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

Greg interviews Tristan Knowles, an Australian expat in Thailand working for the Asian Development Bank, specializing in infrastructure finance in the Mekong region, including alternative energy such as solar power.  Greg begins by asking the obvious question: Thailand is practically constantly sunny, so why aren’t there solar panels on every rooftop? Tristan gives a detailed answer focusing on incentives. Obviously there’s an upfront cost to investing in solar power, whether you are a residence or a business. Most people need to be confident they will actually save money with the transition, but without proper financing and help from the government this is not always clear. So many early adopters in Thailand do it for environmental reasons, even if it’s not economical compared to traditional sources of energy.  Next, Tristan discusses the relative success of Vietnam, where the government has been more proactive in supporting investments in solar power. According to Tristan, Vietnam generates close to 10 time

On today’s show Greg and Ed address a pretty simple question: When you see Bangkok in movies and in series, are you actually seeing an accurate portrayal of the way Bangkok REALLY is? The guys decide that the short answer is probably not (certainly not in Thai lakorn), but there are some interesting exceptions. For example, even big-budget movies such as “Hangover 2” and “Raya and the Last Dragon” get many details right, such as Fanta served in a plastic bag or ‘toilet paper’ (to Westerners) used as napkins on the dinner table.  Also, some shows (especially Western ones) get some facts correct but over-emphasize them. Yes, Thailand does have elephants, prostitutes, and transexuals - but not EVERY story needs to include them.  Greg then raises the elephant (heh heh, get it? we’re in Thailand) in the room: foreign productions in Thailand are censored before they are made, and Thai productions are censored after they are made. So, in general, no direct showing of corruption among the monkhood, police or army, go

Greg interviews Lindsay Kiptiness, the Kenyan Ambassador to Thailand. Ambassador Kiptiness begins by introducing himself and explains his responsibilities as ambassador to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma. He explains his unfortunate arrival during COVID times, and his desire to really explore Thailand when it fully re-opens. The Kenyan healthcare system is behind Thailand’s, but he notes that Nairobi did serve as the center of COVID treatment for UN officials.  Greg asks the Ambassador about Kenyan products, and the Ambassador regales Greg with pitches for Kenyan coffee and Kenyan purple tea. No, that’s not a typo, and the Ambassador assures us it is the best tea in the world. :)  The conversation continues on to cover cultural misconceptions, the fickle nature of the global community in times of crisis, and the expatriate Kenyan (and African communities) in Thailand, which is growing, and the Thai community in Kenya, which unfortunately is not. Greg and the Ambassador discuss the reasons for this

Greg and Ed confess to their past as Dungeons and Dragons-loving young geeks. Who would have thought? The boys take inspiration from an old blog post of Greg’s where he applied D&D’s famous moral alignment chart to Bangkok. Moving through the list, Ed provides his feedback as each example is presented.  Greg begins by explaining the system (for those of you who were less geeky or simply missed D&D generationally). Then Greg gets into his examples. Who best represents ‘Lawful Good’ in Thai society? Well, most monks seem to be the obvious answer, and both guys think so, with the important ‘most’ caveat. However, some other alignments prove more tricky. Who or what represents ‘Chaotic Neutral’ in Thai society? What about ‘Lawful Evil’? The boys re-hash Greg’s old answers and see if they still apply today. Listen in for a discussion of all nine different alignments, but the lesson of the day is that it can be very insightful to examine Thailand through a variety of different lenses, be it the Seven Deadly

On this episode Greg chats with his buddy Jesse Davis. You might not know Jesse’s name, but if you have kids, chances are they know his daughter.  About four years ago Jesse and his daughter started Brianna’s Secret Club, a YouTube channel aimed at kids where Brianna and her pals do things like unwrap gifts, play with toys, build stuff, and do other kid-related things. The channel took off, and soon became a full-fledged family business, with budgets, schedules, assistants, and studio time. As of this airing, the channel has nearly 7 million subscribers, among the most popular YouTube channels in Thailand. Greg and Jesse chat about being judged by the YouTube algorithm, how a ‘quick video’ is never quick, the balancing act that played out between an office job and this new venture, and how Jesse and his wife ensure their kids stay grounded and treat this as a real job, with real responsibilities.  Lots of people come to Thailand with a camera in-hand and dreams of a content empire, but as Jesse explains, it

Greg and Ed discuss the concept of expat ‘merit badges’: those experiences that all long-time expats in Thailand tend to have that really remind you that you are in a unique place, distinct from where you grew up. These ‘badges,’ for lack of a better term, function as a loose type of seniority system. They are generally earned after some amount of time in the Kingdom, when you become comfortable with something that was once alien.  In the first few months you might get caught in a flood, but it will most likely be longer than that before you sit down with some Thai motorbike riders, share a drink of moonshine, and play the bastardized Thai version of chess. We go into detail on some other ‘level up’ experiences - motorbikes, driving, swearing, rock t-shirts and sticking things in your ear! Some of these experiences are positives, some negative, and some simply a sign that you’ve ‘gone native.’  Special thanks to our patrons, insightful as always, who wrote in with their suggestions for these badges of honor (

Greg interviews returning guest Stu Jay Raj - polyglot, expert language teacher and man about town. Greg begins by asking Stu about his recent series of videos analyzing the second language capabilities of various celebrities, including Jon Cena and Robert DeNiro. Stu responds by explaining his MindKraft program, which is kind of a general learning system that can be applied to languages of all types, from linguistics to music to computer coding. Stu expounds his belief that the human brain is naturally hardwired for language of all kinds, and as long as you have the right attitude and approach, you can learn practically any language at any age. Stu then introduced the concept of ‘neu,’ which roughly translates as an accent that is slightly ‘off’ or as Stu puts it, ‘smells’ bad. He then discusses all the variations of ‘off’ accents, from Thais who live outside of Bangkok, to those who grew up overseas. What follows is a fascinating discussion of how Thais process accents and the difference between native Engl

Greg and Ed sit down with old friends and travel experts Trevor Ranges and Scott Coates of the Talk Travel Asia podcast. The guys run through a whole range of questions:  How do you first come to Thailand?  How did you meet each other?  How do you adapt to Thai food? How did you learn (or not learn) Thai language? What Thai cultural rules have you learned?  How long did it take to feel as if Thailand was really your home? And perhaps most significantly, how has Thailand changed you for the better?  It’s a fun discussion on all the mysteries of living in Asia that keep the place so interesting, and long-term expats amused, even after several decades. Listen in to hear the guys try to parse their unique experiences in the Land of Smiles over the last 20 years.  Don’t forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we’ll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

Continuing the series on the 7 Deadly Sins, Greg and Ed address the envious Envy. Of course, we love Bangkok, but no place is perfect - so, what are some things in other countries that we are envious of from our perch here? Greg begins by looking over the fence at coffee culture in Vietnam. Presumably due to French influence, Vietnam has an insane number of local cafes that take coffee (and ice cream, as Ed points out) deadly seriously. The strict government helps to keep Western chains to a minimum, and the result is a coffee lovers paradise. Ed starts his list by reminiscing about his early days in Thailand when there were no legal closing times, and Bangkok was like New York - a city that never sleeps. As old farts, Greg and Ed might not take advantage of it now, but that doesn’t mean they can’t miss it on principle. Next, Greg laments that lack of school bus infrastructure that he grew up with in Canada, where most kids can walk half a block, jump on a safe school bus, and end up at school a few minutes l

Greg interviews Mark Siegel, the director of Golfasian, one of Asia’s largest golf tour operators. Greg opens with the caveat that neither he nor Ed are golfers and leaves it up to Mark to do his best to sell us on a golf holiday in the Land of Smiles.  Greg begins by noting that his first thought of a relaxing holiday would not be to spend 4 hours walking around in the scorching sun, but Mark (in the first of his many insights) responds that if you’re back in the freezing winter of Canada you might! Mark then points out that the unique appeal of Thailand is that there are so many other things for tourists to do that even if you do spend 4 hours in the sun, the rest of the day can be spent getting a Thai massage or relaxing by the pool. In further discussions of what makes Thailand so good for golf compared to other destinations, Mark observes that there are over 60 (!) golf courses of all difficulty levels within proximity to Bangkok, and about one-third of them are owned by the military which means they are

In this episode, Greg fills us in on all the special concerns of being a parent in Bangkok. As if being a parent on its own didn’t have enough surprises, it turns out there are several things to keep in mind if you are expecting or even just bringing a child to the Big Mango. Pre-eminent is of course the issue of proper schooling, be it Thai or international or some combination of both. Greg explains the 3 C’s - cost, commute, and curriculum - that all new parents must build their life around. As Ed sits by in ignorant awe, Greg runs through other parental revelations, such as malls (of all things) actually being good things that can function as safe, fun, air-conditioned havens for kids. While Ed preaches the value of NOT driving in Bangkok, Greg lists all the advantages of having a car when burdened - er, blessed - with a child. More cool insights follow (did you ever consider looking at the size of the wheels on your stroller?), including a few lessons in cultural sensitivity.  Bangkok may have the reputat

Greg interviews Kru Nan from the “You Too Can Learn Thai” podcast. Greg begins with the theory of the ‘critical period,’ that the human brain is primed to learn languages early in life but not later. Kru Nan notes that the research is not final and that adults might actually have some advantages over children. For example, adults may be able to absorb more information more quickly and also to contextualize it because of their pre-existing knowledge about the way the world works.  Next, Greg and Kru Nan discuss the difference between beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners, from the nature of the class preparation to the study materials themselves. This leads to a fascinating discussion about how culture affects the interpretation of anecdotes and dreams. Listen in for details, but suffice it to say ‘snakes’ don’t always mean the same thing around the world. Kru Nan follows with several more fascinating examples of how culture - both pop and traditional - affect our use of language.  If you have any inte

Greg and Ed discuss some negative expat stereotypes - roughly the person you (probably) don’t want to become while living in Thailand...at least forever. We all fall prey to stereotypes sometimes - they have to come from somewhere - but if you’re not careful, you can become comfortable with some of these lifestyles and before you know it, they come to define your new identity in your new home, and suddenly you’re known as The Whiner, or The Apologist. And that’s just the beginning! Heaven forbid that people start to know you as The Premature Pontificator, or The Creep, The Slob, The Bubble Boy or The Player. Like we said, it’s hard to escape most of these all the time, but Bangkok’s mai-pen-rai lifestyle is addictive, and trust us - before you know it, a decade has gone by and you’re still wearing that old Chang singlet out to dinner that you bought when you first arrived on Khao San Road (that’d be The Slob). Have a listen and see how Greg and Ed define these common tropes.  Don’t forget that Patrons get the

Greg interviews Khun Panarat Anamwathana about the bombing of Bangkok during World War II. Beginning with a discussion about how Thai people today perceive Thailand’s involvement in the Second World War, K. Panarat notes that many Thais’ attitudes are actually shaped by popular culture and specific romantic stories about that time period in Thai history. Most Thais today don’t realize the tragic nature of the conflict and the truly precarious nature of Thailand’s relationship with both Japan and the western powers. Next, K. Panarat discusses the fascinating role of Seni Pramoj, the Thai Ambassador to the United States and his role in leading the Seri Thai, or ‘Free Thai,’ movement, the pro-Western faction of Thai society. Because of his role, Thailand largely escaped punishment after the West’s victory. We also discuss which areas of the city were bombed, how the locals reacted and what role the government took vs grassroots groups in organizing evacuations. Greg and K. Panarat also elaborate on the unique ro

On a suggestion from listener Emily, Greg and Ed go back to basics with book and movie recommendations for people new to Thailand and Southeast Asia, or old-timers looking to refresh their knowledge after being disconnected during all this covid hullabaloo. Ed begins with three foundational books: the all-time classic ‘Lonely Planet Thailand,’ written by friend of the podcast Joe Cummings, the insightful (if a bit outdated) ‘Culture Shock: Thailand,’ and the super creative ‘Very Thai,’ by Phillip Cornwall-Smith (not to mention his followup ‘Very Bangkok’). Greg follows with his own key recommendations, including ‘The Thai Book’ by Ron Morris and  ‘A History of Thailand’ by Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. Ed concurs and also puts a word in for ‘Thailand: A Short History,’ by David K. Wyatt. Turning to movies, Ed notes that all foreigners interested in Thai culture should see the ghost film ‘Nang Nak,’ which relates possibly the most popular story in all of Thai pop culture. For some history perspective, Fr

Things are not so great right now, and they’re even more desperate for people who live on the edge, which is why we’re pleased to chat with Friso Poldervaart, Greg Lange, and Kerv Chittaropas about their organization Bangkok Community Help.  The three are instrumental in providing the community of over 100,000 with food, medical supplies, living essentials and care packages in Khlong Toey, Bangkok’s biggest slum community. The discussion gets into the history of Khlong Toey, how the English word ‘slum’ does the people who live there a disservice, and the intricacies, difficulties, and triumphs of giving people a helping hand amid Thailand’s complicated lattice of permissions and regulations.  And of course all of this becomes exponentially more difficult - and necessary - in the midst of Covid-19. From cooking food to buying ambulances to painting bare concrete, Bangkok Community Help is putting charity first to help the underprivileged in Bangkok, and our guests give listeners an up close view of what it’s l

Ed relates his 4-day adventure in the much-reported-on Phuket Sandbox. But spoiler alert: It wasn’t a great trip, mostly due to bad luck: it was gray and rainy almost the entire time, thus denying him quality beach time. Oh well.  But what was not bad luck was the way that the Thai government has marketed the Sandbox. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has repeatedly stated that Phuket is ‘open’ to tourism as of July 1st, and Ed took that to mean that the most popular area on the island, Patong, would actually be ready for tourists. Alas, this was not the case, with only a third of restaurants open and 95% of everything else closed.  With bad weather and not much to do, the trip was more or less doomed, but a glimmer of hope presented itself with a chance meetup with friend of the podcast Dan Fraser, travel expert extraordinaire, who coincidentally has been hired by the TAT to market Phuket to foreign tourists. Dan was able to explain that the TAT was focusing on ‘non-beach activities’ on the island of Phuket,

Greg and Ed bare their souls and discuss how living in Thailand has changed them for the better - and for the worse. Greg begins by noting that since being in Thailand he has a much greater appreciation for the life struggles of the average person, in Thailand as well as the rest of the world.  Raised middle class in the West, it is easy to see yourself as ‘normal,’ when in reality you are quite lucky compared to many people around the world.  Ed then observes that living overseas has helped him to realize what is universal in the human experience and what is more cultural or unique.  The truth is that a lot of ‘Thai’ behavior is just human and not uniquely Thai, and the same goes for things that we think of as American. Greg follows by pointing out all of his accomplishments of the last twenty years and how making his way in the world as an expat has given him a different angle on the world than his friends back home. Not necessarily a ‘better’ angle, but certainly a different one.  Not being able to escape

It’s a dream of many to move to Thailand and start their own business - be it a spiffy e-commerce site, a beer bar on a beach, or some type of consultancy. But navigating the tricky cultural and bureaucratic hurdles isn’t something to be taken lightly. We’re joined by Derek van Pelt, a Thailand resident for 24 years and someone who has had a number of successes in a variety of different arenas. Currently a partner at Stonelotus Ventures and a long-time friend of Greg and Ed’s, Derek talks about what brought his past businesses success and why he chose to shut some, his advice to people who want to start their own business here, his role as President of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and insights into Bangkok’s business community. And of course, to discuss one of Greg’s favorite restaurant chains, getfresh, which Derek helps manage. It’s not an easy road for anyone, but as Derek notes, if you have the three Ps - patience, perseverance, and presence - making it work in Thailand will be a lot easier. Don

Diving into one of their more complex topics, Greg and Ed explore some of the questions that arise when raising a child with an appreciation for skepticism and science in the middle of a culture known for its superstitious beliefs. With Ed teaching a critical thinking class to Thai college students and Greg’s son asking questions about ghosts and praying, the boys have some interesting insights. Greg stresses the delicacy of parents in his situation: were he to directly state his opinion that ghosts are not real and praying for something has no effect on the outcome, it could create friction between his son and the Thai side of his family, who sit more on the ‘probably/definitely’ side of the scale. While trying to ensure his son grows up with an appreciation for evidence and science, this also provides a good lesson on respecting others’ beliefs, despite having different ones yourself. Where exactly is the instruction manual for this situation? The guys wrestle with the issue, doing their best to come up wit