OldSiam

Bangkok has been well-known to have an excellent set of healthcare providers with world-class hospitals, US and European trained physicians, and nursing professionals who are the envy of international healthcare providers. Having certain medical procedures performed in Bangkok can save you 60-80% – after factoring in travel and lodging expenses! With any medical procedure safety and quality should both weigh heavier than cost. Before deciding to have any surgery, do your research. BangkokHospitals.com provides a comprehensive starting point, but can not answer all the answers unique to each prospective patient’s situation. For each procedure you will need to weigh benefits versus risks. You will need to research both the physician and clinic/hospital before making a final decision. For the provider, make sure they are board certified in their specialty in the country in which you are having the procedure performed. Keep in mind that some country’s certification laws may be less stringent than those in the United States or Europe and you may want a surgeon with a western or international certification. Ideally would want to find a surgeon who certified in the United States using the American Board of Medical Specialties website. A great resource for patients seeking cosmetic procedures abroad is the International Society of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery their website can provide information on internationally certified surgeons and other useful information. Lastly, ask to speak with former patients, ask to speak to several people having undergone the same procedure, with the same physician at the same clinic or hospital. Why seek medical care abroad in Bangkok? The reasons why people travel to Bangkok for medical care is as diverse as the people themselves. However, there are three reasons that seem to come up more frequently than others: (1) Great quality medical care in may be accessible at a substantially lower cost outside of ones country of residence. The cost of many types of medical care has skyrocketed in some areas of the world, in particular in the United States and in some countries in Europe. Residents of these countries can potentially pay 50-90% less for the same procedures or treatments in Bangkok. Best of all, the care available in these hospitals can be comparable or even better than the care available at hospitals and clinics in the United States and Europe. All this while travel has gotten cheaper and faster. (2) As with any other product or service there are hospitals and doctors that have a reputation for being in a class by themselves. This has for a long time led people to travel, sometimes very long distances, to seek out the best of the best to treat anything from a life threatening condition to have minor cosmetic procedures performed. (3) The advance of technology continuously leads to the discovery of new or improved methods for treating disease or performing medical procedures. For reasons ranging from a new treatment option not yet having gained government approval to the availability of resources such as specialists and equipment people sometimes miss out on treatment options that could have offered them a better outcome if not looking outside of ones local hospital. A broad spectrum of people choose to receive medical care abroad. The procedures chosen obviously vary. For segments of the population with comprehensive medical insurance cosmetic procedures are often chosen, both because these procedures are not covered by insurance and because a short vacation in conjunction with these types of procedures allow for some necessary recovery time before returning to normal life. Most common places for these procedures: Asia, Eastern Europe and Spain. Also, laser eye surgery (Canada) and dental work (Eastern Europe), both not covered by insurance are popular reasons for this segment to go abroad. For people without health insurance there are significant amounts of money to be saved on virtually any procedure. For both segments, access to procedures and treatments not accessible, or widely accessible, in their home country can be a motivating factor for going abroad for treatment. E.g. treatment options desperately needed by patients in the United States are delayed because many medical equipment and drug manufacturers bring state of the art technology to Europe years before introducing it in the U.S. because of the, sometime, excessive bureaucracy with bringing medical technology to market here.

As an expat living and working in Thailand, you will undoubtedly meet many people and begin to cultivate friendships. These friendships will be with other expats and local Thai people. It is always better to make these friendships as quickly as possible because it enriches the total experience of living here. Here are some tips for making friends and networking in Thailand that will definitely be of help to you. Learn the Thai Language Yes, you can get by here without learning a word of Thai but it will reduce the quality of your experience greatly. While many in the cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai speak English, people love it when you try to speak Thai to them. Even if you don’t say it quite right, there is always someone who will help you. In return, they will practice their English with you. Learn to Like Thai Food You will find any get-together with Thai people will center on food. Thai people love to eat and it is not uncommon for them to gather around a big table with many different Thai dishes. You can be certain that they will offer a taste of every one to you the westerner. First, they are offering you their best and they are also a little interested to see how you can handle the spiciness. Laugh at Yourself Thai people love to laugh and have fun and they rarely take themselves seriously so you should not either. Sometimes, as a “farang” (Thai slang for “foreigner”), you might be the source of their jokes but they mean nothing by them. Westerners typically have larger builds than Thai people and you will find that Thais like to poke a little fun at a person’s large size. The best thing to do is to play right along with them and make jokes about it too. They will feel comfortable around you and you will enjoy your stay here much better. Speak First If you are waiting for the majority of Thai people to speak to you first, you will be waiting a long time. Mainstream Thais are generally shy. Many of them are afraid to speak to westerners for fear that their English skill may not be acceptable. So, it’s up to you to speak to them first wherever the day takes you. This is especially important if there are a lot of Thais at the place where you work. Keep an Open Mind In a major city such as Bangkok, the traffic is terrible most days. Even the mass transportation systems are crowded and must deal with the traffic (such as buses and taxis). For this reason, you will find that many appointments and meetings in Thailand get started a little late. You will find that most of the time it is due to no fault of their own--it’s the traffic. Westerners tend to get up-tight about lateness but it is best to have an open mind and let it ride. Be Easy-going Try to never display outbursts of anger or frustration in Thailand because they will get you nowhere and only alienate you from other locals. You will find in Thailand a "mai pen rai" attitude in general. This Thai expression means, "it is of no importance" and the culture embraces it as one of its rules for living a happy life. You will find that you will also go a long way in making friends when you try to live by this as well. Go When Invited This is an important tip no matter what country that you live in. Thai people like to have many social gatherings and they especially love to get together for birthdays. When invited, make every effort to go and they will invite you to the next one. Stay Connected with Other Expats No matter how many Thai friends you have, there will be times when you want to get together with others who share your culture and language. It is only natural. Not only this, but there are things that expats go through that no Thai person can understand. For example, Thais don’t generally know the details of immigration rules. However, when one expat learns something about an immigration rule, he is well-suited to share it with his expat friends. It is a mistake for the expat living in Thailand to live as if he were on his own island. There are so many fun times to be had when sharing them with a network of friends. Follow these tips and start building close friendships right away.

Thailand - The Land of Smiles is a great place to visit but expats will tell you that moving to Thailand and living here are entirely different matters. However, it is still a great place to live if you listen to sound advice. If you work for a company that is assigning you to Thailand then your decision has been made for you. Then again, you might be deciding to move here for new opportunities or to retire. There are some things you should consider when making your decision to move here and expats in Thailand are the ones to consult with. Here is some of their advice. Making the Decision If you have children, Thailand might be a little tough for them to adapt to at first. You will find that after moving to Thailand that there are not many amusement parks, theme parks, and other entertainment venues geared towards foreign children. Thus, they will find that when they do go to certain entertainment venues for children that there will not be much English spoken. However, if you maintain a positive attitude and encourage your children to enjoy nature then they will probably love it here. Having them enrolled in a good international school where the other kids speak English is very important as well. Also keep in mind that if you are moving to Thailand for new job opportunities, you are liable to be disappointed. This is not an issue for those coming here to retire or being reassigned by their employer. For those coming here to find a job, there is not much available to a foreigner besides teaching. So, if teaching is not your thing, you had better make sure that you have income sources such as freelancing over the internet or a cash reserve that you can tap into for awhile. In any case, make sure you have employment or sufficient living funds secured before you arrive here. Then there is the issue of political stability in Thailand. Despite what you see on the news in the western world, Thailand is a relatively stable politically. However, there are still ongoing disputes between the Yellow Shirts and Red Shirts. While these disputes have been peaceful in the last couple of years, they are a potential powder keg nonetheless. For the most part though, expats in Thailand are rarely the target of any political violence here. Your friends back in the western world may try to kill your spirit when you express your desire to move yourself and your family to Thailand. One of the ways they will do it is by pointing out the seedy side of cities such as Bangkok and Pattaya. True, Thailand is known for its sex trade but these places are in isolated parts of the city and a person could live here for decades and never be exposed to them. Visa Requirements for Living in Thailand Once you have made the decision for moving to Thailand, you will need to get your passport in order and get a visa. If you are moving as part of your company's reassignment, you will probably get a Class B visa prior to departure. This is known as a work permit visa in Thailand. For all other situations, the best thing to do is get a multiple-entry Class O non-immigrant visa from the consular section of the Thai embassy in your home country. This type of visa is the most expensive but it gives you the least hassle while trying to settle into Thailand the first year. The only thing you must do is make a border run to a neighboring country every 90 days, exit, and reenter Thailand. The most popular border run done by expatriates in Bangkok is to make a day trip to Cambodia. The multiple-entry O visa can also be converted to an education visa (ED) or retirement visa (O) when it is about to expire and can be done at Thai immigration without leaving the country. In order to convert your multiple O to an ED visa, your child must be enrolled in a Thai international school or you must be in an approved language course for the purpose of studying Thai. And, in order to convert to a retirement visa, you must have at least 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account for 90 days. Packing your goods Choose an overseas freight company for sending your household goods when moving to Thailand. The question is what do you ship? You will want to only ship your personal effects such as books and clothing. Shipping furniture or appliances is not recommended and really not necessary because most apartments are already furnished. Keep in mind that you may be charged custom duties when your goods arrive in Thailand and the transit takes about 30 days depending on the origination point. Also keep in mind before shipping any appliances such as a television that Thailand runs on 220 VAC. This is important for those from the U.S. where electrical appliances run on 110 VAC. Shipping is rather expensive so try to ship only what you really cannot do without such as keepsakes. When You Arrive in Thailand When you get here, you will no doubt want to find an apartment and get your children enrolled in school. You will also want to get settled in, learn your way around, find employment if you have not done so already. There is plenty to take care of when moving to Thailand but you will find it to go rather smoothly in the long run.

Word to your mother, this week’s blog is all about top tips for things to do with tots, toddlers, kids and teens in Bangkok. Moving house is exciting and wonderful but also incredibly stressful; moving your home to a whole other city, in a completely different country amplifies those things infinitely. In much the same way, being a parent is one of the greatest joys on earth, but we know it’s also very VERY hard work. So, to show our appreciation, and in the hope we can make things a bit easier for the supermums and dads out there, we’ve tracked down some of the best activities, outings, classes and clubs in Bangkok. Outings At first glance it can seem like Bangkok is a playground better equipped for grown ups, but that’s not to say there aren’t lots of great activities for youngsters too. Your little princess Elsa or Jack the lad Frost will feel right at home frolicking around Snow Town on the top floor of Gateway mall in Ekamai. There’s real snow falling from the roof and crunching underfoot; you can learn the basics of skiing, do some arts and crafts and take part in some mass snowball fights. There’s nothing like the great outdoors for inspiring some quality family time (and tiring out tenacious tots). Bangkok’s parks make for a great day out with lots of fun things to do including going on a nature trail in search of the giant monitor lizards at Lumphini park, clambering on the climbing frames at Benjasiri and sailing on the boating lake at Chatuchak. Plunge properly into nature with a day out at Bang Krachao, known as Bangkok’s Green Lung. Take a boat from Klontoey pier, hire some bikes and spend the day exploring the suspended walkways in this massive expanse of unspoilt forest, right in the city. Older kids developing a keen appreciation for some good grub might enjoy a food tour and A Taste of Thailand is one of the best in town. Fun, informal and kid-friendly, it includes tastes of traditional Thai dishes and drinks all over the Bangrak area and they also throw in some fascinating history and culture, not to mention a discount for kids under 13. Classes Whatever their talent, skill or interest, Bangkok is sure to have something to keep your bright spark occupied. The Paron School of Art offers a range of fun, engaging classes in various visual art disciplines for a wide age range. From sketching and painting to photography and sculpture, your kids can get messy, develop their artistic skills and build confidence and creativity. Meanwhile, at the Kids Robotics Learning Center, youngsters can explore science, technology, engineering and maths in fun, hands-on classes, in which they build, program, and test robots. For more active kids who need physical activities, check out the ninja kids classes at Asia Parkour, where they can build strength, agility and coordination as well as social skills, teamwork and physical and mental confidence. Communities Being a parent is fraught with questions, trials and tribulations. Sometimes you need answers or recommendations, sometimes you just need someone to talk to, who’s going through the same thing. It’s so important to build a network and be part of a parenting community wherever you live. Bangkok has some great online resources and platforms for chat and discussion. Some of the most engaging Facebook groups are Expat Moms in Bangkok, The Mummy Club Bangkok and BKK Kids. Join up and have a good chin wag.

When we think about living in Bangkok, it’s easy to get caught up in the misconception that the city that never sleeps is all about booze and partying. Nothing could be further from the truth. Bangkok is a cosmopolitan city that skillfully merges business, tourism, and luxury lifestyles. And if you are an affluent family looking for condos in and around the Sukhumvit area, there are way more options than you would naturally assume. Did you know there are some of the best international schools in Bangkok that you will find in any major Asian city? These are things that are seldom discussed when reading Bangkok travel guides. Get all the family around the campfire and let’s find out what makes Bangkok, and especially along Sukhumvit, a major family-friendly residential location. What is a Family-Friendly Condo Development at Sukhumvit, Bangkok? Family-friendly condos in the Sukhumvit area are not just those that accept families with kids. All residential condo complexes accept kids, but some are more suited to families than others. For example, Bangkok condo developments near major parks such as Lumpini or near international schools and hospitals are the ideal options. Or developments that have kid’s club facilities, gardens, swimming pools, or onsite amenities that have families in mind. If you have kids and you live in a major city, you know exactly what I am talking about. You can’t keep children cooped up all day like racing pigeons, especially not younger kids. Here are the best family-friendly condo developments on Sukhumvit Road in Central Bangkok. While searching for a condo in Bangkok for your family, you likely find yourself searching for a family friendly condominium that provides a healthy and safe environment while also being within a reasonable distance from either an international hospital or an international school. One of the most popular family friendly condominiums that we often recommend to expat families in Bangkok is the iconic Millennium Residence which is easily accessible via Sukhumvit 16, 18 and 20. The Millennium residence is bustling with expat families where the children enjoy playing together in the large swimming pool and playing tennis or other sports on within the compounds secure grounds.

Many expat families coming to live and work in Thailand will have children of all ages. Children in general love Thailand. The warm weather, year-round swimming, fruit, animals, colorful taxis, and beautiful parks capture their excitement. However, there is always the possibility that older children may begin to miss their homeland and the sparkle in their eyes diminishes. Here are some tips for raising expat kids in Thailand so that you can keep their spirits high during their stay. Different Situations Raising kids in Thailand depends on the situation. There are expat families who, because of a job, move to Thailand with their kids who were born in a western country. Expats don’t just come from western countries either. There are many expat Korean, Japanese, Indian, Filipino, and Chinese families here as well. For these families, the children, depending on their ages, may or may not miss things back in their homeland. For expat families who come from non-English speaking countries, one of the challenges for younger children will be educating them in their native language as well as English so that they can attend an international school in Thailand. For example, many Korean families live in Bangkok because of the husband's employer. At some time in the future, these families will return to Korea and their children will need to be able to assimilate back into their native culture. Typically, what you will see are Korean mother’s teaching their young children how to read and write the Korean language. Focus on the Positive One way of keeping kids happy in Thailand is to always point out the good things about living here. While this may be obvious, it’s easy to forget when something is not done the way it would be back home. For small children, memories of their home country are vague so adapting to Thailand is relatively easy. For older children, the opposite is sometimes true. It takes a little creativity to find the good things about living here and convincing your child of such. For instance, your child might miss his favorite cereal which cannot be found in the local grocery stores. You may have to spend a little more and go to a grocery store that specializes in imported goods such as the Villa Market. Learning New Things One thing you will notice about Thailand is that children are learning something all of the time. You can see this on a typical Saturday or Sunday afternoon in a McDonald's restaurant filled with tutors and children getting extra help on homework or Thai children learning English. Shopping malls are filled with schools that teach cooking, web design, art, piano, singing, and an array of other extracurricular skills. Try to encourage your child to learn something new and it will build his self-esteem, provide opportunities to make new friends, and occupy free time. Keeping Tradition Depending on how long you live in Thailand, the day might come when your child graduates from high school and will be going off to college. More than likely, he will return to his homeland for his higher education. By keeping the traditions of your native country, your child will fit right back in to his native culture. This means you should recognize the holidays of your home country even if they are not recognized in Thailand. For example, Thanksgiving is an American holiday but not mentioned much at all in Thailand. So, if you are an American expat family, you will do well by following the tradition of the Thanksgiving meal. International Schools International schools are really the best for expat children in Thailand. This is simply because your children will be able to speak English and make friends with others who speak the same. Most of the teachers come from western lands or other countries where mastery of English is typical. In international schools, your child will retain his or her identity with his native country. What You are Giving Your Children What may not be obvious now will someday be a reality for your children who had the privilege of living in a foreign land. This will be especially true if you have children of high school age. As mentioned before, your kids graduating from high school in Thailand will more than likely return to their homeland to attend college. When they return to their homeland, they will make new friends who will be fascinated with your child’s history of living abroad. This is especially true with Thailand which has been a young backpacker’s paradise for decades.

Healthcare in Thailand means some of the most modern and affordable healthcare in the world. This is why the country promotes medical tourism, offering the opportunity to get treatment for an ailment and recover where the climate is warm year round. For the expatriate living and working in Thailand, medical tourism is not the focus however getting the best care at a reasonable price is. Healthcare a Priority for the Expat It is easy for a healthy expat to ignore the importance of getting all of the facts when it comes to expat healthcare in Thailand. Why? It is mostly because living in the Land of Smiles is so enjoyable that a normally healthy person never thinks about getting injured or sick. However, the expat needs to make it a priority to get healthcare covered because anything could happen after living here for an extended period. There are common injuries and ailments in this land. The most common is probably falling off of the back of a motorbike taxi. Many expats avoid the motorbike taxis when first arriving in Thailand but the convenience of this mode of transportation is alluring and most end up depending on these two-wheeled modern day horses. Another ailment that typically victimizes those who first come to Thailand is food poisoning. Even those who have lived in Thailand for some time can fall victim to the occasional bout of diarrhea, fever, and chills after eating food that may have a touch of the wrong bacteria. The risk of minor food poisoning is always here because of the hot, humid weather and sometimes food is on display without proper refrigeration. These are just a couple of examples of special risks to one’s health in Thailand. Also consider that you may be a retiree here and naturally you will need more treatment as you age. Hospital Choices for Expats You basically have two general choices when it comes to hospitals providing Expat healthcare in Thailand: an international hospital or Thai hospital. The most prominent international hospital in the country is in Bangkok, Bumrungrad. It is also the most expensive however more affordable than hospitals in other parts of the world such as the U.S. and U.K. The staff speaks English and there are translators for Japanese, Arabic, and other languages. Beyond Bumrungrad is a multitude of private Thai and government hospitals for you to choose from. Most expats go with the private Thai hospitals however English-speaking staff members are not as common in them. This is where the expat does well to learn Thai language while living here. However, you will find the care to be at the same high standard yet much more affordable than an international hospital. A couple of good private hospitals for expatriates in Bangkok are Theptarin and Bangkok Hospital and there are many others. Private Clinics You can also find private clinics on the street in just about any town in Thailand. These are clinics to handle simple ailments such as colds and minor injuries. Some hospitals such as Bangkok Hospital have outpatient clinics within expatriate communities such as the one at the Bangkok Gardens Apartments near Soi Narathiwas 24 and Rama III Avenue in Bangkok. Preventative Healthcare Another attractive perk of Expat healthcare in Thailand is that you can get a complete physical at a fraction of the cost that you would incur in your home country. For example, the international hospital, Bumrungrad, offers a full health check priced at 7,000 THB and 8,300 THB for males and females respectively. This equates to around £142 / £170 and $227 / $270 in U.K. and U.S. prices which would be unheard of in those parts of the world. Bumrungrad also offers different health check packages at different pricing tiers but all are reasonable. Pharmacies What is convenient about healthcare in Thailand for expats is that if you have a minor ailment, you can actually get the pharmacist at a local drug store to recommend and sell you a medication without seeing a doctor first. One common medication that is bought in Thailand without a prescription is the antibiotic. Likewise, if there are certain medications that you take regularly (such as asthma inhalers) then you can probably get them refilled by only going to the pharmacist in Thailand. You will also find that many of the pharmacists speak English. There are also companies that offer healthcare insurance for expats. Some expat employers even offer healthcare as one of the perks of working for them. However, most minor care is affordable even without insurance which will give you the opportunity to shop around for major medical insurance coverage to supplement your healthcare costs in Thailand.

You will find that the cost of living in Thailand for a family is significantly lower than the western country where you came from. This is one of the things that make it so attractive to live here. One thing about the place, you can find all sorts of food on the street or in food courts that is very easy on the wallet. Here is a summary of costs to live in Thailand for its capital city, Bangkok. You will find that the cost of living in Thailand for a family is significantly lower than the western country where you came from. This is one of the things that make it so attractive to live here. One thing about the place, you can find all sorts of food on the street or in food courts that is very easy on the wallet. Here is a summary of costs to live in Thailand for its capital city, Bangkok. Cost of Housing in Bangkok The price of housing in Bangkok, like other cities, depends on if you live in the central part of the population center or on the outskirts. For a three-bedroom apartment, you are looking at paying between 25,000 and 45,000 THB per month if living close to the center. Away from the city center you are looking at between 9,000 and 24,000 THB per month for an apartment with the same number of bedrooms. Cost of Utilities in Bangkok Utilities have a minimal impact on the cost to living in Thailand. Of course utilities are something that varies from month to month depending on how long you are home and how much you run the air conditioning. Look to pay between 1,000 and 3,000 THB each month for electricity. Water is a lot less and will run you around 200 THB per month depending on your usage. Cost of Food in Bangkok There is no shortage of food in Thailand. The cost of living in Thailand and eating well can be cheap or expensive depending on what you treat yourself to each day. Figure that if you eat in western-style restaurants and shop at grocery stores such as Villa where products are imported that your grocery bill will be significantly higher. In a local grocery store such as Tesco or Big C, you can expect to pay reasonable prices for groceries. Some example price ranges for grocery items are: Bread 30-50 THB 1 doz. Eggs 40-70 THB 1 kg chicken breast 80-140 THB 1 kg apples 60-80 THB 1 kg potatoes 30-50 THB 1 kg cheese 300-900 THB Restaurants in Bangkok As mentioned before, there is no shortage of street food vendors and food courts here. If not cooking at home, these are your best bets for finding economical food to eat. On the street, you can find such treats as barbequed pork or chicken on a stick, noodles, rice meals, coconut deserts, and sliced mangoes. Barbequed meat is priced by the stick and you can expect to pay between 5 and 10 THB per. Other stands serve noodles known as “guay teaw” and charge around 30 THB per bowl. The rice meals are stir-fried right at the outdoor venue and charge you between 40-50 THB. If eating in a Thai restaurant, it depends on where it is located and the level of service it offers. For example, in an outdoor Thai restaurant located away from the central part of the city you can expect to pay between 200 and 300 THB per person. On the other end of the spectrum, if the restaurant is located towards the central part of the city, you can expect to pay between 600 and 1000 THB per person. There are plenty of western style restaurants such as McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and KFC in Thailand. Their prices are high in comparison to Thai family and fast food restaurants and can impact your cost of living in Thailand if you frequent them often. For example, a typical McDonald’s meal of a burger, fries, and soft drink will cost you between 130 and 150 THB per person. Cost of Expat Schooling in Thailand Expat families living in Thailand usually send their children to international schools and the price varies. On the low end of the spectrum, tuition costs around 100,000 THB and can reach up to 500,000 THB annually. Expect to pay additional fees for such things as registration which can be as much as 75,000 THB. Your child’s grade also determines the price with older children having higher tuition. So, basically, you have to shop around for the best school for your child. Some expat families, who arrive here as part of a home country employer package, might get their schooling paid by their company. Cost of Transportation in Bangkok & Thailand Every time you get into a taxi, the base rate is 35 THB. Taxis are quite affordable but if you can reach your destination another way it is probably more economical. Another type of taxi is the motorcycle taxi and prices vary by distance but can be as little as 10 THB. A popular mode of transportation in Bangkok is the BTS Skytrain and MRT Subway. Fees are affordable and based on distance. For the BTS Skytrain, the maximum fee is 55 THB if going all the way to the end of the line from a remote origin. Most pay between 20 and 40 THB to get where they need to go. There are plenty of city buses, both air conditioned and without. The red buses are actually free but you may find them quite crowded. Expect to pay about 8 THB for a bus without air conditioning and 12 THB for a bus with. With a family, you might consider purchasing an automobile only because of the convenience. Sometimes on rainy roads it is quite difficult to flag down a taxi. If you buy an automobile, you can look to pay between 650,000 and 1,000,000 THB. Cost of Leisure and Entertainment in Thailand If you like movies, practically all of the new releases hit the theatres here at about the same time they do in your home country. It costs between 120 and 200 THB to see a movie depending on where the cinema is located. Gyms and fitness centers are rather expensive here. However, if you utilize them consistently, they pay big benefits in terms of health plus they have some of the finest equipment available. You can expect to pay monthly fees between 800 and 2,000 THB however many of these centers ask for annual renewals so the cash outlay could be rather significant. And, if you enjoy social drinks, the prices vary as well. If you gather in British-style pubs, you can expect to pay at least 100 THB for a small bottle of local beer such as Singha, Leo, or Heineken. Imported beers will cost about double. Your Lifestyle Determines the Cost of Living in Thailand! The cost to living in Thailand with a family in Thailand can be just as expensive as it was in your home country or it can be refreshingly affordable. It all depends on the lifestyle that you can live with. In other words, if you seek out only imported products and find entertainment in tourist venues, you will pay higher prices. Those who have learned to enjoy Thai food at local restaurants and live in predominantly Thai neighborhoods enjoy a lower cost yet comparatively higher standard of living. All the possible prices variations are impossible to list in one article. However, you will find that you can get by affordably here in Bangkok or any other city in Thailand. After you have been here for awhile, you will start to learn your way around and find the best places to keep the cost to live in Thailand for a family reasonable. Most of the people I've met that live in Thailand are retired and enjoying a higher quality of life than they ever could have enjoyed. I know a guy living on $800 USD per month in the Phuket. I know a guy living on under $600 per month here in Bangkok. Keep track of what you spend so you can see where it is going and what you are buying unnecessarily. Though your trip should be enjoyable and not crippled by obsessive budgeting. Many foreigners tell of spending so much money because Thai money is like Monopoly game money. It's multi-colored, and it doesn't really feel like spending real money as you give it away. Bargaining for some items is expected in Thailand. Anything from a market is fair game, but keep it real when trying to get an extra few baht discount. Room prices can be negotiated, especially in low season or for longer stays.

As an expat living in the Land of Smiles, you will need to consider opening a bank account in Thailand just as you would in your home country. It is generally easy to open an account here however different banks have different rules depending on the branch and employee you speak with. As an expat living in the Land of Smiles, you will need to consider opening a bank account in Thailand just as you would in your home country. It is generally easy to open an account here however different banks have different rules depending on the branch and employee you speak with. Opening a Bank account with a Work Permit. If you have a work permit, you will probably have no problem opening a bank account in Thailand. Most banks will give you one provided that you meet their minimum deposit requirements. Those who have work permits are considered residents and are here for the long term. Opening a Bank account With an Extended Stay Visa. If you are on an extended stay visa such as a non-immigrant O for marriage, support, or retirement then you should have no problem getting a bank account. Just as with a work permit, you are considered a resident here. With most extended-stay visas, you have to prove that you have sufficient funds in this country so there really is no getting away from opening a bank account in Thailand. Opening a Bank account With a Tourist Visa. Opening a bank account in Thailand with a tourist visa may or may not be possible depending on the bank. You will need more documents to do this. Why would you open an account on a tourist visa? Maybe you are on this type of visa while waiting to apply for an extended stay visa. One example would be so that you can meet the requirement to have 800,000 THB on account for 3 months prior to applying for a retirement visa. You will need to have a letter of recommendation from your embassy or other established business in Thailand. The bank may also require a recommendation letter from your bank in your home country. If you know someone in Thailand then you should get their letter of recommendation as well. Different banks have different rules but you will find that most will require some sort of recommendation in order to open an account on a tourist visa. Common Way of Paying Others in Thailand. One important reason for opening a bank account in Thailand if you are an expat is because it is a common way to make or receive payments from those whom you do business with. You will find that online payment methods such as Paypal are not quite as popular and that businesses in Thailand would rather make a deposit directly into your account in order to pay. You will also find that businesses that invoice you for large amounts will give you a deposit account number for making payment to them. International schools typically accept tuition payment via their deposit accounts. General Banking in Thailand. Thailand banking is generally like banking anywhere else in the world. You can get an ATM card with a major credit card logo for your account as well. With a savings account and no ATM card, two important documents you must have before making a transaction are your passport and passbook. The major banks also have electronic banking. Documents Needed for Opening a Bank Account. The basic document that you will need for opening a bank account in Thailand is your passport. Take your work permit as well. Then, each visa type has its own document requirements as stated previously. You will also need proof of address which can be obtained through your country’s embassy in Thailand or a letter from immigration. If you have a Thai driver’s license then this is even better because it will have your address on it. The best advice for Thailand banking is if you are told you cannot open an account at one bank, go to another. Keep going to different banks until you find one that will welcome you for opening a bank account in Thailand.

You’d better believe it: Bangkok is a large city! It sprawls over 5,986 square kilometres, and that is 800 square kilometres larger than New York City’s five boroughs. The centre of business, finance, education, and government for the whole country, it is the magnet drawing people from all of the provinces, for a variety of reasons. As of this writing, Bangkok’s total population is around ten million inhabitants. There are at least 350,000 to 400,000 foreign inhabitants of Bangkok. However, exact figures are impossible to compile for either Thais or non-Thais. It wasn’t always like this. Most of the world’s big cities gradually increased in size over the course of many years and so were able to plan for more people, more services and better infrastructure. There was urban planning for such things as mass transportation and zoning into residential, commercial and industrial areas. Not so with Bangkok. Long-time expats remember the Bangkok of a mere forty years ago with no high-rises taller than six or seven storeys. Much of the city was green. One ‘old hand’ recalls Sukhumvit Road as a two-lane country road with a canal on either side providing flood drainage. Sukhumvit residents of the 1950s and early 1960s thought of going ‘downtown’ as a journey from the country to city. In the city what few cars there were vied for space on the roads with the electric tram system that ran through the much of what is now the ‘centre’ Even before the end of trams, the rickshaws had already disappeared. So imagine, if you can, the explosive growth from that picture just a few decades ago to the Bangkok of today. If you live in this wonderful, overwhelming, bewildering, exotic, and sometimes infuriating city, remember that wherever you came from probably had 100 or more years to deal with what Bangkok has had to face in less than a middle-aged person’s lifetime. With that glimpse of what Bangkok used to be, lets look at what the ‘Big Mango’ is today. Where is downtown in Bangkok ? Like the American city, Los Angeles, Bangkok is really a batch of suburbs and villages without a clearly defined centre to cluster around. In the past, each one had a particularity, a unity of its parts, such as Baan Batr where monk’s bowls (batr) are hammered into shape and prepared for sale for a man’s ordination. Not so far away is an area still called the Fireworks village, but for reason you might guess, it’s not there anymore. The so-called Thieves Market was where, once upon a time, you could recover your stolen TV set. Nearby is the village dedicated to the gong and bell trade, with cast Buddha and deva images on display, as well. That, at least, is still there. The major avenues – as opposed to lanes, which are called Sois wind through the city. In older parts of town, each may be lined with shops selling the same goods: electrical goods and motoring accessories on Vorachak Road, gold shops on Charoenkung Road. On either side of the new avenues – built up on an attempt to avoid traffic jams or to open up empty areas of the city – you may find auto dealer’s displays, cinemas, restaurants, office buildings, banks, insurance companies, and shopping centres. Areas of Bangkok South of Bangkok: Sathorn and Silom Over the years, expats tended to cluster in certain areas of the city, either along major avenues or in small lanes just off these avenues. The oldest area was that along Sathorn Road, two parallel roadways separated by a shallow canal. In former years this was ‘Embassy Row’ and also had many substantial, beautiful colonial-style homes with walls guarding their lush gardens. The Khlong itself was lined with splendid mahogany trees, and, while the carriageways were very narrow, it had a pleasant tropical ambience. Nowadays it’s an urban nightmare. The mahogany trees where unceremoniously butchered overnight and, one by one, those beautiful, wide, verandah-circled houses were bulldozed, to be replaced by high-rise offices. Parallel to Sathorn-with high-rise buildings, bank headquarters, jewellery factories, and sales facilities-lies Silom Road. Formerly called Windmill Road because of a large windmill that used to be located there, it is now an avenue dedicated to commerce. Off Silom is the world-famous Patpong Road, a short, privately-owned street lined with bars and populated with people in the dance, drink and short-time sex business; their clients; or the curious ‘just looking over the merchandise’ types. Many people believe that the authorities should close down this or that establishment for violations of public morality and for giving Thailand a bad name abroad. Whatever you think of the sex trade there, it’s fun to shop at the night market, which is interspersed between the go-go bars and spills out onto the Silom Road pavements. Near the River Along both sides of the Chao Phraya River you will find a wealth of places to explore. This is the area where some of Bangkok’s expensive hotels are to be found, the Oriental among the most famous. There are shopping malls and riverside restaurants galore. Expensive condominium high-rises go up regularly. Sathorn, Silom and Surawongse all end at Charoenkrung Road (or New Road), which runs parallel to the river on the Bangkok side. The largest and oldest of the post offies is here. Nearby is Chinatown, or Yaowarat, which definitely deserves wandering through. If you go up Charoenkrung Road – towards the higher soi numbers leading off it- you will be in the area of Bangkok called Yannawa. This area is becoming more developed, with the new expressway and mass transit system running through it. Rama III, Chan Road, and others have many new high-rise office buildings and residential blocks, and several banks have built their headquarters in this area. Foreigners are moving to Yannawa in large numbers, as transportation to the city centre becomes harder. The area where the river bulges and loops has a well-known district called Banglampoo. This area of backpackers’ guesthouses and restaurants, and also many shops and markets catering to those with low budgets or with economy on thier minds. West of Bangkok: The Road Zones One park of the city, fortunately still relatively untouched by major changes, is Dusit. The central feature here is what used to be the royal family’s summer palace, Wang Chitrlada. In the early years of this century, Chitrlada Palace was considered to lie so far out of the city as to be rural.

It’s no secret that we love Bangkok, and that’s one of the reasons we love helping people start their lives here. But there are definitely some things to bear in mind as you’re weighing up a move to this most distinctive of cities. The heat It hits you like an oven door swinging open and in the rainy season it can feel like you’re living in a bowl of tom yum soup. Unsurprisingly, the soaring mercury (and the three months of relentless monsoon) affects the Bangkok lifestyle in a big way. Most noticeably, the pace is much slower. Even in the big city bustle, people move, make decisions and do business at a much more leisurely pace than in cooler climes. Though it can be frustrating at first, this sabai sabai attitude is contagious and you find yourself relaxing and adapting soon enough. The upside is that seasonal affective disorder is out the window and you can leave your winter wardrobe behind. That being said, it’s worth packing a sweater for days spent shopping in the mall or for trips to the cinema; public places are big on AC, which may or may not stand for Arctic Conditions. The food Thais are deeply (and rightly) proud of their national cuisine. They of all the Asian nations have nailed the perfect balance of sweet, sour, spicy and bitter and every dish is a taste sensation. Usually food is ordered for the table so everyone shares and tries a little of everything. Most Thai food is made to order so if you’re not built for the hot stuff, you can ask for fewer chilies. And while everyone has a story about someone getting sick from street food, cases are rarer than you’d expect; don’t rule it out. It’s fresh and quick and one of the remaining few ways you can save money in Bangkok – if you want to stick to western food, expect to pay near to the same prices as home. The religion Thailand is a Buddhist country and while Bangkok is fairly liberal, most of the general principles are observed in society. Thai people dress relatively conservatively, which can be baffling to westerners melting in the heat and gasping for a pair of shorts and a flimsy top. While drinking is welcome (to the point of encouragement) most of the year round, Buddhist holidays are dry. Generally speaking, the overriding concept of karma is respected, and though there are always a few exceptions, if you keep your wits about you, it’s a fairly safe city inhabited by trustworthy people. The spectrum With Bangkok developing at a breakneck rate, it’s easy to forget that Thailand is still a developing country. As such, some of its inhabitants aren’t as fortunate as others and the chasm between rich and poor is staggering and often shocking. While shiny malls and high rise offices pop up seemingly daily, there is still a slum community; and while the public transport system is clean and efficient, pollution is still a big problem. The traffic There’s nothing more frustrating than sitting at a red light, which turns green and then red again and never moving once. Traffic in Bangkok is terrible and there’s no getting round it. Actually, there is. There are two metro systems, one underground and one overhead, which cover almost all of downtown, and motorbike taxis weave through the jams to get you to your destination in no time. Having mulled these things over, there are the more practical issues to consider, like visas, paperwork, finding schools, making contacts, getting all your stuff shipped and finding a place to live. Luckily, we’re here to help with all that. So, what do you think?

Thailand has a broad network of well maintained roads between major cities. From a total length of 57.000 km paved, about 53,000 km and only 4,000 miles without cover. Most of the north-south route is two lanes in both directions. Thailand is on the left. Signalling follows international conventions and is often performed bilingual Thai / English. Driving at night on road because of heavy traffic is not a good idea. Truck drivers tend to not like us very little respect from cars and reckless driving accordingly. Otherwise, driving on the main road outside Bangkok and the recreation center a safe and pleasant experience. A weekend with a car hire offers the opportunity to learn about wonderful Thai culture and at any time without any time pressure to stop if we want to explore one of the many interesting parts of the kingdom. Bangkok itself has a bad reputation when it comes to traffic conditions. Except there was no question of toll roads, this reputation is justified. The streets are usually crowded. To someone who does not know the city well, it is very difficult to breed here. While drivers in Thailand are very polite and considerate – the horn is only very rarely – directions and often come and go change in the day, without having to be reported by major retailers (And if so, then only in English). Local land so that foreign drivers ever in locations that are away from their real target. A growing highway network within Bangkok simplify the situation even criticism. Car Rental Insurance International leasing companies such as Hertz, Avis and Budget are also present in Thailand. You hire vehicles insured, which the Local owners have not always or only on special request, the case is on. Although I was an uninsured vehicle in the North East on the road with themselves and all went well, I would not dare again. Danger lurks In him, I only became clear later. Car Rental Damage Most rental companies make the tenant is responsible for all damages during the rental period. Existing survey damage dents, scratches or missing parts should as far as possible so on the purchase slip. If your vehicle does not know, do not hesitate to have at your service. Convince yourself that everything works on the vehicle. Thailand Road conditions Not in a familiar environment to use a vehicle that can be risky. Since trafficking in Thailand continues to increase, there always the time of construction sites, especially when traveling at night is very dangerous. Bands left can be used as Notweg to avoid further road users. These areas usually consist of sand and gravel are sometimes extended. Must take special precautions when leaving the paved road! And the rocks falling on the shoulder of a sufficient distance from the vehicle in front stopped due. Some owners allow the use of their vehicles on unpaved roads if they have four wheel drive. Thailand traffic control Left Thailand on. They allow you to get used at. Agglomerations in the general speed limit of 60 kmh (35 mph). Beyond it is between 90-100 km / h (52-60 mph) on expressways and highways. The Thurs speed controls the police. The use of seat belts is compulsory, driving under the influence of alcohol is prohibited. All insurance shall be confiscated if the alcohol limit (? ‰?) exceeded. Travel behavior In many countries, any person on a road or path is the right of way over those of the road between. It is not necessarily the case in Thailand. That’s why we’re constantly on the lookout market law and left the road could turn on your. Keep an eye traffic coming from behind, and drive far left as possible. If needed, use the left edge strips to dodge. Look in the mirror. Attention for some animals on the road. When you want to pass another vehicle another, using their horn in a polite Thai, by briefly just to let them know the person before, where they are and what they are do. Fuel prices in Thailand The vast majority of cars run in Thailand unleaded gasoline. Vans budget require diesel. Both fuels are readily available throughout Thailand and cost about 29-35 baht per liter. Most gas stations accept major international credit cards, The country is on cash, but usually required. On main roads there are Open all service stations clock, which include the country overnight. Driving Licence All drivers must possess a valid driver’s license and not tentative. In addition to the Thai driving license is therefore foreign driving license (with English translation) and of course international driving license (with the original license). The driver license and a valid passport at all times must be made. Age: The car rental companies rent their vehicles for drivers who are At least 21 years.

Your pets are just as much part of your family as any other member so it is no surprise that the topic of Relocating Your Pet Dog to Thailand is a very interesting one. You can bring your pet to Thailand, especially if coming from a nation that has effective animal control. Thai people love dogs and yours will fit right in here. Thailand also has some of the finest animal hospitals around and pet care is affordable. Preparation for Relocating Your Pet Dog to Thailand Prior to leaving your home country, you will need to get all of your pet’s vaccinations updated. You should have these done 30 days prior to leaving. This is because the Thai officials of the Department of Livestock Development will require that this be done 21 days prior to travelling with your dog to Thailand. Your veterinarian will need to prepare a health certificate for your dog which, at a minimum, must state how many dogs you are bringing, their breeds, colors, age, and gender. The certificate will need to state the dog’s address in your country of origin. The last part of the certificate must state the vaccination specifics. Pertaining to the vaccination specifics, all dogs must be certified as vaccinated and free of rabies. The rabies vaccination must be current and is required to be given no less than 21 days prior to the departure of the animal. The other required vaccinations will be for Parovirus, Distemper, Leptospirosis, and Hepatitis. Your dog should also be in generally good health with no obvious signs of disease. Transporting your Pet Making transportation arrangements is the next step for Relocating Your Pet Dog to Thailand. The first thing you must do is find a “pet-friendly” carrier that flies to the country. Here is where it gets just a bit complicated. Not all airlines will ship your pets and then there are those that take animals but not overseas. So you must call around to the different airlines. Consider that most flights to Thailand from North America or the U.K. will have at least one connecting flight. The best thing to do is put the pet in the cargo hold. Not every airline flying to Southeast Asia will offer to do this. The primary reason is because of the hot temperatures that a pet might be exposed to when transferring cargo to a connecting flight. During this transfer, the pet’s carrier may have to wait on the tarmac and the temperatures can be intense during the peak hot weather months. Thus, some airlines do not want the liability. You just have to call around. For small dogs, an option for Relocating Your Pet Dog to Thailand is to carry it in the cabin. The individual airline has its rules for carrying pets in the cabin and generally it will require the pet be placed in an approved carrier that will fit under the seat. The airline will give you the dimensions of the carrier and probably instruct you that the dog is not allowed out of it and not allowed to bark. If you have a house-trained dog, more than likely it will sleep for the entire trip or just sit still terrified and never make a sound. There will be an additional fee by the airline for transporting your pet. Fees can start at $200 USD and upwards. Pet arrival in Thailand When Relocating Your Pet Dog to Thailand and arriving in the country, you will be directed to take your pet to the Department of Livestock Development office which is located at the group of structures where the Customs Department is located. There is a shuttle bus that will take you there. You may have to leave your dog there overnight while an entry permit is created. More than likely, a quarantine address will be stipulated which can be your address in Thailand and that quarantine period will be for 30 days. Care of Your Pet in Thailand Thailand is a tropical country and with this comes parasites that will love your dog no matter how carefully you try to protect it from them. Ticks will probably be your biggest trouble here. Your veterinarian can prescribe medication to apply to your pet’s coat to keep ticks and bugs at a minimum however it usually is never 100% effective. You will have to inspect your pet’s coat consistently. If you find a tick, you should take quick action. Don’t just pull out the tick because the legs might remain in your dog’s skin and become infected. Take something metal like a fork and heat it up with a lighter. Then touch one of the prongs to the tick and it will either fry or jump off. Either way, it is a clean way to remove the tick. The other problem is taking the pet out for a walk if you live in a crowded city area. You will find that there are dogs all over the streets here. Locals refer to them as “soi dogs” which translates to street dogs. When you take your dog outside, these dogs will come around out of curiosity. You’ll find that they are friendly dogs for the most part but those bugs will jump on your dog. For further information, have a look at the Thai Department of Livestock Development website at http://www.dld.go.th/webenglish/movec1.html. This page lists the current requirements for Relocating Your Pet Dog to Thailand.

Moving to the Land of Smiles naturally causes some concern for the Thailand expat because he is migrating to an entirely different culture along with unfamiliar surroundings. However, you need not worry too much because Thailand has taken many measures to guard your safety and it is probably the most relaxed of all countries in Southeast Asia. Yes, there are scams and dangers in the street but all it takes is a little vigilance and common sense and you will more than likely have no problem. Here are some street smarts that will help you stay safe in Thailand. Streets Smarts in Entertainment No doubt, when you first come to Thailand, you will want to partake of some of the nightlife and restaurants that cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya have to offer. Most expats coming to Thailand to work will probably live in Bangkok so consider that the tips that apply to this city are pretty much the same anywhere else in the country. If your night out takes you to a restaurant or bar, always make sure you know what you are being charged so that there are no surprises when the check comes. There have been instances where checks were artificially inflated unbeknownst to the customer because of an inability to read Thai language or inebriation. Higher class restaurants will probably never do this to you but many like to experience the spirit of Thailand and eat or drink at street restaurants and bars. Stay vigilant and always know what you are getting charged. Dealing with People The Thailand expat will find that Thai people are generally easy-going and non-confrontational. You will also find that out in the streets, Thais will be cordial and friendly but will rarely intrude on your personal or business life. Having made this point, if a person (Thai or foreigner) walks up to you on the street trying to befriend you then you should be suspicious and politely bow out as quickly as possible. Oftentimes, folks who walk up to you on the street are trying to set you up for a scam or talk you out of some money. And, whatever you do, try to always avoid confrontation with a Thai because you may either get no reaction or an explosive one and the situation will more than likely turn out worse. The street beggars in Thailand will oftentimes tug on your heartstrings, especially when there are mothers begging while holding small children. It is better that you keep your money. It is sad but begging scams are common here. Then, enough cannot be said about your safety and being cautious with whom you drink. While the locals in the neighborhood watering hole might seem jovial and friendly, you may be in for a surprise. All it takes is one person (usually male) to drink too much and you, being a foreigner, will draw his attention. There have been many instances of the Thailand expat being injured or fatally wounded here after a night of drinking with strangers. Respecting Thai Culture The Royal Family of Thailand is highly revered and respected in this country. Never, under any circumstances, disrespect any member of the Royal Family. This includes making derogatory comments about them, verbal and written. The country’s Les Majeste laws specify that anyone, to include the Thailand expat, showing this disrespect can be arrested and sentenced to prison. Also, consider that the King of Thailand’s picture is on all currency. Therefore, if you drop a coin, never trap it with your feet. Thai culture considers the feet a very repulsive part of the body and it is disrespectful to step on icons of Thailand with them. Transportation Smarts One of the fascinating features of Thailand is the availability of several modes of transportation, one of them being the tuk-tuk. These are the small three-wheeled covered motorized taxis that have been featured in movies and travel brochures and capture the spirit of Thailand. Unfortunately, many of the drivers are dishonest and overcharge foreigners because the vehicles are not metered. If you absolutely must take a tuk-tuk, negotiate the fee beforehand. The preferred modes of public transportation for the Thailand expat in Bangkok are taxis, buses, BTS Sky train, and the MRT subway. Taxis are good for safety and reliable but do not forget to tell the driver to turn on the meter. There have been instances where taxi drivers turn off their meter with the unsuspecting tourist in order to craft their own “tip”. They have also been known to take foreigners to their destination by using a longer route but unless you know your way around, you may not detect this is happening. Then, there are the motorbike taxis. This mode of transportation is probably one of the most noticeable when you arrive in Thailand. The concept is simple; motorbikes can get you easily to your destination because they have the ability to weave through stalled traffic. However, passengers rarely wear helmets and the drivers have been known to be intoxicated at times. If you really want to ride a motorbike taxi, take care of your safety and sit square on the back and do not lean to the left or right. When the motorbike is navigating through tight traffic, keep your arms close to your sides, hold on tightly, don’t spread your legs, and never lean to the left or right to see what is going on. Many have been injured by not keeping a tight profile on the back of these motorbikes. Protecting Your Money Obviously, you should never flash your money regardless of the city where you are at. However, there are other ways to be vigilant with your money in Thailand. First on the list is to make sure that you always count your change no matter where you purchase an item. Second, always exercise caution at ATMs. There have been instances where thieves have tampered with ATMs by inserting a device to get an imprint of your card and then someone looks over your shoulder to get your PIN as you punch it in. To protect against this happening, make sure that you always cover your pin with your other hand while entering it and be wary of any strangers studying your movements. It is important to always trust your instincts just as you would in any of the world’s major cities. And, it is of critical importance to stay sober if you are alone on the streets. By following these basic street smarts for the Thailand expat, you can be sure to guard your safety thus making your stay here much more enjoyable.

Ever since I was a little biddy boy, I have heard the mantra about American healthcare: “The Best Medical Care on Earth is in the Good Ole’ USA”. Now I am a bit older and a lot wiser, and have learned that it just ain’t so. My wife and I were involved in a serious car crash. I escaped with no more scratches then what I get after trimming some bushes in the garden, but my wife had a very severe injury to her right hand. She had to have her hand literally reconstructed, and she has lost a middle finger and half of two others. Certainly not happy about losing part of an appendage, but very happy we did not lose a life (which at times was a real possibility). My wife stayed at the huge Bangkok International Hospital for nearly a month, and will have a couple of months of outpatient attention to her injury, and I now feel safe in reporting about the medical care in a good Thailand hospital from first-hand experience. In Thailand, there are two types of hospitals: government hospitals which offer basic service at little to no cost for the general Thai public and the private hospitals, which are not government subsidized, and care is paid for by cash or covered by private health insurance, which is inexpensive for Thais and expats alike (that will be subject of another post on this site soon), luckily we did have Thai health insurance for us both. Initially after our incident, we were delivered by locals that witnessed the accident to the closest hospital, which was a government shop (yes, the spirit of getting involved to help others in a crisis is very much alive in Thailand, thank God). We stayed there just to take care of the most immediate requirements, and then proceeded via ambulance to go quite a distance to Bangkok Hospital. Bangkok traffic is one of the worst in the world, and despite sirens and flashing lights, our ambulance inched forward to its destination. This is expected for an ambulance run in this city, so there is a lot of medical care provided inside the vehicle. After about an hour and half, we pulled into the Emergency Room of Bangkok General, and the medical staff jumped to our attention. A word about the medical staff: they look and act much more professional than you will see in a typical American hospital. All nurses are dressed in white, spiffy and starched uniforms with the little nurses’ caps we see sometimes in old American movies from the 50’s or earlier. Bangkok Hospital is an International Hospital, so many of the staff speak other languages, most often English. There seems to be more nurses, more tech people and more doctors than I would see in the US. And Bangkok Hospital works on the philosophy that they do what the patient (customer) wants, and that is for immediate attention to injuries and pain, and also have the patient as comfortable as possible in every way. For me, this is a contrast to the US where nurses dressed in pajamas (aka scrubs) seemed to be mainly concerned about giving medical care, but not a great deal of attention to the small needs of the patient to make things comfortable. And absolutely no regard for the families involved. Thai doctors almost universally speak English perfectly, and often other languages as well. Like American doctors, they are well trained, most having spent some time studying in the UK, Germany, the US, or Australia. Bangkok Hospital is truly an International Hospital, with patients coming from all over the world. You will see Arabs, Africans and Australians, along with every other possible nationality. Hospitals actually competefor their reputation in Thailand (remember when America was all about competition?), and also compete with medical care available everywhere in the world. In order to get international customers, they have to provide superior service than what you will find in Dubai, Detroit, or on the Danube. And in my opinion, they do it, and do it very well. In Bangkok Hospital, all rooms are private rooms, and all are much bigger than a private room in an American hospital. They are similar to a small suite in a nice hotel. They even have “bellmen” with hotel style carts to take your luggage (or whatever you have) up to your room. In the room, there is always a second bed designed for the spouse (again, providing the service that customers want and will be most comfortable with). I have stayed with my wife every day and every night as she went through her treatment, and I like to think that this has helped her to get better during her treatment. We also had a third bed added for my wife’s adult son to stay with us as well. Also in the room is full size refrigerator, microwave and personal safe (at no cost). All the standard hospital food is excellent, with several styles of food for different cultures, and another menu is provided that delivers various cuisines from better restaurants in the area. The room is serviced every day by a cleaning crew similar to what you see in a good hotel. And of course there is wifi and television with stations in a dozen or so languages. Within the hospital lobby there are at least two Starbucks, a MacDonalds, several Delis, Japanese restaurants, Indian restaurants, nice casual dining restaurants, restaurants catering to Muslim tastes, a cafeteria that is like a food court in a shopping mall and plenty of other shops, including a big 7-11. Also in the hospital lobby there is often a classical music quartet playing, sometimes with a singer, that is first rate. Everything is designed to make patients, family and visitors extremely comfortable about coming to Bangkok Hospital. One of the large buildings on this huge hospital campus is specifically for heart and cardiac system issues, and this place is noted as one of the world’s best. There are also huge areas devoted to medical treatment of diabetes, spinal injuries, sports medicine and just about anything else that are major issues. And all of it is super clean, super modern, super professional looking, .with extremely polite service given by all sorts of people around the lobby. It is like there are hundreds of Concierges catering to every need. I am no expert in evaluating a doctor’s performance, but as a patient here, the doctors come across as very professional, knowledgeable and helpful. Maybe we were just lucky with the doctors we ended up getting, but the professionalism from the doctors seemed much higher than the level I have gotten in the US. And the bottom line is that my wife will fully recover to the best level that could be expected with her injury. But Bangkok Hospital does not accept Medicare or any other US government socialized medical system. They may take US private medical insurance (like Blue Cross), but that needs to be verified in the US. If you have to pay cash, the cost of staying at this hospital is about 10%-15% of the cost in a US hospital. Thai private medical insurance is available to expats, and pays 100% of the costs if you check into a hospital (under most plans). My wife has a good program with BUPA (the big Thai medical insurance company) and she pays the equivalent of $900 USD per YEAR at age 56. It will not go up in price as she gets older. And when (or if) she turns age 65, she gets an annuity retirement check from the policy each month, which will return much of what she paid in premiums before. This is the kind of system that evolves when the government is not controlling healthcare. I am kind of an old hand at getting medical service in American hospitals. I have stayed in several US private hospitals (including one of the finest, Stanford Hospital) and government hospitals (VA hospitals) for very extended periods with a host of medical problems that hit me a dozen years ago. Compared to the service we seem to get at Bangkok Hospital, the US hospitals seem absolutely “third world”. My personal opinion is that with more and more government interference, medical care has deteriorated in the US over the last several decades. Doctors in the US work under constant fear and pressure of litigation. The FDA has evolved into an agency designed primarily to protect big pharmaceutical companies, and the same holds true for the AMA. New treatments that do not originate from big pharma are quickly rejected. That’s why you will find some cancer treatments producing results in hospitals in Germany that will never even be introduced in the US (and few will even hear about them). America may have once been the leader and innovator in medical care, but I believe those days have passed. And at the same time, medical care costs in the US have skyrocketed to the point that no one, even the very high income earners can afford to pay directly for any kind of medical care in America out of pocket. Some will find fault in my personal report, and will continue to praise American medical care as the best there is, but these people have blinders on that could be shattered by real experience at a premium hospital in Thailand. Without really direct personal comparison, I don’t think a person should rate American medical care over any other place.

Every expat living in the Land of Smiles needs a visa therefore it is prudent to get a handle on Thailand visa requirements. The 30-day visa upon arrival is not enough. If you are moving here with a job already secured or as part of your employer’s relocation package then you are probably already aware of the visa needed. For those coming here to retire or to look for work, you need information on how to go about getting the right visa. Every expat living in the Land of Smiles needs a visa therefore it is prudent to get a handle on Thailand visa requirements. The 30-day visa upon arrival is not enough. If you are moving here with a job already secured or as part of your employer’s relocation package then you are probably already aware of the visa needed. For those coming here to retire or to look for work, you need information on how to go about getting the right visa. Tourist Visa Requirements Although this is not an expat visa, it can be used for your advantage when coming here to retire or look for work. A tourist visa is good for 60 days and can be extended for another 30 days at an immigration office within Thailand. When applying for this visa, you can specify one or two entries and each entry will be good for 60 days. The procedure is to get this visa from a Thai consulate in your home country before departing for Thailand. The tourist visa gives you time to meet other Thailand visa requirements before getting a non-immigrant visa. Non-immigrant B Visa Requirements This is also known as the work permit visa and it can only be obtained if you work for a bona fide employer in Thailand. The employer provides documentation to the immigration office so that you can get this visa. It is also required before you can obtain a work permit, a totally separate document. Retirement Visa Requirements If you are age 50 or older and do not plan to work (retire only) then this is probably the best visa for you. It is a Non-Immigrant O type visa with a “retirement” stamp on it. To meet the Thailand visa requirements for this, you must have at least 800,000 THB in a Thai bank for a minimum of 90 consecutive days prior to applying. Or, you can prove that you have a monthly income of at least 65,000 THB from a source such as a pension. For the monthly income documentation, you must get a letter from your embassy in Thailand stating this. You can also have a combination of monthly income and bank account balance that totals to 800,000 THB annually to meet the requirement. Non-immigrant ED Visa Requirements If you have children who will be attending school here, Thailand visa requirements stipulate that this is the type you will need. Typically, parents will get Non-Immigrant O visas for their children prior to leaving their homeland. Then, after enrollment in a school, an ED visa will be applied for. The school provides a letter that you take to the immigration office when applying for the ED visa. Non-immigrant O Marriage Requirements Your situation might be that you have gotten married to a Thai national and there is a visa for this. If you are not working in Thailand and on a B visa then this is the one for you. You will need to show a balance of 400,000 THB deposited in a Thai bank for at least 90 days or show that you have independent income of at least 40,000 THB per month. You will also need to show a marriage certificate. Non-immigrant O Support Requirements This is similar to the marriage visa but it is used to support a Thai dependent child. Like the marriage visa, the applicant must have 400,000 THB on deposit in a Thai bank account for the standard 90-day period prior to the application. If not going the bank deposit route, the 40,000 THB independent income must be shown. One stipulation is that the applicant’s name must appear on the child’s birth certificate. Documents needed Requirements The necessary documents to meet Thailand visa requirements depend on the type of expat visa however there are some common ones you will need to provide. You will need to provide a signed photocopy of the picture page and each page with a Thai visa in your passport. Additionally, you will need to make a signed photocopy of the TM arrival/departure card that you filled out when entering Thailand. All Thai immigration forms will require a passport quality photo (with white background) measuring 4 x 6 cm. It’s best to take more than one photo. The previous paragraphs mentioned the additional documents needed for the different types of visas but do not mention about the bank documentation which is needed to prove financial responsibility. You will need to make a photocopy of the account number page and last balance page in your Thai bank book. The balance should be current as of the date you are submitting your visa application. Do this by going to the bank when it first opens and making a small 100 THB deposit. In addition to the signed photocopies of your bank book, you will also need a letter from the same financial institution that states the amount on deposit over the last 90 days. Your bank will know the letter you need. Make a copy of this letter once you receive it and use it to show your bank when you apply for yearly extensions. Typical Visa Procedure Requirements The typical procedure for getting a Thai visa is to get either a tourist or generic non-immigrant O visa from the Thai embassy in the expat’s home country. Then, once the expat family settles down here, head over to immigration with all of the required documentation to change the visa type. The Thai immigration form for this is TM 86. Or, if on a tourist visa, apply for the appropriate visa with Thai immigration form TM 87. The cost for executing either of these forms is 2,000 THB. Then, for each additional year you do a one-year extension using TM 7 at a cost of 1,900 THB. For each extension, you will need to produce the same documentation and any required bank balances will need to be on account 90 days prior. 90-Day Visa Reporting Requirement With a one-year visa or extension, you will still need to make a trip to your local Thai immigration office every 90 days in order to report your current address. This requires using TM 47 and there is no charge. Also, one member of your family can take all of the passports for each member and do this report. Keep in mind that requirements pertaining to visas change frequently in Thailand. It is best to visit the Thai immigration website at http://www.immigration.go.th for the latest on any changes. This website also has all of the forms needed for meeting the Thailand visa requirements.

Many things in Thailand have been influenced by the western world yet the expat will find that he experiences a little of what is known as Thailand culture shock. In spite of the western commercialism brought into this country over the years, Thai culture still remains strong and always will. Here are some important facets of their culture that you, as an expat, must understand. Understanding will make a better quality of life for you and your family while living here. Respect the Royal Thai Family The first aspect of Thai culture that you must understand is that Thais hold admiration and the utmost respect for the King of Thailand and his family. Never disrespect the Royal Family and never make any derogatory or critical comments about them. And yes, you can be arrested for showing disrespect. Many a foreigner has even found himself sitting in confinement because of disrespect to the Royal Family. Farang For some living here, the biggest Thai culture shock is getting used to being called “farang”. This word is used to refer to someone who is Caucasian. It is also the same Thai word for the fruit guava and is part of the Thai word for French fries. Some take it offensively but it is not meant that way by a Thai. If you want to enjoy your stay here, get accustomed to the fact that no matter where you go you will always be a farang and people will usually be fascinated with you (which means they will stare and try to practice their English with you). Thai Wai The wai is the gesture used in Thailand to greet people, pay respects, and thank others. Other places in the world, people shake hands but this is rarely done in Thailand. At first, the wai takes a little getting used to in order to do it properly. And, there are times when it is inappropriate to initiate a wai. The basic form of the gesture is to hold the hands together as if praying. With the palms touching each other and fingers pointing upward like a lotus, the head is bowed slightly to touch the fingertips. The wai is also held close to the body. A mistake made by foreigners upon first arriving to Thailand is to initiate a wai to everyone. You should never initiate a wai to a service-type of person such as a waitress in a restaurant. Only wai a service-type person if that person first gives you the wai. You should also never initiate a wai to a person who is younger than you or a subordinate. However, remember to initiate a wai to those in a higher social status and those who are older than you. Doing the wai among peers is fine. Thai Dress While westerners will openly wear shorts and tank tops in warm climates, it is inappropriate to wear such attire anywhere other than the beach in cities like Bangkok. Wearing this attire in the city will cause Thai culture shock but it will be towards you—they will be shocked at your culture. You will find that Thais are very conservative in their standards of dress. Thai Family Relations Unlike the west where families tend to live separated by many miles, Thai families believe in the unity and cohesion. Thus, you will often see family gatherings that are quite large. You will also see that many family members might live under the same roof or have their houses all near each other. Thai Emotions Thais are non-confrontational therefore it is inappropriate to show emotions such as anger or irritation. Those from western cultures are not used to this because in these cultures it is quite common to openly express dissatisfaction with something like slow service. General Thai Conduct There are generally accepted standards of conduct that at first cause a little Thai culture shock. First, there are cultural norms concerning touching. In Thailand, outward displays of affection are frowned upon. The most you will typically see is couples holding hands. On the topic of touching, you must never touch the top of a Thai person’s head. Thai’s consider this part of the body sacred and will take offense to your gesture. Also, women must be careful to never touch a monk. Never stand over a Thai person. In some social situations, Thais like to sit on the floor. If you find yourself standing over another Thai person, don’t do it for long. You should also never walk over a Thai sitting on the floor. Take care to walk around. Always remove your shoes before entering a Thai house. In fact, it is a good idea to get into the habit of removing your shoes before entering anyone’s home here. You must also remove your shoes prior to entering a temple or around a Buddhist shrine. Thai Language One aspect of the Thai language that could be a source of Thai culture shock is putting the ending khrub or ka at the end of sentences when speaking. It is considered polite and speaking without it can be taken as rude. Males put khrub at the end of sentences and females use ka. These two words can also be used as a “yes” answer. It never hurts to get some instruction in Thai language while you are here. Ladyboys The Third Gender One of the sights that have a tendency to shock a few expats arriving here is the sight of the “kathoey” or lady boy. In the western world, they would be referred to as “transgendered”. There’s no need to be shocked. These are thought of as the third gender in Thailand and are generally accepted by Thai people. You will often find them as wait staff in outdoor Thai restaurants or working in retail establishments. Mai Pen Rai A phrase you will often hear in Thailand is “mai pen rai” or “it is of no matter” in English. You will find that Thais have this outlook in many situations and it can also contribute to Thai culture shock for the expat. Is the traffic bad? Mai pen rai. Did someone cut in line? Mai pen rai. Is it taking too long to fill a food order? Mai pen rai. Westerners tend to get irritated about practically any inconvenience and oftentimes have difficulty adjusting to mai pen rai ways. Mai pen rai can also show up as frequent tardiness to appointments and last minute cancellations. The expat living here must learn to adapt or frustration will soon set in. Of course with driving, it seems that all bets are off when it comes to mai pen rai. However, considering the traffic situation in cities like Bangkok, not even mai pen rai can cure the frustration. However, never take it personal if someone honks their horn while behind you. Just say, “mai pen rai”. Washroom Protocol A common source for culture shock among expat men after arriving here is seeing the cleaning lady in the men’s toilet. Pay it no mind because she certainly isn’t paying any attention to you. She only has a job to do: keep the toilet clean. As a final note, you and your family will benefit from enrolling and taking a Thai culture class when you first start living here. These classes cover all aspects of the culture and norms in this country. By educating yourself in advance, you can minimize Thai culture shock and thoroughly enjoy your stay here.

As an expat living in Thailand, you stand to benefit immensely by learning the language while you live and work here. You may think you can get by on English only and in some respects you are right. However, by not knowing any Thai, you miss out on some of the richest experiences this country has to offer. Plus, you will find situations such as ordering food and at the doctor where you will be glad you learned the vocabulary for these two areas. Here are some sources for learning Thai along with a typical curriculum you might be exposed to when learning the language. As an expat living in Thailand, you stand to benefit immensely by learning the language while you live and work here. You may think you can get by on English only and in some respects you are right. However, by not knowing any Thai, you miss out on some of the richest experiences this country has to offer. Plus, you will find situations such as ordering food and at the doctor where you will be glad you learned the vocabulary for these two areas. Here are some sources for learning Thai along with a typical curriculum you might be exposed to when learning the language. Private Language Schools There are scores of language schools located in every major section of Bangkok. These schools offer a set number of lessons for a fixed price and provide instruction by a native Thai teacher. You can opt for either group classes or one-on-one instruction with the latter being higher-priced. Typical instruction for foreigners will start with speaking and text will be romanized from Thai script. You should come out of a set of lessons with some basic speaking skills. As you become more advanced, you will be introduced to reading and writing Thai script. Private Thai Tutors There are many private Thai tutors who will meet you at a place of your choosing for instruction. Their hourly rates start at around 300 THB per hour and most prefer to give you a two-hour block per meeting day. The advantage of private instruction is that your teacher will tailor the course to meet your needs. Plus, you will learn more informal speech and colloquialisms. The Bangkok Craigslist website is a good place to locate a private instructor. Learn to Read and Write First You will hear opinions on both sides of this while in Thailand. Learning to read and write Thai script first has some advantages. First, it will help you pronounce words properly because romanization of Thai script does not capture the four tone levels of Thai syllables. Second, when you learn to read Thai, you will be able to order from any menu in any restaurant. You will also be able to read city signs, bus labels, warnings, and traffic signs. Learn to Order Food Learning to order food in Thai is a priority when building your vocabulary in this language. This is because Thai people love food and you can find it everywhere. Unless you want to stick to Western fast food restaurants, you will not be able to enjoy the delicacies Thailand has to offer unless you learn what it is called. Why is this? It is simply because the best Thai foods are sold in back-woods outdoor restaurants and from street vendors where English is rarely spoken. Plus, by learning the foods, you can begin immersing yourself into the language and culture right away. Learning Medical Terms Most Thai language courses and tutors will introduce you to the human body parts in Thai language. Then, they should teach you how to tell someone else that a particular part of your body hurts. This is very important in cases where you might have to go to a pharmacy to get medication or to a hospital where English is not widely spoken. Diaries Most good Thai teachers will have you write at least a weekly journal or diary in Thai. This gives your teacher feedback as to how you are doing and what you are having difficulty with. In other words, certain words in Thai will become almost automatic. Building sentences in Thai language is an entirely different story. Reading Comprehension Once you are comfortable with reading and writing the Thai alphabet, your teacher will have you start reading short excerpts in Thai. The purpose is two-fold. One goal is to help you with your pronunciation because Thai is a tonal language. The other is to test your understanding by asking you questions in Thai of what you just read. Building Listening Skills Building listening skills is probably the most difficult. This is because when someone speaks Thai natively, they oftentimes speak it very fast. Plus, there are many expressions that formal language training does not teach. One way to build listening skills is to listen to Thai karaoke music because the lyrics are shown on the video along with the singing. It may not be your favorite music but it is a great way to learn. Thai people love their soap operas and some expats watch them in order to build listening skills. The difficulty with soap operas is that the actors tend to get emotionally intense and it is not easy to follow. Watching English movies with Thai subtitles is another way to quickly see the translations. While you are having instruction in the Thai language, it is important to get out there and use it. Use it at every possible opportunity you can. You will be surprised how Thai people like to help you and in exchange they get to practice their English a little. By doing this, you will have a rich experience here.

Bangkok can be daunting. Like any big city – bright lights, a buzzing atmosphere, people walking past you on the sidewalk with a focused mission, foreign smells and sights at every turn – but it need not be as overwhelming as it may seem. When you embrace the high energy, fast paced city that seems to be passing you by – you suddenly realise you are a part of the hum making up this incredible metropolis. Trains, taxis, buses, tuk-tuks – how do you choose the right transport for the journey you are on? Here are a few tips and tricks to get you around this amazing city! Taxis There are many different taxis and companies, identified by their external colour – green, yellow, white, pink – but they all have the same end goal. Getting you where you need to be. Do not be surprised when you hail a taxi, that they may not speak a lot of English. This should not stop you from jumping in to these air-conditioned vehicles of respite from the stifling heat. All you need is an address, a destination, some hand gestures or at worst, a phone number that the taxi driver can call to get directions in Thai to your destination. Be prepared to negotiate with the driver for the fee, even if it says ‘meter taxi’ as they will often offer you a flat fee rather than putting on the meter to your destination. Also you may be required to pay ‘toll fees’ if you choose to go on these quicker expressway routes. The taxi driver will almost always ask you if you wish to take the expressway, and when you hit the payment points, it is your responsibility to pay the fee in cash and your taxi driver will ask you for this when you arrive at each stop. Be wary of peak hours and a lot of traffic. You can and may sit in bumper to bumper traffic for some hours depending on destination and time of day…but remember, you are in air-conditioned comfort, heaven! BTS One of the best train systems in the world, BTS Sky Train is both efficient and cost effective when making your way around Bangkok. The system and maps are fairly easy to understand and your journey far quicker than being stuck in traffic. BTS stations are positioned at most major tourist spots and places of interest. You can purchase a very economical pass that will allow you to travel the city with ease and be comfortable asking most ticket sellers or passersby about your destination and which platform or direction you are meant to go. Definitely the cheapest and quickest way to get around the city and see the sights at the same time, but be sure to take a jacket, as unlike the outside heat, the trains can be a little chilly when travelling. Tuk-Tuks Slightly daunting yet an iconic way to get around the city, tuk-tuks are an exhilarating way to see the streets. Loud, fast and fun! Although cheap, some tuk-tuk drivers are commissioned to work for various retail shops, so will ‘detour’ on your way to your destination and take you to these shops in the hope you will purchase something. So be very sure when negotiating your fare that you are extremely clear about your destination with no unwanted stop-offs or before you know it you will be in a suit shop you never wished to visit! Bus Buses are another way you can get around Bangkok and they are incredibly cheap, starting from around 6 baht. Although, be aware unlike trains they can be slower due to traffic and packed with sweaty and sometimes not-so-happy passengers! If you wish to board a bus, you must indicate that you want the bus to pull over and pick you up by flagging it down or it may just pass you by. Buses with blue signs in the front window will drive the normal roads throughout the city but buses with a yellow sign in their front window will take the expressway and do therefore not stop at many stops. With hundreds of routes available, your best way to navigate which bus you need is to pick up an MBTA map (available at most bus stations) and identify the bus routes by the number they display, as most buses have the destination written in Thai rather than English. MRT Running from 6am until midnight, the MRT is Bangkok’s subway train system and consists of only one line which forms a horseshoe shape. With 18 stations, the trains run frequently, on an average of every 5-6 minutes. Unlike the BTS tickets are purchased in the form of tokens from machines at the stations. The subway is connected to the BTS at at Sukhumvit and Silom stations, making it easy to navigate the city. Personal Driver It is not uncommon in Bangkok to be able to hire a personal driver. Unlike taxis, you can be sure you are in a clean, well-maintained vehicle (some even have magazines, choice of CDs and drinking water) with a driver who is educated on locations, routes and even general conversation in English. There are many reputable companies and most major hotels will have their preferred service, so if you are looking for the freedom to stop when and where you want, change destinations and most importantly relax knowing that you are headed to the right location every time, then a personal driver is a great option!

If you are an expat living in Thailand for the first time, you are bound to be shocked at just how affordable dentists in Bangkok can be compared to the country you came from. This is assuming that you came from the USA, Europe, Canada, or Australia. Other developed nations may also have extremely high dental fees. However, in Thailand, you can look to pay about one-fourth of what you paid in your home country. Annual checkups are a breeze here and the affordable dental care here can be a lifesaver for those needing root canals and bridgework. Making the Choice As an expat living in Thailand, price is important when choosing a dentist in Bangkok. Tourists are pleased because just about anywhere is cheaper than in the Western world. However, when living on the Thai economy, price becomes somewhat more relevant. Despite this, price should still not be the most important factor. Location is probably the most important when choosing a dentist in Bangkok. This is because the traffic in Bangkok is terrible and the mass transit systems are just as packed during hours after you get off of work. You don’t want to get off work just to make a two-hour drive across town for a dental appointment. Probably the best day to drive in Bangkok is on Sunday so a dental provider with opening hours on this day might be what you need. If you can get a recommendation from another Thai person then this is always helpful. Don’t worry about any language barriers. Some receptionists may not be able to speak English well but they know who in the office can. Furthermore, remember that most all dentists speak English as well. Now, here are some samplings of the different dental providers throughout Bangkok. Remember, most provide excellent service with some having higher prices than others. These are just a few to consider. Bumrungrad Hospital Dental Clinic Bumrungrad is Bangkok’s premier international hospital. Its prices are higher but less than in the Western world and the service is excellent. All facilities are clean and modern as well. These same quality standards apply to the hospital’s dental clinic as well. The dentists are trained in the West and you will have no problem communicating in English here. Theptarin Dental Clinic For those living in the area of Rama IV avenue, On Nut, Prakanong, and basically the southern Sukumvit Ave district, there is Theptarin Hospital’s dental clinic. Theptarin Hospital is not quite as crowded as those located in the central part of the city but you may find that more of the staff only speaks Thai. In general, Theptarin’s dental clinic prices are affordable. They have a clean, modern clinic with a waiting area where the kids can play. Rama 9 Hospital Dental Center Rama 9 Avenue is located not too far from Bumrungrad Hospital and in the heart of the city as well. They have some convenient opening hours, seven days a week from 8:00 A.M. until 8:00 or 9:00 P.M. They have an extensive list of dentists and you can view their profiles on the clinic’s website. They cost a little less than Bumrungrad and they offer a wide range of services to include general, pediatric, orthodontic, and aesthetic dentistry. Additionally, they have implants, periodontics, and much more. Silom Dental Building This is a seven-story dental clinic in Bangkok’s Silom financial district. It is easily reached by BTS Skytrain (Sala Daeng Station) or the MRT subway (Silom Station). This dental complex has just about anything you want in the way of general and cosmetic dentistry. They even have pediatric dental care. Their prices are higher as is everything in the financial district. Dental Design Clinic This clinic is a short walk from a popular area for both tourists and expats alike: Asoke. It is a short walk from the Asoke BTS station and right across the street from the Sukumvit MRT subway station on Soi 21 (Asoke Avenue). They feature what you might call “designer” dentistry but have general and surgical services as well. They even feature in-office or at-home teeth whitening. For those who may have difficulty paying for the services all at once, they offer convenient payment plans. One perk is that they are located close to the new Terminal 21 shopping mall. There are many more dentists available to you in Bangkok—too many to mention here. If you need dental work, this is the place to do it because of the quality and price. Have your teeth checked today and see what these fine dentists can do for you.

Cancer treatment centers and hospitals in Bangkok are among some of the best in the world. This is important because some leave their home countries seeking affordable cancer treatment here. Oftentimes, these folks have no health insurance in their home countries thus overseas treatment is necessary. Then, there are the expats who live and work here and have the experience of something strange showing up during an annual health check. For those expats, they are relieved when they realize that they live in Bangkok because of its reputation for quality and affordable medical care. There are many cancer success stories among expats in Thailand. Facilities Available for Cancer Treatment In Bangkok, the premier cancer treatment center is found at the Bumrungrad International Hospital. It is known as the Horizon Regional Cancer Center. Bumrungrad is the most expensive hospital in Bangkok but still less expensive than in Western countries. Plus, the doctors and staff speak English. Another impressive medical facility is the Wattanosoth Cancer Hospital. Their claim is that they are Bangkok's first private hospital totally dedicated to the treatment of Cancer. Their website has patient testimonials along with helpful articles for those with queries about their condition. Every province in Thailand has their cancer centers that are equipped to handle primary care for the disease. In the other provinces, patients are usually referred to the local university hospital which is fully equipped to handle subsequent stages of the disease. Thailand's Ministry of Health has also established a total of six regional cancer centers throughout the country to handle all referrals. Medical Tourism in Bangkok One thing that makes Bangkok a top choice when it comes to cancer treatment is because it promotes medical tourism. Medical tourism is a phrase coined for people who leave their home countries and seek medical care in another land. The primary reason is because of affordability and quality is of concern as well. Thailand takes medical tourism seriously and it is part the country's economy. Their attention to detail is also reflected in their high standards when it comes to care. In other words, Thailand is doing everything possible to make it attractive for medical tourists thus the expat living here can take advantage of this high level of quality. No Reason to Wait For the expat living in Bangkok, complete physicals are both available and affordable. Thus, there is no reason to wait because most cancers are treatable when discovered early. For example, one Bangkok expat's daughter went in for a routine health check at Bumrungrad Hospital. Her blood tests revealed a high white blood count. This person has never been sick in 17 years but the staff is well-trained and was able to spot this quickly. However, the hospital didn't just jump to the conclusion of leukemia or some other cancer. They referred her to the Horizon Regional Cancer Center and today are continuing to test and watch the situation in order to be sure that everything is either alright or treatment must be start. Of all the places in the world, Bangkok is one of the most modern, affordable, and comfortable places for a person to receive cancer treatment. Plus, as a resort destination, a person can go through recovery in a nice hotel or on a beach somewhere within the country. Bangkok also has fewer restrictions on the types of medicine it can use to treat the disease. If you are an expat here, get a health check and make sure all is in order. However, if it is not, you can rest assured that this is the place to get treatment.

It’s hard to believe that anyone in Bangkok actually has a driving licence, or at least has passed a test, but getting a valid Thai licence is possible for all nationalities. Either you can produce an existing foreign drivers licence or take the test. Having taken the test you’ll soon discover why so many drivers in this town are so oblivious to the simplist of road safety rules. Provided you can remember your highway code enough to pass the theory test and prove you can operate a vehicle inside the Traffic Department’s compound you’ll be issued a nice shiny Thai Licence – voila! Oh, we forget to mention, there is a little red tape too. For starters, you will need the following; Residency Certificate from the Immigration Office, or a copy of your work permit or yellow residency book (take the original too). A copy of your Non-Immigrant Visa, Passport details, last entry stamp/extension stamp, OR your tourist visa (note, it may be possible to get a residency certificate from immigration by presenting a tourist visa or non imm. visa). A basic medical certificate - which you can obtain effortlessly from any doctor. Two photos (1 inch x 1 inch), matt finish, not more than 6 months old. A valid drivers’ licence, or International drivers licence from your own country (if you have one), which should be translated into English from your embassy, if it is issued in any other language. A fee of 105 baht (for a car) or 55 baht (for a motorbike). With this in hand you can then present yourself at the small ‘help desk’ (basic English is spoken) on the second floor of the Traffic Department building which is located at; Poholythin Rd, (opposite Chatchuchak Market) Bangkok, Tel: (02) 272-3615 Sukhumvit residents, go to Soi 99. Exit the expressway at Soi 62, turn right into Sukhumvit Road and then left (at Diethelm Building) walk down the long side street and it is on the left at the end of the street. Issuing a Thai drivers licence to previous licence holders With all of the above documentation in hand you should be able to obtain a licence within one hour, the process is straight forward, but we recommend you arrive between 09.00 and 10.00 or 13.00 and 14.00 to avoid the theory test crowds. Taking a driving test for a Thai licence It’s equally easy to obtain a Thai drivers’ licence, either for car or motorbike. Since the same documentation is needed you should consider ‘killing two birds with one stone’, taking the motorbike test if your current licence is only valid for cars. The theory test is a simple 20 question multiple choice test that is offered twice a day at 11.00 and 15.00. The results are issued within 20 minutes and if you have passed (75% and above) you can immediately arrange a test. If you have forgotten your ‘highway code’ we recommend you download a copy of the UK Highway Code which is very similar. However you also have the benefit of attending a 30 minute video (in English) between 09.00 and 11.00 or 13.00 and 15.00. Since English viewers have the advantage of a private video on computers, they can show up late. Tip! Take along a notepad to note down some of the critical distances and limits mentioned in the video so you can quickly ‘cram’ them before the test. Now for the astonishing part. To test your worthiness to drive among traffic, you will be asked to complete a simple ‘obstacle’ test in/on your own vehicle. This occurs in their compound and is more of a test to see if you can operate your vehicle, with a short test that’s usually over in a few minutes and tests your ability to reverse park, turn etc. Having passed this you will then be sent back to the main building and receive your licence after a short wait. Usually the testing officers are quite fair. By law you are expected to carry a Thai drivers’ licence when driving on public roads and foreigner drivers’ licence should, in theory, only be used for the first 60 days of your stay in Thailand. Drivers are seldom penalised for this, but having a Thai licence is handy and avoids ‘situations’ that might cost you a ‘spot fine’.

Even as an expat, not a tourist, you’re going to need to be aware of the scams and con artists that lurk around the city, hoping to part you from your money. If you’re not Thai, you’re game. This is the first part of a series about becoming aware of and avoiding the various schemes going on in Bangkok and how to avoid them. Tuk tuk tour of Bangkok for gas coupon I fell for this during my one day layover in Bangkok on my way to Nepal. If the tuk tuk driver tells you that “Today is a special promotion from the government” and he would take you around for a very cheap price, understand that it is a lie; the government has no such special promotion organized with tuk tuk drivers. The tuk tuk drivers say they will take you to a number of temples for 50 baht or so, but in return you must visit tailor shops and gem shops and request gas coupons for him as payment. The sales people in these shops simply look at you with impatience and with rudeness if you do not intend to purchase anything. Avoid all this in the first place and see the tourist attractions on your own with a good Bangkok guidebook. Closed tourist attraction Con artists might tell you that a place you want to go such as temples, palaces, etc) is “closed for repair today” or is a “special Thai holiday”. Don’t take their word for it, just thank them for the information and keep going. It’s highly likely that the attraction is open and the conmen want to take you to a gem shop or some sort of factory to purchase overpriced, fake goods. If a taxi driver or a tuk tuk driver insists to take you someplace you don’t want to go, then say no. Keep saying no (mai aow, kha) or simply get out and flag down another taxi. Insist on the driver using the meter. For a tuk tuk, negotiate the fare to your destination before getting in. These methods will keep you from being taken advantage of. The great Bangkok Gem stone scam If you come to Thailand on holiday you might be introduced to the Gem business. You will hear a story or two of a guy from Los Angeles that flies over to Bangkok every few months, buys a load of gems and resells them for huge profits in the US. Unless you are an absolute gem expert, I am going to tell you that this simply cannot be done. So many visitors to Thailand end up ruining their vacation by being part of an extremely well-orchestrated Thai theatrical production: The Gem Scam. This scam is certainly no secret; there are warnings in every Thai guidebook and all over the internet, yet because these swindlers are so professional at what they do, many, many visitors are caught up in it and become another victim. While the scam is found in every tourist city in Thailand, the vast majority of them happen in Bangkok. No matter how savvy you may think you are as a world traveler, you should be aware of this infamous activity and be prepared for it. When you visit Bangkok and take some local city tours, you will find most tours will make a compulsory stop at a big gem store, often as the last stop on the tour. The stores look impressive with expensive artwork on the walls, charming sharply dressed store salespeople and very good stories on how you are getting an absolute bargain with your purchase here. The truth is that they are all very expensive. Please do everyone a favor, especially yourself, and avoid buying anything from these establishments. Take a moment to please your tour operator to step inside, stay a few minutes and leave. Resist all temptations to buy. Your honest tour guide will reassure you that he is taking you to the best gem supplier in all of Thailand. Your tour guide may even tell you that this gem factory is government owned, or it is an “international export center”. Believe me when I tell you that the Thai government does not own any resale shops for gems or gem factories, or any export centers that will sell product to you. You will probably see this huge factory with workers cutting and grinding rubies and emeralds or other precious stones. These professionals are handling these precious gems from raw uncut stones to polished pieces of jewelry. You will see large government seals on the wall (most of which is in Thai language) proclaiming its official status. The merchants will tell you that they are the largest gem “wholesaler” in the country that is government approved. They will show you endorsements from celebrities. “Nicholas Cage bought gems from here”, as they show you a framed photo of the actor in the shop (remember, nowadays any picture can be created with photoshop). They will encourage you to buy gems for your old age or for the college education for your young kids. They have had years of practice with developing the entire theatrics, in convincing people to buy, and you have had only a small amount of experience to counter these swindlers. The gem shops often pay Western foreigners to linger around the display cabinets posing as a customer and casually mention to you that for years they have bought Thai gems from this wholesaler, sold them back in the US and have made loads of money doing it. If you hear that today is the last day this will be tax free and starting tomorrow there will be a new VAT added, you know this is a well-used scam. And remember there is never a special one-day discount in Thailand. Or you might grab a Bangkok Tuk-tuk (kind of like a lawn mower with a tin roof with a bench for passengers in which the two-cycle engine sounds like tuke-tuke-tuke….hence the name) to go to the Grand Palace or some other tourist venue. You will be told that this attraction is closed today (it is not) because of a Buddhist holiday you have never heard of before, or because the monks are praying, or the King is visiting. Not to worry, he tells you he can take you to another interesting place for just 50Baht. What can you lose? That tuk-tuk driver will take you first to a special temple (often called the “Lucky Buddha” temple) and then to a Gem export outlet (and the driver will be earning a commission for bringing you). The tuk-tuk driver will tell you that he will get 5 gallons of petrol when he brings you to the shop and because he has been so helpful and pleasant, you are happy to oblige. You just have to stay just 20 minutes for the driver to get the petro coupon. These are all lies. Now you are in the hands of attractive, smartly dressed, good speaking Thai ladies in the gem factory outlet that are well trained in handling foreign tourists and extracting as much as possible with amazing investments. They will be able to supply you with official certificates of the value of your gems and jewelry. The truth is there is very little control in Thailand for these certificates. They make them themselves. And a money back guarantee will be offered. It is as good as their word. No use providing you with the names of the swindler shops. First, they could just cause problems for me printing their name, and Second, they often change their names as word gets too widespread about the operation. If after buying you realize you have been swindled, you will not get help from the Thai police or authorities, including the Tourist Police. Even the Thai tourist office is unlikely to offer much assistance. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way in Thailand. You must prepare yourself and simply not allow yourself to purchase in these establishments. So why does the Thai government allow this kind of fraud to happen on the valuable tourists to Thailand? I have been told that these jewelry and gem companies are owned by Thai politicians or important government officials, or by people that pay off Thai politicians and government officials, so nothing changes. Also Thailand is a libertarian in so many ways, allowing the market to self regulate. That often works well for the citizenry (there is virtually no unemployment in the Kingdom), but sometimes it does not work well in particular situations. Rule #1 – If an official looking person, or a helpful well-dressed well-spoken Thai offers you tourist assistance outside of major venue, politely decline and don’t believe anything they say. Rule #2 – If a tuk-tuk driver wants to give you a great tour of Bangkok for very little money (like less than a 100Baht), expect that they are going to take you to somewhere that is going to scam you. Rule #3 – If someone tells you the attraction you are planning to visit is closed, don’t believe them. Visitor attractions rarely close and stay open for almost any holiday. Rule #4 – If you do buy, seek out a reliable source for a real appraisal of what you bought. Don’t expect to get much help from other gem shops however; they all belong to the same club. Rule#5 – If you are still in Bangkok after buying gems and realizing you have been swindled; do contact the TAT – Travel Authority of Thailand. They might be of help to you (but don’t count on much). Best Rule of All: Don’t buy any precious gems or expensive jewelry in Bangkok. Oh, and all of this post also goes for Custom Tailor Shops in Bangkok. And actually, you should be on your toes and skeptical about any place in Thailand offering special pricing for a limited time that they tell you is the best price there is in the whole country.