Post: #126

Quote:Find something else to do with your time then - preferably SOCIAL.
1) Take Thai language courses. (this should be number one priority)
2) Learn muay thai or taekwondo or mma.
3) Check meetup.com for the many different groups across the city.
4) Set up a few dates a week with women from the internet and, eventually, that you meet in public.
5) Drink whiskey instead of beer - at nice clubs and with Thai women, or some good Thai wingmen.

Thanks BB, I do plan on doing Thai language and I'd like to take up yoga 5 times a week for the physical and mental benfits. But first I HAVE to know how much money I have, in baht, before I can decide. My number 1 priority is my study for a year. Above all else (game included)

I did really want to train again in BJJ and was looking at MMA but it seems so expensive in Thailand. There's a school, Tiger Muay Thai that was opening a new branch in CM but it would have been 700 baht a day. That's a lot. Yes, you could be there all day but I don't want to.

And in BKK there only sems to be one good school and it's mostly taught in the evening for those after work when for what I'll be doing, is exactly when I start study/work.

I'll stick to the softer art of yoga for this year - good for the brain! I'm back into the meditation too. Hopefully no more cigarettes. Eating real food now. Bit of the old online dating (sigh - I really didn't like that shit in the UK but I think it's very different here right?) and maybe, just maybe.... some actually cold approaching of Thai women!

Post: #127

(06-11-2013 12:21 PM)Gift Wrote:  

Quote:With regards to your diet Gift, you can learn about the various Thai street food stalls from this ebook: http://uploads.vaitor.com/eating_thai_food_guide.pdf

Hey thanks man, that's a good tip.

I was made quite sick just 2 nights ago by trying the street food on my Soi for the first time. It's a shame as it looked good, tasted good, was only 40 baht and there was a lots of it including lovely morning glory greens.

You probably just had Bangkok Gut. EVERYONE gets sick a few times when they first arrive. From what I've read, it's more about the new spices and, in some cases, new bacterias, than about bad food.

Just a growing pain you have to endure at first.

Quote:But it messed me up - it had that pork they keep hanging up under a lightbulb - that cannot be good in terms of food hygeine? Plus some wantons that probably contain dog from those 1,000 dog skulls unearthed by that meatball factory the other day... or maybe it was the pork belly, who knows?

My advice on that shit - let it go.

You'll make yourself sicker worrying about that stuff than you will by the practices themselves. I've come to the conclusion that a lot of the obsessing we do about food sanitation in the west is exactly that, obsession. You're not going to get sick eating street food in most cases - people eat it everyday and are fine. The human body is a lot more resilient than we give it credit for, and honestly, depriving it of germs completely probably does more harm than good as it weakens your immune system.

Dog isn't going to kill you either - I mean, if you don't want to eat it, that should be your choice, but I wouldn't lose sleep over the locals getting one over on you. Horse neither. I hear both are tasty meats, so let it be.

I mean, be sensible, of course. Stick to street spots that always have customers, most of whom are locals. This shows you three things - the food is fresh due to high turnover, the food is tasty, and people aren't dying from it (if they were, the customers would go somewhere else as word of the mouth is boss in thailand).

Often, our version of cleanliness is not the same at the Thais, but that doesn't mean their version isn't clean. Thai want things to actually be clean. We want them to look clean. A lot of corner-cutting, but use common sense and you'll be fine.

I've broken all the rules. I drink the water they serve in those little spots and don't hold back on the ice. I've eaten raw beef. I've swam in foulest of water during Songkran (the moat in Chiang Mai) and ran from the cops once through some water that smelled like sewage. Drank from a spring bubbling out of the ground in the mountains at a buddhist temple. And more.

I'm not dead yet. Who knows - maybe full of parasites. While I probably could have toned down my adventurous nature a bit, I honestly I think Westerners just worry too much. The worrying is more dangerous than anything.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #128

Quote:Why was getting food a problem? There's street food available everywhere and a 7/11 every 100 yards that sells food 24/7. It's easy to find food in Thailand at any time of the day.

Do you make a bigger deal out of minor things than they really are by any chance?

Yeah but what am I going to eat from a 7/11? Crisps? Pot noodles? One of those deadly looking hotdog things they have on the counter?! It's just junk.

I want to eat at street stalls - some look great, some don't. I ate at the ones in Soi 38, they weren't bad. (although highly overrated)

I gave my local guy a shot and looked what happened - out of action for 2 days! Can't trust that lightbulb meat!!

Post: #129

Quote:I've swam in foulest of water during Songkran (the moat) and ran from the cops through some water that smelled like sewage.

You swam in the Moat?! Man, that IS brave!

A Japanes girl I met at a guesthouse (fuck she was hot) said she got pushed in there at Songkran, had diarrhoea for a few days after. A werid story to be telling someone you just met but... I liked her none the less!

PS - what? Running from some cops?

But yes, we do worry too much in the West. I already got a bit sick when I first arrived so I thought it was over. This was on another level! Another problem is just not speaking Thai and not knowing what is in what. A Thai guy helped me out in Chiang Mai with ordering - I went for bamboo shoots with chicken - sounded fine. 1. It was waaay too hot and I like hot stuff. 2. They just pulverized the chicken, bones and all, so it was full of shards of smashed chicken bone. I ended up just binning it. Been a little overcautious since I think.

Post: #130

(06-11-2013 12:42 PM)Gift Wrote:  

Quote:I've swam in foulest of water during Songkran (the moat) and ran from the cops through some water that smelled like sewage.

You swam in the Moat?! Man, that IS brave!

A Japanes girl I met at a guesthouse (fuck she was hot) said she got pushed in there at Songkran, had diarrhoea for a few days after. A werid story to be telling someone you just met but... I liked her none the less!

Yeah, I got pushed in by a Thai friend too, so I just went with it. Pushed him in after I got out. Honestly, everyone who goes around the moat during songkran is getting drenched with that shit anyways, and probably even swallowing some (as I accidentely did) so what's the difference, I suppose...

Quote:[PS - what? Running from some cops?

2-year visa overstay or something like that, nowhere to go if I got deported at the time, and no cash to face the music. I blasted over a barbed wire fence, cutting the shit out of myself, and was halfway across the city before anyone even knew what was going on. lol Wasn't ready to go out like that.

Quote: But yes, we do worry too much in the West. I already got a bit sick when I first arrived so I thought it was over. This was on another level! Another problem is just not speaking Thai and not knowing what is in what. A Thai guy helped me out in Chiang Mai with ordering - I went for bamboo shoots with chicken - sounded fine. 1. It was waaay too hot and I like hot stuff. 2. They just pulverized the chicken, bones and all, so it was full of shards of smashed chicken bone. I ended up just binning it. Been a little overcautious since I think.

I'm telling you - just ride it out. You'll get stomach sick a couple more times, but the sooner you get past it the better off you'll be. Don't worry about the chicken bones and shit like that - it's all part of the experience, Man. Some new things you'll like; others not so much. Spicy you'll warm up to as well.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #131

Quote:Yeah but what am I going to eat from a 7/11? Crisps? Pot noodles? One of those deadly looking hotdog things they have on the counter?! It's just junk.

I want to eat at street stalls - some look great, some don't. I ate at the ones in Soi 38, they weren't bad. (although highly overrated)

I gave my local guy a shot and looked what happened - out of action for 2 days! Can't trust that lightbulb meat!!

They have frozen Thai ready meals in the freezer that they'll microwave for you. Some of them are pretty tasty though not as tasty (or spicy) as a typical Thai dish.

When it's late at night / early morning and you're drunk and / or hungry they are a life saver.

Also don't write off the 7/11 junk food, the hot dogs and toasted cheese and ham sandwhiches are great when drinking and you've got a craving for western junk food.

You'll get upset stomachs in Thailand it happens. You'll get used to it sooner than later.

Some more apartments with good prices and decent locations I've scoped out....

http://www.sailomapartment.com/
http://www.5thresidence.com/index.php

Haven't seen any of them in person but they look decent enough. Worth checking out.

Post: #132

(06-11-2013 01:02 PM)ThailandRockstar Wrote:  

Quote:Yeah but what am I going to eat from a 7/11? Crisps? Pot noodles? One of those deadly looking hotdog things they have on the counter?! It's just junk.

I want to eat at street stalls - some look great, some don't. I ate at the ones in Soi 38, they weren't bad. (although highly overrated)

I gave my local guy a shot and looked what happened - out of action for 2 days! Can't trust that lightbulb meat!!

They have frozen Thai ready meals in the freezer that they'll microwave for you. Some of them are pretty tasty though not as tasty (or spicy) as a typical Thai dish.

When it's late at night / early morning and you're drunk and / or hungry they are a life saver.

Also don't write off the 7/11 junk food, the hot dogs and toasted cheese and ham sandwhiches are great when drinking and you've got a craving for western junk food.

You'll get upset stomachs in Thailand it happens. You'll get used to it sooner than later.

Some more apartments with good prices and decent locations I've scoped out....

http://www.sailomapartment.com/
http://www.5thresidence.com/index.php

Haven't seen any of them in person but they look decent enough. Worth checking out.

Max Value supermarkets have lot´s of choice for cheapish ready meals, even salads and sushi or chinese food. The one in prahkhanong has discounts after 8 or 9 pm. They sell the food that is going to get old almost half price. Of course, they are not in every corner like 7-11, but if you find one near your place it´s worth it.

Post: #133

If you're going to be here for a whole year you might as well get used to the overly spicy and unhygienic food, forge that 'iron gut' now so that it won't give you any problems down the line. If you live near the Thai-Jap friendship stadium you can workout there, they've got all the basic stuff incl. a track and a pool and its practically free. You don't sound like the kind of guy who would want to spend serious time at aMuay Thai camp so why not instead take some cooking classes, language instruction or other activities that can help your game while you're there. You're in probably the easiest place in the world to pickup girls for guys with little game, make the most of it.

Post: #134

Gift - time for some tough love:

STOP BEING A BITCH AND APPROACH! JUST DO IT !!!!

Post: #135

Damn bro, that sounds like hardcore! You know what? You need to have a blog man, with all the crazy adventures and stuffs that you've been through and experienced, I'm certain it will be a roaring success! And it might even provide you with some extra funding if done properly.

(06-11-2013 12:50 PM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  2-year visa overstay or something like that, nowhere to go if I got deported at the time, and no cash to face the music. I blasted over a barbed wire fence, cutting the shit out of myself, and was halfway across the city before anyone even knew what was going on. lol Wasn't ready to go out like that.

Gift,
Enjoying reading your posts and how you're progressing in BKK, but it does make me cringe a lot at times. But at least you're showing signs of improvement, albeit very slowly. Let me ask you something: is this your first time in Bangkok/Thailand? Is this your first time in Asia? Is this your first time traveling to a far away land by yourself? What made you choose Thailand and Bangkok? What kind of research did you do prior to coming here both in your pre-planning and before getting there? I'm asking these as if you had done your research properly, you wouldn't be making half of the silly rookie like mistakes you've been making. But at least, you have the spirit of mind to acknowledge them and take corrective measures based on not only your own observations and learning but also on the tips and suggestions that people in here have been providing you with.

Also, if you want to train in a Muay Thai gym, there are some great threads in here, just do a search. Here's one such thread:
/thread-2146.h...oes+phuket

/thread-20349....=muay+thai

/thread-5886.h...=muay+thai

It's not that expensive at all compared to what you would pay for it in the UK or North America. You get a great training, after a month or two, you get ripped or at the very least, get you back in shape.

And while BKK is an uber awesome city, go travel around Thailand, it's a beautiful country, blessed with magnificient sights and places, great culture and friendly people. It would be a mistake to spend all your time in BKK.

Here's a challenge for you: to have at least 2 bangs with two different non pros by the end of this week. This is an extremely easy challenge, specially in BKK and in light of all the world class advice you've been given by all the BKK experts in here. I'm not going to say good luck, but rather, I'm (like all the other guys following this thread), are all saying, cheers for your success!

Post: #136

I was getting ready to post the same thought. Jesus Gift are you a man or a whiny little schoolboy? Remember, people 100 years ago had it 50x harder than you do and you're going on like life sucks.

Start being a man - a mother fucking conqueror of the highest magnitude and stop sweating the small SHIT. Be the lion or get eaten. Being a bitch is a choice.

Post: #137

Quote:You don't sound like the kind of guy who would want to spend serious time at aMuay Thai camp so why not instead take some cooking classes, language instruction or other activities

Like maybe watercolours or sewing or flower arranging?

I would HAPPILY spend 2 months at a Muay Thai camp - it's just not conducive to my primary directive...

Make Money.

- but I get you're trying to help a brother out...!

Post: #138

If you're there for a year, I strongly recommend taking a Thai language course. I studied intensively at TLA School at Phayathai Plaza. My course was 3.5 hours per day, 5 days per week and I completed the full 6 months. By the end of that I could read, write and speak at an upper intermediate level. It was only about 5000 per month too, which is great considering that the most people I was ever in a class with was 2 others, and by month 3 it was only me.

It helped me with Thai women loads; in the early stages you can open by asking them questions about the language in coffee shops etc, and by the end of month 2-3 you will be able to have conversations all in Thai (I could get by gaming all in Thai by the end of month 2 pretty much). They do evening courses too which are 2 hours per day too if you prefer.

The system they use was developed to teach Christian missionaries and it is really effective. It's a lot of work though (lots of vocab to learn and homework most days), but really worthwhile. There are other schools using the same system such as Union (there are several others too but I can't remember the names).

Post: #139

(06-12-2013 05:48 AM)Kieran Wrote:  If you're there for a year, I strongly recommend taking a Thai language course. I studied intensively at TLA School at Phayathai Plaza. My course was 3.5 hours per day, 5 days per week and I completed the full 6 months. By the end of that I could read, write and speak at an upper intermediate level. It was only about 5000 per month too, which is great considering that the most people I was ever in a class with was 2 others, and by month 3 it was only me.

It helped me with Thai women loads; in the early stages you can open by asking them questions about the language in coffee shops etc, and by the end of month 2-3 you will be able to have conversations all in Thai (I could get by gaming all in Thai by the end of month 2 pretty much). They do evening courses too which are 2 hours per day too if you prefer.

The system they use was developed to teach Christian missionaries and it is really effective. It's a lot of work though (lots of vocab to learn and homework most days), but really worthwhile. There are other schools using the same system such as Union (there are several others too but I can't remember the names).

Fuck man, that sounds hardcore - 3.5 hours a day, 5 days a week?! That's a lot. I'm impressed.

I think I read your post about that before, I was going to check them out. I've heard about this missionary approach to language learning elsewhere.

You heard of this place?

http://baanaksorn.com/

Supposed to be really good too.

Got my FCD account set up today so sending over my funds soon - once they are here in baht, I can work out what I can afford.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Post: #140

(06-12-2013 05:48 AM)Kieran Wrote:  If you're there for a year, I strongly recommend taking a Thai language course. I studied intensively at TLA School at Phayathai Plaza. My course was 3.5 hours per day, 5 days per week and I completed the full 6 months. By the end of that I could read, write and speak at an upper intermediate level. It was only about 5000 per month too, which is great considering that the most people I was ever in a class with was 2 others, and by month 3 it was only me.

It helped me with Thai women loads; in the early stages you can open by asking them questions about the language in coffee shops etc, and by the end of month 2-3 you will be able to have conversations all in Thai (I could get by gaming all in Thai by the end of month 2 pretty much). They do evening courses too which are 2 hours per day too if you prefer.

The system they use was developed to teach Christian missionaries and it is really effective. It's a lot of work though (lots of vocab to learn and homework most days), but really worthwhile. There are other schools using the same system such as Union (there are several others too but I can't remember the names).

Can you get an education visa with this?
Why is the evening class shorter? It must cover a lot less, right?

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #141

Quote:Can you get an education visa with this?
Why is the evening class shorter? It must cover a lot less, right?

On the site it says it's a government approved - that usally means you can get an ED Visa right? I know the place I posted can only get you an ED Visa for 10 months max - something about the size of the class not meeting guidelines or some shit.

Post: #142

Yeah, you can get an ed visa from them, but if you are already in country, then it would mean leaving the country to apply for it I think. I got my ed visas from a Boxing camp though (for those that don't know, you can get an ed visa for muay thai, only problem is you're not supposed to fight pro on it).

Gift I don't know anything about that school. The other schools that use the same textbook are Union, Unity, Piammitr, and AAA (not sure if they are all still running though as I just got this info from an old thread on Thaivisa). All of these schools were started by teachers that broke away from Union to start their own schools.

TLA was great though as the class size was so small (I met a guy that was at union and he had 7-8 people in his class). Regardless of which school you choose though, I really recommend the method for anybody interested. People that study with these schools for 3-4 months are usually better than people that have been studying for years at other schools. It is a lot of work though (towards the latter stages the homework and vocab takes another 2-3 hours on top of the classes).

Regarding the class length, I did the shorter afternoon classes for one module. It was pretty much the exact same but with a little less time to practice speaking, a little less vocab, and less time to ask random questions.

Post: #143

That's just awesome! Thanks for sharing it! One of my only and major regrets of when I was living in BKK was not taking a language course, even tough I did register with AAA but got side tracked by the constant partying. I like the sound of how the course you took is scheduled, it would be ideal for me.

Say I go there with a double entry visa allowing me to stay in LOS for 6 months and then towards the end of the 6 months there, I register for that same course as you. Would I be able to get that 1 year study visa at that time?

(06-12-2013 05:48 AM)Kieran Wrote:  If you're there for a year, I strongly recommend taking a Thai language course. I studied intensively at TLA School at Phayathai Plaza. My course was 3.5 hours per day, 5 days per week and I completed the full 6 months. By the end of that I could read, write and speak at an upper intermediate level. It was only about 5000 per month too, which is great considering that the most people I was ever in a class with was 2 others, and by month 3 it was only me.

It helped me with Thai women loads; in the early stages you can open by asking them questions about the language in coffee shops etc, and by the end of month 2-3 you will be able to have conversations all in Thai (I could get by gaming all in Thai by the end of month 2 pretty much). They do evening courses too which are 2 hours per day too if you prefer.

The system they use was developed to teach Christian missionaries and it is really effective. It's a lot of work though (lots of vocab to learn and homework most days), but really worthwhile. There are other schools using the same system such as Union (there are several others too but I can't remember the names).

Post: #144

They'll extend your visa for free indefinitely if you're not getting laid. Can't have people going home dry it's bad for the tourism industry there.

Post: #145

You can find more info on their website, but just to give a little more info on the system, for the first two months you learn using a system of transliteration, and then in month 3 they begin teaching the alphabet, and some fairly basic reading and writing. In month 4 and 5 they really start to focus more on reading and writing, and by the end of month 5 you will be capable of reading fairly complex pieces of writing, and also of writing short stories yourself. Then month 6 focuses on common spoken Thai. After this they also have some advanced modules such as social problems, medical vocab, thai culture, and newspaper reading etc.

They also really drill correct pronunciation with you. In the latter stages I was often mistaken for being Thai when making phone calls.

It is a lot of work though, especially if you want to get the most out of it. I was in class 3 hours per day and doing another 3 hours or so on vocab, homework, and practice most days, plus trying to fit in boxing, running, and weights where I could, and then go out every night. I actually ended up getting shingles after month 4 and so I took a month between each of the last 2 modules. Still, it was well worthwhile for the amount of doors it opened for me with both the women and with making Thai friends.

Post: #146

(06-12-2013 01:26 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  That's just awesome! Thanks for sharing it! One of my only and major regrets of when I was living in BKK was not taking a language course, even tough I did register with AAA but got side tracked by the constant partying. I like the sound of how the course you took is scheduled, it would be ideal for me.

Say I go there with a double entry visa allowing me to stay in LOS for 6 months and then towards the end of the 6 months there, I register for that same course as you. Would I be able to get that 1 year study visa at that time?

(06-12-2013 05:48 AM)Kieran Wrote:  If you're there for a year, I strongly recommend taking a Thai language course. I studied intensively at TLA School at Phayathai Plaza. My course was 3.5 hours per day, 5 days per week and I completed the full 6 months. By the end of that I could read, write and speak at an upper intermediate level. It was only about 5000 per month too, which is great considering that the most people I was ever in a class with was 2 others, and by month 3 it was only me.

It helped me with Thai women loads; in the early stages you can open by asking them questions about the language in coffee shops etc, and by the end of month 2-3 you will be able to have conversations all in Thai (I could get by gaming all in Thai by the end of month 2 pretty much). They do evening courses too which are 2 hours per day too if you prefer.

The system they use was developed to teach Christian missionaries and it is really effective. It's a lot of work though (lots of vocab to learn and homework most days), but really worthwhile. There are other schools using the same system such as Union (there are several others too but I can't remember the names).

I would think that would be fine, but I'm not sure. You might want to check that you don't have to be in your country of origin to apply for ed visas or something. I got my years ed visa from a boxing camp while still in the UK, and then returned home after a year for a break and got another year from a different camp.

Post: #147

What you learn and the level of proficiency sounds awesome but 3 hours per day, every day, plus another 3 hours homework? Plus travel time. That's the whole day. I admit the results would be awesome but for a year, 11 months actully now, I'd spend the first 6 learning Thai then have 3 or 4 or near fluency and then leave the country. Seems like a lot of work!

Also I know myself - I would NOT do the homework. Ever.

I'm going to be self-studying from 7:30 pm until 12:30 each night. Then I'd like to maybe go out. Get home at 4am. Wake up t 11am... No way I could make it to school on time!

Plus I want to do Yoga every day. And fitting in 40 minutes of meditation each day. And making a daily practice for an hour of guitar. And eating. And swimming in my pool. And maybe doing a workout of some kind in the multi-gym upstairs.

And what about girls? Ha ha ha!

Do they offer less hardcore options?

Thanks.

Post: #148

Look into 1-2 hours per day of private lessons. They can actually come to your condo. I've never had luck with group classes. Though, those group classes sound much better than any I've done. I don't really have the drive to learn Thai anymore, but if I do, ill look into those for sure. Small class size and a legitimate curriculum with a competent teacher is extremely rare. Most schools are garbage.

Post: #149

One day...

Post: #150

(06-12-2013 09:50 PM)Gift Wrote:  What you learn and the level of proficiency sounds awesome but 3 hours per day, every day, plus another 3 hours homework? Plus travel time. That's the whole day. I admit the results would be awesome but for a year, 11 months actully now, I'd spend the first 6 learning Thai then have 3 or 4 or near fluency and then leave the country. Seems like a lot of work!

Also I know myself - I would NOT do the homework. Ever.

I'm going to be self-studying from 7:30 pm until 12:30 each night. Then I'd like to maybe go out. Get home at 4am. Wake up t 11am... No way I could make it to school on time!

Plus I want to do Yoga every day. And fitting in 40 minutes of meditation each day. And making a daily practice for an hour of guitar. And eating. And swimming in my pool. And maybe doing a workout of some kind in the multi-gym upstairs.

And what about girls? Ha ha ha!

Do they offer less hardcore options?

Thanks.

You could probably get by with just the shorter evening classes plus an hour of revision / homework, but obviously you wouldn't reach the level of someone putting in a lot more time. The first 3 months are much easier too, it is only when you get to months 4 - 6 that it gets really intense.

For me I just wanted to put in a lot of time to it, get it handled somewhat, and then devote my time elsewhere. I reached a stage where I could speak pretty well, and was able to keep progressing just by talking with Thais, looking up words from emails etc.

You can definitely fit all of that in. I was doing boxing 4 afternoons per week, weights 2 afternoons per week, and running 10-15km 2 mornings per week, as well as going out every night until at least midnight and often later. It wasn't easy though, so if you want a more leisurely pace then other than the first couple of months I would look elsewhere.