The Bangkok Podcast

Have you ever seen those little kids walking around a temple dressed as monks? Well guess what - they ARE monks! Sort of. Mostly. Well, probably more than you are, anyway. Definitely more than we are. On this episode, Greg talks to perennial BP favorite Phra Pandit - a real, actual monk - about Thai novices, which is what not-yet-monks are called in Thailand. Pandit explains the origin of the 'novice' concept and how children in Thailand are often placed in temples due to family or behavioral issues. Phra Pandit notes that the system is not perfect - the young boys are expected to follow the Buddhist precepts and cannot play football or computer games or have relationships with girls - but that the system somehow 'works' in that the lives of countless young boys seem to be improved over time and many adults look back fondly on their time as novices. So what happens when the boys grow up and maybe decide they don't want to be monks anymore? A lot of things, actually, and Phra Pandit explains some of the many roads these young men can take. Whatever happens, the novice system has proven its worth to Thai society over the decades by helping troubled kids learn discipline and how to adjust to being an adult. And just to shake things up again, we play another round of Word Association, where Greg challenges Ed to come up with off-the-cuff replies to random Bangkok-based phrases he throws out. 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.

As all expats know, Bangkok is a gigantic, sprawling metropolis, but it does contain dozens of identifiable neighborhoods, each with its own personality, vibe, and reasons to go (or not to go) for a visit. On this show, the guys dive into the Ekkamai area, the long, skinny section that stretches from Sukhumvit to Petchaburi along Sukhumivit Soi 63. Not only does this include Soi Ekkamai proper, but also the many side sois that snake and wind and tumble west, toward Thong Lor, and east, toward Sukhumvit 71, which hide great apartments, cool coffee shops, and other little surprises. Greg and Ed go over some of their favorite places to eat, drink, and shop, while also discussing how Ekkamai fits into the big puzzle of Bangkok. 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.

In a culture where most people have seen ghosts, visit fortune tellers, and where questioning authority is kind of, sort of, not really cool, critical thinking may seem like a foreign concept. However, we happen to have an expert on hand - our own Ed "The Truth" Knuth, who teaches a critical thinking class as part of his university course. On the surface, it may seem that Thais are worse at thinking critically than westerners, but Ed explains that (at least in his opinion), it really depends on what people think about. If Thais are good at math and engineering, that means they have the faculties to think critically. Greg points out that the issue is fraught with cultural obstacles, such as the need to constantly respect authority. This is undoubtedly true, but Ed tells a few stories about how enthusiastically his students jump into his course, starting with a discussion about bigfoot and ending with a critical analyses of the fortunes that each student got done at the beginning of the semester. So the seed is planted...but even Ed can't hazard a guess as to how much of these skills stick around after the semester is over. The boys also get to Love, Loathe, or Leave, discussing those...pantaloon...diaper...things that are part of the traditional Thai outfit. We're not ruining anything by saying neither Greg nor Ed look good in these - but what do they think of them when not wrapped in silky goodness? 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.

Something a little different this week - a host swap! Greg is joined by co-host Scott Coates, one of his oldest friends in Thailand. Scott co-hosts the Talk Travel Asia podcast with Trevor Ranges, and, if you head over there, you will be able to hear The Bangkok Podcast's other host, Ed "The Truth" Knuth, co-hosting a show with Trevor. Everything will be back to normal next week, but we thought a bit of crossover action would be fun. (And in case you're wondering, the artwork for this week's episode is Greg and Scott during a mountain bike ride in Cambodia in 2010). For this show, Greg and Scott thought that they'd chat a bit about how, as long-term expats, Bangkok has changed them personally. From living as a minority, to learning to calm down and "out-Thai the Thais", to getting a close-up look at social stratification and widespread poverty, no one can spend any significant amount of time here without changing at least a lil' bit on the inside. Greg's last point is that living in Thailand has taught him about his own resilience and resourcefulness, having to overcome all the obstacles of life as an expat. Scott concludes somewhat philosophically that there is beauty in the imperfections of Bangkok life; that the chaos itself gives Bangkok a unique character, and that clean and organized is not always better. Deep stuff! 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.

From a cute lil' gazebo on the rooftop of a newly-renovated hotel in Chinatown, Greg, Ed, and Stuart from Travelfish.org jump into the complex issue of "overtourism" in Thailand. Beginning with a definition of the term (roughly when the number of tourists exceeds the capacity of the existing infrastructure to properly service them), Stuart describes the situation in a number of popular tourist destinations in Thailand. It's a tricky subject - if one destination starts to get a bit too touristy, does this then mean that tourists (and expats in Thailand) should re-route their trips to lesser known destinations? Stuart thinks it's a good idea, pointing out that in recent decades, tourist destinations in Thailand have actually gotten less diverse, as more regional options open up and compete for the almighty tourist dollar. The guys then discuss other possible solutions to the problem, but all three express doubts about the Thai government's willingness to sacrifice short term tourist numbers for long term preservation of Thailand's position in the world of tourism. What do you think? 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.

We start off with some good news! Throwing back to episode 2.18 and guest Sawang Srisom, a disabled rights activist, Greg is happy to report that the city just gave a huge chunk of change to to the BTS so that they can finally add elevators to all stations! Really, it's about time - Bangkok's disabled facilities are embarrassingly unsuitable. Greg and Ed then get into the meat of the show - live music in Bangkok. After lamenting the scene compared to the U.S. and Canada, they chat about some of their favorite spots in Bangkok and give some recommendations. Greg pushes perennial podcast go-tos AdHere on Samsen as well as Brown Sugar on Phra Sumen, although he doesn't have a very big list of favorites beyond that (having a kid will do that to you). Ed discusses the various 'scenes' in Bangkok from Thai pop, to indie, to jazz bars at high-end hotels. And - as an actual musician without child - Ed gives a much more comprehensive list of favorites than Greg: Soul Bar in Chinatown, Apoteka on Soi 11, and Nothing But the Blues on Thong Lor. And when it comes to finding gig info online, it's thankfully not the desert it used to be. Ed suggests Live Music Tonight, and Greg recommends E7BKKLive. Ed finishes his list with a shout out to Check Inn 99 on Sukhumvit 33 for its jazz jam, and Greg reminds everybody about Bangkok institution Saxophone Pub at Victory Monument. Both agree that although the live music scene in Bangkok may not be world class, plenty of great music is out there if you are willing to look for it. 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 welcomes former co-host Evo Terra back to the podcast after his repatriation to the good old U.S.A. Evo describes his new life in Phoenix and his many adjustments, including trying to drive on the right (that is, not left) side of the road. He also recounts the difficulty of finding a furnished apartment at a reasonable price and laments the relatively decent cost of living in the City of Angels (Thai version). Shopping for food has also been a challenge, due to the fact that Evo actually knows what everything is, and hence, takes forever to decide what he wants. Luckily, he found an Asian market and stocked up on all the spices he fell in love with in Thailand, including the foul effluent known as 'fish sauce.' Greg then walks Evo through the 9 factors that determine the seriousness of reverse culture shock to see how many he's faced, and talks about other strange things, like understanding what everyone is saying, and the surprising ways he's able to use Thai, Khmer, and even Mandarin in Phoenix. Finally, Evo reminisces a bit with a list of what he really misses in Bangkok - but you'll have to listen to hear it. :) Greg and Ed then experiment with a new segment, Word Association, where Ed reveals the true darkness in the depth of his personality as he spontaneously reacts to Greg's word queries. 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.

Episode links: My interview with the guys at This Strange Life podcast https://soundcloud.com/this_strange_life/tsl04-tsl04-from-surviving-to-thriving-in-bangkok-with-greg-from-the-bangkok-podcast Bangkok may be great for the childless among us, but what about those expats who want to raise a family here? As a married guy without kids, Ed questions Greg about the pros and cons of being a parent in Bangkok. The conversation starts with a peek into the insane cost and stress of deciding which school the little angels/devils will attend, where tuition can sometimes hit $20,000 per year for first grade (coughINSANEcough). Unsurprisingly, it's one of the top factors in deciding how long - or even if - an expat family will stay here. And yes, that's Greg's kid on the episode artwork, cunningly disguised as Batman. But thankfully for the bags under Greg's eyes, there are lots of other stress points to having a kid in Bangkok! These range from the difficulty of building a social circle, how to approach language learning, and what the hell you can (and can't) actually DO with a kid in Bangkok. Greg also shares a bit about the difficulties in making sure his spawn grows up understanding the Canuck-ness of his Canadian side, and reminisces about the wistful days of yesteryear when he was told to "go outside and play and come back for dinner," which you definitely can't do with a kid in Bangkok. In "Love, Loathe, or Leave," Greg challenges Ed with the quirky way (seemingly all) Thai cashiers return change, with both agreeing that the most annoying part of the habit is the insistence on giving small receipts for every purchase, something that the late, great Mitch Hedberg summed up perfectly. 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.

Key links for this show: StuJay.com Hey, do you know the difference between ใ and ไ? What about เ and แ? Well, we sort of do, but you know who really does? This week's guest, Stu Jay Raj. What started as a simple question from Greg to Stu about Thai vowels gets turned around as Stu - noted linguist, polyglot, and all around swell dude - starts asking questions of Greg, slowly revealing a method of thinking about Thai vowels that isn't so obvious. Thai language learners will be mouthing along with Stu as he delves into the very DNA of the base sounds that make up most Thai vowel combinations. Not only that, you'll begin to understand the very important connection in the Thai language between what a vowel sounds like, and the position your mouth, throat, and tongue need to be in to arrive at the correct sound. Also, did you know that the Thai language is abugida? We didn't even know that word existed until this show, but Stu gives us a crash course on what it means. In Love, Loathe, or Leave, Ed - Mr. Taxi himself - asks Greg what he thinks of one of the oldest tricks in the book for taxi drivers to squeeze a bit of extra money from their fares...and whether or not it's always a scam, or sometimes just a bit of bad luck. 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 have each been in Thailand for more than 15 years, and along the way have done a lot of things right - but also a lot of things wrong. So in the spirit of the almighty do-over, they each thought of three pieces of advice they would give to their early Thailand selves. First of all, the boys skip the obvious piece of advice - learn Thai - which should be #1 on the list of everyone planning to spend more than 6 month here. From there they get into the nitty-gritty - from dating advice to how to avoid stressing out over Thai politics, to leaving Bangkok in the rearview, to making a point to visit some of its lesser-known cultural resources, Greg and Ed think of a few important points that would have made their early Thailand experience not so much better, but possibly richer and more rewarding. And in this week's Love, Loathe, or Leave, Greg asks Ed his thoughts on the weak, bendy, nearly useless forks and spoons at Thai food courts (and, most frustratingly, in Greg's kitchen). It's safe to say neither loves them, but listen in for some musings on why, exactly, Thais put up with such lame cutlery. 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.

You may remember a month ago Greg and Ed invited our wonderful listeners to write in with details on how long they have been living in Thailand. Listen in to hear the boys discuss the results - or if you're more disposed to pretty colors, check out the neat-o pie chart on the website. Greg then begins a conversation about Thai funerals with frequent podcast guest Phra Pandit, a British-born Buddhist monk here in Thailand. Greg notes that Thai funerals seem to be less serious and emotional than funerals back home, and Phra Pandit points out that Thai funerals are typically stretched out over several days, somewhat muting the emotional intensity of the event. Pandit also stresses that many of the rituals seen at Thai funerals are not set in stone, and there is considerable variety in the specifics of each funeral - like throwing coins (really), knocking on coffins (really), and man-handling a corpse into a more convenient position for funeral rites (yikes...really). Greg also gets schooled on why reincarnation in Buddhism is not thought of as a good thing, because one never knows in what situation one might be reborn, and any merit that can be done at the funeral in honor of the deceased might tip the karma balance in your favor. Finally, Pandit gives us a few somewhat humorous (but also pretty gruesome) behind-the-scenes rituals and, uh...manual chores that one must do to make sure a funeral goes off as planned. For Love, Loathe, or Leave, Ed challenges Greg to say anything good about inappropriately loud music at Thai markets and malls, but Greg admits he hates it - though not enough to flee the Land of Smiles. 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.

Continuing with a series started in season 2 on some of Bangkok's more interesting neighborhoods, the boys discuss one of their favorites: Banglamphu. But before they can chat about that, exactly what is Banglamphu? It's not an official district, but it's probably best known for Khao San Road, with its borders hitting Ratchadamnoen in the south, the river to the west, north to Krung Kasem Canal, and east to Ratchadamnoen Nok. Not a huge chunk of land. Is Banglamphu a good place to live, or just to visit? Despite the area being dominated by hotels, guesthouses, and hostels, there are still some good places to hang your hat - you just need to know where to look. (Hint: try just across the river for a steep drop in price) The guys then wrestle with the elephant in the room (so to speak), by discussing Khao San Road. Awesome party road with bars and shopping, or awful hippie ghetto with gross "Thai" food? It's pretty subjective, but both Ed and Greg agree - don't eat the scorpions. All of this, plus a few personal favorite restaurants, live music venues, and tips on avoiding the madness of being stuck in a taxi as you try to get in or out of sweet, sweet Banglamphu. In 'Love, Loathe, or Leave,' Greg queries Ed on the metal, clanging change boxes carried by money collectors on buses and boats throughout the city. What are they for? What do they do? Why are they so loud? As with most things in Bangkok, it probably makes a lot more sense than it appears on first look. 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.

Useful links: The Surprising Reason There Are So Many Thai Restaurants in America Hot Thai Kitchen We're happy to have Pailin Chongchitnant as our guest this week, creator and host of Hot Thai Kitchen, a popular YouTube channel based in Vancouver, Canada that shows people how to cook delicious Thai food recipes in their kitchens. A handful of places - Italy, Japan, Vietnam, India - have food that's so tied to their culture that the food itself is somewhat of an ambassador, and Thailand is no exception. The question then becomes how much Thai culture can a foreigner absorb simply by watching how the national cuisine is prepared? Pailin also gives some insight into how Thai food is perceived overseas & how "hipster Thai" joints are taking over, and describes how she comes up with ideas for shows. She also describes some of the insane ways foreigners try to give their native food a Thai spin by splashing peanut sauce on it - or even using - (ugh) - peanut butter! And in a post-interview email that Greg reads, Pailin also weighs in on a recent article describing how the Thai government helps Thai nationals overseas open Thai restaurants, which may or may not help the cause, depending on how passionate the owner is about "real" Thai food. 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.

Ahhh, Songkran, a waterfight so insane that people in other countries know all about it. Love it or hate it, it's THE holiday on the Thai calendar, and unless you've got a (probably damp) ticket in your (probably damp) little hands, it's hard to avoid. Greg starts off showing how poorly he can recollect the origins of Songkran off the top of his head, before he and Ed discuss the infamous "Ministry of Culture Gets Pissed at Topless Dancing Girls" episode of Songkran 2011, which left people alternately laughing, livid, or losing face. (Read Kaewmala's excellent insight into that episode here, and a NY Times story here) Ed also shares his belief that Songkran might be the perfect Thai holiday, where old and new, conservative and liberal, and reserved and raucous clash in the most Thai of ways. You'll also get to hear them recollect stories about friends getting soaked despite not wanting to, how a pitcher of beer was poured over Greg's head one year, and why two (now)-jaded dudes might head out again this year just to see what's up. 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.

Going vegetarian in Bangkok has always struck Greg as somewhat of an inconvenience - I mean, how many vegetarian street food stalls do you know? But guess who's been on a full-on vegan diet for the past year? That's right, Ed. And guess who is going to give Greg some insight on actually how easy it is to be a vegetarian in Bangkok? Well...yes, of course, also Ed. You've been here before, I see. Ed - a noted vegan - dishes a bit on what he thinks of the politics and clique-iness of strict diets, as well as the role that religion may play for some people, while Greg - a noted carnivore - recollects a few tales of searching for food in Bangkok with vegan friends. Let's just say it wasn't his favorite dining experience. We also spin up Love, Loathe or Leave, where Ed wants to hear Greg's thought on the (ongoing...maybe?) effort to clean food vendors off of Bangkok's sidewalks. 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.

Welcome back! For the first show of season 3, Greg introduces you to the new co-host of the Bangkok Podcast, Ed "The Truth" Knuth. Together they have a combined 35 years in the Big Mango, so they reminisce a bit about what the city was like when they first got here, how it compares to now, and what they think the city will look like in 10 or 20 years. Purely based on conjecture, of course, they have no real experience with this, but since when has making uneducated predictions been a bad idea? One of the things Greg and Ed discuss is the future of Bangkok's train network - click here to see a map that Greg made that shows what Bangkok will (hopefully) look like in 10 or so years. We also thank Patreon supporter Mike Herrin, who hides his steamy real life Bangkok adventures behind a veil of boring office work. And don't worry about losing one of the favorite parts of the show - Greg surprises Ed with a Love, Loathe, or Leave that has to do with motorbike taxi drivers who might be trying to kidnap you...or just simply random dudes trying to make a few extra baht. As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get early access, bonus shows, and special swag. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

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Though various types of pestilence plagued all of your hosts, two of of us managed to muster the necessary strength to record the episode this week. You're welcome. (Hi again, Ed!) We've a special guest on this week that anyone into in finance in Bangkok probably knows, Mr. Andrew Stotz, Ph.D. He's an award-winning equity analyst, the current President of the CFA Society Thailand, and the founder and CEO of A. Stotz Investment Research. Prior to that he spent 20 years working global investment banks in Asia, and has been a university lecturer in finance for more than two decades. Voted the #1 investor in Thailand by his peers several times over, he's also a co-founder of CoffeeWORKS Co. Ltd., Thailand's specialty coffee roaster. He and Greg chat about investing in Thailand at the lay-person level, since many of us aren't the most well-versed in financial options. And for Love, Loathe, or Leave, comes from listener Other Ed. He wants to know how we feel about ไม่เป็นไร. If you don't recognize the script, you've almost certainly heard it spoken if you've spent any time in Thailand and things haven't gone according plan. 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.

Key links for this episode: Map of Thonburi On the first show in our new series that digs into some of Bangkok's better-known 'hoods, we ask: did you know that Bangkok (that is, Thailand's modern capital) is not the original Bangkok? Nope! The first Bangkok (that is, the new capital after Ayutthaya was thrashed by the Burmese) was a little town called Thonburi. But, that didn't last long. Another little village called Bangkok became the new, new capital and Thonburi became a sleepy suburb. But after only 236 years, Thonburi is about to step into the limelight in a big way. How, you ask? Malls! Trains! Hotels! Markets! Craft beer! And...cable cars? But before we get into that, we need to thank ErQing Hui, our latest patron at the show shoutout level (who we simply call EQ (because we're not that good with Chinese), as well as Han Choi, who became our 50th patron and will be rewarded with one (or more!) snazzy postcards. 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.

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Key links for this episode: Nomadic Matt Plume App Our patrons know a secret. You can know it, too. One of the OG travel bloggers, Matt Kepnes, AKA Nomadic Matt, joins the program with all kinds of stories, tips, and reflections on travel on his site NomadicMatt.com. He even has a NYTimes best-selling book on how to travel the world on a budget! He's a hard guy to pin down, but he recently came through town on his way to New Zealand, and he very kindly let Greg to discuss an important question: Why do people (him included!) keep coming back to Bangkok? Speaking of catching up with friends, but on a much sadder note… the Bangkok expat community is a little smaller and sadder, with the recent passing of Eric Seldin. He was funny, warm, entertaining, and wise, and always had a good story to tell from his decades of working around Asia. In his memory, go spend some quality time with those you love but haven't caught up with recently, OK? You are flat out not going to like this week's Love, Loathe, or Leave. And not just because of the topic -- Bangkok's insidious air pollution that's just getting worse. No, it's one of our answers. Sorry in advance. :( And before we go: Remember that we're 100% funded by our supporters, who get some special swag from us. Hit us up on Facebook, Twitter, or LINE with comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

Support us and get cool stuff! The thought of spending a few days on an island in Thailand sounds about as close to paradise as a westerner can get: blue water, white sand, the works! But the reality of it is a little different than the picture in your mind, and you might want to adjust your expectations a bit when visiting an island in Thailand. And speaking of Thailand as a great vacation destination, we really do want to meet you when you come through Bangkok. Please reach out and we'll see if we can get our schedules to align so we can grab a beer, coffee, or even a meal together. We love it! Of course, we love the listeners who support us with a small financial contribution most of all. People like Jeremy Winterson, an actual race car driver and illegal taxi driver. (One of those statements is true). If you want to get the show early, get some cool swag, and even have Greg come up with fantastical tales of your life, support us if you can! And on Love, Loathe, or Leave: long-time expats who still can't pronounce Pattaya correctly. Don't sound like a noob, please? Thanks for listening. Hit us up on Facebook, Twitter, or LINE with your qwaments, kestians, or whatever you want to share.

Key links for this episode: Sign the Change.org petition to put the pressure on 7-11 Donate to support the fight against plastic waste in Thailand Greenpeace's position on Thailand's plastic problem Support the Bangkok Podcast on Patreon Yes, there are too many plastic bags floating -- literally -- around Bangkok. But rather than you listen to just more expat bitching, we brought on a local Thai person who's doing more than just bitching about the problem. Joey Liptapanlop is roping in his fellow citizens to start a grassroots movement aimed at… 7-11? Did you know that Thailand is the 6th worst plastic polluter in the world? That's thanks to the 1.03 million metric tons of plastic Thais release into the water. Joey and his crew want to do something about that, and this seems like the generation to (finally) get it done. This is something we can get behind. Slacktivists can join the almost 25,0000 people who have signed the Change.org petition to put the pressure on 7-11. There's also a Weeboon page to support the efforts of plastic pollution with small donations, currently getting close to ฿100,000. #deathbyplastic We're staying controversial with the Love, Loathe, or Leave segment of the show, this time taking on "White Privilege". Clearly, the two of us are the beneficiaries of such a reality. But how do we feel about it? How do you feel about it? Listen to what we have to say and let us know in the comments. Special thanks to Mr. Woolibeans -- no, that's not his real name, and that makes for an interesting story -- for his support of the Bangkok. Join him and the other ~50 people who support us on Patreon. You'll get bonus content, the regular show early, and feel good about yourself. And help us keep the show going strong!. Thanks for listening. Hit us up on Facebook, Twitter, or LINE with your questions, comments, or whatever you want to share.

Key links for this episode: Support us on Patreon to get the show early You've probably heard of "the Thai smile", or know that Thailand is referred to as "the Land of Smiles". Both of those phrases are well-earned, but that whole smiling thing is more than something done just in the hospitality space. For many Thais, smiling in a situation is a default reaction, even when the experience they are smiling at is a negative one. Like when a dog almost eats a small child and the owner's reaction is to smile it off. Oh, and that's not a hypothetical. It happened to Greg's kid. Or when a Thai driver almost hits a pedestrian and just smiles and waves. Also not hypothetical, as our special guest Ed Knuth (filling in for Evo Terra this week) will tell you. But what looks like a blow-off really isn't. It's a cultural difference, and those of us who've been here a while learn to self-correct our immediate emotional response when we encounter the Thai smile. Or at least, we try to. It's hard to break those old social contracts in favor or new ones. Is smiling at everything just another example of Thais being nice, often to a fault? Is it about saving face or avoiding confrontation? Or just the ramifications of a successful ad campaign? Greg and Ed will share more than a few of their thoughts and experiences gathered over the collective 33 years they've lived in Thailand. Speaking of living here for a long time, how do you feel about the "unboxing" that takes in the store when you buy damn near anything with an electrical plug in Thailand? Is that something you love, loath… or do you hate it so much you're ready to leave Thailand? Listen in to find out how we feel, and share your thoughts with us. Special thanks to Paul Johnston, who's deep love of Meatloaf led him to a life of … tires? OK. Paul and the other ~50 people who support us on Patreon -- is getting this show early. You can, too. Thanks for listening. Say nice things to Ed about his guest appearance, and hit us up on Facebook, Twitter, or LINE with your questions, comments, or whatever you want to share.

To help us ring in 2018, we're bringing back a prior guest on his annual pilgrimage to Bangkok. Frank Smith from UC Berkeley teaches Khmer to children of Cambodian refugees. We caught up with him in person at Bangkok's Central World mall… before we got kicked out by security. Yes, again. Not just because one of us made a foot faux pas. What's it like for a Thai speaker who doesn't live in Thailand to plop back into Bangkok, suddenly surrounded by other Thai speakers? There are actually lot of ways to keep up with the evolving language, thanks to the pervasive nature of the internet. Or what's it like when your a young person, with parents speaking their native tongue and all your friends and the world around you speaking English? Frank faces that every day in the classroom, and shares some interesting tidbits from his students. Also, Frank reports the Bay area of California has a sizeable and well-knit Thai population, so we press him for some impressions (from the outside, obviously) on how that contingent live their lives abroad, which makes for a nice parallel for those expats like us living in Thailand. You'll also hear Frank bust some myths we've heard (and may be following) as we both struggle our way through learning Thai. And on Love, Loath, or Leave, we talk about not having easy access to clean drinking water. And by "easy", we mean getting it straight out of the tap. It's pretty obvious where we fall on this question, but your mileage may vary depending on where you are from. Thanks for listening. Hit us up on Facebook, Twitter, or LINE.

Before we start, we have to mention a recent news story from Bangkok, which is rather appropriate considering the topic of tonight's show. You may recall we discussed traffic on episode 2.27 -- Blood on the Highway: Thailand's Seven Deadly Days of Songkran. On that episode we mentioned that Thailand was the second-most deadly country in the world for road fatalities. Well, not anymore. We're number one! And that's a good way to set up the rest of the program, as it's all about an accident we (yes, both of us) were recently involved in. Explaining what happened is tricky, but it involved doubling-up on a motorbike taxi without helmets, a possibly illegal Uber driver, three different quasi-cops, a crazy chicken lady, and someone high up in the taxi mafia (Probably. Possibly. Actually, we have no idea who he was). It's a story you have to hear to understand, so listen up. We even stuck with the theme on Love, Loathe, or Leave! Someone told Thai drivers to turn on their hazard lights to signal intent to drive straight through an intersection. It's not hard to guess how we each feel about this reality of living in Bangkok. Thanks for listening. Hit us up on Facebook, Twitter, or LINE. [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

You can now follow to the Bangkok Podcast on Spotify! It's nearly Xmas, so we figured we'd might as well start getting into the spirit of things with a Xmas-themed show. Now those of you who are westerners understand just how important Xmas is in your home countries. In most places it's the BIG DADDY of holidays, the one that the entire year has been building up to. In fact it's so big that they even celebrate it in countries where, to be honest, it has no real business being celebrated. Like this one! Trouble is… we're not good experts on the topic. Evo's never experienced the holiday in Thailand, and Greg usually spends Christmas at work. So rather than being all bah humbug, we reached out to some Thai nationals to find out what they do, other than spend a bunch of money at the malls. For Love, Loathe, or Leave this week we take on the great toilet paper debate. Where do you sit (heh) on issue? Are you a flusher, or are you a trash bin user? And what if there isn't a bum gun in use? Our answers may surprise you. Or anger the public works people. Engage with us on Facebook, Twitter, or LINE, and support us on Patreon to keep the goodness coming!

On this episode we get into a few vague, strange - and possibly even non-existent - rules that you may or may not bump up against in Thailand. From buying chainsaws to changing your name to flying helicopters to losing your &$%@#! "book bank" (known throughout the rest of the world as bank books), these are things that govern the nuances of every day life. Greg reads 'em off, Evo plays Devil's Advocate to try and discount them, and we land somewhere around the middle. Love, Loathe, or Leave Have you ever seen someone - usually a taxi driver - standing right out in the open answering the call of nature without a care in the world as to who sees him (or it?) Yeah, so have we! We Love Our Supporters! Join dozens of fine people who help keep the show free of annoying ads by supporting us on Patreon. You'll get exclusive bonus episodes, cool swag, and access to every show that the regular people get - a whole day early! Who doesn't want that? Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!) [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

RSVP to the I Love Podcasting In Bangkok meetup on Nov 29, 2017! Patrons get early access and exclusive bonus content. Today's focus is on Korea's influence on Bangkok. Ted Ahn, an expat and ex-power plant manager from Korea, is actively working to bring about change in Bangkok's local Thai craft beer industry. Ted is the owner of Changwon Express, and Evo sat down with him at his newest location on the top floor of Flow House. A few key bits from the episode: Ted estimates that around 90% of his customer base is all local Thai people. He reserves at least 20 taps for the exclusive support of Thai craft beer. His genius idea of catering to Thai girls with Korean food to in turn attract the Thai guys. What influence Brooklyn Brewery played into his efforts of making and supporting local brewers and local beer drinkers. His challenges and successes finding and training local staff to work behind the bar. He designed his own two-row tap system that separates the liquid from the head to create the best pour in Bangkok, a popular design in Korea. Ted's plans to build a local brew pub with satellite locations, branches, to get around Thailand's restrictive (draconian?) brewing laws in a totally legit fashion that would enable legal, local Thai craft beer… finally! What a huge pain in the ass it is to brew "local" beer in another country (which is why Ted wants to break out of that!) Ted's thoughts on Thai local breweries (all contract brewing in other countries) growing from 3 - 20 in a couple years, and how that would change if only the laws would change. (Though he's not waiting!) Love, Loathe, Or Leave? Listener Ryan asked us to watch this video of the Asian koel, or Eudynamys scolopaceus, and comment on its song. Greg loves its call. Evo wishes he had his shotgun. Engage with us on Facebook, Twitter, or LINE.

RSVP to the big I Love Podcasting In Bangkok meetup #2 on Nov 29th! We're working hard on the special gifts that supporters at the Gift Box level are going to receive… and they are hand-made pieces of awesome. Yeah, we're teasing a bit, but these are going to be quite cool mementos and tokens of our appreciation. (If you want one, get signed up!) This topic stems from a discussion the two of us were having while we were stuck in the back of an Uber on the way to find our Patreon gifts, and that discussion was: How much does living overseas change you as a person? Evo's lived deep in the "travel blogger" world where there the transformative power of travel is common theme, and that if you take a 6-month sabbatical, gap year, or whatever... you'll come back a changed person. But from his perspective, it's all crap. Greg experience is quite difference, having personally been transformed by one fateful trip to Thailand (oddly enough.) And more recently, he's noticing just how divergent his views are from those of his lifelong friends who never left their hometown. Not sure where you stand on the issue? Do you think living overseas really does change you? Or does living overseas appeal to a certain type of person that doesn't need to be changed? Listen in and see which one of us you side with at the end. (And yes, we're still friends!) Love, Loathe, or Leave No one likes cars that double-park. But on Bangkok's BTS, you'll see people "double parked", trying to squeeze on before… well, us! And that doesn't make us very happy, which sort of spoils this segment for you as we both LOATHE it! Except for one of us at one specific We Love Our Supporters! Especially Mos Miner. He's one of our favorite patrons, and today you'll hear about his odd connection to a harbor town far, far away. It's a story that is quite literally out of this world. You should thank Mos and dozens of other people who help keep the show free of annoying by supporting us on Patreon. Mos and others also get exclusive bonus content, like the full episode about the unreliability of Thai Post and tearing down buildings because a street is too narrow. You aren't getting the full Bangkok Podcast experience unless you become a patron, so… do it? Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!)

RSVP to the big I Love Podcasting In Bangkok meetup #2 on Nov 29th! How will you celebrate the season this year? No, we're not talking about Christmas. We're talking about the Thai government's annual shopping stimulus program, this time called "Shop For The Nation" for 2017. It started on Saturday, November the 11th, and it runs through December the 3rd. We'll cover this program in detail (and maybe poke just a wee bit of fun at it) as we give you all the details so you can get up to ฿15,000 off your taxable income next year. Yes, Bangkok expats pay taxes. At least our two families pay taxes. We're not talking to you freeloaders out there. Get a job.Sticking with the shopping theme, every expat eventually starts assimilating into the culture. You have to buy stuff in your new country, and your own personal history influences the things you buy. Some of your everyday purchases will seem odd to any of your friends and family back home. And some things you hunt down to buy locally would make some of your natural born citizen neighbors wonder just why the heck anyone would want that. We put our own purchases to the test, discussing the most and the least Thai things the each of us has purchased while we've lived here, and exactly what our friends -- both local and back home -- probably think about those purchases. Ane we'll even give you the answers: The most Thai things we own are a Buddha shelf and Thai pillows, and the least Thai things we own are licorice and a top sheet. If those answers make no sense, give the show a listen as we good-naturedly (?) poke each other for our answers. Love, Loathe, or Leave If you think our choices of products in this episode stink, just shove a stick of camphor up your nose. That's the plastic tube or tub you see people sniffing as you go about your day in Thailand. What's that all about? Why do they do it? And what do we think about it? Listen in and find out. We Love Our Supporters! Before we recorded this episode, we recorded an entire episode about Evo's recent trip to Indonesia and just why he might be slurring his words tonight. You can get that full episode when you join dozens of other people who help us keep the show free of annoying by supporting us on Patreon. Today, you'll hear about one of our favorite patrons, Sion, and his amazing career as a nude model. Come to think if it, he'll probably be amazed by the story too. Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!)

We know that Bangkok's expat community is much more diverse than a Canadian and an American can hope to represent. So this week, we reached out to the wider community and asked a simple question: Where do you go in Bangkok when you want a taste of your own country? Before we get into that, though, Greg regales us with his story about being summoned by Frank Lam, the founder of Foodland grocery stores (and the excellent Took Lae Dee food counters inside), who wanted to say thanks to Greg for including Took Lae Dee on his list of 50 Reasons Why Bangkok is the Best City in the World. Turns out Frank was the type of legendary character that you can only meet on a random Bangkok night, and Greg explains why. But back to the main topic of where to find a taste of home in Bangkok. Listen in to get these great insights from local expats: Hidden Hungarian hangouts Which restaurants Kuwaitis frequent for great middle eastern food Where a Spaniard suggests you go for amazing cheese, cold cuts, and olive oil Why Poles are jonesing for homemade pierogi and sauerkraut Places in Thailand Australians avoid to avoid more Australians Which soi off Sukhumvit is perfect for Germans who have a hankering for Schweinshaxe and Rotkohl The one spot that Singaporeans/Malaysians say you don't want to miss Spots in Bangkok where Norwegians and other Scandinavians hang out other than IKEA A local church in Sala Daeng where Italians can feel like at home Why Russians day-trip out of Bangkok to get their homeland fix in Pattaya Why an Indian-descent Thai national asked an American to cook Thanksgiving dinner, paying him in quality craft beer from Bootleg Brothers Brewing Love, Loathe, or Leave We need to talk about privilege, Bangkok. It's humiliating, it's unfair, and it perpetuates stereotypes. Of course, we're talking about the special parking spaces for supercars and superbikes in Bangkok. Those of us that don't drive a Lamborghini or some 3000cc crotch-rocket are mad as hell, and we're not going to take it any more! We Love Our Supporters! Before we recorded this episode, we recorded an entire episode about Evo's recent trip to Indonesia and just why he might be slurring his words tonight. You can get that full episode when you join dozens of other people who help us keep the show free of annoying by supporting us on Patreon. Today, you'll hear about one of our favorite patrons, Ciaran Faulkner, and his amazing life-changing -- or at least name-changing -- story. Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!)

Before we get into the ins and outs of travel insurance with one of the most well-traveled people out there, we dive right back into the shallow end of debating whether or not Bangkok's traffic has improved. Why would it improve? Well, last month the police commissioner said that traffic police will no longer be setting up checkpoints...so, did it work? Evo weighs in (because Greg drives a car, and they get pulled over way less that motorbikes, which he's really happy about). But the real reason we're here is to talk insurance. Travel insurance, specifically, and why it's so important. Stuart McDonald, the founder of Southeast Asia's best site for independent travel - that's Travelfish.org in case you live in a cave - was kind enough to join us from his home in Bali about his experiences traveling, writing about traveling, and giving advice to people about traveling. For instance, did you know that if you ride a motorbike without a helmet and get in an accident, your insurance might be void? Why? Because you're breaking the law silly, and insurance companies loooove to find little loopholes like that. But these days it's more complicated than simply buying insurance and then heading off on an adventure. Among other things we talk about: The ubiquity of social media and how it changes how bad news is spread and how people view travel The importance of putting the effort into understanding how your insurance policy works in different countries Why travel insurance probably isn't going to cut it if you cross the line from traveler to expat Why most of these elements can be covered by simply using your noggin (to think with, not as a helmet holder) Trust us folks, you'll be hard pressed to find someone as knowledgeable as Stu on how to travel properly. He's also a father, as well, so that makes his opinion doubly valid. Don't make him come back there! Love, Loathe, or Leave Have you ever put your hand into your pocket and pulled out a fistful of dollars baht? Evo has, and he hates it! It vexes him, the nasty coinses, and he's going to tell you why! It's a good thing too, because Greg had no idea what he was talking about until Evo explained his oddly specific coin rage. We Love Our Supporters! You want bonus episodes? You can get bonus episodes! This week we talked about germs, vacation days, and what it's like to take a holiday while working at a Thai company. Here's a hint: you don't have time to go very far. You can get that full episode when you join dozens of other people who help us keep the show free of annoying by supporting us on Patreon. Please? Thank you! Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!)

We're not whispering to make it hard for you to hear. We're doing it to be respectful, because we recorded this episode inside the Museum of Contemporary Art in northern Bangkok. Now, bear in mind that neither of us are huge art people. But museums such as Bangkok MOCA are designed to be accessible by anyone, not just art aficionados. Today, we put that to the test. Spoiler: We loved it! The middle part of this episode features our honest reaction to some of the art as we encounter it. Now, keep in mind that art appreciation isn't the type of experience that lends itself to being expressed in audio. So you won't be surprised as we try to interpret for you the… well, let's say "more eclectic" pieces from Thailand's contemporary artists. Hopefully it comes off as funny as we intended it, and not mean-spirited. Even though the choice bits below may appear the opposite, we really did enjoy our time at Bangkok's MOCA and would highly recommend you visit, too. If you do listen to the full episode, you'll have some context for these choice reactions and more: "It's hard to fault a painting that has a 3D penis." "Body, mind, peaceful: Three words I don't think about when I think of Hitler." "This looks like something out of Ghostbusters…" "That dog has no head. This one is wearing a necklace with three penises on it." "And… the painter likes big balls." "What would happen if a hippopotamus had a baby with a cicada? That's your answer." "This would really cool if we had a skateboard. It would be even cooler if we remembered how to ride it." "I've never seen so many boobs in such a short amount of time." Seriously. Give our interpretation a chance. You'll laugh at our antics (and likely lament our lack of cultural exposure) and hopefully decide to add all six floors of Bangkok's MOCA to your must-see list. It's a fantastic way to spend a good part of your day, whether you've been in Bangkok for years or are just visiting for a few days. It's worth it! Love, Loathe, or Leave This building is sparkling clean, which makes it an anomaly in Bangkok. Unless you're on a public escalator in Bangkok. Those things are sparkly clean, from the handrails to the treads. Listen in to find how how we feel about that (which is pretty obvious) and how and why the janitorial staff keep them immaculate. We Love Our Supporters! Before we recorded this show we recorded an entire episode about our journey to the MOCA exclusive to our patrons! You can get that full episode when you join dozens of other people who help us keep the show free of annoying by supporting us on Patreon. Please? Thank you! Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!) (Direct download .mp3) [/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

So Evo was recently the star of a Pakistani commercial shot in Thailand, and by "star" we mean he was on-screen for about four seconds. That got Greg thinking wistfully of his own time as a thespian here in the Land of Smiles, so we thought we'd talk a bit about what it's like being an actor in Thailand. While Evo is the most recent "actor" in this two-way conversation, Greg has by far the longer filmography. And he went to film school! Here are some choice bits from the episode, including some links if you want to watch: Watch Evo's Sprite commercial. He's the Pakistani chef, obviously. Watch a clip featuring Greg in the TV miniseries Blackbeard. He's the panhandler, obviously. Where you can find acting/model/extra gigs in Thailand Working with agents/scouts What you can expect when you go on casting calls in Thailand What life on set is really like on set for every actor who isn't the star How to hobnob with the actual stars (and make all the extras jealous!) How you too can make thousands of baht (not dollars) acting in Thailand Why you probably should leave your comedic antics at home and not get in trouble like one of us But don't worry: We won't let our huge acting success go to our heads. We like doing the podcast, if only because we don't have to sit around waiting to start. Or share 30% with an agent! Also: Did you know that you can listen to our show via email? We're all about making it easy to listen to us every week, and email remains the killer app. Sign up if that make sense to you. Oh, and we'll never send you anything other than the episode each week. We're not big on email marketing. Like… at all. Love, Loathe, or Leave A good chunk of Bangkok's commuters avoid traffic by taking… a boat? Yes, the boats of the Saen Saep canal are quite the experience and a super cheap way to get around the city. Find out how we feel about putting our lives and hygiene at risk by taking this low-tech high-speed transit option. We'll say one thing: it's authentic! We Love Our Supporters! A quick shout out to cool-as-a-cucumber Juhani Makaranta. And wow, do we hope Juhani has a good sense of humor about the… let's just go with "special" way Greg introduces him. [sigh] Want Greg to make up stories about you? Maybe you'd like early access to our episodes. Or what about the full-length exclusive episodes we produce every weekly just for our supporters? Join the others by supporting us on Patreon. You get some cool stuff and we get what we need from you to constantly improve the show. Win win! Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!)

It's generally considered bad form to use curse words in the land of peace, order, and smiles that is Thailand. And when a farang uses native Thai bad language, it's a bit more culturally insensitive. Just like Greg learned this week. But that's not what we're talking about today. Thai taboos are the topic of today's show, a topic we're all too familiar with. Hey, it happens, and we're not doing it on purpose. In this episode, we'll share our personal experiences of things NOT to do during your time in the kingdom. And not just the easy stuff to avoid, like touching strangers on the head (seriously, who does this?), failing to stand quietly when the national anthem plays every day on public transport terminals, not taking off shoes when going inside someone's house or condo, or committing lese majeste. Clearly you should not do those things. On the program today, we'll cover some lesser known taboos, like: Being careless with your money (Not spending-wise, as visitors are encouraged to be non-thrifty, but how the bills are treated) Pounding postage stamps Tapping gogo dancers with your foot Stepping over the dead or those pretending to be dead (true story, bro) Picking your teeth (noses are OK) Gesture to a human like you'd gesture to an animal Smuggling Buddha out of the country (please ignore all the vendors trying to sell you Buddha memorabilia, we guess?) Being in public with your naughty bits exposed to the world Raising your voice when you get angry (and you will get angry) The reverse is also true, because some of what we Westerners think of as taboo are perfectly fine here. Things like Using rather direct terms to describe body size, level of hirsute-ness, and skin tone Asking direct questions about income level, age, or other private (from our perspective) affairs … and more Love, Loathe, or Leave It's not a taboo that prohibits you from buying booze or beer from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm or from midnight to 11:00 am. It's the law that does that, and it's enforced at every 7-11 or grocery store. So if you're in the mood for a beer in the afternoon or just want to prep for a party later that night, you might want to plan ahead. Find out how we feel about this handy law when you listen. (Though you will not be surprised.) We Love Our Supporters! Among our fantastic group of supporters is Mr. Mark Wisdom. You literally will not believe what we found out about this strength trainer from Texas who studied Thai massage. It's completely unbelievable, and if you'd like Greg to make up stories about you, plus get early access to our episodes and a whole series of exclusive content made just for our supporters, just support us on Patreon. You'll get all of that and more! Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!)[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"] (Direct download .mp3) [/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Before we get started, we've a quick warning for visitors headed to Bangkok in October 2017. We don't normally recommend listening to the tuk tuk drivers hanging out around the Grand Palace when they tell you that the attraction you want to visit is closed. But this month, they are correct. It's the culmination of the year of mourning for Thailand, and lots of things are closed. But don't turn to us for the latest info. You want Richard Barrow for that, as he has all the details of what's closed and what's open for your Bangkok visit this month. Today we are on location in an area of Bangkok known as Samyan. This area was first settled by Thai-Chinese people, which isn't all that surprising, seeing that Bangkok's Chinatown is just a kilometer or two up the road. In more recent times, Samyan had become synonymous with street food, supplying locals and attracting visitors from all over Bangkok. Then - and stop us if you've heard this one before - the vendors were all given notice to pack up and move, and the bulldozers followed quickly behind, leaving many wondering what project was under way. The answer? Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park, which is more than just Bangkok's newest green space. Listen in to hear us share our experience with this new but still hidden gem in Bangkok: It sits on 28 rai of land, to form an "urban forest" concept It features a specially designed wetland that includes a rain garden, retention pond, and underground water drainage system Evo sharing some botanical knowledge (Fabacea family, not Cannabaceae, stoner) Why the grass at CUCP is way more friendly on your feet than that in Lumpini park But it's more than just a park. CU sees the park as a an important component of their master plan to convert the Samyan area into… Thailand's Silicon Valley? Other development in Samyan, either planned or underway, including Zy Walk, Samyan Mitr Town, and Suan Luang Square. Love, Loathe, or Leave Perhaps inspired by the beauty of the park, today we're taking on an iconic food in Bangkok and all of Thailand: dragon fruit. It's arguably the most beautiful fruit to look at. But the taste? Well, without giving the answer away, we're at another split decision. Listen in and tell us where your taste buds fall on this issue. And which one of us needs to drink better beer. We Love Our Supporters! If you haven't yet heard, we're recording additional full-length episodes every week just for our patrons. We get a little more intimate, a little more fast and loose with the topics, and hopefully provide even more insight into the lives we live every day in the City of Angels. And we'd love to share those episodes -- all of them -- with you. Just support us on Patreon for immediate access. Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!) (Direct download .mp3)

On-location from the back of a tuk tuk in Bangkok, we're pretending to be tourists for the day and, surprisingly enough, discovering some new things about our adopted home. Ride along with us! (Direct download .mp3) Episode Details Astute listeners will notice the marked increase in Bangkok traffic noise in this episode. That's for a very good reason, as we recorded it from the back of a tuk tuk, driving through the streets of Bangkok. Why are we in a tuk tuk? We're glad you asked. For as much disdain is thrown on the idea of "doing tourist-y things", there's actually merit in that concept. Bangkok is a rapidly changing city, and our friends at Expique are true masters at showcasing some of the greatest areas of Bangkok for their clients -- including a couple of long term expats (that's us)! So we hopped in one of their tuk tuks, broke out the microphones, and recorded the activities we experience on their evening food and tuk tuk adventure. Thanks for having us, Expique! Here's what you're in for in this episode recorded on-location: A restaurant in Bangkok that serves over 30,000 sticks of pork satay every single day The amazing sights, sounds, and smells of the Bangkok flower market Tasty food made fresh -- with flowers! -- from the chefs at The Market Experience A minor altercation between two tuk tuk drivers post-collision (That was fun!) Why people are no longer allowed to swing on Bangkok's Giant Swing (Hint: Dead people) Why food tours are a great way to try new food… that you will love or hate, depending on your Canadian palate. Royal guards, missing plaques, and merit making A cameo appearance by our guide, Net Love, Loathe, or Leave Speaking of touristy things to do that locals do as well, you've likely heard of Chatuchak Market. There probably isn't anything you can't buy there, which makes it an easy place to love. But there are a few loathe-able aspects of JJ market as well. We'll tell you want we think if you take a listen to this episode. We Love Our Supporters! Due to our recording environment, we didn't call any specific patron out on the episode. But that doesn't mean we don't love our patrons! You can join dozens of other people who help us keep the show free of annoying ads and get access to bonus content, cool swag and more by supporting us on Patreon. Please? Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!)

After a brief moment of vindication on the news that 10% of Bangkok traffic police failed a test about traffic laws, we dive right into the questions from the audience. This is our one year anniversary show since the re-launch, and it's all about you talking to us! Shaun wants to know our opinion on outdoor activities such as "wild swimming" in the seas and rivers and hiking in the forests and parks all around Thailand. Vincent is looking for some recommendation on movies from Thailand, plus has some geeky questions about the process we use to record episodes of the podcast each week. Oh! And he scoops us on a new "jungle" being built on an old swamp that's now an airport. Gotta check that out! Dan is curious about the dining/entertainment options just across the river from us in the Silom/Surasak area, and Dylan has a tricky immigration/citizenship question, which means we need to give a serious answer? Love, Loathe, or Leave Matthew makes the suggestion this week, asking how we feel about getting the attention of wait staff in various restaurants around Thailand. It's not like we're totally ignored...just mostly. But that's really more a cultural thing than an "ignore the big white dude and maybe he'll go away" thing. Still, it takes some getting used to, which means we probably love it or loath it. Listen in to find out which it is! We Love Our Supporters! This week, we're thanking another of our supporters and his time, Terry Blackburn has the honors. Greg found out that Terry was such an inspirational student of karate, he forever changed the sport. Curious why that fact (?) is relevant? You'll have to listen to find out what story we have to tell. You can thank Terry and dozens of other people who help us keep the show free of annoying ads and get access to bonus content, cool swag and more by supporting us on Patreon. You should join them! Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!) (Direct download .mp3)

Today Greg looks back to his Thai wedding to help us discuss just how much you can expect to spend on your own happy day in Thailand. That's after a brief talk about avoiding floods and transit-hacking in Bangkok, obviously. Good news: we're not flooded out, though plenty of the world is right now. Perhaps influenced by the terrible news from Bangladesh, Houston, and much of the Caribbean, the government issued warnings about flooding on the Chao Phraya River, which both of us see every day. But what we didn't see was any part of the river exceeding its boundaries here in Bangkok, so we're calling ourselves safe. For now. But weren't we here to talk about Thai weddings? A few years back, Greg wrote a blog post about how much his Thai wedding cost, a post that remains one of his most popular. That and the fact that Greg still gets questions about getting married in Thailand, we're dedicating this episode to all the nitty gritty details, what went right, what went wrong, and what you can expect if you decide to get married to a Thai in Thailand. It's bananas. No, literally. Bananas are involved. You've got to listen to this episode and compare it to your nuptial experience. Or experiences, if you're a repeater. Love, Loathe, or Leave Since we're talking Thai weddings, we discuss the touchy subject of the dowry. You probably don't have to think to hard to hear how a couple of Western dudes feel about the sometimes symbolic, sometimes all too real concept of paying the family for a bride, but you should listen in anyhow. And then tell us if you agree with our summation or not! We Love Our Supporters! This week, we're thanking another of our supporters and his time, Kurt Martens has the honors. Greg found out that Kurt was not just a track star in his younger days, but a track hacker. What's that all about? You'll have to listen to find out what story we have to tell. You can thank Kurth and dozens of other people who help us keep the show free of annoying ads and get access to bonus content, cool swag and more by supporting us on Patreon. You should join them! Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!)

On this episode we ask the immortal question: do you have to be a little bit strange to live in Bangkok? We don't mean that (necessarily) in a bad way, you understand. But it sure seems that, on some level, people who tend to thrive on chaos deal really well with the uncertainty, noise, culture shock, and political instability that are endemic to Thailand. If nothing else, you sure need to have an 'elastic outlook' on life. All of that is the exact opposite of life in most western countries, so by definition, you have to be okay with rejecting the "normal" parts of your native culture. And that's something not everyone is comfortable with. Not surprisingly, your hosts of the Bangkok Podcast self-identify with the moniker "weirdo", which probably explains why we're doing alright here. In this episode we talk about why we fit, what other strange people we've met during our time in the kingdom, and then diss on some people who claim to be strange, yet just follow along with the crowd. Let your freak flag fly and enjoy this fun episode of our show. Love, Loathe, or Leave We've all seen them - trimming hedges, fixing cables, doing construction work. The hidden ninjas of Bangkok, the manual laborers who clad themselves from head to toe in clothing despite the ungodly heat and job in direct sunlight. Why do they do it? Don't they get dehydrated? And why do they look at us like WE'RE the strange ones for wearing shorts? We Love Our Supporters! This week, we're thanking another of our supporters. This time, it's Chris "The Coin" Stevens. How did Chris earn that cool nickname? You'll have to listen to find out what story we have to tell. You can thank Cookies and dozens of other people who help us keep the show free of annoying ads and get access to bonus content, cool swag and more by supporting us on Patreon. You should join them! Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!) (Direct download .mp3)

Today we compare living in Bangkok vs a tropical island paradise in Thailand. Also, we share how you can participate in our upcoming one year anniversary show, and give yet another reminder about the big Bangkok-wide I Love Podcasting In Bangkok event coming up August 30th, 2017. Please forgive the sound of the rolling surf in the background during the interview with this week's guest. That's just one bonus of living on an island in Thailand vs the big city of Bangkok: giving up the sounds of traffic for the sounds of the sea. Like many people, our guest this week - an old friend of Greg's named Tad - first discovered Thailand on a famous full moon party island. After stretching his vacation to two months, he went back to his native home in Los Angeles and started making plans for full-time living in his newfound paradise. A year later, he was back at the same spot, ready to do it again and forever. Stop me if you heard this one, but it wasn't quite the same the second time around. Paradise, as it seems, can be lost. "It's like Groundhog Day, but with Red Bull and SangSom." - Tad Still convinced that island living was what he wanted, he packed up and moved to the barely-occupied Thai island Ko Lanta to try his hand at living pre-tourist wave. But that was a decade ago. Fast-forward to today for our episode topic: Expat living in Thailand away from the hustle-and-bustle of Bangkok, deep in paradise. Is it really all it's cracked up to be? Can you really trust a "professional electrician" who wears flip flops on the job? And how often can you hit the waves when you're running your dream business seven days a week? Tad brings a healthy dose of reality for those ready to follow their dreams. Listen in to get some pro tips. Oh, and to add a bit of color to the interview, here's a photo Greg took from Tad's pad on Lanta. No wonder you could hear waves in the background. Click to embiggen. As mentioned on the episode, we're quickly approaching one year of doing the podcast, and for our 50th show we'll be featuring questions submitted by our listeners, so get in touch via the links below! Also, if you haven't yet RSVP'd to the big I Love Podcasting In Bangkok meetup coming up on August 30th, please do so. Love, Loathe, or Leave While there are many cultural affections in Bangkok that stand out to North Americans, we're covering the comb-over on this episode. You know, that thing that went out of style in the '60s and only adopted by old men who didn't get the news? It's categorically not out of style over here and is as commonplace as women carrying shoulder bags. Listen in to find out where our heads are on the issue. (Did you see what we did there?) We Love Our Supporters! This week, we're thanking another of our supporters. This time, it's Matthew "Cookies" Cramer. How did Matthew -- or just Cookies -- earn that title? You'll have to listen to find out what story we have to tell. You can thank Cookies and dozens of other people who help us keep the show free of annoying ads and get access to bonus content, cool swag and more by supporting us on Patreon. You should join them! Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!) (Direct download .mp3)

This week we take a break from talking about how much we love Bangkok to discuss the city's ugly, dusty, dirty side. Prior to that we'll tell you about our bike-tastic weekend. Because sometimes you just gotta get out of the city and enjoy the rest of Thailand, right? Evo gets burned on the beach in Hua Hin, and Greg MacGyver's his way through a bike ride in remote Bangkok. Clearly we love living in the Kingdom, but as with most relationships, there are things that drive you a bit crazy. One of those things about Bangkok is that while it's certainly a fascinating city, it is not a very attractive city. At least not at first sight. What's not to love? Well… abandoned buildings still dot the landscape, giving many aspects of Bangkok a bit of a post-apocalyptic feel. And even for occupied buildings, the elements aren't nice to our hi-so condos, and many could use with a fresh (or perhaps first ever) coat of paint. When you do see color on buildings, it's often from re-purposed polyvinyl signs used in some rather ingenious (and likely not permitted) construction project. Of course, we'll talk about the twisted knot of telecommunication lines that is inescapable in Bangkok if you happen to look just slightly up. Which you probably don't do very often for fear of stepping into an open hole in the sidewalk, falling down a bottomless pit. But maybe that's just our perception as farangs who've lived too long in the city? For it certainly stands in contrast with the army of street cleaners who sweep the streets around Bangkok with brooms and dustpans. Give this episode a listen and let us know your thoughts on the less-beautiful side of Bangkok. Maybe we're being to critical? Love, Loathe, or Leave How do we feel about fish sauce, that salty, MSG-laden black liquid that Bangkokians put on just about everything? Not surprisingly, it's a split decision this week. (Spoiler: One of your hosts might have sent a whole bunch of postcards around the world doused in the savory goodness! And the other likes ketchup. Gross.) We Love Our Supporters! You really need to meet Christine Foti, the lovely person this week who deserves our thanks and your awe. Why? A few years back she called her cable company to cancel her service, and they were so scared of losing such a stellar customer, they offered to pay her if she didn't leave. Now she makes a nice chunk of change from companies that simply want to be associated with her. When she's not doing that, Christine and a few other fantastic people help us keep the show free of annoying ads and get access to bonus content, cool swag and more by supporting us on Patreon. You should join them! Also, thanks to J Robert MM for the lovely review of the Bangkok Podcast on iTunes. You rock, JRMM, and enjoy life in Kanchanburi! Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!) (Direct download .mp3)

Today we're talking with an expert on the Brahmin, a Hindu caste that plays a very important role in the highest levels of Thai society. And we have something special planned for our one year episode. Oh, and there's a Bangkok-wide podcast meetup coming up. We'll cover that and more on episode 2.45 of the Bangkok Podcast. Have you RSVP'd to the big, huge, love-fest that will be the I Love Podcasting In Bangkok meetup on August 30th? It's free, low-key, and something we'd like to repeat on a regular basis. So if you're in town and free that evening, come join us and lot of other podcasters, podcast listeners, and those just interested in learning more about podcasting for a few beers and conversation. It'll be fun! And if that's not interesting enough, we're coming up on our one-year anniversary of the podcast relaunch! We're collecting questions, comments, and other items that you, our loyal listeners and fans would like for us to talk about on this special show. There are plenty of links at the bottom of this post if you'd like to send a query. But that's not what we're talking about on this episode. Recently, Greg chatted with Nathan McGovern, Assistant Professor in Philosophy and Religious studies at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. He has a BA in Physics and a PhD in Religious Studies, and is a specialist on a unique Hindu Caste called the Brahmins. Not a lot of people have heard of the Brahmins, and even if you have you may not be aware that they play a vital role in the highest levels of Thai society and have been doing so for hundreds of years. Here are a few tidbits you'll pick up from this fascinating conversation How Hindu priests (Brahmins) became employed by Thailand's Royal Court (a Buddhist institution) hundreds of years ago -- and remain today What services the Hindu priests perform in Thailand's Royal Court and how that differs from the Buddhist priests Why having Hindu priests quite close to the center of power in Thailand isn't quite as strange as it might seem Which modern ceremony performed by Brahmins expats in Bangkok have probably have seen Where to visit the almost-hidden Brahmin temple in Bangkok Love, Loathe, or Leave What's up with the trend (?) of using "bro" via messages in Bangkok? And how is it supposed to be pronounced? Brough? Brugh? Brah? We're puzzled, so listen in and see just how much tiny things like this bother us. Or not. We Love Our Supporters! While we love ALL of our listeners, friends, and fans, we especially love the supporters on Patreon who help us keep the show going and free of annoying ads. This week we're shouting out to Amy P. As is the norm, Greg did some research on Amy P. and came up with an interesting story. Have a listen to hear why she's such an amazing person! To help support the show like Amy did and get access to bonus content and cool swag, head to patreon.com/bangkokpodcast. Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way too much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Not Los Angeles. Thailand, silly!)

We've said it before and we'll say it again - Bangkok is an interesting city; but it ain't a pretty city. But that's not to say that there aren't places of architectural significance or historical importance, because there are. One of those is the magnificent Scala theater - at least until it gets knocked down for another mall. Oh, and while recording this episode on location at the Scala, we were kicked out because we didn't have permission (you can hear this conversation with the theater's major domo in the Patreon bonus content). Also in this episode, Evo wonders why bowling in Thailand is more glam than redneck, and Greg muses about the dangers of driving huge trucks in Bangkok if you can't see out of the goddamn windows. Where we come from - and perhaps where you, dear reader, also come from - bowling is something you do for a laugh. It's a sport so ridiculous, so fringe, so cheesy, that it's hard to take anyone seriously who takes it seriously. But not in Thailand - no, here people actually dress up to head to the bowling alley with friends. As he prepares to head out with wifey's friends for an evening of ball play, Evo is unsure what to expect. But our main topic is the awesome Scala movie theater, one of the Bangkok's last, best remnants of a more glamorous time, where movies were shown in 70mm and theaters were - as you can still see - built with more love and attention to detail than a modern office building. But how long will it last? Owned by Chulalongkorn University, the land that the Scala sits on is some of the most valuable real estate in the country, and when money talks, no one's speaking very loudly by selling movie seats at 100 baht a pop. So sadly, inevitably, it's only a matter of time until the Scala gets turned into a new mall, but until then, it's open for business. We discuss its history, its significance, and why should make it a point to make a visit post-haste. And - as a bonus - here's the picture if Pinocchio from the Scala that Greg mentioned in this episode's Patreon bonus content - just before they got kicked out of the theater. Love, Loathe, or Leave Greg wonders why in the HELL the drivers of trucks - not pickups or ¼-ton specials, but full-size 2-ton big-rigs - feel the need to cover their windshields with stickers, add lights and various bling to the mirrors, and otherwise bedazzle their trucks all to hell. Safe? Nope. Aerodynamic? Nope. Cool looking? Also nope...at least from our perspective. We Love Our Supporters! This week we're giving a HUGE thank you to Matt B, who is supporting the show at the highest level, meaning that he'll soon get a personalized, very special gift from us. We also tell you why Matt is the type of guy you wish you knew, and hope to have around if a fire ever breaks out. We'll say nice things about you on an episode too, plus give you bonus content and early access to our shows, for a modest level of financial support. And by "modest", we mean a couple of bucks! Join the growing list of listeners who support our podcast on Patreon. Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way to much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels. (Direct download .mp3)

A discussion about the challenges and barriers to getting quality English-language news on Thailand from Thailand. And Evo's learning to write like a 3-year-old. After that, the magic of pork floss. Because Bangkok Podcast. Evo's decided that maybe he does need to learn Thai. So he picked up a new book, Fun Training From Chicken to Owl. Well, that's the English translation. Why has he flip-flopped on his opinion on learning Thai? Because Stu Jay Raj said so. Fine. But that's not what we're talking about today. Thailand isn't quite as dedicated to the concept of a "free press" as most Westerners are used to. While it's not quite state-controlled like North Korea, China, or Russia, there are limitations -- about 44 of them (wink) -- to how far the Thai press will go. But for expats, there's a more fundamental problem: Actually getting any news from Thailand about Thailand in a language other than Thai. More than one expat new to the area has bemoaned the lack of English-based content coming out of the Thai media. And for good reason. On this episode of the Bangkok Podcast, we're covering English-presented news generated from within the kingdom of Thailand. So if you're looking for your TV, radio, or newsprint-based fix for news, this episode of our podcast will help point you in the right direction. Love, Loathe, or Leave This one needs no preamble, as we're talking about the magic of pork floss. Yes, pork floss. Or as Greg calls it, pig-flavored cotton candy. Because if that doesn't sound tasty to you, there is something terribly wrong with you. Like one of us. Listen in to see and see who you side with, as we've a split decision this week. We Love Our Supporters! This week we're giving a HUGE thank you to ex-expat Adam Payet. He's been forced to move back to a big desert island, but keeps up with the goings on in his adopted homeland (that's Bangkok), by listening to The Bangkok Podcast. And because he's a super nice guy, he's helping to keep the show going every week. Thanks, Adam! We'll say nice things about you on an episode, plus give you bonus content and early access to our shows, for a modest level of financial support. And by "modest", we mean a couple of bucks! Join the growing list of listeners who support our podcast on Patreon. Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you! You can add our official LINE account, comment on a post or send us a message via our Facebook page, tweet to us @bangkokpodcast, or simply via the contact form on our website. You may also be interested in Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness, and you can see way to much of Evo's face on Instagram. If you're really new, the Bangkok Podcast is co-hosted by Greg Jorgensen and Evo Terra. Together the have over 20 years expat experience in Bangkok, and are self-certified experts in living in the City of Angels.

This week we're talking with an honest to goodness food scientist who gives us the lowdown on the health benefits - or lack thereof - of Thai food and its sundry ingredients. But first, Evo plays Robin Hood as he recounts a pleasant encounter with a wandering sheriff. What are the odds a visitor to Bangkok would not only run into one of the hosts of his favorite podcast, but run into said favorite podcast co-host just minutes after listening? Pretty high if you happen to visit Jack's Bar. But as cool and unexpected as that was, it's not what we're talking about today. Adam Yee is a food scientist who works at a billion dollar health-and-wellness company in Phoenix Arizona. He's the kind of guy who takes his work home with him, because he's also the host of a podcast called My Food Job Rocks!. We brought Adam on the show to dispel the rumors and myths about the healthiness of Thai Food. Adam has a lot to share about what science says about fad diets and more, including these choice bits: How gluten spreads civilization (no offence to those diagnosed with Celiac Disease) Why you shouldn't (and practically can't) avoid MSG in Thailand A reference to the tastiest of tastes: umami Why you can blame the American military for Thailand's dedication to sweetened condensed milk in everything How to curry favor from a food scientist (did you see what I did there?) The curious case of tamarind and why anyone would find it a tasty food additive Since Adam is curious about Thailand (his roomie is Thai), we talked about some unique aspects of Bangkok that shows why he's a great food scientist. Among other things, we covered: The flavors and styles of snacks are made from seaweed The Mexican food scene of Bangkok (since he's from Arizona, right on the Mexican border) How mayonnaise contributes to the Thainization of sushi Why Thais love Red #40 like French Canadians love Yellow #6 Macro trends on Thai-centric health concerns Love, Loathe, or Leave As we've talked about on prior episodes, Bangkok cops are cracking down on helmetless riders. Mototaxi drivers are accommodating, offering pay passenger a spare helmet. But when you're sporting a mellon the the size of a beachball like both of us, it's more about fine-avoidance than safety. Listen in to find out how we deal with this reality. We Love Our Supporters! In fact, we're considering a special meetup for anyone who lives in or will be traveling to Bangkok next month. Are you interested? Even if you can't make it in August but do travel frequently to Bangkok, let us know. Maybe we'll do it on a regular basis! Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you, either on the contact form on our website or through a comment or message on our Facebook page. You can Tweet to the show @bangkokpodcast or follow Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness. Evo chronicles his Bangkok adventures on Instagram from time to time, if that's your thing. And as mentioned, we now have a LINE account! Yep. Just for the Bangkok Podcast. Join us over there, too! See you next time on The Bangkok Podcast! (Direct download .mp3)

We're talking with Stu Jay Raj, who uses his fluency in 12 languages to help "fluent" Thai second-language speakers connect on a more personal level than they ever thought they could. But first, the most Thai way to listen to the show and communicate directly with Evo. (Don't tell Greg!) Before we get started, we need to talk about our Patreon page, the only way we raise funds to support the show, and how many people have already signed up to get bonus content and extra content from us for a few bucks. There's also our quasi-official LINE account, where a few of our followers are engaging in one-on-one conversations with Evo all the time. Are you connected with one or both of those? No? Fix that. You'll get the warm fuzzies almost immediately! Prosody. It's not a Thai word, but it's not a word that either of us were familiar with. And, as it turns out, it's key to becoming a better Thai speaker. That's what you'll learn when you listen to Greg's conversation with one of the most talented and well-known polyglots in Asia, Stu Jay Raj. He's fluent in over 12 languages including English, Thai, Lao, Indonesian, Malay, Khmer, Burmese, Spanish, Hindi, Danish, and Vietnamese, with working knowledge of several more. But he's not your average language educator. He has a degree in Cognitive and Applied Linguistics and uses his skills as a corporate facilitator, cross-cultural training specialist, and to assist multinationals, governments and NGOs in high-level conflict resolution. Here's what you'll learn from Stu when you listen to this conversation: Why the street is your best classroom when learning the natural rhythms and patterns of the foreign language you're trying to learn. The truth about "fluency" and why it doesn't really tell you how well someone can communicate Why you never want to be complimented on your skills when speaking another language How much leaned sound patterns from your native tongue are screwing up your mastery of Thai Why it's OK to blame the Romans for the naughty phrases we accidentally say when we try to speak Thai How much easier it is to learn multiple languages at a time (as crazy as that sounds) What the biggest mistakes Thai language learners make… and how to stop! Why Stu claims that Thai is a beautiful, logical, and confusion free language -- once you learn it the right way And finally, why you should buy the book or take the course and start learning Thai the right way. Love, Loathe, or Leave Some things really push our buttons. In this case… it's Thai people in elevators pushing the door close or door open button. Every. Time. Even though they know the door will close in a matter of sub-seconds… they'll still push the button. Every. Time. You can probably guess how we feel about this. But if you listen, you'll learn a fun prank to play. (And it won't get you kicked out of the country! Probably not.) Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you, either on the contact form on our website or through a comment or message on our Facebook page. You can Tweet to the show @bangkokpodcast or follow Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness. Evo chronicles his Bangkok adventures on Instagram from time to time, if that's your thing. And as mentioned, we now have a LINE account! Yep. Just for the Bangkok Podcast. Join us over there, too! See you next time on The Bangkok Podcast! (Direct download .mp3)

On this episode of the Bangkok Podcast, we interview Ron Morris, the author of The Thai Book: A Field Guide to Thai Political Motivations. But before we get into that discussion, Greg goes into (thankfully minor) detail about his second experience with food poisoning after 16 years of eating street food. Given the size of Greg, it's safe to say he's an expert on street food. But despite eating his way through, under, around, and on top of Bangkok for his entire time here, he has only been sick from eating street food once. Until last week. There was no hospital visit or death bed vigils, but the crab curry he ate made sure he spent a "lot of time alone, in a small room," if you get the drift. Nothing to do with Thai food...it could happen anywhere. But still...you play with fire, you get burned. But our main topic today is miles away from street food yet still very much in the street. Ron Morris is an author and Thai political commentator who has been in Asia for decades. As the man behind 2Bangkok.com, he's built up a reputation as someone who calls it like it is, with a keen insight into the motivations and reasoning behind the often murky - even opaque - political machinations of Thailand's leaders. Evo's discussion with him is broken into "chapters" which Evo and Greg comment on, but they include topics such as: What Bangkok was like in the 1990s when Ron's first coup took place, the infamous Black May protest of 1992, which saw 52 deaths Why protests in Thailand are seen as a very last resort before it hits the fan, unlike in western countries where protest is a sign of a strong, stable democracy The concepts of "face" and "big man" and how they guide relationships, reactions, business, and politics Why it's impossible to graft the western ideas of liberal/conservative/libertarian etc onto Thai political parties Ron's comments on the current administration, and what they're doing that others have not. Love, Loathe, or Leave This week is more of a "Would You Rather", but Greg and Evo discuss transportation in the rainy season. Which do you prefer: having a car, deciding when/how/where you go, controlling your environment....and possibly getting stuck in traffic for 3 hours? Or would you rather be crushed into the BTS, fighting off commuters and splashes from the rain...but have a pretty good idea of when you'll get home? OR...how about just ignoring all of that and riding between the cars on a motorbike...but having to deal with wet shoes and rain gear? Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you, either on the contact form on our website or through a comment or message on our Facebook page. You can Tweet to the show @bangkokpodcast or follow Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness. Evo chronicles his Bangkok adventures on Instagram from time to time, if that's your thing. And as mentioned, we now have a LINE account! Yep. Just for the Bangkok Podcast. Join us over there, too! See you next time on The Bangkok Podcast! (Direct download .mp3)

This week we take a closer look at why Thailand's national dish -- pad thai -- isn't actually very representative of Thai food. But first, an innovative way to get out of a traffic ticket in Thailand when it happens to you. Evo tested. Evo approved. Before we get started with the meat of the show, we have to tell you the story of Evo getting ticketed for a traffic offense he really didn't commit. Which meant he lost his license and had to then go argue his case in person at some some tiny cop-shop in the far northwestern corner of Bangkok. And by "argue", we mean smile, stay friendly, and then don't go away until the police officer gets sick of the whole situation, leading him to tear up the ticket and hand over the license. (Note: The Bangkok Podcast does not endorse this behavior. Drive safely, please!) But that's not what we're talking about today. Instead, we're covering the classic, quintessential dish that everyone has to have when they visit Bangkok -- pad thai. Only... what if it's not all it's cracked up to be? To get to the bottom of this, Evo put on his investigative journalist hat once again and looked into the national -- or perhaps ultra-national -- dish of Thailand. Some fascinating things you'll learn about this dish when you listen to this episode of the Bangkok Podcast: It's not ancient and came about from a nation-wide competition It was designed to showcase Thailand's entrance to the western world It's either the most un-Thai Thai food or the most-representative-of-Thai-culture Thai food, depending on your perspective A dozen or so dishes that are much tastier (and spicier!) than pad thai (we recommend laab moo) The best Dairy Queen Blizzard you can't get in your home country How to make your grandmother shudder by putting sugar in her beef stew. Unless she's Thai. How two farang think you should apply the best spices from the kruang prung collection the next time you visit Thailand (or your local Thai food joint) The easiest way you can show your support for our show (and get cool stuff) via Patreon. Love, Loathe, or Leave Middle aged men in Thailand have a natural, built in air conditioner that the two of us really need to get behind. You might have heard of "buddha belly", but I don't think you mean the same thing. How do we feel about these large dudes and their makeshift midriff? Listen this episode and find out. Want More Bangkok Podcast In Your Life? If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via Apple Podcasts. Android users are be able get the show any number of ways. And for bonus points, leave us a review on those platforms or however you listen to the show. We'd love to hear from you, either on the contact form on our website or through a comment or message on our Facebook page. You can Tweet to the show @bangkokpodcast or follow Greg's tweets of snarky Bangkok goodness. Evo chronicles his Bangkok adventures on Instagram from time to time, if that's your thing. And as mentioned, we now have a LINE account! Yep. Just for the Bangkok Podcast. Join us over there, too! See you next time on The Bangkok Podcast! (Direct download .mp3)