The Bangkok Podcast | Expat Life In Thailand Via Expats From Canada & America

A listener suggestion drives this show as we talk about which smartphone apps we use to make living in Bangkok that much easier, on this extra-long episode of the Bangkok Podcast. Oh, and Evo is terrible at his job. But he’s getting better, and it makes for a funny story. We launched our Patreon page last week, and it’s working! People are supporting us! Not a huge number, but some. Which means you love it. Wanna help? We’d love it. We even recorded cool video for you. Actually, we had to re-record that video, as you’ll hear later. But enough about us begging for money (but seriously, a buck or two each month goes a long way) and let’s get on with the show proper, shall we? The topic of this week's episode was sent to us by listener Amy. She asked: "What apps do you use that are especially useful as expats in BKK? I'm visiting for the first time in 9 years (!!) next month and I know the city is going to be VERY different than when I lived there. Anything I can use to make it easier?" We thought it best to bre

Now that we’re both legally licensed drivers in Thailand, we take a little extra time to tell you about the process we went through… and why not one bit of it actually prepared us for driving in Bangkok. Plus we'll share a new way you can show your support for our show. Because you love us! Before we get to driving in Thailand -- legally or otherwise -- we should talk about Patreon, a new way to let you, dear listener, help fund our efforts. If you're a fan of the show and want to show your appreciation, just go to Patreon.com/BangkokPodcast to make it happen. For just a buck a month (that’s only ฿34), you help us out and get some cool stuff in return. Check it out. We’ll love you forever! As a frequent listener of the Bangkok Podcast, you already know that Thailand is the second most dangerous country in the world to drive in - right behind Libya! - but despite that, both of us are licensed to drive. Evo just got his motorbike license last week, and Greg has had his automobile license for about a decade now

A Bangkok city planner helps bring some clarity to the ongoing (and confusing) development of Bangkok. But first, a very magical (and very Thai) cure for terrorism. All of that and more on this episode of the Bangkok Podcast. Remember the news from a few weeks ago when two journalists were arrested in Bangkok’s airport because they were carrying body armor? While the the arrest captured everyone’s attention, it’s not the funniest part of the story. Greg happens to be friends with one of the journalists in question, and he related an unbelievable (unless you like in Thailand) alternate body armor solution offered by the Royal Thai Police. Ah, Thailand. But that’s not what we’re talking about today. Bangkok is a growing city. To the untrained eye (that’s us) a lot of it looks like disorganized chaos, unrepentant disregard for historical properties, and unchecked sprawl -- vertically and horizontally. To get a better perspective, we invited Tao Rugkhapan to help us out. He’s a lecturer at the School of Global S

Live from Bangkok’s Chinatown, it's Sunday night! Well, at least it was when we grabbed our mics, left the cozy comforts of our condos and recorded a live episode of the show from the streets of Chinatown to get to the bottom of this reported "War" on Bangkok's street food. We'll tell you what we discovered on episode 2.35 of the Bangkok Podcast. For the better part of the year, news reports, blogs, and pundits the world over have been raising the warning flags of an active war on Bangkok’s street food scene. Whether highlighting the plight of the vendors who rely on the revenue to survive, lamenting the loss of an inexpensive source of food for the working class, or pointing out the irony of Bangkok’s reputation as a top street food destination; all of the reports have a common thread: Street food in Bangkok is doomed. But is it really? To find out, we visited Yaoworat Road in Chinatown, visiting one of Greg’s favorite noodle shops (incongruously positioned inside an opera house/second-run cinema/gay pickup

One of Thailand's most persistent pests - the beautiful but invasive water hyacinth - is once again clogging Bangkok’s waterways. And while Evo didn't die on a motorbike just yet, a friend of his is in the hospital after his scooter accident. Maybe he’s rethinking his chosen mode of transport? Motorbike accidents happen. Though this is Thailand, and Thailand holds the ignominious title of deadliest place to ride a motorbike. Last week the inevitable happened to a fellow expat here in Bangkok, though thankfully on a low-speed collision. Will it impact Evo’s decision to ride? You’ll have to listen to find out. But really, that’s not what we’re here to talk about. The Chao Phraya these days is a little more green than usual. Which sounds good, until you realize the green is from huge, floating islands of plant matter. It happens every year, and we’ve always wondered what it is. Evo took it upon himself to dig deep and has learned a few things about phak tob java, or water hyacinth as it’s commonly known, or Eich

On this episode we get into one of Thailand's most contentious topics - double pricing. But first we talk about selfies in a ball pit and a hidden hipster hangout. Just down the road for us on our side of the river is a hidden hipster hideout in Bangkok called called The Jam Factory. And by “hidden”, we mean new to Evo. Because it’s pretty well known by everyone other than him. Also Greg visits Central Embassy and attempts to lose his child in a giant plastic bubble bath filled with selfie takers. But as interesting as both of those topics sound, neither are what we’re talking about today. Let’s just get this out of the way: We think double pricing sucks. Thailand is notorious for pricing things like museums, national parks, landmarks, and other civic works differently depending on where a visitor was born. Foreigners -- we stand out a bit -- pay an inflated price, where Thai nationals pay much, much less. Sometimes Thai nationals pay nothing at all. As representatives of the foreigners overcharged, we don’t

This week we talk to an expert on medical tourism to get the inside scoop on what makes Bangkok a key medical tourism destination. And we share an anecdote that proves even the 2nd largest city in SE Asia is really just a small town on the crossroads of life. What’s it like to return to Bangkok 30 years later after growing up here as an expat kid? And what are the odds that one obscure blog post on how to get a Chinese visa in Bangkok would lead to rekindling a friendship while overlooking the Chao Phraya river? Only in Bangkok. But that’s not what we’re talking about today. Instead, we’re trying to answer this question: What, exactly, makes Bangkok such a hotbed for medical tourism? Neither Evo nor Greg are experts, so we pulled in Kevin McGaffey from renuval to get to the heart of the matter. Kevin’s technology company helps people find the best medical services and best medical service providers here in Thailand. Here are a few of the questions he answers on this episode of our show: What’s different abo

This week we talk with Bangkok-based Buddhist monk Phra Pandit about abortions, birth control, and how Buddhism defines evil. And you'll likely think Evo an idiot for his dangerous flirtation with Thailand's terrible traffic fatalities statistics, but what's a farang to do? All of that and more on this episode of the Bangkok Podcast. Evo’s decided to rent a motorbike for the next month. Let’s hope he doesn’t get killed as he foregoes safety for convenience. Favorite quote: It’s like having a cheat code to Bangkok’s traffic. But that’s not what we’re talking about today. Instead, we’re chatting with one of our favorite repeat guests, Phra Pandit. The topic? Abortions, birth control, and how Thai Buddhism defines evil. All of this started when we learned that Planned Parenthood has moved its Asia-Pacific headquarters to Bangkok. Which, given what we know about Buddhism and things like birth control or abortion, there’s a conflict. Or maybe we don’t really know what we think we know. To find out, we brought bac

On this episode of the Bangkok Podcast we talk about one of the negative aspects of Bangkok, the immortal, ever-present tourist scam. But before we get there, we'll have a brief discussion of feet. Yeah... feet. Pick up any piece of tourist literature and you’ll note warnings of “tourist scams” running rampant in Bangkok. But are they as bad or prevalent as they’re made out to be? Back when Greg was a new expat in Thailand, he played the part of an investigative journalist, purposely attracting the attention o a “tuk tuk scammer” just to document the experience. In fact, here's the story. And he’s still with us, so how bad can they be, right? Severity aside, these damned tourist scams just won’t die. Hopefully you’ll be better educated against them after listening to this episode. We go into detail on the tuk-tuk scam (no, the Palace isn’t closed today), the ping pong scam (no, you don’t want to see it), the official-who-isn’t-really-an-official scam (no, not all badges are real), and the birdseed scam. Yes,

From hitmen to red tape and homemade guns to the black market, we bring in a local expert to help us navigate the murky waters of the past and present realities of gun ownership in Thailand. We know you want us to weigh in on the issue of Bangkok’s impending street food ban, but not today. We need to let things settle down before we offer up our opinion on the matter. Instead, we’re going with the safe topic of the right to keep and bear arms -- guns in Thailand. Though the two of us -- Canadian and American -- grew up with firearms, we aren’t familiar at all with the reality of the gun culture of Thailand. Khun A, however, has a considered opinion and is is our guest today. He’s a Thai national and avid gun aficionado, owning several weapons and is a member of the IDPA. We wanted to really understand Thai gun culture from a Thai point of view, and he’s the expert we needed to chat with. Just how big is the Thai gun culture? Well, Thais may not be a gun crazy as 2nd amendment-loving Americans, but it certain

You may have seen them on the streets of Bangkok, Singapore, or Hanoi. Many play instruments, juggle, or sell postcards. Some simply stand there with a hat and a sign asking for pity. We're talking, of course, about the round-the-world adventurer looking for a handout. Should these begging vagabonds take a hike, or do they deserve some leeway to, er, find their way? We also talk about staying dry (or attempting to) during Songkran, and Greg's foot fetish (in that he'd really like to be able to find shoes to fit his giant feet). The story has been tearing up the newspapers and internets lately - the foreign backpacker. Usually white, European/North American, usually with scraggly bears, matted hair, and doing their best to trade a skill for a bit o' spare change, their presence inspires anger and pity in equal amounts. But they are nothing new. Indeed, as far back as 10 years ago, Greg remembers seeing the first 'famous' farang backpacker as he sat there with a sign begging for help to buy his plane ticket bac

On this episode of the Bangkok Podcast we talk about traffic in Bangkok - specifically the “Seven Deadly Days” of Songkran - and Thailand's awful road safety statistics. We also talk about what men do when their wives are away... or won't go away. Don't worry... it's not as bad as it sounds. Songkran is upon us, a week-long celebration of Thailand’s new year. What will we be doing during Songkran? Staying off the roads, because it’s also known as the Seven Deadly Days, when road traffic shoots up to three times the normal rate. Yes, that’s likely a contributing factor to Thailand’s hold on the #2 spot in global traffic fatalities per 100,000 people. In an effort to get those crazy numbers under control, Thailand’s military junta announced sweeping changes to vehicle motor code. Effective immediately, police would be issuing fines anyone in any vehicle not wearing a seatbelt, and anyone riding in the back of a pickup truck. And then the very next day -- not surprisingly -- they softened their enforcement langu

On this episode of the Bangkok Podcast we talk languages with Frank Smith. He speaks Thai, Khmer, and Lao, and teaches Khmer at UC Berkeley in California. Add to that a quick conversation on the pros and cons of raising a kid in Thailand, and we’ve got the makings of another great episode of the Bangkok Podcast. We start the show with an easy question: Is Bangkok the kind of place you want to raise a kid? Greg is facing the reality of doing so right now, and Evo has sage advice from someone who decided not to raise a kid in different City of Angels some 20 years ago. Everyone loves a good mystery. And everyone loves a good origin story. But when it comes to the people who live in Cambodia, Thailand’s neighbor to the east, the origin story of their language -- Khmer -- is a complete mystery. Oh, and it’s even harder to learn than Thai. Go figure. Our guest this week is Frank Smith, a language professor at the University of California Berkeley. Frank’s students are often of Cambodian descent, having been raised

On this episode, we discuss the little things we love about Bangkok, as well as the little things we miss about where we're from. Plus Evo’s recent trip to Siem Reap and the concept of farang “embarassadors”. Evo spent a week in Siem Reap and completely loved it. Greg agrees that it’s likely the most amazing destination in SE Asia -- possibly the world -- for those interested in archaeology. Color us impressed, ancient Khmer people! The main topic of the show: It’s the little things. No, not a Royale with Cheese, but the little things we miss about where we’re from, now that we live in The Land Of Smiles that is Thailand. Not to spoil everything from the episode completely, but here’s the list of things we miss: Clothes dryers Psychological weather cues Easy access to drugs Easy access to my money But the reverse is true, and there are little things about living in Bangkok that we’re going to miss should we ever leave The Big Mango. Again, you’ll have to listen for the full details why we’re really liking:

What do pro Western teachers think about teaching in Thailand? And are we seeing the end of Uber in Bangkok? And if so, will canal taxis pick up the slack? All that and more on this episode of The Bangkok Podcast Taxis in Bangkok would probably make for a good Love, Loathe, or Leave segment, but recent moves by Thailand to restrict popular “ridesharing” services make it worthy of our opening banter. After that, Greg has a chat with Sheila Dee a Western-trained, professional educator working in Thailand. There are lots of Westerners acting as English teachers in Thailand. Greg used to be one of them. But Sheila’s a bit different, holding a Bachelor's degree in elementary education and a Master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. In the Thai private school where she teaches, five subjects -- English, Math, Science, Physical Education, and Computers -- are taught by native English teachers. Social studies and Thai (as in the language) are taught in Thai, and her students also study Chinese (actually in Chine

You may or may not have heard about the Sak Yant tattoo festival before, but after hearing this episode of the Bangkok Podcast, you sure as darn heck won't be able to forget about it. For years travelers have been entertained by tales of screaming men rushing the stage, possessed by the spirits of the tattoos that cover their bodies in sheets of intricate sub-dermal ink. But it's not merely an odd tourist attraction - the men who have them, the monks who give them, and the shamans who 'recharge' them all hold the tattoos - and the power they say they represent - in the highest regard. With an origin story that involves a Burmese invasion, sinking boats, lost Buddha images, and man-eating tigers, it sounds like something from a novel by Graham Greene or Joseph Conrad, but it's all - very probably - true. Evo and his lovely wife Sheila headed up to Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom - about 50km west of Bangkok - to check out the festivities and boy did they get the goods. Hanging out with devotees on Friday evenin

When you look at Bangkok on a map, you see this enigmatic little patch of green just off center. It’s not a trick. It really exists. Historically, few people fought the traffic to get here. But that’s changing, and modern encroachment on the green lungs of Bangkok is threatening this not-quite-hidden gem of Bangkok. Life in Thailand is hot. Welcome to the tropics! But this year seems to have gotten hotter earlier. Or maybe we’re just getting old and are fixating on the weather. Of more importance to this issue is a lovely place in Bangkok to visit that allows some respite from the heat. That place is Prapadaeng -- also called Bang Krachao -- Bangkok’s “green lung”. We mentioned it briefly on a previous episode, promising to return to the topic with a much more in depth discussion. To give the topic the proper consideration, Greg invites his friend Paul to talk about this hidden-in-plain-sight key area of Bangkok that is, saddly, in danger of losing it’s luster. Because development. Today on the show we speak

While Thailand is a great place to experience the natural beauty of the tropics, Bangkok is a giant metro area and not all that appealing to nature lovers with a short time to visit. Or is it? That’s the topic of this episode of The Bangkok Podcast. Evo’s still sick, but he’s on the mend thanks to a doctor. Because as you’ll recall from an episode just a few weeks ago, antibiotics are available over the counter here. But you know what isn’t? A diagnoses of illness from a qualified physician. Luckily there is no shortage of great doctors in Bangkok. And they are quite cheap. Some people are just stubborn. Ahem. And did you see the article that claimed Thailand has the worst traffic in the world? We do a little debunking on that before we get to the heart of the matter. Finding nature in the confines of Bangkok’s concrete jungle. What, exactly, should a nature lover visiting Bangkok do if they only have a few short days? That’s the question Evo’s friend and Finland-based travel blogger Lottie put to us. No, sh

Like everywhere, craft beer is exploding in Bangkok. But there are some subtle nuances that cause beer lovers to scratch their heads. Why is it so expensive? What’s up with “illegal” beer? And where can I get more? We’ll answer that and more on this episode of The Bangkok Podcast. After a brief and elusive discussion of the infamous Thailand beach town Pattaya, we jump into the heart of the conversation: Beer in Thailand. Specifically, craft beer in Thailand. To make sure we cover things in an appropriate (read: true) way, we invited Brian Bartusch -- co-founder of Bangkok’s largest craft beer importer, Beervana -- on to the show to answer some key questions Evo -- our resident beer nerd -- had about the state of craft beer in Thailand. Together with a few other entrepreneurial importers, Beervana makes it easy for the visiting craft beer fan to not be forced to drink the standard Thai beers. Not that we’re dissing the local beers. But craft beer fans are going to find Chang, Leo, Singha, and locally-produced

To learn to speak Thai or not learn to speak Thai. That is the question. No, literally. It’s the question we’re asking each other on behalf of all people who come to live in Thailand. As you'll hear, we have a difference of opinion. So yeah, we’re the #1 travel podcast in Thailand. That’s kinda cool. But it’s not what we’re talking about today… (but thanks for subscribing!) We ask ourselves a simple question on this week’s show: If you’re going to “live” in Thailand, do you need to learn Thai? Not surprisingly, we have differing opinions on the matter. Greg, the 16 year expat, staunchly feels anyone wishing to live in Thailand needs to learn the language. Evo, not surprisingly, takes the opposite view. Then again, he only has a year under his belt, so take his opinion with a shot of nam pla. Some arguments for include the ability to keep yourself out of trouble by knowing what warning signs say, having a deeper understanding of Thai culture, and generally paying homage to the fact that you’re living in a coun