editor’s note: I snapped this photo yesterday on Sukhumvit in front of a bank. It was about 4 pm. Seems to me this dude needs to go back where he came from and get a job. I call this falling off the rails so to speak. I hear about so many people who do this in Thailand. It is a cheap and easy place to live but I can’t imagine one wants to live like this. Anyway. Just a random shot.
On to the post. An interesting and potentially controversial opinion on some basic rules for functioning on a long term basis in Thailand. Food for thought at the very least.
- Earn enough money to have a good time. This figure varies by what you consider a good time but you should at least be earning greater than 120K.
- Work legally, meaning get a work permit etc. This is a must if you plan on being here longterm.
- NEVER marry a bargirl - yes 1 in 100 has a great relationship, the other 99 go through hell.
- Choose your friends carefully - of course this applies anywhere but here there is no government to bail you out - just your friends.
- Buy a car. You can get a decent one for less than 500K and finance it. That works out to about 10K per month - reduces your dealing with assholes factor considerably and increases fun factor considerably.
- Choose your harem carefully - if you’re married
make sure they follow(and you do too) the golden rules - no calls, no sms - period - break it and bye bye. - If you’re going to get married - make sure she’s got a brain and a personality - bodies get duller - brains and personalities get sharper.
- Never, ever get in trouble with the cops, - pay whatever it takes but never get in the book.
- Buy property through a Company, not through your wife.
- Donate to registered charities and keep the receipts. These will come inhandy at some point and make you feel good while you’re doing it.
It really is very simple to live here and have a great time … 
“Earn enough money to have a good time. This figure varies by what you consider a good time but you should at least be earning greater than 120K.”
No really my case but I know quite a few farang living with 30 000 to 60 000 a month without much trouble.
As long as you don’t want a stupidly expensive apartment you should be ok with way less than 120k.
Especially if you have a gf who has a steady job.
Ok for full-on party mongers who light their cigarettes with 1k notes it’s probably not enough.
View all comments by RRR
Sorry about not looking my best in the photo. It was a heavy night.
View all comments by Day walker
dw - I know it is not you cause you don’t drink Chang from the can
View all comments by smitty
That’s not my can. That’s PSI100’s. He put it down to take the photo.
Drinking that early? I think he has a problem?
View all comments by Day walker
Or was it you that took the photo?
I don’t know, you crazy Farang all look the same?!
View all comments by Day walker
actually this is a photo taken from England with people camping outside a Northern Rock branch waiting for their money. I photoshoped the Chang beer can into the shot. U got me…
View all comments by smitty
Am I the only person who OWES Northern Rock money?
I hope I don’t get their staff camping outside my house wanting their money?
View all comments by Day walker
120k - Per Week? Month? Year?
120k per week (bht)
120k per year (GBP)
View all comments by Day walker
120,000 baht.
Yes, welcome to the “farang spends too much.”
View all comments by Jack Dawson
the “farang spends too much.”
Where have I heard that before?
http://www.tfs2m.com/reader-submissions/2007/09/21/cheap-charlie-by-werewolf/#comment-23913
10,000 baht per month covers a LOT of taxi fares. I’ll never buy a car in Thailand.
I earn a lot more than I spend, but I spend about 70 to 80,000 per month. The 120,000 figure is a big number to declare as a ‘minimum’.
View all comments by werewolf
actually this is a photo taken from England with people camping outside a Northern Rock branch waiting for their money. I photoshoped the Chang beer can into the shot.
I like the way you photoshopped the flipflops and dirty feet too… or has global warming finally reached the UK?
Anyway, if this really was England, the dude would probably be bedded down in a pool of someone else’s vomit.
View all comments by NotAnyBangkokRelatedWebsite.com
was the pic taken in Birmingham?
View all comments by Day walker
A recent survey in America asked who was the most famous Scots person in history. By a large margin the winner was Groundsman Willie the schoolkeeper from The Simpsons.
So this is where he’s been ever since, who said he didn’t exist?….
View all comments by nampla69
rrr - yes, you can live in Thailand on 10k a month if your idea of fun is watching paint dry … so 120K min. And whilst only being a part-time full on party monger i try very hard never to waste money. The number also assumes that you do plan to retire here some day and you are taking full advantage of all Thailand has to offer ie. quiz: how many Lady drinks can you buy at Resort on 30k a month
dw - I only drink Chang in the moobaan, and I only do bottles, the canned shit is just too metallica - oh and yeah THB/month
ww - sure a car is more expensive than taxi’s; to each his own - for me not having to tell someone to shut up because i do not want to converse is worth the extra … 70-80k spend per month yes, mines a bit more - house, schools, cars etc (and that’s before I get to the fun part), but my post was directed at those who want to LIVE (as opposed to exist) here and retire here prior to heading for the next round of fun; as you say you earn a lot more than what you spend
smitty - so that’s what happens to Man City supporters in Thailand…
View all comments by psi100th
Yeah, 70,000 or so does it unless you’re barfining go go dancers and not banging ‘em like some of the posters here…
View all comments by Jack Dawson
jd - I don’t get what u r saying
View all comments by psi100th
JD - yeah, we believe you.
How can you spend as much as 70k baht a month in Bangkok?
I, of course, have the girls pay me, since I am so much fun and optimistic positive sort of guy. They love my company and humour.
They also pay for my food, my clothes and pay my rent.
What is “Cowboy”?
View all comments by TitanicDicaprioPrat
n69: That was an old poll. The new poll taken last week revealed that Shrek is now the most popular Scots person known to Americans.
View all comments by pmmp
pmmp: Is Shrek popular in your home of Canada?
TDP: Does this mean you are a ‘rent-boy’ or a ‘lady-boy’?!
‘cowboys’ are a product made in Houston I believe?
View all comments by Day walker
PSI100: I do not live in Thailand, but come there for vacation about twice a year and have worked in China and Taiwan before. I almost totally agree on your ten points, good job.
Now let’s do it the other way around, taking the view of a Thai woman: Rules for a “civilian” Thai woman who has her own life and decent job for finding a Farang husband and eventually living abroad:
1. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER date or even marry a Farang who ever had sex with a bar girl! 99 out of 100 will do that again when in Thailand or in their own country and will be unfaithful in a relationship or marriage. Men who like the bar girl scene are in no way any better than the bar girls themselves.. even worse, because they are even paying for it while the bar girls at least make money with it.
2. Only marry a guy who earns enough money in his home country to really be able to support you and give you a better live there, why else live abroad without all your sanuk family members and friends?
3. Choose a man carfully. If he has any contact to the bar girl or go-go scene, tatoos on his lower arms or doesn’t look clean, don’t even start talking to him!
4. Never date a Farang who has lived in Thailand for many years and is not able to have a normal conversation with you in Thai: he does not really like Thai people and will therefore also look down on you in a relationship.
5. Only live abroad with your Farang husband if he supports you in learning his language thoroughly
6. Find a job for yourself abroad, so you are more independent from your husband in the relationship and in case of a later divorce. If he is a good man, he will support you with that.
7. Choose your harem abroad carefully: make sure they follow (and you do too) the golden rules - no calls, no sms - period - break it and bye bye.
8. Only marry a Farang who is at latest when he retires willing to spend the rest of his life with you in Thailand.
Before the bashing starts on me: Being a big fan of the bar scene in Thailand and it’s girls myself and also having had long relationships with Asian women in my own country, it’s what I personally think a Thai woman would think. I would therefore also not recommend a Thai woman to marry me, even though I hope this will one day be the case. Any corrections or additional rules welcome
View all comments by Phoenix
PH - interesting concept, now let me see, put myself in a Thai woman’s mind right; Jack Nicholson had the method - first think like a guy and then remove all logic and reason …
but to get to the meat of your post (xcooz the pun)I think she strikes out on #1 - there are NONE.
View all comments by psi100th
Phoenix : I like your comment ‘before the bashing starts on me’?!
Very clever, how can we ‘bash’ someone so open and friendly?!
- Not a ‘bash’… but you state ‘lets do it the other way around’
Well, you only listed 8. Should it not be 10?
Although (like PSI) they are ALL valid points, except I’m sure there has been an exception or success story for each rule that has been broken.
You cover yourself by saying what you ‘think’ a Thai girl would ‘think’.(nice work!) Is there someone here that could put the question to a TG? If not already done?
I’m sure that if you are willing to ‘take care’ of a girl and family, they’d not let your ‘bar-visiting’ past be an issue?!
Afterall, it’s all behind you when you make that commitment
View all comments by Day walker
PSI: Remove all logic and reason: Hehe, that starts after my first beer Singha when hitting a bar in Thailand and chatting up the first girl
DW: I could’nt think of more points so fast
Would really be interesting to know the opinion of a civilan Thai woman, assuming that she would tell the whole truth without without those face saving thoughts.
I think most guys who once liked the bar scene in Thailand will keep going there, being married or not. I met already many marrid men in Thailand, China and Taiwan who had a great sex live with changing girls
But maybe I am too self centered: After I once started being unfaithful many years ago, I find it hard to imagine myself ever returning to a faithful state of existence again. The temptation is too strong for me at present.
View all comments by Phoenix
jd - that’s funny…
View all comments by smitty
my philosophy….
‘why make one woman so miserable, when I can make so many others, so happy’?!
View all comments by Day walker
PH - being faithfull and bonking as many girls as you like are not incompatible - in fact I reckon they go very well together
- and the beauty of being in Bkk is that the place is totally set up for such arrangements. Which for me also raises the whole question about what constitutes a 3rd world country - for me it would begin with …
- Has Soapies Yes or No
- Barfines been implemented Yes or No
- Never have to get “points” for speeding Yes or No
- The fact that you’re 65, fat and bald has no impact on your sex life (in fact according to salicious rumour it enhances it : ref needed here to an On Nutter post) Yes or No
If you answered No you’re in a 3rd World Country
View all comments by psi100th
re the 3rd World….
- Do they use soap? Yes/No
- Do they have go-go bars? yes/no
- Is it uncommon to get shot at? yes/no
- Any chance of getting laid? yes/no.
If you answered NO, then you could be the Sahara Desert.
View all comments by Day walker
@TitanicDicaprioPrat: ROFLOL
View all comments by werewolf
With all due respect, most of these points are plain dumb.
1. 120k minimum !? I lived in Th for my first 4 months in *full party mode*, and averaged about 80k/mo. Living a normal life, I spend about 60k. Of course, if you go out drinking each single night or have have 6 dependents, life may be different.
2. OK, this one is obvious, but well worth repeating.
3. Never marry, period — unless you want children, of course.
4. Generally true, but slightly misleading — at least among Thais, you’re not looking for *friends* in the western sense as much as useful contacts. I find that most of my Thai acquaintances are quite eager to help, as long as it’s a temporary blip and you’re not really down on your luck (i.e. they can make a claim on it later).
5. Bull. Driving in Bangkok traffic is oh-so calming. The only real use I see for a car is going on medium-distance (over 40min and under 4h drive) trips out of BKK. Shorter than that — taxis, longer, buses are way better (not to mention twice cheaper).
6. Choose good concubines. This is in line with “don’t harm yourself”. True, but useless advice.
7. Marriage. OK, but by no means specific to LOS.
8. Police. OK.
9. Why buy at all, with all the instability, and often outright hostility by the gov’t? Rent by default, only buy if there’s a watertight and compelling *financial* case for it (not because it just makes you all warm and fuzzy inside).
10. OK, thought it helps to elaborate at what point this would come in handy? Applying for permanent residence?
View all comments by Crocodile
I have (recently) seen (ok, helped) someone spent B100k/night. Which is, obviously, obscene. But possible. And yes, it was fun.
Owning a car in Bangkok is stupid. Outside Bangkok, sure.
Everything else, pretty much on the button…
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
you’d never catch me driving in BKK
i get the raging hump sitting in a backseat of a taxi, let alone behind the wheel while getting cut up left right and centre and putting up with the heat
120K a month is a lot of money, but if your not careful it can be spent in double quick time - but if by LIVING you mean working 5days a week etc 120K is a lot of cash. but if your in the holiday mode all day everyday it soons evaporates in doublequick time
View all comments by myspace.com/penfold_xxx
I spend 3 months in BKK, 3 months working and go out every night. Spend about 180K per month on going out.
View all comments by Young Royal
Yes Smitty I will be you a beer next time.
View all comments by Young Royal
- Croc O - 1. and your retirement plan is …
But what I find interesting is your definition of “most”, when later you agree or partially agree with 7 out of ten. Go figure …
4. No - wrong - meant friends, esp. among Thais, not misleading at all; I’ve been given money by Thai friends when neither they nor I knew what was going to happen next
5. Who says you have to drive your own car …
6. You obviously have never read Stickman 1
7. I think you’ll find that over the long term (and that’s what this post was aimed at), the financial case is pretty clear.
10. PR is one, yep, another is just makes you feel good
BBB- yeah I like to get out of Bkk and that was the main thrust of it - simple things like playing golf, going to the beach, an industrial estate (work) etc etc are just more complicated in taxis
Pen - In 1992 I got an Amex bill for entertainment only which was over 250K, cocktail lounges, soapies and dinners - it can add up real quick - but it was also a LOT of fun
YR - let’s hook up and paint the town some night
View all comments by psi100th
bbb - since I never saw this take place and I hear it was just a rumor I am going to say it never happened.
yr - it will take more than a beer given your spending habits. u can open a bottle for me. thx
View all comments by smitty
PSI - My biggest problem is finding a wingman who likes to go out as much as me. I would like to see a wingman.com site.
Smitty - Next time.
View all comments by Young Royal
yr - interesting idea. the problem I have is there is a huge difference between living here and partying and not living here and partying. I can’t go out every night. I gotta work. i gotta keep pushing forward. So hooking up with people who are here on holiday gets so tough to manage since they go out all the time or on binges. I would never survive. I am also finding that going out during the week is the best. fri-sat there is just too much needless competition.
I read the game - I can wing like the best of them. witty jokes and all…
View all comments by smitty
Problem is explaining how I go to Thailand with a tan and leave looking like a vampire. I think there on to me… Next will be more daylight…..Next time…
I think I should nominate PSI and myself to be Mango reporters. You give us the Itinerary and we we can do field work.
PSI….something about painting the town red.
I have a serious question.. Is flying to Bangkok for the weekend too excessive?
View all comments by Young Royal
psi100th:
> - Croc O - 1. and your retirement plan is …
…where the 100k/mo is coming from.
Silly to make assumptions like this — we’re talking about *minimum* money one needs to live in Thailand, not hypothetical money one needs to eventually retire in the West, or cure a rare disease.
View all comments by Crocodile
YR - As Smitty says it is tough if you live here juggling all the commitments, but you have a valid idea with the Wingman concept but it could get involved in that you’d only want to flying with qualified pilots … And seriously flying here for the weekend, depends where you’re flying from …
Croc O - I and quite a few others I know, have ZERO intention of retiring in the West and that was the thrust of my whole post - the 10 points were for “lifer’s” ie. those people considering living here until the final flame out … but anyway, if you’re happy, I’m happy - peace out dude
View all comments by psi100th
YR - Ha!! I’ve been trying to get a tan for 2 years?!
Does the sun ever shine in BKK? Whenever I am awake, it always seems to be dark?!
You have to hand it to Smitty/pmmp… although they ‘work’ in BKK, they do a stirling job of showing everyone a good time, or hooking people up with fellow party-goers.
I sometimes feel guilty keeping the chaps out past their bedtimes. (o.k.. maybe not guilty).
I’ve met some good people through ‘Team-Mango’.
When looking for a ‘wing-man’, I find the Mango a good place to start. There is always someone there looking for action.
Smitty - What was the outcome with the girl(s) that picked you up last month and paid for to get into Spicey? When I left the club, you were eyeing up a rather attractive girl… licking your lips and drooling… Kind of what I imagined the face of the coyote to look like if he ever caught that Roadrunner?!
View all comments by Day walker
yr - run in the afternoon in queen sirikit park. I keep my tan and the thai girls love it.
croc - who is going back? What is retirement anyway? I will take a decent hospital in thailand any day for whatever might ail me over sticking it out in the states. I plan on being in SE asia for the long haul and don’t see myself ever really retiring given that this si the best place in the world to live, party and work. No reason to pack it in from my vantage point.
psi - agreed.
dw - you are too kind. thx
this is what happened after that night:
http://www.tfs2m.com/?p=434
View all comments by smitty
Agree on using Taxi in BKK, last month rented a car to go out of town. Had 3 accidents in a 19 hour period (1 of the was my fault). Only had to pay 5000 THB deductable for all the damage as insurance was included in the 1000 THB daily rental rate rental rate.
So really believe thisis the way to go. Taxi in BKK, Rental car outside BKK
View all comments by georgie
I have decided that flying in for the weekend is too excessive. In Monaco at the moment. If I can get a long weekend that’s different.
Been in BKK almost 3 years got fed up of police searches on Soi 22 and moved to 26 (great, tree lined, quiet, masssage joint). But fancy a change and a move up the ladder. Any advice on Condo’s or Apartments. I been trolling the internet. Penthouse’s at Boss Tower for 60K. Ratchada (can I move into the country?) Real nice places on Soi 4, Soi Sama Han for about 25K. Although I don’t actually want to live on Soi 4 (could give it a try). I think a place for around 25-35K is enough for me on my own. There was a place on Soi 30, 200 sq meter for 30K. I know it will be older but thats huge. Wish I could look first hand.
Anyone know any good places / locations? Would appreciate a lifers advice.
View all comments by Young Royal
Jeez… I once managed to blow an estimated 140k in a month on Cowboy, was absolutely wrecked and *still* have the reputation following me around in the bars. I’m in awe.
I’m firmly with the ‘a car in Bangkok is nuts’ crowd, but am seriously considering a motorcycle a I hate riding pillion. The advantage motorcycles have is that they actually move unlike most of the cars in Bangkok that spend their days idling away in traffic jams.
I’m sure there is a market out there for name-brand sports cars without the expensive attachments. Things like engines seem totally unnecesary, and would reduce the price enough that a middle class Thai could buy ferrari shell and sit in traffic in it and nobody would know the difference.
View all comments by Cabby
There are many serviced apartments on Suk 16 and Suk 24. President Park on Suk 24 has a nice gym (Capitol Club) also that is included. You could also check out places on Thonglor, there should be some in that price range.
View all comments by bkk22
Dammit - a few months too late. If Chang was still allowed to advertise that photo would be perfect - I think it goes straight to their target demographic. If your teaching salary is so low you can’t afford the 4am special rate at the short time hotel you can still afford a Chang or three and sleep like a baby and wake up your usual bright and fresh self ready to hit the classroom!
I’ve tried to help out a fairly well dressed farang about to bed down for the night (read collapse into a stupor and have his wallet stolen) on the steps of the Asoke MRT but he seemed to think he would be able to get home after a short rest. Yeah, right. I tried, but am not his mom. Thank god.
View all comments by Cabby
Last month whilst walking down so4 around 2am, I came across a couple of (ageing) drunken gents who were in a bit of a state.
I could hear them talking about where their hotel had vanished to.
They had a couple of girls in tow, which by looking at them, told me they were not wealthy men.
I asked if they were o.k and ‘drunk no.1′ said that he wasn’t sure where his hotel was, as he’d just arrived a few hours earlier…
So, being the helpful chap that I am, I asked what hotel they were staying in, so I could point them in the right direction.
All of a sudden.. ‘drunk no.2′ busrt into life saying ‘what the fucks it got to do with you’?!
- You just can’t help some people?!
View all comments by Day walker
Cheers for the Advice BK22 but i’m not in serivced appartments. I have nothing to do all day as it is and maid would further reduce that. The girls always take care of everything anyway.
View all comments by Young Royal
@Cabby: might well have been me. I have a habit of running out of steam just a few blocks from home (when I don’t actually just fall asleep on the stairs at Big Mango).
View all comments by werewolf
@YR: A serviced apartment doesn’t mean there is a maid there all the time. You can choose to have someone clean daily, twice a week, weekly, up to you.
View all comments by bkk22
YR - From Europe just too long a plane ride … Ratchada is interesting because of proximity to local talent I mean in around the condos. I lived there for a while once and it was fun, Soi Lohit Suk, on left side before the Hollywood area. 85% of my neighbours were NOT working during the day and a source of entertainment was the in-house CCTV channel that showed you who was coming and going in the Lobby.
You might want to look around Soi Ari (Phaholyothin), on a BTS line, houses, apartments, etc If you’re looking to be clsoe to action Newton Towers Suk Soi 6 is well managed and reasonable (30K for 200SqM) but depends on who you rent from.
The key element is transport - all the back streets between Asoke and Ekamai from Rama 4 through to Petchburi have loads of Condo’s but can be hard to get a cab …
DW - Know exactly what you mean - there are times when you realize you can be staring at the armpit of the world, on holiday, drunk - learning curves and Darwin are great that way…
Cab - 140K in Cowboy is no mean feat - good job!!! A motorcycle is really nuts - instant target if you are a Farang…
View all comments by psi100th
I think a weekend jaunt to the Motherland from Europe might be possible?
I always fly in the morning… so… I stay up all night before, then easily fall asleep during the flight.. That way, if feels like I’ve only been flying for 20 mins!
A buddy of mine flew to Oz from the UK for the weekend to watch a Rugby Match…. So flying to bkk to indulge in hotties doesn’t seem out of the question?!
View all comments by Day Walker
“I think a weekend jaunt to the Motherland from Europe might be possible?”
Having done it i can tell you its exhausting but so worth it if you can find a good deal on flights.
View all comments by Cookoo
Cookoo and YR - I think the Tourist Authority of Thailand should appoint you guys as Ambassadors of Sensible Tourism …
View all comments by psi100th