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

Greg interviews Phil Jablon, a true connoisseur of Southeast Asia’s old movie theaters and author of the fantastic book Thailand’s Movie Theaters: Relics, Ruins, and the Romance of Escape. As noted on the show, you can order from the Amazon link above, but if you would like a free vintage movie theater ticket as well, reach out to Phil on his Facebook page and order his book there. Phil grew up a movie lover but developed an interest in older, stand-alone movie theaters as they began to fade away in the States. In 2008, he started a blog where he documented old movie theaters he found on his travels in Thailand, and eventually, all of Southeast Asia. Phil discusses his research methodology, which basically consists of showing up in small towns across the country and asking people about the history of theaters there. Phil notes that something as specific as the history of movie theaters in a small town actually reveals quite a lot about how Thailand has changed over the years, both economically and culturally

This week is a dose of keeping it real: What are some common beliefs about Thailand that Greg and Ed just don’t buy? Ed starts off with a fairly nuanced point: many people think of Thailand as a very religious country because of so many outward signs of Buddhist culture, whether it’s temples, monks, or statues that Thais are very respectful of. However, Ed argues that in general Thais are not very pious: alcohol consumption, gambling, and infidelity are quite common throughout Thailand. Greg walks equally risky territory by claiming that although Thais definitely smile a lot, the moniker ‘Land of Smiles’ has succeeded too much in that it has convinced many foreigners that all Thai people have nothing but hearts of gold. Unfortunately, scammers, as well as straight-up thieves, regularly target foreigners, and it is best to be as wary in Thailand as you would be in any country around the world. Ed next contends that those who view Thailand (and more specifically the city of Pattaya) as sleazy places in general

First of all, a public service announcement: Our friend Adam is coordinating a project to get soap, disinfectant, and food to some of Bangkok’s poorest communities. Just 300 THB provides supplies for a family of 4. We donated 2,000THB - can you match or or beat us? Head here for more info. As everyone is now dealing with isolation and minimalist living in a way they never had to before, Greg interviews our returning-est guest Phra Pandit on the day to day life of a monk. From Phra Pandit’s austere lodgings - a bare 3m by 4m room, including little more than a few appliances, books, and a sleeping mat - Phra Pandit reminisces about his early days after ordination, when his only link to the Western world was BBC World which he had to delicately find on a shortwave radio.  Eventually he found his way into a Thai university for monks where he studied psychology (in Thai) as an undergraduate. That followed with a long stint as a Master’s student, largely to maintain an education visa. Phra Pandit reveals that altho

In their continuing effort to find something to talk about besides coronavirus, Greg and Ed decide to compare the current crisis to the past crises that they have lived through in their combined 38 years in Thailand. This is their first pandemic but they have survived coups, floods, assassinations, curfews, and violent protests that have shut down huge parts of the city. So how does today compare? Well, first Ed notes that the oddest thing about the 2006 coup - the first for both Greg and Ed - was how un-tense and untroubling it seemed throughout the city. Greg agrees that the weirdest thing about it was trying to figure out how unbothered Thai people seemed to be about it. However, the countless protests that occurred between the two coups (2006 and 2014) were a different story. The guys trade stories about the unsettling nature of large mobs that at one moment can seem tranquil and in another menacing, whether it be just a sense of impending danger or an actual gunfight. The boys also reminisce about their

Greg interviews Dr. Daniel Kertesz of the World Health Organization, to confirm, deny, or simply explain in better detail some of the information that’s going around about the COVID-19 pandemic. It certainly is a strange time we’re living in. Beginning with questions about herd immunity and information gathering, Daniel explains that above all, we must be humble given the lack of information we have about this particular virus. This is not surprising, considering that the world barely knew anything about it only a few months ago, but still...we are incredibly well positioned to adapt and overcome.  Daniel notes that a huge number of minds are focused on the problem around the world, and that disease researchers are much more connected than they were in the past. This new medical landscape allows data to travel faster and hopefully will lead to a vaccine. The big question, of course, is how long this will take...and at what cost.  Next, the guys discuss Daniel’s two decades with WHO in Africa, the extent to wh

Taking a personal turn thanks to an idea from Wes, one of our patrons, Greg discusses his dating experiences in Thailand and what it’s like to be married to a Thai woman. From early dating stories as a clueless n00b to strange stories of getting used to Thai culture Greg (and Ed!) both start off with a few funny stories Next, Greg tells the story of meeting and eventually marrying his wife. Their story was a traditional one of a dinner with several groups of friends, a flirty Greg...and the rest is history as they say. Greg gives his thoughts on how we, as foreigners, must be flexible in everything from dating to having kids, to building relationships with the parents...luckily, Greg’s wife (and her family) are pretty open-minded and reasonable about his weird western ways.  Finally, the boys try to piece together some advice to help the next person looking for a serious relationship in Thailand, including being patient and open-minded, especially if you actually live in the country. The quick version: patien

Thailand’s food tastes have changed a lot since Greg and Ed first got here two decades ago, and in that time, things have gone international, yo! With this in mind, Greg interviews Nick Wattanavekin, who opened the first Tim Hortons, the iconic Canadian donut shop, in Thailand just a few short months ago. The journey from investment banker to restauranteur is a long one, but Nick explains how he transitioned from his early career to franchising restaurants in Thailand, discusses how much Bangkok has changed in the last twenty years, and what drives the increasingly cosmopolitan palette of Thai consumers. Nick then goes into detail explaining just how one brings a “famous overseas” but not “famous in Thailand” brand to Thailand, including consumer research, business plans, market strategies...and what happens when those famously long lines outside of hip new places go away. And of course - why Tim Hortons? If you’re Canadian, you get it, but if not...well, Nick’s done his research. The boys wrap up talking abo

The big news of the day is of course the coronavirus, something Greg and Ed have talked about frequently on the bonus show, which goes to our patrons. But on this show, though, the guys dive right in and address the Thai government’s bizarre and inconsistent public declarations about the virus and the government’s policy towards it.  Ed does his best to recount the government’s statements of the last few days: first, an apparent mandatory quarantine of all travelers from nine countries, followed by that statement disappearing and radio silence from the government. Then, a new statement indicating an ‘optional’ quarantine of travelers from fewer countries, followed by a new statement from TAT apparently discouraging tourists to travel to Thailand from high-risk countries. The boys lament the fact that bad PR by the Thai government would be laughable in some circumstances, but in the case of coronavirus it is potentially deadly. At the very least, hundreds of thousands of tourists - not to mention Thais in the

Greg interviews Cod Satrusayang, editor-in-chief of ThaiEnquirer.com, one of Thailand’s newest news sites. Cod explains that after a decade of experience in the foreign press in Thailand and abroad, he felt that Thailand’s English-language press had been somewhat diluted by corporate meddling and special interests. What the country needed was true independent media from a Thai perspective.  Greg and Cod discuss ‘woke’ culture and the similar role that comedians and journalists play when pushing boundaries regardless of the risks, in the same way that the leaders of the Future Forward Party, recently dissolved, have done by expressing no regrets about starting a party that challenged the Thai military. Greg and Cod also discuss the history of student involvement in politics in Thailand, from the original protests in 1973 through 1976 and later Black May in 1992. Cod argues that although students were less involved in the 1990s, they have become more involved since the coup of 2014 - something that we see happe

People are often quick to call Thailand ‘developing’ or even ‘third world’ - but what do those terms even mean? We decided to find out.  Ed interviews Dan Honig, a professor of international development at Johns Hopkins University. After explaining Dan’s unique educational background and world travels, the guys dig into some basic questions about the Thai economy. Right off the bat, Dan notes that when compared to the entire world, it is not accurate to consider Thailand poor. Instead, it would probably be categorized as ‘upper middle income’. But that describes Thailand as a whole - what about other indices like inequality, development, or poverty? Dan discusses different ways of measuring these things and notes that Thailand has a very low poverty rate, with most Thais generally having access to health care and education. But the extreme gap between the one percent at the top in Thailand and everybody else impacts the political situation, and in Dan’s mind definitely is a problem.  Last, the guys riff on th

You might be surprised to learn that two fellows as cool as Greg and Ed can be a bit nerdy, but it’s true! So, in keeping with that theme, this week your hosts jump into a potpourri of Bangkok statistics. Do you know how many sqkm Bangkok is? Or how big Thailand’s GDP is? Or how many airports or kilometers of rail track the kingdom has? In a wide-ranging discussion about the numbers that make up Bangkok (and Thailand), the boys cover geography, population density, population demographics, religion, the economy, minimum wage, education, transportation, telecommunications, and even electrical consumption! As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we’ll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

Greg and Ed interview Michael Messner, long time expat, Patpong bar entrepreneur, and the founder and curator of the Patpong Museum. Opened this year, the Patpong Museum is meant to educate the public on the entire history of the Patpong area, stretching from its earliest development more than 100 years ago until today - and there’s way more to it than just go-go bars! Michael exemplifies the ‘interesting expat,’ having first come to Thailand to expand his art business only to meet a Thai woman and begin to plant roots in Bangkok. Through a chance encounter he found a mentor close to the Patpong family, and this gave Michael the opportunity to enter the hectic world of Bangkok bar and restaurant ownership. Many years later and after much (eventual) success, he decided to open the Patpong Museum. Why does Bangkok’s most famous red light district deserve a museum? Well, you need to hear Michael tell the story but suffice it to say that the Patpong area has a long and fascinating history much before the modern e

In another Neighborhood Focus, the guys revisit an area discussed in Season 2: Thonburi, roughly defined as the ‘other side’ of the river from downtown Bangkok. ‘Revisit’ on the show that is, cause both Greg and Ed have lived in Thonburi for a while - we never left. :)  So why talk about it again? Well, a lot has changed on our side of Bangkok in the two years since we first covered it. The mega chic complex at Icon Siam has sparked a lot of development in the area properly known as Khlong San. The guys discuss their thoughts on Icon about a year after its opening and conclude that it seems to have improved considerably, with more food options and a greater community feel. It’s still ‘just a mall,’ but props to the developers for trying to do something different, and both Greg and Ed consider it worth a visit.  The boys then wander the neighborhood, noting the ramshackle homes practically touching the super expensive residences at Icon Siam before hitting a few notable bars and restaurants along the river, en

Everybody knows that intercultural relationships in Thailand are most likely a Thai woman with a foreign man, but things are changing! It’s not as common, but there are plenty of farang women in relationships with Thai men - partnerships that carry their own unique set of challenges! Greg interviews Sam Ormond, an Australian and long-term Bangkokian who has been married to a Thai man for many years. Greg and Sam discuss stereotypes of Thai men that may tend to scare away western women, although Sam notes that while these stereotypes may be true of some Thai men (especially younger ones), there are plenty of fantastic Thai men out there.  Sam also shares several interesting anecdotes about her unusual life as a farang wife in Thailand, from filling out paperwork that doesn’t even have options for women, to the unique requirements of being married to a Thai man who (temporarily) enters the monkhood - and their “re-marriage” when he came back into civilian life! There’s also a discussion of Asian stereotypes in

Your hosts get a little deep with the topic this time by kicking off a discussion on expat identity. Can expats reinvent themselves and become someone new in their new country? Should they? Ed chimes in with some immediate support for people doing what they can to get out of a rut or ‘stretch their personalities,’ but also offers concerns about people acting superficial or fake. Greg clarifies that he’s not talking about lying or just making stuff up, but rather breaking free of old, bad habits and giving yourself a chance to try something new. Although good friends and the comfort of home certainly make life better, they also can sometimes be constraining, especially after a long time in the same place.  The guys discuss a magazine article on the advantages of expatdom when it comes to improving yourself and creating a new ‘you,’ largely agreeing with the article’s optimistic view of expat life - at least if you are someone who WANTS to change things up. The boys also note that sexual identity is often one o

Greg interviews Tony Joh, an old friend and co-host of Season 1 of the Bangkok Podcast to reminisce about their true noob status as pioneer podcasters and re-living their early successes (and screw-ups).  Tony then explains his move to Japan and how he liked his job (at first) due to his ability to work from home (and avoid Japanese corporate culture). Lo and behold his small company was bought by a big corporation, and Tony was required to work in the office, significantly decreasing his job satisfaction. Tony and Greg trade stories about working for Asian companies (which Greg has done in the past), and compare and contrast Japanese and Thai culture.  The last stage of Tony’s journey was to move back to Canada, where he has been for the last year and a half. Tony recounts his re-adjustment to his home country, and ironically talks about how weird it is to have everything work well and being ‘normal.’ This leads to his possible interest in heading back to Asia for more adventures, because, let’s be honest, A

In a first for the podcast, the boys decide to review a part of the Bangkok Podcast website - the relatively new for Season 4 ‘Resources’ section. A few weeks back we posted a page called ‘Some Thoughts on Thai Culture,’ and it elicited some responses from friends of the podcast, so we decided to dig into it. We don’t want to rehash what’s already there, so if you haven’t read it yet, mosey on over and check it out. In brief, the page lists 5 key characteristics of Thai culture: 1) Respect for authority; 2) Being indirect; 3) High context; 4) Fitting in; and 5) No problems. Greg and Ed discuss each, trying to find exceptions and bring some nuance to the characteristics.  At the end, Ed brings up an ‘honorable mention’: an important characteristic that didn’t quite make the top five: Thais also are particularly concerned about appearing proper in public, but in private are no more conservative than most Westerners.  Of course, these are just our opinions and observations - we’d love to hear thoughts, feedback,

It’s been a long time since we sat down with our most returningest guest ever, so we’re psyched to chat with Phra Pandit for our first show of 2020.  We’ve all seen monks going on their daily alms rounds, walking slowly and stoically as laypeople put food and other items in their บาตร, or alms bowl. But how many of you know the history of giving alms? Phra Pandit gets into the details of the practice and answers a few questions - why only go in the morning? Why do monks look so sombre when they do it? Can you refuse an offering? And what types of items in their bowl makes a monk light up with an (inner) smile?  Phra Pandit also gives us his impressions of how the desire for ‘the perfect alms photo/video’ can sometimes corrupt the purity of the process (watch the video he mentions here), and tells a story that is, as Greg puts it, “the most metal story about Buddhsim ever.” As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we’ll keep our Fa

A new annual tradition begins with a discussion of the cost of living in Bangkok. Greg cites a recent study that puts Bangkok as the 47th most expensive city in the world for expats to live, which might not seem so bad except Bangkok has moved up 43 places (!) from last year.  Ed notes that while things do seem to be getting more expensive, the cost of living is notoriously difficult to measure because it really depends on the specific good or services that you measure. Greg concurs, noting for example that in the recent study, the cost of international school was NOT included, which could potentially even move Bangkok higher.  Ed also points out that Bangkok is a weird city that seems to cater to people at almost every income level, such that the average cost may not be super cheap, but that does not mean that super cheap options are not available.  But what about gas, food, rent, milk, a car, and buying a McDonald’s meal? Greg compares the prices in Bangkok with the same thing in his home town of Calgary. T

In our ongoing series about living in Bangkok with a disability, Greg interviews Sai Techawongtham, a Thai citizen who is blind, and who has something very rare in Thailand - a guide dog (his name is Luther and he’s a very good boy). Sai has recently received a lot of social media attention due to the fact that many Thai people are unaware of the purpose of guide dogs and often fail to accommodate their use. Sai discusses the difficulty of being blind in Thailand, and compares Bangkok to the U.S., where she goes to university. As Sai notes, exposure and awareness are slowly changing minds in Thailand, but many businesses in Bangkok still will not allow dogs to enter, even though guide dogs are allowed by law. But all the laws in the world won’t do much good if no one knows about them. Sai says that while it might be normal to blame the government for lack of accessibility for the disabled, there’s still a lot that private citizens can do to make their places of businesses easier to negotiate for the blind or