise options and open public spaces, but also multiple religious monuments and a significant set of very old tombs, in the midst of a rather dense jungle. It somehow manages to be welcoming and foreboding at the same time. See the pictures below for examples. Taking a cue from a blog post he wrote several years ago about his visit, he notes that the Protestant Cemetery is more of a traditional Western Christian cemetery and does not function as a park. Its main appeal is its historic value, housing the remains of countless early expats to Siam in the 19th Century. As proud expats themselves (who even have a podcast on the subject!), the guys muse about what it must have been like to be one of the truly earliest Westerners in pre-modern Siam. Both cemeteries offer fascinating glimpses into unique immigrant communities that have played a role in Thai history. 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.

9 Sep 32min

Greg and Ed discuss a much neglected topic in Bangkok expat life: how to survive as someone who doesn't drink alcohol. Everyone knows that Bangkok has an epic nightlife, but much of that experience revolves around alcohol consumption. The guys discuss the option of going to the usual places and merely opting out of drink, but they also admit that for some people that is socially awkward and can put a damper on the evening. So what about events that themselves are not based around alcohol? Well, both guys offer multiple suggestions. First, sports activities that are social by nature but NOT directly tied to booze. Popular options today are padel and pickle ball. Second, the broader wellness community that includes yoga, meditation, and cold plunges offer great opportunities to meet people and not drink. Third, the guys recommend other hobbies that while they may not ban alcohol, they are not centered around it. Chess, board games, and martial arts all come to mind. Another option is to focus on the community of expats that are into Thai history and culture, such as those involved in the Siam Society and the National Museum. While social gatherings may include cocktail options, opting out is much easier among that crew. Greg and Ed fully support the avoidance of alcohol - it's obviously not healthy and peer pressure itself is toxic. The good news is that Bangkok is big and diverse enough that there are plenty of options out there for those willing to check out new things. 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.

2 Sep 29min

In a follow-up to previous episodes on expat 'Merit Badges,' Greg and Ed discuss 'DEmerit Badges,' mistakes that long term expats make that they should NOT make. In other words, if you've lived in Thailand for a while, and you act like a n00b, you deserve a demerit. Greg begins with the classic fashion faux-pas of all foreigners in Thailand for more than a few months: wearing elephant pants. As the official mark of being brand new to Thailand, these flimsy pajama bottoms are verboten for long-timers (and that's still true, notwithstanding their surge in popularity among hi-so Thais). Ed then brings up raising your voice or getting angry in public with a Thai person in their official capacity. Simply put, anger in public gets you nothing in Thai culture, except possibly some disrespect. The guys continue running through several more no-no's for expats and repeat tourists, from forgetting your passport to bum gun blunders. If you don't want to embarrass yourself, listen in for advice on how to look like you belong in 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.

26 Aug 37min

Greg and Ed discuss the pros and cons of Lumphini and Benjakitti parks in central Bangkok, and best of all - you get to vote for your favorite by clicking here! The boys begin almost with a disclaimer: both parks are genuinely awesome, and there's no way to definitely declare one park obviously superior to another. Nevertheless, each has its strengths and weaknesses. Lumphini is the classic 'Central Park' of Thailand and has had more than 100 years to mature and develop a large group of dedicated visitors. It is landscaped and manicured in a more traditional way, and in some respects might mirror a kind of 'international standard' for parks. It is excellent for walkers and joggers, but not so much for bikers who are limited by restrictive hours. There are facilities for other types of exercise, but those facilities are probably insufficient for the massive number of the park's visitors. Benjakitti on the other hand is newer and larger and has much better options for a variety of sports, including pickle ball, basketball, badminton and table tennis. It's also much friendlier to cyclists, who have dedicated lanes through much of the park. But Benjakitti is much less manicured throughout much of its spaces, representing the 'forest' (or sometimes 'jungle') in its name, as it's intended to represent a genuine biological ecosystem. Essentially, it's less 'tamed.' Both parks provide excellent opportunities for general walking and jogging and of course photography. Both parks MUST be on the list of repeat tourists and expats. Vote for YOUR favorite park here! 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.

19 Aug 39min

While Greg is travelling in Canada, Ed interviews old friend of the podcast Jonathan about his recent trip to Europe. Jon and his Thai wife Poom spent a couple weeks on vacation, first in Paris and then in Poland. Jon begins talking about the multicultural nature of Paris, something he's familiar with as a native New Yorker. He and his wife revelled in Paris's famous street culture: streets are very walkable, cafes abound, and sights are aplenty. In fact, Jon's only worry was being ID'd as an American, leading to a funny story about his and his wife attempting to look European. Listen in for the details. Ed asks about the safety of Paris, something it's not known for, and Jon admitted to being apprehensive but admits that at least on this trip, they never felt uncomfortable. On to Poland! Ed asks if there was an immediate difference between France and Poland, and Jon noted that both are very European and that he did not feel straight away as if he was in a different world. However, one difference was that Poland appeared to be less multicultural, causing he and his wife to be a little more self-conscious. But the Poles were friendly, and surprisingly, he and his wife found an excellent Thai restaurant in Krakow. Who would have guessed? Jon reveals his true colors as a Bangkoker when he admits that after two weeks of the Old World, he was more than ready to return to the Big Mango. 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.

13 Aug 58min

We return to our Thai history series with a fascinating look at the role that several Thai cannons played in some important historical events. First, with the help of a cool blog on Thai history from our friend Ken Lohatepanont, Greg tells the story of some silver cannons gifted by King Narai of Siam to Louis XIV of France. It turns out that during the world-changing storming of the Bastille in 1789, those very same cannons were used by the revolutionaries to bring down the notorious prison. Who would have thought that Thai military equipment would play such a key role in world history? Next, Greg tells the story of two large cannons, known as Seri Negara and Seri Pattani, used by the southern Sultanate of Pattani. When Pattani eventually challenged Siam and lost, the Thai King seized the cannons as spoils of war. Alas, one ended up at the bottom of the sea, but the other is on display in front of the Thai Ministry of Defense to this day. Last, Greg relates the use of cannons by the famous Thai developer Nai Lert to mark the boundaries of his property that borders Sukhumvit and Wireless Road. The concrete remains can still be seen today outside of Central Embassy shopping mall. 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.

5 Aug 26min

Sooner or later, we all spend some time in the hospital, so Greg and Ed riff on their myriad experiences in Bangkok hospitals over the years. But before we get into that, we should note - due to Thailand's strict defamation laws, some of the places we talk about will remain nameless. But with that out of the way, we can say that Thailand in general has pretty good medical care, and it is standard advice for travelers in neighboring countries to get over the border into Thailand if they have any medical problems. But, as Ed notes, Thailand does not have very good legal protections against medical malpractice: if a doctor makes a mistake, don't expect significant financial compensation from the Thai justice system. Greg and Ed then trade anecdotes about their own experiences in the Thai medical system, each with some good and bad things to say. Ed's life has been literally saved by competent doctors; Greg passed himself off as a Jedi in lieu of a real religion; both have been saved a ton of grief by getting a second opinion. Your mileage may vary, but both Greg and Ed agree, as a pure value proposition (i.e. what you get for the money), Thailand, though far from perfect, is a pretty good deal. Listen in for some great advice on how to maximize your chances of getting a good experience at a Bangkok hospital. 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.

29 Juli 46min

Greg and Ed discuss something that is more common than many people think: being wrong about expecting some Thai government project or initiative to fail. It's pretty easy, as expats often fall into the rut of cynicism about the Thai government sticking to a plan and actually getting stuff done, but the truth is, Thailand sometimes gets stuff right! Greg begins by bringing up Benjakitti Forest Park. It replaced the Thai Tobacco Monopoly, which occupied prime real estate between Sukhumvit and Rama IV for many years. When Greg heard it was going to be made into a giant public park, he was like, "Yeah right, it's gonna get taken over by mall and condo developers," but lo and behold, the majestic Forest Park is now there for Bangkokers to see and enjoy, and has been written about in publications around the world. Ed follows with something different: when he heard about the epic scale of the COVID vaccine rollout in Thailand, he thought it would be widely inefficient with day-long queues. In fact, it was shockingly professional, and he was in and out of there in 30 minutes! Greg continues with a story about the eventual success of the Thai Elite Card, and Ed follows with a discussion of electronic banking in Thailand and the unexpected return of the Shinawatra clan to Thai politics. Lesson learned: Don't fall into the cynicism trap! 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.

22 Juli 32min