New Room

[Lancelot]

A Rolling Stone Gathers no Moss...

Yeah, I decided to move again. I thrashed the trusty Mini Beast (Honda motorbike) up and down many sois until we found our new home. There are many apartments available and more being built all the time.

The apartment building is new and I'm the first one to occupy my room I'm the only foreigner in the building but thats ok. I supppose my Thai will have to improve, lol. Speaking of communicating, I first viewed the room after the office had closed, so the husband and wife couple that live on site (cleaning & maintenance) showed me around. I had trouble communicating with them, until I realized that they weren't native thai speakers, they were Burmese. I've noticed that more and more here in Chiang Mai that many of the service and manual laborers are actually Burmese (Myanmar) migrant workers. Migration is every where

Any way, back on topic, this room is 117 per day- thai baht that is

Last night I heard this racket and thought-oh great... until I realized that it was a combination of frogs and crickets(?) doing their best to entertain me. On the positive side, a frog karaoke is far better than being close to a thai karaoke

[GregLee]

It looks very spiffy. So you're going to learn some Burmese, too? I'd expect the sounds of frogs and crickets to be easy to get used to, even if quite loud.

[Lancelot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregLee It looks very spiffy. So you're going to learn some Burmese, too? I'd expect the sounds of frogs and crickets to be easy to get used to, even if quite loud.

Burmese? Naa, I know just enough Thai to be dangerous

Yes, I really don't mind the frog "karaoke" at all.

[DangerMouse]

Do you ever crave more living space or do you find this type of setup meets your needs?

I'm not seeing any cooking facilities so do you eat out every meal? If so how has that affected your waist line over the years?

[omni550]

Nice. What a clever, compact space.

I'm trying to figure out what is in the glass-doored area (closest to the sliding glass door). I think I see a toilet -- but not sure if that is simply a reflection (in the glass) or if it is inside that little space. Also, what about a sink and shower?

Is there a kitchen of some sort (refrigerator, hotplate, microwave)?

Also, can you please convert the rent to US currency?

omni

[ProspectiveBum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancelot Any way, back on topic, this room is 117 per day- thai baht that is

For anyone curious, as I was, that works out to about $120 per month (a hair under $4 per day).

Since a similarly equipped hotel room in the States could easily cost $120 per night, that's an amazing deal.

Edit: Do you pay utility costs on top of that rent (water, electricity, etc.), or are those included?

[Lancelot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProspectiveBum For anyone curious, as I was, that works out to about $120 per month (a hair under $4 per day). Since a similarly equipped hotel room in the States could easily cost $120 per night, that's an amazing deal. Edit: Do you pay utility costs on top of that rent (water, electricity, etc.), or are those included?

Yeah, there are always the details...

Electricity is 8 baht per kWh (+100% markup) $0.24 US (Your electric is a bargain back home right?)

Water is 18 baht/unit, about 1,000 liters (so I'm told) $0.54

[Lancelot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by omni550 Nice. What a clever, compact space. I'm trying to figure out what is in the glass-doored area (closest to the sliding glass door). I think I see a toilet -- but not sure if that is simply a reflection (in the glass) or if it is inside that little space. Also, what about a sink and shower? Is there a kitchen of some sort (refrigerator, hotplate, microwave)? Also, can you please convert the rent to US currency? omni

The glass doors lead to a small balcony- complete with a table to drink coffee -or beer- and watch life go by

Yes, there is a shower, toilet and sink as well

[Lancelot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DangerMouse Do you ever crave more living space or do you find this type of setup meets your needs? I'm not seeing any cooking facilities so do you eat out every meal? If so how has that affected your waist line over the years?

I'm OK with a small room. A bigger room means more work, ugh!

No kitchen. I make coffee and sometimes heat up some noodles.

Yeah, I'm a fat boy

[DangerMouse]

So no daily cleaning thrown in with that room rate then?

You might be a fat boy, but you sound like one contented fat boy which is important.

[Lancelot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DangerMouse So no daily cleaning thrown in with that room rate then? You might be a fat boy, but you sound like one contented fat boy which is important.

No cleaning or linnen service included. But when I pay 3,500 baht per month -about $117 yankee dollars- I'm happy

[Zero]

I'm envious. I would love to live like that. A hot plate, a tea kettle and some Ramen, I'd be fine.

Is the building a high rise?

[RunningBum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProspectiveBum For anyone curious, as I was, that works out to about $120 per month (a hair under $4 per day). Since a similarly equipped hotel room in the States could easily cost $120 per night, that's an amazing deal.

That's apples and oranges. What's the daily rate for an American-style hotel in Thailand? Or the monthly rate for a studio apartment without a kitchen in a typical US city? Sure it's a good deal, but you can't compare it to something it isn't.

[DangerMouse]

I know a similar style room in our neighbourhood here in Silicon Valley runs about $650 a month.

[Lancelot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero I'm envious. I would love to live like that. A hot plate, a tea kettle and some Ramen, I'd be fine. Is the building a high rise?

Five floors. Running up the steps helps to keep me in shape

[Hobo]

I have a good friend living in Chiang Mai, an American named Buddy. He just bought a bar and hotel and and named it the Dixie Pig. All he talks about is the women. Glad to see you have avoided that temptation!

[Lancelot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hobo I have a good friend living in Chiang Mai, an American named Buddy. He just bought a bar and hotel and and named it the Dixie Pig. All he talks about is the women. Glad to see you have avoided that temptation!

Hobo, I hope your pal does well with his establishement.

There is an expat joke about "Making Big Money" here in the land of smiles.

Question: Do you know how to make a small fortune in Thailand?

Answer: Start with a large fortune

A couple of Viet Nam expats told me one that made me chuckle

To operate a successful business in Viet Nam you need a local business partner. He knows the culture and you have the money. Six months later he has the money and now you know the culture

[zinger1457]

Thanks Lancelot for your Thailand posts, it's good to get some first hand knowledge from someone living the dream. I had considered living in Thailand half time after I ER'd but found I can only take Thailand for about a month at a time, then I get homesick. The biggest problems for me is not speaking the language and not finding any expat friends I clicked with. Seems like most of the expats I met are living on a shoestring budget. My idea of ER is not to live a life of luxury but to be able to do the things I enjoy doing without worrying if I can afford to do it. I also could never get adjusted to the tropical climate (heat and humidity), always felt drained of energy, I've been told you will eventually adjust to it but.....

I would highly recommend anyone planning to ER to any foreign country to make sure you have a fall back plan if it doesn't work out, it's definitely not for everyone. The longer I spend outside the USA the better appreciation I've gained for what we have.

[Hobo]

You get homesick for the US, don't click with the other expats, and really don't like the weather! Hmmm. Maybe an expat retirement scheme is not for you. One man's (or woman's) heaven is another man's hell. There is no shame in admitting that.

To be an expat you have to either be a loner, or someone who really likes the local people. And if you are going to live in SE Asia, north of the equator, you'd better enjoy hot weather.

[Lancelot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinger1457 I would highly recommend anyone planning to ER to any foreign country to make sure you have a fall back plan if it doesn't work out, it's definitely not for everyone. The longer I spend outside the USA the better appreciation I've gained for what we have.

Yep, fall back plans are great.

I've always known that I would eventually return to the good ole US of A. I love to travel but but I keep my chubby little hands firmly attached to my passport. Let me back in!