Reposted from FlagTheory.com
50,000 people at a beach party on an island off the coast of southern Thailand. The Thai Bhat searing a hole in their pocket, most partygoers dance until the sun rises, without concern for what’s happening in the ‘real world’.
This vignette is your typical, anything but average, full moon party. Every month, on the night of the full moon, thousands of party goers of every age and nationality flock in droves to the beach Continue reading
In the previous post, I gave some tips for finding a cheap house for rent in Thailand.
I want to relate this to my personal experience and how much it costs me to live in Thailand.
After searching for a week in Krabi, it was determined that there was very little in the way of affordable rentals. I had located a 2 bedroom house with an office for 21,000 Bhat – $700 USD. However, this was slightly more than a wanted to pay for a house far from the beach. Plus, I wanted a view of the water!
Most of the Bungalows in the area were furnished, but carried short term rental prices for more than I wanted to pay to live in Thailand. Living in Thailand should be cheap!
I don’t want to commit the location I discovered to writing, because I feel it is a little gem of an undeveloped island.
After looking around for 3 days and probably touring about 25 bungalows, I finally found a place that I liked.
View of the water?
-Check
Walk to the beach
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This place is actually less than 20 feet from the water. Pretty Amazing stuff. The water is clear and warm, the sand is nice. There are hammocks all around the property to relax in and its not that busy, which I prefer.
Wifi
-Check.
Wifi is hugely important for me. I need to be able to update my websites, and I need a solid connection. This was a big part of finding a bungalow.
Final Price for standalone house with deck, king sized bed and view of the ocean: 7000 Bhat per month – roughly $250 American Dollars.
What a price to pay to live in Thailand.
Additionally, I rented a motorbike for 3000 Bhat – about $100.
In essence, my transportation and housing were covered for less than $350 Dollars. Try that in more developed western countries…
The cost of food per day for me is still low, even though, I tend to eat quite a lot.
I buy my water in bulk and 8 bottles costs 40 Bhat – About $1.
I typically eat the following meals.
breakfast: Eggs, Coffee, Donuts
Cost: 120 bhat
Lunch: Chicken And fruit
Cost: 60 bhat
Dinner: Fruit Shake,Curry Dish
Something else – sushi, papaya salad, etc.
Cost: 140 Bah= 320 Baht- around $10 USD.
So for about $700 – $1000 Dollars per month you can live in Thailand in a bungalow facing the water – eat some great fresh food daily, and have a motorbike to explore the surrounding locale.
I live in Thailand, and earning most of my money through passive income, and for the most part reading, learning and hanging out at the beach or training Muay Thai. If you want to learn how I live like the wealthy one percent – even though I’m not rich – check out how I built my Financial Safety Net
If you want to live in Thailand for an extended stay, it makes perfect sense to buy or rent a motorcycle or moped but sometimes you will want to…
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Thailand is an amazing country for any adventurous person to live and thrive. Its pretty obvious why someone might want to Live in Thailand The country is warm, and there are amazing contrasts between the craziness of Bangkok, the serenity of the Northern Provinces and the beauty of the southern beaches.
Thailand is also an amazing destination for Geo-arbitrage. Recently rated Thailand the number one spot for ex-pats. Probably because the country is exciting and there is always something to do, the food is amazing, and most of all, Continue reading
The first night in Bangkok is one I will never forget.
I was living on Khao San Road, Bangkok, Thailand.
Khao San road is a great spot to meet other tourists when you are living in Thailand.
I had been outside the comfort and confines of my American homeland before – but never to a place like this. Continue reading
Muay Thai Legend: Buakaw Por Pramuk
My Favorite Thai Kickboxer is champion Baukaw Por Pramuk. His born name is Sombat Banchamek from in Surin, Thailand. He fights out of the Por Pramuk Muay Thai Gym, located in the heart of Bangkok.
(click below to see highlights of his muay thai fights!)
Doing Business in Thailand can be a tricky affair for any Farang (foreigner), especially one who is unaccustomed to Thai laws, and the Thai way of life.
Read More before you invest! More after the jump…
Living in Thailand can be a great adventure. As you open yourself up to experience another completely different culture for the first time, your senses might feel a bit overwhelmed by all of the new sights, sounds and tastes.
If anything, Thailand is unique. There is no place like it anywhere else on earth, and even within the beautiful country, places and things come at a great contrast.
Thailand tends to be a deeply conservative Buddhist nation. But… Continue reading
The country stands divided on their opinion of the former political leader. Many feel like Thaksin is not respectful to his Majesty the King.
Mr Thaksin lives in exile in Dubai but has multiple passports issued by Montenegro and Nicaragua.
The former PM was overthrown and ousted in a 2006 coup while he was out of the country, where his passport was then revoked. He was accused him of encouraging protests by his supporters in 2009.
He was later prosecuted for abuse of power and sentenced to jail, but he fled the country before the end of the trial and never spent a day in jail.
Parties linked to him won the most votes in numerous elections that have taken place since the coup.
Thaksin has many enemies among the military and conservative establishment, who accuse Thaksin of corruption, terrorism and disloyalty to the monarchy. They also accuse him of being more concerned with money and the economy than the Thai people.
Many “red shirts” accuse his rivals of plotting to overthrow him and that the pressured courts were forced to convict him.
Rumours have circulated that he could be on the way back to Thailand ever since the current government – led by his sister Yingluck – was elected in a landslide earlier this year.
“We are checking more details but it will be very soon. It will be a normal Thai passport. Let us make a normal passport first. It doesn’t have to be a diplomat passport.”
Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the new Thai passport could be returned soon, “To be fair we are reviewing the laws and we found that the action is possible … it could be a New Year’s present.”
Thaksin, brother of current Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was stripped of his ordinary passport during Abhisit Vejjajiva government after fleeing a conviction of two years in prison for corruption and abuse of power.
Surapong is confident that the move will not be opposed by any group, adding that giving the ex premier a passport would be in accordance with the law.
“Issuing a passport is under the jurisdiction of the ministry and within the power of the foreign minister,” and therefore, he is able to “use {his} authority and proceed legally under the regulations of the ministry to issue a new passport to ex-premier Thaksin,” Foreign Minister Surapong said.
{Ed. Maybe Yingluck and the Thai Gov. might do better to worry about restoring the country to normal after the flooding, rather than speedily grant her brother a passport. I am not a yellow or a red shirt, I am a ‘pink’ shirt – Long live the King.}
Thailand has been flooding very badly lately (in case you haven’t heard, which obviously you have) and parts of Bangkok has been completely flooded in the countries worst floods since 1942. Most of the inner area and financial district were spared, however the agricultural and many of hte lower lying areas were flooded for weeks.
Many people have criticized the Thai Prime Minister – Yingluck Shinawatra, for for her lack of response to the flood. Natural disasters cannot be prevented, but how a government reacts is completely thier own doing.
In a time of great pressure and disaster, a countries leader needs to step up with immediate response that must be swift and direct. There must be no hesitation.
Yingluck now looks to repair the country with a 26 Billion dollar plan. She said in a phone interview that
“It’s just like a kid who starts walking and a strong wind blows. You might stumble, but then you need to get up and start walking again.”
Yingluck is not the only leader to have responded poorly to a flood situation, as any American might be able to remember the Katrina Hurricane disaster and former president George Bush’s responce (or lack thereof).
At least not everyone in Bangkok is bummed out about the flood, as the famous Kickboxer Buakaw Por Pramuk is living in Thailand and still training, despite the floods.
If you want to live in Thailand, there might be some floods from time to time, but surely the chance to live in Thailand would make up for the slight chance of natural disaster.