Free Train rides over New Years!

There will be free train rides provided by the State Railway of Thailand during the new years holiday! The governor of the Railway said there will be up to 20 free non air conditioned trains as well as 6 air conditioned trains serving Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Ubon and Surat Thani. I personally would not mind a nice train ride with the weather being so cool it might be a good time to get away. The governor said usually there are up to 100,000 passangers a day but with the long weekend holiday they are expecting more then 120,000. One thing he did add was the security will be more lax to avoid delays...... is this something you really want to decrease during a holiday season?

Travel Bargains and such after the floods....

This week I was wondering what kind of travel deals are going around in Bangkok. Since this is high season and there has not been much tourists due to the flooding one would think that there should be some really good deals to be had. With a quick search for the flights to the surrounding region and there are deals. Flights to Cambodia and Myanmar are very low as well as longer haul flights to China, Macao and Singapore. I do think it is funny however the one airline that has seemed not to lower there prices is Thai Airways. Thai Airways is one of the best airlines out of Thailand but they have seemed to drop the ball on this front.  

Bangkok second airport no more water....

So the last of the water has drained from Don Muang Airport the former international airport in Bangkok. The airport has been flooded for over 4 weeks now. The officials at the airport say it will take at least two months to get the airport functioning again. Most carriers have moved out there working planes long ago. However, out of commission planes laid on the tarmac with water completely over the landing gear. I really like travelling through Don Muang because it is really quite and there are very few lines compared to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

747 past it's prime.....

Watching American Sports in Bangkok

Some people living abroad find it very difficult to watch American sports. There are a few obstacles that will obstruct you. The first and most severe is the time difference, most major cities in the states are ten to thirteen hours behind. This alone is enough for most to people to follow up when they get up in the morning. The other major obstacle is there are not many channels that actually show American sports. The major channel that does show NFL and NHL games is ASN. Recently True Move has dropped ASN so it is leaving sports fans in a real wedge. The best solution I have found is Sportscorner located on Sukhumvit Soi 20. The bar has a slingbox linked up to a westcoast cable out let and can show just about any sporting even you would like to see. Even better if you don't want to stay up till the we hours of the night you can stop by after 3pm and the games can be replayed for you!

Location

Cars after the flood??

So I am watching the Thai news today and the casting team was out in a very wealthy neighborhood outside Bangkok that was completely flooded well over 2 meters. As I was watching I was shocked to see how many luxury cars were left behind and became basically salvage from the flood. In Thailand there is no such thing as a salvage title like there is in the United States. Mechanics know once a car have been flooded it will never be the same and since there are no checks and balances in the auto department here it makes me wonder how many of these cars will end up on the markets as never having a drip of water in them at all???

Is this your new car?

December 6th Students come back to town!

Good news for all the teachers in Bangkok the government has declared the day after Father's day as return day. The students have been gone for over 2 months now including their break period and with the floods subsiding it looks as if the all clear has been given. Now this is Thailand and news can change like the wind but is looks good to date. Some must wonder with the students missing all this time how much are they really going to remember. I feel there is going to be a lot of review work during the first couple of weeks. Most schools have eliminated the Christmas Holiday this year that was scheduled between December 26th and December 30th.

"I don't want to learn English"

Mixx Club Bangkok

Last night went out to the newer club that is picking up in popularity named Mixx. It is located under the Intercontinental Hotel. The club is split into two different rooms both playing hip hop. The difference being one room you can smoke in and the other one you cannot. The entry fee for the club in 300 baht and that comes with 1 drink. One way to get around the entry fee is to just buy a bottle and that will get you 5 free entries. In the past the trick that we would pull with these higher end clubs is to buy a bottle and you can get a ticket if you don't finish the bottle and that will allow you to come back within 30 days and have another 5 free entries. Most clubs have stopped allowing free entry for a bottle if you don't finish it. Mixx is a little older crowd the few times I have been there it closely resembles the same crowd as Spazzo that is located right across the street. Overall, Mixx is ok its worth checking out if you are in the mood to spends a little money and have a late night out.

Custom Suits and Tailors....

Oh yes one of the first things you will notice wandering down Sukhumvit is all the tailor shops lined up and down the street. Some tourists really enjoy getting a tailored suit at a fraction of the cost it would be in the west. There are some benefits and downfalls of purchasing a tailored suit in Bangkok. Custom fitted suits run around $75-$400 depending on the choice of materials. Here is a suggestion when picking up your new suit make sure it is the same material that you decided on during the purchase. Also, when paying for the suit it is not required to pay for the suit in its entirety up front. Wait till you are satisfied with the purchase. There usually is a deposit that is required usually 25% of the total purchase price.

Make sure you have enough time for the tailor to make adjustments to the suit. The purchase is usually not perfect after the first fitting it takes a couple of alterations to make it perfect this can take up to a week depending on how busy the tailor is. Allow time for this during your trip. The tailor that I use is on Soi 4 the name is Raja's he comes highly recommended and usually has a reasonable price. There are some really good tailors here in Bangkok and all the tailors will keep your measurements on file and ship to your home country. I hope this helps when looking for a tailor!

A view from outside Raja's on Sukhumvit Soi 4.

Tipping in Bangkok?

Tipping?? Oh yes....One of the first questions that tourists ask me when arriving in Thailand. The question is still up for debate. Usually the Thai's DON'T TIP AT ALL! However, foreigners are sometimes expected to tip because apparently they have money. I find this interesting because even in some western countries tipping is not expected so it is not a good thing to generalize. So the question is what to tip and if at all. I'm glad to overtip those who are less fortunate who work harder than I for so little money in Thailand. Though I have been in several situations where the service has been terrible and there was a service charge included in the bill. Whatever you decide to tip it is always up to you. Just remember that "Thai Style" is not tipping at all or just leaving the excess change so take that into consideration next time you are out and about.

Places to play pool.

One of my favorite things to do is play pool in Bangkok. There are a lot of very good places to play with world class tables and some very good players. All along Sukhumvit there are pool halls starting with where I play the most is Sportsman Bar located just before Soi 22 there are about 8 pool tables and the girls are always up for a game. Walking down Sukhumvit towards Soi 4 you hit Players bar between Soi 12 and Asoke. This bar is a little smaller but regularly attracts the best talent in the Bangkok pool scene. Just past that under the Times Square building is a very nice pool hall named Hustler's. This bar sports 7 very good tables and a very nice environment to play pool. Across the street is Sports Academy a nice bar above Bush Gardens that you can get away and play a few racks. The last one one I am going to mention here is Ball in Hand that is located on Soi 4 in the Raja Hotel parking lot. It is upstairs and has about 10 tables that are all very nice. This place is known to have some really tight pockets and most of the girls that work there are very good with the cue. There are several more places to play a game but for the serious players these 4 are the best in my opinion and ost some of the best talent around.

Basketball in Bangkok!

This little write up is about getting out of your apartment and doing something active in the city. One of the things I like to do is play basketball. Some people might say it gets to hot during the day to play outside and I would totally agree with you. However, there plenty of places to play at night and in some cases in doors. My favorite place to play happens to be outdoors under the Saphan Taksin Bridge. There is a park on the Thonburi side of the river that gets a good group of players mostly Thai that play every day. On the weekends they even have real officials. Other places to play are at Emporium park in the back. 

Bangkok Darts League

On Tuesday's and Thursday's in Bangkok you can play in the two darts league that run in the bars throughout lower sukhumvit. There is a fun league on Tuesdays that consists of two league that are all about having fun and drinking. On Thursday there is an international competitive league that has a lot of talented players. There are two divisions in each league. I have a lot of good friends throughout both league and have the pleasure to play against very good players that have competed in several international tournaments.

Things to do in Bangkok on a Monday and Wednesday Night?

So sometimes it is difficult to find things to do during the week. I would like to introduce you to some fun activities that allow you to get out of the house and meet some people while increasing your knowledge of the city. On Monday and Wednesday nights in Bangkok there is the Bangkok pool league. The Monday league consists of 5 divisions that all play the game of 8 ball. If you are not familiar with 8 ball it is a very simple game that is a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. There are five divisions so there is a skill level for all players. The league usually runs for about 16 weeks with home and away games alternating from you home bar.

On Wednesday night where I was last night is 9 ball. This is a little different game then 8 ball but just as simple to learn and just as fun. The 9 ball league is very similar to the 8 ball league but in the 9 ball league it is a race to 21 games and not a series of individual games. You can check out more info at the website under the picture. Just go to one of the bars in the website and ask the staff about the pool league they will point you in the right direction. One of the bars that is always looking for committed players is Sportsman Bar on Sukuhvit Soi 22.

WWW.BANGKOKPOOL.COM 

End of the year party. 

A few of my favorite Mexican food restaurants.

One of the nice things about living in a city with over 12 million people is the fact that there are so many different food options! Growing up in the Midwest of the United States I got my fair share of meats, vegetables, and cheese! I also have grown to appreciate the food from south of the border that being Mexican food. Living in a South East Asian country you would think it might be difficult to get good Mexican food here, Well I am here to tell you that would be incorrect. I would like to introduce you to my favorite 2 Mexican restaurants here in Bangkok. There are several others in the city and I have tried them all but religiously find my self going back to these two.

The best Mexican food place in Bangkok is Sunrise Tacos. Now before you run off to one of their 5 locations I would like to emphasis that the original Sunrise located on Sukhumvit Road just before Soi 12 is by far the best. I say this mostly because of the salsa bar but the deciding factor is that it is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I have frequented there I can remember how many times in the late night hours.

Sunrise has also just got a much needed outdoor seating area that replaces the car park that was in front for several years. This is an excellent place to get a drink when the sun goes down. You can relax take in all the sights and sounds of the city.

Almost finished with the concrete outside Sunrise.

Second Place and I have only tried the Bangkok location one time so most of this review is based on when I lived in Chiang Mai and was a regular burrito eater is El Diablos. The newer location is at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 22 all the way to at the end. I would suggest taking a motorbike if you are walking.

Bangkok Floods.

Well the reason i have started writing this blog is the fact that I have been on an extended holiday here due to the flooding taking its toll on the northern part of the city. I currently live in the southern part but several of my students and staff live in the hardest hit parts of the city. The water levels in some places have reached so high that a lot of houses and cars have been ruined not to mention the loss of life. I have had the opportunity to drive my motorbike to the outskirts of the city to see the water and let me tell you there is a lot of it.

Helping out with the Red Cross

Hi all! Welcome to my blog.

Hi all! This is a long time coming. I have been thinking about starting a blog about my travels in South East Asia and finally making the decision to stay in Bangkok and work here. I have lived here for just shy of 3 years now and have the opportunity to travel throughout the region. I am a teacher at a really good private school and really enjoy working with the second graders that I currently teach. This blog will be about all the things that I get to experience and have experienced throughout this endeavor.

Me in Chiang Mai eating some street food. (Chicken)